Chapter 12: A Kiss For Luck…

Chapter 13: A Kiss For Luck…

"Hey, where did Harry go?" Ron asked, taking a bite of some creams Fred and George had got from the kitchens, "He ought to be here celebrating."

"I think I saw him and Cho go off together," Seamus answered.

"You know," Hermione mused, "There's something that's been bothering me about her. I'm not sure what…"

"Oh, don't worry, Hermione," Ron answered, "I'm sure she won't try and drown him again."

"Oh, I wasn't thinking that of cour— Oh my gosh, that's it! Ron, Harry's in danger!"

****

Harry felt his feet hit the ground hard. He tried to catch his footing, but fell roughly to the floor.

"Oh, poor baby," came Cho's voice, mockingly, "Did you fall down?"

Harry looked up. She was laughing at him in a way she never had before. Even more frightening, her laughter grew as many more people joined in. Harry whipped around, feverishly. All around was a mass of cloaks and masked faces. He was surrounded by Death Eaters.

Harry quickly whisked out his wand, but it was torn from his hand at the words, "Expelliarmus!"

"Tut, tut, tut," Cho clicked her tongue, catching Harry's wand expertly, "We can't have you attacking us, now can we, Harry darling?"

She uttered another spell and Harry found himself bond hand and foot. He watched with horrified eyes as a tall figure made its way through the crowd. That pale face that had haunted Harry's dreams was reality again.

"Hello, Harry," Voldemort said, eyes gleaming, "So nice of you to drop by. And with such a lovely escort, too."

Cho smiled arrogantly down at Harry; that same smile Voldemort wore now.

"Bu-but she can't…it must…" Harry stuttered.

"No, Potter. There was no need for Polyjuice Potion this time," Voldemort said, seemingly reading Harry's mind, "I was lucky enough to find a follower whom you fancied. Such a wonderful actress, isn't she? And so smart, learning the Dream Controlling Curse."

Harry stared at Cho, his eyes as wide as sand dollars. "But you attacked me… You had that dream-"

"How do you know, Harry?" she asked, sneering, "Was I ever questioned under veritaserum? Didn't you, oh so coincidentally, attack Dumbledore before they were able to interrogate me? That was my crowning achievement. I followed you and spotted Weasley and Granger. When they finished that disgusting display and started slowly toward the lake, I knew they'd be perfect witnesses."

"But Malfoy said-" Harry stopped, realizing what he had just done.

Everyone turned to one Death Eater, who shrank under their gaze.

"Malfoy said?" Voldemort hissed, "You're son has been giving away secrets, Lucius? That does not become a Death Eater at all. I'll deal with you later."

He then turned back to Harry. "Yes? Malfoy said…"

Harry gulped. Well, he had already done the damage. Might as well find all the answers. "Malfoy said the Death Eater was a man."

Cho grinned, leaning down to Harry. She said, in a low, raspy voice, "I am very good at disguising my voice, then."

"You couldn't have," Harry said weakly, "Dean's attack…and Hermione…"

"It's disgusting how easy it is to sneak into your tower. I simply overheard someone say the password, then waited for nightfall. And as for the attack in your Potions class, guess who happened to be off to the loo at that moment?" Cho laughed, "You're so trusting, Harry. That's why we love you so."

She pinched his cheek mockingly. He pulled away, anger finally flying into his eyes. He couldn't believe she had betrayed him. His rage was greater than he had ever felt, yet behind that was fear.

"How did I get here?" he spat.

Cho rolled her eyes. "A portkey. What, did you think that our kiss was so "magical" we could fly? Believe me, it wasn't."

"Ooh. A bit harsh, aren't we, Cho?" Voldemort smiled, "I must say, you have excellent taste, Potter, but not very good judgment. But onto happier things. Look around you, boy."

Harry's curiosity got the better of him and he looked at his surroundings. They were in a large, plain room that Harry recognized at once to be a basement. The few windows there had bars across them and five Death Eaters guarded the one door of the room. The floor was of cracked cement, like the walls, and covered in dirt in many places.

"Remember our little duel from last year? This time, no foul ups. And don't count on your wand saving you. I have borrowed one from my supporters. We wouldn't want that unfortunate thing to happen again. It'll be just you and me, Harry Potter. Just you and me… Severus!" he snapped suddenly, "Prepare the boy, and be as rough as you like."

Snape walked up and lifted Harry by the nape of his robes, thrusting him into the wall. As he roughly removed the ropes that bound Harry, he muttered in a voice so quiet only Harry could hear, "Idiot boy. You went off with her alone, after all that has happened to you. Could you be anymore stupid?"

Finally removing the last rope, Snape shoved Harry's wand into his hand.

"Just play along, Harry," he whispered, "I'll think of something."

Then Snape buried his fist into Harry. He did it as gently as he could and Harry acted as though the wind had been knocked out of him, crumbling to the ground.

"Surprised to see your professor, Harry?" Voldemort asked as Harry was roughly lifted up by two Death Eaters, "So were we. He paid for his hesitation, but he is, after all, a wonderful spy."

Harry glared at him vehemently, then prepared himself to duel.

"My, my," Voldemort laughed, "Have we already forgotten our manners? Bow!"

Without hesitating, Voldemort forced Harry to do so. "Now, Potter, we duel."

Harry looked up quickly at Snape. His face was whiter than usual. Apparently, he hadn't thought of something yet. Harry would have to save himself. Before he could even think, Harry was hit with the Cruciatus Curse. Harry screamed, and then the pain was gone.

"I'll give you a chance," Voldemort smiled, "You have 30 seconds before I curse you again.

Harry flung as many curses as he could think of at Voldemort, but he just deflected them, almost lazily. "Time's up. Crucio!"

Harry was hit even harder this time. Voldemort held it for almost a minute. The boy had never known such agony, and such helplessness. Then Voldemort took it off, allowing him to breathe.

Harry stared around frantically, only to see the laughing faces of many Death Eaters, of Cho. Except one wasn't laughing. Wormtail was simply standing there, doing nothing. Harry was furious. He had saved Wormtail's life and now the man was just watching him die.

"I saved your life!" Harry screamed, "You owe me, Peter!"

Uproarious laughter came from the Death Eaters, but Wormtail fidgeted a bit. Voldemort looked at Harry, amused.

Harry didn't know what compelled him to say it, but he yelled out, "We were friends, Peter!"

The Death Eaters laughter started dying down. Wormtail blanched, mouthing soundlessly, "James?"

A voice in Harry's mind kept telling him what to say. "I want you to know I forgive you. Friends forgive, Peter, and you were my friend. You are my friend. Nothing can change that."

The Death Eaters were silent and everyone, including Voldemort, was looking at Wormtail.

"What is he talking about, Wormtail?" Voldemort hissed.

Wormtail shook his head, as though coming out of a dream. "I don't know, my lord."

Voldemort turned to Harry, grinning maliciously. "Your trickery can't help you, Potter. Nothing can save you. Accept your fate."

Harry writhed as again he was put under the Cruciatus Curse. Wormtail winced with every cry that came from the boy's mouth. Voldemort laughed, taking the curse off a moment. Harry panted for breath, then screamed as the curse came once again.

He looked up pleadingly. "Peter…" he murmured weakly through the pain.

Something in Wormtail snapped. He ran up and, before any of the Death Eaters could react, knocked the wand from Voldemort's hand.

The room was silent. Everyone stared at Wormtail in disbelief. Even Wormtail seemed surprised at what he had done. He started shaking, staring wide-eyed at Voldemort.

"You'll pay for that, Wormtail," Voldemort hissed quietly.

A Death Eater quickly picked up Voldemort's wand, handing it to his master.

"Run, Harry!" Wormtail screamed.

"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort yelled.

The man fell to the ground, eyes wide and jaw slightly agape. Harry stared at him, frozen to the spot.

"No more playing around, Potter," Voldemort snarled.

Harry searched the floor frantically. He snatched up his wand, then something else caught his eye. Cautiously, he palmed a hand-full of dirt.

"Avada Ke-"

Before Voldemort could say more, Harry flung the dirt into the Dark Lord's eyes. Voldemort cried out in surprise, blinded. Harry leapt to his feet. He had to get out of there. Suddenly, he spotted Cho. If she had kissed him to get here…

"Stop him!" Voldemort screamed.

Acting fast, Harry jumped at the girl. He planted his lips on hers and they fell sharply to the ground. Harry felt a tug just behind his naval and the world rushed by them. He was going back.

****

They landed with a plop on the grass.

"You!" Cho shrieked, shoving him off.

She sprung up, looking around frenetically. "We're back at Hogwarts!" she screeched, spinning back to Harry.

Before he could even get up, Cho pounced on him, pining his arms to his sides with her legs. Harry tried kicking her, but couldn't reach.

"See this," she grinned, pointing at the bracelet on her wrist, "A double-person portkey. The second you touch it, we'll be back."

She dangled it less than an inch from Harry's nose. Harry strained to keep it away from him.

"Now I must decide whether to bring my master a boy or a body," she smiled menacingly.

Harry struggled again to escape her, but she simply tightened the grip her legs held him in.

"A body would be best," she mused, "That way, you won't escape."

She pulled back her sleeves, brandishing her wand. "Sorry it didn't work out, Seeker boy," she mocked, "You just weren't my type. Avad-"

Out of nowhere came a fist. It connected with Cho's jaw, letting out a loud crack. The girl fell off of Harry, out cold. Harry stared astounded at her. Then a hand reached out to help him up. He grabbed it looking up at its owner. Azar was smiling back at him.

"And here I always thought she was too much of a goody-two-shoes," she grinned.

~*~*~

A/N: Ooh. Were you expecting that? I hope not, 'cause

I didn't even know Cho was evil until ½ way through the fic. ^-^

PLEASE REVIEW!!! Thank you all for reviewing!

-Ady