"During the long period of Mother's illness, the house of ten seemed so vast, so confidently real that by comparison, I felt little more than a ghost haunting its corridors. Scarcely aware that anything could exist beyond those melancholy walls… until that night in 1901. When I caught a glimpse of that other world."
-Amadeus Arkham (A Serious House on Serious Earth)
o0o0o0o0o
It started like most other dreams.
A sense of confusion enveloping his senses as the world around him became clearer and with it came a sense of weightlessness that was both pleasing and disconcerting. It was as if he was back in his body before the war had worn away his spirit and loss had shattered his soul. There was cold wind that guided him towards something akin to a beacon on the horizon.
It was a beautiful night, no clouds marred a starlit sky, the moon was full despite this phase had passed a week ago. None of the constellations were familiar to him… in fact they felt spectacularly alien to the wizard who had traveled the world. Harry looked down at the calm sea and saw in the reflection a white-feathered owl looking back with bright yellow eyes.
He could practically feel the wisdom behind the avian golden gaze. It was curious but the beacon on the horizon called his attention away before Harry could properly divine the meaning behind his dream form. It was then that he spotted an unnatural formation of clouds forming in the distance. They were unnaturally black, as if they were prepared to rain down pitch, not even the green lightning it produced could pierce the darkness. Freezing winds roared to life, like a pain filled scream that echoed in the deepest parts of him.
Harry flew through the raging storm with unnatural ease. As he traversed to the heart of the sudden hurricane, noticed a large island that was saturated with eldritch magic and it seemed that the worst part of the storm was concentrated there.
It didn't take long for Harry to deduct that the gathering storm was the will of a higher being and thanks the lighting and fury he had a pretty good idea which pantheon they belonged to. He had encountered his fair share of beings that declared themselves to be gods, only a handful of them had the power or the intellect to back up that claim but they existed and they were dangerous.
Others were more humble and their intentions easily read, like the Superman.
The being known as Zeus had appeared throughout history. His powers were awe inspiring, his rage was limitless, he was the closest thing to a true god humanity had encountered in its short existence. He was an unstoppable force that had, the best of Harry's knowledge, was directly responsible for the destruction of Herpo the Foul's short-lived empire.
The Island was a beautiful place, trees and vibrant flora grew freely, magical creatures that hadn't been seen in nearly two hid in forests, and the scant few buildings seemed to grow out from nature… he would have almost called it paradise if not for the raging storm. It felt as if all the joy had left the island. The atmosphere felt mournful and full of regrets. There were nearly twenty funeral pyres lined up by the stormy beach, embers still burned despite the rain. The stench of death lingered as the island tried to heal.
Harry did not have time to ponder the events leading to the state of this magical land as the only extravagant building on the island grew steadily closer. Green lighting struck the side of the palace repeatedly and with greater and greater fury as time passed yet he didn't stop.
The white feathered owl danced through the sky until perching himself on the highest balcony. Harry landed on the rail next to a tall, strong woman with flowing blonde hair. Her eyes were the color of a clear blue sky, but there was a sadness to them that had swallowed its light. She wore an iron forehead protector with a single star that casted a long shadow across her sullen face and leather armor that seemed to weigh her down far more than it was meant to.
'There's something familiar about her…"
"My Queen!" A dark skinned woman shouted as she rushed into the room, she was flanked by two fully armed women whose visages were hidden behind leather and plate, and faces behind bronze helmets not dissimilar to the one Hessia wore in her visits to the Forbidden Forest. "This storm, Hippolyta, its fury-"
Lightning flashed in the distance and thunder roared into being right behind it, cutting the warrior off. Queen Hippolyta sighed like a woman accepting her fate and looked up to the sky.
"Is like woman scorned." Was her resigned answer.
Realization dawned on the warrior's face, yet Harry just looked on questioningly. He knew the name Hippolyta, it was a name that came up regularly when Diana had traveled with in search of the mastermind behind the death of Timothy Hunter. Queen of the Amazons, ruler of Paradise Island, and Mother to the current Wonder Woman… yet she had somehow incurred the wrath of Hera? Goddess of Women? Had the world gone mad?
"Guards!" The nameless Amazon cried out but the Queen shook her head stopping her.
"No, Dessa." Hippolyta said after a moment of silence. "Hera has good reason to make herself known on Paradise Island." She stepped into the room and walked to wards the far wall that was covered in weapons. Without hesitation she grabbed a large two-handed battle axe. "While you and all our sisters do not. It is best for all if I face Hera alone… Queen to Queen."
Dessa wanted to argue but loyalty would not allow her to. She merely bowed her head and stepped away, unsure if she should pray to the Goddess that was coming after her Queen or calling for others to Hippolyta's aid.
Hippolyta left her chambers and Harry fallowed unnoticed. He was curious to see what exactly she had done to warrant the wrath of a self-proclaimed goddess. The hallways were lit by torches dipped in oil and were carved from stones that pulsed with magic. The Queen's steps echoed loudly as she made her way towards the courtyard.
Once there all of Harry's attention was brought towards the immense magical force standing in the exact center of the muddy square. Hera stood naked under a bellowing cloak made out of vibrant, green and blue peacock feathers. Her face was hidden by shadow but Harry could see her eyes dart towards him momentarily before returning to Hippolyta.
Harry flew in circles around them as the tension mounted. The two queens stood two meters away from each other, like statues in a barren garden. In silence, the lack of action spoke louder than if the blades had clashed. Harry could feel a sense of betrayal coming from Hera and sadness coming Hippolyta.
"You have offended me." Hera said coldly, her hands clenched and unclenched to stop herself from striking in anger.
The Amazonian Queen bowed her head and lowered her ax and said with the most sincerest voice Harry had ever heard: "That was never my intention, Goddess."
"Respect? NOW!?" The Goddess scoffed, nearly ripping the hood off revealing a finely combed mane of fiery red hair, cold green eyes, and a face that belonged on marble. "Please, Hippolyta. After what you've done?!"
"I did it to protect my daughter."
"MY HUSBAND'S DAUGHTER!" Hera shouted and the earth quaked. "MY HUSBAND!" She took three steps, entering Hippolyta's personal space. The goddess glared yet the Amazon continued look to the floor in shame. Tears threatened to fall from green eyes as all energy seeped away from Hera. "I am the Queen of the Gods, the Goddess of Women… and ultimately, I am a woman."
Harry noted a mob of women surrounding the two queens. A few carried swords, others drew their bows, and others held spears. In their eyes Harry saw the love and loyalty they had for their queen… and the ability to sacrifice everything for her.
It was noble, if not ultimately futile.
Hera was near her husband when it came to temperament and power. They were lucky that Hera was so focused on their Queen too notice them. They would encircle the two figures, the few that carried shield were to be positioned near Hippolyta, they would die to ensure that she had a chance to escape, the rest would try to skewer Hera with arrows. Once that failed the warriors would attack with blades and spears…
The Old Man had made a point of teaching Harry how to counter Amazons and their stratagems. He called them archaic… obsolete. His grey bearded teacher demonstrated this by immobilizing Hessia during a sparring match…. then he had them fight until Harry couldn't raise himself from the floor and even then it was only due to Hessia insistence that even magic had its limits.
"Your intentions…" Hera began again, her green eyes filled with a deep sense of sadness that was quickly hidden away. "I could care less. It follows a fact, and that is what angers me." A sullen expression marred her statuesque features and lingered as she slowly walked closer. The atmosphere visibly changed as the overhead storm softened. "Why, Hippolyta? Why did you do this to me? To another woman? What did he say to make you love him? What can I do to make him…"
The Goddess noticed them, not impressed by their obvious show of force. "We will protect our Queen with our dying breath." With that, all the humanity on left Hera's face as her cold fury returned with a vengeance. Harry turned his head and watched Hippolyta's eyes cloud slightly.
The Queen knew Hera, she knew of her wrath, her spite, and all she could do was focus it on her.
All she could do was grovel. "They have disobeyed me." The queen urged gaining the Goddess' attention back onto her.
…
It wouldn't work.
It wasn't Hippolyta whom the Goddess was punishing and it was not Hippolyta who had to earn the Goddess' forgiveness. As Shakespear once said: 'The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children.'
"You inspire loyalty." Hera chuckled mirthlessly, her glare had returned in force. "You should be proud."
Hippolyta shook her head and slowly fell to her knees. Her hands were surprisingly steady as she offered up the ax. Harry had assumed she had grabbed it in an effort to fight the Island's attacker. To have chosen one's own mode of execution… Hippolyta was much braver than any human had a right to be… or at least the way Harry's mind portrayed her to be was noble beyond fault.
"That is the last thing I should be right now. My intentions…. They've stripped me bare. I have lost my daughter and your faith." The goddess took the ax and inspected the weapon, while the Amazon continued to bow." Queen Hera… my Goddess… forgive me."
The Archers knocked their arrows and the warriors brandished their blades. For a tense second nothing happened. Hippolyta hung her waiting for judgment and Hera screamed while raising the battle ax. She was ready to strike until lightning ripped through the sky.
Harry was stunned to see Hera lowered the weapon and crouched to Hippolyta's level and put her hand on the Amazon's chin. For a moment, Harry thought that his dream would have a happy ending.
"My dear Hippolyta… " Hera whispered. "I wish I could."
Lightning flashed in front of Harry temporarily blinding him and when it came back his golden eyes widened in horror. Were the Amazons once stood a sea of green snakes slithered like ripping water and were the Hippolyta bowed there was a clay statue.
Hera's green eyes locked on Harry and before even this magical owl could react, Hera lashed out. Severing the right wing with one well-placed blow.
The shock of it woke him faster than the pain could register.
o0o0o0o0o
Harry jumped out from the small hard bed clutching his right shoulder and holding back a scream of pain. It burned worse than when basilisk poison coursed through his body during his excursion in Nepal all those years ago. He was terrified in way that he rarely was, so much so that he hesitated to look at the affected arm. He feared that it had been severed.
His entire body was shaking.
There was no blood, which was a relief, yet he kept his eyes closed to avoid reality as long as he could. Eventually, the pain began to dull into a throb and soon after his arm fell numb.
Briefly his mind wandered to the voice he heard coming from the shadows in the Avalon hotel.
"It is never just a dream, Harry Black."
Harry opened his green eyes and began to compose himself. His shirt was soaked in sweat, he was quick to remove it from his body. His numerous scars seemed to shine in the dim moonlight that came into the room from a portrait on the far wall. A quick tempus charm revealed it was nine at night, which meant that he'd slept a four hours in the last five days.
His arm was still there, seemingly unharmed and healthy as ever…
It had been a hellish week and he officially blamed John Dee for it. The man had been spotted once in Wales when entering the country but he had since disappeared. It was interesting to see a man who had no skill, no formal training from any of the magical schools, no indication of this kind of intelligence, no connection to smuggle him into the country.
Nothing special in his criminal record until five years ago, when during a five year prison sentence for larceny where he volunteered for Project Morpheous, a machine named Materioptikon allowed scientist to study dreams, but something went wrong. Two days later, Penny Dee, John Dee's ex-wife, was brought into a local hospital. She was suffering from nightmares were her ex-husband tortured her. She couldn't handle it and six hours later her heart gave out.
There were no records on how the Justice League learned about Dee, nor how they defeated him, but there was mention of an unnamed witch assisting them. This was before Zatana had truly stepped into her father's shoes… before the Cult of the Cold Flame attempted to kill them all, and before Nick got it in his head that Zee, John, Harry were out to get him, which led to him betraying them to the Cult of the Cold Flame… if anything it was probably Georgina Snow sticking her posh nose into business that she did not completely understand.
Harry made a note of calling the sorceress later… when things began making sense again.
The threat was marked down by A. .S as resolved, three years later a small diner in the heart of Colorado tore each other apart, magic was detected on the seven victims, no one made the connection till a few months ago when the Dream Ruby came onto the DEO's radar.
Of course, all this research didn't win him any points with his colleagues after the little stunt he pulled with the Mirror House. To say that the Morrigan was not pleased with him, over the fact that he'd gone to face the Mirror House without informing the DEO, was an understatement. The Crone was absolutely furious, she even threatened him with suspension should he ever attempted something so reckless while under her command. Miranda Blake, his new partner, was annoyed that she'd lost her chance to interrogate the Dealer, but was otherwise fine with the outcome of the incident. Bones was happy with the results, which took a bit f heat off him but not much.
He didn't have time to search through the archive for the figure known a only to him as Cain, nor had he mention it to anyone else for fear that word would spread to the wrong ears and those who it reached would attempt to stop him. The Department would stop him, because it would be their duty to uphold the law. Heroes would jump into the fray because of their sense of justice. Charles would try to stop and so would his Order… they wouldn't understand his reasons… they had gotten their vengeance… forgotten the anger that had spurred them into action against Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
Harry rose from his bed with a yawn.
There was nothing he could do while Dee was at large and with his goddaughter's birthday coming closer… the pressure was undoubtedly mounting. With his the matter of his goddaughter he had asked for help from the only person he could trust with the matter, Luna Lovegood.
As such he'd written a letter to the odd blonde woman and was expecting to hear back soon. Luna could also help him decipher the reason behind the vision he just had. Harry hadn't heard from Diana since their little multiversal hunt and they hadn't parted on the best of terms. Watching the wrath of a so-called goddess didn't exactly illuminate the purpose behind it. Of course, he understood why it happened.
It was story as old as time, Zeus cheats on Hera, child is born, and all hell breaks loose.
Diana must have known about her parentage. How else could she explain her awesome power? Lennox knew and he wasn't the wisest demigod Harry had ever met… but then again Lennox was, in his words, 'Told by the wind'. Harry wasn't' exactly sure what that meant…
Now, he understood importance of what he saw… just not why it was shown to him. Maybe it was a latent after effect from the Parasite... or maybe it was just another vivid dream, like the one that he had while resting on Zee's couch.
The one in which he was stabbed in the heart.
Either way, Harry left his room and slowly made his way down the winding stairs of Grimmauld Place. He skipped the sixth step from the top to avoid awakening Walburga's wailing portrait, he nearly slipped because of the sudden drop but quick reflexes and quick muffling charm allowed him to grab the railing and avoid making too much noise. Once he reached the main floor, Harry made his way through the darkness towards the kitchen.
A proper meal would go a long way to improve his mood.
He spent the last week drinking pepper-up potion after pepper-up potion to keep functioning until he nearly crashed, like Granger did in their third year.
The house was a tomb. A pretty tomb that had once worn the mask of a home for the longest time… but it was a tomb none the less. It was empty and lifeless except for him, Kreacher, and the odd Boggart. Before the war had officially started Grimmauld Place was a hub of activity. People from all walks of life zoomed around in an attempt to combat the Dark Lord's guerilla-style warfare. There was always a suspicious look in their eyes… except from Sirius, Dumbledore, Lily and ironically enough Nymphadora.
Now look at them now…
The first two were dead, the third had passed off too many chances and was seeking another one, and the fourth had attempted to entrap him.
Harry arrived in the main corridor and almost out of habit turned towards the heavy oak door with a small golden dial. It used to lead to the kitchen but once he had purchased that small island where he and Carolyn had decided to build a home, Harry had gotten Zee to help him connect the properties. The dial had four marks the one on the top led to the ruins of the small Tibetan town that Carolyn called home; The one on the left lead to the aforementioned island; the one on the right led to the House of Mystery, purely one way and only for an emergency, and the one on the bottom lead to his trophy room.
He kept the most dangerous artifacts he encountered in there.
To get to the kitchen Harry had to pass though the sitting room. There were four ornate chairs around a small tea table which was currently covered by the rusted horned helm that had once belonged to the Old Man… for intimidation purposes… should Narcissa ever feel the need to bring members of the Wizengamot that needed convincing. Surprisingly, he found Kreacher was looming over it with a white rag violently trying clean it with a snarl on his ugly wrinkled face.
"Filthy Half-Blood Master, treating relics in such a filthy manner, the mistress would never stand for this…" The deranged House-Elf growled under his breath, worn hands were half raw from scrubbing and despite nearly every part of him wanting to order Kreacher to stop… he didn't. There was a small part of him still held Kreacher responsible for Sirius' death. "… Great Master Sirius' mirror needs cleaning… yes… Filthy Half-Blood Master knows not how to treat relics of this house."
Harry listened intently at the mumblings once he heard his beloved godfather's name referred to so reverently… only to deduce that the little shite was talking about one of Sirius' namesakes instead of the man himself.
The mirror that he was referring to was the gift that Harry had received from Clarice, the head Magician and Owner of the Tate Club. It was an old hand mirror made with a pure iron grip and silver runes. Had he been a betting man, Harry would wager that there was something particularly nasty lurking behind the actual mirror but luckily he wasn't and he felt no particular need to find out… not yet at least.
Shaking his head clear of his rambling thoughts, Harry continued onto the freshly stocked kitchen. The amount of foodstuffs on the shelves would last him a few good months, with right spells so the vegetables wouldn't spoil. A quick wave of his wand summoned the necessary ingredients for a filling sandwich. By hand Harry cut a sausage link in half and threw it on a low heated skillet, he then cut a section of French loaf and waited for the sausage to cook.
While waited Harry looked up at the window and spotted a most curious sight, an multi colored angel fish floating against the glass while tethered to a small envelope via string. Had Harry been in a less exhausted state of mind he would probably wonder if he'd finally gone past the deep end and into the colorful abyss no sane man should ever tread, but as such, he didn't hesitate opening the window and letting the floating fish in.
The fish circled Harry for a good minute before the wizard reached out and grabbed the envelope hanging on long piece of string. With the same knife he had cut the sausage, he cut at its side allowing the contents to spill onto the old wooden table. In it was the latest issue of the Quibbler and a small yellow note.
Harry hadn't given the Quibbler much thought since joining the DEO, not because he had forgotten the tabloid but because he leaned enough through his job that he didn't feel the need to follow the paper. 'What's that saying again? No news is good news?'
Something like that…
He skimmed over the colorful cover with curiosity. There were scattered pictures of his brother in Auror uniform, along with several members of the Wizengamot's dark faction. In bold yellow font was the tittle of the article: Charles Potter, Boy-Who-Lived, part of the Rotfang conspiracy?' It then went to claimed that Granger had more information on the subject.
Harry couldn't help but chuckle as if it were a little prank Luna was trying to pull. Harry knew for a fact that Charles had been making the rounds trying to gain enough votes to overturn one of Narcissa's more controversial proposals. It was simply how the game was meant to be played. He had no interest playing, thus he gave Malfoy's mother the job of representing his interest in front of mass of intrigue and corruption that had come to be known as the Wizengamot. Narcissa relished in the attention and the power she held as Proxy to Lord Black.
Outside of blood purity, power was the only thing the so-called Dark Families respected. It was easy alliance to make, Narcissa needed to gain a position of power after Lucius and she dragged the Malfoy name through the mud by siding with Voldemort and Harry needed to get away from the world that had taken a dear friend from him.
His green eyes flickered over to the small yellow note. It was definitely Luna's handwriting, he could tell by the unique smooth lines
'Follow the Fishy and come find me.'
Harry traced his fingers over the words, while the small fish wrapped the string around his left index finger. For a moment, his mind was overtaken by color, laughter, undefinable shapes, dancing shadows, and schools of floating fishes. It was terrifying but at the same time wondrous. When he came back to himself he was in his sitting room dressed in a untucked, half-buttoned, black shirt, a pair of worn jeans, mismatched socks and a pair of brown boots he didn't remember ever owning.
The sausage was left cooling on an extinguished stove.
o0o0o0o0o
There were few things that Harry shied away from, liches, dementors, deals involving John, anything that remotely smelled of the possibility in which John and Zatanna being in the same room, nifflers, and buying gifts. None of these things were easy to deal with but gifts were even more troublesome than all the previously mentioned creatures or events put together.
.
Now, the gift thing was due to his rather unorthodox upbringing courtesy of the Dursleys, which mostly translated into that Harry wasn't very good at deciphering what people would enjoy let alone what would be safe in the hands of a magical toddler with too much energy for Daphne to handle. He spent much of his formative years in a cramped cupboard bellow the stairs… it showed at formal gatherings.
That being said, Angelica was a little angel who deserved the best for her fourth birthday. Now the question was: Best of what?
Harry had developed a list of things to give his friends but they were all adults now and could handle the gifts he would give. John got cigarettes, Blackwood brand, hard to find, expensive when found… worth the trouble if one could handle them. Zee, much like Harry, hoarded artifacts, silver coins from the Ming Dynasty were her favorite. Lennox enjoyed a good bottle of Fire whiskey and the odd football ticket never went amiss. Daphne loved clothes, so he tended to buy her the most current fashion that the wizarding world had to offer… and still he didn't know if she actually like them or if she was simply humoring him because declining a gift would be too impolite.
But Angelica was… special, not unlike Luna but different in so many ways. She was a pretty little thing, at least she was the last time he'd seen her, but a year was such a long time in the eyes of a child. Now, he was certain that as long as he didn't give her sox, he would still be her favorite Godfather, but he had missed a year of her life, so, it was only fair that he bought her a gift that would figuratively blow her away… and perhaps literally in the case of Draco… if the posh bastard even thought of tinkering with it.
Which was why he was following a floating fish on a string leading him to a hidden out of the way hole in the ground, called Janus that Luna had chosen as their meeting place.
When Harry said hole he meant hole.
The paint was peeling, the hinges on the doors were rusted, the floor was moist with a mixture of beer, sweat, and other fluids, and the light were so dim that harry could only see the vibrant stage, illuminated with bright red, blue, and yellow lights . It used to be an abandoned warehouse before someone decided to turn it into a place where bands could rock out and people to lose themselves in the loudness of it all.
It was perfect place to have a drink and clear the mind… especially after the last few days.
So, as Harry moved through the black shirted mass of men and women from all walks of life, he couldn't help but smile at Ramones cover being blasted at full volume from the stage next to the bar. On his worst day, he wouldn't even consider coming to a place like this, a pub like Time in a Bottle was way more his speed, but he could see the charm of it. The lost always had a knack of finding the lost and Luna Lovegood was undoubtedly lost in a world of her making.
"Well the kids are all hopped up and ready to go
They're ready to go now they got their surfboards
And they're going to the discotheque Au Go Go
But she just couldn't stay she had to break away
Well New York City really has is all oh yeah, oh yeah¡"
Harry made his way to the front of the crowed and nearly froze when he got there. While all the bodies thrashed about to the beat of the music, a familiar silhouette stood as still as a mountain holding cup just below her chin, while her other hand wrapped itself around her waist. Even though he could only see half her face, she looked just as beautiful as she had the last time he'd seen her all those months ago.
She was dressed in black, to better blend with the crowed. Leather vest covered a sleeveless white tank-top, leather pants hugged her muscular legs, boots tied up the ensemble perfectly. He almost didn't recognize Humanity's own Wonder Woman, but after what happened in Germany he doubted if would ever forget her.
Diana was one of the few members of the Justice League who's relationship with Harry could be described as positive. That being said they hadn't parted on the best of terms, with the wizard managing to put his foot in his mouth at the worst possible Morgana-be-dammed moment.
As such, Harry contemplated melting back into the crowed and leaving the establishment before Luna could see him panicking like Weasley did when he asked Fleur to the Yule Ball. It would save his reputation but he felt it would be rather rude of him to simply disappear after he had asked for her help and the fish had dragged him there.
It was short debate that Harry would sadly never resolve as deathly, purple arm wrapped itself around his neck and pulled the Wizard close to its owner's chest. The moment his head was pressed with his captors ripped dress, Harry could feel the tremendous power bubbling wildly beneath gaunt flesh, it felt like hunger, cruelty, mischief, and suffering.
It didn't take Harry long to figure out that what the woman who was holding him was. It would have taken him longer had he not dreamed about would-be gods earlier in the night.
It was then that the purpose behind said dream became painfully clear, it had been a warning… one that he clearly hadn't headed.
"Come drink with us, baby sister." The sickly skinned goddess slurred at Diana's statuesque form. Harry was of half a mind to pull out his ash and take his chances with ICW, but before he could follow through with his irrational thought the current Wonder Woman turned her head to glare at them.
Her sky blue eyes were cold as she glared at the goddess before softening ever so slightly when they met his green. For a moment Harry swore that he saw happiness in those azure orbs, but that disappeared as her eyes flickered back onto the Goddess.
"Release him, Strife." Diana said warningly. "He has nothing to do with this."
"Oh, come on, baby sister, he seems like a fun ride." Strife pouted, before grinning wickedly at Harry. "We can even take turns." When Diana didn't react to the suggestion Strife released Harry and pushed him back into the crowed. "C'mon, Diana. Can't you see I'm trying to be nice?"
o0o0o0o0o
"Trying." Diana said sourly. She kept an eye on Harry as he retreated towards the bar and away from Strife and her twisted sense of humor. She couldn't allow Strife to see a weakness she could exploit not after what had happened on Themyscira. She had cut too many ties in a short amount of time already and she now feared losing more because of her carelessness. "Yes you are."
Her relationship with Harry was a rather complicated one… more so than with Steve or Clark. There was a darkness about him that he projected to keep people away but there was softer side to him that she had seen glimpses of during their hunt for the Dark Angel. There was an attraction blooming between them but she was with Clark and he was an unknown. They parted with harsh words and cold glares… words that neither meant, shouted as result over an action both hated but knew was necessary.
But seeing him again after months of separation stirred something within her. An emotion she was not used to feeling. She wondered what her mother would say about regret? Especially now that her deception had come to light during the most tragic time since the splitting of the Amazons.
It was cruel thought and one she chastised herself for but she couldn't help but think of it as she pushed Harry away from the forefront of her mind.
For the first time in all her long life she could claim Hippolyta as mother in more than name yet now she could not bring herself to do it. Not after all the lies and deception on part of the Queen and those 'sisters' who had called her Clay.
"We are family Diana." Strife said pouring her a glass of champagne. " And in our family there are two types of members: Those who are against you and those who are against you." With a grin she handed her a glass, which she reluctantly took with her free hand. "So with that in mind… to family." Clink of the glasses was almost enough motivation to dump the champagne on the goddess's head, almost.
o0o0o0o0o
Harry was thankful when he finally found Luna seated at a table near the back alongside her red haired husband Rolf Scamander and a petit woman with mismatched eyes that seemed to switch colors by the second, but seemed to always settle back to one blue and the other green, and curly hair that seemed to float in air as if she were floating in water. Next to them was that same dog Harry saw Luna with before Lennox had unceremoniously picked him up and run away.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting." Harry apologized as he reached the table. The young wizard moved to sit beside the unknown woman but his foot became caught up in something that nearly made him trip. Looking back he saw nothing. "Great, now I'm tripping over my own shadow." He mumbled under his breath.
"No YoU DidN't, " The strange girl spoke up and Harry swore he could see color forming with every uttered syllable. "yOu TripPeD oVeR MiNe."
Luna let a slight giggle while Rolf was too engulfed with the floating fish tethered to Harry's left index finger to say anything. "Hello Harry." Luna greeted with the familiar absent look in her eyes. "I made the list that you asked me for." She pulled out a scroll of parchment from her Husband's pants and slid it across the table. "Daphne will certainly be happy with these."
"Thank you, Luna." He said honestly. He pocketed the list while Luna looked on expectantly. They sat in an awkward silence until Harry realize that she was waiting for something in return.
"WhaT's tHe NAmE oF ThE WOrD FoR tHE pReCiSe mOMEnt wHeN yoU REaLizE tHAt YoU'Ve aCTuAlLy FOrGoTtEN HOw iT FeLt TO mAKe LOvE tO SoMEbOdY YOu rEaLly lIKEd a lONg TiMe aGo?" The girl asked Harry just as he was about to speak up about the look he had been receiving. It was the sincerity in the woman's question that stopped Harry from giving her a scathing look, but it did earn her an odd one from Harry.
"There isn't one." Harry said unsure of his answer. "At least not to my knowledge." He quickly followed up once a saddened pout formed on her lips. "I'm Harry, by the way." He greeted.
"i KnOw." She sighed out, annoyed. "DReAm dIdN't kNoW EiThEr, BUt hE dOes KNoW YoU!"
There was something within the scarred wizard that seemed to react to the strange haired girl. It tugged at the corners of his heart and mind. It was almost painful but Harry soldiered on. It was an odd discomfort, it was not something physical… exactly. Perhaps describing it as an ache was inappropriate but nothing else came to mind.
Harry wasn't sure what she meant so he decide to return his attention to a still staring Luna. "What do you want?"
"I want to know what happened to Charlie, Harry." Luna said airily. "No one is talking and neither Ginny nor Hermione have given me a honest answer. All I know is that Ginny is terrified of something, she doesn't sleep anymore and it's showing."
"You know that I don't talk to them, Luna." Harry said evenly ignoring the feeling that he was being accused of something he had no hand in. "And unless our paths cross, they are polite enough to return the favor."
"Harry, you're an agent that works directly with ICW. Charlie's important and if you know something-"
"Are you accusing me of something, Mrs. Scamander?" Harry interrupted, his voice growing hard eyes becoming cold. Luna's eyes widened when she realize that her questions were resoundingly accusatory.
"No, but others will, Harry." Luna warned. "Charlie's missing and people know you don't like each other."
Harry didn't let his defenses down despite Luna's assurances. "And when they come to me I'll tell them what I'm going to tell you, Luna: This is the first I have heard of it, it has nothing to do with the DEO, more and I am not my brother's keeper. Now if you would excuse me, this is a waste of time."
With that made to rise from the table but was stopped when a small hand belonging to Luna's friend came to rest on his shoulder. Harry turned to look at the strange girl and all at once he felt himself become lost as delirium took hold of his conscious parts of his mind. It felt li euphoria and weightlessness but it also felt… confusion and madness chipping away at him.
The ache reacted to the intruding presence within him until it became aggravating and then it seeped into his mounting frustration.
"HoW mANy YoUs aRe WiTHin YoU?" The Strange Girl's voice echoed through his skull. "sO MaNY yoUs… mOrE ThAn tHEre ArE HeRs OR HiMs." She tried to explain gesturing to Luna and Rolf. "TOo mAnY… NoT eNoUgH… " Confusion marred her face for a split second she, as if she lost her train of thought. She bit her lower lip and tried to blink it all away. "HaVE yOu EVeR SpEnT DaYS aND dAys MAkInG Up FlAvORs oF iCe cReAM tHaT nO oNe'S EveR eAtEn bEfOre? LIkE cHiCkeN aND TeLephONe icE cReAm?"
Her hand fell away as she turned her attention to her dark furred dog who released a high pitched whine. Simultaneously her influence on Harry evaporated and without missing a beat he continued on with his interrupted exit from the table. He untied the fish with his free hand before disappearing into the mass of dancing bodies. The strange girl giggled despite the slightly worried look on Luna's face. She reached under the table and began stroking Barnabas' thick brown hair.
"hE ReAlLy iS An oDd MaN."
In his annoyance and hurry, Harry failed to notice the piercing gaze of a dark haired. woman in a pitch-black coat.. She twirled her crooked wand twice with left hand before switching it to her right and repeated the action. Her face rippled beneath the shadows yet none noticed.
"Not yet." She hissed under her breath. The Muggle that raised her had been a fan Henry Wadswoth Longfellow and if there was one thing that she had learned from the fool was that 'Whom the gods would destroy they first drive mad' And she swore by her Mother's grave that by this time next year Harry Potter would be driven over the brink of insanity.
o0o0o0o0o
Once he was far enough away the tugging stopped and his temper faded.
He was back on the same bridge, watching the black water flow soothingly, eating the same horrible fish and chips from that other night. He wasn't proud of himself for walking out on Luna but he honestly didn't expect that type of accusation from her.
Harry had extended an olive branch when he asked her for help. He expected a certain amount of trust shared between them and now he learned that that Charles was missing and they were going to try to pin it on him. It was how Charles and his friends thought, the most obvious party was always going to be the guilty party. They did it with Snape, though not without reason, and they would certainly do it to him given the chance.
He wouldn't though.
He would write to Daphne and Narcissa first thing in the morning. They would help him get ahead of this before the Daily Prophet decided to start dragging his name through mud and sludge.
A shadow began to creep slowly towards Harry, which was enough motivation for him to draw his wand and prepare to strike, but there was something off about it… it felt cautious instead of hostile as if it were trying to convey its lack of aggression. Harry casually took a look behind him and saw the one Amazon he had never expected to see again… especially after the Battle of Hogwarts.
Hessia hadn't changed at all. Even the scowl on her face hadn't deepened, which honestly was baffling to Harry who had never seen the woman smile once in her short tenure as his teacher's assistant. She was dressed in casual sports wear and she had worked up a decent bit of sweat but she dint look winded at all.
"It's strange to see you out of your armor, Hessia." Harry greeted with a small smirk.
There was a fondness in her eyes light green eyes but little else changed. "It is strange for me to see you off your back." She answered back jokingly. Hessia looked him over and frowned at what she saw. "You've been in many battles since those days in the forest." It sounded like a question yet a part of him knew she was stating a fact.
"Couldn't waste the skills you and the Old Man spent so long teaching me." Harry responded returning his attention back into the dark waters… It wasn't a lie, exactly… it was closer to an excuse than anything else, but how could he to an Amazon warrior and healer that he fought on for the memory of two dead women that were ripped away from him? Especially after she had guided him away from his current path once before?
The only reason he had agreed to learn from the Old Man was because Bellatrix had killed Sirius and he was alone. Hessia stopped the Old Man when she saw him going too far… She was a calming presence, a great contrast to his teacher's instigating nature.
"You were never a good liar, Harry, and you haven't been sleeping." Both points were true yet he still squirmed under her gaze. He briefly wondered if this was what it felt like to suffer through a mother's withering gaze. "Tell me what is bothering you so."
"New villain… or should I say old villain, just much more dangerous." Harry answered dropping a chip onto the cardboard tray. "He's hiding and the boss doesn't want to give this maniac a shot at acting out his plans."
"And you don't want to let you guard down either." She summed up leaning against the railing.
"I had a chance to stop him." He admitted after a moment of silence. "But I was hurt and underestimated him. He got away and now he's hiding in the shadows bidding his time."
"You did as he trained you to do…" She reasoned. Hessia paused for a moment as she shifted so her back was to the water and it rested against the cool stone rail. "What we trained to do. You charged through the breach without a second thought, to make your opponent believe that you were fearless and that your only goal was to end their lives. It is admirable that you took those lessons to heart but it is saddening to see the boy you were warped into the man you are"
Harry went rigid, before letting the tension leave him with through a deep, calming breath.
What could he say to that?
The world had made him jagged and cold. He wasn't like Charles. He didn't have the enough friends to raise him up when he stumbled, or parents that were there to ease his woes, or even a war he could claim victory for. He was more familiar with loss than with sacrifice.
As if detecting his discomfort Hessia steered the conversation into safer waters. They talked about small things. Inconsequential to the rest of the world but it was almost heart warming to him. Daphne wasn't much of a talker and they weren't nearly as close as they had once been, and even then they were never so intimate.
He relished in their closeness.
She spoke of her time in the Muggle world had opened a dojo near spitting distance from the Shard. Her difficulties adapting to new customs and her dealings with the DEO… ect.
Harry hadn't ever had a woman come as close to being a mother figure as Hessia, even though he highly doubted the Amazon viewed it that way. Dahlia Greengrass, Daphne's doting mother, was a distant second, she was always too politically motivated for him to fully trust in her motivation. The Old Man had cured him of those notions by telling him exactly what happened to the Son's of the Amazons. They were banished to the forges of Herphaestus to live on through eternity in servitude.
Time slipped by and neither noticed until a small fishing vessel passed right under them and then they knew it was time to depart.
As he walked away, Harry wonder why people only seemed to approach him whenever he was skulking on a bridge….
o0o0o0o0o
Gods were meant to be worshiped and none other stood as tall as Dee.
He was there when Merlin bound his daemon to that traitorous Knight, Jason Blood, he had watched the Rot attempt to overtake the Green for nearly a millennia, all of this because neither Merlin nor that Dreamfucker had even come close to being able to be rid of him.
And now…
Now he had demon blood of his own and a vessel strong enough to carry contain all his tremendous power. It was fortunate that his little pet hadn't damaged it too badly when they captured it near the magical lake filled with creatures straight out of the False Dream's realm.
Fortune smiled on him when his pet had detected the bubble concealing a castle and a small town.
He cared little for the peasants around the grounds, even less for the creatures that inhabited its forests, but there was something calling to him from within the castle. It was as if a piece of his long lost ruby was inviting him to his future seat of power, he would take it once he had regained his strength.
The protection around the great stone castle had a number of protections yet with his pet by his side the shadows themselves hid him from them. Once across they stumbled upon a man familiar to him yet so alien. He didn't have the scars running across the side of his face nor did he smell the Dreamfucker or any of his ilk on him like the other one did.
He was easily subdued by Dee's pet, which was a surprise considering it took a number of his Black Mercies to disable the other one. Originally, Dee intended to turn the wizard into a thrall and send him out searching for his Ruby, but once he tasted his power, once he had seen the wasted potential he knew that hi could get his revenge much more brutally if he were kept alive with his body and soul intact.
"Soon." He murmured from his seat in a decrepit shack near the town by the castle. He smile behind his broken mask as he ran his fingers through the dark bluish locks of his pets short hair. "This land of magic will be mine once more and none will be able to stand against me."
His pet, still under the effects of her own Black Mercy, remained unmoving. So confidant was he that he on his control of her that Dee did not bother digging deeper than the shallowest part of her dream. There was no need, he doubted she could even filter half the information his beautiful flower was pumping into her brain.
His laugh echoed through the collapsing shack.
The howling winds swallowed up the sound before it could travel too far.
...
'Arrogant.' A dark voice from a dark place growled from the depths of her soul. 'You will cower before a true god when they release me from my cage.'
The Moonchild would complete his destiny.
His Servant would ensure it.
The Dark Beings' Daughter would be a catalyst for it all and Dee would just be another tool for his ascent.
o0o0o0o
A/N: There are a lot of things i can blame this delay on... college and Destiny being chief among them but i make no excuse. I am sorry it took me this long, truly i am.
Some of you made a point to question my choice to have Charles kidnapped off Hogwarts' ground and to this i would remind you that a renowned serial murderer in the form of Sirius Black strutted in and out without much difficulty, while Dumbledore was convince he was hunting Harry. Now John Dee has Raven under his control and she is far more versatile than my favorite Marauder.
Delirium was fun to write.
To ColdBlue:
Question #1:No, there is no boy-who-lived conspiracy. Lily Evans was supposed to only have one child yet she had two, there you can find the is something but the role he will play is different.
Question #2: I gave it to him Clarent for a reason. It's a magical blade whose wounds cannot even be healed by fairy magic.
Question #3:Yes he will see his brother work. (spoiler alert: Charles lives past this). And yeah he has been kidnapped before i.e Malfoy manor.
Question #4: I hadn't really considered it until you mentioned it, so... i'm not sure.
Question #5:Saved an alternate earth? No. Will save? in a manner of speaking, yes. But that is far off.
Question #6: People are scared of Harry. He didn't just kill one of Britain's most dangerous witches in the last century, he burnt her alive while bleeding profusely. Now, imagine sitting next the man capable of doing that and hold a civil conversation. Reputation is the base of his political power and what people consider to be his power, while Narcissa has the know how to get things done.