To change the future

Up up and away

Harry and Jason descended to breakfast the following morning to discover the three Dursleys already gathered at the kitchen table, engrossed in a brand-new television—a welcome-home gift for Dudley, who had been vocally lamenting the lengthy trek between the fridge and the living room TV. Dudley had spent the bulk of the summer glued to the screen in the kitchen, his small, pig-like eyes fixated on it, and his multiple chins quivering as he ate non-stop.

"No wonder that boy is so unhealthy." T'Challa spoke up, disgust in his voice

Harry and Jason took a seat between Dudley and Uncle Vernon, a substantial man with a scant neck and an abundant mustache. Far from receiving birthday wishes, the Dursleys showed no indication they noticed Harry or Jason's arrival, a neglect Harry and Jason had grown accustomed to. Harry grabbed a slice of toast as Jason turned his attention to the TV reporter, who was delivering a bulletin on an escaped convict: "... The public is advised that Black is armed and highly dangerous. A special hotline, 12, has been established, and any sightings of Black should be reported at once." "Don't need to be told he's a wrong'un," Uncle Vernon huffed, peering disdainfully at the convict over his newspaper. "Just look at him, a dirty loafer! And his hair!" He cast a scornful glance at Harry and Jason, whose messy hair was a perpetual irritant to him.

"Excuse me, my hair is beautiful." Sirius says, tossing his hair over his shoulder dramatically

Yet, compared to the convict on TV, with his hollow cheeks and knotted hair reaching his elbows, Jason considered himself quite tidy. "In other news today, residents all over the world are to report sightings of Steve Rogers 'Captain America' and Black Widow. Both are wanted in their supposed part in the assassination of Nicholas Fury, Director of SHIELD. Both are armed and considered to be extremely dangerous, citizens are advised to not confront them if they can avoid it, only to report sightings of them immediately."

Steve and the other Avengers exchange looks at this

"The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will make an announcement today—" "Hold on!" Uncle Vernon interrupted, glaring at the reporter. "You didn't tell us where that maniac has escaped from! What's the use of that? The lunatic could be walking up our street right now!" Aunt Petunia, thin and horse-faced, spun around and gazed out of the kitchen window with intensity. Harry was aware that Aunt Petunia would relish being the one to dial the hotline number. She was the world's most curious woman, spending her life peering over the mundane, law-abiding neighbors. "When will they learn," Uncle Vernon declared, slamming his large purple fist on the table, "that hanging is the only way to deal with these people?"

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Emilia Nott hisses out.

"Freaks, criminals, anyone they consider unnatural. The summer your team formed, Vernon was roaring up a storm about 'Letting those freaks run around unchecked. No offense" Jason tells the Avengers, who scowl

"Indeed," Aunt Petunia agreed, still peering at the neighbor's runner beans. Uncle Vernon finished his tea, checked his watch, and said, "I must be going soon, Petunia. Marge's train arrives at ten." Harry, who had been lost in thoughts of the Broomstick Servicing Kit, was jolted back to reality. "Aunt Marge?" he exclaimed. "She's not coming here, is she?"

Everyone stopped and stared in alarm as Jason actually bared his teeth and growled at the book, sounding like a mix of a wolf snarling and a snake hissing.

McGonagall narrows her eyes at the boy. She knew Animagus shared traits with their animals' form, and a Honey Badger had randomly shown up around the castle around the middle of their third year. And that growl sounded just like the badger

Aunt Marge, Uncle Vernon's sister, was not a blood relative of Harry—whose mother had been Aunt Petunia's sister—but he had always been obliged to call her "Aunt." She resided in the countryside, in a home with a vast garden where she bred bulldogs. Rarely did she visit Privet Drive, as parting with her beloved dogs was too much for her, yet each visit was etched into Harry and Jason's memory. During Dudley's fifth birthday, Aunt Marge had hit Harry's shins with her walking stick to prevent him from winning at musical statues. Later, she arrived at Christmas with a computerized robot for Dudley and a box of dog biscuits for Harry and Jason. On her last visit, just before Harry and Jason began at Hogwarts, Jason accidentally stepped on her favorite dog's tail. Ripper chased Jason into the garden and up a tree, and Aunt Marge wouldn't call him down until after midnight.