Chapter 6
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. They are the property of JK Rowling.
A/N: I forgot to mention in the last chapter that NCO's are Non Comissioned Officers. That means that they are enlisted ranks Staff Sergeant to Chief Master Sergeant. Airman's can be counted as NCO's when comparing them to the Officer group.
Harry awoke early the next morning to shower and get his uniform pressed before he went to meet the general. Looking in the mirror he noticed that his hair was a bit long and that it was almost touching his ears now. "I need to get a haircut soon," thought Harry. I wonder where the barber is around here. Carlos and I used to cut each others hair and now he's not here anymore. He proceeded in shaveing and brushing his teeth. Leaving the bathroom he went to find his unpacked bags to get his uniform for the day.
"I wonder why General Chang asked that I work for him. I wonder if Cho has anything to do with this. He is after all her father. Maybe he doesn't know and I just gave him a good impression. Good impression? What are you thinking. you never said more than two words to him." Harry put on his service dress uniform for the first day to make a good impression. After shining his shoes and polishing the bill on his service cap he inspected himself in the mirror. "You must bear yourself as an officer and set examples for the NCO's. He then looked around and saw that the room was so plain. "I'll have to unpack my stuff and make this place home," said Harry. "I'm going to be here for at least a year."
Harry looked at his watch to find that he still had an hour before his meeting with the general. He suddenly realized that he had no idea where the general's office was. "Well I still have an hour so I better find out." He grabbed his car keys and left his apartment. He tried to lock the apartment door but the key wasn't turning. After 5 minutes and many futile attempts he gave up. "The key turns the other way genius," said a voice from behind him. Harry turned around to come face to face with a woman with raven black hair and brown eyes. She looked like she wasn't much more than one or two years older than him. Looking at the bars on her shoulder he could tell that she was a Captain. "She is quite pretty," thought Harry. Harry snapped to attention and saluted her. She saluted back to recognize his show of respect.
"We are still under cover Lieutenant. You don't need to salute me until we are completely outside," said the Captain. "That means you don't wear your cover either," she smirked.
"Yes ma'am," replied Harry quickly removing his service cap.
"We're off the clock right now so please call me Laura." She then proceeded to turning the key for him and locked it. "Welcome to the base Lieutenant. I am your neighbor Laura Robertson." She tossed Harry his keys.
"James Potter," replied Harry extending his hand out. "Please to meet you."
"Likewise James, if you need anything just let me know. I am the commanding officer at the security forces office on base." She started walking out to the parking garage and Harry followed.
"I was supposed to work in security forces but Lt Gen Chang requested that I serve as his XO. That's why I got transferred here in the first place. I was supposed to go to Florida."
"Well that's a pretty high honor serving directly under the general."
"Well that's what everyone keeps telling me. I don't know if I really want to work for him." By now they were just standing in the parking garage.
"Well just keep your air speed up. We all have to start somewhere." She gave him a friendly smile.
"You wouldn't happen to know how to get to the general's office now would you?" Harry asked slightly embarrassed. She saw that he was nervous and embarrassed at the same time.
"It's right next to the security forces office. Just follow me James." She got into her car and started her engine. Harry went and turned on the engine of his camaro for the first time. "It's a good thing I learned to drive stick shift," said Harry to himself. Harry pulled out to where Laura was waiting for him. After driving about a mile from his apartment he came across a big white building. The front had a water fountain and a cement sidewalk with rose bushes and green grass on the sides.
"Good luck Lieutenant, you will be fine," said Laura putting on her professional front.
"Thank you ma'am," replied Harry putting on his cover. The two headed off in opposite directions.
The sign at the front of the building said "Base Commander's Office." The letters were engraved into a blue stone that Harry couldn't quite make out what it was. The inside looked very luxurious. "That's officers for you, always thinking of luxury first," thought Harry to himself. He chuckled at his own comment. The secretary at the front desk greeted him as if she were expecting him.
"Good morning Lieutenant," said the woman at the desk. She looked as if she had been around for a while. The strips on her arms suggested that she was a Master Sergeant. Her desk was surrounded by picture of what appeared to be her children.
"Good morning ma'am," replied Harry respectfully. "Could you please notify General Chang that Lieutenant Potter is here to see him.
"Certainly." She reached to the side of her desk to press a button and began to speak into it. "Sir there is a Lieutenant Potter here to see you. Yes sir, I will send him right in." She then looked up at Harry and walked him to the office door. "Good luck sir." She quickly returned to her desk. Harry took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Come in," came a deep voice from inside. Harry opened the door to find Lieutenant General Chang sitting behind his desk looking at papers. Harry marched in and stood at attention in front of the general. He did his reporting in procedures and was asked to sit down.
"Now Lieutenant, you are probably wondering why I asked that you come here. I know you wanted to go to Florida and as the number one graduate in your class you naturally had first pick on where you wanted to go. I was surprised when you didn't pick a pilot slot as that is the most popular."
"Well sir, I have never been to fond of flying airplanes. I get uncomfortable sometimes. Although I did get my vision corrected, I just know that flying an airplane isn't right for me."
"I understand, but I myself was a pilot back in the war. Enough of that lets get down to business. You work directly for me. You don't have to answer to anyone but Lt Col Miole and myself. You will take care of the paperwork that comes from me and then you will act as an Inspector General. As my own XO I expect you to be my extra eyes and ears. Use common sense Lieutenant. I will help you in any way possible because I like you. You made a good impression on me when I shook your hand at the graduation ceremony. I just have a very good feeling about you Lieutenant. Don't let me down now." He said all this and waited for Harry to respond.
"I wont fail you sir," was all Harry could muster.
"I hope that you found your living quarters and transportation satisfying?" He flashed Harry a smile.
"Yes, quite satisfying," replied Harry with a grin.
"Good, let me walk you over to your office." Lt Gen Chang stood up and walked to the room next door. As Harry entered he was awed by its size. The general had a big office but this one was just as big. He had his own private bathroom on the side. In the corner was a water dispenser and a refrigerator for his cravings. Up against the wall was a couch and a television on one of the shelves at the top left hand corner. Right in the middle of the room was a big oak desk with a shiny nameplate that read "2LT. JAMES POTTER." His desk had his own private computer along with a spare laptop on the side. Also there were buttons on the side of his desk.
"Now James, these buttons here are in case Linda is calling you or in case you need to send her a message. You're a smart fellow, I'm sure you will figure it out." Lt Gen Chang patted him on the back.
"This is all mine?" asked Harry. He was completely surprised by what was in front of him. He did not expect anything more than a desk up front.
"It's yours James. Now you must be getting to know the base so I'm going to give you five days off. You did after all just graduate so you should celebrate and get to know some people around here. I will expect you to be fully refreshed and ready to work come next Monday." He grinned at Harry. "You're only young once. Enjoy it while you can. When you are over the hill like me you are going to want to look back and not regret having not done something." He looked at Harry very seriously now. "There are many things in my life that I wish I didn't do. There are also many things that I wish I had done. Now that I'm old I regret not doing them." Harry could only nod with understanding. He didn't know what else to say. "I'm heading back to work James, you really should go out and see the base. Maybe you could get someone to take you out to the city." Lt Gen Chang smiled at him. He then left Harry alone in his office. Not knowing what else to do he left.
Harry was glad that he did not bring up Cho at all. He was afraid that this had something to do with her. He was now glad that it seemed Lt Gen Chang didn't even know he was Harry Potter. His secret was still safe for now.
When he was heading back to his car when he saw a sign on the building next door. A sign in the front said "Security Forces Main Office." He decided to go in and pay a little visit. When he entered the building Laura was busy running across the hallway. This was rather difficult to do in a skirt and heels. She noticed him when she passed by and gave him an odd look.
"I didn't expect to see you again so soon Lieutenant. Did the general send you to get arrested or something?" she asked jokingly.
"Hah! No actually he gave me the rest of the week off so I could tour the base and get to know people," replied Harry with a smirk. "This was the closest place so I decided to come here and take a look around." Laura gave him a look that said "right. why are you really here?"
"Well now that you're in here let me give you the grand tour," she said sarcastically. "That is my office over there, and over where we have this lovely water machine!" said Laura as she moved towards the fountain. She gave him a sarcastic smile. "It shoots water out and you try to catch it with your mouth." Harry couldn't help but laugh at her good humor sarcasm. "I'll tell you what James, lets go out to the officer's club tonight after I get off work. Then I'll show you around," she said giving him a smile.
"Sure what time do you get off?" asked Harry.
"Just come over around 1700. You know where I live." She gave him a wink. Right at that moment a young airman walked in.
"Captain, the general is asking that you place more guards active on the air strip. We have several new F-22's coming in today and he wants extra security," said the Airman. Laura sighed at the mention of this.
"Will that be all Airman?" asked Laura.
"Yes ma'm!" replied the Airman quickly.
"You are dismissed then." Laura once again turned to Harry. "We need to be professional when others are around us during work hours. So 5 o clock it is?"
"Yeah, should I wear civilian clothing or what?"
"Civi's will be fine. You know, I'm not even supposed to be fraternizing with you since I'm a Captain and you're a Lieutenant." She gave him a friendly smile.
"But your not my superior officer," replied Harry with a smirk on his face. "I will see you tonight. I need to unpack now once I try to find my way back to the apartment." At that moment another Airman came in but passed right by after a "good morning ma'am, good morning sir." "Will that be all Captain?" Harry asked professionally.
"You are dismissed Lieutenant," said Laura once again putting up her professional façade.
A/N: If there are anything that is confusing just ask and I will try to clarify. I know quite a bit about the military and sometimes forget that others don't. If you were wondering, no I was never in the military. I barely graduated from high school.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. They are the property of JK Rowling.
A/N: I forgot to mention in the last chapter that NCO's are Non Comissioned Officers. That means that they are enlisted ranks Staff Sergeant to Chief Master Sergeant. Airman's can be counted as NCO's when comparing them to the Officer group.
Harry awoke early the next morning to shower and get his uniform pressed before he went to meet the general. Looking in the mirror he noticed that his hair was a bit long and that it was almost touching his ears now. "I need to get a haircut soon," thought Harry. I wonder where the barber is around here. Carlos and I used to cut each others hair and now he's not here anymore. He proceeded in shaveing and brushing his teeth. Leaving the bathroom he went to find his unpacked bags to get his uniform for the day.
"I wonder why General Chang asked that I work for him. I wonder if Cho has anything to do with this. He is after all her father. Maybe he doesn't know and I just gave him a good impression. Good impression? What are you thinking. you never said more than two words to him." Harry put on his service dress uniform for the first day to make a good impression. After shining his shoes and polishing the bill on his service cap he inspected himself in the mirror. "You must bear yourself as an officer and set examples for the NCO's. He then looked around and saw that the room was so plain. "I'll have to unpack my stuff and make this place home," said Harry. "I'm going to be here for at least a year."
Harry looked at his watch to find that he still had an hour before his meeting with the general. He suddenly realized that he had no idea where the general's office was. "Well I still have an hour so I better find out." He grabbed his car keys and left his apartment. He tried to lock the apartment door but the key wasn't turning. After 5 minutes and many futile attempts he gave up. "The key turns the other way genius," said a voice from behind him. Harry turned around to come face to face with a woman with raven black hair and brown eyes. She looked like she wasn't much more than one or two years older than him. Looking at the bars on her shoulder he could tell that she was a Captain. "She is quite pretty," thought Harry. Harry snapped to attention and saluted her. She saluted back to recognize his show of respect.
"We are still under cover Lieutenant. You don't need to salute me until we are completely outside," said the Captain. "That means you don't wear your cover either," she smirked.
"Yes ma'am," replied Harry quickly removing his service cap.
"We're off the clock right now so please call me Laura." She then proceeded to turning the key for him and locked it. "Welcome to the base Lieutenant. I am your neighbor Laura Robertson." She tossed Harry his keys.
"James Potter," replied Harry extending his hand out. "Please to meet you."
"Likewise James, if you need anything just let me know. I am the commanding officer at the security forces office on base." She started walking out to the parking garage and Harry followed.
"I was supposed to work in security forces but Lt Gen Chang requested that I serve as his XO. That's why I got transferred here in the first place. I was supposed to go to Florida."
"Well that's a pretty high honor serving directly under the general."
"Well that's what everyone keeps telling me. I don't know if I really want to work for him." By now they were just standing in the parking garage.
"Well just keep your air speed up. We all have to start somewhere." She gave him a friendly smile.
"You wouldn't happen to know how to get to the general's office now would you?" Harry asked slightly embarrassed. She saw that he was nervous and embarrassed at the same time.
"It's right next to the security forces office. Just follow me James." She got into her car and started her engine. Harry went and turned on the engine of his camaro for the first time. "It's a good thing I learned to drive stick shift," said Harry to himself. Harry pulled out to where Laura was waiting for him. After driving about a mile from his apartment he came across a big white building. The front had a water fountain and a cement sidewalk with rose bushes and green grass on the sides.
"Good luck Lieutenant, you will be fine," said Laura putting on her professional front.
"Thank you ma'am," replied Harry putting on his cover. The two headed off in opposite directions.
The sign at the front of the building said "Base Commander's Office." The letters were engraved into a blue stone that Harry couldn't quite make out what it was. The inside looked very luxurious. "That's officers for you, always thinking of luxury first," thought Harry to himself. He chuckled at his own comment. The secretary at the front desk greeted him as if she were expecting him.
"Good morning Lieutenant," said the woman at the desk. She looked as if she had been around for a while. The strips on her arms suggested that she was a Master Sergeant. Her desk was surrounded by picture of what appeared to be her children.
"Good morning ma'am," replied Harry respectfully. "Could you please notify General Chang that Lieutenant Potter is here to see him.
"Certainly." She reached to the side of her desk to press a button and began to speak into it. "Sir there is a Lieutenant Potter here to see you. Yes sir, I will send him right in." She then looked up at Harry and walked him to the office door. "Good luck sir." She quickly returned to her desk. Harry took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Come in," came a deep voice from inside. Harry opened the door to find Lieutenant General Chang sitting behind his desk looking at papers. Harry marched in and stood at attention in front of the general. He did his reporting in procedures and was asked to sit down.
"Now Lieutenant, you are probably wondering why I asked that you come here. I know you wanted to go to Florida and as the number one graduate in your class you naturally had first pick on where you wanted to go. I was surprised when you didn't pick a pilot slot as that is the most popular."
"Well sir, I have never been to fond of flying airplanes. I get uncomfortable sometimes. Although I did get my vision corrected, I just know that flying an airplane isn't right for me."
"I understand, but I myself was a pilot back in the war. Enough of that lets get down to business. You work directly for me. You don't have to answer to anyone but Lt Col Miole and myself. You will take care of the paperwork that comes from me and then you will act as an Inspector General. As my own XO I expect you to be my extra eyes and ears. Use common sense Lieutenant. I will help you in any way possible because I like you. You made a good impression on me when I shook your hand at the graduation ceremony. I just have a very good feeling about you Lieutenant. Don't let me down now." He said all this and waited for Harry to respond.
"I wont fail you sir," was all Harry could muster.
"I hope that you found your living quarters and transportation satisfying?" He flashed Harry a smile.
"Yes, quite satisfying," replied Harry with a grin.
"Good, let me walk you over to your office." Lt Gen Chang stood up and walked to the room next door. As Harry entered he was awed by its size. The general had a big office but this one was just as big. He had his own private bathroom on the side. In the corner was a water dispenser and a refrigerator for his cravings. Up against the wall was a couch and a television on one of the shelves at the top left hand corner. Right in the middle of the room was a big oak desk with a shiny nameplate that read "2LT. JAMES POTTER." His desk had his own private computer along with a spare laptop on the side. Also there were buttons on the side of his desk.
"Now James, these buttons here are in case Linda is calling you or in case you need to send her a message. You're a smart fellow, I'm sure you will figure it out." Lt Gen Chang patted him on the back.
"This is all mine?" asked Harry. He was completely surprised by what was in front of him. He did not expect anything more than a desk up front.
"It's yours James. Now you must be getting to know the base so I'm going to give you five days off. You did after all just graduate so you should celebrate and get to know some people around here. I will expect you to be fully refreshed and ready to work come next Monday." He grinned at Harry. "You're only young once. Enjoy it while you can. When you are over the hill like me you are going to want to look back and not regret having not done something." He looked at Harry very seriously now. "There are many things in my life that I wish I didn't do. There are also many things that I wish I had done. Now that I'm old I regret not doing them." Harry could only nod with understanding. He didn't know what else to say. "I'm heading back to work James, you really should go out and see the base. Maybe you could get someone to take you out to the city." Lt Gen Chang smiled at him. He then left Harry alone in his office. Not knowing what else to do he left.
Harry was glad that he did not bring up Cho at all. He was afraid that this had something to do with her. He was now glad that it seemed Lt Gen Chang didn't even know he was Harry Potter. His secret was still safe for now.
When he was heading back to his car when he saw a sign on the building next door. A sign in the front said "Security Forces Main Office." He decided to go in and pay a little visit. When he entered the building Laura was busy running across the hallway. This was rather difficult to do in a skirt and heels. She noticed him when she passed by and gave him an odd look.
"I didn't expect to see you again so soon Lieutenant. Did the general send you to get arrested or something?" she asked jokingly.
"Hah! No actually he gave me the rest of the week off so I could tour the base and get to know people," replied Harry with a smirk. "This was the closest place so I decided to come here and take a look around." Laura gave him a look that said "right. why are you really here?"
"Well now that you're in here let me give you the grand tour," she said sarcastically. "That is my office over there, and over where we have this lovely water machine!" said Laura as she moved towards the fountain. She gave him a sarcastic smile. "It shoots water out and you try to catch it with your mouth." Harry couldn't help but laugh at her good humor sarcasm. "I'll tell you what James, lets go out to the officer's club tonight after I get off work. Then I'll show you around," she said giving him a smile.
"Sure what time do you get off?" asked Harry.
"Just come over around 1700. You know where I live." She gave him a wink. Right at that moment a young airman walked in.
"Captain, the general is asking that you place more guards active on the air strip. We have several new F-22's coming in today and he wants extra security," said the Airman. Laura sighed at the mention of this.
"Will that be all Airman?" asked Laura.
"Yes ma'm!" replied the Airman quickly.
"You are dismissed then." Laura once again turned to Harry. "We need to be professional when others are around us during work hours. So 5 o clock it is?"
"Yeah, should I wear civilian clothing or what?"
"Civi's will be fine. You know, I'm not even supposed to be fraternizing with you since I'm a Captain and you're a Lieutenant." She gave him a friendly smile.
"But your not my superior officer," replied Harry with a smirk on his face. "I will see you tonight. I need to unpack now once I try to find my way back to the apartment." At that moment another Airman came in but passed right by after a "good morning ma'am, good morning sir." "Will that be all Captain?" Harry asked professionally.
"You are dismissed Lieutenant," said Laura once again putting up her professional façade.
A/N: If there are anything that is confusing just ask and I will try to clarify. I know quite a bit about the military and sometimes forget that others don't. If you were wondering, no I was never in the military. I barely graduated from high school.