Title: The Boy Wonder and the Power of Wishing

Author: P.L.S.

Rating: PG

Summery: Using one of his alter identities Robin takes an illegal job that brings him deeper into the world that Slade had almost enslaved him to. It also brings him closer to a world he left when he was four years old, that he now needs to return to.

Disclaimer: I so don't own Harry Potter nor do I have dibs on Teen Titans, Batman, or anything from DC Comics. I do wish I did though.

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(Chapter Nine- No, You Can't Eat Him)

You are waiting for whom? asked Peter in an irritated tone. Nightwing was dressed as Drake Bradleys, a young founder of his own international shipping agency, and he was waiting at a small outdoors cafe sipping a coffee in Kings Lake Park, the largest and most famous park in Metropolis. Peter was perched in a near by tree, under a topical concealment potion that Draco insisted he learn how to brew. But this was the warlock's special boosted brew that acted more like a Disillusionment Charm rather than the skin blemish hider it was intended for.

I am waiting for my client's representative, the brown headed bloke you swore would taste like pig as opposed to goat. Drake hissed under his breath. Peter hissed out a laugh.

Yes, that fellow. So, have you changed your mind on me eating him yet? Drake sighed and frowned at the cup in front of him. He wished he hadn't tied his shoulder length hair back so he could use his normal frustrated gesture of running his hand through the thick black mane. He settled for adjusting the thin wire framed glasses he wore.

No, you insane reptile. You shouldn't eat for another week, you had that large and obese goat just two weeks ago. Drake hissed back and then stopped as he saw his appointment walk in, and followed by none other than his client and his client's younger husband. The table was just barely big enough for two, let alone four.

I'll wait until you move to get closer, but if you move too far in... Peter trailed off as he saw the gazebo table open up and the imperious gesture of Mrs. Winthrop-Thompson towards it. A server came over to Drake and told him that she kindly requested that he join them at the larger table. Drake joined them with his briefcase and coffee in hand and a kind smile on his face. He glanced around and was pleased to see the slight distortion along the outer edge of the gazebo, Peter was there.

Mrs. Winthrop-Thompson, Mr. Thompson. he said as he shook both of their hands, It's wonderful to see you both so unexpectedly. How have you both been? asked the young and pleasant man in the inky black suit and bright blue silk shirt and tie.

Fine, we've both been just fine. said the older woman with a slight softness to her voice that was always there for Drake these days. Thompson only nodded, Drake could honestly count the conversations he had had with the man over the past two years on one hand.

And Mr. Speilmann, Ray, you're looking as sharp as ever. he said as he shook the flustered representative's hand.

Yes, well. I'm sorry that I was unable to give you more notice for this meeting. he said and Drake heard Peter's comments about invertebrates and their tastiness. Drake gave the man a smile and shrugged.

It's not a problem. I'm just glad I chose to stay in town this week as opposed to visiting Gothem like I was scheduled to. Otherwise, I would have had to send Samantha, and I know how well you two get on. Drake teased the man who shook his head.

Sometimes two people are oil and water, Drake. said the brown headed man.

Yes, well, in yours and Sam's case I'd say it's more like nitro glycerin and sunlight. Drake smiled warmly at the confused looking patroness and her amused husband, Samantha Mazaki is my new vice president of operations and one of five people under me who are cleared for handling your account, the other four are on separate continents. Mr. Speilmann and Ms. Mazaki tend to instinctively get on each other's bad sides without trying. I'm half convinced they were a mongoose and cobra in their past lives, or scorned and bitter ex-lovers.

Ray said with a slight flush to his cheeks, Can we get on with it, or do you feel the need to embarrass me in front of my bosses some more?

I'll save the rest for the office Christmas party. joked Drake and Thompson smiled and his wife looked like a long suffering mother.

Mr. Bradleys. said Mrs. Winthrop-Thompson in a sharper tone than before. Her eyes held fondness and a wish for something.

Of course, madam. Now, how may I offer my services today? asked Drake.

I'm afraid it's my pet project I'd like your help with. said Thompson, I collect artifacts and came upon a few things in India that I need brought over here with as little paperwork, notice, and fuss as possible. Rebecca assured me that you would be the best at this work. As with all the other times that he had heard that voice, Drake was sure it was familiar. But he couldn't place it at all.

I can, but I'm assuming that this would best be hashed out somewhere less open. I'll call Ray with the details of where and when we can meet. I'll need photos, specs, and other ways of identification and verification of the objects as well. Drake frowned, Since I will handle this personally, the price will go up.

I understand, Mr. Bradleys. said the deep and cultured voice. Maybe it was Mr. Malfoy's voice? No, the blond had a distinct mixed accent and very distinct verbal markers that came from his frequent and proficient use of French, Spanish, Latin, Welsh, and Gaelic. Draco had the same markers and for the same reasons. If there was one thing the Malfoys were good at it was their cultural adaptiveness which was always good for business and politics. In the two years he had spent living 24-7 as Draco's best friend and partner in crime, some of those traits had rubbed off on him, as well as the ability to notice it in others. Thompson's eyes were the eyes of someone who liked to play in a more Machiavellian style, they were also the eyes of a deceiver. Thompson was hiding something about the artifacts and Drake had the feeling that the man was never going to come clean about it.

All four chatted amiably for a quarter of an hour, then Drake excused himself to make a neat exit before the conversation turned personal or to anything more than opera versus the symphony. He got into his jeep and waited long enough for Peter to join him.

I don't like the dark one. said the snake with conviction, He smells of that masked one you loathe. Drake's eyes narrowed as he thought it all over, and pulled up memories of Slade. In his memories the voice of his nemesis was deeper and had more of a deadly edge than that of Thompson's.

Do you think they are one and the same? asked Drake. Peter hissed in annoyance.

How should I know that? All we ever catch are robots and wiffs of his stench. Peter was angry now, a spatter of his poison his the car floor and made a small burn, This prey is illusive, and it hunts us back. I can't wait to eat the man.

You only get to eat him if you catch him before I do. I want him in an electric chair or gas chamber. Drake scowled as he drove to the townhouse by the airport that he was renting.

Fine. But the dark one, he is of the same cloth as the masked one. Both are to be watched then killed. Or if you insist, brought to justice. Peter said the last bit with a hint of scorn. He felt that anyone who they hunted should be killed, but Nightwing insisted they try to avoid human deaths whenever they could. Draco said that Peter was right, of course. But Nightwing dismissed that as Draco being his usual self.

Note that only you feel that way. said Drake in a light tone of hiss. Peter rolled his eyes as much as a snake could. Silence fell until Peter turned on a radio station he liked, the hip hop and R&B station.

When do we go see that idiotic lima bean colored shifter and the paranoid old blighter again? asked Peter as they pulled into the driveway of their home. Drake snorted at the disrespectful terms of endearment that the basilisk had given Bruce and Beast.

Bruce is going to be in town for a few weeks on Monday. Be polite, no petrification of anyone, no hissing in his ear as he tries to work, or talk, or anything really. No tripping him up or hiding his things either. Bruce has told me that he's been thinking about making a pair of snakeskin boots with matching belt. hissed out Drake and Peter hissed out a sigh.

Fine, take away all my fun, why don't you.

You like Beast but you never try to make him question his sanity and it's like you avoid my other friends. Why do you get off on torturing my old mentor? asked Drake as he dropped into the la-z-boy in the living room. Peter dropped a wet towel in Drake's lap and the young man started to wash off the potion.

He's fun to prank. Besides it's like he has a wand stuffed up his butt. Drake had to admit Peter was right on the spot there.

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Nightwing was racing across the rooftops, he had gotten a tip from Speedy that some of the regular bosses of his area were getting nervous and getting ready for something. The archer said it wasn't like any of them were doing anything wrong, but it was more a feeling of a bigger fish coming. Everyone knew that the only one other than Apocalypse to command that respect was Slade, and that Nightwing was the one who needed to take care of anything having to do with the illusive crime boss. It wasn't that Slade was too tough for others to handle, it was the fact that Nightwing was gathering proof against him and had experience with how Slade moved and worked. But the biggest thing that he had to get past were the androids that the man favored to use as opposed to showing up personally for anything.

Speedy, I'm at the pier. whispered Nightwing into the communicator.

Good timing. Warehouse twelve seems to be the gathering place. came the response, I'm gonna take off, but I'll be in touch.''

Nightwing used the shadows to hide and get into the quanza hut. Sure enough, all the big names that Speedy had briefed him on were there and waiting for someone. Nightwing used the suit's magna grips to get to the top of the roof and hide in the shadows created by the lights that hung below him. He was glad of the recording capability of the mask he wore and the fact that he now activated it whenever he was Slade-hunting.

As he was used to, Slade came out of the shadows dressed in his steel and black armor and the half copper mask. Immediately all conversation stopped and a couple of the Asian bosses bowed to the man. It was all textbook, and irritating that the man was just so good at being the biggest fish in the pond. He caught his breath as his mask's sensors brought one of their readings to his attention.

He knew about all the faces at the table. He expected the respect and reverence. He just didn't expect the sensors to say that this time Slade was as human as he was. Nor did he like the fact that the sensors picked up that Slade was an active mage sorcerer of high power.

I think it's time for a trip home. whispered Nightwing and he knew that he was going to need help or to at least learn more if he was going to have a chance against the very strong magic using man.

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Draco sat and looked at his best friend as if he was mad.

You mean to tell me that the man you have been hunting is a mage sorcerer, something that hasn't existed in two thousand years? asked the blond incredulously. Nightwing nodded.

Yes. The sensors picked up on it two weeks ago. It seems for once he chose to show up in the flesh, and we made those sensors and the rest of the suit. The man is an active mage sorcerer of very high power and you know how well warlocks used to fight against them. Draco scowled at Nightwing's sardonic tones.

Yes. Warlocks were created by the mage sorcerers to be servants and avatars, it became part of the sorcerer's art to learn how to absorb a warlock's power of will and how to control them. You can't fight him on you own. said Draco.

I can, but I need to become a mage. Nightwing said.

Fine, but that means that we need to get you under Severus's and my father's tutelage. Draco said with a sigh.

Four years had passed since the year that Nightwing had come to Hogwarts and now M &S was the largest worldwide magitech company and had the record for patents. Voldemort had been mysteriously assassinated a year ago with basilisk venom, and now magitech was a growing sector of industry and many young witches and wizards were trying to take their GSEC's with their OWL's. Draco and his mystery partner, Sunseeker, were credited by most with the worldwide revolution of wizarding culture and their way of life. Most well to do homes now had a computer with access to the wizernet as well as the internet, and even old fashioned Hogwarts had a computer lab with classes in programing, web page design, and typing. While it would be a few more years before the wizernet could be used as an effective alternative to the library, it was now a good supplement for those in NEWT level courses as well as those who were in the Uni.

Draco was proud of their accomplishments and Nightwing came back for at least a straight month every year plus a few days every month to do R&D with him as well as just to hangout and get away from being the avenging shadow that he had to be in the Titan Earth. He knew that on that world he was living as Drake Bradleys who was a successful businessman, but it was an empty accomplishment for the warlock. It was a position based on how best to capture Slade, not like his position in his home world. Draco could see that Nightwing loved to create new bits of technology that would help and heal the recovering world. It was why Draco always kept the labs the way that Nightwing left them and gave to his friend total control over the staffing of the department and the type of research that he wanted to do.

Now that Nightwing brought this news to him, he knew that even if he could find a way to tag along to help out, he'd be useless. As far as wizards went on the magical gift spectrum they were good against muggles, part-humans, and non-humans but against anything like a warlock or sorcerer they were like a switchblade going against a broadsword. In other words, unless they could pull something devious or quick, they were as good as dead. The only way he could be on the same level combatively as Nightwing would be to become a mage master like Severus was.

The man was a master of five forms of magical arts because of both his time as a Death Eater and his time as a spy for Dumbledore and the Order. Of course, Severus had used darker ways and more dangerous and costly rituals to achieve his power than Draco was willing to do. Severus had paid dearly to several deities for the gifts he now had, the result was a man who had no friends out side of Draco, Nightwing, and Dumbledore, who had no romance in his life, who did nothing but work unless his friends dragged him out of the labs or classroom. Nightwing was able to study under Severus, but as Draco thought about it he wondered what Nightwing would do to catch Slade.

Severus once told him that during the height of the war he had stopped short of selling his soul for more power, but that Voldemort had very little trouble doing it.

Draco was worried that maybe Nightwing wouldn't have as much trouble giving up his soul as Severus did.

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(End Chapter Nine- No, You Can't Eat Him)