Sorry about my rant yesterday, I honestly didn't' t mean to offend anyone. Honestly it was just one reviewer, the rest of you guys have been amazing!!!! I honestly don't get offended very easily, so flame me all you want (not too much though L )

I don't mind constructive critics, it was just telling me you can't read my story, I hope you guys understand. Anyway, I'll let this dead horse lie, without further ado.

Read and Review

Nothing is my Own

*****************************************************

Chapter Twenty-two: Hermione's Business

The Owlery stunk, there was no other word to describe the area Harry Potter was scrubbing without the use of magic. Not that he was complaining, in all his years at the Dursleys he had done far worse, an example being Dudley's personal bathroom. Although he loathed cleaning up the bird's messes, he worked quickly, hoping he'd have enough time to shower before his midnight engagement.

In all honesty he wasn't positive he remembered how to the Ravenclaw common room, he hadn't really been paying much attention the night he had walked Cho back. Thank goodness for the Marauder Map, a prized possession that had once belonged to his father and was later stolen by the Weasley twins, who gave it to him.

"There, finished," Harry said with a tone of satisfaction, throwing his sponge back into his soapy bucket. The owls cooed loudly, and like all bird began to mess his clean floor immediately.

He didn't waste time dabbling around, he gather the remainder of his cleaning supplies and head towards Mr. Filch's broom closet.

"Potter, where do you think you're going?" asked the skeptical caretaker before Harry could make his getaway.

"I'm done," Harry said flatly, hoping he wouldn't push the subject.

The old caretaker couldn't make it that simple, "oh no you don't,

you've still got an hour of detention left to serve, back to work."

"But I've finished, what am I going to do sit around the Owlery and talk to the birds?" Harry said feeling slightly annoyed.

Suddenly, a loud crash sounded down the corridor followed by the familiar cackles of Peeves laughter.

"PEEVES!" Filch yelled before tearing down the hall in the direction of the noise.

Harry smiled, remember the trouble Peeves almost got him into before Christmas, he took advantage of the situation. He had barely enough time to get back to the common room, clean up and sneak back out again. He needed the escape, and he did need to talk to Cho also. Might as well kill two birds with one stone.

The Gryffindor common room was pack as usual, many students doing the only privilege that hadn't been forbade, reading. If he was quick, he would be able to sneak right though undetected, and from the looks of the missing sixth years, DA hadn't gotten back yet.

Forty-five minuets later Harry rummaged through his trunk for his invisibility cloak and his magical map. He tapped it gently with his wand, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

The blank piece of paper magical turned into the infamous Marauder map. He scanned it carefully, paying careful attention to several of the moving dots.

Hermione and Ron were in the left side second floor corridor, apparently walking back from DA. Ginny and Dean were in the astronomy tower, Harry had to shake his head thinking about what Ron would say if he ever found out. Snape, good, he was in his office in the dungeon. If he timed it just right, he'd get away without anyone seeing him. He cleared the map with his wand and tucked it into his robe. With a single movement he flung the invisibility cloak around his shoulders and creped down the boys dormitory stairs.

He walked quietly dodging a few students along the way and finally made it to the Gryffindor common room entrance. Now all he had to do was wait until somebody came though, then he'd sneak out.

"Whomping Willow," he heard from the opposite side of the portrait.

"I don't know what do to, I mean I've done everything I can possible think of," Pavarti Patil muttered to Lavender Brown as they entered.

Harry narrowed his eyes, wondering if he should wait a while and eavesdrop on his fellow Gryffindors or just make his getaway while it was safe.

"I can't believe you cornered him in a broom closet," Lavender chuckled.

Pavarti smiled proudly, "sometimes I wonder why I even bother with that silly boy."

Lavender grinned, "because you love him," she teased.

"No I don't," Pavarti said instantly turning light red and throwing her head into her hands.

"Then why are you giggling?"

Harry turned his attention back to the portrait entrance seeing it shut close, he scolded himself for being foolish enough to miss a perfect opportunity to sneak out. He backed away from Pavarti and Lavender in their giggling conversation, he was almost out of earshot.

"Did you hear about Hermione?" Lavender suddenly said.

Harry stopped dead, and his full attention went back towards the giggling girls.

"No, what?" Pavarti pushed.

Lavender lowered her voice, "Weasley has got a crush on her."

Pavarti laughed loudly, "you're kidding, how do you know?"

"I overheard Hermione and Ginny talking," Lavender smiled boastfully, "that isn't all, she's dating Krum, I mean she's writing letters to him on a routine basis."

"The Quidditch player Krum?" Pavarti said surprised, "I never understood how a girl like Hermione could get a guy like Victor Krum."

Lavender giggled again, "Victor asked Hermione to be his girlfriend, at least according to Ginny Weasley."

"What did she say?"

Harry leaned in close straining to hear more of the conversation, leaning in too close he knocked over a lamp that crashed into the stone floor. The two girls let out a shrill before noticing the knocked over lamp.

"Damn it," Harry muttered too loudly at his failed attempt to catch the lamp.

"Who's there?" Pavarti snapped hearing Harry's voice.

Realizing it wasn't safe in his current situation he made his way back to the portrait, and luckily it opened a moment later and allowed him to escape. Under his cloak he pulled back out the Marauder Map and casted the spell back onto it. Cho was waiting near the Ravenclaw common room with his least favorite friend of hers, Marietta the snitch.

It was eleven thirty, about half an hour past the sixth year's curfew. Harry walked quickly towards the passage the Cho Chang dot was floating near. He wasn't sure why he was holding his breath as he stood in front of the Ravenclaw entrance. Part of him wanted to run back to his common room, but he stayed.

The figured of a girl with a long curtain of dark hair finally emerged from the statue hiding the Ravenclaw house entrance. Harry watched her awhile, noticing how she bit her lip and fidgeted her thumbs as she waited.

"Cho," Harry whispered.

She looked around searching for the source of the voice, "Harry, where are you?" she asked in a whisper.

Harry smiled, as he watched her confused face, he started to lift the cloak off his head then changed his mind. He approached her and quickly grabbed her around the waist and pulled her under the cloak with him.

Cho let out a quick shrill before finally realizing who her had seized her.

"You almost gave me a heart attack!" she said grabbing her chest.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist," Harry laughed still holding her around her waist.

"What is this, some type of invisibility cloak?" Cho asked impatiently feeling the cloth around them.

Harry nodded finally releasing her.

Cho moved her finger away from the cloak and eyed Harry, "so what why did you want me to meet you so late?"

"I thought you might like a little adventure," Harry grinned.

She looked kind of taken back, at what it sounded like he was insinuating, "what did you have in mind?"

Harry spun her around holding the cloak over them and nudged her to walk forward. He wasn't sure what had given him the urge to try what he was about to try, but the more he thought about it the better the idea sounded.

"Where are we going?" Cho demanded.

"The Quidditch Pitch," Harry replied.

She stopped abruptly, "Harry, we're not allowed outside."

"Oh come on, we could both use some fresh air. Anyways, the grounds are charmed," Harry said lightly, wondering if that was possibly something his father would have once said.

Cho shook her head, "I'd rather not, I just don't have a good feeling about that place right now."

Harry conceited and changed direction, "can you think of any other place we could go and talk?"

Cho was blushing so brightly, Harry could see her flush under the cloak, "so you want to go some place to talk?"

Now he was blushing.

"We could go to the Room of Requirements," Cho finally suggested. Noticing that Harry was already heading in that direction.

The Room of Requirements was warm and perfect as usual, it didn't look like the DA meeting room, but a small study with a warm fire.

"This room absolutely amazes me," Cho muttered as they entered.

The two walked over to the couch placed in front of the fire and took a seat.

"So, are you going to tell me what happened the other night or not?" Cho asked eagerly.

Harry filched at the question, "it really is a long story, it would probably just bore you."

"Why do you have to kill you know who?" Cho pushed.

Harry forced a smile, "you don't forget much do you?"

"I'm a Ravenclaw, did you expect any less?" she boasted leaning back.

Harry thought hard about what he could tell her to satisfy her hunger for knowledge without telling her too much.

"You know that my parents were killed by Voldemort, and he tried to kill me to."

She nodded listening anxiously.

"He is still trying to kill me, that's why the Dementors attacked Hogmeade. He knew I'd be there, and he also knew about the passage though the Shrieking Shack."

"How did he know? I mean, it was posted on such short notice," Cho started muttered with a look like she putting together a puzzle.

"I'm not following you," Harry finally confessed.

"Harry, logical the only way you know who could have known that our Hogmeade trip date had been changed was for someone inside the school to tell him," Cho said impatiently.

"You mean like a Professor," Harry automatically suspecting Snape.

"Or a student," Cho offered.

The two sat there both thinking for the next few minuets before Harry finally spat, "it would have to be Slytherin."

"I know you hate the Slytherins, but I wouldn't over look the other houses. Maybe the leak is in Gryffindor," Cho said suddenly.

Harry almost laughed, "that's impossible, who in Gryffindor would be a spy?"

"Don't laugh, it was only a suggestion," Cho said feeling slightly offended.

Harry leaned back feeling slightly awkward talking about this particular subject with Cho Chang, "so tell me something about you."

"What do you want to know?" she asked looking slightly flushed.

Harry bit his lip, "what do you parents do?"

"Harry, you don' know? My fathers the Chinese ambassador to the English Ministry of Magic."

"Really? So what do they do for the Order?" Harry suddenly asked.

Cho laughed, "keeping good relations in China. The Chinese ministry of magic thinks you know who is an English problem, and they shouldn't get involved, my father disagrees. He's been trying to convince the other ambassador to solicited their home states for support."

"Oh," Harry muttered feeling slightly overwhelmed by her explanation.

Cho narrowed her eyed, "you're looking at me like I'm an alien."

Harry shook his head, "I'm sorry, I just didn't know your parents were such important figures I guess."

"I'm still the same person, it doesn't matter who my father is," Cho stated, "Cedric had a problem with my fathers position too."

"I don't have a problem with your father's position. I just don't know if he'd approve of you socializing with me," Harry said flatly.

Cho smiled taking Harry's hand into her, "do I strike you as the type that cares who approves of what I do?"

"Honestly, yes you do," he said knowing the repercussions could be dangerous.

"That hurts, but I guess I do come off that way," she said shifting on the couch and releasing his hand.

"You really cared about Cedric didn't you?" Harry suddenly asked.

Cho looked at him skeptically, and Harry couldn't tell if she was fighting back tears and trying to contemplate an answer.

"Yes, I did. But I thought you didn't like to talk about Cedric," she replied softly.

"You really needed someone to talk to last year, didn't you," Harry said finally understanding how much of prat he was.

Cho face was suddenly engraved with tears, "I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry. I should have understood more," Harry offered not sure how to offer her the best condolence anymore. His arm lay awkwardly across his own leg, and he just couldn't summon the nerve to place it around her shoulder.

"Luna and me were in here not to long ago," Harry blurted out noticing the same bookshelf in the corner.

"What?" Cho said sharply, "Luna Lovegood, you were in here with Luna Lovegood?"

"Not like that," Harry defended quickly, "she was telling me about Death Journals."

"Death Journals? Is there one in here?" Cho asked quickly, seeming slightly less anxious.

Harry shrugged, "I'm not sure, there was one, but the room is always changing. It doesn't matter, I asked Professor O'Riley about them, and she said they were a hoax."

Cho didn't look convinced, "you're probably right, it's getting late. We should be getting back."

Harry rose to his feet and offered her a hand. The Cho stood close to Harry as he flung the invisibility cloak back around their shoulder and left the comfortable room. It didn't take long to get back to the Ravenclaw common room, and Harry found himself wishing he didn't have to say goodbye to Cho.

"I'm glad we talked tonight," she said turning under the cloak to face him.

Harry smiled, "me too."

Cho lowered her head, "so what's going on between us?"

He felt a lump develop in his throat, he wasn't sure what he wanted to say.

"You know I like you a lot Harry," she said shyly.

Harry could feel her warmth close to him and it gave him a small peace of mind, "I like you too."

Cho lifted her head and Harry could see a small smile across her face. She kissed him softly, "goodnight Harry."

She quickly disappeared inside the behind the statue not looking back in Harry direction.

He pulled the Marauder map back out of his pocket and double-checked to make sure he wasn't going to run into anyone on his way back to the Gryffindor common room. The common room looked empty, except for one dot sitting in front of the fire labeled Hermione Granger. He tucked the map back into he robe and started his journey back.

"Whomping Willow," Harry whispered to a stunned looked fat lady.

"Who's there?" she asked not opening. Hermione must have heard her because he heard her say the password from the opposite side, which finally made her, open the entrance and Harry snuck in.

"Harry Potter, I know you're in here," Hermione said flatly as she searched around the room.

Harry let his cloak fall to the ground, "are you waiting up for me?"

"Where were you?" she asked concerned.

Harry took a seat on the couch, "I was with Cho."

"It's three in the morning," Hermione said suddenly, "I was starting to get worried."

"I didn't know you were waiting up for me."

Hermione took a seat next to Harry on the couch, "remember when I told you me and Ron were doing research on the veil?"

He nodded watching her carefully, "Hermione is everything okay?"

Hermione looked at Harry, "I don't know. Me and Ron were in the library tonight and…"

"And?" Harry pushed.

"I just have this weird feeling," Hermione said lightly, it was obvious something was on her mind.

"Harry, I know with everything going on right now, this is the last thing on your mind, but has he ever said anything about me?"

"Hermione, he talks about you all the time, you're one of his best friend."

Hermione narrowed her eyes, "you know what I mean."

"Did something happen tonight?" he finally inquired.

Hermione suddenly looked pale, "Ron found a letter Krum wrote me asking me to be his girlfriend. He went crazy, telling me I was a bloody moron for going out with a guy like Krum, then he stormed off. It isn't any of his business who writes me, or what they write me about."

"Are you going out with Krum?" Harry asked.

"No, I haven't even responded to his letter," Hermione started to cry.

"Hermione, do you like Ron, you know as more than a friend ?"

Hermione sniffled and tried to suppress her tears, "do you like Cho as more than a friend?"

Harry let his head fall back onto the couch allowing him to stare at the ceiling, he didn't have to answer Hermione's question and she didn't have to answer his. The silence between them explained enough.