Author: Azeroth
Author E-mail: mrlindberg3h@yahoo.com
Category: Mystery, Drama, Action/Adventure, Romance
Keywords: Harry, Ginny, Voldemort, Chalice
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: For all four books
Summary: Harry begins his fifth year at Hogwarts with a female Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, feelings of guilt for Cedric Diggory's death, and looking for someone to share his emotions with. Voldemort has steadily begun to build his reign of terror as a sense of urgency and vigilance goes through Hogwarts and the rest of the wizarding world.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
The Sides of Fear
Chapter 17
Catching A Cold
Cho Chang.
Those two words echoed in Harry's head as he tried to sleep. He had been saved from any further questions because it was the end of the Potions class, and he had still felt a bit dazed even during supper. He could tell by the whispers that the "news" was spreading like a wildfire across the house tables. He had stood up and walked out of the Great Hall, not wanting to be the center of attention.
Harry turned over and looked at the clock. It was three o'clock in the morning, and by the way things were going he was not going to get any sleep whatsoever. He slowly rose out of his bed and opened up his trunk, grabbing the Invisibility Cloak from within, and letting its light fabric envelop him completely. With his Firebolt in his hand he was careful not to step on the board that made a creaking noise as he slipped out of the dormitory, and downstairs into the common room.
He knew better, but he needed to fly, to feel free. The cool air envigorated him as he stepped out on the grounds. Just as he was about to tear off the cloak and set out on a nightly flight he heard someone coming from the direction of Hagrid's cabin. He quickly moved behind a small tree just to be safe. There were voices, at least two, growing stronger as they approached Harry. It was Snape and Miala.
"Do you think it can be reached?"
"Of course," sneered Snape. "Now quiet down before someone hear us."
As their voices lowered Harry moved closer in an attempt to listen in on their conversation.
"What if..."
"No, he will be able to find it when the time comes. Dumbledore has spoken to Firenze. The centaurs will roam the forest and guard it as well. When the time is right..." Snape stopped abruptly and motioned for Miala to come to a halt as well. His piercing eyes came to a stop in the direction of where Harry was standing. "I thought I saw a branch moving, and it's not even windy."
Harry tried to stand as still as possible while not breathing. Snape started moving towards the tree and when he was only a few feet away the creaking of a door made Snape look away.
"It's Grubbly-Plank," whispered Miala. "Let's go."
Snapes attention lingered at the tree for a brief moment before turning around whirling his robe angrily. Harry watched as the two of them made their escape through the main entrance. Grubbly-Plank came stalking up the grounds with a lantern in hand and wand drawn.
"Who goes there?" she yelled, continuing up the path slowly. When she reached the entrance she opened up the doors and slipped in muttering to herself.
Instead of following his original plan, Harry went back up to Gryffindor Tower and collapsed in a chair, letting the invisibility cloak and his broom fall to the floor with clatter. He did not care if he woke anyone up. Something is in the Forbidden Forest. But what? He sat there lost in thought for a moment before it hit him. The Consacrer Dagger.
"Of course. Why didn't I think of that before," he said out loud.
"Think of what?"
Harry spun around to see Hermione standing at the top of the stairs rubbing her eyes. She was wearing a nightgown adorned with some very un-Hermione like flowers. Harry would have expected her to have something like a copy of Hogwarts: A History instead. He laughed inwardly which made Hermione raise her right eyebrow.
"What are you doing up?" he asked trying to divert her attention from her question.
"I was going to get a glass of water. What did you think of?" she asked not remotely distracted.
"Oh, well I couldn't sleep so I..." Harry contemplated whether or not to tell Hermione the truth as he knew she would have a fit that Harry went out at night all alone and breaking the rules. She was after all a prefect now. "I decided to go outside for a ride on my Firebolt." Hermione opened her mouth ready to lecture him, but Harry cut her off.
"I didn't get a chance to do it because I heard Snape and Miala coming towards me. I overheard them talking and then I decided it was best if I came back up here." That much was true, but Harry conviniently left out the part about Grubbly-Plank as that would certainly make Hermione suspect he had actually gone outside.
"I'm glad you didn't go outside Harry because you know the rules," started Hermione to Harry's relief, "but you can't just go around like that." Harry nodded dumbly. "At least not alone. The next time you have another bright idea make sure either Ron or I are with you." Hermione smiled before adding, "or maybe even...Cho."
Harry was gaping like a goldfish trying to find the words to reply in protest, but Hermione had already disappeared up the stairs. He knew he had to go back upstairs and get some sleep, but his mind was still reeling from the revelation in Potions.
I don't like her. Definitely not. No. Do I? Harry tried to conjure up the same emotions he had for Cho last year, but to no avail. He just did not feel that way about Cho. Then again he had to. He could not lie after taking Veritaserum. Three words echoed in his head before falling asleep in the chair. I like Cho.
***
It was Christmas Eve at the Potters. Lily was frantically getting ready to cook her infamous christmas pudding while James was busy decorating the tree. Harry looked around in the room and could see an enormous amount of gifts by the tree, and his father was busy trying to charm the star on the top to light up the way Harry had seen the North Star look. The room felt warm with love and Harry's eyes turned toward the fireplace. It was starting to fade.
"Harry, put a few more logs in the fire will ya?" said his father still unable to charm the star. "Your mother was always better at charms than I was," he sighed, turning around heading for the kitchen. Harry picked up the tongs that were leaning against the coalscuttle and stirred the fire. His eyes turned to pictures that were on top of the mantelpiece. One of them had been taken from a Quidditch match and the shocking orange robes revealed himself playing for the Chudley Cannons. He heard laughter coming from the kitchen and his mother came into the livingroom heartily amused, no doubt due to his father's attempts at charming the star.
"When is she coming down dear?" she asked, picking up a few stray Quidditch magazines, which had Harry adorning the covers.
"Who?" he answered bewildered.
"Harry James Potter!" she exclaimed. "Are you telling me you've already forgotten about your wife? It has only been two weeks and you're already acting like a true husband," she scolded, but it was apparant she was only joking.
"My wife?"
"Yes. You know, you're better half?" she said going back into the kitchen where James was busy hexing the star with inappropriate language.
Harry sat down in the nearest chair finding it hard to believe that he had a wife. It's not true. It's just a dream, he thought. Mum and Dad are gone. It's all just a dream. He felt sleep creeping up on him as his eyeslids slowly closed and finally dropped. He was stirred from his sleep by a voice seeming to echo distantly.
"Harry?"
It was not his mother. He thought he recognized the voice, but he was not sure. This must be his wife. He felt her touch his arm and gently shake it.
"Harry, wake up."
"Yes, dear," he said grabbing her arm and pulling her down into the chair letting his lips sink into a warm kiss.
It felt wonderful. He heard her gasp and he opened his eyes only to see the very familiar face of Ginny Weasley. Her eyes were wide open and she looked scared out of her wits. Harry drew back quickly and found himself in the Gryffindor common room where he had fallen asleep the previous night. He was still holding on to Ginny and he let go of her as he stood up. She hit the floor with a loud thud accompanied by a yelp.
"I...I...I'm so sorry...I...oh god...what...I..." Harry was running his hand through his hair and pushing up his glasses that were slightly askew. He reached out to help Ginny get up, but she was still staring at him not noticing his outstretched arm. Suddenly she blinked and her mind seemed to come back to reality as she got up from the floor.
"I just...thought I would wake you up," said Ginny, straightening out her robes while strictly avoiding any eye contact, "since it's almost time to get ready...for breakfast."
"I..."
"I know. You're sorry. You thought it was...someone else," interrupted Ginny with what seemed like a hint of disappointment in her voice. "I guess that makes us even then."
"What?"
"Well, you know," Ginny said, still staring at her feet and clenching her hands. "For that other...accident."
"Huh? Oh...oooh," he said, finally realising what she meant. "Well, I mean...I'm still...you know...sorry."
"I know."
The two of them stood there, both trying to focus on anything but each other before people were heard coming down the stairs. Harry turned to see who was coming and Ginny took the opportunity to slip out through the portrait hole. Ron came bounding down the stairs looking surprisingly fresh.
"You're up early," he said with a broad smile.
"Yeah, just thought I would get a start on things...you know, get going on my Potions homework," Harry said trying to forget what had just transpired.
"I can't believe Snape gave you homework. Well mate, I'm just glad it's not me. Imagine, four feet...ouch," Ron said, shaking his head. "C'mon, we're gonna be late. There might not be any food left by the time we get down there."
They bounded down the stairs and into the Great Hall, which was almost empty. More students arrived within the next ten minutes, and Harry could feel the eyes of every girl on him. This was worse than after that article, he thought grumpily. However, his mind drifted back to what had happened earlier, and he chanced a look down the Gryffindor table to see if Ginny was there.
She was sitting by Dennis Creavey and Amanda Lopez, the girl who had given Harry the photographs. She turned to pick up another piece of bread, and that is when their eyes met. Harry saw her turn beet red and quickly turning her face away. Harry felt his own face burning and tried to occupy himself by buttering his toast on his plate.
"Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you know you were buttering your porridge?" laughed Ron.
"Huh? What?"
"I said, did...you...know...you...were...buttering...your...porridge?"
"What?" Harry replied, looking down at his now sloppy porridge with a butter spread neatly on top of it. He pushed the plate away and let out a heavy sigh.
"Are you all right Harry?" Ron said clearly concerned.
"Yeah, just not hungry that's all," he said, resting his head and arms on the table.
At this Ron raised an eyebrow as if trying to say that was not natural, but he got no further as the noise died down. Harry felt Ron nudge him with his elbow. He looked up and saw that Cho Chang had come in. If looks could kill Cho would have been hit by a dozen Avada Kedavras by the time she took her first step into the Great Hall. She walked up to her table briskly and sat down at the end of it, ignoring the reactions.
"She didn't even show up last night for supper," whispered Ron as he shoveled in a large piece of ham, "and who could blame her?"
Harry nodded and set about buttering his ham in silence thinking about the second kiss in his life.
***
Ginny was trying to concentrate on the conversation she was having with Colin and Amanda, but all she could think about was that kiss. Once again her dream had been shattered into a million pieces. When she had heard the news that Harry had professed his love for Cho Chang she thought she was going to go into hiding, but instead she had decided to face up to Mr. Harry Potter and live without thinking about those deep emerald green eyes. Those eyes she would gladly drown in.
Oh shut up, she thought turning around and reaching for a piece of bread. That was when she noticed that Harry was staring at her. She felt her face flush and turn crimson red as his eyes seemed to be able to read every emotion that was stirring inside of her. Quickly she turned her away and started buttering her bread.
Don't let him do this to you. Remember, you're through with that. No more thinking of Harry Potter. No more thinking about that messy hair of his. I would love to run my hand through his hair. SHUT UP!
It was no use. No matter how much she tried not to think of him something always reminded her of him. Maybe it was her uncanny ability to turn many of her Transfiguration assignments emerald green that did it. Or maybe it was because in secret, she had told her mother to knit an emerald green sweater for Harry. Her life did not revolve around him, but somehow it always came back to that scruffy looking boy with an odd pair of glasses.
All of a sudden the Great Hall went silent and Ginny saw why. Cho Chang had just walked in and it was not a pretty sight. The greeting was icy to say the least. Most girls were just giving her deadly glares and they were wishing their looks that were shooting daggers would actually materialise into real daggers.
There she is. The conqueror of Harry Potter, she thought dryly before realising how cruel that was. It was not her fault after all. It's not her fault that she's got perfect hair, and skin, and...well...perfect everything. No wonder Harry thinks she's beautiful. She let out a loud sigh that made Dennis and Amanda turn to her, but she just ignored them hoping they would get back to whatever they were talking about.
"Ginny, are you feeling all right?" asked Dennis.
"Yes, I'm just a bit tired that's all. I was up late working on some homework," she said, taking a bite out of her toast.
She thought about the kiss. What a kiss. I wish I was Cho. Then Harry would want to do that with me. But all I am is Ron's little sister. No. I will not think about him anymore. With a loud thud she slammed her goblet into the table making the people around her jump in their seats.
She got up and ran up to her room, grabbed the copy of Witch Weekly from her bedside table, and rushed downstairs into the common room.
"No more, Harry Potter. I will not think of you like that ever again," she said, flinging the magazine into the fire, and watching it burn. "Hah, I'm cured," she said, sitting down on the sofa. As she watched the flames rise from the magazine she could have sworn they were no longer orange and red, but emerald green.
***
Harry had hoped Quidditch practice would be the one place where he would be free from any comments about Cho, but the twins had made certain not to make him forget about it.
"George, you'd better put on some more clothes before you catch a cold," said Fred, mimicking Mrs. Weasley to perfection.
"I think it's too late dear brother. Ah-Cho."
"Bless you."
"Thank you."
"Now please cover your mouth so it doesn't spread. Oh no, I feel it coming on as well. Aaaah-Chooo!"
The two of them kept on doing that for the first ten minutes before they finally had enough. At least with that specific ribbing.
"Maybe Ron was right," said George sadly as he soared past Harry.
"About what?" answered Fred coming to a halt by Harry.
"Fraternising with the enemy," sighed George. "We'll never win now."
"I think you're right. We play Ravenclaw in November and Harry knows what would happen if we beat them."
"No more snogging for him," sighed George, pursing his lips.
"Do you want us to take you out with a Bludger?" asked Fred with mock concern in his voice.
"Yes please. Now," replied Harry.
"Oh just leave him alone, will you?" said Angelina.
"Why should we do that my lovely rose petal?" asked Fred.
"Because I have some things I could tell your brother and sister. For example..."
"All right. I get the picture," Fred said, turning a shade of red and soaring away from Harry.
"I on the other hand am bound by no..."
"Really?" came Alicia's voice from behind George.
"Dearest, you wouldn't?" smiled George.
"I think I would."
"Spoilsport," huffed George before sticking his tongue out at her, and swiftly avoiding her hand. "Now I know why you're not a Beater. You couldn't hit the backside of a Ukrainian Ironbelly if it ran backed into your hand."
With that the chase was on and George laughed merrily as he zoomed away from Alicia's deadly grasp. Harry looked up at Ginny who had taken great lengths as to not be close to Harry or even talk to him. Not that I don't understand her. I mean, I just grabbed her and...well...I understand. At least she doesn't have a huge crush on me anymore. He did not know if he found that good or just a little unnerving.
After practice Fred and George sandwiched him between them as they walked back up to the castle.
"You know, we don't really think you'll throw the game," started Fred.
"Even if it is about snogging." added George.
"Thanks," said Harry coldly.
"But our offer still stands you know."
"We'd give you a Bludger in the head any day," chuckled Fred.
~~~~~
A/N: First of all I have to apologize for taking so long to post this chapter. I don't really have any excuses besides severe writer's block. I hope there weren't too many of you who wanted to throttle me when I left you with the previous cliffhanger, but to my surprise there is none this time. I'm not quite that evil you know. A little evil, yes. But not that evil. Thank you so much for all the reviews, and I know I've said this numerous times before, but it's true. Your reviews really make me want to continue to write. Every time I see a review, whether it be on the message board, e-mail or on ff.net I always feel like Christmas has come again. So thank you all again.
CactusKitty: I'm sorry I put you through all that torment with the last chapter. I guess only time will tell if he was telling the truth...then again...it was Veritaserum........
Allison A: Thanks for being a responsible reader. That sounds like such an official title. Required school reading? What has the world come to? It's summer...time for a break...and I'm glad I can supply it.
Nadako-Mika: It's better than the book? Hmmm...why am I not making gazillions of dollars then? I'll have to talk to Scholastic about this. I could be making loads of cash...yes...and pigs can fly...but only if they're Animagus.
aNgEl: Oh I'm sure Mr. Malfoy will have a field day with this information. If you feel sorry for Harry now...just wait...there's more. Let me tell you...*whisper*...and that's what happens next.
Conlan: I'm afraid it is Cho...maybe...not...who knows? I'm glad you think this fic is funny. I try to make it as much like the canon books as possible since I don't want the people to step out of character too much. Sometimes they do I guess, but hey...it's my universe now...whoops. Don't sue me. I meant my borrowed universe.
Abba: You're right about not putting down Ginny as the person Harry cares for because it would just be too...well...out of character I suppose. Small things happen most of the time, and it takes a while before certain true feelings show...I shouldn'ta told yeh that!
Joe La Briola: Thank you for even comparing me with J.K. Rowling. I'm just borrowing some inspiration I guess. Anyway, you're right about the prefects. I kind of forgot, but in some ways not. I didn't think it would be a big deal I guess, but it should be. I mean. It would be for Hermione, so I'll try to put some more stuff about that in there. Thanks for the heads-up.
Lisa(Najeem): It was a pretty interesting plot twist as I didn't really have it planned, but a stroke of genius, or insanity whichever you prefer, made me do it.
oceansun: Thanks for reviewing, and I added you to my mailing list.
Holly: Yes...Cho...and you'll find out why he said it...maybe it was true love...
ol blue eyes: I hope you left your house by now because this chapter took way too long for me. Sorry about that. Hopefully you still got a job. I heard medication works really well with withdrawals like that ^_^
Lisa: Harry and Ginny would probably make a cute couple...who knows what will happen in the future. I hope this chapter will satisfy your cravings for their coupleness (is that even a word?)
EaRtHaNgEl831: No one wants it to be Cho. I'm a little hurt here...not really ^_^
PotterPerson: I don't think I've heard the term "amazing" yet. Thanks. That really swelled my ego to the size of a large ant. Just kidding...more like a peanut. I'm going to wear a badge telling everyone I'm amazing :)
Master: Oh I think Harry will get back on Snape...or Malfoy..or someone. Then again, he has always been willing to follow the rules of Hogwarts...oh wait...that's not him. I'm hurrying with my writing, but the block needed to be torn down.
super-sailor-saturn39: I hope you've been able to trudge through the rest of the chapters by now. If not I expect more reviews...MORE...HAHA...er...I mean...never mind. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
