บท 413: 9
Chapter Nine: Evening of the Day
Harry found himself forgetting, quite easily actually, exactly where he was. He forgot, for instance, that he was miles underground in a classified government facility. He forgot that he was in another world where magic had been pulled out from under him. And for a moment, if only for that moment, he remembered what it was like to be fifteen and feel like he'd lost Sirius forever.
But that moment passed and the world came crashing down on him.
A furious explosion blasted through the other end of the hallway, debris flew everywhere, metal plaster, for a moment no one could see anything. Perhaps it was lucky for everyone involved that Harry had been closest to the source of the blast, he'd thrown out his hand and managed to stop most of the dangerous debris from slicing through their bodies like shrapnel.
The pieces that used to be part of a wall clattered to the floor as Harry stood poised to face whatever came out of the hole next. He didn't need to turn his head to know that Wolverine was beside him, and behind them the other mutants were ready to fight for freedom if need be.
"Idiot," Wolverine muttered first, his tense posture slackening as he seemed to sense something Harry couldn't.
Harry trusted Wolverine's instincts enough that he too relaxed.
Three Mutants came stumbling out of the hole that one of them had caused.
"Well this is surprising," Harry muttered.
"Where have you been," Cyclops said, he seemed rather annoyed, dirty and tired. He'd spotted Wolverine, who had stepped, for some reason, in front of Harry. "I knew you weren't ready to be part of the team, it was a mistake to try and—"
"Scott," Jean said in an equally annoyed voice.
Harry momentarily had to wonder what had been happening to the others to have Jean lose her cool.
"We can talk about this later, beside looks like we found the other cellblock." She gestured to the prison-garbed mutants who were standing behind them all looking at the other three with some confusion.
"I told you it was this way," A very short man said. He had some difficulty clearing the hole that had been made, standing at only 1.2 meters, still he definitely wasn't a child if the wrinkles were any indication. Behind him more prisoners seemed to be tiredly making their way past the somewhat unorthodox entrance.
"Mike," Cancer said sounding relieved, her expression looking pleased when she saw the shorter man.
"Dorene," Mike walked past Harry and Wolverine. The taller woman bent down to give the other man a hug.
"How is he?" Mike asked seriously.
"It's...he's still alive," Cancer answered, her upbeat tone trying to hide the truth a bit.
Mike nodded, his expression said clearly that he hadn't been distracted.
Harry watched as about seven or eight people quickly moved to Dorene and joined the others who were milling about the cell block. Pleasantries and some relief were exchanged but the situation was too tense to really relax and several of the newcomers kept glancing back to the hole they had caused as if something had been following them. Come to think of it, something probably was.
"What's the situation," Cyclops said nearing Wolverine, "How many are mobile?"
Wolverine shrugged, "A few, most seem to be knocked out with drugs."
"I was worried about that," Cyclops said. "This is the 'dangerous' mutants cells."
"We need to get to the kids as well," Jean said approaching the others with her concern evident on her face.
"Already got them," Wolverine said.
"Where are they?" Cyclops wanted to know suspiciously. Aside from Midnight, Justin and Last, there didn't seem to be anyone under 25.
"Yeah well..." Wolverine raised an eyebrow at Harry.
The other's caught the gesture and for the first time recognized the young man that was standing behind Wolverine.
"Harry?!" Jean demanded, "What are you doing here?"
"You know, taking the tour. Can't wait for the gift shop. I'm getting one of those T-shirts that says Vini, Vidi, Vici."
The X-men stared at him blankly, almost as if he'd spoke another language.
"Jokes don't go over well," Wolverine muttered, "They think this is serious."
"Very Sirius," another voice said, releasing a rusty sounding chuckle.
Harry turned to look at his godfather, the man was able to stand on his own feet, although he looked shaky. He seemed to be observing the situation in a weary sort of way. Harry quickly sent a small gesture to 'shut the hell up', it looked like carelessly wiping a hand across your mouth but it was a code that had saved the Marauders many times.
Sirius nodded slightly.
"Harry this isn't the place for you," Jean argued.
"This is precisely the place for me," Harry replied back. He strode out from behind Wolverine and the older man seemed to think Harry was nuts.
"He's here now," Storm cut in before the others could say anything. Glancing backwars she said, "There isn't any point arguing about it. We need to decide the best way to get these people out."
"Yeah, about that," Wolverine glanced at Harry.
Dorene neared the group with a steady walk, "Hello dears," she greeted, sounding for all the world as if they had simply popped in for tea. "I think we should settle things quickly, X-ray tells me he sees a large group of people only one floor up."
Justin stood behind her hesitantly, he too seemed to look at Harry with emphasis.
"Yeah, we better get going," Harry agreed.
"Yes," Dorene said softly, "Justin has been telling me that you have a unique gift. I've...spoken with Thomas and he agrees that it would all be for the best if we left Britain for the moment and regrouped with Xavier at his school."
"We can send the sick ones there now," Harry said taking control of their travel plans while Scott seemed to watch him closely. "Maybe the rest of us should get back to the jet before the sun rises."
It seemed that the older mutants were willing to listen and believe Harry quite quickly considering the situation. Jean and Dorene gathered up a majority of the mutants who were injured or drugged in some way. Harry directed them how to use Portkeys and, while they looked doubtful, everyone followed his advice. They were just beginning to hear the heavy thud of footsteps when most of the people in the room simply disappeared from sight, only the slight whooshing of wind to accompany their departure. Harry suspected that most people hadn't really believed him until that moment.
"To the jet," Cyclops said. As always his expression was difficult to read, but he seemed to be pretty accepting given the situation.
Storm, Cyclops, Wolverine, reached out and grabbed hold of the broken piece of plastic piping that Harry had found. Torch stared at Harry very distrustfully, and Harry had the distinct feeling that the man wouldn't feel much pity in turning him into a shish kabob given the motivation. The quick Spaniard however looked a little more trusting but his expression was rather stern all the same. Midnight had gone with Cancer, but Last and Justin had remained behind. As had Sirius, despite that fact that Jean looked more than willing to tie him to a bed— in the un-fun way.
"Here goes," Harry said with a grin.
Gunfire erupted, but with a rushing blast of air the mutants and wizards left the Northern facility behind and landed painfully on the deck of the X-jet.
"Shit," Wolverine cursed as he flung head first into one of the chairs.
"Yeah, sorry about that," Harry said. Small spaces really didn't work well for this.
Sirius laughed outrageously of course.
"Let's get in the air before the sun rises," Scott directed and Storm picked herself up from the pile on the floor to agree with his orders.
"Buckle up," she shouted back at the others.
"We're just going to leave it standing," Torch yelled, his deep voice hissing slightly.
"We don't have a choice- "
"Let me out," Torch interrupted, "I'll burn it to the ground."
"Hear, hear," Justin muttered under his breath. Few of the other mutants on the jet didn't seem particularly opposed to this plan either.
Scott stood, his face expressionless, "I under stand the sentiment," he said slowly. "But it would be a suicide mission, and whatever action that the Professor and Telltale decide will need all of us. Anyway," he looked slightly sheepish. "The building has become…structurally unsound…I don't think it will be operational again for some time."
Torch didn't agree, but something in Cyclop's argument must have convinced him because he sat in one of the chairs and stared ahead. His action acted as a signal for the others, as it was long before everyone was preparing for takeoff.
Harry and Sirius snagged seats near each other, as did Justin.
"Harry is that really you?" Sirius said quietly, his voice barely getting over the roar of the engines as Storm concentrated on a vertical takeoff.
Harry glanced at Justin, "Later," he directed. Although, quite honestly he was wondering the same thing. Was this his Sirius? What was he doing here? Tonks had said that the veil lead to an infinite number of worlds, what were the chances that he and Sirius had managed to find the same one.
He wasn't that lucky was he?
"I've never seen you two before," Justin commented. The jet had reached its elevation and the noise seemed less formidable now that they were slicing through the air. It wouldn't be long before they were over the Atlantic and back to New York state. "Everyone else here is from the Haven," he added his expression pensive.
"No. We're from somewhere else," Harry said trying to meet the former Hufflepuff's silver gaze.
"He your Dad?" Justin asked.
Harry shared a glance with Sirius, "No, he's my Godfather."
"You with the Rats?" Justin questioned more.
Harry had no idea why Rats would be capitalized. "Nope, just by myself. We've been by ourselves," Harry said quickly including Sirius in whatever illusion he was creating. He hoped that Justin dropped whatever game of twenty questions he was planning. It had been easier to fool the X-men. The Yanks, while well informed, hadn't known exactly how things worked in England. It was going to be much more difficult to play dumb now.
Justin still seemed to stare at him in confusion, "So have we met somewhere before?"
Ah, Harry understood the confusion now. "I guess you could say that we met a long time ago."
Justin frowned, "You weren't at Eton, I'd remember if you were there."
Harry remembered a Herbology class when Justin Flinch-Fletchly had mentioned planning to go to Eaton before he had gotten his Hogwarts letter. "So you really went to Eton," Harry mused aloud.
"For a bit," Justin admitted, although he didn't seem pleased about it, "You know, until people figured out my little secret. It's a little tough to hide," Justin pulled back his curly hair that often obscured his eyes, the silver was very distracting. "People at school weren't really...accepting. Neither were Mum and Dad, truth be told."
Harry wasn't certain how to reply to that, "So what'd you do," he asked mostly because the silence seemed to have dragged on long enough.
"Cleared out my bank fund and trust and went to the Haven. Found Telltale's site online. It was sort of cryptic but well when you're a mutant freak you can find it easily enough. And then Cancer took me in, she adopts everyone I think." There was real warmness in his voice when he spoke of Telltale and Cancer, although his expression seemed to grow harsh the more he thought about them.
Harry supposed it couldn't be easy what had happened to them.
"So did they capture everyone at...The Haven?" He struggled to remember the name.
Justin shook his head looking a little smug. "Naw, we knew the Act would pass, half of the people went underground before they attacked. If you're older and look normal enough, s'not much of a big deal. It's people like Midnight and I that sort of stick out."
Torch seemed to have been listening to Justin and Harry's conversation and he laughed at Justin's comment.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Justin said to the older mutant, "No one is as big a freak as you are," he rolled his eyes and Torch just kept laughing in a cynical way.
"And some people have parents who aren't too bad, or mutant foster parents...we had more plans to get into hiding in the days prior to the Acts passing, but they must have been thinking the same thing. They attacked a few nights before." Justin's gaze seemed to grow cold for a moment.
He looked very different from the friendly Hufflepuff that Harry knew. There was something darker to this Justin, or so Harry thought. Even in the darkest days of the war, Harry had never seen him look this furious and disgusted.
"They burned down the compound in the middle of the night," he fumed. "Some of the kids don't even have powers yet. Telltale could have stopped them...somehow they knew. They invaded our house first, when I woke up they already had him knocked out and Cancer was crying."
Justin's anger was plain, and Harry couldn't really blame him.
"There is a traitor in the Haven," Torch said. His face was set emotionlessly at this pronouncement but around him people's faces flickered with the revelation of it.
"No," Justin said shaking his head.
Last, who was sitting next to Torch looked thoughtful, "It makes sense. How else would they know where Telltale lived, how to enter the Haven without setting off any alarms, they even knew all about his power and how to silence him."
"No," Justin said a little more forcefully this time. "No, who would betray us. Why would anyone?"
Such a loyal Hufflepuff, Harry thought ironically.
"People will betray you for all sorts of reasons," Sirius said his tone darker than Harry had gotten used to hearing. He sounded broken, like in that day in the Shrieking Shack when he'd planned to kill Peter. "Sometimes they just need the excuse."
Harry reached out a hand in warning to Sirius, his eyes flickering to the other man. But Harry's godfather was in another time and he didn't seem to pay much attention to Harry's touch.
"Fear," Torch proclaimed. "We knew the Mutant Act would pass. Someone turned coward and went to the other side for protection."
"Filthy little rat," Sirius muttered.
Justin seemed to flounder helplessly, he obviously didn't want to believe what was becoming obvious.
They let the subject drop and Harry was pleased that Sirius had let his anger subside some. The man was obviously exhausted from whatever had happened to him and it was with some relief that Harry watched him drop into sleep. A part of him wished that Sirius would have gone with Jean, the more Harry looked at him, the more he became convinced that Sirius needed something other than time to recover. A doctor might be good right now.
"So," Justin said. His gaze seemed to drift to the front of the plane. "Who is She."
The she really didn't need to be explained. Storm was once again sporting her leather ensemble that seemed to hug all the right places. Harry too glanced forward, it was really sad that he seemed to have adjusted to the sight.
Still...
"She's my history tutor," he said with a grin.
Justin looked more than a little envious.
"This school must be brill," he said looking again at the teacher.
"Yeah," Harry said with a shrug. He grew thoughtful, taking the statement seriously, "It's a nice place. And the Professor isn't bad, you know except the whole mind reading thing. The food is good..." Harry wondered what else to say, "I've only been there a fortnight," he explained.
"Yeah, where are you from?" Last interrupted. The blond had turned around in his chair and was looking back at Harry curiously. "Cause I think we would have heard of someone with a mutation like that."
"Er, well..." Remember what Harry had said about it being tricky to lie to these people. "A few places...They caught me in London and the X-men broke me out of a prepping facility."
"You didn't spend time with the Rats?" Torch asked, Harry hadn't even been aware he'd been listening.
"Nope," Harry said trying to smile casually.
"You're sneaky like them," Torch commented.
Harry did his best to look innocent.
But despite his best efforts it seemed that these new arrivals weren't quite willing to accept someone without a past. Harry was beginning to think that perhaps British Mutants had a tight-knit culture. Perhaps not that much different than the wizarding world, having a smaller hidden population could do that. Even Justin, trusting soul that he was, looked at Harry with a great deal of trepidation.
Screw it, Harry thought. What did he care? He had Sirius back and after all the bad stuff that had happened he didn't care if this charade only held together for a little longer.
Harry focused on his godfather and took in the thin frame. The man looked pale, and maybe a little clammy. Ill might be a better description really. Harry was sorely tempted to just take Sirius and disappear from this war. But he knew, looking at Sirius, that he couldn't leave the care and security of Xavier's school just yet. Sirius needed treatment, he needed Jean and her sterile hospital room. Harry could heal bullet holes, but he wasn't any better at diagnosing what was wrong than any other teenager. Not to mention most ailments had their corresponding potions... and Harry hadn't exactly run into any potion shops here. His healing knowledge would be sorely tested, charms could only take you so far.
Sirius wrapped his arms tighter around himself and frowned as he slept.
Harry tried not to see the scars that littered the man's wrists. Older and newer scars, white and red slashes, marred his pale skin.
Harry looked away, he didn't want to know what that meant.
When the plane touched down, Harry was certain that Sirius should have gone with Jean and bugger any consequences should their stories not align. Sirius's troubled sleep had turned into a state of unconsciousness that Harry couldn't wake him from and he felt sick and useless watching Cyclops and Wolverine carry his godfather into the medical wing of the X-men's underground fortress.
Jean was busy moving between the various cots that had been set up. Her clean medical room was very crowded, and not quite so clean anymore, bandages and other debris littered the floor. Harry could hear more voices further down the hall and he wondered how many people needed her attention. However many, the red head seemed to bear the pressure well.
"Set him down here," Jean ordered, she must have been waiting for them to return as she'd spotted them as soon as they had entered.
"The Professor wants to speak with you, he's next door," Jean instructed, glancing at Scott and giving him a tired smile.
Scott nodded, he gave Wolverine a glance and the other man shrugged in a noncommittal way but followed him out. Harry wondered what the Professor wanted, but he wasn't about to leave Sirius until he had some idea what was wrong.
"How long has be been unconscious?" Jean asked, her tone a little frosty.
"I don't know exactly," Harry admitted. "He fell asleep a couple hours ago."
Jean pursed her lips. "I'll need to check his vitals run some tests." She looked up at him sharply, "And you should be in bed. What were you thinking coming with us?"
Harry was beginning to understand the cause behind her attitude.
"Oh yeah," he said with shrug.
"Go on, I don't need any more patients," she said harshly, "We'll discuss this later."
"What are you my mother," Harry said disgruntledly. But he could see that any arguments would be pointless, and he couldn't help Sirius anyway. Still...
"You'll tell me when he wakes up," Harry demanded. His green eyes met Jean's and her frown melted a bit, she nodded her head while holding his gaze.
"I promise," she agreed.
Harry nodded, there wasn't anything else he could do for Sirius now.
When he left the medical treatment room behind, Harry felt somewhat adrift. He'd been filled with adrenalin most of the evening, playing the exciting game of invasion. He'd hoped to maybe give the X-men a hand, and perhaps see if he could find the other person who had emerged from the veil. Someone else had appeared on the train tracks not long after he had, and had been arrested.
He'd found Sirius instead. Had that been Sirius...and if so why had he arrived after Harry? And how long could he keep this going now that Sirius was here? He had no idea if Sirius knew any sort of Occlumency. Did that mean that the Professor would have an open book to his godfather's mind?
He leaned weakly against the wall, looking up at the bright unfriendly light that illuminated this lower portion of Mutant High. He'd much rather be upstairs in the homey clutter of his dorm, or even the messy Rec Room, but he couldn't seem to get himself to move.
"Hi."
A voice brought him out of his stare. Harry turned to see a girl who looked around twelve, she was sitting on the floor, one arm wrapped around her knee while the other held a white cloth to her forehead.
"Hey," Harry said, he slid down the wall and settled on the floor beside her.
"He hurt bad?" she asked.
"Don't know," Harry replied. He lifted a hand and touched the white bandage she was holding to her head. She guessed what he meant and pulled her hand away for a minute. Harry tried not to let his emotion show, but it was hard to hold back the slight revulsion. What might have once been some sort of incision, running in a diagonal line across her forehead, hadn't been properly taken care of. It looked angry and infected.
"The lady doctor put some cream on it," the girl said, "But she thinks I might need stitches. Like Frankenstein." She frowned and was understandably upset. "You think it will look bad?" she asked him.
Harry raised his own hairline and showed off the lighting bolt scar that had made him famous.
She didn't look very impressed, "But you're a boy," she stated.
Harry grinned, "Guess you're right, a pretty girl like you shouldn't have a scar like this." He pulled the cloth away and looked closer at the cut. If Jean had treated any infection...his own special 'mutation' shouldn't hurt.
He rested his hand over the girl's cut and whispered a healing charm, when he pulled his palm away only smooth skin remained.
"There you go," he encouraged.
The girl raised her hand to her forehead cautiously, her eyes opening wide when she ran her fingers over the smooth skin. "I have to check!" she said rising to her feet with a smile. Looking far more energetic, she dashed into another room.
Harry was left alone in the hallway.
Somehow he felt loads better than he had only moments ago.
He was wondering what else he might be able to do when the young girl came back, this time her face bubbling up with happiness.
"You did it, you fixed it, thank you!" She hugged Harry tightly, not seeming to mind in the least that they had only just met.
"Can you help Patty?" she wanted to know next, looking up at him expectantly.
"Err...I don't know."
"Come look," she encouraged. "I told her you would," with a mighty tug she latched onto his arm and dragged him into former storage area that had been turned into an overflow room of sorts. While the more critical cases were being tended to by Jean across the way, those who were suffering from less dire complaints were resting on cots. The mood should be depressed, but most of the room's inhabitants seemed in good spirits. Several were sharing cots and sitting together, rejoicing in reunions.
The girl tugged him over to one such family that was gathered on a cot.
"Patty," the young girl said excitedly, "He's the one."
Patty, for so she must be, looked nothing like her friend, she was very tall with willowy lean features. Beautiful in a strange unnatural way. She also was sporting a deep gash down one of her arms.
Two adults were gathered beside her looking at Harry in some surprise.
"So you helped Jenny?" the woman said curiously. "I thought your skill was teleportation?"
"It's a little complicated," Harry hedged. He looked closely at the deep gash. It seemed to have clotted and wasn't bleeding, but like Jenny's it was certain to leave a nasty scar. And Harry could understand not wanting to have any physical mementos of their time with the British government.
"What did Jean say?" he asked nervously. He wasn't a doctor and didn't want to cause more damage than good."
"Some stitches, bandaging." The man said. He was very broad. Neither of the two adults looked anything like the girls, still they stood protectively over them.
"Hmm, let me see if I can help," Harry offered. Once again he placed his hand over the cut and focused on a healing charm, nothing fancy.
"Oh!" Patty looked at her arm in surprise. "It doesn't even hurt anymore!" she said, her face smiling.
The woman bent down to hug Patty and Jenny seemed to throw herself into the hug.
"Thank you," the man said, he reached out and shook Harry's hand. "We're hoping they can forget about...everything."
Harry nodded, he knew a thing or two about scars.
From there, Harry became quite popular among his fellow mutants. He didn't see anyone he recognized here, Torch, Midnight, Justin and the others must be somewhere else. Mostly he vaguely recognized people who had emerged from Cyclops's door and some of the kids he'd freed with Wolverine. Although he was almost positive that one thirteen-year-old boy with green scaly skin had been a ravenclaw in another life. It was strange that he hadn't met any other counterparts wandering around.
Most of the healing charms he preformed were the basic sort, nothing as complex as what he had done for Syren and he felt fine, if only a little more tired when he met with his last patient.
"Thanks," a man with cat-like eyes thanked him with a nod.
Harry looked around, glad he had been of some help, but perhaps it was time he followed Jean's orders and went to bed. Staying up all night and fighting when he should be sleeping had worn at him and his brain felt fuzzy.
He had exited the room when she stopped him.
"That was a nice thing to do," Storm said, her voice sounding amazingly soothing after such a long night. She sounded almost as good as she looked.
"Not going to tell the doctor on me?" He asked with raised eyebrows.
"Think she'll figure it out," Storm teased him.
Harry ruffled his hair, it was an old gesture, something he must have inherited from his father along with the messy hair.
"Yeah, well," Harry wished he were in the more bantering mood.
"You look tired," she commented.
"Are you trying to tell me you want to put me to bed?" there something suggestive in that, and Harry couldn't deny the smirk. If he were less exhausted he might go through the trouble of being a gentleman.
Storm seemed to get it. Her eyebrows shot into her hairline and she blinked. Harry had the feeling that she was fighting a snappy remark.
"I think you should head to your dorm," She stated instead, seeming to reclaim her teacher voice.
"Yes ma'am," Harry agreed with a nod. To tired to bother with the elevator, Harry gave her a jerky nod before disappearing with a small pop.
Storm shook her head as she stared into space, but now that she was alone she couldn't really help the small smile that tugged at her lips. But she didn't waste time and hurried to rejoin the meeting that Xavier and his X-men were having with the Haven's council. There was precious little to smile about in that conversation.
She nodded to Scott when she reentered.
"Jean should be finished up soon," she announced. "Everyone is in stable condition for the moment. Some might take awhile for the drugs to flush out of their system."
Dorene, seated beside her husband Thomas, seemed to be particularly relieved at this. Thomas himself didn't look to be in good condition, his throat was heavily wrapped with a white gauze and eyes looked tired and sluggish.
However his mind seemed to be just as sharp as reputation claimed, and with Xavier's gift, the two leaders seemed to have no trouble communicating.
"That's true," Xavier said somberly. They had been doing this all night, the Professor responding to things that Thomas Winters had thought.
The Professor noted the curious glances, "Thomas is correct, there have already been enough losses. While a good number of mutants went underground, there is still a significant number that are missing."
Wolverine grunted and Xavier frowned. Everyone remembered Wolverine's telling of how he'd stumbled upon a morgue of sorts, and the body he had found there.
"We shall hope that not all of them met that fate."
This sparked gazes to flicker toward Torch. The man was stoic, almost seeming to possess no human emotion but Storm doubted that was how he really felt. The woman that Wolverine had found dead had been Torch's wife. Perhaps he had suspected she had been dead for some time, at least since the escape, but to have it confirmed must have been painful.
"It was chaotic," Dorene said hopefully, "Some of the others might have escaped, they have resources."
Thomas nodded.
"I am sorry we could not get to you sooner," Xavier said softly.
Thomas placed a hand on Xavier's, both men sharing a weary expression. Storm didn't like seeing the Professor this way, she could see the doubt in his eyes. After hearing the horrible things that had been done it was difficult to trust in the goodness of humanity.
But maybe it was good to see the doubt in his eyes, because she was filled with doubt herself. How could anyone hate that much? It seemed irrational.
"Yes, he has been surprisingly helpful," the Professor said thoughtfully, once again responding to something Telltale had thought.
"Yes, surprising," Xavier said again. He chuckled, "He seems to have many gifts. Including the ability to keep me out of his mind. And it was more than a little surprising when a group of children appeared in front of me, having traveled hundreds of miles by gripping a hair tie."
Storm knew whom they were talking about now.
Telltale smiled without sound.
"I don't know what you were thinking letting a boy come on a dangerous mission," Dorene said. She must have been good at reading into conversations, or maybe she just knew her husband.
"I didn't actually," Xavier said thoughtfully.
Scott turned and glared at Wolverine, "You knew he was there."
Wolverine shrugged earning Cancer's ire.
"He did fine," he mentioned.
"Yes," the Professor relented hesitantly. "Harry always seems to manage well enough."
"But," Scott said reading into the tone.
"Nothing," the Professor said, although he shared a glance with Telltale. It was strange that such a brief flicker of eyes should concern Storm. But some silent conversation passed between the two men and she couldn't help but wonder
"Now," the professor broached, changing the subject and tone quickly, "I think we have some ways to make our guests more comfortable for the time being, and we have several new students to help..."
Storm's attention trailed off for a moment while arrangements were being made. She couldn't help that her mind wouldn't leave Harry Potter alone. A mysterious young man with a power and mind of his own. Was it any wonder that two leaders of the mutant world were interested in him?
Harry yawned, he expected to enter a room that was dark. And while technically it was Saturday night, and technically the others didn't have class to wake up for the next day— maybe he was just old fashioned but teenagers actually did get some sleep...unless they had dark lords or evil military forces to do battle with. So he was slightly surprised to see not only Bobby and Pyro awake but Rogue seemed to have taken over residence of their room as well.
Music was playing from a radio and Pryo was flipping through a magazine looking calm and collected.
Maybe that should have been the first sign that something was wrong.
Bobby was sitting on his bed, as per usual his eyes seemed attached to Rogue who was poised on the edge of the bed tapping her feet and staring into space.
"Hey...morning?" Harry said looking at the alarm clock and seeing that it was long passed midnight.
They all just seemed to look uncertain.
"What happened?" Harry asked.
The two boys glanced at Rouge who frowned and crossed her arms irritably.
"Magneto escaped."
It took a little while for Harry to absorb all that had happened. Somehow while he'd been helping one set of prisoners escape, here in the States another breakout had occurred. The information was unclear and the teens only had what had been on the news in the Rec Room to base their opinions. But apparently Magneto must have gotten a hold on some metal and had broken out of the plastic prison that had contained him since the Liberty Island Incident.
Of course the new media was filled with rampant speculation what the 'dangerous' mutant's next move would be. And some of the anti-mutant politicians were using this a good opportunity for more mutant legislation grandstanding. The US government was doing its best to contain the information, and had released a press statement that Magneto had been shot while trying to escape.
Rogue snorted at the ridiculousness of such a statement. How could a man who was a master of all metal be hit with a lead bullet?
"It's obviously a cover-up," Rogue said, "Which means they don't have any idea where Magneto is."
Bobby inched forward and rubbed her shoulders trying to release the tension that had been present since they had heard the announcement sometime after dinner.
"He probably broke out a few days ago," Pyro said cynically. "It's not like they want people to know that they failed."
"Not helpful," Bobby said shaking his head.
"Yeah...sorry, but it's probably true."
Harry had learned some about the famous Liberty Island Incident since coming here, and he could understand why Rogue was upset. Magneto had nearly killed her, and the white streaks of hair that framed her face showed just how close he had come. It was hard to see the pain that event must have caused her, the Rogue Harry knew was such a strong girl. But you could see it now.
"Harry, you disappeared," Pyro commented, he seemed to be trying to make up for his previous tactlessness by providing a distraction.
"Yeah," Harry said, "I sort of— "
"Joined up with the X-men while they raided some English prison," Bobby answered seeming overly glib "We heard. The rumors are all over...but that seemed the most likely. Although the one where you and Wolverine challenged Cyclops to a motorcycle race was fun too. " Bobby said with a grin.
"Yeah," Harry collapsed on his own bed. "Like that would be a contest?" He liked this about them, Harry thought. Back home his adventures seemed to spark concern. Maybe life in this world was more reckless, because Harry fit in just fine.
"Take us along next time," Rogue said with some attitude, "It would have made a much better evening than sitting around watching TV."
"Commando Harry," Pyro said sarcastically. "Shit, we've got to get you a better name. I mean, Harry?"
"And Pyro is kick ass," Harry said sarcastically.
"Harry is the name of some bookish librarian guy, it just doesn't work with this savior of the world crap you like to pull," Pyro explained, ignoring the eye rolls that were sent in his direction.
"You okay though?" Bobby asked. "Are you going to get in trouble over it?"
Harry shrugged, "Fine. What are they going to do?"
Bobby seemed to silently speculate exactly what they could do for punishment, but he kept his thoughts to himself.
"What about Rambo, you know something tough," Pyro suggested.
Harry lifted his head enough to give Pyro an incredulous expression.
"Yeah," Pyro agreed, "Not my best work."
Harry's eyes drifted closed and the noise from the radio seemed to lull him even though the sort of music that Pyro listened to wasn't exactly peaceful.
"Is he asleep?" Harry heard Pyro ask.
"Yep, looks wiped," Bobby sounded almost sympathetic.
"You know he's got a point, he's tricky to make a good nickname for."
The next morning Harry felt uncomfortable. That probably had something to do with the fact that he'd fallen asleep in his clothes and hadn't bothered to lie in his bed properly. Being someone who knew what a privilege having a bed could be, Harry chided himself for wasting a chance at a good night's sleep.
He blinked still feeling tired, but his bed was closest to the window and the—Harry glanced at the clock— mid afternoon sunlight seemed a bit bright. Harry stretched and took a good whiff of his clothes, fragrant as only battle and a good game of Quidditch could make them. He hastily took a shower in the bathroom down the hall and changed into some of the clothes that Jean had purchased for him.
Bobby and Pyro seemed unconcerned with the hour and were still sleeping.
Harry might have been likewise, except he had far too many things to do. And one was pressing.
Apparition within buildings was a very lazy habit, one that Harry usually tried to avoid but it was vitally important that he get some answers from Sirius this morning. And preferably with no one the wiser.
The medical area was still slightly crowded, but its inhabitants were in a deep sleep, apparently whatever drugs they had been given hadn't been removed yet. Harry found Sirius lying somewhat isolated by a curtain. Being a person who spent time in hospital rooms, Harry found the curtain troubling. They only bothered putting up the curtain when the diagnosis was unpleasant.
Harry approached his godfather quietly. He stared at Sirius's face for what seemed like a long while, almost as if he didn't believe what he was seeing. But finally he got up the courage to poke the man's shoulder with his index finger.
"Sirius?" he whispered, "Hey, can you hear me?" He hoped that Sirius was only sleeping now, it had been frightening the other night when he wouldn't wake.
"Mmmhmmm," Sirius moaned.
"Sirius," Harry called louder.
Sirius's eyes opened with a snap and he looked around in shock.
Harry let out a sight of relief.
"Harry?" Sirius said, he seemed confused but then his face broke into a smile. "I was worried it was a dream."
Harry reached out and took Sirius's hand, he nodded his head knowing the feeling.
"Sirius...is it really you." Harry wanted to know, the man looked like his Sirius, he even talked like his Sirius.
"It's me, is it you?" Sirius reached out a hand and patted Harry's head. He lifted the fringe of dark hair and seemed to stare at Harry's scar with real joy. "It has to be you!"
"Sirius what happened?" Harry needed to know. "How long have you been here?"
"Here?" Sirius questioned. "We're home, didn't I make it home..." He trailed off seeming confused.
Harry became nervous. "Sirius...this isn't out home world, this one is pretty different."
"Well, I've been gone for a couple years, thought the place might have changed some." Sirius winked.
A prank! Harry conjured a chair and settled down in it weakly, "Now isn't the time, Padfoot old boy," Harry said earnestly.
"Harry you and I are trapped in some world with a bunch of mutants, I'd say it's the perfect time for pranks. And I'm not old."
Harry shook his head, it was good to see him being like this, like the old Sirius.
"What I want to know is how you ended up in another world. You didn't run in after me, after I fell in," Sirius gripped Harry's hand and something like dread flashed across his face as he stared into Harry's green eyes.
"No," Harry said awkwardly. "Remus pulled me back."
"Good old wolf," Sirius said, he leaned back on his pillows and looked up at the ceiling. "Then how'd you get here pup?"
Pup? Harry cringed, the old dog was getting batty. "It seemed like a good idea at the time," he said with shrug.
"You're going to have to spell that out a little better," Sirius said. He managed to prop himself up on the pillows behind him so that he could meet Harry's eyes easier.
Harry scratched the back of his head, "Things went bad after that, you know, after you fell," Harry said, "Dumbledore got all these tutors for me, I trained a lot. But it wasn't really enough, I got captured at the end of sixth year..."
Sirius was shaking head, "I should have been there," he ground out through clenched teeth. "It was my job to look after you, Prongs gave me that job."
"It wasn't that bad," Harry lied, "I wasn't there long...and I stopped Voldemort, for good this time."
Sirius twitched and took a deep breath, "You did it? You finished that prophecy."
"Tore the bastard to bits," Harry said, he didn't like to think back to that time. The powerful magic, fueled by desperation, felt like it would tear him in two.
"Harry it shouldn't have been you," Sirius said shaking his head. "You shouldn't have had to do that...but if you stopped him why are you here? Why would you give that up?"
"Give up what?" Harry wanted to know. "I stopped having friends, I stopped everything for that stupid prophecy." It felt good to explain it to someone who could understand. "And when I won, I just felt...useless, I didn't want to be famous. It was bad enough before. When Tonks said something about the veil being a gateway— that you weren't dead— I figured what could I lose?"
Sirius shook his head, "What could I lose he says, Merlin, well I guess it's nice to see you haven't changed much. Always leaping into the next big disaster, I always figured you'd be the death of me."
"I was," Harry said weakly.
Sirius's gray eyes grew flinty and Harry prepared himself for some cheering up, "You can stop any of that," Sirius said with a fierce expression. "No acting like it's your fault, none of the poor little hero bit, I went because I had to go. Just like you'd have gone for me."
Sirius shook his head looking at Harry in some amusement.
"Guess it shows," he said with a weak chuckle. "If you didn't look so much like James I'm certain people would be questioning Lily's virtue, wondering if you weren't sired by another Marauder. James never quite managed all the trouble we have."
Harry nodded, he tried to pretend that Sirius words hadn't exorcized some an old demon. But even he had to admit, hearing Sirius say it was loads better.
Sirius pulled himself up and tucked Harry into an awkward hug. Harry felt strange being in such a fatherly embrace, but Sirius seemed to need to do something and so Harry sat still while Sirius held him.
"Too grown-up for hugs now eh?" Sirius said with a smile, "No one is looking?"
Harry shrugged, "Guess so," he nodded and let situation grow familiar.
"What about you? What happened after you feel in the veil...did you land here...how is that possible?" Harry watched as Sirius lied back down, he seemed tired again and Harry couldn't help but worry.
"I only got here only a couple weeks ago, landed in some Underground and was arrested. Pretty swift Justice system they got here. In a day I'd been tried and convicted."
Harry recalled his own speedy trial, "Just a few weeks ago?" Harry said with a shake of his head, that didn't make any sense.
"I've been trying to get back," Sirius explained. "I've spent the last year, more now I guess, hopping through. Once I get somewhere new, I make certain I'm not home...then back in."
Harry blinked, "Why?" It didn't make any sense.
"I had to get back to you, didn't I now? I didn't want to leave you alone to fight Voldemort...but then I guess you didn't need me after all." Sirius seemed a bit sheepish.
Harry stared blankly...why would Sirius do that for him? "How many?"
Sirius grew thoughtful, "A lot, I don't remember how many exactly. See each one is different, and some a pretty awful. Some are close, and others are really different. Like this place. What is a mutant exactly?"
Harry laughed, "Sort of interesting really. They don't seem to have the magical world here, instead they have these DNA mutations, where people get one magical skill. Except powerful, better than the magical counterpart, more control I guess you could say, and no need for wands."
"That's just odd," Sirius declared.
"We're the world hopping wizards in this scenario," Harry reminded him.
Sirius looked thoughtful, "Good point."
"At the station, how did they know you were a mutant...did you use magic or something."
"Yeah...magic." Sirius trailed off. "Been a little tricky lately. I lost my wand a few worlds back, it was this crazy world populated by these giant fire monsters and molten lava. Not my favorite stop in the multi-verse."
"Then how?"
"I'm not completely hopeless," Sirius said with a flash of his bravado, "There are some skills that don't need wands." Sirius smiled and then suddenly in his place a large black dog, still looking faintly like a Grim, grinned sloppily.
"Padfoot," Harry said with some fondness. He patted the dog's head and Sirius seemed to enjoy when Harry scratched his ears.
"So someone saw you transform?"
Sirius changed back swiftly, "These bobbies started chasing me so I did what came natural I guess, I'm much faster on four legs. Of course the next thing I know I'm stung by something and wake up being arraigned for breaking the new Mutant Act. It's a strange world this one."
Harry nodded, "But the Mutants aren't bad people, they even took me in."
"Even though you aren't one of them?" Sirius wanted to know.
Harry couldn't help but look a bit embarrassed, "Yeah, well they don't really know about that, they see the magic and think I'm a mutant. I tried to tell them about magic but...I don't think they believe in it."
Sirius snorted at the irony that was in there somewhere.
"You still have your wand?" Sirius looked pleased by this.
"Er...Voldemort snapped it when he captured me."
Sirius looked very confused, "If he...how did you..." He looked curiously at the chair he had just seen Harry conjure, that was sixth year Charms work not a simple levitation charm.
"You know that power the dark lord knows not. Dumbledore always said it was love...which you have to admit..."
"Absolute bollocks?" Sirius added.
"Something like that, I guess I just got pissed off enough...the magic sort of came rushing through my hands."
Sirius gazed at Harry's hands, his face seeming fascinated, "Have to admit, I've never heard of that. Moony would be better at figuring it out..." Sirius laughed suddenly and it surprised Harry, "Not like it matters. You and me are mutants now, are we?"
Harry nodded, "For the time, I thought it would be easier...although I'm not certain how long that will last. There is this professor here who can read minds. Occlumency seems to keep him out..."
"Well he won't hear about it from me," Sirius said.
"You know Occlumency?" Harry asked.
Sirius looked at him with some surprise, he ruffled Harry's hair playfully, "Of course I do, Snivellous is a dirty little mind picker, you think I'd know that and let him near my wonderful brain."
"Would make pranks difficult," Harry said with a smile.
Sirius laughed, "Wouldn't want to ruin my only form of entertainment."
The pair grew silent for a moment and Harry couldn't help but watch Sirius curiously, "So...all those worlds. You must have found one of them that was good. Maybe where my dad was alive?"
Sirius looked uncomfortable. "There was one," he said, but it seemed like he wanted to forget it.
Harry leaned closer, "What was it like?"
Sirius looked thoughtful, "It was the third world I'd gone to, and it was...well it was pretty perfect." But then he froze and looked at Harry sharply, "But seriously flawed in other ways."
Harry shook his head at the swift change in opinion.
The silence was awkward. "See it was a world where there had never been a Voldemort. It was like he'd never been born...and there were still some old bigots but no one took them seriously. The Minster of Magic was a muggleborn of all things and- your dad he was a auror, he said they hadn't seen a murder in twenty years. Can you imagine that? And James and Lily were alive, and Moony was professor at the school, had been for years, just like he always should have been. And Peter, he sold Potion supplies of all things."
Sirius smiled faintly as he recalled a world that seemed so like their own and yet so different. It was idyllic really, and Harry could almost picture it too. His dad an auror, and what did his mother do? Had they grown middle-aged together, like they always should have? A life without war, without sacrifice...Harry didn't think he knew how to live such a life.
"Were you there too?" Harry asked.
Sirus laughed, "I was a girl!? Can you believe that, and I'll have you know I was hot." He cupped his hands to his chest and made a gesture that any man could interrupt, "They were spectacular, I'm telling you. And Lily had been my best friend at Hogwarts."
Harry honestly couldn't picture a female Sirius, it was too bizarre.
"James and I had even dated a bit in school...which was rather creepy actually."
Harry laughed and Sirius seemed to enjoy the sound, joining in the mirth with an expression what reminded Harry of the healthy Sirius in his parent's wedding picture.
Harry shook his head, "It sounds perfect...why didn't...why didn't you stay there. You could have made a new life, been friends with my dad...I guess it would have been a little weird with the girl you but ...how could you just leave that behind?"
Harry shook his head, when he'd decided to jump into the veil he hadn't even hoped to find a world that perfect. If he'd had such a chance he certainly wouldn't have given it up.
"It had its flaws too," Sirius said, his cheer dropping.
"What?" Harry wanted to know.
"Just..." Sirius waved his hand as if to push the question away.
"What was it missing?" Harry wanted to know.
Sirius sighed, "Well...it didn't have you."
Harry just stared for a moment. "I wasn't there."
"It was like you hadn't been born. James and Lily had kids, and they were good kids and all..." Sirius looked away.
"So, Voldemort wasn't born...and I wasn't born." Harry nodded. He tried not to take it personally, but Fate was more of a bitch than he had always thought. The prophecy tied them together, even a world away.
"Why didn't you stay?" Harry asked again.
"I told you, it had its flaws." Sirius nodded, "And really very dull after awhile."
Harry nodded, he put on a smile, "So you kept jumping, see a lot?"
"I saw a lot," Sirius agreed. Harry could tell he was trying not to yawn.
"You'll have to tell me sometime, as well as how to see the veil. I've looked for it here and the thing seems to be invisible."
Sirius yawned loudly now, "It just needs magic to solidify it, some unspeakable somewhere told me it's like charging it. I was feeding it raw magic through my wand to sort of give it a jolt, but then I lost my wand."
"What did you do then?" Harry asked curiously.
"Blood," Sirius said, "Our blood is full of magic."
Harry once again eyed the marks on Sirius's wrists.
Sirius caught the gesture, "Don't think I've become some pansy suicide case," he cursed looking at Harry fiercely, "I just needed some blood."
The silence was heavy for a moment.
"You sound like some sort of vampire," Harry finally said, "I needed some blood, really that was all you could think of?"
"Not all of us have mastered wandless magic," Sirius criticized loftily. "Not that I won't mind giving up the razors."
"You still want to go?" Harry asked, wondering how he felt about that. True, he himself had been looking for a way out but now that Sirius was here...
Sirius looked amused, "I've been held prisoner for over a week by the British government and it looks like a pretty nasty war is brewing...yeah I'm thinking we should go."
Well at least Sirius's sarcasm seemed to be working well.
"You're probably right," Harry said, "But you're not in any condition to be going anywhere. You're a shade above invalid at the moment."
"Hey, all I need is some sleep, and then on to the worlds that wait." This encouraging statement fell a little flat considering Sirius collapsed onto his pillow looking exhausted.
"Yeah," Harry said. He rose to his feet and the chair he'd created disappeared with a thought.
"Night kiddo," Sirius said, another yawn breaking apart his words.
"Night," Harry said, not mentioning it was still day.
Harry stood for a moment in the dimmed light as he listened to the many people sleeping around him. Sirius had quickly given into the call of sleep and the others looked almost dead, their bodies lying still while whatever drugs they had been given worked their way through their bodies.
Worlds that wait? It sounded so easy to Sirius. And that was how Harry felt too.
He was almost certain.
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