After some prodding, Lois had been invited in for lunch. She decided that free food, was free food, although she kept staring daggers at Harry and Kara for what they pulled. They just smiled at her.
Kara meanwhile was deep in thought. She had been thinking about something based on Raven's conversation about six weeks ago after the battle of Grundy. It ate her up inside to have to not tell Harry the truth.
'There is always more than two choices,' thought Kara, who had been pouring over some of the books in her free time, plus she racked her brain based on the knowledge of magic she had acquired when on Argo. Yet, magic while vast, was not the definite authority in the universe. 'It's neither yes or no, there is always other options.'
"Harry, come on, I'd like to give you one of your Christmas presents right now," said Kara with a smile.
Harry looked at her, and Kara led him downstairs.
The doors locked behind them, and Harry and Kara were alone with each other. The two sat across from each other.
"You didn't have to get me anything," said Harry.
"I knew you'd say that," said Kara with a fond smile, but then she grew suddenly serious. "Harry, this is a really big thing that you're going to have to trust me on. I swear on my marriage vows, my powers, and my status as the house of the Noble House of El that this will work."
"Kara, I trust you one hundred percent, I love you, you know that," said Harry as he grabbed her hands, and pulled her closer.
Kara gave Harry a passionate kiss. She took a peak at the Horcrux. It was nearly gone, but still hovered around the most dangerous spot on Harry's brain. Yet, she was satisfied in her part of wearing it down. She broke the kiss.
After they broke the kiss, Kara held Harry by the hand.
"Harry, I need you to take us to the Fortress of Solitude," said Kara as she looked at him. "Your present is there."
Harry looked at her, and Kara clutched onto him. They vanished with a soft pop, and the couple reappeared inside the Fortress.
"Accessing molecular separated chamber, password Lara," said Kara as she looked at the computer.
Her brainstorm had been based off of an off handed comment Harry made. He wondered if Kryptonian technology could remove the Horcrux. Kara said she did not know, and the matter had been not been brought up again. Yet, Kara thought about it, and wondered.
She researched the matter and looked at everything her cousin at the Fortress. Just three days ago, she managed to hit upon something that might work, or so she hoped.
"Access granted," said the computer, as the doors slid open.
"Step inside Harry," said Kara, who hoped in her heart she was not making the biggest mistake of her life, and Harry's.
Harry stepped inside, and Kara pressed a few buttons.
"With any luck, you'll be free Harry," said Kara in a soft voice, as her blue eyes looked at him. "Just focus on all of the love we have for each other, okay?"
Harry nodded and was sedated, as Kara bit her lip. She programmed into the computer to lock onto the Horcrux.
'Please for the love of Rao, work,' thought Kara biting her lip, as she made sure the energy crystals were properly aligned.
She entered the final command, and Harry found himself bombarded with the energy inside the chamber.
Kara watched, hands clasped together, but a black shade that resembled a snake faced man was separated from Harry. The shade was faintest, worn down from months of activities between the two. It was most certainly much weaker than the three Kara blasted with her heat vision. Harry blacked out from the effort, as the shade vaporized, unable to be sustained without its container.
The doors opened, and Kara looked down at Harry. She had thought she had killed her husband on Christmas Eve for one scary moment.
Time stood still. Yet, Harry still breathed, his heartbeat, and he was glowing.
Kara rushed over to the computer, and switched over to prepare a scan. In a few minutes, she would know if she would have to get the gold Kryptonite or not.
Time ticked by.
On his throne, Voldemort had a seizure, and fell down the steps to the ground. He almost felt like he was having a Muggle heart attack. Yet, the greatest Dark Lord of his time could not die because of an ailment such as this. He moved forward, as Wormtail dutifully helped him up.
"Away, it's just merely indigestion!" snapped Voldemort, as he clutched his wand, and the dark wizard forced himself back to his feet, but then collapsed once again.
Harry woke up in a swirling mist, as a red haired woman with green eyes stood there right before him.
"I always knew she was the right one for you," said Lily, with a bright smile, as Harry got up to face his mother.
"Mum?" asked Harry, but Lily hugged him tightly. Harry was embarrassed, and pleased at the same time. This was the first hug he remembered getting from his mother. "Am I…"
"No, Harry, you're free of the shackles of that Horcrux," said Lily. "And you have powers beyond the wildest dreams of most normal magic users. Every mother says she wants the best for her son, but I went several steps beyond that."
"I thought for a second the Horcrux would eat through the protections," said Harry. "I…I wondered if I would live to see my first wedding anniversary."
"Kara she found another way through," said Lily. "She didn't want you to suffer through the burden, months of waiting for what happened like some sword over your head. The guilt she felt for holding that secret over you for even a short time must have been inhumane. I won't keep you from returning to her much longer."
Lily just paused.
"A few things you need to know," said Lily. "You do have powers, but powers without training are useless. You still have much to learn about them, but that's a journey you will take in due time. Voldemort is merely the beginning, and his end is near."
"What about Voldemort?" asked Harry.
"You see, when he took your blood, he fucked himself over, "replied Lily, and Harry was surprised to see his mother swear. "Royally fucked himself over, the bastard's on the floor right now, sniveling like a little girl I always suspected he was and yelling in pain. Why don't you be a dear, and put him out of his misery?"
"You mean I can go and defeat Voldemort now?" asked Harry.
"Yes, Harry, you can defeat him now," said Lily. "Take your darling bride, and finish this the moment you wake up. Don't forget the snake, and remember I'll always be with you, where it matters."
Lily pointed towards Harry's heart. "Just open your mind a little bit, and Tom will lead you to him. And give him a swift kick up the arse for your dear old Mum."
"I will, Mum," said Harry with a laugh, as Lily gave him another hug. "I…love you."
"I love you too, dear," said Lily. "Now go kick his arse."
Harry laughed, as he prepared to wake up and return to the woman he loved.
Kara gave a jubilant scream of triumph. Harry's power levels had peaked, and he had not sacrificed one bit of his powers. His brainwaves registered as normal. The damage done to his brain from the Horcrux was repaired, and all of his vital signs registered healthy.
Harry's eyes opened, and Kara stood over him. Her expression brightened with relief. She hugged Harry, as he got up to his feet.
"Your plan worked out, my love," said Harry, as he returned the hug and kissed her fully on the lips. The two floated up, high and touched the ceiling of the Fortress. They then dropped back down onto their feet. "My full powers are unlocked, the Horcrux is gone."
Harry gave another her long and deep kiss.
"Raven's theory was a bit off then," summarized Kara.
"Yeah she was wrong, her calculations were way off," said Harry. "I figured out about the Horcrux, and what it was a while back. That's why I asked you about the technology here at the Fortress."
"So you knew?" asked Kara.
"I knew," answered Harry, as he kissed her again. The kiss lasted a while. Harry pulled away, reluctantly. "But, we've got one more piece of business to deal with."
Kara's eyes widened.
"Today's the day where I fulfill that little prophecy and get Riddle off my back for good," said Harry.
Voldemort forced himself to stand up up, as his hands burned. It was like his body was coming apart. The blood caused his internal organs to boil and his skin to begin to blister.
"No!" screamed Voldemort, as this defied every bit of magic that he ever studied. His body could not be failing him like this. The ritual eighteen months ago worked perfectly!
"Hi, Tom, Merry Christmas!" yelled Harry, as he appeared and knocked Voldemort back into his own throne.
"Potter, I'll kill you," hissed Voldemort, as Wormtail looked up in fear. He tried to turn into a rat and scurry away, but Harry immobilized him in a cage.
"I'm sure you'd like one big last dramatic fight to the finish," said Harry, as he secured Voldemort. "But we all can't get what we want in life."
Voldemort found his body burning up from the inside. He never felt pain, but yet he was suffering now.
"My blood hurts, doesn't it? Rips you apart, doesn't it? You might have lived a bit longer had you not decided to believe that silly little Prophecy."
"I'll kill you…" managed Voldemort, but the Dark Lord was thrown across the room like a javelin. "Nagini, protect me…"
Nagini slithered from behind, but a heat blast nailed Nagini hard. The snake exploded into a fiery death, and the black shade left her.
Harry's ring glowed blue, as he knocked Voldemort around again. Voldemort reached for his wand, but Harry stepped on it. The wand busted in half. The ultimate sign of disrespect for a duel, as Voldemort tried to attack, but he found himself incapable of doing magic. Harry began to dismantle his body with ruthless aggression.
Kara floated over, and watched her husband dismantle this miserable excuse for life.
"Potter, I don't understand this," said Voldemort in a soft voice as he only barely held on through the sheer force of will. "You shouldn't be this powerful!"
"That's the source of my power, Voldemort," said Harry as he inclined his head to Kara. "My beautiful wife, her and I, we have a lot in common, and being annoyed by the fact you stubbornly cling onto life like a little girl is only one thing."
"I'll get revenge on you for this Potter," whispered Voldemort.
"Not today, not ever," replied Harry as he inclined his head towards the Dark Lord.
"He doesn't get it, does he?" asked Kara. "I think all of those Horcruxes breaking might have cooked his brain."
"What?" demanded Voldemort, as he felt his body break apart even further. Yet he would not be denied.
"Your little anchors to cheat death, they went up in flames," said Kara, as she blew a mocking kiss good bye. "And now, you're about to go goodbye too."
"Who is this girl?" demanded Voldemort.
"Remember that flying man you've been obsessing about the past few months," said Harry. "Kara's his cousin, so I'll let your mind fill in the blanks from there."
Voldemort screamed in agony. He cursed the day Snape ever told him that prophecy. It was all Snape's fault!
"I would feel sorry for you, if you weren't kind of pathetic," said Harry, as he watched the paralyzed Voldemort. "Goodbye Riddle, we won't see each other again. You can spend your Christmas burning in hell!"
In one last ditch effort to save himself, Voldemort tried to possess Harry. Yet, this was a failed attempt, as his broken soul could not penetrate the shield of protection around Harry. He tried to return to his physical body, but Kara flew over and blasted the decayed shell to ashes with her heat vision.
The decayed soul of Tom Marvolo Riddle had been pulled beyond by something more powerful than he ever hoped to be.
He was gone. Harry sighed, as he felt the weight of the world lift from his shoulders.
"Don't want to forget Sirius's present," said Harry, as he picked up the caged Wormtail, before he grabbed Kara, and they popped back home.
Voldemort's ashes fluttered on the floor, forgotten. His followers were none the wiser to his demise. He had told them to leave him unless he summoned them.
The Greatest Dark Lord of his age went out not with a bang, but with a whimper on Christmas Eve.
Kara and Harry returned to their room, to allow a moment for their victory. Wormtail was secured and kept like the rat he was. Raven appeared immediately.
"So, you did find another way," said Raven, as she looked at both of them.
"Guess I did," said Kara smugly.
"I'm glad," said Raven before she looked at Harry. "So are you going to tell them about Riddle?"
Harry looked at her. He just nodded stiffly. "I'll figure out what I want to do about that after the holidays, but I'm inclined to just let the entire lot of them stumbling around blindly."
"It's your prerogative," said Raven. "I'll be leaving you both now."
Kara and Harry turned and Raven was gone. The two remained in their room alone. They wrapped their arms around each other, and kissed in celebration. They had to be careful things did not get too heated, but they snogged for several minutes.
"Kara, you're amazing," said Harry, after he broke the kiss. "You…"
"Harry, I spent the better part of the last six weeks trying to find out a way around it," said Kara. "It tore me up inside to see you have this thing hanging over your head. I'm glad you suggested the Fortress technology to me. I researched everything, and found it."
"So how did you know it would work?" asked Harry.
"I didn't," said Kara with a sheepish grin. "You know, Kryptonian technology, it was really our only hope.. Earth Technology might not have done it, but Kryptonian technology we were light years ahead. After all, it's essentially magic compared to Earth technology."
"Well you're brilliant, my beautiful princess from the stars," said Harry. "And you gave me three great gifts."
Kara looked confused, so Harry elaborated. "One you figured out a way to have me get rid of the Horcrux. Two, Riddle's gone and I don't have that hanging over me. And three, I met my Mum when I was lingering between life and death. Thank you, best Christmas ever."
Harry grabbed her, and gave her another deep kiss. She returned it. It was hard to maintain control. Harry had all of this new power within him, and it nearly made her to do all sorts of amazing things with him.
They broke their kiss, and Kara reached over to grab the book Raven gave them. She flipped through a few pages.
"Hey, Harry, I was thinking about something," said Kara. "If we had five other girls, as great as your powers are, they could be even greater, and just think of the possibilities."
"Kara, where are we going to find five other girls?" asked Harry.
"Well, I'm sure there might be plenty out there," said Kara. "How about…"
"No, Kara, listen, I know you like to experiment," said Harry, as he grabbed her hand and looked at her sternly. "I only have eyes for Blonde Kryptonian females. That's my type, that's all that will ever turn me on."
Kara looked at him, but she had to smile.
"Wow…my husband's particular about his tastes," said Kara, but she had a grin on her face. "You know…I was thinking about something else…just something I felt when we kissed for the first time, back in Vegas."
Harry looked at her, and wondered where this was going.
"Well, when we kissed it felt absolutely magical," said Kara, who felt her husband's frustration that he did not remember it. "Harry, this might sound stupid, especially given how this term has been cheapened over the centuries. But I feel in my heart, I know what we're…destined to be together."
He really had no idea where this was going.
"There are some people who are just destined to be the perfect match," continued Kara. "You know, they could be born in different times, different places, different planets, but if they meet they have a connection. When I kissed you, I felt something wonderful. I just wish you could remember it, because I know you felt it too."
"Are you trying to tell me that we were bonded or something the moment we kissed?" asked Harry, and Kara nodded.
"Yeah, the rings added to the protection, and we got married, so it's kind of on paper," said Kara, as she held Harry. "There's a spell right here in this book that will let us know for sure if we're…."
"Soulmates?" suggested Harry.
Kara nodded, as Harry read the book, before he nodded and performed the spell.
"It says we should glow gold if we are," said Harry, as he prepared to perform the spell.
Seconds later, the couple was illuminated in a blinding gold light. Harry and Kara exchanged yet another heated kiss in triumph.
'One girl I found would be the one I was destined to be with,' thought Harry. 'Well my luck was bound to work out right eventually, law of averages and all.'
They broke apart, as they gazed into each other's eyes.
"Harry, I'm sure there are no other Blonde Kryptonian females around," said Kara after a moment. "But if I'm wrong…I won't complain about letting them into our relationship."
"Kara, that's fair," said Harry with a chuckle. "I swear on our marriage vows that if we find any women like you, then I'll be happy to include them in our union."
"I swear likewise on my marriage vows," said Kara in joking manner, but at that moment, the rings glowed blue. She was caught off guard. "Okay, that was weird."
"Likely just a backwash of me coming into my full powers," said Harry with a dismissive shrug.
"We better go, everyone probably thinks we're having lots of steamy, passionate super sex in here," said Kara, as she held onto him tightly.
"Well I'd like to think we will be once we kick everyone out after Christmas," said Harry with a grin.
Harry appreciated what his wife did for him, and on Christmas, he would give her a gift to help her as well.
Severus Snape hated Christmas, the entire Christmas season. He had no reason. He hated the noise, and the students cheerfully babbling about their presents. If only he could stop Christmas from coming.
If Dumbledore had not forbidden him to do so, he would put a stop to the entire thing. If Snape could get away with it, he would steal Christmas.
Yet, Snape had a present delivered to his Potions Lab on that day. He wondered who could have sent him something. He took a step forward, and checked it. He opened the present.
It was a music box. Snape tapped the music box with his wand.
The box burst open, and started playing "It's a Small World" over and over again. Snape screamed in horror, as he tried to destroy the box, but it seemed indestructible.
It seemed like something Black would do. It was almost like Sirius Black was taunting him from beyond the grave. Yet, Black was dead, so Snape had no idea who had sent him this twisted travesty of a gift.
The song rang in Snape's head, as he needed a really big hammer to get the song out of his head.
Snape managed to fetch a sedative which would put him out for the count.
Sirius laughed like a madman.
"I wonder if Snape got my gift," said Sirius, as people looked at him like he was insane.
Vernon Dursley was a perfectly normal man, who led a perfectly normal life, with his perfectly normal wife.
The Dursleys sat around to watch television. Dudley returned from the holidays, but he seemed rather distant and quiet. Vernon suspected it was because of a long term at the school. Petunia continued to try and spy on the neighbors out the window, as Vernon watched the news.
"Patronus Incorporated continues to gain a ground swell of support in their operations over in Metropolis, with feelers having been sent overseas," said the newscaster as Vernon watched with disinterest. "In the ashes of the disgraced LexCorp company, this new force in the business world is breaking barriers. Analysts state they are on track to turn a rather healthy profit for the final quarter of 2000, which means good things for the New Years. The co-owners Harry and Kara Potter have put together a winning team, but there is still room for growth!"
Vernon nearly choked when he recognized the boy with a blonde woman on television.
"Vernon, are you okay?" demanded Petunia, as she walked into the living room. "It's the boy…and…his wife."
"Yeah, that farm girl he met in Las Vegas," said Vernon as he just looked at the couple through his beady little eyes. "He must have knocked her up, it serves the freak right."
Dudley just watched the television. Several thoughts went through his head.
'My cousin seems to have moved up in the world,' thought Dudley. 'And…and…he's married to…he's married to…Supergirl? How did he…he'll be the envy of everyone. How did he manage that?"
Dudley's brain nearly short circuited from that particular revelation. The Dementors had given him a new perspective on life, but years being raised by his parents were hard to overcome. The fact Harry managed to remain mostly upbeat despite the situation, made him jealous at times. That's why he bullied him a lot. No matter what, Harry refused to let Dudley or his parents get to him. He refused to break, or cry. He just stood his ground.
Despite all that happened, Harry kept fighting and stood tall.
Dudley Dursley thought about writing this cousin, but what do you say to someone who you tormented and belittled for fifteen years?
The electricity went out in Number Four Privet Drive.
"Great, I pay how much a year?" grumbled Vernon, but the door blew open as a crazed woman with dark hair and a Santa hat appeared. "What the devil are you doing here…."
Bellatrix Lestrange stood and whipped her wand. Vernon and Dudley were sent spiraling off of the couch. Petunia went to dial for the police, but the dark witch flicked her wand. The phone turned into mice, which caused Petunia to shriek in horror.
"Why are you here?" demanded Petunia. "What in God's name do you want…"
"No, nothing in his name, I can assure you that," said Bellatrix as she stared down the other woman. "There are enough things done in his name that make even me sick."
Bellatrix knocked the Dursleys back with sadistic fury.
"I'm here because you kept Harry Potter for all of these years," said Bellatrix.
"We were forced," said Vernon as his heart beat sped up. "He's a freak…we never loved him…we forced him to do chores, wait on us hand and foot."
"So, you decided to use a scion of an ancient and noble house for slave labor!" shrieked Bellatrix, and Vernon looked at her, lost at what to say. "Half-blood he might be, but half of his blood is pure, and therefore you've committed a grave crime you must be punished for!"
Dudley tried to catch Bellatrix off guard with a punch, but his own fist smashed against an invisible wall.
"Mum and Dad, run!" yelled Dudley, as he tried to hold Bellatrix off, but the crazed dark witch tore through Dudley with a purple light.
The mangled bloodied form of Dudley Dursley was sprawled on the carpet.
"My precious, poor Duddydums," breathed Petunia, but Bellatrix shot a slicing spell right at her throat.
Vernon tried to back off.
"I swear you won't get away with this!" yelled Vernon.
"Don't swear, it's not polite," said Bellatrix in a sweet voice, before she finished Vernon off.
The crazed dark witch destroyed the electrical fire, and replaced it with a traditional model. She levitated the dead forms of all three Dursleys into the fire. She casually took out a bag of marshmallows from her robes.
"Muggles roasting on an open fire!" sang Bellatrix, as the smell of burning flesh filled her nostrils. "The fire is burning at their flesh!"
She roasted some marshmallows over the burning forms of the Dursleys. Killing Muggles always made her work up an appetite.
Bellatrix Lestrange departed from the premises, as she blew up the windows and left a dark mark above the house.
"Joy to the world, the Muggles are dead!" sang Bellatrix, off key, as she skipped down the street, blowing up things at random. "I barbequed their heads!"
At that point, a pale figure dressed like Santa Claus walked into focus, to stare at Bellatrix. Underneath his beard, he had permanent grin and green hair poked out from underneath his hat. He looked at Bellatrix as she skipped merrily down the street, blowing up Christmas decorations.
"And people think I have issues," chuckled the Joker as he turned around, in disguise as Santa Claus. "That woman is absolutely nuts. I think she needs some shock therapy or something!"
The Joker decided to let himself out of Arkham, and head overseas to spend the holidays. The guards did not protest too much, in fact he left them smiling. Besides, he did promise he would be back after the first of the year. It was free room and board and food after all.
"Harley, do you have that truck here yet?" asked the Joker.
"Right here, puddin'," said Harley Quinn as she was dressed in her normal makeup, but wore a skimpy Mrs. Claus outfit as opposed her normal harlequin outfit.
"Excellent," said Joker as he looked at the truck she backed up. "I've been making my list and checking it twice. All of the good little boys and girls in this town are going to wake up with nothing, but smiles."
The crazed clown let out a sadistic amount of light.
"Mistuh J, are you sure that will be enough?" asked Harley.
"Harley, it will be plenty," said the Joker, as he checked the list he made. "Now off to the orphanage, the sooner I get out of this place, the better. There is a raving lunatic dancing around, blowing things up. I mean who does that?"
The Joker laughed in a crazed voice, as he pushed a button, and blew several buildings sky high, just for the fun of it. He got into the truck, and Harley drove down the street. The clown sang the old holiday classic, "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells" as they made their way to their destination.
'I wonder how Red's doing right now,' thought Harley. 'Christmas always does a number on her, with all of the trees being cut down. Hope she's coping well.'
The happy couple prepared to distribute their own brand of Christmas cheer.
In the dining room, Lois and Clark were left alone. One could cut the tension with a knife.
"So, Lois," said Clark.
"Clark," said Lois. "So…nice place Harry and Kara have here, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is nice," said Clark, as he looked around. "Look Lois…we need to talk…"
"Talk, I suppose I can listen," said Lois as she looked at Clark. Twenty nine years old, and she had never been confused more than with her current relationship dynamic with Clark Kent.
"So you know who I am," said Clark. "You know that Superman is Clark Kent."
"Yeah, I suppose I should have known," replied Lois in a somber voice. "I mean, just a pair of glasses, I'm supposed to be an investigative reporter. Who falls for something like that?"
"How many people would have connected it together?" asked Clark. "I mean, does anyone suspect to have Superman have a secret identity? If I had to be Superman twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, I'd lose my mind."
"I can see that," said Lois with a chuckle. "Everyone expecting you to do everything, be everywhere, it's hard to deal with."
Lois just looked at Clark. Clark Kent was this small town farm boy, a bit cheesy, but with a good heart. Superman just seemed larger than life, and it was hard to reconcile the two.
Then again, that's why no one could figure him out.
"So, where do you and I stand?" asked Clark. "It's…you know it's going to be hard for me to maintain a normal relationship."
"Yeah, I know," said Lois in a quiet voice. "But shouldn't I have some say on that, if I wanted to Clark? Let's just work through this, one step at a time, and see where it takes us. If it goes somewhere, then let's just go there. If it doesn't, what do we have left to lose?"
"How about dinner on Friday, after work?" asked Clark.
'We have to start somewhere," said Lois, as Clark looked up. "Sounds like a date, Smallville."
"Um, Lois," said Clark, as Lois looked up to see mistletoe floating above them.
"Those two conspired to set us up," said Lois.
"What two Lois?" asked Kara, as she showed up with Harry, as the mistletoe continued to levitate in the air above Lois and Clark.
Clark looked up, and saw Sirius on banister, with his wand.
"Sirius," said Clark in a rough voice.
"What?" asked Sirius innocently.
Lois opened her mouth, but Clark kissed her. She was surprised, but returned it.
"It's about time," said Kara in a low voice as Harry nodded in agreement. The two walked into the sitting room where the others were talking. Aquaman and Queen Mera wished them a farewell, and returned to Atlantis.
Dolores Umbridge returned to the Department of Mysteries. She walked past the group of Unspeakables. She barely noticed the cage containing the two white lab rats was open, and they were missing.
Umbridge returned, under the guard of Aurors to face her prisoner.
"So, you've been my guest for some time," said Umbridge, as she looked at the prisoner. "I will grant you demise, as long as you share the secrets of your race with me."
"Never."
"FILTHY GREEN ABOMINATION!" snapped Umbridge as she held her wand, fire shooting out of it, as she saw the creature recoil. "Ah, your kind has an aversion to fire, I take it. Just think about what I can do to you, if you continue to refuse me."
The Aurors and Unspeakables walked off, as Yaxley faced Umbridge.
"He continues to be stubborn as always," said Umbridge.
"Well, one day he will crack, Dolores," said Yaxley in monotone.
Yaxley watched Umbridge leave. He adjusted his cloak, and just looked on with a calculating expression.
He knew Lord Voldemort perished a couple of hours ago. It was rather sooner than he expected, but it was inevitable. Voldemort had ordered his Death Eaters to leave him unless they were summoned. It would be some time before any of those fools would be able to put together the pieces.
Yaxley knew who had killed them. Yet, he would remain calm. He had come a long way, and within a matter of months, no one would be around to stop him from fulfilling his ultimate objective.
The entire assembled party at the Potter Home sat around the sitting room. Most of them listened to Sirius telling stories about the good old days at Hogwarts.
Kara heard voices outdoors.
"Hermione, Hipployta, and Diana are here," said Kara, as Dobby moved over to get the door. The door clicked open and the trio of Amazons moved there way in.
"So glad you can make it!" said Kara.
"Good to see you back on your feet, Hermione," said Harry.
"Yeah, finally," said Hermione with a shake of her head. "Mother wanted to take an entire army up to Scotland because I told her about some of the things that I went through at Hogwarts…"
"Well, Hogwarts seems like a dangerous place," said Hipployta as she looked at her youngest daughter. "If you weren't there, Harry, I shudder to think what would happen."
"I really didn't like when Donna said it was supposed to be one of the safest places in that world," added Diana darkly. "I would hate to see their definition of dangerous."
"Believe me, I would as well," said Harry, as Kara and Harry introduced them to everyone.
"So, Wonder Woman?" inquired Bruce as he looked at the woman.
"Yeah, I guess that's what the papers are calling me," said Diana, as she surveyed Bruce. "Princess Diana of Themyscira."
Bruce did hear rumors about a hidden island of women, but he had never had the opportunity to follow up on them.
"Bruce Wayne of Gotham City," said Bruce with a smile, as Clark walked over. "This is Clark Kent, he's a reporter in Metropolis, but he was raised in Smallville."
"Pleased to meet you both," said Diana, as she looked at them. "Mother wanted me to head over to Man's World, she's come to the realization it's long overdue for us to have a diplomatic representative over here."
"Well you seem to be up for the job," said Clark with a warm smile.
"Hermione, you and I need to talk, in the other room," muttered Harry. "The three of us, head down to the basement."
Kara, Harry, and Hermione all moved down the stairs. Diana looked around, and spotted Sirius Black in the corner.
"Have we met before?" asked Diana as she surveyed Sirius.
"Um, I think I would remember someone like you," said Sirius with a gulp as the taller woman looked down at him, as Remus and Tonks looked at them.
"It seems like I need to put a monitoring collar on you," said Remus as he looked at Sirius. "What did you do now, Padfoot?"
"Death Eaters, chased, blown off course, I landed on the island, all women, and…" said Sirius. "I was just trying to be friendly, you know…"
"Sirius," said Remus as he shook his head.
"It was eighteen years ago!" yelled Sirius, as he looked at Diana. Clark, Dick, Barbara, Tim, Alfred, and Lois all looked amused. Even Bruce had a slight smile. "Look, um, Diana isn't it?"
"Yes," said Diana as she looked at Sirius.
"Sorry!" yelped Sirius as he turned into his Animagus form and scrambled under the table.
"Don't worry about him," said Tonks as she looked at Diana. "He's not so bad, in fact you should see him as a baby, and he was almost cute. And then he got older."
Tonks pulled out the dreaded baby pictures, as everyone else scrambled around for a better look.
Bruce finally got his revenge for the pink cowl incident all of those years ago. Barbara, Tim, and Dick laughed.
"Again, Sirius, you bring these things on yourself," remarked Remus to the dog whining underneath the coffee table.
"Hey, Hermione, recognize this rodent," said Harry, as he held the cage containing Wormtail in it.
"Harry…you…found him," said Hermione as she tried to process what happened. "How did you do it?"
"It wasn't too hard," said Kara as she looked at the other girl. "He tried to scramble away, but Harry caught him. Harry was great in there, not as great as he was when he defeated Voldemort."
Hermione nearly fell off of her chair.
"Who…what…when…why?" asked Hermione as she shook her head.
"Voldemort's dead, because I killed him," said Harry in amusement.
"How?" asked Hermione, as her mouth opened and shut, but no words came out.
"I think you broke Wonder Girl," said Kara in amusement, but Hermione just glared at her. "You knew about the Horcrux in Harry's head and how he had to get rid of it…"
"Kara, you know what will happen if Harry knows about it!" yelled Hermione as she sprung up.
"Yes, and we figured it out," said Kara as she folded her arms. "There's always another choice, and thus I brought Harry to the Fortress of Solitude. I used a molecular separation chamber to separate him from the Horcrux."
It dawned on Hermione. She blinked several times.
"Harry has his powers," said Hermione and Harry nodded, as he demonstrated wandless magic and flight. "He has them, and…Riddle's gone."
"He's done," said Harry, before he turned to the rat in the cage. "Hey, Wormtail, perhaps Tom should have listened to you. I mean, didn't you tell him to take someone else's blood? Guess, you were smarter than him, eh Wormtail."
Kara and Harry proceeded to take their friend through the story. Hermione was jubilant, and also felt guilt for the part she played in nearly leading Harry to his doom.
She nodded as they concluded their tale.
"Well he's gone, we can move on," said Hermione with a nod. "Are you going to tell the sheep?"
"Do I look like an idiot Hermione?" asked Harry. "Just think about why I wouldn't tell those people anything."
They prepared to break this news to everyone else. Harry hoped Sirius would like his Christmas present.
Tom Marvolo Riddle traveled across the grounds of Apokolips. He refused to believe it. He had taken steps, to ensure he would live forever and rule the entire Wizarding World of Britain. There was no way he could have died. His followers would bring him back, eventually, and Lord Voldemort would rise again.
He smelled the brimstone in this place, and he came face to face with a figure even more imposing than he could hope to be. A mannish looking woman dressed in green with a staff looked at him, with a sadistic smile on her blackened lips.
"All rise for Great Darkseid!"
The slaves rose to address this figure, as Tom looked up.
"So, Tom Marvolo Riddle, we meet at last," said Darkseid as he surveyed the miserable human before him. "I find myself quite underwhelmed."
"I don't know who you think you are," said Tom, as he looked up at Darkseid. "Know that Lord Voldemort is…"
"You will be silent," said Darkseid in a commanding tone. "You might be the most feared Dark Lord in a hundred years on your world, but I am a god."
Tom stared up at this force, and Darkseid continued to look down on him, as if he was a miserable cockroach. "And I only bring you to this place so you can register the full scope of your defeat. How utterly worthless you turned out to be despite all of that power. And now, you bore me, so I shall send you on your way."
Before Tom Marvolo Riddle could open his mouth, Darkseid sent an Omega Beam down upon him, and vaporized him at the point where he stood.
What remained of Riddle's soul was condemned to a torment beyond all words.