The movie had long since ended, credits rolling silently across the screen. The room was filled with the soft buzz of the city outside and the warm hum of low lighting.
Tony glanced down and froze.
Harry had curled up beside him at some point during The Lion King, fast asleep with his head resting lightly against Tony's arm, knees tucked in and one hand still clutching a half-eaten chicken nugget like a treasure. His breathing was slow, even. Peaceful.
Tony blinked, looking unsure for a moment. His arms hovered awkwardly over the kid, not quite sure where to place them. "Uh… okay. Kid just… knocked out mid-scene. Guess I've been claimed."
"You appear to be a makeshift pillow, sir," JARVIS commented lightly.
Tony sighed and leaned back carefully, not wanting to wake him. "Great. Stark Industries' finest, now moonlighting as furniture."
"Sir," JARVIS added after a moment, "there is a snowy owl perched outside the living room window."
Tony turned, eyebrows lifting. "Hedwig?"
"Most likely. Shall I open the window?"
"Yeah, let her in."
With a whisper of movement, the window slid open. A graceful white shape swooped in on silent wings, circling once before landing regally on the edge of the coffee table. Hedwig fluffed her feathers and looked directly at Harry, hooting softly.
Tony stared at the owl, impressed. "Well well. Her Royal Fluffiness arrives."
Hedwig turned her golden eyes to him, unimpressed.
Tony, with a dramatic flourish, bowed his head. "Welcome, noble queen of feathers. May I offer you a humble snack from the bounty of the realm?"
He grabbed a couple of chicken nuggets from the nearest box and placed them in front of her like offerings to royalty.
Hedwig blinked slowly… and then delicately pecked at the nuggets. She made a sharp huff through her beak, almost like a scoff — as if this was beneath her but she'd allow it.
Tony put a hand to his chest. "She just called me a peasant, didn't she?"
"She did, sir," JARVIS confirmed in his usual dry tone. "With all due dignity."
Tony chuckled quietly. "Yeah… she's definitely a Stark now."
He looked down at Harry again — soft snores, peaceful face, like the kid hadn't slept this safely in years. Tony's expression softened.
"Don't worry, Hedwig," he said to the owl, who had settled into a neat little perch and was preening herself. "We've got him now. He's not going back."
The owl hooted again, this time gentler, as if she understood.
Next day, Tony stood with his arms folded across his chest, leaning against the wall of the quiet medical suite in Stark Tower. It wasn't hospital white—Tony hated that sterile feel—so the walls were a warm beige, lights low and calming. The air was still, except for the soft beeping of the scanner and the voice of Dr. Shane, a trusted physician who had patched Tony up more than once and now knelt beside a young boy with a guarded expression.
Harry sat on the cushioned exam table, his posture rigid, his arms tense. He didn't like this. Not the wires, not the machines, not the memory of doctors who had ignored bruises or made judgments without asking. But Tony was there, standing within arm's reach, and that helped.
"You're doing great, kid," Tony said with a slight smile, glancing at the vitals as Dr. Shane ran another scan. "Shane here's got hands steadier than a Stark Industries drone. You'll be fine."
Harry gave a hesitant nod, still clutching the edge of the table.
Just off to the side, Pepper stood with her arms crossed, watching everything carefully. Her eyes weren't just focused on the readings or the doctor — they were glued to Harry, scanning the details with protective intensity. She leaned in closer to Tony, her voice low and fierce.
"You made sure those animals stay in jail, right?" she asked, referring to the Dursleys with thinly veiled rage.
Tony didn't look away from Harry but smirked. "Oh, they're not getting out. Not without crawling through fire and lawsuits first. And even then, they won't be able to afford a single breath."
Weirdly enough, When Tony explain to her about the existence of magic with Rohedy help, She just accepted. Just like that. Because why not? No prove, Nothing. Just acceptance. Tony swore if Amelia ever visit, He show her to Pepper.
Pepper exhaled through her nose, lips pressed tight. "Good. Child abuse isn't something we let go of."
Tony nodded, quieter now. "I know."
She looked back at Harry. The moment she had first seen him in the Tower — pale, too thin for his age, lost in oversized clothes — something inside her snapped. He had flinched at sudden sounds, like he wasn't used to peace. That was all it took.
The moment she'd stepped into the room, her heels barely hitting the floor, she went straight to him with a warm voice and steady hands. "Hi, Harry. I'm Pepper. It's really good to meet you."
Harry had blinked up at her, uncertain, glancing at Tony like he wasn't sure if it was okay. Tony? He had backed away slowly, arms raised in surrender.
"Careful, kid," Tony had said with mock-seriousness, "you've just activated Mama Bear Potts. I'll be over here, out of the blast zone."
Harry had tilted his head in confusion, not understanding the tone… but for some reason, he smiled. Just a little.
Back in the present, Dr. Shane stepped back, peeling off his gloves and checking his datapad.
"Done," Shane said quietly. "I'll have a full report for you by tonight. But I can already tell — he's malnourished, underweight for his age, and has signs of previous injuries. But nothing that can't be healed with proper care, food, and rest."
Pepper's eyes softened. Tony gave her a look that said we'll fix this.
Shane turned to Harry. "You were really brave, Harry. I know that wasn't easy."
Harry, still a little stiff, nodded again.
Tony stepped in and nudged the kid's shoulder gently. "Told you it wouldn't be so bad. Now that you're medically cleared, that means you're officially allowed to eat as many burgers and fries as you want."
Harry cracked a smile.
"And," Tony added, glancing at Pepper, "Miss Mama Bear Potts here might throw a broccoli or two on the plate, but don't worry. I got your back."
Harry smiled a little wider, unsure why… but liking it anyway.