Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any part of his world beside the plot I write in these stories.

Author's Note: I'm sooooooooo sorry! I know it's been a year almost since I have posted, and if I ever had devoted followers, I've lost them all, but here it is, the 6th chapter. Keep posting your reviews since they're helping me with the story. I do have some good news: I've written through the 11th chapter and am now at a point where I can stop writing. Why is stopping writing a good thing? Because now I can catch up on typing the chapters up. So expect more soon.

Ch. 6, Mending Wounds

"What are you going to say to her, Harry?" Ron's reminder jarred Harry's memory. "I almost forgot, and I have no idea. For some reason, I deeply offended her, and so I'm going to let her start the conversation, then carry on from there." Hermione was promptly giving advice, "Be sure that you listen to her. Don't yell at her Harry! She's a very sensitive girl, especially when the subject matter is you or Cedric Diggory."

Lunch was carried on in silence as Ron and Hermione saw that Harry was contemplating their advice. When Harry arrived at his office, Cho was already standing by the door. "Cho, you could've gone in and grabbed a chair."

"It didn't feel right going into a teacher's office without being invited."

"I'm only your teacher during your class. Right now, I'm your peer. I'm Harry." "Okay," she said softly. They walked inside and took seats. No one was speaking. Harry decided to break the silence, "I didn't see you at lunch today." She blushed, "Did you look for me?" Harry nodded. "I didn't go."

"Why not?"

"I was deciding on whether or not to come."

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Why are you asking all of these questions?"

"Why aren't you answering this one?" She didn't speak. "Talk to me." She maintained the silence. "You can confide in me, Cho!"

"Okay! I was scared!"

"Scared of what?"

"I was scared because in order for things to be okay between us again, I have to hear, from your mouth, about what happened that night with Cedric! I need to know why you wanted to run off in the middle of our date, and …. well…,"

"What is it?"

"It doesn't even matter, Harry. I need to know what happened that night."

"Didn't you read the interview in the 'Daily Prophet'?"

"Yes, I just need to hear it from you that it is correct."

"It is. In fact, that's where I went in the middle of our date. I went to the Leaky Cauldron to give that interview. I didn't want to leave you, I swear! Now, what was it that you wouldn't tell me, because you were afraid."

"All right, I was afraid… er … I was afraid… afraid that after you gave me a reasonable explanation for all these events, I would still … like you. Both of my fears for our meeting came true."

"But Cho, after what you did to me in that coffee shop…" She interrupted him by leaning over to kiss him. "I'm sorry." Harry responded in actions. He leaned over and kissed her back, "It's okay." She blushed.

They spent the rest of the period talking about this and that. It didn't matter to Harry what the subject was; he was just so glad they were talking civilly again. Cedric's name even came into discussion without tears falling from Cho's eyes. Maybe, just maybe, we'll work this time.

Harry's fourth and fifth year classes went exceptionally well. The only thing that was wrong was the looming two hours that must be spent with Snape at the end of the day. Ron, Harry, and Hermione made their way down the corridors that led to the dungeon that was there classroom, and took their usual seats in the back. Snape quickly corrected that as he stormed into the room as he was prone to do, "This is the advanced form of potions. If anyone passes, it will be on there own merit. Potter, Weasley, that means you," his voice was as cold as ice, "I won't have you cheating off Ms. Granger this year." Snape brought his chilling glare to Harry's face, "I expect a 'Yes Sir' from you Potter. It doesn't mean you may act and speak towards me as if I were your peer just because you're a teacher now." Harry returned his teacher's cold stare and forced out a, "yes sir."

Advanced Potions was a very selective class, so all four houses had been combined into one class, and it wasn't the largest one Harry had been part of still. Snape quickly dispersed the trio throughout the classroom. "Potter, here." Snape pointed to a chair next to a girl with jet black hair. Harry was surprised to see Cho smiling from right beside him. "What are you taking Potions for," she asked while Harry was still shocked. "Being an Auror."

"Oh, that's right."

"What about you?"

"I'm going to be a healer."

"I think that suits you." Cho blushed with the compliment.

Snape continued with the lesson, "Today we will be starting a potion that will take a month to complete. You will need to tend to it each day. Partners will be essential, and you will need all hour today to work on the 'Deadly Touch Elixir.' Marks will be awarded at the end of each week. " Harry and Cho partnered up and began working."

Things went well that week. The Deadly Touch Elixir was coming along well in potions, well, at least it was better than Harry's usual performance. Cho seemed to calm him. They went together well in their potion making.

The only other thing of mention that week was on Tuesday during his first year Gryffindor/Slytherin class. Harry had started in on his usual speech about the classrooms, "Normally we'd be in the other classroom doing practical lessons."

"And why aren't we?"

"Who said that?" A small boy that Harry recognized as Gaylon Malfoy raised his hand. "Well, Mr. Malfoy, you would have to learn spells before you use them. Do you understand that?"

"I suppose so."

"You suppose so? May I remind you that you refer to me as Sir, and that if you only 'suppose so' than I can assume you are just like the rest of your family… brainless." Harry was shocked by his own words, "uhh, everybody read your text, and we'll… we'll go over it next class."

Harry fell into his chair. What is the single most thing I hate about Snape? he thought to himself, Is it because he always singles me out? Well, yes, but that comes from something else. It's because he judged me because my father was an immature git while attending here, and now I'm doing the same to this Gaylon Malfoy just because he shares a last name with the biggest ass in the school, then the most upsetting question came to Harry's mind, Am I no better than Snape? "Mr. Malfoy, would please come see me." Harry decided to amend his wrong. The small boy walked hesitantly towards the front desk. "Please take a seat, I need to apologize." Gaylon looked shocked. "I judged you based on what your… er … Draco has done during his stay here, and I'm awarding twenty points to Gryffindor for your lack of reaction to an unaccredited attack by a teacher."

"Thank you, sir."

"May I ask how you are related to Draco?"

"We're cousins, even though his family doesn't claim me or my Muggle mother."

"I'm sorry, Draco can be a real ass. If he picks on you, tell me. I'm glad to have you in Gryffindor."

"Thank you, sir."

"Okay, please go back to your studies."

The week quickly went by, and Harry found himself in Potions and actually done before the bell. He and Cho were using the extra time to talk and flirt. Their potion looked excellent, and so Snape could only glare and give Harry full marks. "I will not have this disruption in my class," Snape yelled, "since you have finished, and I would like nothing more than for you to be gone, I will allow you to leave."

The couple went to the reception room just outside the Great Hall where there were armchairs and loveseats. Harry sat down on one side of a loveseat, and Cho sat on the other and leaned up against him. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her head. "How is it that we've grown so close in such a short amount of time, Harry?"

"I really don't know; I know it feels right. Maybe it's because we've worked on us for a while, and it's just now blossoming."

"Maybe, but no matter what, I'm glad it's this way now." They shared a comfortable silence before Harry spoke up, "Have you held a Dueling Team practice yet?"

"I was meaning to talk to you about that. I was wondering if we could use the room of requirement tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sure. You don't need my permission though, it's open to everyone. We should probably schedule it though."

People started filing into the Great Hall for dinner. Cho looked sad, "It's time for us to go. I was looking forward to a good-bye kiss, but if they see you as a teacher, kissing me as a stu," He interrupted her with a kiss. "I'm only a teacher in my class."

Harry had no sooner reached the Gryffindor table when Dumbledore beckoned him to the staff table, "if I am informed correctly, the first Gryffindor Dueling Team meeting is tonight, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very well then. There are some extenuating circumstances surrounding a certain Gaylon Malfoy. For these reason, I feel he needs to know how to defend himself, so I am asking you to let him join your Dueling Team. Please get him up to speed so he can be an active participant on the team. Can I trust you on this?"

"Yes sir, you can."

"Thank you Harry. You may take your place at your houses table." Harry immediately told Ron and Hermione upon his arrival. "I want you to keep an eye on him tonight, make sure he doesn't feel out of place." Ron quickly replied, "Alright, Harry, we can do that." Hermione nodded her support. "Thanks guys. Make sure you eat enough because you're gunna need the strength tonight," Harry responded with a devilish smile.

Soon, all the food had been eaten, and Harry was standing in front of his new Dueling Team in the Room of Requirement. "We have a head count of 21. Only 15 can be active duelist, and the remaining 6 will be put in the bottom pool. Once you have been placed in either a 1-5 position in A, B, C class, or in the bottom pool, may the challenges begin. When you challenge someone, you duel for their position. If you win, you take their position, and they and everyone below them will move down a space until all spaces are filled. If you lose, you will not be able to challenge for two weeks, however, if you are challenged and lose, than you may challenge right away.

"You are only allowed to challenge one full class up. For example, if you are fourth position C class, than you can challenge up to and only up to fourth position B class. Today, a tournament will take place," Harry waved his wand at a chalk board, "The two people whose names appear on the board will duel. After everyone has gone, I will consider the board and decide your classes. Gaylon and I will be holding an extra practice while you are doing this. Next practice is on Tuesday night. Once your duel is over, you may leave. Begin." The board showed 'Dean Thomas vs. Lance Roald.'

As Harry and Gaylon walked toward the back of the room, the walls confined and expanded, creating a separate room to conduct this lesson in. "Okay, Gaylon, do you know any combatant spells"

"No"

"Well then, let's start from the beginning. The two essential spells are the Disarming Spell and the Shield Charm. The incantation for the Disarming spell is 'Expellarmus.' Now say that."

"Expellarmus."

"Good, now try hitting me with it." Harry walked off a ways and prepared himself. "EXPELLARMUS" Harry's wand flew six feet back. "Excellent! Hopefully you are hust as adept to the other spells I'm going to teach you."

And he was. By the end of that lesson, Gaylon had mastered eight spells and could use them to cope to different situations. "Give it a week, and you'll be challenging up the ranks, Gaylon." When the lesson had been concluded, Gaylon left the room beaming. As he should be, he thought.

Harry went to the board and started ranking people. Everything is going great this year! Me and Cho, classes, and now the House Dueling Competition is working out. I don't think I've ever had such a great first week; even Potions wasn't that bad! A glimmer passed through Harry's eye, Bring on Quidditch!

I'm reading a story right now that replies to her reviewers on the bottom and liked the idea and will so follow suit.

First of all, thanks goes out to all of the reviewers that offered their high praises.

e: I would like to know what you meant by "go on" but as you are an anonymous reviewer, i can't contact you. Hopefully you mean go on with the story, and I will.

Ezrial: Thank you for your lengthy and profitable review. There are many things that will be adressed in the further chapters that will set the premise in stone. Shaky I believed you called it. Also, in mention to your comment to Harry teaching 6th and 7th years. I believe we can agree that Harry is no normal 6th year, and that if he was forced into a seventh year spot, he would adapt. I am truly sorry about the formating in the 4th chapter, but I've tried several times to fix it, but it won't allow me to. The fifth chapter and on will not be this way, so you can start reading again without a worrysome heart.

athenakitty: Thank you for your always short but helpful reviews.