Harry Potter is the property of J. K. Rowlings and Supergirl the CW. I own nothing and I don't make any money from this story.

_o0o_

Chapter 9: Infinite Darkness, and Infinite Hope

"What earth did you spend the most time on?"

"..."

"What earth did you spend the least time on?"

"..."

"Have you ever teamed up with other versions of yourself?"

"..."

"Oh come on. I'm begging you. You can't just leave a guy hanging like this. Ok, just-just answer this question: have you met other versions of us while you were traveling between other earths?" Winn had been like this ever since they returned to the DEO from locking the staff in Harry's vault.

Harry got a brief respite when Winn gave up for the night and went home to sleep. But from the moment he returned to work that morning he had barely left Harry alone.

He had been relentlessly bombarding Harry with questions. Questions about his life, what the books had gotten wrong, the Speed Force, the other earths he had visited and of course what other amazing, magical and historic items he had stashed away.

Through out all of this Harry had stayed silent. Utterly ignoring Winn, no matter how much he pressed.

'Give it up Winn. I gave you and your friends each a question you could ask me about. You aren't getting anything else today.' Harry thought as he reclined on the break room sofa again. 'I put up with Colin Creevey for five years. You're not going to break me in a few hours.'

"Ok, fine." Winn threw his hands into the air ten minutes later. Finally conceding he wasn't going to get anywhere. "I just thought we could talk about other earths and have a guys night while Kara and Alex have their girls night."

Winn didn't see Harry sit up as he walked out of the room. 'Now thats interesting.'

_o0o_

"I just have to sign a few things and then we can go. Shouldn't take more than a minute." Lena assured her as they stepped into her office. They had just been planning to go to lunch together when Lena remembered some papers she had to sign.

"Its fine. No worries." Kara distractedly reassured her. Lena didn't have many friends (or any really) before Kara and she still worried about her work at L-Corp getting between them. She had yet to realize that it would take a lot more than the busy schedule of a CEO to scare her off.

Though Kara was worried she wouldn't be very good company today. She had been a little distracted ever sense getting back from Harry's vault in the Speed Force.

She was trying not to dwell on the images that she had seen when she looked into that infinite space. She didn't know if those visions were the result of her own imagination brought about by the breathtaking lights, or if what Harry said was true and the 'entities' in the Speed Force were showing them too her. And if they were shown to her, were they figments of her psyche or moments of the past... and quite possibly the future.

She had already resigned herself to probably never knowing for sure.

Beside, she had other more pressing things to contemplate. Like the things they had learned about the speedster himself. But as usual, the more answers they got, the more questions seemed to come up.

The idea that he was a criminal wasn't that shocking. But the idea that he was put here by an extra dimensional higher power wasn't just shocking. It was a bit terrifying. And the way he described the terms of his parole made it sound like they sent him to each earth with a specific purpose in mind. He had been on their earth for months, what purpose could they have for him here that he hadn't fulfilled already?

And then there was the most concerning part. Kara had stayed awake well into the night imagining exactly what crime he had committed that pissed off the entities in the Speed Force.

Kara stopped herself there, because she knew if she went down that rabbit hole again she would completely miss lunch with Lena. But no matter what she did, she knew the thought was still lurking in the back of her mind.

'The more we learn about him, the less we seem to know.' Kara reflected as Lena's voice dragged her back to the here and now.

"Kara, you remember Sam, don't you?" Lena asked, looking mildly concerned for her friend.

Kara startled for a moment before looking at the other woman whose entrance she had completely missed. "Yes, of course. Its nice to see you again. Sorry for spacing out on you there. I was just a little distracted thinking about tonight."

"Oh, you guys are having a girls night? Well I hope you have fun." Sam said a little disbondantly. She couldn't remember the last time she got to enjoy a night with her friends.

Seeing the look on Sam's face, Kara had an idea. "Why don't you join us. You know, the more the merrier."

Sam looked like she was about to say yes before she held herself back. "I would love too, but I have so many things to do."

Kara wasn't willing to give in that easily. "Oh come on. What ever it is can wait for one night." Sam looked like she was battling with herself over refusing. In that moment Kara decided to play dirty. "And you know Lena isn't going to take no for an answer right?"

Lena hadn't said anything since Kara extended the invitation. She wanted Sam along but her manners kept her from inviting her to Kara's apartment for Kara's girls night. But hearing her best friend use her to give Sam a push was all the incentive she needed to make her opinion known.

"She has a point." Lena said as a wicked grin spread across her face and she pointed at Kara, showing her support of Sam joining them.

Kara nodded in satisfaction as Sam agreed to join them and asked if she should bring anything. Lena's simple reply of 'booze' was lost on Kara as a pamphlet on the desk caught her attention.

It had the Kryptonian symbol of Rao.

_o0o_

Harry walked out of the store with his arms laden with bags full of food, spices and seasonings. The little family owned store was small and out of the way, but had every thing he was looking for and they boasted fully organic products. Many in National city didn't even know it was there. But after browsing their isles, Harry decided he was going to become a regular.

It least as long as he was on this earth.

'Not that it matters much at the moment.' Harry thought as he gave his watch a quick glance. It was getting late and he had a lot of work to do before tonight. So ducking down an alleyway, he looked around for witnesses before he vanished with a whoosh and a flash of silver. He had a dinner to prepare.

_o0o_

"Its just wrong Alex. That Coville guy is twisting the teachings of Rao into a cult. A cult that worships me. How can people buy into that?" Kara again insisted as they stepped off the elevator to her floor. She had been like this ever since they had left the DEO after she, James and Winn had gone to visit that gathering hosted by Alexander Coville.

Alex let out a sigh. Her sister hadn't stopped ranting since they left the DEO. Not that Alex blamed her. She imagined she would feel the same way if some one had built a cult around her. The problem was that she didn't know what to tell Kara to make her feel better. Because even Supergirl couldn't stop foolish people from doing foolish things.

'Maybe I should just try and change the subject. A nice distraction could get her mind off of this.' Alex reasoned with herself. "There is nothing you can do about it tonight. So lets focus on having some fun with friends. You have been so much happier lately."

Kara knew what her sister was doing, and she chose to just smile and indulge her. "I'm just really looking forward to a night off with friends. We need a little time to just unwind." Kara impressed upon her sister. Not that she needed to as Alex was in full agreement.

"I hear you. A chance to relax and get drunk with friends and loved ones is exactly what I need." Alex agreed with her little sister. She raised the bottle of Merlot wine to emphasize her point. "Have you decided what kind of take-out you plan on ordering?"

"I figured I would ask Lena and Sam for their opinions when they get here." She said as she stuck her key in the lock and opened the door to her apartment. "But I'm thinking either pizza or potstickers sound..."

Alex was confused when Kara trailed off mid sentence and stood frozen in her door way. She was even more confused by the vast aroma of delicious smells that assaulted her senses as soon as the door was opened. Stepping behind her sister, she looked over her shoulder at what had stolen her attention.

Alex was shocked to find Harry of all people standing in her sisters apartment. No not just standing, cooking in her sisters apartment. He was between the center island and the kitchen counter, right in front of the stove. Wearing black slacks and a forest green Henley shirt, and a white chefs apron of all things. Alex was a little surprised it didn't have Kiss the Cook written on the front.

"What are you doing in my apartment?" Kara asked, partly confused with a sprinkle of annoyance.

Harry actually looked flummoxed by the question. He looked down first at his apron, then at the various dishes and utensils on the center island before turning to look behind him at the array of spices and and other ingredients that were scattered across the counter top.

Finished with his assessment, he finally turned back to face them and answered, "Is that a trick question? I'm making dinner for your girls night."

He spread his hands out to his sides, showcasing what he had been up to as if making some big reveal. And as always, he theatrics seemed to piss Kara off.

"We can see that." Kara practically snarled. She stopped herself from continuing and took a deep breath in and out, trying to gather herself. Alex was impressed with the control she was showing over her temper. In the past she might have blown up at him. But it seemed Kara was making an effort to be civil. Alex was proud of her little sister.

Of course, Alex didn't blame her for being angry. He might have done them a favor by cooking for them, but he did break into Kara's apartment to do it. And even though she should be outraged on her sisters behalf, it was hard to do when the smell of his cooking had drool pooling in her mouth. She swallowed at the sight of the dishes already on the table.

'Is that roast duck?'

"How did you even know we were having a girls night?" Kara questioned.

"Same way I knew about Alex's bridal shower. Winn has a big mouth." Harry's reply was so quick and simple, it was almost dismissive. Then his tone turned inquisitive, "You know, in some ways Winn reminds me of Hagrid. That man had a kind heart, but bless his soul he couldn't keep a secret."

Kara and Alex both chose to ignore the odd comparison of Hagrid the half giant with Winn the IT gremlin.

"Well we appreciate the effort, and the food. But you need to go. Sam and Lena will be here any minute and we need to clean this up before they arrive." Kara emphasized while stepping towards him, probably to usher him out.

Harry looked around again as if he was just seeing the mess he had made. "Oh, don't worry. I've got that covered."

With his usual whoosh a lightning storm appeared in Kara's apartment. And not two seconds later there wasn't a single thing out of place anywhere. Alex half expected to see little sparkles on the counter tops. And a part of her was a little disappointed that he had cleaned things like a speedster. For a split second, she had hoped he might use a little magic.

But Alex ignored her disappointment to ask a more important question. "Why are you even cooking for us in the first place?"

"Well as I said before, I don't know how long I'm going to be here. And I thought it might be a good idea to get on your good sides for the foreseeable future. To that end, knowing a Kryptonian's appetite, I figured the best way to do that would be to bribe you with a gourmet dinner." Harry seemed to be very satisfied with his reasoning. And in truth, Alex couldn't fault him. Frosted cupcakes, potstickers and pizza, the fastest ways into Kara Danvers heart. That and saving Alex's life.

Though now Kara looked a little lost. Alex wasn't sure what was going through her head in that moment, but she didn't have to wait long to find out.

"Thank you. For dinner and for cleaning up." Kara managed in a subdued voice.

'Wow, that took strength.' Alex was so proud of Kara. She knew that couldn't have been easy. To Kara, thanking him for anything was probably like thanking someone for performing a root canal. Pain and gratitude made poor bed fellows after all. But it showed that her sister was trying to forgive him. 'You really are amazing Kara.'

"Your welcome. Though I don't suppose I can stick around and enjoy my own work with all of you?" Alex knew he was only joking by the slight upturn at the corners of his mouth. But knowing what her sisters reaction was going to be, she was impressed he could ask it with a nearly strait face.

"Absolutely not!" Kara just barely managed not to shout. "This is a night off with our friends. That means just our close friends only. No guys allowed. Certainly not you."

Alex could tell her sister was disappointed by the whine in her tone. But she was right, he hadn't been invited. More importantly, this is supposed to be a chance to catch up with Lena and Maggie. And Kara had been looking forward to this all week.

Harry looked a little put out that Kara had so vehemently rejected his company even if the offer was made in jest. It was getting a little tense for a few moments until the tension was broken by a knock at the door.

Looking for a reason to get out of the line of fire, Alex hurried to answer it. Opening the door, Alex came face to face with Lena Luthor and who she assumed was Samantha Arias.

"Hey Alex. Its good to see you." Lena said as she stepped inside with Sam trailing behind her. "I'd like you to meet my CFO and dear friend Sam Arias. Sam this is Kara's big sister Alex Danvers."

"Its nice to meet you." Sam said with a pleasant smile as she and Alex quickly shook hands. "What smells so good?"

"And who he is? I thought this was a girls only night." Lena asked while gesturing to Harry who startled out of his staring contest with Kara. His attention moved to examine Lena at the sound of her voice. His eyes widened momentarily before running up and down Lena inspecting her from heels to hairline.

"Oh Lena, this is-" Kara began, but Alex would never know exactly how her sister was going to introduce Harry Potter to Lena Luthor, because the man in question cut right across her.

"Evans. Harry Evans at your service." He practically jumped in-front of Kara with his hand extended in greeting with his charm on full and his dimpled smile in place. And Alex wasn't sure if it was her imagination but his accent seemed a little more pronounced.

Lena's face was torn between dubious and amused. She had clearly seen men act this way before when meeting her, but she seemed to enjoy it coming from Harry. Probably because she assumed he was a friend of Kara's.

He looked at her with equal parts satisfaction at her expression, and the attraction and lust of a man with the shield of gentlemanly courteousness. Lena found Harry Evans no less pleasing to the eye either. Enjoyed it enough to take his hand in greeting, or simply for proprieties sake. "Lena Luthor. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"The pleasure is all mine. And if I may be so bold as to ask, do I detect a hint of an Irish lilt in your accent?"

"My mother was Irish. A remnant of my years before I lived with the Luthors. Most people don't even notice it." Now Lena was smiling too.

Harry suddenly looked delighted. "You can speak Irish?"

"ar ndóigh. dála an scéil, conas atá mo bhéim? B'fhéidir go bhfuilim as cleachtadh." Lena responded with a playful challenge.

"Má tá an t-ádh ort a bheith i d'Éireannach ... Tá an t-ádh ort! agus tá do bhéim foirfe. An bhfuil tú cinnte go bhfuil tú as cleachtadh?" Lena actually laughed at his response. Though she was the only one. Looking at Kara and Sam's faces Alex could tell that they didn't get a word of that exchange either.

"So tell me. Are you the one we have to thank for this delicious looking meal?" Lena asked him without ever breaking eye contact. And considering they were still holding hands, Alex was starting to get a little uncomfortable.

"Yes, Kara is doing me a favor and I thought I would say thank you by cooking dinner for her girls night. Your menu includes a classic Cassoulet, Duck with green olives and Saffron Chicken." Harry pointed out each dish as he spoke.

Lena let out an appreciative sound in the back of her throat, somewhere between a hum and a moan. "I can't remember the last time I had a good Saffron Chicken. Do I dare ask what you made for dessert?"

If it was even possible, Harry's smile got wider as he gestured back to the kitchen island. "For dessert I made Tomate du Saltambique, which is—"

"A big seedless beefsteak tomato stewed for three hours in creme de caramel and stuffed with passion fruit, kiwi and hazelnuts, served on a pomegranate reduction." Lena interrupted, as she leaned over the plate of tomato's and inhaled deeply with her eyes closed.

Alex, Kara and Sam watched the two of them banter back and forth like they were watching a ping pong match. None of them exactly sure how to put an end to this... whatever it was that was happening. Fortunately, Harry seemed to have realized he had basked in Lena's praises long enough. "Miss Luthor-"

"Lena, please." She said as she turned away from their dessert to give Harry a dazzling smile.

"Lena. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He said with an equally charming smile for Lena. A smile that Kara didn't like if the frown on her face was any indication. And Alex couldn't blame her. She did not want a guy she didn't like getting so chummy with her best friend either. And seeing the looks they were sending at each other, she must have made the same decision Alex would have, 'best to nip this in the bud fast.'

Kara looked him in the eye before gesturing to Lena. "Harry, are you familiar with the phrase, 'that's too much car for you?"

Alex's eyes were the size of dinner plates and Sams jaw practically came unhinged. Lena just looked at Kara in amused surprise that she would say something like that. But Harry took it in stride.

"I believe that is a British saying. So, yes I am familiar with it." He answered, not at all flustered by Kara's insinuation. And the frown on her face showed that Kara didn't like that.

Though, thankfully Harry seemed to realize he had worn out his welcome. He clapped his hands and his tone which had been playful when talking to Lena, was suddenly all business. "Sam, it was nice to meet you. Lena, I do hope we can get to know each other in the future. I hope you all enjoy the meal. And I hope all of you have a lot of fun tonight."

He moved toward the door with every pair of eyes in the room following him. Though each for their own reasons. He opened the door, but before he stepped outside he turned back to face them.

"Oh and Kara, I just wanted to say one last time how much I appreciate what you're doing. It really means a lot, and I promise he won't be any trouble at all. Thank you."

Alex was too puzzled to ask what he was talking about before he spun around and exited the apartment. Narrowly missing Maggie as she walked up behind him, and barely said more than a quick, "Hi Maggie. Bye Maggie."

Maggie, looking just as flustered by the sight of Harry, didn't do more than wave as she stepped inside and closed the door. "What was he doing here?"

"Fixing dinner for us." Sam said, with a sweep of her hand to encompass the table and all the dishes upon it. Then she moved toward Maggie. "Hi, I'm Sam by the way."

Alex was distracted from her fiancés introduction by the sound of a whoosh coming from Kara's bed room. She had barely turned her head to see what it was when Lena's voice grabbed her attention.

"Kara I don't know what favor you did for him, but do it more often. I haven't seen a spread like this since the last time I was in a five star restaurant in Paris."

Sam was quick to back Lena up. "Yeah, exactly what favor are you doing for him that he would say 'thank you' like this?"

"Oh- uh. Well..." Kara tried to stumble for an explanation (any explanation). But was saved from having to come up with a lie on the spot by the sound of faint padding of bare feet coming from her bedroom area and moving towards them.

Lena was the first to spot the source of the sound promptly yelped in surprise. Then she practically shoved all of them back against the door before spinning to stand with her back to all of them. Shielding them from what had entered the room.

"I-is that a p-panther?" Sam nearly screeched in Alex's ear. The situation was made worse by Maggies mouth working almost too fast for her brain.

"Thats Harry—...y's panther. Thats Harry's pet panther. Isn't it Kara?" She barely managed to change gears mid sentence as she pointed at the large cat that was now staring at all of them.

"Uh, yes. Harry's pet panther... silver. His name is Silver." Kara said trying to redirect their attention from Maggie's near slip. Throwing out the only name she could think of in that moment.

"He keeps a panther?" Sam was beyond incredulity and rapidly approaching hysterical.

"Better question. Why isn't the panther in a cage?" Lena asked.

The three people in the room who knew that they weren't looking at a real panther, and therefore weren't in any real danger, didn't have a clue how to explain this. Fortunately, (or unfortunately) they were saved from having to answer by the big cat in question.

He had been standing in the middle of the apartment simply watching them act crazy since he walked in the room. Until he began prowling (for there was no other word for it, he prowled) towards them.

Kara, Alex and Maggie gave no outward reaction. Still at a loss as to why Harry had decided to sneak back into the apartment as a panther of all things. Sam on the other hand practically threw herself back flush against the doorway with a loud thump, and stood stiff as a board as the (to her knowledge) dangerous predator moved toward them. Lena had a similar reaction of tensing muscles, but where Sam clearly wanted to flee, Lena raised her arms behind her back to encompass the four of them and prepared to fight for the lives of her friends.

This proved unnecessary for as soon as he was close enough he began rubbing up against their legs. Or more precisely, rubbing up against Lena's legs. Nuzzling her with his head and arching his back, he was behaving like a regular house cat. And Lena, who had decided to dress casually in yoga pants and a sweatshirt, promptly burst into a fit of giggles.

"Stop... stop. Ha ha, that tick-tickles." Lena barely managed to say through all the laughing. Realizing they weren't in any danger, she began trying to push him away from her unprotected legs.

Alex felt like she was having an out of body experience, watching Sam step away from the door she had been backed against towards a laughing Lena and begin running her hand along Harry's furry head. When Lena started scratching his back the bottom dropped right out of Alex's stomach.

She knew what he was doing. Sneaking into the apartment as a panther, hinting he was a pet Kara was kind enough to watch and cozying up to Lena and Sam. 'He's gotten himself invited to our girls night. Did he plan this all along or just since Kara told him no.'

Looking to Maggie on her right, they shared a quick panicky look, and she knew her fiancé had come to the same sinking suspicion she had. With dread, she and Maggie both looked to Alex's left to gauge Kara's reaction to this new development. Seeing the red rage rising in her cheeks and the way her eyes flashed with heat vision for a split second, Alex knew there fun night had turned into one not so fun and very long evening.

_o0o_

"Ha ha ha. You can not be serious?"

"I swear, he asked me if I was baptized." Lena confirmed for Kara as she took another sip of red wine. "Apparently he only sleeps with good Catholics. And part of me kind of admired him for believing in something that strongly."

They all laughed from where they were situated around Kara's coffee table. Alex and Maggie cuddled up on the sofa, both of them holding glasses of red wine. Kara and Lena both sitting cross legged on he floor on opposite sides of the table. Sam was leaning back in the love seat. And they were all laughing at Lena's story about a one night stand that almost happened.

As Sam leaned forward to grab another slice of left over roast duck the sound right behind Kara grabs her attention and the smile drops right off her face as she whirls around to point accusingly at the source.

"No. You stay right there." She ordered the panther that had been laying flat on her favorite rug. Ever since they finished eating and moved to their current, more comfortable spots, he had practically jumped up every time somebody reached for the plate. And Kara scolded him every time.

"Oh Kara, relax. He hasn't done anything. I mean look at him, he's been perfectly content to lay in that spot the entire night. He isn't going to cause any trouble." Lena said, apparently think the 'well behaved pet' deserved an advocate.

"I know it isn't my place to say. But if you don't like cats this much, why did you agree to watch him in the first place?" Sam threw in her two cents.

Alex and Maggie had been staying stubbornly quite on the topic the whole night. It was hard enough acting like they didn't know there was a guy eavesdropping on their girl talk. They weren't about to draw any more attention to Harry then they had too.

"Its not that I don't like cats. Normally I love cats. My first pet was a black cat named Streaky. I just don't like that cat." Kara tried to explain while pointing back at Harry, who had the nerve to playfully paw at a tassel at the end of the rug he was laying on.

Kara couldn't believe he was putting on an innocent 'look at me, I'm just a playful kitty cat,' act. 'Rao just when I think I can't find another reason to hate him.' She thought to herself as she listened to Lena, Sam and even Maggie coo at him.

"Well he has behaved himself. I think he has earned a reward." Lena acknowledged before picking up the last slice of roast duck and waving it to get his attention. It took all of two seconds for him to jump to his feet and prowl right next to Lena, where he proceeded to deftly pluck his treat from between Lena's finger tips.

"You know, I don't think its the cat that Kara has a problem with, so much as the cat's owner." Sam pretended to whisper in Lena's ear. "I mean she didn't waste any time stopping your mutual flirting did she?"

At Sam's question, Lena looked up from where Harry had rested his head in her lap, and was now absentmindedly scratching behind his ears. "Yeah Kara, why did you do that? There something going on I should know about?"

Of course, Lena was less concerned about a handsome guy than she was her friends feelings. But she had to be careful how she answered, the topic of conversation was lying with his body curled around Lena's back (to her obvious delight), listening to every word.

"Do you remember that new agent at the FBI I mentioned that had 'gotten under my skin?" Kara said, alluding to their previous conversation at CatCo. Hoping to clue Lena in without actually giving details of the conversation. Not just to maintain the cover of the DEO, but so Harry didn't learn what she had said about him.

Lena had to think for a moment.

"Dangerous, arrogant, misguided, trigger happy and sets a horrible example for other agents? That was him?" Of course, being subtle didn't really matter when your friend didn't realize the guy she was describing was at that very moment resting his head in her lap. And glaring at Kara.

Kara just looked at the narrowed eyes and the ears laying flat against his head and gave up all attempt at subtlety. "Yup, that was him."

"He didn't seem so bad to me." Sam interjected. "I mean, he was handsome, polite and one hell of a cook. Not to mention the sexy British accent. And any guy who can make Lena laugh is ok in my book."

Normally Kara would be the first to agree with Sam on that issue (the making Lena laugh part. Not the handsome, polite and sexy part). Even if the guy in question was Harry. But she never got the chance. She was distracted by the positively devious smile that stretched across Lena's face.

"If things aren't working out at the FBI then I might have the perfect solution." Lena took a small sip of Merlot while she swiftly looked at each of them. "Send him to work at L-Corp. I can think of several positions I would love to have him in."

Kara and Alex both nearly choked on their own wine while Maggie laughed at their reactions. Lena's tone and emphasis on the word 'positions' didn't leave the slightest doubt about what she was eluding too.

Sam pretended to be scandalized. "Lena, down girl."

Kara thumped herself on the chest a few times to clear her airway. Much to the amusement of everybody else in the room. Thankfully, Lena decided to take pity on her. With a smile on her face she tried to tell Kara she was only teasing. And that would have made her feel better, if only Harry hadn't chosen to add insult to injury and start nuzzling Lena's cheek.

Lena was laughing again in seconds, and Harry looked right at Kara and gave her the cat equivalent of a smug smile. When Lena started scratching under his chin the bastard had the gall to start purring.

'Oh I swear to Rao you will regret this.' Kara thought vindictively. But was distracted from plotting revenge on the annoy Brit by the sound of sirens in the distance. Setting her glass down she tried to think of an excuse to leave the apartment with out arousing suspicion from Lena and Sam.

Thankfully, she didn't have to as Harry's cat ears perked up. He must have picked up what Kara's super hearing had.

Lena let out a brief "woah" as Harry practically vanished from her side and darted towards the door, thankfully not at super speed. He paced back and forth in front of the door once before lifting his weight on his back legs and standing with his front paws braced against the door. From that position, he looked back at them and started rumbling in his throat.

Neither Kara, Alex or Maggie could figure out exactly what the man disguised as a panther was doing. Fortunately, Sam thinking he was just a regular animal jumped to the right conclusion, "I think he needs to go out."

"I'll take him." Kara jumped up. Finally realizing that Harry was trying to give the two of them a viable and discreet excuse to leave.

"Do you need some company?" Lena offered, beginning to rise from where she was seated. Always willing to help Kara with anything.

Kara waved her off quickly. "Thats not necessary. This should only take a few minutes. We'll be right- HEY!"

While Kara had been talking, trying to keep Lena from coming with them she had opened the door and Harry had slipped out before Kara could even react. As soon as he was in the hallway out of sight of anybody but Kara, he changed back to human form and was off in a bolt of silver lightning.

Kara pretended to chase after him, but as she was closing the door she heard Sam ask, "Did we just let a dangerous animal loose in the building?" Mercifully, Kara was out the door and super-speeding down the hall before she had to hear whatever response Alex and Maggie came up with.

_o0o_

Harry was moving as fast as he could trying to reach the burning building before it collapsed. He knew Kara was right behind him, flying as fast as she could to help whoever might be in danger.

He was almost there when the flames seemed to burst outwards. Three firefighters had been standing at the entrance to the building when the flames erupted and the building started to collapse. From Harry's perspective, all three were frozen in mid air from the shockwave of the blast. The water hose they were holding between them loose and showering everything nearby in water.

He quickly grabbed each firefighter one at a time and pulled them from the reach of the scorching flames. Setting them right next to the nearest paramedic to be looked after.

He sprinted back into the building to look for more people. It was an inferno inside. The interior floors had already collapsed and the building itself was just one big incinerator at this point. But at the speed he was moving even the flames were nearly still. As long as he didn't linger too long it couldn't burn him. Not that it mattered. It would take a much hot fire than this to burn the material of his suit. So he was perfectly safe from the fire even if he moved at normal speeds.

Though his suit was fire proof (mostly) it wouldn't protect him from a building falling on top of him. Looking up he could see support pillars and drywall seemingly suspended in time above his head. But amidst the debris was the body of a man who must have been trapped on the roof, and was currently falling to his death. His objective in sight he ran for the nearest vertical pillar that hadn't yet fallen and began to defy gravity as he ran up the side.

He could see Kara descending through the hole in the ceiling the man had fallen through, both of them moving towards the only innocent civilian in the building. But Harry was moving faster and would reach him first.

Once he was at the same height as the unknown man, he bent his knees to gather momentum before launching himself off the pillar right at the falling man. Harry wrapped his arms around the mans body, his own momentum carrying them both across the open space.

The opposite wall was to far to reach with his momentum slowed by the falling man. But there was a metal beam falling right in front of him. And to a speedster, even an object falling through the air was still a decent landing platform. Once his feet made contact, he pivoted on his foot before running along the length of the beam, heading for a piece of falling drywall that was closer to the ground. He used that as a springboard to reach another standing pillar and ran down it to finally make it to the ground, and proceeded to sprint for the door before falling debris blocked it.

He made it just in time with the man none the worse for wear. He left him standing a safe distance from the building before rushing back.

He ran around the perimeter of the blaze as fast as he could, trying to create a vacuum that would encompass the entire structure. He had to circle more than a hundred times before the force was strong enough to suck the air out of the interior and extinguish the flames.

As soon as the flames were out, he ran back to the man he saved to see if he was all right. Kara had just landed in front of him, probably for the same reason.

The sounds of water running, fire engines blaring and people shouting abruptly returned as Harry came to a stop next to Kara and sound caught up with him.

"Are you alright?" He asked the man. The mans eyes moved back and forth between Harry and Kara for a moment as he looked positively devastated.

"You." He said, almost accusingly as he pointed at Harry. "You saved me. Why? Why did you save me."

Harry was puzzled. "Because if I hadn't you would be dead?"

"No. No. She was supposed to save me." He pointed at Kara, who was just as stunned and confused by the mans vehemence. "Not you."

Harry didn't understand where this attitude was coming from. "Why does it matter which of us saved you?"

He chose to ignore Harry and turned his attention to Kara. He even got down on his knees. He tried to reach out to her, but held himself back, as if he were afraid to actually touch her. "Have I done something to displease you? I wish to serve you, and walk with you in Rao's gladsome light. Tell me what you want me to do and I swear I will do it?"

The man was practically in tears as he spoke. Harry and Kara both watched in confusion and dawning horror respectively. Neither of them knew how to respond to what they were seeing. They were saved from having to answer by a blonde woman running up to the man and wrapping her arms around his shoulders and swiftly tried to console him.

"Its alright. Its going to be alright. You can't lose faith." Still speaking to the man on his knees, she looked up at Kara. "We'll just have to try again. You will be one of us."

At that point, a police officer came over to them and put handcuffs on the distraught man before pulling him to his feet and leading him and the unknown woman to the waiting paramedics.

Kara was so focused on watching them leave that she didn't notice Harry laying his hand on her shoulder until he was turning her to face him.

"Explain. Now."

Kara crossed her arms before giving him a look that he couldn't quite interpret.

"He set the fire to join a cult." Kara took a deep breath. "A cult that worships me."

She couldn't see it under his helmet, but that statement had shocked Harry into silence.

"There's a man named Coville, he runs it. He's teaching them that being saved by Supergirl anoints you. So he set the fire so that I would save him." She finished, more than a little subdued.

Harry was silent for only a moment more before he just shrugged. "I wish I could say that was the weirdest thing I had seen."

Kara tilted her head and crinkled her eyebrows. "You've seen weirder things than a cult of people that put themselves in harms way in order to be rescued by an alien who protects their city wearing a cape?"

"Do you remember what I told you about the Speed Force? Specifically about the entities that inhabit it?" Harry diverted.

"The beings that are supposedly made of energy and exist within the Speed Force and decide who becomes a speedster?" Kara tried to clarify.

"Exactly. On earth-7 the Speed Force is worshipped. And speedsters are regarded as its agents on earth." Harry explained, this time shocking Kara into silence. "For most speedsters its paradise. And it was pleasant. At least until they found out about the resentment the entities had for me. Then they almost came after me with torches and pitchforks."

Kara thought that was bad, but not really weird.

"Then there was the earth where I was in Australia and a man tried to convert me to the church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster."

Kara gave him a dubious look he was starting to become very familiar with.

"Seriously. Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. It didn't make much sense to me either."

'Ok, that is weird.' Kara decided to circle back to that some other time. "Come on. We need to go arrest Coville before he encourages somebody else to do something dangerous."

Kara made to take off into the air but was stopped by Harry's hand on her arm. "Whoa, now hold on just a moment. What exactly are you going to charge this guy with when you arrest him."

"He's encouraging people to put themselves in harms way." Kara tried to emphasize.

"Unless he specifically told those people to harm themselves or others, then its not illegal." He responded.

Seeing his point, Kara decided to try a different angle. "He is twisting the teaching of Rao into a cult."

"That is freedom of religion. Again, not illegal." Harry countered, to Kara's consternation. "Look you are making the same mistake with Coville that you made with me. Trying to arrest him when legally he hasn't committed any crime. I know its terrible, but even we can't stop stupid people from doing stupid things."

Kara's shoulders slumped, the fight going out of her. "So what do we do?"

Harry let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping too. "About Coville? No idea. But for right now, we need to get back to your apartment before we are missed."

Kara should have taken that opportunity to rake him over the coals about pulling that stunt of posing as a pet. But she just didn't have the energy at the moment. So she let him whoosh away and took off after him a second later.

_o0o_

Harry needed to relax. Thats why he was currently running on Winn's treadmill. Trying to clear his head.

Though he didn't show it in front of Kara, he was just as worried about the implications of a Kryptonian worshiping cult as she was. And he knew that Kara was right, that this needed to stop before it escalated. Though he wasn't going to admit to Kara that he agreed with her any more than she would admit to agreeing with him.

After they had gotten back and the girls night had wound down, he had returned to the DEO (before Lena and Sam left so Kara couldn't exact her revenge on him for his prank) to brainstorm on ways to solve this particular problem.

That was last night, and unfortunately the only solution he could come up with was to remove Coville from the equation. Something he knew that not only Kara, but J'onn and the DEO would frown on. And since he was now working with them he had to try to play by their rules.

He would cross that line if he felt he had too. After all, he still didn't know the purpose of sending him to this earth. Still didn't know what role he was supposed to play. What task to complete. But he didn't think this cult was it.

'If it was we would have heard about it long before now.'

So he was once again running on the treadmill while Winn monitored the energy flow. Apparently he had reworked the internal circuitry so that the energy he generated was absorbed and shunted to a capacitor in the power room to supplement the buildings power supply.

Winn had joked that the DEO was doing better than green, they were "going silver." Harry didn't care what they did with the electricity he generated, he just needed to run. And Winn was thankfully silent.

"Winn I need you to run a scan on a beta-hedron signature." Kara said as she entered the room.

Winn looked up from his computers in confusion. "A beta what?"

"It's like the omega-hedron that powered Fort Rozz only smaller."

Harry quickly slowed his pace until he could stop and listen to what was happening. He quickly followed the two of them out of the room as they got into a discussion about Kryptonian space probes. Harry wasn't even sure either of them realized he was following them.

"Ok, so you're saying Coville has an unlimited power supply with absolutely no idea what its capable of?" Winn clarified. Certainly peaking Harry interest.

"Yeah."

'Now I get why Kara looks so worried.' Harry thought to himself.

"Woah, hey I found it. Look at that." Winn said, putting what he was seeing on the main monitors. Alex walking up behind them, having been pulled into the discussion either at the mention of Coville or Kryptonian technology.

Harry concern grew as a flashing red light appeared on the screens.

"Woah. Guys this is bad. Its degrading."

"If some one doesn't stabilize that its gonna breach." Alex piled on to their rising panic.

"Guys, that enough to take out a city block."

But Winn's declaration, as alarming as it was, was only the tip of the iceberg. Kara could see Coville's real endgame. "He knows what its capable of. He was willing to burn down a building to get one recruit. Imagine how many recruits he would get with a bomb."

They all let that sink in for a moment, before Kara decided on a course of action. "I'm going to the community center to stop him." She spoke with her conviction to stop him ringing in every syllable. But was interrupted by Winn, who had a hint of dismay in his voice.

"Kara, the beta-hedrons not there."

"Then where is it?"

Winn clearly didn't want to say. Like not saying it would keep it from being true. Sadly they all knew that wasn't true. "National City University."

Harry just touch his necklace, causing his suit to flow out before tightening into place on his body. Raising his hand into the air his helmet came flying into his grip.

"Right behind you." He said as he dawned his helmet and followed her, Alex right behind them.

It only took them minutes to get to the stadium and seconds to find Coville and his followers. They were all on their knees in the basement, apparently praying.

"Oh bloody hell." Harry exclaimed.

"Coville." Kara said, getting the mans attention.

"Our prayers have been answered." He almost sounded euphoric.

"Whatever you did to the probe, you have to stop it now." Harry couldn't believe that Kara was actually trying to reason with this man. He had seen fanatics like him before. He wasn't going to stop just because she asked.

"Coville stop this now or I'll make you." Harry snarled. Sounding more like a panther than a man.

Turning to look at Harry in his black speedster suit, Coville's face twisted in anger as he pointed at Harry. "You're not supposed to be here."

"Neither are you." Harry advanced on Coville but was stopped by Kara's arm holding him at bay.

"What is the point of this? You can't believe this is Rao's will, to endanger the lives of innocent people." Kara tried again to make him see reason.

Turning back to Kara, Coville broke out into a smile again. "Don't you see the beauty of what we are doing. The same vessel that delivered Rao's word to earth has now become an instrument for destruction. To give you the chance to deliver thousands to our ranks. A test to reaffirm to yourself what Rao sees in you."

Kara just shook her head at him. She looked to his followers as well as Coville as she spoke. "Rao is peaceful. He would never ask his followers to endanger other people. What you are doing is an insult to him." Kara told them as she advanced on him. If she couldn't convince him, hopefully she could make them understand as she spoke with the strength of her own convictions.

Coville didn't listen. He was still behaving like a preacher at his pulpit. "What we are doing is in service of Rao. And in service of you."

Kara backed away in disbelief as they all bowed their heads. Harry hated to watch the look on her face as she realized that even if she could save them from the bomb, she wasn't going to be able to save them from themselves. She was torn between disbelief and heartbreak. Because she knew that in their minds they were doing this for her.

Kara stepped around him and moved towards the bomb. "Winn you are going to have to tell me how—." Kara never finished her sentence as stumbled a few feet away. Harry was swiftly by her side to catch her before she collapsed.

"Whats wrong with her?" Some one asked.

Harry ignored them. He knew what was wrong as soon as he saw the green glow of her veins. Coville tried to continue his sermon about how it was part of Rao's plan, but Harry wasn't listening. He was looking around frantically for the Kryptonite that was hurting Kara.

Not seeing the source of the harmful radiation, he considered trying to stop the bomb himself. But taking one look to assess the massive piece of alien technology, he knew that even with Winn's help he would never figure it out in the minutes that they had. Harry came to the unsettling realization that their best option was to make Coville, or more likely one of his followers, see reason.

Harry was in his face in half a second. He opened the lenses on his helmet. He wasn't going to show some one like Coville his face but he hoped looking him in the eye might have an effect. "You have to shut this down now."

"It is Rao's will that she will save us."

'That's It, I've had enough of this guy.' Harry released his claws, about to make good on his threat to make Coville shut down the bomb. But Kara had other ideas. She grabbed his wrist and squeezed her palm around the tips of his talons before showing her bloody hand to all of them.

"Don't you see? I am no god."

Seeing a Kryptonian bleed was enough to make Coville's followers lose faith and run. Coville stared at her as his heart crumbled in his chest. He looked at her like she had betrayed him. "I believed in you."

Thankfully, it was enough. He turned to the probe and activated a holographic screen and began the process of shutting it down. But it was to late. The betahedron had already become to unstable.

"That-that should have worked." Coville said as they watched the glowing power core begin to pulse. That was when Alex came around the corner with her gun pointed at Coville, ordering him to get down on the ground.

She joined Harry in kneeling next to Kara, offering what little assistance she could. The effects of the Kryptonite must have been devastating as Kara could barely breath and even her eyes glowed green. But she still managed to choke out a few words. "In-side... p-probe."

Rushing over, he found a hollowed out section at the back of the casing. It was protected by an energy shield. He opened it and removed a small sample jar containing what appeared to be two glowing green stones. Having an arm that moved at super speed meant he could throw as well as any professional athlete. So when he pulled back and let the container fly further into the underground facility, it got enough distance that John Elway would have been impressed.

With the Kryptonite gone Kara had stopped glowing green and was able to breath easier. But she was still panting and her arms were shaking. Alex was trying to help her but she couldn't yet rise to her feet. She wasn't going to be able to get her strength back in time to got the bomb a safe distance away. There was no way they could clear the stadium, and no way Harry could carry the bomb to a safer location.

That was the moment a brilliant and horrible idea came to him. "Winn what is directly below our location?"

Kara and Alex, who were both still on their knees, looked at him in confusion.

"You guys are at the lowest point in the stadium. Theres nothing beneath you but bedrock. Why?"

"Because I'm going to get the bomb out of here by phasing it into the ground."

The silence over the comms and the stunned looks on Kara and Alex's faces would have been hilarious in any other situation.

"I'm sorry, you're going to what?" Alex finally asked rising to her feet.

"We speedsters have the power to vibrate our molecules in such a way that we, and anything we touch, can pass right through solid matter. That thing is to heavy for me to move. But if I can phase it, then gravity should do the rest and pull it down into the earth. Buried beneath a couple hundred feet of earth and rock should contain the blast." Harry explained his plan as quickly as he could, and still made them able to understand him. Though it didn't lessen their disbelief.

"You're insane." Kara broke the silence. Barely managing to speak through her panting breaths. "That would leave you buried with it. How is that a plan? Why not just apparate it out of here?"

"I can't apparate it. I told you mixing science and sorcery can be dangerous. I might set it off." Harry tried to reason with them. "And I think I can make it back to the surface before the bomb goes off. Or I suffocate." He tacked that last comment on the end like an afterthought. As if the thought of being buried alive with a bomb wasn't of any concern.

Seeing them about to protest again at the thought of him suffocating he swiftly cut across them. "Using precise control I can maintain cohesion in certain places, like my feet and hands, long enough to let me climb back up. Its how speedsters keep from falling through the floor when they phase while running."

"Guys. I've been running the numbers while you've been talking, and I think he's right. It could work." Winn spoke in all of their ears.

Unfortunately, Alex had a sinking feeling that she wasn't going to let going. "If you're so sure this will work, why do I feel a but coming on?"

"But the probe is Kryptonian," Harry quickly explained, knowing that the clock was ticking. "That means its molecular structure is far denser than most others. Its the same thing that makes Supergirl bulletproof. I'm not certain I can vibrate it enough to let it phase."

"If you're not sure you can do it, why even suggest it?" Kara asked from her place on her knees.

"Do you have a better idea?" Harry countered hotly, knowing they were running out of time.

Kara remained silent as she exchanged a quick look with her sister. Then Alex looked him in the eye. "Do it."

_o0o_

Kara watched helplessly as Harry walked over to the probe and pressed his palms against it. She wanted to do something. Anything, so that he didn't have to be the one to take this risk. But she was just getting feeling back in her legs. She couldn't move herself, let alone the probe.

'Its up to him.' Kara thought in resignation.

Kara watched as Harry's body began to blur as he started vibrating. The outline of his body seemingly losing focus as he tried to phase the bomb. But nothing happened.

Harry stepped back for a moment as the betahedron started to glow even brighter and began to hum. 'We're running out of time.'

She watched Harry flex his hands and take a few deep breathes. Getting ready to give it another try. This time he didn't press his palms against it. He grabbed onto the panels around the core and started to vibrate.

This time, it wasn't just a fuzzy outline. His whole body was blurred, like looking through foggy glass. And sparks of silver electricity began to arc across his body. Kara could even feel a slight vibration in the floor. But even though the bomb itself was vibrating, it was only barely.

Harry was practically pushed back from the bomb by the backlash from the vibrations. Kara wash surprised to hear a loud growl come from Harry before he unsheathed his claws. He almost violently threw his right arm forward and dug his claws into the shell of the bomb. Then he dragged them across the metal, leaving a trail of sparks behind each finger, until they found purchase in the seems of the metal. He did the same with his left arm. Then he began to vibrate.

Kara could feel that this time would be different than before. It wasn't just in how the ground was shaking violently enough to loosen several of the ventilation pipes. Or how the air crackled with electricity, arcing not across his body, but jolting from him to any nearby metal surface.

No. It was in Harry. How he was vibrating so fiercely that his body appeared as nothing but a blur. A blur that glowed with all the energy coming off of him. Kara was having trouble watching, but no matter how her eyes began to sting she refused to look away.

They had to have only second left before the betahedron exploded. Kara could hear Coville praying to Rao. She could feel Alex's arms wrap around her. And she heard it as Harry roared loud enough to echo throughout the massive sub basement before he and the probe dropped beneath the surface of the concrete and vanished.

Silence was left as the entire room stopped shaking. Kara and Alex's eyes were glued to the spot where Harry and the bomb were before they disappeared, stunned by what they had just witnessed.

The tension was broke by a sudden pop and the crash of glass behind them that had them both release a brief scream. But looking back they saw pieces of glass on the floor and realized a lightbulb had exploded. Confused by the lack of... anything happening, Kara asks Alex, "If the bomb went off, shouldn't we have felt—"

Kara was interrupted by a muffled 'BOOM' that shook the whole stadium and had a few cracks splintering across the concrete floor. Alex instinctively tried to shield Kara's body with her own. They could hear the sound of screams coming from the thousands of spectators above who undoubtably also felt the explosion. But none of that mattered. The danger had passed.

But not the fear.

They were still staring at the spot on the floor they had last seen Harry. Hoping—praying that he would reappear. The tightness in Kara's chest was getting worse with every second that passed with no sign of the speedster. Tears were gathering at the corners of her eyes. The feelings of resignation and grief were burning their way up her throat.

Then a black blur reached up from the stone floor and fell to rest against it. Soon a shoulder followed. Then another arm that leveraged a head and torso above the surface. And finally, when his entire body was above ground, it came into focus as he stopped vibrating. Laying on his side, he gasped and panted for air like a man nearly drowned.

"Oh thank Rao." Kara and Alex both rushed on all fours to kneel at his side and see if he was alright.

"Paladin? Paladin! Talk to me. Are you alright?" Alex had her hands on both sides of his helmet, trying to get him to make eye contact with her. Which was proving difficult as he kept drifting in and out of consciousness.

"He's exhausted. Maybe we should get him back to the DEO first?" Kara tried to reason. But was interrupted by a weak whisper of a voice.

"I'm alright." Harry finally managed to stay awake long enough to say. He looked down, assessing his body. "Two arms, two legs, one head and I'll check the rest later to be sure, but I think I made it through in one piece."

Both of the Danvers sister just laughed at the Brit.

_o0o_

Kara was silent as she looked out at National city from her apartment balcony. She had been sitting in this same spot ever since she returned home after seeing Coville at the prison. He had given her a lot to think about. So much that she had been sitting in the same spot long enough for the sun to have set.

And it wasn't just what he had said to her. How he claimed he didn't remember her name. Kara knew that as worrying as it was having a man like Coville know who she is, Kara knew she couldn't do anything about it. No, it was the implications that he had brought to light. How the world looked at her, with all of her powers and abilities.

Adding fuel to the fire of Kara's thoughts was the aftermath of the stadium incident. Several of the cult members had their faith shattered upon realizing that for all of her gifts, Kara is in fact mortal. And those people now seemed lost. Unsure where to go or what to do with their lives now. Kara wanted to, but was uncertain how to help them. Or if help from her was really any help at all.

But potentially even more worrying were the members like Coville. Those few who, after once again being saved, dug their heels in and refused to see reason. Those that became, if possible, even more fanatical than they were before.

'Rao how do I fix this?'

"Knut for your thoughts?"

Kara jolted up from where she had been leaning back and turned startled eyes to find Harry standing in the doorway to her balcony. "How long have you been standing there?"

He just shrugged. "Oh about five seconds. But to a Speedster, thats practically an eternity."

"Why are you here?" Kara tilted her head in thought. "And stop breaking into my apartment."

"Even if its to make you dinner again?" He shot back cheekily. "And I didn't break in. I phased through the door."

It was a testament to how good a cook he was that Kara actually stopped and considered how to respond. "Did you come here to make dinner?"

"No." He answered with a smile as he leaned on the door frame. "Despite how much I enjoy cooking, I just thought I would check on you. A day like today can really mess with your head."

That was certainly true. But Kara didn't feel like hashing this out with him. "You enjoy cooking? I would think that after having to cook for your relatives you would hate cooking."

He gave her a dubious look. He knew she was trying to change the subject, but having seen how she usually responded to his blunt tactics, he was going to let her. "Actually I enjoy it. I mean, you're right, I did hate cooking for the Dursley's. No matter how much work I did they were never happy with the results. But then I cooked for my friends and I realized that who I cook for makes a huge difference in how I feel about cooking."

'Now that I can understand.' Kara thought as she watched Harry move from the door frame and take a seat next to her.

"So are you going to tell me whats on your mind or not?"

Kara briefly considered just telling him to leave, but she really did want to talk about this with somebody. And Harry was as close to an impartial observer as she had at the moment.

"I enjoyed the sermon." Kara said in a low whisper. She acted as if she was admitting to some terrible sin. "I enjoyed hearing the sermon, and saying the prayers and partaking in the rituals. On Krypton, our faith was central to our culture. Not just spiritually, but to our community. It was the cornerstone to who we were as a people."

Harry kept his face blank and didn't say a word. He didn't want to give Kara any reason to stop until she had gotten this off of her chest.

"And until I heard them again I didn't realize how much I had missed those prayers. Even when they were spoken by a man like Coville." She finished with a sigh.

After Kara fell silent, Harry took a moment to get his thoughts in order. "You know there is nothing wrong with that right? I mean, yes Coville is a sick man, but he was preaching from your peoples bible. A piece of your home. Of course it would resonate with you. Even when spoken by a total wanker like him."

Kara giggled. Her spirits lifting from both his reassurances and his description of Coville. But there was still something that was nagging at her.

"You know I just don't understand it. He saw me bleeding. He knows I can't be a god, and yet he still believes. Not just in Rao, but in me as a deity. How is that even possible." Kara asked while staring him right in he eye. Daring him to answer the question.

Harry just shrugged again. "Thats the thing about faith. If you don't have it, you can't understand it. And if you do, you don't need to understand it."

Kara just bobbled her head side to side in thought. "Or he's just living proof how crazy the human race can be?"

Harry wanted to stick up for his species. But he knew she had a point. "I wish I could deny that, but I've seen to many different versions of the human race to ignore the fact that as a people we are fundamentally insane. I mean, why else would we invent things like politics and reality television?"

This time Kara threw her head back and laughed unrestricted as she sat in her chair. She laughed so hard that Harry even started to laugh next to her. After about a minute he managed to get ahold of himself.

When Kara ceased laughing she turned a grim look towards him. "You know he thinks you're a god now too, right? After your little display of lightning and saving all of us, he is just as convinced you are a servant of Rao as I am."

Harry hadn't been aware of that. But he wasn't ready to open that can of worms, so now it was his turn to change the subject.

"So I admit, I had an ulterior motive for coming over than just to check on you." Kara just gave him the same dubious look that she always did when he admitted something like that. "I wanted to learn more about Rao and the Kryptonian faith."

Kara would have busted out laughing again were it not for the serious look on his face. "You're not kidding are you?"

He just continued to stare at her for another moment. "No. Say what you will about Coville but he was definitely charismatic. Between his preaching and seeing those Kryptonian artifacts I saw inside the probe...I find myself intrigued."

"Wow. Ok, if you want to know more I guess I could tell you. Although, I'm not sure I'm in the best place right now to do that." Kara tried to qualify. Talking to Harry had helped to lighten her mood. But there was still to many things hanging over her head for her to feel much better.

And of course Harry had a quote to make his point. "Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall—."

"...shall emerge into the light. Helen Keller... is one of my favorite authors. I love her works." Kara practically gushed. Her heart feeling lighter talking about one of her heroes. "I had to write a detailed report on her in my freshmen year of college. You know she was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. And despite all the challenges she faced, she was always hopeful."

"That quote by her felt appropriate, but my personal favorite is: We can endure infinite darkness, so long as we do not surrender infinite hope. She really was quite endearing." Harry informed her, with passion in his words and enjoyment clear on his face.

"That is beautiful. It sounds like something my mother always said to me back on Krypton." Kara paused for a moment, his words clicking in her mind. "Wait. You met her?" Kara exclaimed. If she wasn't interested in the conversation before, she sure was now.

"On earth-324. I stopped a mugger who was about to rob her. In return she let me stay in her home while I was on her earth. Of course, she didn't know I was a speedster from a different earth. I told her I was a traveler passing through."

"Wait. Helen Keller was deaf and blind. How did you communicate with her?" Kara questioned with her trademark crinkle between her eyebrows.

Harry smiled, and as he spoke he began to make elaborate hand gestures. "It took a few days, but she taught me how to sign."

"Helen Keller taught you sign language?" Kara was amazed.

"I have been to a multitude of different earths. And on each one humanity has taken a different course. Being multilingual is kind of a necessity." He said with a nod.

Kara nodded back. "Fare enough. Now tell me: What's Helen Keller like?"

Harry just looked at her for a moment before he spoke. "I'll make you a deal. I'll tell you about Helen Keller, if you tell me about Rao. Deal?"

"Deal." And Kara held out her hand to shake before he gestured for her to go first. "Ok. Well Rao is what we called our sun. It was the light that brought life to our world. The priests and priestesses who..."

They would sit out on that balcony for hours. Not only talking about Rao and Helen Keller, but Krypton, Hogwarts and even some of the other earths that Harry had visited. It wasn't just the most civil conversation the two of them had ever had, it was the most personable. And if anybody saw them, they would think they were looking at two people who had been dear friends for most of their lives.

_o0o_

Well first let me say sorry for the long wait. I commented in the past about how I wanted to post at least once a month. But in fairness when I made that resolution I didn't factor in all the trouble Covid-19 would bring to daily life. That being said I hope to have the next chapter out before the end of next month as scheduled.

Second, let me say that I have been looking forward to Harry meeting Lena for ages and I think I did the scene justice. A little light hearted comedy for an otherwise painful episode. And it started the development of Harry and Kara actually being friends.

And you guys probably can't spot it yet, but in true Rowling's style I slipped something small into this chapter that is going to play a significant part later on. Something that's going to make a huge difference in Harry's fight with Reign. I'll bet you guys can't guess what. ;)

I also want to take a minute and say thanks to Kryptonian Lightning for posting the story 'Of Wizards and Kryptonians.' I said we needed more HPxSG stories and he posted one, so kudos.

Finally, I would like to say thank you to my beta kathryn518 for her help with this chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it and I look forward to your reviews. Good morning, good afternoon and good night.