A Little Bit Like Hope


Summary:

DM/CC

"It might sound completely crazy… but I actually think I'm in love with you"

Cho glanced over at the boy, sitting uncomfortably on the sofa next to her, looking more and more vulnerable as the seconds past and smiled knowingly.

"I was wondering when you'd realise that" she replied. Her fingers found his on the soft cushion of the space between them. The time passed and neither of them broke the silence.


Disclaimer:

I do not own Harry potter. I also do not claim the rights to any song lyrics or references I may use within the following fan fiction.


A Little Bit Like Hope

Chapter One: Manipulation


Cho was up earlier then usual the following morning. She'd wanted to get to the library and practise her manipulation charm before Draco arrived, to save a little of the embarrassment that she would no doubt suffer when he tried to help her.

Dressing warmly in jeans, boots and a heavy knit cream sweater, she dragged her long black hair into a ponytail and shoved her wand into the pocket of her jeans.

Once she'd reached the library and settled herself in the furthermost corner of the room, she pulled out a length of ribbon and jabbed her wand at it over and over, watching it flop around on the table like a fish out of water.

"That's pathetic"

Cho glared up at Draco, and then laughed.

"You're right – it is. I never could get the hang of this charm. I couldn't manipulate a cat into chasing a mouse!" she frowned, staring at her ribbon.

Draco smirked and slid into the seat opposite her and pulled out his wand.

"I was watching your technique and it's pretty good. I think all you really have to concentrate on is willing the ribbon to move"

"Huh?"

"If you don't really focus on what you want the ribbon to do then it simply won't do it" Draco explained.

"Look, take your wand and concentrate hard on a shape in your mind, then say the spell"

Cho thrust her wand towards the ribbon and bit her lip in concentration. The length of ribbon fluttered through the air and spelt out the word "Draco". Draco smirked, though his eyes were full of surprise.

"Thinking of me Chang?" he drawled and she flushed.

"I was remembering your ribbon in charms yesterday – I guess my wand interpreted it wrong" she glared at the length of wood in her hand. Suddenly her stomach gave a growl of protest and she flushed again.

"Have you had breakfast?" Draco asked quickly and she shook her head.

"Come on then, let's go to Hogsmede" he jumped to his feet and she followed him hastily out into the cold winter's air.


They were silent as they walked along the puddle riddled path to the little village of Hogsmede. They passed several of their fellow pupils on the way, receiving puzzled looks that turned into gossip as soon as they'd passed.

"You'd think we were in fancy dress or something!" cried Cho finally after ten minutes. Draco raised an eyebrow, but smiled all the same.

"Their probably jealous – I mean I am devastatingly handsome" Draco commented casually and Cho laughed loudly.

"What? I am!" Draco gave her a look of mock hurt. Cho smiled.

"Yes I know, but-"

"Do you now…interesting" Draco drawled, sleazily and Cho swatted him.

"Shut up – your ego doesn't need inflating any more!" she laughed.

"So then, as you've dragged me out for breakfast and away from the warm, I hope your paying" she added and Draco shrugged.

"I always pay on dates" he replied and Cho flushed.

"This isn't a date though…" she trailed off.

"Isn't it?" Draco raised an eyebrow, and then sped up; meaning Cho had to practically jog to keep up.


Draco watched as Cho draw a smiley face in the sugar she'd poured onto the table top, and then drew another face, this time with a sad expression. He took the sugar from her, pouring it over the second drawing, hiding it from view. Cho looked up at him and he held her gaze.

"Only happy faces" he insisted and she smiled.

"What do you want?" he asked, handing her a menu, which she scanned quickly and frowned.

"I don't know – either the pancakes and maple syrup or the full English…" she replied.

"have both and I'll have the same I think" Draco said, repeating the order quickly to a passing waitress, who seemed quite overwhelmed by the beaming smile Draco gave her, scuttling away quickly; her cheeks red.

"Poor girl" Cho laughed and Draco smirked.

"I wish I could get what I wanted just by smiling at them" she added, watching as the waitress placed their order at the top of the pile and smiled over at Draco.

"You obviously don't see yourself very clearly" Draco commented.

"Huh?" Cho was confused.

"Cho, I expect there are guys falling over themselves to please you. Potter for one" he added, watching as Cho blushed a little.

"Not anymore their not. Not since I've become such a mess" her tone was suddenly serious. Draco watched her cautiously.

"Tell me about it" he asked of her and she shook her head.

"Ok – ill tell you what I think and you can tell me if I'm wrong" he suggested and she gave him a hard look but didn't disagree.

"Ok then. I think you met someone who you could finally open up to, who you loved, who was your best friend and then he was taken away from you. You lost everything you held dear overnight and your memory of him is tainted by the horrible fact that he was murdered. His murder seems to be the only thing others remember about him – not how kind he was or how well you got on, which are what you cherish. And that makes you angry, which makes you push others away, which makes you lonely"

Cho stared at him, grasping the table edge with both hands, now turning white with tension.

"You're so right" she whispered.

"Yes. I usually am" Draco replied, "Now eat your pancakes, their getting cold"

Cho looked down and realised their breakfast had arrived.

"I'm not lonely" she said suddenly and Draco gave her a doubtful look.

"Not anymore anyway" she finished, throwing him a smile, which threw him for a minute.

"Me neither" he thought to himself, in surprise.


The following weekend was Draco's birthday; a day he hated. He glanced at his watch, illuminating it with his wand and sighed. He would be fifteen in three hours.

Birthdays for Draco had never been celebrated in a normal fashion. He had been thrown an elaborate party every year until he arrived at Hogwarts, when his parents would simply send him elaborate presents which he opened with a feeling of dread at the Slytherin table.

He hated opening presents in front of people as they were always envious, which led to them resenting him his family's fortune and status. Draco had more enemies because of his birthday presents then anything else.

He'd once tried to explain this to his closest friend in Slytherin, Blaise Zabini, but Blaise had told him he was ungrateful, as well as spoilt. And a little bit paranoid.

He turned his attentions to the plans he'd made for the day. Cho had told him to meet her at the entrance hall at nine am, after breakfast. It was a surprise she'd told him.

He smiled to himself, then rolled over and tried his hardest to fall asleep again.

"Oh my God! Is that an Excalibur 700?!!" gasped Blaise, as Draco unwrapped his new racing broom, courtesy of his parents and he nodded.

"Yeah… looks good doesn't it?" he offered lamely.

"It looks fucking amazing!" Blaise replied, taking the broom from Draco and examining it closely with Terrence Higgs.

Draco quickly unwrapped his other presents, which included a set of new quills; golden eagle feathers; a new set of scales; platinum; and several sets of dress robes, in silver, dark blue and the predictable black. He examined the sliver ones more closely and realised they had his name picked out in silver thread along the hemline. His mother's choice obviously.

He was about to dig into his bacon when he noticed a final present. It was a small box shaped gift in gold paper. He flicked open the card and swallowed hard.

Dear Draco,

Happy Birthday.

P. Parkinson

He unwillingly removed the paper and his eyes widened at the box in his hands. It was a box from one of the most exclusive jewellers in Diagon Alley. He flipped the lid and stared at the heavy platinum watch gazing innocently up at him.

"Ah fuck …" he sighed at Pansy's father's obvious attempts at bribery. Blaise glanced over and nearly dropped Draco's new broom.

"Shit – he means business doesn't he" he said, "You'll have to wear it"

Draco nodded.

"I know" he replied, slipping the timepiece onto his wrist and feeling the weight of it, physically and mentally. Perhaps tonight he'd open the letter, even though he knew what Mr. Parkinson wanted.

He glanced at the watch again then jumped to his feet.

"I've got to go" he answered Blaises' confused expression.

"What about your presents?"

"Just ditch them on my bed"

"What do I get in return?" Blaise grinned eyeing the Excalibur 700 greedily.

"I want it back by this evening – in one piece!" Draco yelled over his shoulder as he dashed towards the entrance hall.


"You're late, Mr. Malfoy"

"Very observant Miss Chang" he glowered at her, "it is my birthday though"

"Ill let you off" she grinned, kissing him on the cheek. Draco faltered for a second, but Cho was already out the door.

He followed her, intrigued, as she spun her way through the grounds towards the station.

"Cho? Where are we going?" he asked warily and she beamed at him over her shoulder.

"It's a surprise – get on the train"

Draco eyed the Hogwarts express with suspicion.

"No"

"What?"

"I'm not getting on until you tell me where were going" he explained stubbornly. Cho sighed.

"Fine. I have two tickets to the Wimbourne Wasp's vs. the London eagles quidditch game and a couple of the guys from the Wasps said they'd get us into the after party. But if you don't want to get on the train…"

She laughed as Draco grabbed her hand and yanked her onto the train behind him.

"Cho – this is incredible, but way too expensive. Let me pay for my ticket" Draco offered once they'd found an empty carriage and warmed up.

"No way – it's your birthday. My treat," she waved away his offer.

"Um… thanks then" he replied awkwardly, staring not at her but out of the window.


"That was awesome! Did you see the save Jenkins made – he flies like a man possessed!"

Cho smiled as Draco kept up a constant stream of action replay as they made their way through the slush towards Fin Cooper's house in Notting Hill. Fin was the keeper of the Wasps and a good friend of Cho's brother and had invited them to his after party – which was sure to be a good one due to the Wasps victory over the eagles that afternoon.

"Hey! Fin!"

Cho greeted a sandy haired boy at the door to the three storey townhouse and he kissed her cheek.

"How are you? Is Andrew still bumming around at home?" Fin asked her and Cho laughed.

"I'm good. Great in fact and yes Andrew will always be bumming around – the lazy sod" she grinned.

"This is Draco Malfoy, by the way," Fin grinned at Draco then looked at Cho curiously, as if waiting for an explanation. She blushed.

"He's my… he's my cure" she smiled finally and Draco grinned, whilst Fin just looked confused.

"Didn't know you were ill, my darling!" Fin crowed, ushering them inside, where the party was in full swing.

"Oh... I wasn't..."

"She's just very infectious!" Draco answered for her, smiling at their private joke. Fin shook his head at the younger pair, and then dashed off to join in with the fun and games in the kitchen, which involved sliding from one end to the other on a river of fairy liquid.

That was the great thing about being rich, Cho thought wistfully. Fin had the money to redecorate his house after every party he threw.

"Come on – let's get a drink" she suggested and grabbing Draco's hand pulled him through the throng of people.


Two hours later, Draco had met the entire Wasps team ,their coach, had made friends with the owner of Speltkin's Sports, a racing broom shop in Diagon alley, who had promised him free servicing for his new broom and had been hit on by several extremely pretty girls.

"I'll talk to later" he promised one girl as he spotted Cho, passing the entrance to the room he was in.

"Cho! Wait up!" he called and she grinned, waving at him.

"There you are! Having a good time?" she asked and he nodded.

"I mean it's not quite up to the standard of the formal dinner party I had for my eighth birthday, but it'll do" he teased and she poked her tongue out at him, childishly.

"Let's dance" he said abruptly and ignored her protests as he dragged her towards the living room, which was filled with music and wildly dancing couples.

"Draco, I don't dance well…" she muttered, trying to stop him from humiliating her.

"Doesn't matter – I do" he replied and pulled her to him, spinning her gently into his arms.

Cho had to admit, he was a good dancer, as he spun her and swayed in time to the music perfectly. She watched him with fascination as he gazed over her head at the crowd around them, nodding at people he met that evening. Suddenly he looked down at her and caught her gaze, making her flush pink and looked down.

Slowly, he ran a finger down her cheek bone and under her chin, tilting it back up.

He held her gaze for what seemed like forever then shook his head, breaking the tension.

"What's wrong?" Cho asked softly, desperately wishing he had kissed her. She'd become more and more attracted to him as the weeks had passed. He was gentler, more careful with her feelings then he was with others. Draco Malfoy was nothing like the persona he reflected.

"Nothing's wrong" he replied, avoiding her gaze.

"Something is" she said, her eyes pleading with him to tell her. He sighed.

"It's just that… you're just so fragile. I'm not sure I could live with myself if I broke you" his explanation was awkward and brutally honest.

"I won't break" Cho replied, standing up on her tiptoes and brushing his lips with hers.

"I won't break" she repeated, watching him carefully and then he leant down, capturing her lips with an urgency and passion that made her head spin.

She felt dizzy as he broke the kiss, but Draco held her to him, safe against his chest and she could hear his heartbeat retuning to normal.

"I told you I wouldn't break" she smiled, glancing up at him, "See, I'm not fragile at all"

"Yes you are" Draco corrected her and she shook her head.

"Are you telling me I'm wrong?" Draco asked incredulously and Cho nodded, daringly.

"Malfoy's are never wrong! I'll have to punish you now"

"And how's that going to go?" Cho teased him, tilting her face up towards his again.

He smiled.

"Well… a little bit like this I suppose" he whispered, and then kissed her again.


The day after his birthday Draco opened Mr. Parkinson's letter. The demands were glossed over with heaps of compliments and formal language, but they were quite clearly demands.

Mr. Parkinson had long been after Draco to take over the Parkinson business as he showed an enormous amount of talent in the area. The Parkinson's owned a large broom development company and as Draco was a great flyer and owned every rare broom available, courtesy of his parents, he was the first choice. Draco knew that in return for the fantastic management position in the company, Mr. Parkinson expected Draco to be more then accommodating towards Pansy.

He scrutinized the watch on his wrist and sighed. The position was far too incredible to give up without a second thought and yet, he was so opposed to the hidden demand in the letter.

He suddenly thought of Cho and his worries eased slightly. He couldn't play this game with pansy, not feeling how he did about Cho. He picked up his quill and penned his reply.

Satisfied with his letter, he signed his name and slid it into his drawer to send later.


"Cho! Hey Cho!" Draco called across the courtyard to the dark haired girl as she made her way towards Hogsmede. He was glad that most people had decided to stay inside on the cold Sunday morning, as he wasn't sure how public they wanted to be yet.

Cho looked slightly out of sorts when he caught up with her and she nodded for her friend to carry on without her.

"Hey Draco" she murmured, avoiding his eye. He frowned.

"What's wrong?" he asked and she shook her head.

"Nothing" she forced a smile, but it didn't fool Draco.

"You feel guilty don't you?" he said, mimicking her words from three weeks ago.

"Of course I feel guilty!" she snapped, then sighed.

"Look, I just need some time and space… to … to think over what I want" she said finally, but Draco didn't buy it.

"Ok, fine" he replied flatly, not wanting to cause a scene; it wasn't his style.

"You were right" Cho offered and he raised his eyebrows.

"About what?"

"I am too fragile" she replied softly and then hurried after her friend.

Draco watched her go, his mind telling him to forget her and his heart aching for him to run after her and try to persuade her otherwise. In the end he stomped back into the castle and up to his room.

Removing the letter he'd penned earlier, he tore it up and penned a very different reply.

He owled it later that day and then went to find Pansy.


A/N: okay – second chapter – I've tried to portray both their feelings of confusion in this chapter though I will explore Cho's in more depth in the next chapter. Draco's dilemma is that in order to have a great job when he finishes school he is expected to date pansy. Any suggestions are welcome of course. READ AND REVIEW! 