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Chapter 13: The Second Task
Two months on Hermione and Harmony stumbled exhaustedly into their quarters.
They only thought Tuvok and Chakotay were mental with the training regime for the first task.
After the attack at the ball and Hermione begging Tuvok to help her out of her 'freeze reflex' they had the plan of arranging for various members of the crew to start ambushing them.
The only day they were guaranteed any safety was on a Sunday which the captain had insisted they have as a rest day.
Thankfully that was tomorrow. Hermione collapsed onto the couch with a groan. On top of the ambushes were the underwater combat drills and regular sparring sessions.
Just because Q had made it pointedly clear no hostages were to be used did not for one moment stop them believing the task itself would still be underwater.
Harmony flopped next to her, lying down on the couch, head in Hermione's lap.
"Tell me it's over." She groaned.
Harmony captured one of her hands with her own.
"It is. The task is in four days and Aunty Kathy told Chakotay we needed the days to rest so I'd be ready. Hermione sighed as she started to run her fingers through Harmony's hair knowing how it calmed her from her nights of helping her settle after nightmares.
Before long the soothing action had lulled the weary Harmony to sleep and Hermione smiled as she was watching her.
The door opened as her mothers stepped in and she lifted a finger to her lips to indicate they should be quiet before resuming running her fingers through Harmony's hair.
Annika smiled at her as she came over while Be'Lanna headed over to the terminal at the replicator and sorted the three of them some food out.
Hermione carefully lifted Harmony's head and slid out from beneath her before putting one of the oversized cushions she loved as a pillow for her.
Going over to the table the other side the room she eased her sore body into over of the chairs and started to eat and listened as her mothers were going over some modification or other.
Shaking her head she was just glad she wasn't even thinking of an engineering path of study. She was definitely a scientist and had decided whether it was here on Voyager or back in the wizarding world she would be going into potions research.
"So how was the last training session?" Be'Lanna suddenly piped up asking Hermione who shot her a disgusted look.
"One word mum. Brutal. Who figured out how to make phasers work underwater? Honestly?" She humphed, still sore over the fact shed been stunned by them. Five. Times.
"That dear would be telling." Be'Lanna said gathering the now empty plates and taking them back over to the replicator.
"So how's your little phaser project coming along then?" Annika asked her making her brighten up a bit. Okay, maybe she did have a little engineer in her, Hermione thought.
"I've figured out the crystals to use, it's just figuring out how to use them in such close proximity to the circuitry. The shielding for magical energy is just two thin inside the housing. I thing I'm going to have to redesign the handset a little.
"Damn." She heard Be'Lanna mutter behind her with humour in her voice as Hermione looked over her shoulder enquiringly.
"We" Be'Lanna stated pointing to herself then Annika. "Already knew this, but I had a bet that you wouldn't realise until after Harmony's task. She" thumbing towards Annika now as she sat next to her. "Told me it would be before." Annika smiled as she leaned over for a quick kiss.
"Don't pout. You love losing to me just as much as winning." Annika said quietly.
"That's true." Be'Lanna purred leaning in for another kiss.
"Gah too sweet! I'm heading for a shower." Hermione grumbled fleeing the room to her mothers' quiet chuckles.
She had just finished stripping and thrown a robe on as she was grabbing a clean set of clothes when Harmony's scream tore through the air. "HERMIONE!" Dropping the clothes she ran back out to see her parents already moving. Be'Lanna running to the replicator for a glass of water as Annika was already by Harmony.
The tears streaming down the unconscious girls face told the story. This was bad.
-o.O.O.o-
Harmony had drifted off to sleep when she found herself back underwater.
Looking around she realised she already had her standard issue breather on so she didn't need to worry about transfiguring herself.
She looked around and saw a slight glow in the distance and swam towards it wondering how she had got where she was. As she approached the light source she realised that she was at the underwater village that Q had helped Tuvok program a simulation of in the hollodeck.
Noticing there weren't any of the merpeople present she pulled out the tricorder that from the belt pouch and started scanning for signs of life.
The readings indicated a high concentration coming from towards the centre of town.
Deciding to investigate she swam closer until she arrived on the edge of what looked to be a coliseum.
The coliseum was full, anywhere a seat was available looked to be taken as everyone was looking to the centre. There in the middle was a large circular post with a figure tied to it.
A figure that had very recognisable brown hair.
Harmony reached for her wand as a merman holding what looked to be a ceremonial trident approached Hermione
Before Harmony could even think to react the merman plunged the trident forwards into Hermione's chest staining the water around her red with her blood, Harmony screamed Hermione's name inside the breather as she threw a wordless reductor at the merman and started swimming for the post, sending long cutting beams and from her wand and blasting charms from her hand.
She turned just in time to see a Trident heading her way before inexplicably she felt ice cold water hitting her and her world went dark.
Opening her eyes again she saw she was back on the Voyager, on the couch, watching her with concern were her parents and Hermione who was already moving to gather her up in her arms as Harmony broke down.
"Shhh its okay I'm here" Hermione whispered into her ear as she felt herself being levitated a moment before Hermione settled behind her, never once letting go.
"I'm safe, I'm with you." The words were like a soothing balm to Harmony's mind. Even now she still had trouble with her dreams.
She turned in Hermione's arms to lean into the girls shoulder as she cried out her relief that Hermione was there, unharmed and safe.
Feeling a hand take her own she recognised the exoskeleton of her mum-Annika as she started to calm.
Sitting up she extricated herself from the awkward position they were sat and moved so she was sat next to her Hermione and could lean into her as she summoned her dream-diary padd from her bedroom. She didn't say anything, just sat there and typed the words as to what she'd seen before setting the pad into Hermione's hand not currently about her shoulders.
She leant back against Hermione, the back of her head resting on Hermione's shoulder as the hand about her moved to gently stroke the hair back from her temple as Hermione read.
-o.O.O.o-
The fact Harmony had said nothing but was still having trouble breathing regularly warned Hermione that she wouldn't like what she read.
Lifting up the padd as she felt her girlfriend lean in to her she wondered just how bad this one could be?
Carefully she moved her hand about Harmony's shoulder to draw her fingertips through harmony's dark ebony hair at her temple.
As Hermione read she felt her own tears gather, this wasn't the first time Harmony had seen Hermione's death in her dreams, and without fail she had always needed close contact afterwards. Hermione knew words wouldn't help, just being held by her would.
"Come on, let's go lie down for a bit." Hermione said quietly, nudging Harmony to stand as she passed the padd to Annika.
No sooner was Harmony stood than Hermione wrapped an arm about her waist guiding her to their bedroom, silently thanking the fact their beds were slightly bigger than standard single size as she had Harmony lie on her bed and crawled on behind her wrapping her arms about her.
"Shh, sleep now, I'll be here when you wake, just like I always am." Hermione said quietly leaning forwards to place a short kiss to the nape of Harmony's neck.
A short time later the regular breathing of the body in front of her let Hermione know Harmony was asleep. Snuggling a little closer Hermione relaxed and joined her in the land of dreams.
-o.O.O.o-
Three days later and Harmony, Hermione, their Mothers, Chakotay and Harry Kim appeared with Q in the entry foyer of Grimmauld Place. Stood in front of them were Sirius and Remus.
Well kiddo's long time no see." Sirius said with a grin before he was tackled into a dual hug as Remus stood to one side with a smile.
Q caught Sirius's eye and nodded.
"Don't worry Q, I'll make sure they get an early night and are at the castle on time. You just be sure you and your friends are watching when the task starts. Q nodded. Intellectually everyone knew Black couldn't do a thing to Q, but this moment in time there wasn't a doubt that if anything happened to Harmony that he wouldn't try.
Q disappeared with a flash as Harmony pulled away with a cute yawn as she looked towards Hermione.
"I'm ready to head for bed, got to be up early tomorrow." She grimaced. Hermione nodded before she turned to Sirius.
"We'll be expanding one of the beds in our room and sharing it tonight. Harmony won't be able to sleep else." The matter of fact way she said this caused his eyebrows to shoot to his head as he blurted out, obviously without thinking.
"No. You're too young for that sort of thing!"
Harmione broke own into giggles at his expression as Hermione fell over to the side laughing while their parents shook their heads before Annika spoke.
"Not for what you're thinking Sirius. Hermione holds Harmony through the night and holds the nightmares at bay." She finished while Be'Lanna rolled her eyes.
The rest of the Voyager crew were just stood laughing at Sirius' now blushing expression.
"Err right, okay then, off to bed you two." He said before he turned and made a beeline for the kitchen.
Harmony made her way up the stairs hearing Hermione right behind her and smiled deciding to tease the girl a little put an extra sway to her hips.
"Haaarmoneey." Hermione groaned behind her. "Carry that on an I'll give it a smack." She finished as they got to the door of their room.
Harmony turned around and pulled the brown haired girl into her arms dropping a small kiss to her lips before pulling away.
"Okay I'll behave. Until we're home any way." Hermione giggled a little resting her head on Harmony's shoulder as she melted into the embrace.
Not wanting to let her go Harmony used a small amount of wandless magic to open the door behind her and pulled Hermione in with her, guiding them to the nearest bed.
She heard her whisper a slight expansion charm as she pulled her down on to the bed and used a small spell to transfigure the clothes they were wearing to a camisole top and lacy pair of knickers each.
Hermione who was now leaning on one elbow looking down to Hermione with her expressive hazelnut eye's smiled as she used her free hand to brush some of Harmony's long locks behind an ear.
"I love you Harmony." She said quietly leaning in for another, longer but no less tender kiss.
As the kiss broke they settled beneath the sheets, Harmony spooning into Hermione once again as Hermione's arm came around her waist to hold her, just under her breasts Harmony moved her arm atop and interlinked their fingers before sleep claimed her with a smile on her lips.
-o.O.O.o-
Annika stepped into the kitchen and saw Sirius had grabbed a bottle of Fire whiskey and had poured everyone a measure.
"So, how are they holding up. Really?" Sirius asked. Annika sighed as she sank down onto a chair, pulling her partner to sit crossways on her lap.
"Honestly? Not the best." Annika said as Be'Lanna, Chakotay and Harry all grimaced.
Harry had been visiting just last night and had heard Harmony's whimpers coming from the girls' room and gone to investigate.
Seeing the look of fear being soothed away by Hermione's singing as she drew the girl into a closer hug told him more than anything else, the girls were going to have trouble with nightmares for years to come.
"Indeed, yet I have not seen it affect their performance in training. If anything, their fears seem to fuel them to improve." Chakotay said as he took a sip of his whiskey, and promptly started coughing.
"Damn. That's as strong as bloodwine" He rasped out once he could breathe again. Harry seeing Chakotay's reaction slid his glass next to Be'Lanna's.
The others around the table shared a quick chuckle before Be'Lanna took over.
"Harmony hasn't slept well unless it's in Hermione's arms the past few days, she keeps dreaming of something that leads to Hermione's death underwater. The only thing that calms them is being in Hermione's arms when they start, sometimes all it takes is a brush of fingers across the forehead – other times Hermione holds her and sings."
Annika felt her own resolve slip a little as her voice broke. "I just want this damn tournament over without the temporal time lock between the centuries and then for Harmony to defeat this Riddle character so she can just be a happy teenager." Be'Lanna lifted her arm around Annika's shoulders pulling her closer and dropped a kiss to the top of her head.
"Hey its okay blue-eyes, she'll be okay." She whispered, remembering Q's promise to keep her safe.
They spent the rest of the evening just generally chatting before an owl came through the window.
Sirius opened it and raised an eyebrow as he read.
"Right, okay I've been asked to come to the castle tomorrow earlier in my role as intermediary. Remus will you be okay taking them?" Remus nodded as he spoke. "It's fine – I'll use a portkey." He said.
"Okay, it's getting on for time and I for one want my bed." Be'Lanna said as she downed the two fire whiskeys in front of her as if they were nothing.
Annika felt her weight leave her lap as she stood, pulling the blond up with her, a slight gleam in her eye causing the former drone to breath in with a slight gasp. She wasn't going to get any sleep soon, then again, any chance to have Be'Lanna's breasts and more in her hands she wasn't going to deny.
"Goodnight everyone." Annika said before heading out the kitchen with Be'Lanna smiling behind her.
-o.O.O.o-
The portkey dropped them all by the shore of the lake ten minutes before task start and Harmony was immediately asked to join the other champions on the stage.
She reached into the box her Mum-Annika had with her and removed the belt with a standard issue breather that would let her talk, a phaser and a Dk'Targh. She didn't need to worry about the com badge as it was already on her clothes.
She looked around and was slightly worried when she couldn't spot Sirius, but it was a big crowd so passed it off as he hadn't got to them yet.
Hermione took the belt from her and wrapped it about Harmony's waist before tilting her head back and leaning up for a short, chaste kiss speaking once they finished.
"No messing, get down there, do what you have to and get back up here to me." Hermione said eyes glistening. Harmony nodded and dropped her lips for one more kiss before stepping up to the other champions.
"Damn girl, that's a mean looking knife." Cedric said to her with a smile as she chuckled at the other boys gulp.
"Yeah, it's from my mother." She pointed to Be'Lanna. "She's a bit . . .protective of me. My Mum-Annika has also given me something to help me in a potion, it helps if I get injured.
While not strictly true, she wasn't going to tell him she now had millions of nanobots in her body. He'd probably pass out.
She looked to the silvery haired girl who had tears falling down her face as she stared at the water.
"Hey are you okay?" Harmony said as the girl looked at her in surprise.
"You speak French?" She asked, Harmony shook her head and pointed to her badge, deciding to mask that it was technology she just said 'Translation Charm."
"Ah okay. As for me no I'm not. I just had a message this morning, my eight year old sister was missing this morning from her bed at Beuxbatons. Only a note on the pillow explaining. 'Thing Fleur will miss the most.'"
"WHAT!" Harmony shouted before turning to see the Headmaster approach.
"Didn't the Continuum say NO HOSTAGES?!" She shouted at the man with a long enough beard that she seriously considered strangling him.
He stalled a moment at her vehemence before he answered.
"It will be okay I promise, no harm will come to them, the merpeople will-"
"WHAT! MY SISTERS WITH THEM! GABRIELLE!" The French woman, Fleur if Harmony remembered right was now fighting to get to the lake as Olympe rounded on Dumbledore.
"You bastard. Veela and Mermaids are mortal enemies you fool." Turning to the judges table as she spotted the other contestants eyes harden as they did the spells to breath underwater she nodded.
"Start!" That was all the four needed.
Harmony transfigured her feet to flippers as she put on her breather diving in, aiming for the sound of the voices she could hear, drawing her phaser she followed the noise.
As the four swam through some kelp beds as muffled scream behind told Harmony something was wrong. Turning she saw a grindylow biting Fleur's leg. Before the other contestants could react she shot it with her phaser. The Grindylow swarm approaching turned and fled when they saw how one of their own was cut down.
Turning they swam into the village to see three people tied to posts. None of them Fleur's sister. One of them Sirius. Her rage sang in her veins as Harmony swam up to a patrolling merman and hoped the translator worked.
"WHERE THE FUCK IS THE GIRL!" The merman looked at her before he answered.
"Slave of War." Pointing to a hut that was well guarded. Harmony said nothing else just used her phaser to stun the merman and pointed to it. Fleur nodded as Cedric and the half transformed Krum indicated they'd guard the other hostages.
Harmony swam towards the hut, phaser shots and stunners leaving her hands as she approached the door. Before she could try anything the door was blasted inwards and she swam in to see a little girl, barely 8 years old curled up on the floor, an air bubble about her head as a merman raised a whip. It was then she saw the bloody back of the child.
Something snapped inside her and she lashed out with a cutting beam slicing the merman in half as Fleur streaked past her to retrieve her sister.
Harmony guarded her as they returned to the hostages, where Cedric had cut their ropes.
Quickly they all shot to the surface and exited by the lake shore.
"MEDIC!" Harmony cried out at the top of her voice.
In the lead was Chakotay who somehow had got the medical box from Annika as he ran. The school nurse however was quicker and apparated to their side casting healing spells as fast as she could. Harmony doing the same.
As soon as the girl was stabilised and moved to the carriage, Fleur with her Harmony stood, her godfather also looking furious joined her drawing his wand. Chakotay and Harry by now were with them as were their mothers. The other champions and their hostages had been led to the medical tent.
Dumbledore approached with a smile on his features which only angered the girl more.
"YOU BASTARD! YOUR WIZARDING WORLD CAN ROT IN HELL. AFTER THE THIRD TASK I'M GONE FOR GOOD! AND IF ANYONE ASKS!" She cast Sonorous on herself. "ALBUS DUMBLEDORE IS THE REASON I AM LEAVING THE WIZARDING WORLD FOR GOOD!"
She cancelled the charm as she charm on herself before she collapse into Hermione as the memories caught up with her, she could almost feel the belt lashing across her back.
"Q!" Chakotay called out as he realised what was happening even as the Minister of Magic was approaching them with some woman dressed in pink.
*FLASH* Q arrived with a face of thunder, he didn't know how Dumbledore had done it yet, but he would find out how the old man blocked the Continuum from seeing the hostages before it was too late. With a glare at the old man he turned to Chakotay as the commander spoke.
"Get us all to Voyager. Now." Q nodded, just as he was about to raise his hand though a blue spell came out of nowhere and pulled Hermione screaming towards the pink woman with the minister.
"You are going nowhere with our national treasure. The Girl-Who-Lived is staying here by Pureblood Law – we wouldn't want any accidents now would we." She said pointing her wand at Hermione's throat.
Unfortunately for the woman and the nodding minister neither of them took into account Hermione's training as she reached into her own robe and with a quick motion brought her arm down stabbing a Dk'Targh into the other woman's leg. As she fell screaming when Hermione ripped the bloody knife out Q clicked his fingers and they were all back in their quarters on Voyager.
"Chakotay to the Tuvok, Get to Torres and Annika's quarters immediately." He ordered as he moved to help Hermione off the floor while her mothers were helping Harmony off the floor to the bedroom. "On my way." Tuvoks voice said over the comm.
-o.O.O.o-
Albus Dumbledore finally made it back to his office shaking, it had taken hard work to regain the trust of his familiar Fawkes and was going to see about talking to the phoenix about the trouble he'd caused by refusing to budge, including setting up ward stones about the lake so that Q couldn't see what was happening.
He'd remembered back to his own Hogwarts days that 'Michael' had complained he couldn't see through a barrier ward overlaid with a disillusionment. He'd thought that in doing the same he could continue on with the tournament with as little interference as possible.
He'd known of the rivalry between the Veela and Merpeople but had asked the chief to take care of the girl for him. Now he realised when the chief had replied "We'll take excellent' care of her what he'd meant. Add to that it was the daughter of the French Minster for Magic he'd abducted as was his right for being tournament organiser, he knew he'd have some troubles.
Sighing as he opened the door to his office he looked to Fawkes perch to see it was gone.
"Oh dear." He said dumbly. Fawkes having removed his perch told him everything. He was gone for good. Sighing he sat at his desk looking to the photo of the Potters – only to see it was empty.
"What have I done." He mumbled.
"You have successfully driven Harmony away is what." A voice echoed through his room before Q appeared there.
"What? Surely she was just speaking in anger, she will realise in time it's better to return to us?" Dumbledore said dumbly.
"Well Dumbledore. You were specifically warned no Hostages. She's had nightmares of seeing people she loves dying in that lake. THEN you hand a child over to a race that started their war by butchering vela CHILDREN. Then you have your Government trying to detain Harmony by threating the life of her soulmate. I warned you years ago this would happen. She will return for the third task to keep her magic, THEN she will not return until she is 16, at which point she will claim her inheritance an disappear from your world.
I congratulate you. You have turned into a lightside of Voldemort, so convinced you can do no wrong – bravo. You certainly are not the Albus I knew as a Hogwarts Student. That lad would quite happily break your nose. Good luck with the fallout – having her publicly announce you drove her away, I don't see you lasting." With that Q disappeared.
An owl flew into the room just as he did dropping off a scroll, unravelling it he didn't know what to think. He had been removed as Headmaster? And his original grant to be buried on the grounds had been revoked.
Sighing he looked about the room, thinking to gather all the books and items he waved his wand and whispered.
"Accio my things." All that came was a small diary he stopped using years ago.
Raising his eyebrows in surprise he was left wondering why none of the things obeyed before the painting of Phineas Nigellus Black snorted.
"Those things left belong to The Headmaster of Hogwarts. Not Albus Dumbledore." It was then Dumbledore realised how much he had lost as he sat back. "No, I am the Leader of Light. I will not leave." He murmured.
-o.O.O.o-
Tuvok stepped in the quarters and Chakotay indicated for him to go to the girls' room.
Janeway stepped in behind her security chief and looked around. There at the window stood Harry Kim, gazing out the stars, his face flushed with anger.
Chakotay stood in the middle of the room taking deep breaths before he drew her close.
"The massed up big time Kath." He whispered to her causing her to pull back and look into his worried eyes.
"Tell me." She said quietly. So he did.
By the time he'd finished his complete report Sirius had sat opposite the and nodded to her when she looked at him for confirmation.
"The worst is, Dumbledore genuinely feels he was in the right." Sirius sighed. "He's lived long enough to start to believe his own legend, even when everyone else sees the gilding peeling away."
Janeway nodded before looking to Chakotay.
"Talk to the crew. Tell them we'll be in orbit during the final task. Have teams of six security guards in both transporter rooms. She calls for help, use we go. Also be prepared for atmospheric entry if we do." Chakotay nodded before getting up to go and work on the orders.
Sighing she got up and walked over to Kim.
"Harry?" she whispered. "They tried to use a law to keep her there. "He growled. A bigoted law at that. And right now I bet our Hermione is wanted for assault with that knife of hers."
Janeway nodded before she spoke.
"I know, but just remember, even if she's on the surface when we're in orbit, we can beam her up if needs be. He nodded as a thin tall man with greying brown hair stepped out with Tuvok.
"Hi. I'm Remus Lupin ma'am we met briefly before, Harmony's okay. I don't know what this gentleman did, but he brought her out her memories better than anyone I know. She's resting now, Hermione and her Parents are with her.
Janeway nodded.
"Okay, well if you're on my ship for a while let's get the doctor to look at you."
"Ah not yet, have you got a room you could lock me in for the next 12 hours please? Preferably lined with silver bars?"
"Oh right. Werewolf, and its full moon tonight on earth your time?" He nodded again.
"Unfortunately due to the way the magic of my curse works, my transformation is timed to the Lunar Calendar of Britain yes." Remus nodded with a grimace.
"Tuvok can you see to it?" She asked looking to her security chief.
"Certainly Captain. This way Mr Lupin." He said guiding Remus out the door.
Janeway followed and made her way to the turbo-lift to go back to the bridge. She had hoped things would improve back in the 20th century enough that Harmony may split her time. But now, she only hoped things didn't get worse.
A/N: Liked it? Hated it? Let me know
Constructive Criticism welcome
Flames will be ignored or used for the Barbeque
A/N 2: Sorry about the less than stellar quality with this chapter. I re wrote it four times and it still doesn't read right to me.