Like Sapphires and Emeralds

Chapter One: Of Trains and Magic Schools

Xavier's POV

((Just going to put a note here to let you guys know to keep in mind that at this point in time, Xavier has a very abusive and toxic relationship with his father, who drinks himself blind on the regular and beats Xavier regularly enough or at least hard enough to give him a black eye. That's why this story has a mature rating))

Xavier tossed and turned in his bed, lying awake after a rather fitful sleep. He couldn't wait to go back to Hogwarts, to escape this place which was his prison. Despite being born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Xavier had been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Scotland.

In all honesty, Xavier was nervous. What would Professor McGonagall say if she noticed the bruising around his eye; the one that was a product of his father's drunken rage? He knew she would, she was attentive like that. Professor Flitwick, Xavier's Head of House, was attentive as well, but McGonagall tended to pick up on things a little faster than he did.

Xavier sighed and sat up. No point in going back to sleep, he thought, flinging his sheets off and sitting on his windowsill.

As if the universe had heard him silently crying out for help, a flash of green light appeared for a moment and a brown tabby cat with squarish markings under her eyes perched on the windowsill beside him.

"Professor!" he exclaimed. "I wasn't expecting to see you until the Welcome Feast this year." The cat transformed into Minerva McGonagall, the Headmistress of Hogwarts, and she looked at him silently for a moment before speaking.

"Xavier," she began, "Professor Trelawney warned me of the most dreadful news. I suppose I should have caught on earlier, but it has never been more prominent than it is now. She has told me that your father has continued his vindictive behavior, despite a promise to improve it. I see evidence of that in the bruising around your eye."

Xavier nodded. "Professor, you have no ideas how many times I've considered running away from here. I mean, it'd break Mom's heart, but it's probably for the best."

Professor McGonagall, being the understanding and caring type when it counted, simply looked at Xavier and smiled softly. "It seems to go without saying that hard decisions must be made throughout our lives. I myself had to make a tough decision once or twice. One such occasion was when I had to tell someone I was in love with, that I could not marry them. I was bound by a statute of secrecy that I could not break, not for any reason."

Xavier looked at Professor McGonagall with shock. "I'm really sorry to hear that, Professor. It must have been really hard to break off a good relationship like that."

"Indeed it was," Professor McGonagall replied. She then stood, adjusting her robes. "I expect I shall see you at Hogwarts to resume your studies, then?"

Xavier nodded. "Yes. I'll probably leave tonight and crash at The Burrow. I was going to leave a note for my mother to keep her sane, but it hardly seems worth it now."

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Would you like an escort to the station? I'm quite sure Rubeus would be quite glad to escort you there, as well as to the school, himself."

Xavier nodded. "That makes sense. I'd feel safer knowing that I had some muscle."

"I shall make the necessary arrangements." Professor McGonagall simply looked at Xavier sternly before going to the fireplace in his room and took the Floo Network back to Hogwarts.