Archive of Our Own ^beta

Conner gnawed on the edge of his quill. He knew he was ruining it, but his mind was elsewhere.

He was turning 12 soon. Or at least he thinks he is. He doesn't really have a birthday, even the goblins couldn't figure it out so they just celebrated in the 1st of the year and went by appearance. He looked 9 when Harry found him.

But that wasn't the point. This year, over the winter hols, he will be 12!

12 didn't mean much to your average Hogwarts student but it was different for his family.

12 meant you can be a vigilante. He could join his family in fighting the good fight. That really got his Gryffindor blood going and he admitted to himself, as the imperfect clone of Kal-El, a not insignificant part of that was from Superman.

But he didn't want to be Superboy. Yes, he was half Kryptonian and his relationship with Clark wasn't terrible - just awkward and stilted since Kara arrived - but he didn't want to be Superboy.

His designation in CADMUS was SB0013. He was the 13th attempt to create a Superboy, assumably to subsume Superman.

So all the more reason not to dive into that particular Rabbit Hole.

He wanted to be a straddling force like his mother and brother are - magical but able to help mundanes. He already knew he wouldn't be able to use much of his Kryptonian powers - one being they haven't all came in and another because it will give away that he is related to Superman.

He wanted to be a part of the Coven but they already have a Wixan and he thought his big brother was doing a great job.

Maybe he could be something or someone else?

"Conner? Are you ready to go?"

Conner blinked and looked up from his notebook where he was scribbling - read: daydreaming and mangling his quill - to Hugo, who had peeked his head into the 2nd year boy's dorm.

Conner wasn't sure why he bothered. They both knew Hugo was staying at Hogwarts since his parents, like Conner's own, wanted him to experience a Hogwarts Christmas, at least once. Aside from that, Conner was flooing to Potter Manor from the Headmistress office so he wouldn't be late if he rode the Hogwarts Express. From there he was going to use the Vanishing Cabinet set up in Potter Manor that is connected to an identical one in Wayne Manor.

"In a bit. Come in, close the door." Conner called and the first year did as bid and scurried over. He rapidly climbed onto Conner's bed and sat cross legged across from him. Hugo looked up at Conner, expectant and sunny with his head tilted a bit like a puppy. Something in Conner crumbled a little.

Hugo was so cute.

The youngest child of his Auntie Hermione and Uncle Ron, Hugo clung to Conner a lot since they were so close in age. Like Tim, he didn't hesistate to fill Conner in on culture and societal information but on the Wixen side of things.

Oddly, unlike with Tim, Conner never regarded Hugo as his little brother. And though he considered Rose, Hugo's older sister, his cousin, he didn't put Hugo in the same box. Maybe a friend? Something to ask his Mother about or maybe one of his brothers.

"So I am turning 12 on New Years Day, right?" Conner started, Hugo nodded immediately.  "And in my family, that means I am eligible to take the Entrance Exam to be a vigilante. An apprentice at first then Graduate into being a solo hero."

"But Jayjay is already Wixan." Hugo brought up the pertinent point immediately.

"Right. And he can stay Wixan. I want to be a sidekick but someone not Wixan or Robin but I can't decide on a name." Conner sighed. His shoulders relaxed when he felt Hugo's small hand pat him on the head.

"Mmm. do you want a birdy name or a magic name?" Hugo asked, sitting back upright, a thoughtful look on his face.

"It would probably better to go with something bird-related. Dad doesn't have a Robin at the moment and Mum is more known to just have one or two associates." Conner said after a beat. Hugo hummed in agreement.

A comfortable silence fell between them as they mulled it over.

"Isn't what Uncle Harry calls you sometimes a bird?" Hugo said after a while.

Conner blinked at him.

"You mean Starling? Yeah, that's a bird. Middle to small sized, usually blackish blue with a yellow breast." Conner rattled off from his memory banks, mentally cringing back from the almost automatic chastisement from Dr. Quinzel, their family therapist, in his head.

"Humanization starts with treating yourself like a person, not a computer!"

"Maybe that can be your costume colors! Or you have gold lenses instead of green to match your eyes!" Hugo flapped his hands in excitement.

"I dunno about the full costume colors - I would just look like a mini of Batman but gold lenses sound like a good start." Conner reached out and pulled Hugo into a hug, making the first year squeak. "You're so brilliant. Thanks Hug."

He could feel Hugo hug him back and softly say.

"You're welcome, Conn"

"You want to take the sidekick test but not to be Wixan or Robin?" Dad said slowly, blinking. Conner felt bad about adding something to his overloaded plate but it needed to be said.

Anyone who did and didn't know all knew that Bruce was working himself into the ground. WE was fielding acquisitions, the Manor security had been tightened and upgraded both mundane and magical, Mum has gone to find Damian, and Batman...

Batman has become brutal. Sending criminals to the hospital with heavy maiming and dangling them from even higher and more precarious places, it was as if he was taking out his anger over being impotent in the conflict with the LoA and the abduction of his son out on the criminal element. Batman's War on Crime never felt more like an actual War than ever before.

The appearance of the 5th Joker, or Beast as Conner has heard his family refer to him, had made things difficult for his stepfather. Instead of a rail thin to average bloke who uses guns and gadgets, this one was big and used his size and strength to throw people and objects around, using bare strength to collapse smaller buildings.

This was made worse that he was not a dumb brute - he was just as sickly intelligent and sadistic as the Jokers that proceeded him.

Beast Joker and a nearly feral Batman weren't the only issues but only made things worse.

Mum was off looking for Damian for long stretches of time, only dropping in occasionally.

Dick and Tom had issues in Bludhaven and were with the Titans to take care of some issues popping up with their teammates as well.

Jason was reaching the end of his schooling and was spending even less time during holidays with vigilante work to pass his OWLs and was pushing himself to the limit to try and take his NEWTs next year instead of 7th year.

Tim wasn't old enough and didn't even meet the height and weight requirements yet to even be Robin even if he was of age.

Babs was injured by Comedian Joker and Kate, while capable, was technically retired and aside from that never quite worked well with Batman as she and the original Batgirl started independent of him.

They needed some more vigilantes.

And Conner wanted to fill that spot.

"Think about it, Dad. You need someone with you in the field, at the very least to make sure you don't go too far." Conner said, after explaining his thoughts. Bruce stared at him, his face blank.

"But during the time you are not here but at school..."

"I'm just a 2nd year and it will get a little busier next year but I don't plan to take as many classes as Jason did. I could but I prefer not to. I haven't quite decided on what career I want and I am not in line to inherit anything so," Conner shrugged helplessly. He saw how his father relaxed at the gesture - Clark probably did the same thing.

But he was not Clark Kent or Superman. He was more his son than his clone.

But like him, he wanted to help. He wanted to help his family and Magic willing, they will accept his help.

"Well, as you said, you will be the eligible age soon and by that point I can do nothing about it, especially when you pass the Exam," Brice says slowly. Conner feels a little thrill go through him at the use of when instead of if . "That said, the same applies to you as it does your brothers, your grades slip or you disobey orders in the field three times then you are suspended from duty until you are old enough to take the Graduation Exam." Bruce stood with a grunt and walked over to Conner, perching on the front of his desk and bending down to cup Conner's face in his hands.

He didn't say anything, and Conner basks in his father's direct attention. He didn't get it super often - what with Bruce's day and nighttime job, his husbandly duties and parenting the menagerie of kids with Harry -but he enjoyed when he did. Bruce's hands were calloused and warm but held his face just as delicately and tenderly as he did any of his more human brothers.

"I had quietly hoped that you didn't want to be a vigilante, that we would have at least one civilian in the family. I should have gave that up when you were Sorted Gryffindor, huh?" Bruce said with a small fond smile. Conner grinned up at him, just as cheeky as any Robin or Wixan.

"Maybe, yeah."

"What would your name be?"

Conner blinked then stared at his Mother. Harry smiled at him but continued working on the letters he was writing. The Lord of a major wizarding House was never idle.

"I...I have a few ideas but I was really just trying to convince Dad first." Conner admitted sheepishly. Harry hummed in amusement, making a blush bloom on Conner's face.

"Poor baby. You take too much after me. Well, you have until summer to think up a new name. And I can train you a bit since I am going to be here for winter hols before heading off to look for Dami." Harry said with a soft sad smile.

That smile always came up when Damian was mentioned and Conner hated it. Make no mistake, he loved and missed his baby brother and wished he had heat vision like Clark so he can punish the LoA for abducting the toddler and hurting his mother.

But he felt helpless in the face of his parents sadness because that wasn't something he could punch out.

So he was going to help any way he could.

"Uhm...your pet name for me." Conner blushed before continuing in a smaller voice. "Starling."

Harry blinked at him, turning it over in his mind. He mouthed it a few times which only made Conner flush further. Then Harry smiled.

"Referencing the stars and a bird. You are such a clever darling." Harry cooed, making Conner cringe and bury his face in his hands. "Did you want any kind of logo or keep it blank like myself and the rest of the Coven?"

"I...I have an idea but I want Uncle Dean to draw it and it's not til I become an adult vigilante anyway." Conner said shyly. Harry nodded, putting away his papers and standing.

"Well let's get started on a design or would you rather I help you study for the Entrance Exam?" Harry asked, corralling Conner out of his study with an arm around his shoulders.

"Entrance Exam please. I think I can manage the combat part but the detective part needs work."

"Ah, I thought you would wait and join with me."

Conner blinked at Tim, turning the sentence over in his mind before flushing.

"Oh! I - well," Conner stammered, making Tim giggle.

"I'm not mad, I get it. Harry is going to be gone, Dick and Tom are busy, Jason is being a nerd, Babs is incapacitated and while Auntie Kate is in, Bruce still needs someone to watch his back." Tim said, his tone reasonable. Conner relaxed. "If I was of age, I would have hopped in the game as the next Robin myself. But isn't Jason Wixan? Are you sharing the mantle?"

"Uh, no. I am making my own thing and just working under that alias. I am going to be Starling." Conner said, trying to inject as much confidence in his voice as Clark does when declaring he is Superman.

"Oh! That's so cool." Tim grinned and Conner smiled back.

Conner always liked Tim. Not just because they are physically close in age but Tim was always patient with him, explaining concepts and running off to one of their brothers or parents when the concept was too beyond his own understanding or powers.

"But before I do that, I gotta pass the Entrance Exam. I'm struggling with the detective parts." Conner sighed. Tim hummed, scooting over to be close to Conner on the bed so he can show his tablet. Conner shifted Tim onto his lap so they can both see easy and Tim thanked him absently as he opened his own notes. It was quiet in Conner's bedroom as the boys settled and Tim gathered his thoughts.

"For the Detective Part, you will be given a cold case and have to solve it. It could be already solved but too old to have anyone convicted or it could be an actual recent cold case. You will be able to use all your resources from Magic to your Powers but you have to assemble evidence that is submittable to Mundane Court. You will not be able to go to the crime scene but you can request further documentation like pictures or video. They will likely give you a white collar cold case over something like murder since they know you are weaker with tech." Tim explained through his notes while Conner wrote this down on his own notebook via quill with his hand not holding Tim up.

"Am I allowed outside help?" Conner asked.

"You are allotted 3 questions each to Magus, Batman, Batgirl, Batwoman, Wraith, Nightwing, and Wixan. If you had waited for me, we could freely exchange ideas but noooo," Tim moodily poked Conner's arm holding him up. Conner giggled and shifted his hold a little.

"Sorry, Timtim. I can buddy with you when you take your Entrance Exam, right?" Conner placated but Tim huffed.

"I'll bully Bruce if you can't."

"You would bully Dad over half a stale corn chip and not even eat it when you inevitably win."

"Wrap up, Magic Soup, we're sparring." Jason had poked his head into Conner's room to make that statement before leaving, presumably to head to the Cave. Even with noise canceling headphones on, Conner heard that so he did as bid, putting on a bit of speed to put his notes away before changing into some workout clothes and following Jason down.

When he got there, Jason was wrapping his own fists. Aside from the bats, they were the only ones there. Mum had sat on Dad to make him sleep, plopping an already asleep Tim on top of him and daring him to move. Dick and Tom were doing some last minute Christmas shopping while Alfred was aggressively waging War on Freya and her stranglehold on the Yule and Christmas menu.

They didn't go to Potter Manor this year. Whether it was because they had such happy memories there of Damian's first Christmas or they needed access to the Cave so Conner can get in time training before the Entrance Exam, who knows? Conner certainly wasn't going to press.

"Spar til tap our or foot off the mats?" Conner asked as he wrapped his own fists. Jason tilted his head one way then the other.

"Tap out. No powers, no magic." Jason put Conner's and his own wand aside and flicked on a red sun lamp. He looked his little brother over before re-wrapping Conner's fists. Conner thanked him quietly.

They went on the mats and faced each other. There was a moment of bracing, really of Conner getting used to the lamp removing his Kryptonian speed and strength, before Conner darted forward first and immediately ducked out of the way of Jason's fist. He brought his own hand up to grab his arm in a throw but caught an knee to his side for his troubles.

"So, Mum told me you're joining the game. Not as Wixan or Robin though." Jason said almost casually as they exchanged blows.

"Yeah - ow - Starling. Wanna help Dad cuz I can." Conner sent a kick at Jason which was caught and used to throw him. He flipped midair then darted out of the way of Jason's charge.

"Figured you wouldn't be Robin. Tim would eat your liver out with a spoon if you did that." Jason commented dryly as he pulled Conner into a headlock. Conner instep stomped him to get out of it and used that as a chance to over shoulder throw Jason down to the mats.

"What about you? I'm not going to be Wixan but what if I did?" Conner shifted so he was on Jason's back, contemplating giving him a wet willie but deciding against it since he wanted to live another day. He settled for a noogie and a headlock.

"I would - ugh - share. You already know I'm busy trying to graduate early." Jason bit at Conner's calves. Conner shrieked.

"NO BITING!"

"It's not gonna leave a mark anyway, you big baby!" Jason got his arms underneath him and rolled, squishing Conner beneath him. Conner squirmed and wiggled, trying to get from underneath but without his super strength, he was just an 11 year old boy. Trained and a bit muscular but not close to the monster of a tank Jason was shaping up to be. Conner sighed and deflated, tapping out on Jason's arm. The older boy sat there for a bit longer before actually getting up, holding out a hand to help Conner up.

"Wixan really only exist because Tom is such a simp for Dickie. I wouldn't mind a lot if you had wanted the mantle. I'm going to be able to take the Grad Exam in 2 years anyway." Jason said with a shrug. Conner chugged his water but listened. "Dad needs help and if you ask me, probably some Super help because Beast is no Joke. I also heard there might be something else out there who want to fuck him over. Dad's too proud to ask Supes for help but if he had his own kryptonian on team..."

"All the more reason, then." Conner finally managed to gasp out. Sparring under red sun lamps always made him so weirdly thirsty.

"Ya get it." Jason agreed, reaching up and stretching and not wincing at the bruises Conner left on him. Conner held out Jason's wand, handle first, to him and the teen gratefully took it. With a sharp wave, he silently summoned Bruise Balm which Conner caught and started to applying on Jason.

"Is it normal to have a spar before joining in? What is this, a gang initiation?" Conner joked.

"Dunno but Tom had a great shiner for patrol that night before I debuted as Wixan."

"Sounds like you had an eventful holiday." Jazz said with a smile.

"You should have came with us, Jazz," Conner said while Jason nodded. Jazz just laughed and waved them off.

"Oh I was with my parents. We went to visit my Aunt Alicia in the midwest then I spent Yule with my Uncle CW." Jazz said with a smaller smile. Conner thought she looked a bit sad but from the way Jason's mood darkened, he probably thought much of the same.

"Next year, maybe you can come over. We'll probably be at Potter Manor then." Jason all but whined. Conner took a sip from his thermos of Alfred hot cocoa and privately thought his brother turned into such a puppy dog for his girlfriend.

"Sure. I just need t-AH!"

The train carriage rocked to a stop, the jolt so heavy it knocked them about and knocked their luggage from the overhead bins. Not as much as it could be for summer hols but Conner had to protect her from the falling books in her and Jason's bags.

"What the bloody fuck was that? We aren't even close to Hogwarts!" Jason all but growled. "Stick here. I'm going to ask the Head Boy what's up."

"I should check on the other students. I'm sure the other prefects on board are doing similar." Jazz stood, drawing her wand. Jason had his already in hand and it was already sparking in agitation like its owner.

Conner paid them no mind because he was hearing... something.

Fabric? Wings? And it was suddenly cold...colder than....

"It isn't looking much like Superman but is the most promising of the subjects."

"What's that weird hissing thing its doing?"

"Why didn't you kill that abomination when you found it? You've been living on Earth too long, Kal."

"YOU WILL NEVER BELONG TO THE HOUSE OF EL NEVER!"

EXPECTO PATRONUM!

A large silvery grey wolf charged out of Jason's wand and attacked the dementors that surrounded their carriage. Conner wasn't sure how he wound up on the floor but he wasn't the only one but Jazz was unconscious, tears streaming down her face.

Jason was on his feet and furious .

"I don't know who sent dementors here but they are getting them back in pieces. Protect Jazz, Conner." Jason said as he pulled out his broom and opened up a window.

"Yes, Wixan."

Jason was up and out the window in seconds, gunning down dementors with a a combination of fiendfyre and his mostly corporeal patronus ripping them to shreds.

Conner knew that it was a misunderstanding that patronus are only fueled by happy thoughts and memories but strong emotion. He didn't doubt that his brother's emotion right now was Rage.

Conner wasn't quite there yet but he felt a level of it.

He picked up Jazz and placed her on the seat, He cleaned her face and kept and ear out for others that needed help. He wasn't sure why she reacted so strongly but she couldn't be the only one.

He took a deep breath and put in his comm link he got after passing the Entrance Exam first try. As expected, it was noisy with Wraith trying to get exact coordinates from Wixan so he can get there and assist. Tim, who technically shouldn't be on comms, pooling their information on Dementors and how to destroy them. Wixan swearing every 4 words for the dementors hurting Jazz and Batman trying - and failing - to calm Wixan down so he could send perhaps JL assistance to get the train moving or evacuate the students.

"Starling, in. Batman, do not send in the JL. They will not be able to see the Hogwarts Express and we would need permission from the ICW to send them in, Aware or not. Tim, you aren't supposed to be on comms anyway but your insight is appreciated. Wixan doesn't look like he needs assistance but Wraith, please coordinate with Madama Pomphrey as some of the students are displaying symptoms of Dementor Reactions, especially Jazz who fainted like Magus used to." Starling spoke calmly even though his heart pounded in his chest. Immediately his father and siblings got to work with this presented mission.

He didn't bother to pull on a mask, just like Jason, because the wix community was aware of their identities - the ICW wouldn't allow them to operate otherwise - and there was ample protections built into not exposing them to mundanes. He was also tired.

He hadn't gotten much dementor training, if at all, mostly because his decision to become a vigilante was a recent one. He didn't know they affected him that badly.

"I'm going to need some more training when Mum gets back again," he sighed quietly to himself. He listened to the other students watch the fight between Wixan and the dementors. Apparently, Wixan was winning which wasn't a surprise given how bloody pissed he was.

But then he heard something else. Crying, sobbing really. It wasn't Jazz it was farther away. The train wasn't moving yet and-

Someone opened a window and jumped.

He didn't think. He didn't grab his broom or comm his brother who was already out there-

He opened the window and flew .

He didn't think as he flew to where he heard the person jump. Didn't hear his family over the comms. Couldn't feel the cold as is pelted his arms as he darted into the cold night.

He caught the girl - 7th year looks like, possibly Ravenclaw - and in one smooth motion, cast.

EXPECTO PATRONUM!

He didn't see what his patronus turned into or how it managed to rend the dementors to peices. He just knew he was falling falling falling....

Strong arms caught him and he dazedly looked up at the face of his dad. Batman smiled.

"Good job, Starling."

Conner woke in the Hospital Wing with his father watching him amusedly, Jason grinning at him in a way that only promised trouble and Hugo soaking his chest with tears and snot.

"Hugo?"

Hugo's head instantly popped up and the first year scrambled up to sit fully on Conner's stomach. He drew back his hand and brought it down with a smack.

"Ow."

"Don't. Do. Something. Stupid. Like. That. Ever. Again. STUPID. GIT." Hugo punctuated each word with a smack to Conner's chest, even trying to continue the physical scolding after Conner grabbed his hand to protect him.

"Hug, honey, you're hurting yourself way more than me." Conner tried to wrangle the irate little wizard with limited success. Hugo may not be trained like Tim but he had Auntie Hermione's temper and that was formidable in it's own right.

"Uncle Bruce! Lemme borrow a red sun lamp! I need to hit him some more!" Hugo cried.

"Don't involve Dad in your domestic, Bookworm," Jason cut in, picking up their little cousin to set on his own lap. Unlike Conner, he could manhandle Hugo as much as he wanted without fear of hurting him.

"Its not a domestic if its Conner being stupid and overtaxing himself and and" Hugo trailed off grumbling to himself, his face a high flush. Conner blinked at him, more than a little perplexed. What had Hugo so worked up?

"I understand Hugo. I'll reprimand Conner myself but thank you for the assist," Bruce said, eyes still amused. Hugo nodded shortly and with one more malevolent glare at Conner, left. "A little young, but I can tell he's a good match for you."

"A good match? A good match for wha-" Conner cut himself off once he connected the dots. He blushed furiously. "M-me?! And Hugo?? But he's my cousin!"

"Not by blood. Actually you might have an advantage over his other suitors since Nana wants us and Weasleys in one big family." Jason said in a way that looked thoughtful but Conner could tell by the trembling in his lip corners that he was holding in a laugh, the absolute git.

"Wh-I- I just- AUGH." Conner breathed out explosively before forcefully wrenching the subject away from that. "What happened to the girl I saved? Is she alright?"

"That was your actual cousin, Mary-Anne Dursley, 7th year Hufflepuff. She was a bit down since apparently she won't be seeing her grandmother by the time she graduates because Petunia is dying soon. She wasn't suicidal, actively at least, but the sudden sharp exposure to the dementors pushed her over the edge and she jumped." Bruce said, settling back into Batman mode even with the cowl off.

"And who sent the dementors?"

"Delores Umbridge. She had done the same to Magus when he was 15 but not while he was on the Hogwarts Express and far fewer. After the war she laid low and most let her go since she didn't directly affect them aside from being a prejudiced bigot. She has been arrested and will be charged with 50 counts of Child Endangerment, 12 count of Heir Endangerment and Conspiracy Against The Crown as one of the Royal children are attending Hogwarts though I cannot tell you which as they are incognito for their security." Batman debriefs. "She will be sent to Azkaban with a high possibility of the Death Penalty due to the High Treason charges."

"Good." Wixan growled.

"How is Jazz?" Conner asked and watched his brother deflate.

"She's...not fine. Her uncle came and picked her up. Her parents were informed and that was it. She didn't even wake up so I can say goodbye." Jason looked despondent and Conner crawled over to hug him, squeezing him tighter when their dad put his arms around them both to give them both a hug.

"We'll make it right, Jason, I promise."

Jazz shivered in her rooms in the Infinite Realms, specifically Phantom's Keep. Blob ghosts cooed and rubbed against her face in effort to comfort her and while she appreciated their efforts, it wasn't enough.

She wanted, no she needed , her baby brother back.

"How long, Clockwork? How long until I see Danny again?"

"All in good time, Jasmine. All In good time."