Prologue
August 1, 1998
As Antonia Stark and Bruce Wayne stared at their sleeping newborn son, Bruce gently pulled his wife close. Together, they quietly left the room, hoping to get some much-needed rest after the last day of Toni's labor.
As two portals opened up in the nursery, unbeknownst to the new parents, a man wearing a helmet stepped through one of them. "Ancient One," he greeted, pausing as he saw the other figure emerging from the second portal.
"Fate, I see we're here for the same thing," she replied, her gaze shifting to the newborn sleeping in the crib.
"The Wizarding World is in peril, and this boy is destined to be their savior," Fate said, floating closer to the child.
"A shame to do this to future comrades of ours," the Ancient One remarked.
"Wayne and Stark will get over it. Years of grief will be nothing compared to the genocide of the wizarding world if their Dark Lord wins," Fate responded, scooping the boy up. The child stirred slightly in his arms.
The Ancient One remained silent. She had looked into the future many times and had seen the different ways the grief of losing their firstborn would affect them. She also knew the fury both parents would unleash on Fate when they discovered what he had done. By that time, Stephen Strange would have already replaced her as the Sorcerer Supreme, though she didn't need to tell Fate or his vessel that.
Meanwhile in England, Lily and James Potter were locked in a fierce battle with Death Eaters, bodies of Death Eaters and Order members around them. Suddenly, two portals opened up in the midst of the chaos. The Ancient One and Fate stepped through, their presence catching everyone's attention. With a few effortless gestures, they dispatched the Death Eaters, almost as if they were pests.
"Lily and James Potter, you are fated to be the parents of this boy, the savior of your world who will strike down the Dark Lord," Fate announced.
The couple exchanged looks of shock and disbelief, struggling to process the sudden turn of events. The Ancient One sighed and stepped forward,
"Allow me to explain everything," she said " This boy, Harry, is destined to be the savior of your world," Ancient One began "He will grow up to defeat the Dark Lord, bringing an end to his reign of terror."
Lily and James exchanged another look, their shock slowly giving way to a mix of hope and fear.
"But how can a child do this?"
The Ancient One stepped forward "Harry possesses a unique power, one that will grow as he does. He will face many challenges, but he is the one who will ultimately strike down the Dark Lord."
Lily's eyes filled with tears as she looked at her husband. "We will do everything we can to protect him," she vowed.
As the Ancient One and Fate watched the new parents carry Harry away, the Ancient One turned to Fate "Should we tell them they will not live past next Halloween?" she asked quietly.
In response, Fate simply vanished, leaving the Ancient One to shake her head in resignation. She knew the burden of foresight all too well. With a sigh, she stepped through a portal to Kamar-Taj, she had duties to attend to.
Meanwhile, across the world, Bruce Wayne woke up to the sound of his wife's scream. Jolting upright, he rushed to the nursery, his heart pounding. There, he found Toni standing by the crib, her face pale with horror.
Godric’s Hollow, October 31, 1999
"It's him, he's here! Take Harry and run!" James shouted to his wife as the alarms blared throughout the house.
"Peter betrayed us," Lily whispered in horror, just as an explosion blew the door off its hinges.
"GO!" James yelled, sprinting towards the hallway to confront the intruders. Lily, clutching Harry tightly, raced up the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest. She could hear the sounds of a fierce duel taking place below.
Bursting into the nursery, she found Harry bawling his eyes out. She crouched in front of him, her voice trembling with emotion. "I love you, Harry. Your dada loves you. Whoever your birth parents are, they love you. You are loved."
Below, she heard the unmistakable sound of the killing curse being cast. Desperation fueled her actions as she worked quickly to place as many protection spells on Harry as possible. She placed a hand on her slightly round stomach, whispering, "I'm so sorry, love."
The door to the nursery was blasted off its hinges, and Lily turned around just in time to see the dark-robed figure of Voldemort standing in the doorway. The last thing she saw was the flash of green light as the killing curse flew towards her face.
Harry's cries grew louder as Lily fell to the floor, lifeless. Voldemort stepped closer to the crib as he raised his wand, aiming it directly at the infant.
"Avada Kedavra!" he hissed, sending another jet of green light towards Harry.
To the Dark Lord’s shock, the spell rebounded off the child, striking Voldemort instead. With a scream of agony, the Dark Lord's body disintegrated, leaving behind only a wisp of dark smoke.
Three years later- June 18, 2003
Harry sat in Mrs. Figg's living room, gently petting one of the cats as the old woman hobbled around, arranging various knick-knacks. After a few minutes of silence, she finally spoke.
"I must say, you look just like your mother and father," Mrs. Figg remarked.
Harry's eyes widened with excitement. "You knew my parents?" he asked eagerly.
Mrs. Figg nodded, a smile spreading across her face. "Yes, I did. They were wonderful people."
"Can you tell me about them?" Harry pleaded, looking up at her with hopeful eyes.
Mrs. Figg settled into a chair across from him, her expression softening. "Your mother, Lily, was one of the kindest and most talented women I've ever known. She had a heart of gold and was always willing to help others. And our father, James, was brave and loyal, with a mischievous streak that often got him into trouble. But he had a good heart and loved your mother dearly."
Harry listened intently, hanging on to every word. "What were they like together?"
"They were a perfect match," Mrs. Figg continued. "They balanced each other out. Lily's kindness tempered James's recklessness, and his bravery gave her courage. They were deeply in love and would have done anything for each other."
Harry looked down,. "I wish I could have known them."
Mrs. Figg reached out and patted his hand gently. "They would be so proud of you, Harry. You have their strength and their love in you. Never forget that."
Harry nodded "Thank you for telling me about them," Harry whispered.
Mrs. Figg looked at him "Come over whenever you can, child, and I'll tell you more about your parents," she said, smiling as she saw the excitement and hope in Harry's eyes.
Neither of them were aware that across the world, Harry's birth parents were watching their newborn son sleep. They had moved the crib into their room, afraid that newborn Richard would disappear like Harry had. Toni and Bruce had been filled with grief over their missing son, with no hint of where he had gone or who could have taken him.
Bruce had become Batman, the Dark Knight of Gotham, channeling his anguish into protecting the city. Toni had thrown herself into her science and experiments, seeking solace in her work. The news of Toni's second pregnancy had filled them with a mix of shock, fear, and hope. They feared what might happen to their second child, but also hoped for a chance to rebuild their family.
As they watched Richard sleep, Bruce gently squeezed Toni's hand. "We'll protect him," he whispered in her ear..
Toni nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "We won't let anything happen to him," she vowed.
2 years later, March 18, 2005
Two-year-old Richard Grayson Wayne sat in the hospital's sitting room, cradled in Alfred's arms. Across the room, his uncles Clark and aunts Diana and Lois watched over him.
To the toddler's perspective, his mama had gotten larger over the last few months. One night, she had told him that he was going to be a big brother. Richard had been thrilled when she explained what that meant, proudly declaring that he was going to be the best big brother ever.
His mama had tears running down her face as she pulled him close, whispering, "You are such a good boy, Richard. You will be the best brother your sibling could ever want." She rocked him to sleep, holding him close and wishing there was another little boy she could share this news with right now.
As Richard dozed off in Alfred's arms, Bruce paced the hallway outside the delivery room, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and hope. Toni was in labor, and he couldn't shake the memories of the night Harry had disappeared.
Inside the delivery room, Toni was surrounded by doctors and nurses, her face contorted with pain.
Finally, the cries of a newborn filled the room, and the doctor announced, "It's a boy!"
Tears of joy streamed down Toni's face as she held her third son for the first time. Bruce rushed into the room, his eyes wide with relief and happiness. He kissed Toni's forehead and gazed down at their newborn son.
"He's perfect," Bruce whispered.
Toni nodded, "Welcome to the world, little one," she said softly, cradling her third born close, taking in his tiny features
A few minutes later the door opened, Clark gently carrying Richard into the room where his parents were.
Clark carefully lowered Richard beside his mother so he could see the new addition to their family. "This is Jason, Richard. Your little brother," Toni said softly.
Richard's eyes widened as he looked at the tiny baby in his mother's arms. He reached out a hand to gently touch Jason's cheek, a big smile spreading across his face.
"Hi, Jason," Richard whispered, his voice filled with awe. "I'm your big brother."
Toni's eyes glistened with tears as she watched the moment between her sons. She pulled Richard close, kissing the top of his head. "You're going to be the best big brother, Richard," she said.
Bruce wrapped his arms around his family, wishing there was another little boy they were introducing to the new baby.
3 years later, September 8, 2008
Toni stood in front of her family's Manor, closing her eyes at the memories coming to her. She had decided to make the headquarters of the Avengers, the hero group that had been created to fight Loki and his crusade to conquer the world. With the Justice League, and consequently her husband, on the other side of the galaxy on a mission, she was left alone with two growing boys who seemed to inherit both of their parents' attitudes and recklessness and a defenseless planet.
Her attention was caught as Steve Rogers walked up, followed by Hank Pym, Janet van Dyne and Bruce Banner.
"Welcome to our new headquarters," Toni announced, gesturing to the grand building behind her. "I figured the world governments wouldn't be too thrilled with a second watchtower above the planet, so this will be our base of operations."
She opened the door and led the Avengers inside, the group following her into the foyer.
As they walked through the halls, Toni asked, "Is Point Break still in Asgard presenting Loki to their father?"
Steve nodded. "Yes, he should be back soon"
Toni sighed "Good. We'll need all the help we can get."
The team continued their tour of the Manor, discussing the future. As they settled into the living room, Toni couldn't help but think about her family. She placed a hand on her slightly round stomach, knowing she would soon have to share the news with Bruce. For now, she focused on the task at hand.
March 1, 2009
"There doesn't need to be a vote," Bruce said, standing up and catching everyone's attention. "If you people can't accept that those plans were necessary, what an out-of-control Justice League would mean for the rest of the world, then it's obvious—I don't belong here."
Bruce stared at everyone around the table. Hal, the only one to stand up for him and his contingency plans, was the only one to meet his eyes. With a final sweep of the room, Bruce turned and strode out, stepping aside to avoid Cyborg.
As he put in the coordinates for Gotham, he heard footsteps approaching. "Got a minute?" Clark asked, walking forward.
"What do you want?" Bruce asked as Clark stepped towards him.
"You made contingency plans to stop everyone in the League and Avengers just in case any of us ever went bad," Clark said.
"My contingencies were intended to immobilize, not kill," Bruce replied.
"But Savage came up with a plan to bury you," Clark pointed out.
"I assume so. It wasn't one of mine," Bruce said.
"With all that talk about unchecked power, you're still so arrogant that you didn't come up with a plan to stop yourself?" Clark asked.
"I do have a plan. It's called the Justice League and Avengers," Bruce responded.
"Just wanted to be sure," Clark said, opening his hand to reveal a box.
"What is it?" Bruce asked, his curiosity piqued.
"If the League or Avengers ever do go to the wrong side, I want there to be someone I can trust to keep the planet safe, even from me," Clark said. Bruce opened the box to see a piece of Kryptonite inside.
Bruce said nothing as he stepped into the teleporter, and Clark put in the confirmation. Batman disappeared in a flash, leaving Clark standing alone.
June 3, 2009
"You have got to be fucking kidding me," Toni said, staring at her second oldest child in the yellow, black, and red tactical gear doing flips in the Batcave gymnasium. "You told our son he could go out on patrol?" she asked, turning to her husband.
"In a few years, four more at most," Bruce replied, watching their son. "And I thought Alfred said you should avoid being stressed," Bruce added, indicating Toni's belly. She was showing far sooner than her other pregnancies and was far bigger. Both parents had been alarmed until it was revealed that Toni was carrying triplets.
"Don't you change the subject, Bruce Wayne," Toni hissed, placing a protective hand on her stomach.
Bruce sighed, turning to face her fully. "Toni, you know how important it is for them to be prepared. The world we live in—"
"Is dangerous enough without our children being thrown into it before they're ready," Toni interrupted. "He's just a child, Bruce."
Bruce nodded, understanding her concern. "I know. But he's also our son, and he's determined to follow in our footsteps. We need to guide him, not shelter him completely."
Toni took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "I just want them to have a chance at a normal childhood."
Bruce stepped closer, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "We'll do our best to give them that. But we also need to prepare them for the reality of our world."
Toni looked into his eyes. She knew he was right, but it didn't make it any easier. "Promise me we'll take it slow," she said softly.
"I promise," Bruce replied, pulling her into a gentle embrace.
"Well then, I'm going to add some adjustments to that suit of his before he goes out," Toni said, putting her hand on her hip. "First things first, we're adding pants, not shorts."
Bruce raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Pants, huh?"
"Yes, pants," Toni insisted. "He's not going out there looking like he's ready for a summer camp. He needs proper protection."
Bruce nodded. "Agreed. We'll make sure he's fully equipped."
Toni glanced over at their son, who was still energetically flipping around the gymnasium. "And maybe we can add some extra padding, just in case."
July 31, 2009
Harry was going through the mail when he noticed a letter addressed to him. The envelope had his name, house address, and even the cupboard where he slept. Harry stared at it for a few seconds before stuffing the letter into his shirt, hiding it as he handed the rest of the mail to Uncle Vernon.
He quickly went through his chores, making sure everything was done before Aunt Petunia could ask him to do something else. As soon as he was finished, he took off, heading straight to Mrs. Figg's house.
When she opened the door, Harry pulled out the letter. "What do you know about this?" he asked, watching as Mrs. Figg's eyes locked onto the letter.
"Come on in, Harry. I need to retrieve someone," Mrs. Figg said, leading Harry into the living room before heading somewhere else in the house.
A few minutes later, she returned with a stern-looking woman. "Good evening, Mr. Potter. I am Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts," the woman introduced herself.
Harry looked at her in surprise. "Hogwarts? What's that?"
Professor McGonagall smiled kindly. "Hogwarts is a school for witchcraft and wizardry. You, Harry, are a wizard."
September 1, 2009
As Harry sat on the stool, he felt the hat being lowered onto his head. "Very interesting," the Sorting Hat murmured. "Plenty of courage, I see, and a sharp mind also. And loyalty, so much loyalty. But not without a hint of ambition also. But where to put you?"
Not Slytherin! Harry thought, remembering Malfoy and his attitude on the train.
"Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? Well then, with a mind like yours, it would be a shame to put you anywhere but..."
"RAVENCLAW!" the hat shouted.