Disclaimer: I admire J.K. Rowling very much, so I would really not like to be sued by her. That's why I'm admitting I don't own Harry Potter. Daggumit. But as for X-Men, yes, I invented them. Wait…or was that X-Ray man? Errr…we'll just say I own nothing, simply to be on the safe side, shall we?

Author's Note: Yes, I know this has been done too many times before, but lo and behold, this story actually has a plot! Gasp! I'm hoping I can make this particular yarn worth your while to read. So please, bear with me, as this chapter is somewhat tedious, if a little short.

Yours truly ~^~Ezra~^~

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The council sat in somber silence, each trying to hide their own fear and despair.  A blanket of doubt and insecurities covered them like a formidable fog.  No one wished to spread their own dread to the others, and yet it did, like some kind of loathsome plague. Desperately, they turned to the man that sat at the head of the long table.

The man did not look particularly astonishing: he was old, with a long white beard and half-moon spectacles perched on his crooked nose.  But his eyes…blue as the sky, they shone determined like chips of ice. There was no doubt he led this group of what could be mankind's final saviors…or their martyrs.

"What do we do now Albus?" One man asked in his husky voice, brown-gray hair falling into his face. "He's getting stronger, you know that."

It was not a question, but a statement.  The man speaking had never been a particularly optimistic person, but he was one of Albus' most trusted followers.

"I don't know Remus," The old man said softly.  "I don't know."

Another man spoke somewhat desperately. "He knows every trick in the book! Every spell we throw at him gets thrown back! It's a bloody mess!"

"I can't let him get to Harry." Albus stated simply.

"Why?" Another asked urgently. "I mean, none of us want to see Harry hurt and all, but he's just one boy who got lucky.  Why are you hiding him away?"

Another man, this one thin and black-haired, literally growled at the man. "I ain't letting that thing get at Harry." He told him. The man shrank back warily.

Albus sighed and made a gesture at the man that was clearly a warning to calm down. "Sirius." He said simply, and that one word was enough to calm the thin man.

"That matter is between Harry and myself," Albus told the other man carefully. "As for Voldemort--"

Everyone flinched at the name.

"—I have an idea." He gazed around at his companions, a fierce protectiveness and pride swelling in his chest. "You have fought gallantly, but now, I think, is the time for reinforcements."

He stood and everyone rose with him, reverent of their great leader. Albus turned to a man with flaming red hair. "Does Fudge know?" He asked.

"Not a clue." The man said confidentially.

"At least one thing is going according to plan." He murmured softly.

The secret council was dismissed and soon Albus was alone but for two men, those who had spoken during the argument.

Sirius sat, brooding, his sunken brown eyes seeing nothing. Across the table, Remus sprawled his lanky form out, lost in thought. Albus sighed. They were young, and yet had suffered more than most of the people he had ever known. Their support meant so much in this war of subterfuge…what would he do without them?

"So what are you going to do Albus?" Sirius asked. "As his legal guardian, I agree that Harry must be protected, but how do we do it?"

"I think it's time I contacted an old friend…." Albus mused. Remus raised an eyebrow and glanced over the tabletop at his friend, who shrugged.

The old man stood. "If you'll excuse me," He said politely. "I have some very critical things to attend to."

The two young men stood with him and watched him leave.

"Do you think he can stop this?" Remus asked Sirius softly.

"I don't know." Came the sad reply.

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Professor Charles Xavier tapped the keys on his computer expertly. Cerebro…one of his greatest accomplishments. He allowed himself a rare smile and listened to the sounds of his 'charges' as they raced through the halls of the Institute. He was so proud of them, yet he still found it hard to express this feeling to them.

_One would think the most powerful psychic on the planet could learn how to display his emotions._ He thought with a trace of irony.

Suddenly, he sensed something amiss. Frowning, he raised his fingers to his temples and concentrated. Background noise, a kind of psychic static, clouded his mind. He focused and the patterns shifted to become recognizable.

Hello Charles

Xavier was surprised to say the least…he hadn't heard that voice in years. Greetings, old friend He replied.

I'm sorry it's been so long, but…I need your help. The voice continued. There was a pause before the voice added. Our situation…has just worsened dramatically.

How can I help?

Your students…they're gifted, aren't they?

Yes, they are, but, as I recall, your students were never exactly short when it came to talent. Xavier prompted.

True… Xavier heard a sigh. I'm, fighting a war, Charles, and I need your help. This isn't just affecting us…so many people are dying. None of your students would be in direct danger, I assure you.

Why do you need them? The Professor was worried now. He would gladly sacrifice his life that for his friend, but he couldn't risk his students lives.

To protect someone…someone like them.

Who?

Harry Potter

"A wizard?" Kitty said with clear skepticism as she stared at the Professor.

"As hard as that is to believe, yes, Kitty, a wizard." Xavier told her truthfully.

"You want us to play bodyguard for some wizard kid destined to save the world out of a favor for a friend." This time it was Rogue's turn to be critical.

Xavier nodded.

Evan groaned. "Man, wizards don't exist! And if this kid's 'destined to save the world', why do we have to protect him? Can't he handle himself?"

"Evan…" A warning voice said.

Evan shrank under the gaze of Wolverine.

"I first discovered the world of wizardry when I created Cerebro years ago." Xavier explained carefully, instead of directly answering the questions. "Cerebro had not been perfected yet and I found clusters of people who were neither mutant or human. I had in fact located Hogwart's, a school for children endowed with the gift of magic. I met Albus Dumbledore, their Headmaster, and became fascinated. I promised not to tell of their existence and recalibrated Cerebro to avoid detecting magic users." He seemed somber as he continued. "I studied their culture with Albus' permission and discovered that there was once a great evil among them, a man who killed many, many people for the sake of power and corruption. He was defeated, incredibly, by a one-year old child when the wizard's own powers rebounded on him. "

"Last year, the wizard, called the "Dark Lord" rose again. And now Dumbledore needs our help to keep him from the baby who destroyed him in the first place." Xavier finished.

"This kid's got to be pretty old now…can't he protect himself?" Scott asked.

""This kid" is a mere boy…he's only 15 years old." They were informed.

"Oh…right."

"C'mon, who believes in this crap anyway?" Rogue argued rebelliously.

"I do." A mild voice said. They all turned to stare at Kurt and he shrugged helplessly. "In our tribe of gypsies, you see many things not easily explained."

"Kurt's right." Another voice said. Ororo walked into the room, smiling at them all. "If mutants can exist, then why not wizards?"

After a lengthy debate, the students finally agreed to go to the school.  With some grumbling, they settled down for a debriefing.

"So what, we just swoop in there, knock this guy outta the running and come home?" Kitty asked.

"I'm afraid it won't work quite that way Kitty," The professor corrected gently. "The wizards are so afraid of this man that they refuse to call him by his name, Voldemort. Instead, they say You-Know-Who, or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

Jean whistled. "That's pretty heavy."

"Indeed." The professor said. He then proceeded to explain their mission in detail, and tell them of how they were to blend in (he emphasized this part). When he finished, the students headed upstairs to pack.

Xavier steepled his fingers and wondered silently if this task was too great for his X-Men.

"Professor?"

Xavier turned at the hesitant voice and smiled encouragingly. "Yes Kurt?"

"Can I…can I take my holowatch?" Kurt asked timidly.

The professor understood better than anyone Kurt's fear of others rejecting him because of his appearance. And he could imagine how the medieval descriptions of this race of people could drudge up bad memories for Kurt.

"Yes Kurt, you may." Kurt thanked him and began to leave. "Kurt-"

Kurt turned back around to face his teacher.  "Please—I know this will be a hard trip for you all, but I'm hoping you can hold them together, as a team."

The teenager seemed confused. "But Scott is our leader."

"I never said I wished you to be the leader." Xavier said and Kurt nodded in sudden comprehension.

"I'll do my best Herr Professor."

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Well…that's it…my first attempt at a crossover. It's not very good so far, I know, but I wanted to post this before I left on vacation. This is based on the fourth book and will continue to be so, despite the arrival of the fifth book on Saturday (*And there was much rejoicing*). Anywho…to those old fans of mine, I am continuing Thorn, I just needed a little break. Don't give up on me! Okay Amy P., you happy now? And you better read this you know.

Reviewing is much appreciated! When I return from my little road trip, there better be a butt load of e-mails and reviews waiting for me!

Ciao!J