Nothing is as Simple as We Hope it Will Be

Summary: HPxStargate Atlantis crossover. After the replicators have damaged Atlantis, and the crew is continuing out into deep space John must do everything in his powers to stay alive, even if does mean using magic again. not season 4 compliant.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter characters or original world ideas Nor do I own Stargate characters or original world ideas. The plot for this story however is mine.

a/n: just to clear up some things. This will not be a john(harry)/ginny. In fact I don't plan on pairing him up with anyone at the moment. Sometimes muses have other ideas though so I won't promise that this wont happen. I do plan on pairing up Rodney once he gets back to Atlantis though, so you can be expecting that. I won't give away any more of my story, happy reading!

Chapter Eight: Tea with Luna

Zelenka stared blankly at the wall of his SGC room that he was sharing with three other scientist until the repairs on Atlantis were done. It had now been four days since Rodney had left in search of John and no one had heard anything from him. No one could decide if this was a good or bad sign. Zelenka figured Rodney had already found John and had just been too inconsiderate to call home and let anyone know that he had.

Sighing and standing up from his bunk Zelenka made his way out of his room towards the galley. It was time for lunch.

When he got there he found Dr. Keller and sat down across from her after having gotten himself a tray full of what the galley called food.

"How are you?" He asked politely.

Jennifer gave him a weary smile. "Fine. Did you hear the latest news?"

"Hmm. No. What is it?" Zelenka asked as he stirred his soup.

"They are debating just keeping Atlantis in orbit over Earth. Possibly even landing it." Keller said in aggravation.

"Keeping it here? But what about going back to Pegasus." Zelenka asked in confusion as he stared at Keller.

"Apparently going to Pegasus puts one of earth's greatest resources at risk, and since they don't think that the replicators know where we went the IOA is willing to just let Pegasus handle its own problems."

"That is crazy!" Zelenka said in shock, his lunch forgotten.

"I know. I don't know how they can just let Pegasus suffer by itself. And I highly doubt that the replicators or the wraith are just going to forget about us." Keller sighed before taking a bite out of her sandwich. "I'm sorry. You probably came down for a nice meal, and now I ruined the nice quiet afternoon."

"No, no, no." Zelenka said shaking his head. "Don't worry about it. I would rather know what is going on."

Jennifer smiled at that. "Good. Oh, have you heard anything from Rodney yet?"

"No." Zelenka replied. "Knowing him, he will just show up at the end of his leave and then we will hear about it."

"I see. I hope he finds Major Sheppard."

"Me too."

Rodney blinked wearily as he woke up, his head pounding. Groaning he sat up and found that both him and John had fallen asleep in the sitting room. What had happened last night was sort of a blur to him. He knew that he had talked to John about Katie, and John had spoken a bit about what had happened with his ex, but then the rest was rather blurry. He didn't really have a clear idea of what else they had spoken of.

Deciding to get up, Rodney wandered through the room and into the next and found himself in front of two paintings, both of sleeping people. The one of the sleeping man looked incredibly like John. "Must be a relation." Rodney muttered softly to himself as he rubbed his head and looked around the rest of the room. What Rodney had not been expecting was a response.

He heard a soft groan and he turned back to the paintings. The man was now awake, but Rodney for the life of him could have sworn that the man had been asleep. Staring at the painting with wide eyes, he watched as the painted man stretched and then looked at him.

"Never seen you around before. Who are you?" The painted man asked.

If Rodney did not know that he was standing in a magical house, he could have sworn that he would have fainted by now. But Rodney was slowly learning to expect the unexpected and with a shaky voice he replied to the painting. "Rodney McKay."

"So you are Harry's friend from America that he was talking to the other day."

"Yes." Rodney said as he stared at the portrait. "I'm sorry if this sounds rude, but you are a painting..." Rodney trailed off as he thought about what he just said. He was talking to a painting. This was crazy.

"Yes, I am. I'm Harry's father, well a painting of his father. Next to me is his mother."

"But how are you," Rodney waved his hand around, gesturing to the painting.

"Speaking?"

"Yes."

"Magic infused paints." James said simply. "Are you part of the, now what did Harry call it...an air something."

"The air-force?" Rodney asked.

James nodded.

"No, I'm a civilian scientist." Rodney explained to the painting.

"Ah, I see. Lily explained what a scientist was to me once. You are sort of like a potions master and mix things together, right?"

Rodney looked at the painting warily. "No, I am a physicist. I don't mix anything."

"A physa-wah?"

Rodney rubbed his brow and glanced over at the painting. "You have never heard of physics before either have you?"

"No."

"What is it with you people." Rodney muttered to himself. "Look, A physicist is someone who studies physics. Physics is a branch of science that examines matter and energy, such as..."

"Are you trying to explain physics to a painting, Rodney?" John said from behind Rodney.

Rodney whirled around. "Yes!" he blurted out in frustration. "George didn't know what physics was, either! I don't understand how none of them can know what physics is."

"Rodney, physics doesn't stand up against magic very wells." John explained.

"It doesn't?"

"No. Think about it. Flying brooms, turning people into frogs? It doesn't work very well with physics."

"Oh." Rodney said as he sat down in one of the chairs.

"Muggles do make up the most interesting things though." James said from his frame as he looked over at Rodney.

"We don't make it up. It's a truth of the world!" Rodney bit back, defending his precious science.

"It does not take magic into account though." James replied.

"Your not going to win this one, Rodney. Just leave it." John said as he walked across the room to where Rodney was sitting and handed him a bottle. "Have a sip of this."

"This isn't more firewiskey is it?" Rodney asked as he cautiously looked at the bottle.

"No, a hangover remover." John said.

"Why don't we have any of this in the regular world?" Rodney asked as he greedily took a large sip of the potion and almost ended up spitting it out. "Ugh, that is the most vulgar thing I have ever tasted."

"But your headache is gone, isn't it?"

Rodney paused for a moment. "Yes."

"See. It was worth it."

"After all the commotion yesterday I forgot to grab my wand and some more floo powder." John said as he looked at Rodney.

"We did forget that didn't we."

"Yes, so I am going to pop over to Diagon Alley really quick and grab that, and I should be back within the hour."

"How are you going to get there if you don't have any floo powder?" Rodney asked.

"Apparate. I would side-along you too, but I haven't done it in so long I am afraid that I would splinch us."

"Splinch?"

"Leave part of us behind while apparating, which is another type of magical transportation." John explained. "I'll be back in an hour. Will you be okay?"

"Yeah. I'll be alright."

"Good. See you later." John said and with a sharp crack he was gone.

"And just when I thought I was getting used to all of this." A rather pale looking Rodney said to himself.

"Don't worry, eventually it all becomes normal." A soft female voice said from behind him.

Rodney didn't even want to know what other crazy things would happen before he accepted all of this as normal.

John quickly walked out of Gringotts,felling much better now that he had his wand strapped to his forearm with a holster, and headed for a new shop that he had seen on his way in. Meg's Magical Materials. In the window was a small square sign. 'Floo Powder Sold Here.' John made his way into the store and looking around the store he eventually found a large barrel of grey powder sitting next to a large stack of tins.

He filled his tin quickly and lidded it before turning to go to the counter only to find himself face to face with Luna Lovegood. Swearing mentally to himself Harry made to step around her, but she held out her hand instead. "A pleasure to meet you again, Harry Potter." She said quietly.

Sighing to himself, Harry took her hand. "Hello, Luna."

"How have you been, Harry?" Luna asked, still shaking Harry's hand up and down, and showing no signs of stopping.

"I have been fine. How have you been?" He asked politely as he tried unsuccessfully to wiggle his hand out of hers.

"Oh, fine. I have been doing some research for the quibbler of course, but most of my time is doing research of my own. Ever since I ran into a group of Iregore a year or two ago all of my research has been focus on them. I almost have enough information to do a book on them." All of this was said while Luna was still shaking Harry's hand up and down.

"That is nice, Luna. What is an Iregore?" Harry asked as he finally managed to free his hand from Luna's.

"A small sibling of an European ash dragon. They tend to have a fascination with stars."

"I see."

"But, what have you been doing?"

"This and that. Keeping busy."

"And now you are back?" Luna asked curiously as she tilted her head, her wispy blond hair falling over her shoulder.

"For the time being."

"Have you told Ronald and Hermione?"

John paused as he looked at Luna. "No."

"You should, before Ginny tells them that she saw you."

"You talked to Ginny?"

"No."

"Then how do you know that I saw Ginny?" John asked confused as he made his way past Luna to the counter to pay.

"I saw George in his store five minutes ago." Luna said, following John to the counter.

"Ah." John said, that explained it.

"They are living at Three Wash Way." Luna said as John payed for his powder. "And Neville is living at Twenty-Six Forest Avenue. And Minerva is..."

"I get it. I should visit everyone." John said with a sigh as he lead Luna out of the shop. "Where do you live?"

Luna smiled serenely at him as they walked up the alley. "Fifteen Birdcage Walk. Would you like to come over for tea later today?"

"I would but I have a friend staying with me." John trailed off as Luna's smile brightened.

"Bring your friend. I can tell you all about the Iregore."

"Alright then. What time shall we floo over?" John asked holding up his tin of powder.

"Three would be perfect."

"Alright. See you then." John said as he watched Luna pop away.

When John came back home he was not surprised to see that Rodney was still debating with the portrait of his father. "I really don't see the point of making chocolate frogs actually act like frogs." Rodney was telling his father as John walked in.

"There really is no reason for that other than that it is fun." James said before glancing up. "Hello Harry. Have a good trip?"

"I have decided that I am never going into the wizarding public ever again." John said as he sat down heavily in a chair across from Rodney's.

"Why not dear?" his mother asked.

"I ran into Luna and now we are having tea at three." John said.

"And why is that bad?" Lily asked in confusion. "I remember Luna being a perfectly agreeable girl."

"She is."

"Then what's the problem?" Lily asked.

"Well I was hoping not to meet anyone when I was here and pretend that I never left America, but that isn't really working."

"Who's Luna?" Rodney asked curiously.

"An old friend from school." John said as he leaned his head back on his chair.

"I see. If you were planning on pretending you never left, does that mean you are going to re-apply for Atlantis?"

"Yes." John replied happily as he got up set his box of floo powder on the table.

"You're really going to re-apply?" Rodney asked again.

"Yes, Rodney."

"Perfect. I was afraid that you wouldn't." Rodney replied.

"Yes, well I am, I so you can stop worrying." John said as he took his wand out of his holster. "Now. I was going to try and clean the house before we went to Luna's."

"With magic?" Rodney asked excitedly.

"With magic." John replied with a grin as he saw Rodney's eyes light up.

"Where are we going his time?" Rodney asked as he excitedly took a fist full of the floo powder. For the last few hours he had watched in fascination as John had dissipated the dust that had seemed to cling to every corner of the house. John had then proceed to clean windows, polish floors, and repaint walls. Everything had fascinated Rodney, and now he was going to get to see a different magical house.

"Fifteen Birdcage Walk." John said in amusement as Rodney tossed his powder into the fire and walked into the fire confidently.

"Fifteen Birdcage Walk." Rodney repeated, and he was whisked away.

Whatever Rodney had been expecting from Luna Lovegood was shattered as soon as he stepped out of the fireplace. He suddenly felt himself being enveloped by two arms and a very feminine body being pressed against his. He looked down to see a head covered in wispy white blond hair.

"Um, hello?" He said in confusion and tried to pull away only to fell the arms tighten around him.

The head of his capturer turned upwards and he was confronted with the face of a very pretty young woman. "Hello, Harry Potter's Friend. I am Luna Lovegood. It is a pleasure to meet you." The woman named Luna greeted.

"Nice to meet you too." Rodney said uncomfortably while still squirming in Luna's arms.

John come through the floo at that moment. It took only a second for John to adjust himself and see Rodney's predicament.

"Hello Luna." John said, amusement seeping into his voice, despite his attempts to keep a straight face.

Luna said as she stepped away from Rodney and turned to John. "Hello again, Harry Potter. You have a most interesting friend. He is very stiff."

And that was all it took. John bust out into laughter, all of his troubles forgotten. "I am sure he is, Luna, but you should go easy on him. It is his first week in the wizarding world."

"Of course." Luna said graciously. "Would you like some tea?"

"We would love tea." John said in reply as he walked over to where Rodney and Luna were standing.

"Follow me then." Luna replied as she walked towards the center of the room, to a trap door.

As she walked away from them Rodney leaned over to whisper into John's ear. "Is she crazy?"

John laughs. "Hardly. Just a little eccentric."

"A little?"

"Maybe a lot." John replied as he followed Luna down the ladder to the floor below.

"This is crazy." Rodney muttered to himself as he followed John down through the trap door.

"Do you like the tea?" Luna asked as she poured more purple liquid into John's cup.

"Mmm. Yes, very nice." John said in response, though truthfully he had only managed to get the first cup down to be polite.

"Neville makes it especially for me." Luna said happily.

"Really?" John asked, his interest in the tea now spiked.

"Who's Neville?" Rodney asked as he looked down at his cup that he had hardly touched.

"Another school friend. I didn't know he was making tea now though." John replied. "Oh, he usually doesn't, but he does it as a special favor for me."

"You will have to tell him I enjoyed it."

"I will, but now that we are all sitting here let me tell you about the Iregore.

"The Iregore?"

"A cousin of the european ash dragon." John supplied as he took another sip of his tea.

"Correct, Harry. They are said to become very vocal at the birth of a new star. They practically sing to skies. You should hear them. They sing the most beautiful songs."

"You have heard them?" Harry asked, a little surprised that this time the creature that Luna was studying had actually been found.

"Yes. They started singing four days ago. Right before you got here, in fact."

"Really?" John asked in surprise.

"Yes. Unfortunately, I think the Iregore might be a bit confused. The star that they are singing to acts more like a planet than a star does."

"More like a planet?" Rodney asked a bit nervously.

"Yes. It doesn't move across the sky like the stars do. It stays stationary on horizon."

Rodney glanced over at John. It was too coincidental that these dragons started singing the day that Atlantis arrived. And the cloaking devices were not yet operational on the city, so it really did look like a faint star. Rodney leaned over to John. "You do suppose..." He started softly before looking back at Luna who was giving them both a curious look.

"I think so." John muttered back. The Iregore were singing to Atlantis, their new 'star.'

"Have you both seen the new star also?" Luna asked.

Rodney gave a nervous laugh. "Yes. I think we know which one you are talking about. Um, can I talk to John privately for a moment."

"Of course." Luna said serenely as she stood up. "I was just about to go use the lady's room anyways."

As soon as Luna was gone Rodney turned back to John. "This is bad. Who knows how many other's have noticed it."

"It isn't necessarily good." John said in agreement, "But, I don't think she really knows what it is. She is more interested in the dragons. Look I am going to the Ministry tomorrow. I can tell the IOA that they might have a bit of a problem with the fact that a new planet has shown up." Rodney did not look at all less panicked. "Look, just calm down and drink your tea." John said as he took another sip of his.

"How can you do that?"

"What, drink the tea?"

"Yes, It taste like radishes."

"I simply charmed it to taste like earl grey." John said with a small grin as he took another sip.

"Then why didn't you do mine?" Rodney groaned as he glanced at his cup.

"You didn't ask."

a:n/ Luna has shown up and with her in the picture, the plot should quicken up. Especially with John going to the ministry tomorrow. A little bit of a filler chapter, but I think it has filled its purpose nicely.

and no, before any of you ask. This is not going to be luna/John(harry) ... although I do have a slight inkling to make it a rodney/luna. let me know what you would think about that.