Book Two: An Officer and a Witchling


"We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are."

― Professor Albus Dumbledore


Bio Profile: SFC Robert Barnes

Faction: The Damned

If Pilton is a villain in the true sense of the word, then Sergeant First Class Robert Barnes is somewhere between tragic villain and fallen hero. The man that would become Wild Bill's henchman was born in Pennsylvania in 1977. The only son and the oldest of five children, Barnes' parents were farmers, and as a kid he dreamed of escaping the monotony of rural farm life. The army provided just such a getaway, and he enlisted less than a week after graduating in June of 1995.

Built like a linebacker and standing over 6 feet tall, Barnes was exceptionally tough, but being of average intelligence, which would later leave him open to manipulation by Captain Pilton. Barnes served in the 1999 Kosovo War, and then in Iraq and Afghanistan. After multiple tours of duty with the 11th "Blackhorse" cavalry regiment, he was transferred to the 33rd in August of 2003 and deployed to Iraq with the rest of the unit as part of "the surge" the following year. He was terribly wounded in the same attack that killed the 33rd's commander, Colonel Dave Harvie, and medevac'd to Germany. Barnes spent six months recovering from his injuries, and returned to the 33rd with a purple heart and skin grafts to his face, just in time for what would be the 33rd's last Afghan deployment.

Nicknamed "Old Thunder" because he was the longest serving NCO in the 33rd after CSM Wolfe, Barnes felt isolated after he returned. Partly because of his demons and partly because of his scarring as a result of his injuries, he had trouble relating to other soldiers of the 33rd, even within Kilo Company. Promoted to Sergeant First Class, Barnes was assigned as the platoon sergeant of 2nd Platoon, reporting to 1SG Dossler of Pilton's Kilo Company. Seeing Barnes as a useful tool for advancing his various goals, the shrewd and highly intelligent captain befriended and ruthlessly manipulated Barnes, convincing him to do and say things he normally wouldn't by subliminally bribing him with things such as a satellite phone to call his family (Barnes has a wife and teenaged daughter) and offering clever lies and false justifications for their actions. Ironically, Barnes' wife and daughter would be involved in a car accident that would take both their lives in the final days of Kabul, further damaging the sergeant's already fragile moral compass.

In Dubai, the unhealthy dynamic between the two men continued, and Pilton ramped up his efforts as Barnes, a decent man at heart, struggled to cope with the things he witnessed and did under orders in Dubai. When the big NCO befriended LT McPherson, Pilton made sure to keep his already much hated XO at a distance, while ironically convincing Barnes that McPherson was only using him to gain rank and power. Over time, Pilton managed to mold his senior into a useful enforcer, and Barnes began to use Pilton's orders as a convenient excuse and justification for the things he saw and did, playing right into the captain's hand, but he still struggled internally to come to grips with the harsh realities of life in sand-swept Dubai. Unlike his commander Barnes took no joy from the atrocities they committed, and by suffered horrible mental trauma from it, but true to his stoic nature he never could work up the nerve to confront his commanding officer.

Barnes was killed alongside Pilton and the majority of the rest of Kilo Company during the confrontation with Lieutenant Colonel Long and his mutineers at the airport confrontation that kicked off the Mutiny of the 33rd.


Hermoine Granger fled down an alleyway, her heart pounding her chest from the exertion and fear. In the darkness she heard a small femine voice call out to her.

"Over here!"

Cautiously the Granger girl crept forward past a few upturned dustbins to a large rusted dumpster. As she rounded the corner Hermione let out a sigh of relief. One of her classmates, a tall redhead from Gryffindor, was crouched behind a dumpster. She gestured frantically.

"Come, we need to hide!"

A noise in the streets made both of them jump. Both of the streetlights flickered, then the bulbs burst in a shower of sparks. The CCTV cameras on both of them shorted out, their red LED lights faded to black.

Then two ominous cloaked forms stepped forward into the street. One of them stepped over the body of a police constable. The PC lay on her side, right hand outstretched as if reaching for something. Dark crimson stained her yellow and white reflective jacket. As the Death Eater stepped away the dead PC's radio crackled to life.

"Shots fired! Shots fired! I repeat we have an armed encounter with Shots Fired! Officer down, I repeat, we have an officer down! Request CAS-Evac and immediate backup with AFO's to support."

Hermione Granger never considered herself brave, relying on wits and subterfuge to get out of situations that called for violence. But now cornered, her small hand enclosed around her wand, and she gripped it with a ferocity. She turned to her classmate.

"I'll distract them, you make a run for it!"

Herminone scarcely heard her classmate call out for her to stop when she stepped out into view. Before she could even get out an incantation a blue bolt of lightning burned her hand. Yelping in pain, she dropped her wand and fell to her knees. Through the haze of pain, she saw both the cloaked Death Eaters approaching, she swore that she could hear a familiar evil laugh.

One of them threw back her cloak, revealing the sneering face of Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Well, we meet again, mudblood. And without your precious Harry Potter to save you…"

The female Death Eater leveled her wand at Hermione.

"I will curry much favour from our Dark Lord for killing you…"

Suddenly there was a sharp, loud crack that echoed down the alleyway. All of the denizens of the Wizarding World flinched at the sound, but Hermione most of all. She recognized and knew the sound, and moreover knew what made that sound. It was the sound of a pistol being fired.

All except Bellatrix Lestrange, who didn't react sound of the gunshot. She stared straight ahead, as if in a trance, then glanced down at a growing dark spot on her chest before sinking to the ground slowly. The other Death Eater spun around, but was unable to even raise his wand before two more shots rang out. The cloaked Death Eater jerked twice like a marionette, then crumpled to the ground.

Hermione stared at the two lifeless assailants, her ears still ringing from the shots in the confined space of the alley. Then she was vaguely aware of echoing footfalls approaching her. A figure, holding a smoking handgun emerged from the shadows. She saw the the figure was about her size, and the hooded robe was a Hogwarts robe. Her hopes briefly soared, until she saw that the house colors on the robe were Slytherin.

She still could not make out the person's face. Then, when the person stood over the two dead bodies, a familiar voice spoke up.

"Well, Hermione Granger, we meet again..."

"Stay away from her!"

Hermione turned, and her fellow Gryffindor student was standing up with her wand drawn. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw the Slytherin student aim the handgun at the student.

"Funny, I could say the same thing..."

The Slytherin's hood turned over to look at Hermione, who had also drawn her wand, pointing it at the Slytherin stranger. She heard the hooded stranger laugh.

"Looks like we have ourselves a Mexican standoff..'cept wizards 'stead of Mexicans…"


(AN: I have re-arranged the original AOAW story in favor a new cold opening and consolidating some chapters. I think it works better than what I originally had set up. So this is the continuation of Book One from Of Privates, Princess, and Dragons, I have waffled back and forth on how to approach this new story, so I am going to make the overall story broken up into individual books. So this is a continuation from OPPD, and I was inspired to write this by an older Harry Potter fic. This book is a solid M for mature, because the themes are much darker and more SO:TL than the Disney crossover, and even in some cases darker than Zulu Squad No Tsukaima. Anyways, there are themes in here that some may find objectionable, so ye be warned.)


(August 21st, Wiltshire, England 2134 hours local time)

Along country road, the peaceful night air was broken by the snarl of diesel engines. Two sets of headlights pierced the gloom, heralding military trucks which drove along the country road. The lead HUMVEE made an abrupt turn, and charged unchallenged through opened wrought iron gates of an estate, and continued up a gravel path hemmed on both sides with high shrubs. A large manor house loomed ahead. It looked ancient, gloomy and about as inviting as a haunted house, with baroque stonework, pitch-black windows like soulless eyes, and sharply-peaked turrets that jutted from the roof like sharpened talons.

The two HUMVEEs rumbled to a stop in front of the manor house's entrance, their diesel engines idling. Then the lights winked off, the engines cut, and doors opened, revealing US Army soldiers wearing ACUs who exited, taking up defensive positions on the driveway as if the manor was a terrorist safehouse. One soldier on point of the lead HUMVEE, an older NCO whose scarred face betrayed no emotion, swept his line of fire. He barked out.

"Clear, sir!"

The passenger door of the lead HUMVEE opened, revealing the smirking face of Captain Bill Pilton, who was in the process of lighting a cigarette. He snapped his Zippo shut and spoke up.

"So, this is the hideout of the dark wizard who's obsessed with the boy-who-lived and the one everyone's shitting their pants about."

He took a drag, exhaled and directed his attention to the audience.

"Yeah, I know, it's not part of Disney canon, but I'm doing this as a favor for a mutual friend. Should be fun though."

He nodded to his squad of the 'Damned' 33rd.

"Still not taking any chances, not when dealing with wizards. Especially rogue dark-magic wielding wizards that think non-magic users are inferior species."

He patted the Glock 17 in his shoulder holster.

"Me, I'll take trusty ol' American firepower and kinetic weapons over wands any day of the week."

Pilton nodded over to the soldiers.

"Barnes, keep the perimeter secured. Perkins, fall in, you're with me."

The lieutenant, fully decked out in his spec-ops body armor and tactical helmet with GPNVG's, rose up from his position.

"Roger that, sir!"

The captain regarded Perkins, then responded in a low but sarcastic voice.

"Lieutenant, I know I'm going to regret asking, but why are your wearing your Oakley's at night?"

They're my eyepro, sir. Gotta be ready for anything!"

Pilton shook his head and addressed the audience again.

"Still High Speed...I swear that fucking idiot wears his full battle-rattle to bed."

He pushed open the doors of the estate and walked in uninvited, ignoring the icy stares of the butlers and footmen. The commander of Kilo Company continued past a grand staircase and through another door, deeper into the darkened corridors of the manor. The only sound was the footfalls of their boots echoing off marble floors and the rustling of Lt. Perkins' gear. It was dark enough that Perkins had switched on the rail-mounted light on his FN F2000 as he swept the room, before opening the next door. When they crossed the third room Pilton spoke up in an irritated voice.

"Lieutenant Perkins, it is not necessary to sweep the room and say 'Clear'. We're in friendly territory, secure your weapon and follow."

Perkins complied, and Pilton, sparing the audience an exasperated glance, continued. Finally they came to the end of a hall gallery of paintings, up to a set of grand double doors. The leader of the 'Damned' paused.

"Listen, Lieutenant, what happens next might come as a bit of a shock, but no matter what, just roll with it, okay?"

Perkins gave a cocky grin.

"No worries, sir! I got this!"

Pilton suppressed another sigh and pushed the double doors open. They opened to a large open room that was the size of a football field, and was probably originally meant to be a dining room. Several figures clad in black cloaks were standing in the shadows, but Pilton ignored them, walking straight up to a figure seated at the head of a long table. The person seated was gaunt, with pallid skin and slits for nostrils gave a small nod of acknowledgement to the captain. It spoke in a low, sinister wheeze.

"You have come."

Pilton pulled up a chair and sat down.

"In the flesh, Tom."

He saw a couple of the cloaked figures give a start, and one of them, with a heavy Eastern European accent, spoke.

"Show respect, Muggle!'

Pilton ignored it, but spoke to Perkins, who had nervously brought his FN F2000 to bear.

"Stand down, lieutenant. We're all friends here, aren't we, Tom Riddle...or should I say Lord Voldemort?"

The gaunt figure gave an evil smile, and continued to speak in a voice that was scarcely a whisper.

"Whatever suits you, Captain Pilton. I trust that our...mutual Friend has sufficiently debriefed you?"

Pilton glanced back at the lieutenant and then back to Lord Voldemort.

"Lord Alduin said that there was soon-to-be corpse whose location and name you knew. And that it required a soldier to do it. Apart from that He was rather stingy with the deets."

Voldemort gave a slight smile that was completely devoid of any warmth.

"Would it bother you if I told you the intended target was a mere child?"

Pilton shrugged.

"Wouldn't be the first time we faced child soldiers. If it's part of the mission, and gets me one step closer to apprehending LTC Long, don't care if we have to shoot up a school bus full of kids and a cardboard box full of cute puppies. Who's the target?"

The dark wizard withdrew a photograph from the folds of his cloak, and offered it to Pilton. The captain accepted, and examined it. It was a photo of a girl about 15 years old with mousy brown hair. He handed the photo back.

"Doesn't look much like a threat to national security to me."

"Ah, but there, Captain Pilton, you are wrong. This girl, one Hermione Granger, is all that stands between me and my plans to take control of the wizarding world. My...nemesis has been expelled from the school, but she is one of his compatriots."

He pointed with a slender, pale finger at the photo.

"This girl, she could still stop me. And that cannot happen. If that were to transpire, the balance of good and evil will be upset, and chaos will ensue."

He looked directly at Pilton.

"That is where you come in; I need someone who knows how to kill and will do so unquestioningly."

The Dark Lord gave a cold smile.

"A man of your...unique background should understand such things."

Pilton glanced down at the photo again.

"Why us? Why not send one of your Death Eating Fan Club?"

Lord Voldemort slowly shook his head.

"Regretfully, the headmaster is already on alert, and he is very attuned to those who wield dark magic. So it has to be a muggle, who can wield non-magical weapons, ideally a soldier. Namely, one of your men."

The captain nodded.

"Alright, if it's a favor for our mutual friend, and it helps complete the mission, then we're in."

The dark wizard leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers.

"Excellent. Just one final detail. Who will you be sending on this mission?"

Pilton gestured to the lieutenant.

"That would be 2nd Lt. Perkins here."

Lord Voldemort looked over to the lieutenant, nervously glancing about the room. If the dark wizard had eyebrows, he would have raised one. The dark lord spoke again in a low, menacing voice.

"Is he up to the task?"

Pilton shrugged.

"He's High Speed, but he's also served several tours in Afghanistan and Iraq and managed not to get himself killed. Not to mention the shit-show that was Dubai...so I'd say yes, he's good to go."

Voldemort nodded, then motioned to a couple standing nervously by the fireplace. Judging by the portraits that permeated the estate, they must be the owners, a man and a woman. Both looked like aristocrats, but looked deathly scared.

"There is one final detail. In order for this mission to succeed a certain amount of...subterfuge is in order."

The man stepped forward. Pilton managed to get a good look at him, the man had long pale blonde hair, pale blue eyes and was wearing dark but exquisitely tailored clothes. The man withdrew a small flask from his waistcoat, then offered it to Voldemort. The dark wizard accepted it, then turned to the lieutenant.

"Lt. Perkins, is it? Come forward."

Perkins secured his weapon and approached. Lord Voldemort offered the flask to the soldier.

"Drink."

The lieutenant took the flask, then glanced nervously at Captain Pilton, who gave a reassuring nod.

"S'okay Perkins, chug away."

Without hesitation Perkins took the stopper off and chugged it. Immediately he started in a coughing fit.

"W-what the fuck was that shit?"

The lieutenant looked over to Voldemort, who smiled evilly.

"A variation on a Polyjuice potion, and necessary for you to blend in to your surroundings."

Pilton was at the lieutenant's side.

"Easy does it, Loot. This might hurt a bit, but you've been through OTS, this is nothing."

Perkins sunk to his knees, grasping his sides.

"It fuckin' hurts! Feels like my bones are cracking apart!"

He glanced over to Voldemort, who shrugged.

"The transformation is not without its...side effects."

Pilton directed his attention back to Perkins.

It's just pain, fight through it. You got this lieutenant!"

Perkins staggered off into a darkened corner, mewling in pain. Then it stopped, and a figure stood up. It was shorter than the lieutenant, and put a gloved hand to its head.

"Fuck beans that hurt."

But the voice was off, and Perkins seemed to notice that, as the soldier pulled off a shooting glove. It revealed a slender, feminine hand.

"Oh shit."

The voice, far from Perkins' normal nasal voice, was a feminine voice, furthermore speaking in a posh British accent.

"What in the actual fuck did you do to me?"

The lieutenant wrenched off his combat helmet, causing a dramatic reveal. A mane of strawberry red hair cascaded out, revealing also the features of a beautiful girl in her teens. Pilton chuckled.

"Well, lieutenant, I can say with certainty that it's an improvement."

Perkins glared at Voldemort, and took a step forward.

"I said, what did you do to me, you noseless fucking cunt-rag-"

The dark wizard smiled, because the sound of a crude soldier's rant coming from the mouth of a pretty girl speaking with a posh accent was amusing. The other part of Voldemort's amusement came from the fact that the rest of the girl's rant was cut short as her ACU trousers slipped down, causing her to trip and fall flat on her face, her helmet clattered off to the side. For a moment the girl just lay face down on the marble floor, only a sound of soft sobbing was heard. Her ACU trousers and belt were around her ankles and her slender bare legs were on display, her shapely buttocks only barely covered by the length of the uniform shirt. Finally Perkins pushed herself up, propping her head with her hands. She wiped away tears as she sputtered.

"Why? Why me?"

Pilton approached and crouched down beside her.

"Because Lieutenant, this is an important mission that I couldn't leave to just to any-"

He paused, glancing at the audience.

"Yeah, I know you're not buying it. And I'll bet the loot ain't buying it either. No sense in sugar-coating a shit sandwich."

He glanced back at the sobbing girl, who was looked up at Pilton through a curtain of hair. She had striking blue-grey eyes. (AN: visual is Molly Quinn from Finding Hope, with long hair). He pushed some of the hair out of her face and wiped away some of Perkin's tears.

"Well, shit. I guess I can't stand to see a pretty girl cry. Look Perkins I'll level with you, the men found out about the mission, and they all nominated you because isn't a difficult task and honestly you wouldn't be missed."

He grinned.

"But, look on the bright side, at least now you don't have to watch porn, all you need is a big mirror. An' you get to see what the inside of the ladies' room looks like."

Pilton glanced up, and Voldemort held up a forestalling hand.

"To answer your next question, yes the process is reversible, providing your soldier completes his..."

He paused and gave Perkins a cruel smile.

"...I mean, her mission. Consider it an incentive."

The captain nodded and helped Perkins to her feet. She stood unsteadily, trying to balance the 50 odd pounds of gear and armor in her 100 pound 15 year old frame. And struggling to keep her trousers up. He looked over to the man wearing the extravagant robes and pale blonde hair.

"Ah...buddy, sorry I didn't catch your name? I don't suppose you would have any female clothes I could borrow in her size?"

The man looked fearfully at Voldemort, who gave a dismissive gesture.

"Well, Lucius Malfoy? Our guest asked you a request, it would be rude not to reply. I'm sure your wife Narcissa still has some of her old clothes when she was in school..."


(15 minutes later)

SFC Barnes was still standing guard over his corner of the HUMVEE, when his radio crackled to life.

"Kilo One-Two, this is Kilo Actual, we are Oscar Mike, ETA five mikes. Get ready to move out."

Barnes keyed his radio and grunted.

"Roger that."

He turned and nodded to a young soldier wearing a bandana and another soldier wearing a boonie hat and a balaclava.

"Coop, you and Bunny fire up the HUMVEEs, get ready to pop smoke."

He heard a "roger that" from Martzen, and heard Cooper grunt out a "Lickey Chickey." He then switched channels.

"Kilo One-One, this is Kilo One-Two; have your chalk fall back into secondary transport, Kilo One-Two will follow."

He got a squawk, and for a moment the older NCO's choler rose at the company 1st Sergeant's slight. His thoughts were interrupted as the door opened, revealing Captain Pilton. Curiously enough he was carrying a large duffel bag. He gave Barnes a nod, then turned, addressing someone in the the manor but unseen.

"Well? No time like the present."

What emerged from the open door shocked every soldier of Kilo Company. It wasn't Lt. Perkins who emerged the manor with Pilton. It was an attractive girl in her teens, with red hair bound up in a hairband, and long legs that were on display thanks to the long-sleeved floral minidress she was wearing. She awkwardly followed Pilton down the stairs, her head bowed, and stumbling occasionally with her wedge heels. Based off the way she walked Barnes figured the girl was unaccustomed to walking in those type of shoes. It brought back an unwelcome memory about his own daughter, who would be about the same age as the girl. As she got closer Barnes noticed that tears were streaming down the girl's cheeks.

As she approached the lead HUMVEE Pilton opened the back door for the girl, and she shyly stepped in and sat down in the back seat. Pilton then opened the front passenger door and got in. The girl tried to brush some hair out of her face, and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Barrigan, who was manning the MK-19 turret, glanced down.

"Dayum, Capt'n! Where did you find this pretty lil' white girl? And what's up with her Austin Powers getup?"

Pilton chuckled but didn't reply. Instead he looked over to Cooper, who was having trouble not staring in the rear view mirror.

"Coop, screw your eyeballs back into their sockets, you're ogling. Let's go. We've got a mission."

He then looked back at the girl, who was trying to stay as far away from Barnes and Barrigan as possible. The two sergeants were staring at the girl as if she were an apparition and not real. Barnes finally broke the silence.

"Um, sir? Where's High Speed at? And why is this hippie-chick ridin' shotgun?"

Pilton finished lighting his cigarette, then finally Pilton spoke to SFC Barnes.

"C'mon Bob, don't tell me you don't recognize one of our own?"

He lit a cigarette and gestured to the girl.

"This pretty little sweetheart is our very own Lt. Perkins, in the flesh, or should I say, in the dress."

Pilton glanced back at the girl and raised his eyebrows.

"Well, lieutenant? Let's not keep the boys in suspense, shall we?"

Finally the girl wiped away her tears with her sleeve and spoke up in a post British-accented voice.

"Look, gentlemen, I know this is going to be hard, but the captain's right. I'm Lt. Perkins."

There was dead silence in the cab of the HUMVEE, the only sound being the diesel engines idling. Out of the blue Cooper started chuckling, then all the soldiers burst out with raucous laughter, while the girl frowned and spoke again, her posh accent was at odds with the vulgarities that spewed out.

"C'mon guys, it's not fucking funny!"

The girl turned to Pilton, who was chuckling as well.

"For fuck's sake Captain, with all due respect, you're just making it worse."

She glared at Barnes and Barrigan.

"Shit the fucking bed sergeants, you should at least respect the rank, I outrank both of you!"

Cooper let go of the steering wheel and grasped his sides laughing.

"Yep, that's our High Speed alright, underneath all that sweet sugary coating that is."

Even the grim Barnes gave a chuckle. Finally the senior NCO spoke.

"Sir, or rather, ma'am, with all due respect, you're a cute red-headed teenaged girl who sounds like Mary Poppins. The men barely respected yer boot-ass when you were a guy, with your current sitch, I wouldn't hold my breath."

The girl gave an exasperated sigh and looked to Pilton.

"Sir, please?"

Pilton, who finished his cigarette, shook his head.

"Sorry Lieutenant, can't help ya there."

Cooper decided to put the loot out of his misery by changing the subject.

"So, Capt'n, where to?"

Pilton glanced back at the girl.

"Back to FOB Kilo Alpha, we have a busy day tomorrow. Our lieutenant is enrolling in a magical school for wizards and witches, so we have some shopping to do tomorrow."

The captain yawned and checked his watch.

"Well, it's been a long day, so I'm grabbing some shuteye. Sar'ent Barnes?"

"Sir?"

"We're heading back to base, but if anything happens wake me, otherwise you're in charge."

"Roger that."

With that the leader of Kilo Company settled in and tilted his head back. Cooper put the HUMVEE in gear followed the lead HUMVEE, which pulled a U-turn, knocking over several potted plants that lined the driveway. Both HUMVEEs left the grounds as quickly as they arrived, driving off into the night.

Soon, the only sounds in the cabin of the HUMVEE was rumbling of the diesel engines and the occasional rattle and squeak as it went over a bump or pothole. Finally the same feminine voice spoke up softly.

"Sgt. Barnes."

Barnes, who clearly annoyed at being interrupted from reading a worn copy of Lone Survivor by penlight, grunted irritatedly.

"Hmmm?"

"When...when you said earlier about the men, I mean them not respecting me `cuz I'm a boot, was that true?"

The senior NCO switched off his penlight and snapped his book shut, scowling. It should have been enough of a warning, most soldiers in Kilo Company knew that look.

"With all due respect, lieutenant, just forget it."

Perkins lowered her head.

"S'not fair...this is the worst..."

"Quit being such a whiny bitch!"

Barnes' sudden growl shook Perkins, and she looked up. The older sergeant was glaring at her, leaning in and show the scars on his face.

"At least once this mission is over you get to be turned back into a boot-loot, an' go back to normal. Do you know what I'd give to get any of my men that I lost in that IED attack? Or my old face?"

Perkins recoiled back a bit from Barnes' glaring face, then closed her eyes and started crying again.

"You-you don't have to be such a fucking asshole about it!"

The old sergeant had opened his mouth to retort, but couldn't find the words.

SFC Barnes figured he'd been in the Army twenty-five years, lost at least two-dozen men under his command, lead countless missions that were complete clusterfucks, and lost track of the number of mouth-breathing boot butterbar loots he had to babysit, but his scar-tissue armored hide still had its vulnerable spots. The number-one chink in his armor was a sobbing teenaged girl. He reached behind him and grabbed a box of wet-wipes.

"Ahhhh shit...loot, eighty-six the cryin'. You don't want the men to think you're a crybaby in addition to being a boot, do ya?"

Perkins accepted one of the wipes and blew her nose while Barnes continued.

"C'mon, look loot, it won't be that bad."

The lead HUMVEE's brake lights came on, and Martzen's voice came through the static of the radio.

"This Kilo One-Five, eyes on FOB Kilo Alpha, going inside the wire..."

Turning onto a narrow, wooded lane the HUMVEEs drove for half a mile before turning off into a walled and gated entrance that opened via remote. The military trucks followed the paved drive past a garden and four acres of fruit trees. In the clearing of the orchard the dark silhouette of an AH-J6 'Little Bird' helicopter, bristling with armaments, was visible. There was a small amount of light coming from a campfire that showed CW4 Miller wanted to stand guard over his chopper, 'Freebird'. Finally the convoy came to a halt in front of a detached garage that looked more like a carriage house. Parked next to the garage was a heavily armored and armed Stryker Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The soldiers filed out one by one, until only Pilton and Perkins were left.

"Well, let's go."

Forward Operating Base Kilo Alpha was actually a Class II restored former vicarage manor, although modest in comparison to the Malfoy Estate it still boasted over 4,000 square feet and 5 acres of hedged property. Privacy was a big thing, when you're hiding two military HUMVEE's with armed turrets, an armored personnel carrier and a AH-J6 Little Bird. The front door opened and the tall ceilings echoed with the reverberation of combat boots on wood flooring.

Pilton took Perkins by the hand and started leading her upstairs. He stopped on the second step and turned to address the rest of Kilo Company.

"Men, feel free to recreate however you feel appropriate."

He turned to Dossler and Barnes.

"1SG Dossler and SFC Barnes will supervise the dispensing of alcoholic beverages, all soldiers are limited to two drinks, no exceptions."

The leader of the 'Damned' watched as the Interrogator unlocked the liquor cabinet and started dispensing drinks to the other soldiers. He glanced back to Perkins.

"Come along."

Captain Pilton led Perkins up the stairs to a hallway and opened the first door on the the left. It must have been the master bedroom, because it was huge and had its own bathroom.

"This is you. I will be posting Barnes and Dossler in shifts guarding your room in case the men get too drunk and get funny ideas, but I would still lock the door if it were me. And don't open it for anyone but me."


(AN: So, the reason for this story is to develop some of the members of the 'Damned', who up until now have just been 'the bad guys'. Specifically SFC Barnes and Lt. Perkins. And yes, the sarge is based off of Sgt. Barnes from Platoon. I always felt that his character in the movie was woefully under-developed, that Oliver Stone should have made him a more nuanced character than just a straight up Death-Seeking Blood Knight. Anyways, as previously mentioned this this arc is going to be bumped up to Mature, for reasons that will be evident shortly.

On a practical note the reason for Perkins' unique clothes is that according HP fluff Narcissa (nee Black) Malfoy attended Hogwarts from 1966-1972, so any clothes she had as a teen would be from the late 1960's. Late 1960's England = Carnaby Street, aka Austin Powers. Anyways, next chapter will be from the Exiles. Yep, LTC Long will send one of his own to help Hermione and her friends escape the clutches of teh 'Damned' and the Death Eaters. The question is, who will be the (un)lucky bloke?

I will be posting a new chapter each day to update quickly.)