Meeting Aliens

I remember when I finally gained the courage not to run. It was the same dream that I'd had so many times. This time, things were different. I looked into the Untempered Schism and held my ground. As I did, two faces appeared. One I recognized. The Doctor. The other was a woman I had never seen before although she looked familiar. The Doctor whispered something into her ear. A name. His name. His true name, It was then that my courage failed me and I ran. When I awoke, I was drenched in sweat.

Tonks looked at the metal cylinder sitting in the middle of the scrapyard. It was a warm night and this part of Yorkshire was deserted for the night. Moody was already following the wizard who had transported it to this spot. She was still trying to figure out what happened to the woman who had called in the warning that Hallie intercepted. Strange noises and lights. There were no noises but the cylinder did shine with its own glow.

Sirius was grinning. "I think it would be a bad idea to open this thing."

Tonks did her own scan and agreed. It was showing too many life forms to count. All small. All moving. She added her own thoughts. "We may not have a choice. My guess is it's on a timer."

"Do we try to move it? And is so, where to?"

"Restrictive wards?" Tonks suggested. "In case it opens before we decide. To keep anything from getting away."

Sirius nodded and began placing the wards. In a few minutes, it didn't matter if the cylinder opened. Anything inside could only move a few feet in any direction. Including down. Once he was done, she called Lucius to let him know they had a problem under control. As she ended the call, the cylinder opened.

Bats flew out. Bats with yellow eyes and tendrils instead of a mouth. They grunted instead of screeching. And they flopped around. As she and Sirius watched, the creatures that had come out began falling onto the ground. They writhed for a while until they stopped moving. Tonks waved her wand.

"Dead? They're all dead."

"Dumb luck on our part. Whoever left this gift forgot something. They can't breathe our air. Did you hear the sounds they were making? They were gasping."

Tonks looked at Sirius. "Do you believe that? That they would forget something as simple as that?"

"Not really. I don't think they were meant to live on their own. I think they're parasites. They'd be fine if they got their teeth, or whatever, into one of us."

Tonks agreed. The dumb luck was that they set the wards up in time. She called Alastor Moody. He told her how to find him. She told him to call Lucius with the same information.

"Sirius, I'm pulling rank."

The man laughed. "Clean up this mess before I join you." She left him as he called Hallie for instructions on what to save.

It was not Lucius Malfoy's intent to bring Ritchie with him into the conflict. He did not expect any trouble. He merely wanted to make sure that everyone was there and aware of what they were to do. And to give the boy a view of what to expect. Of what would be expected of him. At this time of night, it was mostly shadow.

"Watcha, Boss," Tonks said as they arrived. "How's your girlfriend, Ritchie?"

"Still thinking about me. Thanks."

Lucius smiled at the exchange and turned to Moody. "Alastor, any problems?"

"Plenty. Whoever we're looking for is there." He pointed to a small hut near the top of the rocky hill. It was visible as a silhouette against the night sky.

"Where are we?" Ritchie asked, looking around him at the ocean waves.

"A deserted piece of rock somewhere in the Orkney Isles," Lucius answered. He looked up at the hut, no more than 60 feet away although it looked to be a difficult climb. "What can we tell about our friend?"

"His plan to feed half of Yorkshire to some alien nasties failed miserably. Not used to our air. They all died. His magical signature led us here." Moody grumbled his next words. "Damn wards won't tell us who or what's inside but the traces lead there."

Lucius nodded his head. "Where's Sirius?"

"Doing cleanup. He'll stop by when he's done."

"BOSS," Tonks shouted. A light was shining from the hut. Shining straight up like a spotlight.

"We move now. Wands at ready. Ritchie, find a nice rock to hide behind."

Ritchie frowned but nodded.

The three apparated to the hut. Lucius gave his instructions by hand. Tonks and Moody hugged the hut wall on either side of the door. Lucius went to kick the door in and paused. Instead, he tried turning the knob. The door opened.

He jumped in and to one side. A luminous beam shot toward the high ceiling. Lucius noted that the room was much bigger than he thought it would be. It was also empty except for the platform in the middle of the room and the large square stone on it. The light was coming from the top of the stone.

"Either he fled or he's hiding," he told the others. "Come in but be careful."

Tonks began waving her wand as soon as she was inside. Her comments were to the point. The stone was alien. It was also using magic. They were in the right place. She smiled when she received her instructions. Shut it down.

"Finite Incantatum. Nope. Didn't work." She tried another spell with no results. Moody cast a spell of his own. The stone cracked with a loud noise and the beam winked out.

"Always use force when being polite doesn't help." His grin faded to a surprised look when the lights came on. A man of sorts appeared on the dias. Wearing a dark cloak and a top hat. He had no face.

"Good," he said in a voice that wasn't human. "All of you are here." The faceless head seemed to shimmer. The man now had facial features. A round face etched by age, boyishness replaced by cunning. Blond hair turning grey.

Moody waved his wand.

"Nothing will happen," the man told him. "Had you been more forceful, you would have been fine. Instead, you activated the defensive ward." He smiled with spiked teeth. "No magic will work in this room." He held up a stone staff. "Except for mine." He thrust the wand forward and the door closed and faded away.

As the three turned to look, Tonks and Moody frowned. Ritchie was standing there.

"You said it was empty," Ritchie said as though it was an excellent explanation.

"And you couldn't resist," Lucius answered with a smile. "You're just in time to find out what will happen." He turned back to the man. "You are going to explain before you kill us?"

"No." The man grinned and raised his staff.

Ritchie waited until they left. He then followed them as carefully as possible. He wished he had his trainers instead of shoes. And he felt like a fool climbing over rocks in a tuxedo. Still, there were plenty of rocks and he could remain hidden most of the time if he saw anyone looking back.

He stopped hiding when he saw them enter the hut. The rest of the climb went quickly. No more than five minutes. After the first set of rocks there was a path. He was near the door when he heard the explosion and rushed in without thinking that he might be walking into trouble. He was thinking someone might be hurt. The mistake was obvious as the entire room lit up. He didn't even react to the size of the room. He had too many similar experiences.

He stared at the strange man as he let them know they were trapped. When the door behind him disappeared, he turned back to find out that the others were looking at him. Tonks and Moody had different versions of the 'you stupid kid' look. But Mister Malfoy smiled and mouthed a word at him. Ritchie winked to show he understood. The platform. The platform was part of the machine.

Ritchie listened as Lucius Malfoy asked for an explanation. As the man answered, "No", Ritchie slapped his arm against his side, releasing his wand from its wand holder. Except it wasn't a wand. It was too thick. He thought of it as his light sabre. Not that it became a magic sword. This was a plasma tube. Easy to carry. Easy to use. Before the man finished raising his staff, three energy bursts were striking at his feet.

The man laughed as the lights went out. Ritchie heard a voice that said never trust a plan that involves people. Then Moody's voice shouted, "SHIELDING".

The room exploded upwards.

As Ritchie picked himself up, he saw that he was on top of a rocky crag surrounded by water. The hut was gone. "Did we get him?"

They were all looking at Lucius. He smiled and said they should return to the office.

Alastor Moody was curious what the explanation would be. As Lucius Malfoy insisted on making himself a drink first, and offering Alastor one, he didn't mind waiting.

It was strange to think that, four months ago, he would have laughed at the thought of sharing a drink with this man. But one conversation changed all of that. A chance meeting at the Leaky Cauldron, he remembered.

"If it isn't the respectable Lucius Malfoy," he couldn't resist saying. He knew the man's past. He knew how much of it was lies. Only, he couldn't prove it.

"Moody," Malfoy sneered in return. "Still out of work? No honest employment available?" Then the sneer faded to be replaced by a cunning smile. "Would you consider dishonest employment? Nothing illegal, mind you."

Moody expressed his contempt with several choice words, smirking as the man before him cast a Confundus charm around them. The smile faded as Malfoy uttered a word he had not heard in years.

Torchwood.

It was real. Lucius Malfoy was in charge. He needed people he could trust. That eliminated all of his former friends. And if he agreed to join the group, he would probably be killed by someone or something within the next five years. The record for employment was twelve years. No one has ever retired.

"Who in the Seven Hells are you fighting?"

"Aliens," Lucius answered, more casually than Alastor expected. "The nasty ones. We have friends to take care of the nicer ones."

"And what about You-Know-Who?"

Lucius Malfoy smiled. "I have more power than I could ever gain from supporting him. And Malfoys do not give up their power willingly." He removed the spell. "I expect I'll be killed by him while being distracted by other things."

"No one ever retired?" Alastor asked. He was now too curious to let the matter drop.

"Not from old age."

"And I can quit?"

"Anytime." Malfoy made it seem as though he was reading Alastor's mind. "You can even be a spy for the Ministry. After all, they're the ones who will be paying you." He smiled, almost teasing. "You can even be my substitute when I can't make the Minister's weekly meeting."

Alastor accepted the position. He even sat in on one of the meetings. Minister Bones' expression when he walked into the room was worth all of the Galleons he had earned in his life. And now, Lucius was handing him a snifter of brandy. Excellent brandy.

"I don't know who or what he is," Lucius admitted. "I've asked Hallie for suggestions. She suggested I talk to my son."

"John?" Tonks asked.

"He has a history," Lucius pointed out.

Alastor laughed lightly. "That's not the half of it."

"We don't have to ask him," Ritchie said.

Lucius gave the boy a sharp look. "I don't think John has been as open with Hermione Granger as you have."

"He told his girlfriend?" Alastor asked.

Ritchie was smiling. "She asked if I could get her a summer job."

"I can call a friend," Tonks asked.

Alastor listened closely as Tonks called her muggle friend. Luke was happy to hear from her. He made a suggestion of his own.

"Call my mother. She traveled with him for years. She might have a clue. And he would answer a call from her before he'd answer one from me."

"Tonks, take Ritchie to Ollivanders. Check with Hallie on the wand requirements." Lucius looked at Ritchie. "Your sabre."

Ritchie apologized and returned it to the wand holder.

"Boss, do you think he should take that to Diagon Alley?"

Lucius looked at Tonks. "After what happened, I think he should take it everywhere."

The way he said it made Tonks think. Ritchie was still a boy as far as she was concerned, but the boy knew how to fight. And she did owe him her life. She smiled at him and waved him to join her. "C'mon, its time to get your wand."

"YES."

Both laughing, they went to the app station and disappeared. A moment later, they were standing outside Ollivanders. The man was removing the sign that said closed.

"Good, we're early. That means no lines." Tonks led the boy inside.

"No," Sarah Jane Smith told him. "I'm not calling the Doctor simply because you have a problem. He's your son. You call him."

Lucius frowned. "It isn't that easy." He revealed his secret. "I never told John what I do for a living."

"He knows about Torchwood."

"But he doesn't know I'm part of it."

"If I talk to the Doctor, he will know. If John doesn't know, it means the Doctor won't come."

Lucius made the obvious connection. "And if he does know, he knows not to say anything to anyone." He ended the call.

The puzzle. A batch of harmless alien bats used as bait to attract the attention of Torchwood IV. A trap that prevented the use of magic. Only to be foiled because a muggle teenager wouldn't follow his instructions. And the added question: Was it related to the Diptor infestation?

He began asking Hallie random questions. Anything that came to mind. Where the two alien planets were? How far apart. What races lived near them?

Lucius sat up. "Hallie, can you contact aliens?"

"Only those known to be within the solar system?"

"Ask if they know of any other planets that had intentional alien infestations. Where they are located and when. What actions were taken. Any suspects."

"Information has been requested through channels. Confirmation has been made that the request has been received."

"And now we wait."

"That was excellent thinking, Director."

"Thank you, Hallie."

"You should know, Director. I would not have thought of it. It is outside my parameters."

Lucius nodded, thoughtfully. Hallie had an interesting limitation. She could only make judgements or decisions based upon what she knew. She couldn't do that based upon what she did not know. "It's part of being human, I suppose."

Ollivander observed the boy in his shop. He recognized the woman with him. Hated to be called by her first name. Wand of Ash and Unicorn hair.

"Welcome back, Tonks. No problems with your wand, I hope."

"Nope. Came to get this one a wand. He needs something from . . . "

"Willow, I should think." Ollivander eyed the boy carefully. "Odd. This boy isn't a wizard but he has magic."

"Lucky, I guess," the boy told him with a smirk.

Ollivander decided to teach the boy a lesson.

"Master Evans, you need to know two things. I keep my secrets, and I can read your thoughts. A natural ability on my part. Tonks can explain." When the boy gave him a frightened look, he confirmed the lad's fear. "Yes, I know why you need a wand because you dared to look me in the eyes." He turned to Tonks. "And I do keep secrets. I know too many things about people."

He wandered into the back where his older wands were and paused. It was a rarely used wood, but it was supple, much like the willow. He took the box and returned to the front of the store. His measuring tape was up to its usual routine, measuring every part of the boy's hand, much to Tonks' amusement. He snapped his fingers and the tap settled down until the next customer.

"Wand hand?"

"I'm ambidextrous."

"It means he's rubbish with both hands," Tonks added, helpfully.

Ollivander gave her a polite smile and opened the box. He handed the wand to the boy and told him to wave it. The boy did as he was told. The tip let off a reddish purple flare that hit the ceiling and burst into a shower of glowing embers which faded as the fell.

"My instincts are as good as ever." He smiled at the boy. "A very good wand. Wood from the Elderberry tree with Dragon Heartstring at its core."

It was Tonks who expressed her surprise. "An elder wand?"

"Not THE elder wand, but made from the same wood. I made it a long time ago. Only so I could brag about it. Never made another one. Difficult wood to work with." He smiled at the boy. "It isn't a powerful wand but it should be more than enough for you. Eight Galleons, if you please."

"The principles involved in third year potions," Professor Snape was saying. He paused as he looked over his class. One student wasn't paying attention. His head was down but he wasn't taking notes.

"Mister Malfoy."

"MISTER MALFOY."

"Mister Potter. Prod your partner and see if he responds."

As he watched, Harry shook Draco's arm. Draco muttered, "not now" without even looking up.

"He's . . ." Harry started to say.

""He was up late and he's trying to sleep."

"Uh, no, Sir. He went to bed early." Harry was frowning with a touch of fear. "Bad dreams. He's been having them lately."

"Why don't both of you stay after class?"

"Both of us?"

Severus smiled at the look of surprise on the boy's face. "To make sure he makes it to the Great Hall."

The class was interesting after that. Everyone was eyeing Draco while trying not to. Including himself. Occasionally, Draco would tap the desk with his finger, as though he were talking to someone and trying to make a point. Curiously, John paid no attention. It was as though he was embarrassed by his brother.

Once the class ended, it was only a lecture, he called for John to wait half a second. He asked the obvious question. What was wrong?

"Puberty," John answered. "That's the closest I can describe it. He's changing. It affects us differently." Severus knew who he meant by 'us'. "And it's not affecting him the same way it affected me."

"How did it affect you?"

"I," John paused. A long pause. "I became afraid. Of everything."

John left. Thanks to Severus, he was reminded of something. Someone. A polite request to enter. A girl his age, except she was a woman. He was afraid of everything. She was afraid of nothing. She taught him to fight his fears. And he taught her how to fear. He told her of their plans for him, for all of them. Lives of duty. Of drudgery, for most. The select few. How they would be part of that number. How he wished to get away.

When he left his granddaughter, Susan, behind to marry that Earthboy, he lost the last reminder of her. And he let her rest undisturbed in his mind.

"Draco?"

"What?"

John looked up to see Parvati standing there with Ron.

"You're still wandering around in your daydreams," Parvati chided.

"It's puberty. This is what happens. You'll see John doing the same thing."

"Not likely," Ron said, "He's never quiet when he thinks."

"What?" John asked.

"You never noticed. You ask him something and he starts answering. You can see his brain working while he's talking."

"Really?"

Parvati nodded her head as confirmation. "So tell us, what were you thinking of?"

"My first wife. When we ran off together."

"John?"

"Yeah."

"Your first wife?" Ron asked. "How many times have you been married?"

John thought about giving an honest answer. But then Ron would want names. On the other hand, it could be fun to watch their reactions. Then again . . ."

"I'd need to count."

"I have to know," Parvati insisted with a grin. " Do you, I mean, did you have any children?"

He saw it in Parvati's eyes. The reflection of the memories, still fresh in his head, not packed away again like books in storage. The tear from her eye made up for the fact that none came from his.

Harry sat there as Professor Snape forced Draco out of his stupor.

"I was thinking," Draco said sternly.

"And it is time to tell me what you were thinking, that you could ignore my class."

Both looked angry. Harry even thought a fight might start. Then, suddenly, the Professor stepped back and asked, "What was that?"

"My dream." Draco was wearing a wry grin. "I'm trying to figure it out."

"You're going through puberty. A dream about firing a muggle space weapon has obvious connotations."

Harry snorted before he could stop himself. Neither noticed.

"It was a dream?" Snape asked. His tone spoke fear.

"I don't . . . know." Draco shrugged his shoulders. "I mean, I had a bad dream, earlier. The one where I'm lost in Hogwarts. I woke up. Then I put my head back and tried to go back to sleep. I let my mind wander."

"Could you tell me where you wandered?"

As angry as Draco was earlier, he now seemed eager. He told the tale. How he could feel the world. He would reach out his thoughts and check on his friends, sensing them safe and sound. "John said all boys do that. He says I'll grow out of it as I develop. That's when I decided to check on Ritchie, at least I think that I dreamed I did."

Draco felt his mind, his special sense, fly away from the school. North to an island. A room of magic. Ritchie was agitated. A weapon in his hand fired three times. Draco could feel the energy. The other humans, although his concentration was distracted. A foreign essence. It began to depart. On a whim, Draco followed.

"To where?"

"To here," Draco answered. "To Hogwarts. It was dark." His face became like John's in his most serious mood. "An enigma. It is inside and it can't get out. Yet it is outside and can't get in."

"This was too easy," Blaise Zabini said to himself as he closed the door to the deserted storage room. Hogwarts was known for having far too many empty rooms. He pulled the small mirror out of his pocket. He would go to the Great Hall in plenty of time to eat before the afternoon classes. He only wanted a quick conversation.

He pulled out the small mirror. The voice said at once that it did not need to be enlarged. Blaise pointed out that they were safely inside the school. The voice explained that the school's wards were strong. It could not escape the mirror without help. It also warned him that its effort failed due to a flaw. It would hold up its end of the bargain and destroy Malfoy and his new friends at a later date. Blaise reminded it that the bodies must never be found. No one was to know what happened to them. No one was to know for certain that they were dead. It said it understood.

Blaise asked what he could do to fulfill his family's part of the bargain. The Mirror of Erised, regardless of size, could not be safely left lying around, it told him. It needed to be hid. It also gave him a task. To find someone. That someone would help as long as he did not know the truth.

Blaise complained when he was told. That was a title, not a name. It told him, that was the purpose. To find out his true name.

Blaise left the room, mirror safely back in his pocket. He, like others that morning, was lost in his thoughts. A circle of thoughts. Always leading back to the same question.

"The Doctor? Doctor WHO?"