Chap 30: Valentines

"Have fun Harry," Hermione said as she entered a carriage together with Ron, Daphne and Neville, all heading to Hogsmeade. As usual, Harry was not following them to Hogsmeade today, he was going to spend it with Cho, especially since it was Valentines' Day.

Patiently waiting for Cho who was slightly later than usual, Harry was awestruck when Cho finally appeared. She was wearing a white dress with some makeup on her face. Looking at his Psyche in front of him, he felt a little inadequate, he was silently thanking Hermione who insisted that he dressed up a little more, wearing jeans with a stylish jacket that he got from Hogsmeade on the earlier Hogsmeade date.

"Is that the jacket that I forced you to buy last time?" Cho asked, walking towards him and giving him a peck.

"Indeed," Harry replied.

"It looks amazing on you," Cho said, adjusting the jacket a little, "I assume Hermione forced you to dress up today?"

"Do you really think that lowly of me," Harry teased while Cho continued to stare at him knowingly, "Fine she did."

"She's a legend," Cho said, "I assume that she picked the outfit as well?"

"Mhm."

"I need to get something for her today as a thank-you gift then," Cho said, "you need to learn how to dress up better, you are a celebrity these days god damn it."

"Well I never had to for half my life so you can't really blame me," Harry shrugged as Cho gave him a conflicted look.

"It's alright, I will teach you," Cho finally said.

"You look fantastic by the way," Harry added to break the awkward tension, "are you not feeling cold though?"

"I placed a Heating Charm on the dress before I came out so nope."

"Brilliant."

Walking around the streets of Hogsmeade, they once again attracted interested glances, something that they both were used to. There were however more glances at Cho now that she was Nimbus' Ambassador and technically a celebrity.

Making their way to Madam Puddfoot's, an agreement that Harry reluctantly made on the basis that Cho really wanted to experience it during Valentine's for the first time in her life. Being the good boyfriend that he is, Harry relented, entering the shop decorated with vibrant pink banners and filled with images of Cupid and his arrow. Harry could not help but also notice that there were many couples there, all busy snogging each other.

"This is definitely a mistake," Harry muttered as they took their seats, making Cho laugh.

"Too late now," Cho smirked before ordering 2 coffees for both of them.

"Honestly, this reminds me of Umbridge's office," Harry commented, surveying his surroundings.

"Oh for fuck sake," Cho cursed as she realised that as well, "you really did not have to ruin the atmosphere within a minute of entering the cafe."

"Just saying my observations," Harry smiled, "to ensure that we spend as little time here as possible, the French Cafe is much better than this."

"Not exactly wrong," Cho shrugged.

"So, how is your Charm Mastery going?" Harry asked.

"Oh fantastic," Cho replied, her eyes twinkling, "Professor Flitwick is showing me so many things that I didn't even know existed, it's actually brilliant."

"Did he try to teach you the Patronus Charm," Harry smirked.

"Oh, he did, imagine his shock when he saw me cast my swan before he even finished explaining it."

"I can imagine him squeaking in delight when you did it."

"Spot on," Cho laughed.

At that moment, Harry felt someone walk to their table, to his surprise, it was Roger Davis.

"Cho?" he asked.

"Roger!" Cho exclaimed in delight, getting up to give him a hug, "How have you been?"

"I've been doing well myself," Davis replied, "Ministry job is a little stressful but I'm earning a decent amount of galleons for it, what about you, heard that you are a Nimbus Ambassador now."

"I am, it's largely Harry's doing though, he gave me his Firebolt which probably got me the sponsorship."

Roger looked at Harry, his face mixed with emotions, none of them positive.

"Potter," Davis said coolly.

"Davis," Harry replied similarly.

"I would assume that you 2 are here on a date?" Davis asked both of them.

"Indeed," Cho replied towards Roger, frowning as she sensed his animosity, "he is my boyfriend after all."

"Indeed," Roger said, eyes darting between both of them.

"If you would not mind Davis, I would like to continue our date," Harry said, "it's lovely to see you doing well though."

Davis said nothing and left the teashop, taking away the awkward and cold atmosphere with him.

"What was that about?" Harry asked Cho.

"I don't know," Cho admitted, "I did not expect him to be that cold towards you."

"Yeah, he was always rather friendly to me, something changed along the way"

"I think that change is me," Cho admitted, puzzling Harry a tiny bit.

"He fancied me in his final year," Cho admitted, "he tried to ask me out to Hogsmeade dates and even the Yule Ball."

"And you said no every time?" Harry asked.

"I was not interested in him truthfully," Cho admitted, "he is too cocky and too immature in my opinion."

"Immature? He is your captain though."

"He is mature enough when leading the team, but outside of that, nope," Cho answered, "I would have still gone with him to the Yule Ball as friends but you asked me out first."

"Damn, Hermione really saved me for that then, how many guys asked you out?"

"I don't know, there is you of course, Roger, Cedric, Byron, Matt and 2 7th-years and 2 6th-years I don't know the name of," Cho replied.

"Looks like someone is pretty sought after hm?" Harry teased.

"Says Mr Harry Potter, the amount of girls glaring at me after I got with you is astounding."

"Well, mine is because I somehow defeated Voldemort when I was 1, 0% ability, 100% my mum."

"You were still the subject of many rumours in your school year though, most positive ones, then you proceeded to beat a Dragon, I reckon your fame is your own doing."

"Once again, all of them are just me just trying to survive," Harry replied.

"After you do something stupid and heroic to save someone," Cho added making Harry laugh as he knew that it was perfectly true.

During the course of their chats, Harry noticed that there was a beetle nearby, unnaturally still. Harry subtly observed it more and more and noticed that it had unique markings around its eyes. Almost like glasses, and not just any glasses, a familiar ugly one that he had seen before, looking at the beetle's colour, Harry realised that its colours closely matched the outfit of only one person. Rita Skeeter. Harry silently and secretly conjured up a jar in his hand, waiting for the right time to strike, Harry slammed it onto the beetle, with it panickily trying to escape.

"Harry!" Cho exclaimed in shock, "What was that for?"

Harry slowly sealed the beetle into the jar, before showing it to Cho.

"Look familiar?"

Cho took a few moments to observe the beetle, before reaching the same conclusion as Harry.

"Is that… is that Rita Skeeter?"

"Mhm."

"How on earth is she a beetle?"

"No idea, but that's what I'm intending to find out, I reckon that she is an Animagi."

"Really?" Cho asked, "But won't we know if she is?"

"We should, unless she is unregistered," Harry said darkly watching the beetle's motions become more panicky.

"Cho, I think we should cut our date slightly short and get Dumbledore," Harry said to which Cho thankfully nodded excitedly, prepared to take the reporter who defamed both of them down.

Running back to Hogwarts, Harry and Cho rapidly made it to Dumbledore's office, and entered it.

"Harry, Ms Chang, it's lovely to see both of you here," Dumbledore said merrily, "shouldn't you 2 be on a date at Madam Puddifoot's?"

"Yes, wait how did you know?" Harry asked curiously, "Nevermind, you always do, that's not the point, this is."

Harry said as he placed the jar on Dumbledore's table, which Dumbledore curiously observed.

"Merlin's beard," Dumbledore chuckled, "finally got caught have you, Skeeter?"

The beetle continued to move erratically, trying its best to get out.

"Professor, do you believe that this is Rita Skeeter?" Harry asked excitedly.

"Very much so," Dumbledore replied before heading to his fireplace, "Amelia Bones!"

The fireplace morphed and turned into the face of Madam Bones who looked confused.

"Albus, Harry, Ms Chang? What did you call me for?" Madam Bones asked.

"Amelia, I believe that we have an unregistered Animagi on our hands," Dumbledore replied, "would you like to bear witness as we return it to its original form?"

"Very much so, stand back Albus," Madam Bones said as her head disappeared and soon, the flames turned green and in it stood Madam Bones. She moved towards the jar, examining it, her face then lit up in excitement and awe.

"Rita Skeeter?" Madam Bones exclaimed, "How did all of you catch her?"

"She was listening in on my conversation with Cho," Harry answered, "I then conjured up a jar and trapped her in it."

"Brilliant work Harry, the eye of an Auror," Madam Bones smirked, giving him a knowing look.

"Let's confirm this shall we?" she said, expanding the jar to human size before casting a spell on the beetle. Harry watched as it transformed into Rita Skeeter, her face fuming with anger.

"It's good to see you again Skeeter," Madam Bones said with an evil smirk, "I expect that this would be the last time I see you free in a while."

"I will kill you, Potter," Skeeter snarled, "you and your Chinese-"

"I would not recommend that you finish that sentence," Harry said after he casted a Silencing Charm on Skeeter, removing it after a short period of time.

"I would take it from here," Madam Bones said, "thank you for your assistance Harry."

Madam Bones arrested Rita Skeeter, binding her into special ropes which would restrict transformation, before bringing her back to the Ministry.

"Great job Harry," Dumbledore said, "I believe that you still have some time to resume your date."

"Thank you Professor."

"Have a wonderful Valentine's Day you 2," Dumbledore said as Harry and Cho left for Hogsmeade. All things considered, it was already the perfect Valentine's Day date for both of them.

"Happy Chinese New Year Cho!" Harry exclaimed. He was wearing a red shirt and was sitting in their hideout waiting for Cho to enter. When she did, she was similarly wearing a red shirt with her signature red ribbon she told Harry about, since they both had a free day that day, they could spend the day together peacefully.

"Thank you!" Cho replied happily, she was carrying a basket filled with food owled over by her parents, when they both opened the basket, they were astounded by the amount of food her mum had packed into the basket, from 'Bao' to dumplings, they had everything in there.

"Your mom is really spoiling us," Harry said in amazement.

"She said that having someone to spend Chinese New Year with me in school for the first time is really special, I think she likes you now you know?"

"Wait, so you are telling me nearly getting your soul sucked out wasn't it, rather, spending Chinese New Year with you did it?"

"Don't know, I have no idea what Ma is thinking half the time, Pa probably had a nightmare of a time when he was dating her," Cho shrugged.

"Thankfully, you are more like your Dad," Harry smiled, giving her a peck.

"Let's eat shall we," Cho said, "I'm famished."

Ravishing through the many dishes together while sipping on the Chinese tea Cho's mum provided, Harry had arguably one of his greatest breakfasts ever. Seeing that it was a free day for both of them, they decided to put away the need to complete their assignments, choosing to spend time with each other. Harry listened intently as retold her different experiences celebrating Chinese New Year, the key among which was her family spending it in China, meeting up with their various cousins and friends. Harry, however, kept one eye on the clock, waiting for the final surprise.

"Come on Cho, we have somewhere to be now," Harry said when the clock struck 3.55 pm. Grabbing Cho, he brought her to the Great Hall, waiting for the fireworks show to begin.

The moment the clock hit 4 pm, all hell broke loose. Fireworks started going off everywhere, and a vibrant display of red, yellow and purple filled the Halls. Harry laughed as he heard the crowd yell in unison, shocked at what just happened. Suddenly, a huge Dragon made of fireworks formed in the air, leading to many screaming and dashing out in fear. Harry watched as it flew around the air, leaving behind a trail of fireworks before it finally exploded.

"Fred and George really went all out didn't they," Harry whispered to Cho, as the fireworks display continued

"They are actually insane to do this, especially with their mother in school," Cho replied, watching on with a mix of horror and delight.

At that moment, the Professors entered the room, Harry watched as they stared at the display stunned. They were however stunned with admiration, Flitwick himself was watching the display intently, rapidly exchanging words with McGonagall, seemingly discussing the display. Mrs Weasley however, looked astonished and seemingly thinking of a punishment for the twins.

When the fireworks display finally ended, a good 10 minutes had passed. The entire school was crammed into the Great Hall to watch the end, erupting into cheers when the display ended. The Professors themselves were also clapping hesitantly, conflicted about their feelings about this display.

"50 points to Gryffindor," Dumbledore finally said, a bright smile on his face, "an amazing display of magic and innovation as well as the display of unity by helping celebrate Chinese New Year."

"But Albus-" Mrs Weasley tried to protest, clearly not impressed with her sons' display.

"I understand Molly, but you do have to celebrate this impressive show of magic which does not hurt or harm anyone, rather, helps celebrate a festival that many have no idea aboutm" Dumbledore replied, "Mr Weasleys, you would still have to clean up the Great Hall without magic before Dinner as a punishment."

Fred and George nodded enthusiastically, not even trying to deny that it was their doing, clearly amazed by the compliments that they had received.

"And last but not least, Happy Chinese New Year to you Ms Chang," Dumbledore said, smiling brightly at Cho who blushed under all the attention.

The Great Hall soon emptied out to allow Fred and George to completely clean up the place, Harry, feeling slightly guilty as he did ask for the display, decided to help as well. Within 15 minutes, the entire place was cleaned again, without any soot left on the ground.

"How is that for a Chinese New Year?" Harry said to Cho as they both walked back to their hideout.

"The best I've ever had in Hogwarts," Cho replied warmly, "thank you for that Zhu."

"Anything for you."