Author Notes: Season 2 episode 2 A gathering of Hermiones
Starring:
Harry Potter as the leading man.
Hermione Potter as the Boss
Hermione Weasley as "Mia"
Rhonda Potter as the matriarch.
Co-Starring
Chubs as herself.
Also starring
Harry J. Potter. As The charming, yet dangerous rogue.
Hermione Potter as the Centauress.
Hermione Granger as the special investigator.
Special guest appearances by
Hermione Potter the supporter of monogamy
Luna Longbottom the friendly face
Tonight's episode is sponsored by Cuppa Joe Energy Drinks. Now available in Romero strength with 2000mg of caffeine, 500mg of ginseng and 10mg of amphetamines in each serving. For when you're dead but still have to get to work on time.
(Fade in)
Harry J. Potter, interdimensional traveler, stepped through the event horizon of his wormhole. He took a deep breath to get the feel for this world. It was fall in Scotland and the air held a crisp chill with a threat for rain he felt.
Reaching into the pocket of his tan overcoat he pulled out his scanner. Looking to see where everyone was he found Hermione located not far away in Hogsmeade with Luna. Harry Potter was in the castle while The Weasel was in Australia with his sister. Neville Longbottom was in London.
Heading into Hogsmeade he was happy to see the castle looked exactly the way it should. The village was a little bit more modern with paved streets instead of cobblestones. Bicycles moved among the people and horses as the population seemed to have increased a bit.
He reached the three Broomsticks to find Hermione and Luna sitting at a booth in the corner. Beers were on the table in front of the both of them. Harry gave his order to Hannah Abbott behind the bar then settled into a booth to observe.
Hermione looked like she had put on a little bit of weight, not much, just enough to round out her features a bit and give her a soft definitely feminine form. She was laughing with Luna about something the blonde said. Her clothes indicated she was in a professional position, possibly muggle, but then she always did like to keep herself balanced in that world no matter what. Whatever position she held it was management at the very least or possible a solicitor. Definitely not a shop clerk.
This Luna was still petite, slender and well formed. She wore her silvery blonde hair long and untamed with her pale white skin and light sky blue eyes she looked like she would fly away in a stiff breeze. She had put on just enough weight over the years to have some slight curves, just enough to let you know she was female at a glance.
Both of them looked healthy and happy. Both worse a gold band on their left hand. Hermione's wrist had a nice watch on it which she had glanced at. Standing she gave Luna a quick hug and kiss on the cheek before leaving. One that a person would give a close friend but not a lover.
Watching her walk out of the pub he noted her self assured stance, the way she smiled and waved to some of the other patrons indicating she was a regular and confident enough not to hide that she was here. A sense of self confidence exuded from her. She did not seem to be in any immediate threat so he turned his attention back to Luna.
She was no longer sitting at her table but was sitting in the chair across from him. She had to have apparated to change locations so quickly Harry thought. She was studying him very closely it seemed like before she smiled, "Hello Harry who is not Harry."
"Hello Luna. I should be used to this by now." he chuckled.
"I am not the first Luna you have met?" She asked in all seriousness.
He shook his head, "Nope to be honest the 27th." He said mentally counting.
"So why are you here?" she asked.
He looked at the door Hermione had departed through and smiled, "Just checking up on someone."
She raised her eyebrow, "Hermione is doing quite well. Her and Harry are married and have a cottage at the other end of the village as well as a house in Crawley near her parents. He is the Defense professor and she is Undersecretary for being rights in the DMLE."
"Nice. So doing well for themselves. Kids and such?"
"Three. Two boys and a girl." She replied. "The boys are twins."
Harry chuckled through his nose. "He treats her well?" he asked.
"She is his sun and his moon. His world revolves around her and their children." She tilted her head, "How did your Hermione die?"
Harry paused. He always loved, yet hated, talking to Lunas. They always seemed to have a direct connection to the universe and were able to see through any line of bullshit he threw at them. It was just something about them. "Look, I'd really rather not discus that okay. Matter of fact I'd really rather nobody knows I've been here."
She smiled softly, "I see. So still recent enough that it hurts."
He winced slightly. "A million, billion, years could pass and it will not lessen the pain by one ounce."
"My condolences on your loss. I will not mention this to anyone, so long as you do not pose a threat." She warned him.
He shook his head as he took a deep drink to forestall answering her, "Nah. If she's okay there's no point for me to do anything. Unless Ron did anything bad to her." He glanced over to see her trying to hold back a laugh.
"Ron was too busy with his sister to do anything to Hermione." She finally said once she had composed herself.
"Ron and his sister?" Harry nodded before saying, "Okay."
"You do not seem as disgusted or surprised as I would think. You have encountered this before?"
"Yeah this is like the fifth time I've ran across the two of them getting together." He said with a puzzled frown. "I still never really understand how or why."
"Well Harry held a drawing in our sixth year to drum up morale for the Quidditch team and Ron won a date with Ginny. Apparently they had been repressing some very strong unresolved sexual tension which they resolved. I am still concerned about the number of freckles on their children." She shook her head absent mindedly.
"Okay that is a new one at least." he admitted.
"Please tell me about the others?" She quickly asked.
"Well once they were the victims of a prank by the terrible duo that went horribly wrong and became legally and magically married in a world where magical marriages had no divorce." He laughed softly.
She considered that for a moment. "I could see that happening."
"Yeah well two others involved love potions that got off course. Once because Lord Potter and his lady detected the plot and the other just because Ron was an idiot in that world." He snorted in amused remembrance, "and the other one they just sorta fell in love and started being lovers." He finished with a dismissive shrug.
"Interesting. I would love to discus the various worlds that you have encountered."
He shook his head, "I'd love that too Luna but I need to keep moving. The one thing about the multiverse is there is always another horizon to cross." He paused for a second and said, "There is an organization that does this run by my counterpart and his wives. I'll send them this address and you can talk to them all you want. Hell they might even hire you to be their local contact."
"I would like that. Thank you. I hope you find what you are looking for." She said taking his hand.
He looked down at the soft delicate looking hand that was holding his. He smiled as he picked it up and kissed the back of it. "Luna you are a wonderful, special person in every world. I am glad the universe created you."
Luna smiled back at him, "Thank you for the compliment. I will wait here so you may leave without my observing you.
He chuckled, "Thanks Luna." He stood and briefly debated it before giving her a kiss on the cheek. He turned and walked back to his spot on the ridge. He looked at the castle in the last rays of the setting sun and with a smile translated out of that world.
===xxx
Harry Potter from the Alphaverse woke up quite happy. Snuggled against him on his right was Rhonda his prime wife, on his left was the newest Hermione who went by the name Mia, she had happily joined in the group marriage with the permission of Hermione Alpha and Selene. Selene had remained on Alpha when Ron and the other Lunas had moved to the world with Luna the seer. Ron had been promoted to Facility Director and was helping them rebuild their world, although Luna would commute to Alpha to help out at the estate and sometimes visit with Harry.
Hermione Alpha entered the bedroom causing Harry to smile, "Hello, what's new?"
She sighed, "This came by the morning post." She said holding a letter out to him as he sat up. Mia and Rhonda both looking curiously at Hermione.
Harry took the letter and began to read aloud: {Dear Friends, I have recently found a world you might be interested in. The local Hermione is living a very nice and happy life with her Harry. Luna is as always a very charming and nice person with an intuition that can see through your disguises so don't bother doing that with her. She is looking forward to meeting you though. I'll let her explain what the rest of that world's little quirks are. Take care and I am glad to see you and Hermione are doing well. She needs to be loved. Sincerely your friend HP.}
"Okay. So we going to this world anytime soon?" Harry asked handing the letter to Hermione.
"Well there doesn't seem to be any pressing need so we'll continue with the one we currently planned then you can go to this one. Although since it involves a Luna I wonder if I shouldn't get Ron to go." Hermione teased sitting on the end of the bed.
Harry laughed as Rhonda said, "I think he's quite busy enough for right now."
"What he's only got four Lunas." He said.
"And a Lavender." Mia pointed out getting out of bed. Smacking Harry's hand as he flicked his finger over the white bead on her nipple. "Behave. I gotta go feed Andrea." She grinned, "If there's any left you may get some if you're a good boy."
Harry put on his best innocent face causing all three women to laugh, "I'll see you at the office." Hermione said leaning forward to give Harry a kiss, "Don't forget Chubs is on your team now to replace Ron."
"Oh cool. This ought to be fun." Harry enthusiastically said rolling out of bed to follow Rhonda to the bathroom, "Sure you don't want to shower?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Tomorrow is my night. So you better be back in time mister."
"Wouldn't miss it."
===xxx
Harry walked into the briefing room to see Chubs sitting in her coveralls. She looked up and grinned cheekily at him, "So looks like we're going to be partners eh?"
"Yeah. Jane wanted stay with her daughter longer so it'll just be the two of us for now."
"Sweet." She declared.
Hermione entered the room snapping on a video display. "Okay. This world looks different."
"Don't they all?" Chubs snarked. Harry had to nod.
"Yes, well this one is starting to get on the outer end of things." Hermione said pulling up an image. It showed a large six engined propeller driven airplane flying over the mountains behind Hogwarts. A Scottish flag flew over the castle as well as an American one. The video moved down to Hogsmeade and they saw that many of the buildings flew American flags and there were advertisements for things like Pepsi and AT&T. There was a movie theater and cars on the streets. The probe had zoomed in on one car that had the nameplate of Chevrolet Phoenix.
"Whatta fuq?" Chubs exclaimed in confusion.
"My sentiments exactly." Harry agreed.
"From all initial scans it appears that Scotland is either part of the United States or is very closely allied with them. There also does not appear to be a statute of secrecy. The geography appears to be the same. Although atmospheric testing does not pick up the enhanced levels of radioactive particles that indicate the atmospheric testing our world has had." Hermione rattled off.
"So maybe they never developed the bomb?" Harry suggested. "They had magic instead."
"Possibly. As for inhabitants. It seems pretty much everyone is there. Just where and in what capacity we can't tell as usual." Hermione said with a shake of her head.
"Okay. So go in, try and find out what the point of divergence is and what everyone is up to?" asked Harry.
"Yes. Try not to get caught." Hermione cautioned them.
"Understood."
===xxx
They came out on the ridge over Hogsmeade. Looking around they shifted their clothes to blend in with the locals. Chubs had a long pleated skirt and a tight pink sweater. Harry had a fedora and sports jacket over button down shirt with tweed trousers. Their physical features they adjusted just enough to not resemble their counterparts as much. For Chubs that was a lot easier.
"This is so weird." Harry said looking at the castle with its flags flying against a blue sky.
Chubs shrugged as she lit up a cigarette. "Dunno. Its all relative I guess. I had breakfast with two other versions of myself."
Harry chuckled, "Okay good point."
They arrived in the village noticing the various cars and trucks driving along. They bore license plates on their heavy chrome bumpers that said Scotland the State of Heaven. Looking on the High street which was named main street now they found The Hog's Head, the Three Broomsticks and a chrome rounded building called Dexter's Diner.
"That looks positively American." Chubs declared.
"Yes it does." Harry sighed. Stopping to look at the newspaper vending machine in front of the diner Harry read the headline and shook his head, "President Stallone meets with Soviet Premier Karkov in Berlin talks. What?"
Chubs looked puzzled, "Stallone? Isn't he that late night infomercial guy who used to be a singer?"
"Uh not on my world, he was an actor." Harry murmured.
"Obviously his career took a different path." Chubs said with a shrug and pushed the door open.
The interior had a checkerboard floor tiled in black and white with chrome tables and chairs with red leather cushions. There was a jukebox in the corner softly belting out some kind of bouncy rock music in the background. A few people sat at the counter and in the booths along the front wall. Harry recognized Hannah Abbott moving among the tables with a notepad taking orders. Harry also noticed Chubs was not the only person smoking cigarettes as most of the people in the place had one either in their mouth, their fingers or in an ashtray on the counter. There was even a vending machine advertising Morley cigarettes next to the door.
"Be with ya in a giff friends. Have a seat." she called out with a wide smile. Bright red lipstick accentuating her brilliant white teeth. A pale pink and blue waitress outfit with a white apron had her name stitched over the left breast was worn. She had sensible white shoes finishing out her outfit.
Harry sat down with Chubs in a booth as they looked out the window. They did not have to wait long as Hannah showed back up with two menus and two glasses of water. "So, how're you two today?"
"Uh. Good. Thank you." Harry replied politely taking the menu and looking it over.
"Right. That's good. Do you two need a minute or have you got what you want in mind?" She asked.
"Can we have a moment?" Harry asked looking at the menu before Chubs could say anything.
"Hey these prices are in dollars!" Chubs noticed.
A middle aged dark skinned guy in a uniform that said Greyhound on it laughed from the counter as he had been watching Chubs. "Got ya a real bright one there buddy. How'd you folks get across the border without changing your money?"
"We apparated." Harry replied.
"Oh. Magicals." Hannah said coming over when she heard Chub's outcry. "Well we can take galleons too. Greg doesn't mind and neither does Dexter. I'll get one of those menus so you can see the prices. Next time ask for that first if you need it."
"Right thank you." Harry said.
Chubs was looking at the uniform, "So what're you a copper?"
The patrons around them laughed before the man said, "Nah. I drive the 8 o'clock hound to London. Gary Thomas is my name and you are?" He said holding his hand out.
Harry shook it, "I'm Harry Seven this is my wife Barbara."
Chubs said, "Call me babs." When he shook hers.
"Right. So you folks got a kid up at the school?" He asked.
"Uh no. Not yet. We're considering which one to send him to." Harry said figuring that it sounded appropriate as he traded menus with Hannah.
"Oh yeah. My son, Dean, he graduated from Roseland down in Amesbury. I think that's a pretty good place." Thomas said.
"Uh. We were going there next. Thanks. He won't be old enough until next year yet so we've got a bit of time." Harry said as Chubs looked cute at Thomas.
"Yeah sure. Always a good idea to do the research." He said before his watch buzzed. Smiling he pulled a few bills out of his wallet and tossed them on the counter beside his plate. "Thanks Hannah. Tell Greg he got the bacon just right this time."
"Sure thing Gary." She laughed as she grabbed his money and dirty dishes. Harry and Chubs wound up getting breakfast platters and a coffee each a few minutes later. Unsure of what everything was Harry let Chubs order since she seemed to be more food conversant.
"Okay. Roseland. So Hogwarts is not the only magical school. Big surprise." Harry quietly said over the communicator. He knew Chubs had been implanted with one when she became a team member. He hoped she remembered how to use it.
"Yeah. So I wonder where any of our other selves are on here then. Cause if I lived in the south and there was a school down there my folks would have sent me there."
"True. We need to get a lot more information."
===xxx
They were walking out of the bookstore a couple of hours later with several history books, newspapers and some local currency. Looking at it he asked, "Who was Benjamin Franklin again?"
Chubs shrugged, "I dunno. Why?"
"Because he's on the ten dollar bill." Harry replied handing her the currency.
"I dunno. The yanks have such bloody confusing money that I can't keep track of it all." Chubs shrugged.
They stopped outside of a store advertising Philco radios and televisions. Now available in full tri-dimensional colorphonic projection. "This place has some very strange technologies."
"You ain't kidding." Chubs whispered. Watching a car with very tall fins on the rear fender drive by. A house elf scooted by on some kind of flying bicycle.
Harry was about to say something else when he saw an orange swirly vortex open just down the street. A tall centauress version of Hermione Granger stepped through awkwardly and almost got hit by a car. She reared back and kicked the hood causing the driver to leap out and start yelling at her. She was wearing a dark green tunic with a belt pouch and several odd crystals on a harness over her tunic and body.
"Aw shit. Is that a horse girl me?" Chubs asked rhetorically.
Harry nodded, "Yeah." Running over he pulled out his special wallet with the morphic ID that would shape itself to whatever the person looking at it would expect given the lie he would tell them.
"Its okay. I'm law enforcement. Just calm down everyone." Harry called out holding his wallet up to show the people that was gathering around that he was taking control.
"Damn it you people need to not just pop in in the middle of the street. Look what she did to my hood." The man said pointing at the hoof sized dent with cracked paint just beside the flying griffon hood ornament.
Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a large handful of galleons. "Here this oughta get you a new paint job."
The guys took the coins then looked at Harry and grinned, "Yeah sure buddy. Just get her out of the street."
"No problem." Turning to the new arrival he smiled, "Maybe we should do like he says and get on the sidewalk?"
"Right. Yes. Very good idea." she said in confusion. "It apparently worked!" She seemed to suddenly realize.
Chubs came jogging up, "Uh we got coppers coming. We need to get out of here unless you want to try and explain what's going on."
Harry looked up and saw a car with rotating red and blue lights on its roof slowly approaching. "Good idea. Uh you better come with us. We don't exactly know what the local laws are."
"First off who are you and where am I?" She asked in absolute confusion.
""I'm Chubs, he's Harry and you're Hermione. Where you are is in a world of trouble if we don't get that fat arse moving."
Hermione looked at the police car which had pulled over with a frown, "But we haven't done anything illegal. Have we? And how do you know who I am?"
"We can explain it but not right here, we need to move." He said pushing on her side urgently.
"Hey off me. I'm not some mule you can push around!" She stomped at Harry's foot causing him to leap backwards.
By this time the police car had arrived and both officer's stepped out sliding wooden riot baton's into their belt holders. Harry noticed the one who exited from the driver's side had a gun while the rather tall heavy set man from the passenger side had a wand. "Oh great they must partner a muggle with a magical in this world." he said over the comms.
"Yeah. Hey wanna apparate to Godric's?" Chubs replied.
"What about this Hermione?" he asked. "I don't want to abandon her."
"Fine grab her on three." Chubs decided.
"You sure we can do this much mass?" Harry was thinking in his head.
"The bigger the ass the faster the bounce. Now shut it and go on three." Chubs hissed.
"Alright folks. Let's get some identification out and see if you can explain what's going on?" the tall man ordered as he walked up. Harry recognized the voice as that of Victor Crabbe, apparently the centauress did as well as she frowned, "Victor? I thought you. Oh right different world." She seemed to be surprised to see him.
"You know me?" he asked.
"Well you helped us fight Voldemort." She replied.
Chubs had begun her count as she saw the officers exchange a look. "three" she called out as she, and Harry both grabbed the centauress and apparated with her side-along. Fortunately she had been taken by surprise so did not resist.
===xxx
They appeared in a field just outside Godric's Hollow. Harry fell sideways as he was dizzy and nauseous as usual.
"Pull it together Harry." Chubs called out, "Damn first time I fookin apparate in years and I gotta drag a bloody dobbin wit me."
Hermione was awkwardly trying to gather her wits, "Wha. Why did you do that?"
"Cause those coppers were thinking you were bloody barmy and gonna throw us all in the clink." Chubs grumpily stated. "I've seen that look on coppers faces before."
Harry picked himself off the grass wiping his mouth called out, "Okay just calm down Chubs. She didn't know better. Let me guess your first Dimensional Jump?"
"Um yes. My friend Luna and I worked on a way of thaumically accelerating my atomic structure so that I could pass through the quantum string filaments into another alternate reality."
"Yeah she a real Hermione alright." Chubs shook her head and waved to the farmer who was standing on his back steps looking at the three of them. "The locals are kinda noticing us. We should go say hello."
"Why don't you take care of that Chubs." Harry suggested, "I'm not so sure I can walk that far yet."
"Sure thing. Miss socialness is on it." Chubs said sauntering off towards the house.
"Well. I suppose I am sorry. I didn't think. I was so confused and surprised that it worked."
"You're telling me you made a blind jump across dimensional realities without knowing it would work?"
"Well we had run several experiments with inanimate objects and the energy fields wore off after an hour and they returned unharmed, as well the fruit flies and a few other things we sent through." She explained.
"Right. Uh. No offense but you're a centauress? Is that normal for your world?" Harry asked looking down her flanks.
"No, not really. I had an accident back in school with a potions ingredient and a microwave." She said with a tired sigh. "Old news. So Harry? Nice name. My husband is named Harry."
"Nice. Pretty cool guy I bet." Harry chuckled.
"Hey, the farmer guy asked us to kindly get the hell out of his field and close the gate behind us. Unless dobbins here wants to pull his plow, and I don't think he was referring to farm equipment. You sure we didn't wind up in Wales?" Chubs said walking back over.
"Do you mind not being quite so crass." Hermione demanded in a huff.
"Just ignore it, and that was her being polite. C'mon." Harry said staggering towards the gate that felt like it was miles away.
===xxx
A few minutes later the three of them were walking along a road towards Godric's Hollow. "So where are we going?" Hermione asked.
"Well I was aiming for Potterplace and we wound up in that field." Harry admitted.
"Hey I was just wanting to get to the church yard. I think her mass threw things off. We're just lucky we didn't wind up smeared from here to Dover." Chubs declared.
"Right. So. I don't suppose you could transform yourself?" Harry asked the Hermione centauress.
"Uh not really. Not while the harness is energized I was really hoping to avoid apparating or anything like that." She said examining the crystals and some gauges on the harness. "I didn't bring my belt."
"Great. So yer stuck like big freaking nag in the middle of town. Good thing they don't have a statute of secrecy here." Chubs grumped stomping along beside the centaur version of herself.
"Oh. I suppose I hadn't considered that. I was supposed to just jump across to the equivalent of my own backyard. I wasn't supposed to move in space." she explained.
Harry laughed, "Well uh. Its a bit more complicated than that."
"Ah. So I see." Hermione said. "Well thank you for helping me."
"Why didn't you just have Luna jump across first?" Chubs asked.
Hermione sighed, "Probably the same reason I did an experiment that turned me into a centauress. I didn't think the ramifications all the way through."
"Obviously." Harry spoofed Snape making her chuckle.
"So you've found a way to quantum travel?" she asked.
"Yeah. My wife and her friends did." Harry said carefully. "So what motivated you to travel?"
"I had a curious encounter with an alternate version of Harry. He asked me a bunch of strange questions and seemed slightly off. So I wanted to track him down and ask him a few questions. Also because I saw it could be done I wanted to see how I could do it." She admitted. She missed Harry's expression of recognition cross his face quickly.
"Ahh. Okay. Well with you walking around in the open looking at least halfway like Hermione Granger we are probably going to get a visit from the local authorities again." Harry sighed.
"You better tell mommy." Chubs said.
"Yeah." Harry stepped off to the side and began talking into his wrist communicator.
"So. Chubs. That's an interesting nickname. What's your real name?" Hermione asked.
"Hermione Granger. It was Weasley briefly but after the divorce I changed it back." Chubs said with a grin.
"Oh. So you're a version of myself." Hermione said studying Chubs.
"More like the other way round." Chubs declared with a smirk.
"Alright both of you do NOT go down that path. You'll wind up battier than Luna IV" Harry called out.
"Aw shit Harry I ain't got no way to get as batty as Starchild. Not without some shrums." Chubs called back.
Hermione looked from Chubs to Harry and asked her in a low voice, "So he's a Harry Potter?"
"Yep." Chubs said with a grin.
"And the two of you developed interdimensional travel." Hermione asked.
Pulling a pack of cigarettes out of her purse Chubs shook her head, "Fuck dat. I'm a tattoo artist. My dad drove a Lorry. I was lucky not to blow my tits off in charms class without Harry's help."
"Somehow I seriously doubt that." Harry said with a grin walking up. "The boss lady says that we are to protect our new friend here and try to avoid being detected until she returns to her home. IF we are encountered before then we are to offer no further resistance. So. Let's go find someplace to hide."
"That copse of trees just north of the village?" Chubs suggested.
"Yeah sure." Harry agreed.
===xxx
They spent the next hour sitting in the woods chatting about their respective families. Comparing Rons and in general getting to know each other. Either the American authorities had not filed a report with the English government or the bureaucracy ate it.
Harry had been reading form the history book he purchased, "Wow. Scotland became the 54th American state in 1983 under President Cronkite. This was after 30 years as a protectorate and territory after World War Two when Grindelwald and his puppets the Nazis had invaded the U.K. They even would up occupying great tracts of Scotland."
"Bugger me! No way!" Chubs scoffed at the idea.
Hermione even frowned. "That seems rather incredulous."
"Well apparently the War Wizards of the US Army made such an impression on the locals as well as the various aspects of American cultural ties to the Scottish dating back to their revolution that Americanism took a strong hold. Especially as the UK dissolved thanks to King Edward the VIII not abdicating the throne causing a constitutional crisis." Harry read.
"Well looks like this place got royally fooked then." Chubs said with a snicker.
Harry chuckled, "Yeah. Uh looks like they never had the strong catholic church that led to the witch burnings by muggles. So they never developed the secrecy acts or hid from society."
"Well that makes a certain sense." Hermione said before something started beeping on her harness. "Oh looks like I'm going to be going home soon. You did say you scanned my quantum signature?"
"Yep got it and locked it. Sent a copy off to Hermione so she can open a gateway to your home so we can come visit you."
"Okay thank you. I would like that." Hermione said as Chubs and Harry backed off a bit. The beeping stopped but nothing happened. Then a sudden whirring whine began to build before some of the crystals exploded sending shards across the clearing and making Harry and Chubs duck.
Hermione started screaming as sparks danced along the harness causing Harry and Chubs to leap forward, cutting her out of it they threw the smoldering pieces off and away from her. Harry quickly began to cast healing spells while Chubs fought the building fires.
===xxx
They had managed to put the woods out before too much damage had occurred, unfortunately the smoke had drawn the local's attention and the fire brigade had arrived finding a slightly singed trio of Chubs, Harry and the centauress version of Hermione looking bashfully at them. All three of them had smoky ash covered clothing with a few holes burned in places.
Ronald Weasley was an Auror in this universe apparently as he had been one of the first ones to arrive and lead the three of them off. When he had them remove their glamours and their true identities were revealed he blinked rapidly several times before walking over to his speeder broom and calling someone on a mirror.
A few minutes later the Hermione from this world had arrived. She was wearing a set of dark gray robes with a starburst symbol over her left breast. Her glasses were silver rimmed with teardrop shaped lenses. She was wearing her wavy brown hair pulled back into a bun on her head. She looked like a very stern teacher or librarian Harry thought and tried to think about cold thoughts instead.
"So you seem to be two Hermione's and a Harry Potter? This sounds like the beginnings of a very bad joke." She said with pursed lips.
"Well you see we made a quantum jump to arrive here. Because I come from a world with." Harry began before she raised her hand.
"A what sort of jump?" She demanded.
"A quantum jump?"
The local Hermione looked broadly confused and annoyed at that. "I have no idea what a quantum jump might be." The way she said quantum was like it was some strange exotic word she had never heard before.
"Well we just got here this morning and hadn't studied your history completely yet. So I can't tell you why you don't know about that." Harry said.
"And you expect me to believe this lord of horsedung?" She demanded crossing her arms.
"Hey! Its not. We're telling the truth. I came from another dimension as did her." Chubs stated emphatically referring to the centauress version. "Just cause you don't know about it don't mean it ain't real."
The local looked at Chubs with a annoyed expression, "I did not say that. Just that I find this concept of alternate dimensions to be." She paused to look for the right word. "Difficult to believe."
A familiar voice said from behind Harry, "Well you should believe it. Because its very real. Hello Harry. Hello Chubs. You're looking good."
"You! You're the one who showed up and asked me those strange questions!" Centaur hissed at the long brown coat wearing Harry J.
Harry was watching his roguish counterpart to see what he would do. "So what brings you to the neighborhood?"
"Well do you realize that her method of travel rang this world's quantum filament like a bell?" HE said pointing at the centauress, "It changed the cosmic harmonies for the entire sector. It actually managed to make them all skip a beat." he said in admiration. "Good job my dear."
"Thank you. Luna helped." Centauress said with a slightly confused tone. "Although the method of returning home seemed to malfunction."
"Well of course it did. The method you used was a horrible brute force one that several others had tried to develop. Smeared themselves across half the bloody quantum spectrum in the delta band." Rogue Harry said with a casual wave of his hand. "I still occasionally run into fragments of one or the other of them."
All of the dimensional travelers shuddered a little bit at the casual description he gave.
"Excuse me. As wonderful as all this is you are still not explaining anything or why any of you are here." The local Hermione angrily stated. "All of this quantum filament and quantum this and quantum that. Quantum, quantum, what is a quantum?" She actually stamped her foot.
All of the dimensional travelers looked at her in confused shock. Chubs shook her head, "Damn girl. Are you for real? Even I know what that quantum stuff is all about. Its all part of that Atomic stuff. You do know what an atom is right?"
"Of course I know what an atom is. Everyone knows what an atom is." The local said putting her hands on her hips, "But what does that have to do with quantum filaments and all this other stuff?"
"Oh dear lord Harry. I do believe this world never developed the atomic theory, How did your World War Two end?" Rogue asked.
Local replied, "Why does that matter?"
"Just answer the question please it will be important." Harry said looking at his rogue counterpart. "I think I know where you're going with this."
Local shrugged, "If it matter the Yanks dropped fiendfyre filled bombs on the Shogunate of Japan after Grindelwald was defeated in Berlin by General Dumbledore. The Yank general Patton had pushed the Panzers back far enough Dumbledore and the war wizards managed to defeat the Werewolves of the SS. They attacked the Reich's citadel and Grindelwald was defeated in a personal duel between Dumbledore and himself."
Chubs put it together first snapping her fingers she said, "Oh hey. Cause the muggles have always had access to magic they didn't have the pressure to build newer and better technology that's why there are propeller airplanes and such weird schizo-tech stuff like his speeder broom." She pointed to Ron's highly modified broom for reference."
Centauress nodded, "Exactly. By providing easy solutions for problems the drive to innovate stagnated."
Chubs looked up at the centauress and raised her hand, "High five booyah!"
Centauress just looked at chubs blankly then turned back to the local, "I bet your science fiction isn't the same either. The technology many of us take for granted just wouldn't exist here or if it does its considered something fictional."
"Well thank you for explaining that. Now perhaps you could explain what all of you are doing invading my world!" The local seemed to be rather moody.
Harry stepped forward saying, "I and my teammate Chubs, represent the Granger Institute for Thaumaturgical Research and Development. We are visiting alternate realities for the express purpose of cultural observation, trade and mutual friendship."
Rogue applauded sarcastically. "Very well done. You remembered the speech. Hermione must have been cracking the whip."
Harry looked annoyed at Rogue before saying, "This gentleman is also a Harry Potter who is an associate we have encountered but is not part of our organization."
His voice taking a cocky friendly tone Rogue turned to the local Hermione and said, "I am more of a freelance operative who has his own reasons for doing what I do."
"Well I am tasked with investigating and defending the realm from any magical or supernatural threats. I would say right now you are falling into that category." She stated.
"Well that's nice. However I don't think you want to become my enemy, it wouldn't be very beneficial to your health." His voice had fallen into a tight dark tone.
Harry reached out to put his hand on Rogue's shoulder only for him to spin in place and vanish.
"Your friend seems rather temperamental." The local pointed out.
Harry took a deep breath before saying, "He's not exactly a friend. More like someone we know."
"Well what about you Centauress me." The local said staring at her.
"I just built the device to see if I could travel because I saw him do so." She said with an awkward shrug.
"Look if you want to come across to our world and meet the folks back home, begin diplomatic talks, you're more than welcome to." Harry said.
The local frowned before saying, "I would like to but I am a special investigator for the Department of Magical Defense so would have to talk to my superiors."
"Well tell you what. We have the quantum frequency for this world and can come back so we'll give you a few days to give your reports, talk it over with your superiors, do what you need. Okay?"
She smiled, finally Harry thought, "Okay. Let me give you my card so you may contact me."
"I'd like that."
Contact information was exchanged then Harry called for the wormhole to go home. Turning to the centauress version, "Don't feel bad we'll get you home next stop."
"Thank you. I would like to introduce you to my husband. I think this should be quite entertaining." she said.
"Well bye." Chubs said to the locals, "Catch ya on the flipside."
===xxx
Hermione watch Harry, Chubs and the centauress version of herself exit the wormhole back at base. She had already sent a probe through to the homeworld of this new guest and confirmed they existed and there would be no trouble traveling there. She had also dropped a message to her family that she was safe and would be bringing guests when she returned.
Hermione felt she herself would go on this one. She wanted to get to know this version.
Harry grinned when he saw her, "Hey babe." He called out coming up to hug her.
"Hello yourself. Hello Chubs. You can take the night off. I'll take our new friend home."
"Alright. I left Lavender in charge of the store so I'll go see how she's doing." Chubs said before giving Harry a big kiss on the lips and waving up to Padma in the control booth.
Centauress looked from Hermione to Chubs then back.
"Yeah we have a bit of an open relationship. If you stay friends with us I can try and explain it."
"Oh well that would be nice. Were you just coming home with me or can your husband join us?" Centauress asked.
"Well I had planned on it just being myself but Harry can come too I suppose." Hermione said with a shrug.
"I was hoping to introduce your Harry to my Harry. I'm curious to see how they would react to each other." centauress said with a smile.
Hermione chuckled, "Well as long as he played Quidditch I'm sure they'll have a lot to talk about."
"Oh I'm sure they will." Centauress laughed as Padma reset the gate after sending Chubs back to her home.