Mission: Maybe Not So Impossible

#3 : Operation G.B.A.T.S.S.A.E.D.M.

[December the 24th - 7 days to New Years]

"What about wrapping up the Canary Creams in a lovely box and tying it with a pretty bow? Then, we'll address it to them and leave it in their room so they get it when they return." Hermione suggested to her silent friends.

Ron nodded and shrugged. Harry grinned, giving her the thumbs up. Hermione conjured a box, tape, ribbon, wrapping paper and card and instructed Harry to retrieve the Canary Creams from his trunk upstairs.

Ron sighed and Hermione shot him a warning look.

"Look, R, you can get in a lot of trouble for talking whilst being jinxed." Hermione said, beginning to clear space on the table to wrap the 'present.' She had taken to calling him 'R' and Harry, 'H’ just to be on the safe side.

Ron gave her a skeptical look.

"Like, doing a dare. Harry and I will assign you a dare if you talk."

Ron pointed excitedly at Hermione, and she covered her mouth in horror.

"He's not here, I didn't say it to him. It doesn't count."

Ron looked very huffy but didn't press it any further.

Harry returned with the Canary Creams and handed them to Hermione.

"Should I address it to all of them? Or just----" She stopped talking to watch Harry. He was waving his hands in front of her face. Hermione didn't have any clue why he was doing that, but it stopped her from talking.

"What's going on?" Ginny asked, stepping up behind Hermione.

"Nothing," replied Hermione hastily. She leaned forward, covering up everything on the table.

Harry smiled and waved politely at Ginny and forced Ron to do the same. Ron rolled his eyes while Harry moved Ron’s arm around in a limp wave.

Ginny raised her eyebrows at the three of them, "Oookay, I'm going to the library to meet Gretchen. See you later."

"Who is this Gretchen character?" Hermione questioned as Ginny walked to the portrait hole.

"She's a Hufflepuff 3rd year."

"That was close," breathed Hermione after Ginny had safely exited the portrait hole.

Harry mimed wiping sweat off his brow. Ron shook his head at the both of them and looked utterly bored afterwards.

When Hermione had finished writing the note, she taped it on the present with some sellotape and then tossed the package to Harry, who caught it.

"Shall we go and do it now?"

Ron ripped a piece of wrapping paper off its roll and scribbled a note with Hermione's quill. After he’d finished writing in a flourish, he thrust it into Hermione's hands. It was horribly squiggly and barely readable, but Hermione got the gist of it. She read it aloud to Harry.

"We need camouflage and some of that black paint that professional athletes wear under
their eyes." And in the tiny corner, the only place it could fit, "Green, black and brown."
Hermione nodded, "Yes, that is good, R."

Ron smiled happily; Harry patted him on the back.

"Okay." She clapped her hands together excitedly. "Run upstairs, put on some camouflage and meet back here in five." She clapped again, "Move it out, troops!"

Ron and Harry both gave her odd looks as they departed.

Ten minutes later, ("I SAID FIVE MINUTES!" yelled Hermione.) the three of them were in the common room, putting the finishing touches on their outfits. With green, black and brown paint covering their whole faces, Harry and Ron both wore army green berets on their heads, while Hermione wore an army green headband.

To complete Hermione's ensemble, she wore a camouflage colored button up shirt, brown khaki pants, and black boots. Also a belt from which held a string tied to the package, where it dangled just above her knee.

Harry wore a matching camouflage button up shirt and camouflage pants. He also wore black boots, although his were much more manly than Hermione's feminine ones.

Ron stood proudly in a camouflage button up shirt and khaki army pants that flared up at the sides like in the old days. He also wore black boots, although his went higher up than the other two's; they reached just below his knees. Nobody really knew where the three of them had gotten camouflage clothes, because they certainly hadn’t had any before this escapade, but it scarcely mattered.

"All right, troops,” Hermione began, using her ‘business’ voice. "We are ready. Now remember, when I do this signal---" She made a come here signal with her index finger, "-that means come here." She held up her hand in a 'stop' motion and said, "That means stay back or stop." She looked at both boys, "Okay?"

Harry and Ron nodded squarely. They were ready.

"Cool, then let Operation G.B.A.T.S.S.A.E.D.M. commence!"

Harry put a hand up to Hermione as she started walking toward the portrait hole. He made a 'what?' motion with his shoulders, complete with odd facial expression.

"Get Back At The Slytherin Scum And Especially Draco Malfoy." Hermione explained, her tone stating plainly that it was simple and they were stupid for not understanding right away.

Ron shook his head and sighed in annoyance; he gave Harry a 'just never mind her' look before taking a piece of parchment out of his small saddle bag. He took out a quill and dabbed the end with his tongue, then he wrote something quickly and handed it to Hermione.

She read, "Couldn't we shorten up the mission title?" She looked up at Ron. "No. Why would you want to do that?"

Harry took out some parchment and a quill from his minuscule army brown messenger bag, and wrote a note which he gave to her immediately.

Hermione read, "I agree." She sighed and looked up at Harry, "H, this is a mission. We have no time to change the title. And, by the way, since when are you two the leaders? Neither of you can even talk."

Harry and Ron both gave her death glares, which she quickly returned.

Hermione threw her arms in the air, "Fine. I give up. Let's call it, Operation: H, R and H."

Harry and Ron made faces that said they definitely did not approve of that name.

Hermione thought for a minute. "Operation: Camouflage?"

Ron shook his head, scowling; Harry put his head in his hands.

"Operation: Pay Back On Draco Malfoy?"

Harry looked at her like she was mad; Ron's face mimicked that.

"Fine. Let's just stick with Operation G.B.A.T.S.S.A.E.D.M."

Ron and Harry put their hands up in defeat, and then followed her out of the portrait hole. When Hermione was on a mission, there was just no talking sensibly to her. Or, for Ron and Harry, there was just no talking period.