Chapter Text
Luckily Harry’s day was uneventful after that. Though he sent a letter to John asking for protection spells against truth compulsions. Harry was getting antsy though in the dorm after hours he just wanted to walk and explore. If he was this anxious back home he’d just go to the cave and watch the video feeds… or sneak into one of his brothers rooms or even into Batcows little cave stall and cuddle. He most surely never went to brush Goliath's fur. He put on a black hooded jacket, his batman pajamas were luckily black with gray batterangs on them.
One more quick look rto make sure everyone else was asleep he trotted out of the common room. He looked and even the portraits were sleeping. It was nice… quiet. He found himself exploring keeping his steps silent and keeping himself aware of his surroundings.
Of course his luck was never perfect and he ran into a feline. Mrs Norris, he’s seen her about students avoiding her for some reason. Then he heard the loud obnoxious meow. He knew why now. “What is it my precious?” Harry’s head snapped up and he ran. Gliding up a staircase that was still moving he got to a locked door. Pulling a paperclip from his pocket he made quick work of a lock. Of course he expected it to be magic but nope… normal muggle lock. He took a deep breath to settle his racing heart. Then he wished he hadn’t as he was face to nose with the middle head of a three headed dog.
“Hello… “ Harry said and the dog let out a roar. “Now that’s plain rude, I’m not gonna hurt you.” more worried he was going to be the one hurt but Damian always says animals can smell your intentions. The dog tilted the middle head, one of the others came to sniff Harry’s jacket and the third tilted it’s head the opposite way the middle had.
“Aren’t you handsome? I’m Harry, Harry Potter Wayne… you have a collar there may I see it?” The middle head raised up as if proudly showing the article of well woven cloth. “Fluffy… What a fitting name.” Harry laughed as a hot wet and very large tongue covered him in slobber from his belly to the tips of his hair. His glasses were knocked askew.
“Well I must never tell my brother about you, he’d want a cerberus for sure. He already has a dragon bat. It was nice meeting you, I’ll come again but I’ll bring treats.”
The hall was clear. Harry left, giving the middle nose an affectionate scratch goodbye. “That was eventful… and I will not tell dad, nope.” He made it back to the dorms without getting spotted and he cleaned up a bit before getting a little sleep.
Harry was woken by his mirror, He picked it up. “Ello?”
“Sparks!” Dick said chipperly, “We sent you the Gotham Gazette but I wanna give you a heads up. Timmy got nabbed but he’s back home and safe already.”
“Riddler?”
“Riddler,” Dick said with a sigh. “Good news is Riddler was so in a fit that Timmy was answering everything right that he didn’t even get a scratch on him after the initial tag and grab.”
“Wait, your brother got kidnapped?” Blaise asked.
“Happens,” Harry said sitting up. “Dick meet my friend Blaise Zabini, Blaise this is my oldest brother Richard Grayson, he goes by Dick.”
“Ah you’re the one who’s Romani right?” Blaise asked.
“Yep,” Dick was all smiles. “Zabini is Italian right? We did a show in Italy when I was a kid! Zitka, the circus elephant, loved pasta; we had to keep her away from any and all outside restaurants.”
“Wow, interesting family you have Harry. So this brother of yours, Tim, is he ok though? Like for real?”
“Annoyed… Alfred banned him from coffee today so he’ll catch up on sleep but yeah he’s ok.”
Harry laughed “I am so glad I’m not home, caffeine-less Tim is terrifying. Thanks for letting me know.”
“Of course, ttyl!” The mirror call ended.
“T.t.y.l?” Blaise asked.
“It means Talk to you later.” Harry said and smiled getting up and dressed.
“Who’s the riddler?” Blaise asked curiosity evident.
“A gotham rogue, he’s hard to explain… he’s a guy who does crime and leaves riddles, if you solve the riddles you can find him and if you solve them all correctly he goes pretty willingly. The Batfamily handles him. Mostly Spoiler and Red Robin.”
“Who?”
“Gotham Vigilantes… right… the wizarding world lives under a rock…” As Harry got dressed he explained the concept of villains, heroes and vigilantes.
“What a crock of shite Potter.” Draco stomped his foot. Literally he stomped his foot like a spoiled kid off an old eighties sitcom.
“Potter Wayne… Believe what you want, if your dad comes to the charity gala he’s gonna want to know who protects the city. Magic users and meta’s aren’t super welcome in Gotham, less so if they cause trouble.”
“What seriously? How do muggles know about magic?” Draco was all puffed up.
“The Justice League… and of course the rare occasions Justice League Dark has to step in, like there was a magic user literally possessed by a broken dream stone who was turning everyone into murderers making them see demonic visions… but no, keep living under your rock… you are sooo safe there.” Harry couldn’t add more sarcasm if he tried.
“Why doesn’t Gotham like magic… and what's a meta?” Blaise asked as they were now walking with Harry to the great hall.
“Meta’s are humans with special abilities… like for instance… Beast Boy, Garfield Logan the famous actor, he can turn into all the animals in the animal kingdom. Then there is Black Canary who can use her voice to create a sonic boom.” Harry said, “But as for Gotham it’s too dangerous. Batman makes it clear meta or magic heroes are not welcome in Gotham. If someone like… Superman, got dosed… let's say… fear Toxin then there would be a literal flying nuke blowing up everything trying to keep himself and his friends safe.”
“Gotham is weird.”
“Gotham is home… I miss her alot, her rain and her smog… the sirens blaring and the constant excitement.” Harry sighed, “I can’t wait for the holidays.”
He took a seat at the gryffindor table with Hermione. “Good morning.”
“Good Morning Harry, you're early.”
“My older brother called to let me know he sent the paper and not to worry when I read about Tim getting CEO napped. He’s home safe and sound.”
Hermione gasped “Wow I’m glad he called if I got a paper saying my mother was kidnapped I’d die of worry.”
Harry’s owl flew to him, dropping the Gotham Gazette, the Daily Planet and a small box.” Thank you girl.” Harry snagged a piece of bacon offering it to her and she took it happily, landing on his shoulder to rest and eat her treat. Tim was on the front page looking ruffled but ok. Spoiler was with him so she took down Riddler this time… since Red Robin was busy.
He opened the box and inside was an invitation. The Wayne Winter Social. “Oh no… I forgot because I had the flu last year!” Winter holidays were a thing, he’d be home for the gala.
“Forgot what mate?” Ron asked with a yawn.
“I need a date for the winter social gala… every Wayne over the age of nine is required to bring a date… I was sick last year so I didn’t go… wonder if I can hurry up and catch the flu again.”
“It can’t be all bad, arn’t Gala’s parties?” Ron asked
“In the most boring sense of the word… and I’m a Wayne so old ladies will be pinching my cheeks all night and cooing on how messy my hair is or how green my eyes are… and worse I have to subject someone else to go with me…”
“Who’re your siblings taking?” Hermione asked.
“Dick will take Kori… Tim will bring Conner, Cassandra and Stephanie go as each other's dates every year… and get away with it… Babs will take her dad as her date, Jason will bring Roy cause Artemis is not someone you want to crowd… and Damian will bring Ray.” Harry sighed and he looked up.
“Hermione… I really hate to ask but, you got a good head on your shoulders and you know Muggle culture… if my family pays for your flight to Gotham and expenses would you please go with me?”
Hermione laughed “Sure Harry. I’ll have to ask my parents though.” Harry sighed in relief and handed her the invitation.
“You saved my life, I owe you one!”
Hermione laughed “really Harry. I’m your friend. I'd never make you go through so much pain alone. What’s the dress code?” Half the sentence was said with deep sarcasm but Harry didn’t care, she would learn the pain of a social gala soon enough.
“Don’t worry too much it’s formal but the year before last Roy went wearing a baseball jersey and torn jeans… I guarantee you will look better than anything he’ll come in.” Unless Oliver was going then he might wear a button up… maybe.
“I hope mum agrees… are they invited?”
“Since we are both under age, yeah. Again dad will cover all expenses. I can show you WE since you seemed interested when talking about our security tech.”
Hermione's eyes lit up and she was grinning “really? Like for real your dad won’t mind?”
“Are you kidding me? Someone interested in the company coming with one of his kids to a gala? He might give you the tour himself.”
She blushed in excitement then she started gushing about the technical advances. Harry smiled Hermione would get along well with Babs he was sure, and Tim too.
Ron was making faces “I don’t understand a word… the Charity gala thing won't be too bad will it?”
“Charity Gala’s are less uptight than social ones, so you can get away with being a bit less… suffocatingly rich and stuck up. Besides with your brothers there and my brothers there… I’ll eat my left shoe if something interesting doesn't happen.”
Ron stared at him “Why would you eat your shoe?!”