There weren't many trees but there were a few large boulders with one side hidden from the camp. He landed, rolled the carpet, and put it away in the pouch he was wearing. Wearing his cloak, he walked out to look into the camp. As expected no one noticed him.
Silently, he apparated into the camp – the forcefield provides no trouble. The Cardassians were mostly derisive toward the prisoners but didn't seem that serious about making the Bajorans work. There were two assholes. From his cloak he cast two compulsion charms – both Cardassians felt the need to go use the facilities.
Harry made his way to a hidden part of the camp. "Dobby. Winky."
The two disillusioned elves arrived with small pops. "We're inside the camp. Twelve Bajorans. I sent two Cardassians off with compulsion charms. I put the carpet in the bag I'm wearing. We've got an hour or so until the portkeys go off – I want to make certain we're ready in thirty minutes."
The two quiet voices came back, "Yes, Master Harry." The elves completed the job in ten minutes – they were much better at being sneaky than Harry was.
"Have we seen enough to guess what potions would be useful?" he asked the elves quietly. He had brought his potions stores just in case.
"Nutrition, burn salve, skel-gro, wound paste. Most need more water." Dobby was experienced in gauging needed potions.
Harry had an idea. "Dreamless sleep – we can give each one a dose and they'll sleep most of the way back to Deep Space 9."
"Yes, Master Harry," Winky said. She could administer that potion easily – she had experience with her Master Barty on bad days.
He considered how best to manage the rescue. "I'll have to stun them while they are disoriented from the portkey. Dobby will move them into the runabout. Winky will administer the dreamless sleep. Major Kira will keep a record for the authorities – this labor camp is in violation of the agreement made at the end of the occupation. Major Kira is going to be pretty vocal about it when we get back."
"Yes, Master Harry," Winky said. "Major Kira will be vicious."
"Yeah." He considered. "Leave off the skel-gro – Bashir can do a better and faster job. But we can make them comfortable. Winky? Go back and tell Major Kira what's happening. I will be back soon. Dobby will return just before the portkeys go off – he has better experience at being sneaky, sneaky."
"Yes, Master Harry." She looked at Dobby. "Be careful."
"I will be careful." Winky popped off. Once she was gone Dobby said, "I feel much better that Winky is away. There are many bad people here."
"I know what you mean, Dobby. That's a very normal feeling when it comes to those we love."
"Yes, Master Harry. I will feel better if you leave too."
Harry sighed. "In a few minutes. I'll be passing out a few compulsion charms to the worst Cardassians. The ones just standing around looking less than happy about being here I'll leave alone."
"Of course, Master Harry."
Harry finally popped out of the camp and, after he made certain no one noticed, he popped back to the runabout. Major Kira was waiting anxiously. "Winky said things are on schedule?"
"Yes. We have to be ready for them to appear in the clearing one after the other. Dobby is keeping watch – he'll come get me if there is a problem."
"But you don't anticipate any problem," Kira said.
"No. The only person who has an inkling that I am up to something is Quark – he was passed the earring by a trader friend of his. I gave him a crate of liquor to keep him quiet. Sisko knows we're out but doesn't know where we are. And even if they saw us disappear from scanners, they don't know why or that we came this way – our original flight path is in another direction. The Cardassians weren't alerted that anything was up. Same for the Bajorans. For everyone here, it's a normal day. Another hour won't be the difference between life and death for any of them. The camp looks like it has been in use for years and no one extra has been put here. It's probably been hidden from the Cardassian civilian government even."
"What about the Cardassian Military?" Kira asked.
Harry was dubious. "I suspect this camp was created by order of the Obsidian Order. There are some petty Cardassians as guards – though there seemed to be a few more innocent ones too, soldiers who are just doing what's ordered. The innocent ones seem to be going out of their way to leave the Bajoran prisoners alone. They didn't start bitching when a Bajoran stopped to get a drink of water, things like that. The ones being obnoxious I sent off with the idea they were having digestive issues."
"Really?" Kira asked with amusement.
"Yes. They're in refreshers right now," Harry said with a smirk.
Kira laughed. "That's great!"
Harry chuckled but then became more serious. "I suspect that one of the more innocent Cardassians helped to smuggle out Li Nalas's earring."
"Did you see him?" Kira asked eagerly.
"I think so. There was one the other prisoners seemed to want to protect, though he wasn't trying to be treated any differently. He didn't have an earring."
"That would be Li Nalas. He'd be too noble to take advantage of others." Harry was a bit disturbed by Major Kira's blind faith, but kept silent. It wasn't worth making a stink.
Harry and Kira prepared an area in the runabout to treat the Bajorans. "One good thing: The Cardassians will not have hurt them too much recently."
"Why do you say that?" Kira asked.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Wounded workers get less work done. And while the purpose of the camp is to punish them, damaging them too severely just makes more work for yourself. So the Cardassians are vicious but not too vicious. It would be counterproductive."
Kira said with some disdain, "Let's give thanks for efficiency."
Harry rolled his eyes: Major Kira was in victim mode. Trying to make her consider good points in the Cardassians would be pointless right now.
With five minutes to go, Dobby popped back. "Everything is ready. No one has found portkeys."
"Good."
Five minutes later disoriented Bajorans started landing in the clearing. Harry sent non-verbal stunning spells at them and Dobby snapped his fingers repeatedly to move them inside.
The last portkey, however, had a problem: In addition to a Bajoran, a Cardassian was holding on to the prisoner. Harry cast a verbal stunner, a bit overpowered. "Damn!"
Dobby said, "That's all of them."
"Get them inside." Dobby got them in. "Dobby? I'm going to side-along him and pop back. Get Major Kira ready to lift off in a minute."
Dobby rushed into the runabout. Harry went and grabbed the downed Cardassian. He apparated outside of the camp behind the boulder. Being a bit tired, he actually pulled one of the unused portkeys he had made and activated it. He was soon back at the clearing and Winky was waiting at the entrance.
"Hurry, Master Harry."
He got inside. Winky closed it and Dobby called out, "All inside, Major Kira!"
"Activating launch sequence," she called back.
Harry was given a drink of water and another pepper up – his limit. He still had treatments to handle and he wanted to make certain everyone was alright.
The elves had cast cleaning spells on the former prisoners. Harry vanished most of the clothing. The prisoners were all male except three and Harry immediately made sure their modesty was respected.
Winky provided nutrition potions and Harry spelled them into the Bajoran stomachs. "Major Kira! Can you tell me when we're at warp?"
Kira called back, "Three minutes. Alerts haven't been sent out yet, but they will be soon."
Harry said quietly, "I hope not."
Dobby and Winky started to rub in the burn salve. Winky was taking care of the female patients, Dobby the rest. "Winky? Administer wound paste as needed once you've administered the burn salve to those three."
"Yes, Master Harry," Winky replied.
The sensors and cameras would have to take care of the record keeping. "I will be up piloting with Major Kira."
Harry turned and went up. He sat down. "Alert gone out yet?"
"Just now," she replied grimly.
"Okay. We're returning to where we diverted from."
She looked at him incredulously. "Why? We're on course to return to Deep Space Nine right now!"
Harry sighed. "I know. But I'd really hate to inform any spies how they were recovered. No one has any idea. All were stunned and then given dreamless sleep – which probably is a good thing if they normally experience nightmares. I've given them nutrition potions and the elves are making sure they're hydrated. Right now, Dobby and Winky are administering a burn salve to handle the burns we found. Winky will administer wound paste once the salve is done. I need you to oversee their care."
Kira sighed. "Okay. Let me know when we're back on route." Harry nodded and changed course to return to the spot between Deep Space 9 and the DMZ.
They were thirty minutes from that point when Kira returned. "Those elves are amazing," she said.
"I know. But why are you saying it?" he asked.
"They've administered the medicines, given them water, vanished their bodily wastes, and made certain they were clean – all while the patients have stayed unconscious. They're going to wake up wondering what happened to them."
Harry laughed briefly. "I'm sure it will be a shock. Pleasant, hopefully, but a shock all the same."
Kira nodded. "The tricorders have recorded what has been happening. There are a few small breaks and strains but those are best treated by trained personnel. So I'm left with nothing to do until we get back or they wake up."
Harry checked the time. "They're out for at least another three hours, but likely closer to six. Bajorans do seem to have the same reactions to potions as squibs do back home."
"Squibs?" she asked.
"Non-magical children of magical families. Pure non-magical Humans don't always get the full effect of potions. Squibs do but they take more time than with normal wizards and witches. The Bajoran people react to potions like squibs do, or so it seems. Likely because of the Prophets and their connection to Bajor."
"Thank the Prophets," she murmured under her breath.
"Anyway. Federation medicine would have done the work, but I had access to potions, so that's what I used. Dermal regenerators might have been faster."
Kira shrugged. "But dermal regenerators usually leaves thin skin for a couple of days until the skin fully heals. Regenerated skin is more susceptible to cuts for the first days after treatment. The skin of the patients in back is closer to normal according to the tricorder."
Harry considered that. "I wasn't aware. Anyway. We're a few minutes out. I will be removing the ward stone and then we're flying back to Deep Space 9."
"Roger," Kira replied.
It was just an hour later than they were close enough to Deep Space 9. Harry said, "I have to turn all of this over to you, really. My diplomatic status will keep me from getting in too much trouble but I will need to make a full report to King Charles at Buckingham Palace. All inquiries need to be approved by the Royal Solicitor. Please let Commander Sisko know."
Kira nodded. "I will do that." She paused and then said, "For what it's worth: Thank you. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would help bring back Li Nalas. The Bajoran people will be grateful when they hear your part of this."
Harry chuckled darkly, "We'll see. Remember what happened when we were cleaning up Bajor."
Kira sighed. Incidents such as he was referring to didn't make her people look good.
Harry completed a detailed report and sent it off to King Charles, with a copy to the Federation council member overseeing Bajoran matters. And then he waited.
It took three hours but the expected call to the Commander's office finally came.
Harry had gotten himself dressed more formally (just dress robes, not battle robes) and made his way to Ops. "Commander Sisko," he said after being invited in, "you asked to see me?"
Sisko immediately noted his dress. "Sir Harry Potter. I have received a report from Major Kira of the Bajoran Militia that you violated the Cardassian border in a Federation runabout."
"Yes. I sent a full report to King Charles as my nominative superior when it comes to my diplomatic status. I asked for an adjudication from him at his earliest convenience as to whether I should turn myself over to any legal authority in the matter."
Sisko was taken aback a moment. "I see. And your use of the equivalent of a cloaking device?"
"I was loaned Runabout Ganges for the purpose of my pilot training, as stipulated in the agreement with Starfleet and the Federation when I provided the Granger Seed Bank for use to the Federation to help colony and other worlds suffering from ecological lack. My use was supervised but it was under my authority during that time. Although I enjoy diplomatic status within the Federation, legally I am a foreign resident – not actually a Federation citizen. Major Kira is of the Bajoran Militia – also not a Federation institution. A treaty the Federation has with the Romulan Empire does not apply to this situation. I wasn't even using what can be referred to as a device – it is actually a rock." He wasn't going to mention the plates which he had the elves retrieve without anyone noticing.
Sisko looked at Harry's blasé expression and said, "Very well. I will consult with New Buckingham as far as those matters are concerned. The Cardassian Government has officially apologized for retaining custody of several Bajorans. It was an out of the way and forgotten installation, or so they claim."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm sure the civilian government was unaware. I don't know about the military. The Obsidian Order, I am certain was fully aware of it."
"Nonetheless, they have declined to file a protest, although the military officer who informed me of the decision expressed regret at this."
"Oh? Which officer?" Harry asked.
"Gul Dukat," Sisko said tersely.
Harry let a cold grin come to his face. "I am overcome with shame that I have cause emotional distress to such an august personage."
Sisko sighed. "I won't be taking any official actions. But if you do such a thing again from my station, I will ensure a penalty is enforced. Do you understand me, Sir Harry?"
Harry nodded. "Understood, Commander Sisko." The man was upset, no doubt about it. Harry was going to have to grovel.
And then Sisko's face changed. "However, Major Kira has alerted the Provisional Government that Li Nalas has been found alive and returned to Bajor. His return was greeted with much official praise. A Bajoran leader who is unifying, unexpected but appearing at this time of unrest, is just what was needed. One could almost call it fate."
Harry shrugged. "Praise be to the Prophets," he said calmly. "You can tell anyone who asked that was my official comment on the subject."
Sisko just shook his head. "Dismissed, Sir Harry." He nodded and left.
Several Bajorans were quite appreciative of Harry having helped bring back Li Nalas. Li himself seemed less than ecstatic. Harry finally cornered him. "You seem less than happy about being the returned hero of the Bajoran people."
Li replied, "You wouldn't understand."
Harry snorted. "I'd understand more than you think."
Li looked at him curiously. "What is your story?"
Harry glanced around. "Let's get Sisko in to verify what I'm saying."
Harry gave his history, emphasizing being seen as a hero when it was actually his mother's sacrifice. Li listened and said, "You might understand."
Li then told the story of how he had become a hero to both Harry and Sisko. Harry laughed at the end. "At least you're the one who killed the man – I was a hero for something my mother did. But from one Chosen One to another, your approach needs work."
Li asked, "What do you mean?"
Harry looked at Sisko, who took over. "Your people are fracturing. They threw off their oppressors but no one actually knows how to be free. They don't need a man, they need a hero. A symbol. You feel uncomfortable being the symbol? Tough. However it was done, you now hold the best hopes and dreams of your people. Stop being a coward and be the standard that your people need you to be."
Things didn't go the way Sisko wanted. Li Nalas was given a title but then parked on Deep Space 9 to replace Major Kira.
Everyone could see the direction this was going. Harry grabbed Sisko late one night. "What are you doing in my quarters?" Sisko asked, suspicious.
Harry put his finger to his lips and then handed over his invisibility cloak. Sisko had a decent time playing with that for a moment before he listened to Harry's request that he put it on. Harry then had is elves pop him and Sisko out.
Harry was disillusioned, as were the elves. "We're going into the bowels of Deep Space 9."
Harry led Sisko through some of the corridors and finally they arrived at a special entrance Harry had set up. "What is this?" Sisko asked.
Harry looked at him and said, "You're going to be the secret keeper." Sisko was shocked when a small slip of paper was given over to him: The Redoubt can be found in Maintenance Duct 5A."
Harry cast the spell, and it tired him out. Finally Harry said, "The only person who knows about this is you – and you're the only one who can tell anyone. Even if you tell anyone else, they can't pass it on unless you, specifically, die. It's totally secure. Tell me and the elves the secret please so that we can show you what's inside."
Sisko looked and said, "The Redoubt can be found in Maintenance Duct 5A." Harry grinned as the entrance appeared by pushing the ducts beside it left and right.
"That works. Let's go inside."
Inside the space Sisko was amazed. "Actually, the inside is a magical trunk we sacrificed. Dobby and I have been preparing it. We've made two magical bathrooms – old Earth style – which will vanish wastes. Be careful what you drop in because it will be gone. The chests over there have foods that can be eaten, though some of it is in old Earth style cans. Magical people prefer fresh food or food stored in jars and so forth. So the cans of non-magical food that we brought we've pretty much left alone. I've moved all of it in here – whatever emergencies that happen over the next few years, you'll at least have a store of food. Not the healthiest – twentieth century Earth used a lot of chemical preservatives – but it will keep at least Humans alive for a couple of years if necessary. You can bring in modern ration bars too – I can't stand them personally. I almost prefer the canned stuff. There's a magically powered stove and oven, utensils, chop sticks … whatever can be used. We have a tiny bit left, but it was something we hadn't wanted to leave on Earth, so this works out."
Sisko went and looked. "Chef-Boy-R-Dee?"
"Bland pasta … a can is good for one person. A bit messy, or so I remember. You see the pull tab on top?" Sisko nodded. "Those things are can openers when there are no tabs. If you need it, I'll show you how to work them. There's also canned fruits, soups, etc, etc. Have a blast. This is what I had to show you so let's get out of here. Dobby will pop you back – easier from the corridor – and then come back with my cloak."
Harry went to bed quite happy to have unloaded his muggle rations. When unloading on Earth, he left some of it, but hadn't wanted to clutter his storage there. It went against his inclinations to throw things away. Sisko might never need it, but Deep Space 9 seemed like it was heating up – Sisko could have it.
