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Captain Granger rested a hand on the cool glass of the porthole, a mere three inches of transparent material separating her from the vacuum of space. Rationally, Hermione knew that the window was magically reinforced to withstand the extreme temperatures associated with intergalactic expeditions. Not to mention meteoroids, solar flares, and any other calamity that her ship, The Minerva, might encounter. However, that didn’t stop her from taking out her wand to assess the enchantments herself not long after launch, whispering a quick incantation to reinforce them. Attempting to calm her nerves, Hermione breathed slowly, hand flexing against the glass. The source of both her hopes and her troubles, the mysterious Planet X, appeared a mere speck in the distance. Surrounded by a tapestry of stars and inky blackness, it seemed an unremarkable, tiny blob of orange to the naked eye. But for Hermione and the crew of The Minerva, Planet X was a catalyst. It was the reason they had been apparated into deep space on their first mission. The reason Hermione had been given a captaincy in the first place. As one of the few planets with the potential to support life, the newly discovered Planet X was of high interest to the Intergalactic Magical Expeditions Department (IMED). It had been sheer luck that most of the Magical Space Navy (MSN) had been deployed on extended assignment aboard The Phoenix, when the Ministry - spurred by public opinion - announced a crew would be dispatched immediately to gather soil samples from Planet X. Seizing her chance, Hermione had petitioned to captain the small, research ship that would be magically transported into deep space. The higher-ups at IMED had been hesitant. Hermione did exceptionally well in the theory portion of her training, but on rare occasions had choked in the practical simulations. One botched simulated space flight and IMED were quick to limit your prospects. They had offered her a prestigious position in the research division of the space navy. You aren’t suited to space flight. They had told her, while dangling the well-paid, entirely ground based research role to her on a silver platter. But Hermione was adamant, she would go to space, she would captain a ship. Ever since she was a little girl, rockets and astronauts had fascinated Hermione. For her seventh birthday her parents had given her a beautiful silver telescope, her father showing her how to find Mars amongst the stars. One day, Hermione, there will be people living up there… Her father had said, his hand held upwards to the sky. And then, just three years after the war the Ministry had unveiled The Lightning Device, a magical gateway, invented by The Department of Mysteries, with the power to apparate matter into deep space. Not long afterwards the Magical Space Navy was formed, and hundreds of young witches and wizards had flocked to join, spurred by the wizarding world’s newfound fervour for space exploration. Hermione had been one of them and the short, but vital mission to Planet X was the perfect opportunity to prove herself. However, it wasn’t only the Ministry that held reservations regarding her capabilities. Her on again/off again, currently ex-boyfriend Ron Weasley had been particularly vocal in his objections,
“Look, Mione. I support your goals and everything -” Ron had exclaimed, in between mouthfuls of hot porridge at his mother’s breakfast table. “But space travel is dangerous. Harry is a good captain because he works well under stress, but you… I love you Hermione, but books won’t save you when you stumble across a black hole or something…”
Molly Weasley was behind him at that point, nodding emphatically, one hand on her son’s shoulder.
“... And Hermione, dear, don’t you want to settle down in the next few years?” Molly added, her eyes wide and hopeful. “You can’t very well be pregnant and captain a spaceship...”
Hermione cringed at the memory. Children were still a maybe in her future, but Mrs Weasley had been pressing the issue - even though her and Ron had been broken up four times in the last six years. Tearing herself away from the window, and her memories, Hermione faced her crew on the bridge, focusing on the problem at hand - Twelve hours ago, The Minerva had landed in the Virgo galaxy, with enough distance between the ship and the planet to allow for any miscalculations. Space apparition wasn’t an exact science, after all. Ten hours ago, a small shuttle piloted by Lieutenant Weasley, carrying Unspeakable Lovegood and Ensign Greengrass, was dispatched to land on Planet X. Ginny, Luna and Daphne would be collecting soil samples, before returning to The Minerva. Nine hours ago, Ginny made contact, confirming the shuttle had landed on the planet. That was the last communication from LT Weasley… Two hours ago, Ginny was supposed to make contact to confirm that the shuttle was exiting the planet’s atmosphere. That hadn’t happened. One hour ago, Ginny and co. were meant to have arrived back on The Minerva. Soil samples in hand, ready for the ship's extraction back to The Department of Mysteries. Hermione and Lieutenant Chang (Helmsman) had attempted to reach the planet’s surface by radio, but a supernova just over four hundred light years away was causing interference in communications.
What would Harry do?
The Boy Who Lived had taken to space travel like a duck to water and was now captain of The Phoenix, an enormous, two-hundred-man strong spaceship. Tales of Harry’s intergalactic exploits were well-known throughout the magical community, the Ministry taking full advantage of her friend’s popularity to promote their space program. Mission protocol dictated that she not leave the ship, that the crew remaining would be insufficient in the event of an emergency. The ministry preferred captains to remain with their ships and direct the crew from the bridge. But Ginny, Luna and Daphne were definitely in trouble… Harry would leave the ship, Hermione reasoned. Her friend would not have hesitated when Ginny failed to make contact. He would have piloted a shuttle to the planet’s surface himself to rescue her. And here Hermione was, frozen in indecision. All but useless in the face of her worried crew… Ron’s voice echoed in her ears, “Harry is a good captain because he works well under stress, but you…” A small voice interrupted her reverie. “Captain, are you alright?” Lieutenant Chang said kindly in her soft Scottish lilt. Cho had risen from her seat at the helm and was standing a few metres from Hermione, one hand extended as though she would place it upon her captain’s shoulder. Cho had been in her class at the space naval academy. With similar levels of dedication and academic prowess the two had become fast friends during their training, spending many late nights together prepping for exams. In their final year Cho had elected to enter the pilot stream, while Hermione had pursued a captaincy. Hermione had missed their nights together and was elated when Cho was appointed Helmsman of The Minerva. The remainder of the crew, Draco Malfoy, Susan Bones and Padma Patil stood near the door to the bridge awaiting orders - their faces illuminated from above by several balls of iridescent light, conjured by Padma, the ship’s engineer. Unlike a muggle rocket, which relied on costly fuel, The Minerva was powered entirely by magic. Meeting Malfoy’s gaze, Hermione was surprised by the deference she found there, his eyes holding none of the disdain she remembered from their Hogwarts days. “I’m ok, but we need to -” Hermione stopped when she felt a warmth emanating from her pocket. Reaching into her silver spacesuit she was surprised to find the enchanted galleon she kept as a memento from her time in Dumbledore’s Army glowing orange. Cho looked at her wide-eyed. “Is that…?” “... My coin from the DA. Yes, it is.” Hermione muttered, turning the warm metal over in the palm of her hand, her mind piecing together the significance of what was happening. “It’s Ginny and Luna - it must be. They are in trouble.” “Not Harry?” Cho asked, curiously. Hermione wondered for a moment whether her helmsman still harboured a crush on The Boy Who Lived. She was unsure why the prospect caused an unpleasant sensation to flutter in her stomach. “The Phoenix is on the other side of the universe, four galaxies away.” She commented, flipping the coin, before turning to Cho. “My enchantments are good, but not that good.” Malfoy huffed an amused laugh. Surveying her crew on the bridge, Hermione cleared her throat, before relaying the plan. “Lieutenant Chang and I will go down to Planet X to search for Ginny, Luna and Daphne.” She began, nodding to Cho, who immediately went to fetch her spacesuit. “Malfoy, can you man the helm while we are absent?” Hermione continued, fixing her former classmate with a piercing stare. “Yes, Captain.” Draco replied, blinking slowly at the request. She understood his surprise, as a former Death Eater, Malfoy had been fortunate to be granted a position on the crew. Being allowed at the helm of a Ministry spaceship (even a small one like The Minerva) was unheard of for those who bore The Dark Mark. “Malfoy is in charge while I am gone.” She declared, keeping a blank face as Susan and Padma’s eyebrows shot up at the proclamation. “Yes, Captain.” Malfoy exclaimed, a grateful smile briefly gracing his features. *** The flight to the planet’s atmosphere was uneventful, with Cho guiding the small shuttle expertly through clouds of space dust and occasional debris. Hermione sat behind the pilot’s chair, her form-fitting silver spacesuit tingling with magic. Unlike muggle spacesuits, theirs fitted like a second skin for maximum manoeuvrability, the soft fabric reminding Hermione of Harry’s invisibility cloak. The suit was imbued with spells to regulate pressure, temperature, and gravity - replicating the conditions on Earth. Oxygen was supplied through a modified version of the Bubble-Head Charm, reworked for space travel. “We’re almost there, Captain.” Cho said, one hand on the controls and the other on her wand as she directed the shuttle with a combination of magic and mechanics. Hermione acknowledged the comment, before sitting back in her seat. Piloting required an incredible amount of concentration, with numerous spells having to be maintained simultaneously. Not wanting to disturb Cho, Hermione remained silent, her gaze unconsciously drawn to her pilot’s long, dark hair, which fell down her back in waves, coming to rest just above her hips. She blinked and attempted to refocus on the mission, but just then Cho hummed in frustration and arched her back to better reach the controls. Hermione watched as Cho’s spacesuit moved with her like a second skin, highlighting every curve of the lithe woman’s body. Suddenly Hermione found it awfully hard to concentrate on the mission at hand. Turning around in her chair, Cho met Hermione’s eyes and both women blushed. Hermione more so for being caught looking. Captains don’t ogle their crew… She recited mentally, attempting a blank, professional expression that came off more as a wince. Recovering first, Cho gestured to the viewing window, before waving her wand to bring up a hologram of the terrain above the control panel. “Captain.” Cho said seriously, gesturing to the viewing window. “My scans have picked up something unusual on the surface of Planet X.” “Please elaborate, Lieutenant.” Hermione replied, moving closer. Looking at the map in front of them, she could see a multitude of brown shapes representing mountains and cliffs. Planet X appeared to be predominantly rocky and uneven. Wordlessly Cho pointed to a trio of grey rectangular shapes in the top right-hand corner. Hermione’s pulse raced. “Are those buildings?” “Yes.” Cho replied wide-eyed. “And they are adjacent to the only flat terrain on the map. So, Ginny must have landed there.” Buildings meant inhabitants - human or alien, magical or non-magical. Ginny, Luna, and Daphne hadn’t made their rendezvous, meaning they were likely in trouble and Hermione would bet her wand it had something to do with the structures on the surface of Planet X and whoever had constructed them. “Orders, Captain?” Cho asked gravely. “Are we able to communicate with The Minerva?” Hermione replied, her attention fixed on the map; she didn’t realise how close she had gotten to Cho until her hair brushed the other woman’s shoulder. Her pilot gasped a little at the contact, turning quickly to the onboard communicator and waving her wand. “N-No, the supernova is still giving too much interference.” Cho answered, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Scan for lifeforms and then put us down near the buildings. I will send a Patronus with a message for Malfoy.” Hermione instructed, conjuring a bright, playful otter, which immediately flipped in the air, before twirling around Hermione in graceful circles. “Can Patronus’ travel through space?” Cho asked doubtfully. “I’m not sure to be honest, but it’s our best shot of letting the crew know what is down here, in case we don’t come back.” Hermione replied, sending her Patronus soaring in the direction of the ship. She watched the rear window as the little otter twisted and turned in the darkness before turning into a speck in the distance, indistinguishable from the stars. “Descendo.” Cho muttered, wand twirling in one hand, while flipping a switch on the control panel with the other. Hermione cast the strongest disillusionment charm she could manage to cloak the ship, as it descended towards the planet’s surface. Her heart raced as the austere structures became larger in the viewing window. Clutching her wand in one hand, Hermione readied herself for whatever she would find on Planet X. *** The surface of the planet was rocky and arid. Bright, orange dirt crunched under Hermione’s boots with every step. A good sign, she mused, noting the vibrant colour. Orange was an indication that the soil was rich in minerals. Cliffs and dunes rose around them, their shuttle having landed in a large, flat valley - an oddity on what the scans revealed to be a mountainous world. A sun was rising, peeking over the cliffs in the distance and bathing their surroundings in warm light. Initial scans aboard the shuttle had revealed Planet X maintained an average temperature of minus sixty degrees Celsius. Hermione could feel her spacesuit buzzing with the magic needed to keep her body warm. A modified bubble-headed charm supplemented the planet’s thin atmosphere, giving her the oxygen needed to maintain consciousness. It’s like Mars, she thought, smiling a little as she looked up at the sky, imagining her father in the backyard with his telescope. “I did it, Dad…” Hermione whispered to the heavens, before turning to Cho who was focused on a small shape in the distance near the buildings. “Captain, it’s Ginny’s shuttle!” She exclaimed, breaking into a run, Hermione close behind. Clouds of orange dust trailed after the two women as they ran, Hermione stopping short of the shuttle to cast Homenum Revelio, while Cho ran straight for the entry hatch. “No one here.” She frowned when her spell showed no indication of human life aboard the shuttle. “The porthole is damaged. We can’t fly this back to The Minerva.” Cho said gravely, performing a quick diagnostic spell with a swirl of her wand. Hermione’s heartbeat faster as she examined what was left of Ginny’s shuttle. The light grey exterior was covered in scorch marks, the front and back viewing panels littered with cracks and holes. An ugly, jagged gash tore through the pilot’s chair, exposing the stuffing. At least there is no blood… “This was done with magic…” Cho exclaimed, face pale, turning towards the buildings close by as if the culprit would immediately make themselves known. Not wasting a moment, Hermione turned to their own undamaged shuttle, luminous blue beams soaring from her wand, forming a protective shield around the craft. It was their only way off the planet, and she was taking no chances. “Do you think Daphne did this?” Cho asked shakily, voicing an unwelcome thought that had been floating around Hermione’s head since they landed. Daphne Greengrass had graduated top of the science stream at space naval academy. She was a celebrated expert in magical geology and biology, despite her young age and death eater parentage. A small voice belonging to a younger Hermione whispered that of course Daphne was behind this… she was a Slytherin after all and the child of two death eaters. A flash of panic shot through Hermione when she pictured Malfoy on the bridge of The Minerva. She had left him in charge, but what if he and Daphne were working together to bring down the mission? Shaking her head, Hermione tried to dispel her prejudice and focus on the facts as they were. Ginny, Luna, and Daphne were missing, and their shuttle was damaged. There were also buildings on an unexplored planet in deep space. How did they get here? Who built them? Neither Malfoy, nor Daphne had anything to gain from sabotaging the mission. In fact, their future in the Magical Space Navy (as well as hers) rested on this mission being a success. Voldemort was gone. His followers were dead, in prison or in some cases (e.g., Narcissa Malfoy) on conditional parole. Most of the Dark Lord’s former supporters had accepted defeat. “I think whoever attacked the shuttle has something to do with these buildings being here.” She whispered, making her way slowly towards the three large, rectangular structures that stood as an eerie contrast to the surrounding landscape. Cho walked beside her; wand drawn. Hermione cast a quick disillusionment charm to mask their presence and the two women made their way slowly around the buildings, canvassing their grey exteriors one at a time, looking for a door to enter or a window to peek through. The first two had smooth, uniform exteriors with no markings or entrances. The third was larger and took more time to circle, Hermione ducking down part way along to examine a set of footprints on the ground. “These footprints don’t belong to any of our crew, they’re too big.” She whispered to Cho, who stood a few paces along, tentatively peering around the northwest corner of the building. “Hermione…” Cho gasped, her face ashen, gaze transfixed on something on the other side of the building out of Hermione’s line of sight. Quickly, Hermione made her way to Lieutenant Chang’s side, heart thumping in her chest as she rounded the corner. The northwest front of the building extended before them, a large, ominous grey door just a few paces away. But it wasn’t the door that captured their attention. Ice shot through Hermione’s veins at the shimmering emerald and obsidian ink that seemed to vibrate in their presence. Instinctively she reached for Cho’s hand, squeezing it reassuringly as the two women peered up at the large imprint above the building’s entrance. “The Dark Mark...” Cho whispered, eyes wide in terror. *** To say that Lieutenant Chang had always wanted to be an astronaut would be false. Cho’s first aspiration had been to join The Wizarding College of Ballet as a professional ballet dancer. At five years old she had begged her parents for lessons, spending her weekends practicing her pirouette and arabesque in a small, golden tutu enchanted to sparkle when she twirled. At eight years old she found a new obsession in quidditch, her mother and father taking her to games whenever their work schedule allowed. When she was accepted onto the Ravenclaw quidditch team she had been ecstatic, sure that one day she would be playing professionally for the Tornadoes. But then Cedric was murdered, and the rug pulled out from under her feet. Quidditch did not seem important anymore. Nothing did, really. Cho had always believed Harry; she knew he was telling the truth and Voldemort had returned. She knew there would be a war. It was all Cho could do to complete her schoolwork and achieve decent grades; she owed her parents that much, after all they had given her. After the Battle of Hogwarts, she had followed her mother’s footsteps and applied for a clerkship at the ministry. For two years she had sat in a small, dull office in the Department of Magical Games and Sports, filing paperwork and passing time. But then the Ministry had unveiled The Lightning Device, a gateway to the furthest reaches of the galaxy. For the first time since childhood Cho felt a spark. Something within her was ignited - a fire that could only be quenched by going where no witch had gone before. She joined the Magical Space Navy not long after it was founded, devoting herself to the new field of space wizardry. In Hermione she found a friend of equal academic fervour, the two of them spending late nights studying and quizzing each other for exams. Cho couldn’t say when she began to look at Hermione with longing, when she started to wish they could be more than friends.
The accidental brush of knees under the table while they were huddled together comparing notes... Hands meeting when both women reached for the same book…
Cho blushed bright red and stuttered at those moments. Hermione was always gracious, her smiles soft and sincere. Looking back, Cho wished she had the courage to take her friend’s hand one of those nights. She often wondered how Hermione would react if she made a move. It had honestly been a relief when she entered the pilot program and Hermione pursued a captaincy. They had relocated to opposite sides of the academy, separate classes, and different exams. Cho missed her dearly. but was glad for the nights of study without butterflies in her stomach. But then she had seen Hermione in the Captain’s chair of The Minerva and the butterflies returned tenfold, along with a curious feeling of weightlessness, which hit Cho whenever Hermione smiled. Looking up at the black and emerald ink in front of her, Cho felt many things, none of which included weightlessness or butterflies. Shock and fear gnawed at her insides, but Hermione’s firm hand brought comfort. Acting on instinct, she squeezed the hand in return, tearing her eyes away from the menacing insignia to study the captain’s face. Hermione was pale, but her eyes were hard and resolute, releasing Cho’s hand she drew her wand, motioning for the other woman to get behind her. “I will go in and investigate, you stay out here and find cover.” Hermione whispered, moving towards the door, but Cho shook her head. She hadn’t been there to save Cedric and it still haunted her years down the track. But she was here now - a grown witch fully capable of defending herself. She wouldn’t let anything happen to Hermione. Hermione saw the steel in her eyes and relented, manoeuvring her wand to check for booby traps, before whispering a quick Alohomora to unlock the door. Quietly, the two women made their way into the pitch-black facility, not wanting to cast Lumos lest they give themselves way. Cho crouched at Hermione’s side keeping her eyes and ears peeled for signs of life. The darkness was so thick, it was impossible to tell how big the room was, but Cho could feel smooth concrete beneath her shoes, a sharp contrast from the dirt and dust outside. Both women gasped as they bumped into a metal railing, Cho almost tumbling over it. “This is ridiculous! Lumos!” Hermione exclaimed, a small white light appearing at the end of her wand. Cho felt relieved when the spell revealed their surroundings to be small, unoccupied room with a desk, two ceiling high shelves, and a large, dark wooden cabinet. On the desk she noted several beakers, a notebook and half a dozen test tubes full of soil samples. Cautiously, she picked up a leather-bound book, turning to the first page. Inside she found a log of experiments done with soil and other materials from the planet’s surface. “Hermione…” She whispered in disbelief. “The first entry is dated February 1997.” “That’s not possible...” Hermione gasped, taking the logbook from Cho’s hand to flip through the pages. “Wizards couldn’t travel through space until 2002.” “Light wizards couldn’t, but what about dark ones? What about Death Eaters?” Cho asked, casting her own illumination spell to better examine the room. There were several doors leading out of the office, making Cho uneasy. Hermione was stock still, considering her words for a moment, before moving to a door on the left. “We need to find-” Both women jumped as a scream cut through the air. Hermione pocketed the logbook before hurrying through the door closest, where the sound originated. Cho followed close behind, wand at the ready. The door revealed a spiral staircase leading downwards, the stone steps the same vibrant orange as the ground outside. Making their way quickly down the stairs, the two women found themselves in an enormous underground chamber, lined with large stone columns of varying shades of orange and brown. Torches of bright, blue flame illuminated a large part of their surroundings. Cho counted at least seven passageways leading out of the room, along with several alcoves still shrouded in darkness. A twinge of unease crept up her spine. Cho gasped as she spied an unconscious figure lying in the centre of the room, bathed in eerie blue light. “Daphne!” Hermione exclaimed, rushing forward. “No, Hermione wait!” Cho screamed, but it was too late. Just as Hermione reached Daphne, a bright orange net, made entirely of magic came down and encircled the two of them. Hermione screamed in pain as the tendrils latched onto her skin, encasing her and a still unconscious Daphne in a cage moulded to their forms. Cho watched in horror as her captain twisted and turned in vain, the net only tightening as she struggled. “The more you fight, the more it will hurt mudblood.” A low, gravelly voice echoed from one of the alcoves. Cho whipped around to the source of noise, narrowly avoiding the jet of red light that came soaring towards her. “Expelliarmus!” The menacing voice shouted, but Cho was prepared. Diving to the side, she countered with a Stupify, aimed at the source of the voice. “Bitch!” The male voice rasped, before firing a Crucio towards her. She heard Hermione scream her name as she pivoted on the spot, the jet of light missing her by inches. “Lumos Maxima!” Cho shouted, wanting to even the playing field. At once the entire chamber was illuminated by a flash of blinding light. With the chamber lit up Cho noticed several things in quick succession – the most distressing being Ginny and Luna bound and gagged in the corner furthest from the stairs. Ginny’s hair was matted with blood that streaked down her face, but her eyes were alert and defiant. While Luna lay unconscious, numerous tears in her spacesuit. The second thing Cho noticed was a tall, beefy man dressed in dark robes, standing in an alcove to her right. Hatred shined in his bright, hazel eyes as they tracked her movements. The top half of his face was obscured by a familiar silver mask. Cho’s stomach twisted and coldness crept up her spine.
What was Death Eater doing on a remote planet, hundreds of light years away from Earth? How did he even get here?
Raising her wand, Cho held his gaze, pushing her fear deep down. “Release my friends this instant.” She commanded, her voice steady. The man looked her up and down with a sneer on his face, before flicking his wand in a lightning-fast gesture. A wordless spell soared towards Cho in a streak of blue light. “Protego!” Cho countered, just in time. A large shield of glowing silver erupted in front of her, blocking the spell before it could hit. The man’s eyes widened at the strength of her spell. His eyes darted nervously around the room, to check that his captives were still bound. Studying her for a moment, the man relaxed his shoulders, adopting an air of nonchalance. “Relax, little witch.” The man smirked, before lowering his wand slightly. “It wasn’t my intention to hurt any of you.” Cho scoffed in indignation, keeping her wand raised. “Then let my friends go.” “I had planned to.” The man drawled, affecting a pleasant tone. “Although we reached an impasse when they refused to answer my questions truthfully.” Cho noticed Ginny subtly trying to shift in her bonds, the gag having slipped down her face. Hermione remained still; her breathing laboured as the weight of the enchanted net held her down. No doubt her captain was trying to deduce the correct counter curse for her prison. “What questions?” Cho asked innocently, hoping to stall for time. The Death Eater smiled, shifting a few feet closer on the balls of his feet. Warning sparks flew from Cho’s wand and the man froze; hands raised in supplication. “Easy there, I just want to know how you all got here?” He asked. “How we got here?!” Cho replied incredulously. “The blood traitors wouldn’t tell me anything useful.” He muttered, gesturing wildly to Ginny and Luna. “Just a bunch of lies.” Ginny rolled her eyes, arms moving frantically against her bonds while the Death Eater focused on Cho. “But you are smart – I can tell. Tell me, do you serve Him? Did he send you here?” He whispered fervently, eyes wide and hopeful. “Who do you mean?” Cho asked shakily, dreading the answer. “The Dark Lord, of course! Does he rule over the wizarding world?!” The man asked, his eyes wild and pleading, shoulders shaking with fervour. “Please tell me he does, little witch. I have been waiting so long. He said he would come for me!” For a moment Cho was lost for words. What could she say to assuage this man? The seconds ticked by, and she remained frozen, the Death Eater’s breathing became more frantic, his eyes menacing. “You lost; Voldemort is dead. Harry Potter killed him!” Ginny shouted from the other side of the room, having freed herself from her bonds. The youngest Weasley remained crouched on the ground, one hand curled protectively over Luna, the other grasping her wand, which was pointed at their foe. “Shut up! You filthy blood traitor!” The Death Eater shouted, pointing his wand at Ginny. Before Cho could even think of doing anything, Hermione’s voice rang out from the centre of chamber. Her captain was standing now, having released herself and Daphne from the enchanted net while Cho and the Death Eater were talking. “Wait, you’re right!” She shouted. “The Dark Lord sent us here – this was all a test to see if you are still loyal.” Ginny looked at Hermione like she had two heads, but Cho understood. “Exactly, this was a test. Congratulations, you passed!” Cho exclaimed, hoping she hadn’t overdone it. The man shuffled his feet, looking between her and Hermione, eyes unsure. Hermione stepped forward, wand pocketed, hand outstretched. “Come with us to our ship and we will take you back to Earth. We will take you back to him.” She entreated. Following the ruse, Cho lowered her wand and stepped forward, mimicking her Captain’s gesture. “Come with us and your master will reward you for your loyal service.” She said, fighting to keep her voice calm. The man’s eyes lit up at that and he started muttering to himself. “… been here so long… need to go home…” Hermione moved another step closer, hand still extended, voice laden with sympathy as spoke. “You have been here so long. It’s time to go home now, time to be rewarded.” At her last sentence, the man’s eyes became sharp once more, zeroing in on Hermione. “What’s the code word?” He asked, voice hard. “C-code word?” Hermione stammered, eyes flicking back to Cho with a worried expression. “Yes, The Dark Lord said when he sent someone, they would give me the code word.” Seconds passed and the air in the room changed noticeably, Ginny moved so that she was in front of Luna, while Cho tried to subtly shuffle her way over to Daphne. “Uhm… Morsemorde?” Hermione guessed, wincing as the man’s expression turned murderous. The Death Eater raised his wand, aiming it at Hermione and time itself seemed to slow down. “Bombarda!” Three voices screamed, as Cho, Hermione and Ginny all sent the same spell soaring towards the man. The spells hit, but with too much force, sending the man crashing against a column, which then started to crack. Cho watched in horror as cracks started spreading up the column and then across the ceiling, the walls starting to shake. “Oh no…” “We need to get out of here!” Hermione screamed, before casting a featherlight charm on Daphne and hauling her to her feet. Cho eyed the unconscious man on the other side of the room, wondering whether she could get to him in time, but Hermione grabbed her arm, eyes pleading. “This whole chamber is going to collapse, hurry!” Hermione urged. Ginny and Luna were halfway across the room when the cracked column came down, crushing the unconscious Death Eater in a pile of rubble. Pushing all thoughts of the crushed man out of her mind, Cho focused on making her way up the spiral staircase, Hermione, Daphne, Ginny and Luna following close behind her. The walls shook as they reached the upper level, Cho grabbing the soil samples on the desk, before racing out the door. “Hurry!” Hermione urged, as Cho looped Luna’s other arm over her shoulder, helping Ginny carry her. “Daphne and Luna’s life support systems are malfunctioning; they won’t survive on this world for long.” The planet shook beneath their feet as the women frantically made their way to Hermione and Cho’s shuttle. Orange dirt and debris flew in their faces, having been disturbed by the vibrations. “Collapsing the chamber, must have destabilised this whole area.” Cho bemoaned as they piled into the shuttle, Hermione flicking her wand to close the door behind them. The shuttle door sealed with a whoosh, just as all three buildings collapsed, sending a large cloud of orange dust and debris into the air. The ground below the shuttle cracked with the force of the sudden implosion.
Not good. Not good.
Sprinting for the controls, Cho activated the life support systems that would stabilise Daphne and Luna, before flicking the switch to engage the engines. “Get us out of here, Lieutenant.” Hermione exclaimed, strapping an unconscious Daphne onto a reclining seat. “No need to tell me twice!” Cho replied, lifting her wand to engage the flight controls. Once the shuttle was airborne over the ruined facility, Cho made some calculations for the trip back to The Minerva. Ginny was busy checking Daphne and Luna’s vitals, her hand lingering over the latter’s forehead softly stroking her hair. Hermione sat in the co-pilot’s seat beside her, looking dejected. Cho looked at her questioningly. “We didn’t collect the soil samples.” Hermione lamented. “It’s a mission failure.” Cho smiled shyly, before showing her captain the test tubes of soil she stashed by her chair before take-off. Hermione’s eyes widened and she beamed. Cho felt her heart sore at that smile. In a flurry of movement, Hermione rushed forward, planting an impulsive kiss on Cho’s forehead. “You know I love you, right?” Hermione said softly.
Cho blushed furiously, unable to meet Hermione’s eyes as she replied. “I had a feeling.” *** The journey back to The Minerva was a quiet one. Once aboard, Daphne and Luna were taken to the Medbay, while Cho and Ginny made the preparations for transport back to Earth and the Ministry of Magic. The soil samples were stored securely in the ship’s onboard laboratory. Hermione had asked they wait before the jump to Earth, wanting to speak with Malfoy first. The pilot was waiting on the bridge, his gaze inscrutable as she asked him to accompany her to an unoccupied break room. Once inside, Hermione made sure the door was shut before turning to Draco. “Is there something you want to tell me about Planet X?” She asked, fixing him with a piercing gaze. “Granger, I -” “It’s Captain Granger, Officer Malfoy.” She corrected him. Malfoy nodded, gesturing for her to continue. “There was a Death Eater on Planet X.” She said unceremoniously. “And a facility that looked like it had been there for a while.” Malfoy looked unsurprised by her words, serving to further confirm Hermione’s suspicions. “I have his journal here.” She continued, Malfoy’s eyes widening at the logbook she produced from her suit pocket. “The first entry is dated February 1997. There were Death Eaters in space long before the ministry invented The Lightning Device.” She said narrowing her eyes as him. Draco exhaled a long-suffering sigh, eyes fixed on the door behind her, unwilling to meet her gaze. “Malfoy, tell me what you know.” She ordered; hands folded in front of her. Malfoy was silent for a moment, his posture guarded and gaze assessing before he groaned in resignation. Hands in his pocket, the Draco switched to his favourite mask of nonchalance as he closed the distance between them. “Do you honestly think the bumbling fools at the Ministry were able to build a device that allowed intergalactic space apparition in just three years?” He huffed in indignation. “Do you think that would have been anyone’s priority after the war? It was his device. He invented it.” “Voldemort invented The Lightning Device?!” Hermione said incredulously. “Well, he never called it that.” Malfoy replied with a dark laugh. “He began work on decades ago with my grandfather, while they were still at Hogwarts. Then my father took over after my grandfather died. They were building the first spaceship while you and Potter were hiding out in the wilderness.” Hermione gripped the edge of the breakroom table, feeling faint suddenly – Malfoy’s words, despite their absurdity, were the most plausible explanation for what they discovered on Planet X. “The Death Eater – Mulciber, was a test run. You Know Who used the device to send him to a far-off planet with limited supplies. I am surprised he survived this long to be honest.” Malfoy huffed, before a strange, wistful expression came over his face. “I was supposed to captain the first official expedition. It was my family’s reward for the years we helped him build it.” “That’s why you’re here.” Hermione gasped, eyeing Malfoy accusingly. Malfoy just nodded. “My presence here is a peace offering – or bribe if you prefer. For my family to keep their mouth shut.” Hermione nodded, one hand still holding the table for stability, while the other clutched the Death Eater’s journal to her chest. “You should destroy that.” He declared, pointing to the logbook. Hermione raised her eyebrows at his tone, preparing to rebuff him, but Malfoy continued. “I mean it Gra- Captain.” Malfoy corrected himself with an apologetic bow of the head. “If the Ministry know you know, they will never let you go on another mission, let alone captain another ship. That goes for everyone on The Minerva. None of us will ever fly again.” Hermione’s mind immediately went to Cho. Her years of arduous work at the academy, nights of study, all for nothing. “They are lying to everyone though. The great wizarding space age is built on a lie.” She said, more to herself than Draco. “How do you think the wizarding community would react if they knew?” Malfoy asked, expression pained. “I- we are just starting to move on. People haven’t been this excited in years. And we get to be a part of it… We are making history.” Her conviction wavered at his words, her thoughts going to her friends and former classmates. The wizarding world was healing from the war and The Lightning Device was a fundamental part of that. And what would Harry think? Her best friend was finally doing something he loved, he was moving on with his life. What would Harry do if he found out Voldemort’s invention was the source of his happiness? Seeing he had her, Draco moved closer, pressing his advantage. “Destroy that logbook before we return to the Ministry. Tell the others to keep their mouths shut, you know it is for the best.” In a moment of daring, Malfoy took her hand, his long fingers gently stroking her knuckles. Shocked at the sudden closeness, Hermione fought the urge to lean into his touch. Wrenching her hand out of his, she stepped back, feigning indifference. “I will take your advice into consideration and decide on a course of action before we return to the Ministry.” She said curtly, turning on her heel and heading for the door. Malfoy didn’t say anything as she left, although she felt his assessing gaze on her back. Only when Hermione was back in her quarters did she exhale, her shoulders dropping from the sheer exhaustion of the last few hours. Clutching the logbook to her chest, she was dismayed to find Malfoy’s words echoing in her mind.
People haven’t been this excited in years…
He was right, but that didn’t make it an easy decision. Sinking down onto her bed, Hermione imagined herself on a precipice, facing the decision whether to fly or fall. The truth would bring the shadow of Voldemort over the wizarding world once more. It would bring them right back to the days after the war. And Hermione would never venture into space again, her career would be over before it began. She could accept that fate for herself, but could she accept it for Cho and the others? Opening the book, Hermione’s eyes focused on the Death Eater’s rough scrawl. Making her decision. Hermione gripped the logbook with a single-minded determination as she ventured out to find her crew.