Ch. 3

Before heading off to meet with the other members of the Order Tex took a stroll about the grounds to unwind. Now that the excitement of the mission was passed he was starting to feel down. It was the same down that had been building for nearly a year now. Worse, it was that sort of down; the cause of which he couldn't pin down. Like spring fever as Mark Twain described it in Huckleberry Finn it gnawed at a fella and he didn't know what to do about it.

He sat on a stone bench in an out of the way corner and settled in to a good think. What was wrong with his life? Well, what was right? That part was easy. Start with the basics. Good food, soft bed, dry socks were the beginning. Plenty of excitement and brain exercise, spiced with pleasant company. And now his baby sister was with him again for nine months out of twelve.

He was away from his parents and old friends for the same nine months, was that it? No, it was sad indeed but that didn't seem right. But then, it felt close, like the real problem was somehow related.

He started kicking absently at a pile of some sort of orange rock. Then it came to him that this sort of rock shouldn't be here. It didn't look native to the area. He studied it intensely. A slit appeared in the pile near the top. Deep inside the slit were two baby blue eyes staring out at him. The pile shifted and shaped into a roughly humanoid form. "Uncle BEN! the boy shouted. "By the shores of Gitchy Goomy, what are you doing here?"

The creature's face wasn't built for much expression but he still managed a small smile. "Shhh, hold it down. Stretcho sent me here to check up on a few things. The Bureau has been getting some strange reports from agents in these islands." The stone man sat on the bench next to Tex. "What's eating you, pal? You look lower than a snake's belly."

"SIGH! That's just the problem. Ah don't KNOW what's wrong. Ah know Ah want SOMETHING and Ah'm about to go wild from not having it."

Massive stone shoulders shrugged. "That's tuff, pal. You talked to your friends about?"

"Aww Ben, Ah don't have... any... friends?"

"Huh?"

"That's it! That's what wrong with me. Ah don't have any friends. Oh some of the kids here are chums; we hang out together and help each other out of scrapes, but there's nobody Ah'm really close to, nobody who would really miss me if Ah just walked off and never came back."

"Whoa there, buddy. Aren't you being a little drastic?"

"No Ben, Ah'm not. There's not one person here Ah can really call mah friend. Harry has Ron. Hermione and Ginger are so close Mr. Granger talks about sending them to some Greek Island for a vacation after they graduate, Les-something. And you know, it didn't start here at Hogwarts. Now that Ah think about, Ah never had any real friends at elementary school back in the U.S. either. Pleasant companions and acquaintances were plentiful but nobody Ah could really single out. SIGH!!"

The boy slumped like a deflated balloon. He looked even downer that before but his face had a look of grim satisfaction that now he knew what was wrong with him.

A stone arm rested gently on his shoulder. "Cheez, pal. I know just what you’re going thru. I never had any friends as a kid either. In fact, it wasn't until I joined the army and met the boss that I had my first real friend. But it was worth the wait. There were never better friends in the world than him, Sue and the kid."

Tex nodded. "Yea, you guys are tight all right. Maybe that's all Ah need, to wait a bit."

"Sure buddy. You'll see. But I gotta get back to work. Move along now."

The stone man flowed back into an ordinary, nothing-to-speak-of, pile of rock. Tex stood and continued his walk. As he rounded the corner of the castle the corollary struck him; if he had never had a friend then it followed that he had never had a girl friend. And that should have been obvious. He had never had a date until last year at the Yule ball. He took the second most beautiful girl present. There was a nice bit of hugging and kissing in addition to the dancing and the conversation had been pleasant, but there hadn't been time to develop a relationship before he'd been called away on special assignment. And the next thing he knew she was telling him she had a fiancé back home.

Ch. 4

After Harry had run down blasting Ron and Hermione and had started towards sullen resentment the door to the room slammed open. "HARRY!" Five foot eight inches of blond bounciness came barreling in. Ginger Shultz, Tex's little sister, tackled Harry like a line backer and if he hadn't been standing in front of the bed he may have taken some damage. As it was his spine was protected from impact as his face was drowned in the display of affection that waited any friend of Ginger who had been gone a noticeable time. Ron and Hermione made no effort to interfere. For one thing, they had been thru the same treatment when the Texas Twister had arrived a few weeks ago. For another, one interfered in Ginger's plans and desires at one's peril.

When she'd had enough she broke the clinch. "It's sooo wonderful to see you, Harry. Even summers at Graymatter can only do so much for a person. And Ah missed you sooo." Another kiss, enthusiastic but not as sloppy followed. "And it’ll be good to have another pair of hands around. Getting this white elephant of Black House squared away is a killer. Ah've been here a month and it seams we've hardly made a dent."

Harry's ire rose. "So, you've been here a full month, huh? And not a word to me. Couldn't send me one letter OR ANSWER ONE QUESTION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING..." And then he was flat on his back again, his head ringing. The golden angle's face had become a mask of death.

She said with tones cold as ice, "Harry Potter, don't you EVER yell at me. Do... You... Under... STAND?" Harry nodded vigorously. "Ah don't care if Ah was warm for your form last year. Ah don't take that from ANYBODY! Mah DADDY doesn't yell at me. NOBODY does."

When his face told her he had taken her words to heart, she melted back to her original softness. "So, how was Privet Drive, pretty boring? Well that's over now. There's plenty to do here. The infestation of doxies (giggle) in the parlor alone will take days to clear out. Well the meeting's over and Ah'll bet you’re starved. Let's get on down before they throw it to the pigs." She was out the door before he could think of a response.

Once settled in the dining room they were interrupted by a flurry of wings, if one pair of wings may be called a flurry. Ginger's red-tailed hawk flew in thru an open window in the kitchen and dropped a letter in Ginger's lap. The bird head for the stairs to the bedrooms as she called out, "Thank you, Cherry. Ah'll have some mice for you later. Ooo, it's from Dumbledore. Ah hope it's..." She tore it open and bounce in her seat. "Yippy! Mickey's back from his mission. He be here in a few hours."

Ch. 5

During the row over letting Harry in on some things it came out that Ginger attended meetings regularly and had been active at the one that just closed. "She's younger than ME!" wailed Ginny while pointing an accusing finger.

Ginger gave her a glare that made Sirius uncomfortable. "Don't point your finger at ME little missy unless your ready to put it where Ah want it." Looking about the room she addressed the junior members. "Look, Ah'm not going to argue with you that Ah'm mature enough for the responsibility, that should be obvious. But while Mickey is out on a mission Ah HAVE to be here. Ah'm your interface with The Bureau just as Uncle Arty is your interface with the Ministry."

"What's this Bureau?" Harry asked. "The Bureau of Para-Normal Research in Washington. They handle all government concerns for magic, E.S.P., yoo-foes and such. The information we get from them is just as critical. Mickey and Ah have the ears of people only three steps from the Chief and you can't ask for better than that."

"All of you seem to think information is some sort of prize you win by accomplishing something. Ah'm telling you it's a burden a wise man bears only out of necessity. This is WAR. The Order is a Para-military organization, not some sort of social club. We operate on need-to-know, and Your Don't Need to Know."

Turning on Harry she said, "And YOU going on about people trusting you. Have you been thru torture training? Do you have any way of knowing just what you CAN take? But your whole premise is flawed. Vol.. YES, AH'M GOING TO SAY IT Voldamort doesn't work that way and you know it. Heck, he doesn't even need the Impireos to get what he wants out of you. Any high school graduate can whip up a batch of Veritiserum that would have you babbling like an unweaned babe."

"And YOU, Sirius. From what Ah can glean from records and conversations with people you do indeed make decisions much as the late, lamented James Potter did." Sirius got a self-satisfied look for only a moment. "But Ah also found that most of his ideas, if taken raw, were short cuts to disaster. It was Miss Lilly's restraint that let them live as long as they did and kept Harry alive." She turned to Mrs. Weseley. "And Ah think Aunt Molly here is the prime substitute for the fine woman"

"Now one thing some of us seem to have overlooked is that asking a question is not the same as getting an answer. Asking questions is no harm to anyone. And Ah trust most of us here who have the information to answer have sense enough to know which questions TO answer."
*******
As the youngsters trooped up to bed, Ginger stopped dead at the foot of the stairs looking up as if seeing something thru the upper floors. "Mickey's here!" she said delightedly. "Ginny, can Ah borrow your wand?"

Ginny took out her wand and said doubtfully, "Well, I don't know..." But before she could say more Ginger had snatched it from her grasp and run out side.

She was standing in front of the house, but within the protective filed. She was holding the wands straight up and pulling them toward her and pushing them back out. "Steady baby, steady. More port, more port.", she called as titled the wands to the left. Pulling them back straight she said, "Steady, steady." After a minute more she said, "And CUT!" crossing the wands together.

Mickey Shultz pulled his great broom War Wagon up short and landed square in front of her. He hopped off of the hovering stick and grabbed up his baby sister for a Texas size greeting.

When they separated he unslung a hefty pair of saddlebags from his broom and followed her in. He didn't stint on greetings for the group including bear hugs for Sirius, Molly and others. Harry, Hermione and Ron he gave sedate handshakes.

Up in their room he unpacked a boatload of the finest Diagon Ally had to offer. Textbooks, potion supplies, new robes, et. Ginger was shaking with bairley-concealed impatience. "All right, all right. Enough of that stuff. Did you GET IT?"

He smiled like he was enjoying making her suffer. When he thought it no longer safe to continue he drew from an inside coat pocket a large lump of gold wrapped about a breath taking ruby.

She snatched it from his hand and held it up to the light. It was a high school ring in the classical American style, a band of gold narrow at the back of the finger slowly fading into knuckle that was the seat of the faceted stone. The circle of metal holding the stone proclaimed in huge letters, "HOGWARTS" at the top and "2011" at the bottom. The side to the wearer's left showed the head of a great-tusked boar, the side to the right had the head of a roaring lion.

"EEEEEE! Ah want it. Get another for yourself. A struggle ensued with much giggling. When Tex had had enough he sat on the bed, drug his sister across his knee, flipped up her mini and gave her solid thou affectionate paddling.

Placing the ring proudly on his finger he told the tale. "Baby, you wouldn't believe how hard it was to get this job done. Ah went all over Diagon Ally and found not one jeweler who had ever heard of high school rings. Most of them thought Ah was crazy. Finally Ah found this lil' shop right next to Flourish and Bots. It was run by a nice couple called Addlestien. They had a teen daughter named Tiffany who's job it was to point out what was gross or lame."

"Mr. Addlestien and Ah worked out the design." He said, "I think your crazy, but we can do it." His wife interrupted. "But Papa, we can't; we're out of rubies." "We'll use the big one in the drawer." "No, Papa, not that one, it's..." "Don't argue, just get it!" To me he said, "You can have it two weeks, but I think your crazy."

While Ginger tried to devour her brother she could feel that, despite his delight at seeing her, there was still an air of sadness about him.

Ch. 6

While getting the clean up of the living room started Mrs. Weseley grumbled about a good many things including trends in teen clothing. "Everybody in jeans and t-shirts, you can't tell the girls from the boys."

Just then Ginger came into the room singing, "Don't it make mah brown eyes, don't it make mah brown eyes, don't it make mah brown eyes blue." bouncing down the steps in t-shirt and jeans both so tight they left no doubt as the wearer's gender. The shirt bore the legend, "WHAT COLOR ARE MAH SHOES?"

She laughed out load at Mrs. Weseley's plan for dealing with the doxies. "That's no way to deal with (giggle) doxies. MICKEY!!" she bellowed.

Her brother came crashing down the stairs like an enraged rhino. "What is it baby?"

"We need some de-doxie-fication. The place is simply crawling with the little beggars."

Tex took off his hat and bowed. Putting his quartz flute to his lips he played a sprightly tune that soon had several doxies soaring in a tight circle in the center of the room. Ginger moved the bucket to the center of the floor. When it looked like the major share of the infestation was in formation he changed the pitch and the circle began to descend.

Doxies began crashing into the inner wall of the bucket like a hailstorm on a tin roof.

Kretcher was particularly upset by the strangeness of the Shultzs, but found them so strange he wasn't sure just what they were. When he called them mudbloods they laughed uproariously. "Guess again lil' buddy."

"Yea, big brother and Ah are from one of the longest magic lines your likely to come across."

"We're something much worse than blood traitors."

"Try rebels and insurrectionists." They each took a shoulder and lifted him off of the floor. Smiling delightedly they stared him in the eyes and said as one, "A nation of MONGRELS!" Then they dropped him and laughed themselves sick as he scampered away as if they were dangerously insane.

Mondungous eyed them with caution. "Err, you're not from around here, are you."

"Nope. Mickey and Ah are from Texas. That's just south of the U.S."

Tonks joined in. "Uhm, I thought Texas was a part of the U.S."

Tex explained, "Well, we don't act like it."

"But, don't you send tax money to Washington?"

"That's not tax money, that's charity for our less fortunate neighbors."

Tex was as concerned as Hermione about the condition of the elf, but did not see any ready solution. "Sirius dasn't discharge him; he knows to much. In fact, if it weren’t for that lil' detail, Ah'd say give him as a gift to Draco. Ah think we all agree he's one entity we owe a bad turn or two."
*******
Ginger's many duties included the occasional marketing trip. She came back one afternoon in a right state. "Boy oh boy, fresh meat is getting hard to come by in this neighborhood. Ah had to practically beg the butcher to give me the last turkey in the shop." Tex blushed as all the locals stared. "WHAT? What is IT?"

Her brother whispered the delicate truth into her ear. She didn't blush but she giggled before out right laughter. "NO! No no no. Ah'm only eleven for Pete's sake. Ah won't be messing with that stuff till Ah'm at least thirteen.

Ch. 7

While Harry sat to the kitchen listening to such good advice Tex and Ginger came dragging in in dressing gowns and yawning in synchronization wide enough to swallow their faces. "Morn'n Harry, morn'n all." they said together as they drug out the porridge kettle and fry pan. "Keep your seat, Aunt Molly." "Yea, Mickey and Ah will get breakfast."

"What are you doing up?" Harry asked thou not terribly interested. Ginger again yawned to the heavens. "You think we'd lay abed while our lil' buddy was sold down the river?" "Yea." Tex gasped out. "We can't do much, but we can show which side were on, as story goes."

Everybody up had their choice of dishes in short order. Harry, thou well focused on his own problems, noticed that under the fatigue the yanks were uneasy. "Yep, Harry. The last fear to be conckoured is fear of the unknown. Now in the good ol' U.S. of A. we'd know just what to do." Ginger shoveled in her cereal with out opening her eyes. "Yea, hire a mouth piece to tie it up in knots. They'd be litigating 'till we're all in our graves."

As Harry stood to leave Mickey took him in a full embrace, not as vigorous or embarrassing as when he'd found Harry had not after all made love to Ginger, but enough to convey sincerity. Ginger gave him a bone-cracking hug with the usual wash-your-face-afterwards kiss only slightly marred by rasping yawn. "Don't worry about things here, padna." "Yea, when you get back, wand in hand, Mickey and Ah will have things well on the way.

In chapter eight nothing of note happened to Tex or Ginger.

Ch. 9

While everybody was getting lunch or chanting, "HE GOT OFF, HE GOT OFF!" everything stopped when a most horrible stench attacked them. All heads turned to the door to the servants' quarters where two walking black grease stains in the shape of Tex and Ginger entered. Hermione had been with Tex as he cleaned up after an unintentional trip thru the sewer at the end of their second year, but that hadn't smelt half as bad as this.

The Ginger shaped stain said with Ginger's voice, "Well that lil' task is seen to, Aunt Molly. Sorry we didn't leave you any, Harry." followed by giggles as if it were an inside joke of some kind.

"So you pulled thru, eh Harry?" said the Tex shaped stain. "The Ministry wrought justice in spite of its self." with the chuckles of a shared joke.

Sirius shaking his head said, "I figured you'd be done about now, so I drew a scalding hot bath. Sorry this old house only had one bathtub." Both stains tilted their heads in confusion. "Why would we need more than one?" They then both went up stairs.
*******
While Tex scrubbed Ginger's back the melancholy crept back upon him. Even facing away from him she felt the change in his attitude. She turned about even before he was thru, looking at him with deep concern. "What's eating you, sugar? Tell your lil' Ginger."

His first thought was to hide it. Anything to dampen her happiness was appalling. But he could refuse her nothing and after so many years he could hide nothing from her. With a sigh that shook the drapes he shared with her what he'd told the stone man.

"So that's what you've been down about since you got here. Gee, honey, that tares me up." She was comforting him for all she was worth. She looked him in the eye when she said, "Would you like me to see less of Hermione?"

He didn't expect that. Hermione had just about replaced him as the center of Ginger's universe. "NO, baby. That would tare me up worse. You guys love each other. Hurting you wouldn't help me."

She wasn't surprised at that. He had always been the kindest, lovingist person she knew. "Well, anything Ah can do to help is exactly what Ah want to do. You just let me know, O.K.?" The bath took a while longer than planed as she comforted him more. Her angelic voice found the perfect expression.*

You just call out mah name,
And you know where ever Ah am,
Ah'll come running to see you again.
Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall
All you got to do is call
And Ah'll be there, you got a friend.

*******
Ron was appointed boy prefect of Gryffindor and Tex and Ginger were as stunned as anybody. "YOU? The SHARIF? he nearly shouted.

"You should be IN the jail, not running it." she added.

Ron didn't take well to the shine being taken off of his honor. "You're just jealous!" Both bugged their eyes out at that clumsy taunt. The thought that they could ever be jealous of anything that happened to Ron (or really anybody) bordered on the inconceivable.

The twins chipped in. "Well Tex, if Harry wasn't prefect we'd have been sure you would have. You were practically Dumbledore's right hand man during the tournament."

The yanks now burst out laughing. When Ginger could speak she said, "Mickey? Give orders?" She then dropped to the floor and rolled about.

Tex was on his knees before he could say. "HAR, HAR! Boys, Ah can just barely make it as a team member. Ah SURE can't be the quarterback."

*You Got A Friend Paul Simon, Art Garfunckle

Ch. 10

As Harry's honor guard gathered Ginger and Tex came down stairs in the finest in English school traveling wear. The people present were just about the best friends the Shultzs had in the world, but even friend ship can be pushed just so far. They looked every bit as ridicules as Hermione's parents had during their Christmas trip to Graymatter when Big Mickey had bought them western wear.

As the laughter died down Moody gasped, "I yield! You were right." Ginger with a smirk of self-satisfaction snapped her fingers and the local garb vanished showing blue denim pants and jackets with t-shirts bearing a picture of a mongrel dog tearing off a suit coat, shirt and tie revealing a t-shirt with the stars and stripe. Under the picture was the caption, "THEY MESSED WITH THE WRONG DOG."

*******
Boarding the train Tex kissed Ginger and said, "Get along baby,.."

"Yea, yea Ah know. Find some third years to hang with." She took it with greater grace than last year when he told her to hang with the first years.
*******
When Tex learned that Malfoy was a prefect he hustled Ron away from the others in the compartment and whispered urgently to him. Ron seamed doubtful but Tex shoved something into the redhead's pocket and rushed back to his own seat just in time.

When Malfoy arrived Tex sneered, "Draco, if you're the best Dumbledore could find to police House Sytherin then the snakes are in worse shape than Ah thought. In fact it looks like the whole house must be going down the tubes."

Malfoy opened his mouth to shout "Detention" but Ron was faster. "SHULTZ! For showing disrespect to a prefect, I sentence you to DEATH!" He then pulled out of his coat pocket a small handgun and shot Tex in the chest. The foreigner looked utterly astonished as a red stain spread across his shirtfront. He grabbed his chest and without a sound fell forward. Malfoy ran into the corridor screaming. Everybody in the compartment, including Ron, was paralyzed for a moment.

Then Tex started laughing and got up. Harry, Hermione and the others looked like they would like to murder him for real. Ron shoved the gun back into his hand and snarled, "That was a stupid thing to do. We'll both be expelled."

"HAR, HAR. Not if you play it cool like Ah'm going to. Tex pulled off the shirt showing another with no hole or blood. Stuffing the stained one into his duffle he settled down with the tablet and appeared to study the new potions text.

McGonagall came in with Malfoy in tow. Seeing Tex sitting pretty as you please with no blood she turned on Draco with ferocity. "What is the MEAING of this Mr. Malfoy? Do you think being a prefect entitles you to play outrageous stunts and disrupt the operation of the school? I'll have a particularly suitable detention planed for you when we reach Hogwarts." And she stormed out.

Tex grinned evilly. "Problem, Draco?" Malfoy babbled a moment and ran. Looking about his friends he answered their unspoken question. "Draco as prefect would be intolerable. Ah just reminded him that the universe still has a degree of uncertainty. And sorry mah friends, but if Ah had warned you he'd have spotted the rues.
*******
Tex chose to leave the compartment for a while to let his friends cool down. He was mentally kicking himself. What was he thinking? That was the sort of gag he would have pulled first year. He had four full years of experience with these people. Why didn't he know they'd react like this?

Just outside the compartment was Ginger, arms folded and face pitying. She thru her arms around his neck and held on for dear life. She whispered, "Honey, Ah told you it was a mistake." He hugged back. They didn't care that people were watching. "It's this problem of yours that's making you do this stuff. If we don't get it fixed soon you're gonna get kicked out." He knew. But how do you fix a problem like this? How do you turn mere chums into the sort of friends he needed, the sort of friends he saw all around him?

They broke; he nodded. They went their separate ways. He wandered about the train struggling with the question. How hard can it be? He was surrounded by people, people his own age, people with similar interest, people raised in basically the same coulter. What did he want that he wasn't seeing?

He entered the dinning car. There were four or so students there, most had taken up in compartments by now. He touched his hat brim and said to the car at large, "Ev'nin folks." They all looked at him with surprise. Even after four years at Hogwarts he still wasn't known to all the students.

Among them was a very pretty girl of about fifteen with long brown hair with wide blond streaks. Her face was cast in the German mode, but there was more. There was a good deal of French in her as well. And was that just a hint of Irish?

He didn't know why he did it, but some how it felt right to walk over to her and make her acquaintance. He offered her his hand. "Shultz, mam, of Gryffindor. Friends call me Mickey"

Now why had he said that? He hadn't used his given name in four years, four years to the day since the Weseley twins christened him Tex. She took his hand and smiled warmly. "Uh, Ashley Anderson of Hufflepuff. Friends call me, uh, Ashley. I don't know what my enemies call me. I'm a fifth year." He was surrounded by English accents, why was hers so musical?

She released his hand and he made a small gesture causing a chair to slide up to him

"So am Ah. Rather nerve making. The O.W.L.s staring down on you. Like your whole life up to now has been prolog." He took a swig of pumpkin juice. "Man, that hit the spot."

She was smiling at him. A very pleasant sort of smile. Like it made her happy just be with him. "How is it I've never seen you before. This is the fifth trip for both of us. And I KNOW I would remember seeing you, even a glance." Some how she made it sound like a positive thing, as if she enjoyed seeing him.

"Till now Ah've always stayed in a compartment the whole trip. This is mah first visit to the dinning car. It is certainly well appointed and comfortable."

The conversation turned to schoolwork, extra-curricular activities and personal hobbies. It turned out they both wrote what in muggle land would be fantasy but, in light of what was possible for wizards, Tex called science fiction. This was a side of him he hadn't shown to even Harry or Ron.

After a point the conductor came rushing in in a highly agitated. "Sir, are Michelle Shultz?"

"That's me, padna. What's up?" The man whispered urgently. Tex's eyes shot open and he leapt to his feet. "Time's a wasting." He paused to face Ashley, touch the brim of his hat and make a small bow. "Miss Ashley, Ah can't tell you how much Ah've enjoyed our lil' tay-ta-tay. If Ah miss you at the feast, Ah hope to see you again some time."

"What is it? Why are you rushing off?"

"Ah, err, the engineer heard Ah'm interested in steam power systems and invited me to tour the locomotive. Good day, mam."
*******
Arriving at the cab Tex touched his hat brim and said "Shultz here. What's the problem?"

The engineer looked frantic. "The pressure keeps building and the safeties have cut out. If we can't get her under control she'll blow!"

Tex looked at the gauge and held out his hand. "WRENCH!" They all looked at him confused. "Ah mean SPANNER!"
*******
After bringing the engine under control he continued to nurse maid her until they began slowing into Hogsmead. Wiping grease from his hands as he left the cab he ran into Ashley just coming out of the first compartment. She looked as lovely in robes as in muggle wear. That strange sensation that the world was a little better because of her came back even stronger. Touching his hat brim he said, "So nice to see you again, Miss Ashley."

She gave him a smile that was like sunrise in his heart. "I was hoping to see you again." She was holding a lovely gray kitten with blue eyes.

"Ah have to drop back to mah compartment to change and grab Sam."

"May I come with you? I'd love to see this 'Sam.' Is that your owl? Peach won't bother him. He's very well behaved towards birds."

As they walked he chuckled. "Not an owl by any stretch of the imagination. But a messenger true and faithful all the same."

In the compartment he uncovered the cage to give the great bald eagle a treat. She gasped at the sight. "Oh, so magnificent a bird." Sam looked at her and squawked his agreement. Like most American males he throve on flattery. "But isn't he a protected species? I heard they were losing population."

Tex was pulling his robe over his street clothes. "Their losses have been reversed and they're making a comeback. But your right, they are still on the protected list and Parks and Wildlife did put up a fuss about taking him out of the country. But mah Pa has some pull with those desk jockeys." Sam had finished his snack and Tex pulled the cover back over.

Ginger was waiting in the corridor for him, Cherry's cage in hand. The sight of so pretty a girl in her brother's company was a bit of a surprise in light of recent events, but a welcome one. "Baby, let me introduce mah new friend Ashley." Ginger's eyes glowed at the word. He had used the same inflection from their conversations. He saw this girl as the sort of friend he had been lacking all his life.

Ashley's face however took on a decidedly down cast look. He calls this gorgeous girl "Baby." I was hoping he'd become my boyfriend after a while, he's SOOO cute. But I can't compete with HER.

Turning to his new friend he said, "And this lovely creature is mah sister Ginger. Ah just know you two will get along splendidly."

Ashley's face lit up with new hope. His SISTER? She's not his girlfriend? I still have a chance. She shook Ginger's hand with enthusiasm. "I'm so delighted to meet you. Your brother's so polite and charming."

"And Ah'm delighted to meet you." Ginger said, snagging a kiss. "You seem so sweat and kind."

It was lost on Tex but both girls were sizing each other up and approving of what they saw. Ginger's love of her brother supported Ashley's judgment of him as a loving, kind individual. Ashley's fondness for him assured Ginger that here was the friend he'd been looking for, and a girl friend into the bargain.

"Are you in Gryffindor too, Ginger?"

"Sure am. Ah couldn't leave Mickey unsupervised, no telling what mischief he'd get into." (chuckle)

"I think it's so nice when the hat puts sibs in the same house."

"HA! Ah TOLD the hat to put me in Gryffindor."

"Yep, Ginger had all the traits for any house in abundance. But Ah think the hat would have put Gryffindor himself in House Sytherin if Ginger had told it to." (yuck, yuck)
*******
They approached a likely looking carriage and came face to face with Harry, Hermione, Ron and Luna, all but the last glaring daggers at him. To the group he said, "Well, Goddric Gryffindor, so the text tells us, was never afraid to own up when he made a mistake. Can Ah do less?" He set down Sam's cage, put his hat over his heart and held out his hand to the friends he had offended. "Ah sincerely apologize." They all took it; the trio grudgingly, Luna abstractedly as if it were happing to someone else.

"And Ah have the honor of introducing Miss Ashley Anderson of Hufflepuff, whose acquaintance Ah have just made." Ron and Harry muttered something that might have been "How do you do." Hermione and Luna shook her hand and greeted her warmly.

Ch. 11

When the conversation turned to Hagrid's suitability as a teacher and a line started to be drawn between houses Tex pipe up with, "Hagrid is an excellent gamekeeper and a loyal friend."

"And a good man to have at your back in a fight." Ginger added. "Which is what you're actually talking about, even thou you said 'teaching ability.'."

"It can't be denied that he has a great deal of knowledge about a wide variety of creatures and shares it well with students. The disagreement is on his choice of subject matter." Everybody made sounds of agreement, some grudgingly and some enthusiastically. "Ah count mah self among his best friends among the current crop, but Ah'll bet galleons to navy beans the O.W.L.s won't have flubber worms or blast end screwts. Now when he brought out those hippogriffs the first day...." Tex was lost in revelry of the memory.

"Yea, if it hadn't been for the unfortunate incident with Malfoy." Ginger said.

Ashley ventured. "I only heard about third hand. Was it really that bad?"

"Ah'll say. The beast barely pecked him. Now, if it had eaten him...." Everybody laughed except for Luna whose mind was once again on distant plains and Tex. While none noticed it in the darkness of the carriage, his face took on a decided green ting at the memory of his adventure last year in a parallel time line.
*******
Before the main entrance to the castle a silver lance a bare three inches in diameter rose to maybe one hundred feet. Tex and Ginger stopped to gape up at it. "Well, honey, looks like they took your advice finally."

"Yea, baby. School just doesn't seem like school without a flag, even if it's not Ol' Glory." They then looked each other in the eye with devilish grins.

In the Great Hall Tex paused at the foot of Hufflepuff table and gazed into Ashley's eyes. He offered his hand as if to shake hers, but it turned out to be more a matter of handholding. Any who happened to look into his face would see what he really wanted was to kiss her. In her face would be seen the assurance that such a day was likely very near. "Ah look forward to our next meeting." he said with a smile as warm as the west Texas sunset.

She shone like moonlight on the lake and said "I'll be waiting."

He took Ginger's hand and continued to Gryffindor table. The sibs from out west had a decision to make. If they sat together among the fifth years they would offend the fifths by the addition of an outsider and offend the thirds by removal of one of their own. If they sat together among the thirds the same would result for opposite causes. They decide to sit in the middle of the fourth years and offend three groups at once. Being reunited with his baby sister last year had reminded Tex of the joy of his birthright and he had completely given up on fitting in. Ginger, of course, had never tried.

After the hat's song few noticed, but there were definite tears in Tex's and Ginger's eyes. After the sorting ended and the food arrived the Texans got up and walked over to Sytherin table. Malfoy noticed a shadow loom over him. Looking up he saw Tex holding out his hand. Being of a suspicious nature (which Tex had worked hard to cultivate for the last four years) Malfoy asked, "What's this about?" He noticed a trace of moister in the big fellows eyes.

"That's the right hand of fellowship. Ah apologies for all the rotten tricks Ah've played on you and ask you to be mah friend." Draco looked at the open hand for a moment and spat into it.

Tex looked at his moistened palm a moment and said, "Well, Ah've been to Ireland and they do that before shaking on a deal. Why not?" and continued to hold out his hand. When Malfoy and the Snakes around him began to laugh Tex decide he had done enough for the cause of inter-cameral harmony for one night. He picked up Malfoy's own napkin and wiped his palm. "Ah withdraw the physical hand, but the offer remains. Mah friendship is yours for the asking."

He tapped Ginger on the shoulder. She then released the chokehold she had on Millicent Bulstraud and they returned to their own place. "Little ruff, weren't you baby?"

She answered, "Sometimes you need a stronger brand of diplomacy."
*******
Hermione wasn't the only one listening attentively to Professor Umbrage. Tex and Ginger, buried among the fourth years, were focused with grim determination. They had the look people used to fighting for their home being told that another enemy was on the horizon. On the way out they stopped at Hufflepuff table where Ashley was still sitting, looking worried.

"Oh that Umbrage woman frightens me. I know I must sound foolish..."

"Then Ah am a bigger fool than you, mah dear." said Tex holding her hands. "For she terrifies me."

Ginger joined in, hands on hips, looking even grimmer. "She's trying to bull doze Lady Liberty under a mountain of bull dip."

"Huh?"

"What mah sister means is that she's trying to strip away the rights our founding fathers fought and died for." (Ashley tried not to be amused at the Americans odd references, she knew basically what they meant.) "But what ever she's up to, we must move with caution. The Ministry is behind her and she can do just about anything she chooses, and by the time it get straightened out a lot of damage may have been done." He took Ginger's left hand and placed it on top of Ashley's; then put them both between his. "We must give every appearance to cooperate. We must be ever so respectful and appear to go along with party line, what ever that line may turn out to be. It is only this way that we can study her and learn her weaknesses."

"Oh, like Beowulf and his battle with Grindall."

"Exactly mah dear. Although Ah hope she won't devour one of our comrades while we are observing her." He gave a warm smile as released their hands. She's such a perfect match for me. She has so much in her. Could she be...one of us? He held up his right hand with the ring finger and pinky folded over the palm and held down by the thumb, the index and long fingers straight, rather like the Cub Scout salute. He said just two words. "Merry meet."

Her eyes shone with recognition. She placed her index and long against his and said, "And merry part."

Their fingers folded about each other as they said together, "And merry meet again." And then they kissed. Not the kiss he usually shared with his sister, just a bit more of a kiss than Ron gave Ginny on her birthday. It was not sexual or romantic, but it spoke of family and home. Then they both said, "May you never thirst." They parted without another word.

On the way to the tower Ginger said quietly. "Ah guess it's true. We really are every where."

Tex grinned with grim satisfaction. "There's at least on person we can trust when the fecal matter hits the flocculator."
*******
Things were getting pretty heated in the boys dorm. Seamus was getting riled at Harry, Neville was supporting him and Ron was trying to maintain a bit of order. Tex admired Dean's wisdom in not getting involved. Which ever side you took, it did no good to shout it at somebody or to try to explain it to somebody who was shouting at you. Tex decided to use a little diplomacy.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen." All five looked at him. Hmmm, high opinion of themselves. "These are tense times. Everybody is nervous. We're all getting excited over what may prove to be nothing after all."

Seamus snarled, "Sod off, yank!"

Tex's tone sounded ominous. "Don't you say that again 'till Ah find out what it means."

He turned to Harry who said, "Yea, who are you to tell us what to do? What are you doing here any way?"

"Ah'm here to get an education, which is what Ah thought all of us were here for. Perhaps Ah was mistaken. Good night all." Before pulling back the drapes of his own bed he turned to Ron. "Oh and Mr. Prefect, some of your predecessor drafted mah aid when strong-arm tactics were indicated. Ah stand ready to serve."

Ch. 12

A good night's sleep can work wonders on one's outlook. Tex got up the next day ready to embrace the whole world as his brother. He looked out his window to gloat over the handiwork he had slipped out after taps to accomplish. He gazed down at the flag poll and saw...nothing. He was disappointed that his mischief had been discovered and corrected in so short a time but decided not to let it spoil his morning

He got down to the common room ahead of the others in his set and waited for Ginger. When she arrived in the company of other third year girls she gave him a questioning look. He replied with a sad smile to say it had not come off but he wasn't going to worry about it.

Harry and Ron he greeted with his usual enthusiasm. "Uh, Tex. I thought we were mad at each other. Because of, what I said last night."

Tex cocked his head to the side in curiosity. "Mad? Why on the green hills of earth should we be mad? Ah told you last night that these are nervous times and we're all on edge. Now that we've all had a good nights kip we may once again reach out and embrace the universal brotherhood."

Harry was afraid his friend was going to be entirely too literal, but all he did was shake Harry's hand and slap him on the shoulder.

Hermione, resuming her earlier conversation, said, "Well Tex had the right idea. Trying make up with Malfoy took real courage." At some ostentatious throat clearing by Ginger she added hastily, "And you to, dear."

Ron smirked, "He's also trying to establish friendly relations with Hufflepuff, VERY friendly relations."

Harry had the good grace to look embarrassed while the girls rolled their eyes in the traditional "Oh MEN!" format. Tex fumbled around for something to say that would satisfy Ron's curiosity but at the same time would not violate the code of southern chivalry. He gave up and went on to breakfast.

As they started for the portrait hole music came from somewhere. It grew loader and then words were heard.

"It's time for An-i-main-i-acs!
Dot is cute and Yacko yaks!
Wacko packs away the snacks,
While Bill Clinton plays the sax,

"CUT!!!" tore threw the set. A man dressed as a fifteenth century Spanish explorer stomped past the youngsters bellowing, "HOW MANY TIMES MUST I TELL THEM TO KEEP THE DOORS BETWEEN THE SOUND STAGES CLOSED?!!!" There was a load slam and he came back. Sitting in his accustomed chair he yelled, "And ACTION!"
*******
In the Great Hall everybody was sitting around as if waiting for something. It may have been the food. The platters and kettles were empty. Dumbledore looked about. "Well now that we're all here, before we enjoy our breakfast, I have a question." He picked up what looked like a gallon size zip lock bag full of some white fabric. "I would like to know who ran this bra up the flag pole last night."

Tex walked up while Ginger bounced along beside him to the faculty table and stood respectfully before the headmaster. The old man looked tired. "So Michael, I should have known."

"Sir, Ah cannot tell a lie."

"And he calls himself a Texan." the old man muttered. With an astonished look Professor Dumbledore asked, "Ginger, do I need to ask why are you up here?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Ah provided the bra."

He handed her the bag. "I could tell by the way you bounced up here. I take it your parents let you watch M*A*S*H a great deal growing up."

Tex answered simply, "We have the full series." Ginger added, "On DVD."

Dumbledore waved his wand in a dismissive manner. The food appeared and the Shultzs took their seats.

Some noticed that Tex and Ginger were wearing large buttons on their robes reading "I heard The Hat." At the request of those about them they explained it symbolized their dedication to promoting inter-cameral unity. To the gaping mouths, even before they could voice the question, "Yes, even House Slytherin."
*******
After Professor Snape vanished Harry's lab work he turned to Tex who's cauldron was now emitting large puffs of golden smoke. "Mr. Shultz you are a true friend to Mr. Potter."

Suspicious of some sort of trap Tex replied, "How so, sir?"

"By producing a product so bad it makes Potter's work look good."

He raised he wand to obliterate this mess as well when the boy said, "Ginger's looking forward to seeing you’re again, sir." Snape's arm froze on the up swing. "Yes, sir. She was talking about the research you were doing together. She was right sorry she had to leave you last term with it only half done. She certainly hopes she can find the time this year to work with you on it."

The professor pocketed his wand and wandered off to the Slytherin side of the classroom. Tex smirked as he mimed wetting his finger and drawing a large one on an imaginary blackboard. Harry fumed worse than the cauldron. Tex is still getting special privileges, even from Snape.
*******
True to his word Tex kept a low profile while he studied Professor Umbrage. Unfortunately Ashley's comparison to the mythological battle was all too true. He had to watch the monster devour a number of his comrades as he sat there helpless. After the bulk of the class had joined the fray but before Harry had lost his temper the professor turned her eyes to the quietest person present, conspicuous by the absence as the saying goes.

"Mr. ... Shultz is it?"

Tex leapt to his feet and sang out, "Yes Mam!"

"No, no you don't have to stand every time I address you. Please be seated." He did. "You're the American, am I right?"

"And Proud Of It, Mam."

Her face somewhat soured at this display of nationalism, but she let it pass. "Don't you have anything to add to this discussion?"

Tex drew himself up in his seat in the manner of a long stretch after a hard ride. "Wellll, mam." he opened with a slower, lazier drawl than any present had ever heard. "We have a saying back home. 'You have to know a whole lot about the cow business to know that you don't know anything.' Nowww the way Ah see it, Ah don't know enough to know what Ah do and don't know, so Ah reckon Ah just hold mah peace." This earned a smile from the ogre.

Later when they met again Tex told Harry. "Hermione wasn't half way thru her first question when it was plain Professor Umbrage wasn't interested in truth, justice or the American way. All she's interested in having her own way and there's no use arguing with her because what you base your arguments on; facts, needs, survival she's labeled unimportant." He looked on Harry with a measure of pride as he place his hands on his friend's shoulders. "But what an American you would have made."

As Tex went about his business Harry watched him thinking, He's sold out. All that big talk about standing up for principal and speaking your mind and he's sold out. Unless... he's all ready sold out a long time ago. Is he a spy for the Ministry? Or maybe...maybe for that Bureau he and Ginger were talking about. Yea, he's been acting very strange lately.

Ch. 13

The trio left dinner early to discuss people’s attitude toward Harry. When he was out of things to say about students in general he turned on Tex. "Where was he, anyway? I was fighting for my life just getting thru the tasks and he was nowhere around. What was this 'special assignment' he was supposed to be on?"

Neither of them could answer. Hermione thought hard and long. "You know, we never did here from Dumbledore's own lips that he had given Tex any sort of assignment. And what would be so important that he'd miss half the school year? And don’t forget that they couldn't seem to get anything of the tournament going with out him and then all of a sudden he wasn't needed."

"Yea!" Ron added. "And what's with him and Ginger being full members of the Order...” He broke off as Harry and Hermione shushed him. A little quieter he said, "Yea, he's no older than the rest of us and Ginger's younger than any of us, even Ginny." He shivered remembering the look Ginger had given Ginny for pointing her finger. He didn't understand what she'd said and wasn't sure he wanted to find out."

Harry voiced his concerns about the Shultzs being spies for the Ministry or even the Bureau. Hermione concurred. "I think we'd better keep Tex and Ginger out of our plans for the near future.
*******
When Hermione returned from dressing down the twins Ginger was standing nearby with a look of open admiration. She held her hat over her heart and said solemnly, "Gentlemen, we are in the presence of greatness."
*******
Tex was not even aware that he was being shunned. He had other things on his mind. At that moment he was strolling the grounds with Ashley. She was trying not to smile at the fidgeting hand as he fought the impulse to take her hand. He knew she was found of him in a romantic mode, but he also knew that by English standards it was much to soon for such obvious displays.

As they came 'round the side of the castle they had a breathtaking view of the full moon. Tex kissed the tips of his right index and long fingers and held them up to the moon. He relished the energy of the moonlight as he sub-vocalized a Cherokee prayer to the Great Mother.

He noticed that Ashley was also facing the moon; her palms were out and framing her face. He didn't mean to eavesdrop on other people's conversation, but he did hear her words.

Beautiful ancient one, may You bless us with Your presence!
May we bathe in Your light and love;
may we feel You inside and outside our bodies;
may we all touch as womansouls.

As he watched her his vision shifted and he saw her not in the school robes she was wearing a moment ago. On her brow was a band of silver with a crescent pointing up. Her beautiful blond and brown hair was whipping about in the wind caressing her bare shoulders, her bare arms, her bare....

He turned about immediately and shifted his vision back to the physical now. He reprimanded himself. A gentleman did not look at woman in that state, especially in a religious mode, without invitation. When she was done she looked at him with pleased curiosity. He said just above a whisper, "You're a Dianic."

The smile became slightly sad. "Apostate Dianic."

He struggled. It was a very personal matter, but she seem be inviting him to inquire. "You've, in the words of those who worship the crucified one, err, fallen from grace?"

The sadness faded slightly as amusement was added. "That's as good a way to put it as any. Would you like to hear it?"
*******
In the Room of Requirement Ashley dropped tiredly onto a coach and gestured for Tex to join her. An ice bucket with two butter beers appeared. He took the bottles, the caps popped off, he handed one to her. He swigged slowly, letting her take her time. To face the events that led up to the loss of ones faith must be an agony.

"You've probably heard all the misoandrist gags about Dianics. Like we believe in self sacrifice. We think all men should sacrifice themselves. Well a lot of us feel that way. Not as many as used to. A lot of covens now let men into the workshops. But none will let them in the worship."

"And that's the point where you stuck?"

She nodded. "My father, in fact. As ethical and honorable as any woman I've ever met. a sterling leader in the ecology movement. And why can't be join the coven? Because he's a man. I knew better than to raise these questions to my mother or any other member. I held my peace until I was initiated at thirteen." She gave a grim smile. "Mother forgot to include sexism in the list of things I was to uphold, protect and defend so I took the oath with a clear conchinse."

Tex grimaced. He had only the faintest notion of what pain she went thru trading her position in the community and the respect of her mother for her principles.

"I know many men are rotten and in days gone by a lot more were a lot worse. But that's no call to tar the lot of you with the same brush. I mean, how's that make us different from all the men who judge all women by the mistakes of a few?"

He had to admire her. She had courage of a level few people ever show. She could stand up to the world and not budge.

"And besides, I think boys are pretty neat." She set her hand on the cushion with in easy reach. He gently took it.
*******
In transfiguration Tex did not manage to vanish a single snail, how ever he did manage to turn one a lovely shade of brown with wide blond streaks. Apparently his mind was elsewhere.

Ch. 14

As Harry left the owlery he was still wondering, Who could have told Filch? His mind kept echoing the same three letters, U.S.A., U.S.A….
*******
Arriving at breakfast Tex and Ginger saw the article in the Prophet and stood a moment exchanging facial tics that seemed to carry a great deal of information. Ginger finally said, “Have you heard from Aunt Molly?”