Greengrass Manor…
Daphne had a good Yule, her sister had been babbling on and on about what she had missed during her time in Hogwarts and how she couldn't wait till September for her to attend Hogwarts as well saying that she wanted to either be in Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Knowing how her personality was the opposite of hers, Daphne bet Astoria would end up in Hufflepuff. Despite having a good time with her family her mind was somewhere else, she often thought about the blue and green eyed boy and if he had read her letter, if he would hate her for telling him the truth on that way, or, like in a good fairy tale, he would tell her that he loved her and they would be happy together with them riding into the sunset and sharing a true love kiss, Daphne shook her head and buried those thoughts deep into her mind, she had to face the sad truth, he was in a relationship and she was going to honor that and honor what she had said in the letter, she would leave him alone.
It was midmorning when the fluttering of wings could be heard outside her window, she quickly let her owl, Gaia, enter her room, the poor owl looked exhausted, perhaps she should had put in the instructions to wait at least an hour before flying back to her, Daphne quickly gave the tired bird a bowl of fresh water as well as some salmon she always kept around for her little girl.
She looked at the girl with kind eyes, many people thought she was an "Ice Queen" but she had Gaia since she was 6 years old and Gaia was a hatchling so she felt a strong connection to her little girl as she liked to call her. As she was stroking the owl's head she was a little bummed out, nostalgic even, then she noticed that her owl had a small white envelope and a small paper box attached on her right leg.
"What's that?" Daphne said "Gaia, did Harry sent anything?" She asked the suspiciously at the owl who simply hooted nonchalantly. "Once again you go against my orders" Daphne said as a remark. "Should I open it?" She wondered but then the package and the envelope grew larger in size to their real size.
"A simple spell" Daphne reassured herself but while she said something her heart was beating faster than never before while her stomach was turning and churning inside of her. She read the package label
"To Daphne, from your beloved Harry"
Her heart definitely skipped a beat at reading the label but she could at the same time feel the smug smile he must have made as he wrote the addressee. "That prat" She thought to herself, she was about to open both the package and the envelope when Tracy opened the door of her bedroom.
"HAPPY YULE DAPH!!!!" The other girl said yelling and rushing to hug the blonde who simply let herself be hug. "Come on we have a day full of activities in our future!" Tracy said grabbing Daphne's hand dragging her along, Daphne casted a quick glance at the forgotten letter and package that now laid on her bed. "I guess it can wait" Daphne thought as she saw her sister was already waiting for them.
--
On December 26 the Black-Bones family alongside Remus Lupin, The Tonks and Narcissa and Draco Black arrived on the Wayne Private just as the jet finished lowering its stairs two figures rushed outside yelling
"HELENA!" The twins Reggie and Jimmy raced towards their friend Helena Kyle-Wayne who rushed towards them as well, they met half way and hugged each other tightly.
"REGGIE! JIMMY! It's so nice to see you!" Helena said to her friends, they were already ten years all and they haven't seen each other in months so they had a lot of mischief to create to compensate for the loss time.
"Bruce it's so nice to see you" Amelia said embracing the man who so nicely had let them borrowed his jet, thought she preferred to travel by floo, in her state she preferred the comfort of the muggle transportation.
"I say the same thing Amelia" He looked over Sirius shoulder and saw no baggage nor trunk "Did you traveled lightly?" He asked the couple
"Oh no, we decided to shrink everything in a single bag Sirius is carrying, it's better that way" Amelia said
"Excellent, sometimes I forget the benefits of magic, now let's go inside the bus, Gotham in the winter is something one has to get used to." Bruce said as they nodded and Sirius helped his wife climb on the bus while she was saying "Sirius I'm pregnant, not invalid" Bruce continue greeting everyone else and even having to run behind his daughter and her friends.
--
Daphne was exhausted, Tracey really wanted to dress to impress on the New Year's Eve party her parents were making, they had travelled to Madam Malkin's and checked every row, shelf and corner looking for the best of the best accessories and fabrics for an elegant dress, they had paid for an express work as New Year's Eve was a few days away, still her best friend had been happy with what they had chosen. She was about to laid her head to rest when she noticed the forgotten package and muggle envelope that she had received at noon, her heart had beaten faster than ever the whole day and she was mostly absent mindly during all of Tracey's conversation/ramblings.
Daphne decided to open the package first, she wasn't sure why but as much time she could avoid reading the letter the better. She carefully cut the adhesive paper Harry had wrapped the package and begun to unwrap it. She saw a small box on the package, with a gift wrap in it.
She finally gather enough courage to read the letter, she silently read it for herself and for the first time since the holiday season begun she had a reason to smile again
--
The following days after Christmas passed flying quickly, but then New Year's Eve was already here and with it the Wayne New Year party was coming, the whole day the entire Wayne family helped cleaning, decorating and moving things to make every guest feel welcomed into the Wayne Manor, it also helped having magical relatives who accelerated the process making it at least three times faster.
At 6 o'clock the first guests arrived, those being the Kents, Uncle Clark, aunt Lois, aunt Martha and Jon arrived together, they had lost Uncle Clark's father several years ago from a heart attack but they were still one of the most caring families they knew. One auburn haired girl practically glowed when the Kansas boy arrived at the library where all the other kids were.
"Oh my goodness! JON IS HERE!" Susan said giggling as she rushed to the boy and hugged him, then she claimed his arm while they approached Harry, Pansy, Draco and Damian.
"Hold your horses Susan, I thought you were "in love" of Harry Potter" Draco said looking at his cousin's clinginess to the other boy while Harry smirked at that statement.
"Well obviously Harry Potter and I are meant to be, but I still have a soft spot for shy blue eyed country boys" Susan said while holding Jon's hand which made the boy grew some shades of red.
"Poor Jon he looks like he is in trouble" Damian snickered.
"It's because I am, Susan is gorgeous" Jon said without thinking making both of them blush while also stating that he liked the British girl
"Really? Thank you for the compliment, come on, let's dance" And at that the auburn haired girl took the boy from Kansas to the dance floor putting a rhythmic music on the speaker.
"Damn, being in Gryffindor really brought Susan out of her shell, am I right?" Harry said to Pansy and Damian.
"Yes that's a great thing for her" Damian replied remembering how she was easily embarrassed. Meanwhile Pansy took Harry's hand and joined the other couple on the dance floor.
"Aren't you going to join in?" Draco asked Damian.
"Nah, I don't like to dance, besides they're couples, I don't have one" Damian said, he didn't want to admit how much he wanted for Rachel to be here but she hadn't responded his texts.
"Dance with me then" Draco said to which Damian simply shrugged off and scowled at the floor, five minutes later a pale looking girl on a deep purple dress appear on the library. Damian quickly stood up and went to the girl.
"Care to dance?" He asked her.
"Hmmm sure, why not" She said but before they joined she went and grabbed Draco's hand "Join us, don't be a party pooper" She said, she didn't needed to be an empathic person to know that something had changed Draco's mood but today was a celebration, to shed the people you had been this year and bring a new version for the following year.
--
Meanwhile in the great hall the party guests continued to arrive as well, Diana and Bruce talked some time with Clark and Lois, Diana still haven't gotten used to the idea of seeing Batman and Superman on civilian clothes, let alone being friends with one another but she liked the change, it was nice.
"I'm going to the ladies room, do you mind serving me a drink?" Diana said to Bruce as she detached from his arm and whispered on his ear.
"Sure princess" He said as they parted ways, Bruce excused himself as he walked towards the bar, he saw his children talking with other guests, Dick on a chair while Kori and Barbara danced in front of him. Harry and Damian had taken everyone from the library towards the main room and they were talking with some of their friends, he saw how close Harry was with Pansy and Damian was with Rachel. Helena and the twins were filling their plates with many, many sweet treats like cake with chocolate pudding. Jason was skulking on a corner while Tim and Stephanie were talking he also saw how Cass was looking bored at their discussion.
He also noticed how everyone was simply having a great time, Amelia and Sirius took care of their three youngest, Selina talked with Commissioner Gordon and Remus Lupin, he also noticed the flirtatious looks between Narcissa and Talia, he wondered when they were going to formalize that relationship, anyway he finally arrived at the bar, he asked the bartender for a gin and tonic for him and an appletini for Diana, as the bartender nodded and went to prepare said drinks a figure approached from behind him.
"Hello Bruce" The sultry voice of Samantha Vanaver took him out of his concentration, he glanced at her, she looked gorgeous with that silver dress she was wearing, but honestly she couldn't measure up to Diana's godly beauty.
"Miss Vanaver, didn't know you were invited to my New Year's party" Bruce said to the woman
"As a member of Wayne shareholders I was easily able to persuade chairman Fredericks for him to give me his invitation so he could spent the new year with his family" Samantha explained.
"That's odd, he has never missed any of the Wayne New Year's party, he always came here even when my parents were alive" Bruce explained, then the bartender returned and placed both drinks in front of him, Samantha extended her hand to reach the appletini when a new hand beat her to it, Samantha glared at the woman who simply smirked at her as she drank the beverage.
"Appletini, how did you know I love this?" Diana asked as she went to stand beside Bruce wrapping her arm around his waist.
"Because I know my princess very well" Bruce smirked at her, completely ignoring Samantha who huffed.
"I guess that's my cue to leave" She said as she left the couple.
"Former girlfriend?" Diana asked as she raised her eyebrow to her boyfriend.
"Just a fling I had when I was the playboy Bruce Wayne, nothing serious happened between me and her, besides, you're the most wonderful woman I've ever met" Bruce replied with a grin
"I could crush you under my boot if you ever flirted with another woman if what you're saying is a lie" Diana said
"That's a little hot actually" Bruce chuckled at her expense
"Silly man" She said teasingly, then both of them saw a couple of women approach them, Bruce light up as he saw who those women were.
"Coronel Kane, Lieutenant Montoya" Bruce greeted the pair as they walked to them. Diana was confused as she looked at the redhead woman and the Hispanic woman
"Bruce you don't have to be that formal, we're cousins" The redhead said that last part towards Diana who acknowledge the new information.
"I thought you were deployed overseas" Bruce said as he finished his hug on his younger cousin.
"I was but I was sent back after I got a shrapnel on my shoulder and was taken back home, I was lucky because someone wanted her Christmas gift wrapped under the tree, right Renee?" The redhead commented to the other woman who blushed deeply.
"I'm guessing in the literal way right?" Diana asked as she guessed the couple reunited while one was hurt and all patched up.
"Mmmm yeah, let's say that" Kate said while a smirk was on her face. The group chat a little more getting to know each other better, in Bruce's case getting to know Lieutenant Montoya outside of his Bat persona. They were talking about school years and Bruce slipped up that Kate was the head cheerleader.
"You never told me you were in the cheer squad" Renee said to her girlfriend who blushed a little at being exposed.
"It was just a phase before I enter the ROTC, besides the cheer squad was full of strong and athletic women who wanted to prove how strong they were" Kate defended herself.
"I don't doubt that Miss. Kane, you seem like a strong and athletic woman" Diana said to woman in front of her.
"You should've seen Katie on her cheerleader uniform, I believe the word is cute" Bruce teased his cousin who blushed as red as her crimson hair.
"You should see how cute I can be when someone pushes my buttons" Kate said as she glared at her cousin, she had military training, she could easily take on the billionaire former playboy.
"I don't doubt that Kate, I'm just teasing you to lighten the mood, as a family we always cheered you we still do" Bruce said to his cousin.
--
The party in Wayne Manor was at its peak everyone was having a good time except for the woman who left early, she was disappointed her plan did not worked out.
"Did Wayne fell for your charms?" A deep voice through her cellphone asked
"Not yet, don't worry, Wayne is an idiot, he will fall on my web one way or another" Samantha said to the voice.
"What's the order?" The voice asked
"To wait, in the meantime gather as many Talons as you can, the night is closing in" Samantha said
"As you wish, grandmaster" The voice said as it hanged up ending the call.
--
Close to midnight everyone gather around in the great hall to watch the Times Square ball drop. Pansy was next to Harry when she asked.
"What's this tradition?" She asked her boyfriend.
"It's a simple one American Muggles have, we gather around in front of a TV and count from twelve to zero to celebrate the new year, we count it alongside the ball that is in the middle of Time Square in New York City" Harry explained.
"And what do you do when the ball drops? We often hug when we hear that is the new year" Pansy explained.
"We hug as well, though some couples kiss, other people drink, other shake hands but in the end everyone gathers around and sing a song" Harry said, he loved singing besides his family, though this time there was a lot of people, luckily all of them were friends and family.
"Everyone, let's begin with the countdown" Alfred said as he hugged closer Minerva, the old professor loved spending the holidays with the family, though she was sad to think that in two days she would have to return to her duties as Deputy Headmistress but now it wasn't the time to think that, she loved her job as much as she loved her family.
"12!" They begun saying. "11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, HAPPY NEW YEAR!" They said and they all exchanging kisses, hugs and handshakes. Though one kiss that surprised everyone, especially young Draco Black and young Damian Wayne al Ghul, was when they saw Draco's mother in the arms of Damian's mother kissing her deeply, after a few moments both woman stopped kissing while at the same time resting their foreheads together and looking at each other tenderly in their eyes whispering sweet things to the other.
"Mother, care to explain?" Damian and Draco said almost at the same time, while the women looked like teenagers that had been caught by their parents.
--
It was January first, Bill Weasley had spent seven days working tirelessly, according to what Mr. Nelson had told him he needed to understand the basics of wandless magic because the power Nabu was going to give him was going to be like a power up to his magical core, he needed to be able to canalize magic through his body, not only by using a wand.
"It is hard Mr. Nelson" Bill said as he tried one of the enchantments in the Book of Fate.
"I know young man, everything is hard in the beginning, but if you continue with your training then even the hardest of tasks will be as riding a broom" Kent Nelson said to his apprentice and future successor.
"I have to admit that wandless magic isn't my stronghold" Bill admitted as he placed his hands on his pockets.
"Nobody but you can put limits to what you can or can't do, simply think outside the box and everything will follow suit" The elder man said which confused him a little but he wanted to achieve this, he nodded and extended his hands once again.
Bill was sweating as he tried to levitate wordlessly the cup in front of him, he truly wanted to say wingardium leviosa and move his hand the way Professor Flitwick had taught him, but he couldn't he had to refrain himself from doing what he had learned since he was a kid. He stretched his arm and opened the palm of his hand trying to focus on making the enchantment, but to his surprise the cup didn't moved at all. He sighed in disappointment, Kent Nelson placed his hand on the younger man's shoulder.
"I know it's hard Bill Weasley, but you're unlearning what you've learnt all of your life, when I became the Dr. Fate I was a little older than you but I was a, how do you call it, a muggle, but when Nabu and I connected we simply worked alongside learning new things so it was easier for me to apply this knowledge to make me a stronger wizard, you on the other hand have already learned a way of how magic should be done so it's taking you a little more time and effort to accomplish even the most basic of spells." Kent said to the younger man.
"Mr. Nelson is right Mr. Weasley, you have a strong magical core, when you put the Golden Helmet you'll be ten times stronger, you need to practice at a very basic level" AMAZO the golden android said as he entered the room, Bill had simply accepted the weird humanoid creature but still the android's empty red eyes were unnerving.
"Let's continue then" Bill responded with a glint of determination in his eyes, he loved challenges after all, he wouldn't be a Curse-Breaker is it weren't for his passion of new challenges.
He was focusing on the levitation spell when from an explosion full of confetti appeared a tuxedo wearing man with a very beautiful and about his age black haired blue eyed woman in a similar tuxedo but with some fishnets that showed her long toned legs instead of the black pants the older man was using. Bill was completely speechless in front of the woman and whom he hoped was her father.
"Kent, nice to see you my friend" The man said as he approached Mr. Nelson and hugged him, the beautiful woman hugged the elderly man as well, but her piercing blue eyes stared right at Bill who simply smiled at her, she smiled back at him.
"Giovanni, Zatanna, it's so nice to see you, how was your tour?" Kent asked as he embraced the woman
"It couldn't have been better, Zatanna here is a master of the arts, she captivates the audience like her mother used to do, it was a great way of showing that my daughter has truly surpass me" Giovanni said proudly.
"Dad, you're embarrassing me" Zatanna said blushing, meanwhile Bill simply couldn't take his eyes out of the woman's even for one second, she was a vision, truly captivating.
"What can I say? It was a magnificent idea of showing that the Zatara Magic show was in good hands and an excellent way to say farewell to those stages that I loved so much" Giovanni said with some nostalgia on his speech, he truly loved being the main magician but he knew that he was getting old and better to retire when you're on top than be forgotten when you're low.
"Speaking of saying farewells, let me introduce you to my replacement, William Weasley, Nabu's chosen one" Kent said showing the father and daughter the speechless redhead who was still mesmerized by the woman in front of him.
"Mr. Weasley say hello" Kent nudged at the young man who quickly recomposed himself and stood straight.
"Sorry, hi, I'm Mr. Weasley, William, sorry, Bill, you can call me Bill" He said shaking Zatanna's hand, she found it cute and at the same time adorable the way he was flabbergasted by her looks.
"Nice to meet you Bill, please call me Zatanna" She said smiling at him as she shook his hand, they remained there for a few moments not taking their eyes out of each other nor their hands separating from one another.
Cough
They heard Zatanna's father coughing so they, embarrassed, let go of the almost eternal handshake.
"Sorry" Bill said apologizing.
"I'm the one who should be apologizing Bill" Zatanna said
"Please, accept my apologies" Bill replied, rolling his eyes Giovanni intervened.
"Both of you! We're not here for that, you can flirt all you want after we end the meeting, ok? giovani stupidi con la loro ridicolaggine" The elder man said which made Kent giggle at the whispered words.
"Who else is coming to the meeting?" Giovanni asked
"My potioners Pandora Lovegood, Andromeda Tonks and Severus Snape" Kent said but was interrupted by Bill.
"Wait professor Snape is coming here? You know him?" Bill asked confused
"Yes, he has been working with me for years actually, he has helped us with Voldemort's horrocrux" Kent explained and saw how Bill squirmed at the mention of the evil Dark Lord
"You-know-who is alive? I thought Harry Potter had killed that bastard" Bill asked shocked of finding out this new information.
"Not only alive Mr. Weasley, but I have a theory that he is inside the school" Snape's voice made everyone turn around to see the new arrived potioner. Followed by other two apparitions of Andromeda and Pandora.
"Is this your next embodiment?" Snape asked Kent
"Yes Mr. Snape, Bill will be Nabu's Avatar, he was chosen for his talent, his knowledge, his determination and bravery" Kent replied
"Hm" Snape's lips thinned.
"Is there something wrong?" Bill asked
"No" Snape coldly replied as he stepped away from the redhead man.
"What was that?" Zatanna asked
"Well he used to be my potions professor when I was in school, we didn't get along, let's just leave it at that" Bill replied to her with a smirk.
"Alright" She said with a happy expression, where's Harry and Etrigan?" Zatanna asked
"They should be arrive in any minute now" Kent replied
"Who's Etrigan?" Bill asked and just like that behind him a fiery pentagram appeared on the floor and from it a yellow skinned demon wearing a metal armor appeared
"The man who calls himself brave
Is amongst the most cowards
Etrigan is my name
And rhyme is my game" Etrigan said as he saw how Bill was scared in front of him, the Demon huffed at the young man.
"This one smells like fear
Of it he reeks" Etrigan said
"Etrigan please don't scare our friend" Kent said to the demon, the demon then huffed and said
"Done the did is
Gone, gone O Etrigan
Rise once more the form of man!" And just like that hell fire rose from the ground enveloping the demon and from it it come out a man in his forties with a white streak in his dark hair. "Sorry if Etrigan frighten you, he is a little harsh with new comers" The man replied "I'm Sir Jason Blood of Norwich, at your service, Doctor Fate" The man said as he bowed in respect in front of Bill.
"I haven't taken the mantle yet, I just decided to practice the spells Mr. Nelson showed me but to be honest I'm not even sure if I should take the mantle" Bill confessed as he looked at Zatanna and Kent apologetic, he felt like they were showing him a world even beyond his wildest of imaginations, a world where nothing could be impossible to achieve and yet he was scared of taking the next step.
"You should take the mantle Weasley! It's the greatest job promotion magic could gift to you" A gruff voice said, Bill saw his employer, King Ragnok of the goblins, approach him, two full armored guards beside him. "Think about it, you wanted to be the best Curse-breakers, the mantle of Doctor Fate gathers the best of Curse-Breakers, Aurors and even Potioners, combined everything is possible" Ragnok said which made Bill nod at the king.
"I guess I'm ready then" Bill said.
"Excellent, we just need a very important ally to arrive" Kent replied. They waited for a few minutes and then a bright blinding light appeared in form of an Ankh and from it appeared three figures, two adult men and one boy.
Bill quickly saw the new arrivals, one of the men was a somewhat familiar face, he had seen him in the Ministry and Gringotts' offices from time to time, Lord Sirius Black; the other adult men was taller than him and Lord Sirius, his hair was stylized as a muggle would wear and he had white hair in the midst of his dark hair, he wore an expensive suit as well as a smirk on his face; and lastly the boy that was with them had the same dark hair and haircut the muggle man wore, a similar looking smirk was on his lips as well, he wore a black leather jacket and his eyes were blue and green, Bill had to admit he had never stumble upon those kind of eyes.
"Bruce, Sirius, Harry, it's so nice to see you" Kent, Giovanni and Zatanna greeted the newly arrivals.
"Sorry we're late, someone wasn't ready to arrive" The man named Bruce said to Sirius. "How can he say that to one of the strongest House Lords?" Bill thought to himself.
"You clearly haven't have the need to check on five different children under ten years old and a pregnant wife at the same time, well did you Mr. Richboy?" Sirius responded to the man who simply chuckled at that.
"People, this is Bill Weasley, he will be the next Doctor Fate, he just accepted the position so we need for Nabu to fully merge with him, shall we?" Kent said and as everyone nodded the main office they were at changed into a stone platform surrounded by stairs that lead to the infinite space of the cosmos.
Many of the guests looked at the strange place they were at with complete amazement. Then Kent Nelson walked to the center of the platform was a six pointed star in the ground.
"I love magic" Harry said out loud as he was marveled by the immense space they were in.
"Please Bill, stand in the center of the platform" Kent said and the young man nodded following the instruction he was given he stood in front of everyone. But he remained focused on Kent, something told him that he could trust the elder man.
The elder man closed his eyes and began a pray. The old man glowed for a moment and then in his hands appeared a very old and tattered parchment, then he gave Bill said very old parchment. "Nabu wants you to read this" Kent said to Bill, he examined the parchment and nodded, he unwilled it and began reading.
"Hear us out Nabu, Lord of Order, humble server of Fate and Justice, Nabu the wise, Nabu the just, hear my pray and allow me to become your Avatar, I will possess your strength while you possess mine, my power will be your power, let me protect the world from out worldly threats, let me be the embodiment of Fate, let me be DOCTOR FATE!" Bill finished reading the parchment and the star begun shinning so brightly and in front of him appeared a gold helmet, said helmet begun to speak.
"Your prayer has been heard, speak the oath now William Weasley" The Helmet said
"I, William Weasley, swear to protect the secrets of magic entrusted upon me, swear to protect Earth and its inhabitants, to follow the light at all costs and be a truly believer of the pure magic of order, I William Weasley, swear to become the DOCTOR FATE!" Bill finished reading the next part of the scroll
"Your heart is true William Weasley, that's why I am choosing you to become my next avatar, place me on your head and let us become… THE DOCTOR FATE!" The Helmet said and Bill nodded, he took the helmet on his hands and looked at it, he felt nervous, he looked directly into Kent's eyes who gently nodded, King Ragnok was smiling showing his pointy teeth and Zatanna was looking worriedly, he let a sigh escape and place the helmet on.
In an instant thousands of years, of spells, of knowledge of past, present, future and alternate timelines passed through Bill's mind lighting, fire, water, earth, air, light and darkness surrounded him, he felt like he was floating as all of this was happening to him, his clothes vanished and his body was being enveloped in a tight fitted ocean blue pants and shirt combo, then on his hands and feet appeared golden gloves and boots, on his waist a golden belt with the Ankh cross on the middle, his chest was covered by a chest plate and pauldrons while a long golden cloak hanged from his shoulders and to top it all off the helmet had fused with him and now they were one and the same. To the outside people they only saw a bright blinding light and when they managed to open their eyes they saw Bill, well, The Doctor Fate standing were Bill had been, he was looking at his hands, moving his fingers as he checked his new persona.
"I feel stronger" Bill said as he shot to the air and flew through the infiniteness of the chamber.
"I did the exact same thing when I became Nabu's Avatar" Kent mussed to himself. They all saw how Bill/Doctor Fate flew at high speed shooting bolts of lighting, creating light barriers and many spells that he couldn't do beforehand.
--
After a few hours in which everyone got acquainted better with one another they made a toast for Kent and for Bill, even King Ragnok exchanged some words of encouragement to his former employee, as Zatanna was leaving she gave Bill her phone number, whatever that thing meant, and everyone left except Kent, Lord Black, the muggle called Bruce and his son Harry as well as Bill who was going to live there practically.
"I need to inform you something Doctor Fate" Kent begun saying to Bill who was sitting with his helmet in front of him. "It's about Harry Potter"
"What about him? Didn't he disappeared?" Bill asked
"Yes and no, you see Bill, I'm sure when you put the helmet you had visions of past, present and future as well as other points in time, but I need you to know that there are things that Nabu chose not to tell you" Kent said
"And this has to do with Harry Potter" Bill said
"Yes, you see, the night when the Potters were killed I felt the dark magic of Voldemort, his evilness had claimed the lives of two of the strongest and purest magicals ever, but he had failed at trying to kill the baby who could defeat him, I, along with your future father in-law" Kent teased Bill "Took the baby out of harm's way and placed him with someone we both trusted, we gave him to Bruce Wayne" Kent said glancing at the muggle father and son.
"You're Harry Potter?!" Bill asked impressed
"Lord Harry Potter-Wayne actually, I don't think there's a Wayne House per se but still I'm as much as a Wayne as I am a Potter, though everyone, including your brothers, think I am a muggleborn that due to simple causality shares the name with the famous wizard boy who defeated that bastard ten years ago" Harry explained. Bill was in shock, not so much of standing in front of a living legend but to hear an eleven year old boy speaking like that, especially compared to Ron who more often than not said everything with food stuffed in his mouth.
"Impressive, hiding the most famous child wizard in front of everyone" Bill said
"Yes he needed to be protected, United States and into the Wayne family were the best options for the boy to be placed on" Kent explained
"Why? No offense Mr. Wayne, but you're a muggle what type of protection could you give Harry when there's Death Eaters trying to kill him" Bill asked
"It's simple Mr. Weasley, I am well connected, I fund research of many applied sciences, I fund the crusades of the superhero team called Justice League as well as other superhero teams, I work to build a better tomorrow for every member of my family, so if anyone is going to defend and protect Harry its going to be me, and there's not a single second of the day were I regret choosing him as my son" Bruce said
"But if he is Harry Potter how come he doesn't look like the Potters? He doesn't have the need for eyeglasses, nor the messy hair, only one of his eyes is green and he has no scar of were the curse hit him" Bill said
"That I can explain when I gave Mr. Wayne possession over the boy and he took him in, the boy's magic actually enveloped Mr. Wayne, boy and man became son and father, and as if Harry's magic could sense that he needed to hide with this family then it decided to change Harry's appearance a little so that in the future no one would think that Harry Wayne and Harry Potter were the same person. His wild untamed hair became spiky, his eyesight improved to the point of a 20/20 vision, his eyes changed to reflect that of his new father but preserving some of what made his mother special" Kent explained what had happened that night.
"I never thought of that" Bruce said as he hadn't questioned of why the boy looked like him even though he was a stranger from a distant land.
"And I do wear eyeglasses, but only when I read or I'm in my computer, other than that I don't wear them all the time" Harry interjected.
"And why the need of taking him to an outsider, why didn't you took him in Lord Black?" Bill asked Sirius
"Because I was in Azkaban during that time, I was framed by Bagnold, Fudge, Crouch and Dumbledore, Fudge wanted power, recognition and money and I being imprisoned would've let him free access to the Black family vault so he could "search" for dark objects, luckily the family Goblin managed to interfere with his actions for so long until I was freed" Sirius explained
"And professor Dumbledore?" Bill asked
"HA! That manipulative bastard" Sirius exclaimed
"He wanted Harry to be his child soldier, let me show you" Kent said and a glass orb began to shine as it showed Dumbledore leaving baby Harry, who had a very gruesome and terrible injury in the shape of a lightning on his forehead. Curiously Grandma Minnie was with him saying something about the worst sort of muggles imaginable and Hagrid was teary eyed as he gave professor Dumbledore the little bundle that was Harry.
"They really are?" Grandma Minnie asked
"The only family he has" Dumbledore finished silencing her
"This boy will be famous, there will be no child in our world that doesn't know his name" Grandma Minnie said
"Exactly, he's far better off growing up away from all of that. Until he is ready" Dumbledore said as he placed the baby on the doorstep alongside a note.
"He didn't knocked the door or anything" Bill said almost in a whisper. "What would happen to that Harry that was left in the care of those muggles?" Bill asked
"This" Kent replied and the glass orb fast forward several years and everyone saw glimpses of Harry's miserable life, he was bullied, beaten, berated, manhandled, yelled at, malnourished and severely punished for things out of his control, when the glass orb finished slowed down it showed a very thin, small and fragile child with glassed that denoted how little care did they put on them waking up from a small bed on the inside of a cupboard under the stairs.
Harry and his father were enraged, they looked at each other and saw that their scowling were the same. Sirius was in no better shape either, he was angrier than before to the man, he couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing.
"That bastard!" Bruce said and Sirius nodded
"Why are you showing this to us?" Sirius said
"Because you need to know why Nabu interfered, for ten years I've questioned myself of why I was on Godric's hollow that night, why I was the one who found Harry, it wasn't until I begun my research on the many, many, many different timelines that I got clarity, in many of said timelines Albus Dumbledore took Harry after that Halloween Night and placed him with his muggle relatives, there they made sure to break Harry's spirit so when Dumbledore and Hogwarts appeared Harry would found a safe heaven that he would defend with his life, he was, in his own words, a pig for a slaughterhouse" Kent said which made Harry shed a tear, he couldn't bear to look at someone being bullied, but seeing what his life would have been if the Headmaster would have gotten away with his plans broke his heart.
"How can we stop him?" Harry asked, venom filled his voice
"Well, as someone who had the charge to protect and preserve justice and fate I cannot completely interfere, but, since I'm not Doctor Fate anymore, I can tell you a nexus point that is going to happen soon, can't say a lot but you need to check on Professor Quirrell and his plans to get to the philosopher's stone that is currently safeguarded inside the chamber on the 3rd floor corridor" Kent said
"I knew something fishy was inside of there, but I never checked it out, what will I need?" Harry asked, he trusted Uncle Nelson and his alter ego Doctor Fate.
"Await for professor Dumbledore to leave the castle and go with your strongest of allies, according to what Professor Snape told me, Dumbledore place several traps to slow down or entrap an intruder, you need to outsmart those traps to get to the Philosopher's stone" Kent said to Harry
"Harry are you sure you want to do this?" Bruce asked
"Yes dad, I'm not a pawn nor a child soldier like he wanted, I'm the greatest detective that has ever existed, and this is a case I'm ready for" Harry said with a very strong conviction.
--
The Burrow…
Molly Weasley was worried to death, Bill had never stayed out of touch for so long, he always wrote home at least once every three days, Arthur had told her not to worry about him but the fact that his spoon on the family clock didn't indicated any place on Earth troubled her, she scrubbed the dishes as she did when she was worried, but then she saw something that distracted of her mundane chore.
A man had appeared on the outskirts of the Burrow's wards, the man had appeared in a cross of some sorts and wore a very strange but valuable golden armor, she was curious but at the same time she was frighten by his presence, what if he wanted to hurt her family, she was drying her hands when she heard a rush on the stairs and saw Arthur, Percy, Fred and George head outside with their wands on their hands.
"Who are you and why are you here?" Arthur yelled as he pointed his wand at the stranger outside of the wards, the man did not responded, he simply stepped forward and crossed the wards like if they were nothing. "Don't take one step further or I'll harm you!" Arthur yelled once again and Percy, Fred and George pointed their wands together at the stranger ready to help their father in protecting their family.
"Thank heavens that Ron is still asleep and Ginny is with the Lovegoods" Arthur thought as he gulped, the man looked imposing and at the same time powerful, he would need the whole Order to defeat him.
"Stupefy" Arthur said to the man, he hadn't seen the man's wand but one could never be too careful but before the spell could hit him the man extended his arm and a light cross appeared and absorbed the spell shocking Arthur and his children. "Stupefy!" He yelled again and the man did the same thing. He nodded at his children and the four of them started throwing a series of binding spells as well as disarming spells and immobilizing spells, unfortunately all of those spells did nothing to the man, meanwhile the man did a simple movement of his hand and their wands flew towards his hand, Arthur placed himself in front of his children ready to fight the muggle way if it come to it, instead the man stopped and spoke with a deep voice.
"You are true Gryffindors after all, Weasley family, not only did you never backed down in front of a menace but also you even wanted to fight despite being disarmed" The man said
"Who are you?" Molly asked as she had stepped on the door frame to watch the commotion.
"You don't recognize me? Honestly woman and you call yourself my mother?" The man said and though the Weasley family couldn't see it he was smirking at that.
"Bill?" Molly asked and the man nodded as he placed his hands at the side of the strange golden helmet he wore and as he pulled it off they were blinded by the light and the armor and cloak he was using transformed into a simple tweed dark brown suit but with the strange golden helmet still in his hands.
"BILL!!!" Fred, George and Percy said as they rushed forward to hug their older brother.
"William" Arthur said as he embraced his son as well
"Why didn't you told us it was you? NOR WHY DIDN'T YOU WRITE ABOUT YOUR WHEREABOUTS? I WAS WORRIED SICK!" Molly yelled at his eldest who simply smiled at her.
"Well I needed to test my new powers" Bill said smirking
"What new powers? What happened to you?" Arthur asked
"It's a long story, can we enter so I can explain this better?" Bill said, his mother nodded happily and they walked inside the house, Bill was happy to be back with his family but now his mind and life had changed, he had a new purpose, a bigger fate to fulfill.
--
Hagrid sat alone at the Hog's head pub in Hogsmeade, he often had this tradition of going to the almost deserted pub for a New Year's midnight pint, he would often talk with Aberforth Dumbledore, share a few stories and then the half-giant would return to the castle to sleep till morning so he could continue his work as gamekeeper.
He was about to call it a night as he saw the bottom of his jar "Well Aberforth, I'll call it a day, see ya later" Hagrid said as he was standing up he bumped into someone spilling the other man's drink.
"I'm sorry mate" Hagrid said to the man, at least he thought it was a man, his face was obscured by the hood of his robe.
"None taken" The grave voice of the man said.
"'ere let me buy ye a drink" Hagrid said
"That would be generous, thank you" The man replied as he took a seat next to the half-giant just as two jars of golden pint.
"So tell me about ye mate" Hagrid begun asking, he always thought that to make a friend one should always start speaking about themselves.
"Not much, just a traveler" The man simply said, Hagrid found it odd but let it pass, not everyone wanted to share their stories with strangers in a pub
"I get ya, If I had money I would travel around, ye know" Hagrid replied
"Why would you like to travel?" The man asked never taking his hood off nor his eyes from the drink so Hagrid couldn't see his features better. Even Aberforth couldn't place the man's features as he cleaned the glasses and jars.
"I always wanted to see the worl', meet new creatures, like dragons, fascinating creatures they're" Hagrid confessed.
"Funny of you to talk about dragons" The mysterious man said
"Why is that?" Hagrid asked
"Because I happened to have a dragon's egg with me" The man replied. Hagrid didn't know what to think of the stranger but there was something deep within himself that so desperately wanted that dragon egg. Unknown to him this was the moment that would be the catalyst of the events to come.