A/N : Yes, yes, I know. The disclaimer. I still have trouble writing in english, so just when would I have written the Harry Potter books ? It's all Rowling's. Rommel's plan is also not mine but his, he really used it against Allied forces, though not in this situation. But you will know more about it in the next chapter. Aldinger and Merhoff are still mine, but apart from that everything is history or belongs to J.K. Rowling.

December 1943 - Desert of Libya

Riddle's body ached all over. His feet burned, he was thirsty, and deadly tired. And he hated that bloody country !

As always, Rommel did not seem to suffer from the heat, though he did look tired. Not enough sleep in the past days had taken its toll on him. Now that everything was over and the stress was starting to fall away, they both felt all the more their exhaustion.

"Are we there yet ?" Tom croaked.

He hated to sound childish like that, but he was just too tired too care any more, and besides Rommel was in no state to laugh at him, so it did not matter all that much.

"Soon", the Feldmarschal replied in a hoarse voice.

They had run out of water several hours ago. The car should not be very far away, but the problem was to actually find it. They could not just Apparate near it, because they did not know where it was, and location was crucial when Apparating - unless one wanted to splinch himself.

Tom had sworn to himself he would not ask the question, but he relinquished his pride, because he could not stand that heat any more.

"Just how do you do that ?" he asked the Feldmarschal irritatedly.

"Do what ?" the other wizard replied caustically.

Either the exhaustion was going hard on his mood, or he did not like to be adressed to in that tone of voice.

"You don't seem to be even bothered by this sultriness", the teen growled accusatively.

"It's not that warm", the german smirked.

"Yes it is, and you know it", Riddle snarled. "Tell me how you do it or I will hex you the next time you turn your back on me."

"Try your luck", the blond man answered dryly.

He obviously did not like being threatened. Tom had not been diplomat enough, he had to admit. He retained a sigh. He could not resign himself to begging. That would be weak, and under him. He could not. He would not.

But it was still too damn hot.

They kept walking for a while. Tom felt like he was in a furnace. He even had the impression it was getting warmer and warmer, though his intelligence told him it was merely a trick of his mind.

He would not beg.

He would not.

"Please..." he finally moaned, cursing inwardly the other man. "Tell me how you do that."

The plea seemed to slacken the german's anger at him for being threatened, and he smiled to the British teen as if everything was already forgotten. Tom glared at him wordlessly.

"That's easy. I cast a cooling charm on my clothes."

"Just... just like that !" Tom choked. "That is that simple !"

"Most of the time, people don't see simple solutions because they are too focused on complex ideas", Rommel replied, shrugging. "You can't imagine how easily I sometimes tricked the Allied with stunts a child could have thought of."

He beckoned Tom to come closer, and, drawing his wand, he touched his clothes lightly with the tip. Almost at once, the teen felt his clothes freshen, and he had a sigh of delight. Now he understood just how the man could bear a leather coat, of all things.

"Thanks", he gasped. "That's much better."

"My pleasure."

"Would you happen to know how to get us some water ?" Riddle queried hopefully.

"No", the Feldmarschal shook his head ruefully. "If I did, I would have done it, believe me. I've been working on that problem in my spare hours, but the problem is, you can't just transfigurate water from anything. It doesn't work with sand - and I've tried. It doesn't work with palm trees either."

"What about the air ?" Tom asked, after thinking about the matter for a few minutes.

"Not consistent enough. I believe African wizards managed to do it, but the secret seems to be lost - or very well guarded."

"We've found it", Riddle interrupted.

The german cast him a skeptical glance.

"No, we have not", he said, obviously wondering if the teen had lost his mind.

"Not the secret to make water, the car !" Tom exclaimed, rolling his eyes.

And, true enough, the staff car was there, waiting for them. Its black paint made it easy enough to spot in the sand, and Rommel wondered how they had not seen it before. Then he discarded the thought ; he did not really care. The only thing that mattered was now they were going to have something to drink. They overleaped the hundred meters or so that still kept them apart from the car, and Rommel grabbed a water flask that he gave mechanically to the teen ; Tom being under his command, he felt it was his responsibility as a commander to drink last.

The teen did not even bother to think about it ; he drank a long gulp, and another, and still another, feeling as if he could never have enough of it. He forced himself to stop and to give the flask to Rommel, and he reddened slightly when he realized he had not left much of the precious liquid to his friend.

His friend. The thought surprised him. Not long ago, he refused to think of the man that way. But, he did like him, and he was comfortable around him, and somehow... he felt like he could come to trust him, someday. What did that make him ? A friend-to-be ?

He had enough pride not to let himself being threatened, yet he was not arrogant, unlike some of the other students, at Hogwarts, who, whether they were from Slytherin or any other house, were quick to judge other people and to decide just what they were worth. Of course, the man wasn't perfect. He was sometimes stubborn, and often had crazy plans and crazy ideas. He even manipulated people, like when he had asked Tom to burn that building without telling him what was inside. But he had one important quality ; he treated him like a man. Not like a boy, or a child who needed to be kept an eye on all the time. He had never tried to mother him, unlike Dumbledore when he had first arrived at Hogwarts.

Rommel put down the flask, unaware of the teen's thoughts, and he slid himself in the driver's seat. Riddle went to the opposite side of the car to sit near him, still unsure of what he felt toward the man. Having friends, that was a weakness. Could it also be a strength ?

He was too tired to think clearly, he decided. He'd ponder about that once they would be back.

"Aren't you too tired to drive ?" he asked the Feldmarschal. Not that he cared, but he was too in the car. Or so he told himself.

"I'll be fine", the german replied. "I just want to be back as soon as possible."

"And have a bath", Tom went further. "A nice cold bath."

Rommel had a quiet laugh, as he started the car, and began to turn so as to head back to his Headquarters.

"You might be disapointed. Baths in Africa are more something like puddles for an Englander", he said.

"I'll bath in a hundred black chicken's blood if need be, but I will bath", Tom groaned playfully.

"Good luck to find the chickens", the german chuckled.

They made some progress over the next hours, but none of them talked much, as they both still felt the thirst and were too tired to keep the conversation alive. They arrived at Bir-Hakeim at dusk, and entered the Feldmarschal's Headquarters with relief. By that time, Riddle had already changed back to his civilian clothes, and Rommel had dispelled the charm on his cloths and the car that camouflaged them.

As the german stopped the car, two officers went outside to greet him. Tom recognized one of them as being the major, ah, what was his name... Merhoff ! The other one, he had never seen before.

"Sir, we're glad to have you back", the major said in a tone that bore his sentence out. He was almost gasping with relief, the teen thought nastily.

"Oh, believe me, I'm glad to be back too", Rommel muttered. "Did something happen while I was not here ?" he added more loudly.

"Well, sir, you could say that, yes", the major answered, seeming suddenly a little ill-at-ease.

"All right, but first, where is general Loewy ?" the Feldmarschal asked, frowning.

"The general is... part of the problem", the captain said, speaking for the first time.

He was not quelled by Rommel for speaking when no one had asked for his opinion, which meant they had probably known each other for some time, and at least some kind of friendship existed between them, Tom mused.

"But maybe you want to talk about it when you will have had the time to freshen up a little, and in some... privacy", Merhoff cut his subordinate with a discreet glance at the teen. The Feldmarschal took a deep breath.

"My office", he finally ordered.

After all, it may not be a very good idea to discuss confidential material outside, where anyone could hear. The two officers and Riddle followed Rommel in the building next to which he had parked the car, a big colonial house where he had set his Headquarters when he had first arrived in Bir-Hakeim, because it was big enough to take in most of his staff. They climbed up the stairs, and finally reached his office, which seemed a bit crowded with so much people in a rather small room.

The captain entered last, for he had taken the time to bring a pitcher of water with him. Gratefully, Tom accepted a glass, pretending not to see the disappointed looks the two german officers cast in his direction. Obviously, their idea of privacy included Riddle not being there. Too bad for them the Feldmarschal did not share their opinion.

"So, what happened ?" Rommel queried impatiently.

"If I may", the major said, clearing his throat, "I'd rather Aldinger tells you. He is the one who got the message."

"Well ? What message, Aldinger ?"

The captain seemed a little uncomfortable, being suddenly the center of everyone's attention, but he straightened himself and dutifully reported to his commanding officer.

"I was in the radio control room when general Loewy called. He was supposed to come to Bir-Hakeim with some of his troops, but an Allied offensive cut his way back here, and since then he had been unable to go through. We have had no news for now nearly twelve hours. As far as we know, the general lacks supplies, water, food, fuel, everything. I fear he won't hold much longer."

The Feldmarschal started pacing, a deep frown on his face. He finally stopped and faced the major.

"Merhoff, what troops do we have here ?"

"We dispose of the tenth Panzer Division, a few light Italian tanks, and supply trucks. But from what the general told us, it is far from being enough to push back the Allies. They have dozens of tanks, fresh men and supplies, and it doesn't look like Montgomery is ready to yield ground."

"We'll see about that", Rommel murmured thoughtfully.

A ghostly smile slowly spread on his face, as he drew a map out and started to study it. He took a pen on his desk and started to annotate the piece of paper in red ink.

"Loewy must be around here" he said, pointing at Tobrouk. "And we are here, in Bir-Hakeim. Which means the Allied lauched their attack from the sea, probably, because they would have been spotted if they had walked through North Africa."

"But the problem remains", Aldinger pointed out. "We do not have enough men and supplies."

Riddle kept silent, as he knew that was not his field. He was a very gifted wizard, he knew it, but military strategy was not something he had had any occasion to study at Hogwarts. Given the chance, he knew he would probably be good at it, for when he tried hard enough he was sure he could do anything. But for now, he preferred to watch and listen.

"Oh, yes, we will have enough men. Or so will think the Allies, which is the most important", the Feldmarschal said with satisfaction.

The two officers were at a loss to understand what he meant, as was Riddle, but they were used to his unique methods, and knew he would explain them his plan once he would have had the time to think it over. It was probably another crazy idea with no chance to work at all... but that was the Desert Fox.

"What do you want us to do ?" Merhoff finally asked.

"I want all our fighting strength ready to leave tomorrow, at dawn. See to it that my staff car is filled up, I think there is not much fuel remaining."

"When you say all our fighting strength, does that include the light tanks and the supply trucks ?" Aldinger queried.

"Of course ! Otherwise, I would have told you so", Rommel replied eagerly.

The two officers shared a discouraged glance, but they had been in the military long enough to learn to obey without questions, and they saluted sharply, clicking their heels before turning away and leaving the room.

Tom poured himself another glass of water, as the Feldmarschal drank up his own, and thoughtfully started to turn it between his fingers. Rommel shot him an amused glance.

"So ? Do you want to come along, or will you rather stay here ?" the german questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Well", Tom said, playing along, "I'm not sure I understood everything. An Allied offensive cut your men from Bir-Hakeim, but I thought you were on our side ? So, how comes you keep fighting the Allies with such cunning efficiency, when you are supposed to help us ?"

Rommel took a sip of his glass, then slowly put it back on his desk. He glanced at the dark night, outside, thougtful.

"In this war, there is the muggle side, and there is the wizard side", he finally said quietly. "I will fight against Grindelwald, by any means necessary, and if that means giving information to the Allies or saving one of their officers, then so be it. Yet, I am still a german, and I will defend Germany at any cost. My only hope is that, once Grindelwald is dead, and someone else takes his place, we will be able to stop that madness and put an end to the war."

"I think I understand", Tom said after ruminating the Feldmarschal's words. "But who would take over, once Grindelwald is dead ? Goering ? Himmler ?"

The german's face darkened when he heard these two names, and his voice was dripping with contempt when he answered.

"Never. Germany has suffered enough. If need be, they will be killed too, though I would much prefer they get a trial. But the name of the one that could replace Grindelwald is still to be kept a secret."

"Don't you trust me ?" Riddle asked inquisitively.

The Feldmarschal scowled.

"Would you trust me with an information of that importance ?" he replied. "Anyway, now that I have told you of my position in this war, you still need to decide what you intend to do. If you don't want to come and maybe have to fight again your fellow countrymen, I would not blame you."

"They are muggles", Tom snorted. "Not much of a wizard's countrymen. I will come, and defend myself against them if need be. You fight against Grindelwald, or so you told me ; I do too, so we are on the same side. As for the 'muggle side of the war', as you put it, I don't care much about it, so everything is fine."

"As you wish", Rommel said without betraying his deeper thoughts, though he cast a strange look at the British teen. "Then, be ready to leave tomorrow at dawn. I suggest you get some rest till then."

"Yes, I will do that", Riddle nodded. "See you tomorrow."

After that, he left the Feldmarschal's office, intent on getting that bath before going to bed.