It was Saturday. Today was the big day, it was the first match of the Junior World Cup, and England would be playing America. Harry felt a mixture of sadness and joy. A tear rolled down his cheek at the thought that his parents were not here for this, that they would never see any of his accomplishments. He would never be able to tell them how much he loved them. Voldemort had torn all that away. He had taken away something that would never be given back. Voldemort had changed Harry's life in a way that had changed everything, and he would pay. Harry silently swore that Voldemort would regret the day he stepped into the Potter's Residence at Godric's Hollow. Even if it was the last thing he did he would make sure no one else would ever be hurt by Voldemort. He smiled as he remembered all the good things that have happened.

He met Ron and Hermione.

He had experienced the joy of being on a broomstick.

He had met his father's best friends.

He had saved his godfather.

He had been saved from himself.

He had fallen for Cho.

Harry brushed the tear off his face as he stood up. He gripped his Firebolt as he walked out of the dressing rooms. If his parents were out there; if they were watching, he promised to make them proud. Even just a few days ago it would have been a dream come true to play Quidditch professionally but the return of Voldemort meant casting all of those dreams aside. Only one thing truly mattered anymore. Voldemort had made that clear in the graveyard, they would face off in the future and only one would leave alive. As his face was hit by rays of brilliant sunlight, Harry smiled grimly to himself. Feeling the sun and wind before a match used to bring him a deep sense of calm and joy. Now, everything seemed colder, less real. The world just seemed to have… less in it. With a sigh he mounted his broom and kicked off.

"Today is the first day of the Junior World Cup! The Opening match is between England and America! Here come the English! Led by Captain and Keeper Oliver Wood! Following him are the chasers Angelina Johnson, Roger Davis, and Katie Bell! Followed by the beaters Fred and George Weasley! And here comes their secret weapon, the one, the only, the invincible Harry Potter!" roared Damon Chang into the magical microphone. Harry winced at Damon's praise. While it was customary to bluster before a match he wished they could have glossed over that part.

Harry felt himself shoot up into the sky, her relaxed as he breathed in the fresh air. While Quidditch wasn't nearly as enjoyable as it once was, he still took small pleasure in being able to ignore the looming threat of Voldemort, at least for a few hours. He circled around the pitch and saw that there were far more fans than usual. He could see that an entire press box had been set up, and there were floating stands for fans from all over the world to watch. Harry slowly drifted back towards the ground as the referee strode out to meet the two teams.

"Captains, shake hands." Said the tall muscular wizard. Wood shook hands with a tall and lithe seeker.

"I want a nice, clean game." Said the referee as he released the Quaffle and the Bludgers. Harry shot up into the air like a rocket as he glanced around for any signs of the tiny golden ball, the American seeker was flying around the field dividing it into sectors that he quickly scanned.

Suddenly Harry spotted the Snitch, it was fluttering around the American's center goalpost, he quickly turned around dove towards Oliver Wood, and silently praying the American seeker would take the bait. He did.

"AND POTTER'S SEEN THE SNITCH! AMERICAN SEEKER ROY MARTIN'S IS CATCHING UP, THIS IS GOING TO BE CLOSE!" shouted Damon as he danced around the commentator's booth, ecstatic.

Harry reached his arm out as he closed in on the goalpost. As he was inches away, he pulled out of the dive with all his might and blasted off towards the other end of the pitch. Martin was just a second too slow on the uptake and ended up slamming straight into the goalpost and fell to the ground unconscious.

It was a one-seeker game now and Harry knew it. Harry rocketed forward like a bullet his mind exploded with pain. Harry barely managed to stay in control of his Firebolt as he plummeted towards the ground. He slammed into the ground and dropped his Firebolt, both of his hands clutching his head.

"It seems a timeout has been called by England to see what happened to their seeker." Said Damon, clearly disappointed that Harry hadn't caught the snitch.

Harry was barely conscious. He couldn't move. Every part of his body was on fire. He couldn't believe the amount of pain he was in. He felt tears roll out of his eyes, he was sure they were blood. He stared into his right hand as it was engulfed in darkness. His left arm seemed to glow with a white light. He let out a hoarse scream as his head threatened to split open from the pain. He could hear a whisper telling him all the power he would have if he just gave in to it. Another voice in his head was telling him that if he gave in, he would lose everything. Harry lay there as his body started to go into shock. The first person he saw was Dumbledore.

"Help… me." Croaked Harry. Dumbledore nodded as he started casting a spell, which had a musical quality to it. Dumbledore was singing. His voice was a rich alto bass. Harry felt the pain ebbing away. The darkness on his right arm and the glow on his left faded away. Harry brushed away the blood on his face as he gripped his Firebolt. This wouldn't stop him. Not here. Not now. Everyone was watching, and he wasn't going to look like a bloody coward.

Harry lept onto his Firebolt and flew into the sky. He knew that Dumbledore had only delayed the pain; kept it at bay for a short period of time, it was going to come back, and Harry had no intention of leaving the pitch without the snitch.

"And Potter's back! No word on what happened but he's got guts, I'll give him that." Said Damon as he glanced at Harry with a worried look.

Harry stared around looking for the snitch, the score was tied at 240-240, Roy Martin still hadn't recovered and America's reserve seeker had been injured in practice the previous day. Harry saw the snitch zooming around near the ground right under him. He dove downwards he hand outstretched. He knew that if he was off by a millisecond he would die.

"Come on. Come on." Said Harry as he egged on his broomstick.

"So, the Great Harry Potter fancies me huh?" said Cho with a grin. Harry turned a deep shade of crimson.

"Um…" was all Harry could choke out before his face got even redder.

"What's this? The seeker that out flew a Hungarian Horntail can't speak?" said Cho as she poked him in the ribs with an even bigger grin. She was thoroughly enjoying this moment. Harry tried to avert her gaze but when he looked away she turned to hug him and whispered in his ear, "Thank you."

The two seekers sat together merely enjoying the company of the other as the stars twinkled overhead. A light wind picked up as Cho slid her hand over Harry's. Emerald orbs twinkled in the night.

Harry gasped as the memory overwhelmed his concentration, he desperately returned his attention to the Quidditch pitch, he was only 30 feet from to snitch. Every moment would be crucial now, a missed air shift or adjustment would mean slamming into the ground at over a hundred miles an hour.

"I suppose you must feel so proud." Grumbled Harry "The Great Harry Potter gets done in by a pretty face and her lackeys."

"Is that your way of offering a compliment?" said Cho as she dissected his sentence with a raised eyebrow.

Damn that Ravenclaw motto.

"I- what – "stammered Harry as he tried to utter a coherent sentence.
"Ha! I win again that's two in a row!" said a grinning Cho, "but, thanks for being such a good sport."

Harry shook his head as another wave of memory's surged through his brain. He was only 20 feet away now…

"You know it will be worth it right? After we win the Cup." Said Cho hoping to cheer him up. He looked up at her and grinned.

"Yeah, I know it. At least I got to spend some time with you." Said Harry. Cho's cheeks flushed with color.

"You really are a romantic aren't you, Potter?" said Cho as she giggled.

"Um… Yes?" Harry had no idea how he was supposed to respond to that. At his words; or rather, lack thereof Cho just giggled harder.

"Alright, your turn Potter." Said Cho as she lay down on the ground. Harry got up and gently eased her long raven tresses to the side; he then proceeded to massage her muscles in circles, slowly releasing the knots of tension in them.

"You're really good at this Harry." Sighed Cho as she closed her eyes and concentrated on the relaxing feel spreading from her back.

"I could give you one every day if you'd like." Said Harry. Cho seemed happy, and when Cho was happy he felt happy.

"I'd like that very much Harry."

Harry had completely lost control of his brain, memories of him and Cho were flashing in rapid succession. He couldn't clear his mind… This was dangerous… 10 feet away….

"Can you blame me? You're beautiful." Said Harry as he kissed her hard on the lips. Cho moaned into the kiss as she dug her fingers into his hair.

Harry's fingers closed around the snitch just as pain erupted throughout his body. He pulled out of the dive with one hand, his other holding the snitch up in the air. Harry grinned right before the pain overwhelmed him. He managed to dismount before clutching his scar with his free hand. Waves of memories pulsed with alternative waves of searing hot pain.

"This has never happened before, we don't know what caused it!" Harry winced as he was woken by a frantic voice. He felt that he was lying on his back. It was soft, and warm. He must be in a bed.

"There has not been another Redeemed in over 1800 years. It is only logical that his experience on the pitch was part of it."

"Is he going to be alright?" asked a female voice.

"We will do everything we can. His physical injuries are not life threatening, his mental ones however may be much more severe. I know the two of you have gotten close recently, it will not be difficult but I hope your presence will help ease the pain."

"I… understand professor."

Harry sunk back into the inviting darkness after his strength faded. His dreams were horrible. Second after second, minute after minute, day after day his dreams repeated. They had only one common thread, his helplessness. He kept seeing Cho die because of him. His weakness. His fault. His lack of power. In each of his dreams Cho would die right in front of him, and he couldn't do anything to stop it. He was powerless. He was weak.

Harry opened his eyes and stared up into the ceiling of the Hospital Wing. He seemed to be spending a lot of time here. He realized that his cheeks were wet, he turned and realized his pillow was wet as well. As Harry sat up the Hospital Wing faded from view and he was on the Grounds. He saw Cho sitting on the grass looking up wistfully at the stars. Harry smiled until he saw them appearing out of the darkness, Death Eaters seemed to be coming out of the night, and Cho didn't know.

Harry jumped out of his bed and pressed his face against the cold glass. He saw Cho, and the dark figures approaching her. Fear engulfed his heart as he looked wildly around for his wand, he grabbed it from his bed side table and jumped through the window shattering it.

As he fell through the air Harry shot spells at the Death Eaters, not knowing or caring which spells he used. Jets of light blazed through the air. Cho had finally realized what was happing but, it was too late, a Death Eater had gotten her by the arm and was dragging her away.

"Stupefy!" roared Harry as he sent a stunner at the Death Eater that had grabbed Cho, it tore straight through the Shield Charm the Death Eater had tried to bring up, he was thrown several feet and did not rise again.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" shouted Harry as he neared the ground, the spell brought him to a halt floating several feet above the ground. Harry immediately assumed the Dragon's Peak position desperately trying to save Cho, but he wasn't calm. He knew it, and the Death Eaters knew it.

"Harry!" screamed Cho as another Death Eater grabbed her. She smashed the Death Eater in the face with her elbow and quickly blasted another one away with her wand before two more restrained her. Harry could plainly see the fear in her eyes as he redoubled his efforts. This couldn't be happening. No. He wouldn't let this happen.

Spells flew from behind him at the Death Eaters. Harry strained his neck to see that Damon Chang had joined the fight. His brow was furrowed as he dueled with everything he had. A streak of light flew from Damon Chang's wand and the hair on Harry's neck stood on end. Damon Chang was dueling to kill. The two danced amid a flurry of colours as the stars twinkled above. It seemed so disconnected that the stars could be so peaceful and yet the people underneath their gaze, so violent, destructive.

"Cho!" roared Damon as he was met with fierce resistance from the Death Eaters. Harry and Damon were heavily outnumbered and the Death Eaters were getting away. Harry knew that the battle was drifting slowly out of his and Damon's reach. The two of them had the element of surprise but the superior numbers of the Death Eaters along with Cho as a hostage was turning the situation against them.

Aiming his wand at the thickest concentration of Death Eaters Harry roared, "Aduro Incendia! White light exploded from his wand as it engulfed the Death Eaters, howls of fear and agony told Harry all he needed to know. He ran towards Cho shooting stunners at everything that moved, he was about to reach her as a voice behind him spoke. "Your emotions always were you biggest weakness Harry. I have warned you, you know. Crucio."

Harry writhed in pain as knives were driven into each of his joints. His screams echoed across the grounds as Damon tried to reach him before being blocked by several Death eaters. Voldemort laughed empty and hollow as his poisonously calm tone betrayed the malice within. "You really thought that because you could beat a couple Death Eaters you actually stood a chance? Watch as we take your precious Cho, watch as you realize the truth. You. Are. Powerless."

Harry's vision was blurring, Voldemort was right. He was powerless. He couldn't even save Cho. Everything had been for naught, Cho was going to be wrenched from him and he couldn't do a thing. Then a wave of spells erupted from the direction of Hogwarts. Harry turned to see Dumbledore standing with the teachers as they fought off the Death Eaters. Harry's vision was fading. Voldemort's face was contorted in fury as he was thwarted again. The last thing Harry saw before he fell unconscious was Cho's face as tears spilled from her eyes.

Harry stood at the foot of Cho's bed in the Hospital Wing. They had managed to fight off the Death Eaters but that did nothing to comfort him. He felt hollow and empty. Cho had almost been kidnapped because he was weak. He moved forward and pressed his lips onto her forehead.

"Why did Voldemort even come? It doesn't make sense. Why would he show himself here?" thought Harry as has gently stroked her raven tresses.

"Your connection Harry. He knew that you were starting to awaken your talent. He fears what you could become. He couldn't reach you inside the wards of the castle but he knows what Cho means to you. If he had her, he could simultaneously force you to confront him and blackmail her parents." Replied Merlin in a sullen tone.

"Cho, I love you. I wouldn't trade a single second that we've spent together for the world but, this has to end. I can't let you get hurt because of me anymore. This is the last time you'll see me."

Harry wrote down his thoughts on a scroll that he left on her bedside table. He gave her one last look before he walked out of the Infirmary. Harry slowly folded some of his clothes and his Invisibility Cloak into a pack that he shrugged onto his shoulders. He grabbed his Firebolt and walked out of the Common Room.

Harry walked onto the Grounds with his pack and his broom. He fastened on a traveling cloak, and turned around to take one last look at Hogwarts. He turned away sadly, as he mounted his Firebolt and left Hogwarts in the distance. At the altitude he was flying at someone could have almost mistaken his tears for the water concentration in the sky. Almost.

Thanks for the corrections and questions/reviews people!

Sachaelle, thanks for the corrections! I ended up keeping Wood as a ret-con he only plays a minor part in this story for a few chapters anyways. As for the Vrasta Vultures I remember reading that they had won the European Cup multiples times, I must've just assumed that they were in the English league.

Daithi4377, there's supposed to be a disconnect. He is only 14/15 at this point in time. He's jumping from thinking he has to kill Voldemort to trying to be normal. He just came out of a jarring near-death experience. The weirdest thing would be to try and be normal. The teachers are skeptical because most of them know about Merlin, you'd naturally assume that it was Merlin that subdued them and not Harry. As for Severus, remember that his whole this is pretending to be working for Voldemort by pretending to be working for Dumbledore. To not be there collecting Death Eaters would break the story he's telling Voldemort.