2) YOU'RE A MUTANT HARRY
It was three days after killing the basilisk that Harry was summoned to Dumbledore's office. The headmaster didn't say why he wanted to see him but Harry was glad to go because he hoped to talk to Dumbledore about the weird things that had been happening to him lately. Not that weird things happening to Harry were anything new of course, but these weird things were unlike any other weird things that he'd experienced.
It had started that very same night after he killed the basilisk. During the late night feast Harry had wanted to add salt to some potatoes he was eating and looked up to where the salt shaker was. As he thought about getting it the salt shaker rose up and flew over to him. He was so surprised that he almost didn't catch it.
"What the – ? How did that happen?" he said. He looked around but nobody seemed to have noticed. He shook his head as if to clear it, used the salt and went back to eating.
Later that same night as he was preparing to finally go to bed he realized he hadn't taken out his pajamas. As he thought about getting them they suddenly shot out of an open dresser drawer and into his hand. This time he was too surprised to say anything. This was the second time something like this had happened and he had no idea why.
The next morning when he woke up he found that his pajamas and the sheets of the bed were sticking to his body and he had to peel them all off. They came off of him with a small crackling feeling.
Later on he was in the well carpeted Gryffindor common room when Seamus Finnigan dropped a book. Harry bent to pick it up at the same time that Seamus did and their hands brushed against each other.
"OW!" yelled Seamus and he jumped back holding his hand. When he and Harry touched an electric charge passed from Harry's hand to his hand. If either of them had been looking they would have seen a tiny bolt of lightning pass from Harry to Seamus.
"What was that?!" Seamus exclaimed to Harry who was also startled.
"I don't know" said Harry, "it felt like an electric shock, you know how you can get one after walking on a carpet and then touching something? And we've been on this carpet for a little while."
"Yeah but they're not usually that big" said Seamus, "it doesn't look like it hurt you."
"That's weird" said Harry, "because I definitely felt it. But it should be okay now, right?" He held out his hand to Seamus. After a few seconds Seamus tentatively touched it. This time nothing happened.
"Huh" said Seamus, "we must have been on this carpet longer than I thought."
"I guess so" said Harry, "still I could do without that happening again."
"Me too" said Seamus.
Unfortunately for Harry it would happen again several times over the rest of the day and over the next few days. Touching metal door knobs, picking up silverware, if it was conductive in any way it had the potential to make him give off electrical discharges. They didn't hurt him but he definitely felt them. In addition he had more incidents with objects flying over to him when he thought about getting them. Luckily no one had noticed anything yet and if they had Harry knew he could pass it off as magic. The problem was that it wasn't like any magic he'd ever experienced and it didn't feel like magic either. He realized that he would have to get a handle on it soon and find a way to control whatever it was. He would be going back to the Dursleys for the summer when school let out and he didn't want to think about how they would react to having these sorts of events happening at Number Four Privet Drive.
Harry arrived at the entrance to Dumbledore's office and gave the password to the stone gargoyle which barred the way. The gargoyle leaped aside allowing Harry to go through a doorway to a spiral staircase which was moving upwards. He was quickly conveyed up to another door. He knocked and Dumbledore called for him to enter.
When Harry entered Dumbledore's office he saw that the headmaster was not alone. Sitting near the desk was a bald man in a wheelchair who looked at Harry with a stern, but kind, face.
"Ah, Harry" said Dumbledore from where he was sitting behind his desk, "I would like you meet an old friend of mine. Harry, this is Professor Charles Xavier from the colonies. He's starting a special school in New York and he's come here to speak to you."
"Me?" said Harry.
"Yes indeed" said Dumbledore, "Charles, this is Harry Potter."
"How do you do Mr. Potter" said Professor Xavier holding out his hand. Harry shook it before taking the seat that Dumbledore waved him to.
"I'm fine" said Harry, "please call me Harry."
"Thank you Harry" said Xavier, "First you should know that I'm not a wizard although I do know about the magical world. Albus and I are old friends and I have some distant relatives who are magical. I'm an expert in a different field altogether, that of genetics. Tell me Harry, have you ever heard of mutants?"
"Not really" said Harry, "I've heard the term once or twice but I don't know what it means."
"Well look at it this way" said Xavier, "you know that you're a combination of your mother and father, right? They both contributed to make you what you are."
"Yes" said Harry.
"The things that make them who they are" said Xavier, "are known as genes. Everyone has them. They determine what a person is. Now obviously you don't get everything from both parents and you don't necessarily get exactly half from each one. You may have more of your father or your mother depending on how it shakes out."
"For instance Harry" added Dumbledore, "how many times have you been told that you look just like your father but you have your mother's eyes? We can probably say that where your physical appearance is concerned you got more from your father than your mother. With other things about you the reverse might be true."
"Now mutations" continued Xavier, "happen when a gene, or more than one gene, changes somehow. The change might be good or bad depending on what kind of change it is. This is how evolution works as it makes sure that living beings are able to adapt to different environments and a changing world. Every living thing that exists in the world today is the result of mutations somewhere along the line. If that weren't so life would never have gotten past the single cell stage.
"However sometimes a mutation takes place that is really big. We don't know exactly why but lately there have been examples of human mutants who have been born with abilities that normal people don't have. I am such a mutant, one of the first, maybe even the first. In my case I'm a telepath."
"Really?" said Harry. Xavier's reply, when it came, was not spoken aloud. Instead Harry heard it in his head.
"Really" was the reply, "right now I'm my projecting my thoughts into your head and thus communicating with you in that way. And that's only one of many things I can do. For instance I can also receive thoughts from others. Why don't you think your answer to me?" Harry concentrated for a moment.
"Like this?" he thought.
"Very good" was the reply "but now let's speak aloud again so we're not leaving your headmaster out of the conversation."
"Wow" said Harry, "and that's not magic?"
"It's not" said Xavier, "there is magic that can do similar things but I'm not using any magic when I use my abilities. In fact if you ever want to speak to me in the future and I'm not there just think at me and I'll hear you."
"No matter where you are?" asked Harry.
"No matter where I am" said Xavier, "even if we're on opposite sides of the world."
"That's awesome" said Harry, "it really is. But why are you telling me this – unless..." He had a feeling he already knew the answer.
"I see you're starting to realize it for yourself" said Xavier, "yes Harry, you're also a mutant and your powers recently woke up."
"We don't mean because you're a wizard" said Dumbledore, "the existence of magic has been well documented for thousands of years. This is something different and I think you know what it is."
"The Chamber of Secrets." said Harry. Xavier nodded.
"Yes" he said, "Albus told me all about what happened to you down there. The powers you used to stop the basilisk were your mutant powers waking up. Normally a mutant's powers will start showing up as the person enters puberty but that hasn't happened to you yet. It's also possible that a very traumatic event can awaken a mutant's powers early, such as your experiences in the Chamber of Secrets." Harry's eyes widened when he heard that but it made sense. He had told Dumbledore that the powers he'd used didn't feel like magic and this would explain it. Then he had a thought.
"And would this also explain the weird things that have been happening to me lately?" he asked.
"What weird things have been happening to you my boy?" said Dumbledore. Harry explained about things coming to him by themselves and the electric shocks he'd been experiencing.
"Yes" said Xavier with a nod, "those are examples of your powers acting out. From what you're telling us it sounds like you have two major powers: one is telekinesis which is the ability to move things with your mind. The other sounds like you have control over electricity."
"But I don't have control over these powers" said Harry, "I don't know how to use them and I can't stop them from occurring like they have been."
"Which is why I'm here" said Xavier, "if you'll allow it I can help you. As Albus mentioned I'm starting a special school in New York, one that will be devoted to helping mutants learn to first control their gifts and later to use them effectively. If you're interested you can come to my school for the summer."
"Really?" said Harry. This sounded almost too good to be true. Instinctively he turned to look at Dumbledore. The headmaster was nodding.
"I would take him up on this" said Dumbledore to Harry, "I've known Charles for many years. He's a good man and true to his word. If he says he can help you with your new powers you can believe him."
"I could spend the whole summer there?" said Harry, "I could go straight there after school ends? I wouldn't have to go to the Dursleys?" Dumbledore smiled.
"That's right" he said, "you wouldn't have to go to the Dursleys. Normally I might be against that as there's a certain amount of protection that you have when you're there but this is too important to wait. You can always see your relatives next summer."
A big grin appeared on Harry's face and he held out his hand to Professor Xavier.
"I'll be glad to come" said Harry with enthusiasm at the prospect of a Dursley-free summer. He and Professor Xavier shook hands.
"Excellent" said Xavier, "then either I or someone I send will meet you at Kings Cross when your train gets in from Hogwarts."
"Thanks" said Harry, "thank you so much. I really mean it."
"My pleasure" said Xavier, "there's just one request I have to make of you right now and it's that you don't tell anyone where you're going or why."
"But why?" asked Harry, caught up short by the request. It was Dumbledore who answered him.
"Harry" said Dumbledore with an unusually grave expression, "you know how we magicals keep ourselves separate from the muggles? Even in these modern days there are still a lot of people out there who would be afraid of magic if they knew it was real. In much the same way there are a lot of people out there who potentially are afraid of mutants and what they might represent to the world. I'm not suggesting that you lie to your friends and I know you don't want to keep secrets from them but this is a very real concern"
"It doesn't mean you can't ever tell them" said Xavier, "it just means that for now we have to be very cautious. You don't have to cut off contact with them – God forbid you'd have to do that – you'll just have to be careful with exactly what you tell them."
Harry had to think about this. It was as Dumbledore said: he didn't want to lie to his friends or keep secrets from them but he also understood how this could be a concern. If Xavier had been making such a request of him by himself he probably would have said no but Dumbledore was backing up Xavier and Harry trusted Dumbledore. Also he really needed help with his new powers.
"All right" said Harry, "I'll do it." Harry then left the headmaster's office. Xavier watched him go before turning to Dumbledore.
"He seems like a good boy" he said.
"He is" said Dumbledore, "a bit reckless sometimes but otherwise yes." He gave Xavier a shrewd look. "Something's bothering you" he said.
"A little" said Xavier, "that scar of his, what do you know about it?"
"He got that the night his parents were killed" said Dumbledore, "it's a remnant of the curse Voldemort used to try to kill him which somehow did not work and brought about his own defeat. Beyond that it seems to have some sort of connection to what's left of Voldemort. I learned during Harry's first year when Voldemort was possessing Professor Quirrel that whenever Voldemort was angry it would cause Harry pain. I don't know why this should be the case but thankfully he doesn't seem to have taken any other harm from it, at least not yet."
"That sounds consistent with what I sensed from it" said Xavier, "when I first found Harry I sensed an evil darkness within him. I didn't know if it was Harry himself or something attached to him. While we were talking just now I examined him and that scar more closely and I can now say that it is an outside element that is attached to him, like a parasite of some kind though it hasn't hurt him beyond what you've told me."
Dumbledore steepled his fingers as he thought.
"I see" he said, "I have often wondered about that scar and after first year I too have been trying to figure out what it is and if it could possibly be removed. Perhaps you should investigate it too. You're friends with Dr. Strange, are you not?"
"I am" said Xavier, "you want him to look at it?"
"That might be a good idea" said Dumbledore, "I was thinking of consulting him myself pretty soon. I could also call in the Unspeakables from the ministry's Department of Mysteries but I'd rather not do that. They would probably be more interested in experimenting on the scar than in removing it and who knows what would that do to Harry."
"You're right," said Xavier, "that should be avoided. I'll contact Stephen over the summer and see what he has to say. Hopefully he'll be able to help Harry."
"Thank you" said Dumbledore.
3) OFF TO AMERICA
Harry, Ron, and Hermione got off of the Hogwarts Express on Platform 9-3/4 at Kings Cross Station and said their goodbyes promising to keep in touch during the summer. As he pulled his trunk toward the barrier that led into the regular station Harry hoped nothing would interfere with his mail this time. He wondered who would be there to meet him since it wouldn't be his aunt and uncle. He had written to the Dursleys to tell them that he would be staying somewhere else that summer. They'd actually written back to him saying how pleased they were to hear it and that they hoped he would find somewhere else to stay next summer too, and all of his remaining school summers as well. Harry had shaken his head at that. Honestly, why did he even bother anymore?
As soon as he was through the barrier Harry saw Professor Xavier waiting for him. He was not alone. With him were two older boys. One, who looked to be almost an adult, stood very straight and had a very serious bearing. He also wore a pair of red glasses that completely obscured his eyes. The other boy was clearly younger than the first one although still older than Harry. He seemed to be the more laid back of the two.
"Ah, Harry" said Professor Xavier when Harry approached, "there you are. I'm glad to see you again."
"Likewise" said Harry shaking the professor's hand.
"Allow me to introduce my first two students" said the professor as he motioned at the older boy, "Harry, this is Scott Summers, Scott, Harry Potter." The two students shook hands.
"How do you do?" said Harry.
"Fine, and you?" Scott said.
"Not bad" said Harry, "I like your glasses. They're much cooler than mine."
"And this" said the professor motioning to the other boy before Scott could reply, "is Robert Drake."
"Call me Bobby" the younger student said, "everyone does." He and Harry shook hands.
"Nice to meet you" said Harry.
"Now then" Xavier said, "if you'll all come with me we'll be on our way."
"Um, Professor Xavier" said Harry as they began to walk, Scott pushing the professor's chair, "I don't have a passport."
"Don't worry about it" said Xavier, "between Professor Dumbledore and myself it's been taken care of."
"Dumbledore?" said Bobby, "that's an interesting name."
"He's my headmaster" said Harry, "and he's a very interesting person. If you ever meet him you'll know it."
"He's an old friend of mine" said Xavier to Bobby and Scott, "which is how I was able to arrange for Harry to join us."
"Excuse me Harry" said Scott gesturing at Hedwig in her cage, "is that really an owl that you have there?"
"Yes that's Hedwig" said Harry, "but I don't exactly own her. You could say she's more of a friend."
"It's all right Harry" said Xavier, "Scott and Bobby know about magic."
"They do?" said Harry, "are they wizards too?"
"No" said Xavier, "but they don't have to be. America is not nearly as secretive as Britain or most of Europe. Most people in our country know magic exists."
"Have you ever heard of Dr. Strange?" asked Scott. "he's the Sorcerer Supreme. He lives in Manhattan. Everyone knows who he is."
"And then there's Thor" said Bobby, "he's an actual Norse god."
"The American Ministry doesn't encourage witches and wizards to use their powers in public" said Xavier, "but they don't make a huge fuss about it if someone does. If that happens they're more concerned with what the witch or wizard did than if they did it at all. So you can discuss the wizarding world freely with all of us."
"Okay" said Harry, "well in addition to being my friend – and one of the smartest ones anyone could ask for – Hedwig is a postal owl. Our kind uses owls to send letters and she can find just about anyone anywhere and get a letter to them." Hedwig preened a bit at the praise.
While the four of them were talking they had exited the station and come to where a private van was waiting for them. Soon Xavier, wheelchair and all, was loaded into the van after which Harry's trunk was loaded into the back and he, Scott, and Bobby got in the van and the driver pulled out of the space and entered traffic.
"How are we getting to America?" asked Harry.
"We'll be flying" said Xavier.
"Then we're going to Heathrow?" said Harry.
"No" said Scott, "the professor has a private jet. We'll be taking off from a private airfield."
"A private jet?" asked Harry in amazement, "are you really rich or something?"
"Yes" was the professor's one word reply.
"Oh" said Harry, not sure what else to say to that.
Eventually the van arrived at the airfield and the four passengers got out. Xavier directed them to his personal plane which had been serviced and was waiting for them. Once they were all on board (it had taken a special lift to get the professor onto the plane) the Professor instructed them all to take seats in the main cabin which was furnished like a luxurious lounge along with a bar, a dining table, a few couches, and a lot of seats. The main things that told you that this was a plane was that all of the furniture was firmly attached to floor and all of the seats had seatbelts.
"Let's depart" said the professor pulling out a small control device and activating it. The plane started to taxi toward the runway. After a few minutes it came to the runway and quickly took off.
"Who's flying the plane?" asked Harry.
"The professor is" said Scott, "he uses a remote control and guides it with his thoughts."
"Really?" asked a very surprised Harry as he had never heard of such a thing, "that's incredible. I didn't know that was possible."
"When you join Xavier's School you learn that anything's possible" said Bobby.
"I learned a similar lesson two years ago when I found out I was a wizard" said Harry, "but I didn't realize it would apply to technology too."
"What's that like?" asked Scott. Harry told them about Hogwarts, learning spells, learning to fly on a broom ("seriously?" said Bobby. "Yes" said Harry), playing Quidditch, the moving portraits, the ghosts and Peeves the poltergeist, and also about Diagon Alley, Gringotts Bank and the various stores in the alley. He did not, however, share any of the bad parts of his time at Hogwarts nor did he mention Lord Voldemort or his life with the Dursleys. He wasn't quite ready to do that yet.
"Well" said Scott when Harry stopped talking, "we don't have anything quite as unique as all that but I think you'll like Xavier's School. It's a very nice place."
"What's your mutant power?" asked Bobby, "obviously you didn't get on the Prof's radar because of your magic."
"I have power over electricity" said Harry, "and I'm telekinetic – but I can't really control it all yet."
"That's why you're with us" said Scott, "you'll learn."
"What are you powers?" Harry asked them. Bobby held up his right hand. Snow-like ice formed on it until the whole hand was covered.
"I have control over cold and ice" said Bobby before turning his hand back to normal.
"Wow" said Harry, "that sounds useful."
"It can be" said Bobby.
"What's your power?" Harry asked Scott.
"You're going to have to wait to see that" said Scott, "as it wouldn't be safe to show you here. I shoot energy beams out of my eyes. They're very powerful. The problem is they're also almost unstoppable. I can only control them either by closing my eyes or wearing these special glasses I have" he indicated his red glasses, "that you said were cool. They're made of ruby quartz and without them I couldn't keep my eyes open at all. One of my blasts could easily put a hole in the side of the plane."
"Right" said Harry feeling a little intimidated, "let's not do that. I can wait until it's safe before you show me your power."
The conversation moved on to other topics from there. Harry had never been in an airplane before and he spent a fair amount of time looking out of the windows although he mostly saw clouds or the ocean far below. The one exception was when they flew over Greenland and Harry was mesmerized by the snow and ice covered landscape. He'd never seen anything like it before.
Occasionally Professor Xavier would join the conversation but for the most part he concentrated on guiding the plane. It was about four and a half hours later when the plane began its descent, a time that seemed quite fast to Harry but was explained when the Professor told him that his plane flew at the speed of sound which made it faster than normal passenger planes.
Not long after that they landed at a private airport. Customs was dealt with quickly. Professor Xavier had not been kidding when he said that Harry had been taken care of and they were soon heading out to where the professor's Rolls Royce was waiting for them. Then they were driving away from the airport into what was clearly a suburban area.
"Where exactly are we?" asked Harry as he looked out a car window.
"This is Westchester County in New York State" said the professor, "we're just north of New York City itself. We'll be heading to my school in North Salem."
"Salem?" said Harry, "isn't that where the witch trials happened?"
"No" was the reply, "you're thinking of Salem in Massachusetts."
"Oh" said Harry.
Eventually they arrived at their destination: 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center. After driving through a set of gates Harry got his first look at Xavier's School. It didn't exactly look like a school. It looked more like a private mansion with a central section and two large wings. It had a classical look to it which gave it an air of distinction even if it was nowhere near as imposing as Hogwarts Castle.
The Rolls Royce pulled up by the front entrance.
"Welcome Harry" said the professor, "to the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. I hope you enjoy your time here. Scott, would you please show Harry to his room?" the professor asked Scott who nodded as he got out of the car.
"Harry" said Xavier to him before he could also exit the car, "this is your first task. Try using your telekinesis to take your trunk up to your room. It's on the second floor."
"Okay" said Harry, "first let me release Hedwig." He opened Hedwig's cage and she flew out of it and up into the air over the school where she circled around before landing to perch on top of the roof.
"Is it okay to let her go like that?" asked Bobby.
"She'll be fine" said Harry, "she comes and goes as she pleases but she's always there when I need her."
Harry now got out of the car and went around to the boot of the car where his trunk was. Once the boot was opened he looked at his trunk. He reached out with his mind and tried to feel for his telekinetic power. Concentrating he mentally told his trunk to rise up out of the back of the car.
And the trunk did. Just like that it rose up out of the back of the car and hovered in front of him. It wasn't very hard but he did have to concentrate to keep it aloft. He could feel some of its weight but it seemed far lighter when he lifted it with his mind then when he tried moving it in the normal way.
"Good" the professor mentally sent to Harry, "now take it inside and up to your room."
Harry stepped back from the car and thought about the trunk following him as he walked. It did that too.
"This way" said Scott to Harry motioning toward the doors to the mansion and began walking that way. Harry told his trunk to float in front of him and it did. He followed Scott up the steps of the mansion and through the front doors into the entrance hall. It was a very nice entrance hall, not nearly as big as the Hogwarts entrance hall but very welcoming and comfortable looking. There was a grand staircase that headed up to the second floor and it was up these stairs that Scott led Harry. It took a little more effort for Harry to move the trunk up the stairs but he did it. He gestured with a hand in the direction he wanted to the trunk to go and that seemed to make it easier but he also realized that the hand gesture wasn't actually necessary to use his telekinesis.
Once at the top of the stairs they turned right down a hallway which had several doors on both sides. It didn't take a genius to figure out that these must be bedrooms. Scott opened the door to one that was about midway down the hall on the left hand side and motioned for Harry to go in.
"This will be your room" said Scott, "it has its own bathroom too, all the bedrooms do."
"That's very nice" said Harry as he entered the room and looked around. It was a fairly standard bedroom. It had a single bed, a desk, some bookshelves, a couple of chairs, a walk-in closet with a full length mirror inside the door, a dresser, and another door which led to a bathroom. Harry concentrated and lowered his trunk down by the foot of the bed.
"Well done Harry" came Professor X's voice in Harry's head startling the young wizard / mutant.
"Have you been there the whole time?" asked Harry as he straightened up from putting down his trunk. The professor chuckled.
"I wouldn't be much of a teacher" he said, "if I didn't watch over my students when I set them tasks now would I? I'll let you get settled. See you later." And just like that the professor was gone from his head.
"Was that the professor?" asked Scott having seen Harry's behavior.
"Yes" said Harry, "is he everywhere?"
"He can be" said Scott who walked over to the window and opened it. "Come over here" he added motioning for Harry to join him. Harry did so and looked out at the field behind the mansion. It was a very idyllic setting. There were no other houses anywhere nearby that Harry could see. The field eventually hit trees on all sides and Harry realized the estate was pretty big. Not far from the house Harry saw the stump of a tree that looked like it had been burned down. Scott pointed to it.
"See that?" he asked. Harry nodded. Scott lifted his glasses off of his eyes which were now closed. For a brief second he opened his eyes.
ZAP! Red beams shot out of Scott's eyes and hit the stump which was suddenly a lot smaller than it had been before. Harry's jaw dropped and he turned to look at Scott as the latter lowered his glasses back over his eyes.
"Holy – " said Harry. Scott nodded.
"Now do you see" said Scott, "why I have to wear these glasses all the time, even when I'm asleep?" Harry nodded.
"Get settled" said Scott heading for the door of the room, "I'll see you later. If you need anything let the professor know." He left the room. Harry stood where he was for several seconds before shaking his head as if coming out of a trance. What had he gotten himself into this time?
4) SETTLING IN
Harry unpacked his trunk putting all of his clothes away and placing his magic equipment mostly on the shelves although he stood his Nimbus 2000 up against the wall by the desk. As he put his clothes away he shook his head. Except for his Hogwarts clothes everything else was several sizes too big as they were all cast-offs from his cousin Dudley. 'I need a whole new wardrobe,' Harry thought as he made a mental note to talk to Professor Xavier about it.
Deciding to explore his summer home Harry left his room and walked back downstairs to the front hall. He walked out the front doors and saw that Scott was there sitting on the steps.
"Are you all unpacked?" Scott asked him.
"Yes" said Harry, "I was going to explore the place. Do you think you might show me around?"
"Sure" said Scott as he stood up and led Harry back inside.
Although this was ostensibly a school a lot of it seemed more like a mansion home. Scott explained that it actually was the professor's family home which he was now slowly converting into a school. Scott showed Harry the main livingroom and lounges, the diningroom, the kitchen ("we tend to be responsible for our own meals for breakfast and lunch but there's a cook who comes in regularly to make dinner, also there's plenty of food in the place if you want a snack or something"), a laundry room, a couple of rooms that were being turned into academic classrooms, the garage where several cars were kept, and a work room. Then there was the gym. It had a lot of weight lifting equipment and gymnastic apparatus as well as a large bare section that could be used for general exercises. Furthermore one level up from the main floor was a track around the edge of the room for running. Scott recommended to Harry that he start exercising regularly and also begin lifting weights to develop his muscles.
It was the room next to the gym that was the most interesting or bizarre. It was a very large room, at least as big as the gym maybe even bigger, but when Scott and Harry entered it the room appeared to be completely empty. According to Scott that appearance was very deceiving.
"This is the room" Scott said, "where we really work out with our powers. There's a lot of specialized equipment and machinery that you're not seeing right now because it's not in use so it's all put away. You don't get to work out in here until you've gained real control over your powers and experience using them effectively. The challenges in here are advanced and can be dangerous if proper safety precautions aren't taken. Bobby and I call this room the 'Danger Room.' and Professor Xavier seems to have adopted that name because he uses it too."
"That's ominous" said Harry.
"I doubt you'll be in here much" said Scott, "or at all since you're only staying for the summer but the professor might let you watch some time."
The tour continued after that with Scott showing Harry the indoor swimming pool ("the professor doesn't use it but we do") before taking him upstairs to show him the library ("Hermione would love this") and the computer room as well as the professor's office and pointed out a couple of doors that were locked.
"The professor has some things he keeps to himself" said Scott without elaborating. Harry nodded. They went back downstairs and out the back doors of the house to the back lawn which Harry had seen from his window earlier when Scott had zapped the stump.
"How big is the school property?" asked Harry.
"It's quite large" was the answer, "which is really unusual considering how close we are to New York City. The whole county is basically suburbs so it's remarkable that the professor has so much private land."
"Well he did say he was really rich" said Harry.
"He did" said Scott nodding, "and he is."
"If there are no nearby houses" said Harry, "then I could do some flying without the neighbors seeing me, at least if I don't go too high."
"I'd like to see that" said Scott, "it sounds so stereotypical that you use a broom to fly but considering what the rest of us can do why shouldn't you use a broom?"
They went back inside the mansion where they found Bobby and Professor Xavier waiting for them.
"All unpacked?" Xavier asked Harry who nodded, "good. You must be hungry. It's the cook's night off so I thought we would order in tonight." Harry realized with a start that he was hungry. It had been late afternoon in London when the Hogwarts Express reached Kings Cross and getting to America had taken several hours more. It was true that New York was five hours behind London but by now it was late in the day locally which meant that for Harry it was already night. He hadn't eaten since breakfast except for having snacks on the train and the plane and that wasn't all that much.
"What are we having?" he asked.
"What would you like?" the professor asked him.
"I'll try anything" he said, "I don't know what's good here yet."
They ordered Chinese which Harry had never had and he enjoyed trying the various dishes although he didn't choose a favorite. He went to sleep not long after dinner as his body clock was now telling him that it was long past midnight. Fortunately he was tired enough that his body began adjusting to American time at once so he didn't wake up at 3 AM thinking it was 8. He slept soundly that night, better than he had in a long time with no dreams.
He woke up at around 6:30 AM feeling more rested than he had in quite a while. He got out of bed and went to his bathroom to take a shower. After that he dressed in his Hogwarts uniform but without the robe, so just his shirt and pants which were the only clothes that really fit him, and went downstairs to see about some breakfast. Scott had been right when he said there was plenty of food in the kitchen. Harry didn't have any trouble finding what he wanted and pretty soon had made himself some eggs and bacon and several pieces of toast while having some orange juice to drink. Scott joined him while he was eating.
"You're up early" Scott said.
"So are you" said Harry, "but it's actually quite late back home."
"I always get up early" said Scott going to the refrigerator and taking out the milk. Soon he had a bowl of cereal that he was eating.
"Is anyone else up?" asked Harry.
"Not yet" was the reply, "but the professor should be up soon. Bobby will sleep later if he can."
"Like my friend Ron" said Harry, "waking him up for class is always an adventure." Scott cracked a smile at that. Hedwig chose that moment to fly in through an open window and land on the table in front of Harry.
"Good morning Hedwig" said Harry. He held out a piece of bacon for her which she ate before nipping his finger affectionately, "do you approve of our summer accommodations?" She looked up at Harry with a face that quite clearly said that she was more than pleased with their home for the summer.
"Can she understand you?" asked Scott watching their interaction.
"Yes" said Harry, "I really think she can. And she makes it very easy for me to understand her."
"Wow" said Scott, "well you did say she was smart." Hedwig looked over at Scott with an expression that seemed to tell him that of course she was smart and why would he doubt it?
"Well that's me told" said Scott with a small smile while Harry laughed. Not long after that Hedwig flew off again.
It looked like it was going to be a beautiful day so once he was finished with breakfast and had taken care of his dishes Harry went to get his broom so he could do some flying. Soon he was out behind the mansion where he kicked off from the ground and was soon airborne. To be safe being seen by any neighbors he didn't go too high but he still had plenty of room to play around with. Soon he was practicing some of his seeker moves in between just flying for the sheer pleasure of it.
When he finally decided to stop he saw that Scott and Bobby were outside the mansion watching him. He came in for a landing.
"What did you think?" he asked them. Both of the other boys were looking at him with wide eyes.
"Wow" said Bobby, "that was quite something."
"Yes it is" said Harry, "if you ever want to try it for yourselves I can take you up."
"Maybe" said Bobby looking as if he was really considering it.
"Thanks but no thanks" said Scott, "I'm not sure there would be room for both of us on your broom."
"You'd be surprised" said Harry.
"Why don't you come in?" said Scott, "the professor's having breakfast right now and he wants to see you."
"Sure" said Harry, "I'll just go put this away and I'll be right there."
Soon Harry was back in the kitchen sitting at the table next to Professor Xavier while Scott and Bobby left to go do other things.
"So Harry," said the professor, "have you got yourself settled?"
"Yes sir" Harry said, "and thanks for bringing me here."
"My pleasure. Now before we discuss your training is there anything else you need?"
"Actually" said Harry slowly, "there is. I don't know if you noticed the clothes I was wearing yesterday?"
"I did" said the professor, "they seemed rather big for you."
"They are" said Harry ducking his head in embarrassment, "I've lived with my aunt and uncle ever since my parents were killed. They, well, they hate magic. They hate anything that they don't consider to be 'normal.' They've never liked me because I'm a wizard. I really don't like to talk about it but right now you should know that they've never bought clothes for me. I just get my cousin's cast-offs after he's done with them and, well let's just say that he's a lot bigger than me. The only things I have that actually fit me are my Hogwarts uniforms."
"I see" said the professor, "so you need new clothes."
"A whole new wardrobe is more like it" said Harry, "I don't need you to buy me anything" he went on quickly before Xavier could reply, "I have money of my own that my parents left me. Do you know if there's a Gringotts branch in New York? If there is I can get money from there."
"There is" said Xavier, "Albus informed me that you might need to get money and he told me where the local Gringotts branch is as well as the New York magical shopping district. If you want to we can go there this morning."
"Yes please" said Harry, "where is it?"
"Gringotts, New York, is located on Wall Street next door to the New York Stock Exchange at 13 Wall Street. That's also where Colony Alley is, the New York equivalent to London's Diagon Alley."
"Colony Alley?" asked Harry raising his eyebrows at this, "first Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley. Now Colony Alley? Was it founded before the US was independent?"
"Possibly" said Xavier, "I don't know."
"I suppose there's also a Vertic Alley somewhere as well as a Horizont Alley, a Mystic Alley, a Fundament Alley and a Practic Alley?"
"I wouldn't be a bit surprised" said Xavier with a completely straight face as he wheeled himself away from the kitchen table, "if you'll meet me outside in about 15 minutes we will go."