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Now, this chappie should be pretty interesting. Review it—and remember. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM. The last time I said that, I did get one. It was ravishing!

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liannimation

Ch. 12:Saintly Endeavors

It was five o'clock by the time they first considered leaving the café. Seven o'clock by the time they checked the clock again. By then, it was startlingly apparent that Seamus really liked Amita. Possibly more so than Amita liked him back, but it was depressingly sweet. And Cho had been nodding along the whole time, taking part at the appropriate times. No doubt, she was happy for Amita, but she couldn't get that image of Malfoy out of her head. The back part of him, actually. Because that was the last she saw of him—his back: turned on her. Like she'd never happened. Don't get me wrong, though. He did have a rather nice backside, if that was what you were thinking.

She was in massive denial. He was nothing to think about. She was going to sit and enjoy this conversation. But that was simply impossible.

Seamus and Amita were sickening. Seamus would laugh at everything Amita said, look at her when she was turning the opposite direction. Christ, he would even blusteringly offer to pay for her coffee. And the thing was, she was somewhat oblivious. That really irked Cho—here was this charming, adorable guy throwing himself at her. He was a perfect potential for the happiest of relationships. Amita looked flattered, but didn't seem all too appreciative. Damn her.

When quarter to nine rolled around, Cho was tired. She stood up, stretched.

"What do you think, guys? Time to head back to the castle, I think,"

"Oh, but we we're only getting started," Seamus joked. Cho secretly shot him a dirty look.

"Yeah," Amita said, "It's getting late. Some of these folks seem a tad sketchy if you ask me," she eyed some of the people scattered and hunched in the corners of the café. She stood.

The four of them made their way out of Misty's, which now smelled of day-old coffee grindings and piss. What a way to finish the day.

The smell of rain lingered potently in the night air. It had stopped no more than two hours ago. Amita and Seamus were walking slowly together, Cho and Madeline behind them, left to trek through the mud in silence. They seemed at such ease, and it just aggravated Cho further.

"They are so cute," Madeline said to Cho.

"I know," Cho said in a whisper, so as to mask the restraint in her voice, "It's unbearable, innit?"

"Yeah," she said, "So is there or is there not something between you and Harry?"

Cho thought this was possibly the most random and incorrect question she'd ever heard uttered from Madeline's mouth. Honestly, she did not see how it could have happened.

"No!" Cho said, a little too loudly, for Amita cast them a "what the hell?" kind of look. She continued quietly, "Why ever would you ask? No, there's nothing. Oh-ho, absolutely nothing." She almost chuckled.

"Well, I was just wondering because well…isn't it obvious?"

"What? What's obvious?" Cho was edgy. And tired. A dangerous concoction.

"You two have had a history. And then you went to the ball with him. Okay, he sort of screwed that over, but from what I can tell, he was drunk and he apologized for it, didn't he? And Cho, he just seems…perfect for you, you know?" Oooh…she was mad now, "I mean, he's good-looking, popular, famous—and we all know you love that sort of thing—he's really quite the person for you. It's only natural that you two would be an item,"

Cho rubbed her eyes in muted frustration (poking her eyes quite a bit in the process). If even her best friend anticipated how she was expected to be viewed, then what of the rest of the world? Was she really that predictable?

"Interesting," was all Cho could say.

The walk back was silent from there, save the happy giggles of Amita, and the elevating ringing sound that was developing in Cho's ears.

Was she honestly falling back into this again? Shame, she had just recovered from it too. And she knew she shouldn't have been feeling this way; that was the worst bit. She couldn't concentrate fully, snapped at every person who confronted her—damn she could have been PMS-ing for all she knew. But that wasn't it. The gist of it was that she was lonely and unattainable. Green all over again.

And it didn't help when the four reached the castle, and Seamus dragged Amita off to the Room of Requirement, a sure smirk playing on both their lips.

"You want to head back to the Common Room, then?" Madeline inquired.

"Uh," Cho said, while her eyes followed her friend and her smitten Irish boy, "Yeah. Let's go."

Back in the comfort of their dormitory, Cho became decidedly horrible. Madeline asked her if she wanted to shower first, and all Cho had to say was, "What do you think?" And when Madeline headed for the bathroom, obviously misreading the situation, Cho let out a disgruntled sigh of frustration and nearly popped an eyeball vein (cos' that's what people do when they're angry). She sat restlessly on her bed, scribbling furiously at her homework, trying as hard as she could to avoid thinking of…the state of affairs at hand. When Madeline stepped out of the bathroom, Cho was so startled that she knocked over her inkwell.

"DAMMIT!" she screamed too loudly.

"Cho…" Madeline said, grabbing her wand and cleaning the mess.

"Thanks," Cho mumbled incoherently, a cross frown fixed on her face.

"Are you quite alright?" Madeline asked warily.

"Yes,"

"Well, you seem edgy if you ask me."

"I'm not edgy,"

"Yes you are,"

Cho was really too tired and upset to say anything useful, so instead she just ended the conversation with a resounding, "No," and was off to the shower.

In bed a half an hour later, Cho was truly in a pickle. Jealous. How could she be? And again? It was preposterous to think about. She shut her eyes. A couple weeks ago, she was feeling prude, stupid, bemused. She wanted, to put it plainly, some action. And quickly. Along came Draco Malfoy—beautiful, utterly witty, utterly willing, utterly dispensable.

Her friends: love-struck and genuine. Herself: still stupid, still bemused, and surprisingly still prudish. She wasn't jealous. She was disgusted.

She didn't even want to think about Malfoy. In fact, she didn't know what to think anymore. She thought that maybe he could have been there for some fun when she needed it, but apparently, she wasn't even good enough for that judging from what happened at the café that evening. She stewed in her misery for another three hours until she finally succumbed to sleep.

Little did she know that at that precise moment, Draco Malfoy was lying in bed, mind flying, his focus on a one Asian Ravenclaw.

It was a half-heartedly uttered moan/whine sort of thing. That was what Cho did mostly the following morning at breakfast. Oh yes, she was disheartened and completely bad-tempered, and even wound up barking alarming obscenities at a couple of awe-stricken first-years. So much for Head Girl behavior. Premium fun though, if you happen to not be in her position.

Cho sat at the table, pushing at her eggs sulkily while Amita chattered naughtily about her escapade the previous evening.

"…the RoR, right?" she seemed to be saying, "Seamus had this wonderful setup for us—you girls should have seen it! All bedecked in little lights and fancy curtains, and there was a lovely, beautiful bed in the middle of the room. Oh, and it was just all so bloody…" she paused, smirked uneasily, "Huge…"

Madeline laughed at the comment, squealed something. Cho acknowledged it with a slight nod and a forced smile. Jesus, this was just too much for her. She speared a lob of egg, regarded it grudgingly before she put it in her mouth.

"Oy, Lahiri, babe!" Cho choked violently at this. Seamus bounded over from the Gryffindor table (Cho could have sworn she caught sight of Harry stealing a glance), and sat himself next to Amita. However, Harry was possibly the last thing on her mind. Now pink in the face from a lack of oxygen, she weakly pounded at her chest with her fist, and coughed like a cretin.

"Woah, Cho," Seamus said, turning to stare at her while she hacked up half the world, "You quite alright?"

"Yes—" cough "I'm just—" cough "peachy," She cast him a sarcastic look through watering eyes. "How're you?"

"Couldn't be better," he smiled sneakily, turned his attention back to Amita and initiated one of those gross premarital inter-digitation type things.

"Please, guys," Madeline protested, shielding her eyes, "We're eating and everyone is staring," It was true: everyone was staring. Cho was glad Madeline brought it up, for she was sure that if she had, it would have come out sounding a fair amount more catty-like.

And then, (she was sure by then that God was plotting adamantly against her) lo and behold, Roger Davies swooped down upon them, squeezing himself next to Madeline, arm on her back. It was a vision: Cho's two best friends were both sitting on one side of the table, dreamy-eyed and smitten, fondling, smiling, batting eyelashes and whatnot. Sitting on the other side was Cho, food half-way to her mouth, a very unhealthy and panicked expression cemented onto her face.

"Cho,"

She continued to look mortified.

"You alright? You look awfully peaky,"

Cho squinted her eyes, attempted a sickening little smile.

"Um, I've got to go. Study. I'll see you guys in…Herbology?"

She got up to leave. She felt dreadful. Really—physically dreadful. She made it half-way to the door when a handsome grey owl caught her attention. It perched itself on a nearby column, and looked at her keenly. Cho located the scroll attached to its leg, and hurried over to retrieve it. This is what is said and what it is that it is, goes as follows:

Cho,

You haven't paid for your ball dress yet. You know we have already discussed this issue. Buying a completely new dress just for a silly school dance is not a necessity. Right now you owe 20 galleons and 9 sickles.

Your father and I have just received your latest grade report. Pretty good, but we think that you could do better in Potions. As soon as possible, send back the money for the dress, or I can withdrawal it from your account at Gringotts.

Mom and Dad

By the time Cho had finished reading, her fists were white from clutching the paper so hard, and her head was throbbing because her teeth were clenched so tightly. Aware that there were still people around her, she resisted the temptation of a full-throttle temper tantrum, and instead, seized a quill from her bag and wrote a hasty reply.

Sending the owl off, she marched out of the Great Hall and fumed quietly (if that is possible). Now, even the little everyday annoyances were bringing the worst out in her.

The sun had set, the rain was still pouring thick and fast, and Cho sat miserably in the Common Room. Amita and Seamus, Madeline and Roger were all there together again. Don't get me wrong, Cho had tried with much effort to escape the premises, but things that day just happened to want to prevent her from not missing a single precious moment of agony: no Prefect duties to attend to, a beast of a Herbology essay to write, and of course the feelings of her friends to preserve (how would it look that every time they were around each other, she would leave?)

She had nothing better to do but sigh and stroke the cat that was so inconveniently in her lap.

The silence was golden for Cho, so when Roger broke it, she made a rain-check to hex him the next time they were alone.

"Cho…excuse me for asking, but," …you're never excused, Davies, mark my words… "I feel we're making you uncomfortable," …you really think so? Well, how thoughtful… "And I was just wondering if maybe Potter would join us?" …WHAT!... "Maybe it would make it less awkward, I mean, I know that you two have something, right…?"

Judging from the look on Roger's face, Cho must have looked startlingly frightening. She stood up.

"Davies," Cho said, completely irate, "Fuck," (Madeline gasped), "You." And she stomped off.

Alright, so she had over-reacted in the slightest bit. But who can really fight against teenage angst, mm? It was the climax of a particularly dreadful day, and Roger just so happened to off-set the very frustrated, very angry monster that had been nesting in her. Poor Roger.

She was wandering the deserted halls, recklessly, if I may add, for it was nearly one o'clock in the morning. Though her rage had receded a bit, it now had transformed into a sort of mottled form of guilt. Further, and more than ever, she felt incredibly and, (please excuse the crudeness), overwhelmingly horny.

And now the tide was changing ever so slightly for Cho, for while she loped around the grounds in desperate want of a shag, she ran straight into what seemed like, well…air.

But air didn't curse, or fall to the ground with a grunt.

Voila!

Harry Potter was thus half-revealed on the floor of the stone corridor, struggling to get back on his feet and clutching what looked suspiciously like an Invisibility Cloak.

"Cho!" he sputtered, "I really didn't see you!" And she guessed he really hadn't, for he seemed genuinely astonished when she seized him by the front of his robes and pulled him into a fiery kiss.

After a little while, Harry seemed to relax, and moved his hands gently around her back, deepening the kiss. Cho noted that he had improved quite bit since their last endeavor—he was positively superb!—but there was something definitely missing about it that she couldn't quite lay her finger on…

"Care to take it somewhere else, folks?" The signature drawl cut through the moment like ice. Cho looked around, still wrapped in Harry's arms.

"Chang, I'm shocked." Malfoy mocked with a fake expression of alarm.

Harry looked cross, but he couldn't hide his evident look of complete smugness.

"And Potter," he said, shifting his eyes onto Harry and giving a smirk, "I'm even more shocked,"

The snide offense seemed to bring Harry back to his senses.

"And what are you doing, Malfoy? Prowling the night, hoping to catch a glance of something you never get?"

Malfoy's face remained unchanged.

"Hardly," he said, eyebrow raised, making it clear not to look at Cho, "Prefect duties, Potter."

"Oh," Harry said quietly, realizing how stupid he must have sounded. Cho felt a little pang of pity, but quickly berated herself for it.

"Well," Malfoy said with an obnoxious air of authority. He made a motion to leave, "Chang," he nodded politely. Watching him stride off, Cho was surprised that Malfoy had not at least taken House points away. But soon enough, that surprise was remedied when he turned swiftly back around and called,

"Oh, I almost forgot, twenty points from Gryffindor for a most unsightly display of affection,"

Harry's eyes narrowed in annoyance, but he soon turned back to face Cho. Taking her hand, he kissed her lightly and began pulling her toward the Room of Requirement (they happened to be on the seventh floor).

Then they were in front of the door, and as Cho watched Harry pace three times in front of it, she was overwrought by the most gut-wrenching feeling…ever. While half of her (the bottom part, more accurately) screamed an angry protest, she blurted it out anyway.

"Harry, I can't do this. Not right now,"

Harry halted mid-stride, gawked at her unbelievingly.

"You've got to be kidding,"

Cho issued an apologetic look.

"No, you can't do this to me, you've got to be kidding," His expression was completely readable, for it was the same look that the bottom part of Cho might've been giving at the moment (imagine that).

"Sorry, Harry," (She really was), "I'll see you later," and she hurried off.

So she was a bit of a tease. So what. It wasn't like she meant to be.

She scanned the dark corridor for any other intruders as she made her way slowly back to Ravenclaw Tower. As she approached a particularly long passage, she noticed a light up in the distance—no doubt it was a Lumos enchantment suspended over someone's wand.

Oh dear, it's Malfoy, isn't it.

She really didn't feel like enduring another tirade of abuse,however she was too tired to retreat and find another route to her destination, so she plowed on down through the dark stretch.

And sure enough, as she neared the light, Malfoy came into view, his form delicately silhouetted to reveal that he was leaning against the wall, looking at the painting opposite. When he saw her coming he straightened himself.

"Chang," he said, his voice echoing off the stone, "And I half-expected you to still be snogging Potter's saintly face off,"

Cho flashed the nastiest sneer she could muster.

"What? Is that spite that I detect in your tone? Surely not."

Malfoy seemed to think the question not worthy to answer.

"Funny," he said airily looking back at the painting he had been staring at, "I didn't think you two actually were up to things,"

Cho was dumbfounded—this had to be the first person to tell her that she and Harry Potter were not meant to be.

"Malfoy, you never cease to amaze," she kept her tone cold. Malfoy was an ass. She had to remind herself over and over. However, what kept popping up in her mind was in fact, Malfoy's arse. Even if she hadn't quite seen it.

"What? Surely it doesn't come as a surprise. You know Potter is a pussy," he paused, "You two are shagging, I presume?" He said this so casually that Cho almost forgot to act outraged. She managed a stupid little sputtering session.

And I'm a Ravenclaw, honestly.

"Then I take it you're an item? Fancy that…Cho Chang and the legendary Saint Potter," he spat the word, 'Potter'.

Cho sensed Malfoy's vulnerability in a flash (ahh, so there's the Ravenclaw kicking in) and struggled to salvage her wit (or what remained of it at this hour).

"Why are you asking so many questions?" she snapped plainly. Malfoy looked at her curiously. "Hah, if I wasn't so delirious, I'd have thought you were jealous." The last words rang.

Cho stood there, a defiant leer playing on her lips. She looked at him, full-expecting a clever or cruel (or both) retort to be sent back her way.

But Malfoy merely remained standing, slightly stooped, hands in his pockets. His eyes flicked briefly over her face before he said quietly,

"Best be off. Goodnight," he turned on the spot, leaving Cho more confused than ever.

What a peculiar boy.

Why, FINALLY. This chapter has taken so bloody long to write, and I really don't know why. And, yes, I don't blame you in the least for being mad at me—please disregard what I said earlier at the beginning about this being rather interesting because this chapter sucked more than the last and it took about a million years to post. Eh? Maybe I'll switch things up a bit next chappie and change the POV? I promise, more angsty stuff and a little sex heading your way after this! Well, review it anyway (constructively criticize away, if you please).

liannimation