Title: Magical Mutations
Summary: Not all mutants found their way to one of the many factions in America. Jean and Scott had a baby...a baby they wanted to grow up apart from the fight they dedicated their lives to. But what happens when their gifted little girl isn't just a mutant...she's also a witch?
Disclaimer: I own nothing, not even the idea, or the main character. That belongs to Shanna. I do own the Periwinkle Pickering, though. Alliteration rules .
Author's Notes: This story is written in response to a challenge. It is AU, but takes place after HPB and X Men 3. Everything that happened in X Men happened, but in HPB, Dumbledore didn't die. The First Day was too long, so I split the chapter. Sorry.
Because you guys are such awesome reviewers, here's the next chapter, ahead of schedule .
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The One goes to his fate,
To kill his foe, as preordained.
With him, he takes Athena's Daughter,
And Ra's son.
To scorch the Snake with his Lightning.
But he left behind his Heart,
And the Golden Moon.
The Light-Bringer has come to battle,
And wields the Mermaid Staff.
The new Golden Trio rises,
And will take to their breast three more.
One Freya, delight of her Mother's Eyes.
And the Prince who is his nemesis.
But the Stumbler,
Who once had a chance to be Chosen,
Will belong to this team,
And will show his Lion's Heart.
Be warned, tutors,
Without these six,
The Circle of Nine cannot be completed,
And the Son of Slytherin will triumph.
For while is it the Chosen One's job to end the war,
He needs the love and support of the Eight.
They each have something to offer,
But will only offer it if barriers fall,
And House Unity is achieved.
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Kalli paled. "No, well, yes, but-"
"Shut up! I can't believe I was your friend! You're a mutie freak! Ugh! I slept at your house!" The brunette shrieked.
"Shh! You can't tell anyone!" Kalli exclaimed, looking around anxiously. "I only told you because you're my best friend."
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Kalli sat up in bed, just barely suppressing a scream. She hadn't been expecting to have that nightmare again, and tears trembled on her lashes.
As quietly as she could possibly manage, the redhead got out of bed, shrugging into her robe and sliding her feet into slippers before tiptoeing across the stone floor and down to the common room. It was empty, something to be expected at - she checked the watch Luna had given her as a back to school gift - three am, and all that was left of the bright blaze from earlier were a few glowing embers. Crossing to the hearth, Kalli put a log on top of the coals, and pointed her wand.
"Incendio." The fire roared to life, and Kalli waited for the heat to warm her bones. But the icy feeling of her nightmare wasn't so easily banished, and she shivered as she curled up in front of the fireplace, her mind drifting to memories of a happier time.
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"Mommy, I'm scared," she whispered into Mommy's ear, clutching Daddy's hand tightly.
"Why are you scared, dearling?" Mommy asked, green eyes kind.
"What if the other kids don't like me?"
"Nonsense, why wouldn't they like you," Daddy said. "You're very likable."
'Then why don't I live with you?' She didn't voice that thought, having learned it led to nothing but awkward looks. "Okay," she agreed simply.
"Look, Kalli! It's that girl from kindergarten!" Mommy pointed out Kalli's sometimes-friend Evie Barret.
"It is!" Kalli forgot her discomfort and dropped Daddy's hand, running over to Evie. "Evie, hi!"
"Hihi!" Evie waved happily. "You're in my class? Yay!"
"Uh huh!" The redhead clapped her hands. "Wanna be friends?"
"Yeah! BEST friends!"
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"Kalli, your eyes have changed." Evie's brow wrinkled. "When did that happen? HOW did it happen? Did your mom let you get contacts? Ooh, you sly little tramp! She DID! I wish my mum would let me get contacts." The dark-haired girl pouted. "But you've lost one..."
"Mom didn't let me get contacts, Evie!" Kalli laughed. "And even if she would, Auntie Beth would NEVER agree. No...I..." she looked around; making sure no one was within hearing range. "Can you keep a secret?"
"'Course I can! Besties keep secrets, don't they?"
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Kalli woke with a start, having drifted off into the nightmare again. A tear rolled down her cheek, followed by another, and another, until she was sobbing helplessly into her hands. The fire roared in sympathy, and particles of light formed psychedelic patterns of grief, but Kalli remained lost in her own world of pain.
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"Normally, students sit at their house table for meals, but at breakfast and lunch no one really cares," Ginny told Kalli as they walked to breakfast, Luna trailing behind, her nose in an upside-down magazine.
"Why not?"
"Because everyone gets in at different times for those meals, so it's not too much of an inconvenience. I mean, today might be different because most people will be wanting their timetables, and the tables will be full. But other times, if we're all breakfasting at the same time, we could probably eat together. And lunch is the same, really. Some people have frees before or after the usual lunch hour, so they mightn't eat with everyone else. Or some of the students here don't like to eat lunch." She shrugged. "Weird people. So, how'd you sleep?"
"Oh...not too badly."
Ginny was in such a good mood that it made Kalli dizzy, the happiness intermingling with her own sadness until Kalli found it had to tell which feeling was which. Slowly and carefully she put up the shields her mother had taught her so long ago, shields she had neglected since her parents' deaths. If she didn't, she'd end up going crazy in this place, so full of angsty hormonal teenagers.
"The Snorkacks are migrating east for autumn," Luna announced from behind the magazine. "Isn't that exciting? We might even see some here. Wouldn't it be nice if we did a class on them this year?"
"Who knows," Ginny said non-comittally. "Ooh, I smell pancakes."
"I hope they have porridge, Dad does his best, but it's always lumpy," the blonde commented. "Well, I'll see you all at first break, likely. Have fun."
"Good luck," Ginny whispered as she headed to her own table. "I hope you're in one of my classes."
Nodding, Kalli headed over to the Hufflepuff table, seeing what Ginny meant. The trickle of students coming in was thickening to a steady stream, everyone interested in their timetables. She sat down and poured herself a cup of coffee, grabbing a raspberry muffin from the basket in front of her.
"Mornin', Kalli," Eva Lowry, one of the girls in her dorm, said shyly.
"Hey." Kalli returned shortly, hunting for the cream and sugar.
Giggling, Eva passed them over. "You aren't a mornin' person, are you," she observed.
"Didn't sleep much. When do we get our timetables?"
Head Girl, Susan Bones grinned from two seats down. "Right now," she said. "Professor Flitwick gave them to me before breakfast."
"Yeah, I heard you gettin' up at five this mornin'," Eva said, taking a bite of toast. "That must be really hard."
"All part of the job," the redhead dismissed, although there were circles under her eyes. "The Head Boy has to do it too, so do the seventh year prefects for Gryffindor and Ravenclaw."
"I can't believe Malfoy made Head Boy!" Hannah complained, taking a seat next to Kalli and pushing her blonde curls out of her eyes.
"It was him or Ernie Macmillan. Personally, I prefer Malfoy," Susan retorted sourly.
"Oooh, someone's still angry with her ex," Eva teased, giggling again.
"Yeah, well I have good reason. Him and that bloody Morag had best stay out of my way this year."
"Don't worry, Suze," Hannah comforted her friend with a hug. "We're only teasing, you know that."
Kalli was only half listening, busy reading over the timetable Susan had Banished her way. Apparently, she had Potions first up with the sixth year Ravenclaws and Gryffindors. Odd, she was sure she'd been placed in fifth year for Potions. Ah well, she'd ask about it.
"Ooh, we have Defence first up." Eva clapped her hands. "I can't wait! I wonder what our new Defence teacher will be like. Nothing like Snape, I hope. I wonder if the new one will be as nasty."
"Now, Eva, let's give her a chance," Susan reprimanded. "She seems really nice. Want to walk with us to class, Kalli?"
"Actually, I don't have Defence. I have Potions," Kalli said shortly.
"That's weird, we should get your timetable checked out." Hannah frowned.
"No, it's right. I'll have some different classes from you all. My old school taught different things from this one."
"Well, there's really no time to debate, but I'd feel better if there was someone to show you the way." Susan's forehead crinkled in thought.
"Don't worry, I'll walk with Ginny Weasley, she's my cousin." Kalli gulped down the last of her coffee. "And look, she's leaving now. I'll see you guys later." Quickly, she got up to avoid further questions, managing to catch up with her cousin at the doors.
"Kalli!" Ginny sounded genuinely pleased to see her. "What have you got first up?"
"Potions, with you," Kalli replied.
"Wicked! We'll have some fun, then. I wonder what the new professor's gonna be like."
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"Welcome to sixth year Potions, I'm your new Potions Professor, Professor Starr. As you can see, we're doing something a little different this year, and the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors are now paired up, instead of the Gryffindors and the Slytherins, or the Hufflepuffs and the Ravenclaws.
Having reviewed your previous professors' notes, I have decided those arrangements didn't work as well as they could have, and certainly didn't provide a conducive environment for learning the sometimes delicate and fragile art of Potions. So, this is the new configuration I'm trialing. Of course, if it doesn't work out, I'll change it again. You'll need to get used to changes this year, I can assure you I have a completely different temperament from Professors Snape and Slughorn, as well as a different teaching style." She bestowed them all with a smile.
"Now, since the majority of the work we will be doing is paired, I suppose we'd best sort that out. I trust you all know people you would like to work with...except, of course, for Miss Grey, and Miss Malfoy. I'll sort you two out myself, since it would be bad form for you to work together, neither of you being familiar with this classroom. I think...hmm...Miss Grey, since you are seated between Miss Weasley, and Miss Lovegood, and I am a fan of interhouse relations, you can work with Miss Lovegood. And since that leaves Miss Weasley without a partner, Miss Malfoy, you can work with Miss Weasley, so if you would like to move down a few seats, to the other side of Miss Weasley, we can begin with the day's work."
Kalli watched as the slender blonde picked up her things, moving to sit beside Ginny.
"Good, thank you. Now, today we will be working on Felix Felicis. Can anyone tell me what this potion does?"
Lucretia raised her hand.
"Yes, Miss Malfoy."
"When consumed, all the drinker's endeavours will tend to succeed until its effects wear off," she sounded incredibly bored. "Its very name translates to 'lucky lucky'. It is very difficult to brew, and inept handling can be disastrous."
"Very good. Once consumed, the potion gives the drinker an exhilarating sense of confidence and a tremendous sense of opportunity." Professor Starr wrote the ingredients up on the board.
"However, if taken in excess the potion causes giddiness, recklessness, and dangerous overconfidence, and it is highly toxic in large quantities. Please take out your things and begin. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to raise your hand. Any supplementary ingredients you may need are up here on my desk, along with extra phials, if you have not had time to purchase new ones as of yet." Professor Starr began writing the instructions on the board, with little annotations to help along those students who might be finding it hard.
Strangely enough, Luna completely threw off her dreamy facade to concentrate on the potion, and in no time Kalli was chopping ingredients, whilst Luna monitored the temperature of the cauldron.
Ginny closed her eyes in pain when Professor Starr mentioned the Felix Potion. Harry had brewed that last year...and given her a taste. It was likely the only reason she was still alive.
"Something wrong?" Lucretia Malfoy's voice was completely indifferent, silver eyes focused on her book.
Ginny scowled down at her hands. "Nothing that would interest you," she said tightly.
"Uh huh. Because I'd waste my time and breath asking a question I didn't consider important. Look, I do well at school, as evidenced by my house. I don't need you ruining my Outstanding average because you're in a snit. So take a potion, get over your PMS, and concentrate, all right?" Lucretia glared at her. "And sweetie, do try not to confuse me with my dear brother. We are not one and the same."
Glaring at the blonde witch, Ginny held her tongue. The Ravenclaw was right, it was too difficult a potion for her to allow her emotions to get in the way. "I'll maintain the temperature and do the actual mixing, shall I?" she offered as politely as she could.
"Very well," Lucretia got up. "I'll go get our supplementary ingredients."
The lesson progressed quietly, with very little chatter due to the complexity of the potion. Unsurprisingly, the majority of the Ravenclaws were successful in their brewing, as were the two Ravenclaw-Gryffindor pairings.
"You've all done so well," Professor Starr beamed at them. "I'm so proud. Ten points to everyone who was successful. Your homework is to write three feet of parchment on the Felix Potion, detailing why it works the way it does. It's due in two weeks. Should anyone have any trouble, you're free to come to me for advice." She paused for a moment, taking a look at her watch. "Officially, this class goes on for ten more minutes...but I don't see any reason to keep you here that long. So, after you've bottled a sample for marking, clearly labelled, please, and cleaned up your things, you may go. Don't distract any other classes, though. Miss Grey, if I could speak to you for a moment after you're packed up? Thank you."
Ginny and Kalli exchanged a look.
"I wonder what she wants to see you about..." Ginny murmured, carefully bottling some of the potion.
"I'd say it's about the flubberwinkles," Luna said seriously, putting her books into her satchel. "After all, they're most distracting, with their twinkling lights and high-pitched singing. She just wants you to be prepared, in case they appear in our Potions exam."
"Flubberwinkles?" Kalli frowned. "What?"
"Oh please!" Lucretia scorned, her mouth twisting into a sneer. "Likely she just wants to yell at the idiotic seventh year Hufflepuff who thought it would be a good idea to crash the combined sixth year Gryffindor/Ravenclaw Potions class!" Grabbing the phial off of a shocked Ginny, she took it up the front. "I'll leave you with the cleaning up, Weasley," she said by way of farewell, flouncing out.
"What's got her panties in a twist?" Kalli wondered aloud. "I'll clean up, you guys. I've a free next."
"You sure?" Ginny asked. "We'll help, gladly."
"Best friends help hide the bodies," Luna added.
"Nah, you guys go on ahead. It'll give me more of an excuse to be the last one in the room. I don't need the walls to have ears...hey, can that really happen?"
Ginny giggled. "We'll tell you all about extendable ears at lunch, okay? Thanks, Kalli, now I won't be late to Charms, since I have to find the new room."
Luna nodded. "I wouldn't want to miss a moment of Ancient Runes, we're working on Stonehenge this year." With a smile and a wave, the pair left.
Kalli worked slowly but steadily, well used to cleaning grime off of things after a summer of dishwashing, since Molly certainly hadn't shielded her from the chores around The Burrow. Eventually she was the only one left, and she sped up, placing her books in her bag, and the phial of Felix on Professor Starr's desk.
"You wanted to talk to me?" she asked.
The professor nodded. "I thought you might be wondering why you were placed in the sixth year Potions class, instead of the fifth year one."
"Just a tad," Kalli said sarcastically. "Uh, sorry."
"It's quite all right. I understand your consternation. After some discussion with the Headmaster, I managed to convince him that you should be in sixth year for Potions. You did so well on the exam for Potions, I didn't think it fair to stick you in a class where you would be bored stiff most of the time."
"I..." Kalli had no idea how she should respond to this. "Thank you...I think I'd prefer to be challenged, myself."
Professor Starr smiled. "Yes, I'm sure you would. How are you feeling, by the by? Any negative effects from the Mindbender? You don't feel dull now that you're no longer taking it?"
"No..." She'd been weaned off the potion slowly, taking smaller and smaller doses the remainder of the summer, until, on the 31st of August, she'd taken none at all. "I reckon I learned some new things today, without the need for drugs."
"That's good. In that case, you'd best be off, I'm sure you have things you'd much rather be doing, over talking to a professor about how you're feeling." She beamed. "Remember to do your homework, now!"
Nodding shortly, Kalli left. She could already tell that Hogwarts was going to be very interesting.
End Chapter 13