A/N - Here's the next chapter. Not much to say this week so let's get right down to business.

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. I make no money from this and the only thing that's mine are the original parts of the story.

7) A QUIET MORNING

"What should we do with the rest of the day?" asked Harry once Mrs. Weasley had gone inside, Bill and Charlie had both left and Mr. Weasley and Percy had both decided to check in at the ministry leaving the younger kids to their own devices.

"Tell us – " said Fred.

"About more – " said George.

"Of your adventures – "

"With the X-Men."

"Aah, you don't want to hear about that stuff" said Harry.

"Yes we do" said the twins together and Ginny was nodding her head along with Ron and Hermione.

"Okay" said Harry with a shrug. For much of the afternoon Harry told them about some of the adventures he'd had with the X-Men as well as meeting the Avengers and Spider-Man. Ron and Hermione had heard this stuff from Harry the previous April but they found it interesting even hearing it a second time. As for Ginny and the Twins they seemed to be enthralled by what he was telling them. When it was put into words, Harry realized, his adventures with the X-Men did make for some good stories.

"I wish I was an X-Men" said George.

"Me too" said Fred, "it sounds wicked."

"It is" said Harry, "but you don't want to be part of the team. I know I made it sound exciting and fun. It's exciting but not because it's fun. It's anything but fun. It has its perks – being able to fly in public is a big one – but it doesn't change the fact that it's serious stuff. You'll see when you visit the mansion. You can watch one of our training sessions. Then you might understand. I think Ron and Hermione already understand, right?" Hermione nodded her head. Ron thought about it for a few seconds and then he started nodding too.

"Yeah" Ron said, "I wouldn't call the stuff we did when you were at Hogwarts fun."

"Certainly not" said Hermione, "almost getting killed by a troll – "

"Or trying to save the Philosopher's Stone –" said Ron.

"Or the basilisk" finished Harry, "they make great stories now but at the time?"

"I could have done without most of it" said Ron, "especially meeting Aragog and his family."

"No kidding" said Harry and the conversation move on to other topics.

The next morning Harry got up early as usual and went downstair to do his morning workout. Once he was finished with that he went back upstairs and took a shower after which he headed back to Ron's room to get dressed. In the hall outside Ron's room he passed Mrs. Weasley who had just gotten up and was heading downstairs to start breakfast. After saying good morning to her Harry went back into Ron's room. Ron was still asleep and Harry moved quietly so as not wake him. He looked out the window at the beautiful morning outside. It was calling to him to come out and fly. He knew he had a bit of time before breakfast would be ready so he pulled out his X-Man uniform and got into it before heading out of the room and back down the stairs.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs he saw Mrs. Weasley just coming out of the kitchen.

"Good morning again Mrs. Weasley" Lightning said to her.

"Thank you Harry dear" she said, "why are you in your uniform? Are we in danger?"

"No" said Lightning, "I just thought I'd take an early morning flight before breakfast. I do have time for that, right?"

"Yes" Mrs. Weasley said, "but what if someone sees you?"

"So what if they do?" said Lightning with a shrug, "it's no risk to the Statute of Secrecy if that's what you're worried about. Believe me, I gladly take advantage of being able to fly in public. How much time do I have before breakfast?"

"Oh" said Mrs. Weasley, "about 20 minutes."

"Then I'll see you in about 20 minutes" said Lightning giving her a little wave and heading outside. Mrs. Weasley followed him to the back door and watched him take off. She shook her head a little as she saw him climb high into the air, circle around once to wave at her, and then go flying off into the distance but she couldn't keep a smile from her face as she did so.

"Boys will be boys" she said in a fond voice before turning around and going back inside to make breakfast.

Lightning made wide circles around the area and got a pretty good look at Ottery St. Catchpole from the air. It seemed to be a mix of muggle and magical. The town center was obviouly muggle but some of the houses out in the country away from the middle of town looked very much like they might be magical. The Burrow, for instance, was quite obviously a magical building. Not far away from it Lightning saw another building that gave off a magical feeling. It was a large round tower that looked like a giant chess rook. As he circled above it Lightning wondered who lived there. He didn't stick around to see if anyone might be home as he had to get back to the Burrow for breakfast. He circled back around and returned to the Weasley house.

Back at the Burrow everyone was now up and assembling in the kitchen for breakfast.

"Where's Harry?" asked Hermione as she sat down at the breakfast table.

"He went out for a short flight" said Mrs. Weasley gathering up the finished food and bringing it to the table, "he should be back – oh here he is now." Everyone turned and saw Lightning entering the kitchen.

"Good morning everyone" he said before reaching up and pulling off his mask, "did I get back in time?"

"Yes Harry" said Mrs. Weasley, "come sit down and have your breakfast."

"Thank you" said Harry who sat down between Ron and Hermione. He pulled off his gloves and put them on his lap.

"Do you always wear your uniform when you fly?" asked Percy.

"I have to" said Harry, "it's safer that way, otherwise people might see who I really am and that would not be good."

"Why not?" asked Percy.

"Percy, think about it" said Bill, "if people knew who he was then his enemies might know too."

"Exactly" said Harry nodding his head, "a lot of superheroes keep their identities secret. If our enemies knew who we were they might try to go after us either by attacking us in our homes or by targeting our loved ones. Also there are those out there who don't like super powered people whether they're mutants or not."

"It sounds like why we have the Statute of Secrecy" said Mr. Weasley, "it's a matter of safety – our safety."

"Right" said Harry.

"Not all superheroes hide their identities" said Hermione, "the Fantastic Four don't."

"They're exceptions though" said Harry, "and the downside is that everyone knows where to find them, including their enemies. Dr. Doom has gone after them at home more than once."

"Dr. – " began Fred.

"Doom?" finished George.

"Later" said Hermione waving them off, "you're right about that, but even when they wear masks people often know where to find them. Look at Iron Man. Everyone knows he's Tony Stark's personal bodyguard."

"That's true" said Harry, "but other than Mr. Stark and maybe a few others nobody knows who Iron Man is when he takes off his armor and goes home. And then there's Spider-Man – "

"Oi!" said Ron, "every time you mention him you make me nervous."

"There's no need for that" said Harry, "he's not a human version of Aragog."

"Don't remind me!" said Ron.

"Anyway" said Harry, "nobody knows who Spider-Man is. I've met him and I don't know who he really is. Of course he doesn't know who I really am either so I guess it balances out."

After breakfast was over both Mr. Weasley and Percy had to go work so they said goodbye to Harry before leaving the house. Bill and Charlie also were heading out, the former to go back to Egypt and the latter to return to Romania. The twins went up to their room without saying what they were up to which made Harry think they were working on new prank ideas.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all got up from the table to go outside when Mrs. Weasley asked Harry to stay for a moment. Ron said they would be down by the pond before leaving the house with Hermione and Ginny.

"What do you need?" Harry asked Mrs. Weasley when they were alone.

"Harry dear" she said, "you know we all care about you."

"Yes" said Harry.

"I know it's not my business but I'm worried about you and the X-Men."

"You're not the only one" said Harry, "Sirius worries about us, as does Remus, and Professor Xavier. Actually we worry about ourselves all the time."

"Then why – no, I remember what Professor Xavier said. Your team is meant to defend against evil mutants. I understand that someone has to do that, but why you? Wouldn't you be too young?"

"Normally you'd probably be right" said Harry, "I know since forming the X-Men the professor has decided not to add any more team members unless they're at least 18."

"But what about you?"

"My reason for joining the team is very specific" said Harry who then became as serious as Mrs. Weasley had ever seen him.

"Voldemort's not dead Mrs. Weasley" he said, "I've met him twice already, three times if you include when I was a baby. I know you probably think I should let the adults handle him. I'd be happy to but Professor Dumbledore is convinced that he'll keep coming after me whether I like it or not. I think he's right and I don't want to be helpless when he does. I went to the X-Men not just to learn how to control and use my mutant powers after they woke up but also to learn how to fight, really fight, something Hogwarts just didn't have for me. As you might have seen two nights ago it's working. I don't know if I can beat Voldemort in a duel but at least I won't be an easy target now. And my teammates have all said they'll help me when I have to face Voldemort again."

"He won't expect that" said Mrs. Weasley.

"I hope not" said Harry, "besides I'm happy as one of the team."

"All right Harry" said Mrs. Weasley, "I guess I can't argue with you about this, but I'll worry."

"That's okay Mrs. Weasley" said Harry as he pulled his mask back on and then began putting on his gloves, "you wouldn't be you if you didn't worry and I doubt any of us want that."

Lightning left the Weasley kitchen and headed out behind the house where he found Ron, Hermione, and Ginny down by the pond.

"Aren't you going to change out of your uniform?" asked Hermione.

"I don't think so" said Lightning, "when I get back home it's going to be right around the time regular training starts. Why should I change out of my uniform when I'll just have to get back into it as soon as I get there? Besides – " and he looked a bit bashful " – I like my uniform."

"Oh?" said Hermione, "because it lets you fly whenever you want?"

"That's a very big part of it" said Lightning, "I don't know how to explain the rest of it. It's almost like I'm someone else when I'm Lightning, not Harry Potter. And I feel like I'm part of something that's bigger than me and that matters, if you know what I mean? Eh, I probably sound stupid saying this stuff."

"No, you don't" said Ron.

"Let's just say sometimes it's nice to be Lightning without having to face a supervillain" Lightning said, "also I just like it." He bent over, picked up a pebble and flicked it out at the pond. It bounced ten times on the water before falling into the pond.

"You're getting better" said Ron sounding impressed.

"No I'm not" said Lightning, "I cheated that time with my telekinesis on the last several bounces. Here's how I'm really doing." He picked up another stone and flicked it. It bounced three times.

"I see" said Ron, "still not bad."

"Thanks" said Lightning. They all looked out over the pond in silence for a few minutes.

"Say" said Lightning, rousing himself, "doesn't Luna Lovegood live near here?"

"Yes" said Ron gesturing in a direction, "the Lovegoods live over that way in the Rookery. It's a unique house. It looks like a chess rook."

"I saw it earlier" said Lightning, "you're right. You can't miss it."

"How do you know Luna?" asked Ginny. She still seemed to have an easier time talking to Lightning than she did talking to Harry.

"I don't really know her" said Lightning, "I met her at Hogwarts last April when I was wandering around the school before the feast. She knew who I was even though I was masked. I don't know how, but she did. Professor Dumbledore thinks she may be a seer because she often seems to know stuff that she shouldn't."

"That's Luna for you" said Ginny, "I can floo her house and invite her over."

"Okay" said Lightning, "I don't mind if no one else does."

"Please invite her Ginny" said Ron. Ginny ran off to the house.

"Have you ever met Luna?" Ron asked Hermione who shook her head, "she's a real character. Pretty nice but strange. People at Hogwarts often call her Loony Lovegood."

"I hope you don't do that" said Lightning.

"I have" admitted Ron, "but now that I know she might be a seer I never will again."

"I bloody well hope not" said Lightning.

"Language" said Hermione but more out of habit than anything else.

"Just don't ever get into an argument with her" Ron said to Hermione, "you can't win, no matter what you say." That made Hermione's eyebrows go up but before she could say anything Ginny was coming back out of the house with Luna next to her.

"Hi Luna" said Lightning, "nice to see you again."

"You too Harry" said Luna in a dreamy voice, "I hear you've been having an exciting visit."

"That's one way of putting it" said Lightning, "I certainly didn't expect an attack at the Quidditch World Cup."

"Yes, there certainly were a lot of wrackspurts around those Death Eaters" said Luna.

"Wrackspurts?" asked Hermione.

"They're little almost invisible creatures that enter a person's head and make their thoughts go fuzzy" said Luna.

"I've never heard of such creatures" said Hermione sounding very doubtful that they could be real.

"Doesn't mean they're not real" said Lightning, "if I've learned one thing this past year it's that the world is a much larger and more diverse place than I ever thought it was."

"That's what comes from travel" said Luna, "it really does broaden the mind."

"I concede both points" said Hermione.

"I told my mentor about wrackspurts" said Lightning to Luna, "he said that it sounds like they must have some telepathic ability. He and Marvel Girl are telepaths and they can both do to a person what you say wrackspurts can do. If they can do it why shouldn't there be a creature out there that can do it too?"

"Your mentor is wise" said Luna, "if he ever decides to look for them I think he'll find them."

"Considering that he found me and all of my teammates" said Lightning, "I wouldn't be a bit surprised."

After lunch Lightning went and grabbed the pack with his stuff, said goodbye to Hermione and the Weasleys and took a portkey back to the X-Mansion. He arrived in the front hall and Professor Xavier met him there.

"Ah, Harry" the professor said, "welcome back. I see you're already in uniform. Good. Go put your bag away and join us in the Danger Room. You're just in time for training."

"What a surprise" said Lightning rolling his eyes a bit before going upstairs to his room. When he got there he found a pile of presents sitting on the floor next to his bed and remembered that all of his birthday presents had been sent here so they wouldn't be a bother during his trip. He couldn't stop to open any of them right then but he was happy to see them. He put his bag on the bed, turned around to leave the room and went downstairs to join the team for training.

(To Be Continued)

A/N - That's all for now. Shorter chapter this week I know. That's the way it goes sometimes. Please take a moment to leave me some feedback. Constructive comments are always welcome but no flames or trolls please. As always stay safe ad well everyone.