Disclaimer:I do not own W.i.t.c.h. or Harry Potter.

Chapter Twenty-One

Unwanted Feelings

The first week of March ushered in slightly warmer weather, but only slightly.

Almost all the students were still wearing their scarves, mittens, and hats on the school grounds and to potions class, where it seemed colder than the outside.

It seemed to all the Gryffindor sixth years that Snape purposely kept the classroom freezing just for the enjoyment of seeing the students huddling around their cauldrons, shivering.

It was an afternoon right after potions class when all the Gryffindor and Slytherin sixth years were eagerly coming out of the dungeons, and Will was talking to Cornelia and Elyon about their homework.

"Am I the only one who noticed that Snape gave us more homework than the Slytherins?" Cornelia snapped.

"No, you aren't the only one." Will replied. "I've got Quidditch practice all this week too, so I don't know when I'll be able to finish all this homework."

"Maybe it's a good thing I didn't try out for the Quidditch team after all." Elyon said, more to herself than anyone else.

Will frowned a little and said, "You know, Katie Bell is graduating this year. One of you should try out for chaser next year."

"I already told you, I'm not a 'sporty girl'." Cornelia replied.

"I've got the job of commentating the matches, which I am getting paid for, by the way." Elyon said.

"Oh come on, it's just like soccer. You guys love soccer." Will answered.

"It sure as hell is not anything like-" Cornelia started.

"Excuse me." A voice behind them interrupted.

All three girls stopped talking, and spun around to see whom the speaker was.

It was none other than Cho Chang.

'Oh great.' Will thought bitterly. 'What does she want?'

"Will, I was wondering if I could talk to you." Cho said. "Alone, if that's all right."

"I don't think so Cho, we've got Care of Magical Creatures next, and I'd hate to be late." Will replied, trying to give her voice a falsely sweet tone.

"But it doesn't start for another half hour." Cho said.

"It takes a while to get all the way down to Hagrid's hut." Will insisted.

"It won't take long."

"But-"

"If you're late, we'll tell Hagrid- Professor Hagrid that you got held up." Cornelia offered.

"Cornelia, don't-" Will started.

"Oh, it's no trouble Will." Elyon interrupted. "What are friends for?"

And before Will could say anything else, Cornelia and Elyon had joined the crowd of students headed for the next classes.

'Those traitors.' Will thought hotly. 'They know how I feel about having to talk to Cho.'

"So, I understand you're close to Harry." Cho said, snapping Will's attention back to earth.

Will folded her arms. "Yeah."

"Could you tell him something for me?" Cho asked, blushing the prettiest shade of pink.

Will frowned and remained silent. 'I hate it when girls like her do that.'

"Could you please tell him… that I still like him?"

"Sorry Cho, but I can't do that." Will sighed, struggling to keep the false sweetness in her voice.

"Why not?"

"Because, in case you didn't know, Harry and I are dating." Will snapped.

Cho's eyes widened. "Dating? When did this happen?"

"Valentine's Day, if you must know." Will answered, dropping the sweet tone of voice.

"But he hardly even knows you." Cho protested.

"That's what you think."

Will was very glad the hall was now deserted, as this whole conversation would have been very embarrassing.

"I think we're done here. Now, if you'll kindly excuse me, I'm going to be late for class." Will said, turning to walk away.

"No, I don't excuse you." Cho snapped. "We're not done here."

"Really?" Will replied, not looking over she shoulder as she continued walking. "I don't see what else we could possibly have to talk about."

"Why? Why would he like you?" Cho said quietly, her voice shaking in anger. "You're not anything like me."

Will stopped, but she didn't turn. 'I think that's why he likes me. He doesn't have any expectations to live up to like he did with you.'

"I'm the prettiest girl in school, and you… you're-"

"What? I'm what?" Will asked. "Not as pretty as you, not as smart as you, not good enough for Harry?"

Cho looked surprised, but Will wasn't going to turn around, so she couldn't see.

"Harry just happens to think I am pretty, smart, and he obviously thinks I am good enough for him, or he wouldn't have asked me out in the first place." Will said.

Cho opened her mouth to say something, but Will cut her off.

"Don't give me anymore of that 'pretty girl' crap, I've had more than enough of that shoved in my face. Harry likes me for me, end of story." Will snapped. "Now, I'm going to class."

Will stormed of down the hall, hoping she wouldn't be too late for class.

Cho stood in silence for a moment before heading the same way Will had gone, very glad she had herbology next so that she would get a chance to speak to the person in question.

"Harry, could I talk to you?" Cho asked.

"I don't think this is a good time, we've got Transfiguration next, and McGonagall won't be happy if I'm late." Harry replied, looking at his watch.

"Please Harry, it'll only take a minute." Cho begged.

"Oh, fine, but only a minute." Harry said with a sigh. "What is it?"

"What's going on between you and Wilma Vandom?" Cho asked.

"Will? She and I are… close." Harry replied, beginning to wonder what Cho wanted.

"I see, I really hope I don't seem rude."

"No, it's okay." Harry said, but thought, 'You're not doing a very good job of it.'

"Could I ask you something else?" Cho said, sounding meek.

"Sure, I guess."

"When I asked Will, she said the two of you are dating. Is that true?"

"We are dating, yes." Harry answered. "Why?"

"Well… did you ever think we should give things between us another chance? That maybe we could've made things-" Cho started.

"No, no I don't think so." Harry said firmly. "I know what you're getting at, but I like Will now and that's that."

"But she's keeping something from you, I can tell."

"If there's something she doesn't want to tell me, she doesn't have to tell me." Harry said hotly, folding his arms. "It's not like I expect her to share all her secrets with me. Now I've got to go, or I'll be late for class."

"I'm not a horrible person you know, I'm not trying-"

"It doesn't matter. From what I've learned, jealousy can make anyone, no matter how nice they are, do stupid things." Harry replied, turning away, and marching off.

Cho didn't follow him; she knew it wouldn't do her any good. 'Nothing's gone right since Cedric died. If he were still alive, maybe things would be better.' Cho bit her lip, and walked down the path towards the lake.

"Aren't you coming to dinner Harry?" Hermione asked.

"No, I'm going to the common room." Harry replied, starting toward the marble staircase. "I've got some things to think over."

"See you after dinner then." Ron said, starting to walk towards the Great Hall, but found he was unable to, as Hermione had a firm grip on his arm.

"Ron, could you at least pretend you know the meaning of the word manners?" Hermione hissed in his ear.

Ron sighed and didn't say anything, knowing he'd probably make things worse for himself.

"Do you want us to bring you anything?" Hermione asked.

"No, thanks, if I get hungry I'll get someone from the kitchen." Harry said.

Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but Harry was already halfway up the stairs, so she merely went into the Great Hall, with Ron behind her.

When Harry finally climbed into the common room, he expected it to be empty, but much to his surprise, he found Will lying on a couch, glaring up at the ceiling.

"Will? Why aren't you at dinner?" Harry asked.

"Why aren't you at dinner?" Will snapped, still glaring at ceiling.

"I had… something to think about." Harry answered with a sigh, sinking into an armchair. "You weren't at any classes after potions either."

"I had things to think about too." Will replied dully.

"You know, if there's something bothering you, you can talk to me about it." Harry said gently, leaning forward in the armchair.

Will turned her head to look at him, her brown eyes devoid of emotion.

Harry stiffened. 'What in the world is she thinking? I hope she's not thinking of pummeling me.'

Finally, Will sighed and sat up, hugging her knees.

"Sorry Harry. It's just I'm not sure if I should tell you what's going on."

Harry stood up, walked over, and sat down next to Will. "You might feel better if you talked about it. Hermione always is telling me that."

Will put her feet on the floor. "Cho Chang told me to tell you something."

"Yeah?"

"She… she told me… to tell you that she still likes you." Will forced herself to say.

"Funny." Harry replied, sitting back in the couch. "She tried to tell me that you're no good for me."

Will sighed. "Maybe I'm not."

"That's not true." Harry said. "And don't believe a word she says, she's just jealous."

"Jealousy's a funny thing, isn't it?" Will mused quietly. "It makes even the nicest people do the meanest things."

"Yeah, it does."

"Harry, you don't like Cho do you?" Will asked, sounding a little hopeless.

"Nah, it's over between us, I swear." Harry answered, putting an arm around Will's shoulders. "We were… well, we were just too different."

Will laughed a little. "I would think so. She seems like she'd want a guy who's hopelessly devoted to her."

"That's what she wanted from me, and I couldn't give that to her." Harry replied. "I have other things to do."

"I know that, and I have others things going on too." Will said. "A casual relationship is what I really wanted, and I think that's what we have."

"Yeah, serious relationships feel so weird."

Will chuckled. "They can be like that."

"So everything's settled?"

Will paused. "Yeah I think that's everything."

"Good. We might just be able to make it to dinner. Wanna go?" Harry said.

"Cho will be there, undoubtedly." Will replied dully.

"All the more reason to go." Harry said. "Show her it'll be hard to break us up."

Will smiled. "Yeah."

"I know I shouldn't get enjoyment out of this, but the look on Cho's face when we walked into the Great Hall was satsifying to see." Will said grinning.

"I shouldn't be entertained by it either." Harry replied. "But I am. Poor Cho. She just can't seem to get her way.""

"Poor her? She just tried to break us up!" Will exclaimed.

"Yeah, but she lost Cedric, then things didn't work out with me, she got thrown off the Quidditch team, and now things don't work out again."

"Well, when you put it that way…"

"All right, Elyon, what did you want to see me about?" A familiar voice asked.

Will and Harry looked at each other in panic.

Malfoy.

And from the sound of it, he was just around the corner from them.

Will and Harry both backed up against the wall, and tried to be as quiet as they could.

"What's he doing up here on the seventh floor?" Will whispered.

"I don't know." Harry whispered back.

"There's something I have to tell you." Another voice said.

"That's Elyon!" Will gasped, and Harry clapped a hand over her mouth to keep her quiet.

"Be quiet." Harry hissed. "If Malfoy finds out we're here, he'll think we were spying on him, and I don't want to think about what else he'll do."

Will nodded, unable to say anything as Harry still had his hand over her mouth.

"Well? What do you have to tell me?" Malfoy said, sounding rather annoyed, which was confusing as Will had never heard him use that tone of voice when talking with Elyon.

"I… well, this isn't really easy to say, but I already called you here so…" Elyon started quietly, but trailed off.

'Oh no!' Will thought suddenly, panic filling her. 'What if she's going to tell him about the guardians, and Metamoor! But she wouldn't, she knows better doesn't she?'

"I'm leaving, I've got other things to do." Malfoy snapped.

"No wait Draco!" Elyon said. "I wanted to tell you that I like you. I like you a lot."

Will would've sighed in relief if she'd dared to do so. 'She didn't tell him, thank goodness. Wait a minute, did she just say that she likes him!'

Harry gave Will a look that said, 'Is she crazy?' which caused Will to let out a giggle, causing Harry to clap his hand over her mouth again.

There was silence for what seemed a long time, before Malfoy said, "You do, do you?"

"Yes…" Elyon's voice replied, shaking.

"Well, I'm flattered, but I'm sorry. I don't think that I… that is I don't think I can give you what you want from me…"

"What do you mean?" Elyon asked.

"I can't right now… I'm not ready…"

"Oh, I see."

There was silence again.

"Well, I'm sorry I troubled you. I'll just be on my way." Elyon said finally.

"Elyon, wait, I still-" Malfoy started, but was cut of by what sounded like Elyon running away. "Elyon!"

There was no response and the sound of a door slamming echoed across the floor.

There was a long pause before Will and Harry heard Malfoy walk off.

They peeked around the corner, and found the hall empty.

"What just happened?" Harry asked, obviously confused.

Will sighed, feeling very sorry for her friend, and wishing that she knew where she was so she could try to make her feel better. "Elyon just got her heart broken."

End Chapter Twenty-One