The kitchen smelled of cinnamon, maple, and just the slightest hint of whatever experimental syrup Tony had whipped up at 3 a.m. because "normal syrup is for boring people."
Tony, sleeves rolled halfway, he flipped a waffle onto a plate with a practiced hand. He had already prepared the table, complete with a borderline absurd selection of toppings—whipped cream, berries, chocolate chips, even edible glitter—because Harry deserved the best.
He heard the elevator chime and footsteps approaching—familiar ones. He left everything and head over the direction.
He grinned as soon as he saw the kid round the corner, lugging his trunk behind him, wand tucked into his pocket, hair even messier than usual. Harry barely had time to drop the trunk before Tony pulled him into a tight hug.
"Hey, little brother," Tony murmured, ruffling his hair.
Harry chuckled, hugging him back. "You smell like waffles."
"That's because I'm making the world's best waffles," Tony said with a proud smirk. "Now go wash your hands before you start eating like a little monkey. You're in civilization now."
"Yes, Dad," Harry teased and ran off toward the guest bathroom.
Remus lingered in the kitchen entrance, arms crossed, a subtle smile on his face. "He missed you."
"Yeah?" Tony said, a little softer now that the kid was out of earshot. "I missed him, too."
There was a pause. Then Remus cleared his throat.
"Sirius told me," he began, "that you wanted to talk. Said there was something important."
Tony froze in mid-waffle flip. "Right. That."
Remus's brow rose. "Should I be worried?"
"I mean," Tony said slowly, "define 'worried.' On a scale of one to fire-whiskey."
Remus groaned. "Merlin help me."
"Waffles first," Tony insisted, plating another golden square and carrying it to the table. "Trust me. You'll want the comfort food."
Reluctantly, Remus took a seat across from him. He waited as Tony set down the last waffle, sighed, and then sat.
Tony tapped the edge of his mug. "Okay. So. You remember how I mentioned I'd been… researching magic, studying it?"
Remus nodded cautiously.
"Well, turns out I've had a houseguest. Since—well—Christmas."
Remus narrowed his eyes. "Go on."
Tony ran a hand through his hair. "It's Grindelwald."
There was a beat.
Remus blinked. "I'm sorry, did you just say Grindelwald?"
Tony winced. "Yes. Gellert Grindelwald. He's… here. In New York. In fact—he's been in safe house. Uses my espresso machine. Leaves his books in weird places." Thankfully, Grindlewald never leave the mess behind and take his stuff with him.
Remus stared at him.
Then blinked again.
Then exhaled, long and slow. "I need fire whiskey. Badly."
Tony stood and opened the fridge. "Will beer work? Got a decent brand."
"Make it two," Remus said, burying his face in his hands.
He got up, walks over to the kitchen and grab the cold can of beer and returns back. Tony handed him a cold can. Remus cracked it open and downed a third of it like a man who had just received news of the apocalypse. Then another sip. Then another. Until he slowly leaned back, can in hand, eyes staring at nothing.
Tony sat down again, pushing waffles toward him. "I didn't mean to keep it a secret. I just… didn't know how to explain. He showed up at my work place, Long story. Didn't attack, didn't threaten. Just… showed up."
Remus muttered, "You let one of the most dangerous wizards of all time stay at your place?"
"He's reformed," Tony offered lamely. "Ish."
"I swear," Remus muttered, "if this ends with you joining the dark side, I will hex your toaster."
"Bold of you to assume I use toasters," Tony deadpanned.
Remus sighed and drank more. Eventually, he slid further into the couch and went very, very still.
Five minutes later, he was out cold—snoring lightly, beer can on his chest, feet kicked up on the coffee table.
Harry returned, freshly washed and wearing a hoodie. He blinked as he spotted Remus snoring on the couch.
"Did he get drunk?" Harry asked, confused but curious noting him hugging a beer can.
Tony casually flipped a waffle onto Harry's plate. "Yup."
"Why?"
Tony smiled cheerfully. "Because I told him something that broke his brain. Anyway, sit. Waffle time."
Harry sat down warily, glancing over his shoulder at the unconscious werewolf. "Is he gonna be okay?"
"He'll live," Tony said. "Probably dream about lecturing me."
Harry took a bite, eyes widening at the flavor. "This is amazing."
Tony beamed. "Told you. Stark-approved magic waffles. Eat up."
Harry didn't ask again. He just dug in, happy to be home, unaware that things were about to get much more complicated than waffles and wizard weddings.
—————
It was one of those rare peaceful afternoons at the Stark Tower. No alarms. No exploding lab equipment. No magical portals tearing through the space-time fabric. Just cartoons, a blanket, and waffles left over from breakfast.
Tony lounged on the massive sectional couch with Harry curled next to him, both watching reruns of Looney Tunes with a shared bowl of popcorn between them. The billionaire genius was surprisingly still, letting himself just exist for once. Harry, giggling at the antics of Daffy Duck, seemed genuinely happy. It made Tony smile.
Across the room, Remus was seated in a cozy armchair, legs crossed and glasses perched on his nose as he read through a thick, battered magical tome that looked older than both Remus and Tony combined. A steaming cup of tea hovered beside him, enchanted to keep warm—courtesy of Harry, who'd been practicing silent charms.
Then the calm was broken.
"Sir," came Jarvis's ever-smooth voice through the speakers. "Your cousin is here for a visit."
Tony sat bolt upright, almost knocking the popcorn over. "Oh—oh crap."
He looked sharply at Remus, who glanced up from his book. Tony gave him a pointed stare.
Remus blinked. "Him?"
Tony nodded solemnly. "It's him."
Remus paled. "You're joking."
"Nope," Tony muttered, standing up and brushing popcorn off his shirt. He turned toward the ceiling. "Jarvis, tell him to come up."
"Already done, sir."
Harry looked up from the cartoon, confused. "What's going on? Who's visiting?"
Tony scratched the back of his neck. "Uh… my cousin. He's… eccentric."
"Eccentric how?" Harry asked, sitting up straighter.
Remus slowly closed his book, gaze never leaving Tony. "Harry, brace yourself."
"Wait, what—?"
Then came the ding of the private elevator. The sleek silver doors opened, and out stepped him.
Gellert Grindelwald.
Dressed in an elegant coat that looked equal parts wizard and platinum-blond hair slicked back in a way that made him look like he stepped out of a fantasy epic—or a high-end perfume ad. A carved wooden cane rested in one hand, and his mismatched eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Darling cousin," Gellert greeted with a flourish and a wide grin. "You look terrible. Are those cartoon pajama pants?"
Tony rolled his eyes. "They're vintage. Shut up."
Remus, meanwhile, looked like he'd just seen a Dementor walk through the door. "That's… him?"
Harry turned slowly, eyes wide. "Wait. That's Grindelwald?"
He remembered Hermione giving him a long-winded history lecture last term after the Daily Prophet reported that Gellert Grindelwald had escaped from his hidden prison. She had even shown Harry grainy moving photos of the man from a century ago from the library.
That couldn't be him. Right?
This version? He looked like some dark prince from a fantasy novel—or a dangerously charming villain in a soap opera.
"Wait, he's your cousin?!" Harry's voice cracked, his brain short-circuiting.
"Technically, yes," Tony said with a sigh. "It's a long and stupidly complicated story involving ancient family trees, magical lineages, and my bad luck."
"I'm not that bad," Gellert said with mock hurt, striding in like he owned the place. "Hello, Remus Lupin. I've heard much about you."
He gave a slight bow and then—of course—winked.
Remus choked on his tea.
Tony threw Gellert a look. "Stop flirting with Remus. He's taken."
Gellert smirked. "Oh? He's yours, then?"
Remus made a squeaking noise.
Tony jokes. "Please. If he wasn't taken, maybe. He's got the 'brooding professor' thing going on. Bit too serious for me."
Harry, who was mid-sip of his soda, spat it out. "WAIT—WHAT?! You and Remus?! Does Sirius know?!"
Tony blinked. "What—no! Harry, no! It's a joke! I think of Remus like a friend—brother, even."
Remus, regaining his composure and his color, shot Tony a dry glare. "Next time, warn me before inviting your dark wizard cousin over."
"I didn't, technically," Tony argued.
Remus groaned and downed what was left of his tea. "Next time, use more than two words."
Gellert made himself comfortable on the couch, inspecting the popcorn bowl. "So this is what you do for fun now? Watch violent animated ducks?"
Harry, still gaping, turned to Remus. "This is insane. How is he not in prison?"
Gellert shrugged. "Prison was boring. I left."
"You escaped," Remus muttered.
Gellert smirked. "Tomato, tomahto."
Tony clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Okay, enough weird flirting, gasping, and cartoon-shaming. Gellert's not here to hex us or start a war. He's just… family."
"Dysfunctional, terrifying family," Remus added.
"Exactly," Tony agreed cheerfully.
Harry sat back on the couch, stunned, muttering, "And I thought Voldemort was bad…"
"Please," Gellert said with a scoff. "That child? Amateur and a snake obsession. I had better style and ideology."
Tony facepalmed. "You're not helping your case."
Remus just sighed, picked up his book again, and muttered, "I really need more tea."