Chapter 2
The rest of the team had split off from Harry and Perry and after a short walk, the pair arrived at a large building with several flagpoles flying the Union Flag and military flags Harry didn’t recognise. Perry led him through the doors and up a flight of stairs. They stopped next to a desk with a soldier next to a door marked ‘Commandant’.
“Harry Potter to see the boss” The soldier nodded at Perry and poked his head into the office. After a moment he turned to the pair and told them they could go in.
The large office was decorated with various photos of soldiers and paintings of Muggle battles throughout history. On the wall above the Commandant’s desk was a large embroidered crest of a Winged Dagger and the words ‘Who Dares Wins’. The Commandant himself was a man in his early 50’s, wearing a military uniform with a blue belt and a sand coloured beret. The beret had the same crest on it that adorned the wall.
“Ah, Harry Potter I presume?” the Commandant said, standing up to shake his hand.
“Erm...yes sir” Harry stammered, unsure how to address someone in the Muggle military.
“Excellent! I am Colonel Pierce, Commanding Officer of the 22nd Regiment, Special Air Service. I believe you are the newest member of the Hit Wizards?”
“Yes, I am” Harry replied, shocked at how open the Colonel was with discussing a top secret wizarding agency within the top secret wizarding world.
“Excellent! Happy to have you on board. Now, the Hit Wizards are not part of the British military, but you are based here. Stirling Lines have been the home of the SAS for many years and everyone here knows magic and wizards exist but due to the highly secret nature of our work, we can't talk about it, so your secret is safe with us. Needless to say, our secrets need to be safe with you. A lot of your operations are conducted alongside members of the SAS and also the Counter Terrorist branch of the Police, as well as operations that are exclusive to the wizarding world”
“Counter Terrorism?” Harry asked.
“Yes, several wizards and witches have lent their unique talents to several terrorist organisations around the world. Some have even started their own organisations that target non-magic people. I’m sure you have heard of the ‘Death Eaters’?”
Harry was slightly taken aback at the realisation that, for once, someone had no idea of his involvement in the war against Voldemort.
“Um...yes, I have had run-ins with the Death Eaters before” Harry didn’t notice Perry trying to suppress laughter at his modest admission.
“Excellent! The Hit Wizards are tasked with dealing with extreme magical threats around the world and assisting us whenever a magical gets involved with non-magical terrorist organisations. Anyone who would fancy themselves another...Erm, who did you say they were again Perry?”
“Grindelwald and Voldemort, Sir”
“Yes, we don’t want anyone like that running around. Well then Harry, welcome to Hereford and the best of luck” Col Pierce shook Harry’s hand again. With a polite thank you, Harry and Perry left the office.
Stepping back outside to the cold Welsh weather, Perry led Harry back to the hangars. Perry filled Harry in on a few other points that the Colonel didn’t mention.
“Now, the boss said that we are not in the military but we all technically hold military rank. We are officially on the books as members of the SAS but that is purely so we can get paid. I'm a Staff Sergeant and you are a Trooper; they mean nothing to us in honesty, but they affect your pay and seniority in the team. I'm not sure, but I think you will be on about 600 Galleons a month” Perry explained.
“600 Galleons? That’s nearly twice what I was on as an Auror” Harry nearly shouted.
Perry chuckled “Right, now let’s go get your kit”