A/N - Here's chapter six of Lightning, Part 1. I must say it's very gratifying that in just four weeks this story has racked up over 1,900 views and gathered 132 followers and 86 favorites. I hope everyone continues to like it.
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Disclaimer: The X-Men were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and belong to Marvel Comics. Harry Potter was created by and belongs to J.K. Rowling.
6) START OF TRAINING
Harry and the professor left the bank and headed back up Colony Alley.
"Where's the best place to shop for clothes?" Harry asked, "it doesn't have to be fancy, just regular stuff that will fit me."
"We can shop here" said the professor, "or there are places in New Salem. They're probably cheaper."
"Let's do that" said Harry.
Soon they were on their way back to New Salem. Harry continued to stare at Manhattan as they drove through it. He had to come back here to explore, hopefully many times.
Harry was pretty quiet for a lot of the trip back as he thought over everything he'd learned at the bank. Truthfully, he didn't know what to make of it all. Not in a million years would he have expected to find out that his family was so wealthy and that he was now the sole owner of all of it.
"Penny for your thoughts Harry" said the professor.
"What?" asked Harry startled, "oh, um, it's nothing, it's silly really."
"I doubt it" said the professor, "and even if it is I won't laugh at you." Harry looked at him for a moment before speaking.
"I guess it's, well" he said before just blurting out "I don't know how to be rich. I mean I knew my parents were well off because of how much gold was in my, well I guess it's my trust vault although until today I thought it was my family vault, but I never knew there was so much more than that and I had no clue that I was among the richest people in the world. I don't know what to do or how to act and what the heck am I going to do with such a huge fortune anyway?"
"I might be able to help with some of that" said the professor, "I'm also very rich as you know. Maybe not in quite the same bracket as you are but I think that once you have over a billion dollars you're very rich, period. It doesn't matter if you have one billion, two billion, or several billion."
"You're a billionaire too?"
"Yes" said Xavier simply, "now as for what to do with your fortune? For the moment I would say do nothing. You have some very capable people – or rather goblins – looking after it. Until you're older you should let them continue managing your money as they are obviously doing an excellent job of it." Harry nodded.
"I can do that" he said.
"As for acting rich?" added the professor, "I would say 'don't.' The only difference between a rich person and poor one – and I really do mean the only difference – is that the rich person has more money. However the poor person doesn't like to be reminded of that fact. I wouldn't recommend going around ostentatiously and obnoxiously flaunting your wealth. You won't win any real friends that way."
"That's a great point" said Harry. He thought about some of the pure bloods that he knew who were also wealthy. Draco Malfoy came to mind as the typical rich spoiled brat and Harry didn't want to be like him.
"Your family's tradition of playing down the size of their wealth is a good one" said Xavier, "Just continue to be the same person you've always been. Don't act any differently than you already do. It's really nobody's business how much money you have. You don't have to tell anyone – in fact I would advise you not to do so. You'll be safer that way. You don't have to lie but you're not required to tell people about the full extent of your wealth." Harry was silent for a while after hearing all this.
"Thank you" he finally said, "I'll try to remember what you've said."
"You're welcome. Now if you want to meet someone else who's as rich as you are I can always introduce you to Tony Stark."
"You know him?" asked Harry.
"Yes" said Xavier, "he's an interesting man, a bit eccentric and very driven, but a good man."
"I might take you up on that" said Harry, "but will he see me?"
"Harry, you own ten percent of Stark Industries" said the professor, "I think he'll see you."
When they got back to North Salem Xavier took Harry to a local mall where Harry proceeded to splurge on new clothes which, for once, actually fit him or maybe were a little big so that he could grow into them. He bought several pairs of jeans, blue and black, a couple of pairs of khaki pants, some shorts, about ten t-shirts, a few long sleeve shirts, a couple of pullover hoodies, a pair of pullover sweaters, a light jacket, a heavy one, a pair of trainers, a pair of heavier waterproof shoes, some dress pants, dress shirts, a couple of ties, and a jacket, not to mention a whole new load of underwear and socks that wouldn't look like something that had been stretched over King Kong's body. Finally, at Xavier's urging, he bought clothes he could work out in: some sweats and gym shorts specifically for exercise and training.
Once Harry was done with his shopping they went back to the school. Harry took all of his purchases into the mansion once again using his telekinesis to help move everything along. After everything was unpacked and put away Scott came to see him.
"The professor asked me to give you a basic exercise routine for you to use. It'll help you get stronger and that will help as you train your powers."
"Okay" said Harry, "when do we start?"
"Why don't you come down to the gym in about 15 minutes?" said Scot. Harry nodded and Scott left the room. Harry changed into a t-shirt, a pair of gym shorts, and his new trainers before heading down to the gym. Scot was just arriving when Harry got there.
"Right on time" said Scott opening the gym door, "come on in." They both entered the gym and Scott led Harry to the open space at the center of the room.
"Okay" said Scott, "we'll start with some stretches to get loosened up." Except for his Quidditch practices and games Harry hadn't had any physical training since leaving for Hogwarts as other than Quidditch the school didn't offer any. It had been two years since he had last had a gym class at primary school. Fortunately he remembered enough that he was able to easily copy the stretches Scott showed him.
Once the stretching was done Scott sent him up to the track and told him to jog around it six times but not to push himself too hard as he went. Harry didn't have any trouble with this part of it since all of the running he had done to get away from Dudley and his gang during "Harry Hunting" had made him into a very good runner.
After the running was over Scott had him do 10 push ups and 10 sit-ups to start with but told him that as he got used to exercising to increase the number he did each time.
"These are basic exercises you should do regularly" said Scott, "at a minimum of three times of week, but preferably more often – every day if you can."
"I'll try" said Harry.
"I'm sure you will" said Scott leading him over to the weight lifting equipment, "now have you ever used a weight machine?"
"No" said Harry. Scott then demonstrated how to use the various weight apparatuses to strengthen his arms, legs, and body.
"Start with low weights" said Scott, "and work your way up gradually. If you try to do too much too soon you'll strain your muscles." Harry nodded and then tried several different weight machines to get a feel for them. By the time he was done with his whole workout he had built up a sweat.
"Good start" Scott said to Harry, "now go get cleaned up and then the professor wants to see you."
"Okay" said Harry breathing hard. He returned to his room and took a quick shower before getting dressed again in some of the new clothes he'd bought. It felt good to wear things that actually fit him for a change. Then he went to Professor Xavier's office and knocked on the door.
"Come in Harry" called the professor so Harry did. Professor Xavier was seated at his desk and he gestured for Harry to take the seat in front of it.
"So Harry I want to speak to you about your training" said the professor, "I had Scott take you through some exercises in the gym. I trust it went well?"
"Yes professor" said Harry, "it's been a while since I've had a gym class. Hogwarts doesn't offer that. The only people who get any kind of athletic practice are the Quidditch players."
"Of which you are one" said the professor, "I've always felt that Hogwarts was wrong not to have a physical training program but Albus says that the board of governors refuses to let him create one. They fail to see the need since they can use magic for everything."
"That doesn't make any sense sir" said Harry, "I would think that exercise would only strengthen one's magic, but what do I know? I don't even know if there is a connection."
"The schools here in the U. S. seem to think so" said Xavier, "both Ilvermorny and the Salem Institute in Massachusetts have physical education as a requirement."
"I didn't know about those schools" said Harry, "I only ever heard of Hogwarts but I am a British wizard so why would I go anywhere but a British school? Still I think they're right. What is the saying? 'Healthy body, healthy mind?'"
"And healthy magic" said Xavier, "or at this school healthy mutants. I would like you to exercise regularly while you're here to build up your strength."
"Scott recommended at least three times a week but to try for every day if possible" said Harry.
"I think you should start with three times a week and gradually increase it from there" said the professor, " now, let's talk about your powers."
"Yes please" said Harry, "I'm anxious to learn how to control them."
"Controlling them is relatively straightforward" said Xavier, "it consists of two things: first is being able to turn them on and off at will, second is not letting them manifest unconsciously. The first one is easy because it is conscious. The second is harder but it can be done without too much trouble. You should start meditating each day, either when you first get up or just before you go to bed. It will help you center yourself.
"You've already started working with your telekinesis so now we're going to start on your electrical powers. I want you to hold out one of your hands" Harry held out his right hand, "now concentrate on making tiny electrical sparks appear on it. They'll look like tiny bolts of lightning. Don't do anything with them, just get them to appear."
Harry concentrated. At first nothing happened, then he saw a tiny bolt of electricity appear on his hand. Soon it was joined by another, and another, until there were several of them dancing around his palm. Harry looked at them in wonder.
"Good" said Xavier, "now dispel them." Harry ended his concentration and the bolts fizzled out.
"Very good" said the professor, "now here's what we'll do next..."
That was the beginning of Harry's training. In the days that followed he fell into a routine. Up early in the morning and off to the gym to work out. Then after taking a shower he had breakfast before going to see the professor to work on his mutant powers. That took up the rest of the morning. After lunch he was usually free. He spent time doing his homework, spending time with Bobby and / or Scott, walking around the neighborhood, or other things. Then dinner, usually with the others. Lastly was meditation before bed which was very helpful to falling asleep at night.
He spent time going over his family's holdings. It was slowly sinking in just how rich he really was. The ramifications of his position hit when he decided to go over his investment holdings in more detail than he had at the bank. That time he had only looked it over fairly quickly and of course Microsoft, Worthington Industries, and Stark Industries drew the bulk of his attention. This time he went over the list much more slowly. Yes, there were a lot of companies on that list, some he owned a lot of shares in, some only a little. It was a very diverse portfolio.
And then, buried in the middle of the page, he saw it. He stared at it in shock and blinked before looking again to make sure he had read it correctly. It hadn't changed. Then he closed his eyes for several seconds and opened them again. It was still there.
"Wow!" he said in disbelief, "I'm the majority shareholder of THAT? How did that happen?" He began to laugh. The irony was just too delicious even if he couldn't do anything about it until he was of age in the non-magical world. He got himself under control after about 30 seconds and put the list away but he couldn't help smiling to himself for the rest of the day. When Scott asked him what he was so happy about he just shrugged his shoulders and said "nothing special."
In addition to shopping for clothes Professor Xavier also suggested that Harry think about getting contact lenses. Harry jumped at the idea. He might have done that sooner but of course the Dursleys would never have allowed it. In short order he was taken to see an Ophthalmologist who examined his eyes, gave a prescription for new glasses and also made the arrangements for him to get his contact lenses which he got not long after that. When he looked at himself in mirror the first time he wore them he just had to grin. He thought he looked pretty good. In addition he knew that a lot of people back home might not recognize him at first when they saw him again, especially if he covered his scar. He looked forward to seeing everyone's reactions to his contacts when he returned to Hogwarts in the fall. From then on he wore his contacts almost all of the time and only used his glasses when he first got up in the morning or before he went to bed at night.
One afternoon about a week after Harry's arrival at the school he was walking down the front staircase when he saw a very unusual sight which made him stop dead halfway down the stairs. Walking into the entrance hall from the corridor that led to the gym was what appeared to be a living snowman – or was it a person so covered in snow that he looked like a snowman? Whoever it was looked up just then and saw him on the stairs.
"Oh hi Harry" said the snowman. Harry recognized the voice.
"Bobby?" he asked, "is that you?"
"Oh right" said Bobby, "this is the first time you've seen me like this. Yes, this is what happens to me when I fully power up. The professor calls me "Iceman" even though I look more like a snowman right now but he says I should eventually be able to harden my outer layer into full ice rather than snow. I've just finished a training session with him in the Danger Room."
"Wow" said Harry as he walked down the stairs the rest of the way. He held a hand out towards Bobby and could feel the cold coming off of him.
"It's okay" Bobby said, "you can touch me." Harry touched Bobby's arm. The snow and ice were definitely real but he could also feel the arm under the snow. He looked up at Bobby.
"So you generate ice and snow on top of your body?" said Harry.
"That's right" said Bobby, "My body doesn't turn into ice and snow in case you were wondering."
"In the summer heat how do you keep from melting?"
"I regulate my own body temperature" said Bobby, "so I'm pretty resistant, although a lot of heat can melt me back to normal."
"I see" said Harry.
"Now I'm going to head back to my room and de-ice" said Bobby, "you wanna catch a movie later? Jurassic Park's playing at the local theater. Have you seen it yet?"
"No" said Harry who hadn't even heard of Jurassic Park.
"Cool. I'll ask Scott later if he wants to come."
"Where is Scott?" asked Harry, "I haven't seen him today."
"He's still in the Danger Room" said Bobby, "he'll be a while longer."
"Did the professor give him a new name too?" asked Harry.
"Yeah" said Bobby, "Cyclops."
Harry, Bobby, and Scott did see Jurassic Park that evening. It was the first time Harry had ever seen a movie in a movie theater and he was blown away by it. It wasn't just that the effects were incredible and the dinosaurs looked very real, it was the whole experience of seeing a movie in a theater. It was just another thing out of many that the Dursleys had denied him when he was living with them. Harry decided that it would never happen again and he would do whatever he could never to have to go back to Number Four Privet Drive. And if he ultimately was forced to go back there? His mutant powers weren't magical. There was nothing to stop him from using them if he wanted.
(To Be Continued)
A/N - What did Harry see on his investment list that made him laugh so much? In due time you'll find out. Meanwhile thank you for reading this latest chapter. Stay safe and well in these dark times everyone.
See you next week.
