CW: Magic, Insecurity discussion, mild bullying, language

Harry Potter AU

~~~

Tony was bored. The sorting ceremony was boring to him, even his own last year. He's not even sure he fits in.

"Stephen Strange."

Tony looked up at the boy who had been called. He thought Stephen was cute. ‘Too bad he's probably not a fan of Slytherins.’

Tony had been sorted into Slytherin last year. A tough decision for the sorting hat, as he exemplifies multiple traits of a Ravenclaw. Ultimately, though, his attitude is what landed him in Slytherin.

"Ravenclaw!"

‘Lucky.’

~~~

They didn't talk to each other, really. Not until year 5 for Tony, and year 4 for Stephen.

~~~

"I hear he fell off his broom playing quidditch. How pathetic do you have to be at flying, anyway?"
"Shut up, he's gonna hear you!-"
"So what?"
"So he's the kind of person who would use Crucio on someone who he doesn't like, so hush, unless you like being tortured?"

That's what Stephen Strange heard as he walked the corridor outside the infirmary. He looked over at Tony, who was sitting by a window, looking a bit forelorn.

"Please, he'd be expelled if he did that. Besides, what evidence do you have of that?" He asks the students. "What evidence do we need? He's a Slytherin. Besides, he doesn't even belong here. Have you heard him talk?"
"What's wrong with the way he speaks, exactly?" Stephen asks. "Moreover, making assumptions based on someone's house is incredibly immature, and just shows you can't look beyond labels." He continued.

"Dude whatever, let's go."

The students left, leaving Tony and Stephen by themselves. Tony didn't even look at him before speaking. "I didn't need your help."

"I wasn't helping. Merely explaining." Stephen says. "By the way, It's Tony, right? I'm Stephen."

"Go fuck yourself."

Stephen did a little 'welp' face, waving his hand in a shrug. "Charming." Tony finally looks over at him, blushing slightly. ‘it's him..’

Tony just scoffs, ignoring his thoughts. "What are you." Stephen was confused for a moment, then responded. "Assuming you're referring to my blood status, I'm half. And you're?"

"Full." Tony answered. Stephen nods a little, and they were quiet for a moment. "... So you fell?" Tony shrugs. "It's not that bad."
"Have you had it looked at yet?" Stephen asks. "No. I was told to come here so I did. I never said I'd go in." Tony responds. "Well, fine, then can I take a look?" Stephen asked.

Tony blushes. "What? Why?" He asks. "To make sure you're not injured too badly." Stephen says, sitting next to him. "What are you, a fuckin doctor?"
"My, you have a mouth. I'd like to be." Stephen says. Tony rolls his eyes, but he does like Stephen, so he complies. He rolls up the sleeve on his robe, showing a bruise in his arm that trailed down to his elbow.

"Oh.. eh.. that's.. gotta hurt." Stephen got his wand out. "Hey woah what are you doing with that-?" Tony asks, pulling back slightly. "Relax."

Stephen cast a silent spell, a soft blue light emitting from his wand and wrapping around Tony's arm. "Hey how do you know this spell...?" Tony asks, watching as the bruise slowly faded.
"I may have borrowed a book or four." Stephen mumbles, putting his wand away when Tony's arm was healed. "I got bored of learning spells I already knew."

"You stole books? Damn I like you more-" Tony says, smiling. Stephen tilts his head. "'More'? Implying you liked me before?" He asks. Tony blushed. "I never said that!" 
"You're flustered. Apologies. I didn't mean to push your buttons, though, you did tell me to go fuck myself earlier." Stephen says. "I'm not flustered, and I said that because I assumed you were some prat trying to get attention from infamous Anthony Stark."

"I'm not that much of an attention seeker. Actually, typically, I prefer if people don't talk to me at all. Unless I engage with them first." Stephen tells him.
"Also, why were those students making fun of you?" He adds. Tony sighs. "Cuz. I'm American. My family moved here because they claimed Hogwarts was a better school for witchcraft than what we had back home, so.."

"They are teasing you for an accent? Well, while I'm sure that's not very pleasant to constantly hear, it just shows the nature of people like them. Don't worry yourself with the words of those who seek to hurt you."

"Hm... .. You don't like people, I don't like people. Let's not like people together? Or.. whatever." Tony says. "What, be friends?" Stephen asks. Tony scoffs, looking out the window again. "If you don't like the idea of that you could just-"

"You assume too often, Tony Stark. That question was not asked with disdain, rather curiosity." Stephen tells him. "Curiosity. What's there to be curious about?" Tony asks, rolling his eyes as he looked back at Stephen.

"Perhaps that was a poor choice in words, but, curious as to why." Tony sighs softly, shrugging a little. "I dunno. Cuz you're pretty. I dunno." Stephen blushes slightly, caught off guard, but smiles, chuckling a little. "Thank you. Though I'm curious as to what exactly you think makes me pretty?"

"Well.. Your eyes, for one. I've always been jealous of people with pretty eyes. Mine are just brown.. Plain and boring.. Common. But you, you have this beautiful, almost teal color-" Tony rambles on, but was interrupted by Stephen holding a finger up.
"Let me stop you there, sorry," he starts, putting his hand down and looking at Tony. "I'm actually quite fond of brown eyes. Especially dark ones like yours. Besides being beautifully reminiscent of autumn, brown eyes are much less sensitive to light. Did you know? The sunlight hurts more to look at if you have lighter eyes."

Tony smiles, a little pink. "I think I know why you're a Ravenclaw." He joked lightheartedly before continuing. "Well, another thing is those bits of white, on the sides of your hair. I like them."

Stephen blushed, covering the one on the side closest to Tony's line of sight. ".. Not a natural thing, unfortunately.. I got a bit too close to a dementor. I fainted, and when I woke, I noticed those bands of white.. To be quite honest, I'm not very fond of them, myself... But.. I do appreciate the compliment, regardless."

"Dude, that just makes it cooler! It's like a battle scar but in your hair- wait that reminds me, the patronus charm. Is that something you've learned?" Tony asks.
Stephen nods, whispering the words 'expecto patronum'. A whisp-like owl appears, landing on Stephen's shoulder. "Woah... Lucky.. owls are a symbol of intelligence, right?"

"Intuition, moreso. What is yours?" Stephen asked, the owl disappearing. Tony turned red in embarrassment but casts the spell. His was a cat. He thought Stephen would laugh, but he didn't. He smiled, but he didn't laugh.
"Curiosity, and independence. That's what a cat represents. Quite fitting for you, Tony." He explained. Tony smiles a little as the cat disappears.

Maybe this place won't be so insufferable after all.