Author's Note: Sorry for the delay in updating! Thanks for sticking with this story if you've lasted this far.

Chapter 7: Computers and Quidditch

"So what is this hellodock, anyway?" asked Ron, striding dubiously along beside Commander Riker. Ron was never comfortable with Muggle devices, even the simpler ones in his own time. Maybe it was the disastrous joyride in the flying Ford Anglia, or the awkard telly-phone conversations with Harry, but Ron preferred familiar wizarding ways. He didn't share his father's fascination with Muggles, though he did wonder what his dad would make of a gigantic starship floating around in outer space. That was something even wizards couldn't do.

"Holodeck," corrected Riker. "It's basically a virtual reality environment. You can simulate almost anything, anyone, any place -- all using computers."

Ron stood reluctantly outside the door.

"It's all right," said Commander Riker. "Look." The doors opened as Riker stepped towards them, and onto... a beach.

"It's pretty nice," Ron admitted, though he didn't like the looks of Hermione strolling around that beach with Wesley Crusher. Luckily for Ron, Crusher strolled off the holodeck with Riker a moment later.

"Hi, Ron," he said, perfectly friendly. "Hermione's waiting for you in the holodeck. She wants to show you something we were working on together. It's a lot of fun!"

Ron was a bit dumbfounded. It was awfully arrogant of Crusher to be so damn cheerful, when he was just getting done seducing Ron's girlfriend. "Thanks," said Ron coldly, and summoned up enough courage to walk onto the weird beach. He shuddered a little when the door disappeared behind him. If it had been a magic door, he'd have accepted it matter-of-factly, but this technology was different. He didn't trust it.

"It's okay," said Hermione, following his gaze. "If you call for the arch, it'll come back." Before Ron had time to ponder this confusing statement, Hermione went on excitedly, "I can't wait to show you what Wesley and I made. Computer, end program!"

Hermione stood there like everything was perfectly natural as the beach disappeared and was replaced by an eerie glowing grid.

"Mione, what did you do that for?" said Ron. This grid was worse than the mysterious beach, though Ron was grateful that the door had reappeared.

"Because we're going to run another program. Computer, run program Granger Crusher Alpha." The black grid was instantly replaced by green grass, blue sky, and soaring white hoops. There were two brooms on the ground, and an assortment of Quidditch balls.

"Quidditch!" gasped Ron. "That's wicked cool. Do the brooms work?"

"We haven't tested them yet." Hermione picked one up and tossed it at Ron. "Why don't you give it a try?"

Ron wasn't sure that technology could adequately recreate a magical sport, but the broom rose up steadily enough, and soon he was flying around the holodeck just like old times.

Hermione got on her broom and followed. "See, I knew you'd like it," she said, grinning. "Wes was so nice. He said I'm a real natural. He even said I'd blend right in as a twenty-fourth century Muggle in no time."

Hermione giggled, but Ron was concerned. He'd let his guard down a little, wondering if he'd misjudged this Crusher after all, but the dreamy way Hermione talked about "Wes" was troubling. "Yeah, but Mione, we want to go home, right? Home to the twentieth century, and Hogwarts?"

"Oh. Right," said Hermione, a bit distant. "You're right. I know we'll figure out a way. Wes said he and his friend Geordi are working on it, and q already said he might be willing to lend a hand... or a snap of his fingers, actually." Hermione giggled again.

Ron didn't like the sound of that giggle. "He hasn't been apparating you away again, has he?"

"No, I haven't seen him," said Hermione innocently. "Don't be jealous, Ron. I'm not interested in q -- not romantically interested, I mean. He's actually very interesting, but he's not my type."

What she left unspoken, and what she hoped Ron wouldn't notice, was that she did not include Wesley Crusher in her statement of non-interest and non-romance.
Ron noticed.