Harry Potter and the Children of Light

Chapter 3:

Just Friends?

Harry awoke the next morning in his four-poster bed. Besides the attack on Aramil and Harry coming to Hogwarts, nothing interesting had happened the day before. Harry had spent most of the day on the Quidditch pitch, flying through the air, happy to be back where he belonged. While he was flying about, he had lots of time to think about last school year's occurrences.

Dumbledore's Army might continue, after all, people do need to know how to defend themselves against Lord Voldemort. But they might have to change the contract, since the teachers probably knew about it. They had only just reached Patronuses, and not everyone had those down yet. The thought of the D.A. brought Harry to Cho. Cho Chang, the girl of his dreams, had finally gone out with him, but he screwed it up. He even managed to mess up again, most likely losing her friendship. He remembered that she was going out with Roger Davies at the end of the year, and he felt no feelings toward her whatsoever.

Now, after the shock of Sirius's death had worn off, he realized that he still loved Cho. Maybe she still liked him, maybe he had another chance. Not likely, she probably hated him. With this thought on his mind he had gone to bed, sad and gloomy.

In the morning, however, Harry felt happy and refreshed. He was going to fly some more, and practice some spells. Dumbledore said he was allowed to perform magic, since he was at Hogwarts. Harry got dressed and started off for the Great Hall. On his way, he met Professor Flitwick. The short, plump man was walking out of the library at a brisk pace when he spotted Harry.

"Oh, why, hello Harry!" Flitwick beamed. "So Dumbledore has brought you here as well? Ah... one student was surprising enough, but two! Simply astounding. Well, can't chat now, I have important business to attend to. Ta-ta for now!" And off he went down the corridor.

What did he mean, two students? Had Dumbledore brought someone else to Hogwarts too? Why had he brought him here in the first place? These questions and many more were invading Harry's mind. The questions stopped however, when his stomach grumbled. Dumbledore would probably explain it all to him. For now, Harry's primary concern was getting food into him. When Harry got down to the Great Hall, he could smell the food through the door. He opened the doors and saw Albus Dumbledore, Aramil, and Minerva McGonagall, all sitting at a single table in the middle of the room.

"Good morning, Harry!" Dumbledore said. "You can come over here to eat breakfast, of course. I would like to see you at my office at noon, please Harry. It is about why I have brought you here." Harry nodded and sat down to eat.

After breakfast Harry decided to do some flying. With all this free time on his hands, that was one of the only things to do besides study. Harry walked down to the Entrance Hall and performed a summoning charm. A minute later his broom came zooming down the Grand Staircase. Soon he was on his broom and in the air.

Flying toward the Quidditch pitch, Harry began thinking of the other student Dumbledore brought. Who were they? Did he know them? Were they friendly, or anti-social? Suddenly, Harry saw a glint of gold in the stadium. On instinct Harry zoomed after it, not realizing that there was someone else chasing the Snitch until he also hit the broom. He looked over, and his heart froze. It was all he could do to keep on his broomstick. It was Cho Chang.

She didn't seem to notice Harry, but kept flying around the stadium, chasing the Snitch, for two minutes. She caught the Snitch, but only barely staying on her broom. Harry realized that she was going faster than she should have been. Then it hit him. She was riding a Firebolt. If she was riding a Firebolt, Harry would have some tough competition when it came time to play Quidditch. But that was the least of his worries right now. He figured he should probably try to get her to at least be his friend.

"Oh, Harry, I... well.... What are you doing here?" Cho looked very surprised to see him at Hogwarts.

"I was about to ask you the same thing, but since you asked first, I'll answer your question before asking mine. I don't know what I'm doing here, Professor Dumbledore sent for me. I only just arrived yesterday. So, what are you doing here?"

"I too was summoned by Dumbledore. He said he would tell me what was going on at noon today, when he said I should meet him at his office."

"He told you to meet him at noon too? This is odd. I wonder what this could be about." After a few awkward minutes, Harry decided he should try to apologize to Cho about what had happened at the end of the school year.

"Cho, I'm sorry for yelling at you before, I was just aggravated. The truth is, I still love you, I'll always love you, but if you don't love me, could we still be friends?" He felt a great burden rise from his shoulders. Apparently, this was something he needed to do, but didn't know he needed to do it.

"Of course we can be friends!" she said cheerfully. She flew closer toward him, until their brooms were side-by-side. Leaning toward him, she kissed him lightly on the cheek. "And maybe a bit more." With a smile that bordered on a laugh, she left a dumb struck Harry floating in midair as she flew back to Hogwarts.