Chapter 2
I stand at Crossroads
Author's Note: "I stand at the crossroads of life, and I walk the path less taken." Chronos the Fallen Angel
In a review I was asked who Roland was. Though I do not want to give up any more info on him, yet, this chapter will get you to know what happened to him, a bit of his past. I did tell one person but as I told them, it is important to the story. Again anything created by Marvel Comics, and Ms. Rowlings, is theirs.
Again, please R&R this story and my other one. It is being postponed for now until this one is finished, part of the reason is that this story will contain some of the ideas from that one. And now to continue with Harry's experience.
* * * * * *
Harry looked around the room, seeing the people who stood within its boundaries. Two men sat at the controls of the room. From what Harry saw they were in a plane and these men were the ones controlling it. There were three teenagers in the seats behind the men. A boy and a girl sat together, the girl resting on his shoulder. Harry couldn't see the other boy very well. He looked behind him and saw the men who attacked the Grangers house; hatred filled his heart when he laid eyes on the beast that killed the Grangers. In the back over a medical bed was a beast of a man. He covered up what looked like a black haired man. Sirius, was the thought that came into his head. Everyone in the room was wearing black uniforms that were identical, save the Professor and one boy. The professor was in a suit, and the one boy had a sleeveless less shirt on, as he had an arm lying out in the aisle.
"Ahem," the bald man in the wheel chair said. Harry looked back at him. "I am Professor Xavier, and these people aboard are my students."
"Even those who killed the Grangers?" Harry said, he turned and looked at the beast, he was heavily shackled.
"No, they are the Brotherhood of Mutant," Professor X replied. "But for some odd reason, I doubt that all of them were responsible for the death of the Grangers."
"How can you say that? All of them are-"
"Relax Harry," a man came limping up to the side of Professor X. He was holding his side, his right hand covered in blood. His breathing was shallow and often he sounded as if he was wheezing. His black bangs hid his eyes. "What the professor means is that two of them had nothing to do with the death of the Grangers; isn't that right, Professor?" he was using the professor's wheel chair to hold up his weight.
"Yes, Roland," he replied, "But you shouldn't be up. The amount of damage you sustained and the energy you lost is unimaginable."
"So," Roland said. He began to cough; in his left hand was a black handkerchief. He quickly covered his mouth. "This can't," he coughed some more, "be good." He looked back up at Harry. "Harry, take her back to Hank, he'll help her."
Harry just nodded; Roland had this presence around him. He felt like he had known Roland all his life. But he quickly dismissed the notion that was impossible; Harry had just met his man. He turned around and walked back to the man who Roland had pointed to. "Hello," Hank said. He pushed the body of the dead man aside, and made room for Hermione.
"Excuse me, sir," Harry said, "Who is that?" he pointed to the man underneath the blanket. But he knew the answer. It was Sirius.
"I don't know," Hank replied, "I believe that it was you who told me to bring him for help." With his giant hand, he removed the sheet and showed Harry who it was. Despite already knowing the truth, Harry was shocked to see his Godfather lying there died. The man noticed the look on his face. "Do you know the man?"
"Yes," Harry said, holding back the tears. He was careful as he placed Hermione onto the bed. "He was my Godfather." But the tears came; Harry brushed them aside with the back of his hand.
"I'm sorry," Hank placed on arm on Harry's shoulder. "I wish that we could've done something but-"
"There was nothing that you could've have done, sir," Harry replied. He wiped the last tear way. "Now, can you help Hermione?"
"I believe so," He gave a reassuring smile, and pulled out a small bag from underneath the table. "My, she has been through a lot." He lifted up her eyes and looked at them with a flashlight. "What happened?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Harry replied.
"Okay." Hank looked down at Harry. The man was towering over both him and Hermione, about 6 feet 5. "Well, it couldn't have been too bad. At most she has a few broken, maybe only bruised, ribs, and a fractured leg. There are some cuts and bruises on her face and on her back, but nothing serious." Harry was surprised at what happened.
"That can't be true," Harry nearly fell down. This was impossible, she was beaten near death, but this man was saying that she was alright. The man must have helped her out a lot then. But a chair was there to catch him. A black one at them.
"Roland!" Harry heard the professor's voice say. He looked back to see the crippled man pointing a hand at Harry. His black hair was flying around, and his bangs rose above his eyes. And he finally saw what was beneath Roland's bangs, nothing. His left hand was still being used to hold up his body.
"You," Harry said, pointing a finger at him. "You're the one who-"
"Brought you here, who save Hermione," Roland replied. He closed his eyes again, obvious in pain. "I had no choice; I had to save all of us." The jet shook violently. "Oh shit." He said and turned around. Roland limped as fast as he could up to the cockpit.
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked.
"Not now, Harry is it," hank said, "strap you and Hermione in. I don't want anyone more deaths today." Hank ran off toward the front. "Better yet, Harry, bring her up here, we have enough seats for both of you."
Harry simply nodded; he picked up Hermione again, and carried over the seats. He pasted Hank was working on removing the professor from his wheel chair and getting him into a seat. He was careful with her, as she had been through enough that night, Harry didn't want her to go through anymore than she had to.
Everyone set," Roland said. No one replied. "That's a yes." He had taken a seat at the pilot's seat, the man had moved back to another seat.
"So sure you know what you're doing, kid," the other man asked. He was smoking a cigar as far as Harry could smell.
"Logan, put that out," the professor said from his seat. The man grumbled in seat and Harry smelt something was burning. He didn't se the man move to put in an ash tray.
"You don't have to do that, you know," Roland said, he didn't look at the man though. From his seat all the way in the back, he could see wires coming out from him head and arm, attaching them to the computer. A rather large snake like wire came from his hand, and inserted itself into the mainframe. "Computer, give me a complete diagnosis." The room was silent for a moment. "Not good, not good," he said.
"What's wrong?" the boy asked.
"Quiet, Bobby," Roland snapped. "That's great." The sarcasm was just dripping off his words. "Now to answer your question, Bobby. We've lost thruster, and are running on basic impulse. The engine is nearly shut down, either from over working it, or it was hit when we were attack, probably both. Despite upgrading the shielding and adding the cloaking device, we've been seen. The thermal generator is down, as is the cloaking device, probable the tri-systems' energy feed, -"
"English, boy," Logan said.
"We're in deep shit," he said. "Hold on tight." He pushed forward on the controls, and the plane pulled up. Slowly, Roland leveled out the plane.
"Don't do that again," Logan said, staring at Roland.
"I can't help it, if we want to get out of here alive." Roland turned the ship again, trying to dodge something. "We've got problems."
"What's happening?" Professor asked. Now Harry was getting worried. Something was chasing the plane. And it was clear that Roland was having a hard time evading it. The plane started to go into a dive. But Roland's hands weren't on the controls. Instead, from what Harry saw, he had a keyboard in his lap. Roland was typing something. Harry reached for Hermione's hand and lightly rubbed it.
"Well, I don't know," he said calmly. He continued to type as the jet swerved right and left. Harry noticed purple balls of light pass the ship as it moved. "Damn it." He threw the keyboard onto the ground. The ship dodged another attack.
"Watch your tongue," the professor said, sternly. But Harry noticed a smile on his face.
"Professor," Roland said, he was looking down at the controls. "Yell at me if you will, but I need to do what I need to do." His black mist formed around him. Roland pointed his hand forward out the window. "'I stand at the crossroads of life and I walk the path less taken.'"
"Roland, NO!" the professor yelled, he tried to grab Roland, but his seat belt held him back. It was too late. A large black oval had appeared in front of the ship, and the jet flew right into it.
For a moment, Harry could see nothing. All he could feel was Hermione's hand, how warm it felt to him, how soothing it was. God how he wished he could have that feeling for ever.
Suddenly there was light again. The entire cockpit was quiet and you could hear the birds outside chirping. Harry looked up and noticed why it was so quiet. Roland was collapsed onto the ground, smoke coming off his body.
Hank quickly jumped out of his seat and picked dup the body. Logan hit a button on the controls and the jet landed itself. The hatch opened up and Hank leaped out, not taking one step. "Logan," the professor said, "You too Scott, I want you inside and make sure that the students are okay." The brown-haired man nodded, he adjusted his glasses and ran off. Logan ran off right behind him. "Bobby, Rogue," he said. The two teenagers nodded. "Send word to Storm and Kurt, we'll need them here." They ran off too. The professor pressed a button on his seat and Harry watched as his wheel chair came flying over to him.
"Professor," Harry said politely. "What about me and Hermione?" they were still seated.
"Ah, yes," Professor X said, "Please follow me." Harry unbuckled Hermione and picked her up. If out of instinct, she moved her head right into his chest. Harry smiled. He loved how she felt in his arms. It was like heaven to him. But Harry had other things he needed to do right now. He didn't matter as much as she did. He followed the wheel-chair ridden professor out of the jet. He noticed that they were in what looked like a hanger.
"Professor, where are we," he asked.
"We are at my school for the gift. The professors here and I work our best to help those in, Harry." The professor wheeled himself over to a door the opened the moment it sensed him. Harry had to move to quickly to catch up with this old man. "And everyone here is gifted. Including you and Hermione."
"Gifted, how?" Harry asked. He turned to corner to see the professor enter a room. Harry followed him in.
"We are all mutants Harry," Professor X said. Harry stopped where he was standing. No this can't be happening, it just can't,, he thought. Why us, why me?
'Harry,' a voice rang in his mind, it sounded like Professor X's, 'We have no control who this happens to it, just does.'
"How-how did you do that?" Harry asked. The professor turned himself around.
"That is my gift, Harry," he replied. "I am considered to be the world's greatest telepath."
"Then how did you know that Hermione and I are mutants," Harry continued to question him. "We didn't even know."
"That will all be explained in do time, Harry," Professor X said, "for now, let's attend to Hermione's needs." He turned himself back around. "This way to our infirmary." Harry followed the bald man with caution, as he didn't believe him.
They reached the infirmary, and Harry saw Hank standing over Roland, he had wires connected to his chest, and the readings could be seen on the many monitors. "Professor, he isn't going to like us giving him help," Hank said.
"Then remove his arm," The professor said. Harry stared shocked at the man. "I doubt that he will get very far without it."
"Professor, how can you-" But Harry shut his mouth when he saw what they were doing. Hank pealed away some of the skin on Roland's shoulder. He noticed the metallic surface beneath it. Hank twisted the arm, and pulled it off, small pop echoed in the room. "Oh." Hank set the mechanical arm on the table.
"Roland is different," Professor X said, "About eight years ago; Roland was attacked and brutally mutilated. But I doubt that he'd like me telling this story." He turned around. "You can place Hermione down on the bed over there." He pointed to one of the beds in the room.
Harry stared at the professor with a moment of uncertainty, and then did as he was asked. Carefully, Harry laid Hermione onto the bed. "She'll have to stay here the night," Hank said, "for observations."
"I'm not leaving her," Harry said, he crossed his arms and stood his ground, adamant about staying.
Hank was about to protest, but Professor X held up his hand. "Harry," he said, "If you truly feel that way, I believe that we can move both of you to a more comfortable place." He turned around and motioned for him to follow him. Harry picked her back up and carried her out of the room. "I trust that you will make sure she stays off her feet if she wakes up before tomorrow."
"I won't allow anything to happen to her," Harry replied. In his arms, Harry held the greatest thing in the world to him.
"So I thought," Professor X said. He smiled but Harry didn't notice it. Harry looked around the hallway for the first time. The letter X was covering the doors, and so they opened that way. It was a silver hallway, made of metal and polished so that it shined. "Right this way, Harry." He pressed a button on the wall, and one of the doors opened up. Inside it was white with a small light on the ceiling. "Don't worry, it's just an elevator." Harry cautiously entered it.
They rode it up to the second level. From what Harry saw, it looked more like a mansion then anything else. "This way please," Professor X said, he turned his wheel chair around and went down another hallway. Harry looked down it for a moment before leaving the elevator. He followed the professor down the hallway and stopped at the door. "You two can have this room for now, Harry," the professor opened the door. Harry looked in the room. There were two beds, close to each other. The room wasn't decorated much, probably a guest room that was rarely used.
"Thank you, sir," Harry replied. He walked in and set Hermione down on one of the beds.
"The only thing that I ask you is to come and see me tomorrow morning, alright." Harry looked over at the Professor for a moment, before he returned his gaze to Hermione.
"Yes, sir," Harry said politely. He took a seat on her bed, right by her side. Harry heard the professor's wheel chair leave the hallway, as well the door closing. But his eyes never left Hermione. Finally it hit him hard. Despite the exhausting night, Harry had been wide awake, and could have been. But now, he had a hard time keeping his eyes open. Harry yawned and walked over to the other bed. He took off his dirty and torn shirt and placed it on the bed's end. He climbed into the covers and feel into a deep peaceful sleep.
* * * * * * *
Roland lay back down on the table, his only arm left pointed straight up; he was exhausted too. But Harry need the rest more then him. "You shouldn't be doing that," Hank said to him.
"Can it, Doc," Roland replied. "And give me back my arm. You know how I feel about it." He held his head. "Damn headache."
"We have aspirin for that," Hank said, "But I know the way you feel."
"Thank you at least someone realizes why I do this." He was so tired; the day's events took so much out of him. But Roland had more work to do. "I've got more work to do, so give me back my arm." He sat up; swing his legs over the side of the table.
"Roland, what you need to do is rest, the amount of energy you spent-" Professor X said, he came rolling in.
"I know, professor," Roland said, he jumped down off the table. "But my work is never done." He hadn't worn his sunglasses in so long that his eyes were beginning to hurt. But he smiled his sly smile, the one that had gotten what he wanted so many times. Suddenly his knee gave out on him. "Blasted thing." He said, he summoned a small black pillar under his right hand to help him get up.
"Roland, that's enough," the professor said. He pointed a hand at him, and focused. 'Sleep is what you need, so lie down and sleep.'
Roland felt the hands of sleep grabbed, his eye lids became heavier. He lay back down on the table, and crossed his hands over his chest. Professor X wheeled himself over to Dr. Hank McCoy. "How is he?" he asked.
"A punctured lung, a few broken ribs, a concussion, and that wound he had earlier was cut into again," Hank picked up a piece of stone. "This is what I found in it."
"Dear lord," the professor took the piece of stone from the doctor. "What happened today?"
"Well, we'll have to wait 'cause Roland made Harry induced sleep upon our dear guests," Hank took the piece back.
"Hank, you of all, people should know that he spent over his limit today. He can't just go around and do things like this."
Hank laughed. "While you were gone, he said that 'life is to slow for us to do nothing, we must speed it up and help those we can.'"
"Despite all his problems, he chooses other over himself, interesting. That might have something to do with him visiting the east before he came here." Professor X wheeled himself over to the table. Roland was breathing with much effort. "He still refuses help."
"Sadly, yes," Hank said. "He claims that the medicine would disrupt his ecosystem. But I highly doubt that."
"He doesn't trust them, that's all, Hank," Professor X said. "Come, I doubt he'll move, let alone awake, until tomorrow morning, so let him sleep." The professor placed a hand on the Hank and led him out of the room. Roland opened his eyes the moment the professor left and sat up. A smile was on his face.
* * * * * * Author's Note: I'm going to try something here. For the next few passages, I'm going to go over the same period of time, just through three different perspectives: Harry's, Hermione's and Roland's. This will help characterize them better, making them seem more real, in the case of Roland. So let's see if it works. Review to tell me what you think. If you like it, I'll do it more often. Probably with these characters, maybe one more.
* * * * * *
Harry woke up to hear a rather large thunderstorm over head. He looked over to the window and saw a large flash out side, them the thunder boomed overhead. The entire room was dark, and when the lightning hit, Harry saw the figure of a girl standing up. "Hermione?" he said, jumping to his feet. She immediately hugged his waist. "My god," Harry said. She was still wearing her cloths from yesterday's attack. She seemed so much smaller then a week ago, so much lighter. Despite that, Harry thought that she was beautiful as every. He knew that she was probably still hurting from what occurred, and despite that she hugged him tighter. It was evident that she was scared about something; her beautiful brown hair was buried in his bear chest. "Shh, it's alright. I won't let anything happen to you."
"No, no, it's not that," she replied. Lightning split the sky outside and then the thunder boomed. Hermione tried to pull herself even closer to his bare chest. "It the thunder storms. I-I" the lightning cracked the sky again, and only a moment past before the thunder came and Hermione hugged Harry even harder. You've been through so much, Hermione, he thought, I just wish that I could have stopped it before it happened. Harry heard her weeping in his chest; he felt the tears run down it.
"It's alright," Harry, said, as comforting as he could, "thunderstorms can be scary. I'm even worried about this one." The way she felt in arms was heaven, and to see heaven like this was heartbreaking.
Hermione looked up at Harry with her puppy-dog blue eyes. God how he wished he could see them. The lightning cracked again, giving just enough light for Harry to see what damage Steven had done. Hermione, he thought. What has he done to you? She buried her head back into his chest just as the thunder boomed, squeaking like a mouse. She finally spoke again. "The great Harry Potter scared?" he had to smile at that.
"That's the Hermione I know," Harry said; he softly began to rub her brown hair. How he loved the way she felt against his body. It was like she was warming him up. "And yes, I do get scared. It's not just for a storm."
"Really, when?" Hermione looked up at Harry again, but he didn't stop running his fingers through her hair. He loved the way it felt between his fingers.
"Today," Harry replied. "When I saw you being." he paused for a moment, thinking of his word, "hurt, I was so scared that you wouldn't be alright. But here you are, with me." He smiled down at her with his reassuring smile.
"Thanks," she replied. She smiled back at him, and it sent chills down his spine to see such beauty. "Can we sit down?" Hermione placed her head back in his chest. She still hadn't let him go, holding him tighter then before. She was still shaking from fear. Harry didn't know whether or not it was because of the storm, or because of Steven.
"Sure," Harry said, he looked behind him for a moment, and sat down on his bed. Hermione pulled her legs up and curled up in his lap. They sat there for a while, Hermione trembling from fear every time the thunder boomed overhead. The storm was closer, the lightning more frequent. He slowly rocked the beauty that was in arms. Hermione, you've grown so much, from the cute bookworm to a beautiful friend. After what seemed like forever, he finally said, "better?"
She looked up at him, and smiled. "Yeah, but can I stay with you, tonight? I just don't want to be alone."
"No problem, 'Mione," he said; he didn't know that she was blushing from his little pet name. His arms were still were still around her. He lifted up one of them, and pointed down at the edge of the bed. He didn't like letting go of her, but it was cold, and getting colder. "Can you grab the covers down there?" She let go of him and grabbed them. As he lay down, she pulled them over them. "Thanks."
"It is getting cold," Hermione, said, he could tell that she was smiling. She curled up next to him, laying on one arm and the other around his waist. Harry pulled her up so that she was resting on his shoulder. She wasn't shaking as much as before, but still the thundering was getting louder and louder.
Hermione's breathing became softer, and more relaxed. "Hermione," Harry said.
"Hmmmm?" she replied. She was almost asleep.
"I love you," he said, and kissed her forehead. He closed his eyes and began to fall asleep.
Before Harry fell into his deep sleep he'd sworn that he heard Roland's voice yelling. "That damn weather witch," Harry could hear Roland limp on along the floor, "Blowing out the power circuits again." If out of instinct, Hermione moved closer to Harry. For a moment, Harry thought that she was awake again, but no, Hermione was still happily asleep. She must have thought that the voice was Steven's, Harry thought. "How many times do I have." and Roland's voice trailed off.
Harry relaxed again, and fell into his deep sleep, content on having Hermione by his side. Both of them slept dreamless sleeps, peaceful and quiet.
* * * * * *
When Hermione woke up, she had no clue where she was, and then the thunder cracked. She nearly jumped out of the bed she was in. How she hated thunderstorms, they always scared her. She stood up and felt the pain in her legs. It hurt to breathe, and she had a hard time seeing. Then it returned to her, what had happened that day, or night. Hermione didn't know what time or day it was.
The thunder boomed overhead, the storm was getting closer. Hermione began to shake from the fear. Just let the storm end, she thought. The boy in the bed next to her woke up. "Hermione?" he said and stood up. She knew that it was Harry's voice immediately. Despite the pain in her ribs, Hermione hugged Harry. In his gentle soothing voice, he said, "Shh, it's alright. I won't let anything happen to you." Harry had grown since she last saw him. He felt so much bigger, stronger. Hermione loved the way his body felt, almost like it was giving off its own warmth.
"No, no it's not that," she replied. The thunder cracked again, Hermione whimpered slightly, hoping that Harry didn't hear it. "It's the thunderstorm. I-I" The thunder cracked. She pulled herself closer to Harry, and buried her head in his chest. Harry, you've grown so much, she thought, you've turned into a handsome young man. Her rational side wasn't thinking. All Hermione cared about was that in Harry's arms, she felt safe. Steven can't get me here, she thought, and began to cry into his well-developed chest.
"It's alright," he said, Hermione could tell that he was trying to comfort her, "thunderstorms can be scary. I'm even worried about it."
She had to laugh inside. Oh, Harry, always the gentleman, she thought. Hermione looked up at Harry, hoping to see his beautiful emerald eyes. The storm was getting closer, and the lightning more frequent. The lightning cracked and Harry looked down at her. Damn you, Steven. Finally, she said. "The Great Harry Potter, scared?"
"That's the Hermione I know," Harry, said; he softly rubbed her head. It felt like a massage, and chills ran down her spine it felt so good. How much she loved the way his body felt. His chest was just enough defined that it was perfect. "And yes, I do get scared. It's not just for the storm."
"Really, when?" she looked back up at him, and she was thankful that he didn't stop running his fingers through her hair.
"Today," he said. "When you were being." he paused for a moment. She was so thankful that he thought about his words, "hurt, I was so scared that you wouldn't be alright. But here you are, with me." He smiled down with his reassuring smile.
"Thanks," Hermione replied. "Can we sit down?" She rested her head back on his chest. She didn't want to let go of him. He felt so warm, and she felt so safe in his arms. The thunder was still cracking, and she was still shaking.
"Sure," Harry said, he looked behind him and sat down. She pulled her legs up onto the bed, and curled up in his lap. They sat there for a while, not talking. Harry was rocking her back and forth, trying to calm her down. She had stopped shaking as often, but like a scared puppy dog, she did so every once in awhile. Finally Harry said, "Better?"
She picked her head up and looked at him. "Yeah, but can I stay with you, tonight? I just don't want to be alone."
"No problem, 'Mione," he said, she blushed at his little pet name. He removed an arm from her for just a second, and she felt like something glorious was missing from her life. The room was much colder now without his touch. "Can you grab the covers down there?" Hermione looked down where he was pointing; the covers were all the way at the foot of the bed. She pulled them up, and cover both her and Harry as they laid down. "Thanks."
"It is getting cold," Hermione said, she gave him a sweet smile and curled up next to him. She laid an arm over his stomach. He shifted so that her head was on his shoulder. She had stopped shaking, with Harry next to her, there was no reason to fear, she thought. Slowly, Hermione fell asleep. She could've sworn Harry said something to her, but Hermione was too tired to catch it or respond. His touch was soothing and with him, she had no dreams of the demon she called Steven.
* * * * * *
Roland woke up a few hours after Professor X and Beast left. His internal clock was never off and it read 11 o'clock. He groaned from sleeping on the bed, it killed his back. Ever since the attack eight years ago, Roland had a hard time sleeping anywhere. The bed he used was specially made for him.
He sat up and stretched his one arm. He looked over to the stump on his left shoulder. "Damn you beast," he said. He looked around the room. Despite the darkness, Roland saw clear as day. The limited light was suited more for him, as his pupils received more data on less. Even with his mechanical one, it still hurt for him to see without his sunglasses. He had to hide the red lens of it by covering both his eyes with the black film. But, Roland thought, I should be thankful. Without my alteration, I would be blind. He smiled at his own genius.
Thunder crashed overhead, Roland looked up. "Damn it," he said. The lights flickered and Roland tried to cover his eyes from the brightness. Even for a second, the lights gave him a massive headache. "Great, a power surge." He got up and nearly fell down again. "Just another thing to go wrong." Roland stood up the best he could and summoned a cane from the shadows. Quickly, he scanned the room with his mechanical eye, looking for the identical signature that his arm gave off.
"Great, just great," he limped out of the room. The thunder crashed again. "Beast, you SOB, you took my arm." He limped down the hallway toward the elevator. "Can anything else go wrong?" Roland said out of habit, sarcasm was his forte when he was upset. He pressed the button to open the elevator door, and another power surge went through the systems.
The control panel exploded and Roland was thrown back against the other wall. His face was that of pain and anger. He sat there for a moment, thinking how he could get up to the middle level and fix the circuit breakers. He yelled out of anger and threw a black lightning bolt at the wall. It exploded into fine sand. Roland smiled, his powers of course, how could he be such an idiot. He stood up carefully; his left eye was now fried.
"Crap." He released the cane; it hung in the air, and removed his eye. Roland held the little mechanism in his hand and stared at for a moment before smashing it out anger. His black aura formed around him and soon Roland was rising in the air, going through the school's levels until he reached the second floor. There, he stood and walked off toward the balcony.
Almost blind, a cripple and with one arm, Roland was furious. "That damn weather witch," he grumbled loudly. "Blowing out the power circuits again." He walked pasted Harry's room without even knowing it, where he felt a power feeling in there, more powerful then any he'd encounter. But he didn't stop to look; he had a bone to pick with someone. "How many times do I have to rewire this school? Every time you come and go, Storm." He reached the end and pushed open the doors.
"Storm!" Roland yelled up into the sky. He shook his fist at the storm. "Get your ass in gear and get down here." The lightning cracked then the thunder boomed. "You don't scare me get down here." The rain was coming down hard, and flattened his hair. Usually his long hair was greased back, as to stay out of his eyes. Now, it was hanging on his shoulders. "I said," his voice was over that off the storm itself. "GET DOWN HERE!" Roland didn't notice but two large black angel-like wings were coming out of his back.
A gust of wind followed his voice and caused the storm to dissipate. Roland stood on the balcony and watched as two figures fell from the sky only to disappear in the air. They appeared seconds later next to the drenched Roland. "Don't you take that tone with me young man," a woman said as she walked over to him. She was an African-American, and had pure white hair. "I'm still a teacher here." The skies were clearing up, and showing the full moon that was hidden by the clouds.
"Roland," a man spoke with a German accent, "you must-" Roland reached out with his good arm and picked up the man off the ground. He tightened his hold on the man's neck.
"Don't tell me what to do, Kurt," he spoke through his teeth. "And don't give me that crap about God. God doesn't care about us. If he did, then why did this happen?" he pointed his stub at Kurt. The main disappeared from his grip with a small pop, and appeared next to the woman. Roland felt something hit his cheek just before Kurt disappeared. "And keep that damned tail of yours under control."
"Sorry," Kurt said, "it just has a mind of its own sometimes."
"Roland," the woman said, "You need to sleep."
"No," he replied, turned his back and began to pace. "What I need is for people to stop dying." Despite the pain in his knee he continued on.
"What happened?" Kurt asked. They were clearly left out of the circle of information.
"Three people," he didn't stop pacing. "Three people," he looked up at the woman and Kurt. "Do you know what that feels like, Storm? No." he started to pace the balcony again. "Of course you don't. You'll never know."
"Roland, I think you need to see the professor," Storm said, walking over to him cautiously. Every professor knew the power that Roland had and they were all careful about how they acted around him. Especially after her death.
"No I don't," Roland snapped, he didn't look up, just continued to pace. "You know, Trish," he said. Kurt gave Storm a confused look. She mouthed to him 'girlfriend' and he immediately understood. "It would have been a lot easier if you were here. Then I wouldn't have to do this alone. But no, that damned God of yours," he kicked a pot and it exploded into fine sand, "had to take you away."
"Roland," Storm said, she stretched out an arm, hoping to touch him and get him under control. "Please stop this, your hurting yourself."
"I know, I know, but-" He yelled out of anger again, kicking another pot. Again, there was nothing left except fine brown dust. "She left me, Storm," Roland stopped and looked up at her, his eyes filled with tears. "She left me when I needed her the most." Storm took Roland in a hug, and gave him a shoulder to cry on.
"There, there," she said quietly, comforting him to the best that she could. "It's alright, Roland, everything will be alright." She stood there for a bit before the professor came out.
"What happened?" Professor X asked. As he was the only to come out, it was evident to Roland that he asked everyone else to go back to their rooms.
"I don't know, professor," Storm replied, "he came out here and yelled at us, made my storm dissipate, and snapped. What's wrong with him?"
"A great deal of things," The professor said, "Help get him back to his room, he needs sleep." Kurt walked over to Roland and touched his arm. In a moment he was gone with a small pop and the smell of brimstone. Kurt appeared again with another pop, and more brimstone. "Thank you, Kurt." Professor X turned his chair and pointed inward. "Please come in, we need to talk."
I stand at Crossroads
Author's Note: "I stand at the crossroads of life, and I walk the path less taken." Chronos the Fallen Angel
In a review I was asked who Roland was. Though I do not want to give up any more info on him, yet, this chapter will get you to know what happened to him, a bit of his past. I did tell one person but as I told them, it is important to the story. Again anything created by Marvel Comics, and Ms. Rowlings, is theirs.
Again, please R&R this story and my other one. It is being postponed for now until this one is finished, part of the reason is that this story will contain some of the ideas from that one. And now to continue with Harry's experience.
* * * * * *
Harry looked around the room, seeing the people who stood within its boundaries. Two men sat at the controls of the room. From what Harry saw they were in a plane and these men were the ones controlling it. There were three teenagers in the seats behind the men. A boy and a girl sat together, the girl resting on his shoulder. Harry couldn't see the other boy very well. He looked behind him and saw the men who attacked the Grangers house; hatred filled his heart when he laid eyes on the beast that killed the Grangers. In the back over a medical bed was a beast of a man. He covered up what looked like a black haired man. Sirius, was the thought that came into his head. Everyone in the room was wearing black uniforms that were identical, save the Professor and one boy. The professor was in a suit, and the one boy had a sleeveless less shirt on, as he had an arm lying out in the aisle.
"Ahem," the bald man in the wheel chair said. Harry looked back at him. "I am Professor Xavier, and these people aboard are my students."
"Even those who killed the Grangers?" Harry said, he turned and looked at the beast, he was heavily shackled.
"No, they are the Brotherhood of Mutant," Professor X replied. "But for some odd reason, I doubt that all of them were responsible for the death of the Grangers."
"How can you say that? All of them are-"
"Relax Harry," a man came limping up to the side of Professor X. He was holding his side, his right hand covered in blood. His breathing was shallow and often he sounded as if he was wheezing. His black bangs hid his eyes. "What the professor means is that two of them had nothing to do with the death of the Grangers; isn't that right, Professor?" he was using the professor's wheel chair to hold up his weight.
"Yes, Roland," he replied, "But you shouldn't be up. The amount of damage you sustained and the energy you lost is unimaginable."
"So," Roland said. He began to cough; in his left hand was a black handkerchief. He quickly covered his mouth. "This can't," he coughed some more, "be good." He looked back up at Harry. "Harry, take her back to Hank, he'll help her."
Harry just nodded; Roland had this presence around him. He felt like he had known Roland all his life. But he quickly dismissed the notion that was impossible; Harry had just met his man. He turned around and walked back to the man who Roland had pointed to. "Hello," Hank said. He pushed the body of the dead man aside, and made room for Hermione.
"Excuse me, sir," Harry said, "Who is that?" he pointed to the man underneath the blanket. But he knew the answer. It was Sirius.
"I don't know," Hank replied, "I believe that it was you who told me to bring him for help." With his giant hand, he removed the sheet and showed Harry who it was. Despite already knowing the truth, Harry was shocked to see his Godfather lying there died. The man noticed the look on his face. "Do you know the man?"
"Yes," Harry said, holding back the tears. He was careful as he placed Hermione onto the bed. "He was my Godfather." But the tears came; Harry brushed them aside with the back of his hand.
"I'm sorry," Hank placed on arm on Harry's shoulder. "I wish that we could've done something but-"
"There was nothing that you could've have done, sir," Harry replied. He wiped the last tear way. "Now, can you help Hermione?"
"I believe so," He gave a reassuring smile, and pulled out a small bag from underneath the table. "My, she has been through a lot." He lifted up her eyes and looked at them with a flashlight. "What happened?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Harry replied.
"Okay." Hank looked down at Harry. The man was towering over both him and Hermione, about 6 feet 5. "Well, it couldn't have been too bad. At most she has a few broken, maybe only bruised, ribs, and a fractured leg. There are some cuts and bruises on her face and on her back, but nothing serious." Harry was surprised at what happened.
"That can't be true," Harry nearly fell down. This was impossible, she was beaten near death, but this man was saying that she was alright. The man must have helped her out a lot then. But a chair was there to catch him. A black one at them.
"Roland!" Harry heard the professor's voice say. He looked back to see the crippled man pointing a hand at Harry. His black hair was flying around, and his bangs rose above his eyes. And he finally saw what was beneath Roland's bangs, nothing. His left hand was still being used to hold up his body.
"You," Harry said, pointing a finger at him. "You're the one who-"
"Brought you here, who save Hermione," Roland replied. He closed his eyes again, obvious in pain. "I had no choice; I had to save all of us." The jet shook violently. "Oh shit." He said and turned around. Roland limped as fast as he could up to the cockpit.
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked.
"Not now, Harry is it," hank said, "strap you and Hermione in. I don't want anyone more deaths today." Hank ran off toward the front. "Better yet, Harry, bring her up here, we have enough seats for both of you."
Harry simply nodded; he picked up Hermione again, and carried over the seats. He pasted Hank was working on removing the professor from his wheel chair and getting him into a seat. He was careful with her, as she had been through enough that night, Harry didn't want her to go through anymore than she had to.
Everyone set," Roland said. No one replied. "That's a yes." He had taken a seat at the pilot's seat, the man had moved back to another seat.
"So sure you know what you're doing, kid," the other man asked. He was smoking a cigar as far as Harry could smell.
"Logan, put that out," the professor said from his seat. The man grumbled in seat and Harry smelt something was burning. He didn't se the man move to put in an ash tray.
"You don't have to do that, you know," Roland said, he didn't look at the man though. From his seat all the way in the back, he could see wires coming out from him head and arm, attaching them to the computer. A rather large snake like wire came from his hand, and inserted itself into the mainframe. "Computer, give me a complete diagnosis." The room was silent for a moment. "Not good, not good," he said.
"What's wrong?" the boy asked.
"Quiet, Bobby," Roland snapped. "That's great." The sarcasm was just dripping off his words. "Now to answer your question, Bobby. We've lost thruster, and are running on basic impulse. The engine is nearly shut down, either from over working it, or it was hit when we were attack, probably both. Despite upgrading the shielding and adding the cloaking device, we've been seen. The thermal generator is down, as is the cloaking device, probable the tri-systems' energy feed, -"
"English, boy," Logan said.
"We're in deep shit," he said. "Hold on tight." He pushed forward on the controls, and the plane pulled up. Slowly, Roland leveled out the plane.
"Don't do that again," Logan said, staring at Roland.
"I can't help it, if we want to get out of here alive." Roland turned the ship again, trying to dodge something. "We've got problems."
"What's happening?" Professor asked. Now Harry was getting worried. Something was chasing the plane. And it was clear that Roland was having a hard time evading it. The plane started to go into a dive. But Roland's hands weren't on the controls. Instead, from what Harry saw, he had a keyboard in his lap. Roland was typing something. Harry reached for Hermione's hand and lightly rubbed it.
"Well, I don't know," he said calmly. He continued to type as the jet swerved right and left. Harry noticed purple balls of light pass the ship as it moved. "Damn it." He threw the keyboard onto the ground. The ship dodged another attack.
"Watch your tongue," the professor said, sternly. But Harry noticed a smile on his face.
"Professor," Roland said, he was looking down at the controls. "Yell at me if you will, but I need to do what I need to do." His black mist formed around him. Roland pointed his hand forward out the window. "'I stand at the crossroads of life and I walk the path less taken.'"
"Roland, NO!" the professor yelled, he tried to grab Roland, but his seat belt held him back. It was too late. A large black oval had appeared in front of the ship, and the jet flew right into it.
For a moment, Harry could see nothing. All he could feel was Hermione's hand, how warm it felt to him, how soothing it was. God how he wished he could have that feeling for ever.
Suddenly there was light again. The entire cockpit was quiet and you could hear the birds outside chirping. Harry looked up and noticed why it was so quiet. Roland was collapsed onto the ground, smoke coming off his body.
Hank quickly jumped out of his seat and picked dup the body. Logan hit a button on the controls and the jet landed itself. The hatch opened up and Hank leaped out, not taking one step. "Logan," the professor said, "You too Scott, I want you inside and make sure that the students are okay." The brown-haired man nodded, he adjusted his glasses and ran off. Logan ran off right behind him. "Bobby, Rogue," he said. The two teenagers nodded. "Send word to Storm and Kurt, we'll need them here." They ran off too. The professor pressed a button on his seat and Harry watched as his wheel chair came flying over to him.
"Professor," Harry said politely. "What about me and Hermione?" they were still seated.
"Ah, yes," Professor X said, "Please follow me." Harry unbuckled Hermione and picked her up. If out of instinct, she moved her head right into his chest. Harry smiled. He loved how she felt in his arms. It was like heaven to him. But Harry had other things he needed to do right now. He didn't matter as much as she did. He followed the wheel-chair ridden professor out of the jet. He noticed that they were in what looked like a hanger.
"Professor, where are we," he asked.
"We are at my school for the gift. The professors here and I work our best to help those in, Harry." The professor wheeled himself over to a door the opened the moment it sensed him. Harry had to move to quickly to catch up with this old man. "And everyone here is gifted. Including you and Hermione."
"Gifted, how?" Harry asked. He turned to corner to see the professor enter a room. Harry followed him in.
"We are all mutants Harry," Professor X said. Harry stopped where he was standing. No this can't be happening, it just can't,, he thought. Why us, why me?
'Harry,' a voice rang in his mind, it sounded like Professor X's, 'We have no control who this happens to it, just does.'
"How-how did you do that?" Harry asked. The professor turned himself around.
"That is my gift, Harry," he replied. "I am considered to be the world's greatest telepath."
"Then how did you know that Hermione and I are mutants," Harry continued to question him. "We didn't even know."
"That will all be explained in do time, Harry," Professor X said, "for now, let's attend to Hermione's needs." He turned himself back around. "This way to our infirmary." Harry followed the bald man with caution, as he didn't believe him.
They reached the infirmary, and Harry saw Hank standing over Roland, he had wires connected to his chest, and the readings could be seen on the many monitors. "Professor, he isn't going to like us giving him help," Hank said.
"Then remove his arm," The professor said. Harry stared shocked at the man. "I doubt that he will get very far without it."
"Professor, how can you-" But Harry shut his mouth when he saw what they were doing. Hank pealed away some of the skin on Roland's shoulder. He noticed the metallic surface beneath it. Hank twisted the arm, and pulled it off, small pop echoed in the room. "Oh." Hank set the mechanical arm on the table.
"Roland is different," Professor X said, "About eight years ago; Roland was attacked and brutally mutilated. But I doubt that he'd like me telling this story." He turned around. "You can place Hermione down on the bed over there." He pointed to one of the beds in the room.
Harry stared at the professor with a moment of uncertainty, and then did as he was asked. Carefully, Harry laid Hermione onto the bed. "She'll have to stay here the night," Hank said, "for observations."
"I'm not leaving her," Harry said, he crossed his arms and stood his ground, adamant about staying.
Hank was about to protest, but Professor X held up his hand. "Harry," he said, "If you truly feel that way, I believe that we can move both of you to a more comfortable place." He turned around and motioned for him to follow him. Harry picked her back up and carried her out of the room. "I trust that you will make sure she stays off her feet if she wakes up before tomorrow."
"I won't allow anything to happen to her," Harry replied. In his arms, Harry held the greatest thing in the world to him.
"So I thought," Professor X said. He smiled but Harry didn't notice it. Harry looked around the hallway for the first time. The letter X was covering the doors, and so they opened that way. It was a silver hallway, made of metal and polished so that it shined. "Right this way, Harry." He pressed a button on the wall, and one of the doors opened up. Inside it was white with a small light on the ceiling. "Don't worry, it's just an elevator." Harry cautiously entered it.
They rode it up to the second level. From what Harry saw, it looked more like a mansion then anything else. "This way please," Professor X said, he turned his wheel chair around and went down another hallway. Harry looked down it for a moment before leaving the elevator. He followed the professor down the hallway and stopped at the door. "You two can have this room for now, Harry," the professor opened the door. Harry looked in the room. There were two beds, close to each other. The room wasn't decorated much, probably a guest room that was rarely used.
"Thank you, sir," Harry replied. He walked in and set Hermione down on one of the beds.
"The only thing that I ask you is to come and see me tomorrow morning, alright." Harry looked over at the Professor for a moment, before he returned his gaze to Hermione.
"Yes, sir," Harry said politely. He took a seat on her bed, right by her side. Harry heard the professor's wheel chair leave the hallway, as well the door closing. But his eyes never left Hermione. Finally it hit him hard. Despite the exhausting night, Harry had been wide awake, and could have been. But now, he had a hard time keeping his eyes open. Harry yawned and walked over to the other bed. He took off his dirty and torn shirt and placed it on the bed's end. He climbed into the covers and feel into a deep peaceful sleep.
* * * * * * *
Roland lay back down on the table, his only arm left pointed straight up; he was exhausted too. But Harry need the rest more then him. "You shouldn't be doing that," Hank said to him.
"Can it, Doc," Roland replied. "And give me back my arm. You know how I feel about it." He held his head. "Damn headache."
"We have aspirin for that," Hank said, "But I know the way you feel."
"Thank you at least someone realizes why I do this." He was so tired; the day's events took so much out of him. But Roland had more work to do. "I've got more work to do, so give me back my arm." He sat up; swing his legs over the side of the table.
"Roland, what you need to do is rest, the amount of energy you spent-" Professor X said, he came rolling in.
"I know, professor," Roland said, he jumped down off the table. "But my work is never done." He hadn't worn his sunglasses in so long that his eyes were beginning to hurt. But he smiled his sly smile, the one that had gotten what he wanted so many times. Suddenly his knee gave out on him. "Blasted thing." He said, he summoned a small black pillar under his right hand to help him get up.
"Roland, that's enough," the professor said. He pointed a hand at him, and focused. 'Sleep is what you need, so lie down and sleep.'
Roland felt the hands of sleep grabbed, his eye lids became heavier. He lay back down on the table, and crossed his hands over his chest. Professor X wheeled himself over to Dr. Hank McCoy. "How is he?" he asked.
"A punctured lung, a few broken ribs, a concussion, and that wound he had earlier was cut into again," Hank picked up a piece of stone. "This is what I found in it."
"Dear lord," the professor took the piece of stone from the doctor. "What happened today?"
"Well, we'll have to wait 'cause Roland made Harry induced sleep upon our dear guests," Hank took the piece back.
"Hank, you of all, people should know that he spent over his limit today. He can't just go around and do things like this."
Hank laughed. "While you were gone, he said that 'life is to slow for us to do nothing, we must speed it up and help those we can.'"
"Despite all his problems, he chooses other over himself, interesting. That might have something to do with him visiting the east before he came here." Professor X wheeled himself over to the table. Roland was breathing with much effort. "He still refuses help."
"Sadly, yes," Hank said. "He claims that the medicine would disrupt his ecosystem. But I highly doubt that."
"He doesn't trust them, that's all, Hank," Professor X said. "Come, I doubt he'll move, let alone awake, until tomorrow morning, so let him sleep." The professor placed a hand on the Hank and led him out of the room. Roland opened his eyes the moment the professor left and sat up. A smile was on his face.
* * * * * * Author's Note: I'm going to try something here. For the next few passages, I'm going to go over the same period of time, just through three different perspectives: Harry's, Hermione's and Roland's. This will help characterize them better, making them seem more real, in the case of Roland. So let's see if it works. Review to tell me what you think. If you like it, I'll do it more often. Probably with these characters, maybe one more.
* * * * * *
Harry woke up to hear a rather large thunderstorm over head. He looked over to the window and saw a large flash out side, them the thunder boomed overhead. The entire room was dark, and when the lightning hit, Harry saw the figure of a girl standing up. "Hermione?" he said, jumping to his feet. She immediately hugged his waist. "My god," Harry said. She was still wearing her cloths from yesterday's attack. She seemed so much smaller then a week ago, so much lighter. Despite that, Harry thought that she was beautiful as every. He knew that she was probably still hurting from what occurred, and despite that she hugged him tighter. It was evident that she was scared about something; her beautiful brown hair was buried in his bear chest. "Shh, it's alright. I won't let anything happen to you."
"No, no, it's not that," she replied. Lightning split the sky outside and then the thunder boomed. Hermione tried to pull herself even closer to his bare chest. "It the thunder storms. I-I" the lightning cracked the sky again, and only a moment past before the thunder came and Hermione hugged Harry even harder. You've been through so much, Hermione, he thought, I just wish that I could have stopped it before it happened. Harry heard her weeping in his chest; he felt the tears run down it.
"It's alright," Harry, said, as comforting as he could, "thunderstorms can be scary. I'm even worried about this one." The way she felt in arms was heaven, and to see heaven like this was heartbreaking.
Hermione looked up at Harry with her puppy-dog blue eyes. God how he wished he could see them. The lightning cracked again, giving just enough light for Harry to see what damage Steven had done. Hermione, he thought. What has he done to you? She buried her head back into his chest just as the thunder boomed, squeaking like a mouse. She finally spoke again. "The great Harry Potter scared?" he had to smile at that.
"That's the Hermione I know," Harry said; he softly began to rub her brown hair. How he loved the way she felt against his body. It was like she was warming him up. "And yes, I do get scared. It's not just for a storm."
"Really, when?" Hermione looked up at Harry again, but he didn't stop running his fingers through her hair. He loved the way it felt between his fingers.
"Today," Harry replied. "When I saw you being." he paused for a moment, thinking of his word, "hurt, I was so scared that you wouldn't be alright. But here you are, with me." He smiled down at her with his reassuring smile.
"Thanks," she replied. She smiled back at him, and it sent chills down his spine to see such beauty. "Can we sit down?" Hermione placed her head back in his chest. She still hadn't let him go, holding him tighter then before. She was still shaking from fear. Harry didn't know whether or not it was because of the storm, or because of Steven.
"Sure," Harry said, he looked behind him for a moment, and sat down on his bed. Hermione pulled her legs up and curled up in his lap. They sat there for a while, Hermione trembling from fear every time the thunder boomed overhead. The storm was closer, the lightning more frequent. He slowly rocked the beauty that was in arms. Hermione, you've grown so much, from the cute bookworm to a beautiful friend. After what seemed like forever, he finally said, "better?"
She looked up at him, and smiled. "Yeah, but can I stay with you, tonight? I just don't want to be alone."
"No problem, 'Mione," he said; he didn't know that she was blushing from his little pet name. His arms were still were still around her. He lifted up one of them, and pointed down at the edge of the bed. He didn't like letting go of her, but it was cold, and getting colder. "Can you grab the covers down there?" She let go of him and grabbed them. As he lay down, she pulled them over them. "Thanks."
"It is getting cold," Hermione, said, he could tell that she was smiling. She curled up next to him, laying on one arm and the other around his waist. Harry pulled her up so that she was resting on his shoulder. She wasn't shaking as much as before, but still the thundering was getting louder and louder.
Hermione's breathing became softer, and more relaxed. "Hermione," Harry said.
"Hmmmm?" she replied. She was almost asleep.
"I love you," he said, and kissed her forehead. He closed his eyes and began to fall asleep.
Before Harry fell into his deep sleep he'd sworn that he heard Roland's voice yelling. "That damn weather witch," Harry could hear Roland limp on along the floor, "Blowing out the power circuits again." If out of instinct, Hermione moved closer to Harry. For a moment, Harry thought that she was awake again, but no, Hermione was still happily asleep. She must have thought that the voice was Steven's, Harry thought. "How many times do I have." and Roland's voice trailed off.
Harry relaxed again, and fell into his deep sleep, content on having Hermione by his side. Both of them slept dreamless sleeps, peaceful and quiet.
* * * * * *
When Hermione woke up, she had no clue where she was, and then the thunder cracked. She nearly jumped out of the bed she was in. How she hated thunderstorms, they always scared her. She stood up and felt the pain in her legs. It hurt to breathe, and she had a hard time seeing. Then it returned to her, what had happened that day, or night. Hermione didn't know what time or day it was.
The thunder boomed overhead, the storm was getting closer. Hermione began to shake from the fear. Just let the storm end, she thought. The boy in the bed next to her woke up. "Hermione?" he said and stood up. She knew that it was Harry's voice immediately. Despite the pain in her ribs, Hermione hugged Harry. In his gentle soothing voice, he said, "Shh, it's alright. I won't let anything happen to you." Harry had grown since she last saw him. He felt so much bigger, stronger. Hermione loved the way his body felt, almost like it was giving off its own warmth.
"No, no it's not that," she replied. The thunder cracked again, Hermione whimpered slightly, hoping that Harry didn't hear it. "It's the thunderstorm. I-I" The thunder cracked. She pulled herself closer to Harry, and buried her head in his chest. Harry, you've grown so much, she thought, you've turned into a handsome young man. Her rational side wasn't thinking. All Hermione cared about was that in Harry's arms, she felt safe. Steven can't get me here, she thought, and began to cry into his well-developed chest.
"It's alright," he said, Hermione could tell that he was trying to comfort her, "thunderstorms can be scary. I'm even worried about it."
She had to laugh inside. Oh, Harry, always the gentleman, she thought. Hermione looked up at Harry, hoping to see his beautiful emerald eyes. The storm was getting closer, and the lightning more frequent. The lightning cracked and Harry looked down at her. Damn you, Steven. Finally, she said. "The Great Harry Potter, scared?"
"That's the Hermione I know," Harry, said; he softly rubbed her head. It felt like a massage, and chills ran down her spine it felt so good. How much she loved the way his body felt. His chest was just enough defined that it was perfect. "And yes, I do get scared. It's not just for the storm."
"Really, when?" she looked back up at him, and she was thankful that he didn't stop running his fingers through her hair.
"Today," he said. "When you were being." he paused for a moment. She was so thankful that he thought about his words, "hurt, I was so scared that you wouldn't be alright. But here you are, with me." He smiled down with his reassuring smile.
"Thanks," Hermione replied. "Can we sit down?" She rested her head back on his chest. She didn't want to let go of him. He felt so warm, and she felt so safe in his arms. The thunder was still cracking, and she was still shaking.
"Sure," Harry said, he looked behind him and sat down. She pulled her legs up onto the bed, and curled up in his lap. They sat there for a while, not talking. Harry was rocking her back and forth, trying to calm her down. She had stopped shaking as often, but like a scared puppy dog, she did so every once in awhile. Finally Harry said, "Better?"
She picked her head up and looked at him. "Yeah, but can I stay with you, tonight? I just don't want to be alone."
"No problem, 'Mione," he said, she blushed at his little pet name. He removed an arm from her for just a second, and she felt like something glorious was missing from her life. The room was much colder now without his touch. "Can you grab the covers down there?" Hermione looked down where he was pointing; the covers were all the way at the foot of the bed. She pulled them up, and cover both her and Harry as they laid down. "Thanks."
"It is getting cold," Hermione said, she gave him a sweet smile and curled up next to him. She laid an arm over his stomach. He shifted so that her head was on his shoulder. She had stopped shaking, with Harry next to her, there was no reason to fear, she thought. Slowly, Hermione fell asleep. She could've sworn Harry said something to her, but Hermione was too tired to catch it or respond. His touch was soothing and with him, she had no dreams of the demon she called Steven.
* * * * * *
Roland woke up a few hours after Professor X and Beast left. His internal clock was never off and it read 11 o'clock. He groaned from sleeping on the bed, it killed his back. Ever since the attack eight years ago, Roland had a hard time sleeping anywhere. The bed he used was specially made for him.
He sat up and stretched his one arm. He looked over to the stump on his left shoulder. "Damn you beast," he said. He looked around the room. Despite the darkness, Roland saw clear as day. The limited light was suited more for him, as his pupils received more data on less. Even with his mechanical one, it still hurt for him to see without his sunglasses. He had to hide the red lens of it by covering both his eyes with the black film. But, Roland thought, I should be thankful. Without my alteration, I would be blind. He smiled at his own genius.
Thunder crashed overhead, Roland looked up. "Damn it," he said. The lights flickered and Roland tried to cover his eyes from the brightness. Even for a second, the lights gave him a massive headache. "Great, a power surge." He got up and nearly fell down again. "Just another thing to go wrong." Roland stood up the best he could and summoned a cane from the shadows. Quickly, he scanned the room with his mechanical eye, looking for the identical signature that his arm gave off.
"Great, just great," he limped out of the room. The thunder crashed again. "Beast, you SOB, you took my arm." He limped down the hallway toward the elevator. "Can anything else go wrong?" Roland said out of habit, sarcasm was his forte when he was upset. He pressed the button to open the elevator door, and another power surge went through the systems.
The control panel exploded and Roland was thrown back against the other wall. His face was that of pain and anger. He sat there for a moment, thinking how he could get up to the middle level and fix the circuit breakers. He yelled out of anger and threw a black lightning bolt at the wall. It exploded into fine sand. Roland smiled, his powers of course, how could he be such an idiot. He stood up carefully; his left eye was now fried.
"Crap." He released the cane; it hung in the air, and removed his eye. Roland held the little mechanism in his hand and stared at for a moment before smashing it out anger. His black aura formed around him and soon Roland was rising in the air, going through the school's levels until he reached the second floor. There, he stood and walked off toward the balcony.
Almost blind, a cripple and with one arm, Roland was furious. "That damn weather witch," he grumbled loudly. "Blowing out the power circuits again." He walked pasted Harry's room without even knowing it, where he felt a power feeling in there, more powerful then any he'd encounter. But he didn't stop to look; he had a bone to pick with someone. "How many times do I have to rewire this school? Every time you come and go, Storm." He reached the end and pushed open the doors.
"Storm!" Roland yelled up into the sky. He shook his fist at the storm. "Get your ass in gear and get down here." The lightning cracked then the thunder boomed. "You don't scare me get down here." The rain was coming down hard, and flattened his hair. Usually his long hair was greased back, as to stay out of his eyes. Now, it was hanging on his shoulders. "I said," his voice was over that off the storm itself. "GET DOWN HERE!" Roland didn't notice but two large black angel-like wings were coming out of his back.
A gust of wind followed his voice and caused the storm to dissipate. Roland stood on the balcony and watched as two figures fell from the sky only to disappear in the air. They appeared seconds later next to the drenched Roland. "Don't you take that tone with me young man," a woman said as she walked over to him. She was an African-American, and had pure white hair. "I'm still a teacher here." The skies were clearing up, and showing the full moon that was hidden by the clouds.
"Roland," a man spoke with a German accent, "you must-" Roland reached out with his good arm and picked up the man off the ground. He tightened his hold on the man's neck.
"Don't tell me what to do, Kurt," he spoke through his teeth. "And don't give me that crap about God. God doesn't care about us. If he did, then why did this happen?" he pointed his stub at Kurt. The main disappeared from his grip with a small pop, and appeared next to the woman. Roland felt something hit his cheek just before Kurt disappeared. "And keep that damned tail of yours under control."
"Sorry," Kurt said, "it just has a mind of its own sometimes."
"Roland," the woman said, "You need to sleep."
"No," he replied, turned his back and began to pace. "What I need is for people to stop dying." Despite the pain in his knee he continued on.
"What happened?" Kurt asked. They were clearly left out of the circle of information.
"Three people," he didn't stop pacing. "Three people," he looked up at the woman and Kurt. "Do you know what that feels like, Storm? No." he started to pace the balcony again. "Of course you don't. You'll never know."
"Roland, I think you need to see the professor," Storm said, walking over to him cautiously. Every professor knew the power that Roland had and they were all careful about how they acted around him. Especially after her death.
"No I don't," Roland snapped, he didn't look up, just continued to pace. "You know, Trish," he said. Kurt gave Storm a confused look. She mouthed to him 'girlfriend' and he immediately understood. "It would have been a lot easier if you were here. Then I wouldn't have to do this alone. But no, that damned God of yours," he kicked a pot and it exploded into fine sand, "had to take you away."
"Roland," Storm said, she stretched out an arm, hoping to touch him and get him under control. "Please stop this, your hurting yourself."
"I know, I know, but-" He yelled out of anger again, kicking another pot. Again, there was nothing left except fine brown dust. "She left me, Storm," Roland stopped and looked up at her, his eyes filled with tears. "She left me when I needed her the most." Storm took Roland in a hug, and gave him a shoulder to cry on.
"There, there," she said quietly, comforting him to the best that she could. "It's alright, Roland, everything will be alright." She stood there for a bit before the professor came out.
"What happened?" Professor X asked. As he was the only to come out, it was evident to Roland that he asked everyone else to go back to their rooms.
"I don't know, professor," Storm replied, "he came out here and yelled at us, made my storm dissipate, and snapped. What's wrong with him?"
"A great deal of things," The professor said, "Help get him back to his room, he needs sleep." Kurt walked over to Roland and touched his arm. In a moment he was gone with a small pop and the smell of brimstone. Kurt appeared again with another pop, and more brimstone. "Thank you, Kurt." Professor X turned his chair and pointed inward. "Please come in, we need to talk."