Chapter 5

Harry

"So we all agree they're hiding something here but it's not magic?" Ron asked at dinner that night at the Crashdown. The four of them sat at a booth, eating burgers and milkshakes, a muffliato charm cast on their neighbors so they could have a conversation without being overheard.

"I don't think we can definitively say it's not magic because someone else is magical here," Hermione mused, sipping on a vanilla milkshake. "Are you sure it's not the fiance?"

"My gut says no, but maybe it's time to use magic to find out," Harry contended.

"I don't see why we have to get involved if magic isn't involved," Sean fumed. "You came here to see if the Statute of Secrecy was broken and it wasn't."

"Instead, we found out muggles are dying!" Harry stared at Sean. "Muggles are dying and something un-muggle-like is killing them. We have to help."

He would never understand men like Sean that cared only about themselves.

"Let's just spend a few days here," Hermione consoled. "We'll teach Maria magic and see if we can find the other magic person."

And so they agreed to spend one week in Roswell. After dinner, Harry and Hermione went back to the Wild Pony. Hermione had wanted to check on Maria and Harry had agreed because a drink sounded good to him. Although Ron had initially agreed, he had fallen asleep the moment they had gotten back. Not wanting to be in town, Sean on the other hand had disapparated home. Harry had not missed Sean's expression when he found out Hermione was going to a bar.

"I can't believe he'd just leave her," Hermione criticized. Harry thought she looked very American in a red and gold tank top and jeans. He wore a blue short sleeve shirt over a white t-shirt and jeans and the same cowboy boots she wore. It was the hat she had insisted on that made him feel ridiculous.

"Me either," Harry agreed. "We won't though."

They ordered two beers from Maria. "She doesn't like you," Harry whispered to Hermione. She sighed.

"Maybe we came on too strong," Hermione said. "I'd be gutted if I'd found out there was an explanation for everything happening but nobody ever told me. Also why didn't you change your accent?"

Harry asked. "I'd be chuffed. Magic was the best thing that ever happened to me. And I never learned the spell."

Hermione stared at him for a moment. "Chosen one privilege?"

Harry grinned. "Billiards?"

"Sure."

Hermione

After losing spectacularly at billiards, Harry and Hermione stumbled out of the bar, drunker than Hermione had realized. They walked rather than apparated for fear of splinching themselves. Even though Maria weighed on her mind, Hermione felt unreasonably happy being here with Harry and a twinge of something when they went their separate ways.

The next morning, she went back to the Wild Pony alone after suggesting to Sean that only one of them should return.

"Ready to go to Eos Court? It's the only place to get your wand. It would take half the day to get there by car so we will have to apparate. But since you don't have an apparition license, I can take you using side-by-side apparition." Hermione said, then saw the baffled look on Maria's face. "Apparition is how wizards travel. It allows us to disappear from one place and reappear at another using our mind. It'll feel a little uncomfortable at first, but over time you'll get used to it. Don't be scared." Hermione added.

Maria reluctantly took Hermione's proffered hand and they apparated together.

As she and Maria shopped at Eos Court, Hermione found herself talking incessantly, explaining everything she thought relevant.

"The good news is that now you don't have to wonder if you're peculiar; you know you're just special," she said.

"When did you find out?" Maria asked. "Did your parents know?"

"In Britain, all witches and wizards get a letter at age eleven. My parents are muggles. Bit of a shock for all of us." They fell silent for a moment.

"Muggles?" Maria questioned.

Hermione immediately realized her error. "Nomags, in Britain we call them Muggles"

Maria pondered this for a moment. Then she asked "Who was the man with you last night?"

"Oh that's Harry Potter. He's a friend from school, but we work together now."

"Just friends?" Maria raised her eyebrows, clearly indicating she thought something more was going on.

Hermione blushed, thinking of Harry's hands on hers as he helped her line the cue ball. She knew that sometimes, particularly when drink was involved, they acted in a way that could only be construed as flirting. No wonder so many people had asked them about being in a relationship during their time at Hogwarts and beyond.

"Just friends," Hermione confirmed.

"There'll be something more," Maria predicted with a confidence Hermione didn't expect.

"How do you know?" Hermione turned to the other woman.

"I…" Maria hesitated, looking like she was trying to decide something. "I know things."

"You're a seer?" Hermione had stopped walking. Although she did not take much stalk in Divination, Hermione's visit to the Department of Mysteries was enough to convince her of the authenticity of seers.

"Nobody has ever called me that," Maria said, now smiling. "It's not always the future. Sometimes, it's the past. Sometimes, it's right now."

"Being a seer is really rare," Hermione told the other woman. "We learn it in school, but most people can't really divine. I bet there's loads of times that's been handy."

They had stopped outside a cafe.

"Fancy a cuppa?" Hermione asked. "I'd love to hear more about it and maybe after I can help you find some books on divination for you to learn even more?"

"Sounds great!" Maria looked truly happy for the first time since Hermione had met her.

Maria

Maria hadn't intended on telling Hermione Granger about her abilities, but she was glad she had. Sitting at the bar, reading "Unfogging the Future", she could already see the ways in which her powers were going to grow and how she might get her old powers back. She was so engrossed in her book, she didn't notice Isobel until the blonde took a seat across from her at the bar.

"So?" Isobel asked, bouncing in front of her. Sometimes, it was hard to believe the two were related, though admittedly it was a very distant relation.

"One moment," Maria remarked and locked the front door. "You're never going to believe this. I barely believe this." And she told Isobel all about the last two days.

When Maria finished, the alien began laughing.

"You can't be serious!" Maria pulled out her wand and unlocked the bar door with the spell she had learned that day. Isobel looked dumbstruck.

"This is fantastic! You're fully a squad member!" Isobel gushed. "I can't wait to see Michael's face when he learns you could take him in mind games."

"I'm not sure I can tell him." Maria told her about the Statute of Secrecy.

"Who's ever going to find out?" Isobel laughed. "The pod squad has to know! Oooh, what else can you do?"

Pulling out a set of books, Maria showed her the list of spells Hermione planned to teach her.

"Apparently I can brew potions too. And you know how I used tarot cards before? This book says tea leaves are even better!"

"You're officially the coolest one of us. Hey! Have you told them about your extra-terrestial side?" Isobel winked. "Do magicians know about aliens?"

"Of course I didn't," Maria huffed. "But maybe there's power in numbers. We've faced a lot of threats and maybe some of my DNA would make more sense knowing about witchcraft."

"Are there others?"

"Apparently there are tons living in secrecy all over the world, but Hermione said there was only one other in Roswell." And she knew that both she and Isobel were thinking the same thing: who was the other one in town?

Michael

Anger pulsed though Michael. Anger and fear. Who were these people and why were they here? After speaking to Cameron, Liz had called him and he hadn't even let her finish before driving himself here.

After using his contacts to find out where they were, he found himself outside Harry Potter's room, trying to temper his anger before he barged in. He knew he should talk to Alex, Bonnie, and Isobel before confronting Harry and Ron, but he didn't want them to worry. They had both been through enough and he was certain he could deal with this himself. He flexed his substantial muscles and knocked. After a moment, the door opened and he saw Harry and the two other men in the room.

"Y'all lied," Michael spat, his eyes on Harry. As Harry stepped back stunned, he saw one of them pull out something from the corner of his eye. Instinct made Michael throw the man across the room with his mind. In the next instant, he was bound by invisible ropes in place and both Harry and Ron were holding what could only be described as wands at him. He used his mind again to remove the ropes, feeling murderous rage coursing through his blood. He was immediately petrified, unable to move his body or use his powers. Confused, he stared at the two men, one of whom had gone to tend to their fallen colleague. Harry turned to him.

"Looks like we found the other wizard in Roswell."

A/N: I own nothing.