4. Hogsmeade.
"Bones?" A voice echoed quietly through the fog of his dream, distracting him while he was attempting to run away from the giant spider that had just popped up, seemingly materialising out of nowhere.
"Shut up," he mumbled back at it, swatting at the branches which pricked at his face. "I'm trying to escape, damn it! The last thing I need is you distracting me!"
His shoulder began shaking seemingly of its own accord, and he eyed it suspiciously as it refused to stop jerking. The spider crashed louder behind him, but it was getting smaller. Before he could blink in confusion, it had turned into a unicorn.
The unicorn opened its mouth to speak. "Doctor."
"Bones?" His shoulder continued to shake, more frantically this time.
Rolling his eyes in dawning comprehension as he began to hover above the ground, he sighed. Glancing up, he saw that a light was shining brightly upon him, making him blink frantically as he neared it. "What?" He finally muttered groggily, opening his eyes to see that Kirk was still shaking his shoulder, Spock standing beside him. "Damn it Jim, I'm awake!"
"It looked like you were having a nightmare," Kirk explained, concern on his face.
"You don't need to tell me," he groaned in response, pushing himself into a sitting position. "What time is it?"
"0800 ship's time," Spock replied promptly.
"What time is it here?" McCoy sighed, swinging his legs out of bed and standing up, noticing as he did so that both Kirk and Spock were dressed once more in their uniform.
"I do not know," the Vulcan replied, arching an eyebrow. "I have been forced to estimate according to the moment of our disappearance from our universe. However, judging by the current state of lighting outside, I would say that the time zones are in accordance."
"It's too early in the morning for this," the surgeon groaned, stumbling towards the shower and picking up his uniform as he went. "I'll be out in a minute," he threw over his shoulder, closing the door behind him with a slight thunk.
"What was that all about?" Kirk asked, staring after McCoy in concern.
"I am at a loss as to what you are referring."
"His nightmare," Kirk explained. "He's even grumpier than normal this morning."
The Vulcan stared thoughtfully at the shower room door. "It seems that you are correct. My only conclusion would be that he dreamed about the events which occurred yesterday."
"That's what I thought," Kirk agreed, voice low and serious. "I wonder how he'll deal with whatever is in store for us today."
"Given the fact that he has had significant experience of this universe in the past few hours, I believe that there should be little need to worry."
"I hope you're right, Spock."
"As do I," Spock murmured as the Doctor re-emerged, looking slightly more chipper.
"Time to get lost again," he announced, ruffling his hair slightly with his towel before placing it in the laundry basket and allowing it to remain largely wet.
"Spock, any idea where the breakfast room might be?" Kirk asked.
"Negative."
"Alright then," the Captain sighed. "Let's start by going back to the Great Hall. It looks more like it can fit hundreds of students. Maybe they normally eat breakfast there."
"If we can find it," McCoy murmured darkly, following the two superior officers out of the room, but pausing before he closed the door. "Wait a minute." Both officers turned back around to regard him curiously. "If we close this, will we be able to get back in?"
"Maybe we can wedge it open." Kirk disappeared back into the room, shuffling sounds issued from within as he searched the place. He popped back out. "All I found was this." He held up a Muggle toaster.
"We could try it."
Kirk stepped out of the room, holding the door carefully and placing the toaster between it and the post. Lifting his hands away from the makeshift contraption warily, he stepped back, making a small triumphant sound.
"You don't need to do that, you know," a voice behind them announced, and they whirled around to see a painting smiling at them in amusement. "Once you've been in there once, it's easier to find it again."
"Are you certain?" Spock queried.
"Definitely," the King in the painting answered. "I've been here for decades. Everyone always finds it again...if they need to."
"Alright," Kirk said, moving the toaster and placing it back in the room. He slowly closed the door behind him, ignoring McCoy's reaction as the door slowly disappeared.
"Perhaps, before we move on, we should determine whether or not we can re-access it," Spock suggested neutrally.
"Good idea," Kirk agreed, and they repeated the process which had proven successful the day before. He peeked inside. "Everything is the same," he assured them, once more closing off the entrance to the room as he stepped out. "As long as we remember how to get here, we're fine."
"See!" The King crowed. "What did I tell you?"
"Indeed," Spock replied dryly.
"Let's go!" Kirk commanded cheerfully, already starting off down the corridor, not waiting for his two fellows to catch up.
"Jim!" McCoy called as he hurried to his friend's side. "Do you even know the way back?"
"Nope."
"I believe I remember the route," Spock announced, moving to the head of the group.
"At least someone does," McCoy muttered.
A considerably shorter amount of time than the previous evening later, they found themselves outside the Great Hall, debating whether or not it was too early to go in. Finally, with a huff of impatience, McCoy pushed the door open, revealing a small table where a few of the professors were in the process of eating breakfast.
Dumbledore immediately rose to greet them. "Good morning! I trust you slept well?"
"We did, thank you," Kirk grinned.
The headmaster inclined his head ever so slightly, a small smile dancing in his eyes and on his lips. "Please take a seat." He indicated some trays. "We have traditional forms of breakfast, and of course some dishes of the wizard variety."
"What's that?" McCoy asked; pointing at a strange looking plate with cauldron shaped cakes innocently staring back at him.
"Cauldron cakes," Dumbledore replied cheerfully.
"Cakes at breakfast?"
"Many people bring many different tastes, Captain."
"I think I'll stick with cereal," McCoy murmured, beginning to burden his bowl with a crunchy looking type of cereal.
"Be careful with that," Dumbledore warned. "It's wizard cereal. It can take you quite unaware when it-"
"What?" McCoy exclaimed through a mouthful, giving his bowl a weird look and stopping his process of chewing. His eyes went wide.
"Begins to pop and jump about," the headmaster finished, smiling slightly.
McCoy swallowed warily. "Thanks for warning me..."
One of the professors uttered a short laugh. "You'll get used to it."
McCoy took another tentative bite. "It tastes good though."
"In my opinion," Snape drawled, "that is its only saving grace." His own cereal looked bland and disappointingly unmoving.
Dumbledore clapped his hand together. "I see that you three are still dressed in uniform. Did the room not provide any additional robes?"
"Not that we know of," Kirk replied. "Should it have?"
"Only if you asked it to," the headmaster replied mildly.
"Oh..." Not knowing what else to say, Kirk simply took a bite of his toast.
"What do you propose we do?" Spock asked.
"They sell ordinary wizard robes in Hogsmeade. If you are to blend in, so to speak, it may be a good idea to buy some."
"We do not possess any form of currency," Spock pointed out reasonably.
"I thought that might be the case, so I took the liberty of withdrawing some money from the bank." He reached within the many folds of his robes and plonked a large bag onto the table. "This should be enough."
Kirk eyed the bag with disbelief. "You didn't have to do that, Professor."
Dumbledore waved a hand dismissively. "Nonsense. A few galleons will not be missed if it's for a worthwhile cause."
McCoy cautiously peeled back the top of the bag. "A few? Jim, this is gold!"
Kirk hastily moved forward to inspect the currency for himself. "Is all your money like this?"
"Of course not," Snape replied, lips twisting slightly. "There is a variety. Galleons, which are the highest form of currency, are gold. Sickles are silver. Knuts, the lowest form, are bronze. I believe that Muggles use the same system for their 'Olympics'. It should be easy enough for you to remember."
"I believe we will have no difficulty," Spock replied as McCoy bristled.
"Since I am unfortunately too busy to accompany you myself," Dumbledore continued, "Severus has agreed to take my place." He glanced between them, noticing the tension between McCoy and the Potions Master. "Hopefully there will be no trouble, but he is quite a capable wizard. He will be able to defend you."
"When you are finished," Snape said smoothly, "I will escort you into Hogsmeade."
"Won't we be a bit...conspicuous?" Kirk asked, gesturing to their attire.
"It cannot be avoided," Snape stated simply, "since we are to be going there to search for appropriate robes."
"I'll leave you four to it," Dumbledore smiled, already on his way out the room. "And Severus?" Snape looked up attentively. "Don't insult them too much." With one last chuckle, he exited the room.
Snape scowled after him, before sitting back and impatiently waiting for them to finish. "Take your time..." he murmured under his breath.
Kirk and McCoy exchanged glances. Something told them that they weren't going to like this man. At all. When they had finished eating their first wizard cereal in what would become many, they stood up. Snape picked up the bag of galleons and stowed it in his large robes, beckoning to them to follow.
The sun shone brightly in the sky, a few clouds gathered around it but generally allowing the rays of light to the ground below. Trees around the grounds swayed in the gentle breeze, birds flying from top to top as they fulfilled their daily rituals. The grass was soft under their feet, giving them all a slight spring to their step as they walked to Hogsmeade.
"Do you walk everywhere in these grounds?" McCoy asked, thinking of the weather that the winter would bring.
Snape nodded. "For the most part; yes. However, at the beginning of the school year the students travel by Thestral drawn carriages, due to their luggage."
"Thestral?" Spock repeated with unmistakable curiosity.
"For those who can see them they appear as large, skeletal horses with dragon like wings." His lip curled slightly at their bemused expressions. "However, unless you have had the misfortune to witness death, they will remain invisible."
"I'm not sure if that's good or bad." McCoy replied.
Snape turned to him at that. "Have you witnessed death?"
"Several times. All three of us have, on away missions."
"I see. Away missions are planet side visits?" Snape questioned.
"Yes. Usually not of the friendly variety," Kirk replied. "There have been many needless deaths after beaming down into inhospitable environments."
"One would assume that you have instruments of some kind to relay that type of information before you 'beam down'."
"We do," Spock affirmed. "However, the instruments are reliant upon information which we have already discovered. We are unable to scan certain life forms that are completely new to us."
"And hostile," McCoy added for good measure.
"Then perhaps," Snape suggested after thinking for a few moments. "You should send mechanical probes before you order your men to their untimely deaths. I too have knowledge of Muggle technology," he added at their expressions.
"Apparently our technologies differ," Kirk replied. "That method was used centuries ago."
"It would greatly limit your loss of life."
"We will...consider bringing it back," the Captain finally conceded.
The conversation died down slightly as they continued to trudge through the grass, aside from startled exclamations on the parts of Kirk and McCoy when they caught a glimpse of the castle's resident squid.
"You have a squid?" McCoy asked.
"Of course," Snape replied patiently. "For some reason which I cannot fathom, it likes to have its tentacles tickled."
"Indeed?"
"If you are curious perhaps you could attempt to do so later." Snape replied in slight amusement, which quickly disappeared, as though he did not want anyone to see the slight lifting to the corners of his lips. "We have a tight schedule to keep."
"I may do so," Spock considered, head tilted to one side slightly as he studied the lake, which had become calm once more as the squid fully submerged itself.
"Why, Mister Spock, I didn't know you held a fascination for squid!" Kirk crowed teasingly.
"And who would have guessed that you'd consider tickling one?" McCoy continued.
"I am not considering 'tickling' it, Doctor, merely observing it."
"Which includes tickling it."
"Do not be insulting, Doctor. A Vulcan would never engage in such a ridiculous activity."
"Unless they wanted to clinically note the way it reacted to tickling, right Mister Spock?" McCoy continued mercilessly. When the Vulcan failed to contradict him, the surgeon turned to Kirk triumphantly. "It seems our resident Vulcan is becoming more human."
"It was a matter of time," Kirk replied, grinning at the slightly insulted Vulcan beside him.
"Considering the amount of emotional pollution, it is hardly surprising."
"Emotional pollution?" McCoy sputtered. "Well, aren't you just full of flattery?"
"Vulcans do not engage in flattery, as you should have deduced after our lengthy discussions on the subject."
"No," McCoy replied. "I didn't think you would."
Snape sighed slightly and gained Kirk's attention. "Do they always...bicker in this way?"
"All the time," Kirk replied with fond affection.
"You must have perfected the art of patience," Snape said wryly.
"It does help," Kirk admitted. "Most of the time it's best to just let them argue themselves dry, otherwise it could go on for hours and you'd get dragged in with them."
"Are the rest of your crew this undisciplined?"
That wiped the smile right off of Kirk's face. "They're the most disciplined crew in the Federation."
"If all follow the example set by your two senior officers," Snape drawled, "I suspect that that is not saying much."
"My crew," Kirk growled through clenched teeth, "know when it's appropriate to work or have fun, Spock and McCoy included."
Snape's eyebrow rose. "I have no option but to accept your word." He glanced back at the still arguing pair, where McCoy was now gesturing wildly. "Misguided though it may be."
Inwardly, Kirk seethed but did not reply, knowing that it was idiotic to insult people who were only trying to help him. From what he had heard Dumbledore say earlier, it was safe to say that this was the man's usual character, and that he should not take offense from it. Yet it was difficult to remain so neutral when his entire ship, his friends among them, had just been so calmly and intentionally insulted. He was beginning to understand how Spock felt during an argument with McCoy.
Conversation and, thankfully, argument died down as they neared the village, three pairs of eyes drinking in the sight before them with eager interest.
Large shops lay before them at the bottom of the hill which they were traversing, their windows showing an array of products. Smoke curled lazily towards the sky from the chimneys of the buildings, adding to the overall peaceful atmosphere of the day.
Throngs of people moved skilfully around each other, all of them dressed in billowing black robes and carrying bundles of varying weight. A few congregated to chat in various places, forcing others to dodge around them, occasionally giving a member of the group a friendly wave.
"This," Snape announced, "as I am sure that you have already realised, is Hogsmeade."
"It's beautiful," Kirk murmured.
This earned him a look from the Potions Master. "I suppose it would be, considering that you have seen nothing similar before."
"We've seen alien planets," McCoy confirmed, "but nothing like this."
"Then you should find this to be an interesting experience."
"Where do we go first?" Kirk asked as they entered the throng of people.
"Gladrags Wizardwear. It is not far."
They allowed him to lead them through the crowds, noticing with a familiar feeling of embarrassment that their uniform was gaining them many strange looks and raised eyebrows. One child jerked on the robes of her mother and began whispering in her ear, giggling quietly.
McCoy sighed lightly. "We go through this every time we beam down to a new planet, yet it never gets any easier."
Snape heard them and threw a slightly irritated comment over his shoulder. "If you will be patient, we will be arriving at the shop shortly."
"He's a bundle of laughs," McCoy whispered in Kirk's ear.
"I have a feeling we're not going to like him much," the Captain agreed, taking great care to talk quietly so that the man did not hear them.
A few young teenagers carrying new school books and what appeared to be ingredients called out to Snape from across the street, inquiring about the 'visitors in the weird Muggle clothes'. Snape answered their questions as briefly and vaguely as possible, telling them that he had errands to run and that they would have to wait until school began before they could ask the strangers themselves.
"You will have many questions upon the students' arrival," Snape announced, returning from a particularly curious group. "I have done my best to stave off their queries, but their curiosity is insatiable as always."
"We expected that, Professor," Kirk replied, shrugging slightly. "We're used to answering questions."
"Nevertheless, you will be inundated with them in a few days. You will discover precisely how many students are in attendance at Hogwarts."
"I have no doubt of that," Kirk murmured under his breath.
Before long, they arrived at a shop window with the words "Gladrags Wizardwear" written in bright, garish letters, a portrait of a smiling man dressed in robes walking along the top of the doorframe, a witch posing next to the caption.
Without a word, Snape opened the door and swept inside, not waiting to see if they followed. Exchanging a glance, the three officers stepped into the relative gloom of the shop, blinking for a few seconds as they waited to adapt to the new atmosphere after the brightness and bustle of outside.
"Welcome, my name is Wilfred. How may I help you?" The shop keeper asked helpfully, coming to a smiling stop in front of them.
"I am searching for some plain wizard robes," Snape began without any preamble. "I expect that you have an ample enough supply to provide these three men with sufficient clothing?"
"Of course," the man replied cheerily. "Just the three of them?"
"That is what I said."
"Of course sir," Wilfred's smile wavered only slightly as he reached into a drawer behind a desk to retrieve a measuring tape. "I just need to take your measurements. Who will be first?"
Kirk stepped forwards and allowed the man to measure him. When he had finished, the man disappeared into the back of the shop and shouted out the figures before reappearing before them. "Who's next?"
Spock stepped forwards, eying the back of the shop curiously. "Are the robes manufactured in that room?"
"Of course," Wilfred replied, scribbling down more figures. "It's been done that way for years."
"Fascinating. I had assumed that it would take a considerable amount of time and effort to manufacture such a large quantity of robes."
Wilfred shook his head. "No, it's a really simple procedure once you learn the magic." He looked up, taking in their clothes properly for the first time. "You're not from around here."
"That is correct."
"Are you from the elf region?"
Spock stiffened slightly, his voice becoming slightly colder. "Despite common observance, I am not an elf."
"They all say that," the man said dismissively. "They claim that the name is offensive."
"Is that so?" McCoy asked, glancing at Spock.
"Not to worry though," Wilfred continued. "You're too tall to be described as an elf anyway."
"That is gratifying," Spock said dryly.
Wilfred seemed to consider this for a moment. "Are you half giant?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"You have the ears of an elf," he explained, "but you are much taller than the average height. I wondered if you had giant blood in you."
"Not to my knowledge," Spock replied dead pan. The other two officers suddenly had trouble hiding their amusement.
"Oh," the man replied, getting to his feet and calling the numbers out to the back of the shop. He came back with a bundle of robes. "These are for you," he explained, handing them to Kirk.
"That was quick," Kirk exclaimed in surprise as he took them from the man's grasp. "Thank you."
There was a shrug in reply as McCoy stepped up to be measured. "As I said; it's a simple procedure." There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. "So where are you from?"
"We would rather not discuss it," Spock answered for them, saving them from many possible difficult explanations.
"I understand completely." Despite his words, his tone made no secret of his disappointment.
A few minutes later, Snape had finished paying for the robes and was about to walk out the door when he paused and reconsidered. "Do you have a spare room?"
"What for?" Wilfred asked distractedly, already counting the galleons again and placing them in a safe.
"They cannot continue to wander around Hogsmeade dressed as they are," Snape said shortly.
"Oh. In that case...it's back there." He pointed to a wooden door just below a staircase.
Taking it in turns, they each went into the room to change their clothes, stuffing their Star Fleet uniform as neatly as possible into the bags that had come with the robes. Once they had all finished, they surveyed each other curiously.
Kirk, whose hair was golden in texture and whose blue eyes usually made him look innocent to those who first looked, now had a slightly menacing air, the robes which billowed when he walked increasing his impression of power.
McCoy looked distinctly uncomfortable, waving his arms experimentally to see how much the robes flapped and frowning. The dark brought out the brown in his eyes, making him look regal and mysterious, although his mouth slightly ruined this image in its current position of a scowl. "These are going to get annoying," he said to the room at large.
"I like them," Kirk countered, drawing himself up slightly, a grin on his face. "Spock, you look like a vampire," he dug McCoy in the ribs. "Look," he instructed, nodding his head in the direction of Spock.
The Vulcan stood as stoic as ever, his pointed eyebrows and upswept eyebrows combined with the cloak giving him an even more alien appearance than before. His dark hair coupled with pale skin, however, gave him the slightly supernatural appearance of the vampire that Kirk was referring to.
McCoy snorted. "He looks more half-elf, half-vampire to me."
"Doctor, I must request that you stop referring to me as an elf."
"I'm sorry," the Doctor drawled sarcastically. "Is the name offensive?"
Kirk chuckled but spared a glance at the shopkeeper who was now serving two new customers and had thankfully not overheard this comment. Snape, who was still standing in the general vicinity of the door, gestured impatiently. "If you are quite finished, I suggest we get a move on. We do not have time to kill."
Their next stop was a bookshop. "Professor Dumbledore considered it useful to provide you with the necessary books on magic, if you are to remain in our universe for an extended period of time. Apparently, it will give you a better chance of surviving an attack. Although," his lip curled, "I do not see how this is possible without the ability to perform magic."
"We'd at least be able to recognise attacks and defend ourselves against them as best we can, I suppose," Kirk reasoned, staring the Potions Master in the eye.
"Perhaps," he conceded. "However, that is dependent upon your observational ability." He moved away to the counter before they could reply, giving the clerk a list of the books that were needed.
"We're really not going to like him," McCoy murmured, glaring at the man's turned back.
"He appears to be quite logical."
"Don't tell me you like him?"
"I have no preference, as you should well know, Doctor. However his logic, although occasionally peculiar, is a refreshing change from excessive emotionalism."
"You like him," McCoy concluded.
"Decide what you will, Doctor," Spock replied with resignation. "As a Vulcan I have no personal opinion or emotional reaction to him."
They quickly halted their conversation as Snape rejoined them, arms laden with books. "You each have an individual copy," he said, dumping several into their respective arms. "Which you must take extreme care of."
"Understood," Spock said. Snape gave him an approving nod before heading back out the door.
Following him, they arrived at their last destination; a shop which sold Potions ingredients and equipment. "Professor Dumbledore believes that it will be necessary for you to be capable of brewing antidotes, should you be poisoned," he explained, sweeping into the strange smelling shop.
"Will you be teaching us?" Kirk asked, following him in.
"Of course. Although you will receive no special treatment as you will have to suffer the company of my fifth year students."
"Won't we be behind?" McCoy questioned. "We have no previous knowledge of potions."
"Then I suggest you learn quickly. It may be necessary for your survival."
"Great," McCoy drawled as Snape purchased the necessary items, including a cauldron for each of them since the school possessed no spares.
"Don't worry about it Bones," Kirk said cheerfully. "You have scientific knowledge; you'll probably be quick at picking it up."
"Medical knowledge doesn't cover magical poison."
"Obviously," Spock replied. "However, you are quite adept already at following precise methods and remembering new information."
"I, on the other hand, am a different story altogether," Kirk stated with amusement.
"Yes...you never follow instructions, Jim."
"I am certain that the Captain can learn." The Vulcan fixed Kirk with a 'do not argue' look.
"I should be able to," Kirk eventually agreed. "With Bones here yelling at me whenever I make a mistake, I don't think I'll have much choice. He did the same at the Academy during our chemistry classes."
"That is true," Spock conceded, glancing at McCoy.
"Much as I am certain that you would relish the opportunity to chat aimlessly for the rest of the day, we have to be getting back to the castle," Snape interrupted, face impassive.
"What about wands?"
"What about them, Captain?"
Kirk regarded Snape in frustration. "Won't we need any?"
"Given your apparent lack of magical ability, I do not think so."
"What if we find that we can perform magic?" McCoy asked.
Snape's cold eyes bore into the surgeon's. "Trust me when I say this, Doctor; that is extremely unlikely." He blinked and gave them all a slow, considering look. "Shall we move on?"
As they exited the shop, Kirk's eyes fell upon an old looking building, one faded sign hanging above its doorway, swaying in the breeze. "What's 'The Leaky Cauldron'?"
"That," Snape explained with great distaste, "is a pub."
"Oh?" McCoy asked, perking up slightly at the thought of something normal in this new universe. "What sort of alcohol do they sell there?"
"A wide variety. Personally I do not understand why one would drink to oblivion," Snape said smoothly. "All that results is making a fool of oneself."
"It's relaxing."
Snape turned to regard McCoy with slight interest. "You will not receive much opportunity to do so at Hogwarts," he said simply. "Unless you wish to drink Butterbeer."
"Butterbeer?" McCoy asked.
"It is what the underage students drink." The Potions Master turned around and began the long hike back up to the castle. "Apparently it is a rather popular trend, although I myself do not understand the appeal."
"God Jim," McCoy muttered under his breath. "That man is worse than Spock."
"That is gratifying," Spock murmured back dryly. "Perhaps now you will direct your anger towards him."
"Not damn likely."
"That is a pity. The opportunity for a respite from your continuous onslaught of sarcasm did seem rather attractive."
They reached the grounds in record time, although with every step Snape's shoulders seemed to tense more at McCoy's unceasing line of complaints or insults towards Spock. Spock, for his part, deflected them with remarkable calm, but it was obvious to anyone who knew him that his patience was wearing dangerously thin.
Kirk, for his part, managed to save his sanity by observing the landmarks around him, noting with an interest born of desperation the exact flight patterns of species of birds which he had never before seen, the colours of flowers which moved at alarming speed, becoming a blur within seconds.
When they finally arrived at the castle entrance, it was with no small measure of relief that Snape turned to face them. "I of course must prepare for the upcoming weeks. If you intend to follow up on the interest that you expressed in the squid earlier, I am certain that Hagrid will be able to oblige."
"Who is Hagrid?" Spock asked before Snape could disappear to the relative safety of his dungeons.
"He is the Games Keeper of Hogwarts. He occupies the house near the Forbidden Forest. You would have passed it yesterday," the Potions Master explained sagely. "Although if I were you I would not allow your Doctor companion within his vicinity."
"Why not?" McCoy fumed, his voice challenging.
"Because," Snape explained with weary impatience, "he is half giant, and judging from your reactions to everything varying from ghosts to local fauna, you are hardly appropriate company for him." Leaving McCoy reeling in the aftermath of that statement, he turned around abruptly. "Now if you will excuse me, I have much work to do."
"Bones," Kirk began in exasperation. "Somehow, you always manage to insult people."
"I didn't do anything! He insulted me!"
"That is inconsequential, Doctor."
"Besides," McCoy continued, talking over the Vulcan angrily, "in case you hadn't noticed; he's easy to annoy."
"Exactly." At McCoy's angry look, Kirk held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Bones, all I'm asking is that you try your best not to get into an argument with him. He's one of the only ones who can help us."
"Aye Captain," the surgeon grumbled, but his expression suggested that he would do his best to keep his word.
"Good." He surged through the doors, his subordinates following. "Now, Spock, I believe you wanted to see a certain squid?"
oOo
The Dark Lord would wish to hear this, if he were here.
Those were the thoughts of Xantar Philips as he saw the three strangers dressed in blue and gold. He did his best to keep his expression neutral, walking past them and pretending to stand at a shop window just beyond them.
He kept one ear open to listen to their conversation.
"We go through this every time we beam down to a new planet, yet it never gets any easier," one of them was saying.
Xantar raised his eyebrows. They were not of this world.
Chancing a look behind him, he noted that their clothes each bore the same insignia near the shoulder, a sure sign of an institution of some kind, perhaps of an army. Three new people, clearly unused to the ways of this world, staring around them in confusion and doing nothing to hide the fact.
He snorted contemptuously. They could not even pretend to fit in here.
Yet they could harbour potential power. They were three new arrivals, seen in Hogsmeade, the day after his Lord had gone missing with three of his most trusted servants. His ranks were in turmoil, their attempts to bring him back having failed, even though they tried until the next morning.
He had disappeared in a forest. Perhaps...it was possible. If these three had appeared in the Forbidden Forest, perhaps they were involved. It would explain their apparent cluelessness.
Yet, his mind voice repeated, they could harbour incredible power.
Perhaps they were the ones who were responsible for the disappearance of the Dark Lord. If this was the case, they could be...persuaded to bring him back.
Trying not to draw attention to himself as the three strangers bickered playfully, he walked down the street and ducked behind a shop, heading towards the exit of Hogsmeade.
The ranks of the Dark Lord, if they wanted to bring him back, needed to know.
And he would be rewarded upon the Lord's return.