Chapter 31 Welcome to the X-Men

Harry didn't bother sleeping that night since his location was known by non friendlies and getting caught napping would just be too embarrassing for him. Instead, he spent the night chilling with Goose on his lap and going over the information he had on the X-Men and his own future plans.

He had three main goals for this venture. First priority was to remove the blocks on the Phoenix's Avatar, the one called Jean. He did promise the Phoenix Force he'd do it after all. He already spent a large amount of time inside his own mind testing how blocking and unblocking mental abilities with Psionics would work and he wasn't going to do anything until he had a safe way to do remove them. It was obvious who was responsible for the blocks and he figured the man probably had reasons he thought were good, but Harry doubted Xavier would remove those blocks on Harry's word, even if he gave the man his memory of the conversation with the Phoenix.

The second goal was to get practical experience in a few of the branches he was working with. Harry was skilled in engineering and programming but had little experience in chemistry and biology. One of the listed Professors at the Institute was Doctor Hank McCoy and he was an expert geneticist Harry was eager to work with.

Harry's final goal was to see if he could figure out other means of using his mutant power. He was hoping for an ability like that of Mystique's which was similar to a wizard talent called metamorphmagus. However Harry had a feeling simply looking like someone else was not the limit of his mutant power. Thankfully the Phoenix Force had given him a clue, she said that his mind wasn't strong enough so Harry had been practicing advanced visualization techniques and mental landscaping. Harry had a very large imagination from all the things he'd seen and read and even from the games he played so he put a lot of time and effort into creating different mental landscapes with as much detail as possible as a mental exercise.

Eventually morning came and Harry collected the various relics and traps scattered about his room. Even if Mystique and Pietro had attacked him last night, he could have used them to fight back without giving himself away but thankfully it wasn't needed. That did mean that he broke the TV in the room without reason, but it was a worthwhile sacrifice for peace of mind. Harry set $300 in cash beneath the TV with a note saying he accidentally broke it and set the keycard for the room on the bed before apparating out.

The grounds of Xavier's Institute of Gifted Youngsters were completely enclosed by a ten foot steel fence leading up to an older style stone entryway with a brass plaque showing the school's name. It looked quaint from the exterior but that was only if you didn't pay attention to the overlapping field of vision of the security cameras and motion sensors hidden in plain sight around the premises. Harry even spotted several places that appeared to be hidden panels and he wouldn't be surprised if turrets popped out of them to welcome uninvited guests.

The gate to the Institute was opened and Harry casually walked in with a suitcase, his backpack, and his pet carrier. The moment Harry approached he felt the Phoenix Flames within him reach out which wasn't surprising. He wondered if the one at the other end felt the same thing.

Further up the path Harry saw a basketball court to his left with several kids playing around. What was funny was that one team was composed of various kids while the other team seemed to be a set of five of the same kid. A few of the spectators of the game saw him walking up the road with a suitcase and pet carrier and put two and two together so a couple of them smiled and waved at Harry who smiled and waved back. This place certainly did have a warm atmosphere.

Harry reached the entrance but before he could knock the door opened and a familiar green-eyed red head was staring him down. Harry smiled and said, "Hello again. I'm here for a tour. Would I be lucky enough to have you as a tour guide?"

The redhead blushed for a moment and said, "No, I, uh, I was just coming to check on something."

Harry said, "Well, if that something is me you may check it out as long as you wish."

She tried to frown in disapproval but was fighting a smirk to do so and said, "You're a pervert aren't you?"

Harry answered back, "If you mean a bearer of uncommon inclinations, I am not, or at least I don't think I am. If you mean open about who I am in general, then perhaps. Besides, having uncommon inclinations isn't something to look down on. Aren't you already inside my head, peeping on my thoughts?"

Harry felt the telepath's presence but it was different compared to Xavier's. It was not that she was actually intruding, it was more that her mind didn't seem to just fit inside her own head and ended up entering the minds of those within a specific range.

She blushed once more and said, "I'm sorry. I'm still having difficulties controlling my powers."

Harry smiled back and said, "Don't worry. You can enter my mind anytime you wish to look around but don't try to read any of the books without asking me for a library card. I happen to know a thing or two about the mind and if you want someone to bounce ideas off or a different perspective, I'd be happy to lend an ear and maybe a nose."

She rolled her eyes and said with a smirk, "I thought you hadn't decided to join yet."

"Well I've already found an excellent reason to stick around so there isn't much of a point to pretending otherwise."

The telepath narrowed her eyes and said, "Is that so?"

Harry thought to himself, 'Yes, I found out how much of a genius Dr Hank McCoy was and that he teaches here.'

She blinked at that thought and said, "Oh."

Harry smiled and said, "What did you think I was thinking of?"

She sighed and said, "Nevermind. I'm Jean Grey by the way."

Harry held out a hand and said, "Harry Potter, again, it's a pleasure."

She shook it and said, "I'll take you to the Professor. He's expecting you."

Several other kids of various ages were walking around which was something that did somewhat surprise Harry. This was a boarding school but this was also summer meaning no classes which meant most kids would be back home with their parents.

Jean didn't seem to be able to turn off her telepathic eavesdropping and said, "A lot of kids don't come from families that are accepting of mutants. My own parents for example are the epitome of normal and are uncomfortable with me around so I stay here full time."

Harry knew she was sharing stuff about herself to make up for the fact that she was unable to stop herself from violating his privacy even though he already said it was fine. Harry said back, "Then it sounds like you dodged a bullet. I have nothing against those comfortable with living black and white lives but personally I prefer a little color."

He also thought 'to himself,' he wished he inherited his mother's vibrant red head instead of his father's messy black hair.

"Your hair is fine Harry," Jean easily said. She wasn't sure what to think about Harry. When someone knew they were with a telepath, their minds often became darker and their fears came to the surface which made them awkward to be around. She wasn't used to someone so at ease with others invading their mind and treating it just like a normal conversation. That and the fact that somehow, when she purposely entered Harry's mind, the sound of others thoughts went away. There was something about his mind that felt warm and comfortable to her. She was even tempted to ask for a library card.

Harry said aloud, "Ah, if that is your opinion on the matter than I am greatly relieved. If you thought I was boring I might have ended up dying my hair blue or something."

Jean tried to imagine Harry with blue hair and started giggling.

Harry thought if it was funny to her, at least that meant he would have successfully gotten her attention which would have made it worth it.

They arrived at an office and Jean knocked twice before a moment of silence passed and she opened the door. Xavier, Logan, and Ms. Munroe were together once more having a discussion.

Xavier said, "Ah, welcome Harry. And thank you Jean for escorting Harry to my office."

She said, "You're welcome Professor. See you later Harry." She left and moments later her presence was gone from Harry's mind.

Xavier waited for the door to close and said, "Now Harry, before the tour, I'd like to inform you a little about us and the beginnings of the X-Men."

Harry pulled up a seat and patiently waited. He did love a good story.

"The X-Men were founded twenty-five years ago and Logan and Ororo were founding members. At the time there was a powerful psionic entity who called itself the Shadow King and he was using his vast influence to gather mutants and start a war in the middle east that would encompass the whole of the world. With the help of an old friend of mine, I was able to gather an opposing team and lead them against the Shadow King's forces and defeat them. With the help of others I was able to beat back the Shadow King on the Astral Plane and win the day, though the cost of victory was not low. Many of those who fought with me agreed to join me here to open a school as both a home for mutants and a place they could safely train the use of their powers. The X-Men are dispatched to areas where mutants are causing conflict to rescue those who need it and facilitate peace if possible."

Harry was rather surprised the Shadow King had been beaten as a few of the books of Kamar-Taj had mentioned him. He was very, very old. Usually the Sorcerer Supreme would handle him, but it seemed rather than make himself powerful, he hid under the radar and gathered a powerful force on the mortal plane to do his bidding. Keeping himself weak enough to avoid detection by the Ancient One worked out but it seemed but he ended up losing to a mortal telepath because of it. Still, it was very impressive.

Harry brought up the main point which came to mind, "You're not exactly on the telly a lot for all the things you say you do."

Xavier nodded and said, "We do try to keep a low profile and there are those in the government aware of us who do not restrict our cause or impede our actions as the government itself cannot afford to take one side or the other on the mutant issue."

Harry understood, he certainly knew a thing or two about the value of maintaining a low profile until the time was right. He said, "If you're asking me to join the X-Men permanently, I cannot give you an answer as my life may take me in other directions further down the line. However if I decide to attend your Institute, I would love to go if invited to any party your X-Men decide to throw."

Logan smiled a bit and Ororo rolled her eyes behind a small smirk. Xavier nodded and said, "I'm glad to hear you'll give it some thought. Now, onto the tour."

Xavier's automated wheelchair moved quite fast and Harry followed with Wolverine next to the Professor and Storm following behind them. Harry approved of this. Harry was, for all intents and purposes, an unknown. Outwardly they were escorting him, but it was more likely that they were acting as guard to subdue him should he try anything or perhaps go out of control. A Weather Sorceress together with an unstoppable metal clawed Warrior could cover most ranges and even if Harry went all out, fighting them would be difficult. Especially if Charles tried to attack his mind. Harry's defenses and attacks were probably good, but he still wasn't interested in matching them against someone the Ancient Once considered 'Perhaps the most powerful telepath I've ever encountered.' The only reason Harry could even sense someone on that level in his mind was because he had placed several magic triggers in his mind which were invisible to anyone trying to sense them. Those triggers would tag the intruder which was why Harry recognized Xavier as the Peeper when he first saw him. Those triggers however weren't foolproof though so Harry had several other failsafes to work with.

Xavier first showed Harry the rooms. The mansion had over thirty rooms and only fifty students but during the summer many had their own room while during the school year students usually had roommates.

Harry sensed the space in front of him cave-in slightly and paused. He was a fast thinker but pausing was really too good of a cheat not to abuse so when something unexpected happened he would often pause to determine his options. The indented space was closer to Harry than it was to Logan so the clawed warrior wouldn't be able to attack it faster than Harry could. There was also the chance it was a prank. Of course if that was the case, Harry had to respond in kind.

Harry unpaused and a blue skinned teenager with a tail entered the space from the indentation. Harry paused again so he could get a good look at the new arrival and the smile of mischief on his face told Harry everything he needed to know.

Harry unpaused and moved his hand to flick the forehead of the teleporter just as he landed. The smell of brimstone that came from the smoke which followed the mutant through his indentation in space which told Harry a great deal about his method of travel.

The new arrival recoiled at the finger flick and said with a German accent, "Ow, why'd you do that?"

Harry deadpanned, "It's a reflex. Happens every time a teleporter invades my personal space."

Xavier turned back and smiled, "Ah, I see you've met Kurt. Kurt, this is Harry Potter. We're showing him around today in the hopes he may join us."

Kurt gave a fake thoughtful expression and said, "I don't know Professor. Such strange reflexes are sure to cause trouble."

Harry put Goose down, took off his backpack, zipped it open and pulled out a Smoky Quartz. Harry then cast a Lumos inside it and made it vanish into his inventory. Once the act was finished he said, "Flexibility is important, you should be able to handle every situation that gets thrown at you."

The lights in the hallway flickered just a bit as the blue demon's vivid blue hair grew to his hips in length and then turned vibrant pink. Harry was cheating a bit since that was two spells, but he doubted there was anyone there who'd be able to call him out on it. Thankfully the spell had only affected the electricity a little and did nothing else to the hall.

The spell only took a second to reach full effect and Kurt grabbed his now long, pink hair through his three fingered gloves and stared at it in absolute horror. His hands were trembling and a moment later he fell to his knees and theatrically cried out, "Nooooooooo!"

Harry immediately liked him.

Several doors opened in the hallway and they all saw the now pink haired demon on his knees before a newcomer.

Kurt got up and took Harry's shoulders and said, "Please! You must change it back! Pink is not my color!" He emphasized the last sentence most of all.

Harry shook his head and said, "It will wear off on its own later. I don't know when though. Probably before summer ends. Now, would you like anything else to become pink or was there something else I could help you with?"

Kurt recoiled back a step and vanished away in another burst of brimstone smoke.

Logan was the first to respond, "How'd you flick him so fast?"

Harry said, "One aspect of my abilities lets me sense energy. I've honed my senses for many years and can sense the change of space prior to a teleporter's arrival."

Logan grunted, "That explains how you dodged Scott's optics last night."

Xavier asked, "Are you experienced with teleporters?"

Harry answered, "Very. I even learned how to do it myself when accessing the right kind of energy."

The Professor said, "Fascinating. I'd like to hear more on the subject when you have the time."

After the dorms were the classrooms and introductions on various subjects taught during the school year. Next came the kitchen, the library, the lounge, and the home theater. Harry wondered if they would be willing to watch another universe's version of Star Wars that had different actors playing the same parts. He'd ask them later.

Next they headed underground. According to Xavier, his great grandfather had a massive fallout shelter constructed beneath the property and it had been remodeled over the course of the last few decades.

The first room they entered had a gorilla sized man completely covered in blue fur wearing glasses and an unbuttoned lab coat with nothing but black shorts and a yellow belt beneath it. Harry shouted, "Oh my god!" And after a pause for dramatic effect continued, "Is that a Oscillating Frequency Transmission Electron Spectrometer?!"

Harry then walked over to the massive piece of equipment in the lab, completely ignoring the giant blue glasses wearing monster currently staring at him.

From behind him Harry heard in a dignified voice, "Why yes it is. How did you recognize it?"

The idea of the machine itself was postulated in a science magazine a few months back but the actual construction was easier said than done. It was a very useful machine despite the fact that one could technically do the same thing it could do using six other machines which were cheaper to make. However doing several processes separately couldn't compare to the precision achieved by a single machine doing them all.

Harry answered, "I figured I could build one myself if I overclocked a good enough processor but even the minimum requirement for that kind of tech can only be found in restricted military grade equipment and I don't have any facilities to make something better at the moment."

Xavier rolled in watching Harry examine the theoretical machine like a child looking at a shiny toy. He said, "It seems you already have a rather strong foundation in science Harry. This was built by Forge, a man who I'm certain you'll enjoy meeting." He then gestured to the monster and said, "And this is Dr. Hank McCoy, our resident Geneticist."

Harry stopped playing around and went over to Doctor and said, "I'm Harry Potter, it is a pleasure to meet you Dr. McCoy."

Harry took a few more looks around the lab and recognized all but a few of the machines. He doubted Area 51 had toys this nice and it certainly brought up the quality of this place by another level in his mind.

Dr McCoy saw a complete and utter lack of fear in Harry's eyes at his appearance despite his earlier jest. He smiled down at Harry and said, "It is a pleasure to meet you too Mr. Potter. Perhaps you can assist me with a few projects I have in the future. Another pair of hands that knows how to use this equipment would be greatly appreciated."

Harry smiled and said, "I'd love to help. I may even have a project or two in mind I'd like a second opinion on as well."

"Is that right? Well I'd certainly love to take a look at any project someone with a mind such as yours has come up with. Perhaps later this week."

"Thank you, I'll organize and submit them to you later."

Harry walked back over to his escorts who were still a bit dazed. They knew how intelligent Dr. McCoy was. They also knew that several of the more clever students had tried to be his assistant at one point or another but most were unable to continue working with the high standard of equipment or the precision needed for lab work. There was something about the situation that worried them, but they couldn't quite place it.

The end of the hall had a set of stairs going up past a sliding steel door. At the end of the stairs was a lanky man wearing goggles sitting in front of what appeared to be a control system. There was a large pane of glass on the wall behind the control system and once he got closer Harry could see there was a massive room beyond it where six teens wearing different uniforms were running around facing mechanical obstacles.

Xavier, whose chair somehow had no issue with stairs, said, "Harry, this is Forge. And this is the Danger Room," he continued, motioning to the room beyond the glass. The man himself seemed to be immersed in something and Harry didn't want to bug him.

Logan said, "This is where most of our combat exercises and sparring happens. Wanna join them?"

Harry said, "Maybe later. I absorbed a few pounds of pure steel before our fight yesterday and the effect of it already wore off. I'll have a big crate of materials delivered by the end of the week so I can take part in the training."

Ororo said with a smirk, "So that means you're interested in joining?"

"Absolutely. Did the Professor tell you about my power?"

Logan smirked and said, "You absorb metal for a boost in strength and gems for magic tricks."

"Close enough. I can also absorb food before a fight to grant limited healing and books. If I absorb a book it is gone forever but I will have the content memorized for a few days before that effect wears off. If I go over it enough I can retain it though which is why I'm a lot smarter than those of my age. I bought pretty much every College and University textbook around."

The Professor set his hands together pensively and said, "If that is the case, practical experience is more valuable than classwork. Once we've assessed your comprehension level, I'll arrange for you to spend time with Dr. McCoy and Forge to gain experience. Both of them are the best in their fields."

"Thank you Professor." The fact that he was going to make sure Harry was taught at the proper level made Harry respect him as a teacher, despite the man's obvious flaws.

*Ping*

[Quest Complete: Get Drafted with Style.

Reward: Multiplayer Unlocked.]

Harry thought to himself, 'Huh, so that's a thing.'

Xavier gave Harry a key to an empty room where he would be staying and he headed over to unpack his things. What surprised him however was that the door wasn't locked. Harry entered the room and saw two beds, one of which already had a teen laying down, reading from a book.

He looked about two years older than Harry with black hair styled back and said, "Hi, guess you're my new room mate."

Harry frowned and said, "Maybe? I was told this room was empty."

The teen sighed and said, "Not surprising. Hey, there is a piece of paper on the nightstand with a pencil. Write down what I look like on it and you'll figure out what's going on."

Harry set Goose down and did as instructed. He wrote the description of the teen on the paper and said, "Ok, now what?"

"Now don't look at me for two minutes," he went back to reading his book.

Harry had no idea what that meant so he set the paper down and let Goose out before he started unpacking his things.

Several alarms in Harry's mind suddenly went off. Knowledge he had gained was being erased. He isolated the knowledge and determined it to be his most recent memory. Harry turned to face his roommate who noticed it and said, "You remember me?"

Harry Paused and went back into his mind to look through what just happened. Covert Obliviations were a real threat in the magical world so Harry had a few defenses and alarms against memory and knowledge removal or modification, even though it never worked on him before. He determined that the quality of the memory of his new roommate was erasing itself and would be gone in a few hours. The only reason it would even take that long was because of the quality of Harry's mind. A normal mind would probably forget this person's existence moments after being seen, if they could even perceive him at all.

Harry unpaused and said, "Mostly. Though my memory of you seems to erase itself when I'm not looking at you. Is that your power?"

"Indeed it is my impressive friend, indeed it is. You can call me ForgetMeNot. My power is Imperceptibility. Most completely forget I exist the moment they look away. Even if they remind themselves with a note, they still forget me moments after reading it. The Professor said he put some mental timers inside his own head to remind himself I exist, but I guess I can't be too surprised they forgot me too."

Harry couldn't hide the horror on his face. The teen noticed this and said, "Don't feel sad for me dude. You'll forget me too every time you leave here."

Now Harry almost wanted to cry. That wasn't something a person should just accept! It was the words of someone who had his hopes crushed too many times to ever get them back up.

He wasn't going to let things stay that way, that was for sure. Harry paused again and went over the possibilities.

After unpausing, Harry looked up and said, "Can I have one of your hairs?"

"Um. Sure?" He plucked a hair and handed it to Harry who set it inside his inventory and turned around.

Harry's inventory was a part of him and also time locked. He innately knew every aspect of every item in his inventory and he knew that the item he just placed in there was the hair of the guy sitting in the chair behind him. Harry focused on the memory and determined that it wasn't degrading. Harry wasn't sure which aspect of that idea caused it to work but it did in fact work.

After two minutes Harry turned around and said with a smile, "Ok, it worked. I'm now immune to your power. My name is Harry Potter."

ForgetMeNot stared at him and weakly said, "What?"