Title: On the Bounce

Author: Knife Hand

Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated

Spoilers: All Harry Potter Books/Movies excepting the epilogue.

Rating: MA

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Starship Troopers.

Summary: After the end of the Second Wizarding War, Harry decides that he is done with the Wizarding World, and Hermione goes with him. Welcome to the Mobile Infantry. Crossover with Starship Troopers Book. AU

A/N: I'm kind of surprised no one has noticed, but for the sake of a full disclaimer, Tara Maclay is from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I don't own her, though if Amber Benson (the actress who played her) wants to drop by for dinner, I would not be opposed to it.


Harry, Hermine and Alyssa sat down against the wall of the Armoury, Harry between the two girls, snacking on some sandwiches that Harry had brought with him. Harry was off duty while the girls were on a meal break. Harry and Hermione has been with the Wildlings for eight months and had participated in nine combat drops, including the first drop against the Magical Seditionists, and they had both been promoted to PFC (Private First Class). Even though the Federation was 'At Peace' it didn't mean there was no fighting. Seditionists, pirates, power hungry Planetary Governors.

While they got on well with almost all of the Platoon but they had become fast and best friends with Alyssa, so much so that they earned the nickname the 'Three Musketeers'. As Alyssa was in third squad, there was no conflict in the chain of command. A few months after their arrival the story of what Harry and Hermione had done before joining had spread around. Most of the Troopers just shrugged, because by that time they had been in combat so the Troopers thought the Drops were more important. Harry and Hermione had been a bit apprehensive about how Alyssa would react, as they had bad experiences in the past particularly with Ron Weasley. Alyssa had simply shrugged and told them that her favourite Great Aunt had told her all about them, as the Professor did with all her best students.

The Avalon was returning to Sanctuary for a resupply, mainly of Drop Pods for the MI but also to top up food supplies, so the MI were mostly on a stand down rotation. As they were finishing their sandwiches, Platoon Sergeant Skinner entered the Armoury, so they all scrambled to their feet.

"Potter, thought I would find you here." Skinner said. "LT wants to see you and Granger."

Harry and Hermione nodded and left for the LT's office. When they arrived, Wildman was sitting behind her desk doing paperwork. They both stood to attention and saluted, which Wildman returned.

"Reporting as ordered, Lieutenant." Harry said formally.

"Potter, Granger." Wildman acknowledged. "As you know, we are returning to Sanctuary for resupply. Command has ordered me to transfer one scout over to the Griffins on the Atlantis, that will be Private Kelly. With Svenson finishing his term, I'm going to be down two Scouts. Your Squad Leaders have observed that you are both observant and adaptive, so I am making you both Scouts. Granger, you'll stay with sixth squad to replace Kelly. Potter, I'm moving you to first squad to replace Svenson."

"Thank you Lieutenant." Harry replied. "Lieutenant, I would like to go Career."

"Me too, Lieutenant." Hermione added without hesitation.

Wildman looked over the two Privates, her face expressionless.

"Going Career is a big step." Wildman advised. "You not only are committing for twenty years, but there are some serious consequences for not doing your full twenty."

"I understand." Hermione replied.

"This is my family." Harry said.

Wildman stared at them for a moment and then opened her desk draw, pulled out some forms which she passed over to the two Privates. They reviewed and then signed the documents. Wildman called in Skinner to witness their Career Oaths and then dismissed them.

"So, what did the LT want?" Alyssa asked as they re-entered the Armoury.

"Kelly's being transferred and Svenson is Mustering Out when we reach Sanctuary, so we're the replacement Scouts." Harry replied with a shrug.

"Right, we'll get you both fitted on the way out after leave." Alyssa commented.

"Oh yeah, we both went Career." Hermione added.

"Welcome to the club." Alyssa said. "We're going out for dinner on Sanctuary."

Alyssa McGonagall was also a Career with four years under her belt.


Harry and Hermione were walking along the main entertainment strip of the settlement on the planet simply known as Sanctuary. The entire settlement was based around providing services for the Federation Base and entertainment for Military personnel on leave. The location of Sanctuary was a closely guarded secret known only to Navy Captains and Pilots, who were under post-hypnotic suicide compulsion if they were ever captured. The reason Sanctuary was so secret was because it was the main Naval, MI and Intelligence hub of the Federation outside of the Sol System itself.

Alyssa had left them ten minutes before, after their 'celebratory' dinner, leaving the pair to their own devices. The 'Strip' was designed to separate MI and Navy personnel from their pay in as painless a manner as possible. Restaurants, Bars, Brothels, gaming parlours and hotels. The businesses on the 'Strip' also did not ask questions and, unless there was a serious incident, almost anything went as long as it was consensual and those involved paid for any damages.

"Harry? Hermione?" a voice said from off to the side causing the pair to turn.

"Neville?" they said together.

Neville stood confidently, but not with the deadly grace of a Trooper, reminding them of the moment he killed Nagini during the Battle of Hogwarts. Neville was with a half dozen of his fellow Combat Engineers.

"Guys, this is Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, MI." Neville said to his mates. "I knew them from school. They inspired me to join up."

The Combat Engineers all insisted on shaking Harry and Hermione's hand. There was always a lot of respect for the CE by the MI. They may not be as good as the MI in combat, certainly they lacked a lot of the gear that the MI had such as Powered Armour, but they would either keep working as a fight raged around them or picked up weapons and pitched in besides the MI. It seemed that Neville was well respected by his mates, and they gently ribbed him when he declared that he was going to catch up with Harry and Hermione. The trio made their way into a nearby bar and sat in a quite booth and ordered drinks.

"So, have you got any news from home?" Neville asked. "My Gran never let me back in after I joined up."

"We had dinner with the Weasley's about eight months ago when we finished MI Basic." Hermione said. "Most of them were not happy with us. Bill and Fleur were fine. Luna was joining up as we deployed."

"I was in my last two months of training then. Combat Engineers only have an eight month basic." Neville said. "It would be interesting watching some of the more hidebound Officers trying to deal with Luna."

"Well she was going for Intel or R&D." Harry pointed out, which got them all laughing at the thought.

After a few hours of chatting, Neville went on his own way, back to the Barracks where his unit was stationed awaiting deployment, while Harry and Hermione made their way to a nearby hotel where they got a single room with a queen sized bed. They both bathed and changed into a pair of soft shorts and tank tops. They settled down into the bed with Harry's arms around Hermione. They would sometimes do the same in their room aboard the Avalon, but the beds there were too narrow for it to be comfortable.

It was not a sexual act, instead it was a comfort practice, one that had not started in the alpine survival test. Instead it had started during the Hourcrux Hunt after Ron had abandoned them. Just as they drifted off to sleep, Harry's hand slipped onto Hermione's breast.

TBC…