Disclaimer: HP is JK Rowling's, aka the Goddess. I just made up the plot and a few of the characters (ok, a lot of them!).
Author's Note: Sooooo- I'm on to chapter seven already- how weird how my thoughts are just flying! Watch, I'm gonna jinx myself! This chapter is more into what Cho thinks and feels and just how she's under different pressures and all that stress. Pity her a bit ok? She's got a lot under her belt! Also shows, errrrr, the Cho/Harry relationship in a different light. Ooooh, and it features the Weasley twins, whom I love very very VERY much! Less than Ollie and Ced, but they're up there!
This took me awhile to post but that's cos I don't have much time to type the story. I'm almost done with the 8th chapter… that should be along before I go off to Massachusetts at the end of next month.
I just wanted to tell you all that I HAVE decided that I'm gonna up-rate it to be rated R. If you aren't an R-rated fan, just check back on the last PG-13 chapter I have before the R chapter and I'll tell you what chapter that's coming up on so you could skip reading that chapter! I dunno if it's gonna go beyond one chapter though- probably not.
Oh, and right now, I'm on the verge of auditioning for the part of Cho Chang in the fourth Harry Potter movie. I'd really appreciate it if y'all came to the website (http://mindyascho.8m.com) and read my reasons for wanting to be Cho, and possibly sign the petition, which is linked on the site!
Rating: PG-13
Thanks to: always for all the reviews! ron_weasley, Bon, Ruth, I Love Cho (I do too!)- I really hope you all enjoy the rest of the chapters, since I've been working on this fanfic like a house-elf! Prayer- don't tell any of our friends I write HP fanfics, ok? I think they've all already died of shock cos I'm auditioning as Cho- I don't think they'd like to read about romantic Cho/Harry relationships. Everyone already thinks I've changed so much as it is! Jessie- my PR person! Siriusly, you are the coolest friend alive, thanks for promoting me and everything concerning the whole Cho auditioning thing. Everyone, I want you to know that it's cos of Jessie that I'm actually doing the auditions….
Anyways, enjoy the chapter and just click on Submit Review and tell me what you think! *kisses*
^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^
The Year After: Cho's Story
Chapter 7: Stressed and Distracted
"Cho! Honestly! Concentrate, will you?"
Cho looked behind her as Landon flew around the goals, shouting at her to concentrate on looking for the Snitch. For the fourth time, the Snitch was hovering right around Cho and she didn't notice it. She sped off the towards the middle of the Quidditch pitch, high above everyone else, squinting to look for a golden glint.
Ravenclaw's first match, the second match of the year, was against Hufflepuff next week. Gryffindor had already beaten Slytherin at the beginning of November, when Harry had spectacularly caught the Snitch quite early in the game to seal a domineering civtory. Cho could only congratulate him quickly as they passed by the corridors, but she made sure to congratulate him thoroughly the next day they met.
"Cho, get your lazy arse to that Snitch! Landon's not letting us go until you've caught it!" she heard Michael shout as he zoomed by with the Quaffle, Drewan and Julian hot on his tail.
Cho sighed, obeyingly searching the pitch for the Snitch. She couldn't seem to concentrate on Quidditch in the past weeks practices. Her sixth year mid-terms were coming up and she poured over books every night. Sneaking around with Harry took a lot of energy as well, more than she could afford. Quidditch practice was always draining like usual, putting Cho to sleep immediately each night before she had time to do anything else.
Suddenly, she spotted it. The Snitch was flying around Stephen, who was cautiously looking for any stray Bludgers. Cho speeded to him as he looked up, confused to why Cho was flying towards him. She looped around Stephan's outstretched arm and bat, finally catching the Snitch in her right hand. Landon, looking relieved, flew to her, signaling everyone to join him. "Alright, that's enough for today. Get yourself a good breakfast and I'll see you at the locker rooms Monday before dinner."
Cho landed on the pitch, the Snitch still beating helplessly in her hand. Landon followed her, landing down beside Cho. He took the Snitch from her as it's wings folded around itself, resting on his palm.
"Is, errrm, is there something wrong, Cho? Something you want to tell me?" asked Landon quietly.
Cho shook her head.
"Are you sure? You've been doing well up until these past weeks, Cho. What's going on?"
"Nothing- nothing. REALLY Landon, I've just had a lot of school work, and Quidditch is exhausting as it is," Cho replied, half-truthfully. She hoped her face wasn't getting red, as Kiersten had warned her.
Landon had peered a look at Cho for a moment, surveying her face. "Well, if you're sure…." He said slowly, looking half-convinced. "If there's anything, Cho-"
"I know, I know Landon, you're always here," Cho finished, grinning at him. "Thanks. Well, if you don't need anything else-"
Landon waved his hand away, locking the Snitch back into the wooden crate. "No, no- go off to breakfast and EAT- you're getting thinner by the second. It's not healthy- I don't want my Seeker to get blown away before she could catch the Snitch," Landon complained as Julian came from behind to lift the other side of the crate.
Cho grinned again and jogged up to the school grounds. She lost her smile soon enough as her mind boggled up with the thoughts of what she had to do for school. She didn't HAVE time to eat. A two-foot essay on ancient potions for Professor Snape, a font and a half for the transfiguration of human beings for Professor McGonagall, a star diagram labeling the positions of the stars for a month for Professor Sinistra in Astronomy, finish a page of questions for Professor Figg in Defense Against the Dark Arts, and find ten people's heart numbers for Professor Vector in Arithmancy, not to mention the amount of reading that was in store for her-
"Hey, there you are," a familiar voice greeted her, walking away from Hagrid's hut on the school grounds.
Cho looked sideways and found herself in Harry's arms. He kissed her. "Where've you been? I was wanting to surprise you by meeting you after practice, but that was half an hour ago."
She shook her head. "Landon wouldn't let us go until I had caught the Snitch."
Harry raised his eyebrows. "You need an hour and a half to catch the Snitch? It must've been going really fast today."
Cho flushed pink. "Fifty minutes. I was, ugh, really distracted. Stressed out, really."
Harry's mouth curved into a grin. "I know how to make you less stressed out- mind, it would still leave you distracted." Cho grinned too as she flung her arms around Harry, broomstick and all.
"Don't you think being out here is kind of breaking our pact?" Harry asked as they paused. "Right in the middle of school grounds in front of the castle?"
Cho shook her head again, running her hands through Harry's unruly dark hair. "No," she whispered. "I need a good distraction from a bad one."
"Then I'm happy to be of service."
They kissed again and Cho felt her whole body tingle with delight. Harry was a wonderful kisser- he knew exactly how hard to kiss her, and when to lighten or add pressure. He knew how to equally kiss both her lips and they sucking on the bottom one made her whole mouth open up wider while concentrating on her top lip gave him access to her tongue. He really did remind Cho of Cedric- how passionate and careful they both were with her. But she wasn't going to think of Cedric- not while she was with Harry anyway-
Unconscious tears rolled down her face and she tasted the saltiness in accordance with Harry's lips. Harry stopped kissing her and looked at Cho. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her robes. Cho leaned back over to kiss Harry again but he stopped her.
"Cho, what's wrong?" repeated Harry. "It's Cedric, isn't it?"
"No," she lied a little too quickly. Harry surveyed her face, just as Landon had. She felt her face get red again and looked down quickly. "It's just that, well," she chose her words carefully, "I'm really stressed out by the amount of homework I have and I'm so afraid Landon's gonna kick me off the team- I'm doing so terribly. He'd do me in for sure if he found out I'm snogging the Seeker and Captain of our rival team." She smiled weakly, and much to her relief, so did Harry.
"Alright then," he said, taking her broomstick from her. He kissed her lips and smoothened back her wind-swept hair lightly. "I think you need some breakfast and rest, that's all."
"But Harry, I can't afford to-" Cho stopped as Harry gave her a look. "I mean, ok."
Looking satisfied, Harry took Cho's hand with his free one and they walked up to the castle, towards the Great Hall. "So how long do you think it's gonna be before people find out about us?" he asked, opening one of the big oak doors.
"I don't know," she said truthfully. "We've been quite lucky that only Professor Dumbledore and Kiersten know." Cho had told Harry the day after she told Kiersten and at first, he was skeptical about her not telling anyone, but Cho had seemed to convince him.
He glanced at Cho. "And she's not going to slip-"
"No."
Footsteps came from the corner of the Entrance Hall Harry and Cho were at, and they quickly dropped each others hands.
Two girls emerged from the corner. "-I don't know, Lyn, I'm sure Cho-" the short-haired blonde girl stopped talking at the sight of Cho and Harry. Her companion next to her lifted her head.
"I told you Cho coming soon. Honestly Kiersten.." Adelyn's violet-colored eyes traveled to Harry next to Cho. "Oh hello Harry." Her eyes darted down to Cho's broomstick, which was still in Harry's hand. "What kept you? And isn't that your broomstick…?"
Kiersten sighed. "Lyn, don't badger the poor girl with endless questions! Can't you see she's already tired from getting up at the crack of down and playing Quidditch? It looks like Harry was helping her carry her broomstick too- how nice of you!" she interrupted loudly, eyeing Cho and winking at Harry at the same time.
"But you never let me nor Kiersten even touch your-"
"-you really think she'd trust us since you think Quidditch is a waste of time and I can't even PLAY Quidditch, much less mount a broomstick?"
Adelyn pondered this thought. "So Cho, what kept you anyways?" she went on, completely ignoring Harry.
"Well, errrr-" she looked startled as Harry handed her back her broom. "Oh, I'll see you around then Harry," she hintingly said as he slipped sideways away from the girls. "And thanks."
"Don't mention it." And Harry sided up the stairs towards the Great Hall.
Adelyn opened her mouth to speak again but Cho gave her a look. "Not now, Lyn, I'm famished." Her stomach did a sudden lurch as Cho's eyes wandered up to Harry's disappearing figure and she sighed.
^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^
That afternoon, Cho and Kiersten decided to walk along the lake while Adelyn had prefect duties. ("Just ditch it- they've got 21 others. Come with us- Joshua Ethers isn't the other Ravenclaw sixth year prefect for nothing, you know," Kiersten had said. Adelyn just looked at Kiersten as if she had suggested waking a sleeping dragon.) Kiersten was just rattling on about new gossip ("They say that we're not going to have another Hogsmeade trip until next year!" as a group of boys came towards them from the other side of the lake. Cho smiled as she realized it was Harry, the Weasley twins, and Lee Jordan. Harry's best friends, Ron and Hermione, probably had prefect duty like Adelyn. Cho looked sideways and her smile grew as Kiersten's eyes got wide and she patted down her hair. Kiersten had a horribly obvious crush on the twins, but they, being typical boys, were oblivious to the matter.
"Hi Harry, Lee, *Fred*, *George*," Kiersten greeted loudly, emphasizing the last two names.
Cho rolled her eyes.
"Hello Kiersten, Cho," Fred replied casually. "How are you?"
"Wonderful," said Kiersten breathlessly, tossing back her hair. "I'm absolutely wonderful at the moment. How are you?"
Cho found it extremely hard not to start laughing.
"Absolutely spiffing," George responded. "We were just looking for people."
"Oh really? Maybe I could be of service?" Kiersten asked in her flirtatious, breathless voice.
Very unluckily, Harry caught Cho's eye and they started coughing at the same time to hide their laughter. Kiersten shot them the evil eye as George started clapping Harry's back. "Working much too hard, our Quidditch captain," he said. "Landon's keeping you up to speed too, eh, Cho?"
Lee nodded knowingly. "It's the Wood-craze, working the Quidditch players too hard, trying to do too much for the honor of the Cup."
But Fred looked right at Kiersten, unaffected by the coughing. "Actually, Kiersten, you COULD help us."
That comment made everyone look up. "Yes," George agreed. "Help would be much appreciated."
"Err, Fred, George, I don't think it'd-" Harry interjected quickly.
"Shush, Harry, Kiersten just wants to help," George said. "We'll walk and talk, Kiersten."
Cho looked at Harry, who was ever so slightly shaking his head. He mouthed "Wheezes." Cho understood.
"Errrr, but Kiersten, I need to talk to you abou-"
"We'll talk later, Cho," Kiersten interrupted, smiling at Fred and George.
Lee Jordan suddenly grinned. "I'll go too," he said as the four left towards the castle. Cho and Harry heard Fred ask a moment later "you DO like toffees, don't you Kiersten?"
"They're gonna give her a Weasley's Wizarding Wheeze, aren't they?" Cho mumbled miserably, looking to her disappearing friend, Harry told her about the twins latest invention when she saw someone running out of the library with a bloody nose.
Harry smiled and stopped by a big tree on the opposite side of the lake from the school.. "Yeah- don't worry about it though, Fred and George have tried it on billions of people. She'll just get a Nosebleed Nougat or a Fainting Fancy. It's safe- Hermione made sure." He sat down.
"Speaking of fancies, don't Fred and George know Kiersten fancies them? She's so blatant that I'm surprised that she hasn't run around Hogwarts yelling "I love the Weasley Twins!" yet," Cho said, settling herself next to Harry.
Harry laughed. "I still think Fred and George wouldn't get the point. Boys are very oblivious, you know?"
Cho messed up his hair playfully. "Why are you special then?"
"Because you're special."
She loved it when he said things like that. She rewarded him with a kiss, long and gentle. When they parted, they were both out of the breath, but then Harry kissed her again. Cho felt swept off her feet by how passionate he was. She didn't even realize she was now lying on the ground until a patch of grass poked the back of her throat. Harry had half his weight on top of her and half of the ground beside her. Cho put her arms around his neck, kissing him harder, and he shifted more of his body onto her, leaving her breathless but quite warm by the closeness of her body.
Cho now felt his hand, which was softly touching her face, travel down to her shoulders, past her chest, and to her knees. Her eyes widened as his hand went back up to the clasp of her robes in the middle of her chest and undid it. But she couldn't seem to speak- nothing could come out of that lump in her throat.
His hands were moving again, down to her thighs. He traveled the length of the pleated grey skirt, down to where Cho's kneesocks and skirt hem met, exposing an inch of skin around her lower thighs. She consciously breathed in between the intimate kisses, as Harry's hands inched their way up her thighs towards her hip.
"No, wait, Harry," she breathed in, finally finding her voice.
His hands and lips stopped simultaneously as he looked at her with his bright green eyes. "You don't want this?" he asked quietly.
She hugged him around his neck even tighter and brushed her lips across his. "Oh, I do Harry- I DO want this. But when we're ready," she whispered.
Harry's warm hands left her thighs abruptly and he sat up, straightening his clothes. "Ok."
Cho propped herself up on her elbows and looked up at him, her eyes scanning his face for an emotion- anything at all. But there was nothing.
"Harry? You're not made at me, are you?"
He moved himself back next to Cho and pulled out a blade of grass from her hair. "No, of course I'm not mad at you. I'm pissed off at myself. I promised myself that I would always be considerate of you, to never hurt you." Harry scowled. "And just a month in and I'm already pushing you."
Cho leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Harry, you weren't pushing me. I was quite up to speed." She smiled but Harry still looked angry with himself. "Look, I really want you too- but when the time is right. And preferably not in prickly grass," she added.
Harry looked at her with another skeptical look. "You're not mad at me? You don't hate me now?"
Cho rolled her eyes. "And here I was, thinking that you were the only man on this earth not oblivious to a girl's needs." She smiled at him so reassuringly that all Harry could do was smile back at her and trust what she said was true.
She patted him on the stomach. "Now we need to go find Kiersten- I'm really worried about what Fred and George have done to her."
***Chapter 8: Short Synopsis: The Hufflepuff vs. Ravenclaw Quidditch match gives Cho plenty more to think about.***
Author's Note: Sooooo- I'm on to chapter seven already- how weird how my thoughts are just flying! Watch, I'm gonna jinx myself! This chapter is more into what Cho thinks and feels and just how she's under different pressures and all that stress. Pity her a bit ok? She's got a lot under her belt! Also shows, errrrr, the Cho/Harry relationship in a different light. Ooooh, and it features the Weasley twins, whom I love very very VERY much! Less than Ollie and Ced, but they're up there!
This took me awhile to post but that's cos I don't have much time to type the story. I'm almost done with the 8th chapter… that should be along before I go off to Massachusetts at the end of next month.
I just wanted to tell you all that I HAVE decided that I'm gonna up-rate it to be rated R. If you aren't an R-rated fan, just check back on the last PG-13 chapter I have before the R chapter and I'll tell you what chapter that's coming up on so you could skip reading that chapter! I dunno if it's gonna go beyond one chapter though- probably not.
Oh, and right now, I'm on the verge of auditioning for the part of Cho Chang in the fourth Harry Potter movie. I'd really appreciate it if y'all came to the website (http://mindyascho.8m.com) and read my reasons for wanting to be Cho, and possibly sign the petition, which is linked on the site!
Rating: PG-13
Thanks to: always for all the reviews! ron_weasley, Bon, Ruth, I Love Cho (I do too!)- I really hope you all enjoy the rest of the chapters, since I've been working on this fanfic like a house-elf! Prayer- don't tell any of our friends I write HP fanfics, ok? I think they've all already died of shock cos I'm auditioning as Cho- I don't think they'd like to read about romantic Cho/Harry relationships. Everyone already thinks I've changed so much as it is! Jessie- my PR person! Siriusly, you are the coolest friend alive, thanks for promoting me and everything concerning the whole Cho auditioning thing. Everyone, I want you to know that it's cos of Jessie that I'm actually doing the auditions….
Anyways, enjoy the chapter and just click on Submit Review and tell me what you think! *kisses*
^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^
The Year After: Cho's Story
Chapter 7: Stressed and Distracted
"Cho! Honestly! Concentrate, will you?"
Cho looked behind her as Landon flew around the goals, shouting at her to concentrate on looking for the Snitch. For the fourth time, the Snitch was hovering right around Cho and she didn't notice it. She sped off the towards the middle of the Quidditch pitch, high above everyone else, squinting to look for a golden glint.
Ravenclaw's first match, the second match of the year, was against Hufflepuff next week. Gryffindor had already beaten Slytherin at the beginning of November, when Harry had spectacularly caught the Snitch quite early in the game to seal a domineering civtory. Cho could only congratulate him quickly as they passed by the corridors, but she made sure to congratulate him thoroughly the next day they met.
"Cho, get your lazy arse to that Snitch! Landon's not letting us go until you've caught it!" she heard Michael shout as he zoomed by with the Quaffle, Drewan and Julian hot on his tail.
Cho sighed, obeyingly searching the pitch for the Snitch. She couldn't seem to concentrate on Quidditch in the past weeks practices. Her sixth year mid-terms were coming up and she poured over books every night. Sneaking around with Harry took a lot of energy as well, more than she could afford. Quidditch practice was always draining like usual, putting Cho to sleep immediately each night before she had time to do anything else.
Suddenly, she spotted it. The Snitch was flying around Stephen, who was cautiously looking for any stray Bludgers. Cho speeded to him as he looked up, confused to why Cho was flying towards him. She looped around Stephan's outstretched arm and bat, finally catching the Snitch in her right hand. Landon, looking relieved, flew to her, signaling everyone to join him. "Alright, that's enough for today. Get yourself a good breakfast and I'll see you at the locker rooms Monday before dinner."
Cho landed on the pitch, the Snitch still beating helplessly in her hand. Landon followed her, landing down beside Cho. He took the Snitch from her as it's wings folded around itself, resting on his palm.
"Is, errrm, is there something wrong, Cho? Something you want to tell me?" asked Landon quietly.
Cho shook her head.
"Are you sure? You've been doing well up until these past weeks, Cho. What's going on?"
"Nothing- nothing. REALLY Landon, I've just had a lot of school work, and Quidditch is exhausting as it is," Cho replied, half-truthfully. She hoped her face wasn't getting red, as Kiersten had warned her.
Landon had peered a look at Cho for a moment, surveying her face. "Well, if you're sure…." He said slowly, looking half-convinced. "If there's anything, Cho-"
"I know, I know Landon, you're always here," Cho finished, grinning at him. "Thanks. Well, if you don't need anything else-"
Landon waved his hand away, locking the Snitch back into the wooden crate. "No, no- go off to breakfast and EAT- you're getting thinner by the second. It's not healthy- I don't want my Seeker to get blown away before she could catch the Snitch," Landon complained as Julian came from behind to lift the other side of the crate.
Cho grinned again and jogged up to the school grounds. She lost her smile soon enough as her mind boggled up with the thoughts of what she had to do for school. She didn't HAVE time to eat. A two-foot essay on ancient potions for Professor Snape, a font and a half for the transfiguration of human beings for Professor McGonagall, a star diagram labeling the positions of the stars for a month for Professor Sinistra in Astronomy, finish a page of questions for Professor Figg in Defense Against the Dark Arts, and find ten people's heart numbers for Professor Vector in Arithmancy, not to mention the amount of reading that was in store for her-
"Hey, there you are," a familiar voice greeted her, walking away from Hagrid's hut on the school grounds.
Cho looked sideways and found herself in Harry's arms. He kissed her. "Where've you been? I was wanting to surprise you by meeting you after practice, but that was half an hour ago."
She shook her head. "Landon wouldn't let us go until I had caught the Snitch."
Harry raised his eyebrows. "You need an hour and a half to catch the Snitch? It must've been going really fast today."
Cho flushed pink. "Fifty minutes. I was, ugh, really distracted. Stressed out, really."
Harry's mouth curved into a grin. "I know how to make you less stressed out- mind, it would still leave you distracted." Cho grinned too as she flung her arms around Harry, broomstick and all.
"Don't you think being out here is kind of breaking our pact?" Harry asked as they paused. "Right in the middle of school grounds in front of the castle?"
Cho shook her head again, running her hands through Harry's unruly dark hair. "No," she whispered. "I need a good distraction from a bad one."
"Then I'm happy to be of service."
They kissed again and Cho felt her whole body tingle with delight. Harry was a wonderful kisser- he knew exactly how hard to kiss her, and when to lighten or add pressure. He knew how to equally kiss both her lips and they sucking on the bottom one made her whole mouth open up wider while concentrating on her top lip gave him access to her tongue. He really did remind Cho of Cedric- how passionate and careful they both were with her. But she wasn't going to think of Cedric- not while she was with Harry anyway-
Unconscious tears rolled down her face and she tasted the saltiness in accordance with Harry's lips. Harry stopped kissing her and looked at Cho. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her robes. Cho leaned back over to kiss Harry again but he stopped her.
"Cho, what's wrong?" repeated Harry. "It's Cedric, isn't it?"
"No," she lied a little too quickly. Harry surveyed her face, just as Landon had. She felt her face get red again and looked down quickly. "It's just that, well," she chose her words carefully, "I'm really stressed out by the amount of homework I have and I'm so afraid Landon's gonna kick me off the team- I'm doing so terribly. He'd do me in for sure if he found out I'm snogging the Seeker and Captain of our rival team." She smiled weakly, and much to her relief, so did Harry.
"Alright then," he said, taking her broomstick from her. He kissed her lips and smoothened back her wind-swept hair lightly. "I think you need some breakfast and rest, that's all."
"But Harry, I can't afford to-" Cho stopped as Harry gave her a look. "I mean, ok."
Looking satisfied, Harry took Cho's hand with his free one and they walked up to the castle, towards the Great Hall. "So how long do you think it's gonna be before people find out about us?" he asked, opening one of the big oak doors.
"I don't know," she said truthfully. "We've been quite lucky that only Professor Dumbledore and Kiersten know." Cho had told Harry the day after she told Kiersten and at first, he was skeptical about her not telling anyone, but Cho had seemed to convince him.
He glanced at Cho. "And she's not going to slip-"
"No."
Footsteps came from the corner of the Entrance Hall Harry and Cho were at, and they quickly dropped each others hands.
Two girls emerged from the corner. "-I don't know, Lyn, I'm sure Cho-" the short-haired blonde girl stopped talking at the sight of Cho and Harry. Her companion next to her lifted her head.
"I told you Cho coming soon. Honestly Kiersten.." Adelyn's violet-colored eyes traveled to Harry next to Cho. "Oh hello Harry." Her eyes darted down to Cho's broomstick, which was still in Harry's hand. "What kept you? And isn't that your broomstick…?"
Kiersten sighed. "Lyn, don't badger the poor girl with endless questions! Can't you see she's already tired from getting up at the crack of down and playing Quidditch? It looks like Harry was helping her carry her broomstick too- how nice of you!" she interrupted loudly, eyeing Cho and winking at Harry at the same time.
"But you never let me nor Kiersten even touch your-"
"-you really think she'd trust us since you think Quidditch is a waste of time and I can't even PLAY Quidditch, much less mount a broomstick?"
Adelyn pondered this thought. "So Cho, what kept you anyways?" she went on, completely ignoring Harry.
"Well, errrr-" she looked startled as Harry handed her back her broom. "Oh, I'll see you around then Harry," she hintingly said as he slipped sideways away from the girls. "And thanks."
"Don't mention it." And Harry sided up the stairs towards the Great Hall.
Adelyn opened her mouth to speak again but Cho gave her a look. "Not now, Lyn, I'm famished." Her stomach did a sudden lurch as Cho's eyes wandered up to Harry's disappearing figure and she sighed.
^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^ ^O^
That afternoon, Cho and Kiersten decided to walk along the lake while Adelyn had prefect duties. ("Just ditch it- they've got 21 others. Come with us- Joshua Ethers isn't the other Ravenclaw sixth year prefect for nothing, you know," Kiersten had said. Adelyn just looked at Kiersten as if she had suggested waking a sleeping dragon.) Kiersten was just rattling on about new gossip ("They say that we're not going to have another Hogsmeade trip until next year!" as a group of boys came towards them from the other side of the lake. Cho smiled as she realized it was Harry, the Weasley twins, and Lee Jordan. Harry's best friends, Ron and Hermione, probably had prefect duty like Adelyn. Cho looked sideways and her smile grew as Kiersten's eyes got wide and she patted down her hair. Kiersten had a horribly obvious crush on the twins, but they, being typical boys, were oblivious to the matter.
"Hi Harry, Lee, *Fred*, *George*," Kiersten greeted loudly, emphasizing the last two names.
Cho rolled her eyes.
"Hello Kiersten, Cho," Fred replied casually. "How are you?"
"Wonderful," said Kiersten breathlessly, tossing back her hair. "I'm absolutely wonderful at the moment. How are you?"
Cho found it extremely hard not to start laughing.
"Absolutely spiffing," George responded. "We were just looking for people."
"Oh really? Maybe I could be of service?" Kiersten asked in her flirtatious, breathless voice.
Very unluckily, Harry caught Cho's eye and they started coughing at the same time to hide their laughter. Kiersten shot them the evil eye as George started clapping Harry's back. "Working much too hard, our Quidditch captain," he said. "Landon's keeping you up to speed too, eh, Cho?"
Lee nodded knowingly. "It's the Wood-craze, working the Quidditch players too hard, trying to do too much for the honor of the Cup."
But Fred looked right at Kiersten, unaffected by the coughing. "Actually, Kiersten, you COULD help us."
That comment made everyone look up. "Yes," George agreed. "Help would be much appreciated."
"Err, Fred, George, I don't think it'd-" Harry interjected quickly.
"Shush, Harry, Kiersten just wants to help," George said. "We'll walk and talk, Kiersten."
Cho looked at Harry, who was ever so slightly shaking his head. He mouthed "Wheezes." Cho understood.
"Errrr, but Kiersten, I need to talk to you abou-"
"We'll talk later, Cho," Kiersten interrupted, smiling at Fred and George.
Lee Jordan suddenly grinned. "I'll go too," he said as the four left towards the castle. Cho and Harry heard Fred ask a moment later "you DO like toffees, don't you Kiersten?"
"They're gonna give her a Weasley's Wizarding Wheeze, aren't they?" Cho mumbled miserably, looking to her disappearing friend, Harry told her about the twins latest invention when she saw someone running out of the library with a bloody nose.
Harry smiled and stopped by a big tree on the opposite side of the lake from the school.. "Yeah- don't worry about it though, Fred and George have tried it on billions of people. She'll just get a Nosebleed Nougat or a Fainting Fancy. It's safe- Hermione made sure." He sat down.
"Speaking of fancies, don't Fred and George know Kiersten fancies them? She's so blatant that I'm surprised that she hasn't run around Hogwarts yelling "I love the Weasley Twins!" yet," Cho said, settling herself next to Harry.
Harry laughed. "I still think Fred and George wouldn't get the point. Boys are very oblivious, you know?"
Cho messed up his hair playfully. "Why are you special then?"
"Because you're special."
She loved it when he said things like that. She rewarded him with a kiss, long and gentle. When they parted, they were both out of the breath, but then Harry kissed her again. Cho felt swept off her feet by how passionate he was. She didn't even realize she was now lying on the ground until a patch of grass poked the back of her throat. Harry had half his weight on top of her and half of the ground beside her. Cho put her arms around his neck, kissing him harder, and he shifted more of his body onto her, leaving her breathless but quite warm by the closeness of her body.
Cho now felt his hand, which was softly touching her face, travel down to her shoulders, past her chest, and to her knees. Her eyes widened as his hand went back up to the clasp of her robes in the middle of her chest and undid it. But she couldn't seem to speak- nothing could come out of that lump in her throat.
His hands were moving again, down to her thighs. He traveled the length of the pleated grey skirt, down to where Cho's kneesocks and skirt hem met, exposing an inch of skin around her lower thighs. She consciously breathed in between the intimate kisses, as Harry's hands inched their way up her thighs towards her hip.
"No, wait, Harry," she breathed in, finally finding her voice.
His hands and lips stopped simultaneously as he looked at her with his bright green eyes. "You don't want this?" he asked quietly.
She hugged him around his neck even tighter and brushed her lips across his. "Oh, I do Harry- I DO want this. But when we're ready," she whispered.
Harry's warm hands left her thighs abruptly and he sat up, straightening his clothes. "Ok."
Cho propped herself up on her elbows and looked up at him, her eyes scanning his face for an emotion- anything at all. But there was nothing.
"Harry? You're not made at me, are you?"
He moved himself back next to Cho and pulled out a blade of grass from her hair. "No, of course I'm not mad at you. I'm pissed off at myself. I promised myself that I would always be considerate of you, to never hurt you." Harry scowled. "And just a month in and I'm already pushing you."
Cho leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Harry, you weren't pushing me. I was quite up to speed." She smiled but Harry still looked angry with himself. "Look, I really want you too- but when the time is right. And preferably not in prickly grass," she added.
Harry looked at her with another skeptical look. "You're not mad at me? You don't hate me now?"
Cho rolled her eyes. "And here I was, thinking that you were the only man on this earth not oblivious to a girl's needs." She smiled at him so reassuringly that all Harry could do was smile back at her and trust what she said was true.
She patted him on the stomach. "Now we need to go find Kiersten- I'm really worried about what Fred and George have done to her."
***Chapter 8: Short Synopsis: The Hufflepuff vs. Ravenclaw Quidditch match gives Cho plenty more to think about.***