All Along the Watchtower
Chapter 11- The Girl Who Lived, Yeah Right
Harry settled the long, ungainly Devil Bringer on his bed. The onyx blade Faith sat next to his twin, silver plated AMT Hardballers. Blue Rose was also before him, but Harry wasn't taking it. It didn't feel right. Since he took up the Devil Bringer, he couldn't intertwine his magic with the mythril Katana at all.
And it made him think of Cho, as much as he didn't want to go to her; he had to. Especially after the night with Karen, it may have been a mutual need for comfort, but it dredged up old feelings which were best gathering silt in his subconscious. Karen was everything he should want, beautiful, fun, smart, and strong but it wasn't right; he still had a need that couldn't be slaked by her.
With Cho, things were different. He felt betrayed and angry in equal measure. Cho lied to him for years, it was her fault. Yet Harry couldn't help but shoulder the guilt for her; for not noticing sooner, for ignoring all the signs. Harry hated himself for wanting to fix everything, as though everything that transpired was his fault. He could have gone on in blissful ignorance without news of her betrayal.
Well maybe not blissful, but painfully happy.
Looking back Harry could tell they were falling apart. They had skirted the edges of truth for long enough. Still Harry wanted to forgive her; why? Harry didn't understand the why, he just did. Harry really wanted to sleep for a week and wake up in a less complicated world.
"A knife for your thoughts?"
Harry froze, resisting the programmed urge to turn around. Am I hearing things?
"No Harry, you're not hearing things." The voice said playfully.
Harry checked his Occlumency shields. They were un-breached, still an impenetrable wall so his hand edged to the wand on the lip of his bed.
"Harry there's not a-" She didn't finish as a jet of bluish magic streaked from the recovered wand and frowned in annoyance as the spell disappeared before her. She looked into his equally intense emerald gaze, "-point."
Undeterred by his initial failure, Harry threw out a barrage of multi-coloured hexes and curses, gaining potency with every touch of spellfire.
"Pointless again, I don't breathe…acid really…no blood either…heart's not beating anymore…that almost tickles…Harry this is beginning to annoy…stop so we can talk…please." The soft voice said as each spell dissolved. "I'm not here to be target-" A pulsating green flash of dark energy dissolved into silver fire. "You tried AKing me! What is wrong with you! I'm already dead!"
Harry took a deep breath, his wand lowering in bewilderment. Every spell had simply dissolved before the white clad girl, even the unblockable killing curse. "Dead?" Harry asked. You don't look very dead.
Her face brightened at his thought and a smile reached her features as she looked her simple white dress over. "Why thank you Harry, I'll take that as a compliment."
"So you're dead and reading my mind?" Harry asked. What is she?
"I am Allison Stevens; former Apprentice Assassin, now in the service of God and his Archangels. So I'm an Angel but this body is a Vessel. A devout person who agreed to serve as host for an angelic being, I simply used magic to make it look like a slightly older me. And yes, I am tuned into Harry Radio."
"You're an Angel." Harry laughed. "Bullshit."
She sighed in irritation.
"So heaven, hell, demons, Lucifer, Satan, God, Jesus, Adam and Eve; the Garden of Eden are all real? Bullshit. Who the fuck put you up to this? Impersonating a dead girl is freaky" Harry had brushed up on the Holy Bible of Kaden's Catholic religion; however he came to his senses about the so-called God and that was calling bullshit on it all.
Allie tapped her foot impatiently, an old habit which didn't die in death. "Eden, yes you're standing on it; it's a metaphor for Earth! How can people never figure that out? Adam and Eve are another metaphor, for people the people God allowed to evolve here! God is supposedly but I've never met him, no one except the Archangels have. Sataniel or Satan as most know him, he was an Angel who went on an ego trip after Lucifer's imprisonment and is now the Lord and Master of the Thirteen Kingdoms of Hell. Lucifer is the fallen Archangel who led the Angelic Schism. He's safely locked up behind 600 seals for the crime of poisoning Humanity with sin. Hell is very, very real and therefore demons are real. Heaven is kind of boring; most choose reincarnation and live another life, not many like the peacefulness, serenity and unwavering tedium. It goes against human nature. A few very special people such as ourselves get to become Angels, if we want but the virgins? I have no clue where they got that from. Oh and Jesus, he left to try and find God, a long time ago." Allie finished her sermon with a yawn.
Harry looked at her sceptically. "So you're the Allie? The girl who got killed by werewolves?"
Allie shook her head. "I was killed by Vampires Harry, broken neck if you want specifics."
Harry looked up immediately, very few people knew that. "You can't blame me for trying, but what exactly does an Angel want with me?"
Allie moved across the room and sat on the chair at the foot of his bed, playing with the oversized knife. "I know you're sceptical but think if magic is real, why can't Angels and God be real? Every populated continent on Earth has a religion based around a higher power; logic would assume something is to be found? Where did magic come from, better yet the ability to control you Element? As for why I'm here? I wanted to drop in for a chat not a history lesson. You seemed, conflicted. I thought I could help." Allie gave her most gentle smile.
What the Angel was saying sounded plausible. Harry let his wand fall to his bed as he sat down. "Why are you here?"
"I am here because your guardian Aral is too old fashioned to come and help you. He is one of the oldest Angels who take the approach of silence and contemplation. He'd rather wait for the Apocalypse to roll around before helping anyone. Ass!" Allie sniped, looking to the ceiling pointedly. "And I wanted to see why you were thinking of hurting Karen."
"What? I would never hurt Karen."
"Then stop doing what you're doing, let her go!" Allie said sternly.
Harry sighed. "It's hard. I can't trust Cho anymore and Karen seems like the best option."
"You're calling my best friend an option?" Allie accused. "Cho came to Kaden. He would have killed her if he didn't believe her, he's a cold bastard when it comes to the people he loves thanks to me. You're being harder on her than he was! She's drowning in guilt and you're whining about it!" She snapped; Harry was incredibly self-centred at times.
Harry sighed. "It's hard, I don't know what to say or do."
Allie nodded carefully.
"Is that all you've come for? To bust my balls for pissing around?"
Allie's face scrunched up. "Since Aral won't come down and tell you to let what happens tonight happen. Keep Kaden out of it…please." She pleaded, biting her lip nervously. "I told him not to join me too soon and I meant it. Where you're going only you can survive, only you have the strength for this. He would choose to go with you and would fall, becoming one of them and I would lose him forever."
"This is just a simple Op; we go in, kill the bad guys and come home." Harry stated unsurely.
"Hell is what I'm talking about Harry." Allie said, her emerald eyes glistening. "It's a horrible, disgusting place, filled with pain, anger and destruction. I-" Allie lurched over in pain, as though she was punched in the gut.
Harry's hand touched her bare shoulder and it was worse than any time with Danielle. All of his senses were clogged with magic, he could barely think straight. She was made of pure magic of the likes he'd never seen. He wretched his hand back and his eyes closed as he stumbled away from her, coughing and spluttering incoherently as he stumbled against the wall, his sixth magical sense was ablaze with blinding ethereal light. He was shaking as he tried to re-orientate himself.
"That shouldn't have happened." Allie said; concern clear in her features. "I'm sorry; Aral was being a bastard!" Allie shouted, glaring at the ceiling. "I should have controlled myself, seeing my true form can be traumatic for those who have touched darkness."
"Touched darkness? Who hasn't! I bet you did your fair bit when you were one of us!" Harry retorted scornfully as he confused her concern for pity. He didn't care what others thought of his use of the Dark Arts. They get the job done.
"Yes, they do, that's part of the problem." Allie was disappointed when he failed to look her in the eye, so she stood. "Think about what I've said, you will be in a dark place soon and for that I'm sorry." Her hand moved to his arm, her control fully restored. "I will be there, so will Aral. Not physically, but up here." Allie said tapping the side of his temple softly with her fingers. "And when you've done what you have to do, you will return."
Harry jerked away from her. "You're telling me that I have to die? You're laying that on me and telling me not to drag Kaden down with me?"
"Harry, sit down." Allie said tiredly as she sat on the edge of his bed.
Harry stood firm.
"Please." Allie pleaded, looking up at him with tearful eyes.
Harry relented, he could never say no to someone with those eyes.
"You have to understand, this is so much bigger than you could ever imagine. This is the fate of the world, of heaven and hell all rolled into one. Voldemort is working with the Fallen, the rulers of the Kingdoms and we can guess why. They want to break the six hundred seals which bind Lucifer to his prison, we don't know how but he is helping them and we can't figure out why, that is why you need to die."
Harry was confused. Did they want him to lose? "But if I kill him, Angels win; Lucifer stays locked up. Everyone's happy. I don't see a problem."
Allie sighed. "Harry I don't know the exact details but Voldemort is doing something, something the Archangels don't know about. Voldemort has gained skills he shouldn't and came back from the dead in such a way that isn't allowed and the others want you to die and find out how and why; more importantly why. The demon involved is someone they've wanted rid of for a long time. And in the meantime, Kaden and the guys can keep up here intact. You'll have to survive down there, which not many can claim to have done with their sanity intact."
"But we know what he has done. He created Horcruxes by splitting his soul so he could become immortal. But if we find them all then…"
Allie interrupted. "No Harry, Voldemort split his soul twice. Once in the diary as an experiment and again to ensure that he wouldn't die after his resurrection. He realized his power would wither if he split his soul in too many pieces. He instead delved into research on Demon Lore and even Darker Old Magicks. We don't know why yet, there are enchantments powerful enough to ward even Angels away, that is why you have to die. Angels can't roam freely in hell either; you can gain their trust and will. We can also watch his actions up here, try to find a meaning in them; how they hope to break the seals and when the time is right Aral will know and lift you from the pit."
Harry swallowed hard; he was just part of a big game and with his and Aberforth's theory out the window, they needed a new plan. This sounded like it. "I'll do it."
"What!" Allie exclaimed, startled by his easy acceptance.
Harry steeled himself, passing a glance over his weapons. "You heard me. I'll do it."
Allie gave a sad smile. She didn't envy Harry, before he came anywhere near the information needed he would have to survive. "You're a brave man Harry. A testament to your family and blood, thank you." Allie hoped he came back as Harry she knew. His situation wasn't a first for the Archangels; they sent men to hell before under similar pretences. Only six returned, even then the six were never the same men, each was damaged beyond repair.
"What?" It was Harry questioning this time.
Allie kissed his cheek. "We are the descendants of fallen Angels; we need to redeem ourselves somehow. Cunno." The Enoochian sleeping spell took immediate effect and Harry's eyes rolled to the back of his head. He fell back onto his weapon filled bed but Allie caught him before any damage could be done. Clearing the bed with a flick of her wrist she laid him down. She looked at Harry regretfully. Allie knew he would need a reminder. A snap of her fingers later and a silver combat knife was in her hand. Holding the blade for a moment, she then laid it on the bedside table.
Her job done, she turned and shimmered away.
xxxxx
Harry shot up from his bed, startled by a sudden noise. The buzzer for his door was going off. He groaned; he was having a very good dream. Harry took a moment to collect his thoughts, remembering his meeting with the Angel. His eyes past over the room but the buzzer rang again, taking Harry from his thoughts. "Come in." Harry wiped the sleep from his eyes as best he could before looking up finding Kaden standing in the doorway. "What do you want?" Harry stated irritably.
Kaden entered the room and allowed the door to slide shut behind him. "Nice to see you to."
"Piss off."
"Shut up."
"Why?" Harry insisted.
"Why do you think?" Kaden asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Cho?" Harry stated; the world seemed to revolve around her.
"Yeah; Chang."
"What about her?" Harry asked.
"We need to come up with a plan or this won't end well for us." Kaden took a seat at the small desk, atop lay a duffel bag with most of Harry's equipment excepting Devil Bringer and Blue Rose which lay in the rack on the wall.
Harry noticed the bag on the table, he hadn't put it there. "I know."
"Well?"
"Well, what?"
Kaden shrugged. "I figured you might have thought about it in the past few days."
Harry shook his head negatively, remembering the conversation with the Angel. "I've been a self-centred prick lately, I'm sorry."
It was Kaden's turn. "Me and Rossi should have told you from the off. We didn't want too many people to know, I assume Karen does."
"Why would you think that?" Harry asked, feigning ignorance.
"I missed the morning walk of shame, but Mick saw fit to inform me of your leaving his place and when I spoke to her this morning she had a few words to call me. Mostly for upsetting you and I could smell-"
Harry made to interrupt but Kaden beat him to it.
"It doesn't matter. I learned a long time ago that Karen's business is her own, but we need to do something about Chang, soon."
Harry leant back against the wall in thought. He was glad Kaden avoided the topic of Karen. Cho was the more pressing matter, even more pressing than his death. How Cho and Kaden would react to his death was also a worry. Harry knew the both of them inside out. They would fall apart. Kaden was strong; he wouldn't let personal failings interfere with his job but Harry would be surprised if Kaden and Danielle were still together when he got back, if he got back. Kaden would be the slightly imperfect soldier, but a complete and utter bastard to live with.
Cho, she was so fragile. Long had he noticed her jumpiness, the way she flinched if someone's voice was too loud, her tendency to cower away from him when arguing, even as she attempted to stand firm. The scars she never thought he noticed under the Glamour Charms, he was long moved past such simple illusionary magic's efforts. Things he had once ignored but now knew were all products of her terrible past but Harry didn't ask about them, like she didn't ask about his. Harry would be laying more emotional damage onto her but he had to secure her future and the key to it was simple.
"Mei-Lin…"
"What?" Kaden asked, surprised at Harry's mentioning of the older Chang's name. "What about her?"
"That's how we can do it! Mei-Lin," Harry stated, it was so simple and the plan was already forming. "Mei-Lin was the Commander of the Chinese Academy, wasn't she?"
"Yeah," Kaden said, wondering where Harry was going. "Mei-Lin was Commander of their Training Corp." Kaden said recalling a few missions partaken with her during their overlapped Hogwarts years.
"So she would know about certain undercover Operatives others wouldn't?"
"Of course, Commanders have the highest level of clearance. They can keep things from the Council if they deem it necessary for security purposes."
Harry hit the jackpot. It was only Mei-Lin which could be a problem. "Then you see where I'm going? I don't think Mei-Lin will want Cho getting the death sentence either." Harry said, flinching slightly at the thought. He had his own.
Kaden looked at Harry in surprise; he was a devious little snake at times. "It'll take some doing. Chang will have spit out some amount of bullshit but if we can swing Mei-Lin around, we can go with Chang having no operational knowledge of the Operatives being killed." Kaden said, Harry's idea taking shape. "The Council would have to believe it if Mei-Lin is behind it."
"Do you think you can convince her?" Harry asked, it only seemed logical, Harry would explain the plan to Cho and Kaden to Mei-Lin.
"It's not a matter of convincing; it's either this or the Council puts Cho to death. And Mei-Lin isn't that much of a cold hearted bitch." Kaden said with a smile. He knew Mei-Lin Chang well, she hated him but she'd never let her precious little cousin die. It would be a matter of explaining the questionable circumstance, but he'd need Rossi's help; Mei-Lin would at least let him into her office. "If this doesn't work, the only way we can go is rogue and that won't be good."
Harry nodded gravely. He would have to set it perfectly, so that when he died; it would all resolve itself. "Have you talked to Cho at all in the past few days?"
"Yeah the other day, we talked about what they did to her and why she helped them and I gave her a file on her mum and dad. She couldn't remember them too much about them and her Gran, Mei-Lin and Uncle avoided the subject, not wanting her to know too much. I thought she deserved it." Kaden said, when he talked to Cho understood what she was saying. Probably more than she did, the loneliness, the quest for revenge. The only difference being, she didn't understand how that quest that seemed so full of promise was an empty and blind path of desolation. Kaden had his revenge and it tasted sweeter than he could've ever imagined, but it only made what he was going through worse; he had one less reason to hold on.
"Can she fight?" Harry questioned. She was good with a wand, the DA showed him that. But Assassins were trained in many forms of combat, if Cho was to be convincing, she would have to be competent.
Kaden nodded. "She'd pass for one of us, a bit rusty; she'll need a weapon too. We'll need to steal a few things as well; I'll get Rossi on it and Ollie will need to hack the Chinese mainframe and plant some shit."
Harry looked sceptical. "Can you trust him?"
"Of course," Kaden said confidently, he would trust any of his old squad except John and his brother. They were too by-the-book and wouldn't go behind the Council's back. "I'd trust any of the old Reapers." Kaden lied assuredly. "He'll do anything to help us."
Harry stood from his bed, taking a look at the clock on his bedside table; he only had a few hours. His eyes were also drawn the combat knife on his bedside table. "Then we have a plan."
Kaden stood himself. "I'll speak to Mei-Lin; you can speak to Cho and get the ball rolling. We finish up this mission tonight before moving forward, agreed?"
"Sure." Harry affirmed.
"Don't take too long with Chang. You need to get back before the briefing; Valentine and his are complete bitches when it comes to being late." Kaden and looked at the white sheath poking out from the duffel. "And see that," he pointed to the white sheath, "Take it with you."
"Why?" Harry asked, looking toward the blade.
"You'll see." Kaden left and shut the door.
As soon as the door closed, Harry went to the combat knife, picking it up Harry's finger ran across the razor sharp blade's surface and the small etching of 'A' that adorned the centre of the blade above the pommel. The Angel, his death and what he had to do. Harry placed the small blade back on his bedside table. Maybe Kaden would find it afterward and know what it meant.
Harry grabbed his bag from the desk and topped and observed the room. Harry swallowed the lump gathering in his throat as he gazed over the various pictures on the walls, his Assassin robe and its crimson sash peeked from the wardrobe. Silently, he wondered if he'd ever see it all again.
xxxxx
Harry got to Rossi's door nearly an hour later, the blade Blue Rose sheathed and in his hand. He had dropped his stuff at the apartment and ran into Karen. They had a short, awkward chat in which Karen informed him that she and John had reconciled, hopefully for good. Harry didn't know whether to be pissed off or happy and it didn't stop Harry rapping the door a lot harder than he should have.
Rossi answered.
"Do you mind if I come in?"
Rossi stepped aside, opening the door fully, holding a wary eye over the blade in Harry's possession.
Harry asked. "You've talked to Kaden?"
"Yeah, good idea," Rossi said leading Harry to the living room. They took a seat but kept their distance, a lot was unsaid between them. "It'll be a bitch getting Mei-Lin on this, I was about to head out and meet the Captain and then we're going to see her. She won't even talk to him without someone to push her."
"I know." Harry agreed. "Anything you could do to help…"
"Don't worry about it." Rossi interjected quickly. "Me and Cho have talked, I kinda understand." He paused taking a deep breath. "And I'm with you Lt, to the end." Rossi said, extending a hand in silent forgiveness.
Harry took it gratefully almost smiling ruefully. Rossi didn't know how close that end was. "Thanks, this means a lot."
"Don't mention it." Rossi said. "But I'm guessing you're not here to see me?"
Harry grinned slightly. "Well…"
Rossi shook his head with a smile. "Don't worry about it. I'd choose a girl like that over you any day."
Harry laughed. "I take it she's still-"
Rossi nodded. "She's in Paul's old room. I think she's sleeping. She woke up late last night feeling sick, like head in the toilet sick and she didn't get to bed until late." Rossi said, looking bemused.
Harry swallowed hard, that had to be a coincidence. Harry would be the first to admit his control wasn't legendary when drunk. But the wards around the apartment should've rectified that.
"You okay mate?" Rossi asked.
"Sorry, just drifted off." Harry lied easily.
"What's with that?" Rossi said, gesturing to the blade at his side.
Harry shrugged. "Since I got the Devil Bringer from the Old Man, it doesn't feel right anymore. I figured Cho could use it, she might need it."
"Fair enough," Rossi stood. "I'm going to head out, go in and see her though. You know, just in case."
"Yeah, just in case." Harry muttered, it was definitely a just in case day.
xxxxx
Harry entered Paul's old room as silently as the creaking door allowed. The sight which greeted him didn't disappoint.
Cho as Rossi thought was still sleeping and snoring in that not overly loud; but remarkably annoying fashion which Harry had grown to strangely appreciate. He made his way across the room, placing Blue Rose next to the open manila folder on the desk and took a seat at the edge of the bed. The covers were bunched around her waist and the pillow in her arms looked as though it had taken a beating. Her skin glistened with sweat and her hair clung to her forehead and shoulders. The long, deathly white and jagged scar he always noticed was even more prominent, stretching across her shoulder, and cutting a curved path from the base of her neck, down her spine.
His hand moved to her shoulder to gently wake her, but as his hand touched the scar he felt a strange tingling, known magic. Harry mused thoughtfully; the scar was created by a magical blade, a cursed blade. As he traced the scar he didn't feel the usual warmness of a Glamour Charm; that may have explained it. Harry felt her shiver slightly under his touch.
"Stop that," Cho said sleepily.
"How did it happen?" Harry asked softly, he knew it must have been painful. Most magical blades held unsavoury properties and Charms.
Cho, not facing him, answered truthfully. "I was nine, my training Master wasn't the kindest man. He said that if it hurt enough the first time I wouldn't make the same mistake twice. He despised us, he relished in punishing me for my mistakes and I hated him. The first, across my shoulder was a simple mistake, I over extended. He disarmed me and did it and when I couldn't get up he tried to make sure I never would. He said I was too weak but I killed him. I only wanted to hurt him the way he hurt me but I couldn't control it." Cho finished, her lip quivered in fear as she remembered her Master's cold sneer and his penetrating gaze.
She would never forget her first and only kill. The smell of burnt flesh and death as she woke, her innocence was wretched away as the evil man's heart stopped; the intensity of the electrical energy she produced had turned his brain into useless mush. He never had a chance.
Neither did she.
Cho's eyes watered at the thought, she still saw that face some nights when she closed her eyes. His words still echoed in her dreams.
Harry watched the tears trail from her eyes, drops of crystal. He lay down next to her and threaded an arm around her waist. "Don't cry." Harry whispered. "He would have killed you if you didn't stop him; you did what you had to do. There was no wrong in it."
Cho sniffed, shaking as she pushed back a pressing sob. No matter how much she hated the man, he was her constant companion for more than four years, no matter his treatment of her. Cho still missed him in a sick, masochistic way. Kendrick pushed her harder and further than she could have imagined at such a young age, he made her who she was. He created a weapon of single minded thought. A weapon who didn't question her mission or motive until a kindly emerald eyed boy showed her that Elemental's weren't the evil creatures she had been taught about. They were misunderstood and in an effort to repent for their ancestor's sins most chose a path of self-sacrifice where only the most skilled survived.
Cho knew how vast the Paradynian Order spread. How it infected the structure of the Wizarding World. Many prominent figures of the International Wizarding Community were Squires, Knights, Grand Knights, fanatical Priors or Sentinels, except the mysterious Supreme Knight, whom Cho had only heard whispers about.
Kendrick was a Sentinel; much like an Assassin he was deadly and silent. However when his left arm was taken by a target he was relegated to an instructor, left to raise a five year old weapon. One they could use to find the Academies and the fabled Elemental Council, to destroy the menace once and for all.
"Cho talk to me." Harry said, tightening his grip around her waist as he felt her shudder. "Try not to think about it, don't dwell on it."
"I try." Cho whispered, taking his hand in her own. "I try every day, but I still see him." Cho shifted, rolling over in the small space until she could see the comfort of his emerald eyes. "I miss him sometimes, I know it doesn't make sense but I do."
Harry nodded as best he could but did not understanding her reasoning. If the man weren't dead Harry would find no problem killing him. "What colour do your eyes go?"
Cho allowed herself a small smile as Harry shuddered, a low level electrical current passing through him.
Harry felt the nerve endings along his arms sparkle to life; the scars tingled with magic as he felt the energy penetrate his body. He looked as Cho's eyes took on a warm crimson glow. "Red."
Cho nodded and she stopped the flow of electricity as her eyes dimmed to their natural chocolate brown. "You came back." Cho said, allowing her happiness to seep through her weak mental barriers. Hoping he could see it.
Harry smiled himself, feeling her relief. "I wanted to, I had to. Cho you have to understand, even if me and Kaden can get you out of this. We aren't going to have the fairy tale ending you want, with the big house, white picket fence, dog and happy family. I'm not that type of guy anymore. I can't give you that, not with my life, I'm a bad person-"
"And I'm not? I used you Harry, played on your feelings for me. Do you think I never noticed the way you looked at me? The way you always tried to get me to notice you? By the time Cedric came to me I knew I could draw you in, if it wasn't for Karen I would have; that's why I hated her. She got in my way and I could have killed her for it, I wanted to kill her. I would have enjoyed the look on your face as betrayal cut through you. I would have watched the pain wash over you like a crow picking at a corpse, enjoying it, feeding on it. I was disgusting. I wanted someone to feel my pain." Cho looked over the back of her hand; the self-inflicted scars ran deep. "I know a happy ending isn't realistic for us, but I can dream. If they let me live, I want the dog. A big fluffy German Sheppard called Rocky." Cho said with a smile tugging her lips, trying to inject some humour into her situation.
Harry's face turned from caring to stone cold. "They won't have a choice Cho, if me and Kaden can't get Mei-Lin to lie for us. Let's just say that they'll either leave you be or there won't be a Council left to order your death."
Cho's eyes widened. "Harry you can't, you couldn't stop them all-"
"Then I'll die with you, if they think I'll save a world without you in it then they're fucked up. That is mistake which will cost them their lives," Harry stated, his emerald gaze steeled with conviction. Harry needed her. She would be there when he got back. Harry could trust Kaden to make sure of that. With his death Kaden would never sacrifice the last link to his best friend. He felt almost guilty preying on Kaden's refusal to let go of the dead. "But hopefully it won't come to that. We're setting you up as an Operative, but not in the traditional sense. You came to Mei-Lin when you were twelve and told her everything. She took her better judgement and used you as an informant, all the reports we plant will be in the mainframe at the Academy in Jiangyin. She set you the mission and you've been passing along information ever since, and it continued when she became Commander. It's a stretch but we can work with it. Your cover was blown by our visit to Hogwarts; someone caught your chat with Kaden, pin it on Diggory. End of. We need to keep it simple and easy; do you know much about them?"
Cho nodded vigorously, she knew tens of names which would be useful. Cedric Diggory wasn't the tightest lipped boy when it came to inflating his ego. "I know enough to disrupt their movements for a time. But I've been out of the loop for a while, my handler was killed and I've had to rely on Cedric for orders and info-"
"You still see him?" Harry interjected; his face contorted in a scowl.
Cho's hand came to the side of his face as she smiled sweetly. "On occasion, you still see Karen don't you?"
Harry panicked slightly. "That's different, Karen's one of us-"
Cho sighed. "And I'm not...You know, I've always thought you should've stayed with her."
"Cho, Karen's...she's one of the most amazing people I've ever met-"
Cho's eyes closed and her hand fell to his neck. "You really know how to dent a girl's confidence Potter." Cho interjected tiredly, despite her attempt at sarcasm.
"You okay? Rossi said you weren't feeling great." Harry asked worriedly, while compared to him her core temp was extremely low, he could tell by touch it was elevated slightly.
"I am now." She said smiling sleepily. "Stay with me?"
"Cho, I can't we've got an important mission tonight and I have to-"
"Just until I fall asleep?"
Harry kissed the top of her head as she got comfortable, he lowered his core temp as much as he could without risking illness. "Of course, I love you, you know that don't you?"
"I know." Cho said softly as she snuggled into his cool warmth. "I'd love me too." She quipped.
Harry laughed.
They were both broken in too many ways to count. But Harry couldn't help but hope they would have their happy ending someday.