An Ace in The Hole
Chapter Eighteen: Three Days Disproportionate
Much to Madam Pomfrey's displeasure, Harry, Luna, and Neville ensured they were there when they gave Hermione the remedy.
"The big bad basilisk has been tamed, my dear," Harry cooed the moment she opened her eyes.
"What of Tommy boy?"
"Nothing but a memory now," Luna sighed.
All four broke into broad smiles.
"I promise that we'll fill you in on all the juicy details later," Harry added. "For now, your warden is going to demand your rest. I swear if Healer didn't have such a fondness for the matron …"
"I'm good for a little rest," Hermione assured him. "Now, how's Ginny?"
"Not doing so well," Neville sighed.
"She'll be okay, Nev," Luna interjected dreamily. "She just needs some time to adjust with Tommy out of her head."
"Or … she just needs us to fill her head with something more important," Harry hissed. "Now, get some rest, my dear, and we'll see you tomorrow morning."
Hermione winked at Harry, then laid back on her pillow with one hand behind her head.
~~~Ace~~~
"What's wrong with you?"
Ginny looked to see Harry casually strolling up the corridor behind her. "Nothing."
"That's not the look of nothing." Harry shook his head. "I've seen the look of nothing. It's a pale vacant expression. Deep and void, with bad breath and incomplete sentences."
Ginny sighed, "Okay, okay. It's just that I'm not sure where I fit in anymore. I mean, after all that I've done."
"What has Ginny Weasley done?" Harry shoved his hands into his pockets. "Sounds like a Riddle to me."
Ginny glared at him. "Not funny."
"Wasn't trying to be. Just reminding you who's really to blame." Harry studied her face. "It's only natural to feel responsible for your actions. But remember, if you were to blame, you wouldn't be standing here. The silver beard of justice would have swallowed you whole."
"Guess I'm not the freak you thought I was."
"Always quick to judge. Careful, you're starting to sound like Ron when I first met him."
Fire traced her eyes before fading like a match. "I'm not my brothers."
Harry smirked, "I agree. Your brothers would have never come back from the seduction."
"Oh, Merlin!" Ginny exclaimed, shivering as her face turned pink. "What did Riddle tell you?"
Harry placed a hand on her shoulder. "He didn't have to tell me anything. I've tasted the power. I've caressed the desire. I've walked the razor's edge. There's a thin line between the world we live in and the world we could dominate."
"W-When? When did you experience 'the power'?"
The time had arrived. Harry guided her into a nearby vacant room and closed the door. Unfortunately, there weren't any chairs to sit in, so they sat on the floor.
"One night, my mentor, Mistah J, made a mistake. He forgot to lock the door to his room before falling asleep. So, I crept inside and stood beside his bed with my knife drawn."
"Why did you want to harm your mentor?"
"Mistah J is difficult to explain on a good day. His methods created my alter ego, Ace." Harry ran his hands through his hair. "I had just completed a fairly severe punishment for failure. I knew I could never escape him, yet at that moment, I had the power. I could have slit his throat and walked away, free as a bird."
"What stopped you?"
"Ace was all for killing him. It was Harry that stopped me. He cared too much for my aunt Harley to inflict that much pain."
"You just talked about yourself as though you're three people."
Harry laughed, "I could be the souls of forty thieves for all I know. I don't feel like Harry or Ace at this moment."
"I see a hero."
"Don't go there. I'm serious." He closed his eyes. "There's no hero inside me."
A soft hand closed over his. "Then don't be their hero. Be exactly what you called yourself down in the Chamber. A monster slayer."
He opened his eyes and studied her face once more. "Join my band of merry freaks. Help me find the man, the monster slayer, or whatever I'm supposed to be, and we'll help you discover who you're supposed to be."
"Riddle was the freak," she sighed, pulling her hand away. "I'm just a Weasley."
"Just a Weasley. I think that's like saying, 'I'm just a dragon.'"
Ginny laughed. "Not all Weasleys are Fred and George."
"Agreed. I think that you have far more potential. Whether you want to admit this yet or not, I think Tommy boy saw it too."
"Can we please not discuss him?" Ginny wrapped her arms around herself.
"Absolutely." Harry waved his hands. "Nothing more needs to be said. However, when the day comes that you need to talk about it, I'll be here."
"Thanks." Ginny reached across and gave him a small hug.
Harry pushed himself up to his feet, then helped her up. "Now, I believe that Luna is outside the door waiting to spend the day with you and Lian. You've been quite distant lately, and Luna's been missing you."
"Did you plan this?"
"Nope," Harry replied, popping the 'P'. "Don't ask me how, but Luna and I have a special bond. She has some unique talents."
Ginny smiled. "Luna is definitely one of a kind."
They walked over to the door and opened it to find Luna leaning against the wall.
"Hey, Harry. Hey, Ginny."
Ginny glanced up at Harry. "Hey, Luna. Wanna spend the day together?"
"Oh yes." Luna glanced up at Harry. "That's exactly what I had in mind. Isn't it, Harry?"
Harry smirked at the glimmer of Stain in her eyes. "Yep."
"Join us?"
"Oh no. Harry can't join us. He's got to go practice. He's got a promise to keep."
Harry laughed. "Time to be the Quidditch Slayer, I guess. Snake and Badger," he pretended to check off an invisible list. "Now it's time for my specialty. Birdies."
"Go have fun!" Ginny waved as she and Luna walked down the corridor.
"Yep. It's time to make good on my promise. Then, it'll be time to finish this amazing school year off right!"
Harry spun in a circle, then ran off down the corridor in the opposite direction with his arms spread wide like an airplane while making sputtering noises.
~~~Ace~~~
"The final Quidditch match of the year has arrived—Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. The whole school is quivering with anticipation about who will win the cup. The Slytherins hold a massive two-hundred-and-forty-point lead in the cup points, thanks to a crushing defeat of the Hufflepuffs. It'll be up to the most entertaining seeker in Hogwarts history, Harry Quinn, to hold off the Ravenclaw seeker while his team scores enough to take the points to lead and then seal it with another amazing catch. All the action's right here, folks. No need to go anywhere else!"
"Harry?"
"Hey, Seamus!" Harry spun around and waved to his fellow Gryffindor as he entered the common room.
"Psyching yourself up before the match?"
"Nope," Harry retorted, popping the 'P'. "Just filling the Watchers in on what's about to happen."
Seamus gave him the thumbs up. "Whatever gets you going, mate."
"What gets you going?" A familiar voice hummed.
"Why you, of course, Hermione, my dear!" Harry spread his arms wide. "You're the lift in my Nimbus!"
"Easy now, Harry! We don't need …"
"... too many details!"
Hermione blushed at the twins' insinuations.
"Naughty, naughty, Twin One and Twin Two." Harry wiggled a finger. "Here we're discussing Quidditch, and you have to go and make it awkward."
"Forgive us …" The twins bowed with one arm across their torsos.
"... oh, master of flight."
"Glad to see that everyone is in good spirits this morning," Oliver chimed in as he entered the common room. "We need to stay loose. Don't want any nerves getting the best of us."
"Not to worry, Oliver," Hermione interjected, walking over to Harry and leaning on his shoulder. "Harry made a promise to Professor McGonagall, and he's gonna keep it."
Oliver's eyes skipped between the two. "Just give it your all today, and we'll be hoisting up the cup. I'll admit it. You scare me sometimes, Harry, but I believe in you."
"Are we having a moment, Oliver?"
"Hug me and—"
"Big mistake, Oliver!" the Twins echoed.
Oliver jumped as Harry lunged, only to pat the Gryffindor Captain on the face. "When we win the cup, you can have your hug. Until then, it's time for me to get dangerous!"
~~~Ace~~~
Harry and the team walked out of the Gryffindor locker room onto the pitch. The stands exploded with cheers and boos. The Hufflepuffs clapped and shouted alongside the Gryffindors. Slytherins joined the Ravenclaws in a chorus of boos while the lone Claw that cheered sat next to Hermione.
"Well, the Others have to keep their cover, now don't they."
Wood glanced at Harry but dared not ask. At that moment, the Ravenclaw team entered the pitch, and the sides reversed.
"Loosen up, Oliver. You look like you're about to pull a Lockhart."
"What happened to him anyhow?"
Harry shrugged. "Disappeared about the same time that Ginny got abducted into the Chamber. Guess he thought they might make him go battle the beast."
Wood snorted at the thought. "Thanks, Harry. I needed that."
"No worries, Oliver. I'll be here all day."
"Remember," Wood croaked, "don't catch the snitch until we're up a hundred."
Harry saluted him. "Aye, aye, Captain!"
Wood rolled his eyes as Madam Hooch waved them into the center.
"Alright. I want a clean game. Now, captains, shake hands and mount your brooms."
Wood and Davies shook hands then everyone mounted their brooms. A sharp blast from Madam Hooch's whistle, and they were off. Harry shot straight up until he could see the top of the hoops then sped off around the pitch. Hilliard, the Ravenclaw seeker, trailed Harry as he continued to circle.
"They never learn. I mean, seriously, don't they come to the matches?"
Harry spun around and flew directly into Hilliard's path. The two halted next to each other. Harry turned up the collar of his outfit.
"I remember you," Harry mumbled. "Tell me, Robbie Hilliard, is this how you repay me after all that we've been through together? By flying against me today. We invited you into our common room. We drank juice together. Sliced pie together. And now, you seek to hinder me from keeping my promise. Let me tell you something. Harry Quinn has made a promise, and I always," he held up his fist while pressing his index and thumb together, "keep my promises."
Hilliard stared at Harry, and his mouth formed a perfect 'O'. Harry's eyes went wide as an unnatural smile spread across his face.
"Just messin' with ya, Hilliard! Smoochy booties!"
Harry tore off, leaving Hilliard hovering in mid-air.
"Time to light this party up! Sonoras!"
Harry's voice carried throughout the pitch.
'Yeah, we're gonna take it,
Yeah! We're gonna take it!
Yeah, we're gonna take it for our oooown!'
Harry swooped low, circling the grassy area, then burst straight up through traffic. Davies swerved to avoid a collision and dropped the quaffle. Katie Bell recovered and sped off in the opposite direction. Harry then stopped hard in mid-air. The move caught Hilliard off guard, and he flew past his mark. Harry made eye contact, then pointed from his opponent's eyes to his own. The Ravenclaw seeker streaked upward with Harry hot on his broom twigs.
'We've got a right to win it,
And there ain't no way we'll lose it.
This is our fight! This is the way!
The Slytherins have had that cup we want now,
For eight long stinking years, they've had it,
You know it's time we bring it back where it belongs!'
"Angelina with the quaffle. Angelina scores!" Lee Jordan shouted from the booth as the crowd roared. "Twenty to zero, Gryffindor!"
Harry leap-frogged Hilliard as he zoomed past the other seeker. "Eight more scores, one quick snatch, and we've got the cup!"
'Yeah, we're gonna take it,
Yeah! We're gonna take it!
Yeah, we're gonna take it for our ooown!'
The match went back and forth. Ravenclaw had scored twice, and Gryffindor had countered with three more scores of their own to lead fifty to twenty.
"Time to shake it up."
Harry dove through the field of play, dodged a bludger, then soared upwards. Hilliard had attempted to follow, which proved to be a huge mistake. Before he could pull up, he collided with one of the Ravenclaw chasers. Both players tumbled to the ground. Madam Hooch raced over to untangle the two players.
"Ooh, that was a nasty tumble," Lee Jordan shouted, "but it looks as though both will be able to return. As play continues, Gryffindor takes the quaffle after a nice save from Wood. Katie Bell has it. She's barreling towards the hoops. And she scores! Sixty to twenty!"
The moment had rattled the Ravenclaws. Ten minutes later, the Gryffindors had scored another four times.
'Woah-oh-oh
Woah-oh-oh
We're right! (Yeah!)
We're freaks! (Yeah!)
We'll fight! (Yeah!)
You'll see! (Yeah!)'
"Davies has the quaffle. He's headed for goal. Incredible save by Wood!" Lee exclaimed.
'Yeah, you claws are clever.
But our time is now or never,
We've come for one thing, and that's not you!
Your flying is fresh and pristine,
Yeah, you're all bright and gifted.
You've giving it your best, but your best won't do!'
"Not this time!"
'Yeah, we're gonna take it,
Yeah! We're gonna take it!
Yeah, we're gonna take it for our ooown!
Yeah, we're gonna take it,
Yeah! We're gonna take it!
Yeah, we're gonna take that cup from you!'
"It's gonna be ours, Slytherins!"
Another five minutes, and Gryffindor had scored once more, making it one hundred and ten to twenty. Harry began hawking the pitch for the snitch.
'Woah-oh-oh
Woah-oh-oh
We're right! (Yeah!)
We're freaks! (Yeah!)
We'll fight! (Yeah!)
You'll see! (Yeah!)'
Harry saw it just as the crowd gasped. Hilliard had gone into a dive.
"Not today!"
Harry dived, pushing his Nimbus as hard as he could. The wind whipped his hair as he chased Hilliard. Harry could see the tiny golden ball glimmering just above the grass. Then, with an almighty heave, he shoved Hilliard off course, and the tiny ball shot away.
"Gryffindor score again! One hundred and twenty to twenty!"
"Blast!" Harry growled as he soared upwards. "A second difference, and it'd be over!"
Harry pelted around the top of the pitch, looking for the golden orb. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw continued to trade scores.
"Ravenclaw scores on another impressive move from Davies! Gryffindor still leads the match, one hundred and seventy to sixty."
"They'll be plenty of time for singing, as soon as I catch this—"
Harry halted mid mutter as his eyes widened. The next minute he had dropped into a spectacular spiraling dive. Hilliard sped for the same spot, but he was too late. Harry pulled his broom parallel with the ground and caught the snitch upside down. The stands erupted as he pushed the broom up and spun high into the air.
"That's how ya do it, and I never mutter! Sonoras!"
'Yeah, we just took it,
Yeah! We just took it!
We just took it, for our ooown!'
Harry lapped the field as the other Gryffindors Quidditch players fell in behind him. They pumped their fists in the air as the crowd in the stands cheered.
'Yeah, weee just took it,
Yeah! We just took it!
We just took it for our ooown!'
"Our sincerest apologies, Ravenclaws! We know ya wanted to win, but the cup is ours!"
A chant of "Harry! Harry! Harry!" filled the grounds as they landed in the middle of the pitch. Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, Snape, Sprout, and Dumbledore waited with the Ravenclaw team. Next to Dumbledore stood Madam Hooch, holding a large golden cup in her hands.
Davies stepped forward to greet them with his hand overstretched. First, he shook Woods' hand, then turned the gesture to Harry. "Amazing flying today, Quinn. We wanted to win today, but we're glad to see Gryffindor take the cup."
Harry accepted the gesture. "Thank you, Davies. Today, you have earned my respect. Have I earned yours as well?"
"You have indeed, Quinn. Like I said, that was some amazing flying."
"Mr. Wood. Mr. Quinn." Harry looked over to see Dumbledore smiling at him. "Please join your team as they accept the Quidditch House Cup."
The Gryffindor team beamed as Wood stepped forward to accept the cup from Madam Hooch. Wood lifted the trophy high into the air, and the stands erupted. Wood then handed it to Harry, who stared at the cup's surface. There, in the reflection, he could see Ace smiling back at him.
"Time to keep my promise." Harry turned to face Professor McGonagall. "Here you go, Professor. The Quidditch Cup is yours. Consider this a token of my appreciation on the day of our great victory."
Professor McGonagall inclined her head as she accepted the cup. "Thank you, Mr. Quinn." The Transfiguration professor cradled the cup in one arm, then announced, "You have my permission to celebrate in the Gryffindor common room."
The Gryffindors cheered before falling silent as the headmaster cleared his throat. "There shall also be a special celebration feast in the Great Hall tomorrow night, honoring the changing of hands of the Quidditch Cup."
Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and Gryffindors cheered while the Slytherins groaned.
"Now, now, Slytherins, you should be proud of your team. The battle for the Quidditch Cup was as impressive as I've ever witnessed this year. Of course, any house could have won the cup. However," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he glanced at the Gryffindor team, "there can only be one winner, and I think we can all agree that the better team prevailed in the end."
Professor Snape led the Slytherins in clapping, though the grimace on his face told the true story. He glared at Harry, who smirked as he stared up at the Potions Master. Chants of Gryffindor filled the air as the crowd made their way back to the castle.
Harry pulled up short of entering the castle, spun around to peer out over the Black Lake, and then shouted, "This is where I belong. This truly is the way!"
He turned around to behold Hermione and Luna waiting for him. Something between a smirk and a sneer crept across his face as he stepped forward and offered a hooked arm to both girls. The girls mirrored his look as they accepted his offer.
"To the Gryffindor party and then …" Harry cleared his throat, "Peeves."
The poltergeist appeared with a pop. "You summoned, oh wicked one?"
"That I did, oh revered specter of mischief. Please inform the Others that we shall be meeting in the room once all the festivities have ceased."
Peeves bowed, then disappeared with a hiss.
"A meeting tonight?" Luna inquired as they walked up the steps.
"Aye, my dear Luna. We have plans to make."
Hermione arched an eyebrow. "What type of plans?"
"Come now, my ladies. Just because old Tommy's gone doesn't mean that it's time for us to suddenly start acting like 'normal' people. Our days left before the summer holiday are few. We have so little to do and so much time. Strike that. Reverse it."
Both girls laughed as Harry's cackle echoed throughout the Entrance Hall.
~~~ACE~~~
Amelia Bones pulled on her robe as she stepped out of the shower. She reached inside the pocket, withdrew her wand, then waved it over her head. A sensation swept over her that left her dry and pristine. She admired her clean hair in the mirror then made her way across her bedroom to her armchair. There, she settled in to skim the Daily Prophet, then catch up on her favorite book.
"Evening, Amelia."
Amelia leaped from the chair with her wand drawn. "Show yourself!"
A man in a brown trench coat stepped into the light. "I mean you no harm."
"John Constantine," Amelia muttered, though she didn't lower her wand. "What are you doing in my bedroom?"
"I've come here to help you with two problems. Harry Potter, and a squib that calls himself the Joker."
"Harry Potter is Dumbledore's problem, and this Joker is a muggle, not a squib."
John smirked. "You're wrong on both counts. The Joker is a squib from a Pureblood family, and his love interest is Harry Potter's aunt. They raised him from an infant. It's why he calls himself Harry Quinn."
Amelia lowered her wand. "What does this have to do with me?"
"You're the head of the DMLE. The Joker has surrounded himself with muggle and magical allies. Including Narcissa Malfoy and Sirius Black."
"Sirius Black died in Azkaban."
"That's what you were told." John took a step forward. "The truth is that the Joker and Harley rescued him from prison, burned the place to the ground, and are now making house calls on Joker's family in London."
"How do you know this?"
"I have my ways, Amelia." He took another step as he closed the gap between them. "I'm here to help you ensure that they don't do any serious damage while they're in London. I believe that together we can contain them."
Amelia swallowed. "Is that all that you're here for?"
John tugged at the belt of her robe and watched as it fell to the floor. "That's what I'm here for, starting tomorrow."
A/N: Greetings, Watchers! As promised, here are the results from our first-ever Watcher's Choice! And the winner is … B! The King of the Snakes lives on! Thanks to everyone who voted. Now, I hope that everyone enjoyed this chapter! Special thanks to my dad and Critters At Play for being beta.
Year one of Ace's higher education is coming to a close in the next chapter, and year two is about to begin! To be clear from here on out, anything that resembles canon will be because it makes sense and adds to Ace's story. If not, then it won't be included. Ace's (and Mistah J's) mark has been etched into the magical world.
To those wondering why they're not seeing more of the Dark Knight … It's simple. He's not the main character in this story. Mistah J, Harley, Ivy, and Killer Frost are the MCs from the 'Batman world' in this fic. Will he make more appearances? Absolutely! Mistah J would miss his Bats!
While we still have one more chapter to go before year two (technically year three) begins, I want to point out that all storylines are important. My dad has taught me this. Hence, questions surrounding Filch, Joseph Wilson (Jericho), and many others will be addressed moving forward. Each character will have their arc before Ace is done. ;)
That's all for now! Keep watching and reviewing! Ace, Peeves, I, and the rest of the gang appreciate you all!