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"Cho?" He asked, memories flooding back to him. Her face was the same as the night that they shared their first and last kiss. Her skin radiating the glow of the fireplace, her eyes lost and filled with tears, her smile hidden underneath sadness. She mustered a small smile; a smile he knew was unreal to her.
"I'm sorry you keep on seeing me like this, Harry." She said, trying to lighten the situation. "Ugly and crying." A year before, when they had been almost together, all she could ever do was think about how Cedric died in his midst. She liked Harry, but every time she'd smile because of him, her heart is washed with guilt. She kept on thinking that she shouldn't be happy, because Cedric died. She shouldn't be happy with his rival. And so the tears fell.
"Are you all right?" He asked, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. His heart skipped a beat.
"I'm quite fine now." She said softly. She smiled again, a sad one, and looked up at Lupin.
Lupin pulled him aside. "Her parents were abducted by the Dark Lord. She owled Professor McGonagall, asking for sanctuary. She brought her here, where it is safe." Harry glanced at Cho. She was still pensive. "It is too much for her. Cedric, then her parents. She needs a friend, Harry." He looked back at Lupin. "She needs you."
"I understand." He asked. He knew the feeling of losing them, losing his parents to Voldemort. Now she was sharing his pain, with only a glimmer of hope that they are still alive.
"You will be needing to spend more of your time here," Continued the once professor, and in a lower whisper, "I have already begun asking about the remaining Horcruxes."
"Will you be searching for them?" Harry asked, thrilled. His elusive quest may start a little early, if Lupin had already found leads.
"Inquiring, Harry." He corrected with a warm smile. "But it is your prerogative if I should find anything. I know that this is what he would have wanted." Harry knew that everything they were doing now they were doing for the late Headmaster Dumbledore, and he couldn't blame them. His plan revolved around the same man.
"Okay."
"Good. Take care, Harry." Said Lupin, smiling once more at Tonks who seemed to have turned crimson, and to the others in the room. He disapparated, finally, with a loud pop.
"I'll check on Hermione." Tonks said, getting up from the floor. She seemed better after Lupin had come for a small visit. The others smiled at her and mumbled goodbyes, so she poured water on the roaring fireplace and grabbed a handful of floo powder in her right hand.
"Number seven, Halls street, Knotsville!" She said clearly, and in a flash of green light she was gone.
"'Mione?" A female voice asked, breaking the awkward silence between Draco and Hermione as they walked further along the hallway from the room with the emerald serpent. They both stopped in their tracks.
"Tonks," Hermione mumbled under her breath. "Hide!" She whispered to Draco, pushing him in one of the rooms. She had just shut the door when Tonks appeared.
"Hi!" Hermione greeted brightly.
"So, how are you liking my aunt's old house?" Tonks asked.
"Big," She replied. She walked away from the door, implying that she didn't want to talk there. Tonks followed her. "I found very odd rooms."
"Well you see, Aunt Janella was, or trying to be, a seer." Tonks said. They had just turned a corner, now full of portraits of horrific castles and scenery.
"A seer, like that bloke Trelawney?" Hermione said, disgusted. She ultimately despised Divination, much like she despised another thing starting with the letter D. But now she was starting to be okay with him.
"Oh yes, I remember her. Harry told me that she always predicted his death." Tonks said, laughing. "Anyway, she loved wasting her money on getting portraits taken, as you can see in this house." Tonks continued, looking at the different pictures. There was one of a very old room, its door still swinging back and forth. "The old geezer even predicted Lucius Malfoy's son's wedding. What's his name again?" She asked.
"Draco." She spat. "He goes to Hogwarts, the great prat." She suddenly remembered the painting, for some odd reason.
"Right, him." They were now going down a flight of stairs leading to the second floor. "So, any activity?" She asked.
"Nothing suspicious. Just a bunch of people walking around. Occasionally, a kid or two flies around in a broom." Replied Hermione. Six years of being the best in her class has taught her to never forgo responsibilities, despite the circumstances. Knowing that the circumstances were their best lead, she still decided to keep her silence. She may hate Draco, but she still has her sense of integrity and understanding.
"These people. They don't care about the war." Tonks said bitterly. "You alright here?" She asked. They were now going down the main hallway of the second floor, leading to the main staircase.
"I'm quite fine, actually." She answered. "I've been using the muggle things you sent me." She lied.
"Great, I knew those things were good for something." Tonks replied, relieved. She thought that the girl had gone crazy living alone in this big house, like Aunt Janella. "You wanna come back with me to the headquarters? I'm sure Harry and the others miss you."
She opened her mouth to decline, but reason took over. She knew she would seem suspicious if she stayed here all day. She remembered the old Hermione would jump at seeing her friends again, and that the new one, the one who hid a criminal, wouldn't. "I'm going to Ron's place," She screamed very loudly, so as Draco could hear. Tonks found this odd.
"Why are you shouting?" She screamed in reply. "And we're not—"
"Just excited." She said, blocking out her words. Draco mustn't know they had a headquarters, whatever fraction of her old self said.
"Come on, I'll give you a tour." Harry said, offering his hand to Cho. She smiled weakly and stood up, checking with Mrs. Weasley if they could. She gave a small nod of affirmation, to which she followed Harry out the door.
"Not much, but Sirius said that his father put every kind of protection possible in this place, so we're safe." He said, his emerald green eyes glittering. She remained silent. "That covered painting there," He said, pointing to a dirty old cloth hanging on the wall, "That's Sirius' mum's portrait. It screams bloody murder when it's opened, so make sure you don't do that." A small giggle elicited from her. Harry remembered that she used to giggle a lot, especially with that other Ravenclaw friend of hers. But somehow he knew that this was the closest to before.
"Can we stay here?" She said softly. They sat down the rickety gray steps, just gazing at the covered painting before them. Harry remembered that his mouth felt dry every time he was with her, thus the lack of conversation. With Ginny, it was as if he was talking to Hermione and Ron. Light, and fun, unlike how he related with Cho—somber and nervous. Finally they heard a rush of footsteps and a door opening, and a person of brown hair rushed to Harry, not noticing the black-haired guest.
"Oh Harry, I've missed you!" She said, partly acting and partly true. Cho could only look and smile.
"Hermione," Harry said in constricted breaths, for she was holding him too tight. Finally she let go, and realized the other person sitting beside him. Harry inhaled for a moment then looked at Cho as well. "Cho will be staying with us."
Before she could ask why, Harry gave her a stare that meant that the topic shouldn't be brought up here and that he will explain it to her later. "That's wonderful!" She said, beaming at Cho. Cho gave another peculiar smile; she was under the impression that this Gryffindor girl didn't like her very much.
A split second later, two redheads rushed at them and engulfed Hermione in an embrace. She squealed in delight and realized that these were Ron and Ginny. "Hermione!" The two said, in somewhat ruffled voices. After letting go, Ron recognized the girl sitting beside Harry.
"Cho Chang!" Said Ron, in awe. Despite her condition, she still managed to look flawlessly beautiful.
"Cho Chang." Said Ginny, in surprise, bitterness and jealousy. Here before her lay her ex-boyfriend's perfect almost ex-girlfriend.
"Guys, Cho—"
"No, allow me Harry." She said, patting Harry's hand. "I'm going to be staying with you, if that's all right. My parents have been," She stopped, her face showing difficulty in what she was about to say. "Abducted," She paused again, and they could notice her eyes suddenly shimmering with tears.
"Cho…" Harry said sympathetically, and she nodded in reply. Two teardrops fell at the corner of her eyes.
"Oh, it's fine, Cho." Ginny said meekly, in an effort to cheer her up and show Harry she was unaffected. "Now we have more people to play Monopoly with." Harry glanced at her, and gave her a warm smile, which Ginny regarded as a thank you.
"What's Monopoly?" She asked, hiccupping. She wiped another tear that she resolved to be the last.
"I'll show you." Ginny held out her hand to help Cho up, and together they walked back to the kitchen.
"Looks like they're getting along well," Ron said.
"I hope she's going to be alright, with her parents' situation and all." She answered. "You'll help her through it, won't you Harry?"
Harry looked on at the two girls, different yet so much alike in his eyes. He knew, because he once loved them both. Ginny with her sincerity, kindness and audacity; the girl right in front him yet never taking the time to notice until it was too late. Cho with her stunning grace, the girl whom he loved from the first time he laid eyes on her. They fell apart because of his selfish reason; sorrow with Sirius' death cast a deep shadow onto his life that was never fully lifted. And yet when he looked at them, it was as if he loved them again, and at the same time saw them as the only thing he knew deep in his heart they could be: friends. There was no more time for love; he had a destiny to fulfill.
"Harry?"
"M-hm?" He asked. "Oh, yeah, sure. Of course."
"You alright?" Ron asked, hitting him on the back, as if waking him up from a trance.
"I'll be back." Harry said, getting up. He climbed up the stairs, never taking notice of the stuffed heads of the house-elves that once lived here, like he usually did.
"Ron," Hermione started. She felt the familiar heat creeping up her face. How could a smart girl like her be stupid enough to fall for one of her best friends? He was, seemingly, unaffected by all that's happening. The only thing that probably got through his mind was Cho Chang's presence. "Ron!"
"Huh?" He said, turning to her. "Hi there, Hermione."
She sighed. "Ron!"
"What?" He asked, somewhat irritated.
She breathed heavily. "I'm going now." She said, and suddenly gave Ron a quick peck on the cheek, turning around before he could see her face. If she needed to use blatant signs, she will.
"Hermione?" Ron asked. She turned around, hoping that he will engulf her in his arms and hold her, tell her how much he missed her and tell her that he loved her all along. He went nearer.
"Don't wear Ginny's lip gloss next time you do that, it makes my cheek sticky." He said, wiping his left cheek. Hermione's smile quickly turned into a scowl.
"God, Ron, You're impossible!" She said angrily, storming out of the room and resolving to go home right away.
"Women." He muttered, and then turned to follow Harry upstairs.
Draco heard a loud swoosh and on impulse, ducked down, bringing the set of wizard's chess with him. "It's all right, Malfoy. Just me." A voice said, gentle yet powerful, brave yet sad at the same time. He heard a snuffle.
"Granger?" He asked, slowly getting up. "Took you long enough. I'm hungry."
"There's food in the Gryffindor dining hall, Malfoy." She answered, still upset. She sat down one of the armchairs and let a few more tears fall, unnoticed to her companion.
"Yeah, about that." He said, going near her. "I was wondering if we could, probably, move to the Slytherin dining hall? The red makes me queasy."
"Sure, no problem." She answered distractedly. He still didn't notice.
"Granger?" He asked, seeing her expression. It had a vacant form of sadness. He saw this as an opportunity. "May I have my wand back now?"
"Okay." She answered. She waved her wand and in an instant, his moved zooming towards them. He caught it the moment it sped by him.
"Going to Weasley's—"
"Don't you ever say that bloody name again!" She said, rising up from her chair and moving towards Draco as if to strangle him.
"What's wrong with you, Granger?" He asked, pushing her back. He tried to get away, but she still went towards him. Clutching his wand, he used his only option. "Expellia—"
"I'm not possessed, Malfoy." She said, swatting his wand down. "I'll be in my room." She turned around, and walked towards the stairs heavily.
"Weasley turned you down, didn't he?" Draco asked. He knew, ever since they were in fourth year, that she had a thing for Ron. It was sickening, really; watching the golden trio walk together, Harry having a look of confidence, Ron of confusion, and she of admiration. Draco though, always had a good laugh whenever he saw them and insulted them.
"What?" She asked, nervous. "No! I mean, he's—no!" She answered, flustered.
"You're a horrible liar." He said, and walked towards her. "Might as well give it up."
"Why would you care?" She asked.
"Because I feed off the misery of others." He said proudly, "And that you might have a rage blackout and kill me instead. Remember Granger, I have clean blonde hair, not a dirty red one."
She, somehow, knew he had a bit of concern and sincerity in him. Otherwise he would have ignored her completely. "He's too thick, as you put it."
"So you're admitting that I'm right?" He asked, smiling devilishly.
"Your head will kill us both, Malfoy." She retorted. He, disregarding this comment, drew slowly towards her, and somehow she could not move. He took the first stair, never breaking his gaze, then the next, then the next. When he was beside her, he slowly shifted his head towards her, to a distance where he could almost see the depths within her mahogany eyes. She remained stationary, and so did he. Finally, he whispered.
"How does this feel?" His voice was low and serious.
"I don't feel anything." She answered, her voice quivering.
"Yes you do. You're afraid that we might be too close together. Or that someone might suddenly appear from the fireplace. Or," He stopped, looking into her eyes, feeling her short, rapid breaths. "I might kiss you."
"You wouldn't dare." She replied. Although, she could feel her heartbeat pacing faster.
"You're not moving." He questioned, then went closer so that their lips touched for a brief second. She closed her eyes.
"You wouldn't be closing your eyes if you didn't believe me." He whispered. She suddenly opened them, seeing the gap between her and Draco move far apart. She exhaled. "If you don't feel that way every time you're with Weasel boy, then you're wasting your time crying."
She stayed silent. "I'm going to eat now. Have a nice time in your room." He said, then walked briskly to the dining halls. She started to head towards her room to sulk and conjure up objects with her wand. Although she may not want to admit it, even to herself, something deep inside of her told her that she was going to be just fine.
I hope you like how things progressed. Suggestions? Review me! Anyway, thanks again. And finally… PLEASE REVIEW!
Thanks! Kisses!