"So you're really sending Jean away to another school? Have you properly thought this through?"
Hank McCoy stood with his back to the room, hands in his trouser pockets, staring out the tall window while absentmindedly watching the sleek black Porsche 911 parked near the mansion's entrance.
Behind him, Professor Charles Xavier sat in his wheelchair at the desk while quietly flipping through a stack of documents.
The only other person in the room was a woman with sharp features and a calculating expression. She sat on a nearby sofa, her eyes fixed on Charles and was waiting for his answer just as much as Hank was.
"Yes. Her abilities go beyond just mutant powers, and unfortunately, I'm neither qualified nor able to guide her in that area," Charles answered with his eyes still on the papers in front of him.
"Can't you just hire someone from their group?" The woman stood and walked over, leaning on Charles's desk with both hands. "You know she's no ordinary mutant. What if she loses control?"
Charles let out a quiet sigh, set the papers down, and looked up at the woman. "I trust they're capable of handling her, Raven, if it ever comes to that. Besides, I've explained everything to Mr. Caesar, and he assured me he'll personally look after her."
Hank turned away from the window, walked around the desk, and sank into the sofa. He let out a quiet sigh as well, seeming to agree with Charles. "I hope things turn out the way you say."
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Looks like they're here. Raven, please let them in," Charles said with a small smile as he looked toward the door.
With a click, the woman—Raven—opened the door and saw her colleague Ororo smirk before stepping inside with a young man trailing behind her.
She eyed the young man—someone she had heard many great things about from Charles but never met, and the one who would be taking her student away to another school—trying to figure out what was so special about him.
However, the moment her eyes landed on him, they widened and her pupils shrank to pinpoints. For a split second, it felt like time itself slowed around her, and a sudden, unnerving chill ran through every fiber of her being. Her whole body shivered, as if she had glimpsed something so unfathomable, so vast, that her mind went completely blank.
Then, just as quickly, the feeling faded away.
A drop of sweat formed on her forehead as she saw him raise a brief brow before stepping inside and following Ororo toward the professor.
With Maverick, he gave her only a quick, curious glance—her face was unfamiliar, someone he hadn't seen the last time he was here—then turned his attention to the man in the wheelchair and walked over with a bright smile.
"Charles…"
"Mr. Caesar."
They shook hands before Charles gestured for him to sit.
Maverick gave Hank a nod in greeting too, then settled onto the sofa, while Ororo took a seat beside him. Only Raven still remained frozen at the door—until...
"Raven?"
Xavier's voice pulled her out of her trance.
Raven Darkhölme—the shapeshifter-slash-spy-slash-superhuman—did her best to hide the chaos racing through her head and gave a stiff, fidgety nod, then walked over and sat down next to Hank.
To her credit, no one noticed her abnormality—no one except Maverick, of course. And he, quite simply, didn't care much. Her reaction wasn't anything new. Ever since he became an Archmage, he had gotten used to people flinching the moment they looked him in the eye the wrong way.
It wasn't something he did on purpose, but over time, he figured it had to do with intent. Whenever some random idiot looked at him with the wrong mindset, whether it was doubt or challenge or something else, and that intent brushed up against his, their subconscious just... folded, like they saw something they weren't supposed to.
And Mystique—after years of spying all over the world—had a danger sense that bordered on supernatural, so she must have felt that jolt hit her straight in the soul just now. But alas, who told her to size him up?
Xavier smiled once everyone was seated and the conversation began.
"Mr. Caesar—no, I suppose it's Councilor Caesar now, isn't it?"
Maverick figured the topic would come up. Ever since he became a Councilor and gained access to classified information, he had done a general review of the world's extraordinary elements from the perspective of the Muggle world. One thing that had caught his attention was the mutant community and their ongoing push for a seat at the global decision-making table.
So far, they hadn't been able to secure one. And from what he had read, it was Professor Xavier himself who had been leading that charge.
"Oh? Professor, how did you find out about that?" Maverick asked, pretending not to know anything.
Charles let out a light chuckle. "The World Security Council might operate behind the scenes, but I still have my connections."
Fair enough, thought Maverick.
"Wait—World Security Council?" Hank leaned forward, taken aback by the casual info drop. "How you end up as one of WSC Councilors?"
"High Councilor, to be exact," Charles answered instead, giving Maverick a small smile.
Unlike Charles, Hank and the others only knew the basics about the WSC and its role as an international organization. So, seeing an opportunity—with a High Councilor sitting right in front of them—Charles took a moment to give his colleagues a more thorough rundown of the World Security Council, the wizarding world, and how the two had been connected behind the scenes for years.
By the time he finished, Ororo, Hank, and Raven were looking at Maverick in a whole new light. Their expressions held a quiet mix of surprise and... envy.
Everything they had been fighting for—mutants having a place in the world without fear, without hatred—it seemed the wizarding world already had it. A hidden society, yet fully integrated with the larger world.
It stung, just a little.
But then, sensing the mood in the room getting a little too heavy, Charles shifted gears and turned back to Maverick, bringing the focus to the reason he had come today.
"So, my friend... you're here to take Jean to the magical world, just like your school's letter said?"
Maverick nodded. "Yeah. It's just a standard orientation for muggle-born witches and wizards—nothing special... like the walkthrough I gave you and Ororo a few months back, except Jean will need to purchase some specific school supplies. But since Hank and Raven didn't come along that day, I'll give a quick rundown."
With that, he gave a quick overview of the magical world's customs, explained how the orientation worked, and went over what Jean would need for her first year at school.
"We should be back around sunset," he added, glancing at his watch. "Although, I think it'll still be mid-afternoon here by then."
Hank asked a few more questions, mostly about the differences between mutant powers and magic. Raven, on the other hand, stayed quiet. She still hadn't said a single word since Maverick walked into the room.
"Raven?" Charles finally took notice of her odd demeanor. "Are you alright?"
But before she could say a word, the office door suddenly swung open and Jean Grey burst in, with Hermione and Harry close behind her.
"Professor! When are we going to... Diagon... Diagon Alley?" she asked, stumbling over the name. She stopped right in front of Maverick's chair, not even glancing at the others in the room, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Seeing her so enthusiastic, everyone smiled. Maverick stood up, gently ruffled her hair, and chuckled. "So eager... alright, we'll be going now."
He gave Charles and the others a nod, then glanced at Hermione and Harry. Judging by the look on their faces, they had probably told Jean all about Hogwarts already. Hopefully all good things.
"Right, gentlemen, ladies... we should be back in a couple of hours," he said, and with a nod from Professor X, made his way out. It was almost midday here, which meant it was already past three in the afternoon in London.
A few minutes later, Jean was in the back seat of the Porsche with Hermione, grinning from ear to ear, while Harry sat up front. Maverick flashed a grin of his own, shifted gears, and stepped on the accelerator.
The car zoomed forward, then—
Wroooom!
From Xavier's office window, Charles, Ororo, and Raven watched in stunned silence as the sleek black car lifted off the ground and soared into the sky.
Mouths slightly open, no one said a word for a while... until Hank finally broke the silence.
"Charles," he said slowly, turning toward him with a serious look, "I don't care how you do it, but... you must ask Mr. Caesar to make a flying car for me."
---
Not long after they flew over the forest surrounding the mansion, Maverick conjured a portal mid-air that connected to London, all the way across the ocean. The Porsche 911 glided through, and within seconds, they were flying over the heart of the city before landing quietly on Charing Cross Road.
With both a Muggle-Repelling Charm and camouflage magic in place, no one noticed the inconspicuous car as it rolled to a stop near a narrow alleyway. Tucked between a record shop and a dusty bookstore stood the Leaky Cauldron—shabby as ever.
Maverick stepped out first, the kids close behind, and led them into the old, weathered pub without drawing a single glance.
The Leaky Cauldron was as busy as ever. The air buzzed with lively chatter, clinking glasses, and the thick scent of smoke and stew. Witches in pointed hats laughed in shadowy corners, cloaked figures leaned close and whispered over half-empty mugs, and in one corner, a grumpy old wizard was arguing with Tom the pub owner something about firewhisky prices.
No one paid Maverick and his group any mind. Or rather, they couldn't. Maverick had subtly veiled their presence, making their entrance blend into the pub's background noise like smoke in the wind.
He gave Jean a quick rundown of the pub and its purpose for Muggle-born witches and wizards as he slowly guided them to the empty courtyard out back. There, he let Harry and Hermione demonstrate how to tap the bricks and open the magical gateway.
Jean's eyes widened as the bricks moved and revealed the cobbled street of Diagon Alley.
"This is amazing, Professor," she breathed, stepping through the archway. "So many people… such strange buildings… it's like another world."
Even though she was a mutant with supernatural abilities and was used to seeing her friends' extraordinary powers at the X-Mansion, this was something else entirely for her.
Much like every Muggle-born's first visit, Jean was completely captivated. Maverick smiled and stepped back, letting Hermione take the lead in showing her around. Harry chimed in now and then, but it was clear Hermione loved being the one in charge.
Their first stop was, of course, Gringotts.
Jean wrinkled her nose the moment they entered the goblin-run bank. "Ew… what are those things?"
Luckily, a sound barrier spell surrounded them, so no one heard her comment. Inside the quiet marble hall, the goblins worked silently behind their counters, barely sparing them a glance.
Back during the conversation with Xavier, Maverick had explained the need for wizarding currency. Hogwarts offered interest-free loans for Muggle-born students, but Professor X wouldn't hear of it and insisted on handling the funds himself.
He handed over enough US dollars to exchange for 50 Galleons—the maximum amount a Muggle-born could convert on their first visit—and asked Maverick to use it to buy everything Jean would need.
Maverick didn't argue. The X-Men weren't short on money, so there was no reason for him to be charitable when they were more than capable.
With the exchange done and a new account opened in Jean's name, they made their way to the shops.
First stop: Ollivanders.
Jean stepped inside, eyes shining with excitement for her very first wand. The old wandmaker greeted them with his usual flair, immediately recognizing Harry and Hermione and giving Maverick a knowing, respectful nod.
"An extremely rare few are chosen by a wand on the very first try," Ollivander said, eyeing Maverick with quiet approval. "I knew from the moment you held it, Master Caesar, that you were destined for greatness."
This was only their second meeting since Maverick had bought his wand, but the old man had clearly kept tabs on him. As he went on with his usual chatter, his hands never stopped moving, testing wand after wand for Jean.
It turned out, only the ones with phoenix core reacted at all to her touch. The others were duds, producing nothing but a few sparks or a puff of smoke.
Eventually, one wand lit up the room the moment Jean held it. The harmony between wand and witch was obvious even to a bystander.
From there, they stopped at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions for fittings, but since the robes wouldn't be ready immediately and would take an hour, Maverick used the time to buy the rest of Jean's supplies.
They hit Flourish and Blotts for textbooks, Potage's for her cauldron, Slug & Jiggers for potion ingredients, Wiseacre's for astronomy gear, and finally the Magical Menagerie.
Jean struck gold at the last shop. A rare magical Himalayan Snow Owl with silver-edged feathers had just arrived, and the moment Jean and the bird's eyes met, the choice was made.
The two clicked instantly, and Jean got her first magical pet, which she named Solara.
Coincidence? Maverick wondered, sensing how the name matched her inner, birdly spirit. Should I ask what made her think of that name, or... he shrugged and pushed the thoughts aside entirely.
With most of the shopping done, Maverick treated them to Florean Fortescue's for a quick meal and some ice cream. Jean was practically beaming, her cone in one hand and her wand in the other the whole time. About half an hour later, they all headed back to Madam Malkin's to collect her finished robes.
For most of the trip, Maverick let the kids talk among themselves. He was glad he had brought Hermione along as she explained everything in such vivid detail that Jean was completely drawn in. Harry chimed in now and then, but it was clear who clicked with who. The two girls already looked like they had become best friends.
By the time they were done, Jean had a solid idea of what life at Hogwarts would be like.
Maverick didn't rush them. He let the kids wander a bit longer, quietly keeping an eye on them from a distance, and when the sun began to dip below the rooftops, they regrouped and made their way back.
---
Wroom!
The Porsche glided back to Xavier's mansion, coming to a smooth stop at the front gate. Here, the sky was still blue, and the sun hung high above the horizon, casting shadows across the lawn.
Jean stepped out, carrying a sleek, stylish backpack over her shoulders, which was enchanted with an expanded space charm—a product from one of Maverick's own stores. It looked far more elegant than the bulky old pouches previously used in wizarding Britain.
Back in Xavier's office, Maverick gave Jean a few parting instructions. He didn't ban her from practicing magic, but he warned her about the Trace for underage wand use.
"You've got a few weeks before school starts," he said. "Technically, the Trace won't kick in until then. Just be careful... stick to simple spells like Lumos or the Levitation Charm. And try to read Hogwarts: A History when you've got the time."
Xavier was there, and while Maverick spoke directly to Jean, the real message was just as much for him—to make sure Charles would see that she followed the instructions.
Harry and Hermione exchanged contact information with Jean before they left. Finally, Maverick told Xavier and Jean that he would return early on the morning of September 1st to escort her to the Hogwarts Express.
"Professor," Hermione yawned as they climbed back into the car. "What's next?"
Maverick chuckled and glanced at Harry, who looked just as worn out.
"First, we get some real food. Then we check into a hotel and call it a day. Tomorrow, I'll take you to my old master's training grounds. You'll get to practice magic there with the other kids..."
That perked them both up right away. After all, that was the whole point of their trip with Maverick this summer.
As he started the car, his mind wandered to a message he had received from Sarah, his potions teacher, a couple of weeks ago. The little project she had been working on at his request... it seemed she had made a breakthrough.
Hopefully, I will be able to deliver on the commitment I made to my old friend soon, he thought to himself, smiling faintly as the car disappeared into the clouds.
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