Within Temptation
While Darcy is doing research and I don't wanna tickle Talia, Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus and all. I thought that I should attempt a DC crossover. This is also going to be set before the Batgirl days, since Barbara is going to be in Talia's year.
As for the title, it has a double meaning the first obviously is the story's title the other is that it is also a band name. Each chapter is going be titled with a song of theirs with the intro serving as a theme for the chapter.
This story is M for a reason people, there will be graphic themes in here, like Talia's violation in this chapter, will mark it with ZZZ.
Stairway to the Sky
Seven seconds to the rise, can't believe I'm still alive and heaven was waiting for me. I thought that this would be the end, but I know you'll understand, all that is keeping me here.
Barbara Gordon just came home from her last day of school. The first thing she noticed was the odd feeling she always got when there was a visitor in their home she didn't know. The second sign was the fact that there was no car, other than theirs parked out front. Barbara cautiously entered the house scanning for any threats.
"Don't mind Barbara professor, she likes to think she's the female version of Batman." Her father wasn't supposed to be home, he had the afternoon shift.
"Dad, what's going on?" Barbara asked entering the room proper.
"We have a visitor from an exclusive school in Britannia. They are offering you a scholarship for secondary school, and possibly more." Here Barbara looked at the tiny man sitting on the sofa. He had long fingers and large feet, and dare she say it slightly pointed teeth.
"Hogwarts offers many courses that could benefit you later in life." He smiled. "However it all depends if you accept this offer." He handed Barbara an envelope made of yellow parchment.
Prof. Flitwick loved the charms on these envelopes. Before a muggleborn opened the letter, no one can mention that magic really exists. Barbara opened the envelope and read over the content carefully furrowing her brow. Taking a deep breath she reread it:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Ms. Gordon,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. Please notify our representative of your decision. Our representative can answer any questions you have.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
"I don't get it." Barbara said with a raised eyebrow. "I can't be magical, don't get me wrong, I mean sure I believe in magic, Captain Fate is one of my idols."
"You are what we refer to as Muggleborn, the first one in your family that was born with magic." Prof. Flitwick smiled. "I have taught many muggleborn students. I still get amazed by their unparalleled talent. Sure there are a few that aren't good, mostly those choosing to play around."
"Barbara, this is an opportunity of a lifetime." Her father said, the sadness hidden behind his eyes. Barbara translated that to: I don't think we could afford putting you through school and college.
"I accept this offer, Professor," Barbara said looking at the letter again. "However I won't know where to find half the stuff on the list." She read the list again just to be sure:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
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She was crying. Her baby whale of a cousin had destroyed the garden. She really didn't know how to fix it this time. Her aunt's pride and joy, the beautiful orchid she imported from America lay bleeding, bleeding like a human would, like she often did.
She reached out to the plant and pricked her finger on the splinter. Ignoring the pain she whispered into the plant, telling it she was sorry for what her cousin did and if she was able to she would do something to avenge it.
She did not know that her silent declaration traveled through the roots of the earth to a town in America, where a red haired woman with green skin wept with her. The woman nodded to the plants in the greenhouse. In seconds they released their chemicals, activating the juices that ran into the girl's bleeding finger.
The girl picked up the mail as she returned to the cupboard where she was restricted to. She did not notice the plants heal themselves, neither that the potted plant on the table stole one of the letters, the one addressed to her, Talia Potter.
Talia barely fell asleep when the door to the cupboard was flung open revealing an irritated walrus. He pulled her out of the cupboard and dragged her upstairs by her hair. He glared at her naked body before taking of his belt and hitting her with the buckle side until she passed out from blood loss. She no longer cried when they hit her.
Vernon Dursley woke up to his lovely wife that morning only she was irritated. Their son and his friends were playing rugby and ended up in the flower bed with Petunia's imported flowers. They stumped on her prize winning flowers breaking all of them.
Petunia went downstairs and peered out of the window and saw her garden in better condition than it was the previous day. Not a single broken plant in the bunch. She was giddy. She no longer had to withdraw from the competition. Her joy was short lived when she heard the huff behind her. That was followed by a slam and a shuffle of feet.
When Vernon Dursley entered the kitchen again Petunia went upstairs. She found the bloodied body on the floor of the main bedroom. She sighed as she picked the too small body up and washed it clean from the blood. After cleaning the girl she dragged her down the stair by her feet and threw her into the cupboard under the stairs and picking up the mail.
"Seems like Marge is ill, food poisoning," Petunia said as she read the postcard.
"It seems like that is going around. The paper says the Prime Minister had to cancel his speech yesterday due to food poisoning." Vernon grunted with a smile. "Dudley is still going out with the Polkiss family today right, their boy's birthday?"
"Yes, they are going to the zoo, a dreadful place on a Saturday. I'm off to get some fertilizer for the garden." Vernon's gaze flashed to the cupboard, too quick to see, and just grunted his reply.
ZZZ
As soon as Petunia and Dudley left Vernon made his way to the cupboard and pulled out the all but dead form of the girl. He dragged her upstairs and threw her against the bed. She woke up like he wanted her to and he smirked as he lowered his pants. The girl's eyes widened at the gesture, but, this too, has happened more often than not.
Vernon pushed his way down the girl's throat until she gagged before pulling out slightly and doing it again and again until he released his build up down her throat. He then turned her around and had his way with her private lips, releasing himself inside of her too. After he had his fill he threw her into the cupboard and went to watch TV.
Neither Talia nor the fat pedophile knew that that she was now poisonous, and that it would take exactly three days before the poison liquefied his insides, killing him. They also didn't know that when Petunia gave her husband head that night that within a week the entire block would be poisoned, including the children.
ZZZ
When the muggle bio-hazard team arrived when word got out they didn't expect to find anyone alive, let alone naked inside a cupboard. One of the team picked up the girl and withdrew some blood. Although the blood was slightly discolored it did not hold any of the poison they found in the other bodies. In fact, aside from the extreme malnourishment the girl was the only one not poisoned.
As they carried her down the street they passed the only other living person, Mrs. Figg. Seeing who they were carrying Mrs. Figg poured a pinch of dust into her fireplace and stuck her head inside. Over an hour later a red haired woman claimed the child as her niece.
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Just before Barbara left for the UK to start her new school, there was a major headline. The eco-terrorist, Pamela Isley, a.k.a. Poison Ivy has disappeared and her botanical greenhouses was cleared. Sure Barbara would like to crack that case, but she had to go to school first.
"Barbara, hurry up, Mr. Wayne won't wait all day." Jim Gordon called her down.
Mr. Wayne was a generous person when he felt like it, yet he wouldn't take her on as Bat-woman or even Batgirl. Yes, Barbara figured out that the famous Bruce Wayne liked to bloody his knuckles every night as the Batman. Her father probably mentioned to the Bat that Barbara got the scholarship and jumped the wagon to get her there.
"Just checking that I didn't forget something, daddy!" Barbara called back as she picked up her wand.
After the visit, Prof. Flitwick took Barbara to Salem's magical district. There they bought all her books and equipment. Her wand was, ironically, made of a peach tree favored by thousands of fruit bats. The teller joked and said that, if Batman was magical, he would probably have a branch of the same tree. The core was a bit unusual, Lethifold tooth. And it only bonds with someone who had a near-death experience. A memory Barbara wished to forget.
Alfred was waiting to pick her up and told her that Mr. Wayne was already at the airport. They drove in silence with Barbara asking the occasional question. When they didn't take the turn-off to the airport, Barbara raised an eyebrow.
"Mr. Wayne knows that you know his secret, Ms. Gordon." Alfred smiled. "And Batman got a lead that Poison Ivy may be in London. So he'll be flying you there himself."
Barbara was exited. She was going to be flying with the Batman. Sure it was going to be in a plane of sorts, but it isn't everyday you get to fly with Batman. That excitement was short lived, as the man spoke even less than Alfred did and they were flying for a good few hours.
They arrived on the morning of September 1st, at 8h00 in the morning. It seemed like Bruce had a Bat-cave on every continent and island. Bruce called a limo service from said cave and within an hour they were on their way to King's Cross.
"I will be spending some time in and around Britannia looking for Ivy, should you find her, heaven forbid, let me know through one of the magic users." Bruce said as he helped her onto the platform. "And yes, I know you are heading to a magical school. Here we are the concealed entrance to Platform 9 ¾." Bruce said before he turned around and left.
Barbara stared at what she thought was a solid wall, before she shrugged and pushed her trolley through. She could see the platform being very busy, mostly parents wishing their children farewell. And then she saw them –
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Talia couldn't believe her luck. She had been rescued from the Dursleys by men wearing yellow suits before an aunt she didn't know she had found her after years of looking. They went shopping in a weird place with money found deep under London in her name. A name she didn't know she until Pamela told her.
Her wand was made of Ivy with a Bundimun fang core, both gifts from Pam when no wand in the entire Diagon Alley chose Talia. The combination was never made, and therefore it would be unpredictable, especially if someone else wielded it.
Strangely enough, Pamela didn't want to accept any of Talia's gold. Talia asked her on the way to the train station. She said that she turned over a new leaf and that, if she took some of the gold, she would be stealing, since she isn't really related to Talia. Pamela was invited to work in the Green Houses at Hogwarts by Pomona Sprout and Albus Dumbledore.
"Hey!" Talia was instantly on edge upon hearing the hostel shout. "What are you doing here Poison Ivy?"
"Goddess," Pamela sighed before turning towards the voice. She winced. "Ms. Gordon, I mean you and everyone here no harm. I am merely going on this train to a job interview. My niece in all but blood will be attending school with you."
"What?" Barbara asked, her eyes falling on Talia. "Did you kidnap her?" Talia rolled her eyes.
"She saved me," Talia whispered. "I would've died if she didn't show up."
"Batman is here you know," Barbara said ignoring the girl. "He's looking for you."
"13 Grimmauld Place, London. I will be returning there every summer with Talia. Does the Bat know where Hogwarts is?" Pamela asked. Barbara looked lost. "But I won't suggest he visit there before I'm back, I have some plants looking after other plants there. They haven't given up all their ways just yet."
With that said Pamela and Talia boarded the train. Finding an empty cabin they sat down and enjoyed companionable silence. As the train started to move a very uncomfortable Barbara found her way to the cabin. After promising not to accuse Pamela of anything she was allowed to sit.
As the Lunch trolley came round Barbara bought them a peace offering. The lady accepted the pounds, but suggested that Barbara exchange her money before boarding the train next time.
"Sorry about that, Bruce Wayne gave me a couple of notes just before I boarded." Barbara smiled shyly.
"You can drop the act sweat-heart," Pamela smiled knowingly. "I'm an expert on pheromones and can tell them apart easily. From the very start I knew that they were one and the same, but I kept my mouth shut. They already thought I was crazy when I said I can communicate with plants. I didn't want to add that on my list."
The rest of the ride was quiet only being interrupted by a ferret and two baboons trying to intimidate the cabin. Pamela only shook her head when Talia wanted to retort. Barbara raised an eyebrow but didn't ask about it.
They arrived at Hogwarts ahead of schedule and Pamela bid them a farewell as she made her way up to the castle. Once there she made her way to Green House 7, where the most dangerous plants were kept. She met with the Herbology professor.
"Welcome back Pamela." She greeted the green skinned woman.
"Prof. Sprout, an honor to be back." Pamela hugged the woman who gave her a love of plant life.
"I haven't been your professor since you left, you know you can call me Pomona." The matronly woman smiled before steeling her features. "I heard you became a villain after you went to the colonies. I won't let you harm any of the students of this school."
"I am a former ego-terrorist. It took the tears of a young girl I didn't know to help me realize that I was wrong, in fact I adopting her." Pamela smiled, "Her name is Talia Potter. She was dying and the only way I could save her was –"
"To make her like you," Pomona sighed. "And that is why you requested a job here, to help her control the change?" Pamela nodded. "Well then I will help you as much as I can. Just one more question, are you sure you wouldn't rather sleep in the castle?"
"I need the freedom only nature can give me, but thank you for the offer, shall we?" Pamela smiled back and gestured for Pomona Sprout towards the castle. They arrived just before the First Years.
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Talia was rapidly blinking to try and calm her nerves, she knew from what Pamela told her that the Sorting Ceremony was quick and painless. Yet she couldn't tell that to the others for some reason and it didn't help that Ron – something – told them that his brothers told him they had to wrestle a troll.
"Why are you blinking?" Barbara asked from beside her.
"It keeps me calm so that I don't release the wrong sort of pheromones, I don't want to accidentally poison someone." Talia replied.
"Wait you're like – What did she do to you?" Barbara couldn't keep the loathing out.
"I was dying, when one of her plants that my aunt stole in America bled into me. My uncle beat me with his belt to an inch from death. If it wasn't for that plant I wouldn't have survived the night. Over the next month every one on my block started to die, I was lucky that the poison in the air was from the plant inside of me. Pamela found me and taught me how to control it. So keep your hate to yourself." Talia all but hissed.
Barbara didn't know what to say and she was spared from doing so when the ghosts arrived, followed by McGonagall. They were ushered into the Great Hall and Talia smiled seeing Pamela at the teacher's table.
After the Sorting hat sang it's terribly off key song, Prof. McGonagall began reading the names. Talia only listened half heartedly. There were a few names that did stand out though. Barbara sat under the hat for a long time before being sorted into Gryffindor, followed by Hermione Granger. Then finally:
"Potter, Talia."
Talia made her way to the hat and sat on the stool.
"My, my, what do we have here?" a voice sounded in her head. "I can honestly say that I can not see your memories. Why don't you tell me about yourself?"
"The reason you can't see my memories is because I haven't made any." Talia thought back. "According to Pamela, my parents were in Gryffindor. She was in Ravenclaw, but I don't like to read as much as she seemed to."
"I see, from my song, where do you see yourself?" the hat continued.
"Well I have a lot of hate in me, but I am a half-blood so Slytherin won't do. I only started reading recently so neither would Ravenclaw. I have no worries about other people's safety, not after what happened to me, so Hufflepuff is out. I don't see myself as brave, but enduring, so Gryffindor is out."
"I see what you mean, you have qualities for each house, but also qualities that those houses despise. However as you said both your parents were in Gryffindor and you already have someone there you tolerate. So I have no choice: GRYFFINDOR!"
The last part was shouted out to the hall. Talia thanked the hat politely and left for the scarlet and gold table. Sitting down next to Hermione across from Barbara, Talia turned her attention to the rest of the sorting. After the sorting the food appeared.
The feast was wonderful, but like Pamela said, it lacked a lot of vegetables. It however didn't stop Talia from piling the few available on her plate. Barbara noticed this but didn't comment, just another piece of the puzzle. After a hearty meal, the headmaster stood and addressed the hall.
"Welcome new students and welcome back to our old ones. I have just a few Start-of-term notifications, now that we are fed and watered." He nodded to the back of the room. "Our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has been adamant that I tell new students and remind old students that magic is forbidden in the halls between classes.
"The forest on the grounds is dangerous and therefore forbidden to all students," here he nodded to the twins sitting a few chairs from Talia. "We also welcome Pamela Isley. She will be helping out students in the more dangerous Green Houses due to her extraordinary gift with plants. Welcome back Ms. Isley."
"Did he just say welcome back?" Barbara whispered to Talia who nodded.
"And lastly, for this year the third floor corridor on the right is off limits to anyone who does not want to die. Now let us sing the School's song before we go to our dorms. Everyone pick your favorite tune."
After the school song was sung, Pamela made her way to the Gryffindor table carrying a box she un-shrunk from her pocket and handed it to Talia before leaving the Great Hall. Talia had a sour look on her face all the way up to the seventh floor.
"What's in the box?" Hermione asked when they stopped for Peeves.
"Neutralizing Mist," Talia answered as if it explained everything.
"Aren't you going to elaborate?" Hermione asked. Barbara rolled her eyes.
"Not really, but feel free to ask Barbara, she would be familiar with it." Talia said.
"It is to help her to sleep – easier," Barbara said, "The rest isn't my secret to tell." Talia shot her a grateful smile.
"Like a drug or something?" Hermione just didn't get the hint.
"No something more on a subconscious level." Barbara said shrugging.
They arrived at the tower and were told where the dorms were before Percy the prefect left the girls in the hands of the girl's prefect. She explained the enchantments on the stairs and how to use it to their advantage. She then placed her wand on the rail and they all moved up the stairs.
Once in the dorm Talia carefully opened the box and using her wand wordlessly lifted the misty box on top of the four poster bed. Once in place it changed into a tinted glass encasement.
"So why not just sleep in the green house with Ivy – I mean Pamela?" Barbara asked. Talia noticed the other girls weren't in the room.
"I'm not plant enough to safely sleep there, but I'm too poisonous to sleep close to others."
"So Pamela gave you something similar to what her cell in Arkham did." Barbara finished the thought. "Perhaps she has changed. Come on let's go clean up before bed."
"Thanks for not telling them the whole story. I will do it once my skin starts turning green, no need to alarm them yet." Talia smiled. "Constantine knows Pam is here by the way, she let people let him know, for obvious reasons."
"Did Pamela go to school here? I didn't think she was magical." Barbara asked.
"It isn't widely known, Statue of Secrecy and all that. Besides her wand and core is part of her body now. Think a bit, how else could you explain some of the thing she's able to do?"
Barbara opened and closed her mouth. She had honestly not thought about that.
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Pamela just entered the Green House when she noticed something was off. She sighed as she approached the little shed at the back where the fertilizer and tools were stored. She knew that he was following that is why she commanded the plants to behave.
"Who would've thought that you of all people could break through the wards, you who don't really believe in magic?"
"I had some help," the whispered voice said.
"But John didn't want to come in here, too afraid of some of these plants no doubt." Pamela smiled. "How can I assist you, Mr. Wayne?"
"So you know? Who else knows?" Batman asked foregoing the whisper.
"Probably only Edward, I certainly won't tell, it is too fun watching them trying to figure it out, which brings me back to my question. I really turned over a new leaf, for Talia's sake."
"Constantine told me he got good word on you going to England, but I didn't take him seriously until I found all your hideouts abandoned."
"Luckily I moved out, I would've felt so – violated." Pam joked. "Lucky you got a disciple on the inside now, huh?"
"You won't harm Gordon's daughter." It was a warning.
"I'm merely here to help the kids in the higher levels with advance stuff and to farm some of these plants as ingredients, with the school's permission. The Board agreed that it would be better than to pay me 2000 Galleons/month for my talents. To answer your concerns though, Barbara won't be near me until after the fifth year."
"I will be keeping an eye on you." Batman whispered.
"Hope it isn't the electronic kind, perhaps John didn't tell you, but it doesn't work near magic." Pamela could feel the slight heat coming from her guest. "You placed surveillance cameras in here didn't you?"
"Take this, the worst pranksters in the school in my time made them," Pamela handed him a mirror, blushing, "Just say Green House 7, and all the glass in this place reflects into the mirror. I know you won't use it like they used it, to spy on the girls in the bathrooms. They enchanted every glass in the castle to reflect in their mirrors. Only used it to communicate during detention my ass." The last part Pamela whispered.
"This is only a mirror." Batman said skeptically.
"Fine here," Pamela turned the mirror towards her. "Gryffindor First Year Dorm." The words not yet cold an image appeared showing Barbara and Talia getting into bed along with the three other Gryffindor girls, Hermione Granger, Lavender Brown and Pavarti Patil. The mist began to decent as Talia lay down.
"Green House 7," Pamela said into the mirror and the image shifted into the room they were standing in. "Satisfied?"
"I will take this, for now." With that he left the Green House.
Pamela smiled and concentrated to make her flower bloom. Within seconds a giant red flower opened up and she stepped inside, closing the petals. She was out before the Dark Knight even made it to the wards where John Constantine waited for him. Together they left, John on his own quest and Batman back to Gotham.
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There you go. The concept chapter is up. This story won't have any pairings, but Babs takes Ron's place, since Talia doesn't trust anyone with a hidden one hanging around looking for trouble.
Please review. Tell me what I got right and what I got wrong within context. A short "Nice chapter please update soon" is nice, but I can't really reply to that, you know.
Thank you for reading hope you weren't too disappointed
–Foxy Talia Potter–