Chapter Eight

'Feth,' said Kit as he watched Malfoy yell something to Crabbe and Goyle who immediately moved to grab Hermione.

Throwing the binoculars down on the ground he grabbed his rifle and he aimed it towards Malfoy. By now Kit no longer was in control, but O'Malley. Adjusting the rifle he positioned it so that the iron sights were aligned with Malfoy's head. His breathing slowed and his rifle became steady. Seeing the change in Kit, Dekker quietly said, 'It's not your time O'Malley, Kit control yourself.'

Kit's body seemed to relax, and the muzzle moved from its current target's head to his shoulder. Kit slowed his breath and waited until the shot was true. When it was he squeezed the trigger and loosed a round. Not waiting to see if it hit Kit quickly shifted his aim to the shoulders of Crabbe and Goyle and fired off two shots. Answering his three shots was the suppressing fire provided by the soldiers around them. 'Go, go, go!'

Hermione slowly awoke from an exhausted sleep. Looking around she saw that they were still in the helicopter. Feeling a weight on her right shoulder she turned and saw a camouflaged arm wrapped behind her back and the hand resting on her shoulder. Looking to the left she saw Kit was staring at a spot on the floor in front of them, not blinking. Looking directly ahead there were two soldiers, and behind them were the unconscious forms of Harry and Ron. Surrounding them were other soldiers who were sitting on the edge of the floor, their legs dangling out of the helicopter.

Blinking Hermione realized that her eyes were dry and sore. Wiping her face with her hands she began to remember the events of that day. Looking down at her hands she saw that they were stained a reddish brown color. She once again turned to Kit. "Kit?"

Kit, who was staring at the floor, jumped at the sound of her voice. 'Bahaha! Oh, whew,' he began to chuckle and put his left hand on his chest and took deep a couple deep breaths, 'Sheesh, surprised the feth outta me there Hermione. Whew… yes?'

Hermione was equally surprised by Kit's reaction, smiled and then asked, "Why'd you say it would be best if I didn't see whatever it is you did after you told Dunningham to take me over by Mara?"

Kit opened and closed his mouth several times as though to speak before he finally answered, 'Hermione, I have a dark side. Years back when it was given a name. I won't tell you its name because I never want you to see it. I'll give you a quick idea of what its like, but don't worry about it because I'll make sure to keep it in line around you. Okay?'

Hermione said nothing in response but shook her head yes.

Kit took a deep breath before speaking again, 'A soldier in war has to accept the fact that he's already dead in order to perform his job as a soldier perfectly. A soldier in war must act without mercy, or compassion towards the enemy. I am a soldier, with that responsibility I have already accepted that I am already dead for we are in a war, and I will do anything to achieve victory for us. In such having served in the U.S. Army I've fought in muggle wars, I have fought in the first war against Voldemort. I've seen the atrocities of both ways of war, but both do the same thing. So there for in both ways of war a soldier must always accept that he is already dead to perform his duty. My dark side is all of the things that a soldier must do in order to achieve victory, well… not in the usual sense. It's hard to explain, and I've never told anyone else this before. It takes all the things a soldier must do to achieve victory several steps too far, such as it almost enjoys the prospect of killing the enemy, and I'll be fethed if it doesn't scare the feth outta me every time it over takes me. Though as long as you're near by, it'll never come out. As far as I can tell you can control its comings and goings.

I don't know if this'll make you feel any better, but the only reason why Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle are alive is because you don't approve of killin', at least not without being given another chance to prove themselves. You and Dekker are the only people in the world who know of this, I never told Dekker, but he found out for himself somehow,' Kit's voice started to shake and his eyes filled with tears, he quickly turned to face away from Hermione and took a stuttered breath.

Hermione sat looking at Kit in silence regretting that she had asked. "Kit, I didn't mean to--"

Kit turned back to face Hermione, there were tears coming from his eyes, which he wiped away with his left hand, he took a deep breath and smiled. 'No, no it's okay. I've been carryin' that burden locked up inside for years, feels nice to talk about it,' Kit's brow furrowed as though he were struggling with something. Then he let out a quiet chuckle and said, 'My right arm, I don't think it has any blood left in it, I just tried to move it and it wouldn't respond.'

Hermione turned and looked at his hand, she wondered how long it had been in that same position, she reached over and picked it up then released it. Kit watched and when it dropped back onto her shoulder he let out a short laugh and then his head dropped onto Hermione's left shoulder and he continued laughing with tears of happiness streaming down his face. Hermione also began laughing her left hand reached behind Kit and patted his shoulder, her head dropped slowly on top of Kit's head tears of joy seeping out of her eyes.

The two slowly feel asleep in each other's arms, and in doing so sealed a bond of friendship between them that shall outlast the many ages of this earth. A bond of friendship that very few people ever know, usually the only men who ever develop a bond such as this are men who have served with each other in combat.

After three hours of continuous flying, constantly changing direction to confuse any attempts that the three Slytherins might make to memorize a route to the base, the two Blackhawks touched down at the base, slightly harder that usual to wake up all the passengers in the back.

Jarred from sleep Kit and Hermione wiped sleep from their eyes and attempted to stand up. Their attempt to stand up failed and they both fell back onto the chair that they had been sharing. Kit laughed and with his free hand he pushed himself up out of the chair, his right arm dragging behind. 'Ohhh, note to self never let my arm stay in a position like that, that long again. Ever.'

Hermione looked up at Kit questioningly, "What?"

'Now that blood's getting back into my right arm there's nothin' but a dull ache, and it ain't fun,' Kit stabilized himself by putting his left hand on the ceiling of the helicopter, and offered Hermione his right hand to assist her ascent out of the chair. Taking Kit's outstretched hand she pulled herself up out of the chair.

Kit jumped out of the Blackhawk and held out his hand to help Hermione out of the Blackhawk. Again taking Kit's outstretched hand Hermione hopped down onto the ground, and accompanied Kit over to the second Blackhawk. When they reached it they looked into the back where the three Slytherins lay on stretchers. Looking up from the bodies he turned to face the flagpole. The flagpole was the same, except for the Dumbledore's Army flag had a black backdrop instead of a red one. He turned back to look at the Slytherins and said, 'Y'all sure are lucky.'

Hermione asked, "What?"

Kit turned to face Hermione and answered, 'They're lucky mainly because, a, you're the reason their still alive. And, b, because the flag is black. When you came the first time it was red. A red backdrop means that there will be no quarter given to the enemy and no prisoners will be taken. A black backdrop means that quarter will be given, and prisoners will be taken. However due to the nature of these prisoners of war they will be returned to Hogwarts, and I most likely will be receiving a reprimand from Dumbledore about my actions here today,' turning away from Hermione he called out, 'Medic! Take these prisoners to the hospital and patch 'em up, I'll get Staff Sergeant Sajer to fix up the wounds as best as we can and modify their memory.'

'Hooah sir,' replied the medics who were running up to the Blackhawk.

Leaving the medics to carry out their orders Kit moved up along side Hermione and said, 'Come on Hermione, let's go get you cleaned up. As soon as the prisoners are ready to be taken back to Hogwarts I'll notify you. Your tent awaits you Captain Granger,' with that Kit's posture stiffened and he gave a crisp salute to Hermione.

Hermione did her best to return the salute. "Erm—Thank you, erm--General Lightningstrider," replied Hermione nervously, not used to being addressed with such respect and formality.

Kit nodded and turned to a soldier who was standing behind him, 'Private, please escort Harry and Ron to my tent and I will be there presently.'

'Yes, sir,' replied the trooper.

'Sergeant Major, please escort Captain Granger to her tent, then report back to my tent,' ordered Kit.

'Roger that sir,' said Dekker to Kit. Turning to Hermione he said, 'Captain Granger, if you'll follow me please.'

Turning in different directions the three left each to fulfill some mission.