I neither own Harry Potter, JKR beat me to the punch nor do I own Batman or any of the other DC Comics characters, places etc.

Chapter One – Explanations & Machinations

The Batmobile pulled into the cave and the Dark Knight quickly came up to see his friend.

"Alfred what is wrong," he asked as he removed his mask. "I have never known you to be shaken by something as innocuous as a tattoo before.

"Forgive me sir. It was nothing," Alfred responded.

"No, what is it." Bruce asked him.

Sighing knowing there was no chance of him not answering, he explained, "The tattoo you described is known as the Dark Mark. It is the sign of the dark wizard Voldemort."

"Wizard, Voldemort?" Bruce questioned, concerned for his friends sanity. "What are you talking about Alfred?"

"As you know Master Bruce, there is magic in the world. You know this from your experiences with Zatana and Morigan. What you may not be aware of is there is an entire world of witches and wizards that have been around for a very long time," he explained. "Several years ago my father was cast out of his family because he was not a magic user. He changed his name to Pennyworth, became a butler for many well known English house holds and married my mother. After World War II he sent me to America where I met your father and became a part of this family. I have kept up to date with the comings and goings of Wizarding England throughout the years. This mark you described was how Voldemort marked his followers, known as Death Eaters. However, I was under the impression he was defeated almost sixteen years ago by an infant."

Waiting until Alfred was finished with his tale. Bruce looked at his friend and asked, "An infant defeated an all powerful dark lord? But, with what we have seen I guess anything is possible. Alfred, why didn't you tell me or my father about this?"

Smiling slightly, Alfred replied, "Sir would you of believed me, if I told you I was descended from Wizarding stock?"

"Probably not, but what does this mean, now that apparently this Voldemort has returned," Bruce asked his new found expert of the Wizarding world.

"Nothing good, Master Bruce, nothing good indeed," Alfred told him.

Over halfway around the world three friends were exiting King's Cross and walking over to meet with Harry's Uncle.

"Get your things in here boy," he barked at Harry. "I won't have all of these normal people seeing you and your freak friends."

"Sir, my name is Hermione Granger and this is Ron Weasley," she began. "We are going to be joining Harry this summer."

Quickly changing in color from red to a brilliant violet he shouted, "YOU FREAKS WILL NOT BE STAYING IN MY HOUSE! IT'S BAD ENOUGH I HAV…"

He paused seeing the pair of wands pointing between his eyes.

"I don't think you understand Uncle Vernon, they are staying and there is nothing you will be able to do about it," Harry quickly explained. "They are of age, which means they can do magic without fear of expulsion."

Ron added, "And if you so much as breathe funny, I will make sure I leave plenty of things for Dudley to eat. You remember last time he ate something, my brothers left don't you"

Paling as he only caught certain words, free, magic, red headed demon food.

Puffing up, "you don't think I'm going to supply food or room for all of you." Then realizing Hermione was a girl, he said, "There had better be no funny business going on." Grumbling as they got in the car, the teens heard the occasional, "should have drowned him, damn freaks."

Arriving at Privet Drive, Vernon quickly left the car and the teens followed him.

"What are they doing here," Petunia shrieked.

"As we told your husband here, ma'am," Ron explained. "We are staying with Harry until he leaves."

"And as we also told your husband, Mrs. Dursley, we are of age and we are able to do magic," Hermione continued.

"Basically Aunt Petunia, they are here to make sure I, and by proxy you, are safe," Harry finished. "We will be staying in my room; there will be no need to see us unless you wish us to join you at meal times."

"I never," Petunia huffed and walked off.

Harry turned to his friends, "this way to my room, I'm sorry for the size."

"Don't worry about it mate," Ron said. "At least I know the bars are gone from the window."

"Bars," Hermione asked, "What are you talking about Ron?"

As Harry cringed, Ron began, "Back before our second year, when Fred, George and I came to get Harry, his uncle had put prison bars on the outside of his window. If we hadn't come in the Anglia to get him, we would have never got him out."

"It wasn't that bad Ron," Harry started.

"Harry James Potter!" Hermione shouted, "It is horrible, why didn't you tell me? My parents would have called the authorities; we would have taken you in."

Looking at Ron with a slight glare before turning back to Hermione, "I didn't want anyone in danger because of me."

Ron, trying to change the subject away from the past to now, "So the first thing we need to do is get us a place to sleep."

"Let me Ron, I would rather have something that isn't semi-transfigured," Hermione interrupted. "Now then, first we need to expand the room slightly, add a bath for me and one for you two, then come up with beds."

Spying the broken toys of Dudley's, Hermione's eyes gleamed as she said, "Those will do nicely."

She proceeded to create a very spacious apartment in the small room where Harry's bedroom stood.

Watching his friends as they completely changed his room, Harry began thinking. I should let them go to their families. They don't need to stay here with me. It's like I told Ginny, it is too dangerous for anyone to be near me. I should try to get them to leave, but I can hear Hermione now, don't even try to make us leave Harry. We have been together through everything, we aren't stopping now.

"RONALD WEASLEY," Hermione shouted, "You insensitive git, I can't believe I even kissed you. If you want a girl who sleeps with you all the time, you should have stayed with Lavender!"

"'Mione," Ron began, "I thought we were together now though."

Shaking his head listening to them go back and forth, Harry seriously began wondering about his friend's sanity.

"Alfred, I need you contact the airport, let them know I will be needing the Wayne Enterprises jet, prepped and ready to go in an hour," Bruce said.

"Yes sir," Alfred responded, "Where should I say we are going sir?"

"To London, Alfred, we are going to London," Bruce answered.