unconstrained

57

i decided to follow last year and get a chapter out on Xmas, I don't celebrate it but think of this as a present for you, also i decided to put a bit more in this chapter so it will be longer than normal chapters.

Taja had been spending extra time to train Susan bones one on one, Harry's fourth general was taking her role seriously and with grace, she wore the appearance of a well-bred lady acting the part perfectly, no one would believe she was a spy.
She also had a shadow cat similar to Harrys, it spent most of its time eavesdropping allowing the young woman to listen while having a casual conversation.

Susan worked hard and Taja reluctantly decided to fully mentor the girl, teaching her tricks of the trade.

though she didn't interact with the others too much face to face in the open during everyday life she made a point of getting to know everyone.

the peace was shattered on Friday when harry got conformation that the enemy was going to invade, he sent the word and left it to Neville, he trusted the other boy and had been hearing good things from everyone Susan and Draco, not just Luna.

Draco showed up first stowing into Harry's tent.

"Draco"

Harry wasn't surprised that the blond pulled something like this, in fact, he was glad he had missed the other boy well as much as he could, the boy wasn't yet at the stage that he could open his heart so freely, not yet.

"its been ages scar head"

Draco huffed yanking harry towards him to lock lips and wrap arms around one another.

harry chuckled deeply.

"missed me husband of mine?"

the blond pinkened a smudge.

"obviously husband of mine"

the words were drawled and harry suspected that the blond was a little miffed that they didn't have much time together after getting hitched.

"don't be like that i will spoil you when this campaign is over"

"right before you start the next you mean... it's alright i am just as committed as you my love"

"come"

harry led the other man to his bed and they laid down cuddling not doing anything else just waiting lost in each other's embrace.

the silence was broken by Neville's voice from beyond the flap.

"harry we are here"

the teens stood heading for the table.

"come in"

two figures stepped into the light.

Neville and Susan.

"where is Luna?"

Neville stepped forward.

"she is in charge of the rotation troops, they will rest, sleep and keep up appearances at school then i will take the troops here and swap with her and she will lead while we rest."

Susan casually spoke from the darker side of the tent.

"i shall inform her of everything that is happening here while she is busy briefing the other half of the army"

"i see good planning everyone"

before harry could start strategizing Draco cut in.

"i have news as well, not really from the dark side, there are a young Slytherin girl and a young boy from your own house who are friends, they decided together to become healers and have badgered madam Pomfrey into taking them on, working in the hospital wing whenever they are free, you have met the girl before you helped her out on the train, her name is Anastacia and he is Ichigo, it seems you made quite the impression also we do need healers"

they actually were all impressed indeed it was something they needed, Susan added more food for thought.

"actually i have news on this one as well, i was in contact with a Gryffindor girl older then us Katie Bell, she also has healer training however she specializes in potions, somehow despite your godfathers dislike for her house, she has agreed to join us and will brew our potion needs, within reason she is still training, after all, perhaps if we require more complicated potions we could persuade your godfather to supply them if not teach her how to do it in private"

everyone looked pleased and for a few minutes talked amongst themselves about the information before harry called them to attention.

"Alright, we are to be back up and supplement numbers kings army will be doing most of the fighting but we can't slack off and we need to be sharp, this will be our only live experience before we jump into our own war, they need to test themselves and get the fear out now, be blooded if you will so they will know what to expect Neville everyone is to fight at some point even the non combat personnel, even our two new healers should be exposed  to it though heavily protected, i cant guarantee anyone safety from our war but i can try to prepare them, everyone should be able to defend themselves at least even the babies, especially the babies."

"sir!"

they saluted bringing their right hand to their left chest and their left hand behind their backs, harry stared in shock until he saw Draco's smug face, of Corse it was his husband who came up with this.

"anyway come lets look over the maps, the king has already given some suggestions of what to do but its left to us i want your council"

the next few hours was spent planning and sorting troops getting barricades and traps set up, the other army didn't have flying mounts at least not to the extent they did so the troops in the air didnt have as much of a fight on their hands, not that there wasn't long ranged spells.

the fight thankfully went in their favor however it could have just as easily gone south, they all learned just how important it was that they were getting the details sorted because there wasn't time when the fighting started, they would have to make sure to carry that lesion with them.

harry was glad for the help it took a week for the fighting to end with them as victors, his troops were able to go back to school for the classes because of the weather, if it wasn't so cloudy and rainy then the head master might have caught on, harry didn't account for just how long it would take and rotating student's didn't stop other people noticing the empty spaces at the table or in the class room.

it seemed when they where out they where out no hiding the amount of movement open war would bring.

harry looked at the roof of the tent he and Draco were spending the night before going back to school.

"we need to stay hidden as long as possible if we want to get out on top, we don't have the resources or experience that the other side has"

Draco laid a peck on his jaw.

"no but we have our own strengths, that and the fact they don't know we are coming"

harry sighed stroking Draco's thigh.

"i just hope that we don't loose too many of our people, our town will miss them"

he fell asleep to Draco gently stroking his head.