Der Klang Der Stille
Summary: The mutant gene overrides one's magic- so when a mutant Harry Potter ran away from the Dursleys due to an accident, he disappears from the wizarding world. For years he grew up on the streets before becoming one of Magneto's most trusted agents, now known as Ergo. However, when one of his few friends tells him about his godfather's impending execution, he must learn about his past and decide his place in this new world- is he still Harry Potter? Is he still their Savior?
Chapter One: Hello Darkness, My Old Friend
"Do want to hear a story?" Bobby gritted his teeth, his mouth tasting like iron. A dark chuckle was heard as he felt a hand pat the side of his head. Bobby flinched a bit, unable to move due to the restraints holding him to the chair, "It's not one you know anything about Bobby-boy. Its from way before I became Ergo."
"I still think that name is stupid," muttered Bobby as he glared at the man behind him, causing him to frown. Bobby guessed he should shut up but this guy pissed him off so much that he couldn't help but antagonize him.
Ergo continued, "Yes, you've made yourself quite clear… if it so pleases you, I suppose I could tell you my real name." He came around Bobby before spinning around and back handing Bobby hard enough to knock him and his chair over. The X Man gasped as electricity danced across his skull, tingling across his skin and muddling his senses.
When he had composed himself, Ergo continued, content to leave his captive on the ground- ignoring the dazed look in his victim's eyes, "You see, our little story is about a young boy from oh so long ago. He was around one at that time you know. It starts with his uncle and his aunt, being perfectly…. Homo Sapien."
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley as they are called, hailed from number four on Privet Drive, were quite proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They just didn't hold with such nonsense of the strange or mysterious and would be the last to be caught up in that.
Mr. Dursley was the director of a firm called Grunnings, which made drills of course. He was a big… beefy, shall we say, man with hardly any neck, although he did have a very large mustache. It only made his head seem all the smaller on the rest of his body. Mrs. Dursley was thin and blonde and had nearly twice the usual amount of neck, enough to offend even the most polite of giraffes- not because of her neck mind you but rather because of the face attached.
The Dursleys also had a small son called Dudley and in their opinion there was no finer boy anywhere. The Dursleys had everything they wanted, oh yes, but you see they had a dark secret they didn't want anyone to find out about. They didn't think they could bear it if anyone found out about their in-laws, the Potters. Mrs. Potter was Mrs. Dursley's sister, but they hadn't met for several years and practically didn't exist to the Dursleys.
The main issue was they were so unusual, so unDursleyish, so freakish. The Dursleys shuddered to think what the neighbors would say if the Potters arrived in the street. The Dursleys knew that the Potters had a small son, too, but they had never even seen him. This boy was another good reason for keeping the Potters away; they didn't want Dudley mixing with a child with parents like that.
It was on the corner of the street one morning that he, meaning Mr. Dursley, noticed the first sign of something peculiar - a cat reading a map. For a moment he thought nothing of it- before promptly jerking back to look. If he had anymore neck he likely would've snapped it. Unfortunately, that did not happen and instead he saw a tabby cat standing on the corner of Privet Drive, but there wasn't a map in sight.
What could that have been, he likely would've wondered, likely thinking he was going crazy. Mr. Dursley blinked and stared at the cat. It stared back. As Mr. Dursley drove around the corner and up the road, he watched the cat in his mirror. It was now reading the sign that said Privet Drive - no, looking at the sign; cats couldn't read maps or signs. Mr. Dursley gave himself a little shake and put the cat out of his mind. As he drove toward town he thought of nothing except a large order of drills he was hoping to get that day.
Over the day strange things kept happening. Cloaked people waltzing around the streets,owls flying against migration patterns, shooting stars in the sky; and of course, the faint, faint whispers of the Potters and their son Harry. Mr. Dursely was quite disturbed about this but he figured his life would be fine. Oh how wrong he was.
His wife was simply putting out the milk jars when she came across Harry, wrapped in a blanket, on their front step. Mr. Dursley came running when he heard that sound, oh yes he did, nearly flattened little Dudders too. Such began their new life with their no good nephew.
Of course they fed him and clothed him and took care of him… and threw him into a cupboard because he wouldn't shut his tiny wailing mouth for two moments. Hm, you seem surprised. DId you really think people like I described would take care of a baby very well, a freak of nature one at least?
Well they proved to be terrible humans, homo sapiens - undeserving of even that title if you had to ask me. Which you of course don't but it's my story. Anyways, such was the life of the young child Harry- his eyes grew quite accustomed to that darkness and in many respects found he liked the dark more than the light outside. In the dark he couldn't be hurt.
Harry grew until it was the point that they needed to, at the very least, take him to the doctor. They were worried of course; not for the boy but for themselves as Harry seemed to suck the heat right out of the air and had stuck his finger into an outlet once and hadn't been hurt in the slightest. It was quite unnatural to put it lightly.
The doctor was of course obligated to tell the couple that their freakish nephew was a mutant- the test wasn't that old but it was reliable enough. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley nearly pitched a fit but kept it together. Social services was a fickle mistress and they didn't want that brought down on their heads.
Instead they housed the mutie, but now it went from bad parenting to abuse. Harry grew up with a sprain or a bruise or a broken bone almost constantly- it's a wonder he survived childhood. He was short and skinny and had just the biggest eyes; this was mostly due to being in the dark so often and his eyes adjusting for it. Dudley of course got in on the action and his gang would beat up Harry on a weekly, if not daily, basis. This kid wasn't like you Bobby- no Professor to swoop in and save him.
Oh you know not everyone is so fortunate? Funny, with the way you X Men act I assumed you all thought we grew up without having to worry about surviving our relatives beating us half to death on a semi-daily basis. But I of course am getting off topic. The worst is after all yet to come. You see it all started on day when Harry was being chased by Dudley's gang.
He was faster than them- well at least faster than Dudley. Harry dodged and weaved the obstacles in his way as they followed fast on his heels. But you know, he was tired of running, tired of being hunted for something he had no control over. Indeed, though he had been a mutant for as long as he could remember, he never had control. So instead he turned around and socked Piers, another boy in the gang, right in the nose, breaking it.
This only served to enrage them and they descended on him like hornets. Do you know how many died, Bobby, when his powers lashed out against them in his defense against his will? Two died. Others had heart attacks. Only one child, one who hung back and avoided immediate confrontation was left alone to watch, eyes widened as the group screamed in pain and terror. Harry hated those screams but he had no control- and he was in too much pain himself. He was only ten you know; kind of like John, though younger technically.
Hm, John never talked about his past with you eh? Guess that shows which of us was a better friend in the end. Anyways, hunted by the world, especially his aunt and uncle for the death of their son, he ran and ran and ran for years. It wasn't until he was 16 that he was found by Magneto and introduced to the Brotherhood of Mutants. So Bobby, what did you think of my story; was it sad enough for your esteemed pity?
Bobby glared at Ergo in distaste, "That still gives you no right to do what you do with the Brotherhood; these people are innocent!" His comment was waved to the side as the other mutant walked around some more, musing to himself.
"You are quite naive young Iceman; I never said I had the right, the same way they never had the right to make me try to commit suicide, even if that was unintentional." Ergo scowled at the X Man, "I know I can't say anything that will change your mind. So, if you do not mind, I will take my leave."
He walked out without paying attention to what Bobby was saying, leaving him laying on the ground- he cared not for that arse. Ergo slammed the door to the cell, glaring at a cackling Toad and smirking Multiple Man, "Remind me why the hell I saved you when you fell from the Statue of Liberty Toad?"
"Come now, you know you'd miss me," Toad said from his crouched position on the table, "Besides, who'd be there to cover for your ass when you shoving your tongue down Pyro's throat?" Ergo was quiet for a moment as Multiple Man made a face; Toad didn't know when to shut up sometimes, especially on a sensitive subject like this. "What, it's true!"
Ergo rubbed his temples in exasperation, "Well besides the point- I refrain from doing that during missions so we don't get distracted anyways." A dark look came over him, "Besides the only one who'd care is tied up in that cell. If he escapes," the mutant glared at his subordinates, "I will have Mystique make your life as painful as possible… While looking like the Blob." The disgusted looks that the other two Brotherhood members bore amused Ergo.
He walked down the halls of the Brotherhood's HQ, scowling as he stalked forward. He didn't want to injure Iceman- much -but if he had stayed in there he would have done something he would've regretted instantly. The fact that Mr Perfect Mutant was their prisoner while John was captured was not enough to ease his mind. He should have kept John safe!
Avalanche, a mutant from Bayville, waved to him as Ergo walked up, "Magneto is in his office with Mystique. He figured you'd be angry so he said that you could come over anytime you wanted," The last part being said with a little growl. Kid had barely been in the Brotherhood for a couple months and he already thought he should have free access to Magneto like he did.
Ergo nodded and dismissed the younger mutant with barely a second thought- no doubt to the boy's annoyance but it did not matter. He opened the door to Magneto's office and barged in scowling. Magneto looked up from where he was looking over papers with Mystique, "Ah, my dear Ergo, I'm glad to see-"
"Cut the crap Magneto," Ergo said, green piercing eyes staring into his soul, "We are getting Pyro back from the X Men correct?" Mystique gave him a critical look but he ignored her. He may not have been around as long as her but she had proved to be nothing but critical of his and Pyro's relationship.
Apparently she doubted his abilities and thought Ergo shouldn't form such a close connection with dead weight. They had nearly come to blow multiple times over the subject. Magneto gave him a grandfatherly smile, "Peace Ergo. Do not worry- plans are being reformed with his capture. Though I doubt we will be able to launch an attack to liberate him."
He raised a placating hand when Ergo's eyes flashed angrily, "Please consider the bigger picture. He is stuck in the X Men's Manor as they still see him as more or less a wayward former member. To liberate him I would have to breach the Manor; perhaps before Stryker's attack this would have worked but now…"
Ergo began pacing, "But we have to save him! What if the military find out they're holding him? The experimental "cure" is being rolled out. They could try and neutralize him!" Magneto watched his young third-in-command carefully. He did not like how Ergo was handling this situation and he planned on informing the mutant of that fact.
"Think like the leader you are Ergo. It would make little sense for the military to do that right now or that they'd view Pyro as such a threat that they needed to. If you think you will realize I'm right. Now," Magneto moved some papers, "If you could, say, present me a plan to lure out them with Pyro then we can act. But for now, I will not order such a foolhardy and ill thought plan."
Ergo sighed, forcing himself to calm; Magneto was right in this situation. It would not make sense to move the Brotherhood yet. But he needed to do something or who knows what would happen to his boyfriend. The last thing they needed was some X Men "Therapy" messing with his loyalty to the mutant cause.
The green eyed mutant left Magneto's office, lost in thoughts and memories. He looked out a window at the sunset, mind wandering back to when he and John met for the first time….
"Oh god!" Everyone was thrown as an explosion ripped a hole in the X Jet and they begin to plummet. Rogue flew out of the hole screaming desperately as her world spun around her. Jean focused, trying to keep the plane together as everyone else looked horrified; suddenly with a pop, Nightcrawler was gone. A second later the mutant was back in his seat, a terrified Rogue with him.
Bobby and John shared a look, one of acceptance and one of terror, as the plane continued to plummet relentlessly towards the and Logan hold hands as Storm fights the controls, desperate to stop their descent.
"Mrs. Storm?!" Storm, Bobby and Pyro all look back as the hull of the plane begins mending itself, the roar of air dying to a whistle- but they weren't slowing down, they were still about to hit the ground!
Everyone was thrown forward, seatbelts digging into them for a moment before they lost all momentum and were just hanging there. Bewildered, they could see a black haired teen with glowing green eyes smirking up with them, a hand on the nose of the jet, with Magneto holding his hand out and holding the jet. "Ah, its the X-Men. Right on time."
Ergo was looking up through the window of the jet, not having met all the X-Men here- there was the standards, Jean , Logan, and Storm. But then there were some teens that looked maybe a year younger than he was. Some brown haired boy, kid looked ready to piss his pants, a girl that seemed to feel likewise and some weird furry dude.
Then his eyes landed on the almost white-haired blond, and his teeth flashed. Now there was something he could work with. Kid had those eyes, the eyes of a person who had been dealt a sub-optimal hand in life and resented it. Ergo might not be Magneto, but he felt that this kid wouldn't need that big of a push to see sense.
When Magneto placed the jet down and the X-Men began disembarking, Ergo moved back over to his boss's side. Magneto spared him a glance and Ergo smirked, "Send me the kids- I think I can work on one of them." His boss understood and smirked. Ergo wasn't the most eloquent speaker but he was honest and frank where Magneto was not. Teens would appreciate that.
Magneto was making a fire for the adults while the other "grown-ups" (that made Ergo sneer) checked over the jet. He led the other teens over to a clearing far enough away that they wouldn't be able to listen. As they walked, the brown haired boy introduced himself as Bobby Drake and the others. Ergo could barely conceal a laugh at the expression of irritation on 'John's' face.
He wasn't trying to manipulate the boy; John just seemed so sick of these X-Men. Not that he could blame the other teeneager. He was rarely around the other mutant force but even a little exposure made him sick. They were so naive, so soft. Ergo wasn't used to that. His boss had been in a concentration camp, he had been abused, Raven couldn't be seen as herself in public. They were jaded.
These kids, they weren't like that. Sure they had experienced trials, but they had that spark of hope in their eyes. He sat around the wood they had piled into a makeshift fire pit as Bobby struggled to start a fire. Ergo disliked the boy immediately. He likely believed the X-Men creed and wouldn't be easy to sway, not with Storm or that mind-reader here. Same with the girl.
The boy 'John ' though was on the path. Plus he was kind of cute. Could do with a little less gel, and maybe just go ahead and bleach the hair. Maybe he just needed a year or two to hit being really attractive. Ergo shook himself out of that train of thought before he got stuck there dissecting his appearance. He had fooled around with guys before- he had been back in England not a year ago and had hooked up with some boy named Cedric.
Apparently the guy had a row with his girlfriend and was feeling experimental for the night. They had exchanged numbers the next morning and went their separate ways. They had already done it once since then. Nice guy, strong and silent. John was different but it was a nice change. He was open and emotional, a firecracker amongst sheep. He would be fun to have around.
Ergo ended up having a small debate with Bobby when he told them his name was Ergo. Bobby had been a bit miffed by that response, "What's your real name? Not some superhero name."
He glared at the petulant child in front of him, "Ergo is my REAL name. I was named something else by Homo Sapiens, but my name, my mutant name- that is my REAL name." Ergo turns to John who had been watching him closely with interest, "What's your real name John?"
The mutant froze for a moment, absent-mindedly flicking open his lighter and closing it for a few moments before saying with confidence, "Pyro." Ergo gave him a satisfied smile. Perfect.
Ergo sighed and moved towards his room to try and figure out some way to free John. He hadn't thought he'd get involved with John on a regular basis and then dating; Ergo frankly sucked at most relationships. He was an emotional and abused trainwreck- he acted strong but he got vulnerable real fast with lovers. He was a bit of a softee that way.
With Cedric it was easy- the guy was as solid as bedrock. John was the opposite, which he liked but it dismissed their chances of a successful relationship. They had somehow made it work out despite the strain sometimes. Ergo shouldn't have let that cloud his judgement however.
He had let John come along because he didn't want to push the mutant- his lover refused to acknowledge that he had weaknesses and it had cost him. Now he was captured and Ergo was pulling his hair out. If he had just put his foot down and not given in John would still be here. Sure, he'd be pissed but was that worse?
Magneto wasn't wrong though. Infiltrating the X-Mansion was nearly impossible with the Brotherhood's current make-up. They weren't an infiltration based group. Raids, sure, but most of the people in the X-Mansion were young civilian mutants. He didn't want to attack people who could eventually change their minds and join the cause.
So they needed someone to either render the infiltrators invisible or incapacitate the X-Men. Incapacitating them would take much too long- he wasn't even really sure how to incapacitate some of them at this point. Magneto could capture the esteemed Professor but take Wolverine. Again, only Magneto had a guaranteed way to hold him back for any length of time and the man could easily sniff out infiltrators.
Not only that, but they had no idea where John was being held. Sure they knew their base was underneath the school but they knew not the specifics. Even his boss wasn't sure about the layout since it had changed since he and Xavier were on the same side. So they'd need some way to keep them back for a long time or needed someone who knew the mansion's layout or could at least figure out where John was quickly.
Ergo ran his hands through his hair frustrated. This was much more difficult then he had thought it would be and now he understood Magneto's seeming apathy about the situation. There was no good answer with their current team members. Callisto could sense mutants but with the amount in the X-Mansion that wouldn't be much help at all.
His thoughts were interrupted when his phone started to buzz. He glanced at the photo that showed up and froze. A large badger was emblazoned on the screen- Cedric was calling. The other boy had put that as his contact photo though Ergo didn't know the significance of such a picture. He didn't really want to talk to the older boy right now, not with John missing.
The boy was a homo sapien regardless, and really should be forgotten by this point anyways. He let it go to voicemail and started to go back to working on a plan when a text from Cedric showed up, [Absit Omen]. Ergo froze again. That was a code phrase he gave people important to him in case they had to reach him immediately. It was only to be used in a bad situation and not lightly. Hands shaking, he picked up the phone and called Cedric back.
"Hey Ergo," Cedric's voice said over the phone, rushed and frantic. Something was definitely up.
"Hey Cedric," Ergo said, leaning back in his chair, "What's the issue?"
"I'll cut our usual banter then," Cedric said, both chuckling before getting back on topic, "Look, I know you don't like talking about your past, but this is important… You once said your given name was Harry. Tell me the truth- was it Harry Potter?"
Ergo's mind shorted out for a moment- how the hell did he know? "Y-How the hell did you find that out Cedric?! I've kept that carefully under wraps for years!"
Cedric humorlessly chuckled, "That scar is very distinctive… and I know of your parents. Do you know about what they were part of?"
Well this was not taking the route he was expecting. His eyes narrowed; this was going down a path he wasn't sure he was ready for. "No. They were regular drunks from what I was always told by my worthless relatives."
Cedric angry growl caught him off guard. He knew the boy hated his relatives- Ergo was 99% sure Cedric had memorized every scar from them Ergo had out of his hate for them. But this response was unusual, "Bastards. Anyways, I'll tell you more in person. Look, we have an issue over here… It concerns your godfather."
Wait. What. He had a motherfucking GODFATHER?! "Wha-WHAT? What do you mean my godfather?! I've never seen him- where the hell is this coming from?"
"Of course you wouldn't- he's been in jail for the most of your life. He was accused of being an accessory to your parent's murder."
"What the fuck do you mean my parent's were murdered?!"
Cedric let out a tired sigh, "Look I'll explain it later. What matters is we have proof he's innocent but our government is trying to cover up their mistake and the fact that the man who actually killed your parents are still alive. He's a… terrorist hell bent on taking over the country. They won't admit he's still alive."
Of course it was the government's fault that things were going wrong. "Alright, well, they planning on throwing him in jail then?"
"No. Execution." The breath was punched out of Ergo's gut. "When the terrorist attacked your parents and you, you all had supposedly killed him. You all are war heroes Ergo; the government had just assumed you had been placed in a good home. I know you weren't- but the point is they won't settle for jail time.
"Why isn't he already dead then?"
"We- not me personally mind you -just found evidence of his innocence. Now they're going to have to possibly put him on trial with media coverage and are pressed for time. The one who's the leader of the group trying to free him has pull but they are intent on ignoring him. It'll be a quick trial and execution."
"...I'm assuming you want my help then?"
Cedric paused before sighing, "You deserve to know. He's your godfather and your only family left. And… well I see the news. I know what you do and what you're a part of. I don't necessarily agree with everything you do but you're a good guy who's suffered. You deserve to have at least some family in your life."
Ergo was quiet for a moment. This kid was too sweet for either of their own good. "Thanks Cedric. I mean it. I want to help- I can't stand it when the government does things like this. I just need to talk to my b- Magneto and let him know."
"We're on our way to the States already, me and my dad. I told him in the vaguest way possible my suspicions- leave out that we've fucked of course."
"Of course. I'm assuming you'll be here tomorrow then? You know the city we're in?"
"You mentioned it once offhandedly. You want to meet at a cafe or something near your base?"
Ergo nodded, mind racing, "Yeah, sure, that sounds brilliant. I'll go clear it with the boss and text you the address of the place."
"Alright then. I'll see you later then Ergo."
"Yea. See you soon." He hung up the phone, mind racing. A good fifteen years had passed without finding out anything about his parents- and now it was all coming out in a single, overwhelming rush. Ergo rubbed his temples before straightening himself. Time to get to work.
AN: Exact pairings are still being worked out. Currently its Harry x Pyro, with Harry x Cedric mentions; however, it could changed back to Harry x Cedric or a Harry x Pyro X Cedric pairing. Let me know what you think. Any thoughts / reviews are welcome and prayed for- more reviews will only encourage me!
