Z.R. Stein

One Day in King's Row — an Overwatch/Harry Potter crossover AU fic.

I do not own the characters to either series in any way.

Yeaaah...been awhile. Sorry about that, I've been transitioning from school to getting a job, things have been hectic lately. But now, hopefully, I can scrounge together enough time and inspiration to continue. Anyways...Merry Christmas! Have this chapter as a present!

Also, yes, I heard the news about Tracer getting a girlfriend. While I'm happy for her, it turned out to be a minor nightmare trying to slot her into this story as already established, so she and Tracer will meet and start dating in later chapters (this is set a few years before Overwatch takes place, so it shouldn't be a problem, right?)

Hope you guys enjoy this chapter.

Lena smiled down at the boy who was currently sleeping on her couch after watching a movie, a cup of steaming tea in her hands, the last rays of the sun coming through the window. It had been nearly a month since she had bumped into him on the street, setting off a chain of events that she hadn't anticipated in the slightest. The adoption papers were due to be sent in any day now, and with them, Lena Oxton would officially be a mother.

Privately, Lena wondered if she'd made the right choice. She'd always been a bit...impulsive (or as old man Morrison had put it, scatterbrained), and she may have jumped the gun on adopting a kid. Most people waited longer than a month before doing what she'd done. But...she just couldn't find it within herself to ship Harry off to someone else. Not when his emerald eyes lit up every time they were together, laughing and playing. Not when that light died when he was alone and didn't know she was watching, a faint tenseness stretching his young face. Lena knew that he'd been through a terrible experience, and that he needed a stable anchor; she just hadn't planned on being that anchor.

A ring from her communicator dragged Lena out of her thoughts, and she flipped it open as she walked out of the room; it wouldn't do to disturb Harry when he was sleeping so peacefully.

"Ello there, wot can I do for you?"

"Excuse me, is this Lena Oxton?"

Lena's brow furrowed. The accented and faintly synthesized voice coming from her communicator struck a chord within her memory. Why did it sound so familiar...abruptly, her eyes widened in shock and delight.

"Genji? Genji Shimada? Blimey, I haven't heard from you in a bloody century! It's soo good to hear from you, what can I do for you, luv? How've you been?"

The now identified man chuckled lightly at her rapid fire questions.

"It is good to speak with you again, Tracer. I see that you have not changed a bit. As for what you can do for me...ah, I was just calling to say hello, I was wondering if we could get together sometime for a nice cup of tea?"

Lena's eyes widened and she tightened her grip on the communicator. Overwatch agents on active duty had been taught numerous code phrases to use in the event that they ever needed to contact a fellow operative over a compromised network. If she remembered correctly, 'getting together for a cup of tea' meant that Genji had important information that he needed to share.

"Of course, luv, I'm always set to meet with old friends for a cuppa tea. Green, Black, White, or Oolong?"

"Ah...green tea has always been my favorite. I do hope you don't mind."

Green tea...so the information was important, but not urgent enough that it represented an immediate threat. Lena breathed a small sigh of relief.

"That sounds bloody lovely. When are you swinging by?"

"Tonight, if that is alright with you. I do understand if you won't be able to accommodate me though."

Lena chewed on her lip for a moment then responded "No, no, I can, don't think I 'ave anythin' to do tonight. Just swing by my flat and we can have a sit down together."

"I will see you then Lena. It was good to hear from you."

"You as well luv. Buh bye."

Lena hung up the communicator and frowned. While she would love to catch up with one of her old friends, the fact that Genji had called ahead to warn her was...worrying.

What could possibly be worrying the Shimada scion so much? She hadn't heard of any major new developments on the world stage. Omnic-Human relations were uneasy, yes, but with the aid of the Shambali, things were finally starting to calm down. People were becoming more accepting of the artificial lifeforms, and Omnic governments were even beginning to see success, with the city of Numbani held up as a shining example.

Lena clicked her tongue as she looked out of one of the windows of her flat. Maybe it had to do with the Shimada clan...though why Genji would come to her for help dealing with his family, she didn't know. Lena ran a few more ideas through her head, before finally sighing and giving up. She wasn't going to figure it out anytime soon, and Genji would tell her soon anyways.

She hoped he would clear the issue up, at least. With Harry in her life now, Lena knew that she couldn't be as happy-go-lucky as she had been before; there was more than one life on the line.

. . .

Zenyatta and Genji ran silently across the rooftops of southern London, the two passing over roads faster than human eyes could follow. Teacher and student moved in tandem, both trusting that the other would catch them if they fell. When a road was too wide to jump across in one leap, they vaulted off of light posts and power lines, their mechanical limbs enabling them to make such maneuvers with blazing speed and accuracy. Most of the pedestrians below noticed nothing, and the few who did blinked, then dismissed the brief rush of air and shadow as a seagull or crow.

After more than ten minutes of travel, Zenyatta slowed to a halt on a roof overlooking the Thames, Genji skidding to a stop beside him. The two stood in silence for a few moments, taking time to survey their surroundings. Big Ben pierced the sky in the distance, a magnificent monolith pulsing with light that glittered across the black waters of the river. They were only a few blocks away from the neighborhood of King's Row, where Lena's flat was located. Genji scanned the horizon with his master, before turning to the younger member of their partnership.

"I do wonder what Mondatta would think if he knew you spent your nights skulking on rooftops, Master." Genji began, the light tone of his voice conveying his joking manner.

"My old friend would undoubtedly say that I should be wary of taking on such troublesome students in the future."

Genji snorted, the slightly synthesized sound escaping his facemask. Though he oftentimes projected the aura of a wise sage, Zenyatta was still a young Omnic at heart, and he could be playful when the mood took him. His sense of humor was both deep and enduring, displaying far more variety than most people expected an Omnic to be capable of . One of the areas that Zenyatta had mentored him in was humor, actually; laughter was one of the best methods for dealing with loss and suffering, and Genji hadn't had many reasons to laugh after leaving Overwatch. Zenyatta had changed that, and for his aid, Genji would forever be grateful; though that is not to say that he wasn't above taking a few shots at his master when he could.

"Are you insinuating that I've corrupted you, Master? That is a bold accusation to make, indeed."

If Zenyatta could have raised an eyebrow, he would have.

"Hmph. Is it bold if it is the truth? The student teaches the master as much as the master teaches the student, suzume."

"Master," Genji whined "I thought I asked you not to call me that!"

"I know" responded Zenyatta, his voice inscrutable "But it is my prerogative as a master to embarrass my student when I feel like it. Plus, well...you are adorable when flustered."

With his piece said, Zenyatta flipped away, landing on a light post before leaping onto a passing barge, the boatsman at the helm blissfully unaware of his new cargo.

"I am not—you don't...bah. I'll get you back for that master, just you wait...omnic baka." muttered Genji under his breath as he followed.

The rooftop they had left fell silent as the pair continued towards their destination, unnoticed by all save for one. A small drone hovered half a kilometer above them, observing their progress through a ebony lens, the mounted camera whirring as it tracked the two foreigners.

. . .

A knock at her door drew Lena away from the window she was looking out of. Blinking to the entryway, she felt a smile break out onto her face.

Opening the door, Lena leaned against the wall, a cheeky grin on her face.

"Well well well, Genji Shimada, long time no see."

The cyborg chuckled, stepping forwards to give the British native a hug. While Genji and Tracer had been assigned to different areas of Overwatch, they had still managed to run into one another from time to time, and Lena was always ready to make new friends. So, after their third meeting, a beautiful friendship was born. They had bonded over a mutual appreciation for tea, good food, and pranks (Gabriel and Jack had been their most frequent targets, though every agent ran afoul of the pranking duo at least once...except for Mercy. No one messed with Mercy and got away with it).

Looking over Genji's shoulder, Lena beheld an Omnic standing to the side, nine spheres floating in the air around his neck. Her eyes widening, she pushed Genji away.

"Ah, where are my manners, and this is—"

"Tekhartha Zenyatta, founding member of the Shambali, wandering guru, monk of the Iris, ohmybloodygoshyouhavenoideahowexcitingthisis, hellowelcomenicetomeetyou!"

Zenyatta laughed gently, holding out his hands to calm down the hyperactive British woman.

"Peace, Lena Oxton. A river will reach the ocean, whatever speed it travels at; we will have plenty of time talk about whatever you want tonight. I take it by your reaction that you know of the teachings of my brothers and I."

Lena nodded enthusiastically.

"I do, I do. I've admired the work of Mondatta and yourself for a long time, ever since I heard about it. It just...means a lot for me to meet one of the members of the Shambali…" Lena scratched the back of her head and looked down "I know that Overwatch and Omnics have a bad history together, but people like you are helping to change that, bringing the world closer together, bringing Omnics and humans closer together. I joined Overwatch to help people...guess you could say I look up to you blokes...and...yeah..."

A metallic hand on her shoulder broke Lena out of her rambling. Looking back up, she found herself being embraced by the Omnic.

"I have heard much about you from my student, but to meet you...never lose sight of who you are, Lena Oxton. You have a truly beautiful soul. I have not seen its like in all my travels. It strengthens me to know that people like you are left in the world."

Lena blinked in shock, tears welling up in her eyes before she wiped them away.

"Tha...thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me, luv."

Zenyatta broke away, his face impassive as always, while Genji suppressed a sniff. Trust his master to calm Tracer down within seconds and say the one thing that would bring her such joy that she nearly started crying. It was a wonderful moment that he would remember forever.

"Is that a sniffle I hear, suzume?"

Aaaand of course master had to ruin it.

"I must be catching a cold, master. And don't call me that."

"Ah, my poor student. Suffering under the burden of such a dastardly sickness. Nothing a good cup of tea can't fix."

Lena blinked twice.

"Wait, are we actually drinking tea?"

Genji turned to Lena, head tilted to the side, while Zenyatta mirrored him.

"...yes? That is why I called?"

"But I thought, the situation code…"

Genji and Zenyatta looked at each other, then back at Tracer.

"Oh, yes, that as well, we do have something important to discuss, but I am never one to pass up the opportunity for a steaming cup of tea."

"And while I cannot drink human beverages, the atmosphere created by drinking tea is undeniably relaxing. It could help you absorb our tale."

Lena's mouth formed an 'O'.

"Oh...ooooh. Right! I'll get on that then luvs, sorry bout that!"

Lena zipped away, and Genji shrugged at his companion.

"Well...she hasn't changed one bit."

"She is a lovely young woman indeed. In any event...come along my student. I wouldn't want you to suffer under the burden of your 'cold' any longer."

Genji groaned before following his master.

. . .

"Now, why are you two here? You mentioned you had something to tell me?"

Lena gazed at the two figures over the rim of her cup; Genji had removed his facemask and was quietly sipping at his green tea, while Zenyatta had set his own cup to hover in the air around him.

"Yes, we do. I understand that you've recently adopted a young child by the name of Harry Potter?"

Lena tensed slightly.

"How'd you know that?"

Zenyatta leaned forwards, his fingers steepled.

"I suppose there is nothing to do but to say it...some weeks ago, I was struck by a vision from the Iris. A vision of a possible future that could come to pass. Harry Potter is the lynchpin of that future; his fate is irrevocably intertwined with that of the world."

Lena felt her heart stutter.

"W-what? What does that...what does that even mean?"

Genji set down his cup, sighing.

"Honestly...we do not know. Master and I have discussed his vision back and forth during the weeks it took to travel here. Most of what he remembers is...what is the word...jumbled. All we can say for certain is that the future he saw is dependant on Harry being struck down at some point."

"Struck down?"
"Killed." said Genji, his voice solemn.

Lena placed her cup down. No one spoke for several moments.

Zenyatta broke the silence, his tone gentle.

"Do you know of any reason why Harry Potter is so special? My vision showed me many things, but I am curious as to why this child holds such a heavy burden on his shoulders."

"...according to Winston and Angie, Harry is seen as some sort of...savior, for the wizarding world."

Zenyatta looked at Lena, a strange note entering his voice.

"The boy is a wizard?"

Lena nodded and said "When he wasn't but a wee babe he apparently defeated some dark tosser named Voldemort."

Genji hummed in thought.

"Voldemort...British wizard born in 2006...he rose to power only five years after the Omnic Crisis started. Ah, yes, I do remember something in the briefings mentioning a Harry Potter."

"Do ya happen to see this tosser in your vision, Zenny?"

Ignoring Lena's newly minted nickname, Zenyatta thought back to his vision.

"I remember a man with a face like snake and a cruel, blackened soul; he killed Harry's mother before trying to do the same to Harry. The spell he utilized did not work, though...it backfired, turning his form to ash...but it did not kill him. And then he...yes...yes, it is clear now, Voldemort will return, and he will be out for blood when he does. He will be the one who creates that future by killing young Harry."

A savage scowl formed on Lena's face.

"If he comes anywhere near my son―"

"Their confrontation may be inevitable, Lena."

Lena gaped at Zenyatta, a betrayed look in her eyes.

"What? Why? Why does it have to be on his shoulders? He doesn't even know he's a wizard yet!?"

Zenyatta responded "I know, and it pains me to even consider putting a child in danger. Genji and I will do everything in our power to ensure that Voldemort does not return in the first place. But we must consider the possibility that Harry will meet Voldemort in battle one day."

"But...but the Shambali...you always taught nonviolence."

Zenyatta sighed deeply.

"Even I know there are times when force must be used. Make no mistake, Lena; Voldemort is evil, unlike anything I have ever seen before. In every individual I have met, there has always been a glimmer of goodness within their soul. Some artifact of hope or love that I could appeal to, a memory of better times or an old bond. But when the Iris showed me Voldemort, I looked into his soul and I saw nothing but hunger and hatred. He is a hollow man, Lena. He does not know love, or joy, or happiness. All he desires in dominion and death. There is no place for a creature like him in this world."

The table once again lapsed into silence: Lena's face was drawn in a way that didn't look natural, while Genji's eyes were a storm of conflicting emotions.

"So...it is Harry's fate to fight with this Dark Lord, and their battle will decide if the world lives or dies."

"Perhaps." said Zenyatta "Nothing is certain about the future. Who knows? It might change simply by virtue of me telling this to you. But it is far better to be prepared than to not be when something terrible happens."

Lena's form shuddered as she drew in a deep breath.

"So...what do we do?"

Zenyatta plucked his tea out of the air and set it down on the top of the table.

"Everything we can. Genji and I will remain in England until this is resolved; the fate of the world is in the balance, after all. We can begin training Harry to defend himself. Any knowledge he needs, we should provide. I can teach him about philosophy and the Iris, as well as techniques to defend his mind. Genji can train him in martial arts and ninjutsu. You can bring to the table the knowledge you gained while working for Overwatch, as well as you years as a fighter pilot. Perhaps contact your old friend Winston as well, to tutor Harry on scientific matters. We provide him with all the tools he will need should he one day find himself on the battlefield. And, if that day comes, then we stand beside him. If that day comes, we will make sure that he wins, and that we all walk away safe."

Lena looked at Zenyatta, her lip trembling for a moment before she squared her jaw.

"Right...alright. I can get behind that."

. . .

"A cup of tea? I would love to, Lena, you know me. Green, black, white, or Oolong?"

"Green tea, Winston, luv. Think you can swing by in the next week or two?"

Winston hummed, his eyes flicking over to the banks of computer screens; one in particular shifted to show his itinerary, which was currently, as usual these days.

"I'll see what I can do, Lena. It'd be good to get out of this stuffy base, Athena has been nagging me for days to get some fresh air."

A third, synthesized voice interjected into the conversation "You do need to Winston. It has been six days, fourteen hours since you last left―"

Winston coughed loudly before continuing.

"Anyways...do you need me to bring anything with me Lena?"

"Mmm...up to you big guy. Wouldn't be a bad idea to bring your own mug though, most of mine are chipping."

So he should bring his weapons and armor. Might as well pack a few of his experiments as well then, who knew how long Lena would need him.

"Will do. It will be good to see you again, Lena."

"You too Winston. It's been far too long since I last saw ya, luv."

Winston said goodbye and hung up his communicator. So something had happened...something important enough that Lena didn't trust their communications network. If Winston was a gambling gorilla, he would have bet good money it had to do with Harry Potter.

As to why they couldn't use their network...well, Winston could understand where she was coming from. There had been some troubling rumors recently about Talon moving in the shadows again. They had gone underground for a time after Overwatch was dissolved, but it seemed that the rats had regained their courage, and were beginning to raid science labs, R&D facilities, and armories around the world. Digital staches were at even more risk; a few of Winston's contacts in world governments mentioned a hacker who came and went as if the most powerful firewalls in the world didn't exist. All that the hacker left in their wake was a symbol of a stylized purple skull superimposed on a black screen.

Snorting, Winston began lumbering around the lab. If Lena thought it was important to meet, then he'd be damn well sure to do so. She was a dear friend, one of the few he had left.

"Pack me a suitcase, Athena. I have a flight to catch."

. . .

Sombra leaned back in her chair, her arms stretched out. Her camera drone had followed the Shambali monk and the Shimada scion to Tracer's flat, the two of them disappearing inside. She didn't have a microphone on the drone, and hadn't wanted to rick it being seen, so she'd held back; an action that she was starting to regret now. It was a well known fact that Sombra could hack anything, but those former Overwatch putas were being crafty; she couldn't spy on a room without something to hack into. Tracer and Genji hadn't spilled anything over the communication lines about why they were meeting, but whatever it was, it was big. Big enough to pull the monkey away from his toys.

"Sombra, do you have the schematics we asked for...several minutes ago?"

Sighing, Sombra clicked away from the drone in Britain and opened up the one stationed in Korea.

"Of course, abuelo. Sending them to you now."

"Call me a grandfather again and I'll slit your throat in your sleep."

Sombra rolled her eyes. Honestly, Gabriel was such an edgelord sometimes. He probably cried himself to sleep while listening to death metal in his coffin bed.

"How's it looking on your end, Widowmaker?"

The response came back a few seconds later, Amélie's voice detached and cold.

"The guards are dealt with on my end. Moving towards the objective now."

Sombra watched the odd duo of Widowmaker and Reaper perform their mission. Despite her dislike of both of them (though to different levels and for different reasons), she acknowledged that both were very good as what they did. Soon enough, Talon would have all of the data on the new MEKA mechs.

Sombra popped a piece of gum into her mouth and started chewing. Talon, Overwatch, the Omnics, and now whatever was getting Tracer and her friends up in arms. How was it all connected? Who was the man behind the curtain? Sombra needed to know. She needed to dig deeper into this.

. . .

Harry Potter yawned as he sat up, stretching out the cricks in his back. It took him a few moments to gain his bearings, and when he did, he smiled.

He didn't live with the Dursleys anymore. No, now he had a new mother, one who actually loved him. It still made him feel strange and fluttery inside, knowing that someone actually cared that he existed. He'd been worried, in the month that he'd been living with her, that he'd do something freakish to drive Lena off. But no...when the coffee pot had exploded one day after he stubbed his toe, Lena had laughed it off, telling him a story about the time an old friend of hers named Torbjörn had spent a week 'upgrading' all of the coffee machines in the Overwatch facility so that they only brewed coffee so black it could 'put chest hair on a dolphin' in Tracer's own words.

Harry was so relieved that Tracer didn't mind his freakish―no...he was not a freak, Lena had told him so―his gifts. It'd been one of the many things he had worried about incessantly.

Of course, he should have known better. Lena was too good a person for that; the sun would burn out before Lena Oxton would be a bad person, Harry thought.

"You up and about, luv?"

Hearing Lena's voice, Harry perked up.

"Yeah, I am. Good morning!"

Lena giggled, her hand snaking out to ruffle Harry's behead.

"Mornin' luv. We need to get you a haircut, startin' to look a wee bit shaggy there, aren'tcha?"

Harry laughed, and batted her hand away.

"Harry Potter."

Hearing his name said by a foreign voice, Harry turned, and almost immediately shrunk away. Framed in his doorway was an Omnic, a bunch of orbs floating around his neck.

He and Lena had talked about Omnics at length during their time together. She'd told him all about the Omnics and what they were really like; how they weren't all that different from humans, how they had thoughts and dreams and feelings too, and how they deserved to be treated just like anyone else. They weren't monsters or murderers like Vernon had claimed. And while he knew it in his head...part of Harry was still a scared little boy shivering in an alleyway.

"H-h-hello s-sir."

The Omnic crouched down to Harry's level, not advancing beyond the door frame.

"I know you are scared, young one. However, I promise you that I will do nothing to harm you. I am simply here to help you."

"Help me?"

Lena sat down on Harry's bed, one of her hands idly playing with his sheet.

"Harry...we have something important that we need to talk with you about. Luv...you're a wizard."

I am so, so sorry it took so long to get this out. This probably isn't up to my usual standard, but I'm trying to drag myself out of my writing rut. Hopefully you guys are satisfied.

Couple things here. Number One, Zenyatta is indeed fifteen years younger than Genji. Caught me off guard too, he's so wise for such a young dude. Number Two, Lena is indeed going to have the wizarding talk with Harry in the next chapter, as well as tell him about the vision and his 'destiny'. She isn't the type to keep secrets from people. The only reason she didn't tell him before now was reluctance to spoil his good mood. Number Three, you can bet your ass Tracer and the rest are going to make sure Harry is prepped as all fuck to take down Voldemort. Unlike a certain grey haired fumbler, Overwatch agents do not make martyrs. Ever. Especially if the person in question is a child.