As always reviews are welcome, please keep tasteful. Any and all criticism is welcome as well. Any questions or ideas please PM me and I'll PM back.

Hope you enjoy.

Save a dance for me.

Chapter 2

Cho sat breathless on her bed. She had just had one of the best nights of her life. They had danced, talked, and laughed all throughout the night. After the last song finished Harry even walked her back to Ravenclaw Tower.

Flashback.

Harry Potter and Cho Chang were walking slowly back to Ravenclaw Tower. Her arm was still in his, and they were both smiling like fools, laughing as they talked about the night they had just experienced together. When they reached the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room they stopped and Cho turned to Harry beaming.

"I had a wonderful time Harry." Cho said the smile never leaving her face, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink.

"I did too. Thank you for dancing with me." Harry said bashfully, slightly avoiding eye contact.

"Thank you for asking me." Cho said as she moved a little closer to him.

He smiled shyly at that, but did not back away. "It was my pleasure Ms. Chang." He said playfully taking her hand and giving it a very light kiss.

"Well aren't you the gentlemen Mr. Potter." Cho said giggling at his antics but turning a deeper shade of pink as his lips made contact with her hand. They stood smiling at each other, lost in a moment of happiness. They were brought back to reality when they heard someone approaching.

"Well, goodnight Harry." Cho said as she turned to walk away. She was stopped when he lightly touched her hand. She turned back around to find him much closer. And for a moment her heart had stopped. He kissed her. Their lips barely touched for more than a second, but it felt like much longer to her. And then all too soon for her liking, he pulled away.

"Goodnight Cho." Harry said then he turned and walked away, disappearing from sight as he turned a corner.

End flashback.

Cho sat there remembering the feel of his lips, not exactly smooth, but nice, strong, and absolutely intoxicating. So caught up in her memory that she didn't notice her friend Marietta had entered almost five minutes ago, and was trying to talk to her ever since. That is until she playfully hit her with a pillow.

"Huh?" Cho said smiling.

"I've been trying to talk to you forever now. I can see you had quite the night. Mind sharing how it went?" Marietta said, all the while holding back from laughing at her friend.

Cho smiled reminiscently and talked for hours about her night with Harry Potter, and Marietta's night with Cedric Diggory.

xxxxx

Harry's heart was beating way out of his chest. He had just kissed Cho Chang. He, Harry Potter had just kissed the prettiest girl in school. And he had no idea what had made him do it. He didn't intend to do it, he hadn't planned on doing it, but he did. And what was even more shocking was her reaction to his bold move. He had immediately expected her to slap across his face or yell at him for being too forward. He expected her to turn around and storm off, he had not expected to see her smile.

He was so afraid that he quickly took his leave, not wanting her change her mind and hex him. He said goodnight and walked away, careful not to run or walk too fast. Shortly after turning the corner he nearly ran right into the other Hogwarts Champion.

Cedric was walking with Marietta, when he saw Harry he looked at the younger boy and thought for a moment. "Harry, do you think I could have a word?"

Taken aback Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Sure."

"Great, can you give me a moment? I'll be right back." Cedric said as he nodded his head towards Marietta suggestively.

After a few minutes he came back, a smile on his face. "Harry, have figured out the clue from the egg yet?" Cedric asked rather bluntly.

Not really sure where he was going, Harry shook his head but raised his eyebrow inquisitively. Seeing this, Cedric smiled broadly. "Good, then I can finally repay you for telling me about the dragons." he said happily.

When Harry looked surprised, he continued. "Ok, all you need to do is open the egg under water. Everything will become clear after that." Cedric finished patting Harry on the shoulder and began walking away.

"Thank you." Harry said, then suddenly he remembered that Cedric had been Cho's date. "Hey Cedric, I hope they're no hard feelings, I mean with what happened at the Ball and all." Harry said rushing over to Cedric and holding out his hand for Cedric to shake.

Still smiling Cedric shook his hand. "Actually I think it worked out quite well for both of us."

With that said the two Hogwarts Champions parted ways, a bond having been forged between them.

xxxxx

Hermione sat awake in the common room. She already changed, and taken off her makeup. The only evidence that she had dressed up at all was her hair, which she still had up.

The clever young witch was, for the first time in a long time, completely confused. For a long time now she had been developing feelings for one of her friends, a certain red head that irritated her to no end. What she had not been ready for was the flood gate of feelings that had opened. Feelings she never registered before. Like most young witches her age, she had once harbored a small crush on 'The Boy Who Lived'. But unlike most others, she had gotten to know him, become friends with him, the best of friends.

That small crush over the years turned into admiration. She had seen his bravery. She had been there for his adventures. She had seen behind the scar, beyond the legend. She knew Harry as he truly was.

Hermione thought that the feelings she had for him were that of best friends, perhaps even siblings. But since the beginning of this awful tournament, she had been feeling something more. She paid it no attention and assumed it would go away. She still had feelings for Ron that she had yet to figure out.

She sighed as she thought of Harry again, she couldn't help but to smile a little. The one dance that they had shared was easily the best one of the night. She had felt beautiful in his arms, accepted for who she was. It was an odd feeling because it was Harry that had given it to her. She couldn't help but notice how strong his arms felt, how beautiful his eyes were. She could look into those eyes forever and see the true depths of them. And his smile as they danced was enough to make her swoon, though not in his presence. The way he held her hand as they danced made her blush. The way he held her close to him made her heart stop.

"Hermione. Hermione wake up." a voice said as a hand gently nudged her shoulder. Hermione woke with a start. When had she fallen asleep? She looked up to see who it was that was waking her. When she met the eyes of the person who disrupted her sleep, she temporarily forgot how to breathe.

"Harry! What time is it?" Hermione said groggily. "How long have I been down here?"

Harry looked at her clearly amused. "It's a little after one. I have no idea how long you've been asleep, I only just came into the common room."

Surprised, Hermione took in his entire appearance. He was still in his dress robes. "Where have you been, it's awfully late Harry."

Slightly embarrassed by the way he was caught, Harry smiled nervously and shrugged. "I walked Cho back to Ravenclaw Tower. And then had a quick chat with Diggory."

He sat next to his best friend, in the low light from the dying fire he didn't see how her face fell slightly at his mention of Cho. "Why are you down here Hermione?" Harry asked in a mocking tone.

Blushing and now extremely glad of the lack of light, Hermione answered with as much dignity as she could muster. "I was reading if you must know." she held up the book she had brought downstairs with her, knowing full well she had not so much as opened it. "And I must have dozed off at some point."

"Ok, well I'm going to head to bed then." Harry gesturing toward the boys' staircase.

"Yes, I suppose I will as well, I am awfully tired." Hermione said standing up.

They walked the short distance together in a comfortable silence, then it was time to part ways. "Goodnight Hermione, sleep well." Harry said as he began walking towards his staircase.

Hermione looked at him for a split second. And before she knew what she had done, or why she had done it, be it from being tired or something else, she didn't know. What she did know was that in half a second she had engulfed her best friend in a 'more than friendly' hug, and kissed him on the cheek in a 'not so sibling like' way. Deciding to try and play it off as gratitude she said, "Thanks again Harry, for always being there for me."

Slightly taken aback by her sudden gesture he shrugged it off like it wasn't worth mentioning. "Anytime Hermione, goodnight." he said giving her a gentle reassuring hug, before letting go and walking up the stairs.

"Goodnight Harry." Hermione said quietly. That night Hermione dreamed of dancing with a tall, dark haired man. She was in a sleek elegant white dress, he was in a black tux. It was a good dream.

Harry on the other hand, was having a confusing dream with a shiny silky black haired woman and a puffy brown haired woman. It wasn't his best night's sleep.

Luckily neither would remember it in the morning when they woke.

xxxxx

It had been a long and wearisome month and a half. From Rita Skeeter's article about Hagrid to Ludo Bagman constantly offering help, everything was overwhelming. The most exhausting part however was preparing for the second task.

Harry had long since figured out the clue, what he was now working on was how he was going to survive inside the black lake for an hour. He had already given up trying to figure out what was going to be taken. Hermione had the idea of using the bubblehead charm. Combined with a warming charm, to combat the freezing temperature of the water, it wasn't a bad idea. The only problem with that plan however, was that Harry Potter couldn't swim.

xxxxx

It was Friday evening and everyone had just had dinner. Fred and George were entertaining the Katie, Angelina and Alicia. Neville was laying in front of the fire reading the book on magical Mediterranean plants that Moody had given him. His ears perked up as he overheard a conversation.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting in the common room across from the fireplace, discussing ways of learning to swim or swimming using magic. It wasn't getting them very far. Hermione had suggested transfiguration, to give himself flippers and perhaps even gills. He quickly shot the idea down reminding her that he was nowhere near that level yet.

To everyone's surprise it was Neville who found the answer for them. He began to flip furiously through the pages of his book until he found what he was looking for. "Harry, I know of something that you could use." he said as he handed the book to his dorm mate, open to the page all about the plant. "Gillyweed." Neville said looking nervous.

After reading the page dedicated to the plant, a huge smile broke out across Harry's face. And Hermione, who had read the page over Harry's shoulder, was positively beaming at him. "Neville, you are absolutely brilliant." she praised making said boy turn a deep shade of crimson.

"I-I just wanted t-to help." he said smiling

"Well that was a bloody brilliant idea." Ron said looking in disbelief at Neville.

"Thanks." Neville said, though he was slightly offended at the way the read head looked at him.

"So, the effects of Gillyweed wear off after about an hour, that's perfect." Harry said enthusiastically.

"Well there is a dispute amongst Herbologists, about the effects of salt water vs fresh water. But it's generally the same." Neville said with a confidence he rarely showed.

Impressed with his thorough knowledge of the plant Harry decided to use it. "That won't be a problem, I'll just bring extra in case I need it. So where can I get it?" Harry said as he began developing a plan.

"I know Professor Sprout would have some, you can ask her. If not you can always owl the apothecary in Diagon Alley. I'm sure they can have it to you with plenty of time to spare." Neville said happy that they had actually listened and even happier that they were going to take his advice. Boone hasn't ever needed his help before, it felt nice to give it for once.

"I'll talk to Professor Sprout tomorrow if I can, and owl the apothecary tonight to see how much it would cost. It might be good to have it in stock, you never know."

Having found a way to succeed in the Second task, and sending Hedwig with a letter to Diagon Alley, the young group took some time to just relax and enjoy the night.

xxxxx

Cho and her friend Marietta were walking back to Ravenclaw Tower when they were intercepted by Professor Flitwick. "Ah, just who I was looking for, I was wondering if I could have a word with you Ms. Edgecombe? Hello Ms. Chang." Flitwick said as he approached the pair. Marietta nodded and walked toward him. When he noticed that Cho was waiting for her friend Professor Flitwick quickly added, "In my office please, if you would. Goodnight to you Ms. Chang."

Acknowledging her dismissal she said bye to her friend and went on her way. Without anyone to talk to she began to think back on past month and a half.

She had been spending a great deal of time with Harry. Mostly in the library, but sometimes out on the Quidditch pitch, or just walking the grounds. They had yet to 'officially' start dating, but she knew it was only a matter of time. They went on an almost date to Hogsmeade, but that turned out to be a little on the awkward side.

First they had intended it to be just the two of them, but his friend Ron Weasley didn't seem to get the memo. Hermione Granger on the other hand seemed to be trying to get Ron to let them have some privacy and was really friendly with her. The biggest problems however came in the form of an article about the grounds keeper slash Care of Magical Creatures teacher Hagrid, who was apparently half giant. But honestly, who didn't already assume as much. The man was huge, not big enough to be a full blooded giant, but far too large to be just human.

Harry didn't seem to care and was obviously very close to the man so she didn't protest when he asked to go look for him. When they got to the Three Broomsticks however, they ran into the second biggest issue, Ludo Bagman. The man seemed to hone in on Harry as soon as he sat down, and refused to leave him be. Eventually they all just walked back to the castle to go to Hagrids hut. This is where Cho parted ways, not wanting to intrude in what appeared to be an intervention.

After that they had breakfast or lunch together a few times, but nothing too romantic. He had to prepare for the Second Task after all. She couldn't deny that she missed him though. Or the fact that she was a little jealous that he spent more time with Hermione Granger than he did with her.

She knew they had been best friends since their first year, and that they were both in Gryffindor, so obviously he would spend a lot of time together. What bothered her was the way she would sometimes notice the way the girl looked at Harry when he wasn't paying attention. Cho knew that look all too well because it was the same look that she gave him.

Harry told her that they were only friends and he didn't see her that way. But she thought that maybe Hermione wanted Harry as more than just her friend, even if she would never act on it. Pushing those unpleasant thoughts away for now, she realized she was already in front of the entrance. Having solved the riddle, she walked into the common room and sat in one of circle arm chairs in front of the fire.

Shortly after she was joined by the Ravenclaw Quidditch team captain, Rodger Davies. "So, I heard you've been spending quite a lot of time with Potter." he said bluntly, never being one to beat around the bush.

"What's it to you Davies." Cho said back, already agitated with the way this conversation started. She had had enough of the interrogations about her relationship with Harry.

"Nothing like that Cho, so you can calm down. I just wanted to tell you that if you start dating, it had better not affect the Quidditch season next year." Rodger said putting his hands in front of him.

"Like I would ever go easy on him just because were dating, not like I'd need too anyway, he's easily the best seeker at Hogwarts. And I highly doubt he would go easy on me, it's just not the kind of guy he is." Cho said, a hint of pride and admiration in her voice.

"You have point there Chang." Rodger said, then he suddenly got a faraway look in his eyes, before he focused them and looked directly at Cho. "I wonder who would win in a match, him or Krum."

Cho suddenly had a shiver run down her spine. "I don't know, but that would definitely be a sight to see."

Rodger jumped to his feet a triumphant look on his face. "That would be a sight to see, and who better to set it up than you. You're practically dating Harry, and Krum seems to have a thing for that Granger girl. She's Harry's best friend, if you asked him, and he asked her to ask Krum..." Rodger had a manic gleam in his eyes now. "This could be the best match ever to be played at Hogwarts. And we would all get to see it."

"Umm, Rodger... before I ask anyone anything, shouldn't you get permission from the headmaster first?" Cho asked before he got too far ahead of himself. Though in her mind she too was thinking of what could happen in such a match.

"I couldn't imagine Dumbledore saying no to this." Rodger said waving it off like nothing.

The rest of the night was spent talking excitedly about a match that may never even happen. Cho's head was so full of thoughts of a victory for Harry and what would happen if he did pull off a win against the Quidditch super star, that when she finally fell asleep, she didn't notice that Marietta had yet to return.

Xxxxx

Cho woke late the next morning, she looked at the time, and the Second task was due to start in about an hour and a half. Panicking slightly she rushed to get ready for the day. Entering the great hall she saw Harry getting up from the table. He was apparently been eating alone. Glad that she hadn't missed him before the task began she walked up to him. "Hi Harry, I was hoping I would see you." she said slightly breathless.

She felt her heart fluttering when he smiled at her shyly. No matter how much time they spent together he always seemed shy around her.

"Hey Cho, I was just now heading down to the lake now. Would you like to walk with me?" Harry said nervously.

"Yeah, that would be nice." Cho said smiling.

They began walking in a very comfortable silence. They were walking rather close to each other, and every now and then his fingers would brush against hers and they would blush lightly. Nothing was said until the lake came into view, then it was Cho who broke the silence. "Are you nervous?"

"A little, but I have a pretty good plan. I think." he said with a small chuckle.

"I know you'll do great Harry." Cho said, and was surprised when she felt his fingers intertwining with her own.

"Thanks Cho, that means a lot." Harry said, and his eyes showed that he truly meant it.

She moved closer to him gathering her courage, she stood on her toes for a little extra height. She placed her hand on his cheek and looked him directly in his beautiful green eyes. And before Harry could react she lightly placed her lips on his.

For a second that contained an eternity, they kissed. Her heart had stopped, her knees buckled and her mind lost all thoughts, save one, Harry Potter was kissing her back. His hand was in her hers but his other was in her hair, gently deepening the kiss. And all too soon for either of their liking they broke the kiss, brought back to the here and now by loud obnoxious cat calls from the Weasley twins. The moment gone and the Second Task nearly underway, she decided to let 'her' Champion go and compete.

Both blushing heavily they looked at each other once more. "Good luck Harry, you better not lose." Cho said sweetly placing a kiss on his cheek, before going off with the others to watch.

xxxxx

Harry was stunned, this morning could not have gone better, with exception of the Gillyweed in his mouth. If only he could find Ron or Hermione. Before he could even think of where they had gone too, the whistle sounded, and they were off. Each champion had dived into the water.

Harry felt a piercing pain on either side of his neck. It hurt, but the book described this happening. He was growing gills. He took notice of the rest of his bodily changes. His hand and toes became webbed, his feet elongated and looked almost like flippers. Not wanting to waste any more time marveling over his new form, he took off tearing through the water at an unbelievable speed, going deeper and deeper into its depths.

After a little skirmish with grindylow, and a very helpful run in with Moaning Myrtle, he swam for what felt like at least twenty minutes. He heard it, at long last, the mersong. Hearing that haunting song, Harry swam faster and soon saw a large rock emerge out of the muddy water ahead. He passed a cluster of crude stone dwellings stained with algae. In the dark windows Harry saw faces, merpeople.

They looked nothing at all like he thought they would. They had grayish skin and long, wild, dark green hair. Their eyes were yellow, as were their broken teeth, and they wore thick ropes of pebbles around their necks.

Harry sped on through the village, until he came upon a very strange sight. In the middle of what could only be the mer-version of the village square, was a choir of merpeople singing, calling the Champions toward them. Behind them was a crude sort of statue; a gigantic merperson hewn from a boulder, with four people bound tightly to its tail.

Hermione was tied between, an older woman with dark hair and Cho's friend, Marietta. There was also a girl who looked no older than eight, whose clouds of silvery hair made Harry feel sure that she was Fleur Delacour's sister. All four of them appeared to be in a very deep sleep. Their heads were lolling onto their shoulders, and fine streams of bubbles kept issuing from their mouths.

Harry sped toward the hostages, half expecting the spear wielding merpeople to charge at him or try to stop him, but they did nothing. The ropes of weed tying the hostages to the statue were thick, slimy, and very strong. He was extremely glad that Hermione had suggested practicing the cutting curse underwater, in case he would need it.

Harry freed Hermione of her binds and grabbed her. With one last look at the youngest hostage, he prayed that Dumbledore would let no harm come to any of them, he took off like a rocket toward the surface. After only five minutes of intense swimming, he broke the surface. Instantly Hermione came to, and the first thing he noticed was that he became rather light headed when he tried to breath. Realizing he still had gills, therefore he still needed water to breath, he submerged his neck.

He swam with Hermione over to the bank where the judges were standing, along with Madame Pomfrey. Immediately the school nurse began fussing over Hermione, and would have done the same with Harry had she not seen his appearance first.

Deciding to stay in the water until the effects of the Gillyweed wore off, Harry noticed a mer-person stick his head out of the water, then just as quickly go back underneath. Not even a full ten seconds later, the same merperson emerged halfway out the water holding the unconscious body of Fleur Delacour.

Within seconds of reaching Madame Pomfrey, Fleur came to, another moment of confusion, and she was frantically trying to get back into the water. It took Madame Maxime to restrain her student. Looking around desperately her eyes met Harry's. In that instant, without saying a word the two champions communicated, Fleur pleading for him to save her sister, and Harry silently promising to do so.

They broke eye contact, and like a bullet Harry tore across the surface of the water. A moment later he reached the place he thought he had come up with Hermione. Stuffing more Gillyweed into his mouth he plunged into the depths. When he figure he was about halfway down he was passed by Cedric, who was swimming up toward the surface. Four or five minutes later Krum, who had the head of a shark swam furiously past him.

Upon reaching the bottom Harry pulled out his wand to cut the ropes binding the little girl, only to be stopped by a group of mermen surrounding her. They shook their heads at him.

"Get out of the way!" Harry shouted, but only bubbles flew out of his mouth. He knew they understood, their yellowish eyes were fixed on his wand and they looked scared. "You've got until three!" He shouted; a great stream of bubbles burst from him, but he held up three fingers to make sure they got the message. "One..." (He put down one finger) "Two..." (He put down another)-

They scattered. Harry took the opportunity to cut the ropes with his wand. He seized the little around the waist and kicked off from the bottom.

xxxxx

Cho was both confused and slightly hurt. Harry had returned with Hermione in tow. She was hurt because another girl had been his treasure, the thing he would miss the most. Why had it not been her? Was she not more important to him than someone who was supposed to only be a friend?

Then it struck her like lightning. Of course it wouldn't be her down there, she had only been with Harry a few months, if that. Hermione had been his best friend since their first year, if it wasn't her down there it would have surely been his other friend Ron.

The stories and rumors of what those three have been through, the adventures that they had shared. They must have been very close, a closeness that she could never hope to match in such a short time. But what confused her was why he went back into the lake. His treasure had been found, and well within the time limit. Why would he go back? Unable to come up with a reasonable explanation she decided to head over to where the judges were, maybe she could ask Hermione.

xxxxx

Hermione was now getting worried. Cedric and Krum had already come back with their hostages, and still Harry had not resurfaced.

She had already explained to Cho what she thought was going on, only to have it confirmed when Fleur came over. Her expression said enough, the worry on her face was all it took to know why Harry went back. He could never turn a blind eye when someone needed help.

"Your friend is very brave." Fleur said breaking the anxious silence that had fallen amongst them.

Both girls looked at her for a moment and simultaneously prayed to the heavens the Fleur wasn't setting her eyes on Harry. They didn't believe they could compete with someone like Fleur.

"He's the bravest person I've ever met." Hermione said, in a slightly awed voice.

"You are very lucky." Fleur said looking at Hermione.

Hermione turned a deep shade of red before she answered. "No, were just friends."

Fleur looked confused for a moment, then a small smile lit her beautiful face. "I see."

Before Cho could stake her claim, there was an eruption of applause from all around. Harry Potter had come back and swimming next to him, looking utterly confused, was Fleur's little sister.

As soon as Harry and Gabriel reached the shore, Fleur was there to greet them. The French champion hugged her sister tightly speaking words of comfort in French. Then she turned to Harry, eyes blazing. "You saved her." she then leaned forward and kissed Harry passionately.