Thanks to everyone for all the reviews. I'm glad to know so many are still readingand enjoying this fic. I promise I will do my best to keep it updated regularly from here on out. I've already written the last chapter.N ow it's just a matter of building the rest of this to that point, but I've got quite a few chapters to go until then. Thanks again to everyone that reviewed. I appreciated your comments and questions. To anyone still wondering what side Jack is actually on, all I will say is keep reading. Everything will become clear...eventually. Well, onto the next chapter...
Sam Carter had never felt so completely lost before. Until recently her life had made perfect sense. Everything fit into its perfect place and she was content with how it all came together. With the discovery of her CO's magical ability, and subsequently being dropped into this strange world, she'd never even considered possible, her life had been turned upside-down.
She fought a losing battle in her mind, hoping she could come to terms with this new reality she was faced with, but it just wasn't happening. Science had always been her greatest weapon. The answers to all her questions could all be found in the scientific safe haven she knew and understood. Now, all of her schooling and training seemed all but pointless next to all the magic and fairytale information that was being crammed down her throat.
A part of her was angry, while an even bigger part of her was utterly confused. She wanted desperately to understand what was going on around to her, to be able to pinpoint exactly how it was all possible, and the fact that she couldn't was driving her insane. As she sat outside, letting the cool breeze brush across her now pink cheeks she sighed as a tear rolled down her face.
"Excuse me." A soft feminine voice called out to her and she swung around quickly wiping her tear away as she did so.
"Hello."
The bright-eyed young woman nervously fidgeted with her hands as she approached the Major. "Sam Carter, right?"
"Yes, and you're Hermione?" Carter bit her lower lip, praying she'd said the right name.
Hermione nodded as she smiled. "That's right."
"What are you doing out here?"
"I was sending an owl to my parents and I saw you sitting out here all alone. I thought I'd say hi."
Sam smiled back at the young woman, then motioned for her to have a seat beside on the bench she was resting on.
"From what I gather you're a pretty smart young lady."
Hermione blushed and lowered her head. "I suppose so."
"You don't sound like you agree."
"Honestly, I understand books and such, but I think I'm truly lost when it comes to the simple things."
Carter raised an eyebrow, curious as to what the young witch meant. "Why do you think that?"
It was obvious that she was hesitant to explain herself as she stuttered trying to find a decent way to respond. "Well, it's just…what I mean is…I…oh bloody hell!"
Sam bit her lip to keep from laughing as Hermione buried her head in her hands. "You know, I think I know exactly what you mean."
The brunette shook her head in disbelief. "How can you? I can't even find the right words to explain it myself."
Smirking Carter shrugged her shoulders.
"Let me give this a shot…You spend all your time studying, and trying to do your school work. Your grades probably have you at the top of your class. But you have a virtually invisible social life. Am I right so far?"
Hermione gulped hard as she nodded. Sam gently reached out, placing a hand on the young witch's shoulder.
"I was the same way when I was your age. The other stuff comes along eventually."
"What if you don't want to wait?"
Sam shook with laughter at the heavy sigh the brunette gave off. "What's your rush?"
"I suppose it's because all the other girls in my dorm seem quite taken with…well, with boys, wanting to fix themselves up, and I guess it just confuses me."
"What does?"
"Why don't Ron or Harry see me that way?" Sam was taken aback at the comment and shook her head.
"Do you like either of them…in that way?" Hermione nervously looked up at Carter and shrugged her shoulders. "That's not much of an answer."
"Well, it's the best I can give you." The young witch straightened her shoulders and sat upright, puffing her chest out defensively.
Sam didn't have to be a mind reader to get that the girl was trying to mask her true feelings, and for a moment she sympathized with Hermione. The witch looked so fragile at that moment, leaving Carter desperately wanting to help her.
"Boys can be pretty slow at times."
Hermione groaned. "Their thick as a troll most of the time."
With a chuckle Sam nodded. "Can't say I know how dense a troll can be, but I think I get your point. Don't worry about it though. Things will happen in their own time. Don't be in such a rush to grow up."
For the briefest of moments Hermione saw the strange look on Carter's face at the mention of trolls and the young witch couldn't help but respond to it.
"It's hard for you isn't it?"
"Excuse me?"
Hermione bit her lower lip for a second before continuing. "What I mean is, you're a scientist. It has to be difficult for you to grasp this world when everything you've been taught says that none of this is possible."
Sam was quiet for a long moment as she considered what the young witch was saying. "None of it makes sense to me."
"Honestly, I completely understand. My parents are both muggles and they still have a hard time with all of this." Hermione waved her arms around to illustrate her point.
"Really? So you didn't grow up knowing about magic?"
The major was surprised as Hermione shook her head. "No, when I got my letter telling me I'd been accepted to Hogwart's, my parents thought it was a joke."
"How did they come to accept it?"
Hermione raised her eyebrow as she curled her lips outward. "Well, they found out my grandmother was a witch. She showed them that magic was real and they reluctantly let me come to school here."
"Reluctantly?"
"Yes, they still don't really understand the magic…I mean, they're dentists. Magic is so far out of their realm of possibility it's just…well, you know…" Hermione raised her arms to emphasize what she couldn't quite find the words to say.
Sam nodded her head in understanding. "I get it, I get it."
"I think they just accepted that the magic was out of their control and went on with their lives."
"I don't know how to accept all of…this." Sam motioned to the surrounding area. "It goes against everything I've known to be true."
"Then change what you know to be true."
Shaking her head Sam stood up. "It's not that easy, Hermione."
The young witch nodded. "No, I don't suppose it is…but if you expect to help Jack, you can't have disbelief in magic. He's a wizard too."
With a heavy sigh Carter sat back down, silently burying her head in her hands. A moment later she looked up to see Hermione quietly watching her. Deep down she knew that Hermione was right, but a nagging part of her couldn't quite let go of how surreal it all seemed. The truth of the witch's words slowly began to sink in as Carter took a deep breath and let it out.
"You know, you're a pretty clever young lady."
Hermione blushed slightly as she smiled back at Sam. "Thanks."
The bells of the clock tower began to ring and young witch's head shot up as she realized the time. She quickly excused herself and ran off inside the building, leaving Sam alone with her thoughts. As the major listened to the last chime of the bells, she stood back up, straightened her shoulders and nodded her head. It wasn't an easy thing to accept the total upturning of your world, but Carter knew she had no choice if she wanted to be at all useful in the search for her CO. With a renewed vigor she started back towards Dumbledore's office, hoping that the others weren't too put off by her earlier display.
> > > >
Jack listened as Lord Voldemort laid out his plan. Crouch, and Pettigrew were hanging on their master's every word, while Jack did his best to stay focused, and not point out the flaws in the Dark Lord's scheme. Suddenly, he noticed that the room had gone silent. Looking up he saw that all eyes were fixed on him and he gulped in surprise.
"I take it you do not agree with my plans, Corrigan." Voldemort's voice boomed across the room, causing Jack to lower his head.
"M-Master, your plans are well thought out. I wouldn't dare to disagree with them."
"But I sense you do disagree with them…explain yourself."
For a moment he fidgeted with his hands, then quickly looked around the room at Crouch and Pettigrew who were eyeing him with disdain.
"Well, it's just that you need someone at the school to make sure the Potter boy does as you expect."
"And whom would you suggest?"
Corrigan mustered his confidence and turned his gaze directly on Crouch. "Him."
The younger wizard glared at Jack, shaking his head furiously. "What are you talking about?"
"All you'd need is a polyjuice potion. You can pretend to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and keep an eye on Potter. No one would ever know the difference."
Crouch continued to shake his head, but stopped when he heard Voldemort chuckle softly. "I do believe you've made a good point. Crouch you will infiltrate the school while Corrigan and Pettigrew continue to with the other preparations for the Triwazard Tournament."
"Yes Master." All three wizards chorused at once. The Dark Lord laid out the rest of his plan, then sent each of them on their way.
As Jack left the room he was suddenly hit with the realization that things were about to get even more dangerous than they already were.
tbc...