Godfather Owl: Guardian of Batman [41]

Dumbledore apparated onto the stone bridge just outside of Hogwarts.

“Bruce has still gone in, hasn’t he…”

His heart was heavy. A gifted child had still strayed onto the wrong path.

Quirrell was one thing, but now Bruce, too, had his sights set on the Philosopher’s Stone.

Dumbledore was utterly disappointed. He had made up his mind; after Tom’s example, Hogwarts could not be allowed to foster another dark lord.

“Bruce, I gave you a chance…”

He murmured softly, preparing to enter Hogwarts. He’d chosen to apparate here to give himself a moment for a mental buffer before facing what lay ahead.

However, Dumbledore had only taken a few steps when he noticed two figures standing quietly outside the gates, waiting for him. He recognized these two from Lupin’s memories.

Jason Todd and the dark wizard Gibbon.

Jason stood there with a smile, unfazed by the presence of the legendary wizard, Dumbledore, despite being a Muggle himself.

“Gentlemen—”

Dumbledore greeted them kindly. “I don’t believe Hogwarts has extended you an invitation?”

“No, we came uninvited.”

Jason took a step forward. “Remus has escaped here, hasn’t he? Hand him over. He’s someone I hold dear, and I’d rather he not get caught up in what’s about to happen.”

Caught up?

Dumbledore continued smiling, unperturbed. He knew that while Jason was skilled with a gun, he had no magical abilities. A bullet or two would hardly be enough to harm him.

In fact, their fight would likely be over within seconds.

“Mr. Todd,” Dumbledore replied, “I think you may have misunderstood something. Remus is my student. Hogwarts is his home.”

“Dumbledore, drop the act. I know you think I’m weak and unworthy of speaking to you on the same level.”

Jason shrugged. “And I admit, on my own, I probably don’t stand a chance against you.”

Dumbledore glanced at the dark wizard, Gibbon, standing beside Jason.

Did Jason really think that with this dark wizard’s help, he could succeed?

“Don’t look at him.” Jason kicked Gibbon to the side. “He’s got nothing to do with this.”

He tapped the side of his head, and a red metallic mask folded itself over his face.

“I know you’re probably a good person, but I’m sorry. I have my own code.”

The Red Hood moved toward Dumbledore.

“I have three reasons I have to fight you—”

Jason spoke slowly, and Dumbledore listened calmly.

When facing a non-threatening opponent, Dumbledore never minded a little conversation.

“First, your existence keeps Remus conflicted. He won’t let go of his principles to pursue his own happiness.

“Second, one of your professors told me you killed your sister in cold blood, all for some so-called ‘cause.’

“And third—”

Jason paused for a moment, revealing the deepest grudge he held against Dumbledore.

“Third, with you as headmaster, Hogwarts has become a place where Bruce Wayne feels at home.”

Jason’s gaze turned icier.

“I’m going to destroy everything Bruce holds dear!”

Dumbledore’s expression didn’t change. He kept the same calm smile.

“I see, Mr. Todd,” he said. “But I won’t just stand by and let you destroy my school.”

“I know.”

Jason raised his hand and extended two fingers. A small vial appeared between them, containing a green liquid.

“So, I’ll let them handle it.”

—

Inside the Philosopher’s Stone room.

“Well then, let’s reason this out once again!”

After comforting the crestfallen young bat, Kathoom had regained his resolve.

As his godfather, he had to show some godfatherly dedication. From his feathers, he produced a crown and set it on his head.

“There’s just one thing I can’t wrap my head around—what exactly did Quirrell get from Jason?”

As soon as the crown touched his head, Kathoom’s mind cleared, and previously ignored clues suddenly pieced together.

The owl’s face turned grave.

“I understand now.”

He sighed. “Quirrell, as Voldemort’s host, originally wanted the Philosopher’s Stone to revive Voldemort.

“But if he doesn’t need the Stone now, there’s only one explanation—he’s found something better.

“With no obsession over the Stone, he could easily retrieve it from the Mirror.

“So, what’s better than the Philosopher’s Stone, and connected to DC?”

The owl looked up at Bruce, who still seemed completely bewildered.

“Little bat, pay close attention to what I’m about to do.

“Jason came to this world from DC with a piece of [Metal]!”

—

Outside the gates of Hogwarts.

Dumbledore watched as Jason raised a vial above his head, though nothing happened immediately.

An awkward silence settled over them.

“Mr. Todd,” Dumbledore said with a smile, “I am rather busy at the moment.”

“I know, just wait a second!”

Jason, clearly annoyed, turned to Gibbon and shouted, “Are you ready yet? Stop dawdling!”

“Almost, almost!”

Gibbon held his wand up nervously in response.

He’d only just had his powers restored by Quirrell and was still getting used to casting spells again.

Just as Gibbon spoke, the ground between Jason and Dumbledore began to tremble.

A black, decaying cabinet slowly rose from the earth.

Dumbledore frowned, sensing an unprecedented menace from the cabinet.

In fact, it looked less like a cabinet and more like—

A coffin!

“We searched for almost a year, and while we didn’t manage to gather them all, three should be enough.”

Jason uncorked the vial, and a drop of green liquid floated up and merged with the coffin.

“I thought this one would be the hardest to find, but surprisingly, he was the first we found. It helped that I stole that notebook and found his late-life retreat.”

Dumbledore’s heart pounded. He’d already guessed what Jason was summoning.

His smile vanished entirely.

He could no longer maintain it.

The black coffin began to shake, as if something inside was struggling to emerge.

With a flip of his palm, Dumbledore summoned the Elder Wand into his hand.

Creeeeak—

The black coffin slowly opened, releasing an endless stream of black mist. From within, a skeletal figure in a tattered robe stepped out.

The skeleton wizard leaned on a snake-shaped staff, shuffling forward slowly, his bones loose and gradually knitting together.

Two eerie blue flames ignited in his hollow eye sockets.

“Who are you?” The skeletal wizard lifted his head to gaze at Dumbledore.

As he opened his mouth, his jawbone detached and fell.

“Albus Dumbledore, current headmaster of Hogwarts.”

Dumbledore answered with the utmost solemnity.

“Hogwarts has a headmaster now? Then you must have heard of me.”

The skeletal wizard lifted his hand, reattaching his dislocated jaw with a grinding of bone against bone.

“You may call me… Salazar Slytherin.”

—

T/N: I am unsure even in the original it’s Metal… I think It’s the lazarus pit liquid right? ughhhh my head is not in good shape to be thinking about this