Hellfire in New York

Hellfire in New York

Chapter 8: Charles Xavier Calls Up the Reserves

A convivial night at Grimmauld Place had turned into a lazy day. Sirius and Ororo had insisted that all their guests stay the night; indeed, some had been in no condition to go home! Everyone had got up late and, it being a pleasant day, they had congregated on the roof.

The roof was the one major change that Ororo had insisted on making to the house. Her Mutant abilities meant that her senses were keenly attuned to nature, and her childhood had been spent in wide-open spaces. To add to this, the incident that had sparked her power had left the twelve-year-old Ororo buried for hours under the ruins of a house. Storm abhorred enclosed spaces; she was a creature of the sky. So she and Sirius had created a roof garden for what he maintained was now their house. Magically shielded from observation and weather, it was planted with cuttings from the Weasley garden and the arboretum at Xavier's mansion.

Remus sat in a shady corner, reading a letter from Emma. It had been sent by email, but he still didn't feel comfortable reading from the PC Sirius had bought for Ororo's use, so although he had his own account, he printed out his messages and read them elsewhere.

Dear Remus,

Thank you for coming over the other day, and for the lovely flowers. Not that I'm an invalid any more, but the thought was sweet!

I'm afraid I'm still very much on probation here, and I can't blame anyone but myself for that. Everyone is very kind, in a distant way, and I have everything I need. But there's no real warmth, apart from Roberto, Dani and Bobby. Those three don't know what coldness is, I think. Rahne, Peter and Sam are just shy, perhaps. But Marie, Shiro and Alison are watchful. Kitty is almost hostile. I don't think she's forgiven me for trying to hurt Harry.

As for the older X-Men, they're even more cautious. It's true that Sean, Lorna and Alex have been most helpful. Hank and Kurt are polite enough, but that's their nature. Scott and Wolverine watch me like a pair of hawks! I don't see the professor much, but I can feel him in my mind all the time, and I know he's reserving judgment. I'll have to face him one day, and it scares me.

There's another person that scares me, too, and I'll have to face him as well. Somehow, I feel that Harry Potter is the key to my future. If I can make it right with him, convince him that I've changed, I'll be able to believe it myself!

Then there's you, Remus. I've never met anyone quite as special as you. You've been such a good friend. When I'm with you, I feel free of my past--I feel that I can do anything! There's so much I want to share with you. I count the days until I see you again!

Love,

Emma

Remus sighed. He was honest enough with himself to admit that his feelings for Emma were growing stronger all the time, and that put him in a quandary: He couldn't abandon her, not at least until she'd been fully accepted in her new situation. On the other hand, he had to keep his feelings under tight control. Emma was a telepath, she must know how he felt, but thinking something and saying or doing it were very different things.

There was no help for it, he must keep their relationship on a careful, almost formal, footing until the X-Men accepted Emma. Once she was settled in her new life, Remus could bow out gracefully, and she wouldn't even notice him go. Remus Lupin was a man accustomed to heartbreak; it was his lot in life, and one more bout wouldn't kill him. He folded the message and tucked it into a pocket.

Remus didn't know Ororo had been watching him. Both she and Sirius were worried about their friend. Sirius had told her that Remus was quite the expert in avoiding close relationships with women. He felt that his curse made him unfit to be loved. Ororo thought that was nonsense, and Sirius agreed, but Remus was stubborn. It was obvious he had feelings for Emma, and she for him, but he was doing his very best to hide and ignore them. You are such an idiot! Ororo thought, Why not just give it a chance?

She turned back to the table she was sitting at next to Sirius, who was staring in intense concentration at the game board in front of him. Ororo looked across the table, sharing an amused glance with Hermione, who was sitting next to Ron. Storm had begun to teach Sirius how to play her favourite game, Go, and he had mentioned it to Ron a little while ago. Ron had replied amiably, "Go? I play that a little bit." Sirius had promptly challenged him to a game, wanting to show off his new expertise to Ororo. Now, of course, he realised he'd challenged the wrong person, but it was too late and Sirius was clearly on a hiding to nothing!

Ororo glanced around again. Fleur, wearing a microscopic bikini, was stretched out on a lounger. Lavender and Neville at another table, asking Bill's advice about the business they were planning to set up. Tonks dozed in the sunshine.

Harry and Ginny were on the swing seat, Harry reading a magazine and Ginny laid out with her head in his lap. As Storm watched, Harry's head suddenly lifted, and his eyes went unfocussed. She tensed. Something was up!

Ginny wasn't quite asleep but wonderfully relaxed and drowsy. Lulled by the warm sun, birdsong and the nearness of Harry, she had simply let go and drifted. But she was instantly aware that something had changed. She felt the quiver run through Harry's body, and sat up at once. For a moment, he seemed totally unaware of her, then his eyes came back into focus and he stood up, barking in a clipped tone of command, "Firebird, Charm, Hunter! We're needed at Xavier's!"

Ginny's mind split in two. On the one hand, she felt herself tensing pleasurably; such a summons could only mean that adventure, and hopefully battle, were in the offing. Like her brother, Ginevra Weasley was a born fighter. Combat thrilled her almost as much as sex. On the other hand, part of her felt a touch of despair; she'd hoped never to hear that tone in Harry's voice again. With the passing of Voldemort, Ginny had wanted to believe that the intense, icy, driven Boy Who Lived was gone forever, leaving only the warm, shy, gentle Harry she loved so much. For a moment, she almost hated Xavier for bringing back Harry's dark side, but she knew her man well enough to understand that nothing would keep him from friends who needed him. Her place was at his side; it was the price she paid to have her Harry - the real Harry.

Hermione was on her feet. "How urgent is it?" she asked. "I mean, is it 'have a wee, grab your uniform and clean knickers' urgent, or do I have time to pack and put my face on?"

"It's not a red alert as such." Harry looked at his watch. "They're five hours behind us and it's eleven here. That's six in their morning. Professor X got up early to call me. If we leave here at one, we'll be there at eight. Is that enough time?"

"It's all I need!" said Hermione.

"And we'll be there in time for breakfast," added Ron. "I could go some pancakes and syrup!"

"Why do you need to put your face on to go to Xavier's, Hermione?" asked Tonks.

Ron grinned at her. "Don't forget Roberto will be there, and he has standards!"

"Which reminds me--" Hermione ran a gentle hand over Ron's jaw. "You'd better shave, darling. Dani does complain so when you rasp her face."

"Well, come on then, you old tart!" said Ron. "Let's get packed!"

"Lead the way, you sex maniac, you!" Hermione replied with a grin. They went, and so did Ginny. Harry hesitated, thinking he'd best explain to Sirius, but his godfather was already on his feet, saying to Ororo, "We'd better get packed as well, darling."

She stared up at him and began to speak, but he put his fingers to her lips and said, "Ororo Monroe, you're a talented witch, the mistress of this house, and, I truly believe, the love of my life. But you wouldn't be that woman unless you were also Storm, of the X-Men. Your heart is calling you to be with your teammates, so I'm coming with you! Besides," he gave an evil grin, "I promised Logan he and I would hunt together again one day, and I'm a man of my word!"

Blinking back tears, Ororo rose and embraced Sirius tightly, kissing him passionately. Harry turned away, to find himself looking into the fierce eyes of Fleur Delacour. She said without preamble, "'Arry, I weel be back wizhin ze 'our. I 'ave clothes at ze mansion, so I do not need to pack much."

Harry looked at her. "Fleur, you don't have to..."

She cut him off. "Eef zere is trouble for ze X-Men, zere ees trouble for Scott. My place is at 'is side, non? 'E was beside me when we fought at ze Ministry in March, now I go to 'im!"

There was no arguing with her, Harry realised, so he turned to go just as Tonks stepped forward. "Harry," she asked, "does this have anything to do with what we were talking about last night?"

He nodded. "Yes, it's part of the same thing."

"Right! That means that Bellatrix and the others are involved, and they're wanted fugitives. You're not an Auror yet, Harry, but I am. It's my job to go along with you, make this official, you see?"

It wasn't really a question, Harry knew, so he just shrugged. Besides, the look Tonks shot Fleur told him everything he needed to know. He glanced over at Bill, and the two men shared an understanding - Ginny and Nymphadora had a lot in common.

"Bill," said Harry, "you're a qualified curse-breaker, right? Well, the Professor wants magical defences put up around the mansion. Between your skills, and Remus' Defence Against the Dark Arts knowledge, we could get some pretty solid stuff up, couldn't we?"

Bill grinned, and the frown that Remus had been wearing vanished at once. "Get going!" Harry told them all, before turning to Lavender and Neville.

"No," he said before they could speak, "not this time. I need you two to hold the fort here. Odd things are happening, and I want to know what they are. Get hold of Fred and George and the Patils, and if you can stop them snogging for long enough, do some discreet digging.

"I'm relying on you, Neville. You've a better head for that sort of thing than I do. Lavender, try and keep him out of trouble?"

They nodded, then Neville shook Harry's hand. "Good luck, mate." Lavender kissed him and said, "Be careful." Harry watched them go. At least they would be safe, and if Harry didn't come back, Draco Malfoy would still have formidable opposition in that pair.

*****

Professor?

Harry! Are you ready to come over?

Yes, but we won't be Apparating into your office. Is the main hall clear?

Yes. Xavier was puzzled. Why do you need to go there?

Harry's thought was wry. We seem to have picked up some volunteer reinforcements! We'll be coming in by Portkey since not all of us know exactly where you are. Five minutes?

I'll see you then, Hawk.

Xavier looked across his desk at the two men who sat waiting. "They're coming into the main hall by Portkey, and there are rather more than the four we were expecting."

Scott shook his head. "I don't know whether to be pleased or pissed! Pleased because Harry has so many friends willing to help? Or pissed because it just means more people might be putting themselves in harm's way."

Logan chuckled. "You worry too much, Cyke! Hawk picks his friends well. They can all take care of themselves."

"Well, gentlemen, let's go down and greet our guests. Will you be coming too, my dear?"

Lilandra rose from her seat beside Xavier. "Of course, beloved. I have been waiting to meet the four young people who have made such an impression on you all."

A few minutes later, the four watched as a group of people shimmered into existence in the main hall of the school. Xavier recognised them all, of course. There stood Hawk, Firebird, Charm and Hunter. The petite, white-haired figure who flew across the room into Scott's arms was, of course, Fleur, and there was Remus Lupin as well. Rather more to Xavier's surprise, he saw the young Auror, Tonks, standing close to Ron's older brother, Bill. What were they doing here? But the biggest surprise of all was coming quickly towards him, hands held out, her tall, darkly handsome lover a few paces behind.

"Ororo?" Xavier asked in wonder, putting out his own hands. Storm caught them in hers, squeezing them warmly as she bent to kiss him.

"Of course, Charles! I'm still an X-Man after all, even if Sirius did have to remind me of it!"

Charles Xavier was not a demonstrative man - his upbringing militated against it - but there was no doubting his sincerity as he held her hands firmly and said, "Whatever the circumstances, it is wonderful to see you again, dear girl!"

Scott was saying to Fleur, "You shouldn't have come, hon. Things aren't exactly safe right now."

"Tais-toi!" she replied firmly. "Scott, you are my man. If zere is danger, where else should I be but at your side?"

Scott stared at her helplessly. He was a strong man, a strict disciplinarian, and yet this imperious, fascinating creature could wind him round her little finger like copper wire!

"Women, eh? Can't live with 'em, and they don't half nag if you try to kill 'em!"

Cyclops turned to shake hands firmly with the speaker. Harry was almost as tall as he was now, with a similar rangy build. The kid has grown up, thought Scott, noting the firm set to the jaw and the measuring look in the piercing, green eyes.

"Good to have you back, Hawk," Scott said, and meant it.

Sirius was clasping hands with Wolverine. "I hear there's a chance of some fun, Logan?"

"Well, we got some yesterday," Logan allowed. "I'm hopin' for more. Things've been kinda quiet lately. I've been gettin'...oof!"

Hermione had darted over to hug the stocky Canadian tightly and plant a firm kiss on one whiskered cheek. "Logan, it's lovely to see you!"

"Nice to see you, too, darlin'," Wolverine wheezed, "but I got this habit - it's called breathin'."

"Oh, you!" she replied. "As if I could crush adamantium ribs!"

But she released him and stepped back, whereupon Logan reached out and took her left hand in his, lifting it to examine her ring.

"What's this? The big guy finally pop the question?"

"Oh, that he did!" Hermione giggled. "He came over for a visit, and managed to get me alone - me helping him all I could because I thought he was after a bonk! Instead, he goes down on one knee and very formally asks me if I'd honour him by becoming his wife!

"Medea, Logan! If you'd have seen, you'd have laughed your duck off! I was crying so hard I couldn't answer him at first; all I could do was hold him. Then when I managed to say yes, I couldn't stop saying it!"

Hermione's eyes were glowing as she remembered. Logan shook his head, then squeezed her hand gently, leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. "I'm happy for ya both, darlin'. You take good care of him, eh?"

Harry and Ron had greeted the Professor, then watched amusedly as Ginny and Hermione demolished his composure with their enthusiastic hugs and kisses. It was then that a tall, unfamiliar woman stepped forward to stand beside the Professor, asking with an amused tone in her husky voice, "So, Charles, you've become quite the ladies' man since I was last here. Should I worry about these two?"

"Only if I discover the Fountain of Youth," replied Xavier with a smile. "Lilandra, this is Harry Potter, Ginevra Weasley, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. All of you, allow me to present my wife, Empress Lilandra of the Shi'ar!"

Wife? Harry and the others tried not to stare at the tall, exotic-looking woman who smiled warmly at them all. They had encountered magical creatures of many kinds over the years, but never an extra-terrestrial. She looked human enough, though there was something definitely birdlike about her. Harry stepped forward, and bowed over the hand she extended to him. "Your Majesty," he greeted her.

Lilandra laughed. "Oh, please! No formalities. I come here to escape such things, Harry. Charles and I both have our duties, and so little time to spend together. When I am with him, I am simply Lilandra."

Poor Mum, thought Ginny. She had hopes about Professor X and McGonagall!

Initial greetings over, Xavier said, "Everyone else will be at breakfast now. Shall we join them? I'm sure Ron, at least, will be hungry."

"Of course he is," muttered Hermione. "He's awake, isn't he?"

They made their way down to the cafeteria. The younger students had been served first, and the senior ones were just lining up when they entered. Roberto DaCosta, who was at the end of the queue, turned round, spotted them, and yelled, "Look who's here!"

Breakfast was forgotten for the moment as the two groups of young people ran to meet each other. Roberto, in his impulsive Latin fashion, embraced Harry. "Good to see you, amigo!" he said, before going on to Ginny, kissing her hands, both cheeks and finally her lips.

Dani Moonstar flung her arms round Harry, pressing her curvaceous body hard against him and giving him a sensual, open-mouthed kiss he just managed not to respond to fully. Then she leaned back and teased, "So Harry, is that a wand in your pocket, or are you just pleased to see me?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "You don't change, do you, Dani?"

"God, I hope not!" she replied. "Neither do you, Harry. One of these days, I'm going to get a real kiss off of you, I swear!" She stuck her tongue out at him, then went on to greet Ginny with a hearty hug.

Then Marie was hugging Harry and kissing his cheek before saying, "Well, finally, sugah! I was startin' to think I was gonna have to go fetch y'all!"

Bob Drake - Iceman - gripped Harry's hand. "Welcome back, Hawk!"

Then there was the moment that was always a little awkward. Harry and Ginny found themselves facing Kitty and Peter. There was a short hesitation before Ginny squealed and jumped into Peter's arms, and then Kitty scampered into Harry's. The greetings were perhaps a little more affectionate than mere friendship justified, but everyone understood why.

Rahne had run up to Ron and flung her arms round him, holding him tightly for a moment. She had said in a low voice, "Ron, we need to talk. Sam and I need your advice."

Ron kept his face very straight as he grasped Sam's hand. He thought he knew what they wanted to talk about, but he no idea how he was going to respond.

Hermione had greeted almost everyone before she found herself in Roberto's arms. He kissed her lightly, then made to speak, but she interrupted him, keeping her arms firmly around his neck. "Now just one cotton-pickin' minute, Mr DaCosta. I know you can do better than that! Now you come and give me a proper kiss before I get cross!"

Roberto glanced to the side, to see Dani entwined with Ron, their mouths clamped firmly together. He grinned and leaned down, kissing Hermione fully and warmly.

Sirius murmured to Ororo, "What is it with those four? At the Christmas party, I saw Dani sitting on Ron's knee, snogging the daylights out of him, and thought, 'Hermione's going to kill them both.' Then I turn round and see Hermione under the mistletoe with her tongue halfway down Roberto's throat!"

Ororo giggled. "It's a game, hon. Look, Roberto stole a kiss from Hermione in the Labyrinth. Ron found out about it, so he took Dani into a quiet corner and kissed her - sauce for the goose. Ever since, they've had this little game going. It's a nice, safe way for Hermione and Ron to add a little spice, and Dani and 'Berto enjoy the kissing and hugging for its own sake. Nobody takes it seriously, so no harm, no foul. I don't think it'll get as far as four-in-a-bed, but you never know!"

"Bloody big bed they'd need!" Sirius remarked.

Harry had intended to say hello to Alison Blair - Dazzler - only to find himself, to his surprise, shaking hands with a tall young wizard.

"Seamus? What are you doing here?"

Seamus Finnigan grinned at his former classmate. "Well, to be sure, things have come to a pass when a fellow can't even visit his lady-friend without an interrogation!"

Harry laughed, then sobered. "I'm surprised they let you stay. You know there's trouble?"

"That I do! The Professor told me as soon as I arrived last night. And I told him that trouble was the natural state for an Irishman, so I did! He laughed and said I was Banshee all over again, but in the end he let me stay. If there's goin' to be shenanigans, I'm after bein' in among them!"

"Well, we could use you in a scrap, I'll admit," Harry told him, "but you must do as you're told, all right? Don't let that Irish temper of yours get away with you!" Seamus nodded solemnly, but the glint in his eye gave the lie to his compliance.

Harry turned to greet the final young X-Man, bowing formally, "Konnichi wa, Shiro-san."

"Good morning, Mr Potter," replied Shiro, English-style, before clasping Harry's hand and breaking into a rare grin.

The young Americans were hungry and it was lunchtime in England, so it didn't take very long to get back to the food line - Ron, Peter and Sam leading the charge, of course. But as they settled to their meal, two more things happened.

The first was the entry into the room of a lithe blonde woman. At first, Harry didn't recognise her, then he saw her face clearly. It was Emma Frost, the White Queen! She didn't notice him. Her eyes were fixed on the table where the adults were sitting. Her face lit as she crossed the room quickly to where Remus was rising to greet her.

"Remus!" she said, "I didn't know you were coming!" She held out her hands to him.

"It was sort of a spur of the moment thing," he replied. He was reaching out to her when Beast, with a knowing wink at Sirius, gave him a gentle 'accidental' shove. Remus stumbled forward slightly and Emma had her arms round him before he had a chance to recover. It was obvious she had no intention of letting go until he responded, so he had to return her eager hug. Taking her chance, Emma kissed him lightly on the cheek, forcing him to reciprocate so as not to seem unkind. Making the best of a bad job, Remus seated her next to him, where she chatted animatedly.

The second surprise was when Wolverine approached the senior students' table with a companion the four young English people had not seen before. She was a tiny, exquisite Oriental woman who bore a strong family resemblance to Shiro. One delicate hand rested possessively on Logan's brawny forearm, and her dark eyes studied each of them in turn as they were introduced.

"Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, this is the Lady Mariko Yoshida. Mariko's visitin' here with me for a while."

The four rose and greeted Mariko formally in the manner Shiro had taught them, and she responded graciously in perfect English. "I am so pleased to meet you all. Logan-san has told me a great deal about you. I hope we shall have a chance to talk soon, but for now, I will leave you to your meal."

As they sat down again, Rogue grinned at Harry. "It's incredible, isn't it? You'd think Wolverine's lady would be some kinda Amazonian war-goddess, like a Xena clone. But she's just like a china doll!"

After breakfast was finally over, there was a meeting in the large conference room. The visitors were briefed on what exactly had happened the previous morning, and on what Emma Frost had revealed about Selene's plans.

Then Xavier said, "I must admit, Harry, I was somewhat surprised, though not displeased, to see your reinforcements arrive. Storm is, of course, always an asset to the team, and her new skills will doubtless make her even more formidable. You other wizards are also known to us from last summer, but apart from Fleur and Sirius, who have personal reasons, I am unsure as to why you have come."

It was clear the others expected Harry to be spokesman, so he accepted the role. "You told me, Professor, that one of the main reasons you needed us was to set up a magical defence grid around the mansion. Well, Bill here used to work for Gringotts, the wizarding bank, as a curse-breaker. If you're going to penetrate magical defences, you have to know how to set them up. Remus, as you know, used to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts, so he has expertise in that field as well.

"Tonks is a trained Auror, but apart from that, she's here because some of the people involved are wanted Death Eaters. Her presence makes this whole thing official as far as the Ministry of Magic is concerned, which might help smooth any ruffled local feathers."

Xavier nodded. "Good enough, even if some of the reasons seem a little...slender. If I didn't know better, I'd think that some of you were just bored and looking for trouble to get into!"

There were a few guilty grins around the table, and Xavier smiled wryly before saying, "Scott?"

Cyclops nodded. "If Bill, Remus, and Miss Tonks can come to the Situation Room with me, we can get the ball rolling." He turned to the others. "You'll need to know the layout of the house and grounds to plan things properly."

"And you four," growled Wolverine at Harry and his friends, "can get your butts into uniform and down to the Danger Room. If you been slackin' on yer trainin', I'm gonna find out now!"

In the silence that followed, Logan's keen ears caught the sound of four teenagers swallowing hard!