Marvel's Hogwarts Wizard

Lois looked at Jerry with horror. "What did you do to me?"

She didn't understand what had just happened. It felt as if she had been possessed, compelled to trust Jerry and share all her experiences and investigative results.

Jerry smiled and placed his hand on Lois's shoulder. "Don't be afraid, I mean no harm. You want to find Clark, right? I'll take you to him."

"Explain first what you just did to me! Are you one of them?" Lois asked with a frightened expression.

Jerry smiled at her before replying, "You won't understand anything if I explain it to you, Miss Lane. Your question will be answered after we meet Clark!" He snapped his finger.

The space around them twisted, and they vanished, reappearing in front of a cemetery in Smallville.

"Oh, God, what happened?" Lois exclaimed while covering her mouth in shock as the surroundings changed dramatically.

Clark who was squatting in front of a tombstone flinched, noticed the commotion and stood up before turning around. "Is it you?" he asked, recognizing Lois immediately.

Lois's initial shock turned into excitement. "I knew that if I kept digging, I'd find you!"

"You shouldn't be looking for me, and you definitely shouldn't be digging into my story. The world isn't ready to know about me yet," Clark said, a hint of helplessness in his voice.

Having learned of his origins from the Kryptonian spaceship in the Arctic, Clark understood the importance of keeping his identity hidden.

His adoptive father had always warned him that humanity might not welcome his existence, potentially reacting with fear and hostility.

Despite his desire to help people, he had to keep his true identity a secret.

This will inevitably bring more people with a contradicting voice about his presence in their lives. Clark thinks that it's much more plausible to just save humanity from behind the scenes.

"You can't hide forever," Lois insisted while stepping forward to Clark. "There will always be someone who takes your photo and guesses where you live. Unless you stop saving people, but that's clearly not your choice."

Clark shook his head, then turned his gaze to Jerry, who had been quietly observing their conversation. "Who are you?" he asked.

Clark knew Lois well; she was a tenacious reporter for the Daily Planet.

However, he had no idea who Jerry was. The fact that Jerry had brought Lois here without Clark noticing was troubling. His powerful perception should have detected them, yet Jerry had appeared out of thin air.

"I don't know him," Lois interjected before Jerry could respond. "He was at your house when I got there. He used some strange means to make me tell your story and then brought me here in an instant."

She glanced warily at Jerry, moving behind Clark for protection. While she had deduced that Clark was a benevolent alien saving people, she couldn't be sure about Jerry's intentions.

Jerry raised his hands in a non-threatening gesture. "I understand your concern, Miss Lane. Clark, I'm here to help, not harm. My name is Jerry, and I have certain abilities that allow me to travel quickly and gather information. I used those abilities to bring Lois here because she deserves to know the truth, and so do you."

Clark remained cautious but nodded at Jerry's explanation. "Okay, Jerry. Why are you so interested in me?"

"Because your story is important," Jerry replied. "You have the potential to change the world, Clark. But you also need to be prepared for the challenges that come with that responsibility. I believe I can help you navigate those challenges."

Clark considered Jerry's words. "What do you want in return?"

"Nothing more than to help you understand your place in this world," Jerry said sincerely. "I know a lot about different universes and the threats that can arise. Together, we can ensure that you're ready for whatever comes."

Lois looked between the two men, sensing the weight of the conversation. "Clark, if he knows something that can help you, maybe we should listen."

Clark nodded slowly. "Alright, Jerry. Let's talk. But know this: if you harm anyone I care about, you'll have to answer to me."

Jerry smiled at his threat before replying. "Fair enough, I would do the same. Let's get started to know each other."

Clark frowned slightly after seeing how calm Jerry was.

Noticing this, Jerry raised his hand to signal for both Clark and Lois to relax.

"There's no need to be wary," Jerry said calmly. "My name is Jerry Carmen, and I'm a human magician. I came here because my magic predicted something significant, and I need to confirm it."

"Magician? There's really magic in this world?" Lois exclaimed, her expression a mix of disbelief and fascination.

Jerry shrugged. "Of course, Miss Lane. The world is far more complex than you imagine. There are magicians, gods, demons, angels, and even aliens. Mr. Clark is not the only extraordinary being on Earth."

To demonstrate, Jerry cast a transfiguration spell on a nearby stone, turning it into a pink piglet.

Both Clark and Lois stared in astonishment at the piglet happily playing on the ground.

"Mr. Magician, what exactly do you want to talk to me about?" Clark asked as he regained his composure after seeing the piglet bouncing around.

Though he had always felt different, Clark's upbringing had been rooted in Earthly norms.

Only recently had he discovered his Kryptonian origins, and now, a magician seeking him out added to his confusion.

"As I mentioned," Jerry began, "I predicted a severe crisis looming over Earth, and you are central to it. That's why I sought you out."

"Crisis? And I'm the root cause?" Clark's voice was laced with concern. "Mr. Magician, you must be mistaken. Though I am an alien, Earth is my second home, my only home. I use my abilities to protect it, not harm it."

Lois nodded in agreement. "I can vouch for Clark. He's been helping humans for years. I have plenty of evidence of his good deeds."

Jerry nodded thoughtfully after hearing their explanation because he knew that Clark was not a villain either. "Initially, I thought you might be the cause of the crisis. But after meeting you, I'm not so sure. However, the crisis is undoubtedly connected to you. Here," he said, handing a small mirror to Clark. "This is a magic mirror. You can contact me by calling my name through it. If anything happens, use it to find me. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

After leaving the mirror to Clark, Jerry vanished in the thin air, leaving Clark and Lois staring at each other in bewilderment.

Jerry knew he needed to restore his strength to handle the upcoming threats.

The imminent arrival of General Zod and his subordinates presented an excellent opportunity.

As fellow Kryptonians, Zod and his followers were exiled to the Phantom Zone after a failed rebellion against the Kryptonian Council, only to witness Krypton's destruction from their prison.

Zod's plan to transform Earth into a new Krypton at the cost of Earth's civilization meant a significant threat was looming. Jerry saw the upcoming conflict as a source of the red stars he needed to convert into magical power.

He needed these red stars to regain enough strength to merge the Mother Box and the Anti-Life Equation into the Bell Universe. This would restore a substantial portion of his power, though perhaps not to his peak level in the Marvel universe.

Zod and his followers were formidable, far beyond the typical Gotham criminal.

However, Jerry recalled that Kryptonians had a notable vulnerability: a lack of resistance to magic. With Clark's help, they could confront Zod and his forces effectively.

Jerry's plan was clear. He would ally with Clark, harness the conflict with Zod to gather the red stars needed, and prepare to handle the even greater challenges ahead.

For now, though, he left Clark and Lois to process their bewildering encounter and prepare for the trials to come.