[Author message: English isn't my first language]
———
Johnny sat on a stool, His sharp eyes were fixed on the parchment in his hands and reading.
Sirius was pacing, hair wild, one hand clutching a glass of whiskey, the other gripping another file so tightly it was crumpling at the edges. His jaw worked as he read and reread the contents.
Remus sat quietly at the side, reading with the calm intensity of a scholar, he frowned, eyes flicking over to Tony periodically as if trying to reconcile the information they were absorbing with the man standing before them.
"So let me get this straight," Johnny broke the silence, pointing at the file in Sirius' hand. "His dear old dad was a wizard?"
Sirius stopped pacing, waving the file. "Half-blood. It says here, Howard's mother was a witch from a minor but old family in the Scottish Highlands. She married a Muggle, so Howard was technically a half-blood, but he was a Squib—no magic."
Remus added, quietly, "But he didn't abandon that side of the family. Look at these. He kept up with the family politics, connections, even meetings with the MACUSA and certain members of the British Ministry."
Tony raised an eyebrow, stepping forward to grab the second file Remus was reading. "So you're telling me the Starks were involved in wizarding politics? Why? Howard didn't have magic." And he didn't want nothing to do from what he remember, No contact and no information about Harry. Stay out of communication with Potters, What's that all about then??
Johnny finally looked up, tapping the file he held. "Because money talks in all worlds, Tony. Even without magic, the Stark name was valuable. And with Grindelwald's rise in the 40s, your father got involved on the Muggle end, while funneling information to the magical side through contacts. There are letters here to Dumbledore."
Tony's eyes flickered, remembering the cold blue eyes of the Headmaster and the careful caution in them. "Of course there are."
Sirius slammed his glass down on the counter. "But this—this inheritance clause—it's insane. It states that if Howard's heir wanted to be recognized in the magical world, they could, but only if they could prove themselves a supporter of the Statute of Secrecy and capable of protecting the magical community."
"And the catch," Tony said, dryly, flipping the page, "is that I don't have magic. So I can't exactly inherit these rights."
Remus looked between them, thoughtful. "Not in the traditional sense, no, but you have influence. And you have technology that's already made you a player in magical politics indirectly, Tony."
Tony arched an eyebrow, "How so?"
Johnny set the file down with a snap. "You've protected Harry Potter. You've taken down creatures that even wizards struggled to kill" Tony understood what Johnny meant by that, Harry Potter, Wizards chosen one.
But, Harry is his brother.
Remus continued, "You're already involved, Tony. The only difference is that if you claim this Stark inheritance, you can demand a seat at the international table when magical political decisions are made—at least in the British magical world."
Remus ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "I'm not saying it would be easy. The purebloods will throw a fit."
"Oh, I'd pay to see Lucius Malfoy's face when you stroll in," Sirius muttered, cracking a rare grin.
Tony's smirk was sharp and dangerous, "Oh, I'd pay to see that too." He paced now, crossing his arms and his mind ticking. "I want it. I want in. If it means protecting Harry, protecting the people I care about, and shutting down idiots who think bloodlines matter more than merit, I want in."
"But you can't take the magical inheritance, Tony," Remus said softly, cautiously.
Tony stopped, eyes flicking to his friend. "Oh, Actually, I did took that test. But we can find a way to use it. If the Starks have connections, I want to leverage them"
Johnny nodded, leaning forward, "And I'll reach out to the MACUSA. If Howard Stark had contacts there, I might be able to renew them under your name."
Tony clapped his hands once, sharp, decisive. "Great. We'll move on this after we get back from Godric's Hollow with Harry. If I'm going to step into your world's politics, I'll do it with all the facts."
He looked down at the files in his hand, the old paper fragile under his modern calloused fingertips. For the first time in a long while, he felt connected to Howard, not in resentment, but in the quiet weight of legacy.
"And besides," Tony added with a smirk, "I'd love to see the purebloods choke when a Muggle becomes part of the Wizengamot."
————
It was quite silence for next hours, Sirius, legs kicked over the arm of a sleek steel chair, was flipping through parchment, his dark hair falling over his eyes as he snorted, "You know what's even funnier, Tony? The connection with the Potters."
Remus looks at him. "What connection? Padfoot? Howard's being James cousin? We already know that"
Sirius lifted the file with a grin, "Oh yes but listen. Turns out, one of the Potters a few generations back married into the Stark line. Your father's grandmother was a Potter, Tony. Howard was half Potter."
Remus raised an eyebrow, "If that's true—"
Johnny's eyes widened, sitting up straighter, "That would mean Tony is also a Potter."
"Wait wait, you said my dad's mother was a minor witch...?"
"Yes, She is. We look into that together about that part, But you are a Potter. Don't you get it, what this means?!"
Silence.
Tony blinked, taking in that casual revelation as if someone had just told him the coffee machine was broken. "So, what, you're telling me I'm related to Harry? Wow, like I didn't knew what? I am so shocked!"
Remus was so damn confused what was Sirius going at what direction with this. Did Black family famous Madness got over his friend again?
Sirius was grinning like a madman now, "Yes"
Johnny's wand tapped against the table thoughtfully, "This could change everything politically. The Potters are an old, respected family—even purebloods listen when the Potters speak."
Remus felt like he got the idea. "If you can prove this, Tony, you can claim the Potter-Stark heritage legally in the magical world. You could gain a seat in the Wizengamot under the Potter name, especially since Harry is a minor."
Sirius laughed, "Can you imagine Malfoy's face when he finds out not only is Harry protected by you, but you're family, richer than him? Black, Potter and Stark seats belongs to Harry and You?"
Now, Remus understood. "Sirius! Are you sure?!"
Sirius nod. "Absolutely! It's bloody obvious"
Johnny shake his head. "Lady Potter... She's also Black isn't she...?"
Tony felt something disturb. "Wait wait wait wait... Cousins married cousin?!!" He pale. "F-For real....?"
All three wizards nod. "Completely normal" said at the same time.
Yeah, Tony needs strong alcohol."S-Speaking of, how much are we talking about when you say rich?" Change the topic, Change the topic-
Remus gave him a dry look, "How much are you worth in the Muggle world, Tony?"
"Let's just say if I wanted, I could buy up most of the land in Scotland tomorrow, turn it into a Stark renewable energy farm, and still have enough left to buy half the Alps."
Sirius was laughing so hard he nearly fell off the chair, tears forming in his eyes, "You're telling me you could outbuy the Malfoys ten times over!"
Johnny, however, froze mid-chuckle, eyes slowly widening, "Wait—Tony can buy lands."
The laughter died in Sirius' throat, and Remus' eyes snapped to Johnny. There was a dawning realization on both their faces.
Tony looked between them still kinda disturb over cousins marrying cousin is normal but confused by their reaction just now, "What, is there a law against buying land in your world?"
Remus' voice was quiet but intense, "No, Tony, but you don't understand—wizarding law recognizes landowners of ancient magical sites as protectors of that land. If you own land with magical properties, you can place your own wards, your own protections, and it will fall under your governance within reason."
Johnny's voice was excited now, "If you buy lands where dark activity is suspected—old ruins, forests, ancestral grounds—you could legally expel dark wizards from them without Ministry interference."
Tony eyes wide. "So what you're telling me is I can legally build for example military assets fortresses in magical hotspots, protect them with your wards, and give the finger to the Death Eater types trying to use them?"
Remus' lips curled wanting to correct him, those death eaters wouldn't even care about his weapons as they don't know the extact power. "In a manner of speaking…yes."
Sirius pointed a finger at Tony, grinning, "You could rebuild the old Potter properties, too, and place them under your protection with your tech and our magic."
Tony's mind was already racing with the possibilities. Reinforced safehouses for Harry and magical children in case they are also being abused and hated because of their magic, Tony wants to help them.
Magical research centers hidden in plain sight. Strategic lands around Hogwarts and Hogsmeade to protect the school.
Forcing the Ministry's hand to involve him in magical security. Creating a network of magical sanctuaries using his money, magic, and tech.
The weight of what they were discussing finally settled in. Tony looked at them, all humor gone, replaced by a razor-sharp clarity, "Find me a list of lands with magical significance, abandoned properties, or at risk of being misused. We're going to start buying them. Quietly. Johnny, will you handle the cover operations."
"On it, I will have to get some backup but you will have the things you need" Johnny grin. "And I know just a perfect person to help us"