Harry Potter Still Living

"Why though?" Harry asked Ron later that night.

"I don't know, maybe it was the truth. Harry maybe you ought to let this go for a while. I mean you haven't been yourself lately until you talked to Cho, and Cho is probably as confused as you were in the beginning of the year. Do you even remember how the Dursleys acted when we came to get you? Usually they'd be happy to get rid of you, but your aunt looked genuinely concerned about your behavior. Mum almost had kittens over how much ate that first day. I guess you were used to eating small, except when we sent you your birthday cakes. I told her that you'd been forced to live off of grapefruit quarters for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the entire summer up until then. Well, Harry are you going to stand doing that to yourself again?"

"No," said Harry, "I don't, which is exactly why I need to keep talking to Cho. You said it yourself, I wasn't myself until I talked to her, but come on Ron we need to get you ready to face Fleur for one hour without drooling on her. We should down to the great hall for dinner Wood said that we'd get our schedules tonight." With that they left down the marble staircase, and into the great hall.

When they got to the great hall it seemed as though they were early, and Dumbledore beckoned them forward. "Hello Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley," said Dumbledore, "I do wonder about this new method of dispersing schedules, but to get this done properly without any mixing of schedules, and so everyone knows where they are supposed to go we have deemed it necessary, actually it was one of their ideas, to ask the house elves (Harry was wondering how Hermione would respond to this) to hand out the schedules in envelopes addressed to the owners. We have several new temporary teachers this year," he said, "Ms. Delacour, or as you no doubt know her by Fleur is a permanent staff addition. Mr. Oliver Wood is only here temporarily. Madame Hooch is off on my orders as is Hagrid. I am sure my informing you that your Care of Magical Creatures teacher for the time being is Remus Lupin will bring you joy. He will be staying, and assisting Hagrid once he gets back. I'm sorry to tell you that Ms. Trelawney will not be teaching this year, instead it is someone that Harry, I dare say you are familiar with, Ms. Arabella Figg. If you have not yet understood why I say that you must be familiar with her you might want to turn around because she's entering the hall." Dumbledore broke off into silence as Harry turned, and to his amazement Mrs. Figg his kindly old neighbor from Privet Drive was entering the great hall in wizards robes followed closely by at least one dozen of her cats. Dumbledore began to speak again, "Now, Harry, like I said before the house elves will be handing out the invitations all at once using their own brand of magic, the two assigned to the Gryffindor table are Dobby and Winky, a special request from Dobby himself, the whole thing was his idea. So, as you are eating tonight I am quite sure that Dobby will greet you."

"I'll save him a seat," said Harry. He laughed when he said it, but he meant every word.

Dumbledore smiled, and Harry could see that twinkle in the eyes behind the half moon spectacles. "Harry, are you aware that miss Cho Chang came to see me just last night, and asked if her schedule could be made to match yours?" Dumbledore said questioningly.

"Yes," said Harry truthfully.

"I'm quite sure that you also know about how she is being treated by others. Because you were being a comforting friend to a person who isn't even in your house, who in fact, opposes you at Quidditch, I am feeling quite generous and thankful towards you. So, I am awarding Gryffindor house fifty points. See you in the dungeons tomorrow night, oh wait you haven't heard that yet. Well, you'll understand once you get your schedule. In the mean time I ask you to be careful. I see difficult times ahead, most difficult. Good night Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley," and with that he finished.

"'Night Professor," Harry and Ron in unison, and they left him, as the rest of the students and teachers made their way into the great hall.

They sat down at the Griffyndor table. Even though Cho wasn't a Gryffindor she came to sit by Harry anyway. Ron moved over to the other side of the table where Hermione would rush in and sit after returning from the library, and sure enough as Ron reached the other side so did Hermione rushing from the entrance.

"Hi Cho! Hi Harry! Ron what are you doing?" she said, for Ron's mouth looked entirely full and was doing a Jig.

"Jiggling Jig Gelatin!" Fred yelled.

"One Galleon, one treat! Make your friends dance with ease when they eat one of these!" yelled George.

Everyone laughed as the usual prank pulling students made their way over to buy trick sweets from Fred and George. When the commotion quieted down, and Ron stopped dancing with a brilliant finale of something that resembled Riverdance Ron turned from blue in the face to red, then swung at Fred who dodged causing Ron to hit George straight in the chin.

"Bloody hell, Ron, you should try to make the Quidditch team. I bet you could make the chaser or keeper positions that are open with that arm of yours!" said George.

"Yeah, throwing that Quaffle's no easy job, and you're thin so you'd probably have speed. You should ask Wood about what being keeper takes. He could probably show you a few moves," said George seriously.

"Alright then, I'll do that. I'll ask him tomorrow after flight combat," said Ron.

"I heard that there's a new broom out, the Eagle Arrow. It's supposed to be better than the Firebolt, the new international standard broom," said Cho.

Just then Hedwig flew in from the window and dropped two letters in Harry's lap, the top one was from Sirius. Cho saw it before Harry stuffed it in his pocket, but had heard about two years ago, and putting two and two together decided that Sirius was probably altogether innocent. She'd ask Harry about it later. Victor Krum wrote the bottom letter. This surprised Harry slightly. Why would Victor Krum write to him now? He opened it in mild interest. In very sloppy handwriting and horrible English it read:

"Harry,

Hope I am finding you well. As you might have heard, there is a new international standard type broom called the Eagle Arrow. I knew you were on the Quidditch team, so instead of throwing our old Firebolts out, like we normally wood, I thought we should give them to your Quidditch team. I also herd you tell me that your birthday was sumtime this summer. So, I am sending an extra Eagle Arrow we have received as a late gift.

Good job against the horntail,

Victor"

"He's sending the whole Gryffindor team Firebolts, and you an Eagle Arrow?" asked Cho reading over Harry's back.

"Looks that way doesn't it? Anyway, cheer up Cho, you can have my Firebolt that way you'll have more of a chance," said Harry, "Ron when we get back to our dormitory we'll send the extra Firebolt that I won't need straight to Charlie."

"What about Wood?" asked Ron.

"He'll already have an Eagle Arrow. His job here is just during the school year don't you remember. He plays Quidditch for a living now. Anyway," Harry laughed, "I just can't wait to see the look on Malfoy's slimy face when everyone comes out on Firebolts and me on an Eagle Arrow."

The whole table started laughing insanely, even Cho. Harry looked at her, and she stopped. "Oh, yeah, I heard that Malfoy was a huge jerk, and then when I met him. He treated me like I was scum so I hit him in the head with my broom as I pretended to go after the Snitch. Madame Hooch refused to call a foul when Malfoy flew down to tell her about it. I caught the Snitch while he was on his way back towards me," said Cho. Harry laughed.

"'Arry Potter, sir." Harry heard a familiar voice say as everyone's schedules appeared magically in front of them including Cho's.

"Hello Dobby. How're you doing?" asked Harry turning to face the house elf. Cho meanwhile was staring straight at Harry amazed.

"'Friend of yours?" she asked.

"Oh yeah, Dobby," Harry said as Dobby climbed into the seat beside him, "I want you to meet someone this is my g... my friend Cho. Where's Winky?" said Harry eager to change the subject, he and Cho were going red.

"Another elf?" asked Cho.

"Yeah," said Harry kicking Ron under the table to stop his sniggering.

"Winky is handing out the schedules without magic on that side of the table, sir" Harry now noticed Ron and Hermione didn't have their schedules yet, and neither did half of the great hall. Dobby was the only one to use magic. Then everyone else magically got their schedules.

"I is getting lazy," said Winky coming down to their end of the table and sitting beside Hermione.

"Good for you, Winky. You're aloud to be as lazy as Ron is. You have just as much right," said Hermione.

"I is knowing, miss. Dobby taught Winky to adjust. Now Winky is being paid for her work like Dobby. Except Winky is not as lazy as Dobby, miss," said Winky.

Ron and Dobby looked up, and at the exact same time Ron said, "Hey what's that supposed to mean?" Dobby said "What is that supposed to be meaning?"

Then at the same time Hermione said "That you're lazy," Winky said, "That you is lazy."

Both Ron and Dobby looked indignantly at either of the girls that had insulted them, then started talking angrily about Hermione and Winky, who were both looking quite pleased with themselves.

Cho and Harry couldn't stop laughing. Harry couldn't remember when he'd seen something more funny in his entire life.

"Dobby," said Harry still laughing, "Why don't you tell Cho about how we met and how we became friends?"

"This is an interesting story, miss," said Dobby excited that he got to tell a story, "Dobby's old masters was the Malfoys. They is bad wizards. They plotted to open the Chamber of Secrets because Harry Potter was at Hogwarts. Dobby hears this and Dobby goes to warn Harry Potter to not go to school. Mr. Malfoy is giving Ginny Weezy a book that makes her open the Chamber of Secrets. Then Dobby tries to stop Harry from getting on the train, and Harry Potter comes to school in a flying car. Then Dobby hears Harry Potter is on the Quidditch team at Hogwarts. Dobby makes a Bludger try to hurt Harry Potter bad enough to make him go home, but Harry Potter did not go home. Harry Potter went down into the Chamber of Secrets and triumphed over the bad person from the book. Then when Harry Potter comes out Dobby has come with Mr. Malfoy. Harry Potter tricks Mr. Malfoy into giving Dobby a sock, and Dobby is a free elf now! Then Dobby finds out that Winky was freed too, and we comes to work here." Dobby finished.

"Wow, that was very interesting Dobby," said Cho.

"Thank you, miss," said Dobby Grinning from ear to ear.

Cho nudged Harry with her elbow, "Hey, let's get out of here," she whispered.

"All six of us, the four humans, or just you and me?" asked Harry.

"Dobby and Winky must get back to the kitchens," said Dobby loudly and the two elves disappeared.

"I was going to say the four humans," said Cho, "let's go."

"Hermione, Ron, come on let's get out of here," said Harry he got up, turned, nodded to Dumbledore, and left.

"Why did we leave?" asked Ron.

"Because Cho wanted to, and so did I we're going back to our dormitory... all of us. I want to check out those brooms. I left the window open, meaning they're all probably on my bed waiting, we should go to the owlery with the extra, so we can send it to Charlie," Harry said.

"I have a question about that extra broom," said Hermione, "could I keep it instead, I mean, Ron will have one because he's already set to be on the Quidditch team, Cho will get your old one, and you'll have the Eagle Arrow. I'd be left on the ground."

"Oh, I never brought you into the picture, I mean, you normally don't go flying. You go tearing through books instead. Well, I guess Charlie wouldn't really have time to use it unless he was using it for work. You are my friend. I'm sorry I didn't think to give it to you in the first place Hermione," said Harry.

"That's okay I wouldn't think to connect me with broomsticks either I guess. Thanks Harry you're the greatest," she said.

"Yeah, he is, isn't he?" said Cho loftily and she took hold of Harry's hand.

"Why does she keep acting like this?" thought Harry, "I mean I know she's not throwing herself at me. She can't be. She's too smart to do something like that to me completely randomly. Why is she acting like this? Does she like me? I don't know anymore. What was it I did that made her like me so much?" Harry thought of what Dumbledore had said about caring for her, and comforting her when she needed him most, "Is that what this is all about? I comforted her when she needed me most, because of that she knows I'm a good person and that I can drop my pride for her. Now since she's figured that out she likes me. Whoa, dude, I've never thought this much before in my life figuring out human emotions is a lot more difficult than experiencing them. Well, now that I've figured that out for myself, no matter how much thinking it took, I can handle this."

"Harry, are you okay?" Cho was looking at him concernedly. Harry shook himself mentally and grinned. Cho grinned back, but all the same she repeated her question.

"Yeah I'm fine," said Harry

"Are you sure? You seemed like your mind had left the planet for a minute," said Cho. She was worried about him.

"Maybe I'm a little tired or bored. I was daydreaming about riding the Eagle Arrow," said Harry.

"Let's sit down somewhere and check out our schedules," said Cho.

"We're almost there," said Ron, "let's keep going."

"He's right, just look for the painting of the fat lady," said Hermione.

"It's at the end of this hallway," said Harry, "I'm seriously okay Cho, I want to ride that broom tonight. All four of us can fit tightly under my dad's old invisibility cloak even with brooms. We'll sneak out to Wood's Office, he'll let us ride. Ron can ask him about being keeper and if he has any tips. We don't have a captain to approve you Ron, but you meet everyone on the team's approval, so the spot is yours if you want it. Anyway, about this captain thing I'm thinking I might try, but I think somebody more like you should do it Ron. I mean you know the formations, and you keep track of Quidditch during Quidditch season. I think I might be too separated. Anyway, you could just take Wood's spot completely sound good to you?"

"Yeah," said Ron picturing himself keeper and captain, "that sounds great."

Cho let go of Harry's hand, looked at Harry, and asked, "Aren't you going to read the letter, you know, from Sirius? I mean, we're out of the great hall."

Everyone looked silently at her and Harry spoke out into the silence, "Cho, are you upset because I never told you I talk to Sirius. I know that being honest is what's important. I just, well, never thought to tell you. I mean, he is innocent, but you don't go around bragging about the fact that you're in contact with someone that's on the run from the ministry of magic. It's not safe. I'm sorry."

"No, I'm not upset. Just promise me no more secrets, okay?" she said.

"Promise," said Harry and he grabbed her hand back in his and smiled, "If anything else weird comes up that you don't understand don't hesitate to ask."

"I won't," said Cho as they reached the fat lady.

"What's a Ravenclaw doing with you?" asked the fat lady.

"We're just here to get something," said Harry, "Apocalypse."

"That's a dark password," said Cho.

"I thought so too," said Hermione as they climbed through the portrait hole.

"Brooms first or schedules first?" asked Harry.

"Schedules," said the girls.

"Brooms," said Ron.

"It's up to me then, sorry Ron I have to go with the majority," said Harry.

"First thing Defense Against the Dark Arts," said Hermione.

"Brilliant," said Ron.

"Second Care of Magical Creatures with Lupin, wait, that can't be right," said Cho.

"Yes it can, he's taking Hagrid's place until Hagrid gets back from where-ever Dumbledore sent him, and helping when Hagrid gets back."

"Just like Wood for Madame Hooch," said Hermione looking up into space.

"Precisely," said Ron, "Well, I know someone who's in for a rough year, Malfoy. That makes me so happy I could dance another jig."

"Don't," said Cho, "It doesn't suit you."

"Third, Great, Potions with the Slytherins, I thought Snape was giving enough detentions outside of class, looks like we're his next, victims, this is so weird. We were told to go to potions first day back because of the reforming process, you know all of the houses spend an hour with the other's leader. They switched Gryffindor with Slytherin and Ravenclaw with Hufflepuff. He seemed to give everybody detention, but his usual people, even Fred and George stayed out of trouble. It was weird," said Harry.

"Professor Sprout let us run wild. I mean, we were aloud to play with the plants in greenhouse three. I did. It was fun," said Cho.

"Lucky you, I thought he looked scarier than ever before, like he had been stripped of any energy he had. He was practically kind to us," said Ron, "We know our first three classes can we go now?" he asked impatiently.

"Yes," said Hermione annoyed at his behavior.

"Cho," said Harry, "I'll read the letter from Sirius later, and you should stay here after we fly just in the common room, prefects aren't going to be patrolling the hallways, but Snape and Filch will be. I don't think it'll be safe out there, but it's fine in here. Let's go up and get our new brooms!"

"But Harry I'm in Ravenclaw, and I'm a girl," said Cho.

"Fine, Cho, here's a way we won't get caught, and you won't be scared. You won't need to go back. We use a silence charm and a lock charm on my curtains, nobody can get in see us or hear us," said Harry, "Nobody but the four of us will know. I'll tell you when everything is clear in the morning."

"Fine, but we're not doing anything," Cho said seriously.

"I don't expect us to do anything Cho, well, except maybe read that letter," said Harry, "That's a disgusting thought Cho, I wouldn't do that even if you wanted me to." He smiled and ran his hand down her face.

"Come on, Harry, or Ron and Hermione will think we got attacked," said Cho grabbing Harry's hand again, and they went up to look at the brooms.

When they reached the dormitory Ron had shut the window, unwrapped two of the brooms, and sat down to examine his handing the other to Hermione. Harry walked over to his trunk, opened it and handed Cho his perfectly serviced Firebolt. Harry put the rest of the identical packages away and kept one differently shaped package out. He began to unwrap the broom.

"We'll wait in the common room until you get the invisibility cloak," said Hermione dragging Ron out of the room.

"Okay," said Harry.

They disappeared as Harry unwrapped the sleek black handle of the broom shaped like an eagle's head. He ran his fingers over the lettering. The "E" in Eagle was shaped like a bird's beak. As the Harry ran his fingers down where the rider mounted the broom, it was cushioned but still black. Then suddenly as he reached footrest, which was made of chrome, he saw the red twigs sharply ending in a curved form like an upside down teardrop.

Harry got under his bed and retrieved the invisibility cloak, he had used it to avoid the Creevey brothers in the common room the previous night. When he got up, to his surprise, Cho was right there in front of him.

"Thanks Harry, not just for the broom for everything," she said. Then she did something Harry had not expected. She kissed him. When they broke apart Cho spoke again, "And next time you start to introduce me to someone as your girlfriend you can finish your sentence."

"Cho," Harry said.

"Yeah," said Cho.

"Nothing," Harry smiled and continued, "I just thought we should get down to the common room." So, they picked up everything and set off down the stairs.

When they got down to the common room Ron was at the portrait hole waiting impatiently. "Well, come on," he said. Harry through the cloak over them and they climbed out from behind the fat lady.

"Do you know what I think?" whispered Ron as they passed the crowd leaving the great hall, "That whole thing where Dumbledore put us in strange classes was an excuse to mix things up just in case someone attacked the school first day back. I mean, to confuse the attacker and to keep us hidden out of the way of the action. I guess nothing happened though."

"Oh yeah, that's something I'll tell you about later Cho. It's all part of the Voldemort madness," said Harry, and to hid astonishment Cho did not shudder or respond to the name in any of the usual ways among wizards.

When they reached the Quidditch pitch Ron knocked on the weathered, green door to the flying teacher's office, and Wood opened it looking very surprised to find no one at his door. Harry whipped off the cloak quickly. "Harry," said Wood surprised, "What are you out here for? Shouldn't you be back in the common room by now?"

"We just got new brooms from Victor Krum," said Harry, "and we wanted to know if we could use them, and Ron wanted to ask you about what it took to be captain and keeper."

"Well, of course you can, and Weasley I'm going to get the Quaffle, I want to see your best blocking and flying skills. Harry, Cho, I'll turn the lights on and get the Snitch if you want me to. Hermione, can you help me with Ron?" asked Wood,

"Of course," said Hermione.

"Wood, Cho and I would be thrilled if you let the Snitch out," said Harry.

"Alright then," said Ron eagerly, "Let's go!"

Wood picked up the box in which the four balls were kept, and his own Eagle Arrow, and followed them out onto the pitch. Wood pointed his wand straight up, "Lumos," he said as he waved it through the air and what seemed like a radiant light seemed to be coming from the higher seats of the stadium like some bizarre form of a night baseball game. Wood opened the box and tossed the Quaffle quickly to Ron who caught it. He released the Snitch and they all mounted their brooms. About an hour later Harry had caught the Snitched three or four times as much as he would have on his Firebolt, but Cho would prove to be almost as good as Harry because his arm started getting tired. Ron was doing well, and Wood was telling him about moves that would help and how to be a good captain.

"That's enough for tonight!" shouted Wood as Harry caught the Snitch one last time. They all landed and put the two balls back where they belonged. Wood shut the box, and as they were about to head inside five masked figures flew into the stadium.

Harry drew his wand and mounted his broom, and the others followed. Wood told them to take flight. They did or in Harry's case had already done so. "If all of us use the Hawk's head attacking formation we should be okay. Do you all remember at the world cup?" he asked.

"Yes," answered the others.

They were obviously Death Eaters. Harry knew that much. Now the two groups were lined up with each other. "GO!" shouted Wood, and they charged straight at the Death Eaters, circled behind them, and easily stunned them as they turned. Each broom and its rider circled round, losing altitude slowly, and eventually hit the ground. When all feet were safely on the ground Wood said, "Great job! You'll get high marks in flight combat. You all get back under that cloak, and go back to your dormitories. I'll call the headmaster and tell him what happened. He'll know you had my permission."

"That was too easy," said Ron.

"Just Go!" Wood pleaded.

"Alright," said Harry turning, "Ron you heard him."

Once they got back to the common room running the whole way back they uncloaked themselves.

"Want to explain that one Harry?' asked Cho.

"I can only tell you what I know," said Harry, "Everyone, when you go to bed tonight use three charms on your bed. The firs two are for your sheets they are Quietus and Salocia. Those will keep sound in and people out. Once locked in use talkalotus on the ceiling of your bed we will be able to talk freely, you'll see. When you're done talking use Notintosaio. It'll help me to explain, and we can read that letter."

Then Hermione went to the girls' side and the rest to the boys' side. Ron and Harry preformed the charms of which Hermione had obviously already done for her face appeared on the ceiling of Harry's four-poster quickly followed by Ron's face. It was like two misty-edged, circular, television screens were floating above them with their friends faces on them.

"Lumos," said Harry as he extracted the letter from his robes. He began to read it...