Book of Memories

Chapter 12: CHO

Harry didn't talk to Hermione after she suggested the most ridiculous thing ever: that Harry go with Cho to Hogsmeade... alone. Sixth years and up were allowed to stay a bit longer this year, even past dinner. Harry had a sneaking suspicion that Hermione spoke to Professor Dumbledore about extending the time limit and like so many times before, he was not pleased. The other thing that confirmed his suspicion was that the first Hogsmeade visit was usually at the end of October, not at the start.

Sure, they talked a bit and sure, Harry thought she was very pretty but how did she feel? This was his biggest fear every single time they passed in the corridors. Harry never noticed before that Cho never failed to steal a smile at him, surrounded by a bunch of her friends, giggling, until now. Once before did he think giggling should be made illegal...

Above all, it had the effect that Hermione hoped for. Harry was no longer moping around; it was exchanged for blushing in the presence of Cho. But it was an improvement, Harry realized. All in all, he began to feel that - no, would she? He never... he couldn't even think about it. He would have to ask if she wanted to go to Hogsmeade with him on a... date... (the mere word made him shudder).

Hermione forced Harry to do it because he wouldn't have done it on his own. She even stood behind the nearest wall, out of sight, so that he wouldn't know she made sure that he did it. Neither of them knew that Dumbledore found out about what Harry was about to do. He would definitely be pleased to hear that something was taking Sirius off Harry's mind. So Harry, after Defense Against the Dark Arts, before lunch, the day before the Hogsmeade visit, was forced to ask Cho something.

He stepped out of the classroom. She passed by every time and this time was no different. As he saw her coming down the corridor, heading towards the Great Hall, there was a grumble in his stomach that he was sure had nothing to do with being hungry. He merely nodded to her, motioning to have a word alone. This was far more embarrassing than asking her to the Yule Ball. This wasn't just a dance... Cho's friends continued towards the Great Hall, leaving Harry to his embarrassment.

The corridor cleared, Hermione standing behind a wall out of sight of Harry and Cho. Harry felt like he was being watched, causing a tingling feeling on the back of his neck. He couldn't look around to see who it was, Cho would think him odd.

For a frightening moment, Cho stared and Harry felt as if he had lockjaw. There was a very, very strong urge to grab the Order of Merlin plaque but how dumb would that look?

"You wanted to ask me something?" she said. Cho giggled; Harry wanted to scream.

Suddenly, the muscles in his jaw were moveable again.

"Do - d'you," Harry stuttered.

This was far more difficult than Hermione made it sound. Should he said say the "D" word? No, that would also look dumb.

He nervously scratched the hairs on the back of his neck that were standing up as he looked at his feet and said, "Would you - like to go to Hogsmeade - together?"

Harry couldn't bring himself to say "alone." He stopped scratching as soon as mouth stopped moving and put his hands in his pockets. Cho got the hint from the uneasy look on Harry's face as he continued to stare at his feet. She smiled pleasantly. The last time she did that, she was going to the Yule Ball with Cedric Diggory. Harry suddenly looked up at her, horrified, and blurted out, "You're not - not going with someone already?"

Cho giggled and Harry wanted to scream again.

"No -"

"No you don't want to go or no you're going with someone?" he asked hastily.

Cho took a step closer and Harry took a step back, feeling the grumbling in his stomach again.

"I'm not going with someone else," she said to Harry's great relief, "and yes I do want to go with you." Cho didn't get to say anything else because the heat rising in Harry's face let him know he was going to pass out. He should have grabbed the Order of Merlin plaque.

Harry felt like passing out again as he lie on the floor, Cho kneeling over him. She was holding a goblet full of water, some of which she splashed on his face. He quickly snatched the plaque out from under his robes and stole a quick squeeze as pulled himself up, making it look like he was just moving it.

That did the trick and he wasn't quite so nervous as they walked to dinner, talking about what they could do. Both of them decided they would spend the afternoon up until around six o'clock with their own friends then meet in the Three Broomsticks.

Cho split towards the Ravenclaw table, Harry to the Gryffindor table and he sat in between Hermione and Seamus Finnigan. Hermione glared and her face plainly asked a question.

"Yes," said Harry, and for the first time in a long time, he smiled. He felt a huge wave of new, warm and fuzzy life spread over every bit of him, like smiling was the solution to any problem.

Dumbledore swept passed them from the entrance, eyes sparkling behind the half-moon spectacles. He was usually already up a the staff table by this time. And then, quite suddenly, Harry's jaw dropped.

How further embarrassing

Was - was Dumbledore watching him and Cho? The wink Dumbledore gave Harry confirmed it.

He was slightly horrified but the shock couldn't last long, not when he was going to Hogsmeade with Cho tomorrow, alone. He simply smiled again and kept giggling to himself all through dinner at random points for no reason. Harry giggled so much in fact that, at one point, Ron told him they were going to have to give him a wig, stuff pillows under his shirt and change his name to Harriet.

Harry didn't care. He was going to Hogsmeade with Cho tomorrow, alone. In fact, it kept him up for an extra hour after he climbed into his four-post bed, closed the curtains and pulled his covers over himself that night.

The very next morning, some of that excitement turned into butterflies. He even fussed over what he should wear... until he spotted his dad's old cloak hidden deep in his trunk. It was black like his Hogwarts cloak except the sleeves were slightly shiny. And for once, he decided to let the Order of Merlin necklace hang outside his robes, the plaque visible to anyone, and conveniently part his bangs where the scar on his forehead was visible just for gags.

His quick change of mood was very noticeable during breakfast, especially when he tried to eat his bagel with a knife and fork.

"Harry, that's a bagel," said Hermione.

"Right," Harry muttered and he bit off so much it took him a full minute to chew it all.

At the very least, it was sunny outside and fairly cool but not too cold. When everyone finally arrived at Hogsmeade, there was a mad dash towards a new store that opened up, according to the sign, a few months ago.

"Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes," said Hermione. "So they finally did it."

"Been doing great! Mind, mom and dad weren't keen on the idea,," said Ron. "They asked so many times how they managed to get one thousand galleons to start it up. Never found out and they won't tell me."

Should Harry tell? For the winning the Triwizard Tournament, he was awarded those one thousand galleons. Harry gave it to Fred and George because he couldn't bear to have it, not when Cedric Diggory had died that very same day and Lord Voldemort returned to power. It should have been Cedric's. Harry himself nearly died in the process of taking the Triwizard Cup, which had been turned into a Portkey, back to Hogwarts grounds with the body of Cedric at his side.

What harm was there in telling?

"I gave it to them," said Harry quietly, still staring up at the shop's sign in awe.

"You what!" shouted Ron in shock.

"The Triwizard Tournament, remember? I couldn't keep that. The Diggorys wouldn't take it but I threatened to curse your brothers if they didn't."

Harry grinned at the shock on Ron's face. For a scary moment, Harry thought Ron might try and hug him, but was glad he didn't.

"What are you waiting for?" someone shouted from inside. "Make way for the man who started it all!"

It was Fred. He bustled out of the shop, wearing a ridiculous hat, bright orange robes and a white cloak. He seized Harry's hand, while George seized Ron and Hermione's, and pulled them inside.

A wall was dedicated to the two things that Harry saw them making during the times he stayed at the Weasley home. Ton-Tongue Toffee (which had once extended Dudley's tongue several feet), Canary Creams (Neville ate one and sprouted feathers for a few moments) and their famous fake wands (one of which they once sold to Ludo Bagman).

But there were plenty of other things as well, many of which looked like they might explode if you touched them. Indeed, Neville caused a shelf to fall down. George, in his white robes and orange cloak, scowled and ushered Neville towards a less dangerous shop.

Harry, not being too keen on explosives or practical jokes at the moment, went straight for Honeyduke's Sweetshop. He walked out with his money bag much lighter, carrying a bag full of cream-filled chocolates, Chocolate Frogs, two boxes of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and one box of a strange, black chocolate bar with thick, swirly brown stuff inside of it that tasted remarkably good. In fact, it tasted a lot like what he knew as a Milk-Way from the Muggle world.

The shopkeeper couldn't resist giving Harry and "his friends" a sample of their latest. It was square, each piece about two inches. The outside was made of white chocolate and in the middle was the face of a famous witch or wizard. Harry was very upset to find his own face on the piece Ron had. Ron smudged the chocolate Harry's face with his finger and they all took a bite. Harry tasted a tad of butterbeer; overall it was the single best piece of chocolate he ever had.

When he opened a Chocolate Frog while walking down High Street towards Dervish and Banges, he frowned again to see a card of himself. Harry turned it over and read aloud.

HARRY POTTER

(Order of Merlin, First Class)

CURRENTLY ATTENDING HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Having done many admirable things in five short years, young Potter is shrouded in many mysteries. From the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead, his ability to speak Parseltongue, unexplained magic phenomenon and his ability to control lightning, many are left wondering if he is to become the next Albus Dumbledore. Potter is also known to be an heir of Godric Gryffindor who, unknown to many, was a descendent of the powerful, ancient wizards. Potter enjoys playing Quidditch at Hogwarts and is a world-reknown Seeker, which was set in stone after his performance two years in a row at Fire Quidditch.

"They forgot I have strange dreams and I can tell if someone is following or watching me," said Harry, grinning.

Harry, Ron and Hermione spent a good few hours in Dervish and Banges, staring at all the new odd magical items they ordered. Harry pondered whether it would be worth his time to buy another Sneakoscope but came to the conclusion that he never used the other one in the first place. He spotted the compass Mr. Weasley used during the Fire Quidditch game and signs that Disapparate to the nearest trash can all on their own when an object is thrown at them. They were called Throw-Away Signs.

Hermione pointed out a wand-cleaning kit that Harry quickly purchased. Looking at his wand, it was a bit dirty and no longer had that new, wooden shine.

After lunch, Hermione forced Harry and Ron into Gladrag's Wizardwear. Harry and Ron stood at the entrance, gawking at a bunch of self-washing cloaks.

"What?" said one of them in a deep, hoarse and clearly annoyed voice.

Harry noticed the tag said it was made in Italy. The shopkeeper tapped it with her wand and it fell lifeless.

"Getting out of hand, these things," said the witch. "Can't leave them alone for one minute! And no one wants to buy them!" she shrieked.

"Wonder why," Ron muttered to Harry.

Ron was glad to see Hermione, after an hour's time, stride towards them with two bags full of stuff.

"Ooh," said Harry suddenly looking at something.

"What?" said Ron. "Don't tell me you're going to buy something too."

But what Harry was staring at was far more interesting than the pair of clawed gloves a troll just bought.

"Dragon hide boots!" he said pointing at them.

"Oh, they are nice," said Hermione, admiring them. "And they're only ten galleons and six sickles!"

Harry snatched the white boots from the wall stand and paid for them. They had a black trim at the top and bottom. Of course, he wouldn't be allowed to wear them during the week because Hogwarts students were required to wear their black shoes. He could wear them on weekends and during the summer... but who cares, he wanted them.

When six o'clock rolled around, Ron and Hermione left with most of the other students to go back to Hogwarts and Harry made his way back to the Three Broomsticks. He must have been cold because he gave a shiver -- or was it because he was nervous? A strong draft from the door rattled his cloak and necklace. He moved the Order of Merlin plaque from his shoulder, where the wind had placed it, to the front of himself and in doing so, a minute wave of calmness crept over him. Cho was already sitting down by the fire. There was nothing at her table and she looked up at Harry as he came closer. If he hadn't stolen a hold of the plaque, he thought his legs might have frozen up.

"Hey," said Harry as Cho said, "Hi."

Harry immediately accepted the fact that this was going to be awkward indeed. He sat down directly opposite her and rubbed his hands in front of himself for it was a lot colder now than it had been earlier... or was he just shivering because he was nervous?

"Cold out," said Harry, hoping Cho would say yes (he really wanted to know if it was and that he wasn't just shaking out of nervousness).

"It is," she said.

Okay, thought Harry, it's a start and now I just have to keep it going until we decide to order something. He had been alone talking to Hermione but that had never caused strange folding feelings in his stomach.

"So, how are things?" said Cho.

Harry's mind raced. This was a bit more work than he thought it would be and he was suddenly very self-conscious about every word that was to escape him. Is this normal, he asked himself? He shouldn't burden her with his worries, not when the barely knew each other (or rather, when Harry barely knew anything about Cho).

"All - all right," said Harry. "How about you?"

"Oh," said Cho slightly gloomy, looking down at the table, "don't ask."

This caught Harry's interest. He never saw Cho looking sad, though, he had to admit, he didn't quite expect this now.

"No," said Harry comfortingly, "go on... What? - What is it?"

"Are you sure?" she asked, looking up at him like he wasn't going to say yes.

Harry simply smiled. This wasn't going to be so bad after all. She was going to tell him something and he would get a chance to comfort her.

"I've only told a few of my friends," she started softly, "but my dad's lost it when You-Know-Who had survived another blast of the Killing Curse," she said with a small, but very effective, amount of anger. It didn't take much -- her eyes began to water. Harry didn't take much notice as he was busy trying to fight down the redness in his face. "And I mean totally lost it. Thinks You-Know-Who is back in power, runs for his life at loud noises (thinks it's You-Know-Who outside our house), sometimes just won't do anything -- even eat or talk... can hear him talking to himself in his sleep. And sometimes he stays up all night muttering to himself -- that really scares me. If you try to tell him Harry Potter stopped You-Know-Who, he breaks down crying, singing praises... I wouldn't mention it but he's getting out of hand lately... he yells at everyone for no reason now, even guests. Can't trust him around anyone."

This was definitely not what Harry had in mind. Cho took a big sniff, rested one hand on the table and held her forehead with the other.

"He was an Auror. Honestly, he wasn't good at it. He tried but the Ministry was just taking anyone. I guess after all those years at failing to catch You-Know-Who an emotional breakdown was kinda on the way... My mom says he's just getting over it but he's been just getting over it for about twenty years and it hit rock bottom last year... he's doing all of that more and more."

Harry was left with no path to take to react. She took out a self-disposing tissue from inside her handbag and blew her nose into it. She let go and it immediately flew out of sight, supposedly towards the nearest trash bin. She was now sobbing more loudly into her hand.

"It... can't be... that bad," said Harry, struggling to find something comforting to say (nothing was coming), "can it?"

"Can't be that bad?" she asked, turning slowly to look at him before looking down again. She sniffed. "You don't know what it's like! We tried sending him to St. Mungo's and he came back a week later. They couldn't do anything..."

Harry blinked. It reminded him of Neville's parents.

"I-I'm sorry," she went on. "My mom... she... she keeps trying to find excuses. Said he's finding his way, needs time off...She still loves him, she keeps telling me," said Cho dismissively, trying to wipe the tears away. "I don't love him anymore. How can she... and she brings in all the money from a stupid store in Knockturn Alley."

"No," said Harry sincerely and without thinking, getting up. "Don't wipe the tears away." He moved to Cho and grabbed the arm she was using to wipe her face.

"Why not?" she said, looking at Harry again. She looked unpleasant when so upset. "This is supposed to be about us, not me..."

Harry's mind still wasn't going and he continued to talk without giving though to what he was saying.

"It doesn't do any good to hide what you're feeling," he said. Cho sniffed and held a tissue up to her nose, still trying to fight back tears.

"Look at me," Cho sniffed, "crying my eyes out." She went to rest her head on her arms but Harry let her rest it on his shoulder instead.

There was a surreal quality to the scene.

If someone had told Harry the day before that he would be comforting someone like he had longed to have been comforted, he would surely have called them crazy. Harry put an arm around her. She didn't fight off anything he did.

"I hate my dad," Cho blurted out. "My mom tries so hard to make me accept him again. She's crazy! But I still love her," she added quietly.

"You still have them," said Harry. "And that's something."

Normally, saying that would have made him feel sad but for some reason or another, it strangely made him feel stronger. Cho laughed nervously as if just realizing who she'd been talking to.

"Don't hate them," Harry said, rubbing her shoulder. "If you lose them, you're going to miss them." His actions, he realized, were very unlike his normal self. He was feeling something he couldn't explain but it felt oddly like what one might call "connecting," feeling something, something edging him on to make Cho happier.

"Come on," he added, "are you hungry? Thirsty? I'll pay." Harry noticed that the nervousness he was experiencing at first was completely gone and was replaced by a kind of purpose.

The two of them got hamburgers, sprinkled with pixie dust, and two goblets of warming butterbeer.

"I - I shouldn't have mentioned any of that to you," said Cho.

"It's okay," said Harry, "really." He laughed nervously and looked down at his burger, thinking of what he was going to say. "I - I made a promise to Sirius that I would tell anyone who would listen anything that was bothering me. It's caused me enough trouble not telling so I figured the opposite ought to help." Harry smiled and took a big bite out of his food.

"You must really miss him."

"You have - no - idea," said Harry heavily.

"S-sorry," said Cho quickly.

Harry did nothing more than take a deep breath. This outing did not look like it was going very well. That was all he could think of as the two quickly and quietly finished their food.

It was noticeably cooler when they left their table by the fire and Madam Rosmerta bid them a good evening. As they exited the Three Broomsticks, Cho gave a shiver.

"D'you want my cloak?" asked Harry. He stopped walking.

"You'll be freezing!"

"You're cold," Harry insisted. "You take it." He took it off without giving Cho a chance to say no and put it around her. She gripped it and Harry proceeded to put his hands in his pockets to prepare for the pending coldness that would set in eventually. Strangely, Harry immediately felt very cold very fast. He felt like he had stepped into an ice box.

"Wow!" said Cho.

"What?" Harry asked.

"This has a Warmth Charm on it," she said.

"A what?"

Cho giggled and Harry turned red. His lack of knowledge of things in the Wizarding World, as less as it gets each year, still shows occasionally.

"Keeps you as warm or cool as you like. Where'd you get this?"

The redness in Harry's face was replaced by a big smile. He started to walk slowly down High Street and Cho followed right as his side.

"My dad left it for me," said Harry. He looked sideways at Cho, who raised an eyebrow, then looked straight again. "Remember when they came out of the Mirror of Erised last year? He left me a going-away present. Sirius said my mom bought it for him on their first year anniversary."

Harry felt the familiar warm feeling enter him again despite the fact that he was now very cold. Cho then did something that Harry liked but at the same time gave him goose bumps: she grabbed his hand and held it. His heart started to beat faster; this was all very new to him but that wasn't to say that he didn't enjoy it. They continued to walk lazily down the street towards no place in particular.

"So what's been bothering you lately?" said Cho, grinning.

A few thoughts about Professor Trelawney and Sirius came to Harry right away but what was really nagging him was Snape.

"Snape," said Harry, struggling to make his words sound neutral. "Did you hear what he said to me recently?"

"No," said Cho, very interested, "what happened?"

"He made a crack about my dad and said he deserved what he got." Cho clasped a hand to her mouth in horror. "If he says anything else my mom or dad -- either of them -- I'm going to break more than his nose." He had trouble hiding the threatening tone.

"What DOES that excuse for a Professor have against you?"

Harry tutted softly and said innocently, "He'll never forgive my dad."

"Why? What'd he do?"

"He saved Snape's life," Harry chuckled. "Remember Professor Lupin? He was a werewolf? Well him, my dad, Sirius and Peter Pettigrew -- his nickname was Wormtail -- were all Animagi. Lupin was to transform to a werewolf in the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade where he couldn't hurt anyone. All those noises, they were just Lupin. My dad, Sirius and Pettigrew learned to become Animagi to keep Lupin company. Lupin wouldn't attack them as animals, only as humans.

"For some reason, Snape had always wanted to get them all expelled and he especially hated my dad. Sirius suggested it was because he was jealous how good my dad was at Quidditch. Anyway, Sirius told Snape how to get inside the Shrieking Shack. You had to press a knot on the Whomping Willow's trunk and then you could slip inside and climb through a tunnel. If my dad didn't stop Snape, he would have met Lupin as a werewolf and Snape probably would've died. Snape thinks my dad was in on the joke and just got cold feet.

"It's kinda stupid, really. Snape's holding a childhood grudge against my dad against me."

He enjoyed sharing the story and when he finished, they both laughed at Snape's expense. Harry then blurted something out he really wanted to say, whether Cho wanted to hear it or not.

"Listen," he said sincerely as they stopped walking in front of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. "About your mom and dad -"

"No," said Cho quickly, letting go of his hand, "don't -"

"I have to say this," Harry insisted. He put his hand back in his pocket and another cold breeze made him shiver. Cho sighed but he was going to make her listen. His mind started to go again without him thinking.

"They're your parents and you shouldn't hate them. I mean, your mom and dad were in love before your dad lost his mind, right? Voldemort" -- and Cho flinched at the name -- "destroyed so many lives... I'm -" Harry was saying, but it became harder to continue and he fought back tears recalling, as he had so many times, what happened to his family. "I'm not... not letting him ruin any more..."

Cho stared. Harry didn't know what kind of effect his words would have on her but the next moment she threw her arms around him. He didn't want Cho feeling sorry for him and he would never hear her telling him why she did it, at least that night.

They started to walk all the way back to Hogwarts, hand in hand, stopping occasionally just because they felt like it, talking about everything from how much everyone disliked Snape and Hagrid's far more interesting selection of magical creatures this year. On Cho's request, they headed for the lake because she liked how the moonlight sparkled in it. When they reached the edge of the lake, they stopped to talk about what they might do when they graduate Hogwarts.

"I'm not spending seven years here to end up a shopkeeper on Knockturn Alley," said Cho decisively.

"Did your mom do anything else?" Harry asked.

"She was thinking of working here. Wanted to be the Potions teacher. Snape looked like he might not get the position but Dumbledore trusted him. Unfortunately, Snape's better at it than my mom so he got it. I can't really hate him for that, though. The most qualified person got the job..."

"I don't know what I want to do," Harry said dreamily.

"What did your parents do?"

"They were both Aurors but I've had enough chasing Dark wizards."

Cho giggled playfully.

"None but the best of us become Aurors," said Cho. "You know, I don't know if anyone told you, but -"

She stopped walking and made Harry face her. He noticed that she was not just looking at him, she was looking into his eyes, inside of him, and this made him nervous again.

"As far back as anyone could remember," she said, "every Potter has been a great witch or wizard. None on the likes of Albus Dumbledore or You-Know-Who since Godric Gryffindor but they were really good at it."

Indeed, no one had ever told him. Harry felt the heat rising in his face. Where was this going? And he couldn't help but notice how much better Cho looked up close.

Cho grabbed Harry's other hand, now holding both, and said, "You're a great wizard, you know."

This had the effect of making Harry laugh nervously and remember something Hermione said five years ago. He looked down for a moment then back up at Cho.

"Hermione said exactly that to me before I ran off to stop Professor Quirrell from getting the Philosopher's Stone. I... didn't believe her at the time but... now that I found out that I'm a " -- and he laughed shortly and nervously again -- "descendant of Gryffindor, conjured a Patronus that saved four people from like one hundred dementors and all that other stuff, I can't not believe it."

"It's true," said Cho.

Harry looked down at his watch nervously. It was ten o'clock.

"It's late. We better get back and hope we don't get seen or we're definitely getting detention," Harry chortled.

Cho nodded and said, "Hey, can I just see your necklace?

Harry had the feeling Cho wanted to extend their time together. Not that he objected... it was that the butterflies in his stomach were growing.

"Sure," he said as he pulled it off his neck.

He grabbed the plaque tightly in his hand and noticed that, like once before, it had no effect on him. Harry dropped it in Cho's hand and she sort of gawked at it.

"It's really pretty," she said while looking at the plaque. Harry watched as her lips formed the words Harry James Potter. Cho looked up at him awkwardly and said, "Were you nervous when Mr. Fudge called your name?"

"Nervous!" Harry shouted and he laughed heartily. "I was more than nervous. I was so stiff Ron and Hermione had to literally pull me out of my seat. I would've fainted if I wasn't already resting my head. But really, would they have given it to anyone else?" he added, grinning broadly.

"Oh, you!" said Cho. She gave him back the necklace and she pushed him playfully. It was a bit harder than she intended. Harry lost his footing. He slipped and fell. The lake was right behind him...

Cho gave a short shriek and went red. She didn't mean to do that.

"Harry!" she shouted.

There was not an air bubble, no sign of black, untidy hair or at the very least a finger anywhere in the lake. She bit her lip and walked towards the edge.

"Harry!" she shouted louder. Cho's eyes grazed the top of the water. There was still no sign of him. She towered over the lake looking all over. Still, there was nothing. He hadn't drowned, had he... !

Then she turned to look at something like a spider that was floating near the surface. Except it wasn't a spider, it was Harry's hair.

When his head emerged from under the water, he wasn't angry, he was laughing. Cho looked relieved. Harry pushed his sopping hair out of his face and gave a shiver. It was considerably colder in the lake than it was out of it.

"Harry, I'm sorry!" said Cho loudly.

"You aren't sorry yet!" Harry shouted as he pulled her foot. There was no avoiding it -- Cho screamed, she flailed her arms and tried to balance her herself, but she, too, slipped and fell into the lake.

When Cho's head emerged, she was angry but the look faded as they waded in the water and stared at each other. Cho started to only hope Harry's dad's cloak wasn't ruined. Harry hoped the water proof charm on his watch was working properly. The butterflies in his stomach seemed to be disappearing.

A cold draft tried to ruffle Harry's wet hair. It didn't make him feel cold. Then a sudden different feeling came over both of them as they stared, soaked to the skin and freezing, at each other.

Harry pushed the hair out of Cho's face.

Her lip trembled not unlike Hermione's once did. And then she did it again. Cho wrapped her arms around Harry and held him tight, splashing water. Cold and shivering, Harry slowly put his own arms around Cho and it felt strangely satisfying. His eyes closed on their own and his face curled into a smile without him noticing. Gone from his mind was the care about how he was going to have to explain how it looked like Cho and him went for a dip in the lake to the first person they saw when they arrived at the castle.

This wasn't a hug from sorrow, this was a hug because Cho cared about him. This hug was much different from Mrs. Weasley. Strangest of all, it was also different from the hug his very own mother and father had given him a year ago (even if they were just temporary shadows of their former selves). He loved his parents and yet... Why did this feel so different?

It felt comforting but made Harry feel uneasy at the same time. Never did he have a feeling he couldn't explain when someone held him. Was this... affection? All of his shivers ebbed away in Cho's warmth and Harry was left with a peaceful feeling. His weightlessness in the water increased these new, unsettling feelings.

Then he did something he couldn't explain. He didn't think before he did it but he was glad she didn't object. Harry's lips met Cho's. Once before had this happened: they had found themselves in the view of Dumbledore while standing under mistletoe.

The kiss was on accident and it was still an awkward moment but there was something different about this one, something he liked and he couldn't pinpoint it. The moment was perfect and only something he could have dreamed of. Cool, night air made the scene on the bright, green grass and sparkling, blue water picture perfect. They both would agree that the only problem was what would Filch say if he caught them traipsing around the castle with muddy shoes.

As they climbed out of the lake, mud collecting on the bottom of their shoes, neither of them wanted to say what they were feeling and they were both okay with that, especially Harry. There was a feeling he wasn't ready to admit to just yet.

They went back to holding hands and continued walking, shoulder to shoulder (it was Cho's idea -- "You're cold!"), silently towards the castle. Harry's watched still worked, his dad's cloak still kept Cho warm and he still refused to take it back, saying that he would survive without it.

At one point, Harry turned to look at Cho, who smiled back at him. He smiled too, very content with himself for yet another time in his life.

The two arrived at the entrance just before eleven o'clock. Cho wrung as much water out of her hair as she could just outside and Harry simply squeezed his as hard as he could and shook it. Cho wrung the water out of her cloak and Harry's dad's.

When they got into the entrance hall, standing there was none other than Professor Dumbledore, who looked to be waiting for them. Both Harry and Cho turned a very deep red. It was bad enough they were out late at night but the fact that they were both soaking wet made them look even more guilty.

"Good evening!" said Dumbledore, eyes sparkling bright as ever beneath the half-moon spectacles. "I daresay you two had a good time in Hogsmeade?"

Harry and Cho quickly let go of the each others hand. Cho gave Harry his dad's cloak back, said good night to him and Dumbledore and set off hurriedly towards the Ravenclaw common room. Harry tried to escape as well but Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder. Was he going to be in trouble?

"I will not ask and you do not have to tell," Dumbledore added, now grinning broadly, feeling how wet Harry's robes are. "You ought to put that cloak on and change as soon as possible. You're freezing."

With no objections to leaving, Harry put his dad's cloak on (immediately feeling warmer) and set off quickly towards Gryffindor Tower. Most everyone was still in the common room and none looked surprised to see Harry stride in later than anyone. Rather, they were surprised to see him soaking wet and shivering when he removed the cloak. Like pack rats to food, Ron and Hermione immediately cornered him.

"Harry!" Hermione shrieked.

"We had a very good time," said Harry, grinning broadly himself, "and that's all I'm telling you. Oh and I found out this cloak has a Warmth Charm on it," he added, taking it off his back and holding it up.

"What, did you fall in the lake?" Ron asked sarcastically.

Harry's grin widened at Ron and Ron gaped at him in a gleeful sort of shock. Harry climbed the spiral stairs, heading to the dormitory and set his bag down from Gladrag's by his bed.

It wasn't until Harry stared at the roof of his four-post bed that night did he realize that what he said to Cho when she was upset was from the heart. His words were true and they comforted not only her, but himself as well. The only problem was that he lost his parents before he even knew them and he missed them a great deal...

He figured that Dumbledore knew he might stay out late with Cho and that Hermione was right after all. It was a very good idea for him to have a night alone with Cho. Now of course, all he had to worry about was how fast it would spread around the school and when, not if, it would make it into the Daily Prophet. Those were both very minor concerns. It looked like Harry would soon have someone else to confide in. Even though she wasn't a grown-up wizard who knew his parents, wasn't their best friend and had no experience with Dark magic, Cho, in one night, had become more than a friend.