With a glare that rivaled Snape, Cho pushed back her plate and turned to Dobby smiling sweetly. “Dobby dear it won’t be necessary to bring food down for Harry later this evening. I’m sure he’ll be able to stuff himself sufficiently tonight. Perhaps you’d be good enough to bring me some chocolate ice cream with fudge and some sugared walnuts if they have any, later this evening?”

The trip to Hogwarts

Again, flushing out some secondary characters. Big THANK YOU TO STARLIGHTGIRL2004 for the lovely banner!!

This chapter is quite a bit rougher than the other chapters. Be forwarned. Harry finds out a bit about a past that he didn't know existed.

A meeting with Dumbledore sets the tone for the seriousness of the upcoming chapters. Much more drama to come.

Harry's anger does more than just make people uncomfortable. It turns dangerous and if Cho doesn't intercede, deadly.

The confrotation between Cho and Dumbledore becomes heated to the point of an ultimatium.

Harry and Cho have a midnight rendezvous in the infirmary.

The broom didn’t even shutter as Harry somersaulted with ease, it handled like a dream. The broom began to whine, as Harry leaned forward to accelerate, the whine increasing in volume till it sounded like a rocket was screaming into Collywollops lane.

He groaned as he slipped into her mind with ease, immediately feeling her warmth and acceptance of him.

Dumbledore couldn’t have been more pleased. Harry actually took the time to apologize to the headmaster, and showed a level of determination that was down right awe inspiring in his defense against the dark arts class.

He had gotten this strange mental image of Cho on the floor, and something about Swallows trying to fly away, sadness and pain, before she realized he was in her head.

“You’re my child,” Molly wailed helplessly. She was losing him. She had already lost Harry even though he wasn’t really hers to lose. WARNING GRAPHIC VIOLENCE

Harry managed to recover quickly. She hadn’t thrown her full intent into the spell. After all, it was just meant to get back at him not neuter him. Cho could not stop laughing. He didn’t know what hurt worse the stinging spell or her laughter.

Sighing, Hermione closed her books and headed back to her dorm. It was time to get ready for the dance.

He thought he understood self-loathing before tonight, but he didn’t. All it took was a little emotional pain, resulting from her refusal, and he became a monster Voldemort controlled, the thing he always feared. He hated himself.

Harry blinded by the incredibly bright blast of light, blinked owlishly around the room, trying in vain to regain his sight. Draco struck.

“I haven’t a clue,” Cho responded. “This is all Harry’s idea. I’ve tried time and time again to get him to tell me what the décor is all about and he has just been as stubborn as a stoat about the entire thing. I’m convinced that the wedding ceremony is going to take place in a conjured quiditch pitch,” Cho sighed.

“Tell me what?” Harry asked again. Harry narrowed his eyes and gave Cho a look that Neville instantly recognized. “What’s up babe?” Harry thought. “Something wrong?” Harry’s brows furrowed. Cho immediately tensed.

“Let’s go to the silver pond, Harry. We’ll talk there.” Cho wrapped her arms around Harry’s waist and snuggled close.

“That’s not what I’m talking about old man!” Gandy spluttered. “Predicting events far into the future isn’t the problem here, Albus. It’s playing with people’s hearts and minds and tampering with life and death, you old fool."