This chapter contains scenes of violence, war, and sexual content that may be triggering or disturbing for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

August 3rd, 2004 - Iraq

Harry Potter was sitting in the back of a Blackhawk helicopter, his heart pounding with anticipation. He was on his way to Iraq, to take part in a mission that would test his skills to the limit.

Beside him sat Hermione, dressed in her Jane persona, looking every bit the part of a high-ranking Ministry of Defence official. As they flew over the desert, Harry couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for Hermione. She was so confident and poised, and he knew that he would have to step up his game to keep up with her.

He knew she was an administrator, but she had proved that she was more than capable of handling herself in the field. Hell, she could handle a knife and a gun as good as he could, and she had spent most of her military career working behind a desk.

The mission was risky, as it was during the Iraq War, and Harry and Hermione's cover as a married couple added an extra layer of danger. But they were both determined to complete the mission and return home safely.

As they landed at the base, they knew that they would have support if needed from their fellow SAS Troopers, but Harry was hoping that he wouldn't have to call on them. He knew his mission was tough, having to pose as a soldier who had contacts in the arms world, and Hermione would be responsible for having to obtain those arms, arms that could be used against British troops. But they were both determined to succeed.

His first meeting was scheduled to be in a couple of days with the leader of a band of insurgents. He had been prepared for this, especially with his service in Afghanistan, but he knew this mission could be one that could end his, and by extension, Hermione's life.

Over the next few days, Harry and Hermione worked tirelessly to prepare for their meeting with the insurgent leader. They had to make sure that their cover was solid, and that they had all the necessary information to make their mission a success.

They spent long hours together, discussing the details of their cover story and running through different scenarios to ensure that they were prepared for any eventuality. As they worked, Harry found himself growing increasingly drawn to Hermione. He couldn't help but admire her intelligence and bravery, and he knew that he was developing feelings for her that went beyond just a professional partnership.

But he also knew that he couldn't act on those feelings. Their mission was too important, and he couldn't afford to let his personal life get in the way of his duty. He had to keep his focus on the task at hand.

The day of their meeting with the insurgent leader arrived, and Harry was feeling confident. He and Hermione had prepared their roles, practiced their backup plans, and even had some arms, just in case things went wrong.

As they arrived at the location, they met their contact, who had a formidable presence. Harry greeted the man in Arabic, and Hermione followed suit, speaking fluently and impressing their contact.

The meeting was tense, but Harry and Hermione managed to maintain their cover and gather the information they needed. They even managed to secure an arms deal, which would help them gather more intelligence on the insurgency.

As they made their way to their vehicle, they heard an explosion. Harry knew that the meeting site had been cleared by their fellow SAS Troopers earlier in the day, and that operations were not expected to take place in the immediate vicinity, so the explosion was unexpected.

They quickly made their way to the scene, where it had turned out that their counterparts in the US Army had decided to show a show of force in the area, without coordinating with the SAS. As a result, they had inadvertently set off an IED, causing the explosion.

Knowing the risks of blowing their cover, Harry and Hermione quickly evacuated themselves from the area and made their way back to their safe house. As they sat down to debrief the incident, Harry couldn't help but feel grateful for Hermione's quick thinking and composure under pressure.

Over the next few days, their mission continued, and they managed to gather more intelligence on the insurgency. They also continued to work closely together, and Harry found himself growing more and more attracted to Hermione.

It all came to a head one night, when after a particularly difficult meeting with a group of insurgents who were wishing to buy arms, that they took themselves over the line of being Harry and Hermione, that they turned into Tharpe and Jane.

And they kissed. But it didn't stop there. They ended up losing themselves to their passion, the adrenaline from their mission fuelling their desire for each other.

It was a mistake, Harry knew that. He had broken the rules, and he had let his personal life get in the way of his duty. But in that moment, he couldn't help himself. He had been drawn to Hermione from the moment he had met her, and their shared experiences on the mission had only made their connection stronger.

As they lay in bed, wrapped in each other's arms, Harry knew that he had to tell her how he felt. He knew that it was a risk, but he couldn't keep his feelings bottled up inside anymore.

"Hermione, I know we've crossed a line... but I just... I..."

Hermione interrupted him, placing a finger on his lips. "I know, Harry. I feel it too," she said softly, looking into his eyes.

Harry felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had been worried that Hermione would reject him, or that their mission would be compromised by their personal feelings. But now, with her in his arms, he felt like everything was going to be alright.

Over the next few days, Harry and Hermione continued their mission, but their dynamic had changed. They were no longer just partners in the field; they were partners in every sense of the word. They worked seamlessly together, each one knowing what the other was thinking before they even said it.

But as the mission continued, the danger increased. As August went into September, and as September went into October, the situation in Iraq became more unstable. Harry and Hermione's cover was close to being blown multiple times, and they knew that they couldn't continue much longer without attracting too much attention.

They eventually managed to gather enough intelligence on the insurgents, and the arms dealers, but at the cost of some of their fellow soldiers, not just in the Regiment, but also within the Army, and the Collation as a whole.

And then the mission came to a head. They were to infiltrate the main base of the insurgents and gather as much information as possible before calling in a strike. It was a risky move, but Harry and Hermione knew that it was their duty to complete the mission, no matter what the cost.

As they made their way to the base, they immediately found themselves in the middle of a firefight between the insurgents and the US Army.

Harry and Hermione knew that they had to move quickly to avoid being caught in the crossfire. They made their way through the chaos, using their training and skills to avoid detection and reach their target.

But as they were making their way through, Harry found himself being shot by friendly fire, by mistake, from a US soldier who mistook him for an ally of the insurgents.

Hermione was shocked, but she knew she had to act. She quickly pulled Harry to cover and assessed his wounds. The bullet had grazed his side, and although it was not life-threatening, Harry was in a lot of pain.

Hermione quickly radioed for backup and medical assistance, and within minutes, they were surrounded by their fellow SAS Troopers, who had come to their aid.

As the medics treated Harry's wounds, Hermione felt a wave of relief wash over her. She knew that Harry was going to be okay, and that they had completed their mission.

But she still worried about him. Not just because he was a trooper and she was an administrator, but since they had slept together, she still had feelings for him, and Harry for her. Feelings that were deeper than their roles.

As they made their way back to base, Harry and Hermione sat in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Harry was grateful to be alive, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he had let his fellow soldiers down by getting injured. He knew that he would have to face their disapproval when they got back to base.

Hermione, on the other hand, was worried about what the future held for her and Harry. They had broken the rules by getting involved with each other, and she knew that they would have to face the consequences of their actions. But at the same time, she couldn't deny her feelings for Harry, and she didn't know how she was going to deal with the situation.

As they arrived back at base, they were greeted by their Commanding Officer, who was relieved to see that they had made it back safely. He congratulated them on a job well done and praised their dedication and bravery.

Harry was took to be looked at by the medical staff, and Hermione was left alone with her thoughts. She knew that she had to talk to Harry, to figure out where they stood and what the future held for them.

Later that night, as they sat together in Harry's room, Hermione took a deep breath and spoke. "Harry, I... I can't go back to how it was... before the mission. I... when you were shot... I was worried you was going to die, and that..."

"I know... I feel the same way, Hermione," Harry replied, taking her hand. "I can't imagine going back to just being the trooper and you the administrator. And I know we'd have to face the music if we continued... but..."

"I know. We'll make it work, even though it is breaking 150 rules"