As Harry and Natasha apparated in front of the Stark Expo main hall, the chaotic scene before them was a stark contrast to the glittering spectacle it had been just hours earlier. The once-crowded venue was now a sea of overturned decorations, discarded belongings, and debris. The bright lights of the Expo had dimmed, replaced by the eerie silence of the now empty lot and the low hum of emergency vehicles in the distance.

Amid the chaos, police officers were escorting a dishevelled Justin Hammer away from the scene, his bravado from earlier replaced with a sullen expression. His hands were cuffed behind his back, and his head hung low as the reality of his situation sank in.

Pepper Potts stood at the top of the stairs as she directed the police officers with the calm authority of someone who had faced more than her share of crises.

"When they get here, I think you should station them at the south, east and both west exits" Pepper instructed.

"Yes, ma'am. We've already shut down the 7 trains in and out of Willets Point," the police officer replied, nodding as he took in her directions.

Pepper's eyes scanned the area, taking in the wreckage left after the evening's events. "Good. Make sure city buses are there to ferry people to operating lines," she added, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Are you coming with us, Ms. Potts?" the officer asked.

Pepper shook her head. "No, I'm staying until the park is clear. No one gets left behind."

"Understood." The officer gave a brief nod before turning to relay her orders.

Harry felt a pang of guilt as he spotted Pepper in the chaotic scene, surrounded by police officers and giving instructions with a calm authority that only she could muster. He'd left her alone in this mess, and the thought troubled him.

Without a word, Harry rushed over to her. He wrapped her in a firm, protective hug, the tension in his body betraying his concern. As he pulled back, his eyes swept over her, scanning for any sign of injury or distress. Harry's gaze remained intent, searching for any hint that she was hiding something. His silence was heavy, almost suffocating in its intensity as if he could will away any harm that might have come her way. He didn't ask if she was okay; his scrutiny and the way he lingered on her appearance spoke louder than words.

"Harry, stop it," Pepper exclaimed, swatting his hands away as she would any overprotective friend. "I'm fine, really."

But as she pushed him back, something clicked in her mind, and she froze, her eyes darting between Harry and Natasha. "Wait a second," she said, her voice laced with confusion. "How did you two get here so fast? Weren't you just at the Hammer Industries facility all the way across town?"

Pepper's gaze narrowed as she looked at Natasha. "And what on earth is Natalie wearing? What is that, some kind of... tactical gear?" she asked, her tone turning from confusion to curiosity. The questions hung in the air, as Pepper's sharp mind began connecting dots that didn't quite add up.

"I'll explain everything later, I promise," Harry said, sidestepping her scrutiny with a quick wave of his hand. "Right now, is everything settled? Did everyone get out safely? And where's Tony?"

Pepper's gaze sharpened as she answered. "We managed to get everyone out without any injuries. The Hammer drones didn't get a chance to harm anyone." She paused, her eyes narrowing as she focused on him. "But there's something odd. There was a forcefield on the stage that trapped the drones long enough for us to evacuate everyone from the hall and the Expo grounds. The drones tried to break through, but they stopped cold. I watched them slam against it, shoot it with guns and missiles but nothing got through."

She stepped closer, her expression demanding answers. "It didn't just protect the stage; it shielded the entire audience. People were panicking, trying to get out, but that dome kept the drones contained. It gave us time to evacuate everyone safely. Without it, those drones could've caused a lot more damage, maybe even casualties. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

Harry rubbed the back of his head, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Hehe, like I said, I'll explain everything later. Let's just wrap up this whole Hammer Drones mess first, alright?" He deflected with a grin, though the weight of her gaze made it clear that she wasn't going to let this go for long.

Pepper crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing further as she studied Harry. "Harry, that forcefield was no ordinary tech. We're talking about something beyond anything we've ever dealt with. Do you expect me to believe it just popped up out of nowhere? You wouldn't have anything to do with that, would you?"

Harry shifted uncomfortably, the grin fading slightly as he met her gaze. "Pepper, I get it, this seems out of the ordinary but trust me. It's complicated, Pepper. More complicated than I can explain right now."

Pepper wasn't entirely convinced, but she could see that Harry was holding back for a reason. She sighed, rubbing her temples as the weight of the night's events started to press down on her. "Alright, fine. But Harry, you owe me a full explanation once this is over. No more deflecting."

Harry nodded earnestly. "You have my word."

Pepper relented, though her eyes lingered on Harry with a mix of concern and curiosity. "Okay, but don't think you're off the hook. We're talking about this later."

"Deal," Harry replied, relieved to have postponed the conversation, but knowing full well that he would soon have to face Pepper's questions head-on.

A deafening blast echoed from the biodome area, followed by a blinding flash of light that illuminated the night sky. Harry, Natasha, and Pepper instinctively turned toward the source of the explosion, the remnants of the earlier battle casting eerie shadows across the Stark Expo grounds.

"I'm guessing that's where Tony and Rhodey are," Harry remarked, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Seems like they're pulling another stunt like the one at Tony's birthday party."

But before anyone could respond, a soft, ominous beeping filled the air. They looked down in unison to see the drone lying beside them, its chest blinking a sinister red. For a moment, all three of them stood frozen, staring at the device as it pulsed with an increasingly rapid frequency.

Natasha was the first to understand. Her eyes widened as the realization hit her. "It's going to blow!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

Harry's instincts kicked in immediately. He lunged forward, reaching for both Natasha and Pepper, his mind racing as he prepared to apparate them to safety. But just as he was about to teleport, a blur of red and gold streaked through the air.

Tony swooped in at the last possible second. He grabbed Pepper around the waist, lifting her off the ground with a firm grip, completely ignoring the presence of Harry and Natasha.

With a final, frantic glance at the beeping drone, Harry grabbed Natasha's arm, and, with a sharp twist, they vanished just as the drones erupted in a blinding explosion. The shockwave rippled through the air, sending debris flying in every direction, but the trio had already escaped.

In the blink of an eye, Harry and Natasha reappeared on the rooftop of the tallest building overlooking the Stark Expo. The view was breathtaking, the entire Expo grounds spread out below them like a battlefield. The air was thick with the acrid scent of smoke and the distant sounds of sirens.

As Harry steadied himself, Rhodey landed beside them with a heavy thud, his War Machine suit still smouldering from the fight.

Rhodey looked at Harry and Natasha with a mixture of confusion and surprise. His eyes narrowed, and he was about to ask how they managed to get there so quickly when Harry raised a hand, cutting him off.

"Let's wait for Tony and Pepper to get here, and I'll explain everything," Harry said calmly, though the tension in his voice was unmistakable.

Rhodey hesitated but then gave a reluctant nod. Without another word, the three of them moved to the edge of the rooftop, sitting down to take in the chaotic scene below. The Stark Expo was now bathed in an eerie glow, the explosions of the drones lighting up the night sky like fireworks gone wrong.

For a moment, they sat in silence, the only sound was the distant crackle of flames and the faint hum of sirens. In the sky above, they could see a streak of repulsor fire trail—the unmistakable trail of Iron Man as Tony flew toward them, cutting through the night with laser-like precision.

As they watched Tony's approach, Natasha reached out and took Harry's hand, her fingers curling around his with a firm but gentle grip. She leaned into him, seeking comfort in his presence after the chaos they had just escaped.

They landed on the rooftop, the noise of explosions echoing in the distance as Tony removed his helmet, his face lined with exhaustion.

Pepper stared at him, her hands trembling slightly. "Oh my God. I can't take this anymore."

Tony frowned, his eyes searching hers. "You can't?"

"I can't take this," she repeated, her voice thick with emotion. "My body, literally, cannot handle the stress. I never know if you're going to kill yourself or wreak the whole company."

Tony glanced over his shoulder at the fires raging below, remnants of the drone explosions. Another explosion echoed through the night, punctuating his reply. "I think I did okay."

Pepper shook her head, the tension in her expression clear. "I quit. I'm resigning. That's it."

Tony's breath hitched, and he turned back to her, trying to process her words. "What did you just say? You're done? That's surprising… No, it's not surprising. I get it. You don't have to make excuses."

"I'm not making any excuses," Pepper shot back, her voice trembling, but firm.

Tony tilted his head, a weary smile tugging at his lips. "You were just making excuses. But you don't have to."

"No," Pepper insisted, her voice cracking. "I wasn't making an excuse. I'm very justified."

Tony's expression softened, and he reached out to gently touch her arm. "Listen… Hey, hey. You deserve better."

Pepper's resolve faltered for a moment as she looked into his eyes, and then she sighed. "Well…"

"You've taken such good care of me," Tony continued, his voice sincere. "I've been in a tough spot, but you got me through it, so… Right?"

Pepper swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words. "Thank you."

"Yeah," Tony nodded, his voice softer now. "Thank you for understanding."

A brief silence passed between them, the tension hanging in the air like a thread waiting to snap.

Tony cleared his throat, trying to lighten the mood. "So… let's talk clean-up."

Pepper blinked, pulling herself back to the present. "I'll handle the transition. It'll be smooth."

"Okay," Tony said, nodding in agreement. "What about the press? Because you only had the job for a week. That's gonna seem…"

Pepper's lips curled into a wry smile. "Well, with you it's like dog years."

Tony chuckled softly. "I know."

"It's like the Presidency," Pepper added, her voice softening.

Tony hesitated for a moment, then leaned in, their lips meeting in a tentative kiss.

When they pulled back, Tony looked at her with a mix of uncertainty and affection. "Weird?"

Pepper shook her head slightly. "No, it's not weird."

Tony's eyes brightened, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "It's okay, right?"

"Yeah," Pepper whispered, her heart racing. "It's okay."

Tony's grin widened. "Run that by me again." He leaned in, their lips meeting once more, this time with more certainty.

Suddenly, Rhodey's voice cut through the moment. "I think it was weird."

Startled, they broke apart and turned to find Rhodey, Harry and Natasha standing nearby, their arms crossed with a bemused look on his face. "You guys look like two seals fighting over a grape," Rhodey added.

Harry shoved Rhodey with enough force to make him stumble. "Seriously, Rhodey? They were having a perfect moment, and you just had to crash it! I've been waiting for this ever since I met you guys, and you completely ruined it! Ugh, you're like a walking spoiler alert," Harry groaned, throwing his hands up in exaggerated frustration.

Pepper, trying not to laugh, added, "I actually just quit, so…"

Tony nodded, playing along. "Yeah, so we're not really—"

Natasha cut in with her signature smirk. "Oh, don't worry, we all saw it. Front row seats, popcorn in hand. Honestly, better entertainment than anything on TV."

Tony groaned louder, clutching his head. "You mean all of you? Is nothing sacred?"

Natasha shrugged with a wicked grin. "What can I say? You two are like a live-action rom-com—except with more explosions."

Tony looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow. "You really had high hopes for this, didn't you?"

Harry sighed, dramatic as ever. "More than you'll ever know. And now, thanks to Rhodey, it's like watching your favourite show get cancelled right before the finale."

Pepper and Tony blushed hard, but Pepper quickly regained her composure, her mind racing to make sense of what just happened. "Hold on a second," she said. "What exactly are you two doing here? You were both right next to me in front of the main hall just moments ago. Now you're here on the roof with Rhodey. That's not just a quick dash across the building; it's impossible. How did you get here so fast?"

She narrowed her eyes, her mind already forming hypotheses, considering every possible explanation. "Teleportation? Advanced cloaking technology? No, those don't fit with what I've observed. You've got some explaining to do."

Harry waved his hands casting a modified version of the confundus charm to make everyone feel less agitated for what was about to happen next. "Alright, everyone, let's reel it in. We're going to have a heart-to-heart and make sure everyone's on the same page. We'll go one at a time, and I think it's best if we start with Tony."

Tony looked slightly taken aback. "What about me?"

Harry's tone was firm as he explained. "You need to tell them about the arc reactor and everything you've been dealing with. If anyone deserves to know the full story, it's Pepper. She's the one who's been holding things together, and she needs to be fully informed."

Pepper crossed her arms, her gaze locked on Tony. "Yes, Tony, it's time for full disclosure. You've been hiding things from me for far too long, and I won't tolerate any more half-truths or evasions. If we're going to fix this—whatever this is—I need to know everything. No more secrets."

Tony sighed, realizing there was no getting out of it. "Alright, fine. But let's make this quick. I'm not exactly a fan of group therapy sessions."

With a heavy sigh, Tony began, his voice more subdued than usual. "Alright, here it goes. The truth is the palladium core I used in the Arc Reactor, was far from perfect. The whole reactor, really, was a prototype. But the problem was the palladium itself. The more I used it, the more toxic it became. The reactor's inorganic discharge was poisoning my body slowly."

Pepper's eyes widened in shock "And you didn't think to get it fixed? You were dying, Tony!"

"I tried," Tony snapped back. "I've been trying for the past year and a half to find a solution. But the element that could replace palladium? It didn't exist. I searched every possible avenue, and hit dead end after dead end. And before you ask, yes, I consulted with doctors about removing the shrapnel, but the technology isn't advanced enough to extract it safely. Every option I had was a potential death sentence."

Harry, sensing that Tony's holding something back, leans forward. "And what made it worse?"

Tony's shoulders slump as if the weight of his words is bearing down on him. "The suit. Using the Iron Man suit only accelerated the poisoning. Every time I suited up, I was speeding up the clock. So yeah, it wasn't just the reactor; it was my own damn fault for pushing it so hard." He glanced at Harry with a weak smirk. "Happy now?"

"Not remotely," Harry replied.

Pepper, her anger subsiding into a deep worry, pressed on. "Are you well now? Or is there more you're not telling us?"

"Yes," Tony assured her. "I was able to create a new and improved Arc Reactor. It's powered by a new element. Haven't named it yet, but I'm thinking of calling it "Badassium." He tried to inject some humour, but it fell flat.

Pepper's eyes narrowed, and her jaw tightened as she processed the gravity of Tony's confession. "Tony, how could you keep something like this from me?" she demanded. "You were dying, and you didn't think I deserved to know? What do you think that would have done to me, to all of us, if you hadn't made it?" Pepper's eyes were hard as steel and her voice trembled with anger. "If something like this happens again, Tony, I swear, I'm going to kill you myself. You can't keep doing this to us."

Tony opened his mouth to respond, but Rhodey cut in. "Damn it, Tony," Rhodey shouted. "You know I've got your back, but this? You were playing with your life, man. What if something had happened to you out there? What were we supposed to do, just pick up the pieces and move on like nothing happened?"

Rhodey shook his head. "You've got people who care about you. This isn't just about you anymore. You can't keep pulling this lone-wolf crap and expect us to be okay with it. No more playing cowboy, Tony. You've got a family here. We're in this together, so start acting like it."

Pepper added softly to what Rhodey said. "I know you think you're protecting us by handling everything on your own, but all you're doing is pushing us away. We're in this with you, for better or worse. But you must let us in, Tony. You must trust us."

Tony, still reeling from his own revelation, quickly shifted the focus from him. "Alright, moving on. Natalie, or should I say Natasha?" he quipped, clearly trying to deflect the attention from himself.

Natasha responded with a sly, knowing smile. "Nice try, Stark." She turned to the group. "Well, since we're laying everything out on the table, I suppose it's my turn. My real name is Natasha Romanoff, and I'm an agent of SHIELD. I'm part of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s elite Strike Team Delta, known for our perfect mission record until Iron Man burst onto the scene and changed the game."

Pepper's initial shock gave way to a mixture of disbelief and confusion. She took a step back, her mind racing as she tried to process the revelation. "Wait, you're telling me you've been a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent this whole time?" after a pause Pepper continued "So All those times we talked, the things we shared—was any of it real?" Her voice wavered, betraying a sense of hurt.

Natasha nodded, acknowledging Pepper's shock. "My mission was to assess Tony's suitability as Iron Man and to ensure that the technology he created didn't fall into the wrong hands. That could mean anyone from rival corporations to foreign governments, or even Tony himself if he ever lost control. But when we discovered that Tony was dying due to palladium poisoning, my mission objectives changed. I was no longer just assessing him. I was also preparing for the possibility of Stark Industries falling apart after his death. SHIELD needed to ensure the company and its tech, wouldn't be compromised." Natasha explained. She then extended her had to hold Pepper's to comfort her. "But I have always been myself with you. Everything we shared was the real me." She confessed. "You are Harry's best friend and I am grateful to have you in his and our life."

Tony winced at the bluntness of her words but tried to brush it off. "Ouch. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Agent Romanoff. So, all this time, I had a SHIELD babysitter looking over my shoulder, judging whether I was fit to wear the suit. Great. Just great." He runs a hand through his hair, visibly struggling to keep his cool.

"What about Harry? He seems to be in the loop about all of this. Is he a SHIELD too?" Rhodey interjected.

Natasha's demeanour softened slightly as she glanced at Harry, a genuine warmth in her eyes. "Harry is the best boyfriend that a girl could ever ask for. I came across Harry when I was still working for the KGB. He was and always has been my staunchest supporter and was the main reason why I defected in the first place. It was then that we were both recruited by SHEILD, though independently. I accepted while Harry chose to open Lily's. I would have loved to have Harry in the field with me, but I think he was better suited for the domestic life."

She paused as her voice grew more reflective. "I've done things I'm not proud of—terrible things. But Harry's the one who showed me that I could still do good. Without him, I'd probably be dead in some forgotten corner of the world, a casualty of a very dark life. But with him, I have a future—one I never thought I'd deserve. And just so you know, Tony, there's nothing I hide from him. He knows everything."

Pepper, still processing, glanced between Natasha and Harry. "So that's why you're always travelling all over the world, and Harry keeps saying you're doing 'important work.' It all makes sense now."

Tony shifted uncomfortably, guilt creeping into his voice. "You could have told me that when you revealed yourself in the café. I… I'm sorry for everything I said earlier. I didn't know."

Natasha's gaze softened as she shook her head slightly. "It's fine. We understand where you came from. The important thing is that we're all on the same page now."

Harry stepped in, offering Tony a reassuring smile. "Yeah, Tony. No hard feelings. We're all in this together, and you've got our support. That's what matters."

Pepper stared at Harry; her brow furrowed in confusion. "And what about you, Harry? What are you?"

Harry's lips curled into a goofy grin, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Me? Well, I'm just your run-of-the-mill wizard. Just a bit of magic and a sprinkle of wonder. Thank you very much," he replied, the words rolling off his tongue with a casual ease that only deepened the bewilderment on their faces.

Tony, Pepper, and Rhodey exchanged incredulous glances before Tony, never one to miss a beat, leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Wait, wait, wait. Are we talking like Gandalf-level wizardry here? Magic staffs, pointy hats, spells, the whole deal?"

Harry nodded enthusiastically. "Yup! Exactly that type of wizard. Though, I must say, the hats are a bit much for my taste and I don't have a wand anymore making my magic a bit more limited."

The room fell silent for a moment as the weight of Harry's revelation sank in. Then, as if on cue, Tony's mouth dropped open, a mixture of shock and excitement battling for dominance on his face. "You've got to be kidding me. All this time, you've been walking around with magical powers, and you didn't think to mention it? What kind of spells are we talking about here? Can you, like, turn Rhodey into a frog or something?"

Harry shrugged, a playful glint in his eyes. "Pretty much. I can conjure things, transfigure objects, heal injuries, and even teleportation. My magic has a lot of versatility. The only real limitation is my imagination and magical stamina."

Rhoey, who had been standing there with his mouth slightly open, found his voice. "So, you're telling me that all those times you were mysteriously absent or showed up at just the right moment, it was magic? You could have just told us! I mean, how does that even work?"

Harry shrugged, his grin never wavering. "It's not something I thought you'd believe right away. Magic can be a lot to take in."

The three of them fell silent as the realization sunk in. Tony's eyes were wide with excitement, and he clapped his hands together, a huge grin spreading across his face. "This is amazing! I have so many questions. Can you show us something? Like, I don't know, make a car float or something?"

Pepper, who had been silently processing the revelation, finally found her voice. "Wait a second," she said, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Is that how you were able to get enough money to buy up all those Stark Industries shares? Magic?"

Harry chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah, you got me. I've been selling a bit of gold regularly. Not enough to raise any eyebrows, but over time it's added up. And, of course, the dividends from those investments have done quite well too."

Tony, however, was still grinning like a kid in a candy store. "Man, I knew you were special, but this is something else. I've got a million questions, but first, I need to see some of this magic in action. You've been holding out on us, Harry."

Finally, Pepper turned to Rhodey, her expression a mix of exasperation and curiosity. "Alright, Rhodey. What about you? Any big secrets to share? Maybe you're a shape-shifting alien or something?"

Rhodey chuckled, shaking his head with a grin. "Nope, nothing like that. Just your average Air Force colonel with a penchant for high-tech suits. But thanks for the concern."

Pepper rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Seriously? That's it? After all this, I was half-expecting you to reveal you're secretly a member of an intergalactic council or something."

Rhodey's laugh was genuine and relaxed, a stark contrast to the tension that had hung over the group. "I promise, I'm not hiding any cosmic secrets. Just dealing with the fallout from the explosion. Speaking of which, my car got totalled out there, so I'm going to need to borrow one of your suits until I can get a replacement."

Tony's eyes widened in mock horror, and he put a hand to his chest. "Not okay. Absolutely not okay. You know how I feel about people just taking my suits."

Rhodey raised an eyebrow, unbothered. "Well, I wasn't asking." With that, Rhodey headed lifted off and flew away in the War Machine suit. Tony sighed, a mixture of relief and frustration evident on his face.

Pepper glanced at Tony, a wry smile on her lips. "Well, that's one way to end an evening."

Tony nodded; his mood lightened by the camaraderie. "Yeah, and I guess that's a wrap on the grand revelations for tonight. Let's get out of here before something else blows up."

As the group prepared to leave, Harry glanced back one last time, taking in the chaos that had surrounded them. Despite the madness, he felt relief that everyone was on the same page now. They had faced extraordinary revelations and emerged stronger, united by their shared experiences.

Author's Note:

Thank you everyone for the support and thank you for your kind words and all the reviews that you have left. And I deserve the criticisms that I have received too.

It's almost time to wrap this one up with Arc 3. Now we have Harry's magic being known by all of his friends. And if you are wondering why these people are so easily accepting Harry's explanation, yes it is because Harry used a spell on them to make them more accommodating. I am excited for all of you to read the end of this arc. The scene in which Harry Nat and Rhodey interrupt Pepper Tony's moment is a request from my patrons and I think this was a nice fit. What did you guys think about the small Skrull easter egg for Rhodey. I know that he isn't one yet in the MCU timeline but having a nod to that here seemed very opportune.

I have a P. A.T.R.E.O.N with the name Bivz643, if you guys are interested in reading ahead. For now, you can read ahead to chapter 54 of this fanfiction. In that chapter, Harry and Co discuss Phase 2. There is only one tier for $5 with the benefit being access to the library and that I will be posting 2 chapters per week there. I understand that not everyone can become a Patron and support me monthly. However, if you'd still like to read ahead, you can do so by getting the PDF version of the 3rd and 4th arc of "A Wizard in the MCU" for $3 each at P. A.T.R.E.O.N. shop

Anyway, see you all next week. Happy reading.