What Can You Do?

Disclaimer: Please review and I only own the OC. Again thank you to Darkangelfirekitsune for being my beta and putting up with me ^-^

MERRY CHRISTMAS - I hope you have a good one.

Chapter 2

"Luna, time to get up," Harry said walking by where she was sleeping on the ground. She reluctantly got up and started stretching.

"I'm going to freshen up a bit," she said walking toward the stream downhill. The night before, their little group was unable to find a building to crash in. Because of this, they ended up having to find an area of land that looked safe and not far from the road to set up camp. Just judging from what they had passed so far, it looked like they would be living that way until they reach their destination.

It was not ideal, and they would have to be extra careful. One of the rules of living in this new world was to not move at night unless you had to. The inferi where attracted to light and sound, and when it was dark and silent, all it took was for the glow of light or the snapping of a branch for them to be on you within a blink of an eye.

By now most were used to this new way of life, but there was some who could not get a good night's rest with the thought of what could happen. Someone always had to be on the lookout, that way they would not be caught unaware if a horde came wondering thru. It was due to this risk that extra precautions and constant vigilance became second nature because ignoring it was how they ended up losing their last group.

The group depended on the watchers, and it was because of this that a lot of stress was put on them; especially the night shift. If the camp was attacked it was their fault, and no one wanted the blood of those people on their hands. Because of that, only four people were willing to watch, out of the group of ten.

Harry personally hated that out of everyone in the group, only four were willing to take on the jobs that were the most stressful. Watcher's duty (day and night), supply runs or defending everyone from the inferi. It was not fair especially if someone in the group wanted an item, Dave the leader, gave it to that person with no thought to rationing. It would not have been so bad if the items were not becoming scarce. Harry felt that if things didn't change soon something would happen, either the four of them splitting ways from the group or something much more horrible happening.

He really did not want either option to happened; especially if it would put him in a leadership position. That was one of the reasons he left England in the first place. When the war was finally over, and all the Death Eaters captured, everyone expected him to be an Auror then after a few years, being promoted to a position with more power. Not once did anyone think to ask him if that was what he wanted. He went from The-Boy-Who-Lived to The-Man-Who-Concurred overnight.

While he was on the run from Voldemort and his Death Eaters, he started to think that a life of fighting and chasing the bad guy was not what he wanted to do. He just wanted to explore the world and be able to live his own life where the choices only affected himself. That he could just be plain old Harry, not Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived.

It was right after the final battle when he was thrown into the limelight, without the chance to fully process what he just had to do, that he deiced he needed to leave. Their side lost a lot of good people, and he felt that it was his fault. If he just had more time to train; to have a day of rest, then maybe there would not have been so many casualties. He did not want to make another mistake and add more to his conscience. It was at this time another thought entered his mind. If the four of them left the group and anyone got hurt, or ended up dead would it be his fault?

"Harry, you need to rest before we head out. I'll take watch while you close your eyes for a bit," said George coming up behind him. Harry jumped a little not realizing that he was that far into thought. Looking at George, the years have been good for him. He was still around 5'9", but no longer had short red hair, it now reached his shoulders and was straight, with the same brown eyes that if you looked in them you could still see some of that prankster spark left. He was wearing ruff blue jean with black tennis shoes, and a navy-blue t-shirt that was tucked in. Tied around his waist there was a sweatshirt with the letter G hanging behind him.

"I'm fine," Harry said with a half-smile on his face.

"Besides, I was the first one to sleep."

"Don't lie to us, Harrison. You got maybe an hour of sleep before you were up scouting the area. I may be old, but my eyesight works just fine," said a middle-aged black woman making her way toward them. She was about 5'6", medium build with short almost buzzed cut curly hair. She was wearing black pants with brown hiking boots on; alongside a jean jacket with a green tank top under it. On her back was a bag that had seen better days and sporting some questionable stains.

"I was asleep for a while Arika," he said looking her in the eyes that were a honey brown that he had never seen before.

"Well, darling you will be no good to anyone dead on your feet. Sleep until our "fearless leader" can decide what to do," the newly named Arika said with laughter in her voice.

"I thought we were heading towards Atlanta?" ask Luna making her way up the hill toward the group.

"That was the plan until someone said they "heard" it was overrun with the dead. Now he doesn't know if we should continue that way, or if we should head towards some military outpost," she said with a tired sigh.

"Wait, so someone in the group knew that Atlanta was a lost cause and waited until just now to say something?" asked Luna looking confused.

"That is what it looks like. Common sense says that there was no way they just "heard" it, but you know Dave," said Arika while shrugging her shoulders.

"Luna, can you go and listen in on what they are planning. I don't want to be blindsided with what Dave decides to do," Harry said looking at Luna who gave a positive nod and started to head the way Akira pointed.

"Arika, can you go scout the surrounding area and make sure it's still clear?"

"OK," she said as she started to walk away, to do just that.

"George can you go-"

"No. I already told you I am standing watch of the camp while you catch up on sleep," said George with a pointed look aimed at Harry.

"As Arika said you did not sleep much last night, and I know for a fact that you have not been sleeping. This is not the war, and we are no longer children you must lead. You don't have to do everything by yourself this time around," he said with a kind smile on his face.

"We can take care of things until you wake up. At that time, we can then figure out what our next move is. We might have to leave depending on what Dave decide to do. Honestly, I am willing to try our luck in Atlanta if he decides to head to this military outpost. It just sounds like a cluster fuck waiting to happen."

"I don't need to sle-"

"Who do you think you are trying to lie to? I have known you for 21 years. I have seen and help you through some of the darkest times in your life. I know I'm not Ron or Hermione, but I am still your friend, and I will not let you work yourself to death. Take a break. Sleep. You do not have to lead these people. They are not your responsibility."

"Fine, but if I do not fall asleep right away then that will be the end of it. Ok?"

"Ok," said George with a knowing smirk on his face. Harry turned to where his stuff was still laying on the ground untouched, with his sack acting as a pillow. He walked over to it and lied down. He was prepared to just close his eyes for a couple of minutes and then get up. Next thing he knew, his body started to relax and started to feel heavy. The last thought on his mind before the dark took him was that George was not going to let him live this down.