Chapter Five
Give a Little, Get a Little
A/N: This chapter is going to be longer then the ones I've written before. This will give a lot of insight on Cho, well, from my point-of-view. Any relation to the up and coming sixth book will be purely coincidental, I made this up myself. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, guys!!!
BRUNETTE-PREP: Thanks for the suggestions but it is up to me about what happens in Cho's life. I don't think I'll make it another fanfic where they just kiss and go on dates and everything. No, I don't want life for Cho to be perfect, sadly, just read and see what happens next though.
indigal: I have to agree with you there, I'm regretting that I made Cho hate Hermione and Hermione hate Cho; I'll have to see what happens next.
JkReviewer: How do you put letters in italics? Can you tell me? The setting is after the fourth book since I hadn't read the fifth until now. Thanks for your review.
I rushed after Harry, trying to match his long and rather hasty strides with mine. He obviously noticed that someone was following him because he stopped walking. I took the time to catch up to him, breathless.
"Ha - "
"Leave me alone!" He shouted abusively before I even said something. "I mean it! Don't talk to me EVER!!!" And with that he ran up the stairs, I could hear his footsteps race higher and higher until they faded away. I knew it mustn't have been me he had referred to, either Ron or Hermione. Even so I couldn't help but feel hurt. The brass picture frame of Cedric was beating to the rhythm of my heart and I could feel waterworks coming up.
I ran back to my dormitory and threw myself unto my bed. I was furious at myself.
One reason was that I knew Harry wasn't angry at me and yet I took the blame on myself. Another reason was that I was foolish enough to care so much about him. What was it? Not love surely, Cedric took my heart there. I could never betray him, he was my one, my only, but he was also gone. I sunk lower into my pillow.
I opened my side drawer and my hand fell on something sharp, something crazy. No, I tried using it the day when Cedric died, I shan't try again. But yet again did I pick the thing up. My reflection was pink and soggy in the blade. If ever anyone knew, but of course not. I was perfect; I was little 'Miss. Innocent' with no corrupted blood in the world. And yet, I toyed with it for a while and could feel a curling energy at the back of my throat.
"Cho are you in there? We'll be late for Herbology!" shouted a familiar voice, Paige.
"Coming!" I shouted back and I quickly stuffed the dagger into my side drawer. I sighed and kicked the bottom of my bed, saved, again, but I wondered what would happen if there was no one around. Maybe my symptoms were becoming more than just thoughts. Maybe they'll soon become actions .
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Herbology was easy that day, all questions and answers, and then I diagnosed my Eurbanotium Plant successfully, faster than the others really. By the end of the lesson, I had already earned twenty-five points for Ravenclaw. Paige gave me a high-five.
We were making our way to double Care of Magical Creatures class when I saw Harry making his way back into the castle. I made a quick and stupid excuse then raced after him. The look on his face when I caught up to him gave me prickles at the back of my neck. Ron was hiding a snigger but Hermione looked absolutely grim.
"Hi Harry," I said trying to sound more confident. What happened after lunch was playing in my mind over and over again. I tried to ignore the warning look on Hermione's face. I had my own rights after all.
"Oh, hello Cho," he seemed to have caught eyes with Ron because he added "- glad to see that you're better."
"Thanks," I said shortly. "Oh and thank you for rescuing me."
"It was nothing," he said. Amusingly his face was turning a bright scarlet, almost like a tomato.
"No it was something, I could have been -"
"Dead?" interrupted Hermione interestedly. "I mean, because you were about to drown."
"Ya," I replied giving her a dark look. "Dead I guess, see you around Harry." I waved him goodbye, then calling myself an idiot, I made my way to Hagrid's hut.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was really dark when I made my way back to the Ravenclaw common room. I knew I should have left out the paragraph of breeding in my essay of 'Life Habits of Snolewobblets' but I thought that it would have made it a little more interesting. My eyes itched with tiredness as I trudged up the stairs. My bed looked like a warm and fluffy marshmallow. Before I knew it, I threw myself onto it and fell asleep.
*What I dreamt*
I was making my way barefooted down some cobblestone steps. The mist that was being pumped from the ground stood only to knee-height. I could hear voices; they sang an eerie song, chanting in a low and uninviting voice. As I walked closer I could only keep track of how high the mist was growing.
As I reached the end of the stairs I could barely see what was ahead of me let alone my fingers. The smoke was growing itchy on my eyes and before I knew it they were pouring with tears. I rubbed them but they were in a continuous flow. The chanting seemed to be all around me now, closing in, growing closer. I heard a voice that I hadn't heard for over five years or more. The voice was young though, as if she had never grown up. I shouted out to it, what had these people done? Why were they keeping her kidnapped?
The mist finally ended and there I saw a horrible sight. Six hooded figures stood around me, one was holding her, the person I expected. I reached out for her but it took me hand and lifted its hood.
It was Harry. I cried out in shock. One by one they lowered their hoods to reveal people I know. Cedric, Hermione, Mum, Dad and Paige. Why had these people been chanting, they smiled at me deceitfully and I could only look at them in horror. Once more the mist climbed up until I saw only white. I called out for the captive, but they would not give her to me. The mist of white grew larger and the chanting grew louder. All of a sudden a group of people began laughing, not that cheerful and warm way, it was evil and cold. I could only be pulled back into reality.
*Back awake*
I woke up with a start, Harry, Cedric, Hermione, Mum, Dad and Paige, were they insincere to me? I looked at Paige who was sleeping in the bed beside me. She looked innocent, sleeping silently away in dreamland. What had that meant? That girl, the captive, she is dead. I know that she is dead. Voldemort had killed her long ago. No one knew about her.
She was my sister.
I opened my bedside drawer to take out the brass picture with the photo of Cedric in it. Could he have deceived me? Had he used me? I didn't know anything anymore, nothing seemed right at the moment. I was just a little toy that played a part only when someone wound me up. If not, I would stand confused and alone until company comes. I shuddered and laid flat on my back looking at his photo.
After a while, I placed the photo back into the drawer with loving care and stood up to dress into my robes.
Paige woke up a little after me, I was too afraid to tell her what I dreamt of. Telling her my dream meant I had to tell her about my sister. No one knew about my sister. Even Mum and Dad forgot who my sister was. Only I seemed to have remembered that she used to be alive. She fought against Voldemort; she should be made into a heroine! But no, like Harry, they were always misled.
I guess you too, reader, have no idea who she is. You didn't know she existed until I told you. Mai-Lin (pronounced may-lee-n) Chang. There you go.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next day was cold, frost covered every window of Hogwarts and the skies were gray. It looked as if it was about to rain and the lake looked very forbidding to jump into. As I made my way into the common room Michelle gave a glance towards me. I tried to ignore her; being seen with a geek was not my idea of having a good time. I had my dignity after all.
I decided to go on a walk on my own for a change and took an umbrella with me just in case.
The wind wasn't too bad, it stayed down and low, almost dangerously. I made my way to the side of the lake but dared not stand too close. I just watched the curves in the water, noting ever little detail down.
Maybe, if I ever come back here after completing my final year at Hogwarts, I'd write a poem about it. How the waves seemed to be dancing like synchronized ice-skaters in a rink; how the wind seemed to be the lights dazzling them around the surface; and how I was a spectator watching the entire show in awe.
I could feel someone watching me from behind and turned around carefully this time. It was Harry, he stood perfectly still looking at the water, something was irritating him by the way he screwed up his face in dislike. I took a guess and asked it ", Malfoy?" He seemed stunned that I was there. As if this time he didn't come over to try to talk to me.
"Yes, he's just, just - "
"So annoying?" I added helpfully. "A little annoying ferret." I remembered two years ago what had happened. Harry seemed to have remembered too because he grinned.
"Yah, that's it." He looked at the spot next to me wistfully. Before I even had a chance to offer he gave a choice to lean against the nearest tree. "So, is something bothering you?"
"No," I said sounding a little too hard. "Not really." I looked at him. Did heroes come in such little innocents like him? I almost smiled; little innocents? Was Harry ever classified as little innocents? I couldn't help it; I gave a giggle and hoped that he wouldn't hear. But he did.
"What?"
"Nothing really, just thinking, you know."
"About what?"
I looked at my feet, what should I say? That I wanted to be as brave as him? That sounded a little immature not to mention corny. "Harry, have you ever been, deceitful?"
He opened his mouth to say something but stopped himself. "No, but if I would then it is for a good reason."
"What kind of good reason really? Just curious."
"You know, like if it is for the person's own good."
I felt confused just like in my dream. "Example."
He stood there leaning and then decided to sit beside me. I could feel my body temperature rising higher every second. My heart seemed to have found a way to pound in my ear. "If someone asked me if they looked fat for instance - "
I stopped him there with a smile.
"Okay, okay, I understand, I've heard that one before." He smiled too.
Our eyes instantly locked and I felt different emotions running through my veins. His emerald eyes seemed to twinkle in the wind, I could hardly blink as I stared into a green meadow of emotions. Our hands met together accidentally but he made no move to take it off. As if we were both frozen in time. I dare not breathe, savoring the feelings he was giving to me like a baby being fed by the bottle.
Desire . Anger . Resistance . Loyalty . Hope . Sadness . Joy . I could barely stop them flowing, some were coming from me; a few were coming from Harry. Pain . Lost . Grief . Confusion . Lust. I decided to take the risk and move closer to him, to feel what was there. A fire seemed to scorch around us, to lick us together, closer, closer . Yearning . Warmth . Love .
Suddenly I knew what I found in him that made me feel weak. I knew what was inside of him that I wanted most of all. It was not because of his bravery; it was not because he had done so many things that I could never do. I realized at that moment what my heart had wanted more than anything else from him. I closed my eyes and our lips knew the rest. I could help but feel a little tingle of life that wasn't there before within me.
The feeling was soft, gentle, caressing - something I hadn't felt for a long, long time.
Gently pressing against his lips I felt energy rush through my body and the breath of one bound us together. I didn't want to let go. I knew that once I let go it would never be the same. He pulled back gently and I followed suit. How could I tell him everything?
All I could do was say nothing and hold my breath, counting the minutes we spent beside the lake together.
A felt another pair of eyes watching us and I slowly looked over my shoulder to see Hermione crouching beside a bush, book opened behind her, glowering in resentment. Now that I knew what I had done I knew that it was wrong. Hermione said it, my heart that belonged to Cedric said it and the look in Harry's eyes said it. As I buried my head into my hands I could only feel the mist within my dreams slowly creeping up once more.
A/N: This took me a lot of editing to finish so please don't hate it. I admit that the ending was bad, I'm terrible at finding ways on showing how people kiss and the emotions that run through. That part took me ages, it just didn't seem right, and what do you think? I tried my best in this chapter. *Sigh* I wonder what is going to happen next, I don't like heartbreaks.
Give a Little, Get a Little
A/N: This chapter is going to be longer then the ones I've written before. This will give a lot of insight on Cho, well, from my point-of-view. Any relation to the up and coming sixth book will be purely coincidental, I made this up myself. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, guys!!!
BRUNETTE-PREP: Thanks for the suggestions but it is up to me about what happens in Cho's life. I don't think I'll make it another fanfic where they just kiss and go on dates and everything. No, I don't want life for Cho to be perfect, sadly, just read and see what happens next though.
indigal: I have to agree with you there, I'm regretting that I made Cho hate Hermione and Hermione hate Cho; I'll have to see what happens next.
JkReviewer: How do you put letters in italics? Can you tell me? The setting is after the fourth book since I hadn't read the fifth until now. Thanks for your review.
I rushed after Harry, trying to match his long and rather hasty strides with mine. He obviously noticed that someone was following him because he stopped walking. I took the time to catch up to him, breathless.
"Ha - "
"Leave me alone!" He shouted abusively before I even said something. "I mean it! Don't talk to me EVER!!!" And with that he ran up the stairs, I could hear his footsteps race higher and higher until they faded away. I knew it mustn't have been me he had referred to, either Ron or Hermione. Even so I couldn't help but feel hurt. The brass picture frame of Cedric was beating to the rhythm of my heart and I could feel waterworks coming up.
I ran back to my dormitory and threw myself unto my bed. I was furious at myself.
One reason was that I knew Harry wasn't angry at me and yet I took the blame on myself. Another reason was that I was foolish enough to care so much about him. What was it? Not love surely, Cedric took my heart there. I could never betray him, he was my one, my only, but he was also gone. I sunk lower into my pillow.
I opened my side drawer and my hand fell on something sharp, something crazy. No, I tried using it the day when Cedric died, I shan't try again. But yet again did I pick the thing up. My reflection was pink and soggy in the blade. If ever anyone knew, but of course not. I was perfect; I was little 'Miss. Innocent' with no corrupted blood in the world. And yet, I toyed with it for a while and could feel a curling energy at the back of my throat.
"Cho are you in there? We'll be late for Herbology!" shouted a familiar voice, Paige.
"Coming!" I shouted back and I quickly stuffed the dagger into my side drawer. I sighed and kicked the bottom of my bed, saved, again, but I wondered what would happen if there was no one around. Maybe my symptoms were becoming more than just thoughts. Maybe they'll soon become actions .
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Herbology was easy that day, all questions and answers, and then I diagnosed my Eurbanotium Plant successfully, faster than the others really. By the end of the lesson, I had already earned twenty-five points for Ravenclaw. Paige gave me a high-five.
We were making our way to double Care of Magical Creatures class when I saw Harry making his way back into the castle. I made a quick and stupid excuse then raced after him. The look on his face when I caught up to him gave me prickles at the back of my neck. Ron was hiding a snigger but Hermione looked absolutely grim.
"Hi Harry," I said trying to sound more confident. What happened after lunch was playing in my mind over and over again. I tried to ignore the warning look on Hermione's face. I had my own rights after all.
"Oh, hello Cho," he seemed to have caught eyes with Ron because he added "- glad to see that you're better."
"Thanks," I said shortly. "Oh and thank you for rescuing me."
"It was nothing," he said. Amusingly his face was turning a bright scarlet, almost like a tomato.
"No it was something, I could have been -"
"Dead?" interrupted Hermione interestedly. "I mean, because you were about to drown."
"Ya," I replied giving her a dark look. "Dead I guess, see you around Harry." I waved him goodbye, then calling myself an idiot, I made my way to Hagrid's hut.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was really dark when I made my way back to the Ravenclaw common room. I knew I should have left out the paragraph of breeding in my essay of 'Life Habits of Snolewobblets' but I thought that it would have made it a little more interesting. My eyes itched with tiredness as I trudged up the stairs. My bed looked like a warm and fluffy marshmallow. Before I knew it, I threw myself onto it and fell asleep.
*What I dreamt*
I was making my way barefooted down some cobblestone steps. The mist that was being pumped from the ground stood only to knee-height. I could hear voices; they sang an eerie song, chanting in a low and uninviting voice. As I walked closer I could only keep track of how high the mist was growing.
As I reached the end of the stairs I could barely see what was ahead of me let alone my fingers. The smoke was growing itchy on my eyes and before I knew it they were pouring with tears. I rubbed them but they were in a continuous flow. The chanting seemed to be all around me now, closing in, growing closer. I heard a voice that I hadn't heard for over five years or more. The voice was young though, as if she had never grown up. I shouted out to it, what had these people done? Why were they keeping her kidnapped?
The mist finally ended and there I saw a horrible sight. Six hooded figures stood around me, one was holding her, the person I expected. I reached out for her but it took me hand and lifted its hood.
It was Harry. I cried out in shock. One by one they lowered their hoods to reveal people I know. Cedric, Hermione, Mum, Dad and Paige. Why had these people been chanting, they smiled at me deceitfully and I could only look at them in horror. Once more the mist climbed up until I saw only white. I called out for the captive, but they would not give her to me. The mist of white grew larger and the chanting grew louder. All of a sudden a group of people began laughing, not that cheerful and warm way, it was evil and cold. I could only be pulled back into reality.
*Back awake*
I woke up with a start, Harry, Cedric, Hermione, Mum, Dad and Paige, were they insincere to me? I looked at Paige who was sleeping in the bed beside me. She looked innocent, sleeping silently away in dreamland. What had that meant? That girl, the captive, she is dead. I know that she is dead. Voldemort had killed her long ago. No one knew about her.
She was my sister.
I opened my bedside drawer to take out the brass picture with the photo of Cedric in it. Could he have deceived me? Had he used me? I didn't know anything anymore, nothing seemed right at the moment. I was just a little toy that played a part only when someone wound me up. If not, I would stand confused and alone until company comes. I shuddered and laid flat on my back looking at his photo.
After a while, I placed the photo back into the drawer with loving care and stood up to dress into my robes.
Paige woke up a little after me, I was too afraid to tell her what I dreamt of. Telling her my dream meant I had to tell her about my sister. No one knew about my sister. Even Mum and Dad forgot who my sister was. Only I seemed to have remembered that she used to be alive. She fought against Voldemort; she should be made into a heroine! But no, like Harry, they were always misled.
I guess you too, reader, have no idea who she is. You didn't know she existed until I told you. Mai-Lin (pronounced may-lee-n) Chang. There you go.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next day was cold, frost covered every window of Hogwarts and the skies were gray. It looked as if it was about to rain and the lake looked very forbidding to jump into. As I made my way into the common room Michelle gave a glance towards me. I tried to ignore her; being seen with a geek was not my idea of having a good time. I had my dignity after all.
I decided to go on a walk on my own for a change and took an umbrella with me just in case.
The wind wasn't too bad, it stayed down and low, almost dangerously. I made my way to the side of the lake but dared not stand too close. I just watched the curves in the water, noting ever little detail down.
Maybe, if I ever come back here after completing my final year at Hogwarts, I'd write a poem about it. How the waves seemed to be dancing like synchronized ice-skaters in a rink; how the wind seemed to be the lights dazzling them around the surface; and how I was a spectator watching the entire show in awe.
I could feel someone watching me from behind and turned around carefully this time. It was Harry, he stood perfectly still looking at the water, something was irritating him by the way he screwed up his face in dislike. I took a guess and asked it ", Malfoy?" He seemed stunned that I was there. As if this time he didn't come over to try to talk to me.
"Yes, he's just, just - "
"So annoying?" I added helpfully. "A little annoying ferret." I remembered two years ago what had happened. Harry seemed to have remembered too because he grinned.
"Yah, that's it." He looked at the spot next to me wistfully. Before I even had a chance to offer he gave a choice to lean against the nearest tree. "So, is something bothering you?"
"No," I said sounding a little too hard. "Not really." I looked at him. Did heroes come in such little innocents like him? I almost smiled; little innocents? Was Harry ever classified as little innocents? I couldn't help it; I gave a giggle and hoped that he wouldn't hear. But he did.
"What?"
"Nothing really, just thinking, you know."
"About what?"
I looked at my feet, what should I say? That I wanted to be as brave as him? That sounded a little immature not to mention corny. "Harry, have you ever been, deceitful?"
He opened his mouth to say something but stopped himself. "No, but if I would then it is for a good reason."
"What kind of good reason really? Just curious."
"You know, like if it is for the person's own good."
I felt confused just like in my dream. "Example."
He stood there leaning and then decided to sit beside me. I could feel my body temperature rising higher every second. My heart seemed to have found a way to pound in my ear. "If someone asked me if they looked fat for instance - "
I stopped him there with a smile.
"Okay, okay, I understand, I've heard that one before." He smiled too.
Our eyes instantly locked and I felt different emotions running through my veins. His emerald eyes seemed to twinkle in the wind, I could hardly blink as I stared into a green meadow of emotions. Our hands met together accidentally but he made no move to take it off. As if we were both frozen in time. I dare not breathe, savoring the feelings he was giving to me like a baby being fed by the bottle.
Desire . Anger . Resistance . Loyalty . Hope . Sadness . Joy . I could barely stop them flowing, some were coming from me; a few were coming from Harry. Pain . Lost . Grief . Confusion . Lust. I decided to take the risk and move closer to him, to feel what was there. A fire seemed to scorch around us, to lick us together, closer, closer . Yearning . Warmth . Love .
Suddenly I knew what I found in him that made me feel weak. I knew what was inside of him that I wanted most of all. It was not because of his bravery; it was not because he had done so many things that I could never do. I realized at that moment what my heart had wanted more than anything else from him. I closed my eyes and our lips knew the rest. I could help but feel a little tingle of life that wasn't there before within me.
The feeling was soft, gentle, caressing - something I hadn't felt for a long, long time.
Gently pressing against his lips I felt energy rush through my body and the breath of one bound us together. I didn't want to let go. I knew that once I let go it would never be the same. He pulled back gently and I followed suit. How could I tell him everything?
All I could do was say nothing and hold my breath, counting the minutes we spent beside the lake together.
A felt another pair of eyes watching us and I slowly looked over my shoulder to see Hermione crouching beside a bush, book opened behind her, glowering in resentment. Now that I knew what I had done I knew that it was wrong. Hermione said it, my heart that belonged to Cedric said it and the look in Harry's eyes said it. As I buried my head into my hands I could only feel the mist within my dreams slowly creeping up once more.
A/N: This took me a lot of editing to finish so please don't hate it. I admit that the ending was bad, I'm terrible at finding ways on showing how people kiss and the emotions that run through. That part took me ages, it just didn't seem right, and what do you think? I tried my best in this chapter. *Sigh* I wonder what is going to happen next, I don't like heartbreaks.