A Meeting of Worlds -- A X-Men/HP Fanfic

“Now, Jean, dear, play nice with your cousin,” Mrs. Grey said, pushing her daughter into the old playroom. “Your aunt and I will check on you girls in a little while.”

“Yes, Mom,” Jean replied obediently. Before she had even a chance to turn around, the door had been closed. The two girls had clearly been banished.

Yet, Jean would have preferred any room to the playroom. She and Hermione were way beyond the age for dolls and dress-up. What could they possibly do to pass the time?

She eyed the other girl in the room warily. Visits with her cousin were rare and usually ended with a fight of some kind. However, for the moment, the other girl simply ignored her, focusing on the block tower she was constructing.

‘Well, we’re both older now,’ Jean thought, taking a cautious seat on the floor near the block pile. ‘Maybe we can be nice for at least one afternoon.’

Jean summoned her courage. “Hello, Hermione.”

“Hello, Jean,” the girl replied, still focused on her block tower.

“Your mother said that you had started a special boarding school. Is it nice?”

Hermione gazed at Jean suspiciously, her hand hovering in mid-air. It was a tense moment before she answered. “It’s nice enough, I guess.”

“What are you studying there?”

“Why are you interested? Want to change schools or something?”

The iciness surprised Jean. Why would Hermione be so secretive about her new school? Sure, her cousin was bright, but Jean was no idiot either. “I’m just trying to make conversation.”

“Well, you’re ruining my concentration,” Hermione huffed.

Jean sighed and let the conversation die. She watched Hermione as she added to her tower, the blocks nearing impossible heights. “Aren’t we a little old to be playing with blocks?”

“Well, I can’t read my school books in front of you.”

“Why not?” Jean demanded.

Hermione waved her hand. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Yeah, right,” Jean said, her annoyance with her cousin winning over her judgment. “You’re probably embarrassed to let me see. Maybe your school is for the ‘special’ after all.”

“Oh, really, like your school is so much better, Jean?” Hermione countered, her face turning white with fury. “A freak show I've heard it called. I’d bet you fit right in there.”

“Shut up, Hermione, you don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Well, neither do you! So, shut it, yourself!”

Before she even knew she was doing it, Jean sent the huge block tower crashing down. A shower of blocks fell back toward Hermione, threatening to bury the girl. However, the blocks suddenly diverted their path and fell to the floor on either side of the brown-haired girl.

The two girls stared at each other, trying to figure out what happened. Hermione cautiously backed away from her cousin until she safely across the room. Jean, ashamed by her action, made no move to stop her.

“What just happened?” Hermione demanded. Her face was still pale, but now it was white from panic instead of fury.

“I’m sorry, Hermione,” Jean said quickly. “I didn’t mean to do it.”

“But how did you knock them down without hitting them? Are you magical, too?”

“No,” Jean said, struggling not to laugh. “It must seem like magic to you. But it’s part of my mutation. I have telekinesis and telepathy. I’m a mutant.”

Jean paused, suddenly realizing something. “Wait. What did you mean by ‘magical, too’? How did you stop the blocks from falling on you?”

“It’s a secret,” Hermione said.

“I’ve already told you mine, Hermione,” Jean pressed. “At least you can make it even by telling me yours.”

The other girl hesitated, playing with her hair in her nervousness. However, it just made her hair even more wild and unruly. “Well, I’m going to be in trouble with the Ministry, anyway. I don’t see how it could get worse.”

“How could you get in trouble? Who’s the Ministry?”

“The Ministry of Magic,” Hermione answered. “See I’m a witch, and the Ministry regulates all things magical, including people. I’m not supposed to do magic outside of school. I’ll probably be receiving an ow—I mean a letter—any moment.”

“That’s amazing! When did you find out? How did you do it without using any words?”

Hermione laughed. “I found out officially when I got my letter for school. But you’re born with the ability. Anyway, not all magic involves words. If a witch or a wizard is angry or frightened, they can make things happen unintentionally.”

“I would love to see your school.”

Hermione laughed again. “I would like to see your school, too. I mean the other students have different abilities, right? They’re not all like you.”

“No, they’re not. There’s this one girl who can walk through walls. Then, there’s a boy who has wings, just like an angel. Wait, I’m probably telling you too much.”

“Yeah, I probably did, too.”

The two girls smiled at each other. Tucking a strand of hair shyly behind her ear, Hermione walked back across the room. She resumed her seat in the block pile.

“Sorry for being so awful earlier,” she said.

“Me, too.” Jean grinned. “Want to see if we can make an even bigger pile?”

“You’re on,” Hermione answered, returning the grin. “Only, no telekinesis this time.”

“Only if you promise no magic.”

“Deal.”

* * * * *

“Hermione, I don’t why you don’t just use Pig,” Ron grumbled. “What is Harry going to do if he needs to send a letter?”

Harry shrugged. “There’s always the school owls, Ron.”

“Harry’s right, you know,” Hermione said. “Besides, I don’t trust Pig to get this letter to the right place.”

Ron muttered darkly under his breath as Hermione attached the letter to Hedwig’s leg. Pig fluttered around the larger bird, but Hedwig ignored it with a great sense of dignity. With an affectionate nip at Harry, she flapped her snow-white wings and took off.

“Now, let’s head down to breakfast, shall we?” Hermione said as the trio left the room.

Ron stopped grumbling for a moment and cleared his thought. “What’s so important about that letter? Who’s it going to, anyway?”

Hermione smiled. She had deliberately kept Ron from seeing the address. With a wink at Harry, she turned to Ron. “Why, Viktor, of course.”

“You’re still writing him!” Ron’s face darkened, going through several shades of red.

“Well, since I didn’t get to go to Bulgaria this summer, it may be nice to see it over Christmas break.”

Harry tried not to laugh at either Ron’s new source of grumbling or the triumphant look on Hermione’s face.

* * * * *

“Hey, you got a letter!”

Jean reluctantly opened her eyes but smiled at her best friend. “Thanks, Scott.”

She sat up and took the letter. It was from her aunt. With a grin of expectation, she tore the envelope open.

“You know you’re going to burn if you stay out here much long,” Scott said, taking a seat beside her.

“I’m wearing some sun block,” she replied absently, already reading the letter. Just as she had expected, it was mostly a note from Hermione, detailing her adventures at school.

“You know, I didn’t think you and your cousin were close, Jean.”

Jean put down the letter. “We weren’t for a long time. I guess you can say we came to an understanding of sorts.”

“And just what kind of understanding was it?” Scott asked, leaning to grab the letter.

“Can’t tell you,” she replied as she leaped up from the bench, effectively putting the letter out of his reach. “It’s a secret!”

“We’ll see about that!” he called as he began to chase her.

The afternoon air rang with their laughter.


A Meeting of Worlds “Now, Jean, dear, play nice with your cousin,” Mrs. Grey said, pushing her daughter into the old playroom. “Your aunt and I will check on you girls in a little while.” “Yes, Mom,” Jean replied obediently. Before she had even a chance to turn around, the door had been closed. The two girls had clearly been banished. Yet, Jean would have preferred any room to the playroom. She and Hermione were way beyond the age for dolls and dress-up. What could they possibly do to pass the time? She eyed the other girl in the room warily. Visits with her cousin were rare and usually ended with a fight of some kind. However, for the moment, the other girl simply ignored her, focusing on the block tower she was constructing. ‘Well, we’re both older now,’ Jean thought, taking a cautious seat on the floor near the block pile. ‘Maybe we can be nice for at least one afternoon.’ Jean summoned her courage. “Hello, Hermione.” “Hello, Jean,” the girl replied, still focused on her block tower. “Your mother said that you had started a special boarding school. Is it nice?” Hermione gazed at Jean suspiciously, her hand hovering in mid-air. It was a tense moment before she answered. “It’s nice enough, I guess.” “What are you studying there?” “Why are you interested? Want to change schools or something?” The iciness surprised Jean. Why would Hermione be so secretive about her new school? Sure, her cousin was bright, but Jean was no idiot either. “I’m just trying to make conversation.” “Well, you’re ruining my concentration,” Hermione huffed. Jean sighed and let the conversation die. She watched Hermione as she added to her tower, the blocks nearing impossible heights. “Aren’t we a little old to be playing with blocks?” “Well, I can’t read my school books in front of you.” “Why not?” Jean demanded. Hermione waved her hand. “You wouldn’t understand.” “Yeah, right,” Jean said, her annoyance with her cousin winning over her judgment. “You’re probably embarrassed to let me see. Maybe your school is for the ‘special’ after all.” “Oh, really, like your school is so much better, Jean?” Hermione countered, her face turning white with fury. “A freak show I've heard it called. I’d bet you fit right in there.” “Shut up, Hermione, you don’t know what you’re talking about!” “Well, neither do you! So, shut it, yourself!” Before she even knew she was doing it, Jean sent the huge block tower crashing down. A shower of blocks fell back toward Hermione, threatening to bury the girl. However, the blocks suddenly diverted their path and fell to the floor on either side of the brown-haired girl. The two girls stared at each other, trying to figure out what happened. Hermione cautiously backed away from her cousin until she safely across the room. Jean, ashamed by her action, made no move to stop her. “What just happened?” Hermione demanded. Her face was still pale, but now it was white from panic instead of fury. “I’m sorry, Hermione,” Jean said quickly. “I didn’t mean to do it.” “But how did you knock them down without hitting them? Are you magical, too?” “No,” Jean said, struggling not to laugh. “It must seem like magic to you. But it’s part of my mutation. I have telekinesis and telepathy. I’m a mutant.” Jean paused, suddenly realizing something. “Wait. What did you mean by ‘magical, too’? How did you stop the blocks from falling on you?” “It’s a secret,” Hermione said. “I’ve already told you mine, Hermione,” Jean pressed. “At least you can make it even by telling me yours.” The other girl hesitated, playing with her hair in her nervousness. However, it just made her hair even more wild and unruly. “Well, I’m going to be in trouble with the Ministry, anyway. I don’t see how it could get worse.” “How could you get in trouble? Who’s the Ministry?” “The Ministry of Magic,” Hermione answered. “See I’m a witch, and the Ministry regulates all things magical, including people. I’m not supposed to do magic outside of school. I’ll probably be receiving an ow—I mean a letter—any moment.” “That’s amazing! When did you find out? How did you do it without using any words?” Hermione laughed. “I found out officially when I got my letter for school. But you’re born with the ability. Anyway, not all magic involves words. If a witch or a wizard is angry or frightened, they can make things happen unintentionally.” “I would love to see your school.” Hermione laughed again. “I would like to see your school, too. I mean the other students have different abilities, right? They’re not all like you.” “No, they’re not. There’s this one girl who can walk through walls. Then, there’s a boy who has wings, just like an angel. Wait, I’m probably telling you too much.” “Yeah, I probably did, too.” The two girls smiled at each other. Tucking a strand of hair shyly behind her ear, Hermione walked back across the room. She resumed her seat in the block pile. “Sorry for being so awful earlier,” she said. “Me, too.” Jean grinned. “Want to see if we can make an even bigger pile?” “You’re on,” Hermione answered, returning the grin. “Only, no telekinesis this time.” “Only if you promise no magic.” “Deal.” * * * * * “Hermione, I don’t why you don’t just use Pig,” Ron grumbled. “What is Harry going to do if he needs to send a letter?” Harry shrugged. “There’s always the school owls, Ron.” “Harry’s right, you know,” Hermione said. “Besides, I don’t trust Pig to get this letter to the right place.” Ron muttered darkly under his breath as Hermione attached the letter to Hedwig’s leg. Pig fluttered around the larger bird, but Hedwig ignored it with a great sense of dignity. With an affectionate nip at Harry, she flapped her snow-white wings and took off. “Now, let’s head down to breakfast, shall we?” Hermione said as the trio left the room. Ron stopped grumbling for a moment and cleared his thought. “What’s so important about that letter? Who’s it going to, anyway?” Hermione smiled. She had deliberately kept Ron from seeing the address. With a wink at Harry, she turned to Ron. “Why, Viktor, of course.” “You’re still writing him!” Ron’s face darkened, going through several shades of red. “Well, since I didn’t get to go to Bulgaria this summer, it may be nice to see it over Christmas break.” Harry tried not to laugh at either Ron’s new source of grumbling or the triumphant look on Hermione’s face. * * * * * “Hey, you got a letter!” Jean reluctantly opened her eyes but smiled at her best friend. “Thanks, Scott.” She sat up and took the letter. It was from her aunt. With a grin of expectation, she tore the envelope open. “You know you’re going to burn if you stay out here much long,” Scott said, taking a seat beside her. “I’m wearing some sun block,” she replied absently, already reading the letter. Just as she had expected, it was mostly a note from Hermione, detailing her adventures at school. “You know, I didn’t think you and your cousin were close, Jean.” Jean put down the letter. “We weren’t for a long time. I guess you can say we came to an understanding of sorts.” “And just what kind of understanding was it?” Scott asked, leaning to grab the letter. “Can’t tell you,” she replied as she leaped up from the bench, effectively putting the letter out of his reach. “It’s a secret!” “We’ll see about that!” he called as he began to chase her. The afternoon air rang with their laughter.


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