The One to Keep

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~ Through the Writings of a Slytherin ~

By: Phaedra
Editor: Kaihn Aelathali

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The few weeks following the retreat saw Cedric in a very lighthearted mood. He was showing no pain over Cho ditching him once again for Oliver. It rather seemed that he had taken the whole ordeal in stride. He'd found that many of the girls that had liked him before the retreat still liked him and he'd taken full advantage of this fact. Cedric had yet to have an evening to himself; he'd kept his calendar full of dates. Cho had noticed the sudden change that had come over Cedric as well. She was almost surprised to find it saddened her. She was still attracted to Oliver, but her heart was drifting closer and closer to Cedric. Unfortunately, the closer her heart got to him, the further away he got from her. Every so often, Cho would see Cedric walking down the halls, each time he was with a different girl. She was never sure if the girl was his friend or his new 'flavor of the week.' Either way, the vision of him walking with some other girl made her stomach churn.

Occasionally tugging at her heartstrings wasn't the only way Cedric's new lifestyle was affecting Cho. When Roger was lecturing the Ravenclaw team before their next game, Cho found it hard to pay attention. Without being able to grasp the new plays, she couldn't perform well in the game. Because she didn't fully grasp the new plays, she didn't perform well during the game the next morning. She also constantly searched the stands for Cedric and not so much for the Snitch. He was not there. She tried very hard to forget about him for the sake of the game but found it rather difficult to swallow strong feelings. Her mind was set on a single track. However, she still managed to find a gold glimmer by the center of the Pitch and dove for it. But all the distractions with Cedric clouded her mind. Normally, she was talented enough to dodge Bludgers while chasing a Snitch. But with a cloudy mind, she didn't notice the Bludger that was sent flying strait at her head as she reached for the Snitch. The Bludger knocked her out of the game and of consciousness.

Once again, Cho was carried off to the hospital wing for the care of Madame Promfrey. A week later she awoke and found Roger, Oliver, and her girlfriends standing around her. She rubbed her eyes and smiled at her friends but noted someone missing. Cedric. Her heart sank but she smiled knowing that her friends were still there for her.

"You couldn't catch the damn Snitch five seconds earlier?" Roger scoffed before he received a series of punches from Oliver and Cho's friends.

Cho was still too dizzy to reply with a witty remark. After Oliver knocked Roger into a nearby chair he made his way over to Cho and ran his hand across the side of her face.

"You're going to be all-right, darling," he said tenderly and hugged her. "You played well. I'm proud of you!"

Oliver's signs of affection and doting phrases made the girls swoon slightly, and Roger replied by gagging. Even with all the attention and affection, Cho was still too distraut to try to return Oliver's kiss. Madam Promfrey, irritated with the noise, scooted the crowd out of the wing to give Cho some peace. Even after the friendly visit and Oliver's warm kiss, Cho remained unhappy. It wasn't losing the game for her team or a lingering pain of being nailed by a Bludger. It was Cedric. More specifically, the lack of Cedric. Every time she had visited the hospital, he had been there for her. Where was he now? Usually, it was Oliver that didn't show up. What made Cedric stop caring? All the distracting thoughts of the last few weeks ran through her head, tormenting her for every moment until she fell asleep.

Late that night, Cho awoke and lay in the bed staring blankly at the ceiling. Her dreams had woken her with the same thoughts that had sent her to sleep. 'Why? Why should I care if Cedric is acting like a horny jackrabbit? I have Oliver! Cedric is just a friend. That kiss we almost had?! He was leading me on! He has been leading me on this entire time! Throughout the vacation, he flirted and led me to believe that he would have wanted more than just friendship. Led me to believe that he could treat me better than Oliver. He doesn't really care! I'm just another weekly flavor for him! Oliver cares about me! He does! He gave me a ring! He visited me today! Cedric always used to visit whenever I was sick. He's probably snogging at the moment. Oh, how could I have been so foolish? He doesn't care! I don't care that he doesn't care! Why doesn't he care? Why didn't he visit today? Surely he still would have come even if Oliver was there? Why? He has been my friend for this long and... but he has only been my friend because he wants a snog! And now that I can't give it to him, he runs off to Melissa, and Luna, and Katie, and... and Lord knows who else. He is nothing but a...'

She shook to the sound of a door opening. 'Cedric!' She thought. But the shadow was too short to be Cedric. As the figure moved closer and stepped into the light from the windows, Cho saw that it was Drew. He walked closer to Cho his journal tucked under his arm. Once again, her heart ached, but she was still grateful to see him visit.

"Knew you were up. How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Better, still a bit dizzy," she breathed. "Come to bring me my homework, Drew?"

"No, not at all. You're on your own for that." Drew shook his head and pulled out the journal. "I just thought you could use a good read to help you sleep. Good for the soul as well."

"Your journal? But why?"

"Answers to your unanswered questions."

Cho laughed. "What made you believe that I have questions that are answered? And of what sort for that matter?"

Drew rolled his eyes and stood up. "Have I ever misled you? Just read it. Good night Cho."

Cho was a bit confused with Drew's intentions as she watched him leave the wing. As confused as she was, he had a point. His judgment had never led her wrong. Deciding that she needed something to take her mind off Cedric, she opened the journal to see what he poured into it day after day. She opened the book and a strange gust of wind blew the pages and stopped them when a certain entry was visible.

Volume X, August 25, 1991

The start of my third year. Today will forever stand out in memory. Today I made my first friend here at Hogwarts. Her name is Cho Chang, a first year Ravenclaw. I met her on the Hogwarts Express. When train started moving, and as with the first two years, I had a cabin to myself. I let myself nod off for a while, and when I awoke, I was no longer alone. This girl was sitting across from me, staring dreamily out the window. Her nervousness gave her away as a first year, her looks gave her away as stunning, and that she had entered the compartment I was in gave her away as something special. In spite of myself, a smile approached my face, and I had to fight it off before greeting her. I think I startled her, because when I spoke, she jumped, and her head snapped around so she was now staring at me. I don't think she knew that I was no longer asleep. She expressed her doubts about actually attending Hogwarts. Before today, she had been excited about starting, but now that her first day had arrived, doubt had set in. Almost everyone goes through that. I was about to patronize her, but something in her eyes stopped me. Something in her eyes told me that she had seen through what I had been presenting to everyone else to keep them away and that she had seen the side of me that would have most people questioning why I was placed in Slytherin. Instead, I reassured her. By the end of the ride, I had her enthralled with stories from my previous years. She was entranced and I did what I could to keep her laughing, completely glossing over the horror most students find in Professor Snape, or the apparent curse of the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. As we neared Hogwarts, she actually moved to sit beside me and threw her arms around me in a hug thanking me for making her feel better. I returned the gesture and petted her hair, letting her know she was welcome, and that if she needed someone to just look in the corners or on the edges of the shadows to find me. With luck, no one she tells about that train ride will believe her.

Cho looked up from the journal in wonderment. She had never realized how much of an impact she had made on Drew. Cho smiled to herself as she remembered her own memories about her first meeting with Drew. Even in his sleep, he'd shown such a rough and unfriendly exterior that she was almost too scared to enter the compartment, but it was the first compartment she'd come to with an open seat. Once she'd looked into his eyes when he awoke, she saw his friendship and kindness beneath the roughness. Cho wished Drew were here so she could thank him for letting her read something so heartwarming as she recovered. She flipped through a couple more pages and found another entry to immerse herself. Volume X, September 3, 1991. However, after the first few lines she saw the writing shrink. She held the book closer and closer to her nose as the words shrank smaller and smaller. Squinting her eyes focusing on the tiny letters somehow made her drowsy. She leaned back on her pillow, just letting the journal rest open on her face as she slipped into a dream. Or what she initially thought was a dream.

Cho walked listlessly down the hall of Hogwarts dressed in her hospital gown as she clutched Drew's journal. Suddenly the bell rang and the halls filled were students. She panicked and tried to run but she had no where to go. Only when the students started passing through her did she realize it wasn't real. She had to be dreaming. Then she remembered - the journal. She opened it and watched as a date and time flashed across the page and was soon followed by words describing what was happening around her. She was in Drew's journal somehow. A few feet away from her she saw a giggling pack of twelve year old girls. She instantly recognized the shortest one with dark hair. It was herself, nearly three years ago. Something must have gotten them excited. Cho decided to follow herself.

"Oh! I can't wait for you guys to meet him!" beamed the redheaded girl...it was a young Marietta.

"Wow, Marie!" said a young Cho. "You're the first of us to have a real boyfriend!"

'Oh I remember this!' Cho thought to herself as she chased the girls out into the cloisters. 'We meet Joey for the first time. He introduced us to his Hufflepuff friends! This is where it all began! She stopped in her tracks when she watched the young girls of Ravenclaw meet the young boys of Hufflepuff. 'And this is when I first met Cedric...'

"This is Mark...Dan...Brian...and that skinny runt there," Joey pointed to a wispy brown haired boy who was hiding behind a column, "is Cedric."

As the pack of girls turned their eyes to Cedric, his nerves took over his body as his eyes fought to glance everywhere but at the girls. Sensing his nervousness, the girls ignored him and talked with the other boys. The young Cho however, started walking over to him. He noticed, but continued to try to avoid eye contact with her.

'Hee hee! He used to be so skinny and boyish! My Cedric, how you grew!"

"Uh...You're Joey's friend right? I'm Cho Cha..."

'Watch out for the...' Cho thought. She then watched her younger self trip and fall flat on her face.

"OW!" young Cho started to cry.

"Are you all right?" young Cedric bent to help her sit up.

Cho started to sniffle and held her knee. The young Cedric gasped when he saw it scraped and bruised.

"Oh my gosh! You're hurt! Here..."

Cedric reached into his robes and pulled out a vial and hanky. He saturated the hanky with the solution and blotted her knee with it. Instantly, the scrape healed and young Cho couldn't feel the pain anymore. She wiped her tears on her sleeve and smiled at him.

"Cho is it?" he said smiling at her and flushing red. "I'm C...Cedric. Cedric Diggory."

"Nice to meet you! And thanks!" She smiled at him which turned him even more red. Then white smoked started to encircle Cho and cloud the scene. She was going to be brought to somewhere else in the journal.

'I forgot about that. He was so shy and everyone ignored him. But he was really nice! I...'

Suddenly the cloudiness intensified and swirled around Cho until she could only see white. When it settled, she was somewhere entirely different. Cho looked down at the open journal. The entry read: Volume X, October 31^st 1992. Cho instantly remembered this to be her very first Hogsmeade visit. Once again she saw the familiar pack of giggling Ravenclaws. But young Cho was missing. Still she followed them into Three Broomsticks.

'Now I remember! Cedric took me for my first Butterbeer while everyone else went to that silly joke store!'

"Yeah, so I heard that you made reserve Seeker for Ravenclaw! Congratulations!" Cedric told Cho.

"Yeah, I never had to work so hard in my life! But I know it's worth it!" Cho beamed.

"I...I'm a Seeker too, you know. Higgins, the Hufflepuff Captain might give me the job when he graduates."

"Really? That's great, Cedric!" Cho smiled. "Yes, I've seen you play. You are pretty good."

"Well...I...er..." Cedric blushed a fierce red.

Cho smiled as she watched her conversation with Cedric before they were joined by the rest of the group. She continued to watch them and became engaged in the amusing conversations that she had almost forgotten. Suddenly the young Cedric, Jenna, and Cho left the group. Cho followed herself, remembering that they had gone for some candy. She followed the trio of memories into the crowded candy store, wondering how the three of them had ever fit inside.

'Oh no! This is so embarrassing!'

Cho watched her younger self get pushed around and trampled by older, bigger students. She grimaced as she saw herself standing at the counter unable to grab the attention of one of the workers. The young Cho finally gave up and left the store to sit on the front steps. Cho followed her outside and sat with herself. The young girl started to cry. She knew that she couldn't speak with figures of the past, but she remembered what was coming, and waited anxiously for it.

"Cho?"

It was Cedric, his arms loaded with candy. The younger Cho turned around with surprise while the present Cho smiled when Cedric sat next to her.

"Um, I saw you...um...eh," he stammered.

"Couldn't get candy?" she sniffed. "Guess I'm too small!"

Cho almost laughed at herself for being so pouty. She watched Cedric pick up the biggest bag and hand it to the young Cho. Her younger self looked at him with big eyes and a confused look. Luckily they couldn't hear the present Cho laughing.

'This is all too familiar! Oh how I remember how surprised I was when he handed me a bag of all my favorite candy! *Gasp* I never did pay him back! He never asked for it either. That's got to be Galleons worth of chocolate frogs alone!'

Once again, the scene was blurred with smoke and Cho found herself in a new setting: The Forbidden Forest. Cho shuddered; even though she was immaterial here, the effect of the area itself was enough to chill her. The trees and ground were capped with snow indicating wintertime. She looked at the journal. It was February 14^th 1993 to be exact.

'Last Valentine's day! Grrr! I remember that Draco promised that he would take me to that cute little coffee place in Hogsmeade. He wasn't allowed to go to Hogsmeade at the time, but he said that his father pulled strings so he could go! "I'll be there!" he said. Imagine being ditched where stupid little cupids are whizzing over students snogging over the table! Wait a second! This isn't Hogsmeade! Why aren't I with my younger self this time? Isn't that why I'm in the journal?! Why am I in the Forbidden Forest?' Cho heard twigs snap and jumped around to see what caused it. 'Well, at least nothing could happen to me if this is just a memory...' She heard another snap and nearly screamed. Then she saw two students with their wands lit trudging through the trees. The dark faces hide their identity but she recognized one of the voices.

"You know, you must really like this girl to risk my beautiful face for h...OW!" Cho gasped as she recognized Roger, a branch hitting him in the face. She could not make out who was in front of Roger and had let the branch go allowing it to hit Davies. "Dammit Diggory! This had better be quick! I have a date and that bloody hurt!"

'Diggory? Cedric! What are Roger and Cedric doing lurking about here!' I remember Cedric missing that Hogsmeade! Is this why?'

"Shush Davies! You'll startle something!" Cedric ordered, but Roger continued to whine.

"No girl is worth this many scratches! You sap! You go through too much for a chick you don't even have yet! Startle? What...what could...CEDRIC!" Roger cried.

"Do you ever stop whining?" Cedric scolded as he stopped in front of a thick dark tree.

"So, Diggory, who is this girl that's getting me hit with branches and freezing my bum off?" demanded Roger as he rubbed his hands together for warmth.

"Eh...I er... I can't say Roger. But she's in your house!" Cedric blushed as he admitted that small clue, thinking of her.

"Who? Looney Lovegood?" Roger said. Cedric raised a brow at him but his face was still red. "OOhh, I know who it is!" Roger beamed. Cedric averted his eyes and got redder. "How could I not have seen this before?! It's Penelope Clearwater, isn't it?" Roger smacked Cedric on the back. "You dog!"

Cedric simply smiled. If Roger wished to believe that his beau was Penelope then his secret was safe. He had Roger look to the top of the tree where the most beautiful flowers bloomed. Cho nearly gasped. The faint light from their wands illuminated their radiance.

Cedric started to climb the tree, but had difficulty since the bark was coated with ice. He nearly slipped off a branch causing Roger to scream like a girl.

"Be careful, Diggory! Damn! You know Penelope isn't that hot! But...you do seem like you love her to go through with this!"

'Penelope? But...no, she was already with Percy by this time. And Cedric knew that. Does Cedric have a thing for other people's girlfriends? NO! He can't be picking them for her! She never said anything about flowers last year. In fact, she was whining recently that no boy, not even her Percy, ever gave her flowers. Who are you trying to fool, Cedric?'

"Okay Roger! I'm ready to jump down. Perform the pillow charm!"

Roger waved his wand to a spot on the ground and signaled to Cedric that it was safe to jump. Trusting his friend, he fell from the tree and landed on what he expected to be soft ground. However, Roger missed that lesson on pillow charms not surprisingly, had failed in properly performing the charm. CRACK! Cedric landed with a hard impact that shook the earth and shattered his ribs.

"OOOWWWW! DAMN YOU DAVIES!" Cedric cried, clutching his ribs with his free hand.

'Oh Cedric! You fool! What girl have you got it so bad for that you would risk your neck for? Or break your ribs rather? And why get those flowers? I'm sure dandelions would have been fine for...for...whoever she is!'

"Cedric! I'm sorry mate!" Roger tried to sustain his giggling as he rushed to his aid. "I told you I wasn't sure if I had that pillow charm down!"

"Y...You said you were good with pillow charms!" Cedric wailed as Roger supported Cedric's weight. Fortunately for Cedric, Roger had actually shown up to the lesson covering minor injuries from falls.

"Noooo. I'm good at pillow FIGHTS...with girls that is."

Cedric groaned and rolled his eyes. He leaned on Roger for support as they made their way out of the forest. In his other hand, Cedric clenched a bouquet of the delicate deeply hued flowers that Cho instantly recognized.

"Why those, Cedric?" Roger asked. "Couldn't daises do?"

"There's something about these flowers that remind me of Ch...er...her," Cedric said. "And there is a myth with these flowers. Some romantic thing that girls love. I forget what it is."

"You mean...no...can't be! The ones the bloom as long the giver loves the one whom he gives them to?"

Cedric blushed. "Yea...something like that."

The smoke started to erupt again meaning another changed of scenery. But, before the cloud blurred the vision, Cho recognized those rare and exotic flowers. They were sitting by her bed-stand when she returned from her failed date with Draco. She remembered the anonymous note wished her a happy Valentine's Day. She frowned. She thought the flowers were from Draco.

Cho then found herself in a dark gloomy room: Snape's office. The clock chimed seven times and Cho saw Snape pacing furiously. She walked over to his desk and noticed a piece of parchment with DETENTION written across it. Cho looked at Drew's journal to check the date. It was February 26^th 1993. It matched the date on Snape's detention slip. She also noted that at seven o'clock Cedric Diggory was scheduled for detention. Snape started twitching and losing patience with every second that the clock ticked away. Even in sub-consciousness Snape made her stomach churn. Where was Cedric? What could he possibly be doing to forget detention with Snape?

It suddenly hit her like a ton of bricks. February 26^th was when she fell through ice during a Lockhart's ice-skating class for beginners and had to spend yet another evening in the Infirmary. She remembered that Cedric visited her there. Cho dashed out of Snape's office and ran to the hospital wing. There young Cho was with bottles of empty Pepper-up potion nearby, sleeping in heated blankets and with Cedric by her side.

'He skipped out of detention to visit me? Not just any detention, but with SNAPE?? Oh, Cedric, if I had known! Why do you risk yourself for me? I don't even want to know what Snape put you through for this visit! You must have really CARED for me if...' Then Cho caught her thoughts. Care. Cedric does care. 'You really did care. You weren't just after me for snogging. What happened to you Cedric?'

Cho shook her head in disbelief. She wanted to believe that Cedric still had some feelings for her. However, observing the scenes of the past where Cedric did wonderful things for her only hurt her on the inside for she knew that he just wasn't the same. She stood there and watched Cedric gaze over the younger, unconscious Cho. Madame Promfrey had left them alone. Cedric stared dreamily at Cho for several minutes every now and then petting her forehead to brush away strands of hair. He spoke slowly and softly.

"Cho, I know that you're asleep. But...but maybe if you heard me talk to you then you will feel better. I feel...if I were there...then...maybe I could have protected you. I thank God every minute that you weren't alone. Even with Professor Lockhart's incompetence in Defense, he still managed to pull you out and bring you here. I...I saw him bring you. You were so pale, Cho. And...and my..." Cedric said as his voice shook.

He took a moment to shut his eyes tight and bury his face in his hands. He exhaled and looked back at her with watery blood-shot eyes. He took her near frozen hand in his and pressed it on his cheek.

"My heart nearly pounded out of my chest, Cho. I care for you so much. I...I don't know what I would do if I could never see you again. I don't know if I want to live. I..."

Cho was hanging on Cedric's every word. She knelt by his side as he spoke to the young Cho. She looked up at him tenderly as he poured his feelings out to her. Cedric squeezed young Cho's frostbitten hand and gently kissed it. He then smiled and she saw a twinkle in his eye.

"I...I think..." he continued to whisper, "I think I'm falling in l..."

Before he could finish his sentence the room filled with smoke, abruptly ending the beautiful scene.

"NO! NO!" Cho screamed as she was transported to another scene in Drew's journal. "I didn't...he didn't finish! NO!"

Cho found herself in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, but she was too upset to care what the date was. She sat in the corner hugging her knees.

'I didn't get to hear what he was going to say! How could I not know that Cedric cared for me that much. Why didn't he say anything? Would I have gone with him? We were friends for a while by then. Maybe he didn't want to mess that up. Could he? NO! Cho stop teasing yourself! Whatever he felt for me is gone. Why did Drew give me his journal? This is not making me feel better! It makes me feel worse! I could have had something great with Cedric and I let him slip through my fingers. Now he ignores me. After all this time...after all these acts of care and love. Love? NO! He doesn't Cho! No! No! Don't even think that! But, was that what Cedric was trying to say earlier? Why hasn't he said anything?'

Students started to file in the classroom while brushing snow off their shoulders and Professor Lupin walked out of his office to welcome the class. Cho didn't have to check the date on the journal to know that this scene had happened very recently.

"Today, class," Lupin started, "as some of my older students, you will be practicing overcoming the Nightmare curse. Now, the Nightmare curse is similar to the boggart except you will visualize the entire scene. Experience it as if it was the real thing. You will feel like you're trapped in a nightmare; it covers all five of your senses. Most of you wouldn't know you're in your nightmare until the curse is lifted. The Nightmare curse seriously affects those that have the deepest love for family and friends. It does not have as harsh of an effect for the shallow mind." He ruffled his hat and it spit out a piece of paper with a name on it. "Roger Davies, you're first."

Roger took a big gulp and slowly walked to the front of the class.

"Now just relax. Your will must be strong enough to tell your soul what is real and what is not."

Lupin performed the curse and Roger started to giggle. Suddenly he fell to the floor, reached his crotch, and began screaming as if a horde of barbarians were after his head. After he found what he was looking for, Roger opened his eyes and awoke from his nightmare. He stood up and flashed a wink and a cocky smile at the girls before heading to the back of the room.

"Very good, Davies! Full marks! Jenna, you're next!"

"What happened?" Cedric asked Roger as he sat down.

"Mate, I'm telling you I experienced the worst thing that could happen to a guy. There I was...alone with FOUR beautiful Veelas. Heh heh... and we...you know," he smirked. "But then, it was gone!"

"It?"

"My...wand! THE wand...you know." Roger said and Cedric smiled and nodded.

"Cedric Diggory!" Lupin called as the class was drawing to a close. Cedric met Lupin eye to eye in front of the room. "Remember Cedric, you must make your soul believe what is real and what is unreal. Are you ready?"

Cedric nodded and Lupin raised his wand. Teal green smoke started to erupt from his wand and encircle Cedric. After a second Cedric's eyes shut indicating that the curse was in effect. He stood there with his face twitching as he fought the horrors that were going through his head. He suddenly released a scream that tore at the soul of everyone in the room.

"NOOO NOOO!" he started to screech louder and louder. He fell to his knees and pounded his fist on the floor cursing the world.

"RESIST, CEDRIC!" Lupin shouted. "You must believe! Remember what is real!"

Lupin's encouragement did nothing to help Cedric. He continued to scream horrifically. Lupin finally lifted the curse from Cedric. Cedric, free from the curse, remained curled up on the floor clutching his head and trying to shake the thoughts out. After Lupin helped him up, he slowly trudged to his chair. His face was pale, eyes blood-shot and tearful, and his body beaded with sweat. The class was silent and some girls were in tears. It was as if they experienced Cedric's nightmare.

'Oh Cedric! What is it that has you so distraught? I have never seen you like this. It must be horrible. Did you lose a family member? I wouldn't blame you, Cedric. I would be in the same state you are in if I lost someone that I really love.'

The bell rang and the class slowly exited the room still in silence. Cedric remained in his seat. Lupin approached Cedric when they were the only two left in the class.

"You must have a big heart, Mr. Diggory," Lupin spoke slowly. "Because of that you have horrific nightmares which make it nearly impossible to overcome your Nightmare curse. With practice, eventually you can resist, but it won't be easy, understand?" Cedric nodded. "You have shown great effort and deserve full marks. Perhaps a simple disarming spell will save you from this curse in the future, son. Do you need anything?"

Cedric shook his head and said good-bye to Lupin. Cho saw that he was still rather shaken from the curse as he slowly walked down the empty hall. He stopped in his tracks and reached for his wand. He used the paging charm to summon Madame Promfrey.

"Yes, Cedric?" Madame Promfrey's voice spoke from his wand.

"Er...Is...is Cho all right, mam?"

"Yes Cedric, but she is still unconscious. I'm hoping she will awake tomorrow."

"Thank you mam," Cedric sighed.

Cedric closed his eyes and rested his head on the stone wall. He softly banged his fist on the wall and spread his palm over the spot he hit. Then he reached into his robes and pulled out a picture that made him smile. Cho moved behind him and had to stand on her toes to see over his shoulder to look at the picture. It was her! A picture of her and Cedric sitting on their favorite bench under a tree by the lake. They looked at each other so dreamily with...love...in their eyes. Cedric continued to smile at the picture of them hugging and ran a finger across her outline. He seemed to regain his color and composure after looking at the picture.

'Cedric? Was it me that you lost? Do you still care? Unless...unless you're over me?' Cho suddenly wondered just how recent this event was. How long ago Cedric felt this way about her? The other events occurred long ago and feeling could change in just a matter of weeks. She looked at Drew's journal: January 21, 1994. Yesterday.

Suddenly Drew's journal turned to a silver liquid and seeped through her fingers. She was then abruptly sucked into a vortex of silver and white smoke. She twisted and turned as if she were being tossed about in a tornado. She abruptly awoke and found herself in the hospital bed. She sat up straight beaded with sweat and heavy panting.

"Was wondering when you were coming back." Cho's head turned and she saw Drew sitting in a chair, waiting patiently at her bedside. "I'll take this back if you don't mind."

Drew reached for his journal which lay on Cho's lap, fully intact. Once Cho's breathing slowed to normal, her eyes started to water.

"Why Drew! Why did you show me such things?"

"But now I'm just more confused than I was before!" Cho wailed. "If he feels that way about me, why didn't he tell me? Why doesn't he just talk to me? Why does he keep it to himself so much? Why?"

"One word. Fear," Drew said curtly.

"Fear?" Cho asked.

"Yes, Miss Chang, fear. You can be intimidating."

"What?"

"Yes," Drew nodded. "You have no idea how many guys have crushes on you because you're smart and you're beautiful. But that exceptional combination is exactly what keeps most of them at bay. Cedric is a bit different. He took time to get to know you, the real Cho. The Cho that most people will never experience. And something between you two clicked. That can only add more fear to everything."

"But...but I...I never..."

"Shh." Drew hushed her and kissed her on the forehead. "Don't think about it right now. Get some rest. Just know that Cedric has always cared for you and that will never change. And remember, tomorrow will always be another day, and a day is always full of opportunity for things to happen."

Drew's last comment brought smile to Cho's face as she rested her head back on the pillow. Drew got up and started to head for the exit.

"Drew?" Cho called and Drew stopped to look at her.

"Yes," he asked.

"One more thing..."

"What's that?" he asked.

"How...how do you know all this stuff? I mean...I never saw you..."

"I know. I get that a lot." Cho saw Drew's face turn into a smile. "Good night, Cho."

Cho watched Drew leave the hospital wing and stared at the door for several seconds before resting her head. She closed her eyes and thought about all the scenes that she had seen. She didn't know whether to fell happy or depressed. She let out a deep sigh and decided to forget about it for the night and to fall asleep.

Several hours later, the hospital wing door opened but did not wake her. It was Cedric. He slowly walked over to her bedside and sat beside her. He had a present for her and placed it on her nightstand. Just like every hospital visit he stared dreamily at her sleeping face. He cleared his throat.

"Cho?" he whispered but she didn't answer.

"I...I never thought that I would see you again. You have been asleep for so long. And when you awoke...I missed...I wasn't there for you." He leaned closer to her and gently caressed her sleeping face in his arms while stroking her hairline with the tips of his fingers. "I care for you more than anything in the world. Losing you...would be like losing my own life...even if I never had you. I love you with all my heart, Cho Chang."

Cedric took a moment to study her expressionless face. He brushed a strand of hair from her face and followed his finger from her hairline to the bottom of her chin. He gently lifted her face, leaned in, and very softly kissed her on the lips. He lifted his head and looked at her with a tender smile and a twinkle in his eye then studied her face for a moment before leaving.

Cho then rolled to her side and hugged her pillow. She had a dreamy smile on her face as she experienced something wonderful. She awoke when the sun peered though the windows and shone on her face. She had a wonderful dream and did not want to be disrupted.

"Are you feeling better, Miss Chang?" asked Madame Promfrey.

"Oh, yes," Cho yawned rubbing her eyes. "Just a little sleepy."

"Well, let me check something." Madame Promfrey checked Cho's pupils and smiled in satisfaction. "Everything seems to be in order. I will leave your release papers on your nightstand. You may go when you feel fit. Goodbye, dear."

Madame Promfrey left the note by her nightstand. When she moved, she revealed the present Cedric left for her. The flowers she saw him climb for in Drew's journal. The new ones were as glowing as she remembered the ones she received last year being. She then remembered that she still had the bouquet from last year.

'And there is a myth with these flowers. Some romantic thing that girls love. I forget what it is.' Cho remembered Cedric saying those words in the journal as she returned to her dormitory with the new flowers in her hand. When she entered her bedroom she looked for a box under the bed. She opened it and saw the flowers that Cedric gave her last year. They were as radiant and strong as ever.

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