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Skye burst into the medical bay, her casual sweater and jeans making her look more like a college student than a S.H.I.E.L.D. operative.
She scanned the room, ignoring the strangers, and bee-lined for Simmons.
"Jemma!" she cried, wrapping the scientist in a tight hug. "Ward told me! Are you okay? Did you really jump out of the plane? You're crazy! You're brilliant, but you're crazy!"
Simmons laughed tearfully, hugging her back. "I'm fine, Skye. Thanks to our... guest."
Skye pulled back, wiping her eyes. She finally looked around the room, her gaze landing on Hermione, who was still casually eating potato chips in the corner.
Coulson cleared his throat, stepping into his role as the team's leader.
"Okay, introductions," Coulson said. "Jemma Simmons and Leo Fitz, you know. Biological and mechanical sciences, respectively. Grant Ward, our specialist, you've met."
Hermione nodded at Ward, who was still sulking in his towel. "We know each other. We took a skydiving class together. He failed."
Ward scowled.
Coulson pointed to the stoic woman in the pilot's suit. "This is Melinda May. Our pilot and combat expert. The Cavalry."
May stared at Hermione. Her pupils contracted sharply. Unlike the others, she had access to higher clearance files. She had seen the footage from New York. She knew exactly what kind of monster was eating chips in their lab.
"And this one..." Coulson gestured to the long-haired girl, his tone softening with a hint of paternal pride. "Her name is Skye. She's our newest recruit. A hacktivist turned intern."
Skye looked at Hermione with open curiosity. So this is the virus expert? she thought. She looks twelve. Is she a Doogie Howser type? Or maybe a relative of Simmons from England?
"Hello," Skye said, offering a friendly wave. "Nice to meet you. I like your sweater."
Coulson cleared his throat again. "And this is the Shaman—"
"My name is Hermione Granger," Hermione interrupted smoothly, standing up and brushing crumbs from her jeans. "Just call me Hermione."
She smiled at the group, disarming them with a relaxed, casual charm. "I heard the Chitauri virus popped up, so Director Fury—or 'Eggman' as I call him—asked me to take a look."
May took a deep breath, steeling herself. She stepped forward, extending a hand. "Hello, Hermione. It's an honor to meet you." Her voice trembled slightly, a crack in her usual armor.
Hermione shook it firmly. "Likewise, Agent May."
Skye watched the interaction, puzzled. May never gets nervous, she thought. Who is this kid?
"To be honest," Coulson explained to Hermione, "my team was built on the model of the original strategic scientific reserve. We're mobile. We investigate the strange, the undocumented. The paranormal events the world isn't ready for."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "With this setup? A bus and a handful of misfits? You're unlikely to solve anything major. No offense."
Coulson smiled, unbothered. "The Avengers handle the world-ending threats. We handle the cracks in the pavement. We keep the world safe from the things that go bump in the night."
"But now that you've joined us as a consultant," Coulson added hopefully, "I think our clearance level just went up."
Hermione shook her head. "I'm just a temp, Phil. I'm here to look after you occasionally at Fury's request. I won't be staying permanently. I have school."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Coulson's eyes, but he nodded. He knew she was playing in a different league.
"Oh right," Hermione slapped her forehead dramatically. "I almost forgot the important thing. The reason I actually came back."
She looked at Coulson, her expression turning serious. The playful vibe vanished instantly.
"A while ago, Dumbledore—my Headmaster—observed the stars. The Celestial Convergence is about to begin. He deduced that the Earth's focal point will be in Greenwich, London."
She leaned against the bio-bed. "Supernatural events are going to spike in that area. Gravity anomalies. Spatial tearing. I've already informed Fury, but your next mission is probably going to be there."
Coulson frowned. "Celestial Convergence?"
"It happens once every five thousand years," Hermione explained, using her hands to simulate planets aligning. "The Nine Realms align perfectly. The boundaries between worlds blur. Portals open naturally. Think of it as a cosmic Swiss cheese event."
"Wormholes," Fitz whispered, his eyes widening. "Einstein-Rosen bridges occurring naturally?"
"Exactly," Hermione nodded. "Except these wormholes could lead to Asgard, Vanaheim, Svartalfheim... anywhere. And anything can come through."
She paused, letting the weight of that sink in. "None of the neighbors are friendly. So you'd better be prepared."
Coulson looked worried. "If portals open randomly... what if an army comes through? Another Battle of New York? But in London?"
"Relax," Hermione waved her hand dismissively. "You don't need to worry about the big stuff. If any idiots really want to invade, let them come."
Coulson was baffled. "Why? Greenwich isn't a fortress. There are no Avengers stationed there."
Hermione grinned, a wicked, knowing smile.
"You're overthinking it, Phil. Greenwich is the safest place in the world right now. New York can't compare."
"Do you know what's next to Greenwich?" she asked.
Coulson shook his head. "Uh... the Royal Observatory? British police?"
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Hogwarts."
Coulson's eyes widened instantly.
Oh.
An indescribable sense of security washed over him. He had seen what one Hogwarts student could do. If the school itself was nearby...
So, the alien portal is opening directly onto the wizarding world's front lawn?
Coulson almost laughed. That's not an invasion. That's a suicide run.
"So," Hermione continued, checking her nails, "whoever wants to die, let them come. If Dark Elves or Frost Giants stumble into the Forbidden Forest... well, I pity them. The spiders are hungry."
"However," she added, "while the invasion isn't your problem, the Convergence causes physics to go wonky. Gravity shifts. Portals. Civilians getting lost in other dimensions. That's the 'minor trouble' your team needs to handle."
Coulson nodded, his confidence restored. "Understood. Crowd control and containment. It's a good training opportunity for the team."
After a while, Coulson excused himself to call Fury. The atmosphere in the lab relaxed.
Skye moved closer to Hermione, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"So," Skye said, leaning against the counter. "Hogwarts? Is that like... a secret bio-lab? Or a code name?"
Hermione looked at Skye. She saw the potential in the girl. The dormant Inhuman DNA. The vibration manipulation waiting to be unlocked.
"It's a school," Hermione said simply. "For people like me."
Skye frowned. "People like you? You mean scientists?"
Hermione chuckled. She raised a finger.
Snap.
The bag of potato chips on the counter floated into the air. It danced around Skye's head, spinning gently.
Skye's jaw dropped. "Whoa. Telekinesis? You're... you're gifted? Like on the Index?"
"Something like that," Hermione smiled. "And you, Skye? What's your story? Why does a hacker hang out with spies?"
Skye looked down, a shadow crossing her face. "I'm looking for my parents. They... they left me. S.H.I.E.L.D. has the files. Or at least, redacted versions of them."
Hermione looked at her deeply. She knew the truth. She knew about Afterlife. About Jiaying. About Mr. Hyde.
"You'll find them," Hermione said softly, her voice carrying the weight of prophecy. "But be careful what you look for, Skye. Sometimes, family trees have thorns."
She reached out and tapped Skye's forehead. A tiny spark of static electricity jumped between them.
"You have a vibration about you," Hermione whispered. "A resonance. Don't let anyone tell you you're just a hacker. You're going to shake the world one day."
Skye blinked, rubbing her forehead. She felt a strange warmth where Hermione had touched her.
"Thanks," Skye whispered, feeling strangely seen.
"Now," Hermione clapped her hands, breaking the mood. "Who wants to see me turn Ward into a ferret?"