Chapter 4
Harry awoke the next day and dressed himself. He told himself that he would have to get some more clothes because these just would not do any longer. He made his way downstairs to the kitchen to make some breakfast for himself. He found some eggs and bacon and set to work preparing himself a breakfast.
After years of being forced to this for the Dursleys, Harry had no trouble at all, (well, except for turning on the magical stove). Soon the room was filled with the smell of bacon and eggs.
Harry heard the door open and turned around expecting to see Remus but was instead shocked when he saw that it was Cho. For a few moments Harry did not know what to do. He was just staring at the girl he had a crush on for the past few years looking like a deer in headlights.
"Um, hi, Harry. I thought it was Professor Lupin in here," Cho said rather quietly a blush spreading across her face.
"Well, if it makes you feel any better I thought it was Remus coming in." Harry said finding his voice at last. Cho laughed a bit at Harry's weak attempt at a joke. "Umm, would you care for some breakfast, it's almost ready. There should be enough for two." He said gesturing at the sizzling bacon.
"Oh! Yes, thank you, Harry." Cho responded smiling slightly and causing Harry to blush.
The next few minutes passed in silence as Harry finished the breakfast and served a plate to Cho before setting a plate for himself and sitting down across the table from her.
Harry watched in trepidation as she took a bit of bacon. Her eyes widened and she looked at Harry and exclaimed, "Wow! This is the best bacon I've ever had, Harry. Not even Hogwarts gets it this good!"
Harry smiled and responded, "Yeah they make it too crispy there."
Cho's eyes widened even more and she said, "Yes, that's it exactly."
They looked into each other's eyes for next few moments before remembering that they still had food to eat. An awkward silence followed before Harry broke the silence asking how the professional quidditch was going this year. They made light conversation about pro quidditch until they finished. Harry took her plate and rinsed it off along with his own. Harry really had no idea what to say to her. He wasn't even sure the nature of their relationship, last year he was pretty pissed off at her and he was fairly certain she held similar sentiments for him. Since then he had calmed down and put things into perspective, but for all Harry knew, she could still be pretty upset with him and just acting polite towards him because she doesn't want to openly say that she can't stand him. Harry decided it would be best if he just let her be for a while. He turned and said good bye and made to leave the kitchen.
"Wait, Harry. Before you go there's something I wanted to tell you."
"What's that, Cho?" he asked anxiety building in his chest.
"Well I just wanted to thank you for saving me from those two muggles. If you hadn't been there . . . they . . ." but she couldn't finish before breaking down and sobbing.
Harry felt incredibly awkward just standing there but he really didn't know what to do. It was like the two of them together would always result in her crying. He went over to her and gently put his hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Cho."
Before he knew what had happened she had flung herself into his chest and he found himself with his arms instinctively wrapped around her holding her tight as she sobbed into his chest. He noticed that he really must have grown this summer already because he was now a head taller than her, as opposed to being the same height as she was last year. He noticed that she really seemed to fit in perfectly under his chin and her body fitting so perfectly with his arms around her.
After a few minutes she stopped crying but made no movement to be released from Harry's soft embrace. She looked up into his eyes and slowly rose up on her toes as Harry almost in a trance lowered his face. Their faces slowly moved closer together until their lips brushed against each other. Harry felt as though an electric shock had just gone through his body as his lips met hers. And slowly their lips met again in gentle kiss that slowly became more and more firm. Harry could feel Cho's lips begin to part –
"What's that incredible smell?"
Harry and Cho broke apart just as Remus entered the room. "Hey you two, I see you're already up and . . . what's going on here?" Remus said, now fully taking in the situation of Harry and Cho standing about three feet apart both breathing very heavily with Cho having tear streaks down her cheeks.
"Umm, nothing, Remus," Harry said a little breathlessly.
A small almost indistinguishable smile appeared on his face, "Oh is that so well do you know what it looks like to me?"
"What's that?" Harry said, a feeling a dread building.
"It looks to me like the two of you have some explaining to do, standing so close to each other, breathing heavily, faces flushed, and now looks of fear on both your faces as though you've just been caught."
Harry felt his mouth go completely dry, what was he going to say?
"I never would have guessed. Harry, you of all people! How could you disappoint me like this?"
"Remus, we -" Harry started to explain.
"Oh no! I don't want any explanation from either of you. I should write Dumbledore right now and tell him this." Harry just wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out. But Remus continued, "Did you really think you could get away with it? Did you really think you could eat bacon and eggs without me noticing?"
Harry and Cho just stared at Remus before he burst out laughing. Harry stood dumbly before his brain started to work again. He couldn't believe it. Remus had just gotten him so bad. Harry shook his head and started laughing too, Cho also started laughing. Remus was laughing he had tears streaming down his face. After a few minutes when Remus had dried his eyes he looked back up at the two teenagers and said, "I guess I can forgive you this once but be warned that I will tolerate no such transgression again in this house."
Harry and Cho both nodded still smiling and blushing furiously. "Oh and you two should get ready. I'm taking you both to Diagon alley today. Cho, your parents are going to pick you up after we've gotten all your supplies."
"Okay, Professor," she replied.
Remus gave an exasperated sigh and said, "I'm not your professor anymore, why can't you call me Remus?"
Cho laughed and apologized before leaving the room. Harry was about to leave when Remus called his name. He turned and saw the werewolf wink at him before smiling and turning to make himself breakfast. Harry had a smile on his face as he went back upstairs to take a shower and get changed. He was still smiling as they met at the fireplace a half hour later ready to go to Diagon alley.
Harry arrived at the fireplace almost the same time as Cho, Remus was waiting for them. "Well I just received a fire call from the Headmaster just before you came here, so I'm going to have to let you two go on to Diagon Alley without me. Before I forget, here are your booklists. These aren't supposed to be mailed out for another week, but this way you can beat the rush and get the freshest copies and all that. I'll meet you for lunch at Florean's at 12:30."
Harry didn't even bother to question Remus about where he was going because he knew that Remus wouldn't be able to tell him. Instead he calmly took his list from the werewolf and said meeting his gaze, "Be careful . . . please."
Remus bent over just a few inches so that he and Harry were looking at each other evenly and said very solemnly, "I will be, Harry. It's okay. I'll see you at half past noon."
Harry nodded and looked over to Cho who had a look on her face showing that she didn't understand what was going on but did see that she shouldn't interfere. Cho gave him a small smile and looked to Remus who nodded and held out a jar of floo powder. She took a pinch and threw it into the fireplace and stepped in saying loudly, "Diagon Alley," in a green flash she was gone.
Harry took a pinch and threw it into the fireplace and stepped in, but before saying the words he met Remus's gaze one last time and suddenly felt just how deeply he was concerned for Remus. The very last person whom Harry could ever truly look up to as a father figure stood before him, standing there, smiling, moments from embarking on some mission that could very easily end in his death. Who would be left then? Harry pushed these thoughts out of his mind and nodded at Remus, who returned the gesture before yelling out, "Diagon Alley," and being swept away through the multitude of fireplaces that make up the floo network.
Harry finally emerged through the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron, coughing up a bit of soot he took the hand that was outstretched in front of him. Pulling himself to his feet he realized that the hand belonged to Cho. Immediately the sensation of fire coursing through his veins returned this time coming from where his palm and fingers came into contact with hers. Meeting her gaze they stood like that for a few moments grasping the others hand, lost in each other's eyes until a particularly loud sneeze from the pub brought them back to reality and they broke apart blushing furiously and refusing to look much above the ground.
Clearing his throat he tried to act casually and said, "Well I guess that uh, we should be umm, getting to our . . . you know."
"Oh yeah! Yeah, let's go." Cho responded back awkwardness flooding into her voice.
And with that they made their way to the brick wall where Cho used her wand to open the bricks to the wizarding alley. Harry told Cho that he would need to stop at Gringott's to get some money from his vault, Cho said she needed to do likewise and so they made their way to Gringotts.
Walking into the impressive marble building Harry and Cho noticed that the bank was surprisingly quiet. Probably because no one is here yet for their shopping, Harry thought. After telling the goblin that received them what they needed, they were taken to a cart and were soon flying through the seemingly endless caves under London. Harry looked at Cho next to him and found himself in awe that such a beautiful girl would find the near hazardous ride to be any kind of fun, but there was no mistaking the look of thrill on her face as the wind whipped her raven hair back.
In what seemed like no time the cart came to a stop at a vault that Harry concluded must be Cho's. Cho took a small golden key from her robes and turned the lock. The vault door swung open to reveal quite a large amount of galleons, sickles, and gnuts. She took a single bag full of galleons and closed the door. Harry noticed that she seemed to be blushing and looking down on the ground. Apparently she felt like what Harry felt like when the Weasely's saw his vault.
Both smiling they got back in the cart and set off again. In even less time than the previous ride the cart lurched to a stop in front of a vault that Harry immediately recognized as his. Just as he was about to open it he realized that even though she was quite well off by wizarding standards, he probably had just a bit more in his vault. How would she react? Would she be jealous? Would she resent him? Taking a glance at her he realized that there was no way he was going to do this without her looking in his vault. Sighing in resignation he turned the key and stepped back as the vault door swung open.
Next to him he could hear, Cho gasp, as the familiar sight of his family fortune met him. Trying to be as casual as possible he filled his money sack with galleons and turned to leave. But Cho was standing in the archway with her mouth hanging open. Noticing that Harry was looking at her, she regained her composure before clearing her throat and saying, "Harry, I . . . wow. Hehe, I never knew you were so rich."
Shrugging and blushing Harry said, "I'm not that rich."
"Oh, Harry! You can't be serious! There must be tens of thousands of galleons in here!"
Harry stepped back and surveyed his vault. Wait a minute. Unless Harry had never properly looked before it looked like his vault had almost doubled in size, maybe even more. This can't be right, Harry said to himself.
At this time the goblin said from behind them, "If we could please move along." Harry turned to him and said, "Is it just me or did someone put more money into my vault?"
The goblin seemed taken aback by the question but replied, "I may be mistaken but I believe that you received some kind of transfer of funds in accordance with a will of a recently deceased."
Realization hit Harry like a sack of bricks. Clearly Sirius left a will and had given some of his money to Harry. And of course because Sirius was the last of a very old pure blood family it would make sense that Harry had received quite a bit.
Harry suddenly felt very sad and he turned to get back on the cart.
"What's wrong, Harry?" Cho asked. Harry looked at her and could see the concern in her eyes.
Not really wanting to talk about it, he just said, "It's one of the few things that my parents left for me. But you know . . . I'd give every last gnut here, every single one, if I could have them back, or Sir-" Harry discontinued as his voice broke.
Looking at Cho he saw that a look of horror had come on her face as she quickly tried to explain, "Oh Harry! I didn't mean . . . I mean if I knew that . . ." but her voice failed her as Harry simply looked at her with eyes that spoke of so much loss and suffering it left her all but speechless.
Taking a breath Harry slowly and softly said, "It's okay Cho, but I've just come to realize that money can't buy happiness. Look at Malfoy, he's richer than any of us and yet he still needs to put others down to make himself feel good. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the measure of a man's gold doesn't measure the man. Some of the very happiest people I know can't even rub two galleons together . . . but their happiness . . . is something that I would give everything for."
Trying to stifle the tears that threatened to flood from his eyes he made his way back to the cart not daring to meet Cho's gaze. The cart returned them to the surface without incident. For a while Harry and Cho did not speak until Harry no longer able to bear the silence said, "Why don't we take care of our books first?"
"Sure," said Cho.
At Flourish and Blotts they split up saying that they would meet at the exit when they each had everything they needed. Harry quickly found all his books and was about to go after he picked up the last book, Advanced Transfiguration, when something caught his eye. A thick leather bound book entitled Animagus: The only Guide you'll ever need. Harry pondered for a moment before deciding that maybe it was time that he was a bit more proactive about learning magic. He added the book to his pile and made his way over to the counter to pay.
Harry only had to wait for a few moments before Cho paid for all her books and met Harry. "Find everything you need?" Harry asked trying to sound as casual and light as possible. He really hoped that what he said earlier about his parents wouldn't put too much of a damper on their day.
"Oh yes, I did. It looks like these books just came in, I don't think I've ever had such nice copies of my books before."
"Yeah me neither, but it makes little difference for me cause I'm pretty sure that by the end of this year they'll be just like all my other books . . . untouched." Cho laughed at his comment and the entire mood of the room seemed to lift. "Say, are you seventeen yet? You are, do you think you could shrink my books so I can just carry them in my pockets?"
"You know, Harry? That's a great idea, so you'd better cut it out. I'm the Ravenclaw here, you're making me look bad," Cho said with a laugh.
Harry laughed with her as she proceeded to shrink all of his books. "Animagus? You want to learn to become an animagus?" Cho asked upon seeing Harry's last book.
"What? Oh that. Ummm, I guess recent events have made me want to take up certain . . . traditions . . . it's something I know my father would have been proud of me for doing," Harry said.
"Well you know there have only been seven animagus this century. It's said to be one of the most difficult pieces of magic for a wizard to learn," Cho said handing the now shrunken book back to Harry.
Harry placed the book in his pocket and said, "Well I remember someone telling me in my third year that the Patronus Charm would be ridiculously advanced for someone at my magical level. As I recall it took less than half of the school year before I could summon a corporeal patronus, and that was with less time than we had for our D.A. I guess I just like doing what people are so sure is impossible . . . what can I say? It makes me feel like a big man," Harry said that last part in so overly an arrogant voice it could only be sarcastic.
Cho laughed at Harry's joke and Harry found himself noticing how much better her laugh made him feel than any thing in the past few weeks. Soon Harry found himself in an in-depth conversation about quidditch prospects at school.
They went to the Apothecary next so that Cho could buy potions supplies, Harry blushed from embarrassment when he had to tell her that he hadn't even come close to making it into Snape's N.E.W.T. class. Harry asked if that class was any more difficult than the potions classes in the years prior to N.E.W.T.'s. Her response was, "Harry, I pride myself on being able to do anything I really put my mind to, but that class is just . . ." Harry could tell that she wanted to say "impossible" but instead ended by saying, "it's by far my hardest class. I actually had to convince my parents of how difficult it was because they thought I was too distracted this past year. I guess I can't blame them, I mean when Cedric died I felt like . . . like everything had changed . . . and nothing would ever be the same again. I guess I realized for the first time just how fragile our lives can be. Of course it took almost the entire summer for me to even be able to talk about it."
Harry didn't quite know what to say. For one thing her voice didn't hesitate or tremble when she said his name. She sounded as though she really had made peace with his death. Harry wondered if he would ever be able to get over Sirius. No, he thought, I don't ever want myself to be at peace with his death. Not until I have my vengeance, looking down at his hand he saw that the gash he had made a few weeks ago, had all but healed except for the faintest of scars.
Instead of asking exactly how she had coped with his death, he asked her something else that he wondered, "What are your parents like?"
Cho almost seemed caught off guard as she looked over with a surprised face and said stammering a bit, "Well I guess they're just your average parents, you know?"
Harry laughed a bit and said, "Well, Cho the thing is I don't know. I mean what do they think of you playing quidditch? Are they proud? Did they play when they went to school? Do they have high expectations from you?"
Cho laughed a bit herself now and said, "Well as far as quidditch goes, I'm the first in my family to have any kind of talent on a broom –"
"And quite a talent if I don't say so, myself," Harry interrupted.
Cho laughed and blushed saying, "Well, anyway my parents are proud that I'm able to do something like that, but only because I manage to keep my grades up. You see they were both in Ravenclaw and as such they place academics very highly. They both received 15 O.W.L.'s at Hogwarts, so they expected me to do the same."
"Did you?" Harry asked curiously.
"Barely. I thought I would fail History of Magic because I was out all night with Cedric . . ." Cho hesitated and then looked down. Harry could tell that as much she claimed to be over Cedric's death, she still had some issues.
Harry didn't know what to do so he did the only thing that felt right, he enveloped her in a hug much like what they had done earlier this morning. Except this time Cho returned the hug holding Harry and Harry held her.
They stood like that for only a few moments before Cho broke apart looking embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Harry. It's just that we spent the night stargazing out in front of the lake . . . making plans for the summer." She sniffled and continued, "That was four days before the third task."
She and Harry continued to walk in silence for a few minutes, which Harry took as an opportunity to check his watch. It was ten of noon. Telling this to Cho they agreed to go to Florean's and wait for Remus.
Harry now asked a question that had been bugging him for a little while now, "Cho, erm, I don't mean to pry but that night . . . in Surrey . . . well . . . why were you there? I mean if it's not my business then, you know . . . but I was just curious."
Cho sighed as though she was waiting for him to ask this question, "Well, my parents decided to go on a vacation by themselves because it was their 20th Anniversary this year. So that means for two weeks I had to go stay with my aunt and uncle who live in Surrey. I don't see them too often because they don't get along to well with my parents. I guess my parents just don't think that wizards should live among muggles. Anyway, they're really nice people but they just have no idea how to treat a seventeen-year old girl. And they have no kids of their own so that means for four weeks I was going to be essentially by myself." Here Cho paused and began to blush as she continued, "I remember you saying that you lived on Privet Drive in Surrey, so the reason I was out that night was to try and figure out where you lived so I could just have someone to talk with.
"But my aunt and uncle really didn't want to let me just go and wander around the streets, so one night I just snuck out hoping that I could find you. Well I never got the chance because those muggles found me first."
Harry saw Cho shudder at the memory before she continued. "After you saved me, people started showing up and we were both soon taken to that house. Professor Dumbledore turned up and asked me what happened. I told him about everything that you did. After he said that I should probably get back to my aunt and uncle's house. I told him that I would really much rather stay with you and he said that would be just fine." Harry could've sworn she had actually blushed when she told him that she wanted to stay with him, but let her continue without interrupting. "He sent an owl to my parents and my uncle's explaining the situation. My parents almost came home early to make sure that I was alright. I practically had to force them to stay on their vacation. So I spent the next week with Prof . . . Remus waiting for you to come around."
Harry could see that she was trying to work up the confidence to ask a question and she did. "How did you do it? How did you beat those muggles? I mean you didn't have your wand or say any incantations. You just . . . I don't know."
Harry thought about his answer before saying, "Well, honestly Cho I don't know. I've never really done it before . . . well, nothing to that extent, anyway. I didn't really think about what I was doing, it was just like an instinct I never knew I had.
"When I woke up yesterday, Dumbledore told me that I seem to have the ability to control magic like a regular person controls an arm. No thought really, it just responds to what I want it to do. He called it something about being more like sorcery than wizardry."
Cho looked surprised and excited at the same time as she said with wide eyes, "Really? Could you do something small here just to show me?"
"Well, I really don't want everyone to know that I can do this just yet." Harry could see the disappointment in her eyes as he said this. Something in him when he saw this made him say very quickly, "but a small demonstration? I think I can do that. Umm . . ." looking for something small his eyes quickly rested on the salt shaker at the far end of their table. "Alrighty, see that salt shaker at the end of table? Here you take my wand to make sure that I'm not cheating." And with that he gave her his wand and concentrated on the salt shaker at the end of table. Slightly reaching out with his one hand he willed the salt shaker to slide across the table into his hand.
Nothing.
"Well? What are you going to do to the salt shaker?" Cho asked clearly not realizing that Harry had already failed in his attempt to do wandless magic.
"Well I'm just going to try and summon it, but I can't remember how I did it. Just give me a few moments," he said with a nervous laugh. To say that Harry was nervous was an understatement. What if he couldn't do it? What if Cho thought he was just lying?
Reaching out his hand again he willed with all his might that the salt shaker be in his hand. Nothing. Harry took a breath and forced himself to calm down. Clearly this wasn't like turning in a light switch. Closing his eyes he calmly focussed. Remembering exactly what he did before a quidditch match he slowly cleared his mind of all distractions, even Cho.
Opening his eyes in complete concentration he reached out but this time felt something inside of him. That surge of energy like just before diving after the snitch. Forming the image of the salt shaker sliding across the table to his hand in his mind he felt the energy deep inside him surge out slowly out of his hand and envelop the salt shaker. Without a sound the salt shaker slid as though on ice right into Harry's hand.
Cho let out a gasp and exclaimed trying to keep quiet, "Oh Harry that's brilliant! I wonder what all the people at school will say when they realize just how much you've changed!"
Harry smiled before confusion set in. "Oh come on, I haven't changed that much."
"Are you kidding? Look at yourself you're taller. You don't have glasses anymore. And it looks like you've grown some muscles . . ." Cho trailed off as she turned a shade of crimson along with Harry.
Harry for his own part could do nothing more than smile slightly as he blushed furiously. Checking his watch to see when Remus would show up he was surprised when he saw that it was 12:45. Remus was late.
Harry now sat in a kind of uncomfortable silence with Cho. He was wondering now if maybe after all this time he really did stand a chance at a relationship with Cho. Harry had put the events of the morning down as a total fluke, but maybe, just maybe there was still a chance. But he had to know some things first. "Cho, umm, I heard that at the end of last year that you were going out with Michael Corner. Is there still anything between you, because if there is you know you don't have to worry about this morning or whatever." Harry wanted to bash his head against something very hard after saying that but he forced himself to be calm as he waited for Cho's response.
For her part Cho seemed more embarrassed than he did. With her gaze cast down towards the ground she said so softly that Harry could barely hear her, "At the end of last year I was going out with Michael. But we broke up not too long ago."
Harry suddenly felt very bad for her, she deserved to have a decent social life even if his own was doomed to failure. "Oh, I'm sorry." Harry wanted to say more than that but just couldn't find anything else to say.
Cho didn't seem to notice as she said, "Well basically not long after school ended he came over to my house. I really thought that he was interested in me for me, but yet again it turned out to be a guy that was interested only in my looks. Well long story short, he wanted to get into my pants more than anything. I told him to go fuck himself. Forgive my language."
Harry was torn between laughing and blushing. "Well I guess that's good then. You deserve someone a whole lot better than that git. I still have no idea why he came to the D.A. Actually I think I can figure it out, he was going out with Ginny at the time and probably just wanted to get into her pants as well and was willing to put up with whatever she wanted so she would think he's a good guy and well . . . yeah."
Cho suddenly looked very inquisitively at Harry, "You've never had a girlfriend before have you, Harry?"
Harry paused before saying, "No. I guess I don't even want to bother with it. I mean I could probably find some girl who would put up with me and do . . . you know whatever, but it would only be because I'm Famous Harry Potter. I guess most girls can't see past my scar. Which is alright, I guess. I've seen how messed up people can get over relationships. And I'm sure that whoever went out with me would regret it anyway. Why do you ask?"
Cho suddenly looked confused, "Well the way you analyzed Michael Corner makes me think that you must have some experience with this kind of stuff. Harry, why do you think that any girl who would go out with you would regret it?"
Harry felt very uncomfortable now, "Well jeez Cho. You know what's going on. With Voldemort back it'd be a miracle if I can even finish Hogwarts. Unless a girl wants to have her heart broken she'd be foolish to hook up with someone like me."
"Harry. Let me tell you, a girl would be lucky to have you. I know that there's much more to you than a scar. Last year when we went to Hogsmeade together I thought you were just like every other guy who was interested in me. But you actually wanted to get to know me, you wanted to talk and just be with me. Even when I tried to coerce you into kissing me you resisted." Cho looked to the ground again embarrassed now, "I'll admit that before than I only wanted to go out with you because I knew you wouldn't reject me and that you were Harry Potter. I just wanted to use you to get over Cedric. But when you didn't want to kiss me in Hogsmeade I thought it was my fault somehow. I thought that I wasn't good enough for you and just left. I just wanted to feel like someone really liked me and let myself fall right into Michael's arms.
"After we broke up I realized what had really happened in Hogsmeade. I just felt so awful about it. That's why I wanted to see you when I went to Surrey."
Harry thought about what she said for a few moments before saying, "And this morning?"
Cho smiled ever so slightly, "Well I guess I just wanted to thank you for what you did for me."
"Well if that's the thanks I'll get I'll try and save you again."
Cho laughed and said, "And why is that?"
Harry paused for a moment before summoning his Gryffindor courage and reaching out to take her hand in his. She looked surprised at the seriousness in his eyes as he said, "Because I can't think of anyone I'd rather do that with."
Cho's breathing became very quick as she said, "And I can't think of anyone I'd rather have save me."
Slowly they began to move closer together until their lips were just inches from each other. Harry stopped and whispered, "No, we shouldn't do this."
Cho didn't pull back but whispered, "Why?"
"Because everything is just too uncertain now. I couldn't bear to put you through what you had to go through with Cedric again."
Cho only moved closer and whispered, "Harry I'd rather be with you for just one day, than never be with you at all."
Harry couldn't protest as he felt her gentle breath on his skin. He slowly closed the distance between their lips not even realizing that he was doing it. His mind was still trying to rationalize why he shouldn't do this. But as soon as his lips touched hers all thoughts left his mind. A feeling that could only be described as fire spread from his lips to his entire body.
Slowly the kiss deepened until the need for air forced them to separate. Looking into her brown eyes he suddenly felt like nothing else mattered. Suddenly the weight of Sirius's death didn't bear down on him. He didn't feel like the destined hero of the wizarding world. He just felt secure and peaceful looking into the eyes of a girl he knew actually liked him for him.
Kissing her again with a passion that surprised both of them they soon melted into each other's bodies. Harry found his arms around Cho slowly stroking her back while her hands gently caressed his face.
They pulled apart again but Harry still held her in his arms. The next words Cho spoke to him caught him completely off guard, "I love you, Harry." Harry couldn't believe what she had just told him. His entire life the one thing he had wanted more than anything else was just to be told that he was loved. But no one had ever told him. His relatives surely never said anything like that. Even Ron and Hermione had never actually said that they love him. And now the one thing he had wanted his whole life was just given by this girl in his arms.
He felt the tears begin to streak down his cheeks. He tried to hold them back but he just couldn't. Cho noticed and suddenly looked horrified, "Oh Harry! I didn't mean to say that. It just came out, I'm sorry."
Harry just shook his head saying, "Cho. The one thing in my life I've always wanted was to be told that I was actually loved. I mean I'm sure my parents must have told me but I can't remember them. My entire life I just wanted be loved by someone. My aunt and uncle sure never wanted me in their lives. Hearing you say that . . . I just . . ." but words could not express how Harry felt.
Cho suddenly had tears in her eyes as she said, "Harry, I don't know how anyone could know you and not love you. Your relatives don't know what kind of a wonderful person they're missing out on. But I know you. I didn't mean to fall in love with you, but I just couldn't help it. You are a wonderful person, and I do truly love you."
Harry kissed her again before saying, "I love you too."
They stayed like that in each other's arms not at all caring that Remus was late and that they were hungry. The moment was just perfect.
Then everything went straight to hell.
A massive explosion sent wizards flying and rippled through the entire alley. Cho screamed as Harry dragged her under the table to protect them from shrapnel. Harry felt a sting as something struck his left cheek and feeling with his hand found that he was bleeding. All around, the once quiet alley had become a chaotic scene with people bleeding and lying unconscious, or worse. People all over were screaming and crying, it looked like a bomb had just dropped in the middle of the alley.
Harry rose up off Cho's unmoving form. He checked to make sure that she was still breathing. She was. Harry felt relief flood through him knowing that she was alright. He slowly rose up to a crouch and looked over the flipped table.
Death Eaters.
Harry felt anger rise up inside him more than it had the day before when he had fought the muggles. Harry slowly rose to his feet and began walking out in the path of the death eathers. He didn't know what he was going to do but he just knew that he had to do something.
The death eaters did not notice Harry as they were too busy firing off curses at any wizard who moved. Harry noticed that the few wizards who tried to fight were quickly defeated. The death eaters were just too powerful for these people. They were not soldiers, most had never even dueled past a scuffle in school most likely.
Time seemed to slow down for Harry as he stepped out into the path of the death eaters. With a calm that amazed even him, he waited for the death eaters to notice.
They were not more than 20 meters away when one of them stopped staring right at Harry. Slowly the sounds of curses being fired and screams from the people who received those curses faded away.
And there they stood. Ten death eaters all facing Harry Potter alone and without his wand. For a few moments that seemed to last a lifetime they stood facing each other, not a sound or movement of any kind being made.
But unknown to everyone a man stood off to the side taking picture after picture.
Suddenly the moment ended and in an instant the death eaters all started running and firing off curses and hexes at the unmoving figure in front of them.
Harry saw all the curses flying at him but they seemed to be moving so slowly. He twisted around, dodged, and avoided every single curse. The death eaters stopped momentarily, as though uncertain of what had just happened. No one could possibly move fast enough to dodge all of their curses. But they brushed aside their doubt and fired off another round of curses closing the distance to less than 10 meters.
This time Harry simply held up his hand and felt the power unlike any he had ever felt before surge out from his hand and at the curses flying at him. Almost as though someone had turned on the brakes, the curses slowed down and stopped, just glowing incandescent swirls of magic hovering not more than a foot from Harry.
This stopped the death eaters in their tracks about 5 meters from Harry. Harry slowly raised his head and looked at the death eaters in front of him. A small smile forming at the corners of his mouth he let the instinct take over and felt the power radiated from his outstretched hand manipulating the magic in front of him. The glowing orbs of magic slowly began to move, slowly at first, then faster all of them swirling around Harry's body until they were moving so fast they seemed like nothing more than streaks of light completely surrounding Harry. The orbs of light also began to change color as they moved around him until they were all glowing the same brilliant golden color. Smiling fully now Harry looked at the death eaters in front of him completely thunderstruck by what they were seeing. Flicking his wrists the orbs flew at an impossible speed at the death eaters who had sent them, clearing the distance in less than the blink of the eye.
Harry had no idea what the curses were but he knew that when he shot them back at the death eaters exactly what would happen. He knew that he had manipulated the energies of the curses to change the magic, but even he was surprised at the effect. The orbs exploded as they hit the death eaters square in the chests blasting them clear across the alley. The explosions were so powerfully magical that they sent a wave of magic energy through the alley. It was almost like a warm breeze was washing over him even though it looked like he was standing in a tornado.
When the energy had dissipated the death eaters were all on the ground unconscious. Harry turned to see if anyone needed help only to come face to face with none other than Voldemort.
Voldemort sneered, "So, it would appear that we meet again, Harry Potter. I can see that you made quick work of my death eaters. It would appear as though you are finally coming into the power that would make you my rival. You should know by now that you could never hope to be as powerful as I am! I think we should end this here and now. You have been a thorn in my side for far too long. Let all these people around bear witness to the downfall of Harry Potter, as he gives rise to Lord Voldemort."
And with that he raised his wand and yelled out, "Crucio!" Harry simply held out his hand again attempting to simply stop the curse as he had done before, but he underestimated the Dark Lord's power. The curse actually did slow down quite a bit but still managed to hit him square in the chest.
Harry fell to the ground screaming in unimaginable pain. It felt as though white hot knives were cutting his flesh from his bones. He felt like he was freezing and burning at the same time. Rational thought quickly left his mind as pain quickly became the only thing he could even be aware of.
He did not know how long he was under the curse but when it was lifted he could have sworn his skin was smoking slightly. "Do you see now, Potter? Do you see how you could never hope to defeat the greatest wizard alive."
Harry looked up into the face of the murdered of his parents of so many others. Anger once again flooded through his body almost like fire, and rising he said in a raspy voice that conveyed how much he had been screaming, "You are not the greatest wizard alive. Nor shall you ever be. You are going to pay for all those whose lives you have ruined."
In a motion too quickly for Voldemort to react to, Harry raised his hand and sent the Dark Lord flying fifteen feet. He landed in a crumpled heap. Feeling the power wash over him like it had never done before Harry was slightly surprised to find that he was glowing a soft green light. It was almost as though he was bleeding magic energy from his hands and his eyes had become brilliant green orbs.
Vlodemort slowly rose to his feet again and drew himself up to his full height. In a low voice that struck fear to anyone who could hear he said, "You'll pay for that one, Potter."
Harry would have loved to have given some kind of riposte, but before he could even open his mouth to speak, Voldemort yelled, "Crucio!" and a beam of light shot right at Harry's chest.
Harry could feel the magic energy rushing at him and once again held out his hand, feeling the power behind the curse he knew that he could not stop it, but maybe . . . and with a flick of his hand redirected the unforgivable curse so it shot straight up into the sky. With a flick of his other wrist he sent a curse at Voldemort that had no name but with which Harry intended to send the Dark Lord flying again.
Unfortunately the curse never hit, with an agility that seemed inhuman Voldemort dodged the curse and began rapid firing curses and hexes. Harry was nearly overwhelmed with redirecting and dodging every curse that was sent his way. Finally Voldemort yelled with all his might and a blood red curse was shot at Harry. Harry made to deflect this like he had all the others but something was different about this curse, in an instant Harry knew that this curse was bound to him and would track him until it hit him. In desperation Harry dove to the side to avoid the curse. He was only partially successful as the curse curved in midair to follow his movement and managed to graze his right flank.
As Harry hit the ground he was barely aware of the pain, apparently the curse he was struck with was some kind of a curse that would inflict actual physical damage to the victim. As Harry looked down at his side he almost fainted as a fresh wave of pain hit him. The curse had opened a huge gash into his side, but more than that the gash seemed to have rivers of blood all around it. The curse had apparently acted as a knife cutting into his flesh giving him the one serious gash, but also causing cuts to extend from the gash in all directions on his skin.
In an instant Harry knew that it was over, he had lost. But if he was going to die that day he would do it fighting to his last breath. Harry slowly picked himself up nearly passing out because of the pain. Bits of red had worked their way into the corners of his vision. His right arm was almost completely useless and the wound beneath his arm was bleeding so heavily that soon there was a small puddle of blood at his feet.
Voldemort simply stood there smiling. Harry lifted his hand and fired off a weak curse. Voldemort blocked it effortlessly and began to saunter over to Harry. He knew that he had won, now he was going to savor his victory. But Harry would not let him just have a cake walk. Focussing again he raised his good hand and fired off yet another curse. Again Voldemort swatted it aside like a fly. Voldemort continued to walk until he was a mere few feet from Harry.
Harry stared into the blood red eyes of the man he was about to be killed by. He could see the yellow teeth in his foul mouth and the stench of his breath that would be the last thing he smelled. In the end, his parents had fallen to him, and now he, the son, after escaping death so many times would finally die at the hand of the same man.
Voldemort then spoke and said, "I must say young Harry. You have fought better than anyone I have ever encountered before. But like all those before, you fall before the might of the Dark Lord. I wonder though, such power like yours should not go to waste. I think perhaps now that you have truly seen the might of Lord Voldemort that you might reconsider an offer I made to you long ago. Join with me Harry. Join the darkness and together you and I will rule this world. You will join me, or you will die."
Harry looked Voldemort in the eye. He could never join this demon, he stood for everything that Harry was against. Harry realized in one brilliant moment that he would rather die. Die like Sirius, fighting. "That's a pretty good offer," Voldemort smiled now, "But I think I'd rather die, in fact I would rather die the most terrible death a person can endure than join you. You are an evil creature. The only thing I'm going to do is tell you to go fuck yourself."
Voldemort's smile vanished so quickly Harry wondered if magic was involved. "So be it," was the reply of Voldemort.
With that Voldemort leveled his wand at Harry, said an incantation that Harry couldn't hear but knew all to well and a green light flashed, and Harry knew nothing more.