Chapter 18

The Doctor scooted to the side to allow the twins into the small cell. They rushed forward and hugged one of the very few people who had been able to teach them anything about being responsible. McGonagall hugged them each in turn and then looked up when someone coughed politely from the doorway. McGonagall's eyes widen as she stood up and looked at the man standing in the doorway. The man was wearing a vintage WWII RAF overcoat.

McGonagall regained her composure and nodded in greeting to Jack. There was a small smile on her lips as she said, "Captain Harkness, this is becoming something of a habit for you."

Jack returned her smile with one of his own. "I'm not sure twice in 50 years can be called a habit, Minerva," he replied playfully. He stepped forwards and McGonagall greeted her old friend with a hug.

The twins' jaws hung open as they looked from Jack to Prof. McGonagall and back again. The Doctor covered his face with his hand. "Seriously Jack, is there anybody you haven't shagged on this blasted island?" he inquired.

McGonagall gave the Doctor her patented glare where she just barely looked over the top of her spectacles. "Not that it is any of your business, Doctor, but Captain Harkness and I are just friends. We have never been intimate," she replied coldly.

"Really?! Why not?!" the twins asked in unison. They had the good grace to blush as soon as they said it.

George looked at his twin. "That came out a bit fast," he muttered.

Fred nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah it did," he said.

Jack winked at the twins which only made their faces redder. He became thoughtful for a moment. "Now that I think about it, this is one of the few times I've been in a room full of people when I haven't had sex with any of them," he stated.

The Doctor shook his head and stepped in between Jack and McGonagall. "Forgive me Professor, but do you mind if I ask how you know Jack?" he inquired.

McGonagall's face relaxed a bit as she remembered when she first met the remarkable man in the blue coat. "Many people don't know this, but before I was teacher, I was an Unspeakable," she replied.

"Wicked!" the twins exclaimed.

"May I go on?" McGonagall asked, a hint of a smile on her lips. The twins nodded. "During the second world war, I worked for an elite group of Unspeakables tasked with stopping the SS from acquiring the mystical items that would give Hitler the extra he would need to take over the world," she explained. "Near the end of the war, my partner and I were sent on a special mission to try and destroy a secret base that housed the largest dark items collection ever assembled," she said. "Unfortunately for us, the Nazi wizards were expecting the Allies to try something and captured us," she told them.

Jack leaned against the wall and took over the narrative. "I was working for Torchwood at the time and found out the SS had been scouring the planet for anything unusual, including alien tech," he said. "Turns out the goose stepping pricks consolidated their bases and housed the tech at the same place they housed the dark items," he stated. "When I got to the base, all of the guards had run off to the other gate to deal with something," he said with a nod towards McGonagall. "While everyone was busy, I just strolled right into the warehouse," he laughed. "A quick rewiring of a Ghertuth cargo pod was all I needed to take care of the base once and for all," he stated. "I enlarged the space-fold field to encompass the base and set the coordinates to hop the whole place into the sun after a 15 minute delay," he explained.

McGonagall took over the story again as the group made their way across the bridge over the magical singularity. "After the SS wizards subdued my partner and I, they marched us off towards some holding cells," she told them. "While we crossed the base, I saw a man in a RAF coat sneaking from building to building," she explained. "Eventually I was able to make eye contact with the stranger to let him know I knew he was there. He locked eyes with me and then nodded once," she said. "The next instant, the bloody fool started shouting insults in German and shooting at the wizards," she stated, shaking her head with the memory. "The wizards unleashed a torrent of curses and struck the man dead, but not before the two wizards holding onto my partner and I found rather large holes between their eyes," she explained.

The group had managed to get to the stairs where the twins sent a magical wind to drive away the stench their Trojan rabbit had created. McGonagall could tell from the rapt expressions on the young men's faces that they wanted to hear what had happened next. "My partner had been a dueling champion before the war and was able to call our wands to us," she said. "We were able to stun the rest of the SS wizards in the area before they could react," she stated. "Once we snapped all of their wands, I went to check on the man who had saved us. Needless to say, he was very dead from that many killing curses striking him," she told them. "Imagine my surprise when said dead man gasped loudly, opened his eyes, and told us to run," she said.

McGonagall looked at Jack with a mixture of warmth and nostalgia. "Of course we took his advice and ran as fast as we could," she stated. "We had barely made it a 100 meters past the fence when a bright flash blinded us for a moment," she told them. "When we turned around, we saw a large concave hole where the base used to be. Our new found friend just chuckled and then offered my partner and I a night we would never forget," she explained, shaking her head once again. "Of course being married at the time, I had to refuse," she said firmly.

They reached the entry alcove and Jack shot the wall with his sonic pistol again, giving them a way out. Jack stepped outside and offered Prof. McGonagall his hand to help her out. "Yeah, you might have turned me down, but at least your partner took me up on my offer so the evening was still fun," he reminded her. "How is Flitwick by the way?" he inquired with a fond look in his eyes. Jack had a dreamy expression as he added, "It was amazing what that guy could do with just a swish and a flick."

The twins froze in shock and then stared at each other. Different expressions crossed their faces as thoughts of the diminutive charms instructor engaged in a romantic evening with Jack invaded theirs minds. After a moment, Fred spoke first. "This sounds like a perfect time to use that simultaneous obliviation spell we came up with after we accidently caught mum and dad in the garden when they thought we were all at school," he suggested.

"I couldn't agree more, brother of mine," George replied.

The twins whipped out their wands and tapped the other on the temple. "OBLIVIATE!"they shouted in unison. Jack chuckled and McGonagall rolled her eyes.

River shook her head to clear it and looked at Jack. "Take Prof. McGonagall and the twins back to the TARDIS," she ordered. "I have to speak with my husband alone for a moment," she added. McGonagall raised her eyebrow at that declaration, but followed Jack and the twins. When they were out of earshot, River turned to the Doctor and kissed him again. After she broke the kiss due to lack of air, River slapped the Doctor hard across his face.

"Owe! What was that for?" the Doctor exclaimed.

River stared at the Doctor, doing a very good imitation of McGonagall's stare. "You forget, I know what you're planning," she reminded him. "I know all about the deal you struck with the Silence," she spat, tears starting to fall down her cheeks. "You have no idea how badly you broke my heart when I watched you leave for Lake Silencio," she sobbed.

The Doctor took River in his arms and pulled her to him. "Everything I did and am planning to do is to keep you (and to a lesser extent everyone else) safe," he whispered. "I love you and I will do everything in my power to protect you," he told her from both of his hearts.

River took a step back and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. "I definitely have a type," she chuckled sadly. "First I have a crush on Harry for a while and then I fell madly in love with you," she stated. "Both wonderful men willing to sacrifice everything for the good of others," she sighed.

Wanting to change the subject, the Doctor wagged an accusing finger at River when something finally clicked. "You've been using magic to escape from Stormcage," he stated.

River laughed a laugh that hadn't changed since she had been at Hogwarts. "Of course I have," she replied. "Why do you think it's always been so easy for me?" she asked rhetorically. "Aside from myself, there are no human witches or wizards in the 51st century, so the warden and his people have no idea how to stop me," she chuckled. River saw the dark expression that crossed her lover's face. She stepped closer to him and placed her hand on his cheek, forcing him to look in her eyes. The Doctor saw she had a warm, happy smile on her face. "You know I can't tell you why that is," she reminded him. "But what I will tell you is that what happens is a good thing... a very good thing for the entire universe," she stated cryptically.

A vibration on River's wrist let her know the key to the Doctor defeating the Valeyard was approaching rapidly. "I can't go with you this time, my love," she said sadly. "But I do need you to promise me you'll keep the younger me or my parents from doing something they would regret," she requested. Before the Doctor could ask why, River continued. "Mother and Dad are getting a visit from a pack of Death Eaters as we speak," she told him. "It would probably be a good idea for you to get there before I do," she warned.

River took a step back and pulled her left sleeve up to expose a large leather band wrapped around her wrist. A time turner was embedded in the center with red and gold crystals surrounding it. The Gryffindor Lion was clearly engraved on the metal casing of the time turner. She knew the Doctor was dying to ask her about her magical Vortex Manipulator. River smirked at the Doctor as she said, "Spoilers, dear." She touched the time turner and vanished.

********DrW********

Granger House, Chelsea

Draco Malfoy stood next to a tree across from an ordinary looking Muggle townhome. He smiled as he ran his thumb up and down his wand. The Dark Lord had entrusted him with a mission devised to demoralize that Potter wanker and his friends. Lord Voldemort had used his new power over the Ministry of Magic to find where that filthy mudblood Granger's parents lived. Draco had been ordered to take a squad of five Death Eaters and kill the Muggles, leaving a message for Potter in their blood. The Dark Lord hadn't specified what he wanted the message to say, just so long as it drove the Order into a frenzy.

Simultaneous loud pops alerted Draco to the arrival of his team. The heir to the Malfoy name sneered as he used his magical senses to probe the town home's magical defenses. As he expected, they were only what a simple mudblood could conjure. Draco looked over his shoulder at the men wearing their Death masks. "Remember, don't kill them too quickly," he ordered. "I want them to die slowly and painfully," he reminded them. Draco planned on leaving a pensive memory of their murders so Potter and the mudblood could see what it meant to cross a Malfoy. He leveled his wand at the front door of the home. Draco was the first to fire off a blasting hex, followed almost immediately by the other Death Eaters, "CONFRINGO!".

Rory and Amy Granger were sitting on the couch in their living room when the alarms UNIT had installed picked up the sudden energy spike that always seemed to accompany apparition. Rory folded his paper and sighed. "I wondered when those ponces would finally get around to attacking us," he muttered. He stood up and calmly put the paper on the end table.

Amy quickly stood up and kissed her husband on the cheek. "Any thoughts on dinner?" she asked as she made her way behind the half-bar that had been set up in the corner of the living room. She pulled out a pair of matched plasma pistols the UNIT R&D division had cobbled together. She ducked down behind the bar which was shielded with salvaged Dalekanium.

Rory strode across the entry hallway into the dining room. He hit the side of the china cabinet with his fist and a hidden panel snapped open. With practiced ease, Rory pulled out the sawed off shotgun and checked to make sure it was loaded and that the safety was off. "I was thinking pizza or maybe pasta from Gambinos," he replied while checking the weapon.

Before Amy could reply, the whole house shook as a volley of hexes slammed into the magical wards Hermione had erected for them. Rory rolled his eyes and pressed a hidden button on the light switch next to the china cabinet. A second volley of hexes collapsed the wards and shattered their front door which Amy had insisted on painting TARDIS blue.

The first Death eater through the door was surprised when a metallic arm descended out of the ceiling at the end of the entry hall. The arm ended in a gray box with four short tubes sticking out of the end. He managed a contemptuous sneer before the micro-railgun shattered the air with four supersonic booms as each tube shot out a ceramic slug at eight times the speed of sound. His chest exploded with the kinetic energy imparted by the tiny projectiles.

Draco was third in line to enter the house, knowing a Malfoy never risked themselves by leading from the front. He leveled his wand at the strange device on the ceiling and again shouted, "CONFRINGO!"The micro-railgun was blasted into a sparking, useless wreck.

From where he was standing, Draco could not see where either of the foolish Muggles were hiding. With a sneer, Draco taunted, "Come out and face me you filth!" He took another step into the home to allow the other three Death Eaters room to enter. "I do have other things to do today," he stated, feigning boredom. In truth, he had never felt so powerful and alive. "The sooner I rape the Mudblood's mother and and prove to your know-it-all daughter that her place is either in a whorehouse or in the stables of some Pureblood family, the sooner I get to kill her father," he shouted, hoping to lure out the Grangers.

From Amy's place behind the bar, she could see that her husband had shifted position to stand next to the second entry into the dining room. She watched his hands and jaw clench in anger. Amy knew exactly how he felt. It was only her extensive combat training through UNIT that kept her Scottish temper from forcing her to jump up and open up on that blond haired little shit with both guns. Motion from the dining room caught her attention and Amy became concerned when Rory glanced down at his shotgun in disgust and gently lay it down on the floor. She knew her husband was about to reveal a secret they hadn't even told the Doctor about. The thought that none of the Death Eaters were likely to survive to tell anyone made her feel a little better.

"You must be that arrogant little weasel Hermione told us about," Rory called out from his hiding place. "She always thought your behavior stemmed from you trying to overcompensate from having itty bitty wanker," he taunted. Draco motioned with his head for one of the Death Eaters to sneak into the dining room.

Rory heard the Death Eater enter the dining room and chose that moment to step out into the hallway, his hands raised above his head in apparent surrender. He looked at Draco, no fear at all in his usually kind eyes. "Before you kill me, I was wondering if I could ask you a quick question?" he inquired. Draco laughed, but gave Rory a moment to ask his question. "I was just wondering if you were familiar with the theory that the Pandorica is an object that exists simultaneously in two separate universes," Rory stated. "Thing is, the Pandorica isn't the only thing that exists in both universes and I was wondering if you knew what the other was?" he asked in an offhand manner.

Draco frowned slightly in confusion. He had no idea why the stupid Muggle's last words would be about a fairy tale. Draco leveled his wand at Rory's chest. "Not that I really care, but what is the other thing?" he asked.

Draco's blood froze at the predatory smile Rory gave him. "Me!" Rory snarled as the air shimmered around him. In an instant, Rory's maroon scrubs were replaced with the full ceremonial armor of a Roman centurion.

Having no idea what he was seeing, Draco shouted, "Avada Kedavra!" The sickly green energy leapt from his wand and struck the Mudblood's father directly in the chest.

Rory licked his finger and wiped away the oily smudge the killing curse had left on his breastplate. "Hermione explained to me about the killing curse you and your sick buddies like using," he said calmly to a an astonished Draco. "The curse works by stopping the heart of the victim," he explained like he was talking to a first year student. "Doesn't work if the victim doesn't have a heart to stop in the first place," the ancient Auton explained. With speed far beyond a human, Rory pointed his right hand into the dining room at the Death eater who was trying to sneak up on him. Rory's fingers swung down on a hinge and exposed the blaster built into his hand. A bright red flash from the blaster was the last thing the Death Eater saw before the coherent energy cut a hole through his chest, heart, and spine.

Amy used the distraction her husband provided and stood up from behind the bar. Draco saw her fiery red hair flow out from around her almost as if he was watching things in slow motion. A large part of his terror stricken mind wondered if this was what an avenging goddess was supposed to look like. Amy held her arms out at a wide angle and fired both of her plasma pistols at separate targets. Two Death Eaters went down with plasma burns between their eyes. Amy pulled her arms back together and fired the guns a second time before the final Death Eater had time to fully turn and face her. His head exploded in a fine mist as the twin plasma bolts superheated his blood and brain matter.

Draco dropped his wand as he stared at the carnage around him. Potter and his friends had always used nonkilling hexes when they fought his Dark Lord's forces. Draco had just assumed the Mudblood's parents would act the same. His head snapped around when he heard Granger's father say, "Good bye, ferret." Rory pointed his blaster hand at Draco and fired off a shot.
The blaster bolt was deflected by the TARDIS materializing around Draco.

Inside the TARDIS, Draco let out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. He had time to look around in wonder before a man wearing a blue overcoat punched him in the face for all he was worth. Draco's nose shattered and he fell to the floor of the TARDIS unconscious.

Hermione apparated outside of her family's home as soon as she felt the wards around the home fall. She screamed in anger when she saw the front door had been blasted away. With her sonic pistol in one hand and her wand in the other, Hermione stormed into the house. Once inside, she saw her father wearing his usual maroon scrubs trying to mop up a red mess in the dining room. Her mother was doing the same in the entryway. Amy's work was hampered by the presence of a certain large, blue box in the hallway.

"What happened?!" Hermione shouted before hugging her parents, grateful they were all right.

Rory leaned against the mop, his eyes still full of anger. "That git Malfoy you told us about stormed in here with five of his Butt Eater friends," he said in a barely controlled voice.

Amy was just as furious since the doctor had refused to open the doors to the TARDIS until they promised not to kill Draco. "Malfoy informed us his plans were to rape, torture, and kill us," she spat.

The tip of Hermione's wand glowed red from all of her anger that was seeping into to it. "Where is he?" she asked, her voice colder than the Void itself.

Rory jerked his thumb at the TARDIS. "I was about to finish off that piece of human refuse when yourboyfriend showed up at the last moment to save him his life," he sighed in disgust. A small part of him was happy the Doctor had arrived and kept him from killing the Malfoy boy in cold blood. The rest of him wanted to batter down the TARDIS doors and finish the job properly.

Hermione's wand started to lose its angry glow, but her eyes were still murderous. The look she gave the TARDIS would have made any blooded warrior's insides weak with fear. Rory saw the look in her eyes and started to chuckle and then laugh out right, his tensions and murderous intent draining away.

"What's so funny?" Amy asked sharply.

Rory pointed to Hermione. "I know that look all too well from all the times you've given it to me," he chuckled. "If they were already married, I'd be willing to wager the Doctor would find himself sleeping on the couch tonight," he joked.

Amy smiled despite herself and relaxed. "She is my daughter after all," she agreed. "I wouldn't be surprised if she finds a way of locking him out of his bedroom and making him sleep on the couch after all," she added.

Hermione holstered her wand and pistol. She stomped her foot and glared at Amy. "Honestly, mother!" she scolded.