Title :: Hariel Potter and Son of a Black.

Fandom :: Harry Potter/DC Comics/Red Robin Crossover.

Warning :: Fem!Harry. Crossover. Kind of AU. Unbeta. Anyone reading my other fics before would know that English is not my native language, try not to judge the grammars too harshly, yes?

Disclaimer :: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this story. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No copyright infringement is intended.

Summary :: After a mistake made by Higher power, Tim Drake; also known within the Heroes community as Red Robin, died an untimely death. To fix this mistake, they offered him a chance at new life—in a new world. However, the offer also came with a job—To help this new world's hero; Hariel Potter, succeed in her quest to vanquish the Dark Lord. Reborn as a son of Sirius Black, how the forcefully-retired sidekick deal with Magical World. Will the canon survive intact? Warning: FemHarry, Crossover.

A/N :: Here's a long author's note. But it's necessary. So, please bear with me.

This story started out after I've read a nice little one shot called The Warrior & The Wolf by worldtravellingfly, which is actually a HP/Naruto crossover. I was intrigued with the idea of Sirius having a son instead of a daughter. I've read several stories with Sirius's daughter already, and still addicting to it. Combined with the fact that I love Tim Drake and there weren't too many HP/DC crossover that focus on Tim. But I've to say this here, it's been a while since I've written Tim. Hopefully, I don't do bad job.

I've moved the Timeline of Harry Potter canon up about two decades; A female Harry; Hariel Potter was born on 31st July 2000, instead of 1980. The attack on Godric's Hollow happened on Halloween 2001. Hariel's 1st year started in 2011.

For Tim, following the story of Red Robin Comics; at the start of Hit List Arch, after Bruce Wayne's return from being stranded in time, but before the return of Superboy. I hadn't read these comics for a while (years even) so the events might not be in this order, but for the sake of the story, just go with it. It won't impact story that much but I'm just letting you know for the sake of background purpose.

And yes, this is a Female Harry story. If you don't like Female Harry Trope, then this is where you stop. But if you don't mind and want to give this story a try, please enjoy the journey with me!

This fic is cross-posted at /AO3.

Chapter 1 :: Year Before Part?
Something Ends, Something Begins.

Of all the things Tim Drake—or as many had called him Red Robin; had planned on his checklist, dying was definitely not one of them.

Sure, he knew he wasn't invincible. Even Superman who was one of the strongest, most invulnerable men—or if you wanted to be technical; alien he'd ever known, still had a weakness. And Tim was, after all, only human.

His body was strong; honed through years of intense training by the Batman, but his flesh still squishy and vulnerable to many weapons; bullets, knife, burn, explosion, etc.… Body armors had helped but like all of its kind, it still only protected only 70% of the overall damage, even if it was a product of Wayne Tech. It was why everyone in the Bat-family switched out their suits quarterly, sometimes earlier if they had been taking a lot of beating. Alfred always made sure to remind them.

The last thing he remembered was finally reunited with his surrogated father and mentor, Bruce Wayne, who had been stranded in time. No one had believed Tim at first. They'd all said Tim was being in denial of Bruce's death. Dick, Alfred, even Cassie who had been through the Death of Kon together; none had believed him. Well, not at first. Not until the JLA had started to listen.

It was a long road and not at all an easy journey. He had lost his spleen, got blown up and got shot at more than he'd have liked, all for the quest to prove his theory for heaven's sake! But in the end, it was all worth it. Bruce was back, cured of Omega Radiation. And even though Tim was no longer held the mantle of Robin, he was Red Robin now. An Identity forged only for himself, just like Dick had done with Nightwing.

It was going to be a new start. For many of them, until it wasn't.

His trusty grappling hook failed, the cable snapped midair with no one to help him, Red Robin plummeted to his death. He didn't even have time to feel the pain of being splattered on the ground. The next thing he knew he was standing in Bruce's empty Batcave. He called out for Bruce and Alfred but there was no response. His instinct kicked in, had hands grabbed for his battle staff, only to find it was gone along with his suit and utility belt, in fact, he only wore a simple Gotham Knights hoodie, a pair of faded jeans and sneakers.

"Oh my, it seems I've made a mistake." An unfamiliar voice came from behind, Time spun on his heels, turning around to see a pale woman dressed in all black. Her face painted in Goth style complimenting her clothing, she scowled at him.

Tim's spine went ramrod, the woman might not look like much of a threat but something about her made his instinct kicked into overdrive. He was about opened his mouth and asked a question when another voice floated over. "Sister, that's not Bruce Wayne."

The newcomer was a tall man wearing a ratty old robe, in his hands a large book. The hood had covered over half of his face, showing only his mouth. From what Tim had observed, the man was middle age, his chin scruffy with several days-old stubbles. The man seemed to glide rather than walk as he came closer to the two of them.

"Well, how should I know! They're all look alike!" The woman crossed her arms and shrugged. "Just use him, they're almost the same, really!"

"Yes, but the mission is going to take much longer!" The man frantically said. "You know that this matter needs delicate handling!"

Both had ignored him as they argued, Tim edged closer to the racks of batarangs nearby, his equipment might be gone but this was the Batcave, there always weapons lying around; Bruce had never made it child-proof after all. His hand finally made a grab for one of the throwing weapons, only for his hand to phase through. He blinked before trying again, his hand went through once more. Panic started to spread through, Tim took a deep breath to calm himself down before he glanced over at the two strangers still squabbling, he kept one ear to their conversation as he moved toward the bat-computer, there was a panic button Bruce had built there that would send a signal to both the JLA alert as well as Bruce's own communicator.

As far as he knew, he might have been transported, instead of being dead, hopefully. The two intruders had wanted Bruce instead of him, a case of mistaken identity possibly, but for what purpose? That what he's waiting to find out.

"Well, it's your fault in the first place the child was born a girl instead of a boy! Again!" The Goth woman huffed. "Do you want to use that Dragon Prince, instead? I still have his soul after all."

"No, that boy is too unstable literally. And don't forget his fascination with dragons!" The man rejected. "All the mission will all be thrown out the window if that boy caught even a glimpse of those creatures!"

"Hmm…true. He probably forgets all about the task as soon as he learned about the dragons. How about that Slayer? The blond one, what's her name?"

"Her? No, definitely not. Aside from the fact, that she's the main character—which disqualified her. The girl will no doubt, wreck everything around her just like she did everything else. Despite her successful records, the collateral damage cost just as high. We wanted the world saved, not half wrecked!"

Once the button was within his reach, Tim slammed his hand on it but just like the last time had been, his hand just phased through the object. Tim stared down at his hand before looking around at his surrounding, the Batcave still looked just like the last time he was here, sans any of his immediate family members, of course.

Was this an illusion then? No…most illusion he had been subjected to was mostly tangible, some he could even touch. Tim glanced over at the two strangers again and saw the woman threw herself on the seat in front of Bat-computer. His eyes narrowed, she might have been the caster then, because she could still touch the seat instead of went through like Tim had.

The two of them still hadn't paid any attention to him. The woman twirled in the seat as she said. "Right. Got it!….Hey, how about that fluffy kid? I always like him. He's got guts changing the underworld after all."

The man shook his head again. "Again, the main character, and like most main characters; they always made it about themselves, some of them unintentionally. Besides, the keeper of balance wouldn't let the goal of his soul, he has to be recorded in that ring, remember?"

"And you'd thought that Bruce Wayne; the Batman wouldn't do just exactly that? You know what kind of man he is! A control-freak that one! Besides, the man is too old for what you've had in mind." The woman snorted. Tim almost did as well before he realized that these two might have known Batman's real identity!

Before the two continued their conversation, Tim had enough. He cleared his throat, aloud, finally pulling their attention to him. "I'm sorry to interrupt but who are you two and how did you get in the Batcave?"

The two strangers paused and turned toward him. The goth woman blinked owlishly at him. "We're are where?"

Tim scowled. "The Batcave."

The woman looked around her while rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "Ah, hmm…I guess it makes sense that you would see that place."

"You mean, we're really not at the Batcave then? So, it really is an illusion." Tim paused and stared at the woman. "Why do you hold me—? No, that's not it. You wanted the Batman to be caught in it, didn't you? Why do you cast this illusion, to begin with? If you need his help, all you have to do is ask."

"Technically, we didn't cast it. Your brain conjured up a place that holds significant meaning to you. For example, if it were your other brother, Dick Grayson…this place might have been the circus instead." The man replied calmly. "as for asking for the Batman's help….well that is not something any living could do."

Tim stared at the two strangers. "Are you implying that I am….what?….dead?"

"No, that's me. I am Death." The goth woman grinned.

The other, however, didn't find her pun amusing. "Please, forgive my sister for her poor timing joke. But yes. At this moment in your world, Tim Drake or Red Robin, as you called yourself, had died."

"As in dead-dead and not dead-but instead stranded in time?" Tim asked hopefully.

The cloaked man shook his head. "I'm afraid not. You are indeed, very dead."

Tim scowled at the two strangers. "Am I supposed to believe that Death is a woman likes to dress in goth clothes and makeup? Wasn't that a little….. too cliché?"

'Death' rolled her eyes. "I'm not a woman, not really. This world just had a very weird way of interpreting my existent. In others, I could appear as a handsome man wearing expensive three pieces suit, an old man wearing raggedy cloth. Or, my favorite! A skeleton in a black flowing robe!"

The man sighed deeply. Tim glanced at him with a questioning look. "If you must know, I am called Destiny. You may or may not believe about what we are but that doesn't make it any less true."

"You really should thank me, you know. Your overall fate is subjected to change in a few years, anyway." The woman cut in before Tim could say anything further as she twirled the seat again. "I just accelerate the timing a bit."

Tim stared at her. "…..I beg your pardon?"

"Oh, don't worry. It's not just you. The whole universe is going to be rebooted. Even us. But we're more of a concept than an actual person; our personalities are always changing. Your existent will continue after convergence, well…it won't be the same you anymore. It will be a new you, a new Tim Drake. Or something like that. The same can't be said about some of your contemporaries, however. A few of them just cease to exist." The woman called herself Death shrugged nonchalantly as if they'd been talking about today's weather.

"I….what?"

"Here's the thing, kiddo. This is not the first time someone messed with the Timeline, and believe me, it won't be the last either." She said without looking at him, instead twirled the seat again. "This time, though. Well, if you really want to point a finger, it'd be that speedster."

Tim almost heard a crack in his brain. Was all these just something happening inside his head? Maybe he had been in a coma and been having a nightmare all along. Tim rubbed the temple of his head, well, at least his hand didn't pass through himself this time!

"Fine. Let's say, I'm really dead—" Tim finally said.

"Oh, as a doornail, I assured you." Death cut in.

"—And I know you'd wanted Batman here, instead of me. Then, why am I still here?" Tim finished; his blue eyes narrowed at the two in front of him.

The cloaked man still said nothing, but Tim could see that he had glanced over to the woman. Death sprung herself from the Bat-computer's seat, crossing one arm while pointing the other at him. "You're here because I did the wrong guy in."

"I figured that out already." Tim gritted his teeth.

"Well, good!" Death clapped her hands. "I knew you're smart!" She turned to the man. "See, Destiny! This boy's not so bad! He could still do the job!"

The man's mouth turned down in a grimace. He then opened the large book in his hands, as if looking for the page he'd wanted, when he finally did, the man spoke once more. "Very well. Here we have, Tim Drake. A crime-fighting vigilante. Technically an orphan. Not the main character, not really—"

Tim's mouth twitched at the man's words.

"—his credentials are impressive for a supporting character. Genius level intellect, martial arts, stealth, gadgetry, multilingual, tactical analysis, investigation." The man prattled on; Tim felt his face heated up as his abilities being summarized out loud.

"See, see! I told you so!" Death nodded along. But Destiny held his hand up, halting them.

"He still lacks one crucial thing." The man declared. "He doesn't have magic."

What? Of course not! He wasn't a Homo Magus like Zatanna, he's just a regular human!

But Death was undeterred. "It won't really matter anyway, right? The magic is more spread out and powerful over there. If you really want to make sure, just stick his soul into a body that belongs to a strong magical bloodline. Besides, this way it will give him some credits to his name, better than have him as a muggle-born."

"Hmm…that could work. Let me see then…." Destiny nodded and flipped the pages of his large book again.

"Wait!" Tim called out. "Before you decided to stick me anywhere, why don't you tell me about what exactly is this job you wanted the Batman—well, I guess it's me in this case—doing?"

The man didn't answer but he waved his free hand, gesturing for his companion as a go-ahead. The goth woman did a one-shoulder shrugged and turned to him.

"Well, we need someone, in this case—you, to guide our hero, helping and keeping her on her path, for her to fulfill her 'Destiny'" she ended it with an air quote hands.

Tim scowled, still didn't understand why it had anything to do with him or anyone else in that matter. "And, what is her Destiny?"

"Oh, you know the usual, defeat a dark lord, ascend to something higher, blah blah blah—" Death looked down at her painted nails. "We can't tell you all the details, yet. When you accept the job, we'll give you some details. We can't just give you everything, that's too interfering."

"But why do you need someone for this job? Isn't it a Hero's journey to go through the trails in the first place?" Tim asked, trying to make sense of the things he had heard so far.

Death let out a long sigh. "Oh, the girl will definitely go through trails for sure. A lot of them, in fact. It's the end choice that worries us." She tapped her painted nails on her arms as if pausing for a moment to contemplate. "I believe you are familiar with the Multiverse?"

Tim blinked. "Yes, I do." After all, Kon's death was a result of one of them.

"Well, there exist worlds that magic spread far and wide, large enough to form communities within communities. In most worlds also exist the fixed points that supposed to happen. Nothing or anyone do, will not change it. But that's really not the important thing here." She shrugged again. "Let's just say, in this particular world, the child was supposed to be born a boy. Until someone—" She empathized with an obvious glare toward the cloaked man who still ignoring both of them. "—being careless, and now he is a she."

Tim narrowed his eyes. "Alright. But's what the real problem?"

"The real problem is—" Death started but was cut off before she could finish.

"—not for you to know." The cloaked man Death had called Destiny had finally turned his attention back to them.

"What he said." Death looked sheepish scratching her chin. "It's the usual of what you've already been doing. Helping the main character of the story reach the end goal."

"You want me to play a sidekick?" He asked, his face deadpan. And they'd wanted Batman for this job at first? That was never going to work!

"But are there anyone else doing the job?" Tim somehow doubted that the main character this important to several different parallel universes would have no one to help them at all.

"Well, there is a circle of potential people to fill in that role." Death shrugged carelessly. "We just thought we should add our own into the mix. To help avoid disaster if the main character went off to the wrong path. We can't give you specific, though. There are rules about that, even ancient entities like us need to follow them."

"All you need to know is that there are…certain criteria that need to be filled by the girl in order for her to reach the desired result. You will be providing some of those." Destiny said, almost sagely.

"But how would I be able to guide her if I have no idea what they are?" Tim asked.

"You're talking as if you're accepting this job, Tim Drake." Destiny's said. It sounded like a statement, rather than a question.

Tim stared at the cloaked man with those practiced-glares he had perfected from Batman, which usually would leave the criminals quivering in their boots. This ancient entity, however, didn't even seem to be affected, at all. Tim grounded his molars, looking like an intimidating option was out. Next, negotiating.

"Let's say, I accept this…job." He said carefully. "What do I get out of it?"

"That's easy! You get to live your life." Death was the one to answer instead. "Well, not this life. I mean the new one! If you survived after everything, of course."

Destiny then added. "Besides the job of guiding and helping the girl. Teach her things, be her friend, her rival, her whatever. Marry her if you wanted. Or if you rather didn't, no need to keep in contact with her ever again after her role was fulfilled. Once it's done, you can do whatever you want with your life. Go fight crimes again, spend your money until your vault ran dry, cure cancer, whatever you decide. The only thing you're not allowed to do is making decisions for her. The girl has to choose the paths she walks herself."

"And If I don't accept?"

"Then you simply die. You're already dead, after all." Death said nonchalantly. "Some part of your soul will stay in the limbo until the time your new existent is ready to be reborn and will merge in a few years. Other parts will just fade away."

Tim's thoughts flew about inside his head as he stared pass both entities toward the unlit Bat-computer. Only mere hours ago when he stood there with Alfred and Dick, inquired about how Bruce's recovery had been going. The old butler said he was fine, cured, he even went back donning his mantle and took Damian with him to their beloved city patrol. But no one went through all the things he did and came out unscathed. They were all worried for him, if not physically then mentally.

Dick took back the role of Nightwing and went back to Blüdhaven. Batman had kept Damian as his new Robin. And at first, Tim had hoped it would be him. But he had come to realize that he, himself also had grown out of that role. Red Robin was something he had made for himself and Bruce had wanted Tim to see it as an accomplishment; a thing to be a treasure, a sign that he had grown as a crime-fighter.

But all of it came to nothing when Death had decided to end his life. Tim had wanted to rage and tear apart everything in his way just to get back to his family. Alas, in his heart he knew that it would make no difference at all. He was dead.

There was no way back, only forward.

And this girl, whoever she was, clearly in need of help if the two ancient entities had reached out to another universe to find someone. Whatever her destiny was, it would seem to be something bigger than just defeating a bad guy. Ah, he could almost hear Jason calling him 'Goody-Two-Shoes' with a sneer on his face.

Resigning to his fate, his gaze traveled back to the two beings as old as time itself. Taking a deep breath, he decided.

"Very well, I accept."

Death grinned from ear to ear, strangely contradicting sight with her gloomy clothing and makeup. Destiny simply quietly nodded in acceptance, he looked down at the large book in his hands again and spoke.

"Good. Now, let me tell you what you need to know…"

: : : : : :

It was only moments after the soul formerly known as Tim Drake had departed from the limbo when Destiny spoke once more.

"You intentionally picked that boy's soul, didn't you?" said the cloaked entity, he gestured for his companion to follow. Death shrugged but trailed after him without protest.

With a swipe of his arm the limbo dispersed and the ground became a grey stone-paved path. Dead orange leaves on the ground and leafless trees indicating late autumn of the year. The sky bled orange-red as the sun was about to set. The chill in the air bothered neither of them as they continued to walk down the path. Headstones and statues of weeping angels were presented on both sides. Less than a minute later they came to a stop.

Destiny and Death stood quietly as they watched a large group of people wearing both dark and colorful costumes, many of them wore masks to hide their real identities, some didn't care. All of them gathered in front of a newly erected headstone, belonged to a fresh grave of one, Timothy Drake. A large pile of red roses laid by the stone.

"This reality is vast and plentiful of Superheroes and their sidekicks," Destiny said. The hushed conversation could be heard from where the two ancients stood; but not the other way around. Even with these superheroes with their enhanced senses, they couldn't be hearing their conversation when they were technically stood at a hidden and separated pocket dimension. "–you could have easily picked someone with inherent magic already existed within them. yet, you chose a mundane boy with identity issues. And I don't believe for a second that you mistook him for Bruce Wayne."

"Well, nobody's perfect."

They watched as a tall figure in a dark cape and pointy cowl bent down and laid the last rose on the pile. A blond girl in the red and gold top let out a sniffle before a dark-haired boy next to her pulled her tighter to him; both their eyes were teary; no doubt they had been crying for sometimes. A short man wearing a black bodysuit stood a redhaired woman in a wheelchair, clutching her hand tight as a tall muscular man in the blue and red suit said something in a solemn tone.

"Maybe, I'm just being vindictive. After the things, the boy had done for many of them. These people always took him for granted. Now, they'll know that their screwup with him can no longer be fixed. They will live the rest of their lives thinking of 'what could have been' and 'Should I have treated him better'" Death said again and crossed her arms as they watched heroes after heroes said their last goodbye to the departed friend.

Destiny inclined his head to his sister. "But people had been treated unfairly all the time, you don't take notice of them like this."

"Of course not." Death grinned mysteriously.

Destiny could only sigh at his sister's crazy whims, knowing this plan could easily be turned into a big mess but he could do nothing about it since the die was cast; there was no turning back now. He really hoped this gambit would be paid off in the end.

: : : : : :

When Destiny and Death told him that he would travel to a new world for this job. He had been pleased that they had let him keep most of his cognitions and skills; he'd needed them they'd said. He had assumed that he would be dropped off in the area at the same age as when Death took him. They hadn't mentioned he would be arriving via a birthing canal, as a newborn.

Now he knew why the babies didn't remember their first moment of entering a new world—it was traumatizing! He shuddered at the memory of it.

Destiny had told him briefly of the new world where magic users—not the same as Homo Magi; Witches and Wizards they'd called themselves, had been living in separated society from Muggles (Non-magical) since the 1600s. Each country had its own magical government, its own schools to practice and hon their skills. Most witches and wizards avoided the Muggles altogether, some only interacted when absolutely necessary.

And then Destiny proceeded to tell him about the people who would be his new parents. A couple of witch and wizard, too young and too reckless in their tryst resulting in conceiving him. They hadn't been in love but they had been good friends since school days. Both came from a long line of wizarding families.

Sirius Black and Marlene McKinnon were their names. Sirius Black was a tall dark-haired man with startling grey eyes while Marlene McKinnon was a petite blond woman with eyes bright blue. Both were very attractive people. Both notoriously rebellious in their ways. But they were good people who had wanted to do the right thing. They both worked for Magical Law Enforcement, albeit different departments if he had discerned correctly.

He was (re)born during a cold winter night on the 7th of December; at home with only a few trusted friends to assist his mother instead of a maternity ward at a hospital.

Leonis Timotheus Black.

Or as his new father had called him—Leo for short. That was his new name. Funnily enough, Timotheus was a variation of his former name. He was just happy to have something from his former life to hold on to. Although his new names did sound kind of pretentious at first. Not until he had heard the conversation of his new father who has been holding him and a tall dark-haired man wearing round-shaped glasses. (Although, it was kind of surprising his sight and hearing were developed enough to make sense of the conversation at all.

"I know Timotheus is for Marlene's dad but Leonis?...heh, That sounds suspiciously like a star name, doesn't it?" The man grinned, his eyes lit with mischief behind the glasses.

"Oh, it is!" His father cooed at Tim's new infant body. "But I can see my dear old mum foaming at the mouth when she checks that dreadful tapestry of her and sees that I have named my son after our Gryffindors' emblem! The house she loath so much!

They laughed themselves silly at the inside joke Tim didn't understand until a pretty redhead woman who had assisted his mother in birthing him earlier entered the room to chastise them for making a ruckus. The woman gently took him from his new father, before he could see what was happening, a warm feeling wrapped itself around him. Suddenly all his screaming earlier had tried his newly acquired body out. The last thing he knew, that the redhead was carrying him away, his father and his friend following not too far; before he knew where they were going, his eyelids slid shut, enveloping his world in blackness.

: : : : : :

He hadn't known when he had fallen asleep, his new infant body had no sense of time. But when he had woken up again, he was being shown around and introduced to even more people.

Two more men looked about the same age as his father. The taller of the two bore scars on his face, his clothes shabby but his hair sandy brown was combed tidily. His yellow-brown eyes were kind and he smiled at him gently. This was Remus Lupin.

The second man's name was Peter Pettigrew. He was short and obese, his brown hair disarrayed, his smile nervous, he looked like a shadow might scare him to death, the name's whole persona reminded Tim eerily of a low life criminal scurrying around within Park Row from his first life. Tim didn't like him one bit and was relieved when the man declined to hold him.

More people came and Tim tried hard to remember all the face that was presented on the day of his birth; a scarred man with a mean face who happened to be his father's boss called Alastor Moody. An aged old man, completed with long silvery beard and hair, named Albus Dumbledore who looked like he was Gandalf jumping out from Lord of the Rings movies but instead of grey robes, he was bright blue with little yellow stars instead. An elderly witch with a stern face but kind eyes named McGonagall (though his father called her Minnie, much to her ire)

Several members of McKinnon clans were also there. His grandfather whom he was named after; Timotheus McKinnon and his wife Lara. His aunts and uncles whose names he could barely remember. All of them shared the same fair blond hair with his mother.

The only family from his father's side, not counting his friends were an older woman named Callisto Black. She had the same dark hair and grey eyes like his father. Tim had learned much later on that both his father and Great Aunt Callisto was disowned by their family.

But out of all of them, the most important were the two that Tim had met earlier. The man wearing glasses with an uncontrollable mob of dark hair; James Potter and his pretty redheaded wife; Lily.

These two would become parents to Hariel Potter in the coming months. Lily Potter's stomach was barely showing sigh of pregnancy, it would be a while yet before his assignment was to be born into this world.

He yawned, sleepiness clawing up his tiny body again. Well, it wasn't like there was anything for him to do just yet. So, he let his mother rocked him to sleep.

: : : : : :

It had been a year since Hariel Rose Potter arrived in the world. It was during the last hours of the night right before the end of July.

She came out screaming as loudly as her mother's swearing of cursing James Potter's private parts to oblivion. And when the said man once saw his newborn daughter, proceeded to faint right at the spot. Sirius, who had brought his son along to witness all this, laughed his ass off and proceeded to take pictures for future blackmail materials. If he was old enough, he would have laughed along with his father.

A now-one-year-old Hariel—or as family and friends fondly calling her Harry; giggled aloud, she was such a happy child. Her big green eyes that she had inherited from her mother would show all sorts of emotions as she babbled nonsense to anyone around her. The girl was always curious about new things being presented in front of her. She'd also liked to snuggle, every time the two of them were put together for a nap, she always ended up clutching on to him like he was a teddy bear. James would grudgingly grumble as Sirius laughed along. Lily just cooed at them and took more pictures.

Leo watched in amusement as James and Sirius raced about the Potters' living room, chasing after Harry flying on her newly given toy broom, her wild black baby hair blowing everywhere as she giggled. He reflected on things that had happened ever since he'd arrived.

All this information he had gathered just by eavesdropping alone. It was a wonder how careless people would talk in front of a toddler, how they thought that a baby was too young to understand things. If only they knew!

Less than two years had passed since his arrival in the new world. His life started out slow. He took his time coming to think of himself as Leo Black instead of Tim Drake. Even though, technically his (middle) name was still called Tim. But no one called him that. His parents loved his name; apparently, Lion was a symbol of their beloved schoolhouse. Every day, it got easier to accept the current reality. Both Marlene and Sirius showered him with love and affection, always saying that he was loved, despite the fact that

He still missed Bruce, Alfred, Dick, Kon, and Cassie, of course. Heck, he even grudgingly missed that hobbit—Damian, and the over-grown prat; Jason. He missed being able to run, train and fight. It would be a few more years yet before he could do all those things again. Gotham weighed heavily on his mind sometimes but he could do nothing about it anymore. He had made his choice to move on; all he could do was to slowly let it go. He knew Bruce would do his best to keep the city in line. And if anything, Bruce's supposed death was to prove, it was he knew Dick would always step up when the needs arise. The same went for both Jason who would do what he'd always done to protect the city in his own way. Damian, still had very big shoes to fill and a lot of things to prove. As much as the kid annoyed him, he still wished him the best. All of them would have Alfred and Barbara to support them.

Gotham might not improve, but it wouldn't be worse in his absence. With Bruce's return to the role of Batman, the city was in good hands.

Being a baby again was somewhat frustrating. His mind was fully developed but his brain and body were still catching up to it, slowly. Re-learning all sorts motor and speech skills were challenging. Teething was really painful; he was almost grateful he hadn't remembered those in his first life. The most humiliating though was the bladder control. Ugh. Every time someone came to change his nappy, he wanted to dig a hole in the ground and hide. And forget the control of his emotions he had perfected under the Batman; was all shot to hell, it was as if he had no reign over his body responses; this's somewhat to be expected to a degree.

But in some ways, it was surprisingly easy. Life was kind of simple. The routines of the first several months were almost repetitive; he woke up, ate, cried, and then went back to sleep, the next day he woke up again to repeat the cycle.

The house he's now living in a small modest home somewhere within greater London; it wasn't as grand as Drake mansion or as majestic as Wayne Manor, but it was warm and cozy. Marlene McKinnon, who despite technically married to Sirius; still going by her maiden name. As far as Leo knew, they didn't even have a wedding. Both just filed for marriage registration with the Ministry so when Leo was born, he wouldn't be illegitimate. They were living together, true, but both had their own bedrooms. The two were more of roommates who happened to shared parts being his parents, rather than a loving married couple who agreed to share a lifetime together like James and Lily Potter.

Both worked for British Ministry of Magic, Sirius as a Hit-wizard (the equivalent of a Muggle SWAT) and when an opportunity arose, he often paired up with his Best Mate; James Potter who was an Auror. (something like a Police detective) Marlene worked as a secretary in the Auror office. So, when his mother's maternity leave ended, his parents took turns staying at home taking care of him when they could. A great help who took care of him during the day when either of them could have thought; came in a form of a small sentient creature with big eyes and floppy ears called house-elf named Misty who had been given to his dad by his late uncle Alphard; brother of Callisto Black.

Leo also found out that his parents, as well as the Potters and his friends also worked with a secret society found by Albus Dumbledore; worked to opposed Voldemort and his sycophants. His parents talked about how the Ministry was useless in this war unless you went with an aggressive tactic like James' colleague—A man named Barty Crouch, whose policy involve heavy-handed interrogation was just as bad as the Death Eaters themselves.

Sirius and James dealt mostly on sabotage and recon, and sometimes even rescue missions. while Marlene listened to the chatters within the Ministry. Lily supplied the group with her potions and antidotes, as well as enchanting protective gear for her families' friends. Remus was sent out to do some kind of muscle work, he rarely visited them anymore. As for Peter; as far as Leo knew the man barely had time for the resistance since Mrs. Pettigrew contracted some sort of illness, he had been taking care of her ever since they had graduated.

Next, Leo had also pieced together why Sirius and Aunt Callisto were disowned by the Blacks. From listening to a conversation here and there; apparently, the House of Black was one of the prominent pureblood families in England. And any Squibs (non-magical born from wizarding families) were disowned and removed from a family tree.

This was the general treatment of most squibs born into pureblood families. Not all squibs were treated unkindly, most just pretended their squib child hadn't existed, or if they were able to; sending them away to their more distanced muggle relatives to be raised. Unfortunately, the House of Black was one of the more extreme cases. Aunt Callisto wasn't the first Black Squib to be kicked out of the family. And those Black squibs had started their own non-magical branch of the family, much to the main house's ire. But since they were practically Muggles, nothing could be done to stop them. Their accumulated wealth over the centuries from successful ventures could almost rival those of the main branch itself.

And as for the reason his father was kicked out? Well, it seemed that during the summer before the sixth year of Hogwarts, Sirius ran away from home after a fight with his nasty mother. Whatever was said that day, it made Walburga Black mad enough to blast his name off of the family tree. Sirius then proceeded to camp at James's parents' back yard until he was emancipated. When Uncle Alphard who had no children and loved Sirius like his own son had passed away; he had left him with most of his fortunes, including the small house they were now living in as well as Misty the house-elf. And as a result, Alphard was also disowned from the family by Walburga; his own sister.

Leo was a little relief, to be honest. He'd rather not grow up in an extreme blood-purists household.

The next thing came Magic.

At first, he had some reservations about all the magic surrounding him. The memory of his original parents; Jack and Janet Drake's unfortunate fates after a run-in with Obeah Man; ending in his mother's death and his father crippled, had always haunted him even years after it happened; like a poorly healed wound, it left a scar in his heart. But after years of being surrounded by Heroes wielding magic, and his talk with Wonder Woman; whose body was also brought to life by the magic of the gods, or a magic-user like Zatanna; his attitude toward the subject had somewhat improved. He'd understood that Magic was simply a tool and for some people, a weapon for others. It was the wielder's intention; for good or for ill, that mattered. The same could be said with any non-magical.

He didn't even need to look far for the example. Look at The Joker, aside from his intelligence and his sociopathic mind, the man had nothing to enhance his body to be strong. The man still murdered and ruined the lives of hundreds of people just because it amused him. Because at the end of the day, who he was. Sometimes, Tim had questioned why Bruce even bothered putting the man in Arkham Asylum anymore. The man belonged in jail, not a mental ward.

What hadn't prepared him for though, was just how much magic he would encounter. It was far more than what he had seen what Zatanna did with her saying the spells backward. It was different than how magic helped Wonder woman or Shazam battled their foes. These witches and wizards handled the magic like it was part of their body, as natural as breathing.

It was a thing of wonder watching his parents and the house-elf worked at everyday-magic. He watched the frying pan washed and scrubbed itself with a flick of his mother's wand or just a snap of Misty's finger. The house-elf would clean rooms and cook meals with magic. Sirius working on his vintage flying motorbike. Marlene taking notes with a self-writing quill. The photographs on the wall of their apartment were moving about. The portraits could even talk back to you. They posted mails by owls. People travel to his house with green magical fire by the fireplace. They even had a spell for changing his nappy, for heaven's sake! He could never imagine there was magic for such mundane things.

Magic was just…really marvelous.

Leo had his own accidental magic only a day after his first birthday when he summoned a sippy cup from across the room. Both his parents weren't home to witness this, but Misty who heard his fuzzing arrived just in time to see the cup sailed in the air to him. The house-elf sobbed big happy tears and eagerly reported this to Marlene who was first to come home from work. The woman squealed loudly before proceeding to write all her families about the news. Sirius's reaction was similar to his mother, albeit more subdued. The only people he contacted were the Potters and McGonagall. (The latter, to confirmed Leo's admittance to the Magic school where his parents went.)

And thus, cementing his status as a future wizard just like Destiny and Death had assured him. His family had a small celebration that night, even Misty was invited to sit at their table.

Leo would try repeating this several times, days afterward. Just summoning things to him. The hum of Magic was within his small body. He wasn't successful every time though. But once it did, he would let out a gurgle resembling laughter. It was quite exciting! But the act had also left him exhausted, he would be down for several hours nap afterward. He'd theorized that it was because his magic wasn't mature enough yet.

Harry, however, had more variety in her accidental magic. Tim was there when she had her first accidental magic. James Potter tearfully swung his daughter proudly as his hair switching back and forth between pink and blue, before he was stopped by an exasperated Lily who took her daughter away from his clutch. Since then, the girl had changed her father's hair into various colors, summoning toys and blanket to herself, things would fly around when she upset or hungry, or sometimes she even managed to change the colors of her toys. Whatever mood had struck her. Leo had sat and watched most of it with amusement.

However, their blissful days were shattered abruptly only a month after his first birthday, the moment Leo came to a violent realization; that Magic also had a treacherous side, a reminder that he was born in a dark time; when his mother and her entire family was massacred by the terrorists calling themselves Death Eaters. They were followers of Dark Lord Voldemort.

From what little information the two entities had supplied him with, the man was supposed to be one of the most brilliant wizards within recent history. But instead of spending his time inventing or improve the lives of the wizarding community, the man turned out to be a tyrant and a megalomaniac on par with Lex Luther or Vandal Savage. Hell-bent on 'purifying' wizarding race, while searching for a way to achieve immortality. He also filled his ranks with equally lunatic sycophants, who enjoyed murders and mayhems that made some villains from the Batman's gallery paled in comparison.

This so-called Dark Lord, was the one Baby Harry was supposed to defeat? What the actually hell?! The wizard was a man, grown; a powerful one. Strong enough that even the squads of Aurors and Hit-wizards had a hard time dueling him without his crazy followers.

The night after the massacre, his father came home with bloodshot eyes. There were no tears but the pain on his face was visible to see. When he told Misty the bad news, the house-elf openly wept on the floor. Leo toddler's body could do nothing but cry to express his sadness as his father clutched him to his chest. His mother's untimely and violent death had dredged up his own memories of Janet Drake's demise. Twice now, he had lost women whom he called his mothers. He wondered if he was cursed, somehow.

"It's just us now, cub." His father said.

That night, Leo had learned about his father's hidden ability; when the man transformed himself into a large black dog. He was a size of Irish wolfhound but with long midnight-colored fur of Rough Collie, a weird combination. Leo finally realized why the Marauders had nicknamed Sirius 'Padfoot'. His thoughts later wandered on this and came to a theory that all the Marauders might be capable of transforming into animal forms, respectively according to their nicknames. It was quite interesting, something for him to research once he was old enough.

After all the crying from the news of his mother's death, his toddler body was exhausted but his mature mind still trying to keep going a mile a minute. Until, the dog jumped on the bed, blinked his sad grey eyes at him before curled his large body around Leo's smaller one, he had tired himself out with all the crying. Finally, they fell asleep together like that, taking solace and comfort in each other's warm.

Sirius might not have been in love with Marlene, but he still loved her nonetheless. She was, after all, his partner in raising Leo; their son. She was also one of his long-time friends whom he had known ever since he was a boy of eleven. They had shared the same school House for seven years. And due to their share responsibility as his parents, he made her one of his closest friends besides the Marauders and Lily Potter. Losing her must have hurt him to a certain extent.

Following Marlene's death, Sirius became much more paranoid. He re-warded his home to high heaven. The hours of his works during the day became less and less, his father refused to leave him alone with Misty at home. Their fireplace was restricted only for a few people to use (the Marauders plus Lily Potter and Albus Dumbledore) Misty no longer allowed to take him outside their backyard to catch some sun in the afternoon anymore. In fact, the only time Leo left the house at all, was when he was with Sirius. Around the same time, the Potters had also moved from their ancestral home (which had been on locked down, hidden behind high-level wards.) and went into hiding. Leo had assumed this was because the people who were in the resistance, as well as their families, were dying left and right.

A month after his father redid the security, he had heard Sirius's talking to James during one of the rare visits, that there might be a spy; a traitor among the resistance. Not knowing whom to trust, Sirius started packing things into trunks; their tomes and books, magical artifacts, anything of values. The House was almost bare, saved for the furniture, his blocks of toys and any monitoring devices his father set up to protect the property. He wrote some letters, having them sent by Misty instead of an owl. Leo had no idea what was said in those letters if he were to guess they might be some kind of arrangements in case the worst happened. Sirius also gave Misty something called Portkey. Leo had no idea what Portkey was, to him it looked like a cheap-looking trinket but he assumed it might have been a means for transport in case of them being attacked.

A feminine shriek cut the train of his thoughts abruptly, Leo's baby reflex flinched at the sound. Apparently, Lily Potter had arrived from the kitchen; cladded in a cream color apron, to announce that the celebratory dinner was ready, only to find her precious daughter hovering above ground—on a broom, chasing around by two grown wizards. And seemed it was not something she appreciated.

The redheaded witch snatched her protesting daughter off of the toy broom before scolded both her husband and Sirius. Baby Harry didn't seem to appreciate having taken away from her newest toy, proceeded to cry big fat crocodile tears, showing her displeasure for every occupant in the room. As she cried, the scattered toys rose from the floor, started flinging themselves at all occupants. A stuffed dragon smacked into James's face, as one stuffed lion flew at Leo's head, though he was saved just in time by his laughing father.

This only served to spur Lily to scold the men further. Both looked sheepish as James moved in to placate his daughter. Meanwhile, Sirius carried Leo and followed them into the dining room with a guilty look on his face, as he listening to Lily's promise of several irreversible hexes to his manly bits. It was him who gave Baby Harry that broom as her birthday present. If Leo could laugh, he would have done it already. But all his one-and-a-half-year-old body could only produce weird giggles.

"Your son is laughing at you, Padfoot." James pointed out helpfully while wiping his daughter's tear-stained face after Lily set her down in a high-chair. Baby Harry still looked put out for having her new toy taken away but the sight of chocolate cake in front of her, she clapped her hands excitedly.

Sirius who was putting Leo in his own high-chair paused as looked down at him. His grey eyes narrowed; Leo made a point by giggled again with finger-pointing at his father's face. The man morphed into a wide grin instead of annoyance. "What a rascal! As expected of my son!"

"That's not a compliment you should be giving your son, Black!" Lily said with false exasperation as she waved her wand, a plate of roasted beef gently floated down on the table.

"Oh, Merlin's pants! Give me a break, Lily-Petal! My son finally shows his cheeky side! He's usually as quiet as a lamb, I was getting worried there's something wrong with him!" His father whined. "Now I know he's not! Hmm….maybe he just needs some guidance…"

"James, tell your friend to stop daydreaming. It's time for dinner." Lily said.

"Padfoot, stop your daydreaming. It's time for dinner." James drawled with a snicker.

"Shut up, Prongs!" Sirius drawled back.

"You're just jealous my daughter is cheekier than your son! Isn't that right, Bambi!" James boasted with his nose in the air and planted a loud kiss on Harry's cheek, she giggled loudly.

Sirius just stuck his tongue out at his friend. Leo suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at the two supposedly fully-grown adults.

Misty, whom Sirius had brought along to help Lily, arrived along with a large bowl of mash potato and a dish of freshly cooked sausages, joining the cooked vegetables and diner rolls already sitting on the table. In front of Harry and Leo were smaller sets of age-appropriated and already cooled foods, consisted of sippy cups, and baby forks and spoons.

"Blimey, Lily! Where's the army you feeding?" Sirius blinked owlishly at all the spreads that the redhead and his house-elf set on the table.

"Oh, shush. If we have any leftover, you can have Misty take it home for lunch tomorrow." Lily waved her hand and tugged her wand back to a holster on her leg. She took a seat next to Harry while James sat at the head of the table. Sirius sat by Leo but since he had started eating by himself, his father was just there to supervise, unlike Harry who still needed some help from adults; in this case—Lily.

"By the way, we still need to finish our talk about the Fidelius Charm." His father said as he piled his own plate with sausages.

"What's there to talk about? You're already our secret keeper. There's no one else better." James said.

Ah. The Fidelius Charm. That was an interesting and amazing piece of magic. From the limited knowledge he'd gathered from eavesdropping alone, the spell was supposed to hide a secret within someone's soul. Once cast, the secret could not be coerced to give up the said secret unless voluntarily divulged. It was a very difficult and complex spell to cast as well as ancient. Not many knew about it. The Potters only learned about it because Dumbledore had suggested it to them. The aged wizard had taught Lily how to cast it. This was a method that the Potters had chosen to hide their hideout cottage, with his father as their secret keeper.

"I agree, you're the best person for this. Even if sometimes, I didn't want to admit it." Lily concurred with her husband.

"Aww, I knew you secretly love me!" Sirius teased, before pausing. "But that's the point, innit?" His expression suddenly became more somber. Both Potters glanced at him. "Everyone knows I am your best mate. They will be looking for me first! If you're using someone else, it'll be like an extra security measure!"

"But what's the point of using another Secret Keeper? You can't be coerced to reveal the secret anyway." Lily said skeptically.

"And with their attention on me, I'll set some of my own alerts to send out to you that they're on to us! It will buy you and the real secret keeper time to get away." Sirius argued.

"But we can't put you and Leo in any more danger, Sirius!"

"Don't worry about my son, I already have emergency portkey prepared. Misty knew what to do if there's an attack." Lily was still not convinced, so he turned to James. "Look at it this way, mate. It'll be our biggest prank ever pull!"

James's lit up behind the round-shaped glasses, he slowly grinned. Lily rolled her eyes and said. "Let's just say we decided to change the keeper. But why not Remus instead of Peter? No offense to your friend, but after seven years in school together, I still don't trust him."

"Moony is out of the country doing Merlin-knows-what for Dumbledore, for one." Sirius shrugged. "And because it's Peter, that's why it'll work. Who would have thought we will pick someone like him, right?"

"Someone like him?" Lily's eyebrow lifted at that. "I don't like the man, but I still find that a little mean, Sirius."

James laughed. "Oh, don't worry about it, Luv. That's just the Black in him speaking."

"Why you little—" half-eaten roll sailed through the air toward James, but the man ducked it expertly.

"Don't worry, Padfoot. Lily and I will think about it." James assured him.

"Pafoo!" Harry repeated after her father excitedly. Sirius grinned widely at her.

Leo who sat by Harry's other side mentally shook his head at his father's antics. What Sirius had said had some merits, it's true. But Leo had to agree with Lily about the choice of the new secret keeper. Peter Pettigrew's shifty demeanors still pinging at his well-honed instinct. Until today he still wondered what had made the rest of the Marauders befriended the man in the first place.

Leo went back to eat quietly as his attention turned to watch the girl sitting next to him, all the mess she made surrounding her plate. Harry giggled when a spoonful of mashed potato completely missed her mouth and fell sideways onto her bib. Lily shook her head and fondly wiped her daughter's chin before letting her try again.

He looked on at the display of the chaotic joy of the Potters, spying his own father whose smile was more genuine and less strained for the first time in months since they both had lost Marlene.

He should have known better, that these relatively peaceful days wouldn't last.

Three months after Harry's first birthday, less than a week after the Potters switched their secret keeper from Sirius to Pettigrew; when all things went downhill.

: : : : : :

It was Halloween night. Both muggle and magical children filled the street for festivity. Leo was dressed in all red clothes, with a 'fake' red beard hanging on his face, a plush-sword at in his chubby hand; he was supposed to be Godric Gryffindor. Though he was all dressed up for the occasion, he wasn't allowed outside that night. His father's paranoid still held firm, he had instructed Misty to put a bag of candies by their front step, with a sign for them to 'help themselves' attached to it.

At first, nothing significant happened. Sirius had allowed Leo to stay up watching the Muggle cartoons broadcasted on Halloween Special. It already went over his bedtime, when a series of klaxon alarms from his father's office blared to life.

"Those're from James and Lily's monitor alerts!" Sirius's eyes went wide, he jumped up with wand in hand and ran into his office. Leo who was about to doze off, blink back to awareness.

"No! Nonononono!" He could hear his father howled in anguish from the office.

"Dada?" Leo called out with his limited baby-speech. Sirius reappeared, tears streaking down his cheeks, his father's distress was apparent to see. Even his own guts told him that something really wrong had just happened, and the worse had yet to come.

"Misty!" His father yelled for the house-elf as he picked Leo up from their couch, not even bothered to dry his tear-stained face.

The little elf appeared right away with a pop. "Yes, Master Siri?"

"Get Everything as we planned. We're leaving now!" Sirius told her as he summoned a baby swaddle from the next room and hastily waved his wand, the fabric automatically wrapped itself around Leo. The elf's eyes went wide, she nodded and disappeared without saying anything, only to appear again a few minutes later with shrunken trunk hanging from the chains on her waist. Leo remembered that trunk, he had seen his father and Misty shrunk several trunks and put them inside before shrinking it again one last time.

"Do you remember what to do if I didn't come to pick you and Leo up?" His father asked the elf.

"Yes, Misty be staying with Ms. Callie and take care of Young Master Leo." Misty nodded hard her ears flopping about. "And the next day, Misty must go bring Master's letter to Gringotts."

"Very good, Misty. Here, take Leo and activate the portkey." Sirius said as he held out the already bundled up Leo to the elf.

"Dada?" Leo called again, squirmed away from the elf's hands. His instinct screaming in his head that his father was about to do something really stupid. "Dada, No!"

Sirius seemed to detect his son's distress, turned around and reached out with a shaky hand to pat his head, his grey eyes brimming with fresh tears. "Listen, my cub. I will be with you in a little bit, all right? Be good for Aunt Callie, yeah?"

"Dada no go!" He cried out for his father, tears leaking out; wanting to stop the man from doing whatever it was that would be leading to him getting himself killed. But his current body was incapable to do anything but cried for his father to stop. And that wasn't even working!

"I love you, cub." He bent down and kissed Leo's head one last time before pulling away.

Before they could do anything else a loud boom shook the house. Sirius snapped into action, wand out, muttering a spell under his breath. "That worthless rat! They are attacking the house ward! Misty, go now!"

"Yes, Master!" The elf secured Leo's swaddling body to herself. Pulling out the spelled locket.

"Dada, no!"

"Take care of my son," Sirius told the elf shakily, just seconds before Misty spoke the activation phrase.

Leo screamed when the pulling sensation swirled around them. Misty wrapped around him with her bony arms. It might have been no longer than a few minutes, but for him, it felt like forever; before the pulling twisted and changed into pushing, the forced propelled them forward until Misty landed on her feet, shrunken trunk thudding on the floor next to them, Leo securely still in the swaddle in her arm.

His baby eyes blinked as the surrounding came back to his awareness, realizing that they had arrived at someone's living room. If he'd remembered correctly, this was one of Aunt Callisto's muggle houses. Leo had visited here before when he was younger when Marlene was still alive.

The elf shakily unwrapped the knots to untangle his swaddle from herself. With a snap of her finger, the muggle carrycot appeared on the lounging sofa. The elf sat him down gently inside, tugging the blanket around him. "Master Leo be a good boy. Misty will go get Madam Callie!"

"Mity no go!" Leo called out but the elf already popped away, rationally he knew the elf wouldn't be gone far, and he was safe in this place, but he had been spending time as a baby for so long, maybe he's regressing? Or maybe it was the sense of loss playing with his mind. His father just sent him away before gone to do gods knew what. It hadn't been a year yet after when he had lost a mother, he wasn't ready to lose a father too!

A commotion signaling Aunt Callisto's arrival, Leo wiggled and awkwardly sat up inside the carrycot. His great aunt's hair was in disarrayed, she wore a fluffy robe, it was clear that Misty had just woken her up. The elf following after her.

"Oh, Leo. My poor baby." She hurried toward the carrycot. Leo held out his short signaling that he wanted to be picked up. The elder woman complied with any protest and took in the opportunity to check him for any injury or distress. Nothing to be seen but the tear-stained cheeks.

"Anty! Want Dada!" Leo sniffed and shook out his little fists.

"Your father will be here soon, alright?" She tried to soothe him with her gentle pat on his back, she cradled him close. Before turning to the sniffing Misty. "Can you tell me what happened, Misty?"

The elf nodded after blew her nose into a part of her uniform. "Master Siri and Young master were in the living room when the Master's monitor alarms went off."

"Ones for Sirius's house?"

Misty shook her head. "No, Miz. They be the ones for his friends."

"The Potters' then." Callisto grimaced. Leo knew his great aunt didn't know the full details, only that several wizarding families had gone into hiding, but the Potters were the one Sirius was closest to, she could make an educational guess.

"Misty not know but Master was very angry and sad afterward and he called for Misty." The elf sniffed again. "Master Siri was crying. He told Misty to get the packed trunks. When Misty came back, he gave Misty the Young Master and told Misty to take him away…." The elf trembled, tears brimming her large eyes, she blew her nose again. "…that when the house wards went boom! Master Siri told Misty to go. So, Misty went and came here with Young Master."

He couldn't see Aunt Callisto's expression to know she went pale as she continued petting her trembling hand over his back. Her voice was shaky as she spoke next. "So, Sirius stays to fight?"

"Misty not think so. Misty saw Master Siri apparated away before the portkey activated. But Misty not know where Master went." The elf said dejectedly.

Leo scowled into his great aunt's shoulder where he rested his head at the moment. So, Misty did see his father disapparated, but not knowing where. If he was to guess, it would be the Potters' place. At least he would be safe for the time being, the same couldn't be said for the Potters, however. He knew vaguely that Harry would survive, as for Lily and James….as much as he hadn't wanted to, Leo could only assume the worst had happened when he heard the alarms blared into life earlier. And no matter what happened, the fates awaited baby Harry wouldn't be kind ones after all Destiny and Death did say she would need a helping hand.

"Anything else Sirius said, Misty?" His great aunt's voice brought him back to the moment.

"He told Misty to stay with Ms. Callie and take care of Master Leo until Master Siri himself comes to pick us up," Misty replied sadly.

"We will play by ears, then. Who knows what in Merlin's name that boy's doing? I have paid Gringotts handsomely to ward this house, we should be safe for the time being." Aunt Callisto let out a long sigh. "Do you remember the rooms that Sirius and Leo had stayed the last time?" The elf nodded eagerly. "Take the trunks to their rooms then. You both will stay here until we have more news. And Misty, you can take the room you had last time. And don't worry about the housework, just look after Leo's needs for now."

"Thank you, Miz." Misty grimaced at not being allowed to do housework but still bowed low with gratitude.

"Let's turn in for the night. I'm sure Leo is already exhausted enough with all that happened." The elder woman suggested. The elf nodded and disappeared along with the shrunken trunk; possibly to put stuff away.

"Don't worry, little lion." Aunt Callisto crooned soothingly as she walked the both of them upstairs toward the room he would be staying. "Everything will be alright, you'll see."

Leo wanted to scoff at her words. It was obvious from her tone, even Aunt Callisto herself hadn't believed in her own placated words either.

And just as he expected, nothing was alright.

: : : : : :

The next several days, Aunt Callisto was in a constant state of melancholy and furious. Leo could do nothing but watched things getting unfolded.

THE DARK LORD NO MORE!

ALL HAIL HARIEL POTTER! THE GIRL WHO LIVED!

Those were the headlines that Daily Prophet had printed the following day after Halloween. Even as a squib, Aunt Callisto still subscribed to the newspaper because some of her investments were within the Wizarding worlds. She had read the articles out loud during breakfast for everyone presented; Herself, two of her assistants; Ben Copper—a freshly graduated muggle-born and An older squib named Paloma Carrow, as well as Leo, and Misty.

Apparently, The Dark Lord attacked the Potters last night. James and Lily lost their lives after a fierce duel, the house was half-destroy but when You-know-who turned his wand to a fifteen-months-old Hariel Potter, his curse backfired and just like that the most feared Dark Lord of the Twentieth Century since Gellert Grindelwald was defeated, by a baby.

Destiny and Death had told him that Hariel Potter would defeat Lord Voldemort, but not how she did it. Just that she'd do it more than once. If that was true then, Voldemort wasn't really dead, was he?

The details they had printed were outlandish and vague at best, almost propagated at worst. It was cleared, Minister Bagnold was milking this to her political agenda. Along with Barty Crouch—the current Head of DMLE and his Fighting Fire with Fire Policy brought even more violence to the suspected Death Eaters; the man became much more popular now that he was on the winning sides. His crusades against the Death Eaters were just as merciless as the guys he was hunting. For weeks afterward, the Daily Prophet printed nothing but the same drivel but no concrete facts to back it up besides wild speculations from so-called experts. Even Albus Dumbledore, only replied with no comment when asked and refused to be quoted.

The stragglers of You-Know-Who's followers made several desperate attacks as the last spurt attempt on Muggle-born families as well as Pureblood ones who were vocally against their leader; the most famous was the Attack on the Longbottoms. Frank; who was one of the most premiered Auror of this generation, was tortured with Cruciatus Curse to sanity along with his wife; Alice. Leaving their son, Neville who was the same age as Leo and Harry to his grandmother's custody.

Following numerous trials of the arrested Death Eaters; names of the Dark Lord's followers were revealed but the most shocking was Crouch's own son—Barty Crouch Jr. who took part in torturing the Longbottoms, along with Rabastan, Rodolphus and Bellatrix Lestrange. (The latter, turned out to be Callisto's own, estranged niece.) It was one of the biggest scandals of the decade—not counting the Fall of You-Know-Who. Crouch Sr. not only couldn't help his son without appearing biased, was forced to arrest him. His trial was nothing but a sham and everyone knew it. Nevertheless, Minister Bagnold didn't demote him immediately, instead, she let him continued with his crackdown which turned even more ferocious than before.

Aunt Callisto and Paloma Carrow discussed that it was because Bagnold wanted excuses to seize the vaults belong to the excused Death Eaters or at least holding it hostage until they could pay their ways out. This became apparent when several obvious supporters of the Dark Lord like Lucius Malfoy (who also married to Callisto's other niece.), or Amycus and Alecto Carrow (Paloma's second cousin) were able to bribe their ways out of being imprisoned by claiming that they had been acting under Imperius Curse.

But these were not the worst thing that had happened.

No, the worst came about three days after the Fall of the Dark Lord. When the news of Sirius Black being arrested for murders was headlined on the Daily Prophet.

SIRIUS BLACK: THE POTTERS' BETRAYER

DOZEN OF MUGGLES MURDERED. PETER PETTIGREW THE REAL HERO!

When Aunt Callisto finished the article, she screamed her lung off before proceeded to throw the papers into the fire. Her two assistants glanced at each other warily. Leo could do nothing but throwing his food around in rage. Misty could only sob and saying that the news wasn't true.

The papers reported that Sirius was the one who gave away the Potters' location to the Dark Lord. After the defeat of his supposed master, Sirius went into hiding but was found later by Peter Pettigrew who confronted him in the middle of muggle's street. Accusing the man of being a traitor, Sirius somehow went insane and tried to murder Pettigrew with a blasting curse, killing his former friend along with a dozen of muggles. Apparently, Sirius was arrested right afterward and even confessed to the crime. He was sent to Azkaban without even a lick of investigation or trial. Meanwhile, Pettigrew, who hadn't enough pieces of a body left, was awarded posthumously.

Of course, neither Leo nor Aunt Callisto believed these drivel. They'd known better. In Leo's case, he knew for a fact that it was Peter Pettigrew who was the Potters' real secret keeper, but Leo himself was in no condition to testify for his father—his body was only twenty-months-old! He couldn't even speak full sentences yet!

During one of his rare appearances at Wizengamot, the Daily Prophet had tried to interview the current Lord Black; Arcturus Black, who was actually Sirius's grandfather and his own great grandfather, the man refused venomously before threatening to the hex anyone who dared bother him again. Despite his advanced age, Arcturus still a very influential figure, while he advocated for blood-purist, the man had never outright supported Voldemort. Bagnold's poor attempt to seize the Black's fortune was met with a threat of removing her from the office. The witch had grudgingly backed down since there was no evidence of Arcturus being a Death Eater.

Leo had never met his great grandfather in person. Sirius was never fond of his family; aside from Alphard, Callisto and occasionally Andromeda Tonks née Black (who married a muggle-born and was disowned for it); all three were kicked out from the family, had their names burn off the Black tapestry. From what he had eavesdropped from Aunt Callisto; Arcturus was a shrew man but over the years, the man had mellowed out a little by little, possibly because he had outlived most of his relatives; his wife, his own siblings, even his own son and one of his grandson who was supposed to be his heir was dead.

But by refusing to acknowledge Sirius's charges publicly, showing the wizarding world that whatever Sirius had done, good or ill and nothing to do with the Black anymore. And Bagnold had no ground to drag the Blacks through trial for associating with Voldemort. But this also hurt Sirius's chance to prove his innocence.

Aunt Callisto, of course, didn't deter from this development and just sat around waiting for a miracle. She penned the Ministry asking for a proper trial for Sirius right away. Only to be denied on the course that she was a squib, therefor had no saying in the wizarding world. She was even more furious when Gringotts sent her a notification letter telling them that Minister Bagnold had seized Sirius's personal vault! The nerves of that woman!

It was a good thing that Leo's father had taken precautions. Sirius had always known that Bagnold was a greedy shrew and if anything happened to him, the first thing the hag did, would be trying to take his vault. (Sirius had voiced once that he couldn't believe the old hag was a Ravenclaw!) It was her modus operandi after all. So, he had left a letter with Misty, telling her to bring it to Gringotts if anything happened to him. The ever-loyal elf went to the wizarding bank right the next morning after Halloween. And Gringotts proceeded as their client had wanted; moving everything but a single Knut to a new account under Leo's name.

It was a slap in the Minister's face—a prank! Left for her by Sirius. She got nothing but a bronze Knut!

After cackled like a mad hyena at her nephew's devious antic, she felt it was justified enough to leave the issue with Bagnold alone. ('That witch deserved it!' she'd said.) Aunt Callisto then sent a letter to Dumbledore next, asking for a meeting. Since the old wizard was Chief of Wizengamot, there might be something he could do to help.

Dumbledore arrived a few days later during one afternoon, with a solemn face and exhausted expression. Misty dutifully served them afternoon tea inside Aunt Callisto's solar. At least, the man showed up instead of refused a meet. There was some hope in that. The two assistants were also present, as well as Leo who was left in the playpen setting in one corner of the room. He wasn't really part of the conversation, but he could hear them clearly enough from he's at.

"Are you saying that you, as the Chief of Wizengamot can't do anything to help my nephew?" Leo heard his great aunt said shakily.

The old wizard sighed, long and deep. "I want to, Madam Black, I do. But there's no evidence supporting Sirius's innocence. Even I, who was the one that taught Lily Potter that Fidelius spell, wasn't the one who cast it. And like everyone, I assumed it was Sirius who had always been the secret keeper. And, I did state in my testimony that I didn't know for sure who's their real keeper, only that it's only my beliefs. The only thing we have was a very loud statement from the deceased Peter Pettigrew, who accused him of betraying the Potters. And statements from muggle witnesses who only heard of what Pettigrew shouted out loud."

"And you can't truth-serumed the dead." Paloma Carrow said with a shake of her head. "I heard there wasn't even a body left. Nothing but a finger."

"But they can give Sirius's truth serum, can't they?" Ben Copper suggested hopefully.

"They could, but they won't. Not after Sirius' supposed confession, it was as good as." Dumbledore said gravely. "With the current political climate, no one would be in favor of setting a trial for a confessed Death Eater."

"My nephew is not, and never will be a Death Eater!" Aunt Callisto roared and slapped her hand on the table, everyone sitting at the table except Dumbledore flinched. "That boy would die first before betraying his best friend!"

"Bagnold doesn't care. Sirius is convicted and that's that." Paloma scoffed. "You know opening a trial will only cost money, something that Hag trying to suck it out from all these. And after his stun with Gringotts, there was no way that woman would agree."

"What about the Potters' wills? If they really switched the keeper, wouldn't they state that in their wills?" Aunt Callisto asked hopefully.

"I'd inquired about that just yesterday, Gringotts's representative didn't confirm or deny, if the contents of their wills stating anything about Sirius's involvement," Dumbledore said. "Only that the Potters' wills could only be read once Hariel Potter turned Fourteen."

"Fourteen? Why fourteen?" Ben questioned.

"I do not know but if I have to guess, it was a way to prevent young Miss Potter from spending Family Fortunes too young," Dumbledore replied. "I know that James and Lily had set up a trust vault for her since they had asked me to carry the key until it will be returned to the young lady when it's time that she starts attending Hogwarts."

"Speaking of Hariel, how is she? Where did she even go? All the Potters were gone unless you count the American Branch. And Alice Longbottom who's her godmother is in a mental ward." Aunt Callisto inquired.

Dumbledore looked grimmer than before. "The girl survived the curse with only a scar on her forehead. While physically she's fine. I do not know if she will ever remember the event of that night. As for where she is, she….she's at a safe enough place. No Death Eaters can get to her. But I'm sorry I cannot tell you where she is."

Aunt Callisto stared at the aged wizard for a long minute, before letting out a sigh of her own. "Very well. I won't ask further then."

The discussion ended soon after that.

Before the old wizard left, he had come over to Leo's playpen. His blue eyes behind half-moon shaped glasses looked at him as Leo was pretending to play with wooden blocks, and unconsciously pulling on his magic; making the blocks floated around over his head. Leo was so lost in his own thoughts after listening to the conclusion about his father that he hadn't even noticed the aged wizard standing there with his great aunt watching him.

"He has Sirius's eyes." The man commented. His voice had startled Leo out of his thoughts and abruptly dropped the floating blocks.

"Yes, he does. But he's quieter than that boy when he's at that age. Thank, Merlin for small mercy." Aunt Callisto said. "And I hope it stays that way."

"I don't think anyone at Hogwarts will be ready for the second coming of Sirius Black." Dumbledore chuckled good-naturedly.

In the end, even Albus Dumbledore could do nothing for Sirius. Both Aunt Callisto and Leo were still furious. But what the man had said was true, there was no physical evidence contradicting Sirius's guilt. No one could do anything, not when everyone in the British Wizarding world wanted to rest of the Dark Lord's followers to be put away. It became worse when Bagnold could not hold Sirius's vault a hostage, Leo's father refused to play by her rules. And now that his vault was only a Knut worth, Bagnold didn't see the appeal to drag the money out from him any longer. The easiest way was just shoved him into Azkaban and moved on.

It was frustrating and cruel. Leo remembered the case of Henry Allen—Barry Allen's father who was wrongfully imprisoned in his first life. The man had died in prison only a few years before Barry became the Flash and found proof of his innocence. His sentence was overturned by the appeal court posthumously, by then it was too late because an innocent man had passed away.

For the first time since he'd arrived at this new world, he was truly terrified—not for himself but for his father. Sirius might be arrogant and reckless but he was still innocent of betraying his best friends. But another point still stood, those muggles and Peter Pettigrew were still dead, regardless of whose wand it was that cast the blasting curse.

Leo had hoped that his father's fate would fare better than Henry Allen's. That he would hold on long enough until they find any solid evidence to prove his innocence.

Aunt Callisto had written numerous people during the time since the news had just hit until the time of Dumbledore's visit. Many were his father's acquaintances, several had worked with him at DMLE or people whom he had helped, their replies were along the same line that Sirius was crazy just like all his relatives and they wished he would rot in Azkaban for betraying the Potters to You-Know-Who. Some had the gall to comment that a squib like her should know better than to try and defend a convicted Death Eater.

To say that Aunt Callisto was mad seemed to be too small of a word. The elderly woman swore she would remember these two-faced toadies until the day she'd die. She had Ben made a list of all the names, had him cast stasis charm preserving all the replies and put them in her Gringotts Vault until the day came when Sirius would be free. She vowed she would throw their letters to their faces when they came crawling back.

Out of all the letters she had sent, the only one that had no reply at all belonged to Remus Lupin. It wasn't returned either, so they had no idea if he had received it but hadn't bothered to read its content. Even Dumbledore who had sent him to work out of the country couldn't get the man to reply. And when he'd showed up for the Potters' funerals, he had left right after before anyone could get a word in with him. From that day on, Remus Lupin had all but disappeared from the British wizarding community. Some said it was because the man was too heartbroken, too many memories of his dead friends.

Leo didn't know what to think. He hadn't spent time with Remus as much as he did with James Potter due to their restricted visits during the war. But Leo remembered the scarred man with a gentle gaze. He seemed the most level-headed out of all his father's friends. The man had a look of someone who harboring some sort of secrets within him, however, Leo still liked the man better than that rat Pettigrew. Maybe the man just needed sometimes and distant to collect himself. Aunt Callisto was angry but after a while, she came to the same conclusion as Leo and decided to leave the issue be.

With the matter of his father's imprisonment half-solved, came the next subject for Leo to ponder; Where was Harry Potter?

Dumbledore seemed to know where she was; possibly the one who arranged for her accommodation, but didn't want to reveal the location to them. Seemed fair from his perspective. He clearly had wanted the girl to be kept safe. Maybe there were protective measures in places that Leo had no idea about?

Hmm…something for him to find out as soon as Leo was old enough to hack some records.

A/N 2 :: Regarding Alphard and Callisto Black. Alphard is in canon but Callisto is an OC. The family tree of the Blacks is already confusing all on its own, let's me explain a few things.

In canon, Alphard was Pollux (Sirius's grandfather's cousin)'s son and younger brother to Walburga. (Sirius's mum) Pollux had another son; Cygnus who later fathered the three Black sisters; Bellatrix, Andromeda and Narcissa. He had no other daughter besides Walburga.

In this story however, Pollux had four children instead of three. Callisto was the youngest who was born a Squib, an embarrassment to the family. So, she was disowned just like Marius Black.

The Blacks was an aged old family and it's my believe that there was no way they would produce only 1 or 2 Squibs with how much inbreeding within the family. So, I have the disowned Black Squibs started their own Non-magical House, using the same Black name; just to spite the main house if anything else. From then, any Squibs born within the family would be 'cast off' from the magical branch to the non-magical one. In reverse, if the branch-family descendants ever produced a witch or wizard, they may be accepted back into the main house. It didn't happen often but there may be some rare case.

Whoever plays Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery might remember Ben Copper. Paloma Carrow is also an OC.

There will be several OCs scattered throughout the story until we get to Hogwarts, they won't be that much important, however.

Let me know your thoughts! Reviews are welcome, but flames shall be ignored.