"Where are you taking me?" Cho asked, a few days later.
"Erm … I don't know," Ron admitted. He hadn't planned that far ahead. Getting free tickets from Lockhart had been easy. He had only been too glad to help. In fact, he had shown off and bragged about his many connections and how easy he could get tickets ("they seem to throw them at me! Of course, when you're as busy as I am you don't get to attend quidditch much these days! Too much going on tracking down dark beasts and wizards with the DFDL) and had secured two tickets for the Tornadoes versus the Wimbourne Wasps next summer.
Now, he just had to give them to her. Ron thought he had played things smoothe, he had heard that today was Cho's birthday and had kept quiet, let her think that he had forgot, the—bam! He would spring the tickets on her. That was where his planning had ended.
Ron hesitated, he had no idea where would be a suitable place to celebrate. He wished it was a Hogsmeade Weekend— the Three Broomsticks would be perfect.
"I'm not sure, we'll find somewhere," he said.
"I guess it's down to me," Cho sighed, taking him by the hand. "I'll take us somewhere—I learnt about this from Amber."
"Who?"
"Girl in my class-it's not important, anyway, she told me about it and I've been looking forward to going."
She led him outside and towards quidditch field.
"The broom shed?" Ron asked.
Cho gave him a sharp look but didn't reply.
She unlocked the shed with the key that all quidditch players were given and she got her broom.
Ron brightened up. "We're gonna play quidditch? Cool." He said, going to collect his own.
"Not exactly," just follow me.
They mounted their brooms and Ron followed Cho. She led him not towards the quidditch field or even towards the lake, but instead back to the castle.
She turned and grinned. "It's ages since I've been for a fly! Race you!" she darted forward, her long, black hair streaming out behind her.
Ron hunched over his own broom and sped forward to. His broom was a bit fast than Cho's Comet, but she was lighter. Even if she was his girlfriend, no way was Ron going to just let her win. He sped forward, passed Cho and reached the castle first.
"I really need a better one," Cho said, a little bitterly. "All the other seekers have better brooms."
"You can save up?" Ron suggested. "Or …" he had been about to suggest he could get her one for Christmas, then he had remembered just how much brooms were, so he quickly closed his mouth again.
"Maybe," Cho said. "Anyway, forget that, follow me!"
She flew upwards, caught by surprise, Ron slipped from his own broom as he hastened to follow. She led him vertically up the side of the castle and over its buttresses, diving down low over the courtyard and towards one of the towers.
"Hang on, isn't Dumbledore's office in there?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, but we're not going to see him!" Cho called, "Come on!" she flew upwards again, turning to the left now so that they were heading towards the astronomy tower.
"The Astronomy room?" Ron called.
"Close, think higher!" Cho turned her head and grinned.
She landed gracefully on the top of the astronomy tower. Ron landed too, a little more clumsily. He glanced around. They were on top of Hogwarts' tallest tower. In the room below was the Astornomy room full of telescopes. Ron hadn't even known you could get on the top of the tower.
It seemed they hadn't been the only ones to find it. Someone had put a small sofa there, just big enough for two people. There was a pile of blankets folded on one of the cushions and, even better, a case of butterbeer bottles—there was even a few still full.
"Brilliant!" Ron said, throwing himself down on the sofa and cracking one open. Remembering Cho, he got one for her too.
"I'm glad you like it," Cho said, sitting next to him. "Lots of Hogwarts couples come here. Romantic, isn't it?"
"Yeah … yeah, I suppose," Ron said, not really sure what counted as romantic or not. He supposed it was nice, comfy and had a nice view of the night sky and of the Forbidden Forest in the distance.
"I was waiting for you to ask me to come here, but since you're so slow, I had to do it,"
"Hey," Ron protested. "I didn't even know this place existed. How was I supposed to invite you?"
"Fair enough," Cho said. "But I hope you're going to invite me to the next Hogsmeade Weekend."
"Yeah, I was gonna go with Dud and Dean but you can …" he caught Cho's eye and realized what she meant. "I mean, they can go alone. We can go together."
"Good," said Cho, and patted his leg. "You can take me to Madam Puddifoots."
"Madam what?" Ron said, having a bad feeling that he wouldn't like Madam Puddifoots solely because the name sounded utterly stupid.
"It doesn't matter, you'll find out," Cho said, smiling mischievously. "You know, most couples come up here to kiss." She added, bluntly.
"Oh erm, yeah, of course," Ron said quickly and leant forward …. Then stopped. "Oh, wait a minute! I forgot! I got you these for my birthday."
"My …" Cho began, then stopped.
"Ron, it isn't my birthday until the summer."
"Huh?"
"I was born in July."
"But I heard …"
"You heard wrong."
Ron had the envelope in his hands and moved to put them back in the pocket of his robes.
"Nope," Cho said, snapping her finger. "You can give me a present now. Then get me something else for my birthday."
"Fine," Ron sighed. He hadn't paid for them anyway. He handed the envelope over. "It's not much, I just thought … you know, in the summer … we could …"
Cho opened the envelope. Her eyes widened and she let out a squeal. "Ohhhh Ron! Brilliant! How did you get them? Tornadoes tickets are so expensive and sell out so quickly!"
"Oh, you know, I asked a friend," Ron said, modestly, running a hand through his hair.
"Brilliant! Ron—thank you!" Cho cried.
"No problem," Ron said, pleased as his girlfriend enveloped him in a tight hug. He made a mental note to thank Ginny. Her suggestion, had, surprisingly, worked. Shame he had got the day wrong, but, oh well.