Legacy of Love

You're Still Here

Thought I saw you today

You were standing in the sun and you turned away

And I knew it couldn't be

But my heart believed

Oh, it seems like there's something every day

How could you be so far away

When you're still here

"Cho."

The voice broke through the haze in Cho's mind. She realized that she had been staring at the plate of food in front of her without really seeing it.

"Cho!"

The voice was more urgent this time. Not really annoyed, but definitely concerned. Cho forced herself to look up. She had to get him out of her mind.

"Cho, are you all right?" The voice belonged to Mary, Cho's best friend. The look on her faced told what her voice had been suggesting. She was worried.

"I'm fine," Cho said a little too quickly, tossing her hair in an effort to look casual. "Why do you ask?"

Mary scowled at her. "Don't try to tell me you're fine. I know you too well to fall for that. You aren't thinking about him again, are you?"

"If you know me so well, you wouldn't be asking about this!" Cho snapped. Her mood changed so fast that she didn't even have time to notice it.

"Oh, Cho!" Mary cried, feeling terrible for upsetting her friend. "You were thinking about him again, weren't you? Oh, you poor thing!"

Mary tried to put an arm around Cho, but she pulled away. "If we have to have this conversation, can we at least go back to the common room?"

When I need you you're not hard to find

You're still here

I can see you in my baby's eyes

And I laugh and cry

You're still here

Cho refused to let herself look at the Hufflepuff table as she made her way out of the Great Hall. She could hear Mary walking behind her, but she didn't bother looking back or waiting for her. She knew Mary would come. And if she didn't, what did it matter? Cho would just as soon be alone.

The two girls took seats in the far corner of the Ravenclaw common room. It seemed obvious that a secluded location was needed if their conversation was to get anywhere.

Mary knew it was up to her to get the ball rolling. "Please tell me what's wrong. Why were you thinking about Cedric?"

"First of all, it's not wrong for me to think about Cedric!" Cho spat.

Well, this is a promising start, Mary thought to herself. To Cho she said, "Of course it isn't. It's just scary when you get that lost look in your eyes."

"Was that how I looked at the table just now?" Cho asked. When Mary nodded, she frowned dejectedly. "I was just thinking about what happened earlier today."

Just nod supportively, Mary told herself. "What happened?" she prompted gently.

Cho seemed to be contemplating not answering. Then suddenly she blurted out, "I thought I saw him! I was on my way to History of Magic, and I saw this dark-haired boy walking up ahead of me. I honestly thought it was him for a moment! Oh, my heart just leaped!" The torrent of words stopped as suddenly as they had started.

"Cho!" Mary cried in pure sympathy. Again she tried to embrace her friend, but Cho pushed her away.

"I need to be alone," said Cho crisply, standing up.

She forced herself to keep her pace at a walk until she was out of Mary's sight. Then she ran the rest of the way to her dorm room. She barely had time to pull closed the curtains around her bed before the tears began to fall freely.

This was what hurt the most: when she would forget about Cedric's death for a second. It was like reliving that horrible night each time she remembered.

Cho cried until she feel asleep.

I had a dream last night

That you came to me on silver wings

And I flew away with you on a painted sky

And I woke up wondering what was real

Is it what you see and touch or what you feel

'Cause you're still here

The next morning Cho woke up very early. It was far too early for a teenage girl to be awake when she didn't have to be. Cho wished she was still sleeping. At least she wouldn't have to remember. Her mind, however, had other ideas.

At long last Cho decided to get up. She began to get gingerly out of bed and immediately regretted moving.

A voice from the bed next to her whispered, "Cho, why are you up so early?" It was Mary, of course.

"Couldn't sleep," Cho muttered. She attempted to sound perfectly normal to avoid more questions, but she knew it was too much to hope for.

"I couldn't sleep either. I was worrying about you." Mary sat up and gazed pointedly at Cho. "Okay, your turn. Why couldn't you sleep?"

Cho sniffed agitatedly. "I woke up from a dream and couldn't fall back to sleep." She thought she was all cried out, but her voice choked up as she spoke.

Although she felt she already knew the answer, Mary asked, "What was the dream about?"

"Cedric." Cho's voice cracked horribly on the single word, and out of nowhere tears fell from her eyes.

Mary thought it was best not to say anything. Instead she moved cautiously to a spot next to her friend on the bed. All her defenses gone, Cho simply let Mary hug her.

Oh, you're everywhere we've ever been

You're still here

I heard you in a stranger's laugh

And I hung around to hear him laugh again

Just once again

"Maybe you should try dating again," Mary suggested.

The tears had subsided, and the two friends sat talking. The air felt wonderfully cleared.

"No," Cho replied without hesitation.

"Why not?" asked Mary. "I'm not suggesting you try to replace Cedric. I just think it would be good for you to have some fun again."

Cho scrunched up her nose slightly. "I don't think I can. Anyway who would want to hang around with the late Cedric Diggory's gloomy girlfriend?"

There was a pause. "Maybe Harry Potter."

"No," Cho said firmly. Then to Mary's utter surprise, she laughed. "Oh, you're so sweet to try setting me up, but it would never work."

Now Mary laughed too. "But why not? He asked you to the Yule Ball, remember? He probably still likes you."

"He's just a baby!"

"He's only a year below us," Mary pointed out reasonably.

"It wouldn't work." Cho was polite but insistent. "I don't think I'm the one for Harry Potter."

Mary didn't seem too convinced, but Cho knew she was right. She could think of several girls who would be a lot better for Harry than she would. Besides, he reminded her too much of Cedric. Well, maybe that wasn't such a bad thing. She never wanted to forget.

Thought I saw you today

You were standing in the sun then you turned away