Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe isn't mine, it belongs to JK Rowling and all those she deems worthy to own a piece of it. I am not one of those worthy. So I'm just playing in the sandbox.

Harry's treatment of Ron and Hermione after their first Potions lesson had spread to the rest of Gryffindor House. Harry could see that Ron and Hermione were contrite about their reactions to Harry and Harry knew that they were sorry but knew that they had to come to him and apologize rather than Harry just forgive them. Forgiveness was a virtue but it was a virtue that Harry had to temper with caution because he had been betrayed several times in his young life.

"Harry," Hermione's soft voice pulled Harry from his mother's Charms journal. He looked up and saw Hermione and Ron standing before him, both with dark circles under their eyes and shoulders slumped. "Could we sit down and talk to you?"

Harry nodded and motioned to the chairs in front of him. Hermione and Ron quickly took their seats. Harry set his book down, pages open so that Hermione could see the notes that Lily Potter nee Evans had scribbled down in the book. Harry had to hide a small smirk when he saw Hermione flinch at the sight of the scribbled-in book.

"What did you two want to speak to me about?" Harry asked coolly.

Hermione and Ron each took deep breaths. "Harry, we wanted to talk to you, we wanted to apologize for how we acted after Potions," Hermione said. "You were right, I got caught up in being the best and when you used those helpful instructions to make a better Draught of Living Death, I lost it. I messed up and let my fear control me. When you showed us your OWL results and I saw how intelligent you are, I got scared that you wouldn't need me anymore."

"Hermione, you've been one of my best friends for nearly five years now," Harry said. "You both were my first real friends aside from Hedwig and Hagrid but the way you two have treated me last summer and then this past week has me questioning our friendship."

Hermione nodded, as tears filled her eyes. Harry was right; she had no one else to blame but herself. She had listened to Dumbledore's suggestions over what her heart and head told her to do.

"Harry mate," Ron said. "You know me, I have trouble keeping my mouth shut and I talk before I think." Harry nodded. "And I know I've made a bunch of mistakes regarding our friendship, not believing you during the Tournament, then last summer listening to Dumbledore about not writing to you, and then last week. If you were to forgive us, then you are a better man that I am, Merlin's beard; you already are a better man. You've put up with me being a prat for five years. What I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry."

Harry nodded. "I appreciate the apologies," he said. "You two have made mistakes, everyone does, though at least you have realized, confronted them and tried to make amends. Lord knows that I've made my fair share of mistakes as well. However it's going to take some time for me to trust you again like I did, you've already betrayed me once (twice in Ron's case) and then there was last week. Our friendship will never be the same."

Hermione and Ron nodded. "We understand Harry," Hermione said. "But I know, I promise you that I will never betray you again." A swirl of magic circled the brown-haired girl for a moment then dispersed into thin air.

"Hermione, do you realize what you've done?" Ron gasped while Harry looked on in stunned amazement, though if one looked close enough they could discern a small twinkle hidden in Harry's green eyes.

"Yes Ronald," Hermione said. "I made sure that I wouldn't betray Harry again."

"But you could lose your magic!" Ron said. "And that oath was very vague, almost anything could be considered betraying Harry."

"Ron, it's ok," Harry said. "Hermione, I wish that it didn't have to come to this but I appreciate it all the same. And Ron, I think that Hermione knows what's she's doing, she wouldn't be Hermione if she didn't." Hermione blushed. "Actually Hermione, do you still have those DA Galleons?" Harry asked.

"Of course," Hermione said. "Why?"

"I've gotten permission from Dumbledore to continue the DA," Harry said.

"That's wonderful!" Hermione cried. "So I guess you need the Galleons to inform everyone."

"Not quite," Harry said. "I'm going to announce it during dinner tomorrow night. I should let you two know that the DA will be open to everyone, including Slytherins."

"What!" Ron shouted. "You can't let those slimly Slytherins in the DA! They're evil!"

Harry pinned Ron with a stern glare. "Really Ron, just because someone is in Slytherin that they're evil."

"Of course! They're all Death Eaters," Ron argued.

"Ron, who was the Death Eater that betrayed my parents to Voldemort?" Harry asked calmly.

"Wormtail," Ron said, not seeing the point.

"And what house was Wormtail in during his time at Hogwarts?"

"Gryffindor," Ron answered without thinking.

"Correct," Harry said. "A Gryffindor Death Eater. Ronald, you have to realize that not all Slytherins are evil, just because someone is ambitious doesn't make them evil. Look at Barty Crouch Jr., he was the Death Eater who escaped Azkaban and helped Voldemort return two years ago and he was a Hufflepuff. While it's true a majority of the Death Eaters have come from Slytherin that doesn't mean that all Slytherins are Death Eaters."

"But Harry, Ron does have a point," Hermione said. "Those Slytherins who have Death Eater parents are most likely going to us this as a way to spy on us."

"I understand that point Hermione, but I'm disappointed in you," Harry said. "You have always said to not judge a book by its cover, you who always speaks of equality for all and yet here you are generalizing that all Slytherins are evil. We can't condemn the children for the sins of their fathers, or we'd be no better than Snape." Ron and Hermione flinched at this point. "Don't worry, I have a plan to deal with Malfoy and his ilk. Those who wish to use this knowledge to cause harm to the innocent will learn nothing from me."

"How?" Hermione asked. "You just said that you wouldn't be barring anyone from the meetings."

"Just wait and see," Harry answered with a gleam in his eye.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

At dinner the next night, Harry looked up to the Head Table and caught Dumbledore's eye. The aged man nodded and rose to his feet.

"May I have you attention please?" Dumbledore asked genially, though the undercurrent of power lacing his voice made it clear that this wasn't a request. "As many of you might know, last year a group of students took it upon themselves to go above the norm and learn how to defend themselves when it became clear that I had failed to provide them with a competent Defence teacher, and for that I apologize. I will now turn this announcement over to Mr. Potter, who was the leader of this club. Mr. Potter, if you would?"

"Thank you Headmaster," Harry said getting to his feet. "I'm sure the old hands already know what I'm about to say, but I have received permission from the Headmaster to restart the DA from last year," he broke off at the cheers coming from the old DA members. With a grin, Harry continued, "I'm glad to see that you are all still excited, the reason that I am announcing its resurrection is because the DA will be open to everyone who is fourth year and above, those below fourth year, I'm sorry to say but you'll have to make do with Professor Lupin's Defence class but don't worry, back in my third year, I learned almost everything from Professor Lupin. You couldn't ask for a better Defence professor."

Lupin smiled at the praise that Harry had given him, though that smile quickly faded as the guilt of his decisions regarding Harry weighed heavily on him.

"But wait, that means you'll be letting Slytherins in too?" a voice from the Ravenclaw table shouted out.

"Yes," Harry said. "I will not discriminate admittance due to House colors. In fact, if it weren't for a certain blonde ferret's attitude when we first met, I could have been wearing the emerald and silver."

Stunned silence met this statement. Harry Potter, the Gryffindor Golden Boy, the Boy-Who-Lived was almost a Snake! Hermione and Ron looked up at Harry in shock, he had never told them that. Harry looked around the Great Hall; he knew that reveling that information was risky. He had never told anyone aside from Sirius that the Sorting Hat had thought about putting him in Slytherin. Sirius had told him that the Sorting Hat had tried to do the same, but he asked for Gryffindor because he had wanted to get away from his 'family' and be with his friends. Over at the Slytherin table, a large contingent of the Snakes were glaring at the blonde ferret believing and rightly so that he was the reason that they didn't have Harry Potter in the Snake's Den.

The professors seated at the Head Table were also stunned at the information. Harry Potter was nearly a Slytherin; it seemed inconceivable that the son of James and Lily Potter could be anything more than a Gryffindor Lion. Remus fell back in his seat, holding in his laughter. 'Now that was a prank worthy of the Marauders,' he thought. Remus had always thought that both James and Lily could have been Slytherins; both were ambitious, strong and cunning but they were also noble, courageous and willing to fight for what they believed in. And it seemed that their son was a perfect blend of their attributes.

"The first meeting of the reconstructed DA will take place Monday night, we will meet here in the Great Hall at first and depending on our numbers, will move to a more secure location," Harry said. "Thank you Headmaster," he added with a bow to Dumbledore before sitting down.

"Harry, you never told us that you were almost in Slytherin!" Hermione cried.

"Yeah mate, why didn't you tell us?" Ron asked.

"Do you really have to ask that question Ron?" Harry retorted. "Just yesterday, you were saying that all Slytherins were evil." Ron looked down at his plate, abashed.

"You know Harry, you changed a lot of people's opinions just now," Hermione said. "You just told the world that you were almost a Slytherin, and you are the Gryffindor Golden Boy. This is going to turn some heads."

Harry chuckled. "I'm sure it will," he said. "And that's exactly why I did it. The Sorting Hat last year told us to stand together and united, yet the crippling House boundaries are still there. I'm hoping that my saying that I was nearly in Slytherin will start having people looking differently at the patches on their robes."

Hermione beamed but that smile faded when she spoke, "Harry, you know you're going to have some difficulties with people about allowing Slytherins into the DA."

"I know," Harry said. "But they'll soon realize that I lead the DA, and what I says goes."

Hermione shivered under Harry's intense look.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

"Welcome back," Harry said. "And welcome for the first time," he continued as the doors to the Great Hall closed. He looked around at the Hall grinning at the returning members of the DA as well as the newcomers. In the corner of the Hall, Harry spotted a group of Slytherins standing in the shadows. It was Malfoy and his group. "Now then…" he broke off as a member of the DA, a Hufflepuff called Zacharias Smith, a blonde boy who Harry felt acted too much like a mix of Malfoy and Wormtail.

"Why are the Slytherins here?" Smith asked sharply. "They'll just report everything back to You-Know-Who!" The Slytherins who weren't with Malfoy's group bristled at the accusation.

"I see," Harry said calmly as he starred at Smith. "Now how many others do you think this?" Roughly a third of the assembled DA shifted uncomfortably. "I understand you are all skeptical about this but the time for petty rivalries is over. Voldemort won't care if you are a Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin, you are either with him or against him!"

"But…" Smith began but he was cut off by Harry's hard glare.

"But nothing Smith," Harry growled. "I am in charge of this club, I have the Headmaster's approval to run the DA my way, if you don't like it then leave." Smith bristled. "But let me warn you, if you leave now, you will no longer be welcome with us. Is that understood?"

"Now before we move on to our actual meeting place, I'm afraid that you will have to suffer through a small speech that I have," Harry continued. "Now many of you, I'm sure, are only here because of me, whether it be because of my ill-gotten fame, or you're trying to curry favor with a certain someone, it doesn't matter though. You are here to learn how to fight and survive against Voldemort and his Death Eaters, if you think I am here to teach you how to duel, well then you are in the wrong place. If you want to learn to duel, then make sure you pay attention in Professor Lupin's Defence classes. Duels have rules and laws that you are expected to follow, in a fight there is only one rule: You do what you must to survive."

"Coward, a filthy half-blood like you couldn't possibly hope to defeat the Dark Lord," Malfoy's snide voice barked out from the corner. "You can't possibly hope to defeat a respected pureblood like the Dark Lord."

The crowd fell silent as Harry grinned down at Malfoy. Before this summer, Malfoy was two inches taller than Harry but thanks to a steady diet and exercise regime, Harry had grown to nearly six feet and now towered over Malfoy.

"Really Malfoy?" Harry said. "Then why don't you put that theory to the test? And let's make it interesting, if you can beat me, then I'll cede leadership of the DA over to you. But when I beat you, you will agree to one stipulation of mine. Agreed?"

"Agreed!" Malfoy said quickly.

"Right then," Harry said. "If everyone could please step aside, let's see what the so-called Prince of Slytherin has in the tank." Harry waved his wand and one of the House tables transformed into a dueling platform. There were several whispers and gasps of awe at the casual use of powerful magic from Harry. Harry climbed up onto the dueling platform opposite of Malfoy who looked ecstatic at the chance that Harry had provided to him.

"Only one rule Malfoy," Harry said. "No Unforgivables or illegal spells, use of anyone of them will result in automatic forfeit of the duel."

"Agreed," Malfoy said, his grey eyes glinting maliciously.

Harry inclined his head to the Malfoy heir, who just refused to bow to Harry. Several of the spectators frowned and scowled at the blatant disrespect paid to Harry by Malfoy. "Professor Lupin, would you mind refereeing?" Harry asked. Lupin nodded and took up his position.

"On three you may begin," Lupin said. "One, two, three!"

"Reducto!" Malfoy roared as a blue bolt of magic spat from his wand. Harry slid to the side as the spell flashed past him. Harry took a step closer toward Malfoy. The blonde boy shot off another Blasting Hex then followed it up with a Slicing Curse. Harry ducked under the Blasting Hex and leapt over the Slicing Curse, rolling forward and coming to his feet only a few feet from Malfoy. With lightning quick reflexes Harry dashed forward, grabbed Malfoy's wrist and wrenched it upward. The Piercing Hex that Malfoy was going to use struck the dueling shields that Lupin had erected around the platform.

"Argh!" Malfoy cried as his wand was sent flying as Harry twisted Malfoy's wrist causing his grip to falter and the wand clatter to the ground. With a simple twist of Harry's body had Malfoy on his knees in front of Harry, his wand arm sticking out behind him.

"Yield," Harry growled as he put more pressure on Malfoy's arm. "Or I break your arm."

"I yield!" Malfoy cried. Harry released Malfoy's arm and stepped back. He summoned Malfoy's wand with an open hand and gave it back to the Slytherin, handle first.

"Remember Malfoy, you owe me one stipulation now and I will call upon it," Harry said. Malfoy was stunned to realize that his body shivered at Harry's tone.

"That's the difference between me and Malfoy," Harry said. "And the rest of the world and the magical world. Wizards and witches are so reliant on their wands that without them they are useless. That is what I am going to be teaching you, how to fight without your wands, to be able to use your enemies weakness against them."

"You're going to teach us how to fight like filthy Muggles!" Malfoy sneered. "Have you no proper wizarding pride!"

"Malfoy, I just handed you your ass without using any magic at all," Harry retorted. "So I wouldn't knock the non-magical world. I find it funny that the Death Eaters who spout off their blood superiority all bow down before a half-blood."

"Lies!" Pansy Parkinson shouted.

"Look up Tom Marvolo Riddle," Harry shrugged. "Now, if you all don't think what I'll be teaching you is not worth your time, you can leave. But let me remind you, if you leave, you won't be coming back."

Malfoy and his group stormed out of the Great Hall, much not to Harry's surprise. He turned back to the rest of the group. "Now, if you would all follow me, we'll make our way to our training room," he said. Harry led the group out of the Great Hall and up to the seventh floor corridor that hid the Room of Requirement. Harry summoned the Room and opened his eyes to revel a wooden door.

"Come on then," Harry said as he pushed open the door to revel what the muggleborns and some half-bloods recognized as a gymnasium. He made his way inside and the rest of the group followed.

"Hey!" a voice cried out. Harry turned around with a grin. It seemed that Zacharias Smith couldn't enter the Room, he tried to push through the open door but an invisible force field was blocking him.

"So it does work," Harry chuckled.

"Potter, what's going on?" Smith shouted.

"I just asked the Room in addition to what you see here, a ward that would prohibit any of you who wish to use my knowledge to cause harm to the innocent. And it seems that Mr. Smith is the first guinea pig of this ward. Now then Mr. Smith, what exactly are you doing here?"

Smith purpled. "I don't have to answer you Potter!" the fifth year cried. "You murderer, you might have fooled this idiots but I know that you killed Cedric!"

Harry's grin slid off his face. "I see," he whispered. The air in the Room and corridor became very cold as Harry's eyes glowed behind a thin veil of black hair. "So what you believe that I killed Cedric for whatever reason? You believe that I am secretly working for Voldemort for some reason, even though he killed my parents, has attempted to kill me more than a half-dozen times and his lackey Bellatrix Lestrange killed my godfather. Am I getting close?"

Smith's face grew even darker. "Or is it that you have just been found out as your Master's secret little spy?" Harry snarled. "Another thing about the ward is that it will stop anyone who bares the mark of a certain Dark Lord. Your left forearm burns doesn't it Smith, perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to pledge yourself to a demented Dark Lord who will never make through on his promise of power. A deranged individual like Voldemort will never share power; all whom serve him are nothing more than mindless slaves."

The Piercing Hex on Zacharias' lips never got past them as a 7" blade of carbonized steel imbedded itself in Smith's shoulder. Harry turned to Professor Lupin who had drawn his wand when Harry had announced that the ward surrounding the Room of Requirement would weed out Death Eaters.

"Professor Lupin," Harry said. "Would you be so kind as to remove this trash from our presence? Oh and Zacharias, I'll take my knife back." With a negligible wave of Harry's hand, the knife was wrenched from Smith's shoulder and flew back to Harry's hand. Remus quickly got over his shock and shot two spells at Smith, one sealing the wound and the second binding the wounded Death Eater.

"That was wicked Harry!" Ron crowed. "Never did like that Smith bastard, always seemed to…"

"Enough Ron," Harry barked. "I don't think the rest of us appreciate what you're saying. Sure Smith was a smarmy git but I didn't think he would be a marked Death Eater. I hope this is a lesson to the rest of you; this isn't a schoolyard scuffle any longer. This is war and people will get hurt, even die. I know it sounds cruel but it's the truth. Several of us here have left lost family members to Voldemort and his Death Eaters; the cold truth is that some of us will lose family in the coming fight. In war, there is one war, people die, and there is no changing this. The only thing you can do is make the other guy die for his cause."

"But doesn't that make us as bad as the Death Eaters?" a Ravenclaw fourth-year asked.

"No, there is a very large difference between killing and murdering," Harry said. "Killing for the sake of killing, and taking enjoyment in it is murder and that is Dark, however, killing in the defense of your loved ones, in defense of what's right, in defense of the realm is not. Now enough morbid stuff, it's time to get to work."

The recreated DA soon learned to despise Harry as he led them through the barest minimum workout that he had learned; a two-mile run followed by a full hour of calisthenics. He told the reluctant that the fitter they were, the more spells they could fire off. After taking a fifteen-minute break, Harry had the group pair up and practice dodging by trading Stinging Hexes at one another. He made the exercise into a competition to see who could dodge the most spells in a row, and had the Room of Requirement summon a chalkboard with each members' names on it and would tally each time a member successfully dodge a spell.

After twenty minutes of spell dodging, Harry tallied up the scores and unsurprisingly the majority of the purebloods had fallen in the lower end of the spectrum while the firstbloods where normally in the upper spectrum. Harry did notice that the Quidditch players usually scored high no matter what their blood status.

At the end of the session, Harry called everyone over to the center of the room.

"Well done everyone," he said. "That was a very admirable first attempt but I know that you all can do better. I expect, by the time of the first Quidditch match of the year in three weeks, everyone will have made significant progress in his or her physical improvements. If not, well then I guess I'll just have to increase it until you all get the message. That's all for tonight."

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

The first Quidditch match of the season was between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. Harry had been given the Captain's badge by decided to give it to Katie Bell since as a Seeker, he didn't do much regarding the rest of the team while trying to catch the Snitch. Harry noticed that Ron was quite annoyed at him since Harry didn't give him the badge but Harry set him straight.

"You've been on the team one year," Harry said sharply. "Katie is in her sixth year on the team, she has seniority over everyone on the team aside from me and I didn't want the badge because as Seeker I don't do much except catch the Snitch, if you have such a problem with it talk with Katie about some plays that we could work on. Show some initiative for once in your life instead of just expecting things to be handed to you."

Ron growled at Harry but didn't say anything before storming off. Hermione gave Harry a sad look before following after Ron, something that hurt Harry more than he thought it would.

The Hufflepuff Quidditch team had really taken a downturn since Cedric had been killed, before they had been a competitive group that had improved dramatically under Cedric's leadership but without him, they were rudderless and it showed on the pitch. The final score ended up being 370-70 in favor of the Lions. While the rest of the Lions were rushing back toward the tower for the after match party, Harry took his time. He didn't feel much like celebrating, as he made his way back up to the Gryffindor Tower he noticed that Hermione hadn't come to congratulate him like she normally did, he also didn't see Ron around.

The portrait hole swung open as Harry muttered the password to the Fat Lady, just in time to see Hermione fling herself into Ron's arms and latch her lips to his. Harry felt as if Buckbeak had just kicked him at the sight. Slowly turning around, Harry left the common room, the portrait hole shutting off the whistles and shouts coming from the common room. Without really thinking, Harry made his way back out onto the grounds and walked down to the Black Lake. He found a spot on the shore of the Black Lake under the shade of a beech tree.

Harry's mind turned back to the sight of Ron and Hermione kissing each other in the middle of the Gryffindor Common Room. Harry wasn't blind to the targets of his two friends' affections; Ron had had a massive crush on Hermione most likely since fourth year, Hermione was tougher to read but Harry had suspected that during the previous summer while they were together at Grimmauld Place, they had gotten closer together.

The problem was that Harry had been attracted to Hermione since second year; how couldn't he? She was the first person he could remember who showed him any affection; she was his first hug, first meaningful kiss (albeit on the cheek). Hermione was Harry's conscious, his guiding light and now that light was in the arms of another. Harry didn't truly have anyone to blame beside himself; he should have approached Hermione earlier though he was planning on asking her to the Hogsmeade weekend that was scheduled in two weeks time. But Hermione had made her choice; she had chosen Ron over him.

A hot feeling welled up inside Harrys' chest. It felt like a coiling snake broiling up inside him. He hadn't felt this way in a very long time, not since he was a child at the Dursleys, seeing Vernon and Petunia showering gifts onto Dudley. He was jealous, Harry Potter was jealous of Ronald Weasley. Harry snorted at the irony. Ron had always been jealous of Harry, of Harry's wealth, of Harry's fame, of Harry's looks. And yet Ron had won the only thing that Harry had ever truly wanted or needed, Hermione's heart. In fact, Ron had everything that Harry wanted; a loving family, no weight of the world on his shoulders, Ron was just an average teenager who only had to worry about his classes, the next Quidditch practice and trying not to make a fool of himself in front of the witch that he fancied.

Harry had realized over the summer that he would never be 'just Harry', so he needed to stop trying to act like it. Harry was different from ordinary witches and wizards; he was much stronger than the average magical, his Patronus had confirmed it. After meeting with the goblins over the summer, and learning of the Potter and Black family holdings, Harry had found out that even if he weren't the 'Boy-Who-Lived', he would have still been a major player in the wizarding world.

Harry didn't return to the Gryffindor Common Room until it was well past dinner. When he entered the common room he spotted Ron and Hermione sitting together in a chair by the fire. Squashing the green snake welling up inside him, Harry walked quickly through the common room and up to his dorm. Ron and Hermione didn't even look up from one another.

In the weeks leading up to the first Hogsmeade weekend, Harry gradually spent more and more time away from Ron and Hermione, not that they realized it. Harry saw that Hermione, by choosing Ron, would rather stay in the wizarding world than return to the outside world.

"There you are Harry!" Hermione's voice called out as Harry returned to the common room one night after spending time in the Room of Requirement working out. "Where have you been?"

"Why do you care?" Harry muttered as he continued toward the dorm stairs.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Hermione snapped. "Harry James Potter, I am talking to you!"

"Oh now you want to talk to me!" Harry shouted, whirling around to face Hermione. "Well too bloody bad, I don't want to talk to you!"

Hermione's mouth fell open as she looked like she had been slapped. "Why are you yelling Harry?" she asked. "Why have you been avoiding Ron and I?" Harry flinched at the name of his male friend.

"Am I really avoiding you, or are you just too buy with Ron to spare your so-called best friend any time?" Harry asked, looking down at the bushy-haired Gryffindor. "Any time I wanted to talk to you, you would blow me off to be with Ron or would demand that we all talk."

"He's my boyfriend," Hermione retorted. "So what if I want to spend time with him. You're just jealous that I've found some who…"

"Who what Hermione?" Harry snapped. "You think I'm jealous that you've found someone who constantly berates, belittles you and stomps on your dreams. Ron, who has made you cry more times than either of us can count."

"Fuck off Harry Potter, you're supposed to be my best friend and Ron's your best mate, why can't you be happy for us?" Hermione screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks. Harry felt his chest constrict at the sight of her tears.

"Because it's a lie!" Harry exclaimed. "Why are you with Ron when all he does is make you miserable? He nearly got you killed first year, remember!"

"What about you!" Hermione screamed.

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked.

"Last year, you and your bloody 'saving-people-thing' got Sirius killed, and nearly got me, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna all killed. You knew it was a trap but you still went anyway," Hermione screamed. Harry flinched like he had been slapped. Hermione's mind caught up with her mouth and her hands flew her cover it. "Oh Harry, I'm so…"

"I see," Harry said coldly, so cold that it sent shivers up and down Hermione's spine. "So that's it is it? You really think that I don't know that I'm at fault for Sirius' death; you don't think that I miss him everyday! And you don't think that I feel guilty for your injuries! Because I do, everyday, every time I look at you Hermione, I see Dolohov's curse hitting you. However, didn't I tell you all not to follow me, yes I knew it was most likely a trap and I didn't want you to get hurt. There isn't anything more that we have to talk about, goodbye Granger, enjoy your time with Weasley because now you won't have to worry about Harry Potter taking time away from you two."

"Harry!" Hermione called out as Harry turned away. Harry stopped and his shoulders slumped.

"You know Granger, you were right," Harry said. "I am jealous of Weasley, I'm jealous of the fact that he can just forget about everything that is going on out in the world right now. I'm jealous that he has a loving family that he takes for granted, doesn't have the weight of the world on his shoulders and most importantly, I'm jealous that he got to you first."

"What do you mean?" Hermione whispered.

"It doesn't matter," Harry said. "You've made your choice. I hope you and Weasley have a good life; you won't have to worry about Harry Potter dragging you into dangerous situations. But think about this, are you truly with Ronald Weasley because you want too or is it because everyone expects it? Do you really want to spend the rest of your life as Mrs. Ronald Weasley? Remember what I said at the beginning of the term, how Dumbledore seemed to have both the 'Boy-Who-Lived' and the 'Smartest-Witch-of-the-Age' under this thumb. Good night Granger."

Harry continued up the stairs to his dorm, leaving Hermione starring at his back, tears pouring down her cheeks and her heart seemingly shattering in her chest.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

The mood around Gryffindor Tower was extremely depressing as word of the fracturing of the Golden Trio, as well as Harry and Hermione's argument spread around the school. Hermione soon learned that fame was a fickle thing, as she had been pretty much ostracized by the rest of the Lions. Ron stood by her though he was very disappointed in her. He didn't blame Harry for his injuries at the DoM, and he knew that Hermione didn't either. Hermione just pulled a 'Ron', speaking before thinking. Harry ignored any of Hermione's attempts to apologize, he knew that Hermione was sorry and didn't mean what she had said but Harry also knew that at some level Hermione did blame him even if it was unconsciously, and because of that Harry felt that his trust in her had taken a major hit. While he was still cordial in their DA meetings, outside of them Harry didn't speak to Hermione at all, using Ron as an intermediary.

The first Hogsmeade weekend of the term had finally arrived and Ron and Hermione were getting ready for their first official date as a couple. Harry watched as Hermione fused over Ron's robes while the pair were waiting for a carriage that would take them to the village. Harry felt his chest clench as he watched pair off.

"Harry," Neville's voice brought Harry back to the present. "Come on Harry, the carriage's are here." Harry nodded and climbed inside with Neville and Luna.

The carriage ride was taken in silence as the Thestral-drawn buggies made their way up to the village. Neville and Luna could tell that Harry was missing Ron and Hermione, even though they were disgusted at Hermione's actions. They did know that Hermione didn't actually mean what she had said but once said, they could never be taken back.

"So what are you going to do Harry?" Neville asked.

"I've got some business that I can't talk about," Harry said. Neville nodded, knowing that Harry had secrets that he couldn't talk about. It wasn't that Harry didn't trust him but not knowing was probably for the best.

"I'll see you guys later," Harry said as he left Neville and Luna at the entrance to the Three Broomsticks. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry spotted Ron and Hermione walking down High Street hand in hand. Harry felt his heart twitch as he entered the pub. He paid Madam Rosmerta to use her Floo and then flashed to the Leaky Cauldron. After leaving the crowded pub, Harry hailed a cab and ordered the cabbie to take him to the Cenotaph. Once the cab had pulled back into London traffic, Harry pulled up his hood and slipped into a phone booth. Dialing a number, Harry waited for someone to pick up.

"Hello?" a voice asked on the other end of the line.

"This is James Evans," Harry said. "I'm in town and looking for a magic show, do you have any idea where I could find one?"

Harry had to fight back a grin when he heard the person on the other end of the line snort. He listened carefully to his next instructions before hanging up. Harry made his way out of the booth and down the street toward his next meeting point. He pulled out a camera from his pocket and slung it over his head, looking like the normal tourist.

"Welcome Mr. Evans, if you would follow me," a curt voice brought Harry from his picture taking. "I will show you where you can find those magic shows you were looking for." Harry turned to see a serious looking middle-aged man wearing a crisp and most likely expensive suit. Harry looked directly into the man's gray eyes and used his limited Legilimency talent to verify the man's identity. When he had, Harry nodded and the pair slipped down an alley.

"Welcome back Private Potter," Tony Blair said with a slight grin as Harry looked around the office.

"Did you really have to lead me on such a wild goose chase?" Harry asked with his own grin.

"Can't take any chances," Blair said. A cough from the Prime Minister's side brought Harry's attention to the other two people in the office; Harry recognized the older man as the Home Secretary and the shorter woman as M, the Director of MI6. "Right then, let's get down to business. Private Potter, your report."

"Yes sir," Harry said. He spent the next hour relying what had been going on in Hogwarts, how the DA was coming together and how Dumbledore had given him free reign to run the DA however he wanted.

"Well done Potter," M said. "What is the next phase of your plan?"

"There is a Wizengamont meeting in a week," Harry said. "That's the magical world's version of the Parliament. My family has had a seat in it for centuries, and I aim to take up my seat since I was emancipated by my godfather, this also always me the ability to take up his family's seat."

"So you'll have two votes in this Wizen…thing," the Home Secretary said. "What does this all mean?"

"Well Mr. Secretary, Dumbledore has held my family's seat since my parents were killed, and the enemy holds my godfather's seat, so I'll be taking away two seats away from them. This will also allow me to start eroding at both Dumbledore's and the Ministry's support, I now have a direct say in what laws are being made in the magical world. And both the Potters and Blacks have many allies, on both sides, so this will change up the political power that the Ministry and Dumbledore hold."

"Politics," the Home Secretary groaned. "That's a battlefield that only the bravest tread."

"Too true sir," Harry said with a chuckled that was echoed by the Prime Minister and M. "But it is a battlefield that we must control if we want to truly change the magical world."

"Indeed," Blair said. "So is that all for your report?"

"Yes sir," Harry said.

"Very well then, I believe that is all for today," the Prime Minister said. "Please contact us if anything changes, we expect to see you once more over the holidays to see how this Wizengamont meeting went."

"Of course sir."

"Good luck then Mr. Potter."

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

"Order, order!" Dumbledore's voice rang out in the Wizengamont chamber as he placed his gavel on the desk. "I now bring the winter session of the thirteen hundredth and fourth Wizengamont to order. How before we begin, are there any members that wish to bring some news to our attention."

"I do Chief Warlock," a clear and commanding voice called out from the shadows.

"Step forward and be recognized," Dumbledore said, though he thought he recognized the voice.

Harry stepped out of the shadows. "I, Lord Harry James Potter-Black, Head of the Most Ancient and Noble Houses of Potter and Black, have come before this body to take up my family's traditional seats amongst you," he said.

"Lies!" a voice called out from the gallery. It was Narcissa Malfoy, who rose from the Black seat. "That brat can't be Lord Black, my son is the next in line for the title!"

"Silence Lady Malfoy!" Harry barked; Narcissa tried to speak but found that she couldn't. "That answer's that question. Lady Malfoy, as Lord Black, I remove you from your seat as proxy for the House of Black and name Andromeda Tonks as the new proxy. I will of course be taking up my grandfather's seat."

"That blood-traitor was banished from the Blacks years ago," another voice called down from seats.

"True but as Lord Black, I have the ability to bring people back into the fold," Harry said. "It was quite easy too, almost as easy as throwing Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black from the House of Black. Bellatrix has brought shame to the House of Black by branding herself with the mark of the half-blood bastard who calls himself Lord Voldemort."

There was instant uproar at Harry's news. The Dark families began hurling insults toward Harry, while the Light families just sat back in their seats stunned.

"Silence!" Harry roared, his magic amplifying his voice to fill the chamber. "I, Harry James Potter-Black, swear on my life and magic that all that I have said is true to my best knowledge!" A swirl of white light surrounded Harry signaling the oath taking effect. "Expecto Patronum!" A massive glowing-white stage erupted from Harry's wand and cantered around the chamber for a moment before dispersing into fine mist.

Silence filled the chamber as Harry made his way down to his seat, while Andromeda made her way to the Black seat. Once seated, Harry turned to face Dumbledore. "Chief Warlock, if you wouldn't mind continuing the meeting?" he asked lightly. Dumbledore nodded slightly and turned back to the group at large.

Harry stayed seated in his seat as Dumbledore brought up the fact that Voldemort had returned and that they, as a world at large, needed to come together to combat the forces of darkness. It wasn't until Peter Parkinson, Pansy's father, rose from his chair and made to introduce the most vile and repugnant piece of legislature that Harry had ever heard of.

"My Lords and Ladies, we find ourselves under siege," Parkinson said. "Not from a Dark Lord but from a plot much more sinister and vile. I am talking about the influx of muggleborns who come into our world and desecrate our traditions and try to corrupt our youth with their disgusting ideas. We need to stay strong and combat this menace with utter swiftness and the utmost prejudice. I move that we find all muggleborn witches and wizards and have their magic bound and then cast them out from our world before their corrupting influence destroys the world that our ancestors has fought for."

Harry looked around, noting each of the faces that either agreed with Parkinson or seemed somewhat interested in the proposed law. Unfortunately, the people that Harry noted made up a small majority of the Wizengamont.

"That's enough!" Harry roared. "I will not stand here and let this bigoted petty little man spout off this bigoted and prejudicial drivel. You sicken me Parkinson, I hesitate to call you a human let alone a man for what you have suggested. You want to bind the magic of innocent children all because of what? Because you are afraid!"

"How dare you!" Parkinson started but he was cut off by Harry's booming voice.

"How dare you!" Harry responded. "You and all of your like are afraid of the fact that half-bloods and first-bloods are on average more powerful than purebloods! In fact, the overwhelming majority of Squibs born come from pureblood families who refuse to marry anyone other than another pureblood. The only time a Squib is born to a half-blood or first-blood family is due to unforeseen issues such as birth defects or sickness."

The chamber was silent as they watched Harry start to tear down Parkinson's argument.

"Now I will concede that Lord Parkinson has a small point," Harry said. "All first-blood magicals have no idea what they are getting into when they first enter the magical world. I, as you all know, am a half-blood though I was Muggle-raised and I had no idea that magic existed until I received my Hogwarts letter. When I first entered the magical world, it was overwhelming to say the least, and I'm sure it was just as bad for a first-blood. I propose that the Ministry sets up a department geared only toward the monitoring of first-blood families and new magical lines. The magical detection grid would be a good start, when a new magical line is discovered we should send someone to speak with the families so they know what they are getting into."

"The Ministry can't afford an undertaking like that," Scrimgeour shouted from his seat next to Dumbledore.

"Well, who said that the Ministry had to pay for it," Harry said.

"Then who would?" a voice asked. Harry turned and saw that the speaker was Madam Longbottom, Neville's grandmother.

"I think a good way to come up with the funds would be to take them from the vaults of convicted Death Eaters," Harry said. "Let their ill-gotten and blood money be used to the betterment of this world."

"Never!" Parkinson cried. "I will not allow my gold to spent on such a worthless endeavor."

"I believe Lord Parkinson, you just admitted that you are a Death Eater," Harry said with a feral grin. "I only said that 'convicted' Death Eaters would pay, I never said anything about suspected ones."

Parkinson paled greatly as he realized his mistake.

"Aurors!" Scrimgeour shouted. "Arrest Lord Parkinson!"

"On what grounds!"

"Suspicion of belonging to a Dark organization. Now take him away."

Parkinson whipped out his wand. "You'll never take me!" he shouted. "The Dark Lord will come for you…" Parkinson was cut off as a Stunner impacted the man in his chest, sending him crashing to the floor. Eyes swiveled to Harry, who was calmly putting his wand back in his sleeve.

"It's nice to see a Minister who isn't afraid to get the job done," Harry commented. Scrimgeour nodded, though Harry could tell that he only ordered Parkinson's arrest because of Harry's comment.

Dumbledore rose from his chair to regain order in the chamber. "I believe that Lord Potter's proposal has some merit. The convicted Death Eaters; Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix, Rodolphus, Rabastan Lestrange, Antonin Dolohov, Augustus Rookwood, Michael Avery, Mulciber, Crabbe, Jugson, Nott and Goyle will have a percentage of their vaults stripped from them and be put toward this new magical detection department. All those in favor?" A flurry of hands rose into the air, Harry's and Andromeda's included. "All those opposed?" Hands rose tentatively into the air, Harry grinned, his performance had scared several of the fence sitters into rethinking their positions.

"The motion passes," Dumbledore said with a smile.

Harry settled back into his seat, a grin hidden in the shadows of his face, as the rest of the meeting went by. When Dumbledore had closed the session, Harry nodded to Madam Longbottom, Andromeda Tonks and Madam Bones before leaving the chamber and making his way back to the Atrium before Flooing back to the Three Broomsticks and then making his way back up to the castle.

A/N: There you have it, the newest chapter of 'Vengeance or Justice'. This chapter was somewhat easier to write that previous ones though it still fought me. I wanted to start to diverge from canon in this chapter, thought it might not seem like it. I'm sure some of you will not like the fact that Hermione and Ron have gotten together but I promise you, it has a purpose. As I said in my profile, I think that Hermione and Ron could get together though it would be a very fickle relationship, especially at this moment in time. I've tried to point out some of both Hermione and Ron's flaws (as I see them) in this chapter. Please read and review this and let me know what you think. Enjoy,

S.R.W.M.O