The rhythmic hum of machines filled the Stark Tower lab. Sparks flew from a welding arm, robotic fingers maneuvered metal with surgical precision, and a new holographic schematic spun in mid-air. But despite all the movement, Tony Stark wasn't focused on his latest invention.
His eyes were on Harry—who stood at the workbench beside him, holding a screwdriver in his hand but staring off blankly, not even aware he was holding it upside down.
Tony, eyes narrowing, tapped his spanner against the table. "Hey, Wizard Junior. You spacing out on me?"
Harry blinked, startled. He looked down at the tool in his hand and set it down slowly. "Sorry. Just… distracted."
Tony frowned. He didn't press immediately. He gave it a minute—waited to see if Harry would just open up. But when the boy stayed silent, fidgeting with the hem of his hoodie, Tony leaned on the table with both hands. "Alright. Spit it out. What's going on? Did Jarvis roast you again? Or did one of my gadgets shock your hair extra frizzy today?"
Harry gave a weak smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I haven't been getting any letters."
Tony raised a brow. "Letters?"
"From my friends… Ron, Hermione. Hagrid too. I used to get them during the summer when I lived with the Dursleys. But since I came here… nothing."
Tony leaned back slightly, arms folding. "You think something happened?"
Harry hesitating says "I don't know. Maybe Dumbledore told them not to write me. Or… maybe they're upset I didn't go back."
Tony could see the worry simmering just beneath Harry's calm voice—the uncertainty gnawing at the boy. Dumbledore again, Argh, One of these days He's gonna break the law and punch the elderly man in the face with his Iron fist. "First of all, if someone is blocking your mail, [possible Dumbledore that brought bitter taste in Tony's mouth] we'll find out. Jarvis can track owl patterns and magical mail routes if we give him a few minutes. Second—" he moved closer, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder, "—you're not alone, kid. If your friends are your friends, they'll want to hear from you too."
Harry looked up, searching Tony's face for doubt, but found none. "What if… what if they don't want to be friends anymore?"
Tony knelt slightly, meeting Harry's eye. "Then they're not the friends you thought they were. But I don't buy that. You said Hermione's got the moral backbone of a knight and Ron's loyal like a golden retriever, right?"
Harry cracking a tiny laugh. "Yeah. Pretty much."
Tony stood again. "Alright then. Let's get Jarvis on the case. And maybe I'll sneak a Stark-grade message to them if we have to. We'll find out what's going on, and if someone's messing with your mail—well… let's just say, they'll wish they hadn't."
"Thanks, Tony."
Tony turned toward the control panel, speaking casually but firmly. "What are big brothers for?"
Behind him, Harry stood a little straighter—still worried, but not alone. He smiled. Yeah, big brother.
Meanwhile, Amelia Bones was halfway through a briefing with Moody, poring over a list of trusted people who could assist Sirius Black during his recovery. Upstairs, the healer had just begun another round of gentle mind-mind therapy.
Her phone buzzed.
She frowned, pulling it out of her robe pocket and raising a brow when she saw the caller ID. Moody looks at her, she answer the call and put it on speaker. "Tony Stark. If this is about another hidden device for Harry, you'll have to wait—"
"It's not about gadgets. It's about Harry. He hasn't been getting any letters from his friends."
That made her freeze. "What do you mean?"
"Yeah. He's worried. Said Ron and Hermione always wrote to him when he was at the Dursleys. But now? Nothing. No owls. Nada."
Moody leaned closer, catching the tone. "That's suspicious."
"I already tracked down the Granger family. I'm flying them in to meet Harry. He needs some familiar faces. But I don't know squat about this Ron kid, Harry said his family's called the Weasleys?"
"Yes, I know them. I can get in touch with boys father, They'd never cut off Harry willingly. If the letters aren't arriving… someone is stopping them."
"That's what I figured. Could it be Dumbledore?"
There was a heavy silence on the other end.
Amelia frowns. "It's possible. He still holds sway at Hogwarts, and if he views Harry's removal from the magical world as a 'threat' to the greater plan… He may believe cutting off contact will encourage Harry to return on his own."
Tony sarcastically says "So the whole emotional manipulation package. Fantastic."
"I'll look into it. Quietly. I can send someone to Hogwarts, see if letters are being held or diverted. If they are—Dumbledore has a bigger problem than just public image."
Moody grunted in agreement from her side." We should've expected this. Man's always believed in his own vision above others'. Bones, let me send Kingsley to the Owlery. He's discreet."
"We'll handle it, Tony. In the meantime, getting the Grangers to Harry is a good call. I get in touch with Weasley's family"
Tony voice is quiet. "He deserves to know the truth. And to feel like he isn't forgotten."
Amelia's voice softened slightly. "You're doing right by him, Tony. We'll make sure no one plays games with that boy's heart again."
She hung up, her expression hardening as she turned back to Moody. "Send Kingsley. I want an audit of every owl sent to Harry Potter since he's been with the dursely. If there's a single scroll sitting untouched—I want to know why and who."
Moody nod. "On it" Then he paused. "You know... I feel like something is off... Is it just us painting Dumbledore a villain or he is one?"
"What do you mean?"
"I saw him myself that day at court room... He has regrets and guilt... He wanted to speak with Sirius but that's not just the point what I am trying to say... What if he just made a mistake? What if he doesn't know?"
"Alastor, you do realize we have taken Harry away from his relatives and Dumbledore is unaware of this? If he is truly his guardian how he doesn't know anything? I understand he's your friend and all but-"
Moody shake his head. "No, no! That's not why I said that! I mean... Never mind! Let's just go and see what this is about"
Amelia watches him walk away, Although he does make a point, Dumbledore wasn't like that from what she remembers then what is going on?
Still, He made a mistake. He won't be forgiven until he explains his actions. And Amelia isn't the one to forgive the person too easily.