Chapter Twenty Four

Between the lessons with Dumbledore, the DA and all the planning that he put into it as well as the normal enormous level of sixth year course work, and of course the Slug-Club, Harry felt painfully aware of the Slytherin Quidditch team not being where he had hoped they would be as they stepped out for the first match of the season.

They really needed to win this one, get the year off to a good start and squash any comments about Harry only being made captain because he was the favourite.

Thankfully it was against Gryffindor and their team hadn't seemed particularly strong on the few training sessions Harry had managed to get Hermione and Neville to spy on for him.

Harry knew that any worrying about not having practised enough wouldn't help now and there was nothing to do but try his best. Harry squared his shoulders and proudly led his team out from the changing rooms, spotting Pansy and William giving each other sneaky kisses in the stands while everyone else was cheering.

Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes but gave Daphne a quick nudge to point them out. He stepped forward and shook hands with Katie Bell, captain.

She glared at Harry and gave his hand a firm shake. She was nice enough most of the time, she'd even come to a fair few DA lessons but he knew that she took Quidditch very seriously, so for now he was the enemy.

Harry mounted his broom and kicked off from the ground signalling for the rest of his team to do the same. Madam Hooch gave her normal speech about them playing fair and as normal, gave an extra look of annoyance towards the Slytherin team; Madam Hooch was a Gryffindor through and through after all.

Harry looked over to the teachers box, Severus giving him a small wave and nod. He gritted his teeth seeing that Zacharias Smith was commentating this match. Zacharias was always overly judgemental of Harry and he assumed that that judgemental attitude would come though in his commentating as well, the last thing that Harry needed.

At least the weather was fair, warm enough and no wind to get in the way of things.

Harry watched the snitch fly into the air and soar high above the crowd, Ron had lost sight of it long before Harry however which Harry took as a good sign.

"Let's try and keep this one short guys!" Harry yelled to his team as Madam Hooch chucked the quaffle into the air, starting the game.

"And Gryffindor has the quaffle, Katie Bell, team captain, is heading towards the goals… but no! She's dropped it, diving out of the way from a well aimed bludger from Jasmine Simons… lucky shot really." Zacharias Smith sneered.

The first goal still managed to go to Gryffindor, as did the second. Harry was starting to worry, his team seemed to have no trouble getting the quaffle, just holding on to it and managing to actually score seemed to be the issue.

Draco was a good keeper, but Katie knew Harry was the better seeker by far, so had worked her team hard when it came to scoring.

He hated to admit it, but Cormac McLaggen, Gryffindor's keeper had some serious talent and was managing to block nearly every shot, even if every time he did stop the quaffle he gave himself a loud and obnoxious cheer that made Harry want to knock him off his broom.

Harry made a mental note to work on their shooting before the next match, getting his team better at scoring would have a much better, long lasting effect than getting himself kicked off the team for giving McLaggen a few bumps.

The score now stood at fifty-ten to Gryffindor when Harry spotted the snitch. He wasted no time, zooming passed Ginny Weasley, nearly knocking her off her broom and grabbed the snitch from just above Zacharias's head causing him to fall backwards onto Professor Sprout's lap.

The stands erupted into cheers or boos depending on who they had been cheering for. The rest of the Slytherin team flew around Harry as they preformed a quick victory lap before landing and walking into the changing room.

"Well done Harry!" Robert Urquhart said, clapping him on the back and pulling off his arm guards.

"It was a very good catch!" Daphne agreed, "And we can hope once more that Smith has been taken down a peg or five!"

"We can hope!" Harry laughed, closing the door behind the team.

Harry wrote 'WIN' on the chalkboard and brushed the dust from his fingers.

"You all did really well." Harry said, starting to get changed into his normal robes, "I'm sorry we've not had as much practice as we could of done with, but we still managed to win, with a very impressive lead. It's put us in a really good place for the rest of the year. I've got a few ideas of what we need to work on and I promise I'll work in some extra practices."

The rest of the team gave Harry a small applause before chatting amongst themselves and finishing getting changed and leaving the changing room until Harry and his friends were the only ones left.

"You two head on." Harry told Daphne and Draco.

"Are you sure?" Daphne asked, "We don't mind waiting."

Harry shook his head, "It's fine. It's getting really cold in here and I wont be long, just need to grab a few books."

"Ok." Draco smiled.

Harry watched them go and finished tying his shoes before standing up and stretching. He wondered over to the large bookcase that was tucked in the corner and brushed some dust from the covers.

There was a noise behind him. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled and stood on end, Harry looked around quickly to see who was there.

"Hello?" he called softly, making sure he had a firm grip on his wand.

There was a rustle behind him and Harry spun round to see a very confused looking Petal, holding a large box.

Harry looked down at the house elf and wondered what she was doing in the Slytherin changing room.

"Petal?" Harry asked, "Is everything OK? What are you doing here?"

Petal looked around, wide eyed before blinking and nodded, "Yeses. I was heres to deliver a parcel!"

Harry stepped forward and looked at the neat box, "Is it for Draco? He normally gets his care packages in the mail."

Petal shrugged, "I was just tolds to bring it."

Harry smiled down at her, "It was good of you to make the trip. Would you like me to give it to him?"

Petal looked confused, almost in pain again for a second before nodding, "Yes, thats would be very goods of you. Thank you."

Harry took the parcel and tucked it under his arm, "No worries. Are you sure you're all right?"

Petal nodded quickly again, "I is going homes now." she clicked her fingers and vanished from the changing room, leaving the tell tale prickle of house elf magic in the air.

Harry rubbed his head, slightly confused over what had just happened and continued to get changed. He shrugged, still feeling like someone was watching him.

"That's weird." Draco said, taking the parcel from Harry once they were all back in the common room, "It is a little bigger than normal I suppose, maybe it was too big for the owls?"

Draco pulled open the green ribbon and rooted through the soft paper filler.

"It's got all the normal stuff in…" Draco mused, "Apart from a load of Bountys… which is odd as I've not really liked these since I was tiny."

"Bounty? As in the muggle coconut thing?" Harry asked, turning the chocolate bar over in his hands.

"I think your mother had some once." Pansy said to Harry, "I don't remember them being very nice."

"Just stuff them under your bed and dig them out when you need a sugar boost." Daphne suggested.

"Or give them to people you don't like." Pansy laughed.

"What a good idea." Draco grinned. He quickly popped up to the dorm to safely store the box of treats before coming back down to his friends to work on the huge pile of homework they all had.

Harry was looking forward to Christmas. The cold weather has already set in around Hogwarts with every morning bringing a new layer of frost on the grounds around the school that never seemed to quite thaw.

Only two things remained that Harry had to get through until school finished, which was now less than four weeks away. One was the last DA lesson of the year and the other was Slughorn's Christmas party.

Harry took several deep breaths of cool air from the top of the Owlery as he sent Hedwig and Armilda off carrying several cards and small presents for Danica's eighth birthday from Harry and his friends.

He was in no rush to head back to the common room. They had been chased from the library by a rather angry Madam Pince having seen the state of Severus's old Potion's book, screeching at them for abusing a book so badly. The common room had seemed very crowed when they had arrived.

Gemini and Rodolphus had been sitting in the middle of the room, surrounded by a gang of their followers talking and laughing gratingly loudly.

It had been too much for Harry do deal with when they started moaning about how useless Severus and his lessons were and how he knew nothing about real Dark Arts. He was grateful to of had the excuse of needing to post the things for Danica.

"Harry?" Cho's soft voice asked, carrying up the stairs.

Harry turned and smiled at her, extending his hand to help her across a muddy patch so she could stand next to him.

"Are you all right?" Cho asked, wrapping her arm around his shoulder.

Harry shrugged, "Yeah. Just…"

"I ran into Neville in the study hall; he said that Madam Pince had kicked you out of the library." Cho told him.

Harry nodded, "Yeah and the common room was just really crowded."

"The Lestrange twins again?" Cho guessed correctly.

Harry smiled, he pulled his jumper off and wrapped it around Cho's shivering shoulders, "Yeah, they've been as charming as normal."

"I don't understand what's wrong with them." Cho sighed, "Gemini, she just seems so angry all the time and Rodolphus is just…"

"Shallow?" Harry put in.

Cho smiled and nodded, "Exactly. Their little brother doesn't seem so bad though, Corvus I think?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah. I think he's just caught up in everything but I think he's starting to realise that he doesn't have to be. Staying with Draco has helped him a lot I think."

Harry perched himself on the edge of the wall. It was getting dark and the owls were starting to wake, ready for a night of flying and hunting.

"I actually wanted to come ask you something." Cho said a little nervously, sitting down next to him and taking his hand.

Harry tried not to zone out at her soft touch, it should be illegal for someone to have skin so soft he thought to himself, especially a Quidditch player. He had a flash of worry that she would throw his hand away, that his skin would be too rough compared to hers.

She didn't flinch though, just ran her thumb over his fingers, "I heard that Professor Slughorn is throwing a Christmas party…"

Harry nodded, "Yeah, yeah I believe so. I got the nice little invite the other day."

"Are you going?" Cho asked, still seeming to avoid his eyes.

Harry shrugged, "I think I should. I… Dumbledore thinks it is important that I have a… good relationship with the Professor, for some reason." it was complicate to try and explain and still left Harry feeling slightly slimy.

"Well he does seem very fond of you. Slughorn, I mean." Cho said.

"He likes people who are well known I think." Harry tried to say delicately, "I'm not sure I'd be bothering if Dumbledore hadn't asked me to."

"You could of said no." Cho laughed.

Harry laughed with her, a hollow feeling creeping into his chest, Dumbledore hadn't asked though had he? He'd told, demanded almost, that Harry integrate himself with Slughorn.

"Do you have someone to go with?" Cho asked slowly.

Harry felt everything else disappear, was she asking what he thought she was asking? He was afraid of asking her out right, what if he was wrong?

Harry shook his head, "Not really, why do you ask?"

Cho blushed and tucked her hair behind her ear, "I was… I mean… would you consider taking me? I know that it's not the done thing for me to ask you, especially as I wasn't even the one invited but… well, maybe we'd have fun?"

Harry fought the urge to jump for joy, or kiss her there and then, "Yeah… yeah that would be great, so great! Thank you, thank you so much."

Cho giggled, "Thank you for taking me. Do I need to get dressed up or anything?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah. Not Yule… umm…"

Cho smiled, "It's OK to mention the Yule ball, Harry."

Harry nodded, "Right, sorry." he was so happy he was struggling to think.

"It's been nearly two years since that night, it feels longer and at the same time just yesterday." Cho said thoughtfully, leaning back against the wall.

Harry nodded, running his hand through his hair, "Tell me about it."

"Daphne looked really pretty that evening, standing next to you." Cho said carefully.

"She was great to come with me, and teach me how to dance… well sort of." Harry snorted a laugh, "You looked so, so amazing though."

Cho blushed again, "So, not as fancy as the Yule Ball but not jeans and a t-shirt? I'll see what I can do."

Harry grinned, "Thanks, for coming with me."

Cho reached over and gave him a small, feather light kiss on the lips, "Thank you for showing me I was worth waiting for. Not many people would have been good enough to do what you did."

"You were totally worth it." Harry assured her, "I'd of waited as long as you needed."

"I'll see you soon." Cho said, standing up and handing Harry back his jumper.

"See you soon Cho…" Harry said softly, watching her walk back down the spiral staircase.