"Harry? Can I ask you something?" Ron asked later that day on the way to the library to do homework.

Harry looked at Ron, confused and said, "Sure. What about?"

Ron seemed to be trying to consider his words which immediately put Harry on guard. "Well…I was just wondering about something you said earlier. What did you mean about not fighting for people anymore? What changed? I know that we shouldn't be expecting you to fight while we sit around and drink tea, but are you really not gonna help people anymore?"

Harry seemed shocked—and offended—that Ron had thought that. "Of course not! That isn't what I said at all." He steadfastly ignored the blatantly eavesdropping people around them. "If there is anything I can do to help someone who is in danger I will. I have never regretted saving Hermione and Ginny despite the fact I could have easily died.

"My point is that why should I—a fifteen year old completely average student—be the hope of the Wizarding World? We know that I am supposedly the only person who can beat him but does that mean I should be alone out there? This world is my home now and I want to keep it safe but that doesn't mean I should have to do everything! Why can't the people fight too? The number of people sitting on their arses doing nothing probably outnumber the Death Eaters ten to one. With those kinds of odds the battles would not be nearly as dangerous.

"And who says there needs to be any major battles at all? Imagine one Death Eater is spotted and rather than running around like chickens with their heads cut off people actually did something? The world would be a whole lot safer then."

Ron nodded slowly, "So you just want them to help?"

Harry nodded rapidly, "Absolutely. Honestly, wizards just need to get a friggin' clue. I'm tired of the safety of the world being on my shoulders. And there is no reason it should be! Maybe I am the only one who can beat Voldemort but nobody said the Death Eaters were unbeatable. I will not go into fight completely defenseless because people were too scared to leave their house."

Hermione spoke up suddenly from where she had been listening quietly, "Don't you think you are being a little harsh? I agree that they should be contributing more but they are afraid to lose the people they care about and do not want to be hurt."

Harry scoffed, "And I do? If you believe in something you should be willing to fight for it. It is cowardly to sit back and do nothing. Pettigrew said he wasn't brave enough to stand up to Voldemort, imagine if all the people could just take a stand—"

Hermione cut him off, "People are scared!"

Harry spoke over her, "I am too! But you know what? I'm doing something anyway. You and Ron are always saying how I'm so much braver than you two but I still get scared. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is what you do when you are afraid that makes you brave. I choose to fight, but I will not fight a losing battle. And if the entire war comes down to me fighting alone it will be a losing battle."

Ron frowned at Harry, "Will you stop saying you'll be fighting alone? You know me and Hermione will be there. We told you, you can't get rid of us."

Harry just smiled at his two friends, "You're right. But I don't think you realize how dangerous this is. Being so close to death…I can't tell you what it's like. And I can't help you be ready for it. Now come on, I had a good idea for a prank."

The next morning the trio made sure to wait until after the twins had left the common room to start the prank. They waited until they heard shouts coming from below them and then they rushed out with the rest of the Gryffindors to see their handiwork.

The initial shouts of panic had by then transformed into whoops of joy; the stairs had somehow been turned into water slides! All the Gryffindors indulged themselves until they heard a very distinctive shout, "FRED AND GEORGE WEASLEY!"

The twins paled as McGonagall approached, "We swear it wasn't us, Professor."

McGonagall's nostrils flared, "I suppose you think I am an idiot? The two of you are the only pranksters in Hogwarts that are capable of this."

Looks of dawning comprehension appeared on the twins' faces and they glared at Harry and his friends. Harry waved at them with a smirk.

McGonagall followed their looks and when she saw Harry she said, "Don't even try to put the blame on Mr. Potter. Despite his recent…trouble he has never so much as pranked a student. And now you think you can get out of trouble by blaming him?" McGonagall dragged the twins after her to see the headmaster.

The trio waited until she was gone before bursting into laughter. Neville walked up to them and quietly said, "How did you do that? I know you guys have been playing pranks for years, how do none of the teacher's know?"

Harry looked at Neville and slung an arm across his shoulders, "That Neville is the most brilliant part. We get away with it because honestly we aren't stupid enough to get caught. For years we've mimicked the twins or Peeves' style so nobody would ever even think to blame us. Now we have four years of proof backing us that we aren't pranksters. Even if people figure out we're doing it, they won't be looking at us because they know we've never done anything like it."

Neville gaped at him in awe, "You really are Slytherin. That's brilliant."

Harry looked at Neville, as if searching for something, apparently he found it because he said, "Neville, how would you like to hit Malfoy where it hurts?"

Neville blushed, "What?"

Harry looked amused, "I meant his pride, what did you think?" Ignoring Neville's sputtering he said, "I am inviting you to join us in our next prank against Malfoy. I daresay you own him for first year. I extend to you an invitation, no one would ever suspect you."

Neville considered Harry's words and said, "Well I think I shall have to accept. But what would that entail?"

Harry grinned, "You just leave that to us. We'll tell you what you need to know but until you have learned a good innocent expression we can't tell you much for the sake of plausible deniability."

The trio left them so that they could plan the prank and therefore missed the look of utter horror on Neville's face as he contemplated what he had just done.