Chapter Twenty Six
Harry stood in front of the floor length mirror in the prefects bathroom, straightening his tie. Draco sat against one of the walls, having already gotten dressed, while Neville tried to run a comb through Harry's forever wild hair.
"I'm not sure you need to make such a fuss for this, Harry." Neville grumbled, "She knows what your hair looks like."
Harry sighed, "This is different, it's our first proper date!"
Draco and Neville looked at one another and rolled their eyes, Harry hadn't stopped worrying about making the right impression for days. Strangely he hadn't been pleased when Neville had pointed out that they had technically had their first proper date, it just hadn't gone very well.
"Are you all packed? Train leaves tomorrow morning." Draco asked, trying to get Harry's mind off of the upcoming party.
Harry nodded, "Yeah, near enough… which colour tie?"
"It's green…" Neville snorted a laugh.
Harry glared at him, "I know that but should I change it? Red? Or blue maybe? She's a Ravenclaw after all…"
"Green is fine Harry." Draco assured him.
"But is a bow tie correct?" Harry asked, feeling his worry rising, "I mean, will it be too formal?"
"Harry you look fine, now can we please go?" Neville asked, trying not to lose his patience.
Harry grinned at them, "Sorry, I guess I'm over thinking things a little bit."
"A little bit?" Draco smirked.
Harry looked over his friends, they both looked so smart and comfortable in their smart dress robes. Harry just felt awkward and was sure that Cho was going to take one look at him and seriously regret ever agreeing to go with him.
They left the large prefects bathroom and walked together down the corridor.
"Right, where are you meeting Cho?" Draco asked, "I'm meeting Luna in the Entrance Hall."
"Me too." Harry told them.
"I'll see you at the party then, as I'm meeting Hermione at the common room." Neville said, "Didn't see much point meeting else where as we're in the same house."
"How did you end up going with her anyway?" Harry asked.
Neville grinned, "She kept getting asked out by people she'd rather avoid at all costs. McLaggen for example, and Zacharias Smith…"
Harry snorted a laugh, "Seriously? How did they think they had a chance?"
Neville shrugged, "Beats me but it was driving her nuts. So I said I would take her and save her from the 'others'. She wouldn't want to go romantically with anyone that wasn't Krum, they're still really close."
"Very noble of you." Harry smirked.
They split off, going down different corridors. Draco and Harry ignored the looks from other students who were surprised to see them all dressed up or were jealous from not being invited to the Slug-club Christmas party.
Harry felt a ball of nerves form in his stomach as they approached the last turning to the Entrance Hall.
"It's fine." Draco assured him, giving his hand a quick squeeze, "Try not to worry."
Cho was standing next to Luna, both of them talking quietly. Luna was dressed in a set of silver spangled robes with moved slightly in the breeze from the open doors.
She looked very pretty, though and surprisingly lady like, her hands clasped neatly in front of her and her waves of blonde hair caught up in a bun, held together with an old sapphire hair pin.
"You look lovely." Draco said, giving her hand a kiss.
Luna blushed, "So do you."
Harry walked slowly over to Cho and cleared his throat, "Hi… hi Cho."
"Hi Harry." Cho smiled, "You look so smart!"
Harry looked over Cho. She was wearing a pale lavender dress that flowed to just above her knees, nipping in at her waist with tight sleeves to her wrists, ending in a point. She was wearing matching shoes that did up with ribbons like ones a ballet dancer would wear.
She looked amazing, her dark hair flowing loosely over her shoulders and minimal make-up highlighting her bright, dark eyes.
Harry pulled his eyes away from her, "You look… amazing."
Cho smiled, "Thank you."
Harry extended his arm for Cho and led her through the corridors to Slughorn's office. Draco knocked sharply on the door and let the girls walk in first, of course.
The office was far larger than the last time Harry had been in there, magically enlarged for the event. The celling had been draped in huge amounts of green and red fabric. There was a large light hanging from the celling. It was a large lamp and was filled with real fairies, each glowing softly.
There was loud singing coming from one corner and a group of elderly warlocks sitting smoking heavy pipes in another. Half a dozen house elves were wondering throughout the room carrying large silver platers of food for people to pick off.
"Harry!"
Harry turned to the familiar voice and grinned at the sight of his mother.
"Mum! What are you doing here?" Harry asked.
Danica ran over, wearing a pretty pink party dress and gave Harry a huge hug, "Who's this?"
Harry fought a blush, "Mum, Danica, this is Cho Chang. Cho, this is my mother, Lily Snape, and my little sister, Danica."
"Hello." Danica said, shaking her hand.
Harry was shocked to see how grown up Danica looked, dressed in a dress that didn't even have a petticoat! Thin straps held the dress in place that floated down to just below her knees, a darker pink bow tying at the back.
"It's very nice to meet you." Cho smiled at Danica.
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked, "Not that I'm not happy to see you."
"Slughorn invited me and I asked if Danica could come along." Lily explained, "She's missing seeing the castle."
"She's been here before?" Cho asked, slightly confused.
"I used to come all the time!" Danica said excitedly, "When Mum had to see Dad but I wasn't allowed here last year as there was a crazy person in charge…"
"Danica!" Lily laughed.
"And then Mum says I'm a grown up girl now so I shouldn't be coming to Hogwarts too often until I actually get to come here, which is only three years and nine months away." Danica grinned, "I'm going to go and get a drink, can I get anything for you Miss Chang?"
"Oh… no thank you." Cho smiled.
"We should go and find Professor Slughorn anyway." Harry shrugged, "I'll come over and find you again."
Harry and Cho wondered further into the room, taking two goblets of mead from a passing tray, Harry handing Cho a glass.
"So… that was your mother?" Cho said, feeling she had been woefully unprepared for such an important meeting in her and Harry's relationship.
"Yep." Harry grinned, trying to reassure her, "Don't worry, she's really nice, I think she likes you."
Cho smiled and was about to say something else when Slughorn interrupted them.
"Ah, Harry my boy!" Slughorn bellowed, spotting Harry.
He walked over, his tasselled velvet hat swinging slightly as he walked. Slughorn greeted Cho and then turned back to Harry, gripping his arm tightly.
"You don't mind if I borrow him for a moment, do you Miss Chang?" Slughorn asked.
"Not at all." Cho nodded, "I think I can see Daphne over there, I'll go stand with her."
Harry gave her a quick peck on the cheek as she walked off. Slughorn led Harry over to two gentleman, one was short and wearing thick, old fashioned glasses, the other was tall and gave off a strange foreboding.
Harry smiled to them both and extended his hand, the shorter man took hold of it and shook it warmly.
"Harry," Slughorn smiled, "I would like you to meet Eldred Worple, an old student of mine and author of 'Blood Brothers: My Life Amongst the Vampires' and of course his friend Sanguini."
Sanguini was clearly a vampire, with dark circles under his eyes and pale, shallow skin and a gaggle of teenage girls watching his every move with curiosity.
"Harry Potter, I am… simply delighted!" Gasped Worple, looking Harry up and down, "I was just saying to Professor Slughorn only the other day, where is the biography of Harry Potter for which we have all been waiting?"
Harry wasn't sure what to say, "I don't think it would be as interesting as you think it would be. Mostly a lot of 'why I want to smack my little sister today'." Harry laughed, trying to get the attention away from him, Danica was always a good bet.
"Ah, Danica!" Worple smiled, "Yes we met her, and your mother, before. She is a sweetie, as so grown up! How old is she? Six or seven?"
"Eight, just." Harry smiled.
"She's small for her age." Sanguini said flatly.
Harry was unsure if he was trying to insulting or not so just answered him, "She is a little yes. Dad was little when he was younger as well. We figure she'll hit a growth spurt when she's a little older, like I did."
Sanguini nodded thoughtfully and said nothing more.
"But back to your book!" Worple said happily, "When should we expect it?"
"I didn't really have any plans…" Harry shrugged.
Worple let out a chuckle, "Ah, you are just as modest as Horace said you were!" he suddenly became very serious, "But seriously, if it was simply a question of someone to write it for you, I would be honoured to submit my services. People are craving to know more about you, dear boy! Craving! If you were prepared to grant me just a few interviews, say in four or maybe five hour sessions? That way I could have the book finished in a few short months, six months tops!"
"Oh I… I'm so busy with school and everything…" Harry said, trying to kindly find anyway to say not a snowballs chance in hell was he about to write, or have written, a book about his life.
"Oh it wouldn't require much effort on your part, ask Sanguini here, it is isn't quite… Sanguini, stay here!" Worple said quickly as Sanguini took slow, hungry steps towards the group of girls, "Here, have a pasty, they're lovely…"
Sanguini took a rather displeased look at the pasty and nibbled the corner.
"So where, were we?" Worple muttered to himself, "Ah yes, the book, now I think it should really start from day one, you know… your thoughts and feeling about loosing your father so young. I'm sure that your mother would be happy to give an interview as well… maybe even little Danica?"
Harry felt his rage bubble slightly, "I'm very grateful for the offer but… I have no plans at the moment to write my life story."
"But my dear boy, the gold we could make!" Worple said, a hint of a sharp edge in his voice.
"Harry!" Cho's voice called out, she walked over and linked her arm with Harry's, a dazzling smile on her face, "I've been looking everywhere for you!"
Harry smiled back at her, "I was just talking to Mr Worple here and his friend Sanguini. Gentlemen, this is Miss Cho Chang, my date."
"Well aren't you a most radiant young lady. Mr Potter is very lucky!" Worple smiled.
Cho let out a tinkly laugh, "And here I was thinking I was the lucky one."
Harry was very confused, Cho was acting so strangely.
"So what were you talking about?" Cho asked sweetly.
"Mr Worple was… suggesting that I should write a biography, or rather he could write one for me." Harry explained, trying to keep the stress out of his voice.
Cho let out another tinkly laugh, "Oh no! It would be so sad!"
Worple let out an annoyed huff and opened his mouth to say something but Cho cut across him.
"You wouldn't mind if I snuck Harry away, would you?" Cho asked, looking at his through her long eye lashes, "I found the sweetest little cosy spot I wanted to… show him."
"Oh? Oh… yes, yes of course!" Worple chuckled, "I might see you around?"
Harry nodded and allowed Cho to drag him away.
"What was all that about?" Harry asked, once they were out of earshot of Worple and his friend.
Cho laughed, genuinely this time, "I saw you getting a little stressed over there and thought you could do with some rescuing."
Harry grinned at her, "Thanks. Your instinct was bang on. Very weird to see you act like that though."
Cho led Harry over where his friends, minus Pansy and William, where sitting in a circle, a large dish of food in the middle.
"Everything OK Harry?" Daphne asked, popping a prawn into her mouth.
Harry nodded, "Yeah just…"
"Someone was a little too much of a fan." Cho explained.
"Never mind." Luna said kindly, "It could always have been worse, like someone who hated you. Or someone who didn't see you at all."
Harry nodded, "Yeah… good point."
"I saw your mother was here." Hermione said.
"Yeah she was in the Slug-club 'back in the day'." Harry told them, "I think she mostly came to get Danica out, she used to love coming to the school."
"She's so sweet." Cho smiled, snuggling into his arm slightly.
Harry could feel himself blush as his hand smoothed against her bare skin of her leg as her skirt moved up slightly. He moved his hand quickly, feeling the blood rush to his face. Cho gave him a coy smile and didn't move.
The party continued well into the early hours of the evening. Lily, Severus and Danica left at just past ten. Danica was insisting that she wasn't tired but the fact she could barely stand suggested otherwise. It was, after all, two hours after her bedtime.
Harry and Cho, as well as many of the other guests, were still celebrating at nearly two in the morning.
"Goodnight, Harry! Cho." Slughorn said with a smile.
"Thank you for inviting me, Professor." Harry smiled, "We had a lovely time."
"I am so glad you could make it!" Slughorn beamed, "I hope to see you at my next little gathering and Cho you are welcome back any time. Worple said you were wonderful company."
Cho smiled, "I had such a lovely time, Professor."
Harry and Cho walked into the empty corridors, holding hands as she led Harry towards the Ravenclaw common room.
"Lets walk slowly." Cho smiled, "I can't exactly invite you in after all."
Harry grinned and nodded, taking over exaggerated slow steps. Cho laughed and joined in.
"You've got such a pretty laugh." Harry told her.
"You know… oh, this is it." Cho said, pointing to a wooden door with an overly large,, heavy knocker.
Harry looked at the door sadly, "Oh… well thank you for coming with me."
Cho smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear, "Thank you for taking me."
"What were you going to say?" Harry asked, "Before you realised that we were here already?"
Cho blushed, "I was going to point out that you hadn't kissed me all evening."
Harry looked surprised at her for a moment, "I didn't want to push it." he said truthfully.
"It wouldn't be pushing it." Cho said, "If you want to of course, I wouldn't want to be pushy either or any-"
Harry had moved forwards and pressed his lips gently to hers. She reached up, wrapping her fingers in Harry's hair as the world fell away from them.