Excalibur Keeperoliver Chapter 5
As the four friends settled into the daily routine of classes, study and interaction with their Gryffindor friends, they never noticed Cho and Marietta scheming and making their plans. After watching the four for about a month, they decided Luna would be the easy mark to get them all separated.
They got their chance when after a Transfiguration class, Harry and Hermione were asked to remain after class was done so that Minerva could talk to them about their work. Ginny helped them by collecting their books. Luna walked out to the hall to wait for the others. Cho and Marietta cornered her, "Luna can we tell you something. We think you should know that both Hermione and Ginny think of you as crazy. We heard them talking, and they were not saying very nice things about you." Cho passed on.
"Funny, I never heard them say anything like that."
"Of course they wouldn't say it to your face. They both like your brother too much. I think they are planning to divide you from Harry, so that they can get closer."
Luna showed a look of concern on her face. "Do you really think they would do that?"
"I wouldn't put it past them. Hermione is a muggle, and they can be very mean, and Ginny lives with six brothers, which makes her even meaner. I would watch them if I were you. If it's just to protect Harry from the plans of these two." Marietta whispered.
"Yes, your right, I will have to protect Harry from scheming girls. Thank you for alerting me to the problem Cho, Marietta. Now that you mention it, I think I have seen the scheming and planning going on." Luna shook hands with the two.
Cho and Marietta left feeling like their plan had worked in it's first part. Part two would be the hot tempered red head.
As Harry, Ginny and Hermione joined Luna, she told them of Cho and Marietta's plans to separate them, and try to get Harry to themselves. Ginny was ready to go head hunting, when Luna stopped her. "Ginny, I think it would be best if we let them think that their plan was working, and then catch them in a plan of our own." Then Luna went to her own plan on what they should do. Hermione at first didn't like the plan, as she didn't know how she felt about pulling pranks on people.
"Luna, what you ask us to do goes against anything I was brought up to believe in. My mother and father taught me to respect other people's rights."
Luna answered her in her own way, "Even if the ones we talk about are trying to tear up friends?"
"But what you are asking me to do isn't right, even if what they are doing isn't right either. Two wrongs don't make a right Luna."
"So, what do you suggest, Hermione. Just dropping it?"
"No, we approach them and tell them we know what they are doing, and that it won't work. Make them realize that what they are doing is wrong."
Ginny took over for Luna, "Hermione, as sweet as your plan sounds, it won't work. Cho and Marietta are both two years ahead of us, and they think they know more than us. They will think us as weak, and just press the issue even harder. It will be you they target when you approach them with your suggestion and thoughts. Maybe Luna's plan isn't perfect, but, we have to let them know that we will not put up with their plotting. They have to learn that scheming is for Slytherins, not Ravenclaws. If you do not wish to take part in our form of payback, then you don't have to. It's just that their plans included possibly hurting you emotionally."
Hermione sat back and thought on the matter. True, her upbringing told her to treat others as she wished to be treated, but she was never taught how to stand up for herself. However, she was also taught that friends stick together, and though she didn't have many friends before coming to Hogwarts, there was no way that she was going to let these friends fight for her, and not help.
"I understand what you mean Ginny. The magical world is not easy for me to understand but, friendship is, and I can't let you do things for me, while I sit back and do nothing. So, that being the case, I think Luna's plan is a good one, but, needs a little tweaking. What I suggest is that we get some help. Getting them to think their plan is working is a step in the right direction, but they also need to think that Harry is not what they think he is."
"What do you mean I am not what they think I am?" Harry squeaked.
Hermione laughed, and whispered to Luna and Ginny, and they both laughed at her suggestion. Harry looked at the three, and he didn't think he was going to like what they shared.
Hermione looked at him and began, "What I think Harry, is let them know that you are not interested in them, as you already love another. Let them think that you are in love with Luna, and that Ginny and I support you in this. Luna does not know of your love for her, and when they start their plans she is surprised by your response. Then as time goes on, you find out that Luna loves another, and you try to get over her by falling for Ginny."
"NO!"
"Why not, Harry?"
"For one, Hermione, that's incest and I couldn't do that. Another thing is I will be playing with Ginny's emotions if I were to agree with this. I will not do that, as she may not even like me that way, or it could change how she feels about me. I can't risk losing a friend. I think there has to be a better way to get them to leave us alone, and let things go forward in their own way."
Luna looked at her brother and said, "Well, we can always make them think you are gay."
Harry gave Luna the dirtiest look he ever gave her.
Luna laughed, "It was just a suggestion Harry, you don't have to go along with it if you don't like it."
"I don't, and I will leave it at that. Now, what I suggest is that we get Gryffindor to help us with setting them straight. With the twins, Draco, Neville and Ron helping us, we should come up with a better plan."
Luna gave Harry her pouting look, "If you insist Harry, but I thought my idea was a good one."
"If you like it so much, then you play the gay part, and leave me out of it."
Luna brightened up at this, "Ooooh, do you think that would work. Hey Hermione, come here lover girl." and she blew Hermione a kiss.
Hermione sat shocked at Luna's comment until Luna broke out laughing, "Did you see the look on Hermione's face?"
Ginny and Harry were laughing at their friends. Hermione felt if she was going to learn how to payback someone for something they did, she might as well start with someone she knew. She reached across and gave Luna a kiss on the lips, and Luna jumped away from her as soon as Hermione broke contact. "It was just a joke Hermione. You didn't have to take it seriously."
"You mean you don't like me Luna?" Hermione gasped.
"Not in that way I don't." Luna saw the twitch of a smile break on Hermione's lips. "But, I will keep you in mind if a change my mind darling."
Now they were all laughing, knowing that nothing like that was going to happen.
Harry made plans to talk to the rest the next morning at breakfast and began planning for their payback to Cho and Marietta.
After talking to them, Draco came up with a suggestion, "Suppose we get someone else interested in them from say, their own House. Like maybe Cedric and Justin?"
"And how do we do that with out any potions or spells?" Hermione asked.
George winked at her, "Suggestive implants. Tell them that we think that they may be showing signs that they may like them."
"You're not talking mind control are you?"
"Nothing like that, just giving them some hope, and let them take it the rest of the way. If they stay with it, maybe the girls will be too busy trying to keep away from them to try and complete their plans for Harry."
"Yes, that may work." Harry thought out loud.
"It's better than these other plans we listened to." replied Draco.
"I mean come on, Harry being gay. Not the best I heard. Or incest. Another crazy one. Let's try to be sane and get Harry out of this without tarnishing his image." Fred added.
So they put their plan to work, and knew that it would take a while to work. In the mean time, their relationships began to grow. Harry and Ginny would never be seen with out them being together, except when they split up for bed. Who ever was up first would wait in the common room for the other, then they would both sit and wait for Hermione and Luna. Although Luna was usually up at the same time as Harry. It was like a sibling bond thing. They both felt the other was awake and got up.
Hermione was always the last one up, and the last to join the group. It was never enough to make them late for breakfast though. From the common room they would walk down to the Great Hall.
When they went to breakfast, they didn't sit with the Claws, they sat with the Gryphs, and their friends. Fred and Hermione sat together. George and Luna sat together. Neville and Hannah who joined them from the Hufflepuff table with her friend Susan Bones. Susan liked to sit with Draco and Ron. They always made her laugh. The four always wondered how the Gryphs were always there before them for breakfast. They thought it was Ron and his hunger.
They didn't think it was Ron's wish to spend more time with Parvati, who he had taken a shine to , who gained Ron's interest. Ron didn't know that Susan was taking a liking to him, but Parvati saw it, and didn't mind the interest she showed Ron, as she liked competition. Ron would be the prize for the victor.
As time moved on, Harry saw less and less of Cho and Marietta, and knew their plan was working. The two were too busy trying to build on the interest of Cedric and Justin they were being shown. Cho was really enjoying Cedric's attention, and Marietta was enjoying the younger Justin's attention. Now if they could just keep them interested.
Excalibur-}
On board the Excalibur, Jamie and the crew were alerted to an anomaly about two light years away, but when they left to investigate it, found it was not the one they were looking for. This one would send them 150 light years from their present position, but with no time change. They returned to their position behind the moon to hide from the detection of the planet below them.
Jamie had been working with Data trying to see if there was a way to beam an individual into the vaults of Gringotts with out harming the person, and setting off the alarms to their presence. Many attempts were made, using the holodeck as the test subject, setting it up like the bank. As yet, they hadn't come up with the correct frequency to allow them to transport with out setting off the alarm. They could get in easy enough, but once he or she was in, the vault sealed it self and set of an alarm trapping the individual in the vault with out any way to escape.
One thing they found of interest, while hiding behind the moon, was an abandoned rover from the visit made by Neil Armstrong during his famous first step, or at least that was what the crew thought when they found it, because it was found close to where he took his first step. It was actually left their many years later on an unmanned trip. It was used to take samples of the surface and analyze the material, and send the information back to Earth. It was not running, so it must have been abandoned for this reason. The Excalibur brought it on board, and Data took to get it running again. He accomplished this by removing the electrical motor and replacing it with a plasma drive drive unit that the Excalibur no longer used. Though useless to the Excalibur, it was perfect for the Rover. It was put in the holodeck, and was used by the entire crew for recreational purposes. It was like a dune buggy to them. The individual would set up the type of terrain they wished to travel across, and then had fun riding across it. Even James and Lily used it. They figured out a way to get it to float on water, and used it as a speed boat. They took Jamie with them one time, and he fell in love with the creation. After this one trip, he returned often, using the same vehicle for water sports. He even took up fishing. Data would accompany him on a few of these. Data's patience made him the best fisher on board. He could sit for hours waiting for a bite, then when he got it, he never lost a fish. He liked fishing so much, he even went to the holodeck program to fish from the shore.
Another source of entertainment came from the twins when they researched an American past time called baseball. Once they learned the basics of the game, teams were formed, and the game was played. This was loved by the whole crew, as both the males and females could play at the same time.
The time the crew was spending in this era was fast becoming one they didn't look forward to leaving. There was so much of interest to do and see here that every day was like a new experience to them. They were never bored for lack of things to do.
James and Lily enjoyed their stay on board, but they missed the four family members that were so many miles away. Two hours everyday was spent watching and listening to them while they attended school, and Remus and Sirius worked to help Harry end the story of Tom Riddle. They looked forward to the Christmas when them and Albus, Ginny and Hermione would come visit. Minerva had been asked to visit, but she was as yet, undecided. She wanted to see Lily, but was afraid of the idea of being in space.
The one thing Lily didn't like was the way she saw Severus treated Harry. Like he was his enemy. She asked Jamie if there was anyway she could scare Severus, without making their presence known, and Jamie needed a little time to think on it. There wasn't a way to project thoughts to the surface, or holographic images. He wasn't fond of what this Snape fellow was doing to his great grand father either. Jamie still chuckled when he thought of an eleven year old as being his great grand father of many generations. Or of Lily and James for that matter, as they were both younger than him.
Data was the one to give him an idea of how to get Snape to leave Harry alone. They could use a frequency of the current time and send a message through the wiznet radio as a receiver for the message. Lily knew of only five frequencies the radio used, which was useful information, as it shortened the list of frequencies they had to play across. They could direct the frequencies to the radio that Snape listened to to send the broadcast. Using Lily's voice to send the message, that evening, Snape was listening to his radio, when his music was interrupted.
Severus Snape. This is a warning to you that Harry Potter is not James Potter, his father. He is the son of Lily Potter. The one who is speaking to you right now. If you ever cared for me Severus, you will stop this torture you are putting my son through. He doesn't deserve it, and you know it. So, please for my sake, try to get to know him, and you will find a decent, caring person that he is. I don't mean he is perfect, as he was brought up by your nemesis, Sirius Black, so he has some of his habits, like pranking. Just try to think of him as me, with a sense of humor. I did have one you know. Thank you for being my friend Severus. This is Lily saying goodbye with a kiss on the cheek. SMACK.
When the message was completed, Severus took his hand and brought it to his cheek as if she really kissed him. A tear formed in his eyes, as he remembered his first love. His only love.
He sat there as the music began playing once again, wondering if he imagined everything he just heard. But he felt in truth, he was just contacted by Lily Marie Potter, nee Evans.
Harry saw the change in the Professor during the next class. Potions class was the first class of the morning for him and the girls. As he settled in for another attack on his character by the Potions Master, he was surprised when the Professor addressed him in a friendly manner. "Mr. Potter, would you care to inform us on the uses of the Mandrake root?"
"Of course Professor. Though it is used for many potions used in healing, it is most thought of as releasing an individual who has been petrified. It is one of the ingredients in the essence of murlap, used for healing wounds. It is one of the most beneficial plants used by a potions master, such as your self." Harry didn't think it would hurt to bolster his ego a bit.
"Your praise was not necessary Mr. Potter, but appreciated none the less. And what you stated is true. Very good answer. 5 points to Gryffindor."
Harry fell out of his chair at that one. He never received point from him.
Severus saw what happened, and laughed to him self. "Get up Mr. Potter, you look like a fool sitting there on the floor."
Harry also received points for his perfect Murlap potion. Luna and Ginny noticed Harry's look of wonderment. Luna smiled while Ginny herself wondered what was going on.
Later that evening, while he was sitting with Luna in an empty class room, he contacted his mum, and told her what Snape had done that day. He appreciated what his mum told him after wards. It explained then turn around for the Potions Master.
Excalibur-}
Both Hermione and Ginny received letters from their parents saying it was OK for them to remain at Hogwarts for the Holidays. Ron, the twins and Percy would be returning home to visit Charlie in Romania. Hermione's mum and dad would be visiting France for a private romantic getaway. This got Hermione giggling. The thought of her mum and dad doing anything romantic always did.
Minerva decided that she would take the trip with the rest to visit Lily and James. That was the only reason she would be making the trip. Her thoughts would change once aboard the Excalibur.
The day arrived for the group, and they stood at the entry, watching their friends as they left for the train. Harry was laughing out loud, and Luna and Ginny looked at him weirdly. Since Ginny and Hermione had no idea where they were going to be with Sirius and Remus, Harry kept the thought to himself, for the time being.
Once the train was out of sight, he took Hermione and Ginny's hand, and they all walked to the gate and off Hogwarts grounds. Ginny and Hermione thought they were going to Hogsmeade when they stopped out side the gates. When harry tapped his chest and said, "Six to beam up." they looked at him in disbelief. Then the next thing they knew, they were in a room filled with strange lights and one man standing at a control panel, and four people standing off to the side.
When two of them ran to Harry and Luna, and pulled them into a hug, they were surprised when a tear formed in Luna's eyes, "Mum, dad it is so good to see you again."
When Ginny and Hermione heard this, they passed out. Luna's mum and dad meant that Lily and James Potter were alive.
Once they were revived, the game of 100 questions began, and the answers became stranger and stranger, beginning with time travel then Harry being a great grand father many times over, to a star ship, and finally to Lily, James and Jamie Potter. Then100 questions soon turned in to many more. They were answered as they traveled through the hall ways of the ship they were said to be on. Another surprise was the way the two Professors acted as if they knew all that was going on.
When they arrived at the cafeteria where they sat for some refreshments, the two looked out the windows and saw the moon from the other side, and the stars that shown in the sky.
While they were enjoying the company they were with, the door opened, and Data came through the opening, and was attacked by both Harry and Luna who were pulled into a hug as they were lifted off the ground and spun around by him.
Luna kissed hi cheek saying, "Data it is so good to see you. I missed you almost as much as I did mum, dad, and Jamie."
"I missed you both as well, Luna. The ship hasn't been the same with out you on board. Would you care to introduce your friends to me?"
Harry said, "Sure. Come on over. Hermione Granger, Ginevra Weasley, Minerva McGonagall, I would like you to meet Data."
The three stood and shook Data's cold hand. It was as if he didn't have any blood flow. Data saw the looks on their faces, and apologized. He forgot to turn on his warming circuitry. He did this, and shook their hands again, this time they felt the warmth in his grip.
Luna laughed at her friend at his forgetfulness. "Data, do I have to stay behind to keep you from forgetting who you are?"
Data drew a smile to his face, "That would be splendid, Luna. Having you around to show me how to have fun would be brilliant."
"Well you have me for the next three weeks, so let's take advantage of it while we can."
"That's a date then my pretty lady."
Luna screwed up her face, "Has Sirius been back up here while we were at school. That didn't sound like you. A date with me, and calling me a pretty lady. That is definitely not you."
"No, Sirius hasn't been back since he left with you, though him and Remus will be joining us soon. They had something to do before they return here. Now shall we take your friends on a tour of the ship while you parents and Professors get reacquainted."
Harry took Ginny's hand, and Luna took Hermione's and Data's. They left the cafeteria, and Ginny and Hermione began the tour of their lifetime.