Don't sue me, I own nothing except the 14 dollars in my checking account. Rant thingy at the bottom. Kinda edited like all the chapters.
The Legacy of the Pendragons
Chapter 9 – Purely Platonic, Right?
'Dear Harry,
Sorry I haven't written in a while. You did say you'd be at the Burrow by the time I got this. So I figured you'd want to spend time with Ron and Hermoine without me distracting you and all. So how are you doing? When will you be getting your school supplies? I'm already set with my things. It's exciting and a bit sad this being my last year and all. A lot has happened. I don't really know what I want to be doing after school. Hogwarts has been my home for so long I really don't want to leave. Well, I don't want to keep you up so I'm going to end this one early. I still have to fill out some University applications. Yup, my parents want me to continue my education rather than strike out on my own. Oh well. See you soon.
Always,
Cho'
Harry smiled and folded the letter up. True enough he had enough to keep himself busy at the Burrow he had forgotten that Cho hadn't written in quite a while. He tucked the letter away, ignoring stares from his friends at the table.
At once they all opened their Hogwarts letters.
"Well that was anti-climactic…" Ron sighed and read aloud the textbook list.
'Sixth year students will require:
Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6
By Miranda Goshawk
Advanced Transfiguration, Grade 3
By Emeric Switch
Potions, Brews and Draughts
By Arsenius Jigger
Magical Creatures, Temperaments and Dispositions
By Steve Irwin
Dark Arts- Counters, Defensive and "Legal" attacks
By Draven Madd'
"Not too bad this year. We should be ok Mum."
Molly Weasley set down the pan of eggs and read the letter herself, smiling satisfactorily.
"Yes dear we should be fine. So what about your O.W.L.s ?"
All three of them pulled out the second piece of parchment. Hermoine lightly squeaked and she quickly rolled up her parchment. Ron merely gaped at his while Harry looked at his happily.
"Well?" Ron's mother asked anxiously.
"Um…here." He handed her the roll and she looked at it. Gradually her eyes grew wider and wider.
"Ron! This is incredible! Seven O.W.L.s!!! Your brother Percy got eight himself! Oh Ronald!" She promptly hugged him tightly and ran over to the fireplace to tell Arthur the good news.
"Seven?" Harry asked. " That's great I got seven too!"
"I got-." Ron cut Hermoine off and smiled. "We know. All of them?"
Hermoine beamed and could not stop smiling and rereading her scores. Ron and Harry now ate breakfast without worry that an owl would fly in with their dismal scores. Before then, every owl was watched with anxiousness.
"So are we going to get our stuff today?"
"I should definitely think so!" Molly walked back into the dining room jovially. "With everyone scoring so well on their owls I think some *ahem* additional shopping is in order. With your father's pay raise I think some new robes for the year is in order. We'll go after I've cleaned up and you all have gotten dressed alright?"
"Mum we just got new robes."
"No Ginny dear, not school robes." And she returned her attention to the kitchen.
Ginny and Ron's eyes lit up and they made a mad dash to get changed.
Harry on the other hand suddenly remembered that he had to tell Cho he was heading for Diagon Alley. He finished his food and wrote a quick note, his handwriting looking more like chicken scratch.
'Dear Cho,
Sorry I haven't written. Got our scores today. 7 O.W.L.s going to Diagon Alley today. Mrs. Weasley thinks were in for some celebratory shopping and stuff.
We'll be there before lunch time and we'll hit up Flourish and Blotts first. Hope you get this before I get there.
Always,
Harry'
Harry hastily tied the note to Hedwig's leg and gave her a gentle stroke.
"Fast as you can alright girl?" And she nipped at his hand and soared off into the sky much swifter than normal. He hoped she would get it before they left. Even so he'd wait there for her there.
***
Harry stared at himself in the mirror. He constantly adjusted his glasses, his hair or his robes. He wanted to look perfect though he would never admit it to anyone or himself.
He was nervous.
More nervous than he had ever been in his life……Well maybe with the exception of when he had asked Cho to the Yule ball. He was nervous about seeing her again. Though the two had reconciled the events of last year and even became good friends through letters, he was scared. Scared of making a fool of himself, stuttering his way through forced conversations and what not.
He was -.
"Hey Harry let's go!"
"Coming!"
He took his time down stairs, making sure he had his money pouch, his wand, and a satchel to carry his supplies. Again trying to smooth his hair out, Harry walked in to see Ron burst into flames, leaving only Molly left. She held out the tray and Harry took a handful and this time made sure to speak clearly.
"Diagon Alley!"
***
Harry counted out several hundred galleons, the most he had ever taken out. He had so much he felt like indulging himself for once. And he hoped to be able to afford some nice gifts for everyone on the Holiday. The coins rattled around before settling themselves in the leather pouch.
They all laughed and talked about nothing, Harry momentarily forgetting himself. The trio wandered off walking around random stores and staring at items they would never be able to buy, with the exception of Harry of course.
"Harry look!"
Ron pointed at the window display of Quality Quidditch Supplies. Inside displayed posters of the starting line up of Quidditch teams. What Ron was pointing at was not the Chuddley Cannons, but the Puddlemere United and the figure of Oliver Wood making a spectacular save with his tell tale smirk aimed at the chaser.
"Bout time they recognized his skill. Reserve team my ass." Harry nodded and they watched the save one more time before turning to leave. No sooner had Harry turned than he felt claws dig into his shoulders.
"Oh Hedwig. Sorry." He untied the letter from he leg and unrolled it. "We left sooner than expected. I thought you'd be back before we left."
She dug her talons in deeper before taking off and disappearing into the sunlight. His eyes darted back to the letter as he tried to follow Ron and Hermoine through the crowded street.
'Dear Harry,
I could barely read what you wrote. It's ok. Just stay on the main road. I'll more than likely find you.
Always,
Cho'
He rolled up the letter and tucked it away. He remembered his nervousness and began to sweat at the heat the suddenly seemed overwhelming. Harry was tempted to focus his aura on his eyes to help him look for her, but then he would never be able to point her out given the auras of the entire alley.
The trio wandered into Flourish and Blotts to purchase their new books. Hermoine quickly lost herself into the many shelves and Ron had found his way into the sports section. Harry walked around gathering his books hoping not to miss Cho while he was inside. He rounded the corner to the Dark Arts section and he saw her.
He was suddenly surprised at himself. He wasn't nervous, or sweating. He wasn't star struck like he usually was when he saw her. She hadn't even noticed him as she turned the page of whatever book she was reading. He looked at her and smiled. He saw all of the reasons why he fell for her and she still instilled some feelings in him, but there wasn't the familiar tugging in his heart.
Slowly he walked behind her and was able to see that she was reading up on some shielding spells. He leaned against the opposite bookshelf and tried to look nonchalant.
"You know I was going to teach that spell before we got caught."
She jumped at the sound of his voice and turned to him with a smile on her face.
"Well, maybe you'll have a chance this year."
She replaced the book on the shelf and gave him a hug. He stiffened at first but relaxed and held her at the waist. She smiled up at him and led him to a coffee table in the shop.
"It's great to see you Harry."
"Yeah. It's kind of weird to finally be talking to you."
"I know. Writing letters and talking are very different." She took a sip from her cup. "But yeah so tell me more about your summer. You always seemed to end your letter with an, "I'll tell you more about it later" sentences. Well later is now."
"True. Well, where do I start?"
Time seemed to pass slowly. The last time he sat at a coffee table with Cho, she had left early and he was left looking like a jerk. Now they couldn't stop talking. Much like chatting with Ron and Hermoine. About nothing and everything. He recalled for her the entire summer in detail with him having to wave his arms around to add to the drama of his story.
"Well, I guess I can't really compare with that now can I? Let's see I got a new broom and went to Michael's summer home with his family for a while."
"How is Michael by the way?"
Harry asked more out of courtesy since he didn't particularly like him. The fact that he was with Cho didn't help either but that didn't bother him as much anymore.
"He's fine. He comes around often. He'll probably stop by later."
"Speak of the devil." Harry watched him come into the store and make a beeline for them. He placed a hand on Cho's shoulder and they shared a brief kiss.
"Hey. What's up Harry?"
"Nothing. Just catchin up is all."
Michael nodded sagely and squeezed Cho's shoulder.
"Well I'm just in for a book I forgot to buy and I'm off." He started to walk away and he turned to them once more. "Don't you go stealing her Harry."
"Wouldn't dream of it." He lied. He had often dreamed of it and wished it more so. Michael was known for his ability to find a new girl for every day of the week. Or so Harry had heard.
Harry waited for Michael to leave sight before leaning forward over his cup.
"I'd love to, to be honest." She only smiled.
"I'll bet. So who are you hear with? Do you have to leave with them? I don't really want to take up too much of your time and all."
Harry waved her off. "Just with the Weasley's. I told them I'd probably spend some time with you so they gave me some extra floo powder if they left before me."
"Oh ok. Well seeing as we have so much time to ourselves what do you want to do?"
Harry shrugged and dropped some coins to pay for the coffee and books. They wandered around and he looked interestingly at the windows he had looked through only an hour before. They would find themselves in shops he had never before seen and going down streets he hadn't before noticed. They ate lunch slowly rarely talking and genuinely enjoying one another's company.
Cho smiled at Harry who was intently staring at her, whether he himself knew it or not she took his hand and squeezed it.
"You know I haven't had such a wonderful day in so long." Harry eyed her unbelievingly.
"I'm serious. Marietta doesn't talk to me anymore. I think only you know me better than she does."
"And Michael?"
"Not even Michael. Some things you tell your boyfriend, the rest to you best friend."
"Oh best friend am I?" Harry said mockingly and Cho lightly punched him in his shoulder.
"Harry I'm serious. I've told you some things I haven't even told Marietta. I couldn't talk to her about Cedric. I couldn't not talk to you. And after last year I hardly expected you to write back."
"Well how could I not write back? That wouldn't be very polite would it?"
"Of course. You wrote back out of courtesy. And the rest?"
Harry smiled.
"Well you kept writing back. What was I to do?"
Harry feigned exhaustion and she giggled.
"Ah yes the Great Harry Potter swamped with mail." She laughed a loud.
"You have no idea. I got death threats for myself, Hermoine, Ron and everyone else I know. Then there's the love letters and *ahem* requests of favors and stuff. It's crazy."
"Hmm mm…I'm sure."
Again she smiled the same smile he fell for only a few years back. The two left the café and continued wandering around. With each moment that passed Harry found himself falling again. Every minute passing Harry found another reason to love her. He fell for her looks before as many had done, but now he was falling for Cho the person. But he had caught himself before the end. Though it wasn't as hard this time around.
To him, Cho was not just a beautiful girl, but as he recalled the letters and the time he was spending with her, that she was a beautiful person. He had had his chance. She was with Michael, and with Voldemort's return, he had other things to worry about.
Still it didn't make ending their day any less regrettable. They walked into the Leaky Cauldron and stopped in front of the fireplace.
"I had fun Harry. I'll see you on the train."
"Yeah….." was all Harry could manage as she pulled him into a hug. He really didn't want to let her go and he only relaxed when he felt her pull away. Standing in the fireplace, he saw her smile, and the green flames pulled him away.
Ah another chapter down, hopefully plenty more to go. It was hard getting this one believable though. So pull from real life right? I see Harry and Cho the way I see me and this one girl. It was really complicated. Yeah next chapter shall explain the why it's confusing but it won't clarify it….does that make sense. Ok on with the review replies as I haven't done them in a while. Just a few so I can't get back to work on the next chapter.
HermoineGreen – Ah ever my faithful reviewer. Thanks!
Renoldo9 – I will and I am. Kinda hard to balance writing and playing though.
TuxedoMac – Your last review thoroughly confused me but it's cool. The way I had it was that the clothes got heavier by the day. It wasn't something Donovan did every day.
Wytil – I got plans for Ron with Parvarti and Hermoine (BUT NOT WHAT YOU THINK I SWEAR, st least I think so) And I got this story listed under H/C so H/Hr ain't likely…at least not in the permanent sort of way.