Chapter 6: Quidditch Reconstruction
"Harry! Harry!" Hermione said as she rushed into the Great Hall.
Harry and Ron were laughing at the end of their chess game.
Ron clapped gleefully, "You've yet to beat me. Year Six…."
Harry smirked, "Aw, shut up, Ron." He turned to Hermione running toward him.
"Hey Hermione. I have something to ask you…"
"No me first" she said instantly.
"No, but really, it has something to do with…Cho", he spoke quietly.
Ron nodded knowingly, "We saw you speaking to her for hours today…by the lake. When were you two buddy buddy?"
"We're not but… we are now…she's really a lovely person. But guess this: a lovely person who's mad about Harry!"
Ron sighed, "Oh for the love of God…"
Hermione sulked at her boyfriend, "You're not being very fair." She turned to Harry and started to delineate everything Cho had told her, from the most intimate detail about Cedric's appearance to her plans to approach him about Quidditch training.
By dessert, Ron was too wrapped up in Hermione's story to even acknowledge the chocolate cupcake in front of his eyes. Harry widened his eyes in amazement.
"You mean, she really, wants my help??" Harry said in hope.
"Absolutely. I think she's just tired of being angry at you. I think you two are going hit it off wonderfully! Look, why don't Ron and I head off to the library and you go ask Cho to see for yourself? Right now."
Harry lips twisted very nervously, "I, well..I-I- I'm not so sure if I'm ready right now."
Hermione laughed, "You've done this before, Harry."
"Still makes me nervous every time."
Ron sighed, "Maybe she won't turn out to be so bad. Alright, 'Mione, let's head out."
Hermione nodded vigorously, "Tell us all about it later tonight, Harry." She sprung up to clutch Ron's arm. As she walked off with her boyfriend, Harry her Hermione say to Ron, "You know, I'm so glad to she came up to me. She looks a lot happier and I believe what she said about seeing Cedric. Don't you see, darling, this could be the chance for Harry to finally get over Sirius….be happy for him…."
"I am…I just don't want her to hurt him with her wishy-washy self…"
Harry turned around and looked at Cho sitting and laughing with Marietta at the Ravenclaw table. She did look very beautiful and happy.
As the Great Hall started to clear, Harry waited until mostly until everyone had gone back to their common rooms.
Cho, taking quick glances behind her, had a feeling that Harry was staying behind to talk to her. "Etta, go on without me, I'll catch up." Marietta spotted Harry still sitting at the Gryffindor table and smiled.
Cho catwalked in the flirtiest way she could and took a seat next to Harry.
"Hi."
Harry blushed a deep crimson.
"So…I heard, from Hermione, that you er…"
"Wanted you to help me with Quidditch."
Harry grinned and his emerald eyes glowed with happiness he hadn't felt since Sirius was alive. "I'd be happy to."
Cho felt her heart skip a beat. Eyes so green… "Thanks a lot, Harry. I mean, Hooch is pretty much demanding I get better before practice starts or she might tell Flitwick to find Ravenclaw a new seeker. I know that you really don't have to do this…considering I'm not on your team."
Harry shook his head, "Nah…it's not a problem. I need some competition on the field. I don't get any exhilaration from Malfoy's poor flying skills."
Cho laughed. "I understand perfectly. When should we start?"
"After classes tomorrow. Did Hermione tell you about where we can practice?"
"She did."
Harry smiled softly, "Can I…walk you back to your common room?"
Beaming, Cho nodded in agreement, "Why not?"
Walking toward the Ravenclaw common room, Harry felt that there was no need for apologies between him and Cho. They were easily talking as if they had never had a row. They talked about Quidditch, their summers, school work, they even talked about Cedric without arguing; as if they had both lost a friend.
"…You'd be a great Auror, Harry…you're very talented."
"And I'd always thought you'd become an International Quidditch player, I'd never imagine you wanted to go into teaching."
Cho laughed, "Me either. But I figured I mean, Quidditch internationally is so rough on a girl. I don't want to play forever. I want to eventually, get married and, you know settle down."
Harry swallowed. He extended his hand, almost about to reach out for Cho's until he thought better of it and dropped his hand to his side. "Yeah." They had finally reached the Ravenclaw common room. "I'll see you tomorrow, then, Cho?"
Cho nodded, "Goodnight, Harry."
Harry turned around and walked happily back to his dormitory.
A shadowy figure waited until Harry was out of sight to come into view from behind a column, where he was listening to Harry and Cho's conversation.
"You certainly have a terrible taste in men, Chang." Draco said to himself. "First pretty boy Diggory, now Scarhead. But nonetheless, you are the just the thing I can use to piss St. Potter off…"
Draco exited the hallway and walked briskly back the Slytherin common room.
