Read the disclaimers from before, I still don't own anything.

Chapter Five – Heroes Meet

"I'm telling you it is a trap," Ron shouted.

"Ron, calm down," Harry said. "I don't think it is a trap, something about him seemed like I could trust him."

"Harry, are you sure," Hermione asked. "He could be working for Voldemort for all we know."

"I don't think so Hermione. I doubt Voldemort would have been so open with us," Harry sighed. "I am going to meet with him, I am curious. What you two do is up to you."

Grumbling Ron agreed as did Hermione.

"Hermione please call Alfred and see when and where he wants to meet," Harry said.

Hermione looked at Ron then walked off to call Alfred as Ron sat down next to Harry.

"Harry," Ron started, "I think we need to talk."

Harry looked at his friend, wondering where this was going to lead. He said, "Ok, what is on your mind?"

"I don't think Hermione and I are going to work out," Ron said with a sigh. "It was nice, but we don't get along at all."

Breathing a sigh of relief in his mind, but looking at his friend with concern, he said, "I'm sorry to hear that Ron, do you want me to talk to her?"

"No," Ron said, "It's all right; we just wanted you to know. So what are you going to do about Ginny?"

Continuing to look at Ron, Harry thought, 'Well there is the question I've been expecting.' Then he said, "As I told her Ron, we can't be together. It isn't safe."

Hermione came back in the room and told them, "I just spoke with Alfred; we are meeting his employer at a Muggle Restaurant at six.

That evening, Harry, Ron and Hermione entered a fancy restaurant, looking very much out of place. Even though the boys were wearing slacks and nice shirts and Hermione was in a nice dress.

"Um Hermione," Harry said, "Are you sure this is the right place?"

"This is where Alfred said to meet," Hermione said, looking around with concern.

"Excuse me," the Maitre 'D said with an arrogant sneer, "May I help you?"

Using that Gryffindor courage, Harry said, "Yes sir, we were to meet with an Alfred Pennyworth. Has he arrived?"

The Maitre 'D's expression changed immediately as he said, "Of course, I will take you to your dining room."

Each of the teens looked at the other with a questioning glance, before following the now extremely polite Maitre 'D.

"Your guests have arrived sir," the Maitre 'D said.

"Yes thank you," the man at the head of the table said. "You may leave."

Waiting until he left, the man stood up and said, "Thank you for seeing me. My name is Bruce Wayne, please sit down."

Ron and Harry moved to sit down where Bruce indicated, but Hermione was still standing there in shock.

"Your, your, Bruce Wayne," she stammered.

Sighing and taking her by the arm, Ron said, "That's what he said Hermione, what's the big deal?"

Chuckling at Hermione's reaction to one of the world's richest men, Harry turned to their host and said, "I think I can speak for Hermione and Ron, when I say we are surprised to see you here. It isn't often one of the world's richest men asks to speak with three teenagers."

Bruce looked over the teens as they entered and joined him at the table, he was curious about these three. They appeared at first glance to be normal teenagers, but if you looked closer you saw the same look you would on seasoned war veterans.

He thought about them individually. Hermione had been raised in the Muggle world he determined, she knew his name and knew the persona he presented. Ron, appeared to be unaware of who he was and seemed protective of Hermione. Then there was Harry, he is obviously their leader, but there is something else about him.

"Mr. Wayne," Harry began, "We know Alfred is a squib, but again why did you wish to meet with us."

"Call me Bruce," he said. "Alfred has been a part of my family since before I was born. I had learned of a cult based here in England that wants to take over the world. Alfred gave me a few more details and I have done some other research and discovered you have personal experience with this Voldemort and his Death Eaters."

Harry listened to Bruce as he spoke and noticed something familiar. It was as if he had personal experience dealing with problems like this.

"What are you looking for Bruce," Harry asked.

"Simple, I have access to information that you do not, and you have access to information I do not," he said. "I propose we pool our resources and do what needs to be done to stop this man."

Harry looked at Hermione, who was very anxious to work with Bruce Wayne, and then he looked at Ron who was hovering between excitement and longing for dinner to begin.

Sighing, Harry said, "We will think about it, now however if you don't mind I think we should eat."

Bruce almost laughed, "Yes, food will help." He thought, 'That went better than I thought it might. Though I can tell Harry has many doubts.'

After finishing their meal, the trio was escorting Bruce out of the restaurant, when a dozen pops sounded in the street.

Growling, Harry said to Ron, "Protect him, make sure no Death Eaters make it this far. Hermione, let's go."

'Reducto' Harry cast at a group that just appeared.

Hermione followed up with 'Stupefy' 'Incarcerous' and 'Impedimenta'.

Ron watched his friends sending spells occasionally at Death Eaters trying to sneak up on them. While he was focused on what was in front of him Bruce slipped away into an alley way.

"There is more I can do, but first I need to change," he whispered to himself.

Several new pops sounded, as Aurors joined the battle. Those Death Eater's able to, quickly activated port keys and left the scene.

Ron ran over to his friends and made sure they were all right. "Everyone ok," he asked quickly.

Hermione nodded and Harry looked at him and asked, "Where's Bruce?"

Ron turned around to look then looked at Harry before saying, "He was right there, he must have left during the fight. He probably would have gotten hurt anyway."

Nodding Harry turned to the approaching Aurors.

One of them came up to them and said, "What do you think you were doing? Casting spells in front of Muggles, you lot are in trouble."

Growling at the Auror, Harry said, "You wanted us to let them kill innocent Muggles rather than save them?"

"Calm down Harry," Tonks said as she came up beside him. "You did the right thing despite what Dawlish here says. There will be no charges filed against you."

"Auror Tonks, you know what the Minister said," Dawlish said.

"I do and I also know what is legal and what isn't," she replied with a tone that left no room for argument.

Waiting for him to walk away, Tonks turned to the three, "You three ok? Good job on the Death Eaters. I think that you had better go though before Dawlish decides to cause problems."

"Thanks Tonks," Harry said, "Say hi to Moony for us."

The three of them apparated back to near the Leaky Cauldron for the night.