Chapter Fourteen~ The Beginning
***
Harry woke up finding Cho beside him, still sleeping. Harry rubbed his eyes and took his watch. He saw that it only seven. Everyone would be leaving by ten, giving them time to fix up.
Harry sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He saw that their things were spread out and messy. Harry smiled anyway. He didn't care if he was the most untidy person in the world now... he and Cho belonged to each other.
Harry noticed Cho's neck. She still had the necklace on. Harry smiled and kissed Cho on the forehead. Cho felt it and her eyes flew open. Harry smiled when she looked at him.
"Good morning beautiful." Harry said softly. Cho smiled. It was the best wake up call she had ever had. "Good morning..." Cho said as she yawned. "You okay?" Harry asked. Cho nodded. "You?" "Amazing..." Harry replied.
Cho looked around. "What time is it?" she asked. "Seven. Everyone won't wake by nine so it gives us time to clean up." Harry said. Cho's hands crept up to her neck and found the pendant of her necklace.
"I told you I wouldn't take it off..." Cho muttered. Harry smiled and took the pendant between his index and thumb. "It still looks beautiful... like you." Harry said, kissing Cho's forehead. Cho closed her eyes and moaned a bit.
She opened her eyes when she felt the couch shift its weight telling that Harry had left it. Cho looked the side where Harry was sitting on a small blue couch, putting on his socks. He was in boxers already. Cho smiled. "You're leaving?" she asked. Harry looked up at her.
He wasn't wearing his glasses and Cho saw that he looked much more handsome without it. Even with it on, she saw him very attractive. "No, I'll just dress, just in case. You go back to sleep, I'll watch you." Harry said. Cho smiled and turned her back on him. Harry saw her back was so silky, so fair and smooth. He smiled seeing her very beautiful.
Harry twitched a bit when he felt his scar prick again. But it was gone just as fast as it had come. Harry shook his head a bit, trying to recover from the slight pain. He looked up at Cho as if checking if she saw him wince or if anything happened to her.
Harry stood up and put on his trousers. He then put on his polo and his sweater on top. Harry took his necktie and didn't bother to tie it around his neck. He just let it hang loosely.
Harry picked up his robes, which were beside the couch and put it aside. He sat on the edge of the couch and watched Cho sleep. Harry brushed off hair from her face and saw her sleeping peacefully. Harry smiled at the thought of her sleeping right away. She was very tired.
He then planted a small kiss on Cho's cheek and held her hand tightly.
"Well, my scar hurt again... that means that Voldemort is active. He wants me Cho. He wants to kill me. I know you know that but I don't want to risk your life just for me. I don't want to be selfish and keep you to myself. I want you to live a happy life with someone whose life isn't at stake.
"But I just want to say, I am so thankful to have known you. Even if we did have fights before and you... (Harry laughed a bit) you even slapped me. That was my first slap from a girl, well, except my Aunt Petunia but never mind her.
"But those fights were nothing. This is what our goal was... thank you for brightening up my day and being there for me. You are the source of my happiness, even if at the midst of terror and terrible things, you are my light Cho... I love you..." Harry said this all while she slept. He then kissed her again and sat on the small couch nearby.
Harry slowly drifted off to sleep when Cho opened her eyes and a tear fell from her eye. "I love you too Harry..."
* * *
"Be safe Harry, we'll write to you." Hermione said, giving Harry a tight hug. Harry returned it as if he felt like Hermione would never come back. He let go and Hermione proceeded to Cho, who hugged also.
Ron faced Harry. "Hang tight mate. Don't worry, Cho's there... be careful, we will write to you and if you don't write back within three days, we will inform the Order." Ron said as he slapped Harry's shoulder. Harry smiled as he rubbed the part Ron had slapped.
"Yeah, thanks." He said and hugged his best friend. Tonks went to them and smiled. "So, are you leaving now Ron and Hermione?" she asked. Harry saw her hair now neon green and it was in buns... nothing was on her face.
"Yeah, we'll miss you Tonks!" Hermione said as she proceeded to hug Tonks. Tonks backed away. "Ah, no. No hugs! I'm not the huggable type!" she extended her hand and shook Hermione's. "There! Be careful you two, see you after the break!" Tonks said.
Ron and Hermione smiled and left the castle along with the others.
As soon as they left, Tonks faced Harry. "Occlumency?" she asked. Cho faced them. Harry looked at her. "Sure... right..." he said. Cho smiled. "Good luck." She said weakly. Harry didn't know that Cho had heard everything he said when he thought she was sleeping.
Tonks walked ahead and noticed Harry didn't follow. She turned back. "Harry? Come on, Snape doesn't want to wait!" she said. Harry hesitated. "I'll follow." He said. Tonks smiled as she eyed Cho and left.
Harry faced Cho. "Where are you going to stay?" Harry asked. Cho smiled. "I'll be fine. I can find time to do things and I'll wait for you." Cho said. Harry smiled and went near her. He hugged her tightly. "I love you Cho," he said. Cho hugged him back and closed her eyes.
Harry let go and turned around, following Tonks. Cho stood there, watching him. Harry felt as if he was a world away from her as he went up the stairs exiting the entrance hall. He wanted her in his arms forever and he wanted them both... safe and alive...
Harry met up with Tonks by a corridor and Tonks put her hand on his shoulder as they walked. "You love her, right? Miss... Cho Chang if I'm not mistaken?" Tonks asked. Harry nodded gloomily.
Tonks sighed. "Well, I guess you two have the right to be like this. After all Harry, things don't last in the world. They can come, yes but they leave with you least expecting it would happen." Tonks said as she looked at him. Harry just nodded as he stared at his feet.
Tonks rubbed Harry's shoulder. "Don't worry, work hard and I'm sure you'll do good. You can protect both her and yourself. Just believe." Tonks said. Harry sighed. Tonks lifted an eyebrow. "Magical, is it?" she asked. Harry raised his head.
"What?" Harry finally spoke. "Well, I wouldn't be Lupin's friend for nothing. Look." She said as she took out the battered, crumpled piece of parchment. "Is-is that...?" "The Marauder's map, yes. You see, I am one of the teachers patrolling the halls last night to see if anyone was out."
"And...?" Harry asked, now sounding nervous. "I saw you and Ms. Chang last night together." Tonks said, sounding proud of herself. "Oh no... a teacher knows..." Harry swore. Tonks laughed as they turned a corner.
"Ah! So you did!" she said still sounding proud of herself. Harry eyed her. "What...?" "You see, I had a feeling you did it but I just wanted you to tell me straight from your own mouth!" Tonks said. Harry thought a bit and then moaned. Tonks laughed. "Well, it's alright, like I said, I understand your position. C'mon! I'm from the Order!" Tonks said.
Harry didn't feel better. It bothered him to find out a teacher knows the things he and Cho did even if she wouldn't tell. Harry was quiet now. Tonks cleared her throat. "Oh! I forgot!" she said, stopping. Harry watched her.
Tonks pulled out a piece of parchment and looked at it. "Let's see, you have a schedule ahead of you, a busy one indeed!" she said. Harry frowned. "Occlumency, and you also have Legilimancy lessons after." She said. Harry groaned. "Snape is still my teacher?" he asked.
"... Uh... yeah..." Tonks replied. Harry pouted. Two hours straight of lessons with Snape? "And!" Tonks announced, making Harry jump out of his thoughts. "Sword training with... Lupin later... you have lunch... then... you have more Dark Arts training with me..."
"Hang on, why all the lessons?" Harry asked. Tonks sighed as she lowered her paper. "Harry, Harry, Harry... for one thing, we are preparing you. For another, it is very important and lastly, Professor Dumbledore has suggested you take this all up." Tonks said. Harry hesitated and continued to walk as Tonks explained his schedule.
* * *
Harry walked to the Great Hall for lunch after a bone-breaking lesson with Lupin. Lupin gave him no mercy in his first sword-training lesson. He actually had a wound across his left arm but Lupin healed it anyway.
Harry entered the Great Hall and saw a few Hufflepuffs, no Gryffindors, no Ravenclaws and very few Slytherins. Harry saw Cho eating in her table. She had a book beside her and she periodically glanced to it after taking in a spoon of food.
Harry smiled and walked slowly to her. "Cho!" Harry called out. Everyone glanced to him and watched him walk over to Cho. Cho looked up and her face brightened up. "Harry!" she said and stood up.
Cho hugged Harry making Harry wince a bit. "Ow... ow..." he moaned. Cho let go. "Oh! Sorry, are you okay? What happened? You look tired." Cho said as she studied Harry.
"Sorry, I had sword-training lessons from Lupin, you know him? Professor Lupin?" Harry asked. Cho nodded. "Yeah... yeah, I remember. Sword- training?" she asked.
Harry explained to her everything about his preparation for battle and everything. Cho looked particularly worried about him the whole time. Even if she did look anxious, she urged him to go on. "Yeah, you should go on and work hard. I don't want you going out there not prepared." She said.
Harry ate with Cho in the Ravenclaw table since they are the only ones from their houses who stayed for Christmas. They talked about quidditch, as usual and the new things Harry learned.
Cho practically knocked over her goblet of pumpkin juice when she found out that Snape bore himself into Harry's mind. She was worried Snape might've seen things private...
"Are you sure?" Cho asked, making sure Harry tried his best not to let Snape see what had happened between them. "Yes, positive." Harry said, taking a sip off his juice.
Harry continued with his lessons and his last one was a self- transfiguration lesson from McGonagall. He even learned the Disillusionment Charm and things only the Order might only know.
Cho waited for Harry outside the Transfiguration classroom at around seven in the evening. When Harry emerged, he looked very exhausted. Cho kissed him on the cheek when she saw him. "You okay?" she asked. Harry smiled weakly at her. "Yeah, you're here now."
Cho smiled. "You look tired, come on, let's go to your dorm." She said. Harry took her hand and walked beside her as they made their way to the Gryffindor common room.
* * *
Harry was slumped on the couch in his common room as Cho fixed up a cup of hot chocolate for him. She looked at him as she lifted his cup and sighed. He looked so tired and frail.
Cho walked over to him and planted a small kiss on his lips. Harry's eyes flew open. He looked at Cho and smiled. "Here." Cho said, handing the mug to Harry. Harry took a sip of it and put it on the table in front of them. Cho sighed. "Come here." She said.
She pulled Harry down to her lap and laid his head on her thighs. Harry stared up at her looking surprised. "Cho..." "Shhh... just relax and sleep. You're tired, I want you to relax and rest." Cho said, brushing Harry's hair off his forehead as she massaged it a bit.
Harry smiled as he held one of her hands and kissed it. "Thank you." He whispered. Cho smiled and Harry closed his eyes as all his exhaustion and tiredness left him... Cho was there with him and this was what perfection was all about...
Harry woke up and found himself still lying on Cho's lap.
He saw her head titled to the right and she looked like she was sleeping. Harry sat up slowly and gently laid Cho on the bed. She wiggled a little bit as Harry brushed some hair off her face.
Harry stood up and looked at his watch. It was ten-thirty in the evening. Harry sighed and drank the rest of his hot coco. The moment he put the mug down, Harry felt a searing pain in his scar making him groan softly and clutch it tightly.
The pain lasted for a few seconds and Harry felt it leave. His breathing ragged, he pulled his hand slowly away as if waiting for an aftershock. Harry looked at Cho to see if she was still sleeping. Good. Harry heard a tap the window and saw Hedwig outside. Harry ran to it.
Hedwig walked inside and Harry closed the window. He took the parchment tied to her left leg and unrolled it. It read:
Harry,
Be careful, recent attacks have been reported. Protect Cho. She is very fragile right now. Not physically but to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Please, take your lessons seriously and--
End... that was the end... no addressee... nothing... protect Cho? What the hell was that? Not that Harry did not want to but of course he would. He didn't have to be told twice. The handwriting was illegible... weird...
Harry didn't read the Daily Prophet recently so he was clueless about things happening. He didn't want to read it anyway... it was the same thing all summer, "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named at Large," "The Dark Lord Active," Harry was tired of all those.
Harry perched Hedwig on a hat rack and gave her an owl treat. Harry reread the letter and it looked as if it was rushed and the person who wrote it was cut off... Hedwig hooted softly. Harry turned to her.
Hedwig lifted her right wing and Harry saw a wound. Harry's emerald eyes grew bigger. "Hedwig, where did you get that?" he asked the owl as he looked at the wing. Hedwig lowered it and Harry backed away. "Are you sure there are NO other letters?" Harry asked. Hedwig lowered her beak as a sign of no. Harry sighed.
"Harry..."
* * *
Harry turned his head. He saw Cho stirring on her couch.
"Cho...?" Harry asked softly as the letter fell from his hand and went to her. Cho sat up with Harry holding her hand. "W-What time is it?" Cho asked, yawning a bit. Harry looked at his watch. "Eleven. Go back to sleep." Harry said.
Cho smiled. "You aren't changed yet?" she asked. Harry looked at himself and laughed. "Oh, right! I'll change first and you change also. We can plan where we are going to sleep." Harry said as he kissed the corner of Cho's lips and left. Cho smiled and her eyes went to the parchment on the floor. She picked it up and read it. Cho felt a tingle down her spine.
Just then, a tap was heard on the window again. Cho looked over to it and saw a brown owl, an unfamiliar one. She stood up and opened the window. She then took the letter tied to it and read:
Harry,
Bad news! Hermione's missing! Her parents Are looking for her, they called up the Ministry! Please tell me she'll be alright! Do you have a Clue on where she is? Please reply right away! I'm worried about her.
Ron
P.S. Protect Cho...
Cho swallowed hard. That was the second letter telling Harry he should protect her. What was the deal? What was happening? Hermione's missing? But how can she if she's not in London where the Dark Lord is? She was supposed to be in Asia just as Harry had told Cho.
Cho heard Harry's footsteps coming down and turned to him.
"Hey, you aren't dressed yet." Harry said in blue pyjamas. Cho smiled weakly. "Harry, whose owl is this?" she asked. Harry looked at the brown owl. "Pig?" he asked. "And... this..." Cho said, handing over the letter.
Harry took the letter from Cho and read it. Cho watched him intently. Harry's eyes grew big. "Hermione..." he muttered.
~More twists coming up, everything, from Snape's lessons with Harry up to Tonks' lessons with Harry have connections! Was this chapter boring? But hey, things are connected! Hagrid *might* explain everything in the next chapter. Hermione's whereabouts will be explained, of course, in further chapters and Ron... ah! Just read it! :) ~
***
Harry woke up finding Cho beside him, still sleeping. Harry rubbed his eyes and took his watch. He saw that it only seven. Everyone would be leaving by ten, giving them time to fix up.
Harry sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He saw that their things were spread out and messy. Harry smiled anyway. He didn't care if he was the most untidy person in the world now... he and Cho belonged to each other.
Harry noticed Cho's neck. She still had the necklace on. Harry smiled and kissed Cho on the forehead. Cho felt it and her eyes flew open. Harry smiled when she looked at him.
"Good morning beautiful." Harry said softly. Cho smiled. It was the best wake up call she had ever had. "Good morning..." Cho said as she yawned. "You okay?" Harry asked. Cho nodded. "You?" "Amazing..." Harry replied.
Cho looked around. "What time is it?" she asked. "Seven. Everyone won't wake by nine so it gives us time to clean up." Harry said. Cho's hands crept up to her neck and found the pendant of her necklace.
"I told you I wouldn't take it off..." Cho muttered. Harry smiled and took the pendant between his index and thumb. "It still looks beautiful... like you." Harry said, kissing Cho's forehead. Cho closed her eyes and moaned a bit.
She opened her eyes when she felt the couch shift its weight telling that Harry had left it. Cho looked the side where Harry was sitting on a small blue couch, putting on his socks. He was in boxers already. Cho smiled. "You're leaving?" she asked. Harry looked up at her.
He wasn't wearing his glasses and Cho saw that he looked much more handsome without it. Even with it on, she saw him very attractive. "No, I'll just dress, just in case. You go back to sleep, I'll watch you." Harry said. Cho smiled and turned her back on him. Harry saw her back was so silky, so fair and smooth. He smiled seeing her very beautiful.
Harry twitched a bit when he felt his scar prick again. But it was gone just as fast as it had come. Harry shook his head a bit, trying to recover from the slight pain. He looked up at Cho as if checking if she saw him wince or if anything happened to her.
Harry stood up and put on his trousers. He then put on his polo and his sweater on top. Harry took his necktie and didn't bother to tie it around his neck. He just let it hang loosely.
Harry picked up his robes, which were beside the couch and put it aside. He sat on the edge of the couch and watched Cho sleep. Harry brushed off hair from her face and saw her sleeping peacefully. Harry smiled at the thought of her sleeping right away. She was very tired.
He then planted a small kiss on Cho's cheek and held her hand tightly.
"Well, my scar hurt again... that means that Voldemort is active. He wants me Cho. He wants to kill me. I know you know that but I don't want to risk your life just for me. I don't want to be selfish and keep you to myself. I want you to live a happy life with someone whose life isn't at stake.
"But I just want to say, I am so thankful to have known you. Even if we did have fights before and you... (Harry laughed a bit) you even slapped me. That was my first slap from a girl, well, except my Aunt Petunia but never mind her.
"But those fights were nothing. This is what our goal was... thank you for brightening up my day and being there for me. You are the source of my happiness, even if at the midst of terror and terrible things, you are my light Cho... I love you..." Harry said this all while she slept. He then kissed her again and sat on the small couch nearby.
Harry slowly drifted off to sleep when Cho opened her eyes and a tear fell from her eye. "I love you too Harry..."
* * *
"Be safe Harry, we'll write to you." Hermione said, giving Harry a tight hug. Harry returned it as if he felt like Hermione would never come back. He let go and Hermione proceeded to Cho, who hugged also.
Ron faced Harry. "Hang tight mate. Don't worry, Cho's there... be careful, we will write to you and if you don't write back within three days, we will inform the Order." Ron said as he slapped Harry's shoulder. Harry smiled as he rubbed the part Ron had slapped.
"Yeah, thanks." He said and hugged his best friend. Tonks went to them and smiled. "So, are you leaving now Ron and Hermione?" she asked. Harry saw her hair now neon green and it was in buns... nothing was on her face.
"Yeah, we'll miss you Tonks!" Hermione said as she proceeded to hug Tonks. Tonks backed away. "Ah, no. No hugs! I'm not the huggable type!" she extended her hand and shook Hermione's. "There! Be careful you two, see you after the break!" Tonks said.
Ron and Hermione smiled and left the castle along with the others.
As soon as they left, Tonks faced Harry. "Occlumency?" she asked. Cho faced them. Harry looked at her. "Sure... right..." he said. Cho smiled. "Good luck." She said weakly. Harry didn't know that Cho had heard everything he said when he thought she was sleeping.
Tonks walked ahead and noticed Harry didn't follow. She turned back. "Harry? Come on, Snape doesn't want to wait!" she said. Harry hesitated. "I'll follow." He said. Tonks smiled as she eyed Cho and left.
Harry faced Cho. "Where are you going to stay?" Harry asked. Cho smiled. "I'll be fine. I can find time to do things and I'll wait for you." Cho said. Harry smiled and went near her. He hugged her tightly. "I love you Cho," he said. Cho hugged him back and closed her eyes.
Harry let go and turned around, following Tonks. Cho stood there, watching him. Harry felt as if he was a world away from her as he went up the stairs exiting the entrance hall. He wanted her in his arms forever and he wanted them both... safe and alive...
Harry met up with Tonks by a corridor and Tonks put her hand on his shoulder as they walked. "You love her, right? Miss... Cho Chang if I'm not mistaken?" Tonks asked. Harry nodded gloomily.
Tonks sighed. "Well, I guess you two have the right to be like this. After all Harry, things don't last in the world. They can come, yes but they leave with you least expecting it would happen." Tonks said as she looked at him. Harry just nodded as he stared at his feet.
Tonks rubbed Harry's shoulder. "Don't worry, work hard and I'm sure you'll do good. You can protect both her and yourself. Just believe." Tonks said. Harry sighed. Tonks lifted an eyebrow. "Magical, is it?" she asked. Harry raised his head.
"What?" Harry finally spoke. "Well, I wouldn't be Lupin's friend for nothing. Look." She said as she took out the battered, crumpled piece of parchment. "Is-is that...?" "The Marauder's map, yes. You see, I am one of the teachers patrolling the halls last night to see if anyone was out."
"And...?" Harry asked, now sounding nervous. "I saw you and Ms. Chang last night together." Tonks said, sounding proud of herself. "Oh no... a teacher knows..." Harry swore. Tonks laughed as they turned a corner.
"Ah! So you did!" she said still sounding proud of herself. Harry eyed her. "What...?" "You see, I had a feeling you did it but I just wanted you to tell me straight from your own mouth!" Tonks said. Harry thought a bit and then moaned. Tonks laughed. "Well, it's alright, like I said, I understand your position. C'mon! I'm from the Order!" Tonks said.
Harry didn't feel better. It bothered him to find out a teacher knows the things he and Cho did even if she wouldn't tell. Harry was quiet now. Tonks cleared her throat. "Oh! I forgot!" she said, stopping. Harry watched her.
Tonks pulled out a piece of parchment and looked at it. "Let's see, you have a schedule ahead of you, a busy one indeed!" she said. Harry frowned. "Occlumency, and you also have Legilimancy lessons after." She said. Harry groaned. "Snape is still my teacher?" he asked.
"... Uh... yeah..." Tonks replied. Harry pouted. Two hours straight of lessons with Snape? "And!" Tonks announced, making Harry jump out of his thoughts. "Sword training with... Lupin later... you have lunch... then... you have more Dark Arts training with me..."
"Hang on, why all the lessons?" Harry asked. Tonks sighed as she lowered her paper. "Harry, Harry, Harry... for one thing, we are preparing you. For another, it is very important and lastly, Professor Dumbledore has suggested you take this all up." Tonks said. Harry hesitated and continued to walk as Tonks explained his schedule.
* * *
Harry walked to the Great Hall for lunch after a bone-breaking lesson with Lupin. Lupin gave him no mercy in his first sword-training lesson. He actually had a wound across his left arm but Lupin healed it anyway.
Harry entered the Great Hall and saw a few Hufflepuffs, no Gryffindors, no Ravenclaws and very few Slytherins. Harry saw Cho eating in her table. She had a book beside her and she periodically glanced to it after taking in a spoon of food.
Harry smiled and walked slowly to her. "Cho!" Harry called out. Everyone glanced to him and watched him walk over to Cho. Cho looked up and her face brightened up. "Harry!" she said and stood up.
Cho hugged Harry making Harry wince a bit. "Ow... ow..." he moaned. Cho let go. "Oh! Sorry, are you okay? What happened? You look tired." Cho said as she studied Harry.
"Sorry, I had sword-training lessons from Lupin, you know him? Professor Lupin?" Harry asked. Cho nodded. "Yeah... yeah, I remember. Sword- training?" she asked.
Harry explained to her everything about his preparation for battle and everything. Cho looked particularly worried about him the whole time. Even if she did look anxious, she urged him to go on. "Yeah, you should go on and work hard. I don't want you going out there not prepared." She said.
Harry ate with Cho in the Ravenclaw table since they are the only ones from their houses who stayed for Christmas. They talked about quidditch, as usual and the new things Harry learned.
Cho practically knocked over her goblet of pumpkin juice when she found out that Snape bore himself into Harry's mind. She was worried Snape might've seen things private...
"Are you sure?" Cho asked, making sure Harry tried his best not to let Snape see what had happened between them. "Yes, positive." Harry said, taking a sip off his juice.
Harry continued with his lessons and his last one was a self- transfiguration lesson from McGonagall. He even learned the Disillusionment Charm and things only the Order might only know.
Cho waited for Harry outside the Transfiguration classroom at around seven in the evening. When Harry emerged, he looked very exhausted. Cho kissed him on the cheek when she saw him. "You okay?" she asked. Harry smiled weakly at her. "Yeah, you're here now."
Cho smiled. "You look tired, come on, let's go to your dorm." She said. Harry took her hand and walked beside her as they made their way to the Gryffindor common room.
* * *
Harry was slumped on the couch in his common room as Cho fixed up a cup of hot chocolate for him. She looked at him as she lifted his cup and sighed. He looked so tired and frail.
Cho walked over to him and planted a small kiss on his lips. Harry's eyes flew open. He looked at Cho and smiled. "Here." Cho said, handing the mug to Harry. Harry took a sip of it and put it on the table in front of them. Cho sighed. "Come here." She said.
She pulled Harry down to her lap and laid his head on her thighs. Harry stared up at her looking surprised. "Cho..." "Shhh... just relax and sleep. You're tired, I want you to relax and rest." Cho said, brushing Harry's hair off his forehead as she massaged it a bit.
Harry smiled as he held one of her hands and kissed it. "Thank you." He whispered. Cho smiled and Harry closed his eyes as all his exhaustion and tiredness left him... Cho was there with him and this was what perfection was all about...
Harry woke up and found himself still lying on Cho's lap.
He saw her head titled to the right and she looked like she was sleeping. Harry sat up slowly and gently laid Cho on the bed. She wiggled a little bit as Harry brushed some hair off her face.
Harry stood up and looked at his watch. It was ten-thirty in the evening. Harry sighed and drank the rest of his hot coco. The moment he put the mug down, Harry felt a searing pain in his scar making him groan softly and clutch it tightly.
The pain lasted for a few seconds and Harry felt it leave. His breathing ragged, he pulled his hand slowly away as if waiting for an aftershock. Harry looked at Cho to see if she was still sleeping. Good. Harry heard a tap the window and saw Hedwig outside. Harry ran to it.
Hedwig walked inside and Harry closed the window. He took the parchment tied to her left leg and unrolled it. It read:
Harry,
Be careful, recent attacks have been reported. Protect Cho. She is very fragile right now. Not physically but to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Please, take your lessons seriously and--
End... that was the end... no addressee... nothing... protect Cho? What the hell was that? Not that Harry did not want to but of course he would. He didn't have to be told twice. The handwriting was illegible... weird...
Harry didn't read the Daily Prophet recently so he was clueless about things happening. He didn't want to read it anyway... it was the same thing all summer, "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named at Large," "The Dark Lord Active," Harry was tired of all those.
Harry perched Hedwig on a hat rack and gave her an owl treat. Harry reread the letter and it looked as if it was rushed and the person who wrote it was cut off... Hedwig hooted softly. Harry turned to her.
Hedwig lifted her right wing and Harry saw a wound. Harry's emerald eyes grew bigger. "Hedwig, where did you get that?" he asked the owl as he looked at the wing. Hedwig lowered it and Harry backed away. "Are you sure there are NO other letters?" Harry asked. Hedwig lowered her beak as a sign of no. Harry sighed.
"Harry..."
* * *
Harry turned his head. He saw Cho stirring on her couch.
"Cho...?" Harry asked softly as the letter fell from his hand and went to her. Cho sat up with Harry holding her hand. "W-What time is it?" Cho asked, yawning a bit. Harry looked at his watch. "Eleven. Go back to sleep." Harry said.
Cho smiled. "You aren't changed yet?" she asked. Harry looked at himself and laughed. "Oh, right! I'll change first and you change also. We can plan where we are going to sleep." Harry said as he kissed the corner of Cho's lips and left. Cho smiled and her eyes went to the parchment on the floor. She picked it up and read it. Cho felt a tingle down her spine.
Just then, a tap was heard on the window again. Cho looked over to it and saw a brown owl, an unfamiliar one. She stood up and opened the window. She then took the letter tied to it and read:
Harry,
Bad news! Hermione's missing! Her parents Are looking for her, they called up the Ministry! Please tell me she'll be alright! Do you have a Clue on where she is? Please reply right away! I'm worried about her.
Ron
P.S. Protect Cho...
Cho swallowed hard. That was the second letter telling Harry he should protect her. What was the deal? What was happening? Hermione's missing? But how can she if she's not in London where the Dark Lord is? She was supposed to be in Asia just as Harry had told Cho.
Cho heard Harry's footsteps coming down and turned to him.
"Hey, you aren't dressed yet." Harry said in blue pyjamas. Cho smiled weakly. "Harry, whose owl is this?" she asked. Harry looked at the brown owl. "Pig?" he asked. "And... this..." Cho said, handing over the letter.
Harry took the letter from Cho and read it. Cho watched him intently. Harry's eyes grew big. "Hermione..." he muttered.
~More twists coming up, everything, from Snape's lessons with Harry up to Tonks' lessons with Harry have connections! Was this chapter boring? But hey, things are connected! Hagrid *might* explain everything in the next chapter. Hermione's whereabouts will be explained, of course, in further chapters and Ron... ah! Just read it! :) ~
