Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, I wish I did coz that'll mean I'll have lots of money but I fortunately I don't so... please don't sue ^^.

Dark Order Rising
Chapter 6: Girl of his Dreams
by ARaZhi

While the whole magical community is in an uproar over the escape of Sirius Black and his vampire cohort, and the news of the Boy-Who-Lived turned murderer. The Boy-Who-Lived is still trapped in a dream world he couldn't and didn't want to escape from...

Rain pounded hard against the castle. Inside was warm and quite. In the darkened hallway, Harry stopped at the foot of the stairs leading to Gryffindor tower and turned to Cho Chang.

"This is my stop."

"Yeah," Cho smiled up at him. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Of course," Harry leaned closer and whispered, "Good night, Cho."

"Good night, Harry," Cho whispered back as Harry kissed her cheek.

Harry made his solitary way back to his house smiling happily to himself. Life couldn't possible get better than this!

During the summer, the Marauders have successfully brought together two of the most stubborn Gryffindors in history of Hogwarts: Ron and Hermione. Now the two of them are inseparable, so sweet it was an on going miracle that ants haven't attacked them.

But what really cheered up Harry is the news that came a week after start of term: Cho and Cedric broke up.

The Marauders, still somewhat giddy with the success of their Operation Love Match decided to play cupid one more time. After a little over two months, Harry and Cho can be seen walking around hand in hand.

"Good evening, dear, password?" asked the Fat Lady.

"Marauder," Harry grinned, remembering the look on McGonagall's face when she discovered the password newly appointed prefect Harry Potter assigned.

The common room was empty except for a familiar dark haired figure sitting on a couch at the most secluded part of the room. Caitlyn have drawn her legs up to her chest, buried her face on her knees, and wrapped her arms around herself.

The smiled disappeared on Harry's face and he quickly walked over to his best friend. He sat down beside Caitlyn and placed an arm around her shoulders. She looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes.

Harry drew her closer to him and she leaned her head on his shoulder. Caitlyn wrapped her arms around him. She was so close, Harry could feel the beating of her heart and smell the sweet scent from her hair.

"Just let it all out," Harry said soothingly. He gentry stroked her silky hair until the shaking of her body stopped. The shoulder of his shirt was wet with her silent tears and she had fallen asleep.

What had upset her? He'd never seen her cry before. Not even when he and Chris dyed her hair blond when they were kids. She may not fix her hair much but in truth her hair is her only vanity.

A sudden shift in his arms woke Harry. He didn't even realize he'd fallen asleep. He blinked the sleep away from his eyes and found himself gazing at Caitlyn's dark eyes. "Morning," Harry mumbled, sleepily. She was so close. If he'd tilt his head a bit they'd be kissing.

Harry, you prat! What are you thinking? Cho's your girlfriend. Cait's your best friend. You grew up together like siblings!

But that doesn't change the fact that Harry was drowning in her eyes.

"Sorry," Caitlyn said, breaking the spell, "didn't mean to fall asleep on you like that."

"That's alright," Harry answered, coming back to his senses. "What happened?"

"Hm?"

"You were crying. Why?"

"It's nothing really."

"Nothing? You don't just cry like that over nothing!"

"I'm fine, Harry. I was just---tired, I guess," Caitlyn took a deep breath and gave him an obviously forced smile. "We still have a few hours before sun up. We'd better got get some more sleep."

"Alright," Harry wasn't going to insist if she didn't want to talk. He reached out and took her hand in his. "If you want to talk. I'm here for you."

Caitlyn smiled at him, but her eyes looked sad, "I know."

~*~

Days and weeks passed and Harry found himself spending more and more time with Cho. He didn't neglect his studies, his friends, nor Quidditch. But there are things which he would have noticed but didn't.

For example, Ron and Hermione ignored each other for three days, a record for them because after they because a couple they're hardly a meter apart. He didn't notice anything wrong until Neville pointed it out.

Now this, something that had been going on for weeks but it skipped his notice. As his friends usually say, his head is trapped in cloud nine and the clouds are blurring his eyesight.

"You should have heard McGonagall," Draco was saying in amusement, "she was so happy with Caitlyn. And I quote 'thank Merlin she finally came to her sense and stopped playing those foolish pranks with her friends!'" Draco shook his head. "She called our pranks foolish! I'm insulted."

"It must be a record," Ginny mused, "No detention at all in a month!"

Hermione laughed, "Cait used to have detention one after another. I wonder if Filch missed her..."

"I reckon she was trying to break our dad's record and that of Fred and George," Chris said, "But it's strange...seeing her so studious."

"Worried that she'll steal the 'bookworm' title from you, mate?" Ron asked Chris with a grin.

Chris made a face and punched Ron lightly on the shoulder, "I am not a bookworm."

"Really. You could have fooled me. What was the book you showed me last week? It was nearly as thick as a boulder and you said it was for 'light' reading. You remind me of a certain someone who said the same thing when she showed me that book," Ron shot a look at Hermione.

Hermione raised an eyebrow in Ron's direction, "Are you trying to insinuate that I'm a bookworm?"

"Of course not, luv, you're too pretty to be one," Ron grinned and Ginny rolled her eyes at her brother.

"Where's Caitlyn?" Harry asked. But his eyes was on the Ravenclaw table, trying to spot Cho.

"Probably in the library," Hermione replied before taking a sip of her pumpkin juice.

Harry nearly choked, "Library? She hardly sets foot in the library!"

"Shows how much you know her these days, Harry," Chris mumbled.

That stung. "What's that supposed to mean?" Harry demanded.

"Nothing. Nothing," Chris said, averting his gaze.

"Come on, Potter, admit it, your head is too far up in the clouds to notice some things or should I say 'some people'? You're hardly around---"

"Not that we don't understand," Ron quickly cut in with a glare at Draco, "We know you're busy with stuff."

Neville coughed something that sounded like "Cho".

"We understand your situation, Harry," Hermione said, "Cho's in Ravenclaw and you don't get to see much of each other except during breaks. But surely you much have noticed Caitlyn hasn't been around much lately."

She hadn't?! Harry thought in surprise. He hadn't noticed. Harry felt Chris' eyes on him. When he looked at Chris, the other boy looked away, his jaw set. Chris looked like he wanted to say something but he kept it to himself.

"Is something wrong?" Harry asked.

Ginny pushed her plate away, "She's just been distant lately. Unless you look closely you won't notice that something's...not right. Something is bothering her but she won't talk about it."

"Not to any of us, anyway," Draco grumbled. "She seems just fine hanging out with Hufflepuffs." He looked insulted. "What do they have that we don't, huh?"

"I don't know," Ron quipped, "But I know what we have but they don't!"

"What?" asked Neville.

"Brains!"

Draco and Chris snickered. Harry couldn't help but smile.

Hermione slapped Ron's shoulder, "That's mean!"

"I was just joking, luv! No need for violence!"

~*~

Harry tried to talk to Caitlyn that night. Tried to figure out what could possibly be bothering her. But she simply shrugged off his questions and insisted that she's fine. Then she excused herself saying she has some two hundred pages to read for Muggle Studies.

Harry is now in the library. Funny how he didn't even notice his best friend in the library. He spends half of his lunchtime in the library with Cho and her Ravenclaw friends. Today, the two of them are a bit early and the others are not there yet.

"Something bothering you, Harry?" asked Cho.

Harry sighed, "Caitlyn. Something...something's bothering her but she won't tell me."

"Oh," Cho mumbled, her eyes becoming troubled, "Didn't she talk about it to your other friends?"

"No. Usually one of us will know what's in her mind. But right now not even Chris knows. And he's her twin. They keep almost nothing from each other."

"Oh," Cho mumbed again. She bit her lip and looked away.

"Do you have any idea what could this be about? I know you're not close..."

"I don't know..."

"That's alright."

"...if I should tell you this. I reckon I shouldn't. It's not my secret to tell."

"She told you something?" Harry asked, surprised and hurt. He's Caitlyn's best friend! Caitlyn barely know Cho! And she talked to Cho instead of him? Why? "Tell me!"

"Harry... I really shouldn't..."

"But whatever it is I could probably help her! Is someone giving her trouble? A Slytherin? Oh if it's any of those gits I'm going to hex them so bad they'll wish they never heard the word magic," he gritted his teeth.

"No! I--I don't think whoever it is a Slytherin..."

"Who, then? Tell me!"

"I don't know!" Cho sighed.

"Please, honey, I must know! She's my best friend. I'm really worried. She's never been this distant before..."

Cho looked up at Harry and let out another sigh. "Alright. We were here in the library, sharing the same table. We decided to take a study break and we started talking about stuff. School, friends, that sort of thing. The topic somehow touched on relationships and she said she's really happy for us and for Ron and Hermione. I asked her if she has someone special and she bit her lip for quite sometime before saying no. Her eyes looked so sad. I know she was trying to pretend she didn't care but her eyes have always been expressive..."

Harry nodded. Caitlyn was like that. Her face could be blank but one look in her eyes and you'll see just about everything.

"I asked her why and she said 'it just wasn't meant to be'. I asked her 'what makes you say that?'. She said, 'the person I love, loves someone else. Besides...if feels wrong...' I said, ''Wrong? Can love ever be wrong? How can you be sure he loves someone else?' I told her I know guys who'd always admired her and she just laughed, 'It's not possible,' she said. She looked away from me and mumbled something. I couldn't hear what she was saying clearly. But I heard the words: 'sister', 'beautiful', 'not right', 'we're just friends'. It didn't make much sense."

Harry frowned, "You reckon she's in love with one of our friends?" That would explain why she doesn't say anything to any of them.

Cho nodded, "Bu I don't think it's any of the Marauders..."

"Who?"

Cho swallow, her cheeks flushed, "I'm not sure about this, alright? But I get thing feeling that it is someone very close to her..."

"Cho. Who?"

"I think it's Ginny."

Harry's jaw dropped. He gaped at Cho, too stunned to say anything. Sure they'd always called Caitlyn 'tomboy'. She always behaved like a guy. The Marauders' influence, undoubtedly. After all, all her best friends are guys except for Ginny who she's in love with? Blimey.

"Harry? Stop gaping. The others are here..."

Harry shut his mouth and stared unseeingly at the open book in front of him.

~*~

When Harry got back to Gryffindor tower, he was a man with a mission. He was going to follow Caitlyn around, baracade himself in front of her dorm room if needed until she tells him what's bothering her.

After one hour of following her around, Caitlyn finally cracked.

"Harry James Potter, leave me alone!"

"Not until you talk to me Caitlyn Angel Black!"

The common room fell silent and everyone stared at them.

"Fine!" she dragged him to a corner of the room where Ron and Hermione are curled up pretending to read a charms book.

"Excuse me! Clear out please, Mr. Potter and I need to talk before I kill him for stalking me."

Harry mouthed an apology to Ron and Hermione. Both of them got up and smiled at Harry and Caitlyn, grateful that Harry have made progress in making Caitlyn talk.

"Sit. And start talking," Caitlyn looked at Harry, evidently annoyed.

Harry wet his lips, suddenly unsure of what to say. He can't just ask her outright if she fancies another girl, right?

"I was talking to Cho..."

One eyebrow shot up expectantly.

"...and well...I asked her if you've talked to her about anything..."

Caitlyn's eyebrow went down and her eyes clouded.

"It seems you fancy someone...she doesn't know who. My own best friend not telling me name of the gu---person she fancies? You've mortally offended me!" I grinned at her to show I was teasing but she continued to frown. "Come on! Tell me! It can't be that bad. Unless it's Crabbe or Goyle..."

"Hardly!"

"Aha! So there is someone!" Harry grinned, triumphantly. "WHO?"

"Just leave me alone, Harry."

"No. Who?"

"Gods! You're impossible!"

Harry gave her his most charming smile. "I know. Who?"

Caitlyn glared at Harry.

"Why won't you tell me? Is it one of our friends? I promise not to tell. Or maybe it's another girl?" Harry made his voice sound light at the last question but none the less it clearly offended Caitlyn.

"I do not fancy another girl. And contrary to what you lot think, I am not a tomboy."

Harry silently breathe a sigh of relief. "I was just kidding," Harry said, quickly. "Just give me a clue!"

Silence.

"Alright. I'll start guessing." he rattled off the names of guys whom he knew are interested in somebody else. Fred. George. Justin. Lee. Ron. Neville.

"Neville?" Caitlyn echoed.

Harry nodded. Neville likes Ginny. If Caitlyn likes Neville then it probably hurts knowing he likes her best friend.

Caitlyn frowned. "You must be joking. Can you imagine someone with my personality with Neville? The poor boy wouldn't know what to do with someone as crazy as I am!"

Good point. Caitlyn longs for the day she can legally drive her dad's flying motorcycle. Neville would probably take one look at it and faint. Riding a broomstick he's in control of is one thing. Riding anything, flying or not, controlled by Caitlyn is another, she inherited all of her father's crazy flying skills.

"Draco?" Harry guessed. Who does Draco fancy? Harry doesn't know. Draco's as secretive as his adopted father Severus.

Caitlyn's eye twitched. "No."

"It is Draco!" Harry grinned but something twisted inside him.

"No, it's not!"

Harry ignored her protest, "This is great, Cait! You don't need to worry! Draco's available!"

Caitlyn glared at Harry, "Shut up!"

"This is perfectly normal, Caitlyn. Nothing is wrong with how you feel. You don't have to hide them," Harry said, somehow he sounded more eager than he felt. Inside, it seemed like a knife tightened around his gut.

"You really believe it's Draco?"

"Yes."

"Fine. Now, go away. I have to study and keep your mouth shut!"

Harry grinned, "Your secret is safe with me." As Harry passed her, he leaned over and whispered, "Draco's lucky." Harry's lips brushed lightly on Caitlyn's earlobe and he felt a tingle of electricity travel from where his lips made contact with her skin to his whole body. Their gazes met briefly. Was that pain in her eyes? Sadness? But it was gone so fast and Caitlyn's face was once again blank.

~*~

Harry doesn't know what time he'd finally fallen asleep. He kept on thinking of his conversation of Caitlyn and the way he felt when his lips touched her skin. Images of Caitlyn holding hands with Draco kept on appearing in his head. He found himself scowling at the thoughts. He should be happy if they end up together, but how come he's not?

Months flew by so swiftly. In no time, the school year has come to an end. Gryffindor has won the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup, both for the fifth time. The feast is celebrated amidst red and gold decorations.

Throughout the year, Harry had dropped hint after hint to Draco about his secret admirer. But Draco just scoffed and said Pansy's admiration is a universally known secret. Caitlyn, on the other hand, would glare at Harry or slap him behind the head if he so mush as tease her. In short, Harry is a useless Cupid without the other Marauders.

The train ride home was fun, games of exploding snap, tons of Filibuster fireworks courtesy of the newly graduated Fred and George.

The Black twins are nearly beside themselves with excitement. They're going on a muggle cruise with their father for a month or so and spending the rest of the summer in Hawaii and California. Sirius love the tropics. The Potters would meet the Blacks in California and together they'll go back to Britain two days before the start of term.

Harry spent most of the summer practicing Quidditch with Ron and Draco. It was fun though it could have been better if the twins were around. Neville joined them at times, so did Ginny. Hermione visited once but didn't stay long because she had to visit some relatives in America.

Everything was going fine, until Harry received an owl from Cho. At first the letter didn't make much sense. Then it became blurred and the only thing that stuck to Harry's mind was: Cedric and I are in love.

Harry moved like a zombie for a week after that. Ron and Draco dragged him to all sorts of places trying to cheer him up. Nothing worked.

How can she do that him? Did she even love him? What does Cedric have that he doesn't? Is it because he's younger? Is it because Cedric looked better?

The only thing Harry looked forward to was their vacation in California. A change of scenery would do him good. And Caitlyn will be there. He can talk to her. She'll understand. She always understood him better than the others put together.

It was their first time in a muggle plane. Since this is supposed to be a muggle type of vacation, his mum insisted on riding a plane to California. James, surprising everyone, got air sick and when he recovered the first words out of his mouth were spoken to Remus, "Please don't tell, Padfoot." He'll never hear the end of it if Sirius finds out.

The taxi ride from the airport to the hotel was uneventful but the revolving doors and the elevators at the hotel fascinated everyone except Lily. Meanwhile, Harry felt like he'd ridden an elevator before even though he's quite sure he hadn't. Perhaps he did in some distant dream...that dream where Voldemort was alive.

Harry closed his eyes and for a moment he thought he heard a screeching voice, coming from somewhere far away, "HARRY POTTER! GET YOUR LAZY SELF DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT!"

"Harry, we're here," Uncle Remus said as he gently shook Harry's shoulder.

Harry opened his eyes. He's awake. Where did that voice come from? It sounded like Aunt Petunia when she screamed at him after he accidentally turned Dudley into a pig when they were five years old.

Harry entered the huge suite they'll be sharing with the Blacks in their two-week stay. It has a beautiful view of the beach more than 20 stories below.

"Thanks," Harry heard his father say to the bellhop who pushed their luggage inside.

Harry's attention was drawn away from the beach. His gaze riveted on a girl with long black hair wearing a blue swimsuit and sarong. She grinned at them.

"Caitlyn! Dear, you look lovely!"

"Thanks, mum!" she gave Harry's mum and sister a hug and kiss. Her deeply tanned skin contrasting sharply with Lily's and Elizabeth's fair skin.

"Dad! Chris! They're here!"

"Blimey! You're all all grown up!" Remus exclaimed catching sight of his goddaughter.

"Uncle Remus!" she ran up to Remus and gave him a big hug. "I'm so glad you decided to join us!"

She released Remus to hug James, "Good to see you, Uncle James."

James grinned, "Your dad allowed you to go out in that?"

"I had to beg him to let me go out. I reckon he wants me to swim wearing my robes. I'm totally decent!" Caitlyn turned to Harry, "Hey, how you've been, Harry?"

"Good," Harry replied. No hug. No kiss. Unfair, isn't it?

"Good, huh?" James ruffled Harry's hair and looked at him in disbelief.

"Dad!" Harry ducked out of James' reach and straightened his messed up hair.

Chris was already in the room talking to Remus. "You should have seen dad's face when he saw her in a bikini. I thought he was going to faint."

"I was just trying it on! I wasn't going to buy it!" Caitlyn protested.

"Of course you won't," Sirius said as he came in the room. "Because if I catch you wearing that I'd send you to a convent."

Caitlyn looked at Lily for help.

"Sorry, honey," Lily said, apologetically, "out of my jurisdiction."

Caitlyn's shoulders slumped in defeat. Sirius was just about to reply when the doorbell rang causing Caitlyn's face to lit up, "Eric!"

"Eric?" Harry echoed to Chris who rolled his eyes.

"Ready to go?" a voice with a Californian accent asked.

"Give me a minute to find my surfboard. Come in, whole family's here."

Caitlyn introduced them before rushing off in search for her board. As she passed Sirius, she whispered, "Please be nice."

"So." Sirius stated. Never had the word "so" carried so much weight. Chris and Harry bit back their grins.

Eric, a tall and handsome boy of about sixteen with wavy dark brown hair and blue eyes, was nervous but doing his best to hide it. Harry empathize, he felt the same way when he met Cho's parents. And Eric wasn't facing just a pair of parents, he was facing a girl's whole family!

"Dad!" Caitlyn shouted before Sirius can say anything. "Can you help me with something please!"

A minute later Caitlyn came wearing a wet suit and carrying her surfboard. Sirius is behind her with his eyes narrowed.

"Shrinking and hiding my board! Honestly!" Caitlyn grumbled, out of Eric's hearing range.

Eric, who had been explaining Harry how to surf, smiled when Caitlyn returned. "Don't worry, sir. I'll make sure she's safe," this did little to assure Sirius.

Sirius nodded stiffly, "Be back before dinner."

"Yes, dad. Don't worry, I'll be fine." She kissed her dad and left with Eric, softly apologizing, "Sorry. I had to introduce you. They'd think it's rude if I don't... I hope they didn't give you the third degree."

"That's alright," came the whispered assurance before the door shut behind them and Remus and James started laughing uncontrollably.

"It's not funny!" Sirius snapped, throwing himself on the couch and glaring at the clear blue sky. Harry silently agreed with him. Somehow Harry had gotten used to the mental image of Caitlyn with Draco. But Caitlyn with some other boy? No.

"I know what you're thinking, Padfoot..." Remus said.

"Really? You became a telepath in the two months that we didn't see each other?"

"You're thinking of the 17 girls you've dated before you met your kids' mother. And how their parents look at you every time you bring their daughters home on your motorcycle..." James said.

"Ah. So, you and Remus are now telepaths. Wonderful," Sirius mutter sarcastically. "And I didn't know you counted my girlfriends, Prongs."

"I didn't. Moony did. He just happened to mention it on the plane."

Sirius continued to glare outside, "I knew you needed to date more, Moony. See how much time you had in your hands, counting the girls I dated."

"It was just an estimate. I didn't count," Remus said, rolling his eyes.

"Un-huh. Good because for a moment there I thought you forgot how to count. They were definitely more than 17."

"Eric seems nice," Lily said, trying to assure Sirius.

Sirius grunted.

"She'll be fine, dad," Chris added.

"Hmp."

"Can I learn how to surf, too?" Elizabeth asked.

"No!" All of them answered.

~*~

The eight of them had dinner together after spending the afternoon in the beach. It was the first time Harry felt good after a long time. He was with his family, with all the people he loved most. In the back of Harry's mind, the whole setting seemed alien. But another part of him insisted that it is real. That it had been like this all his life.

After dinner, they sat down to watch a movie. But Caitlyn had other plans.

"Bye, everyone! Don't wait up!" she called on her way out the door.

"Where are you going, young lady?" Sirius said, standing up and looking as strict as Severus Snape. It was creepy.

"Dad," she replied, not at all perturbed, "there's a bonfire tonight. Lots of people are going to be there. I've told you already for about seven or eight times. Remember?"

"Fine. I want you home before 12. No excuses. Or else you're grounded."

"Yes, sir!" she grinned brightly and left.

Harry caught sight of her near the doorway and his throat went dry. She's gorgeous. Exquisite, in fact. No other word could possibly describe her. Her hair was pulled loosely behind her, dark tendrils framing her face. The pale blue dress she's wearing hugged the curves of her perfectly shaped figure. The hem of her dress ends a few inches above her knees, showing off her well defined legs.

When did she turn so beautiful without Harry noticing? A voice inside Harry's head told him she'd always looked like that he was just too busy with Cho to notice.

"Harry? You're staring," Chris was smirking at him.

"What? Oh. Sorry."

"Honestly! The way guys behave around her you'd think they'd never seen a girl before. I wager they won't feel that way if they'd seen her knock Goyle unconscious. I guess we wouldn't know what hit them, would we? Seems we're immune from whatever spell she placed on those poor muggles," Chris laughed. "Maybe we're immune to it because I'm her brother and you're like our older brother."

Older brother. That was what Harry was to Chris and Caitlyn. But why does he feel different somehow?

"I don't think she did any magic, son," Sirius said, "Remember, no magic during vacation."

"I don't mean literal spell, dad!"

"Oh. Right."

"He's so out if it these days," Chris whispered to Harry. "Relax, dad. She can handle herself just fine."

"Whatever it was that hit those muggles, it's probably the same thing that Sirius caught when he met your mum, Chris," Remus said.

"I couldn't agree more. She looks more and more like her mum as the days go by, Padfoot," James commented just as the movie began to play.

~*~

It was almost midnight and Harry couldn't sleep. Sirius is downstairs waiting for his daughter. On the bed next to Harry's, Chris was sound asleep.

Where are they now? Did Eric kiss her goodnight? Harry's fist balled tightly at the thought.

The door opened and a moment later someone went past Harry's bedroom door and the door across the hallway clicked open then shut. Caitlyn is back and Sirius was pretending he wasn't waiting up for her.

Harry silently crept out of his room and met Caitlyn halfway up the stairs. "How did it go?" he asked her as they sat down on the steps.

"It was great! The music and the company was good," she smiled. The lamps around the room made her dark eyes shine. "They're having another bonfire two nights from now. Want to come?"

"Sure. But what about Draco?"

"Draco?" she frowned, puzzled.

"I thought you fancied him."

"I told you I didn't but you wouldn't believe me."

"Who was it then?"

"That was a long time ago, Harry..."

"That was just eight months ago!"

"...it's over. It's gone. Just forget it."

"Alright. It's over. Who was it?"

"Does it matter?"

"I'm just curious."

"Just forget it, Harry."

"Who?"

Caitlyn looked at him in the eye and he knew he'd get the truth this time. But it wasn't what he was expecting and it was something he won't forget. Not now. Not ever.

"Who?" Harry repeated.

"You."

Caitlyn got up and left, leaving Harry staring after her speechless.

Harry wasn't sure if he slept at all that night. He tossed and turned for hours. When it seemed like sleep was finally going to consume him, the sun's rays penetrated the cracks in between the blinds, chasing sleep away.

Chris got up few minutes after that. He looked at Harry and voiced out exactly how Harry felt. "You look like hell, mate."

"Thanks," Harry said drily. "Just what I needed to start this day."

Harry sat up and Chris sat at the foot of his bed. He looked at Harry silently for several seconds, a frown marring his boyish good looks.

"I heard your conversations with my sister last night," Chris finally said.

Harry paled.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't help but hear. I know this is a bad time...especially after Cho..."

"Who told you about that?" Harry asked sharply. He didn't mention his break up with Cho in his letters to Chris and Caitlyn because he didn't want them to worry about him.

"Lizzie. She's worried about you. But Caitlyn doesn't know. Not yet, anyway."

Harry buried his face in his hands. Caitlyn probably thinks he's an insensitive clod and he could hardly blame her. He winced as he thought back to the days when he'd endlessly recount to her every second he spent with Cho.

"She probably hates me," Harry whispered. First my girlfriend. Now my best friend.

"No, she doesn't!" Chris shook Harry's shoulder and forced Harry to look at him. "She said it herself, Harry. It's over. Just pretend that nothing happened. That nothing was said last night. If you'll act the same way you do around her then everything will be fine."

"Do you know what I looked forward to when I came here?"

Chris shook his head.

"I looked forward to talking to her about Cho..."

Chris' face fell.

"...I know she'd understand me...that she'd listen...I can't do that anymore, can I?"

"I don't know, Harry. I reckon you can. Not just yet but maybe in a week or so."

"I wish some of you had told me about this. And I thought she fancied Draco! I'm such an idiot."

"None of us knew. I just found out last month. I'm sure the others doesn't know."

"I should apologize..."

"You will do no such thing! I don't want you to bring it up! Just forget the whole thing. She's moved on. That was why she was able to talk about it. You should move on, too."

Harry hung his head, unable to think.

"Harry, you'll just dig up a lot of memories if you talk to her about it. Whatever she felt for you then it's over now. Don't start acting strange---she'll avoid you if you do."

"Okay," Harry said, quietly, his mind still reeling. He was confused. But more than that he was disappointed. If things had been different... What if there was no Cho? Would he be with Caitlyn? Maybe he'd be happier. No. He definitely would be happier. But it wasn't possible now. She no longer feels that way for him. It's too late. And too much is at stake. More than fifteen years of friendship to be exact. No wonder she kept it to herself. She was probably worried it will complicate their friendship.

Chris smiled gratefully at Harry before dragging him down the stairs for breakfast.

"Where's Cait?" Chris asked his father.

Sirius' lip twitched and he continued to glare at the morning paper.

"She went surfing with Eric," Remus answered.

"But the sun is barely up!"

"She said it's better to surf early. Less people..."

"More privacy," Sirius said scathingly.

"No. What she said was: less swimmers to accidentally hit," Remus corrected.

Sirius tutted.

"Padfoot," James said, patiently, "you'll be here for what? Just another ten days. Eric's a muggle. In *California*. They'll probably never see each other again."

Harry smiled. Good, old dad. Harry now has his appetite back.

Author's Notes: Well, this is a drawn out chapter of Harry's dream world. I wanted to explore what Harry's life would be like if Voldemort is gone and Harry's life is normal. He's as popular as not the Boy-Who-Lived but popular for coming from an old wizard family. I also wanted to experiment with Sirius' reaction when his daughter starts dating... this chapter and the upcoming parts about Harry's dream world will lay basis to Harry's actions when he gets back to reality (if he does go back). Besides, Harry's dream world can't be too perfect.. he might get suspicious if everything goes his way...

To gwen: The reality, the one where Harry Weasley came from, is almost the same up to Book 4 with certain changes... In that reality, Scabbers disappeared in Harry's third year after learning that Lupin is teaching in the school. Lupin saw Peter in the Marauder's map (which he confiscated from the twins) and this made him realize that Sirius might be innocent. In Harry's fourth year, Barty pretended to be Moody and entered Harry in the Triwizard Tournament. Harry tied with Cedric. Cedric died and Harry escaped. Harry's fifth year was very difficult because many believed that he killed Cedric. Why did they believe that? Because of Skeeter, of course, but she was cunning enough to have someone else write the article and she was the anonymous source. Yes, Hermione also discovered about Skeeter in Harry's fourth year. When Hermione made public Skeeter's secret about being an animagus, the Dark Side beat the Ministry in capturing Skeeter. Skeeter was used as a spy under the Imperius curse. When Skeeter started to break out of the curse...she was squash flat. Harry was kidnapped from the train station while waiting for his Uncle who was also kidnapped after leaving the house. Harry dueled with Voldemort but it was Anya who eventually killed him. Stricken with horror and grief, Wormtail committed suicide in Godric's Hollow. Seeing Harry dead was like seeing James dead all over again. And that is what happened to Skeeter and Harry in Harry Weasley's time.

Thanks to all the reviewers! :)

To be continued... chapter 7 and 8 coming very soon...