Chapter 2: Ante Meridiem
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Never have, never will. If I did, I wouldn't be here, would I?
Notices:
Craziegirl29- well of course I know you'll have something good to say... of course, you're my beta reader. xD And many, many tanks for all the help! You and your chicken chips...
Maichang- WOO HOO! -cackles madly- First new reader that I don't personally know from the real world! Tanks SO MUCH for your review! It means a lot! Keep reading and reviewing!
(A/N: I haven't gotten many reviews... so, in an effort to attract more readers, here is the second chapter! Read and review, and tell me what you think! Tanks! ALSO: "Ante Meridiem" is Latin for "being before noon." Thought I better let you know, in case you were wondering. AND PLEASE, when you read this chapter, keep in mind that this is the very first day of Cho's seventh year and Draco's sixth, so it's technically the beginning of HBP... just reminding you.)
Cho's face turned the darkest possible shade of crimson as her eyes met with Neville. "I – I'm sorry, Cho. My compartment is next door, I must've made a mistake. Excuse me." Cho accepted his mumbled apology, but then instantly realized, what if he tells anyone about this? Someone else probably saw Draco either enter this cabin earlier or leave it just now... "Wait, Neville, come back here a minute," Cho said anxiously, grabbing her robes and throwing them on quickly. Neville tiptoed back inside the compartment, flush with embarrassment.
Neville sat down on the plush seating, averting his eyes from the girl in front of him. Cho understood his apprehension and nervousness. "Neville... you weren't meant to see what you saw. Please don't tell anybody, OK?" Neville gulped. "But Cho... isn't this Draco's compartment? Why are you in here in the first place?" Cho sighed. "Yes, Neville, this is Draco's compartment. It's a long story. I don't want to bore you with the details. Just please don't say anything to anyone, OK?" Cho looked at Neville in despair, hoping to get the message across. Oh God, she thought to herself, what must he think of me now? I don't want to be ruined by this. I don't want to be a "marked woman" or whatever that slimy little Slytherin airhead Pansy Parkinson calls it. God, I hate her... I know that Neville is a nice boy and all, but I don't know, he could do anything. I have to be safe and make him promise not to tell. All this time, Neville was contemplating the situation at hand. "Cho, I will keep this a secret... but in return, you must do something for me." Cho's insides shriveled up at this statement. What could the favor be? Neville smiled, even smirking a bit. "You have to fix me up with Ginny Weasley. You absolutely must, or the deal is off." Cho instantly blanched at the thought of romance, even at the notion of a date. But wait... it can't hurt, right? I mean, what can happen? Nothing. I guess I'll go through with it. Who knows? Maybe I'll find someone of my own, too... "Yes, I'll do it, I'll help you," Cho said, tossing her hair to the side with an air of pride. She would do the best job possible to make Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasley a couple. But can this day get any weirder? I mean, maybe it's me. Maybe I'm crazy, and maybe this is all a terrible delusion caused by one of Aunt Belinda's pumpkin cakes, Cho thought silently to herself, as the train slowed down and came to a halt. Hogwarts lurked in the distance, almost as if to say, Welcome back, Cho. Welcome home.
Cho was fully dressed and ready to exit the train. As she was nearing the doorway outside, she passed by Pansy Parkinson's compartment, where the door was ajar. She glanced inside, only to find Draco and Pansy curled up together, arms wrapped around each other like squids. Cho stood there for a moment, taking it in, but quickly moved on, trying to delete the image from her memory. She couldn't.
She just couldn't.
(A/N: I know, I know, too short, but I'm working on it... oh... um, this random new character, Aunt Belinda, is MINE and MINE ALONE. DON'T STEAL. In any case, is it a good second chapter? Do tell, review me and say so! I'm anxiously awaiting any and all replies... so take a minute out of your life and type the review already!)