Shadowflame

As we soared toward Mount Justice, the team's headquarters (aka, the coolest secret base ever), I couldn't help but glance over my shoulder at the oddball trio floating behind us. Galatea, Kr, and Dr. Caitlin Fairchild had no idea what kind of chaos they were about to walk into. And considering the squad they were about to meet, it would be anything but peaceful.

Landing smoothly, I saw the team already gathered. Some were hanging out in the common area, others were in deep, intellectual conversation (or pretending to look busy). The second the door slid open, every single one of them snapped to attention. Their eyes locked onto our new guests like they were magnets. And, of course, the first thing out of Robin's mouth was, well, typical Robin.

"Is it just me," he said, his voice dripping with curiosity, "or does Supergirl 2.0 look like she could be Supergirl's twin?"

Kid Flash, who'd apparently had his eyes glued to Galatea the moment she landed, stared like a kid in a candy store. "A curvier, more dangerous twin with… seriously impressive assets. Supergirl, you've got competition." He grinned like he had just made the world's greatest observation.

Zatanna and Mareena exchanged a look, both trying their best to be unreadable (which, let's be honest, they're both terrible at). Zatanna raised an eyebrow. "She does look like her... but I swear, the attitude is more 'I'm about to take over the world' than 'save it.'"

Miss Martian, who had been trying to keep it together around me for weeks (and failing), looked like she was about to explode with embarrassment. "She's definitely got a... presence," she muttered under her breath. Mareena shot her a knowing look.

Donna Troy, standing by the wall like she owned the place, crossed her arms and leaned back. "If I were Charis," she said with a grin, "I'd be all over that." She winked at me like she really enjoyed getting under my skin. "But I suppose I could also just be his aunt."

"Not that much of an aunt," I shot back, raising an eyebrow at her. "But hey, good to see you again, Donna."

"Likewise, Charis," she replied, her voice dripping with playful mischief. Great. I knew this was going to be trouble.

Galatea, ever the drama queen, adjusted her hair and surveyed the group like she was auditioning for a reality TV show. "So… this the superhero squad?" she asked, her smirk practically radiating confidence.

Kr, looking like he just wanted to punch something, scanned the room. His gaze lingered on Kid Flash's wide-eyed expression for a moment before he rolled his eyes. "Great. A team of dramatic teenagers."

Dr. Caitlin Fairchild, who had been quietly following behind the duo like she was late to a science conference, cleared her throat. "Uh, sorry about the entrance. They're a bit... intense."

Before anyone could ask another question, I stepped in front of the group, arms spread out like I was hosting my own game show. "Alright, alright. Let's all chill. Let me explain."

I gave the team my best cocky grin. "Meet the clone siblings: Galatea, and Kr. Oh, and Dr. Caitlin Fairchild. Galatea, Kr? These are my friends, my team."

"Clones?" Speedy interrupted, eyebrows raised like he was trying to solve a puzzle. "Like… super-clones? Of Superman and Supergirl?"

Galatea nodded, her flair for the dramatic shining through. "Yep. That's us. Super strength, heat vision, the whole package."

Aqualad, ever the analytical one, tilted his head and gave Kr a once-over. "You look like a younger Superman. I'm guessing... the parents didn't know?"

I grinned. "Don't think Lois is aware, no," I said. "Kr's basically what happens when Superman had a kid. But Cadmus didn't exactly ask for permission before making one."

"Which is why we're here," Galatea added, flipping her hair back like she was in a shampoo commercial. "Cadmus decided making clones of our dear Kryptonian heroes would be fun, so we broke out."

"Great," Robin said, his tone suddenly all-business. "And Cadmus is still out there?"

Galatea's smirk faltered for a split second, but she nodded. "They're not done. We're the first batch. They've got more plans. Bigger ones."

The team exchanged a few concerned glances, and I could feel the energy shift. Some of them were excited for the challenge, some were already planning how to deal with Cadmus' inevitable evil genius schemes.

Kid Flash, still looking like he was trying to flirt with Galatea (and, let's be honest, failing miserably), leaned forward. "So, uh… how about we do a little training? Maybe you can show me what you can do? You know… with your, uh, impressive set of skills?" His words trailed off as he gestured vaguely at her. He was trying, but his grin was all kinds of cringe.

"Oh, honey," Galatea said sweetly, but with a bite. "You wouldn't last five minutes."

"Five minutes?" Kr jumped in, sounding bored. "Try five seconds."

"Well, anyway," I interrupted, because this was getting awkward real fast, "we'll figure out Cadmus's next move and see what we can do. For now, let's get them settled in."

Deedee, who was always the first one to welcome anyone to the team, stepped forward with a grin. "We've got plenty of room. I'm sure Lee can set them up with everything they need." She gave Lee a quick look.

Lee, who'd been silently observing from his tech fortress (a.k.a. the screen-filled corner), looked up, grinned, and gave a thumbs-up. "Always happy to help out. You're in good hands here."

As Galatea, Kr, and Dr. Fairchild followed Deedee toward the guest rooms, the rest of the team stood there, still processing what had just happened.

"Well, that was… something," Ron muttered, still looking wide-eyed.

"Yeah," Fred added with an almost too-innocent grin, "Can't wait to see what happens next."

Meanwhile, Hermione, Ginny, and the rest of the crew couldn't stop shooting sidelong glances at me. They were still trying to figure out how I'd become the center of attention for more reasons than one.

Me? I just smirked back at them. What could possibly go wrong?

And honestly? I was already plotting my next move. Because this—this—was going to be one heck of a ride.

—

Deedee, aka Death (yes, that Death), wasn't exactly what the newcomers were expecting. Instead of a skeletal grim reaper, she looked like the poster child for a Goth fashion magazine: black boots, black jeans, black crop top, and a grin that screamed, Welcome to your afterlife, here's your complimentary existential crisis!

She practically skipped down the halls of Mount Justice, her black hair bouncing behind her as if gravity didn't apply to her, which, let's face it, it probably didn't. "Alright, newbies!" she called over her shoulder. "Time to find your rooms! First one to complain gets a lecture on the inevitability of death—and trust me, I really like giving those."

Trailing behind her was Lee Jordan, self-proclaimed 'man in the chair' and Mount Justice's answer to Alfred Pennyworth, if Alfred had been raised on Quidditch matches and sarcasm. He was juggling a clipboard enchanted to float, which was handy because it left his hands free for exaggerated facepalming every time Deedee opened her mouth.

"Do you have to scare them right out of the gate?" he asked, smirking.

"I'm not scaring them," Deedee said, spinning around to walk backward. "I'm setting expectations. Big difference."

Galatea, Kr, and Caitlin exchanged looks, each one silently communicating What fresh insanity is this? but following along anyway because, honestly, what choice did they have?

They stopped at the first door. Deedee shoved it open with dramatic flair, throwing her arms wide. "Tada! Galatea, welcome to your new digs. Queen-sized bed, ocean view, and—my personal favorite—snack bar! Stocked with all the essentials: chips, chocolate, and existential dread."

Galatea stepped inside, crossing her arms. "Do all the rooms come with dread, or is that just the deluxe package?"

Deedee gasped like she'd just been stabbed in her non-existent heart. "Rude. This room is a masterpiece! Do you know how hard it is to find furniture that screams clone of Supergirl with unresolved trauma?"

Lee cleared his throat. "Let's move on before Deedee starts monologuing. Again."

Next stop was Kr's room. Deedee opened the door with less fanfare this time but still managed to strike a pose in the doorway like she was on a talk show. "Mr. Tall, Dark, and Mysterious! Here's your room. Big windows, punching bag, private bathroom—oh, and I threw in some hair conditioner because, no offense, your hair looks like it lost a fight with a lawn mower."

Kr's hand twitched toward his hair, his expression somewhere between annoyed and confused. "It's fine."

"It's not," Deedee said cheerfully, turning to Lee. "Put 'teach Kr self-care' on the to-do list."

"It's already on there," Lee replied, scribbling on his floating clipboard. "Right under 'convince Deedee to stop breaking into the kitchen at 3 a.m.'"

"I regret nothing," Deedee declared, marching to the final room.

When they reached Caitlin's room, Deedee knocked once, then threw open the door like she owned the place. "Dr. Fairchild! The pièce de résistance! Desk for your science-y stuff, extra outlets for gadgets, and a bookshelf that organizes itself because I figured you'd have better things to do than alphabetize."

Caitlin blinked. "This is… surprisingly thoughtful."

Deedee's grin turned smug. "I know, right? If you need anything—more pillows, a necromantic consult, someone to vent about existential crises—I'm just down the hall."

Lee rubbed his temples. "And by 'just down the hall,' she means she'll probably pop out of thin air unannounced."

"Like I said," Deedee chirped, "just down the hall."

As the newcomers settled in, Deedee leaned against the wall, her grin fading into something softer. "They'll be okay," she said quietly.

Lee glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "You sound confident."

Deedee shrugged. "I know these things. Perks of being me."

And just like that, her smile snapped back into place. "Now, who's hungry? I'm thinking pizza. Hawaiian, obviously."

"Hawaiian?" Kr muttered under his breath. "Of course she likes Hawaiian."

—

I hit the comms button like it was a "prank the Man of Steel" button—because, honestly, that's what this was going to be. I could already feel the smirk stretching across my face. Some days, being a superhero was just a little too much fun.

The screen flickered to life, and there he was—Clark Kent, aka Superman, looking all calm and heroic. How does he do that? Every time I see him, I'm like, "Yeah, I could probably fly if I tried hard enough." Spoiler: I can't. But still, the guy's got this "I-have-the-weight-of-the-world-on-my-shoulders" vibe, and somehow, he pulls it off.

"Superman here," his voice came through the speaker, smooth like he was just ordering a coffee instead of dealing with a whole bunch of science-y drama.

I grinned like a cat who'd just eaten the canary. "Hey, Big Blue! How's life treating you? Hope you're ready for a little… surprise."

There was a pause. "Shadowflame? What's going on? Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, totally fine," I said, spinning in my chair because I needed something to do with my hands. "But I've got some news for you, Clark. You know how you've always wanted to be a dad?"

The silence on the other end was palpable. Like, you could feel the confusion swirling through the comms, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Uh… what?"

I leaned closer to the mic, trying to keep my voice casual, like I wasn't about to break the news that would make even Superman break into a sweat. "Congrats, Clark. You're a dad."

Another silence. I could practically hear the wheels turning in his head.

"I'm sorry, what?"

I grinned wider. "Yeah, you heard me. Just ran across Kr. Your son. Kinda. He's more of a… clone? But he's definitely got your genes. Well, technically, an amalgamation of your and some other genes made by Cadmus, but hey, same thing, right?"

More silence. This time, I was pretty sure Clark was trying not to explode. Superman, of all people, was probably having trouble processing this. I mean, who wouldn't be?

"A clone? Of me?" His voice had that concerned, confused tone that only Superman could pull off. "What are you talking about, Harry?"

I shrugged, even though he couldn't see me. "Oh, you know, just some secret Lex Luthor project gone totally wrong. Turns out, Cadmus made a clone of you. They've been keeping him under wraps for a while. But now, guess what? You're a dad. Kind of a 'surprise, no-warning, enjoy-parenthood' situation."

The silence on the other end? Yeah, it was so long, I was starting to think Superman had actually passed out.

"Harry, I—" Clark started, then stopped himself, like he was about to say something and realized it would only make less sense. "This doesn't sound real."

"Tell me about it," I said, kicking my feet up on the console like I was about to settle in for a long chat. "But hey, Kr is real, and he's looking for answers. He's with Galatea, who's Kara's clone, by the way. No biggie, right?"

There was a long exhale from Superman. I could hear him trying to keep his cool, like he was trying to keep a volcano from erupting in the middle of the Daily Planet. "Okay, I'm… still processing," he said slowly, as if he were trying to convince himself as much as me. "But… you said Kr and Galatea are clones of myself and Kara made by Cadmus? And Kr's my son?"

"Yep!" I said, leaning back in my chair. "Your Kryptonian super-clone son. Welcome to the club, Superman. It's a real parenthood initiation. The whole 'how-did-this-happen' thing? It's not a one-time conversation. You're gonna need to get a coffee for this one. Or two. Maybe ten."

Clark sighed heavily. "I… I didn't ask for this."

"Yeah, I'm sure it wasn't in your 'Top 10 Life Goals' list," I said. "But it's happening. And, honestly? He's probably gonna have a lot of questions for you. So… no pressure."

There was another pause. Superman wasn't exactly used to not having the answers, and I could tell this was throwing him for a loop. Finally, he spoke again, his voice quieter, more thoughtful. "So, what now? What do I do?"

"Well," I said, rubbing my hands together in anticipation of the chaos to come, "you get in touch with him. Figure out what he wants. You know, the usual. Except now you're probably gonna be talking to someone who looks like you but… maybe doesn't act like you. And he's probably really confused about his whole existence."

Superman's voice dropped to a softer tone, like he was thinking about all the implications. "I'm not sure I'm ready for this."

"Ready or not, Clark, it's happening. But hey, at least you've got a whole new adventure. A Kryptonian clone-son? That's new, right?"

Another sigh. I could tell he was giving himself a mental pep talk. "Alright," Clark said after a moment, sounding a little more like himself. "I'll figure this out. Thanks for… well, for telling me."

"No problem, Pops," I said with a grin. "I'm sure you'll do great. Just, you know, try not to accidentally teach him to burn the house down with his heat vision or anything. That's a whole thing."

Superman actually chuckled at that. "I'll try."

"Good luck," I said, cutting the line before he could think of anything else to say. Honestly, I was kind of impressed by how well he handled the whole thing. Superman, always the hero—even when it was his own paternity test that was the problem.

I leaned back in my chair, smug as ever. "Well, that was fun. Can't wait to see how he handles 'Dad of the Year' with that news."

—

Kr was not having a good night. Sleep? Forget about it. His brand-new bed at Mount Justice could've been made of marshmallows, and it wouldn't have mattered. His brain was on overdrive. Questions, doubts, and a sprinkle of existential dread—yep, the perfect recipe for insomnia.

So, like any responsible semi-clone person thing (he was still figuring that part out), he decided to wander the halls. It wasn't snooping; it was "familiarizing himself with the base." That's what he'd tell anyone who caught him anyway.

The corridors were silent, except for the faint hum of the tech. Kr didn't really know where he was going—he just let his feet take him wherever. Maybe he'd find something interesting. A gym? A library? A manual labeled So You're Superman's Kid, Now What?

He rounded a corner and froze. Out on the training field, silhouetted against the moonlight, was someone flying. Not hovering like a Kryptonian or jetting around like a speedster. Nope, this person was on a broomstick.

A broomstick.

The red-haired figure swooped down in a perfect arc, then shot back up, looping through the night sky like it was no big deal. Kr stepped closer, squinting to confirm that yes, it was Ginny Weasley. They'd met earlier that day during the whole "Hi, I'm Kr, and I'm new here" debacle. She hadn't said much to him then, but she'd been hard to miss with her fiery hair and sharper attitude.

Now? She looked completely at ease, like she was born to fly on a glorified piece of wood.

Ginny noticed him and brought the broom down in a slow, controlled descent. When her feet touched the ground, she smirked. "Couldn't sleep either?"

Kr shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Something like that. What about you?"

"Midnight flights help me think," she said, patting the broom like it was a loyal pet. "You?"

"I'm trying to figure out how you're… doing that," Kr admitted, pointing at the broom. "Flying. Without wings. Or, you know, powers."

Ginny grinned, clearly enjoying his confusion. "Magic."

"Magic?" Kr repeated, as if the word itself was an insult to physics.

"Yeah. You know, spells, wands, broomsticks? Surely even Superman's clone has heard of wizards." She leaned on the Firebolt like she had all the time in the world.

"I've heard of magic," Kr said, crossing his arms. "I just didn't think it worked like that." He gestured to the broom like it was the world's most confusing puzzle. "How does a stick fly? That doesn't even make sense."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "That's kind of the point of magic—it doesn't have to make sense. It just works." Her smirk widened. "Want to give it a go?"

Kr blinked. "Uh, no offense, but I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not? Afraid of heights?"

"Hardly," Kr shot back. "I'm not afraid of anything. I just… don't have magic."

"That's the beauty of it," Ginny said, mounting the broom with the ease of someone who'd been doing it her whole life. "You don't need magic. The broom does the heavy lifting. You just hold on and try not to fall off."

Kr eyed her skeptically. "And if I do fall off?"

"Then you'll prove gravity still works," Ginny said with a shrug. "Now, are you coming or what?"

After a long pause (and a mental pep talk about not looking like a coward), Kr sighed and swung a leg over the broom behind her. It felt… weird. Like it shouldn't be able to hold his weight, but somehow it did. He gripped the broomstick tight, suddenly regretting all his life choices.

"Hold on," Ginny said with a mischievous grin. "This might be a little fast for a first-timer."

Before Kr could ask what she meant, she kicked off the ground, and the Firebolt shot into the air. Kr's stomach did a backflip, and for a second, he was convinced he was going to fall. But then the broom leveled out, and he realized something: he wasn't falling. He was flying.

"This is…" He struggled for the right word as the wind rushed past them. "Incredible."

"Told you," Ginny said, glancing back with a smirk. "And hey, you're not screaming. That's a good sign."

They soared over the training field, the broom cutting through the air like a knife through butter. Kr couldn't help but grin as they climbed higher, the stars seeming closer than ever. For a guy who couldn't fly on his own, this was the next best thing.

Eventually, Ginny brought the broom back down, landing softly on the grass. Kr dismounted, still trying to process what had just happened.

"Thanks," he said, his voice quieter than usual.

"Anytime," Ginny replied, leaning on the broom. "But don't go telling everyone I let you ride the Firebolt. I have a reputation to maintain."

Kr smirked. "Your secret's safe with me."

As Ginny headed inside, Kr stayed behind for a moment, looking up at the sky. He still couldn't fly, but for a little while, he'd felt like he could. And maybe—just maybe—that was enough.

—

Clark Kent was not having a good day. Sure, he'd saved a bus full of school kids from plummeting into the Metropolis River (you're welcome, city infrastructure) and put out a forest fire in record time, but the real challenge? Coming home to Lois Lane when you have big news. The kind of news that could either make her laugh, yell, or—worst case—start taking detailed notes for her next Pulitzer.

He opened the door to their apartment, the smell of dumplings and the faint hum of Metropolis traffic filling the air. Lois was already on the couch, legs tucked under her, laptop closed (a rarity), and arms crossed like she was waiting for something. Clark, being an optimist, briefly hoped it wasn't him.

"Hey, Smallville," she said, raising an eyebrow. "You've got that look."

"What look?" Clark asked, even though he already knew.

"The one that says, 'Lois, I've got something to tell you, but I'm not sure you'll take it well, so I'm stalling.'" She tilted her head. "What's up? Alien invasion? Lex doing Lex things? Did Batman say something that hurt your feelings again?"

Clark sighed, setting the takeout on the coffee table. "We need to talk."

Lois straightened up, her reporter instincts flaring. "Wow, we're skipping the dumplings? Must be serious."

"It is," Clark admitted, sitting beside her. He fiddled with his tie, which Lois immediately clocked as a bad sign. "I found out something today. Something… unexpected."

"Unexpected like Superman-level unexpected, or are we talking, 'Clark accidentally forgot to wash his cape again' unexpected?"

He gave her a look, and she held up her hands. "Sorry. Go on."

"There's a boy," Clark began, choosing his words carefully. "His name is Kr. And he's… well, he's kind of my son."

Lois blinked. Twice. Then stared at him like he'd just told her he moonlights as a professional juggler. "Your what?"

"My son. Sort of," Clark clarified quickly. "He's a clone. His DNA is part mine. He was created by Cadmus, and—"

"Cadmus?" Lois interrupted, leaning forward. "The shady government lab with a God complex? That Cadmus?"

"Yeah, that one," Clark said, his tone dry. "Anyway, Harry—Shadowflame—told me about him. Kr's been through a lot, and he's trying to figure out who he is. He doesn't know about me yet, but… I thought you should."

Lois didn't say anything right away, which was always a bad sign. Instead, she folded her arms and gave him a long, thoughtful look. "Okay. So let me get this straight. You have a teenage clone son—who you've never met—and you just found out about him today?"

"Pretty much."

"Anything else I should know? Secret alien cousins? Evil twin?"

"Well," Clark said hesitantly, "there's also a girl. Galatea. Same situation."

"Of course there is," Lois muttered, running a hand through her hair. "Because why stop at one surprise kid when you can have two?"

"I know it's a lot," Clark said quickly. "I just… I don't know what to do. Do I talk to him? Do I wait for him to come to me? What if he doesn't want anything to do with me?"

Lois let out a long breath, her sharp gaze softening. "Smallville, you're Superman. You've spent your whole life proving that you're more than just a guy who can punch asteroids. You'll figure this out."

He managed a small smile. "Thanks, Lois."

She smirked. "Just promise me one thing."

"What's that?"

"When you do talk to him, don't lead with, 'Hey, I'm your dad.' You'll freak him out."

Clark laughed despite himself. "Noted. No dramatic entrances."

"Good," Lois said, grabbing the takeout bag and pulling out a box. "Now eat. You're going to need your strength for this one."

—

I'd like to say I was winding down for the night. You know, maybe sipping on some tea, getting ready to fall into bed and lose myself in sweet, sweet oblivion. But the universe doesn't work like that when you're me. No, I was helping Lee Jordan get settled into his new role as "Man in the Chair" (which, I'm not gonna lie, sounds cooler than it actually is) when I realized I had completely forgotten what sleep was.

For anyone unfamiliar, "Man in the Chair" is that person who sits in a room full of flashing buttons, screens, and communication devices while heroes on patrol get all the glory. Lee was handling it like a pro, which, honestly, made me kind of jealous. I was expecting him to mess it up in the first five minutes, but no. The kid was a natural.

I glanced over his shoulder at the screen. "You sure you've got this?"

He didn't even look up, just clicked a few things like he'd been doing this for years. "Aqualad's gonna need to avoid the alley by 5th and Main. It's a prime spot for an ambush."

"Kid Flash is gonna find that alley," I warned, rubbing the back of my neck. "That kid loves running through walls, so... good luck."

Lee laughed. "Well, I'll try to keep him from running headfirst into a trap."

I grinned. "Good luck with that."

Once the patrol was on track, I did the thing every superhero eventually does: I decided it was time for bed. I mean, come on, I had three girlfriends waiting for me, and a very comfy bed. Kara (Supergirl), Kori (Starfire), and Deedee... Yeah, life wasn't too bad. But as I was heading to my room, I heard a soft sound echoing down the hall.

It was… a figure. A tall one. With suspiciously good posture. Galatea.

Now, for context, Galatea wasn't your average girl-next-door type. Not unless the girl next door was a super-powered clone of Supergirl with a bit of a flair for drama. I've known her long enough to recognize that look—part annoying younger sister and part I'm-gonna-make-your-life-hell-but-you're-gonna-like-it.

And right now, she was standing there in a t-shirt that was definitely two sizes too small. White panties. I mean, really, this was not the way I planned to end my evening.

"Shadowflame," she said, leaning against the wall like she owned the place, all casual. "Nice to see you're finally taking a break."

I squinted. "Uh… Galatea? What are you doing here?"

She gave me that sly smile. The one that, I swear, could make even Superman second-guess his life choices. "Oh, you know. Just taking a walk. Wanted to… catch up with you."

"Catch up?" I repeated, trying to not sound as confused as I felt.

She pushed off the wall and took a slow step toward me, like she had all the time in the world. "Yeah. I've been hearing some things, Shadowflame. About you. About Supergirl." Her lips curled into a smirk. "About your Supergirl."

Great. Just what I needed.

"What things?" I asked, trying to keep the awkwardness to a minimum.

"You and Kara," she said, her eyes glinting with amusement. "You two are… quite the pair. But that's not all I heard. You've got some other… connections too, don't you?"

Oh, great. The whole "dating three superpowered women" thing. Definitely not the conversation I wanted to have tonight.

"I, uh…" I cleared my throat, hoping the ground would swallow me up. "It's a bit more complicated than that."

Galatea stepped closer, tilting her head in that way that made everything feel weird. She had that knowing look in her eyes. "Complicated, huh?" she said softly. "I've always liked complicated."

I'm sure my face was redder than a tomato at this point. "Galatea, listen. I really need to get some sleep. I've got a patrol to help run tomorrow."

She didn't seem at all bothered by my obvious discomfort. In fact, if anything, she seemed to be enjoying it. "Sleep? Oh, I'm sure that can wait. There's something I've been dying to talk to you about." Her voice was a low, teasing whisper that made it impossible to concentrate. "Alone."

It was at that moment that I realized I was completely out of my depth. Galatea wasn't just your average flirt. She knew what she was doing. And I had a very bad feeling I was about to get caught up in something I couldn't escape from without a few awkward consequences.

"Look," I started, trying to regain my composure. "I—"

"You're not gonna leave me hanging, are you?" she interrupted, her voice dripping with that sweet, dangerous edge. "I promise I won't bite… unless you want me to."

I blinked. I could hear my inner voice screaming at me, Run, Harry, run!

But I didn't run. Because, well, I never do. And, frankly, I wasn't sure if I was even capable of running from that kind of temptation.

I sighed. "Fine. Talk."

And as soon as I said it, I regretted it. Galatea's grin widened, and I could practically feel the impending awkwardness closing in.

—

Alright, let's just talk about the elephant in the room: being surrounded by beautiful, powerful women? Yeah, it's like a dream come true... except it's also like walking into a live-action soap opera where the plot is constantly changing, and no one can agree on whether it's a comedy or a tragedy.

So, there I was, just minding my business, trying to figure out how to politely tell Galatea—aka the Supergirl clone with a personality that could win over a room full of battle-hardened superheroes—that maybe she wasn't the next addition to the Harry Potter Girlfriend Experience.

And then, as if the universe decided to spice up my life, a little movement in the shadows caught my attention. I mean, I was already bracing for something weird to happen, but this was next-level weird.

First out of the shadows was Deedee. You know her. She's the kind of person who would probably outsmart Sherlock Holmes and then mock him for it. She had this all-black outfit on that looked like it came straight out of a goth rock concert, with enough attitude to match. If there was an award for "Most Likely to Own a Mysterious Bookstore that Sells Forbidden Artifacts," Deedee would win it, hands down.

She looked at me with a smirk, like she'd just pulled off the best prank of the century. "Well, well, well," she said, crossing her arms. "Seems like I was right. Galatea here's gonna win you over. I mean, I knew it. Bet's paid out, and I'm feeling smug as ever. Maybe next time I'll bet on you finally cleaning your room."

I couldn't even respond to that because I was too busy trying to keep my jaw from hitting the floor. I mean, what was happening right now? Was I being pranked? No, this wasn't a prank. This was... an intervention? Maybe a really weird intervention.

Before I could process any of this, Kara made her grand entrance. She was wearing one of my old Gryffindor Quidditch jerseys—way too big on her, by the way, which only made her look even cuter (if that was possible). She was also rocking my old boxers, and I swear, the sight of that was enough to make me forget my own name for a second.

"Yeah," she said, like she was about to deliver some earth-shattering news. "So, um, we kind of made a bet too. Kori and I versus Deedee. And, uh, I guess I lost. So now, we're adding Galatea to the... club."

I blinked a few times. "Wait, you bet on me too? What is this, some kind of reality TV show? I'm not even getting paid for this drama!"

And then—because life clearly wasn't trying to give me a break—Kori stepped into view. I mean, Kori. In one of my old T-shirts. And—wait for it—a thong. Yep. You read that right.

She grinned like she was about to drop the hottest gossip of the century. "Mmm, I always knew you'd be trouble, Harry," she said with that playful tone she had, the kind that made me feel like I was being gently teased while also being terrified for my life. "Guess you're gonna have to juggle more girlfriends now. Enjoy the circus!"

"Okay, okay, wait," I said, feeling like I was about to have a nervous breakdown. "Did you guys actually have a bet on whether I would let her—" I pointed to Galatea. "—join the team? Like, this is really happening?"

Deedee just shrugged. She was too cool to even care. "Yep. Solid investment," she said, with that classic Deedee grin. "And honestly, it's not like you haven't made room for chaos before. Plus, Galatea is... well, she's persuasive. She knows how to ask."

Kara sighed dramatically. "Ugh. I guess we have no choice now. We've been waiting months, Harry. MONTHS! Mareena, Zatanna, Megan, they've all been so patient, and then Galatea just swoops in and—"

"Boom," Kori interrupted, dramatically snapping her fingers. "And just like that, she gets the front row seat."

"Exactly!" Kara threw her hands up. "It's like we've all been waiting for our turn, and then she just—poof—gets VIP treatment."

At this point, I wasn't even sure whether I should laugh or cry. "Wait, wait, so you've all been waiting months for me to give those girls a shot, and Galatea—on her first day—just gets to waltz in and join the crew?"

Deedee grinned wider, clearly enjoying my existential crisis. "Oh, don't worry, big guy. You don't get a say. Galatea won, fair and square. Plus, she asked nicely. You gotta give her points for that."

And then, because the universe wasn't done torturing me, Galatea—sweet, charming, and way too adorable for her own good—leaned in, her smile a mix of innocence and mischief. "So," she said, in the kind of voice that could melt my resolve with one word. "If I get to join the club, does that mean I get to cuddle with Harry too?"

Kara raised an eyebrow. Kori grinned. Deedee, of course, was loving every second of my misery.

I just stood there, a man completely out of his depth, trying to figure out if I was the luckiest guy on the planet—or if I was slowly being dragged into a never-ending drama-filled vortex of chaos and way too much estrogen.

Finally, I just threw my hands in the air. "Can someone please just tell me if I'm supposed to feel lucky or cursed?"

Kara, always the realist, smirked. "Both. Definitely both."

And that, my friends, was the moment I realized my life would never be the same again.

Guess it's time to learn how to juggle.

---

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