Tony left the room so hopefully Hermione could rest, and he looked at the retreating figure of Professor McGonagall. "Professor McGonagall." He called and ran after her.

"Yes?"

"Um, I know this is kind of a long shot, but I was wondering if I could take Harry for the Christmas holidays? I promise I'll be a total guardian, and responsible and respectful and other grown up words." He promised and Minerva smirked.

"You remind me of Harry's father, it's not up to me, but I feel you might be able to get permission from Dumbledore. He spends part of his summers at his guardian's house, they have very powerful wards there that stop people from hurting Harry; however, it does not prevent abuse from within. The Weasley's have already claimed him for the rest of the summer, and he normally stays at Hogwarts for Christmas, so I don't see how he can say no."

"Can you arrange a meeting with him?" Tony asked.

"I'll go arrange one for you, I'll send you the information and collect you when it's time." Minerva said.

"Thank you. Shall we go check if Hermione's managed to sleep, yet?"

"I doubt it, but I have something if she hasn't." They went back into the room and saw Hermione resting her head on the arm of the chair talking to Harry softly.

"Hey guys, you okay Hermione?" Tony asked.

"Um yeah, a bit tired but I can't sleep for some reason." She replied.

"Miss Granger, I have some, er… Is your last name Granger, shouldn't it be Stark?" She asked.

"What would you prefer Hermione?" Tony asked.

"Granger is my step-dad's last name." Hermione said slowly.

"Did he adopt you?" Minerva asked.

"No, but dad said I was his kid, so they changed the name."

"I would have not signed off on him adopting you, sorry. But you were my only child and I still wanted you in my life. So, technically the name is illegal, you can still go by it if you want, or your mother's maiden name."

"Can I be Hermione Stark? I'm not ready to call you dad, but I like the name, and you're right, Granger is illegal."

"Well then, congratulations Miss Stark, I'll update the Hogwarts records. Now, I have seen your records and it says you have to have surgery, so I bought along some potions to help heal you. This is your basic healing potion; you should take it twice a day until you're fully better. This is a mild form of skele-gro which will not vanish the bone, but encourage the healing of the bone, so it will join together slowly so you don't have to have surgery. I have a mild pain relief potion, but it should not be mixed with muggle pain relief. I also have a dreamless sleep potion for you, if you need it."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Yes?"

"Why haven't I cried yet?" Hermione whispered softly, so much that they barely heard her."

"Miss Stark, I, um…"

"Hermione, everyone grieves differently, do you know about the 5 stages of grief?"

"Um, I've heard of it, but I don't know step by step."

"That's okay, not everyone goes through every stage, and most people don't do it in a particular order. What happened was a shock to everyone, and you were only told today. The first stage is shock and denial, it's like your numb to the pain, that won't always be the case, but it explains why you haven't cried yet."

"Are you sure it isn't because I'm damaged or…"

"Hermione, you are not broken or damaged, the shock will go, and it will hit you. I'm sorry to say that grief is hard to get through, it hurts a lot, more than many things you've ever gone through, and I will be right here for you when that happens. I don't know when you'll stop feeling numb and in shock, but it will happen eventually, it might be tomorrow, or next week, but you're not damaged because you aren't crying over their loss just yet. And, I'll tell you something else, I thought the same thing when my parents died. It's not easy to get through, but as time goes on it'll get easier and easier. You still remember them, and it can still hurt, but it isn't as painful."

"Thanks Tony, that means a lot."

"Okay, now why don't you take that dream potion and go to sleep. You're clearly tired. I'll go to your home and get some clothes as your suitcase was ruined, I'll be back later, and I'll be just down the hall."

"In the parent room?"

"Yeah, but I do need to get a few things, like your clothes"

"Okay. I, um, thank you."

"It's okay, now get some rest."

"Pain potion first, then the healing one and then dreamless sleep one." McGonagall told her, handing her each one and watching as she downed them.

"Thank you, Professor." She said and got into her hospital bed and pulled the covers up.

"Come on, Harry. I think the Weasley's are getting antsy."

"Okay, Tony. Can I come back tomorrow?"

"If Mr and Mrs Weasley say you can."

"Okay, I'll ask them."

"Right, let's leave Hermione to her sleep." Tony said and walked out into the waiting room with Harry.

"Hi, Mrs Weasley. Hermione's asleep now." Tony said.

"Oh, good. She doesn't have to have any muggle, um."

"Sugary." Arthur provided, and Tony looked at the man and tried not to laugh

"The Doctors are keeping an eye on it, but Professor McGonagall gave her some potions that will make it, so she doesn't have to have surgery. She should be good to go within a week, possibly sooner."

"Oh good, the poor dear. I think we'll go now. You ready, Harry."

"Yes, Mrs Weasley. Are you dropping me off at the Dursley's or…"? He asked.

"No dear, you'll be staying with us until our trip to Egypt and then you'll have to go back to your Aunt' house." Mrs Weasley said and the Weasley's and Harry left the hospital.

"For being a first-time father, you're doing really well." Minerva said as she watched the Weasley's leave.

"I'm being entirely too responsible." Tony joked and shuddered.

McGonagall chuckled. "If you went to Hogwarts and were a few years younger, I think you would have been the fifth member of the Marauder's. I'm sure you'll enjoy meeting the Weasley twins."

"Um, I need to get into Hermione's house and get a few things, but they keys were on the plane and I'm not sure they're salvageable."

"Oh, right. Well, I'll go with you. It's not too far from here, do you have transport?"

"Wait a minute." He said and pulled out a cell phone "Happy?" he asked.

"Yes, sir?"

"I need a driver to go to Hermione's address, and someone to watch over Hermione whilst I'm gone."

"I can guard your daughter, sir. I'll send Patrick to drive you."

"Thank you." He said and met up with Happy in the Hospital parking. "Right, I want you to be in the waiting room, just watching her door. If a doctor or nurse goes in, you do too. I know it's too much, but I'd rather be safe than sorry."

"Understood, sir."

Tony and Professor McGonagall were then driven to Hermione's house, and Patrick waited in the car. Professor McGonagall opened the door and flicked on the light. "It looks so normal, like everyone's asleep."

"Yeah, I don't know if she'll want to come here."

"What will you do?"

"It's in her name now, so I'll let her decide when she's ready."

"What do you need to get?"

"Just some clothes, she only has her hospital gown. I don't know what happened to her, um, wand. I'm hoping she didn't take it. Also, maybe photos of her parents."

Tony and McGonagall spread out as Tony went into his daughter's bedroom and picked out most of her clothes, as he didn't know what she would want. He found her wand in her bedside table drawer. He then went into the living room and selected most of the photos.

"Did you find her school stuff?" McGonagall asked.

"No, where would it be? I did find her wand though."

"I'll go have a look in her bedroom. She might have them charmed or something." Professor McGonagall said and went around her bedroom and eventually found her trunk under the bed with a light notice-me-not charm around it. She pulled it out to where Tony was waiting and put everything they collected in the trunk and made it lighter.

"Thank you for everything, Professor."

"Your Welcome, Mr Stark."

. . . .

"Happy, how's she been?" Tony asked.

"Slept the entire time you were gone."

"Good, this is all of her stuff for now. We don't have any large residences in this area, do we?"

"None that I can think of." Happy replied.

"JARVIS?"

"Any of the larger residential buildings you own in Britain is rented out by people. We could, of course, kick them out as we are due. However, I'd think you'd find that none of these properties are what you are after. I think you should build something, sir." Jarvis said.

"Ideas?"

"There's a large house with an even larger plot of land and series of outbuildings in the area of Egham. The buildings are very old and complete renovations are encouraged, so you could demolish the house and build your own."

"Interesting idea, but where would we stay in the meantime?" Tony asked.

"It has a series of outbuildings that are more habitable than the main house that you could easily stay in until the house is demolished, and you've built your own."

"Couldn't we renovate? Why are you saying demolish?"

"Because sir, it is not your style at all. I think you could build an amazing new house with a lab and everything you would want."

"Intriguing, show me the plans for this house."

"All the details are on your laptop, sir."

"Thank you, Jarvis. Anything else?"

"The house is in the same region where Harry Potter lives."

"Oh, you've done that on purpose."

"Of course, sir. I want to help him as much as you do."

. . . .

"Hey, good morning." Tony said quietly.

"Morning." Hermione replied softly.

"Did your potion help?"

"Yeah, I got a good sleep."

"Good, now are you hungry?"

"I could eat."

"Good. What do you eat, because hospital food frankly disgusts me, so I'll get you anything?"

"Um, French toast and orange juice." She said softly.

Tony smiled. "Got it."

"I'll get it, Tony." Pepper said.

"Thanks Pep. So, I know all about your time at Hogwarts, but what did you like to do at home?"

"Well, I love reading. I honestly have way too many books. I used to like creating things when I was younger, I kinda created this bot that followed me everywhere when I was about eight. I don't really remember what happened to it, but I couldn't find it and my parents didn't like it, so I didn't create another. Whenever I was over my grandma's house, I rode her horses. I think they're so beautiful and majestic creatures and I loved this one Grandma had, but she had to sell them all shortly before she died."

"Grandma on which side?"

"My mum's side, I didn't really like my dad's parents. I guess I'll never meet yours."

"Heard about that, huh?"

"Yeah, sorry. I kinda looked you up last night when you were talking with Professor McGonagall. Did you really build a circuit board at four?"

"Did you really build an AI robot at eight?" Tony asked back.

"Touché." Hermione said.

"I'll help you build another; you know. I've built quite a few. You've already met JARVIS. There's DUM-E and DUM-U, both aren't as smart as JARVIS, but they're useful. I'll have to introduce you to my lab."

"I'm not good at that stuff anymore, I mean I was ahead of all my mundane classes by a lot, but I haven't practised in two years."

"That's okay, do you want to still do these subjects?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'll find you a tutor, and we'll send stuff to your boarding school."

"You said you hated boarding schools, why?"

"Because I was sent to one by my father."

"You didn't enjoy it?" she asked.

"I certainly enjoyed the thorough science department, my mother didn't want me to go, but my father was happy to be rid of me frankly. I don't want you to think I want to be rid of you, and boarding school doesn't leave a lot of time to spend together."

"I would never hold it against you, and although I agree the boarding school is a bit much, I still like Hogwarts."

"Did you want to help design our new house?"

"Why a new house?"

"Well, because I haven't really got anywhere that's suitable for us to call our home. Jarvis found an old house with plenty of land that I've made an offer on, but the house is derelict and either needs a renovation or demolishing. So, we can make a brand-new house exactly how we want it."

"Cool, what are you gonna have in it?"

"Well, part of my job is creating things for my company to sell, right? Well, I need a large lab with lots of equipment to do that safely in."

"Okay, so that would probably be the biggest part of the house and we'd build everything else around that. Have you got an architect?"

"Not yet, do you know one?" Tony joked and Hermione looked at him in confusion.

"Of course not." She said as Pepper walked in with a large bag.

"Two servings of French toast, one each and an orange juice each."

"Thank you, Pepper." Hermione said.

"You staying?" Tony asked.

"Sure." She said and handed the takeaway box to Hermione then one to Tony.

"Have you eaten?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, I had room service this morning."

"Why didn't you have room service?" Hermione asked Tony.

"I stayed here, in the parent's room."

"Oh." Hermione said blushing. "I forgot you told me that."

"Dig in, kid. Now, how big do you want your room?" Tony asked.

"Um, I don't know, medium size?"

"Uh-huh. Now, don't fight me if I ignore that." Tony said and Pepper laughed.

"Have you even bought the place?" Pepper asked.

"I have an offer in, but I kinda want this place for more than just the lovely land and the fact I'll get to build what I want."

"Why?" Hermione asked.

"It's like a fifteen-minute walk away from Harry's house." Tony said and Hermione smiled.

"You're good." She said and he chuckled.

They ate their breakfast in relative silence until a nurse collected Hermione for another x-ray, then Tony went outside to make a call.

. . . .

"Rhodey."

"Tony, what's up."

"Remember that daughter I told you about all those years ago?"

"Hermione, yeah I remember her. Her parents finally allow you to see her."

"No, they're dead."

"Shit, you have full custody?"

"Yeah, she's beautiful and scary smart, probably smarter than me." Tony said and Rhodey laughed.

"I'm coming, where are you guys."

"England, I'll have Jarvis send you all the information. When you decide to come, I'll have a Stark plane take you here." Tony said.

"How is she?"

"She's sad, but she's still talking with me and everything."

"Are you staying in England?"

"Partly, her mother sent her to this Boarding school, and she has friends there and wants to go back, and I agreed just because of her friends. So, I'll be here during the holidays, but I'll come back during the year."

"Got it, I'm anxious to meet her. I'll be there in the morning." Rhodey said and Tony nodded into his phone.

"Thank you Rhodey."

. . . .

"Rhodey, you got in fast."

"Your planes are fast, where's Hermione?"

"They took her for another x-ray, but it looks like she doesn't have to have surgery, so that's good." Tony said.

"So, are you ready to be a fulltime parent?"

"Not really, but she's quite mature so I think that will be a help."

"Mature?"

"Must be from her mother's side, she got the genius thing from me." Tony said and Rhodey laughed.

"Really?"

"She made an AI bot at age eight, she didn't know what happened to it though?"

"You think its her parents, trying to stop her from being like you?"

"Maybe, they certainly didn't want me in her life, even phone calls and photos were rare, and I could tell they didn't want to even do that. They refused when I wanted more as well, it would have ended up in the courts, and that would be no way to announce her to the world."

"Is she still Granger?"

"No, that was her step-dads last name which was illegal. She took her real last name back, Hermione Stark."

"Good, I can't wait to meet her?"

"Well, there she is." Tony said as Hermione walked up with the same nurse who was walking beside her and lead her back to her bed. Tony entered with Rhodey and smiled at Hermione. "Hermione, this is my best friend Colonel James Rhodes, we call him Rhodey."

"It's so nice to meet you, Hermione. Your dad has told me so much about you over the years."

"It's really nice to meet you too, Colonel Rhodes."

"Your dad says your smarter than him." Rhodey laughed.

"Probably in some area, but he's always gonna be the lead genius at research and development, I made one robot."

"Your still young, I think you're gonna blow everyone away when it's your turn. And you dad tells you that you, at least, are level-headed. Might make things easier when you take over at SI."

"My mum was always the calm and sensible one, even in the middle of a crisis she never lost her head."

"So Tony was right, you have the smarts from him and the sensibility from your mum. I'm sorry about her and your stepdad by the way, it must have been terrifying."

"It was pretty scary, I just braced, and I couldn't see them at all. I just hoped they found each other in the end." Hermione said softly and Tony sat next to her on the bed.

"Heck, that sounds horrible, I'm so sorry Hermione."

"Thanks." She replied and smiled softly as Pepper entered the room.

"Ah, Rhodey, I wondered when you'd be coming."

"Pepper, always good to see you." Rhodey said and hugged her quickly.

"You feeling better, Hermione?"

"Yeah, I just got back from another x-ray, I'll have a whole collection after this." She joked softly and Tony chuckled.

"Right, lunch?" Pepper asked.

"Um, maybe a salad, I'm not that hungry." Hermione said.

"We'll get it, you guys stay here." Tony said and he and Rhodey walked out of the room

"Oh, I like her. She's calm and collected, but she's joking at a time like this." Rhodey said.

"Yeah, sometimes I feel she's too good to be my daughter. I'm really lucky." Tony admitted.