Child of the Phoenix
Disclaimer: As Before
Plot: Response to my A Sirius Secret Challenge: Just when Harry thinks he's all ready to go back to Hogwarts, Sirius drops a bombshell that changes EVERYTHING! Now, in the knowledge that he's more than your average wizard, can Harry adjust to a new life, a new destiny and, above all else, a new FAMILY?
Dedication: I wish to dedicate this story to everyone that continues to provide positive reviews for my stories and the feedback that I enjoy; the recommended reads for this story are: Ruby Tinted Glasses by StormyFireDragon and Tinkerbell and Claws by mrsKnitewolf.
Harry/Hermione
Normal Speech
'Thought'
'Telepathy'
Review Answers:
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The final votes are in and Harry/Hermione won the poll, so that is going to be the pairing; thanks for everyone that voted and a big thank you to everyone that voted for that pairing as, when I came up with the story in the first place – using notes and drafts – that was the pairing that really kept it going, so thanks.
Norseman4: Well, just because Harry apparently has the right doesn't mean he's going to take advantage of that: who do you think I'd write him as if I did that? Malfoy?
Ultima-owner: I know, which is why I came up with the little exile part, though it was inspired by something I read in another fic about another magical Marvel member;
Carebear114: No, but thanks for the guess;
NessaFefales: NO! HELL NO! Logan's REAL name IS James – according to many comics, animated series and Marvel – so why are people thinking he's James Potter is beyond me!
Contramancer: That is interesting and a nice power idea; it would be perfect for Hermione: also, as I said to another reviewer in my last chapter, I don't write three-ways or multi's;
T4: I guess the methods are similar aren't they? As for Harry's friends, I have plans for other magical mutants including some of our old favourites, so just keep watching;
StormyFireDragon: Yeah, I learned from the best on how to write detail in a chapter, Storm; I actually use your stories as inspiration on how to write my chapter most times, so thanks, my friend;
Xanaris: Yeah, I'm sorry that I didn't explain it, but Charles DID guess Harry's reactions from his body language and how he spoke and acted when he said those things: also, I know that people don't like it when I say this, but I'll say it again: if you don't like it, then don't read it. I don't write to please everyone and, while it may not make sense to some, it's how I write my story;
"You'll never be alone, Harry," Scott explained, entering the room with a tired Sirius and Remus as well as Logan, who was dressed in a gown and shorts that made him look more like a normal man than the wild man Harry had figured. "We'll be right here; all of us."
"Th…" Harry began, but stopped for a short second as a mind he couldn't quite understand touched his own: as it did, Harry saw things that he couldn't piece together and, when he looked to his Father, the images and feelings vanished. As he glanced around, trying to find the source of those images, Harry added, "Thanks…Dad: I…I don't know if I'll…I'll be able to stop having those nightmares, but…I'll try."
Chapter 3: Friends Reunited
Logan sat in shock next to Harry's bed, his eyes wide with disbelief as he asked, "What…what did you call me?"
"You heard what I called you," Harry answered, before his own eyes widened and, lifting a hand to his mouth, he asked, "You…you don't know, do you?"
"If you're referring to my past," Logan explained, leaning against the wall, aware of Harry watching him from his bed, "Then no: I don't know much about my past. Just fragments of memories that I don't really know and secrets that I can't really solve or learn: Charles has tried to help me, but…he never said anything…nobody ever said anything about a real name."
"Wolverine," Harry gasped, actually embarrassed at what he had said, "I…I'm sorry: I didn't know…I was just…just trying to avoid having to deal with another that caused a rift between my family. I'm…I'm sorry: please, don't be angry with me…I…I thought…"
"It's okay, kid," Logan remarked, his feral side picking up on the fear coming from Harry as he looked to the young Summers. "I figured that you'd be strong and, when Chuck explained about your telepathy, I should have guessed that would be stronger too. Hey," here, he moved back to the bed before sitting down, his eyes on Harry as he explained, "Just so you know, I've never really harmed a kid and I won't do anything to endanger your life."
"These…" he seemed to emphasise the point by drawing out his adamantium claws, lifting them to show Harry as he continued, "These things will never hurt you: I'll protect you and stand by your side, Harry, I promise. However, if you want me to stop being jealous of what your parents have, then I will do: the X-Men have really been a family and friends to me and, though he doesn't say it, I also know that Cyke is relieved to have someone with my abilities on the team."
"I won't really tell anyone, Logan," Harry sighed, lying down on his pillows as he looked to the feral, "Not if you don't want me to: you have to remember that I'm not as trained as Mum or Uncle Charles with my telepathy, so I can't really understand what I see. But, with time, maybe I can help you figure out some of those secrets. What do you say?"
"I'd welcome the information," Wolverine laughed, before he patted Harry's shoulder in an affectionate, comforting manner, his eyes on the young mutant as he asked, "But, for now, could you answer me a question?"
"Anything."
"What's my real name?" asked Wolverine, Harry smirking as he answered him.
"Howlett; James Howlett…and you're a lot older than anyone else here…I guess it's because of…because of your metallic skeleton, huh?"
"Not to mention the healing factor," Logan agreed, rising from the bed and, moving back to where he'd been standing guard, he added, "Thanks kid: now, get some sleep: big day for you tomorrow."
"Night, Logan."
"Night, cub."
As Harry closed his eyes, Logan smiled and, looking out over the night sky outside, he couldn't help but laugh as he muttered to himself, "I think I'll stick with Logan…mostly because I don't want to upset the kid in giving him a reminder of a life that he never knew."
ChildOfThePhoenix
On his first actual morning, Harry was met down in the dining hall by his parents, Charles, Sirius and Remus, the five people all relieved to see that Harry looked so happy and a lot better than he had been after suffering from his nightmares. As he sat down, Harry then asked, "Is everything all right?"
"We're just glad to see you're feeling better, son," Scott answered, glancing to the door as he added, "Though we heard a few raised voices last night from you and Logan: he did help keep you safe, didn't he?"
"He did," Harry answered, lowering his head as he remembered how embarrassed he'd felt about knowing more about Logan than Logan himself, "I…I just…I made a mistake and he…he was shocked."
"Why?" asked Charles, knowing that Harry was clearly sorry for something; it was in his body language and the way that he hesitated with his explanation.
"Well," Harry explained, lifting his head slightly as he addressed the room, "When…when I was calming down last night, I…I accidentally scanned the minds of everyone in…in the room including Logan and, when I saw his mind, I saw…things that I won't tell you because I can't really understand it."
"What did you see?" asked Jean, worried about her son's power being used so impulsively and uncontrollably as that.
"My real name," Logan's voice answered, the feral mutant appearing through the door accompanied by a rather large humanoid creature that was covered head-to-foot in blue fur, a pair of yellow eyes examining the room before they came to rest on Harry. Logan, meanwhile, continued, "I wasn't angry, but Harry wanted me to stop feeling so jealous of what Scott and Jean have when the two of us had such a rivalry that it reminded him of something sad. He then told me my real name and we mentioned about helping each other: I've always treated the Teen X's with respect and care when I could, so just because Harry's Cyke's son doesn't mean that's going to change."
"What is your real name?" asked Sirius, though he noticed that Harry dipped his head again.
"James Howlett," Logan answered, glancing once to the kid that he was starting to think of as his cub before he continued, "But I'm keeping the name Logan…mostly because it's cooler and I've grown used to it. Don't be angry with the kid, Chuck," he added, seeing Xavier glance to Harry, "He didn't know that I know next to nothing about my past; but unlike you, he seems to know more about my fractured memories than I can understand. I'm not helping him because he could help me solve my past; I'm helping him because I choose to: and, by the way, though you can see it, Hank's joined us."
"I know," Charles answered, glancing to Harry once more as he explained, "I'm not angry, Harry: when I first realised my telepathic potential, I was hearing thoughts and seeing images that I couldn't quite understand myself, so you don't have to feel embarrassed. I'm also proud that you're devoting yourself to a goal to help other mutants and someone other than your own personal goals, which are both tasks that your Mother and I can help you with over time. But, Logan, when Harry does decide to talk with you, I want to have the team together so that we can all understand the story and help Harry grasp control of his emotions as well as his psychic potential. Remember, the mind is dangerous and piecing together the puzzle of your past will be the most difficult task that we've ever worked on together."
"Thanks, Chuck," Logan smiled, sitting next to Harry as he asked, "Are you sure that you're up to it?"
"Lesson one of being someone that Harry cares about," Sirius chuckled, before he looked around the table to the others, "When it can help you and keep things together, he'll do whatever it takes to help you. Some have called it his saving people thing while others say that he takes after his family, but I guess that one remains to be seen."
"Not quite," Scott answered, taking Jean's hand as he explained, "Jean always had a caring soul, Sirius: so it makes sense that the trait seemed to pass to Harry. Also…Logan, if Harry has chosen to help and trust you, then I guess we can call it quits: I've seen how you treat the younger mutants around here and I know that you'll keep your word to include Harry in that group: so thank you."
Logan just sniffed in response before Xavier then indicated Hank, who was sitting next to Jean at the table, "Harry, as Logan already explained, this is Dr Hank McCoy, known as Beast to the mutant community for…obvious reasons: not only is he a doctor, but he is also a liaison between our community and the President of the United States. I asked him here to give you a check-up and assess what we can do to help build you up once again, is that all right?"
"I…I guess so," Harry answered, still slightly embarrassed and a little unnerved by how everyone had said that he could go ahead with his task: he hadn't meant to intrude on Logan's privacy and now they were saying to him that he was alright to go ahead and finish the job.
"Don't worry, young Harry," Hank laughed, guessing that the boy's nervousness was due to his appearance, "I may look scary, but I'm not the monster that my name claims me to be: it won't hurt and you'll have your family downstairs with us, but I won't harm a hair on your head."
"Yeah," Logan agreed, giving Beast a friendly punch on the arm, "You'll find out soon, Harry that, when it's not in a battle with others, Hank's nothing more than a big blue furball."
"Watch it Logan," Beast growled, Harry then smiling as he saw the same sort of friendly banter that seemed to link Sirius and Remus: friends, allies and brothers-in-all-but-blood, "Lest you forget that I'm your physician as well."
ChildOfThePhoenix
It took nearly an hour for Hank to give Harry a full medical examination, which was partially because Sirius and Remus also assisted and used what little knowledge they had for magical examinations to assess Harry's magical potential as well as his physical, though Hank also took the opportunity to test Harry's blood, his reflexes and, above all others, he also tested Harry by making a small cut on Harry's hand that he explained afterwards was to see whether or not Harry had a healing factor like Logan's.
If he did, the test didn't show it…
Afterwards, the group met in Hank's office down in the basement area of the mansion, which was also the X-Men's and the X-Teen's training area and the place where Xavier had shown Harry Cerebro, his machine powered by telepathy and used to locate mutants across the world. With Harry sat at the front of the assembly, Hank didn't waste time as he explained, "Harry appears to be in average physical condition while his malnutrition and weakened immune system suggest poor medical observations when he was younger."
"The Dursleys never really took me to a doctor or a hospital," Harry explained, his mind picking up on the silent rages of his Father as he explained the situation. "If I got sick, I was left in the cupboard under the stairs to keep me and my freakishness away from them and their precious Diddykins. They didn't really care whether I lived or died, not even when I came down with chicken pox as a younger boy or when I had a fever from working in the gardens in the pouring rain."
"Petunia," Jean hissed, several beakers along the wall trembling as her psychic gift reacted to her fury, "The one person that I never hoped to see again: she hated Lily and wasn't too keen on the times when Lily and I would meet. It didn't help that she found out that I was a mutant and saw fit to try and terrorise me with the other children, but Lily was adamant that I was just as normal as the rest of them. She was someone I despised was Petunia and why you were sent to her of all people, I do not know!"
"It didn't help that the Ministry don't really see a werewolf as an eligible guardian," Remus explained, though he glanced to Sirius as he added, "Not to mention how Sirius had been incarcerated for the apparent betrayal of Lily and James to Voldemort: actually," here, he looked thoughtful as he explained, "Now that you mention it, Jean, it seems almost too good to be true that Petunia was the only one that could raise Harry. There were several candidates in the will of the Potters and…"
"What will?" asked Harry, shocking Sirius and Remus as they glanced to one another before Harry continued, "I've never known anything about them, Remus…so why would a will change things?"
"Because it was put in that will that you were never meant to go to Petunia and her…family," Sirius growled, his hands curled into fists as he explained, "I was there when Lily wrote it; in fact, she also left a few things for you, Harry that would help you adjust when the time came for you to know the truth."
"Then why…" Harry began, but was cut off by Remus' snarl of rage and, for a second, Harry was afraid that the wolf within would come out.
"Albus," Remus insisted, his own hands curled so tightly that the tips of his fingers cut into his palm, "He must have named himself as your magical guardian and sealed the will…which would mean he saw the will…which would mean…"
"He knows I'm not Lily and James' son," Harry finished, his eyes narrowed at how much this made sense, "And he knows that I'm a mutant of such immense power, which explains why he was always so adamant that I was watched during my teenage years."
"If my hunch is correct," Hank piped up, picking up the conversation for everyone, "He may have even tried to do something about it."
The attention of the occupants in the room was now back on Beast as he continued with his explanation, "Thanks to Sirius and Remus' assistance with the magical examinations, it came out that there are several…anomalies within Harry's blood and DNA, specifically within the strand affected by the X-Gene and his magical core."
"What about them?" asked Scott, while Jean explained to Sirius and Remus about the X-Gene and what it meant for mutants as well as other people.
"They've been weakened," Hank explained, clicking a computer keyboard next to him, which brought up an image of what appeared to be a strand of DNA; zooming in on one spot on the image, Hank pointed to an area that looked like it had been cut with blunt scissors as he explained, "The X-Gene in Harry has been weakened through the pressure of what my research into magic has revealed to be magical blocks. These blocks seem to be tied directly to Harry's blood as well as his magical core, which means that as long as these blocks exist and whatever precautions have been taken with Harry's blood, his X-Gene was set to get weaker and weaker throughout his years. Why, in due time, it may have even killed him to attempt to use more powerful magic or discover his mutations."
The news earned a mixed reaction of shock, worry and anger, though Harry remained stone-faced and silent throughout the explanation, his eyes closed and his mind focused on the thought of what could have happened, but also on the fact that a man he had trusted at school had apparently known his secret. Why was it that the fact Dumbledore knew seemed to make Harry feel scared and nervous about what was to come?
"Do we have any way of knowing what this block tied to Harry's blood was used for?" asked Scott, Hank shaking his head in response as he clicked on the computer once more, the image changing to what looked like a full-bodied image of Harry, a strange green and gold aura wrapped around his body.
"According to the scan," Hank explained, "The block tied to the blood seemed to siphon its power off of Harry's magic for at least the past four years, if not longer. I looked into these results and discovered, with a little help from Sirius that the block was weakened for a time and then, like magic, you could say, it was restored and the X-Gene was weakened once more."
"So at some point over the past few years, there was an incident that wound up breaking and harming me magically and as a mutant?" asked Harry incredulously, a part of him trying to think of what could have triggered this; what was the common element in his now five-year-time in the magical world?
'Wait,' he thought to himself, 'There is one common event: I went back to the Dursleys and, with the exception of my first-year's summertime, it was for approximately a month each time. But why…why would he do this?'
'Harry,' Charles' voice whispered in his thoughts, startling Harry slightly, but at the same time, there was an air of assurance with it, 'I haven't read your mind, my boy, but I sense your pain and your fears. If it helps, speak about them with others and we can try to sort this out together: the mentor that I have in mind for you may know of a way to remove these blocks and restore your full potential as a future X-Man.'
'If…if you say so, Uncle Charles,' Harry replied, before he cleared his voice and addressed the group, "I was just thinking that there is one event that matches how the block was restored: my going back to Privet Drive and, for each time, it was approximately a month that I stayed there."
"That must be it, then," Hank agreed, though his eyes were narrowed as he personally didn't like the fact that the little boy that Jean had given him the right to call his godson was threatened by forces unknown. "Something about that place must have a magical connection that is refuelled and empowered by your blood: we know someone that can confirm it, but, for now, we'll do what we can here to ensure that your power remains at its peak."
"It may take some time," Sirius reasoned, a growl escaping him at the thought of someone endangering his pup, especially if it was Albus that was responsible for this. "Because if the theory is right, Hank, then Harry's already spent a month there in the past year, which means this block will be recharged once again. How will we know when Harry is capable of adapting to his mutant and magical abilities?"
"I don't really feel like waiting until some life-or-death incident comes around for my magic to pull me out of it," Harry muttered, though the comment was heard by everyone in the room. Glancing to his friends and family, Harry explained, "Well, if you think about it, my magic has helped me on some level or another over the past four years: burning Quirrell's face, which I'm now starting to wonder about it being a mutation. Surviving and defeating a Basilisk with help from Fawkes the phoenix, of course not to mention summoning a full-bodied Patronus at the age of thirteen and taking on a dragon, a lake of merfolk and everything else I had to fight last year."
"I have to admit that he does have a point," Remus explained while it was Sirius' turn to assure Scott and Jean that Harry had always been safe and was the hero and warrior that they were, though he also had to laugh when Scott asked about phoenixes being real creatures. Remus continued with his point, "Harry's magic always did seem to heighten itself in cases of extreme peril as well as being at the height of its capabilities at the end of the year…just before he went back to that Muggle prison of his."
"Well he's not going back anymore," Scott insisted, Harry then aware of his Father's glasses glowing red around the edges of the frames; without those glasses, Scott could have destroyed the entire laboratory. "And one way or another, we will find a way to undo the damage that's been done to my son."
"We may have to wait," Charles then put in, his eyes closed as he lifted his head, "I've just picked up a mind that I don't recognise standing outside the gates…with two others that feel like young minds similar to Harry."
Remus didn't need Logan to say it, because his senses were just as sharp, if not more-so than the feral's;
"He's here."
ChildOfThePhoenix
Albus Dumbledore didn't know whether to be relieved or angry when he saw Harry, Sirius and Remus leave the rather well-designed building accompanied by a group of people that he didn't recognise. More to the point, as Dumbledore tried a passive Legilimency attack on Harry's mind, he was buffeted away by a trio of mental-based attacks that seemed to come from three different people, one of whom was Harry himself, the young student then addressing Dumbledore.
"I wouldn't try that again if I were you, Dumbledore," Harry's voice was calm, but that was mostly because he knew that his parents, Logan and his Uncle Charles would protect him as mutants while Sirius and Remus, now protected by the X-Men and Charles' promise to make them American Citizens, would protect him magically. As he stood before the old man, the gates to the mansion keeping Dumbledore out and Harry in, Harry then noticed two figures that he should have guessed would escort the old man to try and see Harry again: Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, both of whom were still people that he considered his best friends and both of whom looked pleased to see him.
Harry didn't know why, but there was something about Ron's smile that seemed to be more than met the eye; however, with his telepathic gifts currently working to protect his mind, Harry didn't dare open the door to see what lay beyond. After all, a door could open two ways and, like Harry could have read the minds of his best friends, so too could his mind have been read while he was untrained in the arts.
"Harry," Dumbledore exclaimed, playing his favourite card; that being the loveable grandfather-whom-you-could-trust-with-your-life card, "I'm glad to see you're safe and sound, my boy: and Sirius and Remus too. You gave us quite a scare with that little game of runaway back at the house: now, I don't mean to sound nagging, Harry, but you really should be back at the house where you can be ready for the return to Hogwarts."
"Anybody else notice that he can't say the name of the place?" asked Harry, earning a nod from Sirius and Remus while Scott and Logan both moved to protect Harry in case of attack.
"With me being here and Charles' offer of citizenship, the Fidelius must have fallen without the Lord of the Manor there to enforce it," Sirius reasoned, though he gave a smug smile as he added, "Which sounds unusual for Dumbledore since he was the Secret Keeper; ah well, turnabout's fair play."
"Sirius," called Dumbledore, "Surely you don't think that Harry's safe here with strangers, do you?"
"Strangers, Dumbledore?" asked Sirius, reacting to the word more than the insinuation, "And what would you call old friends of Lily and James who trust me more than you do to look after my own godson? Besides, I think you should know, or at least realise by now that we're not going back: I brought Harry out here to be away from everyone that thinks him just some attention-seeking demented individual and away from everything that could stop him becoming what his parents wanted him to be: powerful, individual and a warrior leading his friends and living his life."
The emphasis on parents made Dumbledore flinch while, at his side, Ron and Hermione looked a little confused…though Ron, as usual, let his mouth do the work as he asked, "And just who are these friends, anyway, Sirius? They look like a bunch of Muggles to me."
"I thank you for that remark, Mr Weasley," Xavier answered, now appearing next to Harry from where he'd been paying attention to the conversation, "But your Headmaster knows full well who I am and what reason I would have for giving someone like young Harry a home here with my friends and family."
"Charles Xavier," Dumbledore whispered, earning a gasp from Hermione: the name was pretty well-known in the wizarding world, but even more-so in the Muggle world.
"Professor Xavier?" asked Hermione, her words silenced by a glare from Ron.
"That I am, Miss Granger," Xavier answered, giving her a smile as he explained, "Harry has told me all about you and your friendship to him: surely you can see how he is safe here and, as you can all see, he is also happy. Now, I would extend an invitation for you, his best friends, to stay here with him, especially you, Miss Granger, as it seems to me that you have a penchant for knowledge."
Hermione blushed at the compliment, though Harry, who was watching both his friends with an interested eye, also felt that his Uncle Charles had a point: Hermione should have come with them and learn alongside him. He didn't know why, but something about his friend's beliefs and how she didn't treat people differently because they themselves were different. Something about that just seemed to…to call out to him, as if she knew that she wanted to help, but was almost afraid to say anything.
Raising his own voice, Harry then addressed the matter, "Besides, why would I want to stay in a school where I'm called a liar and a cheat just because I have to risk my neck for some glory-minded individual? No; here I learn things that we don't learn at Hogwarts and I'm also helped to build up my body and my gifts, both with magic and without."
"So you've become like him?" asked Ron, suddenly vile in his words as he asked, "A…a lover of freaks and mutants that can barely call themselves human?"
"Watch your tongue, bub," Logan growled, releasing his claws as he faced the unwelcome visitors, "You may have to eat your own words later."
Ron backed away, trembling furiously as he looked at Logan while, still stunned by Harry's words, Hermione asked, "Would…would I have to be…like you to stay?"
"No," Harry answered, knowing that she meant to say would she have to be a mutant. She'd learn the truth if and when she chose to stay, but for now, Harry played the role of his old self almost perfectly, "I mean Sirius isn't a mutant and neither is Remus: plus, the mansion has become like a home and Professor Xavier and his students treat me like they treat each other: like a family."
Again Dumbledore flinched at the mention of the word: he was running out of options: did Harry know about his heritage and, if so, did he know about the precautions taken by Dumbledore to ensure that the boy wasn't more powerful than him?
No, it was impossible: Harry was nothing more than a little boy that just couldn't die properly and, in due time, Dumbledore would get him back on his side, steal his so-called gifts and then use them to show the entire world just who the real heroes were; namely, he, himself and him alone.
"Harry," Dumbledore exclaimed, his voice laced with warning, "As your headmaster, I act as loco parentis and that means you must come with me right now and do as you're told; you're being very immat…"
A flash of red energy cut Dumbledore off, though it missed his white hair by inches; inside the gates, Scott replaced his glasses before he explained, "Your titles mean nothing over here, Albus Dumbledore and you can stop playing the ignorance game: we know that you know Harry's secret and you now know that he knows it too. Miss…Granger, was it?"
"Y-Yes, sir," Hermione answered, earning a smile from Harry; clearly she'd been intimidated by the energy and non-magical power used by his Father. She'd also want to know more about this so-called secret: not because she had a need to know more, but because she wanted Harry to know that, through thick and thin, she'd be there for him as his friend and ally.
"Professor Xavier and Harry have both offered you a place here," Scott explained, keeping a hand on his son's shoulder as he continued, "You clearly aren't afraid of our little group or what makes us different unlike your…friend there and you're also Harry's best friend. Now, you don't have to be afraid around here: things in America are just a little bit different than the British Ministry's allowances explain, so you won't have to worry about being different yourself. You don't have to ask permission and we can contact your parents if you need their approval, but, for now, we would like it, and I know Harry would like it, if you could come inside and join us here for a while. Think of it as a taster day to see if you can fit in with how Harry will be taught about magic and the like."
Harry smiled in amusement at his Father's choice of words: the taster day was like dangling the carrot in front of the horse and, if Hermione needed protecting, especially from the likes of Albus Dumbledore, then Harry was sure that it would be no problem at all for his Uncle Charles to contact APOM – American President of Magic – and have Hermione declared a citizen as well. Similarly, Harry still felt that need: that need to have Hermione close and help her reach her full potential as much as he wanted to reach his: he couldn't explain it, but, once again, the strange call was there and Harry wanted to answer it.
"Are…are you sure that you don't mind?" asked Hermione, though her eyes looked to Harry more than the others around him.
"If Sirius is welcome, then anyone is," laughed Harry, earning a chuckle from the others and a ruffle of his black hair from Sirius, before Professor Xavier nodded his head in agreement.
The gates opened and, as Hermione stepped forwards, she felt her hand being tugged by Dumbledore; the sudden motion surprised her, but not as much as the strange pull that gripped her other hand and pulled her inside the grounds, leaving Dumbledore outside, the gates practically slamming shut. When Hermione was released from the pull, Harry took her hand and, looking into her eyes, he told her, "Trust me, Mione: we're a lot safer in here than we are out there. And yes," he then added, seeing Hermione open her mouth as if to ask a question, "I will tell you my secret: I trust you and you're my best friend."
Hermione didn't know why, but she found her lips moving before her mind could catch up with her as she looked into Harry's innocent emerald eyes, "I trust you, Harry."
"In that case," Xavier added, "I think it's time that you were leaving, Albus: Harry is here of his own free will and, as you well know, there is next to no chance of him changing his mind now. Oh, and before you consider running off to your Ministry, I feel I should warn you: while you have connections in that authority, I have a relationship and friendship with President McKinley as well as a communication to one user of magic that you do not want to cross."
"And why would he be bothered with this?" asked Dumbledore, his words reaching Harry's ears, "Harry is just a boy with exceptional talent: not someone on your level, Charles."
"Things change," Harry answered, the use of the words surprising even him as he looked around, taking in his family and friends, "And besides, in here, you have no power over me: you can't, I don't know, cast blood-binding blocks that drain my magic or restrict any additional gifts and, unlike you and the Ministry, Dumbledore, I'm not offended by socialising with mutants."
"Always knew you were a freak," Ron growled, Harry shaking his head as he now understood what it had been about Ron's smile of relief that had unnerved him: the boy was only happy to see him because he was clearly expecting some sort of reward.
"Now," Charles added, indicating the world beyond, "Leave, Albus: and don't bother contacting this estate again; Harry will return to your school when he's good and ready and, even when he does, he'll have the support of my students with him to keep him away from…unnecessary evils."
Dumbledore had to literally grab Ron before he Apparated away, leaving Charles to turn to Jean before he asked, "Would you and Ororo find Nightcrawler for me and have him go and collect Miss Granger's parents? I fear that Dumbledore may try to use this situation in his favour and, being Muggles with no mind protections, they are susceptible to suggestion."
Jean nodded and left, a proud smile directed at her son as she entered the mansion, leaving Harry to keep hold of Hermione's hand as he explained, "Don't worry, Mione: we are safe here and, speaking of safe, Charles: can we go back inside now? I think we have a few secrets and words to share with our new friends."
Charles nodded before Harry turned and led the small party back into the mansion; however, as they passed through the doors, every member of said party stopped in their tracks as they found Jean standing before a man that hadn't been there when they'd left.
The man was dressed in a black suit covered by a long red coat that was secured by gold clasps; he had slightly pale skin and dark green eyes that seemed to radiate power; he was standing at the foot of the staircase that led up to the upper levels of the mansion, the man's gaze now focused on Harry before he directed his attention to Charles, "Xavier, you wished to see me?"
"I did," Charles answered, dismissing Jean to the task he'd assigned before he asked, "Harry, would you come here?"
Stepping forwards, Harry had a distinct impression that he knew who was standing before him, but he decided to wait until the matter was confirmed. With a gulp, he asked, "Yes, Uncle Charles?"
"I would like you to say hello and show respect due to your new mentor," Charles explained, pointing to the man that was standing on the stairs, the eyes of the man filled with awe and amusement as he saw Harry gasp. Clearly, the boy knew who he was and, from what he could sense, the young one also had power: great power.
"So this is the one?" he asked, approaching Harry, who seemed to be like a fly before a giant as the man held out his hand, his eyes locked onto Harry as he explained, "We are well met once more, Harry Summers."
"You know who I am," Harry remarked, shaking the man's hand as he asked, "But…you…that is…are you?"
"I am," the man answered, his gaze fixed on the boy that was to become his student, "Stephen Strange: Sorcerer Supreme…at your service."
Chapter 3 and there it is: the mentor is revealed and it's the Sorcerer Supreme himself – like I said, he has to be my favourite Marvel Character out of them all – and Hermione's with him to boot: what sort of lessons will Harry learn from the master of the mystic arts?
Also, what lengths will Dumbledore go to in order to see Harry remain weak and vulnerable?
Keep Reading to Find Out…
Next Chapter: Explanations and revelations are abound as Harry learns magic from the Sorcerer Supreme; plus, Harry and Logan have a little talk about what Harry knows and Remus is given an offer by Wolverine; and, to top it all off, Stephen discovers a certain darkness in Harry that brings a surprise to the young mutant's power levels;
Please Read and Review…
AN: I should mention that the Dr Strange I'm familiar with is from the animated movie/series cameos and NOT the comics, so it may be just him from his side of the Marvel Universe; it just seemed so PERFECT for a mentor of magic for Harry;