Chapter 9: OPERATIONS ORDER REMEMBERALL

Normally a Saturday morning for James meant either getting up very early because it was match day or sleeping in as late as possible, but on that particular Saturday he woke up more nervous than any match day. He had a whole day to waste until later that night when he had a date. An honest-to-Merlin real date. Not just a fling with one of the Puddlemere girls, not a drunken mistake with one of his parents' schoolmates, a real date with Alice Longbottom.

After lying in bed for a while longer and still struggling to figure out exactly what Alice would want to do on their date, since he'd left it up to her, he finally got up and made his way into the loo. After taking care of business he looked into the mirror and decided that he needed a haircut. His brown hair, as he ran his hands through it, was entirely too long. Not as bad as his brother, obviously, but then again Al was always weird. Probably an actor thing.

Once he'd showered and made a miserable breakfast of the remains of the Ready Brek box he got dressed, grabbed his wand and decided to take a trip to Diagon Alley just to be ready for anything. After the haircut there'd be a trip to Gringotts and...well, he decided he'd make it up as he went along, because if he was honest with himself he had no idea what the night held for him. Before he could make it out the door, though, an owl appeared at his window carrying a dark green envelope with a gold seal.

"Dammit." James went over to the window and opened it up, watching the owl descend to his kitchen table with trepidation. That color envelope with the seal meant only one thing; the Morale Unit at the War Department had sent him some orders. He took the letter, offered the owl some water, and when the bird realized that was all he was getting he took off, smacking James in the face slightly with his wings. "Bloody owls."

He sat at the table for a few moments trying to decide what to do with the envelope. It could quite possibly derail his Saturday in one moment, and he almost thought about going off and leaving the envelope unopened, giving him an excuse that he didn't know what the orders were, but that would just lead to a whole mess of trouble. Reluctantly he opened the envelope and looked at the parchment.

FCLE32-UA12-99

OPERATIONS ORDER: REMEMBERALL

To: Lieutenant James S. Potter, First Morale Division, WENSA

From: Brigadier Merton K. Smith-Wicke

Report to Morale Division Headquarters, Wizarding Entertainments National Service Association briefing room at 1300 hours for assignment. Further details will be provided at that time. All other orders are immediately rescinded.

Confirmation of orders receipt sent immediately after reading of orders parchment.

Before James could move the parchment turned a bright shade of red, glowed for a second and then faded.

"Bloody hell, not today." James looked up at the ceiling. "This is payback, isn't it? Damn." He took a look at his watch. Half nine. At least he had time to run his errands in Diagon Alley.

-ooo-

James sighed as he walked into the Morale Division headquarters with his new haircut, saluted the officer on duty and then made his way into the briefing room. Several of the other members of his unit were already there, one or two of the actors, that prat from the wireless and a few Quidditch players. He nodded to all of them and took a seat towards the back. He really didn't feel like talking to them, not when his plans were probably going to go as well as they usually did. The bag of Galleons in his pocket felt as heavy as if Hagrid was in there, but he knew it was just his imagination as he had one of his bags that had been enchanted by his Aunt Hermione. Sitting in those uncomfortable chairs wasn't helping, as his wallet was stuffed with the Muggle money he'd exchanged as well. Since he didn't know exactly what Alice wanted to do he'd panicked and exchanged Galleons for pound notes, American dollars, Euro banknotes and whatever it was they used in Peru. For some reason, when the goblin asked him if there were any other currencies he'd panicked and said Peru. He was still trying to figure out why he'd said that country, as he'd never been there and barely remembered the bloody name of the country when he heard the sound of a wand tapping the podium. He knew that sound well, so when he looked up he realized that not only was the Brigadier ready to begin the briefing but also that the room had filled up.

"Attention, please." The Brigadier picked up a piece of parchment, glanced at it for a moment and then looked out at his charges. "As you know, we've had some successes on the front against the WLF. Those bastards are finally on the run, so the boys upstairs decided to take advantage of the momentum. It hasn't been easy, seeing all those things in the press, but that's where you lot come in."

James felt his head begin to throb. Oh Merlin, not another goodwill tour, I don't think I could handle that, ten matches in twenty days...

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are..." the Brigadier looked at the parchment again. "...the Morale Department is hosting a goodwill dance this evening at 1800 hours at the Ephemera ballroom. To boost everyone's spirits the theme is Britain at War. I know, it doesn't sound very cheerful to me, but we'll be using historical uniforms. Remind everyone that, by Merlin, we wizards have fought in wars alongside Muggles before and we've always come out on top!"

"Witches, too." An actress sat across from the Brigadier with an irritated look.

"Quite right, Dondley, quite right, witches as well. After I call your name report to the QM and they'll kit you out. Yes. Right." He looked at the parchment again and called off several names, and unfortunately those poor souls were going to spend the evening looking as if they'd been in service at the time when the UMS split off from Britain.

James sat there as if he'd been stunned. What was he going to tell Alice? He knew he'd end up spending the night chatting up officer's wives and Quidditch fans, as the receptions he'd attended before were all military. Bloody hell.

"Potter! Get your head out of the clouds, has Quidditch made you deaf?" The Brigadier shook his wand at James. "Get moving, Lieutenant."

James stood up, saluted and made his way towards the Quartermaster's department. As he walked in he wondered if Simon was in on this disaster or if he'd somehow talked his way out of it because Rosie was pregnant. He stood in the queue, waiting as uniforms were distributed. Lost in his thoughts he didn't see Declan.

"James, this is going to be horrible, mate." Dec stood there with a uniform in his arms and an unhappy look upon his face. "Horrible."

"What'd you get?" James pointed to the uniform.

"Boer War. Don't ask me, mate, no idea." Dec shrugged. "What'd you get?"

"Uh, don't know, actually. Wasn't paying attention."

"Merlin, don't let the Brig hear that." Dec smiled. "At least it's open to the public. Couldn't handle having ta chat up Major General Tutwiler's wife again. She makes me skin crawl."

"Wait." James felt a small ray of hope. "Did you say it's open to the public?"

"Mate, you've got ta listen when we're gettin' orders. Move up, you're almost there."

As the woman in front of him argued with the QM staff about her uniform James' mind began working fast, like back when he was in trouble at Hogwarts and had to come up with an excuse. Alice couldn't blame him for changing their plans, it was an order, and he was in the army, even if it was just the morale unit, but an order was an order. It was open to the public, so he'd be able to take her, and hopefully his uniform wouldn't be something that looked like what Luna Scamander would wear...

"Oi, Potter." The wizard behind the counter took out his wand. "Stand straight, arms out and for Merlin's sake don't move. I don't have all day." The measuring spell swiftly shot across James chest, down his arms, around his waist and then right up his inseam. "Right, got it. All right, Lieutenant, here you go." A bundle was thrust into James' arms, with an odd-looking cap on top. "Instructions are in the kit, off you go."

"Uh, what'd I get?" James looked at the man apologetically. "Sorry, I missed..."

"Weren't listening to the Brig, eh? You know, I could use some tickets..."

"Fine, fine, it's a deal. Just tell me, will you?"

"Second World War, late 1930's and 1940's. I'd like good seats, mind you, not stuck behind some pole."

"Done. Thanks, mate."

"Get out of here. Oh, and you've got to wear it all day. Drums up interest. Now bugger off and let me do my job."

-ooo-

Thirty minutes later James stepped out of Headquarters, plopped the hat on his head and felt relieved when it magically sized itself to the perfect fit. Not content with that he tilted it slightly, feeling that being completely proper just wasn't his style. Not that he had a style, exactly, unless you counted Puddlemere jumpers and jeans. The envelope that he stuffed into his jacket didn't help matters, though. Unsurprisingly for an event of such public importance he had additional orders to 'request' the presence of his parents later on that night at the Ephemera. Sometimes just when he thought he'd catch a break things like that happened all too often. He looked at his watch and struggled with the decision on what to do next; stop over to Godric's Hollow and see his mum or go to the Leaky and hope Alice was there so he could tell her about the change of plans. Even though he had to tell Alice, hoping she'd take it well, he figured it was easier to go see his mum.

A quick pop of Apparition later he slipped through the wards and walked up to his parent's house and knocked on the door. It wasn't his mum that met him at the door, though.

"Master James." Kreacher croaked. "Kreacher will not clean your flat, Kreacher won't."

"Well hello, Kreacher. Cheerful as always. Is Mum home?"

"Yes, Mistress Ginny is in her writing room."

"Great, thanks." Without another word to the irascible elf James walked in, took off his hat and made his way upstairs to his mum's office. It still seemed wrong that his parents had built the house, as Grimmauld Place was 'home' since that's where he'd grown up, but Al owned the place now and that was weird in a different way. The door to the office wasn't fully closed, so he knocked and stuck his head in the door. "Hi Mum."

"James!" Ginny sat back and put her hand on her heart. "Don't do that!"

"Sorry." He walked in and before he could explain he could see his mum's look of shock. "Orders, I got orders. There's a big ball thing tonight at the Ephemera, we've all got to wear uniforms from all the different wars Britain's been in, I got the Second World War, obviously, but...Dad's not going to like it." He handed her the 'invitation' that was worded in carefully couched language to seem more like an order. "You don't have to wear any old stuff from back then, you can just wear what you and Dad always wear to those Ministry things." He waited, expecting to hear the normal rant from his mum about how his father hated being drug out and presented like a trick hippogriff, but it never came. "Mum?"

"Oh Jamie." She put her hand to her mouth. "You look so...dashing."

"Cut it out, Mum. Honestly."

"No, sweetie, you look just like...come on, I'll show you."

James followed as his mum went to what he and Lily called the 'room of old, dead people' as his parents had literally covered the walls with wizarding photographs and portraits of all the family members they possibly could think of, even a three-times great-grandfather Potter's portrait they found in one of the old Potter vaults at Gringotts. She led him over to a far wall where a black and white Muggle picture hung.

"That's your great-grandfather Prewett." Ginny smiled. "And you're wearing the same thing, Jamie."

James peered at the picture and, by Merlin, his mum was right. There, sitting outside on a bench, was a man wearing the same uniform, smoking a cigarette and smiling. "Prewett, is that..."

"My grandfather Prewett. I never met him, of course. He died before I was born. But Mum would absolutely love to see you dressed like that. Why don't you pop over to the Burrow..."

"Can't, Mum. I've got to go see Alice, we're supposed to go out tonight and then I got orders and..."

"Ah." Ginny smiled at him. "I still can't believe you're going on a date with little Alice."

James rolled his eyes. "She's not little, Mum, she's eighteen, almost nineteen." For a moment all his Gryffindor courage seemed to leak out of his ears. "You didn't say anything, did you? To Hannah?"

"No, Jamie, I didn't. You're nervous about her and Neville, aren't you?"

"Be mental if I wasn't, I mean, there's the stuff in the papers and...would you want Lily to go out with someone like me? Not me, blaaagh, that's just wrong, but you know what I mean. If HR had my reputation, what would Dad do?"

"You did this to yourself, you know." She shook a finger at him. "I told you this would come back to haunt you, but you didn't listen, did you? Oh no, why listen to your poor mum, what could she possibly know about the lives of Quidditch players."

"Bugger." James leaned against the wall for a moment until a distant Potter ancestor yelled at him for blocking his view.

"I'm ignoring the language because I don't blame you, but I told you, that lifestyle of yours would catch up with you in the end." Ginny looked at him for a moment but the mum-anger dissipated quickly. "Oh Jamie, you need to go talk to Alice. I don't know what to tell you about the Longbottoms, you'll have to work that out on your own. If this thing tonight is as big as I think it is, and if they've invited us I'm sure your father will grumble about it and we'll end up going, but if it's a press event she'll need to be prepared. You can't spring this on her all at once. What were you planning on?"

James shrugged. "No idea. Told her I'd do whatever she wanted."

Ginny snickered. "While that's rather nice, giving her the choice, usually the man has at least an idea. Otherwise she'll think you don't care enough about what she might like."

"It was much easier when I could just go to the pub or the club." He held up his hands. "Sorry, Mum, but I mean...come on, what about you and Dad?"

"That was much different, don't try to turn this around on me and your father." She rolled her eyes. "We'll be there tonight, so you will be on your best behaviour."

"Of course. I'm under orders."

"Well, you may be in the army, but I am your mum. Besides, I shudder to think what would happen to you if you...Neville knows more about plants than anyone I know, and I'm sure he knows which ones are ingredients in some rather nasty potions. Just remember that."

-ooo-

The thought of Neville Longbottom feeding him to a large, purple plant with teeth made James' courage disappear, so he took the easy way out and used his parents' Floo and called the Leaky, asking for Alice. It took some time for anyone to respond, but finally one of the cooks took pity on him and told him that Alice had worked the breakfast shift but she was with the Boyd girl. That led to an unsuccessful Floo call to Gin's flat, so he tried Witch Weekly. The receptionist that fielded his call was altogether too happy to speak with him, but after a few kind words about her hair she relented and told him that Virginia was working on a 'special project' with her mum at Colony House.

A quick look at his watch made him realize that he didn't have much time to prepare Alice for the change in plans, so he straightened his uniform, put his hat under his arm and once again stuck his head into the Floo, this time calling Colony House. Luckily Melody answered the Floo, smiling, and welcomed him to come through.

He stuck his hat on his head, angled it appropriately, took a deep breath and grabbed the Floo powder. A few moments later he reappeared at Colony House, full of powder and nerves.

As he stood there and brushed off the Floo powder Melody duplicated his mum's response. "James Potter, you look...quite smart. What's the occasion?"

"Uh, I'll tell you in a minute. Alice is here, isn't she?"

"Mmm-hmm, she and Gin are in Hank's office." She pointed towards the door. "Go on. Tea?"

"That'd be lovely, thanks." James made a move to take off his hat.

"Oh no, leave it on." Melody winked at him. "Trust me."

"Ok." With a shrug he headed towards Hank's office, a place he'd been a few times, not like his brother who practically lived at Colony House that one year. With a quick knock he stuck his head in the door. "Hello there."

"James?" Virginia sat in one of the big leather chairs in front of her father's office, her feet up on the desk. Alice was in the other chair, a mirror image of Virginia. Both of them looked at him oddly as the little brushes hovered in the air, intermittently dipping down to paint their toenails. Gin glanced at her watch. "You're about four hours early, mate, not to mention at the wrong place."

"I know, I know." He walked around and perched on the corner of the desk closest to Alice. "I'm sorry, but I got orders. 's why I look like this." He took off the hat and stuck it under his arm. "We've got a change of plans, sorry, I know I said we'd do whatever you wanted, but...there's a dance thing tonight at Ephemera, some history of Britain at war and we've got to dress up, well, I do anyway. Had to drop off an invitation for Mum and Dad and Mum said if I didn't tell you about this you'd go spare. Well, she would've if Dad would've sprung something like this on her. It's gonna be a full-scale, all hands press event, so if you don't want to..."

"Oh no, she'd love to." Gin smiled at him waved off Alice. "So, Second World War, eh? I think I can work with that. Besides, we have an expert in residence."

"Virginia Boyd, don't make me curse you." Alice glared at her friend. "I may have been in Hufflepuff but that doesn't mean I can't be nasty when I want to."

Gin raised an eyebrow and looked at James. "Hear that? She can be nasty."

"Sod off." Alice looked at James with an appraising stare. "That's quite nice on you, actually."

"Thanks." James quickly brushed off some non-existent Floo powder. "Mum said I look like my great-granddad Prewett. Showed me a picture. He fought alongside the Muggles back then, apparently."

Gin quickly ceased the toenail painting charm and stood up. "I'm sure they'll be fine, Allie, the spell dries them quick so come on, we need to talk to McGonagall. You too, James. Especially you. Put your hat back on."

As the phrase 'in for a Gnut, in for a Galleon' went through James' thoughts he followed the women over to the portrait of Minerva McGonagall that hung in Hank's office. The former headmistress was sleeping, her tabby cat on her lap, but after they stood in front of the portrait the cat began to bat at Minerva's nose, finally waking her.

"What can...oh. Oh my word." Minerva put her hand to her mouth. "James Potter, is that you? Why do you..."

"Orders." James grinned sheepishly. "There's a thing at the Ephemera tonight, Morale department's putting it on. Representing all the different wars Britain's been in, showing how we fought with the Muggles all those times to..."

"And we need your help." Virginia smiled at Minerva. "Alice has lost her wits and has decided to go on a date with James, I'm guessing it's Nargles but you know they're invisible, so anyway we need to dress her appropriately to match James. You remember those times, don't you?"

Minerva's nod was slow and deliberate. "I do, very well."

"Great, it's sorted, then." Virginia turned to James. "You can pick her up here. What time?"

"I can arrange my own first date with Alice on my own, thank you very much." James scowled at Virginia. "And why am I worried about things all of the sudden?"

"Slytherin, dearie." Virginia took him by the arm and half-dragged him towards the office door. "Time?"

"1800." James looked back at Alice over his shoulder, and happily he saw her giving him a rather nice smile. "So..."

"Bye, Potter." Virginia shoved him out of the door and closed it quickly behind him.

"Well bugger me."

"I don't think so, James." Melody stood there with tea. "Hank wouldn't like it and there are physical difficulties involved." As she saw his face she took pity on him. "Come on, sit. It's just tea."

Reluctantly he walked over and joined her at the table. After the tea preparations were complete he looked at her nervously. "I'm not sure this is a good idea. I mean, I want to take Alice out, but the first time it's this big thing and I'm dressed like this?" He raised his arms and glanced down at his uniform. "And this thing's bloody hot, too."

"I'm sure that's what Alice thought." She smirked at him. "She didn't say no, did she?"

The tea almost came out of James' mouth at that point. Luckily he managed to keep all the liquid in his mouth. After swallowing he shook his head. "Don't think she had a chance. Gin took over, drug us over to McGonagall's portrait and then she pretty much kicked me out. I'm picking her up here in a few hours." He picked up a biscuit, dunked it in his tea and halfway through chewing couldn't contain his curiosity. "Why'd they have to talk to McGonagall anyway?"

Melody gave him a knowing smile. "It's not my story to tell. Why don't you ask Alice later tonight?"

"Not one straight answer all day, brilliant." James finished his tea and glanced at his watch. "Maybe I'll pop over to the Burrow for a bit. That'll take hours, especially dressed like this."

"Go on, go see Molly. You know she loves it when you kids stop by."

-ooo-

James stood at the door at Colony House, more relieved than nervous. As expected when he'd gone over to the Burrow his Granny Molly was thrilled to see him and almost fell over the table to get her camera. His Granddad Arthur proudly stood with him for the picture, and then despite his protests Molly fed him as always, insisting that the food at those 'big productions' was always substandard. In a way that made James happy, as he whiled away the time with his grandparents, eating at that old table listening to stories about his great-grandfather Prewett, but the one thing he definitely wouldn't tell was that he actually had a date for the evening. When pressed he hinted that the Morale department probably had set him up with an appropriate partner, something that worried him as he stood there, on the front steps of Colony House with a small bouquet of flowers he'd nicked from his Granny's garden. After a deep breath he knocked on the door.

"Oh, look at this, a soldier come for a date." Virginia stood there in the doorway, smiling. "Come in, come in, general."

"I'm just a lieutenant." James shook his head and took off his hat. "And why don't you stick it up your..." He stopped suddenly because there, standing next to the sofa, was Alice, but not like he'd seen her before. Where before she'd always been pretty to James now she was...much more than that. He took in the black dress with the sparkly-things on the shoulders, how it gathered around and showed off a good bit of cleavage. But that wasn't all, though, as the dressed hugged her in all the right places and her hair was done in some old-fashioned way but to him it looked wonderful, and her eyes and lips...

"James, say something." Gin elbowed him. "James."

"You look beautiful, Alice." James pulled out the flowers. "I, uh, these are for you."

Alice smiled, walked over and took the flowers from him. "Thank you. I'll have Virginia put them in water." Without looking at anyone else but James she held out the flowers and Virginia took them from her. "James, will you help me with my wrap?"

"Sure." He looked around the room and saw Melody quickly bring him over a pile of what looked like fur. As he took it he realized that it was a shiny, soft black fur. "What is this?"

"Mink." Virginia returned with the flowers in a vase. "And if it starts acting up you'll just have to transfigure them again. It's really Mum's afghan. Should hold for the night, though."

James gently draped the 'mink' around Alice's shoulders, gently pulling her hair out from underneath. As he did so his fingers ever-so-lightly touched her neck and he thought he felt her shiver slightly.

"I think we did good, don't you, Allie?" Virginia stood there and looked at them, smiling. "Not bad for some old photos and McGonagall's stories, eh? Grandmum Lane's dress looks wonderful on you."

A slight buzz on James' watch caused him to quickly come to attention; he was glad his Granddad Arthur had charmed it that day to slightly zap him when important events were upcoming. First few attempts had been a bit too strong, but he really didn't care. "Um, we need to be going."

He and Alice made their way to the door, he opened it for her, and after she left he looked back, mouthed 'thank you' to Virginia, and then followed Alice outside. As they made their way to the usual Colony House Apparition spot he offered her his arm, which she took. A few meters later he looked at her.

"You look amazing. Not that you don't always, but..."

"Shush. Don't expect this everyday. Very impractical in the Leaky's kitchen."

"I bet. Ok, hold on tight. I'm going to take us there." James took out his wand, touched it to his lieutenant's insignia on his epaulets and said "Lieutenant Potter and Guest reporting for duty." With a quick flash they disappeared from the Scottish night.

-ooo-

The Ephemera was filled with people. The fact that a massive, elegant ballroom was currently located smack-dab in the middle of London and nobody noticed it except witches and wizards was an indication of how magical the place was, but for James it could have been anyplace on earth. It really didn't matter to him. They had arrived in a room off to the side from the main ballroom, a lounge of sorts, but to call it little would also be an understatement as it currently housed almost all of the Morale Department in various eras of military dress.

James and Alice's arrival did not go unnoticed, though, as the Brigadier and a very angry-looking woman marched right over to them.

"Potter! What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" The Brigadier looked as if he was about to burst a blood vessel, particularly the one that throbbed on his forehead. "Dondley here was your assigned partner and you show up with a guest?"

James looked over and saw the actress from earlier that day, the one that looked angry. Instead of her usual clothing, though, she wore a very plain and simple skirt and jacket with a funny little hat on her head along with a pair of sensible heels. It clicked that he'd really messed up, as he'd obviously missed the thing about Dondley being his partner for the evening. He felt Alice tense next to him as her grip on his arm increased. He wasn't going to let the Brigadier bother him, though. Not on his date, not at all.

"Sorry, sir. We had a previous engagement for this evening and I took the liberty of inviting her tonight. Brigadier Smith-Wicke,may I present Miss Alice Longbottom, daughter of Hannah and Neville Longbottom." He turned to Hannah. "Are they coming with Mum and Dad? You know what it's like when they get together, talking about all that stuff at Hogwarts. Your Dad is keeping the Sword of Gryffindor at Hogwarts, though, right?"

Alice rolled her eyes. "I hope so, it really should stay in the Headmaster's office and it's so tiring hearing him and Mum go on about that thing. Oh, where are my manners, so nice to meet you, Brigadier. I hope you don't mind but I decided to match with James tonight. The researchers from Witch Weekly said this would be appropriate for such an occasion. What do you think?" She stepped away from James and made a few poses. "Will it work for the evening?"

The entire time Alice had done her part James had watched the Brigadier. For every mention of his parents, the Longbottoms and the Sword of Gryffindor the Brigadier began to look a little more nervous. When she mentioned Witch Weekly, though, James knew they'd won.

The Brigadier nodded, causing his little mustache to quiver on his upper lip. "Quite, yes, it will work quite well. Such a pleasure to meet you, Miss Longbottom." He turned to the actress who was not used to being upstaged and therefore quite angry. "Come along then, Dondley, we'll get you sorted. Maybe they need another escort for that Celtic warlord chap."

After they were out of earshot James turned and beamed at Alice. "Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Would you care for a drink?"

"Why Lieutenant Potter, are you trying to ply me with alcohol so you can have your way with me? You do have quite the reputation as a cad."

Suddenly all the humor of their previous exchange with the Brigadier fell away and James felt that knot begin to form in his stomach. He tried to say something but stopped, blinked for a few moments and then simply kept his mouth shut and looked over at the other side of the room.

"James?" Alice's voice was soft as she put a hand to his chin to turn his face towards her. "I was teasing." She looked at him for a while and then sighed. "You're worried about that, aren't you? Just like on the island. Maybe I shouldn't tease you anymore, I'm not sure you can take it. I'm here because I want to be, James. I'm here because you asked, finally."

"Finally?" His eyebrows just about shot into his hairline. "Finally?"

"I figured you would after we got back from the island, honestly, and I really thought you would that night before she showed up and...it doesn't matter, we're here now, you look wonderful in that uniform and I'm not letting this dress go to waste. You don't even want to know what Gin did to my hair, Helga knows if I'll ever get it right again. Now come on, we're just going to have a drink."

"Potter!" Declan wedged his way between a knight in full plate armor and a lady-in-waiting and hurried over to them. "Your kit looks better than mine, especially the hat. Look at this thing." He took off his helmet, handed it to James and turned his attention to Alice. "Well hello there, lassie, I'm Declan McLeod, but you can call me Dec. You're new around here, right? When'd you join the Happy Squad?"

James shoved the helmet back into Dec's hands. "She's not in the unit, she's my date. Alice, this is Dec, and you can ignore him like all the other women do."

Alice shook Dec's hand. "Nice to meet you. So what war are you from?"

"Boer War." Declan popped his helmet back on. "Some Victorian thing in Africa, that's the best I can come up with." He turned back to James. "And how'd you pull that with the Brig? Thought 'where's my caravan' Dondley was your assignment?"

"Talked him out of it." James grinned and glanced quickly over at Alice before returning his attention to Dec. "So what's the procedure here? Please tell me we're not going to do some parade thing where they talk about all the wars, that'll take all bloody night."

"Nah." Dec waved him off. "We're all going out at once, but we do have ta walk down some red carpet thing inta the ballroom while they take pictures. I'm stuck with the old battle-axe. She's all kitted up with enough lace to cover the Puddlemere pitch, it's a wonder any of them Victorians ever made babies with all that..." He saw James' expression. "Sorry, Captain."

"I thought you were a lieutenant?" Alice tilted her head up to James. "Was I misinformed? Are there other things you aren't telling me?"

Dec began laughing so James popped him on the top of his helmet. "Sorry about that. Dec plays for Puddlemere and I'm team captain. Sometimes the idiot forgets."

Suddenly Alice caught sight of someone she recognized. "James, is that your cousin?"

"Which one? I've got plenty." He followed her line of sight and nodded. "Yeah, that's Rose. She looks pretty normal tonight, though. Wonder what war Simon got?"

"Why don't I go ask while you get us some drinks?" Alice smiled at him. "No butterbeer, please. Gin and tonic, extra lime?"

"Sure thing." As she made her way through the crowd James watched her for a while, forgetting that Dec was standing next to him. Eventually, though, he felt an elbow in his ribs and turned to see his teammate waggle his eyebrows. "Not a word, Dec. It's not like that."

"Didja see the seams in her hose? Whaa, that was a nice sight."

"I'm standing right here." James popped him on the top of the helmet again.

Dec groaned and adjusted his helmet. "Stop doing that!"

"Stop making comments about Alice and I will. Don't you have to go wrangle old Prudence?"

"Sure, you get ta bring her and I'm stuck with an old bat who sang songs on the wireless when me mam was a girl. Fine, fine, just leave me alone with me misery. I'm dumping her the first chance I get at any woman under a hunnerd who even looks me way, though, when they start tha dancin.' You best get that drink, Lieutenant." He saluted, laughed, and walked away.

Eventually James made his way over to the bar and was at the far end waiting on the bartender when he felt two hands hit his shoulders simultaneously. As he turned around he was definitely surprised, because there stood his father and Oliver Wood. "Dad, Ollie, some night, eh?" He looked them over and shook his head. "Ok, Dad, I know that's your official duties Auror robe, but what are you wearing, Oliver?"

"Iraqi War." Oliver adjusted his hat. "Apparently the Navy lot threw a fit they weren't going to be represented so I got this. Since it's from his era..." He jabbed a thumb in Harry's direction. "...it doesn't look so bad. I think the Brig took pity on me since I had to bring Rose and didn't want to have her wear some ancient thing since she's pregnant."

"So wait..." James took off his hat. "...since you're married to Rose she's automatically your partner at this thing, right? They wanted me with Dondley but I put the kibosh on that." He glanced over and caught his father's eye and saw a look that reminded him of the times they'd all been in trouble with his mum. "So what's Mum wearing?"

"Well. Yeah." Harry adjusted his glasses. "She decided to wear the dress she wore when I used to take her to Ministry things, but that was before you and your brother and sister came along, so let's just tell her she looks lovely, please? Apparently you can't charm those types of dresses to expand. She's not in the best of moods."

"Oh boy." James turned and spoke to the bartender who had finally arrived. After Oliver and Harry placed their orders they turned around and started trying to guess all of the different wars that were represented. Oliver was surprisingly good at the game, Harry did ok and James was downright pitiful.

Eventually though, Oliver let out a low whistle. "Would you look at that, now some bloke's a lucky man. Over there, brunette, she's got her back turned. Black dress with some fur thing on her."

"She is quite lovely." Harry nodded and then turned to James. "I'm not dead, I can appreciate."

"Uh, guys." James began to feel a bit warm, especially as the object of conversation turned around and started walking towards them. "That's my date."

"Bloody hell!" Oliver looked at James incredulously. "Is that Alice Longbottom?"

"Yep." James nodded and looked over at his father who looked a bit pale. "Don't say a word, Dad. I won't if you won't."

Harry nodded quickly. "Done."

The bartender arrived with their drinks just as Alice made her way to them. James handed her the gin and tonic with two limes and took a sip of his flaming dragon. Before any further conversation the Brigadier stepped up onto a little podium, pointed his wand at his throat and with a sonorous spell his voice carried across the room.

"If I can have your attention, please. In a few moments we'll begin our entrance, so please find your partners. As you go through the door the enchantments will start, stating which war you're representing. At that time please stop for ten seconds for pictures, and once you've finished continue down the carpet until it ends. At that time you are free to mingle with the guests. Dancing will commence immediately following Head Auror and Mrs. Harry Potter's entrance. Remember! You are members of the Wizarding Entertainments National Service Association and it is your duty to lift these people's spirits! There may be a war on, but you are symbols of how we have overcome evil and tyranny. I expect to see all of you dancing, we didn't train your sorry arses for weeks...oh, sorry, ladies. Well. Yes. Right. You've been trained, I expect to see that training in action. Furthermore anyone who abuses the privilege of alcohol at this function will be severely reprimanded! Now, go out there and show these people a good time!"

That got a few snickers from the crowd, including Harry. As everyone broke apart to go find their partners James looked down at Alice nervously.

"You know, this is going to be in all the papers. Do you know what you're in for? Really?"

"I do, James. And sorry about being so awful to you in the Leaky the other day, when you came in. It was so sweet, even if you did look like you raided Professor Muggle's wardrobe. Tweed jackets aren't you, I'm afraid, but I just couldn't help it. You looked so nervous."

"I was. I am." James ran a hand through his hair and put his hat back on. "You can back out now, you know. The minute we walk out there together they're going to print horrible things about you. About us. You don't have to do this."

"I'm not wasting this dress. Besides, McGonagall told me a few stories. You see, portraits remember things that people forget, and..." She steadied her shoulders and took his arm. "Come on. It'll be one way to tell my parents that I'm dating you."

"So we're dating?"

"This is a date, isn't it? We're here right now, so we're dating."

"Right." James tried to hide his smile but wasn't very successful. "Right."

A/N: For the story that Minerva McGonagall told Alice, see my story Hello Minerva, Goodbye Minnie. Also, if you're confused about the war or anything else feel free to post on my forum. Link's on the profile page. Thanks for reading.