Chapter XIV: The Truth About Cho
Professor Mosaic was feeling quite ill in the morning and all the other teachers were occupied, so everyone in fifth year Defense Against Dark Arts were forced to sit in the later lesson when Professor Mosaic was feeling better. Ginny and Amilia entered the room, completely horrified by the fact that the later lesson was made up of Ravenclaw and Slytherin seventh years.
"This isn't fair," Amilia whispered to Ginny. "They can't make us take a higher class. It's too advanced for us."
"Weasley and Rienhardt," Professor Mosaic began, catching the girls off guard, "why are you loitering about?"
"All the seats seem to be full, Professor," Ginny informed.
"So I have to find a seat for you," Professor Mosaic grumbled. "Can't find a chair on your own? Your fellow classmates didn't have a probelm sitting on thier own. Miss Rienhardt, sit there, next to Bulstrode. There are extra stools in that closet."
Ginny and Amilia took a couple extra stools. Amilia, looking quite dismal, walked over to Milicent Bulstode and set her stood down next to her.
"Weasley, Weasley," Mosaic chanted. "Where can I put you? Ah, there, by Miss Chang."
Ginny almost screamed. Luckily, she didn't.
"Did you not hear me, Miss Weasley?"
Ginny nodded and slowly made her way to Cho Chang's table. Cho gave her a quite severe expression as she sat down. Professor Mosaic began her lecture. Ginny couldn't help but notice that Cho seemed to be staring at her.
"Do you have a problem?" Ginny asked, sounding braver then she felt.
"Why should I have a problem?" Cho sneered. "I have no problems."
"Is there some tripe on my chin from lunch?" Ginny questioned.
"No," Cho growled.
Ginny looked into Cho's eyes and said, "Then will you quit starring at me?"
"What will you do if I don't?" Cho said.
Ginny wasn't sure how to answer. What would she do? Absolutely nothing. Cho was older then her, taller then her, and meaner then her. Ginny had no sort of chance in a fight. She really had no answer so she didn't say a word.
"Exactly," Cho began. "You can't possibly do a thing to me. You can beat me!"
Ginny swallowed.
"What are you talking about?" She asked, trembling.
"You can't have him!" Cho exclaimed. "He's mine!"
"I really don't know of whom you are refering," Ginny lied.
"Harry Potter, you git!" Cho snapped. "I know you want him, but you can't have him. Harry Potter loves me and me only!"
She wasn't sure what possessed her to say it, but before she could stop herself, she said, "You want to bet."
Cho just laughed.
"Think you can beat me, do you?" she laughed. "You think Harry Potter could want a fungus like you?"
Cho continued laughing. Ginny felt like she just casted a shrinking spell on herself. She felt so small as she listened to Cho's cackling. Tears began to well up in Ginny's eyes.
"Do yourself a favor," Cho advised, "and give up. He doesn't want you. He'll never want you."
Ginny covered her face to hide her tears.
"Just face it," Cho began, "Harry Potter is mine."
For a moment Ginny believed. For one painful and agonizing moment Ginny though Cho had actually won. But then she glanced at Cho. She was wearing the necklace of Gebo. Anger filled Ginny's face. Harry didn't love Cho and Cho knew it. She only said all that to make Ginny give up. Amilia was right. Cho felt threatened.
When class ended and Cho stood up, Ginny muttered, "I'll never give him up."
Cho glared back at her.
"You haven't won," Ginny told her. "Not yet."
Cho wiped her hair around and kept walking.
"What happened?" Amila asked. "Were you crying? What'd she say?"
Even though she was still angry and her eyes were full of tears, Ginny's lips twisted into a smile, "She's scared."
****************
Ginny couldn't sleep. Everything was pulling on her brain. Her upcomming finals. The memories of Christmas. The threat of Cho Chang. The fear of trekking through the Forbidden Forest. The things that the Rune Tree might reveal. If Harry could love her.
Ginny turned onto her side. Amilia was asleep, facing her. Amilia had been so supportive and had helped her anyway she could. Yet, Ginny had a hard time revealing everything to her. She didn't tell Amilia the things that happened over Christmas. She was afraid of what Amilia would do. Amilia was her best friend and she couldn't fully trust her.
Ginny turned over again. The full moon wasn't very high in the sky. It seemed quite low actually. Ginny knew it had been quite a while since night began. It couldn't be that early. But it couldn't be that late. If it was, Ginny had squandered most of the night with though while she should have been acting. She had to find the Rune Tree as soon as possible. Even if it meant searching all night, every night, until she found it.
She jumped from her bed and rummaged through her trunk. She took the cloak and a pare of rubbe-soled slippers and ran down to the common room. As she threw on the cloak and slippers, she pushed open the portrait hole. Ginny walked down the stairs and out the door of the school. Hurredly, she made her way to the Forbidden Forest. Ginny swallowed hard when she heard an animal howl. Deeper in the forest, it felt like large things were following her. She invisioned a giant spider with a million glassy eyes and eight hairy legs. Ginny shuttered.
"It is time," A dark and cold voiced echoed through the trees.
Ginny, being more curious then afraid, followed the voiced until she came at a large clearing. To her surprise, hundreds of people in dark cloaks with the hoods up stood around the clearing. In the middle, with all the others attention on him, stood a tall man with flowing black robes. His eyes were firey and his hair was dark and sleek. He had a insanely vicious expression on his face. She wasn't sure how, but Ginny knew who it was. It was Lord Voldemort.
"I declare unto you, my Death Eaters," Voldemort bellowed, "that once I have come into power and destroyed the Ministry, you will not be forgotten. I shall give you power over wizards and muggles alike. You can wipe them out with famine, with pestilences, or with distruction, according to your own will. I wll give you power that, if you desire it, a city will burn to the ground. And if you speak it, a moutain shall lay flat. Yes, my Death Eaters, you shall have power beyond comprehention. Together, we shall rule the Earth."
The hooded men cheered extensively.
"Now, go, my Death Eaters," Voldemort commanded, "and rain havok on the muggle world."
The hooded figures muttered and mumbled as they left the clearing. A few came Ginny's way. She held close on to a tree, so nobody would accidently run into her, and waited for them to pass. When she peeked out again, there were only two people left in the clearing. It was Voldemort and a short Death Eater. Voldemort turned to him.
"I am quite pleased with you," Voldemort commented.
"Yes, Master," the Death Eater said in a small voice, bowing.
"You are essential to my plan," Voldemort told him. "Without you, all this wouldn't be possible. You will be highest among my Death Eaters. You shall lead my Death Eaters."
"Yes, Master," the Death Eater breathed, a lust for power being aparent in his voice.
"Are things going well?"
"Perfectly, Master," the Death Eater assured him. "Harry Potter shall be no threat at all by the end of the school year."
Ginny's eyes widened. Harry..school year? Who was that Death Eater? One name bouced to mind: Malfoy.
"Keep up the good work, my faithful servant," Voldemort told the Death Eater.
"Yes, Master."
Voldemort, looking as if he were flaoting, left the clearing. The Death Eater spun around to face the early morning light. Suddenly, he took off his hood. It was Cho Chang. Ginny tried to scream but no voice came out. It was lucky too.
"Hogwarts awaits," Cho said to herself and then started off toward the castle. Ginny stood, stunned, for a long time. Then she realized that she had to get back to the dormitory and tell Amilia what she saw. Her mind raced as she realized that there were more pressing matters. Since Cho was a minion of Voldemort, then Harry was in serious danger. It wasn't just the seduction from a devious vixon. It wasn't the imagination of a jealous fifth year. This was real and Cho was going to kill Harry.
Ginny slipped passed the countless students crowding through the halls. Hurriedly, she glanced about for Harry. She knew he had just gotten out of Transfiguration. He had to be in that area. Ginny rushed down to Professor McGonagal's classroom, hoping to bump into Harry on the way. She was out of breath and out of options when she got to Professor McGonagal's class.
"Thanks, Professor," Harry's voice came from the class.
"Harry," Ginny said urgently as Harry emerged from the room. "I have to talk to you."
"Sure, Gin," Harry agreed, seeming unworried. "Come with me to the Gryffindor common room. We can talk on the way."
Ginny and Harry began to walk together.
"Cho's trying to kill you!" Ginny shouted.
Harry glanced at her, looking baffled.
"What makes you say this?" Harry asked.
"I heard her say it," Ginny assured him.
"Ginny, I don't know what on Earth you're playing at, but I don't appreciate this," Harry stated.
"Listen to me," Ginny commanded. "She's in league with Yo-Kno-Who!"
"That isn't funny," Harry said, irritated.
"I'm not joking," Ginny insisted. "I saw them talking in the Forbidden Forest."
"The Forbidden Forest?" Harry repeated. "What were you doing in the Forbidden Forest?"
"I was...looking for something," Ginny told him.
"Alright," Harry began, turning to Ginny, "let's say this all happened. How come they didn't see you?"
"I was using your invisibility cloak," Ginny admitted.
"How..how did you know about that?" Harry asked.
"Please, stay away from Cho," Ginny begged.
"You stole my cloak," Harry concluded. "I can't believe you would do that. I thought I knew you."
"I was using it to help you," Ginny promised.
"Right," Harry began sarcastically. "You were trying to save me from the evil Cho, so you took my cloak and looked for "something" in the forest. Now what sense does that make? Your argument doesn't seem to be holding much water."
Harry walked away from her.
"Harry, please believe me," Ginny begged, trying to keep up with him. "Cho wants to kill you."
"Just leave me alone!" Harry shouted.
Ginny stopped in her tracks and watched him walk off.
"I don't care if you never trust me again," she cried after him. "I don't care if you never want to see me again. Just please, stay away from Cho. I couldn't bare it if you died!"
Harry ignored her and continued to the Gryffindor common room.
Tears filled Ginny's eyes.
Professor Mosaic was feeling quite ill in the morning and all the other teachers were occupied, so everyone in fifth year Defense Against Dark Arts were forced to sit in the later lesson when Professor Mosaic was feeling better. Ginny and Amilia entered the room, completely horrified by the fact that the later lesson was made up of Ravenclaw and Slytherin seventh years.
"This isn't fair," Amilia whispered to Ginny. "They can't make us take a higher class. It's too advanced for us."
"Weasley and Rienhardt," Professor Mosaic began, catching the girls off guard, "why are you loitering about?"
"All the seats seem to be full, Professor," Ginny informed.
"So I have to find a seat for you," Professor Mosaic grumbled. "Can't find a chair on your own? Your fellow classmates didn't have a probelm sitting on thier own. Miss Rienhardt, sit there, next to Bulstrode. There are extra stools in that closet."
Ginny and Amilia took a couple extra stools. Amilia, looking quite dismal, walked over to Milicent Bulstode and set her stood down next to her.
"Weasley, Weasley," Mosaic chanted. "Where can I put you? Ah, there, by Miss Chang."
Ginny almost screamed. Luckily, she didn't.
"Did you not hear me, Miss Weasley?"
Ginny nodded and slowly made her way to Cho Chang's table. Cho gave her a quite severe expression as she sat down. Professor Mosaic began her lecture. Ginny couldn't help but notice that Cho seemed to be staring at her.
"Do you have a problem?" Ginny asked, sounding braver then she felt.
"Why should I have a problem?" Cho sneered. "I have no problems."
"Is there some tripe on my chin from lunch?" Ginny questioned.
"No," Cho growled.
Ginny looked into Cho's eyes and said, "Then will you quit starring at me?"
"What will you do if I don't?" Cho said.
Ginny wasn't sure how to answer. What would she do? Absolutely nothing. Cho was older then her, taller then her, and meaner then her. Ginny had no sort of chance in a fight. She really had no answer so she didn't say a word.
"Exactly," Cho began. "You can't possibly do a thing to me. You can beat me!"
Ginny swallowed.
"What are you talking about?" She asked, trembling.
"You can't have him!" Cho exclaimed. "He's mine!"
"I really don't know of whom you are refering," Ginny lied.
"Harry Potter, you git!" Cho snapped. "I know you want him, but you can't have him. Harry Potter loves me and me only!"
She wasn't sure what possessed her to say it, but before she could stop herself, she said, "You want to bet."
Cho just laughed.
"Think you can beat me, do you?" she laughed. "You think Harry Potter could want a fungus like you?"
Cho continued laughing. Ginny felt like she just casted a shrinking spell on herself. She felt so small as she listened to Cho's cackling. Tears began to well up in Ginny's eyes.
"Do yourself a favor," Cho advised, "and give up. He doesn't want you. He'll never want you."
Ginny covered her face to hide her tears.
"Just face it," Cho began, "Harry Potter is mine."
For a moment Ginny believed. For one painful and agonizing moment Ginny though Cho had actually won. But then she glanced at Cho. She was wearing the necklace of Gebo. Anger filled Ginny's face. Harry didn't love Cho and Cho knew it. She only said all that to make Ginny give up. Amilia was right. Cho felt threatened.
When class ended and Cho stood up, Ginny muttered, "I'll never give him up."
Cho glared back at her.
"You haven't won," Ginny told her. "Not yet."
Cho wiped her hair around and kept walking.
"What happened?" Amila asked. "Were you crying? What'd she say?"
Even though she was still angry and her eyes were full of tears, Ginny's lips twisted into a smile, "She's scared."
****************
Ginny couldn't sleep. Everything was pulling on her brain. Her upcomming finals. The memories of Christmas. The threat of Cho Chang. The fear of trekking through the Forbidden Forest. The things that the Rune Tree might reveal. If Harry could love her.
Ginny turned onto her side. Amilia was asleep, facing her. Amilia had been so supportive and had helped her anyway she could. Yet, Ginny had a hard time revealing everything to her. She didn't tell Amilia the things that happened over Christmas. She was afraid of what Amilia would do. Amilia was her best friend and she couldn't fully trust her.
Ginny turned over again. The full moon wasn't very high in the sky. It seemed quite low actually. Ginny knew it had been quite a while since night began. It couldn't be that early. But it couldn't be that late. If it was, Ginny had squandered most of the night with though while she should have been acting. She had to find the Rune Tree as soon as possible. Even if it meant searching all night, every night, until she found it.
She jumped from her bed and rummaged through her trunk. She took the cloak and a pare of rubbe-soled slippers and ran down to the common room. As she threw on the cloak and slippers, she pushed open the portrait hole. Ginny walked down the stairs and out the door of the school. Hurredly, she made her way to the Forbidden Forest. Ginny swallowed hard when she heard an animal howl. Deeper in the forest, it felt like large things were following her. She invisioned a giant spider with a million glassy eyes and eight hairy legs. Ginny shuttered.
"It is time," A dark and cold voiced echoed through the trees.
Ginny, being more curious then afraid, followed the voiced until she came at a large clearing. To her surprise, hundreds of people in dark cloaks with the hoods up stood around the clearing. In the middle, with all the others attention on him, stood a tall man with flowing black robes. His eyes were firey and his hair was dark and sleek. He had a insanely vicious expression on his face. She wasn't sure how, but Ginny knew who it was. It was Lord Voldemort.
"I declare unto you, my Death Eaters," Voldemort bellowed, "that once I have come into power and destroyed the Ministry, you will not be forgotten. I shall give you power over wizards and muggles alike. You can wipe them out with famine, with pestilences, or with distruction, according to your own will. I wll give you power that, if you desire it, a city will burn to the ground. And if you speak it, a moutain shall lay flat. Yes, my Death Eaters, you shall have power beyond comprehention. Together, we shall rule the Earth."
The hooded men cheered extensively.
"Now, go, my Death Eaters," Voldemort commanded, "and rain havok on the muggle world."
The hooded figures muttered and mumbled as they left the clearing. A few came Ginny's way. She held close on to a tree, so nobody would accidently run into her, and waited for them to pass. When she peeked out again, there were only two people left in the clearing. It was Voldemort and a short Death Eater. Voldemort turned to him.
"I am quite pleased with you," Voldemort commented.
"Yes, Master," the Death Eater said in a small voice, bowing.
"You are essential to my plan," Voldemort told him. "Without you, all this wouldn't be possible. You will be highest among my Death Eaters. You shall lead my Death Eaters."
"Yes, Master," the Death Eater breathed, a lust for power being aparent in his voice.
"Are things going well?"
"Perfectly, Master," the Death Eater assured him. "Harry Potter shall be no threat at all by the end of the school year."
Ginny's eyes widened. Harry..school year? Who was that Death Eater? One name bouced to mind: Malfoy.
"Keep up the good work, my faithful servant," Voldemort told the Death Eater.
"Yes, Master."
Voldemort, looking as if he were flaoting, left the clearing. The Death Eater spun around to face the early morning light. Suddenly, he took off his hood. It was Cho Chang. Ginny tried to scream but no voice came out. It was lucky too.
"Hogwarts awaits," Cho said to herself and then started off toward the castle. Ginny stood, stunned, for a long time. Then she realized that she had to get back to the dormitory and tell Amilia what she saw. Her mind raced as she realized that there were more pressing matters. Since Cho was a minion of Voldemort, then Harry was in serious danger. It wasn't just the seduction from a devious vixon. It wasn't the imagination of a jealous fifth year. This was real and Cho was going to kill Harry.
Ginny slipped passed the countless students crowding through the halls. Hurriedly, she glanced about for Harry. She knew he had just gotten out of Transfiguration. He had to be in that area. Ginny rushed down to Professor McGonagal's classroom, hoping to bump into Harry on the way. She was out of breath and out of options when she got to Professor McGonagal's class.
"Thanks, Professor," Harry's voice came from the class.
"Harry," Ginny said urgently as Harry emerged from the room. "I have to talk to you."
"Sure, Gin," Harry agreed, seeming unworried. "Come with me to the Gryffindor common room. We can talk on the way."
Ginny and Harry began to walk together.
"Cho's trying to kill you!" Ginny shouted.
Harry glanced at her, looking baffled.
"What makes you say this?" Harry asked.
"I heard her say it," Ginny assured him.
"Ginny, I don't know what on Earth you're playing at, but I don't appreciate this," Harry stated.
"Listen to me," Ginny commanded. "She's in league with Yo-Kno-Who!"
"That isn't funny," Harry said, irritated.
"I'm not joking," Ginny insisted. "I saw them talking in the Forbidden Forest."
"The Forbidden Forest?" Harry repeated. "What were you doing in the Forbidden Forest?"
"I was...looking for something," Ginny told him.
"Alright," Harry began, turning to Ginny, "let's say this all happened. How come they didn't see you?"
"I was using your invisibility cloak," Ginny admitted.
"How..how did you know about that?" Harry asked.
"Please, stay away from Cho," Ginny begged.
"You stole my cloak," Harry concluded. "I can't believe you would do that. I thought I knew you."
"I was using it to help you," Ginny promised.
"Right," Harry began sarcastically. "You were trying to save me from the evil Cho, so you took my cloak and looked for "something" in the forest. Now what sense does that make? Your argument doesn't seem to be holding much water."
Harry walked away from her.
"Harry, please believe me," Ginny begged, trying to keep up with him. "Cho wants to kill you."
"Just leave me alone!" Harry shouted.
Ginny stopped in her tracks and watched him walk off.
"I don't care if you never trust me again," she cried after him. "I don't care if you never want to see me again. Just please, stay away from Cho. I couldn't bare it if you died!"
Harry ignored her and continued to the Gryffindor common room.
Tears filled Ginny's eyes.