Author's Note: I would like to extend my apologies to my reader's for taking so much time before uploading the next chapter. Work has really been hectic this past week and I barely had time to write. Anyway, I'm trying to remedy that so hopefully it won't take another week or so before the next chapter goes up. I'd like to thank the people who have always given me feedback for my work. Your continued patronage, cheers, and even jeers keep me inspired in continuing this story. Someone mentioned the pace that I was working with on this story was not as...fast...compared to other stories. I must apologize. I like taking my time with this story and felt that rushing it might lessen the importance of the interesting feelings about affection and possibly love between these two characters. If it does bother many of you, please kindly let me know. I shall try my best to accommodate my readers.

PS: I almost forgot. Another reason for the delay with this chapter is because I have also been spending a good amount of time working on a new story.

Thanks for understanding.

Usual Disclaimer: All credit for the HP storyline and characters goes to and belongs to the wonderfully gifted JK Rowling. I'm just borrowing some ingredients and throwing them in a blender for a different flavor.

And now...on with the tale...

Harry suddenly awoke from his sleep and quickly surveyed his surroundings. As he tried to shift from his current position, he realized that there was something pinning him down on his left side. Taking a quick glance, he recognized Cho as the culprit as she was asleep on his left shoulder while his back was to a tree.

"What…?"

Harry's eyes widened for a moment. Not saying another word, he closed his eyes again and tried to recall earlier events. They were crying, grieving for their losses, releasing pent up tears. Then somehow, they fell asleep in the other's comfort, exhausted. He opened his eyes once more and looked up toward the sky. Judging from the sun's position, he guessed that it was maybe around noontime now, meaning he and Cho have been asleep for at least an hour.

He knew that their current position, although innocent enough, would seem quite compromising and embarrassing if someone else were to witness it, especially if they were of the house of Slytherin. But Harry did not have the heart to wake her up…at least, not just yet. She seemed so peacefully asleep by his left side and to wake her up might just disturb the calm that they are currently luxuriating in. Also, he sheepishly grinned, he thought that she was very pretty, watching her sleep so peacefully.

Logic soon overtook his opinion though as he thought that Cho would be embarrassed to be in this position with him anyway. He shifted slightly so that instead of having her head by his shoulder, he carefully lowered her head on the ground. Standing up, he worked to sort away some of the wrinkles from his clothes and fixed himself. Taking a deep breath, he kneeled back down and began to rouse his Ravenclaw companion.

"Cho..?" he shook her slightly. "Wake up. It's past noon and time for lunch…Cho?"

"Hm…" her eyes opened slowly and strained to focus against the sunlight. "Harry…What?" She shot up from the ground. "How long was I…I mean…"

Harry smiled. "Like I said, it look's like it's just past noon. So you weren't out for that long. But anyway, it's about time for lunch. Do you want to head back up to the castle?" He offered his hand.

"I…Yes…Sure," she took his hand cautiously. Harry gently helped her up from the ground and picked up both their brooms to take back. Cho soon found herself pondering over what happened earlier and blushed a little when she remembered that she feel asleep by him. She wanted to ask him but pride would not permit her to do so. Her reddened cheeks were embarrassing enough as they were.

Whether it was for lack of thought or just because of the sheer awkwardness of the situation, neither really spoke as they walked back to the castle. As soon as they made it to the main hall, they both said their goodbyes and departed for their respective house halls. Between them, there was an unspoken understanding that they had to keep their unplanned morning liaison a secret from everybody else at Hogwarts.

*****

The rest of the day flew by fast enough without event. Neither Harry nor Cho saw each other again and neither revealed Saturday's events to any of their friends. Sunday came and went, and just like how Saturday was for most of the day, it was without incident.

Then came Monday.

Harry and Ron were late for McGonagall's class. Again. Harry wheezed with great difficulty as he tried to catch his breath.

"Ron! I thought you said that you could get up earlier this time!" Harry impatiently mumbled. "Now look! We're both late! For McGonagall's class even!"

"I'm sorry Harry. I tried using that muggle alarm clock that I borrowed from Hermione. Apparently, you need to wind it up first. By hand too!"

"Well whatever did you expect, Ron!?"

They finally reached their classroom and very hesitantly walked in. Luck was not on their side though as the whole class stopped gave them plenty of embarrassing glances probably to last them for a week. McGonagall's back was still to them when they entered the classroom. As quietly as they could, they tiptoed to the nearest empty desk and did their best to get settled into class without catching the professor's attention.

"Ahem."

But of course, as often as it has happened to Harry so many times, Fate dictated otherwise.

"Mister Potter and Mister Weasley. Maybe I really ought to make one of you transfigure into a working alarm clock. Perhaps maybe then you'd both make it to class on time?" A severe stare fell on both on them.

Ron's voice meekly pierced the deafening silence that ensued. "I…We're sorry, Professor. It won't happen again."

"I certainly hope not. However, I must deduct five points for each of from Gryffindor for such tardiness. Thirty minutes late is clearly not acceptable behavior, Mister Weasley. And Mister Potter, do remember that even though you are Gryffindor's Seeker, you shall not receive special treatment. I expected more from both of you."

Sinking into his chair, Ron could only nod his head. Harry, in no better state than Ron, could only murmur his agreement. 'Better McGonagall than Snape. Anytime.' A few feet away, Malfoy's face had a maddeningly satisfied look.

Some time later, after meeting up with Hermione after class, the trio headed to the Great Hall for lunch. Lunch sounded so appealing to Harry now since he missed breakfast due to his morning tardiness. Unfortunately, just as they entered the hall, Malfoy took the liberty once again to take shots at the green-eyed Seeker.

"Oy Potter! McGonagall was right! You and Weasel boy there ought to learn how to transfigure into a working alarm clock. Maybe next time, one of you would—oomph!" Malfoy suddenly discovered his lips clamped together and his mouth wouldn't open. His eyes widened as his hands flew to his mouth, trying to pry them open. Crabbe and Goyle were gangly fussing over their leader.

Unknown to the trio, the Weasley twins were just behind them as they entered the Great Hall. George had a proud grin on his face after they turned to look, his wand out. "Finally shut his trap. And I must say Malfoy's definitely more tolerable when no ferret-like sounds come out from his ugly mouth." Laughter broke freely from the rest of the Gryffindor students in the Great Hall. Malfoy was soon noticed being rushed off by Crabbe and Goyle from the hall, assumingly to see Madam Pomfrey about his unclampable lips.

As they sat down on the table, Harry could not help but make some searching glances around the hall. Shyly, he hoped that Ron and Hermione would not take notice of him as he was looking for a certain Ravenclaw student. This weekend's encounter of sorts, to his knowledge, still remained as a secret from the rest of Hogwarts and he was glad that it stayed that way. Not that he was ashamed to have spent that time with Cho. However, he felt that the encounter only belonged to both of them. Nobody else needed to either know or inquire about it.

"Harry?"

A familiar voice caused him to spin his head so fast that he was sure he sprained it. Grimacing a bit, he turned a bit red when he realized that Cho was just right behind him.

"Um…Hello," he gave her a tiny smile.

Much to his great embarrassment, she returned his smile brightly. By now, he was so sure that everyone in the Great Hall had their eyes transfixed on both of them. He was definitely cursing Fate today. He was certain that Ron's and Hermione's eyes were boring onto him without mercy. Questions one after the other would soon be ringing in his ears endlessly once this encounter is done. If he can make it through this, that is.

"Do you have a moment? I need to talk to you about something."

Harry stood up slowly, worried that his legs might not hold him up properly as they felt quite wobbly. "Ah…Yes…Sure…Outside?" He let her lead him out from the hall and followed her into an empty hallway.

Glancing left and right, Cho made sure that nobody else was around before she finally spoke again. "I…I'm sorry about that. That was quite embarrassing and awkward, but I had no choice. I've been trying to get a chance to talk to you since Saturday but I guess I can't get much luck at finding you alone at all."

Finally regaining some composure, Harry felt relieved and…elated…in finding out that beautiful Ravenclaw Seeker was seeking him since then.

"Um…I guess…First and foremost, I wanted to thank you and apologize as well."

"Huh?" Harry had a blank stare on his face.

"I think…It was really…helpful that…well for me I think…that we had a chance to talk about last year…about Cedric." Harry was certain that her insides were shaking as she spoke. "I…can't even begin to imagine how it has been for you. To tell you the truth, I felt a bit selfish once I realized that I wasn't the only one grieving."

"Cho, you don't have to-"

"Harry, please let me finish. I need to get this out now before I lose my assurance." Harry took a deep breath and just nodded.

"I…It must have been awful for you. There were…rumors too...you know? About you and me. They sorta made this entire ordeal worse, but I'm not faulting you." Red was creeping up Harry's cheeks but he didn't interrupt her.

"What rumors?" Harry knew what those rumors were but he couldn't stop himself from asking anyway.

"I don't mean to get ahead of myself, but I heard that well…that youhadacrushonme," she hurriedly finished. "And…that…I know it's not true, but several Slytherin folk, especially Malfoy's group, kept on circulating rumors that it was you that killed Cedric."

Green eyes widened and if he wasn't red yet earlier, he was sure to have taken the color of a very ripe and plump tomato. He was flushed with anger and embarrassment at the same time.

Cho seemed to be under the same state as she was sure that her cheeks were flushed. "I…I'm sorry. I know you didn't kill Cedric. It's just rumors and all-"

"They're true. Well…they were true. I mean…about the crush."

'Were?' Her right eyebrow shot up. She quickly recovered. "Oh well Malfoy, and most of them from Slytherin, seemed to have taken it upon themselves to…tease me endlessly while I was with Cedric. Thankfully, Cedric chose to ignore every one of them. And he didn't have anything against you Harry. He told me that he really liked you. And now, well, they tend to steer clear. I think it's because the rest of Ravenclaw's upperclassman seemed to have taken it upon themselves to act as my personal bodyguards," she fumed at this.

"Harry! There you are!" the youngest Weasley boy's voice suddenly pierced Harry's and Cho's privacy. Harry noted Cho's gaze drift behind him and he was sure that Ron would be here in a few moments, though it was still a bit faint. Part of him was annoyed that Ron chose this time to show up, but there was also another part that was relieved. Being with Cho was causing the insides of his stomachs to tie up in knots…slightly…again.

'I'm over her, aren't I?'

"Well, I have to get going now. Um, thanks again Harry. And, though it is a bit awkward, I want us to be…friends? Things are happening a bit fast for me…digesting still that Cedric's no longer here. But I can't let that somber my entire sixth year at Hogwarts."

Harry finally found his voice again. "I would love if then if we became friends, Miss Chang." A pleasant smile came to his lips. He felt very genuinely about what he said and he knew she felt just the same. He offered his right hand and Cho only looked at it with a questionable gaze. A bit self-conscious now of his hand, he wasn't sure if she would take it or just stare at it. But whatever he thought her reaction would be, Harry was definitely not expecting it. He had a confused look on his face and was quite speechless when Ron finally reached him.

"You alright there, mate? Was that Cho Chang that just hurried off from here?"

Harry was still quite frozen on the floor and it was a few more moments later when it finally registered in his mind that Ron was already there.

Instead of shaking his hand, Cho Chang had hugged him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before she left. Her parting words, whispered directly to his ear as she hugged him, repeated in his head, over and over again.

"Mister Potter, last year, before Cedric, I had a crush on you too."