Beyond Here and Overthere, Chapter Seven: The Next Great Adventure

Killian stepped into the light. The first sensation he felt was falling and falling again until he hit the ground hard. He was now laying on the floor, his cheek against the cobblestones burning under the sunlight. He mumbled, stood up and took at look at around him. There were mostly shops aligned on each side of a long alley as well as a huge white wobbly building at the other end of the paved road. Killian looked up in the blue sky and could have sworn seeing a owl flying by.

"Where the bloody hell are we?" He asked.

"I don't know but this place looks familiar." Emma said.

"Too familiar." Skye added.

"Are we all thinking the same thing right now?" Fitz added.

"We're in Diagon Alley." Emma claimed.

"Diagonally?" Killian repeated confused.

"Diagon – Alley." Skye explained distinctively. "Like in Harry Potter. Don't tell me you don't know Harry freaking Potter."

"I've heard of him. Ain't he a wizard or something?"

"The greatest wizard that has ever existed." Fitz said. "I may be a science guy but if there's any form of magic, I definitely think that is Harry Potter's... Oh, if only Jemma was here right now."

"But hold on, isn't Harry Potter supposed to be fictional?" Skye wondered.

"Honestly, Hook and my family are said to be fictional. You guys are fictional. This doesn't surprise me anymore. I should've guessed." Emma said.

"Another thing, how where we able to land here? We're muggles and muggles can't go on Diagon Alley."

"Hermione's parents did it though and they're muggles too."

"Muggles?" Killian asked clueless to what they were talking about.

"People without magical powers." Fitz explained.

"But Swan has magic. So technically, she's not a muggle or whatever."

"Are you saying I'm like... a witch?"

"I think Hook's right." Skye said. "I mean, your parents don't have any magic yet you do. You're literally muggleborn."

"Woah. That kind of makes sense. Okay, this is awesome and everything but we need to get back where we come from. Any ideas of how to open a portal?"

Killian stared at each of his companions and realized none of them knew a possible way to return to where the others were. They were trapped into another world. Again.

"Maybe, we should ask for help."

"Are you insane?" Skye said. "People are gonna notice something's fishy with us. I'm sure there's a spell that can tell you whether someone is from this world or not."

"Skye! Skye, look." Emma insisted.

She was now watching at a poster hanging up on the front window of a store where all sorts of potions were apparently sold. On the poster, there was a young girl with big red curly hair smiling, and the caption "Have you seen this witch?" was written under the picture. Killian noticed that the girl in the picture was moving, which was very weird to him. Skye stared at the poster too before saying.

"I know this girl. I have seen here before but where?"

"She was with us when the crazy lady abducted us. That girl who couldn't stop crying, remember?"

"You're right! Now that you said that, I recall the crazy lady saying something like 'Rose from the Wizard World' was with us but I didn't get what she meant."

"Wait, a redheaded girl named Rose and she's a witch?" Fitz said. "Guys, she's obviously Hermione and Ron's daughter!"

"Who the hell are Hermione and Ron?" Killian asked again.

"You really need to read the books once we get back." Emma said.

"Great, we just have to find Hermione now." Skye pointed out.

They look at each other like one of them was about to reveal their brilliant idea on how to find that Hermione girl in a completely unknown world.

"Doesn't Ron technically work here? I mean, with his brother at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes?" Skye questioned.

"I thought he was an auror." Emma replied.

"He was but only for a short amount of time if I remember correctly. Let's just go and see. After, all we have nothing to lose."

They walked down the alley until they arrived in front of a tall shop made of colorful bricks, stuck into two others buildings less joyful-looking. They entered the shop, which was so jammed that it was almost impossible for them to clear up a way through the crowd. Even though, Killian had never really heard about the world of Harry Potter before, he could not help but be as amazed as the other three were by what he was seeing at this moment. He wanted to try to use every thing put on the shelves and display stands. They kept moving forward before being stopped by a tall man with orange red hair wearing a magenta uniform. Hook remarked that he had a cut on one of his ear.

"You guys look seriously lost, need some help?"

Hook waited for one of the others to answer but then he noticed all of them had their jaws dropped.

"Hello mate, name's Killian, Killian Jones and my friends and I are searching for a boy named Ron, do you, by chance, know where we can find him?"

"Ron, you mean my brother Ronald?"

"Oh, you're his brother, that makes things easier then."

"This is seriously awe-some." Skye finally said with a big smile on her face.

"Bloody fantastic." Fitz added.

"I can't believe it. You're George Weasley. The George Weasley."

"Most people get this reaction when they meet me." George responded and Killian wondered whether or not that was irony.

"So you want to meet my brother. What for?"

"I think it's better if we tell you in private."

"Oh sounds serious. Well then, follow me."

They went to the backroom.

"I'm listening."

"You know where your niece is." Skye explained.

"Rose?! You've seen Rose?" George asked loudly.

"Keep it down please. So yes we have. The woman who abducted her also abducted us so we briefly met her. Luckily, we were able to escape but Rose wasn't." Emma added.

"So, she's here somewhere? Are you foreigners because I have never seen you here before and you don't sound very English. Well, except for you two." He claimed pointing to Fitz and Killian.

"Actually, we're from somewhere else but that's more complicated than that and you'd think we're crazy if we told you." Skye said. "That's why, we need to talk to Ron or Hermione."

"They're at their house, I can bring you there if you wish."

"Yes, that would be very kind."

"But first, you have to swear this isn't a trick to take Hugo or whatsoever."

"We solemly swear we aren't up to no good." Emma declared.

"Where the hell did you hear that?"

"Uh... We've read about it. Now can you take us to Hermione and Ron?"

After passing by a shabby bar called The Leaky Cauldron, they used a very strange method of transportation to get to where they wanted to go. It was called Apparition. Killian was the last one to be taken by George, after the other three were already arrived at destination. George grabbed his arm when all of sudden, everything went black and he felt opressed in all directions. Finally, they landed on a flower bed of daisies, in front of a nice house. Fitz, Skye and Emma were all already waiting on the frontdoor. Killian noticed another great owl perched on a big red letterbox. George walked towards the house, then knocked the door. A tall man which hair was as red as George came answering the door; Killian was ready to bet that was George's brother. However he was much taller than him, and very anky, with large hands and feet.

"George, what are you doing here?" Ron asked, holding a little boy in his arms.

"Ron, sorry to interrupt, but these people came here to help. Can we come in?"

"Who are they?" Ron questioned staring at each of them.

"This is Killian, this is... Wait, I don't even know your names."

"I'm Emma."

"Skye."

"Fitz."

"They're here because they know where Rose is." George explained.

Ron's facial expression went from suspicious to hopeful.

"Do they really?"

"Yes we do. We've seen her." Skye said. "Now if you want to know more, you should let us in. We need to talk to Hermione."

"Right then. Come inside."

"I've got to go back to the shop. See you later, Ron." George said before vanishing in the air.

The inside of the Weasleys' house were as nice as the garden. Killian thought the atmosphere was like a mix between modern technology and classic wooden furniture. Near the fireplace, sitting on a couch, there waq a woman with big curly and messy hair. She was busy reading what looked like a newspaper. Ron coughed.

"Honey, we have visitors."

Hermione raised her head up to look at what was happening, put down her newspaper and got up.

"May I ask who you people are?"

"They know what happened to Rose." Ron whispered to her ear.

Hermione's face brightened up a little bit.

"Oh my goodness, where is she? Is she okay?"

"We don't really know." Emma explained, who was trying to hold on her excitement because she was literally talking to Hermione Granger. "Maybe, we can sit and chat."

"Yes, let's go in the kitchen."

"I'm going to put Hugo back to bed." Ron said.

Killian and the others followed Hermione to the kitchen.

"Do you want some tea?" Hermione asked kindly.

"No thanks, we're good. Hermione, I think you should really sit down and hear us out." Skye declared. "Oh, by the way, is it okay if I call you Hermione? I know we've just met and I feel like I already know everything about you. Also, you look nothing like Emma Watson."

"Who? And I have to say this is all very confusing." Hermione said taking a seat.

"Okay, I think it's better if we tell you the truth straight away." Emma began. "Do you know of fairytales?"

"Fairytales? You mean wizard fairytales like The Wizard and the Hopping Pot or the Foutain of Fair Fortune?"

"No, muggle fairytales, like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty..."

"Oh of course, my parents read it to me as child and I read them to my own children as well. I want them to be proud of their muggle heritage. What about them?"

"Well, I know this is going to sound crazy but they're real."

Hermione looked even more confused.

"What do you mean real?"

"Real as the opposite of fictional, imaginative. For example, I am the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming."

"That's... that's not possible."

"Trust me, I had the same exact reaction." Skye affirmed.

"But they're stories. Books. Fictions!"

"No, we're not." Emma insisted. "Jefferson was right. Stories are most than just stories. They're history."

Hermione did not seem really convinced but decided to believe them anyhow.

"Let's pretend what you're saying is true. Who are you all?"

"Captain Hook." Killian said showing off his hook.

"This is insane, impossible. This is a fake hook, I'm sure. Are you all fairytale characters?"

"Actually, we're not." Skye said. "Fitz and I are from a world where superheroes exist."

"Woah, like Superman and Batman?" Hermione asked, slighty impressed.

"Who the hell is that?" Fitz questioned.

"Never heard of them. Now more like Iron Man, the Hulk, Hawkeye..."

"Oh, I see. But what does all of this have to do with Rose?"

"Well, you seen the woman that abducted her also did us. She kidnapped a total of eighteen person and each one of them come from a different universe and Rose is the person she chose from your universe."

"I still don't quite understand, what do you mean my universe?"

"That's simple. You too are a fictional character. How do you think we know about you and Harry Potter and Hogwarts and everything else? Not because we're from here, but because we read your stories." Skye explained. "These books are honestly awesome. How are Harry and Ginny by the way? And Luna? I love Luna so much. Although, Harry is my absolute favorite. I have always related to him. He was an orphan destined to do great things. His life was miserable until the day he found Hogwarts. The same thing happened to me with SHIELD."

"I get what you mean." Emma said.

"This is crazy, this is just... This is too much. I've always trusted books and now you tell me all of this. I just can't believe it."

"But you have to believe us. If you want to see your daughter again, you gotta help us. It's not only her life that is in danger, it's all of ours. It's everyone's." Emma added.

"I understand but I don't know what I can do."

"You have to help us find a way to open a portal back to where we are from, Back where Rose is. Do you think you would be able to do that?"

"I've never done such a thing in my entire life but I can try."

"Let's get to work then."

Unfortunately, they didn't manage to find anything. They spent the whole day on Diagon Alley aiming to hopefully get their hands on something that would help them. Hermione had been constantly repeating that she always found a solution to most problems but this time it was different. It was out of her field of expertise, nothing like she had ever dealt with before. After a long day of useless research, they all had dinner at the Leaky Cauldron and Hermione generously offered to pay them rooms to sleep in. When he woke up the tomorrow morning, Killian remarked that Emma was already downstairs where he joined her. She was in the dining room, with Hermione, Skye and Fitz and they all had started their breakfast already.

"'Morning." He said taking a seat. "Emma, hun, can you give me the butter?"

"So, Hermione, had you had time to think of a new plan?" Fitz asked.

"Actually, I have. We're going to Hogwarts today."

"NO WAY!" Skye, Emma and Fitz exclaimed in the same voice.

"What's Hogwarts?" Hook asked.

"What's Hogwarts? WHAT'S HOGWARTS?" Skye repeated. "You mean the most fantastic school of wizardry ever. Every kid wants to go to Hogwarts."

"But hold on, aren't muggles unable to go there?" Emma questioned.

"That's true, but the thing is technically none of you is a muggle. I figured muggle is just a term for people without magic in this world and since you are all from other dimensions, it does not apply to you."

"And how are we gonna get there? The Hogwarts Express I guess?" Fitz added.

"No, we can't use the train because it's summer and so it's unusable right now. We'll have to take the Knight Bus. I booked some tickets for us in advance. "

"Oh boy." Skye whispered.

"Don't worry. It's not as bad as it seems. Just try to not eat too much."

Killian immediately put down the piece of bread he was about to bite in.

"I asked an old friend of mine to come with us today." Hermione explained as they were waiting for the Knight Bus.

"Oh, really who?"

"That's a surprise. He's really not busy nowadays so he kindly accepted to join us. Oh, the bus is there."

Indeed, a giant bus had stopped right before him. It was a purple-colored triple-decker. Once their tickets checked by the conductor, they got inside and tried to find good seats. Killian was surprised to notice that the seats didn't seem to be bolted down. The voyage was pretty fast, maybe even too fast, as Killian felt very dizzy when they arrived at destination. They were now in Hogsmeade, a village, apparently very popular in the wizarding world. The three others begged Hermione for a visit in the high street.

"I don't think it's a good idea right now. Remember why we're here."

"That's too bad."

"I'm really sorry. We have more important things to do, don't we?"

"You're right. Where do we go now?"

"Don't freak out but where we are really going is the forbidden forest."

"Oh my god." Skye exclaimed. "Oh my god, is this really happening?"

"Yes. Everyone is going to be fine though, trust me."

"But how is the forbbiden forest going to help us?" Emma asked.

"You'll see when we get there. Okay, let's go."

A man was waiting for them at the edge of the forest but he was looking like no other man. He was about twice as tall as an average man, and three times as wide, with a long mane of shaggy black hair and a beard that covered most of his face. He was also wearing a large overcoat with several pockets.

"Hermione! How are you doing?" The giant man exclaimed.

"Hagrid, it's so nice to see you. Here are my friends, Emma, Skye, Fitz and Hook."

While the others were too in shock to talk, Killian granted Hagrid.

"Wow mate, are you related to Anton?"

"Who's Anton?" Hagrid asked unsure of what was happening.

"He's a... friend," Emma intervined.

"Alright. So, are you all ready to go?"

"We are. Did you warn them?" Hermione asked.

"I did but as expected, only Firenze accepted to help us."

"I'm sorry but did you just say Firenze?" Skye questioned.

"Who's Firenze?" Hook added.

"He's a centaur." Skye explained. "I don't see how he can help us though."

"You'll see. Also, don't try to say anything offending if we see other centaurs, they wouldn't like it."

Killian wondered what could centaurs possibly find offending as they penetrated into the Forbidden Forest. He immediately felt goosebumps in his whole body and wished he could turn back. Killian spied the centaur near a big tree. The magical creature's head, torso and arms appeared to be human but they were joined to a horse's body.

"Hello Firenze." Hagrid said.

"Hello Hagrid. I see you bought some friends. Miss Granger." He said with a smile.

"Hello Firenze, it's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Hagrid explained me what you are here for." Firenze mentionned. "You wish to open a portal to another universe, is that right?"

"That's right." Skye replied. "I had no idea centaurs knew how to do that."

"You see, we centaurs are quite the specialist when it comes to divination and astrology. We believe that every star and every planet can tell us secrets about the future, but it also can be a door to somewhere else, somewhere yet to be explored. We are fully aware that others dimensions do exist but unfortunately, humans are too busy minding futile business to believe us or even to listen to us."

"Have you ever opened a portal before?"

"I have not. To be fair, nobody has. To do that, one needs to find that special star that will into the entrance to another world."

"Oh, like Neverland is situated second star to the right and straight on't til morning." Emma claimed.

"Never heard of such a thing but perhaps. To find that star, I need someone who is native of that world. This is why I never managed to do it before, just due to the fact I have not met anyone like this before, until today of course. Therefore, who among you fit the kind of person I just described."

Everyone but Skye and Fitz stepped back.

"Excellent. Now, if you would please take my hand..."

However, at this moment, Killian heard a herd of centaurs galloped towards them. There were five of them and Killian noticed they were all much younger than Firenze."

"What are you doing here? Go away!" Firenze roared.

"No we won't." A centaur with ivory skin replied. "We are tired of you befriending humans. You are dishonoring our kind and it has to stop."

Firenze laughed.

"It's not five teenage centaurs that are going to stop me. Now, please get out of here."

"Never, you are not the master here!" Another centaur screamed. "It's time for the next generation of centaurs to make decisions. Consider this a warning." He turned to the others centaurs of his group. "Now!"

Each centaur bent their bows, each one brandished towards one of the humans, as they took arrows in their quivers.

"You don't want to do that!" Firenze warned.

"Do not tell me what I want or don't want to do." The centaur, who seemed to be leader of the group, warned with ferocity in his eyes.

"Run!" Hermione yelled.

Killian instantly began running. He ran and ran again, not knowing where he was going. He was hearing the arrows being thrown at him. He got deeper into the heart of the forest. He was now all alone and had no idea where the others might be. He tripped on a root and collapsed on the floor. When he turned his head, he noticed a shadow over him. One of the young centaurs had found him and was pointed an arrow to his heart.

"Please, leave me alone, I don't want to hurt you."

"I don't care! You humans have been terrorizing us for as long as I can remember us."

"You don't understand, I'm not..."

"You're not what? You're not like them? Yes, you are! It is time for you to pay or maybe you're just going to take your wand and kill me like your people always do!"

"I don't even have a wand! Please let me... Argh!" The centaur has now stepped on Killian's leg, his hoof pressed against his skin.

"You're hurting me, you human pony!"

"What did you just call me?!" The centaur yelled before throwing an arrow straight into Killian's heart.

Killian felt the blood flowing all over his chest, as the centaur galloped away. He grabbed a few leaves trying to bandage the wound but it was too serious. He felt his temperature body rising a lot like every little cell of his body was burning up. He did not know how much time he had been spending like that, laying on the ground. His vision got blurry and there was a buzzing in his ears. He wondered where Emma was right at this moment and like magic, he heard somebody approaching.

"Emma! Emma! I found him!" A voice screamed. It seemed to be Skye's.

"Oh my god!" Emma weeped as she fell on the floor to hold Killian in her arms. "Don't worry, I'm here now. I'm gonna fix this. I can fix this."

Deep inside, Killian knew that she could not. He knew that this kind of wound could not be healed, that his time had come. So, he did not say anything. Instead, he imagined Emma and him, at the Church getting married; at the hospital, welcoming the birth of their first baby together, growing old as a couple but at this moment, he knew it was not meant to be. He had spent his whole surviving, but he knew that surviving was not enough, he had to live. It was over now. And as he closed his eyes, ready to enter another world, he heard Fitz in the distance screaming that a portal had just appeared just next to them and he felt Emma's lips against him. This final kiss meant the world to him. It felt sweet and passionate, wet because of Emma's tears dropping on his face. It felt like the earth has just stopped revolving. It was timeless. Killian wanted to say something, to do something but he was too tired and he just wanted to rest forever. He felt his soul leaving this universe and was relieved because after all, death was but the next great adventure.