AUTHORS NOTE: My apologises if my writing isn't up to scratch at the
moment, I'm trying but my writing feels blocky at the moment, I can't think
of a better way to describe it. Oh and Thank You to my reviewers!!!
~*~
Rogue was a little shocked when she arrived at the office of the headmaster and found him and several of the sixth year students waiting for the mutant congregation. Her eyes had flicked to Harry's; standing beside Dumbledore as she remembered that he had once mentioned in passing that Dumbledore seemed to know everything that happened within Hogwarts as soon as it happened. Or of course he could have just realised that the mutants might be feeling a little uncomfortable with none of their own teachers yet to arrive at the school, or maybe just that the mutants would need a place, a dormitory of their own eventually since they couldn't be sorted into the schools pre-existing houses, and couldn't remain as guests permanently, or the people waiting in the office could have nothing to do with what she and the other mutants where there to discuss.
Too many Or's...she thought
"Ah, I've been expecting you" the headmaster stated, directing his attention towards Ariel who was standing a little ahead of Bobby and Rogue. "I assume you're here in concern to arranging a suitable dormitory for you and your fellow students from Professor Xavier's School?" One of his eyebrows quirked a little at the last part of the sentence
At a slight nod from Ariel, whom Rogue guessed was as speechless as she was, he continued, "I thought once you had all gotten settled you might desire something along those lines, so I've been taking the liberty of speaking with some of my own students" his eyes flickered between Harry, Lavender, the pug faced Slytherin girl and two Ravenclaws before settling back on Ariel
"And they have suggested that not being wizards, or British" A smile seemed to tweak his lips at that point "That comfortable arrangements might differ...for you, and so a rather interesting suggestion has been proposed by Ms Parkinson -" Indicating Pug-face "- that you should not only be given a dormitory, but also the liberty of creating it yourself"
Rogue could feel her jaw drop at that, create a dormitory??? The school's built from solid stone isn't it?
"And I daresay that the school wouldn't mind a little creative redesigning in a few of the less used area's" Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling now, "So what do you think of this idea?"
It took a moment or two before any of them could respond. "Ah Professor Dumbledore, sir, a few mutants here can manipulate molecular structures, but I don't think any of them can manipulate it at the levels your talking sir" Ariel stated
Snickers, and some muffled laughter could be heard from the seated students causing Rogue to look at them. "Ah yes, well as to that I would of course give one or two responsible –"and he emphasized responsible " – students the keys to manipulating a limited area of Hogwarts to aid in this endeavour" he finished
But looking as if he was reconsidering what he'd said he added "Perhaps, if you did not object the keys could be given to one mutant, and one wizard?"
Ariel glanced back at Rogue and Bobby, but she was just as confused as he was about the 'keys' and being able to manipulate the castles structure, something magical no doubt and having one of the wizards participating would probable keep them from doing something too bad, so she just shrugged and he turned back.
"Ah, sure" Ariel said a little uncertainly "Um, just a couple of questions though," At Dumbledore's nod he continued, "What exactly are these key things, how do we use them, and I suppose where and when can we get started?"
Rogue noted with interest that the Hogwarts Students were suddenly paying more attention now as the smiling headmaster explained "The keys are a kind of magical energy bestowed upon the headmaster of the school that gives him or her the ability to act as an extension of the school, and when its needed to change the schools structure. Though it's not something to be used lightly and generally not at all"
"The keys that you shall be given are copies that will only affect a limited area of the school and will dissipate from you in seventy-two hours, so you will have that long to create your own area, so I'd suggest not wasting it. When the keys are active they should for the most part respond to your thoughts, and as to when you should start, why not now? You three are the elected delegates for the mutant population currently residing here, and so I'd assume have the authority to make decisions?"
Again Ariel couldn't do more then nod.
Still Smiling, and now with a twinkle in his eyes Dumbledore went on "As I will be entrusting you with a great, if temporary ability I'd ask that you indulge me in allowing me to select Ms Rogue and Ms Brown to be the wielders of the key, I've found the school to be more receptive to a females touch...which could explain the majority of headmasters to headmistresses..." the last sounded more like he was talking to himself then anyone else in the room.
Taking their silence for consent Dumbledore went on once more "I would also be most appreciative if you allowed the students here to observe the process of creation, just to help you avoid anything that the school would obviously not condo-"
"What? You won't be there???" Harry exclaimed in surprise, drawing the room's attention to him
If it was possible Rogue would have sworn that the Professor's smile had grown "No Harry, I won't be there, I have other pressing matters to attend to, but I'm sure a few of your Professors will stop by from time to time. It's a rare opportunity to see the keys in use"
"Now if Miss Brown and Ms Rogue will kindly kneel down?"
As they did, he removed his wand and placed it against his chest, murmuring some words that were inaudible to the room. A silverish glow, tinted with green, gold and blue began to swirl in dizzying patterns about him.
Placing his wand against the two girls foreheads in turn and once again speaking so that he could not be heard, the colours swirling around him began to spiral out to include Rogue and Lavender.
Rogue felt them flow around her, slipping into sync with the beat of her heart, with the ebb of her energy as they slowly began to merge with her. A rush burned through her body, she felt hot and cold simultaneously, it was a nauseating experience as the last of the swirls flowed into her, time seemed to rush ahead of and slow down at the same time. Her eyes flashing a mix of colours as the energy, the key, melted into her own energy and found a place to reside with in her mutancy. Oddly it left a chocolaty taste in her mouth.
Vaguely Rogue noticed Bobby's hand on her shoulder, steadying her, "How do you feel?" he asked
Pondering the question, she felt incredibly, she could feel the stone around her, the magic infusing the school and its grounds. Such an ancient and immense thing, it made her feel insignificant, like an ant.
She ignored his question and asked, "Where'd the Headmaster go?"
"To his pressing engagements," Harry stated "You and Lavender have been out of it for while, Dumbledore said that was to be expected, he also told us to take you and any other mutant that wants a say in the construction to your allocated area" he explained "And not to waste time as your mutancy might absorb the key faster then it should"
"He also told us to tell the two of you," one of the Ravenclaws said, "Not to abuse they keys...or do anything...slytherin like" her lips twisted into a smile at the, giving a long pointed look to the pug-faced girl who Rogue noticed was looking a little sour.
For a few moments after that everyone just sat there looking around until the other Ravenclaw spoke up "Well? C'mon, we wanna see these key things in actions" And with that she charged out of the room, obviously expecting them to follow.
~*~
Nearly five hours after first entering Dumbledore's office Rogue found herself within a space about half the size of the Gryffindor common room, somewhere on the east side of the school. At first she'd been wondering how the hell such a small space would serve for all of the mutants currently in the school, and the ones still trickling in.
It didn't take her long to work it out.
"When Professor Dumbledore said we'd be able to alter the school it didn't really sink in," she breathed out, as she visualized the room expanding. The walls beginning to flow outwards, almost as if water was running along them; they shimmered
Rogue wasn't the only one impressed with the 'keys'; the Hogwarts students were standing in awe as the room shifted its state, as were the mutants, the 'Congregation having expanded to fifteen in total, when the word had spread that they would be able to create their own dorm a selection of mutations with varying tastes that more or less represented all the mutants currently in the school had found their way to the allocated area for a meeting on the general design.
An interesting meeting to say the least...Rogue thought to herself
"So what do you reckon?" Rogue asked "Do you think if we triple the size we already have, it should be enough for a 'common room'" she emphasized common room because it had quickly been decided that the area was going to become much too American for those words to apply, just the thought brought a grin to her face. The Mutants Dorm was going to be very different from the rest of Hogwarts.
At several enthusiastic nods Rogue linked hands with Lavender, needing the combined efforts of the two to create the larger changes to the area, something that had taken a very frustrating hour to learn.
The room expanded outwards once more, tripling in size, but Rogue was already visualizing the smaller details, twin wooden staircases formed either side of an emerging balcony that over looked the room. Continuing to visualize it, she felt dozens of individual rooms forming, creating upper and lower levels from the room she was currently in, the staircases now flowing into and beneath the floor to a lower level of rooms.
No one else in the room being able to see what she had done aside from Lavender, it fell to her to ask what was going on with so many rooms.
It was a grinning Ariel who responded, "We're spoilt stuck up American brats who feel that a little...or a lot...of luxury suits us" he was wearing a broad grin as he spoke "So along those lines we've decided a room each, or if we get pressed for space a room between two"
"And Rogue?" Bobby chipped in "The fire place?"
With a slight growl of irritation she formed an image of an enormous fireplace across the room from where the entrance would eventually be placed. The fireplace was set in marble and stone, draped in red, white and blue with a series of stars and other little symbols littering it.
She hadn't personally wanted the fireplace but had been outvoted eight to seven, Bobby being the deciding vote. Traitor...she thought, but not with a lot of energy.
A wild grin spawned upon her face as the ground beneath the students became a plush carpet, alternating between a series of colours, luxurious chairs seemed to grow from the floors, settling themselves around the fireplace, and edges of the room, some with small tables between them like a casual café setting for friends or groups to talk or work around.
At the suggestion of Harry, and a quick conference with the mutants and Hogwarts students portraits and other objects began to appear across the walls, as well as a wood setting. Coating the stonewalls to give the area an even more relaxed feel.
Rogue left it to Lavender, with the help of several mutants and wizards to disappear off into the individual rooms and set up some basic requirements like beds and dressers while she focused on forming four very lavish bathrooms, two downstairs, and two upstairs.
During the time of manipulating the general dormitory area Rogue hadn't noticed much else and was surprised when Bobby mentioned the amount of people, mutants, teachers and students that had been going in and out, observing her and Lavender at work.
The side affects of using the key were beginning to kick in so she settled into one of the sofa's by the fireplace to await the return of the other mutants it occurred to Rogue what was missing and with a little concentration a Pool Table emerged in a corner of the room.
"So exactly how big have you made this place?" Ariel asked
Yawning Rouge replied, "If everything's the way it should be this dormitory pretty much spans all the levels of Hogwarts, dungeons to a tower –"
She was cut off from saying anymore by the return of Lavender and her group.
"That's pretty much it all done" Lavender exclaimed "Who knew it could all be done this fast! Really, all that's left is the individual touches to each room"
"And the entrance" Harry put it.
With so little left to do, and all the large changes to Hogwarts done, the number of Hogwarts Students still in the 'mutant dorms' had reduced to just Lavender, Harry and another boy who had turned up during the process that had been introduced as Seamus.
"Yes, as to that" Ariel started "We've been wondering if there would be anything wrong with having...a few entrances, I mean there are quite a few levels"
The three Gryffindors just looked at each other for a moment before Harry responded, "I don't see why there would be"
Taken that as consent Rogue leapt up and crossed to the wall furthest from where she had just been sitting and placed a hand against it. She had been considering the entrance for a little while, and thought plain was best, enough people would know exactly where the dorm was already, so there would be no point showing them where the door was exactly.
With a smile she removed her hand and spoke aloud a password "Mutation's Refuge" And that was it.
From within the dormitory there was a simple archway to show where the exit existed, but on the other side there was nothing at all. Rogue had designed the door to seem like any other wall in the school, except for once the password was spoken a person would be able to walk right through it. Concentrating she felt her energy flow outwards through the walls to create four more entrances at various levels of the school – one of which lead directly outside from the ground and another from the roof.
Making her way back over to the couches, she dropped down into Bobby's lap, exhausted from what she had been doing for the last few hours, her body felt completely drained and she was lapsing into sleep as Harry, Lavender and Seamus left, the last thing she noticed was Lavender screwing up her eyes and the words Mutant Central scribing themselves across the archway.
~*~
A man walked through what had appeared to be a solid brick wall; it stirred an uneasy feeling in him. Walking through solid walls wasn't something that he generally, in fact he ever, did.
Muttering to himself he ran a hand back through the two tufts in his hair and looked down on the sleeping teens, even in the pitch black his keen eye sight could pick up the streak of white that identified the young girl as Rogue. The way the boy's arms protectively wrapped around her even in sleep named him Bobby.
He found his thoughts drifting as he watched the two, allowing his claws to slip back into his flesh and the skin to knit and heal. It had taken him much longer to reach the school of witchcraft and wizardry then he had expected, but finally he, the man with the adamantium skeleton, Wolverine, had arrived.
~*~
AUTHORS NOTE: Please don't shoot me, this chapter sucked so badly I know, and the little bit at the end with Wolverine, really really crap. But by my little list of stuff that was meant to happen in each chapter, I'm a chapter behind, and I thought at least one of the X-men should hurry up and arrive.
I admit, I am very much ashamed of this chapter, so why post it you may ask??? I felt I needed to get an update up...
~*~
Rogue was a little shocked when she arrived at the office of the headmaster and found him and several of the sixth year students waiting for the mutant congregation. Her eyes had flicked to Harry's; standing beside Dumbledore as she remembered that he had once mentioned in passing that Dumbledore seemed to know everything that happened within Hogwarts as soon as it happened. Or of course he could have just realised that the mutants might be feeling a little uncomfortable with none of their own teachers yet to arrive at the school, or maybe just that the mutants would need a place, a dormitory of their own eventually since they couldn't be sorted into the schools pre-existing houses, and couldn't remain as guests permanently, or the people waiting in the office could have nothing to do with what she and the other mutants where there to discuss.
Too many Or's...she thought
"Ah, I've been expecting you" the headmaster stated, directing his attention towards Ariel who was standing a little ahead of Bobby and Rogue. "I assume you're here in concern to arranging a suitable dormitory for you and your fellow students from Professor Xavier's School?" One of his eyebrows quirked a little at the last part of the sentence
At a slight nod from Ariel, whom Rogue guessed was as speechless as she was, he continued, "I thought once you had all gotten settled you might desire something along those lines, so I've been taking the liberty of speaking with some of my own students" his eyes flickered between Harry, Lavender, the pug faced Slytherin girl and two Ravenclaws before settling back on Ariel
"And they have suggested that not being wizards, or British" A smile seemed to tweak his lips at that point "That comfortable arrangements might differ...for you, and so a rather interesting suggestion has been proposed by Ms Parkinson -" Indicating Pug-face "- that you should not only be given a dormitory, but also the liberty of creating it yourself"
Rogue could feel her jaw drop at that, create a dormitory??? The school's built from solid stone isn't it?
"And I daresay that the school wouldn't mind a little creative redesigning in a few of the less used area's" Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling now, "So what do you think of this idea?"
It took a moment or two before any of them could respond. "Ah Professor Dumbledore, sir, a few mutants here can manipulate molecular structures, but I don't think any of them can manipulate it at the levels your talking sir" Ariel stated
Snickers, and some muffled laughter could be heard from the seated students causing Rogue to look at them. "Ah yes, well as to that I would of course give one or two responsible –"and he emphasized responsible " – students the keys to manipulating a limited area of Hogwarts to aid in this endeavour" he finished
But looking as if he was reconsidering what he'd said he added "Perhaps, if you did not object the keys could be given to one mutant, and one wizard?"
Ariel glanced back at Rogue and Bobby, but she was just as confused as he was about the 'keys' and being able to manipulate the castles structure, something magical no doubt and having one of the wizards participating would probable keep them from doing something too bad, so she just shrugged and he turned back.
"Ah, sure" Ariel said a little uncertainly "Um, just a couple of questions though," At Dumbledore's nod he continued, "What exactly are these key things, how do we use them, and I suppose where and when can we get started?"
Rogue noted with interest that the Hogwarts Students were suddenly paying more attention now as the smiling headmaster explained "The keys are a kind of magical energy bestowed upon the headmaster of the school that gives him or her the ability to act as an extension of the school, and when its needed to change the schools structure. Though it's not something to be used lightly and generally not at all"
"The keys that you shall be given are copies that will only affect a limited area of the school and will dissipate from you in seventy-two hours, so you will have that long to create your own area, so I'd suggest not wasting it. When the keys are active they should for the most part respond to your thoughts, and as to when you should start, why not now? You three are the elected delegates for the mutant population currently residing here, and so I'd assume have the authority to make decisions?"
Again Ariel couldn't do more then nod.
Still Smiling, and now with a twinkle in his eyes Dumbledore went on "As I will be entrusting you with a great, if temporary ability I'd ask that you indulge me in allowing me to select Ms Rogue and Ms Brown to be the wielders of the key, I've found the school to be more receptive to a females touch...which could explain the majority of headmasters to headmistresses..." the last sounded more like he was talking to himself then anyone else in the room.
Taking their silence for consent Dumbledore went on once more "I would also be most appreciative if you allowed the students here to observe the process of creation, just to help you avoid anything that the school would obviously not condo-"
"What? You won't be there???" Harry exclaimed in surprise, drawing the room's attention to him
If it was possible Rogue would have sworn that the Professor's smile had grown "No Harry, I won't be there, I have other pressing matters to attend to, but I'm sure a few of your Professors will stop by from time to time. It's a rare opportunity to see the keys in use"
"Now if Miss Brown and Ms Rogue will kindly kneel down?"
As they did, he removed his wand and placed it against his chest, murmuring some words that were inaudible to the room. A silverish glow, tinted with green, gold and blue began to swirl in dizzying patterns about him.
Placing his wand against the two girls foreheads in turn and once again speaking so that he could not be heard, the colours swirling around him began to spiral out to include Rogue and Lavender.
Rogue felt them flow around her, slipping into sync with the beat of her heart, with the ebb of her energy as they slowly began to merge with her. A rush burned through her body, she felt hot and cold simultaneously, it was a nauseating experience as the last of the swirls flowed into her, time seemed to rush ahead of and slow down at the same time. Her eyes flashing a mix of colours as the energy, the key, melted into her own energy and found a place to reside with in her mutancy. Oddly it left a chocolaty taste in her mouth.
Vaguely Rogue noticed Bobby's hand on her shoulder, steadying her, "How do you feel?" he asked
Pondering the question, she felt incredibly, she could feel the stone around her, the magic infusing the school and its grounds. Such an ancient and immense thing, it made her feel insignificant, like an ant.
She ignored his question and asked, "Where'd the Headmaster go?"
"To his pressing engagements," Harry stated "You and Lavender have been out of it for while, Dumbledore said that was to be expected, he also told us to take you and any other mutant that wants a say in the construction to your allocated area" he explained "And not to waste time as your mutancy might absorb the key faster then it should"
"He also told us to tell the two of you," one of the Ravenclaws said, "Not to abuse they keys...or do anything...slytherin like" her lips twisted into a smile at the, giving a long pointed look to the pug-faced girl who Rogue noticed was looking a little sour.
For a few moments after that everyone just sat there looking around until the other Ravenclaw spoke up "Well? C'mon, we wanna see these key things in actions" And with that she charged out of the room, obviously expecting them to follow.
~*~
Nearly five hours after first entering Dumbledore's office Rogue found herself within a space about half the size of the Gryffindor common room, somewhere on the east side of the school. At first she'd been wondering how the hell such a small space would serve for all of the mutants currently in the school, and the ones still trickling in.
It didn't take her long to work it out.
"When Professor Dumbledore said we'd be able to alter the school it didn't really sink in," she breathed out, as she visualized the room expanding. The walls beginning to flow outwards, almost as if water was running along them; they shimmered
Rogue wasn't the only one impressed with the 'keys'; the Hogwarts students were standing in awe as the room shifted its state, as were the mutants, the 'Congregation having expanded to fifteen in total, when the word had spread that they would be able to create their own dorm a selection of mutations with varying tastes that more or less represented all the mutants currently in the school had found their way to the allocated area for a meeting on the general design.
An interesting meeting to say the least...Rogue thought to herself
"So what do you reckon?" Rogue asked "Do you think if we triple the size we already have, it should be enough for a 'common room'" she emphasized common room because it had quickly been decided that the area was going to become much too American for those words to apply, just the thought brought a grin to her face. The Mutants Dorm was going to be very different from the rest of Hogwarts.
At several enthusiastic nods Rogue linked hands with Lavender, needing the combined efforts of the two to create the larger changes to the area, something that had taken a very frustrating hour to learn.
The room expanded outwards once more, tripling in size, but Rogue was already visualizing the smaller details, twin wooden staircases formed either side of an emerging balcony that over looked the room. Continuing to visualize it, she felt dozens of individual rooms forming, creating upper and lower levels from the room she was currently in, the staircases now flowing into and beneath the floor to a lower level of rooms.
No one else in the room being able to see what she had done aside from Lavender, it fell to her to ask what was going on with so many rooms.
It was a grinning Ariel who responded, "We're spoilt stuck up American brats who feel that a little...or a lot...of luxury suits us" he was wearing a broad grin as he spoke "So along those lines we've decided a room each, or if we get pressed for space a room between two"
"And Rogue?" Bobby chipped in "The fire place?"
With a slight growl of irritation she formed an image of an enormous fireplace across the room from where the entrance would eventually be placed. The fireplace was set in marble and stone, draped in red, white and blue with a series of stars and other little symbols littering it.
She hadn't personally wanted the fireplace but had been outvoted eight to seven, Bobby being the deciding vote. Traitor...she thought, but not with a lot of energy.
A wild grin spawned upon her face as the ground beneath the students became a plush carpet, alternating between a series of colours, luxurious chairs seemed to grow from the floors, settling themselves around the fireplace, and edges of the room, some with small tables between them like a casual café setting for friends or groups to talk or work around.
At the suggestion of Harry, and a quick conference with the mutants and Hogwarts students portraits and other objects began to appear across the walls, as well as a wood setting. Coating the stonewalls to give the area an even more relaxed feel.
Rogue left it to Lavender, with the help of several mutants and wizards to disappear off into the individual rooms and set up some basic requirements like beds and dressers while she focused on forming four very lavish bathrooms, two downstairs, and two upstairs.
During the time of manipulating the general dormitory area Rogue hadn't noticed much else and was surprised when Bobby mentioned the amount of people, mutants, teachers and students that had been going in and out, observing her and Lavender at work.
The side affects of using the key were beginning to kick in so she settled into one of the sofa's by the fireplace to await the return of the other mutants it occurred to Rogue what was missing and with a little concentration a Pool Table emerged in a corner of the room.
"So exactly how big have you made this place?" Ariel asked
Yawning Rouge replied, "If everything's the way it should be this dormitory pretty much spans all the levels of Hogwarts, dungeons to a tower –"
She was cut off from saying anymore by the return of Lavender and her group.
"That's pretty much it all done" Lavender exclaimed "Who knew it could all be done this fast! Really, all that's left is the individual touches to each room"
"And the entrance" Harry put it.
With so little left to do, and all the large changes to Hogwarts done, the number of Hogwarts Students still in the 'mutant dorms' had reduced to just Lavender, Harry and another boy who had turned up during the process that had been introduced as Seamus.
"Yes, as to that" Ariel started "We've been wondering if there would be anything wrong with having...a few entrances, I mean there are quite a few levels"
The three Gryffindors just looked at each other for a moment before Harry responded, "I don't see why there would be"
Taken that as consent Rogue leapt up and crossed to the wall furthest from where she had just been sitting and placed a hand against it. She had been considering the entrance for a little while, and thought plain was best, enough people would know exactly where the dorm was already, so there would be no point showing them where the door was exactly.
With a smile she removed her hand and spoke aloud a password "Mutation's Refuge" And that was it.
From within the dormitory there was a simple archway to show where the exit existed, but on the other side there was nothing at all. Rogue had designed the door to seem like any other wall in the school, except for once the password was spoken a person would be able to walk right through it. Concentrating she felt her energy flow outwards through the walls to create four more entrances at various levels of the school – one of which lead directly outside from the ground and another from the roof.
Making her way back over to the couches, she dropped down into Bobby's lap, exhausted from what she had been doing for the last few hours, her body felt completely drained and she was lapsing into sleep as Harry, Lavender and Seamus left, the last thing she noticed was Lavender screwing up her eyes and the words Mutant Central scribing themselves across the archway.
~*~
A man walked through what had appeared to be a solid brick wall; it stirred an uneasy feeling in him. Walking through solid walls wasn't something that he generally, in fact he ever, did.
Muttering to himself he ran a hand back through the two tufts in his hair and looked down on the sleeping teens, even in the pitch black his keen eye sight could pick up the streak of white that identified the young girl as Rogue. The way the boy's arms protectively wrapped around her even in sleep named him Bobby.
He found his thoughts drifting as he watched the two, allowing his claws to slip back into his flesh and the skin to knit and heal. It had taken him much longer to reach the school of witchcraft and wizardry then he had expected, but finally he, the man with the adamantium skeleton, Wolverine, had arrived.
~*~
AUTHORS NOTE: Please don't shoot me, this chapter sucked so badly I know, and the little bit at the end with Wolverine, really really crap. But by my little list of stuff that was meant to happen in each chapter, I'm a chapter behind, and I thought at least one of the X-men should hurry up and arrive.
I admit, I am very much ashamed of this chapter, so why post it you may ask??? I felt I needed to get an update up...