Orientation
With a sharp tug around Hermione’s middle, the world blurred around them as the Portkey activated. The landing jolted her, and she staggered briefly before regaining her footing thanks to a hand on her shoulder. She looked toward the hand to realise it was Malfoy who had steadied her, his expression unreadable. How he’d noticed her stumble, she couldn’t guess. Beside her, he looked as dazed as she felt, his head whipping around to investigate their new surroundings.
They had arrived in what appeared to be a high-security lab. The sterile air smelled faintly metallic, mingled with the sharper tang of antiseptics. Red and green lights blinked in rapid sequences on machinery lining the room, while a low, steady hum underscored everything. As her ears adjusted to the sound, Hermione barely had time to absorb the scene before an older man in a pristine white lab coat strode toward them. The bright lights overhead reflected off his bald scalp, accentuating the brisk efficiency of his movements.
“You must be the specialists we requested. I’m Antonio Rodotà, Director General of the European Space Agency,” he said briskly, his light accent adding a musical quality to his words. He extended a hand, which Hermione, having regained her composure the quickest, stepped forward and clasped with a practised professionalism.
“Hermione Granger, Heal—Surgeon,” she said, catching herself mid-title and adding a composed smile. She gestured to her companions. “This is Theodore Nott, engineer, and Draco Malfoy, chemist. We’re here to provide… support for your team.”
Rodotà’s smile was polite but genuine. “I greatly appreciate how swiftly you arrived and your willingness to assist with this mission. One day, I hope we can make significant scientific strides with public knowledge of the joint efforts between the magical and non-magical worlds. For now, I consider it a great honour to be aware of and able to work with both of our communities.” he said warmly, his sincerity evident as he clasped Hermione’s hand briefly between both of his own. “Though I do my best to understand magical concepts, I must admit there are many areas where my expertise falls short. For that reason, I will defer to those far more knowledgeable than I.”
Before Hermione could respond, three pops echoed from the far corner. Her head snapped toward the noise, her wand hand twitching reflexively before her eyes widened. She recognised one of the newcomers instantly.
“Master Quince!” Hermione’s hand slipped free of Rodotà’s as she hurried over, a genuine smile breaking her otherwise composed demeanour. “What a delightful surprise!”
“Healer Granger, the delight is all mine. I had hoped you would be called in for this mission.” The man beamed as they grasped each other’s hand before coming into a brief hug. “The discoveries we’re poised to make here — history in the making! Far beyond our wildest dreams! This is exactly what I envisioned when I recommended Kingsley bring you on as an Unspeakable.”
Hermione froze for a fraction of a second, her brows drawing together in confusion. Kingsley had never mentioned how he became aware of her independent project, nor why he chose to bring her on as an Unspeakable with near-unlimited resources. All he’d told her was that, should the need arise to call her into action on Project Quio, her research would be vital. That, and he had stressed the utmost importance of her employment as an Unspeakable remaining secret. This was why so much effort had gone into maintaining her position, if only publically, with St. Mungos. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could voice her thoughts, Quince ploughed on.
“Not a worry, Granger, not a worry.” Quince said with a smile, as if sensing her unease. “If all goes well with this project the need for secrecy will vanish. In any case, everyone here will soon be briefed on the full mission, your complete backgrounds included. There will be no secrets一”
“Hambledon, stop bleating like a rosy optimist,” interrupted one of the other two newcomers, hobbling forward with a cane. “You act as if all’s rosy in the garden when we haven’t a clue what is out there. We need to be prepared and you’re getting on my wick with your damn excitement.” He gave Quince a sharp whack on the back of his legs before turning to the group at large. “I’m Archibald Throckmorton, one of the three wizarding members on the board. This,” he gestured to the third individual with his cane, “is Soledad Cervantes, our newest addition. And Captain Cheerful over here is the final member, better known as Hambledon Quince.”
Theodore Nott’s eyes widened, and he let out a bark of incredulous laughter, drawing every gaze in the room. "Wait, hold on a tick." He stepped forward, his wiry frame moving with the restless energy of someone perpetually on the verge of mischief. "You mean to tell me that you are Hambledon Quince? As in, ‘wizards are Martian colonists and Muggles are mushrooms’ Hambledon Quince?"
Draco groaned audibly, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Theo, for Merlin’s sake, don’t embarrass us in the first five minutes.”
“What? I’m only asking!” Theo spread his arms, mock-indignant, before turning to Archibald as if seeking validation. “Surely you’ve read his paper? What was it called—‘Galactic Genealogies’? Absolute masterpiece of fiction, that. Read it cover to cover. Couldn’t put it down. Nearly wet myself laughing when he said—”
“Yes, yes, the mushroom theory,” Quince interrupted, raising a hand with the air of a seasoned lecturer. “An unfortunate extrapolation from incomplete data. I was younger. Overzealous.” He shot a pointed look at Theo before continuing, his voice calm but firm; a man accustomed to defending his ideas. “But the broader premise—that magical beings may have extraterrestrial origins—is quite solid. And, it is exactly what our mission seeks to prove.”
A heavy silence fell over the room, the weight of his words hanging in the air. For a moment, even Theo seemed subdued, though his gaze flicked between the others as if waiting for someone to react. Hermione could just hear a small cough over the steady hum that had maintained since their arrival. She turned toward the noise to see Malfoy seemingly scolding Theo under his breath. Hermione, torn between exasperation and fascination, finally broke the silence.
“Given our previous work, I’m assuming there’s more substance to this theory than… mushrooms?” she said as she glanced at Quince.
“Much more,” He replied solemnly. “Celestial alignments, genetic markers—it’s all coming together. Project Quio is our chance to confirm once and for all that wizardkind’s magic is tied to origins beyond Earth.”
Throckmorton leaned heavily on his cane, his expression grim. “You can laugh all you want, young man,” he said, eyeing Theo, “but if Quince is right, this discovery could change everything—for both our world and theirs.” He gestured to Rodotà, who was watching the exchange with quiet interest.
Hermione's mind suddenly drifted back to the day Kingsley had handed her the folio marked Confidential. She had just been sworn to secrecy and given the information, which had apparently been charmed to be visible for her eyes only. She could nearly feel its weight in her hands, the pages on the tips of her fingers as she sat in Shacklebolt’s office reviewing the cover document.
CONFIDENTIALPROJECT
Quio
CLASSIFICATION LEVEL
Top Secret - Eyes Only
RECRUITMENT TYPE
Selective - By Invitation Only
OBJECTIVE
To create a contingency response team trained to manage and address a potential future event involving the discovery of extraterrestrial life or technology.
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your selection for a highly specialised, undisclosed project. This dossier contains critical information regarding your involvement in Project Quio. The details outlined herein are classified and will remain undisclosed to all non-essential personnel. Your cooperation and confidentiality are paramount to the success of this mission.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Project Quio was conceived in response to classified intelligence that suggested the eventual discovery of definitive evidence pointing toward extraterrestrial life with magical abilities. This initiative was not designed to operate in the present but rather as a contingency should such a discovery ever be made.
The project was established as a failsafe: a group of carefully selected individuals from diverse disciplines, trained and equipped to manage the ramifications of such a discovery. The team's current purpose is not to investigate extraterrestrial phenomena, but rather to hone their specific skills to be able to protect global interests, maintain security, and navigate the sociopolitical, scientific, and military complexities that would inevitably arise in the event of such an unprecedented encounter.
OBJECTIVE AND MISSION
Primary Objective: To ensure humanity's preparedness in the event of discovering extraterrestrial life, magic, or technology.
Secondary Objective: To analyse, secure, and manage any alien materials, signals, or technology as deemed necessary by global authorities.
Strategic Goal: To prevent worldwide destabilisation by controlling the dissemination of extraterrestrial discoveries, avoiding mass panic, and ensuring the global balance of power is maintained.
EXPECTATIONS
Hermione Granger, you have been selected because of your unique skills and expertise in Magibiology and Exobiology. Your primary responsibility is to prepare for the unknown, using your expertise to aid in the potential introduction of extraterrestrial life or magic to earth society. It is crucial to note that the success of Project Quio will not solely rely on your understanding of extraterrestrial life, but also on your ability to handle extraordinary geopolitical and existential challenges. We must ensure the stabilisation of earth society and act swiftly should extraterrestrial evidence come to light.
While your participation in Project Quio is a high honour, it is also fraught with immense responsibility. The discovery of extraterrestrial magical life—if and when it occurs—will fundamentally change every aspect of life on Earth. Public reaction will vary from intense fear to extraordinary excitement. The socio-political ramifications are unpredictable, and global security may be jeopardised. Your role will be to mitigate the chaos that may follow, ensure the discovery does not fall into the wrong hands, and guide the world through this historic event with caution and precision.
THE TRIGGER EVENT
Should evidence of extraterrestrial life or technology be confirmed, Project Quio will be activated under the guidance of the highest levels of government and scientific authority. At that time, you will be contacted directly by Project Command with specific instructions…
The noise of a small “hem-hem” suddenly interrupted the memory, the folio drifting from her thoughts as her eyes widened. Surely that wasn’t…
Hermione’s head jerked toward the source of the noise to see Soledad Cervantes preparing to speak. Though she had been silent previously, she now spoke up in a low, calm voice which carried easily, her English sounds tinged with remnants of her native tongue. “This project is not just about theories. It’s about survival. We have reason to believe that what we’re looking for might also be looking for us.” Her dark eyes swept the group, lingering on Hermione. “We’ll need everyone fully briefed and on the same page before we move forward.”
Rodotà gave a small nod and stepped forward. “Agreed. If you’ll all follow me, the briefing room is prepared.”
The group began to move towards the door, but Theo lingered a moment, turning to Hermione as she passed by him. He waggled his eyebrows as a mischievous grin grew across his face. “You know, Granger, I didn’t expect intergalactic mushrooms to be part of my day when I woke up this morning. But I live for surprises.”
Hermione slowed, tilting her head slightly as she met Theo’s gaze. Her limited interactions with him left her unsure of how to interpret his behaviour. Surely, anyone assigned to this mission had to possess considerable intelligence, yet his humour in the face of such a serious situation caught her off guard. Did he truly grasp the stakes? The monumental opportunity for groundbreaking scientific discovery? His grin widened into a full, cheeky smile, his white teeth flashing as he extended his arm toward her with an exaggerated flourish.
‘Well, this is certainly going to be interesting,’ Hermione thought, rolling her eyes. Despite herself, a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
“I do believe I can make my way to the meeting room just fine, thank you, Theodore.” she said, her voice firm yet laced with a hint of amusement. Her pace barely faltered as she continued walking, the sharp clicks of her heels echoing against the tile floor as she followed the ESA members out of the room and into the hallway. Behind her, she heard his bark of laughter, followed by the sound of his own footsteps trailing after her.
“Oh, I like you, Granger. This is going to be brilliant.”
The hallway leading to the briefing room was lined with frosted glass panels that hummed faintly with enchantments—protection spells, Hermione noted with surprise. She hadn’t realised the extent to which the wizarding world was involved in muggle organisations. The air carried the faint ozone tang of electronics, and the lighting, unnaturally steady and bright, felt designed to unnerve. Hermione’s heart beat faster with every step. Despite her composed exterior, a thread of unease wove its way through her thoughts. The cryptic mention from Soledad lingered. What we’re looking for might also be looking for us. The implications of that statement refused to settle neatly in her mind.
Theo’s light steps fell into sync beside her, his hands shoved casually into his pockets, though he wisely kept any more comments to himself. Behind them, Malfoy followed in silence, his gaze flitting sharply from detail to detail, cataloguing everything before chiming into the group conversation for the first time as they stopped at the conference room door.
“Director Rodotà. You have a number of muggle objects around that seem to use your…lectronicity?” As the group all turned their attention towards him, Malfoy’s eyes suddenly locked with Hermione’s, presumably seeking assistance on the unfamiliar topic.
“Electricity.” Hermione responded before tearing her eyes away and turning towards the Director. “He brings up a good point. However did you manage to prevent the magical energy from interfering with it? I thought they were incompatible.”
“Ah, yes, one of the more inspired ideas to come from the charm creators,” Quince cut in, his eyes lighting up with a touch of excitement. “It’s intricate, really—took ages to perfect. The charm cushions the Muggle technology, shields it from all sorts of external factors, including magic. Quite the feat of wizarding ingenuity, if I do say so myself.”
"Very impressive from what I hear," Rodotà said, his tone appreciative but measured. "The integration of our technology with magic is no small feat. A great deal of work went into the construction of this building. We’re fortunate to have such advancements at our disposal." He then turned back toward the room, opening the door and gesturing with a sweep of his arm. "Please," he added with a small, inviting smile.
The group entered a wide, circular room dominated by a central table with a glowing, three-dimensional projection hovering above it. Rodotà motioned for them to take their seats around the table, and as Hermione slid into one of the sleek black chairs, her eyes flicked to the projection. The hologram displayed a meticulously detailed rendering of a spacecraft—a battered and ageing vessel, its design unmistakably old but undeniably advanced. It almost felt alive.
“This,” Rodotà began, his voice firm with the weight of what he was about to explain, “is the spacecraft we’ve been tracking. It’s the one that disappeared over a decade ago on its mission to Europa. After it was knocked off course by a meteoroid, we lost contact with it. Now, it’s returned—of its own volition, we believe.”
Hermione’s brow furrowed. The story they were being told had taken an even stranger turn. “Returned?” she echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief. “How is that possible?”
“The answer to that,” Rodotà continued, “is why we’ve called you in.” He motioned to the projection, now zooming in on the ship’s metallic surface, where strange energy signatures seemed to swirl and dance around it. “We’ve detected several anomalies surrounding this craft, both magical and technological. It appears as though something out there… altered its trajectory and its very composition. When it reappeared, it wasn’t just an old ship—it was something far more complex.”
Theo leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. “Altered how exactly? What are we dealing with?”
Rodotà glanced briefly at Cervantes, who now spoke, her tone cautious yet intrigued. “We suspect the ship encountered something beyond normal space. Anomalies in its design suggest it’s been influenced by forces that don’t align with our understanding of physics or magic. The energy readings we’re receiving are unlike anything we’ve encountered before—like a cross between magical resonance and extraterrestrial technology. It’s as if it’s been… re-engineered by something. Readings taken at the moment of reappearance showed a type of magic similar to the Patronus charm, though past that individual point in time they haven’t appeared again.”
A chill ran down Hermione’s spine, but she kept her voice steady. “And what about the ship itself? Do we know what’s inside?”
“We haven’t been able to breach it yet,” Rodotà admitted. “The ship’s outer hull seems impervious to most forms of detection and magical intrusion. It’s as though it’s actively defending itself from prying eyes.”
“So it’s alive?” Theo mused aloud, his tone light but edged with real concern.
"Possibly," Rodotà said, his eyes flicking to the projection again, as if weighing how much to reveal. “It’s been picking up signals, but not like any we’ve seen. They’re organised—patterns that suggest intelligence, if not a warning.”
Hermione’s thoughts scrambled to make sense of the overwhelming weight of the information. "You said the ship was launched over a decade ago. So what—has it just been drifting through space, or is something else controlling it?"
Rodotà paused, letting the question hang in the air briefly. “We don’t know. And that’s where you come in. We need to understand what it encountered. If it’s brought back something—something that can alter both magical and non-magical technology—it could change everything. This mission isn't just about retrieving the ship. It’s about understanding what’s inside and, if necessary, preparing to contain or neutralise whatever it may have brought with it.”
“The Statute of Secrecy is a bloody mess in situations like this,” Throckmorton grumbled, his tone serious, with a hint of unease. “The Muggles involved, they’re walking into something far beyond their comprehension. They have no idea what they’re dealing with, and that puts us in a delicate position. We need to figure out what this ship’s here for—why it’s here, and what it’s after. If this is some kind of prelude to an attack, we’ll have no choice but to expose ourselves to the Muggles far sooner than we ever intended. And that’s a bloody nightmare waiting to happen. One wrong move, and it all goes sideways. And trust me, it could go sideways quicker than you think."
A heavy silence fell over the room as the implications settled in. The prospect of facing something unknown—something that could challenge their understanding of both magic and science—was enough to rattle even the most seasoned members of the team.
“So,” Theo piped up, breaking the silence with a half-smirk, though his voice had that tight edge of barely-contained nerves, “we’re talking about an alien spacecraft, possibly magic-activated, and full of—what, exactly? Trouble?”
Rodotà gave a small, tight smile. “In a manner of speaking, yes. But there’s more to it. The ship’s return is not just a coincidence. We believe it is linked to something much bigger, something beyond our solar system.”
Malfoy shifted in his seat, his face unreadable. “And you think this could be the start of something—larger? A warning of sorts?”
Rodotà didn’t immediately respond, pondering his words. “Perhaps. But that’s why we need you, and others like you, to assist in evaluating the situation. If we’re to act decisively and intelligently, we need all the expertise we can muster.”
Hermione straightened in her chair, the weight of the mission fully sinking in. She was no longer just part of a scientific endeavour; she was preparing to face a mystery that could fundamentally alter the course of human history.
"So what's the plan?" she asked, her voice firm. "What happens next?"
Rodotà met her gaze, offering a slight nod of approval. "Tomorrow, your training begins. It won’t be easy—you’ve only got three days to familiarise yourself with the essential terms and procedures that our team will expect you to know.”
Hermione cast a quick glance at the two pureblood wizards who would be accompanying her. The rapid turnaround would be challenging enough for her, and she had at least grown up in the Muggle world. As far as she knew neither of them had any sort of experience interacting with muggles aside from the one currently present, Malfoy had fumbled the world for electricity for Christ sake. She gave a brief shake of her head before refocusing on the Director as he continued.
“They’ve been informed that you haven’t undergone extensive spaceflight training, but that you were selected for your expertise. Once your training is complete, you’ll be introduced to the teams you’ll be working with and briefed in much the same way as today, though without the magical context. Your ship departs in one week. Right now, the craft is still out there, positioned just beyond the moon’s gravitational influence. The plan is to keep it in orbit for about a month, gathering data and ideally gaining access to the interior, before towing it back to the International Space Station for further analysis. Your job will be to help us understand what we're dealing with and be prepared for any surprises. Full cooperation will be required from everyone involved."
Hermione felt her pulse quicken. Tomorrow. Everything would change then. But for now, she knew the first step was clear—focus, preparation, and patience. The unknown loomed ahead, and there would be no turning back. She remained lost in thought as Cervantes floated each of them a small folder, containing additional details from the briefing, along with information about the accommodations arranged for them. As the group began to disband for the night, her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by an unfamiliar hand waving in front of her face. She looked up to find Theo, the grin she was starting to believe rarely left, stretched tightly across his face, the tension in his posture unmistakable.
“So, Granger,” He started in a light tone, “how about dinner first? Let me treat our brilliant golden girl to a meal. Or, we could dive straight into strategizing how we don’t end up as alien snack food. Not that I'm opposed to taking the conversation back to the hotel, of course.” he said with a wink.
Her mouth gaped in surprise as she scrambled for words, but only unintelligible noises escaped her. A flush crept up her neck and cheeks. She couldn’t believe how forward Theo was being, especially considering they hadn’t exchanged a single word before today. It wasn’t that she disliked flirting—it was just that the men she usually dealt with were either too full of themselves to try, or too intimidated by her connection to Harry Potter and her role in the war. Just as she was about to flounder completely, her rescue came in the unlikely form of Malfoy. He sauntered over, slapping his folder over the back of Nott’s head with a sharp thwack.
“Don’t let this one fool you, Granger,” Draco drawled, his tone dry as he gestured toward Theo. “He hasn’t looked twice at your team since ’92.”
“Oh, come now, Draco, you wound me.” Theo placed a hand over his chest, feigning offence. “There was that one fling in fifth year, remember? Besides”—he turned to Hermione with a charming grin—“you never know, our lovely Hermione here could hold the very key to my heart.”
Hermione shot him a sidelong glance, her lips twitching against the urge to smile. “Theodore—” she began, only to be quickly interrupted.
“Please, we’re going to be working closely together for the foreseeable future. Call me Theo,” he said, his smile widening.
“Theo, then,” Hermione allowed with a soft laugh. “I’d actually appreciate the chance to have dinner with both of you. We’ve come a long way since the war, and as we’ll be working together on something this important, it only makes sense to start off on the right foot. I know friendship might be… off the table, but there’s no reason we can’t have a productive, professional relationship. Building a little trust could go a long way.”
Theo clapped his hands together, looking delighted. “Perfect! I know just the place. It’s been too long since I’ve had a proper meal at Le Meurice. Absolutely divine food. Hermione, have you been? Do you know the closest apparition point? I can side-along you if you’d like.”
“That’d be splendid,” she said, smiling as his enthusiasm overtook him. She glanced toward Malfoy, gauging his reaction.
Draco’s expression was as inscrutable as ever. He was a master of managing his features, she realised, likely honed through years of survival in Voldemort’s shadow. But she could see the faintest flicker of something—wariness, or perhaps resignation—beneath the surface.
“Okay,” he said at last, the word clipped and cool, as if dragged reluctantly from his mouth. With a brisk nod in her direction, he turned his attention to Theo, who was now animatedly listing the highlights of Le Meurice’s menu.
Hermione couldn’t help but note the stark contrast between the two men. Theo’s easy charm and lighthearted chatter seemed to temporarily push aside the gravity of their mission. Malfoy, however, carried it like a weight, his gaze as steady and serious as it had been all day.
They locked eyes briefly—her third time catching him today, she realised. His face gave nothing away, but there was something in his eyes, a quiet intensity that she couldn’t quite place.
This was just the beginning. Whatever awaited them out there, she had a sinking feeling they had only scratched the surface of something far bigger—and far more dangerous—than any of them could imagine.