(AN: So got on a roll with finishing up the last 'Damned' chapter...time to let the Exiles catch up. Had to binge through several HP movies to get back up to snuff, and a fair warning to the HP purists, there are details I am going to get wrong. And ultimately this isn't a fix-fic or a AU HP fic either, I am merely putting two OC's from my stories into the HP verse to see how they fare and how they grow as characters. And maybe some gratuitous yuri themes, if the mood suits me :)
PFC Pete Gobbi was not happy. He, or in his current form, 'she' was walking across the courtyard of the castle that served as home-base for LTC Long's Exiles, flanked by Major Gavin and Captain Pelayo. Gobbi, currently inhabiting the form of a 15 year old girl, was dressed in a white blouse, a black sweater vest, a pleated grey mini skirt with long black stockings, and was currently sulking.
"This is complete bullshit."
It still shocked Gobbi to hear herself talk. Ironically Gobbi still retained a Kentucky twang, even if her voice in her current form sounded younger and more feminine. She heard Major Bruce Gavin speak up.
"Pri'at-er, I mean Gina, y'all really need to dial back on the cussin', y'ain't a private anymore, yer a lady."
Gina. That was the name that Pelayo had given her as they were clothes shopping. The female Marine thought it sounded cute and alliterative, and appropriate given where they were going. Gobbi thought it sounded stupid.
"Fuck that noise."
'Gina' then yelped as Captain Pelayo cuffed her on the side of the head.
"You heard the Major, young lady. Eighty-six the foul language."
'Gina' rubbed her ear, still red and smarting from the cuff.
"Hey! I'm a girl! Ya can't hit me!"
The female Marine smirked.
"Nope, there you're wrong. You're a private in the form of a girl, and more to the point, I'm a girl too so it's okay."
Pelayo noticed that the private currently in the form of a teenaged girl was fidgeting.
"Will you stop doing that! It's unladylike, and like it or not you're a girl."
'Gina' glared at the Captain.
"This underwear is too tight and its riding up my ass!"
Pelayo shrugged.
"Get used to it, private."
She leaned in and snatched a small Iphone out of 'Gina's shirt pocket.
"And no more naked selfies, got it?"
The young private turned girl looked shocked.
"How did-"
"You're a grunt," the female Marine replied interrupting the private, "-you're too predictable and not real smart when it comes to hiding places."
Pelayo casually unlocked the smart phone away and started deleting pictures.
As she finished deleting the explicit selfies that the private-turned-witchling had taken, Pelayo heard a gurgling noise and saw the teen grabbing her stomach and wincing.
"Problem, private?"
The gurgling noise continued to emanate from 'Gina's midsection and she flushed.
"Just...just a bit of indigestion."
The female Marine returned 'Gina's phone and rolled her eyes.
"I warned you about eating 4 hamburgers at once..."
Pelayo saw Major Gavin was blushing and seeming very preoccupied by a random rock on the ground, so she changed the subject.
"Now remember that cheat sheet I gave you."
'Gina' shrugged.
"Morning routine, evening routine, how often to wash hair, how to shave without cutting yourself, how to sit like a girl and walk like a girl, got it..."
She held up a cage.
"Seriously, you know I'm allergic to birds, right?"
The cage's occupant looked equally nonplussed. Archimedes folded his wings across his chest and huffed.
"Trust me Private, I don't like the idea of being a familiar anymore than you like being turned into a girl."
Now now, Archimedes, stop being such a grumpy old crow."
'Gina' looked and saw the wizard Merlin approaching. He was holding an old boot in one hand, which seemed random, even to the two officers and the private turned teenaged girl. Merlin continued.
"...You know this is dangerous and Private Gob- I mean Gina here needs backup, and you're her backup."
Major Gavin nodded at Merlin.
"Alright, whiskers, we've brought the pri'at here."
He looked over to Pelayo.
"Thing is, why did ya need both of us to escort her here? I mean, she ain't gonna run..."
Merlin smiled.
"Ah, yes that's right. Well, you see I thought it would be a good idea if the two of you would get in on the masquerade, so to speak."
Pelayo blushed slightly, but shook her head muttering about 'contrived coincidences', but Gavin didn't catch on as quickly.
"Come again, whiskers?"
The female Marine snorted.
"Major sir, with respect, it means that you and me are going to be posing as Gina's parents."
The major's eyes widened.
"Oh hell no! Y'all ain't turnin' me into a wizard with a ZZ Top beard or nuthin'!"
Merin chuckled at Gavin's consternation.
"Oh, not to worry Major. Neither of you will have to turned into anything, your current forms and attire will suffice."
Gavin glanced down at his ACU's and then over at Pelayo's Woodland MARPAT utes.
"I don't get it, why are we not in disguise?"
"Because your disguise is conveniently your own identity: you are both US military officers who happen to be wizards and parents to this young lady, and since there are no schools for Magic in the States you are sending her to the same school where the girl who needs protecting is attending."
Merlin set the boot down on the ground.
"Now, after I have made the conjuration, all you will have to do is step through the portal, and it will take you directly to my colleague's office, who happens to be the headmaster of this school."
The wizard paused.
"I unfortunately will not be able to accompany you, and I should point out that only the headmaster of this school is in on the mission, so to speak. None of the faculty at the school are, so keep that in mind. If questioned you are to state that you are part of the Wizarding World in America, is that understood?"
Both Gavin and Pelayo nodded. Merlin smiled at 'Gina' one last time.
"Alright, good luck to all of you, and remember what is at stake here."
Major Gavin hesitated for a moment, but took 'Gina's hand, and Pelayo took the major's hand, and all three of them stepped forward towards the boot. There was a brief moment of vertigo, but when Major Gavin got his bearings he saw that they were standing in a large, cavernous room. It reminded the major of the inside of an old church with the ancient stone walls and leaded glass windows.
The curved walls were lined with heavy wooden bookshelves that stretched up to the ceiling. In the middle of the room was a grand wooden desk with all sorts of brass oddities strewn about. Standing behind the desk was a man who could have been Merlin's twin, complete with the robes and long bushy white beard. The old wizard didn't seem surprised in the least by the new arrivals and smiled.
"Ah, you must be the friends that Merlin sent. "
Major Gavin nodded.
"Roger that, sir, y'all must be Headmaster Dumbledore."
"Indeed, but please call me Albus. We are all friends here."
Dumbledore's gaze fell on Gina. He crouched down to be at eye level with the girl.
"And you must be the soldier who volunteered for this mission. I cannot tell you how much this means to me for you to take on this task, young lady."
The girl glared at Dumbledore.
"Sit on it and rotate, Spinach-chin. I'm a pri'at in the Army, so I'm here just followin' orders."
The old wizard chuckled as he stood up.
"Excellent, sullen and antisocial, you'll fit right in. And with any luck Miss Granger will pick up on that. After all, she tends to gravitate to brainy loners."
He turned to Major Gavin, who had set down some luggage. One was an old-fashioned steamer trunk colored bright pink, the other was a military duffel bag.
"Sir, this is PFC Gobbi's gear, I'd like you to secure it until such time as the pri'at needs it."
He gestured to the steamer trunk.
"The other is Gina's school things n' clothes."
Gavin help up the cage.
"An' this is Archimedes, he's also along for th' mission."
Albus stroked his beard thoughtfully. He glanced over at the teenaged girl and then back to Major Gavin, and spoke in a lowered voice.
"Did...our mutual friend tell you what was at stake?"
Gavin shook his head.
"Only that there was a lil' gal who was in danger, an' that a soldier was needed to help keep her safe."
The old wizard shook his head ruefully.
"Ah yes, that sounds just like my old mentor and friend, both enigmatic and unhelpful..."
He looked directly at Major Gavin standing before him.
"Has...your subordinate, that is the one who is currently wearing the pleasing disguise of a pretty but sulking teenaged girl, ever killed anyone?"
Gavin gave an involuntary shudder, as memories of Dubai resurfaced unbidden.
"Um...yeah...short answer is pretty much everyone in my unit, the pri'at include, don't have clean hands."
That seemed to have just the opposite effect on Professor Dumbledore, who cheered up immediately.
"Ah, excellent! Then this mission should be a walk in the park for her."
He saw the dumbfounded look on Major Gavin's face and hastily continued.
"You see there is a dark wizard, one whose name I cannot utter here, who has set his sights on Miss Granger. And, unfortunately through his machinations managed to get the one person who could protect her expelled from Hogwarts, for this term, at least."
The major spoke up.
"Y'all mean Harry Potter, right?"
Dumbledore smiled.
"I see that the boy's reputation is known even among Muggles. Yes, and that is why this mission is so important."
Gavin neglected to mention that he read all about Harry Potter's adventures in the books, but before he could respond the old wizard clapped his hands.
"Well, I'll get one of the help to transport it to her quarters as soon as the Sorting Hat has designated her a house."
The door opened suddenly, and a tall elderly woman wearing a peaked cap walked in.
"Albus, the students are here and-"
She stopped when she saw the three individuals standing in front of Dumbledore's desk. One was a girl, clearly a new student by her clothes, and the other two looked to be her parents. The father was a burly man in his late thirties, with sunburned skin, close-cropped hair and wearing digital camouflage blouse and trousers, her mother had dark hair pulled back into a severe bun and was also wearing a kind of dark green and brown digital camo. Minerva McGonagall gave a start.
"Dumbledore! What are these Mug-er I mean, what are these people doing here?"
The headmaster gave the elderly professor a reassuring smile.
"Not to worry, Minerva. Not to worry, they're not Muggles, they're wizards."
He glanced over at Major Gavin and chuckled.
"...Albeit unconventional wizards from America, who happen to serve in the military."
Gavin straightened up.
"Major Bruce Gavin, 'Damned 33rd' Infantry Battalion, U.S. Army, I'm her father, ma'am."
He felt his 'wife' elbow his ribs, and relaxed slightly.
"And this is Linda, my wife, she's a Marine."
Minerva McGonagall was still in shock, but gave a polite nod.
"A pleasure, Major."
Dumbledore broke the silence.
"Their daughter will be enrolling this year, and they wanted to personally escort her here."
He looked over to 'Gina'.
"Their daughter hasn't been away from home, so they thought it was best."
Major Gavin gave a deprecating smile.
"Ma'am, I'm real sorry for the intrusion now, but this here's the farthest my baby girl has been from home, so I hope y'all understand."
Professor McGonagall took a moment to parse out what the major said, but then returned his smile.
"Of course, sir."
She crouched down to get a good look at the the new student. The girl had a pretty face, except for the fact that it was currently contorted into a sullen scowl. She had fair skin with rosy cheeks and long black silky hair, her violet eyes looked back at the professor. Then she opened her mouth and ruined the illusion, speaking in a drawling Southern accent.
"You Witch Hazel or sumthin'?"
The girl's mother spoke up.
"Now, now, sweetie, be nice."
"No, it's quite alright, mum. She is in...a unique situation and will react accordingly."
Major Gavin stepped forward.
"Y'all are gonna have your hands full with my baby girl, bein' raised around Army bases she is and always was a tomboy. I'd appreciate it if y'all would help her become more like a lady."
"Of course, Major."
Gavin knelt down and hugged the girl.
"Now, y'all be good and study real hard, and don't geit into any trouble y'hear? I may be gettin' deployed, but I'm still only a 10 hour flight away so I will personally come out of the Sandbox and spank yer little butt if y'all try anything, got it?"
The girl nodded sullenly.
"Roger th- I mean, yes daddy."
He stood up, then her mother knelt down and gave a more affectionate hug.
"Now remember sweetie, try to make friends, and don't forget why you're here, alright?"
She pinched her daughter's cheek, something that clearly annoyed the girl.
The professor noticed that the mother had a tattoo on her arm, but dismissed it, as Americans were different. She watched as both the parents left through a portal and vanished. Then she turned her attention back to Gina.
"Well, come along then, I'll send for your luggage after you've been Sorted."
Gina followed the professor out the door to the headmaster's office and into a wide, dark hallway. It felt like the inside of an old church or a cathedral, there were no other students or faculty as they crossed Hogwarts' main hall. They passed by several paintings, all of which came to life and stared at the newcomer, but Gina didn't notice. The young private turned witchling's mind was elsewhere.
All the time Gina was with Major Gavin and Captain Pelayo the private had some form of security, at some level she could still call herself PFC Gobbi because there were familiar reminders of the private's old life. Now, with them both gone, the enormity of the mission had finally hit Gina, she knew there was no going back, no backup and that she was going to be stuck in the body of a 15 year old girl until the mission was over. A terrible thought hit Gobbi/Gina, what if this took longer than a few weeks? What if this lasted for the whole school year? A dark corner of the private's mind even offered the unthinkable, that this mission could last several school years. She was interrupted in her thoughts by Professor McGonagall's voice.
"Is everything alright, Miss Gavin?"
Gina refocused, and saw that both she and the professor were standing by a pair of enormous wooden doors. The girl's guts tightened at the prospect of seeing other students and others seeing her like this. She needed a moment to process all of this.
"Er...I gotta pi-ah that is I have to use the bathroom. Where's the commode in this dungeon?"
The professor's face registered confusion, but then a light went off.
"Ah, yes you are referring to the restrooms."
She pointed to a side entrance on the opposite side from the doors.
"The girls' loo is over there."
Gina nodded and started towards the smaller doorway, when she almost reached it Gina heard Professor McGonagall call out to her.
"I will be waiting inside the Great Hall, just come in and I'll be there waiting!"
Gina turned her head.
"Alright! I'll be right out!"
She was still looking back as she turned a blind corner into the restroom, and collided with another girl. The collision had them both land on the ground opposite each other, Gina was rubbing her forehead from the impact and spoke up involuntarily.
"Aw shit!"
Gina covered her mouth immediately, and looked over to the other girl. She was about the same age as Gina, with bright blue eyes and shoulder-length blonde hair. The girl was wearing the black robes that students wore, but the private turned witchling couldn't register what House the girl belonged to. She blinked a couple of times.
"Oh, sorry for running into you, I should have been paying more attention..."
The girl spoke with a soft voice with a slight London East End accent. Then her attention focused on Gina, and spoke up again.
"You're an American! Are you a new student?"
Gina rubbed the back of her head nervously.
"Um yeah, my folks transferred me here..."
The girl gave Gina a genuine friendly smile.
"Oh, that's wonderful! My name's Nanette, Nanette Wilson. I'm a 3rd year."
"Mine's Gina Gavin, I'll be a 3rd year as well."
Nanette stood up, and helped Gina up as well.
"Well, I have to get back to the feast, I'll see you later!"
Gina barely was able to wave at the girl before she left the restroom, leaving the private alone again. Slowly she made her way to the row of sinks in the bathroom, and turned on the taps. She looked up at the mirror, and had to suppress an involuntary yelp at the sight of a girl looking back in the reflection. There was a loud rap on the doorframe, and she heard Professor McGonagall's voice.
"Miss Gavin, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'll be out in a second!"
Gina sighed and turned off the water.
"Welcome to the shit-show, private. Time to embrace the suck, and prepare your asshole for the Big Green Weenie."
As she left the professor was standing outside, and led Gina through a small pass-through door on one of the larger double doors. Inside was the school's Great Hall, Gobbi had been debriefed about every aspect of Hogwarts as part of her new assignment, but the sheer size and scale of the place took her breath away. She didn't resist as Professor McGonagall took her hand and led her up the main aisle to a dais at the front of the Hall where Dumbledore and the rest of the faculty were sitting.
Dumbledore saw Gina and gave her a small, reassuring smile. He then stood up and spoke up in a voice that cut through all the chatter in the Great Hall.
"Dear students, if I may have your attention, I have an announcement to make."
He paused and beckoned Gina to approach, which the girl obediently followed. The headmaster continued.
"...before we begin our dinner feast, there is someone I would like to introduce you to. We have a new transfer student, this one heralds all the way from America, and just arrived this afternoon. After she has been Sorted I want all of you to make sure she feels welcome, whatever House she is assigned to. She's never been to a school like Hogwarts, after all."
He turned.
"May I introduce Miss Regina Gavin."
Gina felt like a bug pinned on a card under a spotlight and a microscope. If there was a 'Damned' sleeper then that soldier probably knew now. She fidgeted nervously and crossed one foot behind the other.
"Um, hi? My name's Gina, nice to meet y'all."
There was a slight ripple of laughter through the student body at her thick Kentucky twang, but it was stopped as the Sorting Hat was brought out. Gina wasn't paying attention, she was instead fuming at being stuck in this shit-show.
"Fuckin' Spinach Chin, this is all his fault. I swear, if I get outta this in one piece with my balls intact I'm strapping that old goat to the ground and Wily-Pete'ing his nutsack..."
Then her world went dark, as something heavy was placed on her head. It felt old, and smelled like mothballs. Then it surprised the private-turned-witchling by talking. The Sorting Hat spoke.
"Ahhhh, a new student...And from America, no less. Hmmm...Cunning, Resourceful, even a bit Heroic...Ahhh and there's That. Alright, no mistaking whose house this girl belongs in..."
The Sorting Hat raised it's voice.
"House Slytherin!"
Then as quickly as it was placed on Gina's head it was taken off, and she could see again. It took about three seconds for her new house selection to register.
"Wait, what?!"
She saw the headmaster smiling at her.
"Hold on, wait! I wasn't ready for it!"
Dumbledore gave her a pleasant smile and replied as if she hadn't even spoken.
"Congratulations, Miss Gavin. I believe your House table is over there on the left."
Defeated, Gina slipped off the dais and made her way across the dining hall. As she passed by the Ravenclaw table she heard a few of them mutter under their breathes.
"...bloody Septic...wouldn't you know she's be Slytherin..."
"...`eard her mum and dad are both military...makes sense now..."
One girl, a pretty redhead sitting at the Gryffindor table, stopped a conversation when she heard the name "Gavin."
Polly Perkins shrugged. It had to be a coincidence.
Gina approached the Slytherin table, suddenly the private turned teenaged girl felt sick to her stomach. Here she was being assigned to the one House that was the mortal enemies of Gryffindor, and by that extension the one person she was assigned to protect.
As she got closer Gina caught the scrutiny of her charge's and Harry Potter's nemesis, Draco Malfoy. She also recognized Pansy Parkinson next to him. Gina also got a second shock when she saw Nanette sitting at the table a few places over from Draco. She gave Gina a friendly wave, and pointed to an empty seat next to her.
"Hallo Gina! Here's a free seat!"
As Gina took her seat she felt every eye on the table staring at her. Right off the bat the young blonde snob spoke up patronizingly.
"Well, this is first, we've never had one of...our cousins from across the Atlantic in House Slytherin."
There was a wave of muted chuckling from the table, which was silenced by a gesture on his part. He stared at Gina.
"So, both your parents were wizards?"
Gina knew what Draco was insinuating, he was testing the waters to make sure the newcomer was a pureblood. If you're gonna to play a role, play hardball, the private turned witchling thought to herself. She gave a nod.
"Yeah, yeah I know yer all uptight `cuz I'm a Yankee that sounds like Daisy from the Dukes of Hazzard, but rest assured, the're ain't no mudbloods in my family woodpile."
Her uttering the slur against muggles seemed to defrost Draco, but he continued.
"What form of wizards are your parents?"
"They're purebloods who trace their lineage all the way back to th' Mayflower. They hide in plain sight, among the muggles. Daddy is an officer in the U.S. Army and Momma's a Marine."
She saw the puzzled look, and continued.
It's a trend among the wizards in America, to infiltrate all levels of Muggle society, especially in the military and law enforcement, because it'll make it easier for us to control the muggles when the time comes."
She saw that the Malfoy kid was lapping up her BS. Time to go in for the kill, Gina thought.
"I know what yer thinkin', Draco, but just because we live across the Atlantic doesn't mean we're not into blood purity. Remember we still have the Klan, and those damn inbred hillbillies are just fixated on race. We have our own version of that. And we still lynch mudbloods who try to pollute the purebloods."
Gina felt sick to her stomach as she spoke. The words felt rancid as they rolled off her tongue, and in reality the private was parroting some racist asshole in his class at the high school back in Kentucky, motherfucker was a Klansman in all but name only. But her words had the desired effect, the Malfoy boy seemed impressed. He tried unsuccessfully to seem nonchalant, and gave a patronizing bow.
"Well, Miss Gavin, consider me impressed. Both your parents are purebloods, and it seems as though you embrace the views of our founder Salazar Slytherin, then you are in the right house. Welcome to House Slytherin, cousin from across the Atlantic."
She gave a nod.
"Thanks, I know this accent's gonna get some gettin' used to, just like me being in a Brit school for wizards is gonna take me getting some used to. I appreciate any and all help y'all can give."
She noticed that Pansy was giving her a dagger glare, and it seemed lost on her. She turned over to Nanette, who was much more friendly.
"Well, you seemed to make a good impression on Draco."
Gina feigned ignorance. Although the Malfoy kid's views were plain as day, this new girl's views weren't so easy to read.
"Izzat a good thing?"
Nanette smiled.
"Well, he has a lot of clout in House Slytherin, so yes..."
She leaned in and lowered her voice.
"But please tell me all that rubbish you were saying about purebloods was just to impress him, though?"
The private turned witchling shrugged sheepishly.
"Too much?"
Nanette seemed relieved, and smiled.
"Yeah, it was a bit overwrought, but fortunately the Malfoys are so fanatical about blood purity that they'll buy anyone from anyone who says the same."
"Well, I'm more of a live and let live type."
Their conversation was interrupted as Draco spoke up again.
"Ah, you know Nanette? That is excellent, they have a free spot in the Slytherin dorm room. I'll have your luggage sent there."
AN: And there is the first what will be a series of twists to this story. Our intrepid 'hero' is now having to sleep alongside the enemy, so to speak. Let's hope PFC Gobbi can focus on the mission and not get caught up in all the politics of the school :)
I'm hoping to get another chapter out sooner than this one, apologies to everyone for the delay. I've started a new job but it should give me more time to write once I get settled in as I'm doing WFH. Until then, please follow/fav and leave comments!