To my reviewers: You guys mean a lot to me! Thanks! Here's the grand finale, hope you like it.

Ciao,

Stella

To Yin-Yang Sama: It's the big finale! Sorry for being evil, I wanted to build up the anticipation. Don't worry, I promise the update will be next week. Thanks again so much for reviewing and reading!

To Wewe12qw: Thanks for reviewing, as always! I think I'm a little confused about what you wrote me…lol but I'm just going to say to keep reviewing and reading my stories, I really appreciate it!

To Dragon Sword Master: I think the finale has an appropriate amount of fluff, it's much fluffier than any other previous chapter. I'm working on my one shot R/H fic, then I'm going to do my five chapter Ced/Olivier/Cho story then my H/C story…I'll guess maybe I'll start it in a couple of months. I hope people will still read it after HBP, although I can prolly say that it won't be finished before then since I'm guessing it'll be a 40 some chapter Epic…we'll see what happens. Thanks for your review!

To Cimbelmyne: Yeahh! If you keep reading, I'll keep writing. Thanks for your review!

To Simbelmyne Star: Mandy! Yayyyy so glad you like my writing, I'm freakin excited for my own chapter. How sad is that? I'm an immature hopeless romantic, I admit it. You are going to love my R/H fic, I hope…finishing it this week, having trouble with the last scene (grrr) that's what beta-ing me is for! Thanks as always for reviewing/supporting me!

To Wzero2: Sorry about the xie xie, as you can see, I speak Mandarin lol (sort of). Anyway, I assure you the ending of the fic will be rainbows and butterflies for everyone so keeeep reading! Thanks for reviewing! Do jeh!

To Cho-Wood: I'm afraid the story gets even cheesier…lol, but I hope that's a good thing. Well, keep reading, and as always, thanks so much for the review!

To Wewe12qw: Heya, I'm afraid that since this is a H/C romance and I promised my readers that it was going to be rainbows and butterflies in the end, it will be fairly predictable. But of course, you can't possibly foresee everything that will happen, so I hope you'll read and review. Thanks so much!

To BirdFace: OMG! Birdface! I'll never forget it. :cracks up: Thanks soo much gurl for reading my story, I love love love you you my BFF…keep reading! (and meet your death lol…we had quite the interlude with cuteness didn't we? Haha)

To wb: Oh gosh…I think that's the nicest review I've ever gotten. Thank you so so so much, you have no idea what those compliments mean to me. I'll be sure to dedicate my next H/C fic to you. I'm so flattered that you like my writing style. You should def. write a story of your own, I love love love H/C stories and I will def. r/r. Keep reviewing to the end and thanks again for all your support!

To LunaDea: Wow! I'm so happy that I picked up a new reader this late in the game and I think that what you had to say really hit home—I'm glad that I adhered to what I wanted to write even though I may have lost some reviewers and I'm happy to see that some people respect me for me. Anyway, I'm going to do my next H/C chapter by chapter so we'll see how that turns out and I hope that you read it! Thanks for your support! P.S. I've always thought Cho to have lots of integrity and so that's how I wrote her—I'm glad you see it, too!

Chapter 17: Just Enough Heart

Madam Hooch stood in the center of the Quidditch field, Quaffle in hand.

Dean Thomas, stood at the podium, adeptly taking over Lee Jordan's announcing job. He even had the same lack of objectiveness when it came to a Gryffindor match.

Madam Hooch blew her whistle and the game began.

It was a breezy day, still wet from yesterday's rain, but conditions were amicable for Quidditch. There wasn't a breath of wind.

Dean's voice roared throughout the Pitch, "There goes Davies, with Quaffle in hand!"

The crowded roared.

Cho was finding it difficult to fly. She was wrapped up in emotions with Harry so close. For the first time in months, she was glad that he was actually looking at her. I'm sure he just wants to study me to find the Snitch, nothing more. Yet it almost seemed that Harry was more intent on flying next to her than focusing on the game.

Dean's voice was heard in the distance, "…another save by Ron Weasley! That's right, Gryffindor rages on, with the best keeper, the best seeker…"

"Dean!" Professor McGonagall shouted from her box seat. Dean looked at her with an apologetic expression.

Harry pulled out his wand and the ring box, gripping the small figure very tightly, praying the sweat from his fingers didn't make the box slip right through them.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" he murmured at the box and watched it fly high into the air.

He was sure people were starting to throw him funny looks but the zipping motions of his teammates constantly surrounding him reminded him that everyone was absorbed in the game. Good, Harry thought while he finished levitating the ring box into the air. He didn't want to make a mistake—he couldn't afford to have anything or anyone mess this up.

Cho, who had been flying around the Pitch dodging blunders, didn't notice what Harry had done.

Draco watched his girlfriend intently from the Slytherin stand. To her left, he had noticed what Harry had done and became nervously curious. What is the blazes in Scarhead doing? he thought. He looked around him. Most of his fellow Slytherins were sulkily watching the game, not bothering to cheer on either team. Crabbe and Goyle were sharing a titanic-sized box of Every Flavor Beans.

Draco scowled at himself. Why was he so worried? Potter was probably just looking for the Snitch. He was angry at the paranoid voice he kept hearing in the back of his head. Draco smiled slightly as he watched Cho zoom swiftly and skillfully on her broom around the field. Cho was his girl now. Potter had blown his chance with her…indefinitely, Draco thought and smirked.

Cho, seeing a small round object floating not too far in the distance, quickly steered her Comet 260 high into the air and caught the round object in her skilled fingers. "I got it!" she screamed.

Ravenclaw started cheering profusely.

Harry turned to Dean and gave him some kind of hand signal.

Dean cleared his throat, "As much as it sounds like favoritism to my own house, Cho Chang has not caught the Snitch." The crowd instantly stopped cheering. Cho looked extremely confused. Dean continued, loudly, "Cho…Harry requests that you open what've you caught. I believe it's a box." Dean turned to look at the people around him; student and teacher alike were baffled and annoyed that Dean apparently knew about this interruption in the game.

Hooch, McGonagall and Flitwick all rose to protest when Dumbledore waved a hand over the crowd to silence everyone. "Let Mr. Thomas say what he must." The headmaster beamed brightly at Harry, with an all-knowing smile. Dumbledore seemed to be of the very few who knew exactly what was going to happen.

Cho opened her fingers and used her thumb to flick open the box. She nearly fell off her broom when she saw what was inside. Slowly, Cho drifted toward the ground and Harry followed her. She hovered, her feet just off the grass, and gazed at Harry with wonder.

Harry enunciated, his voice loud and clear. "Cho…" he began, and to everyone's surprise, the entire Pitch could hear him. The crowd had grown unbelievably entranced and silenced.

Cho stared into Harry's eyes and began shaking slightly.

"Cho…" Harry continued. "I suppose you're wondering what's going on. Well, it's something I learned from Ron…who is, by the way, perfectly happy and back with Hermione…"

Cheers erupted throughout the Pitch. Ron beamed brightly and looked at Hermione in the stands. She was grinning like a wildcat.

Harry looked at Cho once more. "I learned from Ron what had gone wrong. I don't want it to slip away—what we worked so hard to keep together. I lost control and I have to admit that I've never felt as depressed as when I thought I'd lost you to Malfoy."

Cho was frozen.

"Luckily, I found a solution that will hopefully glue us together forever. This ring—this engagement ring. Cho, I know we're young and foolish, but surely, after graduation and after we've settled down…can you find it in your heart to be with me? And forgive me? Forgive me for being the world's biggest prat. I never meant to abandon you after what happened…I was just so caught up and angry about the situation. I couldn't understand why you didn't realize that Malfoy pretended to be me…and then when you starting seeing him, I figured you were taking his side. I refused to believe that a Malfoy could really be sorry about anything." Harry finished softly.

"I was wrong, Cho. And I swear that this time I'm going to make it right. Do you still—er—love me like you said you always would? Because if you do…" Harry stammered, "Um…I'm hoping you'll say you'll marry me…someday."

The crowed gasped. Cho stayed silent, her expression unreadable.

Harry finished awkwardly, "Hence the ring and all…." he chuckled nervously.

Harry looked down at Draco, whose mouth was agape in the Slytherin stand.

"I was never angry with you, Cho. I'm angry with myself for acting so irrationally, but I can solemnly swear that through marriage, I'll never hurt you again—I wouldn't be able to break that sacred bond. I've really had enough of the silly rows and misunderstandings that kept us apart for all these months."

Cho was still frozen.

"I'm kind of hoping you'll let me off the hook here…if it isn't too late. I promise I'll make up for all that we've been through this year." Harry spoke softly. He felt his voice starting to die as well as the sense of optimism in his heart. He blushed the colour of his robes. Cho wasn't speaking, or moving.

He tried one last time, "Marriage requires…just enough heart. That's what I'm willing to give, Cho."

Cho finally open her mouth and repeated his words dryly, "Just enough heart." She spoke so only Harry could hear her.

But she didn't say anything else. Harry had begun to lose hope. Hermione started to unwind her crossed fingers in the stand. Ron looked down from the goals. Harry felt a tear trickle down his cheek. Many of the other students had started to cry as well. Marietta felt hot tears gushing down her face, Lavender and the Patil twins had started to cry. Even Pansy Parkinson had let go of her hard composure and stifled a sniffle.

Harry croaked, "I understand."

Cho looked sadly at Harry—except, she wasn't really looking at Harry. She was looking behind Harry. Harry turned around and the entire school, teacher and student alike, let their eyes follow his move.

"Draco." Cho said softly as she looked sadly at the blonde boy who had flown onto the Pitch with his broom.

Harry saw Draco hovering behind him. He wondered what Cho was thinking. She was staring at nothing but Draco.

The Pitch was unbelievably quiet, and the lack of wind helped everyone to hear Cho's voice.

"Draco…" Cho began loudly. "I want you to know that these past few months haven't been a joke. I think you've really shown everyone that deep down, you can be a good person. I have grown to really admire you…maybe it's something a girl feels about the boy she's lost her virginity to. But you have to understand that despite how close you and I have gotten, I have always….always…loved Harry."

Draco's expression had grown into desperation. "But Cho—I love you. You made me feel. Potter just abandoned you there in the hospital wing…"

Cho nodded, "I know. He did. I love the person you've become—but that's not the same kind of love. I can't give my heart to you, Draco," she choked, "if it's already been taken." She paused. "I've known Harry…as my D.A. teacher, my friend, my boyfriend, my Quidditch rival, even an annoying prat... I've known Harry in all the ways that go beyond sex… I've known him…all this time." Cho glanced at Harry. "I knew you would come back." She looked back at Draco, his sad face, his glorious yellow hair, his pretty blue eyes that were already starting to grey…

"I'm really sorry, Draco. I hope you understand." Cho spoke.

Draco nodded and his now smoky gray eyes showed both disappointment and understanding. He slowly backed his broom away from Cho and Harry.

Cho continued loudly with a sob and, turned back to Harry. "I've always loved you, Harry. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to spend the rest of my life with you. But I just don't—"

Harry, feeling dejected, interrupted, "If you feel marriage isn't necessary…"

Cho spoke angrily, "Let me finish, Harry! I was going to say that I just don't see why you hadn't asked me sooner. I mean, what could be more necessary?"

Harry exclaimed, "So you're saying yes!" Harry's eyes brightened instantly and he almost felt like reaching out and holding the girl he loved at that moment. Harry wobbled dangerously on his broom, almost falling off due to his euphoric state. He attempted to ask for Cho's confirmation once more but this time, he kept a huge lump in his throat. Time had stopped.

The sweet melody of Cho's voice had put the world into motion again. She laughed and said with conviction, "I'm saying yes! For Merlin's sake, Harry!"

Harry flew to Cho and in one smooth movement had transferred his body onto her broom, letting his Firebolt fall to the ground. Cho nearly fell off. Facing Cho, Harry held her waist with one hand and took the ring with his other hand. He slipped it easily onto her finger.

The entire crowd cheered. Hermione jumped up and down in the stands.

Harry smiled and looked at Cho brightly, "We must have just enough heart. I love you, Cho."

Harry re-positioned himself the right way on Cho's Comet 260 and Cho wrapped her arms around Harry's middle.

The headmaster's blue eyes gleamed brightly through his glasses and Dumbledore looked at McGonagall, who was sitting next to him and sobbing softly. "This is so romantic, Albus."

Dumbledore nodded, "This is what he needed after Sirius. He has so much love to give."

Draco flew down onto the Pitch and walked back to the Slytherin crowd. He took a seat next to Pansy, who had given him a faint smile. Walking right past her, he exited the Pitch and kept walking, head up high, realizing the pain of defeat but accepting that Cho was happy and well.

Ron whistled loudly after Harry and Cho as the broom wandered off in the distance.

Practically every single bystander seemed to stand up on their chairs and cheer for Harry and Cho, throwing Gryffindor and Ravenclaw flags onto the Pitch. No one was thinking about the most important Quidditch game of the season, for a new event was consuming the thoughts of the students at Hogwarts: Harry and Cho's wedding.

Cho turned around on her broom, seeing the people on the Pitch getting smaller and smaller. She waved, feeling happier than she had ever been. She rested her head on Harry's shoulder as he flew them away into a new world—a world just for the two of them.

A/N: But WAIT? Is that an epilogue I see? Haha, more like an end note, really…read on!