"Harry Potter and the Man of Steel"

By

Brian Hendrickson

A tall, muscular man, all in blue with a long red cape, stood alone atop the Astronomy Tower, his arms folded across the red and blue stylized "S" emblazed across his chest. He looked troubled, as though the weight of the world rested on his broad shoulders.

"I had a feeling you'd be up here." Harry Potter gently closed the trap door leading up to the roof.

"He's gone, Harry."

"I know."

"I have traveled through time! I've knocked planets from their orbits!" The comma of hair on the big man's forehead waved back and forth like a pendulum as he shook his head in frustration. "There was nothing I could do. I don't think I've ever felt so helpless."

"Believe me, I know exactly what you mean," Harry's voice was tinged with bitterness. "Sometimes it's as if the whole thing were someone's idea of a cosmic practical joke. 'Here you go, mate! Powers beyond your wildest dreams—but guess what? They won't give you your parents back or stop Cedric Diggory from being murdered, or when you finally find your godfather..." Harry choked back a sob.

The Man of Steel gently placed a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Harry said sheepishly. "Here, I was meant to be cheering you up."

The two sat down on the edge of the roof and silently gazed up at the stars.

"I really thought he would walk again," the man in the cape said after a little while. "In my head I knew the chances were slim, but deep down I was sure that if anyone would be able to overcome the odds...." He let out a heartrending sigh. "I guess it just wasn't meant to be."

"He inspired an awful lot of people," Harry reminded him. "That's got to count for something."

"We're going to make it count for something, Harry." The Man of Steel declared. "I don't know just how yet. It may be something simple, like raising funds for charity, or I may see if there's a way that I can use my powers to assist the doctors with their research, but I'll figure out something."

"Let me know if there's anything we at Hogwarts can to do help."

"I will." A sly grin spread across the Kryptonian's lips. "Got your broom handy?"

"Maybe. Why?"

"How about a quick race before I have to head back to Metropolis? Say, across the Channel? The loser pays for the croissants in Paris."

"Well...we're not really supposed to leave school grounds after curfew." If anything, Harry's grin was even wider than his friend Kal-El's. "I'll see if Ron and Hermione want to tag along."

CHRISTOPHER REEVE

(1952-2004)

He made us believe that a man could fly.