Shadowflame

The Death Eaters were coming in fast, and Bill Weasley was seriously regretting not bringing a dragon. He ducked as a curse zipped past his head, singeing the tips of his red hair. Charlie, right beside him, smirked as he blasted a Death Eater back into the hallway with a well-aimed hex.

"You still thinking of that vacation in Romania?" Charlie shouted over the chaos, his wand practically smoking.

Bill flicked his wrist, deflecting another curse. "After this? Absolutely. Maybe somewhere without homicidal maniacs next time!"

Behind them, Arthur Weasley was doing his best to usher the last of the rebels—wizards, witches, Veela, Goblins, and magical creatures alike—through the Veil. "Keep moving, everyone!" he called, waving his arms like a conductor trying to keep a symphony of chaos in rhythm. "Quickly now!"

But Percy, good ol' overly serious Percy, was off on a different mission entirely. And he wasn't even wearing a suit for once. With a group of Goblins, Percy was carefully planting magical explosives in all the right spots, courtesy of Fred and George's finest handiwork.

Honestly, if this wasn't life or death, it would've felt like a really twisted family reunion.

"Here," one Goblin grumbled, tapping his foot like a disapproving professor. "This spot'll take down the whole room, no problem."

Percy, for once in his life, didn't even hesitate. He was focused, determined, and just a little bit terrified. He nodded, planting the charge and trying to keep his hands steady. This is it, he thought. My big moment. Gotta prove myself.

The memory of turning his back on his family for a Ministry job still gnawed at him. But now? This was his chance to make it right. Percy Weasley was going to save the day—or at least blow up a room in a very responsible way.

"You're doing fine, Weasley," another Goblin grunted, eyeing Percy like he'd passed some sort of hidden Goblin test. "Just make sure you're the last one out."

Percy swallowed and nodded, gripping the trigger that would set off the whole thing. "Ten seconds," he muttered to himself. "Plenty of time."

Famous last words, he thought.

The battle was heating up at the doorway. Bill and Charlie were holding their ground, but just barely. Arthur caught Percy's eye from across the room, a silent look that said, We trust you. You've got this. Which, of course, didn't help Percy's nerves at all.

No pressure, right?

He glanced at the Veil. People were still pouring through it, escaping to a new world beyond Voldemort's reach. And that was the plan: Get everyone through the Veil, blow up the room, and make sure no Death Eaters followed them into their fresh start. Simple. Except for the whole "blow up the room" part.

Percy took a deep breath, thumb hovering over the trigger. Here goes nothing. He pressed it.

The timer started counting down.

Ten... nine...

He sprinted toward the Veil, his heart racing faster than his legs.

Eight... seven...

"Percy, come on!" Arthur shouted, waving him forward like a dad calling his kid in for dinner.

Six... five...

The Goblins had already crossed. Charlie threw one last hex before turning and running toward the Veil.

Four... three...

Bill was right behind him, blasting one more Death Eater before bolting.

Two...

Percy launched himself toward the Veil.

One.

He barely made it through before the room behind him erupted in a deafening explosion. Dust, debris, and the shouts of frustrated Death Eaters were left behind as Percy stumbled into the new world, heart still hammering in his chest.

Arthur caught him by the shoulders, a proud smile on his face. "Well done, son."

Percy, breathless and still slightly in shock, managed a shaky grin. "Yeah. Just another day at the office."

—

So, you know how birthday parties are supposed to be chill? Maybe some cake, a few presents, hanging out with friends? Yeah, that's not what happened at mine. Not by a long shot. My party turned into a full-on crossover event between superheroes and wizards. And honestly, I couldn't decide if I should be excited or terrified. Probably a mix of both.

Take a wild guess how many people were crammed into the room. Go on, I'll wait. Did you say way too many? Because, yeah. Picture half the Justice League on one side, just casually chatting like this was their Tuesday night, while my wizarding friends—who barely know what a television is, mind you—are over on the other side, trying not to stare at all the capes and spandex.

Over by the snack table, the Flash was in full nerd-out mode, explaining time travel to Remus Lupin. Poor Lupin was doing his best to keep up, nodding politely like he understood what "speed force" and "alternate dimensions" meant. I could see the moment he gave up trying to understand, but bless him, he kept listening.

Meanwhile, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were having what looked like a totally normal conversation with Black Canary and Green Arrow. Ginny, though? She kept giving Green Arrow's bow that look—the same one she gives when she sees a new broomstick. I could practically hear her thinking, Yeah, I could do that.

Then there was Kid Flash, who had cornered Robin, peppering him with questions about the infamous "Showergate" incident. And let me just say, the less said about that, the better. Robin, of course, was loving the attention and was going into way too much detail about how it all went down.

"So, he just walked in?" Kid Flash asked, practically vibrating with excitement. "Man, he's living the dream!"

Someone, please, make it stop. I shot Kara a pleading look, but she just smirked, completely unhelpful as always. Thanks, Supergirl.

Oh, and let's not forget Speedy, who was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, with an expression that screamed, I am way too cool for this. I tried to introduce myself earlier, but I got a grunt. Just a grunt. Classic.

Things went from weird to weirder when Giovanni Zatara, the magician, made an entrance with his daughter Zatanna, who winked at me the moment she walked in. Because, yeah, that's what I need—another pretty girl to make me feel like a flustered idiot. As if dealing with Kara wasn't enough.

"Harry, my boy," Zatara said with this warm, charming smile. "Enjoying your magical birthday?"

"Yeah... magical, all right." I chuckled awkwardly, because what else do you say when your party looks like a scene from a crossover fanfiction story?

Meanwhile, Fred and George were whispering with Miss Martian, Luna, and Neville in the corner. And, let me tell you, when Fred and George are involved, nothing good ever comes of it. I'm pretty sure poor Miss Martian was about to get her first taste of Weasley pranks, and I felt a little bad for her.

"Oi, Harry!" Fred called over, grinning mischievously. "We've got a special surprise for you later!"

"Yeah, you're gonna love it," George added, looking far too pleased with himself.

I sighed. I was probably going to hate it.

Things took a turn for the surreal when Diana, a.k.a. Wonder Woman, strode over. The entire room went quiet. Because, let's be real—when Wonder Woman walks into a room, people notice. She smiled at me and handed over this small black-and-gold amulet with a shiny red gemstone in the middle.

"Harry," she said, in that calm, commanding way she has, "I believe it's time for your gift."

Gift? Oh, no big deal, just an ancient magical amulet from an Amazon warrior princess. Totally normal.

I blinked at it. "This… is my gift?"

She smiled wider. "Press the gemstone."

So, I did. Because what else are you going to do when Wonder Woman tells you to press a button? The amulet suddenly exploded into liquid black and gold, covering me from head to toe in a suit of armor that looked straight out of some futuristic Greek myth. The whole room went silent, which I guess is fair. Even Speedy looked impressed, and that guy hasn't shown an emotion since he walked in.

Diana nodded approvingly. "This is your new armor. The gauntlets will act as your magical focus. You won't need a wand anymore—this will channel your spells with greater precision."

I flexed my fingers, watching the armor move with me like it was part of my skin. "This is… insane."

"And the gemstone?" she pointed to the red stone on my chest. "It absorbs spells and magical artifacts, amplifying their power."

"Wait, so… I'm a walking magical battery now?"

Diana chuckled softly. "In a way, yes."

Before I could process that, Aqualad approached, dragging Princess Mareena, with him. Because of course, the universe wasn't done embarrassing me yet. Mareena gave me a look that promised trouble and leaned in, whispering in a voice that made my skin crawl with dread.

"Kara told me all about Showergate," she said, her grin widening.

Great. Just great.

"And she was very descriptive about certain… features."

I nearly dropped the amulet. My face? On fire. From behind me, I heard Kid Flash laughing so hard, I thought he might pass out.

Why. Does. This. Always. Happen. To. Me?

As the party continued—chaotic and overwhelming as ever—I couldn't help but think that this was one birthday I was never going to forget.

—

Meanwhile, in a vast, unforgiving expanse of the Sahara Desert, a ragtag group of rebels landed with all the grace of a herd of stampeding elephants. They were a wild mix of wizards, witches, goblins, Veelas, and a few disgruntled dragons, all of whom had just crossed over from the Veil—an experience that was likely on par with getting stuck in a particularly crowded elevator, but with more existential dread.

At the front of this chaotic parade stood the Weasleys, looking like they had just stepped out of a particularly chaotic family reunion. Bill, the oldest and, let's be honest, the most likely to have a mid-life crisis about his hair, squinted against the relentless sun. "Well, this is just fantastic," he said, sarcasm practically dripping from his brow. "Anyone want to take bets on how long it takes to get sunburned?"

Charlie, the optimist of the family and usually the one with a dragon-sized chip on his shoulder, smirked despite the heat. "Hey, at least we're not in the Veil anymore! That's a win in my book!"

Percy, the ever-worrisome planner, adjusted his glasses and looked around at the diverse crowd of magical beings. "That's great and all, but we have no idea where we are. And the map is about as useful as a chocolate teapot."

Arthur Weasley, always the tinkerer, pulled out their enchanted map, which was currently looking about as helpful as a broken compass. It flickered and flopped uselessly, reminding them of that time he tried to use a toaster to make a time-turner. "It seems we're off the map entirely," he muttered, scratching his head.

Molly Weasley, the ever-practical matriarch, surveyed her children with a mix of determination and maternal annoyance. "First things first, we need to find some shelter. I don't want anyone turning into roasted Weasley by noon!"

"Right! Everyone!" Bill shouted, trying to channel his inner general while sounding less like a frantic sheepdog. "We need to stick together and find shade. Keep your wands ready. The last thing we need is to be ambushed by desert-dwelling mummies or worse—sand-dwelling crabs!"

A chorus of grumbles and protests erupted. Goblins rolled their eyes, Veelas exchanged worried glances, and the dragons—who were definitely not here for a picnic—snorted with irritation, sending sand flying as they shuffled their massive feet.

"Is this really what we crossed over for?" one particularly grumpy goblin grumbled, arms crossed as if daring the desert to try him.

"It's better than being stuck in the Veil!" Bill shot back, trying to keep morale afloat like a poorly made broomstick.

Fleur Delacour, who always managed to look effortlessly stunning even in the harshest of deserts, stepped forward with confidence. "Let's find a place to regroup. Surely there's something out here. We cannot be the only ones wandering in this sunburnt wasteland."

Charlie pointed into the distance, his enthusiasm sparking like a firework on the Fourth of July. "Hey! I see something! Over there!" He squinted at a crumbling pile of ancient stones barely visible through the shimmering haze. "Maybe there's some water, or at least a nice spot to rest."

"Let's approach with caution!" Bill commanded, gripping his wand as they moved closer, because nothing says "we're totally normal" like a bunch of magical beings walking into the unknown.

As they trudged forward, the heat intensified, and the mirage danced mockingly in the distance, blurring their hopes of finding anything remotely comfortable. Molly conjured up some cooling charms, which helped a bit, but it was like trying to keep a campfire at bay with a single drop of water. Arthur, not to be outdone, tried to conjure a light breeze, which resulted in what could only be described as a very weak puff, like someone blowing out a birthday candle.

Suddenly, the dragon at the back of the group growled lowly, its nostrils flaring. Charlie turned, looking concerned. "What's got you all riled up? Did someone forget to feed you again?"

The dragon fixed its gaze on a dark figure lurking at the edge of the ruins. "That's definitely something," Charlie said, squinting, because staring too hard at dark shapes is what every good hero does, right?

"Or someone," Bill replied, gripping his wand tighter, because that always helps in tense situations.

Fleur stepped up beside him, her eyes narrowing. "We come in peace!" she called, her voice ringing out with surprising confidence. "We're just travelers who ended up here by accident. Well, mostly by accident."

The cloaked figure stepped forward, its voice a deep rumble that could probably scare off a herd of hippogriffs. "Travelers, you say? Few venture into these lands and return unchanged. Why should we not see you as intruders?"

"Because we're not here to cause trouble!" Bill interjected, trying to maintain the peace while his insides did a little dance of panic. "We've just escaped a war, and we're looking for a safe place to rest. We're not looking to steal your treasure or turn your desert into a theme park."

The figure paused, the hood obscuring its face. "And what would you offer in exchange for our hospitality? This is a place of power."

Fleur stepped up, all charm and determination. "We have skills, magic, and knowledge. We can help you! If you have anything you need, we will do our best to assist."

A moment of tense silence passed, making everyone more nervous than a house-elf in a wizard's kitchen. Finally, the cloaked figure nodded slowly. "Very well. You may rest here. But know this: the sands hold secrets, and not all who come to this land have the best of intentions. Keep your wands ready, and you may yet survive."

With that, the rebels exchanged glances, half-wary, half-hopeful. They had found a potential ally in this strange new world, and maybe—just maybe—they could carve out a new beginning in the heart of the Sahara, far from the shadows of the Veil. After all, it's not every day you stumble into a new universe while dodging existential crises and potential doom.

—-

At the Watchtower, Batman was enjoying a rare moment of silence in the Control Room. Well, as much as Batman ever enjoyed anything. But then, like clockwork, the alarms went off, because of course they did.

The flashing red lights and blaring sirens were a dead giveaway that something major was happening—again. Batman's fingers flew across the keyboard with the precision of a world-class pianist, pulling up the alert. A dimensional breach. And not just any breach—the energy readings were almost identical to the ones that had brought Harry Potter and his magical entourage into this universe.

"Great," he muttered under his breath. "More wizards."

The breach was smack-dab in the Sahara Desert, right on the doorstep of Kahndaq. You know, the not-so-friendly neighborhood kingdom ruled by Black Adam, the guy with a temper that made the Hulk look like a meditation instructor.

Batman's expression didn't change (because he was Batman), but in his head, he was already running through about fifty different ways this could go south. Rule number one: Don't let Black Adam get involved. Rule number two: Don't break rule number one.

He opened a comm line. "Shazam, I need you in the Sahara Desert. Possible dimensional breach. Coordinates incoming. And… it's close to Kahndaq."

Shazam's voice came through the line, casual as ever. "Sahara? Sweet. I've been meaning to work on my tan."

Batman didn't even bother with a reply to that one. "Be careful. If Black Adam shows up, defuse the situation. Fast."

"Got it," Shazam said, though his tone was a little too cheerful for Batman's taste.

With Shazam en route, Batman switched channels to Wonder Woman, who was… right, at Harry Potter's birthday party. Because why wouldn't one of the world's greatest warriors be at a party with cake and balloons?

"Diana," he said, cutting right to the point, "we've got an energy signature in the Sahara Desert, near Kahndaq. Same type as the one that brought Harry and his friends here."

There was a pause, probably as Wonder Woman processed the sudden shift from party mode to 'potential world-ending crisis' mode. She had that gift.

"Understood," she replied, her voice calm but definitely serious. "Should I gather Harry and his companions?"

"If this is their people arriving, yes," Batman said. "Be ready. Shazam's already on the way, but you may need to intervene."

"Leave it to me," she said, sounding way too composed for someone about to wrangle a bunch of wizards in the middle of the desert.

Batman cut the comm line, his mind already moving ten steps ahead, as usual. With Shazam heading in, and Wonder Woman about to rope Harry into this mess, he could only hope this wasn't the beginning of a magical invasion. He sighed inwardly. Why did dimensional breaches always seem to pop up at the most inconvenient times?

But then again, that's what happens when your life's a cross between a superhero comic and a magical epic.

—

I stood in the makeshift dueling arena at my birthday party, feeling like the luckiest wizard alive. My new armor, a gift from Diana and forged by Hephaestus, gleamed in the sunlight, and I couldn't help but flex a bit. It was shiny, powerful, and best of all, it made me feel invincible.

"Alright, Weasleys!" I called out, bouncing on my feet like a kid with too much sugar. "Prepare to face the ultimate spellcaster!"

"Ultimate? More like overhyped!" Fred shot back, a wicked grin spreading across his face. He and George exchanged mischievous glances, and I could practically see the gears turning in their heads.

"Let's see if you can handle our new spells," George said, twirling his wand with the flair of a professional duelist.

With a flick of his wand, Fred launched a jet of neon green slime straight at me. It hit my armor with a splat, and I felt the gooey mess slide down. "Really? Slime?" I laughed, shaking my head in mock disbelief. "That's your big move?"

"Just you wait!" George called, already preparing his own spell.

"Oh, I'm ready!" I said, raising my gauntleted hands. With a surge of magic, I conjured a wave of colorful sparks, sending them straight at the Weasley twins. They stumbled back, wide-eyed, but I could see the laughter bubbling up in their throats.

"Impressive!" Fred managed, trying to regain his composure. "But can you handle this?"

He countered with a series of colorful sparks that exploded in the air like fireworks. I ducked and rolled, adrenaline pumping through me. This was what I loved about being around friends—pranks, magic, and laughter.

Meanwhile, over by the punch bowl, Kid Flash was pacing like a confused squirrel. "How are you guys doing this?" he asked, scratching his head. "Magic isn't real!"

"Tell that to the magical armor!" Robin shot back, smirking.

Aqualad leaned against a wall, arms crossed, looking amused. "I'd pay to see you try to replicate that, Kid."

"Yeah, right!" Kid Flash huffed, trying to keep his cool. Then I overheard Miss Martian chatting with Kara, Zatanna, and Princess Mareena about her fascination with magic. "I love Martian sorcerers!" she said, eyes sparkling.

"Seriously?" Kid Flash perked up, his eyes darting between the girls. "Uh, yeah! Magic! Totally into that!" He looked like he was about to combust from trying too hard.

Zatanna raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Really? What's your favorite spell?"

"Uh… the one that makes… things disappear?" He fumbled, and I stifled a laugh. This guy had no clue what he was talking about.

Zatanna crossed her arms, a smirk on her lips. "You know that's just the Disillusionment Charm, right? It's not that impressive."

"I mean, it's cool and all," he stammered, "but I'm really into, um, more advanced magic. Like… Transfiguration!"

"Oh, do tell," Zatanna replied, leaning in with feigned interest.

Just then, Daphne, Tracey, and Ginny were huddled nearby, heads together like they were plotting a heist. "I bet Harry loses in the next five minutes!" Ginny declared, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

"No way! I'll take that bet!" I shot back, grinning as I dodged another burst of colorful magic from Fred.

"Should we be doing this around superheroes?" Hermione chimed in, looking scandalized, her arms crossed as she glared at the betting pool.

But the Flash, Green Arrow, and Black Canary strolled over, tossing in their own bets like they were at a racetrack. "I'm betting Harry wins," the Flash said with a wink. "Those gauntlets have to give him an edge."

"Hey, I'm right here, you know," I called out, mock indignation dripping from my voice.

"Yeah, but they're betting on you, not against you!" Green Arrow replied, grinning. "You've got this in the bag, kid."

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" George shouted, readying another spell. "This one's going to knock you right off your feet!"

"Yeah, right!" I retorted, gathering my magic for a counterattack. "Bring it on!"

As George unleashed a stream of glittering blue light, I threw up my hands and shouted, "Protego!" A barrier formed in front of me, bouncing the spell back toward him.

"Whoa! Not bad!" Fred shouted, barely dodging the backlash. "Looks like someone's been practicing!"

"Just trying to keep up with you lot!" I laughed, the competitive spirit igniting in me.

Meanwhile, Ron, Luna, Neville, Angelina, Katie, Alicia, Susan, Hannah, and Tonks were gathered around the betting pool, some looking worried and others gleefully shouting bets. "Ten Galleons on Harry!" Ron called out, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"You've got it!" Ginny shot back, handing him a small piece of parchment with her scribbled odds.

"Do you even have ten Galleons?" Neville asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh… let's not worry about that right now!" Ron replied, his face turning a shade of red.

"Classic Ron!" Luna said, her dreamy tone cutting through the chaos. "Always betting on the wrong horse."

Just as I was about to retaliate against Fred, the door to the party swung open, and in walked Wonder Woman with an entrance that could only be described as heroic. "What's all this ruckus?" she asked, hands on her hips.

"Dueling, of course!" I called out, gesturing dramatically. "Care to join?"

"Only if you're losing," she teased, a smile on her lips.

"Not a chance!" I shouted back, my competitive spirit on fire. "Just watch and learn!"

And just like that, the duel was back on, laughter and magic mixing in the air as we cast spells, dodged slime, and celebrated another wild year of my life. What could be better than this?

—

Shazam flew over the Sahara Desert, the hot wind slapping him in the face as if the entire desert was in on some big joke he wasn't in on. Batman had sent him here to investigate some energy signature, and so far? Nothing. Just an endless sea of sand.

"Awesome," Billy grumbled under his breath, wiping sweat from his brow. "I could've been anywhere else, but nooo, let's bake in the desert for fun."

He scanned the area again, still nothing. No glowing artifacts, no hidden temples—heck, not even a cactus. But just as he was about to turn back, his enhanced vision picked up something on the ground. Footprints. And not just a few—more like a stampede had passed through here. Some were normal human-sized, others were… definitely not. Something big had walked this way, and based on the giant lizard-shaped tracks, it wasn't just a couple of tourists with overzealous pets.

"Okay, this is new," Billy muttered, floating lower to get a better look. The tracks led off toward Kahndaq. His heart gave a little lurch. Black Adam's home turf. Great. Just what he needed.

Following the trail, he eventually reached a crumbling structure, barely holding itself together against the brutal desert heat. It looked like the set of one of those old adventure movies—except, you know, minus the cool soundtrack. Billy decided to hang back, hovering higher and using his enhanced vision and hearing. Better to be cautious than to rush in and get zapped by something magical.

What he saw below made his eyes widen. A whole crowd of people had gathered—some of them looked like supermodels. Not that he was distracted or anything (okay, maybe a little), but these women practically glowed. And then there were shorter folks with big ears and grumpy faces. Goblins? He remembered Batman mentioning them during the briefing.

"Oh, this just got interesting," Billy whispered, trying to take it all in.

But the crowd wasn't what really caught his attention. Leading the pack were some redheads—like, a lot of redheads—and a blonde who looked like she had stepped straight off the cover of a magazine. The blonde was radiating some serious power. Like, maybe-I-shouldn't-stare-at-her-for-too-long level of power. They were all in deep conversation with a cloaked figure, and even though Billy couldn't make out everything they were saying, something about the cloaked guy felt… wrong.

And then, the cloaked figure pulled back his hood.

Billy's stomach dropped.

It was him. Teth Adam. Black Adam. The guy who made most villains look like kindergarten bullies.

"Oh, come on…" Billy groaned. Of course he would be here, playing nice with these people who clearly didn't know who he was. The wizards seemed to be buying it, too. The redheads were nodding, and even the supermodel lady looked unsure.

Billy tapped his comm, opening a line to Batman. "Uh, Bats? We've got a situation."

Batman's voice crackled through the earpiece, calm as ever. "Report."

"Black Adam. He's here, and he's pulling his 'I'm a nice guy' routine on some wizards. They've got no clue who he is, and I'm pretty sure they're about to trust him."

There was a pause, then Batman's voice came back. "Hold your position. Wonder Woman and Harry's team are en route. Do not engage."

Billy clenched his jaw. Easy for Batman to say from his nice air-conditioned Batcave. Down here, it was about a million degrees, and Black Adam was cozying up to people who had no idea what they were dealing with. The eldest redhead—Bill, if Billy remembered his name right—was actually smiling at Black Adam, like they were about to exchange Christmas cards.

"Stay put, Shazam," Batman's voice warned again.

Billy sighed, keeping an eye on the group. Black Adam was laying it on thick, offering hospitality and safety in Kahndaq like he wasn't the ruler of one of the most dangerous nations on the planet. The wizards didn't know it, but they were walking right into a trap.

The blonde—Fleur, Billy recalled from the briefing—wasn't buying it, though. She crossed her arms and shot Black Adam a look that could've melted glass. "Zank you for your offer," she said, her French accent thick with suspicion, "but we will not be staying long."

Nice. Billy almost cheered. At least someone was thinking straight.

But Black Adam didn't falter. He smiled—one of those smiles that made Billy's skin crawl. "You are guests in my land," he said smoothly, "and it would be my honor to offer you my protection. Kahndaq is… a powerful place. Full of magic. Surely, you understand the value of that."

"Oh, boy," Billy muttered, tapping his comm again. "Batman, Adam's getting all poetic about magic. I don't like where this is going."

"Stay. Put." Batman's voice was as icy as ever.

"Yeah, yeah," Billy grumbled, hovering in the same spot. "But if this goes south, don't say I didn't warn you."

Because with Black Adam, things always went south. And fast.

—

You know, birthday parties are supposed to be fun. You eat cake, you open presents, and, if you're me, you show off your new magical armor by pranking your friends into oblivion. Fred and George never saw it coming. One little flick of my new gauntlets and BAM—Disarmed. Literally. Their wands went flying, and they both hit the floor. Total victory. Best. Birthday. Ever.

At least it was until Wonder Woman showed up. Don't get me wrong, Diana's awesome. But when she walks in with that look on her face, you know the party's about to end. And not in a fun, "Let's blow out the candles" kind of way.

"Harry," she said, all serious and Amazonian. "We've got a situation in the Sahara."

I blinked. "A situation? As in more important than George trying to sneak a stink bomb into my armor?"

"Oi, that was Fred's idea!" George called from the floor, still looking winded.

"Not now, George," Diana said, with the kind of authority that makes even the Weasley twins pipe down. "Your friends from your original world have arrived. But unfortunately, they arrived close to to Kahndaq. Shazam's already there, but it looks like Black Adam's trying to convince the wizards that he's a good guy."

"Wait, Black Adam?" I asked, suddenly way less interested in cake and pranks. "As in the guy who could punch me into orbit if he wanted to?"

"That's the one."

Well, happy birthday to me.

"Right," I said, cracking my knuckles. "I guess we should go crash the party."

Diana nodded. "I'll carry Remus. He can't exactly fly."

At this point, Remus walked in, and the moment Diana scooped him up bridal style, the teasing started. Ron almost fell off his chair laughing, and Tonks? She was loving every second of it.

"Looking good, Remus!" she called, practically howling with laughter.

Remus turned about sixteen shades of red. "This is undignified," he muttered, not looking at anyone.

"Oh, come on," I said, trying not to laugh myself. "It's not that bad. Besides, you're getting a front-row seat to Wonder Woman Airlines. How many people can say that?"

"Please just get us there fast," Remus grumbled, burying his face in his hands.

With a grin, I activated my wings—yes, wings made of fire because apparently that's my thing now—and shot into the air. The flames spread wide, lighting up the ceiling as I took off. I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel ridiculously cool.

Flying's like the ultimate cheat code for life. One second, you're in a room full of people. The next, you're soaring above them, leaving nothing but a trail of heat and envy in your wake. Behind me, Diana followed with Remus, who I imagined was praying this nightmare would end soon.

"Honestly," I heard him mumble from somewhere behind me, "I could've just Apparated…"

"Where's the fun in that?" Diana replied, sounding like she was having the time of her life.

As I cut through the sky, my mind shifted back to Black Adam. The guy was bad news. If he was messing with wizards who didn't know any better, we needed to stop him. Fast. I wasn't about to let some ancient, power-hungry demigod fool people into thinking he was the good guy.

But I couldn't help smiling a bit. We had a solid team. Wonder Woman, Shazam, me—and Remus, who, despite the whole "being carried" thing, was one of the smartest people I knew. Whatever Black Adam had planned, we'd figure it out.

As long as Fred and George didn't try to prank my stuff again while I was gone, this day might even turn out okay.

"Hang on, Black Adam," I muttered to myself, feeling the wind whip past my face as we approached the desert. "Birthday or not, we're coming for you."

---

Hey fellow fanfic enthusiasts!

I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Whether you loved it, hated it, or have some constructive criticism, your feedback is super important to me. Feel free to drop a comment or send me a message with your thoughts. Can't wait to hear from you!

If you're passionate about fanfiction and love discussing stories, characters, and plot twists, then you're in the right place! I've created a Discord server dedicated to diving deep into the world of fanfiction, especially my own stories. Whether you're a reader, a writer, or just someone who enjoys a good tale, I welcome you to join us for lively discussions, feedback sessions, and maybe even some sneak peeks into upcoming chapters, along with artwork related to the stories. Let's nerd out together over our favorite fandoms and explore the endless possibilities of storytelling!

Click the link below to join the conversation:

https://discord.com/invite/HHHwRsB6wd

Can't wait to see you there!

If you appreciate my work and want to support me, consider buying me a cup of coffee. Your support helps me keep writing and bringing more stories to you. You can do so via PayPal here:

https://www.paypal.me/VikrantUtekar007

Or through my Buy Me a Coffee page:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/vikired001s

Thank you for your support!