Disclaimer: You know this by heart already, and I'm getting sick of this, but I don't want to get sued, so whatever is new and not familiar belongs to me, and the rest is the magic of JK.
A/N : The last chapter was mega long. Gosh. In NY where I live, I don't have any extra time but I just had to get D and H out of the way, and Pansy also. Well, I hope you enjoy, and tell me what you think. I might get mean this time and really not post the next chapter until I get at least 10 reviews. I like to hear some feedback on whether I should continue, if you like it, and all that garbage. SO read and review. Flames accepted. Also, I'm not writing any of the questions the treasure hunt asked, because I've got no patience. I'm just focusing on the 'side' conversations they have. Well, the treasure hunt isn't the main part of the story anyways . . . I add to it pretty often. Check it every week and there'll probably be one maybe even two or three new chapters . . .
Chapter 7: The Treasure Hunt Continues . . .
Ron felt real giddy as he strolled through the castle in search of an empty classroom with Liza at his side. That feeling that you get when you drank about seven cups of vodka just without the hangover . . . The dizziness and the happy feeling.
Liza furtively looked at Ron while he was wrapped up in his cheery thoughts. She had seen the look on Ron's face when her name was called, and she saw it light up. Hermione had told her that Ron used to be much more shy and uncomfortable around girls, but she could tell that now he was able to be around one and not turn purple in his face. He always spoke to her normally and easily, and she knew he liked her. He wasn't handsome in the really good-looking sense, as Harry, who had adorable features that made you want to just stare at him. By Harry he didn't have a look that was drop dead gorgeous that you could look at but after a while you get bored of it because it's so perfect. He had a cute nose and face that looked as if he was made of sugar. And he was. He was as sweet as they came. Always caring about others. Not acting like an all mighty because he was famous. Yet she didn't feel anything to Harry but as a best friend, which he was. Now, Liza had seen pictures of Ron when he was younger, in his first and second years. There he had looked as if his hands and feet were too big, and his nose was so long for his face. But over the years he had grown taller, and his hands, feet, and nose stayed the same size, so it was now all in proportion. He had muscles but was thin, yet didn't have the body of a kid. He had a gentle, soft look about him, that was very inviting. She turned to him smiling.
"Hey Ron. Isn't this cool? I think I see an empty classroom. Let's go there and talk about our plan."
"Yeah, we had better win this. Come on Liz, let's go." He gently tugged on her hand and pulled her into an empty room. When they got in, they closed the door, in case someone tried to listen in, and began going through the questions. They went over it all, each of them knowing different things, thinking of what to get for it, and marking what they should look up in the library. They did all the numbers they knew, coming up with original, farfetched things to put in the box. They traveled around Hogwart's grounds, thoroughly enjoying themselves. They finished all the ones they knew, and looked up the ones they didn't in the library, leaving the thinking to be done for the next day. They parted in good spirits making plans to meet each other the next day. Both fell asleep easily that night, each one strangely thinking of the other.
The next morning they both got up bright and early. They flew through the rest of the questions skipping out the few hardest and handed it in, knowing they had done their best. It was about 3:00 when they were done. The hunt was officially over at 11:00 that night, so they had plenty of time to kill. They strolled over to a large rock facing the lake, and sat down next to each other.
"Ron?" Liza said hesitantly. "Thanks. I had a really great time." Her auburn hair had a pretty copper look to it as the sun shone on it, strong rays bouncing around them quietly.
"So did I Liza." Ron looked at her carefully. There was so much he wanted to say, but he couldn't just start out of nowhere, saying 'you know, Liz, I really like you.' He'd sound like a full time geek. "Do you . . . do you think that we were one of those people paired up, not just randomly picked?" That felt like a good way to broach the topic on his mind. He knew he liked her, and was pretty sure she knew too, but did she like him as well?
"Ya know what Ron? I think we just may have." Here her face turned slightly red. "And I know what you are trying to tell me. You like me, right? Well, I'll make it easier and tell you the truth. I like you too. A lot." She blushed even harder and stared at the floor. Fifteen and all she still couldn't tell a boy she liked him and not be embarrassed. "I think we would be good together. Don't you?"
He took her hand and pulled her into a tight hug. Not a 'best friend' hug, but a romantic hug. "I think you're right about that Liz. I sure think you're right."
Harry and Cho ran out of the hall as soon as they were dismissed. They had discussed their plan of action while everyone else was being paired up. Harry asked his roommates if they were using their dorm, and they had said no. They all gave him their word of honor that they wouldn't go in, without asking or knocking, till 10:30 that night. So the two of them headed toward the Gryffindor common room. Harry gave the password to the portrait of the fat lady (licorice wands) and climbed inside. Cho looked around wide eyed.
"Harry Potter, where are you taking your girlfriend to?" Fred Weasely's teasing voice rang out loud and clear. Harry didn't even blush as Cho had expected him to. He just turned to Fred and laughed.
"Don't make assumptions before you know anything. Maybe soon she'll be my real girlfriend but not at the moment. Now she's just my partner for this hunt. I'll let you know when I propose." Fred and George fell down laughing and Harry sat down for a minute to catch his breath. He winked at the twins and they looked at him slyly.
"Well, Cho. In order to celebrate this future proposal how about a chocolate muffin?" Cho knew that behind Harry's laughing words there was grain of truth. Well maybe more than a grain. But one thing she didn't know was that George and Fred Weasely's food was not to be trusted. She took a big bite and immediately turned into a flapping bat. Blood seemed to drip from its mouth as it turned into a vampire, and then after a few minutes turned back into herself. Harry looked at her cautiously, hoping she wouldn't be offended. But she was laughing hysterically and fell right on top of Harry. George grinned and gave Fred a high five.
"Good one, no? Well, we'd better get going. We want to win that prize. By the way Lupin said that he would be coming down to see you about now." The two redheads climbed through the portrait and disappeared. Cho was still on top of Harry. She looked at him considering-ly and he put a finger on her cheek.
"As much as I want you to stay in my hands, if Professor Lupin sees this he might start thinking who knows what. So off now, but in my room you can come back on if you want."
"Harry. You're starting to talk flirtatiously."
"I'm working on it."
"Well, we, as in You, and, I, will just go along with the 'flow' and if something comes out of it then that's that."
Harry suddenly sobered. "I'm just feeling Giddy because Dumbledore told me that Sirius is coming. I bet that's why Lupin is coming. And don't expect me to act like that in the near future. When I get upstairs and start thinking about what I said, I might die of embarrassment."
"Did you say Sirius as in Sirius Black?!?!?" Cho's voice grew shrill. "What are you doing collaborating with a monster like him?" Harry quickly filled her in to all the things that had happened in his third year, and how Sirius had helped him last year, by the tournament. Cho's eyes grew wider and wider over the fifteen minutes Harry spent telling her the story. "Wow Harry that is just unbelievable." Cho gasped as the door was pushed open and Lupin walked in followed by a large dog. He looked at Harry questioningly and Harry nodded.
"It's okay. I just told her the story with Sirius. Come up to my dorm. My roommates lent it to me till tonight." Cho gasped yet again, as Sirius transformed. He looked good. His robes neat and clean. His hair shiny and brushed. His face full and handsome.
"Harry!" Sirius ran over to him and wrapped him in a big hug. "How are you? Any problems in school or anything else?" Harry shook his head but his eyes looked uncertain. "Come on Harry my boy, spit it out." He looked at his god-son concerned.
Harry took a deep breath. "Well, since Voldemort left I didn't have any dreams, but last night I . . . dreamed that my Mum was there and she warned me to be careful because a great evil will be hatched today." Harry's voice choked up. Sirius looked concerned, and Cho slid close to him.
"Harry, I can't really stay, but you must promise me Harry. Promise me that if something, anything, happens you go straight to Dumbledore, and then send me an owl."
"I promise." With that Sirius transformed, and followed Lupin out the door.
"Harry? Are you alright?" Cho looked at him kindly. "Would you like to talk about it?"
"Oh, Cho. You don't understand." Cho put her arms around him tenderly and he began to sob on her shoulder. "I had to live my whole life with those stupid, idiotic, muggle relative of mine. I always tried so hard not to complain. I mean, I could've been sent to an orphanage. That's even worse. And I have to live a life with everyone gaping at my forehead. Being accused that everything I do is for more fame. I have to face an evil man who's goal is to kill me. Not a side concern, but his main concern. All the teachers expect me to be so perfect, because that's who I am. The famous Harry Potter. Yes, I do have real friends. But Ron? I love him, don't get me wrong. He's helped me through tons. But he thinks that being famous is a dream and wishes he can be me. Hermione is a girl." Cho looked at him sharply here. "Don't look at me like that. And she is so secure. She is this brilliant bookworm. If I'd tell her how much I'd miss my parents she'd probably tell me to read a book about orphan muggles. Liza is new. I'd feel stupid if I'd tell her anything. Sirius is a wanted, innocent criminal. He can't always be around me whenever I need him as much as he'd want to. And Dumbledore, is well, Dumbledore. I don't mean to complain. But I feel so lost sometimes, that I just can't take it. I have these dreams sometimes. I haven't had them for a while. I see my Mum and Dad smiling at me, and as they're about to kiss me there's a flash of green light and they're lying there spread out dead and silent. I have no parents. No friends who really understand. Ron cares about me but he doesn't really care. Noone does." Harry sat there in her lap his head on her shoulder. He felt spent. He had never said that to anyone. Cho took her finger and tipped his face towards hers. She looked into his beautiful, glowing green eyes.
"Oh no, Harry Potter. You're wrong. Someone does care. I care very much Harry. I must, because I have a feeling that you never said that to anyone." He looked up at her, swallowed hard, and nodded his head. "Now let's get on with this treasure hunt." If Ron and Liza seemed to have gone through it all fast, Harry and Cho zoomed. Between both of them, and Harry's many experiences with the dark arts, all the questions were answered except for the last three. And it was only 9:00.
"Harry!" Cho laughed as he plopped on the bed in a dramatic faint.
"Hey! How about if we go flying? I will use my invisibility cloak so noone will see us." They clambered on to his broom and flew off into the night sky.
"Don't you feel like flying to the moon sometimes?" Cho asked Harry as they stared at the bright moon hanging in the sky. The teens stared up at the speckled velvet ceiling above them.
"I want to give you something for being so sweet and helpful today." Harry landed the broomstick and beckoned to Cho. He took her to a spot in the field and sat down. Cho remembered that Harry had gone off that afternoon for 20 minutes. Now she realized why. Harry took a square frame out of his pocket. It was shining in many colors, and inside of it was written THANK YOU in green the color of Harry's eyes. It sparkled and gleamed. It was a pretty hard piece of transfiguration of a paper and charming of regular writing. But it was beautiful. Cho leaned towards Harry.
"As much as I gave you today I gained. Because you are so special and incredible that I think that I have a gained a friend. And you can tell Fred and George that you got a girlfriend." She gently took hold of his chin and kissed him softly. Unlike Malfoy's kiss to Hermione which was hard and just from one side, this kiss was soft and caring. Done out of love, not desperation that something may be lost of not. But that something will get better. Harry kissed her back, and let his arm curl around her shoulder. She leaned on to him, and they both watched the stars twinkling and the moon shining as they sat together secure in the knowledge that someone actually cared.
A/N: Phew, that was LONG. now that it is out of the way , the chapters will hopefully be shorter, unless you like them this way. R/R