Harry stared at the notice with his mouth hanging open.
"What are you looking at?" said Ron, walking up behind Harry.
"Oh!" Hermione said, seeing the board.
Ron looked at them. "Oh? Why oh?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "That means Cho will be here." She said sharply.
Ron's eyes grew slightly wide, and he nodded.
"Err, I'll catch up with you guys. . . I forgot my quill. . ." He walked back up to the dormitory. He didn't know why; he wasn't planning on writing a letter, or anything of the sort, he just wanted to get away from them. He went downstairs five minutes before class started, and got to class just as the bell rang. Hermione looked like she wanted to say anything, but she kept her mouth shut (with great effort), and Ron seemed to have forgotten completely.
After a little while, Harry decided that he was okay with Cho coming for three weeks. At least he'd be able to get a chance to talk to her. And maybe he could make some more money, working with the Ministry, like he had during the summer.
At the end of the week, Harry took the carriage to the platform with Ron and Hermione. Professor McGonagall said it was alright for him to go, and fly back. He considered bringing his broom, but decided he didn't want to bother carrying it.
"So when are the Ministry workers getting here?" Ron asked, when they were settled in the carriage.
Hermione, who's head was barely visible from behind her book, looked up. "They're coming just as we leave. The same train. There was a notice this morning."
Ron shrugged. "Works for me."
Harry laughed. Hermione gave him a look. "I'm trying to study." She said icily.
Harry sighed. "Hermione, you're going to have three weeks to study. These are your last moments with your friends!"
She didn't move from behind her book. Before Hermione could do anything, Harry had reached forward and grabbed her book. "I'm holding it hostage for the rest of the trip." He grinned, slipping it underneath him. "I dare you to try and get it."
Hermione frowned and stuck out her tongue at him.
Ron grinned. "So Hermione, are you planning on saying hello to your parents, or are you just going to put a nametag on the outside of your book?"
Hermione continued frowning. Harry sighed and slipped the book out from underneath himself. "Fine, if you're going to sulk, I'll give it back. But please pay attention to us!"
Hermione smiled sweetly at him, and slipped her book into her bag.
"Have either of you read the Prophet lately?" She asked.
Harry shook his head, as did Ron.
"Fudge is having trouble. He's in a really hard term, what with Voldemort and everything. It turns out the Wizengamot isn't very happy with the way he's trying to fix things. And if they have a consensus, he's gone."
Ron looked at her.
"For goodness sake, Ron, consensus! Every single one of them agrees. Didn't you ever learn to speak English?"
Harry laughed. He glanced out the window, they were at the platform. "Come on." He said, standing up, as the carriage came to a halt. He jumped down onto the platform, and they stood, waiting for the train. A moment later, it came into view. Another moment later, it had pulled up at the platform, and the doors were opening. The Wizengamot filed out first, and steeped directly into the first set of carriages. The minister came out, and proceeded to attempt to strike up a conversation with Dumbledore, who had just turned up.
Harry waved to Ron and Hermione as they got on the train, and stepped back towards the school. "Harry!" He heard Fudge say. He turned around. "Do you need a carriage back to the school?"
Harry shook his head. "No thank you, sir, I'm flying."
Fudge looked puzzled. "I don't see your broom."
Harry smiled weakly. "I'm an animagus, sir, remember? I took my test a few months ago."
Fudge turned slightly red. "Of course, of course. . . phoenix, lovely creature."
Taking that as a goodbye, Harry turned into his phoenix, and flew into the air. About twenty feet up, he looked down, and could see Cho get off the train and look into the sky directly at him.
* * * * *
Harry flew back to the castle and landed at the front door, just as the carriages were pulling up. He decided it was slightly too cold to wait outside, so he went in. A moment later the Minister walked in.
"Ah, Harry! Can I help you with something?" Fudge asked, seemingly confused at why Harry was still there.
"Actually, sir, yes." Harry said. The minister raised his eyebrows. "I was wondering if I could help, do some work, like I did this summer."
"Ah, of course!" Fudge said, his face brightening. "I thought. . . you see. . . very well! You're welcome to help, as long as you focus on your studies first!" He punched Harry playfully on the arm. "You are welcome to help our assistant, Ms. Chang."
Harry swallowed. "Err, yes, sir."
He walked down the hall, looking for Cho. He finally found her going over paperwork in the library. It seemed that she had gone in the second she'd arrived at the school.
"Hey." He said, sitting down, and trying to stop his heart from beating to hard.
Cho jerked her head up. "What are you doing here?" She demanded.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "I'm supposed to work with you. Hello would be sufficient."
She frowned. "Well, don't get in my way."
Harry took the chance to frown as well. "When do I ever get in the way?"
Cho had gone back to her paperwork. "All the time." She muttered.
Harry sighed. "Fine. What are you working on?"
He looked at her. She looked tired. She was a bit thinner, she had bags under her eyes, and she was definitely grouchy.
"I'm reviewing the competitors for the next election.. It is in a month, but you wouldn't pay attention to these things, would you?"
Harry couldn't understand why she was being so harsh with him. "I did know that. What do you want me to do."
Cho didn't answer. She looked like she was thinking, but before she said anything, she put her head on her desk. "Take my job for an evening." She said, though Harry could barely hear it, as she was muffled by the table.
Harry shrugged. "Okay."
She shot her head up and looked at him, which made Harry feel very uncomfortable. "re you serious?"
Harry nodded. "Hermione is forcing me and Ron to study over the holidays, but she's not here. She can't enforce it."
Cho smiled, which surprised Harry. He hadn't seen her smile in what seemed like forever. "Thank you so much." She stood up. "You just have to read over all these applications, make sure they are from England, and make sure they are the right age group, from 18 to 70, and check their criminal records. If they have anything worse than magic in the presence of muggles, or something of the sort, put them in a different pile, and I will check over them tomorrow. Oh yes, and check their campaigns, make sure there's nothing inappropriate."
Harry nodded. "Goodnight, Cho."
"Goodnight, Harry."
Harry felt a tingle go through his body at that. That was another thing he missed, along with her smiling. He missed his name, hearing her say it.
"It's strange how you never miss something until it's gone."
He'd heard that quote years ago, but it still applied. He never thought anything of a smile, but now, he longed for it.
He looked back down at the papers and got to work. He worked for what seemed like hours. He couldn't understand how Cho could live with a job like that. Do all that work, and get absolutely no credit for it. it made Harry feel very guilty, as he had done nothing, but was famous since the age of one.
The next morning, Harry decided to sleep in. It was Christmas eve, and he didn't want to have to deal with the Ministry. He lay in his bed, staring at the roof of his canopy bed. He certainly wasn't excited for Christmas, that was for sure. He always enjoyed opening his presents with his friends. He never got particularly exciting presents, he just enjoyed being with his friends. Now, he was the only one of his friends staying. There were three Gryffindors staying, him, and two first years. No Slytherins, which made Harry happy, one or two Ravenclaws Harry didn't know, and a second year Hufflepuff.
After a short while, Harry decided his stomach had won over his heart, and he would venture downstairs to find some food. He walked down to the Great Hall, which he found had greatly changed. There was a great curtain in the centre of the room, cutting it in half. On one side, was the normal Great Hall, with two long tables, enough seats for the few Hogwarts staff and students, as well as the Ministry officials. On the other side were desks and tables, a large workspace for everyone from the Ministry to work. Harry could see Cho at a desk near the front, and he walked over to her.
"Morning." He muttered. Cho didn't look up.
"If you need something to do, you can take a look at these applications. I go through about ten every day, because we're still hiring."
Harry nodded and sat down. "Cho?"
"Mm?" Again, she didn't look up.
"Why are there so few people here?"
"It's Christmas eve. We don't need that many people over Christmas, that's why it's the best time o renovate. Now please be quiet, I'm trying to work."
Harry frowned at this, but Cho didn't see. Her head was still down.
Christmas came and went. Harry received minimal gifts, like he always did, but he didn't really care. He got enough candy to last him to the next Hogsmeade trip, easily, and he had received some new reading material. Christmas dinner was delicious, but boring. The other students were all uncomfortable with being at the same table as the teachers AND the Minister of Magic, the Minister spent a major part of the meal asking Dumbledore questions about 'his opinion,' but really just asking him how to be the Minister. Harry couldn't even try to talk to Cho, to make her a little less distant, because she had placed herself at the other end of the table. Though she was so far away, Harry could see that she had been crying before the meal.
Before he knew it, it was the last day of the holidays, and the Ministry was packing up.
"Hey Cho." Harry said, as she transferred her papers into a bag.
"What do you want?" She snapped.
Harry was a little shocked, she had at least been civil towards him for the past three weeks. "Umm, I wanted to say, 'Hi, have a nice trip.'"
"Harry, we are not friends, and we never will be. We don't even work together any more. I talked to you because I had to. I told you before, I don't want to talk to you anymore, so just leave me alone."
Harry frowned. "Fine." He turned on his heel and marched out of the Great Hall. He didn't know why, but when he got back to his dormitory, Harry actually cried. He didn't think he'd ever cried over Cho. But he knew. She had said it. "We are not friends. . . we never will be." He knew she was telling the truth. They would never be friends.
He sat down at his desk and took out a piece of parchment and a quill.
Dear Sirius,
Please, give me some information. No one has tried to kill me in a while, I think it's because the Minister was here. But something is definitely up.
Something isn't right. I can feel it. You are here, and that's the first step. Second, I was attacked, and no one has been caught for that. In my experience, that means they'll do it again. Do we have any new leads? I just can't sit here and wait. You know what happened last time I sat back and didn't make anyone tell me anything. You died, remember? Please write back to me. I need information. I don't want to be left in the dark again.
-Harry
Harry sat in a chair in the common room, staring at the fire. He watched it flicker upwards, then recede back to the wood. It sparked hugely, but that only lasted a second. After Harry stared at it for hours, the fire slowly burned out. When Ron and Hermione returned from their vacation that night, they found him sitting there, as he had been hours earlier, staring at the black remains of the fire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ha ha! Coolest metaphor ever! And I made it up all by my self! So frickin' proud!
Xavier II: why would I mind you? You're reviewing, which makes me happy. Again I mention, NO ONE REVIEWS THIS STORY! I think the people who read Harry Potter fanfiction have some phobia of the 'go' button. And I think 2000 words is long enough, don't you?
Potter4prez: will you look at that, I did! (even if it is the wrong weekend)
Shannon K. M: to quote you: 'im not gonna word of yours." I don't get it. please explain. I'm at a loss for wording. (that was mocking, and I'm sorry, it was mean, but it was funny! And if this makes no sense because you don't speak English well, I'm really, really sorry)
Dbrules17: thanks.
Wuzup13579: yeah, yeah. Hold your frickin' horses.
Indigal: hurray for horrible clichés! Gotta love 'em! You'll just have to read to find out about Wormtail. And you know, I'll have to write it, but that's a mere technicality.
Review more! Erg!
-unolimbo
"What are you looking at?" said Ron, walking up behind Harry.
"Oh!" Hermione said, seeing the board.
Ron looked at them. "Oh? Why oh?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "That means Cho will be here." She said sharply.
Ron's eyes grew slightly wide, and he nodded.
"Err, I'll catch up with you guys. . . I forgot my quill. . ." He walked back up to the dormitory. He didn't know why; he wasn't planning on writing a letter, or anything of the sort, he just wanted to get away from them. He went downstairs five minutes before class started, and got to class just as the bell rang. Hermione looked like she wanted to say anything, but she kept her mouth shut (with great effort), and Ron seemed to have forgotten completely.
After a little while, Harry decided that he was okay with Cho coming for three weeks. At least he'd be able to get a chance to talk to her. And maybe he could make some more money, working with the Ministry, like he had during the summer.
At the end of the week, Harry took the carriage to the platform with Ron and Hermione. Professor McGonagall said it was alright for him to go, and fly back. He considered bringing his broom, but decided he didn't want to bother carrying it.
"So when are the Ministry workers getting here?" Ron asked, when they were settled in the carriage.
Hermione, who's head was barely visible from behind her book, looked up. "They're coming just as we leave. The same train. There was a notice this morning."
Ron shrugged. "Works for me."
Harry laughed. Hermione gave him a look. "I'm trying to study." She said icily.
Harry sighed. "Hermione, you're going to have three weeks to study. These are your last moments with your friends!"
She didn't move from behind her book. Before Hermione could do anything, Harry had reached forward and grabbed her book. "I'm holding it hostage for the rest of the trip." He grinned, slipping it underneath him. "I dare you to try and get it."
Hermione frowned and stuck out her tongue at him.
Ron grinned. "So Hermione, are you planning on saying hello to your parents, or are you just going to put a nametag on the outside of your book?"
Hermione continued frowning. Harry sighed and slipped the book out from underneath himself. "Fine, if you're going to sulk, I'll give it back. But please pay attention to us!"
Hermione smiled sweetly at him, and slipped her book into her bag.
"Have either of you read the Prophet lately?" She asked.
Harry shook his head, as did Ron.
"Fudge is having trouble. He's in a really hard term, what with Voldemort and everything. It turns out the Wizengamot isn't very happy with the way he's trying to fix things. And if they have a consensus, he's gone."
Ron looked at her.
"For goodness sake, Ron, consensus! Every single one of them agrees. Didn't you ever learn to speak English?"
Harry laughed. He glanced out the window, they were at the platform. "Come on." He said, standing up, as the carriage came to a halt. He jumped down onto the platform, and they stood, waiting for the train. A moment later, it came into view. Another moment later, it had pulled up at the platform, and the doors were opening. The Wizengamot filed out first, and steeped directly into the first set of carriages. The minister came out, and proceeded to attempt to strike up a conversation with Dumbledore, who had just turned up.
Harry waved to Ron and Hermione as they got on the train, and stepped back towards the school. "Harry!" He heard Fudge say. He turned around. "Do you need a carriage back to the school?"
Harry shook his head. "No thank you, sir, I'm flying."
Fudge looked puzzled. "I don't see your broom."
Harry smiled weakly. "I'm an animagus, sir, remember? I took my test a few months ago."
Fudge turned slightly red. "Of course, of course. . . phoenix, lovely creature."
Taking that as a goodbye, Harry turned into his phoenix, and flew into the air. About twenty feet up, he looked down, and could see Cho get off the train and look into the sky directly at him.
* * * * *
Harry flew back to the castle and landed at the front door, just as the carriages were pulling up. He decided it was slightly too cold to wait outside, so he went in. A moment later the Minister walked in.
"Ah, Harry! Can I help you with something?" Fudge asked, seemingly confused at why Harry was still there.
"Actually, sir, yes." Harry said. The minister raised his eyebrows. "I was wondering if I could help, do some work, like I did this summer."
"Ah, of course!" Fudge said, his face brightening. "I thought. . . you see. . . very well! You're welcome to help, as long as you focus on your studies first!" He punched Harry playfully on the arm. "You are welcome to help our assistant, Ms. Chang."
Harry swallowed. "Err, yes, sir."
He walked down the hall, looking for Cho. He finally found her going over paperwork in the library. It seemed that she had gone in the second she'd arrived at the school.
"Hey." He said, sitting down, and trying to stop his heart from beating to hard.
Cho jerked her head up. "What are you doing here?" She demanded.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "I'm supposed to work with you. Hello would be sufficient."
She frowned. "Well, don't get in my way."
Harry took the chance to frown as well. "When do I ever get in the way?"
Cho had gone back to her paperwork. "All the time." She muttered.
Harry sighed. "Fine. What are you working on?"
He looked at her. She looked tired. She was a bit thinner, she had bags under her eyes, and she was definitely grouchy.
"I'm reviewing the competitors for the next election.. It is in a month, but you wouldn't pay attention to these things, would you?"
Harry couldn't understand why she was being so harsh with him. "I did know that. What do you want me to do."
Cho didn't answer. She looked like she was thinking, but before she said anything, she put her head on her desk. "Take my job for an evening." She said, though Harry could barely hear it, as she was muffled by the table.
Harry shrugged. "Okay."
She shot her head up and looked at him, which made Harry feel very uncomfortable. "re you serious?"
Harry nodded. "Hermione is forcing me and Ron to study over the holidays, but she's not here. She can't enforce it."
Cho smiled, which surprised Harry. He hadn't seen her smile in what seemed like forever. "Thank you so much." She stood up. "You just have to read over all these applications, make sure they are from England, and make sure they are the right age group, from 18 to 70, and check their criminal records. If they have anything worse than magic in the presence of muggles, or something of the sort, put them in a different pile, and I will check over them tomorrow. Oh yes, and check their campaigns, make sure there's nothing inappropriate."
Harry nodded. "Goodnight, Cho."
"Goodnight, Harry."
Harry felt a tingle go through his body at that. That was another thing he missed, along with her smiling. He missed his name, hearing her say it.
"It's strange how you never miss something until it's gone."
He'd heard that quote years ago, but it still applied. He never thought anything of a smile, but now, he longed for it.
He looked back down at the papers and got to work. He worked for what seemed like hours. He couldn't understand how Cho could live with a job like that. Do all that work, and get absolutely no credit for it. it made Harry feel very guilty, as he had done nothing, but was famous since the age of one.
The next morning, Harry decided to sleep in. It was Christmas eve, and he didn't want to have to deal with the Ministry. He lay in his bed, staring at the roof of his canopy bed. He certainly wasn't excited for Christmas, that was for sure. He always enjoyed opening his presents with his friends. He never got particularly exciting presents, he just enjoyed being with his friends. Now, he was the only one of his friends staying. There were three Gryffindors staying, him, and two first years. No Slytherins, which made Harry happy, one or two Ravenclaws Harry didn't know, and a second year Hufflepuff.
After a short while, Harry decided his stomach had won over his heart, and he would venture downstairs to find some food. He walked down to the Great Hall, which he found had greatly changed. There was a great curtain in the centre of the room, cutting it in half. On one side, was the normal Great Hall, with two long tables, enough seats for the few Hogwarts staff and students, as well as the Ministry officials. On the other side were desks and tables, a large workspace for everyone from the Ministry to work. Harry could see Cho at a desk near the front, and he walked over to her.
"Morning." He muttered. Cho didn't look up.
"If you need something to do, you can take a look at these applications. I go through about ten every day, because we're still hiring."
Harry nodded and sat down. "Cho?"
"Mm?" Again, she didn't look up.
"Why are there so few people here?"
"It's Christmas eve. We don't need that many people over Christmas, that's why it's the best time o renovate. Now please be quiet, I'm trying to work."
Harry frowned at this, but Cho didn't see. Her head was still down.
Christmas came and went. Harry received minimal gifts, like he always did, but he didn't really care. He got enough candy to last him to the next Hogsmeade trip, easily, and he had received some new reading material. Christmas dinner was delicious, but boring. The other students were all uncomfortable with being at the same table as the teachers AND the Minister of Magic, the Minister spent a major part of the meal asking Dumbledore questions about 'his opinion,' but really just asking him how to be the Minister. Harry couldn't even try to talk to Cho, to make her a little less distant, because she had placed herself at the other end of the table. Though she was so far away, Harry could see that she had been crying before the meal.
Before he knew it, it was the last day of the holidays, and the Ministry was packing up.
"Hey Cho." Harry said, as she transferred her papers into a bag.
"What do you want?" She snapped.
Harry was a little shocked, she had at least been civil towards him for the past three weeks. "Umm, I wanted to say, 'Hi, have a nice trip.'"
"Harry, we are not friends, and we never will be. We don't even work together any more. I talked to you because I had to. I told you before, I don't want to talk to you anymore, so just leave me alone."
Harry frowned. "Fine." He turned on his heel and marched out of the Great Hall. He didn't know why, but when he got back to his dormitory, Harry actually cried. He didn't think he'd ever cried over Cho. But he knew. She had said it. "We are not friends. . . we never will be." He knew she was telling the truth. They would never be friends.
He sat down at his desk and took out a piece of parchment and a quill.
Dear Sirius,
Please, give me some information. No one has tried to kill me in a while, I think it's because the Minister was here. But something is definitely up.
Something isn't right. I can feel it. You are here, and that's the first step. Second, I was attacked, and no one has been caught for that. In my experience, that means they'll do it again. Do we have any new leads? I just can't sit here and wait. You know what happened last time I sat back and didn't make anyone tell me anything. You died, remember? Please write back to me. I need information. I don't want to be left in the dark again.
-Harry
Harry sat in a chair in the common room, staring at the fire. He watched it flicker upwards, then recede back to the wood. It sparked hugely, but that only lasted a second. After Harry stared at it for hours, the fire slowly burned out. When Ron and Hermione returned from their vacation that night, they found him sitting there, as he had been hours earlier, staring at the black remains of the fire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ha ha! Coolest metaphor ever! And I made it up all by my self! So frickin' proud!
Xavier II: why would I mind you? You're reviewing, which makes me happy. Again I mention, NO ONE REVIEWS THIS STORY! I think the people who read Harry Potter fanfiction have some phobia of the 'go' button. And I think 2000 words is long enough, don't you?
Potter4prez: will you look at that, I did! (even if it is the wrong weekend)
Shannon K. M: to quote you: 'im not gonna word of yours." I don't get it. please explain. I'm at a loss for wording. (that was mocking, and I'm sorry, it was mean, but it was funny! And if this makes no sense because you don't speak English well, I'm really, really sorry)
Dbrules17: thanks.
Wuzup13579: yeah, yeah. Hold your frickin' horses.
Indigal: hurray for horrible clichés! Gotta love 'em! You'll just have to read to find out about Wormtail. And you know, I'll have to write it, but that's a mere technicality.
Review more! Erg!
-unolimbo