Part 31

Hermione led the way to the one place she was certain they would not be disturbed, the third floor corridor. Still largely unused since the incident with the sorcerer's stone, the corridor was dusty and unkempt. She turned into the room where the trapdoor had been and found that it now housed several old teacher's desks, worktables and benches.

Kyle pulled a bench free, tested it for sturdiness and motioned for Hermione to sit down. Once she was sitting he began pacing in front of her. "I'm not really sure how to begin," he stated.

She nodded with understanding but was driven by the greater need to know, whether to protect her friends or for Kyle's need to have someone to talk, she didn't want to think about. "Are they true?" she prompted.

"For the most part, yes," he agreed. "I'm not sure about the first part of the article of Liz's shooting, but yes we were both shot. Max Evans is some sort of 'Alien King Tut' and has healing abilities and saved both of us. I didn't know that Liz had actually been shot until the day I was shot. When I got home and showered I saw the silver handprint on my chest. After that I put two and two together and for once I actually got four instead of seven or nineteen or whatever the lies Liz, Max or Dad were trying to pass off as the truth added up to."

Kyle paused in front of her, meeting her eyes as he continued, "As you know, I saw my Mom in Hogsmeade the other weekend so I'm pretty sure I know where the wizarding genes came from. She said she thought I was a squib. When Max used his "Wondertwin Powers" to heal me, it must have activated those dormant genes."

Hermione appeared stunned as she asked quietly, "So Aliens really did crash in New Mexico? And a guy you know is one of those Aliens? He looks human? How old is he?"

He nodded as he answered and began pacing again. "Yes, Max looks human. He looks like he's my age maybe a tiny bit older but not much. According to Liz they floated around inside pods for a while and 'hatched out' about eleven years ago appearing to be age 6 or so. But they believe the pods are from the crash back in 1947. They were found them wandering around naked on an old desert highway and the people who found thought they may have been traumatized and abandoned in the desert. They were taken to children's services. And that same family that found Max and Isabel adopted them. Michael wasn't so lucky. And I don't know why Tess didn't hatch then, too."

"So how do you know that they are not wizards and witches instead of 'Aliens'?" she asked giving voice to the question that had haunted her for days.

He paused again and this time moved to sit by her. "There are a couple of reasons really. The first is the silver handprint thing. It's an Alien signature for when they take a 'hands on' approach with people, either healing or killing. Back when my grandfather was sheriff, he had a killer Alien on his hands. Everyone thought he was nuts, including my dad, up until Liz was shot. But then she was shot and was healed and tried to pass it off as ketchup. But I saw the handprint and told dad, he found the dress and there was a bullet hole and blood. He went off on a hunt to find the truth and finally got it when a stupid super secret special unit of the FBI captured and tortured Max…Liz turned to him for help and he did… in the process I got shot because nobody told me a thing and I was stupid enough to rush to 'help' my dad against the 'evil Max.' The head of FBI secret unit shot me. Max healed me. I'm alive. Of course I didn't learn most of that that until after I was healed and Professor McGonagall showed up and I finally talked to my father and Liz about what actually happened.

"The other thing is that Liz has actually seen the pods. She doesn't like to talk about it but she has," he concluded.

Hermione nodded just a little shaken. "Ok, we'll go with the belief that Max is an Alien. Also we know that you are at least a part blood wizard who didn't come into his abilities until you were healed. What we don't know is if Liz has any wizarding blood in her family. Are the two of you the only ones who have been healed by Max?"

His brow furrowed as he thought a moment, before he replied, "We are the only ones that I know of. I think he wants to keep his secret identity secret."

She reached out and took his hand and was surprised by the jolt of electricity she felt. She quickly covered it up as she explained, "I can understand that but what we have to find out is if Liz has any wizards or witches in her family. Because if not Max has the ability to make muggles magic. Did she say if her parents mentioned anything about it?"

Stunned by his own little lightning bolt, Kyle ruffled his hair with his other hand as he struggled to think clearly. "Um, actually Liz's parents think she is at a special advanced academic school in the UK. We didn't mention anything about it being a school of witchcraft and wizardry when we left. My dad knows but agreed not to say anything. She didn't think they could handle it. I guess she was afraid it would bring up too many questions about the previous year. But as it turns out she is going to have to fess up in order to continue her after school lessons. Those are Dumbledore's orders. Though, honestly, I think Snape is afraid we will blow ourselves up in his class and he'll have to explain why," he said with a twinkle.

"I wouldn't want to be there when her parents find out she lied to them," Hermione said concerned.

"You're telling me, you've never seen her father mad," he shuddered. "Let's just say there's more than one reason I'm glad I don't date her anymore."

"More than one?" she asked hopefully.

"Oh, yes," Kyle teased, "Besides not hearing her father lose his temper at me anymore, I get to flirt with you without guilt." They both blushed at this but then he continued, "Speaking of which, while this room has been perfectly private for this conversation, we should probably be going soon, it wouldn't look good for your reputation to be away with me alone for so long."

"That crowd? Other than Ginny most of the time they all see me as one of the guys. Besides, I trust you," Hermione argued, but allowed him to pull her to her feet and lead her out the door.

"But I'm not entirely sure that I do," he half muttered under his breath.