Chapter 3
Day ritm
The whole summer had been already very disturbed. Daily messages had come in about actions of the Death Eaters, but Fudge still tried to keep everything as quiet as he could.
For Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny had it been a very disturbed year already. Ginny had been kidnapped at the start of the trio's fifth year and although she had been freed, it had strengthened the realization that Harry and everyone who was close to him was in a very dangerous position.
Ginny had been freed by the newly assembled Order of the Phoenix and Harry, Ron and Hermione. The trio's unwanted aid by the action had prompted Dumbledore in initiating them in The Order of the Phoenix, realizing that they better could be in the group, fully informed, instead of them making plans on their own and putting themselves in more danger then necessary.
Harry, Ron and Hermione hadn't been in the middle of actions, but their input in the planning and research was invaluable. Harry's sometimes very unorthodox and heroic ideas, Hermione's intelligence and skills at research and Ron's knack for strategy were well known in the group now.
Them being initiated had also resulted in extra training in magic by several members the Order, making that their abilities grew very quickly. Training in dueling was only one part of it.
Ginny also knew a lot about the order, although she wasn't a member. She wasn't the only one from the students that knew of the trio's membership, but the others didn't know who the other members were and received no special training. Thinking about Ginny Sirius turned on his other side.
Ginny had also realized that she was in lot of danger and she felt that her abilities and knowledge weren't strong enough. Especially after she was kidnapped. There for, shortly after she was freed she had gone to Dumbledore and had asked for extra training. It had cost Ginny some time, some extremely convincing speeches and the trio backing her up, but at the end she gotten what she wanted and joined Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Hermione and Remus had been working with her too, trying to close the gaps in the knowledge between the fourth and fifth years in the area's they studied. And Ginny, already one of the best students of her year, had thrown herself on the studies with full energy, making her quickly the best student of her year.
Sirius himself personally thought that she would make a good member of the Order. She had already faced Voldemort in the form of Tom Riddle and now last year with the kidnapping she had faced the Dark Lord again, managing to fight of the Imperius Curse without any training.
Finally the tumbling thoughts wouldn't leave him alone and Sirius decided to get up.
***
"No!!! You won't use me against Harry. Get out of my head!"
Hermione woke up from the cries coming from the other side of the room. Ginny was trashing around in her bed. Hermione quickly stood up and walked over to the other side. She had known from Ginny's roommates that she had nightmares now and then.
Arrived by Ginny's bedside she shook the girl a bit. When she didn't react, Hermione gave a firmer shake. Suddenly Ginny flew up, eyes wide open and panting slightly.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked. "What were you dreaming about?"
Ginny looked at Hermione and slowly her breath returned to normal. "About the kidnapping… That's all."
"I think it's little bit more then that, Ginny. You woke me up and you were trashing around in your bed."
"It's nothing, Mione." Ginny looked at the clock. "It's almost eight o'clock. I am gonna get dressed." With this Ginny climbed out of the bed, effectively ending the conversation.
Hermione looked after for a second, sighed and then moved to get dressed herself.
***
"Ron, wake up. Ron! Wake up!"
"Hmprf." Ron turned on this other side. "Lemme sleep."
"Ron, it's eight o'clock. We're meeting everyone in a half hour for breakfast." Harry said.
Ron simply pulled the pillow over his head. Harry shook his head and sighed. He removed his wand from the holster on his belt and pointed it under the pillow. "Fluvius."
Ron shot up, sputtering out water. "Was that necessary?" he sputtered.
Harry pointed his wand at the bed and quickly dried everything. Putting his wand away he said: "Yes, it was. Knowing how long it usually takes for you to get ready."
Ron climbed out of bed and went over to his trunk, removing some cloths. Harry also went over to his trunk, removed a book and went to the living area.
When Ron finally emerged fifteen minutes later, Harry was nestled comfortably on the couch with the book in his lap. When Ron entered he looked up.
"Finally ready?"
"I am. What were you reading?"
"Advanced dueling. Come, let's go to Sirius." Harry stood up, closed his book with a little paper at the place where he was and headed out to door, Ron following.
***
Harry and Ron arrived at the door at the same time as Hermione and Ginny. The two of them were speaking softly, but they seemed to have a disagreement.
When they arrived Hermione looked at the two boys and smiled. "Good morning. How did you manage to get Ron out of bed in time?"
Ron grumbled something.
"What did you say?"
"With his wand and the 'Fluvius' spell." Ron said, this time understandable.
The other three laughed and then Harry spoke. "Mione, Gin, where were you are talking about?"
Hermione wanted to say something, but Ginny interrupted her. "Nothing." Then she turned towards the door and rang the chime. Immediately the door opened and Ginny headed inside.
Harry and Ron looked at Hermione who sighed and also headed inside. Both boy's shrugged and followed the two girls.
***
Sirius looked up when the chime rang and he called: "Open."
The door opened and the four came inside. A small smile appeared on his face as he observed them. They had changed a lot since he first had met them.
Harry had grown quite a bit and was almost as tall as himself now. His hair was still the same, happily standing to all sides, but his face had lost the roundness, making him even more looking like James. He was still a bit skinny, but you could see the muscles from the Order training.
Ron had grown even more and towered a few inches over Sirius. His color of his hair had settled in a dark auburn color and he hadn't only grown in the length. He had broad shoulders and broad arms now. Also his face had become much sharper, giving him a more mature outlook.
Hermiones hair wasn't bushy anymore. She had let it grow and it fell down in soft curls now. She had grown two or three inches and her figure had very clear feminine forms. Her face had lost all traces of baby fat and her sharp features brought out her huge, chocolate-brown eyes.
Even Ginny had changed a lot in the year he had known her. She had grown a lot and had long arms and legs. She had also decided to let her hair grow and now it nearly fell to her waist, although she wore usually it in a long braid or pinned up in a neat bun. And you could see the feminine figures in her body.
But what had changed most were their minds. All four had lost their innocence and their eyes held the look of older men and women. They were much more cautious and even in their sleep they were alert. Sirius knew that each one of them had occasionally nightmares about the events in the past.
Sirius was startled when Harry sat down next to him, the other three sitting on the opposite side. He decided to leave his musings the musings for now.
***
"Did you have plans already for today?" Sirius asked. Everyone had ordered their favorite breakfast and they were enjoying their meal.
"Not much." Ron and Harry both answered at the same time.
"I am going to explore the ship a little bit more." Ginny said. "Otherwise nothing."
"Studying and I wanted to search on the computer about some of the alien cultures Counselor Troi told us about." Hermione told. "But I think we will have a meeting with Captain Picard and everyone else today."
"How about we see if we can find an empty Holodeck and practice some dueling?" Sirius suggested.
"Good idea. I was just reading in 'Advanced Dueling', while waiting for Ron to get ready. I saw a charm I would like to try out." Harry said.
"Sounds fine to me." The others also agreed and after they were finished Sirius went to fetch his wand.
***
The five walked trough the hallways toward the Holodecks. They got some looks from the crewmembers, especially Sirius, Harry and Ron who still wore their wands at a holster on their belts. Ginny and Hermione just had them concealed in their arm holsters.
They didn't care about it. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny often got looks at Hogwarts while Sirius also wasn't unfamiliar with stares. And Deanna had informed them that an announcement would be made to everyone on the vessel.
Suddenly some girls around the age of nine, ten came towards them. They looked a bit nervous, but one stepped forward a few moments later. It was a girl with dark braids. "Can you really do magic and spells and tricks?"
Ron looked down at the girl and grinned. "Yeah, we can."
"Can we see?" the girl asked.
Ron looked at the others and they nodded. Then he turned back to the girl. "I will show you something, but only this time." Ron pulled his wand from his holster and said: "Orchidea."
A number of flowers emerged from his wand and he handed them each girl a flower. They smiled and murmured thanks. Then the kids went on their way and the quintet continued their way to the Holodecks.
***
Inside the Holodeck Sirius managed to create an area. It was just a circle, about 20 feet wide.
Sirius and Ron went first against each other. Both bowed and then circled each other. Ron was the first one to let a curse fly: "Expelliarmus." Sirius jumped out of the way and immediately returned with the same spell. Ron just stepped aside in time and the battle was on. Curses flew back and forth.
Harry, Ginny and Hermione looked from outside the ring, closely observing the actions of both Ron and Sirius. The duel was ended when a "Stupefy" from Sirius caught Ron and Ron sank unconscious to the ground.
Sirius revived Ron and when he was on his feet again, both bowed. Hermione, Ginny and Harry walked over to them and they sat down on the floor to discuss the duel.
"Ron, I noticed that you used a shield against disarming the most time." Hermione commented. "I think you maybe did that too often. In a real fight it can take too much magical energy to do that continuously."
Ron agreed with her and they finished discussing the duel. Then the males left the arena and Hermione faced of against Ginny.
Ginny was what behind them in dueling charms and this summer she had practiced a lot to overcome the so-called 'confusing' charms. And although Hermione used other charms, it was not a surprise for the boys that she focused on the confusing charms. And Ginny's training had obviously paid of, because in the end she faked if she was very affected and disarmed Hermione.
***
They dueled a few times more, in different combinations. Sirius also managed to stun Ginny, but Hermione caught him with 'Petrificus Totalus'. Ron managed to best both Hermione and Harry, but Ginny disarmed him. Finally they decided they were up to the last duel and the only ones left were Sirius and Harry.
Both went into the area and bowed. Harry was the first one to let a curse fly. "Locomoter mortis." This was obviously not what Sirius had expected and he fell flat on his face. Then Harry hit him with a tickling charm and also undoing his first charm. Harry continued irking Sirius by hitting him with small, annoying charms and undoing them also.
Sirius occasionally shot a 'Stupefy' or an 'Expelliarmus', but Harry deflected them with a shield. Suddenly Harry stopped firing the small curses and shouted: "Deslavo." A ball of blue light left his wand and hit Sirius. Then the ball exploded, knocking Sirius back a few paces.
Harry waited till Sirius recovered, in the meantime softly muttering: "Defendo circulaire." Sirius was soon back on his feet and released a number of curses on Harry. Harry's shield absorbed them all.
Sirius stopped for a moment, wondering why Harry didn't curse back. This was the moment Harry had been waiting for. He pointed his wand at Sirius and said: "Release." A multicolored beam of light left his wand, hitting Sirius a second later.
The effect was spectacular. Sirius went flying back, hitting the wall and slumped on to the ground, while Harry caught his wand. The four teens went over Sirius, who was still slumped unconscious on the ground.
Ginny pulled her wand out, quickly muttering: "Finite Incantatum. Enervate."
Sirius groaned and opened his eyes. "Did anyone catch the number of that bus?"
Harry and Hermione grinned, Ron and Ginny looked confused. Hermione quickly explained it to both of them, while Harry gave Sirius a hand up.
"Where did you hit me with, Harry?" Sirius asked, rubbing his head. "Ouch."
"Defendo circulaire. I saw it in 'Advanced Dueling' this morning and decided to try it out. You hurt your head?"
"Just a bump."
Ginny heard this and walked over. "Crouch down." she ordered.
"Ginny, it's nothing." Sirius protested.
"Are you studying healing or I? Now, crouch down." Ginny gave Sirius a glare that reminded Harry strongly of Molly Weasley.
Sirius also knew this glare and sighed. The he crouched down, allowing Ginny to check his head. Ginny prodded for moment, then pulled her wand out and muttered a healing charm.
"Thanks, Gin. I don't know what you think, but I have had enough dueling for the moment." Sirius said.
The others agreed and made their way back to the guest quarters.
***
They enjoyed their lunch in Ten Forward. People still glanced at them and Hermione drew some looks from young male ensigns. Ron grumbled when he noticed this.
After lunch they went back to their quarters. Not wanting to split up, most got something to do from their quarters and gathered again in Sirius' quarters.
Hermione and Ginny sat down on the couch, studying a book about the Dark Arts. Harry had his Firebolt on his lap, polishing the handle. Ron and Sirius were playing a game of Wizard Chess. They didn't talk much, just enjoyed each others company.
***
Ginny was walking around the ship, trying to find out where she had ended up now. She had been on her way to Ten Forward, but somehow she had taken the wrong turn. She was looking around where to head know when she heard a familiar voice.
"Got lost?" Doctor Crusher asked her.
"Oh, hello. Yeah, kinda." Ginny replied.
"If you get lost, you can also use the computer for help." Beverly said.
"You're right. I think it will take a while for I get used to muggle contraptions." Ginny said.
"Well, I am on my way to sickbay. Do you think you can find your way from there?"
"I think so." Ginny said.
"Well, come with me then."
***
"Familiar?"
"Yeah, I think so." Ginny replied.
"Okay. See you later." Beverly entered Sickbay, Ginny heading in the direction of Ten Forward.
When Ginny was hallway's further, suddenly a swarm of children surrounded her. They were all asking questions and begging her to do magic. Ginny answered a few questions, politely refused to do magic and tried to find a way to get out of her.
"Kids, I am sorry. I would like to talk sometimes, but I have to talk to Doctor Crusher. Maybe until later." With that Ginny pushed her way out of the crowd and went into the direction of Sickbay.
She went inside, finally loosing the kids that had been following her. Doctor Crusher looked up from where she was arranging things of a tray. "Can I help you? Got lost again?"
"No. Trying to escape. A crowd of children was asking me question and begging me to do magic. Was funny for a few moments, but not anymore." Ginny explained, while she walked over to Doctor Crusher.
Beverly laughed. "We could have expected sometimes like this. If you wait for a few moments, I will walk to your quarters."
"Thanks." Ginny studied the tray for few moments. "Are these medical instruments?"
"They are."
"What do they do each?"
"You are interested in medicine?" Beverly asked surprised.
"I have been studying healing magic for more than a year now. Harry and his company often feel the need to act heroic. And they don't always come out unscathed. And although Madam Pomfrey patches them up most of the time, they don't like going to her with small things. So I usually patch up the little things and bigger things they have to take to Madam Pomfrey. And they know that if it's necessary I drag them to the hospital wing by their ears."
Beverly laughed and since it was calm in Sickbay she started explaining some of the devices to Ginny.
***
The others were still together. Ron and Sirius were busy with their third game of chess, Sirius having lost the previous two. Harry was still busy with his Firebolt and Hermione was behind the computer, looking up information about the alien cultures the counselor had told about.
They were startled when the chime rang. Sirius ordered the computer to open the door, showing Deanna in front of the door.
"Come in, Counselor." Harry put his broom aside and stood up to welcome Deanna. "What can we do for you?"
"Nothing special, Harry. I just wanted to inform you that the Captain had requested your presence at the meeting in an hour." Deanna said.
"Of course. We will be there." Ron said.
"And what do you think about everything so far?" Deanna asked.
"I like it here. Especially these replitorca's are handy thingies." Ron said.
"Replicators, Ron." Hermione called from behind her computer.
Deanna now looked in the direction of the girl. "What are you searching?"
"Just reading some about all those alien cultures. It's fascinating." Hermione replied.
"You can put Mione in a damp, dirty prison cell with every kind of vermin know to man with Draco Malfoy as cellmate and she would be happy as long as she has 'Hogwarts: a History' or another thick text with her." Ron grumbled.
Sirius and Harry smiled. "Ron!!!" came from behind the computer. "I will get you for that one time."
This time Ron, Harry and Sirius burst out laughing. Even Deanna smiled. There came no reply from behind the computer, except that… Ron, Harry and Sirius suddenly had pink hair.
Deanna laughed this time out loud. The boy's were silent for a second, then burst out laughing again. Hermione canceled the spell a few minutes later. Then she left the computer and joined Sirius and Ron on the couch.
"How long will that broom handle take to polish, Harry? You have been busy for over two hours…"
"Mione, I haven't been able to fly on it this whole summer. I need to keep him in a good condition." Harry replied.
Deanna looked interested. "Do you really fly on those?"
"Indeed we do." Harry stood up and demonstrated it with a small round flying in the chamber.
"Harry, might I borrow your broom for a second?" Sirius asked suddenly.
Harry looked him. "Sure. But for what?"
"You will see."
Harry handed the broom to Sirius, who went over to open space before the door. "Counselor, would you come here please?"
Deanna stood up and went over to him. Sirius mounted the broom, then turned towards Deanna. "Just put your leg over the handle and sit before me."
Deanna did so. The trio looked on with doubt in their eyes. Sirius made sure that he held the broom and Deanna securely.
"Ready?" At Deanna's nod, Sirius called: "Computer, open doors."
And the moment the door opened, Sirius pushed of and raced out the door, Deanna shrieking in front of him. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked shocked for a second, then raced after them.
"SIRIUS!!!"
***
Beverly and Ginny walked out of Sickbay. Ginny had picked up what Beverly told her very quickly and had tried out the tricorder and the dermal regenerator. Ginny had also explained some of the wizard ways and demonstrated a few small healing spells.
They just wanted to turn when something shot past them. Both diving aside it took few moments for Ginny to recognize what was going on.
Beverly stared down the hallway. "What the hell was that?"
"That was Sirius Black on a broom. And somehow he managed to get Counselor Troi on it too." Ginny said and turned around when she heard running footsteps behind her.
Harry, Ron and Hermione stopped besides Beverly and Ginny.
Ginny turned immediately to Harry. "Has your godfather lost his mind?"
"I don't know, Gin. But let's go after him…" Harry said and ran further, the others, inclusive Beverly following.
***
Finally they managed to catch up with Sirius and Deanna. They were standing at the end of a hallway. Sirius was grinning madly, holding the Firebolt. Deanna was leaning against the wall, looking a bit pale.
Harry grabbed the Firebolt from Sirius, shook his head and started to inspect the broom. Ron joined him.
"Are you nuts, Sirius? You can't just go fly around the ship. You almost hit several people!" Hermione said.
And while Harry and Ron checked the Firebolt and Hermione continued to tell Sirius off, Ginny and Beverly turned towards Deanna.
"You okay, Deanna?" Beverly asked, looking over her carefully.
"Just a little wobbly. Whoa, that was intense." Deanna replied.
Ginny turned around and glared at Sirius. He didn't notice it, since Hermione was still busy. Harry and Ron joined them.
"Sorry for that. I believe I need to have a little chat with my godfather." Harry said, also turning to glare. Which Sirius still didn't notice.
"It's okay, Harry. I believe Hermione is doing that for you already." Deanna said. The color had returned to her face and she wasn't leaning on the wall anymore. She studied the duo for a moments "Harry, I believe that perhaps you should go and save your godfather. And it's time for that meeting."
Everyone looked, seeing Hermione poking her finger in Sirius chest. Harry sighed and stepped towards them. "I think its okay now, Mione. Besides, we have to go to a meeting."
Hermione glared at him, sighed and grumbled some, glared at Sirius and marched in the direction of the meeting room. Ginny, Beverly, Deanna and Ron followed her.
Sirius wanted to follow, but Harry grabbed his arm. "Sirius."
"Yes, Harry?"
"Next time use your own broom."
***
Harry and his group were the last to enter. Everyone quickly took a place.
Captain Picard welcomed everyone and then gave the word to Data, who had been doing a lot of research.
"I have analyzed the readings of the wormhole. While the readings are familiar for us, I must also say that the configurations of the wormhole are so that we can't expect to recreate it anytime soon. I have also been doing research on the wizard world in our century, but I haven't found any information in reference to the wizard world."
It was silent while this new information sunk in.
"Well, this means it's for sure that we will be staying her for while." Ginny then said.
"I have been discussing this with Starfleet Headquarters on Earth. We have given orders to continue our mission, but also that we have try to find a way to return our guests. When we reach Earth again and they haven't been able to return home they will given help to get to know our world completely." Picard said.
"That answers what we have to do if we are stuck her." Hermione said.
"I agree with that, Captain, but are also steps being taken at Earth to find out if there is something of the wizarding world left?" Deanna asked.
"They are going to research this. Also they are going to look for way's to recreate to wormhole." Picard replied.
Deanna nodded.
"Captain, I would like to suggest something."
"Go ahead, Doctor."
"We should send a message to the teachers that they say to the children that they mustn't ambush our guests in the hallways. Miss Weasley here fled in Sickbay after being confronted with a group of twenty children."
"Counselor, please see to it that it arranged."
They discussed some other things and the meeting was over.