"Expelliarmus!" a streak of vermilion light shot from Cho's wand, sending Parvati Patil's wand flying. Cho stepped forward to admire her handiwork, unable to stop the surge of pride that swept through her as the wand hit the wall with a resounding clatter before falling to the floor.

She was getting better.

She may have been done with Harry Potter but that didn't mean she was done with Dumbledore's Army.

She wasn't about to run away crying from the one place where she actually felt some sort of purpose.

Where she felt something besides the cold grief that had overtaken her.

Apprehensive as she was about anything relating to Harry, even Cho had to admit that this was a good idea. Despite her parents' qualms, she still despised Dolores Umbridge and everything she stood for. The disastrous events that had occurred at Madam Puddifoot's wouldn't change that fact.

"That was amazing! Would you mind helping some of the others?" The voice startled Cho, prompting her to whirl around to see who it was.

Hermione Granger stood a few paces behind her, an amiable smile on her face.

Cho immediately stiffened. "Thanks," she managed to stammer out, before hastily adding "sure," as she realized she'd been asked a question. She lifted her chin slightly, nowhere near returning Hermione's friendly expression.

She was still resentful, much as she hated herself for being so.

Resentful because despite everything she worked so hard for, despite everything she'd been through-

Hermione still managed to come out on top.

Jealousy was a petty, unbecoming sort of emotion.

But that didn't stop it from worming its way into Cho's hardened heart.


She had not let herself feel in a very long time.

Today was different.

Today there was confidence in her voice, today she felt as bright as the vermilion streak from her wand as she dutifully instructed some of the other eager members of Dumbledore's Army on how to properly cast the Disarming Charm.

With her own wand held aloft, she did not feel so battered and broken.

She did not feel so cold and heartless.

There was a glimmer there, something that had nothing to do with Cedric.

And while jealousy may have been a small part of it, it was eclipsed by something more.

Something Cho could not pinpoint as it had been forgotten by her for so long.

Hope.


She was caught off-guard when, as the meeting was called to a finish, Hermione Granger stopped her on her way out.

"Cho," she said, "can we talk for a minute?"

Cho's lips flipped into a frown. "I suppose," was her lofty reply as the walls fell into place once more.

"I just want to apologize. On Harry's behalf and my own, about what happened at Madam Puddifoot's."

Oh.

That had not been what Cho had expected, not even close.

The walls came crashing down.

An apology.

She'd received what seemed to be endless apologies in the past year. Sorry for your loss. Sorry for what you've been through. Sorry, you've had to endure all of this.

None of them felt genuine. They were all just formalities. Automatic, pitying responses upon receiving such terrible news.

This one was different.

Her jealousy all but dissipated.

"Thank you." The words were slow, cautious, careful.

She felt raw and fragile, as though she might shatter to pieces at any given moment.

For too long she'd closed herself off.

She may have called herself heartless, but now she realized how far that was from the truth.

Her heart might have been broken countless times, but that did not mean it was gone, or beyond mending.

Nor did this mean it was whole once more.

But it was a start.

Here was someone who seemed to care. Not for her looks, not out of pity, but simply because she thought Cho was someone worth her words and kindness.

Cho gave Hermione one last meaningful look before turning on her heel and walking away.


It felt odd to have her lips curved into a smile. Almost unnatural. It felt odd to feel that undeniable spark of happiness in her chest.

Cho could not recall the last time she had smiled without it being part of her mask.

She could not recall the last time her footsteps had ever felt so light.

For the first time in nearly a year, Cho let herself go.

She was not falling but flying.

She let it carry her, as she began the long journey back to the light