Maybe this time
Disclaimer:I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters created by JK Rowling.
Summary: It has been eight years... She thought that a change of place and name would finally give her peace. However, a life changing decision would be bringing her back where it all started... England. PRE-HBP
Author's Note: This story would be told in two separate POV. The 2 main artises would be the one narrating the story. I do hope that you would not be confused. )
Chapter 2
"I'm coming! I'm coming!"
The constant banging on the door is certainly a bad idea to wake up a person, especially if that person has not actually slept in 2 days.
I open the door ready to hex the person behind it.
"What do you want!" I ask with only one eye open.
"Good morning to you too Mr. Potter."
"Malfoy!"
"It's nice to know how welcome I am in your home."
"You're lucky that you're getting married, cause I would have hexed you before you could even say 'I do' to Ginny."
"Oh thank you great Merlin!" He said sarcastically.
"What brings you here?"
He holds up two rolls of parchments. "One for you and one for whomever your date would be. Honestly Harry. Ginny and I didn't know what name to put on the invitation. This dating frenzy is making us all dizzy."
"Would you look at that, Draco knows how to rhyme!" I snatch the rolls of parchment from him.
"Ha.ha. Laugh all you want Harry. All I'm saying is at least settle down with a girl for more than 3 months. You're like a high- paid endorser of First there was Hermione when we were still at Hogwarts. Then there was Susan, Jane, Michelle, Katherine, Eliza, Nicole… and… oh! I can't remember them all! Of course you also once fancied my Ginny."
"And you do know that I can do it again, don't you?"
"Yeah right Potter!"
"Why Ginny took notice of you, I still can't figure out…" I look up to see if Draco is already steamed. I enjoy mocking him like crazy. Though we have become friends a few years back when Ginny started going out with him, we still have this hidden animosity for each other. Probably because Ginny and I went out a couple of times after her graduation from Hogwarts but she eventually gave up when I couldn't give her the time she demands from me. Call me crazy to give up a great girl like Ginny, I still consider her like a little sister. At least after she started getting serious with Malfoy. We lot (Me, Ron, and Hermione) thought that Ginny was just saying that she is starting to fall for Draco just to make me jealous, though admittedly, I was but just a tad. You see, Ginny started to work as an intern for Draco when we were still going out. It was only a year after we broke up that Ginny and Draco started dating each other.
"Sad to say Harry but Ginny saw something in me that he will never find in you…"
"Be so bloody annoying?" I looked at him and laughed. Not sooner, Draco joined in.
"Where you headed to mate?" I ask him.
"I have to be at the Ministry in 5 minutes or else Mr. Cummings will have my head. Ron and I have a report due today. Your fireplace connected to the floo network?"
"Of course."
"Alright then, I'll just travel thru floo powder and use your fireplace."
"Sure. It was nice of you to ask in the first place Draco."
"Anytime Potter! See you!" Within a second, Draco vanished from my fireplace finally leaving me at peace.
I try to recall what he said earlier… "You're like a high- paid endorser of Okay, I admit that I have not been really the boyfriend of the year but I tried my bloody best to make my relationship work with each girl. But then after my 16th relationship in 8 years, I finally decide not to try for a while. It has been an exhausting 8 years of being in and out of a relationship. Of course I also value my cheeks since they are the first in contact after I say my famous last words… "It's not you, it's me. I think we should break up."
I would like to make it clear that I am not a playboy. It was never my dream to become one. When I was still at Hogwarts, all I wanted to be was an Auror or at least the Seeker of England. My dream was only materialized after six months of recuperating at St. Mungo's. It was right after graduation at the grounds of Hogwarts.
The prophecy has been dawning on me since Dumbledore told me about it during my 5th year. The aftermath of everything that happened to me on that year was like shaking a bottle with a cork until its pressure could no longer be contained inside and the need for release had come. During my sixth year I spent longer hours training with Snape, Lupin, and even Tonks. Lupin and Tonks visit me during the weekends. Lupin trains me with different defensive spells while Tonks helped me with my transformation. I needed to be adept with transformation just in case. My emotions were in full swing. I remember how angry I was. Voldemort killed so many people close to me… thanks to him I didn't have anything that can come close to a 'family'. The Dursleys treated me less than an acquaintance.
My battle with Voldemort couldn't come at a better time. Hermione, as the batch's distinguished student for academic excellence, just got down from the platform after she finished reading the speech she prepared for a whole month. Then a great explosion was heard coming from the heart of the forbidden forest. A dark green light followed suit forming the dark mark. Just like what we saw during the Quidditch World Cup, only this time it was six times bigger than I remembered. The students and parents were terrified. I forgot about the people around me and became oblivious to the commotion. I got my wand out and started to make a run to the dark forest. I was able to run a few steps when I heard Dumbledore in a loud yet dignified voice, "Silence!" And so we obliged. All heads turned to the headmaster to hear what he was about to say.
Students and some parents were instructed to go back inside the castle. Professor McGonagall led the way as the other professors helped her. Meanwhile, the rest of the parents who were under the employ of the Ministry of Magic gathered around Dumbledore together with the members of the Order who were closely guarding the ceremony earlier. My two best mates were looking at me, worry written all over their face. I was about to say something to calm them when Dumbledore spoke again in a very calm tone, "It's time Harry."
I have always dreamed and dreaded this moment. For more than a year after of preparation, the moment to test everything that I have learned has come. Dumbledore is right. It's time. It's time to see who the better wizard is. It's time to see who prepared for this day more. It's time to see what the prophecy has in store for us.
I nodded to the headmaster and turned to my two best mates. "I'll be okay." I said even before any of them could ask the question that has been brewing in their heads. I was grateful to see them both nod in agreement. I looked back at Dumbledore, and then proceeded to the dark forest, the Order just right behind me.
The rest of the Ministry stayed behind together with the rest of the Auror in training just in case we need back up. I knew this because right before I entered the forest, I saw her. Cho Chang. Fear masked her. Now was not the best time to go up to her but I knew that if I got out of there alive, there would definitely be talking.
I returned to my mission and gripped my wand steadily. My scar started to burn heavily as soon as we were halfway through the forest. Then, a shrill of laughter rang around the forest--- Bellatrix. I gritted my teeth upon recognition of her laughter. Then when the sound of her laughter faded, I knew we were near. Beads of sweat forming at the sides of my face started to role down.
"Expelliarmus!" I shouted and pointed my wand behind the shrubs in the middle of the tall tress. A wand flew from behind the plant and landed on the ground. A death eater tried to retrieve his wand but Lupin came to him fast, "Petrificus Totalus!" No second later, the man dropped with a thud joining his wand on the ground.
Like in a movie where you are trapped in a dead end street and the bullies gang up on you, the death eaters emerged from different places attacking us.
"Impedimenta!"
"Colloportus!"
"Stupefy!"
"Expelliarmus!"
Wands pointing endlessly at different directions, bodies falling one over the other, I squinted my eye amidst the darkness in search of my mission. I was sure that he was just waiting for me to get tired so I would not have enough strength to fight him. I looked around more finding the direction where my scar would hurt the most while ducking my head to get away from the rain of spells. Hermione and Ron were right behind me. I was sure that my friends would never want me to go through this alone though I already reminded them long before that it was unnecessary.
"We meet again Potter." An icy voice spoke out of nowhere.
"Come out now Voldemort! I know you've been waiting for this."
And just like a snap, a dark and towering figure blocked my view. I heard Hermione gasp and Ron stumbling to the ground.
"We have guests to join your godfather? I'm glad. Sirius has been lonely." I could feel a sneer formed on his face.
"Don't you dare talk about Sirius!"
"And what do you plan to do? Avenge him? You're weak Potter! A weak little wizard not worthy of the fame!"
"Impedimenta!"
"Expelliarmus!"
We both said at the same time.
"That's all that Dumbledore taught you for the past two years?" A cold laughter followed his question.
"Stupefy!" I shouted and caught him off-guard. He recovered no less that a few seconds later and immediately pointed his wand at my two best mates and shouted; "Colloportus!" even before I could crack a counter spell for that. Hermione and Ron fell to the ground in a loud thud.
"NOOOOOO!" I rushed to Hermione's and Ron's side. Checking for pulse if they were still alive.
"It's just you and me now Potter, what are you gonna do? Or do you want me to kill her too?" I looked up at the direction where Voldemort pointed his wand and saw Cho tied in an invisible rope.
Not Cho! I stood up, "Let her go Voldemort. This is between you and me!"
"I'll let her go, after I kill you. On the other hand, she might join you no soon after."
"Protego!"
"Avada Kevadra!"
The last I heard was the scream of Cho. Then, I woke up at St. Mungo's months later with nothing but the memory of Cho's screaming voice. I succeeded. Voldemort was gone. At least that's what Hermione and Ron said. They just showed me all the news clippings from the Daily Prophet about how I was able to beat Voldemort, everything about that fateful night except what happened to Cho. No one knew where she was. She stopped her training as an Auror and did not leave a word.
The sound of my muggle phone ringing brought me back to the present.
"Hello?"
"Harry? It's Hermione. Do you have a minute?"
"Of course. How are you and the baby?"
"Good. But I've been better. Ron and I are meeting with Draco and Ginny after office. Would you care to join us?"
I thought about it and being a 5th wheel was not my idea of hanging out that day. I declined and after a few more talks, we put down the phone.
I stepped outside that led me to the balcony of my quaint apartment. I took my pack of cigarettes from my shirt's breast pocket and lighted one stick. I usually have these days when I just sit out my day. This happened not long ago after I dumped my last girlfriend--- Elizabeth. No, I think it was Consuelo. Anyway, the point is, I've had moments like this already.
My work has been such a great escape- goat that I didn't have to wonder where or how she was doing. I didn't need that. Not after how things ended between us during my 5th year at Hogwarts. I wanted so much to see her… but how? I tried to look her up from the files at the Ministry secretly when I am asked for a courtesy call, but with no such luck. Her file stated that she dropped out from the Auror training and that was the end of the career of Cho Ling Chang.
I put off my cigarette even before I could finish. Training for the upcoming games starts tomorrow and I don't want to show up all out of breath again. Coach Wood would definitely slice me to bits if I'm out of shape.
Maybe this time, I should just stop thinking about her… she may not be thinking of me. After all, I did say she was a cry baby. And what a compliment that was Potter! You really know how to turn on a girl. What was I thinking? I could have said something less… less… less impolite. But, no! I really had to spell it out to her that she was a huge cry baby. Why? Why after 8 long years do I still have to endure this? I should be enjoying my life now that I'm finally living my dream… I'm the captain of the English Quidditch Team, an Auror, and best of all, not married! That's the spirit Harry!
Picking up my muggle phone again, I called Hermione to inform her that I will be able to join them after all. Yes, I am living the dream…
It's been more than a year since i last updated. i hope that i didnt miss out on any detail. GOF movie was great that i decided to return to my story and re-live Harry and Cho's story. I made many alterations and did not follow what happened in HBP. I didnt want Dumbledore to die in book 6 so i made him live until Harry's 7th year at Hogwarts. :) Also, I just made up Cho's second name. I'm not sure if i'll be making any changes in this chapter after i upload it but i will let you know...
PLEASE R&R! I'd love to read what you think about the new chapter)