Halloween was approaching at Hogwarts, the air crisp with the scent of pumpkin pastries and fallen leaves, students chattering about costumes and the feast. For Harry, it was the first time in a long while he wasn't dreading it.
No troll in the dungeons, no Basilisk sneaking through pipes, no fraud professors pestering him about fame.
Harry sat cross-legged on his bed in Gryffindor Tower, quill in hand, Tony's letter beside him, the neat handwriting and small doodles in the margins making him grin.
You're a good kid, Harry. Keep your head up, keep your wand ready, and remember—if that old coot tries anything, you call me, okay?
Harry had laughed reading that. He hadn't called Tony yet, but it felt good to know he could if he needed to.
For now, things were peaceful.
_________________
Meanwhile, back in New York, Tony Stark was alive, well, and back in his tower.
Barely.
The doors to his penthouse slid open with a soft hiss, revealing Pepper Potts standing with arms crossed, her expression the perfected mix of exasperation and relief only she could manage.
"Well?" she demanded, eyebrow arching.
Tony held up both hands, trying a grin that didn't quite reach his tired eyes. "Before you yell, I would like to remind you I am no longer dying."
Pepper's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Tony."
And so, the lecture began.
Tony took it like a man, dropping onto the couch while Pepper paced, ranting about "running off with wizards," "hospital stays without informing the company," and "do you know how many board calls I had to handle because you disappeared?"
Tony only interrupted once to say, "It was either that or I died. I figured you'd prefer me alive."
That made Pepper pause, her anger slipping for a moment before she sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Just… don't do it again."
Tony opened his mouth, closed it, and finally nodded. "I'll try."
They both knew it was the best promise he could give.
Once the tension settled, Pepper got to business, pulling out her tablet.
"We've also hired a new intern. She's… efficient." Pepper's lips twitched, as if unsure whether to smile or frown. "She's requested your direct approval."
Tony groaned, sinking deeper into the couch. "You know how I feel about meeting interns."
"She's… persistent," Pepper said, scrolling through the tablet. "Name's Natalie Rushman. Transferred in with impeccable paperwork, Russian language,martial arts certifications, and—" she gave Tony a pointed look, "—she's redheaded."
Tony's brows rose. "Oh, really?"
"Tony," Pepper warned, the single word layered with meaning.
He put his hands up, smirking. "Noted. Professional."
Pepper gave him a look that said she seriously doubted it but pressed a button on her tablet. "She'll meet you tomorrow morning, Be nice, Tony."
"Always am."
Pepper rolled her eyes but her shoulders relaxed as she sat beside him, letting herself breathe for the first time in days now that Tony was back.
They sat in silence for a moment, the lights of the tower twinkling against the New York skyline.
Tony leaned back, closing his eyes, the corner of his mouth twitching as he thought of Harry's letter tucked into his pocket. The kid was doing fine, and for now, so was he.
But tomorrow, with Natalie Rushman walking into his life, and the looming questions about the palladium poisoning still on his mind, Tony knew his peace was about to be temporary.
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It was around lunch, a half-eaten shawarma sitting forgotten beside Tony's keyboard while lines of code scrolled down his holographic screens.
"JARVIS, cross-check it again."
"Sir, I have triple-checked. Natalie Rushman has no birth record, no education record, no credit history prior to 2007, and the references on her resume are fabricated. She does not exist."
Tony ran a hand down his face, his fingers lingering over the faint scar left by the Arc Reactor, now removed, the skin still tender.
"Great," he muttered, pacing in sweatpants and a Black Sabbath T-shirt. "So SHIELD sent in a spy. Into my company. Again."
"It would appear so, sir."
Tony scowled, pulling up Natalie's file and replaying the footage from earlier, the way she moved, the casual way she sized up the lab when she thought no one was watching.
"Unbelievable," he muttered. "Unbelievable."
"In their defense, sir, your unique situation with the magical and muggle world might have warranted observation."
Tony's eyes narrowed. "Whose side are you on, J?"
"Yours, sir. Always."
Tony sighed, collapsing onto his stool, elbows resting on his knees. "They just… They keep poking around, J. Every time I turn around, it's SHIELD this, SHIELD that. Like I don't have enough to handle already."
There was a quiet hum in the lab.
"Sir, may I remind you of your standing instruction for this month?"
Tony blinked, staring at the floating screens before him. "What?"
"October, sir. You asked to be reminded."
Tony's shoulders tensed, his jaw tightening as the realization hit.
"Oh," he breathed, leaning back.
James and Lily Potter's death anniversary.
Harry's parents.
The guilt settled like lead in his stomach. He'd been so tangled in his recovery, the mess with Hogwarts, and rebuilding his armor, he almost forgot.
"Damn it," he muttered, rubbing a hand over his mouth. "I almost… How did I almost forget?"
"You have been preoccupied with not dying, sir."
Tony snorted humorlessly. "Yeah. Still. That kid—"
He paused, looking toward the glass windows of the lab, the skyline of New York beyond, the clouds darkening with the promise of October rain.
Harry would be alone in that castle, surrounded by teachers and other kids, but alone all the same on that day. The boy didn't talk about it much, but Tony could see it in his letters, between the neat lines, the words that never made it to paper.
"JARVIS," Tony said quietly, "set a reminder for the day. Block out everything. Meetings, press, even if Pepper screams. I'm going to Hogwarts."
"Already done, sir."
Tony pressed his palms together, tapping his thumbs as he thought. What could he even do for the kid? Bring flowers? Harry wasn't the type for flowers. Maybe take him flying on the suit? Or maybe just… be there, so Harry wasn't alone.
"Sir, if I may—"
"Yeah, J?"
"Master Potter would likely appreciate your presence more than any gesture you could make."
Tony exhaled, a small, tired smile on his lips. "Yeah. You're right."
There was still the matter of Natalie Rushman. And SHIELD. But all of that could wait.
Because at the moment, To Tony, Family matters.