Chapter 6: Trips and Trinkets
Harry woke up at 6 a.m. that Saturday morning. He decided to head out early. He didn't feel much like going back to sleep only to have Ron wake him up possibly five minutes later. He walked outside to get a good view of the grounds. Tomorrow he would be leaving with Cho for the Christmas holidays. But something didn't feel right to him. It was as if he had forgotten something important. Oh well. He was certain that it was nothing. He was so absorbed in his thoughts he didn't realize that Cho was right behind him.
" Morning, Harry." Cho said, startling Harry slightly.
" Oh, Cho," Harry said turning around, " How are you?"
" Fine." Cho responded as she pulled out a sheet of parchment. "My parents said you could stay."
Harry looked at the letter and read:
Dear Cho,
This Harry fellow sounds like a nice young man. If he saved your life then of course he can spend the holidays with us. Since he doesn't really have anywhere else to go for the break, I suppose we can make room. You'll have to find a place for him to sleep but other then that, everything is set. Your father and I have decided to take a trip to Ireland over the holiday break and I don't see any reason why your friend can't come too. I love you.
Mom
" Cool." Harry said. He couldn't wait.
" See ya later." Cho said as she walked away.
Harry watched her walk off. He was really going to have an enjoyable holiday. He couldn't wait to see the look on Cho's face when she opened his present. Present? Oh, shit! That's what he forgot. He didn't have a gift. He ran off to Dumbledore's office. He knocked on the door as hard as he could. He hoped he hadn't disturbed Dumbledore's sleep. A voice beyond answered him.
" Come in."
" Sorry to disturb you Professor." Harry said as he entered.
" Not at all Harry," Dumbledore replied, smiling, " I was just adjusting today's schedule before the break."
" Sir," Harry began, " May I have permission to enter Hogsmeade today? I forgot to get a Christmas present for my friend and I would like a chance to pick something up before the break."
" Harry, please, try to relax." Dumbledore said, trying to calm the hyperactive youth. " That is the reason I was adjusting today's schedule. I plan to provide a Hogsmeade trip for those students who have some last minute holiday shopping to do. I plan to make this announcement at breakfast. The group leaves at ten o' clock."
" Thanks Professor." Harry praised as he let out a sigh of relief.
As Dumbledore had said, there was an announcement at breakfast about the Hogsmeade trip. Harry invited Cho along; maybe he could find a clue to what she might want. They walked down the avenue looking at shops and displays. Harry saw no signs that Cho was interested in anything. He then saw something he hadn't noticed before. All of a sudden, it was as if he had had a revelation.
" He Cho, could you do me a favor and wait here while I pick something up real quick?" Harry asked.
" Sure, Harry." Cho said. She knew all to well why he wanted her to stay behind.
After Harry emerged from the shop ten minutes later, they went to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer. When it was time to go, they held hands all the way up the drive. When they got back to the castle, Harry kissed her good-bye and ran to Gryffindor to wrap his gift.
The day came to leave for home. Harry sat next to Cho on the train. He couldn't wait to get off at Kings Crossing and meet Cho's parents. He got his wish as soon as the train stopped. Harry got off and followed Cho's lead, but not without saying good-bye to Ron, Hermione, Richard and James. He met up with Cho and she introduced him.
" Mom, Dad, this is Harry Potter." Cho said. " Harry this is my Mom and Dad."
" It's truly an honor." Harry said, extending his hand. Cho's parents accepted it warmly.
" Pleasure to meet you, Harry." Cho's mother began.
" Madam," Harry commented, " May I start by saying, you have a lovely daughter."
" Why thank you." Cho's mother said, flattered.
" Truly, I'm blessed to have met such a fine young woman." Harry began. " She is a delightful person to be around and one of the best Seekers I've ever had the privilege of playing against."
" Harry, please, your making me blush." Cho said, a little embarrassed.
" Why shy away from what is true?" Harry inquired taking her hand in his and kissing it tenderly.
" Well we ought to be getting home." Cho's father interrupted.
" Right." Cho's mother agreed.
Cho's house was very elegant indeed. Furnished in early Elizabethan, the house was quite gorgeous indeed. Harry was in awe when he entered the common room. Apparently, Cho's parents were as fascinated with muggles as Mr. Weasly was. They had a TV, a radio and a surround sound stereo system. 'Sweet' was the only thought that crossed Harry's mind.
After dinner, Harry offered to wash the dishes, but Cho's mother insisted that he and Cho go and unpack. Harry followed Cho to her room, where he would be sleeping. Harry began to set out a spot on the floor when Cho interrupted him.
" No need for that, " she said calmly, " There is plenty of room in my bed."
Harry couldn't help but stare at her. She didn't mind sharing a bed with him. Could this vacation possibly get any better? Harry immediately found a place to store his clothes. After a while, he decided to get changed and ready for bed. Cho did the same. Harry was done before she was (obviously, we men almost always are, no offense to you ladies at the risk of any death threats.) He crawled into bed and switched on the television. After five minutes, Cho crawled in next to him.
" You know," she began, " this is nice, just you and me here together, all nice and comfy. It almost makes me wish we hadn't gotten together sooner." She moved closer and laid her head on his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat. Harry was a little nervous but didn't let it get in the way. He was actually quite comfortable with this whole thing.
" I know what you mean." Harry said. " I love you."
" I love you too." Cho responded.
They shared one final kiss for the night and went to sleep in each other's arms. Needless to say Harry's dreams were filled with thoughts of no one except for the girl in his embrace.
Nice, huh. I will add more later. If you all are lucky I may make a sequel when I'm through with this. But that won't be for some time. Ciao.
Harry woke up at 6 a.m. that Saturday morning. He decided to head out early. He didn't feel much like going back to sleep only to have Ron wake him up possibly five minutes later. He walked outside to get a good view of the grounds. Tomorrow he would be leaving with Cho for the Christmas holidays. But something didn't feel right to him. It was as if he had forgotten something important. Oh well. He was certain that it was nothing. He was so absorbed in his thoughts he didn't realize that Cho was right behind him.
" Morning, Harry." Cho said, startling Harry slightly.
" Oh, Cho," Harry said turning around, " How are you?"
" Fine." Cho responded as she pulled out a sheet of parchment. "My parents said you could stay."
Harry looked at the letter and read:
Dear Cho,
This Harry fellow sounds like a nice young man. If he saved your life then of course he can spend the holidays with us. Since he doesn't really have anywhere else to go for the break, I suppose we can make room. You'll have to find a place for him to sleep but other then that, everything is set. Your father and I have decided to take a trip to Ireland over the holiday break and I don't see any reason why your friend can't come too. I love you.
Mom
" Cool." Harry said. He couldn't wait.
" See ya later." Cho said as she walked away.
Harry watched her walk off. He was really going to have an enjoyable holiday. He couldn't wait to see the look on Cho's face when she opened his present. Present? Oh, shit! That's what he forgot. He didn't have a gift. He ran off to Dumbledore's office. He knocked on the door as hard as he could. He hoped he hadn't disturbed Dumbledore's sleep. A voice beyond answered him.
" Come in."
" Sorry to disturb you Professor." Harry said as he entered.
" Not at all Harry," Dumbledore replied, smiling, " I was just adjusting today's schedule before the break."
" Sir," Harry began, " May I have permission to enter Hogsmeade today? I forgot to get a Christmas present for my friend and I would like a chance to pick something up before the break."
" Harry, please, try to relax." Dumbledore said, trying to calm the hyperactive youth. " That is the reason I was adjusting today's schedule. I plan to provide a Hogsmeade trip for those students who have some last minute holiday shopping to do. I plan to make this announcement at breakfast. The group leaves at ten o' clock."
" Thanks Professor." Harry praised as he let out a sigh of relief.
As Dumbledore had said, there was an announcement at breakfast about the Hogsmeade trip. Harry invited Cho along; maybe he could find a clue to what she might want. They walked down the avenue looking at shops and displays. Harry saw no signs that Cho was interested in anything. He then saw something he hadn't noticed before. All of a sudden, it was as if he had had a revelation.
" He Cho, could you do me a favor and wait here while I pick something up real quick?" Harry asked.
" Sure, Harry." Cho said. She knew all to well why he wanted her to stay behind.
After Harry emerged from the shop ten minutes later, they went to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer. When it was time to go, they held hands all the way up the drive. When they got back to the castle, Harry kissed her good-bye and ran to Gryffindor to wrap his gift.
The day came to leave for home. Harry sat next to Cho on the train. He couldn't wait to get off at Kings Crossing and meet Cho's parents. He got his wish as soon as the train stopped. Harry got off and followed Cho's lead, but not without saying good-bye to Ron, Hermione, Richard and James. He met up with Cho and she introduced him.
" Mom, Dad, this is Harry Potter." Cho said. " Harry this is my Mom and Dad."
" It's truly an honor." Harry said, extending his hand. Cho's parents accepted it warmly.
" Pleasure to meet you, Harry." Cho's mother began.
" Madam," Harry commented, " May I start by saying, you have a lovely daughter."
" Why thank you." Cho's mother said, flattered.
" Truly, I'm blessed to have met such a fine young woman." Harry began. " She is a delightful person to be around and one of the best Seekers I've ever had the privilege of playing against."
" Harry, please, your making me blush." Cho said, a little embarrassed.
" Why shy away from what is true?" Harry inquired taking her hand in his and kissing it tenderly.
" Well we ought to be getting home." Cho's father interrupted.
" Right." Cho's mother agreed.
Cho's house was very elegant indeed. Furnished in early Elizabethan, the house was quite gorgeous indeed. Harry was in awe when he entered the common room. Apparently, Cho's parents were as fascinated with muggles as Mr. Weasly was. They had a TV, a radio and a surround sound stereo system. 'Sweet' was the only thought that crossed Harry's mind.
After dinner, Harry offered to wash the dishes, but Cho's mother insisted that he and Cho go and unpack. Harry followed Cho to her room, where he would be sleeping. Harry began to set out a spot on the floor when Cho interrupted him.
" No need for that, " she said calmly, " There is plenty of room in my bed."
Harry couldn't help but stare at her. She didn't mind sharing a bed with him. Could this vacation possibly get any better? Harry immediately found a place to store his clothes. After a while, he decided to get changed and ready for bed. Cho did the same. Harry was done before she was (obviously, we men almost always are, no offense to you ladies at the risk of any death threats.) He crawled into bed and switched on the television. After five minutes, Cho crawled in next to him.
" You know," she began, " this is nice, just you and me here together, all nice and comfy. It almost makes me wish we hadn't gotten together sooner." She moved closer and laid her head on his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat. Harry was a little nervous but didn't let it get in the way. He was actually quite comfortable with this whole thing.
" I know what you mean." Harry said. " I love you."
" I love you too." Cho responded.
They shared one final kiss for the night and went to sleep in each other's arms. Needless to say Harry's dreams were filled with thoughts of no one except for the girl in his embrace.
Nice, huh. I will add more later. If you all are lucky I may make a sequel when I'm through with this. But that won't be for some time. Ciao.