Title: On the Bounce

Author: Knife Hand

Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated

Spoilers: All Harry Potter Books/Movies excepting the epilogue.

Rating: MA

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Starship Troopers.

Summary: After the end of the Second Wizarding War, Harry decides that he is done with the Wizarding World, and Hermione goes with him. Welcome to the Mobile Infantry. Crossover with Starship Troopers Book. AU

A/N: This is an AU fic where instead the Wizarding World being parallel to 1990's England, it is parallel to The Federation from Starship Troopers Book. This has no bearing on the HP Events. Please note the Starship Troopers is based on the Book, not the movies or the Animated Series.

Harry walked out of the Burrow almost in a furious rage, the door swinging shut behind him only to be opened again by Hermione following him out.

"She was out of line." Hermione said.

"The whole Wizarding World thinks it." Harry replied. "How many times have we heard the rumour? Everyone expects that we will be good little puppets and just do what they expect. There's even that story you and Ron kissed down in the Chamber when you destroyed the Diadem."

"That is the second most disturbing thing I have ever heard." Hermione said.

"Do I want to know the most disturbing?" Harry asked.

"That one about Umbridge and Flitch…" Hermione began.

"Stop." Harry begged, miming gagging briefly. "I just can't believe Mrs Weasley. She lost one of her sons and all she can talk about is you marrying Ron and me marrying Ginny."

Hermione wrapped Harry up in one of her infamous hugs.

"So… what are you going to do?" Hermione asked. "You know that there is no place in the Wizarding World where you won't be recognised."

"Simple." Harry said. "I won't stay in the Wizarding World. I'm going to join the Federation."

"No." Hermione replied. "We're going to join the Federation. I have stuck with you so far; I am not abandoning you now."

Harry and Hermione walked into the large Federation recruitment centre in downtown London. There were a lot of people walking in and out of the centre, some in the uniforms of the various branches of the Federation while others were in civilian clothes.

They approached one of the recruitment desks, where an older man in a Mobile Infantry uniform with Sergeant stripes was sitting.

"Names?" The Sergeant asked.

"Harry Potter and Hermione Granger." Harry replied.

"ID and School Transcripts." The Sergeant said.

Harry and Hermione passed over their ID's and then looked at each other briefly, before Harry remembered something he had read in a flyer in Diagon Alley.

"We are M Class." Harry replied.

The Sergeant looked up at the pair of them for a moment before he picked up the phone.

"Major, we have two prospective recruits here claiming M Class status." The Sergeant said, then paused to listen. "Ok, sir. I'm at station six."

The Sergeant motioned the pair of them to some seats nearby. They sat there for a few minutes until a man in a Major's uniform approached. He looked younger than the Sergeant.

"You the two M Class?" The Major asked, getting nods from Harry and Hermione. "Follow me."

The Major lead them through the recruitment centre, into a back office where he closed the door.

"My name is Major Sabastian Abbott." The Major said. "You are claiming M Class status. Names; OWL and NEWT results, if you have them, and Hogwarts transcripts."

"My name is Harry Potter." Harry said, handing over his OWLs and Hogwarts Transcripts. "No NEWTs."

"I'm Hermione Granger. No NEWTs." Hermione added.

"Yes, well, considering your participation in the disturbances against the terrorist Tom Riddle and his supporters, a lack of NEWTs is no real impediment." Major Abbott replied. "They're not needed in any case."

"Major, may I ask a question?" Harry asked, getting a nod from the Major. "We had a classmate, in a different House but same year, called Hannah Abbott. Is she any relation?"

"She is my niece." The Major replied.

"Thank you, sir." Harry replied.

"It is standard procedure for M Class recruits to go through a series of aptitude tests, both testing your magical abilities and covering things that would be dealt with in Muggle School that we need to know for placement purposes. You do get to indicate your preferences. Here is some information on the different career paths available." The Major said. "Report back here tomorrow morning at nine am. And make sure to bring your Wands."

Two weeks of testing, both Magical and non-Magical, had been exhausting for both Harry and Hermione but they had persevered, the Federation putting them up at a nearby hotel during the testing phase. The testing was now complete and in front of Harry was the final hurdle… the service preference form.

There had been a lot of information available about the different careers available. The Navy had a lot of options, from Pilot to Gunnery officer. There were also R&D departments and Military Intelligence that Harry figured Hermione would be perfect for. Harry personally did not care for most of the choices. He was not one for the Navy, flying a Spaceship would be no comparison for flying on a broom and the weapons on a Spaceship were so… impersonal. He knew he did not have the brains to do Research and Development or Military Intelligence. After a lot of reviewing, he came to a simple conclusion. There were only two jobs he would prefer to do, and if he was not suited then her really did not care where he was put, so he put down his two preferences. Mobile Infantry and then Combat Engineers.

Once he finished he handed in the final paperwork and walked out to meet Hermione. They were to take their oaths in about an hour and they would find out what they would be doing the next day.

"So… how did it go?" Harry asked. "What did you put down? Starside R&D? Military Intelligence? Pilot?"

"I just put 'wherever Harry Potter goes'." Hermione replied.

"What?!" Harry asked aghast. "You could do anything. Why?"

"I told you, I am never going to abandon you." Hermione replied.

"I put down Mobile Infantry and Combat Engineers." Harry said. "That's it. Those were my only choices."

"Makes sense." Hermione replied, in her usual knowing tone. "I have known you for seven years, Harry. After everything we've been through, I though you would realise I know what you would pick."

"You still should have told me." Harry said.

"So, which one did you put first?" Hermione asked.

"Huh?" Harry said.

"Mobile Infantry or Combat Engineers?" Hermione reiterated. "Because with our combat record in the War, and our abilities, whichever you chose as your first pick will be where we are assigned."

"Mobile Infantry first, Combat Engineers second." Harry said.

"So, we are joining the Mobile Infantry." Hermione said. "Let's go take the oath."

TBC…