Author's notes: Hello all! Here's the next bit. I want to thank everyone for their kind praise! I just hope I keep writing a story that you enjoy reading!
Harry walked tensely up High Street next to Cho. Chancing a sidelong glance at her, he saw she was still very angry. Her pretty face was scrunched in a frown, the line between her brows was deep and her cheeks were flushed red. He sighed. Nothing he'd said had made anything better, and he honestly didn't blame her for being angry. But it wasn't like he'd meant to push her away or make her feel ignored, he was just so busy. He'd had a lot of Quidditch practice since he was Quidditch Captain, and the competition for the Cup was fierce this year. Plus everything going on with the vampires, Remus, and the unusual attacks on Malfoy, he'd had had a lot of investigating to do. He hadn't wanted to involve her for fear of placing her in danger.
Or maybe he simply didn't trust anyone to be of any help to himself, Ron, and Hermione. He winced as he thought of the incident she'd brought up, that being lunch on Friday. He'd promised to meet her in Professor McGonagall's class and spend time with her since she had papers to grade for the Professor, and he had been trying to make up for his frequent absences. But right before lunch, during Transfiguration, Hermione had passed him a note saying that she'd overheard some Slytherin girls discussing a supposed connection between Elizabeth Morgan and Augustus Rookwood during Arithmancy. Harry had been shocked, and they had gone to Remus with their information straight away. Harry had unfortunately forgotten all about lunch with Cho, and she was still furious.
Harry stopped walking, grabbing Cho's arm to halt her as well. She turned to him with a puzzled glare.
"Harry, it's four thirty, the carriages will be loading soon." She said.
"I'm sorry," he said sadly, ignoring her words, "why won't you believe me?"
Cho shook her head, "I do believe you Harry, and I have a suspicion about what you've been up to. That isn't the point."
"Well, what is then?" he asked in exasperation.
"The fact that I'm second, no, third in your life," Cho closed her eyes, obviously saying this with regret, "I'm third to your friends and to whatever heroics you're planning now, not I'm to mention Quidditch. I loved Quidditch too Harry, but it's more important to you than it ever was to me. As for you and your friends…how many times have you done it, Harry? Charged into danger or rushed to solve a mystery that's better left to the teachers, or better yet, Aurors?"
Harry's eyes widened, "Now wait a moment, Cho-"
"No Harry, I'm tired of waiting!" she said fiercely, "I'm sick of worrying that you're off doing exactly what got you caught by You-Know-Who and got Ced-"
She stopped speaking abruptly, and Harry felt his chest tighten painfully.
"Go on," he whispered, "say it! 'What got Cedric killed'!"
Cho's eyes welled with tears, "I've never blamed you for that, Harry!"
"Then why bring it up?" he asked angrily, outrageously hurt that she would rip into his wounds that way. But this was a wound for her too, he thought. Still, she hadn't been there, she hadn't seen it happen and been unable to stop it. No one knew what it had really been like, and Harry resented anyone referring to it for just that reason. His demons were his own; he didn't need others flaying them in their ignorance. Not even Cho Chang.
Cho wiped her eyes, "Harry, I won't go through that again, I can't! I lost Cedric in a horrible way, and it tore me apart! I know we were just kids, but it hurt like nothing I'd ever experienced before." She took a deep breath, then looked him steadily in the eye.
"Your whole life is wrapped up in Him, in trying to stop Him or stay hidden from Him. I know you're an extraordinary person, but I'm so afraid that something's going to happen to you, too. I just can't…"
The tears began to pour down her face, leaving Harry numb and voiceless. She shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Harry!" she whispered, then turned and walked swiftly away. Harry watched her go, feeling empty, numb, and yet he wasn't angry. The sun was still up, the sky wasn't falling, and people were still walking through the streets. Life wasn't over.
"Harry?" a hesitant voice beside him spoke softly. Harry turned slowly and saw Hermione and Ron standing beside him. Somehow, he wasn't surprised they were suddenly there.
"You all right, mate?" Ron asked, looking worriedly into Harry's pale face. Harry nodded slowly, speaking with effort.
"How much did you hear?" he asked woodenly.
"Nothing," Hermione hastily reassured him, "We just…well, we saw Cho crying, and speaking so seriously to you. And then she walked away, and you didn't follow…"
Harry nodded, "Let's go."
The trio began walking towards the carriages, Ron and Hermione full of questions but remaining silent. Harry would speak when he was ready, and until then they would let him have his space.
"And I thought my day was bad!" Ron mumbled, making Hermione smile slightly. Ron had half hoped Harry would ask what he meant, partly because he thought Harry could use some distraction, and partly because Ron was still mad as hell at Ginny. But Harry didn't appear to have heard anything, just continued walking and staring at the ground. Ron sighed, it had been a long day.
Ginny stood outside of Zonko's Joke Shop, glancing impatiently at her watch every few seconds. Just as they had run out of Dervish And Bange's, Caleb had decided he'd needed something else before they went. Now it was four forty, and she had a nasty feeling they were going to miss the carriages.
After five minutes Draco had gone in after Caleb, muttering something about transfiguring him into a coconut. Ginny half hoped he would, since this last minute shopping could cost them their ride back to Hogwarts. She peeked inside the shop door and saw with relief that they were at the sales counter, Draco frowning blackly at a blithely laughing Caleb. Ginny felt a rush of irritation. This was not time to be joking! As soon as they came out, she began scolding him.
"Honestly Caleb, you should have bought all this beforehand! We've just fifteen minutes to get to the carriages and if we don't make it we'll have to walk! I don't know about you, but I don't fancy walking all the way back to Hogwarts in these-" she held up a foot for a second, flashing an old pair of lace up work boots, "They're frightfully heavy, and my feet are already killing me!"
"Miss Weasley, calm yourself! We're not far from the carriages, just minutes, I think." Caleb laughed, tucking her arm through his yet again. Ginny frowned and continued to rant.
"…rather irresponsible…completely unnecessary…think ahead and plan for these things…"
She didn't know it, but she sounded remarkably like her mother. Draco was smirking rather happily.
"Ginny, if they're such a bother, why did you wear them?" Caleb asked when he could finally get a word in. Ginny scowled and yanked her arm away from him.
"I hadn't planned on going anywhere until you interjected yourself into my conversation with Susan!" she said hotly.
"Oh really, Miss Weasley, I believe your conversation was due to be interrupted regardless thanks to Mr. Finnigan." Caleb rolled his eyes.
"So you charged to her rescue, did you?" Draco asked sarcastically.
"Of course! I am the dashing knight, and I polish my armor regularly to be ready for any situation!" Caleb replied easily with a roguish grin. Ginny snorted in disgust.
"Oh, please!" she muttered darkly. Draco eyed her in amusement, then looked over at Caleb.
"You simply must tell me how you do it. I mean, she looks as happy as a House Elf."
"Ha ha." Caleb mocked, making a face while Ginny punched Draco's arm.
"Miss Weasley!" a female voice suddenly called from behind them. Turning, they beheld the slender form of Elizabeth Morgan running towards them.
Ginny frowned in surprise, waiting for Elizabeth to catch up to them. The older woman's hair was mussed and her eyes were wild, which frightened Ginny. Instinctively she drew closer to her companions, and was surprised but reassured when she felt Draco's hand come to rest on her shoulder.
"Miss Weasley," Elizabeth gasped, out of breath, "You must come with me quickly! There's been an accident with your brother, I don't know how bad he is. Mr. Malfoy, you must come as well! The other teachers wish to speak with you."
"What?" Ginny gasped, beginning to follow Elizabeth, "Ron? What happened?"
"And who wants to see me?" Draco added suspiciously, following along more slowly. Curious, Caleb followed as well.
Elizabeth turned to Draco impatiently, "I don't have time to explain, Mr. Malfoy! But Professor Snape needs you!"
"Snape is here?" Draco asked, surprised. He hadn't noticed the Potions Master all day. But he had been too distracted, really, to see who else had been in town with them. Still, if Snape had been there, Draco was sure he would have seen him at some point. He wanted to ask more questions, but Ms. Morgan was fairly yanking Ginny along, who was also falling in to a blind panic. Draco swore under his breath, grabbed Caleb by his sleeve, and hurried to catch up. He was being forced into a situation blindly, but he refused to go in unprepared. There was strength in numbers. Or he hoped there was.
"Ouch! Draco, you're tearing my sleeve!" Caleb hissed.
"Then hurry up, you idiot!" Draco snapped, wondering why he was following this strange woman. He'd been raised to mistrust everyone, and this situation didn't feel right at all. Damn Weasley for a trusting fool! She was running now, babbling questions but receiving no answers. At least, no direct answers, as far as Draco could tell.
"Did he hit his head?" Ginny asked when Elizabeth told her he'd fallen from a carriage.
"He's sustained a dreadful wound," Elizabeth replied anxiously, "I don't know how bad."
"Is it me, or is this lovely damsel not all she appears?" Caleb whispered. Draco didn't have time or breath to reply. They turned into a narrow alley, and Draco could see the carriages at the other end. At the far end of it. Elizabeth suddenly slowed, grabbing Ginny's elbow to stop her. Ginny turned to her in confusion, her face tight with worry and fear.
"What is it? I need to get to Ron!" Ginny gasped. But Elizabeth's face had changed, growing suddenly very sad.
"I'm sorry, Miss Weasley. There's nothing wrong with your brother."
"Nothing…but you said he was hurt!" Ginny protested, frowning even more.
"I knew it!" Draco spat, pulling out his wand and aiming it at Elizabeth. Caleb had already dropped his bag and pulled out his own.
"Dear me, no manners!" came a voice from above. Draco whirled around just as something large and heavy came crashing down on him. He hit the pavement hard, knocking his head against the ground and dropping his wand. Near him he heard Caleb shout in protest and Ginny scream, and knew they'd been disarmed as well. He struggled to maintain consciousness, forcing his eyes to open.
"We meet again, Mr. Malfoy." said the blonde female vampire who'd led the last attack against him. This time he was caught, and the last thing he heard before he lost consciousness was Ginny screaming;
"WHY??"