The quartet of heroes stood on the island, as they stared down the business end of the spears, at the angry Amazonian warriors.
"So Harry," remarked Kara in a casual voice.
"Yeah, Kara," answered Harry with a raised eyebrow.
She studied the spears. "Are these spears better or worse made than the ones that the Atlantean army pointed at us?"
"Kind of hard to tell," said Harry, as Hermione and Raven watched the couple banter back and forth in the face of certain danger like a tennis match. "So more or less?"
"I think more," supplied the blonde Kryptonian as she stood her ground.
"Look, we don't want any trouble, but if you don't put down those spears…" started Raven, as she stared down the Amazonian Warriors and then she dropped her voice to an icy calm level. "There's going to be plenty of trouble."
"You've trespassed on our island, and brought this…this…man with you!" yelled one of the warriors.
"You women look like you need to get laid," muttered Kara, but the Amazonians seemed offended by that.
Harry just turned to them. "Put the spears down, we can talk this out like rational people."
The Amazonians just growled.
"Enough!" yelled Hermione as she looked at them. "Put the bloody spears down, before I ram them down your…"
"What's going on here?"
Diana showed up, as she saw some of the finest Amazonian Warriors about ready to impale four mysterious people right through with their spears. There were three young girls, and a young man with them. She regarded the young man suspiciously; there was just something about him that seemed rather dark and foreboding.
It could be her own limited experiences with man, especially the man who lead to her sister's murder, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
"We did not mean to trespass," said Raven as she looked at the Princess of the Amazons. "I was fighting a sorcerer who broke into my library. He tried to transport us to another dimension, a nightmare realm where we would be tormented by our worst fears…"
The Amazons looked extremely skeptical about this.
Raven just cleared her throat. "However, I managed to alter the transport spell, and I guess we ended up here, wherever here is?"
"We didn't mean to intrude," said Harry, but he just looked at them. "Of course, it's rather rude to point sharp spears at someone else…"
"Stifle your tongue, man!"
"Funny, pointing a spear at someone without waiting for an explanation sounds like something a guy would do," said Kara, as she looked at them. "Guess you aren't too above that either."
One of the Amazonian Warriors charged, but Kara fired a blast of heat vision at her spear, causing it to burn. The woman gave a grimace, as the ashes fluttered to the ground.
"Point that thing at me, or my husband again, and I'll burn worse than your weapon," said Kara, eyes still glowing, as she stared down the feared Amazonian Warriors.
"Ladies, stand down, until we figure this out," muttered Diana, as she shook her head. "Hera, help me, this is a rather unconventional situation…"
"Well we kind of specialize in the unconventional," said Hermione with a roll of her eyes, but Diana just stopped.
She stared at Hermione for a minute, as she frowned. Hermione found herself rather annoyed by being stared at as such. "What's your problem, princess?"
"Nothing, you just reminded me of someone once knew," muttered Diana.
"I have to be imagining things,' thought Diana as she gave her head a shake.
"I think the best way to figure this out is to take you to my mother," said Diana as she regained her composure. "Queen Hipployta, she'll know what to do. My name is Diana, you're on Themyscira."
"Rachel Roth," said Raven.
"Hermione Granger," said Hermione.
"Kara Potter," said Kara.
"Harry Potter," said Harry, as they walked and the spears were still visible. "You know Kara, I'd rather fly there."
"Me too," said Kara, who felt more comfortable without the spears pointing at them. The two moved off the ground, and into the skies.
Kara and Harry flew side by side. Harry managed to maintain flight velocity, even if it took a great deal of concentration, as the group continued to walk.
"Very few men visit this island," muttered Diana. "The last man washed up on here a while back, about seventeen or eighteen years ago. He seemed to be rather amused by the fact there was an island of nothing but women."
Diana just continued, as Harry had a bad feeling where this was going. "He had dark hair, and a bark like laugh. He tried to talk his way out of trouble by offering to educate us on experiences we had been missing."
Silence for a moment existed before Harry spoke.
"I've never met that man before in my life," muttered Harry, as Kara and Hermione both stifled giggles, but if Diana noticed, she did not say anything.
The robed figure of Felix Faust appeared and touched down on the ground at Slaughter Swamp. Faust strode through the weeds, and opened the spell book.
"Alright monster, time to raise you from your slumber," muttered Faust. "You will offer a nice diversion."
Faust's eyes rolled into the back of his head, as he waved his hands. From the muck of the swamp rose a pale figure. The creature, dressed in a black top and pants, strode right out of the swamp.
"Why you wake Grundy?" bellowed the creature.
"Be silent monster," muttered Faust. "You are going to do my bidding."
"Grundy not understand why black magic man do this!" bellowed Grundy, but his eyes swirled black.
Faust nodded as he had the creature placed right under his thrall. He directed the creature as a diversion.
The creature's natural raw strength, enhanced by the magical energy by Faust's enchantment, would divert the attention of the Amazons away from his true objective.
"I agree with my daughter's assessment, this is a most unconventional situation."
Hipployta just looked at them. Hermione found her temper reaching a rather prominent boiling point.
"Yeah, circumstances indicated we get bamfed to this island," said Hermione as she stared down the Queen of the Amazons. "I know it's unconventional, but I've got stories to tell you. And just some food for thought, you might want to teach your little guards a bit more about asking questions before they start sticking a sharp object in people's faces!"
Kara and Harry exchanged a look. Hipployta got up, and looked at Hermione. For a second, Harry thought he was going to have to break up a fight.
"Donna, it's you," whispered Hipployta, as she reached over to hug Hermione, but she pulled away.
"Get away from me, you crazy woman!" yelled Hermione. "I'm not this Donna person, I'm Hermione. Her-My-Own-Nee. It's my name; I got it when I was born. My parents were way too obsessed with Shakespeare, but that's not my problem."
Hipployta looked at the girl. "I wondered why the gods would not allow me to get closure, to speak to the spirit of my daughter one last time. Yet, here you are, right here…"
"What are you talking about?" asked Kara.
"Yeah, respectively speaking, Hermione is Hermione," said Harry, as he was along with Hermione about questioning the sanity of the Queen of the Amazons.
"My youngest daughter was slain five years ago on All Hallows Eve," said Hipployta, as she closed her eyes. "I found her body days later, or what was left of it. It was an experience that no mother should go through."
"Look, I feel bad that you lost your daughter," said Hermione. "But I'm not her. I'm flattered, believe me, but I'm just who I always have been. Now if I you excuse me, I need to go for a walk to clear my head."
Hermione walked off the island.
"She's always been stubborn," said Hipployta with a fond voice.
"Your majesty…I don't know what to say," said Harry as he looked at her. "Hermione…she's…"
"Harry's trying to say that Hermione might just remind you of your daughter," said Kara, as she surveyed the queen.
"No, a mother always knows these things," said Hipployta, as she stood up proud. "I would have given my life, if it meant bringing her back. I feel I was harsh towards her, and drove her off the island. We had a fight about her wanting to go out and see the world…man's world. She snuck off in the dead of night. By the next day, she was missing. I thought she was hiding, to teach me a lesson."
Hipployta turned around. "It is a sacred bond between a mother and her child, I'm not sure if you would understand…"
"My mother died when I was young, so I could live," said Harry, as Hipployta turned to him.
"She was a noble person, then" said Hipployta after a moment. "And I see it reflects well on you, you want to stick up for your friend…"
"Hermione's more than my friend," said Harry. "She's like the older sister I've always wanted…"
"So there is another bond between you two there," said Hipployta. "I hope that people like you are the rule rather than the exception on man's world."
Kara and Harry just sighed, before their attention turned towards Raven.
"Rachel, you know something," said Kara. "Is Hermione well Hermione or is she this supposed dead Amazon girl…"
"Both," replied Raven.
"Pardon me," said Harry, as he looked at the girl, confused and bewildered.
"She's both…it's complex," said Raven as she closed her eyes. She would rather explain advanced algebra to sugar addled toddlers, or Beast Boy, than explain this little situation.
"Could you to try to explain?" asked Kara.
"Fine, I'll summarize it," said the half demon, as she drew in breath. "Hermione was trapped in the bathroom with the troll. The troll bashed her head in. At the same time, Donna was killed. Their spirits collided on some kind of crossroads between life and death. It was a one in a trillion fluke…and they got bounced back to the body."
Kara pinched her nose. "That's…that just is…Hermione didn't know any of this, did she?"
"Not until after her fifth year," said Raven. "I found out about the return of Riddle, and knew immediately it meant bad news. I healed her organs. She was going to die that night…"
Harry nearly jumped up. Kara grabbed his arm to steady her husband. "I used my magic, and I think I knocked Donna loose in her head a little bit. The Amazonians don't tend to put up with a lot of what people in your former world would put up with, Harry. And given Hermione's own protective instincts towards you…they were just amplified. A plus B equals C in this case."
Kara and Harry nodded, as Diana watched from the shadows.
"So, she is Donna," muttered Diana as she stepped in.
"Yes and no," said Raven who felt agitation coming on. "Hermione Granger and Donna Troy both died on All Hallows Eve five years ago. This is a fusion of personality elements of the two, inside the body of Hermione Granger."
Diana, Kara, and Harry all nodded, but Kara and Harry decided to take that as their cue to fly off.
They had a distressed friend to check up on, and she out wandering on the island.
Hermione breathed in and out. The fact some of these places looked familiar distressed her. She remembered that pillar, that library, and the gates in the distance, everything seemed rather familiar.
'It seems denial isn't located in Egypt," whispered a voice. 'It's located in your mind.'
"Voice in my head, wonderful," muttered Hermione, who wondered if she should begin to have herself measured for a straightjacket.
'It's not like we didn't combine the best of both worlds,' said the voice in her head. "I mean, I gained an entire new appreciation for other parts of the world, and you stopped acting like a bossy little.."
Hermione shook her head.
"Hermione?" asked Harry in a gentle voice.
"Oh, hi, Harry," mumbled Hermione, as Kara and Harry sat down across from her.
"Hermione, just look at us, please," said Kara. "This Donna person…"
"Kara, don't tell me you believe this too!" yelled Hermione, but she shook her head. "Right, sorry, I'm me, just Hermione…"
"Hermione, you're you, but there's just more of you," said Harry in a gentle voice. "It's like combining two things, to make something great…"
"Hermione, you can tell us the truth," said Kara, as she looked at the brunette. "We're your friends, we won't judge you."
Hermione turned herself. "I…you're my brother and my sister-in-law, more or less, but this is…I don't know if I can deal with this. The fact there's some Amazonian ghost girl rattling around in my head; it just seems so absurd…"
An arm grabbed Hermione and spun her around. Hermione was face to face with the Princess of the Amazons.
"D…Hermione, you really do need to come to terms with who you are," said Diana, as she looked at the girl. "Remember, it's okay to be scared. Strong people can get confused, smart people too. You face your fears and your demons…"
"Look Diana, you seem like a nice person," said Hermione. "You and your mother both, but this person, I'm not her…"
"How do you explain these bracelets?" asked Diana, and Hermione opened her mouth. She continued. "Those designs are strictly Amazonian; they were created on this island…"
"I saw them in a book, and took the design to get them custom made," said Hermione, a bit too quickly for Harry's liking.
Harry looked her in her eyes. Hermione shifted away, but Harry held her firm. "Which book, sis?"
"No, Harry, I can't believe it, you won't believe me!" yelled Hermione. "I'm…just leave me alone!"
Hermione walked off, distressed. Harry got up, but Kara held him.
"Later, Harry," said Kara, as she squeezed his hand. They sat closer, wrapped in each other's arms.
"There's just so much I don't know about Hermione," said Harry after they sat in silence for a moment. "She was always there for me…but I didn't ask a lot about her. She's never said anything, always listened to me. I guess she has problems just like anyone…"
Kara turned, and her lips met Harry's in a tender kiss. Harry returned it with love. They pulled apart. "She helped me, and I never thought to help her."
"Hermione's going through a bit of an identity crisis right now," said Kara. "Like you and I were going through before…we saved each other."
"I'd advise giving her a bit of time to calm down," said Diana wisely. "Trust me, if she really gets upset, you don't want to be there."
Diana walked off, to leave Kara and Harry alone to admire the beauty of the island. Kara rested her head on Harry's shoulder, as his arm wrapped around her waist.
"Hermione, just come to terms with it," said Raven as she showed up to face Hermione.
Hermione sighed. "I'm Hermione…and I'm this Donna Troy girl as well…how in the name of all things sensible is that possible?"
"Well, it's kind of elementary," said Raven. "You got your head smashed in by the troll, because you were crying and too scared to run. Then the same moment Donna's spirit met yours. You collided, and the effect threw you into the same body. Your body still breathed, and you were healed."
"Just who I am?" asked Hermione. "Donna or Hermione?"
"All of the above," replied Raven, with a slight smile.
This bit of news did not improve Hermione's mood. "So great, I'm Schizophrenic."
"That's a blissfully pessimistic way of looking at things," muttered Raven. "It's hard to come to terms with a dual nature. Life isn't simple to be black or white. It's all about finding a balance. It took me a long time, but…I found who I was."
"Yeah, well this is putting me under an insane amount of stress," said Hermione sourly. "I just can't cope with this right now."
Hermione folded her arms, but a loud roar echoed, as the sounds of combat echoed. She pulled herself up, to see what was happening.
A near eight foot tall zombie was in the midst of being dog-piled by the Amazonian Warriors, but the zombie smashed his way through the women. Hermione picked up one of the swords, with a frown. She had left her wand back at the library, this would have to do.
"Someone just volunteered to be my stress ball," muttered Hermione, as she rushed forward, and swung the sword with fury.
She stabbed the sword into the torso of the zombie, but the zombie staggered. Naturally it had no blood to spill. Hermione found the zombie's hand around her throat.
A blinding flash of light blasted the zombie in the eye. Harry stood, wand held, as Kara flew in. She impacted the zombie in the face with her fist. They circled him.
In perfect harmony, Harry hit him low and Kara hit him high. The zombie was staggered, and Raven took this moment to swoop in, and blast him.
"I transported him away from the island, but he'll be back when we have a more permanent solution," said Raven as she dropped for a moment to catch her breath.
"Just who was that?" asked Kara.
"That was Solomon Grundy," said Raven, as she caught the confused looks. "You know, Solomon Grundy…born on a Monday…never mind."
She drew breath, and explained. "He's a powerful zombie; his remains were at rest in Slaughter Swamp."
"What was he doing here?" asked Harry.
"Well whatever he wanted, something tells me it wasn't a pair of pants," said Raven in a dry voice.
A loud growl echoed from off the shores, and Grundy returned to the island.
"Round two, I take it," said Kara, as she aimed at him. Heat vision sliced through the air and knocked Grundy back.
"Stall him, while I find a way to return him back to his final resting place!" yelled Raven.
"Stall him, she says," muttered Harry, as he put up a barrier, before he huddled with Kara and Hermione. "Okay, this is what we're going to have to do, to keep old Solomon from causing too much damage."
Grundy stomped on the ground, as Kara flew into the air. The zombie tried to snatch her, but she flew out of sight. She stuck out her tongue, and Grundy moved around. Harry flicked his wand.
The zombie found his eyes irritated, as he swung. Hermione rushed in next, before she smashed the zombie hard in the back of the legs with the flat of the sword. The zombie swung, as Kara hoisted Harry into the air.
"Ah, all that power, and you can't hit a moving target!" taunted Hermione, as Grundy smashed the rocks.
The brunette tucked her head, and rolled on the ground as Grundy's attacks became more mindless. She looked up, to see that her diversion worked.
Kara flung Harry like a fastball right at Grundy. Harry whipped his wand out, and conjured several flaming spikes. They shot into Grundy, as Hermione slid on the ground to trip Grundy.
The Kryptonian pursed her lips, blew, and Grundy was immobilized in a sheet of ice.
Grundy howled, but Raven returned. She muttered under her breath in a tongue Harry did not understand. Then the zombie vanished into a cloud of smoke.
"So, is he gone?" asked Harry, to break the silence.
"I sent him on," replied Raven, as she dropped down.
"He's not coming out back then," replied Kara.
"Well, I don't think so," said Raven. "Just be prepared in case someone rattles his spirit again. Hopefully he's found peace, wherever he is."
Hermione looked at the sword in her hand, and the instincts she displayed. Harry and Kara moved over to her.
"Hermione, you were brilliant!" cheered Kara.
"Yeah, you were a real wonder girl out there," said Harry, and Hermione looked at him, with a raised eyebrow.
She just shook her head.
"Supergirl, Wonder Girl, and Arcane," said Kara with a smile. "A teenage trinity disturbing their own brand of young justice…"
"Kara, you're kind of being absurd," said Hermione, but she had a smile on her face in spite herself.
"I hate to burst your little celebration, but Grundy was just the distraction," said Raven as she heard screams. "Yep, Faust is here…"
They turned, before they saw an army of flaming skeletons march towards them.
"Target practice," muttered Harry.
"Target practice," agreed Kara, as Harry waved his wand, and caused a whirlwind, as Kara blew her ice breath into it. It caused the skeletons to freeze.
Then they blasted right through the frozen and immobile skeletons to reduce them to dust.
Hermione turned around, and saw the horrific scene. The man, Felix Faust, had Hipployta on her knees before him, immobilized.
"That's a good look for you, my dear," said Faust as he held her steady. "Perhaps I can keep you as a prize when my master rewards me…"
"You stay away from her, you foul…" yelled Diana, as she rushed in. Now she was dressed in red, white, and blue armor, with a tiara, and a lasso. She had metal bracelets, as Faust sent a spell at her.
"And you got dressed up just to meet me," said Faust, as he struggled with her. The brawl was short, but intense. "You must think a lot of me, princess."
Diana fought him off, but Faust pinned her to a wall with one of his spells.
"Both mother and daughter," said Faust as he looked at them, appraising them. "It is hard to see which one would be more interesting to…explore."
At that moment, Hermione rushed over, eyes blazed, and she nailed Faust hard. Faust staggered to his feet, but Raven appeared, to block his spell.
"Okay, let's try this again," said Raven, as she gritted her teeth, as Faust's spell to immobilize the Amazons broke. Most of them were down, but Diana rushed over to engage Faust once again.
Diana ended on the ground, as Faust threw Raven to the side. Faust conjured an energy sword, before Hermione burst in, and took the shot.
The sword sliced into her abdomen again, and her side was sliced. Blood splattered from her, as Hermione convulsed.
"FAUST!" yelled Harry, as he flew right at the sorcerer. The Amazons steered clear, as winds blew through the island.
"Hera," muttered Diana as she looked at Harry who began to pummel Faust with a series of violent spells. The fact he managed to keep up well enough with Faust not to get killed spoke well of his abilities.
Harry slashed his wand, and Faust found his hands burned. They healed over.
"Silly child, your powers are no match…" started Faust, but Kara blasted him in the hand. She swooped in, and snapped the amulet right off of his neck. "Give that back."
Kara just crushed it into dust with her hand. She shrugged. "Guess I don't know my own strength."
Faust prepared to attack them. Even without his amulet, he was still a formidable foe, but Harry pushed him back. It strained the young wizard, but he kept up the fight.
He tried to pull himself up, but Raven held him, immobilized.
"You're going to burn for what you did," she said through gritted teeth, as Faust found his body being ripped apart and his essence being sucked away.
Harry moved over, as he picked up Hermione, trying to repair her wounds with every healing spell he could think of. Yet his efforts were futile.
"Her wounds are beyond your magic, and even mine now," said Raven as she grabbed Harry. "I can repair her, but she'll die without a blood transfusion."
"Just tell me what I need to do, and I'll do it," said Diana in a firm voice.
"There's a room over there, to tend to her injuries," said Hipployta, her voice shaking, as Kara scooped up Hermione in her arms. She coughed up blood, and her breathing became shallow.
"Hang in there, Hermione," muttered Kara, as she flew off. Everyone followed her.
Hermione was down on the bed, as Diana was prepped by Raven.
"Okay, stand clear everyone, and don't freak out," said Raven as she took a deep breath. She tried to block out the emotions of everyone.
The blood was transfused, as Harry, Kara, and Hipployta watched. Diana laid down adjacent from her, as she felt her body weaken. Hermione shuddered, as the blood sustained her. Raven healed her injuries.
"Hermione's…she's gone," whispered Raven after a moment.
"NO!" yelled Harry as Kara grabbed him.
"No, I'm not, I'm right here,'" said Hermione as she came back to life. "Um, I guess both of us of here; kind of…my head feels like trolls did a tap dance on it."
Hermione's hair darkened and her features changed slightly. Her voice remained about the same.
"Hermione is that really you?" asked Harry in relief.
"Um…kind of Harry," said Hermione as she looked up at him weakly. "My name is Donna Troy, you know. Youngest daughter of Queen Hipployta, but…most of Hermione died in me today."
"Oh," said Harry flatly, as Kara held him.
"No, my brother," said Hermione with a smile. "There's still enough of Hermione in here, but the good parts, honest. Her heart, her courage, her loyalty to you and the people she cares about. There all still here. The bossiness is mostly gone I think, the perfectionist qualities."
Hermione turned, as she shuddered. "Hermione Granger was a girl that had a lot of demons. She tried to hide herself in books, and studying. She learned a lot of good lessons from her friendship with you Harry. And in the ways that matter, I think that I'm still that girl."
Then her eyes turned to the other relations.
"Diana, mother, thank you," said Hermione, as she coughed and the smiled weakly. "After all of the things I said to both of you five years ago, you never gave up on me. Aresia thought it would be a good idea to go exploring…she was my friend. Then she just left me there…"
"Do you have any idea where Aresia went?" asked Diana as she looked at her sister.
"Not a clue," said Hermione, as she just sighed. "I love all of my family, both sides of me."
"So um…what do I call you?" asked Harry.
"Harry, I can still be Hermione to you, it's fine," said Hermione. "There's enough of her left in me like I said."
Hermione just looked at them.
"Hermione, just stay here, and rest, okay," said Harry. "You don't need to fix the world or help everyone, you nearly died again. You might be part cat for all I know…"
"Well the Polyjuice Potion might have left something behind," said Hermione with a smile, which caused Kara to laugh. Harry told her the story.
"Yes, well you're rapidly running out of lives, young lady," said Harry sternly. "Just stay here with your mother and your sister, and relax. You've been through an operation. Remember Hermione for the next couple of weeks, bed rest, drink plenty of fluids, eat all of your vegetables, and no books larger than a hundred pages."
"Yes, Mum," said Hermione with a grin, but Harry just gave her the look he inherited from his mother. Even Hermione knew it was time to back down with that one. "Sorry, Harry, I knew you were looking out for me, and thanks. I'm proud to have you as my brother."
"Yeah, well I still stand by what I said," said Harry, as he hugged Hermione and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead. "Now, are you okay or do you need me to read you a bedtime story…"
"HARRY!" yelled Hermione who flushed, as everyone got some amusement.
Hipployta turned her attention slowly to her other daughter.
"Now Diana, the armor you took," said Hipployta.
"I thought that if I took the armor, I could help with Faust," said Diana in a stubborn voice. "I know it's not mine…"
"It's yours, but I was just holding onto it," said Hipployta as she regarded her daughter with a sigh. "If you wanted the armor, all you had to do was ask."
Diana's eyes bulged, as Hipployta just smiled. She unlocked the full powers.
"I'm giving you a great power," said Hipployta. "I'm sure there's some sort of saying about how great power and great responsibility go hand in hand, but it's lost on me right now."
"I'll be responsible, mother," said Diana, as she looked at Hermione. "I've got my sister back, I've got you here, what more can I need…"
"An invisible jet," muttered Hermione sleepily. "I think I'm going to go to bed now."
Diana considered the possibilities of that one, as Kara and Harry prepared to take their leave.
"Just one moment you two," said Hipployta, as the queen turned to them, before she followed them out the door. Diana followed immediately, as Raven stayed to watch Hermione.
There was silence, as Diana broke it, as she addressed Harry. "You really were there for her for all of those years, no matter what you might think. I thought you might have been…"
"Dangerous," replied Harry as he just took it in stride. His days of blowing up because people had thought badly of him had passed. "Yeah, well you couldn't have known. We did blow onto your island."
"So since Donna considers you her brother, I guess I can do the same," muttered Diana, as she looked at Harry.
Harry had no idea what to say. Kara just smiled, as she stood next to him, hand in hand. Hipployta surveyed them. "You've more than proven yourself, Harry. There are exceptions to every rule. The gods will have to learn to put up with it, I guess. You're welcome here, if you ever want to visit…"
"Thanks," said Harry.
"No thank you for giving my daughter another chance," said Hipployta, as she surveyed Harry. It did make her reconsider her previous assessment on that world.
"I'm leaving Hermione in your hands now," said Harry, as he looked at them with a smirk. "If Wonder Girl gives you any lip about resting, I can fly right over, and put her in line."
Kara laughed, as Hipployta looked amused. Diana's eyes widened, and she mouthed, "Wonder Girl?"
At that moment, a seed of inspiration was planted in her mind.
"We'll be seeing around," said Harry. "Bye, both of you."
"Bye, Diana and Hipployta," said Kara. "It was a pressure meeting you."
"Come back, you're always welcome," said Hipployta as she watched them go. "Both of you."
Diana did as well, and she turned to her mother. "Did you ever feel guilty about a judgment you made off without all of the facts, Mother?"
"Many times, and I'm sure many more," said Hipployta. "It is just one of those things you learn to live with, after all of these centuries. You're never too old to make mistakes."
Mother and daughter walked off, having been given a second chance to unite with a sister and daughter.
The soul of Felix Faust screamed as he burned in the pits of Tartarus.
"You failed me Faust," said a booming voice. "And the liberties you took with certain parties has sealed your eternal torment."
"You can't do this to me!" yelled the sorcerer.
"I can do anything I want to you, for all eternity," said Hades as he amused himself with ideas on how to best torture this miserable wretch.
Faust's shrieks indicated he had an idea his afterlife would not be a pleasant one.
Neville arrived in Hogsmeade. He moved into the shadows, the village was like a ghost town right at the moment.
He would sneak into the Hog's Head, and find a way up to Hogwarts. He would have to so discreetly. He saw sight of his own scarred face, but the barman of the Hog's Head pulled him into the pub.
"You're the Longbottom boy," breathed the man. "You were supposed to be in critical condition at St. Mungos…"
"Wasn't as critical as everyone thought," said Neville as he shrugged. "I need to warn Harry Potter…"
"Potter's gone, decided to get out," muttered a voice in the shadows, and Neville turned to face Mad-Eye Moody. His magical eye whizzed around. "Smart boy, always thought he had some potential. Marriage served him rather well."
"Harry's married," muttered Neville as he tried to process this. "What month is it…"
"November 2000, five months after Bellatrix Lestrange attacked you," said Moody, as he looked at Neville. "Be careful, a killer's on the loose, he's after purebloods…"
"She," replied Neville, as he looked at Moody.
"She then," said Moody. "Do you mind telling me how you know?"
Neville paused, as Moody looked at him. He would not be able to fight the grizzled Auror, he knew a few tricks. "The Zabinis…Sophia Zabini she said they…she was poisoned."
"The killer appreciates a healthy dose of irony," said Moody gruffly, as he drew a drink from his hip flask. "Longbottom, I have an idea what happened. This is why I never went to St. Mungos to be treated. Always brewed up the home remedies, granted that's why I look the way I do. Just to let you know, the world's about to change. I might live long enough to see a bit of it, but I'm not holding my breath."
Neville just looked curious and opened his mouth.
"No, boy, don't talk," said Moody. "Best I figure, the culprit, she's trying to finger you as the killer…clever of her. We're dealing with someone who is both intelligent and insane. Not the best combination as it's hard to pin down a motive."
Neville sat down, as Moody and the bar man looked at him.
"I'll put you in touch with Potter," said Moody. "Or rather I'll put you in touch with someone who can get in touch with Potter. I don't know where the boy is. Woman's name is Tonks, she's at this address. She's rounding up some other people as a favor for someone, and getting them to a safe place."
"The rats are fleeing the ship before it sinks," muttered Neville.
"Your grandmother would have approved of a phrase like that," said Moody, with a twisted grin. "Now, head off as soon as I give the good word. Make sure no one's lurking around here that shouldn't be."
Back outside the library, Harry and Kara sat watching the stars. Raven showed up, with the book she found earlier.
"Now before I was so rudely interrupted, I was going to tell you something," said Raven, as they turned to face them. "It was about…these rings."
Raven looked at the blue rings that sparkled on the hands of Harry and Kara that signified the bond they had with each other.
Raven read from the tome she produced. "The rings were rumored to be of extra-terrestrial origin. Centuries ago, they were found on Earth by a man who called himself Saint Walker. There was believed to be a source for power that came with them, but it had been lost. Sometime later, it was found by one of your ancestors, and modified with runes, to be used as wedding rings."
Raven pointed out the runes on the rings.
"That one signifies trust," she said, as they nodded. "It has to be where two people trust each other before the rings can even work."
She continued to read. "This one signifies compatibility. If two people are not properly matched, then the rings will have a negative effect. Essentially, it will burn the hands and cook the brain of anyone trying to deceive the male head of house."
The two nodded, as Raven continued.
"This one has a contraceptive effect," said Raven. "It is hard to say whether or not you two could even have children. But, until the right moment, you will not be able to have them despite your best efforts."
"When is the right moment," said Kara. She really didn't want children, not right now.
"Yeah, I'll be honest, I don't know if I can be a good father," muttered Harry, but Kara just hugged him.
"You'd be a great father Harry, but we don't have to have them until we're ready," said Kara. "Ten years, fifteen years, a hundred years, when the time is right…"
"Fair enough," said Harry, but Kara just kissed him right on the lips. He returned it.
"One more you two," said Raven in amusement, as they broke apart when they were ready. "The fourth rune signifies a stamina booster. Your powers will be stronger than ever, you will heal faster…granted you have your limits, but still…"
"We know," said Harry. "Kara, I think we can practice a bit more of the magic right now…"
"Go on up, Harry, I'll catch up," said Kara, who wanted to speak with Raven about a personal manner.
Harry gave her a kiss. "Okay, I'll set things up."
"Privacy spell," muttered Kara, when she was sure Harry was out of hearing distance. "The Horcrux in Harry's head, there's something you're not telling either of us…"
Raven looked at Kara. "Kara, you must not tell Harry, or even hint to him about this…"
She proceeded to explain to Kara the same thing she said to Hermione. Kara just sat, stoic, and Raven concluded.
'No, he will be ready,' thought Kara. 'He's beating Riddle. In fact, Riddle's already dead, his body just hasn't realized it yet.'
"Harry will be ready," said Kara, as she looked at Raven. "And if he isn't…well…marriage is all about sacrifice."
Raven just looked at her, wondering where she was going.
"There's something that our team at Patronus found, a different type of Kryptonite," said Kara and Raven looked at her. "It's not green, but gold."
Raven never even heard of this gold Kryptonite before.
"It removes a Kryptonian's powers, permanently," explained Kara. "It makes us normal, mortal, at least that's what we've been able to discover through the simulations we've run."
"So what you're saying is…" started Raven.
"I love Harry, and if I have to sacrifice my powers just to be with him, I will," said Kara firmly. "But I don't think it will come to that. Good night, Rachel."
She turned and left. Raven watched her fly off, to join Harry.
The rings chose the perfect match. They worked as they should.