Disclaimer: I own nothing; Harry Potter and the elements of his universe all belong to J.K.Rowling. Firefly/Serenity and the elements of its universe all belong to Joss Whedon. I'm just borrowing the characters to play with for a while. This is for pleasure only, no profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER FIVE – Secret Agent Man

"Why didn't you wake me!" Inara yelled as she punched Mal in the arm.

"Would you stop hitting me?" Mal whined trying to protect his arm.

"You should have woken me, you baboon!"

"I'm sorry," Mal defended. "I was distracted."

"By what?" Inara continued apparently unable to lower her voice.

Mal giggled, "By my delicious and tasty chocolate covered cake doughn- Owww!"

Inara snarled as she hit him again.

"Maybe Harry can magically discover some more," Mal suggested rubbing his sore upper arm.

Kaylee sighed. "I didn't get one either, Inara."

Mal grinned. "Besides, you know what they say: a moment on the lips, a lifetime… of being fat, ugly, unwanted, settling for whatever other fat person is willing to be near your chubby- Owww!" Mal screeched when Kaylee and Inara both smacked him hard on the arms. "Good god, womans!"

"Careful ladies," Harry said as he walked into the room with River skipping happily behind him. "That's the Captain's injured arm."

Mal lifted up his arm examining his barely noticeable scratch. "I think you aggravated it." Mal whined poking the tender area.

"Besides," Harry explained producing the familiar pink box. "When I saw Jayne sticking his grubby fingers near all of them I saved you two an apple fritter and a cinnamon bun."

"Tzoo-foo nee," Kaylee whispered over her breath. "Dibs on the fritter."

Inara glided towards the pink box with her eyes wide, staring intently at the breakfast pastries. "You're a good man, Harry."

The two girls picked up the bun and fritter at the same time, exchanging a sultry look of pure anticipation. They put them in their mouths and slowly savored their first bites. "Mmm," they moaned peacefully in unison.

River felt like joining them and closed her eyes as well gleefully humming, "Mmm" with the other girls.

"Sweet Jesus, Harry," Inara groaned licking her lips after another bite. "Where did you get these and when can I get more?"

"Yeah," Mal asked with a slight frown and inquisitive stare. "Where did you get them?"

Harry shrugged and said, "Would you believe me if I said magic?"

"No," Mal snapped right as Inara swallowed and said, "Yes."

Inara was giving Mal an evil eye and taking great pleasure in not sharing her cinnamon bun with him. "If Harry says it was magic, then I believe him."

Mal chuckled, "And if he says he eats children?"

Inara's eyes went wide and she turned looked at Harry silently wondering.

Harry rolled his eyes and got up to go back to the bridge. "You people have no sense of humor." Harry took two steps and bent down like he was talking to a pet. "Come here, River. Come here girl! That's a good girl. Yes, you're a good River, aren't you?" Harry mocked the young woman. "Come on, girl! Follow me!" He finished and ran towards the front.

River was growling loudly but quickly followed after him nonetheless.

Mal watched River storming away and pondered, "She's going to hurt him real bad one of these days."

Inara shrugged. "If I recall correctly, Jayne was in some pain when she stabbed him."

Mal chuckled in remembrance. "You know there was a time that really worried me. But now, it's just funny to think about."

Inara smiled warmly, temporarily forgetting her animosity towards present company. "So what do you think of Harry? Going to keep him around for a while?"

Mal saw Inara seemed to like the young man and carefully answered. "I think… I think now would be a good time to get everyone not named Harry together for a little chat."

Inara got up from the table and helpfully offered, "I'll go fetch Kaylee and Simon."

"I'll get Zoe and Jayne," Mal stated. "And I don't think we'll be separating River from Harry just yet."

Inara nodded and the two went their separate ways.

River sat next to Harry just watching him from the co-pilot's chair.

Harry made sure they were on course and decided to make the call. He pulled his personal com-unit out of one of his jacket pockets and cycled through a few screens on it. Harry looked over at River and saw her just quietly observing him.

A crackle and a buzz sounded, before the video image and voice of Durran Haymer appeared on the tiny com-unit's screen. "Harry? Is that you?"

Harry grinned down at the man. "Who else would it be?"

Durran rolled his eyes. "Sometimes I think you only call to infuriate me."

"You know you missed me, Durran," Harry grinned cheekily.

"Do you at least have some good news?"

Harry reached into his pocket and waggled the Lassiter in front of the video transmitter. "That good enough for you?"

"Be careful with that, you ingrate!" Durran called out with wide eyes.

Harry spun it around his finger like a six-shooter. "You worry too much."

"Where was it?"

Harry shook his head. "This gorram thing has been stolen and sold at least dozen times before I lost track of it. But it resurfaced way out on the rim. Fellow by the name of Jimmy Christmas bought it, and thought he bought it legit it seems. No matter though. You'll have your precious little toy back in a few hours."

Durran huffed. "I'll believe when I see it."

Harry nodded. "I'm running with some new friends, so I'd appreciate you having the coin ready, as well as my book."

"New friends?" Durran asked curiously. "Do you ever use the same people?"

Harry thought about it and glanced to his left at River. "I'm thinking I might stick with these folks for a while. It's why I'm hoping to be professional-like about them getting paid."

"I'll have the money," Durran explained. "And I still don't see what's so special about that book. I've got some far older."

Harry gave a small nod. "Truth to tell, I'd like that book even better if it was a little newer."

Durran sighed. "I don't think you quite grasp the concept of antiquities and artifacts from the Earth-That-Was."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Harry cajoled. "We've had this conversation a dozen times. Have you heard about anything in your neighborhood that would interest me?"

Durran shook his head. "Haven't been asking much. I've been busy working lately."

"Anything fun?"

Durran shrugged. "Chemical engineering for some secretive advanced aeronautics. They're always trying to build a better spaceship."

"You could've just said 'No, nothing fun.' You don't have to go out of your way to bore me with technicalities," Harry quipped.

"Fine," Durran agreed. "When should I expect you?"

Harry thought about it, and answered, "I'm guessing about six hours. Coming in on a Firefly."

"A Firefly?" Durran sneered. "Slumming, are we?"

"Hey now," Harry retorted. "This ship's got some heart. More than that soulless top of the line crap you probably prefer."

"Be careful with my gun," Durran ordered.

"But of course," Harry mocked. "When am I anything but careful?"

Durran just grumbled quietly.

"I'll see you in six hours or so. Might even bring a face you remember," Harry smirked knowingly.

"What?" Durran asked in surprise. "Who do you-"

A single punch of a button and Durran was cut off, leaving Harry smiling mischievously.

Harry was still grinning and looked over at River watching him closely. "How you doing?"

River tilted her head. "You're not as puzzling as you want to be."

"Come again?"

River smiled happily. "You know what I'm thinking. Do you need me to say it?"

"I usually do my best to not listen in, but you're right," Harry admitted. "A lot of times I can't block you out. Especially when I'm the wall around your head."

"You're not like anyone else," River stated turning away from Harry and lacing the words with clear accusation.

Harry grinned and agreed. "I'd like to think that's true."

"Why do you hide it?"

Harry stiffened ever so slightly. "Hide what?"

River pouted. "If I knew that, you wouldn't be hiding it."

"I suppose that's true," Harry admitted. "A secret's not a secret when someone else knows."

"Are you scared?" River asked honestly.

Harry glanced over at her. "Of what?"

River shook her head. "I used to hide things about myself. I was scared."

"You still are scared," Harry pointed out.

"I thought you were trying to block me out," River frowned.

"Sorry," Harry said helplessly.

River paused and seemed to be looking around the bridge indiscriminately. "So if you're not going to share what you're hiding, will you at least tell me what you're looking for?"

"What makes you think I'm looking for anything?" Harry asked with a smile, slightly impressed at how intuitive River was even with her reading muffled.

"You seek out curious pieces of history, relics from the Earth-That-Was," River explained. "You wished for a newer book from Durran, not an older more valuable one. That's a quest for knowledge or answers. Not a collection."

"You're pretty perceptive."

River was leaning back staring up at the ceiling. "You think I'm pretty?"

"That's not quite what I said," Harry chuckled.

"You do," River stated with certainty. "Don't worry. That won't make me hate you more."

Harry merely mulled silently to himself.

"Is there anything you're willing to admit that's true?" River inquired sending Harry a piercing stare.

"There's nothing I've said that isn't true," Harry insisted.

River narrowed her eyes. "Who taught you how to speak in half-truths?"

Harry smirked in remembrance, "A very old man, a long time ago."

River raised an eyebrow. "So if you don't want to share what you're hiding, you don't want to share what you're looking for, and you won't even admit that you think I'm pretty, how do you expect me to ever trust you?"

Harry turned to River with a twinkle in his eyes. "I think you're pretty."

"Not good enough," River replied.

"Why would I want you to trust me?"

"Because you need it," River stated. "You thrive when you can be yourself. That's why you keep working with different crews. You haven't found anyone you want to be yourself with. You told Mal you wanted to be a part of this crew. That means you want us to trust you."

"You think you have me all figured out, do you?" Harry asked. "So tell me this then. If I can teach you to use your own mental thumb, then you're a very capable pilot. Which would leave me out of a job, and I'd have no place on this crew. Wouldn't it make more sense to get everyone else to trust me? Everyone but you?"

River shook her head. "You want me to trust you. You feel guilty in my head. I can feel that much in your thumb. And besides, we couldn't get rid of you now."

"Is that so?" Harry asked curiously.

"You make the doughnuts." River stated. "You never get rid of the person who makes the doughnuts."

Harry smiled widely in fond remembrance of a similar statement. He snapped out of his mild daydream and clarified, "I never said I made the doughnuts. I said I found them."

River smirked victoriously and looked right into Harry's eyes. "Now is there nothing you've said that isn't true?"

Harry broke eye contact and looked straight ahead into space admitting defeat. "Hmm."

"Shouldn't we get River for this?" Simon asked seeing everyone else was present.

Mal turned to the doctor. "You think we could separate her from Harry?"

Simon sat back in frustration and grumbled, "True."

"So what?" Jayne asked. "Are we here to vote on Harry now?"

Mal shook his head. "No, not yet. I figure our opinion on the boy'll change once we get paid. I just thought we should take a little stock of our situation and see what we all think."

"I think he broke out of a bughouse," Jayne began. "But I like him. As long as we get paid-"

"And doughnuts," Zoe chimed in.

"Yes!" Jayne said pointing his finger at Zoe. "And doughnuts!"

"Don't you think it's a bit… odd?" Mal asked. "I mean there's about twenty completely inexplicable question marks floating around with him so far."

Inara nodded. "That was the gist of what Camille told me. He's peculiar, but everyone seems to like him."

"Except Madame Trudy," Mal recalled.

"No," Inara shook her head. "I'm pretty sure she likes him too. He just likes to rile her up. What I'm not certain about is whether people like him in spite of his… eccentricities. Or because of them."

Kaylee nodded. "He saved me probably forty hours of work on the grav boot. I'd give him a medal just for that."

"I hate him," Simon admitted vehemently before softening. "But with what he's done for River already…" Simon sighed. "In just a few days, he's helped her more than anything else has in all the years we've been on this boat. Frankly, if you booted him off, I'd probably go with him just for River's sake."

"Really?" Jayne asked with a hopeful smile.

Zoe ignored Jayne and added, "I don't understand him at all. But there's no denying the effect he's had on your sister."

"That's part of what worries me," Mal stated. He saw everyone looking up at him for more. Mal opened his mouth and then closed it. After a few moments of hesitation he admitted, "I think he might be some Alliance secret agent."

"Harry?" Zoe asked incredulously. "He's practically the opposite of what I'd expect from the Alliance."

Mal nodded. "Which in and of itself is curious too. But look at what we know about him. He knew who Jayne was." Mal counted, sticking his thumb in the air.

"That was 'cause of that rutting statue!" Jayne explained.

Mal continued and stuck out another finger, "He admits to accessing Alliance files, including something called Blue Ops, that I ain't ever heard of. He's got some high-tech com device that runs off its own signal from what I can tell."

"He said he stole that from the Alliance," Inara pointed out.

Mal kept going, "Our grav boot mysteriously craps out while he's conveniently asleep."

"It was a hunk of fei-oo," Kaylee argued.

"He didn't even get the name right, but was able to fix it," Mal kept going. "He supposedly pulled a box of doughnuts out of the black. He appeared on my boat after we'd been in the air for ninety minutes. He's got at least one friend in high places, maybe more. He knows all about River's condition and has managed to make himself extremely necessary to her well-being. And," Mal hesitated for a moment but went on, "and he has some customized special high-tech pulse weapons that he claims only work for him."

"What!" Zoe asked unaware of this last point.

"Really?" Jayne asked with a hungry look in his eyes.

Mal nodded. "He warned me about the different colors doing different things in case we saw a red laser or something."

"What's it look like?" Jayne asked gleefully.

Mal shook his head. "I haven't seen it. Or them rather. He spoke of 'em in plurals."

Kaylee looked doubtful. "He seems so… harmless. Are you sure about this?"

Mal shrugged. "I put a gun right to his face and he wasn't the slightest bit concerned. That boy has to have had some serious training."

Inara winced and caught Mal's eye.

"You got something to add, Inara?"

Inara frowned and carefully admitted, "I'm not at liberty to say why, but if he feels threatened, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if he could overcome all of us. Probably with ease."

"Is that a fact?" Mal asked with a raised eyebrow.

Inara shrugged. "As factual as a weird sounding secondhand account can be."

Simon shook his head. "I don't like this."

"Me neither," Mal admitted. "But even with all of that, so far he's only helped us. And all his recommendations came back glowing."

Jayne summarized, "Let me get this straight. We seem to think he's some sort of Alliance stoolie and we're just going to go about things, business as usual?"

Mal shrugged. "I think he's got a mission. Some sort of agenda, and to be honest, I don't think it concerns us."

"Sir?" Zoe asked in disbelief.

"We sought him out," Mal explained. "He didn't seek us out. He's most definitely involved in jobs that aren't federally sponsored, but he might have clearance to get around that. The way I figure, he was doing work with Monty, Fanty and Mingo, stealing for Durran Haymer and he was with all sorts of different crews. Something about us has tickled his fancy." Mal turned to Simon, "And I don't think it's your sister. That bit of help he's giving her now and talks about teaching to her sure seems like a chore to him. I figure we lucked out getting the advantages he brings with him to this boat. But I know for damn sure, he's got some kind of agenda of his own. He ain't into thieving for the money and the boy's got ethics. He didn't want me to shoot those damn dogs and he was plum glad no one got hurt stealing that gun."

"No one got hurt?" Inara repeated with a raised eyebrow.

Mal rolled his eyes but was unconsciously rubbing his arm. "My mind says he's a fed, and my gut says trust him. It don't make no sense."

"Captain?" Harry's voice came over the intercom.

Mal got up and pushed the button to talk back. "What is it, Harry?"

"First," Harry's voice replied. "River and I were walking back and overheard a little of your conversation. I was able to tell you didn't want me to be a part of it and came back here to call you."

"That's mighty honest of you, Harry," Mal replied looking over at the others.

"You know, Alliance protocol and all," Harry admitted. "I'm not allowed to lie."

Mal's eyes widened taking him seriously for a moment before processing what he said.

"And River here would've tattled on me anyway," Harry snickered. "But I also wanted you to know, Durran's expecting us and says he'll have your money. We're all set for when we arrive in a few hours."

"Alright," Mal replied curtly.

There was a moment of silence before River's voice came over the intercom. "Want me to keep him busy for a while longer, Captain?"

Mal rolled his eyes. "No, we're done in here."

"Aye aye, Captain!" River cheered happily.

Mal shook his head. "Why do I get the feeling Harry and River are going to try out-weird each other?"

Jayne looked confused. "Did he just admit to being a fed?"

"Who knows," Mal replied, giving up on trying to figure out Harry for now.

Harry pouted. "You really don't want to come with?"

"Reacquainting myself with people I've stolen from," Mal explained, "is not my idea of fun."

Harry begged. "He won't hurt you, but it'll be funny just to see his face."

"Harry," Mal insisted. "The people I treat fair-like have a bad habit of shooting at me. I'm not about to press my luck with the ones I've robbed from. 'Sides, this gives the rest of us a chance to have a proper pow-wow. See if we got use for you on another job."

"So no one's coming with me?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow turning towards the silent River waiting around the corner. "You're not worried about me just skipping off with your money?"

Mal grinned, "Not as long as your fancy com-unit and other goodies are still on my boat."

"I was going to bring that with me," Harry admitted. "But if it'll make you feel better, I'll leave it behind."

"I appreciate that," Mal replied. "You can just take the shuttle on down to Bellerophon."

Harry nodded. "Just warning you, don't take the com-unit to your little pow-wow unless you want me to have an ear in there. He likes to listen in, and he'd tell me all the wonderful things you've said about me."

It was only a few minutes later that Harry was separated from River for the first time in a while. He knocked on the door to Inara's shuttle. "Heya sweetcheeks."

"Back for more tea?" Inara asked with a grin.

Harry smiled helplessly. "I'm not about to say no to that, but I thought you should know, the Captain wants to have a little pow-wow and you're invited. River's even already there and away from me. Said something about an odor she was tiring of."

"Right now?" Inara asked with a snicker.

Harry nodded. "As soon as everyone's together, I suspect so."

Inara shut down the contact sheet she had been updating and got up to leave.

Harry stood the side and watched her go. "Make sure and remind everyone how wonderful I am."

"How could they ever forget?" Inara smarmily replied as she turned the corner.

Harry just grinned waiting for a moment before hurrying into Inara's shuttle. He sealed the door the closed and hopped into the shuttle's cockpit. He fired up it's engine and took off away from the ship, pleasantly imagining Inara's angry yelling.

"Bun tyen-shung duh ee-dway-ro!" Inara snarled banging on the sealed hatch.

"What was that?" Mal inquired coming around the corner hearing Inara's knocking.

Inara snapped at him. "Why the hell did he just steal my shuttle?"

Mal snickered. "I suppose I failed to clarify exactly which shuttle I wanted him to take. Honest mistake, I'm sure."

"Fei hua!" Inara insisted. "He knew damn well what you meant."

"Relax," Mal countered. "He'll be back. I think he was just pouting because I was willing to trust him to go alone. Rather than letting him see Durran's face upon meeting me again."

Inara was shaking her finger at Mal in anger. She started to say something and kept stopping herself. Finally she just grunted in frustration, turned, and went the other way.

Mal just followed her dutifully, silently awarding Harry a few points for amusing him.

River began her argument. "He followed me home. He's housebroken. Can I keep him?"

"You still want him, even if he's Alliance?" Mal asked.

River shook her head. "Why would he be Alliance?"

"The high tech com-unit, the high-tech pulse weapons, the friend on the inside, everything he knows about you," Mal rattled off, pausing after the last one when he recognized River's warning growl.

"Is he really helping you?" Simon asked his sister.

River's bottom lip began trembling as she started to cry. "I hate it when he's not around now. It's so much louder. It hurts."

Simon sighed and hugged her tightly.

"Listen, darling," Mal said. "We all figure he's worth the oddities, if he's helping you. We don't think he's a danger or risk, but you probably have a better grasp of him than the rest of us."

"He's hiding something," River explained somberly through her sniffles. "Something bigger than all the little mysteries we've seen so far. And he's searching for answers. Answers the Alliance doesn't have."

"You want us to get rid of him?" Mal asked. "You say the word, and he'll be on his merry way off my boat and out of your life."

River shook her head vehemently but still holding onto Simon for dear life. She whispered the words she didn't want to admit to herself. "I don't think I would want to be without him."

"Welcome Harry," Durran greeted with a wry smile.

"How's life treating you, Durran?" Harry replied, walking up to the man and shaking his hand.

Durran smiled slightly. "A bit better if you've got my gun."

Harry reached into his jacket and carefully pulled out the famed Lassiter. "Right here."

Durran accepted it reverently, checking it for scratches or imperfections.

"It's fine," Harry grumbled.

Durran ignored him and was closely inspecting it himself. "Surprisingly," he murmured quietly. He walked over towards his new and improved display case and gently set the first handheld laser pistol onto its custom cradle. He was still looking at his gun and offhandedly remarked, "I thought you were going to bring friends. Someone I know?"

Harry frowned. "Sadly, he was unable to make it. They're using this time away from me to gossip and trade all my dirty little secrets."

"All of them?" Durran asked with a small smile. "So what? You're going to stay here for a couple weeks?"

"Oh shush," Harry scolded. "They're probably done with their deliberation by now."

"You in a hurry?" Durran asked. "I've got your money all set. Had it transferred into platinum because I figured that'd be easier for you to spend."

"No, not in a hurry," Harry said shaking his head. "I sort of borrowed without permission a Companion's shuttle. I think I'd rather give her a little time to cool off."

Durran shook his head and walked over to the bar. "Care to have a drink and kill a little time then?"

"Sure," Harry agreed with a smile, settling himself comfortably onto the couch. "Scotch, if you got it."

Durran nodded and poured Harry a double. He handed it to him. "So can you spin me a tale of your daring adventure to rescue my Lassiter?"

Harry sniffed his drink and took a sip. He took a deep breath and began, "So there we were pinned down under enemy fire. Surrounded in all directions. There were at least fifty battle hardened soldiers converging on our position, and everyone was on their last clip. I knew I wasn't going to survive, but I told myself, Durran needs this gun. This fancy schmancy but archaic laser beam thingamajig deserves to be back in my personal hero Durran Haymer's hands. I wasn't about to let them get their grubby hands on it, so I hid it. Like a chipmunk, in my cheeks. Only I knew it wouldn't fit in my mouth so I had to use my backup cheeks. Still a tight fit but I knew-"

"Thank you, Harry," Durran grimaced and interrupted. "That was… beautiful."

"I didn't even get to the monkeys," Harry whined.

Durran chuckled. "I can imagine."

Harry sighed. "In truth, there were vicious attack poodles."

"Right," Durran patronizingly concurred. "The monkeys were no problem until the poodles jumped into the fray."

Harry chewed his lip looking around the room. "Something tells me I shouldn't bother trying to convince you the poodles were real." Harry took another sip. "Your turn. What sort of crazy adventurous work have you been doing?"

"Well," Durran sat back with a roll of his eyes. "Nothing quite so fascinating as attack poodles, monkeys, and chipmunks. And of course, I'm completely sworn to secrecy on every level. God, those bureaucrats are anal. But they've got some brilliant minds making some impossible breakthroughs."

Harry frowned. "You could at least lie and make it sound a little interesting."

"This could revolutionize space travel," Durran argued. "Speeds on an order of magnitude only theorized before."

"Instantaneous travel in the blink of an eye?" Harry replied with a knowing smirk. "I can only imagine."

Durran looked at Harry curiously. He was watching him closely and finally gave up shaking his head. "Sometimes, Harry, it seems like you're from the future where we've mastered time travel and you've come back here just to laugh at us."

Harry couldn't help but to respond with laughter. "I'm just trying to keep you on your toes."

Durran rolled his eyes.

"But anyways," Harry sighed finishing off his drink. "I should probably head on back. Shall we conclude our business?"

Durran got up and handed Harry a Bank of Londinium bag full of platinum. "Here's the money. Today's exchange rate got you a little over two hundred forty thousand in platinum."

"Peachy," Harry agreed peeking into the heavy bag.

Durran walked over to one of his glass display cases, and slid the cabinet door at the bottom. There were several books not on display stored down here. He flipped through them trying to locate the right one. "I still don't understand why you want this book so bad."

Harry stood up and walked over towards the case. "You probably wouldn't understand. It's kind of personal."

"Ahh," Durran said with a nod. "Frankly I've never even paid any attention to it. Drat! Where did it go?"

Harry grinned. "Here, allow me. Believe it or not, I wouldn't be surprised that if the book didn't want you to find it, then you wouldn't be able to."

Durran backed off and let Harry peek into his lesser collection down there. "Be my guest."

Harry was thumbing through them all gently treating the spines with care, seeing if there was anything else of interest. He knew the muggle protection charms made the book seem much less noticeable and that Durran probably couldn't even read or recall the title. "Here it is." Harry announced pulling the large tome out.

Durran glanced down at the book and looked right back up at Harry. "Yes, that's the one. So did you see anything else in there I could tempt you with in the future?"

Harry shook his head. "Nope," he replied wiping some of the dust off of the book. "Not this time, but do keep me in mind please."

"I always do," Durran replied. "And you know my tastes too. Can you still be reached at that messaging box thing you have?"

Harry tucked the book under his arm, and grabbed the bag of money in the other hand. "Yes sir. If I'm within range I get the message immediately. If not, I'll get the message when I am in range."

"Someday," Durran smirked. "You're going to have to tell me where you got that wonderful toy."

"Oh come now, Durran," Harry admitted as he walked back towards Inara's shuttle. "If I told you that-"

"You'd have to kill me?" Durran mockingly guessed.

Harry shook his head. "Naw, you're too useful. I'd just have to have your memory wiped."

"Goodbye Harry," Durran tiredly replied. "And I don't say it often, but thank you for getting my Lassiter."

"You're welcome. I'll talk to you later," Harry said as he closed the shuttle door and took off towards the waiting Serenity.

Harry docked onto the ship and opened the shuttle door. As expected, there was a still irate Companion waiting on the other side. Before Inara even could begin to berate and yell at him, Harry sprung forward and squeezed her into a hug. "Oh thank you, sugar britches. I'm so glad you let me borrow your shuttle. The other one didn't have any tea at all on it, and I knew you'd understand. She flies like a real beauty. Although, I thought it was curious that you have all those pictures of the crew but the ones of Mal seemed to have been handled so much more."

Inara kept opening her mouth to interrupt him, but Harry wasn't letting her get a word in. "No matter. That's none of my business. But I've got to get them all their money before they start hating me. Thanks so much again, Inara. You're a doll, sweetie. A real doll."

And by the time Inara had realized it Harry was past her and making his way towards the dining area. "Now you just hold on a minute," she called out chasing after him.

Harry was ignoring her and hurrying away. "Captain!" he called out. "I have returned with all ye plunder and booty!"

"Booty?" Jayne perked up at the word.

"Things go smoothly?" Mal asked as Harry hurried into the room, surprisingly unharmed.

Inara was red-faced and following after him.

Harry hefted the bag and set it onto the table. "Durran figured you'd prefer it in platinum rather then credits and had it converted this afternoon."

Harry saw Mal's eyes widen and Jayne's mouth water. "Err… I didn't clarify the payment was credits, did I?" Harry chuckled. "Well, then I suppose you should be pleased to be getting almost two and half times what you were expecting. Exchange rate put your take over two-forty."

Mal was looking in the bank bag and nodded resolutely. "You did good, Harry. You did real good."

Harry saw River run into the dining area and sent out his mental thumb immediately.

River closed her eyes and relaxed as she quickly seated herself at the table. "Thank you, Harry."

Harry's eyebrows rose a bit and looked around. "Did you all hear that too?"

Kaylee nodded with a smile.

Harry took it as a good sign and uncertainly replied, "You're welcome, River."

River heard the slight confusion in his voice and relaxed knowing she could continue to hate him. "Is that your new book?" She asked seeing the large dusty tome under his arm.

Harry saw everyone was looking at him but not the book and set it down on the table.

"That looks pretty old," Simon admitted before looking away. Everyone else had looked briefly at the book and then turned away as well. Everyone other than River.

Harry could feel her curiosity as she came over to look at the book a bit closer. He could tell she was resisting the old charms on the book, or they at least didn't affect her as strongly.

She leaned over to inspect the cover and read out loud, "Hogwarts, A History? Updated for 2193? That is old."

"Weird sounding too," Jayne pointed out in confusion.

"What do you expect?" Inara huffed still obviously annoyed. "It's Harry."