And yet another Quidditch match.

CHO VII

She took another mouthful of broiled eggs, which warmed her throat as it descended into her stomach. Cho could feel the excitement all around. The Ravenclaw table in the Great Hall was shaking out of anticipation. At eleven this morning, their team would play their last game of the season.

It was strange to say, but Cho felt extremely light for a day when they played. Maybe it was because of the letter she received from her father two days ago. He told her that he finally got his job back, and that her mother would resume her work soon as well. Also, she felt absolutely no pressure today. The good side effect of having lost their first two games of the season and being out of the race to win the Quidditch Cup meant that the whole team felt no pressure at all. At the same time, they were full of hope, for today they really had a chance to win since they played against Hufflepuff. The rest of the house was just as hopeful. There was an atmosphere of certainty in the air, where all students shared the confidence that this was the day the team of Ravenclaw would get to shine.

Cho looked up as the players of Hufflepuff stood up and headed to leave the Great Hall, Cedric ahead. They received encouragements from all the people at the Hufflepuff table. Cho felt they were more stressed than her own house. Unlike Ravenclaw, Cedric's team won a match and lost another one this year. If they defeated Cho's team today, they still had a chance to win the Quidditch Cup, something Hufflepuff couldn't manage to do for ages. The pressure on their team was far higher as a result.

However, most people doubted, and Cho was among them, that Hufflepuff had a real shot at winning the Quidditch Cup. First, to have any chance, they needed Gryffindor to win against Slytherin in two weeks. Not that it was impossible, quite the opposite. Gryffindor defeated Slytherin in both matches they played the last two years, and despite a rogue broomstick and a rogue Bludger. This year, furthermore, Harry had a much better broomstick, a Firebolt. Since he managed to beat Malfoy before, with an inferior broomstick and a Bludger running after him, Cho didn't doubt Gryffindor's chances to win. And judging from what she heard about their practices lately, the Gryffindors seemed to be playing very well.

Still, a Gryffindor victory over Slytherin was not guaranteed. Slytherin had won their first two games of the season, including against Cho's team who also lost against Gryffindor by a small margin. Before Harry caught the Snitch during their game, the two teams had almost scored the same amount of goals. The same happened between Ravenclaw and Slytherin when they played. This meant that the Slytherins were still quite likely to win their last match, even though almost no one outside of Slytherin house wanted them to win. Between their series of Quidditch Cups over the last years, their brutal tactics on the pitch, and the renewed popularity of the Gryffindor team after Harry got a Firebolt, Cho knew of no Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw who wanted to see Slytherin win again.

But even if Slytherin was defeated, Cedric's team would require a major victory today to even have a chance to get the Cup. They only won against Gryffindor by fifty points, and Slytherin flattened them afterwards. The point differential was clearly in their disfavor. They would need to win against Cho and her teammates by a very large margin, and this was far from being acquired. Cho won against Cedric last year, and Hufflepuff's history, despite the highest quality of their team this year, showed that Ravenclaw often won against them. In fact, Cedric's team was often ridiculed. People from all other houses, whether they were from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw or Slytherin, often mocked that Cedric would never have caught the Snitch against Gryffindor if the Dementors had not intervened and disturbed the game. They said that Hufflepuff owed its only victory to luck.

Cho found it unfair to judge Cedric to be a bad Seeker. He was definitely better than Malfoy, without any doubt. She even heard Harry declare, one day, while talking to his friends, that Cedric was a good Seeker. Cho was of the same opinion. It was true that Harry might have caught the Snitch without the Dementors, but that didn't take away Cedric's prowess on this day. The mere fact that he beat Harry, and that he was the only Seeker to succeed in this goal so far, showed how talented he was. He often missed the Snitch by very little against his opponent.

However, Cho was not going to make any gift to Cedric today. This match may not be as important for Ravenclaw as for Hufflepuff, but she was going to play to win, even though she felt she would enjoy this game much more than the one against Slytherin.

Fifteen minutes after the Hufflepuff players were gone, those from Ravenclaw followed their captain to the pitch as well. On their way out of the Great Hall, her eyes met those of Harry who was at the extremity of the Gryffindor table near the heavy doors.

"Good luck, Cho," he told her.

She smiled back at him, and headed out with Roger, Randolph, Jeremy, Grant, Duncan and Jason. A few minutes before eleven o'clock, six of them were standing in their changing rooms, listening to Roger.

"This is our last match of the season, my friends. So we give everything. We are not going to get the Quidditch Cup this year, but we're going to show what this team is capable of. Play like your life depends on it. Let's win this game!"

"YEAH!"

Cho and the rest of the team headed for the exit, and in no time, they were taking flight under the cheering of the crowd.

This was a sunny day of May, with barely a breeze, and Cho laughed as she flew across the pitch.

"Hello everyone! Welcome to the fifth match of this season's Hogwarts' Quidditch. Today is the game between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Before I give you the names of the players, let me remind you of the importance of this game. Ravenclaw has lost her its two games up to now…"

This resulted in boos from the Ravenclaw side, and Cho was tempted to join them.

"This match is Ravenclaw's last chance to shine this year, and to not end at the bottom of the ranking. As for Hufflepuff, they are playing to remain a contender to the Quidditch Cup. This game will determine whether the next match between Gryffindor and Slytherin will decide of the winner of this year's Quidditch Cup between two or three teams."

Cho found it annoying that the commentator presented their match as a side note to another, more important game. She guessed that this was unavoidable with the commentator being a Gryffindor and a personal friend of two players on their team.

"Now, the players of Ravenclaw. Their captain, Roger Davies, along with the two other Chasers, Randolph Burrow and Jeremy Stretton. Duncan Inglebee and Jason Samuels, their Beaters. Their Keeper, Grant Page. And their Seeker, the girl who gave quite a challenge to a Firebolt two months ago, Cho Chang."

Cho had the impression that the crowd was erupting. She raised her hand in triumph as she flew by the section of the stadium where Ravenclaws had gathered, and where Professor Flitwick led the applauses that were destined for her.

"And now, the players of Hufflepuff. The captain, Cedric Diggory, their Seeker."

Cheers and boos mingled in the crowd.

"Heidi Macavoy, Malcolm Preece and Tamsin Applebee, their Chasers. Anthony Rickett and Maxine O'Flaherty, their Beaters. Herbert Fleet, their Keeper. For the first time in a long time, this team has a chance to win the Quidditch Cup this year."

Again, cheers and boos mingled. Cho didn't find it fair for the Hufflepuffs. She could understand that people despised Slytherins with the attitude of many of their students, but the Hufflepuffs were very nice people. She even had friends among them, much more than among the Gryffindors who had a certain tendency to be arrogant and to easily judge others, like Lee Jordan just proved.

When the players gathered around the central circle, Roger and Cedric shook hands. And like before any game, Cedric then flew upwards and came to wish Cho good luck before he took his position again. Cho wished him good luck as well.

"The Quaffle is released. The game begins!"

The Chasers of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw crossed in the center, but it was Heidi Macavoy who seized the Quaffle.

"Macavoy gets the Quaffle… A pass to… No, Samuels intercepts… But a Bludger from O'Flaherty makes him lose it… Recovered by Preece…"

As the Quaffle was exchanged from hands to hands, Cho had begun to search for the Golden Snitch. She kept an eye on Cedric in case he would find it before her, but mostly she focused on finding the Snitch herself this time. There wasn't much need to block or intercept Cedric. His broomstick was of lower quality than hers, and he was also taller and heavier than she was. In any competition of speed, she would have the advantage over him.

"Macavoy… Oh, she avoided Davies by an inch… Rushes to the goalposts… She shoots… No, Grant Page stops the Quaffle… He makes a quick pass to… Macavoy intercepts… And she scores!"

Cho sighed in rage. Hufflepuff just scored the first points of the game. As Lee Jordan announced the score was 10-0 for Hufflepuff, Grant sent the Quaffle to Roger who took altitude along with the rest of the Chasers of Ravenclaw. The Hufflepuff team had a tendency to play at lower levels than Ravenclaw, whose tactics were better suited for high altitude. Roger sent the Quaffle to Jeremy who was higher, and then Jeremy threw it at Randolph who was higher as well. They were now several feet over the height of the goalposts. Anthony Rickett almost took the Quaffle out of their hands with a Bludger, but Randolph only abandoned the red ball so that Roger could seize it. Then Heidi Macavoy failed to take it from Roger's hands. Their captain headed towards the scoring area of Hufflepuff. Herbert Fleet failed to stop the shot.

"Roger Davies scores! Ten points for Ravenclaw!"

It was a tie now. Cho looked all around in search of a glimmer showing where the Golden Snitch was, but nothing appeared so far. In the meantime, Hufflepuff led a counterattack. They almost made it to Ravenclaw's scoring area through a combination of passes between their Chasers, but Randolph intercepted the Quaffle on their last pass. He avoided a Bludger in his direction, then threw the Quaffle back at their Keeper, Grant, who kicked it towards Roger who had taken some lead. Their captain rushed towards the Hufflepuff scoring area and managed to arrive in front of the left ring. He raised his hand high with the Quaffle and was about to throw it. And he did, backwards, to Jeremy, who shot straight away into the right ring.

The crowd of Ravenclaws celebrated as their team took the advantage, 20-10. Cho avoided a Bludger not long afterwards. She saw Cedric not far away, and noticed how she was in perfect position. She sped up and, at the very right moment, she turned right. She heard the loud gasp behind as she knew Cedric braked suddenly to avoid colliding with her. Cho almost had the impression that the shouts in the crowd were to congratulate her for successfully blocking Cedric.

"Fleet to Applebee… To Macavoy… Back to Applebee… She avoids a Bludger… The Quaffle again with Macavoy… She dives to the ground… Davies… He missed, Macavoy still has the Quaffle… She throws it up… Stretton intercepts… A Bludger in the face… Preece takes back the Quaffle… He shoots… No, Grant Page blocked it… He sends the Quaffle back to Davies…"

Roger travelled the entire pitch, avoiding each obstacle on his way. At the last moment, he sent the Quaffle to Randolph who then shot. However, the Keeper of Hufflepuff blocked the red ball just like Grant did a few moments before. Hufflepuff then counterattacked, but they lost the Quaffle in the middle of the field. Jeremy lost the Quaffle to Heidi Macavoy as he was approaching their scoring area, and Hufflepuff managed to get through the defenses of Cho's team, but Tamsin Applebee missed her shot by very little. As a result, Roger managed once more to bring the Quaffle to the other side, but Herbert Fleet blocked his attempt at scoring. However, when the Keeper tried to send the Quaffle back to Macavoy, it was intercepted by Jeremy who seized the opportunity and scored.

"30-10 for Ravenclaw!" Lee Jordan announced.

Cho then noticed something shining at the other side of the pitch. It was then that a Bludger rushed towards her, and she barely avoided it by doing a barrel roll. When she looked where she spotted the glint, it was gone. She checked on Cedric, who didn't seem to have noticed anything. She raged, thinking she might have just missed an opportunity to win.

In the meantime, Tamsin Applebee managed to get in front of the Ravenclaw's scoring area. Grant blocked her shot, but Ravenclaw's attempt to counterattack was quickly thwarted. Grant stopped them from scoring again, and the new counterattack managed to get to the Hufflepuff's scoring area. To everyone's surprise, when Roger shot, not only was the Quaffle blocked, but it was the Chaser Heidi Macavoy, not the Keeper Herbert Fleet, who intercepted it. Cedric happened to fly nearby at this moment, and a Bludger sent by Duncan almost hit him. A mere few seconds later, it was Cho who avoided a Bludger sent by Maxine O'Flaherty. Heidi Macavoy managed to get through the entire pitch, but she lost the Quaffle as she was reaching Ravenclaw's scoring area.

"Roger Davies… A pass to Jeremy Stretton… Then back to Davies… He avoids Applebee… Another pass… Intercepted by Preece… Who sends it to Macavoy again… She shoots… But Page catches it."

Roger, Randolph and Jeremy then forced their way through Chasers and Bludgers to reach the other team's scoring area. This time, Fleet didn't need Macavoy to catch the Quaffle for him. He stopped it at the last instant, and Hufflepuff found themselves on the offensive again. Cho mistook a glint in the crowd for the Snitch before realizing it was a mirror a student was holding. Some girl in Gryffindor seemed to have chosen to put on makeup during the Quidditch game. Cho rolled her eyes. How could someone prettify herself in the middle of a Quidditch game? There were really stupid people in life.

Tamsin Applebee had lost the Quaffle to Roger. Fifteen seconds later, the Ravenclaws roared as Randolph scored their fourth goal of the match.

"40-10 for Ravenclaw! And Fleet makes a long pass to Heidi Macavoy…"

Cho then noticed that one of the Beaters of Hufflepuff was flying closely to the Chaser. She diverted a Bludger that caught Jeremy in the stomach, then literally blocked the trajectory of Roger who was attempting to take away the Quaffle. Macavoy then made a pass to Applebee, who threw the Quaffle through the right ring, bringing the score to 40-20 as this time the Hufflepuffs celebrated.

Cho had to admit the game level of the Hufflepuff significantly improved since their game last year, when they quite easily defeated them. She couldn't ignore the progress they made and how their teamwork got better under Cedric's leadership. Despite this, Ravenclaw clearly remained the best team of the two. Roger, Randolph and Jeremy each scored one after the other, allowing Ravenclaw to now lead by fifty points. However, the two girls who were Chasers in the Hufflepuff team then made a series of complicated passes and managed to get the Quaffle through the central ring, bringing the score to 70-30 for Ravenclaw.

Cho had blocked Cedric in his trajectory once more when she got the opportunity. She also spotted the Snitch again, but she lost it almost immediately. The Chasers found themselves engaged in a struggle right between her and the small ball, breaking her line of sight.

Herbert Fleet just blocked a shot from Randolph when Cho noticed that Cedric was diving. She instinctively followed him. She couldn't allow him to get to the Snitch. She caught up to him thanks to her Comet… And then she realized that she was in the middle of the Chasers crossing trajectories. Roger had the Quaffle for an instant, and the next he lost it. Not long after, Malcolm Preece was scoring, and Ravenclaw now led only by 70-40.

Cho almost raged. Cedric had pulled a double trick. He rushed towards the Chasers to give an additional chance to his team to take the Quaffle away from Ravenclaw, and he attracted Cho in it by making her believe he spotted the Golden Snitch.

During the next thirty minutes, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw exchanged goals. Cho spotted the Snitch twice, and she lost it both times. Ravenclaw managed to score a little more than its adversary, which brought the score to 120-70. However, perhaps by cheer luck, a Bludger targeting Roger missed him and ended hitting the Quaffle as it had just been taken by Jeremy. The Quaffle was then recovered by Macavoy right in front of the Ravenclaw goalposts. Grant must have been very surprised and stunned, for he didn't even try to stop this shot. Heidi Macavoy brought the score to 120-80 for Ravenclaw.

And then Cho saw it again. High, near the top of one of the towers. She rushed towards it, pushing her Comet to its maximum. From the corner of her eye, she noticed that Cedric was approaching from the other side of the pitch to get it. She was in advance on him. She kept flying towards the golden ball. Then a Bludger almost hit her, and she was forced to abruptly change direction. She lost sight of the Snitch for a single moment. She needed two seconds to find it again, heading down. And she followed it. Cedric was now closer. No, she couldn't let him catch the Snitch. Ravenclaw just scored, but they were only leading by fifty points. Cho needed to catch the Snitch and give her team one victory this season.

The Snitch was now near the ground. Cedric and Cho were approaching it from two different directions. She was flying almost straight down, perpendicularly to the ground, while Cedric had a diagonal trajectory. The Snitch flew to Cho's left, and she did the one thing she practiced for a lot during this year. She blocked Cedric's path. She didn't look behind, but from the sound of it, he was forced into a drastic change of trajectory towards the scoring area of Ravenclaw, while Cho kept following the Snitch that headed towards the Hufflepuff goalposts. They were almost at the ground level. Cho flew straight, crouched on her Comet, getting closer and closer to the Snitch. She raised her hand to seize it.

A shock on her right shoulder lunged her forward. Her left hand released the handle of her broomstick. Her right hand closed on the empty air. Within the short instants that lasted her fall of less than one foot to the ground, at high speed, her eyes spotted the glint near her left hand, and she closed her fingers.

She landed on the land face first, and glided for a few feet before she stopped. When she looked up, she spit some grass that made its way into her mouth. The pain in her right shoulder, caused by the Bludger she took there right before she crashed, made itself more manifest when she tried to use her right hand to stand up. She fell back on her knees, but she refused to use her left hand as support to get back on her feet. Instead, she simply raised the hand in question, her fist closed, the small wings of the Snitch quietly flapping.

It seemed to her that it took a lot of time, but the crowd finally erupted, and she heard the whistle of Madam Hooch as she began to laugh uncontrollably.

"Cho Chang caught the Snitch! Victory to Ravenclaw!"

Cho thought that Jordan didn't have time to give the final score, two hundred and eighty points for Ravenclaw, eighty points for Hufflepuff, before her whole team was on her and carrying her in the air.

Cho was quite sure that her right shoulder was in a much worse state when she finally reached the hospital wing than when she fell to the ground. She was hugged, patted on her back by so many people and so roughly that she winced out of pain many times. Madam Pomfrey still solved the problem very quickly, and she could join the party in the Ravenclaw common room in no time.

Cho enjoyed the party. It was the second time the Ravenclaws held a party for a victory in a Quidditch game since she integrated the team. The first took place two years ago, for her first match with the team, and she would never forget it. This party was almost as good though. Cho enjoyed it as much as she could, as she knew that after this, she would have to focus entirely on her upcoming exams. Later that night, when she went to bed, she was exhausted, but very happy.

The atmosphere at the Ravenclaw table the next day was cheery. They had won their last Quidditch game of the season. Everyone knew they were assured to end in third place at the very least. They even had a chance to get the second place at the end of the season if Gryffindor lost by a sufficient margin against Slytherin.

"I think we should enjoy the time," Marietta said as she filled her glass with pumpkin juice and looked at the sunlight that pierced through the large windows of the Great Hall. "Let's not work today. It's probably going to be the last weekend when we have the chance to not work."

The other girls agreed, and Cho herself wasn't against the idea. She agreed as well and ate with appetite. Some people congratulated her for yesterday's catch, and there were even a few, especially among the youngest students, who wanted her to tell the details of how she managed to catch the Snitch while falling. She must have done it a dozen times yesterday and was getting a little tired of telling the story again and again, but she did it all the same.

During breakfast, she noticed that the atmosphere at the Hufflepuff table was quite different. She even received a few hostile stares. In some way, Cho pitied them. They had missed their chance to not end at the bottom of the ranking. Cho's eyes searched Cedric, and she found him with a group of friends that included some of the players of his team. He seemed in quite a good mood, judging from his smile, when considering he lost yesterday. But again, Cedric was probably the Seeker in Hogwarts who took defeat in the best way, and who enjoyed his few victories with the greatest humbleness.

Two of her friends had started a long discussion on the best robe in the latest edition of Witch Weekly, discussion that everyone was listening to attentively, adding their opinion from time to time. It was then that a commotion brought everyone's attention towards the doors of the Great Hall. Many people stood up before Cho did, and because of her small height, she couldn't see much, but there seemed to be encouragements coming from a small crowd of students that had gathered near the heavy doors.

"ENOUGH!"

Cho didn't remember hearing anything so terrible and threatening. The Headmaster's voice, usually so kind, had reduced the Great Hall to utter silence. In an instant, he had crossed the entire Hall, each and every student giving way to him.

Cho thought she saw Dumbledore forcing two students to stand up. One was from Gryffindor, and the other was from Slytherin.

"Everyone else, go back to your breakfast," he said harshly, and then he made the two students follow him outside the Great Hall. Everyone sat down and no one dared to say anything louder than a whisper for the rest of the breakfast.

Cho and her friends went to the lake after they were done eating. But on their way, they discussed enough with other students to understand that two students had started to fight. The reasons for this fight varied depending on everyone's point of view. Cho herself didn't know that two students who were involved in the altercation, but she suspected it had to be about Quidditch. Now that the only game left in the season would be between Gryffindor and Slytherin, she supposed that she shouldn't be surprised if accidents happened between the two houses during the next two weeks that would precede the game.

"Well, we're lucky to be rid of Quidditch," one of Cho's friends said as they settled in the grass near the lake.

"Don't say that," Marietta snapped. "Cho would have liked for the season to continue."

"Yes," Cho recognized. "But every season must end."

She looked at the stadium, where she saw green shapes flying. The Slytherins were certainly practicing for their last game.

"Well, now we have the O.W.L.s to keep us busy," another girl in her fifth year said.

"No talk about O.W.L.s," one declared.

"At least, they will keep some of us busy," Marietta stated, her voice even, resigned.

Cho placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. Marietta smiled to her, meaning she appreciated the gesture. The separation between her parents was completed for some time now. It was still difficult for Marietta, and Cho tried to keep her occupied as much as possible. Marietta had come to consider that it was a good thing to be busy, for it prevented her from thinking about her parents.

Now that Cho didn't have to worry about Quidditch any more this year, she worried what would happen to her best friend when June would come to an end and they would be forced to leave Hogwarts. Marietta would go to live with her mother. Apparently, her father had already moved to Germany. Cho didn't understand why Marietta's father moved so far away from her. It seemed ridiculous. It was as if he was abandoning her, and Cho could feel that this was how Marietta felt it.

But Cho didn't talk to Marietta about her parents. They made ricochets on the water, drew symbols in the sand near the lake, and even used their wands to produce sparks, flowers, smoke and ribbons of all colors. Some of them suggested they could swim in the lake. Cho wasn't sure, as the water may probably be still too cold, but some of her friends still decided to bring their swimsuits with them for the afternoon. That's what they were talking about when they headed back to the castle around noon for lunch. However, as they neared the Great Hall, Cho realized she had forgotten her bag near the lake. She told her friends to continue to the Great Hall, and despite protests from some of them who wanted to accompany her, she forced them to go to lunch. It would only take two minutes for her to come back.

She ran towards the castle gates and across the park. Far away, near the forest, she saw the hut of the gamekeeper. The spot where she and her friends spent their morning was not far from his home. She reached the border of the lake, searched for a moment, and finally found her bag, near the tree where they had taken refuge to protect themselves from the sun.

"Hi, Cho."

She was about to seize her bag, but the voice stopped her in her movement. She knew this voice, and it made her feel heat on her face right away. She tried to compose herself as much as possible before she straightened up and faced him.

"Hi, Cedric. How are you?"

She regretted her question almost right away. This was probably not the right thing to ask after her team defeated his own and relegated him at the last position on the ranking of the season. To her relief, Cedric didn't seem to be bothered.

"Could be better. I spent the entire morning studying." Cho supposed it made sense. Cedric was a year older than she was. He would be going through his O.W.L.s very soon. Though he still mentioned it on a joking tone rather than a tired or desperate one. "I came out to take a short walk before lunch. Would… you to follow me?"

He hesitated as he asked her. Cho, on her side, didn't hesitate.

"Of course." She made to join him, then remembered what she came for. She seized her bag at the last minute and then she followed Cedric along the lake. Far away, over the pitch, the Slytherins were still flying.

"I apologize for yesterday," Cedric told her, which confused Cho. What was he apologizing for? "I wanted to congratulate you, but with everyone around you, I couldn't find my way."

Cho now understood. It was true. Cedric always congratulated his adversary when they won against him. "You don't have to apologize for anything. And… In fact, I'm sorry you lost, Cedric. I know you hoped for your season to be different."

Cedric shrugged. "That's Quidditch. Someone must win and the other must lose. And I would rather lose against you than against Malfoy."

Even Cedric said the name with some venom in his voice. Cho looked darkly at the pitch. She had no love for Draco Malfoy and the Slytherin team either. They purposefully injured her during their game. The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs had tried to neutralize her as well, but they did it fairly, within the rules. The Slytherins flat out tried to injure other players.

"By the way, it was a really nice catch. Maxine was furious after the match. She spent the evening raging against you."

Cho smiled at the thought. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Cedric was smiling as well. "It was quite funny to look at. But I made the mistake of laughing about it in Maxine's presence, and she noticed it. I was lucky she didn't have her bat with her. That's not going to ease things between us."

This mention made Cho's heart contract. "It's true… You… You were with her? With Maxine, I mean?"

Cedric nodded. He looked embarrassed all of a sudden. "It's been over for quite some time now. It was last year."

They didn't say anything for some time.

"Do you feel prepared for your O.W.L.s?" she asked.

"No. No one is prepared. I don't remember having to work so much in my life. Enjoy this year, Cho. The next one will be hell." He patted her shoulder as he told her so.

She didn't know if the shivers she felt were due to the presence of Cedric's hand on her shoulder, or the prospect of her own O.W.L.s she already felt. The workload this year had been significant. It seemed to be increasing each year.

They were quite near to the stadium now. The shapes of the Slytherin players were easier to distinguish. Cho noticed the small one of Draco Malfoy, with his blond hair. He was easy to notice in his team. All the other players looked like gorillas.

"I'm going to regret Quidditch," Cedric declared. "I would rather play a thousand games than study for my exams."

"Me too," she confessed. "I liked yesterday's game. I mean, we had no pressure."

Cedric laughed nervously. "Talk for yourself. Don't worry. I liked it me too, even if we lost. And I think I enjoyed it way more than if we had had to play against them."

He made a movement of the head to indicate he was talking about the Slytherins. Cho could understand him. In normal circumstances, if the Slytherins had not gotten their way and moved their first game of the season, it was against them that Cedric would have played yesterday. Finishing the season against Slytherin would certainly not have been the less stressful game in the world.

"I must say…" she started. "I do not envy the Gryffindors. They must defeat them in two weeks, and I think everyone in the school want them to win."

"Well, I would gladly watch Flint lose the Cup this time," Cedric agreed. "Oliver, Harry, Angelina, Alicia, Katie, Fred, George. They must be under a lot of stress. All my friends hope they will win."

The same was quite true for Cho. The general sentiment in Ravenclaw was that Slytherin had won for too long, and many had not forgiven them for injuring Cho when they played against each other earlier this year. Cho herself had not forgiven them.

"It's too bad we can't help them," Cho said. "I mean, imagine if we could allow them to use our own players, so they could have the best team against Slytherin."

Cedric smiled. "I'm afraid Oliver would never accept it. He's spent the last few years building this team. It's almost like his baby for him. I don't think he would exchange any of his players for all the gold in the world." Cedric sighed. "That must be hard for him too. He must prepare his team for the most important match in his life so far, and he got his N.E.W.T.s to prepare over all that. And four of their players have their O.W.L.s to prepare as well."

"Oh yeah? Which ones?"

"The twin brothers, Fred and George. And two of their Chasers, Angelina and Alicia. We have some courses together."

Cho blew some air. This meant that only Harry and Katie didn't have major exams to prepare, so to speak.

"Too bad we can't help them," Cho said.

"Yeah, too bad. Who will win the Quidditch Cup this year is entirely up to them now."

Cho thought about it. "I'm starting to regret we defeated you yesterday. That way, even if Gryffindor was to win, you would still have a chance to get the championship."

Cedric shook his head. "No, we wouldn't have made it. We won our first by a small margin, and lost the other two by too much. But well, enough talk about Quidditch. I know it may seem far away, but do you have any plan for this summer?"

"Yes. The Quidditch World Cup."

"No surprise there," Cedric said with a smile that Cedric returned. Every wizard in his right mind would attend this event. "I'll be there as well. My father made sure we had tickets."

"And then, we are also planning to go to Korea for some time," Cho said. "I still have family living there."

"Oh yeah? You're lucky. I don't get to travel a lot."

"If you want, I can try to invite you," she said right away.

"Thank you, Cho, but my parents will not let me out of their sight for too long this summer. I'm their only son. And I wouldn't want to spoil a family reunion."

They kept talking and talking for quite some time as they walked along the lake, words flowing easily between them. After some time though, Cedric looked at his watch.

"Oh. I think I walked for too long. Lunch time is almost over."

Cho looked at her own watch. It was true. She and Cedric almost talked together for an entire hour. Cho suddenly thought about her friends. They were certainly wondering what she was doing.

"Well, have a good day, Cedric."

"You too, Cho."

They nonetheless hurried together towards the Great Hall. It was their destination to both of them, after all. They only separated once at the heavy doors, when they headed towards their respective tables, now mostly empty. Marietta and a couple of friends were waiting for Cho, large smiles over their faces.

"I'm sorry, everyone," she said, sitting down next to Marietta. "I got distracted…"

"By Cedric. We know," they said all together, still smiling widely. Cho felt herself redden so much that she wouldn't be surprised if her hair had turned the same color as the Weasleys.

Please review.

Next chapter: Cedric