Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Marvel characters or any of the X-men. The same can be said of the wonderful world of J.K. Rowling *pouts*. I am in no way making any kind of money from this story and I promise to return the characters just the way I found them. I did however create Emma Winter.
The story is AU and with a slow build-up with lemons sprinkled over it, and later (chapter 15 and onward) there will be some smut. This story is marked M for a reason, and its contents are only suitable for mature adults. Includes explicit language and adult themes. You have been warned :)
NB: I am editing the story in lockdown and making this story what it should always have been. Hope you are all safe out there.
I hope you enjoy it and if you do then please review, it makes the plot bunnies happy :)
Edited in March 2021 during lockdown.
It was July and Emma had been feeling restless for most of the summer. Being at Hogwarts after the wizarding war stifled her, even if most of the faculty had not returned yet to start the new semester. Emma had been working as a muggle studies teacher for two years now and she was in desperate need of a change. The witch had had no idea that teaching could be so strenuous; especially when the students began to ask questions that had nothing to do with school and everything to do with her tumultuous private life.
Like many veterans of war she felt exhausted, jaded, and seemingly unable to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. What once had given her great joy, didn't feel the same after the horrors of war and rarely did Emma, the witch, laugh or even smile anymore. Albus was becoming desperately concerned for her and in an attempt to keep her in Hogwarts had offered her to stay another year on the teaching post. Even though the position had sounded interested, Emma was not ready to commit to it. Not another year, not the same routine. She had had enough of it to last her a lifetime. Emma knew she needed a change, new scenery and to meet new people that knew nothing of her or the wizarding world. Perhaps there she would finally find the peace she so craved.
The world was out there, and the young woman had hardly gotten a taste for it yet as she had been raised in a protective cocoon away from muggles. Emma was twenty years old and like her mother she had taste for adventures, for meeting new people and, last but not least, to be free from the ghosts of her past. Emma had been dreaming for a long time to go depart from the magical world for a while, a year or even more and just be yet another face in the crowd.
The young witch had more or less decided to leave and essentially only wanted Albus's blessing to do so. Not because she needed his blessing to depart, but because she loved the old wizard dearly and over the years, he had become a sort of a father figure to her. The old wizard and Minerva McGonagall had become her family after the death of her parents when she was very young, and she wanted the two of them to know her plans and hopefully approve of them. All the public scrutiny Emma had been under since the end of the war was suffocating her and she felt like a caged animal that desperately needed to hide away from the watchful eyes of the wizarding community.
Ever since Rita Skeeter had written about Emma's life it had been blasted over every magic newspaper making her feel ill at the sight of them. If she went out with friends, it was posted in the papers as if every male she met was a new lover. It had been so difficult over the last months that she had opted for staying in Hogwarts and have her friends come there to meet her, on the rare occasion that they had time to get away from their busy lives and booming careers. The difficult situation had only fuelled her need to get away and get a break from the wizarding world that was so interested in the mysterious witch.
Every time Emma thought of that good for nothing gossip columnist, her temper flared. It had been the last straw in her decision to depart for a while. The pitying glances she got from both students and faculty were enough to make her want to scream with frustration. The witch could almost hear the violin music playing under every single sad story that Rita had written about her private life. Yes, compared to many Emma Winter had not had an easy life, but she simply wanted to live a peaceful life.
Dumbledore's office was situated quite far away from her own office. Walking up and down the temperamental staircases of Hogwarts was no pleasure, especially if you were in a hurry to get somewhere. That's why most of the teachers could floo to each other fireplaces during the school year. After quick thinking, she decided rather to floo to the headmaster's office that was situated in the very steep headmaster's tower. Not many had the privilege of being able to floo into Dumbledore's office. As far as she knew only Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, and Emma herself were able to do so. They were the inner circle of Dumbledore's life in one way or another.
The witch walked over to her fireplace and took a handful of silvery powder from a bowl from the top of the fireplace. Emma cast the floo powder into the hearth as she spoke Dumbledore's name. The fireplace filled with green flames and covered the young witch without burning her before she disappeared. A few seconds later she appeared again in Dumbledore's office.
The old office was a familiar setting for Emma, and it had housed headmasters of Hogwarts for millennia. It was filled with all kinds of magical wonders, most notably the famous sorting hat that sorted the first-year students into one of the four houses of Hogwarts.
The office itself was immensely big, cluttered with books and objects but somehow Albus Dumbledore always seemed to know where everything was situated which still amazed Emma even after all the years she had known the old wizard.
"Albus I need to speak with you," Emma said as soon as she stepped out of the hearth. If Dumbledore would have been busy the fireplace would have been closed and no one would have been able to get in. Therefore she felt comfortable enough about barging in on him; after all, she was more like his daughter than his ward.
"Emma, please come in and give me a moment. I am going over the student records for next year. There will be more students than ever!" the old wizard said merrily as he greeted Emma and pointed towards a large armchair that was situated in front of his desk.
Looking around the office while Dumbledore finished his work she saw Fawkes perched on his stick looking stunningly beautiful. The bird was a phoenix and had been reborn only a few weeks prior. The golden and red feathers gleamed in the light giving him an unearthly look. The bird squawked in a greeting to her and then continued his nap completely unfazed by the world.
"So tell me, my dear, what's the reason for this delightful visit?" Albus asked curiously looking at Emma over his half-moon spectacles. The wizard's appearance was absolutely how non-magic people would imagine how a wizard looked like. Albus Dumbledore was wearing a reddish silk robe with stars and moons scattered all the fabric. A thick, white beard covered half of Albus's face and then flowed gracefully down his chest.
As to top off the ensemble, Dumbledore wore a gigantic wizard's hat in the same colour as the robe. Albus was a very unusual man, even unusual for wizards and was often misunderstood or mistrusted for he did not see the world as other's did. Those that knew the wizard well trusted him with their lives. However, the ones close to the wizard were the first to admit that Albus Dumbledore was an extraordinary human being.
"Albus, after much thought I have concluded that I need to get away from Hogwarts for a while. I want to explore the world a little bit and live outside of the magical world," Emma said in a gush expecting Albus to stop her in midsentence like he so often did when things were not going his way.
"What a marvellous timing you have Emma!" the old wizard said merrily, too merrily for Emma's taste as she saw his signature twinkle light up his eyes. Suspicion arose in her heart when she realised that the old wizard was up to something. Dumbledore was always up to something but this time it was clear that it involved her, of that she was certain.
"What are you up to?" she said challengingly as the wizard chuckled at the suspicion in her dark eyes. Emma might be young in years, but she was not naïve and knew when she was being set up. Other people's scheming had destroyed her innocence a long time ago. Emma Winter had, after all, been sorted into the famous house of Salazar Slytherin as a young student at Hogwarts.
"Now child do not look at me like that," Dumbledore chuckled and pushed forward a bowl of lemon drops. Emma waved her hand in refusal and waited for the wizards next words.
"It so happens that Harry and Ginny are at long last going on their honeymoon. They have taken extended leave to go on a proper holiday that they didn't have time for when they married last year. It might be a long trip, Harry and Ginny have extensive travel plans that span almost a year from my understanding."
"I heard about it from 'Moine," Emma said brazenly. She and the brain of the golden trio had been in constant contact ever since their unlikely friendship blossomed as young students at Hogwarts. Ever since they graduated, the two had tried to be in regular contact and often met up as well.
"Yes, it is good you have heard about it," the wizard kindly said popping a lemon drop into his mouth and studying the young woman intently with his bright blue eyes. As ever, Dumbledore was quite certain that Emma would do his bidding, she had never refused him so far. The trick with the stubborn Slytherin was to ask her directly and give her no time to rebuff him. In other words, catch her by surprise and allow her no time to refuse him.
"Harry wants their location to be a secret. We cannot be certain that Death Eaters won't use the opportunity to attack them, even though it has been three years since the final battle."
"I doubt anyone will be that interested," Emma said with a bored voice and not understanding how Harry's honeymoon had anything to do with her. The witch did not want to know anything for it would most likely ruin the plans she had for getting away.
"Now Emma no need to be like that. Harry asked for a secret keeper to make sure that their location could not be weaselled out of anyone. He specifically asked for you to guard their secret."
The young witch was stunned; the responsibility was enormous in having the golden boy's life on her conscience. If something were to happen, she would never be able to live with herself. If something would ever happen to Harry or Ginny because of her, Emma knew she would never be able to forgive herself.
"Me? Why me? Why not Ron or Hermione? They are much closer to them," she said in defence trying to get out of it even though she knew the decision had already been made. Even though Albus Dumbledore was over one hundred fifty years old, his mind worked quicker than most and he usually was a few steps ahead of anyone else.
"For that exact reason, Harry was hesitant to choose either of them as secret keepers. His reasons being if someone wanted to know where Harry and Ginny are, they would go immediately after Ron or Hermione."
Emma nodded in understanding, that sounded reasonable enough even though she wasn't particularly fond of the idea of being a secret keeper. The last secret keeper she had heard of was Peter Pettigrew who had given up the Potter's location to Voldemort causing the young couple to be murdered. So it was all in all not a very good track record.
"If you agree to it then it would be good if you would ... what do muggles call it... stay off the radar as much as you could for the next year. Not using floo, disapparating or any other type of magic that can easily be traced by prying eyes of the Ministry of magic. Will you do this for Harry and Ginny? You were planning to leave anyway to get some peace," Dumbledore said with an insisting voice that gave no option for refuse.
Emma was not too keen on becoming a secret keeper and being stuck by the magical force of the Fidelus Charm. But she felt obliged to the golden trio who had always been kind to her through the years, and that affection made it impossible for Emma to refuse the request. They had all shared joys and heartbreaks of their youths while trying to make it out alive when the war hit. Rarely, if ever, did Harry Potter ask for anything and Emma Winter knew deep in her heart that she couldn't refuse the request.
"Very well, I shall do it," Emma said giving up even though she wasn't happy about being bound magically to anyone; it was a contract not to be taken lightly. When one was bound by magic the only way to get out of it before the contract time was over was to drop dead. There were few things Emma wanted less than to be bound to Harry Potter, and probably the only thing she wanted less was the cold embrace of death.
"Excellent my dear! Harry will be here tonight. We will do the spell and then you are free to go as you please," the wizard said happily at the witch that sat stunned in the chair opposite him. Dumbledore did not have to be a clairvoyant to feel the frustration radiating from her after his words. Emma never much liked to be taken for granted not even by her former guardian./
"Albus, why does it always feel that you are plotting behind our backs?" Emma said softly, her dark eyes looking into his with a certain sadness that made the old wizard regretful. There were many things about the youth of Emma Winter he had wanted to go differently, but it seemed that her fate was to live an eventful life, filled with adventures and heartbreak.
"It's all done for the greater good," Dumbledore said gently before standing up and walking from his desk towards the chair where Emma sat. The old wizard bent down and kissed the witch on top of her curly mane.
"I know you think I'm being difficult my dear, but everything I do is done out of great affection for you all," Dumbledore said as the witch stood up to face him. The old wizard smiled at her softly, little Emma Winter had been forced to grow up too quickly during the war and the wizard understood why she needed to get away to find some peace of mind.
Dumbledore reached out, his long arms wrapping around the witch before he held her tightly. The witch sighed tiredly as the scent of lemon drops, that she associated with her childhood, engulfed her and the long beard of Dumbledore tickled her face.
The wizard murmured in her ear, "I know you are drained my dear, leave and heal from the mental wounds that you suffered in the war. We shall all be waiting for the day when you are ready to return to us."
Emma didn't say anything, she sniffled loudly trying to suppress the tears that threatened to fall and pressed her face further into Dumbledore's bushy beard. The two might not have been related by blood, but there was no doubt that Albus Dumbledore was her family, and she was thankful to have him in her life.
Two days later Emma arrived at JFK airport in New York. Dumbledore had suggested an open position as a history teacher at a school for gifted young people close to North Salem in the state of New York. It seemed that even Dumbledore was not comfortable losing the young witch completely off the radar as she was new to the world of muggles. The wizard wanted her to start her journey there, and then see if she would wander somewhere else from there.
After thinking about it for a moment Emma surprised herself when she decided to accept the job offer. It would be interesting to be living near non-magic people for once and try to blend in as much as she could. Even if Dumbledore had heard about the teaching position through a vast network of connections, it didn't mean that anyone at the school knew anything about magic.
"Are you Emma Winter?" a beautiful dark-skinned woman with platinum blonde hair said as she approached Emma where she stood waiting outside the airport terminal to be picked up by someone from the school. The woman's accent was not strong but noticeable to Emma who smiled joyfully at the newly arrived woman.
"Yes, I am," Emma said and shook hands with the woman who smiled tightly back while her dark eyes studied the new teacher intently. The young witch cringed under the blatant look of the woman as she was not used to such public scrutiny.
"Welcome to the United States, I'm Ororo," the woman said smiling a pearly white smile at the new history teacher. Ororo was quite surprised; the new teacher looked young as if she was the same age as some of the students. Emma Winter didn't look a day older than her twenty years, with her shy smile and long dark hair that was tamed in a thick braid that reached down to her waist.
"Thank you so much, I'm very excited to be here," Emma said enthusiastically and followed Ororo out of the building holding her large backpack with great ease as if it was empty. Emma hadn't wanted to pack too much; it would be better to buy a new wardrobe in the new place to be able to fit in. That was a good excuse as most of her clothes were wizard robes that would not be considered very odd in the muggle world.
"We were a little surprised that Xavier would hire a normal human to work at our school," Ororo admitted when the two had sat in the car and were driving off.
"A normal person?" Emma asked, her dark eyes wide in surprise as she looked at her companion. The way Ororo had said normal had similar spite to it as when Draco Malfoy called people mudbloods. It rubbed the young witch the wrong way to be greeted like this as she first stepped ground in a new country where she thought things would be completely different for her. Perhaps every group had some prejudice against others, and Emma Winter simply hadn't known as she had never really been exposed to the outside world.
Ororo nodded and said defensively, "Yes someone like you."
Emma looked at her shocked and asked surprised, "Why would that be so strange?"
"Well I don't know if you know but our school is a school for mutants," Ororo said in a strange tone and looking expectantly at Emma as if the witch was supposed to know what that meant. Emma had been living in the magical world for most of her life and had not come into the normal world but for a few moments at a time. It had not been enough exposure to know what was going on outside the magic community. Coming from the magical world and not having read a muggle newspaper in years the word mutant didn't mean anything to Emma Winter.
"I suspect that this might sound bizarre but what is a mutant?" Emma asked awkwardly and feeling like a total idiot when the woman stared at her with an astonished expression on her face as if she didn't believe what the new teacher had just admitted.
"You seriously don't know what a mutant is?" Ororo asked completely flabbergasted. After the media campaign all over the world, she thought anyone everyone on the planet had heard about the mutants. The legislation was such a hot topic everywhere that it was almost impossible to hide from the news. From under what rock had Xavier found this history teacher? Had she been frozen in ice for a hundred years?
"No I don't," Emma answered feeling her face burn with shame. Obviously, the stay in the magical world could be problematic, especially when it came to news of the muggle world that most wizarding folks were not interested in unless they came from muggle families. The magical world rarely cared what happened with muggles unless it was something caused by wizards or witches.
"Right. Well then I better inform you before you meet Xavier," Ororo said thoughtfully while doubting more than ever Xavier's decision to bring in someone to the school that wasn't a mutant. Their new history teacher would be an outsider from the start since she wasn't one of them and had no knowledge of mutants. She might stare at the students making them uncomfortable and Ororo would not stand for it. As soon as she would get a private moment with Xavier, she would try to get him to reconsider his decision to hire Emma Winter as a part of the staff.
"You are certain you haven't heard of mutants where you come from?" Ororo asked sceptically as the new teacher shook her head in refusal to her question.
"No I haven't heard anything about mutants where I was working," Emma said truthfully and felt slightly dim-witted for not having such knowledge. It made it even more obvious that she had not been living in the muggle world, even if Ororo didn't know that. The reaction of the white-haired woman next to her hinted that not knowing was shocking. Emma cursed Dumbledore in her mind for sending her to a place where she was an outsider even before starting, she feared that it would be a difficult situation all over again where she would feel like an outsider.
"I better fill you in then. Every person on the planet has an X gene in their system. A gene that has been with man ever since the beginning of time, it is the gene that has helped us to move forward in evolution. With most people today this gene is dormant for the moment. However..." Ororo said looking to her right at the woman that was absorbing her every word with great interest.
"... with some, this gene is very much active, another stage in evolution so to speak," Ororo said quoting those that had studied the mutant genes in great detail.
"I follow you so far," the young British woman said with a strong accent smiling friendly and nodding thoughtfully. Ororo couldn't help thinking that Emma didn't understand at all what she was saying as most humans were terrified of the evolution of humans into mutants.
"Right, when some people are born they have this active gene. Evolution gives them some gifts that are out of the ordinary. To the outside world, we are called mutants, but we like to call them gifts."
Emma was silent at that. Gifts, difference, all this she could understand. It sounded more or less like the way a muggle child was born with magical powers even though no records of any ancestors having that power. Something extraordinary happened with no real explanation as to why.
"All of you have gifts at the institute?" Emma asked curiously eyeing Ororo with curiosity and wondering what set mutants apart from typical muggles.
"Yes," Ororo said dryly, not understanding why the young woman wasn't running out of the car screaming in terror at the thought of mutants.
"How are these gifts?" the witch asked curiously wondering if these mutants were so different from her after all. It certainly seemed as if mutants and magical folk had something in common even though she couldn't quite put her finger on it yet.
"Mutants are as various as we are many. Some can teleport, others can read minds..." Ororo noticed a slight twitch in the new school teacher at her words when she mentioned mind reading. Not surprising since most had those reactions, no one liked someone to read their minds.
"... others can bend metal and there are so many that it's really difficult to explain it in general."
"What kind of power do you have?" Emma asked quietly and looking at Ororo with curiosity hoping that the woman would tell her to deepen her understanding.
"Weather, I can affect the weather," Ororo replied proudly and stared at Emma Winter defiantly.
"Really? Can you show me?" Emma asked excited, almost bouncing up and down in her seat. Ororo looked at Emma for a second while she was thinking of what to do and finally, she settled on showing the new teacher. If Emma Winter wanted to work at the school, she had to understand what she would be dealing with.
"Yes, I will after I pull over," Ororo said and a few moments later she had found the perfect place. Maybe she would scare the woman and Emma would resign even before reaching the school. That would be the best result for them all Ororo thought to herself.
Both women stepped out of the car with Emma following her with curiosity evident in her face. Ororo's eyes turned milky white as she stared up into the sky. A wind gushed from her and the cloudy sky changed into a clear sunny day.
"Oh that's wonderful," Emma gushed thrilled at the powers she saw coming from the woman. Mutants, how brilliant!
"Seeing powers such as these wouldn't be a problem for you? There are far more powerful mutants out there," Ororo said sceptically.
"No why should it, it's beautiful," Emma replied smiling looking up at the sky. The witch had a feeling she would feel just at home at Xavier's. She was an outsider too; the others just would not know of it.
Ororo could not quite put her finger on it but the new teacher was not right. It was not that she didn't like the young openminded woman, which was necessary when working with children with mutant powers. However, Ororo had never met someone so interested in a positive way in mutant powers.
The white-haired woman knew she would have to talk to Xavier when she came to the house and try to get him to reconsider his decision. Ororo did not feel too optimistic though, Xavier rarely misjudged people. However this time Ororo felt that Xavier had put too much faith in the young woman that had never heard of mutants.