Chapter 25

"We already knew you were in England from the moment you landed at the airport," Hermione explained, her voice gentle and her smile comforting as she met Jamie's gaze. "Perhaps you weren't aware, but the Ministry keeps track of any wizards entering the country through airplanes, and we've been monitoring your movements ever since." Hermione said, her voice gentle and her smile comforting as she met Jamie's gaze. "It was Harry's idea, actually. He knew that if he confronted you there, you would likely flee. So instead, he decided it would be wiser to silently shadow you until you left Diagon Alley and returned to the US."

"I never asked him to follow me! I'm perfectly capable of handling things on my own!" Jamie grumbled, feeling a mix of annoyance and gratitude. 

Hermione chuckled softly, her eyes warm as she ruffled Jamie's hair. "I know you didn't, but Harry wanted to make sure you were safe. After that incident at school, he had already gone to the Daily Prophet to make sure everyone knows the truth. Even if you were to return to school now, you'd be hailed as a hero, and not a soul would dare utter a word against you. So, what do you say? Fancy a trip back to England?"

"No, Hermione, I'm perfectly content staying right where I am. I've had the opportunity to make a positive impact on numerous lives, and that brings me immense satisfaction. Besides, I've managed to accumulate a sufficient amount of money through my own efforts. This place has become my home, and I genuinely enjoy being here," Jamie replied, taking a moment to reflect before expressing her thoughts to Hermione.

"Did you catch all of that?" Hermione interrupted, directing her gaze towards Jamie's back.

Confused, Jamie spun around, only to find her godfather, Harry Potter, standing at the doorway.

"Yes, I heard it," Harry said calmly, stepping forward. He squatted down, positioning himself at eye level with Jamie, and locked his green eyes with hers. There was a hint of sadness in his eyes as he spoke. "Jamie, what's most important to me is that you're happy and safe. I understand that you've grown and become capable of making your own decisions. It was wrong of me to assume that you needed constant protection, and for that, I'm truly sorry."

Jamie's heart ached as she listened to Harry's words. His sincerity was palpable, and she could see the love and concern etched on his face. She struggled to find her voice, her lips trembling with unspoken words.

Seeing her struggle, Harry offered a reassuring smile and extended his arms towards her. Overwhelmed by a surge of emotions, Jamie could no longer contain herself. Tears streamed down her face as she threw herself into Harry's embrace. In a soft, choked whisper, she managed to express her gratitude, "Thank you! And I'm sorry for running away."

Harry held her tightly, his embrace providing comfort and understanding. He whispered back, his voice filled with warmth, "You're welcome, Jamie. And I forgive you. Just remember, your safety is important. Promise me you'll write letters on time and carry the two-way mirror with you at all times. I want you to be safe, okay?"

Jamie's tears mingled with a mixture of relief and remorse as she nodded, her emotions overwhelming her. In that moment, she could feel Harry's love and concern for her

Harry enveloped Jamie in a warm embrace, his hand gently patting her back. "Alright, it's all good now," he reassured her, his voice filled with tenderness. "We're family, aren't we?"

Jamie, her face still wet with tears, shyly buried her face in the comforting embrace of Harry's chest, her silent nod conveying her gratitude and agreement. Moments passed, their connection providing a much-needed anchor for both of them. After a while, they slowly untangled themselves and rose to their feet.

Approaching Tony with a friendly smile, Harry extended his hand and introduced himself. "Are you Mr. Stark? Thank you so much for taking care of Jamie. I'm Harry Potter, her godfather." At the same time, Hermione led Jamie away to fix her disheveled dress.

Tony nodded, his expression warm. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Potter. Sorry for not shaking your hand. It's just a habit of mine. And please call me Tony," he replied as he studied Harry, who appeared much younger than him. It was the first time Tony truly felt the weight of his own age.

While Jamie was being attended to by Hermione, Harry and Tony engaged in a friendly conversation. They discussed Jamie's journey, her experiences in the US, and her remarkable abilities. Tony expressed his admiration for Jamie's intelligence and resourcefulness, while Harry shared stories of Jamie's time at Hogwarts. 

When the time came to leave, instead of using the fireplace as they had done before, the group made their way downstairs and hopped into the car that Harry had arranged, heading straight to the headquarters of the Magical Congress of the United States of America.

"Do you see the guard on the right?" Harry pointed toward a middle-aged wizard stationed near the hidden entrance to the Congress. "Show him your wand, and he'll open the door for you." With a confident stride, Harry led the way, his hand subtly revealing a glimpse of his concealed wand. Approaching the guard, he waved his hand to draw attention to the wand. The wizard acknowledged the gesture with a slight nod, promptly pulling open the glass door to grant them entry.

Throughout their journey, Tony found himself captivated by the enchanting surroundings. His eyes darted from the grand clock hanging in the hall to the diligent house-elves meticulously polishing wands in the corners. The diverse array of wizards they passed by added to the spectacle, creating a dazzling sight that left him in awe.

Positioned amidst a crowd, Samuel stood in the middle of the hall, a group of people gathered around him, all wearing welcoming smiles. Journalists from the American Ghost Gazette and the British Seer's Daily eagerly awaited Tony's arrival, their cameras poised to capture the momentous occasion.

"Welcome, welcome back to the wizarding world, Mr. Tony Stark," Samuel greeted, his smile warm and genuine. Tony returned the gesture, and the assembled crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause, while the journalists eagerly snapped pictures, capturing the historic moment. Both Tony and Samuel, well-versed in such situations, effortlessly faced the cameras, wearing practiced smiles.

Under Samuel's guidance, Tony embarked on a brief tour of the various locations within the Congress. Flashing lights accompanied their every step as he was finally presented with his wand registration permit, officially solidifying his status as a wizard under the watchful eyes of everyone. The remainder of the day passed by relatively smoothly, with a reception where Tony had the opportunity to meet some of his distant relatives, Seraphina serving as their gracious host.

Jamie seamlessly followed behind Harry, her smile radiating warmth as she engaged in conversations with various individuals they encountered. Her time at Hogwarts had honed her social skills, making such events second nature to her.

Knowing that Harry and Hermione's time in the United States was limited, Jamie bid them farewell and swiftly made her way back to her small shop, collapsing onto her bed without an ounce of energy left.

The following morning, Jamie was abruptly awakened by the sound of Tony's ringing phone. In accordance with the agreement between Tony, Seraphina, and the Congress, he was permitted to continue residing in the muggle world without being obligated to participate in the responsibilities and duties of the wizarding community. Tony had adjusted to this arrangement, enjoying the peacefulness of his muggle life while occasionally visiting the wizarding world as needed.

Despite that, there was the matter of Tony's lack of magical education. Even a third-year student from any magical school could easily outmatch him in a fight. Tony strongly insisted on self-study to catch up on his magical education, dismissing the idea of formal education, or in his not-so-polite words, "I don't need a bunch of kids teaching me how to wave a stick and say funny words." He believed that with his intellect and resources, he could learn and master magic at his own pace.

However, magic was not a subject one could simply study alone. There was an inherent level of danger involved. After much deliberation, a compromise was reached: Tony would only be permitted to study magic within Jamie's shop, and any magic he practiced would have to be approved by her. Consequently, Jamie had to allocate a room in her cellar for Tony to pursue his magical education.