Hawkeye rushed into the Mess Tent, BJ following close behind and Charles at the rear, demanding angrily that Hawkeye return his hair to its natural absence. Inside, James and Sirius had joined the chow line, while Lily and Remus hung back. Obviously their stomachs were a great deal smarter than those of their friends, because they were eyeing the food with much distaste. People were staring at the kids who were dressed in funny black bathrobes and carrying sticks, but some of them didn't look upon the witch and wizards with such naïveté.
Especially the 4077th's King of Naïve, Corporal Radar O'Reilly.
Wand tucked up his sleeve and out of sight, Hawkeye sat down at an empty table, BJ and Charles still trailing behind, and stared icily at Lily and Remus until they came and sat down across from him. Sirius and James joined them moments later, their trays piled with slop. "It's not Hogwarts cooking," Sirius said, his mouth full of potatoes, "but it's food!"
"Do you realize that I'm gonna have to wipe the memories of everyone in this tent?" Hawkeye asked irritably, glaring at the small group. Again, they looked guilty, but Hawkeye soon forgot about that as Radar scuttled over to their table with his own tray. He stared at them, and then said quietly "Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus."
"Never tickle a sleeping dragon." Hawkeye, James, Sirius, Lily, and Remus confirmed together. Lily looked surprised. "I thought we were the only ones who used that code." Hawkeye shook his head.
"No, witches and wizards all over the world use it to determine who's magic, and who's a muggle."
Radar continued to stare at Hawkeye, before he whispered "You? I never would have guessed!" Hawkeye chuckled. "I'd never have guessed you either, if it weren't for your radar, Radar. I've wondered for awhile, though."
"What are they doing here, wands out and in their robes? They can't be more'n fourth years!"
"They're only third years. Third years at Hogwarts." Radar's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "They apparated, illegally, and ended up here. Now BJ and Charles know about magic," he jabbed a thumb in their direction "and nearly the entire camp knows that they're here, thanks to their adolescent stomachs. You got your wand here?"
"Yeah, ma made me bring it for emergencies."
"Good, go get it. It's been so long, I can't perform a memory charm on 200 people by myself."
Nodding, Radar hurried out of the tent. It was a good thing, too, because he might have fainted when Hawkeye stood up on the table, drawing even more attention to that area. Raising his arms, he asked loudly "Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus?"
"Never tickle a sleeping dragon!"
Came the scattered response. Hawkeye was amazed. Among those who had answered were Corporal Klinger, Nurses Kellye and Baker, Captain Spalding, a few Korean orderlies, and Margaret Houlihan. Hawkeye nearly fell off the table as he saw her look up and reply, appearing just as surprised as he was. Those few who had answered kept their attention in his direction, staring, while the others rolled their eyes, dismissing the whole thing as more of the tomfoolery for which Hawkeye was well known.
Making eye contact with each and every single magical person in the tent, Hawkeye inconspicuously poked the end of his wand out of his sleeve. They nodded.
"If you have it, go get it."
Hardly anyone noticed their comrades racing out of the Mess Tent, as people had begun to notice Charles' purple hair. They pointed and laughed, and Charles, once again, began to redden with humiliation. Standing tall he rose and exited the tent with his usual grace, a familiar air of superiority about him, and made his way back to the Swamp, hands in pockets.
Hawkeye jumped down, and took a seat next to BJ who asked "All those people who just left... they're witches and wizards too?" He was pale with excitement and disbelief, a crazy grin stretched across his face. Hawkeye nodded, smiling. "Yeah..." BJ was so excited about the concept of magic being real. It hurt him to think that, in just a few hours, maybe less, he would have to wipe his best friend's memory of the whole incident.
Especially the 4077th's King of Naïve, Corporal Radar O'Reilly.
Wand tucked up his sleeve and out of sight, Hawkeye sat down at an empty table, BJ and Charles still trailing behind, and stared icily at Lily and Remus until they came and sat down across from him. Sirius and James joined them moments later, their trays piled with slop. "It's not Hogwarts cooking," Sirius said, his mouth full of potatoes, "but it's food!"
"Do you realize that I'm gonna have to wipe the memories of everyone in this tent?" Hawkeye asked irritably, glaring at the small group. Again, they looked guilty, but Hawkeye soon forgot about that as Radar scuttled over to their table with his own tray. He stared at them, and then said quietly "Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus."
"Never tickle a sleeping dragon." Hawkeye, James, Sirius, Lily, and Remus confirmed together. Lily looked surprised. "I thought we were the only ones who used that code." Hawkeye shook his head.
"No, witches and wizards all over the world use it to determine who's magic, and who's a muggle."
Radar continued to stare at Hawkeye, before he whispered "You? I never would have guessed!" Hawkeye chuckled. "I'd never have guessed you either, if it weren't for your radar, Radar. I've wondered for awhile, though."
"What are they doing here, wands out and in their robes? They can't be more'n fourth years!"
"They're only third years. Third years at Hogwarts." Radar's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "They apparated, illegally, and ended up here. Now BJ and Charles know about magic," he jabbed a thumb in their direction "and nearly the entire camp knows that they're here, thanks to their adolescent stomachs. You got your wand here?"
"Yeah, ma made me bring it for emergencies."
"Good, go get it. It's been so long, I can't perform a memory charm on 200 people by myself."
Nodding, Radar hurried out of the tent. It was a good thing, too, because he might have fainted when Hawkeye stood up on the table, drawing even more attention to that area. Raising his arms, he asked loudly "Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus?"
"Never tickle a sleeping dragon!"
Came the scattered response. Hawkeye was amazed. Among those who had answered were Corporal Klinger, Nurses Kellye and Baker, Captain Spalding, a few Korean orderlies, and Margaret Houlihan. Hawkeye nearly fell off the table as he saw her look up and reply, appearing just as surprised as he was. Those few who had answered kept their attention in his direction, staring, while the others rolled their eyes, dismissing the whole thing as more of the tomfoolery for which Hawkeye was well known.
Making eye contact with each and every single magical person in the tent, Hawkeye inconspicuously poked the end of his wand out of his sleeve. They nodded.
"If you have it, go get it."
Hardly anyone noticed their comrades racing out of the Mess Tent, as people had begun to notice Charles' purple hair. They pointed and laughed, and Charles, once again, began to redden with humiliation. Standing tall he rose and exited the tent with his usual grace, a familiar air of superiority about him, and made his way back to the Swamp, hands in pockets.
Hawkeye jumped down, and took a seat next to BJ who asked "All those people who just left... they're witches and wizards too?" He was pale with excitement and disbelief, a crazy grin stretched across his face. Hawkeye nodded, smiling. "Yeah..." BJ was so excited about the concept of magic being real. It hurt him to think that, in just a few hours, maybe less, he would have to wipe his best friend's memory of the whole incident.