Chapter 4
It was a week before the tryouts for backup players for next year started and Hermione started to feel a bit nervous. Suppose I didn't make the team, would all this practicing with Cho have been for nothing? She thought sadly.
Both girls had been released from the infirmary a few days ago, and the whole school erupted into secret gossip as to how both of them had sustained the injuries. Not that it cared much to Hermione, who just continued to study as much as before both school and Quidditch rules. With both the O.W.L. exams and the tryouts coming up, she really couldn't care less what the school was saying about her.
It was twenty minutes before she had her practice with Cho, and Hermione decided to relax with a large book she checked out from the library. The fire in the common room seemed to always warm her up, and coupled with the cushiony, velvet, red armchair, every one of her worries seemed to melt away.
However, her peace was always disturbed when Harry and Ron found her. The two came in laughing and jabbing each other's sides as they came up behind her.
"So Hermione, are you worried about tryouts next week? What're you going to try and do, chaser, beater, keeper, or maybe even seeker? Haha, that'd be funny, being a backup for Harry! Blimey, as if that were possible, he's the best our house has seen so far," taunted Ron as Hermione tried to tune out his annoying jokes.
"Oh give it a rest Ron, it doesn't seem like she's in the mood for talking, I mean, look, she's reading right now. I'd bet she'd-" cut off in mid-sentence, Harry ducked as an owl nearly hit him in the head as it dropped a letter in Hermione's lap.
Ron looked at it quizzically as Hermione opened it slowly. "You never get letters from anybody! Jee Hermione, what's up with this? Come on, let us have a look at it too."
She looked up at him and frowned at him, "No way, definitely not. Next time you want to look at something that belongs in my possession, make sure I'm not angry with you first. See you guys later." She stormed away and walked up to her dormitory.
Harry and Ron exchanged confused looks and shrugged their shoulders. "I guess the stress has gotten to her I guess."
In the solitude of her own room, minus the warmth of the fire though, Hermione finally relaxed knowing the guys were not allowed in the girls room. She looked over the letter one more time before she sighed.
Hermione,
I can't come to the practice tonight. I'm sorry, something just came up. You can go ahead and practice anyways, so you can make me proud next time I see you. Good luck with the tryouts, and sorry I can't be there tonight.
-Cho
The writing was scratchy and a bit messy, which was not characteristic of Cho's normal, elegant lettering. Deciding something was a bit odd about this sudden turn of events, Hermione walked quietly down to the common room.
Ron and Harry were still chatting away with Neville Longbottom, whom had just walked inside. Now is my chance.
Silently slipping away into the boy's dormitory, she ran straight to Harry's bed. Opening up the trunk set at the foot of the bed, she scrambled hastily through the contents looking for a familiar piece of parchment she remembered. Aha.
Triumphantly smiling to herself, Hermione plucked out a blank piece of parchment and tapped it with her wand, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Dark writing snaked out from the middle of the paper and soon turned into a three-folded map. She looked around quickly, hoping that nobody would find her in the boy's dormitory snooping around in Harry's belongings.
Footsteps were walking around in the common room, labeled Harry, Ron, and Neville. She kept looking at the map, hoping to come across the name of whom she sought. Finally spotting the name, she wondered why she'd find it there.
InfirmaryCho Chang
Madam Pomfrey Now why is she there…?
Suddenly, Harry and Ron's labels started to move. Shoving everything back into the trunk, she desperately tried to escape the room, but it was too late.
The door flung open and two silhouettes cast through the room. Both bodies moved further into the room, and turned on the lights.
"Hey, what's wrong with my stuff, it's all messy."
"Haha, come off it Harry, you've always been a messy person. I'm surprised your trunk doesn't look like that all the time."
Hermione, silently breathing shallow breaths to avoid detection, was hiding in plain sight right next to the door. Thankfully, the two boys had walked right past her. She used this opportunity to run out of the room and straight to the common room. Glancing left and right to make sure nobody saw her exit, she took a seat in her favorite chair.
Should I go and find her? Or should I just wait here?She grunted and decided to just go and visit Cho in the infirmary. Walking through the halls as if nothing were wrong, she arrived at the double doors. I hope I'm doing the right thing…
She pushed open the oak entrance and saw Madam Pomfrey looking Cho directly in the eyes. At the sound of the opening doors, Cho turned around rapidly and stood up as if she was bitten.
"Err, Hermione? How did you know I was here?" Looking a bit guilty, she walked over to her and gave her a quick hug.
Hermione looked at her and shrugged, "Call it a lucky guess. I um… supposed that you'd be here for a checkup or something. Is something wrong? Are you still hurt at all?" Cho shook her head. "Nothing is wrong, don't worry."
Again, that same sentence. Every time she said that, it made Hermione worry more.
"You up for a walk?"
It took Hermione a while to realize that she was talking to her, since Cho was staring off in a completely different direction. She nodded in agreement and they walked out to the garden outside.
They strolled along in silence. Hermione suddenly regretted seeking out Cho because she guessed that it made her uncomfortable that she lied to Hermione about not being there, and instead going to the Infirmary. The dark-haired girl stopped by a bench and sighed.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth. I thought you would get worried if I said I was going to the infirmary, but I guess that didn't stop you from coming to find me. So um… how're things going?"
Hermione looked at her and then stared at the growing flowers.
"Well, I'm a bit stressed out over some things, but that's okay. It's nothing I can't handle anyways. Enough about me, what's going on with you? Anything you want to talk about, anything at all?"
Cho stared at her for a few minutes without saying a word, and suddenly Hermione felt a bit embarrassed and self-conscious. Cho always did look a lot prettier than me. No wonder all the guys like her. Nice personality as well as good looks, smart too, hard to find nowadays.
Surprised at what she was thinking, Hermione turned away and started walking back to the school. As she started walking, she felt something grasp her hand hesitantly.
She turned around and noticed that Cho was smiling. "I know that we kind of… started off badly, but we're friends now, right?"
Hermione fell in step with her and grinned, "Oh of course. Anyways, how can I deny friendship with the prettiest girl that all the guys drool over?" She laughed genuinely and continued walking.
"…you… really think I'm pretty?" whispered Cho almost inaudibly.
At this question, Hermione thought seriously, "Well, yeah, who doesn't?"
Cho just laughed.
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It was the day of the Gryffindor Ravenclaw Quidditch match and all sorts of blue and red colors were present at the stadium.
Crowding into the seats, Ron and Hermione sat down near Lavender Brown and Seamus Finnigan. "Ah man, what a great day it is today! Look at the sky, not a single cloud above us! Perfect day for Quidditch, eh Hermione?"
She nodded at him quietly as she searched the player's entrances. The Gryffindors came out first from their entrance on the left and suddenly the crowd burst out in red and yellow waving flags. Hermione cheered feebly, constantly eyeing the Ravenclaw side at the same time. Finally her signature black hair shone in the sunlight signifying her entrance.
Cho Chang waved at the crowd as she went to center field to shake hands with Harry to begin the match. Shaking hands and smiling briefly, the two got on their brooms and kicked off into the air.
The match started and Ravenclaw had the edge, scoring thirty points within five minutes of the beginning whistle. Hermione scanned the sky as she spotted a flash of black and blue. Cho was darting back and forth on her Comet two-sixty as Harry sped around on his firebolt. Both frantically looking for the snitch, the two seekers flew back and forth looking for a spot of gold. Occasionally, they would look at each other to see if one had seen the snitch in a chance to follow them.
Finally, Harry took a sudden dive to the ground and Cho followed suit. They were both hurtling into the ground at top speeds, but before Harry hit, he swerved up. For some reason, Cho waited until the last second before she swerved to her left and skimmed the ground with the tip of her broom. Pulling up, she saw some gold with wings hovering in front of her.
No way, it's right there! She kicked off and darted in its direction. Suddenly, Harry came zooming right in front of her, cutting off any vision of the snitch. Both seekers bumped each other, hoping one would lose balance, or one would be distracted. Hands outstretched, they both tried to catch it, coming within a few inches of grasp, but it zipped upwards. Both seekers hit their tail and it shot them upwards in hot pursuit.
Cho suddenly stopped and began hovering around.
Hermione saw her just completely come to a halt in mid-air. What is she doing? The snitch was right in front of her, couldn't she see it? It was glittering in plain sight; even I could see it! Oh no… Cho! Watch out, can't you see the bludger coming at you?
The dangerous ball came hurtling at her, sent from an opposing beater. Cho turned around just in time to see the ball.
Then she fell.
For some reason, she did not try to avoid it, and so she was knocked clearly in the face, falling down to the ground. She hit the hard earth and let out a cry of pain, as her wrist seemed to snap once again from the pressure of hitting something so solid. At that exact time, Harry flew around gloriously presenting the snitch, which he had caught.
He looked down and saw Cho being carried off to the infirmary unconscious and bleeding through a cut on her forehead.
"Cho!" screamed Hermione as she darted from the bleachers running anxiously to the infirmary. Ron hadn't had time to see where she ran off to, so he shrugged and walked down to congratulate Harry on another spectacular game.
Running through the school grounds, Hermione found herself wondering about too many things.
Hadn't she seen the snitch? I mean… she was trailing it perfectly, how could she not catch it? Sure Harry had the faster broom, but she sighted it before him I think. She almost caught it, and she even followed it as it went up high. Why did she have to stop so quickly, and why hadn't she seen the bludger coming right for her?
So many questions to be answered, but once she entered the infirmary, she felt as if she shouldn't ask them at the moment.
Cho was lying in a clean white bed with a bandage around her wrist and a wrap around her forehead. Her face brightened as she saw Hermione walk through the oak double doors.
Hermione took up a chair and sat next to her bed. They just stared at each other for minutes, enjoying the peaceful silence shared between them. Hesitantly, Hermione's hand rose up and rested on Cho's cheek, and she smiled.
"How're you feeling? You took a very hard fall, not to mention the bludger that smashed into your face."
Cho's hand came up and covered Hermione's. "I'm doing just fine. Nothing is wrong, don't worry." She closed her eyes, took some deep breaths, and then opened them again. "Your tryouts are coming up real quick. I wish you luck, I know you'll do just fine."
Hermione chuckled and stroked her cheek, "Well, I had the best trainer in the world. Thanks for all the help you have been these past few weeks."
Overcome with a sudden urge, she placed a small kiss on her hand and stood up, preparing to leave the infirmary.
Smiling tiredly, Cho closed her eyes. "You'll do just perfect…"
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The day had arrived.
Quidditch tryouts for the backup players were being held today, and Hermione was overcome with a mixture of glee and anxiety. All that morning, she had been giggling incessantly, and it seemed like it would never come to an end. Harry and Ron had noticed, seeing as how Hermione was not one to giggle that many times in one day.
Finally overcome with confusion and curiosity, Harry slammed his book down playfully and looked her straight in the eye.
"Why are you so happy today! We're supposed to be proving you wrong in a bet, not make you overcome with a giggle fit, this is ridiculous!" he smirked as Hermione broke out into more laughter.
"I can't help it, I'm just… so… happy!" she gasped out between giggles.
Ron stared at Harry like the world was about to explode. "I reckon she's been given some potion or something of the sort." Harry's head bobbed up and down in agreement. "Lets just wait until the tryouts, then we'll see how happy she still is."
Hermione plopped down onto her bed and settled down, no longer laughing uncontrollably. She clutched the Quidditch rulebook to her chest and stared at the ceiling as her fellow female Gryffindors bombarded her with questions.
"You sure seem happy today! Say… did Harry ask you out?" laughed Ginny, though somewhat with a hint of serious behind her voice.
"No, she probably just found out her grades and had passed them all with outstanding marks!" exclaimed Parvati. Lavender jabbed her sides, "Are you kidding? Grades don't come out until later. She probably did get asked out by someone."
"Ohhh I bet it was that Viktor Krum guy, wasn't it!" said Alicia as she clasped her hands together, "He was a dreamy guy. That's probably why you're trying for the Quidditch team, right?"
Hermione ignored all their comments and just smiled, not looking any of them in the face, "It was none of the above, and for you information, I am only being associated with Quidditch today because I have to! Harry and Ron made a bet with me, and so I must shove it back in their faces by playing the game that they know I showed no interest in."
All the girls sighed in disappointment as they realized that no guy had asked her out.
She stood up and walked down to the Quidditch pitch. Cho Chang was already out there, fumbling with her robes while sitting down on a nearby bench. It was until Hermione put a hand on her shoulder did she notice her. She nearly jumped up out of surprise.
"Oh! Wow, hi Hermione, you gave me quite a scare." She stared at the ground.
"Um…is something wrong Cho? You seem a bit…" she trailed off and sat down next to her, her hand still resting on her shoulder comfortingly.
It seemed like something slipped out of her eye, but Cho turned her head and was smiling. "I quit the Quidditch team."
"WHAT?" screamed Hermione.
Cho covered her ears and grimaced, "Ow ow, not so loud. Um… due to complications, I'm quitting the team…" Hermione stared at her and could not accept what she was hearing coming from the best seeker ever besides Harry.
"Sorry for that scream. Well, um, this decision didn't come because of your loss the other day, did it? I mean, that's okay, you really shouldn't quit because of that. You're so good at Quidditch! I don't understand why you'd want to quit, I mean, everyone makes mistakes-"
"No!" Cho looked into her eyes deeply, "I didn't quit because of that! I told you, it was because of… complications! Nothing more! I wouldn't have quit if I wasn't… wasn't going…"
Harry walked onto the field with a clipboard and a smirk.
"Tryouts, lets begin."
Hermione gave Cho a hug. "Please cheer up…" the black haired girl glanced upwards and flashed a smile, "Go get 'em."
She smiled and walked off to Harry. He looked at her and smiled. "So Hermione, what will you be trying out for? Keeper? Beater? Chaser?"
She grinned right back at him with a straight face.
"Backup Seeker."
His jaw nearly dropped, and in fact, his quill did. "You're… what? Seeker? Haha. Well, okay then. Wait until it is the seeker's turn to prove their skills. I hope you're ready for this, you know, losing the bet that is."
Ron had tried out for backup Keeper, and he actually did an okay job. He missed 1 of the quaffles, but other than that, he did catch quite a bit of them, even Harry himself was surprised.
Then came chasers.
Then beaters.
Then seekers.
"Hermione you're up!" he said as she got on her broom and rose into the air swiftly. From above, she could see the smug look on Harry's face, and also the hopeful one on Cho's.
Our training won't have gone to waste. You'll see; I can make the team.
Harry released the snitch into the air and pressed his stopwatch. "Go!"
In order to make the team, she had to find the snitch the fastest and catch it. Her time needed to be below that of the other people. Scanning around the sky, she couldn't find it. Not even a glimpse of gold was in sight. She flew around in quick circles, hovering around like an eagle, but to no avail; it was not in sight.
This is hopeless, perhaps… perhaps Harry and Ron were right. But what about the practice that Cho gave me? All those hours that we spent? Where did it go?
She glanced down at Cho and saw her beaming smile. It was so bright, it almost blinded her. And then she realized that it was the golden snitch, not her bright smile. Even though it is pretty bright. She thought.
Plummeting down as fast as her broom would go, she remembered the night that she tried this stunt. She nearly fell off and hit the ground, but this time, she knew how to catch it. She had even studied its moves in the previous games she had seen, and she could predict what was going to happen.
With outstretched arms, she aimed for the golden snitch. Right at the last second, within only a few feet away, it jerked up quickly, but Hermione was faster. She jumped off her broom and grabbed it with both hands securely. Then she realized, that she didn't know what she would do after she caught it. Seeing the ground beneath her, she dove hard and tumbled along the ground, but too happy to care.
Standing up, she laughed, "Haha, look Harry, I got it!"
Staring at his stopwatch, he was speechless. "You um… caught it, quickly at that too. I can't believe this, but you, Hermione, had the fastest time out of everyone! I can't believe it… you just… you… you cheated! Well, err… you at least had help of some sort… I just can't believe it…"
He walked away, mumbling to himself and scratching his head.
Running to the bench, Hermione waved the snitch happily, "Look Cho, I caught it, I caught…"
Nothing.
Hermione stopped in mid-jump and realized that Cho had run off. But… why? Where did she go? Maybe she wasn't even watching at all…
Suddenly disheartened, she almost retreated to her dormitory, until she saw a flash of elegant blue robes turn the corner rapidly.
Cho?
Dropping the snitch and picking up her broom, Hermione jogged over to the corner and spotted Cho…running away. Her black hair blowing behind her head, she turned around, spotted Hermione, and began running even faster. Unsure about what was going on, Hermione broke into a run and tried to follow her.
Corner after corner, the Ravenclaw eluded her only to be caught again by her blue robes. She ran faster and faster, but still she could not catch up.
"Cho! Wait! Come back, why are you running?"
This is getting me nowhere! She is far more athletic than I, and she could probably run circles around me!
She stopped and got on her broom, kicking off into a low but fast hover. She sped around the corner and found herself in the garden. She ascended up into the higher sky to see if she could spot her escaping friend, and she saw her. Cho was momentarily hunched over trying to catch her breath in the middle of a concealed overgrown hedge.
Zooming down, Cho could see the descending shadow above her and attempted to run, but Hermione jumped off her broom and nearly tackled her to the ground, landing squarely on top of her.
Both girls breathing in deeply the scent of the flowers and each other, they both struggled with each other. Hermione had fallen on top, and she was pressing Cho's back forcefully to the ground, hoping to not let her escape again. Gasping for air, Cho tried to wrench free from her grasp, but she couldn't; the Gryffindor was solidly on top of her.
"Why did you run from me?"
Cho closed her eyes tightly and refused to speak.
"Why did you run from me?"
Her eyes remained closed.
"WHY DID YOU RUN FROM ME?"
At the alarming volume that Hermione asked her, Cho opened her eyes. Brown frizzy hair was all she saw, and then something wet dripped onto her face.
"Why did you run from me? Did you even watch me in the tryouts? I did well! I even made the team. I made a spectacular catch! Didn't you see?"
"I CAN'T SEE!"
Hermione stopped her talking and tears. Suddenly, the realization hit her. Feeling guilty for yelling at Cho, she unexpectedly wanted to just hug her now.
"You…why didn't you say anything earlier…? Open your eyes… please?"
Unable to refuse the sound of her friend, Cho slowly opened her eyes. Those once clear, dark blue eyes were no longer crystal. A cloud was growing in the midst of her eyes, something that was too hard for her to bear.
Tears started to well up in those hazy eyes.
"That night at our practice… you know, when I hit my head… I also… kind of started to lose my vision," her voice started to rise, "that's why I went to Madam Pomfrey's instead of going to our meeting. That's also why I missed the snitch! That's also why I couldn't see the ball! THAT'S ALSO WHY I COULDN'T SEE YOUR CATCH!"
Tears slid down her soft cheeks as she stopped speaking. She tore her gaze away from Hermione. "I'm not completely blind, but my vision is just rapidly deteriorating, and I can't help it…"
Both of them just lay there, unable to speak anymore. Cho's cheeks were flushed and red, and she was still gasping for more air as if her airway were constricted. Even still, Hermione could not let her go.
"Why did you run from me?"
More tears slid down her cheeks as Cho looked up and gazed at her. Her hand shot up and roughly pulled Hermione down into a desperate kiss.
With tears still in her eyes, Cho stood up quickly and darted away leaving Hermione kneeling on the ground awfully confused.