Hey, everybody! Welcome back! Its been two weeks, and let me say, I'm exhausted! But I've managed to write a few chapters, raise my Trig grade, work, and go to school with an alright amount of sleep. My social life may be non-existent, but hey, we all have to make sacrifices.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Lets just say that I own a book or two...or seven... (:

PART III

THE ACADEMY

The Beginning of the End

"...You really plan to go through with this, then."

"What else am I supposed to do? They've threatened my friends, my job...it won't be long until they come after my family! I can't sit around and do nothing while murderers get away. I can't let my unborn child be in danger."

"Leigh Ann, these people are more trouble than you think they are. Anyone with Muggle blood down their line just needs to get out before they're targeted. And with Dad being so close to our Pureblood line, we're going to be the first targeted, to get us out of the way, to show everyone a lesson. We need to get out of here."

"I'm not goin' anywhere. Not until these people are in Azkaban or GITMO where they belong."

"You have no idea what you're talkin' about! They could show up anywhere, at the school, at America's Quidditch pitch, and just snatch you out of the air! Leigh Ann—"

"Jessica, if you try to tell me that these people are dangerous one more time, I'm gonna slap you. I'm not gonna run at the first sight of danger. The damned Wizard KKK isn't enough to scare me away from everythin' I love, and neither are you, even if you are my sister."

"...We warned you, just remember that. We warned you"

Leigh Ann Nelson
Monday, September 11, 1995
5:02 P.M.
Mess Hall

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for witch it stands, one Nation, under God, indivisible, for Liberty and Justice for all."

I ran my hands over my dress skirt before I sat down, looking happily at all of the new recruits. There were maybe fifty over all, each of them dressed in PT clothes, as they hadn't gotten their uniforms yet—of course, they hadn't gotten their Branch yet, either. Little Anni Sampson, sister of one of my good friends, Rebecca, was standing up there, wide-eyed and ready to go, next to all of the other children her age.

The mess hall was filled to capacity, its white walls and floor shining as if they had just been washed, which I was sure that they had. The four, long, stainless steel tables had been charmed to make them more comfortable, though comfort was hardly on our minds; the food hadn't appeared yet to make us all want to eat and pull all of it on our mess kits.

People stared, of course. They always stared when they hadn't seen the new do. I still wasn't used to it, and it itched. But hey, what could you do? I used to have long, thick hair that had been put up into a stern bun all the time, but with things that had happened over the summer...well, let's just say that now it was short and stacked. I was still on edge, still jittery. Every time someone bumped into my arm, I'd freak and pull my wand. Then I'd have to apologize because I'd scared some little second year and they'd started crying. It was all very, very tiring.

Sorting went quickly, most of the children going into the Navy, actually. The second most went into the Army, while the Marines and Air Force got the least. Once it was over, I heard the all-too-familiar voice.

"Attention."

Ah, the old attention. I stood up, as did the rest of the room, and stood at attention.

The General made his way slowly through the rows, his eyes meeting mine for only a second before he smiled and turned to face the entire school. "Students, champions," he started off on his monologue, "welcome back to another year at the American Academy of Magic. As you all know, last year, we were invited to participate in the Triwizard Tournament. Some of you may or may not know that our own First Lieutenant Leigh Ann Nelson of the Army became Champion. At the end, she was tied in second, before being attacked with the Crucio Curse by one of the other Champions, who was under the Imperious Curse."

There was a smattering of gasps before he silenced the room and continued.

"As such, Leigh Ann proved herself beyond anything we came to expect. And she has been rewarded with this trophy, which will sit itself in our trophy room until long after we are gone from this school."

My eyes widened at this statement, and at the large golden shield which was being carried between the two tables. Alex, my best friend, nudged me in the side, as did Mary, another good friend. I couldn't do anything but stare in awe as the shield, embossed with a large and elegant TW T and many words underneath, was hung behind the teacher's table. I hadn't noticed before, but one teacher was missing.

"Leigh Ann, please come forwards to get your Purple Heart."

Shock. That was the word. I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe, and I definitely couldn't walk up the pathway. Alex, noticing my state, nudged me hard in the side with her wand.

I gave her an annoyed look before shakily making my way over to the podium. The General's ice blue eyes were crinkling with a smile, as were the green eyes of Major General Leah Sampson. I shook hands with both of them before he pinned the beautiful medal onto my uniform. The entire room started off in a soft clapping, before it extended into the most boisterous applause that I had ever heard.

Tears came to my eyes, but I held them back as I turned back around to face the rest of the students. They all started to blur, though, and I quickly made my way back to the Army seats.

Alex gave me a hug as soon as I stood next to her, though we quickly went back to standing at attention. The General went on about the Tournament, and my "glorious" highlights of it, of Harry Potter, of Viktor Krum (which got a few giggles and excited HOOAH!s) of Cedric Diggory, and of Fleur Delacour. Of the First Task, the Second, and the Third. Most of us didn't have to listen, though, because those of us had gone.

"So let's give one more round of applause to our Champion, Leigh Ann Nelson."

I was almost crying by now, so much that I couldn't see anything. I had to blink, look up to the lights, and take many deep breaths before they all spilled over.

"Thank you, Leigh Ann, for participating for our school. Now, for the Naming of the Officers." There was a cry of happiness. "When your Leading Officer calls your name, Fifth Years, I want you to step up." I knew that Jessica, my little sister in the Navy, would become an Officer like her brother and I. It was obvious.

Lieutenant General Charles McCoy, leader of the Marines and teacher of Transfiguration, stepped up, his eyes a steely grey, like his hair. Everything on him was perfect. "Second Lieutenant Phillip Williams."

A loud roar went up from the soldiers standing around the table, and a short, bulky blonde man stood up from the Marines and strutted proudly towards the podium, to have his Sergeant insignia ripped off and instantly replaced with the single gold bar of a Second Lieutenant.

Major General Brittany Premont stepped up. She was the Leading Officer for the Air Force, her light, sparkling eyes filled with laughter like most of its occupants. Almost everyone in the Air Force could tell a joke that would make you roll, and were the nicest out of everyone. Not to mention that they kicked ass in Quidditch. "Second Lieutenant Amanda Peterson."

"HUA!" The entire table burst out in intense cheering, someone yelling something that made them laugh. The tall, naturally pretty blonde went up, got her Staff Sergeant insignia ripped off and replaced with the single gold bar on her lapel.

Rear Admiral Lucas Boyle, Leading Officer of the Navy and teacher of Arithmancy, was no longer here, as of what I had figured out about him and his torturing me and countless other wizards and witches who weren't pureblood. He was in GITMO, (Guantanamo Bay,) or some other Azkaban equivalent. So the General stepped up for him. I could feel a cold sweat on the back of my neck. My eyes met with Jason's, (my brother,) then Jessica's, and she looked like a hawk ready to swoop down on her pray. The General slowly and surely called out, "Ensign Jessica Nelson."

My sister smirked and started walking up to the podium with the grace and cockiness of a Marine, not a Naval Officer. Her Petty Officer Second Class insignia was ripped from his suit and replaced with the single gold bar of an Ensign, and she was given her gold stripes to put on later.

Then, as Jessica was walking back with a very cocky look on her face, Major General Leah Sampson, my Leading Officer and teacher of Potions, stepped up, tucking in her already-perfect bun, trying to fix her already-perfect skirt. Then, looking at everyone at the table directly in the eyes, she announced, "Second Lieutenant Alana O'Mally."

The tall, elegant brunette walked with dignity up to the front podium, shaking hands with our Leading Officer, and getting her Sergeant insignia ripped off. She pinned the Second Lieutenant pins on her lapel and sent the almost model-like girl on her way. I was slightly jealous of her almost perfect figure, but then shook my head. She was a part of my squadron now, so I had to live with it. I could probably outrun her any day. Hell, I probably weighed twice as much as her. What was she, a dollar ten? Just a dollar?

The Headmaster stood back up at the podium, his melting blue eyes meeting with each and every student before he continued. "You all know your duties. You all know that you have privileges, as well, but your rank can quickly be taken away. Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Year Officers may be quickly bunked down to E-1 if I so choose it."

"Yes, General!" came the cry from all of the students, except the newbies who came in a few seconds late. It was all quite comical, even though I knew that I had been the same way my first year.

"Now, for the yearly announcements. Ad ease, students. Fall out." We all sighed happily, sitting down and relaxing, ready for the next year at school. "The lake is still off-limits, unless for Marines or Navy SEAL operatives. Professor Willowed will—"

The doors suddenly burst open in the back, and I knew exactly why there was an empty seat up front—we had a new teacher!

Everyone turned around to see who had come in the door. I couldn't see anything, as many people were blocking my way, but from the gasps it seemed as if this new teacher was something to look at.

"Sir, I would expect you to be on time from now on," the General said disapprovingly, irately tapping his fingers on the eagle podium.

"Sorry," came a scarily familiar low, tenor voice, "portkey, it not vork on time."

"Holy shit," I gasped at the same time as Alex. We looked at each other before I turned to see him strutting down the walkway between the Army and Navy tables. Justin gave the man a high-five, though he just walked straight up to the General and shook hands with him.

He was wearing thin robes of deep red, more like the everyday robes that were out in the Wizarding world than his Durmstrang robes. Underneath he wore a button-up black shirt that looked vaguely familiar, and tan straight-legged khakis. The Durmstrang belt that I'd seen many-a-time was holding them up. He didn't look any different, except that maybe he was slightly trimmer in the waist and more bulky in the arms, and his stubble was trimmed up more than it was during the Quidditch season.

"Students," the General said, turning the man around, "meet your new First and Second Year flying teacher, Quidditch referee, and Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Viktor Krum."

Viktor Krum
5:10 P.M.
Mess Hall

She was angry.

Oh, yes. She was furious. He could tell by the way her eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared. By the way she set her jaw so that she could touch her tongue to one back molar. He wanted to wave, but then again, not many people knew that they were together, or the fact that they knew each other. So he thought better of waving. At least Jason looked happy to see him.

He sat down next to a teacher who reminded him of a certain curvy woman, but was taller and thinner, with many more years of experience in her dark green eyes. The name on her uniform said "Sampson," and the beginnings of grey in her hair betrayed her age.

"As I was saying," the General said, giving Viktor a dirty eye, "the lake is still off-limits, unless for Marines or Navy SEAL operatives. Professor Willowed, with the help of the Navy deep divers, will try to evacuate them. In other news… Last year, while the majority of our school was gone, some First through Fourth Year students were promoted to special Officer titles, and these titles will not be taken away as such. Instead, these students will be named the Special Forces."

A loud roar went up through the younger and Ninth ranks, making the ones who hadn't been at school laugh. Though the laughing quickly stopped whenever green berets appeared in the air, landing on the heads of said younger students.

Viktor watched as Leigh Ann stood up first, clapping her hands together slowly, until everyone else stood up and clapped their hands as well.

He wondered if he could ever get over looking at her. He missed that long, thick hair which had been replaced by this shoulder-length in the front, short and stacked in the back hairstyle which he did not like. She was very tan from this summer, almost too dark, and seemed a little thinner. He would have to have a talk with her about eating as much as she needed to. (Or as much as he wanted her to.)

The assembly sat back down, and the General started to speak again about school happenings. As he didn't know what normally went on in the place, all of this was new to him.

He'd already been shown his room by a very friendly and well-dressed house elf, which had been on the second floor and needed a password and "wand scan" to get in. This week, his password was "Plangentine," and he had to say it to the tapestry on the third floor, second hallway, halfway down the hall.

The room itself was obviously made to suit him, what with the large fireplace, the wing-backed chairs, and the four-postered bed with silks and furs. He had to admit that the large brown bear fur on the floor was a little much, but it worked.

"Well, students, this year will be normal. After the plates are cleared once more, wands will be turned in." A loud groan could be heard, as well as a few protests. The General did not continue until all was quiet. "Hell Week will start early tomorrow morning. So, enjoy!"

Food instantly appeared in front of them, and the clattering of feet, trays, and silverware filled the entire white hall. Viktor barely ate, sitting there, watching her.

"She looks different, doesn't she, Professor Krum?" came a soft voice from next to him.

Viktor looked into the dark eyes of this "Sampson" woman, who was addressing him. "Call me Viktor, please. And…she?"

The woman smiled, the knowledge in her eyes growing. She took a dainty bite before continuing. "The First Lieutenant. I noticed that she isn't quite the same since her little adventure over in England. You wouldn't know anything about this, though, would you."

This woman sees everything. "She is a vonderfool voman."

"She seemed surprised that you were here."

"Deed she?"

"You can't fool me, Viktor. I see everything in this school. I know everything in this school. And I don't believe that our little Leigh Ann is going to enjoy your being here."

He tried to search for something to say, anything, but the one thing that he thought, she instantly shot down.

"Don't play the, 'I need a job' card with me. I needed the job and still do. You, on the other hand, are a Quidditch star, who in no terms needs the money." She picked up what looked to be a cup of very dark coffee and took a very long sip. "There are no secrets in my school."

"Your school?" Viktor was pretty sure that a school of magic was the Headmaster's school.

She smirked and hid her face in shadow. "I'm second in command here, no matter what those Marines say. My rank may be Major General, but I am directly under the General. Therefore, it is 'my school.'"

"I vill noot crooss you, if that is vhat you theenk."

She shook her head, making the beret on her head slip and reveal more grey in her plain brown hair. "I wasn't expecting you to, Viktor. I just wanted you to know that I know everything that there is to know and more about this school, including what goes on in the lives of my students. I'm not blind, and neither are the students or other teachers. If you decide to do something, do it discretely."

Viktor felt flushed, and he quickly turned his face away from her to pick at his food once more. "I do noot theenk you oonderstand our relationship."

"You're both teenagers. I understand enough. Just because I'm old doesn't mean I wasn't one."

Damn, this woman could read minds! But if she really could, then she would know that nothing had happened between them, and that nothing would happen between them. They had promised each other long ago that they would have to wait. "I deed noot mean to eensoolt you. I vas merely trying to say that Leahn and I half noot done anything, nor vill ve."

"If that's what you say, then I guess that I have to believe you. Now, I know you're wondering what Hell Week is…"

Leigh Ann Nelson
6:30 P.M.
Classroom 7A
Army Wand Drop-off

I handed my wand in to the Ninth Year Officer, who turned out to be my brother, who was giving me a knowing look. Either steam was coming out of my ears, or he knew me too well.

"See you back at Quarters?" he asked, raising one thick black eyebrow. His ice blue eyes pierced me through, but I wasn't going to give.

"If I don't plan to go out and kill someone, yes," I muttered angrily, grabbing Alex's arm and pulling her along.

"Oh, come on, Leigh," Alex whined, trying to stop my raging fury. "So he wanted to surprise you, big deal! I would have been touched."

"With a hint of dementia."

Alex then hit me on the back of the head with what felt like her beret. "I'm going to make your life a living hell if you keep acting like this."

"Next week is goin' to be a living hell, Alex, and there's nothin' you can do to make it worse." I rubbed a hand over my eyes, knowing that I needed to get to the Officer meeting before I worried about Viktor any longer. "Listen, I've gotta go. I'll see you in our bunk."

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," she said warningly.

"And that would be?" I muttered under my breath, feeling bad if she had heard me. I shook my head and headed off after the Air Force Officers, as they were almost always the last to an Officer meeting. Now, I would be.

The halls were as pristine as I remembered them, stainless steel and impeccable granite flooring, pictures and newspaper clippings of famous military feats up on the walls. Some of them were Wizard pictures, meaning that they moved, and some were just Muggle. It was refreshing to see them after Hogwarts's endless stream of moving pictures. There was a picture of World War I, where Russian troops were in a trench, waiting for a German attack. Most people didn't know that most of the Russians and Europeans were wizards, and that was a part of the reason that the war started. Something about the Germans trying to kill off wizards? I don't know, it'd been a while since my last Wizarding History class.

I almost ran into one of the upper Air Force Officers when they stopped to go into the Officer's Meeting room. Gotta get my head on straight, I thought as we all went into the room and I sat down in the First Lieutenant seat for the Army.

It took a few moments to get the Air Force Officers to sit down, but after they did, the General stood up and addressed us all. "Officers, I need you to discuss the new teacher, arrangements for extra Navy students, and the three dances this year."

The Ninth Year Naval Officer, Jeremy Summers, stood up and announced that the World War I battleship that the Navy had reconstructed last year contained enough room for the fifty new recruits.

"Leigh Ann," the General said next, "you're in charge of the new teacher."

I had to control myself not to cry out a profanity at the old man. Instead, I stood up, set my jaw, and tried to calmly explain to him why I couldn't. "Sir, I'm afraid that if I see the man, I'm goin' to kill him."

One of the Marines, probably Perseus Homer, Eighth Year Officer, laughed and slugged me on the back. "Got a problem with the Seeker still, Nelson?"

The glare I sent him and his dark good looks shut him up quickly. "I don't believe it would be a good idea. Sir."

"You're good friends, First Lieutenant," the General said with a smile on his face, but something threatening in his eyes. "I'm not making a suggestion, but an order."

"Sir—" I begged, but he interrupted me.

"Not another word, Nelson. Sit down."

I gave a humph and sat down. Clamping my teeth so that I didn't snap something. Perseus was chuckling under his breath. I wished that I had my wand—or knew wandless magic—so that I could hex his bright blue eyes on the spot.

The talks of Prom, Homecoming, and the Winter Formal were abound, and some Ninth Year idiot—most likely my brother—came up with the idea of a 50's theme. There was also some talk about schedules for rounds, and the fact that none of us would have near as much sleep as we needed to have for tomorrow, it wasn't taken lightly that we had to pick people, even for tonight.

The meeting quickly finished, and I couldn't help but sigh that now I had to go to the new Professor and give him his schedule, explain to him about the Sphinx that guarded the Navy docks, the Thestral that guarded the Army barracks, the Kappa protecting the Marine lodges, and the Re'em that protected the Air Force hanger.

I sighed, rubbing my face to bring some color back to it before I had to find him. I had to find his tapestry and say the password, complete with wandscan to show that I'd been there and I was legit.

I mumbled "Plangentine" and the tapestry became permeable. I stepped through, ready to chew my boyfriend out, when I saw Viktor sitting in front of the fire, in one of the two plushy chairs.

Leading Officer Lieutenant General McCoy was in the other one.

"Oh," I said, feeling myself curse at my own short temper as the LGLO turn towards me.

"First Lieutenant," McCoy said, his eyebrows raised. "What are you doing here?"

I blushed deeply, standing with my legs apart, hands behind my back, back straight. "It's my duty to inform the new Professor on the protectors, give him his schedule, and inform him of the everyday life of the school, sir."

The intimidating man stood up, straightening his Marines uniform and running a hand through that salt-and-pepper hair. "I'll leave you to that, then." He saluted me. "Good night, Lieutenant."

"Good night, sir," I said, making sure not to look him in the eyes, else wise he'd see my anger. I saluted back. "Before you leave, I ought to say that the Marines have rounds tonight."

"Of course," he growled, narrowing those harsh ice blue eyes. "Always the Marines. Well, hurry up and get back to your barrack, Lieutenant." He then exited through the permeable "door," leaving Viktor and I alone.

I turned around, ready to scream, yell, and cause general mayhem, but he pulled me into one of the gentlest hugs that I had ever felt. Instantly I felt as if I was the most horrible person in the world.

"I half missed you," he whispered into my hair. He then pushed us apart only slightly, looking into my eyes. "And I am soory." He still looked the same, his thin dark hair just a slight bit longer, curling only slightly, and his dark brown eyes filled with nothing but emotion for me.

I sighed and put my head on his chest, which I had forgotten had been so muscular and comforting. "Why are you here?"

He started rubbing his hands up and down my back, letting his lips alight on my temple. "I could noot bear being avay froom you. Your Defeence Against the Dark Arts teacher, she vas pregnant, yes? So, no teacher. And so I thought, vhy noot apply? And you half noot had a flying teacher in years. And I am a good flying teacher, yes?" He smiled down to me.

"Yeah, I guess you are," I sighed, pulling away, feeling slightly cold without his arms around me.

"I alsoo vanted to be here, een case...your nighmares, they coome back?"

I shook my head, but I knew that he could tell that I was lying. "Haven't had one in at least two weeks." Then I sighed and looked him directly in the eyes. "But you can't be here, Viktor. You're jealous enough, what will happen when I talk to my friends, or I'm practicing magic with a male classmate? I'm in quite a few plays, and in them I'm the main heroine. I could have to kiss some guy."

Viktor smirked, using his fist to pick up my chin, placing a chaste kiss against the corner of my lips. "I vill control myself." But I could tell that the last part upset him

"Viktor…" I sighed, placing my forehead against his, gently kissing him, trying to forget at how angry I was with him. "It won't...it won't w..."

His lips started searching mine, gently tracing my own, begging for forgiveness. I couldn't help but fall into the gentleness, to place my hands on his chest and let him kiss me as if this were our first and last kiss. He started whispering Bulgarian words into our kiss, making me smile. I was so comfortable around him, I felt safe and I couldn't understand all of a sudden why I had been so angry.

He pulled me closer, asking permission to enter, and I couldn't help but part my lips. I slowly opened myself to him, wondering at how rough the texture of his lips was, how warm they were, but how gentle they could be. He kissed me slightly harder, gently flickering his tongue against my lower lip, and blood boiled under my skin. I couldn't help but lean into him, wrap my arms around his neck and push myself up against him.

Viktor groaned from deep in his chest, letting his hands wander down, cupping my backside and pulling me up, rocking my hips against the bulge forming in his pants.

I gasped and pulled away, taking deep breaths to calm my beating heart. He attached his lips to my soft spot under my chin, sucking, arousing me.

"V-Viktor," I gasped, squirming against him. He gave a soft grunt, gently nipping at my skin, letting his tongue run over the edge of my jaw. "Viktor, st-stop."

He slowly pulled away from me, placing three more long kisses on my lips before finally looking me in the eyes. "Vhat ees eet, loff?"

"There's a problem, with us, with this school," I said, gently cupping his face, forcing him to concentrate.

He looked slightly stricken. "There ees a prooblem vith us?"

"With us in the school." I sighed, gently running my fingers over the small amount of stubble on his face. It was perhaps the thing I loved most, that stubble. "Teachers and students can't be together."

Viktor looked as though he hadn't thought of that. "I…ve vill keep eet a secret."

I raised an eyebrow, wondering if he had missed anything at dinner. "Every single teacher has eyes in the back of their heads at this school. If you show any biased attitude towards me at all, they'll be on us in a second."

He kissed me again, slower, more thoroughly. Maybe he was just trying to distract me, or convince me that we could be together in secret, but my brain was wiped clear. "Ve vill find a vay."

I sure do hope so, I thought as I wrapped my arms around his neck, pushing myself against his body. I really do.

"I vill be here for you," he whispered into my hair, hugging me gently to him. "I vill be."

And, once again, our favorite couple gets back together, even if one of them really doesn't see the good that can come out of it! Whaddya think? Don't forget that little review button!

Here's a look at the next chapter~

"Pain is your friend, your ally. It will tell you when you are seriously injured. It will keep you awake and angry and remind you to finish the job and get the hell home. But you know the best thing about pain, it lets you know you're not dead yet! Are you dead yet?"

"NO MASTER CHIEF."

Viktor felt disgusted at this, but it wasn't his place to say anything. He wondered when someone was going to quit, to let the team rest, but no one seemed to want that disgrace. He watched for the next twelve hours as the students were put under the most grueling tests, as they were forced to eat and get gear in under five minutes, and as they were worked until they collapsed. The younger, non-Officers seemed to get better treatment. But those like Leigh Ann, Jason, and Jessica, they were worked the worst. Finally he saw Leigh Ann take a knee, and then she was shoved, before she finally got back to her feet. He wanted to rush down there and help her, but somehow he figured that she wouldn't be able to live it down. So he bit the inside of his cheek and had to watch as she started out Hell Week.