A/N – Okay This is the winner of my poll. This means that I am going to try, TRY, and focus on this this story above the others. This does not mean the others will not be updated, it just means that this is the one I'm going to try focus most of my attention on.

Chapter 9

Charles Xavier smiled. "I trust that Ms. Monroe has explained what the institute is?"

Rose nodded. "Yes, though," she smiled, "I'm not a mutant."

"I know," Charles said with a smile. "I am, I'll admit, a fairly powerful telepath, and I've been conversing with Ms. Monroe since a little after you left your shop."

"Wait a minute," Logan interrupted. "If she's not a mutant, then why aren't you wiping her brain already Chuck."

Rose had to force herself not to laugh at Logan's nickname for the Professor. She hardly imagined that the well educated man could ever be a Chuck. Her halted laugh turned into a muffled snort.

Xavier spared the girl a glance, and a look that told her he had long given up trying to get Logan to stop calling Chuck, before turning back to the other man. "She may not be a mutant Logan, but she does have some unique abilities."

"Such as?"

Rose smiled, and before Xavier could respond, she flamed behind the man, several feet behind in case he felt a threat.

Logan turned with a glare and a sigh. "Great," he grumbled. "Another teleporter, as if the Elf wasn't bad enough."

"Ah, but that's not all she can do," Xavier pointed out. Turning to Rose he asked, "Would you care to give a demonstration. We have a specially designed room to help our students learn to control their abilities. I feel I must warn you however, that our other students will likely take an interest and watch as well."

Rose hesitated for a moment. She still wasn't sure this was a good idea, but the feeling she got from Xavier, was that he genuinely wanted to help. He was a good man, one that held his students safety above all else, but was willing to reach out and help others if they'd let him. And while he did feel remarkably similar to Dumbledore, she didn't detect a need to control coming from him. A need to keep some things secret, yes, but not out of a desire to control.

And this place was nicer than the small apartment she had in her trunk.

"Sure," she said.

Xavier smiled. "Excellent. Logan and I will go prepare the Danger Room. In the meantime, I'm sure Rogue and Ms. Monroe would be willing to show you around. That way, you can decide if you would like to stay here with us. They should be able to answer any questions you may have."

0000000000

As Rogue and Ororo showed her around, Rose realized why Rogue was friends with such a diverse group of people. She hadn't seen everyone, but she saw Kitty when Rogue showed her their room, and Scott and Jean were the ones that found them when it was time to head to the Danger Room, though the two teens were wearing some type of uniform.

It was then she learned why Scott wore sunglasses and she felt sorry for the man. He apparently got away with the glasses in school because his eyes "had a sensitivity to light" or at least that was what was claimed on the doctors slip the Professor had given the school.

She also learned that Jean was telekinetic, and had some latent telepathic powers she was developing. Kitty had surprised her when she came through a wall to join them on the walk to the Danger Room.

But her biggest surprise was when a blue furred man popped in front of them in a cloud of smoke. He had pointed ears, elongated canines, only three long toes and fingers on each hand and foot. Combined with his yellow eyes and arrow-tipped devils tail, he looked like a demon. And when she realized it was Kurt (the smell and facial features were what gave it away), the feeling of deception she had in the shop made sense, especially since he didn't have it now.

When she walked into the Danger Room's control room, Evan was waiting. There was also a large blue furred man that appeared to be quite muscular standing with Logan and the Professor. Ororo smiled when she saw him.

"Hank, when did you get back?" she asked.

The man smiled and spoke in a cultured voice. "Just a few minutes ago. When I came down here to talk to the professor, I was told we had a new student." He then turned to rose, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "You look familiar," he said, before he held out his large hand for her to shake. "Dr. Hank McCoy, though I'm also known as Beast at times."

"Rose Potter," the witch introduced herself as she took the mans hand.

"That's how I know you," Hank said. "My niece is worried about you. She showed me your picture when I was visiting this summer. Hermione speaks very highly of you."

"You're Hermione's uncle?" Rose asked surprised.

"Yes," he informed her. "My little sister is her mother. Would you mind too much if I told her I'd sen you and you were alright. I'm afraid she blames herself for your disappearance."

Rose sighed, "Sure. Tell I'm sorry for worrying her, and that I forgive her will you."

He smiled sadly, "I will."

"Well, since it seems you know everyone," the Professor began, "if you would kindly go down to floor, we can begin. Logan...,"

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be down there," he said, walking to the elevator.

Rose smiled as she disappeared in a plume of flame.

"She's a teleporter," Kurt said happily, "YES!"

0000000000

Logan stood across from the girl in front of him. He didn't show it, but he was looking forward to this fight. His nose told him there was something feral and animalistic about the girl. Not to mention the display she had just put on against the machines was impressive.

She certainly was maneuverable, and resilient. She took a blow from the spinning maces with barely a flinch, and stood right back up with no sign of injury.

"You understand the rules?" the Professor asked, as he had just finished explaining that the fight stopped when one of them was injured, collapsed, yielded, or just wasn't able to fight any more.

At the two combatants nods, the professor said, "Very well, begin."

As soon as he gave the word, he unsheathed his claws as Rose began to sing.

"A warning to the people, the good and the evil

This is war

To the soldier, the civilian, the martyr, the victim

This is war"

As she sang, Logan began to feel terrified, and at that moment he could understand why this young girl could be so dangerous. If it wasn't for his years of fighting and training, he probably would have stood there frozen in fear.

Moving, he struck out at her, and it became clear that she wasn't use to people not being terrified, as she stopped singing, and the terror left his mind.

Now unencumbered by his earlier fear, he easily took control of the fight, keeping Rose on the defensive.

At least until he heard a hiss. Startled, Logan looked up to her face, and froze as he stared into her yellow eyes.

0000000000

"That was freaky," Kitty said as she looked down at the two combatants. "When she sang, I was..."

"Terrified," Rogue supplied.

"Ja," Kurt agreed. "And her hair, standing up like that is just freaky."

"Earlier, when the mugger came into the shop, something similar happened, only ah felt comforted and braver then," Rogue said.

The Professor nodded. "Well I believe we should end the fight, it seems that Logan can't move anymore."

0000000000

A few minutes later, after Rose had given the antidote to Logan, she sat in Xavier's office, across form the older man.

"You are certainly a unique young woman," he told her. "And though I know you've been on your own these past couple of years, I would still like to extend an invitation for you to move in here. Despite the fact you possess no x-gene, you share many of the problems that face us mutants. Regardless, you will always be welcome here if you need a place to stay."

Rose was silent for a moment before she said, "I appreciate the offer Professor, and this place is certainly nicer than than my current lodging. But it's a big decision, I'd like to take a few days to think about it."

Xavier smiled. "Of course. And even if you decide not to move in, realize that you are free to visit at anytime. Now, would you like a ride home, or would you perhaps like to stay and visit longer?"

"I think I'll go home and think sir," Rose said respectfully, before she grinned. "And a ride won't be necessary."

0000000000

Hope you enjoyed, Please review and Check Out the Challenges in My Forums (Link on Profile)

Song Lyrics: This is War by 30 Seconds to Mars