A STRANGER IN THE WOODS
Chapter 2: Surprises
Thinking his chances of getting more information might be easier if he pumped the kid for it, Wolverine caught up to the boy and strode beside him, the half-giant a good length ahead of them and apparently not listening to them...good!
Harry glanced up and over at him, his eyes gleaming with questions he was dying to ask.
"Ask...I won't bite," Wolverine reassured him.
The boy flashed an eager smile then gave Hagrid a quick glance before deciding it was safe to speak. After all, Hagrid had told him not to at the cabin. "What is a mutant?" He asked in a low tone.
Just the opening I wanted, Wolverine thought, answering with the shortest explanation he could. "Mutants are humans actually, but with something extra. That something could be as bizarre as changing their body to ice, diamond, fire, or even steel; being capable of flight with real wings or using sound to do it or teleporting, or not looking human at all...a biped furry beast or something that looks like a devil with a tail. Some can even speak mind to mind or lift things with their mind alone. The types of mutations are endless but we are few. Normal humans outnumber us about a thousand to one but despite that fact they still fear us because we're different. However, from the beginning of time, humans have always fear things they don't understand. In the case of mutants, those in charge have tried to regulate us, confine us to camps, or treat us like lab rats. Your every day man on the street on the other hand, just wants us dead. Mutants don't help matters either. Some of them want to be left alone, others want peace with humans, and the ones that cause all the grief and the main reason humans fear us are the ones that want to make humans their slaves. Those are the ones my group fights on a regular basis, trying to keep humankind safe."
Harry listened in fascination and sorrow. Seems muggles cause problems due to fear everywhere, he thought sadly. "So one such battle is how you ended up here. Are you winning and do the mug...I mean humans, thank you for your efforts?"
Wolverine gave the boy a thoughtful look. Those eyes reflected sorrow and understanding not usually seen in one so young. A look I've seen in too many young mutants faces, he thought bitterly. Why can't there be someplace that's safe and happy? Because humans love conflict. Peace would be boring, he answered his own question.
"You might say we're just barely keeping the status quo," he admitted. "And, no, humans don't usually thank us. Sometimes we get intelligent ones that do but most just treat us as if we were just as bad as the ones we saved them from. Occasionally, when I'm feeling particularly depressed, I sometimes think they might be right."
"So even out there in the world, the different is shunned and feared," Harry said, bitterly.
"You sound as if you've encountered such behavior yourself?" Wolverine asked, a little surprised and sad that might be so.
Harry's look was dark and haunted. "You could say that. Muggles have no love for us either."
"That's tough and typical of humankind. Uh...I'm assuming muggles is your word for humans?"
"Yes, it means someone who hasn't any magic." Harry grimaced. "It's derogatory and demeaning and I shouldn't be using it. Calling each other names is just another way to distance ourselves from those we don't want to be associated with. So the world goes on hating. It doesn't help that we encourage that by keeping to ourselves which makes us very much like mutants in that respect."
"Unfortunately, too true." Wolverine gave Harry a look of respect. The kid was pretty young to have come to that conclusion which meant the kid had experienced that nasty prejudice himself but he got the impression Harry didn't want to talk about his past.
"It's surprising how similar we two species are...besides the fact humans fear us equally that is," Harry interrupted the mutant's thoughts.
"How can you say that? A few of us can do magic, sure, but its part of their mutation," Wolverine objected mildly, curious to see what Harry had to say.
"The description of some of those mutations are what we can do with our magic with spells and potions. I'm not all that familiar with all that mutants can do, but wizards can fly on brooms, change shape, alter people's minds, talk mind to mind, and even kill with just a single spell."
Wolverine held up a hand and said, "Hold it...hold it...you can kill with a word?" Harry nodded. "That sounds far-fetched even from where I stand as someone who's seen a lot of strange things. Also, mutants are born with our abilities while you acquire them with your spell and potions. And, I'm assuming, you hide from humans while we're forced to live among them and try to hide ourselves as best we can though those among us that can't pass for human have a harder time of it. So, no, I don't think we're similar."
Harry took on a stubborn look. "I'm sorry but I disagree. We too are born with our abilities. Without a magical core we're no different than an ordinary human. That core is what allows us to perform magic so we can do the very same things you can with our spells and potions. And, unlike a few of you having the skill to move from place to place quickly, all wizards can instantaneously do the same with just a spell or a spelled item. Another, unfortunate similarity is being at war with one who wishes to rule us all then move onto the muggles. So the only difference I see between us is the one you pointed out already...living behind a magical barrier and, apparently, we can kill with only a word. My parents were killed that way when I was but one."
Aw damn. Orphaned young and most likely didn't have a great foster family either. The kid's too much like the one's I've seen and dealt with. Wolverine sighed inwardly, feeling the kid's pain. Okay, so they were the same in many ways even to a war. "Okay, you do have several good points and I'm sorry about your parents. But this war you mention must be secret as no outside your barrier has heard of it." Wolverine was dismayed to be caught in someone else's war. One was enough, thank you very much.
Harry started to answer when he realized they had reached the castle and Hagrid was looking at him unhappily. Blushing from getting caught, Harry quickly shut up and ducked by Hagrid through the door the half-giant was holding open. Wolverine slipped by too then waited until the man closed the door then followed as Hagrid led them through a huge foyer, then up a short, broad staircase before turning down a hall and walking some more before halting in front of an ugly looking stone gargoyle.
Wolverine had looked around as they walked and was shaking his head. It was a medieval castle alright with the normal things you find there and some not so normal. Knights in armor, bardic symbols, fire lit truncheons on the walls...he blinked at that. What...they don't have electricity? And what's with the moving images on every oil painting he passed? Was he in some kind of fun house?
Hagrid cleared his throat and said, 'Bonfire Toffee'. The gargoyle leaped, as if alive, to one side allowing a hidden, spiral stairwell to gradually appear. Hagrid led the way upward once the staircase was fully in view, with Harry then Wolverine following. At the top the man knocked on a heavy oak door.
They heard nothing from within but the door opened all on its own. Hagrid looked a bit uncomfortable but entered anyway with the rest trooping in behind him.
While Hagrid's place was homey and down to earth, this room was firmly in the realm of fantasy. Everywhere Wolverine looked there was something weird and fascinating to see. The walls held weird moving paintings, strange devices, and even stranger looking artifacts and books filled the room's walls, surfaces, and shelves. Nearer to the door, on a huge wooden perch, sat an amazing looking red and gold bird with long plumage that was as big as a small dog. Against the far wall near the only window a huge desk sat perched on a small stone platform and covered with more magical junk. No one but the bird was in the room, except for more of those moving paintings. Each held a man or woman dressed in clothing from different eras and all focused on them. Creepy!
Hagrid moved further into the room and halted. He seemed to be waiting for something. Harry meanwhile walked up to the bird's perch and halted. He addressed it as if it were another person. "Hello, Fawkes. We need to see Professor Dumbledore...it's quite urgent."
The bird gave the boy a friendly chirp, eyed Wolverine with a piercing gaze that made the man realize there was an intelligent mind in that feathered head. Fawkes dipped its head then spread his wings and vanished in a brief burst of flame.
"I know someone else who can do that same trick but he leaves behind the smell of sulfur," Wolverine said, bemused.
"Really. Sounds like an interesting chap," Harry said, eyes lighting with interest.
"He is and a really nice guy. So what kind of bird was that?"
"Fawkes is a Phoenix and Professor Dumbledore's familiar."
"Oh...so him being able to vanish like that is something Phoenix's can do?" Logan asked, fascinated.
"Among other things," Harry confirmed, smiling secretly.
"Harry ... Hagrid... what are you two doing here at this late hour," a powerful voice exclaimed as a man older than the voice led him to believe, appeared suddenly from out of no where, wearing the most outrageous gown of purple and gold Wolverine had ever seen.
The man's sudden appearance made Wolverine tense and wary. His senses warned this man was extremely dangerous. Best be careful around him if I want to get home in one piece, he thought sourly.
"And who might this be?" The old man asked, peering at Wolverine over his old fashioned glasses, blue eyes piercing but with the hint of a twinkle in them as he moved to stand near the Phoenix's empty perch which wasn't empty long as Fawkes reappeared and asked for a caress with a bump of his head against the old man's hand. The man obliged while waiting for an answer from his unexpected guests.
"This here young fella appeared in the forest unexpectedly, sir, upsetting the centaurs something awful, but Harry was able to calm them and he..." pointing at Wolverine, "... was somehow able to convince them he wasn't a threat so they let him go. He told me he's called Wolverine and that he's a mutant. I felt it were important that I bring him here immediately before someone sees him that shouldn't," Hagrid explained.
"Ahh...I see. Thank you, Hagrid for handling this matter with such care. You may go. I'll speak to you tomorrow about this and have a good evening," Dumbledore said lightly, dismissing the groundskeeper.
"You too sir." Hagrid turned to leave but paused by Wolverine. "A safe journey home, sir."
"Thanks, nice meeting you," Wolverine said, meaning it.
Hagrid smiled briefly then hurriedly made his escape leaving Harry and Wolverine with Dumbledore.
The later stared at the stranger for a long moment before asking, bluntly, "Would you, by chance, be an X-Men good sir?"
Wolverine blinked in surprise. How the hell would he know what X-Men were? It didn't seem like these guys went outside their world much. "Yes, I am," He answered, cautiously.
Dumbledore nodded his head as if that cleared up everything for him. It certainly didn't for Harry. "Could you tell me what happened to bring you all the way to Scotland from America?" Dumbledore queried.
"I and the X-Men were fighting Magneto at a plant in New Mexico. One of his new mutants is capable of making travel portals and during the battle I was knocked into one that dropped me into that forest out there. The battle may still be going on and I really need to get back there to help. Can you get me home or at least let me use a phone to call for a pickup? My radio was destroyed." He was anxious to be away from this place and worried about how the young mutants were faring. The battle hadn't been going all that well when he took his sudden trip.
"I am sorry to inform you, Wolverine that no modern technology will work around magic so no phones or radios, I'm afraid," Dumbledore apologized, sincerely meaning it.
Wolverine rolled his eyes and really wanted a smoke about now, cursing mentally on how nothing was ever easy for him. "But you do have other means of getting from place to place...true? Harry, here, told me on the walk up here. Can I be transported that way too?"
"Of course, sir. A moment please..." Dumbledore walked over to this big fireplace, took a pinch of some kind of black powder from a container on the mantle then tossed it into the fireplace. Instantly, green flames sprang up but no heat.
Wolverine sucked in a breath when the man stuck his head into his fireplace and began to speak.
"Professor Snape, please come to my office immediately." After delivering his order, Dumbledore pulled his head out and smiled at the poleaxed look on Wolverine's face. "This is our form of communication...fire calling. I've summoned someone that should be able to help you."
"Thank you. I appreciate your help."
Dumbledore nodded graciously then turned his attention to Harry. His smile turned downward in displeasure. "And why were you in the Forbidden Forest tonight, Harry?"
Harry blushed and stared at his feet. "I'm sorry, sir, but Professor Snape and I ran into a problem during our lessons. He kicked me out and won't teach me any longer and I'm fine with that but I needed some time to calm down after the session."
The old wizard shook his head, obviously unhappy. "Harry those lessons are extremely important."
"I know!" Harry said sharply, then blushed at his rudeness. "Sorry, sir, but I can't work with him especially after what I saw and he doesn't want to work with me either."
"What happened?"
Harry shook his head, lips tightly clamped together.
Dumbledore sighed. "Very well. We'll talk of this later and decide the appropriate punishment for disobeying school rules." Harry's back tightened at that but said nothing. "Go to bed, Harry."
Harry wanted desperately to object. He wanted to know more about mutants and Wolverine particularly but the expression on Dumbledore's face warned him not to push the issue. Sighing in defeat, he bowed his head. Turning to Wolverine, he said, "A safe journey home, sir. It was a pleasure speaking with you."
"My pleasure as well, Harry, and thank you for coming to my aid out there," Wolverine said, giving the boy a small smile. Harry returned it then headed for the door. It opened before he could reach it by a tall, thin looking man in a severe black robe with stringy black hair that hid his profile.
The man's eyes narrowed in disapproval and surprise at seeing Harry. The boy scowled back but said nothing, choosing to push past and escaping before the man could speak. Still frowning, the man shut the door then turned toward the room. A gasp greeted him. What the devil, he thought, staring at the oddly clad and short man gaping at him.
"Severus?"
Snape jerked at his first name being used. "Do I know you?"
A look of puzzlement cleared a second later when the stranger realized something and reached up to pull his mask off. The stranger's hair was even more odd than his clothing was. It was black and stood up in too wedges like additional ears on either side of his head. The man's revealed face was framed by mutton-chop styled sideburns. His weird appearance told Snape exactly who this was but it was still a shock seeing him here of all places and after so many years.
"Logan?" He blurted.
Dumbledore stared at the two men in bemusement. Well, well how is it Severus knows a mutant? An interesting story that must be," he mused. Tired and realizing he wouldn't be seeking his bed for a while longer yet, Dumbledore went to his desk and sat down, the two men still frozen a few feet away, staring at each other.