A/n: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed. You're all awesome. Here comes chapter three... Note: I happen to love this pairing and hope it might still happen again, thought I very much doubt it.

Chapter 3

Harry walked slowly through the hallways. He noticed that nearly everywhere he went, people were in couples. But he wasn't. He had blown it. Cho had cried again, and Harry had exploded. Now he had lost her forever.

At the same time, Harry realized that he almost didn't want to be with Cho. All she ever did was cry. Harry didn't want to be cruel or cold, but why wasn't she over Cedric by now? Why was she always so overly emotional? It was a hard loss, Harry understood that. They had been dating. But was that a reason to break down crying constantly?

The more he thought of Cho, the more angry Harry felt and he didn't know why. He knew he shouldn't be angry at her for being upset, but he was. Why couldn't she be upset somewhere else? With someone else, even? That was most likely why Harry often found himself firmly ignoring her presence in any classes he had or in the hallways.

Harry sighed and absently turned towards the Owlery. He often found a strange sense of peace up there, with all the quiet hooting owls. And he silently chided himself for the way he was thinking of Cho. She didn't cry all the time. She just happened to cry two or so times in his presence. That didn't make her the bloody hosepipe that he made her out to be.

Harry slowly opened the door to the Owlery, and was startled to see the very person of his most recent thoughts, standing there, wiping her eyes.

Yeah great. She's crying again. Harry thought angrily. Should I be surprised?

"Oh! Harry!" Cho said, sounding embarrassed.

"I'll leave..." Harry mumbled and took a step back.

"No! Don't! Please stay." Cho pleaded. "You're the person I want to talk to."

Harry sighed and inwardly rolled his eyes. He didn't want to talk to her. She'd probably cry. "What do you want?"

Cho took a deep breath and seemed to gather some courage in doing so. "Well, Harry, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. And... and... I-I really like you... a lot, I mean. And... I don't - I really don't - mean to break down all the time. Honest, I don't!" she added as Harry outwardly rolled his eyes this time. Harry steeled his face, and Cho stuttered on.

"I don't mean to... but I keep thinking of you... and-and what you s-said. But I can't get you out of my mind, Harry! It's torture not to talk to you! Instead of a smile, or a wave and some small talk, it's - well, you just speed-walk right past, without a sideways glance, or you altogether avoid me. I'll say it again: It's torture Harry!"

Harry showed no emotion on his face. He clenched his jaw tightly to stop himself from responding. He definitely wasn't going to say it, but it had been torture for him too. To ignore her pretty face, and her beautiful smile. To ignore the way his heart went wild whenever he saw her...

"Is there anything I can say or do that will convince you that I'm for real? And that this can work?" Cho held out her hands.

Harry took the smallest of steps forward and then stopped himself. He wanted her to fall into his arms. But the other part of him was reminding him of how she reacted when they were together. He took that smallest of steps back, and said, "No. I'm sorry."

Cho's eyes welled up, and she wiped them hard, as though angry with herself for even starting to cry.

"Goodbye Cho." Harry said quietly and took another step back.

"No! Harry, please! What will convince you? Please Harry." Cho practically begged in a quiet voice. She wanted this badly, he could tell.

It was tearing Harry's heart out, but he had to do it. It was better this way. "Goodbye, Cho." He said more firmly this time.

"I packed away Cedric's picture months ago." she said abruptly as though that would change the situation. "I've accepted that he's gone, Harry. I'm ok now - no more crying. I... promise."

He wanted to believe her, he wanted to walk away. He wanted to hold her, he wanted to hide and think. He wanted... he didn't know what he wanted. It was too confusing.

"Goodbye, Cho." he said, trying to sound like he meant it. But his feet didn't move him towards the door.

Cho looked desperately around the room for something that could help her. Her eyes went back to Harry, and her face was suddenly overcome with determination. "Well, if that won't convince you, then this will." Cho fairly marched forward to Harry. She grabbed his shoulders and pulled him into a deep kiss.

Strong, half-forgotten emotions for Cho surged and washed through Harry. The kiss was full and amazing, and Harry could have sworn there had been fireworks going off in the Owlery.

Cho pulled away, still looking a little desperate and now a lot hopeful. She stared at Harry, tensely waiting for a reply.

Harry was still as stone, then broke into a wide grin. He pulled Cho into another amazing kiss. He couldn't resist. He loved her too much.


A/n: Thanks for the reviews, and keep 'em coming! And a huge thanks to Jedi Knight Bus and Lazy-anji for reviewing this. :)