Chapter 9: True Love
"Harry, where are you talking me?" Cho said.
It was the night of that same Saturday. Dumbledore's words ran through Harry's mind over and over.
The others, Ron and Hermione and Amanda included, had all declared themselves busy for the night, so Harry and Cho went into Hogsmeade by themselves. Cho was following him, a puzzled expression on her face.
Finally, Harry spotted his allies.
Cho's birthday in February had been, not by any of Cho's doing, a large
affair. She had received more presents than she knew what to do with, she
had later confided to Harry.
Harry had, without her knowledge, planned another surprise for her
in addition to his present.
Cho gasped as she saw them. "Mum! Dad!" She nearly ran over to them and then hugged them. She also greeted the other surprise guests: Ron, Hermione, Amanda, Ginny, and Peter Brown. Harry had had to do a lot of planning for this.
Cho looked back at Harry, smiling. For a while, she was speechless. "Harry . . . "
Harry smiled back. "Your welcome."
"Come on," she said. Let me introduce you to them formally."
After a good amount of conversation, Harry asked to take Cho away for a moment.
***
The stars twinkled in the clear sky. In the clearing where they now stood; part of the grass was still muddy or wet from previous rain. Those relatively fixed points of light overhead, which had guided so many travelers throughout the years, would not be able to help Harry choose the right path now. He had to follow his heart.
"What is it, Harry?" said Cho with concern. "You look troubled."
"Cho, I love you."
She smiled, her face turning crimson. "I love you, too, Harry."
He took her hands in his. They were a little bit cold. There was a rustling sound in the nearby bushes, which Harry ignored.
He told her about the Order, and its daring mission. "I feel that it's my duty to go."
"I think you're right," she said.
"But Cho, I might die over there. I can't bear to think of what that would do to you."
"Harry, I know you're not invincible, but it seems to me that without you and your wand, their mission is doomed to failure. There's a life at stake--at least one." She was frowning.
"Cho," said Harry with a heavy heart, "There's a way to make it easier for you--the waiting, and, possibly, my death. If we're not attached, if you forget about me and move on, then maybe, it won't hurt so much. It's not that I want to break up with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you to be my wife and the mother of my children. I want to make you the happiest woman in the world. But . . . I might not be there. Maybe it would be best if we break up."
"No, Harry," she said firmly. She had been shaking her head throughout his whole argument. "Remember what I said about true love in the novel? It's the perfect blend of love and reason. It's what I have for you--even if you can be the most un-reasonable, confused . . . considerate and noble and gentle . . ." Her hands held on to his more tightly. She took a step towards him, and then another.
A wave of rich, warm happiness flowed through Harry, washing away all his fears and worries. There was nothing better than to be loved by her. He smiled, and let go of her hands. She stepped forward again. He raised her chin up to his, her large, brown eyes full of the joy of life. Soon, their faces were within inches of each other, her black hair brushing his shoulder and smelling of roses. Her head was tilted shyly, her mouth forming a smile. They each closed their eyes and wrapped their arms around the other's neck, and then he kissed her. In that brief moment, he tried to convey even a fraction of his affection for her, a picture of her in his mind. He kissed her softly, memorizing the smooth texture of her lips and the gentle pressure of her fingers on his neck. As they broke the kiss, Harry felt a deep sense of peace and contentment filling up his heart.
She took a small gasp of air. 'That was the most incredible experience of my life," she said.
"Me, too," said Harry.
Her smile was suddenly replaced by a shocked expression. She fell back suddenly, but Harry caught her, cradling her upper back in his arms.
"Harry, what's . . . happening to me?" she said in a trembling voice.
There was a rustle in the bushes again, and then Ron, Hermione, and the others emerged, alarmed looks on their faces.
"I don't know, sweetheart," said Harry. He had never been so afraid in his life. His scar suddenly throbbed. He ignored the others, who had certainly been spying on them, and felt enraged at his own powerlessness.
"My heart," she managed. "It hurts, and I feel so weak."
"Cho!" Darling," it was Mrs. Chang who rushed the fastest to their side.
"Mum?" she said, turning her head to notice the others. She actually smiled. Those snoops, she was probably thinking to herself.
"Cho, everything's going to be fine," said Cho's mother, her frightened expression betraying her emotions.
"I'll get Pomfrey," said Ginny urgently. "And Dumbledore!" She started sprinting to the castle.
Harry prayed that those two would be able to help.
The scar began to throb again, though Harry couldn't see why. He held on to Cho's hand, and noticed that her pulse seemed to be gradually slowing.
"What can we do?" said Hermione, who was clutching Ron's arm.
"I don't know, Hermione," said Cho.
"Your pulse is slowing, Cho," said Harry, his voice full of fear.
"Try to speed it up, then," said Ron. "Harry, kiss her again." They all looked at him. "I'm serious!" he said.
Suddenly, a white form materialized before them. It was an old lady, with thin spectacles and white, flowing hair. She reminded Harry of the painting . . . of Rowena Ravenclaw!"
The form spoke. "You cannot fight the curse. I am Rowena Ravenclaw, the one who cast the spell, and I could not undo it." Her voice was cold.
"How can we save her?" demanded Mr. Chang.
"You cannot," said Rowena's ghost-like form. "I am truly sorry. .For a short time, I can stop the curse's effect." She waved her hand, sparks of light falling out. "There. Now let me tell you a story.
I loved Godric Gryffindor with an un-reciprocated love. We were single then. I eventually married a kind man named Martin Smith. We had a daughter named Malena--my heir. Martin died in the line of duty as a dragon keeper. Years later, I met another man, Paul Brown. He mystified me. Shortly after our marriage, he learned of my surviving bitterness towards Gryffindor. Malena was starting to date Godric's son, John.
Why should any other Ravenclaw have the right to a Gryffindor's love, if you can't? he had said. I was bitter. He wrote down an incantation. Only you can cast a familial curse, he said. I was not quite myself; I suspect he put something in my drink. I said it, thinking of the two dynasties while doing so, as he had instructed. At his death, I learned from his last words that he was a Dark wizard of the worst kind. My daughter had been right in fighting and loathing him and warning me of him; I was the one who was blind. I tried to take back the curse, but could not. I had not the opportunity to tell anyone; my daughter had ran from me long ago, and Paul had already poisoned me with a poison that would make my death look natural. I tried to reverse the spell until the moment of my death.
Fortunately, Malena stopped seeing John--despite not knowing about the curse. Otherwise, she would have died young, and the Ravenclaw line would have ended."
Harry hated this woman for what she had done, and would have said as much. He thought of Cho's words, about Tolstoyan compassion and looking for the good in people without ignoring the bad. He looked around, and saw Ginny with Madame Pomfrey, Professor Dumbledore, and, to his surprise, Professor Snape, staring at Rowena's ghost with disbelief.
"I cannot hold the curse any longer," said the ghost. "I have to return. Again, I am sorry." She was fading away.
"I forgive you," said Cho. "Wait! So there is a heaven?"
Rowena's form had almost completely disappeared, but they could hear her answer. "Yes," she said.
Harry heard Ginny and her group make their way towards him and Cho, but his eyes never left her face. Her pulse had begun to slow again, and for the first time in his memory, he felt tears run down his cheeks. He heard the sound of many footsteps heading for the clearing, perhaps the footsteps of students. He wiped another tear from Cho's face, and then he saw Mrs. Chang put her hand on her daughter's cheek. The sound of the footsteps stopped, and it was replaced by concerned whispers.
"Mum," said Cho, and there was complete silence. "Dad, thank you for everything." Her grip was weakening. She looked up at Harry. "Harry, be safe on the mission, then, someday, find love again. No one deserves a family more than you, Harry. Heaven exists. I'll wait for you there."
"I love you, Cho," Harry said through tears. She smiled, and then closed her eyes and breathed her last.
Harry kissed her on the forehead, and he did not let go of her hand for a long time.
***