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Chapter 21 – Epilogue
Harry leaned back, looking out across the bay, breathing in the cool morning air.
He was home, on Earth, at his actual house, it was odd being here, it had been at least 6 months if not more since he'd last been home for more than 72 hours.
ASCS Hattah was landed at the Gibson Desert facility, receiving repairs and everything else it had incurred during the time that Prometheus had been in their universe.
After the Prometheus's departure, and their subsequent detailed scans of the surrounding space where they'd departed (just to make definite sure) they'd returned to Earth for debriefing and necessary repairs to the ship, plus they needed to scrape what was left of the organism from the bay it was stored in and get analyzing it.
Which all up meant that he had a month leave away from the ship, as did many of the crew form the Hattah.
Harry intended to spend this time actually relaxing instead of getting pulled into some odd investigation in America or somewhere else.
That said he didn't want to be in the USA at the moment, according the Birmingham when he'd been into Night Wolf for a follow up debfreif, his and Jack's presence in the USA had been the tip of an even bigger iceberg in relation to UNIT, supposedly the USA wanted back into UNIT.
That's a job he didn't want. Negotiating with the USA for them to have a place in UNIT. Obviously it was something that had been going on in the background for ages.
It wasn't something he'd paid active attention to, considering where he worked and what he did, aside from his two dalliances with NCIS the UNIT / USA situation was something that went on in the background, with all its infighting and spying that went with it. There were bigger fish that wanted to bite their heads off and play their organs like a bagpipe.
Harry frowned to himself, his internal imaginings were always a bit odd when he returned to Earth and got himself resettled in Earth's gravity and with the sun overheard.
It was a different feeling whenever he was at Research Base One, a different sun, a different planet, a wholly different, yet similar feeling.
The same with being on Hattah it had its familiarity, though different sensations.
As the sun moved up to the apex and the day became slightly warmer, for autumn Harry pulled himself out of his musings and returned inside, he'd be getting some guests soon.
--//
Harry looked up as the phone rang, he practically never used it, but it was a little more normal than his radio making noises, plus it was just as secure.
"Hello." Harry said as he picked up the phone. "Yes sir. Oh…but they're ok?" Harry nodded, taking the news he was given. "Thank you for calling sir."
Nothing bad at least, he thought to himself.
He was glad that he'd given himself a week leeway when it came to organising a get together with friends.
Actually organising a get together had been…complicated.
Hedwig had gone off with his blessings to go raise baby owls and do whatever it was that owls do.
Pity that he didn't have an Owl's tracking skills.
Luckily though the Burrow never moved, though it did mean 'subjecting' himself to Mrs Weasley's questions.
All of which were answered with vague answers, much to her annoyance.
But he'd managed to get a message to Ron and the others through other means.
--//
Jack hadn't really believed it when they'd given it to him.
He'd broken the ship, a few times over, spent a bunch of time in an alternate universe, and got back pay for everyone on the ship for the time they'd spent in the alternate universe, even though they hadn't been gone for all that time here, something about sub-structure superstrings. As long as it wasn't time travel, that gave him a headache.
A promotion.
It was the right time to do it too.
You've got to protect your home, Potter had said that, so had that Gibbs guy at some point he recalled.
At least he didn't have half as many threats on his hands that Potter and UNIT had.
Certainly it had been something of an experience.
Even the thorough psych sessions had been worth it, though he had made sure that Prometheus' jaunt to Potter's universe would be one of those things that was sealed, he didn't want anyone getting their fingers on that info. Lest the NID get their hands on it and trying to make a jump into Potter's universe. He doubted UNIT would be as forgiving as when they'd made an appearance.
Likewise all the stuff they'd used to patch up Prometheus had been removed and sealed up. This hadn't been an agreement with UNIT, it had barely been mentioned, but he felt like it was the right thing to do. It might have worked in that universe, and might continue to work here.
But they didn't need tp start mucking around with stuff from over yonder. That was just as likely to bring a whole bucket load of trouble their way.
If that hadn't pissed the guys from 51, the stuff that had been on the hull of Prometheus following their bull ride back to their own universe had vaporised itself, leaving according to them and Carter, no traces.
Still it meant a lengthy amount of time for Prometheus to be on the ground being fixed up.
And he still got a Promotion.
Hank would be great for the SGC. You needed that something to be in the Mountain, in charge of the old orifice.
--//
At least he'd gotten the grass back down to a normal level, Harry thought to himself as he stripped off his grass covered clothes. It had taken him most of today and yesterday getting his house and garden to a relatively normal state. He'd for the most part forgotten, or ignored the grass and garden that was out the back of the house.
But since he was going to have visitors for a few days, he thought it best to clear up a little bit.
Back in the kitchen, his wings still dripping wet from the shower he heard a knock on the back door.
"Hey Ron."
"Harry! Long time."
Harry tried to shrug as Ron enveloped him in a bear hug.
Harry passed his friend a beer as they sat themselves down at front of the house, looking out across the bay.
"Still not going to tell me what you do Harry?" Ron looked expectantly at him.
Harry smiled at him. "Do you really want to know Ron, wouldn't that take all the mystery out of me?"
Ron shrugged. "At least I'd be able to send owls to you."
"I thought I asked you not to try."
"That's what I mean!" Ron gave a frustrated sight "It must be something pretty mysterious Harry."
"It is Ronald, very mysterious. Full of wonder and madness, of Titans stealing fire and of snakes, that bite the head and the heart."
"Shit Luna! I thought you stopped all that crazy stuff ages ago."
"And hello to you Ron." She smiled and winked over at Harry.
Harry smiled carefully at Luna. Their encounter in Venice had made some things clearer and more fuzzy and he had decided that was okay, not everyone had to be on in the black or the white, skirting the grey was fine, as long as you didn't fence sit so far as to split something.
"I think you just mixed your metaphors there Harry."
"Or I was mumbling to myself." Harry countered rising from his chair.
"Just the lips Harry."
"You two are still weird." Ron said rising as well. "I'm getting another beer. Harry?"
"In the fridge. I'm still on mine thanks."
Harry watched Ron walk into the house, in these few short years they'd all changed.
"That's time Harry."
"And haven't we had enough of that Luna."
"Your friend escaped back to his own universe I see." She said looking out across the bay.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Harry looked at her, she had a distant look to her.
"I would. Where's Hermione?"
"Where's Draco?"
"Ginny said to say sorry but she's got 'an important engagement' she'll be late, that's what mum said when I flooed in anyway." Ron shrugged his shoulders, handing a beer to Luna who stared at it for several moments.
"Well?"
"Hermione was…delayed." Harry said, which was putting it lightly, the ship she was traveling to Earth on the RSCS Indefatigable had been attacked, that was all he'd been told and would be a few days late, Harry had mentally compiled a list of what could make them arrive late, but the list had run so long he'd given up. A day or so late was nothing to be concerned about.
"And what about Draco?" Harry asked. Luna shrugged.
"I left a message for him, he knows where to come and when. If he gets the message that is."
"So what made you want to call us all together Harry, you and Hermione have been away so much…" Ron left the comment hanging.
"I'm not sleeping with her Ron."
Ron choked on his beer.
"Harry!"
"What? It was the thinly veiled impression. Your mum implied it too."
"She probably also said I should settle down." Ron muttered as Harry lead them inside.
Harry nodded to the two, Luna just shrugged and followed Harry into the kitchen and began to peel some onions.
"So anyone you want to settle down with yet Ron?"
"No." He said simply.
"No? Ronald? That's very impersonal."
"Yes." Ron folded his arms, not turning red Harry noted.
"It's team policy, so say the reports." Luna said to Harry.
"Reports."
"Oh…I forgot you don't read such Earthly papers."
"I read the news, I just don't keep abreast of everything." Harry brushed away Luna's comments.
"Well, it's the breast that would explain Ron's reticence to talk about his relationships."
"Oh?" Harry looked over at Ron who was slowly turning more red, the cool butchness that he'd swaggered around with was slowly evaporating.
Ron sighed. "You got more beer in the fridge?"
Harry laughed.
--//
Harry looked up from the garden bed he was weeding as Hermione appeared, courtesy obviously of the ship she'd come in on.
"You're late, who attacked?" He said accepting her luggage.
Hermione looked around curiously at him. "They're out, I sent them to go and get food" Then he added. "And drink. Ron really likes the beer."
"It's his fast metabolism, now that he's a big buff Quidditch player."
Harry raised an eyebrow to her, making her laugh.
"I can appreciate a buff body Harry Potter." She chuckled as he opened the door of the house, brushing the dirt from his hands.
"Don't we all. I'm sure you'll hear about Ron's sordid tales of Quiditch playerdom. I'll just chuck this in your room." He ran up the stairs with the case.
Hermione looked around the room, there were signs of people actually living here, an odd thing for Harry's house.
Her apartment looked the same even though in theory she spent more time on Earth than Harry, it often had a thin film of 'not lived in' whenever she returned, often there was dust, despite the efforts she went to to prevent dust coming in.
Not that dust was of concern, unless it was dust that had nano-particles of death and decay, left by an ancient civilization to trip up budding archaeologists, and land them a month in quarantine.
What fun that had been, that was the last time she breathed deeply in the air. Since then it was analysis first, then uncovering the past second when she knew that the air wasn't going to leap out of the corners of time and try to kill her.
"Hermione?" Harry drifted into view.
"Sorry Harry." Hermione dragged her hand through her short and roughly cut hair, it had at one point been neatly cut, but on the last dig she'd been on had begun to become distinctly annoying and one night, which had been for the most part twilight she'd taken a sharp knife and roughly hacked it away, some had suggested it was in a fit of rage because they couldn't find an entrance, if it was an entrance.
"Caught in my thoughts."
Harry nodded, setting the kettle on. "So who attacked you, everyone on the ship ok?"
"We took hits to the primary engines and hyperspace window generators." Hermione shrugged. "No one injured."
"So who, Daleks, Cybermen, Ancient Vampires, darkness from the dawn of time."
"When have you been attacked by vampires from space or 'darkness from the dawn of time'?" Hermione put on a deep voice for the last part.
Harry made a face. "Fine, when I meet the darkness from the dawn of time I'll tell you."
"Drahvins." Hermione replied.
"The Drahvins, the feminist society and all that?"
"It's a little more complicated than that Harry, rather fascinating from an anthropological point of view really."
"Adding another doctorate to your name Hermione?" Harry teased.
"Just adding to my skill set as you say whenever you get a chance to put your life at risk."
"What're they doing attacking us anyways, it was back in the 90s when they last tried to invade."
"Enough pondering of what female society orientated aliens are doing." Hermione clapped her hands together. Harry raised an eyebrow at her.
"Honestly, you're the one who's always telling me to relax when I get some time off. That I should 'Let go' every so often." She said as she walked over and turned the kettle off.
"Shall we walk or fly?" Harry asked.
"Let's not be ostentatious." Hermione said, taking Harry's offered arm.
"Alright we'll walk." Harry chuckled.
"That'd be silly. We'll fly."
Then she and Harry disappeared in a swirl of mist.
--//
This chapter came from a few reviews along the way that asked for a bit more detail of Harry's life, and his friends.
I've kept detail on what they're doing to a minimum, as I don't want to start dreaming up 'stuff' for them to be doing.
Ginny and Draco aren't here for any actual reason, just that their interactions with Harry, Hermione and Luna weren't really part of this whole adventure, but Ron needed to be there.
I will however state that they're Draco and Ginny are not an item nor are Hermione and Harry.
Harry and Hermione are good friends they're both part of the same weird world, that's all.
Thanks to everyone who has been reading and reviewing along the way.
There is more to come!
Initially when I started this story it was going to be the last in the series for a time.
But I've been thinking and there will be further stories, though probably not immediately.
The next story that I'm likely to post will be another Doctor Who / Harry Potter crossover, but not part of this universe.
Likely to be entitled Visited by a Doctor, which follows the books relatively closely and sees Harry meet all of the Doctors so far. Expect the first chapter of this in a week or so. (Again it'll be in the TV X-Overs category)
Following that will be a continuation of this series, with Harry. First will be a meeting of Harry and Martha Jones (and the Tenth Doctor), most likely this will be a couple of chapters or so.
This will be followed by an adventure set during in the year of 'Last of the Time Lords' when Martha Jones walked the Earth. This one will be relatively short, again a couple or chapters or so.
This will then be followed by a longer fic (which is still a vague idea), but will be set for the most part on Earth. Harry in the staring role. Torchwood will appear, as will some others who have appeared previously in this series of fics (still at the ideas stage).
I've also got a bunch of other fics in various stages which will probably get finished at some point, feel free to message me and I'll probably respond at length.
Again thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed throughout this story (and my others and have followed through to this one).