Summary: Hermione finds out Gryffindor idiocy/bravery is not limited to Hogwarts. Or wizards.
Prompt: LJ Community 20_fics – 005. "Comes with the territory."
Jon Thorsson smiled, a sad weary expression with barely upturned lips. He could see the primal fear taking root; the instinct to skedaddle out of town and away from an expectant explosion. Sometimes he wished he could do the same. But then he remembered just why he persisted in hanging around the Springs.
General Hammond had been great setting him up in Denver, away from Cheyenne Mountain and potential NID operations, but it didn't stop Jon from making fairly regular trips during the school year and finally moving back to Colorado Springs for his last year of high school.
Then to his surprise the aura of primal fear began to recede. Before his eyes the young woman's expression became calm, controlled and calculating. Rather than following her first instinct to run she focused on thinking than acting.
"They were looking for You." She repeated a point she had brought up before. "There is something different about you. Something that they want." Jon had to admire how her mind honed in on key factors. But even so he was not willing to share all his secrets. He had lots of people to protect and the science and technology of the StarGate was messy enough without bringing magic into the mix.
"Yeah." He admitted. "Me and a few friends. Some are safe but some aren't."
She frowned slightly. "Why don't you move away? Perhaps move in with relatives who live in a magical enclave? Surely the NID will not find you there." There was a trace of doubt, of question in the last statement.
Jon shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. But I can't risk the NID finding out about magic so I avoid the enclaves."
The British witch snorted softly. "But you still remain in an area where they could spot you."
"I cannot help my friends if I'm too far away."
"So you stay and put yourself at risk."
"Yep."
"You're an idiot." The blunt statement was uttered in pithy tones.
"Hey!"
She tilted her head to one side and studied him more intently. "You are self-sacrificing, brave, protective, stubborn, headstrong, rash…" She snorted softly. "My best friend has those same qualities."
He eyed her warily. "Should I take it as a compliment."
She laughed softly. "Oh yes. He is the epitome of heroic. Sometimes I think idiotic rash behaviour goes hand-in-hand with bravery and heroism."
Knots of tension dissolved. Jon laughed and leaned back on the heels of his hands.
"Oh yeah. It comes with the territory. It definitely comes with the territory."
...ooOoo...
TBC…