Work Text:
Hermione's Haven Bingo 2022
Square: O4
“Hey Tony,” Hermione spoke up from the door, catching the man’s attention.
She had taken the job with the Avengers after learning she had been adopted as a child. She was the daughter of Howard Stark and Peggy Carter. It had come as a shock to both her and Tony but Tony had actually remembered that when his father and mother had separated for a time, something happened that resulted in the witch standing there. Surprisingly though, the pair had a very stable and strong relationship.
“Yeah,” Tony said, glancing up.
“You remember Ron’s coming to the complex today...right?”
“Yeah, the boyfriend, right?”
“Uh...yeah.” Hermione frowned slightly.
Lately, she wasn’t overly sure what they were as every time she spoke with Ron it turned into a fight.
Tony frowned for a moment, noticing her reaction, but for once he didn’t comment on it.
“I have him added to the areas where he’s allowed in the complex. So it’s all good to go.”
“Thank you.”
“Anytime. You okay?”
“Yeah, I’ll be alright.”
Hermione turned, walking back down the hall to her lab. It was more on the magical side compared to Tony and Bruce’s labs. She got to one of the bridges of the building and she paused, looking out over the grounds. Well, that’s what it would seem to anyone that looked at the witch, but she was really looking at her reflection. While she still looked the same as she did before the war, who she was now paled in comparison to who she used to be. A young, fiery witch with the world before her, but not anymore. After the war and its aftermath, Hermione ended up leaving England and had not gone back very much. The war-
The war.
She grimaced as some of the memories began surfacing.
“Hey, you.”
Her thoughts broke as she turned to the voice, seeing Bucky Barnes walking towards her.
“You looked like you were thinking too much.”
“Apparently it’s a flaw I have.”
Hermione smiled softly at the soldier. She had a surprising friendship with him.
“Then I guess I would have the same flaw.”
“Doubtful, what are you doing back already? I thought that would have taken longer.”
“Nah, just a simple mission, nothing too crazy. How were you here?”
“I spent some time with Pepper and Tony got away from the compound.”
“Glad you got some time away with family,” Bucky said, sounding slightly uncomfortable at Tony being mentioned. It had been a hard spot in their friendship when they all learned she was actually Tony’s younger sister, most of all surprising to herself. “Where are you heading?”
“Back down to my lab. I am going to close it down, make sure I can spend some time with Ron without having to come down here.”
“Is he still not thrilled you’re here?”
“No,” she sighed as the pair fell into step with one another. “When I first came here I was only meant to be here to get to know Tony and handle the contract here. I just haven’t really left. I’ve just- been happy here.”
“Then if you’re happy,” Bucky said, opening up her lab door. “It’s all that matters.”
“Such a gentleman.”
She smiled at the soldier, cutting the lights. He followed in behind her but neither one noticed Tony watching the pair from the upper floor.
_________
Bucky stayed with Hermione until she had closed every bit of her lab down. They talked the whole time until FRIDAY interrupted the pair.
“Ms. Granger, I wanted to let you know Mr. Weasley has been let in the front gates.”
Bucky watched the smile fade from the woman's face as she thanked the AI system.
“I have to go, Bucky. I’m glad you’re home.”
Hermione patted his arm before leaving the soldier behind, heading to the gates.
Hermione walked out of the building to where the gates were closing behind Ron.
“Hey, welcome to The Avengers Complex,” Hermione greeted the wizard.
She could tell already just by the look on his face there was a problem. He said nothing, just shaking his head.
“Why did you come if you're going to be like this Ron?”
“Like what?” he bit out.
“You know how; I don't want to argue with you.”
“Then come home. I am sick of this shite!” he yelled at her.
_________
“Boss, I think you need to step outside,” FRIDAY spoke up.
Tony stopped instantly, glancing out the window just in time to see his sister being yelled at. Tony was out of his office in moments. He ended up storming past Bucky and Natasha, he knew they were following behind him.
Tony came out the door and the three of them could hear Ron still yelling at her.
“I think that’s where you’re going to stop,” Tony called out, making his presence known.
“Oh, stay out of it Stark,” Ron spat in disgust. “None of this concerns you.”
Tony’s eyes narrowed, “If it involves MY sister, it does concern me.”
“She’s been your sister for what? A minute?” Ron snapped.
“I have been around long enough to know that you are completely wrong for her.”
“You know nothing,” Ron said, raising his wand. “Don’t go for that suit. A spell would hit you before it closed.”
Hermione stepped forward, “Don’t come here and threaten Tony. You’re being a complete ass, Ron.”
“Merlin, Hermione, it’s always my fault, always mine. I am always the ass to you,” Ron spewed. “It's not like I am the one that had to deal with all of your shite after the war. Every single night of the nightmares and crying. The person you are now is a shadow of who you were. All because you were tortured.”
Hermione’s mouth dropped open at what he had blurted out. She hadn’t told anyone here what happened or that she had been involved in a war. While Tony knew some of it he didn’t know that part. Her wand slid down into her hand from her sleeve and before realizing what she was doing, the spell left her lips as a loud crack filled the air. Ron yelped as he flew off his feet, hitting the ground. He wasn’t able to be still for long before he saw another spell coming for him. He scrambled away from the witch in front of him.
“Stupify!”
“Hermione-”
“Reducto!”
“Wait-”
“Confringo!”
“I shouldn’t-”
“Bombarda!” Hermione yelled, as the spell blasted out part of the ground beside him.
“Okay, calm down hotshot,” Tony yelled, taking hold of her upper arms. “You can’t kill him.”
“What the bleeding hell Hermione,” Ron exclaimed, getting to his feet. “It’s not like it was a big secret- they knew.”
“No, they didn’t!’ Hermione screamed as the tears rolled down her face. “I never told anyone here what happened. I didn’t want to be looked at all the time like the girl who was tortured, as I was at home.”
“I-,” Ron stopped, seeing the look on her face.
“I never wanted them to know so I didn’t say anything.” Hermione shrugged out of Tony’s hold. “We are finished, Ron. I am so sorry that I am not the perfect little housewife you wanted me to be. I am not the witch I once was, and that is not only because of Bellatrix Lestrange, but Fenrir Greyback as well.”
“You told me he had left.”
“I lied.” Hermione ran a hand over her face.
She turned her back on him, walking away. It was at this moment she noticed Bucky standing by the doors with Natasha. She turned her eyes, looking anywhere but at him, and ignored him when he called her name.
Tony picked up the wand on the ground, pushing it into Ron’s chest. “Go.”
Tony quickly started making his way after his sister, pausing only once he got near Bucky.
“Barnes, he moves so much as one step towards this building… Break him.”
“Done.”
____________________________________________________________________
Tony ran down the hall looking for Hermione and found her sitting on the floor by the windows of her room.
“Hermione.”
“I’m okay. I just need a minute.”
“You’re not okay.”
“You’re right I’m not, but I haven’t been for a very long time,” Hermione replied. “I never wanted any of you to know that, at least not all of it. I know I told you some, but not everything.”
Tony sighed, “Can I do anything?”
“I just need some time.”
“Okay, I won’t be far.”
“Tony?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
__________________
Bucky made sure the red-headed menace left the compound before going back inside. His thoughts raced between everything that had been said and the power Hermione had displayed. He had known she was a witch, but he didn't know she had that kind of power, seeing as how he had always just watched the small stuff she had done. He knew Hermione would need some time before she would want to see anyone, so he waited a few hours before he made his way to her room. Coming up the stairs, he stopped at the door, but movement out of the corner of his eye caused him to turn sharply, finding Tony standing not far from him.
Shit.
“Stark, I-”
“I knew it would be a matter of time until I found you up here.”
“I don’t- I just wanted to check on her.”
Tony frowned, walking closer to the soldier, “I’m not stupid, Barnes. I’ve seen you with Hermione and around the compound. You come back from your missions and always seem to end up in her lab first thing after you debrief.”
Bucky said nothing, not sure what Stark was about to do or say. In this moment he wished he had listened to Steve and not gotten close to her, but he hadn’t been able to help it, he was like a moth to flames when it came to her.
“I don’t like you, Barnes. We both know that.” Tony sighed leaning against the wall. “If it was my choice, I wouldn’t have you anywhere near her, but it’s her choice. A blind man could see that you actually make her happy. There’s a lot to understand about her, and when she’s ready, she will tell you about everything. Don’t get any closer to her unless you're going to stay, she’s been through enough.”
“Understood,” Bucky replied as his knuckles connected with her door.
Hermione opened the door and honestly, Bucky had expected to see her a lot more upset than she looked. Her eyes turned to Tony, “Are you harassing Bucky?”
“Why are you instantly blaming me?”
Hermione just stared at the man.
“Okay, don't be so judgemental. I was coming to check on you and he happened to be coming up at the same time. Right Barnes?” Tony said, turning to Bucky.
“Yeah, that's what happened.”
“You are both so full of crap,” she said, looking between the men. Tony glanced down at his phone, seeing Pepper calling him.
“Bye Tony.”
Hermione stepped aside, letting Bucky into her room and shutting the door.
“I’m okay, Bucky. I knew you would come at some point,” Hermione said, turning down the volume on the television. It was one of the rare times she did this instead of reading. “But I don’t want to talk about the war, my torture or anything else. I never wanted anyone to know about that, it’s the reason I never went home.”
“We don’t have to talk,” Bucky assured her. “I just needed to see you were okay.”
“I’m okay for the most part. The argument brought up a lot of memories and hurt, but I’m dealing with it as best as possible.”
“I’m sure it did. I can go if you want me to.”
“Please don’t. I don’t want to be alone.”
“Sure, I won’t go anywhere.”
“Are you okay with just watching a movie?”
“Sounds good,” he said, going to kick his boots off by her door, tossing his jacket aside as well.
She grabbed the remote, turning the volume back up as they both climbed on the bed. “Sorry, the bed’s the only place I have to lay back on.”
“It’s fine. What are we watching?”
“The Hobbit.”
“You know, I read the book when it originally came out,” he said, chuckling.
“Bucky Barnes, a fantasy nerd, who would have thought.”
“I’m not a fantasy nerd, I just have good taste,” he said, watching a smile play on her lips.
“So I can tell,” Hermione said, resting her head on the soldier’s shoulder as the movie began.