Chapter 6: The Meeting
7.00 that evening, Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way down to the library to meet Cho. She hadn't arrived yet, but 5 minutes later, they saw her tired looking face enter the room and walk towards them.
"Hi, sorry I'm late." Cho said quietly. "I got held up on the way with Professor Flitwick about a charms essay."
"That's ok " Harry replied. "What did you want to speak to us about anyway?"
"Oh, yes." She said even quieter, a look of despair crossing over her face. She looked to the floor and then to Harry, "There's something you've got to know. I was on my way to Ravenclaw's common room and I overheard someone talking about you Harry. They were, er, how should I put this? They were saying that someone in Slytherin is going to try and…" she broke off but Ron's worst nightmare had seemed confirmed.
"Malfoy. Harry, remember what Professor Trelawney said about an enemies deceit. It must be Malfoy. He's in Slytherin and you both hate each others blood." Ron said.
"Yeah, but Malfoy's not going to try and kill me, how could he, he's all talk and no action. Remember in our first year, he didn't even show up for that Wizards Duel that he organised." Harry replied.
"But what about his father. He's a Death eater, everybody knows that." Hermione added.
"Exactly, it's all too obvious." Harry said.
"Look, you don't even know if it is Malfoy. There are tones of Slytherins. All as bad as the next." Cho added.
"Yeah but how many Slytherins are enemies with Harry?" Ron pointed out.
"Well just keep a look out, and, well, watch your back Harry. You can't be too careful. Listen, I'd better go, I just thought you had a right to know the rumours. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye" and Cho left as quickly as she had arrived.
"Harry you don't think Cho knows more than she's telling, do you? She seemed a bit hasty to get away and she kept looking at the floor. It was like she was too ashamed to look at you in the face." Hermione said.
"I don't know anymore. She seems to have completely changed."
*
The next day was brighter than the last. Harry found it difficult to concentrate in class, as all he could think about was the rumours Cho had been talking about. Why hadn't he heard any of these rumours until now? So many questions kept tossing over in Harry's mind and he was more than glad when Friday evening came at last. Hermione sat reading another of her books and occasionally looked up to watch Ron and Harry play a game of chess. Ron, as usual, was winning, but it was mainly due to the fact that Harry's mind just wasn't properly on the game. It kept drifting off, wondering about Cho. Wondering what she was doing and where she was.
"Hermione, I really don't understand why you're wasting your time reading those books. We don't have to read them and most of them aren't covering the topics that we're doing in lessons anyway." Ron said, looking at Harry and rolling his eyes.
"Yes, I know we don't have to Ron, I just find it interesting. And anyway, you never know, it could come up in our O.W.Ls this year." Hermione snapped back. Harry, who couldn't stand any more of Ron and Hermione's bickering or yet another defeat from a gloating Ron Weasley, and needing more than anything to talk to Cho, gave up and told the others that he was going to go for walk to clear his mind, half hoping he might see Cho. Hermione offered to keep him company, but he told them that he just needed some time alone. Ron looked concerned that Malfoy might be lurking in bushes about to attack him but when Hermione offered to take Harry's place at chess, and Harry reassured Ron that he could look after himself, he seemed less worried and ready to beat Hermione – which was actually quite a bit harder than beating Harry.
*
The cool night air ruffled Harry's untidy jet-black hair as he walked towards the lake. He was just contemplating visiting Hagrid when he suddenly spotted Cho. It looked, to Harry, that she too wanted some peace and quiet away from everyone else, so Harry took a seat on a step and watched her walk away. The step was extremely cold but for some reason Harry didn't seem to notice. He was watching Cho's every move wondering what was on her mind, where she was going, what she was doing. Then she vanished from view as she turned the corner and Harry stayed put, staring up at the moon. It always reminded Harry of his favourite Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin. Harry's mind wondered off for a minute or two, wondering where Professor Lupin was now and then that reminded him of Sirius. He'd had a letter from him the other day, delivered by a very strange bird, which only Hermione had known the name of, stating that he was still well and hoped Harry was. It had been quite a short letter, but it had been a comfort knowing that he was still ok. Then as if by magic, Harry's mind was suddenly back on Cho again. He got back to thinking about who it was that was in Slytherin that wanted him dead so badly. He was just wondering if maybe Ron was right in thinking that it was Malfoy when he saw something that caught his eye. Someone in the distance was walking towards him. As they got closer Harry could see that it was a girl. Hermione? No, her hair was to long and straight to be Hermione. It was Cho. She was walking towards him and she had her wand in her hand. He stood up; he was just in the mood for Cho's company. She seemed good at being able to cheer people up. He smiled, but her face remained blank.
"Hello Harry, I've been looking for you." Cho said in a very stern and unusual voice. Harry also noticed that her eyes seemed a lot wider than usual as well. He always noticed her eyes. Harry couldn't help but notice them; they were by far the prettiest eyes he'd ever seen.
"Hi! I'm glad you're here actually, I could really do with someone to talk to." Harry replied, thinking that there was definitely something about her tonight that looked different.
"Yeah? Well there's something I wanted to say to you first." She said, and she sounded extremely bitter, especially compared to the normal sweet and shy Cho that Harry now knew so well.
"O-k." Harry replied slowly, growing quite worried at the severe look filling her face.
Cho raised her wand. Harry's face fell.
"Cho, what are…" A look of utter repulsion replaced Cho's usual look of happiness.
"Crucio."
7.00 that evening, Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way down to the library to meet Cho. She hadn't arrived yet, but 5 minutes later, they saw her tired looking face enter the room and walk towards them.
"Hi, sorry I'm late." Cho said quietly. "I got held up on the way with Professor Flitwick about a charms essay."
"That's ok " Harry replied. "What did you want to speak to us about anyway?"
"Oh, yes." She said even quieter, a look of despair crossing over her face. She looked to the floor and then to Harry, "There's something you've got to know. I was on my way to Ravenclaw's common room and I overheard someone talking about you Harry. They were, er, how should I put this? They were saying that someone in Slytherin is going to try and…" she broke off but Ron's worst nightmare had seemed confirmed.
"Malfoy. Harry, remember what Professor Trelawney said about an enemies deceit. It must be Malfoy. He's in Slytherin and you both hate each others blood." Ron said.
"Yeah, but Malfoy's not going to try and kill me, how could he, he's all talk and no action. Remember in our first year, he didn't even show up for that Wizards Duel that he organised." Harry replied.
"But what about his father. He's a Death eater, everybody knows that." Hermione added.
"Exactly, it's all too obvious." Harry said.
"Look, you don't even know if it is Malfoy. There are tones of Slytherins. All as bad as the next." Cho added.
"Yeah but how many Slytherins are enemies with Harry?" Ron pointed out.
"Well just keep a look out, and, well, watch your back Harry. You can't be too careful. Listen, I'd better go, I just thought you had a right to know the rumours. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye" and Cho left as quickly as she had arrived.
"Harry you don't think Cho knows more than she's telling, do you? She seemed a bit hasty to get away and she kept looking at the floor. It was like she was too ashamed to look at you in the face." Hermione said.
"I don't know anymore. She seems to have completely changed."
*
The next day was brighter than the last. Harry found it difficult to concentrate in class, as all he could think about was the rumours Cho had been talking about. Why hadn't he heard any of these rumours until now? So many questions kept tossing over in Harry's mind and he was more than glad when Friday evening came at last. Hermione sat reading another of her books and occasionally looked up to watch Ron and Harry play a game of chess. Ron, as usual, was winning, but it was mainly due to the fact that Harry's mind just wasn't properly on the game. It kept drifting off, wondering about Cho. Wondering what she was doing and where she was.
"Hermione, I really don't understand why you're wasting your time reading those books. We don't have to read them and most of them aren't covering the topics that we're doing in lessons anyway." Ron said, looking at Harry and rolling his eyes.
"Yes, I know we don't have to Ron, I just find it interesting. And anyway, you never know, it could come up in our O.W.Ls this year." Hermione snapped back. Harry, who couldn't stand any more of Ron and Hermione's bickering or yet another defeat from a gloating Ron Weasley, and needing more than anything to talk to Cho, gave up and told the others that he was going to go for walk to clear his mind, half hoping he might see Cho. Hermione offered to keep him company, but he told them that he just needed some time alone. Ron looked concerned that Malfoy might be lurking in bushes about to attack him but when Hermione offered to take Harry's place at chess, and Harry reassured Ron that he could look after himself, he seemed less worried and ready to beat Hermione – which was actually quite a bit harder than beating Harry.
*
The cool night air ruffled Harry's untidy jet-black hair as he walked towards the lake. He was just contemplating visiting Hagrid when he suddenly spotted Cho. It looked, to Harry, that she too wanted some peace and quiet away from everyone else, so Harry took a seat on a step and watched her walk away. The step was extremely cold but for some reason Harry didn't seem to notice. He was watching Cho's every move wondering what was on her mind, where she was going, what she was doing. Then she vanished from view as she turned the corner and Harry stayed put, staring up at the moon. It always reminded Harry of his favourite Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin. Harry's mind wondered off for a minute or two, wondering where Professor Lupin was now and then that reminded him of Sirius. He'd had a letter from him the other day, delivered by a very strange bird, which only Hermione had known the name of, stating that he was still well and hoped Harry was. It had been quite a short letter, but it had been a comfort knowing that he was still ok. Then as if by magic, Harry's mind was suddenly back on Cho again. He got back to thinking about who it was that was in Slytherin that wanted him dead so badly. He was just wondering if maybe Ron was right in thinking that it was Malfoy when he saw something that caught his eye. Someone in the distance was walking towards him. As they got closer Harry could see that it was a girl. Hermione? No, her hair was to long and straight to be Hermione. It was Cho. She was walking towards him and she had her wand in her hand. He stood up; he was just in the mood for Cho's company. She seemed good at being able to cheer people up. He smiled, but her face remained blank.
"Hello Harry, I've been looking for you." Cho said in a very stern and unusual voice. Harry also noticed that her eyes seemed a lot wider than usual as well. He always noticed her eyes. Harry couldn't help but notice them; they were by far the prettiest eyes he'd ever seen.
"Hi! I'm glad you're here actually, I could really do with someone to talk to." Harry replied, thinking that there was definitely something about her tonight that looked different.
"Yeah? Well there's something I wanted to say to you first." She said, and she sounded extremely bitter, especially compared to the normal sweet and shy Cho that Harry now knew so well.
"O-k." Harry replied slowly, growing quite worried at the severe look filling her face.
Cho raised her wand. Harry's face fell.
"Cho, what are…" A look of utter repulsion replaced Cho's usual look of happiness.
"Crucio."