Tides of Time
By Michael Weyer
By the Light of Torchwood
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In the months since she had joined the Torchwood unit, Gwen Cooper had gotten used to being the new girl who everyone laughed at due to her reactions to what they saw. She supposed it was natural, a policewoman who now found herself dealing daily with alien life and artifacts that the general public didn't know existed. The rest of her teammates seemed to take the bizarre things in stride, making her feel more the fool. Thus, Gwen found it quite satisfying to see them all even more stunned than she was at the statement made by their leader.
"Wizards?" Owen Harper said in disbelief. "You're saying these two boys are wizards?"
Jack Harkness was calmly sipping a cup of coffee. Harry and Draco were sitting nearby, feeling a little self-conscious at the stares they were getting from the group before them. The Torchwood headquarters appeared to be the interior of a stone bunker with desks set on various levels and a large glass vault nearby. The facility didn't look at all like the headquarters of the elite unit dedicated to tracking alien life on Earth…but then that was the point.
Gwen leaned on a wall staring at the newcomers, her long black hair framing her pretty face. She wore her usual jeans and leather jacket over a dark shirt, once again enjoying the fact Torchwood had a loose dress code. Owen was at the table in his own jeans and dark vest, still staring with jaw agape at Harkness' words. "I mean…actually bloody magic, flying broomsticks and all that rot?"
"That rot is our lives," Draco snapped at the young man. "So I'd watch your tone if I were you, mudblood."
"Now, now, manners," Jack said as he sipped his coffee. "These boys came here for help."
"Jack, I know you've shown us some strange things," Toshiko Sato said. "But still…" The attractive Japanese woman shook her head of long brown hair, wearing a dark skirt and nice blouse. "I mean, are you sure they aren't really aliens?"
"Magic exists, people," Jack announced. "I've seen it myself."
Everyone was completely thrown by that, including the usually unflappable Ianto Jones. The only member of the team who wore a suit, Jones was usually impassive to the point of seeming emotionless but he was staring in disbelief at well at Jack's statement. "You've seen it?" he asked. "Why didn't you mention that?"
Jack shrugged. "Wasn't really our area of expertise. The government has another team who handles the supernatural."
"They do?" Jones asked.
"They do?" Harry asked.
"Moving on," Jack said. "Our strapping young lads here seem to have gotten themselves into a pickle." He sat back. "How about you two tell us about it?"
Exchanging a long look, Harry and Draco took a breath and launched into a condensed version of the last several years. Once again, Gwen was struck by how her teammates were even more thrown by all this then she was. Even Jack appeared to be wowed by their tale…especially when Harry mentioned the man who'd been helping them.
"The Doctor?" Jack said. "Wait…you said the Doctor's here?" His face seemed more intense than usual
"He was," Harry said, his face downcast. "But…he fell into the Veil. I don't…I don't know if he's coming back or if he's even alive."
Jack's face fell. "Damn."
"You know this guy?" Owen asked.
"Long story," Jack waved off. "Go on, boys." He listened as they finished the tale with the take over of Hogwarts and their running off. "Well," Jack finally said. "Sounds like we've got a rather interesting mission before us."
"Ah, sir?" Jones piped up. "I thought we only handled alien activity. Magic is…a bit out our jurisdiction, isn't it?"
"Usually," Harkness noted. "But they showed up on our doorstep so that makes it our problem. I'm a sentimental guy, you all know that."
The dubious expressions of the others told Harry and Draco that the team didn't know that. Ignoring them, Jack settled back in his chair. "Besides, this Valeyard, whoever he is, is working with Daleks." His face darkened. "I'm not a fan of them."
"Why?" Owen asked. He sighed. "Forget it, long story, we know." He rubbed his temples. "Still can't believe in magic."
"I do." Everyone turned in surprise to Gwen. "There was this woman on our street, used to watch over the neighborhood kids. One day, I came across her in the kitchen and it looked like she was lighting up the stove with her bare hands. She made it look like a slight of hand trick and I figured that was it but now…"
Jack smiled. "And she starts to convert at last. Knew I could count on you, Cooper." He nodded to the two boys. "You two start to talk to the rest on spells and such. Owen, try to find a way to make our tech work with Daleks and maybe some of these spells they got."
"Um….I have no idea how to do that," Harper admitted.
"That makes it different from our usual fare, how?" Jack said. "I've got to call a contact with that other department, see if we can figure out what's going down in the magical world and where to strike. The rest of you keep working with the kids."
"Excuse me," Draco sniffed. "We're not here to be studied like some animals."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Quite the mouth on you, blondie." He looked Draco up and down and smirked. "Ah, if you were just a few years older…" He shrugged. "Too bad I do have some standards."
"You do?" the four Torchwood members asked at once.
Jack seemed insulted. "Yes, I do! I may be open but not that open!"
"What the bloody hell is he talking about?" Draco demanded.
"You don't want to know," Gwen quickly said.
Harry decided to ignore that and spoke up. "With all respect, Captain, how are we going to take down a force that controls the Ministry and has some alien monsters helping him?"
"A major rule of Torchwood, young Potter," Jack said as he started to move off toward his office. "Never make plans, they just get in the way. Just let it happen naturally and things work out for the best."
Harry and Draco watched him go and then looked to the others. "Is he always like that?" Harry asked. At the nods in answer, he winced. "I'm starting to think we were better on our own."
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MINISTRY ATTACKED!
Major Deatheater assault leads to mass casualties
Minister Dumbledore among missing
The Ministry was shaken by a massive sudden attack by the forces of You-Know-Who that has led to massive casualties. Details are scarce but the numbers released indicate nearly a hundred have been killed with twice as many missing. Among the missing is Minister Dumbledore himself.
Details on the attack are unknown but contact with the Ministry was lost earlier this afternoon. It was a few hours later that reports filed in of several deaths with an official list still waiting to be released. Several major figures among the Aurors such as Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Alister Moody are missing with no word on whether they are alive or dead.
In the absence of Dumbledore, Malcom Tarsan has taken over as Acting Minister and issued a brief statement: "This has been a tragic and horrible day for the Ministry and the world of magic. While the initial attack was beaten back and prisoners are being transferred to Azkaban, there are still many Death-Eaters about along with (You-Know-Who). Thus, I have no alternative but to declare a state of emergency and martial law for all magical users within Great Britain. Special operatives will be arriving at key places to maintain order and search for more Death-Eater activity. Furthermore, it is my decision that Hogwarts shall be kept under tight guard as the students are safer there. I regret the lack of contact between them and their families but we cannot risk any type of Death-Eater interference. I am confident we shall prevail in the end and urge the magical community to submit to these temporary restrictions to ensure our way of life."
Tarsan added another detail as a warning to the Wizarding world: "While we do not know all the details, it would appear that Draco Malfoy, like his father, is a follower of (You-Know-Who) and aided in the attack. Also, from what we've gathered of survivors, the young Malfoy personally abducted Harry Potter for his father's forces. Thus, all wizards are to be on the lookout for Malfoy and Potter. Be warned that it is possible Potter may be under a binding spell that could force him to aid Malfoy if attacked. If anyone sees either individual, inform the Ministry at once but do not approach."
Further details shall be reported as they come but for now, Malcom Tarsan seems to be the stability we need in this difficult time.
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"Bloody hell!" Harry hissed as he threw the paper aside. "He's got the press on his side now."
Draco glanced at the paper himself. "Hmm…interesting. It's not Rita Skeever reporting it. Maybe she actually saw through the truth."
"In which case, she's either dead or in Azkaban," Harry muttered as he sat back in the room that doubled as the facility's cafeteria, rubbing his temples. "Damn. I'd hoped we'd be able to contact some other magicians and get them to help us out."
"Fat chance now," Malfoy sniffed as he read the article. "Not when they think you need to be rescued from me."
Harry sighed. "Yes, that is a new wrinkle I didn't expect. It means I can't show my face without someone trying to whisk me to the Ministry for my 'protection.'"
"Don't complain about it to me, Potter, I'm the one who's wanted!" Draco snapped. "Me a fugitive, how degrading."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Oh, Merlin, Malfoy, don't start on that again. Whatever good your family name had is long gone. Just accept it and move on already."
Malfoy sniffed. "Just because I had a loving family taking care of me while you didn't is no reason to get on your high horse, Potter."
Harry scowled. "Don't go there, Malfoy."
"I'll go as I please," Draco said. "You should know that by now. And I would remind you that if it wasn't for me, you'd be dead by now so I think a little respect is called for."
"Respect is earned, Malfoy," Harry said. "And you're a long way from earning it still."
A small cough got their attention and they turned to see Gwen standing in the doorway of the cafeteria. "If you don't mind my saying," she started. "It sounds like you two are more interested in carrying on whatever petty rivalry you had rather than try and save all your friends from destruction."
Harry looked a bit chastened but Draco snorted. "Potter's friends, not mine."
"But you saved him," Gwen pointed out. "Which means there's some good in you."
"I saved him to help save myself."
"Whatever you say," Gwen stated. "But that you made that choice at all still says a lot about you."
Harry gave her a smile. "Look, Miss…"
"Gwen," she said. "Miss makes me feel older than I am."
"Gwen," Harry said. "How'd you get into all this?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, the usual. I was a policewoman with a normal life, then I see them using some device to bring a corpse back to life, next thing I know here I am."
"So you've know Captain Harkness well?" Harry asked.
Gwen smiled. "No one knows Jack well. That's the way he prefers it. We have no idea who he really is, where he's from or how he got involved in Torchwood."
"Can we trust him?" Draco asked in a dark voice.
"You can," Gwen said. "I know, he can be intense and he may seem cold-hearted at times but he deals with things most people never can imagine."
"Suppose you're right," Draco admitted. "Aliens…that is a new one."
"That's our reaction to magic," Gwen said. "Jack always says that the 21st century is when everything changes for the world. I guess that means your world too."
Harry gave a mirthless chuckle. "Change and the magical world don't go well together."
"Maybe it's overdue that that happens," Gwen said. "I'm not knocking you or your beliefs and all but hanging onto traditions just because they're traditions has caused a lot of pain to this country over the years. Maybe it's time you took a cue from us and started to flex with the times."
"And Harkness is the one to flex it?" Draco complained.
"Oh, Jack will be the first to say how flexible he is," Gwen smirked. She sobered before continuing. "But he'll also be the first to say how dangerous it is to ignore the dangers coming on the horizon."
Harry seemed dubious. "It doesn't sound like he took our situation all that seriously."
"As I said, he can be difficult to figure out," Gwen answered. She patted him on the shoulder. "But I do know that for all his bluster and that charm…he's as hard an ass as you'll ever meet."
"Why, thank you, Gwen, I've been working out." The three turned to see Jack in the doorway smiling at them. "I think I may have found something that can help us out." He set down a small labtop and brought up the images. "Okay, had Owen checking out some stuff on the Internet on some wizards and activities. Turns out the online world has a lot more on what goes on than you think."
He looked up to see Harry and Draco both confused. "The Internet?" the blonde-haired man asked. "What the hell's the Internet?"
Jack and Gwen exchanged wide-eyed looks before going back to them. "You're kidding, right?" Jack asked. At their stares, he shook his head at Gwen. "There's an entire school in England filled with teenagers who have never checked out either Posh or Becks naked online. Now that's alien."
Harry frowned. "Wait…I think I heard Dudley talking about it…thought he was joking about what you could find there."
"No joke," Jack said as he clicked a few keys on the computer. "And as I mentioned, even a few of us muggles have a good lock on what's going down in the wizarding world. Now, most sites are being clamped down thanks to Tarsan but…" He showed them a website with a heading that Harry found familiar. "The Quibbler? There's a site for them?"
"Well, the unofficial one," Jack was quick to point out. "It mostly caters to the muggles but it does mention how the official line on what went down on the Ministry is bullshit and that there are quite a few wizards who know that and are going underground."
"Does it say where?" Harry was quick to ask.
Jack shook his head as he checked the site out. "Not in so many words…but, thanks to Tosh, it seems there's a little code hidden in the text here. Your typical highlighting of certain letters, bunched together and you get…" He hit a key and the screen filled with a message:
Patgrow Point. By tomorrow night.
Harry's face brightened. "This could be a resistance…a way to help us out!"
Gwen seemed dubious. "It sounds more like a trap. You just said that wizards don't even use the Internet."
"Granted," Jack said. "That's why I'm going to be the one to check it out."
"I'm going with," Harry was quick to say.
Jack shook his head. "Sorry, kid but it's too dangerous."
Harry returned his gaze. "Do you know how to find Patgrow Point or how to get there?"
Jack's face fell. "Ah…well, put that way, not as such…"
Harry nodded. "Then you need me to go with. We can move in, check it out and make sure it's safe." He turned to Draco, holding out his hand. "Give me the portkey."
"No," Draco automatically said.
"I mean it, Malfoy," Harry snapped. "In case we need a fast exit."
With a sigh, Draco placed the small key into his hand and Harry nodded to Jack. "When can we leave?"
"No time like the present," the American answered. "Gwen, you stay here, make sure Owen's got that weapons work going. If you don't hear from me in three hours, look in the upper drawer of my desk. It'll tell you who to call next."
"Be careful, Jack," Gwen said.
He smirked. "Aw, I knew you cared."
"Well, it's just that you're the only one who can give us our paychecks," the woman dryly answered.
Jack just gave her a cocky salute as he walked out, Harry behind him. Draco glanced to Gwen with a raised eyebrow. "Not that I care what happens to Potter, really, but are you sure that Harkness can handle himself against the likes of Deatheaters?"
Gwen just gave a little smile as if she was enjoying a private joke. "Believe me, young man…Jack Harkness has a way of defying death."
That smile made Draco wonder once more if he'd been just better off on his own.
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Jack let out a long breath as he felt the blast of the teleportation spell fade. "Damn and I thought I'd had wild rides before." He glanced around to see them standing at what appeared to be a cliff overlooking some sort of ravine. It reminded him of Stonehenge with the circles of stones surrounding a flat table in the middle of the field. "Charming spot," he dryly stated.
Harry brushed at his coat, the chill of the night air jarring him after so long indoors. "It was one of the Order's original meeting places," he said. "That's how I know about it. It's also why I think we might find help around here."
"Hope you're right," Jack said even as he reached into his pocket to pull out a large gun. At Harry's look, he shrugged. "You got your safety measures, I got mine. Different strokes for different folks and all that."
Harry brushed at his hair as he looked about. "I don't see anyone here yet. Maybe we should…." His words were cut off as a sudden pain ripped through his skull. He gasped and held a hand to his head as he nearly collapsed onto his knees.
"Harry?" Jack was nearby, holding a hand to the boy's elbow. "Harry, you okay?"
Harry hissed as he felt the scar throb under his fingers and his pain was melded with a dark chill as he knew what this meant. "Go…" he hissed to Harkness. "Go, now…He…He's coming…"
"Who?" Jack said. "Who's coming? Tell me-------"
"Adva Kadevera!"
A blast of green energy fired out and struck Jack head-on. He let out a yelp of pain before falling back in a limp heap, instantly dead. Harry stared in shock at the man, the memories of Cedric falling just the same way freezing him in place. He no longer noticed the pain of the scar just as he failed to hear the sound of footsteps coming forward.
It took the dark chuckle for Harry to look up at the hideous figure before him, his wand aimed right at the boy's head.
"Hello, Potter," Lord Voldemort stated. "You don't know how much seeing you here is improving my day."
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Sorry for the delay, hope this makes up for it and hopefully next chapter will be up sooner. In case you're wondering, this takes place mid-way through Torchwood's first season in terms of continuity.
