Disclaimer - I do not own Harry Potter or the Batman universe. There is no money to be made from this fic.

Warnings - Dark. There will be mentions of child abuse, although nothing graphic. This story will not be sweet, fluffy ride, there will be darkness, violence, and possible character death.

Summary - Features a Harry trained by Bane. A tale of Justice, Revenge, Violence, Death. This fanfiction starts in Harry's first year, a year and a half after Bane dies in The Dark Knight Rises. Slightly non-canon : Batman still operates in Gotham, Bruce Wayne is publicly alive. Major DC elements later. Starts in Hogwarts, but will branch out.

Oh, and there will be no bashing. Dumbledore is not evil, merely an old, very powerful wizard who has spent too long leading and fighting. No love potions, no Weasley plot to get Harry's money.

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To Master The Dark

Chapter One - Harry

Thud.

Bane paused in mid-step, and slowly turned around. Broken glass crunched under his feet as he walked with measured steps towards the staircase.

Thud.

The noise was coming from the cupboard under the stairs, in the shadows. The outside was dirty, he had assumed it was empty, unused. Perhaps not...

Thud.

Bane flexed his massive arms, cracking his neck joints. Fingerless gloves curled around the handle, and Bane wrenched the door open. It was flimsy, and the hinges broke under his strength, leaving the entire door in his hand. He idly threw it away, and crouched lower. Was that...

A child.

An emotion welled up within Bane, something foreign... it took him a moment to realize what he was feeling.

Pity.

The Hogwarts Express lies glistening under the stormy sky. Raindrops fall from black clouds, the atmosphere is gloomy and somber.

Much like I feel.

Parents hurriedly hugged their children goodbye, taking refuge under the dark blue umbrellas one enterprising wizard is selling. Smoke from the engine drifts over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats of every color dart here and there between their legs. Owls hoot to one another in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks.

Gloved hands run through my hair in a vain attempt to smooth it down. Selina kneels down, her elegant black skirt rubs on the dirty platform, but I know she does not care.

"Goodbye Harry."

I hesitate, then initiate a hug, which she gladly accepts. Her strong arms tighten around me, and I breathe in her scent. Cinnamon and leather. She always smells like cinnamon and leather.

She strokes my cheek fondly. "Have fun."

I shrug. Perhaps I will.

"Goodbye."

Her smile is bright enough to light a spark in my chest.

"Thank you," I say simply. I could spend hours trying to express my gratitude towards her, but I cannot. I will forever be in her debt.

Selina pats my cheek and kisses it. She stands, not bothering to dust her skirt. I smile at her, a genuine smile that lights up my one green eye.

I turn towards the man holding an umbrella over us. "Thank you, Mister Tonks."

He merely inclines his head in return. Ted Tonks is a good man. He has helped me a lot.

I heft my magically lightened trunk and take the few steps towards the red train at a leisurely pace, enjoying the feel of wind and rain in my face. The wind ruffles my hair, making it even more untidy.

Then the sounds cease as I board the train. Instead I can now hear the clink and thud of bags and trunks dragging over the floor, and the dull roar of children talking, shouting, laughing...

I turn and wave one last time. Selina blows me a kiss, Ted bobs the umbrella in farewell.

I step forward and am nearly bowled over by a redhead. A prefect badge is proudly displayed, his hair is neatly combed.

Red hair. Freckles. Pompous. No twin in sight. Too tall for a first year. This must be Percy Weasley, son of Arthur and Molly Weasley, staunch supporters of the light and Dumbledore. I have done my homework well.

"Watch where you're going," he barks out sharply. He loses his composure when he sees my eyes, then his personality reasserts itself.

I stare at him blankly.

Unable to decipher my response, Percy sticks his nose in the air and stalks away to the front of the train. I know that's where he is headed because the Prefect compartment is there. Tonks has told me so.

Speak of the devil...there she is. Nymphadora Tonks. Bubblegum pink hair clashes horribly with her beige jacket. I think I can call her my friend.

"Wotcher Harry!"

She opens her arms wide, asking for a hug.

I smile and stay where I am.

Tonks pouts and waggles her arms about in exaggerated motion, beckoning me closer. "Come on Harry."

More than a few seconds later, her arms still haven't dropped, and with an almost inaudible sigh I step forwards and let myself into her embrace. Her arms encircle me, and she musses up my hair.

"Relax," she whispers into my ear.

I try to. I really do.

"Harry?"

I gently untangle myself from Tonks' arms and turn around.

Two girls stand behind me. The one who had called my name has red hair that she wears in pigtails. Bones. Amelia Bones... Susan! Susan Bones, that's her name. This girl is looking at me.

"Miss Bones," I say, bowing gracefully.

The girl besides her is blonde, her hair hanging in a long braid. This girl is staring at me. Probably at my mismatched eyes.

Susan flushes and gestures towards her friend. "This is Hannah Abbott." She waves a hand towards me. "Hannah, that's Harry Potter."

Instantly the girls eyes flick upwards to try and find the scar. She seems star-struck, her eyes widen and she gasps audibly.

I shift impatiently.

Tonks plasters a smile on her face. "Excuse us for a minute."

Grabbing my hand, she drags me backwards.

I resist the urge to break her wrist and allow her to lead me away from the blonde girl's earshot.

"Look Harry." She sighs. "Everybody's going to stare at you like that. Try to be more polite, okay?"

I nod stiffly. "Yes Miss Tonks."

"Drop the Miss, kiddo."

I shift uneasily. Then the corner of my mouth lifts in a smirk. "Yes... Nymphadora."

Her hair immediately turns an angry red. "Don't call me that!"

"Yes Miss Tonks."

She grins wryly and pats my head mockingly. "I'm going to find my friends. Do you want me to sit with you instead?"

I hesitate, and she picks up on it.

"I'll sit with you," she decides.

"No, its fine..." I smile. "I'll be alright."

She looks at me doubtfully. "You sure kid?"

"Yes."

"Okay then, I'll see you soon. You need anything, come look for me."

"Thank you."

"Do you want to come in?" Susan stands in the doorway of a compartment, one carriage ahead. I nod, and she backs into the compartment, leaving the door open for me.

Tonks grins and shoves me gently towards the compartment Susan and Hannah have entered.

"Get in there, you have two pretty girls to talk to."

I roll my eyes. "Miss Tonks... They're eleven years old."

"So are you."

I shrug and wave, turning around. Ted tells my my soul is older than my body. Tonks says I should try and act like an eleven year old sometimes. I know I can't.

The compartment is fairly large, the seating looks comfortable enough. The windows are large, and cannot be opened.

"I am sorry for my... brass, Miss Abbott," I say politely. I can tell from her expression that she doesn't know the meaning of 'brass' in this context, but she understands what I'm trying to convey.

"It's fine, I'm sorry too, for staring at you like that."

The train hoots loudly and abruptly begins to pull away from Platform Nine Three Quarters. The sudden movement almost causes me to lose balance. Instinct - borne of hours of training - kicks in. I compensate by swivelling a heel and dropping into the seat opposite the two girls.

"So, how do you know Susan and Tonks?" Hannah inquires.

"Her Aunt helped me in some legal matters," I reply quietly. "The same with Miss Tonks, her parents are excellent lawyers."

"Is that your natural eye colour?"

I raise my head till my eyes are boring into Hannah's blue orbs.

She immediately claps a hand over her mouth, and Susan did a facepalm.

"Ignore her," the redhead tells me apologetically.

My lips curve into a smile, and I shake my head. "No." I offer no more information, and they don't press it.

I close my eyes and try to slip into a meditate. I cannot. I am too worked up.

Doctor Pietr blinked owlishly. What the hell had just happened? He was at the final stage of the operation, just a few more seconds and it would be over. And then an explosion of sound and light, and he found himself sitting on his behind.

He got to his feet, his first thought for the boy.

"Harry? Can you hear me?"

The boy nodded. "I'm okay." His voice sounded hoarse.

Bane stood up from the back. "Explain, Doctor."

"I don't know," Dr. Pietr replied, fearfully eyeing the giant man. "I have never seen this kind of a reaction before, I swear!"

"Open your eyes, Harry," Bane commanded, his gaze never leaving the doctor's face.

Pietr held his breath as Harry blinked a few times, before tilting his head to look ahead. The doctor felt all his strength leaving him as he saw the boy's eyes.

"I can see!" Harry exclaimed.

"Perfectly?" Bane questioned.

"Perfectly," Harry affirmed.

The doctor felt some strength return to his legs. Perhaps he wouldn't die today after all.

Bane finally stepped in front of Harry, and peered into the boy's eyes.

Absolute silence filled the room. The doctor began to pray.

"Do you have any explanation, good doctor?" Bane inquired, his voice calm.

"N-no-no, I corrected the damage done to his eye, but-"

"Silence." Bane ordered. Pietr fell silent. "Well done doctor."

The doctor took a huge gulp of air, and nodded jerkily.

Bane spared the quivering man one last glance, then moved towards the exit. "Follow me."

The young boy jumped up, wearing only the hospital gown, and ran after the mercenary. Harry stopped at the doorway, and turned around.

An emerald eye gleamed gratitude. The gray eye was cold, dead.

Susan has deflected questions from Hannah, kept her from asking anything awkward. She only knows I didn't have an ideal childhood...understatement.

Around half past twelve there is a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slides back our door. "Anything off the trolley, dears?"

I shake my head. Susan and Hannah squeal and jump to their feet. They buy candy and sandwiches, and offer to share some with me. I accept a Chocolate Frog and lean back to eat it.

"What card have you got?" Susan asks me.

I turn the card over, and am met with a smiling face - a long, crooked nose, flowing silver hair and beard, twinkling blue eyes behind half-moon spectacles.

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

CURRENTLY HEADMASTER OF HOGWARTS,

Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling.

I suppress a bitter laugh. "Albus Dumbledore," I reply.

Hannah stares at me oddly, then shakes her head and goes back to her sandwich.

"You should keep it," the redhead says. "You can start your own collection."

I blink. Why would I want to collect a pack of cards? Nonetheless, I pocket it. I can throw it away later.

I fish around for my invisibility cloak and find it, pulling out the silvery material.

The invisibility cloak. My father's. I doubt I would have ever laid my eyes on it if it hadn't been for Andromeda Tonks. Sirius Black - betrayer and death eater - is Andromeda's cousin. He would visit her often, and tell her about their escapades. The Marauders, they were, she tells me. Four of them. So anyway, Andromeda Tonks knew about the cloak, and when I couldn't find it in my Gringotts vault, she figured Dumbledore had it. It belongs to me. Dumbledore could not refuse her. He didn't.

The cloak covers me, rendering me invisible. Just a few steps away, a hatch leads to the top of the train.

The train is moving very fast now. Wind howls in my ears, whips at my face as I pull myself up and shut the hatch behind me.

The roof of the train is slippery from the rain. I keep my balance though, almost crawling over to a box-like structure and sitting down.

The rain has stopped, and bright rays of sunshine pierce through the now thin grey clouds. For a second, a rainbow is formed on the horizon, then it disappears.

Gently sloping hills rise and fall into the distance, green bushes and trees covering them. The train sends up a spray of water in it's wake, the drops almost rising to where I sit. The tracks curve, and a shimmering lake appears in sight. It's placid waters reflect the grey sky, rays of sunlight sparkle on its surface, lending it an ethereal look.

Beautiful. I have always loved nature. It is something to enjoy, to revel in. For me, music is hearing birds in the morning, it is listening to the whispering of trees when a breeze passes.

Tall blades of grass sway in the wind, a lone bird spirals into an insane dive. It's too far away for me to recognize what species it is. I have often wondered what it would be like to be a bird. To take to the skies, to spread wings and glide, unrestricted, unencumbered... Something possible with the help of magic. Animagus - is the term, I remember.

About an hour later I am back in the compartment. Susan and Hannah are both asleep, the former snoring softly, almost inaudibly. The latter is drooling.

They look so... Innocent.

I sit and enjoy the peace and quiet. Water-tracks mark the window, distorting the view of Scottish highlands.

Ten minutes later, Tonks pops by. "Hey, where were you?"

I point a finger upwards.

She raises an eyebrow - comically so, using her metamorphmagus abilities to make it disappear into her hair.

"Heaven?" She asks sarcastically.

"The roof," I respond.

Tonks gapes at me. "The roof?" She echoes.

"The roof of the Hogwarts Express," I confirm.

"Huh." Tonks scratches her cheek as she moves over to sit by me. "I think there's a rule against that. Or perhaps not... Who even does that? I didn't even know that was possible. How?"

"I just did, Miss Tonks. There is a way."

"Tonks," she corrects automatically. "So Harry, are you excited?"

I think over this. Am I excited? Maybe... Maybe, just a little. Apprehensive? Certainly. Anxious? Yes.

I am anxious because this is the first time I will be attending a proper school. Vernon had paid off the staff at my primary school to ignore anything I had to say. Of course, I had a horrible reputation as well in Little Whinging - courtesy of the lies the Dursley's spread.

These are normal kids. These children have lots of friends, they laugh, joke, make merry. They know no responsibility, most of them have fathers, mothers, brothers... Some sort of family, relatives.

Snap out of it Potter, I chide myself. I pride myself in my abilities. I am not a normal child, no matter. But I cannot help but wonder, what would it be like...

Tonks is still waiting for an answer.

"I don't know," I say honestly.

"Right, well, follow me," Tonks insists, her hair suddenly bright purple. "Come on!" She reaches for my hand and pulls me with her. I resist the urge to break her wrist.

Tonks leads me to a compartment towards the back of the train. Just before I slide the door open, she stops me, putting her hands on my shoulders.

"Harry?"

She waits till I'm looking at her in the eyes, then continues. "I just want you to know, that it was really hard to keep this a secret. Selina wants to let you know, that this was arranged just for you. To make you happy. Don't get mad, just be happy about it."

My curiosity is peaked. I nod slowly, and blink.

Tonks pulls away, and I slide the door open, gracefully stepping in and closing it in one smooth motion.

The compartment is empty. Except... Except for one girl. One very familiar girl.

She is sitting with my back to me, her legs propped up on the seat, stretched out. But I recognize her anyway.

I always recognize her. I'd recognize her anywhere.

"Sally?" I whisper.

Sally.

Sally is an orphan. Like me. Bane. Selina Kyle. Catwoman. Bruce Wayne. Batman. Tom Riddle. Voldemort.

A lot of really powerful people are orphans. I once made a joke about starting an orphan club. That was when Selina lectured me on different types of humour, and how that joke was totally inappropriate.

I had done the unthinkable. Some of the men used to call me Bane's Bane. Because somehow, impossibly, I had found Bane's soft spot. It wasn't all that soft. I cannot say he loved me. But he did care for me, just that little bit.

But at the same time, he was no father figure. He trained me with little mercy, but I appreciate what he did for me – the chemicals to help me grow, the drills to hone my reflexes, fixing my eyes…I am thankful. Life at #4 helped me prepare for his style of training. The Dursley's taught me to lock emotions away. I didn't smile. I didn't laugh. I didn't cry. I still can't cry. I just can't do it.

Bane helped me get rid of my fear of physical touch. Selina, and to a much larger extent Sally, helped me like it - if only with them. There are only two people I am really comfortable with. Selina first - the first person to ever show me kindness. - and Sally.

"Sally?" My voice is a little louder this time, but I dislike how weak it sounds. Bane would tell me it was pathetic, that someone was allowed to have such a hold on me, if he could see this.

Bane is dead.

"Harry!" She jumps up, whirling around.

Sally is dressed the way she normally does. A plain tee-shirt, two sizes too big for her - white today. Skinny black jeans and plimsolls. The carved wooden bracelet I gifted her - she wears it on her right hand. I made it myself, using a knife to inscribed patterns in reddish-brown wood. Sally rarely takes it off.

Dark red hair frames her face, so deep a red, its almost brown. Sally often streaks her hair some odd colour - it was electric blue last week. She hasn't dyed any part of her hair today. Her nose is really small. Her face is angular - a Russian look to her face - she does have Russian ancestry, from her dads side. She smiles, flashing her pearly white teeth, with slightly jutting canines - a result of a her baby teeth coming out too late. Stormy gray eyes dance with happiness and amusement.

I gladly accept her hug, a large smile breaking out on my face.

When I pull away, I know I have a stupid grin on my face, but I just cannot shake it off. Strange, I normally have no trouble with controlling my expressions.

"How?" I want to know.

She motions with her head, and we sit down on the nearest seat.

Sally grins and launches into an explanation. "You left for London three weeks back. Remember I kept Hedwig behind? And you got her only last week?"

I nod. "Yes... I asked you four times to send her back, each time we called you on the landline, and you kept stalling."

"So I thought, so what if I didn't get a letter from Hogwarts? I could always join, couldn't I? At least I could ask. So I sent Hedwig to Hogwarts with a long letter, praising the school, and saying I would

like to join here this year, rather than the next at Salem."

First years at Salem are twelve years old. I blink. Go on.

"And I got a reply saying yes, I could join. So I talked to Selina, and she was a bit mad that I didn't ask her before doing this, but she agreed." Sally shudders. "She almost told me to do the dishes."

I smother a chuckle. Sally hates doing the dishes.

"Mrs. Tonks bought me all the supplies I needed, except a wand. I flew into London three days back, bought myself a wand, and stayed in this fancy hotel."

"Selina was out a lot the last forty eight hours," I agree.

"Yes, well, that's the story. I came early to the station to avoid you."

"Thank you," I manage to say. It means a lot to me that she actually tried to join Hogwarts just so I'm not alone.

"I convinced everybody not to tell you. I wanted to surprise you..." She trails off uncertainly. "I hope you're not angry."

"Of course not!" I protest. "I - I..."

Sally nods in understanding, and I fall silent.

I cannot believe she would do this for me. I still don't understand why she tried to help me so much, why she still does. What was it about an awkward, apathetic, lethal ten year old boy that appealed to her. I voiced this once, and she just told me I had self-worth issues. Sally can be really blunt at times.

"Mom almost told you," she informs me. "Apparently you were dull and moping around this last week because I wouldn't be at Hogwarts with you."

Sally is my best friend in the world. Knowing I would be off at Hogwarts, unable to see her or Selina for months hadn't really appealed to me.

"Thank you," I repeat.

She shrugs and grins, flashing me pearly white teeth. "Well, I couldn't very well let you go without me could I?"

I smile. "No."

No. I couldn't.

I dream of a large field, covered in daffodils and white roses. The sky above me is a blanket of mystic swirls of purple and blue. Waist high grass stands unnaturally still against the brisk breeze.

A large man stands in front of me. He must be at least 6 feet four. He is powerfully built, incredibly so. He wears a sleeveless black tee shirt, and a bulky fur vest on top, showcasing bulging, rippling biceps. Veins stand out on his forearms, massive fists clench and unclench.

Camouflage pants are tucked into fur lined boots.

A web of metal, valves and thin tubes decorate his face. The mask he wears lends character to him, defines him.

He says nothing, merely stands there, hands clasped together, fingers interlaced.

I say nothing either.

We stand there, under the azure sky, unmoving, immovable.

"I sense a powerful drive in you," Bane says slowly, his voice sounds strange through the mask. Strange, yet... Fitting. "You have a will, a will so vast it can move mountains."

I nod. I know its true. "Someday, I'll have the power to hunt down each and every child-abuser, and make them pay for what they have done. I will deliver justice to those that seek it, pain to those who deserve it."

Bane nods. "Yes," he says. "You will."

Hagrid is a half-giant. That's the only explanation for his size. He is huge. A bulky black coat, baggy black pants, black boots makes him look even bigger. His bushy black beard reaches his chest, long, dark, scraggly hair hangs to his shoulders.

"WATCH YER STEP!" Hagrid warns us, as the ground slopes downwards.

We walk on a narrow, steep path, lined by trees. Loose soil slides from beneath my feet, the sound of pebbles being displaced reaches my ears. I never lose my balance, and keep an eye out for Sally.

I needn't have bothered, she slips only once, and steadies herself immediately. Selina has taught her well.

"Ye' all get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

We make the bend, and I stop for a second to take in the view. The narrow path opens suddenly onto the edge of a great black take.

And there, perched atop a high mountain, rises Hogwarts Castle.

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The next chapter will give the background information for Sally, and explain further about Harry's past four years.

I understand the dates of the two universes don't match in this story. For the sake of this fanfiction, I am going only by the Harry Potter dates, seeing that the fic will be centered around the Potter universe.

Thank you for reading. Do leave a review. Praise, concrits, questions, suggestions are all welcome. I try to respond to every review via private message.

Cheers,
Timefreak