Chapter 9: Inside the Batcave

Batman drove in silence across Gotham. He was not about to take any chances on the three teenagers in the passenger seat of the Batmobile finding out where he was taking them. He was also attempting to sort the events that lead him to have the robed trio and two very old fashioned broomstick in his car. Had the Joker and the other Rogues taken over a boarding school in Europe? Their accents were real. Batman had traveled enough to know when a person was faking their voice. He was quite sure that she had said "dungeon" and "Headmistress". The latter was not as puzzling as the first. Did they live at some sort of castle? And who were the "Death Eaters" and "Voldemort"? Some how he actually believed this hair-brained story.

"Alright," Batman said breaking the silence. "Who are you three?" He decided to start with the basics.

"I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione said, rather happily.

"Ron Weasley," he said in a tone that suggested boredom.

"Harry Potter," Harry said, still trying to figure out where they were going.

Their names seemed harmless enough. "Now tell me about this school…"

"Well," Hermione started, "We attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Term started a week ago, and during the Sorting Ceremony, this man with shocking green hair and a purple suit, the one that you call, 'Joker', strode in after a precision of Death Eaters, You-Know-Who's followers. Then the man stood at the head of the room and said that he was taking over as Headmaster and then proceeded to have the professors taken away by the Death Eaters. The rest of the week went on pretty normally. One night the three of us snuck out under Harry's Invisibility Cloak and went down to the dungeons, following the Marauder's Map of course. We found our professors and explained to them what was going on. Our Headmistress, Professor McGonagall, told us to come and see you, and that you would know what to do. To top this all off, the people that seem to follow this 'Joker' person, are teaching our classes and ruining them in my opinion," Hermione said this all very quickly.

Batman raised a masked brow, "So, you're witches?"

"I'm no witch!" Ron said indignantly. "How stupid can you be?"

"Ron, he doesn't live in the Wizarding world! These two are wizards, and I am a witch, yes," Hermione said, hoping Ron's temper wouldn't flare.

Batman frowned. This kid had a lot of nerve calling him stupid in his own car. "And you three want my help to get rid of Joker and the others…"

"Yes, Sir. McGonagall said that you were the one that could help us," Hermione said, her head bobbing up and down as she nodded.

Batman glanced over at the blindfolded trio. Ahead the stone bridge into the Batcave swung down and he drove into the cave, parking on the platform above the bottomless cave. "You can take those off now…" He said opening the roof and hopping out.

"We've told you why we're here, now could you tell us where we are now?" Hermione asked, hoping to sound polite.

"Home…" Batman walked up to the huge Batcomputer and started to pull up records on the transfer of the Rogues to London.

"Master Bruce?" A white-haired man with a British accent wearing a butler's suit was standing at the top of a long stone staircase. "Oh my, I didn't know you were bringing home company."

Batman shook his head at the computer and looked from his long time friend to the three. "Alfred, why don't you show these three the kitchen and get them something to eat while I check something."

"Very well, sir," Alfred looked at Harry, Ron and Hermione with a raised brow at their broomsticks.

Harry and Ron's gazes followed the butler's and they saw the Firebolts. Looking at each other and shrugging they followed Hermione, who was following the butler, up the stairway.

"It's not often that Master Bruce brings guests home from his work," Alfred said, deciding it was all right to use Batman's real name if he deemed appropriate to let the trio into the upper mansion. When he reached the top of the staircase he pushed the back of the clock that guarded the entrance to the Batcave aside and let the three pass into the large study beyond.

Harry studied his surroundings carefully. He'd been in enough tight situations to know that you need to know your ground in order to fight on them, even though he didn't think that there were any reasons. Now matter how hard he tried to convince himself of that, the more he realized that they knew nothing about Batman. He let out a small sigh as they walked into the study.

Alfred let the clock slide back into place as Harry, Ron and Hermione walking out into the study. "Why did Master Bruce bring you here?" Alfred asked leading them out the study and down the hall to a modest and cleanly kitchen.

The trio followed the butler into the kitchen, all of them stopping in the doorway.

"He brought us here because we need his help with a matter in Europe," Hermione said, she had been brooding over the fact that she straight out told Batman that they were of the Wizarding World.

"It's a matter regarding our school, Hogwarts. The Joker and his people have taken over it, and we asked Batman to help us remove them," Hermione said, trusting the butler.

"Yes, apparently they moved into London, most people haven't heard of Hogwarts, don't worry yourself over it," Harry said looking around the kitchen.

Alfred raised a brow and turned from the counter with a plateful of sandwiches. "Well, help yourselves." He offered them the plate.

Ron, being who he is, immediately reached out and grabbed a sandwich. Harry followed his lead, though he ate slower. Hermione was the last to grab a sandwich.

"Thank you," she said, and began to take small bites as Ron grabbed for a second sandwich.

A click was heard over a small black radio on the wall. "Alfred?" came Batman's voice, "Can you bring our guests back down to the Batcave?"

Alfred pressed the button next to the speaker, "Right away, sir…" He handed the plate to Harry and lead the way out of the kitchen.

Harry took the plate of sandwiches and quickly finished his own sandwich. The three of them went at a hurried pace following Alfred out of the kitchen.

Alfred led them back into the study and down the staircase behind the grandfather clock. At the bottom of the stairs, Batman was sitting at the Batcomputer, his fingers typing at the keyboard.

"Harry," Batman said when they reached the bottom, "Do you know this name?" He enlarged the words on the screen, "Louise Marvolo".

Harry studied the words on the screen. "Marvolo was Voldemort's middle name when he still went by the name of 'Tom'," Harry said trying to piece all of this together.

"This was the name of the head doctor of the London Insane Asylum," Batman pressed a key to bring up another document. "I says here that the asylum had been close for over nine years until it was purchased by one, Louise Marvolo. It was said he paid in full, nearly a half million in U. S. dollars in cash…" Batman looked at Harry. "Your Voldemort is a very wealthy man…"

"That doesn't make any sense though," Hermione said, looking thoughtful, "How does Voldemort have that much money? A half-million United States dollars would be over one hundred thousand galleons. From what Harry told us, he spent most of his time three years ago wandering the country with Wormtail. One hundred thousands galleons wouldn't be a light load to carry around. My guess is that this is one of his Death Eaters, one who flaunts his fortune," she finished, looking imploringly at Harry.

Harry's brow creased as he looked at Hermione, trying to figure out what she was saying. "Malfoy," he said after a few moments, "Lucius Malfoy."

"My thoughts exactly," Hermione said with a short nod.

Batman looked at the two. "Then it would seem that if we find this Lucius Malfoy, we might just find your Voldemort… Once they're gone, the Death Eaters," Batman stretched his memory to sort the facts, "will flee and leave the Rogues to fend for themselves…"

Hermione and Ron exchanged a glance, looking for Death Eaters wasn't on their 'favorite things to do' list.

"Well, what are we sitting around chatting for? Shall we go?" Harry said, looking as if his mind was set.

"Alfred," Batman looked up at his old friend standing by the stairs, "Prepare the Batwing for a flight across the Atlantic." He stood from his seat at the Batcomputer.

"I'll be sure to pack your extra ensemble…" Alfred turned on his heel and strode into the chambers of the cave.

"The Batwing, Sir? Is that the thing that we came here in?" Hermione asked looking at Batman.

"No," Batman walked over to an opening in the cave, leading down to another chamber. He flipped a switch to reveal a sleek, black, jet plain whose wingspan was shaped like huge bat wings. "That's the Batwing…"

"Wicked," Ron said looking at the Batwing.

"You are aware that we're flying in this thing, right, Ronald?" Hermione said looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Can't we just fly back on the Firebolts?" Ron said, paling slightly.

"I'm pretty sure this way's faster," Hermione said, grinning now.

"I'm pretty sure that you two should stop bickering," Harry said, stepping in between them.

Batman looked at the three. "Even if you would fly those things," glancing at the old broomsticks, "I sure I could not fit on a broomstick…" He said frankly, still finding it odd to have a witch and two wizards in the Batcave.

"Well how about this. You fly in, that thing, and I'll fly back on the Firebolt?" Ron said, hope evident in his voice.

"For the last time, Ronald, no!" Hermione said slapping him on the arm.

"Can we just leave before these two start a fist fight with each other?" Harry said eyeing the two of them skeptically.

Batman looked at Harry. He was thinking along the same lines. "Alfred?"

"Finished, Sir," Alfred called, appearing from behind the Batwing.

Batman looked back at the battling Ron and Hermione, "Let's get going then…"

The three of them clambered into the Batwing.

"Can I ask you a question?" Ron said looking at Batman.

"I'm sure no matter what he says you're going to ask him anyway," Hermione said rolling her eyes.

Batman gave an inward sigh of irritation as he climbed into the pilot's seat of the Batwing, "If you must…"

"Why do you wear your underwear on the outside? I mean, I don't see your reasoning behind this. Not to mention the fact that most men wear boxers. You're not gay are you?" Ron inquired, continuing to look at Batman.

Batman's face dropped. Who in their right minds would ask something so random or offensive as wearing one's underwear on the outside? Then he realized, these kids where not in their "right minds", not even close. "I don't know, and no. Are you three ready or not?" Batman replied, resisting the urge to hang them outside Gotham Police Headquarters on his way to London and feeling quite self-conscious.

"Well, that's a relief," Ron said, visibly relaxing in his seat, "Still doesn't make any sense though," he said shaking his head.

"Oh, just give it a rest," Hermione said rolling her eyes skyward.

"No, I'm trying to figure something out, without your help, for once in my rather short life," Ron snapped back at her.

Batman shook his head slightly as the roof of the jet closed the cabin. It was going to be a long flight.

Jester's Note: Sry folks but Ron's question was just too good to keep away... This was a bit of a down chapter... Candles and I have some real comedy coming up including the first ever Hogsmeade Fudge Fest!