Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, settings, or worlds within this work, outside of a few OC's. Any recognizable characters are not mine; I'm just playing with them. Harry Potter and its associated works belongs to J.K. Rowling. X-men and Marvel belongs to... er... Disney, I suppose? I am not making any money off of this fan work, nor do I wish to.

AN: Yes, the slight lotr reference is deliberate; no, it doesn't bear any relevance to the rest of the fic, I just thought it was funny.

Warning, once again, for Malfoy family politics. I shouldn't have to explain further than that. :P

Chapter 18

Visitors- Part III

Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy were, in their minds, neither late nor early. They arrived at precisely the time they intended to.

In other words, they were three minutes late- soon enough that their excuse of being busy with Ministry business was believable, but late enough that Dumbledore would receive and understand their underlying message: "This had better be worth our time."

After formal introductions had been made once again, seats taken, and offers of candies and tea made and refused, Narcissa leaned forward. "So, Professor Xavier, I take it you are considered an expert on this 'mutantism' I've been hearing about?"

"That's correct. I help my students learn how to prevent their mutations from going out of control, as well as guiding them in developing practical uses for their unique abilities. I have been working with mutants and studying mutant genetics for several decades, now."

"I see! I suppose that does make you an expert on the topic, considering no one else in our society seems to have been aware of the phenomenon. Indeed, one begins to wonder why you kept the information to yourself all this time, considering the number of people this has been thought to affect."

There was a pause, as all three of the Professors struggled to come up with some way of stating the necessary truth without instantaneously derailing negotiations. Narcissa's lovely face lost a though of its impassiveness as it became clear to her that there was something these people seemed to be reluctant to tell them. Eyes narrowing like a predator on the hunt, she opened her mouth to make more remarks, when abruptly, Draco spoke up, quiet and resigned.

"They're... Muggles, Mother. That's why. Our world doesn't have any mutant experts for the very reason you just described- nobody knew about them-" he hesitated for a beat, then added, "nobody knew about us."

The Malfoys stared at their son with what can only be described as outright shock. The Professors from a school for mutants whom they'd been asked to meet with were Muggles? And Draco had known about this?!

They both rounded their gazes onto Dumbledore, pointedly passing over Xavier and Miss Munroe entirely, refusing to acknowledge that they had exchanged polite greetings only moments before. Lucius in particular looked rather livid.

"You dare to bring a Muggle into Hogwarts? You have the audacity to not only arrange for a meeting between one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight and non-magicals, but to ask us to let them teach our son?! You have made a good many decisions of late which I've disagreed with, but this-"

Narcissa joined in. "How could a Muggle be expected to show a wizard how to properly use their power? What could a Muggle possibly have to teach my son? Just because Draco has exhibited some sort of new manifestation of his magic-"

"And what of his wizarding education? If he goes to a non-magical school, he'll fall behind in his real studies-"

"Really, this new magic can't be giving him that much trouble, surely? After all, he's an intelligent young man. I'm sure that with a little proper instruction, from instructors who actually know how to teach-"

"I should've sent him to Durmstrang. Perhaps I should still send him to Durmstrang-"

While this was going on, Draco watched quietly from his chair, and felt his tentative hopes flowing down the drain. Even with being allowed to attend some of his classes, his mutation made it difficult to stay up-to-date on his work. It was affecting every part of his life. Mother was wrong-his new power was giving him trouble. It gave him trouble every single day. And now? Now he had to sit here and watch as his parents threw away his only hope for regaining some semblance of normality.

They didn't understand. Neither of them knew what this was like. Draco's entire life had been turned upside-down since that first day of classes. When Professor Snape had come to him and said they were considering a solution, he had barely registered that the solution involved dealing with Muggles. Besides, it was because of Muggle "science" or whatever that they were able to understand what was going on, even now. If these Muggles were the ones with the information and the solutions, then who cared about the politics?

Mother and Father...they didn't understand. How could they? They weren't mutants.

For the first time in his life, he found himself on the opposite side of his parents towards something. He wasn't sure how to feel about that...But he did know what he wanted out of this, and what sort of Slytherin would he be if he didn't go after it? Steeling himself, Draco stood from his chair and approached the ongoing argument, feeling the eyes of Professor Xavier and the woman-Munroe, wasn't it?-following his movements. Taking a deep breath, he reached out and placed a hand on his mother's arm. "I want to go."

There was yet another awkward silence as his parents processed what Draco had said. The professors held back from interfering, sensing that their input would not be welcome within this family argument.

Lucius grew dangerously still. "Excuse me?"

Draco looked up at him, determined. "I said, I want to go. With them."

Lucius clenched his jaw, then forced himself to speak. "Explain yourself. Now."

Draco lifted his chin. "I need guidance in using my new power, Father, and I believe these people can actually help me. Why should I not take advantage of the opportunity as it presents itself?"

"You really think that these non-magicals, who are unfamiliar with wizards, who know nothing of our way of life-"

"They're not magical, I know that. It's unfortunate, but true. But they're also mutants, Father! They'll know how to teach other mutants-"

"Who says you need to be taught? If your power is a problem at Hogwarts, we could arrange for private tutoring and you can continue your education at home for the time being-"

"And, what- hide myself away from everyone for the rest of my life?!"

"That won't be necessa-"

"Because that's what I'll have to do, if I can't get a handle on this-"

"You will get a handle on it, but you'll do it with the help of a wizard-"

"That's not good enough!" Draco yelled in agitation. "Wizards don't understand how my power works. Wizards work with magic, and magic's rules! If there's anything I've learned this last month, it's that mutations and magic are not the same. Wizards won't have any more idea how to help than if I just...just... went off and tried to do it by myself!"

By this point Draco's hands, his hair, and half his face had gone silver, and the color was spreading. Silver-tinted liquid swirled around the skin of his arms. Narcissa and Lucius found themselves startled. Lucius had seen him use his power once before, of course, but that was in a controlled setting, and Draco had only displayed a limited amount of his potential ability. Now, watching him in a moment of less restraint, he began to understand why, exactly, the professors of Hogwarts had grown so concerned about their mutant students.

Still...To send him off with a group of Muggles...He locked eyes with Draco and shook his head. No.

The strange liquid flared out around Draco's body, though he noticed what was happening and managed to contain it by forcibly directing it to circle his torso.

Visibly composing himself, Draco glared at his father. "I can see you're not going to be reasonable. I came here to speak with the mutant professors about attending their school, but if you're not willing to listen to me, not even going to consider this as a possibility...then we have nothing further to say to each other." There was a weight to his words that implied he wasn't merely talking about this moment in particular. "I may as well take my leave, as I have no reason to stay."

He turned, gave the professors a short, stiff bow (in blatant defiance of what his parents would have expected from him, bowing to the Muggles as well), and stormed out of the office with as much poise as he could. His footsteps could be heard moving away at a fast walk, then breaking into an outright run once he was well into the hall.

...

The adults in the room all looked to each other.

Lucius seemed to be about to say something further, but Narcissa stepped in, addressing Professors Xavier and Munroe for the first time since they'd been revealed as Muggles. "You really think you can help him?" She asked, genuine and polite, if a bit stiff.

Xavier took a deep breath. This was now or never. "Yes. I'm absolutely certain in the abilities of myself and my staff to teach him to control and use his abilities to their fullest potential."

She pressed her lips together in a thin line, then reclaimed her chair once more. "Tell me about this...school of yours."

"Narcissa-!"

She shot her husband a look. "You know as well as I do that Draco would not defy us for nothing. If he's willing to go so far as to threaten to stop speaking to you, then there must be some credit to his argument that wizards don't understand how to deal with mutant powers. We may have to consider...this solution as a real possibility. If that is the case, then it is better for us to go into this arrangement informed. Sit."

Lucius was obviously not happy with this state of affairs, but a moment later, he begrudgingly conceded to her point and sat.

Once the rest of the meeting, such as it was, had concluded, Lucius Malfoy left immediately through the Floo. This left the final decision of what to do with Draco to Narcissa, who went to find him so they could talk things through.

"You'll be sure to have our answer by the time your business is concluded for the day," she shot over her shoulder as she was leaving.

The professors breathed three simultaneous sighs of relief as the door shut behind her.

"You certainly were not exaggerating when you said that this family would be difficult to deal with," murmured Ororo.

"Oh, I don't know," said Dumbledore, beaming. "I happen to think that went rather well!"

The moment Xenophilus and Luna Lovegood walked into the office, Xavier felt the part of himself that had been just waiting for another meeting full of hostile people melt away into metaphorical mist. These people seemed a bit on the odd side, to be sure... but Xavier lived with Logan, Hank, and a school full of teenagers with superpowers.

He was used to strange people.

As they were being introduced once again- and Dumbledore was making his customary offer of candy to Luna who, to his delight, actually accepted one- Xavier realized something. This man- his mind felt similar to that of a mutant, but...muted, somehow. It was as though a mutant ability had partially manifested in him, but not to its fullest extent. Intriguing, thought Xavier. Perhaps this has something to do with where his daughter obtained her own mutation.

When they sat down to talk, Xenophilus commented, "You know, I have been aware of mutants for a good while. I spend time in the Muggle world on occasion, after all. It's good to know about things like that." He smiled. "I never suspected that Luna was a mutant, but it doesn't really surprise me. She's always been able to see even more than I can, you know."

"See?" Ororo questioned.

"Well, it's an ability that sort of runs in the family, you see. Not every Lovegood gets it, but the ones who do are able to see magical creatures and things that even people with strong sensitivities to natural magic have trouble picking up."

Xavier raised an eyebrow. "Really? That could be why your mind carries a mutant signature. Perhaps this is a minor mutation which runs in the family and has only now developed into a full mutant power in Luna...Such mutations do exist, after all. Minor mutations, such as an unnaturally strong sense of smell, or a greater-than-average degree of intuitive insight. Things which would ordinarily go unnoticed, or be known as simply an unusual skill... Your family's ability may be a magical variation of this."

Xenophilus blinked. "Oh? You think I'm a minor mutant, and Luna got it from me? Hm. Well, I suppose it would explain a few things- I never have had too many people who believed me about the things I've seen, you know."

Xavier smiled. "You and your daughter are not the first mutants I've met who could see things no one else was aware of. I myself could be considered such, in a way, though my abilities work much differently."

"Ah, yes. You're a telepath, correct?"

"That's right. How did you know?"

"Luna mentioned it."

"Ah. I see."

Ororo cleared her throat. "Ahem"

Both of them turned to look at her, standing there with her arms crossed. "Are we going to get to the purpose of this meeting, or shall I send the two of you off to have a tea party at the nearest cafe?"

Xavier had the grace to look sheepish. "Right. Yes. Of course." He turned back to Luna and her father. "We are here because the members of Hogwarts' staff don't feel themselves qualified to take on the role of training students who are having difficulty in controlling their mutant abilities. As the Xavier Institute is one of the only schools in the world that is dedicated to this task, your headmaster has asked me to meet with the parents of mutant students in order to assess whether they believe the Xavier Institute would be a good fit."

Luna grinned. "What's it like? The Xavier Institute. Do you have many students? Are any of them our age?"

"Well. I'm not certain how our lifestyle differs from yours, but it's certainly never dull. In fact, it can be quite chaotic. Occasionally several students will decide to start using their powers in the middle of a game, or to perform tasks more quickly when they're getting ready for school. There are conflicts between students at times, having so many differing personalities under one roof, but they usually manage to come to peaceful resolutions. Presently, we have around 20 students, not counting faculty, and the occasional mutant or two who are friends with our students but not actually a member of our school. Most of our students run between the ages of 14 and 18, but there is at least one who is about your age."

Xenophilus cocked his head. "It sounds like a fascinating place. I'd love to see it sometime."

"You would be welcome to visit, especially since you are a mutant yourself to some degree. I do believe Hank in particular would enjoy your company."

"That sounds interesting. I may have to consider it one day. Who's Hank?"

"One of our teachers. He-"

Ororo coughed pointedly. The two of them got back on track. Xenophilus looked to where his his daughter was smiling patiently.

"So, Luna. You have been offered a place at the Xavier Institute. What do you think? Do you think you should go to this school for mutants?"

Luna blinked at him. "But I don't have any trouble controlling my mutation."

"That's not always the point," Ororo chimed in. "While most of our students are at the Institute to learn control, we have a few students who became students simply because they would otherwise have been living on the streets. Some students have excellent control of their abilities, but joined for the opportunity to spend time around people who were like them. Others have a somewhat inhuman appearance due to physical mutations, and have found the Institute to be a safe haven away from people who stare at them or treat them as less-than-human because of their obvious differences. There are many reasons why someone might come to us, and many reasons why someone might choose not to. In the end, it comes down to you and what your needs are."

Luna hesitated. "It...It would be nice, to go somewhere new and meet other mutants. It's not that I'm not interested, you see. But, I- truly, I don't really need help with my ability. I think, for now, it would be best if I stayed here."

Xavier nodded. "That is, of course, your decision to make. You are welcome to come to the Institute any time you like, even if only for a visit."

Luna smiled. "I'd like that. Perhaps my father and I could come for a few weeks in the summer. But I think it's better if one or two of us stay at Hogwarts, anyway. If all of us leave, then who will be able to deal with the next mess that comes along? Besides, Draco is going to need a fellow magical mutant to write to when he gets confused. I don't think he'll want to talk to the Slytherins about mutant things."

Everyone was a little bewildered about what Draco being confused had to do with anything, or what made her think Draco Malfoy would be going to Xavier's in the first place- his fate was still mostly up in the air, after all- but they decided not to question it, and the Lovegoods made their farewells.

"Well!" Dumbledore piped up. "Now that that's settled, I do believe we have an hour or so before lunch. Would either of you care for a tour of the grounds?"

Xavier and Ororo readily agreed. A tour sounded like just the thing after four hours spent in one room.

Narcissa found her son sitting cross-legged on the ground outside, tucked away in a corner where he wouldn't be in anybody's way if they came through. His skin had fully shifted to silver, and he almost seemed to be meditating, his eyes fixed on the substance floating through the air in front of him, twisting and morphing, gliding in circles, breaking apart and sliding back together.

So intent was he on maneuvering the shimmering liquid, he startled badly when his mother settled beside him, losing focus and splattering liquid-diamond everywhere. Draco grimaced. At least it had fallen onto the dirt, which could be dug up and smoothed over. Still, it was yet another mess he'd have to clean up.

He shifted where he sat, glancing to his mother, then fixing his eyes on the lawn. "Are you here to tell me I 'don't need to be taught' as well?"

She sighed. "No. I'm not."

Draco closed his eyes in relief. Narcissa remained silent for a moment, glancing over the silver blobs dotting the ground, then shifting her gaze to study him.

"Do you truly believe wizards can't help you? That proper, magical people are unsuited to the task of training you to use..." she indicated Draco's translucent skin, then the mess of diamond on the ground, "This?"

"I do." He replied.

She tilted her head. "Why?"

"Because several 'proper, magical people' have been trying, Mother. Professor Snape and Professor Flitwick, the best wizards in their fields, have been working with me on my mutation for the past month, and we've made only a little progress. The methods used to suppress out-of-control magic are different from the ones which work for my powers, and...well, we're just not sure what to try beyond the basic 'use your power enough to get an idea of what it feels like' sorts of things."

"I see. And you believe that learning with the Muggles will be any better?"

"I-...I can't be certain. They are Muggles, after all. But they've been working with mutant powers for years already. That has to have given them at least some idea of how the bloody things work."

"Draco!"

"What? Oh. I apologize, Mother. That was...uncouth of me."

"Hm. At least those mutant professors were polite, if nothing else. If we do send you to this Xavier Institute, you should try to work on your manners."

Draco froze, whipping his head around to look at her. "You mean you're actually considering it?"

She nodded. "I still don't like it. Neither does your father. But...I can tell you need this. And I won't be the one who stands in the way of my son and what he needs."

Draco relaxed, a tension he hadn't been aware of leaving his body. "Thank you, Mother."

"Anything for you, Draco."

Author's Note:

I would like to reiterate that I am, as far as I know, stepping away from x-men canon with the concept of "minor mutations that don't quite count as a superpower and don't come from the big-X-gene, but rather from an earlier, less dominant version of it." This part is my own headcanon/au, partly because I personally think it makes sense, partly because it helps me give an explanation for bloodline-related extra magical abilities such as metamorphmagus and speaking to snakes and such.

Draco's being a lil' dramatic about his problems with his mutation, but only insomuch as that right now, it feels as though he'll never get better at controlling it. His mental comment about how "my parents are stealing away my only hope of regaining the ability to be normal!" is definitely being over-dramatic; realistically, he would naturally gain some degree of control on his own. Eventually. It might take awhile, but it would happen. Though frankly, as a mutant, his life would've never been normal again, anyways. :P

However, this internal drama is a good thing for him bc he does really need this school change to happen. :P

Also, I have a feeling that magic might make a mutation harder to control. I haven't officially decided on this yet, but it makes sense to me-two powers with different sources, potentially mixing together a bit in some ways...*shrug* again, I'm not really sure yet.

Once again, I am writing several characters at once for whom I don't have the best grasp on their canonical characterization. *eyeroll*

On another note, I have...ZERO clue as to whether I'm characterizing Xenophilus right, as I don't think I've ever actually read very many scenes that he's in, even in fanfiction. So I'm writing him with very little idea of how he speaks or acts, just...fyi. But I had fun writing him. I started the conversation and suddenly he and Xavier were just having this nice little chat and I'm just sitting here "huh. not what I planned, but I guess this works?"

Besides, Xavier needed some "nice little chat" breathing room after that run-in with the Malfoys. Poor guy.

Is it just me, or has some of my writing style for this fic changed? It's been awhile since I updated regularly, and as this is my first longfic, I'm not sure whether I'm remaining consistent with the way I portray things and whatnot. Of course, it probably doesn't help that I've been writing meeting after meeting after meeting...I swear, this story isn't gonna be made up entirely of meetings. Really! Promise! Just...just hang in there... (talking to myself, here, LOL)

I'm basing the number of students at the Institute on how many I remember from the show, plus a couple OC's that I may or may not introduce at some point in this fic.

On another note... you know it's been a long time since you were last doing consistent updates when you need to actually read through your own fic in order to remember what, exactly, has happened, who's doing/done what, and where you were going next. :P

To anybody who actually reads through these author's notes, thank you! I know it's mostly just random commentary, but I do like to put little things in the author's notes that let you see part of the thoughts I have during the writing process, too. The notes also help me organize some of my relevant-but-not-actually-inside-the-fic notes, which gives me something to refer back to later.