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.
Harry walked into the barracks that had been set aside for Second Platoon with Kate on his heels.
"Officer in the barracks." One of the troopers by the door called out.
All the troopers in the barracks all scrambled to the end of their bunk and stood at attention, in attire ranging from completely naked to full working uniform. It was early morning in the changeover period, just late enough that the night time patrols had returned to the barracks and early enough that the day time patrols around the school and grounds had not yet commenced. Harry walked down between the rows of bunks, not really looking for anything specific but more trying to get a feel for the new troopers. It was Order tradition that, with the exception of the Originals and Kate, all of the Order members would be accommodated in the barracks of The Trunk. When they had been deciding the split of the squads, that the Original Sergeants would also be split, and that the twins would not be in the same platoon, which had sparked some argument from the twins themselves.
In the end, Harry had gotten Fred Weasley to command his heavy weapons squad and Susan Bones, with George and Ron being assigned to First Platoon. He had also gotten Sergeant Jonas Bronson as his third experienced Sergeant. His three new Sergeants were Steven Smith, who had been promoted from Corporal, Jennifer Carter and Marie St Clair. Second Platoon's dedicated Sniper team was Harding and Watts. Luna had fiercely fought to keep the Lovegood/Waters team and the Larks/Li team from being assigned to a specific platoon, arguing that the two teams were so good, that they needed to be available wherever they were needed rather than being bound to a platoon. Both Harry and Cedric had finally agreed, partly because Luna was right and partly because she started threatening to sic some of her bizarre creatures on them until they agreed. But mostly because she was right.
As he passed, Harry offered helpful suggestions to those who needed it. Recommending new socks to one of the recently graduated troopers; a word of encouragement here; a gentle correction to some piece of kit there. He could see that Sergeants Carter and St Clair were a little nervous about their recent promotions, so he made a mental note to organise some time with all his Sergeants to get them to share their experiences in command and discuss tactics in an informal environment. Of course he knew better than to bring it up during an inspection, however casual that inspection may be.
With a mildly pleased expression on his face, Harry left the barracks with Kate. He could hear some conversation start up behind him as he left.
"So, how do you feel about your relationship in light of recent events?" Doctor Wallace asked.
Both Luna and Michelle were sitting in the room that Doctor Wallace used to conduct her session. They were sitting in separate chairs in front of Wallace's desk, while the doctor herself was behind it patiently awaiting their response. The sniper team looked across at each other, communicating non-verbally.
"It is hard, I guess." Michelle replied. "I mean, there are a lot of people who are supportive. The Order, some of the Beauxbaton Students and a few others. But there are also a fair few who don't understand."
"And what about you, Luna?" Wallace probed.
"All I care about is Michelle's happiness, the Order's mission and if Harry and my dad are ok." Luna replied.
The session went on for another forty minutes, discussing their relationship, before the time was up. The two Ravenclaw snipers went back to their bedroom, where they had moved to two single beds together. Michelle sat on the bed with her back against the wall and Luna sat down between Michelle's legs and Michelle hugged Luna's back to her chest.
"Why do you love me?" Luna asked. "I am a mess."
Michelle gently pulled Luna's blonde hair to one side and kissed her cheek before looking her in the eye.
"Because you are you." Michelle said. "You see life from a different perspective to everyone else, with insights that no one else would make, and you don't care what anyone else thinks about you."
"I care. Well I care what you, Harry and the Grand Marshall think of me." Luna replied.
"I know that. She has your respect, I have your love and Harry… is Harry." Michelle said. "But my point is you have such a strong personality that I was always in awe of."
"I love you because you do care." Luna said. "And more importantly, because you make me care. The Grand Marshall gave me a cause to die for. Harry gave me a mirror to look into. You give me a something to live for, rather than just to exist."
The resulting kiss lasted until they both had to break for air and theirs hands wandered over each other's bodies.
Fleur stood by the side of the Black Lake, staring out of over the water and feeling the soft breeze off the water. Ron was sitting nearby under a tree, reviewing his completed homework assignments, while also keeping an eye on Fleur as her long silvery blonde hair flowed in the wind.
"Don't suppose you know what it's going to be?" Fleur asked.
"No, I don't. And you know you shouldn't ask." Ron replied.
"You're right." Fleur replied, her English much better thanks to so much time around Ron and the rest of her security detail. "I guess I am just a bit relieved that the task is no longer in the Lake."
"The one thing I do know is that the Grand Marshall went off with the judges when she heard what the task was." Ron replied.
Fleur moved from her position by the lake edge and sat down next to Ron.
"You are amazingly considerate and mature for your age, Ron." She said.
"You can thank the Grand Marshall for that." He replied. "I used to be a lazy, jealous git. I never used to study, I was always snapping at Hermione and I was jealous of Harry's fame and money. You would have hated me."
"I don't think I could ever have hated you." She replied.
"You really would have. I used to have fights with Harry because he seemed to get all of the attention and I got none. Took me way longer than I like to realise that it was all small consolation for his parents." Ron explained. "Training for the Order really changed me. It got my priorities sorted out, showed me the advantages of hard work, physical and mental, and all around made me a better person."
Fleur put her arm around Ron, and he half leaned into the hug.
"Well then I am very glad for that fact." She said.
"So am I, Fleur. So am I." he replied with a smile.
Once he would have gone for a kiss, or tried to grope her, or even just sat there and drooled. Now Ron was confident enough in himself, and aware enough of the emotions of others, that he just sat there enjoying the half hug with no pressure to withdraw or advance physically.
The doorbell caught the attention of Andromeda Tonks from her evening of reviewing patient notes, and she rose from her home office chair and moved to the front door. Ted was not yet home from his day at his law firm, so she was cautious when she approached the door, but was more surprised than afraid when she opened the door.
"Hey, Dromeda." Sirius said from the stoop.
Mary smiled at the resounding slap that Andromeda Tonks gave to Sirius.
"Hello, Miss Tonks. I'm Mary Williams, Sirius' Fiancé. Your daughter suggested that we should visit." Mary said.
"Pleased to meet you. Please come in." Andromeda replied, then held up her hand to block Sirius. "You are in trouble, mister."
"Dog house." Mary giggled.
Andromeda let them inside the house and showed them to the living room. The couple sat down on the couch while Andromeda took the armchair. Sirius opened his mouth to say something and his cousin glared at him till he shut his mouth and then Andromeda smiled at Mary and indicated for her to speak.
"I would like to start by saying that we were planning on contacting you soon anyway, but there have been some issues that have taken up all of Sirius' attention." Marry began.
"And may I ask what kind of issues?" Andromeda asked.
"Well, firstly his Godson was missing for several weeks, being tortured by a European crime syndicate and then he was dealing with an attempt by Minister Fudge to outlaw and execute his Godson and his friends." Mary replied.
"Oh, Merlin." Andromeda half whispered.
"So…" Sirius started to say before Mary interrupted him.
"Be quite, darling. Let the grown ups talk." Mary said, tongue in cheek.
"Well, I can understand why you may have had other things on your plate." Andromeda replied formally. "Yet you said that you were intending to contact me in any case. What did you want to talk to me about?"
"It's simple. We would like you to be my Maid of Honour." Mary replied.
Andromeda blinked at this comment. Of all the possibilities that had run through her head, this was not amongst them.
"I am… speechless." Andromeda said after a few minutes. "May I ask why? Surely you have friends or family that you would rather have in the roll."
"I am non-magical." Mary replied. "I have no living family, I was an only child and my parents died ten years ago. Before I met Sirius I was kind of a wanderer, so I have no real close friends. You are the closest female family Sirius has, and that is enough for me."
"In that case, it would be a pleasure and an honour." Andromeda said.
Forty minutes later Ted Tonks returned from work and found Sirius sitting in the kitchen eating a slice of cake and drinking a beer while Andromeda and Mary were still talking in the living room.
"What they talking about?" Ted said as he put down his briefcase and took off his outer robes.
"Planning the Wedding, or Hen's Night, or something." Sirius replied. "My fiancé asked your wife to be her Maid of Honour. Cake?"
Ted shrugged and grabbed a beer from the fridge and cut himself a slice of cake. They sat in silence for a second as they both had another spoonful of cake.
"Nice cake." Ted said.
"Yeah." Sirius replied.
TBC…