Summary: Harry never asked to be trapped in a new world filled with heroes. And he certainly never asked to be reborn as a clone of a hero. Slash.

Unbeta'd

This chapter is dedicated to Mytheos for all the help and ideas they gave. So thank you very much!

A New Dawn

-Chapter 6-

1

Harry's attention would have trailed off and noticed how he is resting in a bed in the medical ward if not for the man dressed as a bat. He stands close to Harry's bed, his own mind focusing on a transparent screen being emitted from his arm. Harry doesn't know how that's possible, but he doesn't question it. A lot of things in this world do not make sense, especially with the brand-new technology found. Harry considers himself technologically illiterate after how his life had been practically void of electronic machinery. After all, his magic is known to be sensitive around certain equipment. Thankfully, there have been no incidents so far because Harry doesn't know how he will be able to explain himself if there had been a sudden explosion. Harry glances up at Batman and wonders if he should interrupt the man from whatever he is doing, but the concentrated frown that overtakes Batman's features tells Harry he should not. Although, he decides too anyway.

"Umm, hi?" Harry hums out, catching Batman's sharp attention. A split second of shock takes over Batman's face, but it disappears as quickly as it comes.

Harry internally cringes. The 'hi' sounds more like a question than anything, but Batman makes no comment on it. Instead, he clicks a button on his suit and the screen from his arm disintegrates. Batman's attention is now completely on him and Harry regrets ever saying anything. Not because he finds the man intimidating but because he knows what's coming next. The questions, that is. He will have to swiftly think up an excuse to explain why he is in the medical ward. Harry should have kept sleeping until he left. What he'll say he doesn't–

"Your vitals are normal," Batman says, disrupting Harry from his thoughts, "and you don't have a concussion from when your head hit the ground. You seem to be doing well."

Harry blinks. Those words are not something he suspected would come out of Batman's mouth. He thinks of the first time he met Batman and how the man growled out demands for answers. This is different from that time and Harry can tell because of how Batman's voice is a little softer than usual as if he is treading lightly. But why? Is it because he is a child? Harry guesses that, in terms of physicality, he is about the same age as Robin so there was no reason to treat him differently. Harry also guesses that Batman and the rest of the Justice League are still suspicious of him and Superboy. Harry did not understand what was happening, but he chose to reply.

"Oh, okay," is the only thing Harry could bring himself to say and it seems like Batman did not expect more as he continued to talk.

"Superboy found you unconscious and brought you here," he explains, his deep voice reverberating through the room. "Then he contacted us."

So Superboy found him? Harry imagines that it must have given him a fright. He'll have to apologise to him the next time he sees him. And by 'us', Batman most likely means the Justice League. It couldn't have been that serious that Superboy contacted them. He must have been out for at least two hours. Or had he?

"How long was I out cold?" Harry asks, dreading the answer.

"You've been out for nine days."

Harry presses his lips together in a thin line. Now Harry can understand why Batman is acting the way he is. Superboy finds him collapsed in the bathroom with seemingly no explanation and he hadn't awakened for nine days when test results probably showed him to be fine. No wonder Batman looked surprised when he saw Harry conscious. No one most likely knew when Harry would wake up if nine days had passed. He truly owes Superboy an apology. Maybe a gift even.

"Harry," Batman calls out. This is the first time Batman used his name. "What happened at the store?"

"The store?" Harry repeats. Why would Batman bring up his trip with M'gann?

"I checked the CCTV cameras. You were talking to a black-haired woman before you collapsed. Your behaviour from the footage indicates that you somehow know her."

Oh shit. Batman saw him talking to Death. He needs to think fast. He needs to–

"Tell him a slight truth," a voice says from the end of Harry's bed.

Harry almost jumps out of his skin at the sound of Death, but he is able to keep himself stock-still. He forces his eyes not to instantly follow her but keeps his attention solely on Batman. A slight truth? What truth can I use? A thought flashes through Harry's head.

"I do. Know her, I mean," Harry starts. Batman says nothing, waiting for him to carry on. "I met her back in the lab. The place I was made. I'm not like Superboy. I never passed the final tests to become Superman's 'perfect' clone. I was going to be terminated."

The final word causes a twitch in Batman's hands, but his face betrays nothing. So Harry resumes his story.

"The woman was one of the doctors there. She didn't want anything to do with the experiments anymore. Not after the fact that I wasn't the only one who was going to be terminated. There were others before me. Other experiments that had failed. She wanted them to stop but could not find a way. So she tried to save me. Instead of taking me to a room in which I was meant to be killed, she took me to a cave deep within the building and kept me there until she could find a way out. Then Robin and the others infiltrated the lab. She knew we had to leave. There was… There was an accident, so I had to leave without her. I thought she didn't make it, but it turns out she did."

Harry makes sure to be as vague as he possibly can about the 'accident', so he can let Batman's imagination run wild. Basically, make his mind do all the work for him. And by the looks of it, it is. Batman's frown deepens the more his tale goes on and his body tenses up at the vague mention of the incident. Harry should feel guilty lying to Batman when it seems like he wants to help. Well, it is not a full-on lie. There are aspects of truth scattered within the story, especially when Death did save him but in her own way. She had brought him to this world to have a new beginning and gave him a strange body to live in. This makes Harry question whether the body he currently inhabits was soulless before he entered its body or had the previous soul died? Harry internally shakes himself from those thoughts. There is no use thinking about it now. The body is now his.

"And she found you." Batman states, not questions.

Harry nods. "And then suddenly, I couldn't breathe anymore. It's the reason I collapsed. I could not stop thinking about the accident. I thought she died."

"You mean to say you had a panic attack."

"Yes," Harry agrees with his observation.

Batman stays silent for a while as if contemplating the approach to his next question. But before he can ask, a knock vibrates itself through the door. Batman turns his head towards the sound and Harry moves his gaze to glance at Death. She is sat on the edge of his bed with a book in hand. Harry almost snorts at the title of the book. A Series of Unfortunate Events, it reads. Death catches sight of Harry's almost amused expression and smiles.

"Don't worry," Death remarks, while using her fingers to turn to the next page. "I'll make sure he doesn't find out that your 'truth' is somewhat a lie."

That's good, Harry almost says but he quickly holds his tongue.

The door opens and Superboy steps in. The first thing Harry notes is that Superboy doesn't seem to be surprised as to see Batman here. He actually nods his head as a greeting before his eyes catch sight of Harry, awake. He almost stumbles forward in surprise before rushing to Harry side. Harry opens his mouth to say something, but he finds himself trapped in a warm and tight hug. Harry can feel guilty about this, about Superboy. The kid must've been incredibly worried. When Superboy pulls back, Harry hears the door click and Batman is gone. For now, that is. He no doubt has more questions. Harry has never been so grateful for Superboy then that moment. It buys Harry more time to think up answers. Harry scans Superboy's face. There he notices the dark bags under his eyes as if he had not slept for days, but the pure joy at seeing Harry awake causes his face to glow.

"You're awake," Superboy says, his voice wavering. "When I found you, I thought that you would never wake up."

A feeling of sadness gnaws at Harry's heart. As much as Harry does not want to admit it, there is someone in this world that relies on him and considers him family. Superboy does not have much here. Not with a father that denies their existence. Harry knows that it will take him a long time to process his own death and the loss of his family, but… As Death said, he also has a family here through Superboy. Harry cannot deny him that. So he does not.

"I'm sorry," Harry consoles. "I never meant for this to happen. I'm better now. Do not worry too much."

"How can I not worry? You were out cold for days and no one knew why. Even the Justice League could not figure it out. They were all stumped. And… And he visited."

Sensing Superboy's hesitation, Harry knows the answer. "You mean to say Superman visited?"

"Yeah," Superboy replies. "Batman thought if anyone knows more about your condition, it would be Superman being kryptonian and all. But even he did not understand what was happening to you. He could not explain why you weren't waking up."

"You were not because you were still processing your sudden death," Death clarifies, still reading her book. "If I had woken you up sooner, it would have sent you into shock and caused another panic attack. And I thought you did not want others to see you in that state."

Harry will have to hold his thanks to Death until they are alone.

"Well, I'm awake now," Harry says. "How are the others?"

"They're good. We had our next mission. It was meant to be a covert recon mission. To observe and report."

Harry notes Superboy looks a little sheepish as he says that. "Let me guess it did not turn out that way."

Superboy blushes in embarrassment and gives a small laugh. "No, it did not."

Superboy then goes on to describe the details of the mission. That their job was to figure out why the shipments of Venom, a dangerous performance enhancing drug, was cut off even though the place of production were operating at full capacity. That's when things went wrong. Everyone ran off to do their own thing once again. However, it is there they figured out who this shipment of Venom was being collected by. They were able to stop the collection in time and, in the chaos of it all, they were able to select a leader. They chose Aqualad. Harry smiles throughout the story.

"You guys did good," Harry praises. He feels proud of the team for finally learning from their past mistakes. Now missions will run more smoothly with a leader involved. Aqualad is the right choice in Harry's eyes.

Superboy grins in return. "What do you want to do now? I'm free for the entire day. M'gann and the others went out for lunch."

Harry hums in thought. "We can cook something and think of your name, if you want?"

"My name?" Superboy says stunned.

"Yeah, I can't keep calling you Superboy. Can I now?"

"Aww," Death coos as she places her book down. "Look at you boys bonding. I knew this world was a good one."

Harry wants nothing more than to send her a heated glare, so he decides to ignore her instead.

"Okay," is Superboy's answer.

They make their way to the kitchen, but Death does not follow.

2

Harry checks the cupboards and realises that there are enough ingredients to make spaghetti bolognese. So he cracks on with that. In the meanwhile, Superboy is sat near the kitchen table with a laptop in hand. He is searching up names which direct him to websites for new mothers. A look of frustration fills Superboy's face indicating to Harry that he does not like a lot of the names on the screen.

"Any names good?" Harry asks as he seeks out a large saucepan. He finds it in one of the lower cupboards and places it on the stove. Then turns up the heat.

"No," Superboy growls out. "Just who names their kids Elijah? Or Sebastian? Or even Bruce?"

Harry snorts. "A lot of people do."

Harry adds a tablespoon of oil to the pan and waits a while before adding onions, carrots and other vegetables. He stirs them until soft.

"Well, those people are idiots," he huffs out.

Harry bursts out laughing at Superboy's childish answer as he increases the heat to medium-high and adds mincemeat to the pan. "Are there any names you find okay?"

"Not even that."

After the mincemeat has turned brown all over, Harry adds two tins of plum tomatoes, some basil, one beef stock cube and some tomato purée to add more flavour. He stirs the content of the pot while breaking up the plum tomatoes with a wooden spoon. This takes him back. Harry has always been proud of his cooking. He will even say that he is on par with Molly Weasley. After all, she did begin to teach him some of her home-made recipes. Those were fun times. He will miss them dearly but will always be reminded of them no matter what he does. If he had to remember Molly Weasley in any way, it would be through her cooking. So Harry is glad that he retains his ability to bake. He's glad he can remember her in this way.

Harry brings the pot down to a simmer and places the wooden spoon onto a plate. Stepping away from the stove, Harry strolls over to Superboy and peers down at the screen. There are names like Lucas, Ethan, Jacob and many more but none of them really click. Superboy continues to scroll down the screen. It's then a name catches Harry's eye.

"Stop," Harry calls out and Superboy listens. He stops scrolling. Harry lifts a finger and points to a name. "How about that?"

"Conner?" Superboy tests on his tongue.

"Yeah, you look like a Conner."

Superboy raises an eyebrow. "How does one look like a name?"

"I don't know," Harry says between a smile. "You just do. Do you like it?"

"Conner," he repeats before his lips turn upwards in a grin of his own. "Yeah, I do."

"So Conner it is."

Superboy – no, Conner – lowers the screen of the laptop and closes it, his reason for needing it no longer there and Harry returns back to his cooking. He finishes cooking the spaghetti bolognese in about an hour and thirty minutes.

"Conner," Harry beams out. It takes a while for Conner to respond as he is still adjusting to his new name. "Can you set up the table?"

"Yeah."

Conner gets up and searches the cupboards for plates and cutlery. When he finds them, he sets them gently on the table. By that time, the food is ready and Harry picks up the two pots - one filled with the sauce and the other the spaghetti. Harry places them onto the table. Soon both Conner and Harry find themselves eating in comfortable silence and in celebration of Conner's new name.

Author's note:

Hello! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! I also hope the scene of Batman lived up to everyone standards. That was the hardest scene to write.

Also, a very special thank you to Mytheos because now I have a shortlist of Harry's superhero names. These are:

1) Solstyx – a mixture of the name Sol (meaning sun) and the name of the River Styx.

2) Elysium/Elysion – which means 'the home of the blessed after death, the final resting place of souls of the heroic and the pure'.

3) Aser/Asar – Egyptian name, possibly meaning 'something that has been made; a product'. In mythology, this is the name of a god of the underworld.

4) Charon – Latin form of Greek Kharon, meaning 'fierce brightness'. In mythology, this is the name of the ferryman of Hades who ferries the dead across the river Acheron.

Feel free to comment on which one you like the most!