Earendil-DMCC: Yay for another D/C shipper! ;D Ahaha. Hey, I'm 15/F/CA too! Wow, we're so alike. :) Oh yeah, that's a great point you brought up that I think I should elaborate on. It might have been kind of confusing, but the guy in Cho's dream was actually Cedric up until the point where Cho felt Cedric become 'solid'. That was the part when he was "morphing" (w/c?) into Malfoy. And then she looked up and noticed that it wasn't Cedric anymore. Ah, it's so confusing, and I apologize! Lol.

Quillqueen: Thanks for the review again! You're great! Ah, I'm now hooked on your story! ;D Oh yeah, my speedy updates are due to my sad procrastinating skills. ;) I always come straight home and write my story, leaving my school homework until the last minute. It's horrible, and I am the worst procrastinator you'll ever meet! ;D

Chapter 7.

After her disastrous encounter with Malfoy, Cho found that she could not sleep as well as she had those weeks after her dream. However, she refused to connect her insomnia with the Slytherin jerk, and instead linked it to the upcoming Ravenclaw-Slytherin Quidditch match. It was called on short notice, since Umbridge hadn't given the Gryffindor Quidditch team permission to play yet. Hence, Ravenclaw was moved up to play Slytherin.

The day of the match found Cho nervously but excitedly awaiting entrance into the Quidditch stadium. She swallowed, but her mouth felt dry. Oh Merlin, I have to play against Malfoy, Cho thought miserably. It had been embarrassing enough when they passed each other in hallways during the past weeks, with both students averting their eyes and pretending to be fascinated by the floor. Now I have to actually come face to face with him… Cho sighed heavily.

But she had no time to dwell on her thoughts, because soon enough, Roger pushed open the wooden door and the team soared out into the rowdy cheers and applause. The bright sunlight gleamed in Cho's eyes, and she had to squint to see the figure of Madam Hooch down on the field.

Suddenly, Cho's attention was drawn to a familiar-looking man in the audience. He had long blond hair, tied back aristocratically, and his eyes were steely grey. He clutched an elegant serpent wand and wore a long black cloak that radiated wealth and nobility. He looked a lot like…Malfoy.

That must be Malfoy's dad, Cho thought, amused at the many similarities that he and his father shared.

But all of a sudden, she remembered Malfoy's face when she had mentioned his parents during their "pleasant chat" the other day. His shattered, devastated eyes played over and over again in Cho's head. Malfoy's father must not have a great relationship with his son. It's great that he came to watch Malfoy play, though. He must not be that bad. Cho fixed her eyes on Mr. Malfoy again. He was glancing quite obviously at a pocket watch and scowling, as if he'd rather be spending a day at St. Mungo's than at his son's school. Cho's heart filled with an odd emotion for Malfoy. Am I…feeling sorry for him? That prat! Cho almost laughed at the absurdity. But…it is kind of sad…

Tweet!

Madam Hooch's whistle broke through Cho's thoughts, and she watched the Chasers zoom past, Adrian Pucey of Slytherin with the Quaffle. Cho ascended a bit higher out of their way to watch for the Snitch. She contemplated on a plan, but knew that a feint would be too risky –Malfoy would obviously be expecting it.

Drumming her fingers nervously on the front of her broom, Cho strained to look for the desperately desired flash of gold. Near the Slytherin goals, Malfoy was doing the same. Cho flew slowly around the pitch, going through tactics in her head. However, none of them seemed to be believable; especially for someone as sharp as Malfoy.

"Get moving, Cho!" Roger yelled as he sped past with the stolen Quaffle.

"Hold on, for Merlin's sake, I'm planning!" Cho cried back, frustrated at his impatience.

Over at the commentator's podium, Lee Jordan was sitting glumly, infected with strep throat, as his blond haired substitute moved the microphone toward her.

"Roger Davidson and his Seeker are now yelling at each other," Luna Lovegood commented conversationally. "I don't understand why they're wasting time, but maybe it's a clever ruse…"

Professor McGonagall leaned her head toward Luna and shouted, "It's Roger Davies, not Davidson!", to which Luna widely ignored and continued dreamily, "Wow, look at that heliopath shaped cloud! Isn't that pretty?"

Cho, incensed, gripped her Comet so tightly she thought her knuckles would break. She was just about to let out a frustrated growl when she saw something glint in the distance. Loosening her hold on the broom slightly, she sped off in the direction of the flash. Yes! Cho thought as she got closer, seeing the Snitch hovering in the air. It is the Snitch!

Once she got within a few feet of the Snitch, the golden ball swiftly zipped away again, up into the clear vast sky. Cho ascended rapidly to follow it, and it wasn't long before Malfoy noticed and started tailing it as well. Higher and higher the two Seekers rose, and eventually they both reached the point where they were almost flying among the clouds.

Out of the corner of her eye, Cho saw Malfoy accelerate and push his broom higher. They were neck and neck now, hands both extended in attempts to reach the Snitch first. Cho bit her lip as she forced herself even higher, and her ears popped with the decreasing pressure. But she would not allow Malfoy to catch it first…

Suddenly, Malfoy collided with Cho, pushing her forcefully off course. Cho seethed at his immoral playing, and immediately flew back to the green clad Seeker and shoved him back. He turned to scowl at her and, to Cho's irritation, finally passed her and rose even higher.

Cho bent as low as possible to gain speed and closed her eyes. Come on… she silently pushed herself. Come on, don't let him get to you…You can do it…Cedric is probably watching you right this moment…give him a reason to stay happy…Come on, Cho, you can do it…You're sooo close…

When Cho finally opened her eyes again, she was shocked to see that she had left an angry Malfoy far behind. The Quidditch pitch was probably a full 300 meters below, and the Snitch was still rising. Cho reached out for the small fluttering ball and missed. Shit, she cursed, and attempted again. Miss. Again. Miss. Cho felt her insides burn with determination. At last, at the very moment Cho thought her eardrums would burst, she caught the struggling Snitch between her index finger and thumb.

Yes! Cho screamed silently, and swerved her broom around to come to a halt. As she prepared to start her victorious descent, she passed by Malfoy, who was sitting stock-still on his broom and looking as if he couldn't believe what had just happened. Cho was about to laugh triumphantly in his face when she noticed something was...not quite right.

Malfoy's usually sharp features were dulled, and his whole body appeared to sag heavily onto his broom.

And his eyes…

Cho saw, like she had that fateful day, the lifelessness inside his eyes that seemed to consume his entire soul. In fact, if Cho had to choose a word to describe Malfoy at that moment, she would choose…

dead.

Malfoy didn't move, but his lifeless eyes bore into Cho's heart. She felt waves of pity roll down her limbs, and she began to tear without understanding why.

Then, out of nowhere, flashes of images began to spin through Cho's mind. A young girl with a sheet loosely clutched in her hand. Running home. The immense pride that soared inside the little heart. Then a woman… yelling at the girl. Waving the piece of paper around like garbage. Throwing the paper onto the floor. Slamming the yellow kitchen door angrily shut behind her. The girl silently weeping as she knelt down to retrieve it. The paper rolling open, and the girl touching it tenderly with her chubby fingers. Good job Cho! Very well done! A minus. The girl gazing at the paper. Then remembering her mother's disappointed yells. You can do better than this... Tiny heart breaking. The girl sadly picking it up and throwing it in the fireplace, watching the flames destroy the little sliver of pride she had felt...

Then, as quickly as the images came, they left. Cho blinked to bring herself back to reality, and was surprised to feel fresh, wet tears streaming down her cheeks. She had finally realized…

Suddenly, Cho imagined Malfoy's odious father sitting below, sighing and waiting to leave…just waiting to see if his son would make him proud…it wouldn't matter that Malfoy had tried his best but failed…a failure was a failure…a failure would not be acceptable in his family…it brought dishonor, embarrassment… I can relate…I know how it feels…

At once, Cho forgot all hostility toward Malfoy and made her way towards him on her broom. He stayed motionless.

Then, slowly, Cho reached out her right hand, still clutching the little Snitch. "Take it," she whispered to Malfoy.

A long, drawn out silence ensued. Malfoy didn't move or say anything, but his eyes gave away all his emotions, conveying his surprise and slight curiosity.

Finally, he opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was an inaudible, almost pain-filled, "Why?"

Cho gave him a tiny smile through her tears. "Because," she said, "you need it. I know you need it. I was you. I am you. I know how it feels to have such pressure to be the best, to be someone. I know why you do everything you do. Because I do it too. I know why you feel the need to make a name for yourself. Because I feel it too. I know how it feels, and I know, now, that you need this. Now take it. I'll live."

In that moment, Cho thought she saw Malfoy's deep eyes water a bit, but when she looked closer, they were as clear as could be. He hesitated for a long time, but eventually, shakily, he stretched his hand out and closed it on Cho's Snitch. The instant their hands met, Cho felt a shock jolt through her, filling her with the warmth she had felt in her dream. For that one fleeting moment, she wished Malfoy would never let go. But he gently took the Snitch, let go, and looked straight at Cho.

Neither of them said anything. But they didn't have to.

Before Malfoy could change his mind, Cho sped toward the pitch as fast as possible, dreading the looks on her teammates' faces. But she knew that she had done the right thing.

As she reached the playing field, she saw the questioning looks on both teams' players, as well as on the students of the entire school. It seemed as if the whole stadium was holding its breath, waiting for Cho to deliver the news.

She took a deep breath.

"Malfoy caught the Snitch."

Cho didn't wait to see her teammates' disappointed expressions, turned, and rushed off the field.

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(A/N) How was Chapter 7? I really hope you guys liked it! If you have any comments, suggestions, etc, feel free to send them my way in a review! ;D Chapter 8 will be COMING SOON! ;D Yay!