Chapter VII: What the heart wants…
"When you have lived as much of life as I have, you will not underestimate the power of obsessive love.."
-Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
o0o0o0o0o
Harry was experiencing growing familiarity with numbness.
It comforted him when tragedy and fated danced around his life like an almost constant companion. He had first experienced in the Department of Mysteries when Sirius had met his untimely demise. It had dulled the impact of James's fist and had shielded Harry from his biological father's scathing remarks. Yet he knew that it drove him into the arms of the Old Man for the next two years.
Tragedy struck nearly two years later, this time killing his closest friend and once more with Carolyn when the wounds of Tracey's passing had closed.
Again numbness comforted him and would continue to comfort until rage bubbled to the surface and his thirst for revenge demanded to be sated.
It was a foreign feeling being comforted by another person. Zatanna had charged herself with his immediate wellbeing while Batgirl tried to discern the parasite's nature. Still he had to admit being tended to by two beautiful women in a living room was rather pleasant.
The Bat's protégé passed some sort of scanner across his face and for the seventeenth time it beep in the same tone indicating it had failed scan him. The Bat smacked the side of the machine in frustration. It was clear to Harry that the magical field that surrounded him was interfering with the machine but Harry couldn't be bothered explaining this to the masked woman, he couldn't be read because he would not allow it.
Sadly, he didn't have to. Zatanna elbowed Harry's arm and cleared her throat. "Drop the field, Harry." She didn't have to say anything else as the 'or I'll drop it for you' was clearly implied. He looked at her out of the corner of his right eye and obliged. "Try it again."
Once more, Batgirl scanned Harry's head but this time there was no ringing. This time scanner continued its work unimpeded. "There are abnormally high levels of dopamine flowing through your system…" She clicked on a button and ran the scanner around the holes in his neck and over his chest. She stayed quiet while she studied the device, her face not giving away anything but really Harry was surprised her face could do anything besides scowl after having the Batman as a mentor. "Good news, your not dying…" She paused. "anymore."
Harry tried to give her his most convincing smile. "Well that's always a plus. Who would have thought getting ambushed by roses with tentacles would grant me immortality." He turned to Zatanna. "Don't tell John, Zee, I don't think his heart could take." He tried to joke.
Unsurprisingly, Zatanna found little humor in last nights events and let him know with a withering glare. Harry had seen worse from Granger, but wisely kept his mouth shut. "What's the bad news?" He could sense the irritation in her tone.
"I can't find any traces of foreign matter in his wound or on the armor… well nothing that would lead us to any answers."
"In other words, we have the name of a megalomaniacal jackass, with delusions of grandeur, that's running around unattended with a young magical of unknown origin as a hostage with an unknown agenda who's has creatures not affected by standard spells." He took a breath. "Now we know that we have no way to track him. I wouldn't exactly say we have no new answers." There was a point to his exposition, the girl needed to learn that the absence of evidence spoke just as loudly as its presence. "He also ranted about someone hunting him. Which means besides us there are others aware of him."
"What are we going to do then? Wait until he attacks?" Batgirl asked. "Either we get to him before he does something-"
"He won't try anything soon." Harry interrupted. "He's looking for something he cant afford another blunder and bring more attention to himself than he already has." He shouldn't have worn the bloody suit. It made him too damn impulsive, a controlled Incendio would have scorched the plants without allowing them to overwhelm him. So many ways he could have caught him and like a ranked amateur Harry had run in swords blazing. "He won't show himself until he has what he's after."
Maybe it was the numbness that allowed him to study his actions so clearly or the fact that he had repeated the same mistake that he'd done in Gotham was starting mix together. Hadn't he heard that repetition was a sign of insanity? "Wait and prepare, it's the only thing that can be done."
"I'm sorry, but we can't take the risk that you're wrong." Batgirl objected, she tucked the scanner into her yellow belt. "He's too dangerous to be left alone. Zantanna told me about the bodies, he could be doing it again, right now." Her argument while solid was flawed.
"If you go hunting for him like you do Gotham's thugs, you'll find yourself at a great disadvantage." Harry tried to reason. Though he had to admit "He's smart, he's dangerous, and above all else, he has magic. You'll engage him not knowing what he is capable of."
"People will die!"
"Enough." Zatanna interjected, Batgirl shut her mouth but kept her gaze on the DEO agent. "Batgirl, Harry does have a point. We tracked him down the first because we were lucky. We have no idea where he is or what he's planning, preparing ourselves is the best course of action." She pushed Harry to lie down on the couch. "Harry, Batgirl also has a point. We'll need Batman's help tracking down information on Dee but at least we will be doing something."
"You'll have to do it without me." He coughed, resting his head on a soft pillow.
"And why would that be?" Zantanna asked.
"It's the first, right?" At the witch's nod Harry pulled out his wand and summoned his satchel. The brown bag flew into his hand and with a resounding thud it smacked into his open palm. Harry opened the satchel and seeing the damaged cross on the suit stuffed it down further into the bag, he didn't need Batgirl getting frisky, until his hands tangled with a silver watch. Pulling it out, he studied the time before dropping it into the bag once more "I have till mid day." Which was about seven hours away, which meant that he could take a diluted vial of dreamless sleep potion and still wake up on time. "You won't need me, Zee."
"Whether I need you or not isn't the question, Harry." Zatanna stated. "Just keep in mind, I have ears everywhere and if I hear you died… I'll summon your ghost and keep it in a jar." There was little doubt in Harry's mind that Zatanna was serious, the only problem she would encounter would be an irate Slytherin queen who would fight her for the honor of keeping his spirit jarred.
"You're worse than Daphne."
"I am certainly proud that you think so highly of me." She said sarcastically. She lifted herself off the bed and gently Batgirl into her room obviously to talk about all the things the Justice League didn't want him to hear.
Harry kept his eyes open studying the positioning of the Asiatic décor. Clearly she was trying to help the flow of magic in her house by using such an ancient art. Harry had to admit that it had a few very relaxing qualities to it, certainly enough to drive him to sleep.
o0o0o0o0o
Harry found himself standing in his dress robes in an all too familiar Hall decorated for the infamous Yule Ball. The Weird Sisters, who Harry found to be hairier than even Hagrid, were preforming while the faceless mass of wizards and witches danced around the stage.
Harry felt a sharp tug almost instantly he was assaulted by a beautiful floral scent. He turned to see stunning amber eyes looking at him expectantly. "Come on. Harry." Tracey said, dragging her reluctant friend back onto the dance floor for another round. Tracey was in a beautiful midnight blue dress. Harry had asked her after being informed by Daphne about the rather important Ball that no one thought of mentioning the second Hogwarts champion.
Still Harry was enjoying himself far too much to consider how tiered he was after spending the day trying to figure out the blasted clue.
'Your hands are shaking baby,
You ain't been sleeping lately,'
"Where's Daphne?" Harry shouted over the roar of the crowds. They had promised the pureblood they would hang around her incase the Bulgarians tried to pull something. She expected retaliation after denying one of their invitations to the ball.
"Guarding our table." She answered pressing herself to him. "I think she's mad that she has to dance with Zabini."
Harry had never understood Daphne's need to expand her social web. It was all fake smiles and complicated plots with a touch of cliché spy games that had Tracey and him delivering messages to the different factions of their house. She had made a deal with Zabini, if she allowed him the honor of escorting her to the Yule Ball he would give the family some tome or another.
All Harry knew was if Zabini didn't treat Daphne right he would be in for a world of hurt, that couldn't be linked to him.
The music suddenly changed as a few sirens stepped onto the stage, Harry would later learn they were a gift from Drumstrang, and began to sing a beautiful melody.
'Touch.
I remember touch
Pictures came with touch
A painter in my mind
Tell me what you see.'
They danced and they swayed together, bound by their arms and something greater. The music faded out until Harry could only hear the beat of Tracey's heart.
'A tourist in a dream
A visitor it seems
A half forgotten song
Where do I belong?'
Slowly but surely their lips drifted closer.
'Tell me what you see
I need something more!'
Amber eyes locked with green, each reflecting the emotions of the other.
'Kiss!' The sirens sang and they did.
It felt like he was witnessing the power of a great storm, the lightning coursing through his heart and the winds threatening to consume, yet he could not make himself pull away as the awe he had for her overtook him.
'Suddenly alive
Happiness arrived
Hunger like a storm!
How do I begin?"
Tracey was the first to pull back with a goofy smile that seemed to fit perfectly on her face. With a bout of strength Harry did not know she possessed she began to twirl him.
'A room within a room
A door behind a door
Touch, where do you lead?
I need something more!
Tell me what you see.
I need something more.'
So they danced, losing themselves with the music until the rest of the students no longer existed. They moved with the flurry of the trumpets, the dancing fingers of the piano, with the energy in the room.
Until the violins slowed and their hearts did the same.
'If love is the answer, hold on.' He could hear Tracey say. Harry caressed her cheek. Once more his dreams had gone off script, but for the life of him he couldn't bring himself to be angry. What happiness could dreams bring him? They were just as real as the waking world but infinitely more temporary.
All he could do was smile as tears threatened to spill from his eyes. "Touch, sweet touch." He murmured. "You've given me too much to feel." He pulled her to his chest as he felt her heart stilled. No longer were they in the great hall, no longer were they protected by the illusion of peace, no longer did those amber eyes hold the beautiful life that had captivated him so. "You've almost convinced me I'm real."
He collapsed to his knees haunted by the dark dreary dungeons of Hogwarts. He could feel the Old Man rest his old callused hand on his shoulder, his black eyes held sympathy for his student. "Mourn her after thou hast avenged her. Mourn her, but allow her to become your strength. Do not allow them to take from others what they have taken from you!" Harry stood placing Tracey against a nearby wall and nodded. The Old Man handed Harry his wand and stood back. " Do not disappoint me."
Harry looked at the frail skinny man that his mentor portrayed himself and nodded. "Remember what I have taught you: Do not pick up a sword against a man unless you mean to put him down with it. Your wand is no exception." Harry nodded once more and left the room..
o0o0o0o0o
Harry awoke feeling both rested and sad. The numbness had given way but rage still hid from him. Still he felt that familiar hunger ripple through his being ready to return to the hunt. The Old Man had taught him well, if the dream meant anything it meant that he was still watching Harry.
People like him never stopped watching those they taught.
Harry would strive not be another student that would disappoint.
o0o0o0o0o
A/N: A filler chapter if there ever was one. It just came to me sorry if this is creating more needles drama but I felt Harry needed it… sort of like when Batman walked into the depth of the Bat cave in the Dark Knight returns to find his motivation once more.
Again short, sadly it felt right. This chapter was completely inspire by the song Touch by Daft Punk, and considering O children is fro 2004 musical chronology matter not in Harry Potter… for obscure songs at least.
Another hint as to the identity of the Old Man. Who could it be? Let me just say… he is a DC character. But that's as much info I'm giving you.
Well the votes are in and I'm honestly surprised.
Wonder Woman: 34
Harley Quinn: 34
Power Girl: 28
Poison Ivy: 8
Huntress: 5
Faora: 3
Lady Shiva: 5
The fun thing about ties is that it adds unpredictability to the story.
Now here are my assessments of both characters in relation to Harry:
Harleen Quinzel is a victim of a monster, she was tortured to the point that her original personality has been pushed into a miniscule box in an effort to protect herself. So in her heart of heart's she's a decent person trapped by toxic love she had for the Joker until the events that landed her in Belle Reve. Their separation is what creates the mixture of both personalities who becomes the charismatic and endearing anti-hero we see in Suicide Squad and Harley Quinn comics.
In the end she just wants to be loved, can you blame her?
But will her wish to do some good trump the evil she has done in the name of the crown price of crime be enough to woo our tragic heroes love?
We'll see.
Diana is a rather complicated character. She doesn't need anyone even though others need of her. She's such a powerful character that it makes her feel alone in the world of man. Like Harry she is compelled to save others , yet the emotions that compel them are very different. Diana is driven to action because of love, while Harry is compelled by his need for vengeance, which he confuses for retribution. Her loyalty to her friends is undoubtable yet so is Harry's to the DEO, these two factions are often times at odds.
There are many parallels that I see between Harry and Diana they have the potential to either drive them together or rip them apart
That's all for now
Happy trails,
Until we meet again.
