Harry Potter and the Magic of the Elders of the Universe; Part four.
(AN) This is a continuation of my saga and is loosely based on book four of the series. Keep in mind this story is very AU and has a lot of science fiction to go along with the magic. I hope to make it interesting for fans of both genres. Also keep in mind the reason the Elders are on Earth to begin with.
To my readers of the Muslim faith: I have references to a mosque and a few other things in this chapter. I have kept everything as generic as I could with no names mentioned. I hope I got what terminology I used correct and apologize in advance if I messed up. Send me a PM if any corrections are needed and I will fix it.
As usual; I write for my own entertainment and that of others. I do not own the Harry Potter universe, the DC Comics Universe, the Star Wars Universe or any other universe. I do not make any money from this as it is strictly fan-fiction only. With all of that said; on with the story.
Chapter 41: A Family Reunited and the Righting of a Great Wrong.
School lets out for the final day of third year and the student's board the carriages for the ride to the train station in Hogsmead. The study group finds a compartment and settles in for the ride to London.
"What are everyone's plans for the summer," Hermione asks to get the conversation started?
"Hannah and I just usually hang out with each other and going to the beach," Susan answers while Hannah nods in agreement," Not real exciting but it passes the time pleasantly enough."
"Dad's trying to get tickets for the Quidditch World Cup," Ron volunteers," It's being played in England this year. Too bad The England Nationals didn't make it."
"Tell your dad it is all taken care of," Harry says," Because of Hermione and my status we have reserve seats in the Minister's booth. The booth has been expanded to accommodate all of Phoenix house and their families, along with whoever the Minister invites."
"Cool," Ron and Ginny say together as they are huge Quidditch fans.
"Thank you for inviting us," Draco adds for him and Pansy.
"You're welcome," Harry says," What about you Luna?"
"Well, since we won the House Cup this year," She says in her high voice," My dad and I are going camping in Switzerland as a reward. We should be back in time for the Cup though."
"Luna, school records showed us you contributed the most of anyone in your house. You also won the most points for any individual, ever," Hermione says, "You earned it. Enjoy your trip."
"Only because you and Harry dropped out of the point race," Luna says shyly.
"Since we own the school," Hermione explains," we decided it would be an unfair advantage if we won all the time. We realized that at the end of last year. Hufflepuff still came in a respectable second place, even without our help."
Luna nods and gets out her Quibbler and starts reading it upside down, trying to work the magical puzzle included in every issue.
"Tracey and I hang out together also," Daphne starts back up again, "But my parents are taking Astoria and me for a cruise on the Mediterranean as soon as we get home. We'll be back in time for the Wizengamot summer session. We plan to be at the Cup too."
"That's great Daph," Hermione answers," see you at the session. What about you Nev?"
"I'm not sure," he answers," My Gran wouldn't say anything. She did say it was going to be a surprise though. I hope it's a new greenhouse. My old one is getting full."
Harry and Hermione look at each other and smile.
"Umm,"is all they would say.
The trip progresses quietly for the next thirty minutes as everyone has taken something out to read. Neville is watching his friends sit there with that smile on their faces as they cuddle together. He gets more and more suspicious of their smug looks and he finally can't take it anymore.
"You know something," he accuses.
"We know a lot of things Neville," Hermione says with a smirk," To what would you be referring?"
"You two are sitting there with that silly grin on your faces and you keep glancing at me and then each other," He says," You're not trying very hard to hide it."
"Okay, you caught us out," Harry says," We can't tell you, but we know you will like it very much."
Neville just sits back in his seat with his arms crossed, disappointed he didn't find out what the surprise is and now can't wait to get home. The rest of the trip flies by uneventfully and soon the train pulls into King's Cross Station. The youthful passengers exit the train in a somewhat orderly manner to go in search of their families. Harry and Hermione step off their train carriage with Neville right behind. After stepping down onto the platform; Neville looks up to see two people standing with his Grandmother.
His eyes get wide and tears start to flow," MUM, DAD," he yells dropping his trunk and racing up to them. They sweep him up in a hug and everyone is crying tears of happiness at being reunited. Neville then remembers his suspicion from earlier on the train, along with a certain two people that were absent for too long on the train ride before this one.
"Wait a minute," He says and runs off yelling over his shoulder," I'll be right back."
Harry and Hermione are standing on the platform leaning against each other, watching the reunion with smiles of contentment on their faces. They spot Neville running towards them and straighten up as he approaches.
"You did this, didn't you," Neville says with tears still flowing and throwing his arms around them hugging them for all he is worth.
"Thank you Elders," he says," you were right. This is the best surprise in the world."
"We're happy for you Neville," Hermione says with a few tears of her own, thinking about her husband standing next to her. She snuggles into Harry's side knowing this is something he will never be able to experience.
"Come and meet them Elders," Neville says grabbing a hand each, pulling them along.
The Longbottoms watch as Neville runs over to a pair of students and throws his arms around them.
"He obviously has friends," Alice comments with a smile.
Franks nods agreement and puts his arm around his wife. They watch as Neville grabs his friend's hands and starts dragging them over in his enthusiasm. His friend's just smile at Neville while walking behind him in a normal manner, allowing him to pull them along. The trio soon arrives at the Longbottom's location.
"Mum, Dad," Neville says to his parents," I would like to introduce you to my best friends. This is Lord and Lady Potter. They are the Elders I told you about Gran."
Augusta Longbottom loses a bit of her dignity when the tears start flowing from her eyes as she realizes these are the two that healed her son and daughter-in-law. She walks over to them and hugs them both.
"I can't thank you enough for giving my Neville his parents back," she says," the Longbottom's owe you a debt that can never be repaid."
"No payment is necessary," Harry says," seeing Neville happy is payment enough. We would have helped sooner if we had known."
Alice is standing there smiling at her sons antics as he drags the couple toward her. When she finally sees who Neville is dragging behind him she can't take her eyes off of Harry.
"Harry," she says in surprise," little Harry?"
Harry looks over at Alice and recognition hits him as his probes show him a memory from when he was a baby.
"I know you," Harry says," I thought I recognized you in the hospital but it didn't connect then."
"I'm Alice Longbottom, your godmother," she introduces herself.
He gives her a hug and says," Then you need to meet our parents. You're family after all."
Harry and Hermione lead them though the barrier to find the Granger's who are waiting patiently.
The Grangers are standing off to the side, out of the way of the large crowds that populate King's Cross this time of day. They are watching the wall between platforms nine and ten, amazed as always how witches and wizards come and go while the crowd at the station doesn't seem to notice at all. They perk up when they spot Harry and Hermione leading four other people through the barrier towards them.
"Mum, Dad," Harry says," This is Neville Longbottom and his parents, Lord and Lady Longbottom and his Grandmother, Madam Longbottom."
"Neville is in our study group and one of our best friends at school," Hermione adds.
"Drs. George and Helen Granger," Mr. Granger says shaking each of their hands.
"Mum and dad," Harry says after the introductions are done," I just found out Neville's mother is my godmother."
"Then that makes her family, doesn't it," Mrs. Granger says with a smile," It makes all of you family. Why don't we all have dinner at our house and get to know each other."
"Get Jeeves to take the Rolls home and Hermione and I will get us there as a group." Harry suggests.
"Alright Harry," Mr. Granger agrees.
He walks the short distance to where the car is parked and gives Jeeves his instructions. Jeeves agrees and drives off in the car.
"Jeeves says he will meet us there," Mr. Granger informs them when he returns.
Harry leads the group to a secluded area away from the crowded station.
"Everyone, form a circle and hold hands," Harry instructs.
"What are you going to do Harry," Frank asks?
"Hermione and I are going to phase you to our home," he answers.
"Don't worry," Mrs. Granger says by way of assurance," They are very good at it."
The group forms a circle with Harry and Hermione on opposite ends. Everyone takes a hand and the Potter's phase the group to the entrance area of the Granger's home.
"That wasn't apparition," Frank comments.
"So that's what it feels like when you do that," Neville says.
"We call it phasing," Harry says answering Franks comment.
"It is certainly more pleasant than apparition," Augusta adds," I don't suppose you can teach up that?"
"Sorry," Hermione says," It is unique to Harry and I because of our status as Elders and our DNA makeup."
The Granger's lead everyone into the sitting room with Jeeves following with a teapot, cups and saucers on a tray. He sets the tray on the settee table and serves everyone.
"Welcome home Lord and Lady," he says with a bow as he finishes.
"Thank you Jeeves," Hermione says.
Jeeves walks out of the room to the kitchen to prepare dinner for the group.
"Was that an elf," Alice asks?
"Yes," Hermione says snuggling up to Harry," Jeeves used to be a house elf until we freed him and re-bonded as family. Harry figured out how to free the elves from the curse put on them a thousand years ago."
Harry and Hermione take turns explaining to the Longbottoms about their status and why they are there. Harry conjures watches for the adult Longbottoms and adds a family status face to Nevilles watch.
"Now you can talk to your parents anytime Neville," Harry says," Even while you are at school."
"Thank you Harry, you're the best."
The kids fill their parents in on happenings at school while waiting on dinner and soon Jeeves walks in and announces:
"Dinner is served."
The group makes their way into the dining room and takes their seats where Jeeves serves everyone and then takes his place at the table to the Longbottom's surprise. Hermione reiterates that he is part of the Potter family and eats with them all the time. He even contributes to the conversation by educating the Longbottom's on the elfish way of life. When everyone is done eating, the group retires back to the sitting room where brandy for the adults and juice for the children is served. After serving them Jeeves returns to the dining room where with a snap of his fingers the table is cleared and the dishes start cleaning themselves in the kitchen. If one was to look into the kitchen right then, they would see an assembly line of dishes being washed, dried and put away.
"We need to set you up with a floo connection so we can visit back and forth," Augusta says to the Grangers," It will also allow you two to get around in the magical world while Harry and Hermione are in school."
"We didn't think about that," Hermione says to her parents," Now that mum has her magic back, she can take dad through the floo with her. You can come to our school whenever you want to see us or go anywhere there is a floo you have the password to."
Helen Granger is happy to hear this and hugs her children while thanking Augusta for the suggestion. Augusta says that she will attend to it the next day at the ministry. After another hour of visiting the Longbottoms gather together where Frank makes a port key to their home and after thanking their hosts for a pleasant evening, vanish in a flash of light. With goodnight kisses from their parents, the teenagers retire for the evening.
The next few days pass quietly as the family re-bonds after being separated with the children at school.
/
June 27th, 1994
Mrs. Granger wakes up that morning to a humming sound. She keeps swatting at her ear trying to chase the perceived insect away. When that doesn't work she sits up in bed to listen.
"Huuummm, chiiii, chi chi chi chiiiiiiii," she hears. She turns to her husband and shakes him.
"George, wake up," she whispers urgently.
He turns groggily to his wife," waas up?"
"Listen," she says.
"Huuummm, Huumm, chiiii, chi chi chi chiiiiiiii," they both hear.
"What is that," he asks, looking at his wife?
They get up and put their dressing gowns on, then follow the sound down to their basement. When they open the door they both see a sight they never thought they would ever see in real life. Harry and Hermione are standing there in their training clothes with light sabers in their hands sparring with each other. The action is so fast and furious, the Grangers can barely follow the light of the sabers as they swing. Hermione forces Harry to retreat toward a nearby support pillar with her flurry of attacks. She swings at Harry and he deflects her saber with a block of his own and she accidently slices through the support pillar.
"Ops," she says and with a quick, "Reparo," continues the fight.
After another ten minutes of this the couple finally notices the Granger's standing there with their moths open. They salute to each other, stand up and deactivate their sabers and place them back at their belt hooks.
"That was exhilarating Harry," Hermione says," Best workout in a while."
"Yea, "he agrees, "I think we might have scared our parents though."
Mrs. Granger is nodding vigorously in agreement," That looked very dangerous; especially when you cut through that pillar."
"It's not dangerous to us mum," Hermione says while igniting her saber. She runs her finger along the blade to show it won't hurt her and when Mrs. Granger reaches out she moves it away quickly and deactivates it.
She reattaches her saber to her belt and says," It's not dangerous to Harry and me but it will do everything you saw light sabers do in the movies and more."
"So Star Wars is real," Mr. Granger asks?
"Somewhat," Hermione says," The movies are a dramatization of events that happened in the Leggit Galaxy a thousand years ago. Alderaan didn't get destroyed by the Death Star like in the movie because we were there to prevent it. The Emperor was destroyed the next day. 'Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi' never happened. Darth Vader was redeemed and reverted to his real name of Anakin Skywalker where he helped his children Luke and Leia rebuild the galaxy to become what it is today. We suspect George Lucas, or one of his ancestors, is from that galaxy and used the legend to make the films."
"That was the mission you went on during the spring holiday," Mrs. Grangers says in understanding.
"Yes mum," Hermione answers," we didn't tell you because we didn't think you would believe such a story, even from us."
"Why weren't you mentioned in the movies," Mr. Granger asks?
"Well," Hermione pauses while thinking," The truth wouldn't make a very exciting story for the people of Earth. We tend to want to see a story drawn out with lots of action and adventure. We want to see the heroes struggle to reach their goals and then get the satisfaction of watching it happen on the screen."
Harry continues, "We did in two days what the Rebel Alliance couldn't do in the twenty years they had been fighting. For them, it was a miracle ending to their war. To us it was saving a galaxy from extinction. That was our mission. Palpatine was going to use bio weapons on the non-human population, not realizing he was dooming the whole galaxy to death."
"What about the light sabers," Mr. Granger asks," how did you come by those?"
"We actually stayed there for fifty years, helping with the cleanup and rebuilding. We met Yoda and he trained us to become Consular Jedi's, the diplomatic arm of the order," Hermione explains," That is why the blades are green in color."
Their conversation is interrupted by Jeeves coming down the stairs with agent Hamilton in tow. Harry and Hermione are surprised to see him.
"Agent Hamilton," Harry says," Is there something wrong?"
"After your trip to the ISS Station and helping the Russians and Americans the way you did, my bosses have decided you are mature enough to possibly help us out with a problem in the Middle East," he says while handing a folder to him.
Harry and Hermione look over the information in the folder and then look back up at them.
"We have plans to go over there this summer to poke around a bit," Harry says," Someone is stirring up the local militants into a frenzy and we want to see if we can find the cause."
"That's good to hear," Hamilton says, then starts the briefing, "This information should give you a place to start. Most of the trouble at this point is in Iraq. Their leader is a ruthless man that attacks his own people. He harbors known terrorist groups and is now threatening to build a nuclear weapon. He's already used biological weapons on his own country and was responsible for the Kuwait War. As his troops were forced to leave Kuwait by the coalition, he ordered the burning of hundreds of oil wells which spewed thousands of cubic meters of poisonous gas into the air. The man has no conscience. Our hands are tied and no country will commit to stopping him. We're hoping that with your status and abilities you can do something that we can't. He must be stopped before he can get his hands on materials for a nuclear bomb. He won't hesitate to use it."
"Very well," Harry answers grimly," It looks like the problem is worse than we thought. We will start there and scout around till we find the root cause and fix it the best we can. Tell the Prime Minister to contact the other major powers to be ready to step in to help the general population once we remove their government. Make it a UN operation so no one can point an accusing finger at any one country for our actions."
"What are you going to do," Hamilton asks?
"We won't know till we get there but you will know when it will be time to intervene," Hermione says.
"I will pass the message on," agent Hamilton says," Good luck."
After he leaves, the Grangers and Potters head back to their rooms to get cleaned up for their day. Harry and Hermione pack a trunk to take with them after they dress in their Elder/Jedi robes with the runes and head back downstairs. Harry puts the shrunken trunk in his pocket as they walk up to their parents to give them a hug before leaving.
"Your father and I know you two can take care of yourselves but please be careful," Mrs. Granger says as she hugs them.
"We will mum and dad," Harry answers for them," Our solution will be very visible to the world, so keep an eye on the telly from time to time."
With that said the pair disillusion themselves and fly out the patio doors and up into the sky towards the country of Iraq, known as the starting place for the civilized world. Since they didn't want to be picked up on anyone's radar they flew low and slow, taking about five hours to get there. They enjoyed the scenery very much on their flight. The Elders followed a flight path in to the main airport and mingled with the passengers getting off one the larger airliners. They slowly made their way out of the terminal and hired a cab to take them to a nearby hotel Mrs. Black had told them about. Their hooded cloaks drew a few looks but no one paid them any mind.
"I can feel a dark presence in the center of the city," Hermione comments as she puts her clothes away.
"That's probably the palace," Harry says," Let's take a walk in the area around the palace and spiral out from there. We can listen to the locals talk and maybe pick up on something."
Bagdad is a very large city and the Elders take their time exploring its depths. They discover there are several factions vying for power within the city with each against the other but all of them hostile towards the soldiers in the palace. As they are walking along one of the main thoroughfares, Harry and Hermione are guided by some force toward a neighborhood a few blocks ahead of them where they detect a dark presence. They duck into an alley to dissolution themselves unnoticed and take to the air. In the short time it takes to fly to the neighborhood, the presence is gone.
"Did you feel that Harry," she sends," something guided us here."
"The creator must need us to be here for some reason," he sends back.
"That presence we were led to has to be a dark wizard or witch," Hermione sends to Harry.
They look down and notice they are flying over a mosque. From out of the mosque walks a young couple side by side. Their gait is steady and even, perfectly in step with each other. The couple is looking straight ahead while they walk and don't say a word to each other. The Elders fly down and follow them to see where they are going and to determine what is causing their strange behavior. Up ahead is a large open air market with a lot of people shopping and bartering for goods. Hermione flies a little closer in order to see their faces.
"Look at their eyes Harry," she sends.
He joins her to have a look for himself and notices their eyes look glazed over," They've been imperiused."
Harry further scans their minds and discovers they each have a bomb strapped to them under their clothes. With a wave of his hand, he vanishes the bombs to the desert and detonates them harmlessly. The couple walks into the market and stops in the middle, turn to face each other and then reach into a pocket each and pull out a handle with a button on it. They push the button over and over where it makes a clicking sound but nothing else. People nearest the couple hear the clicking sound and recognize the buttons for what they are and start to panic. Harry and Hermione take that moment to reappear out of thin air and cast a calming charm on everyone with a wave of their hands.
The crowd starts to gather around after they notice the hooded couple appear out of the air like they did. Said couple is wearing a fully covering set of dark maroon robes with runes running along the edges of the cloaks and along the bottom of the skirt like section that flair out covering their feet. The robes are cinched at the waist with a wide belt where each figure has a silver cylinder hanging. A blue shield snaps into place startling the crowd a bit but they don't come any closer. A bystander pushes bravely on the shield but is gently repelled back to where he was.
"Do not be alarmed," the male hooded person calls out in Arabic," we will not harm you."
The crowd watches as the smaller hooded person waves its hand in front of the faces of the couple that is still pushing their buttons. The individuals closest can see the young couples eyes clear up. They stop pushing their buttons, look at them and drop them on the ground.
After looking around the young man asks," What are we doing here?"
"What do you remember last," The taller hooded person asks in a male's voice?
"We were at the mosque praying," He says," Today is our one year anniversary and we were praising Allah for our good fortune and happiness."
"The Creator heard your prayer and sent us to help you," the shorter hooded person states in a female voice.
The crowd gasps collectively when they hear that.
"Please, walk with us back to your mosque so that we may speak with your Imam," The female person asks kindly?
The shield comes down and the four walk back to the mosque with the crowd following. As the couple enters they remove their shoes and follow the washing ritual before going into the mosque proper to bring the Hooded Couple to the Imam. The Elders hover up a few centimeters above the floor and float into the chamber where the Imam is leading prayer service.
Harry and Hermione hover respectfully off to the side until the service is over, not touching the floor with their boots. The Imam is watching the strange hooded figures while leading the prayer service. He is relieved the young couple is okay but afraid of what the hooded couple is here for. When the service is over he beacons them forward. The pair moves over to the Imams position with a walking motion and lowers their hoods. Everyone gasps at their youthful looks, especially their lighter skin color with the brilliant green eyes of the male and the shiny brown eyes of the female. Harry and Hermione are looking the Imam and the community elders that have gathered around him over to determine if any of them is the dark presence they felt before when one of them speaks up.
"Why have you not removed your boots in respect for Allah's temple," he asks aggressively?
Harry and Hermione raise their eyebrows in surprise and rise up a few more centimeters more, while looking at the floor.
"Is this high enough?" Hermione asks in flawless Arabic," We meant no disrespect elder."
His eyes get wide when he sees what they do and says humbly," That's fine. I saw your boots and reacted. Who are you?"
"We are the Elders of the Universe," they recite together; "We are Harry and Hermione."
"We've been hunting a dark presence in the city that's been stirring up trouble," Harry says," I couldn't believe it when I read this young couple's minds and found they had a bomb each and were directed to blow themselves up in the marketplace. That would have killed them and who knows how many others."
The young man's wife faints when she hears that. Her husband catches her and lowers her to the floor where he holds onto her for dear life. Hermione floats down to a kneeling position while still off the floor and places her hand on the young woman's forehead. Her hand glows for a second and the young woman wakes up. Hermione then stands up and floats back next to her husband.
While Harry is talking, one of the men in the back of the group is slowly trying to sneak toward the back door. Faster than anyone can follow, except Harry, Hermione is on him in a flash where she lifts him off the floor and floats him to the front of the group of elders. She sets him down and freezes him in place except for his head. He looks at her very afraid.
"Going somewhere," she asks?
"That's one of the Ayatollah's men," the Imam exclaims in disgust.
"Why would you react that way to him," Harry asks," Isn't the Ayatollah your leader?
"We follow him now only because of our laws," The Imam explains," The Ayatollah used to be a good man but something happened several months ago that changed him."
"Go on," Hermione encourages him," We are here because we heard someone was stirring up trouble while using your religion as an excuse for the violence and fighting. The Creator of all things guided us to the young couple to stop the destruction they would have done if not for our presence."
"Who is this Creator," one of the elders asks?
"You call him Allah, the Christians call him God," Harry explains," Other religions have different names. All religions that believe in the one god are correct in their beliefs. The Creator just is. He is everywhere; he sees all and hears all. He had a direct hand in mine and my wife's creation. We are the Elders of the Universe. Brought to Earth to save it from itself, and to bring it forth, into the Intergalactic Community of Planets."
The men all fall to their knees at his explanation, thinking they are in the presence of holiness.
"There is no need to kneel to us," Harry says," We are merely a tool for the Creator to use as he sees fit, the same as you Imam. You were called by Allah when you were young and now you are leading a fine group of people in your calling. We were born here on Earth and it is our home. Think of us as messengers of the Creator and nothing more. Please continue. What happened to the Ayatollah?"
"He started acting strangely. He would only come every once in a while, never staying for prayer and right after he leaves, someone goes out and commits violence. Always, the ones sent never returns," the Imam says," He is always preceded by one of his men, who are constantly watching. If someone tries to stop the persons picked by him they disappear too."
"Can you tell us where this Ayatollah is," Hermione asks?
"No one knows," The Imam answers," I used to know but, but I can't remember."
"He knows," Harry says pointing to the man frozen in front of them," He will guide us there momentarily."
"One last message you can spread," Hermione says," Once we have the dark presence causing all of the local violence local we will remove the other dark presence that works in the palace by the river. Please elders. Each of you leads a part of the community. All of you live by the teachings in your holy book. This pleases the Creator. Our advice is to do as the western countries do and leave religion out of politics. If you have a disagreement with another group try to work it out diplomatically. It should be done in a secular manner by creating a Council of Elders to run the city and settle disputes. This is what we have done where we live. Myself and my husband rely on a council of our elders for advice and guidance. I'm sure your ancestors had something similar in the old days. The system still works and you can keep your own separate communities intact. If you need or want our advice, send out word and we will hear. If you need proof of our power and influence just keep an eye on the palace across the river. We are going to show the world what happens when one man gets corrupted by too much power."
With that said, the Elders each grab an arm of the frozen man and the three fade away. The elders and Imam take to heart what they are told and start to spread the word about the Elders of the Universe being in their mosque.
Having read from the prisoner's mind where the Ayatollah is residing; the Elders phase into the entry way of his residence with their prisoner. They stand him in a corner to keep him out of the way and then raise anti apparition and anti-portkey wards. A blue shield snaps into place around the building as a precaution.
"Upstairs," Hermione sends," he must have thought his wards would be enough. There are no guards."
The couple puts their hoods back up and float quietly up the stairs to the first floor. Following the signature of the dark presence they float down a long hallway to a door at the end with a light showing from the space under the door and come to a stop. Behind the door they can hear talking.
"Has Hasan returned yet from the Mosque," someone who sounds like he is in charge asks? "I want a report on how much damage was caused. I need these peasants to fight each other so I can take over without them noticing until it is too late."
"No, Emir. He hasn't reported back yet," someone else answers.
"Then find out where he is," the one in charge yells.
"I hear and obey," the other person responds.
That person rushes to the door and opens it to exit the room only to be brought up short when he runs into the unmovable wall of Harry and Hermione. He bounces off them and ends up in the seated position on the floor.
"That won't be necessary," Harry says as he freezes everyone in the room completely, except the leader.
The leader tries to disapperate to escape and when that doesn't work he tries an emergency port key to no effect. He can't seem to move his legs to run either.
"Those methods won't work," Hermione says," Your days of terrorizing are over."
Harry waves his hand at the supposed Ayatollah and his glamor washes away revealing and old man with graying hair and evil beady eyes. He is not even from Iraq. They read from his mind that his name is Petro Slavinski and he comes from the Ukrainian Provence of Cherkas'ka.
"What have you done with the Ayatollah?" Harry asks looking him directly in the eyes while scanning his thoughts.
"Why should I tell you anything," he answers defiantly.
"He's locked in the basement," Harry says to Hermione.
She nods at him and then closes her eyes in concentration. She senses an older man two floors below and alone. She opens her eyes and while looking directly at the imposter, phases to the isolated room below where she alights on the floor and bows to the lone man sitting cross-legged on the floor in calm meditation.
"I knew you would come Elder," he says to her," I have great faith in Allah and knew he would hear my prayers."
"He has heard your prayers and we are here to set things right," she responds," Please take my hand and witness our justice."
She reaches out her hand and when he takes hold, she phases them back to his office where he can see the imposter frozen in place, along with several of his men. She releases his hand and walks over to stand by her husband. They each flick their wrists and rods shoot out of their sleeves into their hands which they hold out and expand into their staffs. An ethereal wind starts to swirl around the room and the Elders rise off the floor to look down on the criminal.
"Petro Slavinski," They chant aloud for the non magicals," You have been judged by the Elders of the Universe to not be worthy to hold any titles or land. You will be turned over to the Ayatollah for judgment according to their laws."
Inside the imposter's mind he heard," You have been judged by the Elders of the Universe to not be worthy to practice magic. Your magic is to be stripped from you and you will live out the rest of your life as a normal human. May the Creator have mercy on your soul?"
Beams of light emit from the jewels at the top of their staves and envelope the criminal in a wash of light that is absorbed into his body. Outside the building, the locals had noticed the blue shield snap around the Ayatollah's residence and called the police, who quickly cordoned off the area around the building to keep the crowd back. Word had spread quickly about the Elders visit to the Mosque and everyone in the city knew except the ones loyal to the countries dictator. The people had long ago learned who to avoid to stay out of his or his sons sights.
When the Elders are finished dispensing their justice on the imposter they settle back to the floor. The Ayatollah beckons them to a corner of the room.
"I am the leader for this region of Iraq. I know about the magical world," he says to them," Like your Queen, yes I can tell from your accents where you reside, I keep in touch with both worlds. It is necessary for me to be a go between to keep the peace. I knew when he came he was a dark wizard but I had no power to stop him."
"We have taken his magic from him and he is normal now so he can be treated like any other criminal. " Harry says.
"I thank you for that Elder," the Ayatollah says in gratitude.
Hermione conjures a stone disk fifteen centimeters in diameter covered with six runes on each side around the perimeter with another in the center to make the seventh.
She gives it to the Ayatollah and says," With this disk your building is protected from anyone with ill intent. It draws its power from the ambient magic in the area. You can get stone carvers to copy this for any home or building anywhere. This will make good protection for the Mosques to keep militants from using them as sanctuary from the law or disturbing daily prayer services. They must be carved by hand and by a person with a clean spirit and happy demeanor. They have to be given out freely to show good will. They will not work for any one with ill intent toward another. That is the key. Magic is all about intent and the wards created by the runes on the stone will know. It doesn't matter what order the runes are carved but make sure they are copied precisely as they are on this one. Carve the center one last as it will activate the stone. This will work on wizards and normal people the same and will prevent what happened to you from happening again."
"This is a blessing from Allah," He says," I will make sure it is put to good use, thank you Elders."
"The police are outside holding the people back," Harry says," we will inform them you have prisoners. They will not be able to move until they are touched by a police officer so make sure they know to cuff them first in case one of them tries to fight back. You might want to speak to your followers to let them know you are well. We will take your leave and take care of the evil across the river now."
"I will do as you say Elders," the Ayatollah says with a slight bow with his fingers steepled together in front.
The blue shield dissipates as the Elders walk out the front entrance. They inform the police commander it is now safe inside. The police then run into the building and up the stairs to check on the Ayatollah. When they arrive he passes the instructions from the Elders and all of the criminals are arrested and taken away. The Ayatollah then steps onto the balcony to address the crowd that has gathered.
"The evil that has plagued our city with violence has been removed. The evil that has plagued our country is about to be removed from across the river." He says to a cheering crowd.
As the Ayatollah is giving his speech and blessings to his people, Harry and Hermione phase across the river and start walking toward the main gates to the palace.
"We're going to have to make this very visible," Hermione says to Harry," Let's bring the Phoenix down. At two hundred meters across, it is just large enough to cover the central building and portions on each side. Its power will be enough for the portal we need to make to cover the whole palace complex." albums/o232/jjslll54/Republican_Palace_Baghdad_
"Okay Hermione, you bring her in while I watch the guards," Harry says as they walk towards the south gate," Looks like they know we are here. The palace is in lockdown with all of the guards inside the grounds. Let's put on a light show at the gates with our sabers. You take the left and I will take the right. The Jedi Consulars have come calling."
As they approach the entrance to the palace with its twelve foot high walls and gates, the guards line up in front of the gates, blocking the way, and point their guns at the couple.
"Halt! You have no authority here," the guard commander commands.
"I'd move out of the way if I were you," Harry advises as they keep walking forward.
Harry and Hermione pull their light sabers and ignite them. The guards raise the guns to fire at the couple and Hermione raises her saber and in the blink of an eye all the guns barrels are sliced off. The guards get the message and move out of the way. The sabers make short work of the hinges that hold the gates in place and with a push from the couple, two massive iron gates fall inward to the ground with a large clang and a lot of dust. When the guards see them fly up to get to the upper hinges they all take off running towards the northern gate and what they perceive as safety. Harry and Hermione continue walking along the drive to the main entrance of the palace. They put away their sabers and get their staffs out. A blue shield snaps into place over the whole complex using the walls as a guide. The guards inside try to fire their weapons at the couple and find they no longer work.
Up at the ISS station the Phoenix starts to power up, seemingly on its own, from standby mode prompting the astronauts on board scramble to get back onto the station. The second the last astronaut is through the airlock the umbilical detaches and retracts into the Phoenix.
"That ship knew we were on it," one of the Russian astronauts says," It waited until we got off before leaving."
"Yea," says his American companion in agreement.
The station crew watches as the ship powers up and then descends towards the Arabian Peninsula, which they are approaching on their orbital path. They radio in to their respective commands to update them on the situation. They are told the Elders are handling a situation in Iraq and to turn their cameras on as they pass over.
On the ground the people of Bagdad hear an unusual sound above them as the Phoenix descends at hypersonic speeds. About two hundred meters above the central dome of the palace, the saucer shaped ship comes to an abrupt stop and hovers there. The people can see a shimmering shield around the black ship with the large white bird painted on the hull. Only the shield around the ship saved the palace windows and the windows of the buildings around from being blown out by the speed of approach.
The Elders look up when the Phoenix arrives. Hermione sends out a mental command and two ten meter silver spheres descend from doors in the bottom of the ship. They settle down a meter into the ground and an outline of a door appears at ground level. As they walk past the nearest sphere they hear a voice from a speaker next to the door.
"We are ready," it says in Arabic as it sends out a cloaked camera droid that the Elders had picked up in the legit galaxy," Broadcasting now."
"Ready for what," the soldiers on the grounds wonder.
All of the TV screens in Iraq are over ridden and are now showing the Elders as they walk into the palace building.
The Elders continue into the building, homing in on the location of the dark presence of Saddam Hussein and his two sons. They find them in a large office conferring with each other, trying to figure out what is happening with occasional glances out the window at the flying saucer hovering overhead. When the doors to their office open, the trio turns and stares at to two hooded figures walking into the room.
Saddam looks at them with contempt and a little fear in his eyes.
"What do you want?" he asks arrogantly, trying to keep up his bravado.
"Show me your faces. Are you hiding behind hoods because you are afraid of me?" he taunts," You should be."
The two figures look at each other and shrug their shoulders, reach up with their hands and lower their hoods.
Saddam looks at them and snorts," you're just foreign children. How did you get into the palace? I am the Supreme Leader of Iraq and will be nice to you since you are just children and will allow you to leave unharmed."
His youngest and smartest son leans over and whispers in his father's ear. "Looks could be deceiving Father. Don't forget the flying saucer hovering above us."
"Your son is correct. Looks can be deceiving," the female says," I am sixty four Earth years old and my husband Harry is sixty three."
"I'll be sixty four next month Hermione," He says," but who's counting."
"Hush Harry," she says," we have a job to do."
The pair turns to back to the trio standing in front of them.
"We are the Elders of the Universe," they chant," We are messengers from the Creator of all Things. Saddam Hussein, you have been judged by the Creator to be guilty of genocide against your own people, for using bio weapons against your own people, for conspiring to build weapons of mass destruction to threaten the rest of the world. We sentence you and your family, along with all the people that are loyal to you to exile on another planet."
With a wave of their hands his wife and three daughters appear next to him. The soldiers outside notice the alien ship take on a pulsing green glow inside its shield and the humming noise increases as soldiers and people start appearing all over the grounds.
Saddam's wife and daughters were watching the TV like everyone else when they suddenly find themselves standing next to her husband and the girl's father.
The youngest son looks out the window when one of the green pulses from the ship catches his eye, "Father, look outside!"
Saddam looks out the window and watches as more and more of his soldiers and their families appear on the grounds.
"Father," his youngest daughter asks," what's going on?"
Saddam Hussein realizes his days as the leader of Iraq is over," We are being exiled Hala. I can do nothing about it. We have been judged by Allah himself."
He turns to the Elders and asks," how will we survive?"
"We are not without compassion." Harry says," We do not kill if we can find an alternative. Fortunately, we have the technology to send you to another planet where you can no longer be a threat to this one. You will have this building and the tools to survive. The two silver Spheres on the grounds outside have the means to power this building and will teach you how to survive on your new home. Think of this exile as a similar situation to Australia. They started out as a penal colony and look where they are now. Eventually your descendants will build up the colony to be able to join with the rest of the galactic community. We believe in family above all else. That is why everyone that has one has been brought here. It is up to you on how to set up your colony. Your weapons will work on wildlife but not on each other. The spheres will see to that. You and your sons cannot harm these people as you have been. One last thing. The Creator is everywhere and he will be watching. Don't give him a reason for us to come calling."
With that said, the Elders phase up to their ship and sit in the command chairs. All around the saucer section doors open and two meter spheres fly out to make a perimeter around the palace grounds. The spheres activate causing a filmy haze to form above the palace. The people on the ground, along with the news crews and bystanders, watch as the haze clears to show a view of a pristine field of grass with a range of mountains in the background. They watch as the portal window starts to move slowly downward and as it touches the central dome, it starts to disappear through the portal. After a few minutes the portal reaches the ground and descends down into it making sure all the sub levels go with the building. When it is finished, it rises back up to a height of a hundred meters, where the news crews and bystanders can see the palace is now sitting in the field they saw earlier. The portal dissipates with a soft pop and the silver spheres fly back into their compartments around the rim of the ship and the doors close.
"People of Earth," The Elders broadcast," This is what happens when one man goes too far. Absolute power corrupts absolutely and this is the price paid. They have been exiled to another planet with no chance to return to Earth in their lifetime. Whether they survive or not on the colony planet, are up to them. They were judged by the Creator of All Things and we are his messengers. Do not forget this lesson."
Where the Grand Republican Palace once stood is now a very large open grassy field with the sublevels having been filled in with soil and grass from the field on the other planet. There is one last flare of bright light from the ship, which causes everyone to close their eyes and the cameras to blank out momentarily. When the light fades and the cameras start working again, everyone looks on in disbelief at what they see. In the field where the palace was is a manicured park with large shade trees and benches to sit on, along with a play park for the children. The people on the ground and all over the world via their television sets, watches the Phoenix ascend into the sky, rapidly disappearing.
There is a large arched sign held up on either side by two obelisks that reads:
This park is dedicated to
All of the victims of past wars
Courtesy of
The Elders of the Universe