Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Marvel characters or any of the X-men. The same can be said of the wonderful world of J.K. Rowling. I am not making any profit, but simply having fun. I did however create Emma Winter.
Memories and dreams are in italics.
Edited in March 2021 during lockdown.
Logan and Victor were sitting impatiently outside of an office door. It seemed to be an army barracks as all the men there were dressed in army gear from head to toe.
"Major Stryker will see you now," an over-bored looking soldier said to the two men waiting. They immediately stood up and got in the office where a serious-looking man had his nose buried in documents.
"Good morning gentlemen, I expect you slept well after your execution yesterday," Stryker said ironically to the two mutants in front of him. Logan didn't answer but silently studied the major while Victor smiled gleefully, flashing his fangs to the major that had been studying the larger man silently. Victor looked even more dangerous when he smiled because of the cunning feline glint that appeared in his eyes when he was feeling playful.
"You boys ready for your first assignment?" major Stryker asked his voice coming out as a drawl. The two mutants in front of him looked at each other and grinned. If only the major knew how old they were, he wouldn't be acting so superior to them. However, neither of them would ever tell the government how old they were. They would be sent to the labs for checks if they did.
"Yes," Victor answered dryly in response to Stryker's request. The major had noticed the look between the two mutants but had no way of knowing what that meant. With those two it could be anything.
"What's the assignment?" Logan asked carefully as he didn't trust Stryker further than he could throw him. The mutant had heard rumours about Stryker at the base. He was considered manipulative, power-hungry and ready to forfeit everyone who worked for him to complete a mission. The rumours seemed to be true as the major assessed the two mutants with cold, calculating eyes. The major was different from Logan and Victor, but still a dangerous man, a killer.
"You will be debriefed on the way to the location. Be here at twenty hundred hours tonight. You will be working with other mutants on this mission. Try not to kill each other or anyone on the team."
"Other mutants?" Logan asked taken aback as if the idea of other mutants surprised him. The two men had never met other mutants as far as they knew, however, that could also have as they usually killed and asked questions later.
"Yes, you didn't think you were the only ones?" Stryker asked mocking him and hinting that the two were not that special after all. They were of course; he had had to go far and wide around the world to build his special squad of talented and willing mutants.
"I´ve met many besides you two just here in Vietnam. That should give you an idea of how many of you are out there," Stryker said thinking aloud and giving away a little more interest in the subject than he wanted.
"How special," Victor sneered with disinterest.
"I know you two have a problem with authority, but I run this show. I have the weight of the American government behind me, and I won't hesitate to use it if you cross me."
"Threats don't work on us bub," Logan growled at Stryker and for the first time, Victor seemed to agree wholeheartedly with his mutant companion.
"Let's see if this works. Working for me is your last chance; it's the only place in the world where you can use your mutant powers for something good. You will no longer be hunted and are under my protection, as long as you are working with me. "
"Sounds good to me," Victor replied very enthusiastically for his usual devil may care attitude.
"Good, I'll see you both tonight. Dismissed."
The vision ended and it was obvious that Logan was in no mood to discuss his vision. He stood up and pulled Emma from the chair and led her to where the pensive was resting on the living room table. The witch understood his not-so-subtle hint; the mutant didn't want to talk about what they had seen in his memory.
Logan had grown increasingly impatient with his memories as he wasn't getting answers quickly enough. Pushing them to see her memories instead was Logan's way of distracting her and himself from what they had seen in his mind. Emma didn't mind as she was resolving her past, there was more peace in her being since the two had started their sessions. Contentment had grown immensely in her heart ever since the relationship with Logan had begun and for the first time in Emma's life, she was experiencing true happiness.
The witch quietly pulled out the pre-chosen memory with her wand and tugged it into the pensive bowl. After silently watching the memory swirl for a few moments she looked up at Logan and said in an explanatory voice, "When Dumbledore offered me a teaching position at Hogwarts."
Logan nodded and the pair of them put their heads into the pensive to view the memory of a younger Emma.
A teenage looking Emma was standing beside the old wizard that Logan had seen before in one of Emma's memory. Now that Logan could see the wizard standing, he could appreciate how tall the wizard was as he towered over Emma who looked like a slightly younger version of the Emma he knew from Xavier's.
They were standing on a hill overlooking an enormous castle that looked as if it had been there for thousands of years. The wizard's long silvery hair and beard gently moved in the breeze making Dumbledore look even more like someone straight out of a fairy-tale. His robes were an impressive ruby red with bright stars scattered randomly in the fabric.
Logan couldn't help quirking an eyebrow at the dress and even more so when he noticed that the younger Emma was wearing black robes, with a white shirt and a green tie underneath.
"Nice outfit," Logan said to Emma who was standing silently beside him as always when they entered her mind. A slow grin tugged on Emma's lips before she stepped closer to Dumbledore to hear what he was saying to the younger version of herself. Logan followed in her footsteps as the wizard was still an old man and his voice not as strong as one would have expected from someone so formidable looking.
"Don't deny this part of you Emma. Stay here with us after you graduate next year. Let us help to harness the power you have, if not it will hurt you in the end. Uncontrolled magic can have dire consequences. With great power comes great responsibility. You will grow more here than anywhere else in the magical world. We might even be able to do something about that horrible temper of yours," Dumbledore said grinning and petting the young Emma amicably on the shoulder.
The young Emma didn't say anything. It was as if she were unsure in her decision to stay at the same place as she had been since she was a youngling.
"Look child," the old man said and touched her shoulder. The view in front of them changed. The castle disappeared and instead, there was nothing, but old ruins covered by moss and grass.
"This is what all non-magic people see if they would ever manage to get this close. The entire Hogwarts area has an aversion charm that directs non-magic folk away from this place."
Dumbledore let her shoulder go and the castle appeared again. Dumbledore looked with affection down at Emma, even though she wasn't his kin, she was dear to his heart and making her happy and safe was a priority. Dumbledore and Minerva hadn't stopped worrying about what young Emma would do after graduation or where she would end up.
"Do not worry about safety. I and Minerva will make sure that you are safe within these walls. Nothing comes in here unless allowed by me. That's a promise". The old man said looking down at Emma affectionately.
"Now... it's a minute before your 17th birthday. I will be your guardian for one more year. Will you join us here after you graduate next year and help us to educate the young witches and wizards that come here for guidance? Will you share the responsibility with us of building a magic community? It's more important than ever that we protect the young now that war is brewing on the horizon," the wizard looked at her hopefully his bright blue eyes twinkling as if he already knew the answer she was looking for.
"Yes Dumbledore, I will stay," The young Emma said and gave Dumbledore a little uncertain smile. It was a gigantic responsibility, but she knew Albus was right, they all needed to protect the children if evil came to Hogwarts.
"Marvellous!" Dumbledore said and dragged out a small parcel out of his sleeve. With every passing second, the parcel seemed to grow bigger in his hands.
"I have a gift for you, a year in advance in case anything might happen before you graduate," Dumbledore said smiling affectionately at the young witch who looked flustered at the size of the parcel. Even in Dumbledore's arms the box suddenly looked enormous.
"Go on then child, open it up."
Dumbledore didn't have to tell her twice; she attacked the parcel and got the lid off in one fluid motion.
"Oh Albus a cloak for me!" Emma asked stunned stroking the black woollen cloak with affection.
"It was time you got one; the lining will remind you of your roots."
Emma looked down to the bottom of the cloak where she could see a beautiful emerald, green silk lining on the inside of the cloak. Adding small details seemed to be Dumbledore's speciality.
"You love to remind me that I'm a Slytherin, I wonder why that is," Emma questioned inquisitively with a hint of animosity etched in her voice.
"You do not have to be ashamed of that side of you. I always suspected that you would be sorted into Slytherin and I was proud the day the Sorting Hat decided that you belonged there. You weren't unhappy with your sorting until the day Draco Malfoy came after you, suspecting that you were a muggle."
"He called me a mudblood Albus, not muggle. There is a difference," the younger version of Emma hissed her temper flaring making Logan chuckle. Even then the witch had been a spitfire, one of the reasons why the mutant liked Emma so much.
Dumbledore's eyes were filled with sadness and he awkwardly patted her on the shoulder to show comfort, "why don't you make an old man happy and try the cloak on? Minerva made me promise that I'd see you wear it."
"Of course," younger Emma said relieved that Albus had changed the subject. Dumbledore lift the coat and she put her arms into each sleeve and then buttoned it up. Emma could feel magic embedded in the coat, her body felt it and hummed in content.
"Albus, is it a magical cloak?" Emma asked curiously to her guardian who nodded quickly.
"I placed a few spells on it, nothing too much mind. I merely added a heating spell on it so it will be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There is nothing ghastlier than feeling cold when you are disapparating. Don't you like it?"
"Like it? Albus, I adore it," Emma gushed and threw her arms around Dumbledore's neck, the wizard chuckled and petted her clumsily on the shoulders.
"What's this?" Emma pulled out a closed glass vial on a leather string that had been hidden in one of the cloak's pockets. The liquid was see-through as if it was water, but Emma knew better than to assume in the magical world.
"This, my dear, is a secret present from me and Fawkes. You know how healing his tears are, apply them on any wound and they will heal up right away. With your clumsiness and knack for trouble, we thought this was the perfect present for you."
"Why is it secret Albus? Minerva would be angry?"
"She would be because she worries about you all the time and frankly Minerva thinks you attract trouble to you... like magic," Dumbledore said grinning at her.
"As always Minerva wouldn't be that far from the truth there. She has a knack for seeing things for what they are."
"Don't be so pessimistic my dear, it doesn't suit you. I merely want to keep you safe; I owe as much to your parents. Don't tell anyone about this bottle, not even your dear friends whom you hold so close."
"Why not?" Emma asked suspiciously as if she couldn't believe why Dumbledore would want her to keep anything from the trio. They were glued together and trusted each other with everything that happened in their lives.
"First of all the phoenix tears are for you, just for you Emma. I worry that you might use them on someone else if given the chance. War is brewing as you know, and if it happens, I want you to get through it alive. Secondly, a bottle like this is so rare that I imagine you could buy half of Hogwarts for its contents so keep it safe. There would be many who would want their hands on the bottle."
Emma gasped shocked and pushed the bottle back into the pocket for protection, Dumbledore watched with an approving smile.
"Why would you give me such a gift Albus? I don't know if I can accept such generosity, even if it's from you," the young witch said tearfully to the wizard.
Albus Dumbledore shook his head, only the daughter of Edward Winter would argue about something as important to survival as phoenix tears. Coveted by all wizards in known history it was only to be expected that Emma would be the only one to attempt to refuse such a kingly gift. After all the Winters were known for being wild and unpredictable in their life choices.
"You see my dear; I made a promise to your parents to keep you alive and happy as long as I am alive. So far, I have failed in happiness, but I hope that soon that will all change. When we have gotten rid of Voldemort, I will personally make it my personal goal for you to be happy for the rest of your life."
"I don't think you have to go to the other extreme Dumbledore. My life is not a fairy-tale, nor do I doubt it ever will be."
"Alas, perhaps one day it will be," Albus said, his blue eyes twinkling mischievously at her as if he knew something the young didn't.
"I seriously doubt that," Emma answered with the melodrama of the youth that is certain that life is over at twenty.
"There is one thing I wanted to ask you for years."
"What is it?"
"Are you and Minerva married? You do everything together."
Albus Dumbledore looked startled at his ward, "married? Minerva and I?"
Before Emma got the chance to reply, Dumbledore had broken into a burst of long heartfelt laughter that brought tears to his eyes. Seeing how uncomfortable Emma got at his merriment, Albus finally decided to answer her.
"No my dear, Minerva and I are neither married nor lovers. When Minerva's husband died fifty-five years ago, she decided never to remarry. James was a muggle and was ninety-five when he passed away. Not bad for a muggle is it? Minerva adored him and never wanted anyone else to take his place. I also loved and lost, but much earlier on in my life. When Minerva and I turned one hundred and thirty years old we struck a deal. As we were hardly about to elope to marry someone, we decided to keep each other company. She is my companion and my most trusted confidant. You have witnessed it through the years that Minerva has been equally concerned about you as I have been and together, we have done our best to guide you in the right direction in life."
The old wizard smiled affectingly at the young witch, "but don't tell Molly Weasley this. We very much enjoy her confusion as she never knows if she should invite just me or if she should invite Minerva as well for her Yule dinners."
"I won't mention it to anyone," Emma answered smirking teasingly and looking over the wondrous view of the castle. After accepting the job offer the witch realised that Hogwarts would continue to be her home and that made her feel happy. After all, the castle was her home. The vision faded and the couple returned to the cottage.
Logan sat down on the old, beaten sofa and the witch sat by his side, her legs in his lap while her head rested peacefully on his shoulder. The mutant kissed the top of her head with affection.
"Did Dumbledore know that war was coming to Hogwarts?" Logan asked curiously, wondering if the old wizard was able to see into the future.
"He suspected it would, after all the resistance to Voldemort was born within the walls of Hogwarts. To win, the Death Eaters would have to strike Hogwarts hard to squash any resistance to their evil in the magical world," Emma explained, her mind travelling back to the days of the Order Of the Phoenix.
"Was the resistance born from the old wizard?" Logan asked with a heavy heart, knowing how much Emma had suffered during the war. The witch would never be the same after the horrors she had witnessed.
"In a way, Dumbledore became the leader of the good forces in the magical world. For a while some refused to listen, they didn't want to admit what was going on in the world. Hogwarts was Dumbledore's lair; the students coming from there had undying respect for him. Some more than others of course."
"You and your friends were in the more section I guess." Logan grinned, knowing that Emma never did anything halfway. It was either all or nothing with the witch.
"Indeed, us and many others." Emma replied and then looked out the window. "it's pitch-black outside, I hadn't realized how late it is."
"It's after midnight," Logan said, "let's just crash here tonight and go back to Xavier's in the morning, or whenever we feel like it."
"That sounds like a very good idea," Emma murmured before kissing Logan heatedly. The mutant pulled her onto his lap, responding to her kisses with vigour. It would be a long while before the couple would fall sleep on the small cot at the other end of the room.