Chapter 10

Anna Campbell ran around the crowded tent, treating as many patients as she could before being called to treat yet another patient. Ever since the Second Gulf War started, she and several other medical school students had volunteered to serve as nurses in field hospitals. To say she found Iraq extremely different to Britain would be putting it mildly. She had spent her days here treating wounded soldiers for various injuries, but sometimes there was only so much she could do. After all, she was only twenty two, and had only just graduated university and started medical school. She wasn't a doctor, not yet anyway. She put her dirty blonde hair in a messy ponytail and put on a fresh pair of gloves and was about to change a patient's bandage when she heard shouting coming from the tent's entrance.

"Get the fuck out of my way! Fucking move!"

She turned her head towards the sound of the voice to see a black haired man around her age carrying a man with his leg dangling from his body, hanging on by a few loose strips of skin and ligaments. Judging by their uniforms, they were British soldiers, only increasing her alarm. She rushed over to the soldier and helped him carry his wounded comrade over to an empty operating table.

"What happened!?"

"Some Republican Guard fuckers got him with a grenade while we were on patrol. Poor bastard didn't get away from it in time."

"Jesus, the doctor should be here any minute, now help me get this tourniquet off of him."

They worked desperately to stop the bleeding, working for several minutes before they finally managed to stem the bleeding long enough for a doctor to finally come to their aid, along with the next shift of nurses.

"We'll take him from here Miss Campbell, you may have just saved this man's life."

"Thank you doctor."

The doctor gave the soldier a nod, which was returned.

"You too, soldier. Though you commando types all seem to share the same death wish."

The soldier gave a dark chuckle and crossed his arms.

"Go get some rest you two. Especially you miss Campbell, great work today."

Anna nodded her head and walked out of the tent, but not before she saw the soldier gripping his friend's hand and whispering something in his ear.

"Hang in there Ed, we'll get you home in no time."

The wounded soldier nodded weakly and passed out from the pain. The soldier then covertly took his friend's wand for safekeeping until his fellow Grim was awake and capable of protecting it again. Anna had walked out of the tent before she could see the soldier take the wand and took a seat on some nearby boxes, the soldier joined her a moment later, taking a seat beside her. Neither of them said anything for a moment, collecting their thoughts after their bit of lifesaving action. Anna looked over at the man, eyeing his bloodstained uniform, resting her gaze on the nametape.

"Potter. Got a first name?"

The man looked over to her, his emerald green eyes meeting her blue ones before sticking out his hand.

"Harry. You?"

"Anna, Anna Campbell."

"Well Anna, it's nice to meet you here in sunny downtown Iraq."

She chuckled and responded.

"Best vacation I've ever been on, especially because of our luxury accommodations in this lovely seaside resort."

"Oh yes, poolside service and all. I was thinking of ordering a martini when the server makes his rounds."

They both burst out laughing, struggling to catch their breath as they finally calmed down. It was Anna who spoke next.

"So, you're a commando or something?'

"Well, technically a member of an SAS squad. I really can't say more than that."

"Ah, some super secret soldier boy stuff?" Anna said with a giggle.

"I guess you could say that." Harry replied with a sly smirk.

They sat in that spot and talked for hours, laughing, exchanging stories, and getting to know each other. Harry couldn't remember the last time he had enjoyed someone's company this much. Sure he was very close with his fellow Grims, but this was different. She was different. While they were talking, they heard a voice bark at them.

"Corporal Potter"!

Harry immediately snapped to attention and saluted his lieutenant quickly.

"Yes sir!"

"Where the fuck have you been!"

"Here sir!"

"And what exactly were you doing that was so important that you decided not to report back for our post mission brief?"

"I have no excuse sir."

The lieutenant looked over to Anna, who looked absolutely flushed with embarrassment, causing the lieutenant's face to take on a look of realization.

"Oh, I see. Well you can hook up with pretty nurses on your own time Corporal. I need you back to the command post in five minutes, or I'll have your ass!"

"Yes sir!" Harry blushed profusely as his superior walked away and turned back to Anna.

"Well, um, sorry about that…"

"It's quite alright, though he didn't have to be so loud about it."

Harry chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"Hey, I was wondering if maybe you'd like to… maybe talk again some time?"

"Yes, I'd love to!" She flashed him a sweet smile which nearly made his knees buckle.

"Brillant! See you later then?"

"Of course! Don't get in too much trouble, Corporal Potter."

Anna gave him a wink and walked away towards her quarters, leaving Harry to dash back to the command post, where he was then chewed out for his extreme tardiness. That night, he laid in his cot, pondering the events of the day. Wondering how he has gone from saving a Grim who had gotten his leg blown off, to meeting this woman that is currently dominating his thoughts. He couldn't understand it, what made this girl so special? He knew he was instantly smitten with her, but having her suddenly storm the forefront of his mind was completely unexpected, though he welcomed it over the ever increasing nightmares he was being plagued with. It had been five years since the events at Hogwarts and yet to Harry, it still felt like it had all been yesterday.

Over the past few years, he had pushed down the creeping feeling of guilt over his actions during that time. Mainly, the terrified faces of the young Death Eaters he had executed, many of them still quite literally children. That was why he would shoot them from behind, so he didn't have to see the terror in a child's eyes as they died. Tonight though, the thought of Anna chased away the horror and guilt he felt, and for the first time in a long time, he fell into a calm sleep.

As the Second Gulf War continued over the following months, Harry and the Grims were sent on mission after mission, attacking and capturing targets that even the American special forces and the SAS considered suicidal to attack. They ranged from hostage rescue, to airfield seizures, to killing or capturing high value individuals. Whatever the mission, the Grims were ready and eager to get it done. It was this attitude that quickly made the Grims one of the most decorated units in British military history, having received several unit citations, as well as many individual awards between the Grims. Harry himself had been awarded the Military Cross, the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, and the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service, as well as numerous citations for his actions in combat.

When he wasn't out on missions however, he spent all of his free time with Anna. The two of them had grown incredibly close over the last few months, becoming nearly inseparable. It was like they had known each other their entire lives, it was a feeling he had never felt with anyone before. It was this feeling that had caused him to realize that he had fallen in love with her. At first he was confused and even frightened of it, he didn't even think he was capable of it, but somehow this girl had brought it out of him. He hadn't admitted how he felt to her, even though he knew she felt the same. He had seen it in her eyes and heard her thoughts when she looked at him, he didn't need his legilimency to read her mind, she radiated it.

It had taken weeks for him to muster the courage to tell her and tonight he was going to do it. He and Anna walked around a quieter part of the base, her shift having just ended. As they walked, she noticed his increasing nervousness.

"Harry, are you alright? You seem… jittery."

"Yeah, it's just I've been meaning to ask you something."

"What's on your mind Harry?"

This was it. His mouth dried up as he opened it, his question about to come from his lips until he felt a violent buzzing in one of his pockets. He didn't need to reach into his pocket to know what it was. Not long after the Battle of Hogwarts, the Grims had all been issued challenge coins for their unit. However, these weren't regular challenge coins. They were charmed to alert the Grim that carried it to any situation. A Grim could activate his coin, sending out a distress call to its sister coins, manifesting in either a strong vibration or a loud siren. It could also be used to summon the Grims to meetings with their commanding officer. As was what was happening right now. His face fell as he realized that he was being summoned to his command post. Anna heard the buzzing coming from his pocket and looked concerned.

"They're calling you aren't they."

He nodded his head, unable to keep the disappointment from his face.

"Anna I…"

Before he could finish saying the words, she gave him a quick kiss on the lips and gave him a comforting smile.

"I know."

He smiled and gave her a kiss of his own, pulling away with a blush.

"You don't know how long I've wanted to do that."

"Oh, I think I do." She smirked, "Now go get them soldier boy."

He quickly made his way to the command tent where he saw the rest of the Grims assigned to his post arriving as well. They all stood at attention as their commanding officer entered the tent.

"At ease gentlemen, we have a mission for you."

Harry and the other Grims stood at ease as the officer continued.

"Earlier today at 1400 hours, a school of Iraqi children were taken hostage by a group of fanatical holdouts from the Republican Guard. Intelligence is saying that their numbers are around thirty, give or take a few. Their demands are that the coalition reinstates Saddam as President of Iraq and the complete withdrawal of all coalition forces in the country, which isn't going to happen. They've also stated that any attempt to free the hostages will result in their slaughter. As far as we know, there are about sixty children being held hostage, though it is very likely that more are also present. Reports tell us that the teachers present at the time the school was seized were killed, so those kids are completely on their own right now."

Harry spoke up "What are our orders sir?"

"Your orders are simple gentlemen, you go in, kill whoever you have to, and get those kids out of there. How you do that is up to you. However. There is one stipulation, due to the sensitive nature of this mission, no apparition. We cannot risk the hostage takers being alerted to your presence by hearing you apparate. That is why you will be inserted by chopper three kilometers away from the school and approach on foot. Once you free the children, a flight of choppers will be on standby to extract you and the children."

"What is the enemy armed with sir?"

"Reports indicate various small arms, RPGs, and at least three heavy machine guns."

Harry nodded.

"Go prep and get ready gentlemen, you leave in twenty minutes. Godspeed."

The twelve Grims stood at attention as the officer left the tent, leaving the Grims to return to their barracks and prepare for battle. Moments later, they were loading onto the choppers, preparing to take off. Just as Harry had taken his seat, he spotted Anna standing on the edge of the small airfield. She smiled and blew him a kiss, causing him to blush and smile, much to the amusement of his fellow Grims.

"Lookie here boys, Potter's finally linked up with that fine looking nurse!"

"Shut the fuck up Williams!"

Williams and the other Grims gave off amused chuckles at Harry's agitation. It was the last moment of levity before the men quickly went into Grim mode, the time for jokes was over, it was all business from here on out. Their deadly professionalism was about to be put on full display.

AN:

Apologizes for the delayed update, life doesn't always care about your schedule. Hopefully you enjoy the latest chapter. To all of my diehard readers, even though Harry has a love interest, this is not and will not be a love story. Just wanted to make that clear. More content is coming soon.