After Transfiguration class, Julie had a study session. She spent that time grabbing a quick shower. She created a powerful gust of win and used it to dry her hair. Technically, she wasn't supposed to use her powers, but she didn't mind sneaking.
She had Herbology before lunch. Thankfully she had Neville as her partner so he helped her with what she didn't understand. And in return, she kept the bullies off of him.
At lunch, she sat in the Great Hall with her usual group: Harry, Ron, Hermione, the Weasley twins, Neville, Seamus and Dean.
"Oi," Fred, or George, said, "who's that?"
The group turned to see at the giant doorway Professor Dumbledore standing with a man none of them had seen before. He was clearly older, but he was not as old as his white hair indicated. He was tall, and the way he held himself indicated he was a powerful man. He wore a black suit with a white crisp shirt and no tie. Muggle clothes.
Julie realized this must be the mutant her uncle and Professor Lupin had warned her to stay away from. Looking at him, she felt herself go on guard. She sensed something bad about him. It didn't help that when she tried to read his mind, she was blocked.
The group was all guessing who this stranger was, but Julie wasn't paying any attention. Instead, she focused harder and struggled pushing past his mental barricade. When she finally got in, all she could read were his passing thoughts. He was looking for someone. A girl. But he had never seen her before. He looked at all the different girls in the Great Hall, wondering if each girl was who he was looking for. He looked directly at her, to which she quickly retreated from his mind and looked away. She didn't dare look back him, for fear of letting him know she had been in his mind.
"Julie?" Neville, who sat next to her, asked. "Are you alright?"
She nodded. "I'm fine. Just got a little dizzy there for a second."
At the teachers' table, Julie saw both her uncle and Professor Lupin looking at her. She could still feel the man looking at her. Finally the teachers looked away and Julie let herself relax. Looking at the door, she was relieved to see the doorway was empty.
Julie sat there, deep in thought. Was he looking for me? But why? I don't know him. Did he know mom and dad? The questions were endless. She had never encountered another mutant in person. She desperately wanted to, but at the same time she was afraid to be ousted as a mutant.
Julie stood, grabbing her pack and, leaving her barely eaten chicken, walked out of the Great Hall. She walked outside and went all the way down to the shore of the Black Lake. She went and sat against a giant tree, taking her shoes off so her feet were in the water.
She made sure no one was around, and Hagrid's hut was up on the hill.
She mentally reached out to the water and pulled a handful out. The water floated toward her and landed in her cupped hands. Picturing a flower, the water morphed into one, and with one small puff of cold air, she froze the water. She held the ice flower for a moment before placing it on the water and she watched it float away. She made a few more, until a line of ice flowers floated on the water.
"That's very impressive," a male voice said.
Julie jumped to her feet and turned to face the man from the Great Hall who was with Professor Dumbledore. She slipped back into her shoes and grabbed her pack.
"There's no need to hurry off," he said, stepping closer to Julie. "I came here to see you."
Julie looked up the hill to Hagrid's hut, where a line of smoke floated out of the chimney, meaning he was home. Julie could easily get past this man, but she didn't want to use her powers. She casually felt in her pack for her wand.
"Julie Summers," he said looking her over. "You look like your mother."
"How did you know my mother?" Julie asked. She couldn't stop herself.
"I knew your father, too. They were both powerful mutants, just like I'm sure you will be." The man extended a hand toward her. "My name is Eric Lensherr."
Julie looked at his hand, but refused to shake it. His face hardened when he realized she wouldn't shake.
"It was nice to meet you, Mr. Lensherr, but I really need to be going. I have class." Julie moved to head up the hill, but Mr. Lensherr stepped in front of her.
"Wait a moment. You and I have something to discuss."
"I'm not supposed to be talking to you at all," Julie said. "Now, please, excuse me."
"Ms. Summers, I don't take rejection well. Your parents learned that."
Julie stepped back, her voice coming out like ice. "What do you mean by that?"
"It doesn't matter anymore," Mr. Lensherr said nonchalantly. "Their deaths were a waste of great potential. Hopefully you'll be smarter than they were."
Anger seized Julie. Her powers bubble, she could feel herself about to lose it; she breathed, forcing the energy back. Her fists were clenched and she had no problem throwing a punch.
"What do you know about their deaths?" Julie asked, her voice hard.
Mr. Lensherr smiled. "I know your parents ticked off the wrong people. Unfortunately, they paid dearly."
A flood of emotions waved over her. What little this man had said was the most information she had ever received about her parents' murder. "Please, I have to know…anything."
"Well, isn't that interesting. I want something from you, and you want something from me. Perhaps we can help each other."
"What could you possibly want from me?"
"To a certain degree, you. Julie, your potential is greater than I think you even realize. What you were just doing there is just the beginning of what you could do. Imagine being able to command the water in this whole lake, bending it to your will. But here, you are squandering your abilities. I already know you can't use your powers; I mean, I could see you were trying to be secretive. Wouldn't you like to be able to use your powers whenever you want?"
Julie crossed her arms and turned to look out on the Black Lake. "Are you saying you can provide me with that freedom?"
"Mutants should not have to hide, Julie. We are the superior race. Why should we hide our talents, even witches and wizards, when we could be living out in the open, and even better, like gods?"
Julie couldn't hold back her laughter. "Gods? Why not live in peace with everybody? I don't want to be the superior race. I want to coexist, and everybody be happy."
"Julie," Mr. Lensherr said, "we will never be able to coexist with humans. They will always fear us and hate us."
"They wouldn't have to," Julie said, turning to face him, "if people like you weren't such Debbie Downers. If they don't see us threatening them, then they have no legitimate reason to be afraid of us."
Mr. Lensherr laughed, low at first, but he slowly grew louder. "How old are you? Thirteen? Yeah. You're smart for your age. But you're also sheltered. You don't know what it's like out there."
"You know what, I'm out. I've got to go." Julie walked past Mr. Lensherr, but he grabbed her by the arm to pull her back. He was clearly larger than her and was strong enough to keep her from leaving. She focused on her arm, picturing it pass through his hand, and it did.
"It seems you carry more than just your parents' abilities." From within his coat he pulled out a wand and cast a spell. "Stupefy."
Julie's body froze up and she collapsed, stiff as a stick. Over her, she could see Mr. Lensherr had two long metal rods in his hands. Letting them go, they twisted around her body and tied around her.
"I can control magnetism, Ms. Summers. Including the iron in your blood." An excruciating pain went through Julie, forcing tears into her eyes. "But I'm a merciful man and I don't want to hurt you."
Julie felt out to the water in the lack and pulled a heavy stream of water. She propelled the water at Mr. Lensherr, hard enough to send him to the ground. She gathered enough cold air together to create a powerful gust of wind; she sent the wind on Mr. Lensherr, freezing the water on him. Rolling over, she phased through the rods and rolled down the hill until she hit the water. She immediately made her body one with the water and fused into the lake. From the water she saw Mr. Lensherr frigidly stand and look for her in the water. He couldn't see her because she had become water. Once his back was turned, she bolted out of the water, solidifying into her body. From her hands she sent a blast of energy, pushing him and holding him to the ground.
"I have more experience with my powers than perhaps you thought, Mr. Lensherr." Julie took the two metal rods and threw them into the lake. "Now, I'm going to class. I suggest you leave."
Julie turned to go up the hill, but stopped short when she saw her classmates gathered, looking down at her in awe. Behind them, Professor Lupin looked down at her with a look of disappointment. She walked toward her class, and was hurt to see them back away from her. Even Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at her with expression that almost looked like fear.
Down the hill, Mr. Lensherr stood, brushing himself off. He looked up at Julie with a smirk.
"No wonder she got all good marks," Draco Malfoy said. "She's a cheat! Some kind of freak who doesn't need her wand."
"Look at what she did to that guy," someone else in the group said. "She's dangerous! Who knows what else she's capable of?"
"I'll bet she could kill us all!"
The accusations grew louder and everyone began to point at Julie, looking at her with disgust. Professor Lupin managed to calm the class down, sending them down to class with Hagrid. He motioned for Julie to stay behind.
"Professor, I-" Julie started to say, on the verge of tears.
"I'm sorry, Julie," Professor Lupin said. "I truly am, but we can't protect you now. Once students tell their parents, the owls will flock in asking for your expulsion."
Panic gripped Julie so hard she was frozen. "So, I need to…what? Pack up my bags and leave?"
"That, or wait to be properly expelled. Then, there's no way you can come back to Hogwarts."
Julie nodded, tears flowing down her face. "I'm so sorry, professor. It's just, he knows something about Mom and Dad's deaths."
Mr. Lensherr was gone. Somehow, that didn't surprise Julie. At that moment, fear and panic were replaced by anger. It was his fault she had to leave one of the few places she called home. And he would pay. If he wanted to see her full power, he could and he would suffer from it.