The dinner took place near the tranquil pond, right outside the tent. Koby, ever resourceful, cleared a patch of land and set up a long table piled with all sorts of delicious food: roast chicken, steaks, mash, apple pies, and more.
The table was almost on the verge of collapsing under the weight. Happy was called over by Colonel Rhodes, and they all had a filling meal in the oasis of the desert. After a short break, Koby dismantled the tent and stuffed it into one big trunk, together with Jamie's belongings.
Then, they boarded the plane and Happy took charge of flying it back to the US military base. With Rhodes' assistance, the military gave them the green light, and they embarked on their return journey to the United States the next day.
The moment the plane crossed into New York airspace, Jamie leaned towards Tony and said, "I think it's time for me to go. I trust you'll fulfill your end of the bargain. Believe me, you don't want to know what I'm capable of." Her voice resonated with unwavering determination, leaving no room for doubt.
Tony gazed at Jamie, a mix of confusion and surprise evident on his face. "You're not joining us?" he asked, puzzled.
"I think there'll be a crowd eagerly anticipating your return. I don't want to impose. And remember, let's keep this low-key," Jamie replied, rising from the chair and picking up her compact suitcase. "Koby, take me back home, please."
With a soft pop, Jamie disappeared from the plane. "Jarvis, erase all the surveillance footage from the plane and make sure to back it up on my personal server," Tony swiftly commanded.
"Sure thing, sir."
Rhodes approached the spot where Jamie had disappeared, waved his hand, and turned to face Tony. "So, what's the deal with her? Superpowers?"
"Magic!"
"You're joking with me right?" Rhodes deadpanned.
Tony chuckled, finding Rhodes' reaction amusing. "No, I'm not joking. Jamie has magical abilities. She's a skilled sorceress."
Rhodes raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Magic? In this day and age?"
Tony nodded. "Believe me, I was just as surprised when I first found out. But I've seen her powers in action. She can manipulate energy, conjure objects out of thin air, and even teleport, as you just witnessed."
Rhodes crossed his arms, still processing the information. "And you trust her?"
Tony's expression turned serious. "I do. She saved my life, and she's proven herself to be a valuable ally. Plus, she made it clear that I should fulfill my end of the bargain, so I have no reason to doubt her."
Rhodes let out a sigh. "Alright, Tony. If you vouch for her, then I trust your judgment. Just make sure we keep this low-key, as she requested."
Tony nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. We'll keep her involvement under wraps. The last thing we need is the world finding out about real magic."
With that settled, Tony and Rhodes focused on the rest of their journey back to the United States
* * *
Back at home, Jamie flopped onto her bed and released a contented sigh. Nothing compared to the comfort of her own home, regardless of how cozy the tent was.
A gray barn owl suddenly swooped through the open window and landed gracefully on Jamie's bedside table. It blinked its large, piercing yellow eyes at her before sticking its leg out, presenting the letter it carried.
Koby took the letter and made sure it was clear of any curse before handing it to Jamie. "It's mail from the US Congress, Mistress."
Frowning, Jamie took the letter, and breathed a sigh of relief once she finished reading it. It turned out to be a notice from the Department of International Travel office confirming her return to the United States and requesting her to register at her earliest convenience.
Thank god it had nothing to do with her business with Tony; otherwise, she'd have to pack up and go on the run again. She knew she wouldn't stand a chance against a team of elite aurors.
Dismissing the letter aside, Jamie continued to lounge around instead. The Department of International Travel, or whatever ridiculously long name it had, could wait. All she wanted at that moment was sleep.
"Forgive me, Mistress, for interrupting your sleep, but Koby has no other choice!" Koby's squeaky voice shattered Jamie's tranquility just as she was about to drift into a peaceful slumber.
"Stop dawdling, Koby! Tell me already!" Jamie groaned, rolling her eyes as she sat upright on her bed to meet the house-elf's gaze.
"Our funds are depleted, Mistress. We're in dire need of restocking almost everything." Koby stood cautiously near the door, not wanting to disturb his master, but their stay in Afghanistan had left them depleted of supplies, even the most basic cleaning items.
"Remember those gems they sent us? Just cash them in! The goblins go crazy for them. Keep one for me and take the rest to Gringotts for exchange. If there's nothing else, don't disturb me. I want to sleep," Jamie stated before diving beneath her warm blanket.
Silently shutting the door behind him, Koby went to fetch the gems they had received from Pepper. With a sudden flash of magic, he transported himself to the magical shopping district near Time Square, and set his course for Gringotts, the largest wizarding bank in the world.
Using Jamie's vault key as identification, Koby successfully exchanged all the gems for a considerable amount of dragots. The pure gems brought in enough money to elevate Jamie's vault in the American branch of Gringotts to a number below 500.
Gringgots maintained a uniform approach with its vaults across the globe, with the lower numbers indicating higher security and greater wealth. Jamie's vault now, ranked among the most secure and affluent in the United States.
The freshly appointed manager of Jamie's account placed a letter and a shiny silver card in Koby's hands, tasking him with the responsibility of delivering them to Jamie. Securing the items, Koby pocketed some dragots in a pouch that had an extension charm cast on it before setting off home.
With the dawn of a new day, Jamie finally roused from her slumber, feeling rejuvenated. Following her morning routine, her gaze immediately fell upon the conspicuously positioned letter and card left on her desk by Koby. Intrigued, she picked them up, examining the goblin-crafted silver card with her name elegantly engraved upon it.
Upon opening the letter, penned by the manager of Gringotts' American branch, Jamie discovered the news of her upgraded vault and the heightened security measures implemented. The correspondence also informed her of the substantial sum of dragots now at her disposal, designating her as an esteemed patron of the bank.
The goblins' desperate attempt to sell their service was not lost on Jamie as she read the letter. It was a clever tactic she had picked up from observing how the muggles ran their banks. Annoyed by the advertisement letter, Jamie scoffed and tossed it into the trash without a second thought. However, she kept the card in her pouch.
After putting on a black dress with long sleeves, Jamie headed straight to the fireplace in the reception room. She grabbed a handful of floo powder, and stepped into the flames. A few minutes later, Jamie arrived at the office of the International Travel Department, where the same witch she saw a week ago sitting behind the counter. As soon as Jamie came up, the witch spoke up in that same monotone voice, "State your name and purpose."
"I'm here to register my return to the United States," Jamie replied, her voice carrying a hint of impatience.
The witch glanced at Jamie and then down at her paperwork. "Name?"
"Jamie Black."
The witch flipped through a few pages on her desk until she found the relevant section. "Ah, here you are. Jamie Black, returning from Afghanistan. Please fill out this form," she said, sliding a sheet of parchment and a quill across the counter.
Jamie took the quill and quickly filled in the necessary information, including her name, and date of return. She handed the form back to the witch, who inspected it briefly before stamping it with an official seal.
"Your registration is complete. Welcome back to the United States, Miss Black," the witch monotoned, showing no emotion in her voice.
"Thank you," Jamie replied curtly, taking the form and tucking it into her bag. As she was about to leave, she spotted something that caught her eyes. She casually picked up a copy of the New York Ghost, an American wizarding newspaper, from the front desk. On the front-page headline was a photo of Tony Stark, surfacing after missing for two months in Afghanistan.
"Why did a muggle make it to the front page of the newspaper?" Jamie's heart skipped a beat as she read the headline, feigning nonchalance.
The witch behind the counter looked up and said, "You don't know yet? This muggle seems to have ties to the wizarding world. Even the aurors were ready to take action when the muggle authorities failed to come up with any results in their search."
"Do you know what kind of connection he has here?" Jamie asked, looking eager for some juicy gossip.
The witch straightened herself, casting furtive glances in every direction. In a hushed voice, she said, "They say he's a secret descendant of a famous person, exiled to the muggle world. I've heard many people in the wizarding world are keeping an eye on him."
Jamie forced an awkward yet polite smile, took out a dragot from her pocket, and placed it on the counter. "Thanks for the story. I have to get going now, and I'll take this newspaper with me."
"Come again next time!" The witch waved enthusiastically, shifting her attention to a large group of travelers emerging from the floo. Jamie was already forgotten from her mind as she got caught up in her work.
Jamie's laughter echoed through the house upon her return. A secret descendant? Despite displaying no magical prowess, the man referred to as "Tony Stark'' in the picture, radiated an unmistakable magical energy. In stark contrast, the real Tony Stark possessed no magical energy whatsoever. Nonetheless, this was big news to her, as one of the wealthiest men in the world possessed ties to the wizarding realm, unbeknownst to Tony himself.
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Jamie believed that even if her role in Tony's rescue were to be made public, the Congress would lift a finger against her. Having the famous Harry Potter as her godfather sometimes has its perks. Setting the newspaper down, she fixed her eyes on Tony's photo, wondering how he might respond to this.
As the clock neared nine in the morning, she signaled to Koby to get the store ready for the day. With a faint reply of "Yes, Mistress," Koby proceeded to unlock the front door, and flipped the sign on the window from "Closed" to "Open".
Nearly half an hour later, a woman with fiery red locks in a sleek business suit strolled in, her eyes scanning the surroundings with curiosity. Settling down at the center table, she reached for the parchment lying upon it. As she absorbed its message, her thoughts wandered before she finally put pen to paper.
Right as she was about to put the pen down, Koby's voice echoed throughout the ground floor room, "We kindly ask that you provide your true name; otherwise we won't take the request."
Startled by the unexpected voice, the redheaded woman abruptly stood upright. Her eyes scanned the room, yet no one else was there except her. She made sure of it earlier. Then, where did the voice come from?
She continued to survey her surroundings, yet the voice remained silent. As her attention returned to the table, a sense of alarm overcame her. The parchment lying there began to emit wisps of smoke before quickly turning into a pile of ashes. Then, a blank piece of parchment appeared in its place.
Eventually, she resumed her position in the chair. After careful consideration, she penned down her request and finished it by disclosing her real name, Natasha Romanoff.
Unbeknownst to her, Jamie had been observing her every move from upstairs. "Hmm, this lady seems rather interesting," Jamie remarked with a hint of curiosity in her voice.
Through a cleverly devised confundus charm she placed on the parchment, Jamie could compel people into revealing their deepest desires. Even ordinary wizards could fall victim to it if they weren't careful.
Setting the paper down, Natasha let out a silent exhale of relief. The fact that it didn't go up in flames this time was reassuring to her. Surely, it wouldn't happen again right?
Before her eyes, the parchment suddenly disappeared, and that same voice she heard moments ago spoke again, "Please wait a moment."
Apparating to the upper floor, Koby immediately passed the parchment over to his Mistress. Jamie cast a glance at it before tossing it aside without a care. "I had hoped for something more challenging, but all she wants is an old scar gone. How dull... Koby, tell her to make the payment. She'll find the potion stashed in the cabinet right above the counter."
"Of course, Mistress," Koby responded, then disappeared without a trace.
Jamie wasn't interested in the redheaded woman anymore. With a nonchalant shrug, she left the balcony, and descended the stairs towards the basement. Her potion stock had almost run out, and the Skele-Gro formula was still in need of some adjustment. So much stuff to do.
During that time, Natasha saw that there was a new piece of parchment on the table. After absorbing its written contents, she cast another searching gaze, yet no one came into view.
Her eyes flickered toward the wall-mounted cabinet, prompting her to retrieve a small gold necklace from her bag. Placing it gently upon the table, she then advanced towards the cabinet.
A gentle, almost imperceptible, sound marked the opening of a wooden cabinet door. Extending her hand inside with caution, she retrieved a small vial filled with some kind of green liquid. There was also a slip of paper inside. She grabbed that too and began to peruse it. The paper contained instructions on its usage, the recommended dosage, and the anticipated onset time.
Leaving the store, Natasha carried the vial and paper and made her way down a few blocks to a building close by. She pushed open the double door and went up a flight of stairs, arriving at yet another door.
The instant Natasha opened the door, a voice crackled through her earpiece, "Natasha, what's the update?"
"I didn't receive any communication from you earlier. Is the radio not working properly?" Natasha asked, while locking the door behind her. The room she found herself in was a standard apartment, consisting of a bedroom, a small kitchenette, and a bathroom. It served as a safehouse for her current mission.
"That place is really strange. When you walked in, all signals suddenly disappeared. If it weren't for your life signal still showing, we would have stormed in by now," came the reply through the earpiece.
"Well, that store is definitely odd. They could even tell that I was using a false identity. Anyway, I ended up getting this potion that supposedly has the power to heal any scar," Natasha shared, taking out the vial from her pocket.
"If the information on this paper is accurate, then the potion should work," she finished, unbuttoning her shirt to expose an old scar she had acquired during her time at the Red Room years ago.
Carefully, she applied the potion to the scar with a cotton swab. She glanced back at the paper, double-checking that she hadn't missed any steps. According to the instruction, the effects should manifest within a minute.
"What in the world do you think you're doing, Natasha?" questioned the irritated voice in her earpiece.
"I'm in the middle of a potion experiment, sir," Natasha responded, but a sharp cry of pain slipped through her clenched teeth.
"Natasha, for God's sake, tell me what's going on! Respond!"
"I'm alright, just a little pain," Natasha reassured.
In truth, the pain was unbearable, but after years of being an agent, she had grown accustomed to it. As the pain subsided, she took a deep breath and wiped off the excess potion, only to witness the scar from a stab wound she had once received slowly fading away.
Her eyes were fixed on the mirror, watching as the scar vanished completely. Except for a faint mark, one would find it hard to believe that this scar had ever existed on her skin.
Examining the tiny amount of potion left in the bottle, Natasha couldn't help but say with regret, "I should definitely ask for more."
The door swung open behind Natasha, revealing a bald African-American man clad in a black trench coat. "Why did you use that potion without informing anyone? What if it's poison" he exclaimed.
"I highly doubt it's poison," Natasha scoffed, her back turned to him as she buttoned her shirt back on. "You're here for the result, aren't you"
"Damn straight I do. Since I'm the one who paid for it, I need to make sure my money wasn't wasted," replied Director Nick Fury, her direct superior.
Natasha turned around to face him, lifting her shirt a little to reveal her now flawless skin where the scar used to be. "Impressive, isn't it?" she said, her voice filled with satisfaction.
Nick Fury inspected her closely, his eyes widening in surprise. "Well, I'll be damned. It actually worked. That scar is completely gone."
Natasha grinned, a rare sight for her. "I told you it would. This potion is the real deal."
Nick Fury walked closer to examine her skin, his expression turning serious. "If this potion truly has the power to heal scars, imagine what else it could do. We need to investigate this further."
Natasha nodded in agreement. "I was thinking the same thing, sir. This store, the mysterious tenants, and the magical occurrence. There's something more to all of this."
Nick Fury pulled out a small device from his pocket and activated it. "I'll contact our team and have them dig deeper into this shop and its owner. We can't afford to overlook any potential threats or opportunities."
While her boss spoke into the device, Natasha's mind wandered back to The Enchantress. She couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to the store than met the eye. It was as if there was a huge secret lurking within its walls, waiting to be uncovered.
"Natasha, are you listening?" Nick Fury's voice brought her back to the present.
"Yes, sorry, I got lost in my thoughts for a moment," she replied, refocusing her attention.
"We need to gather more information and proceed cautiously," Nick Fury emphasized. "This might be just the tip of the iceberg."
Natasha nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "I'll do some reconnaissance and see what else I can find out."
As they left the room together, Natasha couldn't help but wonder what other secrets the store held.