A/N: I do not own anything. All characters ar owned by J.K. Rowling.
Chapter 9
Cho started getting ready four hours before the Yule Ball was due to start. Draco, who was as usual, studying, looked upon her with amusement. He was always baffled at why girls had to spend so much time on their appearance.
He watched as Cho started brushing her hair. One stroke, two strokes, three strokes... He lost count after a hundred and fifty two.
Cho noticed him staring. "What are you looking at Draco?"
Draco blushed. "Erm, nothing," he mumbled and went back to reading his 'Muggle Sciences' book.
Cho dismissed his actions with a nod of her head.
After brushing her already sleek black hair, she entered the bathroom. Draco was disappointed. He wanted to see her and her girly antics some more.
He heard the sound of the water running - she was taking a bath.
He imagined Cho getting into the bath... ooh la la... Draco shook his head. What was he thinking?
After another half an hour of studying (If you call thinking about Cho studying), Draco heard Cho get out of the bath.
Sure enough, a minute later, Cho came out clad in only a baby blue silk bathrobe and a towel wrapped around her hair.
As Cho walked past Draco to get to the vanity table, Draco got a whiffed of her scent. She smelled like jasmine, courtesy of the bubble bath she used just now.
Cho sat down at the table and started gathering bottles and containers of a dozen different concoctions and potions.
He watched as Cho removed the towel from around her hair, causing it to cascade in damp, wavy locks to below her shoulders. With a flick of her wand and an uttered spell, her magnificent mane was blown dry.
Cho then picked up her brush and started pulling it through her hair again. Now that really confused Draco. Why brush her hair again when she had already brushed it? Heck, why even brush her hair before going into the bath?
Draco sighed and exited the room. He needed a walk.
Cho watched with relief as Draco left the room. If she had spent another minute in his presence, she felt that she would break down and cry.
She felt sick and tired of this, this game! Is that what you called it, a game?
She knew that she didn't love Harry, she loved Draco.
But, no, I can't be with him. It's simply not possible, Cho thought to herself, and a lone tear trickled down her cheek.
She quickly wiped it away. She couldn't let distractions like Draco get in the way of what she had to do. She could have Draco later.
With a renewed determination, Cho opened a tube and squeezed out moisturizer and rubbed her face in it.
She had to protect her loved ones first. They always came first.
But yet, as she applied powder to her face, she wondered. Isn't Harry a friend too? Is he not good enough to be considered a loved one?
As she applied her sparkly pink lip-gloss, another voice in her head argued. Harry is of course a loved one! He was there for you when Cedric died. He was always there for you! Is this how you are going to return his kindness? By betraying him?
Cho put on her mascara. But I love my family more than Harry. I will never love Harry as more than a friend.
With a howl, Cho threw down her bottle of hair spray. Tears were overflowing and her mascara was running.
She felt trapped. Trapped in this box where she could not see the light. There was no way to get out. She only could sit in silence and suffer.
A/N: What do you think? Some stuff are revealed in this chapter. Hope you liked it. Next chapter - what will happen at the Yule Ball? Please review!