Cold was the night, death laid its gripping hands on the habitants of the Godric's hollow house, it was midnight of the 31st of October barely passing to November first when an Ankh of pure light appeared on the middle of the air. From it a golden figure descended onto the street. The figure, known to the world as Dr. Fate sported his golden helmet and armor, sees the damaged house and analyzes the situation.
Not mere meters away from Dr. Fate some sparks and confetti explode and from the smoke appears a well-dressed man wearing a full tuxedo, a top hat and sporting an elegant mustache.
"Good evening Mr. Zatara" The golden armored man said to the newly arrived
"Good evening Dr. Fate, fancy to see you here" The tuxedo man said with his Italian accent.
"I felt a disturbance, some powerful magic was performed here and Nabu told me that the fate of the world depended on me being here" Dr. Fate said
"I felt the same, though I don't have a God telling me things through a magical helmet but there was something, as you said the world depends on being here" Giovanni Zatara said.
"Shall we enter?" Dr. Fate looked at the other man.
"I think we should, after you Dr." Giovanni gestured and both stepped inside the house.
Immediately they saw the body of a man on his early twenties wearing glasses and being completely barefoot laid on the staircase, his empty eyes looking at both magicians.
"Do you feel it?" Dr. Strange said to the other man.
"Yes, there's dark magic on this man's body" Giovanni answered.
"The spell that killed him was a powerful curse named Avada Kedabra, a corruption of life and a crime against nature and all the living things" Dr. Fate said to his fellow magician.
"Who could possibly have done so much damage?" Giovanni asked.
"I believe the answer will be given to us if we continue our path." Dr. Fate said.
The pair continue walking until they reach the nursery room, the hinges of the door were completely blown off and the door was blown to smithereens, there were three people for what the pair could see and the remnants of a fourth on the floor.
A baby crying on his crib.
A red-haired woman being hugged tightly by a black dressed man who was crying at the top of his lungs, both men knew that sentiment, the feeling of losing a loved one and trying desperately to hold on as much as they can to them. They let the man shed his tears for his loved one.
Giovanni went to the crib and gently placed the baby on his arms.
"It's ok little buddy, no one is going to hurt you" Giovanni said cradling the baby on his arms, he used to do it when his daughter was a baby. The little boy calmed on the magician's arms.
"Who are you?" The man who was crying had stopped and asked them as he threaten them with a black pine wand.
"We are friends, we want to protect this child" Dr. Fate intervened placing himself in front of the man.
"I doubt it" The black dressed man said before uttering some words in Latin and shooting a spell towards the men. An Ankh shielded the men and the baby from the blast.
"You fool! We're trying to protect this baby, he may be the only hope this world has for the dark times that loom over our heads" Dr. Fate said in an ominous voice.
"That's the power of Nabu!" The man said as he kneeled before the golden figure. "I'm so sorry I attacked you, I'm not on the right mind, I apologize" The man said in fright of the power wielded in front of him.
"It's alright young man, I do not take offense since the spell you casted was meant for immobilize not to hurt, maim or kill, but still my colleague and I need to take this boy away" Dr. Fate explained.
"Why?" The black dressed man asked.
"It's imperious to take the boy as far away as we can, he is not safe here" Dr. Fate said.
"But the dark lord has been defeated" The black dressed man.
"He has not, only his physical body was defeated, but I believe this is not the last time we'll hear about this so called "dark lord"" Dr. Fate said
"Not counting the dark magic that lies within him" Giovanni added.
Both men turned to see the magician.
"Care to elaborate?" Dr. Fate asked
"As I held this baby I can feel the stench of dark magic in him, specifically on his forehead" Giovanni said
"A Horrocrux" Dr. Fate pointed out
"That's impossible" Said the man in black
"Improbable yes, but not impossible, this young baby has a Horrocrux embed in his body, I can feel it now" Dr. Fate said as he moved his hand hovering above the baby.
"Does it mean that we need to destroy him?" The man asked, fear was in his voice.
"No, the Horrocrux must be destroyed but the object or in this particular case person can be unharmed" Dr. Fate said.
"Will you help him?" The man asked
"Yes, but with one condition" Dr. Fate said.
"Anything" The man said
"Do everything in your power to be a better man, I feel that the boy will need you when the time is right" Dr. Fate said
"How did?" The man asked
"I saw your soul Mr. Snape, I saw the darkness within you, but also I've seen love and light, you believe that hate was the only path for you, but you feel great love for this boy's mother, you need to focus on those hidden feelings inside of you and embrace them, love is a more powerful magic than hate will ever be" Dr. Fate said before another golden Ankh appeared from out of nowhere and he and Giovanni disappear alongside the baby.
"I promise" Snape said to no one in particular.
--
Almost immediately in a place where Time and Space didn't had power laid floating the Tower of Fate, in its main chamber a golden Ankh glowed and from the light emerged Dr. Fate and Giovanni Zatara with the baby.
"So you know the enchantment to destroy the Horrocrux?" Dr. Fate asked Giovanni.
"I know the way to separate the Horrocrux and its host but to destroy it, not really, I hope you have a way to do so" Giovanni said seriously.
"Well it's not easy but neither impossible, I've done a lot of research along the years and apparently the Horrocrux can be destroyed by Basilisk venom or by Hellfire, and just happens that we both know someone who produces the strongest of Hellfire" Dr. Fate said as Giovanni nodded.
"But before we can call our mutual friend I should remove this hideous thing from the boy" Giovanni said.
"Be my guest" Dr. Fate said as he appeared a changing table in front of them.
Giovanni placed the sleeping baby on the softened table, then he place his index finger on the child's scar.
"Wait, do you have a sphere in which we can place the Horrocrux?" Giovanni asked
"Yes, this should work" He gave the magician a glass sphere he apparated from thin air
"Perfect" He returned to place his index finger in Harry's scar, then he said the following words "Xurcorroh evael s'dlihc ydob!" Giovanni said in his particular way of spellcasting.
From Harry's scar a black smoke rose and was absorbed by the glass sphere. The process lasted five minutes.
"Why did it took so long?" Dr. Fate asked with curiosity
"Because I wanted to be as painless as possible, the baby has been through enough already, in this way the baby let the Horrocrux out like if it was just gas" –Giovanni said.
"Good plan" Dr. Fate remarked, he looked at the glass sphere he had on his hands "Now let's call our friend shall we?" He added.
Giovanni nodded at his suggestion, Dr. Fate created another golden Ankh and from it emerged a man wearing formal clothes as well as a white streak on his dark hair.
"Jason Blood, welcome to the Tower of Fate" Dr. Fate said
"Good day, Dr. Fate, Mr. Zatara, baby" The newly arrived said as he saw the people in front of him "To what do I owe this pleasure?" He asked.
"Do you know what a Horrocrux is?" Giovanni asked and saw how the man's facial features changed into a scowl
"Of course, Merlin warned me about them, they're a hideous form of dark magic, not even Morgaine le Fey would dare to use them, though she is immortal so I see no point of her using that, why the question?" Jason said
"Do you know how can a Horrocrux be destroyed?" Dr. Fate asked
"With Basilisk venom or with Hellfire" He said then he came to the realization of why he was in the tower. "This isn't a social visit then" Jason said
"We took this baby from a house in England, his parents were killed by a dark wizard, said wizard made a Horrocrux and attached it to this baby, Giovanni removed the Horrocrux and now we need to destroy it" Dr. Fate clarified the situation to Jason Blood.
"We need your best friend" Giovanni said
"Fine we'll help" Jason said, he stretched his arms and then clap his hands together. "Gone, gone the form of man. Rise the demon. ETRIGAN" He said and fire began to erupt from his feet until it covered him completely, from the blazing fire erupted the yellow skinned demon.
"I heard your call
I responded
Help you I shall" The demon said in rhyme.
"Thank you for your assistance Mr. Etrigan" Dr. Fate said.
The demon huffed at the golden armored man and went to the glass sphere, he looked at the dark smoke on it, he growled at it and then burned it with fire from his mouth. Leaving nothing, not even ashes.
"Done the did is
Gone, gone O Etrigan
Rise once more the form of man!" The demon said and just like the first time fire involved it and Jason appeared when the fire settle down. "I hope that worked" Jason said adjusting his jacket.
The three men turned around to see where the sphere used to be and Dr. Fate hovered his hand over said place.
"The dark magic has been destroyed, thank you Mr. Blood" Dr. Fate said
"Our pleasure, Etrigan and I exist to destroy evil, speaking of which, the dark wizard, the bastard who killed this boy's parents has been killed?" Jason asked.
"His physical form yes, but I believe that if he made this Horrocrux then he must have done others." Dr. Fate said.
"If he was as evil as you think he is, how can we be sure he only made one? If he made more we need to destroy them as well" Jason said with security
"That indeed needs to be done, but first we need to know what to do with the baby" Giovanni said as they looked at the sleeping baby.
"We need to find him a family" Dr. Fate said, neither Giovanni, nor Jason nor him were the best parent material, especially since Fate and Giovanni were widowers and Jason had personality issues. "What about the Kents?" Dr. Fate said "They adopted Superman, they could be great parents."
"Though I wouldn't be against that, they had trouble adjusting to Kal-El's powers, besides the father Jonathan Kent passed not long ago" Giovanni said.
"True" Dr. Fate said
"What about Wonder Woman?" Jason asked
"Her island doesn't allow men, the kid would be treated badly or…" That's were Giovanni stopped.
"What about you Giovanni? You could be a great father" Dr. Fate said
"Though I love Zatanna so much, I have a very hard time trying to raise her, I don't doubt he would be safe with me, but I'm currently on a tour all over the world, I wouldn't have time to raise the kid properly, or love him as my own" Giovanni said.
The three men pondered for a few seconds, then Dr. Fate spoke with an ominous booming voice as the gold helmet glowed intensely.
"The boy will be safer with the Knight of Gotham" He spoke
"Is it crazy? Taking the boy to the bat?" Jason said losing his composure.
"Look, Nabu, I get your reasoning, and I know the man, but do you really believe he would be safer with him? He's not a magician nor he has powers" Giovanni said.
The ominous voice resounded once again. "The Boy will live a full life if he is place with the Knight, no evil magic shall found him if he lives with him" The voice said.
"Alright, we get it" Jason said. "How do we get to Gotham?"
Almost immediately a golden Ankh appear and the blinding light took them to a dark cave.
"No offense to Nabu, but he should have warned us about it before transporting us to the Batcave" Jason said.
"Nabu most of the times believes that the now is the only time that matters" Dr. Fate spoke with his regular voice.
"Figures" Jason replied, the three men barely moved a feet when the alarms rang.
"Intruder alert! Intruder alert!" The computer voice said.
"Oicnelis" Giovanni pointed his wand to the computer and the alarm stopped ringing. But the baby woke up and Giovanni began to rock the baby calming him down.
"What are you three doing in here?" A deep voice came from the stair case.
Then from the shadows emerged the Dark Knight, the Caped Crusader, The Batman.
"I thought I wasn't a magical being to be a part of your magical club" Batman said.
"This Mr. Wayne, is not a social visit, but it is of the most importance our presence here" Dr. Fate said.
Batman grunted, he didn't liked been called by his civilian name when he wore the cowl, but given that he had no choice he removed his armored cowl and showed them his real face and voice without the modulator.
"You want me to adopt the baby" Bruce said taking a quick glance at the three man and the baby.
"That is what Nabu wishes, Nabu says that the boy will be safer with you" Dr. Fate spoke.
"Why? What's the story behind this child?" Bruce asked.
"His parents were murdered in front of him by a hooded figure, ring a bell?" Dr. Fate said which made Bruce reminiscence about his tragic night all those years ago in the alley.
"Damn it, fine, I'll adopt the baby, what is his name?" Bruce asked the men.
"His name is Harry James Potter, I believe that when the time is right some people from a Wizarding school will look for him, you should accompany him on his journey, it will be beneficial for both of you" Dr. Fate says.
"Wait… magic? I don't have powers, shouldn't he be better with either of you?" Bruce asked
"Although we are magical we don't have the capabilities of raising a child, you on the other hand were the chosen one from Nabu's perspective." Dr. Fate said.
"Don't worry Bruce, we won't let you completely alone on this, when the baby shows his first sign of magic we will comeback, don't worry son" Giovanni said to the man placing his hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you Giovanni" Bruce said.
"I'll also be passing to you the proper documentary so that you can have a smoother adoption of little Harry" Dr. Fate said.
"You can do that?" Bruce asked him.
"Yes, you underestimate my abilities Bruce, but you must know that the baby's birthday is July 31st, I know we are far from that date but it's important" Dr. Fate said.
"I'll keep that in mind" Bruce said.
The three men nodded before being transported by Fate's golden Ankh. Bruce looked at the baby on his arms, the baby looked at him with the biggest set of green eyes he had seen.
"So you're Harry Potter, nice to meet you kid, I'll be your father, but you can call me dad" Bruce said to the boy who giggled displaying his green eyes. "Come, let's get you something to eat." He said and began to walk upstairs.
The Batcave after all wasn't the ideal place to have a baby. Bruce showed the baby the library as they stepped out from the clock. The baby saw the many books and statues the library guarded and was amazed by it.
"Bruce… what's that on your arms?" A voice came from Dick Grayson, Bruce's eldest son, a young an well-built boy with jet black hair and blue eyes he was on one of the couches reading a book about the Olympics.
"Dick, I thought you'd be on the high school" Bruce asked
"I was, I just came back, and you haven't answer my question" The young man Dick asked
"This is Harry, he's going to be your brother" Bruce said as he showed Harry to Dick.
"Really Bruce? Another?" Dick said to his father who rolled his eyes.
"He needs my help and I will help him and love him as much as I love every one of you" Bruce said.
"I hate when you make those arguments" Dick said turning down to see his new brother. "So what's his story? Mob? Drug lords? Deranged psychopaths?"
"Dark wizards" Bruce responded.
"You never make it boring do you?" Dick replied.
"Come, let's eat, are Jason and the others around? I wish I don't have to repeat the story too much." Bruce said.
"I don't know, I mean Jason could be around but we never know, Tim and Steph left together after school, probably still on a stakeout, Cass is upstairs, she has this project she wanted to get started with" Dick said.
"Well I guess we should inform them at dinner." Bruce said as they walked towards the kitchen were Alfred Pennyworth, residing butler/cook/mechanic/grandfather figure was completely unamused about the baby on his master's arms.
"You know Master Bruce, when I said that you should carry adoption papers on your utility belt I was joking" He dryly replied earning the famous "Bat-Glare". "I'm not easily intimidated about your looks Master Bruce, I'm not one of the crooks you arrest"
--
In the middle of the road two figures had a verbal match.
"You betrayed them!" One of the figures said.
"I wasn't involved, what would you have done? What would you have done?" The other one replied.
"I would have died before betraying my friends!" The figure spoke.
"Yes but you weren't there!" The other one replied.
Both figures were attracting the attention of several onlookers, as more and more people gather around one of the figures took his wand out and cast an immobilizing spell at the other figure, then pointed at the ground casting a spell then he pointed at himself transforming himself into a rat. He tried to escape to the sewer only it stop mid run and the spell he casted on the floor vanished with a puff. The rat screeched and trashed. And every person watching the spectacle fall unconscious.
Then the other figure began moving once again.
"What the hell?" The man said.
"Mr. Black we need to talk." The ominous voice of Dr. Fate spoke, and Sirius Black saw a man in a tuxedo levitating the rat with a different kind of wand he had never seen and from the sewer a yellow demon crawled out.
"The explosive spell has been taken care of" The demon spoke making Sirius completely shock and before he knew it he passed out.