Many of the people gathered around the table were confused as to why they had been summoned, but when it slowly spread that it somehow involved the currently missing Boy-Who-Lived, whispers of what it could mean ranged from that he had been found alive and well or, in the worst case, dead.
As soon as Dumbledore walked into the room Remus Lupin jumped up and asked the question that had been in the minds of most of the people gathered there for nearly a year, "Did you find Harry?"
"Yes, but—" Dumbledore started.
"Where is he then! Is he alive?" Remus jumped in, anxious to know what had happened to the only remnant of his friends that he had left.
"Harry is alive, but it was nearly impossible to convince him to go back to his relatives," Dumbledore answered, "He kept repeating that he wouldn't go back. I believe it would be easier to show the situation than explain it." He pulled out his pensive and showed them the memory of the incident, starting from when he and Snape broke into the greenhouse and just ending as Harry moved to attack them.
Several of Order members were in shock at what they had just seen while a few glared at the headmaster.
"How could you Albus?" McGonagall asked in a low tone, "I explained to you that those muggles were bad, from what I saw. I'm not surprised that he refused to go back."
"He's well protected there—"
"Except from them!" Remus shouted.
"He more then likely faking," Snape muttered, "the little brat…"
Remus growled in a way that made everyone remember what his condition was, "Don't you dare call him that! He was completely and honestly terrified of going back to them!"
"I agree with Remus," Molly Weasley broke in, "you can't fake a fear that crippling."
"It's no wonder they attacked you," McGonagall said a moment later, "It looks like you broke into their home and they acted to protect him as if he was their own…"
"I was attempting to rescue him."
Remus slowly sat down, "Seems like those two did a much better job protecting him than you could have hoped his 'relatives' could."
"Young Harry current caretakers are very dangerous," Dumbledore sighed, "I did a bit of research before leaving Gotham City and discovered the two women we encountered were extremely dangerous criminals that have a very long list of crimes. The woman in the jesters outfit is called Harley Quinn and, as the other one mentioned, is called Poison Ivy. The 'Joker' person, Poison Ivy mentioned is one of the most dangerous, and insane criminals to run around Gotham. It is reported that he has killed hundreds, maybe even thousands of people over his time there."
"Then…why does he stay with them?" Arthur asked.
"Like Remus said, he feels safer with them," Dumbledore asked.
Remus sat as he vaguely heard people try to plan on what to do with the situation. One part of him was glad that Harry seemed happy, safe, and loved but he was also worried that people who were doing that were criminals. That meeting was several months ago and he had spent his time since then getting to Gotham City and finding out everything he could about the people he had seen in that memory. He sighed while looking around the area he was in, he was currently in the city's industrial district and surrounded by abandoned warehouses. It had taken some time and a bit of bribery to track down the current location of those who called themselves the Joker and Harley Quinn. 'I need to see for myself if Harry's fine…what do I do if he actually loves being here?' He wandered around the area a bit before he felt a blow to the back of the head.
—HJH—
Remus came to the sensation of his hands being licked. When his head finally cleared, he noticed he was tied to a chair and that his hands were being licked by hyenas.
"Bud, Lou, down!" a female voice said before coming into his field of vision, "Sorry about that, they just like you for some reason…usually they just attack someone they don't know, good thing they like you then."
"Yes…I suppose it is," Remus responded before asking, "Would I be wrong in asking if you're Harley Quinn?"
"Yep I am…bet this is an interesting way for your trip to turn out," Harley replied, noting his accent.
"I was actually looking for you, I needed to find out something that's very important to me," Remus stated.
"What're you trying to figure out?" Harley asked as she grabbed another chair and sat in front of him.
"I'm looking for the son of two of my best friends, I heard that you were taking care of him…can you at least tell me if he's alright? He's around nine and he has black hair and green eyes," Remus pleaded.
"Are you going to take him away?" Harley asked with a threatening tone laced into her question.
"Not if he's happy with you. That's all I want for him, to be happy," Remus explained.
"…he's fine, he's really happy and a joy," Harley answered, "When he was first with us, he kept thinking it all a dream and that it would end, but I think after his birthday and Christmas he's convinced that this is real and that it won't end anytime soon."
Remus smiled, "Thank you that's all I wanted to know…can I see him?"
Harley looked uncomfortable, "He's not here at the moment, but he will be in a few days…"
"What do you mean?" Remus' werewolf senses went into overdrive as he felt the unease radiating off her.
"Harry's currently in Arkham…" Harley answered, hoping that Remus did not know what she was talking about.
"The insane asylum!" Remus shouted, nearly breaking the ropes in his rage, "Why the hell is he there, he's only a kid!"
"Hey, Harry's not helpless," Harley said as picked herself off the floor after she had been scared out of her chair by Remus' outburst.
"We still need to get him out," Remus reasoned, trying to free himself.
"What do you think Mista J's doing?" Harley said as she motioned over her shoulder at a closed door, "You want to help me plan something else though?"
"Plan what?"
"A little get-together for when Harry gets back," Harley explained, slowly untying Remus.
Remus rubbed his wrists slightly, "…what do you need help with?"
—HJH—
"Hey Prank; I heard that you carved up your counselor, that true?" Penguin asked one day after Harry was allowed to join the rest of the population.
"I only carved into his forehead, that's the most I could do before I was dragged off," Harry replied.
"Hey, I just remembered something," Penguin said.
"What?" Riddler asked as Harry absently prodded at his food.
"Your voice changed when you attacked Scarecrow, what's with that?" Penguin questioned.
"It's a bit of a tricky thing to explain…but long thing short, it helps people I know tell the difference," Harry half explained.
"What difference?" Penguin asked.
"Between me and…" Harry looked around briefly before speaking in low tones, "my other self."
"Like a split personality?" Penguin reasoned.
"I guess you could call it that," Harry replied as he poked a spork at, what was supposed to be, his food, "What the heck is this even supposed to even be?"
"I think it's supposed to be meatloaf," Riddler commented, "But I doubt it has any meat in it…"
"Does it even have loaf in it?" Harry asked sarcastically, "I could make food a least a thousand times better than this, easily."
"I doubt they'd let you into the kitchen for fear you might put Smilex into the food," Riddler spoke.
"Now that's just ridiculous! Where, and how, am I going to make Smilex?" Harry retorted as he picked up his tray, tossed the remnants of food away, and was escorted back to his cell. He was surprised when the orderlies fastened his straitjacket, "Is there any particular reason why you've restrained me in my own cell?"
"You're getting a visitor, and they don't want to use the normal rooms," one of the guards answered.
'Wonder who it could be?' 'Most likely not someone on the bad side of the law, that only leaves the "good" side…' 'So either Bats, Bird-boy, or the head cop guy…what was his name?' 'Commissioner James Gordon, but some call him Jim.' '…how do you know that?' 'I listen to people.'
"I told you that you'd end up in Arkham one day," a voice broke into his thoughts; Harry looked up and grinned when he saw Robin.
"Hello, Bird-boy. So nice of you to visit! Sorry I can't offer you anything," Harry tried to motion to himself about the straitjacket, "But honestly, what brings you all the way here?"
"…I heard what you did to your counselor," Robin stated, as if that explained everything.
"He messed with my head, which I didn't like. Not one bit," Harry answered, "…is that the only reason you graced me with your presence, to condemn me? I get enough of that through the papers and the news, thank you very much, and I'm tired of getting it from you."
Robin sat silently for a minute before asking quietly, "How're you holding up in here?"
"Robbie, I didn't know you cared!" Harry said with a grin, "I'm as fine as can be, my only complaint is that the food here looks like paste and doesn't taste any better."
"Government funding," Robin replied.
"That explains it, bunch of lazy idiots," Harry responded, which brought out a small grin, "I can't believe it, you can smile! And all along I thought that if you did that, your face would crack!"
Robin's grin dropped abruptly, "I just needed to make sure that it wasn't a bad idea to put you here."
Harry watched as Robin left his room and the staff came back into undo his restraints, "Come back and visit sometime, Birdy!"
—HJH—
Harry felt anxious, for some reason he could not sit still and kept getting up and walking around the rec room.
"Kid, sit down, you're making me dizzy," Riddler remarked after Harry made his fourth circuit around the room.
"I'm sorry, I just feel so…antsy," Harry said as he sat back down on one of the old couches strewn about the room but kept fidgeting, "Something's going to happen…I just know it."
"I hope it happens fast," Penguin remarked, "I think you're scaring some of the other guys by how you're acting."
'Harry, you might want to take cover.' 'Why?' 'Just trust me…' Harry saw no need to argue against what Prank was advising and promptly hopped over the back of the couch to the confusion of Riddler and Penguin.
"What're you doing?" Riddler asked, peering behind himself.
"He says to take cover, I usually trust what he says," Harry answered.
Riddler and Penguin glanced at each other before following Harry's lead and ducking down behind the couch as well. Just as they started to draw looks from their antics, a wall of the rec room exploded, showering anyone near it in debris or blasting them off their feet.
"Harley, I think you used a bit too much C-4," Joker commented, looking at the mess.
Harry peaked over the couch and grinned widely, seeing the familiar costumes. He quickly grabbed Riddler and Penguin by the sleeves of their outfits and practically dragged them to the hole in the wall. He saw the look on Joker's face and quickly spoke, "Escape now and explain later!"
Joker and Harley shared a quick look before making a quick exit before the guards realized exactly what happened and gathered themselves enough to be a nuisance.
—HJH—
As the form of Arkham faded from view, Joker leaned over the back of his seat to stare at the two extra passengers that Harry had dragged along, "Why'd you bring them?"
Harry shrugged, "Did it on a whim."
The response seemed satisfactory to Joker who nodded his head slightly as Harley motioned for him to hand Harry a bag. Harley glanced in the rearview mirror at Harry as she spoke, "We thought you might want to change into something more familiar."
Harry looked into the bag, a wide grin spread across his face before he nearly dove into the bag and happily pulled out his purple straitjacket; he quickly pulled off the prison issued one, after Riddler had undone the buckles in the back, and immediately pulled on the other with a contented sigh, "Thanks for bringing it."
"No prob, hun," Harley answered, "I think your mask might be in there, but I don't remember."
"Great, just when I don't need it," Harry responded.
"Too bad you didn't have it in the beginning, but then things wouldn't have been as interesting if you did," Riddler responded.
"What happened?" Joker asked.
"I attacked Scarecrow again; I only broke one of his limbs, unfortunately," Harry sighed, "Stupid guards…but you'd be proud, dad, I got him with a chair!"
Joker cackled loudly as he reached back and ruffled Harry's hair, "That's my boy!"
When Harley parked the car and everyone got out, Harry did a few cartwheels and flips, "It's great to get out of that place…but I know I should get used to it."
"Especially if you keep doing this job," Riddler responded.
"We got a surprise for you, hun," Harley said as she gave Harry a quick hug.
"Like what?" Harry asked.
"If we told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?" Harley replied as she put her hands over Harry's goggles, "No peaking!" Harry grinned to himself, wondering what his parents had planned for him.
Harry heard voices murmuring around him and before he could wonder what was going on, Harley lifted her hands from his eyes and he was nearly deafened by a group of people yelling: CONGRATULATIONS!
"…ow," Harry muttered, pretending to clean out his ears. He felt a wide smile spread across his face as he saw all of the costumed villains that made up his odd and dysfunctional 'family'. He let out a noise of surprise as he was abruptly picked up and tossed to his crowd, which swarmed around him, asking about how he was doing, what he thought about Arkham.
"It was alright…my only complaint is that I wished the food didn't all look exactly the same!" Harry answered with a laugh. The people around him agreed thoroughly as he was dragged off to a table that contained food that, after verifying that none of it was cooked by Harley, he started eating.
Remus stared with some surprise at Harry's form as he enthusiastically mingled with everyone. He jumped slightly when Harley suddenly appeared next to him and spoke, "What do you think of him?"
"I'm a little shocked…why is his hair that color? Do you dye it or…?" Remus asked.
"No, he does that himself," Harley said before elaborating, "At his eight birthday party, he said that he wanted to show Mista J something and then he turned his hair green, right in front of us. It's a nice trick, and it scares people a bit because with his hair like that he looks a lot like Mista J."
"He…does it on his own?" Remus responded, surprised.
"Yeah, none of us can figure it out; even Harry doesn't know exactly how he does it…can you?" Harley asked.
"I think so, but it might have to wait until the party is over," Remus replied, pausing before he spoke again, "Why did you feel it necessary to put me in this outfit?"
Harley glanced at the thrown together costume that she had forced on Remus and gave a slight shrug, "I thought you might fit in better."
After a time, Harry got bored with the activities, which consisted of villain versions of regular party games and were slightly more dangerous, and offhandedly commented to Joker that he wanted to go and blow up a few buildings to properly celebrate.
Remus reacted in barely disguised shock and attempted to stay out of the whole scenario if Harley had not grabbed him by the arm, dragged him to one of the vehicles outside, and practically tossed him into it. Joker spared him a quick glance before getting into the front passenger seat while Harry clambered onto the seat next to Remus and gave him a long look. 'What do you think about him?' 'Let me talk to him first and then we will see…'
Prank prodded him with his foot as the caravan of several cars headed into the main city, "I have never seen you around before, who are you and why are you here?"
Remus sat up and buckled himself in before answering, absently noting the change in accent and demeanor, "I'm Remus Lupin—" Anything else that he was about to say was abruptly drowned out by the sound of police sirens.
"Wow, that's a faster response time than usual," Harry commented watching Mr. Freeze turn part of the road into ice, grinning when he saw the police cars crash.
"Guess they're on high alert because we blew a hole in Arkham?" Harley suggested.
"…hey dad, we got anything explosive on us?" Harry asked.
Joker grinned, "I have just the thing!" He climbed into the back seat and pulled open a compartment, quickly pulling out the disassembled parts of something and quickly putting them together.
Unhidden joy spread across Harry's entire body as he realized that what Joker had just put together was a rocket launcher, "This is going to be great!"
Remus watched in a mixture of horror and shock as Joker helped to balance the rocket launcher on Harry's shoulder as he aimed it at a pursuing police car. When Harry pulled the trigger, he was nearly thrown from the car from the recoil but was steadied by Joker. Remus could not believe his eyes or ears as the projectile hit the car and caused it to explode, showering the street and other chasing police cars in flaming shrapnel as Harry laughed joyfully. 'What have I gotten myself into!'
—HJH—
The impromptu parade faded fairly quickly as the various villains went their separate ways to their hideouts. Harry practically skipped as he, Harley, and Joker went inside their hideout with Remus trailing behind.
"Hun, Remus he needs to talk to you," Harley said as Harry was making his way back to his own room.
Harry was curious as to what the man would want to say to him. 'There is something off about him…be careful.' 'What's wrong exactly?' 'There is something about his energy, it seems…sick…that is the best way to describe it.'
Harry stared at Remus for a moment before bluntly asking, "What is wrong with you?"
Remus was startled, "What do you mean?"
"They're something about that's sick, weak…what is it?" Harry questioned.
Remus sat silently for a moment before speaking, "Do any of you believe in magic?"
"To a point," Harley said, "What's that got to do with anything?"
"I'm a wizard, and so is Harry," Remus announced, "Your birth parents were a great witch and wizard, and good friends too."
Harry was in shock at what he had just heard, "Prove it, and show me some magic!"
Remus gave a slight smile as he pulled out his want and muttered a quick spell, causing the chair Harry was sitting on to float about a foot off the ground before being set back down, "You believe me now?"
Harry got off the chair and lifted it up to make sure that there was nothing underneath it, "That was cool! …but what does it have to do with you being sick?"
"…when I was young, I was bitten by a werewolf, and now I am one," Remus muttered sadly.
"That'd explain why Bud and Lou liked you right off the bat," Harley reasoned.
"So, can you change into a werewolf right now?" Harry asked, excited.
Remus was surprised at how well they were taking the news, "No I can't transform at will, it only occurs during the full moon and you don't want to be anywhere near me when I've transformed…I'm dangerous."
"Are you sticking around here or what?" Joker asked.
"…if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to teach Harry about the magical world and about his parents if he'd like…it's not like I have a job back there…" Remus added the last part quietly.
"What wouldn't you have a job?" Harley asked, concerned.
"I'm discriminated against because I'm a werewolf," Remus responded.
"That's just stupid!" Harry stated, "It's not like you chose to be a werewolf, it was an accident!"
"Your father was a lot like that too, he didn't care that I was a werewolf either. He stuck by me when he found out," Remus said with a smile.
"Well, if you're staying here, you'll be Harry's henchman," Joker announced before wandering off, cackling.
Harry and Remus sat quietly in shock before Harry smiled widely and proceeded to dance around the room in joy, "I have a henchman, I have a henchman!"
Harley smiled at Harry's antics before picking up a book of names, "Since you'll be running around with us from now on, you'll need a name."
"What do you mean?" Remus asked, apprehensive.
"You can't exactly be called 'Remus' on the job," Harry reasoned.
Harley flipped through the book, stopping near the back and letting out a small squeal, "I found the perfect one!"
"What is it?" Harry asked, trying to look at the page.
"Ze'ev, it means wolf," Harley announced with a grin.
"Perfect!" Harry exclaimed.
"How about Mooney, instead?" Remus suggested.
"Are you serious, 'Mooney'?" Harry replied, incredulously, "It makes you seem like you're a mooning pervert!"
Remus was speechless for a moment before speaking meekly, "It was my nickname in school."
"…well, if you don't like Ze'ev, I can call you K-9," Harry mockingly remarked.
Remus sighed, "Ze'ev is just fine."
—HJH—
Harry was getting ready for bed when Joker quietly let himself into the room, "What's up dad?"
"The sky, the ceiling…" Joker said with a smile, "I wanted to give this to you earlier, but I think Harley would've thrown a fit and hit me with that mallet of hers."
Harry was handed an object that was crudely wrapped up and quickly tore off the paper, he was surprised to find out that he was holding a switchblade with a green handle, "Never thought I'd get something like this…"
"I thought you might need something a bit more dangerous than cards as you get older," Joker replied with a shrug, "Just don't tell Harley you got it from me, like I said, I don't want to get hit with that mallet of hers."
If you want to see the outfit Harley forced Remus into, look here:
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