Harry Potter Returns
A Harry Potter/Superman Returns Crossover
Chapter Twenty-One
Debut
Updated June 24, 2011
The return of a taller, older-looking Harry to the Academy set off an avalanche of speculation on what had happened to him over the next several weeks leading up to the Christmas break. Rumors were flying about the cafeteria and many classrooms on what had happened to Harry.
Naturally, many of the students looked to Harry's friends for information, but little was forthcoming. When questioned, Ginny would only frown and say, "I haven't talked with him about what happened — maybe you should ask his new girlfriend," for Harry had been seen walking around the corridors with a new girl, a blonde who'd been identified as Linda Lee. Linda didn't seem to be taking any classes, however, and no one knew which dorm room she was staying in, if any.
Ron and Hermione, with whom Harry had shared some of the details of his time in the Dark Dimension, had promised to say nothing to the other students. Predictably, however, Ron could not resist dropping subtle hints about where Harry had been for four days, and why he now looked two years older than before. Those hints fueled some wild speculations about what had happened to Harry Potter — that he'd taken an Aging Potion, or that he'd gone back to Britain where Voldemort cursed him into aging two (or three, or five) years.
Harry himself wasn't talking. It wouldn't do any good, he reasoned, to bring up more speculation about Dormammu and Clea — Dormammu had never appeared and Clea was now exiled to some pocket domain of the Dark Dimension, unable to return for some time. What had amazed him most about the time he'd spent there was what had happened at the end, when Superman beat her in a magic duel. And now Clark was Sorcerer Supreme of both the Dark Dimension and Earth! He must've learned a lot about magic in the Academy's Library; after all Harry, after training with her for two years, still couldn't overcome Clea in her home dimension.
That realization kicked Harry into high gear — he began an intensive regimen t to complete his reading of the rest of the books in the Library before the end of term in December. Not that he wanted to outdo Clark, but Harry had been a wizard for five years before he and Clark had the accident that transferred some of their powers to each other. He'd never been in Hermione's league as far as understanding magical theory, but now, with super-memory and the energy he absorbed from Earth's sun giving him additional magical power, he had an advantage no other wizard possessed. If Kara planned to become a superhero, then with Clark's help, perhaps Harry could do more than just become an Auror — he could become a Super-Auror!
Or something like that, Harry added wryly to himself. He still hadn't had a chance to talk to Clark about this, however — Kara had told him his mentor had been spending time with Chloe Sullivan for the past few weeks; she would disappear after classes were over, saying she was going to see Clark. Kara was pleased that her cousin was spending time with a woman, Harry discovered — she told him that Clark still harbored some feelings for Lois Lane, and Chloe seemed to be drawing him out of his self-imposed shell, making him interested in the goings-on in the world. It would be good, Harry thought, to see him back in the sky, protecting people once again.
"Harry?" Harry looked up from the book he'd been speed reading — he was lucky he'd been thinking about other things at that moment instead of flipping through 50 pages a second at high speed. Inwardly he groaned — it was Ginny.
"Hi, Ginny," he said, mentally bookmarking the page he was on and closing the book. "Uh, how are you?"
"Fine," she answered, in a tone that clearly said, not fine. She sat down across from him. "It's just been a while since we talked."
"Yeah, I guess so," Harry agreed, a bit uncomfortably. The last time they'd talked, she'd gotten into a shouting match with him about Clea. Both she and Hermione had been right about Clea, but that was beside the point — Harry had given the sorceress the benefit of the doubt, and his instincts had been wrong, but he'd learned his lesson. A hard lesson, two years' worth, but he'd ended up much more magically powerful than he ever would have been, otherwise. "So, um, what's on your mind, Gin?"
"Your friend, Linda," Ginny answered immediately. Harry kept his face neutral. Kara had been using her cover name, Linda Lee, while at the school.
"What about her?" Harry wanted to know. He had a sinking feeling Ginny was going back on the prowl for him.
"Well, are you serious about her?" Ginny was giving him a penetrating stare.
"I don't know," Harry answered, not wanting to say, "I might be."
"You don't know?" Ginny looked surprised. "You could have fooled me — you hang out with her every chance you get! Are you just playing her, like you played me?"
Harry frowned. "I never played you, Ginny. You tried to get me to go out with you, not the other way around."
Ginny stood. "Oh, is that how you remember it, Harry Potter? That's not what Hermione told me!"
"What?" Harry couldn't believe his ears. "Hermione and I never talked about you!" There had been a time when he liked Ginny, after he and Cho Chang broke up, but now that time seemed remote, disconnected, by his time in the Dark Dimension. "Hermione said more to me about you then I ever said to her!"
"Right." Ginny was beginning to turn red, the way Ron sometimes did when Hermione got him worked up. "I suppose she just made up all that stuff she told me you said about liking me!"
This was getting surreal. "Ginny, I don't know what she said, but —"
"Stop!" Ginny said. "I don't want to hear it! If you want to have your fun with that — that girl, go ahead, but don't come running back to me when she dumps you!" Ginny turned and fled the Library, leaving Harry upset and confused. What the hell had just happened? He followed her with his X-ray vision, watching as she ran back, not to her dorm room, but to Hermione's. What would she say to Hermione?
Harry tried to listen with his enhanced hearing, but lack of practice for two years made it difficult to isolate their conversion — he was hearing everyone in the school talking at once! When he finally tuned in on them, he heard:
"— can't really know what Harry is thinking these days," Hermione was saying. "He doesn't confide much in me anymore."
"He doesn't say anything to Ron either," Ginny added. "Though Ron said he knew Harry was getting into something with Clea." Harry was pretty sure he hadn't said anything to Ron about Clea — it was actually Hermione he'd mentioned that to, and he'd talked to Clark about it as well.
"I warned Harry about Clea," Hermione was saying.
"Apparently that didn't convince him," Ginny said, sardonically. "And now he's running around with that bint Linda Lee!" she added savagely. "Nobody at school even knows where she comes from, and she just walks in here like she owns the place! I can't stand her!"
This was beginning to piss Harry off, and he discontinued listening. But he calmed down after a minute — after all, he could understand how Ginny felt; he'd sort of felt the same way after seeing Cho Chang with Michael Corner. But only "sort of" — he had lost any real interest in her after her friend Marietta Edgecombe nearly exposed Dumbledore's Army to Dolores Umbridge and the Ministry, and she tried to excuse herself to him. He would have to talk with Ron about this — maybe he could fill Harry in on what had been going on with Ginny and Hermione.
=ooo=
"Bring in the final prisoner," Chief Warlock Dumbledore ordered.
Luthor was brought into Courtroom Ten, escorted by two silent, grim-faced Aurors. Luthor looked around at the assemblage of purple-robed wizards seated on the benches of the courtroom. This was not good, he thought. He was even more uncomfortable with the fact that the lone chair on the floor of the courtroom was draped with heavy chains. It looked positively medieval.
The two men placed Luthor in the chair, then stepped back, apparently expecting the chains to encircle him. But nothing happened.
"Before we begin, Mr. Luthor," Dumbledore said, speaking pleasantly bur formally. "Do you have any questions?"
"Yes," Luthor said, immediately. "Haven't you people ever heard of cruel and unusual punishment? This is not how the American judicial system treats alleged lawbreakers!"
"I'm sure they do not, Mr. Luthor," Dumbledore answered. "But you will notice, I think, that you are not in America. Now, do you require representation?"
"I'll represent myself," Luthor declared. There were murmurings from the benches.
"Are you quite sure, Mr. Luthor?" Dumbledore inquired. "You may have heard that old saying, 'anyone who represents himself in court has an idiot for a lawyer and a fool for a client.'"
"That might be true for most," Luthor smirked, "but not for me."
"As you wish," Dumbledore sighed. "We will proceed, then." He glanced toward the Court Scribe, who nodded in return and leaned forward over his parchment, quill in hand.
"This hearing," Dumbledore began, " on this twelfth day of December, in the year nineteen hundred and ninty-six, concerns offenses allegedly committed by one Alexander Luthor, also known as Lex Luthor, against the Wizarding community of Britain.
"The Interrogators for this hearing are Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Chief Warlock; Rufus Scrimgeor, Minister of Magic; Kingsley Shacklebolt, Acting Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Department; and Court Scribe, Rufus Fudge."
Dumbledore adjusted his half-moon spectacles absently. "The charges: that the accused, Alexander Luthor, did attempt to illegally obtain possession of the artifact known as the Philosopher's Stone on or about the fourth of November, 1996 from the residence of one Nathan Fine, of Greenwich Village, New York, in the United States of America; that he did assault, coerce or otherwise compel Mr. Fine in order to obtain this artifact, and that he did unlawfully alter the mind of one Dedalus Diggle, a resident of Smeeth in Kent, causing him to believe he was an ally of Luthor's, and acting in a manner hostile to other wizards.
"How do you plead to these charges, Mr. Luthor?" Dumbledore concluded.
Luthor was silent for several moments. "Not guilty," he finally answered. "On all counts."
"So noted," Dumbledore glanced toward Rufus Fudge, the Court Scribe.
"Before this goes any further," Luthor interjected. "I'd like to move for a dismissal of the charges." A wave of muttering went around the courtroom as the Wizengamot digested this.
"And what is your basis for this motion?" Dumbledore asked.
"On the basis of unlawful extradition," Luthor said. "I was removed from my home country without due process and brought here to England to answer for charges without fulfilling the requirements of dual criminality."
"Theft is a crime in both the Muggle and Wizarding worlds, Mr. Luthor," Dumbledore pointed out. "As is assault and battery."
"By your definition, 'Muggles' do not even know that wizards exist," Luthor countered. "There cannot be dual criminality when one society does not even know the other society is present."
"But you knew, Mr. Luthor," Rufus Scrimgeour put in. "And you were the perpetrator —"
"Alleged perpetrator," Luthor wagged a finger at him. "Let's don't go convicting me before the trial has even begun."
"The Wizengamot has an order of extradition from the United States Department of Magical Justice," Dumbledore held up a piece of paper. "So your motion is overruled. We will continue with witnesses for the prosecution." He turned to a sallow-faced man sitting nearby. "Severus, if you will please take the stand."
Snape rose and descended to the floor of the courtroom, then took the chair as Luthor vacated it to stand nearby, frowning. What was this greasy-looking wizard doing here? he wondered. He'd outsmarted Snape once before, but…
Oh, of course — Polyjuice Potion! It became instantly apparent that Snape had been posing as Flamel. He'd played the part well, Luthor had to admit — he'd been much too intent on obtaining the Philosopher's Stone to check Flamel's bona fides.
"Will you please state your name and residence?" Dumbledore began.
"Severus Snape, residing outside Manchester in Lancashire," Snape answered, in a clipped voice.
"And your current occupation?" Dumbledore continued.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Snape replied. "Before that I was the Potions Master at the school from 1980 to the end of the summer tern in 1996," he added, with a glance toward Luthor.
"Would you please relate to the court the events that took place on the fourth of November?"
Snape described his altercation with Luthor, disguised as Nicholas Flamel. He had used Polyjuice Potion, as Luthor suspected, using a few of Flamel's hairs to make his resemblance to the ancient alchemist complete.
"Objection," Luthor stood. "If Nicholas Flamel is dead, as Chief Wizard Dumbledore contends, then how could he have gotten any of his hairs?"
"Professor Snape, will you explain?" Dumbledore asked.
"I have a vial of Flamel's hair in my private stores, taken a few days before he died," Snape answered.
"How did you come by these hairs?" Luthor challenged. "As I was given to understand, Flamel was quite secretive—he trusted no one who might steal his Stone."
"They were given to me by Professor Dumbledore," Snape replied.
"And Nicholas trusted me implicity," Dumbledore interjected. A small smile quirked the corner of Snape's mouth as Dumbledore added, "Objection overruled."
Snape recounted the rest of his dialogue with Luthor, including his seeming invulnerability to Legilimency, Oblivation and Stunning spells, and his knowledge of Order of the Phoenix members and other details of the Wizarding world.
"That concludes the Wizengamot's questioning of Professor Snape," Dumbledore finally announced. "Does the accused wish to direct questions to the professor?"
Luthor knew he would have to impeach the credibility of this witness if he was to have any chance of acquittal. Fortunately, he'd learned a few things from Diggle after the diminutive wizard had been brainwashed and duped into becoming his accomplice. "Yes I would, Chief Wizard." Luthor walked slowly around the back of the chair Snape sat in, heightening tension. Finally, he stopped next to chair, leaning toward Snape as he snapped, "Is it true that you were a Death Eater, Professor?"
Snape raised an eyebrow at him. "A former Death Eater," he replied laconically; distaste from Luthor's proximity to him radiated from him.
"I've heard that the only way to leave the Death Eaters is by death," Luthor sneered.
"Nevertheless," interjected Dumbledore, "Professor Snape is no longer affiliated with Voldermort's —" Many members of the Wizengamot's winced at the name "— Death Eaters. The Wizengamot has already cleared him of all charges in crimes related to Death Eater activity, and I personally vouch for his loyalty."
Well, that line of attack was a dead end, Luthor realized. o
However, there was another way he could go at Snape. "You and I have met before today, have we not?" Luthor asked.
Snape looked quite unhappy at this question. "Yes," he finally said, reluctantly.
"Will you relate the details of that meeting?" Luthor asked, sounding smug.
"Technically, we did not actually meet," Snape declared. "When I entered your office and spoke to you, you were using Muggle technology to project an image of yourself, lifelike in all respects, though your real body was somewhere else."
"True, but irrelevant," Luthor said dismissively. "For all practical purposes we met, though you were unable to cast any spells on me, as you attempted to do."
"What spells did you attempt to cast, Professor Snape?" Minister of Magic Scrimgeour asked.
Snape turned to the Minister. "Per the guidelines for Muggles with unauthorized information about the Wizarding world, I attempted an Obliviate spell on Mr. Luthor. When that failed, I attempted a Stunner spell. Both spells failed. I was also unable to read his thoughts via Legilimency." Snape looked chagrinned at having to say this.
"So the information I learned from you at that meeting remained intact with me?" Luthor pressed.
"It would seem so," Snape sniffed.
"So you would have reason to want some payback?" Luthor suggested, smiling broadly.
"I would have reason," Snape admitted candidly, "But instead of seeking retribution against you, I informed Professor Dumbledore of our meeting and he told me he would take care of you. And now, here you are."
Luthor was silent, thinking. What else could he do to impeach this witness? The unhappy answer was, nothing. "No more questions," he said, and Snape slid off the chair and resumed his seat in the Wizengamot's gallery.
Next, a thoroughly humbled Dedalus Diggle took the stand and told how he'd been captured by Luthor's men and brainwashed into being his ally, raising murmurs throughout the courtroom, along with dark glances directed toward Luthor.
After Diggle's testimony, he scrambled down from the chair and Luthor replaced him once again. Dumbledore looked around the courtroom for several moments before continuing. "Mr. Luthor, do you have anything to say before the court makes its determination of your guilt or innocence?"
Luthor stood, looking around the courtroom. Most of the faces staring down at him were stony or frowning. It looked hopeless; he would have to use all his knowledge and eloquence to talk his way out of this. Fortunately, he'd planned ahead.
"Witches and wizards of the Wizengamot," he said. "I stand before you a humbled and contrite man. While my goal was a lofty, to join your ranks of wizardry, my methods were — well, shall we say, a bit unorthodox.
"I would like to point out," he continued, "that according to Professor Snape's testimony, I could not have perpetrated the crime for which I am accused — the theft of the Philosopher's Stone, since according to Grand Wizard Dumbledore it has been destroyed.
"I have learned my lesson, however. I will no longer attempt to become a wizard — in fact, I suggest that you Obliviate my memories of your existence, to ensure that I will not try again."
"That is an interesting proposal, Mr. Luthor," Dumbledore mused. "You are admitting your guilt in this matter, is that correct?"
Luthor made a gesture of acquiescence. "It would be foolish to deny it, based on the evidence presented." And his an ace-in-the-hole, back on the Alexandria, was a set of video journals that would bring him back up to speed on everything that had happened, if they did wipe his memories.
"Very well," Dumbledore said. "The court will now render its sentence. You are hereby confined to the wizard prison of Azkaban for the rest of your life."
Luthor's jaw dropped.
"Normally," Dumbledore went on, "while Obliviation would be the normal sentence carried out for a Muggle, we deem you too dangerous to be allowed to roam free, with or without your memories. Imprisonment will begin immediately. Gentlemen," he gestured to the Aurors. "You may take the prisoner to Azkaban now."
"Wait!" Luthor cried, as the Aurors took both of his arms, to lead him out of the room. "You can't do this to me! I want a retrial! I want a lawyer!"
The Aurors were almost to the door of the courtroom when Dumbledore spoke once more. "Oh, one more thing you should know, Mr. Luthor."
The Aurors stopped and faced the center bench once more. "What's that?" Luthor asked.
"I'm sure you suspect that Harry Potter acquired his powers from Superman in some way. What you may not have realized is that Superman also acquired something from Harry — specifically, the ability to perform magic."
"What?" Luthor blanched. "You mean I could perform magic?"
Dumbledore made a gesture of agreement. "Well, you had the capability, but performing magic is much more than simply possessing the physical ability — you must also be trained in magic, and use a wand to focus that magic through spells. It takes from five to seven years to train a wizard properly.
"Fortunately, you will not have the chance, now, as no wands are allowed inside the cells of Azkaban. You should be grateful that the Dementors have left the prison, or you would find it much more intolerable. Goodbye." He waved to the Aurors, and they spun Luthor around to leave.
"No! It's not fair—!" Luthor shouted, but his voice cut off as the door to Courtroom Ten slammed shut behind him.
=ooo=
Ginny wandered into the main foyer of the Academy, clutching a book of magic she was supposed to be reading for an Alterations class, but which she had barely glanced at. She sat down on one of the benches, opening the book, but after a few seconds she was simply staring at the words rather than reading; she was too distracted, too frustrated and too disgusted to care, however. Her mind was on Harry, as it had been since she'd seen him with that — that stupid git of a blonde, Linda Lee.
Things were not working out the way she'd planned when she agreed to accompany Harry, Ron and Hermione to this school. True, she'd learned some amazing magic in the past four months — how to cast spells wandlessly, and with much greater precision than she'd been able to achieve before. Even though the grading system here was a bit twisted — instead of the familiar O, E, A, P, D, T, they used A, B, C, D and F. And they didn't even stand for anything! Even so, most of her grades were A's and B's.
But that wasn't what was frustrating her. Ever since she'd caught a glimpse of Harry, looking so uncertain and alone, on the Hogwarts Express at the beginning of his first year there, he'd been on her mind. She hadn't seen him again until nearly a year later, when she came down to the Burrow's kitchen and found him having breakfast with three of her older brothers. She'd squealed like a little girl, then turned and ran back upstairs, mortified by her behavior and her state of undress (she had still been in her nightclothes). Then she caught Fred's remark about her wanting Harry's autograph, and was sure he would never speak to her now.
But he'd saved her, saved her from that wretched diary, the one that made her do unspeakable things, things she couldn't remember, even after Fred and George had described them to her in detail. Harry had tried to comfort her, but he'd behaved awkwardly, as if his heart wasn't really in the reassuring words he told her. And now — well, she was just going to have to find a way to get Harry's mind off of Linda Lee, and back on her.
Someone entered the foyer from the front doors, but Ginny kept her head down, opening the book and pretending to read it. Whoever it was, she hoped they would pass her without comment. But the person's footsteps were getting closer, until she could see her feet, just in front of her.
"Hello." Ginny looked up, barely keeping her face from twisting with anger. It was that Lee girl! "You're Ginny Weasley, aren't you?"
"Yeah," Ginny said, coldly. "So?"
"Harry's told me about you," Linda said. "He's introduced me to your brother Ron and to Hermione Granger, but I haven't had a chance to meet you yet." She extended a hand. "I'm Linda Lee, I'm pleased to meet you."
Ginny didn't take her hand. "Well, it's nice to finally meet you, Linda," she said, sarcasm in her voice. "I was wondering if Harry would ever bring you round to see me."
Linda withdrew her hand uncertainly. This girl had known Harry longer than she had, and Harry had mentioned that she'd had a crush on him at one time, though she'd since gone out with other boys. Was it possible those feelings were still active?
"I just want to say that Harry and I aren't —"
"Just hold it," Ginny interrupted. She stood. They were about the same height; Ginny had perhaps an inch on the other girl, and she glowered at Linda. "I don't give a stuff what you've got to say. How are you even able to come here — you're not a witch, are you?"
"I have your Dean's permission to be on the Academy grounds," Linda said, calmly.
"Why?" Ginny demanded.
"Well — I'd rather not say," Linda demurred. "But I get the impression you don't really care, anyway."
"Bloody right," Ginny agreed, hotly. "Maybe you should just leave now."
"I'm here to see Harry," Linda shook her head. "I'll leave after I talk to him."
"Oh?" Ginny said, archly. "Well, maybe I can persuade you otherwise —" Her hand shot out suddenly and she fired off a Bat-Bogey Hex, directly toward Linda's face.
But surprisingly, even though there was only five feet between them, the hex somehow missed. It was as if the magical bolt went through Linda without affecting her! Linda frowned at her. "Stop that," she said, quietly. "We don't have to fight."
"Afraid to have a go?" Ginny sneered. She was stockier than Linda, and kept herself pretty fit — the demands of Quidditch had toughened her up. "If you can't duel, then maybe you'd like a good old-fashioned fight."
Linda took a step back. This was getting out of hand! It certainly wasn't that she was afraid of Ginny — her strength level was far beyond anything a normal human — or witch, for that matter — could withstand. "I don't want to fight you, Ginny," she said again.
"Too bad," Ginny retorted, and stepped forward, launched a swing at Linda's face. But that face was suddenly several inches to her right, and Ginny's fist connected only air. She pulled her fists back in a boxing stance, then jabbed toward where her face was now. But again it suddenly moved, and she missed once more.
A final time Ginny's fist flew toward Linda's face. Linda's left hand came up, catching the fist in mid-flight, stopping it cold. Linda was careful not to crush the young witch's hand, though she was tempted to snap a few bones just to make her point. Instead, she put her right hand on Ginny's stomach and lifted, raising her above her head. Ginny screeched and flailed, but was unable to break free of Linda's grasp.
"I hope I'm making my point," Linda said, looking up at her. "You're not going to win in a fight against me." She let Ginny drop, who landed on her feet and staggered back, staring at the other girl in surprise. "Now, I'm going to go find Harry." She already knew where he was, having scanned the building with her X-ray vision as she'd entered. "I'm not going to say anything about this to him — whether you tell anyone or not is your business." Ginny simply glared at her as Linda walked out of the foyer toward the cafeteria. Somehow, someway, she swore to herself, she was going to get Harry back, and this stupid bint wasn't going to stand in her way!
=ooo=
The next day, a Friday, was the last day of term before Christmas break. Harry had spent most of the day in the Library, as usual, but he'd managed to read the last few dozen books left that he hadn't gotten to earlier. Now, with all the books there committed to memory, he was ready to leave the Academy. "Jonathan Clark," Clark's alter-ego at the school, had never returned to classes, either. From what Professor Sullivan had said, and what Illyana had told Harry during private conversions, she and Clark had certainly rekindled some kind of relationship, probably from their secondary school days together, though Clark had never mentioned her before.
Harry had come back to his dorm room before the end of classes, packing up his things at super-speed before Ron or Dalton got back. He set his trunk on the floor beside his bed, then sat down, looking through several walls into Hermione's room; not surprising, she was mostly packed as well. Smiling slightly, he refocused his vision on Ginny's room. She hadn't packed yet, but her area was neat and tidy, her clothing folded and tucked into the drawers that were hers. Her robes were hung neatly in the closet; it should take her only a few minutes to pack.
Ron's area, however, could properly be called a "mess." His clothing was stuffed haphazardly into his drawers or strewn about on the floor beside his bed. The same was true of his robes; Harry reckoned he just picked up the cleanest one he could find and wore it during classes.
Harry debated whether to pack Ron's things for him, finally decided to wait and help him when he got out of class. There was also something Harry needed to talk with Ron about, and Hermione, too, that being his decision not to return to the Academy. He could imagine them being upset; he'd be upset, too, if his best friend had dragged him thousands of miles from home to a strange school, then left halfway through. There just wasn't anything left here for him to learn. Also, he had to admit to himself, he wanted to spend some time with Kara back on the Kent farm as Clark trained her in the use of her super-powers. Kara wanted to go public as Supergirl, just as her cousin had years before.
As for Clark, Harry wondered when he would return to the public eye. He shook his head — it was hard to imagine that Clark was now Sorcerer Supreme of both Earth and the Dark Dimension! He had promised to return the Eye and the Orb of Agamotto to Dr. Strange, making him Sorcerer Supreme of Earth once more, but Harry didn't know if he'd done that yet. Harry suspected that he was talking with Chloe Sullivan, who was also Dr. Fate, on the best use of his magical powers, though the way he'd defeated Clea pretty much showed he had learned quite a bit already. But then, Harry knew, there was always something to learn about the magical arts.
Dalton, his other roommate, walked into the room, glanced at Harry's trunk, and sneered, "Can't wait to get out of here, can you, Potter? You haven't been in classes for the past month — they too hard for you?"
Apparently Dalton hadn't believed any of the rumors that had been flying around the school after Harry's return. He'd started a few of his own, Harry knew — like the rumor that Harry had botched a spell and aged himself two years over the four days he was "missing," as Dalton had sarcastically put it. "I'm sure you're going to miss me, Grimsdale," he replied, coolly. Dalton would never know just how much magical knowledge Harry had acquired in the past two years of subjective time in the Dark Dimension.
"At least Ginger Ron stuck it out in class," Dalton continued, still rubbing in Harry's lack of attendance (or so he thought). Harry ignored the comment. "So now what?" Dalton asked. "Going back to merry old England to flip burgers — or maybe fish 'n' chips?"
"I thought I'd go visit Linda during the break," Harry answered, and in truth that's what he planned to do. Dalton frowned slightly, then shrugged indifferently, as if he didn't care, but Kara had told him that Grimsdale had tried to hit on her a week or so ago, when she was walking out of the school to head back to Kansas. She'd rebuffed him pretty thoroughly, Harry remembered with a small smile on his lips.
"Well, don't go knocking her up," Dalton remarked nastily.
Harry looked up at him sharply. "Don't say crap like that!"
Dalton snorted. "Or you'll what?"
The remark pissed Harry off. He was tired of putting up with Grimsdale's taunts and insults, and in a moment he was off his bed and pressing Dalton against the dorm room door, before the other boy knew what had happened. But as soon as he'd done it, he realized how fast he'd moved. "Just — don't," he warned Dalton, then stepped back and returned to the bed.
Dalton stood against the door for several seconds, his face white. He made a show of adjusting his robes, turned and opened the door. Halfway through, he turned back to Harry. "You better watch your step, Potter," he said, with false bravado. "If you're caught fighting, you'll be expelled."
"Oh, I'm all a-quiver," Harry said, mocking Dalton's attempt to intimidate him.
"Just wait and see," Dalton growled, and left the room. Harry snorted derision; Dalton was such a git. He was about to change his mind and start picking up Ron's things when Ron came in, dropping his bookbag on his bed and flopping over beside it.
"Man, am I knackered," Ron said, looking at the ceiling. "I'm glad that's it for this term — ready to go home and see Mum and Dad again. I'll even be glad to let Fred and George take the mickey out of me." He looked over at Harry, then at the trunk on the floor beside him. "You packed already?"
"Yeah," Harry said, a bit distractedly as he was still trying to find a way to broach the subject of his decision to leave the Academy. "You want some help?"
"In a bit," Ron sighed, lying back and closing his eyes. "I just want to enjoy being done with classes for a few minutes." There was a long silence as Ron lay looking at the ceiling and Harry sat watching Ron. So distracted was Harry with trying to find a way to tell Ron he wouldn't be coming back next term that he was startled by a knock at the door. Glancing through it, he saw Hermione on the other side.
"Come in, Hermione," Harry called. Hermione stepped into the room, giving him a perplexed look.
"How did you know it was me?" she asked.
"I recognized your knock," Harry said.
If Hermione was convinced by that explanation she said nothing about it, but instead asked, "I'm about to get packed. Harry, are you going to stay at the Burrow? I'm going to visit my parents for a day or so for an early Christmas, then I'll join you there."
"Well, er —" Harry hesitated a moment. "Actually, I was going to visit my friend Clark." Ron sat up suddenly.
"What? You're not coming to the Burrow? Everybody's looking forward to seeing you again, Harry!"
"Yeah, well…" Harry looked a bit uncomfortable. He didn't really want to be around Ginny, not after Kara had told him of the altercation between them. "I can probably drop by sometime."
"In time for Christmas?" Ron pressed. He wasn't too happy either — the idea of Harry preferring some American over his long-time friend didn't sit too well with him. "Mum has been working on a present for you."
Another sweater, most likely, Harry thought to himself. Every year Mrs. Weasley knitted new sweaters for her sons — and since Harry began going to Hogwarts, one for him as well. "I'll be over for Christmas, yeah," he agreed. He just didn't say when he'd be over.
Hermione was giving him a penetrating look. She may have suspected what he was thinking — he wasn't sure if Ginny had told her about the fight with Kara, but he would have bet she mentioned something about it. "What?" he finally said to her.
"Nothing," Hermione sighed. She knew better than to say anything concerning Harry and Ginny in front of Ron; it tended to upset him. "But I was just thinking," she added shrewdly. "Perhaps we can go with you for a visit as well."
"Er —" Harry didn't care for that idea, it was going to put a crimp in his time with Kara, not to mention the possibility of exposing her secret identity to Ron and Hermione. "It's, er, pretty short notice, don't you think?"
But Ron had sat up on his bed as well. "Sounds brilliant!" he said enthusiastically. "He lives on some kind of farm, doesn't he? I'm sure Mum and Dad won't mind if Ginny and I stay over — we've had you over loads of time, Harry; it won't hurt if we don't make it back to the Burrow until the summer break."
"I don't know if there's room for all of us," Harry temporized. He knew quite well that the Kent farmhouse had four bedrooms in it — one for Mrs. Kent, one for Clark, and he and Ron could stay in one room; but that meant that Kara, Hermione and Ginny would have to split the fourth bedroom. Given the ill feelings between Ginny and Kara, it would make for an awkward situation.
But neither of his friends was thinking about that, even if they knew anything about Ginny's attempts to lure him into a relationship. Hermione was smiling brightly at Harry. He was pretty sure she did know something about him and Ginny. "I think it will be quite interesting to visit the Kent farm, Harry."
"And," Ron continued, "When the winter term starts we'll be able to teleport from Kansas back to Montana, rather than having to take a Portkey home."
"It's called a Teleport Key," Hermione corrected him absently.
Harry opened his mouth to tell them that he wouldn't be coming back next term, but closed it without saying anything. He could tell them once they were at the Kent farm and settled in. Yeah, it would be simpler that way, he reasoned.
It didn't take long to pack Ron's things; with Harry's help they were finished in about ten minutes. Hermione had left to pack her own things and check on Ginny; they agreed to meet in the foyer at 4:30. Most of the students had already left the school, only the four ex-Gryffindors and several of the school proctors. Ron, predictably, spent more time talking than packing, so Harry had to pick up the slack to get his things ready by the agreed-upon time. Ron also hadn't yet noticed that Harry had packed all of his things, not merely what he would need for the two-week holiday. "Good enough," he said, with about half of his own clothes packed away, on the off-chance that he could get someone to wash them.
Harry felt a bit guilty about not saying anything about his plans, but kept quiet anyway. The hardest part would be telling Professor Potter about his plan not to return to the school — the old fellow had been overjoyed to have him there, along with his friends. But he would understand his intention was to help Clark — at least, Harry hoped he would.
=ooo=
The group appeared about halfway along the driveway to the Kent farm. Hermione and Ron looked around. In spite of the cold, windy day, Hermione looked quite happy, while Ron pointed to the barn with the farming equipment in it. Ginny was silent; Harry could feel her eyes on him even as he looked toward the farmhouse. She had not looked happy when Ron told her they were going to the Kent farm, but there had been a subtle quirk on her lips that had made Harry feel uneasy. "Come on," he said. "Let's go tell Mrs. Kent we're here."
Harry was tempted to look through the walls and see where Mrs. Kent and Kara were in the house, but he resisted the temptation; it would be invading their privacy to do so without good reason. Besides, he could hear Mrs. Kent humming a song inside the house; she was evidently occupying herself with some activity. There also seemed to be a muffled conversation going on, but for some reason Harry couldn't focus on it, even concentrating as hard as he could under the circumstances.
On the porch, Harry knocked on the front door. A few moments later Mrs. Kent answered. "Well hello, Harry!" she smiled warmly at him, then looked at the others. "Who are your friends?"
"This is Hermione Granger," Harry said, indicating Hermione. "And this is Ron and Ginny Weasley. They thought they'd like to visit for a bit over the holidays."
"Well, come in out of the cold," Martha told them, and the four students stepped inside. "How long are you out of school?" she asked, looking toward Hermione.
"Two weeks," Hermione said. "We go back on January sixth."
Martha was smiling at Ginny. "My, you have lovely hair, dear," she said.
"Thanks," Ginny said smiling slightly in spite of her foul mood. It was not hard to guess why Harry wanted to come here — that girl was around here somewhere as well, Ginny just knew it. Hermione thought this would be an opportunity for Ginny to find time alone with Harry again, but with that Lee girl around, she would have little chance of getting through to him. "I hope it's okay for us to barge in like this — Ron thought it would be fun to visit a farm, but he doesn't always consider other people's time."
Ron looked outraged by this remark, but — "Oh no, dear" Martha said, gently. "Believe me, it's a gift to have Harry's friends visit with him." She pointed to the kitchen. "I just finished baking a couple of chocolate pies — why don't you all come into the kitchen and have some, and we can all get acquainted?"
The five of them sat in the kitchen, eating pie and drinking ice cold milk. Harry was pleased to see that Hermione and Ron had both taking a liking to Mrs. Kent, talking animatedly with her about their school subjects. Ron, particularly, was fascinated by the idea of a Muggle that seemed to understand they were wizards, but was completely at ease with them. Even Ginny was enjoying the food and laughing with them.
Finally Harry could no longer resist, and risked a quick look through the ceiling into the room he knew was Kara's. But she wasn't there, and he wondered where she might be. That low, muffled conversation was still going on somewhere in the house, but no matter how Harry tried, his enhanced hearing couldn't focus on it. His gaze shifted around, looking through several walls into adjoining rooms, searching for its source. He soon came to a room his vision couldn't penetrate.
That was odd! The room wasn't sheathed in lead, the only substance his vision couldn't penetrate — so what kept him from seeing into it?
Harry suddenly realized — he hadn't seen Clark yet. "Mrs. Kent," he asked, "Is Clark around?"
"Oh, I'm sure he's around somewhere," Martha replied, a bit mysteriously. "He's entertaining a friend."
Harry's eyebrow went up. "Really?" he said, even though he had a pretty good idea who: Chloe Sullivan. He wondered what would happen if his school mates found one of his teachers here with Clark. Clark was supposed to be "in the know" about magic, but no one knew he was now magical himself. "I wonder who that could be?" he said, feigning ignorance.
"I'm sure you'll meet her before long," Mrs. Kent said, going along with his ruse. No one was supposed to know that Clark had visited the school as Superman and took Miss Sullivan away for private conversations. "She's quite an interesting person," Martha added.
But there was no appearance from Clark that day, or from Kara, leaving Harry wondering what had happened to the two Kryptonians. He spent the rest of the afternoon showing Ron and Hermione around the farm, while Ginny, like her mother, preferred to spend time in the kitchen, helping Mrs. Kent prepare supper for them that evening. Harry also suspected she was trying to get information from Mrs. Kent about him, but he resisted listening in on their conversation.
The muffled conversations he'd heard in the house had stopped, but he still couldn't penetrate that one room which, he learned, was now Clark's study. Whatever had been going on in there, it now seemed empty. Since neither Clark nor Kara were there, either, Harry assumed they had been in there but had left. Without him. The thought rankled Harry; he had hoped to be part of Kara's training, and perhaps pick up a few more pointers from Clark as well.
The next morning after breakfast, Ron and Hermione pested Harry into taking a trip into Smallville itself, to see what a small American Muggle town looked like. Ginny decided to go along as well, having gotten bored with kitchen work. It was a few miles from the Kent farm to the outskirts of Smallville, but with the ability to teleport they covered the distance in mere seconds, next to a billboard that proclaimed
Welcome to Smallville
Population: 18,001
"The Biggest Small Town in Kansas"
"Eighteen thousand people," Hermione remarked, looking at the sign. "That's a lot bigger than Hogsmeade, I'd say."
"Still not anywhere close to London, though, is it?" Ron put in.
"Oh, of course not," Hermione said. "It should be interesting to see what it's like, compared to either one."
"Let's walk the rest of the way," Harry suggested. "I can show you some of the shops on Main Street — it's about a mile from here."
They walked along the street leading to the main square of the town. Near the edge of town were several shops that mystified Ron and Ginny, but which Hermione was more familiar with — automobile shops, an oil and lube shop, small convenience stores and a truck stop diner and rest area. She insisted on explaining each one to Ron as they passed, so it was some time before they had made their way to the downtown area.
The Main Street Square was typical for a small town, with diagonal parking along many of the shop fronts. There was a clock tower in the middle of the square at the intersection of Main and Small streets. Hermione and Ginny peered into the various antique shops that dotted Main Street, wondering what they should get their parents for gifts when they returned home. Ron, meanwhile, peered hungrily into Doc's Donut Shop at the confections being served there.
"D'you think we can get something to eat soon?" he asked Harry. "I'm getting hungry."
"I know where we can go," Harry suggested. "There's a place Clark took me, once — it's called the Beanery."
Ron made a face. "I don't want to eat beans, Harry!" Harry laughed.
"They mean coffee beans, Ron," he chuckled. "It's a coffee shop. They'll also serve pastries and other food there."
"Oh," Ron shrugged. "Sounds good to me. Let's get Hermione and Ginny and check it out."
The Beanery was a medium-sized shop on Main Street near the town square. Across the plaza was Smallville Savings and Loan, and nearby was an old movie theatre called the Talon. On the corner opposite the Beanery was a department store called Fordman's, and next to it a flower shop. "Very quaint," Hermione remarked. "It's not that different from Hogsmeade."
"Yeah, but no Quidditch supply store," Ron observed. "No joke shops, no —"
"Ron, it's a Muggle small town," Hermione pointed out. "They wouldn't have those types of things, just like Hogsmeade wouldn't have a theatre or a flower shop."
"Here it is," Harry said, as they approached the shop. The went inside. The interior of the Beanery seemed not to have changed in decades — it appeared very old-fashioned, with old wooden tables and chairs and items of memorabilia on the walls such as an old Sinclair Gas sign, with a large green dinosaur on it; an old milk can, and a 1939 Wizard of Oz poster that made Harry smile. There was an old upright piano near the front of the shop, its keys yellow and chipped in places. Several groups of people, mostly older folks, were scattered around the shop. They gave the foursome curious looks as Harry pointed to an empty table near the window.
The waitress was a middle-aged lady with a pleasant smile. "Hello, dears," she said as she stopped between Harry and Ron. "What'll you have today?"
"Pumpkin juice," Ron replied. Unconsciously, Harry winced.
The waitress gave him a curious look. "Pardon me? What kind of juice?"
"Uh — do you have tea?" Hermione spoke up.
"Sure, hon," the waitress replied. "Iced or hot?"
"Hot, please, with cream and sugar."
"Sugar packets are on the table," the waitress pointed out. "I'll bring you a creamer."
All four of them ordered tea, and Ron asked what type of pastries they had. "Oh, doughnuts, muffins, bagels, long johns, bear claws," the waitress rattled off. "We also have slices of apple, cherry, blueberry and rhubarb pie."
Ron had never heard of most of these items, and seemed a bit lost on which one to choose. "Uh, apple pie, I guess," he finally said, deciding to go with something he knew.
The waitress smiled and nodded, then went to get their drinks. Harry looked around the table at the others. Hermione was beaming and looking around at the items on the wall. Ron looked bored and hungry; he kept turning around to look for the waitress to return with his drink and pie. Ginny was sitting quietly, looking at him, a look that made Harry feel uneasy for some reason. He wished for a moment he could read minds — he'd really like to know what she was thinking right now.
Their teas came, and the waitress set Ron's slice of apple pie in front of him. "Enjoy, hon," she said with a smile, then went to get coffee for other patrons.
"How is it?" Harry asked, a bit drily, as Ron dug into the pie.
Ron took several chews before answering. "Okay," he shrugged. "Mrs. Kent's tasted better, I think."
"You should have tried something new," Ginny said.
Ron shrugged again. Pie was pie. He took the creamer from Hermione and poured a bit into his cup. "It would be better with pumpkin juice."
Harry could have conjured up a pitcher of pumpkin juice, but he hadn't really shared his new magical abilities with the others just yet. The type of magic he was now capable of went against many of the laws of magic that Hogwarts and the Academy taught — he wasn't sure what the others would think of them, much less the fact that he also had super-powers. "I guess you'll just have to wait until you get back to the Burrow," he said.
"Oh, that reminds me," Ginny said suddenly. "We ought to find gifts for Mum and Dad, and Fred and George, for when we go home."
"Yeah, I guess so," Ron agreed, though he didn't seem too keen on the idea.
"We can each buy one of them something," Hermione suggested, fathoming Ron's natural reluctance to spend money.
"Okay — who gets who?" Ron asked.
"Well, you get your father's," Hermione suggested. "Ginny can get your mum's. Harry and I can get Fred and George's."
"Sounds like a plan," Ginny said. "We can split up into groups of two — that way we can cover more ground. I'll go with Harry," she added. Oh great, Harry thought. She found a way to be alone with me again.
"That's a good idea," Hermione beamed, and if Ron thought anything about it, he remained silent. Harry paid for the tea and Ron's pie, left a couple of dollars for the waitress, and they walked outside onto Main Street.
"We'll meet back here in an hour," Hermione said, taking Ron by the arm and pulling him toward Fordman's Department Store. "See you!"
Ginny was looking at Harry with a satisfied half-smile on her lips. "So, whose present should we look for first, Mum's or Fred's?"
"Doesn't matter," Harry said, trying not to sound uncomfortable. "Whichever one you want."
Ginny was silent for several seconds, staring at him. "Maybe you and I should talk first," she said. Harry nearly flinched at the idea. Why doesn't she get it? He wondered to himself. He wasn't interested in her — he was dating Kara.
"I know what you're thinking," Ginny told him. "You're still seeing that bi— that blonde girl, Linda Lee, aren't you?"
"Y-yes," Harry said, slowly.
"That's why you wanted to come here, isn't it?" Ginny looked around. "She's here somewhere, isn't she?" Harry nodded.
"Funny how we haven't seen her around, though," Ginny pointed out. Silently, Harry had to agree. He'd expected to find her at the Kent farm, and that there'd be some animosity between her and Ginny. But if she'd been there, she had disappeared, along with Clark, for reasons unknown, though Harry suspected they were in training.
"She's been busy," Harry rationalized, knowing he couldn't say just how she'd been busy.
"I think she's dumped you," Ginny said flatly.
Annoyed, Harry snapped, "She would have told me if she didn't want to see me anymore. But you've got it all wrong anyway, Ginny."
"Maybe," Ginny agreed, a note of doubt in her voice. "But if she was really interested in you, she'd let you know what she was doing."
Harry had no response to that. He'd been thinking the same thing, but had been excusing Kara as being too busy to get in touch with him. It would have been easy for her, though, to whisper something only he could hear and let him know what was going on.
As he was about to respond, however, another sound came to his ears, one too soft for Ginny to hear: voices across the square, shouting at people to get down and not make trouble. It was coming from Smallville Savings and Loan. Glancing across the square, Harry saw a car double-parked in front of the Savings and Loan building. The man at the wheel was looking around fitfully. Focusing his vision inside the bank, Harry saw three other men, wearing masks and waving pistols and a shotgun at the terrified tellers and few customers in the lobby. There was a robbery going on! And here he was, stuck in the middle of a heart-to-heart talk with Ginny!
Harry was sure he could stop the robbery without being seen — if he had to, he could cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself and disarm the robbers at super-speed. But first he had to get Ginny out of the way, without giving her any indication of his enhanced abilities. He put his hand on his stomach.
"Um," he said, trying to sound anxious (which wasn't hard, as he was anxious to get away), "I — uh — gotta go to the restroom."
Ginny gave him a skeptical look. "Oh, that's convenient," she said. "Just when we have a chance to talk about us, you need to go pee?"
"Sorry," Harry said, moving toward the back of the Beanery. "I'll be right back." He stepped into the hallway, moving toward the door marked "Men," but as he stepped inside he super-sped out the back door and toward the savings and loan building just as the sound of gunfire reached his ears. That can't be good, he thought, moving at invisibly fast speed toward the entrance of the savings and loan.
Inside the entrance Harry stopped, surprised by the sight that greeted him. Two of the robbers were on the floor, unconscious. A pistol and a shotgun were on the floor nearby, their barrels twisted to make them useless. The third held a young woman hostage, his pistol pointed at her head. Facing him was Kara, dressed in a blue blouse that exposed her midriff and a disturbingly (to Harry) large amount of her cleavage, and a red skirt that barely reached her knees. There was a small Superman insignia on her left bosom. The robber was babbling something about killing the hostage if she approached him. Kara hesitated only a second, then concentrated on the man's pistol, which suddenly became too hot for him to hold. He yelped, dropping the pistol, and a moment later Kara had snatched the hostage away from him and tapped him on the chin, knocking him out.
There was a screech of rubber as the man in getaway car, sensing something had gone wrong, began to accelerate away. Supergirl sped past Harry and grabbed the rear bumper of the car, bringing it to a sudden halt and killing the engine. She sped around to the driver's side of the vehicle, tearing off the car's door with one hand and pulled the driver out. She ran back into bank with the driver in tow, dropping him next to his accomplices. Harry saw that she'd knocked him out as well. Perhaps ten seconds had elapsed since Harry arrived at the bank's entrance.
She turned, smiling at Harry. "Hi there. What do you think?" she asked, indicating her new costume in a voice only he could hear.
Harry smiled back. "I was going to stop the robbery, but you beat me to it," he said, in an equally soft voice.
"Better not be seen talking to me," Kara said. "We might have a hard time explaining how you know me, since this is my first public appearance."
Harry nodded and vanished, just as police cars rolled up outside. He sped around to the back of the Beanery and walked out. Ginny grabbed him and pointed across the street.
"Guess what happened?" she said, excitedly. "Someone just tried to rob the bank over there, and one of those superheroes showed up to stop them!"
"Really?" Harry said, looking across the street. "Which one?"
"I don't know," Ginny answered. "It was a blonde girl, with a blue and red uniform on, and a shield on her chest that looked like an 'S.' I thought that was Superman's symbol." Ginny pointed into the air. "She came out and said something to the police, then flew away."
"Wow, and I missed it," Harry said, sounding chagrinned. He managed to hide his smile from Ginny. It looked like Kara had gotten her wish — she was a real superhero now.
Author's Note: Again, reviews are accepted and very much appreciated!