The private jet had barely touched down when Rohedy ushered Harry into a sleek black car waiting on the tarmac. They made their way through the city quietly, avoiding crowds and cameras. Harry stared wide-eyed at the towering buildings, but his nerves kicked back in once they pulled into the hidden underground entrance of a massive skyscraper still under construction.
"Welcome to Stark Tower," Rohedy said with a grin. "Still a work in progress, but the top floors are safe, secure, and stocked."
They entered through a reinforced back door, bypassing any main entrances. The inside was a mix of ultra-modern tech and half-installed panels. Stark-level futuristic, even unfinished.
As the door closed behind them, a smooth British-accented voice echoed through the space.
"Welcome home, colonel Rhodes. And to you as well, Master Potter."
Harry startled, spinning around. "Who said that?!" His hand gripped the handle of his bag tightly.
Rohedy couldn't help but laugh. "That's JARVIS, kid. Tony's AI system. Kinda like a house butler... who lives in the walls."
"My apologies, sir," JARVIS chimed in politely. "I did not intend to alarm you."
Harry blinked rapidly, eyes scanning the ceiling. "So... you're telling me there's a soul in the ceiling?"
Before Rohedy could explain further, footsteps echoed from the hall.
Tony strode in wearing his usual jeans, shades, and smug expression. "So I hear you met JARVIS. Don't worry, he only haunts the place on Mondays."
Rohedy grinned. "You freaked the kid out. He thought you trapped a soul in the ceiling."
Tony cracked up. "Seriously? Oh, that's priceless." He clapped Harry on the shoulder. "Congratulations, JARVIS, you succeed in scaring the wizard"
"My pleasure, Should I prepare a room for young Mr. Potter, sir?" JARVIS asked smoothly.
Tony smirked. "Absolutely. My long-lost half-brother's that makes you... what? His nephew? That sound right?"
Harry blinked. "Wait—what? Nephew? How does that—?"
Rohedy threw his hands up in mock surrender. "I'm not even gonna try to math this one."
Tony leaned against the wall, thoroughly enjoying himself. "Hey, magic families are complicated. We're just trying to keep up."
Harry gave a half-laugh, half-sputter, rubbing the back of his neck. "You guys are weird."
Tony raised a finger. "Correction: We're awesome. You'll get used to it."
Later that afternoon, with most of the day's chaos behind them, Tony clapped his hands together. "Alright, kiddo. Time to give you the tour of Stark Tower — future beacon of awesome, innovation, and coffee machines that understand sarcasm."
Harry followed behind him, still glancing around like he might wake up any minute. The sleek floors, gleaming windows stretching into the sky, and screens embedded into the walls. He bet Hermione would love this place.
Rohedy walked with them, hands in his pockets, quietly observing as Harry absorbed it all.
"Initiating tour mode," JARVIS announced. "Please remain behind the overly confident billionaire in the front."
Tony groaned. "You hear that? I gave him sarcasm modules and now he's a sass master."
"Just keeping you humble, sir. Or trying to, against impossible odds."
Rohedy snorted. "Man, JARVIS, you've been holding that in, huh?"
"You have no idea, Colonel Rhodes."
Harry blinked up at the ceiling. "So... is it like talking to the castle portraits, or...?"
Tony smirked. "Except smarter. And doesn't snore."
"Unlike you, sir. Audio recordings confirm otherwise."
Tony stopped mid-step, spinning on his heel. "Traitor!"
"My programming demands honesty. And a bit of flair."
Harry covered a chuckle with his hand. "Your AI's really... something." He kinda understood a bit about AI, Rohedy did explain to him when Harry asked about internet and other things.
Tony shrugged. "You live with him long enough, you learn to cry silently in the shower."
Rohedy laughed out loud. "I've never seen anyone get roasted in their own tower before. This is a new record."
As they moved from floor to floor — from the main living space to Tony's sprawling lab, then up to the nearly finished observation deck — Harry kept trailing behind, eyes wide and curious.
Tony glanced back at him. "You alright, kid? You look like someone who just realized their closet has a portal to space." He just takes him to the room where Harry be staying.
Harry smiled faintly. "I just... I've never had space like this. Not for me."
Tony went quiet for a second, then patted Harry's shoulder. "Well, you do now. Get used to it. This place? Your home too."
Harry looked at him, startled. But there was a warmth in Tony's tone, not just cool sarcasm. It made something tight in Harry's chest loosen a little.
"Welcome to the Tower, Mr. Potter," JARVIS added, his voice for once gentle.
"Thanks," Harry said, voice soft.
As evening settled in, the massive living area of Stark Tower's private floor dimmed to a soft glow. Rohedy had already headed out for military reports, leaving Tony and Harry alone for dinner. Tony stretched out on the couch with a yawn, bare feet on the coffee table, remote in one hand.
Harry sat at the far end of the couch, legs pulled up slightly, his posture still hesitant.
Tony turned toward him. "Alright, kid. Dinner time. What do you want? Burgers? Pizza? Tacos? Please don't say salad."
Harry blinked. "I... I don't really know. I've never had fast food before."
Tony raised an eyebrow and muttered, "We are absolutely getting you a full medical evaluation..."
"Already scheduled for tomorrow morning, sir," JARVIS chimed in. "Blood panel, nutritional profile, and general examination."
"Perfect. And thanks, J." Tony looked back at Harry, softer now. "Well, you're in for a treat. I ordered a bit of everything."
Later, JARVIS announced the food is here, Just then, a robot arm wheeled into the room carrying two huge bags of takeout — burgers, fries, chicken nuggets, tacos, and milkshakes. Tony grabbed the bags and set them on the coffee table like treasure.
"Welcome to America," he grinned. "This is the sacred rite of couch food and cartoons."
Harry eyed the feast like it might vanish. "We're... allowed to eat all this?"
Tony passed him a burger and a milkshake. "You can eat as much as you want. I'm pretty sure Rohedy would yell at me if I didn't make you try a milkshake."
Harry cautiously took a sip, eyes widening. "That's cold."
"And magical," Tony said, taking a big bite of his burger. "Now... movies. What do you wanna watch? The Lion King, Hercules, Aladdin?"
Harry shrugged again. "I don't really know any movies. The Dursleys didn't let me watch much."
Tony stared at him for a second, then turned back to the TV. "Alright. That's it. Disney Marathon it is. We're starting with the lion king Every kid should have known Lion king."
He hit play and turned up the volume just in time for the sunrise on the African savannah. As "Circle of Life" echoed through the room, Harry leaned back on the couch with the burger in hand, still unsure... but his eyes were glued to the screen.
Tony watched him from the corner of his eye. The kid still looked like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
They watch the film quietly, chuckling and commenting on smallest things, Harry asking him for more about Simba but Tony told him he find out if he keep watching the movie.
But then Harry laughed, when Timon and Pumbaa danced across the screen singing "Hakuna Matata."
Tony smiled to himself, more than a little proud. "Yeah," he muttered. "We're gonna get you caught up, kid."
And just like that, the Tower wasn't so quiet anymore.