Chapter 3: Aerial Maneuver

A/N: Since I don't have all the time I'd like on my hands, chapters aren't going to come at any faster a pace :/

A/N: This chapter is based on the fifth book in the Harry Potter series, 'The Order of The Pheonix'. All characters, sets and character personas belong to J.K.Rowling.

A/N: Thanks to my reviewers. Yeah, I rarely re-read my texts thoroughly, and I miss a lot of things. In the case of the strength thing, I meant

'He's losing strength by day.'

If anyone is interested in becoming a beta reader, get me at o2@teamareola.com. Thanks.

--------------

In the Great Hall, when everyone had arrived, Dumbledore noticed Harry and immediately took him to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey healed all of his wounds, but he was still pale. Only food could solve that. So, he went back into the Great Hall, and Dumbledore wasted no time in letting the plates appear with plenty of food. Harry managed to start eating, and from there, it was all-downhill. He was beginning to feel better... And then, something hit him. Depression... why? He didn't know. All he knew was that he wasn't feeling hungry, but that he had to eat to get better.

From afar, Cho was looking at him. She was still thinking of their conversation in the train. This was a guy who understood her. She could speak to him freely. She could confide her greatest fears and secrets in him, and she knew they would stay safe. She had to see more of him, she thought. But, what if he had already gotten over his crush on her? She would just have to buckle up and go for it. So, after eating, she caught up with him. He was walking with Ron and Hermione. He was still very pale. They were being very careful with him, as if he could fall down at any second. And, he did. Not without cause, though; Draco had pushed him. Cho saw the entire scene. Harry couldn't stand up, Ron and Hermione were already in front of him in defensive positions, staring Malfoy directly in the eyes.

'What do you want, Malfoy?'

'Oh, nothing. I just think it's amusing to see Hawy Potty falling down like that. I mean, I always thought he was 'The Great Harry Potter', but it turns out he's just 'The Tiny Hawwy Wittle Potty Who Want A Wowwipop.'

Crabe and Goyle snortled. It sounded more like an old man choking, but Draco paid no attention. Pansy Parkinson, who was also with the bunch, was having a fit of laughter. With that, Draco walked away.

'He's a menace' mumbled Ron.

'Yeah. We've got to do something about him.' replied Hermione.

Harry stayed silent until they took him up to the Gryffindor common room. Cho didn't want to interfere.  Back in the Gryffindor common room, Fred and George were in a corner, Seamus, Dean and Neville were talking secretively, and Ginny was on a chair gazing at the fireplace.

'Hi Gin!' yelled Ron.

She payed no attention.

'Gin?' he repeated, now a bit worried.

'Ginny! Wake up!' he then shouted in her face.

'What's the use?' sighed Ginny, and with that, she went up to the girl's dormitories.

'I'll go talk to her, said Hermione.' and followed her.

Ron and Harry were now alone in the common room.

'So, should we unpack?' asked Ron?

'What? Yeah, I guess...' Harry answered.

'Mate, ar'ya'lright?' said Ron, with the same note of distress he had when he was speaking to his younger sister.

'No, not really. C'mon, let's go.' he said, in the exact same tone he had used before.

They went up to their dormitories, and saw their four-poster beds. It will be the fifth year they'll have been sleeping in these beds. They didn't mind, though. Every year at Hogwarts was always full of excitement.

'Ron, where were you two at the train station? I didn't see you guys.' he said, now a bit of accusation in his voice.

'We were in the Prefect's wagon. Sorry Harry, we wanted to tell you, but they wouldn't let us.' replied Ron, apologetically.

'Oh.' Ron was prefect, he thought. Why wasn't I prefect? Oh well, maybe it's for the better. Ron never gets anything.

They unpacked and spent the rest of the afternoon playing Wizard's chess. They went down to dinner later, and continued playing until nightfall. Harry then went to sleep. Neither Hermione nor Ginny had left the dormitories since they came in.

The following morning, they all went down to breakfast. Ginny still hadn't left the dormitories. Hermione explained to them that she hadn't said a word to her last night, except for repeating 'Why?' over and over. None of them understood what it was supposed to mean, but they didn't pay it much attention.  Instead, they were all discussing how their summer went, and they all apologized for not being able to send letters. Dumbledore had forbidden them. He said it was very important that they didn't send anything, that Voldemort couldn't be monitoring their owls.

'I nearly died there.' said Harry.

'Really, Harry, I'm sorry.' Hermione pleaded.

'It's okay, it's not your fault, I guess.'

After having ate, they all went to get ready for their first class of the term. Defense Against the Dark Arts.

'I wonder who we'll have as a teacher.' said Harry, who was now feeling much better than the previous day.

'Yeah.' Ron and Hermione replied in unison.

They entered the classroom.

There was an old lady sitting in the front of the classroom. She was behind a big wooden desk. On it was a sign out of gold engraved with the name 'D. Umbridge'. Everyone seemed shocked as they looked around their once previously dark-classroom, which was now decorated in a bright pink.

'Who is this old hag?' said Ron, disgusted by the mere look of his new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

'No idea.' replied Harry, rather flatly.

After everyone came in, the old woman slowly rised.

'Beautiful morning, isn't it?' she said, sickengly sweetly.

'Alright then, wands away and take out your books and read pages one through ten. There will be no need for talking.' she said as she made her way back to her giant desk and sat down on a grand wooden chair.

Everyone would have thought Hermione would be the first one reading, but she, surprisingly hadn't touched her book and had raised her hand.  Slowly, Umbridge peered up and looked at her.

'Yes, dear?'

'So, we're not going to be using our wands at all this class?' Hermione asked in an accusatory voice.

'No, dear.' Dolores replied and looked back down at her desk, where she was writing.

'Will we be using our wands at all during the term?' asked Hermione again.

'No, dear.' the teacher said, now a bit of annoyance within her.

'Well then, how are we supposed to learn?'

'If you know the theory well enough, you will succeed your O.W.Ls.' said Umbridge.

Hermione was livid. She opened her book furiously and started reading.

'Dear, what is your name?' asked Umbridge, now looking at her through her spectacles.

'Her-mi-one' she replied through gritted teeth, with obvious anger.

'There is no need for anger, Miss... ?'

'G r a n g e r.'

'Right, Miss Granger. Do not fret. Ten points from Gryffindor for unnecessary anger.'

Hermione had fire in her eyes. Neither Harry nor Ron had ever seen her like this. She was absolutely furious.

After the lesson, as soon as they had left the classroom, Hermione started as fast as she could up the stairs to the Gryffindor common room, to get her things for her next class; Transfiguration.

And so, they went from course to course, ending the day rather quickly. During dinner, nobody saw Harry.

'I think I heard he was going to go fly around a bit on his broom.' Ron told Hermione. As he was saying this, Cho was passing with her friend, Marietta. As soon as she caught drift of Harry, she turned back and headed for the Quidditch pitch.

She took a seat in the stands. Marietta was coming as soon as she had gotten a quick bite to eat.

Harry was already in the air. He hadn't noticed Cho as she entered the stadium; he was too busy pulling out of his loop. He then took a lot of altitude, and followed up with a 90-degree dive. He didn't pull out of it until the last moment possible. He made a few barrel rolls, and circled around in the air afterwards. He dived, and he pulled out. He was enjoying himself so much, but not as much as Cho was enjoying watching him. 'He's amazing...' she thought. 'He's performing art right in front of me. He's a genius...' she continued to think. At that moment, Marietta came onto the pitch and looked at Cho, who looked in like she was in very deep thought, staring at Harry. She walked over to her.

'Don't tell me you like him.' said Marietta.

'Well, uh...'

'You're never going to have a chance with him!' she giggled. Cho frowned.

Harry heard Marietta giggling from his broomstick, and then caught Cho's eyes.

'Oh no, he must think we're saying bad things about him.' Cho said, worried.

But Harry didn't stop flying. He simply made a faint sort of smile and continued doing his acrobatics.

'See it?' Cho asked.

'See what?'

'My heart. It's with him now.'