Rating:
PG
House:
The Dark Arts
Characters:
Lord Voldemort
Genres:
Angst Drama
Era:
Multiple Eras
Spoilers:
Chamber of Secrets Goblet of Fire
Stats:
Published: 01/19/2003
Updated: 01/19/2003
Words: 4,122
Chapters: 1
Hits: 522

Travelin' Soldiers

Kelsey Potter

Story Summary:
The final war against Voldemort has begun. Almost every boy at Hogwarts in the fifth through seventh year, with the exception of Crabbe and Goyle, has joined the fight against the Death Eater's army: the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marines, or the Coast Guard. It is extremely hard, both on the soldiers going off to fight and the girls forced to remain behind. A songfic to the Dixie Chicks' "Travelin' Soldier". Includes a little HP/HG, RW/OC, NL/OC, CC/GW.

Chapter Summary:
The final war against Voldemort has begun. Almost every boy at Hogwarts in the fifth through seventh year, with the exception of Crabbe and Goyle, has joined the fight against the Death Eater's army: the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marines, or the Coast Guard. It is extremely hard, both on the soldiers going off to fight and the girls forced to remain behind. A songfic to the Dixie Chicks's "Travelin' Soldier". Includes a little HP/HG, RW/OC, NL/OC, CC/GW.
Posted:
01/19/2003
Hits:
522
Author's Note:
Grr. This fic did not behave. It started out to talk about Ron's pain. Then Harry came butting in and made him stop being a twit. Then Neville showed up about the Military, and soon Hermione was standing by Harry, Harry's sister Kelsey was standing by Ron, Jenny Wren (someone I made up) was fighting with Neville, and Ginny was falling in love with Colin. Then Mr. Weasley...but I'm spoiling the story. Then the songfic came in, 'cause it was like "Hey, I wrote that story already!" Grrrrrrr. I'm abusing the power of the Grr today, so I'll say it once more: Grr.


Two days past eighteen

Ron stared across the calm, smooth surface of the lake. He had a feeling-that's all it was, just a feeling-that something was going to happen soon. Someday soon, that smooth, clear lake was going to be storm-tossed and bloody.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. Startled, he looked up into a pair of bright green eyes. He relaxed. It was only Harry. He had half expected to see You-Know-Who. He continued staring across the lake.

Harry sat down to join his friend. He was a little worried about Ron, to tell the truth. Those blue eyes that were usually so full of life were dull. More than that, they were distant. It was like there was something else on his mind. He'd been like that ever since the accident. Harry stared across the lake, remembering too...

Just over a year ago, the boys and their class had been at Care of Magical Creatures, when a huge monster had sprung out of nowhere and begun to attack. The class ran for cover as wild animals that didn't even belong in England, let alone the Forbidden Forest, and certainly not in a Care of Magical Creatures class--although Hagrid had seemed to like them--came out of nowhere. On the way to hiding, Ron had tripped. Harry's own sister, Kelsey, had run back to help him, although her friends tried to hold her back, and the monster had got her instead. Kelsey had been badly wounded, and even though Madame Pomfrey had been able to heal her, and the original monster was gone, she was still a bit afraid of going near the Forbidden Forest, as though something else was lurking within to finish her off. Harry knew that Ron blamed himself for Kelsey's fear and injury, and that he wanted to make it up to her. He sighed. Part of him wanted to slap Ron when he saw him like that. This time, he gave in to the other part.

"It isn't your fault, you know."

"Huh?" said Ron, coming out of his reverie.

"It isn't your fault," repeated Harry. "Kelsey didn't have to come after you. She chose to. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine. I should have tried harder to hold her back. But, Ron, if she hadn't come after you, you would be the one who had been hurt, or killed. You are one very lucky boy. Most kids in your position would have been killed."

Ron sighed. Harry was right, but still... "Harry, you don't understand. If I hadn't been lagging behind when I tripped, no one would have needed to help me. But I just had to lag behind-I had to get my books and wand, since they cost so much, we couldn't afford new ones..." He shook his head. "Harry, you're wrong. It is my fault. It's no one's fault but mine. I wish there were some way to make up to her and to everyone..."

A boy burst out from behind them. It was Neville Longbottom, a round, slightly forgetful boy in their class. He was grinning from ear to ear. "Are you two going to sign up?" he asked excitedly.

"Sign up for what?" inquired Ron, hoping it wasn't something like ballet or interpretative dance.

Neville leaned in eagerly. "The military!" He sat down next to the boys and continued. "They're signing up volunteers for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. I'm joining the Navy. It's the easiest, and the least dangerous. What about you two?"

Harry glanced fearfully at Ron. The gleam in his eyes confirmed it-this was the chance he'd been waiting for, the chance to make it all up somehow. "We're joining the Army," said Harry.

Ron looked surprised. He had expected Harry to stay here. Oh, well. He'd be glad for the company.

Neville looked surprised as well. "I wouldn't have thought that anyone would join that. It's supposed to be the toughest, most dangerous rank of the military. Why are you joining?"

"Does everything have to have a reason?" snapped Ron. "Why do you expect a reason for everything?" Annoyed, he rose and headed back to the castle.

Neville looked to Harry, who explained, "He thinks that if he does that, it'll make up for last year. I said the Army because I knew that's what he was thinking, and if I don't go with him, he might throw his life away in a foolish attempt to make up for last year even more."

Neville nodded. "Well, when you put it that way..." He shook his head and grinned. "I guess I wouldn't feel like much of a Gryffindor if I took the easy, safe way out. I'll join the Army too."

The next few days were a blur, to boys and girls alike. Girls, forbidden to join any ranks of the military, bitterly tried in vain to prevent their boyfriends from leaving. It was rare to get a girl who was willing to let their boyfriend--or brother--go out and serve "for the good of England, and all wizard-kind" and anyone who had such a girl considered her as precious as gold.

Hermione was one such girl. Putting aside her personal feelings, which were that she would much rather Harry had another go with that basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets, or the Hungarian Horntail in the Triwizard Tournament, she stood beside Harry all the way. Harry was grateful to her for not discouraging him, for realising that in addition to the need to protect Ron, Harry was the only one who had ever survived You-Know-Who, and therefore stood a better chance of surviving. It was also possible that, with all the other boys in Harry's family dead, he was the only one who could defeat You-Know-Who once and for all.

Jenny, however, was a different matter altogether.

"Neville, are you NUTS? You could get KILLED! Why don't you join something safer, like the Navy? Or better yet, the Home Guard?" she cried. More softly, she added, "I don't think I could deal with losing you."

Neville smiled at her. Seven years hadn't changed him a lot-he was still much the same round, clumsy, forgetful boy she'd fallen for all those years ago. Inside, though, he was a lot braver. "Jenn, I'll tell you what I told Harry. I wouldn't feel like much of a Gryffindor if I took the safe, easy way out. I promise, for you, I'll be back."

Conversations like that, with slight variations, but the inevitable, "I promise, for you, I'll be back" line at the end, were taking place all over the tower. The final line always seemed to calm the girls down, and boys continued to make plans.

Kelsey stood by Ron, especially after he told her the reason he was doing it. She thought it was so brave, the way he was fighting for her, because he was blaming himself for her fear. She told him, every day, that she loved him.

For once, Ginny was included in what the older girls were doing. Colin was joining the army as well, and Ginny was distraught. She truly loved him, and hadn't even told him yet. She was explaining this to Hermione, who said, "Well, just tell him, already. He's right behind you." Well, after that, it was easy to tell him. She felt a little better. At least, if anything happened to him, he would know she loved him.

Finally, in mid-April, just as everyone started preparing for exams, the notice came out. The troops would be leaving in exactly one month- May 24th, one week before exams. The boys were all in agreement that it would be hard enough to leave their girls at all, but on Valentine's Day, it would have been next to impossible.

The girls began to help the boys pack for the Army, Navy, whatever. It was still exceptionally tough on a few girls, though, to just lie down and accept that the boys were leaving. Hermione came across Pansy Parkinson sitting on the steps crying. She told Hermione that most boys in Slytherin, including her boyfriend, Draco Malfoy, were signing up for the Air Force. She might never see him again.

Hermione pointed out that at least he had an advantage over the Army-he'd be higher up, and therefore attacked last. That cheered Pansy up, and she thanked Hermione. That was another thing about this war-it had everyone banded together, unless you were a Death Eater. Draco had always known his parents were supporters of You-Know-Who, but he would be fighting for the good guys. He didn't want to be a Death Eater.

The weeks ticked by far too quickly for everyone. The night before all the boys and men in the school went to war, Dumbledore organised a school-wide dance. One dance, that had the boys and girls holding close together, was a Muggle song called "Still Holding Out for You".

When it ended, most couples clung closer together and didn't let go. There were a lot more slow songs, most of which brought tears to people's eyes. The dance went on long into the night. No one had the courage to leave the dance floor and take a walk. Everyone was convinced it would be their last dance together. The final dance was a song called "Without your love". It brought tears to people, not because it was sad, but because it was both beautiful and true.

Finally, the dance ended. Everyone went back to the common room to go to bed. A few boys would never sleep there again.

The next day, all the girls stood in lines, with friends, to say goodbye to the boys.

He was waitin' for the bus in his army greens

Sat down in a booth

In a café there,

Gave his order to a girl with a bow in her hair.

He's a little shy, so she gives him a smile.

He says "Would you mind sittin' down for awhile

And talkin' to me--I'm feelin' a little alone."

She says, "I'm off in an hour and I know where we can go."

Hermione and Harry held onto each other, tears in their eyes. "Harry, I know you are brave, but promise me you'll be very careful," she said.

Harry held her even tighter. "I promise, for you, I will," he said, choking a little.

Kelsey and Ron stood nearby, holding hands. "Are you sure you're making the right choice?" she asked him anxiously.

Ron smiled at her. "Quite sure," he said. "At the rate things are going around here, it's much to dangerous being a civilian. And I'll be back before you've grown an inch taller. I'll send loads of letters. We all wil."

So they went down and sat on the pier,

He said, "I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care,

I got no one to send a letter to--

Would you mind if I sent one back here to you?"

Kelsey tried bravely to smile, and they hugged each other through their tears.

Jenny wasn't there. She and Neville had said goodbye the night before, and she was too upset to be right there. She promised to watch from the common room window.

Ginny and Colin stood a little ways apart from everyone else. "Well, I guess..." faltered Colin.

"I'll be..." began Ginny.

But then they realised that they didn't need words. Embracing, they kissed passionately. They jumped apart, blushing, as they remembered where they were, but then they noticed that it didn't matter. Everyone else was doing the same thing.

I cried

Never gonna hold the hand of another guy

Eventually, the boys separated from the girls gently and joined troops as their names were called. Everyone was in tears, but they were making an effort to be brave. Ginny was crying extremely hard, and so was Hermione. Kelsey put her arm around Ginny, and squeezed Hermione's hand. Ron noticed, and remembered something he'd once heard-you never know someone until you see them scared. And even scared to death, with tears running down her face, Kelsey had strength to spare.

Too young for him, they told her

Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier

The boys marched off, waving to the girls, who had tears running down their faces still, even after the boys were in the distance.

The next few months were a blur. The girls of the seventh year didn't graduate that year. They would wait until the boys came home, and graduate all together, but they took their exams.

There were only two boys in the entire fifth through seventh year that had not signed up for their side, as everyone called it--basically, they weren't fighting the Death Eaters. Vincent Crabbe had not been permitted. His parents were staunch supporters of the Dark Lord, and he would not fight against them. He was joining the Death Eaters as a cook. His friend, Gregory Goyle, was in the Death Eater's army.

Several weeks into the summer, Kelsey and Hermione had gone to the Weasleys' to help out. Listening to the radio, they heard a song from the dance-"Still Holding Out for You"- and they started to cry. Not only was it sad, now it was true. It made them miss the boys even more.

Our love will never end

Waitin' for the soldier to come back again.

Never more to be alone

When the letter said the soldier's comin' home.

Every week, letters came for the girls. There were only four people in the house-Kelsey, Hermione, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley. The rest of the Weasleys had gone to war. Mrs. Weasley got one letter-from Mr. Weasley. Hermione got four-from Fred, George, Harry, and Ron. Kelsey got four also-from Fred, George, Harry, and Ron. Ginny got seven-from Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, and Colin.

So the letters came from an army camp

In California then Vietnam

And he told her of his heart--

It might be love--

Colin was writing a lot more love into his letters than the others. Ginny explained that, because it had taken them so long to realise they cared about each other, he was essentially dating her as best as he could just then.

And all the things he was so scared of.

Said "When it's getting kinda rough over here

I think of that day sittin' down on the pier

And I close my eyes and see your pretty smile.

Mrs. Weasley was extremely upset when Ginny had to go back to school, but Kelsey and Hermione stayed with her to keep her calm. However, one morning, the mail arrived, and Mrs. Weasley got it. Kelsey and Hermione got their usual letters, but Mrs. Weasley had only a yellow envelope. She opened it, read the message inside, screamed, and fell over dead. With some trepidation, Kelsey looked at the message. It was a simple telegram, which read as follows:

ARTHUR WEASLEY: KILLED IN FIGHTING. TERRIBLY SORRY. NOTHING WE COULD DO.

"Oh," said Kelsey softly. "Hermione, this is why she died. Mr. Weasley was killed in action. How are we going to tell Ginny?"

Hermione didn't answer. She was on the phone. Upon hanging up, she said, "We're to just take her outside and bury her. With her family gone, they can't take her to the coroner's."
After they did, Kelsey repeated her earlier question. "How do we tell Ginny?"

Hermione thought, then said, "Next time we see her, we'll tell her."

Don't worry, but I won't be able to write for awhile."

The girls read their own letters. They all said the same thing-the boys were part of a five-man committee on assignment to track down and finish off You-Know-Who. Ginny wrote the next day to say that Colin was also on the committee. Once, he would have been ecstatic to be serving on the same committee as Harry, who was his idol, but now he'd seen so much death and suffering that the only thing that mattered to him was getting home safely to her. All the boys had added that they couldn't correspond when they were on special assignment.

I cried

Never gonna hold the hand of another guy.

Too young for him, they told her

Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier.

Our love will never end,

Waitin' for the soldier to come back again.

Never more to be alone

It was mid-December when the girls got these letters, and they didn't have much holiday cheer that year. They were scared to death of what might have happened to the boys, and they desperately wished for some sign of them. Finally, on May 24th, the exact day the boys had left a year ago, the girls were sent tickets and asked to return to Hogwarts. The war was over, and the army was finally coming home!

When the letter said the soldier's comin' home.

The girls, along with all the other girls of their year and older, stepped off the train at Hogsmeade Station, aglow with excitement. They went over and joined the ranks of waiting students. Ginny ran over to them. So did Jenny. The four girls stood, watching for some sign of the troops.

Suddenly, someone yelled, "There! There they are!" Eagerly scanning the horizon, the girls saw a long line progressing. They were so excited. The boys were home at last!

First to pass by, singing their song, were the Marines. Not one boy currently attending Hogwarts had signed up, but Ginny saw Charlie, marching in smart formation along with the others.

Second in line was the Navy. As they marched by, Kelsey caught sight of Derek, her god-brother. She waved, and he waved back, a tired little wave. She knew that Derek's girlfriend was there, waiting to welcome Derek home, and she was glad that she knew at least one person whose boyfriend or brother was coming home alive.

The Coast Guard came up next, made up of Navy and Marine vets who knew how to run ships and fight. It was dangerous, and fortunately none of the Hogwarts students had been veterans at the time of sign-up, although everyone was a veteran now.

The Air Force came along after that, flying in on broomsticks. Nearby the four girls, Pansy Parkinson squealed with delight as she saw Malfoy flying by. He had a nasty wound on his arm that looked as though he'd been shot with a gun, but he was alive.

Finally, bringing up the rear, was the Army. Eagerly, the four scanned the ranks of boys in khaki for someone familiar. Jenny, who wasn't as close to Hermione and Kelsey as she once was, sighed with relief as she spotted Neville, but the other girls didn't see Harry, Ron, Colin, Fred, or George. Of course, unless the boys were on the front row or the column to their side, it was impossible to see them. Kelsey knew in the back of her mind that a redhead, such as that of the Weasley boys, should be easy to spot, but the boys were wearing hats. Still, she retained a childish hope that the boys were, indeed, all right.

One Friday night at a football game,

The Lord's Prayer said and the anthem sang,

As the parade finished, boys were dismissed and allowed to run to their friends and loved ones. Kelsey and Hermione were beginning to lose hope that the boys were there when a voice came over a loudspeaker.

A man said,

"Will you all please have a moment of silence for the following people

"Folks, would you bow your head

For a list of local

who were killed in combat."

Vietnam dead."

This was it.

Cried all alone under the stands

Was a piccolo player in the marching band

The list was read in alphabetical order. With each new name, at least one person sobbed into someone's shoulder. It got to the C's, and the voice said, "Creevey, Colin."

And one name read,

And no one really cared,

But a pretty little girl

With a bow in her hair.

Ginny was distraught. She burst into silent tears.

I cried

Never gonna hold the hand of another guy.

To young for him, they told her,

Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier.

Kelsey held her close as the list went on. It got to the P's, and Kelsey and Hermione waited apprehensively. The name Potter was not called.

Finally, the list got to the W's. The voice said, "Weasley, Arthur."

Ginny sobbed harder. Luckily, he was the only Weasley who'd died in combat. After the list had ended, Kelsey said, "Ginny? I know you're upset now as it is, but your mother got a telegram saying that your father had died, and she had a heart attack. She died, too."

By now, Ginny had cried herself dry. She leaned against Kelsey and sobbed. Suddenly, they heard someone calling their names. Harry, Ron, Fred, and George were elbowing their way through the crowd. Hermione was shocked at their condition. Fred (identifiable by his label) had several cuts on his hands, but nothing more. George had bruises and cuts on his hands and face, but nothing serious. Ron and Harry were in far worse shape, although Harry was the worst of them all. He had bruises and cuts, especially one on his chin, and his scar was a bit longer and more pronounced than before. Ron had only one mark left (as the assignment had been completed a week ago, and his other injuries had been minor): a scar identical to Harry's. Kelsey was visibly upset. "What happened?" she cried.

Ron said in a hollow voice, "We came head on with Voldemort. He surprised us and sent the Crutacious Curse at us. It hit Harry before we had time to react. We were actually managing to stop him, until he got sick of trying to torture us and decided to kill us."

Harry picked up the story from there. "He aimed at Ron and me first. Colin tried to stop him, and jumped in the way. He wound up getting killed instead. He didn't suffer for a long time, Ginny. It was over really quickly."

George jumped in. "He tried the curse again, and Harry tried to disarm him. Their wands did this funny thing-they were trapped in this golden web. Then all of Voldemort's victims, in reverse order, came out of the wand. Then Harry broke the connection, and the victims tried to hold Voldemort back, but it didn't work to well."

Fred came to the rescue and finished with, "Voldemort tried the curse a third time, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Somehow, it bounced off Harry and Ron and hit Voldemort. Harry shot another curse at him, and he exploded into a thousand wisps of smoke."

Tears filled Hermione's eyes. She had missed Harry so much, and after all he'd been through...well, it was a miracle that he was alive. She felt very lucky.

Kelsey felt lucky that Ron was still alive, yet she felt so sorry for Ginny. She had lost her one true love. Colin would never marry, never have kids, never graduate from Hogwarts. He would never even see Ginny again.

Our love will never end,

Waitin' for the soldier to come back again.

Never more to be alone

When the letter says the soldier's comin' home.

There was a graduation ceremony, when it normally would be. Of both classes, only five lives had been lost. Two were in Ginny's class--Colin and a boy named Alexander Brown. One was in the older year--a boy called Marc Moon, a Ravenclaw. The other two were Death Eaters--Crabbe and Goyle. No one was too upset about them.

Resplendent in iridescent white graduation robes, the older year that was finally graduating went last, while this year's graduates, in purple robes for the Purple Heart, went first. As the last graduate crossed the stage, it was announced that, due to the heavy price they had paid in the war (since eight other boys in younger years had died), Gryffindor had won the House Cup. Everyone cheered, but those who had lost brothers and cousins and boyfriends wished wholeheartedly that the cup could have been won without their lost soldier dying.

Kelsey realised that night that all of them had changed. Harry and Ron still looked like the same boys she had known for so long, except for Ron's scar, yet they had been changed by what they had been through. She knew that she and Hermione had changed too. She sighed as she went to sleep, glad that the boys had fought to keep her safe.