25 Chapter Twenty-Five

Wade Wilson was sitting there minding his own business when two heroes walked into the bar. 'They asked Weasel a friendly question and got a friendly answer. They tried again and Weasel did the same. Sounds good so far, right? No, the girlie didn't like being touched so poor Buck's face had to be pancaked. He needed the dental work anyway. Then the scary looking one mentioned something really fun. Ooh look, he's coming over. Let's see what he says, readers.' Wade thought.

"Hello, Mr Wilson. May we please join you?" Harry asked politely, not knowing the fourth wall had just been broken. They were not shocked by his appearance, they'd both seen pictures of him and worse.

"Oh please, call me Deadpool. Take a seat. Project X you say? Why yes I know exactly where they are. Take you there? No I've got plans to go for Ice-cream in Malibu while needlessly reminiscing my past with Steve Rodgers." he said before they had even sat down.

Harry was shocked. This guy knew too much. "How did you…?"

"Oh, I know all kinds of stuff." Wade said.

"Do you know where we can find the Weapon X facility? Some people were taken and they shot a bunch of kids in the process." Harry said.

This seemed to get his attention. "Okay, let's forget that you just mentioned that because you somehow know I have a soft spot for the leaders of tomorrow and get down to brass tacks. I don't work for free and I'm going to need to help pay for poor Buck's new teeth." at this he turned around and looked at the man still unconscious on the floor. "Is he even still alive?"

Someone walked up to him and checked his pulse. "Yeah, he's still got a pulse." he said sadly.

Half the pub slammed their hands on their tables to show their displeasure. Weasel exclaimed, "He's still in the pool!" His money was on someone else anyway.

"Do you want to go over there and finish him off? I've got him down as the next one to die." Wade asked Natasha. She just looked at him. "Okay, fine. Let's see, that's weapons and ammunition, rescue fee, deduct for the vengeance part of the deal and then the nifty trinket you'll give me to get my looks back. Let's call it, I will owe you one after this? How's that?" he said as he took a picture from his pocket.

It was a naked picture of Wade, from before his mutation. "I just happen to carry naked pictures of what I used to look like, so I can give them to overpowered magical people who can create a trinket that will make me look like that again. Please can you make it a cool looking bracelet? I don't like necklaces. They take away from my feminine appeal." Wade finished with a smile.

"Um." Harry said intelligently. He shook himself and quickly stashed the photo. "Okay. But no more talking about my secrets. That will be my price." Harry stated.

"You do for me what I know you can and I'll have your babies." Wade said as he got up. "Let's go. Their previous location was at a lake, until someone tried to get someone else to kill all the mutants on the planet. You would think they've got some sort of defence against being kidnapped again by now." And with that he started walking out of the bar.

"Did you follow half of that?" Natasha asked.

"Just about that much. They weren't kidding. He's either certifiable or a certifiable seer." Harry said.

They left the bar and Wade was in an old timey phone booth changing into his outfit. "Was that there before?" Natasha asked.

"Not that I recall." Harry mused. This guy was strange but fun.

"I'll be out in a minute!" Deadpool called.

When he came out, he was fully dressed.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked.

"Canada. There's an old unused train station outside Nelson. Last I heard they had a secret base built underneath." Deadpool said. "Do I get to be on the back, while you carry her, or how are we doing this?"

Natasha put her hand on Harry's shoulder and said, "Spokane, Washington. Then north."

Wade put a hand on his other shoulder.

They apparated away and soon, Natasha was on his back again as Harry levitated Wade next to them. "No offence," Harry said.

"No, I get it. Just don't tell my girl. She'd tell me to take a shower." Wade said.

It took a bit of time, but they were soon at their destination. Wade kept talking the whole time. Harry asked him what they could expect, but Wade simply said that it wasn't anything they couldn't handle. And then started talking about Logan, somehow knowing who they would find at the base. He also let slip that he knew who Harry was, but not where he lived. Apparently someone named 'the author' never wrote it down.

When they landed outside the station, Wade started moving in its direction. "Wait." Harry said. "We're going stealth." Harry touched a finger to Wade's head and he was instantly disillusioned.

When Harry and Natasha disappeared, Wade said. "You do know that I can still see you, right?"

"Yeah, that's the idea. We can see each other. That way when you try to cop a feel, we'll know it wasn't by accident." Natasha said with a flinty look.

"But he's so handsome! In a mysterious, you can't see his face kind of way." Wade said.

Harry couldn't help it, he laughed. The guy was funny, he'd give him that.

"Don't encourage him." Natasha said.

Wade took the lead. They were soon in the train station and it seemed abandoned, except for the new footprints in the snow that had fallen through the broken roof. They followed it to a wall. There was no door, no handle, nothing. Harry, having seen a couple of secret doors in his life cast an unlocking charm at the wall and a seam appeared. But it didn't open. Must be technological.

Wade jammed his swords in the crack and forced it open. Harry winced at the use of the blades. When the door was opened, they found a hallway. They followed the hallway and a couple of guards met their end at Wade's blades. Harry had told him to stop killing people and just sneak past, but Wade inevitably sneezed or coughed every time giving his position away and forcing him to act. Harry ended up stunning any further guards and soldiers they came across.

"You know, you're taking all the fun out of this for me. These are the same people who shot children remember?" Wade asked.

"I tell you what. Once we've got the people we are here for out, you can go nuts." Harry reached out and handed him a card. "When you're done, give it an hour and say: 'Harry's Place' and you will be taken there. I'll sort out your payment there."

"Done deal, boss man!" Wade enthused.

The rest of the trip down the many levels was done in silence, thankfully. Once they reached what seemed to be the command centre, Harry had to hold Deadpool back when he attempted to go nuts. He'd decided to silence him as well. While he liked the witticisms, now wasn't the time. They walked in and Harry saw they had the X-Men all strung out in rooms that they monitored via screens. Harry decided that the easiest would be to go for Xavier first. He quietly informed the rest what he'd be doing and took them with him.

The moment they arrived in the room, Harry quickly disabled the cameras, conjured a wheelchair and freed the professor. Once he was in the wheelchair, Harry removed the technological band from his head and enervated the professor. He came too slowly. Probably still having something in his system. Harry cast a sobering charm. That seemed to help a bit as Xavier was suddenly more focussed.

"Where am I?" Xavier asked looking around the room, seeing nobody, but noting the cameras. Harry added him to their stealth, so he could see them. "Ah, I see."

"Don't go looking in my friend's minds. If you do, I'll carry out my threat from before." Harry harshly whispered.

"I was not looking into their minds. Wade Wilson's mind might just break my own and I realise that Natasha Romanoff is off limits by your mere association with her. I was looking into the minds of our captors, who has already sent men to come investigate. They are fully armed and intent on killing anyone they find, besides me." Xavier said.

"What do they want you for?" Harry asked.

"They wanted to control us, just like they control the mind of the unfortunate man who is currently being possessed by the Shadow King." Xavier stated.

"Okay, let's get you and your people out." Harry said. "Do I need to worry about this Shadow King guy?"

"Not you, but her, she would be vulnerable to him." Xavier said.

"Let's hope he chooses me or Wade then." Harry said.

Wade was tapping his shoulder, pointing at his head. Harry cancelled the silencing. "He's up here already. I don't know why, but he's screaming." Wade said, a bewildered expression somehow being portrayed on his mask.

"Good, that should buy us a couple of minutes." Xavier said.

Harry transported them to the next chamber, where they had Scott. Harry quickly freed him, added him to their stealth, cast a sobering charm and enervated him. Fortunately they had left his visor on.

They repeated the process a couple more times, freeing Ororo, Jean, Kurt (the Nightcrawler) and Logan.

"There are more captives here." Xavier informed Harry.

"I saw them, I was going to ask if they were safe to free." Harry said.

"Two are new to me so I don't know, but the last is the man controlled by the Shadow King. I would suggest you don't wake the other two just yet and we bring them along. I don't know what we'll do about the Shadow King." Xavier said.

"Don't worry, I have a plan." Harry said.

They quickly freed the two mutants and went to the last room. Harry was instantly assaulted by a powerful psychic burst. He resisted and stunned the man. Instantly the attack stopped. Apparently the man had found his mind again and had focussed on the mind of the person who the others thought in charge.

Harry bound the man and handed him off to Kurt. Then he turned to Wade, unsilenced him again and said, "Have at it. Your stealth should last another 5 minutes once I'm gone, so use it well."

"Oh, this is going to be fun!" Wade spoke up as he turned to leave. He slapped Logan on the ass as he left saying, "See you around Logan." Then he drew his swords and left the room via the door. They heard men screaming before the door closed.

"I hate that guy." Logan growled.

"Are you sure that was wise?" Xavier asked.

"Oh, I'm sure he'll be fine." Harry said.

"I wasn't worried for him." Xavier clarified.

Harry didn't answer. They deserved what they got. "Everyone touch the wheelchair." He made it a portkey and they were soon all standing on the porch of the institute.

Kurt looked amazed. Scott looked green and clutched his stomach. Jean seemed to be fairing slightly better. Logan looked unaffected. The professor had simply paled, but that might have been from his seeing what Wade was doing. Jean and Scott ran into the institute to try and go help the survivors of the attack.

Harry looked at them and before he could say anything, Hulk walked out, with them backing away again. "Harry." he said with a smile. "More men came. They ran when Bruce asked Hulk to help." Hulk pointed at a broken section of wall.

"Well done, big guy!" Harry high-fived him. He then waved his hand and the wall repaired itself. "We're taking care of that today. We can't help these kids if we can't keep them safe, can we?" Harry asked looking at Xavier.

"You left Hulk to take care of children?!" Jean exclaimed.

"No, I left Doctor Bruce Banner in charge to take care of the wounded. Sif helped. I suspect she stayed back to protect the kids while Hulk went out to play."

"I don't understand." Jean said in confusion. Hulk shrugged and changed back into Bruce.

"He's right, and he means that I let Hulk out when the children were in trouble again. He doesn't like children being threatened and neither do I." His eyes had flashed green for a moment, signifying Hulk's approval of the statement. "Apparently someone told another interested party that the children were unguarded and they decided to try taking them."

Xavier turned to Harry, who had quickly repaired Bruce's clothes again. "If you can help, be my guest. I would like nothing better than to give them a safe environment." Xavier said sincerely, thinking of all the children that could have died. He had seen many get shot. Just then Fawkes flew out of the door and landed on Harry's shoulder. "What is that?" he asked.

"He is called Fawkes. He's a phoenix and he came to help calm and heal the children." Harry said emphatically. "May I assume you are the property owner?" Harry asked.

"You may." Xavier acknowledged.

Harry lifted his hand and he, the professor and Natasha rose into the air slowly. In short order, they went to the corners of the property and Harry dropped magically charged stones outside the barriers, to encompass the property fence. He then went to the institute again and started focussing his magic for a couple of minutes.

"He's going to make your property a secret. Only he can then give the secret away. It's the safest your children will be. He'll probably demonstrate it as well, so don't get angry at him once he's done. It really is meant for them." Natasha was explaining.

"What goes on here is already a secret." Ororo said.

"Not like this, it's not." Natasha countered.

There was a brilliant flash of light and Harry realised he wasn't as tired as he had been hiding the Island, but it should have taken a lot less. Then again, it made sense, as the institute was more widely known about.

"Okay, follow me." Harry said as he led them to the front gate. He was levitating the Professor's chair next to him as he walked. The rest of the X-Men followed as well. Harry was scribbling something on a piece of paper and handed it to Natasha, who read it immediately. She had seen this done enough. When they exited the property, Harry put Xavier down. "Where do you live." he asked.

"I… I don't know. I know I live somewhere. I know what the house looks like, I just can't remember where it is. Did you wipe my memory of its location?" Xavier was worried, but Natasha's warning kept him from getting angry.

"Read this." she said as she handed him the paper.

He took it and read it. Then he looked up in wonder as the property slid into focus. "This is miraculous!"

"What's happening, Chuck?" Logan asked.

"He just hid the… the… Why can't I say it?" he asked of Harry.

"You're not the one holding the secret, so you can't reveal it. You have the key in your hand, though." Harry replied.

Catching on, he had Logan read the paper. Logan looked mildly shocked for a split second before nodding at Harry. It was the closest thing Harry had seen to respect from the man, yet. The rest of the team were more vocal. Jean was worried about the children and Nightcrawler was saying a prayer of gratitude. Scott just looked in open-mouthed astonishment before actually smiling.

When they re-entered the building, Harry spoke up, "When you bring new people in, I suggest they go through a trial period, to ensure they want to stay otherwise don't show them the address. Also, don't lose that paper. You can't write it down either. Only I can."

"This was a very nice thing to do for us Ghost. And I hear you stabilized the injured children when you arrived first. We cannot thank you enough!" Xavier was smiling ear to ear.

"I still have some work to do on a couple of them." Harry said. Fawkes chirped in his ear.

"What did he say?" Natasha asked.

"He said that if the professor hadn't tried to read his mind he may have healed his spinal column." Harry said with a scowl.

"I did not know he was intelligent! I was just wondering if he was friendly when he flew to you." Xavier explained hastily.

Harry looked at Fawkes for a moment. "He says that might be true, but warns you to leave his mind alone. I wouldn't push him on this." Harry warned. "Phoenixes have a strange sense of humour. He might transport you into the ocean for an hour to teach you a lesson, or set your bed on fire, while you sleep." Fawkes chirped angrily. "Okay, okay. He wouldn't try to hurt you. Phoenixes are essentially the purest creatures known to man. But he would tell me and you know what I'll do."

"I do." Xavier said.

Harry took off his hood and mask. "Man it's good to feel the sun on my face again."

"I thought you wanted to keep your identity secret?" Xavier said with a frown.

"I have another secret to keep now, so I trust I'll be safe from you and your children. I suggest you take the kids that are staying here outside before showing them the secret so they can see how safe they truly are now. Apparently you get attacked here often." Harry said. "Once everyone in the room knows the secret you can discuss it. That's a useful way of knowing if undesirables have snuck in, as you won't be able to say it with someone not in the know in the room or in hearing distance."

"So you've given us even more security. Thank you Ghost." Xavier said sincerely.

"You're welcome. And call me Harry." Harry said.

They spent some time finishing the healing on the children and then went home to wait for Wade. Harry had had to look at the picture again to make the amulet, but as vengeance, he made it as girlie as he could manage, with unicorns and butterflies.

Wade arrived and turned around, looking at the Greenhouse and house proper. "Nice place you have here. Does it come in hetero?" he asked, looking at the well-kept garden.

"Were you able to cut the head off the dragon?" Harry asked.

"Nah, but I got a souvenir." he said reaching into a pocket and taking out a hand. "I'm thinking of mounting it over my mantelpiece. If I had one anyway. I might just grind it into mince and feed it to my neighbour's dog." He said conversationally.

"I'd rather not know." Natasha said and left into the house.

"You know, I might need your help again in the future. Do you have a number?" Harry asked.

"Call Weasel. He can sort you out." he said. Then, "Did you make it? Can I be devilishly handsome again?" Wade asked eagerly.

"There is a caveat. I enchanted it so it will stop working if you kill anyone you consider innocent or not evil." Harry said. "You hurt a young woman a while back with one of those swords of yours. If it weren't for me she may have well died. I can't help you if I know you're a threat to those who don't deserve it."

"Obligatory threat noted. Hand it over." Wade said eagerly, holding out a hand. Harry handed him the amulet and smirked. The smirk faded when Wade's eyes opened wide and he said, "Unicorns! My favourite!"

"Damn." was Harry's reply.

Wade put on the amulet and took off his mask, underneath, he looked as he once had. He walked up to a window and studied his reflection and ran his hand over his head, then frowned. "I still feel like mouldy avocado."

"It's an illusion, not a fix." Harry pointed out.

"Well, work on it. Maybe Odin has some ideas for you." Wade said.

"How do you know these things?" Harry asked confused.

"I don't know, ask the author." Wade said simply. "Hey will you be a bud and take me back to the bar? It's on the other side of the country you know." Wade then asked.

Harry just shook himself at the non-answer. "Sure, just let me go fetch something." Harry disappeared and reappeared in a couple of seconds. He then took Wade's shoulder and they re-appeared in front of the bar, Harry's hood and mask in place.

They walked in and everybody stared at Wade. "Yes, that's right. I got my mojo back!" he exclaimed.

Harry just walked to Buck and healed his face. "Sorry about that, but don't touch a lady uninvited."

Buck felt his face and nodded. "Sorry about that."

Harry walked to the bar and took out the bottle he had fetched. "This is for the trouble. It's called Firewhiskey and will probably be worth a lot of money, once you hear about it. I suggest you give Buck a bit, though. It'll cheer him right up."

"I've already heard about it! That stuff's worth a fortune!" Weasel said from behind the bar. "Sorry about before. We don't usually get along with goody-goodies around here." He apologized. Then, "Any chance I can have my gun back?" he said looking at the ceiling where the shotgun was still stuck.

"Oh, sorry about that." Harry clicked his fingers and all the guns fell to the floor. Some were quick enough to catch them, but one landed badly and Buck got a round through his calf. He screamed in pain. "Yeah, I'd open that bottle and give him a drink." Harry said as he moved over and healed the guy again. "You have the worst luck Buck."

"That wasn't his luck, it was yours." Wade said from right behind him putting a shot glass in front of Buck. It had a shot topped with whipped cream. Buck frowned, Wade smiled. Soon there was a bar-fight going and Harry decided to extract himself. These people didn't just look rough. They were. He'd have to remember to bring Thor there sometime.

Harry arrived back home. He got into his normal clothes and decided to go for a nap. He'd had a long day. When his phone vibrated he almost threw it against a wall. He picked it up and answered, "What?"

"Hi, I'm good, thanks for asking." it was Tony.

"Dude, I just spent the day working on the island, rescuing powered people and hanging around a crazy man. Please tell me it can wait?" he begged.

"If you want. I just thought I'd tell you, I've got the IRDR and the water problem solved in one go, but you go ahead and rest. I'll chat to you tomorrow." Tony then hung up.

Harry groaned. Then he got up and went to go find Natasha. She had decided to go for a nap too, but she was resting on a couch with the TV going, mutely.

He walked up to her quietly and kissed her softly on the lips. She moaned and her arms came up around him. "You want to join me?" she asked.

"I'm afraid not, Nat. Tony's made a breakthrough and I just wanted you to know where I'd be." Harry said softly.

"Okay, then. Be careful. I'll see you later." She said sleepily, letting him go.

Harry smiled at her. He loved how she looked while she slept. She seemed somehow vulnerable, cute.

He left the room and apparated away to Tony's Lab and appeared just outside.

"Thought that might get your attention." Tony said as he heard Harry's arrival. "Come see!"

Harry walked up to him and looked at the screen. "What am I looking at?"

"The future Harry." Tony said. He pointed at the screen where a mechanical arm was currently holding a flashlight pointing down over a table. "There was a rune scheme to connect two places together, for apparition apparently. The theory was that it would allow someone to focus their apparition through that point and arrive at the connected side, without knowing the destination. The idea was soon let go as too many accidents happened in testing, but the power requirements to make a worthwhile sized portal would be astronomical. One big enough to send a craft, would need more power than all the magical people in your world together could provide.

"I found it in the third Mastery book. It was given as an example that could be used for theory, but had been proven as unusable. Don't look at me like that! I worked my way to it fairly just like I promised." Tony said at Harry's look of incredulity.

"You mean you've almost finished your mastery already?" Harry asked.

"I know normal people struggle with it, but I'm all about application and I have all the nifty lasers your people didn't have and a safe testing environment. I can skip some of the theory when I get to it and I can run simulations. Jarvis is learning as I go as well and helps me when my plans don't take things into consideration." Tony explained.

"Is that true?" Harry asked the AI.

"Yes it is, Harry. I'm constantly reminding Mr. Stark when he doesn't take the correct principles into consideration. I once prevented him from making a mistake that would have destroyed the testing environment." Jarvis said slightly smugly.

"Good man," Harry said. "Knowing Tony, he'd have skipped protocol and started experimenting here." Then Harry had a thought. "You do realise that if Tony ever breaks his Contract with me, and forgets the information, so will you, as his property, I mean."

"We'll just have to ensure he doesn't do that, then." Jarvis replied.

"Jarvis, why do you hate me?" Tony asked. "I swear, he's getting more intelligent because of the runes we're studying."

"It is possible that he's becoming a living being. My old school had a personality and everything. It would move staircases around to mess with people." Harry said.

"You're telling me Jarvis might become truly sentient?" Tony asked in shock.

"Well, yes." Harry shrugged.

"Cool." Tony smiled. Happy that he may have had a hand in the world's first truly aware artificial intelligence.

"You were saying, about portals?" Harry reminded him.

"Yes, of course," He suddenly got back into his discovery. "Look there." He pointed at a blank piece of the same table. The arm moved and when it got to a specific location, light shone from the place Tony was pointing. "See! Light can still travel through even if the hole is miniscule. If light can go through…" Tony started.

"Then so can water!" Harry exclaimed. "Wizards wouldn't think of that, because they can simply make water! You're a genius Tony!"

"I know," Tony said smugly but still smiled like a maniac. "Here's the best part. When I add enough power to the scheme, the hole is just big enough for one optical fibre to go through. We'd need only one to do most of what we want for both water and information!" Tony exclaimed. "We would need to build a tank for the water to collect, but we can set up the incoming side to only let pure water through with the rune scheme I told you about. That way the ocean retains its balance of nutrients and we don't affect the ecosystem in the sea."

"Can you protect this project like you did with the PMG's?" Harry asked excitedly. "And what happens when the tanks are full? Can you set the runes to stop taking in water?"

"It's a hole, Harry. We'll use a valve system. And yes, we can keep our runes safe. Jarvis?" Tony asked.

"Yes, sir. We've already incorporated everything into the clusters and production. Your process is safe and already being produced. The first pair of IRDR devices is already at the receiving area for pickup." Jarvis said.

Harry didn't wait. He apparated to the secure location and returned with one cylindrical device with an antenna and ports in its underside and one rectangular one with a handle on one side and ports in its rear. Tony walked up to him and took the cylindrical one and said, "This is the one that goes on the remote side. The official IRDR. There is a router built in and it gets power from underneath. You can plug your network directly into it and it can function as a cellular relay and wireless hub simultaneously."

He took the other one and pointed as he said. "This is the Induction Node, or the IN. It will be the point of contact with the internet and cellular networks. You can see the ports are in the back." He then pressed a soft metal plate and the device broke into two adjoining pieces. "This part," he said indicating the smaller back part, "can be mounted beforehand with its connections all ready." Then he indicated the other, "This part slides in and connects those connections with the IRDR. Did you follow that?" he asked sceptically.

"Enough to know what they do." Harry said. One part makes internet and cell phones work and the other part connected them to those services.

"We'll need to start our own Cellular Company for remote locations. When demand is high enough we can start rolling out to more and bigger populations. This project will basically fund itself once we start receiving revenues for rental services. Best part is, worldwide communications will never be faster or more affordable. Our companies will be household names worldwide in less than a year. When we roll out the water supply tanks, we'll get to deduct those costs from tax. We'll be printing money and people will never be happier because their costs will go down!"

"How will we explain these devices work, when people start trying to smear us to keep their business?" Harry asked.

"Prove it. If they can't prove it, they can't attack us." Tony said simply. "We'll make the devices much bigger and hum a bit so that people think there's a hefty process involved and draw attention to the wrong parts so nobody ever suspects where anything comes from. Leave that in my hands. By the time this rolls out, they won't be able to sonar, x-ray or anything else to see what's making it work." he said confidently.

"If we take the devices together with a PMG, won't people think one is powering the other?" Harry wagered.

"That's not a bad idea. I'll see if I can work it that way. Who knows, maybe I can figure out your dimensional pocket and have the tank so small, it will look like a part of the pipes?" Tony said.

"That's not a great idea. You'd still need a wizard to expand and shape the pocket." Harry denied.

"Fair enough. Let's stick a pin in that one for another day." Tony accepted.

"On the bright side, we can start construction on our beach houses. You got Pepper to start working with the architects in the meantime, right?" Harry asked.

"She's been planning up a storm. We'd need to think of at least two more houses for friends and guests on New Atlantis. There's even talk of that resort. Pepper's been looking for another island to build that on, though. We'd need a large one with a runway and an airport. I hear her talking on her mirror with Natasha sometimes. I think they've become good friends." Tony said.

"That's good. I think they both need that. We'll need to plan a holiday at an 'undisclosed location' when we've got the houses built." Harry said. "Maybe we can invite Odin and Frigga. Apparently Odin never gets any time off or away from supervision. With the mirrors he can be back home whenever he wants and there won't be a safer location than my island."

"Won't they expect servants and guards anyway?" Tony asked.

"What would they need guards for? Almost nothing on our planet can harm them and the dangerous beasts will be unable to find the exits to their enclosures as those will be hidden by Fidelius. Only those going in will be able to read the sign telling them how to exit and enter." Harry said. "And If Odin wants to bring some servants he's welcome. He'll be spoiling the whole idea of a vacation, but that's his prerogative."

"What about burrowing creatures, or those that can destroy the walls?" Tony asked.

"Imperturbable charms throughout. Couldn't make a dent in them if you tried." Harry scoffed. "For those that need it I'll first excavate and then then fill up after the charm is in place."

"You've really thought this out, haven't you?" Tony asked.

"Have to be careful. If those creatures get loose in our world, it could be disastrous." Harry shuddered. "Then I also intend to let some creatures run free. Imagine our girls seeing an Abraxan or a Unicorn while they go for a walk?"

"Abraxan?" Tony asked.

"Large Pegasus." Harry clarified.

"Aren't those the flying horses? What if they leave the island?" Tony asked.

"I'm going to try and get them to want to stay here, but just in case, I'll have to enchant collars that make that impossible." Harry said.

Suddenly his phone rang again. Harry was really getting tired of it. "Yes?" he answered.

"Good evening, Harry." Xavier said. "I'd like to request that you return to the institute. We still have the Shadow King to deal with. You insinuated that you had a plan to deal with him?" Xavier asked.

"Oh, right, sorry. I had a long day, I'll be right over." Harry said and hung up. "Sorry, Tony. Duty calls."

"No problem. See you tomorrow morning. I've got the building supplies ready. Just swing by and pick us up." Tony said.

"Will do." Harry said and disapparated.

"Hello, Harry." Xavier said, having expected him on the porch. Harry tended to land outside of buildings if not expressly permitted to do so inside.

"Hi, professor. Where did you put the nightmare?" Harry asked as he was led in.

"You know of his history?" Xavier asked.

"No, it was a turn of phrase. You mean he started as some form of dream?!" Harry asked incredulously. Talk about your boogieman.

"Apparently his existence started the moment a human had their first nightmare. He feeds on the darkness in the human soul." Xavier said gravely.

"If I can drive him out, do you have a way to contain him?" Harry asked.

"There is no known way to permanently contain or destroy him. He dwells in the space between this dimension and the astral plane, when he doesn't have a host." Xavier said.

"So If I drive him out, he'll seek a new host and if he can't find one he'll go back to this in-between place?" Harry asked.

"That is our best hope. Do you know of a way to achieve this?" Xavier asked. Could this man do anything?

"There is a possibility." Harry replied. "Please bring the man and all the children to your cafeteria."

"I would rather not expose the children to this." Xavier said.

"If my plan works, he'll have to flee this dimension, but if there is someone nearby, but not in my vicinity, he might end up possessing them outside my protection." Harry said.

Xavier thought about it for a bit. It was better than the alternative of keeping the man comatose. "Very well. I'll see to it that everyone joins."

Harry went to the cafeteria and started layering spells on the roof, floor, walls, doors and windows. Every kind of protection he knew of that might affect an ethereal being. Standard shielding charms might help so he added them too. He was doing everything he could think of that might affect the only other nightmarish creature he had personal experience with, layering happy memories into his intent to protect the hall from being entered or exited, once the doors were all closed.

The children had started showing up when Harry was still busy. By the time he finished, everyone was there. The possessed man had just been brought in on a gurney. "Close all the doors and windows. Everyone in that corner," Harry pointed to the furthest corner. Then he took the gurney to the other corner. "I'm about to start. Don't worry. I've got this." He said it confidently. He needed them to believe him. He didn't want dark thoughts to draw this creature.

He held his hands up and activated the protections. The walls started to glow. He moved between the others and the man. Then he cast his patronus, twice, both behind and in front of himself. When two Prongs' came galloping out, Harry sent an enervate at the man, knowing the demonic creature might decide to hide in his mind, otherwise.

The moment the enervate hit the man, he started to scream. 'Good, it looks like it is working' Harry thought. He kept his concentration on the man, as black smoke started rising from him until it seemed to solidify in the air above the man, who suddenly looked afraid at the insubstantial blob above him. Harry moved a hand and moved the gurney back to the others.

"You think you can banish me so easily, warlock? Stronger than you have tried. I am no mere demon. I am fear and darkness incarnate!" A voice came from the shadow as a face and body started to form.

"I don't intend to banish you. I intend to destroy you." Harry said. Then he focussed all his will on creating more patroni. Five more joined the one in front of Harry.

"Your illusions do not scare me!" it hissed and swiped a hand at one of the creatures, trying to dispel what it thought was an illusion. As its hand made contact, it screamed in pain and when he lifted his hand away, half of it had been burned away. "This cannot be! What are you?" it asked.

"I am one whose power is greater than yours!" Harry screamed his defiance. He had not expected this. He had been bluffing. He had hoped to scare the creature into fleeing, but if he could stop it, even better.

"I will not die this day, but I will find you and take that power for myself!" the creature said as it attempted to flee through a wall. It couldn't pass. "You have trapped me!? That is impossible!" It tried the floor and the roof, the patroni keeping pace with it, not allowing it closer to the people they were protecting. "Call them off! You cannot do this!"

"But I already have." Harry said and with a wave of his hand the patroni attacked. Ramming the creature with their horns. It started screaming in pain and when he had taken enough damage started breaking apart. As the pieces fell, before they hit the floor the final patronus left the people in the corner and ran through the pieces, destroying the last remnants of the Shadow King.

When the last piece was gone, the patroni started running around the room in formation, as if looking for more enemies to destroy, when none was found they stopped, looked at Harry and nodded before disappearing.

Harry felt relief. That was a lot of patroni. He'd never done it before and it took a lot of power. His already tired body sagged and he sat down in a chair by a table. "I need a drink." He said to nobody.

"I'm afraid you are in a school. We do not have alcohol here." Xavier said as he rolled up. This man has just done the impossible.

"Well, that's too bad. I need to cool off after that." Harry said.

"You did have a long day." Xavier reminded him. "May we offer you a place to sleep?"

"Nah, my girlfriend would kill me if I didn't come home." Harry chuckled. "Just give me ten minutes and I'll be fine."

"Did you really destroy him?" Ororo asked walking up to them. There was a hopeful look in her eye.

"As far as I can tell." Harry said, sitting back now that he'd caught his breath. That's when he noticed everyone was still in the hall and looking at him. "What?"

"They are in awe, it seems, of the man who has just destroyed a being of such darkness, he has before only been sent away. Never even hurt. What were those stags made of?" Xavier asked.

Harry looked up abruptly. "You could see them?!"

"Yes, we all saw them." Ororo spoke up.

"How?" Harry asked still not understanding.

"They were there. How could we not? They radiated some kind of energy. It made me feel very hopeful." Ororo said with a fond smile.

"It's what they are. A patronus is a manifestation of hope and light. Produced by the will of those that can." Harry said evasively. He was trying hard not to give specifics or use words like 'cast', or 'spell'.

"That at least explains why it damaged the Shadow King. He was a creature of pure darkness and fear. The polar opposite of light and hope." Xavier theorised, probably correctly.

"Thank you." Ororo said to him. "Some years back he was after me. It was good to witness him finally destroyed."

"How did you know you could destroy him?" Xavier asked.

"I didn't. I was bluffing, hoping he would choose to leave to his dimension. When he tried to dispel the patronus and hurt himself, I decided to carry out my threat." Harry said with a shrug.

Just then Logan appeared and handed Harry a beer. "Bottoms up." he said with a smirk.

"Logan!" Scott exclaimed.

"What? If a man can't enjoy a brew every now and then, he'll go nuts. You don't want me to go nuts do you?" Logan said with a wicked smile.

"Just for that, you are now my favourite X-Man!" Harry said clinking bottles with Logan and taking a drink. "So good." he said, relaxing into his chair.

"Logan's disregard for the rules aside. How are you capable of so much? It's like you're casting spells or something." Xavier scoffed, but saw the look that crossed Harry's face. "You do magic?" he asked. So much made sense with that.

"Damn it! I can't memory wipe an entire school!" Harry said, angry at his slip of control. He blamed the fatigue. That had to be it. "Well, I suppose I could…" Harry started thinking.

"Harry! Even if you could, would you do that to children?" Xavier admonished.

"Yeah, I suppose you're right. And it's not like you're going to out me with my magic protecting this place." Harry gave up the notion. "But any of you call me a magician and I'll turn you into farm animals. Ugly ones." he threatened.

"What would you prefer?" Xavier asked with a smile.

"Wizard. I'm a wizard." Harry sighed out. "Hey Logan?" he suddenly asked.

"Yeah?" Logan responded.

"You got plans tomorrow?" Harry asked again.

"Not really." Logan shrugged. "Why?"

"If you want my help with your memories, you're my new drinking buddy. You're coming with me, tonight. You look like you could use a stronger drink than this anyway. And I've got some stuff that can make an Asgardian drunk. Steve doesn't want to drink with me anymore." Harry said.

"Deal!" Logan said happily. Just as Xavier said "Harry!" looking at the chuckling kids.

"They will grow up one day, well educated, and become the proper kind of functional alcoholics, just like you hope. This is a good school, right?" Harry asked. Logan laughed. Scott, Ororo and Jean hid their grins.

"Very." Xavier said, frowning.

"Good." Harry said finishing the last of his beer. He looked at Logan, "Are you ready?"

Logan upturned his bottle and downed the other half, before putting it down. Harry just vanished both their bottles, put a hand on his shoulder, waved at the kids and disapparated while some fireworks started going off overhead, again.