AN; Hey to all my readers so I have decided to create another story alongside converting the bookworm. As you can tell this is called Caring for Cho and this is a chomione fanfic. I know I said in my other story that I would like to see a Fanfic that goes completely by canon but with the pairing of Harry/Cho and I still do. But I write femslash. And there are some scenes in OotP where Hermione is helping Harry get the girl but wouldn't it be interesting if Hermione liked Cho too. Not a big pairing I know so this might not be as popular as the more common pairing of Luna/Hermione but i personally have written down already everything I want to do in every chapter of this story and all I have to do is expand and detail it so updating should be quicker, I make no mistakes and this way I can't get Writer's Block. This story DOES follow canon. This story is third person so no slip ups. 20 chapters exactly.

Summary-Hermione has a crush on the most unexpected person. Not only is that person a girl, her best friend is her love rival. But Hermione sees something even Harry can't see. Something this person hasn't received and something Hermione possesses. The ability to truly care.

Disclaimer: Obviously the Harry Potter universe and all the characters and settings are property of J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros.

Lonely is Cho

"Today we acknowledge a really terrible loss. Cedric Diggory was, as you all know, exceptionally hard working, infinitely fair-minded, and most importantly, a fierce, fierce friend…" Dumbledore spoke glumly from his chair as all three wizarding schools sat silent and still listening to the Hogwarts headmaster whilst they grieved their lost. Hermione was swallowing trying to make that lump in her throat disappear but all it did was lodge itself even more. Sniffles and quiet sobs were only slightly detected throughout the Great Hall, almost as if people were scared to cry. 'There is no shame in crying' Hermione thought but she herself stayed quiet.

Hermione looked across the hall at a face that should be more affected by Cedric's death than anyone here. Cho had her head hung low, so low you couldn't tell she was crying. There wasn't even any movement to indicate she was. But Hermione knew she was devastated.

"Therefore, I feel you have the right to know exactly how he died. You see, Cedric Diggory was murdered, by Lord Voldemort. The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. But not to do so I feel would be an insult to his memory…" The headmaster continued more passionately. Harry was probably the only person in this hall that felt anything but sadness.

Harry's eyes were raging. He was staring into space, probably not even acknowledging what was being said. Of course he was upset of the loss of Cedric. He watched the boy die, he saw the light leave his eyes, he saw the way the unforgiving green light completely took the boy of his feet and dumped him unceremoniously on the deck. He saw the way his eyes stared sightlessly onwards, never to blink or move again. He saw it all, and it made him furious.

"Now the pain we all feel at this dreadful loss reminds me, and, reminds us, that though we may come from different countries and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one. In light of the recent events, the bonds of friendship made this year will be more important than ever."

At this Hermione looked at Krum who had his hat held tightly against his chest as he listened, just like every other Durmstrang student. Fleur Delacour too was playing with her fingernails as she listened, her thrall dormant completely as now is definitely not the time to be distracting hopeless love-struck boys. The respect Hermione saw that the two schools gave was heart-warming; especially as right at the start of this whole nightmarish tournament they were pretty angry that Hogwarts had two champions instead of one.

"Remember that, and Cedric Diggory will not have died in vain. You remember that, and we'll celebrate a boy who was kind, and honest, and brave, and true. Right to the very end." Dumbledore finished his speech and the whole hall, led by his fellow Hufflepuffs, rose in their seats and gave one mighty standing ovation. All except one heart-broken Ravenclaw girl, Hermione noticed, who never even flinched at the noises around her.

The final feast before all the schools left the following day ended and the first person out of that hall was Cho. Her head was still down low and she spoke and looked at no one as she vacated. Hermione watched her go.

That night in the Gryffindor tower was probably the most sombre experience the whole house had had for an incredibly long time. Laughs and smiles were rare if real. Wizard's chess was being played half-heartedly. Weasley products were nowhere to be seen and the room had very little conversation.

The far right corner near the window was where you could find the Golden Trio and Ginny all staring into space thinking. Ron finally disturbed the silence by saying,

"I wonder how the Hufflepuffs are taking this. Probably, worse than us huh?"

Hermione glared at him as if she seriously couldn't believe how obvious that answer was. "Yeah. Probably." She rolled her eyes at the red-head.

"It's Cho I feel sorry for. She looked distraught." Ginny empathised.

"Obviously not enough. She didn't even stand up and clap like the rest of us did" Ron answered.

"Oh Ron shut up. You really do not understand how girls feel do you." Hermione chided him.

"It's a show of respect." He argued.

"Well, she more than respected Cedric, Ron. You cannot possibly start judging how a girl should feel when she is in love without actually ever being in love yourself." Ginny told him.

"And even if you're not in love, when someone dies who was close to you it will affect you deeply wherever you're a girl or boy. You would do the same thing Ron if someone like Ginny or me died. Just because you don't even know them doesn't mean that you can judge someone like that." Hermione continued.

Feeling like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Ron went bright red and got smaller in his chair.

"Ok, I was out of line." Ron admitted sheepishly.

A silence had overcome the quartet once again before Harry spoke.

"I'm going to bed. See you guys in the morning." Harry said tiredly.

"Are you sure mate" Ron asked.

"Yeah. It's been a rough day. Night"

After the rest of the group had wished him a good night's sleep Harry disappeared up the stairs and the silence continued briefly before Hermione had had enough.

"Seriously, if no one is going to say anything or do something I might as well join him." She said and instantly she had left her seat at the window and followed behind him. She was about to pass the boys dormitory stairwell to get to the girl's when she saw Harry not climbing the stairs. Instead he was seated three steps up thinking profusely.

"Harry, I thought you were going to bed. Are you okay?"

He didn't respond.

Hermione sighed and sat herself down beside him on the step. "If you're blaming yourself again you better stop right now."

"Who else is there to blame other than me Hermione?" Harry answered her.

"Erm, how about Lord Voldemort, or Barty Crouch Jr or any of those Death Eaters who were with you both in the graveyard. They might be more than worthy candidates, Harry".

"I should have been quicker. I should have made sure Cedric got back to the cup." Harry blasted himself.

"Oh yeah and left with the only piece of magical transportation you had. It wouldn't be Cedric we would be mourning if that had happened and our whole lives may have been completely doomed if you had died instead." Hermione said before laying her hand over his clenched fist. "Instead of blaming yourself maybe you should stop to think about what your top priorities are. And if you don't know them I will tell you. They are: Be a beacon for the entire wizarding world to admire, stabilize your life again and enjoy the time spent with the people around you. Will you do that Harry?"

Harry sighed heavily and for the first time in days, smiled "Of course I will".

"Good. So don't let me catch you loathing yourself again or I might knock some sense into that thick head of yours, Voldemort be damned" Hermione told him good-naturedly.

"Ok. Thanks Hermione, you're my besty you know that?"

"Yeah and you're my besty too".

The remaining days of term had dragged excruciatingly but the day was finally here that the school body went home for the summer. After watching the Beauxbaton carriage fly away and the Durmstrang ship sail away and disappear beneath the waters of the Black Lake. The Hogwarts students made their way down to Hogsmeade for the train home.

The Golden Trio plus Ginny, Fred and George found a compartment and before they knew it were laughing and joking all the way back to Kings Cross.

Soon it was time to depart and the Gryffindor's piled out the door and straight into the oncoming arms of Molly Weasley.

"OHHH YOU'RE ALL BACK AND WELL. It's so good to see you all."

"Ge'rof mum. Let me breathe" moaned Ron looking mightily uncomfortable at being mothered.

Molly released her grip and turned to Harry giving him similar treatment. "Hello again Harry. I hope you have a good summer, it's about time you had some good luck."

"Nice to see you Miss Weasley. Thank you." He said warmly.

"You're welcome dear."

Molly released him and was about to envelope Hermione in a hug before she stopped herself and instead just smiled and said "Hermione nice to see you dear." Clearly, she had still got some bad blood with Hermione concerning a story put in the Daily Prophet about her which resulted in Hermione receiving a very small Easter egg whilst the others got big ones.

Hermione just forced a smile and replied "Thank you Miss Weasley".

"We'd better be off dear." Said her husband beside her.

"OH yes. Well, have a nice holiday you two." Molly said to Hermione and Harry.

After all the Weasleys were gone Harry and Hermione said their goodbyes.

"Well, have a nice summer Hermione and I'll write to you." Harry told her whilst they hugged goodbye."

"Ok and you know you can talk to me about anything right. Anything at all."

"I know"

Then they both started heading for the wall until Hermione stopped dead. "Hermione what is it?"

"Harry, look" Hermione said nodding her head in the direction she was looking at. Harry followed her direction and they both saw a crest-fallen Cho collecting her stuff and walking of miserably.

"Why is she on her own? Why aren't her parents or whoever come to collect her?" Hermione asked concerned.

"They are probably meeting up somewhere. Don't worry about it, she'll be ok." Harry assured her.

Hermione continued to look at her as she walked away and thought 'I'm not so sure about that'.

An; first chapter of this story done. Hope you like it. Reviews would be nice.

Tbc…The Mystery That Is Cho.