I'll be posting two chapters a week until the end of the story. Thanks to Shadowriver for beta-ing and my fiance for telling me where the weaknesses in the plot were.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or the Stargate franchise and am not making a profit off of this, nor am I planning to.

Chapter 1

Ministry of Magic
London, England
October, 2003

Hermione Granger surveyed her office one last time before she decided that she could safely call it a day and return home. She straightened a plaque on her wall, the one naming her an honorary member of the "Non-humans Are People Too" club at Hogwarts three years previously, and beamed. There. She picked up her briefcase, stuffed with the latest reports, and turned off the lamp. She was about to close the door, but lingered over the sign on her door that read "DEPARTMENT OF WIZARD COOPERATION WITH MAGICAL BEINGS: Hermione Granger, Head Liaison."

Despite working here for five years, she was still astonished that she had lobbied successfully for that split from the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. She was even more disbelieving that the Ministry had put her, a very young Muggle-born witch virtually fresh out of Hogwarts, in charge of the whole thing.

Granted, after the war... She had made a name for herself as one of Harry Potter's trusted companions back then. She had worked even harder after to make sure that her name wouldn't just be remembered as Harry Potter's friend.

"Hermione?"
She whirled around, wand at the ready, and blushed furiously when she realized that she had been about to cast an Expelliarmus at Percy Weasley. "Sorry. Hello, Percy."

"Old habits die hard, I know." He understood. Ron had been telling her how just last week, he had done the same when Percy approached him as he visited Hermione at work. He looked over her shoulder at the dark office. "Would I be correct in assuming that your subordinates have gone home for the night?"

"The last one left an hour ago. Why?"

"I have something of the utmost importance and secrecy to tell you." He motioned for her to step back into her office and close the door. She complied, lighting the lamp again. He waited until the door was closed and cast a warding spell over the room.

"Is that really necessary?" she asked, amused.

"Very." His face was serious. A few years ago, after the debacle wherein he had disowned his entire family, she wouldn't have been so inclined to listen to him, despite always getting along rather well before that. Since the war, though... well, he hadn't quite mended the relationships with his brothers and sister, but he had thrown himself into his work with a sincere dedication to make up for things that had been overlooked in the years preceding Voldemort's public return. She respected that.

"So what's this all about?"

He took a deep breath. "It's come to the attention of the British Muggle government, and therefore ours, that there's a program in America that we would like to be a part of. The Muggles will be forming a four-member team to participate in this program, and the Ministry of Magic would like one member to be a representative of the Wizarding World. You were chosen."

She blinked. "I'm honored. What program?"

"Apparently, for the past six and a half years, the Americans and Russians have been regularly sending people to other planets through something called a 'Stargate'." The expression on Percy's face hinted that he found this to be an outlandish concept. "You were chosen due to your work with cooperation between non-human beings."

Hermione was dumbstruck. "You mean they've discovered aliens?"

"I suppose," he said, sounding stressed. "In any case, you'll be leaving for Colorado in a week. The Ministry would appreciate it if you would refrain from making this public knowledge."

"Wait! Who'll be taking over the department? What should I say when people ask me while I'm leaving?"

"The decision for your successor will be left up to you, though the Ministry will retain final approval power. As for an explanation, it's been decided that you will be taking an extended trip to America as a Ministry-sponsored research project on the living conditions of non-human Magical beings there."

Hermione nodded, simultaneously annoyed and giddy. On the one hand, she wished she had been given a choice in the matter. On the other, she knew that she would jump at the chance, anyway. "Am I to keep my status as a witch quiet?"

"Due to the circumstances and level of security on this project, it has been decided that the rest of your team and Stargate Command will be filled in with certain knowledge of the Wizarding world."

She nodded. "That'll make things much easier for me."

"Good. I'll let the Minister know that you've been informed. In the meantime, I suggest you pack." He dropped the room's wards and shook her hand. "Glad to have your cooperation."

She grinned widely. "How could I resist a challenge like this? Have a good night, Percy."

He smiled faintly at her. "You too."

Once she had Apparated back to her flat, she let her excitement out. Crookshanks, who was now visibly gray around his flat muzzle and somewhat arthritic, seemed to sense her gleeful mood, winding around her legs and purring. Of course, this led to her almost burning herself badly as she tried to make her dinner, but it was easily forgiven.

A knock at her door stopped her short. "Hello?" she called, checking through the peephole and making sure her wand was ready to hex whoever was there.

"It's me, Hermione. Let me in."

She groaned and tucked her wand back into her belt. How could I have forgotten Ron was coming over for dinner tonight? "Sorry," she said, unlocking the door.

"For what?" he asked, hugging her. "The door was locked, is all. It's not like I'm going to go right out and 'Alohomora' your door."

"Not that, I forgot you were coming over and only made enough for one."

"Oh." He shrugged. "Easy enough to just go out for food, isn't it?"

"I suppose." She flicked her wand and the nearly-cooked dinner flew into a plastic container and into her refrigerator, which closed behind it.

"Great!" He paused to reach down and pet Crookshanks, who was still purring. "He's a bit active for his age, isn't he?"

"It's been a good evening," she replied, making sure that the cat was clear of the door before closing and locking it.

"Was an interesting day, I'll tell you that." Ron launched into a story about some of the latest threats that the Aurors had been taking care of, most notably a few straggling Death Eaters attempting to carry on after Voldemort's death.

She nodded as they walked to a small restaurant down the street, only half paying attention. Normally, she'd be hanging on every word for news about the last of the Death Eaters, but... well, soon she'd be working with beings from other planets. How could Death Eaters hold precedence over that?

Hermione gasped suddenly. She couldn't tell Ron about this, much as she wanted to. How on Earth am I going to tell him that I'll be gone for who-knows-how long?

Ron paused in the story. "Don't be so shocked. It was just some upstart kids trying to make themselves feel tough after all."

"No, it's not that." She steeled herself for his probable reaction. "I was approached by the Ministry today to go to America and do some research on non-human magical beings' living conditions there. They'll be funding it and everything, and it's a dream come true. But I have to leave in a week."

"Oh." He sounded surprised, but carefully neutral. "For how long?"

"I'm not really sure."

"How often can you visit?"
"I'm not sure about that, either."

"Oh." She could see that he was a bit hurt and angry about it. "Only gave you a week's warning, did they?"

"Ron, it's the opportunity of a lifetime for me."

"What about me?"

She winced at the hurt tone in his voice, no longer hidden. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay. It's your life; you get to make your own decisions." He stuffed his hands in his pockets and didn't meet her eyes. "Let's just try and enjoy this week, huh?"

"Thanks, Ron." She held out a hand, and smiled with relief when he took it.