Eternal Passion
Chapter 7
Harry and Cho silently drew their wands, as Antonin and Bellatrix stood ready. Bellatrix had a triumphant smirk about her as she lined up opposite Cho. Harry was breathing deeply. Here was the person he hated more than anyone in the world. More than Jane Umbridge, more than Professor Snape even. Before Cho was quite ready to attack, Bellatrix took careful aim and yelled out an Unforgivable Curse.
"Crucio!"
Cho was struck by the agonising spell and keeled over, screaming in agony. Antonin took the opportunity to start duelling with Harry, keeping him too busy to help Cho. Bellatrix was laughing as she tortured Cho. Suddenly, a bright light flooded the area. Antonin, Harry and Bellatrix looked around, only Cho still moving as she writhed in pain. Behind them, Pai Lung had chased off the Chinese Fireball, and was coming to Cho's aid. But before the Violta dragon could so much as prepare an electrical attack, there was a loud crack, and Remus Lupin appeared. Bellatrix looked around at him, finally stopping the Cruciatus curse on Cho. Cho coughed and struggled to get up. Harry used the opportunity to disarm Antonin Dolohov, and then got ready to fight him again. Lupin had immobilised Bellatrix and was looking after Cho. Harry immobilised Antonin and slowly walked up to Bellatrix, his face contorted in fury.
"You killed my godfather. I've sworn day and night to make you pay for that. And now, I will. Cruc..."
"Expelliarmus!"
Lupin disarmed Harry as he prepared to perform the Cruciatus curse on Bellatrix. Harry looked at him in puzzlement.
"Harry, I'm not saying what this woman did is right. But you would end up in Azkaban for attacking her with the Cruciatus curse. Are you really that kind of person?"
Harry didn't answer. He just looked at the immobilised woman, his mind yelling for him to perform the agonising curse again and cause her the pain she had caused him. He could feel himself shaking inside as he lowered the wand until it was level with her face. Bellatrix watched in surprise as he shook his head, pushed her with his foot, and pointed his wand away. He picked up her wand and tried to snap it.
"Crucio!"
Harry doubled over as he was hit by Antonin's attack. He dropped both his wand and Bella's. Cho finally managed to get up and leant on Lupin for support. Pai Lung had obviously had enough of the fight, and cast an electrical discharge at Bellatrix and Antonin. Although it did cause them agony, it cancelled out the immobilising spells keeping them still. Antonin disapparated immediately, but Bellatrix lingered. She smiled sadistically at Harry as he lay in the dirt, exhausted by the agony that had set his body on fire. She kissed him and laughed.
"Love doesn't do anything Potter. It was YOUR love that killed Sirius. Reducto!"
Harry convulsed as he was hit by Bellatrix's spell. She then disapparated too. Lupin and Cho ran over to Harry and knelt down beside him. Cho lifted him up into a tender, loving embrace. She very gently massaged him all over, easing his pain considerably. Lupin stood back, smiling ever so slightly. Harry found himself unable to think of the recent fight as Cho's hands caressed his worn out body. Almost sub-consciously, he reached up and ran his fingers over Cho's cheek. Cho smiled and leant over him. Their lips touched as they kissed one another. For several minutes, they stayed locked together. Pai Lung looked at Cho quizzically, and then flew off to where the last remnants of his meal lay. The storm he had summoned had moved off over the sea. Lupin stood nearby. At long last, Harry and Cho separated. Harry got up and approached Lupin.
"Thanks for helping us Lupin. I don't know if we'd have survived without you."
Lupin smiled. He ruffled Harry's hair affectionately.
"I've come to give you a message Harry. Well, several actually. First is that the war is going well for us. Voldemort hasn't recruited nearly as many dark magical creatures as we feared. Also, his ranks of dark wizards have been kept in check."
Harry nodded. Cho came up and took his hand, very softly rubbing between his fingers with her thumb. Lupin smiled and continued.
"Also, Dumbledore has decided that you should have a guardian. Hagrid is going to give it to you first day back."
"It's not a band of Phoenix members following me is it?"
"No. This creature we're training will look after you and any others you choose. Just don't mention that the impostor Mad-Eye turned Draco into a ferret."
Harry smiled at the memory. Lupin was also having difficulty in keeping a straight face.
"Two more things Harry. One, your Quidditch ban has been reversed and you can now never be stopped from the sport. There's tighter security around Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, so it's ok now. Two, someone familiar is coming back to Hogwarts to teach you in Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"Ok, thanks. Oh, how are you doing lately?"
Lupin looked at him quizzically.
"Last year you hardly seemed to be raking in the gold. Have you got a new job yet?"
"I have, but it doesn't start until autumn. Why do you ask Harry?"
Harry took hold of his moneybag and tipped fifty galleons into his hand. He then offered the gold to Lupin. Lupin looked at it longingly, but shook his head.
"No thanks Harry. I can't take money off you."
"Please Lupin. Consider it as a birthday present."
Lupin smiled and shook his head.
"You have every single one of your father's good points Harry. Ok, I will take it."
He cupped his hands and Harry counted out the gold coins. It turned out he'd given Lupin fifty-two, but knew not to mention it. After Sirius had died, Lupin was the closest thing to a guardian that Harry had. Cho smiled as Lupin disapparated.
"That was a really kind thing you did, Harry. I'm honoured to be your girlfriend."
"What did you think when you heard Lupin was a werewolf?"
"I don't know. I was shocked at first, and for a small time thought he was a monster. But then I thought to look beneath the surface as it were. He's a really nice man."
Harry smiled and they both went back inside. He couldn't help but wonder what sort of guardian he'd have when he got back to Hogwarts.
In a large clearing, deep within the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid was tending to what looked a very large lynx. It had dark blue fur with tawny patches, and a very short, stubby tail. Its eyes were green and gold, and it had a very penetrating stare. It had teeth like needles, and a ferocious expression. It was collared to a post, and ripping into a number of dead rats. Hagrid watched it with pride. Although it had been savage and disobedient when he had first captured it, it had mellowed down considerably. The creature was an ice breathing lynx, native to Iceland and Greenland. Agile, deadly, lithe and able to make itself invisible, it had been hand chosen by Dumbledore himself. The lynx licked its front legs after finishing the rats, smoothing out its dark blue fur. It purred in the semi-gloom underneath the trees. Well fed and content, it fell asleep. Hagrid sneezed and left the lynx to its own devices, walking back to his hut.
Back at Cho's house, Harry and Cho had gone to bed early to sleep off their attack earlier in the day. Try as she might, Cho couldn't relax without Harry's presence. She got out of bed and walked up to where Harry lay on the floor. She unzipped his sleeping bag and got into bed with him. She kissed the side of his neck tenderly and finally drifted off to sleep.
Harry was having the same dream again, but was paying little attention to the voice warning him away from Cho. That night, his attention was on a warm glow that filled his heart and body.