Chapter Text
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Officially joining the Avengers - if only under the poorly chosen pseudonym of 'James Potter' - hadn't really had much impact on Bucky's life in Scotland. He was essentially on-call if another 'Avengers level threat' occurred... but given that the Invasion of New York had been the first (recorded) such event thus far, it seemed unlikely to repeat any time soon, so the team members had gone back to their day jobs in the meantime.
Steve's permanent address was now Avengers Tower, but they both visited each other regularly during their free time. Harry was spending the first half of the summer at the Tower, and was already being absolutely spoiled by the entire team.
They were each oddly good with kids in very different ways. Tony should not be allowed near any child with a credit card, because he bought whatever caught Harry's eye even when the kid insisted he was only looking and didn't really need it. Banner took to having Harry around with a level of wistful adoration that suggested he had dreams of having children of his own one day... and a poorly hidden air of sadness that suggested he thought that wasn't possible. Romanoff, like all her other personas, had perfected the role of 'cool aunt', and knew exactly how to distract Harry from any negative thought... but to Bucky's trained eye she seemed to have that same melancholy as Banner, she just hid it far better. Clint seemed to have a very firm grasp of the level and type of rules required to keep a child safe while not making them feel penned in, and acted the clown to the perfect degree to be entertaining whenever Harry seemed bored. The other Agents weren't around so much, but Coulson was kind and patient, while the Koenigs (only JARVIS seemed to be able to tell them apart) were always willing to help with homework when they were available.
Tony had set up a few private groups among the team, including one he referred to as 'Fuck MACUSA', and one he called 'To Hell With HYDRA'. The former seemed to be a plan to channel magic using technology, because Tony Stark would not be denied... the other was fairly self-explanatory, and included Steve, Bucky, and Clint, because Clint was an observant ass who'd lucked into figuring out who Bucky was, and thus couldn't be kept out if you tried. Around the rest of the team, who weren't in the know about the subject matter, they were simply called 'Sub-Committee F' and 'Sub-Committee H', respectively.
'Sub-committee' meetings were relatively rare, and only convened if there was a reason, such as Steve's report on how damned sure he was that STRIKE were HYDRA because, "Well, even if they're not actually HYDRA, they're still definitely not good people." ...which, while probably true, wasn't actually evidence, no matter how emphatically Clint agreed with it. Or that time Tony wanted to interrogate Bucky on the history of wandlore, which he knew very little about, but for some reason the Koenigs were not in on this particular evil scheme of Tony's, so Bucky was apparently the best source available even if his information was limited.
To counterbalance the conspiracies, Tony also set up a 'sub-committee of Movie Night' (aka 'Subcommittee M') which included Nat, Bucky, Clint, Bruce, and Coulson, in order to determine what movies would be most useful or interesting to make Steve, Thor, and Loki watch next - Bucky was only allowed to be included in that one because he knew Steve's viewing history, otherwise some of them might be trying (and likely failing) to surprise him with modern pop-culture, too.
Rude jokes were made about what Tony could possibly be trying to spell with these 'sub-committees', but no one could figure it out because he wasn't actually trying to spell anything... yet.
Clint, apparently being a professional dick, decided to create the 'SHIELD sub-committee', to which only he, Romanoff, Coulson, the Koenigs, and Steve were invited... and he talked about it all the time, while not actually holding any meetings. It existed purely to mess with Tony.
On the bright side, Tony had supplied the whole team with computer tablets that used biometric security, as well as some highly technobabbled combination of gold, starmetal, and magic to shield them from both magic breaking them and from mundane hacking (apparently sending data through magical means was unhackable - Bucky did not know when or where or how Tony had the time to figure that out, nevermind design tech to take advantage of it, but he was about 80% sure Loki was involved somehow), and these new communications devices included video calls, so he didn't even have to commute for any of these 'meetings' unless he wanted to. Sure, he could have just used the mirrors for some of them, but that didn't work for when they wanted to include team members who were out of the magical loop.
Bucky didn't even take all that much time off from his job at the bookstore, spending only two non-consecutive weeks of the summer on official vacation. He intended to stay at Avengers Tower for longer, commuting through the vanishing cabinets to his and Harry's home in the mornings, so he could change before Portkeying to Diagon Alley, and returning the same way in the afternoons. In theory he could have just Portkeyed straight from the Tower, but there were rules about international magical travel (that he had already violated that first day Steve had woken up this century), and he didn't want to flaunt them too often or blatantly, just to be safe.
The first half of his 'official vacation' began on July 3rd, so he had time to go shopping in New York's magical community (with Harry at his side, and Pepper as a guide), before Steve's birthday party that Tony had orchestrated in spite of Steve's embarrassed remarks that it wasn't necessary.
The party was excessive, as expected, but everyone had fun, and that was what counted.
Before the second half of Bucky's vacation, Tony and Bucky conspired on another plot, to make sure all those not allowed to know about magic left the Tower for one reason or another that week, while the Weasley family were invited to visit. It had stared with Tony talking to the twins... then Bucky telling Tony about Arthur's fascination with non-magical things.
In hindsight, having gotten to know Tony over the last few months, Bucky was utterly unsurprised that an all-expenses-paid tour of non-magical New York was prepared for the week, presented as a prize the family had won, so as not to rile their pride... including letting Mr Weasley and the boys visit Tony's lab (under Tony's supervision), while Pepper took Mrs Weasley and Ginny out on the town.
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Tony Stark might be in love. Again. Not romantic love, this was a science-bro level of love. Which was especially weird, because the man in question was utterly incapable of processing anything on a scientific level.
Arthur Weasley was extremely knowledgeable in the subject of enchantments; understood magical schema as fluently as Tony knew programming code... but try to explain any scientific principles to the man, and just... nope.
Electricity? He thought it must involve transfiguration somehow. Car engines? There just had to be some kind of spell to power it; Tony repeatedly tried to explain the internal combustion principle, but to Arthur's mind surely only magic could make that sort of explosion. JARVIS? Definitely a ghost.
It wasn't that Arthur disbelieved him when he said these assumptions were wrong - he clearly understood and accepted the fact that non-magical people had their ways of doing things - it was more that he just could not wrap his head around even the most basic scientific concepts, even when Tony really dumbed them down.
It was positively ludicrous that Tony loved the man's mind so much...
But start talking charms arrays, and it was like being back in MIT with his old engineering professor... the only person at that school who had offered Tony an intellectual challenge.
"Okay, so you put a minor bombarda spell in the engine , and it actually worked?" Tony asked, trying not to laugh at this. It was innovative is what it was: when you can't figure out one way, work around it - Arthur might be a complete idiot with technology but he was a freaking genius with magic. "Can I see the schema? I'm really curious, now."
And so then Tony was staring at an illusory projection of a complex system of spells. He didn't recognise them all, but Arthur set about explaining them eagerly enough. Expansion spells to fit more passengers and luggage ("naturally", he says, like that's just expected), every mod-con any car could want, up to and including full climate control ("I could make it snow inside if I wanted, but of course nobody wants that")... and finally, a whole array of spells on the engine that read almost like computer code to Tony.
"Wait, what's this?" Tony asked, pointing to a piece of that array.
"Well after a point you don't really want to be sitting turning a wheel the whole journey, do you?"
"Auto-pilot?" Tony asked, impressed.
"I suppose you could call it that, yes," Arthur nodded, grinning broadly.
"But this level of processing, generated by magic," Tony said thoughtfully, "I read that can sometimes lead to... side-effects. You know, inanimate objects gaining sentience. These complex arrays can mutate and turn into a kind of... magical brain."
"Only if they aren't maintained," Arthur told him. "Some of these charms here need to be refreshed, that's all."
Tony frowned, now. "But if you missed the maintenance schedule...?"
"Well, yes, I suppose that could be a problem," Arthur admitted.
"Hmm, you know what might help here?" Tony asked. Arthur gave him a curious and expectant look. "JARVIS, bring up the Asimov Array, would you?"
It had been an exercise to help himself learn to code in runes, when he was first working out the theory of magic. He hadn't expected to need to use it at all, nevermind so soon... but he had essentially written - though not yet been quite confident enough to activate, even if he had been able to tap magic to charge it, which he still hadn't managed to do yet - a basic (Dum-E level) AI code in runeworks. Naturally, one of the arrays he created for it had been the Three Laws.
"If there's even a risk of it growing a mind of its own, I figured something like this should be in place to catch said mind," Tony offered, gesturing to the array JARVIS was now displaying.
Arthur examined the design, his face taking on that same thoughtful-genius expression any scientist gets looking at such a complex piece of work, and once again it baffled Tony just how observant the man was at this when he couldn't figure out a light bulb .
Finally, Arthur nodded. "I see what you're getting at here, Mr Stark. It's brilliant - a safeguard against malevolent intent in a construct. I would change this part, here-" he pointed, and began speaking the magical equivalent of fluent technobabble. Tony, still being new to the subject, had to actually focus in order to keep up.
It was exhilarating, being able to collaborate on a project with someone who understood exactly what they were doing, could match Tony step for step, and even teach him new things.
By the time they were done editing the array - and Tony could see now where he had misinterpreted some of the runes' root meanings, which was why it had needed fixing in the first place - it was getting terribly late, and they had to call it a night.
Tomorrow was Harry's birthday, and everyone in the Tower was deeply invested in ensuring it was the Best Day Ever.
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Harry's birthday was the Best Day Ever.
Video calls were made by the team who 'couldn't be there', to wish Harry a happy birthday in the morning, and a proper party was held in the afternoon, with the entire Weasley family, Bucky, Tony, Pepper, Steve, Thor, Loki, and three of the four Agents Koenig all in attendance (Billy had drawn the short straw, and had to work at SHIELD HQ that day). In spite of the odd mix of personalities, not one misunderstanding or upset occurred. Everyone had a great time.
Bucky was pretty sure it couldn't have been planned better.
Until the celebrations wound down, and evening rolled around.
The guests had all dispersed; the Koenigs had gone home, Steve and Pepper had retired to their respective private suites in the Tower, the Weasley family were settled in the guest suites for the night, Thor returned to Asgard, and Loki was off somewhere unspecified.
Just Bucky, Harry, and Tony where still in the communal space. Harry was contentedly sitting in the middle of the floor, playing with the set of action figures that had been Clint's present, while Bucky wondered just who had gone and merchandised the Avengers so quickly... and how wise it definitely would not be to enchant the Thor and Iron Man toys to fly. Tony was just as contentedly playing with what looked like computer code on his tablet, on the seat next to Bucky.
Everything was peaceful, until...
"Sirs, a teleportation has been detected in young Mr Potter's bedroom," JARVIS informed them. Everyone froze, and looked up at the ceiling, where it was universally (and inaccurately) assumed JARVIS was, in any given room.
"Energy type?" Tony asked.
"Red line twelve," JARVIS replied promptly.
Tony frowned, looking over at Harry. "Any idea why a demon would want to visit you, Short Round?"
Harry shook his head, eyes wide.
"Where are you getting demon from?" Bucky demanded darkly.
"Red line energy signatures are from demonic planes," Tony shrugged. "I may not have cracked how to draw energy for myself yet, but reading it is pretty simple."
Harry and Bucky exchanged a look, and Bucky clearly saw genuine confusion there. "Turn on the cameras," Bucky commanded. It had been agreed that the security in their private suites was to be kept off unless they said so... or something truly life-threatening could be detected in said suites.
JARVIS obeyed, and an image of Harry's room came up on the main screen. Standing in the middle of the floorspace, looking around with confusion, was a small gremlin-like creature with large floppy ears and wide round eyes... wearing a pillowcase.
"I think..." Bucky said, frowning thoughtfully. "That looks like a House Elf."
"A what, now?" Tony asked.
"A House Elf," Bucky repeated. "They're the origin of the myths of brownies; little people who sneak into your house and do your chores for you. They're supposed to be fairly common in the wizarding world, but I've never seen one in person, so I could be wrong."
"JARVIS, interrogation mode seven," Tony commanded.
"Good evening," JARVIS' voice spoke smoothly from the security monitor, and the probably-a-House-Elf jumped at the sound. "Might I enquire as to the nature of your visit, please?"
The creature stared around in surprised confusion, before cautiously asking, "Is you speaking to Dobby?"
"If your name is Dobby, then yes," JARVIS answered cordially.
Dobby nodded in answer, grabbing its ears and pulling on them in what looked very much like a nervous reaction. "Dobby is wanting to speak to Harry Potter, sir."
"Might I ask, regarding what, Zr Dobby?"
"Zr?" Dobby asked, confused. "What, if Dobby might ask, what is a Zr?"
"It is a gender-neutral variant of the titles Mr, Miss, or Mrs, as I am currently unsure of your preferred form of address, and wish not to offend-"
"Offend Dobby?" Dobby asked, confusion and shock - bordering on horror - written clearly across its face. It almost started hyperventilating, as utter befuddlement and apparent speechlessness overcame the small creature.
"What, exactly, is interrogation mode seven?" Bucky asked quietly.
Tony grinned, leaning closer. "As painstakingly, borderline-malevolently polite as possible, while being acutely aware of the value of words in every story and legend ever written about about demons, up to and including even JARVIS isn't allowed to give out his own name, just in case."
Bucky nodded slowly. "I know nothing about demons, outside those same stories," he admitted. "The actual reference-books about them are particularly hard to find, and I've never really had the need."
Tony nodded. "I've looked... it's almost like someone decided denying knowledge of them to the masses could reduce their influence, or something along those lines...?"
"If half the stories are even close, that might be a wise strategy," Bucky admitted.
"Are House Elves demons, then?" Tony asked, watching the small creature on the screen intently as it continued to try to process JARVIS' impeccable manners as if they were a truly alien concept.
"I don't know. I didn't think so, but if they are it might explain a lot."
Tony opened his mouth to respond to that, but at the same time JARVIS seemed to decide that Dobby had been dumbfounded for long enough, and politely asked. "Might I enquire your preferred form of address?"
"Dobby is just Dobby, sir. Dobby the House Elf." Then, after a very long pause, while Dobby continued to look around in confusion, "He. Dobby is a he, sir."
"And might I enquire as to the nature of your business with Harry Potter, Mr Dobby?"
Dobby seemed to still be in a state of shock at the good manners, but he quickly shook his head. "Dobby is only wanting to talk with Harry Potter."
"Do you mean that your message is only for Harry Potter's ears, or that speaking is all you wish to do with him?" JARVIS asked.
Dobby blinked owlishly. It was downright comedic to watch. "Both, sir?" Then he nodded more firmly. "Yes, both."
"Put him on hold, JARVIS," Tony commanded.
JARVIS made a thoughtful humming noise so Dobby could hear, and said, "Please wait."
Bucky looked to Harry now, frowning. "I don't get it, why would a House Elf want to talk to you?"
Harry shook his head, almost as confused by Dobby's presence as Dobby was by JARVIS. "I don't know, dad."
"You remember the rules for demons, right?" Bucky asked. "I mean, we only have legend and fiction to go on, but it's better than nothing."
Harry nodded. "Be careful about my exact words, don't make any promises, and don't give him my name... which is creepily different from just saying my name."
"Do you want to talk to him?" Tony asked Harry. "We can just activate the magic-proofing defences I've been building, if you don't. Should be able to force out an extra-dimensional, even if it did come in on a red line."
Harry looked to Bucky for advice. "Tony's right. You don't have to do this," Bucky assured him.
Harry seemed to think about it for a while, before shaking his head. "It's the best way to know why he's even here, though, right? And he's a House Elf, you've always said those were harmless?"
"Mostly benevolent might be more accurate," Bucky offered, uncertain now that Tony had brought up the possibility of them being demonic in nature. "There's a lot of talk about how they want nothing more than to help wizards, and not very much about their actual capabilities and how potentially dangerous one could be if it tried."
"I'll talk to him," Harry determined with a firm nod.
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