Chapter 3
-3 weeks before the Ball-
"No, Ron! Say 'Di mo rin' not 'Dimorrean!'" Cho said. Ron groaned. "Why do i have to take up this foreign language?" he asked. "It's part of my valentine's gift to Harry and Mione. So! Let's start again..." Cho and Ron were sitting in an empty classroom practicing foreign words,that Cho knew and Ron was just learning. Suddenly,they heard a commotion outside.
Cho and Ron hurried towards the halls,and saw Draco and Harry looking daggers at each other. Jia was trying to get them to stop. Apparently, Draco had found out about Harry going out with Hermione,and had said something mean about her. "Take it back, Malfoy," Harry hissed throught clenched teeth. Hermione was standing behind him,not knowing what to do. "Just stop it,the both of you!" Cho shouted. Malfoy turned around,and walked towards Cho,an evil smile playing on his lips. "Well, if it isn't the beautiful Cho Chang. Come to make my day?" he asked,tracing a finger on Cho's cheek. Cho slapped it away. "Just pick on someone your OWN size, Malfoy," Cho glared at him. "Cho,please," Jia whimpered. But Cho ignored her. Draco laughed. "Do you mean your friend there? That Harry Potter? Well, for your information, Potter IS my size, Chang," he said, a triumphant grin on his face. The people watching them snickered. "Oh really?" Cho was near bursting. "I couldn't tell by the size of your HEAD," she retorted,her voice raising a little. "Cho," Jia groaned. Everyone started giggling. Malfoy frowned, glared at Cho, and brushed past her,muttering, "Just mind your own business, Chang." But Cho turned around to face his retreating figure. "Why should I?" she asked, as if daring him. "What?" Draco turned around sharply. "When it's quite obvious you're not minding yours?" Cho finished her sentence. Draco sniffed,and left. "All right, Cho!!" Ron whooped. Cho walked towards Harry. "All right Harry?" she asked. Harry nodded dumbly. As Cho went to ask Hermione how she was, Ron said, "Wow! Who would have thought! Cho's the only person who's defeated Malfoy verbally before!" he said. Harry grinned. "yeah, i know," he said. Jia, however,was not so pleased. "How could you treat him that way?" she demanded of Cho. "Jia, we will not start this conversation again," Cho sighed,walking away. Jia followed her. "He is such a sweet boy! And you just--" Cho cut her off. "See,Jia? See how stupid that Malfoy is? Now he's got the both of us almost fighting!" Cho said. Jia sighed, shut her mouth,and spoke no more about the much debated Draco that day.
"Thanks for standing up for me back there, Harry," Hermione said, as she walked beside him towards their next class. "If CHo hadn't come, the argument wouldn't have ended. You should be thanking her," Harry replied. "I did. Now i'm thanking you," she smiled, Harry slightly blushed.
-2 Weeks before ball-
"Good! Good,Ron! I do believe you're catching up!" Cho had been harassing Ron daily with foreign language lessons. "I don't have a nice voice, Cho,and i'm very shy," Ron said. "Nonsense! You have a great voice! And,well, being shy is natural. Just think about our plan when you're up there," was the reply. Their lessons were over, and Ron and Cho were sitting under the shade of the tree, practicing. A few feet away, Ginny, Neville, Hermione,and Harry were engaged in the game of tag. "Don't they look romantic?" Cho sighed. Ron looked up from his language book and said, "Not really. They're just playing tag.And a bit childish for them,too. They're seventeen,and they're acting like eleven year olds." "Hush Ron! Neville! Over here!" Cho called. Neville broke from the game and walked over to them. "Alright,Nevie,would you mind if i revised the game?" Cho smiled her irresistable smile. Neville couldn't resist. "Alright. Make Harry it,and run as fast as your legs could carry you back to the castle. I'll call you back when it's the right time," Cho directed. "Why should i go back into the castle?" Neville asked. Ron cleared his throat,and made signs with his eyes at Harry and Hermione. Neville slowly grinned and agreed. He walked towards Harry. "Tag,Harry,you're it," he said, and before this could register in Harry's mind, he made for the castle. "Huh! Me? Im it? Whe-hey! hey Neville! wait up! hey!" Harry started running after Neville. But Neville was running as if his life depended on it, and reached the castle,leaving Harry breathless. Cho,Ron, and Hermione burst in laughter. "Well, since Neville clearly isn't playong anymore...you're the only one left," Harry glanced at Hermione. Hermione stopped laughing. "Ohhhh,nooo..." she burst into peals of laughter again,as she ran away from Harry. "I'm going to get you!" Harry ran after her. Cho chuckled in delight. "Well, dear Ron. Do you agree with me?" she asked,turning to Ron. "Yes, It's definitely getting romantic now," Ron grinned. "Now,back to your studies. Say Secret Love," Cho ordered. Ron groaned, "Lihim na pagsinta...aw,Cho,let's take a break..." "Ron, do you want to be standing there speechless in the middle of--ooooooh! Ron, look!" Cho pointed towards Harry,who had just grabbed his prey,and they were now rolling on the grass,Hermione struggling to get up. "This is gettin goooooood..." Ron smiled. "Yea,Harry!" Cho cheered, clapping her hands, laughing. "Let go of me, you..." Hermione had rolled on top of Harry, who had pinned her legs to his sides so she wouldn't be able to get up. "Let go!!" Hermione shrieked. "Or what?" Harry laughed. "Don't let go,Harry ole chap! Don't give in!" Ron called from his and Cho's spot under the tree. "Traitor!!!!" Hermione screamed back. Cho collapsed on the grass laughing at this comical position. "I'm serious, or i'll--" Hermione started. "Or what?" Harry asked again. Hermione made no reply, but struggled to get up again. Harry accidentalle pulled her sweater in order to keep her down,and saw him an inch away from Hermione's face. Ron nudged Cho,who was still laughing. Cho silenced up and watched. "Sorry...I..." Harry looked into her laughing, brown eyes. Hermione stared deeply back into his, unable to speak. She felt her heart thumping at her throat,afraid Harry might hear it. Cho lifted a hand, and Neville came running out of the castle like a gazelle. He stopped short when he saw Harry and Hermione in :ahem: that intimate position. Harry and Hermione looked up,interrupted from their trance. "Oh...uh...should i ...leave?" He pointed back to the castle,and still staring at them, "Uh,yeah..i'll,i'll just go...uh,see you guys at dinner!" and he ran for the castle again.
Ron stared at Cho. "Why'd you do that for?" he scowled. "I'd rather save the kiss for the ball. And plus, Malfoy's over there watching," Cho replied,turning her head to look behind him, where Malfoy was talking with Jia,occasionally stealing glances at them. He was wearing that evil smile again. Meanwhile, Harry let go of Hermione,and she helped him get up. "Right..well..um...it's almost supper time i think,and i'll see you at dinner," hermione dashed for the castle,cheeks blushing furiously. As soon as she was gone, Draco came walking towards them in a quick pace. Cho rolled her eyes and started gathering her things. Ron did the same,at the same time glaring at Draco. "Having a bit of fun,Potter? Thinking that mudblood is starting to get pretty?" Draco said. Harry glowered at him. Ron almost punched him,if it were not for Cho,who held him back. "You're wasting your time with that beaver, Potter. Didn't think you would go so low--" Malfoy was interrupted by Cho, who had her bags on one arm, Ron on the other, walked right between him and Harry, saying, "Save it,Malfoy." Draco's attention was diverted. "And what will you do,Chang? Take your wand out and threaten to--" Cho walked up to him,brandishing her wand. "In fact i will. If you weren't my best friend's boyfriend, Malfoy, i would have hexed you a thousand times over by now. So leave..us..alone," Cho whispered vehemently. Then,she walked away,a shocked Ron by her side. Malfoy 'hmphed' at Harry,and walked back to a curious Jia.
-3 weeks before the Ball-
"No, Ron! Say 'Di mo rin' not 'Dimorrean!'" Cho said. Ron groaned. "Why do i have to take up this foreign language?" he asked. "It's part of my valentine's gift to Harry and Mione. So! Let's start again..." Cho and Ron were sitting in an empty classroom practicing foreign words,that Cho knew and Ron was just learning. Suddenly,they heard a commotion outside.
Cho and Ron hurried towards the halls,and saw Draco and Harry looking daggers at each other. Jia was trying to get them to stop. Apparently, Draco had found out about Harry going out with Hermione,and had said something mean about her. "Take it back, Malfoy," Harry hissed throught clenched teeth. Hermione was standing behind him,not knowing what to do. "Just stop it,the both of you!" Cho shouted. Malfoy turned around,and walked towards Cho,an evil smile playing on his lips. "Well, if it isn't the beautiful Cho Chang. Come to make my day?" he asked,tracing a finger on Cho's cheek. Cho slapped it away. "Just pick on someone your OWN size, Malfoy," Cho glared at him. "Cho,please," Jia whimpered. But Cho ignored her. Draco laughed. "Do you mean your friend there? That Harry Potter? Well, for your information, Potter IS my size, Chang," he said, a triumphant grin on his face. The people watching them snickered. "Oh really?" Cho was near bursting. "I couldn't tell by the size of your HEAD," she retorted,her voice raising a little. "Cho," Jia groaned. Everyone started giggling. Malfoy frowned, glared at Cho, and brushed past her,muttering, "Just mind your own business, Chang." But Cho turned around to face his retreating figure. "Why should I?" she asked, as if daring him. "What?" Draco turned around sharply. "When it's quite obvious you're not minding yours?" Cho finished her sentence. Draco sniffed,and left. "All right, Cho!!" Ron whooped. Cho walked towards Harry. "All right Harry?" she asked. Harry nodded dumbly. As Cho went to ask Hermione how she was, Ron said, "Wow! Who would have thought! Cho's the only person who's defeated Malfoy verbally before!" he said. Harry grinned. "yeah, i know," he said. Jia, however,was not so pleased. "How could you treat him that way?" she demanded of Cho. "Jia, we will not start this conversation again," Cho sighed,walking away. Jia followed her. "He is such a sweet boy! And you just--" Cho cut her off. "See,Jia? See how stupid that Malfoy is? Now he's got the both of us almost fighting!" Cho said. Jia sighed, shut her mouth,and spoke no more about the much debated Draco that day.
"Thanks for standing up for me back there, Harry," Hermione said, as she walked beside him towards their next class. "If CHo hadn't come, the argument wouldn't have ended. You should be thanking her," Harry replied. "I did. Now i'm thanking you," she smiled, Harry slightly blushed.
-2 Weeks before ball-
"Good! Good,Ron! I do believe you're catching up!" Cho had been harassing Ron daily with foreign language lessons. "I don't have a nice voice, Cho,and i'm very shy," Ron said. "Nonsense! You have a great voice! And,well, being shy is natural. Just think about our plan when you're up there," was the reply. Their lessons were over, and Ron and Cho were sitting under the shade of the tree, practicing. A few feet away, Ginny, Neville, Hermione,and Harry were engaged in the game of tag. "Don't they look romantic?" Cho sighed. Ron looked up from his language book and said, "Not really. They're just playing tag.And a bit childish for them,too. They're seventeen,and they're acting like eleven year olds." "Hush Ron! Neville! Over here!" Cho called. Neville broke from the game and walked over to them. "Alright,Nevie,would you mind if i revised the game?" Cho smiled her irresistable smile. Neville couldn't resist. "Alright. Make Harry it,and run as fast as your legs could carry you back to the castle. I'll call you back when it's the right time," Cho directed. "Why should i go back into the castle?" Neville asked. Ron cleared his throat,and made signs with his eyes at Harry and Hermione. Neville slowly grinned and agreed. He walked towards Harry. "Tag,Harry,you're it," he said, and before this could register in Harry's mind, he made for the castle. "Huh! Me? Im it? Whe-hey! hey Neville! wait up! hey!" Harry started running after Neville. But Neville was running as if his life depended on it, and reached the castle,leaving Harry breathless. Cho,Ron, and Hermione burst in laughter. "Well, since Neville clearly isn't playong anymore...you're the only one left," Harry glanced at Hermione. Hermione stopped laughing. "Ohhhh,nooo..." she burst into peals of laughter again,as she ran away from Harry. "I'm going to get you!" Harry ran after her. Cho chuckled in delight. "Well, dear Ron. Do you agree with me?" she asked,turning to Ron. "Yes, It's definitely getting romantic now," Ron grinned. "Now,back to your studies. Say Secret Love," Cho ordered. Ron groaned, "Lihim na pagsinta...aw,Cho,let's take a break..." "Ron, do you want to be standing there speechless in the middle of--ooooooh! Ron, look!" Cho pointed towards Harry,who had just grabbed his prey,and they were now rolling on the grass,Hermione struggling to get up. "This is gettin goooooood..." Ron smiled. "Yea,Harry!" Cho cheered, clapping her hands, laughing. "Let go of me, you..." Hermione had rolled on top of Harry, who had pinned her legs to his sides so she wouldn't be able to get up. "Let go!!" Hermione shrieked. "Or what?" Harry laughed. "Don't let go,Harry ole chap! Don't give in!" Ron called from his and Cho's spot under the tree. "Traitor!!!!" Hermione screamed back. Cho collapsed on the grass laughing at this comical position. "I'm serious, or i'll--" Hermione started. "Or what?" Harry asked again. Hermione made no reply, but struggled to get up again. Harry accidentalle pulled her sweater in order to keep her down,and saw him an inch away from Hermione's face. Ron nudged Cho,who was still laughing. Cho silenced up and watched. "Sorry...I..." Harry looked into her laughing, brown eyes. Hermione stared deeply back into his, unable to speak. She felt her heart thumping at her throat,afraid Harry might hear it. Cho lifted a hand, and Neville came running out of the castle like a gazelle. He stopped short when he saw Harry and Hermione in :ahem: that intimate position. Harry and Hermione looked up,interrupted from their trance. "Oh...uh...should i ...leave?" He pointed back to the castle,and still staring at them, "Uh,yeah..i'll,i'll just go...uh,see you guys at dinner!" and he ran for the castle again.
Ron stared at Cho. "Why'd you do that for?" he scowled. "I'd rather save the kiss for the ball. And plus, Malfoy's over there watching," Cho replied,turning her head to look behind him, where Malfoy was talking with Jia,occasionally stealing glances at them. He was wearing that evil smile again. Meanwhile, Harry let go of Hermione,and she helped him get up. "Right..well..um...it's almost supper time i think,and i'll see you at dinner," hermione dashed for the castle,cheeks blushing furiously. As soon as she was gone, Draco came walking towards them in a quick pace. Cho rolled her eyes and started gathering her things. Ron did the same,at the same time glaring at Draco. "Having a bit of fun,Potter? Thinking that mudblood is starting to get pretty?" Draco said. Harry glowered at him. Ron almost punched him,if it were not for Cho,who held him back. "You're wasting your time with that beaver, Potter. Didn't think you would go so low--" Malfoy was interrupted by Cho, who had her bags on one arm, Ron on the other, walked right between him and Harry, saying, "Save it,Malfoy." Draco's attention was diverted. "And what will you do,Chang? Take your wand out and threaten to--" Cho walked up to him,brandishing her wand. "In fact i will. If you weren't my best friend's boyfriend, Malfoy, i would have hexed you a thousand times over by now. So leave..us..alone," Cho whispered vehemently. Then,she walked away,a shocked Ron by her side. Malfoy 'hmphed' at Harry,and walked back to a curious Jia.