Chapter 4: The Helpless Swan
"Cho! Professor McGonagall is looking for you, she wants you in her office," Marietta shouted, running towards her.
Cho had just spent the entire day in the hideout together with Harry, trying to find any last-ditch charms to make Harry's life a little easier. Unfortunately, they had to just go with the Bubble-head charm and hope that it would last long enough for Harry to safely get in and out, otherwise… well she didn't want to think of an otherwise.
"Oh? Did she say why?" Cho asked, puzzled as to why McGonagall would want to meet her at such an odd time.
"Nope, she just told me to find you as soon as possible, seems important," Marietta said, with a frown.
"Ok, thanks, Marietta," Cho said, before hurrying to McGonagall's office.
On the way to McGonagall's office, Cho couldn't help but be worried for tomorrow. In the past few months, she had grown to truly care a ton for Harry. In this short time, she had never felt as connected to someone as Harry. Her group of friends were enjoyable company yes, but they were never the perfect group for Cho, always chatting about boys and how to get their attention. Harry on the other hand is very much different, he is a hermit but a loveable one at it, always paying attention to her emotions and feelings, even though he is slightly clueless at times.
Haizzzz, Zhu… let's hope tomorrow is a day of celebration, she thought.
After a slight bit of trekking, she finally arrived at McGonagall's office. Knocking on the door, she entered the office.
"Ah, Ms Chang you are here," Dumbledore said, with a tiny twinkle in his eyes.
"Sorry, I just received the news."
"No apology needed, well let me share the news shall I," Dumbledore said.
Cho surveyed the room, Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore, Percy Weasley and Ludo Bagman were the adults in it, there were also 3 students other than her, a Hufflepuff student whose name Cho believed was Octavian Johnson, a young girl with glowing silver hair, similar to Fleur and last but not least Hermione. Cho waved to Hermione who smiled back. Their relationship has very much grown due to their frequent meetings together with Harry and Ron. The uneasy feeling had largely faded, other than when Hermione and Harry seemed really close. Is it jealousy? she thought after first noticing it. Nevertheless, her respect for Hermione's intelligence has grown tenfold, someone with her wits should be placed in Ravenclaw.
"Well, you 4 are here today due to your relationship with the 4 champions and due to the second task, which will take place in the lake where the champions will have 1 hour to rescue you 4 from the mermaids," Dumbledore said.
It then struck Cho what the egg was talking about, 'We've taken what you'll sorely miss', it means the people who the champions are close to.
"You don't have to worry, we would not place you at the bottom of the lake, instead you will be placed in a bewitched sleep in this office, should the champion successfully save you, you will awake on the surface of the lake, should they fail, you will wake up in this very office," Dumbledore assured.
"Now, Mr Johnson, you are close friends with Mr Diggory aren't you? Perhaps his best?" Dumbledore questioned, seemingly correct in his assumption as Octavian nodded.
"Ms Delacour, you are the younger sister of Fleur Delacour aren't you?" the young girl nodded.
"Ms Granger, would it be right to say that you and Mr Krum have developed some kind of friendship during the course of this tournament," Hermione nodded, though seemingly a little confused. Seeing this, Dumbledore clarified, "Yes, Mr Krum seems to prefer spending time on his broom or studying by himself, you are seemingly the person he has the best relationship with during the course of this tournament."
Cho giggled as she watched Hermione cheek burned slightly pink at this revelation but nodded.
"And yes, Ms Chang, it would seem that you and Mr Potter have developed quite a special relationship in the past few months would it?" Dumbledore said, a tiny smile developing on his face. Cho nodded, blushing a little as well.
"Well it is settled then, McGonagall will give the details about the bewitched sleep, fret not, you will be safe," said an overly enthusiastic Ludo Bagman.
As Cho settled into the bed that McGonagall had set up, she made a silent prayer.
Do well Harry… and she drifted into her dreams.
Cho's eyes fluttered furiously as she gasped for air and looked around at her surroundings. As Dumbledore had said, she found herself in the middle of The Black Lake. Oddly, Fleur's sister was beside her. as well As if on cue, Harry suddenly emerged from the lake, interestingly, without a Bubble-head charm. They locked eyes and Harry directed her to the girl struggling in the water. Understanding what he meant, she helped Harry bring her to the platform nearby.
After some struggle, they finally reached the platform, helping Fleur's sister onto the platform first and placing her into the worried hands of Fleur, she was then helped onto the platform by Harry. When all of them were finally back on the platform, she turned to hug Harry. He can tell her more about what he did later, now she just wanted to embrace him to let him know how proud she was.
Unfortunately, Madam Pomfrey had to break the perfect wholesome moment and insisted that they put on some blankets so as to not catch a cold. At that very moment, someone came running towards them.
"'Arry, thank you so much, you saved Gabrielle when she wasn't your hostage!" Fleur said, running towards Harry, giving him a hug and a peck to his face, which definitely did not make Cho a little mad.
"You as well, thank you!" She said to Cho, before giving her a hug and hurrying away to her sister.
"Harry! Good job!" exclaimed Hermione, who gave Harry a huge smile which Harry returne before Hermione's attention was turned back to Krum who got rid of a beetle which was on Hermione's hair.
"And now, for the scores!" exclaimed Ludo Bagman, Cho didn't catch what he said about the others' score, though it did worry her when she realised that Harry was truly out of the time limit of 1hr.
"Finally, Harry James Potter showed a successful usage of Gillyweed, (Gillyweed? What was that? Cho wondered) while he was the last to return, the Chief Merman had informed us that in fact, he was the first to reach the scene, he however refused to leave the other hostages behind, choosing to stay behind and fight to save all the hostages, for this display of skill and morale fibre, we award Harry James Potter 45 points."
Harry looked shocked at this while Cho jumped into him, embracing him tightly.
"You silly Zhu, you didn't think that Dumbledore would leave us down there did you."
"Urm… I was not thinking straight," said Harry guilty
"You heroic idiot." She replied, embracing Harry even tighter.
What happened next however, stunned Cho herself.
Out of nowhere, Harry broke the embrace and landed his lips on hers, giving her a gentle kiss. Cho quickly recovered from the initial shock, reciprocating the kiss and sinking deeper into Harry. Cho heard the crowd going silent, clearly watching the spectacle in front of them, Cho however, did not care, all she cared about what the man in front of her, the man of her dreams.
"Will you be my girlfriend?" Harry whispered to her when they finally broke apart.
"Took you long enough to ask," Cho chuckled.
"Is that a yes then?" asked a slightly worried Harry now.
"Yes Zhu, I will, I definitely will."