A/N Thanks for the reviews! Keep them coming! :) I promise to read each one of them. I get inspired to write more because of them! :) Enjoy reading!


Chapter 2: The Unexpected Announcement

"Just be cool about it," Ron had said.

It was the morning of the first match. They were at the Great Hall having their breakfast when Harry told Ron and Hermione his worries about the match.

"Honestly Harry, you've played with her before. And this isn't also the first time that Gryffindor's opening the season. What's the difference really?" Hermione asked.

"Only those times Cho and I were in good terms Hermione, weren't we?" Harry asked sarcastically.

Hermione was about to answer when Angelina called him and Ron and told them to go down to the pitch immediately.

"Meet you later Hermione," Ron said and he stood up.

"Good luck Ron! Good luck Harry! I'll be down there in a while. I'll just wait for Ginny and Luna," Hermione waved at them as they exited the Great Hall heading to the pitch.

The Quidditch pitch was now filled with screaming students from the four houses. On one side, Harry could see large banners of red and gold painted with a lion. The Gryffindors were all enthusiastic and cheery and he can even hear some shouting his name. On the other side of the pitch was where the blue and silver were grouped. The Ravenclaws had taken the effort to create a large eagle banner that is now bewitched as if it was hanged in the air by an invisible rope. He could also see the other students from Hufflepuff and Slytherin cheering for their own biases on this match.

As he and Ron were walking towards the dressing room, Harry's chest was hammering hard. He didn't know what caused it or how he can make it stop. He just tightened his grip on his Firebolt as he walked. Then it happened. They passed by the other dressing room where the Ravenclaw was heading. Cho was one of them. She was the only girl among the team. Harry stopped in his tracks and just looked at her, feeling the familiar hurt he'd been feeling for weeks now; she too did the same but only for a few seconds and then she went inside. Harry remained looking at the spot where Cho had been and where their eyes had met seconds ago. He had no idea how long he stood there until Ron nudged him towards their dressing room.

"Remember, focus on the game," Angelina began her pre-match pep talk. "We don't know how they would be playing this year, but likewise, they had no idea what we'd prepared for this match. Harry, you don't have to worry about the rest. I want you to keep your eyes on the Snitch. Just the Snitch."

Harry wasn't sure if Angelina was meaning to put emphasis on the last sentence. He felt annoyed. Was she thinking that he'd be looking at Cho the entire time and not mind where he is?

"We're going to win this," Angelina said and she motioned for the team to head out of the room.

Everyone cheered when both teams exited the dressing rooms. Harry couldn't tell which House cheered the loudest. They went into the center of the pitch with brooms carried on their shoulders. As they reached the center, Harry came up close with Cho. This was the first time he got close to her after what happened and his chest hammered fast again. Cho glanced at him then looked away.

"I want a clean fight," Madam Hooch was saying as the Captains shook their hands. "Mount your brooms. On my whistle," She counted one to three before blowing the whistle.

Harry kicked off the ground and soared up. The cheers got louder as both teams were now up in the air and taking their positions. When the Quaffle was released, the teams got into action. Katie Bell took hold of the Quaffle and was now heading for the post; two Ravenclaw Chasers were flying behind her. She threw the Quaffle to the left post and scored. The Gryffindor cheered.

"Bell scored! Ten points for Gryffindor!" Harry could hear Lee Jordan commentating below.

Gryffindor scored more points. Harry saw the Ravenclaw captain shouting at his team. He was shouting at Cho and Harry felt the urge to fly up at him. Ravenclaw called for a time-out and the next minute that they soared in the air, they were playing better. Harry saw Cho flying towards him and felt his heart dropped.

"What were you doing Harry!" Angelina roared. "Go find the Snitch! They're catching up on us!"

Sure enough, Harry heard Lee announcing the scores below. Ravenclaw had now tied up with Gryffindor. Then, he saw it. Something gold was shining right behind Cho. Harry flew in her direction, heading for the Snitch. Harry saw Cho followed behind him. She was flying just inches behind him and he felt his heart do a back flip. Cho flew past Harry and now she was just inches from the Snitch. Harry could only see Cho's back as she was flying directly in front of him. Then she stopped. She had lost the Snitch.

Ravenclaw was now fifty points ahead of Gryffindor and Harry still hadn't caught the Snitch. He saw it fly thrice but only then Cho would always flew past him and lost it. Both teams were now outraged. Ravenclaw continued scoring and Harry heard Angelina calling for a time-out.

"Lost her," Angelina told Harry when they huddled together.

"What do you mean lost her?" Harry asked; he didn't like the sound of it.

"Chang is only getting into action when you get into action. She's not looking for the Snitch. She lets you do the seeking, and then she goes to catch it," Harry could now see the annoyance in Angelina's face. "Lost her, Harry. Get her as far from you as possible and then catch the Snitch."

Get her as far from you as possible. Harry wasn't sure if that's exactly what he wants. But the moment they soared up again, he knew he had to win this fight. He saw Cho fly towards him again and this time he just flew towards a random direction. He flew through the Chasers; ducked to avoid a bludger and he could see Cho having difficulty to keep up with him. Harry, now far from Cho, saw the Snitch just below his broom. He dove towards it as fast as he could. He flew fast not wanting Cho to keep up with him, and when he was only a few inches away from the Snitch, he extended his arm.

The Gryffindor roared with cheers as Harry closed his hand on the Snitch and landed quite stumbling on the ground. He could hear Lee saying "Harry Potter has caught the Snitch! Gryffindor wins!" and more cheers coming from different sides of the pitch. The rest of the team landed safely beside him; all were tapping him on the back and congratulating each other. They had won the first match of the season.

Harry saw the Ravenclaw team landed on the opposite side. The captain was saying something at Cho and it seemed that he was not happy at how Cho played. He could see Cho's face close to tears and for a silly moment, he wished he hadn't caught the Snitch.

"Party at the common room!" Fred and George Weasley were shouting among the Gryffindor crowd that gathered at them. Soon enough, they were all heading to the common room still cheerful and talking about the match.

The following morning was no different from the cheerful scene that Gryffindors had the night before. The red and gold banners were still hanged in the common room, only now it had been added with "Winners" on it.

Harry, Ron and Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall having their breakfast. Ron was still talking about the goals he had blocked during the match. Harry too, thought that Ron did well yesterday.

"I missed one though," Ron was saying. "But only because a bludger was flying towards me so I had to avoid it."

"Yes Ron, you did great!" Hermione was saying as she was putting more eggs into Ron's plate. "You too, Harry. That was really brilliant! The way you lost Cho… it was amazing. At first we thought, your broom's been jinxed. I mean, with you flying in no direction and even near those bludgers but then you were only losing Cho! I thought she got hit by that bludger you avoided Harry!"

"Did she?" Harry asked alerted.

"Well no. She ducked just in time to avoid it. But almost," Hermione answered. She waved at Ginny and Neville who were now heading towards them.

"But I heard Davies gave her a hard time after that," Ron had said before eating a spoonful of eggs.

"Yeah, I saw him telling her off just a few minutes after we won," Harry answered remembering Cho's close to tears face.

"Do you feel bad?" Ginny asked as she sat beside Harry; Neville sat beside Hermione.

Before Harry could answer, a group of Ravenclaws entered the Great Hall. His eyes automatically searched for Cho and there she was; her eyes looked like she'd been crying all night.

"Do you feel bad?" Ginny repeated. But Harry ignored her. He was looking at the place where Cho sat, a guy beside her; his arms were on Cho's shoulders. Harry felt the urge to point his wand at him and jinx him; only he knew that was stupid.

"Who was that?" Harry asked to one in particular.

"Michael Corner. Cho's new boyfriend," Ginny answered without looking at Harry.

Harry couldn't explain what he felt. Suddenly, the urge to jinx Michael turned to wanting to curse him. He saw him putting food on Cho's plate and talking to her; Cho, in turn, smiled at his words. Harry rose from his seat and headed for the door. He wanted to get away from this place as far as he could before he could start pointing his wand at him and mutter as many jinxes as he can.

The following days felt like hell for Harry. He always saw Cho and Michael together every time he went to his classes. Ron tried to direct his attention to something else by pointing at them every time they would pass by Cho. Harry would look at them but then would look back at Cho again.

Sitting at different tables at the Great Hall and eating late didn't help either. Harry would still arrive there either when Cho and Michael were heading out or still haven't finished eating. He even intentionally skipped dinner just to avoid seeing the two of them.

"For heaven's sake Harry!" Hermione exclaimed when Harry asked her to just bring him some food when she gets back. "You can't stay like this. Accept it Harry. Don't be so pathetic. Get a move on!"

But Harry couldn't move on. He wanted to but he still got annoyed every time he saw Cho. If only, there was a way he could forget her.

One December morning, Harry and Ron went down to the common room and saw a group of excited fourth years gathered at the notice board. Some of them were giggling and some were having worried looks on their faces and muttering something like what they were going to wear.

When the crowd had dispersed, Harry got a full view of the new message that had been posted overnight:

HOGWARTS' UPCOMING CHRISTMAS BALL

21st of December, 8:00 PM

All students from fourth year and above may be able to

join. You may ask someone from other

houses as a date for the ball. Please wear formal dress robes on the

occasion. Those who wish to join must

submit their names to their respective head of house.

Harry looked at Ron. He saw him smiling and he knew why. Ron was sure he could get a date for the ball. He knew Ron would want to come; the last time he attended a ball didn't turn quite right and maybe he wanted to make it up for this one.

More students were now filing up behind them reading the message. They too, like the fourth years, were all giggly and talking about dresses for the occasion. Hermione came up behind them and linked arms with Ron.

"Oooh! A Christmas ball! We should come! That would be fun!" Hermione said cheerfully.

"Well, I think you guys need to submit your names to Professor McGonagall," Harry told her.

"What?" Ron was surprised and turned to him. "You've got to go too, mate. We're all going to be there."

"Confident now you don't have to ask around to get a partner huh?" Harry told him, quite annoyed.

"Well, you can go without a partner, mate. They don't require it, do they?" Ron answered turning to read the message again.

"Ron, I don't want to be there watching you two dance all the time."

"Well then, get a partner Harry," Hermione said as Neville came up behind them.

"Wow. Cool," Neville said after reading the announcement. "Who are you going with Harry?"

"I don't know. I might not come," Harry answered and he saw Hermione about to counter-argue him.

"I'm thinking of Luna," Neville said. "They can come too right?"

"Yeah. They can," Harry answered. He had thought of going with Luna but decided it was not right to ask her now that Neville will.

When Neville left, Hermione faced Harry.

"You've got to come Harry. Please? I won't be at ease going there with Ron thinking that we've left you alone. Please say you'll come."

"Hermione, it would be the same. I will be there but then I will be alone because I haven't got a—"

"You won't be alone," Hermione cut him. "We'll find you a partner. Ask Parvati. You asked her the last time didn't you?"

"Well yeah. I suppose. Alright, I'll try to ask her," Harry answered half-heartedly. The last time he went with Parvati to a ball didn't turn out good. He had someone else in mind to ask but he knew she won't agree to come with him. He had little to no chance at all.

But still, he had to try.


A/N There's not much Harry/Ginny scenes yet. But there will be in the next chapters! The fun is just about to start.. Heehee.. :)