A/n: Some readers may find the last part of this chapter disturbing. It is based on the events, of September 11, 2001 I have taken the authors privilege and have changed all names and dates, but I kindly ask that if you feel you will be offended in anyway, please do not to proceed reading any further, thank you.
A/n 2: I've worked out my differences with Muggle Net, and I've decided to start posting again. A very special thank you goes to the moderator Stephanie.
A/n3: From here on out, Harry and Hermione, act more out of character.
A/n 4: The letter at the end is entitled "Dear America," copyright 2001 by Robert Padget, All Rights Reserved. It is an original piece of published work by myself. It is also posted on You will also find it in the last pages of my book The Devil's Little Girl; ISBN 1-4137-4831-7. Which is also now avaliable for pre-order at http: It's offical release date to the public, will be on April 4, 2005. This is going to be the last update for a little while.
Thank you to all who have reviewed up to this point, your reviews are most appreciated. I'm a bit nervous about this chapter, and I would apperciate any Reviews.
Part two: The Beginning of the Great war
"I'm just the singer of simple songs, I'm not a real political man, I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you the difference of Iraq and Iran. But I know Jesus and I talk to God and I remember this from when I was young: Faith, hope and love are some good things he gave us, and the greatest is love" Alan Jackson
Harry and Hermione had been married for a short six months, and it was the start of the second semester for their sophomore year at WAAWW. Harry began noticed something peculiar about his wife; she was developing what seemed like morning sickness and she was sending him to the store in the middle of the night for beef jerky with peanut butter and jelly ice cream topped with pickles.
On February 11, Hermione had finished her classes for the day. She decided that perhaps it would be a good idea to visit the campus healer to talk to her about having skipped her last two periods. Alas, her fear was confirmed: She was pregnant. Hermione was worried, simply because she and Harry barely had any money. They had also taken every necessary precaution to prevent this from happening so early in their marriage. When we are least expecting something, it happens, she thought.
That night, Hermione waited for Harry to arrive home from class and Quidditch practice. She cooked a well-budgeted but delicate dinner for him. She simply had to tell Harry tonight, while her resolve was strong, because she could only hide the news from him for so long.
Shortly after Hermione had finished cooking dinner, Harry arrived with a small pop in the living room. He walked up to his wife and gently kissed her. "Hi, love, how are you feeling today?" he asked, a bright smile on his face.
Hermione gazed lovingly into his eyes and said, with a stressful sigh, "We need to talk … Sit, dinner is ready."
Harry sat, with a bewildered expression spread across his face; he was not used to Hermione's being so abrupt. "So, what's up?"
Hermione sat across the table from him, and with a frown spread across her face said, "You know how I've been getting sick for the past few weeks? Well, I found out what's wrong with me."
Harry raised an eyebrow, and was uncertain by the tone of her voice if he wanted to know. "Yeah? What's wrong?" he asked anxiously.
"Oh, there's nothing seriously wrong with me or anything," she said, not quite sure how she wanted to tell him yet. "Let's eat first, then we'll talk," she added, feeling her resolve weakening.
"Hermione, will you stop beating around the bush, and tell me what's going on?" Harry said, starting to feel slightly angry. He was tired and needed to start studying for a major exam in Jinxes and Hexes.
Hermione paused for a minute, before she said, "Well, OK. I hope you're ready for this," and she looked into his eyes, and quickly said, "I'm pregnant will you please pass me the corn?" She promptly closed her eyes, and waited for Harry to explode.
Harry slowly passed her the corn, and raised an eyebrow in bewilderment. "Could you please say that again? Only a little slower this time?"
"I'm … you know … you're going to be a dad," she managed to get out, and fought the urge to cry.
"Merlin's Beard!" he exclaimed, sounding thoroughly exuberant, as comprehension slapped him across the face. "Hermione, that's … wow!" He quickly put his fork down on the table, stood up and walked to her and gave her a kiss.
"You're taking this a lot better than I thought you would," she said, sounding thoroughly relieved, and she gave him a bone crushing hug in return.
Wow! I can't believe it, I'm actually going to be a dad! This is incredible, Harry thought. Then almost out of nowhere, another contradicting thought crossed his mind. What a minute, we don't have a lot of money right now. We barely have enough just for us to survive on.
Hermione saw the frightened look that was spread across his face, she said reassuringly, "I know we don't have a lot of money right now, but things will work out for us. Harry, you and I have been through too much together this will be just another adventure. However with this one, I'm not frightened, because I know everything is going to work-out for us. As long as we work together."
Harry nodded his agreement; they ate quickly, in silence punctuated by the occasional awkward attempt at starting a conversation about anything but pregnancy. Shortly after dinner, Harry said, "Well, I have to do some studying. I have that exam tomorrow."
Hermione nodded in agreement, "I think I'll do the same." They got up from the table, and sat down on the couch, and started reading from different textbooks. Harry was trying to focus on revising for the exam, but his mind kept wandering and worrying. Finally, he closed his book and said, "Hermione can we talk about this some more, please? I can't concentrate anyway."
Hermione quickly put the book down that she was reading and said, very business-like, "Of course we can. You should know by now that I'm always willing to talk to you about anything that is weighing on your mind."
"It's just – Hermione, we're broke. I just spent the last of our money paying for this semester. How can we afford to raise this child?"
Hermione tried to remain calm. "I know we're broke. But Harry, I think all we have to do is really budget our money."
"Hermione, everything is going to change when we have this baby. I think it would just be best if I quit school awhile and got a better-paying job. I don't where, at least not right away, but I'll have to find something. I want you to continue going to school. Then eventually after you're finished and found a job, I can finish my schooling."
Hermione looked at him, her eyes feeling the initial burn of potential tears, and reached for his hand. "Harry, you love going to school here I want you to finish school. You are doing so well in your classes," she paused, and interlocked her fingers with his, "plus, what about Quidditch? If you keep playing as well as you have been, eventually you will end up getting picked up by some professional team. No, I refuse to let you quit school just because I'm ... I'm pregnant."
Harry gazed deep into her eyes and calmly said, "There's another option…"
"I'm not having an abortion!" Hermione snapped angrily, a tear hitting her cheek.
"I wasn't going to ask you to do that!" he exclaimed, defensively, "We're having a baby it means the world to me. I could always join the Wizards Military. It's a steady job, and I'll get free medical, dental, and money for college..."
"Seriously, Harry, I don't think you can get in. You are a foreign student, in this country on a Student Visa," Hermione interrupted. "Listen, all we need to do is get student loans, and I think we should be OK. We have health insurance at the Academy. I'll take next term off, and you can go to school part-time, and work full-time. "
"Yeah ... If you add Quidditch on top of that, I'll never see you. Or the baby," Harry replied, earnestly. "And I don't see you enough as it is. I hate every minute when I'm away from you."
Hermione smiled brightly, "Do you really mean that?"
"Of course I do, I wouldn't have married you otherwise," Harry replied, gently holding her hand.
"Ohhh, that is so sweet," hummed Hermione, blushing a loving red. She promptly leaned forward and their lips met at the halfway point.
"So, am I really going to be a daddy?" Harry asked, once again, sounding truly excited. "It has to be a boy!"
Hermione laughed and argued, "No, it going to be a girl!"
"Either way Hermione, if it's a boy or a girl, I just hope he or she has your looks, your courage, your brains, and my well my last name is all that I really want to wish on him. Or her."
Hermione playfully slapped him on the shoulder. "You're forgetting one important thing, Harry."
Bewildered, Harry raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
"I hope he or she has your heart," Hermione answered affectionately.
Harry kicked his feet up on the couch, and acted like she was fragile, and gently pulled her toward him. He quickly wrapped both arms around her stomach, and elegantly held her. "I can't believe I'm going to be a daddy. All I can say, is thank you."
"For what?" Hermione asked.
"Well mostly for being my best friend, and my wife. Most importantly Hermione, for making me a dad."
Hermione sighed and was finally content, "I love you. I know you're going to be a great dad Thank you for making me a mum."
"You'll be the greatest mum any child could ever ask for," Harry simply replied.
Harry grabbed a blanket that was hanging on the end of the couch, and covered them, and Crookshanks jumped up onto Hermione's stomach and lay down protectively, and he was purring loudly.
Harry was too excited to continue his study for the night, so he tossed the book he was reading on the floor. The only thing he wanted to do was hold his wife tightly. It was sometime over the next couple hours, of which he must have faded off to sleep.
Sometime later Hermione shook him awake. "Harry, let's go to bed, it's getting late, and you have that exam tomorrow." He stood up, and groggily followed her to the bedroom.
At 6:45 the next morning, Harry had a vivid, disturbing nightmare. He was flying in a Muggle helicopter, wearing a military uniform. The helicopter was circling around a strange city. He knew he had been there before, but he couldn't think when. The helicopter was flying toward two huge buildings.
He saw smoke coming from one of the large towers. As the helicopter flew closer, he could hear the terrified voices screaming deep within. The closer the helicopter flew, the more rancid the smell of burning human flesh got. He had to cover his mouth and noise to avoid getting sick.
He looked at a strange black man, who was sitting quietly beside him. Harry asked him, "What happened?"
With an unmistakable, yet an unforgettable look of fear etched deep within the strangers eyes, he whimpered, "A plane."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, but the stranger didn't reply.
The helicopter took another swoop around the building, and landed on a large naval aircraft carrier. He quickly dismounted, and looked at the devastation caused around him. Thick black smoke coming fuming from one of them.
Suddenly a large plane flew over his head, it hit the second tower, and with a deafening explosion that shook the entire ship, the second building was engulfed in a giant fireball.
Harry woke up with a start, and for the first time in ages, his scar was searing red hot with pain. A sense of dreadful foreboding overcame him as he suddenly sat up in bed with cold sweat pouring down his face.
Harry could no longer stand the dreadful feeling that overcame him. He got out of bed, walked into the sitting room, and turned on the TV. He forced himself to do a double take. How could it be? he thought. He couldn't believe what he seeing on the TV. Smoke was quickly rising out of two large towers. The very same ones he had just dreamed about. Promptly he turned the volume up to hear what was being said.
"On February 12, at approximately 8:45 Eastern Standard Time, a 747 flew into directly into the first World Commerce Center. Now just moments ago, the world was shocked to see a second 747 fly directly into the second World Commerce Center. This is now strongly believed to be a terrorist action against the United States of America. As of this moment, no group has taken credit for these actions..."
He stood in front of the television gaping; he couldn't believe what he was seeing. This wasn't even his country, but the emotion he was starting to feel was almost overwhelming. Hermione walked out of the bedroom, in her evening dress, her hair in a messy bun. She took one look at Harry. "What's wrong?" she asked.
Harry said nothing, he just pointed a stiff finger at the television. One look at the two towers engulfed in smoke, and she knew straightaway what was wrong. She clapped both of her hands to her mouth and let out a muffled scream. "Oh my god!" She exclaimed. "What happened?"
Harry still had lost all ability to speak, he just stood in front of the television, he was feeling completely perplexed. His scar was still burning as he watched the TV, finally he managed to say, "This country has been attacked."
Hermione let out another stifled sob and she grabbed Harry for support. How can this be happening? he thought. Then he remembered the warning he had the night before he got married to Hermione. Was this the attack that Ginny and Ron warned me about in my dream? What was worse, Harry knew he had laid low for too long and had begun to feel comfortable in his new surroundings. That perhaps the prophecy that was made about him, and Voldemort wouldn't come true, Harry hoped and prayed many times that it wasn't true. He turned the TV off, but quickly turned on a Wizard Wireless Network receiver to the news station, hoping to hear that this event was just a Muggle attack, that Voldemort had nothing to do with it.
"This is a special report. At approximately 8:45 this morning, Eastern Standard Time, the non-magical community awoke to see the World Commerce Center hit by an airplane, which is a Muggle source of transportation for flying. Approximately 45 minutes later, a second airplane was flown into the second World Commerce Center. It has been confirmed that approximately 13 loyal Death Eaters to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, where sighted in surrounding areas of Muggle airports. The Congress of Magic is awaiting an emergency meeting with the President of Magic, Lionel Hardcastle. It appears that a prophecy that all have been dreading has become true, and Wizards alongside with Muggles, must prepare for battle. The Warlock Intelligence Agency has asked for all of the magical community to be on full alert and be on the look out and report all suspicious activity…"
Harry's worst fears had now been confirmed; he couldn't think straight or breathe. He had known this was going to happen and had done nothing. The announcer continued:
"... This just in, it has just been confirmed, that a third airplane has crashed into…"
Harry turned the radio off, he said, "What in the name of all that is good is going on?" He quickly grabbed Hermione, and held her in a tight hug. She was shaking uncontrollably, and tears were streaming down her face. Harry led her to the couch and turned the TV back on. He remained quiet as he dreaded what he had to do.
"Hermione," he finally spoke as the full effects of the day began to set in, "I can't just sit here and do nothing now, I have to…" He looked into her bewildered face. "I have to do something I had a dream about this. I can't just let him get away with this, I must fulfill the prophecy made about me."
He recalled to her the exact words he had heard in Dumbledore's office at the end of his fifth year at Hogwarts: "The one with the power to Vanquish the dark lord approaches ... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies … and the dark lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have powers the dark lord knows not … and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives … the one with the power to vanquish the dark lord will be born as the seventh month dies…"
Hermione, looked into Harry's eyes in disbelief that he had never told her about this before. "Harry," she said, through deep blood shot eyes, "Why didn't you tell me about this? Did you think I wouldn't understand?"
"I don't know Hermione, honestly. I suppose it's because of what happened at the end of our sixth year. With Ron and Ginny... You knowI felt that by not telling you, I was protecting you from anymore unnecessary worry," Harry stated.
Hermione's face went pale; she didn't want for this to be true. "You know, I just wish you had told me before now. You've been carrying this burden for four years now. I just don't understand why you didn't tell me. I thought we agreed to tell each other everything that happened to us. With-holding this from me was not going to make it go away. I love you, Harry. I want you to go and do what you think is right. You are the only one who has the power to end this complete nightmare, that the whole world is watching right now."
Harry simply nodded in disbelief. "I love you too, Hermione." He looked up at the TV, and as the second tower started to crumble to the ground. As he watched this sight, his heart fell as well. He knew that several thousand people had died on this day.
Hermione screamed as she saw people on TV running in all directions, trying to avoid the large mass of metal falling to the ground, and the cloud of dust emerging from the ground.
Harry turned the TV off, and looked at his wife and said, " I can't watch this anymore. Besides, we have to get to class." Hermione nodded her agreement, and they readied themselves.
The atmosphere at the Academy was much more tense then the day before; every class that Harry went to, people were discussing the catastrophic events that had occurred as the morning arose. Everywhere that Harry looked, he saw people crying. With the exception of classes, all activities on campus had been suspended.
Shortly after his arrival to the campus, Harry found Ernie and Darryl, who were in as much shock as Harry.
"Mom is in New York right now," Darryl managed to finally say.
"I hope she's all right," Hermione said, giving Darryl and Ernie a hug.
"Whoever did this needs to have the shit knocked out of em," Darryl said, and his eyes flashed dangerously. "I've decided I'm going to enlist in the Wizards Army."
"Darryl, no!" Hermione exclaimed, "What good will it do?"
"Right now, my government is having a council of war Hermione! If we go to war, then I'm not going to just sit here and do nothing. I'll go fight along with the Muggles if I have too," responded Darryl in a deadly calm voice. Ernie nodded in agreement. Hermione looked at Harry, who was also nodding.
Harry sighed looked at Hermione and gently grabbed her hand. "I have some news for you guys. Guess what we found out yesterday."
"What's that?" Ernie asked blankly.
"She's pregnant I'm going to be a dad!" Harry smiled, wanting to change the subject, and avoid a big row.
"Congratulations," Darryl and Ernie responded half-heartedly. "Well, we're going to class. See you guys around."
"Yeah, cheers" Harry replied.
"Why don't you guys join us for a cup of tea after class, since Quidditch has been canceled?" Hermione asked curtly.
A bewildered look spread across Harry's face. He looked at Hermione. Last he knew, Hermione didn't particularly care for either Ernie or Darryl.
"Yeah, that sounds like a great idea, don't you think Darryl?" Ernie responded. Darryl simply nodded in agreement, and they quickly walked off for class.
Harry looked at his watch, and noticed he had five minutes to get to class. He turned to Hermione and said, "Well love, I guess I better get going. I love you." He quickly kissed her and continued to his class.
Upon arrival to Jinxes and Hexes, Harry walked into the large classroom, and noticed right away how grim the atmosphere was. It was definitely going to be a long class. He had just sat in his usual seat, next to Darryl and Ernie, when Professor Collins walked in. He had an exhausted looking face about him. He started the class by saying, "For those of you who don't already know, America has become the victim of an attack." The class started muttering, amongst themselves inaudibly. "The exam that I had originally scheduled for today has been canceled. I plan to reschedule for next week. What does everybody think about the events that have happened today?"
One person in the class raised his hand, and said, "I'm extremely pissed off about this." Most of the people in class muttered in agreement.
Harry raised his hand, Professor Collins said, "Yes, what do you think, Potter?"
"I feeling obligated to do something. I know I'm not from this country, but I feel terrible about what happened. My wife and I both this morning watched in surprise as the events unraveled. If this country decides to go to war, then I'll fight along with it."
"But this isn't your war Potter, you're not from America," Professor Collins argued.
"To hell it isn't my war, this was not only just an attack on the Muggle world, it was an attack plotted by Lord Voldemort."
The class let out a shudder at the sound of his name. "Therefore it was an attack on the wizarding world as well. In fact, it was an attack on the entire civilized world."
Harry retorted, shaking his head, as he continued. "I found out yesterday that my wife is pregnant with our first child. Knowing this, I can't just sit here and do nothing."
"Your right Mr. Potter, this was an attack on the entire civilized world," Professor Collins conceded, "But this is not your war." And the class came to a conclusion.
Harry was on his way home that night, walking out of the classroom building after class. When he was confronted by two large men in black coats and ties. One of them said, "Are you Harry Potter?"
"Yeah that's me," Harry replied politely.
"We are from the Warlock Intelligence Agency, and we need you to come with us ... don't worry, you're not in trouble," the first one said, and lead him off into an empty classroom, and closed the door behind them and sealed it with a locking and silencing charm. "We just need your help after the attack today. We know about the Prophecy that was made about you and Voldemort. The Congress of Magic is willing to pay you 15,000 U.S. Galleons per month if you are willing to help us fight in this war. You'll go undercover and be made a captain in a secret, and a joint Muggle-Wizard operation. What do you say?"
Harry thought about it for a moment, and asked, "When would I report to duty?"
"Tomorrow morning," replied, the second man. "We will give you four week of training, then you will get sent overseas."
"Would I be able to inform my wife about this? When would I be able to come home?" Harry asked, not wanting to do anything unless Hermione knew about it.
"Yes, of course you would be able to tell her," the first man said. "But as far as when you would return home, we can't tell you, because it won't be until the war is over."
Harry frowned at this small bit of news, but he knew he had to do it. After all, he was the only person who could stop Voldemort. He couldn't just sit around doing nothing. He had started to feel safe in America, until today, that is. After he came to his final conclusion he said, "OK, I'll do it, but I want you to give Ernie Lee and Darryl Lee positions as well. They are my best friends. I trust them, and they will serve you proudly."
"We already have," the second man responded.
"What time do I report tomorrow?" Harry asked.
"We will come and get you, probably around nine in the morning. We will see you then," the first one replied, and they started to walk off.
"Well what about my classes?" Harry asked, as an afterthought.
"We'll have you withdrawn, and you will receive full tuition reimbursement," the first man added as he continued out the door, and before he knew what happened next, both had vanished into thin air.
Harry nodded his understanding and Disapparated home, to see Hermione already there, her eyes bloodshot from all the crying she had done that day. Harry held her tightly, and somehow she knew about what he had done.
"I suppose you'll be leaving me?" Hermione asked, taking one look at him.
Harry simply nodded, "I've been made an officer. We will get 15,000 U.S. Galleons a month while I'm away."
Hermione let out a soft sob as she clinged onto him tightly. "Just do me a favor, love…"
"Anything," Harry replied, soothingly.
"Come home to me safely," Hermione said, then she kissed the back of his hand, and placed it over his heart, she sobbed, "and hold onto that tightly for me." Harry wrapped his arms around his loving wife and she collapsed into his arms holding him as tightly as she could.
Finally they sat down on the couch and turned on the TV. On every channel there was coverage of the tragic event's throughout the day. Harry said, to Hermione, "I wish someone would just pinch me to make sure this is not a dream."
"I've been pinching myself all day, and it's real, Harry," Hermione said. Then the TV turned to Buckingham Place, and Harry and Hermione got a glimpse of how their home country was taking the news. Hermione burst into tears again when the palace played The Star-Spangled Banner. Harry couldn't watch the news anymore, he kissed Hermione, turned the TV off and lead her to the bedroom.
Ernie and Darryl never did show up that night for tea, but that didn't matter, because Harry and Hermione made love for most of the night. After Hermione had fallen asleep, Harry got out of bed, because he couldn't sleep, he unrolled a piece of parchment and wrote his little tribute to this day:
Dear America,
Waking to the news will never be the same again after the tragic attack on your homeland. I know this event has united and changed us all. However, sometimes I can't help but wonder for how long.
Being a college student, from Britain, I remember an incident that occurred last year just before a friend of mine, who is in your military, was deployed to Kuwait. He had to go to class in his military uniform, and as we walked into class together, we passed two girls and I heard one of them say, "Oh God, another retard." This got me thinking. I remember a time when members of your military could be proud to wear their uniforms, and when the American flag used to be flown from every house and used to mean something special.
I remember when your patriotic holiday, the Fourth of July was remembered as Independence Day for your forefathers who died to turn this country into such a great and free nation. I also remember, before your fear of god, that the long-forgotten Pledge of Allegiance could be said in school every day. I remember a time when political correctness didn't exist and you could actually joke around with people.
Since I'm been in America, I've come to enjoy a wide variety of music. My favorite musical artist now, Chris Ledoux, once said, "There have always been groups of people who never could see eye to eye, but I've always figured that if they ever had the chance to sit down and talk face to face, they might realize that they have a lot in common."
My heart goes out to the people who are now afraid to even leave their homes because of the fear of being persecuted just because they are Muggles. Someone who truly loves Merlin doesn't judge someone because of their magical abilities. I hope and pray that someday we can really let there be peace on Earth.
Now we are involved in a great and terrible war, and I've been called to go fight for America. If it so happens that I don't come back, I want the whole world to know what I fight, and stand, for. I fight for my beautiful wife Hermione, and our unborn child, just so that they may have the chance to enjoy the things that I've come to cherish my whole life, freedom.
America is free ground, all of it, all the way from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and here no man has to bow and no man is born to royalty. Here you judge by what you do, not by whom your father was. This is the place to build a home. Here you can be somebody. But it's not the land I fight for there's always more land. What we're fighting for is the idea that we all have value, you and me. What where fighting for, In the end, we're fighting for each other. America, someone still believes in you.
Your foreign son,
Harry Potter
Harry turned on the Wizard Wireless Network receiver to hear what was going on in the news, to hear a speech being made by President of Magic Lionel Hardcastle.
"On February 12, 2000, a date that will go down into the history books of both the Muggle and Wizard worlds, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by a group of Death Eaters. Each had known connections to the dark Wizard Voldemort. I have been asked by the Minister of Magic to join him in the uprising against this group. I agree with him full heartily, therefore, it is because of this attack, I ask for the Congress of Magic to immediately declare us in a state of war..."
So it's official now, Harry thought as he turned off the radio. We are now officially at war. Harry rolled up the parchment, and left it on his desk as he got up off his chair and finally went back to bed, to sleep with Hermione for what might very well be the last time.
( OOTP, 841)
