It was a cold, windy afternoon at Hogwarts. Harry, Hermione and Ron were in seventh year, as they had come back to do their NEWTs the year after Harry defeated Lord Voldemort.
"Hey Harry, pass the beetle juice, will you?" asked Ron as he stirred the ingredients for the potion they had been making in class.
"Ron, you're meant to pour the beetle juice in only after it turns green!" scolded Hermione.
"Shhh!" Harry jerked his head in Malfoy’s direction, who was sitting behind them with another Slytherin.
"Well, you won't believe this," said the familiar drawl, "but you know my father's cane?" his voice dropped to a whisper, "Inside it is - is some kind of monster he's going to use to bring back You-Know-Who!"
The trio gasped in shock. They looked at each other, Hermione's face was white with fear.
Draco had started talking again.
"But of course, he's hidden it well inside the Forbidden Forest so nobody will be able to find it, only him."
The other Slytherin guffawed.
"Tonight," mouthed Harry to the other two.
That night, they all met up in the common room. "I just can't believe it!" Hermione exclaimed as she paced the room.
"Are you sure Malfoy wasn't making it up to trick us into going into the Forest?" Ron asked nervously.
"It's definitely true," Harry replied grimly. "I didn't have a chance to talk to either of you all day, but I talked to Dobby earlier. Remember I told you both how I asked Dobby to keep an eye on the Malfoys?"
Ron and Hermione nodded.
"Well," Harry continued, "He had noticed Lucius' cane was missing and was going to tell me this evening anyway."
Hermione started pacing again, waving her arms around nervously. "Do you think we should tell a teacher what we're doing?"
"No, we're over age now, we can handle it," scoffed Ron.
"I have the Marauders' Map and my Cloak, anything else we need?" said Harry.
"Something to destroy the cane," Hermione spoke up.
"Good idea, do you think the sword will do it? It managed to destroy all the Horcruxes."
"I'm sure the sword will be fine," Hermione said firmly.
"Where is it?" asked Ron.
"In the Headmistress' Office, of course," Harry said. "How will we get it?"
"Don't worry, I have a plan," smiled Hermione mischievously. "You two go on into the Forest and get the cane, I'll meet you there when I have the sword."
Harry and Ron looked at each other in disbelief.
"Um .. okay, see you soon."
Hidden under the Invisibility Cloak, Ron and Harry sneaked their way downstairs to the Entrance Hall.
"Bloody hell .. I can't open this!" whispered Ron as he struggled with the locks on the door.
"Here, let me try. Alohomora, " Harry said and the locks sprung open. Harry grinned.
"How did you remember that ... I mean, after 7 years of learning loads of different spells ... I can hardly remember half of them!" Ron whispered.
Harry chuckled as they made their way across the grounds. It was a dark night, only a few stars were out and the moon was hiding behind a cloud. The Forbidden Forest loomed up ahead, dark and mysterious.
"Uh, Harry, are you sure Malfoy said the Forbidden Forest? He might have said....um....the Herbology greenhouses?"
"Are you honestly telling me," Harry said as they took off the Cloak, "that after facing Voldemort, you are afraid of a forest?"
Ron blushed and mumbled, "No ... I just ..."
But Harry had already started walking in the Forest. The two of them stepped carefully over tree roots until they came to the path. "Lumos," muttered Harry and Ron followed suit. They had been walking for a few minutes when they heard footsteps coming toward them. Harry stopped and held up his wand, trying to see through the gloom.
"Do you mind?" came Ginny's voice. "You're hurting our eyes."
With her were Hermione, Neville and Luna. Hermione held up the sword proudly. "It was easier than I expected. And I figured we might need more than three people if Lucius has protections around the cane," she gestured towards Ginny, Luna and Neville and then placed the sword in her beaded bag which she had brought with her. "Oh, and you're going the wrong way. That's the way back to the castle," she pointed towards the way they had been going.
"If you're so smart, then where's the cane?" muttered Ron.
Hermione ignored him and the group of six now trudged on through the forest. Before long, they had reached the heart of the forest. There, just a few feet away, was Lucius' cane.
Ron yelped in triumph and ran towards it but he tripped over a tree root and went flying onto what looked like an old boot.
Neville then fell over Ron's legs, dragging both Ginny and Luna down with him. Harry and Hermione leaned down to help them all up but as Harry held onto Ginny's hand, who was holding onto Luna, who was sitting on Neville, who was tangled up with Ron's feet, he felt a jerk behind his navel and all six of them went spinning ....
They woke up an island.
Harry opened his eyes and squinted in the bright sunshine. He felt relief wash over him as he saw Ron, Hermione, Luna, Ginny and Neville all lying in the sand beside him.
"Hi," said a voice. Harry jumped up and looked warily at the man who had spoke. He was sitting on the sand, strumming a guitar and was in his mid 20s, Harry would guess. The man then said, "I'm Charlie," in an English accent. He held out his hand and Harry noticed a ring with the initials DS on his finger. He grasped Charlie's hand and said, "I'm Harry and these are Luna, Neville, Ginny, Ron and Hermione." He pointed all out in turn. "Where are we?"
"Somewhere in the South Pacific Ocean, dude."
A big man, who reminded Harry of Hagrid without the beard, had walked over to them. "Where did you guys come from?"
"They just fell out of the sky, mate," Charlie replied. "This is Hurley, by the way," he explained to them.
"But - but who are you people?" asked Hermione, exasperated.
"We're survivors of Oceanic Flight 815. Who are you?" he shot right back.
The six of them looked at each other nervously.
"We're looking for something," Ron spoke up. "We don't know how we got here, but it's very important that we find the thing we're looking for and get back to where we came from as soon as possible."
"Ok," said Charlie. "We might be able to find whatever you're looking for, but for you lot to get off this island? That's near impossible. We've tried everything. Hey, Jack! C'mere a minute."
A tall man with short brown hair came striding towards them with a woman who had long wavy brown hair and lots of freckles.
He pulled a gun out from his back pocket and pointed it at the wizards. "Who are you?" he barked.
"They just fell out of the sky, dude," answered Hurley.
"Are they Others?" Jack scrutinised the six of them.
"Nah, Jack, they're only kids," said Charlie.
"We're seventeen," said Hermione curtly.
"I'm Kate," said the woman. "Does anyone know you're here? Anyone who would come and rescue you?"
"I don't think so," said Hermione uncertainly. "But if you help us find what we're looking for, I promise you we'll get you all off this island."
Charlie, Hurley, Jack and Kate looked at each other in surprise. This group of teenagers knew a way off the island?
"It's a deal then," Jack spoke for them all. "What is it you're looking for?"
"It's a sort of a cane," Luna replied.
"You don't mean Eko's Jesus stick, do you? John would know where that is. Mr. Eko died a couple of days ago," Charlie explained to them.
"Look," said Jack nervously. "Go and find Locke and get that stick, but keep all of this a secret from everyone else. Don't go any further up the beach. I would go with you, but I have to go down to the caves to get more water. As soon as you get the stick, come back here to the beach." Jack gave Kate the gun and whispered something in her ear and left.
"Alright!"cried Charlie. "I'll run and get John, stay here."
Harry smiled at Hermione and mouthed "thank you" because he knew the people on the island wouldn’t have co-operated if there hadn't been something in it for them.
"Wait a sec," said Hurley slowly, something dawning on him.
"You're that dude from JK Rowling's books! Harry Potter!"
"Yeah," sighed Harry. "Wait - who's JK Rowling?"
"You're not real! No! It's the numbers doing this again, isn't it?!" shouted Hurley.
"Hugo, please," said Kate. "Of course he's real. He just happens to look like Harry Potter."
Harry nodded, not sure what was going on.
Hurley nodded as well, gazing in awe at Harry.
Charlie arrived back then, another man with him. "John Locke," he said and held out his hand, looking cautiously around at the group. Harry shook Locke's hand and introduced everyone to him.
"Now tell me what exactly it is you're looking for," Locke said, looking intently at Harry.
"It's a cane," Hermione explained. "And we have reason to believe that inside it is a mysterious force that can somehow bring back a dark - er - evil man. Very, very evil," she said sternly.
"A mysterious force," whispered Locke thoughtfully.
"Well, I'll lead you to where I buried Eko and his stick, but I can't promise that this is the same one you're looking for."
"Em - Harry?" asked Ginny tentatively.
"Yeah?"
"Luna and I are going to stay here - Luna feels a bit sick." Luna bobbed her head up and down vigorously.
"I'll stay with them too," volunteered Neville.
"Well, come on then," Locke said. They set off into the jungle - Locke, Charlie, Hurley, Kate, Harry, Hermione and Ron.
"So, where are you lot from?" Charlie asked.
"England," Ron replied as he gazed in horror at some spiders on a tree.
"I miss England," said Charlie wistfully. "I'm from Manchester. I'm actually in a band - called Drive Shaft, ever heard of them?"
Harry remembered the ring with the initials DS.
"Shhh," said Locke suddenly and he stopped dead. They all listened and heard someone or something making its way toward them.
Harry, Hermione and Ron all took out their wands and Charlie gave them a puzzled look. Kate took out two guns and handed one to Locke.
Then out of the bushes stepped a man.
He was quite tall, with floppy golden hair. He grinned at them as they stared. "Hey Freckles," he laughed, addressing Kate. She sighed and said, ”What are you doing here?"
"More like, what are you four doing out in the middle of the jungle with three people I've never seen before?" he asked.
"This is not your concern, James," replied Locke and he started walking again.
"I'm pretty sure it's my business if you are trekking around with Others - does Jack know about this little expedition?" Sawyer was grinning again.
"Yeah, Jack was the one who actually told us to go get the stick," Hurley said.
"Hugo," Locke shot Hurley a warning look.
"Well, I'm sure the doctor won't mind if I come along too," said Sawyer.
"Of course," replied Locke.
"Hey - Locke? How much further is it to the cane?" Harry asked.
"Not much further, Harry," Locke said.
"Harry, I don't think we should trust these people, they seem to have divisions even within their small community," whispered Hermione quietly.
"It's our only choice - how else are we meant to find Lucius' cane? Besides, if things get nasty, we have magic on our side," Harry grinned at Hermione and she seemed reassured for the moment.
Soon enough they reached the place where the cane was.
"There it is," said Locke and he sat down on a rock.
They were looking at a grave. Acting as a grave marker was a long stick with engravings all over it.
"Is this the one you were looking for?"
"I'm not sure," said Harry carefully.
"Even if it isn't, we might as well destroy it," said Ron.
"Hey, wait," said Sawyer, who was looking confused. "Isn't that Eko's stick?" He looked at Locke.
"Yes," said Locke calmly.
"So how can it be their cane thingy?"
Harry looked closer at the stick. "I know how we can see if it's the cane or not," announced Hermione. She lifted her wand and muttered a spell under her breath.
Slowly the stick started to change.
First, the carvings disappeared. Then it turned black. Finally, an ornamental snake head appeared on the top.
"That's it," said Ron darkly.
"How did you do that? And how did it get here?" Sawyer asked in bewilderment.
"The island has its ways," said Locke.
Hermione opened her beaded bag and took out the Gryffindor sword. She lifted it, her hands trembling and swung it at the cane.
It cut clean through the cane and the snake head went spinning off into the bushes. But out of the remains of the cane rose black smoke.
"RUN!" screamed Kate and although the trio had no idea what was going on, they all ran off in different directions.
Harry ran deep into the jungle, hoping that the black smoke wasn't behind him - he was too afraid to look back.
"RON!" Harry heard Hermione's shrill scream.
He stopped running and glanced around him.
He saw Sawyer a few feet away, looking in Harry's direction with his finger on his lips. Harry crept forward and whispered, "What was that thing?"
Sawyer replied, "We call it the black smoke monster."
So that was the monster Malfoy had been talking about! Harry cursed under his breath.
"There's the rest of them," Sawyer said to Harry as they walked through a clump of bushes.
Everyone was there, Hermione looking quite scared but she seemed all right.
They all walked slowly back to the beach. When they got back, Ginny jumped up and ran to Harry. "Are you ok? Did you destroy it?" she asked worriedly.
"Yes, yes, it's gone for now," he soothed her.
"How are you getting us off the island?" asked Kate.
"Would a boat do it? Or shall we use Side-Along Apparition? Are you sure the monster is gone?" he said.
"I am choosing to remain here on the island, so don't worry, it will never have the chance to bring back the evil man you spoke about," said Locke suddenly.
Kate looked at him in surprise.
"We'll use Side-Along Apparition," decided Hermione.
"Wow, you guys really are wizards," Hurley exclaimed.
One by one, Hermione, Harry, Ron, Luna and Neville shipped the survivors off the island and back to L.A., except for Locke and a few others who chose to remain on the island.
They modified everyone's memories too.
Later that year, back at Hogwarts, all was well. Malfoy was skulking around the castle with a scowl on his face. Harry had talked to Dumbledore’s portrait who had said that the cane in the Forest must have been a fake and that the boot had been a Portkey which would have enabled Lucius to go to the real one.
One day, while studying in the common room, Ron announced that he had gotten a letter from Charlie.
"Your brother?" asked Hermione.
"Eh ... no, remember Charlie from the island?"
"But you were supposed to modify his memory!" shrieked Hermione, horrified. Crookshanks gave a yowl and jumped off Hermione’s lap.
"I did ... but I didn't. He thinks we were on the "boat" that rescued them from the island," Ron grinned, obviously proud of himself.
Hermione sighed and shook her head.
"Anyway, here's what it says:
Dear Ron,
I decided to post this even though I have no idea where you live. I know you said England, but where? Then a friend of mine (you might remember Hurley?) suggested that I should just give it to an owl, as he had read somewhere that they are great at finding people. At first I thought he was crazy, but how else could I get it to you?
Anyway, I hope this reaches you safely.
I'm back in Manchester and my brother Liam and his family are with me. Remember how I told you I was in a band called Drive Shaft? Well, we got the band back together and everything's going well, our new album should be out soon. I am so grateful that your boat managed to find the island, without it, I would still be there!
How are you and your friends? Let me know - my address is on the back. Maybe you could even come and visit me!
Wishing you all the best,
Charlie
Charlie
"Wow," said Ron, grinning. "Fancy a trip to Manchester when we're done with school?"
"Sure, why not," smiled Harry. "As long as there are no black smoke monsters." And he laughed, along with his two best friends.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The End.
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