Disclaimer: I do not own the Justice League or Harry Potter. I just borrow them for personal amusement, no money made.

Author's Note: I have been intending to write a Harry Potter and Justice League Crossover fanfiction, but I severely doubt my abilities to do so. Hence, I decided to take a leap of faith and come up with a one-shot "drabble" or extract, post it up, and then come to a final decision depending on the reviews and the suggestions I receive for this. This scene is focused on the League's reaction to Harry's revealing his life-story to them. Please kindly assist me to make a choice as to continue or not continue, everyone. Thank you.

Warning: There will be mentions of abuse. If you are a Dumbledore fan, please turn back now. If you do not approve of same-sex relationships and cannot stand even the slightest implications of them, please also turn back now. You all have been warned.

Fourteen. The age of discovering how attractive the opposite – or the same, or both – sex can be, the guilty joy of sneaking out of bed past curfew, the exhilarating sense of daring that came with arguing with parents as the realisation that they are not always right increases, the best ways to sweet-talk one's way out of detention or academic failures. Granted, when some of the superheroes like Superman and Wonder Woman were fourteen, they were coming into their extraordinary powers and seasoning themselves in the arts of combat in an unconscious effort to prepare for their impending destinies.

But…generally, it was still a pretty innocent age.

Fourteen-year-olds do not vividly remember every single excruciating, unthinkable detail of their parents' murder, especially when it was an event that occurred when they were but one-year-old.

They do not work as a constantly abused, constantly humiliated servant in a household where they were supposed to be treated with affection.

They do not fight evil Dark Lords.

They do not have teachers with an incorporeal form of a madman who wanted all non-magical folk dead on the back of their heads.

They do not save the Philosopher's Stone.

They do not fight Basilisks in secret chambers.

They do not fend off hundreds of soul-sucking monsters that drain all joy and hope out of people.

They do not compete in deadly tournaments consisting of fire-breathing dragons, killer mermaids, and monster-infested mazes.

They do not witness their parents' murderer resurrected.

They do not engage in duels to the death the instant after said resurrection.

But once again, just when the League thought they had the mystery that was Harry Potter solved, he pulled another rabbit from his hat. This was a boy that defied all known facts of life. It was not fair to Harry to have so much dumped on him at such a young age, but the fact that he could carry the weight even when it was dumped on him…was absolutely pride-inspiring. After all, the League – especially the Seven Originals – had come to look upon Harry as a younger brother, or Batman's and Wonder Woman's case, their very own child.

Batman had thought that Harry's background would be somewhat similar to his, or Dick's, or Tim's. But as Harry revealed all of his adventures, all his brushes with death, all the horrors he had been forced to witness, and all of the pain and suffering he had been forced to endure since infancy, he realised how wrong he was.

Compared to Harry, his situation and those of his wards' could be counted as nothing. He also learned how genuinely brave Harry was.

As brave as any true hero, if not more so.

Hecate had been right: it was amazing how much Harry have faced and have the strength and courage to do so.

Needless to say, when Harry had come to the end of his story, there was a silence where one could near a pin drop, or even one's heart beating. More than one face was wet with tears…Diana's the most prominent one. Shayera had given up brushing her tears away. Flash pinched his nose hard. Zatanna was sobbing silently.

"This is the story of my life. Thank you all for listening to it from the beginning to the end. But now…if nobody minds, I would like to get some rest."

The instant the Lasso of Truth was withdrawn, Harry collapsed…

Into Diana's waiting arms.

He was sound asleep.

It had taken every ounce of physical and emotional strength he possessed to reveal the story of a life where even the simplest of joys was the rarest commodity, and where there was a constant wondering as to whether or not the next breath he took would be his last.

As Diana gently stroked the midnight-dark hair, whispered assurances despite knowing they might not be heard, and tears flowed down her beautiful face, it struck each and every one of the League realised that they had witnessed yet another act of Harry's unparalleled courage: the boy's mind might be exhausted from remembering, his heart drained from the ache of unhappy memories, but he had kept his promise to them. He had told them nothing but the truth. He had not looked away from the truth. He had not embellished or lied away the past to make his present less bitter. Instead, he had trod once more that long, unexpected path that brought him to this place, reliving every mistake, every tear, and every fear; he had told his deepest feelings about a world where, he had come to realise, had offered him more heartache than happiness despite it being the last vital link to his parents' memory.

"I will take him to his room."

Carrying the unresponsive boy as carefully as if he was made of porcelain in her arms, Diana left, her heart aching as she felt how light he really was. Flash quietly followed her, humming a low soothing tune and gently stroking Harry's hair in an attempt at reassurance. Despite his heavy, troubled heart, the Fastest Man Alive could not help but notice how lovely Harry was: the rich, thick hair was so dark it had the prettiest blue highlights, forming a dramatic contrast to flawless alabaster skin kissed by summer roses. His initial assessment about the eyebrows being gull-winged had been accurate, and they hovered perfectly over almond-shaped eyes. In sleep, long, lush indigo lashes dusted high, chiselled cheekbones.

He looked beautiful, as beautiful and adorable as a cherub. Yet there was a haunted tragic quality to that beauty that made it seem as though it was a mirage that a slight breeze could blow away in an instant. He looked vulnerable, lost, sad…so young.

Younger than his fourteen years.

So much younger.

Such delicate beauty…such fragile innocence…how had it survived destruction at the hands of those monsters, those horrors?

Never mind that now. Do not worry, child. You are safe now here. As long as Wally West breathes, no one will ever hurt you, or touch a single strand of hair on your head against your will. That is a promise…

It took the most supreme effort to restrain himself from breaking or hitting something till there was nothing left of it, but Superman managed it. "He really is the bravest child I have ever been privileged to meet."

"We have ever been privileged to meet, Clark, we." John corrected silently, his dark handsome features grim. He turned to Batman, who was looking as though murder might not be such a bad idea after all. "What do you intend to do now, Daddy Bats?"

"Take the best care I can of certain issues. First the Dursleys, then Voldemort, and last but not least…Dumbledore."

"I propose putting Mr. I-Always-Know-What's-Best before Mr. Snake-Face." Green Arrow spoke up suddenly. His countenance was as cold and menacing and sinister as Batman's, but it seemed as if he was also simmering with the heat of unmistakable fury. Fire and ice, Speedy thought, shrinking a little at the sight of his mentor's rage. He had never seen him like this before. Green Arrow is on fire and ice.

But the emerald Robin Hood was not done.

"Mr. Snake-Face may be a real menace, but we have dealt with worse. It will be a breeze for us to settle him. It is Mr. I-Always-Know-What's-Best we have to worry about, especially considering his power and influence in Harry's world. Sooner or later, he is going to realise where Harry is, and then he will pull every dirty trick from his sleeve to get him back under his control. He needs his White King for checkmating after all. So…I say we deal with him first before going after the snake."

Kara cracked her knuckles. "Ollie is right. Voldemort is bad, but Dumbledore is worse. He had set it all up so that Harry will need to fight that monster, ingraining the need to save people, to play the hero. To play his White King. If he is as intelligent and cunning and powerful as Harry says he is, then he will be coming after us once he finds out Harry is here. We need to stop him first."

Shayera smiled viciously and slapped her mace against her other hand, for there was no sensation like focusing on what needed to be done to amend an extremely bad situation. "I second that notion."

"I third that." Zatanna put in, brushing away the last of her tears and pulling herself back to control. There was a new light of purpose now in her red-rimmed eyes. "That old goat needs to pay."

Black Canary put her hands on her hips. "Sorry, ladies, but you will get him only after he have gone a few rounds with me."

No, oh, no. I appreciate your thirst for righteous vengeance, ladies. But all of you will have your turns only if there is anything left of him after I am done with him. Batman and Green Arrow thought in perfect unison, hiding their approving smiles with the practiced ease of socialites.

As more and more voiced their willingness to mete out punishment on Harry's behalf, the Man of Steel sighed. It was times like this where he hated always having to be a role model for others, and where he envied Bruce's freedom to be a good deal more frightening than he was allowed to be. The Justice Lord Superman, Project Cadmus, Hamilton's betrayal and subsequent comparing him to the Devil, Luthor's taunting…they had forever destroyed, if not diminished, whatever desires he had with thoroughly mastering the powers of intimidation and fear-induction.

Control was paramount to the First Among Equals after all. For there was too much at risk.

Hence, as much as he hated to do this, he cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "I know that there is no need for me to remind you all that the League does not kill people. No matter how much we want to."

Green Arrow stepped up, an expression of disbelief and indignation on his face. "Clark –"

Superman held up a hand. "I am not saying that those who had hurt Harry so should go unpunished. I agree with everyone here that they have to pay for what they have done to him. And they have to pay dearly. Dumbledore most of all. Truth be known, I myself personally think that he is as evil as Voldemort, as evil as any monster we have been forced to send to oblivion. They at least were upfront about being bad, but he…with all his dark secrets, his subtle manipulations, his ceaseless games, his constant proclamations that his actions are all for the greater good…I think he is an utter schmusk."

Shayera folded her arms. "Then why, Clark?"

That is all for now, folks. Please help me make a choice, and remember that I am always open to suggestions. Thank you all...