Travel and Power : Part Two
`I've seen it before' Harry said quietly and at his words everyone gasped, shocked that Harry could be telling the truth.
`And what happened?' Hermione asked nervously, not sure she wanted the answer.
`Disaster…' Harry said, his head drooping low, like a man who had been defeated.
Harry stood up quickly, withdrawing the wooden thing that was increasingly becoming more important in Hermione's mind, and with a complicated flick over the dead unicorn Harry stopped to look at Hermione.
`We should be going' Harry said simply and turned to walk past the others towards the main control room. Hermione stared at the unicorn for a few moments, wiped the tears from her eyes determinedly and followed after Harry up the stairs and into the control room.
`Now this is a little more confusing than I first thought' Harry said to himself as much as Hermione as he looked again at the controls, his face barely an inch from them.
`Harry…' Hermione said like she was pleading, asking for him to tell her it was ok.
`Yeah, Hermione?' Harry said offhand, his eyes still passing wildly over all the terminals as he became determined to spot something.
`What is that wooden thing?' Hermione said, trying to bring logic and sense back into the situation by asking questions.
`A wand' Harry said offbeat, his face had now stopped over a single button and he had a smile on his face `Gotcha!'
`What?' Hermione said in confusion, both at the sudden joy and the idea that Harry owned a…a…wand!
`Leaked energy coming from the generation of the neural implants' Harry said standing up and looking at Hermione `pretty obvious really, and completely unavoidable in 2050'
`But what does that mean?' Hermione asked completely bewildered.
`I have no idea…' Harry said, his eyes looking off at something but not really seeing it as he thought quickly. Long moment's passes as he stayed like this, Hermione just asking the one question to herself. Eventually Harry sighed loudly and took a few steps closer towards her.
`This is proving to be more frustrating than I had hoped for…' he said with a little sad smile, but was interrupted before he could carry on.
`Now who the hell are you two really?' the older man had come roaring into the house, his mouth twitching in anger and his face red.
`We already told…' Harry started but was interrupted by the man almost instantly.
`Don't give me all that crap!' he yelled, his eyes stuck pointedly on Harry `you two come here and an hour later a unicorn is dead!'
`You can't think we have anything to do with this!' Hermione said in indignation, firing a blazing look at him.
`That's exactly what I think!' he said, taking an intimidation step forward towards her. Her first impulse was to step back, but her will refused to be bullied by this man, especially on something she hadn't done.
`Well then your as stupid as you look' Hermione said angrily back at him.
`It all makes sense…' the old man started but was interrupted, this time by Hermione.
`What? That we introduce ourselves to you in broad day light just as we kill a unicorn?' Hermione spat at him in anger.
`But…' the old man stuttered but she interrupted him again.
`Or that you had people with us for every step we made in this village?' she pointed out, still angrily but calming down as logic came into their lives, however small.
`But…' he stuttered, completely unsure of himself.
`Or that we're going to be the ones to make sure it doesn't happen again?' Hermione finished, determined to make her words the truth. The old man looked at her, something like respect in his eyes.
`Hermione, you fantastic young woman' Harry said, a smile finally back on his mouth as he looked at her `would you care for a walk before we save the day'
`I'd love one' Hermione said smiling, taking Harry's arm and walking out of the room, the old man left cursing by himself.
`Now that was…' Harry started as they walked through the village.
`Fantastic?' Hermione said as she teasingly raised an eyebrow at Harry.
`Exactly!' Harry said roaring with laughter `but you seem to be a little over confident'
`What do you mean?' Hermione asked, happy that she had him, her protector, so close to her at this point.
`Well how can you be so sure that we can stop this from happening again?' Harry had said this seriously, like it was some sort of quiz at school.
`You stopped the plastafrese, didn't you?' Hermione said simply.
`It's Plas-to-crese, and anyway, plastic coming alive and trying to kill people was easy to diagnose, this…' Harry said this all very simply, like the school teacher in him `…well, this is a whole other ball park'
They were wandering through the village, seeming towards nowhere, Hermione couldn't help but feel a little strangely as she saw all the people in tears around them as they enjoyed a stroll.
`How is this so different?' Hermione asked as she tore her eyes away from a very elderly woman unable to stop crying.
`A unicorn, supposedly impossible to kill, gets murdered…' Harry started, looking around him like he was seeing things that she couldn't `…no witnesses, no suspect and only some excess energy to differ this place from Central Park'
`Central Park?' Hermione said incredulously.
`If Central Park had unicorns and a little hippy settlement' Harry said laughing as he conceded her point.
They walked on further till they got to a large machine, Hermione guessed that this must have been the generator Harry had left to see. She was sure they would stop here, but Harry led her past it without even a second look.
`You said you had seen one… killed' Hermione said unsure of herself.
`In a different life' Harry said quietly, looking at the ground.
`Maybe it's the same thing as then' Hermione said helpfully.
`Its not' Harry said simply.
`How can you be so sure?' Hermione asked.
`You'll just have to trust me on that one' Harry said looking at her with a smile `let's stop here'
Hermione was now still, looking around her for anything that could of made Harry stop. They were in a little narrow passage way between to houses, nothing about this spot seemed in the least bit interesting, it even appeared dull.
`Why have we…' she started but Harry put his hand up to stop her. Almost instantly she caught it, a very low humming noise like nothing she had ever heard before, and then the lights flickered again, only for a moment but enough for her to just realize it.
`What was that?' Hermione asked straight away, looking up at Harry, who had a smile on his face again.
`I think I know' Harry said ecstatically looking around the alleyway `but…this is…'
Whatever Harry's next words were going to be Hermione would never know as Harry started strolling quickly out of the alleyway, Hermione following so closely behind him that she fell into him when he suddenly stopped a few steps on. As Hermione rearranged herself after nearly falling over him Harry hadn't even seemed to realize.
`How stupid could I be!' Harry said ecstatically, his eyes scanning for someone as they searched everyone's faces, but the lights were flickering again, this time quicker and darker than previously.
`What's going on?' Hermione asked instinctively taking a step closer to Harry.
`We're running out of time' Harry said this in the strangest voice, one that reminded her of crying children somehow. Hermione couldn't understand but then Harry pointed out towards the field, and the sight almost stopped Hermione's heart.
Where once the field seemed alive with dancing sliver and gold, now it was still, the gold and silver seemed to be draining out of the scene and a new color was taking over, flowing throughout like water. The color was Red, blood red.
`What's happened?' Hermione demanded, pulling Harry to look at her.
`They've been killed…' Harry said shocked `…all of them'
Hermione looked back at the field, trying desperately to find one of them still moving, but her eyes failed her. Not a single one was still moving.
`Harry!' Hermione said pleadingly, unable to move her eyes from the death in front of her.
`Come on…' Harry said pulling her roughly away t shake her from the image `…we're running out of time…all of us will be next…'
Holding his hand Hermione had to sprint to keep up with him, after a moment she knew where they were going, the control room once again. She jumped up the steps quickly and followed Harry into the room, confronted with the image of the old man violently shaking Emma. Instantly Harry had his `wand' out and a bright light came with it. The next sight Hermione saw was Emma panic stricken, the old man lying on the floor, his back against the wall.
`Why did you stop me!' the old man shouted, giving murderous looks at Emma.
`Help me, miss!' Emma screamed and ran to Hermione, hiding behind her in an attempt to escape the old man. Harry however was looking at both of them, anger in every line of his face.
`What is your name?' Harry said determinedly, his voice had no anger in it but was very controlled.
`It's Emma, sir' she squealed panicky.
`Emma, you were the one who implanted the neural transmitter?' Harry said this as a question but his eyes told her it was more of a statement. Emma nodded in fear at him. `And no one else could ever quite manage it, could they?'
`They never stuck or they…they…' the old man couldn't finish his sentence telling Hermione exactly what the fate was of the unicorns others treated
`Emma…' Harry said slowly raising his wand and taking a step towards her.
`Kill her!' the old man shouted angrily. All Harry did to this was turn and look at him. The old man eyes shut and his head fell onto the ground, knocked out. Hermione couldn't see Harry's face or what he had done and she became scared, she didn't know what was going on.
`Hermione, move out the way' Harry said simply to her, but she didn't move `Hermione, move quickly'
Hermione didn't move for a moment, she didn't know what Harry was going to do, she didn't know if Emma would be safe. But then her mind cleared, this was Harry, and she trusted him.
`Hermione, move quickly' he said pointedly and she stepped aside letting Harry come within touching distance of Emma `give me your hand, Emma'
Hermione saw the fear on Emma's face, but the girl lifted her arm anyway for him. Harry did a little movement with his `wand' and then smiled.
`Just as I thought' Harry said stepping away `and I'm sorry'
`Sorry for what?' Hermione demanded, angry as Harry seemed to betray her in favor of the old man. Harry looked at Hermione for a moment before answering.
`She's like me' Harry said simply.
`Like…you?' Hermione said confused looking at him, what did he mean? Was she some sort of time-travelling hero?
`Yeah, like me' Harry said turning back to Emma, who seemed positively terrified at being given this label `If you had been born another time, another place, another world, everything would have been so different…but…'
`Harry you can't!' Hermione said stepping back in front of Emma as Harry raised his wand again at Emma.
`Hermione, I'm not going to hurt her…' Harry said `…I promise'
This was all Hermione needed and she turned around to face Emma, tears were flowing from the little girls eyes as freely as taps of water.
`Trust him' Hermione said simply and gave the girl a little hug before stepping away, to be replaced immediately by Harry.
Harry lifted his wand and without a word a gold light starting emanating from Emma, spewing out like smoke, Hermione noticed that it couldn't get through solid things and snuck out under the door. After a moment the door opened and Hermione gasped. Highlighted by the gold smoke was the form of a creature, she couldn't make it out properly but it was about the size of a human head. Hermione couldn't understand what was happening and looked at Harry who was staring at the creatures, now about 20 of them.
`They are parasites…, Magicallds…' Harry said happily as he watched them closely, the gold steam like thing still flowing form Emma who seemed to be paralyzed `Attracted to Emma because of her energy, attracted to me to I should point but I'm in control enough to not be taken advantage of…poor Emma here was never taught control…'
Harry raised his wand and a blue light appeared, wrapping around the gold steam, creatures and all. The creatures pushed hard against the blue light but couldn't get past it, Harry was smiling at them.
`They have been with her since birth, feeding of her energy to keep alive' Harry started waving the wand so the blue field got smaller and smaller `…and by luck, or by fate, she started working on Unicorns. Of course only she could attach the transmitter, I said how it was impossible in 2050, but she could because she was special…'
The blue light was being filled up to the brim with the gold light and with every passing second the creatures became more visibly, their parts clearer defined by the gold light that couldn't pass through it. The creatures looked like a cross between a cockroach and a goblin you saw n children's television on Saturday mornings.
`…the Magicallds are usually harmless, you never even realize their there, but as she worked on the brain, on the blood of the unicorns they passed from her to them…' Harry said, tightening the blue light again `…and unicorns are incredibly powerful, full of magic…'
`Magic?' Hermione said instantly.
`That's the energy we have…' Harry said looking at her, a smile on his face that hoped she understood and wouldn't interrupt `…Unicorn blood can keep alive even the sickest, closest to death animals, creatures and people, even those that are… already dead…The Magicallds had a feast, unfortunately…they took it to far…'
Anger flashed in Harry's face as he swiped his wand viciously through the wand as the blue light snapped close, the creatures pushed on top of each other as they struggled for space. Hermione thought she could hear the creatures screaming.
`Now they are too strong, powered up on not only unicorn blood but the unicorns' whole life…' Harry said this angrily but stopped dead in his sentence, the creatures had all stopped and were staring at him.
`So you will kill us?' the creatures all said at the same time, their voices indistinguishable from each others.
`You…' Harry said this uncertainly, the blue field got slightly bigger `…you can't speak…'
`Then how are we speaking right now?' the all said in such perfect unison that it brought the hairs up on Hermione's neck.
`This makes no difference' Harry said quickly, but uncertainty was in every syllable of every word he spoke.
`Can you kill a whole race of sentient beings?' the creatures spoke again. Hermione looked at Harry, who seemed for the first time to be panicking.
`Magicallds are everywhere!' Harry said finally.
`But we are no longer Magicallds, they are stupid parasites living of the magic of creatures like you' they said.
`So what are you' Harry said uncertainly.
`Emma called them the bad wolf' Hermione spoke remembering the girls words, taking a step closer to Harry, wanting to let him know that he wasn't alone in this.
`That is not our name' the creatures spoke, almost angrily.
`It matters not what your name is' Harry said defiantly `If I let you go you will kill more'
`Why would we?' the creatures said instantly, stopping Harry in his tracks `We don't need magic to exist, we already exist'
Hermione almost jumped as she felt a hand go into hers, but realized it was Harry's. He pressed his palm against hers almost like a child would a safety blanket.
`So what would you do if I allowed you to go?' Harry said, his voice was different, like the twenty something boy he really was.
`Observe' this time the voice came from one of the creatures, and the tone had an almost unnerving human quality about it. Somehow just the one of them speaking was stranger than when they spoke in unison.
Harry turned his head towards her and their eyes met, instantly Hermione knew the truth. Harry couldn't kill them, not now.
`You have to let them go' Hermione said softly, taking the decision off of Harry's shoulders and onto hers `their not to blame for the deaths, they were something…else…now they have understanding, language…'
Harry stood still for almost a minute, just looking straight into Hermione's. He knew what he had to do, but knew it could prove a mistake. He gave Hermione a smile and the in an instant all the light form the room was gone, all shapes of creatures was invisible again and all that was left was the pair of them, Emma and the unconscious old man.
Hermione let go of Harry's hand and ran up to Emma, her hands on the girls face checking she was ok.
`Thanks, sir, miss' she said quietly looking about her.
`That's ok, we're just happy your safe' Harry said strolling up towards her, a beaming smile on his face.
`You gave us a right scare!' Hermione said after she checked the girls' heartbeat and found it to be normal.
`I…I…I did?' Emma stammered.
`Don't you remember?' Harry said shaking his head sorrowful `you passed out…everything will be safe now'
`I promise!' Hermione added happily.
`Thanks, Hermione' Emma said with a smile, she was impressed by how trusting the girl was.
`Oh no!' Emma squealed looking at the old man and throwing her hands to her face.
`That's ok, he fell over' Harry said happily `Smashed his head, wont remember a thing!'
Emma stopped and stared at Harry in concentration.
`What did you mean when you said I was like you, sir?' Emma said eyeing him suspiciously.
`Don't worry about that…we're like fish and bicycles now, completely different' Harry said brightly as he turned to Emma `We better be leaving'
`You sure?' Hermione asked, worried still about Emma.
`Definitely' Harry said telling Hermione that everyone was safe here now. He turned to Emma quickly `If it's not too much to ask, could you get us a bottle of water, we have a far way to travel and in the excitement I've become quite thirsty'
`Yes, immediately, sir' Emma said happily turning to leave.
`Bye Emma' Hermione called as the girl left, but wasn't sure if she was heard.
`Take my hand then' Harry said happily, looking at her.
`But what about the unicorns?' Hermione asked.
`I'm sorry, but their dead…' Harry said softly, for her benefit more than his `…and not even I can bring people back alive'
Hermione felt sad, but she knew they had saved lives here, definitely saved Emma's, and who knows who else's. But still the field of Unicorns had been lost, and nothing, not even Harry, could change that.
She reached out and took Harry's hand.
`Apparating?' Hermione asked, hoping for a different answer than the one she knew was coming.
`The only way to travel…' Harry said laughing `…at least the only way that feels like you're pushed through a straw!'
And with the sound of Harry laughing the horrible sensation of Apparition came over Hermione, and the next thing she knew she was back in the Ford Anglia.
`I don't think I'm ever going to get sued to apparition' Hermione said feeling a little sick but excited none the less at the prospect of being back inside the Ford Anglia.
`You will' Harry said brightly as he made his way over to the silver basin `but I promise you won't ever enjoy it!'
`That's a great reassurance!' Hermione said slapping him on the arm as she made her way over to the silver basin.
`Just telling it like it is!' he said laughing `like the fact that you've been walking around with dirt on your forehead all day!'
`What!' Hermione said angrily reaching up and somehow trying to feel the dirt. Harry's laughter let her knew that he was joking and she gave him another playful slap on the arm `you should do stand up!'
`I'll let you know I once did…' Harry said flashing her a smile `…although that's not till 3456'
`We so gotta go see that!' Hermione said excitedly.
`Nah…you can just watch the DVD sometime' Harry said waving the idea away, `So where do you want to see next?'
`Um…' Hermione said thinking hard.
`I'm not sure where exactly um is?' Harry said teasingly, but Hermione ignored it, she had just come up with the perfect idea.
`I got it!' Hermione screamed with excitement.
`Fantastic!' Harry said in equal measure of excitement `where to then madam?'
`I want to see…' Hermione said, almost unable to control herself with the prospect of fulfilling a childhood wish `…1594…'
`Any particular reason for that date? Although I will hazard a guess that you meant to say London with it' Harry said with a mischievous smile on his face that told her he already knew why.
Hermione smiled at him, amazed at how he seemed to know pretty much everything, before answering his questions.
`To see Shakespeare'
*
So that's chapter 3…hope it was ok…anyway let me know where I'm going wrong, what I'm doing right…feedback people is the key to reviews!
Jms Granger.
-->