Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
"Why did we leave so soon?" Alex asked as he and Harry entered Hogwarts. Harry looked a little nervous as he looked at his companion.
"I didn't want to be there when the entire family hears of my engagement to Ginny," he sighed.
"Why?" he frowned. "They seemed like a lovable bunch."
"Her mother, yes. But she has five other brothers that I have to face. Not to mention their father."
"What's so bad about that?" Alex asked.
"Nothing," Harry said. "It's just that Charlie can feed me to a dragon, Bill can ask the goblins to seal me forever in one of Gringotts' vaults, Percy could bore me to death and the twins would probably beat me into a pulp." Alex smirked and looked at him.
"Sounds like I'm back in Macedonia," he smiled. Harry sighed and walked towards Dumbledore's office.
"Change of topic. I wonder what Cho wanted to tell me," he said.
"Maybe she's still hung up on you," Alex said bluntly. Harry gave him a scandalized expression but Alex ignored it.
"Are you always this brusque?" he asked.
"Yes," Alex said without hesitation.
"You're impossible," Harry said as they neared the headmaster's office.
"They said that about me too," Alex grinned.
"Just leave her alone, okay?" he pleaded.
"Yebo, Mon Capitan," Alex saluted. Harry shook his head and turned a corner. When he did, he smiled.
"Harry!" Cho greeted him with a large smile. "It's so nice to see you."
"Hi, Professor Chang," he smiled.
"Professor?" Cho eyes him in mock contempt. "You're not being formal on me, are you?" they laughed. It was nice to hear her laugh again, Harry felt its radiance. She stopped laughing like that ever since Cedric died.
"So how are you?" he asked.
"Fine," she smiled. There was something suspicious about her smile. It was like almost she... no, it can't be. Harry decided to find out subtly.
"Seeing anyone," Harry mentally smacked himself. Real subtle.
"Not since Cedric," she said softly. Harry was sorry he asked but can't seem to notice the blush she had. It was like she was thinking of someone aside from Cedric. She smiled and looked at him. "You?"
"Engaged," he smiled.
"Really?" she was surprised. "Who's the unlucky one?" she joked.
"Apparently, he is," Alex said. "He seemed to have a problem facing his fiancé's brothers."
"Oh my...." Cho seemed shocked and happy. "Ginny?" she asked. Harry sighed defeated and nodded. "That's wonderful!"
"He's just afraid it would be a funeral instead of a wedding," Alex said and patted Harry's shoulder. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Alexander. You must be Cho Chang. You are lovelier than they gave you credit." Cho smiled at Alex.
"A charmer, your friend there Harry," Cho said. "If I were another woman it would have worked." Alex smiled and bowed.
"Forgive me if I had in anyway insulted you," Alex smiled. "But I was merely stating the truth." Cho smiled and looked at Harry.
"I want you to meet someone," she said and pulled Harry's arm. Harry followed her with Alex right beside him.
"Probably to ask your opinion on her chosen one," he smiled. Unfortunately, Cho heard it and looked at Alex with a frown. The thing was, his comment had a little bit of merit, if seen in both ways.
"I do not need his permission for me to see anyone," she replied indignantly.
"So we ARE going to meet a candidate for your heart?" Alex smiled. /Why did he put it that way!/ Cho thought as he looked at him with confusion. Before she could retort, Harry smiled and stopped her.
"Ignore him Cho. He's... a little arrogant."
"True," Alex and Cho said in unison, which surprised the witch. Alex looked at them as if it meant nothing to him.
"I've also been called self-righteous, sanctimonious, holier-than-thou, and what else? I could go on but I take it you get the point."
"We get it," Harry said with a shake of his head. "How come you've been called all of those?"
"Trust me, I've been called much worse," he smiled.
"We're falling from the subject," Cho said as she led them to the infirmary.
"Ah yes, your boyfriend," Alex said.
"He is NOT my boyfriend!" Cho shouted. Harry could see the hurt in her eyes. She must have still been thinking of Cedric.
"Alex, stop it," Harry glared at his companion.
"I would not be saying it if it were not true, Harry Potter," Alex said.
"She said she does not have a boyfriend and I believe her," Harry said trying real hard not to get mad. Cho just wished the subject would drop.
"Then why did her heart rate increased by half whenever the subject falls on the one she's taking us to see?" he asked seriously. Cho felt her heart stop. How did he notice that?
"Just drop it," Harry sighed and motioned for Cho to continue.
"Why is he with you anyway?" she asked. But Harry didn't answer, he couldn't tell her about HIM yet. He couldn't tell her that her boyfriend's murderer is on the loose again.
"We're here," Cho gave Harry a wicked smile. "Homesick?"
"Very funny," Harry smirked. "But it has been a while. I wonder how Madam Pomfrey is?" Cho smiled and turned to open the door. But as she did, the doors burst open revealing the medical witch in a fright.
"He's gone!" Madam Pomfrey said almost out of breath.
"Gone?" Cho asked in bewilderment. She looked at the bed where he should be but true enough, it was empty.
"We've got to find him!" Madam Pomfrey said frantically.
"We'll find him," Harry said but couldn't help but notice Cho's agitation. "He couldn't have gone far."
"He's blind."
"Pardon?" Harry turned to Cho who just blushed. Without another word, she left the infirmary.
"I'd say she really likes him," Alex smiled.
"Be serious, will you?" Harry said, frowning at the platinum haired man. But as he looked at his face, Harry knew it wasn't a joke.
"She'll find him before we do," Alex said as he stretched his arms.
"How would you know?" Harry asked.
"I just do."
*** ***
Cho was frantically searching for Ian. She didn't understand it but why was she so nervous in losing him? Was she afraid?
Inwardly she stifled the thought. She must find him first, THEN she could think. The school was no place for a blind man.
She reached the stairs and rushed down. But the stairs suddenly moved and she lost her balance. Shrieking, she fell from her set of stairs to the ground way down below.
She closed her eyes, waiting for the impact. But she felt her fall abruptly stopped as something soft yet firm broke her fall. Opening her eyes, she saw that she was in the arms the most unlikely person to save her.
"Are you all right, Miss Chang?" Ian said as he stared into space. Looking at him, her heart raced. From the fall or from something else she didn't know. With a sigh, she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Thank you," she said softly as she blushed. She looked at him once more and noticed that his bandages were off. She saw his amethyst eyes but sighed as she noticed them still unfocused, still lost.
"You should be careful," he said softly. Smirking, she shook her head.
"I wouldn't be rushed if YOU were still in bed," she said. "How'd you do that?" she said in an afterthought.
"Do what?" he asked. He started walking slowly towards the stairs. He was slow but his steps were precise. It Cho didn't know any better, she would have sworn that he had sight.
"Walking like an ordinary person," then she cringed. That didn't came out the way she had intended. But Ian laughed. His sweet and joyous laugh relaxed her.
"I have my ways," he said. Then he stopped. He suddenly stomped his foot hard and after a while, turned towards the direction of the infirmary. "Why were you looking for me?" he asked sincerely.
"What kind of question is that?" Cho frowned. "You were out of bed! I thought that something had happened to you."
"You were worried?" he asked in confusion. Cho blushed and thanked the heavens that he was blind, even for only that moment. "Thank you," he said.
"Why are you out of bed?" she asked.
"I needed the exercise," he smiled. "I'm not the type to stay in once place for long," this fact saddened Cho.
"I see," she said softly. So there was a limit on the time she could spend with him.
"Especially if there wasn't anyone to accompany me," he smiled. A smile crept into Cho's lips. Was that an invitation?
"Just don't go wandering out of bed," she scolded him lightly. "You might get hurt."
"I'm not the one who fell," Ian smiled. "But I promise. If you would visit."
"I will," she said. She looked around and found out that they were nearing the infirmary. She was baffled on how he could do walk without aid towards the infirmary. But a voice cut off her line of thought.
"Look, the groom arrives with the bride," Alex said with a grin. Harry looked at Ian then to Cho, his face registering confusion and awe. It was only then that Cho realized that Ian was still carrying her. She blushed and hid her face from her friend.
"You can put me down now," she said but Ian ignored her.
"Good morning Alex," he said and entered the infirmary.
"Hey kid," Alex smirked and followed them.
"Good morning Master Potter," Ian said as he gently placed Cho on one of the beds.
"Hello," Harry said. Madam Pomfrey told them his story but he was shocked that he knew he was there.
"Where have you been?" Madam Pomfrey had her hands on her hips and her eyebrows furrowed. But Ian smiled and mad Cho comfortable.
"Madam, she has a dislocated shoulder and some of her joints were out of alignment," Ian said. "Her shock still hasn't faded and she still doesn't feel the pain."
"How did..." Cho was about to sit up but she had already relaxed and felt pain in her shoulder and back.
"I heard it," he smiled at her. "I you don't mind, Madam Pomfrey. Could you attend to her while I talk to Harry Potter?" he turned to Cho and gave her an assured smile. "I'll be back." He smiled and walked towards Harry.
"We need to talk," he said and exited the infirmary. Harry frowned. He looked strikingly familiar and followed the young man.
"Pardon me but you look familiar," Harry said as soon as they were outside the infirmary's doors.
"I should," Ian said. "I looked like my brother."
"And your brother is?" Harry asked but he already had a suspiscion.
"My brother is Angelian," he said with a smile.
End of 6
"Why did we leave so soon?" Alex asked as he and Harry entered Hogwarts. Harry looked a little nervous as he looked at his companion.
"I didn't want to be there when the entire family hears of my engagement to Ginny," he sighed.
"Why?" he frowned. "They seemed like a lovable bunch."
"Her mother, yes. But she has five other brothers that I have to face. Not to mention their father."
"What's so bad about that?" Alex asked.
"Nothing," Harry said. "It's just that Charlie can feed me to a dragon, Bill can ask the goblins to seal me forever in one of Gringotts' vaults, Percy could bore me to death and the twins would probably beat me into a pulp." Alex smirked and looked at him.
"Sounds like I'm back in Macedonia," he smiled. Harry sighed and walked towards Dumbledore's office.
"Change of topic. I wonder what Cho wanted to tell me," he said.
"Maybe she's still hung up on you," Alex said bluntly. Harry gave him a scandalized expression but Alex ignored it.
"Are you always this brusque?" he asked.
"Yes," Alex said without hesitation.
"You're impossible," Harry said as they neared the headmaster's office.
"They said that about me too," Alex grinned.
"Just leave her alone, okay?" he pleaded.
"Yebo, Mon Capitan," Alex saluted. Harry shook his head and turned a corner. When he did, he smiled.
"Harry!" Cho greeted him with a large smile. "It's so nice to see you."
"Hi, Professor Chang," he smiled.
"Professor?" Cho eyes him in mock contempt. "You're not being formal on me, are you?" they laughed. It was nice to hear her laugh again, Harry felt its radiance. She stopped laughing like that ever since Cedric died.
"So how are you?" he asked.
"Fine," she smiled. There was something suspicious about her smile. It was like almost she... no, it can't be. Harry decided to find out subtly.
"Seeing anyone," Harry mentally smacked himself. Real subtle.
"Not since Cedric," she said softly. Harry was sorry he asked but can't seem to notice the blush she had. It was like she was thinking of someone aside from Cedric. She smiled and looked at him. "You?"
"Engaged," he smiled.
"Really?" she was surprised. "Who's the unlucky one?" she joked.
"Apparently, he is," Alex said. "He seemed to have a problem facing his fiancé's brothers."
"Oh my...." Cho seemed shocked and happy. "Ginny?" she asked. Harry sighed defeated and nodded. "That's wonderful!"
"He's just afraid it would be a funeral instead of a wedding," Alex said and patted Harry's shoulder. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Alexander. You must be Cho Chang. You are lovelier than they gave you credit." Cho smiled at Alex.
"A charmer, your friend there Harry," Cho said. "If I were another woman it would have worked." Alex smiled and bowed.
"Forgive me if I had in anyway insulted you," Alex smiled. "But I was merely stating the truth." Cho smiled and looked at Harry.
"I want you to meet someone," she said and pulled Harry's arm. Harry followed her with Alex right beside him.
"Probably to ask your opinion on her chosen one," he smiled. Unfortunately, Cho heard it and looked at Alex with a frown. The thing was, his comment had a little bit of merit, if seen in both ways.
"I do not need his permission for me to see anyone," she replied indignantly.
"So we ARE going to meet a candidate for your heart?" Alex smiled. /Why did he put it that way!/ Cho thought as he looked at him with confusion. Before she could retort, Harry smiled and stopped her.
"Ignore him Cho. He's... a little arrogant."
"True," Alex and Cho said in unison, which surprised the witch. Alex looked at them as if it meant nothing to him.
"I've also been called self-righteous, sanctimonious, holier-than-thou, and what else? I could go on but I take it you get the point."
"We get it," Harry said with a shake of his head. "How come you've been called all of those?"
"Trust me, I've been called much worse," he smiled.
"We're falling from the subject," Cho said as she led them to the infirmary.
"Ah yes, your boyfriend," Alex said.
"He is NOT my boyfriend!" Cho shouted. Harry could see the hurt in her eyes. She must have still been thinking of Cedric.
"Alex, stop it," Harry glared at his companion.
"I would not be saying it if it were not true, Harry Potter," Alex said.
"She said she does not have a boyfriend and I believe her," Harry said trying real hard not to get mad. Cho just wished the subject would drop.
"Then why did her heart rate increased by half whenever the subject falls on the one she's taking us to see?" he asked seriously. Cho felt her heart stop. How did he notice that?
"Just drop it," Harry sighed and motioned for Cho to continue.
"Why is he with you anyway?" she asked. But Harry didn't answer, he couldn't tell her about HIM yet. He couldn't tell her that her boyfriend's murderer is on the loose again.
"We're here," Cho gave Harry a wicked smile. "Homesick?"
"Very funny," Harry smirked. "But it has been a while. I wonder how Madam Pomfrey is?" Cho smiled and turned to open the door. But as she did, the doors burst open revealing the medical witch in a fright.
"He's gone!" Madam Pomfrey said almost out of breath.
"Gone?" Cho asked in bewilderment. She looked at the bed where he should be but true enough, it was empty.
"We've got to find him!" Madam Pomfrey said frantically.
"We'll find him," Harry said but couldn't help but notice Cho's agitation. "He couldn't have gone far."
"He's blind."
"Pardon?" Harry turned to Cho who just blushed. Without another word, she left the infirmary.
"I'd say she really likes him," Alex smiled.
"Be serious, will you?" Harry said, frowning at the platinum haired man. But as he looked at his face, Harry knew it wasn't a joke.
"She'll find him before we do," Alex said as he stretched his arms.
"How would you know?" Harry asked.
"I just do."
*** ***
Cho was frantically searching for Ian. She didn't understand it but why was she so nervous in losing him? Was she afraid?
Inwardly she stifled the thought. She must find him first, THEN she could think. The school was no place for a blind man.
She reached the stairs and rushed down. But the stairs suddenly moved and she lost her balance. Shrieking, she fell from her set of stairs to the ground way down below.
She closed her eyes, waiting for the impact. But she felt her fall abruptly stopped as something soft yet firm broke her fall. Opening her eyes, she saw that she was in the arms the most unlikely person to save her.
"Are you all right, Miss Chang?" Ian said as he stared into space. Looking at him, her heart raced. From the fall or from something else she didn't know. With a sigh, she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Thank you," she said softly as she blushed. She looked at him once more and noticed that his bandages were off. She saw his amethyst eyes but sighed as she noticed them still unfocused, still lost.
"You should be careful," he said softly. Smirking, she shook her head.
"I wouldn't be rushed if YOU were still in bed," she said. "How'd you do that?" she said in an afterthought.
"Do what?" he asked. He started walking slowly towards the stairs. He was slow but his steps were precise. It Cho didn't know any better, she would have sworn that he had sight.
"Walking like an ordinary person," then she cringed. That didn't came out the way she had intended. But Ian laughed. His sweet and joyous laugh relaxed her.
"I have my ways," he said. Then he stopped. He suddenly stomped his foot hard and after a while, turned towards the direction of the infirmary. "Why were you looking for me?" he asked sincerely.
"What kind of question is that?" Cho frowned. "You were out of bed! I thought that something had happened to you."
"You were worried?" he asked in confusion. Cho blushed and thanked the heavens that he was blind, even for only that moment. "Thank you," he said.
"Why are you out of bed?" she asked.
"I needed the exercise," he smiled. "I'm not the type to stay in once place for long," this fact saddened Cho.
"I see," she said softly. So there was a limit on the time she could spend with him.
"Especially if there wasn't anyone to accompany me," he smiled. A smile crept into Cho's lips. Was that an invitation?
"Just don't go wandering out of bed," she scolded him lightly. "You might get hurt."
"I'm not the one who fell," Ian smiled. "But I promise. If you would visit."
"I will," she said. She looked around and found out that they were nearing the infirmary. She was baffled on how he could do walk without aid towards the infirmary. But a voice cut off her line of thought.
"Look, the groom arrives with the bride," Alex said with a grin. Harry looked at Ian then to Cho, his face registering confusion and awe. It was only then that Cho realized that Ian was still carrying her. She blushed and hid her face from her friend.
"You can put me down now," she said but Ian ignored her.
"Good morning Alex," he said and entered the infirmary.
"Hey kid," Alex smirked and followed them.
"Good morning Master Potter," Ian said as he gently placed Cho on one of the beds.
"Hello," Harry said. Madam Pomfrey told them his story but he was shocked that he knew he was there.
"Where have you been?" Madam Pomfrey had her hands on her hips and her eyebrows furrowed. But Ian smiled and mad Cho comfortable.
"Madam, she has a dislocated shoulder and some of her joints were out of alignment," Ian said. "Her shock still hasn't faded and she still doesn't feel the pain."
"How did..." Cho was about to sit up but she had already relaxed and felt pain in her shoulder and back.
"I heard it," he smiled at her. "I you don't mind, Madam Pomfrey. Could you attend to her while I talk to Harry Potter?" he turned to Cho and gave her an assured smile. "I'll be back." He smiled and walked towards Harry.
"We need to talk," he said and exited the infirmary. Harry frowned. He looked strikingly familiar and followed the young man.
"Pardon me but you look familiar," Harry said as soon as they were outside the infirmary's doors.
"I should," Ian said. "I looked like my brother."
"And your brother is?" Harry asked but he already had a suspiscion.
"My brother is Angelian," he said with a smile.
End of 6