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HP: Bloodraven Chapter 171 - Crossroads of Power (IV)
🕑 Added 2025-05-25 00:37:51 +0000 UTCJean Grey, also known as the Phoenix, was one of the original X-Men introduced in Marvel Comics, who later became a key figure in the growth of the franchise. As Maverick recalled what he knew about this little girl, he wasn’t sure whether to pity her, fear her, or outright kill her right here and now.
There are many versions of her origin told across movies, cartoons, and comics. She first showed signs of her powers as a child, triggered by overwhelming emotions when her best friend died in a tragic accident.
In some versions, it was her parents who died instead, but the result was always the same—trauma that forced her to bury her powers deep inside. Charles eventually helped her regain control, though how he did it was questionable, and it varies across the different versions of her throughout the multiverse.
Her most defining moment came when she bonded with the Phoenix Force—an ancient cosmic being of unfathomable power—which turned her into the Phoenix, and later, the Dark Phoenix. And what happens after was almost never anything good.
From the deaths of many X-Men due to her losing control, to worst-case scenarios where millions perish—or even entire star systems are wiped out in her rage—Jean Grey’s potential for destruction are undeniable.
Of course, those were the extreme versions. And… what happens in the Marvel comics. Sure, it might make sense to snuff out a threat like that before it spiraled out of control—but “the greater good” was never the flag he marched under.
---
“Hello there.”
Maverick crouched down to meet the little girl’s eyes, smiling warmly.
Jean didn’t respond to him at first. Instead, she turned to glance at Ororo, silently asking for guidance.
“It’s alright, Jean,” Ororo said gently. “This little brother is a friend. And we all came here to talk to you about something very important.”
Jean nodded slowly, then finally acknowledged Maverick. “Hello,” she said looking at him curiously.
Maverick grinned and stood up.
“Jean, do you mind if we come in? We’d love to have a word,” Xavier asked politely.
Jean nodded, saying, “Okay,” then stepped aside and pushed the door open for them.
They stepped into a small but tidy room. A single bed, a small wardrobe, a dressing table, and a desk with a few books filled the space. On the bed, a few stuffed animals rested near the pillow. Jean hopped onto the end, crossed her legs beneath her, and looked up at them with a mix of curiosity and wonder.
"Her name is Jean Grey," Ororo said introducing her formally. "Her gifts are similar to Professor Xavier's, but she leans more toward telekinesis than telepathy."
Then, turning to the little girl, she added with a smile, “Jean, this is Maverick. He’s a magician. A teacher, just like Auntie Ororo, but at a school for magic.”
Jean’s eyes lit up immediately. After all, mutant or not, what little kid doesn’t like magic?
“Really?” she asked, leaning forward. “Then can you do a magic trick for me?”
Maverick chuckled. “Of course.”
He reached into his coat and pulled out his wand. Although it wasn't necessary, this was a demonstration after all. Then, with everyone watching, he stepped forward and gently tapped Jean on the head.
A soft shimmer spread from the top of her head, and at first, it looked like a trick of the light, but then her clothes began to ripple as if caught in a silent breeze. The dull, everyday outfit she wore seemed to melt away, replaced by something entirely magical.
White silk bloomed like water across her frame, forming the elegant layers of a princess dress. Silver threads wove themselves along the hem and sleeves, glittering faintly as they caught the light. Her messy hair lifted slightly, then fell back into place in soft curls, styled perfectly to suit her new look. A delicate tiara, made entirely of tiny, glowing white gems, settled gently on her head, catching the glow of the room with every movement.
Jean’s eyes went wide. She gasped, looked down at herself, then jumped off the bed, staring in disbelief. The hem of her dress fluttered around her ankles as she ran toward the dressing table. She nearly tripped over a book on the floor, but caught herself and planted her hands on the table, eyes locked on the mirror.
“Whoa…” she whispered, spinning slightly to see herself from all angles. “Is this real?”
Behind her, Maverick chuckled and lowered his wand.
“Well, what do you think?” he asked with a grin.
“This is amazing!” Jean said joyfully while twirling in place. “You’re like a fairy godmother!”
Great, Maverick thought, one brow twitching. From little brother to uncle, and now a fairy godmother.
Xavier chuckled and wheeled towards her with interest. “Very impressive. Can all wizards do this? And... is it permanent?”
“This particular magic is called Transfiguration,” Maverick explained. “It changes the structure of matter itself. And no, it’s not permanent.”
“Truly?” Xavier’s curiosity seemed to grow with every word. “But how is it possible to alter the atomic structure so easily?”
“Explaining magic scientifically is not really possible, Professor,” Maverick said. Honestly, he had no interest in diving into a detailed discussion.
“This is incredible! Can I keep the dress?” Jean ran up to him, grabbing the edge of his coat and looking up with wide, hopeful eyes. “Pleeeeease?”
Maverick smiled and gave a gentle pat on her head. “I have a better offer, little Jean.”
Jean’s eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. “Go on! Tell me!”
“Actually,” Maverick said, crouching a little so they were eye level again, “the reason I wanted to talk to you is because I believe you’re very much like me. Magical. Which means... you could learn to change your dress like that whenever you want.”
“I... I’m a magician?” she asked, eyes wide with surprise. She glanced quickly at Ororo, then at Professor Xavier, searching their faces for confirmation.
Ororo and Xavier exchanged uncertain glances. Neither of them was sure what to say, and they didn’t even know if it was true. They only knew that Maverick believed Jean was like him.
“Is there a way to test... if she’s really like you, Maverick?” Charles asked.
Maverick nodded. He reached into his system space and pulled out a wand. Holding it up, he inspected the wood and the core carefully. The wand was made of holly wood with dragon heartstrings inside.
Handing the handle side to Jean, he smiled and said, “This is a magic wand. Pretty obvious, right? We magicals use it to channel our magic.”
Jean grabbed the wand excitedly and studied it for a moment. “What should I do next?” she asked.
Maverick chuckled. “Just give it a wave.”
Without hesitation, she swung the wand through the air, but nothing happened.
Maverick hummed thoughtfully, tapping his chin. “Let me have another look.”
Jean handed the wand back, and although she tried her best to mask it, there was clearly a flicker of disappointment in her eyes.
He pulled out several wands at once this time and inspected them carefully before choosing one—the wand with a Phoenix feather core.
Xavier, Logan, and Ororo watched quietly, noticing his effortless way of making things appear and disappear, but they just assumed it was his magic at work. Maverick didn’t bother to explain.
“Here, try again,” he said, handing her the chosen wand.
Jean grabbed the wand and, without hesitation, repeated her earlier motion, flicking it sharply.
Boom!
A burst of pure magic shot out like a bullet, striking the table on the other side. The ceramic vase there exploded into pieces, scattering shards across the room.
Jean jumped back, startled, and dropped the wand.
“I... I’m sorry,” she stammered, eyes wide. “Was that supposed to happen?”
“Are you okay, Jean?” Ororo asked after a moment, quickly crouching to meet her eyes.
Logan and Xavier came closer too, both visibly concerned for her. Their reaction was expected.
Of course, Maverick could have easily stopped that violet burst of magic from hitting the table, but he chose not to.
“I’m fine, Aunt Ororo,” Jean said quickly, though her voice held a hint of guilt. “But I broke the furniture.”
Ororo smiled warmly and stood back up. “Don’t worry about it.”
She glanced at Maverick just in time to see him flick his finger, and the wand floated silently back into his hand—whether by magic or telekinesis, she wasn’t sure.
“My intuition was correct,” Maverick said with a smile, glancing first at Xavier, then at the little girl. “Congratulations, Jean. You are indeed magical—just like me.”
“But I don’t want to do magic like that…” she said quietly, pointing at the broken vase and the damaged dressing table.
Maverick chuckled and raised his wand. With a simple flick, he cast the Reparo spell.
Once again, the room watched in astonishment. The shattered vase, the spilled water, and even the scattered flowers rose into the air. Piece by piece, they floated back together, fitting perfectly like a puzzle. In just a few seconds, everything looked exactly as it had before—good as new.
He turned back and saw them all staring in astonishment—except for Logan, whose face barely shifted. He had probably seen enough during the war.
“Magic is a lot like your mutant powers, Jean,” Maverick said gently. “It can be dangerous, sure, but with the right learning and training, it can do truly wonderful things.”
Jean’s expression lit up again. “So, Mr. Magic Teacher,” she asked with a grin, “are you going to teach me magic?”
Maverick smiled. “There are schools all over the world, Jean. When magical children turn eleven, they’re invited to enroll and learn how to use their magic properly. Since you have magic, you’ll have to go to one of those schools too.”
Jean’s eyes sparkled. “I want to go to the school where you're a teacher...” She then turned to Ororo and Xavier, looking between them with hopeful excitement. “Can I? Pleeeease?”
It was clear from her face—she already knew what she wanted.
“Jean, I will talk with Teacher Maverick more about it and give you an answer, okay?” Xavier told her.
Maverick sensed the hesitation in Xavier’s voice when the idea of Jean going to another school came up. He couldn’t blame him—after all, she was a mutant too.
Jean nodded, accepting the answer for now. But in her mind, she was definitely going to a magic school no matter what.
After settling the matter with Jean, they left her room. Another half hour later, they finished the tour of the mansion and returned to Xavier’s office.
Finally, the professor voiced his concerns to Maverick about Jean attending a different school. Maverick reassured him confidently that she would be alright. Then, turning to everyone, he gave a brief overview of magical schools around the world—how their systems worked, what students learned, and why it was so important to study magic properly.
They talked for over an hour, with Maverick doing his best to persuade them. It was only when he clearly explained that a magical person who does not practice magic, or tries to suppress it, could face serious and dangerous consequences that might harm them deeply, that they finally agreed to the idea of her going to a magic school.
Maverick then suggested that Jean join Hogwarts so he could keep a close eye on her, and Professor X seemed more at ease with the idea, eventually giving his clear approval.
Jean would be turning eleven the following year, which meant her name would soon be picked up by the nearest Book of Acceptance—most likely Ilvermorny—unless it was manually entered into the records of another school beforehand. Maverick intended to speak with Headmaster Dumbledore and have her name added to Hogwarts' Book of Acceptance as soon as he returned.
What had begun as a simple visit to Xavier had taken an unexpected turn, and Maverick now found himself looking forward to the uncertain but exciting future of Jean Grey, aka the Phoenix, and now, aka, a witch.
Hopefully, there wouldn’t be any accidents along the way. And if her “feathery” problem ever did surface… well, he would do everything in his power to help her through it.
---
The children began waking up, and the mansion quickly filled with noise and energy. Outside, the snow had stopped falling, and by midday, the clouds cleared. The sun came out, and the white-covered grounds sparkled under the bright sky.
Hank—whom Maverick assumed was the Beast—arrived that afternoon, just as Xavier had said. After Xavier brought him up to speed on everything that had happened, he, Logan, and Ororo got ready to leave with Maverick.
Right in the center of Xavier’s office, a rip tore open in space, twisting into a swirling void gate. Surprisingly, Charles and his team didn’t look nearly as shocked as Maverick had expected. Then again, they were probably used to seeing strange and unusual things.
But when he mentioned the gate would take them straight across the Atlantic to London in just a couple of steps, that finally got a reaction out of them.
“I’m jealous, Caesar. You magicals can wear whatever you want and go anywhere with just a flick of your wrist,” Ororo commented while observing the rift with a thoughtful expression.
Maverick chuckled, shaking his head. He didn’t bother explaining that not every witch or wizard could do that.
“Right then. Thank you once again for agreeing, Professor. I just want you to know that even if the treatment isn’t successful, the wizarding world—and I personally—will remember this favor.”
Professor X smiled. “It’s my pleasure. Like you said, my friend, we all bleed the same. I’m more than happy to use my abilities to help.”
