Sorry guys, I honestly forgot about this story. Then I looked on my account and there it was, unfinished. So here's this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 4: Cho's Birthday: part 1

Harry woke up before dawn on the third Tuesday of December feeling a little nervous. It was his girlfriend's birthday and he really didn't know what to expect or what Cho expected of him. Ron and Hermione were going to go to the Room of Requirement to get it ready for her surprise birthday party and all of the old D.A. members still at Hogwarts were invited. All he had to do was keep Cho occupied from after dinner to the time the party started at 8:30.

He got up figuring that there was no way he was getting anymore sleep, went through his morning routine, and went downstairs, where he found Hermione reading a thick book on the couch. He smiled for some reason unknown to him. Why am I smiling? He pondered. It's just Hermione reading a book. There is nothing particularly special about that.

"Harry?" Hermione inquired.

Harry shook away his thoughts and looked at Hermione. "What?"

Hermione looked at him with questioning eyes. "You were staring." You know, he thought to himself, Hermione has very nice eyes. He wasn't sure that there was an exact color to describe her eyes. I know that she says they're brown, but how can they really be called just brown when there are so many other colors mixed in?

"Harry!" Hermione called.

He once again was awakened from his thoughts. Why am I thinking this?

"Is there something on my face?" Hermione asked.

"No."

"Then stop staring! It's a little weird."

Harry didn't answer, but sat down on the couch next to Hermione and looked at the fire. What is wrong with me today? He asked himself. Or maybe… It's not just today. Maybe I've been thinking this way? He shook his head. No. I couldn't have had these thoughts before, because if so… I might like… No. I've never had thoughts like this before and the only reason for them right now is because…. I'm tired. That's it. I didn't get nearly enough sleep last night and now I'm a little delusional. Yeah that's it…He felt a nudge on his shoulder and turned to look at Hermione.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked.

"I'm fine. I just didn't get enough sleep last night so I'm just a little out of it. That's all."

"A little out of it?" She scoffed her face disbelieving, and then she changed to a more caring expression. "Are you sure you're not running a fever?" She put the back of her hand to his forehead. "You don't feel warm. Are you absolutely sure you are okay?" She removed her hand. He noticed that he had been holding his breath.

He swallowed. "Yeah. Just peachy." Hermione gave him one more look before reluctantly returning to her book.

"Are you ready for Cho's party today?" Hermione asked, her eyes not leaving her book.

"I think so." He wondered if it was possible to have a conversation and still successfully read a book. Well, if anyone could do it, it would be Hermione, he figured.

Hermione closed her book, got up from the couch, and looked at Harry. "I need to get something from upstairs." She said and left.

Harry thought through events of the past five minutes. What's happening?

--

The rest of the school day went by fairly uneventfully, except he caught himself staring at Hermione on more than one occasion.

After dinner, Harry took Cho out to the lake. Once they got to the edge, Harry looked up and admired the stars. He grabbed Cho's hand thinking she was enjoying it just as much as he was, but she pulled back and crossed her arms over her chest. Harry turned to look at her.

"Why are we outside? It's very cold out here." Cho complained.

"Well, I thought it would be nice to get some fresh air, take a walk, and look at the stars and the moon, so-" Harry started.

"Why? Who cares about the fresh air when it's this cold, we can take a walk in the castle, and I really don't see the point in looking at the stars. They're just stars. They're always there."

Harry was a little taken aback. He thought girls liked to look at the stars. At least Hermione did. But then again Hermione and Cho were very different. "Well it's your birthday, what do you want to do?"

"Why don't we go to the Room of Requirement?"

"No, we can't" Harry said a little too quickly.

Cho looked at him suspiciously. "And why not?"

Harry scratched his neck and racked his brain for an excuse. "Because…"

"You know, it would be a really bad idea for you to be lying to me on my birthday Harry Potter." She stated.

"I…" Harry hesitated. "I can't tell you."

"Well, you know if you aren't going to tell me, I suppose I'll go find out for myself." She started jogging towards the castle.

"Cho!" Harry yelled. She turned.

"What do you not want me to know Harry Potter? We can do this the hard way or the easy way."

You know, she uses my last name a lot. I mean it's quite obvious she is talking to me. It's rather annoying come to think of it. Harry thought.

"Are you not going to tell me?" Cho questioned. Cho was smart. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been put into Ravenclaw. In addition to being intelligent, she was also a bit self-centered. "Did you arrange some kind of surprise birthday party in my honor?"

Harry figured it would be best just to confess. "Yes."

"Really!" She ran to Harry, threw her arms around him and kissed him. "I knew it. You're a great boyfriend Harry."

"Umm… Thanks." Harry replied.

"When does it start?"

"8:30" Harry instantly answered. It had been drilled in his head by Hermione to get her there at 8:30, not a minute before or after.

"Great! I should have time to change into something a little more fitting for the occasion. Come on! I need to get to Ravenclaw." Cho said and pulled Harry along to the castle. Harry groaned on the inside. It would be obvious now that Harry had somehow let it slip.

I am halfway done with the next (and I think last) chapter, so it shouldn't be long.

By the way, I really appreciate reviews.