A/N: My fellow readers, Please accept my most sincerest apologies for the biggest delay in this world for reposting again. I have gone through a lot these last couple of months. First of all, in June of 2014 I went for vacation and I had to come back to find a job and set my priorities in order. Then it took me a while to adjust to new surrounds and settling down. Along the way, I got a huge writer's block that you could ever imagine. For months now I had been trying to find a way to continue the story. Then, I started to get sick a lot. I am only just recuperating after getting sick terribly for about the 4th time in one month! I'm starting to see doctors to see what could be happening. In the meantime, I will by trying to do my best to upload new chapters as often as I can. However, this month, I will be beginning a Master's program at university. This will be my priority so updates will be very slow. I would like to thank you in advance for your patience and understanding all this time and for the time ahead of us.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years. I hope you all have a marvelous 2015! Now on to the chapter...
Disclaimer: Wish I had come up with the wonderful world of Harry Potter but that credit is owed to J.K. Rowling!
Chapter 11: A Chance Meeting
Mohammed and Ahmed gasped in horror as the tsunami-like wave of sand come their way. Harry furrowed his brow as he, Ron, Neville, and Seamus quickly analyzed the situation.
Harry quickly rose his wand and shouted, "Arresto Momentum!" Within a second the tsunami wave of sand stopped as its grains froze in time.
Ron then screamed, "Reducto!", causing the tsunami to blow and desintegrate right before their own eyes.
Seamus was panting as he tried to catch his own breath. His and Neville's jaws had dropped at what had just happened before their very own eyes once the wave had desintegrated.
"Mate, I have been to Egypt, I can tell you that was not a normal sand storm" said Ron as he turned to look at Harry who was still having the events run through his head.
"It looks like we are going to have to go the Ministry of Magic here in Marrakesh" said Neville as he finally closed his jaw and looked at Harry straight into his eyes.
Seamus then finally spoke up, "Harry, we know that when something is not normal..."
Harry nodded, "Yeah I know Seamus" and looked back towards the dessert, where the tsunami of sand had been only moments before.
Ron also turned to look in Harry's direction, "This definitely looks like death eaters were involved."
"Without a doubt" said Neville as all four friends and their guides stood there still mesmerized at the fact that they could have died at the feet of danger but survived once more.
Harry could not help but wonder what death eaters were now after him now that Lord Voldemort was dead. He was thankful once again that Ginny was not with him. He would have hated to know what could have happened to Ginny. He for surely might have faced a terrible loss, especially the Weasleys. Harry dropped his head into his hands and the ache came back to him at the thought of Ginny. Again, what had just happened was the main reason he had let go of his loving Ginny, to keep her from getting hurt.
A week later with the help of their guides Ahmed and Mohammed, Harry, Ron, Neville, and Seamus, made their way into the Ministry of Magic in Marrakesh. Gentlemen were walking around in their long formal Jellabas with matching ornate Kaftans, complemented by their traditional fez hats. They walked up to the receptionist desk. She had just send a memo away with her wand and turned to the four friends with a warm smile.
"Salaam Alaykoom. My name is Fatima. Welcome to the Ministry of Magic of Marrakesh Morocco. How may I be of service today?" and gave them her full attention as she set her wand back inside her Jihab robes and then laced her fingers in front of her.
"Alaykoom Salaam Fatima. I'm Harry Potter and these are my friends, Ronald Weasley, Seamus Finnigan, and Neville Longbottom" and each of them nodded their heads as their names were mentioned by Harry. Harry continued, "We need to speak with your Head of International Magical Law Enforcement."
"Inch'Allah! You are the Boy Who Lived!" said Fatima with a wide smile as she clasped her hands in front of her.
"Erm, yeah, some call me that" said Harry as he slightly smiled towards his friends before turning back towards Fatima.
Fatima gasped in surprise and adjusted her hijab slightly nervously nodding, "Why yes of course. You need to speak with the Head of International Magical Law Enforcement. Please give me a moment." She then sent a patronus to the indicated office and a silent patronus was sent back to her. She turned back to Harry and asked, "Sorry, but this is regarding what matter?"
Harry's face went serious, noting the seriousness of the matter and said, "It's concerning a Magical Law matter." Harry didn't want to alarm anyone or the fact that he nearly got killed a week ago in the Moroccan dessert. The last thing they needed was a panic for possible death eaters.
Fatima gave him a small smile and nodded quickly, "But of course" she then lifted her index finger as she listened to the silent patronus sent to her. When she was done listening she turned to Harry and his mates, "Well, the Head of International Magical Law Enforcement will now see you Mr. Potter. The lift is just over there" said Fatima as she signaled with her hand towards the other lifts.
Harry nodded in appreciation, "Thanks Fatima. You have been a great help."
Fatima gave him a big smile again, "Anything for The Chose One" and she clasped her hands again.
Harry, Ron, Neville, and Seamus got into the lift. It was a wild ride just like the one back home in London. The only difference was that the lift creaked from old age. When the doors closed, a voice spoke in Arabic, in French and then in English, "Main Ministry Atrium, Ground Floor."
After the four of them got wiggled about as they hung on tightly to the worn looking bars above their heads and within a few minutes finally arrived to their floor. Once more the voice spoke in Arabic, French and in English, "3rd Floor, International Magical Office of Law, International Apparition Affairs Bureau, International Reinforcement Law Squad, and International Magical Law Enforcement."
Ron looked at his three friends and nodded them out of the lift, "Well, that's us mates."
They all nodded and got off the lift. They followed the signs to the International Magical Law Enforcement office. The arab arches above the doors had a sign up above, engraved in black labeling the name of the office. The four friends pushed through the two big doors and found themselves in the small reception area.
The elderly muslim woman fixed her veil and spoke up, "You must be Mr. Potter yes?" she asked as she narrowed her eyes towards the other three before looking straightly at Harry himself.
Harry nodded and responded, "Yes, I'm Harry Potter. The head of your Department is expecting us."
She nodded in response and sent a silent patronus. Moments later, a short man with grey hair walked into the reception and greeted all four friends with a firm handshake.
"Welcome! Welcome! My name is Khalil Al-Andalusi. Please follow me to my office if you will" and he spun around with a smile on his face.
They walked into Al-Andalusi's office. It was full of Moroccan decor and the arches of the windows had their unique accents with lattice designs at the top of the arches. There were cushions everywhere as silks hung stylishly from the ceilings. The playful use of reds, oranges, purples, and blues being the main colors of decoration in his office. How different it was from Kingsley's office at the Ministry back home.
The five of them sat at a cushioned U-shaped sofa and Al-Andalusi's secretary immediately brought in mint tea. The fragrant herb filled the ambience as his secretary poured the tea. It was then that Harry turned around twice before taking a closer look and realized the familiar features of the young veiled woman.
"Cho? Is that you?" asked Harry.
The young woman had just finished pouring the teas and then she looked up in Harry's direction. She smiled and nodded, "My word! Is that you Harry?"
Harry stood up and hugged Cho. It felt like it was a long ago as he took Cho into his arms, "Cho, it is you! How wonderful to see you!" Harry then pulled back and took a better look at Cho, "Of all places, I didn't think I would find you here."
Cho gave a small shy smile and with a quiet and soft voice said, "It's nice to see you too Harry."
Harry realized the reason for his visit and asked, "Look Cho, I need to speak here with Mr. Al-Andalusi. How about we go out for lunch?"
Cho looked at Khalil Al-Andalusi and he gave her a friendly nod before looking back at Harry, "That would be lovely, thanks." Cho then gave him another small smile before she quietly left Khalil's office.
Al-Andalusi then turned towards Harry with an expressionless look on his face and asked, "So, Mr. Potter, they tell me that you needed to see me urgently."
Harry leaned forward, looked at the ground in front of him for a couple of seconds and then looked back up at Al-Andalusi and nodded, "Yes Mr. Al-Andalusi. While my friends and I were in the dessert," and he looked momentarily at Ron, Neville, and Seamus before turning back to Al-Andalusi's direction, "we had reason to believe that something or someone must have been trying to threaten our lives. Thank Merlin, we were able to fight it off." Harry then proceeded to tell Al-Andalusi the occurence in the desert and the big sand tidal wave that nearly killed them.
At this Al-Andalusi leaned in closer as well and gave Harry his full attention, "Do you have any ideas as to who or what it could be?"
Ron spoke up this time, "Lord Voldemort is dead, we have reason to believe that it could be one of his followers. The Auror Department is trying to hunt down the remaining death eaters as we speak. Some were captured but some are still loose. Lord Voldemort had many followers."
Al-Andalusi nodded, "Yes, I understand... and do you believe that perhaps one of these followers could be going after one of the four of you?"
Neville and Seamus looked at each other and browed their arches at each other as they softly took in their breaths. Both of them finding it hard to believe that there would be death eaters out there vividly going after their lives.
Harry nodded, "Yes, it could be possible. I mean there are avid death eaters out there who perhaps would want to take revenge for Lord Voldemort's death."
"That is a rather strong word that you are using Mr. Potter" said Al-Andalusi.
Harry cleared his throat, "Mr. Al-Andalusi, I have had Lord Voldemort come after life and followers as well. I fear that they are going not only after me but after my friends as well. That occurrence in the desert, I assure was definite a threat on the life of my friends and myself."
"Without a doubt Mr. Potter" said Al-Andalusi nodding his head in agreement as he formed a triangle with his hands below his nose. He took a breath in as he put he crossed his hands on his lap and spoke again, "Mr. Potter, I assure you that while you are here in Morocco, we will have our Magical Law Enforcement men discreetly near you and your friends at all times while you continue your holiday. I will personally look into the occurrence and notify your Ministry of Magic immediately. This way they will deal with your situation accordingly upon your arrival back to England."
Harry nodded his head, "My friends and I are in deep appreciation for helping us with this matter. We really don't know how to thank you" said Harry gesturing appreciation by extending his hand towards Al-Andalusi.
Al-Andalusi put up his hands facing towards Harry and shook his head, "No Mr. Potter. The pleasure is all mine. I will also notify our Minister of Magic of the occurance. I assure you that we will do our best to try to keep you and your friends safe. Really, it's no trouble at all Mr. Potter."
Harry then stood up as did Al-Andalusi and Harry's three friends followed suit. "Thank you again for making time to see us Mr. Al-Andalusi."
"Again, the pleasure was all mine. I hope you are able to enjoy the rest of your stay in our lovely country without any further disturbances" Al-Andalusi added as he led them to his door. They said their farewells and Harry and his friends were back in the Department's lobby after Al-Andalusi closed the door behind him quietly.
Cho walked up to them with a smile, "I hope all went well with Mr. Al-Andalusi."
Ron nodded, "Mmm Hmm, he was rather nice."
Cho nodded once more with her known shy smile, "Yes, he is a rather nice person."
"So Cho" Harry started to say, "Shall we go off to lunch? Do you know any nice places around here?"
Ron took note of what Harry said and he gave Harry a pat on the back, "See you later mate. The blokes and I are going back to the hotel to eat lunch, rest the afternoon off and then go for a walk later."
Harry turned towards his friends and smiled, "Alright, see you later then mates."
They all gave a swift nod and Seamus gave him a mischievous grin as he passed by him without Cho seeing him. Harry shook his head with a small grin at Seamus. He then turned back around to Cho.
Cho smiled back and said, "I know a lovely place just around the corner. They make the most delightful Moroccan food you will ever eat" and the two of them were out the door, with Harry's at the small of her back as he held the door open for her.
Once seated at the table and after taking a sip of water Cho broke the ice and asked, "So, what brings you to Morocco Harry?"
As Cho asked the question, it brought Harry to the realization the reason for his holiday away from home. The holiday was supposed to help him forget his beloved Ginny. The love of his life that he had lost to another bloke. Blast that Phillip bloke for having stole the heart of his beloved Ginny. He had literally stolen her and it felt like he did that from night to day. As Harry thought about it, he didn't realize but he had fists so tight that his knuckles were white and he was on the verge of sinking his nails into the palm of his hand.
Cho saw his hands and then she looked back up at a mesmerized Harry, "Harry, are you alright?"
Harry didn't answer. It was as if he hadn't heard Cho. Cho tried to get his attention again, "Harry? Harry are you all right? Do you want to go and perhaps have lunch another day?" She had never seen Harry look like that. Embedded with so much anger that his brow was deeply furrowed. Cho softly put her hand on Harry's across the small table and Harry shook his head of his thoughts as his eyes drifted to where Cho's was on top of his.
"Are you alright Harry? You had me worried there for a moment" asked Cho this time with concern on her face.
Harry gave her a sad smile and slowly nodded, "Yeah, I'm alright Cho. It's just that loads of things have happened these last few years."
It was then that Cho realized and remembered their last year at Hogwarts. She noticed how Harry was having a horrid time forgetting Ginny. She could now see the deep pain in his eyes. It was almost like she understood his pain. She knew because she had gone through something similar when Cedric Diggory had died during their Fourth Year in the Wizarding games of the Goblet of Fire, "Harry, I sort of understand what you are going through" Cho said in a very low voice. So low that it was almost a whisper.
Suddenly Harry couldn't hold them back anymore and silent tears began to slide down his cheeks. Not realizing that his hand was still underneath Cho's he looked up at her and said, "Cho, this last year has been one of the most difficult for me. I can't seem to forget her."
Cho nodded, "I know Harry. It took me a couple of years or so to get over Cedric's death. I know it's not easy. However, I'm here if you need to talk about it" she said encouraging him.
Harry did what he recently discovered and it helped a little with the pain to do it. He began to share with Cho his love for Ginny, his reason for breaking up with her and the reason he couldn't keep the promise he had gotten back from fighting Lord Voldemort. All the while, Cho remained silent as she listenend to Harry as his voice broke each time at the mention of Ginny's name, followed by tears rolling down his face.
Cho's heart went out to Harry. She knew perfectly what he was going through. She suddenly reached over and gave him a simple and gentle kiss on his cheek. Harry touched his cheek where she had kissed him and smiled back at her. She smiled back at him and this time she put her hand on the hand that was still on his cheek. Harry didn't know what it was. It could have been a force or whatever it could have been but he leaned his cheek towards her touch. After those last few years with Ginny, he had forgotten what a sweet girl Cho was. Harry then took her hand in his and kissed it. He looked back up at her and Harry was still confused but for the first time in a very long time, he felt relief from the heartache and pains that had he captive as a prisoner.
After eating their meal in silence, Cho suddenly looked down at her watch and gasped in dismay, "Oh bother, Harry, I have to go back to work."
Harry was sadened by the idea, "Look Cho, erm... I was wondering if you would like to go to supper tonight after work."
Cho stood up and put her hands on the back of the chair she had been sitting in and nodded with a smile, "Alright. Why don't you come by the Ministry at about 7:00pm yes?"
Harry nodded back with a smile, "Alright, I'll see you then" Harry then took one of Cho's hands and kissed the back of her hand without losing contact with her lovely almond shaped eyes. Cho then left and Harry followed her with his gaze until she disappeared from the window they had been sitting by.
At that moment, Harry thought about the time he had had some sort of attraction towards Cho. That is until things went steady between her and Cedric Diggory. He was thankful that Cho had crossed his path again. Perhaps she is what he now needed to forget Ginny after all. Harry paid for the lunch and left. He had decided to walk around until it was time to meet Cho.
As he walked down the street, he could smell the exotic fragrances in the air. From roast lamb to delectable tea and spices. Harry walked around and looked at the shops. There was a beautiful scarf that he found. He thought about buying it for Ginny but then realized that Ginny wasn't in his life. However, while still clinging on to some kind of hope, no matter how slim the possibility was, he bought the lovely silk scarf. It had purple, red, and yellow. He smiled at the fact that it had a very moroccan flair to it. He decided to keep it as his own personal thing to remember Ginny whenever he missed her or thought of her. He paid for it and put it into the sack he was carrying and went on his way, continuing to look at things in the market until it was time to meet Cho just outside the Moroccan Ministry of Magic.
Harry took out the scarf again. He took a closer look at it and noticed that it had the Gryffindor colors along with the purple. He smiled as he looked down at it. He would definitely use it to remember Ginny. At that moment he heard a voice behind him say, "Harry?"
Harry quickly and discreetly put it away in his sack and turned around to look at Cho with a smile, "Hi Cho. How was the rest of your day at the Ministry?"
"It was nice thanks. What was that you had? Those were lovely colors" asked Cho as she briefly looked at the sack that now hid the silk scarf.
"Oh, it's nothing" said Harry and waved the idea away with his hand.
Cho just smiled and Harry extended his hand to motion their walking towards the restaurant. They proceeded to walk until they found a delightful and quaint café. They decided to eat outside and they sat and waited for the waiter to attend them.
"How did you end up here in Morocco Cho? I imagine this is where you came after you graduated from Hogwarts" asked Harry as he focused his look on Cho.
At that moment the waiter arrived, "Monsieur, Madame, que désirez-vous?" (Sir, Madam what would you like?)
Harry looked at Cho and signaled her to go head first.
"Some cinnamon rice with roasted lamb with some tabouleh please. To drink, I would like a mint tea." Said Cho and then she gave the menu to the waiter.
"And for Monsieur?" (and for the gentleman?) said the waiter with a heavy Moroccan accent.
Harry looked at the menu again, then at Cho and said, "I'll have the same please" before he also gave the waiter the menu.
"Very well, I will be back shortly with your teas" he said with a wide smile.
"So Cho, what brought you here to Morocco?" asked Harry as he sat back in his chair.
Cho smiled sweetly and said, "After Hogwarts and the Second War at Hogwarts, I felt... I felt that I needed to get away from it all." Cho then looked away and there was a sadness on her face as she suddenly tried to find interest in the people walking by and the cars that drove in front of the little restaurant.
"Why did you feel that you needed to get away Cho? I mean, things were loads calmer after the war at Hogwarts ended" said Harry suddenly sitting up in his chair.
"Harry, it was all of it, Cedric's death, my friends, and I know this will sound silly Harry but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't... I just couldn't..." and suddenly her tender almond eyes filled with tears.
"What? What is it Cho?" asked Harry as he took her hands in his.
Cho lowered her head trying to fight away her tears and they were flowing rivers when she looked back up at him and almost in a whisper she said one simple word, "you."
Harry was confused and it was clearly shown on his face, "Me? What about me Cho?"
Cho looked down again at her hands in his. He didn't pull away or hesitate in any way. After all that time, she could see that Harry was a warm and kind-harded bloke. Cho tried to gather her strength and looked up. She narrowed her look into the kind green eyes and finally spoke, "Harry, you. No matter how hard I tried. I just couldn't forget you. I could not get you out of my heart. I even tried to date Cedric Diggory to help me forget you and all I wound up was alone and with yet another broken heart. Harry... I never stopped loving you..." and Cho leaned her head again. Her lovely ebony shiny hair curtained around her white complexion as tears poured down her cheeks again.
Harry remembered what a lovely smile Cho had and how shy she was when he first met her. Harry felt a small flutter in his chest. Now he had become a young man with uncertainty. Here was Cho, a young woman whom he had begun to care about again, yet, his heart still truly was with Ginny.
"Oh Cho, I never thought- I- " Harry was speechless. He had never known that Cho had stopped loving him. What could he say to the sweet and kind young woman who was sitting in front of him?
Cho wiped her tears with a handkerchief and looked back up, "Harry, I'm sorry, I don't think I should have said that. It's best if things remain in the past." Cho then got up but Harry got ahold of her hand.
Harry gently shook his head, "No Cho, please don't go. You have nothing to be ashamed of."
Cho finally gave him her sweet smile and after a small moment of hesitation, she sat back down. At that moment, the waiter brough their food and it smelled delightfully. They ate quietly throughout their meal. Without having to say a word after what Cho said.
When they were finished with their meal, Harry insisted on paying and they went on their way. Harry arrived to a quaint small building with stucco balconies. The two of them looked up at the building before they shared a look again and Cho said, "Well, this is where I live." Cho went to take out her keys out of her purse when she felt Harry's gentle hand.
Harry somewhere deep down, Harry had felt that he had lost Ginny to the handsome British-Greek bloke. Harry finally noticed that it was time for him to move one. Ginny would always continue to cause that never-ending ache and emptiness in his heart. It was a pain he truly was going to have to learn to live with. Harry then did something, he would never do while he waited for Ginny to come back to him. He leaned down and gently kissed Cho on the lips. Her lips were soft and smooth like he last remembered them back in the Room of Requirement at Hogwarts when they were with Dumbledore's Army.
Harry gently pulled away and looked into Cho's almond eyes. She was speechless and her mouth was slightly open in surprise.
"Harry- I- you didn't have to do that" said Cho after a brief moment of silence that was shared between them.
"Yes Cho, I did" Harry was willing to put an effort to set Ginny aside. He would for always feel that he's being unfaithful to her but he needed to move on. Harry continued to speak, "I forgot what it was like to kiss you and that was a kiss beyond words" and Harry gave her a gentle smile.
"I- I don't know what to say Harry. I really enjoyed that kiss too. It also has been a really long time since we shared a kiss like that" and Cho bowed her head down shyly.
"Cho?" asked Harry.
Cho looked up again and responded, "Yes?"
"Can I see you again tomorrow?" asked Harry hopefully as he moved a few strands of her hair behind her ear.
Cho looked thoughtful for a moment and then she smiled, followed by a nod of her head, "Yes Harry, I would like that very much." Cho then opened the door to her apartment building and smiled back at Harry as she closed the door slowly behind her.
Harry went back to his hotel and in the room he saw Ron who was reading a quidditch magazine in English on the local teams.
Ron looked up from the magazine to see Harry walk back in, "Hey mate, did you have a good time with Cho?"
Harry smiled to himself at the memory, "Yeah I did. One more thing Ron, I think I will stay here a little longer in Morocco."
Ron couldn't believe his ears. With a look of surprise on his face he said, "What? You're staying in Morocco?"
Harry nodded, "Yeah, I'm staying. I never thought it would happen but I'm growing quite fond of Cho."
Ron gasped, "You mean Cho Chang?"
Harry nodded his head affirmatively again, "Yeah, that's right. Besides, I'm also growing rather fond of the warm weather here" said Harry now looking outside the window at the walking people, and cars honking their horns.
"After the threat in the desert, are you sure you'll be all right mate?" asked Ron now with a look of concern for his friend who was more now like a brother to him.
Without looking at Ron Harry answered, "Yeah, I will. You can go back home with Neville and Seamus."
"All right then. You know that we're leaving tomorrow right?" asked Ron as if making sure if Harry was certain of his decision.
"Yeah, I know and I am more than sure that I want to stay Ron. A part of me wants to see where things will lead with Cho" and Harry gave Ron a small smile before going to his room.