A/N - Happy Sunday everyone. Here's the new chapter. Today Harry will meet the newest students at Xavier's School. I couldn't resist using this chapter title.
Disclaimer: The X-Men were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and belong to Marvel Comics. Harry Potter was created by and belongs to J.K. Rowling. I make no money from this and the only thing that's mine are the original parts of the story.
"Normal Speech"
"Telepathy"
8) THE NEW MUTANTS
When the meeting in the professor's office ended it was late in the evening and most people went off to bed. Except for napping on the plane Harry had been up for about 24 hours and he was very tired. He didn't need to worry about jet lag like most people would because of certain magic potions that he had taken which guarded against it. He fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Before he left Xavier's office, however, the professor told him that he would be excused from training for the next two days if he wanted so he could get back to his normal routine. That would lead up to the weekend when the X-Men usually had time off. However come Monday the 14th Harry would be returning to training with the team in the Danger Room as usual,
Thanks to the anti-jet lag potions that he'd taken Harry was able to wake up the next morning at his usual time. He quickly got dressed in his gym clothes and made his way down to the gym for his morning workout. When he got there he was surprised to find someone that he didn't know already in the room ahead of him. It was a boy with dark hair and a muscular body who looked to be maybe a year or so older than Harry.
"Good morning" Harry said greeting the boy, "I don't often see anyone in the gym at this hour."
"In Russia we always get up early" said the boy who had a very pronounced Russian accent although he seemed to speak English pretty well, "how do you do? I am Piotr Nikolaievitch Rasputin although most people call me Peter as it is easier for Americans to say."
"I'm sure it is" said Harry, "and it's easier for us Brits to say it too. I'm Harry James Potter but everyone calls me Harry."
"Nice to meet you Harry" said Peter, "I've not seen you before. Have you just arrived?"
"I got in last night" said Harry.
"Are you a new student too?"
"No" said Harry, "I've been here for a couple of years. I left on a trip a few weeks ago and just got back."
"So you're not part of my class?" asked Peter.
"No" said Harry, "I came in with the older class, which is a bit weird because they're all a few years older than me. I was told that your class is more in my age range."
"How old are you?"
"I just turned 15."
"Ah," said Peter, "yes, that's about our average age – well I'm 16 but I'm the oldest."
"Yeah" said Harry, "you're almost the first students around here to be my age or close to it. I hope we can be friends even if we're not in the same class."
"Of course we can" said Peter who held out his hand which Harry shook. Before either boy could say anything else there was a loud "BAMF!" along with the sudden smell of brimstone and a new person suddenly appeared in the room.
"Ach Peter" said the new person, "I thought I asked you to wake me before you went to the gym."
"I tried Kurt" said Peter to the newcomer, "but you were sleeping too deeply. I couldn't shake you awake."
"A likely story" said the now named Kurt before noticing, "and who is this?"
"I'm Harry Potter" said Harry looking at Kurt in surprise. And well he might be surprised. Kurt was a boy, obviously also a teen but he looked different from anyone Harry had ever seen – at least outside of the magical world. For one thing he was covered in blue-black fur. For another his hands each had two fingers and a thumb and his feet, when Harry glanced down at them only seemed to have two toes each in the front with another toe, or extension of some sort anyway, coming out of the heel in the back. His ears were pointed like an elf's would be and when he opened his mouth to speak Harry saw he had fangs. Lastly he had a tail that was three to four feet long. All in all he looked a bit like a demon with some goblin added to the mix.
"Hello Herr Potter" said Kurt whom Harry now realized was speaking with a definite German accent, "my name is Kurt Wagner."
"How do you do" said Harry as he and Kurt shook hands, "are you magical?"
"I've been called many things but no, I'm not magical" said Kurt, "although I grew up with some magicals. What do you know about magic?"
"I'm a wizard – " began Harry but Kurt interrupted him.
"Wait a minute" he said, "a wizard? Named Harry Potter?" Kurt looked closely at Harry's forehead and saw the lightning bolt scar there.
"Wunderbar!" exclaimed Kurt, "you're the Boy-Who-Lived!"
"Um, yes I am" said Harry, "I guess if you grew up with magicals you've heard about that."
"I haven't" said Peter.
"It's a long story" said Harry, "which I'd rather not get into right now. I need to work out before breakfast. We can discuss it later I guess or Kurt, you can tell him if you want since you seem to know it."
"I can do that" said Kurt, "are you also a mutant as well as a wizard?"
"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't" said Harry with a smile as he began doing some warmup stretches, "just like the two of you I'm guessing. What are your powers? Kurt it looks you can teleport."
"I can" said Kurt as he and Peter also began doing some warmup exercises, "I can also climb up walls and ceilings like the Amazing Spider-Man can."
"Oh that's cool" said Harry who turned to Peter, "what about you?"
"Watch" said Peter. He concentrated for a moment and then his whole body became metallic making it looked as if he had literally turned into steel. He also got bigger when he did this, gaining over a foot of height and even more mass in his body. Harry's jaw dropped when he saw this.
"Wow" he said in amazement. Peter grinned and turned back to being fully human.
"Thank you" he said, "what's your power?"
"I'm telekinetic" said Harry, "and I can control electricity."
"Very nice" said Kurt, "if you've been here for two years already you must have good control over them."
"That's what training does for you" said Harry with a nod, "has the professor given you code names yet?"
"Jah" said Kurt, "he calls me Nightcrawler."
"And I'm Colossus" said Peter, "what about you?"
"I'm Lightning" said Harry. That got looks of surprise from both other boys.
"Wait a minute" said Peter, "Lightning? Like the X-Man Lightning?"
"Yeah that's me" said Harry, "I was the fourth person to join the team after Scott, Bobby, and Warren. Hank and Jean both joined after me."
"I thought you had to be 18 to join the X-Men" said Kurt.
"That's true now" said Harry, "but not back then. Two years ago when the professor formed the team Scott was the only one who was 18. Now, I'm the only one who's still underage but I get to stay on the team because I was an X-Man before the professor decided to impose the age minimum."
"Ah" said Kurt, "so you were grandfathered in."
"So I'm told" said Harry, "I hope this isn't going to be a problem with us being friends?"
"Nyet" asked Peter, "if it is then the problem is ours, not yours."
"What he said" agreed Kurt, "these things happen. You're an X-Man. We're not – not yet anyway. So what?"
"Thanks" said Harry, "I really appreciate you saying that."
After the three boys finished their morning workouts they all left the gym to go take showers. That's when Harry learned that the new students were all being housed in the wing on the opposite side of the mansion from him and his teammates. There was a certain amount of sense to that in the same way that a lot of schools keep kids separated by year. The only one of the newer students who had a room in the "X-Men wing" was Neville due to his having been at the school longer than the other new students and already having spent time working with the X-Men in ways the other new students had not.
Harry took a shower and got dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and trainers. Upon leaving his room to go to breakfast he met Scott who was coming out of his own room just then.
"Good morning" said Harry.
"Morning Harry" said Scott, "did you have a good workout?"
"The usual" said Harry, "but I met two of the new students while I was in the gym. They were quite interesting. I wonder if the other new mutants are too?" Harry quickly told Scott about meeting Peter and Kurt.
"Yes, they're both nice kids" said Scott, "even if the professor's trying to convince Kurt not to teleport everywhere inside the mansion. He hasn't succeeded yet." Harry snorted.
"What are the other new students like?" he asked.
"Come to breakfast and find out" said Scott as the two of them began heading downstairs.
When Harry and Scott reached the kitchen they found it as crowded as it had been when the Weasleys and Hermione had visited the mansion the previous year. All of Harry's teammates were there. The professor was there and so were Remus and Neville. Peter and Kurt were also there starting their breakfasts and interacting with four more students that Harry didn't know.
Harry took a moment to say good morning to Bobby, Warren, Hank, Jean, Sirius, Remus, and Neville before greeting the professor.
"Good morning Harry" said the professor returned the professor, "did you have any trouble sleeping last night?"
"No" said Harry, "the potions I took for jet lag worked quite well. It also helped that I had been up for so long yesterday. I fell asleep really quickly and woke up at my usual time."
"I'm glad to hear it" said the professor, "now let me introduce you to our new students."
"I met Peter and Kurt earlier in the gym" said Harry as those two students both waved at Harry.
"Good" said the professor, "then I'll introduce you to our other new students."
The professor pointed at the four students Harry didn't know. There were three girls and one boy. The professor first pointed at the youngest girl.
"First of all I'd like you to meet Katherine Pryde" he said.
"Everyone calls me Kitty" the young girl said.
"Okay" said Harry, "where are you from?"
"Deerfield, Illinois" said Kitty.
"Kitty's power is to be intangible" said the professor, "in simple terms she can walk through walls."
"Wow" said Harry, "that's a handy power to have. I bet no one can ever hold you against your will."
"Probably not" said Kitty, "but I don't need to find that out right now. My codename is Sprite. The professor originally thought of calling me Ariel but I talked him out of it. Just don't make any cracks about pulling my Tab." Harry stared at Kitty while several people around him winced.
"Uh, what?" he finally asked.
"Don't worry about it Harry" said Warren, "we'll tell you later."
"Second of all" said the professor speaking up again, "I'd like you to meet Rahne Sinclair. She's from Scotland." This time the professor gestured at a girl who was a little older than Kitty. She had very short red hair and at first glance someone might have mistaken her for a boy although that impression would have been dispelled if the person looked at her for more than two seconds.
"Very nice" said Harry, "before I came here I used to go to school in Scotland."
"Really?" she said, "you sound English to me."
"That's true" conceded Harry, "but we're all British, aren't we? And it will be nice to have another Brit in the school. What's your power?"
"I can turn into a wolf" said Rahne. Harry's eyebrows went up.
"Like a werewolf?" he asked glancing at Remus.
"No" said Remus, "unlike with me there's nothing supernatural about Rahne's changing. It's not dependent on the moon or anything else except her own will. She can change whenever she wants to and she keeps her human mind when she does. I'm actually quite envious of her ability."
"Originally I gave her the codename of 'Wolfsbane'" said the professor with a rueful smile.
"That lasted for as long as it took for Remus to look the professor in the eye and ask him if he was trying to be funny." put in Sirius and Harry had to chuckle at that.
"Padfoot and I decided that we would give Rahne her codename" said Remus, "seeing as we're the shape shifters around here. She may not be magical like we are but it's close enough."
"And what did these two clowns decide to call you?" Harry asked Rahne who blushed a bit.
"They call me Alpha" she said in a quiet voice. Harry nodded.
"That sounds like a good choice" said Harry.
"Thanks pup" said Sirius.
"Next" said the professor calling Harry's attention back to himself, "I'd like you to meet Rogue." Harry looked at the last girl who was clearly the oldest of the three girls. What he noted about her was that despite it being August she was fully outfitted in clothes that covered all of her body except for her head. Even her hands were gloved. She smiled at Harry when they were introduced but he could see melancholy underneath her smile. Her face was framed by brown hair with a white streak running through it.
"How do you do?" said Harry.
"I'm fine, thanks" said Rogue and Harry noted that she had a distinct Southern American accent.
"Forgive me if this is too personal a question" said Harry, "but is Rogue really your name?"
"Not originally" was the reply "but it's what people have always called me. My birth name is Anna Marie but I prefer Rogue."
"I'll call you Rogue then" said Harry, "I hope you don't mind my asking but aren't you hot wearing all those clothes?"
"It's not as bad as it looks" said Rogue, "but I have to dress this way for safety reasons. My power is to temporarily absorb the powers and memories of other people when I make skin contact with them."
"Oh" said Harry, "that doesn't sound fun."
"It's not" said Rogue, "you have no idea how much trouble it's caused me since it first showed up. I'm so glad the professor brought me here where he can help me learn to control it so I won't be a danger to anyone." Harry nodded. He appreciated that sentiment as it reminded him a bit of his pre-Hogwarts days when he did accidental magic without any idea of what it was or what it might do to people. He had often been afraid that whatever that happened around him would hurt someone without his knowing how it happened or being able to stop it. The day Hagrid had solved the mystery when he told Harry he was a wizard and he learned he would be attending a magic school had been a big relief to him.
"And last but not least" said the professor, "is Samuel Zachary Guthrie, our human Cannonball." The professor pointed at the one boy Harry hadn't yet met. Harry looked over at Samuel and saw a boy who was fairly big but not quite as big as Peter. He had short blonde hair and an open, maybe even naive looking face – not that it meant he was naive of course. Harry had learned long ago that appearances can be deceiving.
"Call me Sam" he said in a friendly voice that had a bit of a Southern accent but not as much of one as Rogue's did, "everyone does."
"As long as you call me Harry" said Harry, "why did the professor call you a human cannonball?"
"My codename is Cannonball" was the reply, "I don't really know how to explain it all that well though. It's like I can create power that blasts me off like a rocket. I don't have much control over it yet and I crash into things a lot." This last was a said with a rueful smile.
"Fortunately while his power is active it makes him almost invulnerable to harm" said the professor.
"But the same can't be said about the stuff he crashes into" said Sirius with a smirk, "Moony and I have had to cast quite a few Reparo spells around here in the last ten days."
"I see" said Harry, "too bad we didn't have you at Hogwarts two months ago. You could have knocked down Death Eaters like bowling pins."
"Um, what?" asked Sam not knowing what Harry was talking about making Harry's eyebrows go up in surprise.
"It's a long story" said Scott rolling his eyes at Harry, "don't worry about it."
"So now you know all of us" said Kitty, "what about you?" What's your codename? And what are your powers?"
"I'm telekinetic and I can control electricity" said Harry knowing what was coming next, "my codename is Lightning." The four new students all looked at Harry as their eyes went wide and, in the cases of Sam and Kitty, their mouths fell open.
"Wait a minute" said Rogue, "you mean Lightning as in the only one of the X-Men we haven't met yet because he's been away the whole time since we got here?"
"Yes" said Harry.
"But I thought you had to be – " began Sam when Warren cut him off.
"Yeah, yeah" said Warren, "you have to be 18 to be an X-Man these days but when the professor first formed the team that wasn't the case. None of us were 18 back then except for Scott."
"I was 16" said Bobby, "until Harry came to the school I was the youngest one here."
"That didn't mean much" said Harry, "you and Scott were the only students here back then. I wasn't even supposed to join the team. I was only going to be here for the summer."
"That got changed in a hurry" murmured Warren.
"The point still stands" said Bobby.
"Don't look at me" said Sirius, "I didn't join the team until about a year after it was formed. By then the 18+ rule was in effect. As I was already well past that age it hardly mattered to me."
"Padfoot, you've never been over 18" muttered Remus.
"I resemble that remark" said Sirius with a grin.
"Other than Harry and that overgrown kid over there" said Jean about Sirius, "we're all 18 or more now"
"I've got three more years before that happens" said Harry before adding to himself, "although sometimes I wonder if I was ever underage."
"Then why are you still on the team?" asked Kitty, "with the professor's rule – "
"It's a long story" said Harry.
"Which you should probably know, unless you object Harry?" the professor looked at Harry who shook his head. No, he didn't object. Kurt already knew a lot of the story and would probably tell the others anyway. It would be better if they all heard the truth from the source itself. Harry didn't want to deal with any potential jealousy or thoughts of favoritism from the newer students, especially the ones who were older than him.
"Very well" said the professor, "later today we'll have a full school meeting and you'll learn the whole story. For now just know that Harry needed to be on the team when he came here and he's been trained as fully as the others. When I made the new rule I didn't make it retroactive. Harry earned his place as an X-Man and as long as he wants it he's keeping it."
"Thank you professor" said Harry.
"You're welcome" said the professor, "now, X-Men, it's almost time for training so I suggest you go get ready. The rest of you may have the morning off."
That ended breakfast and people began to get up and leave the kitchen. Before Harry left he turned to the professor.
"Professor" he said, "I know you gave me today and tomorrow off because I just got back but I think I'd like to come to training anyway, even if I just watch. I want to start getting back into things, you know?"
"All right" said the professor, "I have no problem with that. I probably won't have you do anything but go suit up anyway."
"Thanks" said Harry.
While breakfast was breaking up Peter and Kitty approached Neville.
"You don't seem surprised about Harry being an X-Man" said Peter.
"I'm not" said Neville, "I've known Harry for several years. He and I used to go to school together before he left to come here. He's the one who introduced me to the professor last spring when my powers first woke up and I spent time here back in April."
"You knew the X-Men before you came here this summer?" asked Kitty.
"I did" said Neville, "I even – " Neville stopped speaking as his face clouded up for a moment before it cleared again.
"You even what?" asked Peter.
"Nothing" said Neville, "nothing important."
Harry went back to his room and quickly changed into his X-Man uniform before heading down to the Danger Room. As he stepped out of his room he met Angel who was just coming out of his room across the hall.
"Hey Harry" said Angel, "I thought the professor gave you today and tomorrow off from training."
"He did" said Lightning, "but I didn't feel like skipping so I'm coming to the Danger Room anyway, even if I don't do anything except watch."
"Glad to have you back" said Angel as he and Lightning bumped fists and headed downstairs to the main floor. Soon they entered the Danger Room where the rest of the team was waiting for them. Remus was there too standing next to the professor's chair. He gestured for Lightning to join him.
"I heard the professor say he probably wouldn't have you do anything today" said Remus, "so I thought you might like to someone to talk with if you're just going to watch."
"Thanks Moony" said Lightning, "but I'm not too sure how much I will be watching." He gestured toward Angel who had taken off and was circling around the room up by the ceiling.
"I see" said Remus as Angel called down to them.
"Hey Lightning!" yelled Angel, "you've been away too long. You're it. Now come get me!"
"With pleasure" called back Lightning who took off and began chasing Angel around the room as the two began their normal warm up game of aerial tag."
"I've missed this" said Lightning as he tapped Angel and then turned around and flew away from him as his teammate began chasing him back.
"All right Lightning" came the professor's voice in Lightning's head, "if you're that intent on getting back into training then watch out!"
"What?" asked Lightning who quickly swerved out of the way as Beast leaped up high and tried to grab him.
"An excellent dodge my young teammate" called Beast as he landed again, "but your troubles are only beginning."
"Think fast Lightning" said Cyclops as he fired an optic blast at his youngest teammate.
"Whoa" said Lightning as he threw up a telekinetic shield and reflected the blast back at Cyclops. Before Lightning could relax he had to dodge several balls of ice that Iceman threw at him which, fortunately, he did. Even then he couldn't rest as Marvel Girl used her telekinesis to send several metal blocks flying at him. Lightning used his own power to knock them all away from him. While he did this he felt Marvel Girl try to enter his mind with her telepathy and raised his shields to block her. While concentrating on that he almost missed hearing Mage say "Stupefy!" but he realized what was happening just in time and quickly ducked the stunning spell heading his way before wandlessly sending an Expelliarmus back towards his Godfather. The spell missed but it distracted Mage enough that Lightning got away from both him and Marvel Girl.
"Be careful Lightning" said the professor, "you're not done yet."
'Now what?' Lightning thought. He was flying roughly halfway between the floor and ceiling at this point when Angel suddenly dove at him from above while Beast leaped up at him from below. Lightning put on an extra burst of speed and managed to avoid both attacks as Angel and Beast crashed into each other and both fell to the floor together.
"That was close" muttered Lightning as the professor called a halt to the exercise and summoned all of the team to gather in front of him.
"Well done Lightning" said the professor once the team was facing him, "you didn't slack off while you were away. Good work."
"Thanks professor" said Lightning, "glad to know I can still handle being thrown in the deep end."
"You should be able to handle that" said the professor, "we'll have you do more later but for now take a break while I work with your teammates." Lightning nodded his acceptance of what the professor said and moved over to stand near Remus while the rest of team began their own individual exercises.
"Good to see you haven't gone soft since Voldemort's defeat" said Remus.
"Pfft, as if" said Lightning, "with all of the menaces in the world that's hardly an option."
As usual the training session took up most of the morning. By the time it was over Lightning had been called back out onto the floor to participate in other exercises alongside the rest of the team. You might think that after two years of training there wouldn't be much that the team still had to learn but you'd be wrong. As Professor Xavier would sometimes remind his students the moment any of them felt there was nothing more to learn would be the moment that they would start to stagnate. Learning and training never stopped if they all wanted to stay in top form.
The session ended just before lunch. As the X-Men were leaving the Danger Room they ran into Sam and Rogue just coming out of the gym.
"Hello" said Cyclops, "have you two been working out?"
"Yes Scott" said Rogue, "just as you showed me."
"Oh?" said Lightning to Cyclops, "was it the same one you gave me when I first got here?"
"Close enough" was the reply, "although Sam didn't need one."
"I've worked out for years" said Sam, "already have a routine" as he flexed a muscle.
"It shows" said Lightning, "it looks good."
"Is that you Harry?" asked Rogue.
"Yes" said Lightning.
"We told you he was one of us" said Iceman, "didn't you believe it?"
"Of course we did" said Sam, "but hearing you say it at the breakfast table is not the same thing as seeing you suited up as one of the team and coming out of that room with the rest of them."
Remus snickered bringing everyone's attention to him.
"What's so funny Moony?" asked Mage.
"Some of the Weasleys had the same reaction when they first saw the X-Men in uniform heading out to fight the Death Eaters after the Quidditch World Cup" said Remus, "you missed that part because they took you with them but their reactions were worth seeing. Mrs. Weasley went into her overprotective mother mode about you all being 'too young,' especially you Harry. I had to remind her that Dumbledore knew all about the X-Men in order to talk her down."
"I see" said Mage, "I remember that night. It was when I officially joined the team."
"I remember it too" said Marvel Girl, "it wasn't fun."
"No, it wasn't" said Lightning, "even if it was the first time I used a Full Blasting Attack in combat."
"Are you as lost as I am?" Rogue asked Sam.
"If you mean do I have any idea what they're talking about?" said Sam, "the answer is no."
"It's just stuff that happened a year ago" said Cyclops, "don't worry about it."
"Attention all students, guests, and staff" the voice of Professor Xavier suddenly sounded in all of their heads, "please report to the main livingroom of the mansion immediately." That stopped the conversation and in short order the X-Men, the new students, and all other current residents of the mansion were in the main livingroom of the mansion where the professor soon joined them.
"I thought it best to meet here" said the professor, "as this room is big enough for all of us with plenty of space to spare. Please, everyone, sit down."
"Can't we change first?" asked Cyclops.
"No" said the professor, "I'd rather not wait as a lot of you were already together so we don't have to wait very long to get started."
Everyone sat down. Most people sat on couches or chairs but a few sat on the floor. Although seating had not been assigned the different classes gravitated towards each other anyway. The X-Men all sat together and the newer students also sat together although Neville sat near the X-Men along with Remus. The professor also asked Dobby to join them and the house elf quickly popped into the room. Lightning's eyebrows went up when none of the new students showed any surprise at seeing Dobby. 'I guess they've already met him' Lightning thought to himself, 'which means they must all already know about magic too, not just Kurt.' At the last minute Hedwig flew in and landed on Lightning's shoulder.
"Hi girl" said Lightning nodding at the snowy owl who bobbed her head back at him.
"What a beautiful owl" cooed Rahne. Hedwig looked at her with appreciation.
"This is Hedwig" said Lightning, "she's my friend and companion. You haven't seen her before?"
"She mostly kept to our side of the mansion while you were away" said Remus, "that is if she wasn't out hunting."
"If we might proceed" said the professor before a longer discussion about Hedwig could break out, "Harry, are you comfortable with them all knowing the full story?"
"Kurt already knows a lot of it" said Lightning, "since he told me he grew up with magicals. Better have everyone get the story here rather than second hand."
"All right" said the professor, "who wants to start?"
"We will" said Mage indicating himself and Remus, "we were friends with Harry's parents back in school which is when things began..."
The story of Harry and Lord Voldemort was told again starting at the beginning during the school days of Harry's parents through the war with Voldemort, Harry's years at Hogwarts, the manifesting of his mutant powers, his joining the X-Men, all the way up to the fight against Voldemort at Hogwarts just two months earlier. It took several people to tell the story with Lightning picking up a lot of it after Mage and Remus, along with the professor, and one or two of the other X-Men also contributing parts of it. They also took a few minutes to mention what had happened with Neville at the battle which caused that boy to blush in embarrassment. The newer students, however, all looked at him with new respect after hearing about his meeting with Bellatrix Lestrange. For an outsider's perspective Kurt even told a few things about how the war against Voldemort and Harry's defeat of him was seen by magicals outside of the U.K.
When it was over the new students all sat in silence for several moments.
"Wow!" said Rogue, finally breaking the silence, "what a story."
"Jah" said Kurt, "I already knew some of it and it's still much more than I thought it would be."
"I'll say this" said Sam, "if I was ever going to be jealous of the fact that you're already an X-Man even though you're younger than me this story would cure that. You've earned your place on the team and you deserve to be there. If I ever get on the team I can only hope I'll be half as deserving as you." The other new students all echoed what Sam, Kurt and Rogue had already said.
"Thank you" said Lightning, "I hope we can all be friends."
"Of course" was the general reply and Lightning felt himself relax a bit. It was only now that he really admitted to himself that he had been worried that maybe that wouldn't be the case.
After the meeting was over Lightning went back to his room accompanied by Hedwig who was still on his shoulder. Once in his room Lightning picked up a letter he'd written the previous night before going to bed. He'd left it on his desk since then. Now he held it out to Hedwig.
"It's for Charlie Weasley" he said to the owl as he tied it to her foot, "unless he doesn't intend to reply please wait for his letter. I'll be very interested to hear what he has to say about my meeting with Kamanda. I'm just sorry I won't be able to see his face when he reads the letter. You enjoy his reaction in my place, okay girl?" As she spread her wings to leave Hedwig gave off a bark that made Lightning think she was laughing. He watched her fly off into the distance before turning away from the window and starting to change out of his X-Man uniform.
Hedwig brought back Charlie Weasley's reply a few days later. Harry had to grin when he read it. The letter oozed with both enthusiasm that Harry had met a Wakandan Warrior Dragon, and clear envy that he, Charlie, had not been there too. He sent Harry a sizable list of questions, most of which Harry couldn't answer as he was not a dragon expert. He also asked if Harry had a picture of Kamanda that he could send him. Harry didn't but knew he could get one by using a pensive and taking a picture from the memory of his encounter. He asked Sirius if he had access to a pensive. Sirius didn't have one but knew that Dumbledore did so he contacted the headmaster about it. Dumbledore invited both Harry and Sirius to come to Hogwarts to use his pensive so they could get the pictures Charlie wanted. Once that was done Harry sent the pictures to Charlie who thanked him quite profusely in his thank you letter.
So Harry got back into the routine of life at the X-Mansion but now he had several new people to get to know. Peter and Kurt soon became regular workout companions with him in the mornings and it didn't take long for Harry to become firm friends with them. It took a little longer with the other four new students but he was on good terms with them all right from the start and it was only a matter of time. Somehow Harry knew that the six new students wouldn't be the last students to come to the school. No, if everything went as he knew the professor hoped, one day the X-Mansion would have lots of students filling up the whole school.
(To Be Continued)
A/N - That's all for this week. In canon Kitty's first X-Man codename was Sprite (see issue #139) and she made the same joke about no one "pulling her tab." The professor responded with an "ouch" although he smiled when he said it.
So the new students have arrived. Like I said at the end of Part 2 I don't have major plans for them yet but they'll be around. We'll see what roles turn up for them as the story progresses as a lot of it is still unwritten. Sorry if I didn't include your personal favorite later X-Man. I stuck to ones from when I was growing up because I know them better than many of the later ones. For example there were some requests for Gambit to appear but I don't know his character nearly well enough to include him as he didn't show up until much later.
Next week we go back to Wizarding Britain to wrap up a loose end from Part 2. Meanwhile please take a moment to leave me some feedback. Constructive comments are always welcome but no flames or trolls please. Stay safe and well everyone.