June 30th 2004 - 22 Special Air Service Regiment Headquarters, Hereford

It had been a gruelling process, but Harry Potter had passed it. He was now in the SAS, one of the most elite military units in the world. He had joined the military after finishing school and had excelled in his training, catching the eye of the higher ups in the SAS.

Harry had a desire to serve his country, he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his paternal grandfather, Fleamont Potter, who had served in the Royal Navy, and his maternal grandfather, Hugo Evans, who had fought in the Royal Air Force.

Thanks to his grandfather, he had managed to get a slot at Sandhurst, despite not having a degree. His training at the Royal Military Academy had been tough, but he had come out on top, earning the respect of his fellow cadets and superiors.

But that was when he was 18. Now he was 22 and he had already completed tours of duty in Afghanistan, which caught the eye of his new superiors. Operation Enduring Freedom had been intense and demanding, but Harry had risen to the challenge. He had shown exceptional bravery and tactical skill in the field, leading his unit to success.

As a result, he was approached by the SAS and given the opportunity to join their ranks. It was an offer he couldn't refuse, and he had thrown himself into the gruelling selection process, determined to prove himself once again.

Now, Harry was a SAS Trooper, fresh out of his training for his new role. Having been a Lieutenant in the regular Army before selection, Harry was excited to take on the new challenges that came with being a member of the SAS.

It was his first day with his new unit, and Harry was eager to make a good impression. He arrived at the SAS base early, dressed in his uniform and ready to start his day.

Arriving at the Administration block, he saw someone who had caught his eye. Not because she was a soldier, but because she was one of the administrators of the unit.

He had heard about her from his training, how the trainers said she was the most efficient and organised administrator they had ever worked with. Her name was Hermione Granger, and Harry couldn't help but feel intrigued by her.

As he approached her desk, he noticed that she was focused on typing away on her computer, her fingers moving swiftly across the keyboard. Harry cleared his throat, causing her to look up at him.

"Hi, I'm Harry Potter. I'm the new guy," he said with a smile, holding out his hand for her to shake.

Hermione looked up at him, her eyes assessing him carefully. "Yes, I've heard about you. Welcome to the unit, Trooper Potter," she said, shaking his hand firmly.

Harry felt a jolt of electricity run through him as she shook his hand, and he couldn't help but feel drawn to her. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt this way about anyone.

"I know I'm early, I wanted to show a good impression to the brass," Harry said, trying to sound confident.

Hermione nodded. "It's always good to be punctual. You'll find that the SAS runs on precision and efficiency. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask," she said with a warm smile.

Harry felt his heart skip a beat at her smile, and he couldn't help but think that this was going to be a very interesting assignment. Especially the way she was nibbling at the end of her pencil.

As Harry turned to leave, he couldn't help but steal another glance at Hermione. He had to admit, he was intrigued by her. He had never met anyone like her before - intelligent, efficient, and with a certain spark that seemed to set her apart from the rest.

Plus, he had to admit, that uniform suited her well. He shook his head, trying to focus on the task at hand. He had a lot to learn, and he couldn't let his mind wander.

Harry spent the rest of the day getting to know his new unit, learning the ins and outs of his new role. He was impressed by the level of skill and dedication that the other troopers displayed, and he knew that he had a lot to live up to.

As the day drew to a close, Harry found himself back at the Administration block, his thoughts turning once again to Hermione. He knew he shouldn't be thinking about her, he had a job to do, but he couldn't help it. There was something about her that he found captivating.

As he approached her desk once again, Hermione looked up at him, a small smile playing at her lips. "Is there something I can help you with, Trooper Potter?" she asked, her voice soft and inviting.

Harry cleared his throat. "Uh, no, I was just…well, I wanted to thank you for being so welcoming. And for being so good at your job," he said, feeling foolish.

Hermione's smile widened. "It's my pleasure, Harry. I enjoy what I do, and I take pride in doing it well," she said, her eyes meeting his.

Harry felt his heart race as he looked into her eyes. There was something there, a spark of interest that he couldn't deny. He knew he shouldn't be thinking about her like this, but he couldn't help it. There was something about her that drew him in.

As she rose to grab a file from a nearby cabinet, Harry took a deep breath and tried to focus on the task at hand. But he felt a spark, a connection that he couldn't ignore. He knew that he had to get to know Hermione better, to find out what made her tick.

He knew he shouldn't, but he did. He went over to her, feeling a surge of bravery. Suddenly they were when they both leaned in towards each other, their faces inches apart. Harry knew he shouldn't be doing this, but he couldn't help it. He wanted to feel her lips on his, to taste her.

And their lips connected. But as their lips met, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that he was doing something wrong. He pulled back suddenly, looking at Hermione with a mix of confusion and guilt.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that," he said, his voice low.

"You mean we shouldn't." Hermione said. "Especially as its a frowned upon. I mean, the SAS is no place for distractions, and we couldn't afford to lose focus. But..."

"But?"

"I won't tell if you won't."

"You know, I am sorry...but that kiss… I mean, I know that the CO would have me returned back to my unit if he found out…"

"Same here." Hermione said. "I mean there's no way we could make it work without the boss finding it out, and then where would we be? I mean, yes, I enjoyed it, and if I'm honest, I...when you first reported here I couldn't help but feel drawn to you. I still do. But we have to be realistic, Harry. We can't let our personal feelings get in the way of our duty. It's just not worth the risk."

Harry nodded, feeling a pang of disappointment. He knew Hermione was right, but it didn't make the situation any easier.

"It doesn't mean we can't be friends though, and maybe if one of us does get transferred to a different unit or finishes their service, we could explore things then," Hermione added, giving Harry a small smile.

Harry nodded, feeling a sense of relief at her words. He knew that he needed to focus on his duty, but the idea of potentially exploring things with Hermione in the future was enough to give him hope.

"Thank you, Hermione. I appreciate your understanding," Harry said, feeling grateful for her words.

As the weeks passed, Harry felt himself still being drawn to her, despite knowing the policy on fraternising within the unit, but he knew he would have to concentrate on his job, and he couldn't let his personal life get in the way of that.

Unfortunately fate would eventually change things.

The Commanding Officer approached Harry with a mission which would require him to work closely with Hermione. It was a critical operation, and the two of them were the best candidates for the job.

Harry couldn't believe his luck. Not only would he be able to work closely with Hermione, but he would also be able to prove himself on a mission that could potentially make or break his career in the SAS.

They would be required to pose as a couple on a diplomatic mission working with the Minister of Defence, in order to gather intelligence on a potential threat to national security.

Harry was to take on a cover of Tharpe Torry, a corrupt soldier who had contacts in arms dealing, while Hermione would take on the cover of his wife, Jane, an official in the Ministry of defence.

It would be a mission that changed everything.