Waste not, want not. And all that.

Swinging open the door, Tony Stark flashed a brilliant smile at the closest reporter, dazzling everyone around him as he took measured steps towards the front of the room.

"Mr. Stark, a rival industry has recently released a -" "Mr. Stark, how do you feel about the recen-""Herr Stark, how is the political stance of Mr.-"

Tony ignored them, a brilliant smile plastered to his face as he continued to walk to the front of the room, the wooden podium looking ever the more inviting as reporters gathered closer to clamor for his attention.

Spinning around at the front of the room, he spread his arms wide, his smile sparkling as he gave an arrogant half-bow.

"Ladies, ladies, please-" he grinned at all the reporters who were in the process of climbing over each other to get their microphone closer to his face, "you're all gorgeous. If I could, I'd answer all your questions, but as it is- the rival company is terrible, the election is terrible, no, I am not sponsoring Global Generator, yes, I am sponsoring Global Triton, no, they are not similar, no, I am not supporting Glenn Markow, and no, Jeff Perry's campaign interests me just as much as the old noodles in the back of my fridge."

The clamor died down for a moment, and Tony clapped his hands together loudly.

"Well, let's begin, then. As you all know, today is the day that Stark Industries will release our newest weapon, the Jericho. This has been in the works for - well, for quite a long time, longer than I'm actually willing to let slip in a public meeting." He grinned widely, basking in the light chuckles that echoed around the room.

"It will hit the so called 'market' next year, but even as I speak, the Jericho is being shipped en masse to hundreds of countries housing our brave, brave troops, who have pleaded with their government for years to have a way to defend themselves. A good way. Not, gods forbid, Hammertech." He laughed with the reporters, then let a polite mask slip over his face, and for a few seconds the scratch of pens was the only noise in the room.

"Mr. Stark, how do you think the Jericho will affect the current value of Stark Stock?"

Tony grinned at the young reporter. "It'll go up, of course. When does my stock do anything else?"

Laughter echoed through the room, some shaking their heads fondly.

"Well, if you'll look at that, these glorious seven minutes are up, and I'll sadly have to depart now. I'll doubtless see you fabulous people later." He stepped down from the front of the room, smiling madly. "Happy New Year with Stark Industries!"

There was a loud applause, which lasted until Tony had closed the door forcefully behind himself and his bodyguard.

"Dear god. When does it ever stop?" Tony laughed and shook his head. "Call Pepper and tell her I'll be a few hours late. I have to go take care of a few things before I get around to...what was it I was supposed to do? You don't know? Well lucky me, neither do I - best just ignore it, then. Until, at least, Pepper calls and starts yelling indignantly." Laughing brightly, Tony started walking down the deserted hallway to the exit doors.

"One, two, one, two, one-"

There was a sound of several impacts, then a slight swoosh of air.

"Three, four, three, three four-"

Again, impacts rang through the room, and the sounds of bare feet on a mat.

"That was perfect, again! Please try and remember to kick with more frequency. You're doing fine, but adding more wouldn't be bad."

There were two figures in the room. The male was tall, dark, and wearing loose, pale clothing, and the female was pale, slight, and small, with elfish features and black hair.

"You're only going so hard on me today because you know-" the woman ducked and deflected, before aiming to kick, "that I won't be coming back after today. I'll-" an impact landed, and the female smiled victoriously, "miss you too, you know."

The male's hands dropped to his side, and his face suddenly looked quite tired.

"It's ridiculous of me, I know. But still. You have so much talent. And I enjoy teaching you."

"Hush, it's not ridiculous at all." The woman took off her gloves, throwing them against the wall, and shook out her hands before starting to stretch. "It really isn't. I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I have. It's been a pleasure learning from you, sir."

The man gave her a half smile.

"Don't get into too much trouble, Hav."

"Ah, pfft. Trouble attracts itself to me, and you know it. It isn't my fault!" She laughed, then sat down by her bag, stuffing her gloves in it.

"Goodbye, Hav. May your travels go well."

"Thank you, sir."

There was a moment's silence, before the man left the room. Hav looked after him, and then went to the other door, which led directly outside. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she swung the door open with one hand and stepped out neatly, in the same movement pivoting on her heel.

There was a crack, and she disappeared.

"These runes are dreadfully complex, you know. Are you sure you even know what the section here means?" asked Hermione, looking down at the book on the table.

"No idea, really, but if my luck holds out - which it should, it has so far- it'll do what the other book said it would. The other book's over... there..." Hav gestured vaguely to a large pile of books in one corner, before returning to her task on the floor. She had a large slab of chalk in her hands, and she was carefully drawing out the runes that were displayed on the piece of paper next to her. Finishing one, she set down the piece of chalk, brushed her hands on her shirt, and stood up.

"Here, I'll get it for you. You look awfully skeptical."

"You can't blame me, really..." replied Hermione lightly, her eyebrows raised.

"I suppose I can't. And I can't stop you, either." Hermione grinned, her feet skimming the floor lightly as she walked over to where Hav was opening books, shutting them, and discarding them, and then moving onto the next. "You've always done whatever you think you should, no matter what the consequences could be."

Hav was silent for a moment, and the only sound in the room was the rustling of paper as she flipped through books and discarded them. "I - I suppose I have strong views on what should and what should not be done..." she paused, running her finger down a page. "Here it is." She walked back over to the table, avoiding Hermione's gaze. Hermione followed, silent.

"Well, I only have about three runes left for this inner rune circle, and then - well, then I'll be ready to go." Hav said lightly, a half smile plastered on her face. "I...I." Her eyebrows knit together, and she knelt down again, picking up her chalk, and started to sketch out a design in the circle.

She could feel, more than see, Hermione behind her, her eyes piercing through the shirt on her back.

"You know that there's nothing left for me here, Hermione." Hav said finally, finishing the rune and moving over to start the next. "You know that, better than anyone." Running her hand through her hair, leaving a white residue in the midst of its darkness, she sighed. "I won't seek you out again, if that's what you're worried about. I know that... this... is unhealthy. I do. I just, well, needed some company, you know? Some strength. I don't know if I have that sort of strength anymore..." she trailed off, pursing her lips tightly.

"I know, Hav. I'll quite miss you. But at least it won't be the last we see of each other, you know?" Hermione smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Shall I go now, then?"

"No." said Hav, very quickly. "Sorry. No. I - stay with me?"

"Of course. Are you bringing the Resurrection Stone?" Hermione glanced at the table, where the stone sat, glowing a light white.

"I shouldn't." There was a sigh. "But yes, I am. And if the portal works, it'll be useless, anyways."

"I suppose that's right." Hermione acceded, but she didn't look entirely convinced. "The objects have a lot of power. And since I suppose that means you'll be bringing all of them, they'll be all the more powerful together."

"I'm not leaving my dad's cloak behind, Hermione. And the Elder Wand is my wand.I'm not going to leave it behind."

Hermione looked unhappy. "I thought you said that magic didn't exist there, though."

"I don't think it does. That hasn't changed. But the runes are... well, I don't know how to explain it to you, seeing as you can' t see the strands of magic that make it up, but the runes are sort of... twisting. If the alternate universe didn't have magic, I would think they would just be still. But if it had magic, it would be..well, woven?" Hav let out a frustrated breath. "It's impossible to be only 'partly magically supporting' so I really don't know. It's a gamble, but it could be... it could be really good. And I could find him again."

"...If you don't find Sirius, Hav, what will you do?"

"Well I can't do much if that's the case, can I?" Hav said coldly, but her face was pained. "I really hope he's there. I don't want to be alone any more."

Hermione looked saddened. "I know."

The woman stood up, throwing her chalk to the side, and then pulled out a wand carved to look like elderberries on a strand. She took a deep breath, and pulled her bag, slung earlier against the wall, to her shoulders. She then walked over to the table, grabbing the glowing stone and putting it in the front pocket of the bag.

Hav returned to the middle of the runes, and hissed a spell over them. They seemed to glow, before settling.

"Seeya then, Hermione." she laughed sadly, her eyes stinging violently. Hermione was silent for a second. "See you." she finally replied, and she gave Hav a timid smile.

"Ó lámha fann den sórt sin anois an seal le réaltacht eile a ghlacadh agus mé den sórt sin croílár cloiche thuilleadh mian leo cónaí ina n-aonar."

Right before the light flashed (too brightly,) Hav twisted the stone violently in her hands. Hermione's ghostly image disappeared, and seconds later, there was a deafening crack, before Hav disappeared as well.

a/n: welcome welcome, drop a review if you'd like, pm me if you'd like, etc.