Chapter 2: Great friends
Less than 3 weeks on, that first night back seemed months ago. Cho had become close friends with Harry, and Ron and Hermione got on with her equally as well. They had visited Hogsmeade together and enjoyed a long drink of Butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks along with much talk and laughter.
*
Breakfast had once again arrived and Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way down to the Great Hall to meet their other Gryffindor friends. They walked in, although a pile of books as usual accompanied Hermione. Cho walked over to say hi and sit with them. After a brief chat with Cho, Hermione picked up a book randomly and buried her head in it.
"The Bewildered and The Bewitched By Mildred Muddle. Hermione, do you ever stop reading?" Ron asked in a slightly amused tone, grinning at Harry and Cho.
"It's just a bit of light reading. And anyway, I overheard Pansy Parkinson saying that there's a rumour Potions is going to cover quite different topics this year, so I went down to the library to get some book out in topics we haven't covered yet. That is ok with you isn't it Ron?" Hermione sounded slightly short tempered but Harry and Ron dismissed it and carried on talking to Cho. Their latest conversation was Quidditch. Ron was very interested to know what the match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw will be like in a few days time, as both Cho and Harry are seekers and will be competing against each other.
"Gryffindor are so going to win. You have no hope Cho against Harry's Firebolt!" Ron said in a friendly joking way and Harry couldn't help noticing how happy Cho seemed these days. He was glad but the thought of them competing in Quidditch had never crossed his mind until now. It would definitely be more interesting now that he and Cho were such good friends.
*
They soon realised it was time to be on their way to their first lesson, and so reluctantly left the Great Hall and arranged to meet Cho at lunch time.
"I can't believe we have double potions first on a Wednesday. I'm still not awake. I thought having it last on a Friday was bad. I dread to think what Snape is like first thing in the morning." Ron said to Harry and they both exchanged dark looks and entered the classroom, Hermione not far behind with her head buried in yet another book, 'Powerful Potion For Every Season By Grittle Raggleweed' this time. They sat down but a cold drawling voice told Harry that Draco Malfoy had just entered.
"So Potter, how's your new girlfriend? Well I suppose it's a step up from that mudblood Granger." He shot a nasty look at Hermione but 5 years of Malfoy's company had taught her to just ignore him. It was a shame however, that Ron and Harry didn't think in the same way. Instead she carried on reading as though she had never heard.
"Cho's not my girlfriend. And anyway, what business is it of yours Malfoy?" Harry snapped back.
"Oh, so she's Weasley's girl is she? I mean come on, no girl that good looking is going to hang around with you to unless she's actually going out with one of you. She's like the best looking girl in the school." Malfoy spat back, with a hint of jealousy in his voice.
"Grow up Malfoy." Harry protested but for Ron, he had gone one step too far.
"THAT'S IT. I HAVE IT WITH YOU MALFOY. I'M NOT TAKING ANY OF THIS, THIS YEAR." Ron yelled at an amused Malfoy. And before Harry could stop him, Ron had leapt forwards and pushed Malfoy to the floor. Chants of "FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT" and "OOOOHHHHH THAT LOOKED PAINFUL" began to fill the classroom. Ron and Malfoy were rolling around the floor, fists flying everywhere. But it was too late. Snape slammed open the door and the class fell immediately silent. Malfoy leapt to his feet trying to look innocent infront of his favourite teacher leaving Ron sprawled across the floor with a bleeding nose and what looked like might become a black eye.
"WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON?" Snape demanded. He looked over to where Ron was lying and Harry could have sworn a look of amusement filled his eyes.
"RIGHT. MALFOY, WEASLEY, I'D LIKE A WORD. The rest of you, the ingredients for today's lesson are at the front. You'll need page 385 to help you. WELL WHAT ARE YOU ALL WAITING FOR?" The class immediately moved forwards and away from a very injured Ron. Harry looked back helplessly. He'd done it this time.
*
After what seemed like days, the end of the lesson arrived and Harry and Ron could finally talk. Ron had been to the hospital wing but as he was only suffering from a bruised eye, he had been sent back to lessons.
"You won't believe what that git has given me to do for a detention." Ron told Harry and Hermione.
"What?" chorused Harry and Hermione.
"He wants me to tidy his personal store cupboard. Without magic. Reckons it's a two-hour job. I have to start at 8.00 tonight. Of course, Malfoy has to help as well, but I know it'll be me doing all the work and Malfoy getting all the credit." Ron moaned.
"Well, it's your own fault really. I mean, starting a fight right before a teacher is due to start a lesson, that's just asking for trouble really." Hermione explained in a rather dignified voice.
"Oh shut up Hermione, he deserved a good punch.! Did you see that one I got right in his ribs Harry?"
"Yeah, that was a good one!" Harry replied, not being able to help grinning. Ron grinned back but Hermione just shook her head and tutted loudly.
"I have a feeling tonight is going to be a long one. I wish it was 10.00 now!" Ron exclaimed. Harry gave a sympathising look and the three of them walked off to find Cho and fill their empty stomachs, but when they arrived, Cho was no-where in sight.
Less than 3 weeks on, that first night back seemed months ago. Cho had become close friends with Harry, and Ron and Hermione got on with her equally as well. They had visited Hogsmeade together and enjoyed a long drink of Butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks along with much talk and laughter.
*
Breakfast had once again arrived and Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way down to the Great Hall to meet their other Gryffindor friends. They walked in, although a pile of books as usual accompanied Hermione. Cho walked over to say hi and sit with them. After a brief chat with Cho, Hermione picked up a book randomly and buried her head in it.
"The Bewildered and The Bewitched By Mildred Muddle. Hermione, do you ever stop reading?" Ron asked in a slightly amused tone, grinning at Harry and Cho.
"It's just a bit of light reading. And anyway, I overheard Pansy Parkinson saying that there's a rumour Potions is going to cover quite different topics this year, so I went down to the library to get some book out in topics we haven't covered yet. That is ok with you isn't it Ron?" Hermione sounded slightly short tempered but Harry and Ron dismissed it and carried on talking to Cho. Their latest conversation was Quidditch. Ron was very interested to know what the match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw will be like in a few days time, as both Cho and Harry are seekers and will be competing against each other.
"Gryffindor are so going to win. You have no hope Cho against Harry's Firebolt!" Ron said in a friendly joking way and Harry couldn't help noticing how happy Cho seemed these days. He was glad but the thought of them competing in Quidditch had never crossed his mind until now. It would definitely be more interesting now that he and Cho were such good friends.
*
They soon realised it was time to be on their way to their first lesson, and so reluctantly left the Great Hall and arranged to meet Cho at lunch time.
"I can't believe we have double potions first on a Wednesday. I'm still not awake. I thought having it last on a Friday was bad. I dread to think what Snape is like first thing in the morning." Ron said to Harry and they both exchanged dark looks and entered the classroom, Hermione not far behind with her head buried in yet another book, 'Powerful Potion For Every Season By Grittle Raggleweed' this time. They sat down but a cold drawling voice told Harry that Draco Malfoy had just entered.
"So Potter, how's your new girlfriend? Well I suppose it's a step up from that mudblood Granger." He shot a nasty look at Hermione but 5 years of Malfoy's company had taught her to just ignore him. It was a shame however, that Ron and Harry didn't think in the same way. Instead she carried on reading as though she had never heard.
"Cho's not my girlfriend. And anyway, what business is it of yours Malfoy?" Harry snapped back.
"Oh, so she's Weasley's girl is she? I mean come on, no girl that good looking is going to hang around with you to unless she's actually going out with one of you. She's like the best looking girl in the school." Malfoy spat back, with a hint of jealousy in his voice.
"Grow up Malfoy." Harry protested but for Ron, he had gone one step too far.
"THAT'S IT. I HAVE IT WITH YOU MALFOY. I'M NOT TAKING ANY OF THIS, THIS YEAR." Ron yelled at an amused Malfoy. And before Harry could stop him, Ron had leapt forwards and pushed Malfoy to the floor. Chants of "FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT" and "OOOOHHHHH THAT LOOKED PAINFUL" began to fill the classroom. Ron and Malfoy were rolling around the floor, fists flying everywhere. But it was too late. Snape slammed open the door and the class fell immediately silent. Malfoy leapt to his feet trying to look innocent infront of his favourite teacher leaving Ron sprawled across the floor with a bleeding nose and what looked like might become a black eye.
"WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON?" Snape demanded. He looked over to where Ron was lying and Harry could have sworn a look of amusement filled his eyes.
"RIGHT. MALFOY, WEASLEY, I'D LIKE A WORD. The rest of you, the ingredients for today's lesson are at the front. You'll need page 385 to help you. WELL WHAT ARE YOU ALL WAITING FOR?" The class immediately moved forwards and away from a very injured Ron. Harry looked back helplessly. He'd done it this time.
*
After what seemed like days, the end of the lesson arrived and Harry and Ron could finally talk. Ron had been to the hospital wing but as he was only suffering from a bruised eye, he had been sent back to lessons.
"You won't believe what that git has given me to do for a detention." Ron told Harry and Hermione.
"What?" chorused Harry and Hermione.
"He wants me to tidy his personal store cupboard. Without magic. Reckons it's a two-hour job. I have to start at 8.00 tonight. Of course, Malfoy has to help as well, but I know it'll be me doing all the work and Malfoy getting all the credit." Ron moaned.
"Well, it's your own fault really. I mean, starting a fight right before a teacher is due to start a lesson, that's just asking for trouble really." Hermione explained in a rather dignified voice.
"Oh shut up Hermione, he deserved a good punch.! Did you see that one I got right in his ribs Harry?"
"Yeah, that was a good one!" Harry replied, not being able to help grinning. Ron grinned back but Hermione just shook her head and tutted loudly.
"I have a feeling tonight is going to be a long one. I wish it was 10.00 now!" Ron exclaimed. Harry gave a sympathising look and the three of them walked off to find Cho and fill their empty stomachs, but when they arrived, Cho was no-where in sight.