Chapter 2 – Betrayal
After breakfast the next morning, Harry walked through the great hall, towards the entrance hall in order to go to care of magical creatures. He stopped just short of the door as he saw, to his surprise, Cho and Malfoy talking. They were standing at the foot of the marble staircase. Harry was too far away to hear what they were saying, but he saw Malfoy say something to Cho and put his hand on her arm and Cho laughed.
Harry stormed down through the front doors and down to Hagrid's cabin. He knew he didn't have any right to be angry. He didn't own Cho, she could talk to anyone she liked. This thought, however, didn't help him thinking why Malfoy?
They were still dealing with the Skrewts and Hagrid had decided that the time was ripe to try and get them to mate.
'I thought we could try an' breed 'em see?' he said to the class.
'Oh great,' said Malfoy loudly, 'If there are any more of them, they might attack me and then I wouldn't be able to escort my date Cho Chang to the Yule ball.' His eyes flashed menacingly in Harry's direction.
That evening, back in the common room, Harry sat by the fire, staring into the flames.
'C'mon mate. If she would stoop so low as to go with Malfoy then she's not worth the bother, you can get someone else, you're a triwizard champion! You're the boy who lived!'
'I don't want someone else,' he said, speaking for the first time in hours.
'I just don't understand why she would say yes to Malfoy the day after telling you she wanted to go with you,' said Hermione, 'it makes no sense!'
'Hey listen, I've got it,' said Ron excitedly, 'maybe Malfoy put Cho under the imperious curse!'
'Let's just face it,' said Harry gloomily, 'she prefers Malfoy to me, end of story. I don't even know why I thought I had a chance with her in the first place.'
Over the next few days Harry didn't run into Cho or Malfoy, for which he was thankful. He didn't feel like he could take any more humiliation.
It was three days before the Yule ball and Harry knew that he'd have to find a dance partner, but he just couldn't bring himself to ask anyone else.
After Hermione reminded him that time was running out, for the third time, he left the common room and went up to the owlery to send bread and cakes to Sirius. He watched Hedwig soar out over the clouds and turned to leave, running headlong into Cho.
'Hello Harry,' she said coldly, brushing past him and quickly tying a letter onto one of the school barn owls legs.
'Why haven't you spoken to me since Hogsmeade?' she asked him, 'You made me feel like an idiot.'
'What are you talking about?' he said to her, 'you're the one who hasn't been talking to me.'
'I told you I wanted to go to the ball with you, and you just left me not knowing what was happening between us.'
'Only for one day!' he retorted, 'that doesn't mean you should take up the offer of any guy who comes along. I don't have time for your games Cho.' He said angrily and walked past her, down the steps.
'Wait Harry!' she called, but he had already gone.
Harry stormed into the nearest boy's bathroom and stared into the mirror, glaring angrily at his reflection. Two slytherin second years walked in, chatting.
'Malfoy is so lucky, did you hear he's going to the ball with Cho Chang?' said the first.
'Yeah, I know. Although she is in Ravenclaw…' said the second.
Harry left. He could feel hot tears prickling his eyes but wouldn't let them fall. Why did girls have to be so frustrating?