Chapter 3

Harry thought about what Hermione said. She was right. A girl like Cho Chang surely wouldn't stay single for very long. He would have to tell her, and soon. Maybe he should call her. 'No, it has to be special' He thought. 'Something romantic that will sweep her off her feet.' But then he remembered why he was scared in the first place. Rejection.

"I really want to tell her more than anything in the world but I just don't know how to cope if she turned me down. She's one of my best friends. I don't really want to put our friendship in trouble if it doesn't work out." Harry spoke out what he really felt. There was an awkward silence where everyone thought about Harry's problem.

"First, it's unlikely for her to turn you down. I know Cho Chang pretty well. She seems interested in you. She's now one of your closest friends, where as you two barely knew each other, so she must like you, even just a little crush. Secondly, it's a risk that you must be willing to take." Hermione finally said.

"Yeah mate! I took the risk, and worked out fine for me. Luckily!" Ron said happily and kissed Hermione, who took no notice. "Who says that she'll reject you Harry? You're more popular than she is!"

*Ron could be right. She might actually like me! The possibility is slim, but there is a chance.*

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Cho Chang fell onto her bed and looked around her. She wasn't too bad at decorating. Her room was beautifully painted in marine blue with a creamy white carpet. Her bed floated in mid-air in the middle of her room. She begged her parents for a floating bed. They didn't approve easily as muggles don't like magic very much. But they're warming up to it. In the corner stood a neat office with an empty owl cage. Cho picked up a small picture of Harry and her together before a quiditch match. She relived the many afternoons when the two would spend under the oak tree by the lake talking about anything and everything. He would always be by her side, ready to listen to or to comfort her. They had become very close friends. Sometimes she had almost hoped they were more than friends, other times she wasn't sure. But something about Harry always succeeded to make her happy. Cho was distracted from her thoughts by the familiar knock on her window by her owl Merlin.

"Hello Merl, you brought a letter from Becky! Good Boy!" Cho petted her owl and gave her some treats. "Stay here for a second Merl." She told her owl and read the note.

Hey Cho! Do you wanna go shopping to that Muggle mall? I've heard that they have a big sale by the muggle clothing store. I'll drop by your house this afternoon at 3 ok?

Your friend, Becky

Cho quickly grabbed her favourite quill that Harry bought her and scribbled a 'sure thing' to the back of the letter and attached it to Merlin's foot.

"Take this to Becky as fast as you can ok?" She petted her owl on the back which hooted affectionately back.

A tall girl stepped out at the fireplace in Cho's bedroom.

"You should really clean out your fireplace sometime!" Becky coughed.

"Sorry."

"Were you thinking of Harry Potter again?"

"Maybe"

"Crush?"

"I don't know, I mean I like him as a friend but sometimes I wished it was more."

"AAAAAAh so you DO have a crush on him." Becky said wisely.

"I'm not sure. I mean, he's a really nice guy and everything. But I'm not attracted to him physically. It that a crush?"

"You decide. You don't have to be physically attracted to someone to have a crush. Maybe it's minor. It would be safe to say that you do feel something for him, not?"

"It's so complicated. Cedric died a year ago. I feel if I go out with Harry I would betray him. But then again I don't think I really loved him. I feel so guilty." Cho started crying hysterically.

Becky comforted her best friend and gave her a hug. " You have to get over him. You can't be living in the past all the time, you have to move on. He would've wanted you to."

"I'm so confused. Should I talk to him about it?"

"Great idea!"

"What am I going to say? Ask him out?"

"Talk about it over dinner. You do like him. Spend some time with him. You don't have to ask him. He'll ask you out eventually."

"I don't want to put our friendship in jeopardy. We've gotten so close. He was the only one who understood what I was going through because he was going through the same thing. He's a really good friend."

"Take the risk. You'll find that it will be worth it. If he's really your friend he will still be even if he doesn't like you as something more than a close friend. I reckon he has a crush on you. But he just didn't tell you because he's unsure too."

"Yeah right." Cho thought it was a joke. She didn't know that Harry really did have a crush on her.