CHAPTER 8:

REACTION

Hermione was annoyed at what Harry had done. Not because Dumbledore had objected to it: she had found her faith in the man wavering after all that happened last year, and she didn't think it was a truly bad idea that Harry had been emancipated. And to tell the truth, she felt that Harry needed a holiday, time away from the Dursleys to come to terms with the death of his godfather. That, she had no objection to. The fact that Sirius had left her a number of rare books helped matters (and Ron got a broomstick signed by the Chudley Cannons, and they both got trust funds, as did Ginny).

The part she objected to was taking Harry to Las Vegas. Sin City. It would have been a good holiday for Sirius Black, true, but Harry was underaged. He couldn't gamble or drink! Wouldn't Disneyworld be a better time if they went over to the US for a holiday?

And, now, Molly was ranting about some news that she had just heard from Dumbledore. Ginny was crying, and Ron looked torn between being jealous and happy for his friend. And Hermione? Well, she felt a headache coming on, partly from Molly's self-righteous ranting and the volume thereof, and partly because of the subject matter.

Harry Potter had managed to get married in Las Vegas. And, according to Gringotts, it was to one 'Sophie Frost'. Molly had thrust at Hermione the letter she had been handed by Dumbledore, a copy of a letter sent by Gringotts, and she found herself studying the address. She blinked. She knew that address. That was the Xavier's School for Higher Learning, aka the X-Mansion. And Sophie Frost? It seemed likely that, whoever that was, she was a relation of Emma Frost, the infamous former White Queen of the Hellfire Club.

It was a little-known fact that Hermione actually had a second cousin, on her mother's side, with a connection to the X-Men. Her mother used to joke that Hermione had gotten her cousin's brains, and while Hermione wasn't anywhere near the genius her second cousin was, her mother had a point.

"Mrs Weasley," Hermione said quietly. "Before you go and do anything rash, I need you to listen."

Molly halted in her tirade, derailed, before she recovered, and looked at Hermione. "Hermione, dear, I need to think about how we are going to deal with this."

"Mrs Weasley, if I'm right, Harry's new mother-in-law or sister-in-law is not someone you want to mess with. Do you know anything about Mutants? The X-Men?"

Ron frowned. "Mutants? Are you saying this girl's a Mutant?"

Molly wrinkled her nose in distaste. "A hussy and a Mutant?" Her tone suggested less hatred and more disdain, and perhaps some fear for Harry.

Hermione thought back to what she heard Emma Frost was in the habit of wearing while still in the Hellfire Club, and winced at how accurate Molly's assessment was, for Emma, anyway. "Harry's wife is named Sophie Frost. One of the key X-Men is called Emma Frost. She's also one of the most powerful." She nearly told them that Emma Frost was one of the most powerful telepaths in the world, only to stop short. The first reason why was that they may not know what telepathy was, and she would have to explain it as being something like Legilimency and the Imperius rolled into one, along with other spells like Memory Charms and the like. The second reason was that, the moment they understood, they might assume that Harry was controlled or coerced into marrying this girl or woman.

Hermione considered the possibility, true, but she was sure that the X-Men were the good guys. True, Emma had been a villain, but she had reformed and joined the X-Men, and she'd have better things to do than controlling the Boy Who Lived. She hoped.

"So, she's got powers or something?" Ron asked. "I wonder what kind? Some of them are pretty cool, I guess. But how did Harry end up with one in Las Vegas?"

"I don't know. The X-Men must've been on holiday or something there. But the X-Mansion is in New York," Hermione said.

Molly sniffed. "He should have stayed in Britain. Dumbledore knows what he's doing."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Yeah, and that did so well." As Molly wheeled on him, ready to once more imitate one of her famous Howlers, Ron, amazingly, stood his ground. "Dumbledore told us not to contact Harry while he was mourning Cedric. We were told to keep him in the dark, for his own good. And you know what? He got really angry with us, and looking back on it, I can't blame him one bit! Dumbledore let that Umbridge woman in to teach DADA, and she was worthless! I don't think Dumbledore's helping anyone!"

"Don't you dare talk back to me, Ronald Bilious Weasley!"

"What, because I'm not kissing Dumbledore's feet?" Ron wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Merlin, imagine the Athlete's Foot down there. I'm on Harry's side, not Dumbledore's, Mum. How is that talking back to you?"

Wow. That was…uncharacteristically thoughtful of Ron. True, he had been somewhat of a fairweather friend for Harry a couple of times, but either the Department of Mysteries had been a major wake-up call for him, or something else had happened, Hermione reflected.

As Mount Molly seemed set to explode, Hermione decided to beat a hasty retreat. As she did so, she pulled out her mobile. Normally meant for her to contact her parents, she found herself dialling a number she had all but forgotten, before making the call. After a few rings, she heard it being picked up. "Muir Island Research Facility," said a tired, Scottish-accented voice. "Dr MacTaggert speaking."

"Auntie Moira, it's me."

"Oh, Hermione! Sorry, I've been busy. God, but it's been a while since you called me, Hermione. You feeling all right? I heard you got injured not so long ago. It was all I could do not to storm up to Hogwarts and give that old Sassenach Dumbledore a piece of my mind." Moira MacTaggert sighed. "I'm guessing you called for a reason. And I think I can guess why. Your friend, Potter, wasn't it?"

Hermione nodded. "I just received news he was…married, in Las Vegas, of all places, to someone called Sophie Frost. And given that the letter showed her address to be the X-Mansion…"

"Aye, I see what you mean. Long story short, Sophie Frost is the legal name of one of multiple clones of Emma Frost, known as the Stepford Cuckoos, five of whom are with Charles. I was told about the marriage by the other clones, who are amongst my assistants here. I dunno the details, but Harry's effectively married to them."

"…Them?" Hermione asked with a sinking feeling.

"The Cuckoos are a gestalt, Hermione. It's a wee bit difficult to describe, but while each of the Cuckoos technically have their own consciousness and personality, they are actually one linked being, a psychic superorganism. Not that it won't stop some Sassenachs from defining it as polygamy."

Hermione knew Moira had a point. "…If I can find a way to get there, can I speak to you, and to the Cuckoos?"

"Sure. If the time's right, I can even have you talk to Harry via video link to New York. Or better yet, I'll send someone to pick you up."

Hermione looked back at the Burrow, where Ron was trying to endure Hurricane Howler Molly, and doing a surprisingly good job of it. "Do you know where I am?"

"Well, I can trace the phone if you like, but I'd prefer to know."

"I'm in Ottery St Catchpole in Devon," Hermione said. "I might bring some friends. We've got something of a gale going on at the moment."

"You mean a banshee. I can hear her in the background. Makes my ears ring. If you want, I'll get more precise coordinates from your phone, and then I'll send someone over…"

Dumbledore glared at the instruments, as if hoping they would get back to working order by sheer force of will. But no, they stubbornly refused to be anything but broken. Only the instruments monitoring Harry's health remained.

The emancipation had dissolved many of the bonds Harry had placed on him, particularly those relating to the instruments in his office. Sirius probably didn't know what he was doing, at least in finer details, but the canny Black almost certainly knew that he was cutting a lot of the strings on Harry. Sirius had argued with Dumbledore incessantly last year, and his demise, while unintended, was wholly serendipitous. It meant that Dumbledore had even more control over Harry than ever…

Except that Sirius had arranged one great big Fuck You from beyond the Veil. And Dumbledore, despite his regained influence, couldn't do a damned thing about it. Black had arranged it with the Goblins, who were notoriously mercenary, and Dumbledore, while he had regained some of his influence, prestige and positions, was still trying to reconsolidate those things when it happened.

Harry didn't need those positions. At least, not yet. If he survived the trials to come, if he survived Voldemort, then yes, Dumbledore would magnanimously grant him said positions and titles as a just reward for his efforts. All to make the boy more and more grateful to his saviour. If Harry perished, or got too wilful…well, the Black and Potter estates would do nicely as funding for Hogwarts and for Dumbledore's purse. Either way was fine: Dumbledore could shape Neville Longbottom into the heir of his legacy if Harry proved unsuitable. He'd been doing it subtly and gradually these years, while paying more attention to Harry. Longbottom would probably be a more pliable pawn. But Harry was THE Boy Who Lived, and under Dumbledore's careful guidance, he would become his successor.

Though he also had something to hold over the boy's head. That he was a Mutant, a thing treated with more disdain than even Muggleborns.

Dumbledore had been startled to learn that Lily was a Mutant, and that her son had shared that ability. Lily had revealed that, albeit reluctantly, at a meeting of the Order when she was seen to deflect the Killing Curse with her bare hand, hitting someone Dumbledore had hopes to redeem…or at least hold in debt to him. Lily had been utterly unrepentant at the death, and worse, was beginning to rebel against Dumbledore, as was James, who, despite Britain's stance on Mutants, loved his wife too much. But with the prophecy needing a martyr, Dumbledore decided to bind Lily's power, and wipe her memories, along with that of those attending the meeting.

However, she must have undone the bindings shortly before Voldemort's attack, or at least those on her memories. Unable to use her abilities to defend her family, she apparently used a modified version of the sacrificial ritual he had steered her towards to not only grant Harry protection, but to transfer her bound powers to Harry. The results, needless to say, were spectacular, and Dumbledore was forced to bind Harry's powers. He needed Harry to become as powerful as Dumbledore needed him to be, not any stronger.

And yet, if the letter he had been sent by Gringotts was any indication, it was possible that Harry would soon rediscover those thrice-damned powers of his. The reason why Dumbledore thought this was the address relating to 'Sophie Frost'. Dumbledore knew of Xavier's little school for Mutants, mostly due to having to deal with the MACUSA representatives complaining about it at the ICW, when they weren't complaining about the Avengers or that Kamar-Taj upstart Stephen Strange. Sorcerer Supreme, his foot: Dumbledore had more claim to that than a Muggle the Kamar-Taj taught how to use a foul magic.

Of course, it wasn't like Dumbledore could just charge over there, grab Harry, and get back. The Goblins had delayed sending him notification, he was sure, out of spite, and Harry was, in all likelihood, at the X-Mansion. And as powerful as Dumbledore was, especially with the Elder Wand, MACUSA wasn't well-inclined towards the British, and would take umbrage to him being there. Not to mention that there were all sorts of Mutants, with all sorts of powers. Even attempts at doing so diplomatically would fail, given the telepaths they had on-site, who could potentially break through Occlumency barriers, even if only by brute force. Xavier might not do so, or at least not press, but what about that Phoenix woman, or that appalling Frost? Who could very well be a relative of this Sophia?

It was considering what to do next that took up his time. He had sent a copy to Molly Weasley to inculcate some outrage to further get the woman on his side: she meant well, but she had a fixation on Harry marrying into the family via Ginny. So she was a useful pawn.

Still, one thing was for certain. Harry, even if he was trying to cut the strings, would come back to Britain. His sense of honour would prevent him from simply staying away while Voldemort rampaged across Britain. And once back, Dumbledore would make sure that he would be put back on strings, in earnest.

Though Dumbledore would have to be careful. He had been nearly knocked out by Lily reflecting a Stunner, and he knew he needed to catch Harry unawares to get any spell to work if his powers were working. He had managed it with Lily by distracting her. He wouldn't make any mistakes this time with Harry. Harry would either become his protégé…or his martyr. Either way was fine…

CHAPTER 8 ANNOTATIONS:

So, we have the Banshee and the Bastard reacting. Oh, and Hermione has an unexpected connection, one that I admittedly didn't plan, but, hey, it's not out of the question for Hermione to be a relative of Moira.

Now, let me make this clear: I'm not actually going to do all-out bashing of Molly or Ginny. Molly's reacting mostly because she thinks Harry is too young to get married (Hermione agrees, but doesn't scream about it) and that Sirius, Remus, and Tonks fucked up. Her attitude towards Mutants is prejudiced, but she'll come to deal with it as the story goes on. And Ginny's upset because her chance to marry Harry's gone. She'll get better, don't worry. They both will.

Dumbledore, though…yeah, I'm bashing the fuck out of him.

Incidentally, I'm not going to write out that ridiculous thick Scottish accent of Moira's from the comics. I'm just going to add some Scottish words and interjections here and there. It's like with Hagrid or Fleur: doing that properly is a fucking headache.

Review-answering time! Dawn Ryder113: …No.

Yorae Resantae: Sadly for you, he's going to be pretty much a selfish villain in this story. While there are stories where I make Snape a better character, when I bash Dumbledore, I tend to bash Snape too, and he frankly deserves it. He is NOT a good man in canon. Much of what he does is for utterly selfish reasons because he can't get over his crush on Lily. I'm not saying he never loved her, but Snape never seems to use his love for her to get over his hate for Harry. That being said, if you want a good Severitus fic, you can't go wrong with The Best Revenge and its sequel by the late Arsinoe de Blassenville.

Alastor999: Thanks. I personally found myself intrigued by them after the first time I read the graphic novels of Grant Morrison's run on X-Men.

No numbered annotations this time.