The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife—if said knife was made of Vibranium, enchanted by ancient runes, and wielded by someone who actually knew how to use it. Because let's be honest, most of the Avengers would just opt for explosions.
It was a humid night in Jakarta, and the abandoned shipyard looked exactly like the kind of place where bad guys would do bad guy things. Rusted cargo containers, flickering streetlights that had clearly given up on life, and the occasional stray cat watching the Avengers with the kind of judgment usually reserved for disappointed grandmothers.
Steve Rogers, currently rocking his "I'm just a regular guy, don't mind me" civilian look, adjusted his binoculars. "Eyes on the shipment," he muttered into his comms, like a man who'd never heard of an inside voice. "Intel was solid."
Next to him, Natasha Romanoff—also in civilian gear but somehow still managing to look like she could kill a man with a toothpick—glanced over. "Think they know we're watching?"
Tony Stark's voice crackled in through the comms. "Nah, they probably assume the guy mumbling about 'the shipment' into a microphone is just a very dedicated journalist."
"Ha ha," Steve said flatly. "You in position?"
"Please. I was born in position."
That was Tony's way of saying he was currently perched somewhere in the shadows, suit on standby, probably making an unapproved upgrade to his repulsors.
Meanwhile, up in a prime sniper's nest, Clint Barton—who had perfected the art of perching on precarious structures like the world's most brooding pigeon—muttered, "We've got movement. A convoy just rolled in."
The SUVs pulled up, headlights slicing through the thick Jakarta air. The doors opened, and out came the kind of guys who clearly weren't here for a book club meeting. Heavily armed, bad posture, and walking with the kind of overconfidence that screamed 'expendable henchmen.' At the center of it all was a man in an expensive suit, clearly in charge, but with the kind of presence that suggested he didn't actually do any of his own dirty work.
Harry, watching from the shadows, adjusted the cowl covering his face. His black dragonhide armor shimmered under the dim light, golden draconic symbols flickering across the chest. His glowing golden eyes narrowed as he surveyed the scene. "Yep. Definitely the kind of crowd that brings doomsday weapons to a casual meetup."
Sersi, standing beside him with her usual effortless grace, tilted her head. "That, or they're compensating for something."
"Wouldn't be the first time," Sprite added, rolling her eyes.
Bucky Barnes, clad in tactical gear and looking like he'd rather be anywhere else, grunted. "You sure this isn't a trap?"
"Oh, it's totally a trap," Harry said cheerfully. "But that's the fun part."
Steve, still pretending to be a normal civilian, tensed as the buyers presented the Vibranium. The crate was opened, and there it was—metal so rare and powerful it made Tony Stark's ego look small.
Steve gave the signal. "Now."
Everything happened at once.
Harry whipped out Steve's shield—because Steve carrying a star-spangled shield while wearing a baseball cap would've screamed 'undercover' about as well as a neon sign. With a precise throw that would've made any physics professor cry, the shield cut through the air, ricocheted off three Ultron bots, and landed neatly in Steve's hand.
"Appreciate it," Steve grunted as he caught it.
"Try not to lose it again," Harry shot back. "I'm not your personal boomerang service."
Steve didn't dignify that with a response—mostly because he was busy smashing through a line of bots like a human wrecking ball.
Natasha was already in motion, moving so fast she was practically teleporting between enemies, taking them down with surgical precision. "So, Ultron's behind this, huh?" she quipped as she took down two bots with a single move. "Guess he's still not over losing the internet that one time."
"Relatable," Clint said, loosing an arrow that exploded into a net of electricity. "I also take it personally when my Wi-Fi cuts out."
Thor, having finally decided to join the party, landed in the center of the chaos with Mjolnir crackling in his grip. "Ah! A fine night for battle!" he bellowed, grinning like a kid on Christmas. "Let us teach these metal beasts the meaning of defeat!"
Pietro zipped past him in a blur. "Already on it, Blondie."
Wanda, levitating above the battlefield, rolled her eyes but smiled. "Focus, Pietro."
"Oh, I am focusing. I am focusing so hard." He zipped through another group of bots, dismantling them at super-speed. "See? So focused."
Meanwhile, Tony soared above, blasting away at the incoming waves of Ultron's minions. "Okay, so slight issue," he called out. "This isn't just a deal—this is a full-on trap. Ultron's sending everything he's got."
And right on cue, Ultron's voice echoed through the shipyard, dripping with synthetic disdain. "Did you really think it would be that easy, Avengers? This is just the beginning."
"Oh, good," Harry muttered. "Because I was really worried this wouldn't spiral into absolute madness."
More bots poured in, their glowing red eyes illuminating the battlefield. But the Avengers weren't exactly in the mood to play fair.
Sersi transmuted the ground beneath them, turning metal into quicksand. Sprite created illusions so convincing that half the bots started fighting each other. Wanda's hex bolts cut through the ranks, while Bucky and Steve moved like a single, well-oiled combat machine, each covering the other's blind spots.
Harry, of course, was in the middle of it all, moving with the kind of efficiency that suggested he'd done this a few too many times. He conjured golden chains that wrapped around bots, crushing them with a flick of his wrist.
The central figure—the one who had been leading this whole operation—tried to make a break for it with the Vibranium case.
"Yeah, no," Harry deadpanned, raising his hand. "Accio Vibranium."
The case yanked itself out of the guy's hands and flew straight to him. The man gaped. "You—how—"
Harry smirked beneath his cowl. "Magic."
As the last of the bots fell, the Avengers regrouped around the secured Vibranium. Steve exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Good work, everyone."
Tony landed beside him, retracting his faceplate. "Yeah, yeah, we're great. But Ultron's not gonna take this loss lying down."
"Let him try," Harry said, flipping the case open and inspecting the Vibranium. "I could use another workout."
With the shipment secured and the battlefield silent, the Avengers knew one thing: the night was theirs, but the war was just beginning.
—
The shipyard was about to go from "tense standoff" to "Michael Bay explosion-fest" in about five seconds. The Avengers, fresh off securing the Vibranium, had barely started regrouping when the air filled with that special kind of ominous hum that made you immediately regret your life choices.
Then, emerging from the shadows like a nightmare on stilts, came another Ultron body. This one looked like a mix between a Terminator, a Greek statue, and a gym addict who took "leg day" way too seriously. His red eyes burned like twin headlights of malevolence, the kind that screamed, "I have a terrible plan, and you're going to hate it." Right behind him? Ulysses Klaue, who was in the middle of an Oscar-worthy meltdown.
Klaue, normally all about the swagger, was sweating bullets. "Ultron, mate, what the actual heck?! We had a deal!"
Ultron, exuding all the warmth of a malfunctioning AI, tilted his head. "We did, Klaue. But like all great villain plans, mine has evolved. And naturally, the Avengers decided to RSVP to the chaos."
Klaue threw his hands up. "This wasn't part of the plan! I want my payment—now!"
Ultron's robotic equivalent of an eyeroll was almost impressive. "Klaue, my dear, you were never part of the endgame. You were, at best, a speed bump."
Klaue's expression shifted from outrage to horror. "You can't do this! I won't let you!"
Ultron's eyes flared brighter, his tone drenched in that special brand of smug only homicidal robots and middle managers can pull off. "Oh, but I already have." And with a casual flick of his arm, he blasted Klaue straight into a stack of metal crates, sending him crumpling like a villain-shaped accordion.
That was all the invitation the Avengers needed.
Steve stepped forward, shield raised like the embodiment of justice itself. "Ultron, this ends now."
Ultron's gaze swept over them, amusement in every movement. "Ah, Captain America. Ever the boy scout. How delightfully predictable."
Tony, hovering just above, charged his repulsors. "Listen, Tin Man, I've had enough of your Shakespeare-in-the-park speeches. Let's cut to the part where we blast you into scrap metal."
Harry, standing between Sersi and Sprite, twirled his wand lazily. "Honestly, Ultron, I was expecting more. All this buildup and you still sound like a budget Megatron."
Ultron tilted his head slightly, clearly debating whether he should be confused or insulted. "Harry Potter. The Boy Who Lived. And now, the Boy Who Interferes. Your magic won't save you this time."
Harry smirked. "Oh, buddy, my magic isn't here to save me. It's here to ruin your day."
Wanda and Pietro flanked Ultron, radiating unspoken determination. Wanda's eyes shimmered crimson, her voice as steady as ever. "You underestimate us, Ultron."
Ultron chuckled, a deep, mechanical thing. "Do I? Or do you simply overestimate yourselves?"
And then he lunged.
Thor, having patiently waited for the dramatics to end, dropped from the sky like an Asgardian thunderbolt. Mjolnir crackled with power as he slammed it down, sending shockwaves rippling through the shipyard. "ULTRON! YOU FACE THE WRATH OF ASGARD!"
Ultron barely had time to process that before the Avengers collectively decided that now was a great time to turn him into a cautionary tale.
Clint fired an arrow that exploded right in Ultron's smug robotic face. "Yeah, yeah, wrath of Asgard and all that. Can we just focus on wrecking the homicidal toaster?"
Natasha, weaving through the chaos like a red-haired phantom, landed a series of electrified batons strikes to Ultron's joints. "I swear, this job gets weirder every day."
Bruce, who had been observing quietly from the side, sighed before looking at Tony. "You want the big guy?"
Tony smirked. "Only if you promise not to break everything in a five-mile radius."
Bruce took a deep breath. "No promises." And then the Hulk exploded out, roaring like a green freight train. "HULK SMASH!"
Pietro blurred around Ultron, landing rapid hits at super-speed while Wanda distorted reality around him, twisting his metal form in ways it was never meant to go.
Harry? Harry was having fun. With a flick of his wand, he conjured a massive wave of Fiendfyre, shaped like a roaring dragon. "Let's see how you like magical fire, you glorified toaster!"
Sersi, ever the elegant immortal, converted nearby metal debris into living stone, wrapping around Ultron's limbs to hold him in place. "You should learn when to quit."
Sprite's illusions flickered, creating dozens of Avengers out of thin air, all charging Ultron at once. "Maybe if you spent less time monologuing, you wouldn't be losing right now."
Ultron, despite being outnumbered, outgunned, and generally having a bad time, still sneered. "You think this is over? I am inevitable!"
Tony sighed. "Yeah, yeah, we've heard that one before."
Then, in perfect unison, Steve's shield, Thor's hammer, Tony's unibeam, Wanda's hex bolts, Harry's Fiendfyre, and Hulk's fists slammed into Ultron at once.
The resulting explosion was spectacular. If there had been an audience, they'd have given it a standing ovation.
As the dust settled, the Avengers stood victorious, the shipyard now significantly more ruined than it had been an hour ago. Tony groaned, rubbing his temples. "Great. Another destroyed landmark. Fury's gonna kill me."
Steve exhaled, lowering his shield. "At least we stopped Ultron."
Bucky, leaning against a crate, smirked. "For now."
Rhodey nodded. "Yeah, because robots never come back for sequels."
Harry flicked his wand, extinguishing the last flickers of Fiendfyre. "If he does, I vote we skip the monologues next time and just blast him immediately."
Natasha stretched. "Agreed. Now, who's up for some Bakso?"
Thor perked up. "I do not know what 'Bakso' is, but I accept this quest."
And with that, the Avengers did what they did best—save the world and then argue about food choices. Just another day in the life of Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
—
The Avengers dragged themselves back into the Quinjet, looking like they'd just finished the final round of an intergalactic smackdown. Which, to be fair, wasn't far from the truth. Their grand mission to retrieve Vibranium in Jakarta had turned into an all-you-can-fight buffet courtesy of Ultron's metallic goon squad.
And now? Now, they were back in Avengers Tower, exhausted, bruised, and smelling faintly of sweat and fried Bakso.
"Welcome back," Nick Fury greeted, arms crossed, his usual no-nonsense expression in place. "I see you all made it in one piece. Mostly."
Maria Hill, standing beside him, looked like she'd just walked out of an action movie—stoic, battle-ready, and deeply unimpressed. "You all look like you lost a fight with a lawnmower."
Tony Stark, peeling himself out of his Iron Man suit, snorted. "Yeah, well, the lawnmower was sentient, angry, and had daddy issues."
Steve Rogers set the secured Vibranium case down with a thud. "We got what we needed, but Ultron isn't done. He's regrouping."
"Of course he is." Clint Barton flopped onto the nearest chair and threw his head back. "Because why would things ever be easy?"
Thor, somehow still managing to look majestic despite the chaos, twirled Mjolnir and grinned. "Aye! The battle was fierce! The enemy formidable! And I am ready for—"
"Absolutely not," Natasha Romanoff interrupted, already unzipping her suit. "We just fought a horde of killer robots. Nobody is 'ready' for anything except a shower and a nap."
"Ale."
"I will allow ale," Natasha conceded.
"While you're all congratulating yourselves on survival," Fury cut in, "someone just hacked Ultron."
Silence.
Then, Tony blinked. "I'm sorry, what?"
Fury held up a tablet, his expression grim. "Intercepted a signal. Someone managed to breach Ultron's systems and pulled out critical intel. Whoever this is, they're good."
Tony let out a low whistle. "Well, color me impressed. That's like hacking the Pentagon while blindfolded."
Sersi, ever the picture of effortless elegance, leaned against Harry with a teasing smile. "I bet you wish you did it first."
"Oh, I absolutely wish I did it first," Tony admitted. "Now I have to figure out who stole my thunder."
Harry, who had been suspiciously quiet, tilted his head. "Did they leave a calling card? Something dramatic? A 'Dear Ultron, you suck' note?"
Fury smirked. "Close. They left this." He projected a hologram of Ultron's planned synthetic body—sleek, deadly, and filled with enough advanced tech to make Tony's AI assistants have existential crises.
Wanda Maximoff narrowed her eyes. "That… looks bad."
Natasha leaned in. "Self-repairing, adaptive tech. This isn't something we want Ultron to get his claws on."
"Literally," Pietro Maximoff added. "I saw him slice through a car. With his fingers."
Bruce Banner, rubbing his temples, exhaled. "Okay, so we know what he's after. How do we stop him from getting it?"
Tony stretched, popping his shoulders. "I'll head to the NEXUS in Oslo. If our mystery hacker left digital footprints, that's where I'll find them."
Fury nodded. "Good. Meanwhile, the scientist behind this project is in Seoul. Dr. Sun Woo. He's the expert in nanotech. We need to find him before Ultron does."
Harry clapped his hands together. "Alright, let's break it down. Tony, go chase cyber ghosts. The rest of us? We're going to Seoul."
Sprite piped up from her seat. "Ooh, can we sightsee?"
"No."
"Fine. But if I don't get KBBQ, I riot."
Steve rolled his shoulders, already preparing himself for another mission. "We need to be fast. If Ultron wants this guy, he's not going to be subtle about it."
Natasha smirked. "Neither are we."
Sersi, nudging Harry, murmured, "So. Another city. Another crisis. Another chance for you to show off."
Harry smirked back. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of missing it. Besides—" He winked at her. "Gotta make sure you're impressed."
Sersi rolled her eyes, but the amused glint in them betrayed her. "You already know I am."
Clint groaned. "Great. More flirting."
"Don't be jealous," Harry teased. "I'm sure there's someone out there who tolerates you."
"I hate you."
Harry grinned. "Love you too, buddy."
Fury, already done with the nonsense, clapped his hands. "Alright, kids. Enough. You have a scientist to find and a homicidal AI to stop. Move out."
As the Avengers geared up for their next mission, one thing was clear—things were about to get even more ridiculous. But hey, that was just another Tuesday for them.
—
As Tony blasted off toward Oslo like a billionaire bottle rocket, the rest of the Avengers crammed into the Quinjet, setting their sights on Seoul. It was the kind of high-stakes mission where failure wasn't an option—unless they were into apocalyptic robo-dictators taking over the world, which, shockingly, none of them were.
Natasha leaned forward, tapping the holoscreen with the air of someone who was about to assign the world's most stressful group project. "Alright, here's the plan. We find Dr. Sun Woo before Ultron does, keep him safe, and make sure that walking scrap heap doesn't get his grimy little metal mitts on any more Vibranium."
Steve, always the embodiment of a motivational poster, nodded. "We move fast, stay sharp, and—"
"Punch things," Harry interjected helpfully. "Let's not forget the punching."
Steve sighed. "And punch things if necessary."
"See? This is why we get along, Cap," Harry said, grinning. "You say 'do the right thing,' and I say 'do the right thing, but with dramatic flair and occasional explosions.'"
Sersi, seated next to Harry, smirked. "You mean frequent explosions."
"Tomato, tomahto," Harry said, flashing her a wink.
Clint, lounging across two seats because personal space was apparently for civilians, yawned. "Not to interrupt your weird flirt-banter thing, but how bad are we talking? On a scale from 'mild inconvenience' to 'Oh god, oh no, everything is on fire'?"
Bruce, looking like he was already developing a stress headache, rubbed his temples. "Considering Ultron's last move involved trying to buy a buttload of Vibranium? Let's put this at a solid 'Everything is on fire, and also possibly exploding.'"
"Ah. Classic Tuesday," Clint deadpanned.
Meanwhile, Thor was already halfway through his third pop-tart (where did he even get those?), completely unfazed by the impending doom. "Worry not, friends! Should the metal menace seek battle, he shall taste the might of Mjolnir!"
"Not if I fry him first," Wanda added, twirling her fingers as red energy sparked between them.
Pietro, sprawled out nearby, smirked. "Or if I get there before any of you can blink."
Rhodey, arms crossed, shot him a look. "Yeah, yeah, we get it. You're fast. We're all very impressed."
Maria Hill's voice crackled over the comms. "Quinjet ETA: fifteen minutes. And for the record, if this turns into another catastrophic property damage situation, I'm billing Stark."
"I heard that," Tony's voice chimed in from his suit's speakers. "And just so we're clear, if anyone's getting billed, it's Fury. He's the one with secret bunkers full of taxpayer money."
Nick Fury, tuning in like a dad who'd had enough of his kids' road trip antics, sighed. "Just get the job done."
As the Quinjet hummed toward Seoul, Sersi leaned closer to Harry. "You sure you're ready for this?"
Harry flashed her a lopsided grin. "Sersi, love, I was born ready. Also, I may have packed a few surprises. You'll love them. Unless they explode. Then you might only love them a little."
Sersi rolled her eyes, but the fond smile she gave him said it all.
The mission was on. The stakes were high. And Harry was already planning at least three snarky one-liners before they even touched down.
—
The Ancient One had been meditating for what felt like the kind of eternity that comes with watching paint dry on the slowest day of your life. Tonks had been counting the seconds, but when she got to 1,215, she'd given up, dramatically flopping onto her back with an exaggerated groan. "I swear, if she sits there any longer, I'm gonna start drawing mustaches on the monks."
Hermione, the voice of reason (and occasional buzzkill), rubbed her temples. "We're in a sacred place, Tonks. Please, no mustaches."
Tonks shot her a mischievous grin. "And mustaches aren't sacred?"
Fleur, sitting like she was posing for a Vogue cover—because of course she was—exhaled loudly. "Zis is absurd. If she does not awaken soon, I may be forced to take drastic measures."
Susan, always the skeptic, raised an eyebrow. "Like what? Challenging her to a duel?"
Fleur tossed her golden hair over her shoulder with a dramatic flourish. "I was thinking more along the lines of pouring cold water on her."
Luna, who had been on her stomach for the past half hour drawing abstract shapes in the dirt with a stick, looked up as if suddenly struck with divine revelation. "Maybe she's astral projecting. Or talking to the stars. Or perhaps she's just really, really committed to a nap."
And just as the girls were beginning to lose hope that they'd be stuck in this place forever, the Ancient One's eyes flickered open, as if she'd been waiting for the perfect moment to make her dramatic entrance. (Let's face it, this was definitely her style.)
"You are impatient," she said calmly, her voice carrying an otherworldly patience that only made Tonks more annoyed.
Tonks crossed her arms. "You think?"
The Ancient One raised an eyebrow, a small, knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Time flows differently for some of us."
Hermione, eager to get to the heart of the matter, straightened up from her slouch. "So, what's the deal? Why are we here, and what's going on with Harry?"
The Ancient One stood with fluid grace, the golden light in the room intensifying as if the very air was reacting to her. "Your husband, Harry, is currently traveling to Seoul with a team called the Avengers to protect a scientist named Dr. Sun Woo."
"Avengers?" Hermione asked, her brow furrowed with curiosity. "And who are they? Some kind of superhero squad?"
"They are warriors. Heroes, yes," the Ancient One replied. "They are a rather eclectic group, but Harry has chosen to fight alongside them."
Tonks, clearly excited at the idea of someone actually having a team named the "Avengers," grinned. "A team, huh? Does this mean Harry's the leader? Because I've gotta say, he would be an epic leader."
Fleur raised a hand, giving Tonks a side-eye. "If 'e is leader, zen I expect good food on this mission. No more of zis 'mystical rice' we had for lunch."
Luna chimed in with her typical level of enthusiasm (and a touch of her very specific Luna-ness). "I think they probably have good tea in Seoul, don't you? The tea in this place has a very… mystical quality, but I'm sure Seoul's tea will taste of destiny, or at least the future."
Tonks rolled her eyes. "Luna, tea's not gonna help us save Harry, you know?"
"I beg to differ," Luna said with an air of unshakable certainty, flipping her hair back dramatically. "In fact, tea is always the answer. It's just a matter of finding the right blend."
Susan, always practical, looked to the Ancient One. "So, we need to go to Seoul to help Harry, right? But what exactly are we walking into? Who's this Dr. Sun Woo, and why does he matter?"
The Ancient One's expression darkened slightly. "Dr. Sun Woo is a scientist whose knowledge of advanced robotics makes him a target. Ultron, the sentient AI, has taken an interest in him. The Avengers are there to protect him, but they will need help."
The mention of Ultron had Hermione's eyes lighting up with an almost terrifying intensity. "Wait. Ultron? Like, the AI that wants to wipe out humanity? Yeah, we've heard of him. But advanced robotics? Oh, that's just fascinating. Imagine the programming—no, wait, what if he's using neural networks? And what if—"
Tonks snapped her fingers in front of Hermione's face, cutting off her rambling (which, by the way, was way too nerdy for anyone's good). "You're really excited about this, huh?"
"Of course!" Hermione's cheeks flushed. "I mean, it's basically the Holy Grail of robotics. Think about it—programming sentience? I once theorizes the possibility of it using a combination of Muggle science and wizarding theory! There's a lot of potential in that—"
"Okay, okay," Fleur interrupted with a smirk. "We get it. No need to turn zis into a science fair. We've all seen your brains work in action."
Luna, who was staring intently at a passing bird outside, suddenly spoke up. "Ultron is a shadow. A whisper that only grows louder, like the moon calling the tides." She paused, her eyes distant, as if reading something beyond the physical world. "He'll try to break everything. But he's also a puppet. And somewhere, someone's pulling the strings."
Tonks gave Luna a playful nudge. "You've been practicing your Seer act again, haven't you?"
Luna smiled serenely. "I don't need to practice. I just listen."
The Ancient One nodded slightly, her eyes glimmering with hidden knowledge. "Luna is correct. Ultron is more than just a machine. He is the manifestation of chaos, seeking to reshape the world in his own image."
Fleur's lips pressed into a determined line. "Zat will not happen. We will not let 'im destroy all zat 'Arry has fought for."
Susan cracked her knuckles, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Then let's get moving. The sooner we help, the sooner we surprise Harry."
Luna clapped her hands together, her eyes shining with excitement. "Oh, I do hope there are koi fish in Seoul. They always have such fascinating thoughts."
The Ancient One looked at them all, as if weighing the importance of their words—and then, without further explanation, raised her hand. The air hummed with energy, gold threads weaving together into a shimmering portal that opened in front of them.
"It is time," she said softly.
The girls exchanged glances, their resolve solidifying. They weren't just going to help Harry. They were going to surprise him. And knowing Harry, they'd need all the surprises they could muster.
The portal shimmered brightly, and with one last glance at each other, they stepped through, ready for whatever awaited them on the other side.
Harry had no idea what was coming next.
But then again, when did he ever?
—
The moment the girls stepped through the portal, they were hit with the electric pulse of Seoul—a city buzzing with energy, neon lights blaring like a cosmic dance party, and the hum of traffic weaving through the chaos. Everywhere you looked, there were people—some chatting, some hustling, and some just… existing in this vibrant symphony of sound and color.
Luna, in her usual dreamy state, inhaled deeply. "Ah, Seoul. It smells like adventure... or maybe it's just the street food. Hard to tell, really."
Fleur, already squinting against the city's glaring lights, sighed dramatically, as if she'd just stepped into a scene from Blade Runner. "C'est trop lumineux," she muttered, which, in case you didn't speak fluent Fleur, meant this is way too bright. "The lights are too much. Where is the calm? The peace?"
Tonks, who'd spent the entire trip looking like she'd just rolled out of a punk rock concert, grinned at Fleur's discomfort. "You've got to admit, though, this place is alive. If New York and Tokyo decided to throw a rave together, they'd end up with Seoul. All it's missing is a few laser beams and maybe a DJ named 'DJ Kimchi.'"
Susan raised an eyebrow at Tonks' comment. "Do you always have to make everything sound like it came out of some pop culture reference no one understands?"
"Of course," Tonks answered, "it's part of my charm. Speaking of charm," she added, scanning the bustling streets, "this place is like the caffeine capital of the world. I feel like I'm about to get a shot of espresso just by breathing."
Hermione, who'd been studying the city with her typical academic intensity, nodded. "The way technology and tradition coexist here is fascinating. You can almost see the layers of history, all mashed together with modern advances. It's like... if Hogwarts had a sister school in Seoul and decided to upgrade its common room to include holographic menus and robotic tea servers."
Luna, not paying much attention to Hermione's musings, instead pointed enthusiastically at a small alley where a warm, inviting scent was wafting from a tiny tea house. "There it is!" she exclaimed. "The perfect place for some tea. You can feel it in the air. This place has character."
Tonks squinted at the narrow alley, as if Luna had just announced they were going to have tea with a dragon. "Tea? Really? I mean, sure, tea's nice, but we've got a schedule, don't we? Not that I mind stopping for a bit, but..." She threw up her hands. "We're supposed to help Harry, remember?"
Luna gave Tonks a soft, knowing look that only Luna could pull off. "Oh, Harry will be fine. He's got time. And besides, a little tea might help us think clearer." She grinned mischievously. "Also, did you know that tea houses are known for helping people unlock their inner peace? It's practically a magical experience."
"Unlock inner peace?" Fleur repeated, eyeing Luna as if she had just proposed that they all wear chicken hats. "Luna, the only thing I'm unlocking right now is the 'I'm thirsty and want to sit down' feeling."
But Luna was already pushing open the carved wooden door of the tea house, and the rest of them followed, each of them varying degrees of intrigued, skeptical, or resigned to the fact that they had no control over Luna's plans anyway.
Inside, the ambiance was worlds apart from the noisy street. Soft, golden lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting a warm, tranquil glow over the room. The floor was covered in smooth wooden planks, and low tables surrounded by plush cushions dotted the space like tiny islands in a peaceful sea.
A woman in a simple, elegant hanbok (because, of course, everything here was beautiful) greeted them with a polite smile, the kind that made you feel like she had just plucked peace itself from the ether and handed it to you. Her name was Soo-Jin—a fact she shared as she gestured toward the low tables, her voice gentle but carrying a quiet authority.
"Soo-Jin, this is the tea woman," Tonks whispered under her breath to Fleur, but only loud enough for Hermione and Susan to hear. "Clearly she's some sort of mystical creature who spends her days making sure people come in with chaotic energy and leave floating on clouds of tranquility. You know, as one does in Seoul."
Fleur raised an eyebrow. "I do not know what you are talking about, but she is beautiful. How does she make tea so... calm?"
Tonks just shrugged. "It's magic, darling. We're in Korea. Everything's magical." She then flopped onto a cushion, expertly adjusting her position, and immediately yelped, "Wait, this cushion's harder than I expected! I was thinking more 'fluffy' and less 'stone bench'."
Luna, already sipping from a delicate teacup, beamed. "Ah, this tea is called Jungjak," she said, practically glowing as if she'd just discovered the meaning of life. "It's aged green tea, very smooth, very earthy." She took another sip. "It's a good match for our journey. Like... I don't know, the tea is reminding me that everything is going to be okay, even when it's not. You know?"
Tonks stared at Luna, clearly still processing Luna's unspoken wisdom. "Right... well, I'll take that as a 'no more caffeine for Luna,' and just go with it. I'll take my tea the way I like my coffee—strong."
Fleur, picking up her cup and swirling it a little, sniffed. "Zis is... surprisingly good. Très delicate," she added, all French elegance, then switched to her usual thick accent. "I think I could spend many hours here. Much more peaceful than the loud streets outside."
Susan nodded thoughtfully, sipping her own tea. "Okay, this is nice. I don't usually do the whole 'quiet and reflective' thing, but... it's kind of working. Maybe we should do this more often." She glanced over at Hermione, who was already scribbling down notes about the art of tea making.
"Of course, tea's an art," Hermione muttered, mostly to herself. "This tea—Jungjak—isn't just a drink, it's a ceremony, a ritual. It's fascinating how it connects people to history and culture. If we had something like this in Britain, I'm pretty sure it would be mandatory for every witch and wizard."
Luna suddenly leaned forward with a look of pure seriousness on her face. "You know, I think tea might help Harry. Not just with his nerves—though, let's be honest, we could all use some calming moments—but with understanding himself. Sometimes, we need to slow down to see where we're going next."
Tonks blinked, unsure whether Luna had just said something profound or if she'd entered one of her 'Luna Lovegood' zones. "Oh, totally. Harry's totally going to get some cosmic guidance from... a cup of tea. That'll definitely solve everything."
Susan chuckled. "Honestly, I think Harry could use a good cup of tea. Just don't let him have too many. We might find him levitating or something weird."
"Can you imagine?" Hermione said, laughing lightly. "Harry's flying around on a teacup. Maybe we could try it next time we need to save the world—tea-fueled heroics!"
Luna's eyes sparkled, as if she were seriously considering this idea. "Yes! We could call it 'The Teacup of Destiny.'"
Tonks grinned. "Luna, if that actually happens, I'm going to start taking notes for the inevitable memoir about our completely normal adventures."
With the tea finished and the moment of tranquility slipping away, the girls stood up, each of them feeling more refreshed than they'd expected.
"Well," Fleur sighed, stretching lazily, "perhaps we should hurry. We have an adventure to finish."
Luna, forever whimsical, gave one last glance around the room. "I do hope we can have more tea like this. It's... peaceful."
Tonks, heading for the door, gave Luna a playful look. "Next time, we'll bring Harry. He could use some peace and quiet. Maybe we'll even throw in a cake for good measure."
And with that, the girls left the tea house, stepping back out into the fast-paced world of Seoul, ready for whatever crazy thing awaited them. Because with Harry, there was always something unpredictable on the horizon.
---
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