Disclaimer: Only a fan, just writing a fanfic. Wish the Harry Potter theme
was mine- I could use some money! But they're JKR's. Just the plot and some
characters are mine!
Author's Note: I know that a lot of people don't think of Cho and Cedric connecting in a really close and personal level like I do, but that's cos I imagine a lot of things between them. Some people might think they only went out for that six months after the Yule Ball, but I've always imagined the relationship was there for much longer. I'm planning to write about the year before, but not for awhile. In the meanwhile, imagine that Cho and Cedric were really really really close, like talking about their future together and stuff. Ok? Oh, btw, this isn't one of the best chapters I've done but doesn't it sound familiar the way Hogwarts, the students, and teachers are? Plus it sets one of the plots *wink*
Rating: PG-13, although not in this chapter
Thanks to: my reviewers! Thanks for your reviews you guys!!! I really really really appreciate them! Thanks to the library for letting me use the internet today cos I won't be home all day. Hmmmm- that's about it!
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The Year After: Cho's Story
Chapter 3- Rumors
The next morning, Cho woke up, a stream of sunlight shining directly on her face. She turned over on her other side, memories of the night before flooding in her head. It all seemed like a dream. Having no idea how long she stayed down in the corridors, she walked back up to the Ravenclaw Tower unknowingly. Her friends sat in the common room, worried where she was because of Dumbledore's warning. Cho wasn't willing to share where she was and who she was with, unlike the many times she was off with Cedric. This time it wasn't the same.
"Cho, you'd better get up before we miss breakfast," she heard Kiersten say. She opened her eyes and smiled as Kiersten hopped around the room in circles, trying to put on her kneehighs.
Adelyn, Cho, and Kiersten shared a room with the other two Ravenclaw sixth years, Jessica Langton and Tabitha Weldon. They were all very good friends and usually hung out together.
Jessica walked right up to Cho's bed and leaned over, a big grin on her face. "Rise and shine! First days of classes!" she sang.
Cho groaned, pulling the covers of her bedspread up to her face. "You're way too cheerful for me in the mornings, Jessica." 'Especially today,' she thought.
Jessica pulled off Cho's covers and crossed her arms. "I'm waiting."
Rolling her eyes, Cho rose from her bed. "Ok, ok, you win." When she was ready, Jessica, Kiersten, and Tabitha had already left for the Great Hall. Kiersten said she couldn't wait for breakfast. It was a wonder how Kiersten kept slim.
Adelyn sat down next to Cho as she was putting up her silky raven-colored hair up into a ponytail. "Is there something you need to talk about, Cho?" she asked, concern mounting in her eyes. I know you went off with Harry Potter last night after the feast. You KNOW you can tell me anything."
Cho remained silent.
"Cho, please. I miss the Cho before Cedric died. I wish you came back. I've known you since we were two, you've never been like this before. You used to smile more, laugh often, and joke around a lot. That's why you're so popular- everyone wants to be around you. Cedric was great- everyone loved him. But Cho, you've gotta let him go. Cedric wouldn't have wanted you suffering like this."
"You don't understand, Lyn. And I hope you never do understand." Cho stood up. "We should be going down to breakfast now, don't you think?"
Adelyn opened her mouth as to say something else but she decided against it. They both went down to the Great Hall, which was buzzing with students. Cho sat down across from the fifth year Ravenclaw girls, putting some hot cakes on her plate as Kiersten passed them to her. The fifth years looked up and said hi to Cho, then went back to talking. She could hear little snippets of their conversation.
"-sure Parvati likes Harry- who doesn't? But there's a rumor that he likes someone else," Padma Patil said, her long braided hair swishing side to side as she turned to her friends. Parvati was Padma's twin sister in Gryffindor.
"Oooh, do you think it's Hermione Granger?" Lisa Turpin asked, her eyes wide.
Padma laughed. "Hermione? No, they're just best friends, Parvati says. Besides, she's still keeping in touch with Viktor Krum." All the girls giggled. Krum was the famous international Quidditch Seeker for Bulgaria who came to Hogwarts last year as the Durmstrang school champion for the Triwizard's Tournament.
"*I* heard that Harry liked someone from Ravenclaw," Mandy Brocklehurst chipped in. The girls all giggled again. "If only! But I wouldn't want to go out with Harry now, not with what people are saying." Mandy whispered the last words and from the corner of her eye, Cho say the girls look at her. She pretended she didn't notice and went on eating her breakfast.
Gossip as usual, Cho thought, buttering her toast. Rumors were found easy and often at Hogwarts, no matter what year you were in. At the mention of Harry, Cho looked behind her at the Gryffindor table, but he wasn't there. In fact, he wasn't in the Great Hall at all.
She wanted to talk to him- she NEEDED to talk to him. But she had no idea what she would say.
"Cho!!"
Cho jumped as pairs of eyes around her stared at her. She quickly reached over and passed over the plate of bacon, mumbling "Bacon, right? Sorry, I was thinking."
Adelyn, seeing how uncomfortable Cho looked, changing the subject. "You had advanced Muggle Studies the year before, Cho. How was it? I'm afraid I won't do as well as the rest of the class since I started Muggle Studies a year late." Cho knew quite a lot about Muggles since she spent many summer and Christmas' at her Aunt Lei's house. Aunt Lei was a Squib, but it all worked out fine, since she married a Muggle and they had three kids around Cho's age who were all Squibs as well. The Muggle Studies professor moved Cho up into the third year Muggle Studies class when she was in her second year.
"Advanced Muggle Studies was fun. We learned about the Internet and how to make website," Cho started.
"Internet? Oh, like on those kumpootors?" Kiersten asked, her eyes wide.
Cho laughed. "Yeah, like on computers."
Jessica shook her head as she drained the last of her juice. "Muggles, always having to use complicated sorts."
Adelyn nodded. "A quill, parchment, owl, and book would suite me fine, thanks."
As the students were finishing up their breakfast, the head of each house came around, passing out slips of parchment that had their schedules on them. Professor Flitwick, Ravenclaw's Head of House, could hardly be seen with the schedules since he was a tiny wizard. But he expertly weaved through the Great Hall, sticking out parchment between his students.
"Yeah, but- ooh! Oh, thanks Professor," Kiersten started, interrupted by Professor Flitwick's arm sticking out in the space between Kiersten and Jessica with their schedules.
The whole Great Hall burst out with sudden chatter.
"We all have Tranfiguration first today with Slytherin and then Charms class before lunch. I have Astronomy after- what do you two have?" Kiersten said over the loud chatter, trying to read Adelyn and Cho's schedules.
"I have Muggle studies and Cho has-" Adelyn leaned over to read Cho's paper. "Divination? I thought you didn't like Professor Trelawney."
Cho shrugged. "I don't. I wanted to get out of her class but Professor Trelawney persuaded me to come back. She says I have a great Inner Eye." She laughed. "Whatever that means But Divination comes easy to me, so why not stick to it?"
Kiersten's hazel eyes got big. "Wait, so you actually SEE visions?"
"Most of the time in the crystal ball. I'm not very good with tea leaves though. They all look like a clump to me. Wish I didn't have the Inner Eye or I'd be taking Astronomy with you, Kiersten." Cho finished her juice, looking at her watch. "We should get going."
The girls stood up and walked out of the Great Hall to Professor McGonagall's classroom. Adelyn, Cho, and Kiersten took a seat in the front of the class. This year, Ravenclaw had Transfiguration with Slytherin, who were repudiated to be the "dark wizard" house. But Cho never had any problems with them, except maybe during Quidditch game days.
"Hi Cho," Farah Dawson greeted her from behind. Farah was a tall Slytherin girl with tight black curls and a rather up-turned nose. Her features gave everyone a first impression that Farah was stuck up. Of course, it was a fair first impression because it was true---
"Hello Farah," Cho said as Thomas Friskin took a seat next to Farah. He said hi to both Cho and Farah. Cho noticed his arm was in a cast. "Errr, Thomas- your arm-"
"Oh, we had Quidditch practice one week at Malfoy's during the summer and I fell thirty feet off my broomstick. The ground was soft enough because that place is paradise- even the grass is perfect- but I landed right on my arm."
Farah looked concerned and touched Thomas' arm. "Oh, poor Thomas! Does it hurt much?" she cooed.
He grimaced as she touched the cast. "Not too much. I'll be ready next week for Quidditch, Pomfrey said. Ready to get slaughtered in Quidditch, Ravenclaw Seeker?" he asked Cho. Thomas was the Slytherin Keeper.
Professor McGonagall showed up in front of the class right as Cho was going to reply. The class quickly copied down notes about transfiguring fast moving objects and Professor McGonagall had the whole class split up into groups of four when they finished the notes. They were to transfigure faster animals before transfiguring humans next term, which was extremely tricky.
Unfortunately, Adelyn, Cho, and Kiersten got split up. Cho was on good terms with all the students in her year though, so she wasn't worried when Farah, Thomas, and Paul Arland, who was also in Ravenclaw, joined her.
Professor McGonagall had placed a raccoon on each table, it being a larger, faster animal. Paul rolled up his sleeves, being the first to try to transfigure the raccoon into a wizard's hat. The poor thing was running around the table, trying to get away from Paul's wand. "Hey you, stop moving- how in Merlin's beard am I going to transfigure you then?" he mumbled.
"Thomas, you were saying you went over to Draco Malfoy's mansion?" Farah asked as the raccoon ran over to her, trying to avoid the streak of light from Paul's wand. McGonagall's tables were made from some kind of anti- magic wood so that any magic except for the strong kind could change it. "Is the mansion really as big as they say?"
Thomas smirked and took a seat next to Cho. "Yep. The Malfoys have dozens of house elves, three different shaped swimming pools, and a hell of a backyard, as big as a Quidditch field, where we played."
Farah put her head on the palms of her hands, looking into space dreamingly. "Draco Malfoy is so handsome and clever. He's wonderful at Quidditch too."
The raccoon was now scuttling towards Cho. "Wish you were a year younger, Farah?" Thomas snickered. "Him and Pansy Parkinson are quite chummy, sorry to tell you."
Farah looked heartbroken.
There was a flash of light as the raccoon right in front of Cho turned into a black top hat. Professor McGonagall walked over. "A blue wizard's hat, Mr. Arland, A BLUE WIZARD'S HAT!" she barked, and with a swish of her wand, she turned the top hat back into the confused raccoon. She nodded towards Farah. "Miss Dawson, you next."
Thomas glanced over at Cho. "Speaking of Malfoy, Cho, he told me something interesting."
Cho raised her eyebrows. "Oh really. What did Draco say?" Draco Malfoy was one of those people who were popular because of his family's title in the wizarding world. Personally, she thought the so-called "Prince of Slytherins" was rude and certainly arrogant.
Thomas leaned over the table as the raccoon shot past his face. "He says the ever-so-famous Harry Potter was the one who killed Diggory at the final task last year, not You-Know-Who."
Farah gasped loudly, her wand pointing up at Cho, Paul, and Thomas as they ducked out of her way. Paul looked back up, staring at Cho, and then back at Thomas. Thomas took Farah's wand from her, putting it safely on the table.
Cho remembered Harry's words from the other night. "The Slytherins are starting the rumors. I don't want you to listen to them." She shook her hand.
"Thomas, Draco Malfoy clearly has his facts mixed up. Harry, kill Cedric? You heard Professor Dumbledore. Voldemort's back- HE killed Ced."
The three listening flinched as she said "Voldemort." Only recently had Cho started to say "Voldemort" instead of the more pleasant "He-Who-Must-Not-Be- Named". Ever since Cedric died and Voldemort was back, she didn't think there was a need to leave someone who killed someone close to her without a name. It wasn't right that Voldemort was not even mentioned by name because, like he wanted, everyone feared him. It was a little victory for him. Besides, if the greatest wizard of all, Dumbledore, and the Boy Who Survived Voldemort himself, Harry, didn't bother with extraneous words, why should she?
Farah put her hands on Cho's. "Oh Cho! You are too brave for your own good!"
Thomas sighed, putting a temporary stunning spell on the raccoon to stop it from squealing and running back and forth. "Listen, Cho, I know that you and Potter are friends but Malfoy's dad-he, he KNOWS things. Malfoy's almost never wrong about these things."
Cho looked into Thomas' serious eyes. "Really Thomas, WHY would Harry kill Cedric?"
He shrugged. "Loads of reasons." Thomas started ticking off fingers as he listed things. "He wanted the win himself. He wanted revenge on that one Quidditch game he lost when playing against Diggory. He wanted to be the only Hogwarts champion. He was mad that Cedric got you first-"
Cho frowned at him. "Got me first? You mean how Cedric asked me to the Yule Ball first?"
Thomas smiled. "Well, that too." Cho looked at him quizzingly. "Yes, I know Potter asked you to the Yule Ball. But that wasn't what I meant."
Cho crossed her arms impatiently. "Thomas, stop trying to be mysterious. Out with it now."
He just kept on smiling. "Ahhhh, you don't know. Potter, Potter, whatever shall we do with you?"
Cho sighed. "I don't want to know anyways, because Harry DIDN'T kill Cedric. When WILL you stop spreading untrue rumors?" she said, exasperated. "Ennervate," she waved her wand at the unconscious raccoon, reviving it.
Thomas watched as Cho tried to transfigure the raccoon. "I'm only warning you, for your own sake."
"Are you saying that Harry's going to try to kill me next?" Cho asked amusingly. Her light beam hit directly at the running raccoon and it suddenly turned into a blue wizard's hat.
"Excellent Miss Chang," Professor McGonagall praised, lifting up the hat and examining it. "Very satisfactory. A few dark patches of fur aside, well done. Ten points to Ravenclaw," she added before changing the hat back into the raccoon. A bell rang, indicating the end of their class.
"Some people do odd things for love, Cho, I'm only saying that," Thomas said to her as he headed out the door.
"Love? Why is Thomas talking about love?" Adelyn asked, overhearing Thomas' comment as she walked to Cho.
Cho shrugged. "I have no idea."
Love- what did love have to do with Harry Potter?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
***Chapter 4: Part I Short Synopsis: Will Cho ever fly again?***
Author's Note: I know that a lot of people don't think of Cho and Cedric connecting in a really close and personal level like I do, but that's cos I imagine a lot of things between them. Some people might think they only went out for that six months after the Yule Ball, but I've always imagined the relationship was there for much longer. I'm planning to write about the year before, but not for awhile. In the meanwhile, imagine that Cho and Cedric were really really really close, like talking about their future together and stuff. Ok? Oh, btw, this isn't one of the best chapters I've done but doesn't it sound familiar the way Hogwarts, the students, and teachers are? Plus it sets one of the plots *wink*
Rating: PG-13, although not in this chapter
Thanks to: my reviewers! Thanks for your reviews you guys!!! I really really really appreciate them! Thanks to the library for letting me use the internet today cos I won't be home all day. Hmmmm- that's about it!
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The Year After: Cho's Story
Chapter 3- Rumors
The next morning, Cho woke up, a stream of sunlight shining directly on her face. She turned over on her other side, memories of the night before flooding in her head. It all seemed like a dream. Having no idea how long she stayed down in the corridors, she walked back up to the Ravenclaw Tower unknowingly. Her friends sat in the common room, worried where she was because of Dumbledore's warning. Cho wasn't willing to share where she was and who she was with, unlike the many times she was off with Cedric. This time it wasn't the same.
"Cho, you'd better get up before we miss breakfast," she heard Kiersten say. She opened her eyes and smiled as Kiersten hopped around the room in circles, trying to put on her kneehighs.
Adelyn, Cho, and Kiersten shared a room with the other two Ravenclaw sixth years, Jessica Langton and Tabitha Weldon. They were all very good friends and usually hung out together.
Jessica walked right up to Cho's bed and leaned over, a big grin on her face. "Rise and shine! First days of classes!" she sang.
Cho groaned, pulling the covers of her bedspread up to her face. "You're way too cheerful for me in the mornings, Jessica." 'Especially today,' she thought.
Jessica pulled off Cho's covers and crossed her arms. "I'm waiting."
Rolling her eyes, Cho rose from her bed. "Ok, ok, you win." When she was ready, Jessica, Kiersten, and Tabitha had already left for the Great Hall. Kiersten said she couldn't wait for breakfast. It was a wonder how Kiersten kept slim.
Adelyn sat down next to Cho as she was putting up her silky raven-colored hair up into a ponytail. "Is there something you need to talk about, Cho?" she asked, concern mounting in her eyes. I know you went off with Harry Potter last night after the feast. You KNOW you can tell me anything."
Cho remained silent.
"Cho, please. I miss the Cho before Cedric died. I wish you came back. I've known you since we were two, you've never been like this before. You used to smile more, laugh often, and joke around a lot. That's why you're so popular- everyone wants to be around you. Cedric was great- everyone loved him. But Cho, you've gotta let him go. Cedric wouldn't have wanted you suffering like this."
"You don't understand, Lyn. And I hope you never do understand." Cho stood up. "We should be going down to breakfast now, don't you think?"
Adelyn opened her mouth as to say something else but she decided against it. They both went down to the Great Hall, which was buzzing with students. Cho sat down across from the fifth year Ravenclaw girls, putting some hot cakes on her plate as Kiersten passed them to her. The fifth years looked up and said hi to Cho, then went back to talking. She could hear little snippets of their conversation.
"-sure Parvati likes Harry- who doesn't? But there's a rumor that he likes someone else," Padma Patil said, her long braided hair swishing side to side as she turned to her friends. Parvati was Padma's twin sister in Gryffindor.
"Oooh, do you think it's Hermione Granger?" Lisa Turpin asked, her eyes wide.
Padma laughed. "Hermione? No, they're just best friends, Parvati says. Besides, she's still keeping in touch with Viktor Krum." All the girls giggled. Krum was the famous international Quidditch Seeker for Bulgaria who came to Hogwarts last year as the Durmstrang school champion for the Triwizard's Tournament.
"*I* heard that Harry liked someone from Ravenclaw," Mandy Brocklehurst chipped in. The girls all giggled again. "If only! But I wouldn't want to go out with Harry now, not with what people are saying." Mandy whispered the last words and from the corner of her eye, Cho say the girls look at her. She pretended she didn't notice and went on eating her breakfast.
Gossip as usual, Cho thought, buttering her toast. Rumors were found easy and often at Hogwarts, no matter what year you were in. At the mention of Harry, Cho looked behind her at the Gryffindor table, but he wasn't there. In fact, he wasn't in the Great Hall at all.
She wanted to talk to him- she NEEDED to talk to him. But she had no idea what she would say.
"Cho!!"
Cho jumped as pairs of eyes around her stared at her. She quickly reached over and passed over the plate of bacon, mumbling "Bacon, right? Sorry, I was thinking."
Adelyn, seeing how uncomfortable Cho looked, changing the subject. "You had advanced Muggle Studies the year before, Cho. How was it? I'm afraid I won't do as well as the rest of the class since I started Muggle Studies a year late." Cho knew quite a lot about Muggles since she spent many summer and Christmas' at her Aunt Lei's house. Aunt Lei was a Squib, but it all worked out fine, since she married a Muggle and they had three kids around Cho's age who were all Squibs as well. The Muggle Studies professor moved Cho up into the third year Muggle Studies class when she was in her second year.
"Advanced Muggle Studies was fun. We learned about the Internet and how to make website," Cho started.
"Internet? Oh, like on those kumpootors?" Kiersten asked, her eyes wide.
Cho laughed. "Yeah, like on computers."
Jessica shook her head as she drained the last of her juice. "Muggles, always having to use complicated sorts."
Adelyn nodded. "A quill, parchment, owl, and book would suite me fine, thanks."
As the students were finishing up their breakfast, the head of each house came around, passing out slips of parchment that had their schedules on them. Professor Flitwick, Ravenclaw's Head of House, could hardly be seen with the schedules since he was a tiny wizard. But he expertly weaved through the Great Hall, sticking out parchment between his students.
"Yeah, but- ooh! Oh, thanks Professor," Kiersten started, interrupted by Professor Flitwick's arm sticking out in the space between Kiersten and Jessica with their schedules.
The whole Great Hall burst out with sudden chatter.
"We all have Tranfiguration first today with Slytherin and then Charms class before lunch. I have Astronomy after- what do you two have?" Kiersten said over the loud chatter, trying to read Adelyn and Cho's schedules.
"I have Muggle studies and Cho has-" Adelyn leaned over to read Cho's paper. "Divination? I thought you didn't like Professor Trelawney."
Cho shrugged. "I don't. I wanted to get out of her class but Professor Trelawney persuaded me to come back. She says I have a great Inner Eye." She laughed. "Whatever that means But Divination comes easy to me, so why not stick to it?"
Kiersten's hazel eyes got big. "Wait, so you actually SEE visions?"
"Most of the time in the crystal ball. I'm not very good with tea leaves though. They all look like a clump to me. Wish I didn't have the Inner Eye or I'd be taking Astronomy with you, Kiersten." Cho finished her juice, looking at her watch. "We should get going."
The girls stood up and walked out of the Great Hall to Professor McGonagall's classroom. Adelyn, Cho, and Kiersten took a seat in the front of the class. This year, Ravenclaw had Transfiguration with Slytherin, who were repudiated to be the "dark wizard" house. But Cho never had any problems with them, except maybe during Quidditch game days.
"Hi Cho," Farah Dawson greeted her from behind. Farah was a tall Slytherin girl with tight black curls and a rather up-turned nose. Her features gave everyone a first impression that Farah was stuck up. Of course, it was a fair first impression because it was true---
"Hello Farah," Cho said as Thomas Friskin took a seat next to Farah. He said hi to both Cho and Farah. Cho noticed his arm was in a cast. "Errr, Thomas- your arm-"
"Oh, we had Quidditch practice one week at Malfoy's during the summer and I fell thirty feet off my broomstick. The ground was soft enough because that place is paradise- even the grass is perfect- but I landed right on my arm."
Farah looked concerned and touched Thomas' arm. "Oh, poor Thomas! Does it hurt much?" she cooed.
He grimaced as she touched the cast. "Not too much. I'll be ready next week for Quidditch, Pomfrey said. Ready to get slaughtered in Quidditch, Ravenclaw Seeker?" he asked Cho. Thomas was the Slytherin Keeper.
Professor McGonagall showed up in front of the class right as Cho was going to reply. The class quickly copied down notes about transfiguring fast moving objects and Professor McGonagall had the whole class split up into groups of four when they finished the notes. They were to transfigure faster animals before transfiguring humans next term, which was extremely tricky.
Unfortunately, Adelyn, Cho, and Kiersten got split up. Cho was on good terms with all the students in her year though, so she wasn't worried when Farah, Thomas, and Paul Arland, who was also in Ravenclaw, joined her.
Professor McGonagall had placed a raccoon on each table, it being a larger, faster animal. Paul rolled up his sleeves, being the first to try to transfigure the raccoon into a wizard's hat. The poor thing was running around the table, trying to get away from Paul's wand. "Hey you, stop moving- how in Merlin's beard am I going to transfigure you then?" he mumbled.
"Thomas, you were saying you went over to Draco Malfoy's mansion?" Farah asked as the raccoon ran over to her, trying to avoid the streak of light from Paul's wand. McGonagall's tables were made from some kind of anti- magic wood so that any magic except for the strong kind could change it. "Is the mansion really as big as they say?"
Thomas smirked and took a seat next to Cho. "Yep. The Malfoys have dozens of house elves, three different shaped swimming pools, and a hell of a backyard, as big as a Quidditch field, where we played."
Farah put her head on the palms of her hands, looking into space dreamingly. "Draco Malfoy is so handsome and clever. He's wonderful at Quidditch too."
The raccoon was now scuttling towards Cho. "Wish you were a year younger, Farah?" Thomas snickered. "Him and Pansy Parkinson are quite chummy, sorry to tell you."
Farah looked heartbroken.
There was a flash of light as the raccoon right in front of Cho turned into a black top hat. Professor McGonagall walked over. "A blue wizard's hat, Mr. Arland, A BLUE WIZARD'S HAT!" she barked, and with a swish of her wand, she turned the top hat back into the confused raccoon. She nodded towards Farah. "Miss Dawson, you next."
Thomas glanced over at Cho. "Speaking of Malfoy, Cho, he told me something interesting."
Cho raised her eyebrows. "Oh really. What did Draco say?" Draco Malfoy was one of those people who were popular because of his family's title in the wizarding world. Personally, she thought the so-called "Prince of Slytherins" was rude and certainly arrogant.
Thomas leaned over the table as the raccoon shot past his face. "He says the ever-so-famous Harry Potter was the one who killed Diggory at the final task last year, not You-Know-Who."
Farah gasped loudly, her wand pointing up at Cho, Paul, and Thomas as they ducked out of her way. Paul looked back up, staring at Cho, and then back at Thomas. Thomas took Farah's wand from her, putting it safely on the table.
Cho remembered Harry's words from the other night. "The Slytherins are starting the rumors. I don't want you to listen to them." She shook her hand.
"Thomas, Draco Malfoy clearly has his facts mixed up. Harry, kill Cedric? You heard Professor Dumbledore. Voldemort's back- HE killed Ced."
The three listening flinched as she said "Voldemort." Only recently had Cho started to say "Voldemort" instead of the more pleasant "He-Who-Must-Not-Be- Named". Ever since Cedric died and Voldemort was back, she didn't think there was a need to leave someone who killed someone close to her without a name. It wasn't right that Voldemort was not even mentioned by name because, like he wanted, everyone feared him. It was a little victory for him. Besides, if the greatest wizard of all, Dumbledore, and the Boy Who Survived Voldemort himself, Harry, didn't bother with extraneous words, why should she?
Farah put her hands on Cho's. "Oh Cho! You are too brave for your own good!"
Thomas sighed, putting a temporary stunning spell on the raccoon to stop it from squealing and running back and forth. "Listen, Cho, I know that you and Potter are friends but Malfoy's dad-he, he KNOWS things. Malfoy's almost never wrong about these things."
Cho looked into Thomas' serious eyes. "Really Thomas, WHY would Harry kill Cedric?"
He shrugged. "Loads of reasons." Thomas started ticking off fingers as he listed things. "He wanted the win himself. He wanted revenge on that one Quidditch game he lost when playing against Diggory. He wanted to be the only Hogwarts champion. He was mad that Cedric got you first-"
Cho frowned at him. "Got me first? You mean how Cedric asked me to the Yule Ball first?"
Thomas smiled. "Well, that too." Cho looked at him quizzingly. "Yes, I know Potter asked you to the Yule Ball. But that wasn't what I meant."
Cho crossed her arms impatiently. "Thomas, stop trying to be mysterious. Out with it now."
He just kept on smiling. "Ahhhh, you don't know. Potter, Potter, whatever shall we do with you?"
Cho sighed. "I don't want to know anyways, because Harry DIDN'T kill Cedric. When WILL you stop spreading untrue rumors?" she said, exasperated. "Ennervate," she waved her wand at the unconscious raccoon, reviving it.
Thomas watched as Cho tried to transfigure the raccoon. "I'm only warning you, for your own sake."
"Are you saying that Harry's going to try to kill me next?" Cho asked amusingly. Her light beam hit directly at the running raccoon and it suddenly turned into a blue wizard's hat.
"Excellent Miss Chang," Professor McGonagall praised, lifting up the hat and examining it. "Very satisfactory. A few dark patches of fur aside, well done. Ten points to Ravenclaw," she added before changing the hat back into the raccoon. A bell rang, indicating the end of their class.
"Some people do odd things for love, Cho, I'm only saying that," Thomas said to her as he headed out the door.
"Love? Why is Thomas talking about love?" Adelyn asked, overhearing Thomas' comment as she walked to Cho.
Cho shrugged. "I have no idea."
Love- what did love have to do with Harry Potter?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
***Chapter 4: Part I Short Synopsis: Will Cho ever fly again?***