Godfather Owl: Guardian of Batman [106]
"Gryffindor!"
The Sorting Hat's declaration was met with thunderous applause from the Gryffindor table.
The house prefect, Albus Dumbledore, leapt to his feet, shouting to his housemates, "That's my sister! Do you hear me? I'm her favorite brother!"
His best friend, Elphias Doge, clapped along with a wry smile.
"You've mentioned that quite a few times," Doge quipped. "The whole school knows you have a sister!"
"Hahaha! Doge, I can hear the jealousy in your voice!"
Albus laughed loudly, clearly relishing the moment.
Meanwhile, Ariana skipped toward the Gryffindor table. Albus waved eagerly at her.
"Over here!" he called. "Sit with me!"
But Ariana merely glanced at her older brother, huffed, and skipped to the other end of the table—where their other brother, second-year Aberforth Dumbledore, was seated.
Albus sat down awkwardly, his smile faltering.
"I thought you were her favorite brother?" Doge teased.
"Things… happened," Albus muttered, evading the question.
"Well, one thing's for sure now," Doge said. "Your sister will have nothing to fear in Gryffindor. With you as a prefect and Aberforth doing so well, who could dare harm her?"
"Yes… who indeed…"
For a moment, Albus's bright blue eyes clouded over, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.
---
"Hurrah—!"
Inside the Room of Requirement, the Superman illusion Bruce had conjured roared as he charged forward.
He crouched low, his powerful arms at his sides like a predator ready to strike, before launching into a ferocious assault.
The silver claws on his hands scraped against the floor, sending sparks flying as he lunged at his target.
Ravenclaw casually pinched a few lumps of clay and threw them. The clay morphed into magical creatures to block his path.
Superman tore through them with relentless force, ripping the clay beasts back into formless lumps and letting out a wolfish howl of rage.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Ravenclaw extended a finger, casting the Killing Curse.
The green light struck Superman square in the chest.
He stood firm, his broad chest absorbing the impact, and the curse dissipated harmlessly.
A spell that destroyed souls had no effect on a Patronus.
For a moment, he truly seemed like a Man of Steel.
"Interesting," Ravenclaw mused. "Using the Patronus Charm like this? Bruce, how many more surprises do you have in store for me?"
"That's none of your business, old woman."
While the illusion fought on, Bruce didn't stand idle. He advanced from another angle, charging toward Ravenclaw.
"Ravenclaw, there's something I've never understood," he called out mid-sprint, his tone as sharp as his movements.
Bruce had perfected the art of trash talk—his words struck as effectively as his fists, and the two worked in perfect harmony.
Unlike her composed demeanor, Ravenclaw's focus wavered.
"You're one of Hogwarts' founders. Why would you turn on the school?"
"Isn't it your greatest achievement?"
"If you return now, Hogwarts wouldn't hold it against you. You could even become Headmistress—Dumbledore might agree."
"So why make yourself an enemy of Hogwarts?"
As Bruce taunted her, he channeled his magic into his fists.
Just as he had once dreamed, he fused magic with raw physical power.
Now, it was time for Ravenclaw to experience the result firsthand.
"An enemy of Hogwarts?"
Ravenclaw turned to him, her gaze steady and cold.
Bruce's fist was inches from her face when she lifted a single finger.
In an instant, Bruce's form twisted unnaturally and vanished.
The next moment, he reappeared in the far corner of the Room of Requirement, his punch smashing into the stone wall instead.
"Argh—!"
Bruce clutched his hand, gritting his teeth against the pain.
But what truly shook him was Ravenclaw's effortless counter.
Did she just… Apparate me?
Ravenclaw had moved her opponent instead of herself—a feat Bruce hadn't thought possible.
If she can do that… how can I even get close to her?
"Bruce, you said I've made myself an enemy of Hogwarts?"
Ravenclaw's voice drew his attention as she shook her head.
"No, you're mistaken. It is Hogwarts that has turned against me."
"It betrayed my expectations and became something I never wanted it to be."
"If that's the case, then it's better to destroy it and start anew."
"Hogwarts can be destroyed, but it must never lose its essence."
---
"Brothers and sisters!"
In a dark, shadowy graveyard, Grindelwald stood atop a stone platform, addressing his gathered followers.
"I know why you are here—to seek something new, a new order!"
"Yes, we are gifted with power, and with that power comes the right to rule!"
Thunderous applause erupted around him. Grindelwald raised a hand to quiet the crowd.
"But!"
His voice shifted, his tone sharper. "With our rule comes responsibility—a duty to the Muggles we would govern.
"Our cause is not one of vengeance against them but of bringing greater prosperity to the world!"
His words carried to every corner of the crowd as his eyes fell to the front row.
There stood Albus Dumbledore, smiling softly, offering light applause.
Encouraged, Grindelwald pressed on.
"To bring the world love, truth, and a brighter tomorrow!"
As the words left his lips, Grindelwald faltered briefly.
A brighter tomorrow… is it still possible?
---
"Bruce, I've been holding back," Ravenclaw said, standing calmly in the center of the chamber.
Bruce was buried in the stone wall, restrained by two stone hands covering his eyes to prevent his beams from firing.
The fight was over.
Struggling proved futile, and his Superman illusion had long since vanished.
Victory was out of reach.
"You've demonstrated remarkable creativity," Ravenclaw continued. "You have the potential to join a new Hogwarts."
"If you stay in this world, I'll even train you to become the next Headmaster."
"Why do you keep insisting on creating a new Hogwarts?" Bruce asked. "What's so wrong with the one we have now that you need to destroy it?"
Ravenclaw chuckled. "What's so right about it?
"Bruce, when I returned, I studied the current magical world."
"It was a disappointment."
"A thousand years, and there's been no progress. Ancient magic is lost entirely."
"And Hogwarts? It's been stagnant, occupied by fools."
"When my daughter betrayed me, I waited for her forgiveness until my death."
"I've seen the same blindness in this generation—teachers and students alike, consumed by their obsessions instead of advancing magic."
"How can such people maintain Hogwarts?"
"Look at these dreamers trapped in their illusions—they can't break free."
"Such fools don't deserve to join the next era!"
At last, Bruce understood Ravenclaw's intentions.
The dreams weren't punishment—they were a test.
Only those who woke up on their own would be deemed worthy to join her vision of a world guided by wisdom, where magic reigned supreme.
"So, you don't seek to prove love is wrong?" Bruce asked.
"Of course not. Only Godric would believe such nonsense."
Ravenclaw smirked, gesturing to the glowing orbs around her.
"That loudmouth has been insufferable for a thousand years. I sealed him away just to shut him up."
"It wasn't easy. We fought, and in the process, the entire school lost two hours."
Bruce immediately connected the dots. She was referring to the missing hours of Hogwarts' timeline.
"How is that even possible?"
"This is magic, Bruce," Ravenclaw replied. "Have you truly forgotten time spells?"
Bruce had no answer.
Ravenclaw sighed, clearly losing interest.
"You've stalled long enough. No reinforcements have come."
She narrowed her eyes. "Were you truly just hoping for a miracle?"
For the first time, Bruce smirked.
"Of course not," he said. "Haven't you noticed something… strange, Ravenclaw?"
Her eyes narrowed further.
"What did you do?"
"When did you get the idea I hadn't cast the Illusory Charm?"
Suddenly, Bruce disappeared from the wall.
Ravenclaw turned sharply to find him standing a short distance away, Kathoom perched on his shoulder.
Both were staring at her.
The owl!
Ravenclaw froze.
When did I stop noticing the owl? He's been here this whole time… right?
On the other side of the room, Bruce and Kathoom were deep in a heated argument.
"Why did you have to mention the Illusory Charm?" Bruce demanded. "We could've trapped her longer!"
"Oh, please!" Kathoom retorted. "Stop treating Ravenclaw like an idiot. Besides, that line was too good not to say!"
'When did you get the idea I hadn't cast the Illusory Charm?'
"Wait a second!" Kathoom paused, his eyes narrowing. "You said it in your voice?"
What?!
Kathoom lunged at Bruce, wings flapping wildly.
"Give me back my epic line!"
But Bruce wasn't listening.
Even he had to admit—it felt pretty good delivering that line himself.
Meanwhile, Ravenclaw felt a rare sting of humiliation.
Had she really been trapped by a child's illusion?
It meant Bruce had outwitted her, if only briefly.
Unacceptable.
"You left the owl as a deliberate flaw?" she asked, her voice cold.
"A distraction I wouldn't notice?"
Bruce instinctively shook his head. That wasn't the case at all.
Kathoom's presence was too chaotic to include in the illusion without everything falling apart.
But then Bruce stopped.
Why should I explain myself to her?
"Yes," Bruce said confidently. "That's exactly what I did. Not so clever now, are you?"
"Not so clever…"
Ravenclaw's gaze darkened as the words echoed in her mind.
"Bruce Wayne!!!"
Her composure shattered as her anger flared.
"You're losing it!" Bruce shouted, retreating quickly.
Ravenclaw's fury manifested in a deafening eagle's screech.
"Fury of the Patronus!"
A blood-red eagle materialized, filling the chamber with its ominous presence.
The room darkened, the air heavy with blood-colored mist.
Bruce staggered, his lips turning pale as his body weakened.
What's happening?
"Why is her Patronus red?!" Bruce gasped.
"I don't know!" Kathoom squawked, for once genuinely baffled.
But Bruce wasn't worried.
He knew help had arrived.
Two silver phoenixes burst through the walls, flooding the room with radiant light.
One wrapped itself around Bruce, its warmth protecting him.
"Don't forget me!" Kathoom screeched, diving into the glow as well.
The other phoenix dove into battle, clashing with the blood eagle in a fierce aerial fight.
Ravenclaw turned toward the glowing orbs, her expression hardening. Two of them were now empty.
"How?" she demanded. "How did they wake up?"
"Because the love found in dreams can't compare to the love of reality!" Bruce declared.
"Dreams are illusions. They saw through them."
"And now, they're back."
Back in the imperfect world they had chosen.
Kathoom nodded solemnly.
"What you love," he said, "is your life."
---
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