((SXH: Hey there, everyone! OK! Let me start off this chapter by stating: WOW. I was not expecting this story to get as many hits as it did. There is a very small group of people who like both fandoms and even smaller group that likes Harry Potter/Severus Snape and seven smaller that likes creature fics. Like… I was not expecting so many of you guys to like this story. I altered the original so much that I thought people would just see it as cringy. BUT HERE YOU ARE! I love you guys for every single second of it. I am happy there are people out there who like this story. So, to all of you guys, thank you for being patient with me. Thank you for sticking around. Thank you for being so fucking awesome. No joke, I love you guys.))

Disclaimer: I do not own DC or Harry Potter. I am a very poor college student looking to make my hopeless writing better.

Warning: Cussing and surprise guest!

/

One Very Bad Joke…

Chapter 6

/

Bruce arrived back at his house late. He was exhausted and didn't want anything to do with anyone. But, that wasn't an option right now. He took the offered cup of coffee Alfred provided and headed downstairs. He was met with the sight of Dick talking to Oracle on the computer.

"I want news. What happened today?"

"That depends. Do you want to watch the footage from today's news? I can tell you right now, Joker didn't exactly make an appearance. He was nowhere in sight when the blast went off," Oracle provided.

"I checked everywhere. It's like I said, no sign of him. The owner of the café didn't even see anyone suspicious," Dick provided.

"What about the footage from the café? We all know that Joker's disguises are virtually undetectable by the public. Hell, he's gotten out of Arkham a few times disguised as a guard or some other patient."

"I've gone over the footage a couple of times now, and unfortunately, I've got nothing. The owner wasn't lying, there were no suspicious people at the café today," Oracle informed. "Gordon also sent a copy over, via Dick."

"Good, let me see it," Bruce said. Dick handed it over and watched as Bruce scanned over the information.

"Also, how is Lucius?" Dick asked.

"What?" Bruce asked.

"You had lunch with Lucius Fox today, didn't you? How is he? Does he have some new tech for us?" Bruce rolled his eyes.

"Wrong Lucius. His name is Lucius Malfoy, a business man from Britain. He was wondering if I would be interested in attending an art exhibit for a charity event. His son is the main artist his works will be on display and put up for auction. He said I could bring a couple of guests if I wanted to."

"Oh… Are you gonna go?"

"It would be an insult if I didn't. Besides, he has some big named friends in Britain that he will introduce me to. It would be good for the company if I went. I'll take you there if you be quiet and let me read this," Bruce replied.

As he read through the report, his brow furrowed. This… was not the Joker's usual behavior. It was… more meticulous than usual. The explosive used was more for show. It was big, but it didn't do much damage. Victims of it only had minor injuries. The only two serious injuries were of the reporter and cameraman that stood right next to blast. The reporter, unfortunately, died. The cameraman was in the ICU and was unlikely to leave for a couple of days. The report also said that the bomb's detonation rang was much larger than normal. It could have been detonated from a block away…

"Great," Bruce stated sarcastically. "Just what I needed." He tossed the folder onto the desk and sat down in his chair, visibly exhausted. "Is there anything else I need to know? Anything on the kids?"

"If they've been found? I… don't know. But, Dick can check that for you. As for what the Joker said? Again. I don't know," Oracle stated.

"I don't like the sound of that, Barbara," Bruce commented and went back to nursing his coffee.

"I'm looking, Bats. All the files I've looked through have seemed legit. The only thing I can't do, is interview their neighbors. Other than that, all the records on hand seem real. Nothing looks falsified," she said.

"Also, another twenty people were found dead in their homes today. All of them were in the same age range, but other than that, it's been indiscriminate. Male, female, old, young, black, white… These people are dying and they have no idea why…" Dick provided.

"God dammit… Just when I thought it couldn't get worse…"

Ring! ... Ring! ...

Dick dug his phone out of his pocket and checked it. His brow furrowed and he quickly answered it. "Hey, what's up?" The other two listened while Dick talked. "Wait… What? You've got to be kidding. You guys, too?"

"What is it, Dick?" Bruce asked, as Dick hung up.

"That was Oliver. Apparently, they've got the same problem we do."

"A Joker running around causing mass mayhem?" Barbara asked.

"No. But, they've got a lot of victims with the same M.O. as the ones here."

"How many?" Bruce questioned.

"About the same here. Seriously. Do we have any idea what it is?"

"It's not a virus, unless it's completely undetectable by any test known to man. People have been found dead in their homes. Doors locked, no signs of a struggle. It's like they just died," Bruce informed.

"Well, that's not the case in Sterling. Apparently, there are a lot of cases with signs of a struggle and even the doors being knocked straight off their hinges. I suggest re-considering the victims' homes. Maybe Jim didn't give you all of the information."

"I might, but I doubt Gordon would do that."

"Actually, according to the GCPD emails and records, they're no longer on the case. This is too big and widespread for them. It's been turned toward the FBI," Barbara said.

"And if the FBI is on it, you know ARGUS has been on it for at least two weeks now," Bruce sighed. Dick patted him on the back.

"Don't you miss the days when everything was simpler."

"No. I miss the ones that had more answers."

/

Ten years earlier…

"You know, Potter… When I said I was glad to be relieved of my masters, I did not expect to be serving another. Again…"

"You are more than welcome to quit, if that is what you want. But, I will have you know that you have a job, are paid more than your fair share, and you have a handsome man at your beck and call. You also have a roof over your head, of which you stay in for free," Harry said cheekily as he set plates in front of some customers. He wished them a nice meal before he strode over to the bar that sat in the back of the room. He leaned against the counter and stared at Severus, biting his lip in that way he knew drove Severus crazy. "Call me master if you want, but 'Boss' has a better ring to it. Tables 13 and 26 have asked for cocktails 1 and 5 on the list."

"Here is the beer for Table 17 and the one for Table 4. Well, Boss, when you told me you were going to meet someone about a job interview, you did not tell me it was for a bartender in your new restaurant. I did not stop serving two overbearing and manipulative men only to serve drinks to people on a Friday night," Severus complained. Harry smiled cheekily and took the drinks in hand.

"Oh, stop it, Severus. We both know you love this job. You really know how to make a stiff drink."

"Get your arse back out there before I shove your wand up it."

Harry snickered and turned away, swaying his hips as he walked away. "Promises, promises."

Severus sighed to himself as he stared making up the drinks. "Little brat… One of these days I am going to ring his neck."

He had been working here for about month now and he was loath to admit that he did enjoy it. As a bartender, he got quite a lot of attention. It was not the bad kind he was used to. He was flirted with and tipped plenty and often. Even though his feet ached from standing all day, he loved the energy and the liveliness of this place. In the month that they had been open, the restaurant had been a huge success. It was beginning to attract many big named people.

"Hey, drinks on me!" A rather handsome man little older than Harry walked in several other people. He didn't bother to wait to be seated either.

Bloody hell. This idiot again... Severus thought. The man just walked up to Severus's bar and slid him a credit card. Severus reluctantly took it waited for the drink orders to increase.

"Hey, Tommy! This is the bartender I told you about. Best one I've ever seen," he said. Severus didn't so much as blink at the compliment. He went about his business and would let Harry deal with this.

"Severus, Tables 10, 14, and 22 are demanding the drinks from the top shelf. The rest are expecting a beer or a cocktail. I've got a list here from my section, no doubt you will have more."

"Great. Good to know I will be here all night just filling in these orders."

"Don't worry. I've called in back up. If you don't mind Hermione behind the bar with you…"

"Not at all. Just do not get a Weasley back here. Charlie kept sneaking drinks every time he thought I was not looking."

"Duly noted. Now, Oliver Queen," Harry greeted, shaking the man's hand. "Always a pleasure... What a generous declaration. I pray you have the money to back it up."

"Money won't be an issue. Even Mr. Severus here can have a glass or two to loosen him up."

"That will be Mr. Snape to you, Mr. Queen. As much as I wish it were not so, I am not allowed to drink while on the job. I would like nothing more than to have a nice cup of brandy in my hand instead of serving you right now."

"Ouch. I'm hurt. I forgot how much of an ass you were," Oliver stated.

"I don't know what you're talking about. He seems to be a pretty standup guy," Tommy teased. Oliver hit him on the shoulder.

"Boys," Harry interrupted with a stern look to all three. "Play nice. Severus, please behave."

"Absolutely, Boss. When do I not?"

"Cheeky bastard," Harry muttered as he wandered off into the kitchen. Severus smirked and turned back to making drinks.

"So, Mr. Queen, how long are you staying in London?" he asked as he slid a few beers down his bar to a couple of eager customers.

"Why do you wanna know? Eager to come to one of my parties? I'm sure you will meet a few nice girls to get your mind off work."

"No. I merely wish to know if I have to order in my entire top shelf for the third time this week. Table 9, Anne," Severus answered, handing off a cocktail to a waitress.

"Not to worry, Mr. Snape. We'll only be here for another two days. Our fathers are talking business with a man here in Britain. 'Potter', I think, was his name," Tommy answered. Severus paused for a fraction of a second before he continued with his work.

"Is that so? For what purpose?"

"Apparently, this guy reached out to our dads with an offer. An offer Dad just couldn't say no to," Oliver informed. "Other than that, Dad didn't tell me much else, not that it really matters. It's not like it's gonna affect me or anything."

"I would not be so sure, Mr. Queen. The little details in our lives impact us in ways we do not realize. In some cases, until it is too late." He felt Oliver's and Tommy's gazes latch onto him. Oliver laughed and looked away when he was given his drink. Tommy, however, continued to stare at him critically.

"What you just said… Why do I get the feeling it has something to do with that scar on your neck," Tommy stated pensively. Severus visibly stopped then. He chuckled a little and shook his head.

"Perhaps," he said. In the corner of his eye, Hermione joined him behind the bar. "You are late, Ms. Granger."

"You know, that is actually the first time I've heard that. Ron wanted to come. I had to convince him to stay. He would stick out like a sore thumb and feel uncomfortable the entire time. I'm surprised to see you here, Professor. Harry didn't tell me you worked here," she said. She took one look at the backlog of orders and hissed. She immediately began to get drinks from the top shelf.

"It is just Severus now. I have not been a professor in nearly a year. Also, thank you. Mr. Weasley would have just made us all uncomfortable. Elizabeth, please get me more glasses from the kitchen, as soon as possible please. Granger, please work on serving the beer while I make the cocktails." Hermione nodded and set to work. "I am not exactly surprised he did not say anything. He is a bit scatterbrained, especially as of late."

It was at this moment Harry decided to walk by with four trays balanced in his arms from the kitchen. "I heard that," he said as he passed. Severus's smirk only widened.

"Professor, huh? What did you teach?" one of the girls with Oliver asked. She was a pretty brunette with big eyes and long eyelashes.

"Chemistry," Severus stated simply, slowly sliding her drink to her. He gave her his winning smile that without fail made the girls order more drinks or become regulars, sometimes both. She smiled and sipped her drink.

At this moment, Harry stepped behind the counter and snatched up Oliver's credit card. "Zachary, ring all this up! Hermione, you think you can hold down the fort for a few minutes?"

"That depends, how long are you going to be gone?"

"Severus and I are taking a small break. Ten minutes at most," Harry said. "Come, Severus. To my office."

"Ooo, someone's in trouble," Oliver said as he watched Severus leave.

He followed Harry all the way back and to the office. Harry sat at his desk and waved his wand over it. He then opened the drawer and pulled out bad of blood. Severus stares bemused at the other as Potter tosses the bag to him.

"You will need this to survive the rest of the night," Harry stated, leaning back in the chair and resting his eyes. "Gods, I need a drink…"

"How on earth did you get this?"

"I have a friend at the blood-bank. He didn't ask and he won't tell," Harry informed. Severus didn't want to ask either. He drank the contents of the bag, grimacing at the cold taste. It was horrible. Banishing the trash, he turned back to Harry.

"Are we just going to hide in here for the remainder of our little 'break'?"

"Maybe. It is a nice little breather, don't you think?" Severus said nothing. He took a seat, eyeing Harry expectantly. Caving under the gaze, the other sighed. "You found out about the meeting."

"Why didn't you want me to know?"

"I didn't think you'd understand."

"Then make me understand," Severus stated. Harry flinched a little. He opened his mouth and began to explain.

/

Present Day…

When Harley got to her hotel room, she immediately stripped off her outfit. She had gotten a call from Ivy earlier and was expecting her to drop by with something more her style. She was in nothing but her undies and her heels. She liked them too much to take them off just yet. Harley was just cleaning off her make-up when she heard a knock at her hotel room door. With a loud, exaggerated sigh, she set down the make-up wipe and strode to the door.

"You know, Ivy, I was just beginnin' to think you might've blown me off," she said as she opened the door.

"Hello, Ms. Ro- OH MY GOD, I AM SO SORRY." Harley's brow furrowed. It was that blond guy from the restaurant. Not the older one, but his son.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She asked without a second thought to her lack of attire. The boy, she couldn't even remember his name, refused to look at her. He just stood there, with his arm covering his eyes. He had a cute little red flush on his face.

"I came here to ask you a few questions about Hadrian. Could you please put some clothes on?" He said quickly.

"Yeah. Like I'm gonna talk to the likes of you."

"As much as I like your loyalty to him, it's a little annoying right now. Can we not have this conversation in the corridor?"

"Oh, so I'm annoying now?" Harley put her hands on her hips and scowled. The other growled and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Look. I have not seen nor heard from Harry since he disappeared off the face of the earth seven years ago, almost eight now. He's one of the best people I have ever met, a real family man. You and I both know that it's unlikely for that type of person to just up and vanish without a bloody hint of what's really going on. So, you tell me what I want to know, or we're going to have an even more unpleasant talk with a funny little potion I like to call Veritaserum. Now, please, cover yourself. Make yourself at least decent," he snapped.

Harley stood there for a few minutes, sizing him up. It took a few minutes to make her decision. When she did, she turned her back, leaving the door open in invitation. She picked up her clothes and began to put them back on slowly.

"You know what, I like you kid. So, I'm not gonna kill you. Close the door and take a seat. We betta make this quick because I've got a venomous friend coming over who's got a real dislike for strangers, especially men."

"I get the feeling that I don't want to know that story."

"You don't," she said as she slipped on the shirt. Once her clothes were on, she turned to him.

Draco looked at her and gave her a funny look. "Do... Have we met before?"

"No," she stated flatly.

Draco seemed to shake his head to rid himself of whatever he was thinking, but it was clear to Harley that it still bothered him. "How do you know Harry, again?"

Harley mulled over the answer for a moment, trying not to give it away completely. "We… work together."

"Work together how?"

"I can't say. Secret project and all."

Draco shot her a disbelieving look. "Really, now… Isn't the entire reason why I am here being to make sure you don't get into trouble while he is away for a 'business' related trip?"

Shit. She thought. Salvage this. "I am to remain here to work on it while he goes to start a new project somewhere else."

"Where, if I may ask?"

"He didn't tell me. It's all hush hush, you see?"

Draco continued to eye her, taking in her looks. He stared at her face the longest, making her feel a little nervous. "Ms. Rose… You strike me as a very convincing liar. But, a liar none-the-less."

/

SXH: Thank you guys so much again for reading! I love you guys so much. I hope you all liked this chapter and will tell me what you think in a Review or Comment. Again, I didn't think this story would get so much attention, I love you guys. BTW: I'm on Tumblr! I'll put a link in when I get the chance. Comment and remind me, if I forgot to on this chapter! Hope to see you guys in the next chapter!

Harry: What? No witty little conversation at the end?

SXH: No, why? Should there be?

Draco: Well, it has been months since you updated… well, anything.

SXH: HEY! College, writer's block, depression and Writing a Book, can cause that. Also, other things, such as a newly developed social life, have come into play and it makes writing fanfics hard.

Snape: Excuses, excuses.

SXH: Watch it, Dungeon-boy. I might just drag you into the next chapter for that comment.

Snape: You dragged me into this one!

SXH: That was a flash-back. That's different. This is going to be a present-day scene!

Snape: You wouldn't…

SXH: Do you really want to test me and find out?

Harry: Okay! That's enough! Who wants biscuits?

Draco: Sweet! What kind are they?

Harry: Newt. Minny made them.

Draco: Brilliant! Who's Minny?

Harry: McGonagall. She always made the best- OW! WHICH ONE OF YOU THREW THAT?!

SXH & Snape: *pointing at each other*

Bye~!