Operation Cobra (Book Two of The Savior Fables)

Chapter Thirty-Two: Apple Pies and Dreamlands

Our favorite quartet is back, and they're learning some information from their plus one that makes them question a few things.

***

Harry blinked rapidly to clear his vision, and when it did, he saw the now familiar throne room, and when he looked next to him, he saw his friends, but not the Founders.

They, as always, were in their royal regalia. Hermione was in her blue and gold dress, Harry in his emerald green suit, Draco in his maroon suit, Neville in his black and gold suit, and Luna was wearing her royal blue and bronze dress. "Mia?" he asked.

Hermione spun around to face him, her eyes wide. "Harry!" She continued to look around the room, her smile widening when she saw each familiar face. "Draco! Neville! Luna!"

"We're back!" Draco grinned, though his glee slightly faded as he glanced at the thrones waiting for them. "Where do you think they are?"

"The Founders?" Neville asked with a frown. "I don't know . . . but Merlin, it's good to see you three." He playfully punched Draco in the arm. "Where have you been?!"

"Oh you know," Harry shrugged, smothering a grin as Draco rubbed his arm with a scowl. "Just undermining the mayor of a small town, finding out I have a younger brother, my mum's family is full of fairytale characters, and I got trapped in a mine shaft."

Neville's eyes bugged wide and his jaw hung open, Draco laughed at his expression and Harry's innocent smile. "That's one way to explain it!"

You know," Hermione sighed, appearing to consider sitting on her throne before shaking her head and pacing instead. "A lot more than that has happened, yet it sometimes feels like nothing has happened at all because it's not really us doing it. It's the adults. Albeit that's the way it should be, but . . . " She helplessly shrugged. "We seem to attract the danger, then it follows us and makes us solve it ourselves."

Harry snorted. "No, I attract the danger. You just follow."

Neville snorted.. "I think that's an understatement. Now, back up a bit . . . what do you mean you got trapped in a mineshaft?"

Harry winced. "My brother was convinced he'd find magic down there," he explained. "That's when he learned about my magic. I protected him and, well . . . "

He shrugged, leaving the Hufflepuff heir to come to a conclusion. Neville, for his part, just blinked then sighed. "Of course," he muttered, rubbing his forehead. "Because why not? That makes total sense. Bloody hell, I always miss the good stuff. Why is it that it's only you three that gets to have fun?"

"Hey!" Draco scowled and poked Neville in the chest. "We asked and you declined!"

"I didn't think Harry would find a brother!" Neville retorted.

"You know, I think it's quite nice," Luna piped up, speaking for the first time. "Finding a sibling you had no idea you had."

Hermione laughed. "We single children always do, no?"

"I don't," Draco snorted. "I have the lot of you. I don't need a sibling added to that mix."

Neville laughed. "Is there anything else I'm missing?"

Luna hummed, tilting her head thoughtfully, a faraway look in her eyes. "They're trying to break the curse."

Neville just stared at her. "What curse?"

"Harry's family and their entire town of Storybrooke is cursed to not know they are fairytale characters and have no idea they are from the Enchanted Forest," Hermione explained. "The Evil Queen put the Dark Curse on the people of the Enchanted Forest because she was trying to make sure Snow White and Prince Charming didn't have their happily ever after with Emma, so only Emma can break the curse . . . but no one knows how."