E'jeah broods quietly in her room, it's been several days and, apart from the ship becoming far more noisy, she is depressingly the same as she was. Those strange creatures have kept her well fed and watered, but she's still expecting to die at some point. Looking up from the bunk as the door opens, she's surprised and then resigned when a R'ka pushes the door open.
"Rula wonders why you are moping in here."
E'jeah fair jumps while lounging as it speaks to her, "Did you just speak?"
"Obviously, I can also reason and use a computer configured for Yautja too. Though I can't read, as I can't feel the characters properly."
"I must be losing myself. This is a hallucination."
"I don't know what one of those is. But this is real. I'll take you to your Queen and you'll see."
E'jeah was expecting a lot of things, but being bumped with a snout and then being engulfed in flames wasn't it. Appearing in a room full of pyode amedha [an:soft meat, humans] with one Yautja and one hybrid sat amongst them.
"Rula, what are you doing here? And Who's this?" the hybrid says.
"Lady Potter, please can this wait until the class is finished. Rula, Ma'am please take a seat over there and Arry will be able to deal with whatever has come up. I'm presuming it's not an attack or something as I can't feel any urgency."
E'jeah's mandibles drop open as the female points a stick, and two chairs appear, one suitable for her stature, and a lounging style chair suitable for a kiande amedha [an:hard meat, xenomorphs], or R'ka if you're not hunting them, which she supposes she isn't. Stunned, she allows the xenomorph to nudge her over to the chair.
She watches in amazement at her ability to understand what's being said, though the meaning of what's being said eludes her. As the lesson comes to a close, she feels another surge of amazement as nearly half the pyode amedha become kiande amedha, before streaming out the door.
The youngling walks over and kneels in front of her, "Greetings Honoured Elder. This one would learn from one so honoured."
Despite the situation, E'jeah laughs, "Stand youngling, I am but a blooded hunter. I have not grown so bored of the hunt I seek the rank of arbiter, or so tired of life I wish to be an elder."
"Thank you honoured hunter."
"Tell me youngling, what is your name, and what clan do you belong to?"
"I am known as Ne'stbei of Potter Clan, formerly of Dark Blade Clan, formerly of Dachande's Clan."
"So many clans."
"Dark Blade claimed my family were bad bloods, and claimed my youngling brothers too. My Queen saved me on my chiva, and gave me her clan."
"You have no markings, you are not of age."
"I am not. I chose to go early after my clan sister was unable to achieve her chiva within one half cycle after coming of age."
E'jeah makes an Yautja frown, "Why would you go early rather than train harder?"
"There were no Chiva available for my clan sister. Yet a tenday after, there was a chiva for a clan born."
"Do they have no honour?"
"I am learning that honour may not be what we thought it was."
"Youngling, honour isn't some set thing that you can weigh. It differs from species to species. Our honour is there to control the bloodlust we suffer as we come of age. To give it a safe outlet. Others have their own honour, and we should always strive to recognise that, while not ignoring our own."
"I do not understand."
"We are nomads, hunters seeking to expunge the scourge of the R'ka from the galaxy. A scourge that our stories say our ancestors released from their cage."
Arry steps up next to Ne'stbei, "This is all very interesting, however Rula brought you here for a reason."
"E'jeah has been staying in the room that T'o-Ba'sall placed her in when she left the adoption egg."
"I think I am going to need more explanation than just that."
E'jeah shakes her head, the beads in her dreads tinkling with the movement, "I have been waiting for my death."
"Rula, would you tell T'o-Ba'sall to meet me here, now. There's obviously stuff I don't understand going on, and I don't want to go wading through years of memories when someone can just explain it. While we're waiting, would you explain what's happened and what you think is happening."
E'jeah describes the events leading up to her impregnation, and what she thinks is happening.
Once she finishes, Arry exclaims, "Wait, you're the senior hunter, why were the younger hunters even allowed to do that hunt?"
"Being a senior hunter is a position of respect, not authority. Hunting pods are a team, and like other teams, decisions are made by the collective. I have not faced every threat out there, no Yautja has. So it would be foolish for my word to out weigh the rest of the pod. They respect it more, because of my experience. The only Yautja with that sort of authority is the clan Matriarch, and even then only so long as she doesn't use it too much."
T'o-Ba'sall appears in a pillar of fire, and Arry immediately rounds on her, "T'o-Ba'sall, why did you use an adoption egg on E'jeah here?"
T'o-Ba'sall looks confused, "She clearly submitted to me, and so I followed our traditions and inducted her into our clan. I was waiting for her to finish the tradition and come to find me."
Arry rubs her forehead with the palm of her hand, "Does being inducted in a clan normally mean having a face hugger attached to you?"
"For us it does, as it's the only way to ensure their safety."
"Did you bother… No of course you didn't. T'o-Ba'sall when I said nobody should be forced into our hive, I didn't mean 'Except for when it gets in the way of traditions'. Accidents happen, and that's acceptable, but you deliberately exposed E'jeah to a face hugger without explaining anything." – turning back to E'jeah Arry sighs – "Are you aware of the tradition that T'o-Ba'sall is talking about?"
"I am. A Yautja that submits will be given food for the body and mind, a bed to sleep in, and shelter from the weather. They will then have a tenday to seek out the clan elder, either to receive the clan mark or a quick death."
"Right, fine. It happened in the wrong order, but you've got the clan mark. The face hugger made you part of my hive. Congratulations. Now, do you want to live as part of the hive, or die now?"
Just as she's about to demand death, E'jeah looks at how young T'o-Ba'sall is, then at Ne'stbei, before slumping, "I will live, there is at least one youngling who doesn't yet know all she needs to know."
"Great, well you can stay on earth for the moment. Do you know how to scan a planet for other xenomorphs? As we thought it would be simple, but we can't get the equipment to work."
"You would need to be able to see the whole planet with your eyes before the equipment would work, as the scanners cannot penetrate the core of the planet."
"Great, we can put it on the moon then."
"I do not see any space worthy ships here."
"You were just transported half way across the galaxy by fire travel and you're worried about ships?"
"What do you mean? Where are we?"
"The human's home world."
"Pauk"
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Minerva and Priya are sorting through Mr Dumbledore's belongings in the weeks coming up to Christmas when they come across a trunk of notes, a silky grey cloak, and an annotated copy of Beedle the Bard. Glancing through the notes to see if the Cloak belongs to him or not, Minerva collapses to the floor in tears as she flicks through a journal filled with his neat handwriting.
17th July 1981
With the Fildilus Charm in place, James has finally consented to allow me to examine his family heirloom. Initial examination shows that while it is unworn it appears to be a quite ordinary invisibility cloak. Though what plant or animal the thread that makes up the weave comes from is unknown.
15th October 1981
I think I have exhausted the research I can do on this cloak. So far as I can tell, there is no form of magical detection that will allow someone to know the wearer is there unless they are making tell tale noises. I have been unable to glean any further information about its origins, and I am unwilling to test its legend.
5th November 1981
I am going to put my research to one side now, as I fear that it has cost the lives of both Lily and James. When Harry returns, I will find some way to return his heirloom.
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Vivian appears outside the rookery with a pop before knocking on the door. It only takes a few minutes for Mr Lovegood to appear.
"Dr Granger, this is a surprise."
"I've just received word that your daughter's chrysalis has started to move."
"Let me just turn the stove off and switch off the printing press."
A few minutes later, Xeno is back at the door and pulling on a coat, "How have you been doing Mr Lovegood?"
"Better, much better thank you. The pills have some horrible effects, but my mind is my own for the first time in years."
"I'm glad I could help. How's the process of getting your non-magical identity established?"
"The ministry has been dragging its heels, however I now have a few bank accounts through Gringotts with a mailing address in the nearby village. I have styled myself as a Hippy, and there is a drop box on the edge of my property. As you can see, I quite like the style, and iconography."
"I see, well if you take my hand, I'll take you to Hogwarts."
"I never did ask, but what happened? When we met you couldn't do magic."
"An eleven year old girl with a heart bigger than it has any right to be, especially considering her species. A whole bunch of House Elves asked to join her family, and rather than doing the sensible thing, that many adults would think of. She instead brought them all into the hive in one massive sitting."
"I must confess, I don't see how this caused you to be able to do magic."
"Ah. What we didn't know at the time, was just how hard it is for her to lay adoption eggs, rather than the eggs natural to her species. When she got to the last few eggs, she was exhausted and could no longer remember how many she actually needed."
"So she counted who didn't have one?"
"Exactly."
"I did that once for Luna's birthday when baking cakes. Each child ended up with 3 cakes each because I forgot that I'd already put a batch on twice. It was the last time Dora allowed me to cook after an all-nighter at the office."
Taking Xeno's hand, Vivian flames into Hogwarts entry hall, where Priya was waiting for them.
"Mr Lovegood, you're looking good. Though the 60's called and would like their clothes back."
Xeno laughs, "I happen to like that era, and non-magicals don't question my ideas or eccentricities when I forget they don't know where to find sasquatches or yetis."
"I suppose they wouldn't, would they. How many have asked you for mushrooms or the good shit so far?"
"Only 3."
"We have your daughter in a room off the third floor corridor on the right hand side. We decided that the old suite was hard enough to navigate that students wouldn't accidentally find their way in there. This will probably be the only time you can see her until she starts laying eggs, and Arry can teach her how to lay adoption eggs."
"I understand, how long will that be do you think?"
"Arry thinks she'll be laying by May, and probably able to produce adoption eggs by the end of June. We'll be informing the rest of the school, and putting up what protections we can to keep the students out."
"Won't she be lonely?"
Priya shakes her head, "Most of the 1st year Hufflepuffs will be there, and can come and go at will as long as they're careful."
"I don't understand."
"Arry discovered a new method for becoming an animagus. It relies on accidental magic, so it's not useful for most witches or wizards. It probably also explains the likes of Tarzan and Mowgli, it is going to be the subject of a paper the Head Master produces during the next break. Here we are. As you can see, this room has a trapdoor rather than the more traditional door. We have confirmed that this whole suite is on the third floor, and are putting the layout down to Hogwarts being Hogwarts."
Xeno chuckles, "I could fill the Quibbler with interesting facts about the school, and nobody would believe them. I can quite imagine this is one of those facts. Just like nobody believed my article about the sightings of serpentus mortis quietus, commonly called Raka, in Russia. Granted, this was published before I met Vivian and she helped me come back to myself, I think I called them double mouthed blimp headed hunters because I couldn't find the right words. Not that anyone would believe they exist." – Xeno points at Susan as they come through a door – "In fact, they look exactly like that from all reports."
"Arry! Arry! You need to hear this now before we forget."
Arry pops over from the chrysalis, "What's going on?"
"Mr Lovegood?"
"We were talking about sightings of serpentus mortis quietus, or Raka. I published an article about them in August, as there have been sightings in North Russia."
Arry frowns, "Thank you, that's ideal information. I haven't felt the presence of a queen, so hopefully it's just an isolated worker or warrior. I've just called for T'o-Ba'sall and E'jeah, I need to keep an eye on Luna, as there's a special thing I need to do to ensure that she's linked to my hive, not subordinate to it. Once she's eaten, you should be able to talk to her, though one of us will need to translate."
"You've brought people into your hive. Is there any way that I can become part of my little moon's hive?"
"I really think you should wait until she can lay adoption eggs."
"Arry, Queen, Dr Granger has given me back my mind. I just want to be with my Daughter."
While Arry prevaricates about saying anything, Wayne walks over and takes Xenos hand, "Sir, I gave the vassal oath, and that brought me into Arry's hive. While I don't think the Vassal oath will help you, maybe you can come up with something that will."
It takes Luna 2 hours to emerge from her chrysalis, and another 30 minutes before she has consumed enough that she's no longer trying to attack anything warm blooded. During this time, Arry is right next to her as a Queen, feeding her Royal Jelly as well as allowing her access to her meal. Once she's finished, Arry motions Xeno over, who immediately stops his conversation with T'o-Ba'sall and E'jeah.
Xeno walks up to his daughter with out fear. If she takes his life, then he'll be with his wife, if not he'll be with his daughter. Kneeling down, he takes both of her foreclaws in his hands, heedless of the danger.
"Luna Selene Lovegood, you are and always have been my daughter. No matter how bad my psychosis became, that was always true. Psychosis is what the non-magicals call what happened to me, and Dr Granger has helped me find my mind again. I'm taking non-magical medication and it's helping me keep my thoughts straight, and the hallucinations at bay. I have missed you so much, and I wish it hadn't come to this. But I think it was the only way for me to get the help I needed, but didn't know existed.
"Luna, I am your father, but we are currently not family. I pledge on my life, my magic, and my blood," – he jerks his forearm across one of her claws, leaving a deep gaping wound in the muscle – "that if you accept me into your family, into your hive, I will do everything in my power to ensure that you are given everything you need to grow into a strong and powerful Queen, and impart the knowledge and wisdom you need to be a good and just Queen. I will defend you while you are weak, and be there for you once you are strong."
Luna just looks at her father strangely, as if she doesn't recognise him. Suddenly, she lunges forward, and her inner jaws stop just grazing his forehead, and he continues to look at her without flinching. Ignoring Arry's demands that she stop, she leans down and sniffs at the blood, before sampling it, and still the food that speaks a half-remembered language remains passive. She takes her claws from its own blunted claws, and looks at her arm at the same place it cut itself open on her claws. Reaching out a claw, she makes a similar cut, and watches her blood drip onto the stone floor, sizzling as it slowly dissolves the stone. Slowly she reaches out her bleeding arm, and watches as the blood drops on the speaking preys hind limb and sizzles, that provokes a wince, but nothing more. The other queen is reaching for her, so she lunges forward and presses her own wound against the wound the food opened up. Just to see what happens. The prey screams, but also somehow holds on to her arm, preventing her from removing it as the stench of melting flesh fills the air. Then his scent starts to change, and becomes familiar, and the flesh stops melting. Quite why that would be escapes her. She's also no longer alone, she has someone with her. That someone is badly injured but still with her. The other queen tries to take her hive member away, so she stabs it with her tail, and they back off. Just because they're her mother, doesn't mean they can help themselves to her hive members. Hocking up some Royal Jelly, she smears it on the wound before immobilising the limb in resin. As the hive member has passed out, she forces their mouth open with her own, and vomits out as much Royal Jelly as she can, before forcing them to swallow it down. It's healing properties will help, even if it's slow to act and will promote it in the hive. That done she curls up protectively around the injured hive member and goes to sleep.
Together they dream a nightmare of forests, conflicts, and the stars.
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Minerva stands up, "Good evening everyone, Prefects I know not all of your houses are here, so please ensure that they are told about this notice. Miss Dunns, are all the staff here?"
"Professor Quirrell and Hagrid aren't. The professor has taken to drink since the Troll, and Hagrid has games at the Hopping pot every Thursday evening."
"When they return, let them know that the third floor corridor is off limits unless they wish to die a very painful death."
"I have some good news, as some of you may have been aware. Miss Lovegood has been undergoing a metamorphosis for the last few months. This has taken longer than expected, however she hatched earlier today. She is being housed in a suite in the third floor corridor, and is not yet in full control of her facilities. I'm sure the rumour mill has told you all about what happened to the troll, and some of the NEWT students have given stories of hunting in the Forbidden Forest with the Yautja and Hufflepuff first years. Until Miss Lovegood has matured a little more, she is likely to attack anything that trespasses in her chambers. As such, until she comes back to her awareness, she will be confined to those quarters. We will be applying protections to deter the curious, and they will be a painful reminder that you shouldn't be there. However, that is still better than allowing some of you to commit suicide by stupidity. Does anyone have any questions?"
"Why is she even allowed in the castle then?"
"Because it's the least worst option. She sees Arry as her mother, and here there are others who can safely socialise with her. She, like Arry, is a Queen of her new species. As a Queen she can lay eggs, by keeping her here, we have some control over who is exposed to those eggs. If she was housed somewhere like the Rookery or St Mungos, then those eggs could hatch and cause the death of near by innocent witches and wizards."
"What protections are you going to put up?"
"All of the Masters are going to provide their own deterrents and we will not be sharing the nature of those to anyone. Lastly, Miss Lovegood herself is the final deterrent."
"What do we need to do in order to visit safely?"
"Achieve a xenomorph animagus form, like most of the Hufflepuff first years. Those that are interested in attempting this, let me know and we will see if the same method that worked for them will work for you. You will also be mentioned in my submission to Transfiguration Today when I publish this new method next summer. If that fails, then you will need to learn the normal method during your Transfiguration NEWTs."