Chapter 54 Life in the Field
For the next couple of days they moved around the country side hiding in different spots around the country. They knew that Voldemort hid his Horcrux in places of importance to him so they talked about going to London and searching Voldemort's old orphanage however using the Asgard map Jack was able to show them that the entire building had been torn down and replaced with office buildings. So they remained in the country side.
Harry couldn't help but notice how everyone seemed to be changing just a little, Jack was spending almost waking hours in his SGC uniform with some kind of fire arm on him. He also seemed to be getting thinner but then again every one of them seemed to be getting thinner. Harry's stomach growled as he tried not to think about the lack of food, they were still a week away from getting supplies beamed to them. Hermione had started to forage for food such as berries and funguses however it wasn't enough for Ron who wasn't used to going with lack of food. They were down to the last five MRE after Jack they had cut down from eating three a day each to one split between the five of them. It wasn't much but it was something at least. Kim wasn't talking as much as she normally did. They had tried to go into a muggle city to buy some food only to have the local police after them.
Flashback
"So is this all we need?" asked Jack as he and Hermione stood in a shop looking over a shopping cart full of supplies.
"Ya, it is." said Hermione as the sound of someone entering the shop filled the air. Jack looked up just in time to see four police officer heading toward them.
"You two Jack O'Neill and Hermione Granger correct." Said one of the officer
"Ya." Said Hermione confused.
"Come with us." said another officer
"What for?" asked Jack
"For questioning in a the gas explosion that killed dozens of people." said another officer
"If you want to tell us where your pattern Harry Potter is then we can tell the prosecutor that you helped." said the first officer
"Sorry gentlemen I think not." said Jack as he whipped out his Zat firing as Hermione pulled her wand taking out two cops of her own.
"We need to get out of here." said Hermione as she quickly changed the cops memories "Looks like the Ministry framed Harry and us for their destruction of Privet drive."
"Well this just sucks." said Jack
End Flashback
They never went back into the cities looking for food. Everyone seemed on edge the smallest thing set people and everyone seemed to be doing something to piss off the another person in the group. Hermione kept messing around with her hair as she read her book, Kim kept humming one song or another, Jack kept loading or cleaning his P-90 and Ron was always messing around with some radio listening to the wizard wireless network. Most of the stations carried anti-muggle born messages. When they were in southern England they could sometimes here broadcasts from anti-Voldemort groups based in France. Apart from the radio there only real link to the outside world was Jack's computer and the news wasn't good. Attacks on Harry personality, Dumbledore's legacy and of course Muggle born.
The weather turned cold as October came to an end, Jack O'Neill sat in his room. Since most of the rooms had only paired up beds and since Ron and Harry where so used to sharing a room ment that he had his own. Not that he really mind it meant he could claim the master bedroom as his own even though it smelled of cats.
"General we went through the last MRE yesterday." reported Jack as he used his laptop web camera to communicate with his older self back home.
"The Arc Royal should be over head in just over a week can you make it?" asked General O'Neill
"Sir, I know I can because we have done it before however I am not so sure about the others." answered Jack "They were not used to this."
"I see." said General O'Neill "I will see what I can do but with those Ministry Wizards following every moment we do it will be hard to get you food without alerting them of your location. Just yesterday a wizard on a broom buzzed by a transport chopper.
"How did we explain that?" asked Jack
"We didn't the pilot was a wizard himself and he convinced the copilot that he must have been dreaming." answered Jack Sr. "By the way how are you holding up?"
"I am good sir." said Jack "Hungry but good."
"I am betting you are doing the same thing we did in the rainforest in 89." said General O'Neill as Jack grinned.
"Ya." said Jack
"The president wanted me to personally thank you for the video you shot in the Ministry." said General O'Neill "Ever since the video you shoot got out the wizarding population of America have been calling for war against the Ministry."
"And when can we expect that?" asked Jack
"You know these things don't happen overnight." said General O'Neill
"I know it is just the hunger talking." explained Jack "We have located one of our targets but so far we haven't been able to destroy it."
"I understand." Said General O'Neill before he took a deep breath "Listen Mini me I want you to be careful over there."
"I will." said Jack as he rubbed his temples "Sir I also uploaded the other videos that were requested of me."
"Good then we can begin phase two of our plan." said General O'Neill "Don't you have guard duty tonight?"
"No…tonight is Kim's, Harry's and Ron's turn." answered Jack "Sir I need to get some sleep."
"Understood…and don't worry, we haven't forgot about you. O'Neill over and out." said General O'Neill as the link was cut and the seal of Home World Command took its place on the computer. Jack shut down his computer as he turned off the lights and walked toward the bed. He fell asleep almost the moment he hit the pillow. The sound of an alarm woke Jack up much too early as he got dressed and walked out into the kitchen to find Hermione and Kim trying their best to get something that looked halfway eatable out of chunks of fish Jack had caught yesterday.
"Morning." said Jack as he sat at down at the table.
"Morning." said Hermione with a slight smile "Happy Birthday Jack."
"What?" asked Jack as he thought about what date it was "Today is the 20th?"
"All day, happy 18th birthday Jack." answered Kim as she placed a cupful of water in front of Jack "Sorry we don't have any fresh coffee."
"That is ok, I have been meaning to try to kick the habit." said Jack as he looked at the water "However I still want it."
"At least you are not verbally attacking people because you're hungry." said Hermione as she looked toward Ron's room.
"Ron isn't used to this situation." said Kim
"No one is." Said Hermione
"Let's just drop it." said Jack "We are just over a week from resupply and I have been promised that we will be among the first supplied."
"We will make it we just have to be careful with what little we have." Said Hermione
The rest of the day followed the normal routine going to yet another deserted area, this time near a small campground located near a river. The night had fallen as the five of them sat around a small fire.
"Jack." said Hermione as Jack looked up from the flames. "I found something for you."
Slowly out of her bag she pulled out a small unopened bag of jerky.
"Some camper must have dropped it." said Hermione with a smile
"Thanks." said Jack with his own smile.
"What about us?" asked Ron as he glared at Jack the Slytherin Horcrux hanging around his neck "Aren't you going to give us that food?"
"Ron, let Jack have it or haven't you noticed that he has been giving us most of his share of food?" asked Kim as she looked at Jack "I noticed you have been taking a lot less food then everyone else…honorable warrior giving your food while you are hungry."
"Jack?" asked Hermione as she mentally hit herself for not noticing that sooner.
"Ya, just like you to notice him." said Ron with a glare.
"What is that suppose to mean?" asked Kim
"I noticed how you go for walks every other day." said Ron as Kim raised an eyebrow
"You mean when he is escorting me when I go out to forge for food?" asked Kim as Ron nodded his head. "He is just making sure that I don't get ambushed by Death Eaters. Didn't you notice that he does the same thing with Hermione."
"Well they are together." said Ron
"Here, just have it." said Jack as he held out the jerky "It is just some jerky. We don't have to bit each other's heads off."
"Ron take off the Horcrux it is messing with your mind." said Kim
"Wait did you hear that?" asked Harry as another tree branch snapped. Jack instantly pulled out his life sign detector there were four life signs only yards away.
"We have company." said Jack as he grabbed his P-90 and stepped out into the darkened forest. He lifted some night vision goggles to his eyes as he scanned the darkness. "Alright I got two people and two I think they are goblins. Wait as second I think that is Dean."
"Dean Thomas?" asked Harry
"I think so." said Jack as he reached for his ancient cloak "I am going to get closer."
"Jack that isn't safe." said Hermione
"Trust me." said Jack with a smile as he activated the cloak and disappeared.
"Extendable Ears." whispered Harry as Hermione quickly pulled out four of Fred and George's extending ears.
"So how long have you three been on the run?" asked a mellow sounding voice
"Six or seven weeks." said a tired sounding man "Meet up with Griphook a few days in and then meet up with Gornuk, what made you leave Ted?"
"Knew they were coming." said Ted as Harry suddenly realized it was Tonks father "Heard Death Eaters where in the area and I refused to sign up as a muggle born."
"Like they would know if you didn't, they lost all their records when Harry Potter raided the ministry." said the tired sounding man.
"It would be Harry who would raid the Ministry of Magic free all those people, destroy the records and I heard they even destroyed that Magic is might statue." said a voice they all knew to be Dean's.
"Well they repaired it and I heard it was American who was behind it." said Griphook
"Must be Jack, he is a cheeky person." said Dean with a laugh "You know I heard that the American and French wizarding government cut all ties with the Ministry of Magic."
"Not just them Australia, Japan and Brazil have cut all ties and other nations are shutting down higher level talks." said Ted "The Canadian Wizardering refused to let the Minister of Magic come to their country for a state visit. That is the first time in history that a nation refused the English Minister of Magic. A world war is brewing out there Dean…it is just not here yet. This battle here with you-know-who is just the front of the storm."
"I heard Harry Potter has fled to America." said the tired voice
"Don't believe that Dirk." said Dean "Harry would never run."
"So you say." said Dirk
"Why did you two leave Gringotts?" asked Ted
"Gringotts is no longer in goblin hands and I will never be the slave to a wizard I am not a house elf." said Dirk
"Same here." said Griphook "However I did get my revenge."
"How so?" asked Dean
"So the new headmaster of Hogwart's Severus Snape came by on my last day and decided to drop the sword of Gryffindor in one of the vaults." Said Griphook
"Ok, why would he place the sword in Gringotts?" asked Dean
"Some foolish students tried to steal it, Ginny Weasley I believe." said Griphook
"Oh, I hope she is alright here family can't afforid another lost." said Dean
"They had to spend a night in the forbidden forest with that off Hagrid." answered Griphook
"I never heard of it." said Ted "Not in the Prophet."
"Don't trust the prophet; the Quibbler is the way to learn what is really going on." said Griphook "That or the radio stations Potterwatch and that American radio station, Free Europe."
"I don't really like that one." Said Dirk
"Well back to the story, I was assigned to take the sword to the vault…however it is fake." said Griphook "The sword that Snape took to Gringotts is a fake. Well made but not goblin made."
"And you didn't tell him?" asked Ted
"I saw no need to worry him." said Griphook
"I find that very interesting." said Jack's voice as the four people jumped as he appeared beside their fire.
"Jack?" asked Dean as Jack stayed by the fire.
"Long time no see Dean." said Jack "And you must be Tonk's Father."
"You're the American Jack O'Neill…" said Ted "The one who runs with Harry Potter."
"Is Harry here?" asked Dean as he looked around "Is he invisible?"
"No…he is in a different camp site, you tripped one of our alarm spells and they headed out." Lied Jack "I stayed behind to see who where were dealing with."
"We were so close to meeting Harry…I would like to shake his hand." said Dean
"He will shake your hand personally after you-know-who is dead and gone." said Jack with a smile
"Do you want any food you look hungry." said Ted
"No we must keep our food." said Griphook as the other Goblin nodded in his head in agreement.
"Well I have a way to get you guys to freedom." Said Jack as the others looked at him "On November 5th a submarine belonging to the United States Navy will surface at Midnight a mile off the western shore of Caldey Island. It has orders to transport everyone who wants to leave."
"A muggle ship?" asked Dirk
"It's the Wizard the only ship in the United States Navy manned totally by either wizards or squibs." explained Jack "However it is still a muggle ship and it may be the only way out of England without being noticed by the Ministry."
"And where will this submarine take us?" asked Griphook
"Depending on the number of people who arrive it will either make port in Ireland or Spain." said Jack "From there you can make your own way."
"Thank you." said Dean
"We better get going." said Ted
"Agreed." said Griphook
"If you come across anyone else one the run tell them about the meeting place." said Jack "We want to save as many people as we can."
"Thank you and wish Harry good luck." said Ted
"I will." Said Jack as he active his cloak and disappeared. A few minutes later the four visitors disappeared themselves to another location in the English country side.
"Well that was interesting." said Jack as he appeared beside Hermione and the others.
"You have ways to get people out but not a way to get us food." Snapped Ron
"Ron, I only found out about the sub yesterday and the Arc Royal will be here before they are." Said Jack
"And what of this radio station why didn't you tell us about that?" Asked Ron
"Ron just because I am a member of the military doesn't mean I know everything." explained Jack "That was news to me."
"At least we learned that Ginny is safe." said Harry
"Safe…Safe…how can she be safe with Snape in charge of Hogwarts." snapped Ron "I thought you cared about her."
'I DO!" yelled Harry
"And yet to date we only have one Horcrux." said Ron "And that isn't even destroyed!"
"I don't know where all the others are only what they may be!" yelled Harry back "You Knew what you where signing on to…I told you everything Dumbledore told me."
"Well we thought you had a plan." Yelled Ron back
"Guys…calm down." yelled Jack as he stepped between the two best friends. "First Ron take off the Horcrux it is messing with your mind."
"No…I am truly thinking clearly." said Ron "You heard what they said my family is at risk."
"Everyone's family is at Risk." said Hermione
"Well my family seems to be the only one in danger." growled Ron "Kim's family along with yours Hermione is safe in America and Jack is all but his own family and Harry you have no parents."
"Ron if you think I am not worry about Ginny and every member of your family then you are wrong." Growled Harry "But if you want to leave fine….go back home…let your mom make you some food and go to Hogwarts….I am sure as a pure blood you have nothing to worry about in the future that will come if Vold….
"Don't say his name!" yelled Ron
"I will say what I want." growled Harry
"Ron Harry stop this." yelled Kim
"I am leaving." snapped Ron
"Good then Jack will stop giving you extra food." said Harry "Leave the Horcrux."
"Here have it back it seems to be all you care about." Yelled Ron as he ripped the Horcrux off his neck and tossed it at the ground.
"Ron." said Kim as Ron looked into Kim's eyes for a second.
"Well are you staying or coming with me?" asked Ron
"I can't Ron, please…stay." pleaded Kim
"I see you picked him." growled Ron as he ran into the darkness.
"RON!" yelled Jack as he went after him only to have him apparited away. For a moment Jack just stood where Ron had disappeared before he noticed Ron's watch on the ground, the one Jack had given him. The one with the locator beacon on it. Jack slowly walked back to the camp carrying the watch.
"He is gone." said Jack as he held out the watch which Kim took.
"Ron you son of a bit…" started Kim but she couldn't finish though her tears.
"Good riddance." said Harry as he picked up the Horcrux and walked back into the tent leaving Jack and Hermione to deal with a pissed off and emotional Kim.
Later that night Jack lied in his bed just looking up at the ceiling of the tent. Harry had demanded that he take all the watches hoping that would clear Harry's mind he had agreed. The sound of Kim crying in her sleep could still be heard as the door to his room opened. Instantly Jack sat up and looked to see Hermione standing there in just a pair of sweat pants and a blue tank top.
"Jack." said Hermione
"Is something wrong Hermione?" asked Jack as Hermione walked into the darkened room and sat on the bed.
"It's just seems like everything is falling apart…." Said Hermione "Harry is always pissed, Ron became paranoid and with Ron gone Kim is crying like there is no tomorrow and doesn't want anyone else near her. The only one who seems to remained normal is you and me."
"Well I have been though things like this before." explained Jack "You all shouldn't have to go through this."
"It's the only way to end him." said Hermione as she took a deep breath "Jack….do you think we can win…just five kids."
"Hermione…we are not just five kids, the entire force of the United States Military is gathering not counting the other nations and those who believe in Harry here in England." said Jack "It's always darkest before the dawn and a new day will come."
"I guess." said Hermione as to Jack's surprised Hermione lied down pulling Jack down so the two of where looking each other in the eyes. Hermione didn't say anything as she moved under the covers and rested her head on the soft spot under Jack's neck.
"Happy Birthday Jack." said Hermione as she placed her arms around Jack. Jack smiled possibly the first smile he had all day as he closed his eyes and inhaled the smell of Hermione's hair.
"Night Hermione." said Jack
Well I hope you liked this chapter, I updated early because I will more than likely unable to update on Friday like normal. Now I would like to thank everyone who reviewed and I ask that you keep on reading. Thanks Wilkins75.
