CHAPTER 19 – Changing Plans
Author's Note: Hey, you guys! Thanks for all who have reviewed and read my previous chapter. I really appreciate those who are still there supporting me. God! My twists are so hard to get in touch with that even I am having a hard time getting through with them. Well, here's the 19th chapter! Hope you like it!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You should just allow him to absorb everything first. Do not force the boy to acknowledge the truth so soon. He is still young and he needs time to learn and to understand things," Duchess Clarisse told Sirius, Edward, and Lupin as they all watched Harry's retreating back.
"Yes, Clarisse, that is correct, but the boy also needs to comprehend the verity here. It is only suitable that he pursue his destiny," Edward argued.
"Follow his destiny? Has he not done that yet? Edward, I do not know whatever destiny you are talking about but right now, I believe that young Harry Potter has already fulfilled his destiny when he saved our world from Voldemort. Forcing him to fulfill this destiny is not at all right. The kid deserves to have the preference whether or not he wishes to fulfill this destiny or he chooses his own path."
Clarisse Henson walked away from them and out of the door. Edward sighed and looked away from Sirius and Lupin. He looked out of the window and saw Hogwarts' students running about in the snow-covered grounds. He smiled remembering how they used to do that before.
"Maybe Clarisse is right. Maybe, it is only appropriate that we let Harry choose his own path from now on," Lupin suddenly said.
"I know, Remus, I exactly how right Clarisse is. But we must not lead Harry on. He has to choose because it was his decision not because he was forced to. Harry's still young, but he has a mind of an adult. He will do the right thing – the thing that he knows is what his heart wants," Sirius said, making the other too nod in agreement.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Would you like to have a little saunter around?" Clarisse asked, making Harry jump a little.
"Your Highness, how did you find me here?" Harry asked, wondering how the duchess managed to extract his whereabouts.
"You would not believe me even if I did tell you. Now, about that stroll – would you be interested to join me?"
"Of course, yes, your Highness."
"Harry, I am sorry that you have to hear that so unexpectedly. I know it is quite difficult to accept, but I hope that you do not feel any acrimony towards us."
"No, of course not, your Highness. I don't feel any anger towards any of you. I was just…shocked at the sudden revelation."
"I understand that, Harry. Having to be shared such a revelation is such a bit of a drag sometimes."
"Haha. Thanks, your Highness."
"It is no problem. I am delighted to have made you smile even just a little."
"Your Highness, would you mind if I ask you about…"
"About me having fell in love with you father?"
"Yeah, like that. If it's alright with you."
"Harry, it will be alright. It has been such a long time since I looked back to my past and remembered James. He was my first love and my first heartbreak. James was a really pleasant guy; he was always smiling and happy when he spoke to me. That must probably be the raison d'être why I fell for him. He always managed to make me laugh. You see, I was a really quiet person back then."
"Just like Harriotte."
"Yes, just like my daughter. I do believe she had gotten it from me. It must be a disease."
"Haha."
"Anyway, since I was a quiet person then, James would always irritate me by making fun of himself in front of me just to make me smile. He persisted, even though I clearly was not interested. I have always wondered why he did that. And then I suddenly realized that I have fallen in love with him. He was the first guy to have ever approached me, seeing me as Clarisse and not a constituent of the royal family."
"If you don't mind, your Excellency, are you related to Lucius Malfoy?"
"Oh, yes, he is a cousin."
"So that means that he's also a member of the royal family."
"No, no, no, Harry dear. My father was not a Malfoy, he was of noble blood. He married my mother who was a Malfoy then. That means that my mother was royal by marriage and not by blood."
"Oh, I see. Now I get it."
"Well, back to my story then. James was very much just calm when he was around me. He was just himself and no one else. He was no pretender; neither were his friends Sirius, Lupin, and Peter."
"Pettigrew."
"Yes, Peter, although I am not quite sure about Peter back then. Putting that aside, no matter what my feelings were to James, it was never reciprocated. He was madly in love with Lily, whom I could call my very best friend. But no matter, I fell in love with Hilton and Harriotte's father Edward anyhow."
"You said it was my mum and dad who were responsible for you and Duke Edward being together. How was that possible?"
"Edward was crazy in love with Lily the very moment he set foot inside Hogwarts. Let us just say that he was too unrelenting that Lily was starting to get exasperated. But one thing about your mother is that she was very sweet, that's why even though she was nixing Edward, she still sounded as if she was still giving him a chance. But in the end, Edward realized that it was going no where and that it was best that he stopped from pursuing Lily. That's when James introduced me to him."
"And that was where your relationship began?"
"Exactly."
"Harry, do not take this the wrong way, but you having confessed your love to my daughter was simply a shocking episode."
"Oh, I was also shocked at myself that night."
"No, Harry, that is not what I mean. What I mean is you were too soon in destiny's plan."
"What is that suppose to mean?"
"Do not think that who Edward was referring to concerning unrequited love was you. No, Harry dear, it is not you at all."
"If it is not me then…who?"
"Am I in position to say it so, my dear?"
"Hermione and Oliver…"
"There are so many things in this world that we do not, or we can not understand, Harry. And yet, we persist on trying to unravel every mystery because we wish to know, to learn, and to discover. Harry, I can not say any more about why Harriotte is the reincarnation of your mother. Life is unreasonable, my dear. But I will give you one advice that I know will always be the best there is."
"What is it?"
"Follow your heart."
"Follow your heart." Harriotte.
"No one ever said that you can not go against the course of reality. Make it work for you, Harry. Do not boggle your mind with thoughts so perplexing. Just follow your heart and it will lead you to what you truly want to happen. If you find it…make it happen."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hermione, have you seen Harry? I kinda lost him on Professor Lupin's office this morning and I haven't seen him after that. I didn't even see him during lunch," Ron asked Hermione who was sitting inside the Great Hall reading a paperback novel. It was almost time for dinner and everyone was already starting to pile up inside the Great Hall.
"No," she answered plainly.
"Well, might you know where he would've gone?"
"No."
"Do you think he's out there snogging one of his fan girls?"
"Probably."
"Are you even listening to me?"
"Yes."
"Okay, what's up? Are you mad at Harry or something?"
"No."
"Okay, focus, Hermione, and look at me," Ron said, taking the book away and meeting face-to-face with Hermione who looked as if a boulder fell on her. "What happened to you?"
"Nothing," she answered, as if trying to hide something.
"Did you even sleep?"
"Yes."
"Okay, you gotta stop giving me these one word answers, Hermione. Get serious with me here."
"But I am just answering your questions. It's not my fault if the answers turn out to be in one word."
"Focus, Hermione Granger. Now, did you have a fight with Harry?"
"No, I did not have a fight with Harry."
"Then why are you being like this?"
"Nothing."
"Okay, let's not go back to that one word answer routine again. Honestly tell me, Hermione, what is going on here that I don't know?"
"Okay, I'll tell you, but you have to promise me you won't react so violently."
"I promise."
"You see, a couple of hours ago, at the Common Room…"
"WHAT?! BLOODY HELL!" Finally!
"You promised not to react!"
"I promised not to react violently. I didn't promise not to react at all." Oh, this is good!
"Still! I shouldn't have just told you."
"No, okay, Hermione, I'm sorry; but you seriously didn't expect me not to react, right?"
"I know! I just…ugh! What am I going to do, Ron? I don't think I can even face Harry now!"
"Don't you love him?"
"W-What are you saying? I-I don't love Harry."
"Please, you can deny it all you want when you are placed in the middle of center stage surrounded by a mob of Harry's fans, but you can never deny it from me, Hermione Granger. Don't forget, I'm also your best friend. Besides, it's evident when you look at it closely; actually, it's evident even if you look at it from afar."
"Ugh! Ron!"
"Okay, sorry, gotta focus here. Look, Hermione, there is nothing really wrong about that. If Harry confessed-"
"But he didn't, Ron. He didn't confess. He didn't even actually point out that he loves me. He just kissed me. And it was uncalled for!"
"Well, even if he didn't, sometimes, there are no need for words when it comes to these things."
"No, Ron, confessing love is something that you should take seriously. This is not some sort of a game of chances! This is real life, Ron! And if what I know is true that Harry really loves Harriotte then I'm a fool for being played at by him."
"Hermione, that's not it…"
"Ron, I love Harry. If you say that you know it then it is true. I love him so much that it hurts. It hurts to know that after all these years, he doesn't even notice me. But when some girl from another school, another country suddenly came walking in his life he quickly falls for her. I know she's the most beautiful girl there is! I know she's the nicest and the best there ever is! I know she's perfect at everything! But I've been there with him from the very beginning. Why did he not even see me there standing right beside him all along? Ron, I may be the smartest girl in school, but when it comes to choosing the right guy to fall in love with, I'm the dumbest. C'mon, who'd be an idiot to fall in love with their best friend anyway?"
"Me," a voice from behind Ron suddenly said.
"H-Harry?" Hermione called, her voice slowly breaking as tears continued to fall off her eyes. Harry approached her.
"First of all, 'Mione, I'm not playing with you. Second, how can you say that I didn't even notice you? Hermione, after all these years did you think I wouldn't know what's there in front of me? It was you, Hermione. Well, apart from Ron that is, but you know that. You know that I've always known you were there by my side, helping me get through everything. Third, you're not dumb at all. You are still the smartest girl in this school, or maybe even in the whole world! I'm just not quite sure if I can't call you dumb after falling in love with a guy like me."
"Ha-"
"Let me finish, please. And you are correct, 'Mione. This is real life and not some sort of game. That's why I'm here in front of you, telling all of this to you and to everyone who is seeing us like this. But I don't care about them. None of them exists as of this moment, just you and me, Hermione. You are my best friend, Hermione, my most beloved best friend, and I am thanking the heavens above for giving me such a wonderful person in my life."
"What about Harriotte?"
"Hermione, remember what I told you about me having what might have been feelings of mutuality toward Harriotte? That persists to be the truth, Hermione. I might have feelings for her. I might have had feelings for her. But no matter what those feelings are, be it a crush or whatever, what matters to me now is this moment. I'm standing here, in front of people I know and I barely even know. I'm standing here in front of my Gryffindor friends and classmates. I'm standing here in front of the professors who have suddenly entered the Hall. I'm standing here in front of the duke, the duchess, Professor Lupin, and Sirius. I'm standing here in front of Hilton Henson and the girl you believed me to be in love with, Harriotte. I'm standing here in front of my best friend, Ron. But what's most important is that I'm standing here in front of the girl I am deeply in love with."
"I…"
"You."
"Harry…"
"Hermione, I love you so much that I feel such an idiot for having hurt you this much. I feel such a total fool for acting as if I didn't know about my feelings for you. From the very beginning, Hermione, from the very beginning I knew, I just denied it to others and to myself. I don't know why I did that. Maybe I was just afraid, afraid that if I admitted it, you wouldn't feel the same way. Hermione, I'm sorry, I'm sorry for being such a fool, for being such a coward. I may not be like Gilderoy Lockhart who's got everyone so crazed up or Cedric Diggory who has gone to the great beyond and back to our world or my father whom I have heard is quite a charmer; but this is me. I am Harry James Potter. I may be called 'The Boy Who Lived', but I am still just a boy. A boy who has nothing more to offer but his love, life, and faithfulness to the girl he loves deeply in his heart and his very being. I'm willing to give that very girl my whole life and am asking for nothing in return for any of it. Hermione, I've done it. I've done what you had told me to do. I've set my priorities straight. And now, I'm making this fairy tail conclude with my happy ending."
"What are you saying?"
"Hermione Granger, not only am I standing in front of these people and the girl I love, but I'm also standing here in front of the spirits of my parents prepared to say to you this."
"Harry…"
"I am in love with you, Hermione Granger. I am deeply, completely, madly, crazy, utterly in love with you and I am not going to deny it any further. I'll say it to the world if I must, but all that matters to me is that you hear and understand it clearly before anyone else. Do you understand that, Hermione?"
Hermione couldn't speak. She was shocked at Harry's sudden revelation. She felt her throat caught air and she almost choked to death until she started to breathe in normally. This is not a dream, right? God is really giving me this chance, right? He did say that he was in love with me, right? Me and no one else.
"Harry, I…" Hermione began.
"Hermione, don't say that Harriotte is this and that. Yes, Hermione, Harriotte is perfect! But perfect in my eyes will only be bestowed upon you. You are perfect for me. And even if you say you're not, who cares? Hermione, I'm not looking for the perfect girl in the world to be my one true love. Forget all the drama of the past, Hermione. Forget them. All I need is you. All I need is the Hermione who is standing in front of me now, looking ever so confused," Harry said, more like declaring it to the whole world.
"Harry, that's so nice of you."
"It's not nice, Hermione. It's what I really feel."
"And that's why I love you too, Harry Potter. I am deeply, completely, madly, crazy, utterly in love with you!"
"And I love you."
"But I am not dumb for having fallen in love with you, Harry. I'm the smartest girl to have fallen in love with the best man there is. And remember this, I'm not going to give you nothing in return, less, I'm going to give you all the love I can ever extract from my heart and soul."
Harry laughed and hugged Hermione close to him. The couple smiled to themselves. Suddenly, they hear a loud uproar around them. The students, faculty and staff, house elves, ghosts, and portraits were all screaming good cheer, clapping madly, roaring in delight, and throwing best wishes to them. The couple smiled at all of them and continued to hug each other. No one else in the world existed but the two of them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Finally! After such a long time you've finally admitted the truth!" Ron exclaimed as he and the others approached Harry and Hermione who was busy thanking the people who congratulated them.
"Ron, thank you, thank you so much. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have realized what an idiot I have been," Harry said, giving his buddy a hug.
"No worries. I've been with you far too long to not realize how you really feel. Hey, congratulations, you two. I'm really happy for the both of you. But, please, promise me you won't go snogging each other in front of me," Ron said.
"Haha. That would be the day," Hermione laughed.
"Hey, I'm just setting the warning up before it begins, okay?" Ron said.
The group laughed as Ron continued to joke about with them. Cedric, Cho, Ginny, and Draco congratulated the both of them and wished them well. Fred and George also came over to give them their best wishes, but not before giving them a stink bomb – only to find out it was a fake. Oliver, too, gave his regards to the new couple but quickly left them to talk to Professor Lupin. Because of the happiness and many happy returns they both kept on receiving, Harry and Hermione felt like they were newlyweds.
Harry continued to kid around and laughed with the rest of the gang. Ron kept on telling different stories on how Hermione and he looked like total fools when they were alone thinking about each other. Harry laughed out loud when he spotted a familiar girl walking towards the exit of the Great Hall.
"Hey, 'Mione, would you mind if I go out for a second? I gotta talk to someone," Harry asked, looking at Hermione's eyes.
Hermione looked at Harry with confusion. She quickly glanced behind him and saw what must probably be the reason for Harry's sudden request for a time out. Hermione smiled and squeezed his hand.
"Go. I know you want to talk to her. Go. It'll be alright with me. We'll just be here when you get back," Hermione said, smiling sweetly at him.
"Thanks. I love you," Harry said, running away from the group.
"Love you too!" Hermione called back to him.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Harriotte!" Harry called out after finally coming a few meters close to her.
"Harry," Harriotte said, turning around to face him.
"Can I talk to you?"
"Of course."
"Would you mind if we go somewhere else? The crowd's kinda not good for this kind of conversation."
"Sure. But would Hermione be alright with it? By the way, congratulations."
"It'll be fine. Come on, let's go."
Harry led Harriotte to the place where they had the most wonderful time they had together. Harry smiled as he opened the door and let Harriotte in. He closed it behind him and sat down beside her as they looked out into the night sky.
"Why the Astronomy Tower?" Harriotte asked, looking at him with a smile.
"I need to do this here, Harriotte," Harry said, looking straight in her eyes.
"What is that?"
"Harriotte, I want to thank you for waking me up from my sleep. Thank you for lightening my mind and heart. You were the one who told me to follow my heart. I owe you my happiness."
"You owe me nothing, Harry. All I ever did was provide you with advice. You only needed that because I knew that you were in love with her. You just needed a little push."
"Yes, you knew that. And I'm sorry, I'm sorry if I offended you in anyway when I told you I love you and now this."
"Harry, it does not matter. Was I not the one who told you that you are not in love with me? I expected this moment; actually, more like anticipated."
"Thank you. That's all I can say. I know it's not enough but I hope that you…"
"Gratitude in action is enough, Harry. I am very glad that you are happy – you and Hermione."
"Yeah, me too. I'm glad this happened, after what I had just been told."
"I am actually quite impressed that you have managed to alter your destiny."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"James."
"What are you saying?"
"I know, Harry. I know about the truth."
"Y-You know?"
"Yes, I know. I know that I am the reincarnation of Lily Potter, your mother, and you as James. I know that we were supposed to be meant for each other."
"Harriotte, I…"
"It was what destiny wanted, Harry. It was the plan of destiny. But you fought against destiny itself. You managed to alter your destiny, our destiny."
"Harriotte, I'm sorry. I didn't know sooner. I should've…"
"I only did find out awhile ago. I heard you speaking to my mother, and when you left, I spoke to her and Father about it. They told me everything. But it was Professor Dumbledore who explained to me the cause of me being your mother's reincarnation. He told me that in order for me to live again and because she felt guilty because she tough she was the one responsible for my death, Lily Potter made a deal with destiny. She agreed to give a part of her soul to me so that I may live and be together with you, because you have with you the part of the soul of your father. It is said that whatever destiny had planned, it must be fulfilled. That is why your mother and father thought that I would find my way to you eventually because we were destined to be together, and so they led it on. I was born again, back to my parents. After sixteen years, I have finally found you, but it seems that my parents were against the plan of destiny. That is why they engaged me to Oliver, assuming that I will never see you. But, they missed out on the whole point that they were members of the Order and friends of both James and Lily Potter; that is why there will still come a day that I will meet you. They realized that it was the right thing to do to finally let me be with you, that is why they staged all of this – the Ball, the visit, everything, even the date."
"They were the ones who planned the date? But Fred and George were-"
"Fred and George Weasley were only assigned to do it because my parents did not, of course, want to be found out. The date was supposed to be the way for me to realize my love for you. It was supposed to be the key into us fulfilling what was our rightful destiny."
"But in order for us to fulfill that destiny, we'd have to be in love with each other."
"Yes."
"Harriotte, look at me. Answer me this question: do you love me?"
Harriotte looked directly into Harry's eyes as he placed his two hands in her arms, holding her to face him. Harry searched her eyes and saw tears forming. A tear quickly fell on her right eye, and soon, tears slowly fell from both. Harry kept his gaze at her and never looked away, even if he was starting to feel pain at seeing her that way. I'm sorry, Harriotte. I'm sorry for having you go through this.
"Answer me, Harriotte," Harry said, trying to sound calm.
"Yes. Yes, I do," Harriotte finally answered.
"Harriotte…" Harry said, taken aback at what she had said.
"But I am afraid that this may be love drawn only from the soul of your mother inside of me. This may be the reason why I believe I love you, because your mother is in love with your father and he is inside of you."
"So you mean to tell me that you love me because I have my father's soul inside of me?"
"Harry, it may be the reason. Why do you think you thought you were in love with me? It was most probably because the soul of your mother is active in me and the love of your father must be the one triggering your feelings towards me."
"Is that even possible?"
"Yes. Professor Dumbledore was the one who told me this."
Harry let go of Harriotte and stood up. He walked towards the window and sighed. He tried to hold it in but he couldn't keep it anymore. He suddenly felt tears falling down on his cheeks. He quickly brushed them away and took his handkerchief from his pocket. He wiped the continuously falling tears and kept his back on Harriotte. Harriotte stood up and walked towards him. She placed her hand on his and tried to calm him down.
"I don't understand this anymore, Harriotte. After what I had just done, after I had just confessed to Hermione, after I was so sure that I was in love with her, this happens! Why? Why, Harriotte? Tell me!" Harry burst.
"Harry, we can never understand the plan of destiny in our lives. We probably never will. But what matters is what we understand in our hearts, what we truly feel. No matter what destiny does, as long as we know what we want, we can change it our way; just like what you have done with yours," Harriotte explained, trying as best as she can to comfort Harry.
"You don't get it do you, Harriotte? The more we suppress these feelings, the more we will suffer! The more we hide it, the more the people around us will get hurt! The only solution to this is for us to be together!"
"Harry! Stop it! Listen to me! If we really do not love each other, why would we push ourselves into being together? What's wrong is if we pretend, if we pretend that we love each other even if we do not. Do you think the people around us will not get hurt if we end up together? Harry, think about Hermione! What would she feel if you suddenly walk inside that hall and tell her that you love me? Do you think she will be happy about that?"
"Destiny planned all of this, not me! I did not ask for destiny to do this!"
"Then fight your destiny, Harry. Fight it! You have already managed to alter your feelings. You can not give up at this point, Harry."
"I'm just so tired of all of this, Harriotte. I'm tired of arguing with destiny, but ending up following it anyhow."
"Harry, do not lose hope right now. You need it. Did you not guarantee Hermione that you will give her all the love you can ever present? Harry, you have barely even begun and you are already giving up?"
"Destiny has put so much pressure on me. I don't think I can go on with life knowing that I am going against the real flow of my life."
"What if this was the path you should be taking? What if you fighting and altering your destiny is what you should do? Harry, this is what your heart has told you. This is what you want and what you know will make you happy. Do not fight the truth anymore. Think about yourself for once. Admit that you want something more than what you already have. Change the plans of destiny, Harry. Change it the way you want it to be."
"Change the plans of destiny. Admit that you want something more than what you already have." Hermione.
"Harry, this is your shot, your chance at something different than what you usually had. Make this work for you. This is your destiny, your life, your choice."
There was a short silence between the two as Harriotte continued to look deep into Harry's eyes. Harry searched everywhere in her eyes for anything that would keep him from agreeing to her. I now know what to do.
"I understand now, Harriotte. I understand completely. Thank you."
"I knew you would not disappoint me. You are a strong person, Harry, just like your father."
"But if I do this, Harriotte, what would happen to your destiny?"
"I do not know, Harry, I, honestly, do not know. But no matter what will happen, it will be alright with me, just as long as you are comfortable and happy with your destiny, your life with Hermione."
"Why are you so nice, Harriotte?"
"I am like this because the kindness of your mother has already sunk inside of me. Maybe, her kindness and my share of kindness became one and that is why I am like this. I am too nice for comfort."
"No, that's not it, Harriotte. You really are nice, even if Mum is not a part of you; because you're you. You are Harriotte Henson, my very special friend."
"Thank you, Harry."
"What about Oliver?"
"Yes, I am planning on setting everything straight with my fiancé. Do not worry, everything will be alright. As of this moment, you and I are not bound by whatever destiny had planned for us. You and I are two individuals living our lives the way we had planned it, the way we wanted it."
"Yeah, that's right. You and I are going to live our lives without any worries about the future, but only of now."
"So do not cry anymore. It looks dreadful on your eyes. Boys do not cry."
"They do when the happiness of someone they love is on the line."
"Of course, the happiness of Hermione is most important to you. I can not disagree."
"No, Harriotte. I cried because of you. I cried because I don't know how I can give you that same amount of happiness you gave me when you showed me the way to the one I truly love."
"I did not give you that happiness, Harry. Hermione did."
"Yes, but you helped and I owe you that. That's why I love you…as my very special friend."
"Yes, and I you, Harry. Friends, no matter what. Always remember that no matter what happens, I will always be here to support you. I will always be here as your friend."
Harry smiled at her as she did too. He wiped away the dried up tears in her eyes and in his before sighing and looking up at the sky. They both smiled as they saw the stars shimmering in bright lights. Harry took Harriotte near him and hugged her. Harriotte smiled and hugged him back; thanking him for being the friend she had always wanted to have. Harry broke the hug and jokingly bowed down and offered her his hand to escort her out of the Astronomy Tower. Harriotte laughed and took his, and soon, they were off to welcome the new life they changed the way they wanted it to be.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harry walked alone towards the Great Hall. Harriotte had requested that they go their separate ways just before they neared the Hall. She told him that she was not hungry and was a little tired and wanted some rest, so he let her off. Harry smiled a bright smile as he entered the Hall, to be welcomed by many cheers from the students. Guess the party's not over yet.
"Harry! You're back!" Ron exclaimed as Harry casually walked towards their place at the long table of the Gryffindor House.
"Welcome back. Where's Harriotte?" Hermione asked, looking around for the young Lady.
"She was tired and wanted to go to rest, so she went ahead to her room," Harry answered, sitting beside her.
"Dude, you missed one heck of a party awhile ago! Everyone was celebrating!" Ron said.
"So, if the party was awhile ago, then what's this?"
"The after party!"
"Isn't that too much party for one day?"
"Not in this school, but especially not in this situation! Not after you have finally confessed to each other – something the whole school, no, the whole world has been waiting for to happen!"
"I guessed I really did miss out."
"Actually, you did not miss a lot. Here, you should eat before all the food disappears because of Ron," Hermione said, offering him a platter of chicken wings.
The night soon ended when the roaring and cheering slowly died down. Everyone piled out of the Hall, their stomachs all full from all the food they ate. Harry took Hermione's hand and led her towards the exit. Outside, they saw Ron being carried by Draco and Ginny. He ate the most out of the night's spread and he ended up not being able to move a muscle. Hermione and Harry laughed and walked on. They spotted Cedric and Cho by the crowd. As Harry and Hermione neared the two, Hermione pulled Harry aside.
"What's wrong, 'Mione?"
"Harry, this is your chance. Talk to Cho now."
"No. No. No! Hermione, why now?"
"Because this is the right time. Look, you've got the whole time. Your chance is there. Now, grab it!"
"But Hermione…"
"No buts, Harry. Go!"
Harry walked towards the couple and braced himself for what he was about to do. He called out to them and asked Cho nicely if she would mind if he had a word with her. Cho said 'no' and Harry looked towards Cedric.
"If that's okay with you, that is," Harry said, looking at him.
"No, it's fine. I'll go talk to Hermione over there for awhile. You go on and talk," Cedric said, walking towards Hermione as Harry looked back at Cho.
"Cho, I have something to say."
"I have something to say too, Harry, but you go ahead."
"No, you can go first."
'No, it's okay. You were the one who approached me, so you can go first."
"No, ladies first."
"Harry, we're just going in circles. We'd end up nowhere if we continue this. Why don't you just say what you have to say."
"Okay, look, Cho, I know that we ended up in a kind of weird situation when Cedric came back and I know I have been avoiding you lately. I just want to apologize. I guess I needed some time away from you. Besides, I didn't want to take away your time with Cedric."
"Harry, it's no problem. That's what I wanted to tell you too. I wanted to apologize for being such a jerk to you. I shouldn't have left you like that. We should've talked first. It's all my fault and I'm really sorry."
"No harm done, Cho. So, are we truce?"
"Even."
Harry smiled as Cho extended her hand in an invitation for a handshake. Harry took her hand and pulled her towards him. Cho was a little startled but smiled as she felt Harry give her a small hug; she returned it and let go. They both smiled and walked back to their respective partners. Hermione smiled as Harry took her hand and gave her a half-hug. The four laughed and decided to go to their respective Rooms.
I've changed destiny's plans, Mum, Dad. I hope you're not angry about it. But this is what I want, Mum, Dad. This is where I will be happy. A life with Hermione, the girl I love the most. I know you wanted me to be with Harriotte, but even if I did end up with her and be happy, I don't think I will feel that same amount of happiness I feel when I'm with Hermione. Maybe in some other time and place, Mum, Dad. I'm sorry for fighting like this, but I know you will understand too. I know you want nothing more than to see me happy. And I am happy, Mum, Dad; I am happy…happy here with Hermione