It was one hour before the dawn of a New Year on New Year's Eve. Kara and Harry made their way up the stairs to a room Harry had rented out in Metropolis. They would have a nice private candlelit dinner together to celebrate the New Year, but Harry had something to show her afterwards.
"So a year has passed, and another year is coming," said Kara as they drank the champagne after dinner. They both decided that they could break the no drinking rule that they agreed to after the wedding. Of course with Harry's latest power upgrade, it put him on the same level as Kara at holding his drinks.
"Yeah that first about seven months or so was one I'd like to forget," said Harry, as he drained his glass. He looked at his wife looking stunning her strapless black dress with red high heel shoes and stockings. The dress showcased her cleavage and legs quite nicely. Her hair hung loosely over her back. Harry wore dress clothes, nothing too fancy, but it did fit the occasion. "But the last five months, starting on August 2nd that was one I want to remember and cherish for the rest of my life."
"Me too," agreed Kara. On January 2nd they would be married for five months. Granted, doing month by month anniversaries seemed to be a bit much. Still they were only seven months away from being married for a year.
They both hoped to count the wedding anniversaries up into the triple digits and perhaps beyond.
"Yeah, we're going to be together for a long time," said Harry, almost as if he sensed her musings. "Our powers, I think that when we hit a certain point, we'll stop aging."
"Yeah about twenty seven, twenty eight, somewhere in there," said Kara with a nod, but they only did preliminary calculations. "Of course, we still can be killed, just not by the ravages of old age."
"Let's try not to though," said Harry, as he leaned forward, and offered a kiss. Kara accepted it. They could taste the champagne on each other's lips.
After they broke, Harry scooped Kara up in his arms.
"Nice change of pace," said Kara with a smirk.
"Well I figured you spent months trafficking me around, I could do it for you," said Harry, as he flew up with his wife cradled in his arms, her head pressed against his chest. "But never mind that, I've got a surprise for you. It's been something that I've been working on. How would you like to go home again?"
"Harry, I thought you were going to show me a surprise," said Kara in confusion.
"I am, but I was referring to your home planet, you know Argo," said Harry.
Kara just looked at him. "It's sweet of you to offer, but…it's gone. Besides, Zod totaled most of it even before Krypton blew up and froze it."
"I know, but just think about it as you step through this door," said Harry. "Before the end, how it looked before the war."
Kara did and Harry opened the door. She gasped, as there was an exact replica of Argo right next to her.
"Kryptonian holographic technology, combined with the principles of the Room of Requirement from Hogwarts," explained Harry, as Kara just looked at him, before she threw herself at him.
She put so many unspoken things into that kiss, as she wrapped her legs around Harry's waist. Harry returned the favor. They continued to kiss for several minutes, with their tongues wrestling in their mouths.
"Tweak this a little bit, streamline it, and it could be some kind of virtual reality system for children," said Harry, as Kara slid to the ground. "Give parents a new way to get a few hours quiet, the only problem is it being addictive."
"Yeah, we might want to be careful with that," agreed Kara, as she looked around. They saw the beautiful architecture. "I'm guessing there are no people here and nothing tangible we can take."
"Well, you are the smartest girl in the universe," said Harry as Kara smiled, before she grabbed his tie, and pulled him closer to her.
"This room can have many great purposes, for us as well," whispered Kara seductively in his ear. "And we're all alone."
Harry grabbed her close, and kissed her. The two floated up into the air.
Smut/Lemon Begins:
Kara slipped Harry's jacket and shirt off. She rubbed circles around his back, feeling his muscles. The dress slid off and dropped to the ground. She wore nothing but a skimpy red bra and a red thong. Harry reached his arms behind her, and cupped her arse. She moaned into his mouth, and ground up against his crotch.
Harry felt himself grow, and Kara reached around, undoing Harry's belt. She slid his pants off, and they dropped back down to the ground. Then his boxers were pulled off. Kara broke the kiss, and grabbed his penis with a firm grip.
He groaned, as Kara tugged and stroked his member, before her tongue licked over it. Harry reached down, to unhook her bra. Then he squeezed the tops of her breasts, and fondled them. He allowed himself to explore them, as Kara pivoted upside down.
Harry peeled off her thong, and rubbed her lips. Kara responded, while upside down, by placing her lips slowly around Harry's penis. As he continued to rub her, Kara slid more into her mouth, until the entire length was shoved down her throat.
Harry stuck his tongue deep into her pussy, before he began to lick and nibble at it. Kara slurped and sucked on his hardened cock, as her legs closed around his head. They floated in midair as they did this.
Kara moaned, this was so much better than the dream. Harry caught every single point of pleasure, and made her so wet. Her throat muscles contracted around Harry's penis as she moaned, as Harry ate her out. She worked her tongue underneath it. Her right hand played with Harry's arse, and her left hand moved around to massage his balls.
Harry licked her with absolute pleasure. She took him deep down her throat, and there was no stopping her. While Harry was not the type to keep track of these measurements, he had a feeling he grew bigger ever since his power upgrade. Kara could get him hardened to a length that he could not imagine.
Harry's face was soaked by her juices again and again, as he tried to lick them up. The smell of her pussy this close to his nose made him light headed. He felt his balls tightened, and decided to lick faster, to make the process that much better.
Both climaxed simultaneously. Kara swallowed every bit of seed. The sounds of delight she made caused Harry to be spurred to eat her out faster. He tasted the juices, the sweet flavor coming from her center.
Eventually Kara saw Harry was softened. That simply would not do.
"Let's get you hard again, I'm just warmed up,' said Kara, as she grabbed Harry in a hug, pressing her breasts against his bare chest. She licked her own juices off of Harry's face. Harry felt himself grow harder and harder in record time. Kara breathed, as his cock pushed against her moist pussy.
Harry grabbed Kara, unable to wait any longer, and kissed her hard. He pushed her back into a crystalized tower, several hundred feet in the air.
"Harry," moaned Kara, but then he sucked on her neck to give her more pleasure. Harry moved down and kissed the sides of her neck, then her breasts. Then he grabbed her into his arms, and pulled her away, before he whispered into her ears.
"I'm going to put my powerful cock in between your super powered tits," said Harry on a low voice, that sent shivers down her spine.
"Do it, baby," breathed Kara, as she felt the head of his penis touch her hardened nipples. They remained in midair as Kara floated on her back in mid-air.
Harry positioned his penis, and slid it between her breasts with practiced ease. Kara moaned, and squeezed her tits together. The two rocked back and forth in mid-air, as Harry slid his hardened member in and out.
"That's in, I love these tits, they feel so good," groaned Harry, as he continued to push in and out. Kara flicked her tongue over the top of it, and tasted the pre-cum that dribbled off of his penis. She continued to watch him slide his penis in and out of her tits. The young woman matched his movements.
"Titty fuck me, you know I love it," breathed Kara, as she kissed his penis, and slurped on it a little bit, as it slid in and out. She also grasped Harry's balls and stimulated them. She massaged his sac, stroking it with her fingers and then giving it a tight squeeze, as she used her muscle control to squeeze her breasts together around his penis.
Harry felt himself tighten, and Kara could sense his climax.
"Shoot your cum on my tits!" yelled Kara at the top of her lungs and Harry obliged his wife. His seed shot all over her tits and also onto her face.
Kara arched her head back, her tits and face completely splattered with white milky fluid. She wiped it off, and sucked it off of her fingers, eyes glazed over. Sounds of delight filled Harry's ears, as she positively glowed. He saw her legs spread, inviting him to come in and play. Harry barely waited for her to finish her treat; he tilted her back in midair.
She felt a tingle as Harry aimed his penis at her wet pussy. He slipped it in and her eyes widened.
"Stretch me Harry!" moaned Kara, as he pumped his penis into her. Both rocked back and forth in mid-air, matching each other's movements.
Harry felt her walls tighten around him. He played with her breasts, then twisted her nipples and rubbed them. Kara moaned and shrieked in absolute pleasure, as her pussy clenched around Harry's throbbing penis.
"So tight, so tight," breathed Harry, appreciating her restorative powers. "You like my cock trying to wear out your powerful pussy, don't you?"
"Yeah, it's just so…so…yes," breathed Kara unable to keep a coherent thought. She instead managed to push Harry deeper into her.
'Must be…so big…I feel it,' thought Kara, as she locked her legs around Harry, and arched her back. She remained flexible as always.
Harry sucked on her breasts. Kara moaned, enjoying his mouth on her tits, stimulating every moment. Her eyes glazed over in pleasure.
Her hands tightened around him, and her fingernails dug into his back. It would not hurt him, but the fact he drove her to this heightened her pleasure. Kara's eyes glazed over.
"Faster Harry, pound me harder," she moaned and Harry obliged her. Harry pushed himself in and out of her. She tried to milk him to an early climax, needing his seed, but Harry managed to hold back. He wanted to enjoy being pleasured for a long time, and he continued to exert a little pressure against her tight walls.
"So tight, feels so good," breathed Harry, in her ear, as he rode her in mid-air. "Baby, just squeeze me as hard as you can. You like it when I fuck you like this."
"Love it," managed Kara, as Harry continued to roam his hands around her, and continued to increase his speed, but then slowed down. Kara tightened her grip around Harry, and sucked on his earlobe to encourage him.
Harry picked up the pace, as her pussy clamped around him so tight that if he was normal, and not powerful, his cock would be torn to shreds.
The thought that he could experience this wonderful Kryptonian pussy at full power caused his balls to fill to the brink. He kissed all over her, and Kara cooed, tugging on his hair.
"Cum," she breathed.
Harry caused her to wait another moment, as he had to time it right. They would orgasm together, and it would be purely wonderful.
"I'm getting close," said Harry, before he sucked more on her breasts.
"Shoot it deep inside my powerful wet pussy!" moaned Kara. "Cum for me, Harry, fill me up!"
Kara orgasmed, as Harry unloaded into her. She squeezed him. Every single drop, as usual, Kara squeezed him. She felt her insides be flooded. The power she felt was beyond words.
Harry felt her squeeze him to the end of a rather lengthy and satisfying climax. The two floated to the ground, and rested there, as Kara made sure Harry was finished, before she collapsed on the ground.
Smut/Lemon Ends.
Harry made sure his wife was dressed, as he half carried her.
"Still alive, Kara?" asked Harry.
"If I died, I would have died happy," managed Kara with a blissful smile. "That was amazing."
"Kara, you were amazing, I'm just following your lead," said Harry. "You taught me everything I know about the joys of sex."
"Well the student is about ready to surpass the teacher," said Kara with a grin. "Which I have no problem with, but that's going to cause me to step up my game."
"Now that's something I'm looking forward to," said Harry as he checked his watch. "You do realize it's getting close to two in the morning?"
"We've been having sex for two hours straight?" asked Kara.
"That's a bad thing?" asked Harry.
"No, I just lost track of the time," said Kara, but Harry just kissed her on the lips. Kara melted into his embrace, and returned it. She started as the dominant one, but now the fact that Harry was exerting more control really turned her on and made her wet all over again.
"Then I must be doing my job," said Harry as he looked at her. "Happy New Year, Kara."
"Happy new year, Harry," said Kara.
"Are you tired?" asked Harry.
"Not the least bit," said Kara as she wondered where Harry was going.
"Want to go another round when we fly back home," said Harry.
"Yeah, let's do it," said Kara, as they flew home.
'If we ever come across any more blonde Kryptonians, he'll be more than up for the task,' mused Kara, as she noticed Harry had her cradled in his arms. She relaxed against him. 'I could really get spoiled by this.'
Daphne Greengrass stood in numb shock, as she got the letter from the Ministry of Magic. While she did not have the best relationship with her mother, family was still family. Astoria got the same letter, and looked to be in near tears at what happened. Ron Weasley moved around the Great Hall.
"So, um sorry to hear about your mother," said Ron, as he strained to be polite about the Slytherins. "Do you know anything about who the killer might be?"
"Someone more dangerous than you ever could hope to be, Weasley," said Daphne with disdain, as she turned away from this oxygen thief, and moved over to comfort her sister.
"So still hoping to catch the Hogwarts Killer, Weasley?"
Ron came face to face with Draco Malfoy.
"Yeah, I fancy doing that," said Ron who stood proud. He was not going to let this little ponce get the better of him.
"Well we know who the two smart ones of the Golden Trio of Gryffindor were, they checked out," drawled Malfoy. "Can't say I blame them, given they got away from you. So tell me, how's your father doing this holiday season? Oh that's right, he's dead, because he's a Mudblood lover."
Ron's fingers twitched, but he tried to maintain his temper.
"You're pathetic Weasley," taunted Malfoy. "The answer to who the killer is right under your nose. Then again, without Granger to do your thinking for you, and Potter to do your fighting for you, I don't think you have much of anything left going for you. Let's face it, on your own; you couldn't catch the plague during the dark ages."
Ron's eye twitched, as Draco continued to bore into him. "Then again, if you wanted a disease, all you should do was ask your sister, given how many boys she's been rumored to be with."
Ron lost it and punched Malfoy. Malfoy went down hard, but Snape showed up as if on cue.
"It seems like old habits die hard, Mr. Weasley," said Snape, as he pulled Ron off of Malfoy. "We will be spending the next month in detention together. You can solve the mystery of how to get stains out of all of the cauldrons in my dungeon."
Ron deflated. At this point, he knew it was useless to defend himself. Malfoy stood in the corner, smug as he watched Ron walk off.
Astoria sobbed, as Daphne tried to console her.
"Mother…I can't believe this," said Astoria, as she dampened her sister's best robes with her tears.
"Astoria, not in public," said Daphne in a warning voice.
"Screw appearances!" yelled Astoria losing her temper. "You know who I think the killer is. I think it's that trollop Ginny Weasley! She seems to be missing during half of the attacks, and she's trying to get Harry's attention, hoping he'd fly back! As if he'd even give gutter trash like her the time a day!"
"Astoria, calm yourself before I shove a calming draught down your throat," said Daphne, and Astoria composed herself.
Daphne figured it out, there was only one person in this school who seemed to gain from purebloods dropping dead. He could move up the pecking order without doing anything. He was missing during the attacks on Halloween, and seemed to be working on some top secret project. Daphne overheard him saying that he had a perfect escape from Hogwarts.
It all added up.
Daphne vowed to make Draco Malfoy have a little accident. It would be fitting retribution after her mother dying.
The problem was accomplishing the task without Snape or Dumbledore finding out, because they seemed keen to protect the little terror.
A criminal dressed in a purple costume, with a mask that resembled a moth head and wings made his way down the streets of Gotham City. He was taking advantage of the police being occupied after the chaos that followed the New Year. This extra heist would get him some spending money.
He made a New Year's Resolution to not get captured by any superheroes. His name was Killer Moth, the second particular criminal be under that particular moniker. His wings buzzed, as he melted the ice with a torch.
Just when he melted the ice, another fresh coat was blown over the top. Killer Moth backed off, to see Supergirl hovering above him.
"Hey, this isn't Metropolis, I'm out of your jurisdiction," said Killer Moth, who learned his lesson the first time he went over to Metropolis. Superman beat him in twenty seconds, seventeen seconds of that the Man of Steel spent laughing at his costume. "Stand back, this gun has a lethal…um sonic charge that will blow you back to Krypton."
"Oh, I'm scared," said Kara in a smug voice.
"You should be," said Killer Moth as he held his mother's blow dryer. "I mean, I went toe to toe with Superman, and you're just his sidekick…"
Killer Moth screamed like a little girl when heat vision melted his gun. He knew it was time to run, before he met the same fate. He moved around, but ran into Arcane.
"Hey, I know you!" shouted Killer Moth. "You're Sp…AGHH!"
Killer Moth was thrown backwards into a snow drift for almost saying the forbidden name that should never be spoken. Harry and Kara stood over him, as Killer Moth tried to use his wings to fly away, but a cable wrapped around his legs. Batgirl stood over him.
"You guys don't know what you're getting yourself into," said Killer Moth in a shaky voice, as he looked at the trio, and managed to pull himself free. "I know karate, deadly tricks, death blows that can strike pressure points."
He staggered from the lack of balance, as Nightwing and Robin showed up at this point.
"Really this guy is Killer Moth?" asked Robin. "The same Killer Moth that as an enemy of the Teen Titans…"
"No this is just some knockoff in a costume," said Nightwing as he looked at the alleged criminal. "A really bad costume."
"Hey my mother thinks this costume is cool!" yelled Killer Moth.
"No duh," said Robin as he rolled his eyes.
"The other Killer Moth was actually a threat," said Nightwing, as he moved over them.
"Stand back, I have legions of moths to do my bidding!" yelled Killer Moth, as he held a vial. Said vial contained three moths, all of which were dead.
"Really, now you're just embarrassing yourself," said Batgirl, as Nightwing just casually took out Killer Moth with one punch.
"Come on, let's haul him over to jail, I'm sure he could get a couple of days for wearing that costume in public," said Nightwing. "As I was saying, the original Killer Moth was a threat, but his daughter, she was scarier, believe me."
"I'll take your word for it," said Harry, as he joined them.
"So what brings you two over to Gotham City?" asked Batgirl.
"Oh, we're looking into a Patronus Inc. branch over here still," said Kara.
"Yeah, if we continue to profit throughout the next year, it should be ready to go by about this time next year," said Harry, as they deposited Killer Moth in front of the GCPD.
"Really, this clown again?" said Harvey Bullock as he looked at Killer Moth, while munching on a donut. "Did he actually pick a lock this time?"
"Well almost," said Kara.
"Yeah, he's going to spend a couple of days in the tank, but he'll be back on the street to embarrass himself again by the middle of the week," said Bullock as he lifted Killer Moth up. "Come on, Moth, I'll call your mother for ya. Thirty years old, and you still live in her basement."
"I'm really going to make something out of myself, I'm building a criminal empire," protested Killer Moth in a high pitched voice.
"Yeah, and I'm going to beat Superman in arm wrestling," scoffed Bullock.
The five swept the city, but found nothing so they returned to the Batcave. Batman had some news for Harry, and Harry was curious what it might be.
Batman sat in the Bat Cave. The Joker's latest joyride over the holidays had taxed him. Thankfully Joker took his show on the road overseas. The criminal clown had left Harley Quinn stranded, and Batman managed to convince her to tell him the Joker's plans. She managed to tell him enough where he deduced the Joker's plans to reenact the Gunpowder Plot, but adding his own sadistic twist. Batman stopped the Joker from causing an International Incident, and it was back to Arkham for the Joker.
Yet, while he was overseas, Batman overheard wizards talking in secret, about a mysterious killer that was knocking off purebloods. He also heard that Bellatrix Lestrange had killed the Dursleys, likely in an attempt lure Harry back there. That world had some rather twisted cases in it that made the regulars at Arkham seem well balanced and sane.
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" asked Harry, as Kara followed him into the cave. Tim, Dick, and Barbara also followed closely behind.
"The Dursleys are dead," said Batman gruffly.
"Wow, abrupt as usual," said Barbara.
There was a long silence, as Harry tried to gather how he felt.
"So, they're dead," said Harry as he shook his head. He found himself rather indifferent to the situations. In the grand scheme of things, the Dursleys were unimportant. "How did they die?"
"Bellatrix Lestrange killed them," said Batman. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry."
"Don't be," said Harry in a quiet voice. "I feel sorry for anyone else that she likely killed in the crossfire. I'd imagine she didn't stop at the Dursleys. So many people had to suffer, because the Ministry and Dumbledore enabled people like her."
"So what are you going to do?" asked Dick.
Harry thought long and then sighed. "Not returning to that world, especially for them. Bellatrix can't run forever, someone is going to catch up to her. The number of people she made suffer; someone will put her down. I can't save everyone in the world. I wish I could, but I can't."
Kara lead Harry off, as she looked at Batman as if it was his fault that Harry doubted his own abilities.
"He had to be told," said Batman, as he turned around.
"We all know," said Dick. "It's…he just seemed so detached like he didn't care about his family dying."
"Harry's childhood wasn't a happy one, was it?" asked Barbara.
"No," said Batman, who felt little sympathy for the death of the Dursleys for what he suspected they did. "They may have been related, but they were never Harry's family. He would tell you that himself. Do not approach him on the issue. I regret the necessity of bringing the Dursleys back up, as Harry likely forgot about them."
"He'll get over it," said Barbara after a moment. "Harry's…a strong person, and Kara will help with what he can't get over."
Harry sat in his office in Metropolis as he looked out the window. Kara walked up to him, and brought some hot chocolate for both of them. She sat down.
"Kara, am I a bad person for actually being somewhat happy that the Dursleys are dead?" asked Harry breaking the silence.
"Harry…they made you suffer," said Kara, sipping her hot chocolate. "I really don't think you're happy. I think you're relieved that you didn't have to make a decision regarding them yourselves."
Harry nodded.
"I guess I might be mourning them in my own way," said Harry. "Or rather mourning the fact they were just three more victims by Bellatrix Lestrange. That world never had a hero."
"Oh, it had one," said Kara with a smile as she got up, and began to rub Harry's shoulders. It was simple, but relaxed him "But with some people, they just like to see heroes fall from their pedestal."
"They were the ones that put me on that pedestal," said Harry, as Kara massaged his neck. "I never asked for any recognition, and I do wonder…how did they find out about what happened? Dumbledore told them I think. He wanted to set up a hero to fight the one demon he couldn't face. They say Voldemort feared Dumbledore."
"The reverse could have been true," said Kara as she continued to massage Harry and he leaned back.
"Yeah," agreed Harry, as he got up. She wrapped her arms around him. Harry did likewise.
"I think your heroism speaks for itself," said Kara, as she held him tight in a hug. "There are other places in the world who still appreciates someone with a noble heart saving the day."
"I'm glad I was able to find a woman who helped me discover those places," said Harry, as he leaned into a kiss. Kara returned it. They floated on air, but barely noticed.
They dropped down, and broke the kiss when they felt it had reached a reasonable conclusion.
"The dust off of the century is happening tonight, remember?" asked Kara, as her arms still remained around Harry.
"Yeah, that will cheer me up," said Harry, as he looked forward to the grudge match between Alfred and Dobby.
McGonagall thought she had lived the longest day in her life several times in the past severl years. Yet, she received a grim message that made her reassess that situation. All of the members of the Hogwarts Board of Governors were written in blood, with check marks next to them.
"The killer has struck again," said McGonagall, as Sprout, Flitwick, and Slughorn moved over. "Alastor Moody, Demeter Greengrass, and the entire Hogwarts Board of Governors all wiped out over the holiday season."
"It would be unwise to call the killer the Hogwarts Killer," said Sprout. "Given he or she seems to be branching out beyond the castle walls."
"But what's the motive?" asked Flitwick. "There doesn't seem to be a motive."
"Oh, there is a motive," said Snape as he walked into the meeting. "It's just one we have not been able to guess. It has everything to do with this."
Snape handed a folder to the other teachers.
"The Muggleborn Protection Act," said Slughorn as he read the paper. "It's…why would someone kill purebloods over this?"
"Not just purebloods, but half-bloods as well," said Snape. "Aberforth Dumbledore was a half blood wizard. And do read the act, Professor Slughorn."
They all read it.
"All Muggleborns will be offered protection from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, providing they swear a loyalty oath to the Ministry," read McGonagall. "They will be provided with a monitoring bracelet where they can summon Ministry help at any time.
"It is not so much a protection act, but a way to tag Muggleborns," concluded Flitwick.
"Who thought this bill was a good idea?" asked Sprout.
"Dolores Umbridge," said Snape. "I believe this entire Hogwarts killer mess was a fabrication by the Ministry in an attempt to drum up support for the act, at least at first."
"What do you mean at first?" asked McGonagall.
"We're dealing with a skilled assassin, but Umbridge backed out of the deal," said Snape. "The first victims were just merely injuring the students. Katie Bell's death was not the work of the killer."
"How do you know this, Severus?" asked McGonagall, but this inquiry fell on deaf ears.
"Between the first attacks on the Autumn Equinox and the attacks on Halloween, Umbridge must have gotten cold feet," said Snape. "I'd imagine the killer wasn't fool enough to give Umbridge his or her true identity. The Ministry won't reveal this to the public. The attacks all happen on holidays, which means the next attack may happen on Valentine's Day."
"But to who, and how?" asked Flitwick.
"We have to convince Dumbledore to shut the school down, we can't have any more blood on our hands," said McGonagall.
"Dumbledore will not be able to convince anyone of anything in his current state," said Snape, as he pulled out the official inquiry from the International Confederation of Wizards.
"Britain is being sanctioned," breathed Slughorn in horror.
"It was bound to happen," said Snape in a flat voice. "Just read it, and you will understand the situation we are in. Dumbledore is currently a guest of their prison, the entire magical population will be in poverty within the next six months, the Dark Lord will have likely taken control for what it's worth, the Ministry will be flattened, and the goblins likely will stage another rebellion."
'All because two wizards believed a prophecy,' thought Snape.
"And every single pureblood will be wiped out because of some crazed contract killer that Umbridge hired," added McGonagall.
"Yes, unless we capture him or her," said Flitwick. "Now is the time we work together, and make a pact to bring the killer to justice before the remaining students under our care suffer."
The five teachers all nodded, and swore to do the best they could to solve the mystery of the Hogwarts killer, even if it would take every bit of cunning they possess.
Of course with only forty seven purebloods left in the school, the population was thinning. Some had been pulled out before the school year, others had left, and many had been killed.
It was a desperate race to find a killer they had very few clues about the identity of.
The great dust off of the century between Alfred and Dobby was about ready to take place. Kara, Barbara, and Remus watched, having been chosen to be the judges. Harry had the job of being the referee.
"Okay, gentlemen, here are the rules," said Harry. "As you know, your dusting tools have passed inspection. They are up to standards of the noble art."
Dobby and Alfred nodded, as they stared each other down.
"The rules are this has to be done the old fashion way, which means no magic," said Harry.
"Dobby doesn't have a problem with this," said the house elf. "Dobby will be doing this old school."
"You have two identical walls full of equally dusty items," said Harry. "The first person to complete their side of the room will be the victor. In the event of a tie, the judges will declare the victory based on technique. Do you understand the rules?"
Alfred and Dobby looked at each other.
"I want you gentlemen to shake hands," said Harry, and Dobby and Alfred both shook hands, squeezing them, in an attempt to psyche each other out. They were positioned to their end of the room. "I want a good clean fight…LET'S GET IT ON!"
The butler and the house elf began to dust with absolute fury, as Harry watched from the air to make sure the rules of combat were enforced.
Dust flew into the air as the dusty artifacts.
"This is going to be a close one," commented Barbara.
"I think it might be too close to call," agreed Kara, as she watched. "Alfred seems determined to win this one."
"Well he takes his job rather seriously," said Barbara as she watched. "Where do you think Bruce picked it up?"
"Dobby seems to be holding his own despite not being allowed to use magic," said Remus as he looked at them. "Halfway point, but neither look to be backing down."
The dust continued to kick into the air, as they got three fourths of the way done.
"Ah, does Dobby need to tuck sir in for a nap?" taunted the house elf.
"I think it's going to me that will put you to bed, Dobby," said Alfred with fierce determination, as he gritted his teeth.
He was going to go the distance with this house elf. He did admit him to be a worthy opponent, but he was Alfred Pennyworth. He had dusted every single room in Wayne Manor, and kept it spotless.
They were going down to the wire, as the dust kicked into the air. They were almost done.
Harry watched, as Dobby and Alfred both reached the end of the shelves.
"Okay, and stop," said Harry as both warriors backed off. "Now it's time for the inspection."
Harry moved down the shelves, to see if he would have to take this matter to the judges. He scanned the shelves, but found something.
"A nearly equal performance, but one of the combatants missed a spot," said Harry as he paused for dramatic effective. "Drum roll please."
Harry waved his hand to get the desired effect. He waited, and waited.
"The winner of this contest…by one speck of dust…ALFRED!"
Alfred looked absolutely jubilant with triumph, Dobby just inclined his head, to applaud.
"Very good, but Dobby will be wanting a return match in a few months," said Dobby.
"Yes, perhaps," said Alfred who was happy that he had a two week vacation. He would need one after the effort he expanded.
"Well that was one for the ages," commented Barbara.
"Yeah, good thing Harry found that little speck of dust," said Kara. "I wouldn't know who to pick for the winner."
"Both looked good out there," agreed Remus. "Dobby really showed something, despite doing it without magic."
With that event out of the way, Kara and Harry moved off to have lunch, leaving the others to their own devices.
"The International Confederation of Wizards recognizes Hermione Granger and Nymphadora Tonks."
Tonks and Hermione stood at the mercy of the court. This was a desperate little gambit to hopefully gain Sirius his freedom.
"We have gone over your request for a meeting," said the chairman as he looked down. "And I trust you have been brought up to speed about us removing Britain from the confederation until they can prove their Ministry did not enable Lord Voldemort in his rise for power."
"We have Chairman," said Hermione with a nod. "We wish to bring the matter of Sirius Black to question."
"Yes, Black has vexed us because it is common procedure to have a trial for even the most hardened convict," said the Chairman. "The Ministry has refused to present evidence of a trial for the man who has escaped Azkaban prison and killed many. We feel that they are hiding something, but we have been unable to find out what."
"Sirius Black is innocent of all charges, and this is the real criminal," said Tonks as she held up the cage. "He's a wizard, named Peter Pettigrew, he faked his death, and framed Sirius for the murders. He was also the secret keeper for the Potters."
"If this is true, the Ministry has committed a high crime by their own laws, never mind international laws," said the Chairman, as the other members nodded. Statements demonizing Wizarding Britain echoed throughout the chambers by several members of the court. "But perhaps you could shed light on another matter? Was Harry Potter the one who defeated Voldemort on Halloween night over fifteen years ago?"
Hermione and Tonks exchanged a look. A variation of the truth would work.
"No, that was his mother, Lily," said Hermione, choosing her next words carefully. "She managed to use an advanced charm to banish Voldemort into a state between life and death. Voldemort returned to a shell body, until we could destroy artifacts of his that tied him to the mortal plane."
"Surely you don't mean this monster created a Horcrux?" asked one of the delegates.
"Not a Horcrux, Horcruxes as in plural," said Hermione which caused everyone to be mortified. "I trust what I'm about to say next is not getting back to Britain."
"No, everyone on this court has been sworn under penalty of death not to leak information to that outlaw government," said the Chairman curtly.
"Voldemort was killed by the blood he stole from Harry when he formed his shell body after we broke the final Horcrux," said Hermione. "I have documented proof of Voldemort's history and who he really was, and why the blame can be laid on the feet of both Dumbledore and the Ministry."
Hermione held out a folder, and the clerk took it, before it was passed around.
Stunned silence filled the chambers for several minutes.
"He's really gone this time?"
"Tom Marvolo Riddle aka Lord Voldemort is dead." said Tonks, but she held out a folder of her own. "I have documented proof of at least fifty high ranking Ministry officials, who were accused of Death Eaters, but the charges were dropped after the Ministry received generous donations."
The clerk received the proof, and took it for the ICW to read.
"Britain can never be allowed back into the Confederation based on these crimes without severe restructuring," summarized the Chairman. "I thank you two ladies for the evidence you presented, and should you meet Harry Potter, tell him that he has no obligation to try and fix that world."
"He knows," said Tonks, as she and Hermione walked off. "So, how does it feel condemning the Ministry to utter ruin?"
"Pretty good," responded Hermione.
"I left my resignation letter on Rufus's desk, I'm not sticking around to see the Ministry crumble," said Tonks as they arrived outside the building, but a figure dressed in a hooded cloak appeared before them. Both witches held out their wands, but the hood lowered to reveal the scarred face of Neville Longbottom.
"Neville?" asked Hermione, but she prepared herself for a fight.
"Hello, Hermione, fancy meeting you here," said Neville.
"What were you doing here?" asked Hermione suspiciously. She still thought that Neville might have been the Hogwarts Killer, so she was on her guard.
"Why so cold Hermione?" asked Neville. "I thought we were friends, with the Department of Mysteries."
"Times have changed," said Hermione, as her wand still pointed on Neville. "What do you want?"
"I want to talk to Harry about something," said Neville as he backed off. "I need to tell him something, I found a letter, it's about the prophecy…"
"Bit late with that one, Neville," replied Tonks. "Look, Neville if you want a meeting with Harry, I'm sure we can arrange it. Harry would like to see if you were okay, he was a bit broken up with what happened with both you and Luna."
"Luna?" asked Neville. "Did the killer get her too…"
"I don't know, Neville, did they?" asked Hermione as she eyed him suspiciously.
"Hermione…you can't believe…I…" stammered Neville, but Hermione just looked at him.
"Hand me your wand, you'll get it back when you're meeting with Harry is done," said Hermione. "Until then, Tonks and I will be keeping an eye on you."
Neville did not want to relinquish his wand. He took a step back.
"Fine, we'll do this the hard way," said Hermione.
Swiftly, Hermione disarmed Neville, and then knocked him unconscious with a punch.
"You could have used a stunning spell," offered Tonks.
"Little too late for that," said Hermione as she stood over Neville's unconscious form. "Besides, he still could be the killer. If he is…we'll know. Harry can tell when people are lying to him."
Tonks and Hermione picked up Neville, and prepared to check with Harry to see if he was in.
"Hermione, just what in the bloody hell were you thinking?"
"Harry calm down…"
Neville remained unconscious, with Harry having put a sleeping spell on him so he did not wake up before he was ready to talk.
"Hermione, I appreciate your concern, but I'm old enough to fight my battles," said Harry as Hermione took a step back. "Look, I know you have that entire Amazonian Warrior spirit thing, but you can't just knock everyone out if they look at you shifty."
"Harry and Hermione, you both have points," said Kara with a sigh. "Harry, Neville was lurking around, being suspicious. But Hermione, you could have handled it with a bit more…I don't know, you just could have been subtle."
"Hermione, thanks, but I'll figure out where Neville stands form here," said Harry, as he moved over. Hermione left, and Harry woke Neville up. Neville looked at Harry, trying to come to his senses. "Hello Neville, Hermione tends to have a bit of a temper when she thinks people are going to attack me."
"I noticed," said Neville, as he pulled himself up, and clutched his aching head. "So…a lot has happened since the Department of Mysteries."
"One could say that," said Harry, as he looked over. Kara adopted more down to Earth attire for this meeting, not to blow the secret. She wore jeans and a flannel shirt, with her hair tied back and a pair of glasses. Harry used a glamor charm to adopt the form Neville was more used to from their five years at Hogwarts. "This is Kara, I met her in Vegas, and we got married."
"Only you Harry, only you," said Neville. "Actually I'm kind of surprised you didn't end up getting married to five or six girls knowing your luck."
"Well, you just never know," said Kara.
"Yeah, it could happen one of these days," agreed Harry.
"Variety is the spice of life," added Kara, as she leaned on Harry.
"It would have to be under very specific conditions," said Harry. "Namely they would have to be girls like Kara, and she's one of a kind."
"I see," said Neville, not really seeing, but he pressed on. "Harry, there's a killer after pureblood heirs."
"Yeah, I've heard rumors," said Harry, but he then proceeded. "Neville, I'm done playing the golden boy. I left that world after what Umbridge did. You remember our fifth year, don't you?"
"All too well," replied Neville darkly with a nod. He supposed he could not fault Harry for actually wanting to live to see his seventeenth birthday. "Really, mate, I wasn't asking you to come back and solve it. You're married and happy, I get it. Other people might not understand, but I get it."
Harry was happy someone retained some amount of sense they were born with.
"Good, but do you happen to know anything about this killer?" asked Harry.
"Only that it's a witch," said Neville.
"Ginny," said Harry, without missing a beat.
"What makes you so sure?" questioned Neville.
"No one else would go to these lengths to get my attention," said Harry. "You got to realize, you always knew Ginny had a crush on the Boy-Who-Lived. Many girls did I'm sure, but no one went to the lengths she did. She had a shrine; she had wedding plans, and everything."
Harry gave a long sigh, as Kara grabbed his hand. "I feel bad for her in a way. She…she spent an entire year writing in that diary. Dark magic leaves something behind, nine times out of ten. I'd imagine she didn't get any help. Does this world even have counseling? You know, any help for mental problems."
Neville shrugged. "Shock spells at St. Mungos and potions tend to be the most common solution."
"Last I heard you were in St. Mungos," said Harry.
"Yeah, but I was released there, with a clean bill of health," said Neville. "The scars won't heal, but I left there about a few weeks ago."
Immediately, Harry picked up on a small lie, but he was willing to let it slide, unless there were bigger lies Neville was telling.
"I think the killer is Bellatrix Lestrange," said Neville at that moment.
Kara and Harry just nodded. It could be possible.
"I'm going to take her down," said Neville firmly. "And as many Death Eaters as I can manage."
At this point, Harry looked at Neville. He found himself put in a very difficult situation, and felt the need to choose his next words very carefully.
"Neville, I appreciate your sentiment, but…just stop and think about this for one second," said Harry in a calm voice. "We know what happened to your parents. They were trained Aurors, two of the best in their class from what I heard. Am I correct?"
Neville responded with a stoic nod.
"Bellatrix lead a quartet of Death Eaters, and took them down, tortured them into insanity," said Harry. "And she attacked you in the Department of Mysteries as well, just by being their son."
"I remember, and she attacked me again over the summer," said Neville in a firm voice. "What are you saying?"
"All I'm saying is that I highly recommend not tracking her down just to satisfy your own sense of revenge," said Harry. "Bellatrix is dangerous. She was trained personally by Voldemort himself."
"Harry, you trained me to fight Death Eaters, I can handle them,' said Neville, but then he looked. "And with the prophecy and all, I know you know, I could have been the Boy-Who-Lived."
Harry and Kara both exchanged a look. The circumstances of why Harry got that moniker were known to both of them. It was Lily's charm work, and not the prophecy that gave him that distinction.
"The prophecy didn't make me who I was," said Harry.
"Prophecies don't make heroes," said Kara, as she looked at Neville with a slight smile.
"I never said I was a hero," said Neville defensively.
"You did do well in the Department of Mysteries, but the Death Eaters didn't expect to get beaten by six school children," said Harry as he surveyed Neville. "Bellatrix killed her sister. You know, she was a rather capable witch, years and years of experience, and a capable duelist from what Tonks told me. She knew Bellatrix inside and out, but still was slaughtered."
"I have to do this Harry," argued Neville, stubbornly. "I have to kill her, she's the one who made it personal."
"Yes, that's what people like Bellatrix do, they make it personal," said Harry, as he looked at Neville. "All I'm saying is…"
"Are you saying I'm not capable?" asked Neville.
"Harry's not saying that at all," said Kara, compelled to defend her husband, but Harry grabbed her hand.
"Don't go off on some reckless mission of revenge," said Harry.
"Isn't that the Gryffindor thing to do?" asked Neville. "Isn't that the Harry Potter thing to do?"
"Neville, I had no choice, the battle with Voldemort was forced on me," said Harry. "You have a chance to walk away. Or you can walk off into battle, potentially get killed."
"I don't have anything else to lose," said Neville, but Harry got up and stared him down.
"Do you really undervalue your life so much to say that?" asked Harry in a stoic voice. "You sound like me this past summer before Vegas. That's a road you don't want to go down. I feel as if I made the right choice, given how the world seems to have collapsed."
"Well, you kind of abandoned us!" yelled Neville, losing his temper.
"No, I abandoned the hypocrites that would put me up on a golden pedestal one minute, and knock me back down the next," said Harry, as he got up.
"You think I'm the killer, don't you?" asked Neville, and Harry paused before he answered.
"I'm not discounting the possibility," said Harry after a second. "Bellatrix damaged your face, but she did a number on your mind. I'm not going to make your decisions for you. That's not my job. I'm just warning you what might happen if you seek her out. She won't hesitate to kill you this time."
"I would have thought you'd be all for this, given she did kill your godfather!" yelled Neville. "And what about Voldemort, do you think he's going to crawl in a hole and die?"
Harry opened his mouth, but then closed it. "Just think about what I said. The decision of what to do is yours, just like it was mine."
"Yeah it is," agreed Neville, as he looked at the couple firmly. "Five years, you stuck it out Harry. They treated you like dirt, and you kept coming back. It's easy to see why you took the chance to leave when you took it."
Neville calmed down a bit, before he continued to speak calmly. "I'm not you, and I never will be you. Not everyone's strong as you, not everyone can turn the other cheek, and be the better person. Bellatrix is sick, but I might be too. Perhaps the entire magical world is sick."
Harry debated on whether to tell him about Voldemort being dead, but Neville took the matter out of his hands by leaving at that moment, without a final goodbye.
"I wonder if I should have told him about Voldemort or not," said Harry, and Kara looked at him. "He's…I don't know. What happened to last summer changed him. I'm not sure if he's the Hogwarts Killer, but he's not telling the truth about his release from St. Mungos."
"Was Hermione right?" asked Kara.
"I think it's a likely chance she might be," said Harry, but he was not one hundred percent sure about this. Even if Neville wasn't the killer, he still worried about his friend. "What if Neville doesn't even know it? You've seen the cases of split personalities in Batman's cases files."
Harry paused. "It could be anyone who is still over there. Any number of people, and maybe it could be a complete nobody, who just wanted revenge."
The couple sat quietly.
Was it Bellatrix? Was it Ginny? Was it Neville?
Or was it someone else entirely?
"Kara, I've got all of the victims written down," said Harry as he pointed to a file on his desk. "And the dates they're murdered on."
"We might be able to pin down a motive," said Kara. "Are you going to…"
"I just want to know who I can trust," said Harry, as he walked over, and began to cross reference the information. "All on holidays, all purebloods, and all…connected to wealthy families."
Harry flipped through the information he had acquired about recent laws passed in the Ministry.
"Kara, look at this," said Harry.
"The Muggleborn Protection act," read Kara. "This was spearheaded by four people. Dolores Umbridge, Lucius Malfoy, Cornelius Fudge, and Robert Yaxley."
"They wanted to tag Muggleborns so they could keep track of them," said Harry as he flipped through the utterly complex one hundred page proposal to try to get some kind of clue about what the game was.
"Do you know who it is?" asked Kara.
Harry shook his head, but then a package appeared on the ledge of the balcony outside Harry's office.
The two walked over to grab the package, and they pulled out a rune stone. The distorted image of the killer appeared.
"Hello Harry Potter," said the modulated voice. "I'm sure you are looking over your shoulder right now, Chosen One. But do not fear, I will never harm a hair on your head. My quarrel is not with you, but rather the purebloods who continue to maintain an air of superiority despite willing to stab each other in the back. We both know that in a few generations, the Ministry will likely collapse. So why not speed up the process? Trust me, Harry; I do this to make sure the world is a safer place. This little festering hole in the ground needs to be closed. I'm sure you found out about the little Muggleborn Protection Act that the Ministry tried to force through. My motive is clear if you find all of the pieces. No doubt you are more adept in figuring out these things than Dumbledore. Ta-ta for now."
Harry saw the image of the killer fade, and Kara scanned the stone.
"You do realize what the killer just did," said Kara.
"Yeah, she gave me evidence which I can track her with," said Harry, as he held the rune stone with triumph.
Of course, figuring out how the stone worked was another matter entirely, but Harry remained confident that he could solve this puzzle.