Author's Note: I hope you enjoy! Dedicated to ChoFrog09, my number one, err… Cho-Frog! Also I'd like to say "hello" to Goldielocktook and Unicorn13, my best friends here on Oh, and… I… AM… MICHIKO! Yeah, that's my name! I will fix Harry's blind problem in the next chapter… sorry you guys, you who were really expectant:
Harry had absolutely no idea as to who this Michiko was, but he could sense something disturbingly familiar about her slender hand as he shook it. Little did Harry know that getting to know this person could either make him or break him, depending on how he handled the subsequent situations. But we'll talk about that later. Now where was I… ah! Right! Harry thought that Michiko was a good conversationalist. She could switch from topic to topic without leaving you oblivious to how you actually got to such irrelevance. Michiko (or Cho to you and I) was having a great time. Despite the fact she was instructed to keep her more recognized name a secret until Hermione and Ginny felt that the time was right. Yes, Harry still hated her for what she did. Ganging him into that corner, being a complete cry-baby. Maybe not complete, but enough to make him kiss her. Then she ran off with that idiot, Corner. But if he could "enjoy her company without looking at her, there must be something left in him" Hermione would always suggest.
'If only he knew,' Cho (or Michiko) thought. 'If only he knew but loved me.' As Harry snickered at a Ginny-joke, his soothingly masculine laugh brought silent, wistful tears to Cho's eyes. She thought about the consequences that might occur if she confessed now. He'd probably never want to see (pardon) her again. Her desire to reveal herself was left unsatisfied. Then she had a sudden reel of surprise when Harry accidentally brushed his fingers against her lips. For Harry, it was freaky slow motion. The tenderness felt familiar. For Cho, it was all she could have at this point. But she cherished it thoughtfully. "Hey… Michiko?" he asked her. "Yes?"
"Would like to double-date with me sometime? Like… next week, Friday?"
Cho couldn't breathe for a bit. "Oh… uh, sure. I'd love to. You guys will pick me up?"
"Yes. It'll be you, Harry, Ronald and I," said Hermione.
"Great!" Harry said. "Then it's settled."
"Great."
:BIG NIGHT ARRIVES:
Cho was with her best friend, Marietta, in their flat. Marietta made Cho leave her in the fashion department. So she conjured up a spaghetti-strap dark green dress that came down to Cho's knees; a green Hawaiian shawl with a turtle pattern; a gold bracelet with real precious stones; and a pair of white and beige Parisian sandals. Then Marietta put up Cho's hair in a slightly messy clip-up. Cho was finally allowed to put on her own make-up (green eye shadow, of course), and then she was ready. "But, Etta, if he's blind, I shouldn't look that dressed up, should I?" Cho asked. "Girl, I'm a Seer. Trust me, he will get to see you." The Asian girl gulped audibly. "That's what I'm afraid of."
:CHO IS PICKED UP:
"Hi!" greeted Hermione from the car. "Hey there," Cho responded cheerfully, helping herself in. "Good evening," she said to Harry. "No need to be formal here. Come, 'let's be off,' as oldie moldies say, and have a great time (if only I could see it)." They laughed at his set-aside joke as they drove off.
They reached a restaurant on the beach. "It's a nightly luau. I think it's a wonderful place. Don't you think so, Ron?" Hermione explained. "Yeah. It's great! I couldn't think of a better place to go to," Ron replied assuredly. He and Hermione asked for their table and led their friends to it. As they ate, Cho wondered if anything else was to happen that night. Her heart pounded as though in response to her mind. Afterwards, Harry asked if anyone wanted to accompany him outside just for fresh air. Cho readily volunteered. Just before they walked outside, Hermione whispered, "Take him out to the back." Cho nodded fervently and walked Harry outside.
She gasped.
It was such a beautiful sight. There were Japanese lamps (they weren't the cheap kind; they were real, and beautiful and there were only 4 or 5) shedding dim white light, but not so dim that you couldn't see the lavender and pink water lilies, or the floating discarded white roses, or the pretty fish that swam by when they were curious enough. And the water was calm, and so peaceful you felt that you could dive in and never come out again. "Harry! Oh, it's so beautiful… I wish you could see it!" Cho exclaimed. "But I can try," Harry said, almost amused, as though expecting the reaction she gave. "What do you mean?" she inquired, sitting with him on the dock. "When you lose one of your senses, you get used to using the others. You start to feel that they're the ones you've been neglecting, and you learn to use them to replace the one you lost," he answered, as she listened and learned from him. 'Wow,' she thought. 'Brilliant man, I wish…' she stopped. She was about to cry again. "Don't cry," Harry said quietly.
"How did you—"
"I could just feel it. I…" He reached for her cheek.
"Please… no, don't…"
Cho tried to turn away, but she just turned back to look at him as tears streamed down her face. She actually wanted to savor the moment—possibly the last moment—she would ever have with him, like this. He gently urged her closer, and she responded.
Closer…
And closer…
And closer still…
Until…
All of a sudden, worlds collided.