Harry stared at the SHIELD facility through his apartment's enhanced surveillance system. The building looked ordinary enough from the outside, but his senses were screaming warnings. Something inside that facility was wrong. Not just enhanced criminals or advanced technology. Something cosmic.
"Still hung up on the financial district raids, you lot?" he muttered to himself, switching between camera feeds. SHIELD had been busy since the successful operation. Seven enhanced criminals captured, their coordination network dismantled. But they'd missed the bigger picture.
The energy signature from that building hadn't disappeared when they captured the criminals. It had moved.
Harry pulled up the electromagnetic readings he'd been tracking. The signature was stronger now, more focused. SHIELD had recovered something from the raid. Something he was confident they didn't understand.
His laptop chimed with intercepted communications.
"Transport complete," Agent Morrison's voice came through the speakers. "Asset secured in Lab Seven. Dr. Selvig is requesting immediate analysis."
"Understood. What's the energy output?"
"Beyond our measurement capabilities. Whatever this thing is, it's not like anything we've seen before."
Harry leaned forward. They'd found the source of the enhanced augmentation. Some kind of device or artifact that had been artificially boosting the criminals' abilities. But his instincts were telling him it was far more dangerous than SHIELD realized.
He stood up and walked to his window. The black SUV was still parked across the street. SHIELD's surveillance team had been watching his building for eight days now. They were getting closer to identifying him, but they still didn't know what they were looking for.
A wizard hiding in plain sight.
His phone buzzed with a text from the building's concierge. "Mr. Potter, the same gentlemen are back asking about you. They seem more insistent today."
Harry typed back quickly. "Tell them I'm still traveling. Extended business trip."
"They asked for your travel itinerary."
That was new. SHIELD was pushing harder, asking more specific questions. They were running out of patience with the mysterious consultant who kept providing perfect intelligence.
Time to give them something more substantial to chase, then.
Harry opened his secure connection to the city's surveillance network. He began searching for patterns related to the artifact SHIELD had recovered. Energy signatures, electromagnetic anomalies, anything that might explain what they were dealing with.
What he found made his blood run cold.
The energy readings matched something from his memories. Not from his time as the Master of Death, but from the deepest parts of magical theory he'd studied. Cosmic singularities. Objects of immense power that existed at the intersection of magic and physics.
He'd read about them in ancient texts, dismissed them as theoretical constructs. But the energy signature coming from that SHIELD facility was unmistakable.
They had a cosmic singularity.
Harry closed his eyes and reached out with his magical senses. Death's presence stirred in the back of his mind, responding to his query. It was not as actively present in his life in this world, but the essence still lingered.
Yes, came the whisper. One of six. They do not understand what they possess.
"Six?" Harry asked aloud.
Singularities of creation. Power beyond mortal comprehension. In the wrong hands, they could unravel reality itself.
Harry opened his eyes. SHIELD had recovered an artifact capable of unraveling reality, and they were treating it like enhanced technology. They had no idea what they were dealing with.
His laptop chimed with more intercepted communications.
"Energy readings are fluctuating," Dr. Selvig's voice came through. "The artifact is responding to our testing equipment. Almost like it's alive."
"What kind of responses?"
"Increased energy output when exposed to electromagnetic fields. Resonance patterns that suggest internal structure. And something else. The energy signature is changing, adapting to our testing methods."
Harry grabbed his jacket. A cosmic singularity that was adapting to scientific testing was beyond dangerous. It was catastrophic. SHIELD needed to stop their experiments immediately, but he couldn't just tell them to stop without explaining why.
And explaining why would reveal far more about himself than he was ready to share.
But if they continued their testing, they might trigger something that would make enhanced criminals look trivial by comparison.
He walked back to his computer and began typing an encrypted message.
"Priority warning regarding recovered artifact. Device exhibits properties consistent with cosmic-level energy manipulation technology. Testing should be suspended immediately pending full analysis. Continued exposure to electromagnetic fields may trigger catastrophic energy release."
Harry paused. The warning was accurate, but it didn't explain how he knew. SHIELD would want details, sources, even evidence. Things he couldn't provide without revealing his magical abilities.
He needed to give them enough information to take the warning seriously without exposing himself.
"Artifact energy signature matches theoretical models for quantum singularity devices. Recommend immediate consultation with theoretical physics specialists. Device may be self-aware and responsive to external stimuli."
That should get their attention. Harry attached the energy readings he'd been monitoring, cross-referenced with physics journals that discussed theoretical cosmic objects. Enough scientific backing to make the warning credible.
"Source designation: The Consultant."
He sent the message and sat back to wait. SHIELD would receive it within minutes. Their response would tell him how seriously they took warnings about cosmic-level threats.
His laptop immediately chimed with intercepted communications.
"Sir, we just received another message from The Consultant," Agent Morrison's voice crackled through. "Priority warning about the artifact."
"What kind of warning?"
"Says it's a cosmic-level energy manipulation device. Recommends immediate suspension of testing."
There was a pause. Harry could almost hear the wheels turning in Agent Coulson's mind.
"How could The Consultant know about our testing? We just started the analysis two hours ago."
"Unknown, sir. But the energy readings they attached match our current data perfectly."
"This is getting ridiculous. Someone is monitoring our operations in real time. They know about classified artifacts, classified testing procedures, classified facilities."
"What are your orders, sir?"
Coulson was quiet for a moment. "Continue testing, but with increased caution. And I want a full analysis of how The Consultant is obtaining this intelligence. Someone is inside our organization, or someone has capabilities we don't understand."
Harry frowned. They were ignoring the warning. SHIELD was too focused on the mystery of his intelligence sources to pay attention to the actual threat.
He needed to make the danger more immediate.
Harry opened another secure channel and began searching for information about cosmic singularities. Ancient magical texts, theoretical physics papers, anything that might give him leverage to make SHIELD take the threat seriously.
What he found in the Nordic archives was worse than he'd expected.
The cosmic singularities weren't just powerful artifacts. They were fragments of creation itself, pieces of the fundamental forces that held reality together. In the wrong hands, they could reshape the laws of physics. In the hands of someone who didn't understand them, they could accidentally destroy entire worlds.
SHIELD was playing with forces that could end civilization.
His phone rang. Unknown number.
"Harry Potter," he answered cautiously.
"Mr. Potter, this is Agent Phil Coulson of SHIELD. I think it's time we had a conversation."
Harry felt his heart rate spike. They'd found him. Despite all his precautions, all his misdirection, SHIELD had connected The Consultant to Harry Potter.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about, Agent Coulson."
"We both know that's not true. You've been providing intelligence to SHIELD for over a week. Perfect intelligence. Intelligence that no one should be able to obtain through normal channels."
Harry walked to his window. The black SUV was still there, but now he could see additional vehicles positioned around his building. SHIELD had surrounded him while he was focused on the cosmic singularity.
"You have me confused with someone else."
"The Consultant. Financial records traced through shell companies. Communication patterns analyzed. Cellular tower triangulation. We followed the digital breadcrumbs you left for us."
Breadcrumbs he'd left? Harry reviewed his actions over the past week. He'd been careful to hide his identity, to route his communications through untraceable channels. But maybe too careful. Maybe the very sophistication of his concealment had revealed patterns that SHIELD could follow.
"I'm just a British consultant, Agent Coulson. Technology investments. Nothing exciting."
"A British consultant who somehow knew about enhanced criminal networks that SHIELD couldn't detect. Who provided tactical intelligence that saved my agents' lives. Who warned us about cosmic-level threats two hours after we recovered an unknown artifact."
Harry closed his eyes. They had him. Not completely, but enough to justify direct confrontation.
"What do you want?"
"Answers. And cooperation. You've been helping us, but you've been doing it from the shadows. Time to step into the light."
Harry looked at the SHIELD vehicles surrounding his building. He could disappear right now. Go invisible and escape, establish a new identity, continue monitoring the situation from a distance. But the cosmic singularity was still in SHIELD's possession, still being tested by people who had no idea what they were dealing with.
If he disappeared, he'd lose his ability to influence their actions. And the singularity would remain in the hands of people who might accidentally destroy the world while trying to understand it.
"Where do you want to meet?"
"Your penthouse. I'm already in the building."
Harry felt his magical senses flare. Coulson was telling the truth. He was in the building, probably in the elevator right now. SHIELD had gotten past his building's security, past his early warning systems, past all his precautions. He'd set up wards to ensure those looking for him didn't know where he was, but nothing short of the Fidelius could prevent people from getting it done if they already knew where he was.
They were good.
"Agent Coulson?"
"Yes?"
"How did you get past building security?"
"Same way you've been getting past ours. We learned from the best."
The line went dead. Harry set his phone down and looked around his penthouse. Command center, surveillance equipment, files documenting enhanced criminal networks. Evidence of capabilities that no normal consultant should possess.
He could try to hide it all, make it look like a normal apartment. But SHIELD had already connected him to The Consultant. There was no point in maintaining the pretense.
Besides, if they were going to discuss cosmic singularities, they needed to understand who they were talking to.
It had been fun playing cat and mouse with a government agency, but it was time to face the music. And perhaps this was truly the best way going forward.
Harry walked to his front door and waited. His magical senses detected Coulson approaching, along with two other agents. Armed, cautious, but not openly hostile.
They were treating this as a potential recruitment, not an arrest.
The elevator chimed. Footsteps in the hallway. A pause outside his door.
Harry reached out and unlocked the door with a thought. No magical spell, but electronic manipulation through his magic's influence. But the timing would make a point.
Agent Phil Coulson stood in the hallway, looking exactly as Harry had expected. Mid-forties, professional demeanor, and sharp eyes that missed nothing. The two agents behind him were alert but not threatening.
"Mr. Potter."
"Agent Coulson."
They studied each other for a moment. Harry could see Coulson evaluating the penthouse, the surveillance equipment, and the evidence of capabilities that exceeded normal parameters.
"You're younger than I expected."
"You're more polite than I expected."
Coulson smiled slightly. "May we come in?"
Harry stepped aside. "Please."
The three SHIELD agents entered his penthouse. Coulson's eyes immediately went to the command center, the multiple screens showing police scanners and traffic cameras.
"Impressive setup."
"Technology consulting pays well."
"I'm sure it does." Coulson walked to the windows overlooking the street. "Nice view of the surveillance teams."
"I noticed them on day three."
"Day three? We've been watching you for eight days."
Harry smiled. "I noticed the competent surveillance on day three. The obvious surveillance started on day one."
Coulson turned back to face him. "You've been playing with us."
"I've been helping you. There's a difference."
"Is there? You provided intelligence that led to the successful capture of seven enhanced criminals. You guided us through a tactical operation that could have gone badly wrong. You warned us about cosmic-level threats."
Harry nodded. "And now you want to know why."
"That's part of it. But mostly, I want to know how. How did you obtain intelligence about criminal networks that SHIELD couldn't detect? How did you provide tactical support in real time? How did you know about the artifact we recovered?"
Harry walked to his coffee maker. "Coffee?"
"Please."
Harry began preparing coffee for four people. Coulson's agents remained near the door, alert but not threatening. The atmosphere was tense but not hostile.
"You're not going to arrest me?"
"Should I?"
"I've been monitoring classified SHIELD communications. Technically that's espionage."
"Technically, you've been providing intelligence that helped us capture enhanced criminals and prevent potential disasters. The espionage charge would be hard to make stick."
Harry poured coffee into four cups. "Cream? Sugar?"
"Black, please."
Harry handed Coulson a cup and gestured toward the couch. "Shall we sit?"
They settled into comfortable positions. Coulson's agents remained standing, but their posture relaxed slightly.
"So," Coulson said. "The Consultant."
"Not my best alias."
"Better than some we've seen. Direct, professional, memorable. Good branding."
Harry sipped his coffee. "You traced my communications."
"Eventually. You covered your tracks well, but all digital action leaves traces. Investigation into shell companies, encrypted channels, financial records, and cellular networks. Our teams followed the patterns until they led us to this area, and with you being so reluctant to meet us, the location was easy to pinpoint in the end."
"And now?"
Coulson set down his coffee cup. "Now we have a conversation about the artifact you warned us about. The cosmic-level energy manipulation device."
Harry felt Death's presence stir in his mind. The cosmic singularity was still being tested, still responding to SHIELD's instruments. Still potentially catastrophic.
"You're still running tests on it."
"How do you know that?"
"Because I can sense it from here."
Coulson's expression sharpened. "Sense it how?"
Harry considered his answer carefully. How much should he reveal? SHIELD was dealing with cosmic forces they didn't understand, but they were also a government organization that would want to weaponize anything they could comprehend.
But if he didn't give them enough information to understand the danger, they might trigger something that would make the choice irrelevant.
He could manipulate them, choose the shadows as he had before, or he could finally change his approach and try to gain allies.
It was a challenging choice for him, one that would change everything going forward.
xXx
Harry stood and walked to his command center. The screens showed various feeds from around the city. Police scanners, traffic cameras, news reports. All perfectly ordinary surveillance that any tech consultant might have access to.
"Agent Coulson, what do you know about enhanced individuals?"
"More than I'd like to, less than I need to."
"Fair answer." Harry turned back to face him. "SHIELD has been cataloging people with unusual abilities. Cataloging, studying, sometimes recruiting, am I correct?"
"Sometimes," Coulson replied calmly.
"But you've never encountered someone who can do this."
Harry focused his attention on a pen sitting on Coulson's side of the coffee table. The pen rose smoothly into the air, rotating slowly. No wires, no tricks, no technology. Just the pen floating three feet above the table.
The two agents by the door tensed immediately. Their hands moved toward weapons, but Coulson raised his left hand to stop them.
"Stand down," Coulson said quietly. His eyes never left the floating pen. "I assume this wasn't a party trick one sees on the telly?"
"What do you think?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow.
Coulson stared at him with those analytical eyes for a moment. "How?"
Harry gestured, and the pen settled back onto the table exactly where it had started. "Does it matter how?"
"It might."
"Agent Coulson, I've been helping SHIELD for over a week. I provided intelligence that saved lives. I warned you about a cosmic-level threat that your organization is currently playing with. Do my methods really matter more than my results?"
Coulson picked up the pen and examined it. "No tricks."
"No tricks."
"And you can sense the artifact we recovered because?"
"Because it's not an artifact. It's a fragment of creation itself. A cosmic singularity that predates your understanding of physics."
One of the agents by the door spoke up. "Sir, we should—"
Coulson cut him off. "We should listen." He set the pen down and looked directly at Harry. "Fragment of creation. That's an awfully specific description."
"Your Dr. Selvig is running electromagnetic field tests on it right now. The artifact is responding by increasing its energy output. It's learning from your tests, adapting to them."
"How could you possibly know what Dr. Selvig is doing?"
Harry walked back to his surveillance setup. "Agent Morrison is in the lab with him. They're discussing resonance patterns. Dr. Selvig just mentioned that the energy signature is changing."
Coulson pulled out his phone and dialed. "Morrison, what's your current location?"
Harry could hear the tinny voice through the phone. "Lab Seven, sir. Working with Dr. Selvig on the artifact analysis."
"What are you discussing right now?"
"Resonance patterns, sir. The energy signature keeps changing every time we run a new test."
Coulson ended the call and stared at Harry. "Real-time intelligence."
"Real-time awareness."
"Of classified SHIELD operations."
"Of cosmic forces that could end civilization if mishandled."
Coulson stood and walked to the window. His reflection looked thoughtful in the glass. "You're not just enhanced. You're something else entirely."
"I'm someone who understands what your organization has stumbled into."
"And what have we stumbled into?"
Harry joined him at the window. "Power beyond mortal comprehension. Your cosmic singularity is one of six. In the wrong hands, they can reshape reality. In the hands of people who don't understand them, they can accidentally destroy entire worlds."
"Six of them."
"Six cosmic singularities. Each one capable of manipulating fundamental forces of creation."
Coulson turned to face him. "You're telling me SHIELD has recovered something that could destroy the world."
"I'm telling you SHIELD has recovered something that could unravel reality itself," Harry replied calmly.
"And you know this because you can sense it."
"I know this because I've studied cosmic forces that your science hasn't discovered yet."
One of the agents by the door cleared his throat. "Sir, we should report this to—"
"To Director Fury," Coulson finished. "Yes, we should."
Harry smiled. "Director Nicholas Fury. Former Army Ranger, current head of SHIELD's most classified operations. Eye patch, long coat, and a habit of recruiting unusual people for unusual situations."
"You've never met him."
"No, but I know his type. Pragmatic, paranoid, and always looking for advantages in an increasingly complicated world."
A little scrying of the man's mindscape had given Harry everything he needed to know. Unethical, yes. Had it ever stopped him before? A long time ago, in a different life.
Coulson's phone buzzed with a text message. He glanced at it and frowned. "The artifact's energy output just spiked. Dr. Selvig is recommending we suspend testing."
"Finally."
He turned to Harry with an inquisitive look. "You warned us about this."
"And your organization ignored the warning because you were more interested in finding out how I knew than in understanding what I was telling you."
Coulson put his phone away. "Fair point," he conceded.
Harry walked back to the coffee table and sat down. "Agent Coulson, I could have remained anonymous. I could have continued providing intelligence from the shadows, never revealing my identity or capabilities. Or I could have snuck into your secure facility and made off with this artifact if I so wished."
"Why didn't you?" Coulson asked, not doubting for even a second that the man in front of him could genuinely do everything he'd stated and they would've been none the wiser.
"Because the cosmic singularity changes everything. SHIELD needs to understand what they're dealing with, and they need help from someone who actually understands cosmic forces. There's also the fact that SHIELD wouldn't have sat still if I'd stolen the artifact."
Coulson ignored the final comment, instead choosing on what came before. "You're talking about someone like you."
"Someone like me."
Coulson sat back down across from him. "What do you want, Mr. Potter?"
"Right now? To prevent SHIELD from accidentally ending the world."
"In exchange for?"
"A partnership. SHIELD gets access to knowledge and capabilities they can't find anywhere else. I get access to resources and information that will help me monitor cosmic-level threats."
"And if Director Fury says no?"
Harry shrugged. "Then I disappear, and SHIELD continues stumbling around with forces they don't understand until something goes catastrophically wrong."
"That sounds like a threat."
"It's a prediction based on your organization's current approach to cosmic-level artifacts."
Coulson's phone rang. He answered it immediately.
"Director."
Harry could hear the voice on the other end clearly. Director Fury, speaking with the distinctive tone of someone accustomed to absolute authority.
"Agent Coulson, I'm told you're having an interesting conversation."
"Yes, sir. Very interesting."
"And our friend has capabilities that exceed normal parameters."
"Significantly exceed normal parameters."
"Bring him in. I want to meet the man who's been making SHIELD look incompetent."
Harry spoke up loudly enough for Fury to hear. "Director Fury, I presume? I haven't been making SHIELD look incompetent. I've been making SHIELD look human."
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Is that him?"
"Mr. Harry Potter. Yes, it is."
"Mr. Potter, this is Director Nicholas Fury. I understand you have information about the artifact we recovered."
"I have information about cosmic singularities, Director. The artifact you recovered is just one piece of a much larger puzzle."
"And would it be fair to assume you're willing to share this information?"
"Under the right circumstances."
"What circumstances would those be?"
Harry glanced at Coulson, who nodded encouragingly. "A meeting. Face-to-face discussion about cosmic-level threats and SHIELD's role in managing them."
"That can be arranged. When and where?"
"Your choice, Director. But I'd recommend sooner rather than later. The longer you continue testing that artifact, the more dangerous it becomes."
"Testing has been suspended pending further analysis."
"Good. That buys us time."
"Time for what?"
"Time to discuss what happens when the other five singularities eventually surface. I believe a history lesson in in order. Do bear in mind that my own knowledge might be somewhat fragmented."
There was another pause. Harry could almost hear Fury's mind working through the implications of their conversation.
"Agent Coulson, bring Mr. Potter to the Triskelion. Security level seven clearance, executive escort."
"Yes, sir." Coulson's voice had a hint of surprise to it.
"Mr. Potter, I look forward to our conversation."
"As do I, Director."
The call ended, and Coulson put his phone away before turning to look at Harry with something approaching respect.
"Security level seven clearance. That's higher than most of our senior agents."
"I believe Director Fury is pragmatic. Someone who recognizes value when he sees it."
"Or he's planning to lock you in a containment cell."
Harry smiled. "Agent Coulson, if Director Fury wanted me in a containment cell, he'd need a containment cell that could hold someone who can manipulate fundamental forces of reality."
"Can you?"
"Let's find out together."
Coulson stood and gestured toward the door. "Shall we go?"
Harry looked around his penthouse one more time. Command center, surveillance equipment, coffee maker. The ordinary life of a technology consultant, mixed with the extraordinary capabilities of someone who understood cosmic forces.
"Agent Coulson, before we go, I want to make something clear."
"What's that?"
"I'm not surrendering to SHIELD. I'm choosing to work with SHIELD. There's a difference."
"What kind of difference?"
Harry walked to the window and looked across the street. On the rooftop of the building opposite, a SHIELD sniper was positioned with a clear view of Harry's apartment. The sniper thought he was hidden, but Harry could sense his presence as clearly as if he were standing in the room.
"Agent Roger Cooper," Harry said. "Former Marine Corps sniper, currently assigned to SHIELD tactical support. He's been watching my apartment from that rooftop for three hours."
Coulson moved to the window and looked across the street. "I don't see anyone."
"Third building, rooftop access door, northeast corner. He's using active camouflage, but his electromagnetic signature is distinctive."
Coulson pulled out his phone and dialed. "Cooper, what's your position?"
Harry could hear the surprised voice through the phone. "How did you— I mean, rooftop overwatch, sir. Target building secured."
"Stand down and report to ground level."
"Sir, are you sure? I have a clear shot if—"
"Stand down, Agent Cooper. That's an order."
Coulson ended the call and stared at Harry. "You identified a concealed sniper from inside your apartment."
"I can sense human bioelectric fields from significant distances if I focus enough."
"How significant?"
"City block radius, under normal circumstances."
"And under extraordinary circumstances?"
Harry picked up his jacket from the back of a chair. "Let's hope we don't need to find out."
The two agents by the door stepped aside as Harry and Coulson approached. They looked uncertain, as if they weren't sure whether they were escorting a cooperative consultant or a potential threat.
"Agent Coulson," Harry said as they walked toward the elevator. "Your backup agents are wondering whether they should treat me as an asset or a liability."
"What should I tell them?"
"Tell them I'm someone who could be either, depending on how this meeting goes."
They entered the elevator. Harry pressed the button for the ground floor, and the elevator began its descent.
"Mr. Potter," one of the agents said. "Are you going to cooperate with SHIELD?"
"Agent Rodriguez," Harry replied. "Former LAPD, current SHIELD field operations. You've been with the organization for fourteen months."
Rodriguez looked startled. "How do you know my background?"
"Same way I knew Agent Cooper's position. Enhanced awareness comes with enhanced information processing."
Big words to satisfy their curiosity. There was no need to give away more than he needed to.
"That's not an answer to my question."
Apparently not.
Harry smiled as the elevator reached the ground floor. "Agent Rodriguez, I've been cooperating with SHIELD since before I ever spoke to Agent Coulson. The question isn't whether I'll cooperate. The question is whether SHIELD will cooperate with me."
As the agent frowned, the elevator doors opened, revealing the lobby of Harry's building. Through the glass windows, Harry could see multiple black SUVs parked outside. SHIELD had brought significant backup for this conversation.
"Expecting trouble?" Harry asked.
"Expecting the unexpected," Coulson replied.
They walked through the lobby. The concierge, sitting behind his desk, looked nervous. He'd probably never seen this many government vehicles outside the building.
"Mr. Potter," the concierge called out. "Is everything all right?"
"Everything's fine, Jonas. Just some business associates."
"The ones who've been asking about you?"
Harry paused at the desk. "Jonas, if anyone else comes asking about me, tell them I'll be away for a while. Extended business trip."
"But you are here though."
"For now."
With a nod, Harry followed Coulson outside. The black SUVs were arranged in a formation that could provide rapid extraction or secure containment, depending on how the situation developed. SHIELD agents stood near each vehicle, alert but not obviously threatening.
"Impressive response," Harry said.
"We take meetings with enhanced individuals seriously."
"Enhanced individuals who could level city blocks if they wanted to?" Harry asked. He was having a lot of fun teasing these agents with little tidbits of what he could do.
Coulson opened the door to the middle SUV. "Could you?"
Harry paused before getting into the vehicle. "Agent Coulson, I've been living in this building for about a month now. I've been providing intelligence to SHIELD for over a week. If I wanted to level city blocks, would we be having this conversation?"
"Probably not," Coulson replied, not missing the difference between 'could' and 'wanted'.
"Then let's focus on what I do want."
Harry got into the SUV. Coulson sat beside him, while the two backup agents took seats facing them. The vehicle was equipped with secure communications, tactical displays, and what looked like containment equipment.
"Expecting me to try to escape?" Harry asked, amused.
"Expecting to be prepared for various contingencies."
The SUV pulled into traffic, followed by the other SHIELD vehicles. Harry could sense the electromagnetic signatures of the other agents, their radio communications, and their general state of alert readiness.
"Agent Coulson, your people are nervous."
"They've never escorted someone with your capabilities."
"What capabilities do they think I have?"
"Real-time intelligence gathering, enhanced sensory awareness, and the ability to levitate objects."
Harry smiled. "They have no idea."
"Should they?"
"That depends on Director Fury's approach to our meeting."
The SUV turned onto a highway leading toward downtown. Harry could see the SHIELD facility in the distance, a tall building that looked ordinary from the outside but housed some of the most advanced technology on the planet.
"The Chrysler," Coulson said, following Harry's gaze.
"Impressive building. A tall main tower, underground levels, and enough security to stop a small army."
"Have you been inside before?"
"No, but I can sense the structural layout from here."
Coulson leaned forward slightly. "From here? We're still two miles away."
"Enhanced sensory awareness has significant range."
"How significant?"
Harry closed his eyes and extended his magical senses. The Chrysler building appeared in his mind like a three-dimensional blueprint. He could see the structural supports, electrical systems, security barriers, and the electromagnetic signatures of hundreds of people working inside.
"Seventeen levels above ground, eight levels below ground. Director Fury's office is on the top floor of the tower. Dr. Selvig's lab is on sublevel four, where the cosmic singularity is being held in a containment field that won't actually contain it if it decides to release its energy. If that tower falls, the damage will be massive."
Coulson stared at him. "You can sense all of that from inside a moving vehicle?"
"I can sense the cosmic singularity itself," Harry replied. "Everything else is just mapping the environment around it."
"And the singularity?"
Harry opened his eyes. "It's waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"For someone who understands what it is."
The SUV pulled into the secure entrance of the SHIELD facility. Guards checked identification, scanned the vehicle, and waved them through multiple security checkpoints. Harry could sense the layers of protection built into the building's defenses.
"Director Fury takes security seriously," Harry observed.
"Director Fury takes everything seriously."
They parked in an underground garage and transferred to a secure elevator. Harry could feel the building's systems scanning him as they ascended. Biometric sensors, electromagnetic field detectors, and security cameras that tracked their progress.
"They're trying to analyze me," Harry said.
"Standard security protocols."
"They're not going to get useful data."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm not standard."
The elevator stopped at the top floor. Harry could sense Director Fury waiting in his office, along with several other people. SHIELD executives, security personnel, and someone with an electromagnetic signature that suggested advanced technological implants.
"He brought backup," Harry said.
"He brought advisors."
"Same thing."
The elevator doors opened, revealing a corridor that led directly to Director Fury's office. Floor-to-ceiling windows provided views of the city, while hidden security measures tracked their progress toward the meeting.
"Mr. Potter," Coulson said as they walked. "Director Fury is going to ask difficult questions."
"I'm prepared for difficult questions."
"Are you prepared to give him honest answers?"
Harry paused outside the office door. "Agent Coulson, I'm prepared to give Director Fury the answers he needs to prevent SHIELD from accidentally ending the world."
"That's not the same thing."
"No, it's not," Harry agreed. "But that's the best you're going to get."
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