mirrorcho
Cho

"I know of a new secret passage, Cho--just go down the second corridor and when you come to the portrait of Godric Gryffindor say 'Wallionsky' and he opens. Then there's a passageway going to the fifth corridor. It's not much, but this way you can set off a Dungbomb or two and get away before Filch turns up," Miranda Hemmine said excitedly to Cho. Cho nodded dumbly.

"My God, Hemmine, that one's so old. It may even be as old as your mother." Both Cho and Miranda whirled around to see a group of Slytherins advancing on them. Cho noticed her friend turning a dark shade of red. She started to reply, but another Slytherin beat her to it.

"What's wrong, Chang?" he said, stepping forward. He was revealed as Draco Malfoy, one of Cho's least favorite people. "Still not over Diggory's death? He's gone, Chang--gone."

Cho gasped and her eyes filled with tears at the mention of her deceased boyfriend's death. As much as she wouldn't like to admit it, his taunts were true. She still wasn't over Cedric's death. She kept hoping that one day he would come bursting into Hogwarts, alive and full of spirit, then run over to her. They would kiss and everything would be perfect...like it should have been.

She turned on her heel and ran. She didn't care where she was going, she just wanted to get away from all the taunts of the Slytherins. She ran down the corridors and had the overwhelming urge to be alone with her own thoughts. Her mind drifted over to the secret area Miranda told her about. She said it was behind the portrait of Godric Gryffindor on the second corridor, right?

It was worth a shot, and as luck would have it, she found herself on the second corridor. Cho paid careful attention to every painting around her, and when she reached the end of the corridor she found it. Muttering, "Wallionsky!", she watched as it swung open and revealed a dark path. Gulping slightly, she entered and the portrait closed behind her.

Darkness was surrounding her. She couldn't see a thing. Cho pulled out her wand and said, "Lumos!" and she could dimly see a little bit in front of her. Her cautious footsteps echoed against the walls as she made her way forward, and suddenly, a bright light flashed. It blinded her temporarily, and when it dimmed, she saw it was coming from a mirror in front of her. Curious, Cho stepped forward to see what was causing the strange light. Instead of seeing her own reflection, she saw Cedric.

A gasp emitted from her throat. There was Cedric! He was alive! Well, not really, but he was in the mirror. Staring unblinkingly back at her, he was as handsome as always. Dark hair, gray eyes, nice figure. His lips were curved into a half smile, and he stood stock still, watching her closely.

Cho pushed her hands against the glass. He was so close, yet so far away. Tears welled up in her eyes once more and she continued to watch him. For several minutes neither of them moved; never breaking eye contact. Finally, Cho could contain herself no longer, and she burst into noisy sobs, dropping to her knees.

If only he was alive. They could go along with their plans to meet up in Hogsmeade every weekend, since Cedric would have graduated. They could have talked, laughed, kissed...they could have been together.

"Cho? Cho, are you in here? Come on, girl, don't let them get to you. You're above that." Miranda's concerned voice rang out, and her footsteps were heard creeping closer and closer to Cho--and Cedric. "Cho? Come on now..."

No, Miranda can't see Cedric, Cho thought frantically. I need to get her out of here before she sees him! "Coming, Miranda," she said hoarsely. She picked herself up off the ground and ran as fast as she could possibly go towards the shadowy shape.

"There you are...come on." Together, they walked back through Godric Gryffindor's portrait and towards their next class, Herbology. Miranda kept chattering away, obviously trying to divert Cho's attention from the Slytherins. Cho, however, paid no heed to her words and was off in a world of her own, thinking about Cedric.

And what might have been.