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Unfortunately, Sirius started taking a renewed interest in Harry due to the sessions with Dr. Atrum.
Starting with girls. Harry knew that Dr. Atrum must have mentioned something to him, it was only expected; Harry wasn't 18. He was upset at first, but didn't show it.
Sirius had managed to get Harry to mention who she was, the girl who seemed to actually pay attention to him. Cho Chang.
"But Harry, you need to be a teenager while you still can!" Sirius exclaimed, after telling Harry he should ask her out. He refused, of course. It was doubtful that she felt that way about him; Harry didn't even really see her as a friend.
"She's cute, right?" Sirius asked, causing Harry to blush slightly. She was, but was that really important? Plenty of people looked nice...
"I don't want to go out with her, Sirius." Harry replied.
"But, Harry..." The grown man seemed to almost whine.
"No. Besides, I doubt she likes me."
"You won't know unless you ask her." Begrudgingly, Harry admitted that the man was making sense. "So you'll think about it?" Harry nodded and Sirius sprung forward to hug Harry.
Things were tense for a moment, as Sirius realized what he had done when Harry flinched.
"I sorry, Harry." He said while pulling away, running a hand through his hair, a nervous reaction.
After a moment, Harry replied. "It's alright." He didn't entirely enjoy it, but it was alright.
"So, about dating..."
Harry chose that moment to tune Sirius out.
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"Today were going to do something different, Mr. Potter." Atrum explained after Harry settled. He had learned by that point that Harry was not the talkative type, as many of his patients were, so he continued without to much of a pause. "I would like to discuss the time before you lived with Sirius."
"There's not much to talk about, sir." What Harry's reply, not meeting eyes lighter than his own.
Atrum gave him a sad look. "I think there is, Harry, I mean, Mr. Potter. From what you've told me I think there is something you need to get off your chest, and it has nothing to do with Sirius. Is that correct?"
Harry said nothing. What made this man think he would spill his heart out to him, when he wouldn't to his own god-father. Besides, it was all in the past; it didn't effect him anymore. Simply put, it would do no one any good, so why talk about it.
"I'm just trying to help, besides your god-father is paying me a lot of money to be here. You not talking to me, is costing him. He's trying to help you." Atrum's voice pleaded with him.
/costing Sirius.../ Harry knew the man wasn't 'well-off', but he hadn't thought that he might be costing Sirius. 'He quit his job to move here, Harry. To see you.' Harry remembered. And Sirius did honestly seem to hate that he moved, at times.
Was he still a burden?
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Sirius could tell that something was wrong with Harry, after the meeting. He guessed that it was something he talked about with the doctor. Sirius had half a mind to go down to the office and demand to know what it was, but knew Harry would hate if he invaded his privacy like that. Sirius only knew about Cho because the doctor mention her, when telling Sirius how well the first meeting had gone.
Speaking of Cho, Sirius tried talking to Harry some more about asking her on a date. Harry quietly said he would, and a surprised Sirius was elated. Harry's first date!
It just saddened him the others weren't there to see it...
As Sirius obsessed, Harry just sat, staring at his knees, thinking bitterly. /I've made him happy. I'm not a burden/
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Harry half wanted to run, as He walked up to Cho's table, during lunch. She was sitting with Marietta Edgecombe and the rest of her group of course. A group he didn't come close to belonging to. It felt like a stone had formed in Harry's throat, getting larger and larger with every step he took.
"Cho?" He managed to croak.
"Hi, Harry." She replied, smiling at him. "Come sit!" Cho quickly made space for him. The other just glanced at him, some sneering slightly. They knew he didn't belong and never hesitated to show it.
Harry didn't know if he would be able to get up the courage to ask her out, but he promised Sirius. So, he just sat there, suddenly feeling overheated, as the rest talked.
"Will you go out with me!" He suddenly exclaimed, causing the group to go silent.
Every one stared at him and Cho, obviously waiting for her to tell him to get lost. "Of course, Harry." She gave him that same smile from before, which did nothing to calm him.
Now what?! They needed somewhere to go! Where did people go? "Movies?" Harry finally asked.
"That would be great. How about Friday, 7:00." Harry nodded, afraid that he was staring at her.
"I'll see you there Harry." Suddenly, Cho leaned forward and kissed Harry on the cheek.
After that, Harry darted up, making an excuse to leave, with a vivid blush on his face.
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An excited Sirius wanted to drive to the theater once Friday, but Harry refused.
He had just had a session with Dr. Atrum and now a date with Cho at seven. Harry wanted as much time to try to calm down as possible, and thought a walk might help.
Thankfully Sirius had his clothes ready, after Harry told he had no idea what to wear, so he only had to shower and get dressed, after getting home.
The walk did nothing. It only gave Harry more time to panic. She had meant that Friday, right? And at seven? What were they going to see? Should he buy the tickets? Snacks?
The whirlwind in Harry's mind froze, when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Cho." He said when he saw her. She looked... nice. Should he smile? Harry tried, but didn't feel right, so he dropped it.
"Hello, Harry." She greeted him happily. "Do you know what you want to see?"
"Um, no?" Harry replied sheepishly.
"It ok, I've got something in mind." Cho grabbed his arm, before he could do anything, and pulled him to the line.
A horror movie. That was what she had in mind. Harry didn't have a problem with scary movies, they just weren't exactly his favorite.
Harry payed for the tickets with money given to him by Sirius. Once inside, he asked Cho if she wanted anything to eat; she declined.
Every now and then she would get a look in her eyes, when looking at him; it wasn't one he was used to. Maybe Sirius was right and Cho really did like him. Maybe another date wouldn't be awful.
They sat in the back, at Cho's insistence, in the corner. 'That's the best place.' Harry didn't see what was so great about it. The screen was to far away for him. Also there were very few people around them; the nearest person was several seats away.
Harry didn't really consider the movie scary, just disconcerting. He tensed up every time a person got killed, even if he knew it would happen. Cho clung to him nearly every moment.
"Isn't this great, Harry?" She whispered excitedly.
'Not really.' he resisted telling her. Instead Harry agreed.
"Want to know why this is the best place to sit?" Harry could see the mischievous look in her black eyes, even in the dark theater.
Hesitantly, he nodded yes.
The next thing he knew, Cho hand was on his chest and her lips were on his. When Harry didn't respond, she seemed disappointed, but continued until finally his lips opened out of reflex. Cho smiled into the kiss, not sensing the fear that was slowly building in Harry. She was too close...
Then he noticed her hand, which had been slipping lower, until it was going under the waist of his jeans. Harry was responding. /So, I want this?/ Harry tried to convince himself. The button was undone and Harry's breath quickened. /Someone's going to notice!/ he thought as Cho's tongue continued to play with his hesitant one. He finally managed to pull away.
"We can't do this here." Harry said, breathlessly.
"You're so cute." Cho ruffled his hair with her free hand. "Let's go to my place." She said into his ear. "It isn't far and my parents aren't home."
Harry said nothing as, once again, she grabbed his hand and pulled him out the theater; the movie was still going.
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