Chaos666: Yes, I can't wait for the climactic girl fight between her and Cho, but I'm not sure when I'll get there. I'm glad that you have developed such anger toward Marietta; I think that that means I'm writing her well. MR. Watson, would definitely not like a muggle prison, but I'm not sure of his fate, just yet.
T-person: Yea, I'm always trying to top Marietta's previous acts. I'm getting really bummed out about the last book; I don't even know if Cho will be in it. It would be nice to see her and Harry be friends again, even if they can't be together. I didn't like JK's treatment of her in the last part of OOTP, but I think that it wasn't all Cho's fault even then. I just hope if she is in the last book they don't kill her off. I really don't like the Harry/Ginny Parings. It really bothers me that people would take the time to make a hate sight to anyone, especially a fictional character that doesn't kill anyone, and is going through emotional stress.
imakeeper: Thanks for the review:) I'm glad You liked it. I can't think of anything more evil than that, to give to someone at their party.
Froggie2: Cho will have to be going for a while soon, but Harry won't let her leave without saying goodbye, and she will be back soon enough. And then I'll get the romance going… finally! But thanks for being so touched by that chapter; it really was something that I worked on a long time.
white light spirit: Hello, nice to meet you Yamilet.:) What? Cho better off dead? Never! She'll pull through, but Marietta will not make it easy on her. And her loyalty to Harry will soon face the ultimate challenge.
Chang Kuei: Yes, it's very dark times for her. She never seems to get a break, and now she has to return home and explain why she dropped out of school. Poor Cho.
AntiBush: Well actually he will find out soon, but he doesn't pick up on it himself, not because he's dumb or anything, but because he just misreads everything. When he saw Marietta coming out of Cho's party laughing, he thought that she was having a good time, and when he saw Cho crying, well because of all the trauma in her life, Harry just thought that it was over Cedric again. About the 90's pop music, well, err… I just had to think of something's that Cho's cousins could have gone to see. But notice no one had heard of James Blunt, so it's early in his career, like he doesn't even have a CD, actually he's still be a captain in the military then huh, oh well… he was on leave. As for the spice girls CD. I never listened to music when I was younger, so the Spice girls are the only British group that I remember from the 90's. But I had to think of a 90's muggle CD for Cho to get. As for Dumbledore, and Watson, well at one time long ago Dumbledore did frighten Watson, but he's been plotting his revenge all these decades. As for the helicopter, it's more comfortable than a broom, and he has to get around someway since he can't use one. Besides, you'll see another use for it later. Remember Marietta strengthened the rotor blades. Oh, the Zulu thing, I didn't know that most of them fired from out of range, I did her the History Channel Documentary, but it's been a while. I just remember seeing the movie, and hearing that they shot the tenor. "Men of Hurlock stop your pleading, can't you see their spear points gleaming…" and something.
Okay chapter 48. God! Oh! By the way I finished the chapter of Cho's birthday around mine, July 19th ironic. Anyway I actually didn't want to write this chapter, but I thought everyone would be asking, were are the Masters in all this, and I hate plot holes, so that's why it's here. Next chapter Harry finds out about Cho's mum. Should be better, this is mostly filler. But… I hope you like it. Thanks for all the reviews.
Chapter 48: Enough Blame to go around
Harry walked into his dorm room to find Ron reading a potions book. Ron looked up at the depressed look on his face.
"What's wrong Harry? You don't look like you enjoyed the party." Ron said surprised. Harry walked over to his nightstand and tossed a small gift wrapped package in the top drawer, and closed it. He then looked up at Ron.
"Yea, well I decided not to go after all." Harry said in an irritated voice, and then started changing into his pajamas. Ron rose and eyebrow.
"Really, I heard it was going to be a great party. Luna invited me. Why didn't you go?" Ron asked curious. Harry finished dressing and fell back onto his bed looking up at nothing in particular.
"Because Cho Chang is a sobbing git, and an evil society of the err… whatever member." Harry said very annoyed.
"Come on mate… I thought that you told me that she said that she didn't belong to that lot." Ron said. Harry turned his head to him as he placed his glasses on the nightstand.
"Yea, well… she told me that, but when I arrived late to her party I saw Marietta Edgecombe, and that other society girl that was at the rally, coming out of Cho's party laughing, and having a good time. Then Cho came out knocking me over. She was crying again, and almost threw up on me. Likely had a few to many butter beers I think. Anyway I asked her what was wrong, and she wouldn't even speak to me. She's always crying, Luna said it was about something else, not Cedric, but I don't think so. In any event I'm getting tired of her constant tear spewing outburst, her lies about not still being friends with those people, and her keeping secrets from me. I mean… I've tried to be as civil as I could. I really wanted to believe her, but… all the evidence points to Cho Chang as being against me." Harry said, in a depressed tone. Ron put down his book, to concentrate more on the conversation.
"Harry, what happened after she almost threw up on you?" Ron asked intrigued.
"Well she just ran down the hall sobbing. I mean it was her birthday party, you'd think that she would be happy at her birthday party. Anyway I'm done with her once and for all. That's the end. I can't take the drama anymore Ron!" Harry said frustrated. Ron looked at him confused.
"I thought you were going out with Fiona Burrows?" Ron exclaimed. Harry nodded. I am, but I thought… never mind. Yea, Fiona and me, we're a couple." Harry said mater of factly, not sure what it meant. Ron put his book on the nightstand.
"Well your lucky Harry. She's one of the prettiest girls in school, Fiona." Ron said honestly. Harry nodded.
"Yea, that's what everyone tells me. How lucky I am." Harry said unhappily. "Hey Ron, how come you didn't go to the party? You said that Luna asked you didn't you?" Harry asked. Ron frowned.
"Uh, I had to read my potions book, so I had to turn her down for tonight." Ron said disappointed. Harry shot up and looked at him.
"You chose potions work over a party?" Harry asked shocked.
"I had to! Ever since Hermione and I split up I, err… I mean ever since Hermione and I stopped talking to each other I… well, I've almost been falling behind. I have to work all the time after class to just keep up. It's going to start cutting into my Quidditch time if I don't spend the rest of my free time doing it." Ron said agitated. Harry jumped.
"Oh god I forgot to schedule the practice game for next weekend! I have to…" Harry started, but Ron cut him off.
"Relax Harry, I already talked to Jeremy Stretton, and he said that we could play Ravenclaw next weekend, but we had to promise no more cheating, and that if we did try any of what we did before than they would show us that Ravenclaw wasn't going to just take it like Huffelpuff did. Also Madam Hooch is going to be the Ref. so we'll lose pointes for cheating." Ron said. Harry looked up again.
"I thought that things were cooling off by now. Damn that Draco Malfoy… I still need to get even with him for what he did." Harry said. Ron looked at him.
"Well Harry, things have cooled off, but well just not everything just yet. I mean Miggins is still in a coma at St. Mungoes." Ron said, and we still don't have evidence to go after Malfoy just yet." Ron reminded Harry.
"Yea, too bad, but will find something. I guess Cho's the seeker, do you know who the rest of the Ravenclaw team members are?" Harry asked. Ron shook his head.
"No I didn't ask. Just found out that Stretton was the new Captain." Ron finished. Harry nodded and he and Ron said their goodnights. As Harry lay in his bead, he could not get to sleep right away. Cho's crying face kept entering his mind. How could you lie to me Cho? Why do you keep hurting me with your lies, and your secretes? Don't you know that I hurt from not being able to know what is causing you such pain? How could you be a member of some crazy organization like that? Don't you even have muggle friends, and… or are you a spy. Pretending to be someone who accepts others, but really hates them. Are you working with Draco to destroy me? I don't want to believe it Cho. I want to believe that you're that good person who has so many diverse friends, and who stood up for me last year. But how can I… how can I not believe the worst after what I've seen? Harry thought, as a tear rolled down his cheek. He turned his head to look at the earring on his nightstand. He reached over, grabbed it, and held it up looking at it in the moon light. I can't trust you Cho. It hurts, but I know that I can't. I'll keep this with me to remind me of your lies. I'll reach into my pocket and feel it whenever I talk to you. It will keep me from falling for anymore of your lies. Harry thought as fresh tears fell from his eyes, but he dared not make a sound. It was time to forget Cho. She was the past. Fiona was his present. After all isn't that what everyone told him? How lucky I am… that's all I hear. How lucky I am. Fiona doesn't cry to me, lie to me, or keep secrets from me. At least she doesn't appear to. I mean, she's a bit… well she likes to hang with a certain crowd, but…I can change her mind about some people. I just need to spend more time with her. Once she spends more time with Luna, she'll see what a good person she is. Harry thought as he drifted off to sleep.
Filche's Living Quarters:
Dumbledore lay nude on the mattress in Filche's officeeyes closed, but not asleep. He had his hands in a praying position in front of his mouth. Concentrating on his knowledge of spells, jinxes, and his vast understanding of the most secrete of knowledge that he had used to defeat the Voldermort and his allies. Memories were becoming available to him now, specific forms of waving the wand at just the right angle, memories of his vast experiences in dealing with death eaters, it was choppy, and in bits. The Order, he knows, Voldermort knows. Harry must not know of his inheritance yet. What is the Order, Dumbledore? You're in Eastern Europe. She is dead. You've killed her. But who have you avenged? Black, Godfather. Who's godfather? The prophecy. Something. I don't know. You have avenged…Potter. His Godfather! The criminal!
"Gasp!" Dumbledore jumped up in shock, at the realization that he, was aware that his mind was being delved into. Suddenly his human form melted away, and sank into a clear blob on the floor. In a moment it then morphed into Seamus Finnigan again, and let out a frustrated sigh. The nude Seamus got up, and returned to Filches desk to finish the letters, by the light of the candle. Moments later Marietta Edgecombe casually walked into the room. And casually threw herself into the nearest chair, crossing her legs, and looking at her boyfriend happily. Seamus didn't look up from his letters.
"How was the party my sweet?" He asked casually. Marietta smiled.
"The reception wasn't very warm, but in the end… it couldn't have been better. However, it turns out that Cho is leaving us… and that will complicate my plans for her and Potter." Marietta said. Seamus looked up at her quickly and then continued with his writing.
"Well you can hardly blame her. If her mother is that sick I don't think that we'll see her again. I'm not looking forward to your plan for her anyway. I told you how doing that hurts me, so I'd just assume not." He said flatly. Marietta gave him a sensual smile.
"We need her if we're to get everyone of her friends to really go against Potter. I'll think of a way to get her back. If… her father doesn't send her back as soon as she arrives. Trust me; they are very serious about education the Changs. Family honor, and all that. To get anything less than an E is a disgrace. She'll be forced back here to complete her education, because if less than an E is a disgrace, than I can promise you that dropping out will not be acceptable. Yea… she'll be back. In the meantime… what are you writing, homework?" Marietta asked. Seamus looked up.
"No, I'm writing a letter to Shamus's parents, requesting to stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas Holliday. I've been writing to them for the last coupe of months. They'll get suspicious if they don't hear anything. So I write them once a week. I'm getting to know Seamus very well from all his winning that he does down there in that pit." Seamus said. Marietta raised an eyebrow.
"You can hear him?" she asked surprised. Seamus giggled.
"No, I can feel him. He's constantly winning, and going a little mad actually. He's trying to dig his way out with an empty can of jam that he had eaten. To bad that he doesn't know that you bewitched the room in case he tried that too. But then as I just told you that as him, he will by tomorrow. And I must say, if he ever gets out of there, he plans to kill you… very slowly." The fake Seamus said. It sent an unhappy look on Marietta's face.
"Well, I don't think that we ever have to worry about him getting out of there. Not until I decide the terms. Seamus put his quill down and looked across the room at Marietta in a very serious gaze that drew her full attention.
"We have another problem, you know how I've been becoming Dumbledore, and trying to learn his fighting style, and magical secretes?" Seamus asked. Marietta nodded. "Well he knows that someone's been snooping around in that head of his." Seamus finished. Marietta gasped.
"You mean… you mean… he's onto us?" she asked nervously.
"No, I've been able to keep him from finding out who's doing it. He suspects its Voldermort, but if I stay in his mind too long he'll know it's not. Also it is instantaneous for him, he doesn't remember it the next day, but is almost instantly aware of it. It takes all of my concentration to block him from suspecting that it's not Voldermort." Seamus continued.
"Alright, I see… what do we do about it?" Marietta asked. Seamus closed his eyes in thought.
"I can't ever stay in his head too long, but I am learning things to combat him. Eventually I'll be ready, but I have to be careful. His knowledge is vast, and I'll need all of it to be ready for him when the time comes. He truly is the greatest Wizard alive." Seamus finished a bit of admiration in his voice. Marietta balled her hands into fist in suppressed rage.
"He's a blood traitor. He must be punished, and we must not fail. What else is there?" She said coldly. Seamus scratched his head.
Well… I'm not sure if it's anything that we can use. He's just been in a battle; it actually made it easer for me to sneak around with him being distracted. It turns out that he has killed a female Death Eater by the name of Bellatrix Lestrange, to avenge someone's godfather. And then… something about an Order of something, but I had to leave his mind after that. It was Harry Potter's godfather, Sirius Black." Seamus said.
"What the criminal Sirius Black, the one responsible for his parent's death?" Marietta asked surprised.
"That's right. But evidently Dumbledore knew him, and the man and Harry were on good terms, before his death." He said.
"His death? Sirius Black is dead? Killed by Dumbledore?" Marietta asked.
"No, killed by his cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange. Dumbledore has just killed her in revenge, or perhaps a more proactive self defense." Seamus replied. Marietta thought for a second.
"Why would Dumbledore want to avenge Sirius Black? I mean he worked for You-Know-Who didn't he?" she asked confused.
"Apparently not, but I wasn't able to stay in Dumbledore's mind any longer without getting caught. So… I didn't get the answer. I did however find out that he knows spells not in any book. Before I started on Seamus letters I wrote the spells down immediately with drawn descriptions of how to wave the wand." Seamus finished. Marietta nodded.
"Good, did you find out anything else?" Marietta asked.
"Only that he is keeping Harry from finding out about his inheritance. What his godfather left him." Seamus said.
"What did he leave him?" Marietta asked.
"I don't know, but I'll find out next time, provided I can stay long enough. Don't you have to refresh the body about now?" Seamus asked changing the subject.
"Oh yes, I'll get right to it." Marietta said. She walked over to another chair, and removed it. Then she used her wand, to open the trapdoor hidden in the floor. She knelt down, and opened the casket. Using her refreshing charm she prevented the natural decay that it was aire to. They had better find that girls body soon. Things need to start progressing more quickly. She thought.
The next Morning, 05:00 AM the Corridor outside the Entrance to Dumbledore's Office:
Allen Miller beckoned Marietta, Danielle, Luna and Cho through the corridor, past the waiting students that had gathered there. None of the girls knew what was going on, only that the Ravenclaw Prefect rousted them out of bed, and told them that they had an audience with the masters in the office of Dumbledore himself. They had barley had enough time to flush their eyes with water, and get into their uniforms. Each of them were very tired, and all the students that they passed looked equally so. Finally they came to the great stone statue, and Allen Miller stopped in front of it. He turned to face them all. Luna looked at him sleepy eyed.
"Miller… Yawn… what's this all about." She asked groggy.
"After the party a bunch of the other students and I got together and decided to lodge a formal complaint against Marietta, and her cohorts. So I asked for an emergency meeting of the masters." Miller said proudly. Marietta's eyes widened.
"What? Oh come on Miller this is stupid. What do you hope to accomplish by this? Besides, I did nothing wrong, and, do you realize what time it is?" Marietta countered.
"Nothing wrong? You sent her off crying for hours with that letter that you gave her, and you insulted the lot of us at the party with your snide remarks. I'm going to see that you get your just punishment Edgecombe." Miller said angrily.
"You've got to be kidding me Miller, like I need to give her a reason to cry. Ask anyone, she's sobbing all the time. All I did was be considerate enough to return some mail to her. After all the letter was from her father, and I was sure that she would have wanted to have it back." Marietta countered.
"Whatever. Your so full of it Marietta, and when Cho shows the masters whatever was in that letter that you gave her to make her cry so much, than you'll be lucky to still be in this school." Miller said.
"What?" Cho cried. Miller looked back at her.
"Well Cho you have to show them what she gave you, so that we can have Marietta punished." Miller said.
"No. No I don't let's just drop it. How did you arrange a meeting so quickly anyway?" Cho asked nervously.
"Were not dropping it Cho, and Marietta's going to get it for harassing you, after they see whatever… hey what was in the letters Cho? I forgot to check with you first." Miller said absentmindedly. Cho's face started to turn pale.
"Nothing, you'll have to tell the Masters that it was all a mistake. I… look it doesn't matter. I'm leaving in less than a week anyway." Cho said. Miller looked at her in surprise.
"What do you mean doesn't matter, she obviously hurt you very badly. Ruined your birthday Party. She's got to get in trouble; we all roused the masters out of bed to complain." Miller stated. Cho opened her mouth to say something when Professor Flitwick opened the door to Dumbledore's office. They both looked down at Cho's head of house. He had a sleepy look in his eyes and an irritated look on his face.
"Alright Mr. Miller, the five of you may come in now." Flitwick said wearily, and guided them to their seats, then took his own at the masters table that had been set up. The five students walked into the head masters office, and sat down in five seats set side by side in the middle of the room. Across from them was the masters table, at which sat Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, and Professor Sprout. Flitwick stood up on his chair to allow him to see over the table. He turned to look at the five students in front of him. "In case any of you are not yet clear on why you're here… this morning, which will be hard because none of us have that full knowledge ourselves. However this morning a large group of students led by Mr. Miller here knocked on My door to complain about Miss Marietta Edgencombe, and some of her friends, storming into Miss Cho Chang's party, and abusing her. Normally we would of coarse not hold a meeting on such short notice, however as the students were so outraged, and refused to let me, and the other masters rest until something was resolved, we have assembled this rather emergency meeting, to see what this is all about. Now. Mr. Miller. What is this all about? Why are there several dozen students outside this office right now?" Professor Flitwick asked genuinely. Allen Miller stood up. He looked around confused before he spoke.
"Where is the Head Master?" He asked.
"The Head Master is away on urgent business at this time. You may direct your complaints to the rest of us. I can assure you that we are fully qualified to handle student abuse issues Mr. Miller. Normally we would have waited, but everyone seemed to be very anxious for us to take immediate action. Now please… explain yourself. You were chosen as the voice of the students outside in this matter." Filch finished.
"Well Professor. Last night we were all at Cho Changs birthday party in the library, and Marietta and her friends, including that girl barged in and abused Cho Chang." Miller said pointing at Danielle Forester. She shot up out of her chair.
"What, this is so much bullocks. We never abused her. He's lying." Danielle countered, pointing back at Miller.
"That's enough Miss Forester! You will have your turn to speak, let Mr. Miller continue." Professor Flitwick said. He turned back to Allen Miller. "Now Mr. Miller, to accuse a student of physical abuse is a very serious thing. Did Miss Forester or Miss Edgecombe use their wands on Miss Chang, or did they attack her without the use of magic, with their fist?" Professor Flitwick asked. Miller hesitated, but then spoke.
"Well Professor, she didn't actually physically abuse Cho, but she more verbally attacked her." Miller said, unsteadily.
"You mean… she insulted her, called her names and things like that?" Professor McGonagall said looking very tired.
"Well yes… err, no… I mean she, well it was the way that she said things, like… well she insulted all of us, calling us blood traitors, and mudbloods, and the like. She even said that Erica Goldberg was a cripple because her father was a wizard, and her mum was a muggle." Miller said now more confident.
"Well that is serious, is this true Miss Edgecombe?" Professor Flitwick asked. Marietta stood up.
"Well I may have made comments that I didn't approve of her friends for one reason or another, and I may have mentioned things that I'd read about… the effects of purebloods intermixing with Muggleborn, but I thought that we were entitled to our opinions, I mean after all… this is still a free country isn't it? I didn't say anything to hurtful." Marietta finished. Professor Flitwick gave her an angry look.
"Miss Edgecombe, this may be a free country, but I can assure you that this school has its own rules. And those rules do not allow for the racial discrimination of fellow students. It is a behavior that we will not tolerate. We also do not tolerate making fun of others because of disabilities that they have." Professor Flitwick explained.
"Professor I… she doesn't have a disability, she's cured. And I was only pointing out that… well some credible scientist say that intermixing the muggle, and wizarding race, are…" Marietta began but was cut off.
"Miss Edgecombe! We are not here to discuss junk science by a few kooks in the industry, which are not credible by any stretch of the imagination." Professor Flitwick cut her off. "But Mr. Miller, what does this have to do with Miss Chang, other than it being at her party?" he asked.
"Well sir Marietta Edgecombe delivered mail to Cho that made her cry." Miller said. Marietta stood up.
"I delivered mail to her that had been misplaced, and I thought that it would be a kind jester, to return it to her at her party. And I would like to add that Cho Chang attacked Ian Lewis and I with a crippling curse, Ian is still in the hospital right now." Marietta countered. Professor Flitwick turned to Miller.
"Is, that true, did Miss Chang attack them?" Professor Flitwick asked. Miller's jaw dropped. This was not how he had intended to plead his case against Marietta.
"Well… in a manor of speaking Professor. I mean, Marietta had just finished, insulting us, and that was why she did it. I mean it was completely understandable that she should defend us from Marietta." Miller said.
"So, Miss Edgecombe had her wand out in a threatening manor?" Professor Sprout asked. Miller had an unsure look on his face.
"Uh, well no Professor, but… I mean, you see…" Miller started to falter.
"So Mr. Lewis had his wand out in a threatening manor, and that's why she hit him with the curse?" Professor Snape spoke up. Miller waved his hands in front of him.
"No, no it's not like that, they insulted us, and that's why she zapped them, so it's completely acceptable you see." Miller put in. Professor Flitwick gave a long sigh.
"No Mr. Miller… it is not completely acceptable. If a student has a problem with another student, they are to take it up with the masters, not take things into their own hands. That is never acceptable. Miss Chang what do you have to say for yourself?" Flitwick asked in a very annoyed tone. Cho didn't get up.
"Nothing, I'm sorry. Can I go?" Cho asked quietly, not making eye contact. Miller looked at her angrily.
"What do you mean nothing?" Miller said. He then turned to Professor Flitwick. "Professor Marietta gave Cho the letters. What about that?" Miller asked.
"I told all of you that I was kind enough to give Cho the letters, because they had been misplaced when she got her mail. I wanted to return them to her. I thought since she was so keen on news from home that I would surprise her with them. Now, tell us, honestly Miller, did I ever say a bad word to Cho at the party?" Marietta asked him. Miller balled up his fist.
"Well… no, but it was the way that you said it. The voice you used. It was sarcastic." Miller said unsure. Marietta folded her arms.
"Sarcastic? You don't like the sound of my voice, and you wake the masters up for that, you and your… gang?" Marietta said with contempt.
"My gang? Those are all Cho's friends out there." Miller said hotly, proving that he had a lot of witnesses.
"Alright then… Cho's gang." Marietta said casually, tossing her hair. "And had I not been so quickly rousted out of bed, I could produce witnesses of my own, who would speak in Danielle, and my defense. But really ask any of your friends if they heard me say one negative thing about Cho, and I can assure you that none will be able to recall anything bad that I said about her either." Marietta finished. Miller looked at her with hatred in his eyes.
"What about the letter Marietta?" Miller said. "Whatever news was in it. It really hurt Cho enough to make her cry, and run off from her own party." Miller said. Marietta rolled her eyes.
"Like Cho Chang needs a reason to cry, isn't that all she ever does. Look, what are my crimes that would warrant an emergency meeting like this: You didn't like the tone of my voice? You didn't like the fact that I was nice enough to deliver Cho's mail to her? You don't like the fact that I care enough about Cho to not approve of all of her friends?" Marietta asked innocently. Miller opened his mouth to speak, but Professor Snape cut him off.
"Mister Miller. What was in the letter?" Snape asked casually.
"Sir?" Miller asked caught off guard.
"The letter that Miss Edgecombe gave to Miss Chang. What was in it?" Snape asked. Miller looked over to Cho.
"Well… I'm not sure sir, but it was pretty bad. I mean it made her run off to the lavatory; she had cried herself to exhaustion when we found her." Miller said. Snape looked over at Cho.
"Well Miss Chang… what was in the letter?" Professor Snape asked. Cho looked around at everyone, at Marietta, Danielle, Luna and Miller, and then the Masters. She felt as if on trial.
"It was… nothing. Can I go now?" Cho said weakly, looking at the ground.
"Please answer Professor Snape's question, Miss Chang." Professor McGonagall asked in an authoritive tone. Cho looked up at them.
"It was just… news from home. Personal." Cho said.
"Well perhaps we should have a look at them Miss Chang." Professor Sprout put in. A tear fell from Cho's eyes, and she bit her lip to keep more from escaping.
"No sir." She said softly. Professor McGonagall gave a sigh.
"Miss Chang, that letter seems to be at the root of this controversy. We need to see it if you want us to help you, and I need to know why I was awoken so early. Now, give it to Mr. Miller so that he can bring it to us." Professor McGonagall said forcefully.
"I'm sorry, I can't. I'm sorry." Cho said. Luna stood up.
"Professors, Cho promised her father that she wouldn't talk about the letter because it was about…" Luna started.
"Luna! Stop!" Cho pleaded. Luna did so, and sat back down.
"About what Miss Lovegood?" Their head of house asked. Luna looked at Cho's pleading face, and then turned back to Professor Flitwick.
"Nothing sir, nothing." She said disappointed. The Professor's excused themselves to go into a back room. After several moments they came back out. Professor Flitwick stood back up in his chair.
"Okay here's what's going to happen. Miss Edgencombe, because of your racist remarks, and your remarks about the disabled. You will write two letters of apology on four six foot long feet of parchment. One copy to the students that you insulted and one copy to Miss Erica Goldberg in particular. They will each be sincere, very sincere. You will write two a copy for each letter and turn it into us for review. If we don't find it sincere enough, we'll make you write them again." Professor Flitwick said. Marietta's face turned to one of depression, and she sat back in her chair. "Furthermore, you will receive one hour of detention for two weeks after classes. Marietta sat up.
"What! Professor that's not fair." Marietta said. Professor Flitwick looked at her angrily.
"Two hours of detention a day." He added. Marietta gasped, but sat back down, not saying anything else. "As for you Miss Chang. It is not acceptable for a student to just blast curses at people they have problems with. You can join Marietta for one hour a day, and you can write an apology to Mr. Lewis for blasting him on six feet of parchment. Next time you have a problem with a fellow student, come to one us as Mr. Miller did. Just one of us." Professor Flitwick intoned. Cho didn't say a word. Flitwick looked at Miller. "Mr. Miller. I appreciate your bringing this to our attention, but having a group of agitated students is not the procedure that we would like you to follow from now on. Just your head of house, or the on from the other students that you have a problem with. In this case me, but from now on… just don't come storming into everyone's office with a rambunctious group of students. I expect a little more subtlety from Head Boy, do you understand?" Flitwick asked.
"Yes sir, I understand." Miller nodded. Professor nodded as well.
"Good, well there has been enough blame to go around between Miss Chang, and Miss Edgecombe. You have both acted in a manor unbecoming of our house, and we have decided to take off fifty points a piece. That should put us right at the bottom. I'll be sure to pass the word around to the other students to thank you for diminishing our chances for the house cup this year. Now detention starts tomorrow after class. It will be with me in charms class, and I can assure you that I will keep you both busy. And Miss Edgecombe, I can promise you that anymore racist remarks from you, and I'll make sure that we have a new Head Girl. I expect better from you…" Flitwick started, and then he looked at Cho. "…from both of you." He finished. "Alright everyone's dismissed. Get back to your dorms and get ready for breakfast. It's seven o'clock in the morning. Cho walked past the other students who were asking what happened, without saying a word. She walked alone down the corridor, until she heard Allen Miller shouting for her. She stopped and waited for him to catch up.
"Cho why didn't you say what was in the letter? What did you father write to you about?" Miller asked. Cho looked at him for a minute, with blurry eyes. He was a tall boy with black hair, and an athletic build, and unusually nice, not just for a Slytheren, but for anyone. They had been friends for three years. He had just proved just how good of a friend that he was, and she couldn't tell him about the letter. Cho started to shake a little. She wrapped her arms around Miller and gave him a tight hug, not letting go for severally minutes. She then pulled away and looked at him a last time.
"You've been a great friend Allen. I wish I could be as well. I'm sorry about the party. I didn't mean to cause so much trouble." Cho said quietly.
"Cho… Marietta caused the trouble, not you. Look, I just want to know… about the letter." He said. Cho turned away from him, and began walking down the hall.
"I'm sorry." She said, as her heart started to hurt. The day I leave can not come fast enough. She thought. Then I can stop disappointing people here. But then she would have to do the very same thing to her parents. But she couldn't stay at Hogwarts, not now, not anymore.