Destiny Deadlock

Destiny Deadlock

Part One

***

Have you ever gazed at the stars, wondering if there's something else out there? I know I have, on more than one occasion. Many Muggles do as well. Some Muggles - most notably, the Americans and Russians - have even ventured into space. I have even heard of plans for a grand project involving several different countries, a great International Space Station, which will be the basis of future missions to explore other worlds.

But the wizarding world...is not quite so eager, to say the least. We study the planets, sure enough. We record their positions, and Divination (a most imprecise branch of magic if there ever was one) even uses those positions to try to tell the future (good luck with that). But as for exploring outer space...that's something that we never really looked into.

That was a mistake that could have been costly.

***

The beginning of the summer holidays didn't foretell that anything stranger or more unusual than normal would happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Most of the staff was concerned about the news of Voldemort's resurrection. Professor Dumbledore was rather worried about what might happen; Minister Fudge had seemed adamant against warning the public. So it was that Dumbledore was determined to do what he could by himself.

The night sky of one early June night was calm. Even the Muggle world was eerily calm. Dumbledore stood watching at his window, absently stroking Fawkes. Fawkes was nearing his burning day, and thus looked a little worse for the wear. Dumbledore, however, was staring into nothingness. Fawkes, therefore, tried his best to stir some positive emotion in the headmaster's face.

Suddenly, a great BANG rent the air. Dumbledore snapped his head to look in the direction it came from, and saw what appeared to be a meteor falling to earth. He followed its course with his eyes, and frowned when it crashed deep within the Forbidden Forest. He was momentarily distracted when Fawkes burst into flames, singeing his hand.

"My apologies, Fawkes," he said to the now fledgling phoenix. He then turned to his door as it burst open, admitting Professors Snape, McGonagall, and Rubeus Hagrid.

"Headmaster, what was that noise?" asked Severus Snape. "I was a hairbreadth from tripping over a random stone in the floor, something which I am not prone to do, unlike Longbottom."

"Neville's tendency toward clumsiness notwithstanding, Severus does have a point," said Minerva McGonagall. "What was that horrendous sound?"

"I believe it was something falling from the sky," answered Dumbledore.

"Be serious, Albus!" snapped McGonagall.

"I am, Minerva," replied Dumbledore. "I watched it fall from the sky myself. It crashed deep within the forest nearby."

Hagrid spoke up. "This close ter Hogwarts, eh? Seems a little close fer coincidence. Might be You-Know-Who's work."

Dumbledore nodded. "It might be, it might not. However, we can't afford to take chances. Hagrid, take Severus and investigate the disturbance."

"Why must I go, Headmaster?" asked Snape, frowning.

"Because I know you carry a wide array of potions on your person at all times, and you have more knowledge of the Dark Arts than any of the rest of us," came Dumbledore's reply. "Both of those aspects make you an ideal choice to deal with whatever's out there, be it termination or rescue."

Snape couldn't fault the logic in this, and so he left, robes billowing, followed by Hagrid. McGonagall went to her office, and Dumbledore continued watching the outside, though with far less absentness than he had shown before.

***

"Trudge, trudge, trudge, and we are no closer to finding anything," growled Snape less than an hour later. "Why couldn't the Headmaster have given us more precise directions?"

"If he could've, he would've," retorted Hagrid, his patience being frayed by accompanying the Potions master. "'Sides, this way's more fun, I think."

"You have an odd definition of fun, I think," muttered Snape under his breath. Suddenly, a twig snapped, and Snape brought his wand to bear, while Hagrid reached for his crossbow.

"Hagrid, what brings you out here?" asked a voice. Three centaurs approached, and Hagrid relaxed.

"Evenin' Bane, Firenze, Ronan," answered Hagrid. "Have y'all seen anythin' unusual? Somethin' fallin' from the sky, maybe?"

Firenze nodded. "Yes, I know of what you speak. Come, I will lead you and your friend there."

"Colleague, more than friend," corrected Snape a bit impatiently. He hated these woods.

Bane and Ronan decided to depart, while Firenze led the two Hogwarts employees deeper into the Forest. After several minutes of walking, they found a very recently made clearing, one where the trees had been uprooted.

"May the stars grant you their blessing," Firenze said as he left.

"Right, then," muttered Snape. He started searching around in one direction, while Hagrid went in the other. It wasn't long before Snape heard Hagrid call him over. When he walked over, Snape arched an eyebrow.

Laying on the ground was a woman, one who was what some people would call perfect. Her skin was flawless, unmarked by anything. She had waist length cyan hair, which was definitely an oddity among humans, be they wizard or Muggle. She wore a one-piece white and blue bodysuit that served to cover her torso and posterior. Her gloves and boots were the same color. She appeared to be unconscious.

"What do you think, Hagrid?" asked Snape. "Anything odd about this?"

"'Sides the fact that she's this close ter Hogwarts? She seems kinda tall for a lady her age. Not as tall as Olympe, mind yeh..." Hagrid trailed off, looking thoughtful. Then he spotted something interesting. Reaching past the woman, he pulled out a large, bluish metallic...pod was the only word to describe it. Both of them arched their eyebrows.

"What is this?" asked Snape.

"Dunno. Awfully heavy, it is," said Hagrid, after hoisting it into the air. He set it down nearby.

"That aside, Hagrid, what do you think?" repeated Snape.

"I think we ought ter take her to Dumbledore," said Hagrid, picking her up.

"What if she's a spy, or something?" Snape queried, though he believed he knew the answer to that.

"Dumbledore'd want ter help her anyway," Hagrid promptly answered. He shifted his grip on her. "She's mighty heavy for someone her size, I tell yeh..."

That made one of Snape's eyebrows arch up. "You're complaining about the weight? That's interesting. And you're right, Albus would want to help her." With that, he pointed his wand at the pod and said, "Mobiliarbus." They turned to leave, but stopped when they noticed something.

A rather sizable hole was in the ground. They hadn't noticed it before, simply because the entrance was somewhat sloped. But bathed in the light of Snape's Lumos spell and Hagrid's lantern, they realized that they were lucky to not have fallen in.

Hagrid looked at Snape. "Think that's how she got here?"

"Most likely. Though where that hole leads, I'd rather not find out," was the reply. Hagrid nodded, and using Snape's Navigation spell, they wound their way out of the forest. Snape casually marked an invisible beacon on the ground as they did so, intending to come investigate the hole later...

***

Dumbledore reflected on recent events. Voldemort had gone quiet since his resurrection. The Order had been following known Death Eaters since his return, but so far nothing had happened. Dumbledore wondered if perhaps this "meteor" was the opening shot of another war.

He was so wrapped up in thought that he walked right into a suit of armor near the Hospital Wing. "My apologies," Dumbledore said. The suit assured him it was alright. Dumbledore continued into the wing.

An argument that seemed to have been carrying on for some time reached his ears. He supposed that he hadn't heard it because he was lost in thought. Walking in, he found McGonagall in a heated discussion with Hagrid and Snape.

"It was foolhardy to bring her here!" snapped McGonagall. "If she's a spy, or something, you've played right into their hands! I assume you have heard of a 'Trojan Horse', Severus?"

"Regardless of whether or not she is, Hagrid believes that Dumbledore would like to help her, and I admit I concur," came Snape's reply.

"Quite right, Severus," said Dumbledore, calling attention over to him. "If someone is in trouble, I would do anything I could to help. Now, let's see what you found."

The other professors stepped aside, allowing Dumbledore to look at the object of discussion. He marveled at the utter perfection in the young woman's skin. Her cyan hair definitely was odd, though it seemed to add to her beauty. Dumbledore was long past the point of skirt-chasing, but he still had an appreciation for the female figure.

"Very interesting," he murmured. "And was there anything else?"

"Yeah, some pod or somethin'," replied Hagrid. "We've set it aside fer the..." he trailed off as a moan came from the bed. All the professors turned to look.

Slowly, deliberately, the woman sat up, holding her head in her hands. She muttered something unintelligible under her breath. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, revealing scarlet irises. She looked around, a look of complete confusion on her face. "Wha...where am I...?"

Hagrid started to move forward, but McGonagall waved him back, thinking he might frighten her. She stepped forward, slowly. "You are currently in Scotland, in the United Kingdom, and it is two o'clock in the morning on June 5^th if you want to know."

The woman looked blankly at her. "Scotland...? I..." she trailed off, and then a look of fear swept across her face. "I...I can't remember..."

McGonagall stepped forward, again slowly. "What? What can't you remember?"

"Anything!" the woman burst out, startling everyone present. "I...don't even know my own name..."

Everyone else exchanged surprised looks. They had counted on getting some story. To hear that this young person had amnesia...it was somewhat of a concern, and a bit of a let-down. All eyes turned to Dumbledore, expecting him to take some action.

Dumbledore walked over to her, noticing that she seemed a bit skittish. "Be at ease. We're not sure about the cause of your amnesia, but I'm sure we'll figure it out, in time."

She shook her head, sending ripples down her long cyan hair. "It's not like the memories aren't there, it's just...something's in the way..."

"Memory Charm?" Snape asked.

"Possible," replied Dumbledore. Then the woman stood, and walked over to the pod that had been set aside. She traced her finger along its edge.

"I know about this, I know it has some importance to me...but I don't know what it is!" Frustration made itself evident, as she punched the wall...smashing the masonry in a two foot radius around the point of impact.

Nearly everyone's jaw dropped at the display. Not even Hagrid, who was immensely strong owing to his giant blood, could have done that much damage. Snape made to pull out his wand, but Dumbledore stopped him with a look. The young woman looked very startled herself. She drew her hand back, staring at it.

"That...should have hurt. I...should have felt pain. Why am I not bleeding...?" Everyone looked at her hand. It was, indeed, unmarked, despite having impacted with the wall moments before. Not even the glove was torn.

McGonagall slowly put her hand to the woman's wrist, feeling it. Then she took a step back. "She...can't be human." This statement was made with such emotion in the normally calm professor's voice that everyone looked a bit shocked. "She has no pulse."

"This is turning out to be quite a mystery," remarked Snape, regaining his composure. This was met by a dry laugh from the woman.

"A mystery? I have amnesia, I apparently can smash through walls easily, and now we find out I don't have a pulse. What am I, an undead creature or something?" Her tone was quickly reaching panic. Silence was all that greeted her. It was broken by a small cough from Dumbledore.

"I highly doubt that to be the case, madam. However, I believe there might be someone who can help us." He looked at McGonagall pointedly, and she understood. However, she wasn't sure.

"Albus, I'll grant that Miss Granger is brilliant, but do you believe that she can solve this?"

"She just might. Remember, she solved Severus's logic problem in her first year," Dumbledore reminded her.

"A fact for which I gave Gryffindor ten points during the last-minute points award at the end of said year," muttered Snape.

"Yes, but this is not the same as a logic problem, Albus," McGonagall persisted.

"You yourself have said that Miss Granger is the most brilliant witch to have graced your house in many years, Minerva," Dumbledore countered. "In addition, she has a Muggle background, so she might know of some explanation that we don't."

"Unlikely, but I see your point, Albus," McGonagall relented. "I will go to Grimmauld Place in the morning, once I've gotten a decent eight hours of sleep." With that, she strode out of the hospital wing.

A mechanical hissing sound made the other teachers jump and spin around. The woman had opened the pod, revealing what appeared to be a space big enough for a woman her size to fit. She hesitated, but climbed in, laying down on her back. As the pod closed, she was heard saying, "This feels right..."

"Intriguing," said Snape. "I sympathize with Minerva, I need some sleep." He walked off, robes billowing behind him. Dumbledore and Hagrid exchanged looks, then Dumbledore levitated the pod, carrying it with him, and called out a good night to Hagrid, leaving the half-giant alone in the hospital wing.

"I should prob'ly get some sleep, meself," he said, and walked off, heading for his hut.

None of them knew how much the young amnesiac would change their lives.

***

I had the good fortune to meet the young woman the next day. I had been in my room at Number 12, Grimmauld Place, studying. I hadn't had anything better to do, really. Everyone pretty much knew what I was like during my study sessions, so I was left in peace.

That morning when my studies were interrupted by someone other than my closest friends, I had no idea just how much my life would change within the next few months...

***

Hermione Granger looked up, mildly irritated, as there was a knock on the door. Grumbling, she stood up, minimizing the current window on her computer monitor. Sirius Black had allowed it in, both because he was curious, and because Hermione had insisted on it helping her to study. Arthur Weasley had popped in from time to time to admire it. However, she was very protective of it.

She walked over to the door, fully intending to give whoever it was a verbal lashing. The words died, however, when she saw Minerva McGonagall standing there.

"Good morning, Miss Granger," said the professor, somewhat amused by the look of complete surprise on her star pupil's face.

"P-p-p-Professor McGonagall!" Hermione managed to stammer out. "W-what are...?"

"We seem to have a bit of a puzzle on our hands, and would like your help in unraveling it," came the reply. "May we come in?"

"Of course!" said Hermione, opening the door fully. "But who's 'we'?"

The answer came as a young woman with striking cyan hair and flawless white skin followed McGonagall in, causing Hermione's mouth to fall open. The well-known bookworm had never been attracted to women, but this one was...gorgeous. There was no other word to describe it.

"Miss Granger, it is somewhat rude to stare," McGonagall said pointedly, causing Hermione to flush slightly and close the door.

"Professor, who is...?" she began.

"That's part of the mystery, Miss Granger," replied the professor. She then told Hermione everything that she knew, which was pretty much everything that anyone at Hogwarts knew. By the time she was finished, Hermione had her thinking look on.

"Curious...very curious," she murmured, unintentionally repeating the words that Mr. Ollivander had said to Harry four years ago.

"Do you know of anything that could explain this?" asked the woman, speaking for the first time.

"I'm not sure..." the young girl muttered, then she trailed off and cocked her head. She heard something, coming from the woman. Looking at her, Hermione noticed that it came whenever she moved her fingers...a slight whirring...

She pulled out her wand, preparing to use a spell that she had learned first year, but had sworn never to use again. "Omnia Visario," she murmured, waiting for the All-Seeing Eye spell to take effect. When it did, she willed it into the X-ray spectrum. She then looked at the young woman.

The professor and the amnesiac waited for Hermione to complete her scrutiny. It took far shorter than expected, as Hermione swiftly said the counter charm, and leaned over, apparently resisting the urge to vomit.

"I will never get used to seeing anything in the X-ray spectrum," she stated, willing her stomach not to unload its contents through her mouth.

"What did you see?" asked McGonagall, secretly sympathizing with her favorite student. The All-Seeing Eye allowed the caster to view the world in any light spectrum. Though most weren't that bad, some, like X-ray, could be somewhat mind-bending.

"Well, I have come to the conclusion that our amnesiac here is an android," was the response.

"An and...what?" was the confused question from the professor.

"Oh, right," muttered Hermione, apparently having won the battle with her breakfast. "An android is a robot designed to look like a human. That explains her unnatural strength, the lack of a pulse, and why she needed to sleep in that pod. I'm guessing she had to refill her energy."

McGonagall went from being confused to being flabbergasted. "But I thought that Muggle technology could not function inside Hogwarts, because of - "

"The magical energy, yes," finished Hermione. "However..." She aimed her wand at the woman and whispered, "Revealicus Magicus." After a few seconds, a bright blue flame emitted from her wand tip, then vanished. Hermione's eyes grew to nearly double their natural size.

"Miss Granger, what was...?" began McGonagall.

"An ancient spell, one I found in a book in the library," answered Hermione. "It reveals how much latent magical energy there is within a person. A bright blue flame means that there's enough energy within that person to power a large Muggle city, and still have some left over. My guess is that, since androids require human DNA, they somehow gave her DNA from a witch. Since she never tapped into her magical powers, however, the magical energy in her cells kept building, essentially acting as a shield against the field at Hogwarts."

The professor gave her a somewhat blank look. "While I'm not entirely certain of what you just said, I understand the part about the energy within her acting as a shield against the energy at Hogwarts. But does that mean she's immune to spells?"

In response, Hermione aimed her wand at the woman again and whispered, "Stupefy." The hex hit the woman, but aside from making her leap out of the chair she'd been sitting on, it had no discernable effect.

"What was that for?!" yelped the android, startled.

"Sorry!" Hermione hastily said. "We were just testing whether or not you're immune to magic. You passed, by the way. Or failed, depending on your point of view."

The android looked at her skeptically. "What was supposed to happen?" she finally asked.

Hermione had the good grace to look apologetic. "You were supposed to be knocked out for several hours, give or take."

The other looked at her, then at her wand. "I suppose I should be thankful it didn't work," she said at length.

"Miss Granger," interrupted McGonagall, "while that proved to be a valid test, perhaps you should have asked her about whether or not she would like to participate?"

Hermione's blush would have done a Weasley proud. "I'm sorry..."

"So, would this mean that my mind is similarly shielded?" asked the android.

"Most likely," replied Hermione. "I doubt any of the normal spells used to jog memories or such would have any effect. I'm sorry."

"Then perhaps your Muggle machine over there could...?" began McGonagall, but Hermione was shaking her head.

"No, I don't have the technical expertise to deal with something like this. I barely know enough programming language to display the word 'Hello' at the push of a button. I am sorry," she said again.

"You needn't worry," replied the android. "Perhaps my memories will return, in time. In the meantime, I would like to do what I can around the school."

McGonagall nodded. "No one currently in Hogwarts' employ has nearly the strength that you do. I believe you could be an all around handywoman, carrying things too heavy for the rest of us, helping the house-elves in the kitchen, and patrolling the grounds with the teachers and the halls with the prefects once term has started."

McGonagall suddenly paused, as though she remembered something. "That reminds me..." She pulled something out of her robes and turned to Hermione. "This was meant to be included in your letter, but I don't think the Headmaster would mind terribly if I gave it to you early."

Hermione's jaw dropped. It was a shiny red and gold Gryffindor Prefect badge. "A prefect? Me?" she squeaked.

"Certainly," replied the professor, smiling. "Heavens know you're the most brilliant student to grace my House for well over a decade!" At this, even the android smiled, as Hermione accepted the badge.

As she pinned the badge to her robes, Hermione thought of something. "What are we going to call her?" she asked, indicating the android. "She needs a proper name..."

"May I ask who that is?" said the android, indicating the monitor. Hermione turned to look.

The wallpaper that she had was of a small, jet black kitten with green eyes. Hermione felt a pang of regret as the memory came back. "That...that's Karen," she replied. "She was a gift from my mother when I was five. But, two weeks after I got her, she contracted a terminal illness. She died days later." Hermione's head was bowed as she remembered crying at the mini-funeral she had insisted on having for the kitten. "I named my computer after her. Silly, isn't it?"

"I don't think so," replied the android. "I think it's a pretty name. I think it might just suit me."

"Very well, then, Karen," said McGonagall, "shall we return to the school?"

"Yes, let's," agreed Karen. The two left, and Hermione looked after them, lost in thought.

"Something tells me I'll be seeing more of her in the future..." she muttered, then sat back down in front of her computer. Bringing up the window she had minimized, she said, "Now, where was I...?"

***Notes***

Well, an epic length fanfic...or at least the start of one. How odd is that? Well, anyway, on to the specifics. If anyone knows who Karen really is, PLEASE do not give it away on the board. I want to see how many people are shocked when they find out who it is. It might be a few chapters before I reveal it.

Now for the legal mumbo jumbo. I do not own Hermione Granger (yes, she is important in this fic!), Dumbledore, McGonagall, or any other characters from the Harry Potter universe, though it would be cool if I did. All credit for those characters and related stuff goes to J.K. Rowling. I also do not own Karen (or her true identity at least!) or anything related to her. Her true identity belongs to Namco, along with all related things.

Credit must go to Grey Fox for writing his/her super awesome fic, Fusion of Destinies, which can be found in Schnoogle. That fic inspired this one, though it is a crossover with a different series. Want to know what that one crosses with? Read it, and find out. Laterz.