Chapter 4: Baptism of Fire
A couple weeks have past, and Harry continued the tests for the Generation X Program, as well as his lessons in learning to control his new abilities. He couldn't believe how easy it was to fit in here. Instructors and students alike, they were all like …well … family.
"Harry, care to hand me a wrench?" Scott Summers asked from above Harry. The two were currently working on Scott's prized 1981 Convertible, Scott working on the upper part of the engine and Harry on the bottom.
"Sure," Harry said, rolling out from under the car. He then looked toward the toolbox in the corner, before reaching out with his hand, making a wrench fly slowly toward his hand. "Here you go, Scott."
"You're improving," Scott complimented taking the wrench.
"Thanks," Harry said a faint blush on his face, "Jean's been a very good teacher."
"Keep this up and I won't need to keep my old ball and chain around," Scott teased as Harry rolled back under the car.
"Ball and chain, huh?" Jean mock-snapped from the doorway of the garage.
"Umm … I … umm …" Scott stammered, Jean's emerald green eyes doing more damage then Scott's could ever do.
Jean walked over and leaned up against the car, "Better watch it, Mr. Summers, I'd hate to think you'd have to spend some time sleeping on the couch."
Harry couldn't help but chuckle. Over the last couple of weeks the others at the school, teachers and students alike, all became friends and finally almost family to him, especially Scott and Jean. They both seemed like the mother and father Harry never had but always wanted, kind, gentle, patent, fun to be around, and had a sense of safety to them that made him feel as though if he was with them Voldemort himself couldn't touch him.
"Come on, Harry," Jean said, bringing him out of his thoughts, "You need some practice before your meeting with the professor." Harry nodded before giving Scott a quick wave then following Jean.
"This afternoon is when the results from the Gen-X tests are told, Harry," Jean said, taking Harry's glasses off him and cleaning the grease and dirt off them with her shirt, "Harry how can you see with these so dirty, honestly?" She said before stopping at the downcast look Harry quickly gave. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing …" Harry sighed.
"Don't worry, Harry," Jean said patting his shoulder, "You'll see your friends as early as tomorrow, ok?"
"I thought you didn't read people's minds without permission," Harry said with a blush on his cheeks.
"I didn't read your mind, Harry," Jean said with a smirk, as she moved the statue off the fountain, "It was written all over your face. Now put it back, powers this time, no Wingie are dumb whatever."
"Ok, I'll try …" Harry said taking a deep breath, before reaching out toward the statue.
"No, Do or do not, there is no try," Jean said crossing her arms across her chest, "I always wanted to say that …"
"Yes, Master Yoda," Harry teased as the statue shakily rose into the air. And slowly, with a few near falls, made its way back to the base.
"That's it, Harry," Jean whispered reassuringly, "You're almost there, don't give up now."
The statue was a few inches from its destination when Harry gave out and the statue dropped into the fountain, showering both Jean and Harry with water.
"You did good, Harry" Jean said pushing a strand of wet hair out of her face. "A little more practice and you've got it," She said as she telekinetically raised the statue back to its original resting place.
"Thanks, Jean," Harry said, though he didn't really believe it.
"You better go and see if you made the team or not," Jean said patting his shoulder, "Good luck, Harry."
Harry nodded, "yeah thanks again, Jean," Harry said walking back toward the mansion.
--
"I thank you all for coming," Professor Xavier said seriously, from behind his desk, "and I would like to thank each of you, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Jubilee, Morph, Shadowcat, Mage, Dazzler, Iceman, Avalanche, and Multiple Man for participating in the Generation X program. All of you have what it takes to be an X-Man but only a few of you made the team. The rest will join, if they still wish, upon graduation of their class."
Harry looked around nervously, some looked nervous, others like Avalanche and Iceman didn't look like they really care. Kitty, at his side, was one of the nervous ones. He blushed slightly when she took his hand and squeezed it in a trembling grasp.
"Ok, when you're call sign is called please step forward," Xavier said looking over the teenagers. Morph … Jubilee … Colossus … Nightcrawler … Shadowcat … and Mage …"
Harry mouth gaped as he almost unconsciously stepped forward along with the other students. Xavier smiled at them, "Welcome to the X-Men. I won't lie to you; it is a very dangerous thing. But I feel you have the talent, ability, mutant or otherwise, and courage it takes to be on the team. Furthermore …" he began before Storm dashed through his office door.
"Professor!" She exclaimed, "We've discovered a Mutant holding facility in the outskirts of Toronto. The mutants there are being starved and treated like animals, we must do something!"
"Calm yourself, Storm," Xavier said signaling for the other students not called to exit. "How is the security?"
"It appears to be light, Professor," Storm replied.
"Very good," he nodded, "this would be a perfect mission to have the kids get their feet wet," he then touched his forehead, "Cyclops, Gambit, Wolverine, Rogue, get suited up and ready the X-Jet," he then looked up at the students, "You, get in uniform, and follow Storm to the hanger, your mission is to free the captured mutants, and do not harm any of the guards if at all possible. You're going in as rescuers not terrorists."
--
The X-Jet slowly came down outside what looked like a German concentration camp. "Ok, X-Men," Cyclops started looking over the ten man team, "We're going to split up, Storm, take Rogue, Wolverine, Mage, and Nightcrawler, the rest come with me, free as many as you can and direct them to the X-Jet. Lets move out people!"
"Mage … Harry …" Shadowcat said touching his arm before the group split up, "Harry, just be careful, ok?" she asked with a worried expression.
"Ok, you do the same, Kitty," he replied both blushing lightly.
"Come on, you two," Wolverine barked, "You can flirt later."
--
The two teams broke up and went about releasing mutants while 'helping' guards take naps.
"We're almost finished," Storm said as Harry used the Alohomora spell on the last cell, "You've done well, you two," She said patting Nightcrawler and Mage's shoulders.
"Oh shit …" Wolverine gasped coming to a stop, "Get out of here … now."
"What's the matter, Wolverine?" Harry asked looking back at the feral Canadian.
"I … can't move …" Wolverine replied as his body was jerked to the wall by some invisible force.
Harry looked up to see the tin roof of the building roll back as if it was a bed sheet, and an older man and a reddish gray body suit, long flowing black cape, and a red helmet floated down with four others, a gigantic man who looked like he was more fat then muscle, another taller more built man in a raggedy clothing, an unshaven face and his animal-like eyes were hidden behind his long shaggy reddish blond main, then another man crouched down like a frog or a toad, and his greenish brown clothing as well as his body looked like he hasn't bathed in weeks, and finally a man with silver hair and a tight silver body suit with a lightening bolt theme.
"Welllookiehereguysthegoodiegoodiesarehere!" the silver haired man said rapidly looking around at the Storm, Nightcrawler, Rogue and Mage.
"Looks like they got a couple new ones this time too!" The fat one said pointing at Nightcrawler and Mage.
"Now, now, Blob," the green one said, jumping to the wall and sticking to it like a tree frog, "It's only logical for them to increase their number of membership in the absence of their recent deserter."
"What you say, Toad?" the one called Blob barked, grabbing the frog-man by the neck, "Talk with words Blob can understand!"
"Enough!" the one with the helmet barked as two large strands of metal came down and wrapped around Rogue and Storm, "Now, I'd like to have a few words with these …X-Boys, so to speak …"
The man walked towards Nightcrawler and Mage and looked them over, but stopped upon seeing Mage, or more or less his scar on his forehead, "That's a nasty little thing," the man said touching the lightening bolt scar, "You wouldn't be Harry Potter by any chance?"
Harry back stepped and drew his wand, "How did you … you're a muggle aren't you … how do you…"
"How do I know who you are, young man?" the man chuckled, "Yes I am a muggle but they are those in my Brotherhood of Mutants who are of the … what is it your kind calls itself, Magical kind, and the tales of the Boy Who Lived is quite popular."
"Who are you?" Harry asked narrowing his eyes at the older man.
"Ah yes, where are my manners!" he said nodding gracefully to the boy, "I am Erik Lehnsherr, some call me Magneto, and these … um … gentlemen are part of my Brotherhood of Mutants. The larger man you see there is known as The Blob, the smaller fellow is Toad." Blob nodded while Toad continued to try to escape his grasp, "then the hyper one there is my son, Quicksilver, and the quiet one there is known as Sabertooth."
"Pleasure," Harry said cutting his eyes slightly to the restrained X-Men.
"Now I will make you an offer, My friends," Magneto said with a friendly smile, "We came here to free the mutants, and offer them a place in my Brotherhood, but seeing as you and the X-Men have already granted them the luxury, I will stretch out my hand to you boys in friendship, and offer you a place in the Brotherhood of Mutants in preparation for the next great war between human and mutant kind."
"Don't listen to him," Wolverine shot from his place on the wall, "He's just full of shit, he'll use ya till he's done with ya, and then throw ya out like yesterday's garbage!"
"I've heard all about you and your Brotherhood, Magneto," Nightcrawler shot, "Thank you, but no thank you!"
"Very well," Magneto sighed, as a metal bar rapped around Nightcrawler pushing him into a wall. "How about you, Mr. Potter, what is your decision, stay with the X-Men, or join the side that is right, my Brotherhood?"
Harry looked around at the captured X-Men, and then back at Magneto's out reached, ungloved hand. Harry then walked toward the Master of Magnetism slowly pulling of his glove behind his back, "You know what, Magneto," Harry said taking his hand.
"I've got controlled parasitic powers," Harry said with a grin, as the color faded from Magneto's features.
"NO!" Magneto gasped as Wolverine dropped to the floor unsheathing his claws.
"Let's go, Bub," Wolverine barked as he took a slash at Blob.
Harry leapt back as Magneto slumped back into Quicksilver's arms, "Get them!" he barked, as Sabertooth dove at Harry, but only got a mouth full of sulfur smoke.
Harry quickly used the powers he borrowed from Magneto to release Rogue and Storm. "Storm to Cyclops, we have a situation, please come to our coordinates ASAP," Storm said into the radio in her collar.
Meanwhile Harry was dodging Sabertooth's attacks with the help of Nightcrawler, "He just won't let up!" Nightcrawler complained as he and Harry teleported again dodging another pounce from the feral mutant.
"I have an idea," Harry said as the reappeared a few feet away from Sabertooth. Harry pulled his wand as the monstrous mutant, "don't miss, don't miss," Harry prayed as he pointed his wand at him, "STUPEFY!" He cried as a beam shot from the wand and connected to Sabertooth's chest. The force of the spell plus the speed of Sabertooth's approach caused the effect of Sabertooth hitting a brick wall going eighty.
Sabertooth's eyes shot wide as he bounced backward through the solid steel bars of the cell, finally coming to stop at the stone wall leaving a large dent in it before falling to the floor. "That …" Nightcrawler said eyeballing the KO'ed Sabertooth, "was COOL!"
Wolverine took a double take from where he was lock in combat with Blob, "Damn, kid, you took him down with one shot," he said slashing at the overweight mutant, "Good job."
Harry couldn't help but smile till Wolverine was picked up and thrown across the room by said mutant. "I'm gonna make you a little greasy spot on the floor for that, brat!" Blob bellowed as he dove into the air, to do a belly flop on Harry.
Harry closed his eyes, then gasped as he felt a pair of slender arms wrap around him and he felt a strange tingly sensation as if cold water had washed over him, and he was now standing in waist deep water. "C'mon, Mage," the voice of his savior said, "This is kindda … disgusting." Harry opened his eyes to see Shadowcat still hugging him, and that they were both standing inside Blob.
Toad then bounced around the room, "More's a comin, boss!" He cried as Magneto started to steady himself, and felt his powers returning, only to be knocked down as a red beam hit him in the back.
"We'll meet again, X-Men … especially you … Potter," Magneto growled glaring at Harry. Then used his powers to raise the Brotherhood members by their metal-laced clothing.
Cyclops ran in and fired a blast up at the retreating Brotherhood before turning to the gathered X-Men, "Is everyone alright?"
"Yea, Sugah," Rogue said rubbing her neck, "Nothin a good hot bath won't fix right up."
"Gambit join you, no?" Gambit said leaning against his bow staff.
"Gambit join me, NO!" Rogue snapped kicking the staff, causing the Cajun to tumble to the ground.
Chuckles and laughter broke out, and lasted a few moments, before the alarm went off. "That's our cue, X-Men, back to the X-Jet!"
The group then ran out of the prison toward the landed jet with armed guards close behind. Gambit stopped at the ramp and waited for everyone to climb on before pulling five playing cards from his pocket and held them between each finger. The cards began to take a faint red glow, "Pick a card," Gambit said throwing them like knifes at the on coming guards, "any card," he said as he climbed on, not even waiting for the explosions.
--
The X-Jet bellowed into the air and rocketed back toward Xavier School. Harry sighed and leaned back into his seat, and gently removed his contacts and placed them into his portable case and put on his glasses. "You alright, Harry?" Shadowcat asked setting down beside him, with a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Yes, thank you," Harry said, "how about you, are you ok?" Shadowcat nodded with a smile, "I'm glad, and thank you … for saving my life."
"Y-you would of done the same for me …" Kitty said easing off at the end.
"Thank you anyway," Harry said giving her hand a small squeeze, "I owe you one."
Kitty blushed red. When Harry realized he was still holding her hand, his face turned the same color, and quickly looked away.
"So …" Kitty said trying to brake the tense moment, "What is your other school like? Probably not as dangerous as this …"
Harry chuckled lightly, "I don't know about that …" he started and the two continued to converse on the way home.
--
A few hours later, at the Brotherhood of Mutants home base on Genosha …
"Are you in yet, Toad?" Magneto asked standing over the strange mutant.
"Momentia, all mighty Magneto," Toad said typing away on his computer, "I am almost …and Bingo was his name O!"
"Well?" Magneto asked, not looking impressed.
"I've hacked into Xavier's database," Toad said continuing to type, "Xavier's computer security is way too light as usual, the man is way to trusting. But I have the info you want, Sir."
"Ok then," Magneto said waving his hand for him to continue, "His parents are both dead, but his guardians are Vernon and Petunia Dursley, and his Godfather is Sirius Black, I have the current address for the Dursleys and the last known location of Black."
"Very good," Magneto said looking at the printout before handing it to Sabertooth, "Go to them and make it where Mr. Potter will learn the error in turning down my offer."
Magneto then looked at the photo of Harry on the screen of Toad's computer, "Remember, Mr. Potter, their blood will be on your hands."
To Be Continued …
C. Cowboy: Sorry it took so long to get this new chapter out, it was finals week this past week and it slowed me down a lot. But tests are over and now it's back to the fic time.
Shout outs:
Takeda Lee and Kevin: thanks for setting me straight on Kitty's last name, I've gone back and corrected that btw.
Everyone else, thanks for the reviews I'm glad you like it.
Also before anyone asks, for Harry's powers, his parasitic power is similar but very different to Rogue's. Unlike her, he has full control over it and can touch people without draining their energy and or powers. Also he has the ability to give energy instead of taking it only.
Next Chapter: Harry finally returns to Hogwarts! How will Ron and 'Hermione' take the new Harry? Will Harry's friendship with Ron survive recent events? And will Harry be able to save Sirius and the Dursleys from Sabertooth?
Next Chapter: I Still Remember …