Chapter Text
September 4th, 2015
Hermione Granger and Harry Potter both quickly got out of the car and ran into the house so they could go down into the basement which was converted into their lab for experiments. James and Lily Potter huffed out a laugh at their excitement and got out of the car as well, walking up the long pathway to the Granger house.
“Hey Dan! Hey Jane!” James yelled out while walking through the door, bee lining for the kitchen where they usually hold their conversations.
A female voice rang out through the open patio door, “We’re out back!” Lily and James walked out the door to see Dan swimming in the pool while Jane was tanning on one of the pool chairs. “What a wonderful day to tan, don’t you think Lily?”
Lily smiled as she adjusted her sunglasses, settling into a comfortable position beside Jane. "Absolutely, Jane. It's a perfect day for it. I could use some relaxation after the whirlwind of the past few weeks."
Jane chuckled, "Glad you think so. Dan and I decided to take advantage of the sunny weather. We need to recharge before dinner."
Dan, lounging in the pool with a drink in hand, waved to James. "Hey, James! You and Lily finally made it. Hermione and Harry are in their usual rush, I see. They've been practically vibrating with excitement all day."
James laughed, settling into a poolside chair next to Dan. "You know them. When they’re onto something, there’s no stopping them. I’m just here to see what all the fuss is about."
As the adults chatted and enjoyed the afternoon sun, Hermione and Harry were already in full swing downstairs in their lab. The basement was a vibrant hub of activity, filled with various tools, electronic components, and prototypes scattered across workbenches.
Hermione was hunched over her latest project, her brow furrowed in concentration as she made final adjustments to SnackBot, their glorified snack fetcher. The robot’s cheerful face flashed with animated messages, and its extendable arm was in mid-repair, ready for another round of snack deliveries.
Harry, on the other hand, was fine-tuning the calibration on LUMO, their laboratory assistant. The robot’s robotic arm was methodically mixing a solution, and Harry was adjusting the precision controls to ensure everything was perfect.
“Harry, could you pass me the calibration tools?” Hermione asked without looking up. “I need to adjust SnackBot’s sensors. They’re not registering snack sizes accurately.”
“Sure thing,” Harry replied, grabbing the tools from the drawer and walking over to Hermione’s workbench. “I’ve also been meaning to show you the new updates on LUMO. I think I’ve finally got it to process data faster.”
As they worked, the two shared updates on their progress and exchanged ideas. Their excitement was palpable, each new development in their projects adding to their enthusiasm. The occasional clang of metal and the hum of machinery filled the basement, a symphony of their scientific pursuits.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Dan and James were discussing the latest developments in technology and science. “It’s amazing what Hermione and Harry are doing,” Dan said, taking a sip of his drink. “They’re pushing boundaries in ways I wouldn’t have imagined when they were younger.”
James nodded, looking impressed. “Absolutely. Their passion and skill are something else. I remember when Hermione was just a little girl. To see her now, working on such advanced projects, is incredible.”
Jane, relaxing and soaking up the sun, added, “And they make it look so effortless. It’s inspiring, really. I just hope they remember to take breaks and not overdo it.”
Back in the lab, Hermione and Harry were deep into their work, but their minds were already turning toward their next experiment. Despite the occasional misstep or challenge, their dedication and camaraderie made each project a step closer to their ultimate goals.
As the afternoon sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the pool area, Dan, Jane, James, and Lily prepared for dinner. The warm, inviting aroma of dinner being prepared in the kitchen added a cozy end to a day filled with activity and discovery.
With their projects momentarily set aside, Hermione and Harry emerged from the basement, their faces flushed with the satisfaction of progress and the promise of future breakthroughs. They joined the rest of the group, ready to enjoy a well-deserved meal and share the excitement of their latest achievements.
Lily called out from the patio, “Dinner’s ready! Come and join us, you two. We’re eager to hear about what you’ve been working on.”
September 5th, 2015
Hermione and Harry were both working side by side assembling a humanoid robot for Hermione’s AI, Mimir ; Multi-Intelligent Modular Interactive Resource. There was a hologram floating in front of them, showing them where to connect each individual part. “Mimir, how far along is Rex with finishing the repair for your hands?”
Hermione’s phone glowed blue and a robotic voice that sounded oddly like Jake Sully responded back to Harry, “Rex is currently welding the fingers back onto the hands, Sir” Harry turned his head towards the left to see a robot with many arms holding a welding gun reattaching fingers onto a metal hand. “Would you like me to tell SnackBot to get the two of you some snacks? You have not eaten or drank anything since your arrival two hours ago.”
The two of them looked at each other before Hermione spoke up, “We’ll go upstairs when we finish building the body. It should only take another thirty minutes, Mimir.”
As Hermione and Harry continued their work, the basement lab was a hive of activity. The hum of machinery and the soft whir of robotic arms filled the space, creating a rhythmic backdrop to their intense focus. The hologram projected a detailed schematic of Mimir’s humanoid body, and both Hermione and Harry were deeply immersed in assembling the intricate components.
“Harry, could you double-check the alignment of the joints?” Hermione asked, carefully securing the torso’s central frame. “We need to make sure everything is perfectly aligned before we proceed.”
Harry nodded, stepping closer to inspect the joints. “Got it. Everything looks good here. We’re almost there.”
As they worked, Mimir, the AI, floated nearby, offering real-time updates and support. The hologram shifted as new data was processed, and the AI’s voice continued to guide them. “ Rex has completed the repairs on the hands, ” Mimir announced. “ The welding is secure, and the fingers are fully attached. Please proceed with the integration of the arm servos. ”
Hermione and Harry meticulously followed the instructions, connecting wires and securing bolts with practiced precision. The work was demanding but thrilling, a testament to their combined expertise and dedication.
Meanwhile, SnackBot, their snack-fetching robot, was idle, waiting for instructions. It had been set up earlier to keep the lab stocked with refreshments, but neither Hermione nor Harry had thought to utilize it amid their intense focus on the project.
The clock on the wall ticked by, and what was meant to be a thirty-minute task stretched into hours. Both Hermione and Harry were so absorbed in their work that they hardly noticed their fatigue or the growing pile of empty coffee cups on the workbench.
Suddenly, a low, ominous hum began emanating from one of the components they were working on—a new power module designed to enhance Mimir’s functionality. The hum quickly escalated into a high-pitched whine, and Hermione’s eyes widened in alarm.
“Harry, I think we have a problem!” she shouted, her voice tinged with panic. “The power module—it’s overheating!”
Harry’s eyes darted to the module, and he saw the telltale signs of a malfunction. “We need to shut it down before it gets any worse!”
Before either could act, the power module emitted a blinding flash of light, followed by a deafening explosion. The shockwave threw Hermione and Harry backward, and the lab was engulfed in a cloud of smoke and debris.
The force of the blast knocked them both unconscious, their bodies lying motionless amid the wreckage of their work. The once-bustling lab was now a scene of chaos, with parts scattered and the walls scorched from the explosion.
In the midst of the destruction, Mimir’s AI core, protected by its own containment unit, remained intact. The AI quickly assessed the situation and recognized the severity of the incident. With rapid efficiency, Mimir activated its emergency protocols.
“ Mimir to MediBot. Mimir to Medibot. Emergency alert. Hermione and Harry are incapacitated. Immediate assistance required. ”
Medibot, who had been idle in the corner, responded to the urgent call. Its sensors detected the chaos in the lab and its programming directed it to seek help. The robot’s cheerful demeanor was replaced by a focused urgency as it navigated through the debris.
Simultaneously, Mimir’s holographic interface projected a distress signal and a detailed report of the situation. The AI sent an urgent notification to Hermione and Harry’s parents upstairs.
“ Attention: Emergency in the laboratory. Hermione and Harry are injured and require immediate medical attention. Please respond immediately. ”
Tony Stark sat in his workshop at the Avengers Tower, surrounded by the familiar hum of his technology and the faint glow of his various holographic screens. The room was a controlled chaos of discarded prototypes, half-finished projects, and the occasional piece of wreckage from the last battle. It had only been a few months since the events of Sokovia and Ultron’s near-apocalypse, but Tony’s mind was already spinning with new ideas, new problems to solve, and old demons to bury.
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples as the memories of the battle replayed in his mind. The weight of his responsibility pressed heavily on him, and his latest distractions were proving less effective than he’d hoped.
“FRIDAY,” Tony called out to his AI assistant, hoping to drown his thoughts in work. “Run diagnostics on the new armor prototype. I want a full report on the energy output variance.”
“ Yes, Boss, ” FRIDAY’s Irish-accented voice replied, her tone calm and efficient. Tony had grown accustomed to her presence—always reliable, always there to keep him grounded.
As Tony leaned forward to examine the schematics on his screen, FRIDAY’s voice cut through the air again, but this time with an unexpected urgency.
“ Sir, I have received an unusual notification flagged as urgent, ” FRIDAY said, a hint of unease in her typically calm tone. “ It’s from a hospital in London. ”
Tony frowned, his fingers pausing over the screen. “A hospital in London? Why would that be flagged for me? We don’t have any operations there right now.”
“ It appears to be related to a routine blood work match found during a recent admission, ” FRIDAY continued. “ The patient is a fourteen-year-old girl named Hermione Jean Granger. She was admitted following an accident involving an engineering experiment. She is currently stable but unconscious. ”
Tony’s brows furrowed in confusion. “FRIDAY, why am I getting this alert? I’m not a doctor. Unless this kid is a big Stark Industries shareholder, I don’t see why this is my problem.”
FRIDAY hesitated—a rare moment of silence for the AI that rarely faltered. “ Sir, the alert was triggered because of a familial DNA match. According to the hospital records, Hermione Granger shares your genetic markers. Specifically, she matches as your biological daughter. ”
The words hung in the air, and Tony stared blankly at the screen, trying to process what he’d just heard. He leaned back in his chair, suddenly feeling like the ground had been pulled out from under him.
“What did you just say?” Tony’s voice was tight, a mix of disbelief and sudden dread. He stared at FRIDAY’s holographic display, searching for some sign that this was just another glitch, a mistake, something he could dismiss. But there was none.
FRIDAY continued, her tone measured and precise. “ The hospital conducted routine blood work when the patient was admitted due to the severity of her injuries. The system flagged the DNA match and cross-referenced it with your profile, Sir. There is a 99.9% probability that Hermione Granger is your daughter. ”
Tony’s mind raced. He didn’t know what to think, what to feel. He had lived his life believing that he knew every facet of his existence, every skeleton in his closet cataloged and accounted for. But this—this was something completely out of left field.
“I don’t have a daughter,” Tony said quietly, as if saying it aloud would make it true. “I would know if I had a daughter. I would’ve...”
His voice trailed off, and a cold realization swept over him. There were gaps in his past—moments in his reckless younger years where his life had been a blur of genius, wealth, and bad decisions. Could this girl be the result of one of those moments? He clenched his fists, grappling with the sudden wave of guilt and confusion.
“FRIDAY, bring up everything you can find on Hermione Granger,” Tony ordered, his voice now sharper, laced with a newfound determination. “Family history, medical records, everything.”
“ Yes, Sir, ” FRIDAY responded immediately, and Tony’s screens lit up with information. Images of a young girl with wild, curly brown hair and a fiercely intelligent gaze filled the displays. There were school reports praising her brilliance, awards for academic excellence, and photographs showing her at various science fairs and engineering competitions. Tony could see the spark in her eyes, a familiar fire that reminded him uncomfortably of his own.
“ Her mother, Jane Granger, is a successful dentist in London, ” FRIDAY narrated. “ Her father, Dan Granger, is also a dentist. There are no records of them ever making contact with you, Sir. Hermione appears to have been raised without any knowledge of your existence. ”
Tony stared at the photos, his heart pounding. There was so much of himself in this girl—her intensity, her drive, the way she seemed to attack every challenge with an almost reckless enthusiasm. It was like looking at a version of himself he’d never known, a life path diverged and now, inexplicably, crossing.
“What happened to her?” Tony asked, his voice softer, tinged with concern that he couldn’t fully hide.
“ She was conducting an experiment involving robotics and advanced circuitry, ” FRIDAY explained. “ The specifics are unclear, but it seems she was attempting to build a body for an AI system she developed. The accident caused an electrical surge, leading to burns and temporary unconsciousness. The hospital has classified her condition as stable, but she remains under observation. ”
Tony leaned forward, his mind racing. This was no ordinary teenager. Building an AI? Robotics experiments at fourteen? It was like he was looking at a younger, unfiltered version of himself.
“How the hell did I not know about this?” Tony muttered, more to himself than to FRIDAY. “She’s just a kid, and she’s doing this? Alone?”
FRIDAY’s voice cut through his thoughts, calm and ever-present. “ Sir, would you like me to arrange transportation to London? It appears that both her legal guardians are currently unaware of your connection. ”
Tony hesitated, his mind torn between the staggering implications of this revelation and the instinctive urge to act. He knew he couldn’t just ignore this, couldn’t pretend that this girl—his daughter—didn’t exist.
“Yes,” Tony finally said, his voice steadier now, filled with a resolve that had been absent moments before. “Get the jet ready. And FRIDAY… let’s make sure we do this right. No surprises for her or her family until we know exactly what’s going on.”
“ As you wish, Sir, ” FRIDAY responded.