I do not own anything. I'm just translating. The characters belong to the great J.K. Rowling. The story belongs to the amazing Brigi. Her e-mail: tbwtpbe et hotmail .com

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THE BOY WITH THE PIERCING BLUE EYES

Chapter 29 – Changes (part 2)

The remaining part of the week went by past, especially for the Ravenclaw students. Those DA members who were also part of the Quidditch team skipped the meetings to make more time for practicing. Even their evenings were spent with training; Madame Hooch had to chase them away a few times. Cho walked around like a zombie. Being a seventh year student, she had a lot of studying to do too. Harry sympathized with her, but that was all, because their relationship ended before really starting. Even though he sometimes saw the fire in her eyes, like that time under the mistletoe, he never wanted to start over again.

Thinking about this he entered his room and found Ron and Hermione cuddled together on the bed.

"Oh, God!" Harry screamed while covering his eyes and closing the door. "Sorry!"

"Harry!"

"Come in! What's with you?" Hermione sat up.

"I'd rather not… I didn't mean to disturb you…"

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked with an innocent but nervous tone that suggested that even the thought of the misunderstood situation disturbed him. "We were just talking. Hermione finally put down the books! For me! I always knew that I was special!" He grinned.

The girl only smiled while unbuttoning her robes to get more comfortable. She broke the awkward silence.

"Come, sit down."

Harry shrugged and plopped down on the messy bed.

"And what were you talking about?"

"About the upcoming Halloween-week."

"What?"

"Maybe Harry hasn't heard about it yet, Ron. The prefects managed to convince the teachers to not only hold a feast on Halloween."

"We've been planning for months."

"So that's why the prefects-gatherings were always in the Great Hall."

"Yeah."

"And what's going to happen?"

"Well, the name isn't really good, because it won't take a week just three days. The party will be on Friday and the other two days will be looser too."

"The teachers allowed us to wear clothes other than robes on Wednesday and Thursday. Except during Potions where the safety wear is still needed."

"And there's more."

"They gave us permission to have a ball on Friday."

"A ball?"

"A costume ball! We can wear any costume we want!"

"Wow!" Harry grinned, imagining his friends in the most bizarre costumes. "That sounds quite interesting. But you could have told me sooner. How can I make my costume in a week?"

"Don't worry." Ron said. "Our clothes aren't ready either. And everyone will leave it to the last moment."

Harry didn't know what to say, but then he remembered what Hagrid and Remus told him.

"You're really… good to make this happen. It must've taken a lot of effort."

He could see the relief on his friends face when they looked at each other.

"I'm really looking forward to it." He added but found it a little too emotional.

Hermione hugged him, gave a kiss on both their cheeks and left the room.

The boys watched the closed door for a while then Harry winked at Ron.

"So you're in the 'lying together on the bed' stage already?"

"Huh?"

"You know." Harry grinned. "First looking at each other… holding hands… first kiss… hugging… then lying together… well?"

Ron blushed so hard it almost matched the color of his hair.

"You don't have to deny it in front of me." He elbowed the boy to make the same atmosphere as before.

To his surprise, Ron fell on his bed looking serious. He was watching the ceiling, so Harry followed his gaze like there was something there then shrugged and lied down next to Ron.

"You can't believe how strange this is." He said after a short silence. "We were friends for so many years and now…"

Harry smiled.

"Because we were always arguing like kids! I've never though that someday I'll… kiss her." He said quietly.

"Ron." Harry smiled. "It was so obvious that someday you two will be a couple. You were made for each other. Just stay together."

"It's so unbelievable to go from friendship to… love. I have to look at her in a different way."

"Because she's a woman…"

"Because she's a woman. Do you know how I felt when she first kissed me?"

"So she kissed you first?" Harry grinned.

"That's not the point! Do you know what it was like? Horrible! That was when I first realized that she's a girl too! Until then… she was just a friend with whom we did things together, like she was a boy too…"

Harry chuckled again.

"Then she kisses me and hugs me… so it was horrible."

"It's better than you think. When did she kiss you first?"

"We were walking back home through the park. She pretended to be cold and held my hand and stepped closer. By then a voice in my head said: 'Whoa, what's happening?'…"

"And then?"

"She asked if she could get under my coat since she was cold."

"And you let her?" Harry asked and sat up.

"Well... yeah… I thought I'd die… my heart was beating so fast. And I had to hold her close to be able to walk. So we were walking like a gnome…"

Harry almost fell off the bed laughing.

"And then?" He asked, brushing off tears of joy."

"We were waiting at the bus stop with a lot of people around us. Hermione was a little afraid, because it was kinda late and Dumbledore told us not to walk around at night. Someone might be watching us. So I felt her squeezing my hand harder and… I don't know how, but… I hugged her."

"Ooooooh. And she?"

"She looked at me blushing then closed her eyes as she… kissed me."

"Sweet… I hope it's not like my first kiss with Cho. And… how's it going now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well… did you talk about her sleeping… here with you?"

"N-no."

"There's no need to rush, but… don't you want that?"

"What?"

"Oh, come on, Ron!"

"I don't know, Harry… that would be even stranger than this. But… it was really good having her next to me."

"I knew I shouldn't have come in! Sorry, mate!"

"It's okay."

Next day the three of them went to the great hall to have breakfast together. The day of the big match that everyone was waiting for. Will the Ravenclaw beat the Slytherin? The green and silver team entered the room proudly with their Nimbus 2001s in hand and Malfoy in the front. And while they received little attention, the entrance of the Ravenclaw team caused a huge applause. Harry smiled at Cho which made the girl blush before waving at him.

"What was that?" Ron asked.

"Nothing. You know… sometimes she looks like she's undressing me." Harry said quietly.

"Then don't look at her! I'd rather see you with my sister than with her!"

"Oh, come on! It's over with her!"

"I can see that." Ron looked at him suspiciously.

"Hey! I'm faithful to Marie! Even so…"

"Welcome everyone!" The headmaster rose from his seat. "After breakfast, we're waiting for all of you to watch an exciting game today. Enjoy your meal!"

The plates suddenly filled up with delicious food.

"Sweet potato!" Ernie shouted.

They all began to eat and Harry continued thinking about Cho.

When going to the stadium, Ron's words came to his mind again.

"I really don't want anything from her… I have Marie… who, if everything goes as planned, will visit me on Christmas…"

He researched in the library if it really is possible to invite her. But even if every obstacle is cleared, there's still a possibility that Marie would want nothing to do with him. He was lying to her all summer about his school, friends and Snape too. Can he really face her after all these lies? The butterflies in his stomach wouldn't go away.

"Look Harry! The Snitch is out!" Ron shouted.

"Come on, Ravenclaw!" Ginny yelled next to them while waving a big blue flag.

"Bradley has the ball, passes it to Atkinson… But Goyle takes it! No, Doyle gets it back! Over to Bradley… WHAT TEAMWORK! Aaaand… Goal! Ten-zero to Ravenclaw!" Dean yelled into the microphone.

Those who cheered for the Ravenclaw threw blue confetti up in the air making it look like a blue lagoon.

"Twenty-zero! Go on, Ravenclaw!" They heard Dean's voice. While everyone was preoccupied with the sight, the Ravenclaw team managed to score once again.

This made them even braver to go against the opposing team, but the Slytherins were getting better too. The scores were almost the same all the time. After one and a half hours the score was 150-140 with the players getting very tired. The weather didn't help either, and as the first thunder could be heard they all looked up.

"Wow, Malfoy that was close!" The crowd hissed with Dean, when one of the Ravenclaw Beaters almost hit Draco's pretty little blond head.

The Slytherin Seeker cursed and continued looking for the Snitch.

"Crabbe sends the Bludger towards Doyle and misses! The young Ravenclaw is excellent on the broom! Atkinson, Bradley back to Atkinson… WHAT TEAMWORK!"

"Thomas, can't you say something else than 'what teamwork'?" Professor McGonagall murmured.

It started raining when the blue team scored another. The spectators tried to hide from the freezing cold water under their robes, but soon, they were all wet.

"Aren't you cold?" Severus asked Lamerin, who was sitting with the teachers. "I don't want you to get sick."

"I'll be fine." The boy smiled thankfully.

"Come closer." He opened his robe and hugged the boy close.

Snape then pulled out his wand, pointed towards the sky and whispered a spell.

"Contego!"

Lamerin didn't notice anything different except the fact that no more rain fell on them. It was like an invisible roof protecting them. When looking up, he saw the raindrops falling on something above them; a spell that protected them like a shield.

He looked at his father amazed, but the man closed his eyes and rested his head on the boy's. Lamerin turned back to watch the match.

The players were slipping on their brooms. The Chasers could barely hold the Quaffle, the Beater's bats could do nothing against the wild Bludgers, and in the darkness the Snitch was impossible to find.

Even so, Draco suddenly flew towards something with Cho in his tail.

"The Seekers finally started!" Dean jumped up from his seat, while the students started mumbling and pointing towards something, momentarily forgetting about the rain.

Draco was way ahead of the girl, but Cho was getting closer and closer. Even in the wet clothes she was lighted than the Slytherin boy and that was a huge advantage. When a lightning brightened the sky the girl also found the Snitch. Leaning forward she quickly found herself next to Draco,

"Get lost, squinty!" The boy shouted.

The girl however didn't listen to him, trying to push him away with her elbow. She yelped in pain when the boy pushed her with all his strength.

"You son of a…!"

He kicked Malfoy's shin bit the leggings protected him. They were pushing each other while rushing after the Snitch. Reaching their arms they tried to get closer when a blinding lightning struck going towards the Golden Snitch. Both of them lost control of their brooms and started falling. The lightning seemed to cause malfunction in the brooms compass; they were circling near the ground. The Nimbus 2001 dropped Draco face first in the mud.

The students jumped up at the sight, but their mouths were left open when Cho landed. The girl fell on her spine spinning for a while then rolled over and stopped. She moved no more.

"Cho…" Harry whispered. "Cho!"

Students and teachers also ran to them. Draco knelt up, but his shoulder seemed to be in immense pain. Snape knelt next to him helping the boy sit and supporting his head.

"Draco. Where does it hurt?"

"Here…" He squeezed his right shoulder.

Snape tore the robes and touched the aching place. He pushed the boy's hand away and looked at his son with worry in his eyes.

"Hold him down. I have to pop his shoulder back."

Lamerin nodded and with all his weight held the Malfoy boy down. Snape held Draco's arm and with a grimace yanked it. The boy screamed but the pain seemed to be subsiding after a few moments. However, Snape didn't let him sit up.

"Stay there! Madame Pomfrey will take a look at you."

With this he stood up to look at the Ravenclaw girl.

There was quite a crowd around her. The younger ones watched crying as Dumbledore levitated her on a stretcher. Harry also paled as they left towards the Hospital Wing.

"She's not moving…" He muttered. "Why isn't she moving?" He turned to Ron.

But the boy couldn't say anything; he was just as shaken as his friend. Hermione took their hands leading them away from the crowd to follow the teachers to the Hospital Wing.

They saw Madame Pomfrey getting the medical book, flipping through it and using her wand when she found the right spell. The girl's body was engulfed by a warm yellow light.

"Miss. Chang." Dumbledore leaned close to her. "Can you hear me?"

Cho tiredly opened her eyes.

"Headmaster…" She whispered.

"Cho!" Harry shouted and ran to her.

"Harry…" The girl smiled.

"Is she going to be okay?" The boy asked Madame Pomfrey.

"I think so." The woman nodded. "Her bones are mended, but she will be sent to Saint. Mungo's this instant."

That's a load off his mind. She smiled at the girl.

"It's a pity you have to leave before the ball…"

"I'll be better soon…"

"Get well, okay?"

"Only if you dance with me once on Friday…"

"That's… blackmailing." Harry grinned. "Okay." He nodded.

The Saint Mungo's workers ran into the room gathering around the girl then left with the headmaster leading the way.

Harry was lying on his bed, curled up like a small child, with Hermione stroking his hair even hours later. Ginny was next to him while Ron leaned against the wall and talked.

"Harry, you saw her, she's going to be fine."

Harry cuddled next to Ginny.

"It was terrible to see. I thought she broke her neck… and died…!"

"Harry, the healers mended her bones." Hermione said, trying to reassure him.

"But isn't she going to be… handicapped?"

Even his friends didn't know what to say to this.

"Look, she wouldn't have asked you for a dance… if she… you know…" Ron tried.

"Harry..." Hermione said seriously. "The healers can do much more than Muggle doctors. Trust me. I researched it not too long ago because of a Herbology homework. Cho will be fine."

"So you still have feeling for her." Ginny said.

"I was in love with her for two and a half years… But this is different. I love Marie now. I'm sure of it, trust me. Cho… I'm just worried for. I couldn't even do anything else, if Marie comes…"

"WHAT?" His friends shouted.

"Didn't I tell you yet? I… well Remus told me that I should invite her over for Christmas."

"But Harry! She doesn't know that you're a wizard!"

"I'll tell her in a letter."

"In a letter! Harry!" Hermione said a bit angrily.

"What else can I do? Call her on the phone?" When no one answered he continued. "I'll send Hedwig so not to scare her."

"She won't believe you."

"I'll send her pictures too. Seeing those she must believe me."

"Harry, is it really a good idea? Is it even allowed?"

"Hermione, when did we care about the rules?" Ron murmured.

"I looked around in the library and there is no law against telling a Muggle close to you about this… And Marie is very close to me."

"Yes, but…"

"And I think it would be safer if she knew everything. If… because of me dark wizards were to attack her she wouldn't understand anything. But if she's aware of their existence… maybe she has a better chance to survive…"

Hermione, who always refuted everything, didn't say a word.

"Does Dumbledore know?"

"I wanted to talk to him today, after the match. But I don't want to disturb him after what happened. Maybe tomorrow."

"And what will you write in that letter?"

"I don't know… That's the hardest part…"

Lamerin sleepily walked from his room to his father's. After knocking and not getting an answer, and because the door was open, he entered. In his hand was the now quite fat bunny he sent to the man.

The boy looked at the bed where the professor was lying fast asleep. He put the bunny on the ground then sat down next to it with his chin on the bed, watching his father.

The man was smiling in his sleep.

Lamerin was thinking about how empty his life must have been before. A lot of people told him how much his father changed recently; how much nicer he is to his colleagues and students, how much more he smiles and how he always seems content. The grief that lasted almost two decades didn't destroy his heart after all and Lamerin was very grateful to everyone who helped him be like this again.

Severus stretched and was about to turn on his side when the rabbit jumped on the bed. The professor sensed the presence of the animal and cracked open his eyes.

"Good morning." His son greeted him quietly with an apologetic smile. He looked at the animal that was coming to them. "I'm sorry he woke you. I didn't want to bring him…"

"It's okay." Severus leaned closer to brush his son's black hair. "Come here." He invited.

Lamerin sat on the mattress watching their pet as the animal lay down between them.

"I swear I've never seen a rabbit like this." Severus said with a smile when the bunny lay down with his legs stretched out.

"Pan isn't an ordinary rabbit." Lamerin stroked the animal's big ears.

"Don't tell me you call him that."

"I do, sometimes he even listens to it."

"Well, he would look good in a big pan…"

"Dad!"

Severus chuckled and fell back onto the pillow.

"You slept very peacefully. What were you dreaming about?"

"Professor Dareling." The man said with a smile.

"And was it good?"

"Very. We very swimming in the lake and sitting on the giant octopus' legs…"

Lamerin started laughing.

"I'd like to see that!"

"I'd rather you not…"

"And have you ever gone swimming with her in the lake?" The boy asked in a mysterious tone. His father slowly shook his head. "Dad, I told you that I'm happy if you're happy. And if it's her that makes you feel that… and Harry didn't have a problem either."

Severus sat up.

"Harry? Harry knows that…"

"We saw you two." Lamerin shrugged.

"Where?"

"On the corridor, near the columns. Why, did you do something somewhere else too?"

Severus blushed a little then asked.

"And… how did he react?"

"He said you look good together. He had nothing against it, so relax."

Snape thought about the times he spoke with Harry last week and the way he acted during the lessons, but found nothing strange in his behavior.

"And we get along too. It's like a peace between the two families."

"And I suppose the underwear incident was the celebration of this peace?!" Snape said with irony in his voice. "You know what I think about these things…"

"I know!"

"His father did the same to me! So either you find something fair or…"

"Okay, we won't do anything like this, I promise! But we had to…I…" The boy continued more seriously. "… wanted to tell you… I was… quite surprised that you helped Draco yesterday."

Severus sighed.

"It's very painful when you dislocate a shoulder…"

"I know that wasn't the only reason." Lamerin smiled. "You'd like him to be good, right?"

"Long ago… he looked up to me and I was his support here…"

"Now, because of me you lost his trust… Do you think they can be lead to the right path?"

"I'm not sure what to think anymore…"

"Well?" Ron and Hermione asked when Harry left the headmaster's office on Sunday morning.

Harry smiled and jumped into Ron's arms.

"She can come! He said I can invite her!"

His friends happily hugged him, but the moment didn't last long because Hermione mentioned how much homework they have, so they made their way back to the common room. Harry, to avoid doing the Herbology homework and the Charms essay started writing the letter though he didn't really know what to write. The most difficult part seemed to be the beginning. He didn't know how to tell her why he lied for all those months. After writing down the truth the words just kept coming and coming, using more and more paper to write on about his sad confession. Hermione was quite proud of him, thinking that the boy was working on his homework so enthusiastically.

Hello everyone,

Here's the next chapter. I hope the New Year started out well for all of you. I'll try translating a few more chapters in January, but no promises.

The next chapter is about the Halloween Ball (I think), so see you there.

R&R please R&R

bye

Hermina