#11: Another Plan

Gizmo and the Praying Mantis Baby disappeared, the rest of the army with them, leaving Hogwarts in a state of disarray. Students worked silently on reconstructing the castle. We stood in Fumblegate’s office. While Nearly-Headless Nick was consulting me on death, Mitch and Fumblegate were speaking in hushed tones. Mitch held the Theoretical Physicists’ Stone in his hand. It was a perfect sphere, glossy black and within the blackness floated an infinite amount of swirling galaxies.

“It seems the Praying Mantis Baby has the ability to apparate,” Fumblegate said gravelly.

“I thought no one could apparate within the walls of the castle,” Jon said.

“Well…” Fumblegate shuffled uneasily on his feet. “I took those protective wards down. I have family in Maui that I like to visit. Anyhow, since the Praying Mantis Baby is underage, we were able to track them. They landed somewhere near the Hawaiian Islands.”

“We must go there at once!” Mitch decided dramatically.

“You can get close through the floo network. I have a contact near Pearl Harbor that will help you.”

Mitch shook Fumblegate’s hand and said, “Thank you. I guess we won’t need this anymore.” He tried to hand the Theoretical Physicists’ Stone back to Fumblegate.

“No, you keep it,” Fumblegate replied. He glanced sideways at me before adding, “You might need it.”

Nodding his head, Mitch pocketed the stone once again and called, “Alyssa! It’s time to go?”

“No, no – see after the bright light there’s a chorus of southern gospel singers. Of course, that’s where I turned back - can’t be a ghost if you stay,” Nick explained brightly. “Really, dying’s not so bad.”

“Thanks Nick,” I said as I got up to leave. “Good luck with the headless hunt.”

Mitch, Jon and I waved goodbye to Mrs. Stone We couldn’t keep Mrs. Stone. After all, none of us were wizards and she wouldn’t stay imperiused forever. She mumbled something about missing us in her sack of children. We followed Fumblegate to the fireplace in the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher’s office where we stepped, one-by-one through. I went last.

Once the green flames dissipated, I found myself in the captain’s room of a large naval vessel (as a part of the Fire Nation, I was familiar with the navy). Sailors were stationed all around us, large, automatic guns in their hands. However, one particularly decorated soldier held a brick. The brick had numerous medals pinned to it and a fancy hat with a grand feather.

Oddly enough, Hannah was standing next to the brick.

“I’m Doctor Captain Commander Steve the Brick. Welcome aboard my ship.”