Chapter One : Superman ,Batman, and SuperTed

by Chemicalangel

I don't own HPor any of the other characters. Wish I did . But I don't. Cruel world, isn't? Read review, share your thoughts.

He sat staring out of the train window. That's all he could do. The sadness and guilt washed over him like a huge wave that threatened to engulf and suffocate him. He thought the question that has plagued his entire life, or at least as far back as he could remember. 'Why me? Why me of all people? There are thousands upon thousands of magical beings in this world. Why am I the one that has to face him. Why am I so bloody special? Why is the people I care about the ones that die?' This is all that was running through his head. Harry turned to see the compartment door slide open as his best friends entered. He noticed that they looked as weary as he felt. Not knowing what to say, he turned and looked back at his reflection in the window of the Hogwarts Express. What he saw sickened him.

Off in the distance he saw clearly the dark mark hovering over a distant small town. It showed brightly in the night sky. He somehow knew that the Death Eaters had left none alive. He seemed to sense it deep inside his heart. He also knew that this was only the beginning. Nothing could prepare the wizarding world for what was to come. The war of good and evil had begun. It wouldn't be the same without Dumbledore. Voldermort knew he would have open reign with Dumbledore dead. Harry looked to see the horrified faces of his friends. They had seen the dark mark. They rose out of their seats and made for the sliding door. When Harry didn't follow them, they turned and looked at him questioningly.

He looked up at their frightened faces and said in a soft but broken voice, "There's no one alive there. They're all dead. They've even killed the children." A sob was heard coming out of Hermione's mouth. Ron sat back down with a pained look in his eyes. After about five minutes of standing without saying a word, Hermione whirled out of the compartment door. Ron and Harry looked at each other. Wondering who should go after her. They both stood at the same time. Harry quickly sat back down. He didn't want Ron to misunderstand his intensions. He only wanted to help his friend. Ron had looked guiltily at Harry, thinking of their earlier argument.

Ron had seen Harry comforting Hermione after Dumbledore's funeral. She had held together pretty well up till right before they were to leave the castle. She had seen Harry slip out to Dumbledore's grave to say his final goodbye to his late head master and beloved friend. She saw him fall to the ground in great sobs. She immediately broke down and couldn't hold her emotions in any longer. For her feelings of guilt and responsibility over Dumbledore's death mirrored that of Harry's.

Harry turned and saw her distressed face. He got to his feet and came towards Hermione and cradled her gently in his arms. He began to rub the small of her back in soothing circles. This seemed to do the trick of calming her, so he continued this action, as he placed a soothing kiss in her hair. He didn't notice that Ron was twenty feet away, looking murderously at Harry. He had missed the racking sobs that had brought the two of his friends together. All he had saw was Harry holding Hermione in his arms, and the kiss on the head. That was the last straw for Ron. He felt that Hermione had chosen Harry and not him. Ron grabbed Harry's arm and jerked him violently backwards. Harry looked to see who had pulled him so forcefully away from Hermione.

Ron spat out, "We need to talk." He lead Harry away from Hermione's confused face. Harry noticed that her face was extremely cute looking when she had that look. He shook those thoughts from his mind as he realized who he was with and the reason he was following Ron and remembering Ginny momentarily. He came to a halt as Ron stopped abruptly and turned in Harry's face. "You know how I feel about her. Why? And what about my sister?" Ron's face was quickly going the same shade as his hair. Harry knew he had to say something, so he simply told Ron the truth, as best as he knew it.

Ron cleared his throat bringing Harry back to the present, "You go. I'll take her prefect patrol duties." Harry made his way out into the darkened corridor in search of Hermione. He walked toward the back of the train. There were few people that were still awake at this late hour, as he passed compartment windows he saw people sitting in their seats asleep. Some sleeping faces looked serene; while others had a look of pained expression etched on them. As he got to the back of the train he saw Luna Lovegood standing outside the loo doors. She turned when she heard him come to a stop behind her.

"Hi Luna, is Hermione in there by any chance?"

" Yes she is, she's been in there a few minutes crying. I do wish that she would come out soon." Luna stepped to the side and made way for Harry to knock lightly on the bathroom door.

A muffled sob answered the gentle tapping of his light fingers.

"Who's there?"

" It's me." Harry stated soothingly. There was no reason to say his name. She knew by the gentle use of the voice outside the door, who would be there. The door opened slowly revealing a tear stained Hermione. She had a surprised expression on her face when her eyes spotted Luna.

"I didn't know anyone was out here with you Harry." Luna stepped forward,

" I was waiting on the bathroom." Harry looked perplexedly at her.

"Didn't you knock on the door before I got here? You said you had been here a few minutes before I'd gotten here. Didn't you?"

"I didn't knock. I didn't want to disturb Hermione. Plus, I knew you would come to check on her soon enough. You always do." She had stated this with the honest frankness that Harry had come accustomed to. She made her way into the bathroom and closed the door behind her with a small click. Hermione cleared her throat.

"You know, she's right about that. You do always come when you're needed. A bit like Super man."

" I prefer Bat man."

"Why? Bat man doesn't have any super powers."

"Exactly, but he still tries to help people. Especially the cute girls in distress." This statement brought a diminutive smile to her tear streaked face. Harry's heart gave a great leap and his stomach knotted, but not in an unpleasant way. She threaded her arm through Harry's.

"Let's go Batman, I think Robin may be waiting up for us."

"That's funny, I see Ron as more of a Spotty."

"You know who Spotty is?" She smiled faintly.

"Of course, I know who Super Ted's best friend is. That was one of my favorite telly shows when I was younger"

"Mine too. Which super hero am I Harry?" He thought for a minute or so.

"None," she looked a little hurt, but he rushed on with his sentence. "You're, like you. You're like a new breed of super hero. Wonder woman couldn't hold a candle to you. One day you'll have your own action figure." She squeezed his arm at hearing the welcome compliment.

As they made their way back to the compartment, they talked about other things from their childhood in the muggle world. Tonight's earlier tragedy was pushed away, but Harry and Hermione knew that all the pushing in the world could not push it completely out. Harry knew that what was to come would not only be hard, but maybe impossible. All he knew was, if he had people like Hermione and Ron on his side, things may not be as hopeless as some thought. He had to fight for what was right and not what was easy. He had to, or darkness would overcome not only the wizarding world, but the muggle world as well.

Questions, comments are welcome. Almost expected. There's plenty of mistakes, I'm sure. Tell me what they are. Leave a review and wipe your feet on the way out please.