A/N : When I see what I'm doing to Rowling's characters, I'm glad I didn't write the HP books. Would have been a flop.

March 1944 - Bir-Hakeim - German main Headquarters

When they arrived at Bir-Hakeim, Rommel and his group had the pleasant surprise of finding Aldinger waiting for them. The captain and the other groups had arrived earlier, because their cars, for some reason or twist of fate, didn't break down as had Rommel's. Indeed, the three Germans, the prisonner and Tom had eventually found themselves without transportation, as their staff car passed away with a most mechanical last breath, its engine moaning in death throes.

Fortunately, by the time it happened, they had almost reached out Bir-Hakeim. The only one who had not seemed actually thrilled that they arrived safe and sound was Saintclair, who, one had to be fair, had a good reason for it - though dying in the desert was hardly a destiny one would prefer to being sent to a prisoner of war camp. However, the prisoner did seem happy to see Aldinger alive, but it was undoubtedly more because he knew that probably meant his men were alive too than because he actually cared for the man. Tom couldn't blame him, he didn't like Aldinger either. But now, he disliked most of the Germans he had met. Yet, that didn't mean anything, he hated most of the British he had met as well. He was not a very social person, and he liked it that way. Hatred, fear and respect were the kind of relationships he was used to, the kind of relationships he felt safe having, because there was no surprise, no lies, no false promises. No implications from him. And, most of all, that way no one asked him to give something he couldn't.

Aldinger was there to meet Rommel at the gates of headquarters, and his face lit up with relief. Judging from his appearance, Tom could say he must not have had much sleep since he had arrived there, and he had barely changed clothes. Which was a luxury the teen was looking forward to.

"Sir !" the captain managed to enunciate, stammering with excitement - too much caffeine was bad for one's nerves - "I'm very glad to see you made it back. When we realized, after the storm, that we had lost you..."

Protocols prevented him from saying more, and it was a good thing as far as Rommel could say from the embarrassed look on the captain's face. But now, he could imagine how difficult it would have been for his subordinate to explain that to Berlin. "Apologies for losing the man in charge of all Axis forces" didn't quite make it. The Feldmarschal raised a weary hand.

"At ease, captain", he sighed. "I must say we have been quite worried about you and the rest of our group too. I'd like you to arrange for lieutenant Saintclair to be taken to whatever facilities we've got here in Bir-Hakeim. And make sure he's given water and food, we're not barbarians. Then we shall have a meeting with all my staff, in twelve hours. Can you take care of that ?"

"Of course sir", Aldinger nodded enthusiastically. "have no worries."

"I don't", came the terse reply. "General, major, I trust you will want to get some rest. At any rate, that's what I intend to do. I shall see you in twelve hours ; dismissed."

The three officers saluted, clicking their heels, and then headed in three different direction, the first with Saintclair, the two last to their quarters, leaving Rommel and Tom alone together.

"If you don't mind, I think I'm gonna get some rest too", the teen said, his eyelids dropping in exhaustion.

"Uh-uh", the other wizard nodded, not in a better shape himself.

Things had not been easy of late, Tom thought as he went to the stairs, and fortunately he had stayed long enough in the main headquarters to find his way even in his current state, because if he had got lost, he felt like he could have just dropped dead on the floor. Well, maybe not exactly dead, but sound asleep most certainly. Behind him, he heard a subdued cough. Right, Rommel looked awful, so whatever illness he had, it was probably getting the best of him. He got what he deserved. The stubborn man would not give up and leave Libya.

The first hints that something wasn't quite right was when, twelve hours later, the Feldmarschal didn't attend to the meeting he had asked for. Tom, who had not been invited, or rather, had invited himself, (and none of the Germans dared to drive him along as he seemed to be close to their commander in chief and trusted by him), saw the worry grow and display on the officers's faces. They patiently waited, but they all knew Rommel was adamant about punctuality, and though he was lenient on others, made a point on being himself on time.

After a quarter of hour, they gave up pretending to chat pleasantly with each other. After twenty minutes, they started to throw one another uneasy looks. After half an hour, they began to get restless on their seats. Eventually, Aldinger rose, and as Rommel's aide, though with some awkwardness, announced he would go and see what kept the Feldmarschal away from the meeting. Tom, faithful to his uncanny ability to bother people in general and the captain in particular - at least from the man's point of view - followed him, pretending he didn't see Merhoff's glare.

He was somewhat relieved to leave the meeting room, where the tension had rose in a noticeable way, and could probably be cut with a knife. A knife that could also cut the teen if that bunch of generals ever discovered he was actually a spy.

The captain and him finally reached Rommel's private quarters, and Aldinger knocked softly at the door, then waited for a moment. There was no answer. A little worried now, the german tried again, though without any more result. Now disturbed enough to adress someone he usually tried to ignore as much as possible, he turned towards Tom.

"Do you know if he is here ?" he queried , ill at ease.

"No clue", Tom shrugged off-handedly.

He was not really worried. He, contrary to the German staff officer, knew that Rommel was a wizard, and therefore had little to fear from a muggle. But, now, if Himmler had been tipped about the Feldmarschal's links with the Allies... No. If that had been the case, he'd have found out about Tom too. Still, there was that doubt nagging him...

Aldinger was in a dilemma, but he knew he could not go back to the meeting without Rommel. Biting his lips, he reached for the door-handle, then removed his hand, then reached again for the door.

"Oh, for god's sake, just do it", Tom grunted. "That's not a holy shrine."

The captain glared at him, but complied silently. The door opened without a struggle, and the two men had a look round the German wizard's quarters. The room was plunged in darkness, and they needed some time to find their feet. Then Aldinger switched the light on.

Given the lack of space, each officer had only a room as his quarters, and though he was the highest ranking, Rommel had not taken advantage of it to get larger quarters - a mistake, from Tom's point of view, but well... Therefore, he was there, in the dim light, lying down on the bed, sound asleep. For a moment, there was no sound at all, then a snigger got away from Tom's lips.

"Ha ! The military genius forgot to set his alarm clock !" he choked with laughter. The Feldmarschal would hear about that for the rest of his life, the teen jubilated.

"Shut up !" Aldinger hushed him up with an angry scowl. "You're gonna wake him up."

"Well, don't you want him for the meeting ?" Tom shrugged.

"I don't know..." the captain hesitated.

"He'll be mad at you if you don't rouse him", the young wizard predicted with a smirk.

Aldinger reached for Rommel's shoulder, in order to shake him awake, but then he suspended his move, still undecided.

"He doesn't look good", he observed uneasily. "Maybe I should call for a doctor..."

"He won't be mad at you, if you call for Horster", Tom yawned.

"He won't ?" Aldinger repeated in surprise.

"Nah. He'll be utterly irate and throw you one of his trademark scathing glares. But if you're willing to take the risk, please, go ahead..." the teen approached the bed were his fellow wizard was lying, still motionless, pale and breathing heavily, and he frowned slightly. "He really doesn't look good", he had to admit. "Maybe you should take the risk."

"But what will I tell his staff officers ?" the captain queried in dismay.

He must really be worried, Tom mused, because he wasn't that daft, usually. But now, maybe there was an occasion to have some fun...

"Let me handle his staff officers", the teen offered, "and go fetch Horster."

"You ?" Aldinger cast him a dubious glance. "You're not even military."

"Maybe not, but I'm his nephew, remember ?" the young man smirked. "But if you'd rather take care of the staff officers while I go fetch Horster..."

"No", the captain cut him hastily, probably thinking that it would do no good to his career to give no answer when the brass would want to know what was going on. "But don't tell them anything about..."

"Who do you think I am ?" Tom said in an insulted tone.

Aldinger snorted, but didn't answer and strode out of the room. Tom allowed a boyish grin to twist his lips as he made his way back to the meeting. He would immensely enjoy dismissing all these officers who had looked down at him ever since they had met, of that he was certain. He kept however his face completely blank when he entered the room, and as everyone turned their heads to look at him. He enjoyed the feeling of his own importance, as they were hung at his lips, but let show none of it. When he saw one of them about to say something, he walked to the end of the table and looked hard at them.

"The meeting is postponed", he said in a voice much deeper than usual. "You shall get back to your duties."

Some confusion followed, and the teen felt the moment he would lose control of the situation. Well, he had always been a rather good liar, and now was the right time to prove it.

"Some new intel was brought to the Feldmarschal's attention, and he needs to consider it. He will undoubtedly summon you for another meeting shortly. Meanwhile, there is nothing you can do."

Heck, he was good at it. They believed each word he said - why shouldn't they ? He had left with Aldinger, a man whose loyalty was well known, and if Rommel himself trusted him... even though he was - probably - Gestapo. At any rate, he was undoubtedly as unfriendly as any Gestapo officer. At such a young age, it was strange, but not unheard of ; maybe he had attended to one of the Adolf Hitler Schule, and had graduated at age eighteen for a position of responsibilities. That was the best guess of most of the officers who had met him.

One of the generals gave the signal of the end of the meeting by leaving. He was quickly followed by the other officers, and in no time the room was cleared. Tom sighed contentedly, and then headed back to his fellow wizard's quarters.

Horster had arrived while he was out, and kneeling beside Rommel he was having a look at him. The British wizard recognized at once the man's brown greying hair, his large forehead and his vivid dark eyes, but he focused on the subject of his well hidden worries, the short blond man lying on this uncomfortable-looking bed. The teen was surprised that all this commotion had not awaken him, as his sleep was usually light.

"What's the matter ?" he enquired while approaching.

The doctor cast him one of his sharp glances, while Aldinger seemed rather annoyed. He probably had hoped the teen wouldn't come back. Ha, too bad for him.

"He means him no harm, Friedrich", Horster said quietly.

Tom wondered for a second who in the world was Friedrich, before realizing the doctor was talking to Aldinger. He cast the man a smug look ; the information had not been lost on deaf ears.

"You sure ?" the captain looked doubtful, but he had learned over the time to trust that kind of insights from the lieutenant-colonel. He had a sixth sense for these things. Horster's insurance was the only thing that kept him from throwing the Gestapo boy out.

"By the way, I took care of the meeting, we should not be disturbed", Tom added idly. "So, what about my uncle ?"

"I warned him", Horster shrugged. "He wouldn't listen."

The doctor did not add that his commander in chief was the most obstinate man he had ever met, and stupidly reckless at that, but everyone heard it anyway.

"I could tell you the name of his illness, but I doubt that would make any sense to you... -- okay, I will.", the colonel went on when he saw Aldinger's glare match Tom's. "He's got a phtisis."

There was a silence, then...

"A what ?" the teen blurted out.

Horster had a shrug that clearly meant "told you so".

"I won't go into the details", he said. "But I can tell you the Feldmarschal needs a real hospital, with specific medicines... that is, if anyone manages to convince him ; I sorta gave up. But he won't find the care he needs in Africa."

"If they knew, in Berlin..." Aldinger started. "I could..."

"You know he would consider that as a treason", the doctor warned him.

"He is betraying us", the captain retorted. "If he dares to die on us..."

Horster cast him an amused look, but kept silent.

"What shall we do know ?" Tom queried.

"Wait for him to wake up", the doctor shrugged. "Shouldn't be too long if he's been like that for twelve hours already. But I have nothing here that would do him good, barring aspirin."

As a matter of fact, Rommel woke up about five hours later. He raised his head dizzily, and saw Tom busy reading a book, while Aldinger and Horster chatted quietly, seated on two chairs nearby the bed. Understandably surprised at this invasion of his privacy, the German struggled to sit on the bed.

"What is the meaning of this ?" he asked the intruders sharply.

"I am glad to see you are awake, sir", Horster said politely, but not in the least intimidated. He was used to his difficult patient's moods, and knew he wouldn't be court-martialled for telling him the truth, no matter how unpleasant it was.

"Horster !" Rommel cut him dryly, with a most irate look.

The fact that he did not use the doctor's rank showed his annoyance. Though he was used to calling his closest officers only by their names, his tone showed clearly the difference between a long-standing familiarity and a surge of anger that would make his voice as sharp as a razor.

"You did not wake up in time for the meeting", Horster retorted sternly, in a tone of voice Aldinger would never have dared using. "Turns out you're in a terrible shape. As I brought to your attention countless times."

"I overslept", Rommel pointed out dryly. "That's nothing to be so alarmed of, especially after our little trip through a sandstorm."

"With all due respect, sir, I'm the doctor here", Horster replied bluntly. "I can recognize the symptoms when I see them. Fever, slight difficulties to breath, exhaustion, not to mention shaking hands - do I need to go on the list ?"

The high-ranking wizard cast a scathing glare at the man, and for a second Tom thought Horster was going to be put back in his place. But then, Rommel's features slackened, and he let out a quiet laugh.

"I deserved that, didn't I ?" he didn't wait for an answer. "That's all right, I know what you're trying to tell me."

"And if I may speak freely, sir, I know what you are going to tell me", Horster said, his eyes steely. "And you won't listen to me, as usual."

"Watch it, colonel", Aldinger hissed behind the doctor. "Don't forget who you're talking to."

Rommel said nothing, as he crossed Horster's glare. Then he heave out a weary sigh, and leaned back on his pillow. Seeing him in such a state, Horster looked a little embarrassed to have spoken so disrespectfully, though the annoyance he felt for his difficult patient was visible on his face as well. He also knew that he would not have gotten away like that with any other commander ; but Rommel's way of handling things was most unusual. Some officers had trouble dealing with that, like von Arnim, but it was also what made his so unorthodox schemes and tactics efficient and unpredictable.

When the Feldmarschal finally spoke, it was in a resigned voice.

"I will go back to Berlin and talk to the Führer about the state of things in Africa. Maybe, if I speak directly to him, I will be able to convince him that..." he abruptly fell silent, then resumed "At any rate, there is little more I can do."

Yet, he still felt like a rat fleeing from a sinking ship, leaving his command, his responsibility... his men, when they most needed him, when things went really bad. But he'd rather die than let it appear on his face. If only he could convince Grindelwald that he had to recall his troops as long as he still had troops to recall... or if only his men could hold long enough for him to get rid of that insane and delusional wizard that dared to call himself a Führer... But "what ifs" led nowhere, he already knew that - had learnt it the hard way.

"Aldinger, contact Berlin and inform them of the situation, I expect they will order me back at once. You will have my plane prepared at once and tell my staff officers to gather in the meeting room, I shall tell them of my departure. You come with me to Berlin. Horster, I leave that to you ; come or stay, as you prefer. Tom, get ready."

The younger wizard, who had closed his book while listening to the conversation, had to hide his surprise. It was the first time Rommel ever called him by his first name. But they were in front of the two German officers, and the Feldmarschal could not really call his favourite nephew by his last name in front of them without more or less blowing his cover.

"I will stay", the doctor said. "There are many men here who will need me."

Horster's face betrayed none of his inner thoughts, but Rommel knew he was afraid - who wouldn't be, when the Allied troops drew each day a little closer ? And he had to fight the distinct feeling that, if he didn't manage to convince Grindelwald or to overthrow him at very short notice, he would never see this man, who he had come to consider a friend, again.

Ending Note : I'm trying not to make Rommel too perfect, 'cause I know just how irritating perfect people are. So, he's stubborn, sometimes arrogant in his recklessness, and has a tendency to think he's always right and that his schemes are always going to work. Right, most of the time they do. But when they don't, he ends up in trouble. That's quite fun writing, and you've not seen the half of it... uhuhuh. He's a dedicated man - maybe a little too much. Besides, he's on the losing side. If anyone tells me he's too perfect, after that... But feel free to do so, you know where the reviews button is... (Ha, yeah, so subtle of me...)