Hermione and Ron were the last to leave the Hog's Head, which was nearly three hours after they've made everyone they've invited sign in the parchment she just let out. It was nearly night fall. The Hog's Head seemed to be a great place for them to discuss in detail about Harry's disappearance, and how'd they balance the homework, the OWLs reviews, these Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching sessions, and their personal reviews too.
"Let's go, Ron." Hermione downed the last of her Butterbeer. And off they went.
They passed the hovels, the shops. When they passed The Three Broomsticks they all gasped in awe.
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. They hugged him, welcoming him back. Harry was as happy to see them as they are.
"Thought I'd have to walk all the way to Hogwarts." Harry giggled. "Listen, we haven't much time. Let's get inside."
We? Ron and Hermione exchanged clueless looks. Harry led them to The Three Broomsticks. They walked to the farthest end of the room, to a rather secluded table. It turned out that Harry brought two grown-up wizards and one witch with him, all holding cups of Butterbeer.
Archer stared at Hermione. She turned out to be more beautiful awake than asleep.
Harry introduced the three Muggles (apparently) to Ron and Hermione, and back. The three Starfleet officers are in Muggle clothes-something that kind of puts them out of place in a Hogsmeade bar. Everyone else is in robes. But no wizard tried to bother. The pretext that "they have come a long way, having to disguise as Muggles" seemed to work well. T'Pol had done well covering her pointy ears with a bonnet, which amused Harry.
"You did WHAT?" Harry stared at Ron, in reference to the meeting they had in the Hog's Head.
"They are WHAT?" Ron looked at Archer, Reed, and T'Pol.
"You TOLD them?" Hermione looked incredulous. She gave the three Muggles a very apprehending look.
"Listen, Voldemort just attacked us." Harry interrupted. "We-I mean, they need to see Professor Dumbledore right now, tonight."
"But Dumbledore could be anywhere." Ron reminded Harry on how aloof their Headmaster had become recently.
"Alright, then Professor Snape." Harry suggested.
"I don't trust Snape, Harry, and you hate him, right?" Hermione added.
"Yeah, but Dumbledore trusts him, and he's the only one in the Order in Hogwarts." Harry contested. "Okay, we go to Dumbledore's office first, and if he's not there, we go to Professor Snape, all right?"
Ron and Hermione reluctantly agreed. Still eyeing Reed, Archer, and T'Pol suspiciously, they slipped out of The Three Broomsticks and walked into Hogwarts. Harry and Hermione had swapped their wands on the way. Ron could not take his eyes off T'Pol's activity; tapping a rounded thing that glowed purple. What sort of magic is in that?
"She always does that." Harry told Ron.
"Miss Granger. Could we have our phase-pistol back, please?" T'Pol spoke. The six people stopped walking. Ron and Harry looked at Hermione with the Muggles. Hermione looked back.
At first, she wasn't so sure on what they meant. It was a tense moment. Then Ron's eyes flashed. Hermione got the clue. ("Oh") She picked the shark-shaped gun and held it out to Lieutenant Reed. Malcolm took it and stuffed it into his jacket pocket. Malcolm gave the Captain a curt nod. Ron shrugged at Harry. They continued walking.
It was already 2000 hours when they've reached the castle.
"You're past curfew." Filch said to Harry, Ron and Hermione derisively. "How about a nice detention with Professor Umbridge?"
"Hey, I don't remember having a curfew on Hogsmeade weekends." Ron protested.
"Well, we do now." Filch chuckled.
Archer felt authorized to declare his business. "We're here to see Professor Dumbledore."
"Who the hell are you?" Filch affronted.
Archer paused. He had known from Harry (he looked at him) the "educational reforms" going on in Hogwarts. Now is not as good time to be a Muggle as any. He pulled out a wand (one of those he took from the terrorists back in Engineering), in a fashion as he would a phase pistol. Then he pointed it at Filch. "We've come a long way. You should not inconvenience us. Take us to Professor Dumbledore."
"What the hell for?" Filch stood rooted to his spot. Archer was quite surprised that Filch did not pull out a wand himself.
"That is between us and Professor Dumbledore." Archer teased.
"Uh, Captain, We'll take you there. We know the way." Harry interrupted.
"It's past your bedtime, boy!" Filch called out to him warningly.
Harry did not like being told off like he's a kid. They ignored him. Meanwhile, Archer suppressed a chuckle; looking knowingly at his Tactical Officer and his Science Officer. Malcolm looked at him apologetically. T'Pol merely stared at him. Apparently, he's the only one who enjoyed the joke.
They swept across the corridors. Harry figured that they must be familiar with some of them, as they have been here before. But they have guided them along. It's amply a long way from the Hogsmeade gate to the Headmaster's office.
At the beginning of the term, Harry was not so sure about approaching Dumbledore at first. On his own accord, he would not think of talking to him, let alone asking for his assistance. But now here's Captain Archer and his top lieutenants-recently attacked by the Death Eaters-wanting to see the only person Lord Voldemort is afraid of-Albus Dumbledore.
But after a turn or two, they found themselves in Professor McGonagall's office.
"I thought you'd take us to Dumbledore." Ron complained.
Harry only looked at Ron briefly before turning to a delightfully-surprised Professor McGonagall. "Professor, they want to see Professor Dumbledore. It's highly important. Please."
McGonagall gave the three strangers a thoroughly shocked look. "Explain yourself, Mr. Potter. Have you been gone for the whole week to meet them?"
"Actually, yes, Professor." Harry smiled weakly. "Professor, they haven't much time. Would you take us to Dumbledore's office right now?"
McGonagall, sensing the urgency on Captain Archer, gave a stiff nod. She lead them along, back halfway where they came from. Taking Archer, Reed, and T'Pol to McGonagall first might have been a great idea after all, because not only did they not know the password, also because they have met the nasty Professor Umbridge along their way.
"Good evening, Professor." Umbridge greeted McGonagall in a sarcastic sing-song voice. "Welcome back, Mr. Potter. Ah, it seems that you have brought guests. Where are you taking them?"
"They have a very important business with Professor Dumbledore right now, so if you'll excuse me."
"I wasn't informed."
"They have just arrived." McGonagall struggled to keep stepping forward. Archer, Reed, and T'Pol gave each other knowing looks. It seems that this toad woman would stall them a great deal. "Perhaps you can talk to them after their business with Professor Dumbledore is finished for tonight." Archer scowled.
"Very well. I will take Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger from here, professor." Umbridge declared. "Tonight they will serve detention with me." She issued a wicked smile.
"I'm afraid not." contested McGonagall curtly, "I believe our guests would want their continued presence. Leastways, as head of their House, I shall issue the necessary punishments on them for violating the curfew you just issued this afternoon."
Then McGonagall swept off again, the rest following her. Harry, Ron, and Hermione felt a great deal protected and happy, so happy that they could not suppress their chuckles. Then at the moment, Hermione, still smiling, caught Captain Archer's eyes. Both their eyes glowed with some strange emotion. Hermione kept smiling, and she blushed. Not that she can help it. When she finally realized what was going on, she looked away shyly.
They have reached the end of the long corridor. A stone falcon stood over the archway, stiff and piercing.
"Chocolate Frog." McGonagall declared.
The falcon, acknowledging the password, leapt to the side, revealing the Headmaster's office. Many delicate silver instruments stood on the spindle-legged tables, puffing and whirring serenely. Above their heads were the portraits of what might be the former headmasters and headmistresses. Archer took a second look at all of them. They were moving! The portraits were snoozing in their frames, heads lolling back in armchairs or against the edge of the picture.
No one could make of the Captain's shocked face, which may have been fascination or terror, for all they know. Reed was evidently fascinated. He looked everywhere to find more and more peculiar objects sitting on all corners and shelves. T'Pol, despite being better in hiding her emotions, seemed to be fascinated herself. She scanned the office with her widened eyes and with her scanner, which is now reading massive amounts of magical energy from everywhere.
"Professor Dumbledore?" McGonagall called. The Headmaster appeared from behind all of them.
He was tall, thin, and very old, judging by the silver of his hair and beard, which were both long enough to tuck into his belt. He was wearing long robes, a sky blue cloak that swept the ground, and high-heeled, buckled boots. His blue eyes were light, bright, and sparkling behind half-moon spectacles and his nose was very long and crooked, as though it had been broken at least twice. He appeared to have just travelled-or else he would already be in his nightclothes already.
"Thank you, Professor McGonagall. You and the students could go."
Ron, Harry, and Hermione stiffened in indignation. Harry looked at Jonathan, which gave him a nod. As they did not want to irritate Professor McGonagall. They walked away until they were gone.
Albus Dumbledore eyed the Starship Captain and his officers with delighted fascination, which had earlier been somber at the presence of Harry. "For most people, this would be an unwelcome hour for a visit, but given the circumstances," he conjured three comfortable chintz chairs for them to sit on.
Archer, not wanting to insult Dumbledore's hospitality, resisted his hesitation sat down. Reed and T'Pol sat down on their chairs almost immediately. He waited for Professor Dumbledore to speak.
"You wanted to see me, is that right?" Albus smiled; his eyes twinkling.
"That's correct." Archer replied politely.
Dumbledore smiled again. "Please."
With a flick of his wand, four tiny glasses floated in midair, which filled with bronze liquid almost immediately. Archer looked around, and he saw a large bottle containing the same liquid. The liquid in it ebbed a little bit. No doubt that by magic, that the headmaster is filling these glasses without opening the bottle. Good. At least he knows where it came from.
Three glasses floated before them. The Captain gingerly took the one floating before him. He smelled it before he drank it down. Then he felt steam issue from his ears, nose, and exhale. Malcolm gave out a look of someone who drank hard liquor and did his best not to retch it out. T'Pol doesn't seem affected at the least, though steam also came out from her ears and her nose.
"I have always figured that sailors would be fond of hard spirits." Dumbledore smiled again as he finished his drink; his eyes twinkling and penetrating Archer's. "It is called Firewhisky. Would you care for another glass?"
Archer smiled, an expression Albus seemed to have been waiting for. Evidently, he and Lieutenant Reed enjoyed the sensation of Firewhisky. "No, please. No thank you."
Dumbledore chuckled, and he settled down on the Headmaster's chair. "I assume you meant business?"
The old wizard bent down, appearing to draw something out from probably the desk drawers. He picked up a familiar object, still carefully examining it. It was T'Pol's phase-pistol.
He smiled. In turn, he stood up to approach Archer, and handed him the weapon. The three looked very, very gratified. They all sat back down.
Archer fitted the phase pistol into his jacket pocket.
"You must be Professor Dumbledore." Archer finally spoke. "I am Captain Jonathan Archer of the Starship Enterprise. This is T'Pol, my Science Officer, and this is Lieutenant Malcolm Reed, my Tactical Officer. This may come as a shock to you, but we come from the future, in the year 2154."
Dumbledore's eyes flashed with interest.
Archer continued, "I believe we have a lot in common."
Pause. Dumbledore looked at him straight in the eye. Jonathan had a feeling that the wizard was somehow reading his mind. He finally added, "That people from the future have to remain hidden from the rest of the human society, is that correct?"
"So should witches and wizards." Archer supplemented, smiling. "Not if they can help it."
"And let alone interfere with it." Dumbledore finished, smiling too. "Not if they can help it." He paced slowly to Fawkes, stroking it gently. The fiery bird crooned on the touch of the wizard's thin gentle fingers. "I have been aware of your existence, Captain."
Archer continued speaking as the Headmaster turned to face him. "Mr. Potter tells me that you are the head of a movement against a certain terrorist."
"Lord Voldemort, yes." said Dumbledore calmly. "You have picked a wise name for the Dark Lord. Most of our people would not dare speak his name."
Archer chuckled. "His terrorist organisation has allied with a certain alien species also coming from the future."
Dumbledore nodded, an indication that he already knew. He went back to sit on his chair as Archer went on. "I also apologise for the kidnapping of Mr. Potter and the damages me and my crew have caused this building."
The headmaster nodded again and smiled. "No need to worry about it, Captain. I have faith that you have taken great care of Mr. Potter aboard your ship, and the damages have already been repaired."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Pause.
"My informant also reports that Lord Voldemort has attacked your starship?"
Archer nodded. "We have taken prisoners those who boarded our ship."
"I hope we can cooperate on how to deal with them accordingly." Dumbledore, "I also take it that you've come here to stop the alien species?"
"That is correct."
Dumbledore looked at him carefully, and then from his warm smile he suddenly looked grave. "I am not aware that there were aliens right here in this school, Captain."
Archer did not intend to mention that his ship has found some Xindi biosigns in Hogwarts. He got a little bit uncomfortable. "They must have slipped into the castle."
"Right." Pause. "What immediate business have you with me and the resistance tonight, Captain?"
Archer thought for a second, "We have also located a Xindi ship in a small island found in the middle of the Baltic Sea. The trouble is, we have trouble pinpointing the exact coordinates. It seems that the... magic has been deflecting our sensors. If your organisation has any information regarding the premises, it would help."
"Xindi, is that how the aliens are properly called?"
"Yes, sir."
Dumbledore nodded happily, "Greatly. Is there anything else?"
Archer looked at Reed, who in turn looked back awkwardly. "There is another thing."
Dumbledore gave him a knowing look. "I see. I'm afraid that we cannot accommodate Lieutenant Reed here in Hogwarts, especially with "educational reforms" going on. (chuckles) But I shall contact my Order; find the necessary accommodations for possible training, with your permission."
The night had been well. Dumbledore had the pleasure of escorting them into past the school premises, which had been dark and scary. But as all of them knew their way into the clearing, they weren't so scared anymore. Archer would have preferred inviting Dumbledore to the Shuttlepod, but the Headmaster lamented that they were busy. And so it's just the three of them climbing aboard, and then as the thrusters lit up and then as the Shuttlepod raced up to the heavens, Dumbledore got smaller and smaller from view.