Welcome friends to the last chapter of my fic! Have fun reading and thanks SO much for sticking with me all this time!
Special thanks to my reviewers last time: Sheen Rox, Amy.Lee.Rox., Avatarfanx2, Chang Kuei, "Soa" and "Kat"! Even though most of you wanted to murder me, thanks for the review!! Love y'all!!
Note: In this chapter, James and Cho sing a song. BOLD means James is singing, ITALICS means Cho is singing, and BOTH means both are singing..:D
Disclaimer: Basically, if you've read about it from the books, I don't own it. That belongs to J.K. Rowling. I also don't own the name 'Meilin', that belongs to the anime Card Captor Sakura. I own the character though, I just borrowed the name. Also, I do not own "Every Night and Day" by F.I.R.
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Secret of the Chosen HeirChapter 10: Heaven
"Harry was my best friend. He wasn't perfect, but he always tried his hardest. Some say he always played to part of the hero, but he was only trying to protect the people he loved. We had a lot of petty fights, but in the end, Harry was always there, forgiving and asking forgiveness. I know I'm not going to be the only one who misses him, but I know that no one will ever be able to replace him." Ron ended his speech.
There was the sound of shuffling as people sobbed into handkerchiefs and comforted those around them. It had been three days since the horrific end of the battle. All the Death Eaters that did not die in battle were placed in Azkaban, awaiting their trials. Some Aurors and other members of the Order of the Phoenix were still in St. Mungo's undergoing treatment. Many died in the war to end all wars, as it was now called. Many gave up their lives for the safety of the wizarding world. Everyone fell still as a petite girl in black dress robes and a veil walked onto the stage with a similarly dressed young man.
"In the memory of Harry Potter," Cho Chang whispered, her voice magically projected. Soft music began to play as James and Cho began to sing.
How do I live without you?
I want to know.
How do I breathe without you?
If you ever go
How do I ever, ever survive?
How do I, how do I, how do I live?
Dang ni de lei zai wei xiao zhong hua luo (When your tears fall while smiling)
Hui yi de feng chui zhe wo zou wo que qing yuan ting liu (The winds of memory blow me on, but I'd rather stay still)
Deng yi ke xin dao shi jian de jin tou hu xi ye hui tong (Waiting for a heart until Time's end, even breathing hurts)
Ke shi wo ji de ni gei wo de meng (But I remember the dream you gave me)
Mei yi tian zai ni de huai li deng dai (Every day waiting in your arms)
Mei yi ye wo gan jue ni de cun zai zou guo shang hai (Every night I feel your presence, passing by hurts)
Wo hui tou kan (I look back)
Shi yong yuan dou can lan de ai (It is a forever radiant love)
Zhe yi ci wo jue ding yong gan qu ai (This time I have decided to love fearlessly)
Zhe yi ci wo pei ni kan dao wei lai (This time I will stay with you to see the future)
So how do I live
How do I live?
How do I live without you?
Dang shi jie dou yi wang wo de shi hou (When the world has forgotten me)
Ni de yi qie dui wo lai shuo jin wo cai neng yong you (All of you, to me, must be held tightly to be mine)
Wo ming bai yi fen zhen ai de bei hou cang zhe ku he you (I understand that behind true love, hides bitterness and sadness)
Xin tong de shi hou geng shen ke gan shou (When there's heartache, feelings are felt even more deeply)
Mei yi tian zai ni de huai li deng dai (Every day waiting in your arms)
Mei yi ye wo gan jue ni de cun zai zou guo shang hai (Every night I feel your presence, passing by hurts)
Wo hui tou kan (I look back)
Shi yong yuan dou can lan de ai (It is a forever radiant love)
Zhe yi ci wo jue ding yong gan qu ai (This time I have decided to love fearlessly)
Zhe yi ci wo pei ni kan dao wei lai (This time I will stay with you to see the future)
So how do I live?
How do I live?
How do I live without you?
How do I live without you?
How do I breathe without you?
By the time the sweet melody died away, there was no dry eye to be found in the entire courtyard. Cho closed her eyes, unable to cry. Everything was frozen to her. She was able to sing because she could feel nothing, only emptiness. Even when Harry was lowered into the ground to be buried beside his parents at Godric's Hollow, she had no tears. James put a comforting arm around her, and gently led her away. She didn't look back.
--Three days later--
"You don't have to worry about me, Draco." Cho said without turning her gaze from the window.
"I'm not the only one. Everyone is worried. You don't eat, you don't leave your room, and I doubt you sleep. How can you tell us not to worry?" Draco asked from the doorway.
She didn't answer. Draco heaved a sigh and looked at her. She had become incredibly thin, her hair was dull and lifeless, and if she were to turn around and look at him, he was sure that her eyes would be empty and much of her beauty gone. An image of Meilin looking the same way after he told her the news of her family surfaced in his mind. He pushed it away.
"You need to eat something Cho. You're going to starve to death if you don't eat."
"Would that be so bad?" her voice was quiet.
He whirled he around angrily, "Don't say that again. No one wants you to die Cho."
She blinked at him, then slipped out of his grasp, "Thanks Draco."
"Draco?" Mrs. Weasley appeared at the door, "Kingsley Shackelbolt would like to speak with you."
He nodded, "Thanks, Mrs. Weasley."
He went down the stairs, wondering what the Auror would want with him. Shackelbolt stood as he approached, surprising him.
"Malfoy," he greeted in his deep voice. He looked grave.
"Mr. Shackelbolt," Draco returned, "May I ask why you asked for me?"
"Your father's trial was held yesterday, as I am sure you know," he began, "I'm afraid he has been found guilty of all crimes accused. He will be serving life in Azkaban."
Draco shrugged. He had heard all of this from Snape last night. Snape had been freed, pardoned of all actions for the loyalty he showed.
"After further questioning, we also found out that he was guilty of murdering you mother."
Draco stared at him, shocked, "He killed my mother?"
Shackelbolt nodded gravely, "After you went missing, your mother went into hysterics, continually begging both your father and Voldemort to send people to find you. Voldemort got fed up and ordered Lucius to kill her. He said he didn't have a choice."
"He always has a choice," Draco muttered angrily, trembling.
"If you would like to confront him yourself, I could take you to him now," Shackelbolt offered sympathetically.
Draco nodded, "Please do."
They had only just Disapparated when Cho wandered into the kitchen. Ginny was setting the table for supper.
"Cho!" Ginny said, surprised, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Ginny. I want to take a walk at Hogwarts. Could you tell your mum for me?"
"Of course," Ginny smiled, "Hurry back though."
Cho nodded, "Thanks Ginny. Bye."
Cho Disapparated directly onto Hogwarts grounds since all wards had been lifted at the battle. Hogwarts was a sorry sight. Rubble filled the once clean fields and there were numerous holes where explosions knocked the walls flat. Cho ignored the rubble and began to walk towards the Quidditch field, where she had first met Harry. She looked up at the three goals, letting the memory of their first game wash over her. At the memory of his frustrated boyish face, the ocean of tears that were frozen behind her eyes began to fall. She hugged herself and fell to her knees sobbing until she finally fell asleep from exhaustion.
A soft hoot woke her. The sun was much lower in the sky now, Cho didn't know if she had been sleeping for hours, days, or even weeks, but it didn't matter anymore.
Another hoot brought her attention to the owl standing in front of her. It was her owl, Celeste. Cho stared; Celeste had died the same day her parents and brother were murdered. She had seen the bloody mangled body with her own eyes. Celeste hooted again at her and took flight. Startled, Cho ran after her.
"Celeste! Wait!" Cho called, trying her hardest to catch up. Finally, she stopped for breath at the lake. Celeste was perched on a rock, watching her.
"Celeste," Cho reached out to stroke her, but her hands went through air as Celeste disappeared. Cho looked all around. She was alone.
A sad mournful song filled the air. Cho gasped as Fawkes appeared, soaring over the lake. Without realizing it, she began to walk towards him, into the lake. Just as she reached out to Fawkes, she felt something pull her under the lake. She was pulled deeper and deeper. Her lungs were on fire. Slowly, ever so slowly, she stopped struggling and relaxed, her mouth opening and filling her lungs with water.
She was lifting now. She had never felt so light in her life. She floated out of the water and looked around her. She was surprised to see Draco Malfoy crawling out of the water with her body. She looked down at herself, but saw nothing.
"C'mon Cho, breathe!" he pumped the water out of her lungs with his wand, "Cho, please. Don't die on me."
"How did you find me?" she whispered to him. She had no voice. He was crying now, his shoulders shaking violently. Touched, she went up to him and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
He whirled towards her, "Cho?" He reached out to grab her, but his fingers only held on to air.
She was lifting again, floating higher and higher above the ground. She felt no fear, only a sense of exhilaration. The sunlight was becoming brighter and brighter, forcing her to close her eyes.
When she could open her eyes comfortably again, she was in an open field under a clear blue sky. She lifted her hand to shield her eyes and realized that she was no longer wearing her mourning robes. In fact, she was wearing the same dress robes she had been wearing at the Yule Ball three years ago.
"Jie Jie! Jie Jie!" she heard Meilin call.
"Meilin?" Cho looked all around and finally saw her little sister running towards her with a delighted look on her face, "Mei!"
She caught her little sister in a hug, tears falling freely, "I missed you."
Meilin grinned, "I told you I was going to watch over you from above didn't I? But come on! Mother, Father and Wei can't wait to see you!"
Meilin pulled her older sister over the fields and Cho was startled to see Hogwarts standing before her in all its previous glory. Her parents and older brother were waiting for her at the great doors.
"Mother! Father! Wei!" Cho cried, hugging them tightly, "We're finally together again."
"Cho," her mother whispered, "Oh my dear, I am so proud of you."
Many more words and hugs were exchanged in the newly reunited family before Wei broke the moment, "I think there's someone else that Cho wants to see."
Meilin grinned and nodded to someone behind Cho.
Cho turned, "Harry!" She threw her arms around him.
Harry held her tight, "Cho," he drew back a little bit to see her face, "Why did you go in the lake? You could have lived so much longer."
"I told you I would follow you wherever you go," Cho said, tears filling her eyes again, "You promised you wouldn't leave me."
"And I plan on keeping this promise this time," Harry said determinedly.
"Hello Miss Chang," a kind voice greeted gently.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Cho cried. She paused, then a question burst from her lips, "Did I really see Celeste and Fawkes when I...?"
Dumbledore nodded a little sheepishly, "I asked them to visit you as an encouragement for life, but I guess it did not go the way I hoped."
"And the sword of Gryffindor?"
"Time was of essence back then, so I made it easier by asking Fawkes to take it to you, rather than allowing you to waste time searching for it yourselves."
"Professor," Harry said thoughtfully, "I didn't ask before, but the prophecy said that I would have a weapon that the Dark Lord knew not, what was it? Was it the sword of Gryffindor?"
"No Harry," Dumbledore shook his head, his eyes twinkling, "Your weapon was much stronger than that."
Harry looked confused. Cho looked between them, her family and who she assumed to be Harry's parents standing a few feet away. She thought back to the battle. She remembered Harry bound and silenced, Lupin dying, Harry freed from his bonds, herself tortured and Harry suddenly standing over Voldemort's dead body. She forced herself to stop. Then it dawned on her.
"Love..." she whispered, "It was love."
Dumbledore nodded, smiling, "Very good, Miss Chang."
"But I don't understand. Voldemort knew about love," Harry persisted.
"But he didn't know love. Remember when I said that he never what love was because he was never loved and he never loved?"
Harry nodded.
"The weapon that the Dark Lord knew not. You knew love. Tom Riddle knew nothing of such love. He knew you had it, but he could not have the same because he never knew it. Love is mysterious and part of the most ancient magic. When such fierce love arose as Remus died and Miss Chang threatened with death, this ancient magic was released, helping you defeat the one who opposed you."
"Why didn't it work that way for Lily then?" James Potter asked.
"Lily would die before she would watch her son die. Her greatest wish was for her son to live, so the magic released was put upon her son. Harry's greatest wish was to kill the one who killed Remus and will kill Miss Chang if given the chance, so the magic fulfilled it."
There was a pause as the explanation sunk in.
"Love is very mysterious," Dumbledore said again, gently, "But come. Let us put this all behind us now."
"Let's go inside and get something to eat James, we've still got a lot to catch up on with Remus!" Sirius chuckled. Cho had never imagined that Sirius Black would look so carefree and young after seeing the wanted posters of him during fourth year.
Everyone began to head inside, but Cho wanted to stay outside with Harry for a little longer. She waved her family inside, promising to join them a bit later and began to walk with Harry in a comfortable silence.
"I feel rather bad for Draco," Cho said presently, "I've never seen him so upset and broken."
"He loved you," Harry said flatly.
"What?" Cho was shocked.
"He loved you," Harry repeated, "I could tell, especially from up here. He wouldn't say anything to you ever, but he really did love you."
There was a pause,
"Are you jealous?" Cho ventured.
Harry grunted, "I guess, but it was also quite relieving to know that someone would help you heal if you stayed on earth."
"But I came here instead."
Harry held her, "That makes me even more relieved."
"Why?"
"Because now we will never be apart. We can stay together forever."
"But who will help Draco heal?"
"Don't worry; someone has been fancying him from afar for a while now. It's much easier to see from here than when you're actually down there."
"Who is it?"
"See for yourself!" Harry said, playfully, pointing at the lake.
She saw Draco heading back into the Burrow and telling the Weasleys about her death. She saw Ginny rise from her chair and hold Draco to her. She turned back to stare at Harry, "Ginny! I never dreamed..."
"Neither did I," Harry grinned, "I told you it's easier to see from here."
Cho smiled and wrapped her arms around him again, "I love you Harry."
"And I love you Cho and I will love you forever," he replied, sealing his words with a kiss.
"Forever," Cho promised.
Their lips met once more, sealing this promise as those who loved them waited for them in the Great Hall of Hogwarts and as those they left behind mourned for them and continued to live, knowing they are forever watched from above by those who loved them most.
So ends this tale of tragedy, adventure and above all love. Love is what binds us together and makes us human. Though mysterious, love will always exist to fulfil the deepest wishes of those in danger of losing someone special. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not boast, it does not envy, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. At the end of everything, these three remain: faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these...is love.
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Happy ending after all!! hehe, please leave one last review before you leave and thanks again for sticking with me all this time!! I know it was rather difficult during my horrible writer's block!! See y'all in some other story some day:D
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