AN: I do not own Harry Potter.

Decisions, Decisions

"Hey, Ron, Hermione," greeted Harry from where he sat by the window, watching the fall rain.

Throughout the past week, Harry had become once again rather burdened. Ron and Hermione had become rather used to their friend being lighter hearted for the past two years, but now it seemed the pressure was building up again. How much pressure had their friend been under on a regular basis that they hadn't realized it until the pressure was gone?

Neville stood up and moved away from where he had been studying in the field of quiet that seemed to constantly surround Harry these days. He would have stayed, but Hermione had that quiet, persistent look about her that meant that she was willing to push buttons.

"Muffliato," incanted Ron as they sat beside him on the carpet on pillows. "What's up, mate?"

"Nothing."

Ron huffed. He looked beseechingly at Hermione.

Hermione sighed, while pushing her hair away from her face.

"Harry..."

"You're not fine. Well, you're fine, but you've been thinking rather deeply lately."

"And it's a bad thing for me to think?!"

"No!" Ron gestured with his hands, "It's just we used to find these answers to these problems together, right? It wasn't one person all the time. I mean, we probably have gotten used to something like that because of the whole organization thing you have going, but there's a reason why we did things together. I mean, I'm not book smart like Hermione is but I've got what my parents told me; Hermione's not as strategic when it comes to seeing the day-to-day; and you... you're constantly out of your depth and seriously pessimistic. We cover each other's weak points. So, what's up?"

"Immortality and politics and Dumbledore."

"These can't all have easy solutions?"

"Not that I can see."

"Well," started Hermione, "we've got you and Cedric and Lord Malfoy heading the dark side of our Order, with Kingsley and Sirius heading the light side. We have the forewarning that Dumbledore will not tolerate us soon and that you will not be able to stay in politics all your life because you are immortal."

"Right, Hermione," Harry was starting to get a little impatient with his two best friends. "Go on."

"Why don't you do the same thing as many Roman Emperors?"

"Why do I even have to be king? I mean, I know it's the easiest solution if I want to have veto power, and is basically the same power Dumbledore has, so why are we thinking of going this route? Why not a different government type?"

Hermione took a big breath before replying, "You know the answer to that, Harry. Remember all those papers Percy sent you? The whole system that the wizarding world runs around requires a central leader. They try to have a voice speaking for the people, but instead it turns out to be a voice forcing the people's speech. At the same time, the time frame that the wizarding world has seemed to settle into is very much a time of transition in the Muggle World that didn't last all that long before World War 1 started. The two world wars forced the Muggle World's transition into a modern era of government at an accelerated pace. The Wizarding World of Britain hasn't had that. Because of that, we are in a state where we have not left behind having someone telling us how to tie our shoelaces, for both sides. We used to have a king. We could maybe learn to go without it, but unlike the members of MACUSA, we are governed by a group of imperialists who want to be king or a king, which is enforced by every single muggleborn or half-blood witch or wizard that enters it. The idea of a kingdom is enforced from both sides. That, Harry, is why we need a king or queen to balance this equation out and why people cling to Dumbledore like that."

She took a breath before continuing, "Even those elected to be Minister follow Dumbledore as if he is king. To replace him, we will need a king."

"And I am the boy who lived. All right, so I have to be king. So what, I just proclaim myself a king as designated by the gods and hope the people accept that? Or as a god-king?"

"Why not?"

"People don't believe in that stuff anymore."

"Maybe not in the Muggle World, but the Wizarding World has always been pagan, mate. We believe in the deities because we interact with them. We know that Death is a real god. We also have Destiny and Mother Magic and Lady Luck."

Ron ended his statement with the shrug of his shoulders.

"Right, thank you guys."

Hermione straightened her back. "Okay, now that we have solved that at least temporarily, can you tell me how you did in your latest Charms assignment?"