Once they get their bearings, Pomona hurries out to her office, so that she can write a note to the organisers of the conference, in which she explains, briefly, that something happened which means she will no longer be able to attend, or give her own talk. Unnoticed, one of the xenomorphs follows her, curious about what her new family member is doing.
Meanwhile, Minerva tries to summon a House Elf, which pops in, takes one look at the occupants of the room, and then disappears.
"Tilly!"
"What can Tilly…"
"Tilly wait!"
The house elf named Tilly stands in place shivering in fear. Minerva crouches down in front of the house elf, "Tilly, do you know me?"
Tilly nods franticly, "You is Miss Kitty."
"Tilly, why are you the only one that came when I called?"
"Tilly is bound to Miss Kitty."
"Tilly, what is stopping the others from coming?"
"House elves not want to be eggs, stay away from serpent hunter."
Arry moves forward curiously before crouching down, "You know of my kind little one?"
Visibly vibrating, Tilly nods mutely.
"Unlike others of my kind, I don't take those that have not tried to harm me or mine, or have done something to deserve a legal bounty. Everyone in this room except you is a member of my hive. Do you understand?"
Tilly nods.
"Is Miss Kitty a serpent hunter?"
Tilly shakes her head.
"Are those two serpent hunters?" Arry points at Krizror and Brugroch.
Tilly looks at them confused, "Tilly does not know."
"They were going to be eggs until I found them. I made them part of my family instead. Do you understand?"
Tilly nods uncertainly, "Queen serpent not make eggs of house elves?"
"As long as they don't attack me or do something bad, I won't."
"Elveses be good. Tilly be good."
"Then you have nothing to worry about. Ptiana excepting, my family also doesn't force people to join. When I brought Ptiana in, I was unaware she could communicate. Minva was brought in out of necessity, and I've had strong words with Ptiana about what happened with Pomona. If you or others want to join my hive, you can just ask. Otherwise we will leave you be."
"What about small Serpent Hunter?"
"They will be good, even if they can be a little unaware of their own strength. Just don't touch the crest on the top of their heads, as it's very sensitive, and they can react without thinking."
"Tilly understands."
"Are you still afraid of us?"
Tilly just nods.
"Do you know why?"
"Serpent Hunters eat House Elves."
"While we prefer meat, we can eat anything, and my hive tries very hard not to eat anything that can beg you to stop. Unless of course we were hunting them for the bounty anyway, as that would be a waste of meat."
A side of beef appearing on the floor of the office shows that the other house elves were paying attention.
After sending the letter off with an owl, unaware that it was her tail that made it hard to find an owl willing to take the letter, Pomona makes her way off the school grounds. From there she apparates to the birthday party. Thinking this is a good game, the xenomorph follows her.
Minerva looks on with disgust as the xenomorph child just dives onto the meat and starts tearing at it with gusto. Then she does a mental count, one humanoid, one arachnoid, and one xenomorph child.
"Arry, weren't there supposed to be two xenomorph children?"
"There are, I can feel both of them."
"Arry, there's only one in this room."
"Huh? Oh, don't worry, there's another hive member nearby. They should be fine."
"Ok, just try not to let them wand…er. Arry, which hive member is nearby?"
"Oh, the new one, why?"
"Arry, can you stop inspecting Tilly and pay attention?"
Much to Tilly's relief, Arry looks away, "What? She's around a responsible hive member."
"Arry, the only other hive member is Pomona, and she's gone to her niece's birthday party."
"Auntie!" the xenomorph watches curiously, this must be what human chest bursters look like. Maybe they'd like to play. Leaping out of the shadows, she jumps on the small human, and being careful with her claws as humans are fragile, takes them down to the floor. The small child screams, and she nips playfully at their nose with her inner-jaws before rubbing her crest against the cheek while purring. The screams turning into giggles is definitely a good thing. The child puts their hand on her crest so she hisses, "Oh, you don't like that, sorry."
"Well, neither of them is distressed at the moment. So it's hardly likely to be a problem."
"So, 'Auntie' is there anything you want to tell me?"
Pomona sighs as she watches a xenomorph child run around with the other children, "She's not even supposed to be here. We… I… The Head Master… Bubona, I have no idea how to explain what's happened this morning. Her mother came back to Hogwarts with us because… I don't want to sound all Lovegood at you. Suffice to say, she's one of four children that came with us, because they're too young to be left behind."
"I don't care, just tell me."
"Well, what reasonable way is there of saying that you were kidnapped by a phoenix, nearly strangled by a spider, then adopted by an 11 year old?"
Bubona laughs, "If you'd said that without my daughter playing with that, I would be asking if you'd been on the good stuff."
"You know I don't touch that."
"More's the pity. So what does it eat?"
"Honestly, I have no idea."
"Arry, she could kill or injure someone."
"Minva, she's having fun. Can't you feel it?"
With a sigh, Minerva sends of a Patronus to Pomona asking if everything's ok.
"Arry, why do you keep mispronouncing my name?"
"It's quite simple…" Pomona's Patronus comes back to let them know everything's fine "…See, I told you she was having fun."
Minerva slumps, "Tilly, could you or one of the Hogwarts elves show Arry and her family to a guest suite please?"
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Dear Mr Flamel,
I came across your letter to Mr Dumbledore while working through the paperwork puissant to the position as Acting Head Master. I regret to inform you that Mr Dumbledore is currently in a healing sleep due to a grievous injury that he sustained. As I am not privy to the arrangements that he made with yourself with regards to the safe keeping of your stone, I have to regretfully inform you that Hogwarts will be unable to store your stone long term. In respect for your relationship with Mr Dumbledore, I am willing to retrieve the stone and hold on to it until a week before term starts. During that time you will need to secure alternative arrangements, or I will return it to Gringotts. May I suggest contacting a young witch by the name of Arry, she is currently residing in the castle for a few weeks, however she has ready access to a secure location that is inaccessible to all wizards that don't have a phoenix to call on.
Yours Sincerely
Minerva McGonagall
Acting Head Master
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"What do you think Penny?"
Perenelle looks pointedly at the unassuming grey stone, with red striations, that's sitting on the counter, "When are you going to stop pretending that the fist sized Ruby you found is your alchemical masterpiece?"
"When people stop trying to steal it. I meant about the letter."
"Oh, just tell her that you trust her judgement. After all, she is Albus' protégé isn't she."
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Minerva sighs as she reads the letter again, "Arry, do you think you'd be able to store something for a friend of Albus'?"
"Who?" returns over the link.
"Mr Flamel."
"No, I mean who's Albus."
"The old man you've got healing."
"Oh, ok. I'll put it in the locker above his healing tank."
"Good, then we can see about getting your school supplies at the same time. Have you decided which of those outfits the elves found you're going to wear?"
"None of them."
Minerva sighs as she prepares herself for a protracted argument.
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Minerva and Arry have just made it to the head of the queue, "I need a new key for Miss Potter. Her magical guardian is currently in a healing sleep for the next 2 years."
"We don't have a Miss Potter on record."
"Circumstances around her living arrangements necessitated a change in sex." The Teller glances over at the scowling face of the young woman, then his eyes note the very sharp claws and tail. His survival instincts prompt him to wipe the customary toothy sneer off his face when he realises what she's scowling at.
"I see, she will need to see one of the floor managers then."
"I also need to deal with this." Minerva hands over the letter from Flamel.
"I see. Griphook will show the Miss to a managers office, then take you to the vault."
Arry stands bored out of her mind outside a door, to make matters worse the two guards keep making teeth at her. "If you two don't stop baring teeth, I'll take you up on your challenge and take your heads."
"Oh yeah? You and which army?"
"I don't need an army."
"Then why don't you stop us then, witch."
"Right here?"
The other guard says, "She's right Grubnut, the Managers'll skin us if we get blood on the carpet."
"Fine, in the arena."
"I'm ready whenever you are."
"Ha, let me tell the boss where we're going and I'll teach you your place."
"There aren't enough of you to make me even work up a sweat."
As she's following the guards, Arry asks "Any rules I need to be aware of?"
"No wands."
"Suits me, not sure why you're handicapping yourself though."
The second guard stumbles at that.
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Arry stalks down Knockturn Alley, her tail lashing out angrily behind her. She's wearing stupid, itchy, uncomfortable clothes, because Minva was absolutely adamant that not wearing them was not an option. To cap it all, the challenge she received at the bank was absolutely useless. They were just, so, slow, and they relied on melee weapons. Even the old human had been fast enough to tag her. It was over in less than a tick. Not even the least experienced Yautja were that bad. It was so bad, she left the skulls and their weapons in the sand, even though it was a waste of good meat. Then Minva shouted at her for taking up the challenge. What did she expect her to do? Roll over to them? No, they'd have taken her own skull and mounted it somewhere. It's not like the manager was even angry, and she got her key. Why she wanted a bunch of fake gold coins she didn't know. And why the manager smiled at her when she mentioned it is mystifying.
"Hello, will you be my new mummy?"
Arry stops dead and stares down at a young human with blond hair and silver eyes, "I'm sorry?"
"It's ok, I didn't introduce myself. I'm Luna, will you be my new mummy."
Arry crouches down in front of the girl, her tail providing support so she doesn't fall backwards, "Why would you want me as your new mummy?"
"My mummy died a few months ago, and dad's gone too."
"I see, and why me?"
"Because then I can have lots of children, and I'll never be alone again."
"Why would you be able to do that?"
"Because you have lots of children. If I'm your daughter I'll be able to have lots of children."
Arry hums thoughtfully, "Are you sure about this? Once you say yes, you can't change your mind again."
Luna nods quickly, "I just need to tell my dad I'm going. Then I'll be ready."
"I thought you said your father had gone."
Luna nods, "He has, and he's taking me with him." – she grabs Arry's claw and pulls her along – "Come on I'll show you."
Arry is led down a small alleyway between two buildings and through a door into a room that smells of fish, oil, unwashed human, parchment, and feathers.
"Hello Father, I'm going to get a new mummy."
"Hello poppet. Have fun, and be home for dinner."
"I will. See, he's gone."
"Who is?"
"You are."
"Oh yes, so I am. I heard that there's some double mouthed blimp headed hunters in northern Russia. We'll go looking for them in July."
Arry looks down at the young girl, "I see. What of the other humans?"
"They look ever so sad when they see us together. Then they say something like, 'It's such a pity she died so young, look what it's doing to the poor girl.' The person they're talking to will say 'Someone should really do something, she's been horribly neglected.' They'll then start talking about the Ministry for some reason."
Arry takes the girls hand in her claws, "Then I will do something about it." Together they disappear in a column of fire.
The girls father mutters, "Damn, if only I'd seen the fire chicken, I'd have been able to get a photo."
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Arry and Luna reappear in a nearly empty cargo hold on Arry's ship. Arry drops Luna unceremoniously on the floor and walks away from her. "Luna, you have until I get back to change into one of my kind, if you don't I will eat you."
Luna does what any 9, nearly 10, year old would do, she starts to cry. She stops crying when there's a squealing sound and something that looks vaguely like a pig with 8 legs and armour plates runs through the open door, eyes wide in fear and spittle falling from its mouth. Absolutely certain she didn't want to meet whatever could scare the pig thing, she spies a crate and hides behind it, then bites down on her dress to avoid screaming. Something large comes into the room behind the pig and starts to chase it around the room. As the pig runs past her crate it jumps and lands on it, the tail spearing underneath it beneath its armour. It's head shoots down faster than a spell and punches through the head. Luna sits there frozen in terror as it starts to gorge on the pig. Slowly her mind pieces together the claws and the tail, this must be a massive one of Arry's kind. Desperately she starts to mutter to herself "must be one of her kind, must be one of her kind." The muttering becoming more urgent as it finishes consuming the pig, armour and bones included.
The thing then turns towards her and seems to snarl and pulls back ready to pounce. As it leaps she closes her eyes and goes blind.
"Almost ready for your first moulting, good this wouldn't work if you'd already gone through it."
Luna snaps at the voice, and it laughs, "Ohh feisty, good. Now open up for your first meal."
Luna feels something pushed against her mouth and she snaps at it reflexively, it tastes indescribably good, so she quickly snaps up as much as she can. As she feels full and sleepy, Luna thinks 'This isn't what I thought would happen.'
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As Minerva leaves the bank she hears a couple of witches gossiping, "Did you see, she's out there again today. Begging for a new Mummy."
"I know, she approached me last week. She's a precious little thing, there was a time I'd have taken her in, Ministry rules be damned. But since that toad got into power…"
"No need to say anymore. It's a pity she's not Minister, we could vote her out if she was."
"Not that fudge is much better."
"Can you imagine what it would be like if it was Nott though?"
"I'll take fudge over that any day."
As she moves out of earshot, Minerva tries to locate her Queen. She probably should have spoken to the Manager before she shouted at her, but Arry was covered in blood and guts, and she'd just had the worst ride ever. She's now just had the most horrendous reaming, from a goblin of all people, about respecting other peoples cultures. Feeling the faintest trace, she tugs on it and disappears in a burst of fire.
When she reappears, it takes her a moment to realise that she's not on Earth. Looking around she quickly spots Arry putting a creature on her shoulder.
"Arry, I just want to say I'm sorry for shouting at you in the bank. I didn't have all the facts and you scared me. Please will you come back and finish your shopping?"
"Oh, sure. I just needed to vent, and Luna gave me a great excuse to do so."
"Luna?"
She indicates the creature on her shoulder, "Luna, she's a girl I met on the street. She approached me asking if I could be her new mummy."
"Arry, you… Normally it wouldn't be considered a safe or good thing to do. What about her parents?"
"Her mother's dead, and her father's gone too."
"Are you sure?"
"Oh yes, he's completely gone, I saw it myself. Apparently the other humans wouldn't do anything either."
"And the…" Minerva waves at the chest burster.
"Oh, this stage is commonly called a chest burster. She's very close to her first moulting, but the royal jelly will retard that until she's ready to go through metamorphosis."
"I mean, why?"
"Oh, she wanted to have lots of children like me. This way she can have a hive of her own once she grows up."
Sleepily Luna says "I thought blood adoption, not terrifying me into accidental magic."
"Hungry again?"
"Mmm please."
Arry vomits up some more royal jelly before holding it to Luna's head.
"Arry," Minerva says, "saying you have lots of children is considered a compliment to most witches above a certain age. We, often have trouble conceiving even two (though people start to talk once you go over five)."
Arry looks confused, "I know I've got a small family with 50 children, but isn't one or two just asking to be wiped out?"
"Arry, every woman can bear children, even if it takes magical help sometimes, so two children is the same number as their parents."
Arry looks down at herself contemplatively, "All women you say."
"Yes Arry."
"Including me?"
"I'm putting my foot down, not until you're at least 17 and an adult in our society. Also consider that you'll need to carry the baby for 9 months, that's 270 days, rest periods. During which time you won't be able to use your Animagus ability without killing the baby."
"Animagus?"
"Yes, the ability that you're using when you change. My own form is a cat."
Arry vomits up some more royal jelly before replying, "Really? Can you show me?"
Minerva covers her mouth with her hand, "Must you do that?"
"What? Oh, yes. Luna is going to be a sleeping and eating machine for the next tenday. After that she'll form a cocoon out of resin and turn into goo for around 6 tendays."
Sleepily Luna says, "'m not sure I like the sound of that."
"Don't worry, you won't even notice. And if you don't want to, just stop eating the jelly and change back."
"But it's so yummy, sleepy now."
"Minva, you were going to show me your cat form?"
Sighing Minerva changes into a furry xenomorph, then panics as it's not what she was expecting.
"Oh, you're so cute, I love your tail, and your claws have come through beautifully. I didn't realise that you had furry xenomorphs on Earth."
In a panic Minerva changes back, "We don't! I don't know what that was but it wasn't a cat."
"That was a xenomorph with fur."
"I couldn't see anything."
"Well, no. We don't have eyes. We have really good hearing, and we can pick up radio, heat, and x-rays. That's what our crests are for."
"I think I'm going to try to take a page from Pomona's book and worry about it later. Right now, we should get back to Hogwarts. Oh, and can I store that package?"
"You know where the pods are, there's a cupboard above each one for personal effects." Arry disappears in a flash of fire.