The following weeks at Hogwarts were quite eventful. It appeared the night I had to speak with Dumbledore Sirius had a chat with the rest of my friends in the Gryffindor common room fire. It was not Harry that told me this but Ron, which lead to more ill feelings towards Harry. As much as Dumbledore said to give Harry a bit of a break it still angered me that Harry did not seem to wish to do the same for me. Umbridge was also dubbed the high inquisitor of Hogwarts which basically placed her above almost all the other professors, and this meant she had inspect the classes of each professor. It also meant I had to watch my behaviour in all of my classes, not just Defense Against the Dark Arts. While some inspections were interesting to watch like Professor McGonagall and Flitwick, some were harder to watch like Professor Trelawney as she was eaten alive. Harry continued to grow more distant as he grew angrier. He landed himself in another weeks worth of detentions standing up to Umbridge for Hermione when she questions the literature of the class. I did not stand up for her as she sensed when I was about to blow up myself and she grabbed my arm and dug her nails in slightly shaking her head no. I had to bite my lip so hard i could taste blood to stop myself but i did. It was a good thing too as Angelina was furious that Harry had to miss more Quidditch practices, and I was saved from her wrath.
Hermione also threw a curve ball at Harry asking him if he would teach us in defence against the dark arts. This lead to Harry losing it on all of us claiming it was nothing but luck and that none of us knew what really happened and what it really felt like every year when we risked our lives. I then said in a monotone voice "I do. Something you may have forgotten Harry, but I was there to help Dumbledore pull Quirrel and Voldemort off of you in our first year. I helped fight off all those Dementors in third year saving both you and Snuffles. You also weren't the only Gryffindor champion last year. You did not face Voldemort alone last year. Hermione is right, there was skill and knowledge involved. Yes we lucked out a lot of the time but it took skill and knowledge to survive long enough to get help or get lucky." He then twisted to me and said "I don't recall you staring a basilisk down, fighting off Quirell or dueling Voldemort." I then said angerly "Which is why Hermione suggested YOU teach us Harry, not me. If you are so determined to go at it alone though don't let me stop you." I then turned and stormed up the stairs, leaving the other 3 to their devices.
The next couple weeks i remained very quiet amongst my friends. Harry still wasn't happy with me but frankly I didn't care. In my opnion I had given Harry more than enough time to deal with what he saw in the graveyard and he had no more excuses to spark out at his friends.. and frankly did I not matter? Did it not matter what my feelings were? Or was it all about Harry? I remembered before Harry arrived at headquarters Hermione and Ron sitting with me talking about my regrets regarding meeting my fathers echo.. how fast that had all changed to revolve around Harry. Now Hermione wanted him to teach not just us, but anyone who would listen Defence Against the Dark Arts... it was all about Harry... until it wasn't..
Hermione cornered me tin the viaduct courtyard the day after she asked Harry to talk to anyone who wanted to learn in Hogsmeade. She then asked "You are coming to Harry's talk right?" I raised an eyebrow and shook my head "I don't think Harry wants to likes of me around.. he only wants dutiful friends." She shook her head exasperated "Don't be like that David." I then asked "Why not? Harry can lash out at us all he wants and expects us to want him around. Why is he so much better than me?" Hermione looked hurt "he's not.." I snapped "But he is! Everyone is all about Harry.. Harry needs this, Harry can do that, oh be careful around Harry he's having a rough go of things, can't get mad at Harry because of all that as happened to him.. I've had a rough go of things! I have had a lot happen to me! But it is always 'David, do your duty, David, don't be like that, David you aren't entitled to feelings'!" Hermione looked close to tears "No.. David.. its not like that. You don't even know..." I then cut her off "You're right, I don't know." I then turned away and looked down at the waves crashing on the cliff walls. I calmed down enough to say "Since the Graveyard.. I have had to hear all about being Gryffindor's Heir.. at first it didn't seem like much.. so I was related to a founder of a school, that was kind of cool. Dumbledore had mentioned my life would change.. but i didn't really believe him.. not at least about this. Voldemort coming back sure.. but then the Prophet articles started circulating.. and now everyone knows who i am.. and everyone expect something of me.. I don't know what that is. I defend my friends its wrong.. i stand up for our class and its wrong.. i stay silent and its wrong.. that doesn't stop people wanting something from me. I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders.. I should be able to share that with my best friends.. but I have to keep it bottled up all the time because of Harry having a bad day. I was okay doing it for a while.. but when it is my turn? I need him just as much as he needs me." I leaned against the railing, hands hung over the side.
Hermione leaned beside me and looked at me until i finally looked over at her, deep into her brown eyes. She said "You are Never alone David. Never. Whatever Expectations everyone has of you means nothing. You... are an amazing Wizard. You will do outstanding things as the Heir regardless because you are outstanding. Your loyalty to us is unmatched, your skill with a wand is some of the best I have ever seen. I have no doubt one day you can be as powerful in magic as Professor Dumbledore. You do not have to shoulder that weight you feel alone.. You have Me... and Ron.. and yes even Harry. Have you told him this?" I nodded "Yes... sort of. Not in those words maybe.." Hermione then said "You should talk to him. I'm sure if you explained it the same way you just explained it to me he would understand." I shook my head "the point is i shouldn't have to, regardless i the grand scheme of things i have it better anyways.. at least people want to be in the same room as me" She nodded "Which is why I want you to come to Harry's talk.. people are more likely to show up if you are there. Once they hear what he has to say they will believe him.. and perhaps he will calm down a bit and see what you are going through." I sighed "I don't know Hermione" She sighed but didn't say anything, still looking into my eyes, her hand brushed mine in the light breeze. She then said softly "Harry is not better than you.. at least to me. He never was.. I want you there.. I don't want to do this without you. Please come?" Her hand no longer lightly brushing against mine but firmly touching now. Her eyes mesmerizing.. the first thing I really noticed about her. I then said "Okay Hermione, I will be there"
It turned out a lot of people wanted to hear what Harry had to say... or only felt safe being there with me there one of the two. The Hogs Head is where we were having our secret meeting and now it was packed with 25 people plus the 4 of us. That was a lot. Hermione started off the meeting a little timid, but grew in her passion. Soon People started to ask questions, most importantly how Cedric Diggory Died. When Harry wouldn't answer Zacharias Smith turned to me "Well if he won't tell us, will you? You were there too right Shuter?" I perked up and said sternly "I was there.. and let me tell you that you do not want to know what we saw. I would much gladly switch places with you to have never experienced it. What we went through is our business and ours alone. We have already reported the events to Dumbledore, you want the truth you should have listened to him from the start. I am not here to do a press conference I am here to learn how to defend myself as I am sure soon enough we will all have a need for it. This is Harry's gig. Maybe focus on that Smith." I then sat back down and i gathered my outburst was enough to keep the questions at bay. Soon we had decided to form a group and needed to write down everyone's names on a list so we knew who was part of it, many became hesitant. Hermione looked at me for help and I reluctantly stood up and said "To do this requires bravery to rival the best Gryffindor.. but none of you would be here without that would you? If you want to learn sign. I am." I then signed my name under Hermione's and stood back, everyone followed suite. Soon everyone had signed and went on their way. Just like that a secret organization had formed.. the most definitely borderlined the 'grey area' of the school rules.
However that did not last long before we were definitely in the 'expelled area' of the school rules as the very next day another Educational Decree from the hag deemed any club or team not given express permission from Umbridge herself to exist was against school rules. This put a hold on any defence club meetings until we found a place Umbridge could never find us. It even put a temporary hold on Quidditch as Angelina ended up having to go over Umbridge's head to Dumbledore to get approved. We also discovered that mail was being read by Umbridge (or suspected it at least) which really effected me as now i did not have any way to contact my mom, which means she would stress about me. I didn't want to cause any more stress for her. So when Sirius wanted to meet us in the Gryffindor fire and talked about messages from Mrs Weasley. I had asked Sirius "Can you find a way through the Order to get word to my mother, letting her know I am alright and won't be able to contact her often and when I do it can't mention anything important because our mail is being read?" He had nodded "I can have Remus pass that along." I had noticed a hint of bitterness in his voice, probably due to being unable to leave Headquarters to do it himself. However that line of communication also went dead due to Umbridge interrupting the floo meeting now showing us even the fires were being watched. So I had nothing to look forward to except Quidditch..
That was until Dobby gave Harry the perfect location for the club to meet.. the Room of Requirements. Evidently the room Dumbledore had mentioned at the Yule Ball last year full of camberpots.. but apparently could also make the perfect club training room as we discovered at the first meeting. Harry, Ron, Hermione and I were inspecting it. It had plenty of books with spells, test dummys, plenty of room, mirrors to practice wand movements, cushions to fall on.. everything we could think of needing. "Only if we had had this last year when we were practising for the Tournament, probably would have had an easier time of it." I ended up saying. Before long the rest of the group had all arrived taking in the same beauty of the room. Hermione started off the meeting by saying "Before we start, I think we should select a leader-" Cho cut her off "Harry is leader" I found myself smirking at that, Harry must have been feeling good about that. Hermione then said "Well I think we should vote on it-" Zacharias Smith said "David should be Leader! He has just as much experience as Potter does!" There were many heads that nodded yes, Dean, Pavarti, Lavender and Ginny's boyfriend Michael amongst them. Harry gave me a look, which angered me as he didn't want to do this in the first place but now couldn't stand me running it? Hermione looked between us and then said "All for Harry." She counted heads, then she said "All for David" She counted again.
She then said rather timidly "Well.. er.. David wins by one... He is our leader" I winced and looked at Harry..he looked angry. I for one wasn't too happy.. as most of my closest friends had voted for Harry.. It was mostly just class mates that voted for me.. all because of who i was decendant from. I shook my head and cut Hermione off by saying "No." Everyone got quiet. I then said again "No.. I won't lead this group. Just because I have the same DNA as a founder of this school doesn't mean I have to do this. Especially when the person who will be teaching you all and the one who started this akk are both right here. The people who voted for me, you don't even know me, really. You only know what the Prophet tells you to know and expect. The people who truly know me, voted for Harry, so that should tell you who should lead this group. If I hadn't agreed to be here you all would have voted Harry. I don't even need to learn this stuff, I've lived this stuff. So if me being here is going to break this group up, then I should not be here. You all should be, Harry knows more than any of us. Stay, learn, you WILL need it one day. But I can't stay. I Quit." I then left the room without another word.
The next few weeks were pretty busy for me, Keeping up with Quidditch practice was important given the Gryffindor versus Slytherin game coming up. Angelina wanted to make up for lost time and had almost daily practices. She reasoned it by saying it had been a year and a half since our last match AND we had a new Keeper so we needed to make sure we were at the same calibre as the end of my third year so we could destroy Slytherin. Hermione and Ron had both spent their free time as well trying to convince me to rejoin what they had dubbed as 'Dumbledore's Army'. The conversations usually went the same way "Come on David.. It is not the same without you!" Hermione would say, Ron would then add "its a blast mate, Feels really good knowing we are sticking it to that old Hag. And we are learning at the same time.. you know you love to learn!" I would then reply "I notice Harry isn't here." Followed by "Oh you know he wants you there he is just too stubborn to admit it" from Hermione. "We should be in this together" Ron would reason. I would then reason back "The group would split if i rejoined and you know it. I don't need to learn from Harry, I can and have taught myself a lot! It is for the best guys." That would usually stop the conversation.
As the Quidditch match drew nearer It became apparent the whole school was looking forward to it. This was the first qudditch match in a year and a half.. and the last one had been so jam packed of cool stuff everyone hoped this one would as well. Slytherin wanted their revenge.. Gryffindor wanted to show them that it was a one off. Slytherin kept trying to get into our heads and even I had to admit I was nervous. This was the first game anyone had any real expectations of me. If I got a lot of points it meant nothing anymore it had become how i got the points. This stress followed me right up until the match. I stood with Ron and Harry as we waited to mount up. I said "Good luck boys. Ron don't let Slytherin get to you, stay out of your head and focus only on the quaffle, alright mate?" He nodded sheepishly. Harry and I made brief eye contact, so I said "You too Harry.. I'll try to give us as much lead as I can, take some of the stress off your shoulders." He then said "I can handle Malfoy." I sighed "I know you can Harry I just... nevermind. Just good luck." He was silent before he then said "You too David." With that it was time to take to the air.
We all got into our positions and soon Madam Hooch had thrown the quaffle into the air. I dove for it and caught it first, narrowly missing one of the Slytherin chasers (I hadn't even bothered to learn their names, they were interchangeable that lot.) I then dodged a Blundger, saw my path to score blocked by another chaser so I passed it to Angelina , who went straight for the goalpost.. to then get a blundger to her side, causing her to fumble the quaffle as she clambered back into her broom. This allowed Slytherin to get possession of the quaffle. I rushed towards that Chaser went I tuned into what the Slytherin's were chanting.. Weasley is our king. The lyrics sickened me and made me see red. This caused me to loose concentration, allowing Slytherin a shot on our hoops.. and Ron missed it allowing them to score. I groaned. Ron had a habit of letting every goal in after he missed the first one. The Slytherin song could not have been helping him either.
I flew up to him to get the quaffle. I yelled "Don't let it get to you mate, you'll get the next one!" I then took off, zooming straight for the Slytherin goal, looking to just catch them off guard and even up the score. However I was cut off halfway by two chasers causing me to have to pass to Katie and swerve to avoid the two chasers. Katie then took her shot and Slytherin's keeper saved it. I groaned and then switched to Defence and blocked one of their chasers who had the quaffle, stealing it. However I was immediately intercepted by another Slytherin chaser who took the quaffle, deeked past Angelina and Katie, came up on Ron. I grimaced as the chant of ' Weasley is our king' got louder. Ron missed and Slytherin scored again.
We had a quick huddle where I said "They are dogging me I can't get anywhere!" Angelina nodded "I agree, they have learned you are our wild card. We need to intercept then and give youa clear line" I then asked with a smile "You suggesting Bullet Train?" She smirked and nodded "Lets give it a test drive shall we?" I nodded and looked for Fred or George, saw Fred and made a gun motion. He looked like he laughed and flew off to tell his brother. Ron passed the Quaffle to me. Angelina took off straight for the slytherin goal posts, Katie right on her tail and myself right behind Katie. Chasers flew at us. First one flew at Angelina, who had to veer off to lead the chaser away from us. This lead to Katie speeding up, and myself picking up her tail wind. Another Slytherin Chaser went for me, who had a blundger hit him square on, courtesy of one of the twins. Very soon the third chaser went for Katie. I used the gained speed from her slipstream to shoot over her full speed, gunning towards the goal posts like a bullet out of a gun. I was almost there, aiming my shot, when i felt a sharp pain at the back of my head and being flung forward.
I dropped the Quaffle as I grabbed on to my broom handle with both hands, flipping off of my broom and having to hand on for dear life. I was dazed. It took Katie helping me back on my broom to get me my bearings. I blinked as she asked "Are you okay David?" I was briefly aware of 'Weasley is our King' getting louder and Slytherin getting another goal. I said "I'm...ok.. focus on the game we need to.. catch.. up." She looked concerned, but once i yelled "Go!" She flew off. I followed her slowly in a daze, trying my best to keep my eyes open. I came out of it enough to hear a new chant erupt in the stands (From the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuffs) "HEIR OF GRYFFINDOR, HEIR OF GRYFFINDOR!" Now to be fair they could have been chanting 'go go gryffindor' and I was just concussed. But in my haze that was what I heard. I suddenly felt panic. I was failing them. They were expecting some game saving move, and I just lead with one of the best plays i had come up with, I had nothing to give them. I couldn't save this game. Usually by now I had one goal under my belt.. I had nothing. The chant kept over powering 'Weasley is our King', echoing in my ears. I squeezed my eyes shut trying to block out the noise, obviously to no success.
It took the sudden stop of the chant for crys of outrage to get me to snap out of it. I looked to see the match was over and Harry had been hit with a blundger.. must of been after he caught the snitch by the way everyone was reacting. People were moving onto the Pitch to congratulate the winners. I didn't feel I deserved that, so I flew off the Pitch, landing by the shore of the Black Lake. There I stood, leaning on my broom, looking out over the water. Calming my breathing. Trying to make sense of what just happened.
I didn't turn when i heard a familiar voice say "There you are!" Hermione came up and stood in front of me "why aren't you with the rest of the team? You won!" I then said "Yeah, no thanks to me." She rolled her eyes "You boys and your Quidditch, its a team effort, isn't it?" I nodded "Yes, but not every member of the team has the whole pitch chant their name." Hermione raised an eyebrow "That was Ron.. and it wasn't good." I shook my head "Must have been in my head then" She nodded "Well you did get hit pretty hard.. let me see that by the way." She then pulled my head down to inspect it, her fingers combing through my hair, feeling my scalp for injury. She said "No blood.. just a bad hit." I then closed my eyes and leaned into her touch, enjoying the feeling. Before I knew it she pulled my head into her shoulder. She didn't say anything, just held my head there. I instinctively wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer. (My broom dropping to the ground) She moved her arms around my neck and hugged me back tightly. We stayed that way, silent, for what felt both like a long time, but also not long enough before i felt her started to pull away. She cleared her throat and then said softly "Don't let them get to you, you have gotten the team so many points in the past one off game isn't going to destroy your reputation." I then said softly "I'll try... Thanks Hermione.." We then looked at eachother in silence for a little longer before she said "There is probably a party in the Common Room.. A prefect should be there I think..as should one of our Chasers." I nodded in agreement and picked up my broom, us walking together to the common room.
Once there we found Harry, who looked hollow. "Harry.. whats wrong?" Hermione asked. He then said bitterly "I'm off the team.. Fred and George too." I then exclaimed "What?! How could... who?" He then grunted "Umbridge. Stupid song.." Hermione asked "What happened?" Harry then explained how Malfoy goaded the Twins and Harry on to attack him, leading to umbridge giving them all a life ban from quidditch. I groaned, thinking had I been there I also would be looking at a ban. Angelina cornered us at that moment "There you are David. Half the team is gone.. where were you?" I then replied "Probably in a better place than I would have been .. if i hadn't been then over half the team would be gone." She nodded, obviously stressed "Listen, I have two beaters and a seeker to replace, and they are all pretty irreplaceable. Luckily, we already have a reserve Seeker with one of the fastest brooms in Hogwarts. I just need to conjure beaters half as good as the twins and a new chaser..." I raised my hands "Woah woah woah.. you aren't suggesting?" She nodded "I am. I need someone i can trust to catch the snitch in the position. Harry originally sold the idea of you joining the team to Oliver as a replacement for Alicia, but also a potential replacement for him if he ended up getting injured again and missing a game. Well Harry is out, you are in." I gapped and side glanced at Harry, who seemed to be growing angerier. "But.. all our plays, wouldn't it make more sense to keep us together and find a different seeker?" She shook her head "We keep playing like today we won't be able to count on us getting enough of a lead that it wouldn't matter who caught the snitch. It's you David, You are Gryffindor's Seeker, final decision." She walked away.
I looked at Harry as he said dryly "Well congrats David.. I guess it was a good thing you didn't stick with the team and did your own thing wasn't it?" I turned on him "Excuse me?" Hermione could sense the tension and said "Harry, David.. Don't." I shook my head "No, I believe he owes me an explanation for that" Harry then said "Gladly. You should have been there supporting your team and friends, but once again you were off doing your own thing, because Mr heir of gryffindor does what Mr heir of gryffindor pleases." My temper rose. I was done taking Harry's crap "Say what you mean Harry, no point pretending like you are trying to save my feelings, you don't bother half the time." Our voices began to raise "It means since you got your moment in the spotlight all you care about is yourself!" I fake laughed "Ho-ho. You know what I think Harry, I think you are Jealous!" He huffed "What?!" I stepped back and yelled "Yes, Harry, Jealous. For 4 years everyone looked at you, admired you. Myself, Ron, Hermione, we were left in the dust. Just the supporting cast for the great Boy Who Lived. Now suddenly people aren't revering you and now revere me and you just can't handle that! You can't handle that I'm replacing you on the team either! You can't handle that I don't exist for YOU anymore!"
Harry's eyes narrowed as he yelled back "I never asked you to follow me around! That was your choice!" I rolled my eyes dramatically as i exclaimed "We had no choice Harry you were hopeless. Who helped you get through all the puzzles protecting the stone? That is right, Hermione, Ron and myself. Who got Quirell and Voldemort off you that year? Me. Who helped you decipher where the Chamber of Secrets was? I did. Who helped you battle off all those dementors in our third year? Me! Who helped you win the Qudditch cup? Me! Who helped you escape the Graveyard in June? Me. You know I was the one who noticed Crouch Jr had taken you from the third task and alerted Dumbledore. You know that deep down most of your accomplishments is because of the three of us. You can't handle the fact that maybe you didn't deserve all the fame you got!" Harry's jaw clenched as he hissed out "And you do? You piggy back off of fame wherever you go! First me, then your father, and now Godric Gryffindor himself. When are you going to do anything for yourself."
I had had enough of this and pulled out my wand saying "Right now, when I put the Boy who Lived in his place!" He pulled out his wand "Bring it, I've duelled Voldemort himself, you could barely hold off a death eater, some Heir of Gryffindor you are!" Hermione Yelled "ENOUGH! THE BOTH OF YOU! 5 POINTS EACH FROM GRYFFINDOR! David, Go to bed and COOL OFF!" I recoiled from that, hurt. "Figures.." is all I said as I turned and stormed off, climbing up the stairs and slamming the door to our dormitory, walking up to my bed, climbing in and shutting the curtains. "Maybe Seamus was on to something about switching Dormitories.." I muttered. Things had never seemed worse. I had fought with both Ron and Hermione in the past.. but this almost seemed worse.. this was Harry.. He was my first friend at Hogwarts.. and longest friend since I found out I was a wizard.. and now it looked like that friendship was officially over.. and it seemed losing Hermione and Ron would come with that. It seemed being the Heir of Gryffindor meant I needed to lose my friends.. just as Godric Gryffindor had lost a friend in Salazar Slytherin...I truely was alone.