(BOC) Settling In, X-Men Style

The twins led her up a staircase and down a dimly lit hall way. They stopped in front of a door, showing casing it like Vanna White.

"We'd like to be the first,"

"to welcome you,"

"to our humble abode,"

"and offer a piece of advice."

The twins constantly cut in each other's statements and Anna struggled to remember which one was which every time one or the other opened his mouth.

"And what kind of advice would that be?" She knew she'd regret asking, but Anna had learned from living at the mansion, sometimes it was best to play around with the jokesters. She reached for the doorknob and swung it open to find a quaint little room with two beds stuffed into it.

"Don't"

"Touch"

"Anything"

Their tone was completely serious and judging by the scorch marks Anna could make out on the floor and ceilings, there was a present danger if she didn't heed to their warning.

"I'll be sure and remember that," she set her duffel on her bed and yelped as the ground beneath her feet shook and a persistent pounding reached her ears.

"Supper's ready," the twins said in unison and ran off down the hall way. Recollecting her bearings, Anna shook her head and followed after.

As she stepped in the kitchen, the table chatter silenced and Charlie discreetly pointed to the empty space next to him. She slid into the seat next to him, and looked up to find Molly's beaming face across from hers, offering a bowl of yellow mush. If Anna had to guess, she'd say it was creamed corn.

Charlie reached across, dishing out a large spoonful onto his plate. He whispered low to Anna so that only she could hear. "Mum wanted to try and recreate a Muggle style dinner. I apologize if you don't recognize any of it. The yellow bowl is corn. The green bowl is peas. The baking plate of brown mush is salisbury steak. And that mound of white slush is vanilla ice cream. It may not look terribly great, but Mum's a pretty decent cook."

Anna nodded, deciding it was better to fake a pleasant look than risk insulting her host family. As such, she took a decent amount from everything, save the ice cream and hesistantly took a bite of the corn.

There is an orgy of flavor in my mouth. Kurt's favorite compliment concerning food surfaced to the forefront of Anna's mind and she fought back a moan of delight. She hadn't had food this incredible since her move into the Institute.

Charlie apparently noticed her approval and bit back a laugh. The twins, however, pointed it out without giving it a second thought.

"Hey mum"

"It looks like"

"You've got"

"Another fan"

"of your cooking."

Molly smiled warmly as Anna nodded her head in agreement, now feasting on the peas before her. Ron snickered and Charlie kicked him from under the table, earning a yelp from the young boy.

"Why thank you Anna, it's nice to hear my cooking passes the rigid expectations fast food resturants have created in the Muggle world."

Anna nearly choked on her salisbury at that statement. After swallowing it down with the aid of her glass of milk, Anna protested, "fast food has eliminated expectations. Believe me, this kind of meal is welcomed over grease on a bun anyday in my book."

Arthur cleared his throat, earning the attention of everyone at the table and he shifted nervously in his seat."Yes, well, speaking of the Muggle world. Anna, it,um, has came to our attention while youwere on the planethat your stay has been extended through the winter break. It seems your Professor thinks it fitting that you attended school at Hogwarts for bit."

Anna mentally willed herself to curb her smart-ass attitude at the announcement. She had thought Charlie and that weird lady from the shop the last night were only joking when they said she was enrolling in a London school. Maybe they weren't joking after all. Forcing a small smile, sheasked pleasantly, "how long would a bit be? I mean, I don't exactly have too many outfits to last me for a while."

Arthur exchanged a look with Molly and the woman nodded grimly. Arthur sighed, then answered Anna's question, "until your professor says you can come back."

Anna's heart sank, Xavier basically had kicked her out, without her even knowing about it. Suddenly feeling sick to her stomach, she rose from her seat, not making eye contact with any of the Weasleys. "I'm not so hungry anymore, if you'll excuse me," she murmured as she left the kitchen and raced to her room where she dropped onto the bed feeling more alone than ever before. Even the voices in her head offered no advice, no quip, no insult towards the bald telepath whatsoever.

The hollowness in her head merely echoed the emptiness in her heart and deep down, Anna knew this was only the beginning of the trouble she would be facing while in London.

"What did I do to deserve this?" Anna asked herself as she clutched the pillow before falling into an unpleasant sleep state.