Her last day on the Enterprise came, and the feelings that came with it hit Hermione off-guard. Why was her heart so reluctant to leave the starship? Logically thought, the answer was easy. It was a safe haven. The long corridors already made a familiar sight. Also, Hermione had learnt to find her way. However, she had to get home. She had only been here for a week. Maybe she would even miss this world, but she had a whole life to return back to. It might not be the happiest, and she might have made many wrong choices along the way, but it was her life, her friends, her home. At least, that was what she told herself every time she felt the sadness creeping in while she was clearing her room from any signs of magic use.

Hermione said goodbye to all the people she had gotten to know. Well, to be honest, it weren't that many. She asked her roommates where to find the engineer who had borrowed the PADDs to her. They told her his room number and said that if she hurried now she would catch him before his shift started. Hermione ran, and she didn't even get lost. The man was more than perplexed when Hermione knocked on his door, pushed the PADDs against his chest and started babbling about how much the subjects fascinated her. In hindsight it maybe had been the nervousness speaking out of her, but his dumbfounded face was a sight to remember.

After that she went to sickbay to visit Nurse Flyer one last time. Everything there went its usual way. Nothing indicated that the CMO had been attacked by an extra-terrestrial life form only a few days ago. The man himself could be heard scolding his current patient. His back was turned to the door, the tall stature obscuring the person sitting on the biobed.

"If you'd come a little earlier, that wouldn't have been necessary," he grumbled. Hermione had to smile despite herself.

"Scotty was away, and I was responsible for the control panel! I couldn't just leave."

"You leave whenever you're hurt!" Dr McCoy barked. "And I'm convinced Scotty will share my point of view."

Hermione came nearer and got sight of an Ensign who looked genuinely afraid.

"Don't tell Scotty, please, Doctor McCoy! You wouldn't do that?"

"Tell me why I shouldn't," the doctor spoke coldly while he checked a hypospray. "If you're hurt, you are to inform your superiors and not endanger them with your recklessness. Pain impairs your ability to make fast and wise decisions."

"Ouch!" The woman wailed.

"And suddenly you're sensitive to pain," the doctor commented dryly, tucking the used hypospray away. "You're feverish. I'll declare you unfit for duty. Go to your quarters and rest, and come back tomorrow at 1400."

"But will you tell Scotty? Transporter room shifts are the worst."

"Depends on how you behave."

The woman's face slowly lit up. "I'll be on my best behavior! Thank you, Doctor McCoy! Bye!"

The Ensign jumped off the bed. When she was out of earshot, the doctor shook his head and murmured: "Damned workaholics. Never know when it's enough."

His eyes then fell on Hermione, and his face changed. It didn't exactly soften, she noticed. His expression reminded her of someone... Her brain must be overwhelmed today. While he still looked stressed and tired, she had the feeling that her presence wasn't exactly an extra burden.

"Morning, missy. Haven't seen you in a while." The doctor continued cleaning his instruments, his main focus on his hands.

"Actually, I'm here to say good bye to Nurse Flyer. I'm leaving the Enterprise today." Saying it out loud brought a sense of finality she wasn't yet ready to face.

Doctor McCoy carefully put down the syringe. Then he turned to her, and Hermione could see his mockingly raised eyebrow. "You're not here to see me, then?"

There was something in his voice that made Hermione take a closer look at him. His icy blue eyes caught hers and suddenly, she was at a loss for words. Doctor McCoy didn't smile, he simply looked at her.

Out of nowhere, there was this sinking feeling in her stomach again. She would miss this sarcastic, moody doctor. Saying good bye would be harder than expected. Did he even notice he called her "missy" all the time? It was a pity there were no men like him in her time – or at least she wouldn't know them. Doctor McCoy was way too practical to get along with wizards.

Merlin, she hadn't spoken for too a long time. There was a good chance that this was the last time they spoke to each other relatively undisturbed, and she had nothing to say. Please, she hoped that this wasn't the picture of her he would keep in his memory- a prude, shy little girl. Of course he didn't know of the reputation she had in the wizarding world, but she wasn't that diffident usually.

Things would be getting awkward if she didn't say something now. Hermione cleared her throat.

"Well, Captain Kirk told me you would accompany us to Brisbane 21, so I won't bid you farewell now," Hermione finally broke the silence.

Wow. What had left her mouth had even made sense. Hermione mentally tapped herself on the shoulder. Also, it definitely had broken the moment. Without a word, Doctor McCoy turned around and hit the nearest pillow.

"Seriously? Again?"

oOoOoOo

Hermione stood next to Captain Kirk in the transporter room. She had found out that the science department had confiscated her clothes she had arrived in for analysis. Sadly, they also had destroyed them. Consequently she wore the red Starfleet dress again. Her wand was safely hidden in her sleeve. She was as ready as she could be. Hermione suppressed every feeling of fear and insecurity that rose within her. She had her wand and her wit, she could do anything.

"Ready for transport," the Scotsman, who ironically was called Scotty, announced. Hermione found it remarkable that she finally got a look on the man. His name had been everywhere – the ominous master of the engineering department, loved by everyone and never being called by his proper title. He was younger than she had expected for someone with that reputation.

"Energize!"

Hermione looked down and saw her body dissolving into golden sparks. Sweet Merlin, what had she gotten herself into?

A moment later she stood in a different room with people bustling around.

"Visitors from the USS Enterprise, step down from the transporter pad and come here to identify yourself," a man called from a near desk.

Hermione had to steady herself against the wall. Beaming was less unpleasant than apparating, but there was a weight in her stomach which didn't feel well. Oh, she sincerely hoped she didn't have to puke.

"You need help, missy?"

Doctor McCoy came to lean his back against the wall next to her. Hermione only nodded and concentrated on slowly breathing in and out. Fortunately, the dizziness subsided. When she looked up, she noticed that the doctor didn't look well himself. His mouth was pinched and his hands shivered. Did he also need a break? The thought was ridiculous. Wasn't he used to that kind of technology?

He looked down at her and raised his eyebrows. "What? I still hate beaming," he muttered. "Well, let's go." With a huff he pushed himself off. Hermione followed him.

She had made one step off the transporter pad when an alarm began to ring. It was ear-deafening. The man on the desk, who had looked bored until now, jumped up and pressed an emergency button.

"What's happened? Is that an UEA?" Doctor McCoy yelled to Captain Kirk, who was clueless himself and looked around the room to spot a threat. There was none. His eyes finally found Hermione's.

"Who are you?" He mouthed, and Hermione felt as if he had pulled the ground from under her feet. What did he mean?

She had no time to ask him, because suddenly armed people were storming the room. There was a moment of chaos, and when it settled, they stood in a circle around Hermione with their guns pointed at her.

Their leader stepped forward and lifted his mask.

"Hermione Granger?" He asked.

"Yes?" Hermione said. How did they know her name? Why did they send more than twenty people to get her?

"You will accompany us."

"But what of-"

"No questions."

Hermione looked back over her shoulder. The surprise on the faces of Captain Kirk, Commander Spock and Doctor McCoy turned into disbelief. Doctor McCoy stared at her and looked… hurt?

"I'm sorry," Hermione whispered.

They pointed at a door, and numbly, Hermione put her body in motion. They left without a further word.

oOoOoOo

AN: Thanks for all the nice and helpful reviews. There are two reasons why this chapter took so long: Firstly, I hated writing it. It always felt kind of wrong, and now I decided to just publish it and get on with the story than changing every sentence again. Secondly, I forgot the charging cable for my computer at home and my family had to send it to me.

But now my computer is back again, and so am I! Have a nice day.