Chapter 44: Chapter 44 The Beginning of a Harem
Harry spent the following Sunday Paused for what could have been months or years. After getting Laura out he finally decided to take the time to check out his gains from Sinister's Mind, Sinister's hard drives, and what he stole from the compounds he and Logan raided.
Sinister was unsurprisingly, a real piece of work that reminded Harry a bit of Voldemort in his single mindedness. There was nothing in the data he acquired that showed what Mister Sinister was afraid of but it was obvious from what Harry did get from his mind that the man feared something and he was trying to create a mutant powerful enough to fight against whatever it was he feared.
Harry felt this was similar to Voldemort who feared death and tried to become the strongest magical to avoid it. Voldemort however was blind to using other means to achieve his goals and Mister Sinister seemed to only focus on making himself or another mutant strong enough to fight whatever he was scared of, but he didn't look much into other means of fighting it.
His data showed decades and in some cases centuries of research and testing on mutants and their powers and looking over some of the memories Harry was able to copy, he figured out what the man wanted from Jean.
Mister Sinister apparently had sponsored several orphanages and when Scott's parents died, the young Summers had lived in one. Sinister's tests seemed to show that a child between Scott and Jean would be stronger than any mutant he was capable of creating.
Harry could easily see the man was right, but he doubted if Sinister knew why. After a number of tests, Harry found that the type of energy Scott was capable of connecting to and emitting was basically Bird Seed for the Phoenix Force. It could literally nourish the Psionic entity and psychics in general would gravitate towards Scott. Though they would look at Scott like a plate of delicious food, not as boyfriend material. If they couldn't tell the difference between hunger and love, they might convince themselves they had feelings for him.
Sinister apparently met Scott in disguise years ago and imprinted into the boy[s mind a need to be with Jean that would go into effect once he saw her. He seemed to plant something similar into Jean but that quickly faded and there didn't seem to be a point to putting it back. Sinister had means of monitoring Salem and seemed to know that Jean and Scott were growing further apart. Jean's kidnapping was to implant a need to be with Scott. Sinister was going to arrange it so that Scott would find and rescue her at a place of the man's choosing.
He didn't count on Harry of course. No matter what means he used to gain information, he would only get the lies Harry told everyone else and nothing else.
Then there was the stuff he got from Canada. The Weapons Project, Weapon X. Founded and funded by a man named John Sublime, it was a way to use Mutants to fight and kill mutants. The project shared similarities to Sinister's work in that both were ways to strengthen mutants, but they had different end goals and different means to achieve them. Sinister wanted mutants to give birth to stronger mutants. Sublime just wanted to use mutants to kill mutants.
The files he read almost made him regret not killing everyone in both facilities. They had allowed their fear to justify actions that would have made Death Eaters squeamish. He wouldn't go back even if he knew though. The sites appeared to be partially funded by a few governments but were not completely under government oversight and John Sublime was a civilian.
If Harry had killed anyone, they would be declared threats by those not a part of the Program and the response to the raids would be completely different. However, if a weapons program was defeated by two sets of two people, three of which were unknown and they got in and out without killing anyone, that would look terrible on paper for whoever was in charge.
None of the researchers Harry wiped would be able to continue their work meaning the Program would have to hire more which would cost money. Would a program that got whooped so easily be allocated additional funds though? Most would think it was a waste of money and not even care who took it out since the perpetrators didn't kill anyone.
Even if they did restart it, Harry would see if he could get the Goblins to track where the money was coming from and mess with them appropriately.
Probably the most interesting part of comparing the data from Sinister and the data from the Weapons Program was that the holes in one appeared to be filled in the other. Thanks to this, Harry now understood a lot more about mutants that he had before.
From what he could tell, the X-Gene was a somewhat of a blank space in a human's DNA. It was a gene that did absolutely nothing because it contained no information that could be used. In times of great stress or under specific circumstances though, the X-Gene could change from something that gave no information to something that did include information.
A mutant was someone whose X-Gene filled in on its own, however there were means of manually writing information onto the X-Gene.
Harry had discovered several programs known as Super Soldier Programs and sometimes they worked on a person, sometimes they would not. Harry now understood that the people it worked on had an inactive X-Gene and the process that turned them into an Enhanced had manually over-written their X-Gene to grant them those abilities. That also meant that no one without an unawakened X-Gene could successfully become an Enhanced.
Though difficult, it was somewhat possible to Enhance a mutant and sometimes an enhanced would become a mutant as well, though the end result was impossible to guess.
Using what Harry already knew combined with everything he learned, Harry figured he could probably create a Gene therapy that would grant anyone without an X-Gene an X-Gene. He could even think of a few survivable ways to permanently remove an X-Gene, even an awakened one. Once he had that information, he promptly locked it away into the deepest, darkest depths of his mind. That was not information the world was ready for and Harry doubted if it would ever be ready for it. The only problem was that if someone else got access to Sinister's data and Project Weapon's data and was clever enough, they could figure it out too. Hell, Harry wouldn't be surprised if someone figured it out without their data.
Although Harry wouldn't use it for the same purposes as Sinister and the Canadians, he could use it to help Dr. McCoy with his own research.
Over the course of the following week, most of the staff and students decided to give Harry some blood to make Blood gems. Harry had not told anyone he used them to find Logan's 'daughter,' but a number of the staff and even some students guessed it.
Eleven year old, Laura Kinney herself was easily accepted into the Institute and Xavier and Warren took care of all the paperwork. Dr. Sarah Kinney was actually offered a position as Dr. McCoy's research assistant which paid well and gave the woman a chance to stay with her daughter and work in her field which happened to be genetics, same as Dr. McCoy.
Something interesting was that Harry was unable to make blood gems for three of the residents of Xavier's Institute. Kurt's blood seemed to be mostly human but it was outside of the range required for the blood magic to work meaning his blood could not be used. Something similar happened with Warren's blood. Harry said he appeared to have an atavism which caused his blood to have similar effects to a distant, less than human ancestor. Something Harry didn't share was that Warren's blood actually burned Kurt's. It made him wonder about the Angel and Demon pair.
The third failure was the most surprising. Harry could not use any blood magic with Scott's blood. Kurt and Warren had blood that would be perhaps what a child of a Homo sapien and a Homo neanderthalensis would appear. The descendant of a human and an offshoot of humans. Scott though had at least a grandparent who wasn't born on the planet earth. This probably explained why Sinister felt his genes were so special. Though his DNA appeared completely human, Harry's magic could tell it was not and why it was not in ways even the great Nathaniel Essex never could.
Harry discussed his findings with Dr. McCoy and Dr. Kinney and they found the absence of certain markers which showed Harry was correct. After some debating, the three decided to inform Scott of his interesting heritage, though no one else. Harry also used the chance to Obliviate Scott of the memories he had of Jean before he met her. That wouldn't affect his existing memories, but it would remove the influence Sinister implanted in him. Harry wondered if he should feel bad about that and decided to set him up on a date at some point.
Scott took it relatively well though he did ask what it meant. Harry just told him that whatever species was in him was highly compatible with humans which manifested in the power of his awakened X-Gene and that his children would have an easy time awakening their X-Gene as well.
Things returned mostly to normal after that though with the help of his Time Turner Harry appeared to have more free time than normal which caused some people to try to take advantage of him. Several students would claim that they were sick at the times when it was their turn to make food and ask Harry to take their shift because he was regarded as the best cook in the Institute. On the third time this happened, Harry decided to take steps.
Evan had not only shameless begged Harry to step in when it was his turn to make breakfast, he also asked him not to tell his aunt. Harry smiled and agreed. Harry made stacks and stacks of pancakes which were something with a low enough level of difficulty that Evan could take credit for without suspicion and Evan accepted everyone's thanks with a warm heart. That was until everyone started shooting flames out of their asses.
Harry had added a special potion, something he got from Fred and George Weasley's Joke shop to the batter mix. The flames were bright blue and cold to the touch. They did not burn and would safely go through the pants of the victim without harming the fabric.
For a whole day, every student and most of the faculty would randomly fart blue flames at various times. Logan's Phys Ed class that day was track and field which many students would recall as the most memorable class of the year. So many many butt flames.
Safe to say, the truth came out and Harry was not asked to take over another shift again. Kurt did however ask to be taken on as an apprentice.
It was a few weeks later near Thanksgiving that two things came up. In the morning when Harry was in his workshop, Goose came in and was followed by a small purple dragon. This was Lockheed, the alien dragon Kitty made friends with during their space adventures.
Harry asked, "What's up Goose?" Harry always took at least an hour or so to spend time with Goose. Sometimes Goose would also visit the study group's table and Harry would just pet her while he tutored the others. Harry had seen Goose and Lockheed hang out a few times but didn't ask about it.
Goose conveyed, 'He needs assistance with something, I recommended you.'
Harry turned down to the blue dragon and asked, "Alright, how can I help?"
Lockheed seemed to be hissing in various tones while moving his jaw so Harry asked Goose, "Does he have problems speaking english? Should I use telepathy?"
Goose conveyed back, 'No. His race speaks with each other telepathically though a hive mind connection, but they refuse to communicate the same way to other lifeforms. He can speak english, it just feels uncomfortable.'
Harry asked, "They don't like telepathy with members of other races?"
Goose continued, 'Not exactly. Their telepathy is empathy based. He just doesn't want to talk through his emotions with a guy.'
Harry burst out laughing at that. It explained how Lockheed was speaking with Goose since Goose was female. He wondered if Lockheed spoke with Kitty.
Harry considered a few things and asked using Parseltongue, "Can you understand this language?"
Lockheed seemed taken aback at that and answered in fluent Parseltongue, "I did not expect to hear this language from a human. Goose's description of you did not do you Justice."
Harry asked, "Have you met Goose before? Come to think of it, is Goose her real name?"
Lockheed answered, "I've run into the Flerken a number of times over the last century or so, though I did not expect to see her on Earth. Her name cannot be constructed using sounds you are familiar with, so Goose is acceptable. The same goes for my own name. My parents certainly did not call me Lockheed, but I will not be sharing my true name with you this day."
Harry did not hide his surprise at any part of that statement. It proved that Goose was not from earth and also showed that Lockheed was likely Dragonkin for lesser dragons did not have true names. Dragonkin however were not weak so his appearance which was only a size larger than Goose's did not fit a standard dragonkin.
Harry decided to directly ask, "Are you dragonkin?"
Lockheed nodded, "Yes, though very different from most. My species is renowned for its spirit and mind, not our bodies. For example, though you have hidden it well, I can feel a Dragon's aura on you. Another would not notice it but I can."
That answered most of his questions so he continued, "So how can I help you then?"
Lockheed jumped up on the workbench and said, "Goose tells me you are an excellent crafter and can learn foreign technology without great difficulty. There is something I'd like you to build for me. I do not have the materials nor skill to build it myself though I do know how it works and in exchange for teaching you my people's technology, I ask you to fulfil my request."
*Ping*
[New Quest: Phone Home
Lockheed ran away from his Flock and wishes to contact them again to inform those he cares for that he is well.
+Bonus: Create untraceable connection.]
Harry said, "I will not build anything that could end up causing great harm to this planet of people I care about. Other than that, there should not be a problem."
Lockheed nodded and seemed to respect that. He said, "I was considered something of a hero among my own people in the Brood wars. I was given many honors but those honors took away my freedom. I was made into a status symbol and was going to be forced into marriage with another... celebrity I suppose you could say.. I was not interested in her, but she wanted to possess me and I was practically sold to her. Had the X-Men not barged into the war, I would have been married off the following day. So I ran."
Harry listened without judgement to Lockheed's story. Not all heroes had a happy ending and Harry was at least happy Lockheed was able to escape the fate of a trophy husband.
Lockheed continued, "I left without warning or message to others. Many perhaps think I have died but there are those I care for who I wish to inform I am doing well. I wish to ask you to build a communicator that I can use to contact my parents."
"Umm. Why me? I mean I know I'm good, but Forge could probably build a communicator using spare parts from the ship."
Goose interrupted, apparently having followed the whole conversation in parseltongue, 'His race communicates, interacts with one another, and even travels through the Astral Plane. He needs someone who can build within the astral plane.'
Lockheed, apparently having heard Goose, said, "She is correct. I need someone capable of crafting AstralTech."
Harry smiled, "I'm game."
Harry feels the space cave in behind him and turns to find, not Kurt, but Harry Potter. The doppelganger Harry says, "Jean is going to go critical in seven minutes. Use Protocol Supreme and take Rogue and Wanda. Clearance Code, Wolverine Heart Storm. I'll take over with Goose and Lockheed."
The original Harry sighs and apparates to Wanda and Rogue's closet and knocks on the door. Harry has been keeping several monitoring charms in Jean's room so that when Jean has a nightmare capable of disturbing the house, the charm creates a timestamp and informs Harry. When Harry goes back in time, he makes sure to be in her room during the period the time stamp goes off so he can contain the effect.
This time however it seemed that he alone would not be enough.
Wanda opened the closet door and Harry said, "Jean's about to go critical, let's go."
Rogue was dressed by then as well and Harry made a portal to Jean's room and waited until the room started shaking. Harry cast a barrier around the room and Wanda and Rogue used chaos magic to strengthen it and to sooth Jean's bad dreams. The psionic energy coming off the girl this time however nearly cracked Harry's shields and pushed Rogue and Wanda back. They increased the strength of their spell and eventually the psionic storm calmed down.
Jean shot up and turned to see Harry, Rogue and Wanda. Her face turned painful and she started crying. Wanda went to her left and Rogue to her right and they started comforting her.
Jean said through sobs, "I'm sorry. I keep dreaming about that night. Maybe I should have let the professor take my memories."
Rogue shook her head and said, "No. You would still feel the fear but you wouldn't know where it was coming from." Rogue had read over a lot of psychology books in Harry's head and was practically a certified shrink at this point. She knew more about people's heads than even Charles did.
Jean tried to hold back her weeping breaths and said, "My powers are getting worse. It's like before you got here Harry. Please. Tell me what's happening to me."
Harry nodded and put his arms around all three girls. He then sent something of a psychic invitation into his mind and Jean followed in. She was surprised to find that Rogue and Wanda came in as well.
Harry took out a book of his memories. Jean had already gotten to Kamar-Taj and had just finished Harry's encounter with the Doctor.
"This scene is a few months after where you left off so I suspect you would have found it in a week or so." Harry threw the book at a wall and it turned into a projection of the images. Harry fast forwarded to his meeting with Chthon and hit play, allowing Jean to watch everything from start to finish.
When the Phoenix showed up to save Harry, Jean felt she could not be more grateful, even though she already knew Harry survived. She also realized that the image Harry sent to her when they first met was this very Phoenix.
Then came the conversation and the Phoenix's request. Jean was shocked over the fact that the Phoenix was the one who saved her life when she nearly died following the soul of her best friend that horrible day, so many years ago. She didn't like what Harry was being asked to do, but was mollified that Harry took the time to confirm that the Phoenix's avatar would not be controlled, only given power and the knowledge of where to use it, before he agreed to it.
Rather than ending, the scene fast forwarded once more to the point where Harry learned that Xavier had blocked Forge's memories of Danger and Harry had scanned Xavier's mind to find out what was wrong with him
Harry ended the picture there and said, "Xavier sealed some of the weaker, more human parts of his mind so he could make himself into a symbol others could get behind. He is obviously not aware of the humanity he lost when he did so which was why he could justify what he did to Forge and what he did to you. I suspect he felt he was doing it to protect you from yourself."
Jean sat down on the couch in Harry's mind and started thinking. She knew Harry was trying to get her to do something with her own mind, but she didn't think it was unlocking the sealed connection to the entity of life and passion, the source of all Psionics in the universe. She couldn't hate Harry for it either. Harry hadn't been straightforward about it but he didn't exactly go to any great lengths to hide it from her and she always knew he'd tell her once she asked.
Jean asked aloud, "So the reason my head is messed up is because of that seal?"
Harry nodded and asked, "Knowing what you know now, can you guess why the seal is messing with you?"
Jean considered it and answered, "Because the seal isn't just sealing the connection, it is also sealing what the Phoenix connected to. My passion, my heart, and other parts of my mind."
Harry nodded and said, "Not all of it but enough of it to make it unstable. I figure Xavier sealed his own mind after it had matured so he didn't experience the same problem, but he still thinks if it worked for him it will work for you."
Jean now understood what the Phoenix meant when it said her mind could be crippled if not the seal was not removed. She figured she had a year at most before any damage became permanent which was why Harry had not told her everything on day one, and just allowed her to work it herself.
Jean said, "I want to break that seal. Now."
Harry nodded but said, "If we're going to do it, we're going to do it right. It's time for you to meet my Mystic Teacher, the Ancient One. Wanda and Rogue are coming too by the way."
The group left Harry's mind and Harry made a portal to Kamar-Taj after Jean changed from her pajamas to something casual. The sun had yet to set and Harry was able to get a meeting with the Sorcerer Supreme and informed her that a future version of himself had said to use Protocol Supreme. That was a plan Harry and the Ancient One had come up with to assist Jean in breaking the seal instead of letting her finish it herself to prevent as much damage as possible. They figured that enacting Protocol Supreme likely meant that something bad would happen if Jean broke the seal herself so they would do it together and help her to prevent any damage.
Harry arranged the ritual room and informed Wanda and Rogue of their plans and how they could help.
Once ready, all four of them entered Jean's head and found the spot Jean suspected Xavier had hidden the seal.
The Ancient One said, "Now, Harry and I will reveal the seal but it would be best if you opened it yourself. Opening it yourself versus another opening it is the difference between opening a door with a key or opening it with a crowbar."
Jean nodded and Harry and the Ancient One touched upon the flow of psionic and mental energies within Jean's mind and slowly the space within her psyche which appeared to contain nothing unfolded itself to reveal a wall containing a door held shut but many chains.
Jean noticed the effort that Harry and the Ancient One seemed to be putting into keeping the door visible so Jean focused on it using what Harry had taught her and one by one, the chains fell down. Harry and the Ancient One seemed to be struggling which made Jean nervous but she set those feelings aside and focused more, felling chain after chain. She put everything she had into the last heavy lock which clicked open and Harry and the Ancient One seemed to relax.
Rogue walked up and asked, "Was Xavier's locks really that hard to open?"
The Ancient One caught her breath and said, "It was not the power of Xavier that made the locks strong. He used Jean's own mind and forged parts of it into those locks. Jean's mind, gifted with a connection to the source, is very powerful and we could not afford to harm the locks and chains as they too are parts of Jean's mind.
Jean felt what the Ancient One was referring too and changed the locks and chains back into the emotions and mental aspects of herself that had been missing from her mind for so long.
The moment she did so however, she collapsed and seemed to be in great pain.
"Bring her to me," came an ethereal woman's voice from the other side of the door.
Harry picked up Jean and ran inside and down the winding staircase to where a large flame was burning.
The flame shifted into a woman and said, "You have done well, we are not too late. An avatar of mine lives off love and passion. However her heart was forged into a chain and used to bind me, preventing her from truly feeling love. Had this not been corrected in time, then even if I was freed later she would always have had a hole in her heart leaving her feeling empty and she would have used my powers to fill that hole. Nothing good would have come from that."
Rogue asked, "How can we help?"
The Phoenix answered, "Before the wound in her heart becomes a hole, you must heal it with love. I can feel the love you three bare for my avatar and the connection you have forged. You must use that connection to show Jean your love for her."
Harry and the girls nodded and connected their empathy directly to Jean. They knew that Jean had feelings for Harry but it was light and fragile so Harry and the girls used Occlumency to hide the depths of their own feelings for Jean to prevent her from feeling awkward around them for loving her more than she loved them. Now however they hid nothing and turned up the love to eleven.
Harry remembered seeing her for the first time, speaking with her at the mansion, showing her his mind and every interaction that followed. He remembered her kindness, her generosity, her care for others and remembered how all of that made him fall in love with her. He put his feelings for Jean on full display and allowed Jean to feel it completely. Rogue did the same and Wanda did as well.
Jean's pain filled face seemed to relax. Harry bent over and cupped her face in his hand just as she was opening her eyes and he leaned forward. Jean instinctively leaned up and their lips met. She felt Harry's love for her and even Rogue's and Wanda's love. Tears were streaming down her cheeks at the feeling of being so overwhelmingly loved but so many amazing people. She could feel her own heart burn with love for them and the pain she felt earlier faded and turned to warmth.
Jean closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Harry and kissed him deeply. She opened her mouth and Harry's tongue pressed and danced against her own making her head swim.
Rogue and Wanda smirked from the back as they knew Harry had decades of practice making out after all.
The flame behind them turned into a spiral and flew into Jean, but she didn't seem to notice. Her body began to glow and embers burned over her form, but did nothing to harm Harry.
Rogue walked up to the pair and separated them saying, "Alright, time to breath people."
Jean realized what she had done and blushed awkwardly. Rogue smiled, took Jean into her arms and said, "My turn sugar," and planted another steaming kiss onto Jean's lips. Rogue's tongue was just as skilled as Harry's and soon Jean was swimming again and deeply enjoying Rogue's frenching skills.
The sight of the two kissing made Harry really reconsider his wait until they moved out policy. Thankfully he would not have to wait too long. Although he was fifteen, he found a few means that would let him own a house when he turned sixteen so he'd already planned to move out next summer and his heart had already settled an making sure nothing got in the way of taking his girls with him.
Rogue broke the kiss and looked satisfied at Jean's zoned out expression before she turned to Wanda and asked, "You want a turn sugar?"
Wanda blushed and said, "Maybe later..."
The Ancient One gave a small cough and said, "Perhaps now would be a good time to return to our bodies."
Jean regained her composure at that and said, "Um, right."
The group left Jean's mind and had returned to the ritual chamber. Harry then asked, "Do you girls want to go through the Multiplayer conversion now?"
Wanda asked, "You've gained enough levels for that?"
Harry nodded and said, "I've found enough time in the last two months to do so."
Jean asked, "Me too?"
Harry smiled, and said, "I meant all of you of course."
Rogue shouted, "Yeah! Let's do it!"
"You do know this is going to be horribly painful right? I won't be able to stop the process once it starts."
Jean said, "It will help me get stronger right? I'm not turning this down!"
Wanda and Rogue had known about the pain and didn't change their minds of course.
Harry opened up his menus and selected Multiplayer. The Multiplayer system scanned his surroundings for those who trusted him and found four matches. The Ancient One hadn't left yet and seemed to want to observe and she was on the list. However next to each name was how many levels it would cost to convert them.
Relatively speaking, an adult's level was ten plus how many years they spent working in a skilled profession. A desk jockey adult even at the age of fifty wasn't likely to be above level fifteen but someone who spent a decade doing something they required training and skill to do was likely over level 20 with higher skilled professions giving more levels on average per year. Soldiers had higher levels than teachers but teachers had higher levels than cab drivers.
The Ancient One was likely over level three hundred and Harry would lose more levels than he had to convert her as the ratio was not one to one. Higher levels required higher conversion cost than lower levels. Jean, Rogue, and Wanda were actually all decent levels about about twenty to twenty five a piece. Their power came not from their level but their Skill and both would grow over time. Since Harry was well over level two hundred, it would cost him less than twenty levels to convert all three girls and with effort he'd have that back by January.
Harry selected his girls on the menu and after a round of confirmation screens and a message that he would be reduced to 195, Harry clicked agree and the process started. Three small streams of black particles slowly floated off from Harry's arms and connected to each girl. It was uncomfortable, but not too bad.
Then came the bad part. Harry felt pain similar to dying but closer to burning. Kinda like having your skin being peeled off while you were on fire.
The grunts and hisses from the girls confirmed they weren't any better and Harry could feel their pain. They seemed to be feeling like a corrosive wind was blowing under their skin and through their organs.
The entire process lasted about ten minutes and when it completed, everyone collapsed.
*Ping*
[New Players Added
New Player: Anna Marie. Level 24 Age 15
New Player: Wanda Maximoff. Level 21 Age 15
New Player: Jean Grey. Level 25 Age 16]
Harry recovered the quickest from the pain and looked over the girl's stats. Not surprisingly, Wanda and Jean had high Wisdom and Intellect. Wanda also had surprisingly low luck. Anne Maire, Rogue, had more well rounded stats and was more physically fit than either of the others. All and all not surprising. Harry couldn't see their Path Ranks but he'd ask them about that later.
None of the girls seemed inclined on getting up so Harry said his goodbyes to the Ancient One and wrapped all of them up in a Time Turner and went back five hours. He took them to his apartment in London and conjured some extra beds and placed his girls under the blankets and tucked them in. If they weren't awake before classes started he'd tell Xavier enough to get them excused. They had a tough night but pulled through in the end and the future was waiting for them.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone