Chapter Twelve~ Feel of Tragedy

***

Harry woke up the next morning quietly. He felt wonderful. The night before was wonderful, something Harry wanted a replay of. He sat up and took his glasses from the bedside table and rubbed his face as he ran his hands through his hair.

He sighed and stared into outer space for a while, reminiscing about the last night. Cho said she would wear it always... something Harry didn't expect but loved to hear.

He stood up, took a shower and dressed into his uniform. Harry searched everywhere for his jacket and couldn't find it. Oh, Cho must have it. I forgot to get it from her last night. He thought. He then took his robe and wore it, clasping it.

He descended the stairs (Ron wasn't there anymore) and found Hermione and Ron in the common room... studying? "Uhhh, is there any specific test I forgot about?" Harry asked. Hermione looked up at him.

"Good morning! No, Ron just didn't do his homework and as Prefect..." "Yeah, yeah, I have to be a role model, c'mon Hermione, I need a break! We've been studying for an hour, straight!" Ron complained.

Harry looked at his watch. It was already eight. "You were up since seven?" Harry asked, bewildered. "Only an hour? Ron! That kind of attitude will certainly bring you down! Study!" Hermione said.

"Harry!" Ron said, as if asking for help. Harry shrugged. He didn't want to argue with Hermione since he didn't have anything to say anyway. Cho was all on his mind.

"So, how was your day with Cho yesterday?" Hermione asked, not taking her eyes off her book entitled, Intermediate Functions of Numerology Grade Six. Harry slumped on his armchair. "Great, just great." He said, creating a dreamy look on his face.

Ron was staring at him, apparently a bit disgusted. "Oh man, don't tell me you two shared a 'wonderful' evening together..." he said sarcastically. Harry didn't mind but he heard Hermione tell off Ron.

"C'mon, tell us what happened." Hermione said, returning her eyes to her book. "We went to the Three Broomsticks, had butterbeers, talked about things while walking and then came back here." Harry said, staring into outer space.

Hermione raised her head. "I have a feeling that's not all." She said. Harry looked at her. "Well... I bought her an early Christmas gift and we um... I mean I... kissed her." Harry said.

Ron's book, which was upright because he was reading it, fell on the table. "YOU? YOU kissed her? YOU? Not her? I mean..." Ron said, flushing a bit. "Yeah, I kissed her... and it was... wow..." Harry muttered, still staring into space.

Hermione looked back and forth at the two teenage boys. "Oh come off it you two!! I know it is a big deal but it's not THAT big a deal! Ron, get back to studying!" Hermione said, snapping both boys back into reality.

"Not a big deal? Hermione, our little Harry is growing up!" Ron said with baby expressions on his face. Hermione lifted an eyebrow. "OUR little Harry?" she asked sarcastically. Ron turned to her blushing. "Oh, you know what I mean!" he said. Hermione made a face and both returned to their books.

Harry saw that coming. He can tell, his best friends like each other but they don't show it. Why won't they show it? Why won't the make it all final? That way, he, Harry, can take a break from all their nagging and fights.

Show... final... wait a minute; these words described Harry and Cho. Yes, they were showing to each other that they like each other but... they were still hesitant to make things final. Harry had to step out.

"I'll just, go around before I eat breakfast, okay?" he asked as he stood up. Hermione nodded, "Okay, see you at the table." She said, not taking her eyes off her book again.

Harry saw Ron studying one of his least favourite subjects, Intermediate Gramatica Volume VI. Harry shook his head and left the portrait hole. He saw students out already but they weren't as many as the whole lot.

Harry walked around, greeting the people who greeted him a good morning. He was thinking about Cho again, he loves her but couldn't really SHOW it. He wanted them to be a couple, though they act like one, permanently.

He was scared not because of first time jitters but the fact that, as you know, he would be risking both their lives. His scar had hurt more than twice this year, even during August, September and October, he had scar sensations but it wasn't as bad as the recent ones.

Voldemort was looking for him... it was more than revenge he wants Harry dead. Harry's life was at stake and he wouldn't dare be selfish enough to love Cho and let her suffer otherwise letting her love another and live a happy life. Happy? Would they be happy if they were apart?

Harry rubbed his forehead, not because of his scar but because of thinking too much. He turned a corner leading to the first year classrooms and bumped into a certain someone...

"Harry!!" Cho's cheerful voice came. Harry was caught by surprise as Cho flung arms around him. Harry hugged her back slowly, as if registering whom it was. "C-Cho!" Harry said.

Cho let go. "Look!" she said and slipped her fingers into her collar. She pulled out the chain of the necklace Harry gave her and the pendant. "I'm wearing it! See, I told I would never take it off!" she said. Harry smiled weakly. "Great! I'm so happy you like it!" Cho put the necklace back under her collar.

"What's wrong?" she asked, realising Harry's mood. "Um... nothing, I was just... thinking." He said. Cho bit her lip and looked at her feet. "Oh! Your jacket is with me! Do you want to get it?" she asked.

Harry shook his head. "You keep it for a while. It's perfectly alright." He said. "You know, my friends asked me a lot of questions last night." Cho said, playing with her foot. Harry thought it was adorable.

"Oh yeah? What have they been asking you?" Harry asked, leaning on the wall. "About... well, us." Cho said, looking up at Harry. Harry was smiling lightly at her. "Marietta, I know you know her, she asked me if we were..."

"Going out? Like a couple?" Harry asked. Cho nodded. "Yeah, yeah. And I said..." "No?" Harry said again, finishing her sentences. Cho nodded but not as enthusiastic. "I said were are just very close. She didn't believe me."

"Well, I don't blame her. Ron and Hermione are probably thinking the same way also." Harry said. Cho nodded. "My other friend, Hillary, she asked me why I had two necklaces on, which I really didn't notice. I said you gave it to me." Cho said, playing with her foot again.

Harry laughed a bit. "You slept with it around your neck?" Harry asked gently. Cho stopped playing with her foot and slowly looked up at Harry, whose eyes were twinkling. "Yes..." Harry felt warm all over.

Cho never did take it off. She was true to her word. Harry couldn't resist it, but he hugged her. Cho was shocked at first and slowly sank into his hold. "Why are you hugging me?" Cho asked. Harry didn't care about the other students staring at them.

"Because I don't want to lose you Cho..."

* * *

"I know we will last..." "But did you ask her already?"

"No but I know we will..."

"Harry, get back in reality! There is a murderous Dark Lord after you!"

"I want her to be mine, I don't want to lose her."

"HARRY!!!"

"What?" Harry asked back, at the same tone of voice. "Listen to me. It- won't-work!" Hermione said, as if spelling out the words for Harry to understand.

Harry frowned and slumped on his favourite red couch in the Gryffindor common room. It was already dismissal time and they hung out in the common room.

"Why? Am I not allowed to even ask her? Am I that dangerous?!" Harry shot at Hermione. Hermione sighed. "Look, I know how you feel. You love her and she loves you and you two aren't making it all final. That gap in between the two of you is stopping you. That gap is called fear.

"Fear won't get you anywhere Harry!" Hermione said, now having a mellow tone in her voice. Harry looked to the side, to the window and away from Ron and Hermione. He saw the snow falling on the window gently.

Harry stood up and sighed. "Look, I love Cho. I know I do. I don't want to make the both of us suffer." He said. "Look mate, you must tell her... no Hermione." Ron said when he saw Hermione open her mouth in protest.

"You know what, you are just making yourselves suffer even more!" Hermione said. "She needs to know. I told before it love her and now, I want us to be together... see you later." Harry said.

* * *

Harry found Cho near the library and dragged her away from her friends again to talk to her, in private. Cho and Harry made their way outside to the grounds to talk. It was like their private place.

They were awfully quiet the whole time. "Um, Harry, are you okay?" Cho asked as they exited the entrance hall and made their way to the snowy grounds. Flakes of snow were still falling.

Harry didn't reply to her until they reached the place near the frozen lake. Cho face Harry who had stopped walking and so did she.

"Harry, ever since I saw you this morning, you were very quiet, are you okay? Still thinking?" Cho asked. Harry, who had his head down, looked up at Cho with a serious face.

Cho was a bit scared. "Harry...?" she asked quietly. Harry went near her and sighed. They were so close; Cho felt his breath directly on her forehead. Cho looked up and saw that Harry was looking down at her now with a loving facial expression.

"Cho... do you remember, before... I told you I loved you?" Harry asked. Cho nodded as she bit her lip. "I meant it. I really love you." Harry said. Cho smiled. "I know you did." She replied.

"But... I'm scared." Harry said. Cho frowned a bit. "Of what?" she asked. "I want you to be mine... but there is a hindrance... something that is really a matter of life and death." Harry said. Cho swallowed hard.

"Harry, you're scaring me." she said. She then felt his arms circle and cradle her. "No, I don't want to scare you..." Harry muttered softly. "But it's... it's You-Know-Who... he... is the gap in between us."

Cho pushed Harry away. She was crying now, actually starting.

"Is that it? It's... Voldemort?!" Harry was surprised she even mentioned his name. "Harry, I don't care!! We love each other and just because of that... we can't be together?" Cho was sniffing as she spoke.

"Cho..." "No Harry! No! I won't have it! I love you!! I don't want... HIM to wreck our love... he..." she then cried a bit. Harry watched her. He felt so heartbroken that his chest gave off a piercing shot.

"Harry... please... I want us to be together..." Cho said as he faced him. Her cheeks and nose were pink. "We deserve it!! We deserve each other!!" Cho said as she stomped her right foot on the snow, creating a deep footprint on it.

Harry, for the first time, felt as tear fall from his eye. Just one. He went near Cho and hugged her tightly. Cho cried onto his shoulder. "Please... don't leave me..." Cho muttered softly. Harry felt another involuntary tear fall. He shut his eyes tightly so as not to let more of them fall.

"Harry... don't say it... don't separate us... I'd be willing to face everything..." Cho muttered. Harry hushed her. He couldn't talk anymore. Cho was willing... she really loved him. For the first time in his life... someone was willing to... sacrifice... for love.

Harry let her go and kissed Cho lightly on the lips. Cho hugged him tighter.

Harry removed the link of their lips. "Cho... I don't want you to suffer. Look for another one to love. At least with him, you can feel the joy of being together... forever. Don't love me anymore..."

"How can you say that?!" Cho retorted. "You can't just get love! Love gets you! I saw you and love got me!! It's not ordinary love Harry! It's true and innocent!! You cannot expect me to just wipe away my love for you and paint a new one!!" Cho was now very pink in the face.

Little snowflakes rested on her black hair and her lashes. She was pale and shivering but she seemed like she didn't even care. "Harry... is this what you want? You want me to just leave you? You want both of us to suffer?" Cho asked.

"Cho..."

"You think it is better for us to be apart, heartbroken and safe than together happy even if it means suffering? Harry! I would give my life for you!" Cho said. "Don't say that!!" Harry shouted. Cho was taken aback but she still cried.

"I don't want you to die!! I am saving you from it!" Harry said angrily. "No! I am staying! I don't want to leave you!" Cho shot back. She was breathing harshly from her screaming.

"Harry, I would choose to have bad times with you than good ones with another person! That's how much I love you!" Cho said. Harry froze. Cho was serious. She was very serious about it all.

Cho shivered and sobbed. She then ran into the castle, not giving Harry time to stop her. Harry watched her. Was it over? Were they really meant to be apart? Harry was alone... in the snow... he needed Cho... he loved Cho...

He just lost her.