Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for the plot.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Chapter Two: The Quidditch Match.

Harry woke up the next morning not feeling the least bit refreshed. His sleep had been fitful at best and had been punctuated with nightmares that left him sweating and terrified. At seven-thirty he dragged himself out of bed. After a quick shower he put on some clothes and walked down to the Great Hall.

He ate slowly, not looking at anybody. He hated reality at times. When you wanted to be alone you couldn't. You could run, but you could always be caught. You could hide, but you could always be found. When you wanted an exit there never was one. And Harry Potter needed an exit more than ever.

He looked up at the sound of someone sitting opposite him. Ron was grabbing everything within reach and grinning at him like a maniac.

"What are you looking so bloody pleased about?" Harry asked him, feeling his bad mood evaporate slightly at the stupid grin his friend was giving him. Ron's grin broadened.

"You're in a difficult position here mate. Win and get dumped. Lose and don't. No win situation." Ron said, looking as if life couldn't be sweeter. Harry groaned feeling his bad mood return. Yet another problem.

"Thanks for the reminder; I really don't need that sort of thing right now." Ron seemed to notice Harry's mood.

"What's up?" He asked.

"I didn't sleep much last night and what sleep I did get, well, lets just say it was like watching one horror movie after the next. And you taking the piss doesn't help. I'm sick to death of living like this. One problem after the bloody next." Harry snapped, Ron flinched at Harry's words and leaned forward.

"Mate, I'm sorry. I was only trying to cheer you up. I know you didn't sleep last night. You kept me up by your tossing and turning." Ron waved off Harry's apology, "It doesn't matter, I don't care. I know you're going through hell right now but even when you're feeling at your worst don't forget that me and Hermione are right here and you are not doing it alone. Now, let's just forget about this for now" He said as he glanced to his left as a crowd of scarlet-decked Gryffindors flooded through the doors of the Great Hall. "We'll talk later. Just concentrate on getting the snitch. Even if it does mean you get dumped." Harry grinned at him.

"Cheers Ron."

"No problem." Hermione walked over to them and sat down next to Ron.

"Harry. You do realize what you've gotten yourself into? You do know you're going to have to let Cho catch the snitch if you want to stay together?" Harry looked at her critically,

"You've been spending too much time with Ron." Ron nearly choked on his sausage.

"You say that like it's a bad thing!" He said in a pained voice.

"Bloody is." Harry muttered as he went back to his bacon and toast. At that point a huge cheer came from the Ravenclaw table; Harry looked up and saw that Cho was walking into the Great Hall. At the urging of some of her friends she began to walk over to the Gryffindor table. She smiled at Harry teasingly and sat down next to him.

"Snitch or me, sweetheart, which one do you want?" She asked in a loud voice, making sure that everyone could hear her. Laughter echoed throughout the hall as people waited eagerly for Harry's response. He grinned and leaned back against the table.

"Do you even need to ask me that?" Harry replied in an equally loud voice. "Snitch of course." The laughter doubled and a loud 'ooohhhh' rose in the hall.

"Prepare to lose, Potter." She said to him.

"Ladies first." He said in a gentlemanly voice. Cho couldn't help but laugh.

"See you later. Don't worry, when you lose, I'll still be there to comfort you. With the snitch in my hand." She said before walking back to the Ravenclaw table.

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Harry stood in front of the Gryffindor team to give them the pre game talk.

"Not much to say really. We're the better side. Just go out and play your best and we'll win. Easily. And don't worry, just because she's my girlfriend doesn't mean I will let her catch the snitch. Even if it does mean I get dumped." They couldn't help but laugh at Harry's grin. Their nervousness gone, the Gryffindor team walked out onto the Quidditch pitch. Their entrance was greeted by a loud cheer from the Gryffindor section.

Harry took his position next to Madam Hooch as he waited for the Ravenclaw team to appear. They did so in a few minutes and Harry was surprised to see Cho walking towards him.

"I didn't know you were captain."

"I didn't tell you." She teased.

"Captains shake hands" Madam Hooch interrupted. They did so, holding on slightly longer than was necessary.

"You know, you could always be a gentleman and let me catch the snitch." Cho said flashing a teasing smile at him.

"When it comes to the Quidditch pitch, sweetheart, I'm no gentleman."

"Not true, remember the first time we played?" Harry groaned in mock annoyance.

"I knew you'd bring that up." He leaned over and quickly kissed her on the cheek. "Good luck."

"Bloody fraternization with the enemy that." Ron said to Ginny who nodded her head in agreement.

"Do you want me to get you some blue robes now or later?" Ron asked innocently as Harry flew up to join him.

"Shut it Ron."

"You could always just point to where the snitch is when-"

"Ron?"

"Yep?" asked Ron grinning,

"Shut it."

"Okay Harry." He was silent for a few minutes.

"Harry?"

"What Ron?" Harry asked in an exasperated tone.

"Do you reckon it would be easier for you to catch the snitch and give it to her?" Harry was just about to answer him back when Madam Hooch blew the whistle and threw the quaffle up in the air. Ginny caught it and sped off towards the Ravenclaw end. Harry shut off the rest of the game and began to search for the snitch. He flew to his customary place of about thirty feet above the rest of the action and sat there watching for any sign of the snitch. After a few minutes he noticed Cho hovering a few feet below him. Harry grinned to himself, if that's how you want to play it...

He dived suddenly, brushing Cho's robes and drawing awed gasps from the crowd. He heard Cho following him and swerved violently to the left before pulling his broom sharply upwards in a steep climb, once again he lost himself in the thrill of flying, letting his instincts take over and his body do as they commanded. He glanced over his shoulder and grinned as he saw Cho struggling to keep up, feeling the thrill of the speed and skill of the chase. He paused for a few seconds allowing her to catch up but before she could rest he shot off again. Cho groaned, she knew he was feinting but couldn't afford to take the risk. With a sigh of reluctance she followed him.

Harry led her towards the teachers' stand before leading her on a wild dance around it, circling and diving at breakneck speed. He flew straight upwards before pulling his broom up and over his head and diving back down towards the ground. Three feet from hitting it he swerved upwards and flew back to his customary place. She caught up with him a minute later.

She was out of breath and panting heavily. But had she enjoyed that. Tailing Harry was like being led on a wild ride, a dance in the air. There were no words to describe it. There was just release, a peacefulness that could not be found anywhere else, only in the air. She grinned up at him and felt her breath catch in her throat. He looked so different so...sexy. The wind was flying through his hair sweeping it back and his face was lit up by his teasing grin and his eyes, his eyes were alight with laughter.

She was still watching as he pulled broom up over his head and began a freefall back down to the ground. It was difficult to achieve a freefall on a broom as one of the purposes of a broom was to keep you suspended in the air but Harry found that if he pulled the broom into a certain position he could achieve something similar. Ever since he had caught the snitch in the game against Slytherin he had been experimenting with ways of freefalling. Although it couldn't quite be achieved in the same way with a broom it was as close as he could get, and he reveled in the freefall, reveled in the fear and the adrenaline that was pumping around his body, the thrill of knowing that the only thing between you and death was quickness of wit and sharpness of your instinct. Knowing that a split second could be the difference between life and death.

The ground hurtled towards him at a sickening pace but he felt no fear. There was no time to be scared everything depended on your instinct and wit. There was no time for fear.

Cho was mesmerized by the skill and beauty of the freefall. She watched him tumble and spin through the air and felt her breath catch in her throat again. She watched Harry pull his broom back into his control and speed off to the Ravenclaw end.

And her heart stopped.

She saw the snitch fluttering near the base of the middle post.

And she realized that it had all been a diversion.

But as much as she tried she couldn't bring herself to feel angry or frustrated. It had been beautiful. All that skill just for a diversion. And it had worked, she had been well and truly fooled, totally distracted.

She knew that she would never have been able to pull off anything like that. She knew Harry was an excellent flier. The best, a demon in the air. Untouchable, uncatchable, unbeatable. She watched as he shot ever closer to the snitch, lying flat on the broom, mimicking even the snitch's tiniest movement. She knew he had won and, although she hadn't really expected to beat him, she couldn't help but feel disappointed.

Harry was a few feet from the snitch when he stretched out his hand. And nearly had it knocked off. One of the Ravenclaw beaters had smacked a bludger at him and narrowly missed hitting him. Although it distracted Harry and prevented him from catching the snitch he managed to see it shoot over his head and to the left of him, he pulled his broom in the same direction and followed it.

He swore as he watched it speed towards Cho. He was on its tail but couldn't quite reach it. Knowing he would never reach it before it got to Cho he twitched his broom to the right and flew straight at her. She was just about to reach for it when she saw Harry flying straight for her; she swerved to the right to avoid a collision. Harry pulled his broom back onto the flying path of the snitch and Cho quickly followed. What followed was a high speed chase around the pitch.

It quickly became apparent that if it went on much longer Harry would catch the snitch. Cho was obviously tiring and was not coaxing as much speed out of her broom as she had been five minutes ago. Turning a hundred and eighty degrees in a split second at seventy miles an hour was not easy and the strain was beginning to show on her and yet Harry seemed to do it with a natural ease. Cho was struggling to keep up and knew she was beaten, however Harry's pace didn't slow one bit. The snitch darted into the teachers and flew between the third and fourth rows, without hesitating Harry followed, causing professors Flitwick and Sprout to jump and Snape to glare at him. The snitch dive towards the ground and Harry followed, flying vertically.

The snitch was flying millimeters from the ground and, although Harry was inches away from it, he couldn't get low enough to catch it.

"Come on, a bit higher, just a bit higher." He muttered. But the snitch stayed at the same altitude. Running out of distance as the Gryffindor goalposts sped nearer, Harry desperately threw himself to the right, flying parallel to the ground and movements that would usually take him up and down instead took him left and right.

He drew closer to the snitch and reached out his hand, just a bit further he thought.

And then he felt his fingers close around it. He righted himself and pulled sharply upwards, missing the middle post by centimeters. He looped a startled Ron once and thrust his hand up in the air.

The Gryffindor fans roared their approval. They had come here wanting a good game and a good catch and Harry had provided. The rest of the Gryffindor team flew towards Harry and grabbed each other in a many armed hug.

"Another amazing catch, Harry. Absolutely fantastic." Said Ron, grinning madly at him, "But it looks like you're going to get dumped after all."

"Nah I won't. She loves me too much."

"Cocky sod"

"It's true though."

"Oh yeah? Says who?" Harry turned round and grinned at Cho.

"Hey Cho. Good game."

"It was wasn't it? I knew I was never going to beat you though, you're too good."

"You put up a hell of a fight though." Cho snorted.

"Don't be stupid. I was knackered and you were flying around as if you hadn't a care in the world." Harry pulled her onto his broom.

"Maybe," He said wrapping his arms around her. "But don't forget I'm still here to comfort you, with the snitch in my hand of course." Cho couldn't help but laugh, she didn't feel in the least bit angry. She hadn't been lying. She had known she wouldn't win but she had enjoyed. She was snapped back to reality by Harry giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"I've got to go now. I don't think Ron would forgive me if I didn't turn up for the celebration party."

"Ok, I'll see you there?" Harry thought for a minute,

"Yeah why not, at least you'll give me an excuse not to have to retell my capture of the snitch a hundred times!" Cho laughed again.

"See you soon then, Harry." They flew down and dismounted, Harry quickly kissed her before running over to where Ron was waiting.

"I presume she will be coming to the party?"

"Yep." Ron grinned and placed his arm around Harry's shoulder.

"Well Harry, now you'll have to retell your capture of the snitch twice as much...just to annoy her." Harry grinned to himself and put on what he hoped was a convincing look of disappointment,

"Sorry Ron, Cho made me promise not to retell it." He shrugged, "Don't want to offend her, you know how it is." Ron looked disappointed,

"Oh well, I guess you'll just have to tell it when she can't hear you." Harry forced a strained smile.

"Yeah, great." He said weakly. Ron looked at him seriously for a minute then burst out laughing.

"Your face, mate" He gave Harry a slight push. "Come one mate, I was only joking."

"You sod!"

"Yep, that would be me." Eventually Harry found the funny side and began to laugh. The two of them relaxed in the easy company of each other and, still chuckling, walked back up to Gryffindor Tower.

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They gave the password to the Fat Lady and stepped into the common room to be greeted by a large cheer. Everybody had a Butterbeer in their hand and there were crisps and cakes stacked on plates and other similar food placed around the common room.

"What the-, when did you this happen?" Asked Harry in surprise. Ron grinned at him.

"I took the liberty of getting Dobby to sort this out before the match." Harry raised his eyebrows,

"Bit presumptuous that, don't you think?"

"Nah," said Ron picking up two Butterbeers, "I knew we'd win. Knew you wouldn't let us down." Harry laughed.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence. Puts me under pressure for next time, though." They had retreated to a corner of the common room where they would be ignored. Harry surveyed the groups of people standing around chatting and drinking butterbeer.

"They don't actually give a damn whether we win or lose, so long as there is a party at the end of it." He commented drily.

"Or maybe they have just become used to your spectacular catches."

"Bloody hope so. I'm fast running out of ideas." Ron grinned at him.

"Come on. Let's go join Hermione." They scanned the common room but couldn't see her.

"Where'd she go?" Asked Ron incredulously, "One minute she was gone and the next she's gone!" Harry thought for a minute then smiled.

"I bet I know." Sure enough, as if on cue Hermione entered the common room with a blindfolded Cho. Ron and Harry grinned at each other and walked over to them. Several people turned to congratulate Harry and Ron and they paused to talk to them. After a few minutes they reached Hermione and Cho. Harry grinned at Hermione.

"Thanks."

"No problem." With a wave of her wand Cho's blindfold disappeared.

"It's about bloody time. If that blindfold had stayed on for one more minute I would have hexed you into next year." Cho snapped.

"That would have been fairly difficult." Hermione said calmly with the trace of a smile on her face.

"Oh yeah? And why would that be." Cho snapped again, Hermione took out a wand and began twirling it around her fingers.

"I was under the impression that you needed a wand to do magic." Harry and Ron stood there stunned. Harry recovered quickly and turned on Ron,

"You've been a bad influence on her!" He said accusingly.

"No kidding!" said Ron clearly unable to decide whether to be proud or shocked. Hermione laughed and handed Cho back her wand.

"Sorry Cho, no hard feelings?" Cho sighed,

"I guess not." Harry grinned and walked up to his girlfriend and wrapped his arms around her waist. She looked at him and cocked her head to the side.

"You know that you look cute when you're angry." Cho raised her eyebrows,

"That's encouraging." Harry laughed and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

"It's true though." Ron pretended to gag in the background. Ginny and Hermione kicked him on each leg at the same time. He crumpled to the floor groaning.

"I pity Hermione. Her boyfriend's about as romantic as a brick." Cho said, still looking at Harry.

"I pity me too." Hermione said sourly, glaring down at Ron. Ron looked up at her with puppy dog eyes. Hermione's face softened and she knelt down beside him.

"I'm sorry, Ron. You know I didn't mean it." Ron stood up and put his arms around Hermione and grinned at Harry over her shoulder.

"Puppy dog eyes, always works." He mouthed at Harry. Harry snorted.

"I'll remember that one." He mouthed back. Harry pulled Cho closer to him and kissed her gently. She kissed him back and after a while slowly deepened the kiss.

For now, everything was right. With his girlfriend in his arms and his friends around him Harry felt calm. For now he could forget about Voldemort and just concentrate on living.

A/N Ok. I'm back. First of all I would like to thank you all for your patience. It means a lot to me so thank you. I'm sorry that I couldn't update over the summer but it was, literally, impossible. So I apologize for the delay and thank you for you patience.

Next. I have deliberately left this chapter shorter than usual as I am aware it is not the best I have ever written and I apologize for that but having not written anything for eight weeks I needed to get back into the flow of writing. Next chapter will be better I promise.

So thank you for your patience. Next chapter will be out next Saturday. Earlier if possible.