Title: The Thief and the Wizard
AU X-men/Harry Potter crossover
Summary: After Gambit is left to die in Antarctica help comes in an unexpected way. Harry Potter was on a job to retrieve an artifact from an old wizard stronghold when he ends up saving a strange man from the ice and snow. What does the future hold for these two men?
Warnings: Possible slash as well as hetero interaction, Violence, Blood, Gore. Does not follow cannon for HP or X-men.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or X-men they belong to their respective creators
Author's Note: I'm sorry this chapter took longer than the others. I went to visit my sister and go to her baby shower. In a few short weeks I will also be going out of town for a month or more to help her with the new baby since I still do not have a job. During that period I am not sure if I will have Internet access or time to write so please be patient. My family comes first before anything else including writing. This chapter is mainly establishing the base between Gambit and Harry as well as filling in some background as to what they know about one another. In other words it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship and maybe more later down the road. I hope you enjoy the story and I appreciate the reviews and any comments, questions, or constructive criticism.
Chapter Four
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Harry pulled open one of his desk drawers and grabbed several files placing them onto top of the desk. Spreading them out he quickly picked one up.
"In the interests of being honest with each other I figured I should be the one to extend trust first. As you might have figured out by now I am not a mutant hater. I have no problems with mutants so long as they do not intend to harm me, those under my protection, or interfere in whatever job I am doing at the time. However with the world the way it is and the hostilities between certain mutant factions and certain human factions I have found it prudent to keep track of whose who in the various groups that are out there and individuals of particular power."
Harry gently laid down the folder he was holding on the edge of the desk closest to Gambit and indicated for him to pick it up. Once Gambit had a hold of the folder Harry continued speaking.
"I don't gather any information beyond the basics like, appearance, abilities, and allies/enemies. The folder your holding is the current information I have on the X-men."
Gambit had had a feeling that was what he was holding and quickly flicked through the information in the folder. From what he could see as he flipped through the pages it was just as Harry said basic information and nothing to personal, it was also highly accurate from what he could tell at a glance. Finally he looked up from the folder his face serious.
"Alright mon ami, you know who Gambit is so what do ya want with me? And what kind a jobs you be doin' that you might run into one of us?"
The last was added in a slightly suspicious tone as his mind ran with a thousand different possibilities and a lot of them not very nice.
Harry ran a hand across his pulled back hair before leaning back in his chair with a sigh.
"What I want to know is why you were left out there to die by supposed teammates and people who give their enemies more chances than a revolving door." His voice growing was growing stronger and louder as he continued. "What they did to you was absolute bullshit! I saw that woman fly you out of citadel before leaving you to die a slow death in the ice and cold. Being crushed would have been a much quicker and humane death than freezing to death. That was just unnecessary cruelty. If death is required it should be swift and painless not long and drawn out like that."
Harry's face was tight with anger and his green eyes flashed with emotion as he spoke.
"All of that begs the question, are the X-men no longer the peace promoting group with the supposed safe haven for mutants that they used to be? The fact that none of the others that I saw went looking for you speaks of betrayal, they didn't even have the courtesy to bring your body back so burial services could be preformed.
The sudden venom and almost sibilant tone in Harry's voice surprised Gambit and gave him the feeling his host had personal experience with this type of situation.
"Betrayal by a friend or a teammate is one of the worst things one person can do to another." Harry's hands were clenched into white knuckled fists as he looked at a point on the far wall. "Though I could not in good conscience do anything until I have heard what you have to say on this matter." His whole demeanor was slowly losing the anger he had just built up as he forcibly calmed himself, and as he slowly uncurled his clenched fists he turned his whole attention back onto Gambit green eyes once again meeting red on black.
"However before we get more into that I need to explain some things about myself and what I do that will undoubtedly clear up some of the questions I am sure you are wanting to ask. First I need you to answer a couple questions so I can determine just how much I need to explain and how much you already know."
Outwardly his face remained impassive but inside Gambit was shocked, he wasn't sure what to think about this man. Harry actually seemed mad at the X-men rather than Gambit. Anyone else would have assumed because of what the X-men stood for that Gambit was the guilty party not them, but then again Harry's opinion might very well change once he was told the whole story. Tossing the folder he held back onto the desk Gambit stretched out his legs and leaned back in his chair with a smile and his hands laced behind his head.
"Ask what you need to ask den', but I can't promise ta' answer if I don't feel comfortable, d'accord?"
"That's fine."
Harry picked up the folder and set it aside before leaning forward onto the desk with his elbows and hands clasped together in front of his face.
"From your accent and various information I picked up about you, your from New Orleans, right? Also one of the skills I have down for you is the fact you are an expert thief. I need to know if you are or were a part of the thieves, or assassins guild down there."
Gambit looked at Harry for a moment before turning his gaze to the ceiling silently contemplating just how much to say. Finally he turned brought his eyes back down to meet Harry's serious green ones once more.
"I was raised in the thieves guild until something happened in my late teens and I had to leave."
Harry just nodded as if the answer was just a confirmation and didn't push for clarification sensing an old pain not quite healed.
"Then if I am correct you would be Jean-Luc LeBeau's son who is the current leader of the guild, am I right?"
Gambit only nodded as he wondered just where this line of inquiry was going. It wasn't often someone knew of the connection between Jean-Luc leader of the guild and the mutant known as Gambit.
"Good that makes things slightly easier then. Hopefully you were taught properly and won't laugh your ass off or think I'm crazy as I explain just what I am and what I do."
To be honest curiosity was eating Gambit alive. Harry was unlike anyone Gambit had ever met and there were so many questions he wanted answers to. After all it wasn't exactly easy to get to Antarctica and back let alone survive out there undetected by a bunch of mutants even for a little while. He nodded at Harry to continue.
"Since you were raised by the guild and a son of the leader I'm sure that you have been informed that magic exists and the different kinds of people that use it correct?"
Gambit's eyes widened in surprise sitting up straight in his chair as he said, "Are you talking bout da' voodoo or da' other stuff because Gambit don't get mixed up wit the voodoo, he respects it but don't want no part of it."
Harry just shook his head a slight smile on his face, "No, I am not mixed up in Voodoo. I am talking about the magic users called witches and wizards who use the magic that comes from themselves that they are born with."
Gambit relaxed a little with Harry's denial of voodoo but remained upright in his chair as he looked at the man in front of him.
"Dere' has been talk and stories bout the type your talking about and it is said the guilds have treaties with them but I don't remember much more dan' dat' since I never met one, since they supposedly try their best to remain apart from everyone else."
Harry's eyes were filled with humor as a slow grin made its way onto his face as he replied,
"Well now you can say you have. You see I am a wizard and that's one of the reasons I was able to save you."
Remy felt his jaw drop, "You sure you ain't just playin a joke on dis' poor Cajun, Cher?"
Harry slowly shook his head in the negative grin still in place, "I am afraid not I truly am a wizard and a pretty good one at that if I do say so myself."
"Mon Dieu!" Gambit collapsed back into the chair he hadn't even realized he had gotten out of in his excitement. Even through his shock he could see the amusement his reaction was having on his host. Even then he had to be sure he was being told the truth, so he asked.
"After this I really need a cigarette, but before we go any further Cher, can you prove it to me dat' you really are what you say you are?"
That got him another wide grin as Harry stood up from his chair, "I had a feeling you would ask that", and raised his hand.