Harry Potter and the Fountain of Possibilities
Chapter 7:
"Wrong Place, Wrong Time"
Author's Note: I had a major-league case of writer's block which prevented me from writing this story like I have wanted to write it over the last couple of years. However, with the time I have had on my hands due to the current global situation, I have had a chance to catch up on reading fellow authors' work, specifically those Harry Potter stories where the youngest Weasley children (Ron and Ginny) manipulate things as far as Harry and Hermione are concerned. And as a result, I feel I have finally broken through.
I hope you like the fruits of my labor.
The opening flashback sequence takes place during the dinner party at Chancellor Martok's estate as seen in the last chapter.
-FLASHBACK-
Chancellor Martok's Estate
Kronos
Kruge was on his fourth goblet of bloodwine, but what he heard sobered him up in a hurry. Ron and Ginny were standing nearby, eating and drinking from a table set up with food provided by the Federation Embassy. They were talking about something that made Kruge's blood boil.
"We finally made it, Ginny," Ron said. "We both got what we wanted." "Yeah, we did, didn't we, Ron?" Ginny said. "I got Harry's fortune and fame plus the fame of being a Federation ambassador's wife while you get to be Hermione's wife and boss her around. Shame that Dumbledore is not around to enjoy his spoils."
"But Hermione's still around Harry regularly—owing to her being Harry's head of security," Ron said. "They could still wind up falling in love together. We need to find some way of doubling their aversion potions." Kruge slammed his bloodwine goblet down on a nearby table and moved off. He needed to find someone who could tell Harry and Hermione what he had heard. Honor demanded no less of him.
-THE PRESENT-
Aboard USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A
Holodeck 1
Program Currently Running: Quidditch Simulation Granger-7 (International Friendly: Toyohashi Tengu vs. Fitchburg Finches)
Hermione was enjoying a Quidditch game via the holodeck simulation she, Ron and Harry worked on while refitting the Enterprise-A. A chime from the communications system could barely be heard over the roar of the holographic crowd. A faint "Bridge to Commander Granger" could also be heard over the cheering.
"Computer, pause program," Hermione said. Everything fell still and silent. Hermione then tapped her commbadge. "Granger here. Go ahead," Hermione said. "Commander Granger, this is Cadet Delacoeur at Communications on the Bridge," Fleur said. "You have a Priority-1 message coming in from the Federation Embassy on Kronos."
Hermione rose to her feet. "Computer, end program. I'll take it in my quarters," she said. The program faded into the bare processor grid as Hermione left the Holodeck.
In her quarters, Hermione sat in a chair in the work area and tapped a control. The face of Associate Consul Annup Bommu appeared on her display. "Lieutenant Commander Granger, I am Annup Bommu, Associate Consul of the Federation Embassy here on Kronos," Bommu said.
"Mr. Bommu, if you don't mind me asking, why have you contacted me?" Hermione asked. "A Klingon national contacted us with some important information he gathered at the dinner party this evening on the estate of Chancellor Martok," Bommu said. "As it pertains to you and Ambassador Potter, a pair of Federation citizens, he asked us to notify you."
"What is it?" Hermione asked. Bommu shook his head. "For safety and security reasons, he requested that I not share this information on an open communications channel," he said. "The individual in question asks to meet you and Ambassador Potter at Quark's in the First City at 1800 hours Federation Standard tomorrow night. A private booth has already been reserved in the name of the House of M'Kar."
"Thank you, Mr. Bommu," Hermione said. "Granger, out." As the screen shut off, Hermione looked at the doors out of her quarters. "Computer, locate Ambassador Potter," she said. "Ambassador Potter is currently in the Leaky Cauldron," the computer said.
In the bar known as the Leaky Cauldron, Harry sat sipping at his butterbeer and watched as Kronos spun silently in the blackness of space, the Jacqueline Dorsey orbiting alongside the Enterprise. The doors hissed open, revealing Hermione. "Give me what he's having," Hermione said, gesturing to Harry.
"One ice cold butterbeer, coming right up," the waiter said as Hermione moved over to sit with Harry. "Harry, I just got a weird transmission from the Federation Embassy," Hermione said, gesturing towards Kronos.
"What was it about, 'Mione?" Harry said, placing his mug of butterbeer on a table. "A Klingon wants to meet us at Quark's in the First City tomorrow night at 1800," Hermione said as the waiter brought another mug of butterbeer. "Thank you," she added.
"Did the Embassy say what this Klingon wanted?" Harry said. "Only that this Klingon, who attended the dinner party at Chancellor Martok's estate this evening, gathered some important information that concerns us," Hermione said before taking a sip of her butterbeer. "And before you asked, the Embassy did not say what information the Klingon gathered, as security appears to be a top priority in this case."
"Well, we have some time before the Enterprise leaves for Earth the day after tomorrow, so let's go see what this Klingon wants," Harry said before downing the last of his butterbeer.
The Following Night
Quark's Bar and Restaurant
First City
"Welcome to Quark's," a Ferengi waiter said. "Do you have a reservation?" "Yes, we have a reservation in the name of the House of M'Kar," Hermione said. "Ah, yes, Lieutenant Commander Granger, Ambassador Potter," the Ferengi waiter said. "Right this way, please."
The waiter led Hermione and Harry to a private booth. Hermione and Harry gasped when they saw that the "mysterious contact" was Kruge. "Commander Kruge? What's going on?" Hermione said.
"Hermione, Ambassador Potter," Kruge said with a nod before gesturing for them to sit down. "The other night at Chancellor Martok's party, I overheard your fiancee-" Kruge gestured to Hermione. "-and your wife-" Kruge gestured to Harry. "-discussing something that deeply concerns me about you two."
Kruge pushed a Klingon-design personal access display device up to Harry and Hermione. "Chancellor Martok's estate's security system picked up what they said," Kruge said. "Be thankful you're seated right now."
On the PADD's display, Harry and Hermione watched as Ron and Ginny walked up to the Federation table. "Did Harry see you?" Ginny asked Ron. "No," Ron asked. "Did Hermione see you?" Ginny shook her head "no."
As Ron and Ginny poured drinks, they continued to talk. "We finally made it, Ginny," Ron said. "We both got what we wanted." "Yeah, we did, didn't we, Ron?" Ginny said. "I got Harry's fortune and fame plus the fame of being a Federation ambassador's wife while you get to be Hermione's wife and boss her around. Shame that Dumbledore is not around to enjoy his spoils."
"But Hermione's still around Harry regularly—owing to her being Harry's head of security," Ron said. "They could still wind up falling in love together. We need to find some way of doubling their aversion potions."
Hermione shut off the PADD and threw it across the room. It shattered into a million pieces. "I cannot believe it," Hermione said. "But..." "But what, Hermione?" Kruge asked.
"I've had my suspicions for quite some time, Kruge," Hermione said. "But I did not want to believe it." "But now?" Harry asked. "This answers a lot of things," Hermione said. "I thank you, Kruge, son of M'Kar, for this valuable information. I swear on my life and honor that I will use it to defeat my enemies."
Hermione extended her wand towards Kruge. "Accio Kruge's d'k tahg!" Hermione said. The d'k tahg knife in a sheath on Kruge's hip flew towards Hermione, who caught it by the hilt. She then flipped it so that the central blade was directed towards her palm.
Hermione then cut her palm with the blade. Turning her hand palm down, Hermione let a few drops of her blood fall onto the table. "Know that it is not my intention to insult you by using your weapon without your permission," Hermione said before handing the d'k tahg to Harry and pointed her wand at the cut. "Vulnera Sanentur!" Hermione said.
As the cut on Hermione's palm began to heal, Harry pointed his own wand at the d'k tahg's central blade. "Scourgify!" Harry said. The blade was cleaned of Hermione's blood in a flash of light. "Here you go," Harry said, holding the d'k tahg towards Kruge by the hilt.
As Kruge put the knife back in its sheath, Hermione looked at Harry before she took off her engagement ring and tossed it into the refresher. Harry did the same with his wedding ring.
At the same time, back aboard the Enterprise-A, Fleur turned to Kirk, who was seated in the command chair. "Capitane, incoming from the Department of Temporal Investigations," she said. "On screen, Mr. Delacoeur," Kirk said.
The dour faces of Department of Temporal Investigations agents Marion Dulmur and Gariff Lucsly appeared on the viewscreen. "Captain Kirk, this is the Department of Temporal Investigations. I'm Agent Dulmur, and this is Agent Lucsly," the blond-haired agent on the left said. "While we dreaded making this transmission, owing to our department's history with you, we asked for this assignment. A temporal incident has occurred regarding two of your passengers."
"Which passengers, Agent Dulmur?" Kirk asked. "Lieutenant Commander Hermione Granger and Hogwarts Ambassador to the Federation Harold James Potter," Lucsly said.
::TBC::