Harry Potter and the Sorceress Queen

"Someone's got it in for Cho, I tell you."

"But the Protracitisum isn't deadly, how many times do I have to tell you?"

"Well, maybe someone wants to harm her, but doesn't want her dead......"

"You mean that 'someone' is a person who can conjure Lady Stingers out of thin air and make Protracitasum?"

"Yeah......"

Harry, Ron and Hermione were in the Owlery in the early morning. Now that Gryffindor had secured the chance to Holland, and the poisoning of Cho, Harry couldn't wait to send a letter to Sirius right away. While Harry was tying his message on Hedwig's leg, Hermione and Ron stood by his side, discussing about yesterday's events.

The previous night the Griffindors held a party to celebrate their winning of the Quidditch final. Fred and George brought back an enormous supply of food from Hogsmeade, and let off Blasting Bananas and Filibuster's Fireworks.

Almost everyone were talking about the upcoming exchange trip. Parvati and Lavender were begging Angelina, Alicia and Katie to buy souvenirs for them; Colin Creevey had produced a V8 somehow and was asking Lee Jordan (he was to be Fred's reserve player) to tape the whole game in Holland.

Harry joined in the frenzy reluctantly, or it would arouse strange looks from the others. He longed to visit Cho, but he was sure her Ravenclaw friends would be around her in large numbers, and he didn't relish the thought of seeing Cho in front of those giggly girls.

The next day at lunch, Julie Anne and Nicole dropped by the Gryffindor table. Julie Anne, her face genuinely worried , told them Cho was okay, but she had to stay in the hospital wing for a few days. No one knew how that Protracitasum came to be.

"Professor Delacour said the Protracitasum was stolen from her private stores. But even if someone did steal it, how is he supposed to slip it in Cho's drink?" Julie Anne shook her head in disbelief. "Find some time to visit her, okay?" She and Nicole went away.

Harry sat in his seat, forgetting his food for a minute. He had this nasty feeling that Protracitasum wasn't the last straw. More unpleasant events are sure to come. Although the Lady Stinger and Protracitasum weren't fatal, what could ensure there won't be more dangerous incidents?

Burke also came over. He leaned down beside Ron.

"Ron, will you be the reserve Keeper?"

"What?" Ron was hoping for the position, but he still froze a moment when Burke made the request.

"Reserve Keeper. You." Burke seemed to think that speaking meant spending money.

"Oh. Yeah, I'd love to." Ron was trying to conceal his delight.

Burke nodded, gave him a thump on the shoulder, then left.

"Did you hear that? Did you hear what he said?" Ron was getting over excited with joy.

Harry congratulated him, feeling glad his best friend was also going to Holland with him. He glanced at Hermione, who initially wanted to say something too, but seeing Ron's reaction to Burke's words, she merely bent down and devoured her food faster.

Ron was still talking loudly, unable to restrain himself.

"For heavens sake, Ron, don't act like an eight-year-old," snapped Hermione, when she couldn't stand it any longer.

"You're just jealous...jealous..." was the reply she got. Ron turned back to Harry.

"Hey Harry, what do you think? We could go to..." he got no further. Hermione had forked a large piece of corned beef (A/N: Remember in the first book that Ron hates corned beef?) and stuffed it into Ron's open mouth.

The holidays came, in which Harry was most thankful. He felt his was going crazy, for Professor McGonagall had ordered the Gryffindor team to take extra lessons on weekends, in case they would be left behind. All of his team mates were staying as well as Ron and Hermione in order to practice constantly. Cho was also staying. Burke had asked her to be Harry's reserve player, and she accepted eagerly. She stayed at Hogsmeade with Nicole as nearly every Ravenclaw had gone home for Christmas. She could offer no explanation about the Protracitasum. Cho was sure she hadn't any enemies in school that would go to the length of poisoning her, and seemed keen to forget about the incident.

On Christmas day, Harry got up early, because he had a date with Cho: Seeker practice. He had received a number of presents-a Cheeky Chivvy Clock from Ron, one of Fred and George's newest inventions. It was an alarm clock painted with bright flashy colors and a large smiley face, which changes expression if you get up late in the morning. More to that, the Clock shouts and yells louder and louder if you don't get out of bed, and squirts water on your face as a last resort. Hermione gave him an expensive rubber that erases every mistake you made beautifully, and dances jerkily before you if you get bored with homework. Mrs. Weasley sent a usual package of a new sweater and homemade goodies. When Harry picked up his last gift, a big fat knobbly parcel, it exploded with a loud BANG and showered him with magical snow and Christmas trinkets. But Harry spotted a small object with a card on it nestled in the wrappings. He looked at the card, which was from Cho (Merry Christmas! Hope you liked it!). The real present she had for him was a tiny Broom Accelerator, which he could fasten among the twigs of his Firebolt. Harry was a bit exasperated as he tried to brush himself clean from the snow, but secretly was pleased at his present.

Harry went down to the common room, carrying his Firebolt, with a big smile on his face. He grinned at Ron and Hermione, who were sitting at a table, doing homework. Ron had wanted to take a break (It's Christmas! Hermioneeeeee~), but Hermione refused to let him off until he had mastered the Diminishing Charm. The rest of the Gryffindor team was in Hogsmeade on a temporary break, for Fred and George had been persuading Burke for a day off. (Come on, it's Christmas, old man!)

"Harry!"

Cho was waving at him. Her long black hair caught in the wind and swirled around her, and the hemline of her robes was flapping merrily in the wind too. Her eyes were shining with vibrancy and energy. Harry couldn't think of a lovelier picture. He walked over to her, hoping his new robes would give him a better appearance, carrying a small wooden box, which contained the Snitch he had procured for practice.

"Ready to take off?"

"Of course!" Cho swung her leg over the Windspeeder and kicked into the air. Harry let the Snitch out and flew out in the air to her, waiting for the Snitch to get a three minutes' head start.

They soared high and low in the air, sometimes flying at breakneck speed, each trying to get the Snitch before the other does. Harry marveled at the effect the Broom Accelerator had on the Firebolt. He never thought he could go on an even faster speed than he did before. Also, Harry found he was making progress with his skill with Cho competing with him. Her Seeker reflexes were amazingly quick from her kung-fu training, and her moves were often unexpected. Years after, Harry looked back at these days with Cho was one of his most treasured memories.

After two hours, they landed on the ground, panting but feeling refreshed and energetic with the exercise. Harry took a deep breath, for he was going to do something he had planned with Hermione's help.

"Er...Cho?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"I really want to thank you for your present, and...um...I...I've got a Christmas present for you."

His face burning, Harry handed a small, neatly wrapped package to her. Cho took it from him, looking remotely surprised. She unwrapped the scented wrappings gently, revealing a bracelet. It was a simple, elegant string of small enamel flowers. Harry had dragged Hermione to help him pick a gift for Cho while they were doing their Christmas shopping. Cho slipped the bracelet over her wrist, her expression difficult to read. When she fastened the clasp, a soft, musical tune rang out, sounding like crystal bells tinkling.

"Thank you." She could only whisper the two words and turned away from him for a brief moment, so she needn't look at him, perhaps afraid she might let her emotions betray her inner feelings.

A gust of the cold winter wind blew over them. Cho shivered a bit, for it was some time after their exercise. Harry, watching her back, had a sudden urge to grab her around the waist and crush her to him, to wipe away the pain she had been suffering since Cedric's death. He swallowed, trying to keep his impulse down. Cho might bash him up, not that he minded, but he didn't want anything to spoil their friendship.

"Who's there?" Cho suddenly called out sharply, for her eyes had detected a gray patch behind a clump of trees and bushes situated at the edge the field. She made a flying leap and another to the direction, Harry on her heels. His heart beat fast with anxiety and fear. Was this another enemy?

There was a muffled yell, then he heard Cho's voice, "Oh! I'm sorry, Professor. You're...you're back?"

Harry rounded a bush, and to his great surprise, Remus Lupin was standing there and what's more, a large shaggy black dog was beside him, and wagged his tail eagerly at sight of him.

"Merry Christmas, Harry, Cho," said Lupin pleasantly, smiling at them. "I guess you don't need much teaching in defending, Cho." He gave her a teasing wink, rubbing his arm.

Cho went red and said, "I'm really sorry, Professor. Oh, when did you come back? When you left, it was awful because I didn't expect anyone to teach as good as you. But now Professor Jenna is..."

"Jenna?" asked Lupin, raising his eyebrows slightly. Harry noticed a shade of pink fall over Lupin's face. "Professor Evelyn Jenna?"

"Yeah...you know her?" Cho and Harry said at the same time, and then blushed.

Lupin smiled, and glanced at Sirius/dog and said, "Cho, why don't you take me to the castle? I'd like to see Dumbledore and yes, Professor Jenna, if she's here."

"Oh...okay." Cho looked at Harry. "Do you want to come too?"

"Er..." Now that Sirius is here, Harry wanted to talk with his godfather as soon as possible. Lupin helped him.

"Cho, actually, this dog is Harry's. He isn't allowed to keep him at Hogwarts, so I suppose Harry would like to spend some more time with him, take him around the grounds or something."

"Oh...all right." Cho sounded a bit skeptical, but didn't ask any questions. She bent down and patted Sirius/dog on the head. Sirius perked up his ears and wagged his tail at sight of the pretty girlish face. "Can you sit? Stand? Wow...Harry, your dog sure is clever." Lupin and Harry looked at each other and both wore the identical expression of trying not to burst out in laughter. Finally, Cho and Lupin started off to the castle.

Sirius waited until they were well out of sight and tugged Harry on his sleeve. Harry followed his godfather to a secluded spot, laughing heartily when he thought of Cho's treating his godfather like a real dog. Sirius transformed back to his usual human self. He looked in pretty good health now.

"Harry......," Sirius was shaking his head, a funny smile forming on his face. "You're truly your father's son......" Last time he said this was when Harry and Hermione rescued him on Buckbeak. Harry stopped laughing.

"What?"

"Your mother, Lily, was one of the prettiest girls in school. You can't imagine how many guys were after her, but your father eventually won her heart at his last year. And Harry, you're only in your fifth year and you've got a girlfriend with stunning looks, Quidditch skills and......" Sirius couldn't stop grinning.

"She's not my girlfriend." interrupted Harry. Sirius looked surprised. "But why are you with her instead of Ron and Hermione?"

Harry explained, and the words came spilling out of his mouth, from when he first noticed Cho in his third year, how he had asked her to the Yule Ball but got rejected, how she became Cedric's girlfriend but later Cedric was killed by Voldemort, and how Cho's friends told him that Cho in reality liked him, but Cedric's death was what kept them from getting together......

Sirius listened quietly while Harry talked, growing more serious after Harry told about Cedric's death. When Harry finished, his face downcast, Sirius said, "Harry, you said a Lady Stinger attacked you and Cho when you were in Hogsmeade?"

"Yeah. And someone poisoned Cho with Protracitasum in our final match."

Sirius was now looking grave. "Harry, Lupin and I have been trying to figure out who's been causing these attacks from your letters but, it just doesn't make sense. Okay, suppose the Stinger was an accident. But the Protracitasum is deliberately done for some reason. Now, excuse me for saying so, but is there anyone in Gryffindor who's keen to win as to try to sabotage the Ravenclaw Seeker?"

Harry thought hard. He was sure that no one on the team would do anything low and cowardly as poisoning Cho. "I...I don't know......"

"Well......," Sirius was pacing the ground, his brow furrowed. "I must add, though, the Lady Stinger is very unlikely an accident. There was never a Lady Stinger in England before, they aren't very common these days because their appetites are very big and are slow to catch food. But you and Cho met one......" he paused, shaking his head again, then continued, "I wanted to come back, not only because of Dumbledore's orders, but to tell the truth, I want you to be careful, Harry, when you go to Holland."

"Why? You mean there's danger...?"

"Harry, Voldemort's regained his power and Hogwarts is the safest place for you, because Dumbledore's here. From what I've heard of, the headmaster of Manxwell Academy of Magic is also a qualified wizard, but we can never be too careful. Promise me that you'll not go wandering off to some strange place in Holland, okay?" Sirius looked at him with genuine concern.

Harry nodded, after all, he had been through so many nearly fatal events, and wasn't going to get murdered when his parents had sacrificed their lives for him. Sirius suddenly grinned again. "I guess we'd better get going, Harry, I'd like to see that little girl Cho again-just kidding-Dumbledore is probably waiting for me."

Sirius transformed back to the large, shaggy black dog and trotted back to the castle with Harry.

Hermione and Ron were both elated and astonished when Harry informed them of Sirius and Lupin's return. Ron was excited. "Let's go and see him!" Harry pulled him back, telling him Sirius was now with Dumbledore, and didn't want to be disturbed.

At lunch, Harry, Ron and Hermione had hoped to see Sirius and Lupin, but they weren't there. Professor Jenna was at the table, but she was quieter than usual. Harry suspected it had something to do with Lupin. They didn't dare to ask Dumbledore about Sirius in front of the others, for the Gryffindor team had returned from Hogsmeade, and were making a big commotion. Cho wasn't there, so Harry assumed she had gone back to Hogsmeade.

In the evening, Sirius, in his Animagus form, came to find Harry after his Quidditch practice. Lupin was also with him.

"Harry, sorry, but we need to get going." Lupin said. "Good luck with your Quidditch match with Manxwell Academy." The Sirius/dog looked at Harry, wagging its tail as though trying to wish him good luck too.

Harry knew they had work to do, and made no fuss, except to pat Sirius/dog on the head, saying, "Hope to see you soon, Sirius."

Lupin turned to go, and Harry saw him glance at a certain window of the castle, but he quickly turned away and walked away. The shaggy black dog followed him, leaving Harry with a strange sense of loneliness.