After two hours to get everyone back, the Bruce was ready to warp out of the system toward Starbase 310. The USS Gorken warped out immediately.

Harry invited Necheyev to be on the bridge when they warped out of the system. He put her in the XO chair, with Dawkins staying at Ops.

"Martinez. Set course for Starbase 310, Warp 8.2."

"Warp 8.2, Aye."

"Dawkins, set cloaking wards."

"Cloaking wards, Aye." After a moment he called out, "Sensor relays no longer track Bruce, Cap'n."

"Thank you." He looked over at Necheyev. "You have a question?"

The woman, who had been observing, nodded briefly. "You have a cloaking system, which I have been told is not a treaty issue as you are a private citizen and it's your own technique. My question is: Why are you operating under cloak in Federation space?"

Harry replied, "It may be Federation space, but I and my elves represent powers and abilities that are rare. Just a few light years away is the Cardassian border. There was already a kidnapping attempt instituted by the Obsidian Order. I responded harshly and it was dropped. But I take few chances."

Necheyev nodded. She had read Sisko's report. "It is hard to believe that what you do is magic."

Harry almost rolled his eyes. "It's what we called it. It's chaotic energy which violates the natural order, controlled by potions, spells and archaic writing. What else would we call it?"

Necheyev considered that and couldn't seem to come up with an alternate. Finally she said, "What do you mean that you can control magic with archaic writing?"

Harry quickly made a choice: Showing runes wouldn't change anything and so it was fine. "I'll show you once we pass the Gorken. I assume you'll want to check in when we pass them by, maybe get them to verify how much can or can't be seen of the Bruce under cloak."

The Admiral looked surprised. "You're willing to allow me to have my ship scan for yours?"

Harry shrugged. "Sure. If you can figure out a way to find me, tell me how you did it. Knowing my limits can only help me if I end up across the field from a Jem'Hadar or other attack ship."

The Admiral seemed agreeable. He asked, "How long until we reach the Gorken?"

Dawkins called out, "A two hour head start at Warp 5 means we'll reach them 29 minutes at Warp 8.2. Long range sensors do show Gorken in expected position. We'll meet up in 19.6 minutes."

"Open a channel when we're in range for the Admiral to make arrangements. Work with her to coordinate the scanning. Martinez, once we've reached Gorken, match speed and direction 300 kilometers directly off of her Starboard bow. That should give Gorken a position to scan."

"Aye, Cap'n." "Aye, Commodore."

"I'll be in my ready room." He looked at the Admiral. "What would you like to eat after? I'll have my house elves put together their finest meal."

She smiled and said, "I quite like beef stroganoff."

The elves could do that one. "Sure, Admiral. I'll let them know. If you need to contact anyone, let me know and I'll let you use the ready room."

"Thank you, Sir Harry."

He nodded and left. He immediately called Dobby and Winky and made arrangements.

The scanning tests were done in less than an hour and the BSS Bruce then returned to warp 8.2. Admiral Necheyev said, "Is there anything else before we reach the Starbase?"

"Just meals and the days it will take. We will have dinner in two hours. Do you need assistance to find your rooms again?"

She smiled. "No, but thank you, Sir Harry. I'll meet you in the Captain's Mess in two hours."

"See you then." Harry watched her go off and then turned. "Dawkins. I'll be in my ready room. You have the conn."

"Aye, Cap'n."

Harry went in and, after checking for any bugs (he didn't expect to find any and didn't, he called Dobby. When he arrived he spoke, "Thanks for coming."

"Of course, Master Harry."

"So. The Admiral said that they didn't find any way to locate us. Is that what you observed?"

Dobby had watched invisibly as the Admiral spoke to the Gorken's captain about the scans. He had been ordered to forget anything not directly involved with that. "The Admiral and Captain did not find any way to find us under wards, but did mention doing magnaton and multiphasic scans using the frequency Commander Sisko make classified. Admiral did use her higher rank to log in and find information without telling Commander Sisko."

Harry shook his head. He had expected something like that. "Thank you, Dobby. Remember – tell no one I asked you to do that. Winky can know, but no one else."

"Of course, Master Harry."

Harry smiled. "Okay. Remember, the Admiral dines with me in just under two hours."

"We'll be ready." Dobby popped off.

Harry sat at his desk and then started studying what the Bruce had explaining multiphasic and magnaton sensors. He also started looking correlating Elder Futhark runes based on what he was reading. Harry mused he might even need to go to cuneiform or hieroglyphics for the right combinations.

It was two hours later when Harry was seated with the Admiral at the Captain's mess, with Dobby and Winky serving.

The meal started with a salad which research had indicated was a normal pairing for stroganoff. The Alynna, as she had asked to be called off duty, was happy to be served a formal meal rather than an entire tray with the entrée and all sides.

She remarked, "This is a very good dish. Somehow the fennel seems more flavorful than normal."

Harry agreed. "I'm glad. For my meals, my elves prefer to feed me original and not replicated vegetables. Though I think the celery is replicated."

Alynna's eyes widened slightly. "Fresh vegetables? How are you able to get them? Replicated is much more common and most agree it's enough. The replicated vegetables seem even fresher more recently, making actual grown crops even less in demand."

Harry smiled as he took a sip of his sparkling water. Setting it down he said, "We brought a massive supply with us when we jumped timelines. And we provided the Federation with scans, allowing the replication databases to be updated. Traditional Earth foods were quite underrepresented before we did that."

The Admiral's eyes widened slightly. "That's why I can now get a respectable butternut soup now?"

Harry chuckled lightly. "Yes. A number of dishes that were added in completed form were cooked by Dobby and Winky as well. That was one of them."

"My compliments to your retainers. By the time we achieved replication, many old Earth recipes had already been lost due to lack of ingredients because so many species were lost. The programmed dishes were hopeful recreations. As Admiral of the Fleet, I have noticed a distinct increase in the appreciation for what foods were available from our replicators."

Harry said, "I'm glad to hear that. Dobby and Winky will be glad as well."

His guest made a point to compliment Dobby and Winky as they served, which Harry appreciated. She enjoyed the grilled broccoli and the stroganoff as much as she had the salad.

For afters, Harry had asked Dobby and Winky for something special and they had provided an old Russian dessert called medovik in honor of their guest. She seemed to appreciate the effort to acknowledge her cultural roots.

Finally they sat back and drank a light wine and talked.

"Sir Harry. I find myself uncertain as to your goals. What are your goals?" she asked directly.

Harry thought about it. "Well, I agreed with our Unspeakables to come here because, to be truthful, the residents of Magical Britain didn't allow me a life. I'll tell you something I don't mention often: There was a better than decent chance I would have died and I was accepting of that."

She was shocked. "You were suicidal?"

Harry immediately protested. "No. I was willing to die. I had no desire to hasten it along. But I will admit my sense of self-preservation was muted. I've gotten better since."

She didn't appear to agree with let it go. "And now you travel along and make trades, and build fantastical ships, and protect Bajoran space?"

Harry chuckled. "I'm a fairly independent person." He became more serious. "And I have little trust of governments. That comes from having grown up with governments who either manipulated me for political gain or actively tried to kill me. My trust in institutions isn't high."

Necheyev nodded but said, "And yet you seem to go out of your way to assist Sisko, who is the 'official representative' of the Federation in the Bajoran sector."

Harry agreed. "Sisko, I felt, was somewhat of a kindred soul. He'd suffered tragedy but was trying to do the best to help others, while laboring to raise a son who lost his mother. Like me, he seems to have a 'saving people' thing. I decided helping him was good. And he also was willing to acknowledge my limitations and demands. He didn't bow to whims, but he didn't force me to follow his beliefs. I respect the man greatly."

Necheyev seemed non-committal. "I admit that he's effective. He also bucks the system."

Harry snorted. "I don't know if I could respect anyone who just followed the party line. I am not impressed with your Federation."

Necheyev peered at Harry. "Why?"

Harry sighed. "Have you ever read a book called Starship Trooper by Robert Heinlein?"

"No. I've never heard of it," she replied.

"At it's core, it's a book based on a government built entirely on the concept of only those who have contributed are stakeholders in the government. 'Service guarantees citizenship.' Only those who serve are truly citizens. It shows how that can go too far, but the basic idea isn't all bad. I think the Federation has become too full of politicians and bureaucrats. I don't think having it controlled by Starfleet officers exclusively would be good, but how many representatives are Scientists or veterans? How many are just popular?"

Alynna asked, "What is the thrust of your question?"

Harry sighed. "Politicians are trained to compromise. But scientists and officers know that there are places to hold the line. A real scientist wouldn't accept a compromise which was, at its heart, a violation of actual science. Governments in my timeline would accept compromises which were, on their face, included lesser violations of basic scientific knowledge because it was the only way to get those who opposed the measures to agree to the bigger parts. Too much change is wrong, but manipulating things to refuse to change, that's wrong too."

Necheyev said, "But the only real answer is consensus. Otherwise, you have the opinions of those in charge forcing everyone else to follow along. I didn't like the Cardassian treaty, but it was a far better option than going back to war."

Harry shook his head. "That was a bad treaty. And that is based on one principle of good compromise."

Necheyev asked, "And what is that principle?"

Harry ruefully said, "A good compromise is one where neither side is fully happy."

She took a sip of her sparkling water and considered that. "It does seem to be true that the Cardassians are much happier than we are with what was agreed to."

Harry said, "Exactly."

"Still," she said as she set down her glass, "it's the treaty we have. The Maquis are making it harder and harder. No one likes having to order our people to fire on those lunatics."

Harry said, "I've spent a bit of time conversing with Sisko and others even when I was on the colony launch. Just like I heard about the Dominions little test pretty quickly, I also have been keeping up on details of the situation with the Maquis – my diplomatic status has to have some perks. And from my viewpoint, the Federation is placating the Cardassians by adopting their viewpoints on how to handle the Maquis."

Necheyev asked, "And what's the problem with that? The Cardassians are the one being attacked. And the Federation does have laws on what technology civilians can employ."

Harry replied, "The problem is: Cardassians are not Humans. Their fundamental belief structure is as alien as the Gorn. Sisko was amazed because I got a trade agreement with the Gorn. I was amazed that the Federation never had."

"What's so amazing about it?" she asked. "We've made efforts to engage them in talks. It isn't our fault they refused to engage with us."

Harry shook his head. "You think everyone should follow your beliefs when you meet them. Your whole greetings protocol is based on that. I greeted them based on what I thought they would find acceptable based on the fact they are cold-blooded upright lizards. And my agreement is because I assumed the Gorn had their own beliefs and needs and provided them something we Humans would consider disgusting."

"And what is that?"

Harry smirked. "Rats; they like to eat them live and whole."

Necvheyev had a look of distaste. "Yes, that is disgusting."

Harry shrugged. "That's because you think like a Human. Snakes and lizards find such animals quite tasty. I recognize their needs are fundamentally different than my own and I am willing to provide. I even have some Cardassian voles I want to perform some tests on. I'm trying to build a system to transfigure them in Bajoran space and then have them changed back by the Gorn."

She looked torn between interest and disgust. "Good luck."

"Thank you," he said with humor.

The Admiral finally said, "This has been an interesting discussion." She stood up. "Well, as we have a few days to Starbase 310, I'm sure we'll have more discussions. But I think I want to retire."

Harry had stood up as well. "Of course. If you need anything, feel free to ask."

Harry decided to play Starship Trooper for movie night in the mess hall and he invited Necheyev to watch, ensuring she understood that movies based on books were often made more lurid or intense by moviemakers. This movie was almost a satirization of the book.

Tradition was that there was a discussion after any movie shown. Often it was short or no one was interested. But many times people had things to say and Harry enjoyed his crew having friendly discussions and debate. People definitely debated this movie. The sequels were scheduled for the weeks ahead. Most people expressed a desire to read the book and see how accurate the film was.

Harry allowed Dobby to "listen" for their guest to discuss Harry and to determine threats. This was, in effect, espionage, but Harry justified it to himself and ensured the memories of his actions were walled off. He did not want any mind meld or telepathic scan to locate them.

Necheyev did find her way to Harry's lab. There really wasn't much to do in transit and Selene was assisting Harry with his testing on voles.

Cardassian voles could easily be transfigured to stone balls. Necheyev was curious. "Why stone?"

Selene looked at Harry who nodded, and went into a terrifically technical explanation. After a couple of minutes she was vacant eyed. Harry was almost amused and decided to put her out of her misery. "I wanted something of similar mass. The closer the mass of the vole is to what I transfigure, the easier it is to make it long-lasting or permanent. Watch."

Harry cast a spell and turned a vole into a wedding veil. "Vole to veil. By the archaic rules of magic, valid. But left alone, it will change back within a few hours. The veil is lightweight and the vole weighs at least a kilo and a half."

She looked at the white piece of cloth. "That is strange."

Harry smirked. "That's magic." Harry had her put it down and turned it back to a vole. It seemed unharmed. Harry explained, "The magic actually puts the transfigured creature into stasis. My people had medical spells to put people heavily wounded into stasis so that they could be transferred to a medical practitioner. That way the wounded person wouldn't suffer continuous pain or blood loss. I wish it was easier."

"Why?" she asked curiously.

"Because if it was easier, I could make a device to do that – it could save lives in an emergency situation. But the magic required is quite extreme. Even I couldn't do it more than once or twice in a short time."

She asked curiously, "You are more able than other magic users?"

Harry shrugged. "I was considered one of the most powerful. I will admit that I seem to be more able at certain types of spells than other magic users I've interacted with."

She nodded distantly in acknowledgement while she looked at what the two were doing. "What is this?"

Harry shrugged and said, "These are Runic sequences. We're attempting to write a sequence to convert the voles into stone balls as they pass through a hoop so they can be transported. We're going to design a reversal hoop for the Gorn. If it works, it would allow someone to put captured voles into a device on one side and collect the balls. On the other side, we plan to make it so one could fill a hopper and release one ball at a time. Like an old-Earth vending machine."

The blond woman looked on the screen. "These are Runes? From where?"

"Elder Futhark. Used about 400 AD to about 300 years later. Why it's a magical language is a matter of debate. But most scripts pre-1400 or so, save Latin characters, can hold a certain magical effect if put together correctly and if the magic has been applied. The trick is to get the correct sequence to create the correct effect. It's not always obvious, even if you understand the language."

Selene said, "We still have to talk to Bajoran scholars to see if Old Bajoran can produce the same magical effects."

"True." Harry had an idea. "There is one script I forgot." He and Selene had almost forgotten their observer.

Selene asked, "Oh?"

"There is a characterization of Parseltongue that Salazar learned from a wizard from the East. I have a copy of the text where he explains it."

Selene said, "You can play with exotic runic languages another time. Let's get this done first."

"Okay."

The two worked together and ran the arithmetic calculations through the computer each time they made a change. The equations were displayed in the air in a holographic form and Selene would find the errors.

The Admiral could barely follow the advanced math and she realized that the woman she was observing was a mind like no other.

Finally, they arrived at a sequence which didn't have a mathematical structure which was incorrect.

Selene peered at the strings of numbers displayed carefully and said, "I think it's time to run the replicator."

Harry sat down and sighed in satisfaction. "Good. It's going to take how long?"

"A few hours."

Necheyev, who had been watching and was about to leave, asked, "Aren't replicators instant or nearly instant?"

Harry looked over. "In this case, no. A slow replication from defined source materials is molecularly more stable for this. Magic is fussy and we don't want any mistakes. We don't need quantum instabilities from rushed replication interfering with the process."

"Magic is that sensitive?" she asked.

Harry replied, "We don't take any chances."

The Bruce was one day from Starbase 310 when their work finished. Harry and Selene were ready for the tests. "Okay. One vole in."

Selene opened the cage door which allowed the vole to be dropped down the chute. When it hit the half-meter sized opening, the vole changed instantly into a ball. That ball slid along a path into a container.

Harry grinned. "Okay. Let's scan that."

They put the rounded stone into high-resolution scanner. The readings came back: There was a quantum flux. It would take, according to the scan, 24 years to resolve itself. "I think we need to test how long it could last in this state."

Selene said, "This next one. This one needs to be converted back."

Harry agreed. He put the stone through the machine to turn it back and the vole reappeared. Selene scanned it. "It registers as healthy. No apparent trauma."

Harry said, "Okay. Put it back. We'll do a second vole for the next test."

Selene agreed. Another vole was sent through and another stone was obtained. Harry scanned it and then handed it to Selene. "Okay. Put this in a cage in case it changes back unexpectedly. We'll test it daily to see what happens. If it lasts a month, I'd say the test is a success."

Necheyev and Harry flew the Waverider shuttle from the Bruce to the base. Harry had no interest in using the transporters. "Personal preference," was all he said to the Admiral.

She accepted that and they arrived in ops to see the Captain who ran the Starbase. The Starbase's sensors as well as those on a runabout were set up to detect the Patronus, theoretically a classified procedure.

Harry cast toward King Charles first to allow the Starbase to ensure it could track it. Once the runabout returned from tracking it and verifying the route, Harry then cast toward Voyager. Shockingly, it moved out. Harry said, "Voyager must not be at warp at this moment. In our earlier tests, the Patronus wouldn't go unless I cast it from a ship at warp speed."

Necheyev said, "Thank you." She turned to the crew members on scanners. "Are we tracking that?"

"Yes, Admiral."

"Can you give me a direction?"

The crew members discussed it. The senior one, a lieutenant commander, said, "It would be better for the Kaveri to follow it for at least several hundred thousand kilometers to ensure it is moving exactly on a straight line."

Necheyev acknowledged that and they waited for the runabout to call back.

The Bruce followed the Kaveri and, when the stag stopped suddenly, the Bruce explained. The runabout crew returned and reported. "After fifteen minutes, the manifestation suddenly stopped. According to the Bruce and the notes, this indicates that the target likely began moving in subspace, meaning at warp. When we left, the phenomenon was still unmoving. We left a probe to verify it. It will be tracked until it disappears or moves."

Necheyev asked, "Do we have enough data to determine the exact direction it was traveling?"

"Yes, Admiral."

"Show me on a screen, galactic scale map." The crew members were surprised but did as ordered. Finally the route was shown. According to the test, the "manifestation" was traveling in a straight line toward the outer edge of the Delta Quadrant, just as the earlier tests indicated. According to the tests, Voyager had averaged Warp 9 from the time the earlier test has been completed until this test.

Necheyev stood for a long few minutes, staring at the display. The lower-ranked crew waited. Finally she turned and said, "Thank you, Sir Harry. I will be reporting our findings to the Federation Council. They may have more questions or requests."

"Of course, Admiral Necheyev," Harry answered.