imakeeper: Now you'll hate her even more. Cool. Thanks for confirming my suspicions. And thanks for saying that I write the Asian perspective well, now I have to go and thank a lot of my friends for letting me in on the aspects of the subculture. Without them I wouldn't have been able to write it as close. Thanks for the review:)
Chaos666: Thanks so much for the review. I thought that I lost you as a reader. Very cool that you had guessed about the pictures.
T-person: I don't know when it will be, but I hope to really make the fight at the end err… really memorable. Soon, I hope, I'm trying; believe it or not, I've been cutting a lot of stuff out, and putting other stuff to the back to get to it faster. God, I hope they don't make Cho the sneak in the movie. So many Harry Potter fan girls, and guys don't try to think of the perspectives of the other characters, and don't even read the books, I have a feeling that there will be a lot of Cho/Katie Hate sights popping up on the net again when the movie is released. I just hope that there is not any booing at Cho by said fans when I go to the theater. Probably most of the booing will be from people who never read the books, but just watch the movies. Cho fans unite… I like that. I wish there were more Cho fan sights out there. Maybe if I ever get any money I'll create one. It would be nice to have people who can draw, or paint contribute art based on this story. Just a thought.
Froggie2: He will find out soon, but someone else will tell him. Oh yea, Cho has a lot of friends, and they all have a lot of respect for her, because she is so nice to everyone. And also she has helped them a lot and been there when they needed her. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but Marietta has a gift for Cho, and it isn't chocolate frogs, or a golden snitch, you can be sure of that. Thanks again for the review, and I'll do my best.
Well here is chapter 47, and well. This is sad. At least I think. A very delicate subject that I've been thinking on for a long time. This was one of the first ideas in my head when I got the idea to write this. I can't believe that it took me so long to get here. The title is also something that I had thought up long ago, so I mean this is something that I've thought long and hard on. I don't say that I hope anyone will like it, because that sounds like someone saying, I hope you like "Schlinder's List" or I hope you like "Come see the Paradise". But I do say I hope that this touches you emotionally.
Chapter 47: Happy Birthday Cho Chang
The four Ravenclaw girls sat on the edges of their beds, and looked through their censored mail. All complained to each other about their mail being opened and their privacy being violated by people that they never even met. But regardless of their lamenting, none of them could hide the fact that they were at least grateful to get mail at all. Everyone made an agreement to read from one of their letters to everyone. Cho was nervous, not knowing if she could find something in her letters that she could share. Cho looked through the ones from friends, who had transferred to other schools last year to get away from Harry Potter first. Quinn Westminster was enjoying herself in Beauxbaton's girl's school in France. She had written Cho that the weather in France was much warmer than the United Kingdom, and that she wished that her parents had sent her there sooner, but that she still missed her friends at Hogwarts. There were several other letters like this one, from friends around the United Kingdom, and Europe. She was glad to hear that everyone was doing okay, and that they were enjoying themselves. Cho was reading her mail from her friends first, because although she wanted to hear from her family most, she was afraid of the news that she might get when she did open the letters.
As Cho read through her letters silently she also listened to Beverly read the letter that she picked to share with everyone else. It was from her father, who was vice president of a bus manufacturing company in Brecon Wales. His company had just signed a major contract with the government of Brazil for the exclusive contract to supply all the bus fleets for it's major City's, and he was going to take Beverly, and her younger sister, Rachelle, to Rio de Janeiro to celebrate. Cho and the others expressed their joy for Beverly, and they talked about what a great time that she would have there. Beverly also received a box set in gold wrapping paper. It was obvious that it was opened once already, by someone in the ministry, as the paper was torn, and only a thin string held the top on. Beverly removed it, and to everyone's excitement pulled out a beautiful, formal, lime green strapless dress, with orange flower pattern on it. Everyone in the room was in awe at its beauty. The girls said that she would look beautiful in the dress when she wore it at the Yule ball this year.
Next came Nancy's turn to read the letter that she picked. She read that her sister Paula, who was living in Cambridge, had had a baby two weeks ago, and that they named it Oliver after her their father. They had read how sorry that they were that Nancy couldn't be there, but looked forward to seeing her again for Christmas holiday. Everyone congratulated Nancy on her new nephew. Cho put her letters down for a moment. She was starting to feel better, because she was happy to hear that each of her friends were receiving such good news in their letters.
Erica was the next to read. It was from her brother, who had just had his Bar Mitzvah two weeks ago, and was wondering why she hadn't sent him anything. She also read how her dad was coaching the cricket team at the University that he was a Master at. When Erica finished she then told everyone that their was a more recent letter from her brother that said that he finally did receive the Quidditch through the ages book that she sent him, but because of the censored mail issue it was late. But he enjoyed it very much.
Finally it came Cho's time to read her letter. She had gone through the few that she had already read, trying to find one that was not too personal, but one about some good news in her family. The letter was recent, only a week old. It was from her cousins Sally and Ling.
"Hey Cho, how's Hogwarts? We just got your letters today. But they didn't come by Owl. A Ministry carrier delivered it to us by special delivery, explaining again about the censorship thing. We're really offended about people going through our private stuff, so we've both agreed to not write about the families more personal matters anymore. You're mum is recovering from the, well you know, we wrote about it in our last letter. Uncle Poa's still doing the same, when we see him. The goblins are working him pretty long hours these days and he's almost never home, but we did get a chance to visit him at hospital the other day. But of coarse you'll hear about that from his letters I'm sure. There are several new stores opening up all over the shopping district these days, and it's a blast to go and shop till you drop. But unfortunately everyone's opening them up in buildings that were empty, and not having new stores built, so father says that we'll have to watch our spending until business picks up. This cute boy named Donald Tran, just transferred to our school. You should see him; he's got dark brown hair, and soft brown skin, Sooo cute. I'm just in lust with him, but I hope it could be more. Actually every girl in the school seems to want him. I don't know weather it's just that he's a new face, or that he's as hot as I think that he is. In any event, all those other bitches had better back off, cuz he's mine! Hee hee, hee. We were finally glad to hear from you, and were sorry to hear about Padma Patel missing, we hope that they find her okay. Our friend's mum took us and a bunch of other girls swimming at the public pool last Tuesday, and it was great. They put in a winding water slide, and we brought our lunch and had a picnic. We also went to the Red Lion, and heard a live concert by a singer named James Blunt. He's not very well known, but god he can sing. His songs are often sad, and… they just make us tear up. I wish that he would come out with a CD, or MP3, but we haven't seen one available yet. Oh, and it turns out that he was an officer in the British Army, cool huh? But I can tell you he has talent, and he'll be famous one day. Anyway that's what's been going on here; we're going to let Uncle Poa give you the more serious news, so we decided to leave that out. We want you to be able to comeback to this letter, and have it cheer you up when you're feeling down. So let us tell you that the day that we saw your mum after her latest surgery she was awake, and she said that she misses you, and can't wait to see your school reports. She misses you, and so do the rest of us. Can't wait to see you for Christmas holiday. And we know that things are bad now, but they will get better Cho. Well we'll write you again soon, and we wish you a happy birthday. Oh! Father sent you a laptop computer that's internet ready, and he says that he knows that electronics don't usually work in Hogwarts, but maybe you could bewitch it or something. But just in case, he also sent you the Italian shoes that go with the dress from your father. I would worry about spoiling that for you, but you've probably read all your fathers mail first, and… we know that getting the news about your mum's, well you know, but at lest you found out enough time ahead before your birthday that you could have time to recover from it by then. We've also sent you some incense to burn and a new bell just because, but the shirts our birthday present too you. We miss you Cho, and we want you to stop being so down. Maybe you should talk to Harry Potter. I mean talking about him always used to cheer you up. Anyway were off to get into trouble now, miss ya much cousin.
The notorious Sally, and Ling;)
P.S. To the Ministry person reading our mail, YOU'RE A WANKER!
Cho read the letter carefully leavening out the more personal parts, and changing some of it, so that her family's personal problems would not be revealed, especially about her mum being a wanker. Cho smiled a little at her cousin's letter, but she was also worried. The letter had said that her mum had had another surgery, and it didn't elaborate on what kind. Was it minor, or major? Cho thought. Sally and Ling had written that her father would write the more serious stuff. Cho finished reading her edited version of her letter. Everyone wanted to see the presents that she had gotten from her family. Cho put the first of two boxes with torn wrapping paper into the middle of the room, and cut the flimsy string that the Ministry person had resealed it with. She pulled out an IBM laptop computer, with a plug.
"Sorry to say that that's not going to do you much good here Cho, there are no electrical outlets in the school." Beverly said sorry for Cho.
"That's okay; maybe next time I go to Hogsmead I can find a place with one. I just hope that I can use the internet to talk to my cousins if it does work. The muggle phone place in Hogsmead usually have impossibly long lines of other students waiting to talk to their families." Cho said.
"Ha, tell me about it. That's all I seemed to do the last time I went last year, was stand in the bloody queue, waiting for my turn to talk to my family." Beverly said.
"That's why my dad bought me a cell phone, now that they are becoming cheaper, but it won't work at the school, and I haven't found a way to bewitch it yet." Erica put in. Cho put the computer down and slid it under her bed. She then pulled out a beautiful pair of blue Italian high heal shoes by, a famous muggle brand. The others gasped with excitement, and the shoes were passed around for everyone to admire. Cho then pulled out a shirt that had a note pined to it that read:
We made it for you our selves, and it's in your house colors, so that's two types of pride your representing. Hope you'd like it.
The notorious Sally, and Ling
Cho read the attached note to everyone, and removed it. She then unfolded the dark blue t-shirt, and everyone read the large bronze letters: Asian Pride. It really looked professional, and it made Cho smile that her cousins had made it themselves. She decided that she would wear it to her party that night, to show everyone, but her cousins were wrong about one thing. There were actually three types of pride that she represented when wearing it. Because she was really wearing it to show people how proud she was to have such caring cousins that were kind enough to do such things for her. Finally Cho pulled out the dress that her father had bought her from its box. It was a beautiful, light blue formal dress that she had asked her dad to get for her from a muggle shop in London. He said at the time that it was too expensive, but now here it was, and Cho's smile started growing even larger. She was really starting to relax a little, something that she had not been able to do in a long time. But here with her news from her family, and being with her friends, it was just… fun. Fun. Cho thought… she hadn't had that in a long time. After a while of reminiscing, and conversation with the girls Cho excused herself to read her letters from her father in private. She chose the table in the corner of the Ravenclaw common room to go over the letters in private. They all were very serious, and sad. Her mum wasn't getting any better, but not worse either. Again, more agonizing news of Chemo therapy, and Radiation therapy, and experimental drugs, and a picture of her mum waving at her, her beautiful raven black hair gone, but Cho's mum still beautiful in the eyes of her daughter. One nice thing was that her father did tell Cho in the letter that the staff, and patients missed having her work there, and that Dr. Guardia would write her a recommendation to a good University when she graduated Hogwarts. There was only one problem that Cho had, there seemed to be about a weeks worth of mail missing from her father. Perhaps he was busy at Gringots, but the mail just skipped. It was as if some of it was missing, or maybe there wasn't anything to write about. Oh, god! If only we had phones like the Muggles do. Why can't we share our world with them, why can't we help each other, and try and find ways to make the better things in both our worlds work together? I need a phone, I need to talk to mum, or dad, on anyone, I feel so cut off. Cho thought. She shook her head, and held in her hands. Stop thinking like that Cho; you've got to be positive for once in your life. Dad didn't write about it, because… it's just a minor surgery. Yes, that's got to be it. He didn't want to worry me because of that. When I leave in a week, then mum will be better, and the surgery will cure her. She'll be better…" Cho thought, trying really hard to believe it.
"Hey Cho, how's your mum?" Luna asked as she sat down next to her.
"Oh, hey Luna, I didn't hear you walk up. Um… she's…" Cho started, then looked around to make sure that no one was in earshot, and turned back to Luna. "Well… I'm not really sure. My dad said that she was going through more chemo, and other therapy, and that the doctors were doing everything that they could for her, and my cousins said that she had had a surgery, but didn't elaborate on it. The last letter that I got from dad, said that… that she was doing the same, but… he hasn't written for a week. I don't know if it's because that mail has been held up in the ministry, or if… there's just been nothing to write about. But I've been writing every day, and even though I know that the goblins work him long hours… that… we'll he should be writing me every day." Cho said weakly. Luna gave her a hug.
"I'm sure everything is going to be fine Cho. Your dad said that they had the best doctors in the United Kingdom working on her, and that means the best doctors in the world. I guess no news is good news, maybe it means that she's getting better." Luna finished.
"Thank you Luna, I needed to hear that from someone. Um… how… how is your father doing?" Cho asked genuinely.
"Well, for a while he was really down not being able to hear from me, were really close you seen. But in some of his last letters he said that he finally got my mail, and was happy to see that I was doing so well. It turns out that since people can't get the ministry to budge on censoring the mail that their at least demanding that they put more peoples on the job, so that everyone can receive the mail more quickly. So that's good. Anyway, I have to tell you that I can't wait for Christmas. I really miss him. I love Hogwarts, but sometimes it's really hard not being able to see him. It's really hard on him sometime when I'm not there, he hasn't been able to keep a girlfriend for long, and I know that he misses having someone else in the house. Since my mum died, he's just been kind of lonely. I wish that he could find a nice woman to be with, but he just doesn't seem to have any luck in relationships." Luna finished.
"He's a nice man Luna. I'm sure that he'll find someone out there." Cho said softly.
"Your right, hey we've got to go to your party, you don't want to be late to your own party do you?" Luna asked. The two girls got up from the table, and Cho grabbed her mail.
"I've got to put this up, and I'll be right back. Please wait for me." Cho asked. Luna nodded. Cho ran up the steps, and put her letters in the night stand drawer. The other three girls had already left to set up the party. Before she closed it, she looked at the stack once more. Please write to me soon dad; please let me know how mum is. Cho wished to herself. She took of her school shirt, and put on her new gift from her cousins, and headed down the stairs to meet Luna.
One Hour Later, Cho's Party in the Library:
The Library was decorated with balloons, ribbons, and confetti that magically fell from the bewitched ceiling every five minutes. It was full of students from each of the houses, and everyone was getting along famously together. Loud music blared out into the corridors out side. Many students were dancing wildly to the music of the weird sisters, played on a very old phonograph, and Cho had just finished dancing Prakash Gandhi, and walked over to the refreshment table to have a drink. She pored herself some punch. Harry Potter had not shown up yet, and Cho kept watching the door for him, but for the first time in a long time she was happy, she was truly happy. Cho scanned across the room, all of her friends were here, and everyone was having a great time. It was everything that she wanted for herself, and for all of them. Finally good to cut lose all of her problems, even if just for a night. The library door opened and Hermione Granger stepped in, and looked around for a minute, then she stepped back out and closed it behind her. Cho took a sip of her drink, and put it on the table behind her. She rushed to the door, and stepped out into the corridor, to see Miss Granger walking down towards the Gryffindor dorm rooms.
"Um, Miss Granger… Miss Granger?" Cho called out friendly. Hermione turned around, and walked back to Cho.
"Oh, Hello Cho. I was just curious to see where to music was coming from… happy birthday." Hermione said in a friendly tone.
"Thank you, um would you like to come join us." Cho asked politely.
"Oh, but I can't, I don't have a present to give you." Hermione said. Cho smiled.
"That's okay; you don't have to get me a present. We barely know each other. But… I'd be honored to have you attend, that would be a good present, if you don't mind Miss Granger." Cho asked. Hermione smiled.
"I would be delighted to Cho. And um… it's Hermione. Please call me Hermione." She asked. Cho smiled back.
"Okay, Hermione thanks for coming." Cho said. As they walked back in the room they were met by Susan Bones, and Allen Miller.
"There you are Cho, I was wondering what happened to you! It's time to open your presents." Susan said. She guided Cho to a seat, at a table and sat her down. Luna Lovegood placed the first of many packages in front of her. It was from Jeremy Stretton, and Nancy Cromwell. Cho opened the wrapping paper, and pulled out a large, beautiful snow globe of Hogwarts castle. Cho looked up with a bright smile.
"Oh! It's beautiful, thank you so much." Cho said.
"Well, we decided that since this is also somewhat of a going away party, that we wanted you to know that this place is also still your home, so… we wanted you to have a little place of home where ever you went. Cho reached over the table and gave Nancy, and Jeremy a hug. Next Beverly handed Cho a present, to Cho from herself. It was a picture of Cho, her four roommates, and Luna taken in the great hall a few weeks ago, and it had been signed across the bottom:
To our best friend Cho, though we're going to be apart for now, we'll always be there for you when you need us. Just send us an Owl, and we'll be there for you. Your friends forever: Beverly, Nancy, Erica, and Luna. Cho successfully fought back tears as she gave Beverly a hug, and thanked her. The gifts kept coming, a beautiful blouse also from her roommates, and makeup kits from other friends. One friend of Cho's Michele Franks, from Hufflepuff handed her a small wrapped gift. Cho opened it to find it was a CD from a band called the Spice Girls. Cho looked up happily.
"Oh, I've heard of them. My cousins and I listened to them on the radio, there very good.' Cho said happily. She gave Franks a tight hug that made him blush.
"Well, my families muggle, and I figured since I heard from Allen Miller that you were… going to live in the muggle world, that… we'll that you could use a few muggle items to enjoy." Franks finished. After almost all the gifts had been given out Luna walked up to Cho. She had a package in one hand, and her other hand was behind her back. She seemed to be straining a bit. Cho took the package from Luna and opened it. It was a large roll of plain parchment.
"Oh, Luna, thank you, I'll use it to…" Cho started, but Luna cut her off.
"Waite, there's more. Cho I got you something for your birthday when I was in Hogsmead, because you've never had one of your own for some reason. But I never knew how important it would be for keeping in touch." Luna said as she swung her arm around, to reveal a cage with a small barn Owl in it. It had big yellow eyes, and gave a small hoot. Cho chuckled, and gave Luna a hug.
"Thank you Luna, thank you so much! I'll write you all the time I promise." Cho said sincerely. Allen Miller stepped up to Cho.
"Alright, alright listen up people… time for the last gift of the evening so that we can get this party really started." Miller said.Everyone cheered at the announcement. "Now… a bunch of the Ravenclaw students like to have the idea that Cho Chang should have the title pride of Ravenclaw, or Princess of Ravenclaw. Well I say that that's bullocks…" Miller started in a booming voice, waving his hands, and then paused for effect, as the crowed quitted, shocked by his problem with the title. "Ya see at one time or another Cho has been here for most of the people in this room, and well we Slythern have wanted to adopt her as our own, but then…" Miller Started, and paused for another dramatic effect, as some of the students booed playfully. "… then I got to talking with my good friend Susan Bones, she said that the Hufflepuffs wanted to claim her as their princess. Turns out she has a lot of friends there. Well, Miss Parvati Patel here says that Cho has a healthy number of friends in Gryffindor as well, and if anyone should get the honor that it should be them. Cho looked over at Parvati, who had a light smile on her face, but, Cho was worried about her, wondering if she was just pretending to have a good time, and worrying about her sister. Cho promised herself to talk to her before the party let out. "…well what could we all do with this little problem? We finally decided on a duel to the death of the seventh year prefects…" Miller paused for another effect, as the students laughed at the obvious joke. "…but then we realized that that would hurt, and… I'm just much to delicate, and handsome to get roughed up like that. Sooo most of the guys here got together, worked a little magic, and decided that Cho was not a princess of any of the houses… because Cho Chang…" Miller turned to a confused, Cho, and smiled. "Cho Chang is the pride and Princess of all of Hogwarts. So Mr. Ingleby, if you'll come forward please.
Inglebie, who was a member of Cho's Quidditch team, came forward and placed a silver tiara on Cho's head. Allen Miller then put a ribbon around her that read Princess of Hogwarts.
He smiled at her and she blushed, her olive complection now beat red. Susan Bones also came up to Cho with a bouquet of roses, and Dennis Creevey snapped some pictures of her. Tears started to roll down her eyes, and she thanked everyone for their generosity. Everyone was smiling, everyone except Hermione Granger. Cho looked over and saw a worried look in her face. When everyone went back to dancing, playing party games, and the party was in full swing Hermione walked up to Cho, and spoke.
"Um, Cho… what… what do they all mean by you going away? I mean, really school has only began. Are… are you leaving sooner… are you transferring schools?" Hermione asked." Cho opened her mouth to answer when the door to the library slammed open, and Marietta and all of her friends who had been in the library that fateful day came walking in. Everyone knew that Cho and Marietta had had a falling out, and they all realized at once that Marietta shouldn't be here. The room quieted, and Erica Goldberg, turned the record player off. A silence fell over the crowed, as Marietta looked around, her arms folded. She was flanked by her society friends on either side of her, and she had four letters in her hand. Cho's face turned to one of instant anger.
"What are you doing here Marietta Edgecombe? Your not invited… none of you are." Cho's voice echoed scanning each of the society members. Marietta looked around again at the decorations and the people standing in silence. Then Marietta looked back at Cho.
"Not invited? Why I've never missed one of your parties, and I told you that I would be wishing you a happy birthday again. Besides, I have a gift for you Chang." Marietta said in a mischievous tone. Cho balled her hands into fist, and stared into Marietta with utter contempt.
"I don't want… anything from you Marietta. Just leave my party. You wouldn't like it here anyway. No one wants to join your hate filled society. We're all about excepting others here." Cho said in an unfriendly tone. Marietta looked around the room, and smiled.
"Clearly Chang, look at the people that you accept in your group. Half-blood mudbloods, Muggleborn-mudbloods, pureblood-blood traitors, and all manors of people of inferior quality." Marietta continued. She spotted Erica Goldberg over by the record player. "Ahh I remember you from our first year Goldberg, came in a levitation wheel chair, from a half blood family. A mother with no magical ability, married your Wizard father, and they had you… a cripple born to spend her entire life in a wheel chair. The result of Purebloods intermarrying with muggles. To bad the head master came up with that spell to allow you to fix your legs, because it would have shown people the punishment for mixing race…" Marietta started but Cho cut her off.
"I said get the fuck out you stupid bitch. You could only hope to have friends as good as Erica. I'm grateful to have that privilege, and I don't let people talk down to my friends, so shut up!" Cho screamed at the top of her lungs. Cho grabbed her wand and pointed it at Marietta yelling a crippling curse. Marietta jumped out of the way, and the blast missed her, but hit Ian Lewis, who had been standing behind Marietta, with full force. His legs buckled, and he fell to the ground screaming in horror that he couldn't feel his legs. Cho let lose the jinx again, but Marietta blocked it with a shield charm. The society members started to take out their wands, and Cho's friends countered, by pulling out all of theirs. Danielle Forester looked around the room; it didn't look like very good odds for the society members. Cho's friends outnumbered them three to one, and were on tow sides of them.
"Stop! Stop!" Danielle yelled. And everyone held their ground, bud did not attack. She looked at Cho who still had her wand trained on Marietta.
"Cho let Marietta tell you what she has for you, for your birthday, and we'll leave. Then you can enjoy your party." Danielle finished. Cho was breathing heavily, and didn't take her eyes, or wand off of Marietta, who was now, also pointing her wand at Cho.
"I told you that I don't want anything from any of you society people. Get out of my party!" Cho said angrily. Marietta smiled, and put her wand back in her pocket.
"Oh, but dear Cho… I think your going to want my gift. You see, when we were handling mail earlier today, well some letters got… misplaced. Must have… oh, fallen behind a filing cabinet or something. In any event… after you left in such a hurry, I realized our mistake, and decided to keep the letters, so I could return them too you. Since I realized how much that you enjoy hearing from your family, and all that… I took the liberty of bringing them here myself as a present from me to you. Cho looked at Marietta suspiciously.
"What are you at Marietta?" Cho asked unsure of what Marietta was up to.
"Up to Cho? Why what ever do you mean? I'm just giving a gift to my onetime best friend on her birthday." Marietta said in her mischievous tone. "But… if you don't want the letters…" Marietta said turning away to walk out.
"Marietta… give me back my letters!" Cho shouted. Marietta turned back to face her.
"Say the magic word Cho… you know please. Let me hear it." Marietta smiled. Cho's grip tightened on her wand.
"Marietta… if you don't give me those letters, then the magic word is going to be an unforgivable curse." Cho said with the most serious tone. Everyone in the room gasped.
"Oh, dear Cho. You don't want to go to Azkaban now do you? You see…" Marietta started but was cut off.
"Now! Give them to me now!" Cho screamed shaking her wand at Marietta.
"Okay Cho, have it your way." Marietta said politely. She carefully walked up to Cho and handed her the letters under the angry gaze of her and her friends. She then turned to leave, but stopped at the doors, and turned back, putting her hand in her pocket.
"Oh! Dear me, I almost forgot. I still have one… it's from your father. Um, maybe you might like to read this one to the room Cho, to show them what wonderful successes the muggle doctors are able to perform. Marietta handed it to Cho casually, and motioned her fellow society members out the door. When she reached the doorway she turned to Cho who was just taking the parchment out of the envelope.
"Happy Birthday Cho Chang." Marietta smiled, and then shut the door behind her.
Cho read the letter to herself as everyone looked on. The further that she read, the more contorted her expression became. Tears started falling out of her eyes, and she began to tremble, her hands shaking. Suddenly the noise around her went almost mute, as if she were hearing everything underwater. She looked around at everyone, they were speaking, asking what was wrong, but she could barely hear them. She felt physically ill. She finished reading the letter, and crumpled it in her hand. She looked around the room at everyone staring at her. It was too much. Suddenly Cho burst out the door into the hall in a full run, slamming into Harry Potter in an impact that knocked them both down. She looked at him for a minute.
"Cho, I'm sorry I'm late, but the staircases changed on me. I had to go around the long way. I just saw Marietta Edgecombe and that girl that was at the rally with you laughing, on there way to the North Tower. They came from your party. Your not still friends with them are you?" Harry said with a confused look on her face. Cho heard him but barely. She looked into his eyes, but could not speak; she opened her mouth to talk, but choked up. Harry looked around, and picked up a small package that had been knocked out of his hands. Cho just looked at him, tears pouring down her eyes.
"Are you going to speak to me Cho, what's wrong now?" Harry asked a little annoyed. She was still shaking; she grabbed her stomach, and threw up next to Harry.
"Hey! Watch it!" Harry said as he scooted away from the pool of vomit on the floor. Cho got up and ran with great haste, down the corridor with Harry calling after her. She didn't stop until she found a girl's lavatory, which she entered, made her way to a stall and got sick again in the toilet. It was then that she burst on in uncontrollable crying, kneeling over the toilet, and resting her head, and one arm on the seat. She cried long so hard that it was a struggle to draw each breath, until she was physically exhausted. When she could cry no more, she knelt there in silence, her head throbbing from the pain, and her stomach in knots. Time stopped, the world stopped, and everything was numb. Hours later, she barely heard the foot steps behind her. A hand grabbed the paper still clenched in Cho's hand, and another one stroked her head. Cho heard barley audible voices talking, but didn't care. She felt drugged everything numb.
"Go and tell the others that we found her. And tell them to go and get Madam Pomfrey here." One unrecognizable voice said. Someone hugged her from behind, telling her that it would be okay. She was lifted up, and carried by two girls that she recognized, as Susan Bones, and Erica Goldberg. As the two girls carried her out of the lavatory, Cho looked over at Luna Lovegood reading her letter, tears now coming out of Luna's eyes. Hermione Granger stood next to her a confused look on her face. Cho was layer out on the floor and then rose, with a cushion producing levitation charm. They ended up taking her to hospital. She lay there motionless, unable to cry anymore. Other students asked Luna to show them the letter, but she refused. Saying that it was personal, and that Cho would have to tell them in her own time. Soon Madam Pomfrey was ushering other students out, but Luna protested, and said that she wouldn't leave Cho's side, even if it meant detention for the rest of the year. Madam Pomfrey finally relented, and said that Luna and one other student could stay. Luna grabbed Hermione's wrist, and said that Hermione should stay. Everyone else was ushered out, and Madam Pomfrey after looking Cho over, and determining that Cho was in no life threatening danger, left to go talk to some of the students, to find out what happened, locking the door behind her, and instructing Luna and Hermione not to let anyone else in.
Luna walked over to Cho, who was lying in the hospital bed, not able to speak. Luna then burst into tears herself, crying that she was sorry, and wished that she could make it all better. After a few minutes, Hermione pulled Luna, and brought her face to face with her.
"Luna, you have to tell me what's going on." Hermione said in a demanding tone. Luna looked at her with blurry eyes.
"I can't Hermione; I promised Cho that I would never tell." Luna started.
"Look Luna, I understand the importance of a promise, I do. But you have to tell me. We need to help her. Please. You could have had anyone in here with you Luna, but you grabbed me. I know that you want to tell me something." Hermione persisted. Luna sobbed.
"It's true Hermione, I have to tell someone, it's killing her to keep it all inside, she can't do it anymore or she'll go crazy." Luna said weakly.
"What's killing her Luna, what's in the letter from Cho's father?" Hermione demanded. Luna looked at Hermione.
"You… you have to promise that… that you won't tell anyone else. Not anyone. Promise." Luna said.
"I promise. I swear." Hermione said truthfully. Luna looked around the room, and then back to Hermione.
"I need someone to confess to sometimes too." Luna said.
"What?" Hermione said not understanding.
"Um, Cho's family, they don't talk about family problems to outsiders, not ever. Cho promised not to talk about her mum to anyone here at school, but she broke that promise to talk to me. She needed someone to talk to, and, it was me. It's been very hard on her with no mail lately you see." Luna started. "Her mum has been sick for a long time. It's been really bad too… Breast Cancer. Well, over the summer Cho's mum was admitted to a muggle hospital, and… they… they had to remove her left Breast." Luna said with effort. Hermione gasped, and after a moment Luna continued. "Well… you see. They thought that by doing that that they could get rid of the cancer. For a short time, they thought that they had taken care of it. But… it came back Hermione. Luna said wiping away a tear. With no mail, Cho and I didn't know what was going on. We didn't know what her condition was. Then when Marietta came to the party, she… she brought Cho this." Luna said in horror as she held up the parchment. Hermione saw the fear in her eyes.
"Is… is her mum… dead Luna?" Hermione asked carefully. Luna shook her head.
"No, she's not, but it's still really bad Hermione. That's why Marietta chose to give her the letter at her birthday party." Luna said, crying. Hermione started to shake a little. She looked into Luna's saddened eyes, and swallowed before asking her next question.
"Luna… what does the letter say?" Hermione asked hesitantly. Luna put her head down for a minute trying to get the words out, as the tears dropped from her cheeks. Finally she looked up at Hermione with a depressed look on her face.
"It's… Cho's mum, she… the doctors, they… choke they had to remover her other breast Hermione." Luna said with great sadness.