Three days after his conversation with Agent Coulson in the desert, Harry found himself standing in front of the gleaming Stark Industries tower in Manhattan. The building stretched impossibly high into the New York skyline, glowing in the morning sun.
Getting a meeting with Tony Stark hadn't been as difficult as most people might expect. A few carefully placed phone calls, some strategic name-dropping regarding "exotic energy consultation" and recent events in New Mexico, and suddenly Anthony Edward Stark's famously busy schedule had developed an opening. Money and curiosity, Harry had learned long ago, were powerful motivators for men like Stark.
The lobby was exactly what Harry expected—all clean lines, modern art, and an atmosphere that screamed 'we're changing the world and getting rich doing it.' He approached the reception desk where a professionally polished woman with an artificially bright smile greeted him.
"Good morning, I'm here to see Tony Stark. The name's Harry Potter, I should be expected."
"Of course, Mr. Potter. Mr. Stark is waiting for you on the workshop level. Please take the express elevator to floor forty-seven. You'll be met there."
The elevator ride was smooth and quick, accompanied by soft jazz that probably cost more to license than most people made in a year. When the doors opened, Harry was greeted by a woman he recognized immediately, though she didn't know he recognized her.
"Mr. Potter? I'm Natalie Rushman, Mr. Stark's personal assistant. He's waiting for you in the workshop."
Natalie Rushman, or rather Natasha Romanoff looked every inch the part of an efficient, slightly overwhelmed executive assistant. Her red hair was pulled back in a professional bun, she wore a tailored business suit that managed to be both conservative and subtly flattering, and she carried a tablet that she glanced at periodically. The performance was flawless, which was exactly what Harry expected from someone of her caliber.
"Lead the way, Ms. Rushman," Harry replied with a polite smile, following her down a corridor lined with framed patents and awards.
The workshop represented organized chaos. Workbenches covered with half-assembled devices, holographic displays showing complex engineering schematics, and the subtle hum of high-tech machinery created quite an atmosphere. At the center of it all stood Tony Stark, wearing a Black Sabbath t-shirt and jeans, working on what appeared to be a miniaturized version of some kind of repulsor technology. Probably for his suit, given the hand gauntlet he could see.
"Mr. Stark," Natasha announced, "your ten-thirty appointment is here."
Tony looked up from his work, and Harry immediately understood why the man commanded such attention wherever he went. It wasn't just his wealth or his reputation, though those certainly helped. No, it was the sharp intelligence in his dark eyes and the way he seemed to take in everything about a person in the first few seconds of meeting them.
"Harry Potter," Tony said, setting down his tools and wiping his hands on a nearby cloth. "The mysterious consultant who's been making waves in certain circles. I have to say, your timing is interesting, showing up right after the whole 'Norse god and giant robot' situation in New Mexico."
"Current events have a way of highlighting gaps in our understanding of the universe," Harry replied evenly. "I thought it might be worthwhile to discuss some of those gaps with someone who's demonstrated a particular talent for filling them."
Tony's eyebrows rose slightly. "Flattery, Mr. Potter? I'm almost insulted. Most people who want something from me at least pretend to disapprove of my methods for a few minutes before they get to the point."
"I'm not most people, and I'm not here to waste your time with false pretenses. Your work with the arc reactor represents a breakthrough that most of the scientific community doesn't even know they should be excited about yet."
That got Tony's attention. He tilted his head, studying Harry more carefully. "Oh? And what makes you think you understand the implications of my work better than, say, MIT's entire physics department?"
Instead of answering directly, Harry walked closer to the arc reactor that was clearly visible in Tony's chest, glowing softly through the fabric of his shirt. "You've created a contained, artificial life force. Most people see it as just an advanced power source, but it's really much more elegant than that. You've managed to replicate, in miniature, one of the fundamental forces that separates living matter from inert matter."
Tony's expression shifted instantly, his eyes focusing sharply on him. Harry stared back calmly.
"That's an interesting perspective. Most engineers would describe it in terms of energy output and efficiency ratings."
"Most engineers aren't working with the kind of principles you've stumbled onto," Harry replied. "Tell me, have you been having problems with energy decay in your larger applications? Specifically with maintaining stable output when you scale the technology beyond the personal-use level?"
Tony was quiet for a long moment, and Harry could practically see the gears turning in the man's mind. Finally, Tony gestured toward a nearby workbench. "Show me what you're thinking."
Harry approached the bench where several holographic displays were showing complex energy flow diagrams. He studied the equations for a moment before he reached out to manipulate the display directly. Tony watched with growing fascination as Harry began making modifications to the mathematical models.
"Your primary issue is here," Harry said, highlighting a specific section of the energy matrix. "You're treating the energy decay as a linear function, but the field dynamics you're working with follow principles that are more... organic. The decay pattern isn't mathematical—it's biological."
Harry began inputting a series of complex equations that seemed to flow naturally from his fingers, adjusting variables and adding correction factors that Tony had never considered. "If you modify your field generation protocols to account for these resonance patterns, you should be able to maintain stable output regardless of scale."
Tony stared at the modified equations with growing amazement. "These calculations... where did you come up with these algorithms?"
"Let's just say I've had exposure to energy systems that operate on similar principles," Harry replied vaguely. "The math is sound—you can verify it yourself."
Tony was already running preliminary simulations, and Harry could see the exact moment when the results became clear. The man's eyes widened, and he looked up at Harry with a mixture of respect and deep suspicion.
"This works," Tony said slowly. "These modifications solve problems I've been wrestling with for months. Problems that I haven't discussed with anyone outside of my most secure research files." He paused, studying Harry intently. "So the question becomes clear. Who the hell are you really, and how do you know about work that exists only in my private labs?"
"I'm someone who understands that Earth is facing threats that conventional technology isn't equipped to handle," Harry said calmly. "And I'm someone who recognizes that people like you are going to be crucial in developing the solutions we're going to need."
"People like me," Tony repeated. "And what category would that be, exactly?"
"Brilliant. Resourceful. Willing to break rules when necessary. And having the technologies that could make the difference between survival and extinction when the real threats start showing up."
Tony was quiet for a moment, his expression thoughtful. Then he turned to his assistant who Harry knew had been paying close attention to their interaction. "Natalie, I'm going to need the workshop cleared for a private conversation. Hold my calls for the next hour."
"Of course, Mr. Stark," Natasha replied professionally, gathering her tablet and making her way toward the exit. Harry watched her leave, noting the subtle way she positioned herself to overhear as much of the conversation as possible before the door closed behind her.
Once they were alone, Tony's demeanor shifted. The playful, slightly performative aspect of his personality was replaced by the sharp, analytical mind that had built an empire.
"Alright," he said, settling into a chair and gesturing for Harry to do the same. "You've got my attention. What do you want?"
"I want to make sure know what you might be getting yourself involved with… that you're prepared for what's coming," Harry replied, taking the offered seat. "And I want to understand how your technology might fit into the larger picture of planetary defense."
"Planetary defense," Tony repeated with a slight smirk. "You know, most people who talk about planetary defense are either writing science fiction novels or sitting in padded rooms talking to invisible friends. But for some reason, I feel you're neither."
"How much do you know of SHIELD, Stark?"
"I know of the organization. They've been rather persistent in their attempts to establish a working relationship with Stark Industries."
"And what do you think of their approaches?"
"I think they're a bunch of government bureaucrats who think they can intimidate me into handing over my technology because they have fancy badges and mysterious acronyms," Tony said bluntly. "They keep sending agents to my board meetings and having 'casual' conversations with my employees. It's not exactly subtle."
Harry couldn't help but chuckle. "I take it you're not impressed with their recruitment techniques."
"Their recruitment techniques?" Tony's eyebrows rose. "Oh, you mean the part where they keep hinting that I might be 'useful' in some unspecified future operations? Or the part where they've assigned that redhead to spy on me while pretending to be my assistant?"
"You know about her?"
"Please. I've run background checks on everyone who's had access to my labs since Afghanistan. Natalie Rushman's cover identity is flawless, which is exactly what makes it obvious that it's a cover identity. Real people have inconsistencies, gaps, and boring details in their histories. Her background reads like it was written by a committee of experts, which it probably was."
"And you're comfortable having a SHIELD agent working as your personal assistant?"
"I'm comfortable knowing exactly who's watching me and why," Tony replied. "She's a professional, she does good work, and she hasn't tried to kill me yet, which puts her ahead of several people I've employed over the years. Plus, it's not like SHIELD is trying to steal my technology. They want me to cooperate with them, which means keeping me alive and happy is in their best interest."
"What do you know about the Avengers Initiative?"
Tony was quiet for a long moment, his expression carefully neutral. "That's a very specific question, Potter. And the fact that you're asking it tells me you already know the answer."
"I know SHIELD has been evaluating you as a potential candidate for a team of enhanced individuals designed to respond to threats that conventional military forces can't handle," Harry said directly. "I also know that you're not exactly enthusiastic about the prospect."
"'Not exactly enthusiastic' is putting it mildly," Tony said with a harsh laugh. "Have you seen my psychological evaluation? According to SHIELD's experts, I'm a narcissistic, authority-resistant, potentially unstable individual with serious trust issues and a tendency toward self-destructive behavior. Their exact recommendation was that I was 'unsuitable for team-based operations.'"
Harry was not surprised that Stark had insight into SHIELD's files.
"And how do you feel about that assessment?"
"I feel like they're not wrong," Tony admitted with brutal honesty. "I don't play well with others, I have problems following orders from people I don't respect, and my first instinct in any crisis is to solve the problem myself rather than wait for backup. Those aren't exactly qualities that make for a good team player."
"They're exactly the qualities that make you effective in situations where conventional approaches have failed," Harry countered. "The threats that are coming won't be solved by committees or bureaucratic procedures. They're going to require people who can think outside established parameters and act decisively when everything else falls apart."
Tony studied Harry carefully. "You keep talking about threats that are coming like you know something specific. Are we talking about more giant robots from space, or something else entirely?"
"We're talking about forces that make the incident in New Mexico look like a minor technical malfunction," Harry replied seriously. "Entities that have been watching Earth for decades, waiting for the right moment to make their move. Technologies that could reshape reality itself if they fell into the wrong hands. And cosmic-level conflicts that could turn this planet into collateral damage without anyone even noticing we exist."
"That's a cheerful thought," Tony said dryly. "And you think a team of people with unusual abilities is going to be sufficient to deal with threats on that scale?"
"I think a team of people with unusual abilities, supported by the right technology and guided by the right intelligence, might have a chance," Harry replied. "But only if they're willing to work together despite their differences."
"Which brings us back to my unsuitability for team-based operations," Tony pointed out. "According to SHIELD's own analysis, I'm exactly the wrong person for this kind of initiative."
"SHIELD's analysis focuses on your ability to follow orders and conform to military hierarchies," Harry said. "That's not what's going to matter when reality itself is under threat. What's going to matter is your ability to innovate under pressure, to see solutions that others miss, and to keep functioning when everything you thought you knew about the universe turns out to be wrong."
Tony was quiet for a moment, clearly thinking through the implications of what Harry was saying. "You seem remarkably confident that I'm going to end up involved in this Avengers Initiative despite SHIELD's official position. Any particular reason for that confidence?"
"Let's just say I have insight into how these situations tend to develop," Harry replied with a slight smile. "Trust me when I say that your participation will be required, regardless of what anyone's psychological evaluations might recommend."
"Required," Tony repeated. "That's an interesting word choice. Are we talking about a draft situation, or something more voluntary?"
"We're talking about circumstances that will make your participation necessary for reasons that go beyond SHIELD's recruitment preferences," Harry said carefully. "When the time comes, you'll understand why your particular combination of skills and resources makes you irreplaceable."
Tony stood up and began pacing around the workshop. "Assuming for the moment that you're right about all of this, and I'm not saying I believe you, just that I'm willing to consider the possibility, what exactly are you expecting from me right now?"
"Right now, I'm expecting you to continue developing your technology and preparing for possibilities that most people would consider impossible," Harry replied. "When the time comes for more active participation, you'll know."
"And what about you?" Tony asked, stopping his pacing and turning to face Harry directly. "What's your role in all of this? Are you SHIELD? Are you some kind of independent contractor? Are you from another planet?"
Harry chuckled. "I'm someone who has experience dealing with threats that exist outside normal parameters, and who has a vested interest in making sure Earth survives the next few years of conflicts intact."
"That's not really an answer."
"It's the answer you're going to get for now," Harry replied calmly. "But I will say this—when things start getting complicated, and they will start getting complicated very soon, remember that there are people working to protect this planet who don't appear on any government organizational charts."
Tony stared at him for a long moment before shaking his head.
"You know, most people who show up in my workshop claiming to have solutions to problems I've been working on for months turn out to be either delusional or trying to sell me something. But those equations you showed me are solid, and your insights about the arc reactor technology shows a level of understanding that shouldn't be possible unless you've had access to research that doesn't exist."
"I'm full of surprises," Harry said mildly.
Tony paused, studying Harry intently. "Which raises the question—should I be worried about having this conversation with you?"
"That depends entirely on your intentions," Harry replied. "If you're planning to use your technology to threaten innocent people or destabilize global security, then yes, you should probably be worried. If you're planning to use it to protect people and defend against threats that conventional forces can't handle, then we're likely to be on the same side."
"And how would you know the difference?"
Harry smiled. "I have my ways."
Tony laughed. "Right. Well, this has been... illuminating. And definitely not what I expected when I agreed to meet with a consultant on exotic energy applications."
"I imagine it wasn't," Harry agreed, standing up from his chair. "But I hope it was worthwhile nonetheless."
"Oh, it was definitely worthwhile. Those modifications to my field generation algorithms alone are worth millions in research and development costs. The question is what you expect in return."
"I don't expect anything in return," Harry replied. "Consider it an investment in planetary security."
"Planetary security," Tony repeated. "You know, six months ago I would have laughed at anyone who used that phrase seriously. Now... well, let's just say recent events have expanded my perspective on what constitutes a reasonable threat assessment."
"Recent events are just the beginning," Harry said seriously. "The real challenges are still coming."
Tony walked over to one of his workbenches and picked up a small device that Harry didn't recognize. "Before you go, I have to ask—how did you know about the energy decay problem? Those calculations you showed me were based on research that exists only in my private files, files that are secured behind encryption protocols that would make the NSA weep with envy."
"Let's just say that some problems are more common than you might think, especially when you're working with energy systems that blur the line between technology and natural forces," Harry replied. "The principles you've discovered have applications that extend well beyond power generation."
"Applications like what?"
"That's a conversation for another time," Harry said, making his way toward the workshop exit. "But I suspect we'll have that conversation sooner than either of us might expect."
"Wait," Tony called after him. "How do I contact you if I need to discuss this further?"
Harry paused at the doorway and looked back. "When you need to discuss this further, you'll find a way. Trust me on that."
And with that, Harry walked out of the workshop, leaving Tony Stark standing among his inventions with more questions than answers.
xXx
Harry made his way through the Stark Industries building at a leisurely pace, nodding politely to the various employees he passed in the corridors. The meeting had gone better than he'd expected.
Tony Stark was every bit as brilliant and perceptive as his reputation suggested, but he was also pragmatic enough to recognize valuable information when he saw it, regardless of its source.
As he waited for the elevator, Harry's enhanced sight caught Natasha Romanoff—still in her Natalie Rushman persona—speaking quietly into what appeared to be a phone but was undoubtedly a secure communication device. She was positioned at an angle that would have allowed her to observe anyone entering or leaving the workshop area, and Harry had no doubt that she'd managed to overhear at least portions of his conversation with Tony after she'd been told to leave.
The elevator arrived, and Harry stepped inside, selecting the ground floor. As the doors closed, he caught Natasha's eye and offered her a polite nod, which she returned with a professional smile.
The lobby was busier now than it had been when he'd arrived, and Harry made his way through the crowd without hurry, taking the time to observe the impressive architecture and the subtle displays of Stark Industries' technological achievements that decorated the space.
Outside, the afternoon sun was bright and warm, and he began walking. He wasn't particularly concerned about being followed. His magical senses would alert him to any surveillance long before it became a problem, but he was curious to see how SHIELD would handle the situation.
As expected, he picked up his tail within two blocks of leaving Stark Industries. The agent was good—professional, cautious, maintaining appropriate distance and using natural cover effectively. Under normal circumstances, they would have been virtually undetectable.
Harry continued walking for several more blocks, occasionally stopping to window shop or check his phone, giving his follower multiple opportunities to adjust position and maintain surveillance. It was almost like a dance, he thought with slight amusement.
Eventually, Harry turned into a narrow alleyway between two office buildings. He walked about halfway down the alley and stepped into a shadowed alcove, casting a disillusionment charm on himself.
Thirty seconds later, his follower appeared at the entrance of the alley, moving cautiously. They scanned the entire length of the alley, checked the few doorways and side passages, and even looked up at the fire escapes that provided access to the upper floors of the surrounding buildings.
Harry watched with amusement as the agent—he could see now that it was indeed a woman, though her baseball cap and sunglasses obscured most of her features—pulled out a communication device and spoke quietly into it.
"Target is no longer in sight," she said, her voice carrying clearly in the enclosed space of the alley. "Repeat, I've lost visual contact with the target."
The response was apparently just static, because she frowned and tried again. "Control, this is Agent Romanoff. I need—"
Before she could finish the sentence, Harry cast a freezing charm, locking her muscles in place while leaving her fully conscious and aware of her surroundings.
"That was very professionally done," he said, allowing his disillusionment charm to fade as he stepped out of the shadows. "Against a less aware individual, you would have succeeded completely."
Natasha Romanoff's eyes widened with shock, but she couldn't move or speak. Harry walked closer, giving her an impressed look. She was truly skillful.
"I suspected Nick Fury wouldn't be content with the little recruitment conversation we had," he continued conversationally. "Being a spy must make him extraordinarily paranoid, always needing to know more than he's been told. It reminds me of another one-eyed man I used to know—also a paranoid bastard."
Harry came to a stop directly in front of her, close enough that she could see his face clearly despite her sunglasses.
"I had a feeling he'd send you specifically to keep an eye on me. After all, you're among the best SHIELD has to offer, and you were already positioned perfectly for surveillance at Stark Industries." He paused thoughtfully. "I expected Barton might be involved as well, but I suppose he's taking a leave after the events in New Mexico?"
With a casual wave of his hand, Harry lifted the freezing charm. Natasha immediately reached for the pistol concealed beneath her jacket, but her hand stopped midway as she realized that Harry hadn't made any threatening moves and was, in fact, smiling at her with what appeared to be genuine amusement.
Slowly, she removed her baseball cap and sunglasses, revealing the sharp, beautiful features and distinctive red hair. Her green eyes were alert and calculating, clearly running through multiple threat assessments and tactical options even as she tried to understand what she was dealing with.
"Mr. Potter," she said, her voice carrying just a hint of a Russian accent that she normally kept completely suppressed. "You're more interesting than your file suggested."
"I have a file now?" Harry asked with a chuckle.
"Everyone has a file," Natasha replied. "But yours is a bit lacking in useful details."
"Let me guess—recent arrival to the United States, no clear employment history, unusual interest in cosmic-level events, possible connections to classified government operations, and a tendency to discover things he shouldn't know," Harry said with amusement. "How am I doing so far?"
"That's an accurate summary," Natasha admitted, her eyes never leaving his face. "And it raises more questions than it answers."
"I imagine it does. Tell me, Agent Romanoff, what's your professional assessment of the situation?"
Natasha tilted her head slightly. This was clearly a test of some kind, but she wasn't entirely sure what the basis was.
"My assessment is that you're not who you appear to be, you have capabilities that extend well beyond normal human parameters, and you have knowledge of SHIELD operations that makes me wonder if you have inside access or intelligence gathering methods that we haven't identified," she said slowly. "You've been offered recruitment into SHIELD, which you declined, and you've been briefed on the Avengers Initiative, for which you haven't provided a definitive response."
"Go on," Harry encouraged.
"You've demonstrated no hostile intent toward SHIELD personnel or operations. In fact, you helped expose threats within the organization. Still, you haven't provided any clear indication of your ultimate objectives or loyalties," she continued. "You appear to be playing a longer game than most people in your position would consider, which means either extremely sophisticated planning or access to information that allows you to anticipate future developments."
"An excellent analysis," Harry said approvingly. "And what does that analysis tell you about how you should proceed?"
Natasha was quiet for a moment as she stared at him, and Harry raised an eyebrow when he saw her expression change.
"Well," she said, her voice getting softer, more intimate as she stepped closer to him, "it tells me that traditional interrogation techniques aren't likely to be effective with someone of your apparent capabilities."
She moved sensually, closing the distance between them until she was close enough that Harry could smell her perfume. It was a subtle scent, and he reckoned it probably cost more than most people made in a week. Her hand came to rest lightly on his arm, and she looked up at him through her lashes with an expression that managed to be both vulnerable and seductive.
"Perhaps," she continued, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper, "a more personal approach might be more productive. After all, everyone has needs that go beyond professional obligations, and I find that the most interesting men often appreciate... directness in personal matters."
Harry looked down at her with amusement.
Natasha stared up at him with the same sultry look, pressing her curves against him. Slowly though, her expression morphed as she smirked, her hand holding on to his arm.
"However," she continued. "I don't think even that method will work on you."
"You do know how to pick your battles," Harry said as he stepped back, gently removing her hand from his arm. "SHIELD will gain nothing useful by having its agents follow me around, especially my abilities that I don't choose to reveal. I'm not an enemy of your organization, so it would be more productive if you deployed your considerable talents where they're actually needed."
"And where do you think that might be?"
"Working on threats that are actually coming rather than investigating the people who are trying to help you prepare for them," Harry replied calmly.
"Like New Mexico?"
"I'm sure you heard enough when I was discussing the same with Stark."
To her credit, she didn't deny it.
"I think we're done here. Do tell Nick Fury about everything you've discovered today, and for the sake of both of us, please tell him not to waste energy on worrying about what I can do. His paranoia is understandable but unnecessary where I'm concerned."
With that, Harry turned and began walking toward the main street.
Natasha remained where she was for several seconds, watching as Harry disappeared around the corner and back onto the busy street. When she finally moved to follow him, she found that the sidewalk was crowded with pedestrians going about their daily business, but Harry Potter was nowhere to be seen.
She pulled out her communication device and tried once more to reach SHIELD headquarters, and she found the static that had been interfering with her transmissions earlier was gone now.
"This is Romanoff," she said quietly. "I need to speak with Director Fury immediately."
xXx
Two Weeks Later
Harry stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of his apartment, looking out over the sprawling cityscape as the sun began to set behind the distant buildings.
It had been quiet since his encounters with both Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff, if he ignored the incident at the expo a few days after their meeting. The man had been in control of the situation, and Harry had not felt the need to intervene.
SHIELD had also taken his advice to heart, because he hadn't detected any further surveillance attempts. Whether that was because they'd decided he wasn't a threat or because they'd simply gotten better at hiding their observations was unclear, but either way, it represented progress of a sort.
Tony Stark, meanwhile, had been making good use of the modifications to his arc reactor technology. Harry's magical senses could detect the increased energy output from Stark Industries' research facilities, and he had no doubt that the man was already developing applications that would prove crucial in the coming conflicts.
As Harry watched the city transition from day to night, he felt the familiar tingling sensation that indicated his magical senses were picking up something unusual.
His eyes began to glow with a soft, golden light as his consciousness expanded beyond the physical boundaries of his apartment and reached out across vast distances of space and time.
Images and impressions flooded his mind with startling clarity. Distant stars arranged in unfamiliar constellations. A massive fortress floating in the void between galaxies, its architecture both ancient and impossibly advanced. There was a lot more, passing within seconds, and Harry could feel his eyes watering a bit.
It lasted only a few seconds, but when Harry's eyes returned to normal, he found himself gripping the window frame hard enough that his knuckles had gone white.
"Damn," he muttered under his breath, releasing his grip and stepping back from the window.
Harry walked over to his kitchen and poured himself a drink, trying to process what he'd just seen. Once he'd finished his drink, he returned to the window, staring up at the night sky.
"It's a shame things are turning out this way," he said quietly to the empty apartment. "Would've been so much easier if I could see the entire future instead of just these glimpses of what might be."
But that wasn't how fate worked, he knew. The future was fluid, shaped by countless individual choices and events that combined in complex ways. Even his magical abilities could only show him the general direction events were trending, not the specific details of how those events would unfold.
All he could do was continue to prepare, continue to position himself where he might be able to make a difference when the critical moments arrived, and hope that the choices he was making now would prove to be the right ones when everything finally came to a head.
The game was indeed just beginning.
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