Silver Claws and Cat Tails

Abby Ebon

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Disclaimer; I do not own Harry Potter. I do not own X-Men.

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Theory-Of-Magical-Mutants

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"So, husband mine – what happens when the Council comes for my blood?" Hermione asked, not turning her eyes to meet his. He heard him shuffle a foot back and forth nervously, and could imagine him biting on his bottom lip.

"That won't happen," he said then sounding reassured in his logic, "Harry's already proved that Mudbloods and Half Bloods aren't the same as mutants." Ron assured her, out of the corner of her eye she saw him grinning, smug in his surety. Her nails dug into her palms.

"Harry is a mutant; the Council could have that dismissed in favor of that fact." Hermione had been a fool to trust him, but being in love had made her blind to his faults and fears. She could only hope that Harry was safe – and not where she thought he was, for she could only say nothing for so long before they had the reasonable doubt necessary to use the Truth potion.

"They wouldn't do that." Ron choked out, seemingly stunned dumb by the idea. Hermione closed her eyes and fought not to yell and scream in the face of his blindness. An owl flew through the window – its black feathers tinged Council green.

We shall see husband-mine, we shall see. Hermione thought as she watched Ron reach for the owl's message, opening it, and paling a sickly white that made his freckles stand out starkly.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

"Sir,

It is with great regret we write to inform you of the new status of your spouse, she has been designated as a "Magical Mutant" (see secondary attached letter), Danger Classification as a Magical Beast XXXXX, due to the nature of her Blood-Status, that of a Muggle Born. This is to inform you that, in regards to her actions or inactions, you are directly accountable.

Magical Community Council."

Numbly, Ron let the letter settle on the tabletop between them, at a glance, Hermione read it. Her features registered no surprise – in fact it seemed that she had expected it. For a moment Hermione wondered if there was a chance for escape – if only Ron had not helped build the Council – if only he was not blinded by its faults. If only he was still the school boy she had loved.

"They…they've done it…what you said…" Ron seemed unable to wrap his mind around the fact. Hermione did not say anything, did not even move. She had warned him when she had given over the secret of Harry's nature – which he had not listened to in that critical moment spoke more then words could say of what he would do with any advice she gave now.

"What…what am I to do?" Ron asked her, though he had no right to ask anything of her. Hermione shook her head, pale faced, she had been a blind fool. A fool in love was still a fool, and she feared that even now – she was in love with Ron. But, still, if she was a fool in love, she was a clever fool.

"Let us see the secondary letter, perhaps there will be more of an explanation to why this is happening so quickly." That, at least, was something unusual, the Council's very nature kept it from moving to a hasty choice, yet, for all accounts this was such an action.

"Magical Mutants - Classification as a Magical Beast XXXXX

Those with a Blood Status of Muggle Born and Half Blood, hold the classification as "Magical Beast" until proven or notified of otherwise. To prove this claim false one must submit to a "magical core" test. Those who pass the test will be given rights as Witch or Wizard, those who do not pass will have their wands snapped and all rights as Witch or Wizard revoked by the Magical Community Council. If no test is given, rights as Witch or Wizard will remain revoked and all assets, property, or children will be given over to spouse, or the closest magical relative. If neither option is available an approved guardian will be assigned to those classified as Magical Mutants. A letter will follow this to which will hold a date and place at which Magical Mutant must make an appearance, with their wand, to be tested, fail to do so will result in irreversible classification. Those who flee will be hunted down and sentenced to death.

This letter is to make Ron Weasley, as a Pure Blood, aware that, as spouse of Hermione Weasley, Muggle Born, with temporary classification as Magical Mutant, he is named by Council her provider and by law holds all assets, property, or children of Hermione Weasley."

They are afraid. Hermione thought as Ron finished reading the letter in a whispery tone. She saw it when he realized the result his actions had taken, his shoulders slumped and he all but fell into the second chair beside her own.

"They don't even say what sort of test it will be." Ron mumbled into his folded arms, already resigned to the fact that until proven otherwise, Hermione, in his eyes was indeed a "Magical Mutant" simply because she was Muggle Born. She glanced away before he could see the anger and disappointment in her eyes. He would not even fight for her.

Of course, she knew she wasn't a mutant – Harry had been the youngest between Ron and her self. She was nineteen, and even among muggle mutants (or so Harry had told her) it was rare to become one after they passed the critical teenager mark. Still, that just because she was muggle born was a cause to take away her rights as a witch – it rankled. The nerve – oh, there would be protests from muggle born and half blood alike but they were still considered second class citizens at best. Even after the war was won, and the Council members declared, that had not changed.

Just because there is a horrible man no one wants to stop because most of them aren't sure if he's wrong, and the others aren't thought powerful enough because of birth – and been told so since going to a magical school, she thought viciously for once in her life sympathizing with Voldemort – almost wishing he was alive, just because he died doesn't make enough of a point to change the way "Pure Bloods" were raised and groomed. She reminded herself that it was human nature at fault, and as a witch she could not hate others who held the same power she did.

That would be self destructive. That would be exactly what Voldemort did.

Harry, she realized then, was the target of the change. The victim – and all the rest cannon fonder, if there were "Magical Mutants" to be found – so much the better credit for the Council, if not no harm and no foul on their part – Muggle Born or Half Blood weren't considered true citizens. In fact, Harry was the only Half Blood who would be considered a true wizard – and he was the one they were hunting for.

There would be no chance for him to fight this – he was sentenced to death, for "fleeing". It didn't matter to the Council that he had fled before their declaration, and if they had their way, no one would know – no one the wiser when someone killed Harry. Oh, they'd make a proper fuss of it, of that Hermione had no doubt – but this way, as far as the Council was concerned – he would be a beloved martyr.

The question now, Hermione thought as she looked down at the two letters that had shattered her world while ironically proving the pen indeed mightier then the sword, is how to go about saving the savior.

Another owl, this one a more eerie black with its soft edged feathers tinged golden-green arrived on silent wings, merely waiting patient as death, for Ron to untie the massage from its leg. He set it down for her to see. In tidy letters it declared;

"The classification of Muggle Born, Hermione Weasley as a Magical Mutant is irreversible after the first day of May.

Henceforth Decreed by Magical Community Council"

It would will be too late by then, Hermione thought with chilling logic that numbed her fear, by then…Harry will be dead. Hermione felt dread settle into the pit of her stomach because of the choice laid out before her – wait, and become a second class muggle born witch – or die because she fled. It was no choice at all. Hermione had already made Harry a run away – she would not sit idle while he was hunted down like a mad dog to be killed.

Hermione pressed her lips together and watched silently as the two owls – both black, flew away. She hoped it was not as ill of an omen as it seemed.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

"When I was a boy, my cousin wanted to watch this show "Alice in Wonderland", I always remember it because he had a poster – and it was one of the few things my aunt and uncle forbid from him. I don't know what the movie was about – cartoon's I think, but there was this purple cat, kind of stuck in my memory, 'cause he had this mad grin on his face, like he knew it all but wasn't going to tell anyone…" Harry's voice faded when he noticed who the three were looking at him, Rogue with a kind of pity; though Wanda and Pietro had similar looks of sorrow that he didn't think were directed at him, more so then to their own past.

"Chesire Cat…it fits you." Pietro spoke, looking away for a moment to clear his throat.

"Yeah – it'll due for an every-day sort of name, but what about the mutant alias?" Rogue asked, glancing to the other two, they shrugged, clueless, though Harry had a thoughtful look on his face.

Wanda didn't know it, but she had reminded him of his father and the Marauder's which was a piece of his past he wouldn't mind keeping with him in his new identity. They had been pranksters – loyal friends, but tricksters at heart. It was in that spirit that he wanted to remember them by, and as he couldn't just call himself Marauder – he'd call himself…

"Trickster…"

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"Ah think it suits ya. C'mon ya lot, almost time to eat." Rogue said then, shattering the drawn silence that had built around them. Harry stood, tail weaving back and forth. Wanda chuckled from behind him, Harry never saw the oddly gleeful look cross Pietro's features as he walked away tail swaying.

"Pervert." Wanda teased her brother fondly, soft toned – that, though, Harry did hear, and he did not need a mirror to tell him he was blushing. He decided, as Rogue looked at him from the corner of her eye, smirking, that white fur had its disadvantages.

When they reached what he could only assume was what passed for a kitchen he saw the odd boy he had bumped into earlier with a large young man who was bigger then his uncle had been. He hadn't thought such a thing possible, and he stared – but that could be excusable as he was being stared – gawked at, really – in return.

"Cat, this is Toad - or rather Mortimer and Blob," Pietro introduced the two with a nod to either of them, "also called Fred Dukes." Pietro finished as he sat, or rather sprawled, in the seat beside Remy, winking at him openly – most certainly flirting. How Remy felt about that, Harry couldn't tell besides Remy tolerating it.

"Everyone, this is Chesire Cat, to be called Trickster in battle." Wanda stated as she sat beside her brother. Rogue didn't look like she cared as she sat in one of the two seats offered in the middle of Lance and Pyro, only taking the one closer to Pyro. Which left one seat beside Lance, awkwardly, for Harry had been uncertain of his welcome – but having a seat, was, at least, a sign of acceptance – he sat none the less. He wondered if it meant anything, then dismissed the thought as red and purple sparks opened the fridge and three pizza boxes floated out with nothing to support them other then Wanda's sparks.

Like magic…Harry thought glancing down to his fur covered hands – they were slender to the point of skeletal though looked oddly elegant with the dusting of silver fur.

"Gambit got news from Mystique; she says tomorrow she and Magneto are paying us a visit." Remy's eyes lingered on Harry, and he had the uncomfortable feeling that they were coming to meet him. He would have to have been blind to not notice the way Lance and Pyro tensed and exchanged a glance. Harry wondered if it was because it was so unusual for them to take an interest – or if it was because of something else – something like Sabertooth…

"Best to lay low for the rest of the day; don't want to be getting in trouble again before Magneto and Mystique come by." Pietro commented airily, Remy only grunting in agreement as he ate a slice of pizza. Pietro swallowed when Remy licked some of the sauce from his bottom lip, he looked carefully away – and Harry saw Remy smirk slightly before returning to eating.

He wondered if there was something between them, but Rogue nudged him – turning wide eyes on her, she chuckled low and soft. Pyro glanced to her, then him - only to ignore them, or try his best to seem to pay no attention to them.

"Where do ya come from?" Rogue asked him, and it seemed to Harry their attention shifted to him, all of them waiting to hear his answer.

"Europe." Harry answered, glancing aside guiltily. It was the truth, though really only part of it. Harry had never liked keeping secrets – and this seemed a big one to keep from them. But, mutants or not – they were muggles, and it was law that muggles not know of magic.

"Really? Mortimer's from over there too." Wanda commented, nodding her head to the smaller boy. Mortimer had glanced up at him at his words, but was looking away when Wanda said as much.

Pyro had finished his slice of pizza but waited until Lance and Harry were done before moving to stand. A card flicked out, embedding itself where Pyro's hand had been only a moment ago. Pyro and Rogue looked to Remy, both tensed, while Lance narrowed his eyes pulling Harry behind him.

"Excuse yourselves; Gambit thinks you could use the manners." Gambit murmured whisper soft, Mortimer and Fred exchanged looks, while Pietro who sat closest to Remy only glanced between Lance and Remy. Harry swallowed thickly, throat dry he tilted his head in a quick nod.

"Please excuse us." Remy stared at Harry, and Harry wished he wouldn't, as if he sensed that (or perhaps it was his magic at work?) Remy turned his demon gaze away. As if it had never happened, Remy stood, coat whispering against the legs of his pants as he turned his back on them and left.

Harry was baffled at what had happened, as Rogue plucked the thrown playing card out of the wooden table. It left a grove in the wood. Harry wondered if the card was weighted – but it didn't look like it was – had Remy done something to make sure it stuck something only a mutant could do?

"He could have killed me." Pyro growled out the words to her, Rogue only looked to him blankly. She didn't look like she knew what to do with the card. Harry felt rather helpless himself, but when he moved forward, Lance kept him from moving, shaking his head in silent warning.

"But he didn't, actions speak louder then words." Wanda stated softly, eyes narrowed on Pyro as a challenge. He ignored her, and when she pressed her lips together, red sparks leapt from her finger tips – the lights flickered in response but that was ignored in the tenseness of the promised confrontation between Rogue and Pyro.

"He's not getting any better Rogue – that card proves it." Pyro hissed, ignoring Wanda as he glared down at Rogue and the card in her hand. Rogue closed her eyes, letting out a shaky breath, when she opened them again she was glaring up at Pyro, somehow managing to be more intimating then the fire wielding teenager before her.

"Does it matter if he's getting better or worse?" She asked it very softly, and Pyro opened his mouth – then sighed and shook his head, seeming to feel guilty all the same for suggesting something Harry could not quite grasp.

Throughout the argument, Mortimer and Fred had remained silent, now Fred got slowly to his feet, walking away in the direction Remy had gone.

"Cowards…" Mortimer snarled in disgust, glaring at Rogue and Pyro, he merely got up and left moving in an odd hop-and-jump motion. There was a long silence, and Pietro let out a long hissing sigh.

"I'm going for a run." He told the room at large, thought no one responded until he was gone. Wanda came to stand beside Rogue, and led her away from the grove in the wood, though she clung to the card, something like fear and hope lingered in her, it twisted Harry's heart when he glimpsed her eyes.

Harry was left standing, baffled, behind Lance, both staring across at Pyro who even as they watched seemed to pick up the broken pieces of himself and walked away. Silently, Lance followed him – and Harry was left with little choice but to follow after.

What, Harry wondered as he glanced only once over his shoulder, was that all about?

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Note; I'm dazzled at the amount of reviews this has gotten. Thank you.

Pairing(s); Harry/Pietro/Lance/ Remy/ Pyro (St. John Allerdyce)/ Wolverine

PS, as before I plead for anyone who can help me in the Cajun words to do so, for I'd like to keep Gambit as "in-character" as I can manage.