Harry was always a leader. He just didn't always know it. He had this way of making you feel so certain that everything was going to be all right. If the world was falling down, his presence would still make you feel safe, protected. He didn't always have it all together. He had a temper, he was stubborn, and for the life of him, he would never base any of his judgments on reason, only on instinct. But in all my life, I have never met any other human being with a stronger instinct. An instinct to know, to protect, to love. An instinct to live.


"So, what do you think?" Hermione inquired with a hopeful look.

"I think you're mental."

She gave Ron a seething look before responding back sharply, "you know, I could use some support here!"

"Look Hermione, I think it's a great a idea in theory, really. But how do you think Harry is going to react to this?" Ron asked.

Hermione looked at him for a moment before sighing defeatedly. "Not well. He'll probably spew out a bunch of rubbish about how he's not good enough to teach."

"How he's not a good leader"

"How anybody could've done what he did"

"How it was all just luck."

"Then he'll get angry at us for suggesting otherwise."

"Yell a bit"

"And then grudgingly agree to it in the end."

The two stared at each other for a second before bursting out laughing.

"I swear he's too predictable for his own good sometimes," Ron admitted after both had settled down a bit.

"That he is," Hermione agreed. "So, when shall we tell him?"

"We?"

"Yes 'we', you agreed it was a good idea didn't you?" Hermione replied, a bit fiercely . "We'll tell him when he gets back from his detention."

"Oh that'll be a lovely thing to cheer him up with," Ron said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Choosing to ignore him, Hermione began rummaging in her bag. She pulled out a flask, unstoppering it and pouring its yellowish contents into a conjured basin.

"What the bloody hell is that?"

Hermione scowled at him before answering, simply, "Essence of Murtlap."

"Oh, of course."

"It's a solution made from strained and pickled Murtlap tentacles. It has healing properties," Hermione explained patiently.

"I truly admire the amount of energy you put into your school work, Hermione," Ron stated, taking a whiff of the basin.

"It's not for school," Hermione replied, rolling her eyes. "I made it for Harry."

Ron looked at her questioningly. "Why?"

"Well he's landed himself in another week's worth of detentions with Umbridge, hasn't he?" Hermione answered. "And if he refuses to go to McGonagall, then the least I can do is help him heal those cuts on the back of his hand from that awful woman."

As she said this, the portrait hole suddenly swung open to reveal Harry, himself, back from detention. Spotting them, he made his way over and dropped himself on the couch unceremoniously.

"How are you feeling?" Hermione inquired.

"Magnificent."

"Here," Hermione said handing over the bowl of murtlap essence, "soak your hand in this."

Harry , looking slightly skeptical, did as he was told. But the contented look on his face as his hand met the yellow liquid told Hermione that her solution was indeed successful.

"Thank you, Hermione," Harry said, sounding truly grateful.

"Oh not a problem," Hermione answered back with a wave of her hand. She felt the smallest bubble of satisfaction swell within her which she attributed to her successful solution. However, remembering that she was about to tell Harry her new 'mental' idea, that bubble instantly burst. Instead, a small bubble of nervousness took its place.

"So Harry," Hermione began, "Ron and I were talking earlier, and…well…we had this idea-

"There she goes with the 'we' again," Ron interjected, incredulously, "this was your idea."

"Yes, but you agreed with me!"

Before Ron could get in his retort, Harry cut in. "Sorry to interrupt, but what in Merlin's name are you two going on about?"

Hermione sighed gruffly, throwing Ron a vicious look which made him recoil slightly. She then turned towards Harry and began explaining everything she had previously told Ron. That Umbridge was a terrible professor ("Well Dobby could have told you that," said Harry), that they weren't learning anything, that they needed to know how to protect themselves. And finally, that she thought they should learn Defense Against the Dark Arts on their own, and that Harry should teach them.

Hermione inwardly marveled at how accurate she and Ron had predicted Harry's reaction. She forced herself not to look over at Ron because she could tell that he too was trying his very best to keep a straight face. But to no avail. They both threw each other knowing smirks as Harry began unsuccessfully attempting to convince them of his undeniable luck.

But as her and Ron began sniggering softly, Hermione could sense Harry getting angry. And in a split second, the bowl of murtlap was on the ground, shattered as he stood abruptly to his feet.

"STOP LAUGHING!"

Harry stood there, staring at the two of them, a look of intensity in his eyes. Finally, he spoke.

"You don't know what it's like. You've never had to face him, have you? You think it's just memorizing a bunch of spells and throwing them at him, like you're in class or something. The whole time you're sure you know there's nothing between you and dying except your own brain or guts or whatever. Like you can think straight when you know you're about a second from being murdered, or tortured, or watching your friends die. They never taught us that in their classes, what it's like to deal with things like that."

For the first time in a long time, Hermione was at a loss for words. She felt a hollowness inside of her which she couldn't explain. But as she looked up at Harry, their eyes met for a fraction of a second before she regained the ability to speak once again.

"Harry," she said timidly, "don't you see? This…this is exactly why we need you…We need to know what it's really like….facing him….facing V-Voldemort."

Her heart skipped fearfully as she uttered his name. It was the first time she'd ever said it aloud, but somehow it made her feel stronger, more in control. And as she looked back to Harry, she saw that he too had regained his composure as he sank back into his chair.

"Well…think about it," said Hermione quietly. "Please?" Harry nodded and with that she made her way to her dormitory.

As she lay in her four-poster, Hermione's thoughts were at a whirl, allowing her almost no chance of proper sleep that night. She couldn't even begin to describe how she was feeling because her emotions, like her thoughts, seemed to be jumbled and disjointed.

She soon found, however, that her mind was constantly reverting back to Harry. She had to admit, she was getting quite fed up with his angry outbursts. But…if anyone had reason to be angry it was Harry. It was still very irritating though. She always felt like she had to tread the waters carefully around him these days. Then again, if she were in his shoes, she'd probably be a nightmare as well. Not that Harry was a nightmare. Well, okay, he was a little nightmarish sometimes. But she knew he always felt guilty about it afterwards. Why did she always have to justify all of his actions? She never justified Ron's actions. Well, that's because it's Ron, he's too thick to have his actions justified.

Yes, because that statement makes plenty of sense.

Why don't you just shut up and let me sleep for once?

You started it.

Fine I'll end it!

God, she couldn't even win an argument with her own brain.

Pitying any witch or wizard who would have to use legillimens on her chaotic mind, Hermione let the first prickles of sleep envelope her , finally, into its comforting arms.


A/N: Okay so first and foremost Harry's whole speech was obviously a direct quote from OOTP as well as Hermione's quote after that, but please don't sue me. This is my disclaimer. Second of all, I would loveee to thank saywhaaaat518 (I believe that's the right amount of a's) for leaving me my first review! You're awesome (obviously) and I really really reallyyyy appreciate it! So thank you again! And last but not least, I would just like to forewarn anybody who plans on actually continuing to read this story...It's going to be long. And...It's not always going to be happy...but you probably could have guessed that by now. But this story is still an innocent little baby at the moment so enjoy that while you can! I hear adolescence is a b****. But we'll get there when we get there. Soooooooooooo, once again please leave me a review pleaseeeeeeeee! Thanks :)