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.
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 hopscotch idea belongs to the amazing Midnight Blue, and his story, The Mirror of Maybe. You should all check it out, so long as you don't mind slash, just google it.
WARNING: THERE IS A SWEARWORD IN THIS CHATPER! NOT A SEVERE ONE, BUT IT'S THERE!
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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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Now, however, the school hols were approaching, and so she'd hoped to have a chance to chat with Kallista Grey before she and her family went home for Christmas. Unfortunately, her host Professor Dumbledore seemed to be doing his level best to keep them apart.
Currently, he was trying to interest her in a game of hopscotch. He'd promised he wouldn't use his magic, if she wouldn't use her mutation.
"Professor, I do think it's below both your standing and mine for us to engage in such a childish game," she said evenly, fingers twisting her hair into a braid as they always did when she was irritated by something.
"My dear Miss Braddock, that is precisely the point." The Headmaster's eyes twinkled in an irritating fashion.
Betsy scowled. "I don't quite understand what you're trying to say," she said stiffly.
"Keep them on their toes, Miss Braddock. That way, they never know what to expect and you can bamboozle them properly."
"You are completely mad," Betsy told him. "But I will play."
And so the telepath once again found herself diverted. However, this was a far more amusing diversion, as she spent most of her time performing amazing feats of gymnastics, since the Headmaster seemed to feel that not all the squares needed to be the same size, or even in the same general vicinity. Back flips were something she did every day in her morning workout, but she'd never tried to back flip a metre without touching the ground in between. She found it an interesting - if painful - experience. The Headmaster won, of course, since he drew the pitch, and knew exactly where to go to win. However, it was a close thing.
"I hope," she panted, holding her sore shoulder, "you found this an interesting game."
"Indeed I did, my dear. And I trust the diversion from your self-appointed task was an enjoyable one?"
"What?" The bloody daft prat knew she was trying to get in contact with Kallista Grey! These diversions were truly just that! Very carefully, Betsy held onto her temper.
"Miss Braddock, I admit that it has been my intention to keep you from speaking with Miss Grey. However, it was not for the reasons you assume."
"Those reasons being what?" the telepath drawled, her eyes glittering.
"Why, to remind her of her place in the Muggle world," Professor Dumbledore said. "I know that's one of the reasons you agreed to come."
"Incorrect, Headmaster. I came because Brian asked me to. I didn't know about Kallista Grey until I got here. Furthermore, I wouldn't interfere with her education, no matter what my views on the segregation and backwards nature of your world." She delivered these poisonous statements with a sweet smile on her lips. "So what were your reasons for keeping me from speaking with her?"
"To allow her time to focus on her schoolwork, of course."
"I don't believe you," Betsy said flatly. "You assumed I was going to try and draw Kallista away, therefore it stands to reason that is the true reason for our lack of contact. Now that you know I won't, I expect less obstruction, yes? Or I'll have to begin doing things my way. I've respected your culture long enough, Professor Dumbledore. If you stand in my way again, I'll start using the gifts you don't know about." She turned around, and walked into the shadows.
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When Kalli went to the library she preferred not to be disturbed by anyone, up to (and often including) her friends. She found that she got more done alone in half an hour than she did spending an entire afternoon there with the other girls.
Because of this, she sat in the shadows when she was there. It strained her eyes, yes, but it also made her harder to find (also of the good, since Draco Malfoy liked to pick on her too much to pay attention to the library rules). She also kept an eye on the entrance, and sat in a corner, so as to preserve her privacy as long as possible.
That's why she was surprised to look up and see the purple-haired telepath who'd helped Harry standing in front of her.
"What're you doing here?" she asked, trying to remember the mutant's name. Beth? Betty?
"I wanted to talk with you, Kallista."
"Kalli, please," Kalli requested uncomfortably. Dammit, why couldn't she remember the chick's name?!
"And you may call me Betsy. Everyone does." Betsy straddled a chair, smiling openly at the redhead.
"Betsy, right. Why'd you wanna talk to me?"
"You're very lucky, Kalli. You're part of three worlds, and you've talents most people only dream of."
"What do you mean?" Oh gods, she didn't know, did she? Please don't let her know. Her shields slammed up - too late.
"Oh dear, you poor thing." Betsy reached out, grabbing her hand. "It wasn't your fault, you know." She squeezed it gently.
"What the hell do you know?" Kalli wasn't having any of that touchy feely crap. It was her fault, she knew it was. She'd suppressed Evie's emotions, and ruined her friend's chance at a future. Yeah, she would have been outed as a mutant, but that was nowhere near as important.
"Did you do it on purpose, then? Was your intention to kill your friend, so she couldn't reveal you?" Betsy asked sternly.
"NO! Of course not!" So the bitch went from telling her it wasn't her fault to making out that it was? What was her deal?!
"There you are then." The woman leaned forward, pressing her torso into the chair as she tried to make her point. "Yes, your lack of control over your powers contributed to her death, I'm not disputing that. But you are not responsible for it. You didn't set out to kill her, and you certainly regret having any part in it.
"Grief and guilt can only go so far before they become self-involvement, Kallista. You've reached the end of the line on this one. If you continue to beat yourself up about it, you're only being selfish. Not everything in the world is your fault. Heck, most of the things in your life happen through no fault of your own. Accept it, and move on."
Kalli glared, not happy with Betsy's implication that she was selfish. She had a right to feel bad for killing someone!
"Oh, I'm not denying that." Betsy didn't even try to conceal her telepathy. "But you have to learn to accept that things aren't always your fault. If you had killed her, you'd have something to feel awful about. But you didn't."
"Whatever." She didn't feel like arguing anymore. "Why am I so lucky, anyway? I mean, I'm going to be looked down upon in all three worlds, as you call them. The human world because I'm a mutant, mutant, because I have something extra, and the Wizarding World because I'm a Mudblood Mutie. Gee, I feel so, so extra special."
"Hate words won't help the situation," Betsy said calmly. "You are lucky. No matter what the bigots think of you, you're a beautiful human being with friends who care about you. You have access to three amazingly diverse worlds that offer everything you could ever need. And there's a very cute guy over there who's been staring at you for the past half an hour."
Startled, Kalli swivelled around and looked Draco Malfoy dead in the eyes. The blonde in question sneered, flipped her a very rude sign, then left the library.
"Please," she said, "that's Draco Malfoy. He's one of the biggest bigots here."
"Of course he is. Silly me. In any case, it's lunchtime whichever way you look at it. Aren't you hungry?"
"Lunch?" With dawning horror, Kalli realised she hadn't checked on her Devil's Snare. What if it was dead?! "Uh...look, Betsy, nice talking to you and all that jazz. I gotta go."
"Sure. We can chat later."
"Yup, whatever." The redhead made a beeline for the greenhouses.
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Kalli couldn't quite believe her what she was seeing. More than that, she didn't want to believe it! Neville...and Luna...and!!! She took a deep, shuddering breath, closed her mismatched eyes, and then opened them again. Yes, Neville was still sitting on the floor, shirtless, with dirt in his hair. And yes, Luna was still straddling him like an over amorous octopus, her blouse unbuttoned and her skirt riding high on her thighs. Both looked thoroughly well kissed, and Luna's ordinarily wide eyes were hooded, turning them from startled to sultry.
Dammit, she just wanted to check on her bloody Herbology assignment! She didn't need to see this!
"Uh...I'll just..." she stuttered, backing towards the door.
"Hello, Kallista," Luna said vaguely. "I'm terribly sorry, but we're a bit busy right now. If you like, we could adjourn to another greenhouse."
"NO!" Kalli panicked. Oh god, she couldn't deal with walking in on them again! "I'll just, I'll just go then, okay?! If...Neville can let me know when you're done! And...and if you feel like watering my baby" Her hand fluttered towards the mass of vines she was struggling to keep alive. "And uh...talking to it, and making it happy...I'd be very grateful! G'bye!" She darted out.
"Oh dear," Luna remarked. "I do believe we startled her a little."
"Mmm, I think we did." Neville was struggling not to turn Gryffindor red.
"Ah well." The dotty blonde pecked him on the nose. "Where were we?"
End Chapter 24