A/N – This is first out of many chapters that make let's say the second large plot of the story – X-Men Saga. Harry explores the Institute, his powers and some people try to play they game and Loki is meddling in the affairs of the world.
I'm spoiling you a bit, but than since now till middle of May I won't have much time to publish – finals are coming and I want to get the best grades possible.
"As sure as I can be," Fury said and moved his finger over a button placed at the edge of his desk, glass in the windows became dull and shutters slid over them. He never saw his friend so afraid of something or worried about the secrecy of their meetings. "Now we can talk freely," he finally said.
"Good, as I want it to stay secret," Wisdom said and looked at Fury, "It's about the Ministry of Magic and their doings."
"What did they do this time?"
"Fudge won't budge about dementors around Hogwarts and he still wants to hunt Sirius Black. I told him in the face that he plays with fire here and he ignored my words."
Fury looked at his friend and thought over those words, it wasn't a good thing for them as it only meant troubles, especially with things that he was hearing from Xavier's and Hogwarts. Also the fact that he himself heard from Sirius that Pettigrew was a Secret Keeper, not Sirius. He closed his eye for a second as he tried to find any solution that would work. "Can't you go through the government?"
"I have tried it, the Prime Minister talked with Fudge, but he got nothing concrete out of the Minister, who weaseled out from any promises and gave only vague answers. Answers that mean exactly nothing.
He sighed and considered their options for a moment, none of them was good and most of them was in various shades and colours of bad or really bad, some even was insane or extremely risky, not that he had anything against risky actions if they bore fruit. "Would an assassination attempt be a thing that wizards would accept?"
Wisdom winced and looked at Fury. "Some would understand as they also have no love for him, but the most of them, no. They love him as he defends their interests and gives them everything they ask him for. Also ones that love him have power and influence so they will be a pain if he gets killed."
He was silent for a moment, considering options that were left. He could have ordered assassination of Fudge, but that would most likely cause a civil war to broke out, if it was happening in a small and far away country, he wouldn't even shed a tear, but here it was in the middle of Europe and it was one of the most important countries.
"Would blackmailing work in this case?" He finally asked.
"If Fudge was a reasonable person, than yes," Wisdom said and sighed, "But he lacks any intelligence or brain and he will ignore anything you throw his way."
Fury sighed and looked at Wisdom. "I don't remember the structure of the Ministry very well, but isn't DMLE ran by Amelia Bones, who doesn't like Fudge."
"It is."
Fury smiled at those words, his smile predatory and dangerous. "If that's the case, could you ask her to call off the hunt for Sirius and to return dementors back to Azkaban?"
"I can try doing it, DMLE has a lot of power, most of it unused and with Dumbledore's backing, this would pass rather easily." Wisdom said, thoughtful expression on his face "Speaking about Dumbledore, he is working on a project with Xavier and if it works out, ground under Fudge might start to burn. Slowly at first, but given time he won't be able to do too much against it.
"Anything that hurts Fudge and helps us is a good thing. I heard about this project and I plan on shooting down any attempt to sabotage it." Fury said and paused for a moment, should I tell him about it, or shouldn't I. Why not? It won't hurt him to know it. "Maria Hill will be in Europe in few hours to help you with Death Eaters issus that seems to be popping out of nowhere."
"I would have lied if I said that I don't need or don't appreciate your help. I was thinking about sending Banshee to Hogwarts to keep an eye on things. But with her nosing around, he might be too much."
"Banshee?" Fury asked, if he is pushed to sending Banshee to watch out for troubles at Hogwarts, it must be bad, he thought and took a better look at Wisdom. Previously unseen circles around his eyes and lines on his face became visible. Lines that were formed due to hours spent without sleep and hundreds of worries.
"Yes, it's dangerous with Malfoy rousing troubles and he is not the only one that smelled blood in the water," Wisdom said and looked at Fury, "I have a feeling that even those old terrorist groups that went into hiding some time ago, not to mention Purists and Friends of Humanity are rebuilding their structures."
He narrowed his eyes and looked at Wisdom, those weren't good news, if he was going to be honest they were bad, really bad. "If they are doing that, something or someone is trying to increase the stake of this game. Can I borrow Banshee for two and a half of a year or maybe longer?"
"I don't have any better assignment for him so, yes, you can have him. Just don't get him killed and return him in one piece and with all of his limbs working."
Fury laughed at those words and it took him a moment to compose himself and put back his normal mask. "I plan on him being at Xavier's, you should guess why and Charles won't mind some help. As with Purists meddling, Ross might have a brilliant in his opinion idea and attempt to move against mutants."
"I have thought that after this issue with Magneto was settled, there was made an agreement that he will stop his campaign of terror in exchange for mutants not being persecuted."
"There was made an agreement, but you know Ross."
"Point taken." Wisdom said and looked at the dull surface of the windows. "I will get things moving in the UK and hopefully get things under some resemblance of control."
"Good luck." Fury whispered as he watched Wisdom get out of the room. He needs a lot of luck, most likely more than I need, he thought, he is going against Malfoy, Death Eaters and Purists, who seemed to be rearing their ugly heads.
o-0-o
Harry blinked few times and yawned as he woke up to the sunshine, he was still used to the fact that in Asgard windows of his room were on the south side, while here they were on the eastern side. Which was unpleasant and hard to get used to.
He ignored the sun, got out of the bed and made his way to the bathroom to get cleaned and prepared for the day. He was still getting used to being on Earth and not on Asgard, but he didn't mind it. Here he could be himself and do not care too much about the rules of conduct and etiquette which on Asgard would be viciously obeyed. Also some of normal, kind of mundane clothes felt for him better than ones that he would normally wear on Asgard.
With a smile he stepped out of his room and made his way to the common area, it was than that he realized that today was 30th August and that later today he would meet his supposed cousin.
"Morning, sleepyhead," Tony said when he saw him.
"It's not that late," Harry said, sitting down and summoning a plate of toasts that he spotted laying around and looking tasty.
"Yeah, sure. It's only late enough for your dad and Steve to train."
"Which is still early," he said between bites.
"Maybe for you, but most of the civilized world is already awake," Tony said and looked into the air "Jarvis, is everything ready?"
"Yes, sir. Project Oracle is ready," Jarvis said
"Launch it," Tony said and there was a shimmer of air, when it was gone in front of them stood a woman in their late twenties dressed in business clothes and curiously looking around. Only thing that hinted that it wasn't a human being was a faint shimmer around the edges of the body. Otherwise it looked like a human woman, not a hologram.
Harry's eyes widened in surprise, he didn't expect Tony to figure it out so quickly. "You developed a corporeal body for her? That fast?" He asked as he glanced at Tony.
Tony smiled and ruffled Harry's hair. "Most of the components were already done, it just needed to be put together and here you have it."
"It's awesome," Harry said and finished his toast, he put down the plate and looked at Tony. "Where is Clint?"
"Where do you expect him to be?" Tony asked
"Right, archery range," Harry said to himself, walked back to his room and grabbed his bow and a quiver of arrows. When he entered the range he saw Hawkeye launch arrows into targets at the end of the lane. He was used to a really good archery on Asgard, but seeing Hawkeye fire with an even greater ease than Ullr made him gape like a fish.
"Still impressed by my shooting?" Hawkeye asked as he finally noticed that he was not alone in the room.
"Yes," Harry said and walked to another lane. Just in case he looked around to see if there were any people in his way. Spotting nobody, he notched an arrow and drew the bow, aiming at the target at the end of the lane.
He muted out the noise from the rest of the world and focused on the target in front of him, after he released the first arrow, the rest of his shots became mechanical, he was getting a new arrow out of his quiver, notching it and releasing.
"Good job," Hawkeye said getting him out of his musings, he looked at him, curiosity in his eyes. "All of your shots in the bullseye and I don't think that you want to play with a harder scenario today as it's your great day."
"No," Harry said and walked to the target to get arrows out of it and put them back in the quiver. "Clint, how did you get so good with archery?" He asked as he joined Hawkeye.
Clint looked at him for a moment, as if considering if he should tell him. "I worked in circuits for some time and I was always a good archer, you know that with practice you can get far, don't you."
"Can't you not remind me about practice part?" Harry asked and made Clint chuckle.
"It's a true thing," he said ruffling Harry's hair as they walked out of the range and came face to face with Thor.
"So that's where the two of you disappeared," Thor said, "I should have expected that, you spend hours there."
"Or climbing," Clint added with a smile, "So I don't see anything bad in it."
"Try climbing into Hogwarts in the middle of night."
"Did that, wasn't that hard honestly, this tower took me more time."
"What you didn't do?" Harry asked
"A couple of things," Clint said and looked at Thor, "Do you want me to drive the two of you to the Institute or are you going to fly there?"
Thor looked at Harry "It's up to you, although flying there might not be the best idea."
"Yeah," Harry said, "So can you drive us there?"
"Meet me at the garage of the tower, " Clint said before disappearing and leaving father and son alone.
"Are you going to take all of your weapons with you?" Thor asked as they slowly walked to Harry's room.
"Yes," Harry said as he glanced at his dad, "Should I not take them?"
"No, I was just asking."
Harry took a long look at his dad, something was not amiss, he just couldn't figure out what it was. "Dad, do you suspect troubles to follow me to the Institute?"
Thor sighed and was silent for a moment. "I will put it that way, the Institute tends to draw the attention of less than savoury elements of the society and all kinds of shady-looking individuals. So you should guess why I wouldn't mind you being armed when there."
"Yeah," Harry said, he heard more than enough about shady-looking people to know that they usually meant a lot of trouble. "Without, it could be a troublesome thing. So what should I expect from it?"
"That you will have fun, enjoy yourself, meet new people and learn new things. Also there is Warren Worthington III, your older cousin."
He nodded as he entered his room and looked around, thinking what else he was going to take to the Institute. He waved his hand around the room, making clothes, underwear and hundreds of other things fly towards his bag and fold neatly inside of it. "About Warren, what I can expect from him?"
"If he is anything like his father expect someone that is kind of arrogant, cold to ones that he doesn't know and or trust, if you get to know him, you will see a different person," Thor said and added after a moment, "Also he might be a bit of a show off, Worthington family is one of the richest families on Earth."
Harry nodded as he was focused on packing his stuff, he zipped the bag in which was his bow and two quivers of arrows, each containing twenty of them, as well as several other dangerous or lethal things. He lifted it and threw onto one that held his armor and several other things that he could need.
"What did you take from the armory?" Thor asked as he looked at those bags.
"The usual things," Harry said as he lifted them, threw over the shoulder and looked at his dad, "It was you who suggested, I should take them, so I decided to do so."
"I was just checking," Thor said, "Since you seem to be ready, let's go and find Hawkeye."
Harry nodded and followed his dad to the garages that were on the subterranean level of the Tower, just out of sight and mind of most of people.
o-0-o
The first word that came to Harry's mind when he saw the Institute was that it is interesting or at least it looked as such. He could see a castle located in the middle of sprawling garden and surrounded by an old forest. It didn't look as impressive as the Avengers Tower looked, but it had something special to it. Something that made it more unique and special than the Tower ever was going to be.
In the Tower everything was made out of steel or glass, or both of those things, here he could see stone, brick and glass, as well as plenty of wood. Also it was an old place, while the Tower was brand new, not even a decade old. This looked like it was at least a century, if not more, older than the Tower.
"It looks the same way it looked when I last saw it," Thor said, bringing Harry out of his musings.
"You were here?" Hawkeye asked
"During the War we used it to rest away from Voldemort and to heal. It was one of the most secure and best defended places, also SHIELD was closer than it was on the other side of the ocean, " Thor said and glanced at Harry, "What do you think about it?"
"I like it," Harry said, "While I also like the tower, this place has something special to it... Something that draws me towards it and puts me at ease."
"That would be an effect that Professor X has on everybody and it's combined with the powers of other telepaths," Thor said, "You know how Atalanta can influence your emotions and feelings if she wishes to?"
"Yes"
"That's the same, just much, much more powerful and on a much larger scale," Thor said, and smiled, "Considering that most of this place inhabitants are teens with various powers and temper issues, it's one of reasons why it is still standing intact."
"Well, we are here," Hawkeye said as he pulled his car to a stop in front of the entrance into the mansion, "Thor, should I wait for you or are you getting back to the Tower your way?"
"I will take a trip to Asgard first," Thor said, as they got out of the car.
Harry looked around curiously, noticing more of the details of the place that made it look and feel even warmer and more welcoming. However something deep inside of his mind told him to be on guard and watch out for something watching them. With a corner of his eye he saw a couple of leaves move, something that a human wouldn't spot. "We aren't alone, are we?" He asked, glancing at his dad.
"Good eye." Thor smiled "He is most likely trying to test you." He looked towards one of the bushes and said loudly, "Logan, you can come out of hiding. Unless you want me to make you come out?"
"No need for that," Came gruffy reply and they were joined by a man that Harry earlier saw with Professor Xavier at the Tower,"The name is Wolverine and by the looks of it I will be one of your teachers," he said as he joined them.
"A pleasure, I guess," Harry said and took a better look at Wolverine. He looks like a warrior or a soldier and is far older than his look suggest, Harry thought.
"Professor wants to meet you so I will take you to him," Wolverine said and turned to Thor, "He will be fine here, so no need for your presence, also Storm dislikes when she can't control the weather and it looks like you brought a storm with ya." He indicated a swirling mass of clouds that was moving towards the Institute. They were dark and heavy, the kind of them that usually created storms.
Thor glanced towards those clouds and they stopped in their tracks, disappearing as quickly as they appeared. "Happy?" He asked turning towards Wolverine.
"Yes," Wolverine said and looked at Harry, "You don't freak out at such things?"
Harry only chuckled at those words, it was a funny question in his opinion, considering that Thor was his dad, which even after four years of living on Asgard still boggled his mind from time to time. He knew that it was true, yet sometimes it was so hard to comprehend that his mind was in denial. "I've living on Asgard for last few years, so no, I do not freak out when I see them."
"Than you will like it here." Wolverine looked at Thor. "I guess that you can come."
"Thank you for your graceful invitation," Thor dryly said as they followed Wolverine into the mansion.
They do not like each other, or at least aren't the best of friends, Harry thought as he looked at his dad and Wolverine, Or they are just used to being in charge and when the other appears they have issues with each other. Though, there is something more to them, some sort of a respect and maybe even more.
The way mansion looked inside only confirmed Harry's original feelings about it. It was feeling warm and inviting, its wooden floors, comfortably looking worn-out armchairs and sofas, paintings adorning the walls and a sculpture or two only made those feelings even stronger. "It looks good," he said after a moment, carefully looking around.
"You didn't see the best part of it," Wolverine said, "But that will comes later, now the Professor wants to see you."
Harry nodded as they followed Wolverine into the mansion, they climbed up two flights of stairs and came to a stop in front of frosted glass doors. The moment Thor reached to open them, they slid on their own and they saw a spacious office and behind the desk was sitting Professor Xavier.
"Good to see you, Thor and Harry," He said when they entered his office, Wolverine followed them in and leaned against the wall, standing like a watchful bodyguard, just waiting for their mistakes. Even if he looked relaxed, Harry could tell that Wolverine was far from being careless and the moment someone would do something that didn't sit well with him, he would strike. "Thor, while I know that you want to accompany Harry, I would like to speak with him about few things in private. Do you mind that?"
Thor looked at him and Harry nodded. "Can you leave us alone, please dad?"
Thor smiled, ruffled Harry's hair much to his annoyance and left the room, followed by Wolverine.
"They don't like each other." Harry took a guess when doors closed behind Wolverine. He sat in one of chairs and threw the bags with his things onto the ground.
"In a way, yes," Professor X said and Harry looked at him, "But they hold each other in great respect, yet tend to compete. However I want to talk with you, without any foreign influence on you, influence that can make us make decisions that we do to please someone, while our heart wants something else."
"I understand," Harry said as he took a better, more detailed look of Professor X, he could see kindness and warmth in his eyes, yet there was also hardness and toughness hid behind those warm flickers.
"Do you have any idea why do I want to talk with you?"
"About being a mutant and me being at the Institute?" Harry reluctantly said and looked at the Professor "Or maybe it's also about my cousin?"
"Indeed," Professor X said and Harry curiously tilted his head, "At the Institute blood or your background doesn't matter, so I won't tolerate you using your Prince of Asgard status to get anything. You are free to do whatever you wish to do, as long as it doesn't endanger other people or it doesn't invade their privacy. Is that so far clear?"
Harry nodded, those rules made a lot of sense to him and he was kind of used to someone ignoring the fact that he was a Prince and on Asgard some of his tutors didn't even acknowledge his title, simply referring to him by his name.
"Good," Professor X said and smiled, "Now onto the matter of your cousin, he is a bit arrogant and might have issues with you being his cousin, at least until he gets used to it, so don't be hard on him."
"Okay," Harry said with a curt nod.
"About the Institute, I asked one of the students to give you a tour, you will be also his roommate," Professor said and at the same time doors opened, Harry's gaze immediately darted towards them he could see a dark-haired and dark-skinned teen with brown eye step in.
"What do you want, Professor?" Stranger asked as he walked past Harry and took a seat in one of free chairs.
"Harry, this is Roberto da Costa, Roberto, this is Harry Potter. Can you give him a tour and would you mind having him as your roommate?"
Roberto was silent for a moment. "Why not, so Harry, do you have anything else to do here?"
He looked at Professor X who shook his head and than looked at Roberto. "No, so how about I will show you the room and later give you a tour?"
"That's fine with me," Harry said as he got up and grabbed his bags.
"One more thing, Harry," Professor X said and Harry looked at the Professor and saw him holding a necklace in hand, it was a silver X placed inside of a black circle and it was hanging on a silver chain. He threw it at Harry and he easily caught it.
"What's that?"
"A symbol of the Institute and us." Roberto explained as he fished out a similar one.
As Harry followed Roberto through the Institute he could easily tell that he was going to like him, he seemed like an easy-going and friendly person. As they talked Harry came to like Roberto even more. They navigated through the maze of corridors and after a moment Roberto stopped in front of the doors that were at the end of the corridor. He pushed doors open and looked at Harry.
"That's my and from now also yours room." Roberto explained and he nodded.
As they stepped in, Harry took a look around and nodded in approval. It wasn't big, but was more than large enough to be comfortable, walls of it were painted in pleasant, neutral colors, there were two beds, over one of them were a couple of posters and there was a bit of a mess that suggested that someone used it, there were also few drawers and a wardrobe or two, a couple of shelves, desks and everything that they could ever need. There were also doors leading into en suite bathroom.
"Not bad," Harry said as he looked around the room with a smile on his lips, he threw onto his bed bags and plopped down. He felt good here, good and comfortable.
"Good that you like it," Roberto said, "There are only a few of us right now, as most of us or at least some spends whole or only a part of their holidays with their families, so they will return tomorrow."
"Oh, so that's why it is so empty," Harry said as he saw during their walk here that there were far too many rooms than there were people they had met.
"Exactly, which is also a perfect opportunity for the tour of the whole thing as nobody will be in our way." Roberto paused and frowned, "At least nobody that would cause issues or is an annoying person."
"Lead than." Harry stood up and walked to the doors, Roberto only smiled and nodded.
o-0-o
Amelia Bones was used to a lot of weird things happening, some of them weirder that the rest, but the thing that she didn't expect was to see a cloaked and hooded person sit in one of chairs inside of her office as if it belonged to him. He is either really sure of himself or just plain arrogant, she thought. "Who are you?" She asked as she leveled her wand at him.
"Who I am is unimportant at the moment," he said standing up and pacing inside of her office, not even caring about her wand following his every movement. He stopped and turned to look at her. "Important is the reason why I am here and what might be consequences of my presence being discovered."
Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she took a better look at him, trying to see if she could spot any hint of who he was and how he had gotten into her office. She didn't spot anything that hinted that he was a person she shouldn't trust, so she waved her wand and wards surrounding the room came alive.
"Good choice," Stranger said, she could swear that she had heard some satisfaction in his voice, "Now let's get down to business, what I want from you is a simple thing, call off the hunt for Sirius Black or at least make it stay far away from Europe and North America and make dementors be gone from Hogwarts. More important for me or at least for one that I'm representing is to make dementors be gone from Hogwarts."
She was silent for a moment, considering his words and trying to see if he was saying them in jest or not. He is serious and want take no as an answer, she thought. "Who is the one that you are working for?"
"One that stood along your side during last war," he said and her eyes widened when she realized who was standing in front of her. She didn't expect to see him here, not now and not with Fudge looking for a single reason to fire someone.
"You are working for SHIELD?"
"For whom I work is not important, I think that we both know the importance of secrecy and being careful," he said and once again started pacing across her office, "Minister Fudge makes our job a difficult task and if you are able to remove dementors from Hogwarts we will be grateful. So what is your answer?"
She took a deep breath and nodded. "I will do it."
Her guest moved upwards part of his hood and she blinked when she saw a blue eye looking at her, before she had a chance to say a word he was gone from her office. She looked around, trying to see him, but he was gone, as if the wards placed around the room were nothing.
She let out a sigh and walked to her desk, she sat down in the chair placed behind it and was silent for a moment, allowing her mind to wrap itself around what happened. If he is one that I think he is, than Fudge did something incredibly stupid, she thought and picked up a fresh sheet of parchment and a quill.
She dipped the tip of her quill in an inkwell and smoothed out of the parchment, she started writing and her thoughts turned into words.
o-0-o
"It doesn't look bad," Harry said as he stood on one of the terraces of the Institute and looked at the calm grounds, that surrounded it. He inhaled the air and easily smelled hundreds of flowers and trees.
"The best things you are yet to discover," Roberto smiled and Harry looked at him.
"What else is here that is going to impress me?"
"Things that are hidden here," Roberto smirked and indicated a set of basketball and volleyball courts. "Can you see a thin black line running between them? It's hard to spot, but you should be able to see it."
Harry squinted his eyes and followed Roberto's finger, he could see a faint line, almost impossible to spot. He frowned as he looked at it, it is too straight to be a naturally made one, so it must lead somewhere, he thought and looked at Roberto. "There is a line and it is too even to be a thing done by the nature, so I guess that it leads somewhere."
"You will discover where it leads in few days," Roberto said with a smug smile, "But that's not my thing to tell."
"If not yours, than whose?" Harry asked as he looked at his friend, he knows it, yet he won't tell me, he thought.
"Professor and several other people, but I can't," Roberto said and looked at him, "Although you should learn about it rather quickly."
"Rather quickly?" Harry arched an eyebrow.
"You will see, but I would say in the first few days or weeks of your stay at the Institute, as long as you prove that you are one that can think and is somewhat intelligent, you will get it."
"It sounds like a challenge and I like challenges," Harry grinned
Roberto nodded "You can think of it as a challenge, as it is a challenge in a way."
Harry for a moment was silent as he was thinking about the things that Roberto had told him. It seems like a nice place to be at and dad was right that there is more to it, he thought, he moved a strand of hair out of his eyes and looked at Roberto. "Why everybody is calling Professor Xavier, Professor X?"
Roberto looked at him and blinked a couple of times. "I didn't tell you about it, did I?"
"You didn't," Harry smirked, "So can you enlighten me about those things?"
"The shortest explanation is that all of us chose a nickname or a code name if you prefer, mutants in general aren't liked and we are safer with using nicknames. Also there is a second reason, equally important, when it comes to combat we want to have an enemy with a normal name ans a face that we can assign to it."
"So when they hear a random word they are unsure of whom they're fighting?" Harry asked.
"Yes, my nickname is Sunspot, your cousins is Angel, Logan is Wolverine, Vice Principal is Storm."
"Can I choose a whatever thing I want as a nickname?"
"Usually someone from staff or older students chooses them for newbies, but I guess that we can forget about this rule. Just make sure that it sounds ominous and has something in common with you," Roberto said and grinned.
Harry was silent for a moment as he thought about the name that he would like to use. He wants it ominous and something that has a common trait with me, he mused, on Asgard I use Black Wolf. He paused when a nice idea wandered into his mind. "What about a Black Eagle?"
"Not the worst idea," Roberto smiled and looked at him, "Why did you choose it?"
"Because of my nickname on Asgard, Black Wolf," Harry said and Roberto's eyes widened in a mix of shock and surprise.
"Hold on for a second, you are an Asgardian?"
"Half-blood one and if you want to be proper use Æsir."
Roberto was silent for a moment and shook his head. "So let me get this straight, you are a half-blood Æsir that is also a mutant, Angel is your cousin, you decided to come to the Institute, is there anything more that I should know?"
"No," Harry said and looked at Roberto, "Do you have any problems with me being an Æsir?"
"No," Roberto said and looked at Harry, "It's just weird, crazy and freakish at the same time, but I should get used to it in a couple of days, after certain point you don't freak out when you hear something like that."
"Good," Harry said and looked towards the horizon, "So what I can expect from the Institute that you didn't tell me yet?"
"Slacking off isn't tolerated by some of the staff and they have rather interesting ways of motivating you to do what you should do," Roberto said and grinned, "But they are friendly and you should come to like them."
Harry nodded, he felt good at the Institute, safe and at ease. He smiled as they started to talk about less important and more certainly more pleasant topics.
o-0-o
Dumbledore smiled as he saw heads of houses enter his office, he could feel curiosity and interest in their posture and behavior. They didn't know why he had wanted to talk with them and about what. They just need to accept this project, he thought and waited for them to take places in seats around his desk.
"Albus, what's the reason for this meeting right before the beginning of the year?" Minerva McGonagall asked "You rarely call them and this one is without any prior warning or notice."
"I decided to call it because of an offer made to me by one Professor Xavier, one that you should know," he said and didn't miss slightly widened eyes of Minerva McGonagall and Filius Flitwick, "Yes, one that has helped us in the war against Voldemort and is running school for mutants in the USA. He has offered to initiate a student exchange project with his school, one that would begin from this school year."
"What our students can learn from those mutants?" Severus Snape asked, his voice dripping with disdain and lack of respect.
Dumbledore only sighed and folded hands on his desk. I should have expected that kind of reaction, he thought and looked at Snape. "Many things that they would be unable to learn here. I decided to accept it and we reached an agreement that we will send a group of four students during third week of September and my decision on this is final."
"So why did you want to see us?" Flitwick asked
"So that you can choose people that in your opinion are good choices for it, I want people that are bright, tolerant, can think and know how to behave. Also they need to have good enough grades to be able to keep up with their studies on their own and won't have difficulties with catching up."
"Which means someone from my Ravens, Pomona's Badgers or Minerva's Lions," Flitwick said and everybody focused their attention on the old dwarf, "I was thinking about Nyphadora Tonks, maybe Charlie Weasley, Oliver Wood and Cedric Diggory. How do they sound?"
"A good choice, I would like you to escort them to my office right after the Sorting and Feast is done. I will explain the thing to them and if they agree, they are going to be sent to Xavier's. I'm not going to reveal it during the feast to the whole school and I ask you not to reveal it to your house."
The moment they had left the room he heard a faint noise and felt someone with immense amounts of power appear in the room. "Perfect idea and it will be a good thing for them," Newly arrived said.
He turned around and came face to face with Prince Loki. "Your Highness, you could have warned me of your arrival." Dumbledore said and added in lighter voice "This will serve them well and help all of us."
"Indeed," Loki said, sly smile on his lips, "It seems that the matters around the world are getting more energetic and more players are coming into the game. Some of them choosing sides I wouldn't expect from them."
"Such as?"
"One Emma Frost or certain Dolores Jane Umbridge," Loki said and tilted his head, "Frost did a thing that I approve, while it seems that Dolores wants to tickle a sleeping dragon. But than, not everybody has enough common sense not to do stupid things. What they are going to do, only the time will show."
"Indeed." Dumbledore said, hopefully no wars, or no serious wars will break out, he thought. "I just hope that it will calm down on its own."
Loki chuckled and shook his head. "You are a wise person, but a gullible one. This all goes towards a confrontation or two, question how soon and who will cause it. But for now there should be peace, at least for some time. For how long, we will see."
"Hopefully for long."
"Hopefully, I bid you a good day, but I will be watching you and looking for the slightest sign of your treason," Loki said and disappeared with a flourish. Dumbledore only watched the spot where the Trickster was, last words made him worried of the future to come.
o-0-o
"Roberto, where are we going next?" Harry asked as he looked at Roberto.
"Well, there are few places that I can show you," Roberto said and looked at him, "But please, don't use Roberto, it makes me feel old. If you want to use my name, use Bobby or Sunspot."
"Fine, I have the same thing on Asgard where everybody calls me His Highness or Prince Harald," Harry said with a grin as they once again started walking through the Institute, he was starting to really like the place. It was a maze of corridors, but they felt warm and inviting.
"There is a gym that you might like, classrooms I won't show you as I want not to think about them and school or learning things, at least not yet. We have a swimming pool and a couple of other things that you should like."
"We might start from a gym," Harry said and Bobby nodded and turned around the corner, walking into a smaller, narrower corridor. From the other side of it, towards them was walking a red haired girl, for Harry she seemed to be around sixteen or so, but than the age can be misleading, he thought.
"Hello Jean," Bobby warmly said.
"Hey Bobby," She said and her gaze landed on Harry, he felt as if something was attempting to look through him and into his soul and mind. "A newbie?"
"Did you expect someone else?" Bobby asked and chuckled, "Harry, this is Jean Gray, Jean, this is Harry Potter. He is also a cousin of Angel."
"No," She said and Harry could see some amusement in her eyes. Yet there was something more to them, same hardness as he had seen in the eyes of his uncle or grandfather. There is more to her than she shows, he thought. "Have fun showing him around the place. It was a pleasure to meet ya."
"She's a girlfriend of your cousin," Bobby said as they got away from her, "By the way how old are you?"
"How old do I look for?" Harry asked, sly smile on his lips.
Bobby was silent for a moment. "I would guess around fourteen or so." Harry at those words laughed. "Did I say something funny?" Bobby asked.
"No, " Harry said, trying to control his reaction, "I'm just twelve, we tend to grow up faster."
Bobby shook his head and looked at Harry. "You call that growing up faster? You just made me and probably a better part of the Institute jealous, very jealous."
"I try my hardest," Harry said and looked at Bobby, "So where is this gym?"
The rest of his first day at the Institute Harry spent discovering its nooks and crannies with Roberto as well as getting to know his supposed roommate and trying to memorize the layout of the building.