LoDK

The Legacy of the Dark Knight Saga

Jamie Prosser and the Fourth Champion

Chapter 5: Aboard the Hogwarts Express

Disclaimer: This is solely a not-for-profit fan activity, and does not intend to infringe on copyrights held by Time Warner, DC Comics, Bloomsbury et al, and JK Rowling. Any characters original to this work remain the property of the author.

A/N: This story diverges significantly from accepted canon for the Harry Potter series from the outset, as in addition to the crossover elements, there are several deviations from the books that will be covered where they fit into the narrative. The timeline of the DC Comics elements borrows heavily from Young Justice (2011), but adds elements and characters from the comics, and relocates the series to the late Sixties and early Seventies rather than the New Tens as screened, and is heavy on 'legacy' and original characters as a result.

A/N: Unless stated otherwise, the action of this story takes place in the run up to and during the 1997-1998 school year (305 "Anno Secreto" or "Year of Secrecy") parallel to the events of Deathly Hallows in canon. The year code "AL" is also my own invention and stands for After Liberation, counting the years after the Justice League's ending of the "Apokolips War", my as-yet unwritten take on the events of Young Justice Season 3 (Set late 1973 to April 1976).

12 Grimmauld Place,
London N7.
1st September, 0800 BST, 17AL.

Jamie groaned as a throaty, croaking voice roused her out of sound sleep. "What… why?"

"You need to get up," said Kreacher. "Master Harry's Jamie leaves for Hogwarts today and Master Harry says Master Harry's Jamie needs good breakfast."

"He's right," admitted Jamie and slid out of bed. "Thanks, Kreacher."

The crotchety, old elf got that odd look on his face that he tended to get when someone said something nice to him.

Jamie slipped on her dressing gown and slippers and skipped downstairs to the kitchen where her brother was in the process of dishing up breakfast. "Kreacher woke you all right?"

Jamie slipped into the empty chair beside her mother, who was reading something on one of the tablets they'd brought down from home. "I think it still surprises him that people can be nice to house-elves."

Harry nodded, "From what I've heard, most witches and wizards – especially the purebloods that might actually own one – tend to have only a few 'modes' when it comes to house-elves, indifference, cruelty or both."

"That's horrible!"

"I agree," said Harry, as he served eggs to her parents. "But house-elves aren't like humans, they have their own way of seeing the world and any change will have to be measured and gradual. Eggs?"

"Please," said Jamie.

Harry cracked some more eggs into the frying pan and then checked on the toast in the oven. Apparently satisfied that it was done, he muttered something like 'carrot knee flask knee tuck' and a few other that she couldn't make out and the toast flew out of the open oven, separated itself into halves and slid down into the toast rack.

"Harry!"

"What, Beryl?" asked her brother. "It's harmless. And good practice."

"Fair enough," agreed her mother. "Just don't get in the habit of relying on magic to do everything for you."

"I won't," Harry replied and turned back to the stove, poked at the eggs for a moment and then, apparently having decided that they were done, turned off the stove and brought the pan over the table to serve them up.

Jamie tucked in quickly and within half-an-hour she was finished and helping her brother with the washing-up.

"Have you finished packing?" Her mum asked her after she hung up the dish towel to dry.

"Yes, Mum," Jamie replied. "I checked it over last night and Kreacher put it in the car. I just need to go up and get dressed and then I'll be ready to go."

"There's no need to hurry, we won't be leaving for another couple of hours," Her mum added. "I want to miss the rush hour if possible."

Jamie nodded and headed upstairs. After a moment's thought, she decided that she had time to take a shower first, so after snagging one of the spare towels from the first-floor linen cupboard she headed into the bathroom.

Two hours later, now dressed in her favourite t-shirt dress for the journey to Hogwarts, Jamie was waiting with Harry in the old ballroom for her mum, when she came down from the top floor, setting off Mrs Black as usual.

Harry strode into the hall and declared, "Gah dlo uoy pu tuhs!" Which seemed to stop her screeching, although for how long Jamie wasn't sure as it could have been surprise as much as anything.

"I appreciate the save, Harry," her mum said. "But I'm sure if 'hag' is the right term."

Harry shrugged. "It worked."

"That's true," admitted her mum. "Shall we get going?"

They all agreed that it was time, so she lead the way down the corridor to the front door, where Kreacher was waiting. Her brother turned to him, "Beryl, Gill and I will be back for lunch, Kreacher. Then we're heading back to Great Worden."

"Of course, Master Harry," replied the old elf. "Kreacher will have lunch ready for Master and his muggles when he returns."

"Goodbye, Kreacher," said Jamie.

"Goodbye, Harry Potter's Jamie," replied Kreacher as her mum opened the door. "Have a good term."

"I will," Jamie assured him, resisting the urge to hug him, she wasn't sure the crotchety old elf would survive the shock.

By the time she was outside, her dad was already waiting in their people-carrier with the engine already running, so they piled in immediately and he set off towards the station.

King's Cross Station

Camden, London N1.

1st September, 1040 BST

The threatened rain still hadn't arrived by the time that they arrived at King's Cross and the group were able to easily slip across the busy road and into the station. Despite the gap of several years, they were used to getting onto Platform Nine and Three-Quarters by now. It was a simple matter of walking straight through the apparently solid barrier dividing Platforms Nine and Ten, the only tricky part was doing this in an unobtrusive way, to avoid attracting Muggle attention. Harry and Jamie went first wheeling her trolley with Hedwig in her cage on top, her parents followed inconspicuously behind. Harry and Jamie leaned casually against the barrier, chatting unconcernedly, and slid sideways through it... and as they did so, Platform Nine and Three-Quarters materialized in front of them.

The Hogwarts Express, a gleaming scarlet steam engine, was already there, clouds of steam billowing from it, through which the many Hogwarts students and parents on the platform appeared like dark ghosts. Hedwig gazed around imperiously in response to the hooting of many owls through the mist. Jamie set off to find her friends, and Harry followed her. They found an empty carriage before they found her friends, so Harry stowed his sister's luggage and then they hopped back down onto the platform to say good-bye so that Jamie could say goodbye to her parents.

"Have a good term, Jamie," said her mother. "Try not to get into trouble."

"Or at least try not to get caught?" suggested Jamie, impishly.

Her mother smiled slightly, opening her arms for a hug. "I could settle for that," she admitted. "Your friend Melanie's a bad influence."

"If you say so," conceded Jamie, stepping forward into her mother's hug. "I think she just makes thing fun."

"Did someone say my name?" said a voice from behind them and the group turned to the sound.

"Melanie!" squealed Jamie, then broke away from her mum and ran over to embrace her friend. "It's good to see you!"

"You too, Jamie," said Melanie, accepting her friend's hug. "Are you okay after…?"

Jamie nodded. "Have you seen any of the others?" she asked, noting out of the corner of her eye that Harry had drifted away to talk to another group dominated by a familiar shade of red hair.

Melanie shook her head, "Panya's got to come down from Liverpool, she's still on her way from Euston. Not sure about Joanne or Evan."

At that moment, the train's whistle blew. "Let's get on board, they can find us later," suggested Jamie as Harry drifted back in their direction with Ginny in tow. "I've already dumped my trunk in the middle carriage."

Melanie agreed and they broke their hug and headed toward the train doors.

"See you at Christmas!" Jamie said to her parents and Harry and Ginny as they climbed onboard, closed the door, and leaned back out of the window. "Love you!"

"Love you too, sis!" declared Harry. Her parents and Ginny also replied but they were drowned out as the Express's pistons hissed loudly and it began to move.

Sherwood,

Nottinghamshire NG24,

1st September, 1200 BST.

Jamie's other friends found them by the time the lunch trolley came rattling along the corridor, so Jamie dug out a couple of the Galleons that Harry had slipped her earlier in the day and bought a large stack of Cauldron Cakes for the group. They were just about to tuck in when they heard a commotion next door. Jamie couldn't be sure, but she thought that it was Malfoy and Ginny's brother Ron.

"Look at this… Weasley, you weren't thinking of wearing these, were you? I mean - they were very fashionable in about eighteen ninety..."

"Eat dung, Malfoy!" replied the second male voice, confirming that it was Ron and Malfoy talking.

One of them, most likely Malfoy, howled with derisive laughter and a moment later was joined by two guffaws, probably from Malfoy's bookends, Crabbe and Goyle.

"Are you going to enter, Weasley? Going to try and bring a bit of glory to the family name? There's money involved as well, you know. . . you'd be able to afford some decent robes if you won..."

"What are you talking about?" snapped Ron.

"Are you going to enter?" Malfoy repeated. "Pity Potter's not around anymore, he never could miss a chance to show off, could he?"

Jamie felt a surge of anger at that comment, her brother did not like to 'show off', he was just that good when he put his mind to it.

"Either explain what you're on about or go away, Malfoy," said another voice testily, this one was female, so Jamie guessed that it was Ron's girlfriend Hermione Granger.

"Don't tell me you don't know?" Malfoy said delightedly. "You've got a father and brother at the Ministry and you don't even know? Merlin, my father told me about it ages ago... heard it from Cornelius Fudge. But then, Father's always associated with the top people at the Ministry... Maybe your father's too junior to know about it, Weasley... yes... they probably don't talk about important stuff in front of him..."

Jamie heard more laughter, which was quickly drowned out by the sound of a slamming door and then shattering glass.

Hermione said her boyfriend's name reproachfully and then cast a spell, causing a 'reverse shattering' sound and then silence.

"What was that about?" wondered Joanne.

Melanie shrugged, "Other than Malfoy being a git…" she paused. "I've got nothing."

"I heard them saying something about Durmstrang earlier, when I passed them on my way in," offered Panya.

Joanne paled a little at that, "No, they couldn't be… even Professor Slughorn's not that egotistical…"

"What?" asked Jamie.

"I'll explain if I'm wrong," Joanne replied. "And hopefully, if I'm right, they've changed things…"

Hogsmeade, Scottish Highlands,

2030 BST.

The threatened rain started to fall in the late afternoon, and by the time the quintet alighted from the train into the twilight, the rain was now a gusty, freezing torrent.

"I don't envy the first years have to cross the lake in this weather," said Joanne with a shiver, glancing at the other end of the platform where a man with greyish-brown hair and shabby, patches robes, was beckoning to the first years to follow him. "That's odd, Professor Grubbly-Plank usually takes the first years over."

"I'm sure the headmaster will explain if it's important," Jamie suggested and then turned her focus forward as she and the rest of the crowd inched slowly although the dark and freezing platform towards the waiting horseless carriages. The girls squeezed into one and Evan joined his dorm-mates in a second, and once everyone was aboard the long procession of carriages was rumbling and splashing its way up the track towards the castle.

Within half-an-hour, they were out of the rain and gradually warming up in the comfort of the Great Hall, watching as Professor McGonagall lead the long line of new first years into the hall. Jamie glancing over the group and was pleased to see that none of them seemed any the worse for wear than the older students, despite their trip over the lake then returned her attention to Professor McGonagall just in time to see the Sorting Hat open its 'mouth' to begin its song.

"Behold the Sorting Hat of Hogwarts School,

On your admission, I do rule.

The Founders of this fine place,

Gave me brains, though not a face.

Put me on we shall see,

In which House, you're right to be.

With the daring Gryffindors,

Whose bravery comes at lion's roar.

With Ravenclaw, where your sharp mind

Will mark you as one of their kind.

In Hufflepuff, if you be one,

You'll find those to get jobs done.

Those of Slytherin, beware,

Honesty is not your fare.

So, if you still wish enter in,

To the halls of school within.

Then put me on,

I am not wrong.

For I'm the Hogwarts Thinking Cap!"

The Great Hall rang with applause as the Sorting Hat finished.

"That's even better than the song it sang when it Sorted us," said Jamie, clapping along with everyone else.

"Sings a different one every year," said Melanie. "According to my uncle, it spends all year making up the next one."

Professor McGonagall was now unrolling a large scroll of parchment. "When I call out your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool," she told the first years. "When the hat announces your House, you will go and sit at the appropriate table…"

"Armstrong, Marcus."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Bishop, Hugo."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Brooks, Cary."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Clarke, Michelle."

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Collier, Rick."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Collins, Cora."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Cook, Bruce."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Cortez, Jacob."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Davidson, Sandra."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Day, Vicki."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Dennis, Brendan."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Dennis, McKenzie."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Fields, Wayne."

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Floyd, Philip."

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Gonzalez, Enrique."

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Graves, Ben."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Gregory, Stella."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Griffiths, Elijah."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Harrington, Geraldine."

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Hernandez, Christo."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Hunter, Juanita."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"James, Daniel."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Johnson, Jack."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"King, Lowell."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Klein, Frances."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Love, Annette."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Mann, Jesse."

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Mathis, Erica."

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Moran, Tanya."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Murray, Alberta."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Nash, Herbert."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Page, Lucy."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Pratt, Sylvester."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Raymond, Paul."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Robertson, John."

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Sandoval, Elisa."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Shaw, Roger."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Simpson, Dana."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Singleton, Jim."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Stokes, Crystal."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Stevenson, Duane."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Snyder, Doug."

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Tate, Anne."

"RAVENCLAW!"

"White, Noel."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Wong, Julius."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Zimmerman, Ernesto."

"RAVENCLAW!"

By the time that Zimmerman had joined the other first year at the Ravenclaw table, McGonagall picked up the Sorting Hat and carried it out of view. The Headmaster lurched to his feet and regarded the hall briefly. "Tuck in."

"About time!" said Melanie as dishes filled with food materialised onto the expansive banquet tables.

Hogwarts Great Hall,

Scottish Highlands,

2200 BST.

When the puddings too had been demolished, and the last crumbs had faded off the plates, leaving them sparkling clean, Professor Slughorn got to his feet again.

The buzz of chatter filling the Hall ceased almost at once, so that only the howling wind and pounding rain could be heard. "Welcome… welcome!" said Slughorn, smiling around at them all. "Before you head off to bed, I have a few important notices to make. Firstly, due to the conviction of Severus Snape for the murder of my predecessor, Albus Dumbledore, there have been several changes in the staff. Professor Grubbly-Plank will be taking over his place as Potions Professor and Head of Slytherin, and Remus Lupin will taking over from her as Care of Magical Creatures Professor, additionally Alessandro Malocchio of the Polizia Magica di Stato will be our new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor."

There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause. Only the new first years, who had met Professor Lupin at the station were the only ones to clap hard. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes.

Professor Slughorn paused for a moment, then continued. "I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year. It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."

Several of the students, including Ginny's brother Ron, expressed confusion and outrage at this, but subsided quickly into silence. "This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy - but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that Hogwarts will be playing host to the TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT!"

A few scattered pockets of students – mostly at the Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables – appeared to know what he was excited about and were already whispering excitedly amongst themselves. However, when Jamie glanced at Joanne, her friend had her face cupped in one hand and was shaking it in disbelief. Jamie guessed that Joanne had anticipated the announcement and wondered what she was upset about.

It didn't long to find out, as Professor Slughorn continued his speech. "The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities - until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued."

Oh dear, thought Jamie. Well, I was missing Harry before, but now I'm glad he's not here, otherwise someone would enter him to try and get him killed.

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament," Dumbledore continued, "none of which has been very successful. However, our own Departments of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."

The noise level of the room rose dramatically, and one glance around was enough to tell Jamie that a lot of the students seemed to be visualizing themselves as the Hogwarts champion. At every House table, she could see people either gazing raptly at Slughorn, or else whispering fervently to their neighbours. But then the headmaster spoke again, and the Hall quieted once more.

"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts," he said, "the heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age - that is to say, seventeen years or older - will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration. This…" Slughorn raised his voice slightly, for several people had made noises of outrage at these words. "is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them. Professor Flitwick will be ensuring that no underage student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion."

"The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning."

Slughorn sat down again and turned to talk to Professor Malocchio. There was a great scraping and banging as all the students got to their feet and swarmed toward the double doors into the Entrance Hall.

Jamie slipped in next to Joanne as they moved towards the doors. "Do you think that will be enough?"

"I don't know," replied her friend. "I really don't know…"

A/N: Harry's toast spell was actually, 'Kcar otni, flah ni tuc, nevo fo tuo tsaot' (reverse it to get the meaning) but Jamie's been too busy learning Hogwarts-style magic to be able to translate that on the 2 should be very long, as I will be continuing to base the next couple of chapters on a hybrid of CoS and GoF.