Sarek watched as his son shifted another one of the panels their guest had created into place within the transport containers. He was wearing a set of the gloves she provided as was the burly redheaded human male that had carried to of the cases on site today. The good natured human tried to draw Spock into competition time and again, but he failed. Spock was focused solely on pleasing Hermione.
Sarek imagined his wife smiling at their son's obvious attachment to the female and took a deep breath. It was not logical to dwell on those beings that were no longer present in his life.
He had not had these issues when Sybok's mother died. The situations differed. The princess had chosen him, but they had never wed. Sharing a child brought about a certain familiarity but no deep emotional attachment.
He watched his son kneel beside the witch when she gestured for him. She offered him water, and he accepted. Such a simple thing. Humans frequently shared such things, but Vulcans did not.
He watched the witch and Spock as they settled and talked about some detail in the plan. Hermione smiled up at his son. Her open emotions should have made him uncomfortable, but they did not. She was accepting of the differences between their cultures. It was only logical for the Vulcans helping her to match her attitude.
"She will make a good match for Spock." Sarek turned to see one of the surviving Priests of Gol watching the construction as well. "She understands the perils and rewards of a balanced nature."
"My son has yet to acknowledge his interest in her." Sarek frowned. "He is still involved with another human woman that serves on The Enterprise with him."
"The young can be so foolish." The priest blinked and tilted his head slightly. "Too much was lost when our home world was destroyed. Rebuilding our society will require a great deal of change, and, yet through that change we shall find the commonality."
"They are human." Sarek turned back to watch his son. "Our people are not the most welcoming."
"I have met several of Hermione Granger's companions. They are emotional and lacking in logic, but their struggle is our own." The priest settled beside him. "As we find our way, so shall they. In two or three generations, they will be well established on their new world. They are even working on ways to allow technologically dependent societies to visit. They have an convoluted history regarding their power and commingling biologically with others, but they will allow us to visit and socialize. It would be best if we had an example of the advantages of such a union on display for all to see, but there may be other options. If Spock chooses his Star Fleet companion, we may still be able to regain some semblance of what was lost."
Sarek nodded. The dramatic changes their society was facing would not come easily. Perhaps Selek could be persuaded to find Sybok and help him chart a less destructive course. It would be satisfying to stand as a family united once more.
Jim Kirk smirked at Bones as he complained about treating genetically modified pustules. The doctor glared at him, but he chuckled. It was funny.
"This isn't funny, Jim." Bones rolled his eyes. "There are better ways to spend my time. I'm a doctor, Jim, not a bioterrorist."
"I'm restless, too." Kirk smiled at his friend and took a sip of his drink. "Being debriefed everyday has lost its appeal."
"It's better than wondering when Spock will have some free time." Uhura frowned down into her glass. "He's at the Vulcan Embassy everyday."
"Isn't his father there?" Kirk looked over at his communications officer. "Maybe they need some time together. It isn't like Spock would lie to you."
"It wouldn't be logical." Bones smirked and swirled the vibrant blue liquid around in his cup. "I'm sure Surak said something about it."
"He wouldn't make fun of your beliefs." Uhura glared at Bones.
"It wouldn't be logical." Bones took a drink.
"It's in the teachings of Surak." Jim smiled at her. "Lighten up, Nyota. Spock deserves to spend some time with his father."
"He said it was an assignment." Uhura frowned. "He told me that he was working."
"Then he was." Bones set his empty glass down on the table.
"A Star Fleet assignment or something for the Vulcans?" Jim sat back. "If he's working on something while I'm stuck in debriefing hell..."
Jim leaned forward and looked at Uhura. He had no doubt that this entire evening out was a plan to drag him into her less than blissful domestic issue, but he didn't care. He needed to do something before this shore leave had him climbing the walls.
"Tell us everything you know." Jim smiled as Bones and Uhura leaned forward. Things were looking up.
"This region looks to be temperate enough for our welcome center. Four balanced seasons and solid bedrock would make it comfortable and familiar as well as good for building. "Hermione studied the topographical map with Harry and Charlie. "Luna says we have three days to build it after we arrive."
"I'm not comfortable throwing something together that fast." Harry shook his head. "This has to protect us. It's our first line of defense."
"We have enough stone to build walls, but we need to look well established. I'm not sure that's possible." Charlie sighed. "Most of the dragon tamers have experience with building dragon pens. They aren't going to be able to make this pretty."
"We can prefabricate lots of it. The cages are already designed to be reused to build a landing site for future shuttles." Hermione leaned back from the map. "We need magically neutral things to decorate the interior, but that doesn't mean we have to make them without magic. Carved stone is carved stone no matter how it's carved."
"But stone work needs mortar. We simply can't do it." Harry sighed. "I say we assemble the cages and don't bother to hide the view. We can build something with magic quickly. Any visitors would see a welcome center and be required to leave their scanners and other nonsense on their ship."
"That would work." Charlie nodded. "We could still make it ahead. The goblins are bored out of their minds. They need something to work on. They also know we need to build a new economy quickly. They might have ideas how we can go about it."
Hermione sat back and let them talk. She knew that they could do this, and it was best if she started letting them handle things. She closed her eyes for a moment and considered the larger situation. Her people had something the Vulcans needed. Being logical, they would wait for her people to establish themselves. They were already discussing ways to promote interaction between their species. She had no doubt that it would work eventually, but eventualities were difficult to sell to the masses. Even Vulcan masses would need convincing.
Her life would be an example that their species could bend and grow together. She'd accepted that fact. The only difficulty for her was Spock.
He was intelligent and acerbic. She enjoyed his observations of the world around them. Even his raised eyebrow appealed to her. Allowing her to be herself was merely an act of logic for him. It was something no other male had ever offered her. No one ever accepted her without wanting to tweak something. Her hair, her devotion to work, her hatred of quidditch, the list went on and on. Spock didn't seem to find any of her foibles upsetting. Even her wide ranging emotional spectrum did not make him uncomfortable.
He was the logical choice for a mate. A marriage between them would solidify the bond between their peoples. Working magic around him soothed her. He was attractive and intelligent. He was the perfect groom for her.
Arranged marriages could be successful, and this one had to be.
She clenched her fists against the longing inside her. She wanted more than logic and companionship. Spock tempted her. He made her long for more.
He threatened her equilibrium. Thoughts of love had no place in this decision. Her people needed this link.
Sarek wanted the match. He believed in it, but he had yet to put forth the idea openly. There was something in that hesitation that worried her.
Luna sighed as she studied the recordings of Vulcan history. It was vast and complicated. Their deep seeded xenophobia reminded her of the pureblood mindset.
She closed her eyes and let her mind float. She saw their culture flourishing on a beautiful new world. Dragons flew through the skies, unicorns moved in large blessings, and crumple horned snorkacks frolicked in frosted fields. It was lovely and she longed to see it come into reality, but their was a sacrifice required.
Hermione's choice would link their world with the Vulcans'. There were two paths stretched out before her friend. They were both solid workable futures. Luna chewed on her lower lip and considered them.
Reds and browns dominated this world. Hermione stood and stared out at the vista from her garden. It flourished begins her, wild, free, and blooming. Her children grew strong there. It was a good place. Hermione was content and cherished. She would protect their world from afar, but she would never live on it. She would visit rarely.
Luna frowned and focused her mind on the other option she could see. A wild wash of colorful flowers swirled along a curving path to a house perched on the cliff side overlooking the sea. Hermione smiled as her children ran ahead of her. Her hair was pulled free from its confines by the wind and her eyes reflected back the stars above. She was brave and strong. They were all safe and together.
Hermione would rise to power and respect in both. She would find love in both. She would be fulfilled in both.
The two paths, so clear and so real in her mind's eye, reflected Hermione's determination to secure a safe future for them all. She would not fail. Luna opened her eyes and let the hot tears slide down her cheeks. Knowledge flowed through her mind, but there was no way to offer her friend help. Hermione had known the bite of sacrifice so many times. The muggleborn witch had known this was their best chance. Luna remembered the chaos and destruction that had raged through her mind before Hermione had set herself on this course.
"The good of the many..." Luna listened to her own voice float in the empty room before she wiped her face and returned to her study. There had to be a way to help Hermione in this.
The admiral had accepted his father's compiled intelligence. They'd created a history for the magical refugees. The supposition that Hermione Granger came from this world had pleased the man. A badly bungled first contact was far better than augments strolling about, apparently.
Spock frowned. Creating the file and bringing it to Star Fleet was dishonorable. He loathed the necessity of it.
Protecting the magical humans had been deemed a priority by the High Command. It was logical to do what his society required, and he wouldn't be as conflicted over it if his actions had been thus informed.
He felt his fingers twitch involuntarily. He held his breath for a few moments and established his control again. The stress of being dishonest made him uncomfortable. Despite the logical need to dissemble, despite the needs of his people, he could not quash the knowledge that his own motivations were not born in logic.