Disclaimer: I do not own "Harry Potter". It is hereby © to J.K. Rowling. I wrote this story when I was 12 years old in the year 2003. So, "Half-Blood Prince" wasn't out yet either. It didn't exist at this point. Again, errors in spelling and grammar have been intentionally left in to preserve my skills as a young writer. This story is complete. This is a repost.
Chapter Eight: Diagon Alley Again
Harry opened his eyes and saw that he was standing in the Leaky Cauldron in front of Tom the bar keeper who flashed him a toothy grin.
"Welcome back Mr. Potter! Need rooms I suppose? We have three rooms available. Rooms 4, 5, and, 9." Tom said.
"Alright, two to a room. Tai and Akira, Lupin and I, and Harry and Cho. Tai, room 4. Lupin, 5. Harry, 9." Sirius said.
Tom handed them each their key. Harry and Cho eager dashed up the stairs to their room, put the key into the keyhole, and turned the knob, revealing a beautiful room.
"Looks like they got new furniture." Harry said.
"Yeah…Looks kind of like my old room at my old house…" Cho said sadly.
She almost started to weep, when Harry placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes.
"Cho, there was nothing you could do to stop her. You were tied up. They died a noble death. And at least they can keep my parents company in heaven." Harry said quietly.
A tear had fallen from Cho's eyes and she bit her lip. Harry wiped the tear away, and kissed her softly.
"You're r-right. It isn't my fault. I shouldn't blame everything on myself. Thank you Harry." Cho said, trying to force a smile.
"Cho, I know you haven't had much time to get over your parents dying, you're so sad inside, but you try to keep yourself happy on the outside. Just let it all out, I'll be here." Harry said.
Cho fell into Harry's arms, crying. Harry held her, softly stroking her hair and reassuring her that everything would be alright. Her tears fell like rain, and soon it all stopped, Cho was silently sobbing into Harry's shirt for a moment, but then she dried her eyes and stayed silent as Harry continued to stroke her hair and continue to tell her that everything would be alright.
"Thank you…" Cho whispered.
"How sweet of you, Harry…how very touching…" said a voice.
"Taichi go away." Cho said.
"Taichi?" Harry asked confused.
"My brother's proper name. Tai is just for short." Cho explained.
"I'm not leaving Chosai." Tai responded.
"Taichi, you aren't yourself."
"Very right you are Chosai. The Angel of Darkness brings this message: We will meet soon. Very soon." Tai said, lunging forward at Cho and Harry.
Harry's amulet started shining, a light struck Tai and purple sparks emitted from him, and Tai stood up again, looking a cross between puzzled and infuriated.
"That wretched girl! She possessed me. Of course thanks to Harry's amulet, the spell was broken. Stupid woman, read my mind, and watched my entire life like it was some sort of movie. Then she took control of a weak point in my mind. Cho, tell me, do you notice anything? Can you feel anything?" Tai said.
"Hmm…it's strange…it's like I can feel everyone…every witch and wizard in England…I can hear them…I feel them…I hear their thoughts…it's too much! I can't take it! My head-it's--" Cho said softer and softer each second until…
She blacked out, falling into both her brother and Harry's arms.
Cho opened her eyes a tiny bit. She suddenly became aware of what was going on around her. She was lying in a bed, Tai holding a small wet towel and dabbing it around her eyes. Harry was holding her hand tight. Cho tried to open her eyes again. Tai and Sirius were talking, but she couldn't make out the words they said. Their voices sounded far off, in another dimension. She tried to open her eyes again, and her body was reawakened and then she found her voice, at last.
"W-what happened?" She asked barely above a whisper.
Harry looked up in surprise; Tai and Sirius stopped talking and faced their attention to her. Lupin and Akira were watching her as well. Akira moved closer to her sister. Then Cho's mind started to hurt her, as she sat up. Everyone had moved closer to her, surrounding her like walls. She could hear their thoughts. Her head was hurting again.
"NO!!! Stay away!" She screamed.
A circular wave emitted from her and she pushed everyone back several feet. They continued to be moved backwards until they were against the wall.
"Cho! Stop it!" Tai yelled.
Then it did stop. Cho collapsed again.
"What's going on? Why is she acting like that?" Akira asked.
"Her telepathy powers are growing. She can read our minds now. She can hear our thoughts. And it hurts her head very much. She still has yet to get used to it. And because she heard our thoughts, it scared her. Her telepathy changed into telekinetic energy and pushed us away, because she didn't want to have to hear our thoughts. And now that she can read our minds, she can do many other things." Lupin answered.
"What kind of things?" Akira wondered.
"She can control us…and she can destroy us…but she's not about to kill us…she'd never do that. And she collapses because she still isn't used to this power yet. It takes so much of her energy to use this power of the mind, that the neurons in her brain can't take the pressure of using all that energy, and the brain sends signals to temporarily shut down the brain so it can start up again, functioning normally." Lupin explained.
"Er what?" Akira asked.
Lupin sighed deeply and said, "Tai, I think you should take this one…she's your sister after all…"
"What he's trying to say is that Cho can control our actions. Because she can read our minds, if she can get enough power, she can force our brains to follow her command. But at this rate, something like that could take a while…and the reason why she's collapsing is because it takes loads of energy to use that mind power. And her body can't take all the stress. So she'll be sleeping a lot until she adjusts to this new ability…" Tai explained.
"Oh, I understand now!" Akira said.
"Harry, since Cho's telepathy is growing, perhaps yours is as well. I'd like to try an experiment…if it's alright with you, of course." Lupin said.
"It's fine with me." Harry replied.
"Ok, good. Everyone, except you Harry, try and think of something. Anything…a light, happy thought. Direct it at Harry and see if he can read it and tell us what we're thinking. We don't want to try any negative thoughts, because if the experiment succeeds, we don't want to have Harry collapse like Cho did." Lupin explained.
"Alright." Said Tai.
"On my count, 1…2…3…" Lupin said.
They all closed their eyes and started thinking. Then Harry felt it. It was like a locked door opening wide open to a howling wind. He heard everyone of their thoughts stream in. It was a confusing blur, he couldn't see, he couldn't hear the outside world, just the thoughts reaching his mind.
"Stop." Harry said.
Everyone stopped thinking at once, and the door shut itself and locked again. Harry felt dizzy, but he didn't faint. His eyes weren't working properly, and everything was still blurry. He quickly sat down on the bed and massaged his temple for a brief moment.
"So…what were we all thinking?" Tai asked curiously.
"Give me a minute…" Harry said quietly.
"Take your time." Lupin said.
"Ok…Sirius, you thinking about how glad you were when you were set free. Tai, you were thinking of the day you became captain of your Quidditch team. Lupin, you were thinking of when you and I had tea in your office that day in my third year. Akira, you were thinking of when you first met Adam last year." Harry said after a few seconds.
"Wow. It worked." Akira said, shocked.
"Our experiment succeeded," Lupin concluded. "Alright Harry, you may sit down."
At that moment, Cho stirred. She sat up rubbing her head vigorously and moaned.
"Ohhh…my head…what happened?" Cho asked.
"I think the new abilities have adjusted…or else she would've lost it again by now." Tai noted.
"What?" Cho snapped, sounding more awake and energetic.
"Huh? Oh…your telepathic gifts got stronger. So did Harry's. That's all…and uh…each time you were trying to adjust, you er…passed out…" Tai explained.
"Er…right…so when do we go get our new books?" Cho asked.
"How about now?" Tai suggested sarcastically.
"Well let's go then!"
"Cho, you are staying right there with Harry. Akira, you stay too. Remus, Sirius, and I will go and do your shopping for you."
Cho gritted her teeth, made to stand up, but slumped back down onto the bed.
"Hah! You guys need dress robes!" Tai exclaimed, laughing.
"According to this for two-TWO? Oh dear!-anyway, for two balls to occur this coming year. The Halloween dance and the Valentine's ball. Won't that be fun?" Akira said, eyeing her list.
"Two this year??" Cho exclaimed in shock.
"Well, you're just going to have to deal with it, whether you like it or not." Tai said, sighing.
"Not again! I can't stand those dances…Last year there was the second Yule Ball…now this…two dances…twice the aggravation, time, and shopping! AUGH! I can't do this!" Cho moaned.
"Well, we'll be buying both sets for all three of you. Making a grand total of uhh…six. And don't worry, Choey dear. I'll buy you some nice robes. And I'll make sure they're really special…" Tai smirked.
"Oh no you don't! You'll just buy me some fancy cloth from Madam Malkin's, and give me a needle and a thread and I'll have to make two robes on my own by scratch! And there is no way I am letting you shop for clothes for me. You have horrid taste. The only decent robes you can use fashionably are your Quidditch robes for your team!" Cho shrieked.
"I am so offended! Just kidding…of course you know you wouldn't let us get within ten feet of Madam Malkin's. Harry and Akira, and of course you Cho, will be going to Madam Malkin's and you will choose your dress robes, and get fitted for some school robes, while Remus, Sirius, and I go shopping for your books and things. We'll meet up half past five at Forlean Fortesque's Ice Cream Parlor. Until then, you three just run off and have fun." Tai said with a little sarcasm, turning serious at the end of his explanation.
"Oh good. I feel much better now!" Cho said, very sarcastically.
"Hey, you'd better watch it…Chosai…" Tai added, smirking.
Cho turned away angrily muttering in Chinese.
"What's that? You want to do what with an enchanted burning stake?" Tai asked, whirling around.
"Nothing." Cho replied.
Tai rolled his eyes, walked out the door, and coughed. It sounded distinctly like 'sisters…'
'He annoys me so much you know…' Cho said, not speaking, rather thinking, but looking Harry directly in the eye.
'Ah, well, your brother is a good person. Honestly, he's nice. Believe me. Now let's go shopping for some robes…We might see Ron and Hermione.' Harry replied.
Cho nodded. Lupin and Sirius were going down the stairs. Akira was tapping her foot, waiting for her sister and Harry. Together the three of them went downstairs and met up with Lupin, Tai, and Sirius in the Leaky Cauldron's backyard. Tai took out his wand and tapped the third brick to the left of the trash can, revealing an arched passage into Diagon Alley. The six walked through the arch as it sealed itself again. Then they split up going their separate ways. Cho quietly walked at Harry's side towards Madam Malkin's. Akira was half way there and had to wait for them.
"Hurry up, will you?" She complained once they caught up with her.
"The store isn't just going to disappear, you know. It's still going to be there when we get there." Cho replied.
The three turned at the shop, and watched as it vanished out of sight.
"You were saying?" Akira said, annoyed and shocked.
"Oh dear. Someone's put an invisibility charm on the shop! This can be easily fixed…I bet it was that pesky Liam Merrick…" muttered Madam Malkin, stumbling out of her now invisible shop. "Revelio!"
The shop reappeared as Madam Malkin pulled a boy from behind a corner by the ear, scolding him.
"Merrick! What have I told you about putting charms on my shop! One more time and you'll find yourself shopping for robes in Hogsmeade! I don't think your parents will be happy when they find out about this, ah, good, here they are now!" scolded Madam Malkin.
"Liam? What've you been doing?" barked Mr. Merrick.
"Your son, Liam, cast an invisibility charm on my shop, frightening the customers. Those three," Madam Malkin said, pointing at Harry, Cho, and Akira. "Witnessed the entire event. They were on their way here to go look at some dress robes."
Mr. Merrick turned around and spotted Cho and Akira. He looked at Harry and his eyes flicked to Harry's forehead.
"Dear great goodness! It's Harry Potter! Mr. Potter, it's an honor to meet you!" Mr. Merrick said, seizing Harry's hand and shaking it roughly.
Liam was so shocked that his dark brown hair stood on end and his blue eyes widened. Liam's mother even looked startled.
"Hi. I'm Liam Merrick. I'm in Gryffindor, fifth year." Liam said, extending his hand to Harry, Cho, and Akira.
"We're all in Gryffindor too. Harry and Cho are in sixth year. I'm in fifth year." Akira said.
"Isn't wild? We have to take our OWLs this year…Oh well…How'd you two do on your O.W.L.s?" Liam asked.
"Huh?" Harry asked puzzled.
"Your Ordinary Wizarding Levels. How many OWLs did you get?" Liam repeated.
"Oh. Thirteen." Harry answered.
"How about you?" Liam asked Cho.
"Same." Cho replied.
"Were they hard?" Liam asked.
"They weren't bad…pretty easy really…but only if you truly pay attention. And it is a must that you pay attention…Ron only got nine OWLs…but he wasn't exactly paying attention in any of his classes…" Cho replied, giggling.
"Hey! Don't make fun of me!" said a voice.
"Yeah, especially in the presence of a prefect!" said another voice.
Harry, Cho, and Akira turned around.
"Ron! Hermione!" The three chorused.
The three of them ran over to Ron and Hermione and pulled each other into a tight hug. They broke apart quickly, after Ron realized he was hugging Cho and Harry at the same time. Ron drew caution into the winds by flapping his arms manically.
"Uh Ron, what're you doing?" They all asked him.
"I was hugging Cho! Don't get mad, Harry! And I was hugging you, too! I'm not gay!" Ron shouted.
"Honestly, Ron, we know you're not trying to get Cho from Harry, and we know that you're not gay…really, how thick are you?" Hermione said, annoyed. "We're all just happy to see each other again. And the last thing on Harry's mind would be the possibility of you being gay and trying to take Cho away.
"That rhymes." Akira pointed out.
"I noticed. So why are you here all alone?" Hermione asked.
"Well we're about to get new robes. For school and the two balls coming up." Cho explained.
Hermione clutched her face in horror.
"That's what I forgot! My dress robes! Ron! Did you remember?" Hermione said frantically, tugging at Ron's sleeve.
Harry and Cho exchanged curious glances.
"If the happily married couple is over their crisis, we'd like to go shopping now. And that brown-haired guy behind us is a new friend of ours. Gryffindor fifth year, named Liam," Akira said. "And we have to give you both a mega-update…some of it happy…and some, not so good…" she added glancing at Cho.
"Well just start from the top." Hermione and Ron suggested in unison.
"Not here. Can we please go shopping now? It's already past noon! I haven't eaten lunch yet!" Akira whined.
"Oh fine, you big baby! We'll go! Yeesh!" Cho said very irritated.
Akira pouted, but followed her sister, Harry, Hermione, and Ron into Madam Malkin's shop at last.
"Hello dears! Oh good, you brought company…well, Hogwarts robes? Dress robes, too, I expect…well, come on, then, step inside, and don't be shy. Now step up onto the stool, that's it…" trailed Madam Malkin as she ushered Cho and Harry onto separate stools.
A tall witch came out and pulled black robes over both their heads. Madam Malkin started sticking pins into the robes Harry was wearing. The tall witch was fitting in pins on Cho's robes as well. There was complete silence for a long time. Cho had stepped off the stool and paid for her new robes with some gold she found in her pocket. She went to look at the color and style samples of fabric for dress robes. She sifted through them and pulled out four sheets of material. Then she took the sheets up to the counter and set them onto the wooden surface.
"I'd like to purchase these. I want the silver one to be styled like this, you know, pinned up at the neck, fitted chiffon sleeves…and for this one, the white one, I want it to be more gown-like…pinned up at the sides, white net-like lace or chiffon sleeves, non-fitted. But ribbons through here around an inch or so above the elbow. That too complicated?" Cho said as she pointed out the designs with her wand.
"Understood," Said the young clerk at the counter. "Come back in ten minutes."
"I'll still be here ten minutes from now. All of them," Cho said, motioning towards Ron, Hermione, and Akira. "Are with me." she finished.
The clerk nodded, took the four sheets and went into the back room. Ron had taken Cho's place at the stool, and Akira took Harry's place. Harry looked at dress robes as well.
"Try red…or deep scarlet…it looks good on you." Cho said suggestively, watching Harry.
"Alright…what else?" Harry asked, as he pulled a scarlet colored sheet off the wall.
"Hmmm…dark royal blue," Cho said quickly. "Wait, scratch that! Green…not a bright green, a pale dark green…emerald green…like your eyes. Yes, that'll be nice…" she finally agreed.
Harry pulled a green sheet off and went up to the counter, explaining his designs, and then sat down in a nearby chair. Cho sat in another chair, watching Hermione get fitted, and Ron and Akira buying their sets of robes.
The clerk had gone into the back room again, and returned with armfuls of robes. She gave each of them their pairs of robes they had decided on, everyone paid her, and they promptly left the shop.
"Mum! Please! Please, let me get some frogspawn! I need it for potions! Please, Mummy?" Liam begged his mother.
Apparently, Liam and his parents had stayed right where they were when Harry and friends had walked in Madam Malkin's shop.
"No Liam, dear…we aren't getting you frog spawn…you tricked us into buying you bubotuber pus, and Dumbledore sent us an owl saying you were stuffing it into some Slytherin boy's mail…not that I don't blame you…he is a Slytherin, but you know very well that it is very wrong to harm another student at the school." Mrs. Merrick said boorishly.
"Hi Akira!" Liam exclaimed after spotting her.
Akira ducked behind Hermione as she flushed red.
"Haha…Aki has a crush!!!" Ron said, tauntingly.
"Ron, you cannot call Akira 'Aki'. Only family members can do that. 'Aki' means an entirely different thing if you were to say it." Cho explained to Ron, obviously annoyed.
"Akira means intelligent or smart…Aki means autumn…" Harry said quietly.
"How'd you know that?" Akira, Ron, and Hermione asked incredulously.
"A gift of mine…I can understand Asian languages…it comes from an amulet…or is it the ring? I don't know which…" Harry explained, not even noticing that Ron and Hermione didn't have a clue as to what he was talking about.
"We'll have some explaining to do…we'll talk later…" Cho said.
Liam was staring at Cho, Harry, Ron, and Hermione as if they were crazy.
"Bad time?" Liam asked.
Akira stepped out from behind Hermione and bravely stepped forward.
"No…not all…hi Liam…" Akira said quietly.
"Call me Mez. It's what all my friends call me…what my good friends call me anyway…"
"You can call me Aki…if you want…"
"Didn't they just-?"
"It doesn't matter…you can call me Aki…only Cho and my brother Tai are truly allowed to call me by my nickname…"
"Ok…cool. Where're going now?"
"Well, we're supposed to go meet at the ice cream parlor. Wanna come with us?"
"Sure! Just let me ask mum and dad…"
Liam walked away and started talking with his parents. He returned a minute later.
"I can go!" He exclaimed.
Akira smiled and her eyes shone with happiness.
'Haha! That's the funniest thing ever! Akira has a crush!' Cho thought.
'I agree.' Came Harry's thought.
'Hey! Stop reading my mind!' Cho replied.
Harry stopped sending messages and silently stood, watching everyone in Diagon Alley having a good time.
"Hey Cho, we should be getting something to eat, you know? I'm starving!" Akira complained.
"Yeah, alright…the Leaky Cauldron should have something. We'll go and eat…but I'm out of money…we'll need to find Tai first." Cho answered.
"Ok. Isn't that him over there?" Akira asked, pointing.
"Aki! Don't point! It's rude!" Cho hissed.
"Well, maybe it is, come on! Let's go see!" Liam said, taking Akira's hand and dragging her over to whom she pointed at.
Together the two of them ran in between people, and then stopped running once they reached the feet of a tall eighteen-year-old boy.
"Been looking for you. Where are the others?" said Tai's familiar voice.
Akira panted and finally caught her breath.
"Well…I just…saw you over…there, and we came…over here to see…if…it was you. And it is…we got our robes and everything, but I'm hungry and tired!" Akira whined to her brother.
"Yeah, ok. Who's your little hand-holding friend? Or is he more than a friend?" Tai asked suspiciously.
"His name is Liam…call him Mez, if you want. He's my new friend." Akira answered.
"Where is everyone else?" Tai asked.
"Right here." Said Cho, Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Hi Ron! Hi Hermione!" Tai said. "Hi again Harry. And hi again other girl!
"Hey!" Cho snapped.
"Just kidding, Cho. Now, Aki says she's hungry, so let's eat! I'm hungry too." Tai said.
"That's what we were about to do. Done shopping?" Cho said.
"Yes. We'll have to wait for Sirius and Remus to come back. They're putting your things in your rooms. After they return, we'll go." Tai said, glancing around.
Cho found a bench and sat down. The bench groaned as everyone else sat down around her. Sirius and Remus returned, looking very cheerful. Tai clapped his hands together and licked his lips.
"Time to eat!" He said quietly.
He stood up and greeted Sirius and Remus, had a quick chat, and then motioned the others to follow him. Reluctantly, they got off the bench and followed. They silently walked towards the Leaky Cauldron, went inside the pub, got some hot lunch, and ate in silence. Liam and Akira were talking quietly, and giggling like tiny children. Cho finished most of her plate, went upstairs to her room, and flopped down onto the bed.
"You going to join her, Harry?" Tai asked, snickering. "I'm joking, you know…it just has to do with what I saw earlier…on the Knight Bus…"
"Yeah, real funny. But yeah, I might go upstairs now…" Harry said sarcastically.
He stood up from his chair and went up the stairs loudly. He didn't exactly approve of Tai's joke. He reached room 9 and opened the door, closing it with a loud snap. Cho jumped up.
"Oh…it's you…scared me for a second…" Cho said.
"Sorry…" Harry mumbled.
He flopped onto his bed too.
"What's wrong?" Cho asked.
"Tai." Harry answered.
"Yeah, he's nice when he wants to be, but he's really annoying most of the time…but overall, he's a nice guy…what happened?"
"He made a joke. I didn't exactly find it funny…"
"What about?"
"You know, what happened on the Knight Bus…when he caught us…"
"Oh."
Cho frowned and bit her lip.
"Then that joke wasn't very funny at all." She said at last.
Harry didn't say anything. Tai walked in the room.
"Ok, Harry, I'm sorry about the joke. I'm serious too…I was being an ass. I speak my mind a lot sometimes…" Tai apologized.
"Apology accepted…just uh…don't go around saying that kind of stuff…" Harry said.
"No prob!" Tai said.
Tai left the room, quietly shutting the door.
"Yeah…he is annoying…but nice…just like you said…" Harry agreed, looking at Cho.
Cho grinned. Harry silently tiptoed over to Cho's bed and saw her staring out the window.
"Something is coming…something evil…it's coming very soon." Cho said quietly, in a trance.
Cho started twitching. Then she was getting up off her bed, trying to fight herself from moving.
"Stop it! Stop it!!!" She shouted.
She was now moving towards Harry, and took a swing, but forced herself to miss.
"Stop it now!!! Harry!!! Stop it!!!" Cho screamed.
"How?" Harry asked.
Cho grabbed her amulet and approached the mirror. A ray of light came out of the amulet and bounced off the mirror and into Cho. She fell over backwards. Harry caught her from hitting the floor. Cho was shaking and cold. The door burst open again. Remus, Sirius, Tai, Akira, Ron, Hermione, and Liam stumbled into the doorframe. Harry helped Cho up and helped her walk over to a chair.
"What happened, Harry?" Remus asked.
"I think the Angel of Darkness possessed her." Harry replied.
"She was…she was trying to make me hurt Harry. But I wouldn't let her." Cho said.
"That's why you swung at me, but missed…" Harry thought aloud, though speaking quietly.
"What are you talking about?" Ron asked.
"What's going on?" Hermione wondered.
"I'll explain." Tai volunteered.
He led Hermione and Ron to his room downstairs.
"Tell me exactly what happened, Cho." Remus said quietly.
"Well…I was just on my bed, and lying down, then I felt something rip at my chest, and I felt a war going on within me. Then, I heard a voice telling me 'Kill him. Kill Harry Potter.' And it was forcing my actions. But I realized what I was doing then I fought back. This voice was forcing me to hurt Harry. I was forced to try and hit him, but I made myself miss. I knew I couldn't let this force control me…I went to the mirror and took out my amulet of light and I somehow made light come from it and it hit the mirror and bounced back into me. I fell backwards and Harry caught me before I could hit the floor." Cho explained.
"She knows she can't control you. She's trying you possess us all…and eventually she will…and we will end up performing the Angel of Darkness's orders someday…be aware of yourselves. The amulets provide an edge for you two. Use them wisely. They could save you someday…" Remus said.
"Uh…Professor Lupin, what's with you saying all the 'somedays'? It's just something to wonder…" Akira asked softly.
"Why don't I get an explanation?" Liam asked.
"Mez, you know, you could've gone downstairs…go on…" Akira said suggestively.
"Er…right!" Liam said.
He dashed down the stairs and joined Hermione, Ron, and Tai.
"Both of you need not to worry about anything…we will be back at Hogwarts very soon." Remus said.
"I miss Hogwarts…I want to go back…" Cho sighed.
The rest of August slipped away in a blur. Soon it was September 1st at seven o' clock in the morning. Cho was being shaken awake by Tai. She opened her eyes and moaned. Tai proceeded to wake Harry. Harry sat up, found his glasses, and put them on. Cho sat up and yawned. She pulled the covers off her, crossed the room, and went into the bathroom. Harry got out of bed and took the opportunity to change his clothes. He was putting his shoes on when the bathroom door opened and Cho walked out with a toothbrush in her mouth, her hair wrapped up in a white, fluffy towel, and another towel she wore around her body. She didn't seem to notice Harry. She opened her trunk and took out a mirror. She touched her towel, which instantly turned into white cargo capris and a black mid-sleeve shirt bearing the words 'London Pride' in red, white, and blue letters. She took off the towel from her head and shook her short, black hair. It had grown a little longer now. She pointed at her hair. It was dry in seconds. Then she pointed at the wet towel her hair was in. It became a crème colored French-styled cap with a short bill. She put it on at an angle so it covered one of her eyes. She went back into the bathroom and brushed her teeth then came out again and waited for Harry. She was painting her fingernails black as she quietly hummed a tune. Harry went into the bathroom and quickly brushed his teeth and saw that Cho had finished painting her nails and noticed that she needed shoes. She pointed to the floor and a pair of black Vans® shoes appeared with socks in them. She quickly put them on.
"You know, you look kind of punkish…" Harry said.
"I know…my new look." Cho said.
She pointed to her ears and thin, large, silver hoop earrings settled themselves on her ear.
"I knew I was missing something…so, how about breakfast?" She suggested.
Harry nodded and opened the door and walked out as Cho followed behind him, closing the door.
-
It was 10:55, five minutes until the train left.
"Hurry up! We're going to miss it!" Tai ordered.
"Cho, Harry, Ron, Hermione you first! Then Ginny and the rest of you will go." Sirius said hoarsely.
The four nodded and steered their carts toward the barrier between platform's 9 and 10. They checked for any passing muggles and they all ran into the barrier.
"Quick! Over here!" Cho hissed.
They dropped their carts off right by the train and lugged their trunks up into the train. They found an empty compartment and heaved the four trunks onto the racks then went outside again. Harry grabbed Hedwig, Ron grabbed Pig, Hermione grabbed Crookshanks, and Cho grabbed Lumé. They went back into the train and put their cages and wicker basket into the compartment just as Akira, Ginny, Liam, Tai, Sirius, and Remus arrived on the train.
"No room in here. You four have taken up all the space." Tai joked.
"There's plenty of room, Tai. This is no time to joke…it's 10:58. Two minutes before the train leaves. I'm sure that we all wouldn't want to have to go to Hogwarts and do nothing." Remus said.
Akira, Ginny, and Liam squeezed into the compartment, put their trunks away onto the racks, and sat down in the now completely full compartment. Tai, Remus, and Sirius started hugging everyone in the compartment and said their goodbyes.
"10:59, come on! We have to leave!" Remus said urgently to Sirius who was still hugging Harry.
"Have a good year, Harry. Make sure to write soon!" Sirius said.
He turned and walked out of the compartment, joining Tai and Remus on the platform just as steam billowed out of the engine. Remus, Tai, and Sirius waved until the train was out of sight.
The countryside sped past the windows. No one said anything for a while.
"Cho, Akira, I'm really sorry…" Hermione whispered.
"About what?" Cho asked, looking at Hermione.
"Your parents…what happened to them…I'm really sorry…we didn't know…" Hermione replied, each word growing softer and softer.
"Thank you." Cho said almost as quietly as Hermione.
"Yes, it's very tragic…can't believe it…at least you know how Harry feels…he has no parents, you haven't got any now…" Ron said.
"How dare you! Are you trying to tell me that I have not properly experienced pain before?! I have dealt with more pain beyond your wildest dreams! I died last year! Do you know how much pain it is to die?! Your soul, your life is torn from you! It's almost like your heart is being torn apart! It amazes me how little you understand!" Cho screamed.
Her eyes were a burning fire red. She turned away from Ron as hot tears streamed down her face. She buried her face into Harry's shirt, while Harry held her and patted her back.
"Now look at what you've done!" Akira hissed angrily at Ron.
Akira strode over to her sister and sat on her other side. Akira's face of anger was replaced by a look of concern.
'This is beyond me to help. Harry, you take care of it…I know you can.' Akira said through her thoughts.
'I will…don't worry.' Harry replied.
"What did I do wrong?" Ron asked Hermione.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Oh, so you're against me too? Is everyone against me now?" Ron asked, his voice rising.
Harry glared at Ron with a look that read: Shut up. You're only making it worse.
"What did I do wrong?" He asked Hermione again.
"You just don't understand us. And our feelings." Hermione replied.
"What do you mean 'us'?" Ron asked stupidly.
"Women! You don't understand them! That's why you can't offer good words of comfort! You only added more flames to the fire." Hermione explained, very annoyed at Ron's stupidity.
"Why don't you write your own book, then?" Ron asked her coldly.
Hermione was clearly insulted. She had raised her hand to slap him, but lowered it slowly. Cho even looked up. Her eyes were still red, but it was fading away. Ron instantly shut up and he looked pale. Then there was another silence.
"Ron, women have feelings too, so you have to treat them with more respect…" Hermione said quietly.
Cho wiped her eyes with her hand and rested her head on Harry's shoulder. Akira sighed with relieved happiness and sat next to Liam. Ron was having a conflict within his mind. He was trying to figure out how to word his sentences, but with difficulty.
"Cho…" Ron said, gulping.
Cho turned to look at him. Her eyes were now brown again, but slightly swollen.
"Cho, I-I'm sorry. For what I said…I mean, I just kind of said it, without thinking…I'm really sorry…do you…?" Ron said, stuttering, his voice growing softer until it was silent.
Cho stared at him for a second; it seemed as if she was thinking what to say.
"You're forgiven…you've found strength in yourself to admit you were wrong…it takes great courage…and for your efforts, I shall forgive you…this time…" Cho replied softly.
"Ooh yay! The food trolley's here!" Ginny said suddenly.
Everyone turned and looked as the compartment door opened and the plump little witch poked her head in.
"Anything off the trolley today?" She asked.
"We'll take the lot!" Ron exclaimed.
"I'm buying! Everything's on me!" Liam said.
Harry and Ron returned from the trolley, their arms full of sweets and flagons of pumpkin juice. Liam had stepped up to the trolley to pay for everything.
"Twelve Galleons please." Said the witch.
Liam dug into his pocket and had a fistful of gold coins.
"One…two…three…four…five…six…seven…eight…Eight? I'm short! Wait, I might have more in this pocket…" Liam said nervously to the witch.
Akira noticed that Liam was out of gold, and she slipped four Galleons into his other hand.
"Thanks!" Liam whispered to her out of the corner of his mouth.
"No problem!" Akira said quietly.
Liam handed the witch the twelve Galleons and sat down back in his seat as the compartment door shut.
"Party!" Akira yelled.
Everyone laughed. Cho and Harry quietly chatted with each other while munching on a cauldron cake or sipping pumpkin juice. Ron had dragged Hermione to her feet and was dancing with her carelessly. Ginny watched Ron and Hermione dance. Akira and Liam were singing at the top of their lungs and together sounded horrible. Everyone was having a great time until the compartment door slid open again and a boy with silver-blonde hair and a pale, pointed face walked in with a honey-blonde haired green-eyed veela girl and two grayish boulder-like bodyguards. It was none other than Draco Malfoy, his girlfriend, Alyssia Rosiak, and Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.
"What's going on in here? Some kind of party?" Malfoy asked with a disgusted look on his face.
"Hello Malfoy, Rosiak, Crabbe, Goyle." Akira said.
"Hello Chang, Chang, Potter, Weasley, Weasley, I don't know you, and Mudblood." Malfoy replied.
"What'd you say?" Ron asked defiantly.
"Oh that's right, Mudblood's your girlfriend, isn't she, Weasley?" Malfoy spat.
"Yeah that's right, and her name is Hermione!" Ron snarled.
"Whatever. Who's this guy?" Malfoy asked, pointing at Liam.
"Who me? I'm Liam Merrick! The great and most feared invisibility charm-casting wizard, Liam Merrick!!!" Liam announced.
"Uh huh…riiiiight…" Malfoy said, not very surprised.
He walked over to where Cho and Harry were. Both glared at Malfoy, as Malfoy glared back.
"Hello Chang. How are you?" Malfoy asked.
"Leave me alone." Cho replied.
"Just answer my question. How are you?" Malfoy said.
"I was perfectly fine until your lot came and dirtied this compartment up. Why do you want to know?" Cho said.
"Interesting. I figured this compartment was dirty enough with Weasley drooling all over Mudblood…" Malfoy replied.
"Well at least everyone else besides you has cleaner blood than what you and your lot have!" Cho replied, her voice rising.
Malfoy, Alyssia, Crabbe, and Goyle looked furious. Malfoy grabbed the front of Cho's shirt and pulled her so close to his face that they were an inch apart.
"Listen carefully Chang. You watch what you say or else certain things will happen…oh and one more thing…" Malfoy said trailing off.
He grabbed Cho's face and kissed her. Cho shoved him off instantly.
"You sick son of a bi-" Cho started to say.
Harry was also mad he had got up from his seat and Akira had gotten up. Both socked Malfoy.
"Touch her again and you'll be dead!" Harry yelled at him.
"And my sister doesn't need slime like you poisoning her! If you want kisses, go ask Rosiak! Don't get it from other guy's girls!" Akira screamed.
Malfoy had staggered and fallen backward onto Alyssia. She fell back onto Crabbe, who remained sturdy as a stone. Cho wiped her mouth with a napkin and walked over to Malfoy and Alyssia.
"It's no wonder why you haven't got a good enough girl. If your dog-ugly looks don't scare them away, your breath certainly will…Hey, Rosiak, next time he tries to kiss you, make sure you have lots of extra strength breath mints with you, 'kay?" Cho said sweetly and innocent-like. "Ciao!"
Cho slammed the compartment door shut and sat down. Harry was still shaking with rage. Cho led him back to his seat and sat down with him. She got out her wand.
"Scourgify!" She muttered pointing to her mouth, and nearly choking on a wad of pink bubbles that came gushing out of her mouth.
Hermione raised her wand at Cho's mouth, which was spewing large quantities of bubbles
"Watera!" Hermione whispered.
Water came and rinsed the bubbles from Cho's mouth as Cho dried her face with her shirtsleeve.
"Thanks." Cho said to Hermione.
"You're welcome. That must've been the most disgusting thing ever to happen!" Hermione replied.
"Yes it was…ugh…I am just going to pretend that that never happened…" Cho answered.
'Did he hurt you?' Harry asked through his thoughts.
'Hm? Oh. No…' Cho replied.
'Good. You alright?' Harry asked.
'Oh well, I'm fine…' Cho said, blushing slightly.
"I don't want to say what I'm thinking…so just read my mind…" Cho whispered to him.
Again the door in Harry's mind opened wide and Cho's thought streamed in. The door shut again.
"Did you get it?" Cho asked.
"Yeah…and I'm supposed to be protective…" Harry replied.
"Well, I know that!" Cho said.
Dark skies greeted the window that Akira was now looking through.
"We'd better change into our robes. We're nearly there!" Akira said suddenly.
Cho slipped her robes on over her head and saw everyone else doing the same. Everyone started helping each other with their ties, and Hermione pinned her Prefect badge to her chest soon after helping Ron straighten out his tie. Cho took off her black Vans® and put of her shiny black shoes instead. The train slowed down and finally came to a stop. They disembarked and heard Hagrid's familiar booming voice.
"Firs' years! Firs' years, this way!"
"Hi Hagrid!" Cho, Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione yelled.
"'Lo there 'Arry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Cho right?" Hagrid said.
Cho nodded and motioned Liam and Akira to follow her. The seven of them waved and moved towards a carriage and sat inside them as the horseless carriage took off at great speed toward the castle.