Prologue

It was the year 1999, the dawning of a new millenium and the third decade of the blood wars. A war that turned magical against magical, magical against mundane.

The Order of the Phoenix had fallen in 1980 with the defeat of Dumbledore by Lord Voldemort. The Dark Lord consolidating his hold over Hogsmeade and Scotland caused the magical world to become revealed to the mundane world.

The fall out of this was Scotland becoming subjugated by the forces of darkness. The magicals of Wales and Cornwall invoked ancient magical protections and treaties dating back to Merlin. This awakened the blood of his descendants causing James and Lily Potter to be crowned King and Queen of the new Camelot.

In the east the Ministry for Magic allied themselves with the muggles to develop new ways of using their powers to enhance muggles and give them a fighting chance.

In the third decade of this war the three forces were about to meet for their final battle. The leader of the Technothaumic battlemech squadrons Colonel Granger stepped down from her Crusader Power Armor to meet with Prince Harry the heir of Camelot. She was not thrilled about this but orders were orders.

Story begins

Standing in the field in front of his troops he did not seem impressed by the mighty war machines under her command. Nodding to her second she strode forward to meet him.

"Prince Potter." She said looking him up and down. He was wearing a fitted suit of fine Goblin Steel armor that radiated power but had a youthful face, messy black hair and the most beautiful green eyes that drew her in. Shaking her head to focus on the task at hand she clamped down on the butterflies suddenly swarming in her stomach.

"Colonel Granger. Pleased to meet you. I look forward to working with you." He said in a rich well mannered tone of voice.

"Thank you. Have you been briefed on the main plan?" She asked trying to not think about what he might look like under the armor. She knew her battle-suit was skintight enough he would have very little difficulty imagining her figure.

"Yes. Its flawed. I have a better idea." He countered with a smug grin.

"Oh? I helped develop those plans." She stated sharply.

"Oh they were nice plans, before the circumstances changed. Fortunately I have better intelligence on my side." He declared confidently.

"Really? Care to share this information with me, Your highness?" She sternly inquired.

"I will under one condition." He countered.

"Oh? What condition is that?" She demanded. The temerity of him she briefly though. Although the grin did make her heart race.

"Call me Harry." He said sticking his hand out.

She swallowed a sudden lump in her throat before replying with a tightly controlled nod, "Call me Hermione."

…...

Entering a large pavilion in the field Harry said, "Hermione, that's from A Winter's Tale."

Hermione looked surprised, most people did not seem to remember that. They only knew the popular plays like Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet. "Yes it is. My father is a great fan of the Bard."

"Nice. My mother made certain I got a well balanced education. Have you ever been to Stratford?" He asked casually as they approached a group standing over a table with a large map on it.

"Uh once when I was younger. My family and I went on holiday before I entered the Academy."

"Good. That was a beautiful city." He said with a note of sadness, then drawing himself tall he began to speak more firmly and with a sense of pride pointing to each individual, "Allow me to introduce my second in command Sir Neville. This is Sir Ronald and Lady Ginevra leaders of my knights and my sky cavalry. And This is Lady Luna my trusted advisor."

The slight blonde girl with white hair and silver eyes he called Lady Luna took a sharp intake of breath as she looked at Hermione. Harry raised his eyebrow at her and nodded which made Hermione wonder what the meaning of that was. The eyes though indicated she was a true seer.

"Everyone this is Colonel Hermione Granger. 5th Battle Mech Division. She and her Crusaders will be guarding our right flank as we enter Scotland." Harry said graciously.

"Well met milday." Neville said with a slight bow.

Hermione nodded, "Now. Could you explain where the intelligence I have is wrong?"

Harry nodded, "Luna." he had to repeat himself in a slightly firmer tone before she stopped staring at Hermione and began to speak. Explaining where the enemy forces had set diversions and illusionary troops to trap and divert the main forces. They actually had giants and trolls. Hermione frowned as the Crusader armor had been developed to fight trolls but giants gave them a run for their money.

Hermione was forced to admit they had a much better understanding of the situation than what she had been able to establish through her own divination team. "I see. And how old is this information?"

Luna said, "This map is updated in real time. We have the birds of the air and the animals of the field on our side thanks to the druids."

Hermione had to admit that while the Ministry had embraced a great many new ideas some of the old world techniques were still quite useful.

"So my Crusader's will make a feint to the east of the village, hopefully drawing the trolls and giants out while your knights will come from the west?" Hermione suggested, "I'll send my light scouts up the middle from the south."

"And Ginevra and her Valkyries will descend upon the village from the south." Harry said. "That way they can have air support."

"Won't your knights need that?" Hermione asked. "If I understand correctly they have Thestral riders."

"And we have lancers as well. It'll even out." Harry confidently stated. "They'll never know what hit them and we'll push them back over Hadrian's wall."

"Well the attack plan is scheduled to start in thirty minutes so we should probably get into position." Hermione said.

"True. I'll walk you back to your Armor?" He said with a questioning tone in his voice as to the device's name.

"Technically the Crusader is a Thaumically Powered Human Augmentation Suit" She said with a bit of pride. "Designated Power Armor by the MOD"

"That's a mouthful. Don't you have a simpler name for them?" he chuckled as they approached her command squad.

Frowning she said, "Some of the wags that watched too many cartoons growing up call them mecha."

Harry chuckled again. She had to admit that it did not sound like he was laughing at her, which for some reason she was worried about.

They reached her suit which had the name Crookshanks painted over the hatch. He walked around it with her following as he examined its smooth flowing armored lines. The suit looked vaguely like a ten foot tall humanoid with bulging muscles. The smooth lines were only broken by weapon ports, sensor strips and service hatches and vents.

"Nice. You named it?"
Hermione smiled proudly, "Yeah. Due to the enchantments, as well as having to link with them to control each suit they become almost sentient. Crookshanks and I have served together since I left the Academy."

"And muggles can pilot them too?" He asked knowingly.

"Somehow I get the feeling you know a lot more about them than you are supposed to." She said with the hint of a frown. When all he did was grin at her she said, "But yes since the magic is in the suits muggles can pilot them too."

"Good to know. Fight well Hermione. After the battle I would like to speak with you. Would you mind?" He asked looking into her eyes intently.

The butterflies rose again requiring her to use her training to settle them before she could answer, "I would like that."

"Good. Happy hunting." He said holding his hand out again.

Shaking it she said the same to him then touching the security pad opened the access hatch.

…...

Once she was linked with her armor she contacted her squad, while watching him walk purposely across the field to the pavilion that was rapidly being taken down and packed away by his teams. A large white charger was brought forward with its own armor on it.

"Hey boss. Was that the prince himself?" She heard a voice call across the comm-net. A voice that sounded far too young and eager to her veteran ears.

"Yes Lieutenant Creevey that was Prince Harry Potter." She said with a slight frown. "Now get your head in the game. We've got a change in plans."

"Yes Col." He said quickly.

Over her private comm channel with her second in command came Major Hannah Abbott's voice. "Hey cut him some slack boss, this is the first time he's been in the presence of royalty."

"Cut the chatter. Prepare to receive and disseminate new orders to the regiment." Hermione commanded as she settled into her combat mindset. When her staff all acknowledged she began to give them the briefing she and Potter's team had worked out.

…...

The approach to the village was quiet as Hermione's troops had activated their stealth systems. She was watching her Heads Up Display and omnisensors when she saw the first giants rise up. She knew giants couldn't sense them through their stealth so started looking for the wizard's who commanded them.

"Red Squadron move further left, look for the wizard's, Gold and Blue with me, max intensity." She ordered.

The giant suits of armor fanned out according to her orders. When they attacked they lost their stealth and shimmered into view. Attacking with beams of mystic energy and physical strength they soon began to push the giants back. They found the wizards who had been working with the giants and tried to capture them. The fight was swift and they managed to capture only a single wizard as the others fled abandoning the giants to their fate.

Hermione checked the sensors to see how Potter and his forces were doing. She saw him charging the village on his large white stallion, sword out, before they were involved in combat with the dark forces. The broom riders and forces on large white pegasi tangled with the thestral riders. Both sides lost warriors but the dark seemed to be losing more. She had no way to communicate with Potter so turned back to focus on her sector until they had secured the village.

…...

The battle was over and she had tended to her wounded. Her chief medic Lavender Brown had reported that everyone would be back to normal by morning, thanking the blonde she had her take the medics and examine the village for wounded that needed help. One of the most unpleasant things about this war were the innocent victims caught in the middle. Once she had filed a report with headquarters she went to meet with Potter.

His command tent was on the northern edge of the village with the medical tent not far away. She saw him talking with Lavender and a few of his own medics as they worked on villagers and soldiers.

"Ahh Colonel." He said with a smile when he saw her approaching. "Major Brown was telling me your people came out well."
She nodded, "Yes. Only a few minor injuries, mainly people getting knocked around when we got into hand to hand with the giants."

Harry took a deep breath, "Good. We didn't loose anyone but some of the villagers got hurt pretty bad. Our healers are working on them now."
"Will they recover?" She asked.

Potter looked at Major Brown and another girl in his forces wearing the healer symbol. The two healers consulted for a moment before the one from Potter's forces said, "They should. A few of them received curse wounds so will be touchier. We're going to send them back to a recovery hospital south of here."

She sighed as she shook her head. Too many civilians had been in the way of battles already, how many more would have to suffer before this was over. Potter had thanked the healers and let them go back to their duties. Gesturing towards his tent he lead the way when she joined him

She grimly nodded, "Overall this was a success?"

Potter nodded as he wiped his forehead, "Locally at least. We're still waiting for reports along the line."

"So is this what you wanted to speak with me about?" she asked after they had entered the tent.

"No, I wanted to talk to you about something else. Do you mind if I get out of this and get comfortable?" he asked gesturing at his armor.

Her heart skipped a brief beat but she managed to maintain her compsure. She was not some blushing cadet after all. "That depends on how comfortable you plan to get?"

"I'm wearing a skin-suit underneath. Don't worry." He said with a grin, "Unless you were hoping for something else?"

She scowled at him, "I am a professional Your Highness."
"Call me harry please. My father is Your Highness. I'm just Harry." He corrected her before turning, "Dobby."
A house elf appeared and began helping him take off his armor as she stood trying not to breath too hard. The dark blue padded skin-suit he wore under the armor did not reveal much about his body other than he did seem to be put together rather well Hermione thought.

"Would you like something to drink, or eat?"

"Thank you. Some water would be nice is all." She replied as Harry nodded and called to another elf who appeared and set a pitcher of ice water and some glasses on a table. Pouring one for her the elf waited a moment then left once Hermione nodded her thanks. She had not been raised in a home that had elf servants but understood the role they played in the magical community.

Review Responses

Kimjo2: Thank you. Glad you enjoy.

TomHRichardson: A sequal/next chapter is being worked on. This story is from Roger in his ramblings. The ghost Hermione and Myrtle idea has some stuff going on. Not sure what all will do but there will be some funny stuff.

OfficrDonNZ: True I had an idea about the swapping bodies trope and wondered how Hermione and Myrtle would react swapping. I've not seen any like that before.

Dennisud: Thanks. I always thought Myrtle was too much of athrow away plot macguffin in the books. She should ahve been around a bit more and less peeves as I really didn't like Peeves.