MoP
Harry Potter and the Myriad of Possibilities: Prologue
Chapter 27: Deception, Part 11.
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 that are original to this work remain the property of the author.
A/N: The Myriad of Possibilities Series primarily uses the background from the Harry Potter books but some elements and scenes have been borrowed from other sources – including the movies, Pottermore and my own headcanon – that will be covered where they fit into the narrative. The timeline of the DC Comics elements borrows heavily from Young Justice (2011) and may adapt elements and characters from the comics and several additional other media instalments – including but not limited to Smallville (2001) and Superman and Lois (2021) – and relocates events of Young Justice to the Eighties and early Nineties rather than the New Tens as screened and includes several 'legacy' and original characters as a result. Any other recognisable characters belong to their copyright holders.
A/N: Thanks to Dragon97 and 6f5e4d for their help on this chapter.
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Thomas Wayne Memorial Clinic,
Gotham.
October 31, 16:08 EDT.
"Some people have all the luck," Patty Jenkins – a GU nursing student – commented darkly to another volunteer as Artemis changed back into her street clothes. "It's going to be crazy in here."
We're in Gotham, Artemis thought to herself as shrugged into her jacket and turned to leave the room. If you can't handle a bit of crazy then you're in the wrong job in the wrong city.
"Have fun at your party, Artemis," said Dr Thompkins as she walked through the treatment area towards the loading dock.
"Thanks, Doc," replied Artemis. "I hope things aren't too bad here."
"We'll cope," said the older woman.
17:32 EDT
"Are you going to the party at Gotham Academy tonight, Artemis?" her mother asked as Artemis stood and started to clear away the debris of their dinner.
Artemis shook her head. "Bette asked me if I wanted to come," she admitted. "But M'gann had already invited the whole Team to the costume party at Happy Harbor High and I think that's probably more my scene."
Her mother looked a little disappointed but didn't argue as Artemis turned towards the sink.
Once Artemis had finished washing-up, she hit the books for a while, then she showered and pulled her hair back into a slick, tight ponytail and then changed into a pair of black pants and boots, a grey t-shirt and gloves, and an oversized black tailcoat with red lapels and lining. Finally, she slipped on a set of fake fangs to complete her outfit and headed for the door.
"Night, Mom!" she called as moved through the hall. "They've got a teacher's day at school tomorrow, so I'll probably stay at the Cave tonight."
"Okay, have fun!"
"I'm sure I will," Artemis assured her mother as she opened the door and stepped out on the landing, locking the door behind her before heading down to the street. A minute or two later, she walked down a familiar alley to her usual Zeta Tube.
*-*-*
Mount Justice.
19:34 EDT.
"Recognised, Arrowette B-Zero-Seven," declared the Computer as Artemis walked out of the Zeta Tube into the Mission Room, where Wally – dressed in a letter jacket and a werewolf mask – was playing with Wolf and M'gann – dressed as a 'zombie bride' – was wrapping Conner in bandages, under the supervision of a similarly made-up Captain Marvel.
"Zatanna B-Zero-Eight."
Artemis turned to look at the newest arrival as she walked out of the other tube. Zatanna wore a tattered witches' costume of knee-length dress with a thick red sash-belt, a pointy hat with a red hat-band, and above-the-knee boots. "Oh, hey, Zatanna… you look great."
"Oh, thanks… you too," said Zatanna as they walked across the ring to the rest of the group. "Oh, look, Zombie Captain Marvel… that's hilarious! Is the Justice League having a party? Because my dad didn't mention it."
"No," denied the Captain. "No, no, no." He brough his hand up to scratch at the back of his head. "See, I…" His face flashed with sadness for a moment before hardening. "Fine. I'm going trick-or-treating."
"Recognized, Captain Marvel One-Five," declared the Computer as he flew over to the Zeta Tube. He crossed his arms as he turned back to the Team. "And I'm not sharing my candy."
M'gann giggled, drawing Artemis and Zatanna's attention back to her. Zatanna leaned towards Artemis. "So how long have Conner and Megan been a couple?"
A barking laugh slipped out before Artemis could stifle it with a hand. "Couple? No, they're not a…" she retorted, then trailed off as she looked at the pair.
"Will you please stop fidgeting?" asked M'gann with a giggle as she wrapped Conner's arm.
The Kryptonian teen looked up at her with a very soft look. "You are so making this up to me later."
They are dating, Artemis realised, then straightened up and turned on her heel. Stupid, stupid… How did I miss that?
"Uh," Zatanna said hesitantly as she followed Artemis back towards the Zeta Tubes. "I-I'm sorry… It just seemed so obvious. I-I didn't realize that…" She sped up a little and moved to block Artemis' path. "Wait, the dance."
Artemis stopped and turned away from the younger girl, crossing her arms. "Not in the mood," she snapped. "Course, sitting at home with my mom doesn't sound any more appealing."
"Well, there is another option…" Zatanna suggested. "Egnahc sehtolc otni gnidir raeg… Girls' night out!"
As the smoke surrounding them cleared, Artemis looked down and was surprised that she was wearing a suit of heavy-weight red-and-white biker leathers with her mask over her face and her weapons on her back. She turned back towards Zatanna and smirked.
*-*-*
Manhattan.
October 31, 19:37 EDT
"Recognised, Arrowette B-Zero-Seven… Recognised, Zatanna B-Zero-Eight," declared the Computer as the pair and their bikes appeared.
Seconds later, the doors opened up allowing them to speed out into the park.
"I wonder if there's anything on the scanner," Artemis mused, flicking her bike's radio over to the NYPD band.
She was immediately greeting with a cacophony of noise. "Sounds like there's something going on over at the Natural History Museum," she reported and gunned her engine. "Let's check it out."
"Sounds like a plan," agreed Zatanna.
"Whatever happened here is over," Artemis commented as they drew up opposite the museum's main entrance. "I want some action."
"But maybe you need to talk," Zatanna suggest. "Uh, about Conner and Megan, or… or whatever."
Artemis gunned her engine again and hissed. "What I need is something to beat up."
*-*-*
Their first candidate was a would-be mugger who was holding up a young couple at an ATM.
Zatanna reaches out a hand, fingers spread. "Taeh taht s'nopaew latem!"
The mugger screamed as the gun turns red-hot and dropped the weapon.
Seizing the opening, Artemis drew several arrows from her quiver and loosed them, pinning him to the wall.
*-*-*
Moments later, they found two masked men running out of a late-night store to the tune of ringing alarms.
"I've got these two," Artemis declared and fired two arrows, disarming one and hitting the other in the face, sending him reeling. Then she shifted her grip on her bow and clubbed down the first robber as they sped past, knocking him into his partner.
20:16 EDT.
"Etativel reh!" demanded Zatanna, raising a female jogger above the pack of thugs who had ambushed the girl rises high up above them.
The pack turned towards the sound of her voice, but Artemis was on them before they could react.
She jumped at the closest one, kneeing him in the face, then executed a tight flip to land back on her feet, hitting the second in the face with her boot as she came down.
The third thug threw a clumsy hook punch.
Artemis ducked, then blocked the follow-up as she stood, then brutally kicked him in the chest, knocking him down.
The last thug lunged at her from behind, trying to get her in a bear-hug, but she dodged him, turning it into a hook-kick that sent him spinning to crash to the ground seconds later.
"There were… easier ways to take them." Zatanna said slowly as they wandered back to their bikes.
"They had it coming," Artemis insisted, then shrugged. "No harm done."
Then their bikes exploded suddenly, knocking them off their feet and nearly across the road with the sheer force of the blast.
What the… thought Artemis as she sat up, car alarms going off around her, then she sees a shadowy figure moving out of the smoke towards them.
"No, indeed," agreed the bare-chested, long-haired swordsman. " Harm is not done. Much Harm left to do… The Its cannot escape Harm."
Artemis grunted as she attempted to stand and draw her bow out. She managed to nock an arrow but stumbled a little as she tried to stand and settled for a crouch. "Escaping isn't on the menu!" she declared and fired two trick-arrows in rapid succession.
Harm cut through them both with easy slashes of his blade. "Its arrows do not impress."
"Fine!" said Zatanna as she got to her feet. "Taeh taht s'nopaew latem!"
"Neither does its Magic," declared Harm as his sword began to sizzle. "Both must do better or suffer Harm."
"We get it!" snapped Artemis as she surged to her feet, turning his attention back to her. "Your name is Harm."
"Their ridiculous garb and rudimentary skills indicate instruction from Green Arrow and Zatara," commented Harm. "Harm will study these two to learn methods for killing their mentors."
"Oh, you did not just threaten my dad!" Zatanna snapped.
Not sure if I'd care if he was threatening mine, thought Artemis.
"Etativel drows ot em!" demanded Zatanna, causing the blade to shake in Harm's grip.
"It wants Harm's sword?" commented Harm. "Very well."
He pulled the sword back and then released it, sending it hurtling in her direction. Zatanna barely managed to evade it as it sailed over her head and buried itself in the wall up to the hilt, cracking the brickwork.
"Big mistake, Harmster," declared Artemis and loosed two arrows in his direction.
But even without his sword, he was too fast for her, and he was able to snatch them out of mid-air and throw them back and her, forcing Zatanna to tackle her partner to the ground to protect her from the explosion. "On second thought, running," gasped the sorceress, pointing towards a nearby alley.
Artemis glanced the alley and their opponent, then paused for a second to consider the options. I don't like but… Okay, yeah… to regroup."
As Artemis struggled to her feet, Zatanna stood and turned back towards Harmed and stretched out her hand. "Erif nrub, nordlauc elbbub!"
Fire erupted between her and the swordsman, then flowed around him in a circle in two flaming trails and then connected behind him with another explosion.
As they ran down the alley, Artemis glanced at her partner. "Nice."
"It's something I've been practicing since Red Vol-" replied Zatanna.
Artemis cuts her off. "Wait!" exclaimed Artemis, spotting a petite, pre-teen girl in a white hooded dress and knee boots, with a silver coin pendent around her neck at the next turn, beckoning them to follow her. "Who's that?"
"Do you care right now?"
"No."
The two girls came to a stop as they reached the end of the alley. both slow as the alleyway stops.
"Dead end," huffed Zatanna.
"Where'd she go?!" demanded Artemis, then turned towards the sound of a fire escape ladder dropped to street level.
Zatanna smiled as she spotted the cloaked girl looking down from the roof. "I like her already."
The two climbed up quickly, grunting as crested the edge of the roof and then ran towards the other girl, who had retreated to the centre of the roof as they climbed. "Thanks for the assist," said Zatanna. "But who are you?"
"Secret," replied the girl in a whisper.
"That won't cut it!" snapped Artemis. "We need answers. Do you know Harm? Does he have any weaknesses?"
"Secret," repeated the girl in the same hushed tone and then pointed behind them.
Artemis and Zatanna turned as Harm landed on the edge of the roof.
"At least they make the hunt interesting…" mused the swordsman as he landed on the flat roof and swung the sword in front of him.
"He's fast, I'll give him that," Artemis grumbled. Turning, she pulled an arrow from her quiver and fired it at a nearby water tower, cracking it open.
As the water spilled from the massive wooden barrel, Zatanna gestured toward it. "Dloc snow wolb! Dloc snow wolb! Dloc snow wolb!"
The water splashed over Harm and then froze solid.
Yes! Artemis thought, but her feeling of triumph was dashed when a mark on his chest glowed and shattered the ice.
"Where'd little Miss Secret go?" asked Artemis as she and Zatanna set off running again.
"There!" said Zatanna, pointed to the girl's location two rooves away. "Okay… these boots, adorable, but for a chase sequence…" she declared as they jumped off the edge of their roof. "Lacitcarp raewtoof won!"
As they dropped, smoke briefly wafted over the heels of her boots, replacing the spiked heels with regular boot heels.
Once they landed, they continued to run, with Harm hot on their heels, but slid to a halt as a bolt of golden lightning struck the ground in front of them and looked backwards.
Harm – only a few lengths behind them – pulled a small knife from under his coat and threw it at them.
Artemis ducked out of the way, but it caught her bow, breaking the string as it flew past her to bury itself in a pylon on the opposite side of the roof.
"Hold him off while I restring."
Zatanna moved toward the villain, but before she could strike, Harm sliced at her with his sword, then kicked the teen sorcerous in the chest, knocking her away.
Artemis moved toward him, swinging her bow like a club, but he easily cut through the handle and dodged a couple of swings of the broken bow, before rearing back and raising the sword for downward killing strike then froze.
Artemis was pointing her crossbow straight at his head at point-blank range.
"You wanna play without the toys?" she asked as he lowered his blade to inches from her cheek.
"It tries to bait Harm, leave Harm weak…" stated the villain, then pulled the sheath from his and sheathed it, then dropped it so that it embedded itself in the concrete. "But Harm has no weakness." he declared, then slide his coat and dropped into a fighting stance.
Zatanna got to her feet and flashed a worried look at her partner as Artemis holsters her crossbow and took a stance of her own, then gritted her teeth and charged at Harm, who easily dodged her attacks.
After several rounds, Harm went on the offensive with a harsh knee to her chest and something audibly snaps.
Artemis winced as something audibly snapped but kept an eye on him and then went back on the offensive.
"So unfocused," Harm taunted, letting Artemis' grip attempt slip off his elbow, then sliding left. "It struggles with inner demons and can't fight Harm while fighting itself… Harm doesn't battle his demons… Harm embraces them."
"Would Harm please shut up?!" Artemis snarled through gritted teeth, going for a roundhouse kick that Harm ducked under. Then her attention was drawn by a flash of golden lightning.
"Zatanna!" she screamed as Zatanna was racked with pain and collapsed.
Her brief moment of inattention as all that Harm needed and before she could get back in the fight, Harm knocked her down with an open-handed strike to the face.
"And it cares about others…" Harm noted critically, as Artemis sat up with a groan. "… Another weakness." He picked up his jacket and slid it back on, then glanced at Zatanna who was beginning to stir. "The sword rejected its impure heart; it has not made the sacrifices Harm has to become pure."
"Look." Zatanna whispered. "It's Secret."
The other girl was back, standing on a roof a few buildings away, gesturing for them to follow her.
"She hasn't led us wrong so far." Zatanna mused, pushing herself back to her feet.
Artemis nodded, then pulled another trick-arrow from her quiver and threw it in Harm's direction.
The beeping arrow began to spew smoke around him as soon as it landed.
"Aw, she's gone again… Now what?" Zatanna whispered as they landed on another roof. She gasped. "End of the line. And we can't go back the way we came… he's coming."
Artemis pulled out her crossbow. "We'll zip-line to that magic store."
They heard a zap of electricity behind them just in time to dodge out of the way before it hit them.
Harm landed on the roof in front of them. "This can be no coincidence. They alight on Harm's very roof… how did they know?" he demanded, his impassive visage cracking for the first time. "Tell Harm… now!"
"Wait!" asked Artemis. "This is your place?!"
"No more games!" Harm snarls before slamming the sword into the roof, lightning shooting across it and hitting both of them hard.
Artemis raised her head weakly, seeing Harm standing over her and Secret behind his left shoulder.
Artemis groans as she comes to in a dark room. A stuffed cat, that looks like it's hissing startles into full consciousness. She looks around the room, then trying to break free of the chair she's tied to.
"It deigns to awaken." Harm says suddenly.
A small TV turns on, with static for a few seconds before a grainy picture of Zatanna tied to a chair comes on screen. Artemis' mouth drops and her eyes widen as she realizes that her crossbow is rigged and set up aimed at Zatanna. Who has her mouth duct-taped closed.
"It will tell Harm its secrets. Or its partner will pay the price." he makes just a little bit of noise as he leaves the shadows and closes in on Artemis from behind. "How did it know of Harm's home?" he whispers before walking around.
"Ask your partner," retorted Artemis. "She lured us here."
"Harm has no partner," countered the villain from his place in front of the television. "Harm is pure and works alone." Then began to between Artemis and the television. "It seems honestly convinced Harm had help, perhaps the other it-" He glanced down at the TV, where Zatanna and Secret now both stand casually.
He doesn't immediately realise what he was seeing, but finally twigged and let out an enraged snarl as Zatanna picked up Artemis' crossbow and raced out of the room and across the hall.
As soon as he entered the other room, Zatanna entered Artemis' room and freed her, dragging her into the hall.
When Artemis spotted Secret at the bottom of the stairs, gesturing for them to follow, she immediately raised her crossbow and pointed it at the girl.
"Wait!" insisted Zatanna, pushing her hand down.
"Zatanna, she's his partner!"
"Then why did she help me?"
"Don't know…" admitted Artemis. "… Secret."
The brief moment of levity was broken as Harm appeared at the top of the stairs, his glowing sword in hand.
"Look out!" yelled Zatanna as he sent as blast of golden light at them.
It missed, but the resulting explosion sent the two girls tumbling down the rest of the stairs.
Artemis raised the door to the storm cellar and climbed up with Zatanna close behind her.
She looked around the backyard, briefly noting the blown-out windows from the gas explosion she'd lured Harm into. Hopefully that'll fix him, she thought. Then something else caught her eye.
A shallow grave, marked with a wooden board as a tombstone, and three white roses.
Zatanna walked past Artemis, and kneeled before the grave, placing a hand on it.
Artemis moved to join her.
"Greta Hayes," said Zatanna, reading the inscription. "Beloved Sister."
A glowing, blue-white face rose out of the grave, startling them.
Artemis staggered back, but just about managed to stay on her feet, while Zatanna fell on her bum.
As the glow faded, the two teens moved forward again.
Zatanna glanced at headstone. "This is your grave… your secret," she commented, then glanced back at Greta. "This is you."
"A ghost," Artemis mumbled, wide-eyed. "An actual ghost."
Zatanna slowly rose to her feet, but Greta doesn't move. "Uh, uh," she stumbled over what to say. "H-how did you die?"
Greta conjured a familiar weapon, which floated above her hand in clear view.
"Harm's dagger," gasped Artemis, then turned as the kitchen door blew out and Harm stalked out. "They defile Harm's holy place!"
"We defiled it? You did this," Artemis' voice cracked as she pointed at the grave. "To your own sister!"
He tilted his head to the side and smiled a little.
"You're proud of it?" Artemis gasped, then her face hardened. "And you had the gall to write 'beloved'!"
"Not gall… truth," insisted Harm. "She was the only thing Harm ever loved. That's why she had to go. Harm's heart had to be pure. Greta had to be cut out… excised like an infection."
Harm gasped, eyes wide as Greta appeared again, before getting control of himself. "Ah, it casts another illusion spell."
Zatanna turned from Greta to Harm. "Except I didn't speak," she declared. "Harm knows it can't cast a spell without speaking."
He gasped, staring at Greta as she walked toward him.
"You asked how we found this place?" Artemis snarled. "Face it, Harm… your secret's out!"
"No," he insisted and raised his sparking sword towards them. "Harm's heart is pure."
Greta continued to walk towards him.
"Harm is not sorry… I'm not!" he screamed as Greta reached the tip of his sword and started to 'impale' herself on the sword with only a slight shimmer in her chest.
Greta's eyes narrowed as she reached into his chest, grabbing the glowing mark and pulling out what looks like a small sun.
Harm gasped and fell to the ground and could only watch helplessly as the object disappeared. Enraged he sliced at her with his sword, but it still passed through harmlessly.
The sword-tip landed heavily in the ground, sticking into the concrete. As Harm tried to lift it, he couldn't. The arm-shaped sheath moved again, startling him enough to drop the sword as it goes for where he's holding onto the sheath and then for his face.
The sword flew out of the ground and the two objects met in the air before dropping to the ground.
"I don't need the sword!" snarled Harm as he turned back towards the girls, slicing at Greta with his knife but once again, it passed through her, throwing him off balance and giving Artemis ample time to kick the knife out of his hand.
"So unfocused," Artemis taunted angrily, echoing her foe's earlier words. "It can't fight us while fighting itself." She delivered a hard elbow to his gut, and then kicked him several times in the face.
He groaned, then collapsed.
Zatanna stepped up beside Artemis, a hand pointing towards Harm. "Egnahc setholc otni sgnidnib."
Harm's coat separated into several strips and bound his arms and legs together.
Greta drifted toward her grave, catching both teens' attention, she regarded it sadly.
"We'll make sure you receive a proper burial," promised Zatanna. "We won't forget you, Greta."
"Secret," echoed the ghost girl, then smiled as she sank into the grave for the final time.
"I still can't believe anyone could do that to their own sister," said Artemis. "I mean, if my-"
"Your what?".
Artemis looked at her sadly but said nothing.
"Artemis, talk to me," pleaded Zatanna, gesturing at the grave. "Secrets don't stay buried… obviously. It's better to bring them into the light."
"I don't have any secrets," Artemis lied quickly, then noticed that police sirens were approaching. "Cops are coming."
"We did blow up the kitchen," Zatanna reminded her.
Artemis doesn't reply immediately, as she spotted something through a gap in the fence and wandered over for a closer look. "Zatanna, look."
The teen sorceress joined and immediately realised what she wanted her to see.
Across the street was the magic store, Abel's House of Secrets. But most of the neon in the sign was burnt out so that only one word was visible.
Secret.
"It must have been the last thing Greta ever saw," murmured Artemis as a large, noisy group bundled into the backyard.
"POLICE!" yelled a stocky, red-headed uniformed sergeant who was in the lead. "But down your weapons and put your hands in the air!"
*-*-*
One Police Plaza,
Manhattan.
November 1, 00:16 EDT.
"So, to summarise…" began Detective First Class Olga Cruces, leafing through her notebook as she spoke across a break-room table to Artemis and Zatanna. "You did good work against the ATM Bandit and the Central Park Four… then you were attacked by 'Harm', who blew up your bikes and continued to chase and attack for the next hour or so?"
Both girls nodded.
"You were able to evade him for a while thanks to help the ghost of his first victim?"
Zatanna nodded. "His sister, Greta Hayes," she confirmed. "We promised to get her a proper burial."
"We can arrange that."
The door of the break-room opened, and a dark-haired, dishevelled Irishman popped his head in. "Cruces, the Lieutenant wants to know if you're finished with the girls? Mr Zatara is here to pick them up."
"Pretty much, McClane," confirmed the Peutro Rican detective.
"That's it?" asked Artemis incredulously. "You're just going to take our statements and let us go?"
"Sure," confirmed the female detective with a shrug. "I checked up on you…"
Artemis' heart stopped for a moment. Any statement that started there rarely ended well for her.
".. Detective Lance and Yin both have good things to say about you," she paused and nodded towards Zatanna. "Her father's also got a good reputation here even apart from his work with the Justice League."
Artemis relaxed with a sigh.
"You can stay with us tonight," Zatanna proposed as she stood.
"Lead on," agreed Artemis as she followed the younger girl out of the room.
*-*-*