Okay you just did not see me double post! Wahh stop laughing at me, I screwed up and my author notes were erased so here it it again! Umm if only I coold remember what I said...early update just this once! A BIG thankyou to all my lovely reviewers, and in answer to LT200 - Draco Harry won't be making amends anytime soon. And um...yeah so enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Chapter 6 – The Second War Begins
It was inconspicuous yet changes gradually took place in Hogwarts. It was clearly obvious to all that the Second War had begun the day Eleanor Branstone's family had been brutally massacred. The cheerful atmosphere had been drastically subdued, the laughter in the halls, the excited chatters in the classrooms, even the noisy hallway had all been ruthlessly severed. Students begin to walk in big groups together; the younger children were clinging to the older student's like ducklings.
So as it was, Cho had suddenly found herself quite popular with the younger students in every house. They followed her to class, they trailed behind on her way to the Great Hall, and they studied with her in the library. Even in her Common Room, the Ravenclaw first years would hunt her down hoping she could alleviate their fears a little.
Later that afternoon when lessons were over for the day, she grudgingly ventured outside shivering as the frigid breeze swept around her lithe frame, picking up strands of long obsidian hair and billowing it out behind her. She rubbed her hands together and stamped her foot to keep herself warm, mumbling incoherently.Cho hurried towards the Quidditch change rooms to post the results for the Quidditch try outs.
Cho hated winter with a passion, ever since she was a little girl – she would stay indoors, only venturing outside when she absolutely had to - but never alone. Friends at Hogwarts would try and wheedle her to join them outside in a game of snow ball fight but she would always sit it out. Maybe it was because winter's gloom reminded her of Cedric, or maybe it had to do with a painful childhood memory?
Cho had never told anyone because she found it embarrassing; at the age of seven she had been frolicking in the snow enjoying herself as any 7-year-old would. She had happen to stumble upon a baby bird – she couldn't recall what sort of bird. But the poor thing had a broken foot and was hopping fruitlessly on the ground very near death's door. Cho – being the curious child she was, bent down and scooped up the bird with no intention to harm and ignoring its terrified cries. Young Cho decided she would take the little one home and get her papa to tend to its injured foot, however the next thing she knew. She was being chased and harassed by two furious adult birds. Scared witless, Cho ran screaming, arms over head as they swooped at her and herded her away. Then she slipped, she had been chased onto a frozen lake. The birds were still attacking, she could feel their beaks pillaging her thick jacket and tugging strands of her hair. She had scrambled awkwardly on the lake's surface, she heard a crack. Bewildered, she continues to fight her way to safety, another loud crack. And with a strangled scream she felt the ground give way under her leg and she had plunged into freezing cold water.
She had no recollection as to how she had been saved, her parents were tight-lipped over the issue and ever since, she had been traumatised by the whole upsetting incident and vanquished the event from her memory. However, from that moment she had noticed a mark on her left shoulder – but Cho could not discern how she had been scarred. And it was something she tried not to think about.
Shaking herself out of her thoughts, Cho gritted her teeth and endured the bitterness of winter's bite.
Today had started out like any other day, except she had woken up with a heavy heart knowing that everything had changed. Cho had another nightmare but it was relatively normal compare to her other one. She had no recollection of the dream but she woke up with the feeling of being watched with prying eyes and the sensation ofbeing watchedall morning.
Her day had also started out like any other day, she ate breakfast with Michael and Marietta but the chattering and laughter had been missing. And the occupants of the Hufflepuff table wore an expression of woe.
Cho endured her lessons; she went about her daily routines as if she was detached from her body. There was once, when she was on her way towards the Great Hall for lunch when she ran into Draco Malfoy, he was surrounded by his crowd of Slytherin friends and they were terrorising a group of Gryffindor first years. Cho had paused and she was frowning in disapproval, she moved towards them to intercept.
'Okay that's enough of that' she had said.
Pansy Parkinson gave a derisive snort, 'take a hike Chang and mind you own bloody business'.
The other Slytherin boy's immediately straightened, out of the corner of her eye she spied Vincent Crabbe carefully smoothing back his hair with a meaty fist. And Pansy Parkinson was starring at them in annoyance.
'Chang' fellow 7th year Slytherin Terence Higgs nodded acknowledging her. Cho spared a fleeting smile at her "frenemy" - Terence Higgs wouldn't be classified as her friend, but they shared some sort of understanding.
Cho then calmly swept a cool gaze towards Draco Malfoy, he had been trying to avoid her eyes, but he reluctlantly raised his head and caught her gaze. She cocked her head and stared at him as if to say, you know not to mess with me.
Draco smirked, he muttered something quickly to his friends and they had quickly and quietly departed, leaving Cho to comfort the snivelling first years. Cho felt a prickling sensation as if being watched, she raised her head and met Harry's gaze; he had looked as if he wanted to speak to her. Cho was still angry at him, and although she knew they were fighting over a trivial matter. She had determinedly avoided his gaze and marched towards the Great Hall; the first years scrambling in her wake but she could feel Harry's gaze burning behind her back. It left her in a foul mood for the rest of the day, even Marietta and Michael avoided her; and that was how Cho found herself braving the weather alone to post up the Quidditch results for tryouts.
Afterwards, the walk had burnt out most of her anger and frustration and Cho returned to her Common Room to make amends with her friends. They had a game of Exploding Snap before working on their homework together and then Cho remembered her detention.
Marietta shook her head wearing a bemused smile, 'I never thought I'd see the day where you find yourself in trouble with the Professors three days in a row'.
'Honestly Chang, your starting to freak us all out. What next? Einstein's gonna fail his NEWTS?' Michael joked referring to fellow 7th year Ravenclaw Anthony Goldstein, dubbed "Einstein" by house friends because of his Ravenclaw brilliance
'Oi!' Anthony Goldstein exclaimed without tearing his gaze from A Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling. 'Don't jinx me!'
Cho chuckled and left the Common Room with a smile on her face, her mood quickly dampened when she realised she would be spending the next few hours with Harry Potter and Professor Snape.
Her mood suitably sombre, Cho entered her Potion's Professor's gloomy chambers already finding Harry waiting for her alone.
Cho scowled, 'where's Snape?'
'He cancelled detention' Harry answered and gestured to a seat, 'sit'.
Cho crossed her arms, 'don't tell me what to do'.
'We have to talk' Harry said calmly, 'and you can't do that on your feet'.
'Can too' Cho huffed at once.
'Suit yourself' Harry shrugged.
There was an awkward silence whereby Cho waited patiently for Harry to speak.
'Well are you going to apologise?'
'Are you Draco Malfoy's friend?'
Harry and Cho shared a startled glance when they realised they had spoken at once, Cho frowned when she recalled Harry's question...it wasn't his intention to apologise that git!
'Just because you don't trust Marietta doesn't mean you can pick and choose my friend Harry' Cho spat, 'mind your own business'.
'Are you friends with Malfoy?' Harry repeated.
'I'm not telling you anything until you apologise!' Cho countered stubbornly.
Harry growled in frustration, 'I'm being serious!'
'So am I!' Cho snapped irritably.
Suddenly the door slammed opened; Cho jumped in startlement and Harry whipped out his wand but it was only 7th year Gryffindor and Head Girl Katie Bell.
'What are the two of you doing in here?' she demanded hands on hips.
'Detention' Harry answered.
Katie raised a dainty brow, 'where's Snape?'
'He cancelled detention' Cho replied coolly, 'I'll see you later'.
She spun on her heels and stalked out of the room.
It was a particularly wet and gloomy Saturday afternoon and her friends had managed to wrest her away from the hordes of younger students to enjoy a moment of quiet contemplation in the library.
Marietta was hunched over Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger; her reddish curly hair falling in heavy curtains over her face, and Michael was tilting precariously on his chair flicking his wand and watching the sparks fly out of it.
'Can you stop that?' Marietta demanded irritably as a small shot of spark exploded in her face, 'it's distracting me'.
Michael tipped forwards on his chair, 'I'm bored' he sulked.
'Then do something useful, don't you have your Potions essay to complete?' Marietta scolded turning a page.
'Finished' Michael answered casually. 'Hey Cho wanna game of Indoor Quidditch?'
Cho dragged her gaze from the window, 'you know were not allowed to play it, remember what happened last time?'
A devilish grin curled his lips, 'ah yes, quite unfortunate really about the tapestries, and that lovely 20th Century antique vase...Gunther the Violent still refuses to talk to me after that accident with the bludger'.
Cho grinned, 'you think you've got it bad, The Fat Lady is still angry at Hooper for colliding into her portrait and she still refuses to let him inside his own House; password and all' she said referring to Gryffindor chaser fellow seventh year Geoffrey Hooper.
Michael gave a snort of laughter, Madam Pince - Hogwarts irritable librarian shushed him loudly and Marietta and Cho buried their heads together dissolving into giggles.
There was the sound of chairs scraping against the surface of wooden floors as a group of Hufflepuff students from a nearby table abruptly pack their books and head towards the exit.
They shared an uneasy glance, 'did you think we offended them or anything?' Marietta wondered.
'I don't know, we didn't say anything offensive did we?' Michael queried looking equally perplexed.
'It's not rather what we said; it just might be hard for them to be around people having a laugh when they must be so crushed' Cho answered sadly.
Marietta closed her book and she leaned forwards speaking in hushed tones, 'every one in Hufflepuff are so edgy, as if they think You-Know-Who is around the corner waiting to pounce'.
'Well they have every reason to be edgy, just like the rest of us' Michael shrugged. 'I mean both Eleanor and Ce – '
Marietta gave a loud hiss and Michael glance at her anxiously.
'I don't blame them, first Cedric and now Eleanor' Cho said shortly. She felt Marietta direct a glare at Michael.
Cho stood up abruptly, 'I have to send a letter to my parents, I'll see you guys later' she said coolly and shouldering her back pack she left Marietta to scold Michael.
She didn't know why she was so irritated with her friends, it wasn't like they were trying to upset her but she wished they weren't so tactless.
Usually on a bleak weekend like it was today; the hallways would be filled with students sprawled on the floors gossiping or there would be students chasing each other up and down the stairs, but it was eerily empty. The school had gone into mourning and the unspoken fear of the war upon them had quelled the student's exuberance.
Cho wandered the empty halls aimlessly; she didn't particularly wish to visit the owlery just yet and she also didn't want to retire to the Ravenclaw Common Room to be surrounded with friends either. The only place left to hide was outside, where it was wet but quiet enough. And despite her hate for Wintry weather, she felt it was better to be outside. Luckily Cho had donned her winter cloak, and with a water repellent spell, she would fare well enough outside in the rain.
She crossed the flagged stone path and strolled towards the Quidditch fields; but as she passed Hagrid's Hut she overheard voices. Now normally, she wouldn't dream of eavesdropping on a conversation but when she heard footsteps around the corner and Harry's familiar voice she froze. Scurrying forwards Cho peeked over the sides and spied Harry, and his two best friends heading towards Hagrid's Hut.
'Dumbledore isn't going to tell her, I mean if he didn't mention it to her that night then he must have his reasons' Harry's voice resonated.
By "her" Harry wasn't referring to herself was he? Craning her neck to hear the replies from his friend over the patter of the down pour was impossible so she began to follow them at a discrete pace.
'She should know, for her own sake' intercepted Hermione Granger.
'I know, I tried to explain it to her last night but she was being difficult' Harry replied grumpily.
'How so?' Ron queried.
'She insisted I apologise to her for saying some things about her friend Marietta' Harry sniffed.
'Well you should have apologise Harry! From what you've told me, your the one who started the fight. Why are boys so thick-headed?' Hermione sniffed.
Their voices were quite soft now and they were starting to disappear from view, she hurried to catch up with them.
'– matter! Cho wouldn't have anything to do with him!' Ron Weasely huffed.
'Don't be so sure, Cho has friends and admirers everywhere and considering the risk she takes in befriending so many people. Harry has to warn her about Malfoy' Hermione said in reasonable tones.
Malfoy? As in Draco Malfoy, what did he have to do with any of this?
'I think she suspects I'm hiding something from her', came Harry's dispiritedly reply, 'she has already mentioned how Malfoy can't be Slytherin's heir'.
Cho gasped, hungry for more information she began to listen more attentively. But unfortunately they had paused at Hagrid's front porch to knock on his door. She heard murmurs but she couldn't discern there words. But she heard Hermione curiously ask.
'I wonder what Hagrid wanted to talk to us about?'
Her interest piqued, she crept closer to Hagrid's hut, and curled under the window to listen to their discussion. From where she sat, she heard Hagrid greet the three of them enthusiastically and usher them inside; proffering rock cakes and macaroons.
'Er – thanks' a voice – Cho couldn't tell who replied.
'Well seat yerselves down!' boomed Hagrid's unmistakable voice. Cho heard a muffled reply and huffed in irritation as they all headed towards the sitting room where she couldn't overhear. She stood up and carefully made her way to the other side of the house and settled into a nice dry spot right underneath the window they were seated in turning her attention back to the conversation; she had already missed a good portion of it already.
'You're crazy, how many did you talk into coming?' this was Harry's voice, and he sounded very nervous.
'Eh – nuthin ter worry bout arry", Dumbledore's orders' came Hagrid's muffled replied.
'You're insane! Completely insane, you can't talk sense with giants, look what've Grawp's already done to you, and you said so yourself how badly they treated Grawpy! How do you expect to control them all? You'll endanger us all!'
This voice, Cho decided, was most definitely Hermione Granger's, and she sounded very close to hysteria.
'Shhh' Hagrid exclaimed sounding alarm, 'not so loud!'
'Hermione has a point' another voice, it must be Ron Weasely Cho thought. 'What are you going to do about it?'
'Well er...y'see I was 'opin the three of yer's would 'elp me out there' came Hagrid's hesitant reply.
Hermione gave a moan, 'Hagrid!'
'What do you want us to do?' Harry asked carefully.
'Er – nuthin much, I was thinking yer keep Grawpy in a nice lil spot away from the other giants. 'An since I'm lookin after the others. Well I'll need der three of yeh ter look after Grawpy fer me'.
Cho crane her neck to listen to their reply; question's reeling in her mind, Dumbledore's orders? Giants? And who on earth was Grawpy?
'And how do you suppose we do that?' Ron exploded, 'unless you haven't notice, he's sixteen-feet-tall!'
'Grawpy likes yer!' Hagrid insisted, 'an he can understand our language be'er now'.
'Dumbledore will never agree to it' Harry said flatly, 'especially with the death eaters out of Azkaban'.
Tentatively, Cho slowly straightened and peered inside the window. Just barely making out Harry, Hermione and Ron seated in a cosy room behind Hagrid's large figure.
'Well that's the point 'arry, Dumbledore shan't mind since he suggested it ter me. I'll be away for a while ter elp the o'er giants ter settle in' Hagrid said somewhat sheepishly.
'That can't be true' came Hermione's whisper, 'Dumbledore would never – '
There was a loud crack and cries of fright as suddenly another voice – interrupted Hermione.
'Well Miss Granger, if you don't believe Hagrid then I trust my own words are taken more seriously? And I'm sure the four of you won't have any difficulty, you shall manage well enough' was the unmistakable voice of Professor Dumbledore.
'The four of us?' Harry demanded in confusion, 'I thought Hagrid had to leave?'
'Why yes of course, you, Miss Granger, Mr Weasely and - Miss Chang'.
'Cho?!'
She clamped her hand over her mouth eyes widening in shock, oh heck no!
Busted! Poor Cho, so how'd you like it? I kinda rushed this chapter though, so what do you think of me adding Grawp? Don't see that very often in other fanfics. Tell me what you think! I'm awaiting your comments!
Till next time (I'd say next weekend)
Vivvy