Shadowflame

Standing outside the Tower of Fate felt like one of those moments right before the big climax in a horror movie—fog rolling in, shadows stretching, the faint sound of creaking wood, and me, the main character, very much wondering if I really needed to be here. I mean, I had survived some scary things: Voldemort, Dementors, a basilisk. But this? This was next-level spooky.

I shifted my weight, glancing over at Wonder Woman—Diana to her friends, though I was still a little awed to say her name casually. Next to her, Giovanni Zatara—who looked like he'd stepped out of a high-budget noir film with that tuxedo and magic hat—was watching the tower like he was waiting for something mystical and ominous to appear.

"So... this place is definitely haunted, right?" I muttered, trying to keep my voice casual. Just three superheroes hanging out in front of a possibly sentient building that glowed like it was pulsing with dark magic. Totally normal day.

Zatara gave me a knowing smile, one of those wise-old-wizard looks that only wizards over a certain age could pull off without seeming like they were messing with you. "More than haunted, Harry. Salem is steeped in centuries of mystical energy. Doctor Fate's Tower stands at its heart, channeling forces most mortals can't even perceive. It is... different."

Different. Right. Because "bone-chillingly spooky" wouldn't have sounded quite as magical, I suppose.

Diana's hand settled on my shoulder, and she gave me one of those reassuring smiles she seemed to carry around like spare coins. "Doctor Fate only invites those he believes have the capacity to handle true mystical responsibility. This is a good sign, Harry. He sees potential in you."

I tried not to look like a total amateur as I attempted to square my shoulders. Potential. Sure, I could handle potential. That, or Doctor Fate had heard about the time I kind of, maybe, accidentally went supernova when Lobo snapped Kara's arm like it was a twig. That event was… not something I planned to repeat, if I could help it. And I definitely wasn't planning to mention it to Fate himself if he didn't bring it up first.

"That, or he's just here to make sure I don't accidentally set the world on fire," I said, trying for casual but feeling like a dork. Zatara chuckled, and Diana just shook her head like she was a proud parent watching her child bumble through their first big day of school.

But then we reached the door—a massive, dark wood monstrosity, covered in ancient symbols and runes. And because my day wasn't dramatic enough, the doors creaked open on their own, as if they'd been expecting us.

Right. So… walk into the creepy, semi-sentient tower and meet the mystical being who probably had a "Time Out" dimension for troublemakers. No big deal. I took a deep breath and followed Diana and Zatara inside, trying to shake off the nerves jangling around my spine.

The interior was… everything I'd ever imagined a wizard's tower would be, cranked up to eleven. Walls lined with ancient tomes that seemed to hum as we passed them, artifacts floating mid-air with an eerie sort of purpose, glowing orbs in blues and greens illuminating the shadows—it was like Hogwarts, but if Hogwarts had aged for a thousand years, gotten a little grumpy, and decided it was done being friendly.

A voice echoed through the room, booming from seemingly everywhere at once. "Welcome, Shadowflame."

Yep, that would be Doctor Fate. Somehow, he knew my little superhero codename, and his voice had that deep, almost otherworldly tone that made you stand up a little straighter, just in case he could see you slouching. And then, there he was, standing in the middle of the room in a shimmering circle of golden light. With his shining blue cloak and that gold helm, he looked like some ancient, all-powerful statue brought to life.

I tried to school my expression into something like, you know, respect. But all I could think was, Please don't sense my last battle involved me going supernova.

Doctor Fate tilted his head slightly, and I felt like I was being x-rayed right down to my soul. "You've done well to reach this point, Harry Potter," he intoned. "But you still have much to learn."

I cleared my throat, managing a lopsided grin. "Learning's good. I like learning. And thanks for not starting with, 'I sense great darkness in you,' or something. Appreciate that."

Fate's eyes twinkled beneath the helm, which, let's be real, is impressive when you're wearing a solid metal face covering. "You carry both light and darkness within, Shadowflame. Mastering both is the true test." His tone was as weighty as a prophecy. "Only then will you become what you are meant to be."

Great. More prophecy vibes. I hadn't been to Divination class in years, and I was fine with that. But I could practically feel this challenge settling on my shoulders, heavy and… okay, kind of thrilling. I mean, who gets invited to train with Doctor Fate?

Diana gave me a slight nod of encouragement. Zatara looked as proud as an uncle seeing his nephew off to wizard college. And then there was me, standing there, feeling like a kid pretending to be cool when, really, I was just trying not to look like a total disaster.

"Well," I said, the nervous energy turning to excitement as I grinned. "Guess it's time to get started."

—

As Diana and Zatara exchanged nods and made their way out of the room, I felt a sudden drop in the air, like someone had cranked the dial down to "serious business only." Just me, and Doctor Fate, with his glowing, all-knowing eyes locked right onto me. Great. No pressure.

"Shadowflame," he began in that deep, echoey voice that sounded like it belonged to some ancient god. "We have much to discuss."

I swallowed, feeling all too aware of my wand tucked into my sleeve, as if it was a lifeline, even though I knew this was a very different kind of magic we were about to talk about.

Fate raised a hand, and a soft, golden light appeared in his palm, hovering like a sunbeam caught in a snow globe. "You come from a world where magic is woven into the very fabric of reality. In your world, it can be accessed by those with certain gifts, guided by incantations, ritual, and intent." He paused, looking at me with that intense gaze. "It is, in essence, a language you've been taught to speak."

I nodded slowly. "Right. We wave wands, say some Latin, and hope we don't blow ourselves up."

A faint chuckle came from Fate, which honestly threw me off a bit. "Yes, that is one way of putting it," he said. "Your magic is highly structured, based on rules and limitations that give it consistency, safety… and, at times, constraint."

"Right," I said, watching his glowing hand, feeling a prickle of curiosity. "So, your magic isn't like that?"

"Not exactly." He held up the glowing light, and it transformed into a hundred small shapes—symbols, figures, galaxies—each one shifting and swirling in perfect harmony. "My magic," he explained, "is drawn from the energy of the universe itself. It is primal, chaotic, and more fluid, responding to will and emotion rather than strict words or gestures. It does not rely on tools, but rather on the harmony between the caster and the forces of creation."

I nodded, though the comparison was making my head spin a bit. It sounded like he was talking about magic on a whole different wavelength.

"Think of it this way," Fate continued. "Your magic is a finely tuned instrument, a violin perhaps, played with precision and control. My magic is the roar of the ocean itself. It can be guided, but not fully contained or constrained." He paused, letting that sink in, before adding, "This is both its strength and its weakness."

I raised an eyebrow. "Weakness?"

Fate's gaze seemed to sharpen. "Chaos can overwhelm. Without careful mastery, my magic can consume the caster. It requires a deep bond with forces beyond mortal understanding—a bond that can be shattered, should one's will falter."

The idea sent a chill down my spine. As powerful as Fate's magic sounded, it was clear that it wasn't the kind of thing you could mess around with. One wrong move, and you'd probably end up floating in some alternate dimension—or worse.

"However," he continued, "your magic offers something unique. It provides control, structure, even stability. It is bound by rules that make it safer to wield, at least in the hands of a trained wizard. You could cast the same spell a thousand times, and the outcome would be predictable each time."

"Which," I replied, catching on, "sounds kind of boring compared to the whole 'roar of the ocean' thing you're describing."

Fate's helm tilted, and for a second, I thought he might actually smile. "Perhaps. But your magic's structure gives it a reliability that mine lacks. When combined, these two schools of magic could create something truly unique—a magic that is powerful yet contained, bound by will but freed from strict ritual. This is what I hope to help you accomplish."

I blinked, letting that sink in. "You… want me to merge them? Like, take the structure of my magic and mix it with the power of yours?"

"Precisely," he said. "Your potential lies in your ability to bridge these worlds. To take the best elements of both, and create a new path forward—one that can bend chaos to structure, and control to power."

I wasn't exactly sure what to say. My magic was part of me, and I'd always thought of it as something that came with clear limits. But now Fate was telling me that those limits could be, well… rewritten. Remade. It felt like someone had just handed me the keys to a brand-new library of spells—and I didn't even know where to start.

Fate seemed to sense my hesitation. "In time, you will learn. But know this: such mastery will require patience, diligence, and trust in both the magic of your past and the power of your future."

"Trust?" I echoed, feeling the weight of that word. I knew trust was huge when it came to magic, but this was a whole new level.

He nodded, and the golden light in his palm disappeared. "Magic responds to belief and intent. If you fear your power, it will recoil. If you embrace it, it will grow with you. Only by trusting in your abilities—both those you know and those you have yet to discover—will you be able to master what lies ahead."

I took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement. "Alright, then," I said, trying to sound confident. "Where do we start?"

Fate extended his hand, and for a moment, the room glowed with a brilliant light. "We begin with your mind, Shadowflame. For a true magician must understand himself before he can hope to understand the magic he wields."

I took his hand, feeling a surge of energy pulse through me as he guided me into the next phase of my training.

—

The room shifted around us in that surreal, Doctor Fate way—as if reality itself had politely stepped aside to let him do his magic thing. The walls, which had once been ancient stone, were now an endless expanse of stars, galaxies swirling in patterns that felt dizzyingly close and infinitely far away at the same time. Standing here, I felt both tiny and… kind of important, like I was part of something bigger but still very much at the center of it. It was a weird combo.

Fate watched me for a moment, his gaze unreadable behind that golden helmet. "Magic is not merely a tool, Shadowflame. It is a reflection of the soul—a mirror of who you are. As you learn to control this power, remember: to wield it is to understand yourself."

Great. A therapy session with the cosmos as my counselor.

He raised his hands, and tendrils of energy—gold and dark blue, swirling together like smoke in water—began to form intricate symbols around us. They hummed with a power that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. "We will start with a simple exercise. First, I need you to focus on the core of your magic. Feel its essence—whether it is the structured magic of your world or the chaos of this one."

I closed my eyes, reaching inside for that familiar flicker of magic. The wand stuff was easy, the Hogwarts type of spells felt almost comforting. I was good at those. But there was something else there too, something raw and untamed, lingering like a wild animal I'd only barely learned to control. That power—fiery, unpredictable—was what had pushed me into "Supernova Harry" mode when Lobo messed with Kara. That was what Fate wanted me to access, to understand, and to wield.

"Good," Fate's voice echoed, as if he could see right into my mind. "Now, extend it. Let it fill the space around you. Make it known."

I pictured my magic reaching outward, like casting a Lumos charm but without the wand. At first, nothing happened. Then I felt it—like a warmth flooding from my chest, expanding with every heartbeat until it pulsed around me. A blue fire, tinged with that chaotic edge I'd felt in battles, crackled at my fingertips. It wasn't pretty, not like Fate's golden glow, but it was mine.

"Interesting," Fate observed, his voice tinged with approval. "Your magic has a duality, a balance between light and dark, order and chaos. That duality is your strength. But it is also your greatest challenge."

I opened my eyes, glancing at the blue flames dancing on my hands. "So, what do I do? Just… try not to burn myself?"

"In a way," Fate replied with a chuckle. "But there is more to it. You must learn to balance these forces, to shape them without allowing them to overpower each other. Your magic has potential beyond what you've yet seen—but only if you can wield it as a unified force."

He lifted his hand, and a swirling vortex of energy formed in front of me, an inky blackness shot through with veins of light. "This is chaos magic. Unstructured, but powerful. I want you to reach into it, to draw a piece of it and fuse it with your own."

"Uh… no offense, but that sounds like something they'd cover in the 'Are You Ready to Die?' section of a wizard handbook."

"Trust yourself, Shadowflame," he said, his tone gentle but firm. "You must learn to trust that you can hold this power, that it will not consume you. This is a lesson not only in magic, but in will."

I steeled myself, took a deep breath, and extended my hand into the vortex. The energy felt wild, like grabbing onto a live wire, tingling with heat and cold all at once. I could feel it fighting against my grip, pushing back, like it had its own will, its own agenda. But I held on, grounding myself in that steady pulse of my own magic, letting it blend with the chaos, layer by layer.

And slowly, almost reluctantly, the chaos settled, coiling around my magic like a second skin.

I looked up at Fate, who nodded, clearly pleased. "Excellent. Remember this feeling—the balance between control and freedom. Your magic is no longer one or the other; it is both."

I felt a thrill of accomplishment, but also a strange calm. It was like a weight I didn't know I was carrying had finally lifted. This wasn't just power; it was… peace. A weird, supercharged kind of peace.

Fate gestured, and the stars around us shimmered, forming new shapes. "We will continue to work on this balance, testing it, strengthening it. For now, take pride in this first step, Shadowflame. You are learning not only the art of magic but the art of self."

And as I looked into that swirling universe around us, I realized that maybe, just maybe, I was up for the challenge.

—

As Fate's cosmic aura receded, leaving the room dim and eerily silent, I let my breath escape in a slow exhale. My entire body felt like a tuning fork, vibrating with the remnants of magic—both familiar and foreign—that swirled in me after our training. The power, it seemed, wanted to slip out of my control at any given moment, but somehow, I was managing to keep it tethered.

We were done for the day. And I had learned more in the past few hours than I had in the last few years of my magical education. But the lesson had also been brutal, pulling at my mind and spirit in ways I didn't think were possible. It wasn't just about memorizing incantations or gesturing the right way. It was about understanding the very essence of magic. The balance, the discipline, the weight of the knowledge that Fate had been drilling into me.

"You've done well today, Shadowflame," Fate's voice echoed through the room, his tone as detached as ever. "But remember, control is not just about willpower. It is about understanding your own limits—and knowing when to push them."

I nodded, though part of me still felt like I was standing at the edge of an abyss, peering into the unknown. Every lesson Fate had taught so far felt like it was designed to push me to the brink. But it was also a challenge I couldn't walk away from. Not after everything that had happened. Not when I had so much to prove—not just to others, but to myself.

Just as the weight of Fate's words settled in, I heard the sound of footsteps. Diana and Giovanni Zatara stepped into the room, their familiar faces offering comfort amid the chaos of what we'd just gone through.

"Finished already?" Diana asked with a teasing glint in her eyes, but there was something else there too. A protective warmth, as if she knew exactly how taxing this kind of magic could be. I gave her a tired grin, brushing off the sweat from my brow.

"Just about. My brain's fried, but I'm still here," I said with a bit of a laugh, trying to keep the mood light. I was used to physical battles, but this—this mental sparring with Fate—was a whole different ball game.

Zatara gave me a nod of approval. "Impressive, Shadowflame. I've seen few who can withstand the kind of training Fate puts them through. You're doing well."

I almost wanted to tell him it felt less "impressive" and more like a mental workout I wasn't sure I was ready for, but then Fate's next words cut through my internal ramblings.

"Now, we move on to the question forming in your head, Shadowflame," Fate said, his voice deep and measured, echoing the knowledge of centuries. "You wish to share what you are learning with your friends. But I must caution you, there is much about the magic in this world that is not meant for those outside it."

I raised an eyebrow at that. "You're telling me I can't teach Ron and Hermione a few things? I mean, I didn't think I'd be giving them all of this—" I waved a hand to encompass the mystic energy swirling in the room "—but surely I could teach them something useful, right?"

Fate turned his masked gaze toward me, his helmet impossibly calm. "The magic you use, Shadowflame, is rooted in your world's laws. It is what you have known, what you have lived with. It is powerful, but it is also finite. It has limits. The magic I wield... is from this universe. It is drawn from the very fabric of reality, limitless in its scope but dangerous in its potential. To combine the two schools of magic—yours and mine—would require great discipline and balance. One cannot simply teach the essence of it without the risk of disrupting that balance."

"Ah, so you're saying I could accidentally turn Ron into a tree?" I asked, half-joking, though I couldn't help but wonder if that was a real possibility.

Fate didn't smile, but his tone softened just a fraction. "In a sense. The consequences of merging such magic are not to be taken lightly."

I let out a long breath. "So, what's the deal, then? You're saying I should keep it to myself?"

"No," Fate said, the word ringing with finality. "What you are learning here, you will share. But the way you share it is important. You must teach them not by transferring knowledge, but by allowing them to find their own path—just as you have found yours. Help them see the balance. Help them understand the connection between magic, reality, and the will of the user. But do not give them the keys to unlock forces they are not yet ready to wield."

Diana placed a hand on my shoulder, her touch grounding me in this chaotic swirl of thoughts and power. "Harry, you have to remember that magic is not just spells and rituals. It is about the person wielding it. Your friends have their own strengths. Teach them to use theirs. But protect them from the dangers of the kind of power you're learning here."

Zatara nodded, his voice calm but serious. "This magic is not for everyone. Even the greatest wizards need time and patience to understand it. If you truly believe your friends can handle it, then teach them—but be careful what you give away. Not all knowledge is worth the risk."

I mulled over their words, the weight of them pressing down on me. Fate's magic was nothing like the charms and hexes from the Wizarding World. It was raw, unrefined power, capable of bending reality itself. Teaching my friends was tempting. But I had to be smart about it. This kind of magic had consequences. Big ones.

"Alright," I said after a moment, feeling the shift in my mind as I decided where I stood. "I get it. I'll teach them what they can handle. But I'm not going to hide this from them. They're my team, and they deserve to know."

Fate's mask tilted slightly, as if contemplating my decision. "That is your choice, Shadowflame. But remember, knowledge is not without its burdens."

"Yeah, yeah," I said, trying to keep the mood light. "I get it. With great power comes… whatever the heck Uncle Ben said."

Diana smiled. "You're learning, Harry. But just be careful."

And just like that, I was once again faced with the enormity of what I was learning. The magic I had access to was both a blessing and a curse. Fate's lessons weren't just about spells—they were about control, wisdom, and the balance between everything that existed. It was a weight I wasn't sure I was ready for. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized something: I had to be ready. Because if I wasn't, the consequences could be far worse than anything I'd ever faced.

Fate turned and began to walk toward the spiral staircase, his form shimmering with the energy of another lesson, another mystery to unravel. "Until next weekend, Shadowflame. Be prepared."

"Always," I said, though I couldn't help but wonder what the next lesson would bring. Something told me it wasn't going to be easy. But then again, when had anything in my life ever been?

—

Harry stepped through the portal, his legs a little wobbly from the intensity of his training with Doctor Fate. A part of him wanted nothing more than to collapse into a chair and sleep for a week, but another part, the part that was itching for a challenge, was already anticipating the looks on his friends' faces as they awaited his report. That part won out.

As he entered the main hall of Mount Justice, he was greeted with the eager faces of his friends. Ron and Hermione stood together by the console, both looking like they were about to burst with curiosity. And then there were Kara and Kori—his two amazing girlfriends—standing side by side, their expressions a perfect blend of excitement and concern. Kara's blue eyes practically sparkled with energy, while Kori's ever-present smile made everything feel brighter, even in the wake of the mental exhaustion that still clung to Harry.

"Harry! How was it?" Hermione asked, her voice high-pitched with curiosity, like she couldn't wait another second to hear all about it. "Was it as insane as you said it would be?"

"You mean really insane?" Ron added, his tone somewhere between awe and disbelief. "Like, pulling planets out of the sky insane?"

Kara flew up from her seat, hovering effortlessly in front of Harry, her expression both playful and concerned. "So, did Fate try to turn you into a cosmic snack again?" she asked with a wink. "Or was it all lessons and no tricks?"

Kori was quieter, but her glowing eyes held a warmth that made Harry's chest tighten in a way he was still getting used to. "I hope it went well, my love. You've been working so hard."

Harry chuckled and put a hand on Kara's shoulder. "No snacks this time, promise. Though, Doctor Fate does like to mess with your head. Seriously. I've never had a lesson that made me feel like my brain was going to explode one minute and like I'd just unlocked the secrets of the universe the next. It's... complicated. But I guess that's magic for you."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Complicated? That's an understatement, Harry. You're talking about Doctor Fate—the Doctor Fate—and you're telling me it was complicated? Of course it was!" She threw her hands up in the air. "Well, did you learn anything useful?"

Ron looked less than impressed. "I'm pretty sure Fate could have just waved a hand and turned us all into frogs, you know. That's the kind of power we're talking about here."

Harry couldn't help but grin at his best friend's skeptical expression. "Oh, I'm sure he could've, Ron. But that's not his style. It's more like... teaching you why the magic works, and how to control it. The whole thing's a mental workout. Fate's not handing you any easy answers."

Kori crossed her arms, her smile soft but knowing. "But what did you learn, Harry? What makes this magic so different from yours?"

Harry hesitated for a second, gathering his thoughts. "Well, that's the thing. The magic I'm learning here... it's different. It's like it's woven into the very fabric of reality itself. It's not just spells and charms like back home. It's about understanding the structure of the universe and tapping into that. I think... I think I'm learning how to merge the two schools of magic—what I already know and this stuff."

"Wait, so you're saying you can combine both?" Ron asked, clearly impressed now. "Like, merge magic from both worlds? What's that gonna look like?"

"I don't know yet," Harry admitted, shaking his head. "But that's the goal. Fate thinks it's possible, but it's going to take time—lots of time and practice. I'm still figuring it out."

Kara floated over to him, nudging him lightly with her shoulder. "You've always been good at figuring things out. I mean, you've got to be to handle all this new magic."

Kori stepped forward, her smile softening. "It's a heavy burden, my love, but I know you'll be ready when the time comes. You always rise to the challenge."

Harry's heart swelled at her words. He hadn't expected to feel so… at home in this new world, but with Kara and Kori by his side, everything felt a little bit more manageable. Ron and Hermione were always there, too, grounding him in ways no amount of magic could. And somehow, that made all the difference.

"I don't know if I'm ready yet," Harry admitted with a small grin, "but I'll get there. One weekend at a time, right?"

"Well, if you ever need someone to catch you when you fall," Ron said, his grin returning, "I've got your back. No matter what."

"Thanks, mate," Harry said, clapping Ron on the back. "I'll keep that in mind."

Hermione nodded in agreement. "Just don't try any planet-ripping magic around us, okay? That might be a bit much for me."

Kara laughed and wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders. "Yeah, let's try to avoid the whole cosmic destruction thing for a bit. For now, we'll stick to... I don't know, taking on smaller threats?"

Harry grinned, relieved that his friends, his girlfriends, and his team were all on the same page. As much as he loved the idea of becoming the ultimate magical hero, he knew that magic wasn't the only thing that made him strong. It was the people around him, too.

"I think that sounds like a good plan," he said, his gaze shifting from one face to the next. "Besides, I've got enough power in this group to take on whatever comes next. And if not... well, we'll figure it out together."

The laughter and banter that followed felt like a welcome reprieve from the heavy weight of magic and destiny. With Fate's lessons still fresh in his mind, Harry couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of determination. There was a lot to learn, a lot of risks to take, but with his friends and his family by his side, there was no challenge too great.

"Well," Harry said with a grin, "that's enough cosmic drama for today. What's next on the agenda? I'm thinking... pizza?"

The group erupted into laughter, and just for a moment, Harry let himself forget about the universe-bending lessons and enjoy the simple comfort of being surrounded by the people who mattered most. After all, no matter how powerful he became, it was the bonds between them that would always be the strongest magic of all.

---

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