Harry Potter and the Phantom

This is a Harry Potter fan-fiction set during the time when Harry was still a student at Hogwarts. It is not related to the books or films other than the use of the characters. Actually I have made more of a thing between Harry and Cho Chang because it was such a pity that the relationship didn't work out at all in the books/films, so this is a bit of an alternative.

Harry couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned in his bed and tried to sleep but he just couldn't switch off his mind. He had potions class in the morning with Professor Snape, one of his least liked professors, and he wasn't looking forward to it. He sighed and got out of bed. He needed to take a walk. He reached for the invisibility cloak and, under the cover of the snores of Dean Thomas, Neville Longbottom, Ron Weasely and Seamus Finnigan, crept out of the dormitory. He had no particular destination in mind, he just needed to clear his head. After a bit of walking he suddenly heard footsteps coming toward him and he flattened his back against a wall. Even though he was wearing the invisbility cloak he was just see-through, not walk through. Then he relaxed. It was Cho Chang, a pretty Asian girl from the Ravenclaw house that the had recently begun to really have a crush on. What was she doing walking around by herself in the middle of the night? Was she unable to sleep too? Harry made sure nobody else was nearby, then slipped off the invisibility cloak.

"Cho", he whispered. Cho started,then turned, looking for who had spoken. Harry stepped out from where he was. Cho spotted him and came quickly over to him. Harry took her into his arms and gently kissed her on the lips. When they drew back, Cho whispered ,"What are you doing here?"

"My question to you exactly", Harry replied.

"I couldn't sleep" Cho said. "I thought a walk would help."

"We had the same thought", said Harry. Just then there was the sound of someone approaching. Harry pulled Cho out of sight and threw the invisibility cloak over the two of them. The footsteps were slow and rhythmic. Harry's heart began to pound. This was not the sound of anyone friendly. Nobody in Hogwarts walked like this. Suddenly a fully cloaked person came into view, and Cho took such a sharp intake of breath that Harry clamped a hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming. This was a stranger. The figure kept on his course, keeping that rhythmic pace. Step-step-step he went. Then, he stopped and a bony hand reached inside his cloak and withdrew a wand. Harry reached for his own wand that he always kept on his person and pulled Cho behind him. The stranger mustered a few words under his breath in a voice Harry did not recognise and a cloud of blue mist swirled around the feet of the stranger, slowly rising until he was completely engulfed in the mist. Harry watched with his heart pounding, his one hand clutching his wand, the other, he slowly released from Cho's mouth. The mist continued to rise, then it dispersed, leaving nobody where the stranger had just been standing. For a moment, both Harry and Cho stood transfixed, as if in a trance.

"What just happened?" asked Cho in a shaken whisper.

"I haven't a clue", Harry replied, "but whatever it was, it was not good. Come on", he started to lead the way down one of the corridors.

"Where are you going?" Cho asked.

"To find Dumbledore" Harry replied briskly.

"He'll be asleep" said Cho.

"We've got to tell someone."

"I know but we can't tell Dumbeldore. Do you think we can leave it until morning?"

"Leave what till morning?" came a sudden voice right behind them. Both Harry and Cho jumped in shock. Harry's feet literally left the ground. Right behind them was Professor McGonagall! "What are you two doing out of the dormitories at this hour?"

In as few words as possible Harry poured out what he and Cho had just witnessed. McGonagall's face didn't change as she listened to what had to be said. When Harry had finally stopped speaking, McGonagall spoke in a crisp voice. "Both of you back to your dorms immediately. Harry, I am going to speak to you first thing tomorrow morning."

"But what about…",broke in Cho.

"You dreamed it", McGonagall said. "Now go."

Harry and Cho both began to protest but McGonagall had turned away and was striding down the hall.

"We did not dream that", Cho whispered, "We both saw it", but Harry had his doubts. What had just happened, really? Was it all a case of over-tired brains playing games in the dark?

"See you tomorrow Cho", said Harry as he turned to head back to the Gryffindor dormitories.

Cho gave Harry a quick hug before heading away. Harry watched her go, then headed back to the dorms, his mind more firmly awake than before. Why had he ever thought taking a late walk would help him?

WRITTEN BY NATHAN O'TOOLE

09/07/2024

Copyright 2024 byNathanOToole