Chapter 5: Death Star

"Ahem, ahem," echoed the syrupy sweet voice of Grand Muff Dolores Jane Umbridge. "And what is the name of the planet we're approaching?"

"It's the planet Hogwarts, Grand Muff, just as you ordered."

"Oh no," she squeaked. "Not me. We were directed here by Educational Decree No. 2,344. Now, where is that naughty little girl?"

Death Eaters dragged Princess Hermione forward. They were followed by the ominous figure of Darth Snape.

The lip of the princess curled. "Grand Muff Umbridge. I thought I detected your foul odor."

"No need to me nasty, dear. I believe you are here to tell me the location of the rebel base?"

"Guess again, fat lady."

"No, well. Let me explain the situation. We are currently aboard the most powerful weapon ever created. It is capable of destroying an entire planet, such as, oh let me see, that one."

"Not Hogwarts! It's an educational planet! There's nothing there but school children! It has no weapons! It bears no strategic importance!"

"Oh dear. How unfortunate. Perhaps you'd like to supply be with an alternate target? For the sake of argument, let's say, a military target?" The Grand Muff smiled sweetly.

Princess Hermione wilted. "Datooine. The rebels are on Datooine."

"See dear, that wasn't so hard." The Grand Muff turned to her crew. "Continue with the firing sequence, please."

"Whhhhhhhaaaaaaaatttttttt?"

"You're far too trusting, my dear. Datooine is too isolated to serve as a sufficient deterrent, albeit, we shall deal with them directly."

An evil red light slashed out from the battle station, stabbing down at the blue-green jewel of a planet. It exploded into a hextillion pieces."

۞

The flying car skidded out of hyperspace.

"Ron? What did you do?"

"I didn't do nothing. Yieeee!" Ron jammed the wheel over in order to dodge a gigantic boulder that was hurdling at him. Then there was another. "Look out!" He turned the wheel the other way. A third rock flew at them. "Hold on!" Ron dodged again.

Marcus Flint, Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrodem and Lucian Bole flew passed on broomsticks. The quartet flew in a tight formation. Each had a clear bubbled conjured over his or her head, and each was looking curiously at the flying car.

Hagrid frowned, "What are those four Slytherins doing way out here?"

"They're turning away and fleeing," said Fred.

"After them, Ron!" commanded George.

Ron Weasley jammed the car into low and accelerated.

Hagrid said, "They're headed for that small moon."

Harry said, "That's no moon. It's a space station."

"Naw, it's too big to be a space station."

"I've got a bad feeling about this."

Suddenly, an "accio" reached out, grabbed them, and no matter what they tried, dragged them inside the space station."

"Oh buggar!"

۞

Darth Snape swept into Hanger Deck 13. A group of Death Eaters with wands at the ready had formed a wide circle around the car, the front end of which was badly bashed in, as if someone had driven it through a pourstone wall. Darth peered in through the window.

"It's empty."

"Yes, Lord Snape."

"Did anyone leave?"

"No, Lord Snape, although the car doors did open and close mysteriously several times. Well, there was that pair of large boots that walked away on their own, but you'd radioed to say we were to detain people, not footwear."

"Boots?"

"Yessir. Big ones."

۞

In a nearby control booth, Hagrid was divesting himself of the invisibility cloak. "Wish it had been a bit bigger," he said. "Parts of me were hanging out."

Harry was looking back into the hanger deck. "It's okay. They're still gathered around the car."

"Hey, look at this!" exclaimed George as he examined one of the computer screens.

"It's Princess Hermione!" gasped Fred. "They're going to execute her!"

"What!" bellowed Hagrid.

"We have to rescue her!" added Ron.

Harry asked. "But how?"