There are some AU elements so please don't expect everything to match cannon.

A/N: The Characters and the universe all belong to J.K Rowling. Nothing is mine.

The rituals had ended and everybody had eventually left. Hedwig had disappeared in one last vanishing act for the day, while Dobby popped away with Trevor. I lugged my tired ass with great difficulty towards the Gryffindor tower. The Gryffindor tower was occupied, by the 'gang'.

Everybody noticed me entering through the portrait and stopped talking, as Hermione came rushing forward, "Harry, where were you? I've bee- I mean, we all have been so worried."

Rosaline came nodding at this, "Yeah, we searched everywhere." Then she looked at the haggard appearance of my clothes. "You haven't been causing trouble again, have you?"

Oh for god's sake, I haven't been causing trouble agai-, "Hey! What do you mean by again?"

I mean really, at least my sister should put some trust in me; it's not like I was preparing for a war or anything.

Oh wait, I was.

Meh, whatever, It's not as if she knows.

As Rosy I got into a back and forth about how many times I have caused trouble, with Hermione obviously siding with Rosy, Daniel decided to cut the chase.

"Harry, just tell us where were you already?"

I took 2 seconds so as to not falter while lying, and mixed it with some truth to make it more convincing, "I was with Hedwig the entire time." That was true after all.

Everybody narrowed their eyes in suspicion at this, but could detect no lie so kept mum.

Sophia however had her own wisdom to impart. "You abandoned everyone for a mere animal?"

Oh… Now she's done it.

I just might have ignored it, but her dissing has given me a good opening on getting permanently out of this 'Daniel Club'.

"Who asked for your opinion again?"

Silence.

Everybody was staring at me in horror. You did not tell Sophia Granger that her opinion is not needed.

Sophia's face turned into a dangerous scowl, but before she could respond her wannabe lover red riding Weasley started swinging his arms, "Oi, watch your mouth 'mate. We're your seniors ya know."

God, could this guy give it a rest already. Seniors?

Pfft.

I may be mediocre, but I'm still leagues ahead of Weasley. Also, the 'senior' argument might have worked from a 7th year, but him. I almost want to laugh and puke at the same time.

Before I could respond to Weasley, Sophia butted in, "Back off Weasley." She said while coming in front of me.

"Oh Harry sweetie," I fucking hate being baby talked like that, and I bet she knows it pretty well, "looks like you're now all grown up aren't you?"

Ron tried to force out a laugh at her antics, which pathetically sounded like pigs mating while she kept 'cooing' immaturely. Hermione and Rosy watched nervously not wanting this to escalate further, while Daniel just shook his head wanting me to apologize, while Ginny stood by his side unsure of what to do.

I decided to end this quick so I could have some peace from these idiots, "Now listen you lizard-gorilla hybrid," That sounded insulting, well that's what I was aiming for.

Hermione and Rosy gasped, while Daniel and Weasley both looked like they had eaten a fly. Ginny looked like she really did not want to be here, and I could almost hear the screeching that was about to come from Sophia; but before that could happen I decided to play my final card.

"I can and will very well do whatever I want, as you have no authority over me whatsoever. I will skip classes or attend classes at my own discretion, I will tend to my familiar whenever I feel like the need to and I will join your secret 'clubs' as I see fit when I want to. Can you stop me?"

This was a simple strategy of goading the other person into doing what you want by challenging their authority. I merely had to use the word 'authority' and 'secret club' in the same sentence, and I know Sophia is manipulative enough to pick up on that for petty revenge.

As I predicted, an evil glint entered the eyes of the elder Granger sister. "Oh Harry sweetie, but I can."

God, the baby talk again. Nevertheless we are on the right track now, "In your dreams, bitch."

That was the flipping point for Sophia, "That's it! If this little shit sets foot into a single meeting of ours I'll quit!" She turned towards Daniel, "You get that Daniel. I'm not listening to anything and I'll take a goddamn oath if you don't nod your head fast enough."

The speed at which Daniel nodded his head should have broken his neck logically, but Sophia was probably terrifying to him. Meh, whatever. The plan was officially done and I could finally go and sleep in peace.

"In that case I will have to step back too." Wha-

"No, Hermione!" Good lord, what is she doing? "Are you out of your mind?"

Everybody in the group was shocked at Hermione's declaration though Rosy looked somewhere between amused and proud.

Sophia was the first to recover, and her scowl did not bring me any comfort, "What are you saying Hermione?"

Everyone was soon following with their responses, and the noise was soon a cacophony of questions and comments.

I needed to do something fast, I could not have Hermione missing out on these lessons. These are not just defense lessons; they are a matter of life and death now. I know Dumbledore, dad and the other order members are keeping a close eye on the activities around Daniel.

Hermione is already on a shortlist for the order of the phoenix because of her exceptional talents; this club could very well be the tipping point for her to be taken in. She would be so much safer if she were to join the order, that I could not let this slip out of control.

As Hermione was about to dig herself into an even deeper hole, I inhaled a large amount of air and then shouted, "Stop!"

"Now listen everyone." This had everyone's attention, "If Sophia wants me to stay away from the club, then I would be very glad to. I know Sophia is a much more important resource to your functioning, and I really could care less about it." Hermione decided to disagree

"No Harry you need to attend these lessons, please think ab-"

"And Hermione! You are not going to leave the club or else…"

"Or else what Harry!? What are you going to do huh?"

Hermione was screaming now, and Rosy also looked pretty miffed about the entire situation.

It hurt me immensely to say this but Hermione had to be safe. I put in as much coldness in my voice, as I could possibly with Hermione which was not a lot, "Else, I will cut off all my ties with you Hermione, every single one."

There was pin drop silence. I could tell from Hermione's eyes that she was hurt, and it hurt me to see her like that.

As she opened her mouth to speak something, "Harry ho-" Rosy cut her off, "Wait Hermione. He's lying, or have you forgotten Harry that I'm an empath, a very good one at that."

Shit. I forgot weak assed resolves like this would never work in front of Rosy.

Hermione seemed to calm down on hearing that, but I could not have that. If it were for Hermione, I have to be able to give up everything, even if it means giving up on her.

I felt a stirring within me, and at that moment I raised my wand in front of me, Rosy's eyes widened as she saw the change of emotions in my self,

"I Harry James Potter swear upon my magi-"

Smack. I did not what had happened but my left cheek stung hard. A furious and deeply hurt Hermione stood in front of me. Rosaline was still staring at me in shock, and the rest of the group looked decidedly uncomfortable.

"How could you?" Hermione was looking me in the eyes while asking this, and I never wanted to see the look of betrayal in her eyes ever again. She was hurt and was letting me know. I turned my eyes away, and Hermione just dashed back into her room with Rosaline following. The rest of the people did not know what to say and they all gave lame excuses to get out of the common room's thick atmosphere. Sophia muttering a last 'He'll still not be joining' before leaving.

I had gotten away from joining the youth wing of the order and I stopped Hermione from leaving, more or less. Well I had accomplished what I wanted to for the day, so I should be relieved.

Instead all I felt was the depressing bite of loneliness. In my pursuit of Voldemort, I had seemingly forgotten about this aspect of the shadows.

I sat on a Sofa and kept staring at the fireplace for god knows how long. All that happened in my head was the continuous onslaught of the images and the sounds from this overly long day.

Soon, the images started getting fainter and the sounds dimmer as sleep overtook me.

I did not know for how long was I asleep, but I was soon awakened by a hand shaking my shoulder.

"H-Harry?"

I opened my eyes to see a teary faced Hermione looking at me. Noticing the tears in her eyes I instinctively jumped towards her asking her what was wrong, but as soon as my mind caught up I realized the reason was standing in front of her.

"S-Sorry." I released her hands that I had caught onto in my worry. Even amidst all the Drama it felt so wrong letting her hands go.

She seemed to be in her own thoughts for a second before snapping back to the present.

"Sorry for what?" She had turned her face from me and even her tone seemed extremely hurt.

"For everything." I meant that.

"Oh; so then would the 'for everything' include throwing away your best friend over a silly 'club'!" Now she turned to face me with tears forming in her eyes and her face extremely furious.

"It's not a silly club Hermione. Not for you." I said while looking into her eyes, "You know the 'order' is keeping an eye on you. You could very well have blown the chance to get into the safest organization in this entire 'war', and I could not have had that."

"Then what about you, huh?" Hermione replied with heat, "Don't you think I cared that you should also learn to defend yourself, that you should be recruited in the order too."

"It does not matter." I replied with dismissal.

Hermione was having none of that, "Why the fuck not? Why don't our feelings matter, and your does? Tell me Harry. Tell me."

I was at a loss for what to say.

"I-I don't…" I just ran my hand wildly through my hair, "I don't know! Okay? I'm just worried about you. I don't care about silly clubs because I won't need those silly clubs as much as you will. I have so many people to protect me, at home and in Hogwarts. I am not that big of a target anyway. But you Hermione, is the entire reason people like Voldemort are in this war. They feel threatened by the immense amount of talent you possess. I will live Hermione, please don't worry about that. I want you to learn to defend yourself and become stronger and safer." At this point my breath was almost running out from all that ranting, but I managed to squeeze out one final sentence, "I- I don't know what I would do if anything ever happened to you 'Mione…"

My voice almost died out at the end, but I'm sure Hermione who was somewhere behind me heard all of it.

There was silence for a few seconds before I felt Hermione hugging me from the back. She rested her head on the back of my shoulder and exhaled a loud breath.

"You're such an idiot Harry."

There was silence again for a few seconds, before she spoke the last time for the night. "I'll do what you say, but just this once."

I nodded my head, and we stood like that for a few seconds before breaking apart and heading to our rooms.

That 'Just this once' was all I needed from Hermione, because after this there will be no Voldemort remaining to fight.

A/N: Please Review and let me know your thoughts.