A Land Without Magic

by Model Builder

Two years after the abrupt defeat of You-Know-Who in the UK, the American Wizarding Community's sense of complacency was shattered by an event known as the 10/22/83 Maine Incursion. Who are the Invaders from the Enchanted Realms and what do they want? And will a ten-year-old muggle boy who claims to have been inside the Incursion be able to answer these and other questions?

19. Hope and Fear

Chapter 19: Hope and Fear

A few minutes after making the call to the FBS, Ren and Xeno came back into the living room. Dori said, "Well . . . ?"

"There will be an Auror here within the next twenty minutes, Luv," said Xeno.

Ren added, "They'll be apparating straight into the living room. They actually wanted to come the moment we told them about Owen, but I explained the situation and they are giving us a little time to let Owen know what to expect. Now they're waiting for our call to let them know that it's alright to come on over."

"What do you mean, Mr. Jordan?" said Owen. "I'm ready for them now!"

"Well, Owen," said Xeno pedantically, but kindly. "When most wizards and witches arrive somewhere when they apparate, it is normally accompanied by a very loud "bang," and we did not want to startle you."

Ren added, "If you'd like, you kids can wait in the kitchen or in Jenny's room upstairs until they get here."

"No," said Owen firmly. "I want to be here when they come. I'm not afraid of a little noise."

"Of course you are not, dear," said Dori reassuringly. "But some people - wizards as well as muggles - can find the sudden appearance of a person to be a little . . . disturbing." Then Dori turned to Xeno and said, "Did the two of you have any trouble convincing them to come over?"

"Not at all," said Xeno. "Once Ren said, "Storybrooke," it was all that we could do to prevent them from apparating here even before we hung up the phone."

"So they're just going to appear into your living room?" said Owen. "Like the crew of the NSEA Protector on "Galaxy Quest" when they use their Digital Conveyor? Awesome!"

"I like that show, too," said Corey. "Have you got any of the comics?"

"Only every one ever issued!" said Owen. "What other comics d'you like, Corey?"

"I'm kind of old-fashioned when it comes to comics," admitted Corey. My grandpa gave me his old collection. Lots of "Superman" and "Batman" comics. D'you like those, too?"

"Not so much," said Owen. "When it comes to DC, I prefer their Famous Explorers and Famous Scientist titles."

Corey shrugged. Although the original DC Superheroes were popular when they first came out in the 1930's, the appearance of real meta-humans and mutants over the past fifty years or so kind of made the old "Superhero" titles irrelevant. Though "Superman," "Batman," and "Wonder Woman" still hung in there; more and more those titles appealed to an ever-shrinking niche fandom.

Because of this, most comic book publishers had abandoned their Superhero titles a long time ago and switched to other subject matters. DC's main rival, Marvel, concentrated on subjects like Pirates, Spartans, Vikings and Ancient Celts as well as science fiction television and movie franchises like "Galaxy Quest" and "Star Wars." DC's lineup included Romans, Mongols, Magyars and Aztecs, and popular police and detective television shows like "Barnaby Jones," "Shaft," and "Columbo," and more recently, their Famous Explorers and Scientist series.

Die-hard, brand-specific fans were known to go at it whenever there were comic book conventions and loved to criticize the historical accuracy of the other's works. But ever since the Comic Book Controversy of the 1950's, when educators and parents were afraid that kids would read comics of questionable historical accuracy instead of actual history books; most publishers brought the best historians to their writing staffs that they could get to emphasize their commitment to historical accuracy. And as an added measure, the Comic Code Authority was formed in 1954 to proofread comics for historical accuracy before publication; often making the "comic books" even more accurate than the "official" history books . . . .

"There's this great comic book shop in Schaumberg that I found," said Corey. "They've got a first-edition Magyar issue on display there. You know, the one drawn by Jack Kirby with Prince Arpad standing on the hill with his people coming up behind him? You wouldn't believe what they want for it!"

Owen said, "My uncle got me the latest issue of Famous Scientists the other day. They're starting a new story arc about the pioneering geneticist, Gregor Medel. I'll let you read it when I'm done. It's pretty cool!"

"I'd like that," said Corey.

Then out of the blue, Owen said, "Corey, you said that your mom's a witch. So, how come you're not a wizard?"

Corey told Owen about how his birth mother had died when he was about Ricky's age, and how a few years later, his father married a witch who legally adopted him as her son. "I barely remember my birth mom. I was very young when she died. I kind of remember a few things about her, but nothing clear enough to see with my mom's pensieve.

"So for most of my life, I've called my adoptive mom, "mom."

Owen shook his head. "A boy with two moms . . . weird . . . ."

"Not really," said Corey shrugging. "I bet stuff like that happens all the time. And I feel more like I'm lucky than weird. I mean, in my life, I've had two moms who both love me. That's kind of neat."

"I guess," said Owen quietly. "I don't have a mom. Or anyone else, now."

"That's not so, Owen!" said Jenny. "You have your Uncle Sean and you have us as your friends and pretty soon, you will have your dad back! Trust me, as soon as this Regina lady gets one look at our Aurors and Whitelighters and maybe even Doctor Strange - the Sorcerer Supreme himself! - then she will give your dad back pretty quickly and be sorry that she ever took him in the first place! Be sorry she ever even came to our dimension at all!"

Owen sighed and nodded. "I sure hope so." He then turned to Jenny's father, and said, "I'm ready now, Mr. Jordan. Call the FBS and let's get started!"

Ren nodded and went over to the telephone. After speaking with the person at the other end for a few moments, Ren hung up the phone, and said, "They told me that they are sending over two Aurors and that they will be apparating here in exactly five minutes, so we need to leave the center of the room clear. And remember, Owen, when they come, it will be with a loud "bang!"

Jenny wondered who the FBS would send over to ask Owen about Storybrooke and his encounter with Regina Mills. The two Aurors that she and Corey had met at the Displaced Wizards' Center, Agent Wednesday Addams and Agent Hadji Quest-Singh, seemed to be working on everything Incursion related. But as experienced as they were, Jenny thought that they were very intimidating looking, and would be all the more so to a muggle boy like Owen Flynn. So as much as she wanted to see them again, Jenny hoped that the FBS would take Owen's feelings into account. Jenny also knew that whoever the FBS did send over would probably need to speak with her as well, since she had exposed the Wizarding World to a muggle. And lastly, Jenny and Corey would want to tell whoever came over about their run-in with Kale Sanderson. Jenny knew that Miskatonic Penitentiary had a Juvie Wing, and she hoped that Kale would get to experience it first-hand for trying to break Corey's arm.

Owen, Jenny and Corey watched the clock on the wall as they counted down the seconds to the arrival of the Aurors. The second hand seemed to be moving slower than normal as Owen shifted his stare from the clock to the center of the room. As it approached the end of the five-minute mark, Owen's attention was riveted on the center of the room as he waited for –

Owen, Jenny and Corey jumped in their seats as two FBS Aurors apparated into the room with a "BANG" that was louder than expected. Jenny let out a shriek, and grabbed Corey's arm. Jenny also noticed that her father and Mr. and Mrs. Lovegood had been startled, as well. Luna simply regarded the wizard and witch just who arrived with casual curiosity. But Ricky Jordan was running around the room, exclaiming, "Grammagrampa! Grammagrampa! GRAMMAGRAMPA!"

Jenny laughed. "No, Ricky! It isn't Grandma and Grandpa paying us a visit! It is other people!" Then she turned to Owen, and said, "Wasn't that TOTALLY AWESOME TO THE MAX!"

But Owen did not reply, and may not have even heard Jenny since his ears were still ringing from the sudden noise. Owen stared in shock at the two people, a young wizard and a slightly older witch suddenly stood where seconds before was only empty space.

That was when Jenny saw the wet spot on Owen's jeans. NO! thought Jenny as a rush of embarrassment for Owen surged through her. Jenny blinked. Owen's jeans were now as dry as a desert, and then Jenny felt a surge of relief; all the more so when she realized that Owen, (and apparently nobody else,) did not even know what he had done . . . .

The witch from the FBS said, "Hello. My name is Agent Susan Spellman, and this is Agent Andre Graymalkin." She smiled at the children on the couch, nodded to Corey, and said, "Well, I know you! You're Ken and Rachel's boy. You probably don't remember me, but we met briefly when you were about six. I was the Auror who liaised with the muggle authorities to assist with your mother's adoption process."

"I'm happy to meet you, Agent Spellman," said Corey with a friendly eleven-year-old boy's smile.

Agent Spellman then nodded to Jenny, and said, "And you must be the famous Jennifer Jordan; the young girl who donated her seeing stone to the FBS to help us study the Incursion. Because of you we know, among other things, that what came through from the Enchanted Realms is a town called "Storybrooke." We could see signs with that name on them just inside the concealment spells that are surrounding the Incursion when we used the seeing stone.

"So when your father called us and said, "Storybrooke," we knew that this was worth following up on because we didn't release this information to the press, yet."

Jenny smiled widely, but the Lovegoods raised their eyebrows at the Auror's comment. Though the FBS's decision to withhold some details from the public was understandable, as journalists, it still made the Lovegoods uncomfortable, because it begged the nagging question, what else are we not being told by the authorities in the name of "security?"

Then Agent Spellman went over to Owen, getting down on her knees so she would be able to speak with him without having to look down at the muggle boy. Her voice became a little softer, and she said, "And you must be Owen Flynn." Owen nodded, and Agent Spellman continued. "Well, Owen, I understand that you've had a very frightening experience in Maine a few weeks ago."

"Yes, Ma'am," squeaked Owen, his throat suddenly dry.

Agent Spellman smiled warmly. "Why don't you call me "Susan," Owen? After all, we are here to help you any way we can."

"Will you be able to get my father back from Regina?"

"I promise you that we will do everything within our power to help you, Owen," said Agent Spellman immediately. Again, Xeno and Dori raised their eyebrows at the Auror's comment. Maybe it was nothing, but something about Agent Spellman's promise just did not feel right to them, despite the fact that her sincerity seemed genuine . . . .

"Well, first things first," said Agent Spellman. "I need to speak with both Owen and Jenny about the incident that occurred at around 12:43 pm today at Millar Park when Jenny exposed the existence of the Wizarding World to Owen. And let me assure you that based on what I currently know, I am prepared to classify Jenny's breech of the 1689 International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy as completely justifiable under the circumstances.

"Then, I would like to get statements from Jenny and Corey about their encounter at 5:17 pm with the Sanderson boy. I understand that he used a Jelly Legs Jinx on Jenny, and that he almost broke Corey's right arm with a muggle wrestling hold called a Hammer Lock.

"When that is done, I will speak with Owen about what happened to him and his father on the night of October 22nd of this year. I would also like to view the memory that Owen provided of his final encounter with this woman named Regina Mills. Then I will be able to tell you how we plan to proceed with this matter."

About twenty minutes later, Jenny's breech of the Statute of Secrecy was declared justifiable. Then Jenny's and Corey's statements against Kale Sanderson were taken down.

Ren said, "Agent Spellman, I would like to file formal charges against Kale Sanderson for his assault on my daughter. And I am sure that the Martindales will want to do the same for what he did to their son."

Agent Spellman shrugged, and said, "That won't be necessary, Mr. Jordan. Kale Sanderson has already admitted to what he did and has pleaded guilty. The Sandersons were fined two thousand dollars and five hundred galleons, which they promptly paid. As far as the Juvenile Wizengamot is concerned, the matter is closed."

Ren shook his head and sighed. This Ninth Grade punk bullies two Elementary School kids and gets off with a slap on the wrist? True, that amount of dollars and galleons wasn't chump change by any means – at least not to the Jordans or even the Martindales. But Ren also knew that to the Sandersons, that was mere lunch money. Still . . . .

"Agent Spellman, did the Juvie Judge even consider why Kale Sanderson bullied my daughter and her friend? He didn't do it 'because he felt like it.' He was trying to intimidate me and Healer Martindale through our kids into joining the Illuminated Brethren of the Ebon Night."

Owen's eyes widened, and he said, "Wait, who are these 'Brethren of the Night' people?"

Agent Spellman sighed. "The Illuminated Brethren of the Ebon Night are a Wizarding Supremacist group, Owen. They, and other groups like the Magical Sons of the Confederacy, The Order of Trismegistos, and others too numerous to mention, tend to come out of the woodwork whenever there is some kind of crisis in the world, be it magical, muggle or natural."

"What do they want?" said Owen.

"Basically, they insist that wizards and witches should be the rulers of the world to save mankind from itself. And ever since the Incursion from the Enchanted Realms came into our world a few weeks ago, they have gone into hard-sell recruitment overdrive."

"This is the worst it has been since 1967," said Agent Graymalkin. "That year saw ethnic riots in the United States in places like Detroit and Newark, in addition to the wars in Vietnam, the Middle East, and Eurasia, on top of the ever-present threat of full-on Global Thermonuclear War.

"An international group of Aurors managed to infiltrate and break up a conspiracy of wizards and witches from, among other places, Egypt, India, Israel, Korea, Pakistan, Vietnam and even China, Russia and the United States, who were about to make their move against the Muggle World. Basically, they had a spell – a curse, really – that if enacted would have turned every last drop of refined gasoline, diesel oil and jet fuel into pancake syrup and coal into rock candy."

Agent Spellman said, "It would have reduced muggle civilization to a medieval level, where magic would then reign supreme. Of course, their motivations were not entirely humanitarian and altruistic. The leaders of this group would have set themselves up as the new Lords and Ladies of the Manor, as it were."

"A tough job," said Xeno dryly. "But someone has to do it."

"S-so there are wizards and witches that want to take over the world." Said Owen; a statement, not a question.

Ren said, "You know, Owen, we magic users are human, just like muggles are. What that means is that we have the same failings that you will find among muggles. In many ways, I am not too different from your father and uncle. I'm a working-stiff like they are. I care for my family and want the best for them. But I am not going to break any laws to do this anymore than your dad and uncle would want to.

"I guess what I am trying to say is that, yes; I can hurt someone with my magic just as a muggle can hurt someone with a gun or a knife. But we are not just our talents and skills. We are how we chose to use those talents and skills in our day-to-day lives. That's what makes us either good or bad people, Owen."

Owen nodded. What Jenny's dad said made a lot of sense. Sure, there may be evil magic users just as there are evil muggles. And Mr. Jordan clearly did not want any part of these people and their organizations. And his own father always told him to judge people by how they act; not by who or what they are.

Corey added, "Kale Sanderson almost broke my arm with a wrestling move, Owen; no magic involved. He did it because he was being mean – not because he is a wizard and I am a muggle."

Jenny said, "You know, saying that because there are bad people who can do magic and we must be bad because we can do magic would be like judging you by what evil muggles have done. It wouldn't be fair."

Owen softened, and said, "You're right, Jenny. Nobody here is anything like Regina Mills."

Agent Spellman nodded solemnly, and said, "Now, let's see what we can do to help you, Owen." Agent Spellman then directed Owen to the couch in the living room, where she sat down with him. She then removed a small notepad and a pen from her jacket. "Would you like to see something pretty cool, Owen? This is a quick-quotes quill. It'll write down everything that we say so others can read it, too. Would you like to see it work?" Owen nodded, and Agent Spellman set the notepad and pen on the coffee table. With a tug of her ear, the notepad opened up and the pen went from horizontal to vertical on the pad, poised to write without being touched. Agent Spellman said, "Are you ready to begin, Owen?" Owen's eyes widened with surprise when he saw the magic pen write down, "Are you ready to begin, Owen?" And then, Owen said that he was; again watching the pen in pure amazement as it wrote down his reply word for word.

For the next hour and a half, Agent Spellman, Agent Graymalkin, and Owen Flynn talked about Owen's experience in Storybrooke and his encounter with Mayor Regina Mills. As they did this, Jenny and her father and the Lovegoods sat in the living room with them, giving silent moral support to Owen. Corey, of course, was attempting to out-stare Luna Lovegood, who was getting sleepy in her mother's arms.

When they were finished, Agent Spellman put away her notepad and quick-quotes quill, and then the Aurors viewed the memory of Owen's escape from Storybrooke and Regina Mills. Like the Lovegoods, they came out of the pensieve a few minutes later looking somewhat subdued and concerned. Owen said, "Well? What d'you think?"

Agent Graymalkin said, "Owen, when you and your father were in Storybrooke, did either of you see anything done that in hindsight you think might have been magic?"

Immediately, Owen shook his head. "No, Sir. Except for the other weird stuff that I told you about everyone repeating the same things from one day to the next, I did not see anybody there do anything like the stuff that everyone has done, here.

"When we were trying to escape from Storybrooke, my dad said something about Regina talking into a red crystal to control the sheriff. When we were trying to escape, dad said that he thought the sheriff might have been some kind of android. But that is the weirdest thing that I can think of, and I didn't actually see it happen.

"You know, now that I think about it, if Regina is such a powerful witch, then why didn't she try using magic to keep dad and me in her town?"

"That is a very good question, Owen," said Agent Spellman. "I can't say about your dad, but when you really think about it, if Regina wanted to keep you in her town instead of letting you go, she did not have to use any magic."

"What do you mean, Agent Spellman?" said Jenny.

"Well, all that Regina would have needed to do would have been to physically pick Owen up and carry him back to the sheriff's car." Agent Spellman gave Owen and Corey an apologetic look, shook her head, and said, "There is just no way that a ten or eleven year old boy can physically overpower an adult, thirtysomething woman. You might have gone kicking and screaming, Owen, but Regina would have taken you back tucked under her arm, regardless."

Jenny could not help but notice that both Owen and Corey were squirming uncomfortably in their seats. Even her father and Mr. Lovegood, as well as Agent Graymalkin – who were once preadolescent boys themselves – looked slightly abashed.

"But you do raise a very good point, Owen. There may be some reason why Regina did not use any magic. We know that she can do magic. But why she did not use any to keep you from leaving Storybrooke is something of a mystery, for now."

"So, what now?" said Owen. "W-when are you going to rescue my dad?"

"Before we can help you in any way, we will need more information about the internal layout of Storybrooke. And to do that, we will need to copy all of your memories of your time in Storybrooke for pensieve viewing so detailed internal maps may be drawn up."

"Can we do that now?" said Owen.

"The process may take anywhere from five to eight hours," said Agent Graymalkin. "The notes from your interview will give us a guide of what we will need to ask you to focus in on the memories that we want to see, Owen. And we will want to do that back at the FBS Headquarters in Salem, Massachusetts."

"Whoa, wait a minute," said Owen. "How are we supposed to go all the way to Massachusetts without my uncle finding out?"

"The same way that we came here, Owen," said Agent Spellman. "We'll apparate there and back."

"It'll be like riding the Digital Conveyer on "Galaxy Quest," Owen," said Agent Graymalkin.

Owen's eyes widened, "Are you a Questarian, too, Agent Graymalkin?"

"From way back, Owen," said Agent Graymalkin with a big smile. "By Grabthar's Hammer! By the sons of Worvan! Never give up! Never surrender! You know, I even have a model of the NSEA Protector on my desk back in Salem. Hey, did you kids see the latest movie that came out last year, "Galaxy Quest II: The Wrath of Sarris," yet?"

Jenny and Corey responded simultaneously that they had. But Owen said softly, "Not yet. My dad and me kept meaning to see it. But, you know . . . ."

"Well, maybe we can all see it together after Owen's memory copying session, my treat! It's still showing in some theatres in Salem. I'll even spring for the popcorn and sodas."

"Thanks, Agent Graymalkin," said Owen. "But I kind of want to see it with my dad after you get him out of Storybrooke."

Agent Graymalkin paused, nodded, and said, "Alright, Owen."

"You know," said Agent Spellman. "What I would like to see is the copy of Mr. Jordan's and Mr. Lovegood's memory of what they saw at Professor Roberts' hotel room. I saw it back at FBS Headquarters, before we got here. But there is something that I want to review, if you don't mind."

"I've got it right here," said Ren, who went over to the pensieve and removed Owen's memory of his escape from Storybrooke with his wand, and then put it in a small bottle, setting it aside before he took another bottle and poured its contents into the bowl.

The Aurors then viewed the memory, emerging from the pensieve with neutral expressions. Agent Spellman said, "Mr. Jordan, I would like to speak with you and the Lovegoods in private for a few minutes." She then turned to Owen, Jenny and Corey, and said, "And I would like for the three of you to stay here until we come back." The three kids nodded, and the adults left them in the living room as they went into the kitchen, taking Ricky and Luna with them.

"How long do you think it will be before the FBS can send in someone to rescue my dad?" said Owen.

"I don't know . . . ," said Jenny, who was busy looking at the pensieve. It was now loaded with the memory of what her father and Mr. Lovegood had seen at the Professor's motel room while she, Ricky and Tammy hid under the kitchen table with a bedspread thrown over.

Corey said, "Jenny, you aren't thinking of doing what I think that you're thinking of doing, are you?"

"Why not, Corey?" said Jenny. "I mean, it can't be anything too bad, can it? Mr. and Mrs. Lovegood saw it, and so did the two Aurors and they look alright. C'mon, Corey, aren't you a little curious?"

"I'll go see it with Jenny if you don't want to, Corey," said Owen casually as he winked at Jenny.

"No, it's alright," said Corey as he got up off the couch and went to where Jenny was standing near the pensieve. "I'll see it with you, Jenny." Corey did not see Jenny give Owen a quick "thumbs-up" as she took Corey's hand and the two of them entered her father's memory.

Jenny and Corey found themselves standing behind the memory of her dad and Mr. Lovegood and Professor Roberts. Looking past the grownups, Jenny and Corey got a pretty good view of the screen on the control panel as another memory Professor Roberts and two other people named Steve and Mitch watched the instruments and the screen.

"Check it out, Corey! Professor Roberts actually sent a box with some cameras and stuff to the Enchanted Realms a couple of weeks before the Incursion came through! I wonder if that is how Regina found out about our world in the first place. What do you bet that Regina probably used the stuff in the probe to get here?"

"I don't think so, Jenny," said Corey. "I heard the Professor tell your dad and Mr. Lovegood just now that the probe only has cameras and experiments and stuff and a bunch of car batteries in it. I guess all the stuff needed to go from one dimension to the next is in the launching platform that the probe was on before it was sent over."

Jenny gasped and said, "Corey, look . . . !" The kids watched as knights in black armor dragged a man in peasant clothes over to a woman who was getting out of a stately, black carriage drawn by a team of horses. Jenny instinctively knew that the woman was a witch the moment she first saw her, even before she realized that the woman was Regina Mills from Owen's memory. But the second thing that attracted Jenny's attention was Regina's beautiful dress.

For a moment, Jenny slipped into an involuntary daydream. She imagined herself eight years from now, wearing a similar dress while a nineteen year old Corey Martindale, wearing a well-fitted, matching black and burgundy Tuxedo, was helping her down from a fancy horse-drawn carriage like the one Regina just emerged from. They were going to the Senior Prom at The Randolph Carter School for Witches and Wizards, and all of Jenny's classmates' eyes were on them. In the back of her mind, she imagined that Karen Minoru and he date would also be riding in the carriage as well, and would be stepping out after them. But for now, Jenny Jordan was the center of attention.

I'm wearing this dress better than that mean old Regina, thought Jenny. I know that Corey will like me in it. And Mrs. Lovegood is right; Regina's upper-lip scar is so fake looking . . . .

The scene quickly changed, and now Jenny imagined herself in the ballroom at Randolph Carter, slow dancing to Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" as Corey held her close . . . .

And then Jenny was abruptly awakened from her daydream when Regina took the peasant's heart from his chest, and crushed it.

When Jenny and Corey emerged from the pensieve, Owen asked them what they saw and if he could see, too. Jenny and Corey hesitated, unsure what they should say. But before Owen could press them for an answer, Agent Spellman and Agent Graymalkin came into the living room with Jenny's father and the Lovegoods. Agent Spellman used her wand to extract the memory out of the pensive bowl, and put it in a small phial that she promptly corked and then sealed it in what looked like a plastic evidence bag like the kind used by muggle police officers. Jenny and Corey exchanged a quick look, both children breathing a sigh of relief.

Agent Spellman said, "We'll be coming back to pick you all up in the morning around seven-thirty, so I want everyone to be ready. The entire debriefing should only take about five to eight hours, so we will have you back in time for supper."

Owen said, "And then you guys will work on getting my dad back from Regina, right?"

Agent Graymalkin smiled, and said, "We will do everything in our power to help you, Owen. That is a promise!"

A few moments later, the Aurors said their goodbyes, and then disapparated with another loud "bang!" But this time, Owen was ready for it and didn't even so much as flinch.

Ren said, "Jenny, why don't the three of you dress for bed. Then you can watch those shows you want to see before bedtime. But don't stay up too late. We are going to have a very busy day, tomorrow."

Jenny checked the clock on the wall. It was after 8:30 pm, and "The Powers of Matthew Star," (a show that was very popular with young wizards and witches; especially those who went to otherwise all-muggle schools,) was half over. But "Knight Rider" would be on afterwards at 9:00 pm.

"Uh, Mr. Jordan," said Corey. "Can I get cleaned up before I change? I got kinda dirty when Kale got me on the ground, outside."

"Sure, Corey," said Ren. "But will you be done with a bath in time for your show?"

"Oh, I'm not going to take a bath, Mr. Jordan . . . ." Corey smiled at Jenny, and then ran upstairs to the bathroom.

Corey Martindale had not taken a bath in over two months.

What would be the point? He had stopped taking toy boats in the tub with him over a year ago, so nothing needed to float. And it took a lot of time to take a bath; time that could be better spent doing other things. Besides, how could you really get clean by soaking in water that was dirty by the time you were done?

So instead, Corey had been taking showers for fifteen to twenty minutes at a time every night before going to bed. Sometimes, when he had been playing exceptionally hard (which was pretty much always,) or working outside, like washing his mom's '59 Buick or cutting the lawn, (which he had gotten big enough to do last summer,) he would shower twice a day.

And tonight, he needed a good shower. Tonight, he was going to ask Jenny if she wanted to be his girlfriend . . . .

Corey had just dried off his hair and started to put on his pajamas when he ran into an unforeseen problem. He had worn his favorite blue-plaid PJ's for the past few weeks; but only the bottoms. He usually wore a tee-shirt to bed, instead of the tops that came with the set (if he even bothered to wear a shirt to bed at all.) This meant that the bottoms were pretty well broken-in, but the top looked like it just came out of the wrapper, which for all intent and purpose, it had – he had only worn the top once to try it on, and it had remained in his dresser drawer ever since.

Corey looked at himself in the mirror, and decided that the combination of the worn bottoms and the practically new top looked kind of dorky. Going shirtless was out of the question. Sure, Jenny had seen him without a shirt a lot of times, like whenever they went to swim at the beach or at the Collinsport Community Center pool.

But aside from the cold, Midwestern November, something about this situation was different. So Corey chose a clean, plain-white tee-shirt. He went to his suitcase and selected the best tee-shirt he could find, as well as a pair of new, white socks (which he could always remove later.) And as he did so, he caught a glimpse of the heart-shaped box and the homemade Valentine carefully packed underneath his folded clothes.

Corey had made the Valentine for Jenny over a three-week period that had begun in January and went into February. Along with the small box of chocolates, the whole thing cost him almost eight dollars. But at the last moment, he chickened-out, and gave Jenny one of the Valentines from the box his mom had bought him for the school Valentine's Day party. Now, with renewed courage, Corey had planned to give it to Jenny when he came over for the weekend when he "popped-the-question."

The immediate problem, Corey figured, would be getting to speak with Jenny in private. But while Corey had initially thought that Owen's unexpected presence had thrown the proverbial monkey-wrench into that plan; he now knew that he could count on his new friend for moral support, so getting that moment alone with Jenny would not be too difficult.

Corey came down the stairs just in time to catch the final five minutes of "Matthew Star." It was one of Jenny's favorite programs, and Corey knew to be quiet when it was on, though afterwards, they would discuss what they had seen as they speculated what, if anything, the writers knew about the real, hidden Wizarding World.

Owen noticed this as well, and even asked Jenny if she ever felt like Peter Barton's titular character when she was at school. A lively discussion followed and almost an hour later, none of the three friends could tell anyone what that night's episode of "Knight Rider" had been about. But even before it was over, Jenny said that she was tired and that they should all get to bed. Both Owen and Corey agreed, and the three friends said goodnight to each other.

Then Corey made his move, and asked Jenny if he could walk her to her room, upstairs. Jenny immediately agreed, and Corey caught Owen's "thumbs-up" as he escorted her to her room.

When they got to the door of Jenny's bedroom, Corey asked Jenny to wait a moment, because there was something that he brought that he wanted to give her. Seconds later, he was back, and handed Jenny the homemade Valentine and box of chocolates.

Jenny smiled, and said, "Oh, it's beautiful, Corey! A little late for Valentine's Day. But I really, really, like it!"

"I – I really, really, like you, Jenny," said Corey shyly. "I mean, we've known each other since we were really little kids and I wanted to ask you if you would like to . . . to be . . . ."

Jenny smiled wider than Corey thought was possible, and said, "I'd love to be your girlfriend, Corey Martindale!"

Corey smiled, and then said, "Wait, Jenny, did you just use legilimency on me?"

"Call it "women's intuition," said Jenny with a twinkle in her eye. "Besides, if you really want to get technical about it, we've kind of been boyfriend and girlfriend for some time now. Karen even saw it whenever we were all together."

Then, without warning, Jenny stood on her tiptoes, and kissed Corey on his cheek without as much as a sprig of mistletoe in sight. Then, Corey kissed her back, saluted her, and said, "Well, I guess we'd better get to bed, Auror Jennifer Jordan. We have a big day tomorrow!"

"Have a good night's sleep, Corey Martindale, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.!" Jenny said, returning his salute. After another quick peck on the cheek, Jenny went into her room, threw herself on the bed, and squealed with girlish delight! She could not wait to get on the mirror with Karen tomorrow, and tell her everything!

When Corey got back to the living room, where he and Owen would be crashing for the night, Owen's smile was almost as wide as Corey's as he said, "Well, how'd it go, dude?"

Corey just smiled and in his best Frankie Valli imitation sang, "Carried your books from school. Playin' make-believe you're married to me. You were Fifth Grade, I was Sixth, when we came to be . . . ."

"Way to go!" said Owen. "But don't say that I didn't warn you about cooties!" After a few more minutes of talking and horsing around, the boys turned off the lights and the TV and shortly afterwards, both boys fell into a contented sleep.

Corey thought, I'm going to marry Jenny Jordan someday. I've loved her since I was in Second Grade, and I'm never gonna stop loving her . . . .

As Jenny slept, she dreamed of dancing with Corey at their wedding. She and Corey had just finished their first dance as husband and wife when the door to the ballroom flew open, framing a single person who said, "Sorry I'm late . . . ."

Jenny gasped. It was Regina Mills and she was dressed in a regal, Gothic black gown. Jenny suddenly realized that now she and Corey were the only other people in the ballroom besides Regina. The intruder swiftly covered the distance from the door to where the young couple was standing. Moving just as quickly, Jenny stepped between the approaching witch from the Enchanted Realms and Corey, her wand at the ready.

"Oh, Jennifer Martindale," said Regina with a predatory smile. "I have not come here to ruin your moment. On the contrary, dear, I have come to give you a gift."

"We want nothing from you!" spat Jennifer.

"But you shall have it," countered Regina. "In fact, Dearie, I've already given it to you. My gift to you was your first - and last - dance with your beloved. You've made your vows, and now I shall make mine! I hope you enjoyed your only dance as a married woman, because now, I vow to destroy your happiness forever!"

There was something about the way that Regina enunciated the word "destroy" that made Jenny shiver slightly, but it did not stop her from casting a fierce volley of stunning spell at the evil woman. Jenny blinked as Regina vanished in a swirling burst of blue smoke before any of her spells could take her down. Jenny said, "Corey, stay close to me! I've got to get you to safety!"

But from behind her, Corey said, "J-Jenny . . . ?"

Jenny turned around to see that Regina had short-range apparated and was standing with her right hand in Corey's chest. With a maniacal laugh, she withdrew her hand, clutching Corey's heart.

"Help me, Jenny! I'm scared!" pleaded Corey. "Stop her before she –" Corey clutched his chest as Regina squeezed his heart into dust as the young man fell to the ballroom floor, dead . . . .

. . . . Jenny woke up drenched in sweat and gasping for breath. The clock on her nightstand said 2:38 am. Jenny jumped out of bed and quickly ran downstairs to check on Corey. Though the downstairs lights were off, some light was coming through a crack in the curtains, courtesy of the streetlights. Jenny breathed a sigh of relief when she saw both boys sleeping soundly. Jenny spent a few moments watching the steady rise and fall of Corey's chest as he breathed, and then went back upstairs. But instead of going to her room, she went to her parents' room, knocking softly on the door, somewhat surprised that her father immediately told her to come in. Once inside, Jenny could see that her father had not changed for bed, and was still in the clothes that he had on when he met her in Principal Burr's office. Though it had only been about 12 hours since then; to Jenny it felt like it was eons ago.

Ren smiled at his daughter, and said, "Can't sleep either, huh, Jenny?"

"Actually, I fell asleep a little after I went to bed. Corey asked me if I wanted to be his girlfriend."

Ren raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "I thought that you already were his girlfriend, honey."

"Daddy, I had a . . . a bad dream . . . ." Jenny told her father about watching his memory in the pensieve about what happened in the Professor's motel room while she, Ricky and Professor Roberts' daughter Tammy hid under the makeshift tent. Then Jenny told her father about her nightmare where Regina killed Corey by taking his heart and crushing it and how she was powerless to stop her.

"I've never heard of anyone doing magic like what Regina does, Daddy. No wands, words or gestures. She just does what she wants, to whoever she wants, whenever she wants . . . ."

Ren nodded. "Regina does seem to be a pretty powerful witch, Jenny."

"And s-she's here in our world," said Jenny. "Back home in Maine. But what if she comes here, where we are, now?"

"Jenny, the FBS has Storybrooke surrounded with Aurors and Whitelighters," said Ren reassuringly as Jenny looked up at him with tear-streaked, sleep deprived eyes that he thought were no less beautiful. "If Regina Mills so much as sneezes, the FBS will be there with a tissue and a one-way ticket to Miskatonic Penitentiary for what she did to Owen and his dad."

"But what if Regina leaves Storybrooke without our Aurors knowing, Daddy?" persisted Jenny. "She's so powerful! What if she comes here? Do you think that she knows about us? I mean our family; not just that we can do magic in this world, too. My dream was so real!"

"Well, Jenny, I don't think that we –"

"Can you stop Regina Mills if she comes here after us, Daddy?" said Jenny looking hopefully at him with wide eyes. "I mean, you've got your wand, and all!"

"Jenny, darling, I –"

"But you can do something to take out Regina before she can hurt us, Daddy, right?"

"Jenny . . . ."

"But, I mean, what if the Lovegoods were still here and all, when Regina came over? A-and if Corey's mom was here too, and his dad and my mom were also here, and they were packin' shotguns and stuff . . . ?"

Ren Jordan had been dreading a moment like this. Most fathers (most parents, for that matter,) dreaded the moment when their children asked if they can protect them from the Bad Guys. Ren wanted to reassure his daughter that he would do everything possible to keep her and her little brother and her mom safe.

But Ren also knew that he did not have any formal training as a duelist, much less as a warrior-mage. The list of spells that he could not do was far longer than the spell that he knew. If Ren Jordan was to keep his family safe from a threat like Regina Mills - or any other possible threat - then he would need to have a plan. And as a simple plan came unbidden into his mind, he also realized that he could reassure his daughter without giving her false hope.

Ren said, "Jenny, Owen's father's a muggle. But he was able to get his son to safety when Regina was trying to keep them from leaving Storybrooke. And the Flynns certainly didn't have any plan in place for dealing with a witch from the Enchanted Realms. But despite all that, Owen's father did his job – he kept his son safe.

Well, Jenny, it's my job to protect my family. So for me to do this, I think that it's a good idea for us to have an actual plan in place ahead of time. That way, if something bad like what happened to the Flynns were to happen to us, we'll know what to do and we'll be ready for it."

"W-what d'you mean, daddy?"

"Well, remember in the pensieve memory how Owen's dad told him to run, but he hesitated and Regina was able to walk right up to him and put her hands on his shoulders? I think that we can do a little better . . . .

"So for starters if - G-d forbid - we find ourselves in a situation like the Flynns were in; when I tell you to run, then you run! Run fast and hard! I should not have to tell you twice. And that also means if something is happening to me - like when the Storybrooke Sheriff was cuffing Owen's dad - you run when I tell you to run without any hesitation! Got it?"

Jenny nodded, and her father continued. "Good girl. Now, when Owen finally did run, he just ran until the police found him, right? But when I tell you to run, you will have a destination in mind!"

"Where should I run to?"

"You must find a place where there are a lot of people, like a strip mall, a movie theater, or a large store. Once you find a place like that, anybody chasing you will think twice before they try to do anything bad to you with so many witnesses around, even if those witnesses are muggles.

"Then, you find a telephone. You've memorized the emergency number for the FBS?" Jenny nodded. "Then call it. Tell whoever answers that you need help, and there will be an Auror or a Whitelighter there before you can hang up the telephone to keep you safe. And I mean that quite literally. The person who answers the phone will not hang up on you until they know that there is someone there to protect you."

"But what about you, daddy?" said Jenny softly. "I mean, if it's your job to keep our family safe, doesn't that include you, too?"

Ren thought for a moment, relieved that his daughter looked calmer than when she first came into his room, and then said, "Once you are safe, then I can face any threat without worrying about you and your brother and your mom. Then, you can tell the person sent to protect you what happened to us, and then they can send someone to check on me."

"But, Daddy, what if you're hurt, or –"

"Jennifer, the only way that you can help me is to get yourself, and maybe even your little brother, away from the danger and to somewhere safe! If there is trouble, there is no way that you can protect me against adults; especially against adult magic users. And if you try, they will hurt you, too! My job's to protect my family by being sure that you can get to safety. Your job's to do what I told you to do in an emergency situation so I can do my job. You can send help for me when you're safe.

"Now, what are you supposed to do if I tell you to run?"

"I run as fast and as hard as I can and find someplace with a lot of people and call the FBS."

Ren raised an eyebrow. "Haven't you forgotten something, sweetheart?"

"I – I don't think so, Daddy."

Ren said patiently, "You run the first time that I tell you to run."

"Yes, Daddy," said Jenny, nodding emphatically. "I'll run the first time you tell me to."

"Very good, sweetheart," said Ren with a touch of relief. "Now, do you think that you can get yourself to bed, now? We have a very big day tom-" Ren checked his watch, rolled his eyes and sighed. "I mean, a few hours from now - today. It already is Saturday. Would you like me to tuck you in, Jenny?"

Jenny smiled, kissed her father goodnight, and said, "That's alright, Daddy. That bad dream was scary, but I think I'm fine, now." Jenny was about to go back into her room, but decided to check up on Corey one more time before she tried to get some sleep, herself. She spent a few moments watching both Corey and Owen sleep contentedly. Corey was sleeping on the floor in his sleeping bag. Owen was on the couch under a blanket, since he did not have a sleeping bag (his own sleeping bag, Jenny knew, was probably still in Storybrooke.)

Looking closely at Corey, Jenny could see that his eyes were moving under his closed eyelids. Jenny knew this meant that he was in a deep sleep, and dreaming. Jenny saw that Corey was also smiling, an indication that whatever he was dreaming about, it was a happy dream. That made Jenny smile, too. I'm going to marry that boy, someday . . . .

For a moment, Jenny considered getting her blanket and curling up on the chair in their living room. But she remembered what Owen's Uncle had said about being uncomfortable with the idea of "boy/girl sleepovers," and decided to go back to her room in case Owen's Uncle Sean came over unexpectedly and saw them all camped out in the same room. Jenny hoped that she could fall asleep for at least some of the three hours that she had before everyone had to get up and get ready to go to Salem.

But as Jenny started up the stairs, she saw that the light was on in the kitchen. She went over to check it out, and when she got closer, she could hear her father speaking with the Lovegoods. Jenny quietly tiptoed to the kitchen door, peeked in, and realized that she was the only person in the house under eleven who was still awake.

Mr. Lovegood was saying, ". . . not exactly what they said, Ren."

"Sure they did, Xeno," said Ren. "They both did, when Owen asked them. You were there!"

Dori said, "No, Ren. What Agent Spellman said was, "I promise you that we will do everything within our power to help you, Owen." And then later, just before the Aurors left, Agent Graymalkin said, "We will do everything in our power to help you, Owen. That is a promise!"

Xeno said, "But what Owen actually asked them on both occasions was, "Will you be able to get my father back from Regina?" And the Aurors did not answer his question either time."

"Well . . . sure they did," said Ren, now with a touch of uncertainty. "I mean, that's what I heard them say."

"That's what you and Owen inferred from what they said," said Xeno. "That's what we were all meant to infer from what they said. A proper answer to Owen's questions would have mentioned his father specifically: "Yes, Owen, we will do everything in our power to rescue your father from Storybrooke."

Ren raised an eyebrow. "I think that you might be the one "inferring," now, Xeno. I mean, you are not a legilimens, uh, or are you?"

"No, Ren," said Xeno. "Neither Dori nor I are capable of legilimency. But whatever else we may be, we are journalists."

"Some people would say that we are "Crusading Journalists," Ren," added Dori. "Over the years, Xeno and I have interviewed many people in positions of authority. And during that time, we have developed what you might call a "sixth-sense" that tells us when someone is telling the truth, lying, or something else in between."

"You really think that the FBS has no intention of helping Owen?" said Ren.

"No, I think that they do plan to do something to "help" Owen," said Xeno. "Just not what he wants them to do and rescue his father."

"Then let's find out what they plan to do for Owen before we go to Salem in a couple of hours." Ren Jordan went to the telephone and called the FBS so they could express their concern about Owen while the children were still sleeping; or so they all thought.

None of the adults in the Jordans' kitchen heard the ten year old girl just outside the kitchen door, much less noticed her as she waited along with them for answers . . . .