LoDK
The Legacy of the Dark Knight Saga
Jamie Prosser and the Fourth Champion
Chapter 15: The Dark Lord Rises
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 who are 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 has not been beta'd.
The Watchtower,
Earth Orbit.
22nd November, 0830 EST
"Any word yet?" asked Bloodhound as he drifted out of the kitchen into the Zeta Room.
"No," replied Supermartian. "The First Task should be starting any moment now."
"Do you think You-Know-Who will take the bait?"
"It's hard to say," replied the Kryptonian-Martian hybrid. "It's clear that Voldemort placed Harry in the tournament in order to draw him out…"
"I agree," said Bloodhound. "Which suggests that he'll take the first opportunity…"
"On the other hand, we don't know what ritual he has in mind. It's possible that it has specific requirements and he will have to wait…"
Bloodhound nodded. "It's that uncertainty worries me."
The Zeta Tube spun up and several figures appeared in a blue-white flash. "Recognised Batwoman 25, Recognised Batman 30, Recognised Batman 101."
"Is everything ready?" asked Dick as he joined Bloodhound in front of the main computer bank.
"I'll check," said Bloodhound, then accessed a keyboard. "Watchtower to Alpha… status report?"
Kid Martian appeared on the screen, "Alpha is in position at the Centre for Organised Research… we're awaiting confirmation of the tracking signal.""Understood, Watchtower standing by…" said Bloodhound. He waited for a moment until Kid Martian's face faded from view, "Watchtower to Beta…"
The screen flared into life again, and this time Nymphadora Tonks' face dominated it. "Go ahead Watchtower."
"The First Task should be starting any minute. Are you ready if You-Know-Who makes his move?"
"Ready and willing, Bloodhound," confirmed the Metamorphmagus. "Do we know if we'll be needed?"
"We're not sure yet, Tonks," replied Bloodhound. "It depends on what he has planned. We'll let you know if anything changes."
"Understood, standing by…"
****
Centre for Organised Research,
Herefordshire WD3.
22nd November, 1350 GMT.
Eddie was getting another bottle of water from the training room fridge when the viewscreen lit up. "Watchtower to Alpha…" He quickly closed the fridge and joined the rest of the Squad in front of the viewscreen.
"Go ahead, Watchtower," said K'oll.
"Voldemort's made his move… Harry's golden egg was turned into a Portkey, I'm transmitting the co-ordinates now…" said Supermartian. "How soon can you get there?"
K'oll paused for a moment, "We can be airborne in three minutes. Flight time to those co-ordinates is six minutes forty-four seconds at full acceleration…"
"Get going, I'll notify Beta…"
"We're on it," confirmed Eddie and led the way out of the room and towards the stairwell to the parking area.
The H'L'umm's ramp was already in the down position waiting for them, so they were able to get onboard easily and take their positions. K'oll took the pilot's seat and Eddie slipping into the squad leader's seat up front and the others slid into the flanking bulkhead seats. "K'oll, engage cloak and take us up!"
"Done and done!" declared K'oll, and the countryside stretched into a blur as the bio-ship tore across the sky.
****
Ministry of Magic Atrium,
London SW1.
22nd November, 1350 GMT.
Tonks was paying for a sandwich at the Ministry café when her League-issued commlink beeped to attract her attention. She quickly ducked out of the café and found a quiet corner. "What's the word?" she asked when Supermartian's face appeared in the air over her wrist.
"Voldemort took the bait, someone turned Harry's Triwizard Egg into a Portkey."
"Do we know where it went too?"
"Yes," confirmed the League's chairman. "Zatanna tracked him to the graveyard of St George's in Little Whinging."
"Got it," replied Tonks. "I'll get up to Madam Bones… we should be on-site on five minutes."
"Stay out of sight until you get the signal…" said Supermartian.
"What's the signal?"
"You'll know," said Supermartian, and then closed the link.
Tonks crammed her sandwich into her robe pocket and set off at a run towards the lifts.
A minute later, she broke through the doors into the Auror Office and then crossed to the desk in front of the director's office. "I need to see Madam Bones, immediately… It's an emergency!"
"You can't," said Dawlish, as he stood up from his cubical and bliocked her way. "She's been called to a closed door session with Algemene Huid of the Koninklijk Magische Politie. They're not to be disturbed."
"But I need to speak with her… it's important!"
Dawlish snorted. "Madam Bones doesn't have time for you and neither do I."
Tonks couldn't believe the older man's stubbornness. "Harry Potter's just been taken by Portkey from Hogwarts!"
Dawlish rolled his eyes. "Is that the best you can come up with?"
"Check with Hogwarts, they'll confirm it!"
"Don't waste my time with your lies," said Dawlish and turned away.
As soon as the man's back was turned, Cedric eased up to beside Tonks. "You are telling the truth, right?"
"Of course."
"Harry's team told you?"
"About five minutes ago," Tonks confirmed. "I need to get over there. I was hoping to bring some more Aurors to help, but Dawlish doesn't seem interested…"
"I'm with you," said Cedric.
"Are you sure?"
Cedric nodded.
"Let's get going then."
Halfway down the corridor, a female Auror with an eye-patch stood up and joined them. "I'm with you."
"Thanks, Miri."
They had nearly reached the exit, when Dawlish turned around and spotted them. "Where do you think you're going!"
"To do our jobs!" declared Tonks, pushing the doors open.
"But… but…" stammered Dawlish. "I didn't give you permission!"
"I know!" said Tonks, as the doors swung shut.
****
Little Hangleton,
Gloucestershire GL3.
22nd November, 1359 GMT.
"Approaching target co-ordinates…" announced K'oll a few minutes later. "Forty-five seconds to landing zone!"
"Drop us down behind that hill south of the graveyard," said Eddie. "Then overfly the graveyard and locate the secondary target."
"Will do," replied K'oll. "Thirty seconds…"
"Maz, you're on the primary targets…?"
The speedster nodded.
"Amanda, Kerdii'ahn, Peta… you and I will handle the rest. Priority is containment."
"We've got your back," promised Peta.
"Five seconds to landing zone…" announced K'oll. "Dropping to zero feet and decelerating… Two… one… zero!" announced K'oll.
"Deploy!" ordered Eddie, rising to his feet as the ramp went down. "Maz, you're on point…"
"Naturally," said the speedster, and suiting actions to words, she disappeared down the ramp in a stream of lightning.
The rest of the team weren't far behind and Eddie, Amanda and the Atlanteans reached the boundary of the graveyard a couple of minutes later.
It didn't take them long to find Harry, as he was tied to a statute and a short, emaciated, balding man with a missing hand was drawing blood from his arm with a knife. "B-blood of the enemy ... forcibly taken... you will... resurrect your foe."
*Darkclaw to all points, target one is confirmed as on-site. Standby…*
The old man caught the trickle of blood from Harry's arm in a vial and then staggered towards the cauldron and poured it inside. The liquid within turned, instantly, a blinding white. His job done, Pettigrew dropped to his knees beside the cauldron, then slumped sideways and lay on the ground, cradling the bleeding stump of his arm, gasping and sobbing.
The cauldron was simmering, sending its diamond sparks in all directions, so blindingly bright that it turned all else to velvety blackness. Nothing happened for a moment then suddenly, the sparks emanating from the cauldron were extinguished as a surge of white steam billowed thickly from the cauldron, momentarily shielding Harry and Pettigrew from view.
*Darkclaw to all points, we have action… standby…*
Then, after a moment, the dark outline of a man - tall and skeletally thin - rose slowly from inside the cauldron.
*Hold positions…*
"Robe me," said the tall man in a high, cold voice from behind the steam, and Pettigrew, sobbing and moaning, still cradling his mutilated arm, scrambled to pick up the black robes from the ground, got to his feet, reached up, and pulled them one-handed over his master's head.
The thin man stepped out of the cauldron, then turned to stare at Harry... and Harry stared back resolutely not giving the slightest hint of weakness.
*Kid Martian, notify the Watchtower and Beta… Lord Voldemort had risen again.*
"Welcome, Death Eaters," said Voldemort quietly. "Thirteen years... thirteen years since last we met. Yet you answer my call as though it were yesterday, we are still united under the Dark Mark, then! Or are we?"
He put back his terrible face and sniffed, his slit-like nostrils widening. "I smell guilt," he said. "There is a stench or guilt upon the air.
A second shiver ran around the circle, as though each member of it longed, but did not dare to step back from him.
"I see you all, whole and healthy, with your powers intact - such prompt appearances! and I ask myself ... why did this band of wizards never come to the aid of their master, to whom they swore eternal loyalty?"
No one spoke. No one moved except Wormtail, who was upon the ground, still sobbing over his bleeding arm.
"And I answer myself," whispered Voldemort, "they must have believed me broken, they thought I was gone. They slipped back among my enemies, and they pleaded innocence, and ignorance, and bewitchment...
"And then I ask myself, but how could they have believed I would not rise again? They, who knew the steps I took, long ago, to guard myself against mortal death? They, who had seen proofs of the immensity of my power in the times when I was mightier than any wizard living?
"And I answer myself, perhaps they believed a still greater power could exist, one that could vanquish even Lord Voldemort... perhaps they now pay allegiance to another ... perhaps that champion of commoners, of Mudbloods and Muggles, Albus Dumbledore?"
At the mention of Dumbledore's name, the members of the circle stirred, and some muttered and shook their heads. Voldemort ignored them. "It is a disappointment to me... I confess myself disappointed..."
One of the men suddenly flung himself forward, breaking the circle. Trembling from head to foot, he collapsed at Voldemort's feet. "Master!" he shrieked, "Master, forgive me! Forgive us all!"
Voldemort began to laugh. He raised his wand. "Crucio!"
The Death Eater on the ground writhed and shrieked; Harry was sure the sound must carry to the houses around... Let the police come, he thought desperately ... anyone... anything...
Voldemort raised his wand. The tortured Death Eater lay flat upon the ground, gasping. "Get up, Avery," said Voldemort softly. "Stand up. You ask for forgiveness? I do not forgive. I do not forget. Thirteen long years... I want thirteen years' repayment before I forgive you. Wormtail here has paid some of his debt already, have you not, Wormtail?"
He looked down at Wormtail, who continued to sob. "You returned to me, not out of loyalty, but out of fear of your old friends. You deserve this pain, Wormtail. You know that, don't you?"
"Yes, Master," moaned Wormtail, "please. Master ... please ..."
"Yet you helped return me to my body," said Voldemort coolly, watching Wormtail sob on the ground. "Worthless and traitorous as you are, you helped me... and Lord Voldemort rewards his helpers..."
Voldemort raised his wand again and whirled it through the air. A streak of what looked like molten silver hung shining in the wand's wake. Momentarily shapeless, it writhed and then formed itself into a gleaming replica of a human hand, bright as moonlight, which soared downward and fixed itself upon Wormtail's bleeding wrist.
Wormtail's sobbing stopped abruptly. His breathing harsh and ragged, he raised his head and stared in disbelief at the silver hand, now attached seamlessly to his arm, as though he were wearing a dazzling glove. He flexed the shining fingers, then, trembling, picked up a small twig on the ground and crushed it into powder. "My Lord," he whispered. "Master... it is beautiful... thank you... thank you..." He scrambled forward on his knees and kissed the hem of Voldemort's robes.
"May your loyalty never waver again, Wormtail," said Voldemort.
"No, my Lord ... never, my Lord ..."
Wormtail stood up and took his place in the circle, staring at his powerful new hand, his face still shining with tears. Voldemort now approached the man on Wormtail's right.
"Lucius, my slippery friend," he whispered, halting before him. "I am told that you have not renounced the old ways, though to the world you present a respectable face. You are still ready to take the lead in a spot of Muggle-torture, I believe? Yet you never tried to find me, Lucius... Your exploits at the Quidditch World Cup were fun, I daresay... but might not your energies have been better directed toward finding and aiding your master?"
"My Lord, I was constantly on the alert," came Lucius Malfoy's voice swiftly from beneath the hood. "Had there been any sign from you, any whisper of your whereabouts, I would have been at your side immediately, nothing could have prevented me…"
"Perhaps," mused Voldemort. "But I will expect more faithful service in the future."
"Of course, my Lord, of course... You are merciful, thank you..."
Voldemort moved on, and stopped, staring at the space - large enough for two people - that separated Malfoy and the next man.
"The Lestranges should stand here," said Voldemort quietly. "But they are entombed in Azkaban. They were faithful. They went to Azkaban rather than renounce me... When Azkaban is broken open, the Lestranges will be honored beyond their dreams. The dementors will join us... they are our natural allies... we will recall the banished giants... I shall have all my devoted servants returned to me, and an army of creatures whom all fear..."
He walked on. Some of the Death Eaters he passed in silence, but he paused before others and spoke to them. "MacNair ... destroying dangerous beasts for the Ministry of Magic now, Wormtail tells me? You shall have better victims than that soon, MacNair. Lord Voldemort will provide..."
"Thank you, Master ... thank you," murmured MacNair.
"And here…" Voldemort moved on to the two largest hooded figures. "We have Crabbe ... you will do better this time, will you not, Crabbe? And you, Goyle?"
They bowed clumsily, muttering dully. "Yes, Master..."
"We will, Master..."
"The same goes for you, Nott," said Voldemort quietly as he walked past a stooped figure in Mr Goyle's shadow.
"My Lord, I prostrate myself before you, I am your most faithful…"
"That will do," said Voldemort. He had reached the largest gap of all, and he stood surveying it with his blank, red eyes, as though he could see people standing there. "And here we have six missing Death Eaters ... three dead in my service. One, too cowardly to return... he will pay. One, who I believe has left me forever... he will be killed, of course ... and one, who remains my most faithful servant, and who has already reentered my service."
The Death Eaters stirred, and Harry saw their eyes dart sideways at one another through their masks.
"He is at Hogwarts, that faithful servant, and it was through his efforts that our young friend arrived here tonight...
"Yes," said Voldemort, a grin curling his lipless mouth as the eyes of the circle flashed in Harry's direction. "Harry Potter has kindly joined us for my rebirthing party. One might go so far as to call him my guest of honor."
There was a silence. Then the Death Eater to the right of Wormtail stepped forward, and Lucius Malfoy's voice spoke from under the mask.
"Master, we crave to know... we beg you to tell us... how you have achieved this... this miracle ... how you managed to return to us..."
"Ah, what a story it is, Lucius," said Voldemort. "And it begins… and ends… with my young friend here."
He walked lazily over to stand next to Harry, so that the eyes of the whole circle were upon the two of them. The snake continued to circle.
"You know, of course, that they have called this boy my downfall?" Voldemort said softly, his red eyes upon Harry, whose scar began to burn so fiercely that he almost screamed in agony. "You all know that on the night I lost my powers and my body, I tried to kill him. His mother died in the attempt to save him… and unwittingly provided him with a protection I admit I had not foreseen... I could not touch the boy."
Voldemort raised one of his long white fingers and put it very close to Harry's cheek. "His mother left upon him the traces other sacrifice... This was old magic, I should have remembered it, I was foolish to overlook it... but no matter. I can touch him now…"
Voldemort laughed softly in Harry's ear, then took the finger away and continued addressing the Death Eaters. "I miscalculated, my friends, I admit it. My curse was deflected by the woman's foolish sacrifice, and it rebounded upon myself. I felt... pain beyond pain, my friends; nothing could have prepared me for it. I was ripped from my body, I was less than spirit, less than the meanest ghost... but still, I was alive. What I was, even I do not know... I, who have gone further than anybody along the path that leads to immortality…"
He broke off as an unexpected chuckle issued from Harry, that eventually grew into a laugh.
"Is something funny, Harry Potter?"
"Yeah actually," he admitted. "Don't get me wrong… you get points for the whole 'reincarnating into a homunculus' thing, but you're nothing special really…"
"I am the greatest sorcerer whoever lived!" bellowed Voldemort. "And I will prove my power by killing you, here and now… when there is no Dumbledore to help you, and no mother to die for you. I will give you your chance, and you will be left in no doubt which of us is the stronger. Just a little longer, Nagini," he whispered, and the snake glided away through the grass to where the Death Eaters stood watching. "Now untie him, Wormtail, and give him back his wand."
"First," said Harry. "You're not the greatest sorcerer who ever lived, or even currently living. A second…" he paused for effect. "I don't need any help from that traitor. Em esaeler."
The ropes dropped away from Harry. "Etativel."
After a moment, Harry rose to his feet and then continued rising until he was above the heads the assembled Death Eaters. "Take your best shot," he said with a grin.
"As you wish… Avada Kedavra!"