A few days later Harry, Sam and Bucky joined Steve as he went to London to attend a special event, unfortunately it wasn't a happy event, nor was it one that everyone present ever wanted to attend. The event in question was Peggy Carter's funeral, a funeral that was being held two days after her death.
Peggy Carter wasn't only famous for her contributions during World War Two, but also for the millions of people she helped and for the fact that she was a co-founder of Shield (though obviously that last part was kept quiet since most people in the world didn't know about Shield). As far as most of the world knew she was simply a hero from World War Two. However she was much more than that for Steve, she was the first - and so far only - love of his life.
Steve knew that this day would eventually come, he might have lucked out and was able to wake up in the future with a young body but Peggy had to have grown old the old fashioned way, and Steve knew that she was suffering from Alzheimer's disease, she had barely recognised him the last time they had met.
In the church where her funeral was held Harry was sat near the front with Sam, neither of them really knew Peggy that well but were mostly here for Steve. Bucky and Steve were part of the group that carried the casket in, Steve could have easily done it himself but that was from the point. Eventually everyone was sat down, Sam and Harry sat with Steve and Bucky in-between them, the two were there not just for the funeral of Peggy but also to support Steve, both knowing how much she meant to Steve. Bucky had apparently known Peggy as well, though not as good as Steve.
"There is a lot of people here." Harry whispered to the others as he looked around, this wasn't a small church by any means so it was quite impressive that it was filled up with people.
"That's good," Sam replied, "she deserves the best." He said, Bucky placed a comforting and very organic hand on Steve's shoulder, Steve didn't respond but the three knew he was listening.
A short while later, people began making speeches, Steve was offered but didn't feel up to it.
A few more people came forward to make speeches, one particular speech was made by Sharon Carter, a relative of Peggy, her niece in fact. Though the four recognised her as the agent who lived in the same building as Bucky and Cap who were both sharing an apartment together, when Harry had first found out that she stayed in the same building as Steve under a false name he told Steve immediately as he recognised her from Shield. She knew they knew who she was yet she was still the spy that lived in the same building while Steve and Bucky were the ones who let her.
"Margaret Carter was known to most as the founder of shield," Sharon said as she stood in front of everyone, her voice brought Steve out of his thoughts and caused him to look up at her. "but I just always knew her as my Aunt Peggy. She had a photograph in her office, Aunt Peggy standing next to JFK. As a kid that was pretty cool. But it was a lot to live up to, which is why I never told anyone we were related. I asked her once, how she managed to master diplomacy and espionage in a time when no one wanted to see a woman succeed at either. She said compromise when you can, but where you can't, don't. Even if everyone is telling you that something wrong… is something right, even if the whole world is telling you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree then look them in the eye and say 'no, you move'." She said, her eyes catching Steve's. "We spent our best time together the past few years, I asked her out of all of her achievements, which she was most proud of. She smiled and patted my hand before saying 'dear, that's classified'."
Harry along with his friends were giving their full attention to the speech, and they found it difficult to ignore the obvious fact that Sharon was more than likely referencing the accords in her speech.
"That was a nice turn out." Harry said when he and Steve were the only ones left in the church, the two stood together, leaning against the church benches.
"Yeah, it was." Steve quietly agreed. "I'm glad… she deserved the best."
"From what I've heard she was the best." Harry replied.
"She was," Steve confirmed with a small chuckle. "I… thank you for coming today, Harry." Steve finally managed to get out after a short pause.
"You're welcome." Harry nodded to him before he began looking around the church.
"Why did you come?" Steve asked.
"I beg your pardon?" Harry asked as he turned his head back to Steve, giving him his full attention.
"Here, this funeral, why?" Steve asked. "I know we're friends but I can't help ask." He added in an apologetic voice.
"Look," Harry sighed. "I know that at times - like ninety-nine percent of the time - I can be a complete asshole. I've acted difficult, I'm also a bit of a dick."
"You're not that bad, Harry." Steve said, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Yeah, I'm sure." Harry snorted. "Still, you are my friend even if I do think that you are hopeful idiot sometimes, and someone important to you has passed away. So… I'm here for you."
"Thank you," Steve said with a small but sincere smile. "h… have you attended many funerals before?" Steve asked.
"You mean in my last world?" Harry asked.
"Yeah." Steve nodded.
"A few, though not as many as you would expect given the death rate." Harry answered, looking much more sombre than before. "You have to remember that my war wasn't a simple case of good guys live in this place and bad guys live in this place, it was a lot like how Hydra attempted to plant their people in here except in my case the people were already planted and kept growing. The enemy was in every level of government possible, we didn't know who to trust. Maybe you were going to be blasted in the back by a shop keeper one day, maybe your funeral planner was secretly working for the enemy. A few years into the war the enemy would start showing up at funerals, after that nobody had them anymore. If you wanted to do something with a body then you got rid of it or bury it yourself in your back garden."
"That's horrible." Steve looked disgusted and a little angry.
"It was," Harry nodded. "I wasn't proud of it but I did return the favour at a few of their funerals, partly to take them out but also to show them what it felt like." Harry said, he paused and looked around once more. "I… I'm glad nothing like that happened here. I really am, she didn't deserve anything like that."
"Thank you." Steve nodded, he turned and was about to walk away but was stopped when he felt a hand grab his wrist. "Harry?" Steve asked when he turned around to look at Harry.
"Curse my life." Harry said under his breath before he looked up at Steve. "What if… what if you could see her again?" Harry asked.
"Peggy?"
"Yes, what if you could see her again, only for five minutes? Would that make you happy?" Harry asked, staring deeply into Steve's eyes.
"Yes," Steve answered in a soft voice. "I would love to see her again."
"I'm going to show you something." Harry said as he took off his suit jacket and rolled up his left arm sleeve to reveal his arm tattoo.
"Harry?" Steve asked but was ignored as Harry put up privacy wards around them before he got rid of his wand.
"I'm going to show you something, an ability of mine," Harry repeated. "Natasha knows about it, Sif doesn't but I think that's just because I actually forgot to tell her." Harry added that last part with a frown. "Anyway, what I am about to show you is confidential and you can't tell anyone, nobody else can know about this."
"What are you talking about?"
"Promise first." Harry replied. "Promise you won't tell anyone about what I am about to show you."
"I… I promise." Steve said after a few moments of silence.
"Good." Harry sighed before he closed his eyes, a second later his tattoo glowed and a second later a silver, wispy and transparent version of Peggy appeared in front of them, she had died old so she looked old, not like the beauty she once was.
"Peggy?!" Steve gasped. "How?!"
"I know you have a lot of questions but you've only got five minutes to talk to her so I'd save your questions that I'm supposed to answer for later and talk to her." Harry said, gesturing to Peggy. "I'll put another spell up so I won't hear what you're saying and I'll make sure nobody comes in and interrupts." Harry said before he walked off and did exactly what he said he was going to do.
Harry stayed quiet and made sure to keep his back to Steve, figuring that it would be better to give the man some privacy, though he also made sure to keep track of the time.
"Steve," Harry said five minutes later after he cancelled one of the privacy spells. "it's time for her to go." Harry said in a sincerely apologetic voice.
"No, wait!" Steve quickly said, his face red and wet from the tears that had dripped down his eyes. "I… I still need to…"
"No," Peggy cut him off. "he's right, Steve. I need to go, he'll tell you why. Just remember what I told you." She said before she nodded to Harry. Harry gave her a small nod back before he let her go.
"W… why?" Steve asked a few moments later. "Why… why couldn't I talk to her more?" He asked, looking down at the ground, sounding almost broken.
"Steve, look at me, look at me." Harry said, he only continued speaking when Steve looked up towards him. "I've told you about this because I know that you're good and level-headed enough to listen to me. The dead need to stay dead, they need to rest. I can bring them back for a short amount of time but I wouldn't dare bring them back for longer than a few minutes, it could have horrible effects on them, very bad effects. Don't be mistaken, Steve, this ability is as much of a curse as it is a gift for people like you and me."
"People like us?" Steve blinked, looking at him with confusion.
"People who have lost a lot," Harry responded. "there are so many people that I want to see every day, including my godson. But I can't, because it would hurt them. Do you understand?" Harry asked, silently sending a wandless cheering charm to help Steve out a little bit, he had made sure to wandlessly know that spell ever since he learnt that he was going to be spending time with Bruce.
"I… I think so," Steve said as he wiped some tears off of his face. "t… thank you, Harry. For everything."
"Don't tell anyone." Harry replied. "The last thing I need is everyone coming up to me and asking to see dead people. I told you because I trust you not to tell the others and not to abuse what I've shown you, don't prove me wrong."
"I won't." Steve firmly replied.
.....
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