To the guys who supportedmy story, thanks for the reviews! hope you keepreviewing. To thosewho pointedoutmyspelling errors, thank you..
just some pointers:I will try to minimize spoilers, so I will not be doing Batmaninsertedinto one of the books. Doing that will be a bit unfair to JK Rowling... this is more of an alternative to order of the Phoenix
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Chapter 3: Squibs and Secrets
After seeing Professor Dumbledore to the door, Alfred went back to the living room to face a rather amused smirk from his employer.
"I always wondered how you managed to keep this whole manor clean." Bruce remarked
"If you are thinking that I used magic, I beg to disagree, sir. I work hard at keeping this place spotless, even with all the cleaning services that are under your employ" Alfed replied, a bit offended
"Are you going to tell me your story?" Bruce asked
"Before I do, sir, I think you should take a look at this." Alfred said, handing Bruce what looked like a club membership card.
The card was made of a piece of stiff parchment, and written on the surface were these words:
HATS (Hogwarts Association of Talented Squibs)
Alfred Pennyworth High Council
In the background was the same crest on the letter, albeit with a stylized wizard's hat on top of it.
Bruce turned to Alfred and waited for the explanation.
"A squib, sir, is a person born of magical bloodline, yet shows no magical capability."
"I see..."
"I went to Hogwarts during a short period of time when they had a special program for squibs. Having no magic can be a bit troubling when you are born into a magical family."
Alfred paused, seeming to lose himself in a memory. "However, Hogwarts provided squibs with an opportunity to train them in muggle ways and ensure a bright future for selected squibs."
"We often faced a lot of persecution during our stay at Hogwarts, and we also suffered from each other's spite. You see, sir, when you are oneof theleast popular child in a school, you try to raise yourself up in the eyes of the elite by stepping on your fellow scorned." Alfredseyes once again seemed to glaze over, covered by painful memories.
"So it was that we decided to form HATS. The association was aimed to unite the squibs and let them discover their other talents."
"The association, continued until our adulthood. We still kept in touch regularly and talked about different developments in the wizarding world."
"More than a decade ago, however, our association was cut short when he-who-must-not-be-named started hunting us down, one by one." Sorrow and pain crossed the old man's face.
"I managed to elude his forces until the day when he tried to kill Harry Potter. I thought that he died during the attempt, but it seems that I wasmistaken. So you see, I somehow owe my life to the boy. Yet because of my caring for another boy, I have never looked back until this day."
Bruce nodded and dismissed the butler, knowing that the butler would be disappointed if Bruce tried to comfort him. He was, after all, an English gentleman.
Walking to the antique grandfather clock, Bruce moved the hands to the time of his parents' death and his alter-ego's birth. Pushing a hidden button, he stepped back as the clockslid back to reveal a door.
It was time to patrol. Later, he would make his preparations and learn more about this new world.
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