Author's Note: Hey all! This scene got slightly carried away. You see, people were begging for Cho to be punished, so I wrote the first part of this chapter, and then SiriusWolf gave me an idea for a scene that ended up turning into 13 pages that I've now had to split into two different chapters. So this is dedicated to SiriusWolf for the inspiration for what ended up to be a very fun scene to write. I know I promised many of you some angst in this chapter, and I'm sorry. It was the scene's fault! It just wouldn't end! Once again, thanks to Disassembly of Reason for the wonderfully long and in depth reviews!!
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That night, Harry walked into the Great Hall and, in seeing who was there, nearly ran back out. The reporter that had written the article in Witch Weekly about him and harassed him in Hogsmeade was standing in the shadows near the Gryffindor table. Yet, when the reporter saw him, though she looked very excited, she made no move to come toward him.
Harry quickly looked at Cho, but the Ravenclaw didn't seem to have noticed the reporter and was chatting away with her friends in between sipping her drink. He cautiously took his seat at the Gryffindor table. He looked up to the headmaster questioningly, but Dumbledore gave him no indication of what was going on, aside from the amused twinkle in his eye.
He was about to ask if anyone knew why a teenage witch magazine reporter was at Hogwarts, just standing off in the shadows, but was interrupted by someone calling for attention at the Ravenclaw table.
Cho had climbed up onto the table and was clapping her hands at people, as if trying to catch a dog's attention.
"As you all obviously know, my name is Cho Chang. You may have seen my name in Witch Weekly a few weeks ago. Let me tell you, it wasn't easy getting there, but took a lot of smart thinking, with my gorgeous looks helping me a bit, to manage to get my name in print," she said proudly, ignoring the fact that everyone was staring at her as if she had grown two heads. "I figured that to become famous by myself would be a lot of work, so a brilliantly decided that it would be much easier to just date a celebrity. Lucky for me, we have one in our school, Harry Potter! I don't really like the bugger or anything, much too righteous and friends with absolute trash. But he's pretty good-looking and he had the hero and Quidditch star reputation, so I could deal with him. I am an excellent actress and figured I could just fool him into thinking I fancied him. Then we'd date and get me into the limelight."
Everybody's jaws, including Harry's, was hanging open at this point. Many people started whispering or giggling. Harry looked to the reporter. She looked as if she had just been announced as Minister of Magic as a magical quill jotted down everything Cho was saying.
"Unfortunately, Harry wasn't as eager to go along with my plan as I thought. I mean, he asked somebody else to the dance and wouldn't ditch her to go with me! And then at the dance, he got mad because I told them that the Weasley girl's family was poor. How was I supposed to know that he was that close with them? He was so snappy! I even tried kissing him out on the balcony, but he told me that he wouldn't go out with someone who was just trying to get into the Daily Prophet. He was supposed to fancy me! That was the last straw."
By now, the whole hall had figured out that Cho must be under the influence of some kind of potion or spell to be admitting to all this stuff. Students began looking around the hall trying to determine who had done it. Most gazes fell onto the twins, who looked as shocked at Cho's confession as everyone else.
"So I called up some reporters and told them I'd meet them in Hogsmeade. I told them I was Harry's girlfriend, saying he was too protective of me to announce our relationship himself. The press bought it. Then Harry showed up, which definitely wasn't part of the plan. He messed the whole thing up by denying it. Luckily I had spied on him in the Quidditch changing rooms one time and knew about this ugly scar on his stomach."
At this, everyone either gaped at Cho or began laughing. Many eyed Harry, whose eyes had gone wide. His face burned as people looked at him in shock. Cho had watched him change? He shuddered at the thought.
Cho's friends desperately tried to pull their friend down off the table, but she just kicked at them and told them to leave her alone. She shook her hair as she regained her composure and began again with her plastic smile on her face.
"Then, I thought of the brilliant idea of taking pictures of Harry and I snogging. The problem was that he had made it quite clear that he didn't want to. I followed him for a few days until I finally caught him alone. I caught him off guard and put the Confundus Curse on him and led him to the girl's lavatory. Maria took pictures while I snogged Harry. He wasn't being a good sport about it either and kept murmuring for me to get off of him. He didn't know what he was talking about anyway; he didn't even know where he was. Then, stupid Granger caught us and was so rude. She ruined all our film and put us in body binds and performed the counter curse on Harry. I'm still thinking of a way to get her back. I still think my last plan with the pictures was good for Harry, but next time I'll make sure to have someone keep guard and Obliviate his memory afterwards."
As her last words left her mouth, a look of realization melted over her face. She looked positively sick.
The Slytherin table began whistling and clapping as they laughed. The rest of the hall broke out into excited whispers. The Ravenclaws looked positively embarrassed and shocked. Cho's friends had their faces in their hands or were looking horrified at their friend.
"No! No, I was lying. Th—that wasn't true. I…no!" she yelled, trying to take it back, but nobody was listening.
The reporter finally came up to Harry.
"Harry, is that true?" she asked, nearly jumping up and down in excitement.
"Er…yeah. Every word. Except for what she's saying now about lying before," he said, still slightly shocked himself.
"So Cho Chang and you have never had a relationship."
"No."
"And you aren't in a relationship with anyone right now?" she asked.
"Er…no," he said, a bit embarrassed at the personal question. He felt he better answer it before any new rumors about his mystery girlfriends got out.
"Are you hoping to have a relationship with anyone in particular?" she asked excitedly.
Harry blushed.
"All right, Miss Snider, I believe you've gotten enough for your magazine tonight," Dumbledore said, leading the reporter away from Harry.
"Just one more…" she started, twisting back, but Dumbledore led her out of the Great Hall.
Harry turned to the twins. "Did you guys…"
"No," interrupted Fred. "We were working on a Bragging Potion last summer, but never really went anywhere with it since it just turned out to be extremely annoying rather than funny. Whatever Chang had was different. Ours had people bragging about bunches of things they never did."
"But then who did it?" Ron asked.
While everyone around seemed bewildered, Hermione was looking very amused. Ron gaped at her.
"'Mione, you?"
"Harry, I only wish I had thought up something that ingenious. But, I'm pretty sure whatever that potion was, it wasn't something I've seen before."
"You mean there's actually something you don't know about?" Ron asked incredulously.
"No, it means that somebody invented it, Ron," Hermione said indignantly. "And I do not act like I know everything."
Ron opened his mouth to say something sarcastic, but Harry caught his eye with a pointed look and shook his head. This was their secret signal to prevent the stupid fights the two used to get into. Ron closed his mouth and thought for a second for a way to turn it into a compliment.
"Of course you don't act like you know everything, you're just a very smart girl," he recovered.
"Thank you. I'll let the fact that that was a total suck-up comment slide," she said giving Ron a quick kiss before he could comment about exactly who was calling him a suck-up.
"Well, whoever did it, thank you. You saved my life!" Harry said loudly enough for those around him to hear.
"You make Cho sound like some evil force that somebody's just stopped," Fred laughed.
"Have you met her?" Harry asked seriously.
They all looked up to see Cho threatening violence on whoever was responsible, as Professor Flitwick tried to calm her down. Finally Snape walked up and ordered her out into the hall and, with a slightly evil smirk, assigned her detention with him for the rest of the year. The malicious grin on Snape's face almost made Harry feel sorry for her. Almost.
Though she was rather daft, in Harry's opinion, at least she wasn't thick enough to disobey Snape. She stomped out of the Great Hall indignantly as people shouted for everyone to watch out for her in deserted hallways and while changing. As she passed, the Slytherins all pulled their cloaks around them as if trying to cover themselves, howling with laughter.
"Watch out, everyone, it's peeping Cho!" one of them yelled out, pretending to be terrified she would rip off his clothes. Harry momentarily wondered why they were supposed to dislike the Slytherins.
Though Cho had definitely gotten her name to be recognized, Harry somehow doubted that this was the reputation she had been going for.
They all turned back to their meals.
"How's Kota?" George asked casually.
"She's good," Harry said, not mentioning the fact that her letters now seemed sad and full of worried questions. "But why ask me? I thought you two had been writing back and forth."
"Oh we have been, but she seems kind of sad and won't tell me what's wrong. Besides, I wanted to know if she's mentioned me to you?" he asked anxiously.
"Oh, maybe once or twice," Harry said nonchalantly with a smirk, hoping to distract him from asking anything about why Dakota might be sad. George immediately perked up.
"Well then, let's have it. What has she said?" he asked, leaning forward eagerly.
Harry sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately, that's top secret information. If I told you, I'd have to kill you," he said with a shrug. George looked slightly taken aback.
Ginny, who was sitting next to her brother, laughed.
"Don't worry, George, it's from a Muggle movie. It's a joke," she explained. The week before, Harry had tutored her in Muggle sayings, which had led them to popular quotes from movies.
The other Weasleys shot her a quizzical look, not knowing what movies were.
"Oh no, you're turning into Dad," said George.
"Except, you actually know what you're talking about," added Fred.
Ginny caught Harry's eye with a thankful smile. Harry thanked Merlin that he wasn't cursed with a blush as obvious as Ron's. He looked over to find Hermione staring at him, trying to hide a grin. Harry silently cursed himself for ever letting his crush on Ginny slip to her.
As dinner was finished, and everyone was filing out, Harry felt a hand on his arm. He turned around to find an anxious-looking Ginny.
"Hey Harry, can I talk to you for a sec?" she asked.
"Of course," he said, slipping back, away from Ron and Hermione, in the sea of people who were trudging off to their dorms into a side hall. Ginny and he walked side by side toward the dorm, away from prying ears.
"Well, I just wanted to ask, um…for Muggle Studies…well a lot of the students don't really understand what movies are…"
"I can go over it with you again if you'd like," Harry interrupted.
"No, that's not…what I meant is that we're going on a field trip to a Muggle movie theater tomorrow night and I know it's sort of late notice, but since you're the one who's taught me all about this, I was wondering if you wanted to come," she said, trying to look calm while nervously twisting a small section of her robe.
"Really? That's allowed?" he asked, surprised at the question.
"Yeah, I asked my professor and it's fine, but only if you want to, you know. If you have something else to do, that's fine, I was just…"
"I'd love to go!" he said, stopping her rant. Ginny looked extremely relieved and excited.
"Great! Um, we're leaving at around six tomorrow night, so do you want to meet in the common room around 5:45?"
"Yeah, that sounds great, Bubasti," he said as they reached the Fat Lady.
"All right, great. Just remember to wear Muggle clothes," Ginny said happily. "I guess I'll see you then."
"Right, see you."
Ginny disappeared up the girls' dorm staircase.
For not the first time in his life, Harry wished he had some better fitting Muggle clothes rather than the ratty hand-me-downs from Dudley. He would wear one of the sweaters Mrs. Weasley had made for him, but the weather was too warm for it. He looked at his reflection and sighed.
"Put on some clothes that fit you!" the mirror scolded. "Whatever new trend this is, it makes you look like a ragamuffin."
"I don't have anything else," Harry said with a glare.
"Can't you wear those lovely green dress robes? They make you look so smart."
"No, we have to wear Muggle clothes."
"Oh. Well, you look nice then, dear," the mirror said awkwardly. "Just fix your hair and you'll look…presentable."
Harry scowled at the mirror and told it to shut it, while fingering a hole in his shirt.
He looked up when he heard someone chuckling. Ron was watching him in amusement from the doorway.
"Too bad it's seven years bad luck to break a mirror, eh?" Ron said quietly. "What are you doing wearing your Muggle clothes?"
Harry didn't know why he hadn't told Ron about the movies, besides the fear of torture from a band of overprotective brothers. But Ginny had only asked him because he had been tutoring her. But then again, according to Hermione, she had only invited him.
"Er…Ginny invited me to go with her Muggle Studies class on a field trip to the movies," he said casually, slightly worried that Ron would make a lunge for his throat. Instead, the redhead got an excited smirk on his face.
"Oh, you're going on a date with my sister, are you?" he asked in amusement.
"No, it's with her whole Muggle Studies class. She just invited me as a friend since I grew up as a Muggle," he explained.
"Right Harry," Ron said with a roll of the eyes. "Then why did she only invite you? Why you and not 'Mione?"
Harry racked his brain for an explanation. He couldn't tell Ron about the tutoring, since Ginny had asked him not to. There didn't seem to be much more of an explanation.
"Er…well, we just wanted to give you and Hermione some alone time. You know, study, do homework, the usual stuff I'm sure you two do when you're alone," Harry teased, hoping to shift the focus away from himself and Ginny.
"Oh, you call it 'studying' do you? Well, I'll have to be careful the next time you want to go 'study' with Ginny," Ron said with a laugh. He paused for a quick second before looking slightly disgusted. "Okay, right. Completely disgusting and wrong mental picture. Ugh!" he said shaking his head. Harry laughed.
"Don't worry, Ron. Ginny and I…we're just…friends," he said with a nod.
"Right, Har…friends. Well, stop sighing over your clothes. She's seen you in them practically every summer," he said reassuringly.
Harry looked away from the mirror quickly. "I'm not worried about how I look, Ron. We're just going as friends!"
As Harry began walking past Ron out the door, but Ron stopped him. "Well, hypothetically, if you did fancy my sister, there's nobody I would approve of more for her."
Harry blushed and looked down at his feet. "Er…thanks Ron, but we're just friends. Now I have to go or I'll be late."
"All right. Have fun!" he called. "But not too much fun!"
"Oh bugger off, Ron!" Harry called back and made his way down the stairs.
When he got to the common room, Ginny jumped up from the couch with a smile. Harry was slightly relieved to see that she was wearing second-hand clothes as well: a plaid skirt with thick tights and a slightly large gray shirt.
"Ready to go?" she asked cheerfully.
"Yeah, I didn't keep you waiting too long, did I?" he asked worriedly.
"Not at all, I just sat down right before you got here."
"Good," he said in relief as they walked toward the portal. "Excited for your first Muggle movie?" he asked with a grin.
"Yes!" she said as they got into the corridor. "I've heard you explain it so many times, but I can't really picture what it's like. But it sounds so wonderful and now I'll get to see one for myself. Dad will be so jealous!" she laughed.
"Yeah, I've only see a couple movies in the actual theater. It's really fun though!" he said, matching her enthusiasm.
They soon arrived at the Great Hall where the rest of the class was meeting, along with a few others that had been invited along. In small groups, they Portkeyed to the back of an alley. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and as the professor led them out into the plaza, everyone pointed out all the strange Muggle things.
"Look, look! That person's talking on one of those cell-phone things!"
"And look at their clothes! Merlin, how funny!"
"There's that food place that they all eat at! McDonners?"
"McDonalds! See, there's the sign, and it's all lighted up by electricity!"
"Oh Harry, is that a pay phone right there?" Ginny asked excitedly.
"Yup, and see that right there? That's a bicycle," he said pointing it out.
A woman walked by speaking with her friend loudly. "And I told him, 'Oh my God, you're not Prince William so stop acting like bloody royalty!'" she said, sending the class into fits of excited giggles.
"Oh my God, Susan. Just oh my God!"
"Well, all I can say to that is, oh my God."
"Oh, you two, stop acting like bloody Prince William!" they all imitated with glee.
While the professor went up and bought the class their tickets, Ginny and Harry went over to look at the movie posters.
"Oh, Kota told me about that one!" Harry said pointing out one. "She said it's really scary."
Ginny looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "A Muggle movie being scary? I seriously doubt it."
"Well, why not? I mean, I've never seen a movie that's actually scared me, but I haven't seen too many horror movies period. But I've heard there are some really scary ones."
"I'll believe it when I see it," she said skeptically. "I mean maybe it's scary to them, but we know magic, and it wouldn't be the same knowing that if it was me, I'd just put the bad guy in a body bind and be done with it."
"Well, not all horror movies are with just Muggle stuff. They have scary ones about what they call 'supernatural' stuff like ghosts, demons, and other stuff. And a lot of their versions of things are much scarier than in actual life. Poltergeists for instance. They're not like Peeves. There was this one where it pulled a girl into the telly or something. It wasn't very scary, but you get the point."
"I really don't think that something Muggles just make up without knowing anything can scare me," she said with a shrug.
"Oh really?" Harry said amusedly. "Well, I guess we'll see if that's the movie we're going to."
"Well, as long as it's not this one," she said, pointing out the poster next to it. There was a picture of a blonde woman with shopping bags and a cell phone with a caption that read, "Taking over the world, one sale at a time."
"I agree," Harry said, pulling a face.
"All right class, over here!" she called, waving them over. The excited students all ran over to her eagerly. She handed them each their tickets. Harry and Ginny looked at theirs and their faces immediately fell.
"We're going to see a movie about shopping?" one boy groaned in disgust.
"It was the only one with an appropriate rating that I thought you all might enjoy. Now, no complaining. It should be an interesting movie, and if you don't enjoy it, you could actually use it as a learning experience and try to identify the things we've covered in class in it. Now, follow me, no wandering," she said, leading the way into the movie theater.
Everyone gazed around at the Muggle teenagers playing arcade games, and the long line of people in line for snacks.
"Well, this is just our luck, isn't it," Ginny grumbled as they handed over their tickets to the ticket checker. He handed them back their stubs as they walked through to the long corridor of theater doors.
Harry grabbed Ginny's wrist and slowed his step, getting her to do the same. She raised an eyebrow as the rest of the class passed them, putting them at the back of the crowd.
"Do you really want to test your theory about Muggle movies not being scary?" he asked quietly.
A mischievous grin crossed her face. "Oh yeah."
They walked through the door of the shopping flick and peered around at the professor to make sure she didn't take role. When she didn't, the two sneaked back into the hallway, continuing a few doors down until they reached the one with the scary movie inside.
The previews were just finishing, so the lights were already down.
"Do you see any seats?" Ginny whispered.
"Think of who you're asking, Gin. I can hardly see in normal light."
She shook her head with a chuckle. "Oh wait, I see two. Here, follow me," she said leading him to a row. They had to squeeze by a few people before plopping down into some empty seats.
As the scene began, Ginny leaned over. "Oh give me a break," she whispered, "the scary villain is a little girl? Oh wait, okay that is a creepy looking little girl."
"Well, I think she's supposed to be, well something. A ghost maybe? A demon? Something not normal."
"Yeah, but still, it's not sca—AAHHHH!"
Harry's eyes went wide as the first victim was killed off in an extremely gruesome way after the scary demon girl popped out from behind him. It turned out to be the first of many jumpy and creepy scenes.
Ginny was curled up in a ball on her seat with her hands over her mouth, while Harry was doing the same except with his hands poised over his ears.
The main character walked into a dark room and when he turned on the lights, there was a body hanging from a ceiling fan. Ginny squeaked and Harry jumped.
"Who's bright idea was this?" she whispered.
"Do you want to leave?" he whispered back.
"No, I want to see what happens. Oh Merlin, you stupid girl, don't go that way you idiot! Just get out of the damn house, you stupid AHH!" she murmured, grabbing Harry's arm as she screamed, causing Harry to gasp and nearly have a heart attack. "What are they doing, Harry? What is that?"
"That's a gun. A Muggle weapon that kills things," he explained in a whisper.
"Then why isn't it working?" she asked desperately, not tearing her eyes from the screen.
"Because she's not human."
"So spells…"
"Wouldn't work, I'd guess."
"Oh Merlin."
The movie ended with the demon-ghost girl still on the loose, after the audience had momentarily thought the hero had killed it.
Harry and Ginny were still sitting in their chairs in a slight shock.
"So I guess movies can be scary," Ginny said in a higher voice than normal due to a restricted throat.
"Guess so," Harry gulped. The two looked at each other momentarily before jumping up and following everyone out, grabbing onto each other's arms while still in the dark.
Luckily, the other movie got out at the same time. Harry and Ginny just melted back into the crowd of students. Most looked incredibly bored or tired, trudging along after the professor.
"Where were you two?" somebody asked from behind them. Ginny barely suppressed a scream as the two whipped around.
"Er…we saw a different movie, Kyle," Ginny explained, while trying to calm her pounding heart.
"Yeah, sure," he said, wiggling his eyebrows before darting off. Both of them blushed and avoided the other's eye.
"Harry, maybe we shouldn't tell anyone that we saw a scary movie. I know that Fred and George would never stop popping out from corners just to freak me out, you know?"
"Yeah, who could blame them? I'd probably do the same if they were the ones who were scared because of a movie. So we saw a movie about shopping then?"
"Yup, and what a movie it was!" she said sarcastically.
As they got to the alley, they slowed down.
"Harry, in the movie wasn't umm..."
"…somebody brutally murdered in a dark alley? Yeah," Harry said nervously.
"Oh good. Just wondering," she gulped. The two stayed extremely close as they walked into the alley and joined a group who was Portkeying out.
Both were extremely relieved to find themselves back in the well-lit Great Hall.
"All right, to your dorms with all of you," the professor said with a clap of the hands.
The pair walked toward their dorm, not as confident now that they were in the darkened corridors. They gripped each other's arms tightly.
"Is it always so dark in here?" Harry asked, eyes darting into every dark corner.
"Er…I don't know, but it shouldn't be. Too many shadows and dark places. It could be dangerous, you know?" she said nervously. "Too many places for things to hide."
"You mean like demon-ghost girls of death?" Harry suggested apprehensively. Both chuckled while looking around cautiously.
They walked along in silence for awhile, ears strained for any strange noises.
They turned a corner to find a girl standing there. Harry and Ginny screamed, Ginny wrapping her arms around Harry's arm tightly, unintentionally preventing him from turning around to run, as he was trying to do.
"Woah guys, it's just me," said the girl in a familiar voice. "Lumos."
Hermione's face came into view. Ginny let go of Harry's arm as they both tried to compose themselves and calm their pounding hearts.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "How was the movie?"
"Er…good," Harry said, catching Ginny's eye.
"Very educational," Ginny piped in.
"Wasn't it about shopping?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"Yeah, who knew about all those Muggle sales and stuff?"
Hermione crossed her arms with a smirk. "Okay, let me guess. You, for some odd reason," she said sarcastically, "didn't want to see a movie about a snobby rich woman at the mall, maybe it reminded Harry of Cho or something, and so you sneaked into a scary movie instead? Now you're scared but don't want to tell anyone in fear of them teasing you and trying to scare you even more."
Harry and Ginny gaped at her.
"How do you do that?" Ginny asked in wonder.
"It's a gift," she said with a dismissive shrug. "Don't worry, I won't tell Ron, but you might want to work on the whole 'not screaming at the slightest movement' bit. Well, I have to finish making my rounds for tonight. Try to make it to the common room without having massive heart attacks, okay?" she said with a smile. She caught Harry's eye knowingly as she walked by.
"G'night Hermione," Ginny said, slightly embarrassed at her freaking out earlier.
"Night 'Mione," Harry mumbled, hoping Ginny didn't notice Hermione's look. Hermione seemed to know what she was doing, however, as Ginny seemed oblivious.
They got to the common room without further incident. The room was deserted and everything was quiet.
"Thanks for coming tonight, Harry. It was much more fun than going with the rest of the class to see the other movie," Ginny said with a smile.
"Well thanks for inviting me. It was much more fun than sitting around listening to Ron and 'Mione be all lovey-dovey with each other."
"Well, goodnight Harry," Ginny said fondly as she began to make her way up the staircase.
"Night Ginny," he said with a smile as he headed up his own staircase.
That night, Harry couldn't get to sleep. Despite repeating to himself that he had faced a supreme dark lord multiple times, he couldn't shake the fear that the ghost girl from the movie would be under the bed or behind the curtain. Every time he closed his eyes, they soon shot open again to make sure she wasn't there, poised to brutally kill him. The shadows kept taking the form of frightening forms.
At around two in the morning, he finally realized that he wouldn't get to sleep and was too freaked out to stay in the dark room. He grabbed his blanket, wrapping it around his shoulders, and quietly, but quickly, made his way to the common room. There, he could hopefully start a fire in the fireplace for some light.
When he got there, however, a familiar redhead was already on the couch with the fire going.
"Ginny?" he asked quietly.
She jumped a mile and gasped. When she saw him, she put a hand on her chest to calm her breathing. As he got closer, she shot him a playful glare.
"Don't do that!" she scolded. Then her expression turned soft. "Bad dream?"
"No," he said trying to sound brave.
Ginny gave him a skeptical look.
"You have to actually get past the idea that there's a murderous girl after you and go to sleep before you can have bad dreams."
Ginny chuckled and scooted over to give him room on the couch to sit.
"What about you? What are you doing down here at the wonderful hour of two in the morning?" he asked, laying his blanket over both of their laps since Ginny hadn't brought one.
"Thanks. Bad dream for me. I bet you can guess what about."
"Sorry for suggesting going to that movie," Harry said apologetically. Ginny laughed.
"Don't apologize. It was fun! I'd definitely go see a scary movie again," she said, with a thoughtful pause, "though maybe not for a while."
"I think I can agree with you there," he said through a yawn.
"Thank Merlin you came down though, because I was just sitting here freaking myself out. I came down here for the light, but then I realized it's really creepy in here with just the fireplace, but couldn't get up the guts to go back upstairs," she admitted.
"Why, think the ghost girl is hiding in one of the dark corners?" Harry teased in a spooky voice. Then both of their faces got a slightly spooked look and they whipped their heads around, trying to make sure nothing was in the dark corners.
They both turned back around and sunk down on the couch.
"Oh good one, Harry. Just freak us both out," Ginny said sarcastically.
"Hey, nobody said common sense was my strong suit," he said with a shrug.
"No kidding, I mean, you used to like Cho! You asked her to the Yule Ball last year! Common sense? I don't think so," she teased.
"Ugh, don't remind me," he groaned. "But isn't everyone allowed to embarrass themselves at least once in their lives for a crush?"
"I hope so. I mean you can't really top 'His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,'" she said with a laugh, before absolutely blanching at why she would have possibly brought that up with Harry.
Harry burst out laughing.
"Don't laugh! It was so horrible!" she said, trying to hide her embarrassment.
Harry looked at her with amusement. "It wasn't horrible. It was really nice, I was just being a total prat. But you must admit, in retrospective, it was quite hilarious."
"Oh yes, the memories. You, pinned to the ground by a freakish cupid dwarf, my absolutely horrid poem being sung out, with Malfoy there may I add, and the whole crowed laughing until they cried. Yes, quite hilarious," she said sarcastically. But then, catching the amused look on Harry's face, she began to laugh. "Okay, it was humiliating but funny."
"Well, don't worry, I had my wonderful moment with Cho as well. All her little friends giggling like mad when I wanted to ask her to the ball. I think it came out something like 'Wangoballwime,'" he said pulling a face. "And then there was the whole pitying 'oh the poor fool' look."
"Interesting turn on that situation, though," she said comfortingly.
"No kidding. Now that I look back at it, thank Merlin she said no. I really was a poor fool," he said with a laugh. Ginny looked elated at those words.
"Speaking of Cho, that little confession of hers was my little thank you for tutoring me in Muggle Studies."
Harry gaped at her. "That was you?" he asked incredulously.
"Yeah, but don't tell Fred and George since I had to steal one of their unfinished potions inventions to do it. I think they'd be rather mad."
"Are you kidding? I think they'd be proud of you," Harry said. Ginny looked into his eyes.
"Really?"
"Of course! They'd love to know that you're taking after them a bit in the…er…creativity department. They'd probably want the recipe though so they could sell it in their shop.
"I take it you've heard of their 'anonymous investor' then," Ginny said in amusement. "Now that's somebody that will take risks."
"I think it's a brilliant investment," Harry said, trying to suppress a grin.
"Well, then you just might be nutters," said Ginny through a yawn.
Now that both of them were more relaxed, they began to feel fatigue settling over themselves. The heat and crackling of the dying fire was very comforting, and both of them began nodding off.
Half-conscious, the stretched themselves out on the couch, laying the blanket over them both as they lost themselves to a blissful slumber.
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A/N: Okay, for those of you who would rather have Cho tortured to death, I apologize, but in a sense, since her reputation is everything to her, she is being tortured now that she's completely damaged her reputation beyond all repair. Adn then you do have detention with a royally pissed off Snape. Kudos to those who can answer this question: Why would Professor McGonagall choose the password she did for the Gryffindor common room?
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Disassembly of Reason: Thank you for your wonderfully in depth reviews! Here we go, let's see how much I can respond to. School smarts are a specific kind of intelligence, and doesn't necessary make one bright enough to pick up on what people mean by their actions. Even if 'Mione's actions were suspicious, he'd most likely think it was just because he'd stepped over the line in his insults or something. Remember, most wizards are under the impression that wizards can't get terminal illnesses like cancer. Lol, I agree, Divination is horrible, but he's a little late to start up another subject and I've always assumed that they must take at least a certain amount of classes (like in my school). I'm so happy you noticed the control thing! Very insightful. I'm glad you picked up on that aspect of Harry's understanding of Snape. Now that June's approaching, everyone, including Snape is getting a bit more edgy. He's now beginning to plan for an emergency, since it's more likely to happen now that his condition is escalating. Yay, glad you picked up on Snape's need to control his facial expressions. That will pop up a bit later. Thank you for the spectacular reviews. I assure you I read them multiple times and love every bit of it. You pick up on so much that I didn't really think anybody would! It makes things way more fun this way!
Dadaiiro: Luckily Ron was able to remain calm. I had a friend with Diabetes who would run around with needles sticking in her to freak all her friends out. I thought it was cool though, so she let me give her her shot every once in a while. It was definitely creepy and probably not the best idea, but thankfully, I didn't kill her. The twins are showing up in the next scene, which is sort of a continuation of this one. Let's just say, Harry and Ginny may not have chose the best place to fall asleep together. Malfoy's very confused right now about Harry, but whatever he's really thinking, we'll have to wait and see. Kota's been sending letters to both Harry and George, as you can see above. Lol, Voldie's a giant mystery at the moment. That is a hard question, and one I can't really answer, but there's always that hope. LizhowHP: Ok!! I lied!! I'm so sorry! *grovels at your feet* I'm so sorry, but I just began writing the scene with Harry and Ginny going to the movies and it just wouldn't end. But next chapter, I solemnly swear to have Harry ouchies, just for you!!Eowyn of Ithilien: lol. I'm glad I can teach you new things. (Imagines background music of "I can show you the world" from Aladdin). Are you checking out Draco's little, evil bum? Well, it is quite beautiful. Umm..right. I'm glad you liked Hermione and Ron in the last chapter. I've been sort of ignoring Hermione in this fic (at least in comparison to Ron) so I thought she needed a scene to star in. lol redneck? Damn, I was trying to go for crappy British, but looking at it, I can definitely see the redneck! Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment about capturing character's emotions. Honestly, that's such a big part of this story, I'm glad you think it's good.
Myr Halcyon: I'm so sorry about your grandpa. Mine died at the beginning of the summer. This chapter was on a lighter note, but it will go back to angsty in the next few, so if you're in need of a emotionally lifting things, you might want to put off reading this fic for a while. I hope everything turns out alright. And just for you, I delved into the H/G relationship in this chapter and at the beginning of the next. Though they won't get together at this point, since Harry doesn't feel he could do that to her, there's the hinting at it. Wow, I didn't even realize I was having my main characters go through those stages. Thanks for pointing it out! I hope everything's going all right and that maybe the bit of H/G made you smile.
ParanoiaIn2005: Hope you thought the payback was decent. Otherwise, you can pretend that Ginny tackled her and pummeled her ass. Lol, I'm glad you like Charles!! It was just a random idea that went slightly further than I thought, as is happening a lot in this story.
Terence: Hey! I hope you're feeling much better. Here's a little Cho-bashing to help you get through it, along with some H/G if you like that relationship. (I forget if you're an H/G shipper or and H/H or something else) And yes, Snape really is an old softie, at least for people he likes. And he likes Harry, whether he admits it or not! Yes, school sucks!! Especially when there's so much better things to be doing (i.e. fanfiction). Talk to you soon!
SiriusWolf: Okay, I was reading your review and when you said they should go to the movies, this whole scene suddenly played out in my head! I knew I had to write it! Thank you for the wonderful idea, and in case you didn't notice, the chapter's dedicated to you! Hope it's what you wanted!
Thundering Lights: Whatever word you were trying for there, I'm guessing it was under the little [omitted] thing. Oh well, I can use my imagination. Thank you for the lecture! It was needed and I thank you for acknowledging that I AM a student with a very hectic schedule. Thank you. That's my motto, I always ask myself if these tests will be important in the major long run, and most often, the answer is no. I just sometimes let myself forget that. No, feel more than free to point out my mistakes. I don't take any offense at all and can then go back and change it before printing out my final copy. Lol, yeah, Disassembly of Reason has definitely done a major feat, but it doesn't make me appreciate all my other reviews any less. I love them all, especially long ones like yours. It makes if more fun that way. I won't stop this fic before the end. That I promise.
PussyKat: Why thank you dahling! And thanks as usual for reminding me to get moving with my updates. If you like sick or in pain Harry (as I do as well, could you tell?) then you'll probably like next chapter. Maybe I shouldn't have said that, but oh well. It was fun to write about Hermione punching Malfoy. I hope this chapter wasn't too fluffy, though it might have been. I'm sorry, but don't worry, this is basically it in that thing. No snogging or dating for Harry and Ginny. I'm sorry you're depressed about some things right now. I hope everything works out for the best! (I'll send Snape over to give you a hug. He'll probably deny it afterwards, but maybe you could get Colin Creevey to take a picture of it for proof.)
BratPrincess-187: I'm glad you like Charles. Well, Malfoy is a mystery to us all. Keep in mind, he has to look tough and mean in front of his friends. Whether that's what he's actually feeling or not, who knows? Hahaha, it was so fun to write that scene with Mione punching Malfoy. I wrote it, looked at my computer screen and said "Go 'Mione!" I love being able to play with these characters.
o Hell o Kitty o: Interesting theory, we'll see! Lol, well, there's your Cho revenge! Hope you liked it, and if not, pretend Ginny beat the crap out of her.
Lindiel Eryn: Well, if anything will shut Cho and co. up, I think the fact that everybody thinks she's a giant perve now will. Snape was trying to give Ron a little confidence there, which is fun since it's Snape we're talking about.
PennyPacker: um...transfaerso is just a sort of funky made up word that sounds like transfer. Of course, now, the spells are getting a little crazy, so ignore the fact that this word means transfer while recnac is cancer backwards. Otherwise, some of the spells may not make sense. Lol, I love the Cho hatred. I hope this bit of revenge on her was okay. Lol, I'll keep that in mind for the sequel. :)
Nelum: Why thank you!! I love that song! In fact, many of my sad chapters were written while listening to that song, along with Everclear's "Wonderful." They are my sad mode songs that help me to write sadder scenes. That's so funny that you happened to be listening to it since I was probably listening to it while I wrote the scene!!
Foxfur: I'm so sorry for your friend, and so glad that my story could touch you. I've known many people who've had cancer. Some who have survived, some who haven't. I understand the pain it can cause and also the close relationships that can be formed by it. My guy friend was diagnosed with spinal cancer a few years ago, and all his friends who never showed emotion, who always tried to be so macho, turned into the most sensitive, caring guys I'd ever seen. It's not often you see teenage guys holding another guys hand, even to help them through pain, with all the homophobia that goes on these days, but these guys did. Luckily, this friend is in remission, defying all the doctors. Such a horrible thing turned out to be wonderful for the relationships that deepened so much. This will show up more between Ron and Harry as he gets more ill.
Siri Kat: lol, there's still hope, but it is sure looking that way. Hahaha so many people have lead in them. It's hilarious, in my opinion. It's very fun!
Sparkle Tangerine: Poppet! You sound like one of the cool pirates from Pirates of the Caribbean! A masterpiece?? Wow!! Thanks!! I'm so happy I could make you cry with that chapter. (psst...I cried when I wrote it!) Well, it wasn't really supposed to be H/G in any other way than just hints at it, but the story has taken on a life of its own. But don't fret, I'm not having them get together in this fic. Harry wouldn't do that to her with his little time left. And yes, Cho is horrid.
Ratgirl: I'm happy you like the inter-house interaction between the rival houses. Little Crabbe was a moment of inspiration and I'm extremely surprised with the positive reaction it got! I'm so happy!
Teazer: Lol! All points taken into consideration, though I don't think Hary's going to get laid in this story. Hahaha! Well, hey, you never know. But maybe he won't die and will still have the chance to be laid. Maybe not. We'll see! (btw, LOVE that little quote)
Shadowarwen: Lol, I will try not to cause you any more tears...or will I? Lol. Yes, Cho is a horrid fiend who is based on some girls I actually know (frightening isn't it.) I'm sure we've all met a Cho at least once in our lives.
Cestrel: Charles thanks you for being proud of him! He's showing off his black eye to anyone who will look at it. Harry...die? well, we'll just have to see about that one, now won't we?
Gwenastar22: Why merci! I'm glad you like my version of Snape. I tried to slow the change in him, since I think many people make it too unrealistic, from cold sadistic bastard to cuddly and caring father-type. I love the Elephant Medly scene and the song! Ooh, I don't know (about your H/G observation). I guess you'll have to see.
Hollie: Wow, you've read this story four times!! That's amazing. Thank you!! Lol, I love the scenes where Harry is in boxers. Mmm...
Ganymade: Thank you! I'm so glad you find it touching. Lol, I wasn't planning on going too far with the H/G aspect of the story, but then this scene popped itself out. But they won't be getting together or snogging or anything, unless another random scene pops out, but I doubt it. I hope you didn't mind! Draco...hmm...that's an interesting one, ain't he? Well, we'll have to see if he shows up again.
Random Person: love the penname!! Yay, love to make you cry! I have just eaten a bad of sweettarts so I perfectly understand sugar rushes. Though now I feel slightly sick.
Gypsy T. Potter: Hahaha!! You hung up on your friend? Brilliant! I love it. Thank you very much for the compliments!
Fantagal: HAHAHAHAHA!!!! You had me laughing sooo hard with the line "now I know, I'll ask Dobby to save ur life." I was literally laughing for about an hour. It's fabulous!
Shawn Pickett: Are you so sure about what I'm going to do with Harry? You may be right. We'll see. Lol, I love the whole demons in hell singing songs about Cho. Mental picture of a bunch of demons out doing Christmas Carols about ways to kill Cho.
Blackunicorn: Yeah, cancer runs in my family as well, though I experienced it more closely with a friend of mine. He had spinal cancer though, which is greatly different than Lukemia, but I'm trying to expand my horizons I guess.
Blackenedsoul: Lol, poor Ron. He may be a bit irresponsible, but when it comes to his friends' safety, I think he takes it pretty seriously.
Rain Warrior: Hell yeah you rock! Really? Wow I'm so surprised everybody likes Charles so much! He was just a random burst of inspiration. Lol, hope you liked the chapter.
Also thanks to saz (I'm so glad to hear your son is doing well! Hope you're not too stressed!), jo0609, catiechan (don't worry about it! Thanks), kathfire, Aurumn Breeze, PhoenixPadfoot89, Makotochi, Liliankha, A.M.bookworm247, W'rkncacnter, Leigh, EriEka127, Miss Shadow Prowl, lin-z1, Romm, bulldogchik05, Kim13, ChristinaLupin01442, NightScape, jouve25, Doneril, Maximum Poofy-Pissed Off Queen (I'm always happy to bring people to tears. Hahaha), ckat44 (thank you, I'm glad you like the interaction between characters), and jedidiah