Chapter 6

Cho's POV

Cho was gasping for air, cursing the apartment maintenance people for not doing anything about the elevator. It seemed like forever to go all the way to the 16th floor with five shopping bags. One bag of toiletries, one bag of clothes for her, two bags of food and one bag of clothes for Draco. Thank God for the power of the credit card. Now that was one muggle invention she really loved. A few more steps and she was finally at her door. She put down the bags took a few more inhales and exhales as she hoped for Draco to like what she had for him. Then she took out the keys from her bag, opened the door and saw Draco staring at the last page of her Hogwarts Photo Album.

"Well, well, well. Like what you're seeing?"

Startled, Draco immediately closed the photo album, looked up and saw Cho standing at the front door with a dagger-look that could kill.

"I'm sorry. I was just. I uh…"

"You were just going through my things without my permission? Oh, how nice, Draco. Really.", Cho said sarcastically

"I was just curious", Draco said, with his head bent down

"And you let this curiosity take over you to the point that you allow yourself to go through people's privacy?" she spat.

"If it was for privacy's sake, then why is it here? Why not hide it along with your Hogwarts books? I mean, if you didn't want other people to see it, you shouldn't place it here", he said back.

"Enough! Just…nevermind". Then Cho dropped her bags (except for the ones which contained food) and went to the kitchen so she could prepare their food.

Cho started to act anxious in the kitchen. "What could Draco be thinking? That I was a stalker and I followed him around school? His face seemed kind of twisted while he was looking at the last photo. Could he be thinking that I like him? Bloody hell. What am I supposed to do?", her thoughts continued to run in her head as she fixed their lunches.

DRACO'S POV

Draco felt sorry for having answered back at Cho. He had no right and he should have stopped himself from looking at the album. He already knew beforehand that it was not the right thing to do. Feeling guilty, he felt the need to follow Cho in the kitchen, so he could make her feel better.

He entered the kitchen and found Cho standing by the kitchen sink. She was just standing there, looking out the window probably thinking of ways she can get rid of him. If ever she had decided to kick him out of the apartment, he'd be ok with it.

"it's my fault anyway"

As he approached her, Cho started to talk.

"Sorry for bitching on you. But you know very well that you're not supposed to go through other people's things. I only placed the album there when my room mate finally left for New Zealand. It had been hidden for years, Draco. No one else has seen it. I placed it there so I don't have to get it out from the box where I place all my memorabilia and put it back in everytime I want to look at it. Eversince my room mate left, I felt alone. She was my bestfriend. That album was the only thing which kept me sane around the house. It kept me from being lonely. Those moving photos made me look back in the happier times I spent in Hogwarts. Hogwarts was my sanctuary. It was my escape." Then she turned around and faced Draco. "I'm sorry. I hope you understand".

"It's ok, Cho. It was primarily my fault. I really shouldn't have. Please feel better? And if you've decided on kicking me out, it's ok with me. I hurt you and I deserve whatever it is you wish to do to me" Draco replied.

"I'm not kicking you out Draco, don't worry. It's ok. It's not much of a big deal. Besides, you do live here now and there's no point in keeping it from you since I guess you can pretty much relate with me since we are both wizards and we came from the same school, right? You're someone I'm starting to trust, anyway", said she.

While she was saying all those things, he felt himself walk closer to Cho causing them to be only a few inches apart. He noticed Cho shifting quite uncomfortably, perhaps conscious of how close he was but he didn't care. Draco felt himself being drawn into Cho. He was staring at her face which looked so pleasant. He looked at her eyes which were small but still full of emotion. Then his eyes were fixed on her thin lips which moved as she uttered every word. They were beautiful. As he continued to stare at her lips as she spoke, he lowered his head and moved it closer towards Cho's. He closed his eyes and suddenly Cho fell silent. He could feel her breath on his lips. Just a little more and their lips would finally meet when suddenly

"BUZZ"

"Oh, the pizza's ready!", Cho said enthusiastically and as if nothing almost happened. "Can you help me with preparing the food? I only have two hands you know". Draco heard her but he remained standing, now staring into the space where Cho had been in only seconds before.

"Earth to Draco! I need help here", she said as she snapped her fingers right in front of Draco's face.

"Sorry. My apologies. Here, let me help you", he said as he offered his helping hand. He watched as Cho walked into the living room with their drinks. He waited for her to get out of the kitchen. When she was no longer in the same room, he let out a soft "YES!". Draco felt himself blush and grin like a little boy who had gotten his favorite toy for Christmas.