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Title: "The X-Files: Gone To Potter"
Author: Emmyjean (emmyjeanb@yahoo.com)
Rating: G
Classification: Scully POV, vignette
Spoilers: Oh, nothing really.
Archive: Sure, if you really want to. Just e-mail me.
Comments: Okay, this is really little and of not much substance. I'm on a Harry kick right now, so I figured that instead of fighting it I might as well cater to it. J Hope you find it...anything other than stupid.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey, Scully?"
Dana Scully looked over her reading glasses at her partner, who was tapping his thumb thoughtfully against his mouth and gazing into space. She knew this tone of voice very well, and if she wasn't mistaken it was leading to the launch of a deep philosophical discussion about something or other. Sighing resignedly as she had written out quite enough expense reports for the moment, she replied,
"What?"
He hesitated a moment, twirling his pencil in his fingers, before replying, "Have you ever really considered Harry Potter?"
She blinked, completely taken aback. Had she heard right?
"Excuse me?"
He looked at her then, completely serious, and continued, "You know, the kids book series. I was just thinking about it."
Alright...they needed to get on another case and soon, because Mulder was apparently beginning to go stir crazy sitting in this office day after day. She admitted to herself that she, too, was a bit restless - but not as bad as all this.
"Mulder...what exactly made you think about this? I know it couldn't possibly have been those cases you were supposed to be filing," she finished sardonically, as she had been noting his lack of an attempt at actual work completion for the past hour.
He ignored her jibe and stood up, his knees cracking as he did so. Turning toward her, he went on,
"I mean, the whole premise of the series is that there are people with magical abilities - wizards, as they're referred to - walking among us on a daily basis. Think about it, Scully...what if it were possible?"
She decided that it would be no good to try and sidestep this, as he seemed determined to procrastinate about those files. Sighing again to make it clear that she thought this was silly, she took off her glasses and folded her arms on the desk in front of her.
"You're saying you think there are wizards traipsing around pretending to be humans?"
"Muggles."
"What?"
"Forget it. No, I'm not talking about wizards specifically - although it is possible. I'm talking about people with abilities worthy of the thickest X-file, hiding themselves so they don't have to be singled out as "freaks" or "different". That thought intrigues me, Scully."
"Mulder...I can't believe you even brought this up. Moreover, I can't believe YOU actually read the Harry Potter series."
He looked perplexed for a moment before replying in a somewhat defensive tone, "I consider myself to be a pretty open minded individual, Scully...or hadn't you noticed?"
She rolled her eyes in response, knowing full well that if she wasn't careful, this would turn into an argument about her own lack of eagerness to believe everything she hears.
"I know that, Mulder. I'm just...well, a children's book series? That seems totally out of your usual taste range, wide though it may be."
Mulder smiled in a superior fashion, and corrected, "They're not just for kids, those books. If you had been listening to my original point..."
"I was listening," she interrupted, frustrated, "but I'm not sure you could call it a "point" just yet - I'm still waiting for you to get to it."
He gave her a look, and then said, "Well, I guess it just surprises me how much of our own can be seen in a fantasy novel…and alternately, it doesn't surprise me considering the things we've seen on the X-Files."
Scully thought for a moment about how she wanted to handle this, and then came up with a response she hoped would calm the frenzied pondering his brain tended to resort to when forced to focus on a task, and keep him quiet for a couple more hours at least.
"Well, in response to your original statement - we've known for a long time that people tend to hide any sixth sense or special ability from others to escape judgement, even during an actual investigation. We come across it constantly. I mean, look at Clyde Bruckman."
Mulder nodded thoughtfully, then looked up at her with a smirk on his face.
"I didn't think you bought into that kind of thing, Scully."
She rolled her eyes and replied, "Well, I guess we're just full of surprises today, aren't we? I didn't think you would be the type to read something like Harry Potter, either."
He looked surprised and answered, "Are you kidding? It's all about witchcraft and magic...it's right up my alley!"
She stood up now, paused for a moment, and then replied, "Actually, the magic is only a sub-plot as far as I'm concerned. The real story has to do with heroism, bravery, and standing up for what's right even if it's not the easy thing to do. Good against evil. In essence, that makes the story a reflection of not just the X-Files, but also the foundation of all law-enforcement organizations the world over."
Mulder was looking at her as if her hair had just turned green.
"What?"
"These are things that everyone struggles with in their daily lives, children and adults. The application of magic, an element that is removed from reality...except in our jobs...and a broad spectrum of universal emotions makes it simple for anybody anywhere to relate to Harry Potter."
She walked up to him and placed her hands on her hips, fighting the urge to smile in self-satisfaction at his bewildered expression.
"And for your information, I am familiar with the term, "Muggle". Now, was there anything else you wanted to get off your chest having to do with this particular subject, or did you want to try and get at least a few of those things filed before it's time to pack it up for the day?"
He shook his head and shrugged, evidently unable to think of anything to say in response. Satisfied that she had shut him up, she walked back to her desk and resumed her seemingly endless job of processing paperwork for Skinner. After a minute, she heard Mulder move back to his own desk and continue working as well...and this time, she actually heard the file cabinet drawers sliging open and shut, indicating actual progress. Glancing up, she realized that he had not managed to get the dazed expression off his face.
"Mulder?"
"Huh?"
"You may want to close your mouth...you look like you've been hit with a Stunning Spell."
He stared at her for a couple seconds more, then shut his gaping mouth and turned back to his files.
"Scully?"
"What, Mulder?"
Pause. "You mean you actually read...?"
"All four," she confirmed proudly, and then smiled a little and pointed out, "Like I said...full of surprises."
He didn't say anything more.
After what seemed like a million years, five o'clock finally rolled around. She shut down her computer and rubbed her eyes tiredly, dreaming of her soft, comfortable bed. She she clicked her briefcase closed and moved toward the coat rack, she heard Mulder clear his throat behind her.
"Hey Scully?"
Oh, no...not again. She had known her earlier speech had been a good one - it had proven effective in keeping him quiet for the last two hours of their shift. She supposed it was too much to ask that she'd be able to get out of the office at a reasonable hour, though. Turning reluctantly, she regarded him with questioning eyes.
"Umm...what are your plans for tonight?" he asked quietly.
She thought for a minute, as she didn't really know why he was asking...it was Tuesday night. She didn't normally go out on weekends, much less weekday nights. She wondered briefly if this was his idea of a joke, to get back at her for shocking the hell out of him before.
"Well, I hope to go to bed eventually, but other than that..." she trailed off, wanting him to get to the point.
He fiddled with his pen for a moment and shifted in his chair, then asked suddenly,
"You wanna catch a movie?"
She stared. Since when had Mulder been a fan of going to the movies? Usually, his taste in film ran towards those you couldn't see in a theater...or so she had assumed.
"A movie?" she asked, utterly perplexed.
"Yeah," he finished, "I thought we could check out that Harry Potter movie. I heard it was good."
She smiled inwardly as she thought about it. He was certainly going out on a limb today, wasn't he? All at once, she realized that there was nothing she'd rather do that evening.
"Alright, Mulder...I guess we could do that."
He smiled wryly and commented, "Looks like we've finally found something we agree on, huh?"
She merely nodded, turned the handle on the door and replied, " Pick me up in a couple hours."
She lingered long enough to catch his warm smile at her acceptance, and then turned and walked out the door. As she got onto the elevator, all she could do was silently thank the powers that be, once again but for different reasons than she had before, that she happened to pick up that book while passing through the airport bookstore all those months ago.
FINIS
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