Proof that Tony Stark has a Heart

Chapter

*Harry's POV*

His scream was wild, frantic. What could have happened to him? The thick line of trees stopped a few meters away... and then there was nothingness. I came across the edge of the riverbank, a ravine that sloped to the swelling current of Ob.

So where was Tony?

My eyes scanned the bottom of the ridge. I smiled. There he was, getting to his feet as he looked wildly around him, calculating his chances of getting out. He took a small step toward the river but quickly decided against it. I looked to my left... there was a bridge not far from us.

Tony would go for that, I was sure. But it would be too high of a climb with his twisted ankle and weakening body. I could wait for him to run and see what he would do next, but I was too hungry for him.

And besides, it seems he was waiting for my next move, too, the way he glanced in my direction. He would use the time I would climb down the ridge so he could run. Good thinking.

Let's test your theory, shall we?

I skidded towards the slope, and sure enough, Tony immediately launched into a sprint for the bridge.

Run, run, run.

His footsteps made splashing noises in the water—he didn't care anymore if I heard him. He knew I was right behind him. At this distance, I could smell his anxiety, his fear coming off him like steam. The delicious sound of his heartbeat was music to my ears... it was beating so quickly for me.

He prepared to climb the bank again—but too late.

I reached out swiftly and grabbed a fistful of his jacket. He lost his balance and fell backward against me. He flailed his arms around, wildly trying to hit, hurt, and stab me in any way possible. But I managed to get a good hold of his upper arms, effectively restraining him.

"Stop it!" I shouted the truth to him so he would believe it. "Don't you get it? You can't win!"

"THEN KILL ME!" he screamed back, his voice ringing in my ears and into the nothingness around us. "You said you would if I don't surrender myself," he spat the words out. "Well, just get it over with."

His whole body was trembling, but not anymore, with fear. It was with anger and derision. This was the Tony I desired, in my old life and until now.

I smiled, reaching for his neck. "It'd take a lot for me to kill you, Tony. This isn't enough."

He continued to twist and turn his body to free herself from my grip, but we both knew better. I widened my mouth to let out my fangs to end his needless suffering.

"No!" he cried out.

Suddenly, a burst of force came between us, breaking the hold I have on him. It was disorienting... I was seeing colors and bright, oddly formed shapes swirling around me. I couldn't figure out what was happening. Did Tony do this? No, how would he have done this? This is outside forces working against me.

And then I felt the pain of something ripping my skull apart and crushing it to pieces. Never have I experienced this kind of pain before—there was no source on which to pinpoint where it was coming from. The pain was everywhere.

Gaunt hands and faces reached for me, pulling at my skin; although I knew they weren't physically touching me, every pass the spirits made at me made me double in pain. I waved my arms to fend them off, but nothing happened. They still came back for me. For more.

Harry. A voice called to me. I forced my eyes to open, and by doing so, white-hot pain shot straight to my forehead and deep into my mind.

It was Sirius. His clothes were the same ones he wore when we fought in the Veil Room. He shimmered in the darkness, but behind him were hundreds more of the spirits—I realize it now.