"What that means," Harry continued. "Is that I acted with the full authorisation of the ICW today to defend London from a threat from something not of this world. I was not breaking the Statute of Secrecy. I was not alerting the non-magical population to the existence of witches and wizards. All they saw was 'Mage', one of the people they know that they can count on to protect them.
"The witches and wizards from Hogwarts who were in the area at the time abided by the Statute, even going so far as to ensure that they were wearing appropriate clothing to blend in to their non-magical surroundings – something that I cannot say that your aurors did."
This time when he paused, it was to see that his words had had some effect. Most looked thoughtful, while some actually looked as though they understood. Harry gave a nod of satisfaction.
"I trust that that clears everything up?" he asked rhetorically.
And before anyone could reply, he turned and strode from the room.
"I really wish that I'd done that the last time," he muttered as he rode the elevator towards the lobby.
ooo00ooo
By the time that Harry arrived back in Greenwich, the place looked completely different.
While it was true that he'd detoured from the Ministry of Magic to Hogwarts to both reassure himself that Teddy and Hermione were okay and to assure them that he was perfectly fine, he didn't think that he'd been gone all that long. Even with the elapsed time due to staying for a late lunch in the kitchens of the castle with the pair.
But judging by the swarm of black-suited figures combing the site of the battle, not to mention the plethora of yellow tape and barricades holding back the inquisitive crowd, he guessed that he'd been gone for longer than he'd thought.
At least his hood was still up. A quick wave of his hand applied his usual spells to it.
The first black-suited figure who'd headed towards him, obviously with the intent of asking him to leave judging by the way he had one hand up, visibly blanched when he realised just who he'd encountered.
From there, it was as though the officious people couldn't do enough for him, escorting him to a high-ranking man where he was asked to recount the battle. After that, he was shown inside the Library where the debris left over from Malekith's ship was being brought.
Greenwich University Library had been taken over by S.H.I.E.L.D. – their logo was everywhere. At the very least, tables and chairs had been removed to create an enormous space, a space that was filled with giant squares of plastic. Small avenues and lanes created access ways for the S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel to move about, either adding to the piles of rubble on the plastic or taking some away, presumably to be analysed.
Mage watched the goings-on for a few minutes, trying to decide who might be in charge.
"It would be nice if, for once, Thor and his people sent down the God of Cleaning Up After Yourself. They probably just have a magic broom for this sort of thing," a black-suited man with thinning brown hair groused.
Mage couldn't resist the opening.
"I don't think there is one of them. And while I do have a magic broom, it is definitely not for cleaning with," he stated.
The man, along with the two women that he was talking to, whirled about. One of the women, a small, slim woman of Asian descent, was definitely S.H.I.E.L.D., judging by the black jumpsuit that she was wearing. The other, though, was more ambiguous. This woman was wearing black jeans, a flannel shirt and a black leather jacket. She wore her hair – long, with a slight wave to it at the ends where it had lightened from its dark brown – as opposed to the usual S.H.I.E.L.D. severity.
"Mage," the man breathed.
Mage resisted the urge to sigh and merely nodded – this man was obviously a fan.
"Phil Coulson," the man introduced himself as, "it's nice to meet you."
Mage paused mid-stride and raked his eyes over the man. He'd heard that name before, usually in conjunction with a tone of sadness and regret or as a glass was raised.
"I thought you were supposed to be dead?" Mage noted, shaking Phil's hand.
"It didn't seem to take," Phil shrugged.
"Know that feeling," Mage commented, eliciting startled and confused looks from the three in front of him.
"Um, okay then," Phil said, before turning slightly to indicate the two women. "This is Agent Melinda May and Skye."
"Agent May," Mage nodded before cocking his head at the younger woman. "Just Skye? No last name?"
"Nah. Long story," Skye replied. "Basically, I don't know my real name and I liked 'Skye' better than the name I was given at the orphanage. Mary Sue Poots."
Mage laughed at the crinkled nose she made at the name.
"I think I'd have picked my own name, too, if I'd been given something like that," he said.
"I understand that you were here for the battle," Coulson said, interjecting himself into the conversation.
"I was," Mage confirmed. "Thankfully, Thor and I were only needed to be a distraction; Jane Foster and Doctor Selvig had the scientific side of things covered."
"Yes, we've already spoken to both of them, along with Darcy Lewis and their intern, Ian, I think his name was," Coulson stated.
"I just wish that they'd left the alien ship behind," Skye stated.
"So, we could clean up after that too?" May snorted.
"So, we could go inside. Take a peek under the hood. Take it for a spin. Come on! You're telling me that piloting an alien ship isn't on your bucket list?" Skye replied.
"Think I'll stick to my broom," Mage said. "There's nothing like the feeling of the wind in your hair when you're flying."
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