Dark Days Pass But Are Never Forgotten
By: LogicalRaven

Yes, I know I messed up that last line. It was Moony not Moody speaking to himself. I knew I'd mess that up one of these days. Forgive me, please.

Well, I was going to update tomorrow, but I'm doing it early so I won't have any responsibilities on my birthday…that's right MY BIRTHDAY. So, I expect a review from each and ever one of you, consider it a birthday present of sorts. Better than a card containing Floo powder anyway. If you don't know want I'm talking about apparate over to and read the update on the Harry Potter fan who attempted to send him a birthday card, containing some mysterious white powder. It is well worth a small chuckle.

I'm running into a little bit of trouble with my story. I can see the long-term goal, but getting there has proven a challenge. This is a short chapter, and I apologize for that. This week has been rather hectic and I got preoccupied with PacMan on 's forum arcade. I'm in third place right now… I just love PacMan. Hope everyone has a great weekend, and I promise the next chapter will make up for the shortness of this one.

If anyone has requested joining my e-mail notification and hasn't received them, please e-mail me at I've gotten a few kick backs here lately and I want to make sure my list is updated. If you want to join, I'm still adding names to the list, just drop me a line.

Thanks again to everyone who is reading a reviewing….
Remember nothing is my own!

It Doesn't Feel Right



Exhausted and covered in a feeling that she couldn't shake, Cho made her way to a familiar bed that she didn't consider her own. Marietta was out for the evening, so she would be able to sleep off the feeling she felt engulfing her in peace. Here in this small empty flat she found the solitude that she so desperately needed.

It seemed ages ago she was walking in the corridors of the Academy with Harry. The memory of it had all but slipped her mind until that moment. He seemed changed. Perhaps it was because he had found peace in the wall of the Academy as well. Inside the halls where great Aurors had been trained, was an escape. You didn't have to worry about what people outside thought, mainly because you didn't have time to think.

With a quick yawn she pulled her robes off and climbed into a long tee shirt. The sheets were cool on her toes as she pushed her feet downwards. With a quick smile she closed her eyes.

"Dunno, a nobody…"

She sighed as Eros's voice rang through her head. Could she never get away from work? She couldn't place her finger on why that comment had struck such a cord with her. Then like a ton of bricks it hit her.

Cho remember the months after Cedric's death. She had searched the Prophets for some explanation of what happened that night, but the wizarding paper hadn't thought he was worth mentioning. She felt that sickness rising in her throat as she remembered thinking that everyone in the wizarding world thought Cedric was a nobody. He was so much more than any of them would ever know.

A frown crept across her face as she remembered his soft hand when it would seize hers in the hallways of Hogwarts. It had been a sweet dream that ended in a bitter nightmare. She barely remembered her former self. She knew there had been a time when she'd walked with her friends laughing and talking about silly nonsense.

Cho flipped quickly onto her right side as she took a few deep breaths. She wasn't going to let herself have another breakdown. Not now. Her mind continued to wander as thought about those innocent weeks before the Yule Ball. She wouldn't have thought Cedric or Harry would have selected her for a partner. Not one, but two Hogwart's champions were competing not only for the Tri-Wizard Cup but her heart.

Cedric had been so simple to say yes to, no stutters, no fear. He merely had taken her hand and asked if she'd give him the honor of escorting her to the ball. Harry on the other hand had gotten tongue tied at his words. A distinction of approaches Cho had attributed to age. Now, many years later it seemed that wasn't the case at all. Harry was a very different person that Cedric was, and she loved both of them for different reason as well. A smile returned to her forced sleeping face for a second then something new hit her.

Harry wasn't Cedric and would never be. Was it possible that Cho loved Harry because she thought he was in some part Cedric? It was something she had often wonder and feared.

"No," Cho said to herself as she shook the thought from her head, "I didn't love Cedric. I love Harry."

No matter how many times she tried to convince herself of that she never could quite manage it. Finally exhaustion took its grasp and her eyelids flickered and closed. Her mind wandered in and out of consciences until all her woes were distant.

She was back at Hogwarts surrounded by many of her former friends.

"You're so lucky, Cho," Alexandria Smitty, a Ravenclaw in Cho's year, said with a giggle, "Cedric is so handsome."

Cho blushed slightly as she strained to get a better look. It had been nearly twenty minutes since Cedric had entered into the maze. They had heard Fleur scream not long ago, and now there were red sparks flying though the air.

"It's Krum! He's out!"

Cho felt her heart get lighter. Hogwarts was going to win! The only two champions who were left in the maze were Cedric and…Harry.

Suddenly a loud rumble of thunder shook the stands as the giggling friends around Cho began to fade. She didn't move as she peered further over the rail of stadium, determined to see what had happened.

"HE'S DEAD!"

Cho's heart stopped. This memory was different. During the real Tri-Wizard tournament everyone had charged the field, now she was alone in the stands as a bitter wind blew threw her hair.

Cho's feet carried her down the stairs and towards the entrance of the maze. Her eyes begging for a look at who was laying on the ground motionless. Suddenly her legs quit working and she crashed to her knees.

His eyes were green…wide open and green.

She felt her chest constrict as she collapsed. She was suffocating… she couldn't get her lungs to start working again. Her body seemed to have forgotten how to function.

"Harry, not Harry," she chocked out, but her words went unheard. The rain began to fall as puddles of mud suddenly began to appear. She leapt forward and seized Harry's cold hand and tried to pull him closer but the mud started pulling him down, away from her.

"No," she cried as she felt her fingers slipping.

"NO!" she shrieked and sprang up in her bed.

"Cho," Marietta was sitting next to her with a sympathetic expression, "It's alright. You were just having a bad dream."

Cho tried to catch her breath as she felt Marietta wiped her hands across her sticky face. She couldn't speak as she quivered with fear.

"It's alright…just take a deep breath," Marietta said softly brushing Cho's hair out of her face.

"Harry, is …" Cho tried but failed as her tears started falling again.

"Shhh, just relax. Everything is fine," Marietta continued. She had practice-calming Cho out of bad dreams. It had been Marietta that had been there everytime Cho had woken up the years following Cedric's death.

Cho shook slightly and took another deep breath. Marietta tipped a glass of water up to her lips and she felt her nerves calming slightly.

"Was it the Tri-Wizard dream again?" Marietta asked.

Cho looked at her and lowered her head, "It was different this time…"

"Different?" Marietta asked, rubbing a cold towel across Cho's forehead.

"It wasn't Cedric this time. It was—Harry," Cho said guardedly.

Marietta sighed, "Harry is fine. It was just a bad dream."

Cho sighed, "It was more than a dream. It was…"

"A dream. You have to get a hold of yourself. How long are you going to keep living in the past with the memories of a dead boy?" Marietta asked.

"I'm not living in the past," Cho said sharply, "I haven't thought about Cedric…"

"You're still dreaming about him. You think you're in love with Harry Potter but you just don't see it," Marietta said in frustration.

Cho narrowed her eyes, "I am in love with Harry."

"No you aren't. You feel like you are in love with Harry because he's your only link to Cedric," Marietta finally blurted out.

Cho stopped and looked at her a moment before responding, "You don't understand."

"Cho, you have to move on."

"I love Harry," Cho repeated before jumping to her feet.

"Why are you so stubborn?" Marietta hissed, "I'm just trying to help you."

"Then stop acting like you know what's best for me! I have enough people telling me I don't know what I want. If you really want to be my friend then accept what I am and who I love-- support me," Cho pleaded in frustration.

Marietta bit her lip and her hand lingered up toward her forehead as if she were remembering a bitter memory, "You know I don't like Harry Potter and his lot."

"I'm not asking you to like him," Cho said softly.

Marietta smiled mischievously, "If you're so in love with him, what are you doing here?"

Cho lowered her head, now it was her time to feel ashamed, "I'm afraid he doesn't love me anymore."

"Aren't you an Auror?" Marietta asked.

Cho nodded.

"Well, I thought your lot was suppose to be fearless or something," Marietta commented.

Cho chuckled at the comment, "I'm afraid I'm going to lose him."

Marietta sighed, "It's apparent you think your dream was more than a dream. I think you should go straight to Harry and tell him your theory."

"He's in the middle of his assessment," Cho retorted.

"Can you stop making excuses for once in your life?" Marietta snapped.

"I'll talk to him first thing tomorrow, alright?" Cho said quickly, noticing Marietta's frustration beginning to pop.

"I'm holding you to that," Marietta warned.

Hogwarts was still drafty. The halls whirled with a chill that seemed to hurt your bones if you stayed still to long. December remembered these halls from two lifetimes, one as a student, one as a professor. The weight of recent events weighted heavily on her mind as she wondered why her feet had lead to the one place her heart feared.

The Defense Against the Dark Art's classroom had Lupin's touch with Dark Creatures in cages ready to be studied. She softly rapped on the office door and let it creak open. A smile touched her face as she caught sight her of old friend.

Remus Lupin had dozed off on his desk, with a stack of papers in front of him. She quietly closed the door behind her and grabbed a blanket off the couch as she passed. She tucked the corners around his shoulders causing him to stir then backed away quickly and took a seat on the couch. Remus settled back into his sleep, allowing December a chance to watch him.

He wasn't the Remus he had been before either. His once kind face was littered with wrinkles of trouble. His scars seemed even more noticeable and his frame seemed weak. He wasn't the Marauder that she remembered from her school years.

Remus Lupin was always the reasonable one. He was the Marauder you weren't intimidated to approach. His face was kind and free of pain, not like was now. His hair was almost completely gray as his fell lightly across his face giving it the appearance of something faded and forgotten.

She leaned back into the couch and pulled her knees into her chest. Something she hadn't done in years. Her lack of sleep began to catch up with her as she felt her eyelids growing heavy. She fought it; she had no desire to sleep right now.

Just when she was about to give in, a loud knock sounded and caused her to startle.

"Lupin."

Remus also jumped up as the blanket December had secured around his shoulders fell to the floor. In the door way stood a bitter looking Severus Snape with a large goblet of smoldering potion, "Did I interrupt something?"

Remus rubbed the space between his eyes and glanced around the room, catching sight of December relaxing on the couch; "No, Severus—you aren't interrupting anything."

Snape sneered and sat his goblet onto of Lupin's desk, "Be sure to finish the entire amount this time."

Remus nodded as Snape turned, whipping his cloak, and left the office. Remus sighed and turned the goblet up and chocked the potion down within a few gulps.

"Terrible?" December asked, noticing Remus disgusted face.

Remus smiled, "I think Severus takes pleasure in making it taste as foul as possible. Every month it gets worse."

December sighed and rose from her seat on the couch, "We may have a problem."

"A problem?" Remus asked.

"I was going to go straight to Dumbledore, but in India for a few more weeks. He's meeting with the High Chancellor to see if Camblabcess School of Witchcraft and Sorcery might be interested in participating in the next Tri-Wizard Tournament" December stalled, "Did you hear?"

"I had heard mention that the tournament might be reinstated next year again," Remus replied.

"No, about the attack," December said quickly.

Remus's eyebrows arched as he looked at her for a moment.

"Mad-Eye was attacked by Death Eaters," December revealed.

Remus sighed, "We expected that didn't we?"

"Not Death Eaters who still had the Dark Mark," December cut him short.

"The Dark Mark?" Remus asked.

December nodded, "Yes, the Dark Mark. What if we're wrong, what if you know who isn't dead."

"You think Harry was mistaken?" Remus asked.

December took a deep breath; "I'm only saying that Harry was the only one who witnessed the actually falling of ashes from the spell."

"And according to Dumbledore and our source in the Department of Mysteries he described it perfectly," Remus reminded her.

"But the Dark Mark…" December muttered, "I just think we should be safe rather than sorry."

"You want to reorganize the Order," Remus concluded.

December nodded, "Maybe we disbanded to quickly."

"It could just be another dark rising… it has happened before," Remus theorized.

"Perhaps—but last time they weren't still wearing the Dark Mark. I plan on talking to Dumbledore as soon as he returns," December sighed, "I just wanted to see what you thought."

"I think Harry destroyed Voldemort."

"I hope you're right. Harry's in a great deal of danger if we're wrong," December said firmly, with warning in her voice.

"Is Moody alright, then?" Lupin asked.

December bit her bottom lip, "That's the second situation… Moody's life was saved by Draco Malfoy."

"Lucius's son?"

"The only son," December confirmed, "Apparently he fought against the Death Eaters who attacked Moody."

"What are you wondering?" Remus said as he started to chew on the end of his quill.

"It doesn't seem to fit does it?" December stood up, "It doesn't matter. I was wondering if you could talk to Minerva for me?"

"Of course," Remus agreed, "She might be more help than I on the Malfoy question. She was his teacher much longer than I was."

"Indeed, I remember very little about the lad. I need to have a word with Severus as well," December sighed, "It would make sense that if the Dark Mark is indeed burning, Severus would feel it. Also he would know the location of the summon."

"He would have said something," Remus said quickly.

"Is it possible for a Dark Mark to be deactivated?" December asked, fear in her eyes as she brought this new theory to light.

Remus pinched his face and sighed, "I think it is to early to speculate about anything. I however do not this that it is Lord Voldemort working again. There isn't enough discord, the attacks seem to rash, to unplanned."

"So someone is trying to fill his place," December deduced.

"Most likely, but who would be able to use the Dark Mark, who would be powerful enough to wield that kind of power?" Remus asked, mostly to himself.

December sighed, "I think whoever it is, they're going to prove a worthy adversary. You've been in Azkaban since the fall, the Death Eaters don't believe he's dead."

"Why should they? They were told he was destroyed during the first fall, and he returned. I don't think anyone but Harry is completely convinced Lord Voldemort is gone forever. Even if he can't return, I fear that he will still haunt our world forever."

"It just doesn't seem right, does it?" December said bitterly, "Just when Harry starts to find a little normality in life, this happens again."

Remus chuckled at December's comment, "I don't think running for Minister of Magic is technically considered normal at his age."

"You know what I mean," December snapped.

"Of course," Remus conceded.

December turned the doorknob and looked back at Remus with a final glance, "You will be in touch after you've spoken to McGonagall?"

It was more of a statement than a question, but Remus gave her an assuring nod. With that she left.

Remus sighed as he started back towards his desk and caught sight of the blanket lying by his chair. His heart dropped and his hands lingered up towards his shoulder as the ache of an old memory haunted him.

"Harry, you awake?" Susan whispered with a nudged as Harry felt his eyelids pop open.

"Yea, just resting my eyes a bit," Harry said quickly and quitely with a stifled yawn.

Harry glanced around to see Noel staring intently out over the open field and Michael trying to fight sleep.

"How long is it that we're suppose to stake this location out again?" Michael finally asked as he jerked suddenly.

"Until they tell us it's time to move," Noel said sharply, not breaking her stare across the lawn.

Harry studied her for a moment then sighed, "What time is it?"

"Early, about two in the morning," Susan answered.
So this was the glorious career of an Auror? Stakeouts and patrols weren't nearly what Harry had imagined. They were down right horrid. The group had followed their mentors during the beginnings of their assessments and did a routine patrol. Now the final part was a stakeout.

"It's the anticipation. They want to see how long we can stay alert," Michael yawned, as he seemed to be thinking along the same lines as Harry.

Noel narrowed her eyes, but didn't break her concentration as she commented, "Well, then you would have already failed if I was distributing the grades."

"Thank Merlin you not," Harry hissed, flashing her a cold look.

"Nobody asked your opinion, Potter," she retorted.

Susan shook her head as she took a seat next to Noel and began watching across the field as well.

"I say we take turns taking naps," Michael suggested.

"The point of a stakeout is to test your endurance and your drive," Noel criticized.

Michael stretched, "I have plenty of endurance."

Susan let out a little snicker and seemed to break the tension.

"Sure, Corner, I'm sure you have plenty of endurance," Noel said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes and Harry and Susan started to laugh.

"The look on your face mate," Harry said as he tried to suppress his laughter.

Michael reached over and pegged Harry across the head, "You prat… should I ask Cho about your endurance."

Harry and Noel immediately stopped laughing as Susan continued for a moment, and then realized that the room had fallen silent.

Harry lowered his head, "That was low."

Michael shrugged.

"Hey, what's that?" Susan asked suddenly in a whisper as she pointed to a ruffle in the nearby bushes.

"Wands out," Harry said sharply matching her tone as everyone pulled out their wands.

The bushes rustled again and two figures emerged and started to converse in low voices.
Noel looked over and met Harry's eyes, the first time since she had let her eyes leave the field. Harry nodded and the two of them stood up with their wands drawn. Michael and Susan quickly followed suit.

"Stop where you are," Noel said firmly.

The two figures jumped quickly and made a motion as if they were going for their wands.

"Hands were we can see them," Harry said quickly, "Or we'll be forced to hex you."

One figure stopped and raised his hands but the other whipped out his wand.

"Expelliarmus," Noel quickly disarmed him and within minuets the figures were in binds.

"How many more are you meeting?" Harry demanded.

One of the figures spat at him, and Noel quickly let her open hand smash against his face, "Show some respect."

"We're meeting two more…they'll be here any second."

Harry glanced over his shoulder and looked over at Michael and Susan, "Get these two into hiding."

"What are you going to do?" Michael asked as Harry snatched the dark cloaks off the two figures.

Noel seized one of the cloaks catching on to Harry's plan immediately, "Go!"

Michael pulled the defiant prisoner to his feet and shoved him towards their original stake out point; Susan willingly led the other one. Harry threw one of the cloaks over his shoulder and Noel mimicked him. Within second they heard two cracks and two more cloaked figures started to approach.

"I'll disarm, you bind," Harry mouth to Noel silently as they both held their wands defensively.

The two got barely in view when Harry threw off his cloak and yelled, "Expelliarmus!"

Noel followed Harry's lead binding and securing the prisoners.

"Textbook," Noel smirked as she rolled one of the figures over to reveal the smiling face of Tonks.

"Well, done you two," she greeted.

"Master Tonks," Harry said looking slightly relieved.

"It wasn't suppose to be that easy," Tonks said quickly as Harry removed the ropes binding her. She attempted to stand but tripped, "I wasn't suppose to be caught."

"Who are the other suspects?" Noel asked.

"Ministry officials who volunteered to help us out in this staged assessment," Tonks confessed.

Susan and Michael came out of their stakeout point and looked from Tonks to Harry and Noel.

"Did we do something wrong?" Susan asked.

Tonks smiled, "What was the goal of your mission?"

"To apprehend known Death Eaters who were planning on meeting in this location tonight," Susan said quickly.

Tonks grin lightly, "Then I think you passed with flying colors." Harry had to chuckle when the next step Tonks took she tumbled head over feet and landed on her rear with a thump taking Susan to the ground with her, "Sorry, must have missed that step."

"You're going to live."

Moody cracked open his eyes and groaned loudly, "Malfoy, where is Malfoy?"

"With the Minister discussing the provisions of his pardon," the nurse said quickly as she tried to drain a spoonful of pepper up potion down Moody throat.

"Get that blasted thing away from me!" Mad-Eye wailed as he knocked the spoon from the nurse's hand.

"Well, if you won't take your medicine, how do you expect to get better," the nurse fumed turning on her heels.

Moody jumped from his bed and re-secured his pegged leg onto its stump, "He's with Fudge, aye? Idiotic fool, if he sets him free our plan is ruined."

"Draco Malfoy saved your life sir," the nurse said softly, trying to tug Moody back into his bed.

"Nonsense, Malfoy has never saved anybody but himself. It's a trick I tell you, a set-up," Mad-Eye growled shoving the woman off.

"Mr. Malfoy has been set free sir," the nurse pleaded, "you can't do anything about that now. You need to rest."

Moody wild eye grew and he let out a gruff laugh, "Nothing I can do, aye?"

With that, he disapparated with a loud crack and reappeared at the entrance to the Ministry of Magic.

"Alastor, nice to see you feeling better old chap. Heard you took a nasty hit," Kimper Drugstane from the Department of International Cooperation said as he passed.

Moody snarled as he stared at the spot Drugstane had touch him, "Where is Fudge?"

"The Minister is on landing ten if I'm not mistaken. Finishing up Mr. Malfoy's paperwork and all," Drugstane commented, "Minister Fudge asked me to help find him a job in my division. Kind of a role model for Death Eaters who have changed their ways and all."

"Malfoy is the same snarling beast of a Death Eater he always was," Moody said loudly and snapped his magical eye in Drugstane direction. He didn't wait for a response as he took the platform up to the tenth floor.

He caught sight of Fudge with his arm around Malfoy like it was his own son; "You fool!"

"Ah, Alastor Moody, come to offer thanks to your rescuer?" Fudge greeted, "I didn't think they'd release you so quickly."

"Thanks?" Moody said in a gruff, "I wouldn't offer my thanks to that weaseling ferret…"

Fudge seemed a bit taken back as he looked at Alastor with a pale face, "Now see here Alastor. Master Malfoy here saved your life the other day, I do believe thanks are in order."

"He did no such thing," Moody snapped, "If anything he set up the attack in the first place. They were there to rescue him, and now you've played right into his hands."

"Are you questioning…" Fudge started, turning slightly red.

"Damn straight I'm questioning you. You miss the charitable donations the Malfoys placed in your greedy back pocket. You can't see past yourself, Fudge, that has always been your problem."

"I will not take this type of insolence. I am still your superior," Fudge barked.

Moody cocked his head sideways allowing Fudge to get a clear view of Moody mad eye, "Malfoy is not going to be set free until he fulfills his obligation."

"I have the authority to change that," Fudge said firmly.

"He is under my authority! He's sneaky and I will not be made a fool!" Moody barked back.

Fudge narrowed his eyes, "I think it's time we discuss your retirement from the force. It appears your paranoia had finally managed to distract you from your job."

"I've already retired," Moody snapped, now eyeing Malfoy who was standing silent.

"Perhaps it's time to consider a long term retirement then," Fudge said shortly.

Moody laughed, "Firing me now, are you? Well, go ahead and strip me of my titles, you won't be Minister much longer now anyway."

"WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSE TO MEAN?" Fudge erupted.

Moody smirked, "Your office is slipping away as we speak. Any ruling you make won't be long term, now will it? Soon you'll have about as much authority as that plant in the corner. Malfoy is going to placed back in my care or in Azkaban, it is his choice."

"I have granted Draco amnesty. He is a free wizard," Fudge said clearly.

Draco finally spoke up, "I still plan on fulfilling my side of the deal. I still want to bring my father to justice."

"Another setup aye, Malfoy?" Moody said threatening.

"Upset I'm not going to be your slave anymore, Moody?" Malfoy retorted.

Moody blinked hard and his hand shook near his wand, "You may have Fudge fooled, but I'd pray Potter doesn't take office if I were you."

Draco Malfoy stood cold as Alastor Moody walked away. His peg leg hitting the ground in a loud thump with ever step.

I could add a bit more, but I love this last scene….

NEXT UPDATE: 07-25-04