Title: Code of the Griffin
Author: Knife Hand
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: Nothing Specific, general for first few books.
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I do not own Hermione, or Luna, or Ginny, or Cho, or... I would buy them all but I am broke.
Summary: From a war ravaged future, someone is sent back in time to change the course of the war.
A/N: The comment has been made that because Hermione is a Duchess she should be referred to as 'Your Grace' not 'Lady'. She is only a Duchess in the Muggle world, as far as the Wizarding world is concerned she is Ruling Lady of the House of Gryffindor.
Harry held up his hand to call a halt as he swept the corridor with the light mounted under his P90. Ron, his partner on this security sweep immediately knelt and covered the direction they had just come from with his MP10. Harry listened for a second before motioning for them to continue.
"Thought I heard something." He said at Ron's questioning look.
Had it been almost any other member of the order Harry would not have bothered explaining. Among the other squads, the original Order members of First Squad were considered to be the elite. Of First Squad, only Ron or Neville would bother asking. Hermione and Cedric are both to tactically astute. The Twins are... well the Twins. Neither Susan nor Luna would bother asking, although Harry would have answered Luna. He had a strange kind of friendship with the blonde Ravenclaw.
"So… What's going on with you?" Ron asked, as they continued their patrol.
"What do you mean?" Harry said, checking the cross corridor.
"What I mean is…" Ron began before they heard a noise from around the next bend.
Both of them quickly moved to the cross corridor corner. Harry stood against the wall just before the opening with Ron behind him. Ron slapped Harry on the shoulder of his tactical vest. Both of them moved swiftly into the other corridor, their guns braced at their shoulders.
"Freeze. Order Patrol." Harry Shouted.
The Sixth Year Ravenclaw and the Beauxbaton student stepped away from each other, both flushing furiously. Harry and Ron lowered their guns.
"While we appreciate your efforts to… Um… improve relations between the schools, it is well after curfew." Harry said.
The two students started back towards the Ravenclaw dorm, where the Beauxbaton students were also being housed.
"You ladies be careful." Ron called after them, getting a cuff from Harry. "Hey. What was that for?"
"That was rude." Harry scolded as they resumed their patrol.
Harry was slightly surprised at Ron's attitude.
"So… you were going to tell me why you've been so moody since term started." Ron said.
"Just had stuff on my mind." Harry said defensively.
"Give me a status report?" Hermione said. "How are the Beauxbaton and Durmstrang students fitting in?"
Hermione and the non-coms were sitting around the round table, with the Sergeants and Corporals of each squad sitting together.
"The Beauxbaton students seem to be fitting in well with the Ravenclaws. In a few cases maybe too well. They also have no issues with the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. There has been some slight tension with a few members of Slytherin." Sergeant Miller reported, members of his squad being responsible for the security of the French students.
"And the Durmstang's?"
"Some tension with Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, but nothing serious." Sergeant Kate West from third squad said. "Generally they keep to themselves, although Krum has signed about fifty autographs."
"Good." Hermione responded. "Any other issues?"
"What have we learnt from the false Professor?" Corporal Smith asked.
"Nothing." Cedric replied. "He chewed his own tongue out before we could question him. He was identified as Barty Crouch Jr. He's currently secured inside The Chest."
"Any other issues?" The Grand Marshall asked.
"There have been one or two issues with the Goblet." Corporal Willis, replacing the now deceased Corporal Hussey, said. "A few under the age limit have been attempting to get others to put their name in the Tournament. We are checking id's against the entrant's name."
"Speaking of the Tournament." Sergeant Diggory said. "Permission to enter."
"Permission Granted. Enter when there is a crowd. The student body should know that the Order is involved." Hermione replied. "Alright, let's move on the security patrol roster."
"My name is Alistair Moody. Ex-Auror." The Professor declared. "When dealing with Dark Wizards and Witches I have a few simple rules. Rule One. Constant Vigilance. You never know when an attack will come. Rule Two. When in doubt, take them down. If you can stun or disable safely, then do so, but never hesitate to make the hard call. Sometimes you need to kill a Dark Witch or Wizard in order to save lives."
Most of the room sat in stunned silence. Hermione, Ron, Neville and Harry were nodding. Most Slytherins looked appalled, except Daphne Greengrass who merely looked contemplative.
"Now, what do you think is the single most important combat skill?" Moody asked.
"Stupify?" one student asked.
"Blasting spells?"
"Shield spells?"
"All good suggestions." Moody replied. "Lady Granger? Or do you prefer Grand Marshall?"
"Either." Hermione said. "The single most important combat skill? Solo combat operations or team based?"
"My experience is mostly Solo, but provide us with both." Moody said.
"Solo combat you need situational awareness. The ability to read both the environment and the intent of the opponent. In team based combat the single most import thing is communication. If you don't know what your team mates see and are doing then you will get killed or kill your team mates."
"Correct." Moody replied. "This year I am not simply going to teach you spells, more importantly I am going to teach you how to think and react in combat situations. A Wizard who knows a few spells and knows when to use them will always beat a Wizard who knows a lot of spells but does not understand the best way to utilise those spells."
The man, in a middle of the range suit, stood in the middle of nowhere, with an unimportant seeming set of ruins in the middle distance. He looked down at the GPS unit in his hand and kept walking towards the ruins, every few steps he kept glancing down at the unit until suddenly the display faded into static.
"I have an urgent message for Duchess Hermione Granger." He called out, then took one step forward and repeated the declaration.
"Boss, this is overwatch." One of Luna's snipers' voice came through Hermione's earpiece. "We got a Muggle walking towards the Castle. He's unarmed but seems to be stopping every step to make some announcement."
"Sergeant West. Take Third Squad and investigate." Hermione ordered, while absently transfiguring a few matchsticks into a perfect replica of the throne on Mangath, complete with a tiny figure in an elegant dress, long flowing hair and a simple circlet around the temples.
Professor McGonagall was instructing the class in transfiguring their matchsticks into hollow metal tubes. Harry had managed to transfigure his matchstick, while Neville had turned his into a solid metal cylinder. With a flick of her wrist, Hermione had the figure stand, pick up Neville's rod and begin spinning it like a staff.
"Grand Marshall, this is West. We need you at the gate. This Muggle is asking for you by name."
"Professor. There is an issue that needs my attention." Hermione said, rising from her seat.
"Of Course." Minerva said.
By the time Hermione left the room, the figure was back on the throne with the solid metal rod held upright in one hand.
Hermione arrived at the gate to see Third Squad standing guard over the suited Muggle. Sergeant West had done a spell to let him hear her, despite the wards, when she addressed him directly. After hearing West's report, Hermione performed another spell that let him both see and hear her.
"I am Duchess Hermione Granger." She announced.
"Your Grace." The man said, bowing. "My name is James Carson. I am a Civil Servant working for the office of the Prime Minister. I have instruction from both the Prime Minister and the Crown to present you with this briefcase."
With another bow, the man placed the briefcase on the ground, turned and walked away. Sergeant West performed a few spells on the briefcase to ensure that it was not a bomb or anything dangerous. The rest of Third Squad kept their weapons trained on the Civil Servant, who never knew they were there, until he was well outside the Castle grounds.
"Atten hut!" Cedric called as Hermione entered the Briefing room.
The room was now packed, with three more squads worth of recruits having recently graduated from Basic.
"Be seated." Hermione said as she stood at the lectern. "First order of business. Sergeant Diggory is being promoted to Lieutenant. Corporal Potter is being promoted to Staff Sergeant and PFC's Lovegood, Bones, Longbottom and all three Weasley's are also being promoted to Sergeant.
"Sergeant Lovegood taking over full time as head of Sniper division. Sergeant Ron Weasley will be tasked with head of the security of the Baubuxton Champion, Sergeant Bones will head the Daumstangs' Champion's security detail and, should Lieutenant Diggory not be selected as Champion, Sergeant Longbottom will lead the Hogwarts Champion's detail. With the influx of new Privates, the experienced troopers will be spread across the five new squads in order to provide guidance. Other promotions and new Squad Rosters will be posted at the conclusion of this briefing."
At this point the screen behind her went from white to a document.
"We have recently had an ambassador from the Crown and the Muggle Parliament. In light of the new situation, and given the new proposal in the Wizengamont, we have now been officially included as an auxiliary force attached to the SAS. Given our new status, Lieutenant Diggory, Staff Sergeant Potter and myself will be meeting with an SAS Liaison this weekend to discuss integration and tactical doctrine."
"The Baubuxton's champion is… Fleur Delacour." Dumbledore announced.
Fleur stood up from among her fellow students and went out the rear door.
"The Daumstangs' Champion is Victor Krum." The headmaster continued as the Quidditch star followed the female champion. "And the Hogwarts Champion is… Cedric Diggory."
"Order Guard, Post." Hermione ordered from her place standing near the Goblet of Fire.
Harry, Ron, Susan and six Order members, including Marie St Clair, all stood and followed the Grand Marshall out of the Great Hall and into the chamber where the Champions were waiting.
Fleur and Victor looked around when the Order members entered, followed by several Professors, while Cedric stood at attention.
"At ease, Lieutenant." Hermione said, with two of the Order members moving to flank the Hogwarts Champion.
"Miss Delacour, Mr Krum." Hermione began. "As you are almost certainly aware, I am the Grand Marshall of the Order of the Griffin. During the Tournament your security will undertaken by the Order. Miss Delacour, your security will be overseen by Sergeant Weasley. Mr Krum, yours will be overseen by Sergeant Bones."
Ron, Marie and one other Order member stepped forward and saluted Fleur before falling in a guard position, while Susan and the other two did the same with Victor.
"Sergeants Weasley and Bones will answer and questions you have about the security arrangements and if you need to deviate from your schedules you will need to inform them."
The Major was sitting at his desk, going over a map with Agent 009 when Sergeant Waters came in.
"Major. The message has been delivered. Representatives will be here at Oh-nine-forty-five on Saturday." Sergeant Waters said.
"Thank you, Sergeant." The Major replied.
Sergeant Waters left and Agent 009 turned to the Major, her hair falling gracefully over her shoulder.
"This should be interesting." She said.
TBC…