Chapter XVI: The Finale
Amilia and Ginny tried to study for their Defense Against Dark Arts final during breakfast. Ginny was trying to create an acceptable patronus while Amilia focused on remembering the difference between a werewolf and a regular wolf.
"Werewolf snouts are larger and they have a tendency to..to have longer," Amilia screwed up her face and then looked down at her book. "They have a tendency to have longer tails. Oh, I'll never remember all this."
"Expect," Ginny began, then she sat her wand on the table. "You know, I think the Rune Tree is a bit eccentric."
"What?" Amilia asked. "What are you talking about?"
"I found the Rune Tree," Ginny told her.
"That's where the moon spirits, or whatever they were, told you to go?"
Ginny nodded.
"Well," Amilia began. "What happened?"
"She„" Ginny said.
"She?" Amilia interrupted. "How would you know if a tree is girl or a boy?"
"It talked to me," Ginny explained. "Plus, it's shaped like a girl."
"Talked?" Amilia queried. "It really is a special tree. What'd she say?"
"She said that if I don't stop the necklace then Harry would loose his free will," Ginny told her.
"That's horrible," Amilia commented. "How long till that happens?"
"I have no idea," Ginny admitted. "The tree didn't say."
Amilia looked at her watch.
"Our Defense Against Dark Arts final is in ten minutes," Amilia informed. "We'd better get up there."
Ginny nodded, gathering her books.
During the Defense Against Dark Arts final, Ginny could only manage to get a small stream of silver smoke to come from her wand as her Patronus. Amilia was sure that she failed the entire written section of the final. As they walked down the hall, Ginny couldn't stop thinking about the Rune Tree.
"The tree told me that the Gebo necklace was made with Dark Magic," Ginny spouted. "I thought just Cho was in league with You-Know-Who. If her dad was on his side too, then why did it take her so long to go after Harry?"
"Maybe he never knew about her dad and You-Know-Who," Amilia guessed.
"She said an act of endearment will stop the necklace," Ginny told Amilia.
"What does that mean?" Amilia asked.
"I'm not sure," Ginny admitted. "But whatever it is, I have to do it."
"We can look it up," Amilia suggested.
"Look what up?" Ginny queried.
"Endearment," Amilia said simply.
"It's like holding someone in high regard or something," Ginny explained.
"Well," Amilia began, "maybe if we found a definition, it might help us in some way."
Ginny nodded.
The two girls headed toward the library. As they passed the corridor that led to History of Magic class, Ginny saw Cho and Harry. She stopped suddenly and stared at them. Cho, laughing, ran her hand down Harry's arm. Harry just smiled stupidly. Ginny bit her lip as her heart filled with sorrow. Suddenly, Harry glanced at Ginny. The moment their eyes met, Harry took Cho's hand and turned to walk away.
"C'mon, Gin," Amilia urged.
In the library, Ginny and Amilia found a large dictionary on a pedestal. Amilia turned to the "E" section. Turning pages, she glanced at Ginny's depressed expression.
"Here it is!" Amilia exclaimed. "'Endearment: A noun meaning a word or act showing love or affection, as a caress.'"
"A caress?" Ginny asked. "What, they want me to just touch him?"
"Why not look it up?" Amilia suggested, turning pages. "'Caress: a noun meaning an act of endearment-'"
"That helped!" Ginny spouted.
Amilia went on, "'-to embrace, to cuddle, to kiss."
Ginny snorted.
"What?" She shouted. "That tree wants me to kiss Harry?"
Amilia looked up from the dictionary, saying, "Come to think of it, it was a kiss from my dad that broke the spell on Mum."
"He walks away every time he sees me," Ginny informed. "Even if I had the courage, which I don't, I couldn't get close enough to kiss him."
"Do it when he's asleep," Amilia proposed.
Ginny lowered her head.
"I couldn't," She whispered.
"You've snuck into his room before," Amilia reminded. "Just use the invisibility cloak and„"
"I couldn't!" Ginny cried.
The air in the library felt suddenly very cold on Ginny's arms and neck. She shivered, the tears willing up in her eyes.
"Ginny, it's for Harry's life," Amilia said. "You've done this much...What's wrong?"
Ginny just shook her head.
**************
The next morning, Ginny had to take her Charms final. She had to successfully cast a memory charm. She made Flitwick forget that she had already casted the spell, so she had to take the final three times. Amilia accidently casted hers on herself and ended up thinking that she had to study for her Defense Against Dark Arts final. Ginny had to explain that they had already taken in several times before she remembered.
"I guess I'm pretty good then," Amilia said. "I can't remember anything. How did I do on werewolves? I've been having trouble with that."
"You didn't think you did well," Ginny told her.
"Ruddy memory charm!" Amilia exclaimed. "How about the Runes final?"
"Everyone passed that," Ginny explained. "All we had to do was make a effective Ground for the stones."
"Did I draw mine in the dirt?" Amilia asked. "Because I think that is what I was thinking of doing."
"I believe you used parchment," Ginny said.
"I suppose I changed my mind," Amilia guessed.
"Do you remember at all about the Rune Tree?" Ginny asked.
"What, did you find it?" Amilia queried excitedly. "What did the symbols say?"
Ginny was a little disappointed but also relieved. Ginny didn't want to tell Amilia about how to cure Harry of the spell. Amilia would make a big deal about it all. Besides, Ginny knew what she was going to say, so there was no use in telling her. She'd tell her afterward; that is if she actually got herself to kiss him.
"Nothing," Ginny said, not quite lying. "It just had the symbols in no order at all."
"How disappointing," Amilia grumbled. "How can we help Harry now? All that time wasted."
When Ginny headed toward Divination, Amilia had to go to Muggle Studies. Ginny walked up to the top most tower, climbing the spiral staircase and through the trap door. Since she was the only student in her level of the advanced class, there was no one else there to stand in line for.
The fragrance of orange blossoms and cinnamon smoke greeted her. The room was darker then usual. The windows were covered and all of the lamps were all out. The only light came form the fireplace. Professor Trelawney sat in her large armchair and gazed at Ginny, the firelight dancing across her huge-framed glasses.
"Sit down, my dear," Professor Trelawney offered in her usual airy voice.
Ginny sat on a pouf chair opposite of Professor Trelawney.
Lighting a purple-flamed candle, Professor Trelawney explained, "The final will be but one task. You must have a successful vision without using devises."
Ginny raised her eyebrows. She had never predicted without the use of tealeaves, biorhythms, or the tarot cards. She didn't know how to have a vision.
"Visions come naturally," Professor Trelawney informed. "You cannot force them. It could take hours."
Ginny gaped at Professor Trelawney.
"Now," Professor Trelawney whispered, "clear your mind. Open you inner eye. Let the psychic energy flow through you."
Ginny closed her eyes. Slowly, a warmth went through her. It was like she was a temporal cup being filled with spiritual water. Her toes and feet seemed almost incorporeal. This feeling of evaporating slowly made it's way up her body. The moment her head vaporized, the emptiness of her mind became full.
Though her eyes were closed, she saw, clear as day, a forest trail. She was walking it. Each leaf had it's own aroma and she could hear each individual twig crack under her feet. It was almost dark by the time she reached where she felt she should go. A light breeze flowed passed her as she glanced across the familiar clearing. As if painted by the wind, figures appeared. It was Harry and Cho Chang. Cho stood behind Harry, who stared at Ginny quite furiously. With one violent movement, Cho threw her necklace around Harry's neck and began to choke him to death. Darkness surrounded them. Suddenly, Harry and Cho got smaller and distant, as if Ginny was traveling backward through a tunnel. Cho and Harry faded into the darkness.
Ginny found herself lying on her back, her feet propped up on the pouf she was once sitting on. Sitting up, she saw Professor Trelawney looking at her, inquiringly. Ginny had no time to explain things to Professor Trelawney. If her vision was true, she had to get to the Forbidden Forest and stop Harry and Cho.
Ginny ran through the halls of Hogwarts to the entrance hall. She pulled open the front door and caught the glimpse of two figures going into the Forbidden Forest.
"Harry!" She screamed.
They didn't stop. As fast as she could, Ginny made her way to the Forbidden Forest. Dodging and ducking logs and branches, she heard Cho's distant giggling. She reached the clearing where Cho always met Voldemort. Harry and Cho stood in the middle of the clearing. Harry went to leave, but Cho pulled him toward her.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
"I have a bad feeling about this place," Harry told her.
"Don't leave me here," Cho begged. "I don't want to be alone."
"Come with me then," Harry suggested.
"Kiss me," Cho commanded.
"Here?" Harry laughed. "You could have picked a more romantic place."
"Come on, Harry," Cho whined. "Don't you want to kiss me?"
"Of course I do," Harry said, "just not here."
Cho put her hand on the side of Harry's face and directed his lips toward hers.
"Harry don't!" Ginny yelled.
Kicking herself for not shouting earlier, Ginny watched Harry and Cho kiss. She felt this sinking feeling in her stomach. It was like she swallowed a bowling ball. Suddenly, Harry pulled away from Cho clutching his forehead.
"What's wrong?" Cho snapped.
"My scar," Harry said simply. "It's burning."
Harry leaned against a tree, rubbing his forehead.
Harry glanced at Ginny. His screwed-up face smoothed out. He dropped his hand from his forehead.
"Harry!" Cho shouted. "What is wrong with you?"
"Cho," He began, "I'm leaving."
"No you're not," Cho muttered, pulling out her wand. "Impediment!"
A stream of blue-grey light shot from her wand and struck Harry. A glassy translucent shell covered his entire body and he stopped moving. He looked like a block of ice.
Ginny ran into the clearing. Cho pulled a knife from her robes and held it against Harry's frozen throat.
"Come a step closer and Harry's dead," Cho told Ginny.
Ginny stood still, tears filling her eyes.
"Why are you doing this?" Ginny cried.
"I work for the Dark Lord," Cho explained.
"Why?" Ginny whispered.
Cho's mouth was straight and stiff.
"Cedric," Cho said simply.
"You-Know-Who killed Cedric," Ginny informed.
"So Harry says," Cho voiced. "Did you ever doubt your precious Harry's word?"
"No," Ginny said faithfully.
"The Dark Lord tells another story," Cho told her.
"You-Know-Who has killed countless millions," Ginny began. "How could you believe him?"
"Countless muggles," Cho corrected.
"Muggles and wizards alike," Ginny retorted.
"The Dark Lord came to me last year," Cho explained. "He said I had a strange and brilliant power. He told me that with me by his side, he could rule the wizard and muggle worlds."
"That's when he told you about Cedric?" Ginny asked.
Cho nodded.
"He blinded you with the prospect of power," Ginny realized.
"The Dark Lord will be here any minute," Cho informed.
Cho glanced behind her to look for Voldemort. Ginny took this opportunity to pull out her wand.
"Expelliarmus!" Ginny shouted.
The knife flipped out of Cho's hand and fell, blade first, into the ground at Ginny's feet. As Cho fumbled through her robe for her wand, Ginny casted, "Accio Cho wand."
Cho's wand flew from her robes and fell right next to the knife.
"Ohh," Cho screamed. "You can't defeat me like this!"
"Why not?" Ginny asked, holding her wand ready.
Cho clenched her teeth.
"Finite Incantation," Ginny said, pointing her wand at Harry.
Instantly, the icy shell that covered Harry melted away. He stumbled toward a tree and held on to it, trying to maintain his balance. Ginny stepped forward, holding back the urge to help him. She couldn't let her guard down. Once she reached Harry, Cho would ran for the knife and her wand. Ginny stood her ground.
"What's going on?" Harry asked.
"Jealous Ginny is trying to keep us apart," Cho lied.
"What?" Ginny shouted.
Harry stood up straight, looking frustrated, "Ginny, why can't you stay out of my life?"
Harry stepped toward Ginny and Cho rounded behind him. She had a malicious smile on her face. Reaching her hands behind her neck, Cho removed her necklace.
"Harry," Ginny began urgently, "Cho is-"
"Yes, yes," Harry droned. "She's in league with Voldemort."
"No, Harry," Ginny interrupted.
"Just stop this little joke," Harry commanded.
Suddenly, Ginny felt as if she was being sucked backward. Everything melted away. Cho was standing behind Harry. She threw her necklace around Harry's neck and pulled back on the strings. Harry grabbed the necklace, trying to pull it off as he was being choked. Something shoved Ginny forward. She was back in the Forbidden Forest with Harry yelling at her. Cho was twisting the ends of the necklace around her fingers, making the string nice and tight.
"You use to be my friend," Harry told her.
Ginny ignored Harry's argument. She marched up to Cho, shoving Harry aside.
"What are you doing?" Harry demanded.
Cho dropped the necklace and stretched her hand out.
"Accio wand," Cho called.
Ginny watched in shock as Cho's wand jetted into Cho's outstretched hand.
"How did you do that?" Ginny asked.
"The perks of the dark side," Cho laughed, pointing her wand at Ginny.
Ginny backed off, holding up her own wand.
"Maybe we should all calm down," Harry suggested.
"How can you be fond of him?" Cho queried. "He's so annoying."
Cho pointed her wand at Harry. Before Ginny could react, Cho casted, "Relashio."
Fiery sparks exploded from Cho's wand. It hit Harry in the chest, hurtling him through the air. He collided into a tree and fell motionless to the ground.
"Harry!" Ginny cried.
Cho rounded on Ginny, saying, "Waddiwasi!"
The force knocked Ginny's wand out of her hand. Looking at her bruised and throbbing hand, Ginny fell to her knees. Cho suddenly screwed-up her face. Touching her head slightly with her fingertips, she closed her eyes.
"No, Dark Lord," Cho said, "it was the girl...Master, don't leave your servant...Master!"
Ginny assumed that Voldemort had somehow contacted Cho telepathically. Cho opened her eyes, looking infuriated. Ginny glanced at Harry's lifeless body.
"Don't worry," Cho began. "He's not dead. I can't kill him now."
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked.
"I need him," Cho explained. "How else am I supposed to convince everyone that you're a danger to the other students?"
"What?" Ginny gasped. "Harry would never-"
"Ickle Harry will do anything I tell him to," Cho giggled. "As long as I am with him, he'll be hopelessly in love with me. He'd do anything to make me happy. And the more time I am around him the stronger the spell gets. You can never win."
"I'll tell Dumbledore what you're doing," Ginny shot at her.
Cho laughed, saying, "Do you think that Dumbledore'll believe a jealous fifth„year over the testimonies of a sixth year and a seventh year. Dream on. Plus, Professor Dumbledore trusts the famous Harry Potter more then anyone."
Cho smiled widely, "Toodles."
Cho ran out of the clearing. Ginny watched her until she was out of sight. Ginny turned to Harry.
"Wingardium Leviosa," Ginny whispered.
Harry's body rose a foot above the ground.
"Mobiliarbus!"
Harry's body started floating toward the castle. Ginny walked beside him, steadying his movement with her wand. As she reached the front door of Hogwarts, it opened. Professor McGonagal was standing in the doorway. Ginny was relieved for a second and then Cho's head peaked out from behind Professor McGonagal's long robes.
Amilia and Ginny tried to study for their Defense Against Dark Arts final during breakfast. Ginny was trying to create an acceptable patronus while Amilia focused on remembering the difference between a werewolf and a regular wolf.
"Werewolf snouts are larger and they have a tendency to..to have longer," Amilia screwed up her face and then looked down at her book. "They have a tendency to have longer tails. Oh, I'll never remember all this."
"Expect," Ginny began, then she sat her wand on the table. "You know, I think the Rune Tree is a bit eccentric."
"What?" Amilia asked. "What are you talking about?"
"I found the Rune Tree," Ginny told her.
"That's where the moon spirits, or whatever they were, told you to go?"
Ginny nodded.
"Well," Amilia began. "What happened?"
"She„" Ginny said.
"She?" Amilia interrupted. "How would you know if a tree is girl or a boy?"
"It talked to me," Ginny explained. "Plus, it's shaped like a girl."
"Talked?" Amilia queried. "It really is a special tree. What'd she say?"
"She said that if I don't stop the necklace then Harry would loose his free will," Ginny told her.
"That's horrible," Amilia commented. "How long till that happens?"
"I have no idea," Ginny admitted. "The tree didn't say."
Amilia looked at her watch.
"Our Defense Against Dark Arts final is in ten minutes," Amilia informed. "We'd better get up there."
Ginny nodded, gathering her books.
During the Defense Against Dark Arts final, Ginny could only manage to get a small stream of silver smoke to come from her wand as her Patronus. Amilia was sure that she failed the entire written section of the final. As they walked down the hall, Ginny couldn't stop thinking about the Rune Tree.
"The tree told me that the Gebo necklace was made with Dark Magic," Ginny spouted. "I thought just Cho was in league with You-Know-Who. If her dad was on his side too, then why did it take her so long to go after Harry?"
"Maybe he never knew about her dad and You-Know-Who," Amilia guessed.
"She said an act of endearment will stop the necklace," Ginny told Amilia.
"What does that mean?" Amilia asked.
"I'm not sure," Ginny admitted. "But whatever it is, I have to do it."
"We can look it up," Amilia suggested.
"Look what up?" Ginny queried.
"Endearment," Amilia said simply.
"It's like holding someone in high regard or something," Ginny explained.
"Well," Amilia began, "maybe if we found a definition, it might help us in some way."
Ginny nodded.
The two girls headed toward the library. As they passed the corridor that led to History of Magic class, Ginny saw Cho and Harry. She stopped suddenly and stared at them. Cho, laughing, ran her hand down Harry's arm. Harry just smiled stupidly. Ginny bit her lip as her heart filled with sorrow. Suddenly, Harry glanced at Ginny. The moment their eyes met, Harry took Cho's hand and turned to walk away.
"C'mon, Gin," Amilia urged.
In the library, Ginny and Amilia found a large dictionary on a pedestal. Amilia turned to the "E" section. Turning pages, she glanced at Ginny's depressed expression.
"Here it is!" Amilia exclaimed. "'Endearment: A noun meaning a word or act showing love or affection, as a caress.'"
"A caress?" Ginny asked. "What, they want me to just touch him?"
"Why not look it up?" Amilia suggested, turning pages. "'Caress: a noun meaning an act of endearment-'"
"That helped!" Ginny spouted.
Amilia went on, "'-to embrace, to cuddle, to kiss."
Ginny snorted.
"What?" She shouted. "That tree wants me to kiss Harry?"
Amilia looked up from the dictionary, saying, "Come to think of it, it was a kiss from my dad that broke the spell on Mum."
"He walks away every time he sees me," Ginny informed. "Even if I had the courage, which I don't, I couldn't get close enough to kiss him."
"Do it when he's asleep," Amilia proposed.
Ginny lowered her head.
"I couldn't," She whispered.
"You've snuck into his room before," Amilia reminded. "Just use the invisibility cloak and„"
"I couldn't!" Ginny cried.
The air in the library felt suddenly very cold on Ginny's arms and neck. She shivered, the tears willing up in her eyes.
"Ginny, it's for Harry's life," Amilia said. "You've done this much...What's wrong?"
Ginny just shook her head.
**************
The next morning, Ginny had to take her Charms final. She had to successfully cast a memory charm. She made Flitwick forget that she had already casted the spell, so she had to take the final three times. Amilia accidently casted hers on herself and ended up thinking that she had to study for her Defense Against Dark Arts final. Ginny had to explain that they had already taken in several times before she remembered.
"I guess I'm pretty good then," Amilia said. "I can't remember anything. How did I do on werewolves? I've been having trouble with that."
"You didn't think you did well," Ginny told her.
"Ruddy memory charm!" Amilia exclaimed. "How about the Runes final?"
"Everyone passed that," Ginny explained. "All we had to do was make a effective Ground for the stones."
"Did I draw mine in the dirt?" Amilia asked. "Because I think that is what I was thinking of doing."
"I believe you used parchment," Ginny said.
"I suppose I changed my mind," Amilia guessed.
"Do you remember at all about the Rune Tree?" Ginny asked.
"What, did you find it?" Amilia queried excitedly. "What did the symbols say?"
Ginny was a little disappointed but also relieved. Ginny didn't want to tell Amilia about how to cure Harry of the spell. Amilia would make a big deal about it all. Besides, Ginny knew what she was going to say, so there was no use in telling her. She'd tell her afterward; that is if she actually got herself to kiss him.
"Nothing," Ginny said, not quite lying. "It just had the symbols in no order at all."
"How disappointing," Amilia grumbled. "How can we help Harry now? All that time wasted."
When Ginny headed toward Divination, Amilia had to go to Muggle Studies. Ginny walked up to the top most tower, climbing the spiral staircase and through the trap door. Since she was the only student in her level of the advanced class, there was no one else there to stand in line for.
The fragrance of orange blossoms and cinnamon smoke greeted her. The room was darker then usual. The windows were covered and all of the lamps were all out. The only light came form the fireplace. Professor Trelawney sat in her large armchair and gazed at Ginny, the firelight dancing across her huge-framed glasses.
"Sit down, my dear," Professor Trelawney offered in her usual airy voice.
Ginny sat on a pouf chair opposite of Professor Trelawney.
Lighting a purple-flamed candle, Professor Trelawney explained, "The final will be but one task. You must have a successful vision without using devises."
Ginny raised her eyebrows. She had never predicted without the use of tealeaves, biorhythms, or the tarot cards. She didn't know how to have a vision.
"Visions come naturally," Professor Trelawney informed. "You cannot force them. It could take hours."
Ginny gaped at Professor Trelawney.
"Now," Professor Trelawney whispered, "clear your mind. Open you inner eye. Let the psychic energy flow through you."
Ginny closed her eyes. Slowly, a warmth went through her. It was like she was a temporal cup being filled with spiritual water. Her toes and feet seemed almost incorporeal. This feeling of evaporating slowly made it's way up her body. The moment her head vaporized, the emptiness of her mind became full.
Though her eyes were closed, she saw, clear as day, a forest trail. She was walking it. Each leaf had it's own aroma and she could hear each individual twig crack under her feet. It was almost dark by the time she reached where she felt she should go. A light breeze flowed passed her as she glanced across the familiar clearing. As if painted by the wind, figures appeared. It was Harry and Cho Chang. Cho stood behind Harry, who stared at Ginny quite furiously. With one violent movement, Cho threw her necklace around Harry's neck and began to choke him to death. Darkness surrounded them. Suddenly, Harry and Cho got smaller and distant, as if Ginny was traveling backward through a tunnel. Cho and Harry faded into the darkness.
Ginny found herself lying on her back, her feet propped up on the pouf she was once sitting on. Sitting up, she saw Professor Trelawney looking at her, inquiringly. Ginny had no time to explain things to Professor Trelawney. If her vision was true, she had to get to the Forbidden Forest and stop Harry and Cho.
Ginny ran through the halls of Hogwarts to the entrance hall. She pulled open the front door and caught the glimpse of two figures going into the Forbidden Forest.
"Harry!" She screamed.
They didn't stop. As fast as she could, Ginny made her way to the Forbidden Forest. Dodging and ducking logs and branches, she heard Cho's distant giggling. She reached the clearing where Cho always met Voldemort. Harry and Cho stood in the middle of the clearing. Harry went to leave, but Cho pulled him toward her.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
"I have a bad feeling about this place," Harry told her.
"Don't leave me here," Cho begged. "I don't want to be alone."
"Come with me then," Harry suggested.
"Kiss me," Cho commanded.
"Here?" Harry laughed. "You could have picked a more romantic place."
"Come on, Harry," Cho whined. "Don't you want to kiss me?"
"Of course I do," Harry said, "just not here."
Cho put her hand on the side of Harry's face and directed his lips toward hers.
"Harry don't!" Ginny yelled.
Kicking herself for not shouting earlier, Ginny watched Harry and Cho kiss. She felt this sinking feeling in her stomach. It was like she swallowed a bowling ball. Suddenly, Harry pulled away from Cho clutching his forehead.
"What's wrong?" Cho snapped.
"My scar," Harry said simply. "It's burning."
Harry leaned against a tree, rubbing his forehead.
Harry glanced at Ginny. His screwed-up face smoothed out. He dropped his hand from his forehead.
"Harry!" Cho shouted. "What is wrong with you?"
"Cho," He began, "I'm leaving."
"No you're not," Cho muttered, pulling out her wand. "Impediment!"
A stream of blue-grey light shot from her wand and struck Harry. A glassy translucent shell covered his entire body and he stopped moving. He looked like a block of ice.
Ginny ran into the clearing. Cho pulled a knife from her robes and held it against Harry's frozen throat.
"Come a step closer and Harry's dead," Cho told Ginny.
Ginny stood still, tears filling her eyes.
"Why are you doing this?" Ginny cried.
"I work for the Dark Lord," Cho explained.
"Why?" Ginny whispered.
Cho's mouth was straight and stiff.
"Cedric," Cho said simply.
"You-Know-Who killed Cedric," Ginny informed.
"So Harry says," Cho voiced. "Did you ever doubt your precious Harry's word?"
"No," Ginny said faithfully.
"The Dark Lord tells another story," Cho told her.
"You-Know-Who has killed countless millions," Ginny began. "How could you believe him?"
"Countless muggles," Cho corrected.
"Muggles and wizards alike," Ginny retorted.
"The Dark Lord came to me last year," Cho explained. "He said I had a strange and brilliant power. He told me that with me by his side, he could rule the wizard and muggle worlds."
"That's when he told you about Cedric?" Ginny asked.
Cho nodded.
"He blinded you with the prospect of power," Ginny realized.
"The Dark Lord will be here any minute," Cho informed.
Cho glanced behind her to look for Voldemort. Ginny took this opportunity to pull out her wand.
"Expelliarmus!" Ginny shouted.
The knife flipped out of Cho's hand and fell, blade first, into the ground at Ginny's feet. As Cho fumbled through her robe for her wand, Ginny casted, "Accio Cho wand."
Cho's wand flew from her robes and fell right next to the knife.
"Ohh," Cho screamed. "You can't defeat me like this!"
"Why not?" Ginny asked, holding her wand ready.
Cho clenched her teeth.
"Finite Incantation," Ginny said, pointing her wand at Harry.
Instantly, the icy shell that covered Harry melted away. He stumbled toward a tree and held on to it, trying to maintain his balance. Ginny stepped forward, holding back the urge to help him. She couldn't let her guard down. Once she reached Harry, Cho would ran for the knife and her wand. Ginny stood her ground.
"What's going on?" Harry asked.
"Jealous Ginny is trying to keep us apart," Cho lied.
"What?" Ginny shouted.
Harry stood up straight, looking frustrated, "Ginny, why can't you stay out of my life?"
Harry stepped toward Ginny and Cho rounded behind him. She had a malicious smile on her face. Reaching her hands behind her neck, Cho removed her necklace.
"Harry," Ginny began urgently, "Cho is-"
"Yes, yes," Harry droned. "She's in league with Voldemort."
"No, Harry," Ginny interrupted.
"Just stop this little joke," Harry commanded.
Suddenly, Ginny felt as if she was being sucked backward. Everything melted away. Cho was standing behind Harry. She threw her necklace around Harry's neck and pulled back on the strings. Harry grabbed the necklace, trying to pull it off as he was being choked. Something shoved Ginny forward. She was back in the Forbidden Forest with Harry yelling at her. Cho was twisting the ends of the necklace around her fingers, making the string nice and tight.
"You use to be my friend," Harry told her.
Ginny ignored Harry's argument. She marched up to Cho, shoving Harry aside.
"What are you doing?" Harry demanded.
Cho dropped the necklace and stretched her hand out.
"Accio wand," Cho called.
Ginny watched in shock as Cho's wand jetted into Cho's outstretched hand.
"How did you do that?" Ginny asked.
"The perks of the dark side," Cho laughed, pointing her wand at Ginny.
Ginny backed off, holding up her own wand.
"Maybe we should all calm down," Harry suggested.
"How can you be fond of him?" Cho queried. "He's so annoying."
Cho pointed her wand at Harry. Before Ginny could react, Cho casted, "Relashio."
Fiery sparks exploded from Cho's wand. It hit Harry in the chest, hurtling him through the air. He collided into a tree and fell motionless to the ground.
"Harry!" Ginny cried.
Cho rounded on Ginny, saying, "Waddiwasi!"
The force knocked Ginny's wand out of her hand. Looking at her bruised and throbbing hand, Ginny fell to her knees. Cho suddenly screwed-up her face. Touching her head slightly with her fingertips, she closed her eyes.
"No, Dark Lord," Cho said, "it was the girl...Master, don't leave your servant...Master!"
Ginny assumed that Voldemort had somehow contacted Cho telepathically. Cho opened her eyes, looking infuriated. Ginny glanced at Harry's lifeless body.
"Don't worry," Cho began. "He's not dead. I can't kill him now."
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked.
"I need him," Cho explained. "How else am I supposed to convince everyone that you're a danger to the other students?"
"What?" Ginny gasped. "Harry would never-"
"Ickle Harry will do anything I tell him to," Cho giggled. "As long as I am with him, he'll be hopelessly in love with me. He'd do anything to make me happy. And the more time I am around him the stronger the spell gets. You can never win."
"I'll tell Dumbledore what you're doing," Ginny shot at her.
Cho laughed, saying, "Do you think that Dumbledore'll believe a jealous fifth„year over the testimonies of a sixth year and a seventh year. Dream on. Plus, Professor Dumbledore trusts the famous Harry Potter more then anyone."
Cho smiled widely, "Toodles."
Cho ran out of the clearing. Ginny watched her until she was out of sight. Ginny turned to Harry.
"Wingardium Leviosa," Ginny whispered.
Harry's body rose a foot above the ground.
"Mobiliarbus!"
Harry's body started floating toward the castle. Ginny walked beside him, steadying his movement with her wand. As she reached the front door of Hogwarts, it opened. Professor McGonagal was standing in the doorway. Ginny was relieved for a second and then Cho's head peaked out from behind Professor McGonagal's long robes.