Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters…well Pete is mine, so is Draco and….hehehe….kidding….my gosh I am getting weirder everyday. *sigh* I think I need help. Anyway the plot is mine, the setting and the ….well you get the idea.

Author's Note: Sorry it took a while. School is a vampire, its sucking up all my energy. Good news I already have an idea on how to end the fic. I'm thinking of killing someone….hmmm….who would it be? And the candidates are…tadaa…Cho Chang, Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter! It's just an idea but tell me what you think? Ok? Oh, thanks to the lovely, beautiful and wonderful reviewers. I really appreciate it. Anyway don't want to keep you long so…read on…. :)

Chapter 4: The Battle

The Battle Begins

Lying low and discreet

I hide behind a bush, rash

Prepared for an impressive feat

Opposing forces clash

Standing up, filled with pride

The battle field, I stride in

My fear and doubt died

As the battle of all battles begin

Little feet walked along the landscaped backyard of the Malfoy Manor.

"Come on Cho."

"What are you so excited about Draco?"

"I want to show you something before your first ride to Platform 9 ¾ tomorrow."

Both strode cheerful. One, excited to tell the other and the other, excited to find out. Eagerness flowed between them into a wonderful flow of harmony. A beautiful atmosphere one would only thought possible in Utopia.

And there in the middle of the spacious backyard lie two sets of wheels. "It's a…"

"A bike!" Cho cheerfully said as she hopped nearer to the two bikes. "My mother told me about them. She said there are a lot of them in Asia."

Laughing at her enthusiasm, Draco joined her. Cho brushed her fingers against the sparkling metal eagerly examining each and every detail.

"Father never approved of muggle contraptions but this time he made an exception. When I first rode my broom, I fell. Father showed me this and told me that it would help me work out my balance. I guess he didn't want to see a Malfoy doing poorly on air"

Cho looked at him, smiling. "That is so thoughtful of Uncle Lucius."

"Thoughtful? Lucius Malfoy-thoughtful? Ha." Draco grumbled as his face darkened for a moment. He immediately erased his expression as Cho looked at him worriedly. 

"Do you want to ride one, Cho?"

"Really?" Cho's almond sable eyes widened. "But I don't know how."

"I'll show you."

Draco took the silver and green bike and hoped on. He gave a little push and boosted the bike. He circled Cho who watched with excitement.

"Now, you."

He directed Cho to the blue and silver bike. She tried to imitate Draco's example. It started well but somewhere in the middle she started to go astray. Quick as lightning, Draco grab hold of Cho's hand and guided it on the handle. He looked up to her and warmness filled his smile. Cho felt a certain security with his touch. He smiled back at her in reassurance, his hand still on top of hers on the handle. And they rode together side by side. Wheels turned, Time Flies, both were having fun. There was something special about their friendship. 

"Ok I'm going to let go of you now."

His warm blues eyes bore into hers. He looked so confident. Confident in Cho.

"No, please Draco don't let go. Don't let go. I'll fall!"

This plea fell on deaf ears as Draco let go of Cho's hand. He pulled back his hand and directed it back on his own bike. Panic plastered all over Cho's face. She started to ride along a zigzag path. She glanced over pleadingly at Draco who just smirked back encouraging her to ride on her own. Mustering her skills she slowly progressed. A really good start for someone who eventually became Ravenclaw's prized seeker. She smiled happily to Draco who smiled genuinely in return. Only Cho could bring out this sincere smile out of Draco.

"See you can do it. I knew you could….and besides, Even if I let go, I will still be here. Remember that."

Cho woke up with a start. Another dream. But not just any dream. A memory. She could still remember that day well. She got out of bed and rushed around the house preparing, the dream still fresh in her mind. She felt sad and empty.

How can something that was… isn't? These dreams-no, nightmares why do they keep haunting me? Why? So many questions and not one single answer.

She laughed to herself as she went over her dream.  

He has always been confident in me, believing in me. He was one of the few who did.

People have always seen her as some popular girl and nothing else. But Draco, he made her feel important. He made her feel that she is worth something.

But all that changed starting from his first trip to Hogwarts.

The words stung in her as if she were clawed by a vicious creature. She felt deep sorrow as her mind went back to the past, to Hogwarts. Everything was going well for her at Hogwarts. She was entrusted with big responsibilities; she was quite well known (what an understatement. She was particularly famous among the male population as her mere presence left boys drooling all over.), her academic performance was excellent. Friends? Had lots of them. Being the Ravenclaw seeker, she was quite athletic. But no one knew that behind that smiling mask lay an unhappy child. A child that had lost her best friend. Her sorrow finally surfaced when her close friend Cedric Diggory met his untimely demise in the hands of a death eater. He was special to her. Combined with the sadness she felt, was emptiness. Her best friend had an unexpected transition from warm, caring Draco that he was to the cold and smug Malfoy that he became.

If I could be given a chance to go back and change everything, I would never have let him leave to Hogwarts.

She laughed bitterly to herself at hearing how pathetic she just sound.

I really sound depressing.

She sighed deeply.

Oh the sad tragedy that is my life.

Her ebony eyes wet with unconscious tearing. Slowly the tears made their way to down her cheeks. Her fragile hands, the same hands that had done wonders now stained with sorrowful tears as she brushed the drops from her flawless face. Shaking her head, what's wrong with you Cho? This is no time for flashbacks…Come on get up and go to more important matters. Pulling out a brave face, the same face she had been hiding under for years, she pushed back her thoughts. Stupid memories.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The wind whistled against the strong fortress, the fortress that locked him from the world. The velvet carpet spread throughout the room like the beautiful green sea, the same floor- the only floor he has ever been on. Ancient furniture-Ancient expensive furniture gleamed with age and beauty. Diamond chandeliers hung on the ceiling like a glowing star. But amidst this brightness tinted a gloomy atmosphere. The empty feeling dimmed the huge mansion. He laughed bitterly to himself. Huge, rather huge for only 3 people…his face darkened violently …that's counts only 2 now excluding the servants. His dry laugh echoed along the long narrow corridor and no one was there to hear it. He was used to that. He was used to laughing his head out all by himself. To other people this may seem insane but for Draco Malfoy, this was pretty normal.

Yeah, being a Malfoy may also mean being crazy.

He continued scanning the scene. To his satisfaction everything was where it should be. The house was beautiful.

Too bad nobody else can enjoy seeing it.

He smirked. This will all be his someday. All his. But can he handle this place alone? That was the question, the question that kept echoing in his mind, even in his dreams.  We'll find out soon enough. He went down the grand staircase. His footsteps echoed the great walls of the mansion as he looked around. His house was really magnificent. The architecture was so detailed and eye catching, it's a work of art. But even this art couldn't lighten his mood up.

Malfoy, what are you doing? You're home now you should be at least happy to be home. Realizing what he just said, he sneered mockingly. A home? Can I really call this a home? It's more like a prison. I'd do anything to be out of here.

It was an ordinary day in the Malfoy manor, the same quiet depressing house. Draco went around surveying the backyard. Surveying? Ha. Stop kidding yourself you know you're looking for something. I just hope to find her before it's too late.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tonight is the night, the good and the evil fight to win. I hope no one would get caught in the middle.

Cho looked in the mirror she had her most comfortable clothes on, so she could move without difficulty. She held on to the necklace that hung on her neck. Feeling its perfectly carved contours, she stared at it. Even the necklace couldn't heal the scar inside her.

Nothing is going to happen tonight. Everything will be fine. Everything would be as planned.

She repeated this to herself trying to relax. She took one more glance at her necklace, feeling a deep surge of anguish, the one she always feel when she look at it. She apparated to her position. It was only an hour before midnight. An hour before you-know-who and his followers show up at the graveyard. And when they do, a battalion of Aurors will be holding up the welcome banner.

20 minutes before midnight: I can do this. It would be a piece of cake.

15 minutes before midnight: You have trained for years and your one hell of an Auror, you can do this.

10 minutes before midnight: Good always prevail. Right?

5 minute before midnight:  God, please be with me.

One by one, hooded figures began to make out and the battle began. By taking one Death eater at a time, it would be much easier for the Aurors than fighting them all together. Cho gripped her wand tightly occasionally glancing behind her. She let go of her thoughts and let her instincts take control. She looked around so far 3 Death Eaters were down. The other Aurors were doing fine.

"AVA-"

Hearing this she quickly reacted. She twirled around and took him out first before he could kill her.

In a battle like this, what's important is speed and skill.

Good thing she had both. So she looked down at her first death eater for the night. He was a blooming youth. Too bad he took the wrong side; he's actually kind of cute. She took the wand in his hand and tore it in half.

Sorry, you have lost your killing privileges. Never again would you be able to kill with this wand.

She then rushed off, back to her position she needed to be there when you-know-who arrives. She remained in her position frequently taking out death eaters who headed her way.

Okay, seven down. But where's their master?  Oh no what if he knew all along and this was just a set up? I should never have ignored that feeling.

Horrified at the thought she had momentarily let her guard down. Big mistake. A Death Eater happened to pass by and saw this great opportunity. Grinned wickedly and reached in his pocket. He held his wand up and called out.

"Cho, fancy seeing you here." drawled the death eater. Mischief glinted in his eyes. Excitement obvious in his face, though hidden under his hood.

Hearing this Cho pirouetted. And for the first time, she felt helpless. There was nothing she could do; he had his wand up ready to take her out.

"You look lovely as ever."

OH NO! Why did ever let my guard down?

"Getting a bit quiet are we? That's really insulting."

What to do? What to do? Come Cho THINK!

"I have nothing to say to you."

Cho snapped back. Emotions mingled anger among them.  I would never forget what happened to Cedric. Her eyes narrowed on to make out the face behind the shadow.

"Really? And why is that?"

She frantically thought of a plan to overpower him. She surveyed the scene, hoping. I hate death eaters!

"People like you don't deserve to be addressed to."

"Oh is that a way to treat a close friend?"

"Friend? You're no friend of mi-"

She stopped quickly. A sudden light sparked from behind the bushes, clearly there was a battle there too, and an active one at that. The light created by the sparks illuminated the death eaters' face giving Cho a glimpse of a familiar face with silvery blond hair and oddly piercing cold eyes. She took a step back at what she just saw, disbelief clear in her eyes. How could he? What did I ever do to him? That moment she remembered something. She remembered her dream. She was right, the nightmare was a warning. She should have known better than to ignore that dream.

"YOU!"

Author's Note: How was it? Bad right? *sigh* I should have known. Hey! It's your fault! I warned you! I actually tried to make it longer but the outcome was so weird that I had to undo everything. *sigh again* sorry reviewers. I will try to make the next chapter longer… any comments or suggestions on the ending? :)