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The Issue of Mine Enemy	By : NormanCharles Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 44880 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: Okay, okay. I'm NOT JK Rowlings, I do not own Harry Potter. I make no money from writing these stories, I do it because it's fun and other people seem to enjoy what I write - the best of whom write review and tell me when I get it right and

Chapter List
- 31
- 32
- 33
Chapter 32 � Wednesday
Maneuvers and Graduation

Tuesday was spent in final
preparations for the last training maneuvers, scheduled for the next day.� Half
the company was in Ghillie suit training and close quarter hand to hand.� The
other half was training in an undisclosed location, but everyone agreed that
whatever tactic Commander Potter employed, Fifth Company, Avalon Regiment would
remember it and shudder.�

Sometime around mid-afternoon
the senior staff and half the platoon apparated back from wherever it had been
training looking sunburned, windswept and elated.� The half of the company that
had been with them was sent straight to the barracks to clean up before heading
to the open mess for tea.� Harry addressed the other half, �Gamma and Delta
squads, you look like you can handle just about anything Fifth Company can
throw at you, we don�t want to over train today so head back to the barracks,
get cleaned up, tea-ed up and just relax.� I know you want to know what Alpha
and Beta squads have been up to today, but leave them alone all right?� he
smirked as he added �don�t want to spoil the surprise!�

The camouflaged half of the
Fighting Ninth chuckled evilly.

The next morning found
Company Commander Jake Donovan surveying the field before him through a pair of
muggle field glasses, courtesy of his brother-in-law, Royal Marines, retired.�
Jake was a tall, broad shouldered sandy-haired man in his early twenties, he
hadn�t gone straight to auror training out of Hogwarts, he�d been a sales
clerk, then an early morning announcer for the WWN before starting his military
career.� His life experiences had given him a level of maturity that his
younger fellow trainees respected and he quickly rose through the ranks.� When
he heard about the changes happening in Ninth Company he investigated and was
amazed at what he saw.� It was as though Evans was running a school of
unconventional warfare and the results spoke for themselves � Donovan got it in
his head right then to �break out of the mold� as it were and enjoy some
results of his own.� He was thrilled and intimidated by the neat way Ninth
Company had taken down the Seventh, thrilled at the cold, calculating
efficiency, intimidated because he knew he would be the next victim if he
wasn�t very careful.

�I know you�re out there
Evans,� he muttered to himself �you won�t get me with your invisibility
tricks.�

He turned to his adjutant
�have the shooters come up and lay several stunners and reductors in a wide
pattern near the crest of that hill.�

Using predetermined hand
signals the lieutenant had four aurors in black fatigues sight in on the top of
the hill and fire off a combination of reductor and stunning hexes.

The first reductor sent a
large flock of black birds into the air where they squawked in protest circling
above the peak.� One stunner suddenly shot upward at a right angle, striking
two of the birds and felling them.

Donovan smiled; he�d seen
were the camouflaged troops were from the shields they had put up.

�Alpha Five and Gamma Five
squads, advance in covering formation.�

With deadly precision the two
dozen men and women moved toward the peak in eight groups of three, two aurors
provided covering fire to keep the enemy�s head down as the third would advance
before dropping down to a firing position so that another of the team could
move forward.� Everyone in the company could see where the shields were from
the deflection angles of the spellfire.� As the first squad leader reached the
top of the hill he sent a stunner into a suspicious clump of grass and was
gratified to note that it wasn�t deflected.

�Got one!� he shouted, then
reached down and pulled up a camouflaged fatigue jacket, an empty
camouflaged fatigue jacket!� He didn�t notice the shield rune that fell out of
the uniform as he held it aloft, looking questioningly back at his commanding
officer.

Commander Donovan went white
�Oh shite!� It�s a trap lads, fall back! Fall back!�

Just then the conjured flock
of blackbirds dissipated and revealed two dozen men and women on broomsticks
diving at them from directly overhead, coming out of the sun in a classic
combination of Wonski Feint and Stuka Dive bomber attack.�

Commander Evans in the lead,
flanked by Lieutenant Edgecombe and Auror Cruz and all the broom borne aurors were
firing stunners to great effect on both groups of the divided Fifth Company.�
The flyers pulled up just before striking the ground and split into two deadly
accurate formations, one streaking up the hill to stun and bind the two squads
there, the other creating mayhem as flyers scattered the troops at the bottom
of the hill.� Then, unexpectedly all the flyers streaked straight upwards.

�Shoot em� now, shoot em�
now!� screamed the commander as he spared a glance at his men and women
scattered on the ground all around him.

Donovan couldn�t believe his
luck as he sighted in on the lead flyer, �now Evans, I�ll show you why we don�t
fly brooms into combat.�� To his remaining troops he called out, �pick a target
and knock it down, we�ll cushion the ground under them so they don�t get hurt too
badly!�

Everyone who could aimed
their wands upward and at that moment, when all of Fifth Company�s eyes were on
the sky, the rest of the expertly camouflaged Ninth Company rose from the
flanks and stunned those aurors who were still standing.

Harry touched down in front
of Commander Donovan and enervated him.

�Evans,� the auror groaned,
�just one question?�

�What�s that Commander?�

�When we�ve graduated, can I
join your command?�

Harry laughed and offered his
hand to the downed officer.

�Not a chance Donovan, we
need all the good officers we can get, and we need you leading troops!�

�But I got my arse handed to
me today, I�ll be lucky to graduate, let alone keep my commission.�

�Donovan, I�ll make you a
promise,� Harry said earnestly, �if they relieve you of your command I will
resign my commission.�

Jake Donovan realized at that
time that he was looking at a young man who would some day be the leader of magical
Britain.

The commandant apparated into
the aftermath of the battle and congratulated both the commanders on a job well
done, he turned to Donovan and asked �where did you get the idea to advance
like that?� That was fine teamwork Commander!�

�Thank you sir, I got it from
my brother in law, late of Her Majesty�s Royal Marines, sir!�

�Between you and Commander
Potter here,� both Harry and Jake Donovan looked shocked at the announcement.�
The commandant chuckled and explained �Potter, I�ve been wearing this uniform
for over forty years, and I know a fast paper shuffle when I see one, I don�t
give a flying hex for what you call yourself but I could see the Sergeant
Major�s hand in all of this so I cornered him and since my rank and position
trumps General Order Number Three he had no choice but to tell me.� You can
call yourself Evans or Potter or Stubby Boardman for all I care, what I do care
about is that these aurors are the finest I�ve seen come through here in almost
twenty years and its all due to your complete disregard for the outdated
training they�ve been receiving.� �

The Commandant turned to
Donovan, �would you have tried your new tactics if Potter here hadn�t shown the
initiative first?�

�No sir, it was observing
Commander Ev, um, Potter here that made me want to try and �break the mold,� as
it were, sir.�

�Potter, you have an exceptional
gift; that of inspiration, that and your ability to rapidly adapt to changing
situations demonstrates that you are uniquely suited for command.�

�Commanders, get your lads
and lasses back to the barracks, make sure they look nice and shiny for
Commencement on Friday, until then they are yours to congratulate.�� The
Commandant stood tall and straight and saluted the Commanders, who returned the
salute smartly.

�By your leave Commander
Potter, Commander Donovan� and the old officer apparated away.

�Potter?� Donovan asked.

Harry nodded.

�Harry Potter?�

Harry grimaced and nodded
again.

Donovan grinned, �The boy who
lived just kicked my arse in a fair fight, damn, that�s one I�ll be tellin� me
grandbabies!�

�Just remember General Order
Number Three says no one outside of our command structure needs to know, all
right?�

�Of course, Harry!�
the big Irishman grinned.

�Lets call the troops
together, shall we?� Harry said, shaking his head.

�Gather round� boys and
girls� he called out in his best command voice, �Fifth Company, you are invited
to a reception being held at the open mess in,� he caught the gaze of his
adjutant who silently signed �1 hour� �in one hour, so get y�selves cleaned up
and we�ll see you all there!�

Harry appeared in Regimental
HQ�s administrative offices to make his final report.� He had just stepped out
of the apparation alcove when he heard a voice thundering like the wrath of an
ancient Gallic deity.

�Demoted! You were a
commander for Merlin�s sake!� How could you do this to us?� There hasn�t been a
McClaggan in the enlisted ranks in five generations!� Who�s responsible for
this?� I�ll go to the Minister himself, this won�t stand, I won�t stand for
it.�

Harry sighed as he knew he
was about to be dragged into yet another family drama when he heard Cormack
McClaggan say, �no dad, you won�t.�

�Don�t you tell me what I
won�t . . .�

�That�s the way of it innit?�
Cormack�s voice grew sharp, but not loud �no one tells you anythin�.� �You�re a
McClaggan, you�re bigger, stronger, faster and smarter than anyone� right dad?�
Never back down from a fight and never say no to a dare.� I nearly died eating
those doxy eggs a couple o� years back and what did it get me?�

�Respect, I�ll wager� the red
faced, barrel chested elder McClaggan rejoined.

�No, da�, I got just the
opposite, a handful of sickles and a reputation.� �What a balmy git� they said,
and they was exactly right.� I been beat more in the past two days than I have
in the past 18 years of my life an� you know what?� I�m glad of it!�

�Commander Po, um, Evans is spot
on, I owe my company an apology, all I did was make them spit shine and march
pretty � �great lookin� corpses� he said, and he was right, an then his lef�
tenant, all eight stone of her gave me a proper doin� over and she was right to
do so.� Dad, I can�t be you, I never was; and tryin� t�be was just going to get
good men and women killed, and I won�t do it!�

�You�re a busted officer,
who�s goin� to have you?� Just pack it in, we�ll go home and figure somethin�
else.� I dunno, maybe you can work for your uncle.�

�No dad, I�m stayin.� I
didn�t join up to be an officer, I joined up to fight for something bigger than
meself, and if I have to do it from behind a desk I�ll be doin� the best I
can.� Maybe in three years, after my enlistments� up I�ll find somethin� else,
but for now I�m stayin� right here.�

�Show me a commanding officer
who�ll give you a second chance an� I�ll leave you to him, otherwise, I�m goin�
home and you�re comin� with me!�

�Mister McClaggan?� Harry
interjected.

�Yes / yes.� They both
answered.

Harry addressed McClaggan
senior, �I meant Cormack, sir.�

�Sah, yes sah!�

�At ease, auror, we finished
the last of the maneuvers today, only thing left to do is to march across the
parade field and pick up our brassards.�� The younger Scotsman relaxed as Harry
continued �word has it that you are a brilliant organizer, is that true?�

�Sah, I mean, yes�sir.�

�Just so happens I�m in need
of a brilliant organizer, so if you�re done here my staff needs to assemble at
the open mess in� he looked at his watch, �forty minutes.� Can I count on you Sergeant?��
As Harry said this an additional chevron appeared on the young man�s shoulder.

�Forty minutes, open mess, no
problem sir.�

�Very well� and turning to
the elder man he said �Cormack has a chance to do very well in the Auror Corps,
don�t try to take that away from him, sir.�

As Harry walked away he heard
McClaggan senior say �Sergeant McClaggan . . . has a nice ring to it . . .�

He dropped the final
paperwork in the �out� box on his desk and nodded in satisfaction as it was
spirited away to someone else�s �in� box, then apparated back to his bedroom.

Marietta was in full dress
uniform which included a neatly tailored skirt under her cloak of rank.

�No time to soak in the tub
commander, you�ll have to run through the rain locker� she said as she laid his
dress uniform out on the bed.

He sighed and peeled out of
his fatigues and padded barefoot toward the shower, when he exited the shower Marietta was waiting for him with a warm, fluffy towel which she draped over his
shoulders.� As he dried himself he caught a whiff of her perfume and groaned,
damn she smelled good!� He walked into the bedroom wearing just the towel and
saw Marietta bent over at the waist smoothing non-existent wrinkles from his
dress uniform.� He couldn�t resist the temptation and he embraced her from
behind so that she could feel his rapidly filling member nestled between the
cheeks of her bum.� Who would have thought wool could be so soft?

Marietta groaned �off wit� ya,
we don�t have the time!�

�I know, Marie, but I just
wanted you to know what you do to me!�

She glanced at her watch, shrugged,
then let out an exasperated sigh, �We have 10 minutes.�

She bent over at the waist,
placing her elbows on the bed, then looked over her shoulder at her smirking
commanding officer, �well?�

He flipped the soft pleated
skirt over her back then pulled her knickers down to mid-thigh as he dropped to
his knees behind her.� She gasped as his hot wet tongue teased her rapidly
dampening slit open.

�Oh Gawdess you�re gonna kill
me!� she half shrieked, half moaned.

He would have been content to
bring his Marie off using only his talented tongue but she would have none of
it.

�Bring that beautiful stonker
of yours up here and put it where it�ll do the most good Commander!� she
ordered.

�He stood at attention behind
her, rendered a muggle hand salute and said �Yes ma�am, right away ma�am!�

�That�s enough of your cheek
Pot � ooooooooooohhhhh!�

Marietta lost the power of
coherent speech as eight and a half inches of man meat invaded her sopping wet
snatch.� He pushed in with one fluid movement, the completely withdrew to
pierce her again, and again, and again, and again, over and over until she was
moaning, make that screaming her release.� Harry kept pounding for a few more
minutes before coating her insides with his hot spunk.

He pulled his semi-flaccid
member out and marveled at the amount of fluid draining down his lover�s legs.

�A little help here
Commander?� she suggested.

�Um, oh!� he stammered, �I
don�t think I�ll be able to get this picture out of my mind all night, you look
so damned sexy!�

�You�re not so bad y�self,
now if you please?�

He chuckled and cast a
cleaning charm on her, then himself.� His eyes grew wide as she stepped out of
her knickers then smoothed her skirt back into place.

�That�ll give him something
to think about while we�re at the reception tonight!� she thought to herself
while chuckling evilly.

She stood and turned so that
he could kiss her properly, and into that kiss she poured the promise of all
that she planned to do for him and to him when they returned later that
evening.

�Now get dressed, sir!�

�Yes ma�am, right away
ma�am!� he repeated cheekily.

As he was throwing the cloak
over his shoulders he sent his thoughts to Belle who was getting a pre-natal
baseline check, �how is our little one doing?�

�She�s fine milord, but I�m
starting to put on weight!�

�No, really?�

�

�Yes, really!� There�s just
the tiniest pooch on my belly when I lay down on my back.� Healer Dumphries
says that that�s not unusual but Harry, I don�t want to go all fat like Molly
Weasley!�

�Ask him if you can run with
us in the mornings.�

�He says walking is better,
and swimming is better still.�

�Okay, we�ll find a pool and
add swimming to our routine, Belle, will you come to the reception with us
tonight?�

�If you want me to, milord.�

�I love being on the arm of
the prettiest lady in the room!�

�Flatterer, besides, you�ll
be with Marie!�

�True, but we have to
maintain the illusion of decorum when we�re at a regimental function.�

�In that case, I would be
honored my love and my lord.�

�We�ll be right over.�

Harry walked into the hall
and was amazed at the changes there.� First, it seemed to have been enlarged,
which was entirely possible of course, second, the tables were covered in fine
linens and were in neat rows set by company.� His company was along the left
side of the room, the Seventh was in the middle and the Fifth on the right.�
There was a place setting at the head of each table for the �old man� of the
company, his adjutant on the right and his guest on the left.

It was cocktail hour before
dinner and Harry had selected melon juice in a martini glass for himself and
Belle while Marietta sipped butterbeer from a tall stein.� Everyone wanted to
congratulate Commander �Evans� (wink, wink, nudge, nudge), even those in the
companies he had so roundly trounced earlier that week.� He spied a tall,
almost aristocratic looking woman in a cloak of rank and realized that someone
had stepped up from Seventh Company to take command.� She was walking to the
group of well wishers surrounding Harry.

�Commander Evans, or do you
prefer Potter?� she asked extending her hand.

He took her hand and brushed
the back lightly with his lips as Belle suggested through their bond �In
present company, Potter is fine Commander . . ?�

�Oh, sorry.� She apologized,
�Margaret Webber, Maggie to my friends, at your service sir.�� Her accent was
North American.

�You can let go of her hand
now� Belle teased him, and he released it suddenly.

�Canada?� he inquired.

�Montreal, Je suis le Canada, Monsieur.�� In English she added �how did you know?� I�ve been careful not to
say �eh� y�know.�

�Just a guess Commander� he
answered �if you don�t mind my asking, what are your plans for the Seventh?�

�Nothing really, I�ll see if
my calendar is full on that day.�

�No, I mean Seventh Company,
what . . .� by this time Harry realized he had been set up, his own ladies were
about to burst from trying so hard to not laugh and Maggie smiled a crooked
grin and said �gotcha!�

Harry snapped to attention
and saluted her with his glass �touch�!�

She returned the toast and
frowned, �actually, even though we�ll have graduated from auror training, we�re
going to Wales for some �AIT� which is supposed to stand for Advanced
Individual Training but really means �to get the combat training we should have
gotten.�

�I�m sorry about that� Harry
said.

�I�m not� she mused, �I�ll
invest another month in training if it means more of my troops will come home
with their shields.�

Marietta looked puzzled at
the reference.

Belle explained, �In ancient Sparta warriors were exhorted, by their mothers no less, to either come home with their
shields as victorious heroes or on them as befitting those who died bravely in
battle.�

Maggie raised her glass in a
toast to Spartans, Spartan mothers and coming home.

A gentle gong sounded and
Harry escorted his ladies to their seats, holding their chairs out for them so
they could be seated before seating himself.

Marietta leaned toward Harry
and whispered �thinking of adding someone else to the �family� milord?�

�No,� he smiled, �not really,
but she is a fascinating woman.� I think we might become good friends.�

Belle teased him with a
raised eyebrow.

�No, really!� I have more
riches than one man should be allowed, I have you� he nodded to Marietta, �and you� he lifted Belle's palm to his lips �and Myrtle now.� It would be just
plain greedy of me to want more.�

�Myrtle heard that Harry, I
suspect she�s going to want to show you how much she loves you when we get
home.� She lowered her eyelids and said heavily in Myrtle�s voice, �I may not
even wait that long!�

�Myrtle?�

Marietta answered in her own
voice, �I invited her along, but we won�t be drinking anything stronger than
butterbeer tonight, she�s kind of a light weight when it comes to alcohol.�

Harry looked at the menu on
his plate and seeing everyone was waiting for him to order first he said �lamb
chops, medium please.�� As soon as he said �medium� three perfectly cooked
chops appeared on his plate served with sauce b�arnaise, accompanied by white
asparagus and scalloped potatoes au gratin.� Both ladies (or rather all three,
as Marietta was �eating for two�) ordered the roasted chicken.�

�

The dinner was perfect; the
party that followed was raucous and loud and was the topic of many a fond
remembrance for years to come.

Of course the party after the
party was memorable too as Harry and his ladies celebrated well into the wee
hours of the morning.

Next day found Harry, Marietta and Cormack up to their eyeballs in paperwork.� It seems that everything that is
ever done in a military organization must be documented, in triplicate.� Cormack
was turning out to be, in fact, beyond brilliant as an organizer.� When Harry
and his lieutenant first arrived it was 0630, they were hoping to get a head
start on the paperwork they knew they had to complete before the company could
graduate when they arrived at his office at Regimental HQ it was to find Cormack
with fifty neat stacks of papers on a long table, alphabetized,
chronologicalized, color coded and waiting to go into individual auror folders.

�Oh,� McClaggan said as Harry
and Marietta entered �you�re here, excellent, we can get started now!�

�Started?� Harry said in a
more than surprised tone, �looks to me like you�re nearly done!�

�Well sir, all the records
are collated, and everyone has completed all the requirements for basic auror,
some have completed the leadership requirements for non-com, and four have
completed all the requirements for commissioning� he paused to take a breath,
�yourselves, the Recruit Platoon Leader and a man named Cruz, Jose Cruze, have
completed basic officer candidacy requirements.� Your actual rank at this time
is 3^rd lieutenant but I suspect that will change very quickly� he
grinned.

�What about yourself Cormack,
don�t you rate a commission?��

�I respectfully request that
we keep that under our collective hats for the time being, sir, I will be
declining a commission until I get my head on straight to my own satisfaction.�

�Sounds like you�re well on
your way Sergeant.�

�Thank you sir, now if you�ll
just sign the top three papers of each of the stacks I can get them into
folders and off to Brigade HQ.�

�I�m surprised that you
didn�t sign for me, Cormack, this is some fine work here.�

�Well, Commander, I did sign
where I could, you�ll see that forms 11a, 22a, 35a and 39b, c, and d are signed
�C. McC for CDR Potter� sir.� But the actual statement of �training
accomplished,� as well as the certificates of completion, non-commission, and
commission really should bear your signature, sir.�

Harry and Marietta exchanged
glances, �Cormack, when did you sleep last?�

�Oh, I don�t sleep sir.� I
thought you knew.� That�s how I�m able to get so much done; I�d go balmy just
sitting around.�

�But you have to sleep;
people have died from not sleeping!�

�Oh that, that�s only true of
muggles sir, some wizards never sleep at all.� I suspect Dumbledore was one of
those.�

Partly to change the subject
and partly to get done as soon as possible Harry rubbed his hands together and
said �well, let�s get started.�� Cormack handed him a self-inking quill and he
signed his name along the proper dotted lines one hundred and fifty times.

When he finished he shook out
his signing hand and asked cheerfully, �now what?�

�That�s it sir, we just have
to be in full dress for the last formation tomorrow, then we get our marching
orders.�

At Harry�s puzzled look
McClaggan explained �that�s when we�ll be assigned to individual auror units
and take specialty or individual training sir.�

Harry nodded his
understanding.� He would probably be resigning his commission as soon as it
became official, for he already had a mission in life, and that was to kill one
half human Dork Lord.� The thought depressed him.

�Tell me, milord, why are you
so disheartened?� he �heard� Belle over the bond.

�You know, milady, I will
miss the excellent company of my fellow aurors and� he sighed mightily �and our
Marie.�

�Do you think so little of
her that you think she would abandon us now?�

�I expect her to, she has
worked so hard to get where she is now, I don�t want her to throw her future
away on me!�

�Now you think too little of
yourself milord.� Listen carefully, YOU are her future, and my future and
Myrtle�s as well.� We have all seen that you will need us in the coming battle
and we will be with you!� We.� Will.� Be.� With.� You.�

�You make me believe I can do
this milady.� Whatever happens, please know that I love you.�

�I believe I do, milord.�

Next morning found them all
up early and dressed, Belle looking drop-dead gorgeous in a deep forest green
tea-length gown, Harry and Marietta looking resplendent in their dress uniforms
and cloaks.� They took one last, longing look around what had been their home
for the past month and walked to the parade ground, Belle on Harry�s right arm,
Marietta (being �visited� by Myrtle) walking in step with him to his left.

All too soon Harry stood at
the head of his company, four neat rows of twelve his adjutant and sergeant,
now Platoon Sergeant McClaggan, standing just behind him.

The �Fighting Ninth� stood on
the far right, facing the podium, the �Lucky Seventh� to the left, and to the
far left the �Fifth Elementals.�� Harry looked over at the other commanders and
nodded in greeting.

The voice of Commandant
Hayden rang out �Avalon Regiment, Second Brigade, Uh-Ten � shun!�

One-hundred fifty three pairs
of heels clicked in unison.

The strains of God Save the
Queen flowed over the assembly, reminding them that Avalon Regiment was formed
to serve the reigning monarch of the day and that Queen Elizabeth II had put
her royal seal on the charter forming the only modern magical military corps.

�Company commanders, report!�

�Avalon Five Two all present
or accounted for Sah!�

�Avalon Seven Two all present
or accounted for Sah!�

�Avalon Nine Two all present,
Sah!�

�Avalon Regiment, Second
Brigade, stan-dat � hease!�

�Avalon Regiment, First
Brigade was formed under the auspices of the Saxon King Aethelred, to have a
magical barrier against the Vikings who ruled much of the lands of Northern Europe of the time.� The regiment existed for nearly 700 years until King James VI
disbanded the regiment and persecuted all who practiced witchcraft and
wizardry.�

�When she began her reign, Her
Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II could see the growing threat within the
magical world and how it was spilling over into the mundane world as well with
terrible consequences.� For this reason Her Royal Highness commissioned us to
once again stand between the realm and those who would destroy it by magical
means.�

�Rumor has it that your
companies will be disbanded to form new training units and that you will be
dispersed into existing auror divisions, let me quell this rumor here and now.��
He managed to capture one-hundred and fifty three pairs of eyes in his own
steely gaze, �look at your mates, those with whom you have toiled and bled.�
They are your brothers and sisters in everything but blood!� Why would the
Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Magic break up families?�

�The war has taken a terrible
toll on the lives of our magical brethren; the three companies represented here
will be deployed to the three greatest concentrations of magic in the United Kingdom.�

Commandant Hayden stepped
down from the riser, followed by his adjutant and strode over to Commander Jake
Donovan, who snapped to attention.� Handing over a rolled parchment he said
�Mr. Donovan, this is your commission and your charter, you will proceed to London where you will be charged with the protection of Magical London to include but not
limited to Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley, St. Mungo�s, and the Ministry of
Magic.� Congratulations and Godspeed commander!�

Next he addressed Commander
Margaret Webber, �Miss Webber, this is your commission and your charter, you
will proceed to Hogsmeade where you will be charged with the defense of the
only purely magical community in the U.K.� Congratulations and The Goddess be
with you commander!�

Lastly he stopped in front of
Harry.� Commander Potter, this is your commission and your charter, you will
proceed to Hogwart�s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where you will be
charged with the defense and protection of the future of the wizarding world.
Congratulations and Godspeed commander!�

�Tradition demands that I
exhort you to greater achievements, but there is no achievement that I can
envision that is greater than that which you have already accomplished, you are
a unit, strong and brave and relentless in your pursuit of peace, and justice.�

�Your commanders have your
marching orders, you will proceed with due haste to the facilities that have
been set aside for you for the administration of your companies and for the
continuation of your training � to quote a great military leader that is has
been my privilege to know, �respect and command goes up and down the ranks;
from the rawest recruit to the Ministers of Magic and Defense and down again.�
Identify your strengths, make use of the talented people I know you have and
work together, be a team and while another team might beat you, no one will
ever defeat you!��

The cheer that rose from the
ranks was deafening, and no one present doubted that the elation and gratitude
was focused on Commander Harry James Potter, the late-comer recruit that had
put Auror Military training on its complacent ear and turned it around for the
next several generations.

�Avalon Regiment, Second
Brigade, Uh-Ten � shun!�

The regiment popped tall.

�Place your wands over your
hearts and repeat after me,�

�I, now say your name,�

�do solemnly swear to uphold
the laws of the land,�

�to obey the orders of the
officers appointed above me�

�and to the best of my
ability protect and serve�

�all law abiding peoples
found in this United Kingdom.�

�So mote it be!�

The combined magics of seven
score and ten powerful wizards making a heart-felt vow was indescribable, it
was less a light show than it was a joining, a certainty of utter solidarity born
of that moment.� People who have never dedicated their lives and futures to an
ideal far greater than the love of self, will never understand the profound passion
this evokes.� They are to be pitied.

�By the authority of Her
Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second, the Minister of State for the Armed
Forces, Dr. John Reid and the Minister of Magic the Honorable Rufus Scrimgeour
I do certify that all members of Avalon Regiment, Second Brigade have completed
all requirements for basic auror� saying this bright copper brassards appeared
on the left front of each newly minted auror�s cloaks, �further all members of
Avalon Regiment Fifth and Ninth Companies have completed all requirements for
special weapons and unconventional tactics.�

The designated copper badges
turned deep green, then matte black, as did the auror�s robes.

�Never in the history of the
Auror Corps has a majority of any regiment completed both certifications in the
fourteen weeks allotted for basic training, Avalon regiment, I salute you.�

The old auror snapped to
attention and placed his wand over his heart.� The three assembled companies,
every man and woman returned the salute smartly, and then an auror shouted �God
save the Queen!�

All present shouted �Yes!�
and a clear voice began to sing �God save our gra � cious Queen . . .� all
present joined in on the second line and completed the Anthem with great
feeling.� When it ended Commandant Hayden again called out �Avalon Regiment,
Second Brigade, Uh-Ten � shun!� then added �Company Commanders, take charge and
carry out your assigned orders, Regiment, you are dis � missed!�

All present cheered lustily
and then sought out their superiors to receive their orders.� Members with
spouses and or children were allowed to stay at home owing to the fact that
they could apparate to their bases of operations at the beginning of their duty
cycles.� Single aurors were allowed to billet themselves in the areas they were
assigned to protect or if they preferred to bunk in the barracks that abutted
the administrative and training facilities found in each of the three assigned
locations.

Harry found himself, once
again, heading for Hogwart�s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at the end of
another summer.

And soon he and his ladies
had to visit Ottery St. Catchpole; he had a wedding to attend and old
friendships to renew.
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The Issue of Mine Enemy