SourceURL:file:/localhost/Users/jade/Desktop/G.I%2 0Granger%20Chapter%

Okay, guys
So I'm aware a few of you aren't too keen on the way I've played with the characters. I will warn you now DRASTICALLY OUT OF CHARACTER, which is perfectly acceptable considering I have artistic licence. If you want J.K. Rowling's characters then you better go read Order of the Phoenix and give this one a miss.

Apart from that, I'm really happy about the reception the first chapter got and felt you guys deserved another one rather quickly. Yes, I know it's short - 1,200 words or so, but I'm uploading again later on in the day so you can't exactly complain.

Since this is my first fic in over two years, I'm eager to build up a base of fans for this story before I start posting only weekly. So far I've got about 7 chapters, around 13,000 words and I hope to easily get it past the 100,000 mark. It's going to be long-winded and have both serious and jokey parts to it. As you're aware, we have not hit much interaction with Malfoy as of yet, but I must warn you THIS IS A SLOW-MOVING STORY WITH LOTS OF BACKGROUND, but I hope to get Malfoy in about the 8th/9th Chapter and he'll be pretty much ever-present from then onwards.

Thank you and enjoy,

Jade.

Chapter Two

Roughly Two Years Later

"FASTER, FASTER, FASTER." The bellowing voice of the Sergeant called out, pushing his troops to complete the course faster, to become stronger.

Hermione kept her breathing under control, navigating the tyres quickly, finishing first on that obstacle before throwing herself at the hand bars and working her way across. Once finished, she sprinted across the grounds to the climbing wall, knowing the track off by heart and ringing the bell second, abseiling down smoothly and finishing the final hurdle – literally – and she flung herself over the gymnastic box that was as tall as her and crossing the end line. Looking back, she saw the sorry face of her best friend come through second and she sniggered, snorting ever so slightly.

"Oh my God, how can you be so slow?" She asked, still laughing. He was panting heavily.

"You're like…lightening on…those tires." He admitted, clutching his sides to avoid cramping. "And I'd just eaten."

"Excuses, excuses." Hermione flicked her finger, scratching the back of her neck where her tags were itching her.

"Shut up, Her-mee-own." He laughed, joking around with her name as he always had.

The first day Hermione had arrived at the Navy the drill Sergeant had called out her name from a list and said it in that way, causing several of the men – and some women – standing there to burst out into laughter. It wasn't the first time people had been unable to pronounce her name, but it was certainly the worse experience of her life. But if it had never happened, she would never have met the people she did, and she depended on them now.

"Miles, you're a nightmare on Earth." She laughed, whacking him on the arm playfully, which, of course, ended in the mother of all play fights.

Ending in two-nil to Miles, they made their way over to the women's regiment of training to see Matilda and Sian just finishing – of course, in first. They made their way over and smirked at Hermione.

"Beat his ass again?" Matilda asked, pushing the flyaway hairs from her platinum blonde ponytail back into place and blinking up at him. Her crush was obvious to Hermione, but apparently Miles was clueless and his big hand came down on her shoulder, leaning on her as if she were a guy friend.

"You know I did." He laughed.

Hermione kicked his shin. "This might surprise you, but I'm a woman." She said in mock surprise.

"Could have fooled me." Sian smirked.

Hermione turned to her friend who was blowing her short black hair, cropped into a rather drastic style that was shaved on one side and covering half her face and reaching her chin at the other, her tanned, olive skin glistening with beads of sweat.

"I know, right? I didn't think it was possible to catch masculinity, but sharing a bunk with you seemed to prove it." Hermione retorted back.

They laughed together. The friendships Hermione had made here were not built on love and affection, they were built on protection, the want to prove yourself and banter that was borderline abuse…and she had never felt more loved.

Her parents wrote to her every two weeks to ask how she was getting on and to tell her to come visit soon. Hermione always replied and attached a photograph of herself with her friends each time, as she was unable to actually go and visit them. It was something Mr and Mrs. Granger never understood – being on a boat in the middle of the Pacific meant you couldn't just leave and come home whenever you wanted. Thankfully, they had docked in Canada for the time being and weren't set to leave until mid-June. Mrs. Granger always commented on how much bigger Miles had gotten since the first photograph nearly two years ago, how Sian's hair got shorter and more dramatic as time had gone on, how Matilda had managed to stay rather feminine during her time and how she was concerned that Hermione was no longer very feminine.

HPOV

Dear Hermione,

That last photograph shows me that you really do wear nothing but combat shorts/trousers and those hideous boots. Would it kill you to wear one of the dresses I've sent you?

I'm so glad to hear that you like it in Canada, but you look skinny, made sure you soak up some of the American cuisine while you're there. Your father and I long to see you in a few short months and hope you return to your studies soon.

Love,

Mom.

It didn't surprise me that she had urged me to return to my studies, and it often played on my mind. I would have liked to finish Hogwarts, to know what had become of everyone there, but I never found myself wanting to be there more than in the Navy with my friends. I missed Harry, Ron, Ginny and the Weasley's, but I had very little, besides them, to return to the Magical World. Of course, I had my wand with me at all times and managed to practice frequently, were I ever to need it, as well as keeping up with my studies – I even knew what exams they were having for the final year in every lesson. Yes, I had become more laid back and very physical with my life, but I understood the value of a good education and especially the protection that magic could bring.

Of course, I hadn't told Miles, Matilda and Sian of my life in the magical world or my ability. Sure, things had happened that I would need to explain, like when the drill Sergeant's pants had literally spontaneously set on fire when he was going through the bunks and said he had found imperfections in me bedding, and Matilda still wouldn't let it go and said I had something to do with it.

I had spent the day training and found myself retired to my bunk rather early that night, having decided not to go with Miles, Matilda and Sian out drinking. I liked a drink, but not when I was up early for detail. As I lay down, I picked up my copy of Charms & Magical Incantations for Seventh Year and began where I left off. I got to quite a complicated spell that would allow the user to set a spell that would follow a target until it hit its mark, regardless of shields, when I heard a bang. I dropped the book and quickly hid it under my bed, knowing that it wasn't exactly something I wanted anyone to catch me reading. It was only Sian and I that shared the room, but with her sleeping in the top bunk, it was very unlikely that she would get the drop on me and catch me.

Looking around the dark room, I lifted my wand and muttered 'Lumos' under my breath, watching it light up slightly. All there was in the room was a fire. I watched it curiously and saw another bang. I walked over and poked it gently with the fire pokey and leapt back when I saw it move of it's own accord.

What on Earth…

"Hermione?" I heard a voice call. It was weak and raspy…and coming from the fire. Looking around, I leant over and looked into the cinders of the fire, as the flames had all but gone and saw the face of Harry Potter before me.

"No fucking way." I muttered, my jaw hitting the floor.