Chapter Text
Several students startled when an older man in a large green cloak appeared near the opposite edge of the invisible line of where Jason was running through his katas, from them, “Good, you are not wasting your time here and are keeping up your stills. As I would expect.”
Jason slid out of his kata to face Ra’s, not slipping into an aggressive stance but neither into a relaxed one, “Ra’s.”
There were several gasps at the name from the crowd that had been watching Jason.
Jason narrowed his eyes at the other, “What do you want Ra’s?”
“Do I need a reason to visit my grandson?”
“Yes.”
Ra’s looked over the group of children, “I am interested in meeting the boy that supposedly defeated Tom Marvolo Riddle.” Responding to Jason’s form sliding to the side to stand more between him and the students, “I have no wish to harm him. I merely wish to observe the potential warding magic on him. I even acquired a gift for him letting me view them.”
“I’m not going to just bring him to you to look at.”
“Again, I have no ill intentions towards him, or even any intentions of even touching him. I simply wish to view any magical wards that protected him. I also prepared a gift in exchange for allowing me to view the magical wards around him.”
Jason didn’t budge, not taking his eyes of Ra’s, but Harry chose to walk over and look up at the man. Jason holding an arm out to stop Harry from getting too close to Ra’s.
“What is it you want sir?”
“If you would remain still for a few moments I will let you know anything of importance I see.”
Harry shrugged, “Fine.” Before holding himself still as Ra’s looked over first over him entirely before focusing on the area around Harry’s head and then face, narrowing his focus to Harry’s forehead. It was a distinctly disturbing experience.
“Interesting.”
Jason stepped to his side to more fully stand between the two, “Well? What did you see?”
“There was a very powerful ward spell on the boy. Fueled by both his mother’s sacrifice and her love. A mother’s love is a very powerful source of power when their child is in danger, or was killed. There’s a reason I never killed you for your insolence.”
Jason ignored the old insult, “Was?”
“Yes, within the last year someone did something, most likely a blood ritual, where the boy’s blood was forcibly taken, to break through it.” Ra’s voice quieted until only the other pair could hear him, “It is the reason that the dark magic shard in his skull is now having a stronger effect on him.”
Harry’s eyes shot wide open, “The what?”
“A shard of someone's magic, probably from a ritual or spell that effected the very nature of the caster, I’d wager it is this Tom Riddle individual and I’m surprised,” Ra’s eyes flickered to Jason, “that you have not removed it yet.”
“It’s lodged in his magic and skull. I haven’t figured out a way to remove it yet.”
“The boy is innocent, and the shard evil. Your All Blades should more than suffice.”
Jason face palmed, “(REDACTED). I’m a (redacted) idiot.”
“Is that a charm or a curse changing your words? I find you much less annoying to speak with you with that on.”
“Go (redacted) yourself.”
“Well onto the gift in exchange for his cooperation.” With a hand sign an ninja appeared holding out a box to Harry.
When Jason didn’t say anything, Harry held out his hands for the box, the ninja disappearing as soon as the box was secure in Harry’s hand who carefully opened it.
Harry screamed and flung the box forward after opening it. Jason and Ra’s both stepping to the side, casually dodging the flung head and several hearts that either rolled or flopped to the ground.
When Harry didn’t respond beyond the scream Ra’s explained, “As you can tell, the head was of your uncle’s sister, but the hearts are from the dogs that she trained to attack children such as yourself.”
“I think I’m going to be sick.” Harry's face was rather green as he spoke.
Hand resting on Harry’s shoulders Jason turned him away, “Down wind is that way. Make sure not to get anything on your shoes.” Before glaring at Ra’s, “You knew he wasn’t up to seeing that.”
“He will have to face death in the battle to come, better it be an enemy. I would have brought the rest but it was just too inconvenient to move, leaking all over the place. I was surprised to find her still living. Normally you don’t leave a job unfinished.”
“I dealt with what was needed, and his cousin needed a place to live.”
“There are other relatives to provide housing for the whale. Hopefully someone who will correct his eating habits. It is unlike you to leave somewhere that the victim might be sent to and continue to be abused.”
Jason absently mindedly rubbed Harry’s back as he heaved, “Dumbles put him there because of the blood wards. That woman shares no blood with Harry so Harry wouldn’t be safe with her, and Harry’s safety is what Dumbles cares about, well… more keeping him alive than real safety.”
“I wouldn’t trust a man that set a boy to be starved for an illusion of safety to realize that. I mean how can he expect the boy to fight if he is not at his best physically. I know you disapprove of how my other grandson was raised but he at least was never starved or left without a space to feel secure to rest in. Now I have other things to attend to.”
With that Ra’s turned and between one step and the next disappeared.
Jason sighed looking down at the body parts. This was not going to be fun to explain. Although Harry seemed pretty distracted so hopefully he wouldn’t remember the dark magic fragment comment until they met up for training tonight no reason for him to stress out before they had time to fix things.