LoDK
The Legacy of the Dark Knight Saga
Jamie Prosser and the Fourth Champion
Chapter 6: School Days Begin
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).
A/N: This chapter overlaps with Chapter One initially from Ginny's PoV.
****
King's Cross Station
Camden, London N1.
1st September, 1100 BST
"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. Once the Express was out of sight, he turned to face Ginny. "Do you want to join us for lunch?"
Ginny shook her head, "Thanks, but I need to get to the Orchard. Alanna and I have a meeting with Mr Skinner at Nantwich High. Do you know where the nearest Zeta Tube is?"
Harry activated his wrist computer and tapped a couple of keys, seconds later a holo-map was projected above the device. "The nearest one is in the British Museum, sub-basement two. You should be able to make it in less than half an hour."
"Thanks," said Ginny. "See you soon?" She waited until Harry had nodded and smiled in response, then turned and set off at a jog towards the exit to the concourse. Moments later, she left the station onto Pancras Road, then took a steady zig-zig course south towards Russell Square.
About fifteen minutes later, she arrived at the Great Russell Street entrance to the palatial British Museum. Entering the massive structure, she briefly glanced over at the jewellery, home, and kitchen shop to the right of the entrance, then went to the floor directory to find the 'Mycroft Room'. It only took a moment to find the best route and she immediately set off towards the right set of stairs and the basement.
****
The Orchard,
Royctonshire.
1130 BST
"Recognised, Protector B147," announced the computer as Ginny appeared in the Orchard's Games Room.
Eddie looked up from a science book he was reading, "How was the Burrow?"
Ginny shrugged. "It was okay," she replied. "I had some fun playing Quidditch with Ron… Mum's still getting used to the 'new me' but she's coming 'round."
Eddie smiled at that, "That's good. Mum say's that lunch will be ready in half-an-hour if you want it?"
Ginny nodded and went over to her favourite chair. "Any word from Nita?"
"She's settled back in at Motown," Eddie replied. "Getting ready to take her BECE at the end of the year."
"Becky?"
"B… E… C… E..." replied Eddie. "Basic Education Certificate Examination, it's the West African basic school examination, it's a bit like our GCSEs but more generalist."
Ginny nodded, then glanced over the coffee table between their seats and selected a maths book to read. She was in the middle of a chapter on geometry when Alanna called down to the Games Room that lunch was ready. Eddie and Ginny immediately put their books down and headed upstairs.
"Hi, Ginny," said Alanna as they entered the kitchen. "Are you ready for the meeting?"
Ginny nodded. "Something smells good… what's for lunch?" she asked as she and Eddie sat down at the table. Eddie's younger brother Danny was already seated.
"There's a bit of a damp chill today, so I thought I'd make some vegetable soup."
"Sounds good," Ginny agreed with relish, then glanced over to the younger Montrose boy. "Danny, what have you been up to while I was away? Anything good?"
The brown-haired twelve-year old shrugged. "Nothing special. Eddie's been teaching me some hand-and-hand moves in preparation for next year's try-outs."
"Do you know what your power is yet?"
Danny shook his head, then paused as his mother served up four bowls of soup and then added a basket of French bread to the table. "I think it's going to be strength related, but we're not sure." He picked up his spoon and began to eat.
Taking this as a hint that he didn't want to talk anymore, Ginny began to eat her own soup, and after checking to make sure the stove was off, Alanna took her own seat and joined them.
After eating, the boys agreed to wash up and Ginny and Alanna went upstairs to change into something more appropriate for their meeting with the headmaster.
****
Nantwich High School,
Nantwich, CW5 7DY
1345 BST.
About an hour later, Alanna's Mini slid through the open gates of the school and into an empty parking spot. "We'll be just in time," said Alanna. "Follow me."
"Right behind you," said Ginny, tucking in behind the older woman as they headed towards the main building.
Once inside, they presented themselves to the receptionist. The woman looked up. "Yes?"
Ginny decided to let Alanna take the lead as she must have had dealings with the school for Eddie and Danny.
"We have a meeting with the headmaster?"
"Names?"
"Dr Montrose and Ginny Weasley,"
The woman tapped a few keys on her computer. "Yes, I have you here. He's with someone else at the moment but I believe he's running to time. Have a seat."
"Thank you," said Alanna and lead Ginny over to a set of plastic chairs to wait.
A few minutes later, another woman entered the waiting area glanced around. Ginny was just about to ask Alanna if she might be looking for them, when she spotted them and came over. "Doctor Montrose, he's ready for you now."
Alanna got up and motioned for Ginny to do the same. "Thank you, Mrs Archer. After you."
The other woman escorted them down a corridor and then through a door into a small outer office. She crossed to the desk and activated a control on the computer. "Yes, Eliza?"
"I have Dr Montrose and Miss Weasley for you, sir."
"Show them right in."
"Yes sir," confirmed Eliza and tabbed off the intercom. Then she crossed to the inner door and opened it. "He's ready for you. Did you want anything?"
"Not for me, I've just had lunch," replied Alanna. "Ginny?"
"I'm fine," said Ginny, then followed Alanna into the head teacher's office.
The headmaster, a smiling, bearded man with a receding hairline, stood up behind his desk when they came in. "Pleasure to see again, Doctor. How are the boys?" he asked, indicating the seats in front of him.
"Keeping busy as always, Mr Skinner," replied Alanna, taking his invitation to sit.
"And this must be Miss Weasley," said Mr Skinner, and offered Ginny his hand to shake. Sensing the offer was genuine, Ginny took his hand and squeezed it firmly. "Do you prefer Ginevra or Ginny?"
"Ginny, please."
"Have a seat, Ginny," said Mr Skinner as he released her hand. "So, I just wanted to finalise a few points if I may?"
"Of course," agreed Alanna. "What can we help you with?"
"I understand that Ginny is sixteen, yes?"
"Correct, Mr Skinner,"
"But you applied to have her placed in Year Eleven rather the Sixth Form?"
"Yes, Mr Skinner." Alanna agreed. "If you check the information packet that I sent you, Ginny's circumstances mean that she hasn't had a chance to take her GCSEs yet."
Mr Skinner skimmed through some of the papers on his desk, "Yes, I see that," he agreed, then he turned to Ginny. "Do you have any special needs I need to know about?"
Ginny tensed slightly, briefly considered saying something impolite, but changed her mind. "No, Mr Skinner. I just had some 'unusual circumstances' that meant I haven't had the chance to take them."
"Very well," said the headmaster. ""It's a little unusual, but not unheard of, and your test scores and testimonials from the Centre for Organised Research do bear it out, so I'm going to sign off on it."
Ginny relaxed and shared a grateful smile with Alanna.
"I assume you know Doctor Montrose's son Eddie?"
Ginny nodded, "I'm friends with both Eddie and Danny."
The headmaster nodded, apparently pl'sdeased with her answer. "Eddie is in Woods Hall under Mr Hall… would that suit you?"
Ginny nodded.
"Good, that means you'll have at least one familiar face in most of your classes," explained Mr Skinner. "Apart from Latin and Geography. I believe Eddie takes German and History?"
Alanna nodded. "He's also taking Swahili independently. His girlfriend put him onto it."
"Puto esse ego illi subjecta sunt in fine, Domine Skinner," added Ginny.
"I see," said the headmaster and made a couple of notes on his files. "I think that's everything. If you ask at reception they can sort you out with our school specific uniform items."
"Thank you for your time, Mr Skinner," said Alanna as she rose to her feet. "We'll let you get on with your day now."
"You're welcome, Doctor," said the headmaster, getting to his feet again to shake their hands goodbye. "Will I see you at the next parents' meeting?"
"Unless an emergency comes up," Alanna confirmed, guiding Ginny towards the door once she'd shaken hands. "Good afternoon, Mister Skinner."
"Good afternoon, Doctor, Miss Weasley."
"Good afternoon," repeated Ginny, just as she followed Alanna out the door.
As he had suggested they stopped off at reception and Alanna used her 'company card' to buy a blazer, tie, craft apron and a couple of skirts, all with the school logo on. They'd bought everything else she might need earlier in the year, but wanted to wait until the headmaster gave the okay.
When they got back to Montrose House, Ginny hung around with the boys for a while, then after dinner and a movie she decided to get an early night's sleep.
Hogwarts Great Hall,
Scottish Highlands,
2nd September, 0830 BST, 17 AL.
The storm had blown itself out by the following morning, though the ceiling in the Great Hall was still gloomy; heavy clouds of pewter-grey swirled overhead as Jamie, Melanie and the other second years examined their new course schedules at breakfast. A few seats along, Greg and Rick Fox - a pair of sixth years that saw themselves as heirs of the Weasley twins - discussing magical methods of aging themselves and bluffing their way into the Triwizard Tournament.
"Bit of a mixed day today," noted Melanie. "Transfiguration and Herbology this morning, which isn't too bad."
"Agreed," said Jamie. "But we've got History of Magic after lunch which'll be a bit of a snoozer."
Melanie nodded. "I'm more interested in how the firsties do with Professor Grubbly-Plank in Potions. . ."
"Well, she was pretty popular as Care of Magical Creatures professor and she's more cheerful than Snape, so 'fingers crossed'. . ." said Jamie, and then considered her plate. "I'm about finished with breakfast, you?"
Melanie looked like she wanted to say no, but agreed.
"Shall we head up to Transfiguration then?" suggested Jamie, noting that a few of their year-mates had already left the tables to go to class. She rose to her feet and shouldered her bag. Melanie followed suit without comment and soon they were out of the Great Hall and making their way towards the Transfiguration Department.
Half an hour later, they filed into the Transfiguration classroom off the Middle Courtyard with the rest of the class. As usual, Professor McGonagall was standing beside her desk at the front of the room. "Please take your seats quickly and quietly." She paused for a minute or two for Jamie and the other students to obey her instruction then continued. "Before we get started on today's lesson, I'd like everyone to put their summer homework assignments on your desk so that I can collect them."
Jamie dived into her bag and extracted the appropriate scroll 'Principles of Sentient to Inanimate Transfiguration' and handed it over as the professor passed her table. Five minutes later, Professor McGonagall returned to the front of the classroom and dropped the armful of scrolls on her desk and drew her wand. "Today, you will be turning beetles into buttons. Your summer homework should guide in the principles, however the incantation is 'Chiroptera Verto' and the wand movement is thus. . ." Professor McGonagall pointed her wand at a beetle on her desk, tapped it three times sharply and then repeated. "Chiroptera Verto!"
A jet of clear mist shot from her wand and engulfed the beetle, and with a quiet whooshing sound it transformed instantly into a shiny, black coat button. "Like so," she said. "The spell to reverse it is "Chiroptera Reverto!" She demonstrated it a couple more times, and then told the class to begin.
Always the impulsive one Melanie went first, she tried her best to copy Professor McGonagall's wand movements and intoned. "Chiroptero Verto!"
A jet of greenish mist shot from her wand and engulfed the beetle, it quivered and almost transformed but didn't. "Okay, that didn't work. . ."
"I think it's 'Chiroptera not Chiroptero," Jamie suggested, as following her own suggestion, cast the spell, catching her beetle before it could start running around the desk. It immediately transformed into a shiny, black button.
"Nice work," said Melanie and copied her, easily transforming her own beetle into a button.
Jamie considered Melanie's button, then cast the reversal spell, returning her button to a beetle, then remembering one or two of her brother's lessons she'd listened in on had an idea. "Chiroptera Rubeoverto!"
The black beetle was engulfed in a jet of pinkish mist, and with a similar whooshing sound it transformed instantly into a shiny, red coat button.
"Show off," retorted Melanie, pointing her wand at her beetle. "Chiroptera Aureverto!"
This time the mist was a pale yellow, and as intended transformed the beetle into a yellow-gold button.
By the time McGonagall - who had been circulating the classroom helping the other students - made it to their desk, Jamie had buttons in four different colours and Melanie had three. Her expression was hard to read as usual. "Whose idea was it to deviate from your assignment?"
Jamie's good mood fled, "Mine, Professor."
"I should take points for deviating from my instructions," Professor McGonagall, her face briefly stern, before shifting to a slight smile. "However, innovative thinking is a true talent. Take ten points for Gryffindor, Miss Prosser."
"Thank you, Professor."
"I'll make it twenty if one of you can do a complete set of the house colours before the bell rings."
"Thank you, Professor," said Jamie and rededicated herself to the challenge.
****
Medical Section,
Centre for Organised Research.
Herefordshire, WD3
1400 BST.
"Can you give me a full rotation of the arm?"
"I think so," Harry told the doctor who was examining him, smiling to himself when he didn't feel even the slightest twinge from the shoulder that Marbles' heavy had ripped out of its socket back in June. "Feels fine."
The doctor nodded, "Your last scans are clear. You can go back to risking your life for the greater good as soon as you're ready."
Harry smiled. Sound's great too me.
The intercom beeped. The doctor walked over to it and switched it on. "Watchtower to COR, Doctor Copper come in please?"
"This is Doctor Copper here," replied the doctor. "What can I do for you?"
"Do you still have Squire with you?"
"I've just finished," Doctor Copper confirmed.
"Is he cleared for duty?"
"Medically speaking, definitely," Doctor Copper replied. "If he wants to?"
Harry slipped off the examination table and strode over to the intercom. "What do you need, sir?"
"I need someone for a priority job on the South Coast," said Supermartian. "Can you come up to the Watchtower?"
"Elttab rof em brag," said Harry, transforming his civilian t-shirt and jeans into his form-fitting yellow-and-black bodysuit, and yellow cowl. "I'm on my way."
The Watchtower,
Earth Orbit
0905 EDT.
"Recognised, Squire B132," declared the computer as Harry Zeta'd into the Watchtower's reception area, then hurried into the meeting room, where Supermartian was waiting with Nightrunner and a few of the Team.
"Have a seat, Harry," said the League's chairman. "All better?"
Harry nodded, "What have you got?"
"A couple of smugglers were picked up by the Gendarmerie Maritime yesterday in Saint-Quay-Portrieux," Nightrunner replied.
"That's not usually Justice League business," said Harry, slightly confused. "What are they smuggling?"
Nightrunner nodded, "Oui, however the contents of the packages were identified as Frekmunr Potion."
Harry swallowed, slightly nervous now. "That's the anti-Wolfsbane Potion, isn't it?"
"Indeed," confirmed Nightrunner. "One of the smugglers has been identified as Iarund Adolfsson, a senior member of the Ulfhethnar, a Northern European berserker gang. We believe that other members of his gang will make another run to get it to Fenrir Greyback and we obviously do not want that."
Harry swallowed again. "No kidding, what do you need from me?"
"With the magical connection, we'd prefer to keep it 'in-house' as much as possible," said Nightrunner. "Unfortunately, most of our senior magicals tied up on other cases and Protector is starting back at school in couple days and I'd rather not get in the way of that if possible."
"That's makes sense," agreed Harry. "I'm in. When do I leave?"
"Can you be in Rye by tomorrow night?" suggested Supermartian. "That's where our information suggests they'll be coming in, but the tides are wrong tonight."
"I'll be there," Harry promised.
****
Great Worden,
Wordenshire BB7
1800 BST
"How was your day?" Beryl asked Harry, as they and Gill sat down at the table to have dinner.
"Pretty good," said Harry. "Dr Copper has signed me off to return to duty and Supermartian has a job down in Sussex that he wants me to go on."
"I'm glad to hear you're better," said Beryl. "When are you heading down?"
"I'm going to get my gear together tonight and head down in the morning, if that's okay? We'll be staying with Professor Warrender in Rye."
"That's fine, Harry. I'll be in the study with Jnzhen's Comparative Xeno-Linguistics if you need me."
Harry rose to his feet and was just about to leave the kitchen when Hedwig flew through the open window and landed on the table. "Hi, girl," said Harry, reaching out of caress her snowy-white feathers. "Have you got a letter for me?"
Hedwig gave him a look that seemed to say, 'no I just flew over a hundred miles for the fun of it'.
Harry smiled at the thought, and quickly relieved Hedwig of her burden. She then took off, probably to find herself a snack before heading back to Hogwarts.
Harry opened the letter, and scanned it quickly. "Jamie's fine, she sends her love… she got twenty points from McGonagall for something that even Hermione didn't manage in second year."
"What was that?" asked Gill, who had been a silent listener to this point.
"She altered the spell they were learning to change the colour as well as transfiguring it."
"Is that difficult?"
"It's impressive for a second year," confirmed Harry. "I couldn't've done it. Hermione might've been able to do it. But I doubt she would have deviated from instructions like that." He returned to reading the letter. "Apparently there's no Quidditch this year…"
"Ginny's brother wouldn't like that," observed Beryl. "Why are they doing that? From what you've told me, Quidditch is a pretty big thing for Hogwarts."
Harry nodded. "It is… the headmaster says it's because the staff will be too busy with something called the Triwizard Tournament for it to go ahead."
"Triwizard Tournament, never heard of it…"
"Neither have I," Harry admitted. "Apparently, it's some sort of inter-school championship, it was abandoned due to the 'high death toll'."
"High death toll?"
"Yeah, I think I'm going to make a few calls tomorrow."
"That sounds like a very good idea."
****
Hogwarts Library,
1830 BST.
"How was everyone's first day back?" asked Jamie when the group gathered in the library after dinner.
Melanie gave her a look, "You just want to show off your buttons."
"Well, nine buttons are pretty good," Jamie replied, and fished them out of the pocket of her robes. "I particularly like the colours."
"Colours?" asked Panya.
"Yup," replied Jamie and dropped them onto the table top.
"Wow," said Panya. "How did you do that?"
"I sat in on a few of Harry's spell construction lessons with Aunt Zee over the summer," Jamie admitted. "I figured that if I added a colour prefix to 'verto' it would change the colour. It did."
"Professor McGonagall didn't seem too pleased at first," said Melanie.
"Presumably because you deviated from her instructions," offered Evan.
Jamie nodded, "She said as much, but she was also impressed enough to give us ten points for the idea and another ten for the set."
From his expression Jamie could tell that Evan was impressed by her creativity and happy about going twenty points up on the first day of term. Joanne and Panya both looked impressed, but predictably somewhat conflicted about the points.
"Have you told Harry and your parents yet?"
"I sent Hedwig with a letter after Herbology," Jamie confirmed. "They should have gotten it by now."
"Those Bubotubers are disgusting," added Melanie.
Jamie glanced at Evan, he clearly agreed but she felt she had to add. "But very useful too."
Melanie paused, then shrugged, "Oddly satisfying too," she admitted.