MoP


Harry Potter and the Myriad of Possibilities: Prologue

Chapter 19: Deception, Part 8.

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, 6f5e4d and the members of the Caer Azkaban for their help on this chapter.

A/N: I decided to take a little break from
Rebellion so that I can get at least an idea what the plans for Targets are before continuing, but rather than go on a full hiatus I decided to go back and spend some time with one of my favourite Team members. I will be continuing with Deception until I catch up Rebellion, then I may alternate chapters or post full versions from each perspective depending on what fits the episode in question and where my muse goes up to at least Auld Acquaintance and potentially into some original Year One content.


Gotham City.
September 16, 17:46 EDT.

"Is everything all right, Artemis?" asked her mother, concerned. "It's not like you to play with your food…"

"It's hero business, Mom," Artemis answered, briefly diverted from her half-hearted attempt at eating. "I can't talk about it."

Her mother frowned but appeared to accept the answer and returned to her own meal.

After about another ten minutes, the food was stone-cold, so Artemis gave it up as a bad job and moved to start clearing up.

Washing up occupied her attention for a while, but eventually she couldn't stand the mystery any longer. She sighed. "Mom, I'm gonna head over to the Cave and get some answers."

Her mother nodded. "When will you be back?"

"When I've got some answers."

Her mother paused, scowling, but offered no argument. "Will you keep in touch?"

"If I can."


Mount Justice.
18:55 EDT.

"Recognised, Arrowette B-Zero-Seven."

Artemis' heart sank a little when she saw that only Robin and Wally were in the Mission Room when she arrived, but almost immediately a holo-screen appeared showing Kaldur and Red Tornado onboard Bio-Ship.

"My friends, it is good to see you."

"Are we going to get some answers now?!" demanded Wally.

"Yeah, what he said," agreed Artemis.

"My apologies," said Aqualad. "There were some… difficulties… that required a level of secrecy during the set-up."

"That makes sense," agreed Robin. "I take it that things are in motion now?"

"They are," confirmed Red Tornado. "I believe that you are aware of Batman's concerns about a possible mass escape from Belle Reve?"

Artemis nodded. A glance at the two boys showed that Robin had also been aware of the concerns, and Wally had been clueless. "Miss Martian and Superboy are investigating I take it?"

"Indeed, they were 'arrested' by Sergeant Pride of Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office a short time ago," confirmed the android. "They have just left for Belle Reve."

"In disguise?" Artemis asked, then thought for a moment, considering recent reports. "Presumably as the Terror Twins?"

"Correct on both counts," confirmed Aqualad. "They joined Icicle Jr and Mister Freeze on tonight's transfer convoy. Red Tornado and I are following them in Bio-Ship."

"We'll meet you at Belle Reve," said Robin.

"Negative," said Kaldur. "Remain at the Cave unless either Batman or myself say otherwise."

"What?!" exclaimed Wally. "I'm not going to…"

"The Justice League is busy with several other cases currently," Red Tornado explained. "You may be required for a mission elsewhere."

"Fine," Wally grumbled.

"Bio-Ship out," said Aqualad, and the screen disappeared.

"What do we do now?" Artemis asked. "I don't know about you two, but I'm not in the mood for training."

"Let's go and see what's on the TV," Robin suggested.

"I'll get the snacks!" declared Wally unnecessarily.


22:55 EDT.

Celebrity Hockey had just signed off, when Kaldur's voice called them back to the Mission Room.

"Is everything all right?" Artemis asked.

"Everything is fine," Kaldur assured her. "The prison transport contained Miss Martian, Superboy, Icicle Jr and Mister Freeze will enter Belle Reve momentarily."

Artemis relaxed a little. Given both villain's probable contacts, a rescue attempt in transit wouldn't have been a surprise and could have been a major complication.

"It is unlikely that there will any further developments until at least tomorrow morning."

"Agreed," said Robin.

Artemis nodded.

"So, what's the plan?" Robin asked.

Red Tornado stepped forward. "As I do not require rest, I will remain on watch outside the prison."

"I am going to get some sleep," added Kaldur. "I suggest the three of you do the same. We will talk again after breakfast unless an emergency occurs."

Robin nodded his agreement.

"Bio-Ship out."

Robin turned to the other three. "I'll take first watch here… Wally, you can take the second watch…"

"Why me?"

"Because while you're good at eating food, you're terrible at making it," explained his best friend. "Whereas Artemis isn't."

"That makes sense," allowed the speedster. "See you in a couple of hours!"

"If that's okay with you?" Robin asked Artemis as their team-mate sped away.

"Yeah, that's fine," Artemis agreed and turned towards the bedrooms.


September 17, 08:44 EDT.

Artemis sighed as Wally paced up and down.

"What?" he asked, frowning.

"Either relax or go to school and get out of my hair," Artemis told him. "Your pacing is helping anyone."

Wally was about to retort, but the ringing of his phone broke his train of thought. His frown deepened as he extracted the device and answered it. "Mom?"

Artemis couldn't hear what the older woman was saying, but Wally's defeated look when he hung up told her the jist.

"You'll tell me if there's any news?" he asked in a resigned tone.

Artemis nodded.

Wally dashed towards the Zeta Tube.

"Recognised, Kid Flash B-Zero-Three," declared the computer as he disappeared.


09:16 EDT.

"Miss Martian has just reported in," Kaldur told them. "Icicle Jr has hinted to Superboy that something will be happening today."

"Have you told the League?" Robin asked.

"Negative," Kaldur replied. "I suggested doing so, but Miss Martian pointed out that the ringleader, Icicle Sr, would just postpone and that we need to know how they plan to escape."

Artemis nodded, that made sense, though she didn't particularly like the idea.

"We should join you," said Robin hotly.

"The nearest Zeta-Tube is in St Roch, over two-hundred miles away," Red Tornado pointed out. "It would take you several hours to rendezvous which us. You may be needed elsewhere."

Robin sighed. "Good luck."

Artemis echoed the sentiment.

"Thank you, my friends," said Kaldur. "We will keep you apprised. Bio-Ship out."

"I'm going to check over the infirmary," Artemis told Robin. "Just in case."

"Good idea," Robin agreed. "I'll keep watch."


14:00 EDT.

"Well?" Robin asked Kaldur as soon as the Atlantean called in.

"The mission was a success."

"Are Miss M and SB okay?"

"Superboy is uninjured," Kaldur replied. "Miss Martian has a slight case of frostbite, but I have been assured that she will be fine."

"Was she frozen?" Artemis asked, trying to remember what she'd read about Martian physiology.

"Only for a few moments."

"Then I agree," Artemis concluded. "Even in the caverns, it doesn't get much over freezing in the summer and winter is usually much worse."


17:10 EDT.

Her initial assessment had been a little overly optimistic, but fortunately Artemis' medical kit was designed with Gotham's Rogues in mind, so she had several treatments available that she was able to adapt to M'gann's needs after a brief conversation with her uncle and she was back to normal in time for dinner.

Artemis declined an invitation to join her, Conner and Kaldur for dinner and headed home.


Gotham City.
17:16 EDT

"Hi Mom, I'm home!" Artemis declared as she entered their apartment.

"I'm in the living room!" replied her mother.

Artemis could hear the low hum of the television from the room. She ducked into her room to drop off her kit bag and then joined her mother in the living room.

The familiar face of Cat Grant was on the screen, "Thank you, Ted. I'm here with Justice League media correspondent Catherine Cobert. Catherine, my sources indicate that there was an attempted mass breakout at Belle Reve earlier today, which was foiled by members of the Justice League who had infiltrated the prison to investigate rumours of an attempted breakout. Do you have any comment?"

"I can confirm that there was an attempted breakout earlier today," Catherine replied. "However, no member of the Justice League was involved in assisting or averting the breakout. Any further information will have to come from the prison authorities."

That was a very specific denial, Artemis noted to herself. I wonder if she's been practising?

Her mother switched off the screen and turned to look at her. "Is this why you've been stressed lately?"

Artemis nodded. "Batman and Green Arrow got suspicious after Cam applied to be transferred from Stockton to Belle Reve…"

Her mother nodded. "I would have been suspicious too."

"So, Conner and M'gann were sent in as the Terror Twins to investigate and if possible stop whatever was planned."

"Which they did."

"Which they did," Artemis confirmed. "M'gann was slightly injured, but I couldn't fix… she'll be fine."

Her mother nodded again. "Dinner will be ready at the usual time."

"Great," said Artemis. "I think only Kid Mouth has had much of an appetite for the last couple of days."


September 22, 07:00 EDT

Artemis groaned, then reached out blindly from under her covers to switch off the buzzing alarm. As she pulled her arm back under her covers. As she opened her eyes, she glimpsed the Alice in Wonderland poster on her wall over her sister's abandoned bed and her mind drifted back to an event several years earlier…

Her sister, dressed in a black halter-neck top and dark-green combats walked in front of the poster, the single strap of a small bag slung across her chest and another larger bag in her hand, which she dropped on her bed.

"Please don't go!" begged Artemis – who was dressed in the dungarees and long-sleeved t-shirt that had been her usual outfit at the time and carried a small teddy bear – from her own bed.

"Sorry, sis," replied her sister briskly, as she pulled a drawer open. "Mom's not getting out of prison anytime soon…" Her voice turned angry as she removed a stack of clothes from the drawer. "And I refuse to live in this house with just

Dad.""Dad and you and me," retorted Artemis, her voice trembling as she fought not to cry.Jade turned her head, looking over her shoulder to say something…

"Artemis, get up!"

A familiar voices broke Artemis out of her reverie.

She glanced at the door into the corridor, and sure enough, her mother was sitting there, dressed for the day.

Artemis sat up, allowing the bedding to bunch around her waist.

"I will not have you late for your first day of school," her mother insisted, then wheeled out of sight.

Artemis fell back against her pillow, groaned, and then pulled her bedding back over her head.

But after a few minutes, she realised that her mother was right, and she reluctantly got out of bed, then pulled on her robe, and padded out of her room and into the kitchen.

Her mother was already there. "I've baked some pastries. You should have a good breakfast before you go."

"Sounds good," Artemis agreed, then slid into her chair and helped herself to the selection.


07:26 EDT.

Standing at the mirror in their tiny bathroom, Artemis brushed most of her hair – apart from two hanks of hair that she kept loose to frame her face – back into a long, low ponytail and securing it with a thick elasticated hair band. "Artemis, it's time to go!"

"I'm going, Mom!" Artemis insisted, then turned to leave.

A minute later, after ducking into her room for her blazer and shoulder bag, she rushed out of the flat and headed for the nearest underground station, arriving just as a train was pulling into the station.


07:50 EDT.

"Next stop is Fletcher Street," declared a voice over the tannoy.

Artemis glanced around her train car. Although there were a few older teens among the passengers, none of them appeared to be about to rise. I guess not many Academy students have to take the subway, she thought as she gathered up her belongings and exited the carriage as soon as the train had some to a stop on the platform.

A few moments later, she walked in through the gates of her new school and couldn't help thinking how different it was from the last time that she'd been there as she stood alone in the courtyard, adjusting the skirt in a vain attempt to make it longer.

"Artemis?" asked a strange voice.

Artemis abandoned her skirt, then straightened up and turned to look at the stranger.

She was a curly-haired, friendly looking blonde, who wore the same white blouse and maroon skirt as Artemis herself.

Artemis nodded.

"I'm Bette, your new student liaison," continued the other girl. "Welcome to Gotham Academy."

"Thanks," said Artemis, given the other girl a grateful smile, feeling awkward. "Um, I'm Artemis… but you already knew that…"

Before Bette could continue her spiel, they were interrupted by a short, raven-haired boy who came up them on Artemis' blind-side and grabbed Artemis' shoulder and drew her close to him. "We'll laugh about this someday," he promised and raised his phone in front of them, snapping a quickie selfie and disappearing again before she had a chance to react.

"Uh, who was that?" asked Artemis as she looked around, confused.

"A freshman," Bette muttered. "Ignore him."

Artemis paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Let's get you sorted out," said Bette, turning towards the main entrance. "First stop, Administration…"

Artemis nodded and followed the slightly taller girl inside and followed her down the corridor until they reached a broad desk console, which several holo-screens floating over it.

Holo-screens… Artemis thought, impressed. Gotham North's staff are still mostly using ancient Digitronix boxes…

The grey-haired woman at the desk looked up at the two girls and smiled. "Miss Kane, what can I do for you?"

"Mrs Hawkins, I'm playing student liaison today… this is Artemis Crock," she said, indicating Artemis. "She's just transferred over from Gotham North."

The older woman bent her 'keyboard' and tapped in a few instructions. "Yeah, I've got her… emergency contact details, medical questionnaire, previous school transcripts… all of that looks good…" she reported. "Funding via Wayne Foundation scholarship…"

"Is that a problem?" Artemis asked.

"Not at all, Miss Crock," Mrs Hawkins replied. "The Foundation funds at least a couple of places here every year… you're at least the third this year."

Artemis relaxed, a little relieved to know that she wasn't alone in that distinction.

"I've emailed you a copy of your timetable," continued the secretary. "IT has a number of choices of computer available for you."

"I'll take her down there when we're down here," promised Bette. "And the library."

"Your locket assignment is sixteen-sixteen, the default is quadruple zero," Mrs Hawkins added. "I suggest you change it."

"I will," Artemis promised.

"Well, I think that's everything I need," Mrs Hawkins said. "I will contact you if I need anything else, but you can run along for now."

"Thank you, ma'am," said Artemis, and turned towards Bette. "Where to next?"

Bette paused to think. "What's your first class?"

Artemis reached into her jacket pocket and fished out her phone. It only took a moment to find the secretary's email message. "English II."

"Okay, that's my first class as well," Bette noted. "The library is closer to there, than to the IT department. So, we should probably go there first, then we can cut through the cafeteria to the Languages and Literature Department."

"Makes sense to me," agreed Artemis and followed the other girl as she turned away from the secretary's desk and back down the corridor.

The two girls stepped into the IT department. To Artemis' surprise it was mostly empty, apart from a long-haired young man who was definitely not following any version of the school dress code that Artemis had seen, as he wore a loose t-shirt, scruffy jeans and trainers. He also had a bulky pair of headphones on, which probably accounted for him not noticing their entry.

Artemis would have been content to take in her surroundings and wait. The hardware around them wasn't quite as high-tech as the Cave, but it compared well to the Vault in terms of computer hardware and there was a lot more of it.

Bette had other ideas though. "Cosmos!" The man didn't appear to hear her, and he had his back to the door, so he couldn't see them either.

"Cosmos?" Artemis asked, incredulously.

Bette smiled. "It's not his real name… the principal's probably the only one around here that knows that… rumour has it that he was the head of the school's official Cosmos Patrol fan club back when he was here as a student – he's definitely a big fan – and it just stuck."

Artemis nodded, she'd certainly heard weirder nicknames and reasons for them.

"COSMOS!" bellowed Bette.

"What, who…?!" exclaimed the man, briefly wobbling in his chair as he spun around, pulling off his headphones. He scowled at Bette. "What's wrong this time?" he asked warily.

"Nothing," Bette said, in a fake-innocent tone that spoke of considerable practice to Artemis' ear.

The man favoured her with a sceptical look.

"No really," Bette insisted. "I only came in so that you could get Artemis set up. She's just transferred over from Gotham North."

The long-haired man snorted, then turned to look at Artemis. "Gotham North… you'll need the full package then." He rolled over to a holo-screen that he could access while still keeping eye contact with the girls. "Artemis Crock, sophomore… that's you?"

Artemis nodded.

He tapped a few keys, then reached for a pad of sticky notes and scribbled a few words on it. "That's your log-in to the Academy intranet and school email…" He tore the sheet off the pad and held it out to Artemis, who accepted it. "The password's only good for twenty-four hours, so make sure to change it."

"I will."

"Your scholarship includes an allowance for computer equipment… most students go for something portable, but I can have a system delivered to your home if you'd prefer?"

Artemis considered it for a moment, but her mother wasn't particular tech-savvy and hadn't even hinted at wanting to change that. "I'll take something portable."

The man nodded. "I've got a few different models to choose from, but best value for money would probably be a Q-Core HoloBook."

"You've got HoloBooks?!" exclaimed Bette. "I want one."

The man frowned at her. "Go a term without bugging me to fix the LexPad that I issued you with last year and we can talk."

Bette pouted but said nothing.

"I'll take one," Artemis said.

The man nodded, and slid over to a trolley where Artemis could see a large stack of the devices – which strongly resembled an older machine without a monitor – and slid one out of its dock. "It's fully charged, so you just have to log-in and you're ready to go," he told Artemis, as he grabbed a handful of accessories, including a power cable, then rolled back to the counter and handed them over.

"Thanks."

"That's what I'm here for," he told her. He glanced down at his screen. "It's almost time for first bell, so you'd better get a move on if you've got other stops to make?"

"We do," Bette confirmed. "Let's go."

Artemis squeezed the machine into her shoulder bag and followed her out of the lab.

True to the man's prediction, they'd only just finished in the library when the bell went off for class.


21:16 EDT.

Artemis was just about to enter her usual Zeta Tube, when a familiar voice spoke.

"Artemis?"

She turned, startled.

It was Robin.

What's he doing here? she thought but didn't ask. I'm sure they have a tube in the Batcave…

"Robin! I uh…" she gasped, struggling for an excuse to preserve her cover.

"How random that you're in Gotham City…" said Robin, a knowing edge to his voice. "Instead of Star City where your uncle… Green Arrow… lives?"

Has Batman told him… or Red Arrow? Artemis wondered. "I'm-uh, here to see my cousin. She was in the state spelling bee. Here... in Gotham City…" she kicked herself for adding the stupid and obvious lie.

"C-O-O-L," said Robin brightly. "Did she W-I-N?"

Comforted by him deciding to play along, Artemis' confidence surged, and she threw him an annoyed look. "N-O."

"D-R-A-G." Robin responded, nonplussed.

"Yeah," Artemis huffed. "Let's just go to the Cave."

Robin bent his knee and gestured theatrically towards the broken phone booth. "Ladies first."

"Your town," reported Artemis, sharply and put her hands on her hips. "You go."

The Boy Wonder shrugged and opened the doors with a creak.

"Recognized, Robin B-Zero-One," declared the computer seconds later.

Artemis paused to allow the blinding light to fade and then stepped inside herself. "Recognised, Arrowette B-Zero-Seven," declared the computer and in the blink of an eye she was back in the Cave.

Seconds later, an explosion that filled the room with a thick cloud of smoke caught her off-guard. At first, she thought that one of her team-mates had caused an accident, but a warning shout from Robin told her otherwise.

She tensed, ready for trouble and was just able to vault out of the way of a fireball that hurtled out of the smoke towards them.

Robin came hurtling out of the smoke, drawing two birdarangs from his utility belt as he landed in front of Artemis.

Before she could ask him what was going on, another fireball flew out of the smoke towards them.