Godfather Owl: Guardian of Batman [93]

The words on the page flickered briefly, then sank into the paper, leaving no trace.

After a short wait, the paper oozed words he’d never written, forming a response.

Yet, something about the phrasing felt… off.

“Master Green, please stop testing me!”

For a moment, Bruce didn’t know how to respond.

He recalled Professor Gale’s words about a very interesting soul residing in the diary.

But looking at it now...

What exactly had Professor Gale done to this soul to scare it like this?

Even Bruce couldn’t help but feel sorry for the guy.

He wrote in the diary, “I’m not Master Green. I just picked up this diary.”

The diary didn’t respond, clearly not buying Bruce’s explanation.

“It’s true; I’m not lying to you.”

Bruce thought for a moment, trying his best to sound innocent and harmless.

“Is the ‘Master Green’ you’re talking about Professor Gale Green?

“He is quite harsh; none of the students like him.”

After a pause, the diary finally responded with a slowly emerging line:

“You told me last time that you were a first-year girl at Hogwarts, pretending to open up to me to trick me into absorbing your soul.

“What happened, you think I forgot?

“I won’t make the same mistake twice!”

This—

Although it was just simple text, Bruce could practically feel the deep resentment oozing from it.

This poor dark magic soul—who knows how many times he’d been catfished by Professor Gale.

Just how badly had he been humiliated to gain this much… life experience?

It was hard to imagine.

Bruce found himself at a loss on how to continue the conversation.

At that moment, Kathoom jumped onto the bed, standing next to the diary.

Using telepathy, he whispered to Bruce—

“Chat about the Boy Who Lived; I bet he’d be interested!”

Talking to a diary about Harry?

Bruce couldn’t see the connection. Judging by the faded date on the diary’s cover, this was a journal from fifty years ago.

Fifty years ago… Harry’s father wouldn’t have even been born yet!

But with no better options, Bruce decided to go along with Kathoom’s advice and give it a shot.

“I really am not Professor Green. I’m just a shy, socially awkward boy.”

He wrote in the diary, “I feel so alone at this school. No one ever wants to play with me, so I just talk to the owls every day.

“I saw the name T.M. Riddle on the diary. Is your name Riddle?

“Riddle, would you be my friend, and let me share what’s on my mind?”

There was no response. Bruce waited a moment, then continued writing—

“The person I hate most is Harry Potter from Gryffindor House.

“Everyone loves him. He’s like the sun, shining so brightly, and everyone revolves around him.

“Compared to him, I’m just a rat in a gutter.

“I hate him so much. That scar-headed brat—so he defeated Voldemort when he was a kid? I don’t believe he did it by his own power!”

Bruce found himself writing with surprising ease. He didn’t know why, but once he started, the words just flowed.

It was almost as if such a person actually existed.

Kathoom glanced at the text and suddenly asked, “Why did you make yourself sound like Malfoy?”

Huh?

Bruce snapped back to reality.

So that’s why this description sounded so familiar!

“Congratulations, Bruce. You’ve finally mastered the art of lying.”

Kathoom laughed, “Nine truths and one lie; even Merlin himself couldn’t tell what’s real!”

Bruce didn’t see what was so funny. He felt he’d derailed the topic; the diary might not respond further.

After all, who would want to be friends with Malfoy?

Yet, things took an unexpected turn.

In the diary, the words “defeated Voldemort” were circled.

Slowly, a new line of text appeared.

“Tell me more.”

A reply—he’d actually gotten a reply!

Bruce’s eyes sharpened.

Up until now, no matter the topic, Riddle had acted like he couldn’t care less.

But the mention of Voldemort’s defeat had gotten him to respond.

That could mean only one thing.

Riddle’s interest in Voldemort’s downfall outweighed his fear of Professor Gale!

Why?

An idea began to form in Bruce’s mind.

Fifty years ago…

Bruce started to calculate the timeline. When exactly did Voldemort begin his rise?

According to magical history, his power peaked around the seventies, when he was in his prime.

So, the timing lined up perfectly!

“Kathoom!”

Bruce mentally asked, “This Riddle… could he actually be Voldemort?”

“You’re getting quicker at this, I’ll give you that.”

The owl didn’t hide it, “Yes, it’s him. His full name is Tom Marvolo Riddle. Rearrange the letters, and you’ll find the answer.”

Bruce thought for a moment.

Tom Marvolo Riddle

—I am Lord Voldemort!

This… In that moment, Bruce didn’t feel fear; he’d never been scared of Voldemort to begin with.

But an odd thought popped into his mind.

The Half-Blood Prince Snape, the Dark Lord Tom…

“Why do they all come up with these names?” Bruce asked Kathoom, “Don’t they feel embarrassed?”

“Why would they be embarrassed?” The owl fluffed his feathers. “I’m also The Demon King- Kathoom!”

For the first time, Bruce felt a profound sense of isolation.

What kind of people was he surrounded by?

Compared to this bunch, even the name ‘Batman’ sounded mundane.

On the other end, the diary grew impatient from the lack of response. For the first time, Riddle took the initiative to start the conversation.

“Did something happen, my dear Bruce? Why aren’t you answering me?”

Riddle asked, “Aren’t we friends?”

He was clearly eager to get more information from Bruce.

As a soul from Voldemort’s sixth year, he brimmed with confidence, convinced he’d achieve great things.

But now, hearing that his future self had been defeated by an infant, yet lacking details—how could he not be agitated!

“Riddle, are you that interested in Voldemort?”

Bruce wrote in the diary, “Do you think Harry Potter is that impressive too?”

Riddle caught the underlying message.

He began to accept Bruce’s character as a sensitive, lonely boy. Riddle always knew how to handle such people.

“Not at all, my dear Bruce.”

Riddle wrote, “Though I’m merely a diary, even I’ve heard of Voldemort. He’s a powerful wizard.

“Someone like him—how could he possibly be defeated by a baby? There must be more to it!

“This Harry Potter—likely just a fraud basking in stolen glory!

“Come now, Bruce, tell me more, and together, we’ll uncover the truth about Potter!”

His words felt sincere and heartfelt, as if he truly cared about Bruce’s troubles.

“I will, Tom.”

Bruce wrote in the diary, “I’ll tell you everything I know.”

---

About an hour later, Bruce closed the diary.

Using telepathy, he and Kathoom began plotting right under Voldemort’s nose.

“This guy really knows how to butter people up; I could barely stand it.”

Bruce sighed, “If I were just an ordinary student, I might’ve started seeing him as a confidant.”

Some of Voldemort’s compliments were over the top.

For instance, he even said—

“You’re destined for greatness, while I am but humble dust by the wayside. Just being by your side for a while is the greatest fortune of my life.”

—lines like that.

Who could resist?

“You should learn from him,” Kathoom said, “Say things like that to me.”

“In your dreams.”

Bruce returned to the main topic, “Professor Gale must know Voldemort’s identity, right? Then why is he so carefree about handing the diary to a student?”

He even planned to summon Voldemort’s soul into Snape’s dreams.

Who could come up with such an idea?

Was Professor Gale really not afraid that when Snape woke up, his soul might’ve already been replaced by Voldemort’s?

Bruce sighed. “Now what?”

Professor Gale’s plan seemed like a last-minute brainwave.

Dumbledore would never approve of letting Voldemort enter Snape’s body.

“Stop stressing out; it’s not that big of a problem.”

Kathoom thought for a moment, then suggested a solution. “We can still summon his soul, just without the reverse connection—use the diary as a link.”

“What do you mean?” Bruce asked.

“The diary can absorb souls to strengthen itself.”

Kathoom explained, “It’s actually a kind of soul-linking ability. Since that’s the case, we can have it link to Snape.

“When that happens, Snape’s thoughts will appear in the diary, and anything written in the diary can reach Snape’s mind.

“There are still risks, of course, but with Dumbledore and Professor Gale monitoring, it should be manageable.”

Bruce understood the owl’s meaning.

This would prevent Voldemort from directly entering Snape’s dreams; instead, the diary would serve as a medium to communicate with the sleeping Snape.

This way, Voldemort’s soul remained trapped in the diary, unable to harm Snape directly.

It was a solid plan.

However—

“Wait a minute, why are you being so helpful?”

Bruce suddenly realized that Kathoom was actually being serious about finding a solution this time.

That made him a bit suspicious.

“Bruce, hearing you say that just breaks my heart.”

Kathoom faked a couple of sobs, “I may be a demon, but I have a heart of gold. I’m a good owl!”

Could an owl really have ill intentions?

Bruce wasn’t buying it. “Cut the act; even if you wanted to mess with someone, you wouldn’t hide it from me. Unless you’re trying to mess with me!”

“You’re overthinking it!”

Kathoom dropped his act, “I just thought we could broadcast Snape’s dreams for everyone to see.”