Come Together

Chapter 13: Heroism Part 1

Howard Stark filed away another reel, sighing to himself. The news of Sergeant Barnes' death had spread, and it casted a gloomy cloud on those close to Captain America and the Howling Commandos. Fingers brushed each reel case, meticulously labeled with either Sergeant Riddle's elegant cursive handwriting or Howard's own practical block handwriting. Some were on the weapons they had created together, some were mission logs, and some were Howard's personal reels depicting the lives, shenanigans, and off-duty moments of the men (and woman) he called his friends. The sound of footsteps had Howard turning around to greet someone that had become a regular face around the laboratory.

"Hey Monty."

The older wizard in question waved in what could be called a jovial manner, and Howard knew that the Potter Head was trying to keep morale high despite the loss everyone was feeling.

"Good afternoon, Howard." the bespectacled wizard greeted, "Do you have a moment? There's something I'd like to ask of you."

There was something in the way that Monty was holding himself that told Howard (who was normally a very unobservant man) that whatever it was that the Potioneer wanted to say, it was important.

"Uh, sure, shoot." replied the inventor, sitting down on one of the chairs.

Monty began by sitting down in another empty chair, his face betraying a kind of worry that made Howard's stomach lurch. What could possibly cause the regularly relaxed wizard to worry? A sigh escaped from the man before he turned to face his lab partner fully with a serious expression.

"I need you to stop Tom from storming the headquarters with Captain Rogers."

Howard blinked a rapidly a few times, his mind ticking away about the reason why Monty would ask such a thing. Especially now that they knew that Schmidt and Grindelwald were hiding in the headquarters together, the building buried deep inside the Alps. Tom had already sent word to his contact in the wizard police (Aurors, Tom had stressed when he had first explained them to Howard, lips twitching in fond exasperation. That had been before the tragedy) and they were amassing forces to fight Grindelwald's followers.

"Why?" asked the scientist, confusion written all over his features.

The inventor had seen the sheer determination that powered the Howling Commandos and their Captain, and it would be incredibly difficult to pull any of them away from the fight, especially someone as stubborn as Tom Marvolo Riddle. Not without good reason. Monty heaved another sigh, as if he didn't want to talk about it, but felt that he must.

"His health, Howard." the Potioneer answered, "I don't think he's... medically fit to join in on the fight. Not now."

That was worrying, especially since the normally open Fleamont Potter was skirting around the subject. If it was Tom he would have let it be, the guy held his secrets close to his chest and it was a gift if he actually told you something straight.

"What's wrong with him?" Howard pressed, "He's already off his crutches thanks to you and Feemie. He'll be in shape in time for the mission."

Monty's face turned fearful, stricken. He was twirling his wand in his hand, something that Howard initially found hilarious due to the fact that both resident wizards had the same nervous tick.

"It's... not just one problem, I'm afraid." Monty began, and Howard prepared himself for a explanation on another magic thing he didn't know about, "Feemie ran some diagnostics on him and made a few... worrying finds. I assume you are aware of the three Unforgivables?"

Huh, that he did know. Tom used the 'worst' one a ton during the HYDRA raids with the special dispensation to kill as quickly and efficiently as possible.