CHAPTER 4

Sam and Harry continued experimenting for the next eight months and during that time they found that they could feel each other across the campus, across the state and they grew to love each other more and more.

It was graduation night for both of them as Sam had earned her doctoral in Physics and Harry earned his Bachelor's in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. When Sam heard his double degree major she looked over at him and mouthed 'Smarty pants….two degrees?"

Harry chuckled and mouthed back "Physics…Alberta." Sam giggled and then mouthed 'I love you.' Harry smiled and then winked at her. He stood in the middle of the aisle and got down on one knee and pulled a ring box out and opened it. He smirked "Will you marry me?'

Sam's mouthed dropped open and then the squeal came out as she ran across the middle row and jumped him. Everyone in the auditorium looked on as Sam kissed him while he was pinned to the floor. Harry was laughing as she kissed him and then said 'Yes' in between the kisses. When they finally noticed the silence and looked around everyone was watching them. Sam blushed and then stood up. "He asked me to marry him…sorry."

The dean of the school was chuckling as he asked "Well Doctor Carter since you interrupted our little ceremony would you mind sharing your answer?"

Sam looked around and blushed "Uhmm, I… I definitely said yes!" The auditorium began to clap and cheer for the next thirty seconds.

The dean interrupted and got everybody to quiet down "Young man I think since you started this you should finish it for everyone." Harry seemed surprised then he smiled as he got down on one knee and removed the ring from the box. He slowly placed the ring on her finger and then stood and gave her a kiss as the whole hall erupted with applause and cheering.

The dean finally quieted the crowd enough to state "Now could we finish our little ceremony?" Sam and Harry blushed as they turned and ran out the door to the laughter of the crowd.

Sam got outside "Potter I can't believe you just did that!"

Harry looked up "You said yes Sam." He stated in awe "I can't believe you said yes!"

Sam smiled "Harry was there any doubt what I would say. We know each other better than most. So take me home Harry as I can't remember what I wore underneath this robe."

Harry smirked and stated in a whisper "Minx!" He then hugged her and gave her a kiss as they apparated away.

Sam landed on the bed and then looked around laughing "Good one!" They didn't come out for two days.

The summer went by in a flash as they prepared to move to Colorado Springs, Sam's new job with the Air Force was there and their Wedding in August. Hermione and Ron had written back that they would be coming two days before and Samantha's Father came the day before. Harry had never met him but then found that he was a general in the Air Force. Sam was laughing because Harry seemed nervous.

It was during a meeting with Gringotts that Harry and Sam found out that Magic had already acknowledged their marriage. The Goblin looked at both of them and smiled "Welcome Lord and Lady Potter, how may Gringotts help you?"

Sam did a double take "What? Lady Potter?" Sam felt a ring around her right hand and then looked to find the Potter house ring on her finger. She turned to Harry "What does this mean? What is happening?"

Harry smiled "It means, Lady Potter, that Magic and Gringotts recognized us as married."

The Goblin interrupted "Lord Potter it means much more than that as you and Lady Potter have done something not heard of for many, many years. You have fully bonded with a mundane as bonds usually only form with another magical." He stated with glee. The rest of their visit with Gringotts was very pleasant.

A Week Later -

Harry laughed at Sam because she was nervous about meeting his friends. This is the first time she had met his friends from his life in England.

Hermione came out of the plane Terminal and practically jumped on Harry squealing with happiness. Harry was laughing at her. "Hermione love if you don't unwrap yourself from me then I shall have to find a broom closet to get some relief."

Hermione looked at him in surprise "Did Harry Potter just make a sexual joke with the bookworm?" Hermione smiled at him "This Sam girl of yours must be very special. If she did this to you then I am already a fan."

Sam reached across "Hi, I am Sam…you know the jealous fiancé. Is there any chance you will stop humping my boyfriends leg today?" Sam finished with a smile.

Hermione looked at her and then smiled "I don't know Sam it seems that Mr. Potter has things that just pop up." Hermione and Sam both started laughing as Harry blushed profusely.

Harry dropped Hermione to her feet "I think I will go hang out with the ginger because then my embarrassment won't be so noticeable because of his red hair." This caused Hermione and Sam to laugh a little harder.

Hermione hugged Sam out of the blue and began to whisper into her ear "I am so glad that Harry found you. He has never been loved and he needed it so desperately. If you promise to take care of him I will always back you up."

Sam leaned back and looked into her eyes "I think I can safely say I am not the only one that loves him." Hermione's eyes darted to the red headed man.

"Shhh! That one has a jealousy streak a mile long about Harry, his money, or his fame. We can talk later."

The wedding went off without a hitch and Harry even had time to speak with Hermione alone. Harry was surprised that his old feelings hadn't risen when he saw her. He only felt the affection and closeness that one would with a sister, ok maybe not a sister.

Ron was not aloof but neither was he chummy with Harry. He did tell Hermione that Sam was a very beautiful woman. Harry had two of his male friends from college stand with him instead of Ron.

Hermione pulled Sam off to the side during the first night. She looked at her and Sam seemed edgy before Hermione spoke "My hope is that I can convince you that I am not a threat to your relationship with Harry. You are very intelligent and Harry has a thing for intelligent women."

Sam smirked "He doesn't only like my brain."

Hermione smiled "That is good because Harry is a very complex person."

Sam looked at her "Is that what scared you away from him? He can't be controlled and he doesn't like it."

Hermione chewed her bottom lip "There was a time that I thought I knew him so well that I could predict his every move. Then, in fourth year, he threw me for a loop and I realized I could never really know or understand him." Hermione lowered her head "I needed something more predictable."

Sam smiled at her "You needed someone like Ron." Sam surprised her by giving her a hug and then leaning back to look at her "I promise to take care of our guy Hermione. He is very special and I know that." Sam smiled "If you want to barrow him sometimes I think he would like that too."

Hermione blushed "I don't think that would be appropriate, I am married."

Sam looked confused and then started to laugh at Hermione "I didn't mean for sex, no that part of him is mine… all mine. What I meant is that you could have your best friend back from time to time. Harry wants that too."

Hermione really blushed and then it registered what Sam said "He does? I thought he was still mad at me."

Sam grinned at her "No Hermione, he was never mad at you. Now that he has me you two can be best friends again." Hermione smiled back at her.

Hermione was leaving through the door and stopped and turned to her. Hermione faltered and then looked into Sam's eyes "Harry couldn't have picked a more perfect person than you Samantha Potter. I would like to come and visit you." Hermione then winked at her "I think we bookworms should learn to get along."

Samantha laughed "I am actually a nerd, not a bookworm but I think I would like that." Hermione grinned and slipped out the door.

The whole weekend went according to plan and they had three days before Sam had to report to her new job on the following Tuesday. She was reporting to a General Hammond at Cheyenne Mountain Space telemetry center.

Harry had decided to pursue a masters in Engineering, actual two and was due back to school in another week. Sam and Harry had purchased a house in Colorado Springs. They moved in just the week prior to the wedding and got everything arranged. Harry played house husband and began his routine of running daily. He was able to meet many of the neighbors.

Everything was going well until Sam came home with a look of concern and didn't say much. Harry sat down across from her and held her hand. "Sam, what is wrong? I can sense that you are afraid, scared, and lost."

Sam almost immediately began to cry and then jumped on Harry and held him for the next fifteen minutes she sat like that and didn't say a word. She was finally able to calm down and she sat silently in thought.

She finally leaned back and looked at his eyes "It's my new job Harry. My work is going to be classified above top secret and I can't share it with you. As soon as I heard it I knew what it meant and I am not sure I can have two separate lives. This thing is so huge and I want to be a part of it but I am so scared it will drive a wedge between us."

Harry looked at her "It was the same way I felt when I revealed Magic to you."

Sam looked in shock from this revelation and then smiled "Yes, exactly. I can understand your fear now. I want to include you in every part of my life but I can't now and I am afraid of losing you."

Harry took his hand and smoothed her hair out. "This will be difficult for both of us but if we work together then I don't see this as a huge problem and certainly one that we can't overcome."

Sam smiled down at him "So you won't go crazy when two FBI agents and Air Force Intelligence send agents to interview you tomorrow?"

Harry gulped "How far are they going to dig into my background. I have seven years in a magical school that is not documented."

Sam looked concerned "They were concerned that you are not a US citizen. They seemed to want to make sure that you wouldn't be able to compromise this program."

Harry frowned "I am sorry Sam I didn't mean to cause you problems."

Sam frowned at his statement "Harry this is not your fault. This was because of my job. You have never been anything but honest with me."

Harry kissed her lips "I think I need to contact the Magical Law enforcement to let them know what is going on. I think they will have to get involved."

Sam seemed surprised "They have their own law enforcement?"

The next day five men in suits and ties showed up at the door. Harry and Sam let them in and sat at the dining room table. The men introduced themselves and showed their id's to Harry. The fourth man showed his FBI badge and then flipped it to show Harry his magical Law enforcement badge.

The senior guy Agent Manquez started the interview "Lieutenant Potter have you discussed what this was about with your husband?"

Sam looked confused "Well all that I could say or was allowed to. Basically that my work was concerned that Harry is not a US Citizen and that I was getting a Top Secret clearance and that if I got it I couldn't talk about it with him."

Agent Manquéz smiled "How did you feel about that Mr. Potter?"

Harry looked at him "My name is Harry and I was more upset that she was worried that this would drive a wedge between us because she had to hold a part of herself back."

Another agent, Thomas asked "Trust is a big issue in anyone's relationship. What was your reply?"

Harry seemed unsure but answered as best he could "Well, considering the fact I know absolutely nothing about what 'it' is she is going to do I told her we will work this out together."

Another agent, Tompkins, started "Oh come on now you are a smart guy." He opened a folder "A double major in engineering and you are going for a double master's degree in both. What conclusions did you draw?"

Harry smirked at him "Ok, cards on the table for Sam. She has a doctorate in particle physics and a few papers on wormhole theory. You, the Air Force, sent her to Grad school for a purpose and then sent her here for astrophysics/ telemetry which has nothing to do with wormhole theory and especially the theoretical papers she worked on."

Sam interrupted "You got credit on the last two I did because you helped me on many of the calculations."

Harry smirked "Love, the theory was all you and I just helped you prove a couple of points." Sam smiled at him. Harry turned to the men "The fact is I know and understand her work and telemetry has nothing to do with it unless you developed a technology that uses wormholes to transport people to other planets."

Their reaction to his conjecture said it all and his mouth fell open in awe, he turned to look at her with a smile "Did you have an orgasm when they told you? This must be your dream job." he stated to her.

Sam immediately blushed and then hit his shoulder "Don't make fun of me! And if you must know I found out night before last."

Harry laughed out loud "Oh, so that is what made you that way."

Agent Manquéz cleared his throat which made Sam and Harry turn to him "This makes this whole situation much more complicated." He added with a sigh.

Agent Tolbert, the magical agent spoke up "Actually, it doesn't because Mr. Potter knows how to keep a secret and I can ensure that he can't tell anyone that doesn't know or that he shouldn't tell."

Harry looked at him "You want an oath?" he asked him. Agent Tolbert smiled and nodded. Harry smiled back this actually helps you to trust me and it helps Sam because she can share it with me."

Sam seemed excited "I can?"

Agent Tompkins scoffed "An oath alone can't ensure this."

Agent Tolbert grinned at him "Actually it can and I believe that Harry has no problem casting the oath."

Harry pulled out a stick "I would be happy to do a magically binding oath. But who do I make it out to?

Agent Tolbert responded "Operational control should be to the commander of star gate Command, only he can authorize you to release any information, currently that is General Hammond."

Harry waved his wand "I, Harry James Potter, swear on my life and magic that I will not divulge any information about Samantha Potter's work to anyone but her and her work associates without permission from the Commander of the Star Gate Program. So mote it be." The magic flashed to accept the oath.

Agent Tolbert stood up "Thank you Harry I will report to my superiors your oath and I believe that General Hammond would like to talk to you. He asks that Sam bring you to work Monday."

Sam looked surprised "My boss wants to see him?"

Agent Manquez grinned "Yep that was all we wanted from Harry, except that Harry is expected to apply for citizenship in the next year or two."