Author's Note: Wow, it's been more than two months since I last updated. I can't apologize enough to the readers of this story. To compensate, this is 1 of 2 chapters that will be published this week for this tale. If I have extra time, maybe 3 chapters this week. Keep the cheers and jeers coming. I welcome them all.
Disclaimer: I make no claims of ownership over JKR's characters and storylines. I am just borrowing a little of each ingredient for a different kind of soup.
And without anymore delays…
In that same quick moment, their lips parted. Harry felt a strange wave of...excitement and surprise creeping down his spine. He liked it. And he at the same time that knew he shouldn't. He opened his eyes and caught hers; he recognized instantly the confusion and mixed feelings reflected in them.
"Cho...I...I don't know what came over me," he whispered backed off slightly. Her face was still inches from his and her eyes searched him. The temptation to capture her lips one more time was starting to nag at him. He wanted that wonderful but yet confusing feeling again.
Cho opened her mouth to speak. "Harry I—"
"Who's there?" a haggardly voice broke into their daze. Harry recognized it instantly even though it was very faint. It was Mr. Filch. And his footsteps coming toward their direction were getting louder. Harry knew they only had moments.
He immediately took her right hand and led her down the hall away from where Mr. Filch's steps were coming from. They couldn't afford to be discovered by anyone. He and Cho didn't need that publicity. Plus, he thought, he wasn't even really sure what's going on between the two of them.
Harry only hoped that he was running in the right direction. He didn't have enough time or opportunity to open the Marauder's Map since he would need light to view it. Mr. Filch probably knew his way better around in these parts of the castle. Finally, after a series of turns left and right, he and Cho finally came across a familiar hall leading toward the Ravenclaw tower.
Cho squeezed Harry's hand just before letting go. "I guess this is where we have to part. I think Mr. Filch is still steadily trying to pursue us." She was silently thankful that the hall wasn't brightly lit as she was sure that her face was flushed red. She bit her lower lip slightly, reminding her of the light, yet lingering effect of the kiss they shared.
Looking at her wordlessly, Harry wasn't sure what to do next. For a moment, his gaze fell on her lips again. He wanted to taste them again because their kiss elicited tumultuous emotions. Did Cho always have this effect on him?
"You're right. Are we still on for that trip to Hogsmeade tomorrow?" Harry asked, moving his eyes away from her lips. "We can meet at Honeydukes about fifteen minutes after we arrive there."
"Sounds perfect." The smile he received made his heart skip a beat. 'Why is she suddenly affecting him like this? Just after one very brief kiss?'
"Good night then, Cho," he barely was able to say it. At the moment, the prospect of saying good night wasn't such an enthusiastic notion for Harry.
"Good night, Harry." Cho lingered for a moment after those words were spoken, as if she expected something to happen. Chiding herself silently, she turned away from him and walked down the corridor, taking her time, feeling crestfallen about the time spent with Harry ending for that day.
Harry watched her as her silhouette slowly disappeared down the hall. He knew that Filch was getting closer as he has not given up yet on his chase but Harry discovered that he was still affixed on Cho's disappearing frame. Finally, after his vision could no longer see her, Harry briskly walked toward the Gryffindor quarters. He had a lot of thinking to do and needed advice. And he knew exactly who to turn to.
*****
"Where have you been?"
Cho froze that the statue that led to their house closed behind her. She hoped that no one would be at the common room at this hour. She turned towards the source and discovered it was Marietta Combs that caught her sneaking in. "I was...at the library." She hoped that this excuse would suffice.
"Oh? Were you? I didn't see you there," Marietta stood up her seat and gathered several books from the study table. "I thought you might have been with...Well never mind that. So what will we be doing tomorrow at Hogsmeade?"
"Hogsmeade? We?" Cho racked her brain and closed her eyes for a moment. She forgot that she and several other Ravenclaw girls were supposed to spend the whole time at Hogsmeade tomorrow for Christmas shopping. Cursing herself, she tried to think of a way to get out of it because of her date...er, meeting...with Harry tomorrow. "Oh, you're right. It is tomorrow. Um..." 'Dammit', she thought. She had no choice but to cancel on Harry. Marietta and the other girls would never let her live it down if she cancelled on them. Especially if they found out that it was because of a certain Gryffindor seeker.
Marietta noted Cho's hesitation and raised an eyebrow. "You ARE going, right?"
'I just have to owl Harry tomorrow and tell him I'm sorry,' she thought disappointedly. Cho flashed her friend a fake smile. "Of course. Wouldn't miss it for the world." She walked toward the stairs the led to their bedrooms. "I think I'll turn in for the night now," she feigned a yawn. "I was so spent after doing all that reading for Defense." Well, it wasn't the exact truth but it wasn't a complete lie either. She hoped that Marietta would let her go on that note.
"Okay. See you tomorrow morning then."
Cho hurriedly ran upstairs and retreated to her Prefect quarters. After dropping off her scrolls on her bed, she went in front of a mirror and looked at herself. The reflection she saw confirmed her suspicions. "No wonder Marietta asked..."
Her cheeks were still flushed and she had that lightheaded, shy aura about her. She had a glow on her. Cho bit her lip. She really was lucky that Marietta didn't ask anymore questions considering the state that she emanated. She moved away from the mirror and proceeded to change into her nightly things, getting ready for bed. On her way, she spied a picture frame that rested on top of her bedside table.
Without realizing it, tears suddenly formed in her eyes. Cho reached for it and stroked the frame gingerly. There was a sad smile on her lips.
"I wonder if you knew...or if you had an inkling about what I felt for him. Or what I might be feeling now." She sat on her bad and stared at the picture, as if the image made her remember the time they shared with each other. It was a very short time. "I hope you'll be happy for me Cedric. I didn't expect to fall for anyone again this soon. But…he's special…He makes me feel…giddy."
Raising her right hand to her lips, she lightly touched where his lips met hers. It was a wonderful and warm feeling. And if Mr. Filch hadn't interrupted, she knew that her lips would have sought more. More of him. Closing her eyes for a moment and biting her lower lip, Cho moved away from Cedric's picture by her bedside and readied herself to bed.
*****
"I assume that you were with Cho."
He thought he would be able to make it to his room without having to talk to anyone. His heartbeat was still pacing about wildly and he knew that running away from Mr. Filch wasn't the cause. But Hermione's statement stopped him in his tracks. "Yes…We just finished…um…practicing and planning out that project. You?"
Harry just realized that Hermione hasn't even looked up from the book she was diligently reading. "Justin and I met earlier and finished up pretty early. We'll probably meet up again tomorrow at Hogsmeade. So I might have to separate from you and Ron for a little bit during our trip."
"Oh okay." Harry took a seat by the fire. "Um…"
"She kissed you or you kissed her or did nothing happen at all?"
Harry's head snapped so fast toward her direction that he heard several bones crick unpleasantly. "Ow! How'd you…I mean...What makes you think we kissed?"
Hermione raised her head and looked at him directly. There was a small smile on her face. "Well, quite frankly, Harry, you had that 'glow' about you."
"Glow? What glow? I thought only women have that? And isn't that…that…only for after…"
She sat back and giggled. "So how was it?"
"What? I…wet…It was wet." Harry's cheeks were flushed again and he avoided her gaze as best as he could. He kissed Cho Chang! He really did! The realization was doing wonders for his heart's calisthenics.
"Wet? You're such a boy, Harry!" Hermione chided him. "I'll have pity on you and won't ask anymore. It's late anyway." She closed her book and stood up, heading for the stairs leading to her Prefect quarters. She yawned. "I'll see you and Ron tomorrow morning. In case you're wondering, he's already tucked in."
"Oh okay. Thanks 'Mione."
"For what?"
"For…not giving me a hard time," he smiled.
"What are best friends for?" She returned his smile and turned around to climb the stairs, leaving Harry by himself in the Common Room.
*****
Harry tried to swat away at whatever was nibbling on his face. It's still too early, he thought. But that thing, whatever it was, wouldn't let up. And it was nibbling on his ear.
'Nibbling?'
Green eyes flew open quickly at the realization and he quickly rose from his laying position. A fowl creature briskly flew away from him and hooted angrily at its target. Harry reached for his glasses and slipped them on. It was an owl.
"What are you doing here this early?" Harry raised his left arm and the small owl perched itself on his arm. Harry realized that it had a note attached to its leg and gingerly removed the rolled parchment. He opened it with patience and frowned after reading the note:
Harry,
I'm sorry but I have to renege on our agreement to meet for today. I neglected to remember that I was to join several other girls from my house on a Christmas shopping venture. I do apologize. I know we have things to talk about. Maybe on Sunday then?
Remorsefully,
Cho
Harry stared at the note for five minutes before rolling it back up. Taking a deep breath, he stood up and walked to the window nearest to his bed and spied the conditions outside. There was a fresh blanket of snow on Hogwarts Castle grounds. It wasn't deep, he observed. About two or three inches. Still, it seemed fantastically beautiful outside. The sun shone brightly and he could hear the laughter and cheers coming from several students playing around on the grounds.
He was determined not to let the disappointment caused by the letter to get to him. Thinking about it more, he figured it was probably better if he didn't meet with Cho today. He had many of things to think about. And there's last night's kiss as well. Turning around, he discovered that Ron was still asleep. It was only 8 am.
Grinning mischievously, he walked on over to his best mate's bedside. Talking in a casual manner, he spoke to no one in particular in the room, "Bloody hell! It looks like Justin and Hermione are having a great time out in the snow, frolicking on and about."
"WHAT?!?! WHERE??" The young Weasley wizard quickly bolted up from bed. He spied Harry next to him with a huge grin on his face. Realization dawned on him. "Oh bug off! Hermoine and Justin aren't outside! Now leave me be. I need thirty more minutes of beauty sleep." Ron slumped back onto the bed and pulled the covers over his head.
"I kissed Cho last night."
For the second time that morning, Ron bolted up from his bed. This time, he had a shocked appearance on his face. "You snogged with Cho??? Where was this? When? How come I'm only finding out about it now?"
"Lower your voice down, will you? I don't fancy all of Gryffindor knowing about my tryst last night!" Harry hissed.
It was Ron's turn to grin now. "Details, details. Who instigated? How was it? How long? Any tong—"
"No! It wasn't like that! Hold your trap shut for a minute and I'll tell you."
"Alright, alright!" Ron moved to sit on the side of his bed. Rubbing the back of his neck, he looked at Harry, "So start from the beginning I guess? How'd it happen?"
Harry looked at his watch and took a quick peek outside the window again. "On second thought, let's go grab breakfast first and I'll tell you about it at Hogsmeade. Oh by the way, you are shopping for new robes to wear for the Solstice Ball, right?
"Well I have to. There is no way that I'd wear the same robes I had on last year. Fred and George gave me some galleons to spend. Dunno where they dug that much money up though."
The famous boy wizard feigned a cough and moved away from Ron. He picked up several things for his bath. "Alright. I have to buy new ones too. It won't hurt to be dressed well even though I go stag."
"Right, Harry. After last night, add a couple more snogging sessions with Cho today, I very much doubt you'd go stag," Ron snickered.
"I heard that!"
-TBC