Godfather Owl: Guardian of Batman [90]

Bruce returned to the dormitory, weighed down by thoughts of the conversation he had just overheard in the Headmaster’s office.

He knew the story Gryffindor had mentioned was about Harry Potter, one of the few to have survived the Killing Curse.

According to Dumbledore, it was his mother’s love that saved him.

Now, Ravenclaw wanted to prove that the magic of love was a mistake?

How would she prove it?

Would she cast the Killing Curse on Harry again?

Bruce couldn’t say.

Perched on his shoulder, Kathoom was bursting with energy.

“Alright, Bruce, it’s time for us to act!” the owl declared with fierce determination. “Before Ravenclaw makes her move, let’s get to Harry first and give her a taste of her own medicine!”

“That’s… a little extreme.”

Bruce shook his head. “I don’t think Ravenclaw would be that insane.”

It was as if he had completely forgotten that it was his own theory he was now dismissing.

According to Gryffindor, Ravenclaw herself was currently missing, and the hidden chamber in Hogwarts symbolized her intent.

“Where do you think Ravenclaw could be hiding?”

Bruce mused aloud, “Gryffindor mentioned that her power is incomplete because she’s missing her artifact.

“If we can figure out what that artifact is, we might just find her.”

He glanced at Kathoom. “Any guesses?”

“I haven’t a clue,” Kathoom replied, shaking his head. He then plucked a small object from his feathers—a tarnished diadem.

With a flick of his wing, the tarnished diadem transformed, taking on the shape of a thorned crown.

Kathoom placed it on his head.

“How do I look?”

“A little… off,” Bruce muttered absently. “But since you’re wearing the Diadem of Wisdom, how about using it to help me think? Let’s figure out what Ravenclaw’s artifact could be.”

If they could track down the artifact, perhaps it would lead them to Ravenclaw herself.

—

It was time for another Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

Perhaps due to the recent attacks, the young wizards had been attending class under a dark cloud, their spirits noticeably dampened.

Bruce cast spells at a training dummy while Hermione practiced beside him.

The two of them whispered to each other.

“Malfoy’s father has already visited the school several times,” Hermione whispered. “He’s on the board of governors.”

“Apparently, according to Malfoy’s boasting, the board isn’t happy with Dumbledore’s handling of things, and now many of the parents are starting to complain.”

Bruce, however, remained unperturbed.

“That’s just a pressure tactic. Right now, no one can replace Dumbledore.”

He shrugged. “Removing him would mean shutting down Hogwarts, and I doubt the board wants that.”

Hermione nodded; that was indeed true.

Despite the tension, she didn’t feel particularly worried. After all, from every angle, Hermione didn’t fit the profile of the previous victims.

Neville, on the other hand, had apparently taken to sleeping with one eye open, terrified that one day he might fall asleep and never wake up.

After all, the message was clear: The Fool Shall Not Find Release.

“Don’t worry, Hermione. Hogwarts has weathered a thousand years; it’ll get through this too.”

Bruce thought for a moment, then added, “Maybe we should focus more on next year’s course selection.”

He was referring to the elective courses they would need to choose by Easter.

Hermione didn’t hesitate. “I’ve already decided—I’m signing up for every single class.”

“But some classes clash with each other. How are you going to manage that?” Bruce asked.

“Don’t worry. I asked Professor McGonagall, and she assured me there’s a way.”

Hermione hesitated, then gave Bruce a tip. “I can’t tell you the specifics, but if you’re also considering multiple electives, you don’t need to worry about the schedule.”

Really?

Bruce was intrigued.

Overhearing this, Kathoom immediately understood the solution McGonagall had in mind.

The Time-Turner.

A device that manipulated time itself.

With a sigh, Kathoom reflected that if Bruce got his hands on something that could alter time, knowing him, he’d delve into it deeply, determined to master it.

Across the multiverse, there seemed to be an unspoken law:

Anyone who gains the power to heal will inevitably take the worst beatings and suffer the most deaths.

And if Bruce were to wield the power to change the past, reality itself would be sure to stir up trouble.

Hogwarts might find itself dealing with something even graver next year.

“Oh well, fortune favors the bold,” Kathoom mused. “Besides, if I get my talons on a Time-Turner, maybe I’ll finally learn a bit of time magic myself.”

—

After class, Professor Gael asked Bruce to stay behind.

His stern expression made the other students leave as quickly as possible, with Hermione casting a worried glance over her shoulder, fearing that their whispered conversations had been discovered.

Once everyone else had left, Gael spoke.

“Wayne, I finally managed to dig up some useful information.”

He said, “I believe I’ve found a way to counter Dumbledore’s Reflecting Charm.”

“So, let’s try it out. I’ll cast the Red Comet Charm at you, and you defend yourself.”

Gael clearly couldn’t wait to show off.

But Bruce shook his head.

“Professor, I’m not an idiot.”

He looked at Gael as if the man were the fool. “If you’ve already found a way to counter it, why would I voluntarily step up to get hit?”

“Um…”

Professor Gael was left speechless.

It was like he had told Bruce, I can beat Dumbledore, you know.

Ordinarily, Bruce was supposed to reply with disbelief, giving Gael the perfect setup to display his skills.

But Bruce’s response amounted to I believe you, throwing off the entire script.

“I can’t believe you, Bruce.”

Gael wracked his brain for something to say. “Dumbledore personally taught you that spell, and you don’t want to prove it can’t be defeated?”

“No, Professor,” Bruce replied calmly. “The power of a spell lies in the wizard using it. Even if I fail, that wouldn’t disprove the strength of Dumbledore’s spell.”

This comment finally broke Gael’s composure.

After the embarrassment he had suffered previously, he had finally found a way to turn things around, and now Bruce was denying him the chance?

Not happening!

In a flash, Gael drew his wand, firing the Red Comet Charm directly at him.

Bruce sighed inwardly. Was Professor Gael seriously behaving even more immaturely than a twelve-year-old?

“Reflecting Charm!”

Resigned, Bruce raised his wand, and a shield shimmered into place around him.

Just then—

The red light, which should have struck the Reflecting Charm shield, vanished abruptly—it was an illusion.

A second Red Comet appeared in the air.

It had been there all along, only hidden from sight.

And now, with the shield gone, the red light was about to hit Bruce.

Bruce turned to dodge, only to see the second Red Comet disappear too.

“Hahaha! How’s that? Impressed?” Gael laughed triumphantly. “From the moment you saw me raise my wand, your vision was compromised. The Red Comet you saw was only what I wanted you to see.

“I call this spell the Phantom Charm.

“Bruce, I’ll teach you how to cast it. You can go and give Dumbledore a surprise!”

By creating illusions, Gael had manipulated Bruce’s perception, causing him to misjudge when to use the Reflecting Charm. It was, without a doubt, an effective counter.

“That spell actually seems rather interesting.”

Kathoom flew down to perch on Bruce’s shoulder. “Amp up its power by ten times, and you could control all five senses.”

—

T/N: Lmao kathoom is legit showing the relic bruceee