Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the book Harry Potter or any of the characters from the cartoon X-men: Evolution. This story is not meant to offend anyone and was written for your enjoyment…so please enjoy it! Any confusion you might have about the timeline here can probably be answered in the first chapter's disclaimer. Thank you and please enjoy.
That Kind of Faith….
I stared blankly at the parchment in my hands. My lips were pressing together and I knew that I must look extremely grim to an outsider's eyes. I was confused to say the least.
I let my glasses slip down to wobble on my scrunched nose as I reread the letter. Of course, he would have to tell me about this the day before Christmas. I blew a swift puff of air through my compressed lips as I ran a hand through my hair.
Remus,
You probably don't want to read this letter the day of your transformation….and the day before Christmas…but I had to let you know. I bought a house in the U.S…New York to be exact. I…can't explain it really. I just needed to get away from the memories of your mother….another thing you must not want to think about. And while the last thing I want to do is tear you from your friends. I was wondering if you would come help move in some of our stuff sometime before New Years. It's not a permanent place….just like a little getaway. For the summer or something to the like. Look Remus…..I just think it would be a cool thing to do. Something to break the routine of our lives you know? I'll see you at 8:00 on the 30th okay? I'll come get you…..don't hate me okay kid?
Love your one and only father.
It wasn't that I was upset about leaving early or having a 'getaway' as my ever-eccentric father likes to refer to it as. It just seems strange…. Do the pictures that I still keep around the house of her sadden him? Why didn't he ever tell me? I considered us to be fairly closer than normal fathers and sons. Complete opposites but close nonetheless.
I wouldn't dream of arguing the decision that he had made. It wasn't often that my father really bought into anything. So I knew this had to be special. I just want to make him happy…
Snapping up with a sudden burst of energy I decided to let my legs fulfill their purpose and wander through the halls for a bit. It was late and I had slept in dramatically so this morning, therefore missing breakfast and the owls so I had to search out my mail.
Every night I had been getting to bed later and later, due to more energy each day. Normally around this time, I would be sulking in tired dreariness but it was in fact quite the opposite.
There was something else though. I had this strange need. To always go on a walk, or simply be out at nighttime. I couldn't explain it really; the darkness that I use to loathe had somehow become comforting.
Every night I broke curfew. Every single night since I had met with Lensherr and Raven. Yet I was still unsure if they were related. I couldn't help myself and I knew that tonight would be no different so long as I was back in time to have Pomfry lead me to the Whomping Willow where the others and I would get to see if Lensherr's injection had effected me.
It was strange how sure I was that it had. But it wasn't solid….I couldn't really explain it to my friends. It was a sort of faith not that I had in the man really but his methods were so squeaky clean... so professional. I just had a feeling. The feeling I get….like I just know that God exist….that kind of faith I suppose.
I slipped out side the entrance closet to the Quidditch field. It was always empty after nine or so.
I could feel the snow melting on my boots, I could feel my cheeks burning as I crossed over to sit on the bleachers, which when I reached I slipped on swiftly and fell into the footrest between each bench.
I laughed despite the pain on my back and found myself silently wishing I had someone to share it with. I mean, sure I have my friends…but I want something more than that. Someone I cared about as more than a friend. Someone who would be laughing with me right now, shaking there head at my idiocy if I ever really demonstrated any…laugh at my witty remarks…if I ever had any.
I sighed. It was something that none of my friends would really ever be able to provide…not even Sirius. Err….scratch that and replace it with definitely not Sirius. It just felt too weird the awkwardness I had felt around him after that night six days ago…
I sat up after awhile and breathed in the chilly air as I eyed the tallest goal post wanting for some strange reason to climb on top of it. I could always use a broom but I wasn't the best flier…
I don't know when I had actually crossed the field to stand in front of it…my gloved hand now on its slippery surface. I cricked my neck and arched my back…my eyes fluttered closed. There was only the darkness now….
I snapped my eyes open and could only see a red haze. It was like looking through ruby glasses. I breathed deeply as the red seeped away. I suddenly saw how far away the ground was.
"Holy Hell!" I gasped as my Heart began to pound in my ears like a jackhammer. I had my arms spread out as well as my feet and I knew exactly where I was. I was on top of the Quidditch goal….but how had I gotten there? I how could I ensure that I didn't fall off?
………………"HELPPPPP!!!!!!!"……………….
I must have been loud because I saw as lights flickered on and my friends ran out to find me. James gasped and slid to the goal and held a finger to his lips.
"Do you want to wake the whole school?" he asked in a quick but loud hiss. I glared at him.
"Yes brilliant! What the Hell do you think I was screaming for?" I chastised him not knowing why he would ask a stupid question like that. "How do I get down from here?" I asked them not having moved yet due to fear of slipping.
"Well how did you get up there?" Sirius asked gaping at me from the field. I paused for a moment silent.
"I…I don't really know." I admitted looking down for a moment at a shadow creeping up the edge of the goal. I felt strangely compelled to reach for it…
Carefully pulling my gloves off and tossing them to the ground I began to bend my knees only too aware that my friends' eyes were upon me. Grasping the cold metal, I balanced onto my knees the layer of ice damping the knees of my pants. I slowly reached forward.
"Remus, what are you doing? You're going to get yourself killed!" Peter shouted up to me worry evident in his hoarse voice. I ignored him.
Finally, I saw the paleness of my hand reach the shadow, and I gasped as it began to blur into translucent darkness.
….Had that just happened?....
Leaning forward more I watched as more of my arms became encompassed into the shadow. I pulled it back out and let my fingers tips wiggles and the shadow came to dance with them….much like the cartoon version of Peter Pan.
I allowed my arm to go back to its fluid shadow like state…and leaned forward a little more. Just a little.
I gasped as my left arm that was my support slipped under my body as I fell on top of it, falling forward I hit my chest and sliding down I flipped over as the rest of my body was sucked into the shadows. Falling was like swimming and I could see all the tree branches flying up as I went down.
"Psh." I breathed out as I found myself suddenly standing dizzily on the cold ground the red haze was back in my eyes. It faded away as I turned to look at my friends, all of whom were staring at me astonished.
"What just happened?" I asked them breathlessly. James opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by the gravely voice of the groundskeeper Mr. Filch.
"I know I saw some kids out here….now where are they?" He growled to himself much like always. Not knowing just what I should do I flung my arms out and towards my friends.
When I did shadow like hands, large and long, mirroring my own, reached out and pulled them towards me and muffled their shocked yelps as we scooted further back into the darkness.
It was moments before Filch, who now walked around the goal sighed and turned to leave. I would never admit it to my friends but I sometimes pitied the man. He did his job well as far as patrolling went and he never caught anything. We treated him far too bad if you asked me…just like Severus Snape. Yet I never said anything.
I dropped my arms to the side and the shadow arms did the same. My friends immediately gasped for air.
"Holy Shit Remus!" Sirius squeaked as James, he and Peter caught me as I collapsed into their arms. Out of shock more than loss of energy.
"We have to get him to the Whomping Willow fast…maybe Pomfry won't notice." I heard James whisper as he lifted me into his arms.
"Fat chance but one we have to take." Sirius agreed quickly, I could hear him moving quickly, and panting came after he had transformed. There was a flash behind my closed eyes and I knew Peter must have done the same.
"You guys go I don't want to risk him falling off my back and we don't have to time to wait for Pomfry." James said issuing out instructions as I heard the others scuttle off into the night.
Before long, James began to walk before sighing…. "What the Hell Remus?" he asked more to himself since he didn't know that I wasn't quite unconscious.
"I don't know." I croaked to him silently surprised at how hoarse my voice was.
He looked down at me shocked, "You okay?" he asked after a second or two and I nodded not really wanting to speak at the moment.
After a couple of "I swear I'm fine" s, we reached the tree, branches already frozen. Suddenly I sucked my breath in, realization hitting.
"James put me down." I said suddenly. The demanding tone in my voice forced him to comply and he slipped me to the ground.
The others noticing something was up transformed back into themselves and came over to us. I smiled looking at the sky.
"What is it?" James asked looking at me strangely, I'm sure.
"Look…" I whispered to them all. They turned their faces to the sky. The moon was out. Bright, shining and full….and it had been the whole trip over here….I just hadn't noticed.
"Oh my God Remus…" Sirius trailed off. I turned my head over to them. A smile straining on my face. I had never felt so happy….
Jumping forward I gathered them all into my real arms and pulled them close. Not really minding the tears that were slipping down my face. I sniffled and laughed as we all hugged each other tight.
"Guess we'll just hang out tonight guys." I told them with a smile.
We all sat in a circle in the Shrieking Shack on the night before Christmas, and it was so peaceful. I sipped at the bottle of butterbeer that Sirius insisted we had time to go out and buy.
"New York?" Sirius gaped as I told them all about the house my father had bought. The others too looked interested.
"No shit." I told them with a shrug of my shoulders, not thinking it was too big of a deal.
"I've always wanted to go to New York." Peter informed us, Sirius nodding as if to agree. James shrugged as he drank.
"I don't think its city New York really," I told them knowing that my dad didn't really like too busy of places. "Probably more rural New York. I'll ask my father. You should see if you can come over for New Years. The day after I get there you know just so I can get it all clean and stuff."
They all nodded enthusiastically before I cleared my throat, getting their attention.
"Guys…about tonight. What happened?" I asked them, knowing exactly what happened, though not from their eyes.
I watched as they all looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Well," James began, "Once you reached for the shadow…it looked like you...um…became part of it sort of. And then you pulled your arm out and the shadow, like, followed you. Then when you fell forward, which scared us by the way, you….well kind of disappeared for awhile and popped out of the shadows…."
"You're eyes were red Remus it was crazy! It was like you became darkness or something. You just like slipped into the shadow and then stepped out of your own shadow at the bottom!" Sirius recounted to me enthusiastically. Peter nodded.
I bit my lip. "Then? What happened after that?" I asked urging them on eager to know what they saw.
"Well," Peter fell into his story, "Filch came and your arms kind of shot forward and your eyes went red again."
I blinked, that I did not remember. He paused then continued onward.
"Umm your arms of course couldn't reach us. But the shadows and darkness and stuff kind of surrounded you…like you were glowing dark or something….then the shadow like arms grabbed us…but they felt really solid…I don't know Remus it was really peculiar." Peter finished up.
I watched as Sirius rolled his eyes. Thinking what we were all thinking. That only Peter would describe it as "peculiar".
"Well one thing seems very obvious." James interjected. We all looked at him. But I had a feeling only I knew what he was going to say.
"This has to be related to whatever that man did to you. Remus what did you say he injected into you?" He asked me.
"He called it the X-gene….and I guess it worked." I told them all not wanting to make too big a deal out of it.
"Aren't you kind of pissed?" Sirius asked. I gave him a look wondering if he was crazy.
"You've got to be kidding me! I can look at the moon without being in pain…why would I be pissed? He did exactly what I wanted. Side effects or not, nothing is worse than the way I was." I told them all sternly knowing none of them would argue simply because they didn't know where I was coming from.
Sirius shrugged, obviously deciding to let it go. James, however, perked up a bit and put a hand on his chin.
"I think we should look into the whole X-gene thing. Just so we can find out more about you know?" he asked me more than anyone. I nodded to him not seeing any harm in it.
"Yeah I suppose that would be a good idea." I told him. I smirked as Sirius began to smile, "What?" I asked him.
"We have a tradition remember?" he asked us and I tilted my head, not remembering at all.
He began to speak slowly. "'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house not a creature was stirring…"
"Except for Pietro who wouldn't shut up." Lance read straight faced from where he sat on the couch to all of the others who were on the floor cross-legged forcing him to read it to them, well except for Wanda whom was on the chair.
Pietro gasped, "Lance how dare you manipulate the words of a children story just for your own sick amusement!" He shrieked leaping forward at super speed to smack him on the back of the head. "Think of Todd! He's never heard this story before! Doesn't he deserve to hear it right?" He asked looking falsely sad.
"Yeah!" Todd piped up, "I refuse to be cheated, yo!" he exclaimed to the disgruntled teen.
"I still don't believe that you haven't heard this story." He grumbled before resting the book on his legs momentarily.
"And I STILL can't believe that I don't get to spend Christmas with Kitty!" He complained and Pietro immediately saw that he was going into his 'Whiny Lance mode".
"Oh cram it lover-boy!" The town's having that big New Year's party at the Xavier Mansion to try and calm the waters of the whole mutant thing and the Mayor says everyone has to go. So you'll see her then. And aren't you going ice skating tomorrow?" he asked incredulously.
"Shut up!" Lance snapped at him as Todd shook his head.
"You know what I still can't believe?" he asked his friends who rolled their eyes.
"What?" they asked him together, the story forgotten for the moment.
He smiled, "The way that Speedy got rid of Mags and Mystique! Classic!" he exclaimed as Pietro rolled his eyes.
"No it wasn't Todd. There is nothing classic about wishing for mind controlling powers to erase their memory of ever having injected whatever that shit was into me and making them think they were cowboys and sending them out West." He told the smiling team. "That effect has probably worn off by now too." He added with a smirk.
"That still freaks me out…" Lance trailed off eyeing his friend for a moment.
"Whatever just keep reading!" Pietro ordered joyfully before clapping his hands together. This will be our new tradition!"
"Right Wanda?" he asked looking over to his twin. Her head was tilted backwards her mouth open and snore emitting from her mouth. "She's out!" he announced to the others. "Now keep reading damn it! I believe the line was, "Not even a mouse!"
"Yeah!" Todd piped back in getting looks, "Not that I would know…Hehe."
Lance sighed, "Fine. Not even a mouse…."
DigitalAngel4U: Yay! Remus get his powers and Mags is out of the Brotherhood's hair. I can't wait to get to New Year's and will probably not write about their Christmas. I'm also thinking of switching this story's fandom. But I don't know what to. Any Ideas? Let me know what you think! Good, bad…all is welcome!