I'm terribly sorry for the delay, I had trouble with some parts. Anyways, my holidays will be over in a month and I'm hoping to have this story completed by then! Hopefully I'll get around to it! After that, I would like to start another fic!
Anyways, this chapter is way over dued, sorry about that! Hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I dun own it!
Chapter 11 – Farewells of All Kinds
'Hey Cho have you heard?'
Cho Chang paused in the middle of scribbling some notes in the library and surveyed Marietta Edgecombe with a look of disapproval, 'you know how I feel about rumours'.
'This is important!' Marietta insisted brushing stray locks of hair aside; she took a seat besides her and lowered her voice dramatically. 'Another students left Hogwarts!'
'Oh really?' Cho answered unenthusiastically, she knew the reason for the steady decrease of students of course, Elly Baddock had told her about Dumbledore drawing a line between the Dark Lords alliance. And true to her words, a few days later, a handful of Slytherins had packed there stuff and left with Elly Baddock amongst them.
'Listen to this – according to Hannah Abbot, a 3rd year student from Hufflepuff – you know Morag MacDougal? The little mousy kid with freckles? He's gone too! Packed his stuff and was gone first thing in the morning – I always thought there were something strange with him – it makes sense now!' Marietta exclaimed smugly.
'Merlins beard!' Cho whispered furiously, she shot her friend a murderous look. 'Have you ever thought about the fact that some of these kids simply have no choice? There parents maybe dawdling with the Dark Side – but their children have no choice but to follow in there wake!'
'Hey c'mon Cho lighten up!' Marietta exclaimed defensively, 'you don't have to get up on your high horse'.
Cho resisted the urge to roll her eye, 'You know what Marietta – I don't have time for this'.
'Your no fun anymore' Marietta huffed shooting to her feet and striding away, but Cho over heard her muttering, 'especially since Harry Potter'.
Exhaling loudly, Cho calmly dipped her quill in the inkpot and resumed her writing, she love Marietta dearly but it seemed like she was the only one who had matured. Despite all the bad luck she had been receiving since last year, it had changed her into a better person – no longer did she surround herself with a pack of giggling airheads, no longer did she jump from boys to boys, and if her friends had a problem with it – it wasn't her concern, she already had a lot to cope with.
Four hours later, Cho dropped her quill and flexed her aching fingers. Happy with the work she had done, she rolled up her parchment and gathered her books up and stood, stretching her aching back before leaving the library. It was rather late; she had left dinner early to complete her homework. On the way to her Common Room, Cho ran into Ginny and her current boyfriend; 7th year Geoffrey Hooper; Gryffindor's Chaser.
'Cho' Ginny exclaimed looking upset, 'have you heard?'
'Hey Ginny, Hooper, what's up?' Cho greeted.
'Seamus Finnigan and Harry had a row' Ginny exclaimed.
'Why? What's going on?' Cho frowned.
'It's because Finnigan's mum doesn't think Hogwarts is safe now with the war and well – all that's being happening' Geoffrey answered.
Cho knew they were referring to Malcomn's death and her near encounter with death at Hogsmeade.
'That's crazy' Cho retorted, 'Hogwarts the safest place to be! You-Know-Who is afraid of Dumbledore; nothing can get in or out, and - we have Harry!'
'Not many people trust Harry' Ginny explained lips tightening; 'many other students are leaving for that reason. Most of the first and second years are gone, by Christmas – there won't be much of us left'.
Cho nodded, 'cheer up Ginny – you're playing Slytherin this week aren't you?'
Geoffrey Hooper nodded, 'hopefully there won't be much of them left' he grunted.
Cho blushed suddenly realising her mistake, 'oh I'm sorry Ginny! I forgot about your Quidditch - '
Ginny smile mysteriously, 'its okay Cho, really'.
Geoffrey Hooper shared a grin with Ginny, 'don't worry Chang, just wait till tomorrow – you'll see'.
Cho stared at them curiously, 'okay - well I'm off now, talk to you later'.
After Geoffrey and Ginny bid her farewell, Cho rushed up the stairs to the third floor, pausing at the knight statue to say her password: Mordicus Egg (named after author of The Philosophy of the Mundane: Why the Muggles Prefer Not to Know). The stone statue slid aside and Cho entered the room.
Immediately several house mates ran up to her as soon as she entered.
'Cho it's horrible!' 6th year Keira Bundy – one of her giggling friends exclaimed.
'What's going on?' Cho asked.
'A lot of us Ravenclaws have left' Luna Lovegood answered dreamily gliding past to select a book from the shelves.
'What?' Cho cried shrilly, 'it better not be any of my team mates!'
'No!' Keira Bundy answered, 'half the first and second years, Troy Donaghan, Orla Quirke and Eloise Midgeon'.
Cho gave a sigh of relief when she heard her team mate was intact, 'why are the others leaving? They're not – well…you know'.
'Oh no!' Natalie McDonald assured her, 'no way!'
'I wouldn't be so sure about that' Luna suggested as she selected "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them" by Newt Scamander and settling herself upside-down on a chair to read.
Keira Bundy and Natalie McDonald glared at Luna Lovegood, bending their heads to whisper about her.
Abandoning her house mates with annoyance, Cho marched up the stairs that led to the girl's room and entered her room to find her room mates, Marietta Edgecombe comforting a distraught Mandy Brocklehurst.
'Oh Cho it's so awful!' Mandy began.
'I heard' Cho answered, she dumped her books on a table and collapsed on her bed. 'I can't say I'm totally disappointed'.
'Yeah Eloise Midgeon was horrid to you about the whole Cedric thing wasn't she?' Marietta agreed.
'Troy's leaving!' Mandy hiccupped, referring to her boyfriend; 'he's mother sending him to a Muggle school!'
'Well…' Cho hugged her friend, 'he'd be safe there won't he? All Muggle born are in greater risk than the rest of us'.
Mandy blew her nose, 'I suppose' she answered thickly. 'I – I just can't help but wonder if I'll see him again…'
'Of course you will' Marietta answered loftily, 'just as long as you stay out of trouble! Now come on, no moping around – let's head down to raid the kitchen – Cho we'll bring something back for you'.
'Yeah thanks' Cho replied, wandering to the window that overlooked the front of the school; she settled on the window seat with a sigh.
The gravity of the situation was starting to sink in, Cho dearly wanted to pretend that everything was okay and forget about the threat of the impending war. Every student's subscription to the Daily Prophet had been cancelled on Dumbledore's orders due to the alarming number of deaths and foul play in the Wizarding community. Now – with students leaving Hogwarts – the situation was becoming clear.
Fortunately her parents were safe in China where the rest of her relatives preside, which eased her state of mind considerably, but this meant for the next few months, a year – or for however long the war will last. Cho was to remain in Hogwarts.
There was movement outside in the dark, her vision picked up figures in the glow of the lantern. A handful of students were milling around the carriages, Cho recognised most of them. She was filled with apprehension, out of them all – who was fighting against them? One person she knew definitely, Marcus Flint was boarding his carriage. Arrogantly thrusting a third year student aside to climb inside and slamming the door shut. Peering out the window, he looked up.
Cho froze as his gaze settled on her, at first Cho thought he had not seen her in the darkened window, but she felt her belly clench in disgust as he pressed his fingers to his lips and mockingly blew her a kiss. Cho backed from the window in repulsion, taking the time to compose herself, when she turned back again, they were gone.
The next day at breakfast, Harry had been furious when he learnt Marcus Flint had left, after all – he never had the chance to exact revenge for her.
'Bloody bastard' Harry ranted, 'why did I have to wait – I should have gone after him that day, I wanted to!'
Cho wrapped her arms around Harry, 'calm down' she told him, 'forget about Flint, and concentrate on Quidditch.'
Harry relaxed in her arms, 'yeah you're right' he amended and smiled teasingly, 'you're always right'.
'Don't you start' Cho quibbed ruffling his hair affectionately.
Harry turned his head up towards her looking cheeky, 'can I have a kiss before I go?'
'Here – in public?' Cho raised a brow, she planted a quick kiss on his lips, but instead of withdrawing immediately like she did with all the guys she dated, Harry held her back with his hands.
'No Cho' Harry said shyly, 'a real proper kiss'.
'Erm, not here Harry' Cho answered uncomfortably, she removed her arms from Harry and took a seat besides him. Harry was starring at her curiously, and Cho just couldn't look into his wide green eyes.
No one knew – that Cho Chang, had never been kissed – properly that is. Of course she kissed her boyfriends cheeks and lips, well it was more of a peck really, and Cedric was very sweet about it - a perfect gentleman. Michael Corner wanted to snog her senseless just so he could brag to his friends about it. Despite the amount of boyfriends she had, she believed in holding back – for that special someone. Until Cho was absolutely sure the guy was the one she loved. At one point, she believed that person was Cedric - she never had a chance to find out.
'Is there something bothering you?' Harry asked cautiously.
Cho shook her head, and took a sip of pumpkin juice to compose herself. 'I'm fine; you better go now Harry, your team mates are getting up'.
Harry cast another uncertain glance at her, 'Cho – '
'Yes?'
'Uh – about that kiss, I-I hope I didn't push you, I mean' Harry's face was redder than a tomato. 'Hermione said I can be tactless, and I know nothing about girls – '
Cho smiled, Harry was babbling. 'Okay stop, listen, you didn't offend me okay? It's really okay – now, go out and kick Slytherin's ass for me!'
Harry broke into a relieved grin, 'I can do that'.
As Harry was rising, Cho abruptly yanked him down to cup his face in her hands and kiss him on his lips with her mouth closed, 'goodluck'.
'Mnkay' Harry mumbled dazedly staggering over his own feet.
The group of Hufflepuff girls seated behind them giggled, Harry gripped his chair for balance, and clearing his throat and shooting her an embarrassed grin, he hurried away looking mortified.
Cho suppressed a chuckled; Harry had approached their relationship tentatively. Being relatively unexperienced, he's fumbling efforts had amused her. Cho being a year older and more – experience, knew how it must make Harry feel very awkward. Cho secretly adored Harry when he was embarrassed and flustered. Cho had a knack for catching Harry in his most embarrassing moment. The time he asked her out to the Yule Ball, the time he mistakenly yelled at her when she told him he dropped his quill, and when she caught him with Stink Sap in the train last year.
'Hey Cho! Stop day dreaming, let's go!'
Cho raised her head, her Ravenclaw class mates were waving to her across the room, and she rose to her feet and made her way towards them. On the way she patted Draco's arm and whispered a goodluck.
After what happened, they had rekindled there friendship. Draco was still tight-lipped when he saw her with Harry, but at least he was courteous to her. Especially now with most of his old Slytherins friends gone, the one's who had attacked her.
Cho and her fellow Ravenclaw housemates climbed up the stadiums and crowded to the front of the stand, jostling each other for a good position of the Quidditch fields.
'Look here they come!' Anthony Goldstein shouted.
Cho craned her neck and caught a glimpse of red and gold, the Gryffindors marched out looking determined, on the other side, Slytherins had mounted their brooms and were flying laps around the field. As Draco flew past, Cho winked at him – and there was a glimmer of joy in his otherwise unreadable grey eyes.
It was perfect Quidditch conditions, there was no breeze to hinder performance, and the sky was bright but not sunny. Cho searched the Gryffindors, looking for Harry; she raised a brow in surprise as the players took their position.
'Why is Harry holding a beater's bat?' Cho murmured in consternation. Realisation came when she noticed, Ginny Weasely, in the Seeker position, Harry Potter, in the Beater's position. There was a murmur rippling around the stadiums, and the look on Draco's face was priceless.
'Gryffindor plays Slytherin' the commentator Jordan Lee began, 'where it seems Gryffindor has made a new game plan – former Seeker Harry Potter has taken up the vacant position as Beater, and last years Seeker; Ginny Weasely will return to lead Gryffindor to victory as Seeker!'
A cheer rose up from the Gryffindor stadiums, amongst them, Cho glimpsed Hermione and Ron waving banners and cheering excitedly.
'Harry's a beater?' Michael Corner hissed, 'I wonder if he's any good?'
Stewart Ackerely snorted, 'unlikely, that Potter doesn't have the right build, you need strength, Potter's too small'.
'That's not true!' Cho exclaimed defensively, 'Harry's starting to fill out quiet nicely'.
There were wolf whistles and a lot of: "Oooh!" from her friends.
'Potter's girl would know now would she? Been close and personal with Potter now haven't we?' they teased.
'Shut up!' Cho muttered her face flushing in embarrassment. It just so happened she had happen to glimpse Harry's body when they went out to the Lake for a swim. And she stood by her words; Harry was no longer the skinny, underweight boy – still pale but buffer nonetheless. Gryffindor must have been planning this for several months, giving Harry several months to get into shape. Of course, it had hardly escaped her attention, Cho had noticed when they hugged, but she didn't suspect it was for this reason.
The game had started with Slytherin taking the Quaffel; Cho tuned out Jordan Lee's commentary and concentrated on the game with her own trained eye. Cho personally felt Jordan's commentary was always biased, being a Gryffindor after all. It was an aggressive match; Slytherins looked a bit lost, unprepared with the surprise Gryffindor had prepared and the replacement of several Slytherin players. They had a replacement for Keeper, Beater and both Chasers, but after a while Slytherin were beginning to respond with their usual venom.
'Yeow!' Stewart Ackerely flinched, 'Gryffindor certainly packs a few hidden aggressions don't they?'
Cho was frowning, she was watching the game with a strange look on her face; mulling thoughts over in her mind. Cho wasn't concentrating on the game, she was thinking of her own players. Cho surveyed her team mates without there knowledge, Stewart Ackerely there Beater was big and buff, the agile Sean Cappar as their Chasers, Corner as their tall, broad shouldered Keeper and…Cho rested her thoughtful gaze on Emma Dobbs. The small mousy looking girl who tried out for Seeker, a broad grin stretched across her mouth. Cho had a brilliant ploy that would guarantee Ravenclaw's victory this year – and she had Harry to thank for it.
'Harry!'
Madam Pomfrey whirled around from her patient and gave her a loud "shush", 'not so loud Miss Chang, I have patients here needing my assistance'.
'Sorry', Cho hurried to Harry's bed, Harry was propped up on the bed, with his head swathed in bandages, and his arm in a sling, but he was smiling ear to ear despite being battered up ruthlessly.
Cho flung her arms around him, 'you foolish boy!' she scolded, 'look at you! You're a mess, why did you take on the Beater position?'
'We won though didn't we?' Harry announced.
'If you say so' Cho insinuated, 'both teams were playing so roughly, that Slytherin had to forfeit with injuries and because of lost of too many players'.
'How'd you think I went – as a Beater?' Harry asked eagerly.
'Erm…' Cho frantically searched her mind, she really hadn't been watching, other thoughts had occupied her mind. 'You were good…'
'In my first year Oliver Wood said I'll make a fair beater, and well – Ginny's a great Seeker too, she's smaller than me and a good flyer. She deserves to be on the team, and this way – it all worked out didn't it?'
'That was considerate of you' Cho said warmly, 'Ginny must have been ecstatic'.
'She was' Harry nodded, 'although she was disappointed she didn't catch the snitch today, but we still won, it was worth it – to see the look on Malfoy's face'.
Speaking of Malfoy, Cho remember Draco had taken a rather nasty Bludger to his head, Cho surveyed Harry shrewdly.
'You really shouldn't take your animosity for Draco on the field, it's not fair you know – Draco can't exactly defend himself as the seeker' Cho said disapprovingly.
'And I don't see how you continue to defend for that bleached-blond git' Harry grumbled.
Cho scowled, 'because I can – excuse me a minute'.
Ignoring Harry's protest, Cho made her way to Draco's bed, looking rather lonely all by his lonesome. Draco was much worse than Harry, bruises covered every inch of his pale skin, his lips were split at the corner and he lay motionlessly on his back, he was shirtless, his pale chest and ribs were bounded with bandages.
'Looking the worse for wear Draco' Cho greeted soberly. 'I daresay you've looked better'.
Startle out of his reverie Draco turned his eyes to her, 'oh its you' he said rather rudely. 'Shouldn't you be comforting Potter?'
Cho rolled her eyes, 'don't take that tone with me Draco Malfoy; I've come to see you, at least be gracious for that'.
Draco tried to speak but a rattling cough broke him off, Cho helped him to a sitting position and poured him a glass of water. Draco downed the glass when it was handed to him, catching his breath he glared at her.
'Bloody Potter – did you see what he did to me?' Draco snarled.
'Yes' Cho admitted, 'I wasn't too happy about that either'.
Draco looked at her sullenly, 'I don't understand what you see in him – someone like you shouldn't be consorting with his type'.
'His type? Some one like me?' Cho queried sardonically, 'I don't understand what your saying Draco, considering were both Half-Bloods'.
'You're better than him' Draco continued arrogantly.
'Get off it Malfoy!' a sudden furious voice shouted, 'stop trying to woo my girl!'
'You don't deserve her Potter' Draco spat in return, 'you filthy, deranged – '
Harry reached for his wand in sudden fury, 'Rictusempra!'
Cho stepped in front of Harry's hex and shouted, 'Finite Incantatem!'
Draco was fumbling for his wand ready to hex Harry back but Cho snatched it from his hands and she marched towards Harry.
'Give me your wand!' she demanded.
Harry stared at her warily, 'no'.
'Give it to me now!' she roared.
Harry timidly handed her the wand, Cho snatched it from his grasp and with her hands on her hip, and she surveyed Draco and Harry with disapproval.
'Another word, another uncivil action towards each other – I'll hex you both to oblivion – got that?' Cho hissed.
Harry eyed Draco malevolently and gave a jerk of his head. Draco was looking rather pissed off but when Cho shot him a glare he nodded quickly.
'Good – I'm holding onto your wands, and you shan't be getting it back until your out of the Infirmary' Cho told them, 'good bye!'
Christmas had come, and with that – students had backed their stuff and ready to be sent home, and nearly everyone had left, knowing this might be the last time they were to see their relatives. Cho and Emma Dobbs were the only student in Ravenclaw who had remained, and two other from Slytherin and Hufflepuff.
Harry had been reluctant to leave her behind in Hogwarts by herself, but he had been invited down to stay with the Weasely's and Cho had insisted he should go. Besides she had a lot of homework to catch up on, and Grawp definitely needed someone to keep an eye on him.
'Hagrid told us not to visit Grawp alone though' Harry protested.
'Nonsense' Cho snorted as she walked him to his carriage with his owl Hedwig on her arm, 'Grawp's a darling and he's much tamer now'.
They paused at the carriages and Harry threw his luggage in the carriage, as Cho placed Hedwig in her cage and handed it to Harry.
'So' Harry said fiddling with his hair, 'it's going to be lonely, two weeks without you!'
Cho smiled encouragingly, 'we'll mail each other'.
'At least Malfoy's going' Harry muttered as Draco walked by, 'or else I would have stayed for sure'.
Cho ignored Harry's remark and waved at Draco as he nodded at her.
Harry spontaneously wrapped his arms around her and hugged her fiercely so that he lifted her feet off the ground, Cho burst out laughing thumping his back.
'Put me down Harry – when did you get so strong?' Cho chuckled.
'I don't want to leave you' Harry pouted lowering her down, 'I want to take you with me'.
'I'll be fine' Cho assured him, 'I think your friends are getting impatient'.
Ron and Ginny Weasely, Hermione, Neville and Dean were shooting pointed looks at them and Harry kissed her firmly on the lips before climbing onto the carriage.
There was a snort and Cho jumped as she felt a nudge on her back, she surveyed the Thestral apprehensively.
'What are you starring at?' Harry asked puzzled, he saw her eyeing the Thestral. 'You can see them too huh?'
'Of course, ever since – you know' Cho shrugged, refraining from saying Cedric's name.
'Oh' Harry said cautiously.
The carriage jolted as the line of carriages started to move, Cho ran to the windows and Harry reached out for her hands. Grasping it, Harry cupped her face and with his thumb he tenderly stroke her jaw.
'Merry Christmas Cho'.
Cho was forced to stand back and let the carriages go by, she watched it disappear from sight, hugging her arms over her chest, she felt something pointy dig into her chest, and reaching in her robes she discovered two unfamiliar wands in her breast pockets of her robes. Draco and Harry's wand…oh dear!
The holidays were rather enjoyable, Cho felt quite at ease wandering the large empty castle. The library was always empty and she had spent many luxurious hours perusing the books at her own leisure. Meal times were spent with the only remaining students, they ate in one large table with the rest of the staff. Whilst the weather was bitter and cold, Cho rather spend her time in doors but remember that she needed to prepare Emma Dobbs for their Quidditch game. On her insistence, Cho arranged for them to go over some flying techniques and tricks every afternoon if the weather permits.
Emma had been hanging onto her every word, she had been ecstatic to be part of her ploy on her Quidditch plan.
'You're so clever, and a brilliant teacher!' Emma enthused one afternoon after they had finished flying lessons.
'Only a Ravenclaw would have applied their wits into Quidditch' Cho agreed in amusement. 'I'll see you at dinner'.
'Where are you going?' Emma queried disappointedly.
'Uh – I have errands to run' Cho answered quickly, 'seeya later.'
Making sure Emma was safely indoors; Cho flew her Comet Two-Sixty towards the forest and took the route to find Grawp.
'Grawp? Grawpy!' Cho called.
There was a rumbling roar in response, Cho followed the noise and found Grawp huddled in a cave, the only one large enough to accommodate his bulk.
'There you are' Cho landed and walked inside the cave.
Grawp looked utterly miserable, he usually greeted her enthusiastically every time she visited but today he looked upset.
'Ko!' Grawp cried piteously.
'What's wrong?' Cho enquired patting his leg.
'Bawd man!' Grawp howled, tears rolling down his large face, 'hertz Grawpy!'
'Someone was here?' Cho exclaim in surprise. 'What did he want?'
'Grawp's cave!' the giant howled, 'man bawd, he hertz Grawp!'
Cho surveyed the giant shrewdly, if in fact there was a man who had come upon Grawp, she doubted he would have tried to harm him. Most would have bolted.
'Where are you hurt?' Cho asked tenderly.
Grawp thrust his palms towards her sniffing heartily, 'ow!'
Cho studied his hands; someone had tried to attack the poor thing, on closer inspection, Cho recognised the welts and stings, s imilar to the one's she received from that Slytherin girl. Which meant – whoever had encountered Grawp was a wizard, and from the looks of Grawp's hands, this wizard was very strong.
'Here let me fix it' Cho said, Grawp let her tend to his abused hands, crying profusely and looking rather sorry for himself.
Swathing his hands in bandages, Cho found a curious mark on his flesh, swiping the dried blood away she gasped when it was revealed to her as the dark mark.
Yay! Just a few more chapters to go...! Now I better thank my reviewers!
I'm very very glad to hear so many people like my story, the summary doesn't really attract that much people but nice to know they've reviewed: Noompjuh, fan345, silver, Anomynous,Oukami-Toraand Eva thankyou so much for giving my fic a chance!
And to my usual reviewers (though I've seem to have lost some), El Permanente, Vivi and The Phoenix King - your reviews really really do make my day!
Next time, I'll try to update earlier, and I should now that I've set myself a date to get this finished by.
Hope to see some more marvellous reviews!
Till next time!
Vivvy