"Single file, come on now ," Harry called as a messy line of Gryffindors came trudging out of the portrait hole and down the staircase, loaded down with their keepsakes and trunks.

Ron stood on the other side of the line, ushering the reluctant students along, rather enjoying being on the 'I'm apart of something bigger and you're not' side of things.

After the line had dwindled to just one or two students, Harry and Ron made their way up to the portrait.

"That's all, make sure NO one goes in or out without the new password, ok?" Harry said to the Fat Lady.

"We'll let you know when its time to leave yourself," Ron added

She nodded gracefully and sat down on her elegant chair.

"Ok, well, that's the last of 'em, " Harry mumbled with a sigh as they walked down the hallway.

"Yeah, only every other floor to check now," Ron complained as he followed Harry up a flight of stairs.

Harry smiled lightly as he pulled a tatty piece of parchment from his cloak pocket and unfolded it. His eyes scanned over it as they gradually made their way to the West Tower. Slowly and tediously, Harry and Ron swept through the entire castle, using the Marauder's Map to root out any stragglers that wanted to hide behind for whatever reason.

They had reached the second floor when they heard quite a bit of noise coming from down the hall.

Harry sprinted towards it, Ron at his heels, and burst through the door that contained all the uproar. He skidded to a halt seeing Tonks helplessly trying to talk Moaning Myrtle, this particular bathroom's resident ex-Hogwarts student ghost, into leaving.

"But you MUST, it'll make it easier on us so we can keep track of everyone inside," Tonks said exasperatedly.

"NO! I DIED here! Course, since you're still living, you wouldn't know what that's like!" Myrtle screeched, flying around the ceiling frantically.

Tonks slumped against the wall then spotted Harry and Ron watching from the doorway. But before they could escape, she exclaimed," Harry!"

Moaning Myrtle whipped her head down and broke out into a sudden grin. Blushing, she cooed," Oh…Harry..."

Tonks reached over and mumbled in his ear," I've been trying to get her to leave like the others for ages now...Maybe YOU can talk some sense into her. She seems to like you.."

Harry was reluctantly nudged forward and had no choice but to approach Myrtle, who was giggling and fidgeting. "Uh.. H-hi Myrtle."

"Hello, Harry. How come you haven't visited me?" She asked floating closer to him.

"Er...Been. Busy..." Harry mumbled as he tucked the map into his cloak pocket.

"Oh yes. I've heard all about that hideous brute that tried to kill you. I actually wished he did so I could have some company," Myrtle replied nonchalantly.

Harry shifted uncomfortably feeling his insides squirm, "Oh-k.. Well...er."

"I've had that horrible woman over there try to rip me from my loo. Can you believe it? And for what, eh? " Myrtle scowled angrily.

"But Myrtle, ALL the ghosts already left. Its not safe here, even for you. See, the entire school's being evacuated because Voldemort is out in the forest right now," Harry informed stepping forward.

"That horrid creature is out there?" Myrtle asked incredulously, jerking her chin at the general direction of the Forbidden Forest.

Harry nodded," Please, Myrtle.." Her features seemed to be softening, so Harry decided to lay it on thick. "For me...I don't know what I would do if something happened to you."

Myrtle's lip quivered as she gazed at Harry. Suddenly, she broke into tears," Oh, HARRY! That was beautiful! No boy has ever cared for me like that!"

Harry looked over at the other two, exchanging wary glances before he looked back to Myrtle," Come along now. Lets get you to safety."

Myrtle nodded and swept up to him, kissed his cheek, and zoomed out. Harry rubbed his cheek briskly ,Myrtle's kiss being as cold as ice, and watched Tonks race after her giving Harry a very grateful smile.

"I bet if you weren't so good looking, none of the girls would give you the time of day," Ron said with a smirk as Harry walked with him out of the bathroom.

"I'm not though. Its my devilish charm," Harry replied with a straight face.

Ron cocked his eyebrow at him, then the both of them set off into a series of laughs.

As they went down the stairs to the first floor Harry took out the Marauder's Map once again and looked it over. He frowned and pointed at a tiny dot on the map," There's someone in the prefects bathroom."

"What is it with people and the bathroom today?" Ron asked as they made their way down." Act like we're not going to check them or something.."

Ron opened the bathroom and led the way inside quietly mumbling," How many are there?"

"Er.." Harry checked the map and saw the single dot hunching down in the corner of a stall." One...and its over there in that last stall."

"Who is it?" Ron inquired softly as he walked over outside the door of the stall in question.

"Its…"Harry moved his eyes down and felt his gut wrench." Cho Chang."

Ron pushed open the door and saw Cho sitting wedged between the toilet and the tiled wall, crying.

Cho looked up sharply and sloppily dried her face," I-I'm sorry...I..I.."

Her voice trailed off as she saw Harry appear behind Ron. Her cheeks flushed as she hastily looked around her as if for a way out. Remembering she was in a bathroom stall, she sunk back and looked anywhere but at Harry muttering miserably.

"I'm stuck."

Ron glanced at Harry and took a step back," All yours, mate."

Harry sighed and stepped into the stall grabbing Cho's hand and giving her a mighty tug, freeing her from the wedge. Cho nodded gratefully, still refusing to meet his eye.

The last thing Harry wanted to do was get right in the middle of an awkward situation with Cho, but apparently that was exactly what she intended to do because just as he started to walk away, Cho reached out and grabbed his wrist.

"Harry? Um...Can...Can we talk?"

Harry looked helplessly at Ron who gave him a shrug and left the bathroom. They stood in silence for a few agonizing minutes, Harry shifting the map from hand to hand. After having lost the majority his patience, he sighed and said," Look, I got to get back to checking the castle."

Cho looked up at him, "Oh.. Oh, yes.. Yes, of course.. Um...Well.. I'll just get on with-with what I had wanted to tell you.."

Harry crossed his arms, unable to think of what to do with them and stood ready for whatever she threw his way.

"Well, Harry...For. For quite some time, I've...What I mean to say is, ever since we...Well, that is starting my fourth year...Oh, bother," Cho said as her shoulders slumped. She rubbed her lips together and mustered up all her courage to look Harry straight in his green eyes. "Harry, I wanted to apologize for my behavior ever since we've started to talk. I've been daft and heaven knows how you managed to put up with me, but you did. Through it all you've been nothing but true and loyal and I've been...oh, I've been simply MAD, and well...and well..."

Harry was still trying to find his ground. He didn't expect Cho to apologize, especially at that caliber.

"W-what?"

Cho smiled with a little laugh, relieved to see Harry's old flustered look and stepped forward," What I'm trying to say is, well, Harry, somewhere along the line...I think I fell for you..."

Harry felt his head start to spin as Cho closed in. Her perfume held thickly in his nostrils, almost casting a spell upon him. He could feel her lips closing in on his, her breath puffing on his mouth. A year ago, he would be jumping inside his skin, willing and all too eager for his second kiss from Cho. But now, a different feeling was weaseling its way beneath Harry's senses, knocking out the scent of Cho's perfume. It was the feeling of ultimate guilt. Firmly, but gently, Harry grabbed Cho's arms and pulled his face away from hers.

"No. No, I can't do this."

Cho frowned, a blush reddening her cheeks furiously, "W-what? Why not?"

"Cho, I have a girlfriend now... and.. well.. I-I love her."

That statement took even Harry by surprise. But it felt right. He loved her. Yes. Yes, that felt perfect. He loved Cienna.

Cho sighed and couldn't help but smile," I should've known...I could see it in your eyes. I hope she knows just how lucky she really is." Cho lightly touched Harry's cheek and kissed the other, then walked out.

Harry stood with his thoughts for a few moments, letting them dissolve into his system. Three women in the past year had fallen for him, two of which had said they loved him. Did Cienna love him too? When he really thought about it, he never actually thought about Hermione loving him. It just seemed implied almost. A strong, deep friendship love that branched much too quickly into romance for there to be any kind of transition. He loved Hermione, but it didn't feel the same as when he said he loved Cienna. Something was off... But he couldn't put his finger on it.

" 'arry! C'mon! The Order expects us down in five minutes!"

Harry jerked from his thoughts and shook his head. Gathering himself quickly, he walked out of the bathroom and met up with Ron down the hall, waiting with Cho. Harry and Ron quickly finished scanning the rest of the first floor, then made their way to the Great Hall. Cho ran out of the castle to catch up with the last of the students as the last two remaining teachers led the group to Hogsmeade train station.

Harry joined the clutter of people gathered around the base of the front steps tucking the Marauder's Map away in his pocket.

"All clear?" Professor McGonagal inquired noticing his arrival.

Harry nodded as Ron took his place at Harry's elbow.

"Checked every nook and cranny?" Dumbledore asked, turning from Arthur Weasley to Harry.

"Every nook and cranny," He replied.

"Are you sure? There are quite a few places in this ancient castle where you couldn't possibly just breeze over," Snape said with a light scowl.

"I checked EVERYWHERE. Trust me," Harry answered.

Dumbledore gave Snape a look and that ended the subject.

"What are we going to do now?" Ron questioned.

"We will secure the castle and extend our search to the very edge of the Forest," Dumbledore replied.

Harry nodded just as he felt a terrible yank at his forehead. He immediately doubled over, feeling his mouth open and his throat spasm with screaming. No sound met his ears as the pain increased to a searing fire that spread down his face and made every inch of his body tremble with torment.

Suddenly, a different scream echoed through his mind. A high scream. A girl's scream. Flashes of torture stabbed his mind and as suddenly as it started, it all came to a halt. Soon, his ears lost their ignorance and he could hear his own screaming. The others had gathered around him but couldn't touch him due to his sharp jerks and jolts.

Instantly, the pain ended, leaving him breathless but very much aware of what was going on at that very moment. So, without wasting a moment's hesitation, Harry staggered to his feet and took off towards the Forbidden Forest.

"HARRY! GOD HARRY!!! WHERE ARE YOU GOING!?!" Ron yelled frantically from somewhere rather far behind him now.

Harry forced himself to run faster as he tore across the soggy grass, managing through his precious breath to scream," CIENNA!"