Harry Wayne and the Batman of Hogwarts:
Chapter 23: The Dark Wizard Descends
The warehouse was steeped in tension, the air thick with unease. The faint hum of distant traffic echoed outside, a stark contrast to the oppressive silence inside. Shadows clung to the walls, pooling in the corners like dark secrets. Dudley Cobblepot stood at the center of the room, his fingers twitching nervously as he adjusted his coat collar. His usual composure had shattered, and in its place, frustration and impatience burned behind his sharp, darting eyes. He hated waiting. Every passing second felt like a betrayal of his plans. His fists clenched at his sides, the metal cool against his skin, his mind buzzing with the thoughts of everything slipping out of his grasp.
The sound of the door creaking open sliced through the silence. Dudley stiffened. His eyes snapped to the entrance, watching as a tall figure stepped inside—a figure whose presence seemed to darken the already gloomy space. Nico Maroni moved with calculated precision, his long stride almost too deliberate, his eyes scanning every inch of the room. A sense of calm authority radiated from him, the kind that made the air feel thinner, as if the very atmosphere held its breath in deference.
"Is she here yet?" Dudley's voice cut through the heavy silence, thick with impatience and barely-contained frustration.
"She'll be here soon," Nico replied, his voice as calm and detached as always. "But we wait until the moment is right." His gaze flicked toward Dudley, the faintest trace of a smirk on his lips. "Patience is a virtue, Cobblepot."
Dudley's jaw tightened, his teeth grinding as he resisted the urge to lash out. He couldn't stand being dictated to. Not by Nico, and certainly not by anyone. His eyes flared with barely controlled rage. "I don't like this," he muttered under his breath, his voice like a low growl.
Nico, unfazed, continued his slow, deliberate movements, walking in a wide circle around the room. His boots made barely a sound on the concrete floor, but the tension in the air seemed to grow with every step. Dudley's mind raced, thoughts of Hermione clouding his judgment. He had to be in control. He had to claim what was his.
The distant sound of footsteps broke through the stillness, and a figure emerged from the far corner of the room. The woman was tall and poised, her presence commanding attention the moment she entered. Her eyes glowed with a cold intensity, an unsettling mix of power and purpose in her every movement. She walked toward them with a slow, deliberate pace, each step calculated.
"You should've stayed away, Cobblepot," she said, her voice a quiet, controlled murmur, but every word carried an edge. "You've made your choice. Now you will face the consequences."
Dudley's face flushed with fury, his chest heaving with anger. "Face the consequences?" he spat, his voice rising. "You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to be dragged into this mess?"
The woman's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "You're in this as deep as you'll ever be," she said, her words like a death sentence. "You made your choices, and now you must live with them."
Nico chuckled darkly. His voice, low and mocking, cut through the tension. "You knew exactly what you were getting into, Cobblepot. There's no turning back now. Not for you. Not for anyone."
Dudley's eyes narrowed, and he took a step forward, anger making his voice sharper. "I never agreed to this," he spat, his words thick with emotion. "Hermione was never part of your plans. She was mine—mine from the start. She still is."
Nico shook his head, his smirk widening. "Your obsession with her is your own downfall, Cobblepot. I'm not interested in her. I'm interested in what she can do for me." His voice was full of disdain, as if Hermione was little more than a pawn in a game he had already won.
Dudley's fists clenched tighter at his sides, the muscles in his arms straining with the effort to contain himself. "I've sacrificed too much to let her go. She's mine by right. And I won't let you take her."
The woman stepped between them, her presence commanding the attention of both men. "Enough," she said, her voice sharp as a blade, cutting through the building tension. "This isn't about your petty squabbles. The goal is to secure the girl. We do this my way, or we don't do it at all."
But it was too late. The damage had been done. The air crackled with hostility as Dudley and Nico squared off, the weight of their mutual hatred palpable in the silence. Neither man could back down, and the simmering conflict between them was about to boil over.
"Let's see how long you last, Cobblepot," Nico sneered, stepping closer, his words laced with venom.
Dudley's lips curled into a snarl. "You don't get to walk in here and take what's mine."
The room seemed to hold its breath as the tension snapped. In an instant, both men lunged at each other. Nico threw the first punch, landing it squarely in Dudley's midsection. Dudley grunted in pain but refused to stumble, his rage fueling his every move.
He retaliated immediately, his large hands shoving Nico backward with surprising force. Nico stumbled but recovered quickly, his movements swift and calculated as he countered with a punch to Dudley's ribs. The blow struck with a sickening crack, sending a sharp wave of pain through Dudley's side.
Dudley staggered but kept his feet, his anger blinding him to the pain. He swung a wild punch at Nico's face, but the smaller man ducked, twisting away from the strike with an agility that Dudley could never match. Nico's counterattack was immediate, landing a brutal blow to Dudley's jaw, sending him reeling.
"You're nothing but a brute," Nico taunted, his voice a mix of disdain and amusement. "A real freakin' penguin. You can't fight me."
Dudley's teeth ground together as he lashed out again, but his movements were wild and reckless. Nico danced around him, effortlessly dodging each attack, his superior speed and technique becoming painfully obvious.
In desperation, Dudley grabbed a nearby metal crate and hurled it toward Nico. The crate crashed through the air, but Nico sidestepped with ease, his swift movement like a shadow in the night. Before Dudley could react, Nico delivered a precise kick to Dudley's knee, sending him crashing to the ground.
Dudley groaned, pain shooting through his leg as he struggled to get back on his feet. Nico stood over him, his smirk growing wider, his chest rising and falling with the exhilaration of the fight. "You'll never win, Cobblepot," he sneered.
Dudley's breathing was ragged, his body battered and bruised from the fight. His thoughts were clouded with frustration, and for a moment, it seemed like he might lose control entirely. But before he could get to his feet, a familiar, icy voice echoed through the room.
"Stop it. Now."
The door slammed open, and Harvey and Denton entered, wands raised. Harvey's Gryffindor resolve burned brightly in his chest, a beacon of defiance against the madness unfolding around them. His eyes scanned the room, quickly taking in the situation. "Stop it, now!" he shouted, his voice carrying across the room with the force of his magic. Sparks flew from his wand, crackling with energy as the fight continued to rage.
But Nico wasn't intimidated. He sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Don't think you can save her, Harvey," he spat. "She belongs to me now."
Denton, ever the strategist, moved swiftly. His Slytherin cunning was at play, and he cast a protective shield around Harvey, murmuring, "We need to be strategic. This isn't going to be easy."
Hermione's gaze flicked between the men, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the chaos unfold. She couldn't stand there anymore—she had to act. But as she raised her wand, ready to join the fray, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse.
The warehouse groaned, a low rumble that filled the air as something caught fire. The flames quickly spread, licking at the crates nearby. The heat intensified, and the air was thick with smoke. Before anyone could react, a massive explosion rocked the building.
The blast sent a shockwave through the room, throwing debris in all directions. Denton, caught in the blast's radius, screamed as fiery pieces of shrapnel flew through the air. One piece of flaming debris struck him square in the face and chest, burning through his clothes and searing his skin.
"Denton!" Hermione screamed, rushing toward him as he collapsed to the floor, writhing in agony. His face was scorched, and his body was badly burned. She reached him just as the fire continued to spread, the heat unbearable.
Her heart wrenched as she tried to help him, her hands trembling with the weight of helplessness. The warehouse was becoming a warzone, the air thick with smoke and the sound of distant explosions.
Dudley and Nico were still locked in their vicious battle, ignoring the growing chaos around them. Hermione's mind raced. They didn't care about anyone else—they were too focused on claiming her.
Her hands shook as she raised her wand again, sending powerful blasts of magic toward the two men, trying to push them back, but every time she managed to get a shot in, they recovered quickly. The warehouse felt like it was on the edge of collapse, the walls cracking under the pressure.
And then, from the shadows, a figure emerged.
A chill ran down Hermione's spine as the temperature in the room seemed to drop. The air itself felt like it had shifted, thickening with an ancient power that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She barely had time to react before the figure materialized—a dark silhouette stepping into the room like a shadow given form.
It was Harry Wayne.
The very air seemed to bend around him as he stepped into the warehouse. Clad in his black cloak, Harry's presence was overwhelming—his eyes sharp with purpose, his entire being exuding an intensity that seemed to burn through the haze of chaos.
Dudley's eyes widened in rage as he saw the figure. "Wayne!" he spat, his voice filled with venom. "You already turned me into a freak. You won't stop me this time!" His wand was raised, his fury boiling over as he prepared to strike.
Harry Wayne didn't flinch. He stood still, almost as if the room were nothing more than a passing breeze. A small movement of his hand cast the Shadow Cloak over him—an ancient spell that swallowed him in swirling darkness. It consumed him completely, rendering him nearly invisible to the naked eye.
Dudley's and Nico's eyes darted around, unable to locate him. Their breath quickened as they searched the shadows, but it was too late. Harry was already moving.
A flick of his wand sent a surge of magic pulsing through the air. The Belt of Chiroptera that Harry wore thrummed with power. In an instant, massive bat wings erupted from his back, their leathery forms stretching and unfurling, casting long shadows across the walls. They were a work of pure magic, rippling with strength, their every movement exuding unnatural grace.
As the wings fully extended, Harry's hands curled into massive, bat-like claws. Dark energy shimmered around his fingers, the tips of his talons stretching into sharp, menacing points.
"No one touches her," Harry's voice rang out, cold and commanding, resonating with a presence that filled the room. Every word felt like a command.
Dudley snarled and stepped forward, waving umbrella at Harry. But before he could do anything, Harry was already upon him.
In a blur of motion, Harry appeared beside Dudley, his shadow cloak swirling around him as he reappeared, seemingly from nowhere. With a single flick of his wand, he sent a Disarming Charm rocketing toward Dudley. The umbrella flew from Dudley's grip, skittering across the floor.
Before Dudley could react, Harry's bat claws snatched him up with terrifying speed. His grip was unyielding, lifting Dudley from the ground as if he were weightless.
"You're done," Harry said, his voice cold and final.
Dudley struggled, his body flailing in the air, but Harry's grip remained firm. His magic rippled outward, enveloping Dudley in a cage of invisible force.
With a final surge of power, Harry amplified the magic, and in an instant, Dudley was fully transformed—back into a helpless penguin flapping helplessly in Harry's grasp.
Nico snarled, his fury rising. He tried to lunge at Harry, but Harry was already moving. With a wave of his hand, the Shadow Cloak reacted, twisting around him like an extension of his will. The cloak rose to meet Nico, swallowing him whole for a moment in the shadows.
With a single swipe of his bat claws, Harry sent Nico crashing into the wall with an audible thud. Nico groaned as he crumpled to the floor, unable to rise.
"Stay down," Harry commanded, his voice deep and unwavering.
Turning his attention to Hermione, Harry's gaze softened for just a moment. She stood there, stunned, her heart pounding with disbelief. Denton lay on the floor, his wounds still fresh. Harvey stood close by, protectively shielding her from the aftermath of the chaos.
But the fear in Hermione's eyes didn't escape Harry's notice. Her frustration and hopelessness had been palpable, but now, with him here, she was safe.
He extended one of his bat wings, its powerful span sweeping through the air, and gently scooped Hermione into his embrace. The other wing scooped up Harvey and Denton. He then used the magic bat claws to grab and hold each of them. The magic in his wings hummed with energy, propelling them upward as if gravity had no hold on them.
Without a word, Harry took flight, the Belt of Chiroptera pulsing with power as they soared through the shattered windows and into the night. The wind howled around them, but Harry's grip was firm. With a powerful flap of his wings, they shot into the sky, leaving the chaos of the warehouse far behind.
As they soared higher, the lights of Hogwarts came into view in the distance, a beacon of safety, of home.
"Hold on," Harry's voice rang out as they raced toward the castle.
And just like that, the battle was over. Harry Wayne, the Batman of Hogwarts had come for them, and now, they were safe.
For now…