Explanation

It was after dinner that Anne learned why Maggie and Hepzibah were there. It was also after dinner when she got the biggest surprise of her life.

After dinner, she went to speak to Professor X. She wanted to stick up for herself, and she was sure Hepzibah had nothing good to say about her. She knocked on his office door, and stepped inside. Just as she thought, Maggie and Hepzibah were sitting down in front of desk.

“Anne,” Professor X said greeting her warmly. She loved his smile and swore to herself if she ever had to leave, she would remember his smile. “I see you met my sister.” Professor X said nodding towards Hepzibah.

Anne’s jaw dropped. How could someone as mean as Hepzibah be a sister to someone so nice? “Wait a minute,” Anne said when realization hit her. “Hepzibah, you said I found the place where I belonged – aren’t you against these people?” she said, confused.

She smiled, a rare sight. “I only meant that this is the place where a lot of misfits come and live - perfect for you,” she said.

“Still, I don’t understand,” Anne said. “Hepzibah, if you are Professor X’s sister, why were you working for Mrs. Thomas?” Professor X was very wealthy.

“I was returning a family favor. The Xavier’s and Thomas’s have known each other forever. After I married Mr. Leech, who had no money, my whole family except my brother stopped talking to me. The Thomas’s helped me bury Mr. Leech when he died.” she explained.

“Then why were you so mean to me?” Anne asked. Hepzibah suddenly grew angry. “Your father helped start the trouble at the mill, and led Amelia to go against Mrs. Thomas!”

“I had nothing to do with my father!” Anne said, anger and frustration coming out. This was the reason that she told everyone her parents died.

“If it wasn’t for you, he would have never written to Amelia.” Hepzibah said sternly.

“I couldn’t help that, I wanted nothing to do with my father! And still don’t” Anne yelled angrily. She could feel tears running down her face, and that all too familiar feeling she got when she knew her life would change again.

“Amelia and your father were the reason Mrs. Thomas burned down her mill - you’re a heathen just like he is!”

“I am not!” Anne shouted

“Enough!” Professor X shouted.

Anne ran upstairs and angrily started throwing clothes in a bag. She wouldn’t wait this time to be taken to an orphanage. Anne would rather die than go there again.

There was a knock on her door. Before she could climb out her window, Professor X came in. He motioned for Anne to sit back down on her bed.

“I’m not going to an orphanage again.” she said stubbornly.

Professor X smiled. “I don’t want you to leave,” he said. “I know my sister has a short temper. I also know how bitter she can be. You see, a long time ago when we were still kids, I helped a little girl named Mystique. She was a mutant like me. Mystique and I got along better then Hepzibah and I ever did, and Hepzibah grew jealous.” he explained, “When we got older, she married Mr. Leech and my parents stopped talking to her. I wrote to her, but I think she was too proud to write back. When our parents died, she didn’t even come to their funeral. A few months later, Mr. Leech died, I became paralyzed, and Masque left with my friend Eric. That is when Hepzibah and I started talking again. She went to work for the Thomas’s, and I opened this school. She’s come to help.”

Anne had to admit it was a sad story.

“Anne,” Professor X asked, “Is there anything you need to tell me?”

“No, professor - at least, it’s not terribly important,” she said. “After all, you have an upcoming war to tend to.”

“Anne, please tell me,” he said gently. Anne told him about Gerty. When she was done, Professor X looked startled. “Anne how is that not important?”

“Because she isn’t a mutant, and she has no one in the world, so she is of no importance, just like me.” she said frankly.

“Anne, you were right on your first day. This school is for the unwanted - you more then anyone except maybe Logan know that feeling more then anything.” he said. “Tomorrow, I would like you to tell Maggie Gerty’s story, and anything else you know of the Matrons dealings.”
Anne looked confused and asked “sir”

“I’ll explain tomorrow” he said.

Just as he was about to leave, he turned. “Anne you will never be kicked out of this school. I promise.” And then he left.