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 also don't own biomimetic fabric. That belongs to the wonderful Internutter, find her at Check out the stories on the forum, they rock! I don't own Jean Grey, Scott Summers, Betsy, Brian, and Jamie Braddock, they belong to Marvel, and the HP characters minus Letty, Kalli, and the three Ravenclaw brats in Luna's year all belong to JK Rowling and associates.
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.
Obviously, this story is even more AU now that Deathly Hallows is out. However, I have got the ending written, even if the in-between bits aren't, so rest assured that mine will be quite different. I'll use JK's other Horcruxes, obviously...or will I?
Spot the Not-Potter-Related movie reference, readers!
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"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...
Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...
And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...
And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives"
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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The next twenty minutes seemed to fly by in a flurry of activity as the nine students and the headmaster made their way down to the Entrance Hall, where Order members appearing left and right, as well as two men with worn-out expressions, the kind who had seen, and caused, too much death. They hustled the students who would not – or in the case of those younger than fifth year could not – fight out of the castle, the older one pressing a kiss to Betsy's cheek before he went.Tonks and Remus were among the first Order members to appear, Tonks looking as though she hadn't been sleeping well.
"What about Teddy?" Ginny asked, worried. They all knew Tonks had only recently given birth to the first Lupin child, and she was shocked that Remus had let her come.
Tonks's face tightened. "He's with Mum," she said tightly. "Dad will be along soon, he was pretty sure we'd need another healer. No one was going to keep me from this battle, I deserve to be here just as much as the next person."
Remus coughed, shifting awkwardly. "I just wanted you to be safe," he muttered.
"I'm not a ruddy porcelain doll, Remus Lupin, I'm an Auror. I have more right than you to be here. Speaking of which, have they been called?"
Professor Dumbledore nodded wearily. "It remains to be seen how many of them actually show up," he said. "Some of them may no longer be sympathetic to our cause."
"We don't have time to worry about that now," Molly Weasley said. "They're breaching the gates."
She wasn't the only Weasley in attendance, the entire family was there, each looking determined to end this. Even Fred and George were serious, although they handed out an arsenal of pranks, detonating portable swamps, and fireworks, to add to the confusion.
The battle against Voldemort was long and bloody, and many of the people at Hogwarts died before its end. Infuriated by the death of his precious snake, and that the nine students had destroyed Ravenclaw's diadem, Voldemort rained curses left and right upon those who chose to defend their school.
But they did not falter, though Ginny's open cheekbone shone white against her blood-spattered skin, and Luna's arm had been roughly splinted with a convenient branch. They were all suffering; Neville had almost lost an eye to Bellatrix's madness, before the witch was brought down by a powerful cutting curse. Ron limped along on his injured leg, and Hermione fought blindly to defend him. Kalli and Letty battled back-to-back, the young mutant doing her best to shield her still-weak best friend from the worst of the battle, Draco helping her as best he could.
At last Harry and Voldemort faced on another, and a strange silence fell over the battleground, as both sides stopped to witness the clashing of their leaders.
"So, you've decided to face me at last," Voldemort hissed, bearing yellow blood-flecked teeth.
Harry's green eyes flashed. "Brave words from the old man defeated by an infant," he retorted, his voice carrying to everyone.
Growling, Voldemort sent a severing hex Harry's way. Harry dodged it, and sent a conflagration curse in return.
"You'll have to do better than that, boy!" Voldemort moved aside easily. Unlike Harry and his friends, he was not encumbered by war wounds, since he had been using his Death Eaters as shields. "Avada Kedavra!"
Unluckily, Harry stumbled, and the curse hit the dead centre (AN: couldn't resist, sorry /sweatdrop/) of his forehead. He crumpled to the ground.
"NO!" Ginny started forward, only to be physically stopped by two Death Eaters. "Please," she begged, "just let me kiss him good bye!"
"Let the girl do it," Voldemort commanded lazily, a malicious grin on his serpentine face. "Let it not be said we Death Eaters are without mercy."
The red-haired witch ran to Harry's side, placing a tender kiss on his lips, and taking Gryffindor's sword from his utility belt. Holding it awkwardly in her left hand, she thrust it through Voldemort's stomach, the force knocking him over. The leftover blade sunk into the blood-soaked ground, pinning him there.
Ginny watched as realisation dawned on his face.
"But...the prophecy," he spluttered. This time it was the Order holding the Death Eaters back.
"Funny things, prophecies," Ginny said coolly. "They rarely make sense until after they come true." She held up her left hand, engagement ring glittering in the feeble sunlight. "Last night, Harry pledged to give me his hand in marriage."
Harry coughed and sat up, pointing his wand at Voldemort. "Sectumsempra," he rasped.
The combination of Ginny's efforts, and Harry's final curse accomplished what the badly wounded Boy-Who-Lived could not have done alone. Voldemort was dead.
Casually, Ginny removed the sword, wiping it on her pants. "Right," she said quietly, "who's next?"
The Death remaining Eaters took one look at the fierce victors, and disapparated...right into the trap they'd set up to catch the escaping members of the Order.
Slowly, painfully, Harry got to his feet. His tunnelling vision told him he wouldn't be conscious much longer. "W'll done. Love you," he managed to say, before succumbing to darkness once more.
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He was at King's Cross Station, which surprised him. It certainly wasn't where he expected to go when he died…not at all. Why would Heaven be a train station?
"This isn't Heaven, dearest," a soft, feminine voice said. "It's…well, the closest name would be limbo. It's the place in between."
Startled, Harry whirled around. Standing in front of the Hogwart's Express were four figures, who had obviously come to meet him. He caught his breath as they came into focus. His mum and dad…Sirius…and Remus…
"What do you mean?" he asked, stepping forward. "In between what?"
"Life and death, Harry," Remus answered, smiling sadly. "You have a choice ahead of you, a big one. If you get on the train, you come with us, to Heaven. If you choose to go back through the barrier, you go back to life."
"Choose wisely, Harry," his mother added. "Few people get this choice."
"Why is it King's Cross?" He was still confused.
"Because this is what you think of as a go-between place. A portal between your home, and the house you are forced to inhabit," James Potter said, his voice deep and sympathetic.
"What should I do?"
"We can't tell you that, Harry," Sirius told him. "It's your decision; stay, or go back."
"No matter what you decide, we'll always love you, Harry. And we're so very proud." Lily's green eyes shone with tears.
"What happens if I get on the train?"
"You die, Harry," Remus answered.
"And if I go back? Will I be happy?"
James shook his head. "Son, you know better than that. You'll be happy, sad, angry, disappointed, ashamed, amused…you'll feel all the emotions you did before. No one can predict your future for you. And…well, there's not even a prophecy now to help you."
Sirius grinned mischievously. "If I were you, I'd go back. You have one hot redhead waiting for you, and she'll be pretty pissed if you die. She might even haunt your grave."
"Sirius!" Lily scolded. "We aren't supposed to influence him!"
"I…I think I will go back," Harry said shakily. "I mean…I have my whole life ahead of me."
The smiles he got told him he'd made the right choice.
"We'll always be there for you, Harry. We've watched you grow up, and we're so proud." Lily gave him a tight hug.
"You kicked his arse right and proper. Good work. And you have a great girl, there, Son." James clapped him on the shoulder.
"Look after Tonks and Teddy for me, please?" Remus begged. "She has her mum and dad…but you're his godfather. He'll need you."
"I will." Harry nodded.
"Harry, you're a great kid, and I'm glad you decided to go back. What is it with Potters and redheads, ey?" Sirius ruffled his hair.
"Good-bye…I…I love you guys…all of you," Harry said. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. "Is…is this all in my mind?"
Lily gave him a fond smile. "Yes, Harry. But the mind is an amazing thing. If a galaxy can exist inside a marble, why can't limbo be in a person's mind? Just because you're dreaming this, doesn't mean it's not real."
"Oh…" He wasn't sure what to make of that. "Good…"
"Go." His mother pushed him towards the barrier. "We'll have plenty of time to talk later. For now, live your life. And enjoy it. Even the bad bits."
"All right." And, with one final look at his parents, and his surrogate parents, Harry stepped through the barrier.
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"-biomimetic fabric, while not living in the traditional sense, being that it's more of a parasite, did take the brunt of the curse, thankfully, so he will survive. Excuse me for a moment, I'm going to go and get some potions for him."
It was to these words, spoken by Madam Pomfrey, that Harry surfaced from unconsciousness. He had to admit, it was a relief to hear that.
"But will he be whole? Will he be all right?" Ginny asked anxiously. "It hit him right in the scar, and there was all that light…and smoke…"
"That would have been the final Horcrux, Miss Weasley. I wasn't sure until now, but…well, the evidence is irrefutable. With the help of the fabric, he survived…I cannot imagine what the results might have been otherwise. I don't think the Prophecy meant that anyone who was engaged or wed to those it focused on could kill Voldemort," Professor Dumbledore answered.
"Well, I was trying to unnerve him. Rule one of combat; make your opponent scared of you. Make him believe things to be true, even when they aren't, especially if those things work in your favour. It's psychosomatic. And…it makes a self-fulfilling prophecy." Harry could hear the smile in his girlfriend's voice.
"You've been listening to me too much," Hermione joked.
"You tell us to listen to you," Harry rasped, opening his eyes and sitting up. "Really, Hermione, make up your mind." His grin was teasing.
"HARRY!" Ginny practically pounced on him. "You're all right! Oh!" She grabbed him by the shoulders, pulling him into a passionate embrace.
"Ahem. Miss Weasley, I'm sure young Harry is very glad to be alive, as well. However, he does require oxygen, and you are taking it from him." Professor Dumbledore's eyes twinkled madly.
Madam Pomfrey came bustling back into the room at that moment. "MISS WEASLEY! GET OFF OF MY PATIENT RIGHT NOW!" she roared, striding across the room, as if to bodily pull the pair apart.
The redhead in question skipped out of the way, expression mischievous, and Professor Dumbledore hurried out of the room.
"That's better," Madam Pomfrey huffed, pulling out her wand and running it over Harry's body. "How are we, Mister Potter?" she asked.
"Pretty good, actually," Harry replied, surprised.
"Hmmm…your vitals are normal, no signs of adverse effects due to the Killing Curse, or to any of the other curses you suffered. Your body seems to be responding well to the potions I gave you earlier. Drink this," she handed him a bottle of the grey potion she had given Kalli last summer, which seemed so long ago now.
Obediently, Harry drank.
"No change?" The matron looked at him quizzically. Harry shook his head, and she sighed. "Very well, you can get up. I'll be in my office if anyone needs me." As she stalked off, they heard her mutter something about her authority being worth nothing to this lot, and how she couldn't wait until they had kids, and knew what it felt like to be stopped at every turn.
Ginny giggled. "It's all over, can you believe it?" she asked, spinning around in a circle, her hair flaring around her in a scarlet halo.
"How many of our people died?" Harry regretted the words leaving his mouth as soon as Ginny sobered, tears filling her chocolate eyes.
"Oh Harry..." she whispered.
"Tell me."
Bit by aching bit the information tumbled from his friends' mouths, and he learned who they had lost.
Snape, who had stepped in front of the Killing Curse meant for Dumbledore. Dobby, who had led the House Elves of Hogwarts on a counter-attack. Mad-Eye Moody, who had been hit by a rogue curse when trying to push Remus out of the line of fire. Remus, who had not quite gotten out of the way in time. Fred, who'd sacrificed himself for his twin brother. Rufus Scrimgeor, who'd cursed Lucius Malfoy, before falling to a Severing Hex from Narcissa.
"What about Betsy?" Harry asked, eyes stinging. He couldn't cry...not yet. Not now.
"She's okay. Not good, but okay. She kept jumping in front of the Cruciatus curse, so she's really jittery, and Madam Pomfrey isn't sure if it'll ever go away...she's a Muggle, and you know these kinds of things effect them more."
Harry nodded in relief. "What about on their side?"
Ron grinned proudly. "Mum took out Bellatrix Lestrange! She called her a bitch! I mean, I always knew Mum was good with a wand, but...wow! Neville got rid of Lucius Malfoy, and Letty killed Narcissa. There isn't a single Death Eater unaccounted for."
"That we know of," Neville said firmly. "It'll be an uphill battle finding them all."
"Who cares? We're finally free, if only until the end of the school year." Ginny's eyes shone. "There's plenty of time to search for them later, after we've recovered. And the Aurors are already looking for them, Kingsley said so."
"He survived?" Harry was kind of surprised. Last he'd seen, Kingsley was battling Rodolphus Lestrange, and losing.
"After Bellatrix died, Rodolphus got a little stupid. Kingsley got him. They're making him the stand-in minister until they can hold a proper election," Ginny answered, snuggling up to him. "But five-to-one, he'll end up being re-elected."
"The public likes him. He has trustworthy eyes," Luna confirmed.
"It really is over, isn't it?" he asked.
Ginny smiled. "Yes, Harry. It really is."
End Chapter 37