Hi, this is brown dog. Just lettin' ya know that I'm the one writing this chapter!

Green smoke rolled around them as they stepped through and were whirled around. Flickers of silver, blue, red, and other colors surrounded them for a second, then it seemed as though they were in murky water, and they were through to the other world. All five looked at their surroundings. They were in what seemed to be a backyard connected to a garden filled with some sort of flower. People were talking somewhere, and a car engine hummed on the other side of the house.

"Are these things worlds or universes?" wondered Ron.

"I don't know." answered Kit (his brother was preoccupied with staring at Claudia).

"I think that worlds of different stories that have main characters that don't interact with each other or even know of each other are universes, whereas ones where they do interact or know of the other main characters are worlds within the universes." explained Hermione, not looking up from the copy of Hogwarts: A History she had brought along.

"Very good, my dear, you are correct." Came the amused voice of a man from behind them. They all spun around to look at the stranger, Kit squawking and Hermione slamming the heavy book closed.

He was a well-dressed and slightly elderly gentleman (there's no other word for it) with a pleasant expression on his face. Just a little taller than Ron and Blade, he still gave the impression that he loomed over them.

"May we help you? Or perhaps you could help us?" Hermione inquired politely, looking at the portal that she knew was still there but couldn't see.

"I do not know if you can help me, but I am sure I could something to help you." He looked at the title of her book. "Ah, so you're from the Hogwarts universe. Have you met my dear friend Mr. Moody?"

"Constant vigilance!" muttered Ron.

"Indeed, he does say that quite a bit. Now, before we get too carried away, perhaps we should introduce ourselves. I am Maxwell Hyde." He extended his hand.

"Ron Weasley."

"Hermione Granger."

"Blade."

"Kit, his brother."

"Claudia."

"Look, we need to hurry, so…"

"Ron, don't be rude." Hermione scolded. "Do know anyone by the name of Nicothodes Euthandor Timosus Benigey Koryfoides? Or Arianrhod Hyde?"

"Yes, I do. They're both here, actually." He smiled slightly.

"Oh, thank the gods we don't have to go all over this universe finding them." sighed Blade. "Could you fetch them, please, sir?"

"I am dreadfully sorry, but both of them are about to start their training. They really can't go with you." Maxwell Hyde didn't seem sorry at all as he said this.

"Know someone by the name of Chrestomanci?" Ron asked. Hyde paled. "He's the guy who sent us."

"Is it for that war on your universe, young man?" Hyde asked him. Ron nodded. "Oh, well, I'll go get them. Wait right here, and don't hurt the dahlias!"

Two people soon hurried in (or would it be out?) behind Maxwell Hyde. One was a rather pretty girl, and the other was a boy who had Asian-like skin but European features. The girl was wearing strange clothes—some kind of short dress with loose leggings underneath—but the boy was wearing a blue NOLS t-shirt and slightly torn jeans. They appeared to be in an argument.

"It's probably just that we have to get Helga out of the dahlias again." Said the boy, exasperated.

"No, I think…" What the girl thought, they didn't find out, because the boy elbowed her in the side and gestured towards them.

"Hello, I'm Nick, and this is Rhoddy. Uuum, Maxwell, do they have something to do with us being dragged out here?"

"Everything." Kit answered cheerfully. "Don't worry; we got 'dragged' into it too. And now we have two demonic trouble makers out for revenge on me, as well as a war with some evil wizard, not to mention the fact that their house probably isn't big enough for everyone on our list, let alone the others'."

"Oh." Nick looked a little shocked. "War?"

"Yes." Said Blade, Kit, Hermione, and Ron.

"And you two will be going with them to their universe." Explained Maxwell Hyde.

"What about Grundo?" Asked Rhoddy.

"And Toby?" Added Nick.

"They'll be fine, and no, they cannot come with you. Now, grab your bags and get ready to go!"

Five minutes later they stepped through a new portal to 12 Grimmauld Place.