Appalachian Academy of Magic

Opened in 1895 by George Palacios, a magical born to a very wealthy muggle family, the Appalachian Academy of Magic takes student who might otherwise be unable to attend most other schools. At this time, there was not a single school of magic in the world that would accept students who were not fully human, save Beaubaton's Academy in France, who would accept Veela. While Hogwarts was in the process of allowing a Filius Flitwick, the grandson of a prominent Goblin, to attend, Palacios decided it was prudent to open a school that would accept student regardless of their heritage, so long as they had the ability to wield wizard's magic. While few knew it at the time, Palacios had a personal reason, that being his daughter was half banshee, and therefore would not be accepted into Ilvermorny, regardless of how much money he threw at the school.

And so, Appalachian Academy of Magic was born. Located near Asheville, North Carolina in the United States, the school was hidden behind wards far outstripping any school Palacios had been able to visit. The idea was simple, not only would they be able to protect the students, but they would even be able to protect themselves from the MCUSA government if the decided to give the school issues.

In 1903, Agatha Harkness was hired as the Ritual Magic Professor, and brought to the schools attention the issue of mutant magicals. While most mutant abilities manifested after school age, or were explainable away as magic, there was a small group of mutants in the world whose mutations made them unable to fit in. The first mutant magical student would be accepted the following year; Genevie Rowle, who had been born with a prehensile tale and slightly green skin, but still possessed a magical core.

This would open the proverbial flood gates, as AAM became the go to school for any student who had the ability and drive, regardless of the circumstance of their birth. Over time a small village would crop near the school (though still inside the outer wards) that consisted of family members of students who would not be accepted in any normal magical setting as their choice in partner (ie not both being the same species) would cause issue. The school served students from all over the globe, contacting students as soon as they were identified to offer them sanctuary, as many mutants and halflings had a very hard time even surviving to school age.

-o-o-

A tall, elderly woman with hair in a loose bun was not an unusual character for the headmistress of a school. Her robes of deep forest green might give some pause, but not many in the circles that the school tended to teach. Her grey eyes held intelligence and not a little humor, but there was also the look of one who had seen too much of the world, and still found joy in it. No, the truly odd thing about this woman was that she was over three hundred years old, and had no intention of retiring just yet. Another year for sure. Probably a few after that.

Headmistress Agatha Harkness strode into a room in the heart of the school that only she, as headmistress, was even aware of existing. In the center of the room was the main loadstone of the school's wards, a stone over forty feet high and twenty wide covered in dozens of runes and interwoven with enough spells to make you nauseous. She was after the only other thing in the room though, a large green book on a pedestal about halfway to the loadstone.

This book had properties that no normal book would have, being self updating and capable of identifying prospective students anywhere on the planet. In fact, it was designed to give the reader information on any being born with a magical core (therefore capable of using the magic of witches and wizards) who had what one might consider extenuating circumstances. Mutants, half humans, and outright nonhuman beings who had the ability to wield their magic. About one in every three thousand goblins had the ability, but as it was illegal for a goblin to have a wand according to the International Statute of Secrecy. Not that Harkness cared, she still taught them. Most magicals were fairly terrified of her, and those that weren't were not intelligent enough to concern her. It was much more rare for others, though she had seen a handful of centaurs, two house-elves, a half dozen gnomes and dwarves each, and one giant. Merpeople seemed to have at least one in every year group.

Half humans made up the majority of every year, mostly half goblin and dwarf, though basically any two sentients could have children together given magic as a medium. She had heard rumors as a young woman of one of her contemporaries having a child with a sphinx, though had never had it confirmed.

Mutants made up the last group and were an interesting challenge for the school. Many mutants were able to attend other schools, and the book wouldn't recommend those who had no signs of their mutation. Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, was a mutant after all, and hardly anyone realized it since he tended to pass it off as being gifted with wandless magic, but was actually a telekinetic and minor telepath. Most mutant students were also no-maj born, but a few were different. There was even a mutant half troll who would be starting her sixth year soon. Super strength in a half troll was something to see.

Flipping to the current year, she began set up a quill and ink to write out the envelops that would be delivered telling the family the time a school representative would be dropping by. She had never figured out how the first arithmancy professor had done it, but it basically made the families plans for that time and date work out for the meeting. But she had taken that secret to the grave about fifteen years ago. It still annoyed Agatha though.

As the quill began to write, she was interested to see the size of the class, thirty had to be one of the largest classes she had ever seen. Mind, that was only if they all accepted places, but few had ever declined a direct offer. She only saw a couple who might refuse. The werewolf in Ireland might be able to go to Hogwarts, but she would do her best to talk her out of it if she could, as England's werewolf laws were actually worse than they had been during Agatha's youth. The list of mutants was interesting, as it looked like there was giant who was also a mutant. That would be interesting to deal with. I just hope he doesn't match that average giant intelligence. But the one that nearly made her drop the book was a seemingly normal entry, by her standards.

Just beneath Hermione Jane Granger, 16 Heathgate Street, Hampstead, England; witch, mutant was Harry James Potter, 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey, England; witch, mutant. Harry Potter was a mutant? That could certainly put a wrench in the Brits ideals. They still tried to pretend mutants didn't even exist. Agatha cackled a bit, "Oh yes, Mister Potter will be coming to me."

While she had to have the quill rewrite the entry after Potter, a mutant with a pretty cool name, Ororo Monroe, due to the quill writing her comment and cackle in the middle of her address on the savanna, she was nonetheless in an ecstatic mood. She had a couple students she wanted to meet personally now.

-o-o-

Hey guys, this is just a little idea of mine, a school run by Agatha Harkness for mutants and halflings who might not be able to get the same education that would be afforded to most magicals. Yes, this will be a crossover with Marvel, but for now it will mostly focus on the magical and mutant side of things, but not to much of the Marvel storylines.

If I get some interest in this, hopefully it will turn into a nice long story, but for now it is just a rough idea!

Thanks,

RiverEridani