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Eclipse

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When Rogue found Harry he was sitting on a high branch of pine tree, at least a mile away from the house. She almost couldn't see him because he was so well concealed by the branches. She landed on the branch shakily but when she tried to sit down she slipped. Before she had fallen past the next branch Harry had grabbed her wrist and pulled her up so that she was sitting next to him.

"Thanks." Harry nodded and let go of her wrist. They sat in awkward silence for awhile and Rogue realized she hadn't thought of what she would say when she caught back up with Harry.

Rogue glanced at Harry out of the corner of her eye. His eyes were downcast and his brow furrowed. He looked so sad that even Rogue, as anti-touch as she was had to fight the urge not to hug him.

"Harry, are you gonna be okay?" A sort of grim smile graced his features.

"Honestly? I have no idea. I mean, did you hear them! A science experiment? A weapon? What was all that?" Rogue sighed.

"They're just worried about you. Something I've learned is that when adults get worried about you they tend to say things before they think about it, they don't even mean it half of the time."

"Somehow, I think that was the half of the time where they meant it."

"If that's true then Storm did say it was your choice in the end."

"I guess…." Rogue didn't say anything, allowing him to think it through. Suddenly, Harry rose, making the branch shake and Rogue yelp in surprise.

"Sorry." Harry grinned at her, sheepishly. Rogue put her hands to her face in pretend shock.

"Is that….a smile!" Harry's grin widened.

"So," Rogue asked. "Does this mean you've made up your mind?" His smile faltered but he hesitantly nodded.

"I'm not going back to Hogwarts until I can control my wings. I could hurt somebody, one of my friends. I'm not willing to risk that."

"You're going to come stay at the institute?" He nodded, more confident. Rogue got up, swayed and almost fell again but Harry steadied her.

"Well," she said. "Let's go back." The boy nodded but moaned suddenly and fell to his knees.

"Harry!" The boy was pale as death and the deep breaths he was taking didn't seem to be having any effect.

"I'll be…..alright. Just….give me…a moment." Rogue knelt as well and put her hand on top of his as, in horror, she watched the boy's wings retract. What's going on? I thought he needed the drugs for the wings to retract.

Then, it was all over. Harry stood up, shakily, leaning on Rogue as little rivulets of blood went down his back.

"That was…weird" he said. The two carefully beginning climbing down the tree.

"Maybe you're getting more control over your power?" Rogue suggested.

"Maybe."

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When Sirius paused from his continual pacing it was to see Rogue, with her arm around Harry's shoulders as the two of them walked back to Grimmauld Pace. Sirius ran towards them but when he reached out to touch Harry the boy shook him off.

"Harry?" Sirius' voice was unsure and it quavered slightly. "Harry, listen to me. I'm sorry. I would never force you to stay, or go for that matter, if you didn't want to." Harry smirked in an almost feral well.

"It's good that you think that because I'm not going back to Hogwarts. I'm going to stay at the institute until I can control my power." Sirius opened his mouth, clearly indignant.

"And there isn't anything you can say that will change my mind."

Harry disentangled himself from Rogue and stormed past everyone, presumably to his room. Ron and Hermione looked at each other then followed their friend, preseumably to help him pack.

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Harry turned to look at the door as he heard a hesitant knock. There, standing in the doorway was Hermione, biting her trembling lip and Ron, a confused look plastered on his face.

"Harry, y-you're leaving?" Even Hermione's voice shook. Harry nodded and sighing, sat down heavily next to his trunk.

"The more I think about it the more I realize I can't risk going back to Hogwarts. I don't have control over my powers and for all I know the wings aren't the only things I'll get. I mean, I could develop telekinesis or something. According to Hank in many cases the first powers to show themselves in a mutant aren't done developing. I don't want to hurt anyone and I know at the institute they can help me." Without warning Hermione threw herself at Harry and began sobbing into his shoulder. Harry just allowed the girl to cry, holding her and rocking her slightly.

"Come on Herm," he said. "It's not like I'm going away for ever. I'll be back before you know it."

"I-I'm going to mi-miss you so much!"

"I'm going to miss you two, but I'm sure you'll be able to visit and stuff. Plus, there's always the holidays." The sniffling girl released her friend and stood a determined look on her face.

"You better write me every week or so help me..." Harry chuckled.

"I'll write you, I promise."

"Couldn't- couldn't the professors at Hogwarts help you with your powers?" Ron was still standing at the door and when he spoke his voice was quiet.

"No," Harry shook his head. "They don't have the training or the ability. I'd probably just hurt them too." Harry stood and walked over to his best friend, placing a hand on his shoulder he smiled.

"I'm gonna miss you mate," Ron whispered.

"I know, Ron." Again, Hermione wrapped her arms tightly around Harry, this time drawing Ron into the embrace as well. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours; friends taking comfort in each other's presence.

When they finally parted Mrs. Weasley, Remus, and Sirius were all standing at the door.

The trio was quick to notice that none of them looked very happy. Harry braced himself for an argument and glared defiantly at the adults in front of him.

"Harry," Remus' voice was pleading. "Please think about this."

"I have and as I said earlier there is nothing any of you can say to change my mind." Sirius opened his mouth angrily but Harry raised his hand to silent him.

"I know you don't think I'll be safe at the institute but I will. The security they have may only be a mix of muggle technologies and mutant powers but it's very good. Anyone who tried to come to get me would trip alarms and such and I would more then enough time to get away."

"You don't understand!" Mrs. Weasley said softly.

"No, it's you lot that don't get it. I have to go. I'm not going to risk hurting people at Hogwarts, people that won't have the ability to protect themselves. I need training so I can control my powers. And-," for the first time Harry's voice faltered. "And I need to be with people like me right now. I need to be with people who actually understand what I'm going through. You all may care about me but none of you understand, you can't and that isn't your fault." Sirius shoulders slumped and his eyes were downcast.

"Alright, alright we won't fight you anymore. Mrs. Monroe was right earlier, we can't stop you and ultimately it's your choice. Just know that there will be people in the wizarding world waiting anxiously for you to come home." The Boy Who Lived walked up to his godfather and hugged him fiercely.

"I know Sirius, I know."

After that Harry finished packing. It was hard for him to say good bye to everyone, even more difficult then he had anticipated as the females kept crying! Harry really didn't like it when people cried. Finally, all of Harry's farewells were said. He grabbed his trunk with one hand and held onto Lance with the other as Kurt positioned himself to teleport them all to the institute. With the sound of a gunshot, they were gone.