The two days after visiting the Grangers were slow and quiet—just the way Tony liked it. He and Harry toured a few nearby science museums, grabbed takeaway from half the city, and lounged around in their hotel suite. Harry, surprisingly, took to building a small Stark-tech model Tony had brought along, following Tony's instructions with uncanny precision.
But beneath the casual jokes and witty banter, Tony could feel something off.
A familiar ache throbbed beneath his chest. It wasn't sharp—but it was consistent. Persistent. And getting worse.
He didn't let Harry see it, of course.
Not when the kid finally seemed relaxed.
Later that night, the hotel room lights were dimmed. Harry had crashed on one of the beds after a long evening of trying to decode Tony's mock quiz about circuitry.
Tony sat at the desk, arc reactor glowing faintly through his thin shirt as he tapped a command into his StarkPad. A miniature scanner slid out of the side compartment in his suitcase—Stark travel kit, of course—and began a low hum as it scanned his chest.
He watched the readout quietly. Frowned. "Still some palladium traces…" Just as he leaned back in his chair, his StarkPhone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and saw: Pepper. "Hey, Miss Potts. Miss me already?"
"I miss the quiet when you're not calling me every five minutes. But I thought I should tell you—there's been a lot of chatter since the Expo."
Tony rise an eyebrow. "Chatter?"
"People trying to get in touch. CEOs, reporters, one congressman who thinks he's charming... and a few security agencies sniffing around."
Tony's expression darkened slightly.
"Also, someone asked about Harry. Said they saw a kid with you—close to you."
Tony leaned forward, glancing over at the sleeping Harry. He sighed. "We knew this would happen. We did throw him in the middle of an expo and say he was my apprentice."
"Yes, but I didn't think people would believe it that easily."
Tony chuckle. "They buy anything if you put it in a press release. Besides, 'apprentice' sounds better than 'secret wizard brother from another mother'."
He heard a sigh. "Just… be careful. There are too many eyes now. I'll run damage control."
"Thanks, Pep. And… hey. Don't tell Harry, alright? About the people asking."
"I won't. But keep your guard up."
The call ended. Tony sat in silence for a moment before slowly standing up. He walked over and adjusted the blanket over Harry, who murmured something in his sleep and rolled over.
Tony exhaled quietly, the ache in his chest pulsing again. "Apprentice, huh? Guess I better live long enough to teach you something." Still, He won't give up.
And yet, he won't leave his little brother alone in this world. Never. He do his best to find the cure. He definitely will.
Meanwhile, Finally, Certain Headmaster decided to take a visit. And that's how he found himself, Albus Dumbledore stood before the deserted Privet Drive house, hands clasped tightly around his wand, a deep frown carved into his normally calm face. Beside him, Severus Snape crossed his arms, equally perturbed but keeping his features more guarded.
The house was empty. No sign of the Dursleys. No sign of Harry.
What worse, The blood wards are gone.
That's how he came here, Because he felt the wards off and saw the item he used to keep an eye on the wards was destroyed. And that's how he came here. To find out what has happened.
Snape besides him dryly says "Perhaps they moved to a cave. Fitting, considering their intelligence."
Ignoring, his comment, Dumbledore frowns. "something's wrong."
He turned and walked briskly down the street. A few houses down, a man in a worn delivery uniform was placing mail into a metal slot right outside Arabella Figg next door house. Albus and Snape did went over there only to find her missing, and came to check on Harry only to find the house empty and no one inside.
Dumbledore calmly greet the man. "Pardon me, my good man. I'm looking for Arabella Figg. She lives just down that street."
The man looked up, eyes narrowing suspiciously. His gaze scanned Dumbledore's half-moon glasses, long beard, and the wearing robes kinda funny to him, Then he looked at Snape—pale, dark-eyed, dressed in full black robes. "You two from some kinda theatre group?"
Snape scowls. "Just answer the question."
Mailman warily said "Mrs. Figg? She's at the hospital. Broke her hip, fell down the stairs few days ago. Lucky the post lady found her."
Dumbledore stiffened. A sense of unease bloomed in his chest. "And the family that lived at Number Four? The Dursleys?"
Mailman snorted. "Gone. Moved out fast. Police came 'round after someone called 'bout child abuse. Don't know what was kid call... " he tries to think and snap his finger. "Harry! That's the name...Neighbors said the boy looked half-dead, all bones. Social services took interest, but the family skipped town before anything happened. Although, I did heard they were captured and taken away to prison..."
A heavy silence hung in the air.
Snape blinked, a flicker of disbelief passing through his eyes. He looked at Dumbledore, expecting denial. But the Headmaster looked… devastated.
"You left the boy here." Finally, Snape realized why Dursely name sounded so familiar.
"He was meant to be protected by blood wards… by family."
"You left Lily's son with animals."
"I… didn't know."
The mailman glanced between them, now mildly concerned. "Look, I don't know where the kid went. Some think the government took him in. Others think he ran. All I know is, he's better off than he was here."
Dumbledore nodded numbly and thanked him before turning and walking back the way they came. Snape followed, eyes sharp, mind racing. "Do you think he's with someone? Magical? With Granger perhaps? She is only Muggleborn he's more closed with"
"If he is… then I pray they're treating him better than I did."
Snape didn't reply. For once, there was no snide comment, no sharp retort. Just silence, and the realization that everything had gone far beyond what either of them expected.