Harry Potter And The Man With The Blue Wand
Author's Note: As per all of my stories, post The Half-Blood Prince, this adventure is NOT Deathly Hallows compatible! Please read and review! Spotted a mistake? Let me know about it!
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns the rights to the obvious characters. The BBC owns the rights to the Doctor and certain other creations that appear later on. And the remaining characters are of my creation! No money is being made from this story.
Themes: primarily action-adventure – with some mystery, and my usual mixture of humour and dark moments. There will be blood (and death)… You have been warned!
EPISODE ONE
Prologue: Pack
The herd of deer was roaming through a large clearing on the edge of the forest. Night had fallen, and there was a scattering of clouds which travelled swiftly across the star-lit sky, borne on by the chilly westerly breeze coming in from the sea, a few miles away.
Close to the lake and the loch to their south stood an impressive, castle-like building – its towers, wings, and walkways lit by countless orange-yellow lights.
As his kin stopped to chew the grass at their feet, the head buck of the herd raised his head to peer into the darkness of the line of trees, close by – alerted by a flicker of movement. Another male, at the other end of the gathering, looked up, and gazed at another part of the forest. He raised his nose to the air. There were only the usual scents of the earth and the trees. As well as the freshness of the pool that his young were now drinking from.
Then came the howl.
All the deer – bucks, does, and fawns – felt the chill of terror. They became even more afraid when the howl was answered by three more – coming from the trees on both their north and east sides.
As one, the herd turned and started to run towards the opposite direction. They had barely done so, however, when the clouds were blown clear of the moon, and the change in the light shining down upon the dark clearing revealed the wolf before them now sprinting directly towards the panicking herd.
Acting instinctively, the does were forced by the wolf's approach to split up into two groups. The young ones kept close to their mothers, not daring to slow down.
The head buck faced the dark-furred wolf, and lowered its antlers…
The lupine intruder slowed down – then turned direction. The buck twisted round as well, not wanting to turn its back upon the hunter.
Then the other wolves caught up with the bucks.
There were six of them, in all. Three of them – all dark-furred – silently coordinated with each other, and surrounded the male deer closest to them. The dog-wolf amongst the trio faced the buck – and moved quickly from side to side, to keep the attention of its prey focused. Then the two identical she-wolves leapt at the deer – one from each side, and almost at the same time. It gave a cry as the first of the claw marks were inflicted – then it was borne down to the ground by the practiced attack. The male hunter bounded in – and, avoiding the antlers, angled his snout to rip out the throat of the deer.
He made it quick. There was no honour in making the prey suffer any more than the law of nature dictated.
Not far away, the head buck sensed the rest of the herd escaping, along with one of the remaining bucks. But the leader had its own immediate concerns to think of. Whilst keeping its antlers pointed towards the black-furred wolf that had been the first to strike – three more wolves, of various colours, had pelted towards the scene. Soon, the leading buck was surrounded – trapped underneath an outcrop of rock that it been forced to flee towards.
Antlers and hooves lashed out against the opportunistic lunges of the wolf pack. Blood on both sides was splashed. One wolf was kicked aside by a rear hoof. The brown-furred she-wolf yelped – then twisted itself and bounded back up, the injury already healing.
For a minute or so, there was a stand off. The buck was unable to break through the cordon of the surrounding four wolves. On the other hand, although it had been clawed and bitten, it was still strong enough to resist them. Even badly hurt them, if the final joint attack of the pack was not timed right.
The wolves growled, showing their sharp fangs.
Then one of them – the black-furred one who had forced the herd to break up – moved. The head buck was close enough to see that this hunter bore a white mark on his cranial fur – a lightning-shaped scar on his right temple.
Stay here! Keep it penned in! The message was conveyed with a mixture of lupine body-language and telepathy from the scarred wolf to his immediate pack mates.
What are you planning, Harry? This came from the other male of the four wolves – a ginger-furred specimen.
An attack from above… The Harry-wolf quickly scampered up the slope that led to the rocks at the top of the outcrop. Then he stopped, and concentrated…
In a matter of seconds, his form altered. The wolf changed shape, taking on a humanoid form – with half-human paws that could grasp.
Howling, the wolf man that was Harry Potter timed his attack carefully – and jumped off the rocky ledge, landing on the back of the deer. It buckled underneath his sudden weight, and fell.
One of the other wolves – the brown-furred she-wolf - had also changed form, distracting the buck whilst Harry prepared his flanking attack. Now a wolf woman, Hermione rushed forwards and firmly grasped the antlers with her own paw-like hands.
She snarled. Ron, Luna…
The ginger-furred dog-wolf and the grey-and-white she-wolf – together with Harry – moved in and finished off the hunt. Again, following the shared code of their pack, the kill was made swiftly and as cleanly as possible.
As the last of the meat was swallowed down, Harry, Luna, Ron, and Hermione shared a few moments in silence to honour the sacrifice of their prey. Then, licking each other clean – the four, now all restored to full-lupine form, padded across to Clifford, Padma, and Parvati. Clifford and the Patil twins were just cleaning away the remaining scraps from their joint kill.
Clifford swept his amber eyes across the clearing, in the direction that the rest of the herd had disappeared.
You left the does and fawns alone, too, then? he asked his pack mates.
Oh, yes. That's what we agreed for tonight. The herd needs to survive, as well as us! Luna responded.
We'll tell Hagrid in the morning that we've just taken the two bucks. Thankfully, there are more herds in the forest. More than enough for us and the centaurs to hunt for months to come, Harry declared.
Thank goodness Hagrid is so good at managing our supply of game, Hermione observed.
And we are lucky that the school is so tolerant towards our…occasional necessities, Padma pointed out. It has been…what…four years since our pack was established here?
Ron gave a slow, lupine nod with his muzzle. Yup. Over four years. With me in charge of half of these hunts, whilst Professor Lupin is tied down with Ministry Business as our werewolf representative…
And a fine pack leader you are, Ron! Hermione stepped up close and nuzzled him. We are a better pack than Fenrir ever led. We don't even have an Omega wolf, thank goodness!
No one is going to be a whipping boy, or whipping girl, amongst this pack! Ron snorted. You're right, Hermione. We are all better than that…
Parvati meanwhile, had her leathery nose raised to the air – gauging the change in the wind.
It's turning colder… I fancy tracking down a mouse for dessert – then snuggling up underneath the tree cover. Coming, Clifford? Padma? Anyone?
There was a chorus of assent – apart from two.
Luna and I had earlier agreed to have a private run, after our meal, Harry declared.
That's right! Good hunting, friends. We will track you down, later. Luna gave a lupine smile.
The pack gave a nod of understanding – and they parted.
Harry and Luna set off. They started at a moderate pace, and – minutes later - they increased their speed. The two human-sized wolves pounded up and down the ridges of the southern reaches of the Forbidden Forest – zigzagging through lines of trees, as Harry chased Luna, then overtook and led her on. Now and then, they played tag with each other's tails.
Finally, the couple slowed down and collapsed side by side on a rise that overlooked both the long loch and the eastern face of Hogwarts School for Wizardry and Witchcraft.
The clouds continued to drift across the gibbous moon. It was not full tonight – it would reach that stage by the next sunset. The werewolf pack had not been obliged to transform and hunt this evening. But it was in their natures to do so now and then – to take the edge of the full-moon nights, when they could not fully-retain their human control, Harry reminded himself.
He turned to plant his nostrils against Luna's equally cold nose. The contact sent a shiver of pleasure through both of them. Luna edged herself closer to Harry, pressing her lean body against his, as they began to cool down again after their exercise.
It's beautiful, Luna declared.
What is, Luna?
The view… The school. The moon. The night. And so are we – of course! The she-wolf grinned and gave Harry's muzzle a quick lick.
He flashed his teeth, as he licked her back. Harry felt good. Life – both his human and werewolf lives – was going well. Teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons in Mad Eye Moody's absence was challenging, but he seemed to be doing okay. Still, the end of term was almost upon them. There were just another four dozen tasks to be done…and then it would be time to relax and enjoy another Christmas with Luna, Ron, and Hermione.
His marriage to Luna had made him happier than he thought it was possible for him to be - after all of the trials and tribulations of his childhood and adolescence. The horror of Voldemort's return and his murderous attempts to rule over all wizards and witches of the nation. The brutal remainder of the Death Eater war. And yet, in spite of all he had been forced to endure, Harry had survived. Most of his friends had survived, too…
Having seen enough of death to fill a lifetime in only a few years had definitely knocked him, Harry reflected. He had been lucky to avoid being traumatized. But in turn, his experiences had made him so grateful to all of those he counted as his friends - whatever the nature of their species, human or otherwise. And, most of all, he treasured his understanding and loving wife.
Yes, we are wonderful, Luna! he thought back to her.
As one, Harry and Luna cocked back their heads and sent a howl of joy into the chill night air – a long, joint howl that was carried across the moonlit valley of the loch, before it faded away.
From high above, the moon silently watched over her children, as Harry and Luna rose and raced back to rejoin the rest of the pack.
Chapter One:
Arrival At Hogwarts
Three nights later:
It was a dull, cloudy December evening, towards the end of the year 2002. An early evening that did not bode well for observing the stars high above the Forbidden Forest.
Firenze sighed and stomped his hooves as the centaur turned round in the small clearing. He was about to trot back down the slope to rejoin his kindred companions, when he saw that Susan Bones had joined him on the ridge.
"You seem restless, Firenze." Susan smiled. Adjusting the collar of her thick shirt to ward off the cold air, she then ran her hand along his shoulder and down his firm, human-like chest – stopping to brush the fur where his equine half began. Sometimes, Firenze remembered, she had the habit of aiming for the small of his humanoid back, just above his fur – where Susan had discovered the wise centaur was ticklish.
Firenze smiled back. Before the end of the last Death Eater war, he would never have thought he would be so happy. But four years ago, Professor Flitwick – who had taken over as the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, after the death of Albus Dumbledore – had helped the outcast Firenze to be reaccepted by the rest of the centaur haras. And then, during the Third Battle of Hogwarts – a day which saw many casualties on both sides in the war – something else had happened, an event which had impacted upon the future of the centaurs living in the Forbidden Forest.
Susan's friend – the younger Hufflepuff pupil, Charlotte Greenway - had her legs crushed by falling masonry during the chaos of the battle. With Charlotte's permission, Professor Flitwick had invoked the centaurs to help the schoolgirl by using their advanced, but almost-forgotten, magic to transform her body into that of a centauress. In doing so, the centaurs were given new hope – as the number of females amongst their haras was few, especially after their losses whilst fighting the Death Eaters and their allies during the terrible, final battle of the war.
Charlotte's boyfriend, Neville Longbottom, had volunteered for the transformation too, so he could be with her. And then, some time later, Susan Bones had offered herself to be changed also, to help re-build the centaur population.
Now the three former-humans had fully adapted to their new lifestyles. Neville and Charlotte had mated and successfully become parents within the first year of their joint centaur lives – with Charlotte giving birth to a beautiful girl-centaur they named Epona, in honour of the Celtic goddess of horses.
And now, as Firenze's mind returned to the present moment, he in turn stroked the edge of Susan's reddish fur. She giggled as his fingers brushed the sensitive point below her belly button where her form became that of an attractive bay horse. All of her was adorable, of course, Firenze considered. Right from her young, human face, and red hair – to the tip of her glossy tail. In human terms, Susan would now be living her twenty-and-third year of life.
He took a few hoof steps back to regard the bulge behind the stomach of Susan's equine half. She was developing well. In another two-three months, Susan would give birth to their foal. And he would become a proud father for the first time.
"You have not spoken, Firenze," Susan pointed out, smirking, as she trotted forward and took his hand. "Are you still thinking of a suitable name for our foal?"
"Yes, I am – my dear. But it is the lack of a clear sky that ails me," he answered. "I wanted to read the stars. I sense something coming – an event that troubles my mind – and I wished to read what omens the sky would lay bare to me."
Susan now looked worried. Her slightly-pointed ears flicked briefly. "What do you sense, my beloved? All seems well in the forest…"
Firenze shook his head. "I do not yet know, Susan."
Suddenly, the centaur couple were disturbed as the centauress foal, Epona, raced over to them from the depths of the forest, and skidded to a halt. In the light of dusk, it was becoming hard for human eyes to see. However, in the process of adapting to her centaur form, Susan's night vision had become sharper – and it was now as good as her fellow half-equine beings.
"Godfather Firenze! Godmother Susan! Fire in the sky!" The brown-haired and brown-furred youngster pointed upwards excitedly. The angle of her extended finger indicated the direction she had just come from – only the trees blocked from sight the source of her agitation.
Seconds later, her mother – the now-married Charlotte Longbottom – caught up with Epona. Like her daughter and Susan, the latest centauress was clad in a cotton shirt and jerkin, to preserve her modesty above her human waist. The only other thing that covered the upper part of Charlotte to any degree was her long, free-flowing blonde hair, which now reached halfway down the human half of her back. And she still wore the same metal-framed glasses as she did when she had been fully human.
Charlotte slipped her wedding ring-adorned hand over Epona's shoulder. "Don't run off so far without me or Daddy, my daughter!"
"Sorry, mummy."
"Charlotte, what is going on?" Susan spoke up.
"Yes… Follow me – both of you! Quickly!" Charlotte scooped Epona into her arms, then turned and galloped back the way they had come. The other centaurs followed.
They soon reached a larger clearing, where the lie of the land allowed them to see further to the east. Along with the other centaur already present – Neville Longbottom – the party was just in time to see a light vanish into a distant part of the forest. There was a bright flash – then a loud 'boom'. A shower of earth erupted from the trees visible around the impact site.
Epona, still in her mother's arms, gave a squeal of delight.
"A meteorite?" Susan gasped.
"I had it in sight for about two minutes," Neville declared as he faced his brethren. "Came from nearly directly above, Firenze. Rather slow for a meteorite, wouldn't you say?"
The older centaur ran a hand across his curly beard. "That indeed seems strange, my brother. Yet it has landed with sufficient force, nonetheless."
"Well – you were right, beloved." Susan stepped forward so that her equine flank teasingly brushed Firenze's. "Something has come."
"We had better take a look," Charlotte ventured.
"No – that part of the forest is the territory of the giant spiders," Firenze pointed out. "As you know, they will not look kindly upon the prospect of many hooves invading their domain. And yet…we should be good neighbours. The spiders might have been hurt."
"That leaves the obvious answer, then." Neville turned round on his hooves, ready for a little journey. "There's only one person the spiders tolerate visiting them. We'd better alert Hagrid!"
*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*
"Accio spoon!"
The spoon, lying on the round wooden table, promptly shot towards Hagrid. Only it did so with such force that it struck him on the side of his forehead.
"Agghh!" The half-giant groundsman of the Hogwarts estate clamped a broad, thick hand to his injury, then dropped his wand upon the table and retrieved the fallen, offending utensil – before slamming it next to his wand. "Now, stay there!"
"Hagrid! Are you all right?" Hermione Weasley nearly overturned her chair, as she rushed over to her seated friend. She parted his thick dark hair, found the developing bruise as it appeared, then used her own wand to heal the injury. Eventually, Hagrid gently pushed her back.
" 's alright, Hermione. Don't you fret over me!"
"Well, that last effort was a definite improvement – wouldn't you say?" She smiled at him.
"Oh, aye. My first attempts, las' week, barely shifted a marble! I'm glad tha' you've helped me owt, lass." Hagrid paused - then glanced down at his dog Fang, who was lying on his side before the log fire. A sly gleam appeared in Hagrid's eyes. Puzzled, Hermione watched and waited.
"Fang…"
The boarhound opened his eyes briefly upon hearing his name, and then closed them again – content to enjoy the heat against his legs and stomach.
Hagrid pointed his wand at his new target.
"Accio, Fang!"
The dog's eyes went wide, and he yelped as the spell pulled his legs up into the air and rolled him over towards his owner. Then, despite protesting canine paws, Fang whined and slid along the floor – stopping only as his nose collided with his owner's boots.
"You've done it!" Hermione was so excited that she clapped. "You've mastered the Fetching spell!"
"At las'. After more years than I can count, 'Mione. For my New Years' resolution, I want tur try out tha' spell where you levitate someone by thur foot. Tha' will startle those sixth-year Ravenclaw lads who fool 'round in my class!"
"You will make a fine wizard yet, Hagrid." Hermione beamed at him.
Suddenly, Fang began to growl. At first Hermione thought it was because the docile dog had finally woken up enough to voice his dislike of her underlying werewolf scent. A scent which she tried to mask with her perfume. But Fang was facing the door near to her. In the next moment, there was the sound of hooves approaching the door. Then a knock.
"I'll get it." Hagrid got up from his wide stool and opened the door to his hut.
"Neville! Good to see yeh, lad!" he exclaimed.
Smiling, Hermione joined him at the doorway. "Hi, Neville! How are you and the other centaurs keeping?" she asked.
"Oh, we're all right. Epona can be a real handful sometimes, but that's parenthood for you – no matter what species you are!" Neville grinned, but then he paced on the stairs outside, showing his agitation. "Sorry – I can't natter for long. Something's happened!" And he then told both Hagrid and Hermione about the meteorite that he and his centaur family and friends had seen.
"Right! Better 'ave a look. Your folk are right not tur go upsettin' the giant spiders, Neville. They've been bad tempered, 'ately. Lack of food with all this December frost. Come alon', Fang!" Hagrid slipped into his hut again, to put on his coat, before grabbing a lantern and a spade.
"Me an' Fang will check it out – an' report back. Yeh comin', Hermione?"
The thought of walking into the territory of the giant spiders in the Forbidden Forest, even during the day, definitely did not appeal to Hermione. Let alone seeing the creepy-crawlies at night. Gulping, she checked her watch. "I'd better get back to the castle, and get ready for the party tonight," she explained, grateful that she had a valid excuse.
"Oh, aye. Tha'." Hagrid remembered. "Fancy dress ain't my thing. Wha' theme wossit tha' Professor Slughorn decided on, again?"
"Well, the Professor helped as relief in Muggle Studies, when the usual teacher was ill, earlier this year. And that started him researching more into Muggle culture – amongst other things, to take an interest in…"
"Yes…?" Neville prompted her.
"Comic book heroes… We're dressing up as Marvel and DC super heroes," Hermione told Hagrid and Neville.
"Oh, I get what you mean! Who are you dressing up as, Hermione?" Neville's face brightened in interest.
"Well… Ron wanted me to dress up as Wonder Woman. Then I saw what the character looked like, in the graphic novels. And in that TV series…"
"Ahh… I take it yeh not Wonder Woman tonight?" Hagrid observed, smirking.
Hermione gave a small, silent shake of her head. "Her costume is…not my style." She waved to the others, as she broke into a run. "I'd better go! See you later!"
"Enjoy yeh party!" Hagrid bellowed back, as he – along with Fang – set out on their journey into the Forbidden Forest.
*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*
From out of nowhere, the sudden roar filled the Common Room within Ravenclaw Tower. A whirring, mechanical-like sound blended into the noise – as did the appearance of a flashing light on top of a materialising, rectangular blue structure that looked big enough to snuggly fit in three or four people.
Seconds later, the noise and flashing had stopped. An old-fashioned police call box now stood against a mural-draped wall of the light, airy, domed room.
One of the doors opened, and a tall man stepped out – locking the door to behind him. He was a brown-haired individual who looked as though he was aged in his late-thirties, and he wore a long brown jacket over a two-piece blue pin-striped suit. Draped over his white shirt was a neatly-tied, pale green tie (a change from his usual choice these days). His footwear was in contrast to his smart appearance – consisting of a pair of white trainers, instead of polished shoes.
The newcomer wore an expression of interest as he took in the high ceiling and furniture of the deserted, unlit room. There was a trace of light present, admitted by a wide window to one side, which was currently covered by drapes which did not quite reach the edges.
"Seems to be evening… I wonder where you've landed, Doctor…," the man muttered to himself as he pulled out a metal device, similar in size and shape to a slimline pocket torch. He pressed a button, and a blue light was emitted. Panning it round, the Doctor picked out the statue of a woman bearing a circlet on her fair head. The marble edify was set in a niche, next to a doorway. He softly read to himself the small writing that he had spotted on the circlet.
" 'Wit without measure is man's greatest treasure'. Oh, that's good!" The Doctor smiled and explored further with his lit search, discovering the tables, bookcases, stone-cold fireplace, eagle-adorned tapestries, and more. The door besides the statue led to a pair of ascending staircases.
Staying in the domed chamber for now, the visitor twisted a part of his device – the sonic screwdriver. Immediately, the object gave a faint whine, which was swamped by static. The Doctor frowned, and turned round slowly on the spot, in a full circle. The pitch of the static remained constant.
"Oh, no, no, NO!" Come on – I want to trace that signal I've been following. Why am I getting interference! ? There's no electrical equipment here. Not even electrical lighting, come…to…think…of…it."
Puzzled by that observation, and scowling at his sonic screwdriver as he checked the tiny display on it, the Doctor shrugged and walked over to the blue and bronze silks curtains, to pull them apart.
He gave a low whistle of amazement. The unobstructed windows did indeed show that the early evening had fallen. More so, the first stars that were not covered by cloud were visible above a vast, castle-like complex of stone towers and buildings, as well as connecting wooden walkways dotted here and there. To the right, a dark lake – reflecting the last rays of the setting sun – lay at the cliff base of what seemed to be the largest structure. A main hall, perhaps. The lower level of it was certainly illuminated.
"A castle! Great! I love castles, me. And in the early twenty-first century, too. Must be a private residence of some type, to be in such good nick…"
But what got the Doctor excited most of all was a flash of light to his left. He looked beyond the castle structures, just in time to glimpse a glowing speck disappear into a vast, twilight-shrouded forest.
"Ah-hah! Thank you, TARDIS! You've allowed me to jump to the right moment in time, old girl! Now, then – I want to go down, not up. If I try this door that's opposite the marble lady… Right… A corridor, and some stairs in the near-distance, I fancy. Good. Just keep that sonic light on, until you reach somewhere that's lit up, Doctor – and you won't fall down any stairs. Hopefully."
Babbling away to himself, the Doctor left the Ravenclaw Common Room. The door swung to behind him, leaving the place in darkness once more.
*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*
"Well, what do you think to my outfit, Harry?" asked Ron Weasley, as he stood still in the lounge.
He and Harry were, for the evening, back together in the set of rooms they had shared together during their first year as trainee teachers and Aurors. In more recent times, Harry co-inhabited the suite with Luna (nee Lovegood) – his beloved wife of one year – whilst the rooms Hermione had back then to herself were now the humble abode of both Hermione and her new husband, Ron.
Harry popped his head out of the bedroom he was using for his costume change. His eyes took in the red spandex suit Ron was wearing, from the boots – which blended in with the tucked-in crimson-coloured trousers – to the helmet, with the two little wings adorning it above Ron's ears. A stick-on spandex mask, with eye hollows, covered the upper part of his friend's face.
"Wow! Great stuff, Ron!" Harry smiled, gave a thumbs up, and disappeared back into the bedroom. Seconds later, his head popped back out from around the doorway. "Erm… Who are you supposed to be, again?"
"The Flash! The fastest man on earth," Ron huffed. "In the DC Comic Universe, anyway."
"Ahh… Luna and I were researching the Marvel Comics for our costumes," said Harry, explaining his ignorance. "And Hermione was going to be…"
Ron's face brightened. "I hinted to her that she would look great as Wonder Woman. She seemed a bit dubious about it, though. What about Luna?"
Harry's voice carried from within the bedroom as he resumed changing. "She…, um, managed to wheedle from me my costume choice for tonight. The next weekday, she nipped off to the nearest Muggle town, to look up Marvel Comic book heroes, using an internet café. She wanted to dress as a character compatible with mine, she later told me. But she's keeping it a secret from me." Harry fell silent for a moment. "Right… Here's my new persona, Ron."
Harry Potter walked out of the bedroom. Ron's eyes widened behind his mask as he saw a red-and-blue spandex costume. The scarlet parts were inlaid with black lines in the manner of a spider's web. Ron felt slightly unnerved, seeing the emblem of a black spider on Harry's chest. His friend's head was entirely covered by a mask – the only facial feature being two white eyes.
"Holy…! Harry – you're Spider-Man!"
"Sure am." Harry's voice was slightly muffled.
"Hold on… Can you see and hear with that mask on? Can you even breathe?"
Harry patted Ron's shoulder amicably. "I cast some charms on the suit, to make sure I could do all of that!"
Ron looked admirably at Harry's costume. "Crikey…! And can you…, you know…, shoot out webbing?"
Harry gave a laugh. "No. Didn't think I would need that at the party! I've got my wand up my sleeve, though."
"Yeah, me too. Right, Harry. If we're set, let's fetch our ladies and accompany them to the ball, so to speak."
*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*
Ron and Hermione's set of residential rooms were set at the other end of the upper-level corridor. Ron made sure his outfit didn't show any creases, then he knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Hermione's voice came from within.
"Just a couple of would-be dashing heroes." Ron smirked at Harry, who grinned back.
"Oh good! One moment!"
The door was opened, to reveal a young woman clad in a black rubber outfit, with a dark cape hanging down to her waist. She wore an utility belt and a rubber mask that covered the back and sides of her head, but which still allowed the tawny-coloured hair underneath to reach her neck and shoulders. Two points rose straight up on the headpiece above the ears, ending in three-inch long rubber extensions. Like Ron, Hermione also bore a spandex mask around her eyes – hers being as black as the rest of her costume.
Ron was speechless for a long moment. Then he exclaimed, "You're not Wonder Woman!"
"Ron – please! After seeing what costume you had in mind for me? I'm not wearing that to a party! This is much better, don't you think? Ron…? Harry…?"
"That looks good to me, Hermione," Harry answered honestly – and tactfully. "Um… And you are…" Again, he cursed his limited knowledge on superheroes. He and Luna had only time to research some of the Marvel characters…
"Batwoman!" Ron snapped his fingers.
"Batgirl, actually." Hermione smiled. "I improvised somewhat – mixing designs of Batman and Batgirl. Do you like it, Ron?"
Ron was running his fingers along the black rubber on his wife's arm and shoulder. He suddenly seemed to come to from his silent appraisal as his eyes dropped to her thighs. "What…? Oh, yeah! I do, actually. Like it. No – I love it!"
"And is Mrs Potter also ready for inspection, Hermione?" Harry interrupted.
"Well. Let's see…" A grinning Hermione arched her head and called out to her friend in the next room. "Luna! There's a strange-looking man wearing a mask, out here – who wants to take you downstairs!"
"Oh! One moment, Hermione. I just need to charm my hair," a dreamy-sounding, Irish-accented voice replied. There was a flash of light from within the lounge, glimpsed by the young men at the door. Then Luna appeared at the doorway, her lips parted in a coy smile.
"Hullo, Spidey," she greeted Harry.
Oh, my…
Harry's heart did a flip-flop. Like his other two friends, Luna had attached a spandex mask to her face, which fitted around her wide, silver-grey eyes. The rest of her costume, however, was (and Harry stroked it to confirm the fact) made of black, velvety faux-fur material, which ended in white fur-lined gloves and boots. As with Hermione, Luna had an utility belt around her slim waist. And there was an erotic element in the spiked collar adorning the young witch's neck.
The finishing touch was her hair. Luna's usual dirty-blonde locks, which reached down to the middle of her back these days, were now a sheer white colour.
Easy, boy… Take deep, calming breaths – like you do when it's a full moon night, Harry told himself. Swallowing, he pulled off his Spider-Man mask, so that he definitely had more air to breathe. He was also conscious of a sudden tightness around his groin…
"Harry? Are you all right?" Luna gazed at her silent husband, in concern.
This time Ron and Hermione both grinned. "I think you have definitely chosen the right costume, Luna," Hermione explained.
"Well, I found this character who Spider-Man fought against. She starts off as a cat burglar – then she later becomes Spider-Man's ally in fighting crime…," Luna responded. "And the outfit did look rather fetching, and rather…"
"…slinky," Ron muttered, underneath his breath. He ignored Hermione's raised eyebrow.
"I definitely approve of your choice, Luna," Harry coughed, finding his voice again. He put his mask back over his head, then held out his hand. "May I have the pleasure of escorting you to the party, Miss Black Cat?"
"Certainly, Mr Spider-Man." Luna happily put her small hand in his.
"Well then, Batgirl…"
Hermione took Ron's offered hand, and then the two costumed couples headed to the Great Hall for the evening's festivities.
*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*
In the Great Hall, most of the other guests had already arrived. The Patil sisters were dressed identically as Elektra, and Clifford Chagoja was fashioned for the event as the film version of the black vampire hunter Blade. As Harry and his closest friends approached them, Clifford respectfully took off his dark glasses – and he and the twins engaged them in conversation, as Harry, Luna, Ron, and Hermione were offered a choice of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks by the waiters, who were simply dressed in black tuxedos, instead of comic-book characters.
To one side of the hall, a quartet of musicians was playing soft, instrumental music.
Suspended halfway up the walls of the Great Hall, were numerous small orange balls which glowed faintly with a gentle warmth. They bobbed slightly in the air, but otherwise remained stationary, out of anyone's reach.
As with every Christmas that Harry could remember at Hogwarts, a huge Christmas tree was set in one corner of the hall, decked with countless baubles, old-fashioned looking decorations, and streamers. And, of course, the silver star on top.
"Don't stare for too long, or you will be trapped, Harry…," Hermione muttered.
"Uh?" Harry turned and saw the faint smile on his pack-sister's lips.
"The baubles. Originally called witch-balls. Muggles put them around their houses, to trap the spirits of any witches passing by. The shiny surfaces apparently drew them in, you see…," Hermione explained happily.
"Ahh… Thanks for rescuing me, then, Hermione!" he smiled.
As Clifford and the Patil sisters moved on to mingle with other staff and guests, the host of the Staff and Ex-Pupil Party himself approached Harry's quartet.
"Ah-hah! There you are, my young friends! So who do we have here, hmm?" Horace Slughorn had actually shaved off his walrus moustache for the event. He was immaculately dressed in a white jacket and dark trousers – with well-polished black shoes. A surprised Harry saw that the purple-coloured tie Slughorn had on, was inlaid with a gleaming diamond.
"Hello, Professor Slughorn." Ron brightened up. "You've got us started on this super-hero business – so would you like to guess at our costumes?"
"Well then, Ron. Let's see… Unless I am much mistaken, you are the Flash, and the delightful Mrs Weasley seems to be one of the aides of Batman. Meanwhile, Mrs Potter looks quite the fetching feline – the Black Cat, that is – and this must be Harry under Spider-Man's mask!" Slughorn laughed jovially, and patted Harry's shoulder.
Harry pulled up his mask to reveal his face. "Spot on, Professor! You do know your stuff!"
"So, who are you tonight, Professor?" Hermione asked him. "You don't look like any of the heroes I looked up."
"Ah, well… Given my figure, and my baldness, I decided to be a certain villain, instead, Hermione."
Ron clicked his fingers, in realisation. "The Kingpin! One of Spider-Man's enemies. Watch out, Harry!"
"Indeed." Professor Slughorn deepened his voice, and playfully shook a clenched fist at Harry. "The time has come to squash you, insect!" He laughed, slapped the young man's shoulder, and then walked off to greet more arrivals as he took a sip from his glass of wine.
Harry gave an amused shake of his head. Then, still holding his mask in one hand, he spotted someone he hadn't spoken to for some time. "Hold on… There's Oliver Wood! Not seen him since the end of the war!"
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Luna all headed over to the plain-suited Oliver. As the crowd of staff members and their partners and friends parted for them, Ron and Hermione paused. They could now see that Oliver was speaking to Lavender Brown, who was donned in a pink and red silk-based outfit, her blonde-brown hair dyed red. Harry realised that she was (appropriately enough) the Scarlet Witch for the evening. She, in turn, spotted Harry's party. Wincing in annoyance, she made her excuses and turned to mingle with Ernie Macmillan, who – dressed as Green Arrow - was in conversion with Professors Pomona Sprout and Remus Lupin.
"Oh hi, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna…" Oliver Wood grabbed another glass of punch from a passing waiter, before turning his full attention to the quartet. "How are you all doin'?"
"We are all well, thank you!" Hermione spoke first, smiling. "How is the outside world treating you?"
"Not so good, I'm afraid. The job market for wizards and witches is shrinking. Lost my last job when the outreach 'Quidditch For Muggles' sporting venture I was involved with failed to take off. So I've come to see about the currently-open position for a relief caretaker here." Wood sipped his drink. "So, Harry… I understand you're now Professor Moody's understudy for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post? Congratulations! And the delightful Mrs Potter here… You're now a school counsellor. How's that going?"
"Oh, it is very interesting! Some of the pupils come up with unusual problems." Luna smiled. "But most of the time, I can help them."
"Good to hear. And you two, Ron and Hermione, are still assistant Quidditch teacher and assistant librarian…?"
Both Ron and Hermione confirmed this, and told Oliver that they were enjoying those jobs, despite the challenges they sometimes faced.
"Things still okay on… Well, y'know – the werewolf front…? What with all four of you, and the others in your pack…"
"Yeah. It's been four years now, since us lot became werewolves…," Ron answered for them. "…and we've not attacked an innocent person, yet. Not even on a full moon!"
"Changing still hurts a bit, every time. But we're happy with our lot," Harry nodded, slipping his arm around a beaming Luna, to emphasise his words.
"We still keep guard over Hogwarts, with Professor Lupin and our pack during full-moon nights," Hermione elaborated. "We're a family. We look after each other. Also, us four are an inner circle within the werewolf pack."
"Oh, really?"
Harry smiled. "That's right. We call ourselves The New Marauders – after the group of four that Professor Lupin, my dad, and my godfather were part of."
Oliver Wood smiled back – then he glanced across at Lavender, who had turned her back on their group. "So… What's the story with Miss Brown? I heard about her and you being together at one stage, Ron…"
"We broke up. And she's never really wanted me or Hermione to have anything to do with her, ever since the two of us got married. Despite the fact she's been working here, looking after the accounts and correspondence since the Ministry declared her Imperious Curse-free, after the end of the Death Eater war." Ron looked uncomfortable talking about Lavender – but he shrugged.
"Oh, okay. And when I came for my interview, earlier today, I noticed that the pupils have all gone home…"
"Yes. The plumbing is being overhauled, after recent problems. I suspect baby Grindelows have got into the system from the Black Lake," Luna announced, in her usual dreamy manner. "Either them, or it's Timmytuckles."
Oliver looked perplexed. "Ahh, what are…Tummytickles?"
Ron smirked at Hermione. "Priceless – if you strike at the right moment at bedtime…"
Behind her facemask, Harry thought Hermione's cheeks had reddened. She quickly looked down, hiding her look of abashment.
"Timmytuckles… They're a type of gremlin. Water dwellers. Apparently," Harry helpfully supplied to Oliver. He was getting used to Luna's ever-expending list of officially-they-don't-exist-but-maybe-they-do creatures.
"Anyway…" Hermione cleared her throat and spoke a little loudly. "…all of the pupils were sent home, yesterday – it being the last Friday before Christmas. But us staff members have got some portable magical heaters, so that this party could remain on schedule. Professor Flitwick has told us he is expecting Ministry workmen to come in to see to the plumbing and heating over the weekend – starting tomorrow."
Oliver nodded. "Ah, those wee orange balls up the walls here… And I saw them in the Headmaster's office, where I was interviewed. They'll be the temporary heating…"
"That's right," Ron confirmed. "How did your interview go, Oliver?"
"I don't like those things." He pulled a sour face. "Get me in front of a Quidditch crowd, and I've nae problem. But being interviewed by Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, and Mr Filch… Uggh! I did okay, I guess. Not that many other candidates, I gather. I'll hear after Christmas." He took another swig of his drink. "I'd better mingle a wee more. See you around, lads and lasses!" He slipped into the gathering of the other staff and their guests.
As Oliver Wood left, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Luna looked around the crowd again.
"Got some current pupils here, I see." Hermione nodded in the direction of a teenage couple who were engaged in conversation, close by. "They're both seventh-formers now. Lorna Broomhead and Edgar Mower. Dressed as Emma Frost of the X-Men, and Aquaman."
Harry looked across. The blond-haired boy wore an orange-and-green costume – whilst the girl was wearing an all-white costume consisting of a short top, cloak, trousers, boots and gloves. "Oh, yes. I recognise them," he announced. "They're both Slytherins. Lorna's quite a bright pupil – but instead of sitting with her usual female friend in Defence Against the Dark Arts, she's been hooking up with Edgar in class, this academic year. They seem to be quite keen on each other!"
"Oh, Harry! We'll have to save Lorna from Edgar," Luna declared.
"Er… We do? Why…?"
"Well, think about it, Harry. Does she really want to marry Edgar, and become Mrs Lorna Mower?" Luna gave the others a ghost of a smile.
Ron snorted halfway through a swig of his drink. He coughed, and gradually regained his composure. Harry and Hermione shook their heads, but were unable to avoid smiling themselves. Then all four of them went over to join Professor Lupin - the current Magical Minister for Werewolves - who was now available.
"Hullo, Professor. That's an interesting costume you have on," observed Luna, as she tilted her head slightly to one side.
Remus Lupin was wearing a black, western-style hat, and a dark cape jacket and trousers, along with a white cotton shirt. A band was wrapped around his head, complete with eye holes.
"Ah-ha! Greetings, seniors, senoras!" Lupin's eyes twinkled at them from underneath his band, as he stroked the end of his brown moustache. "How are you all, this fine night?"
Harry laughed. "We're feeling good, thanks, Moony. Glad it's the end of term, though. How about you? Where's Tonks? Or Dora, as I should call her…"
"I'm alright, Harry. Teddy's got a cold, though. Dora's at home, watching over him. She's sorry she couldn't come – and passes her regards to you all."
"Oh, I hope little Teddy soon recovers," Hermione spoke for the four of them. "Is parenthood still going okay for you two?"
Lupin made an expression that was a cross between a smile and a grimace.
"Okay… We get the idea." Ron nodded sympathetically.
"Don't get me wrong – Dora and I are fine. We just get a bit worn out by Teddy – especially when he wakes us up at night with his crying. As you know, being just a few months old, he hasn't turned wolf yet – but being his father's son, I'm sure he will. It just depends on when his half-werewolf genes get activated by the moon." Lupin gave a sigh. "A cub werewolf to add to the pack… Still, I imagine you youngsters will want to get in on the act, and provide Teddy with playmates… Oh – ignore me! That's your decision to make, not mine…"
"Er, well…" Harry felt himself blushing, as Luna gave him a wide, puppy-eyed look.
Lupin, seeing the interchange, spared Harry by quickly changing the subject. "I, er, gather that Minerva and Alistor are on honeymoon?" he asked.
"Oh, yes. They went on a package tour for wizards and witches!" Hermione gushed. "A special cruise boat touring the Mediterranean, I believe. And Poppy Pomfrey has tagged along, at Professor McGonagall's request – to give her a well-earned break, too."
"Really? Then that young man – Shapiro – who I spoke to earlier…"
"…he's Pomfrey's relief nurse on duty here over Christmas," Harry confirmed. "Oh, and they took Professor Trelawney along, too. To prove to her that she can survive being away from Hogwarts. I just feel sorry for Mad Eye having her tagging along!"
"By the way, who are you tonight, Professor?" Ron asked.
"Ahh… I am Zorro!" Lupin pushed his long cloak to one side and tapped the rapier in its scabbard, which in turn was tied to his belt. "I fight for justice, in my beloved Mexico!"
Ron's eyes widened in surprise. "Nice sword… Except that the party theme is Marvel and DC comic heroes, Professor. Zorro's not of that line…"
"No? Oh drat!" Lupin slapped his forehead. "I did rather leave my choice of costume to the last minute, thanks to my Ministry commitments…"
"It's a nice costume anyway, Professor," Luna opinioned in her soft voice. "Just watch out for others, if you draw out that sword!"
"Oh, I shouldn't need to play with it much tonight, Luna…," their pack leader replied lightly. He trailed off, as he saw something which caught his attention, at the opposite end of the long room. "What the…?"
Intrigued, Harry turned round, just as he was sipping some of his drink. He gave a start, and nearly choked.
Concerned, Luna patted Harry's back. "Harry…?"
"That guy…!" he coughed. Alerted, Ron and Hermione looked over, to see what the cause of concern was.
A tall man, with brown, somewhat-gelled, hair – and aged in his late thirties (or so he looked) – had entered the Great Hall. He was now in animated conversation with Professor Slughorn. The newcomer was wearing a long brown coat over a blue suit, and white, mud-splattered trainers. There were traces of mud and earth elsewhere on the man's clothes.
Harry put down his drink, and nodded curtly at the others. Not quite understanding his concern, but getting the gist, Ron, Hermione, Luna, and Professor Lupin, all copied Harry's actions as he drew out his wand and carefully made his way through the partygoers…
"…you don't have an invite to this party, me boy! ? How did you get into the school, then?" Slughorn's rather-indignant tone reached the sensitive ears of the five approaching, human-skinned werewolves.
"That's not important! What is important is that you have an alien vessel – an escape pod, I believe – in that forest out there, and I want to know what's in it! And I tried to get to the site – only to be chased out of the forest by centaurs! You do know about those centaurs, I presume…? They caused me to slip up… Sorry about my muddy shoes, by the way. I didn't see a mat on the way in." The man in the blue suit and brown jacket rambled on, oblivious to Harry and his approaching party.
"Of course I know about the centaurs! I'm a member of staff of this fine school. But what is this about an…, an alien vessel? That sounds ridiculous! WHO are you?"
Quick as a flash, Harry pushed past the last, protesting witch standing in his way, and he rammed the tip of his wand against the strange man's throat. His four companions sprang out together and levelled their wands at the target also, surrounding him. The party came to an abrupt halt, the musicians in the background stopping in mid-stroke on their stringed instruments as Harry's voice rang out accusingly.
"You're Barty Crouch Junior! !"