Chapter 1
“I should not be going to Ilvermorny,” Bruce said.
Alfred allowed the whistle of Rail Ilvermorny to finish before answering. “Master Bruce, you are an eleven-year-old American wizard. This is exactly what you should be doing.”
These past three years, Bruce had gotten to know Alfred so well that the rest of the conversation was a series of narrowed eyes and scowls on his part, deftly responded to with raised eyebrows and minute shakes of the head on Alfred’s.
Wayne Enterprises is where I belong.
Lucius will manage just fine until you are of age.
There could be an attack at the school.
Master Bruce, you are many things. Fearful is not one of them.
Alfred guided Bruce, trunk, crup and all, toward the throng of blue-and-cranberry robes herding around the doors. He’d come dressed in No-Maj attire, and stiffly doffed his hat in farewell.
Bruce hadn’t cast any spells (not that he knew how) but he may as well have with the wide berth students both new and old cleared for him. A few older students adorned with badges tried to say something to him, but he stormed past.
By the time the rail was making its journey to the peak of Mount Greylock, Bruce had found himself a compartment all by his lonesome.
Ace wagged both his tails, but otherwise mirrored his owner and dutifully sat in silence, a pitch-black shadow in the corner of the train car.
“My, but aren’t you broody.”
That was oddity number one. There was a girl leaning against the open threshold of the train car door. Bruce hadn’t even heard her open it.
“I’ll thank you to leave me alone.” Bruce said, but she’d already let her luggage fall into the center of the car and gracefully sank into the seat opposite him before he finished speaking.
She had bronze skin with matching mischievous eyes. Her jet black hair fell in rings around her shoulders, jostling slightly as she looked him up and down. “If it isn’t the famous Bruce Wayne. I’m--”
“Judging by the accent, a long ways away from Hogwarts,” he said.
“Ohoho, so there is a bat in that dark cave. Yes, my father decided that with all this Dark Lord business, it was safer if I got my magical education in the states. You may not be the Boy-Who-Lived, but...” she gave him another smirking once-over, “I think you’ll be even more entertaining.”
In spite of himself, Bruce sat straight up. “That isn’t praise given idly. My apologies, what is your name?”
She opened her mouth, but a third voice answered: “Talia Al Ghul. Daughter of the Demon, herself. If the rumors about our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher are to be believed, anyway.”
It was only for a moment, but something familiar flashed on Talia’s face. Something Bruce didn’t want to think about. The next moment, it was gone. They both turned to the new occupant of the train car.
She had dark skin and short, curly hair pressed at the sides. Her eyes were bright, alert and dancing from inch to inch of the train car. Bruce got the distinct impression if she told him she had nine lives, he’d almost believe her. “MY name is Selina Kyle, thanks for asking.”
“Car’s full.” Talia said.
“Didn’t seem to be when you barged in,” Selina said, sidling up to Bruce.
Bruce cleared his throat. “Ladies, I appreciate the company, but I really do think I’d rather make the journey to Ilvermorny alone.”
Selina let out a low purr of a laugh. “Where’s the fun in that? Aren’t you curious about which House you’ll be in? I know I am. It’ll be a nice change of pace from Gotham.”
Again, in spite of himself, Bruce turned to Selina. “You’re from Gotham?”
“You couldn’t tell from the rough and tumble air I’ve got about me? Not many of of us Crime Alley kids even make it to eleven. Imagine my surprise to be palling around with Moneybags himself.”
“Moneybags...?”
“I’d hardly call this ‘palling’--”
Before Bruce knew it, Ace had jumped down and let himself run around excitedly between Talia and Selina. The car came alive with the two of them going back and forth, continually dragging Bruce into the conversation. By the time Rail Ilvermorny had stopped at its destination, privately, maybe the tiniest bit, he was looking forward to the coming year.