Chapter 1: After the Second Wizarding War

Harry ran his hands through his hair in a desperate way to flatten it. He could barely believe that barely twenty-four hours ago Hogwarts was full of falling bodies and bright spells. The losses of all those who had fallen plagued him in his heart. He bowed his head, pressing his forehead against the cold pane of the window he was looking out of.

Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Expecting it to be Hermione or Ron, he shrugged it off, annoyed. "Leave me alone." he mumbled.

"Harry, it's me."

He turned around quickly. Cho Chang was standing behind him, hauling her schoolbooks and things downstairs. His stomach did a minuscule jump.

"Oh h-hey Cho." he stuttered.

"Harry?"

He had turned back to the window. "Mmhmm?"

"I'm sorry." she began. "About-"

"I know." Harry's throat started to burn. "So many, so many fell."

"They died in bravery and honor. They died for the sake of Hogwarts." Cho said with respect.

Harry stood up carefully andlooked around them. Students were milling around the grounds, talking and comforting each other quietly. In the distance, Peeves the poltergeist was swinging from chandelier to chandelier.

"Is there a more private place for us to talk?" He asked.

Cho nodded. Reaching for her trunk, she picked it up and motioned for him to follow. Harry noticed how the light made blue glints in her hair as she moved.

They walked up a flight of stairs to the Ravenclaw tower. The blue stained glass windows bathed the room in a cool, even color. Cho stopped in front of the door, and opened it without a word.

Harry raised his eyebrows. "What happened to the password?"

"Got hexed to the point of total forgetfulness," Cho replied. "It withheld the hexes for hours though."

Once in the common room, Cho turned back to Harry. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Harry hesitated. "About us."

Cho looked surprised. "Well, I do know you've been snogging Ginny for a while though."

Harry laughed a little. "Yes, but I want to apologize. I've been so busy with Voldermort and- you know, I haven't had the chance to say sorry."

Cho pulled her hair into a ponytail, eyes still set on Harry.

"Would you like to be friends?" Harry said, smiling. "I don't think we'd work out as a couple, but- you're one of the best hexers I've seen and your very kind."

"Of course Harry." Cho replied. She smiled. "I think you'd like to hear about myself a bit more..."

End of Chapter 1.