Chapter 5
Harry scurried down the ladder to see what Hermione was screaming about. "What is it? What's wrong?" he asked.
"There was a woman trapped under the boat! I think we killed her!" Hermione frowned, pointing in the general area where she saw the woman's legs poking out from under the ship.
Harry looked all around. "I don't see anybody."
"She was there! She had on ruby slippers… and then… the slippers disappeared… and then… they reappeared… on my feet!" Hermione exclaimed, pointing down at the ruby slippers which were now on her feet.
Tootles and Curly came down to see what the fuss was all about. "Where is this place?" Curly asked, looking all around at the surroundings.
"I'm pretty sure we aren't in Neverland anymore!" Tootles proclaimed.
"It's strange because half of the skies are dark and the other half of them are bright blue."
"Voldemort is still here. I can feel his presence!" Harry piped up.
"Where do you think he's at?" Tootles asked.
"Judging by the darker clouds in the distance, I'd say he is up in the mountains. He's probably absorbing this world's magic from there.
Suddenly- another woman's voice cried out. "Help me!"
"Who is there?" Harry asked aloud. "Where are you?"
"Over here… Under the large fallen tree branch!"
Everyone ran over towards the voice and began lifting up different branches, until finally they found a lovely blonde-haired woman, wearing an all white gown, trapped below one of them. They all worked together to lift the branch up off of her.
"What happened to you?" Hermione asked, helping the woman up off the ground.
"Oh, it was horrible! The terrible wizard showed up and began destroying everything!" she exclaimed. "His wizardry was more powerful than anything I have ever seen! Then, he hissed an evil spell, causing this tree to fall over on me. After he left, the Wicked Witch of the East was about to do me in, but luckily you guys showed up in your magical boat just in time and landed right on top of her."
Hermione couldn't help but let out a loud gasp when the blonde-haired woman reaffirmed what she saw.
The woman heard Hermione gasp and then turned to look down at Hermione's feet. "You possess the ruby slippers now. They once belonged to The Wicked Witch of the East. You must protect them. The magic of Oz can never be completely diminished as long as they stay on your feet."
"How do you know all of this? Who are you?" Harry asked.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I never properly introduced myself. I am Glinda, The Good Witch of the North." she merrily replied.
Just then- the entire group could hear a commotion going on near the Jolly Roger. When they glanced over, they noticed that Captain Hook and some of his shipmates had their swords drawn, poking at some colorful bushes.
Harry ran over to see what was going on. "What are you guys doing?"
"ARG! There is someone in them there bushes!" Hook proclaimed. "They're trying to sneak attack us!"
"He's not lying." Mr. Smee piped up. "One of them hit me with a lollipop!"
"Hehehehehehe." Glinda giggled. "They don't mean you any harm. They are just frightened because they don't know who you are."
"Who WE are?..." Mr. Smee blurted. "Who are THEY?"
"They are the residents of Munchkinland." Glinda replied. "You guys can come out now. It's okay." She tried easing their little munchkin minds.
At that moment, several heads began popping up from out of the bushes, and soon after that, they began to come out into the open.
Captain Hook frowned when he saw them. "Great! More little people!" he blurted with disdain in his voice.
The little munchkin men were all dressed in maroon, green, and blue outfits, and the little women were dressed in purple and pink.
The shipmates and the munchkins continued mean-mugging each other, acting as if each group was tougher than the other.
"Now, now, you guys." Glinda said to the munchkins. "These men and women saved me by killing the Wicked Witch of the East."
"Ding dong, the witch is dead, the witch is dead, the witch is dead! Ding dong, the Wicked Witch is dead!" the munchkins sang.
"Why don't you guys introduce each other?" Glinda spoke softly, hoping to ease the tension.
"I'm Captain James Hook! I am the cunning kingfish, the bad barracuda, the steel-handed stingray, the sailor of several seas-"
"AHEM!" Mr. Smee coughed, causing Hook to stop rambling off his infamous nicknames. "I am Mr. Smee. The Cap'n's first mate, his thickest of thieves, his protector of pirates, his… oh, who am I trying to kid? I'm just... Smee."
One of the munchkin women stepped forward. "We represent the Lullaby League, the Lullaby League, the Lullaby League." she sang.
Then, one of the munchkin men stepped forward. "We represent the Lollipop Guild, the Lollipop Guild, the Lollipop Guild." he also sang.
Captain Hook began moving his eyes side to side, wondering why they introduced themselves in song. "O…. Kay."
"I hate to break up the lovely introduction, but we need to figure out how to find Voldemort." Harry spoke up.
"Plus… we need to figure out how we are going to get back to Neverland after… if… we do stop that evil bugger Voldemort." Ron added.
"The evil wizard you speak of is much too powerful." Glinda declared. "You will need to seek the help of the Wizard of Oz if you are to defeat him."
"The Wizard of Oz?" Everyone asked.
"Yes. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!" Glinda gleefully replied.
"How do we find the wizard?" Harry asked.
"It is simple. You simply follow the Yellow Brick Road. It's best to start at the beginning." she replied, pointing down at the yellow spiraling start.
Suddenly- everyone was startled, when a thunderous puff of green smoke appeared. When the smoke cleared, the Wicked Witch of the West appeared, holding her witch's broom in hand, causing the shipmates to draw their swords.
"Who's responsible for killing my sister!?" she demanded to know.
Then, she looked down at Hermione's shoes. "You! You killed my sister!" she exclaimed, pointing her broom directly at Hermione. "Those ruby slippers belong to me! Give them to me now… or I'll have to rip off your feet, right off your ankles!" she threatened.
Glinda stepped in between Hermione and the Wicked Witch of the West. "You should know better than to threaten her. You have no powers here in Munchkinland." she declared.
The Wicked Witch of the West looked perturbed. "I'll get you my pretty!.. And your little gang too!"
Then, something very unforeseeable happened. A thick, dark, smokey cloud appeared near Hermione, causing her to vanish in the haze. When the smoke cleared, Lord Voldemort was standing there, and he had Hermione in a choke hold.
"The witch might not have any powers here… but I do!" he declared. "I am the most powerful sorcerer to ever live! And- if you try to stop me- the Granger girl dies!"
Then- POOF! He and Hermione disappeared into another dark cloud of smoke.
"NOOOO!" Harry cried, holding his hand out, trying to reach into the thick cloud of smoke and save Hermione. But- they were gone.
Lightning flashed from off in the distance, near the mountains.
"We have to save her!" Ron declared, showing how much he cared for Hermione.
"We can't just go up there. Voldemort is too powerful. We will have to go see the Wizard." Harry spoke up. "He will help us defeat him and get Hermione back!"
Captain Hook looked at how long the Yellow Brick Road was. "Perhaps we should stay here and guard the Jolly Roger. We will help protect the little people and their lovely Glinda." Hook insisted, showing some attraction for the Good Witch of the North.
"Good idea. In fact, I should probably go alone. It might be too dangerous for the rest of you." Harry warned.
Moira ran over to Harry's side. "I'm going with you!" she piped up.
Tootles and Curly also ran over to Harry's side. "We're going too!"
Before anyone else could join the four of them, Glinda spoke up. "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz will only allow so many people to see him at one time. I suggest only the four of you go and the rest of you stay and await their return."
The other Lost Boys were angered by her plea, but they also understood why it was for the best.
Harry then began at the beginning of the yellow spiraled brick road, walking around the circle until it straightened out. Moira, Tootles, and Curly followed behind him.
"We're off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz… because, because, because, because… because of all the wonderful things he does." Harry sang, heading away from Munchkinland.