Disclaimer: Joanne Kathleen Rowling owns Harry Potter.

Rating: PG-13 definitely.

Love In the Stars

Chapter Eight — Apologies & Quidditch

As Harry opened his eyes from the shocking kiss, he saw a raven haired girl with the soft purple mini dress run down the marble steps. Immediately he ran after her towards the exit calling out, "Cho! Wait!" Harry's heart was pounding with excited confusion. He had no idea why she was just kiss him suddenly and then run away. Did the kiss mean anything? But — oh no — thought Harry, what if it was some kind of stupid dare? People don't just run away after a kiss like that in that situation. Stomach dropping a mile, Harry caught up with her outside since she was wearing high heels and it was difficult to run in them, but being a seeker, she still had superior skills. "Cho," Harry had put a hand on her right shoulder and he was breathing very hard. Cho was too, but she didn't run any longer knowing that there was no point, and turned to face him, her face white.

"Oh Harry," said Cho in a sort of faint and pleading voice, "I'm so sorry. I — I don't know what happened back inside there. I — I." She broke off, her face still a little white, but with some color back now. Her eyes were wide and she was breathing hard with cold sweat running down her forehead.

Harry noted that she was extremely pretty even when nervous, but he found it very uneasy that Cho was sorry for what she did. He reminded himself that he was 16 and could handle these things now, but no sound came out when he opened his mouth to speak. They stood by the bushes looking at each a little nervously. Then they were starting to stare at each other's feet. "Uh," Harry started and licking his lips nervously, he said very quietly, "I liked it."

Cho looked back up at him at once her eyes wider than ever. Harry was about to run and chuck himself into the river, but was saved by the smile that Cho supressed suddenly. "Oh Harry!" She hugged him, and Harry, going beetle red, patted her back awkwardly, but stopped immediately noticing that her dress had a very low back. At the same time, Harry was extremely relieved.

When Cho released him, she took him by the hand and said, "Come, lets take a walk. I want to apologize properly." What? Harry's mind spun fast. "About my disgraceful behaviour to you, Harry," she continued. Harry relaxed.

They started walking towards the lake. Harry turned his head to look her and couldn't help but noticed how beautiful she looked in the moonlight with her hair twisted up loosely and her face so perfect against the stars. He had to catch his breath looking at her delicate shoulders and he still couldn't believe that it was this woman he had gotten a kiss from back in school. Then, as they were walking along the lake, Harry turned his head glancing back at the school and saw Terry there watching. As Terry saw that Harry saw him, he turned and went back inside meeting with another girl. It was all very strange. What on earth happened?

"Harry," said Cho as she grasped his hand with both hand, "I am very sorry about Terry and I. You see, Terry told me everything tonight. Please believe me, Harry, but Terry and I are only friends. He is a family friend and we were fixed up back at home, you see, but we knew that we are more like a brother and sister than anything else from the very start. I told him how much I really liked you, Harry, and then today, he told me that he knew you were in love with me from the start. You can't believe how mad I was about him not telling me any earlier. Of course, he is just afraid that you would hurt me, just the big brother possessiveness. That day Samantha was murdered, well, I just — I I really don't know. I was just being stupid, too crazed up about a little matter. Shh — I know about the mark. He came from a broken up family, but I assure you that he means no harm, Harry. About the dance tonight, I was too upset at the fact I was so mad at you to ask you to the dance. All because of my pride." She was slightly panting from all the talking and then looked at him in the eyes looking for an answer. She wasn't smiling like usual and was looking at Harry adoringly like he could vanish any moment now.

"I believe every word you say," said Harry with a smile, "but what was with the running away after the — uh — the kiss?"

Cho smiled with relief and said with a small laugh, "A little dizzy, Harry. When you pushed away, I just wasn't ready for the horrendous truth, though the truth isn't truly horrendous, is it?"

"You know I care for you greatly, Cho," said Harry wrapping his arms around the girl, while surprised at his own audacity. Every dislike he had about Terry vanished immediately and he was ready to believe him innocent from anything in the world.

"Will you be my boyfriend and protector?" asked Cho rather nervously again.

Harry kissed her awkwardly on the forehead (he had never kissed anyone anywhere before, as his uncle and aunt were never affectionate with him), "Yeah. Um, maybe we should get back to the dance." Now remembering his little dancing deal with Ron.

They headed back inside holding hands and looking like the perfect item. He waved to Ron who seemed to have found himself more than one girl, then smiled to himself as he noticed Sirius waltzing on a colored spot with Mary. He led Cho to a waltzing spot too, but was too happy to notice Malfoy walking by. "Hey Potter, finally found yourself a guy, eh? Oops, sorry, she just looked so trollish," Malfoy hissed, but with a slight hint of jealousy. Cho was so pretty that no one around him agreed and therefore not laughed, except Crabbe and Goyle.

Harry's face jerked angrily and threw back at him, "Cho's too pretty even for an angel, Malfoy, and as for you, pity you can't find even a troll. But then, there's always Crabbe and Goyle, heh?" Then he turned back to Cho whispering, "Sorry, but he is annoying."

"It's ok," smiled Cho.

The night went smoothly and when the dance was final and Prof. Dumbledore made his closing words, Harry and Cho kissed in the middle of the dance floor next to the christmas tree amid the magical falling snow.

"What they say," said Cho, "a magical night, Harry."

After a week into the term, Quidditch training was back and Harry looked forward to spending more time with Cho. Though they had been seeing each other quite often already ever since Christmas. Terry had kept out of the way most of the time now, even though Harry wasn't bothered about him anymore. Their team met on the field and Terry called out for silence.

"Alright team," said Harry, "we've been training for half a year and the match is much closer from this side of Christmas, so now we've got to be thinking about a name for the team."

"What's the point," came the drawling voice of Gilbert Rakes, "the match's canceled till someone finds out who killed that girl."

Harry sighed, "The whole point of this training isn't just for the match, Gilbert, it's about playing a good game of Quidditch. As I understand, the Sheffiend Orphanage is very stressed upon the point of sports. You will be entering school after summer and they believe it's important to get you to learn to get in shape all from the beginning."

"A warming speech, Mr. Potter, I'm sure," said Gilbert, "but we know how to get in shape, although of course, you are speaking about a certain Mark Norm on this team."

"Dude, what's your problem man?" said Mark angrily.

"What's my problem?" said Gilbert, "it's your problem, Norm, you and your whole shitty family! Just because you are related to Mr. Ackins doesn't make you any better than me. Ooooh, gonna start crying, baby boy? Gonna run for Uncle Ackins? You bet he doesn't care a shit about you! Why otherwise would he leave you at the orphanage?"

"Gilbert Rakes, I'm appalled at your language," shrieked Cho, "apologize to Mark right this instant!"

But Mark had thrown himself on top of Gilbert and they were rolling on the ground now punching kicking, pulling each other's hair (well, in Gilbert's case since Mark has longer hair while Gilbert has a military cut). Harvey McKings and Daniel Zamista were cheering them one, Harvey with Mark and Daniel on Gilbert's side. The three girls, Ruby, Jamie, and Wilma were looking with excitement on their faces and were talking to each other very fast making comments like ouch' oooh' and goodness, he's strong'.

"Silence!" Terry ordered.

Everyone became very quiet, but the two boys were still rolling on the ground deaf to all other happenings. "Give me a hand here, will you, Harry?" Terry said as he bent down trying to pry them apart. Harry took out his wand and muttered something. The two boys flew apart. Gilbert had a black eye and bloody nose while Mark got a tooth knocked out, and both were covered in mud and blood.

Professor Flitwick, who was overwatching all of this at a distance came running down and crying, "Hospital wing, the two of you!"

"Oh dear, this is not good," said Cho sadly, "I don't know how will we ever train properly with those two always squabbling. Harry, Terry, maybe we should talk to Mr. Ackins or Mr. Krum about switching a player, although I would hate to have to do that."

"No," said Terry, "we have to make them learn to cooperate, learn the meaning of teamwork whether you like them or not."

"And I would hate to lose Gilbert from the team," said Harry, "he makes a very good seeker. Fast and clever, but it doesn't do well when it has a sour attitude with it."

"I agree," said Cho, "and Mark is a wonderful chaser. The leader of Harvey and Ruby I'd say. Of course, Daniel and Wilma make the most unbeatable beaters. Then there's Jamie, very fast in blocking a Quaffle."

"They've all done very well, but unless they sort out their problems," Harry glanced over at the other side of the field where Malfoy, Jonas, and Mary were overseeing the kids on a flying review as they flew around levitated flags, "else we will never win the Quidditch cup."

"But what about Samantha's murderer?" wondered Cho, "Gilbert was right, we can't even have the game if that person isn't found."

"Hmm, maybe," said Terry frowning.

"Actually, no need to wonder anymore," said Harry in a forced relaxing tone as he urged his Firebolt forward. "Cho, look after the kids. Terry and I will see to Samantha, who is climbing out of the lake right this moment."

~*~*~

Haven't you read enough of this story to know my cliffhangers? Heehee don't worry, you're going to be in for more surprises. And don't Harry and Cho make the sweetest couple?