Second Door to the Right

Chapter Four: The Invisible Man

For Cho, the 23^rd of September never approached slower. However, she hardly had moment to dwell on her coming date. Her N.E.W.T. classes were demanding more and more of her, she could barely think of anything outside academia. She had even considered resigning from the Quidditch team. Though flying had always been a wonderful way of relieving the stress of school, Cho found that even soaring through the air wasn't distraction enough. During evenings when practices were absent, she was up very late, working on homework and discussing essays with Celeste (often punctuated with much swearing).

But the week of the 17^th eventually arrived and with much flourish. Just like in the past years, rumors were flying everywhere as to who was going with whom to Hogsmeade. Not wanting to be the center of attention, Cho attempted to keep a low profile, skirting people in corridors and not speaking up during class.

Determined not to let Harry get in the way of her future career and schoolwork, she tried to be as attentive as she could in classes, even in the most boring ones, but as Friday loomed near, she found her attention waning.

Harry, Harry!

* * *

"When are you going to meet her?"

Ever since being rejected by Hermione, Ron took much more interest in Harry's love life. Though Harry often found this irritating, he decided it was much better than seeing his best friend moping about, constantly swearing under his breath. Hermione had ignored them for the most part, though she still addressed Harry coolly, she refused to speak to Ron at all.

"Um, actually..."

"Don't tell me you haven't arranged a time yet!"

"Well, it's only Wednesday..."

"Harry! Come on!"

"I'll write to her, okay? Is that okay?"

Taken aback, Ron merely said, "Sure, fine."

"Got some spare parchment, Ron?"

"Yeah, take this and my quill."

Harry quickly scribbled a brief note and handed the quill back.

Cho, why don't you meet me by the staircase near the Great Hall at 10:30 on Saturday? How does that sound? Send Hedwig back with a reply.

- Harry

"Here, Ron, want to go the Owlery with me? Still before nine, we won't get in trouble."

"Yeah, okay. I don't want to work on this rubbish dream diary anyway."

The two left the Gryffindor common room and set out towards the Owlery. Their footsteps echoed eerily off the walls, and something suggested an unexpected event was to come up very soon. The occasional ghost floated by accompanied with the rattling of armor. Though candles were situated here and there, Harry wished he could be back in front of the blazing fire, the warmth washing over him, a tidal wave of heat...

"Harry! Listen!"

The dark enveloped Harry again, the fire in his mind vanished. He strained his ears to listen to the sound Ron had mentioned. For a moment, he heard nothing but silence, and then something made his head turn sharply to one side, his eyes narrowing...

It was Hermione.

She was giggling.

And someone else was with her.

Harry motioned for Ron to move closer. Careful to avoid patches of moonlight that may reveal his presence, Harry slid closer to the sound. Then he saw it.

Two figures were standing uncomfortably close together.

Hermione's bushy hair was easily recognizable, but the other figure...though Harry had suspected him along...it sent his mind spinning anyway...

Malfoy.

Hermione.

Malfoy.

Together.

Hallway.

SNOGGING!

Ron was looking equally staggered, and by the looks of it, he was about to fall right into...

"RON NO!"

Harry yelled as loud as he could, but even so the toppling of armor crashing to the stone floor drowned out his pleas, and he could see out of the corner of his eye Hermione had pulled away from Malfoy, staring about for what had caused the commotion, her wand pulled out, her eyes vigilant, darting about. Harry motioned for Ron to silently back away. Forget about the letter, Harry thought frantically. I'll send it tomorrow, but we just have to LEAVE!

It wasn't until they were back in the safe vicinity of the common room did either of them speak.

"Bloody hell," Ron croaked, his eyes looking blankly up at the ceiling, still registering what had just happened.

* * *

It's Friday afternoon! I only have to wait until tomorrow!

Even in Transfiguration, one of Cho's most important classes, she could not keep her mind off of the impending date. Luckily, there wasn't any lecturing this class, so she could freely think without having to take notes. Yesterday morning, during breakfast, she had further confirmed her date by establishing the time she would be meeting Harry.

"Hey, Cho."

It was Solara, a "friend" from last year. Cho wondered why Solara would want to talk to her now. In fact, it was she who swore she would never talk to Cho again. Suppose Solara forgot about that, she thought sardonically.

"Hi. What brings you here?"

"You going to Hogsmeade tomorrow?

"Yes, and you?"

"Yeah. Going with anyone?"

Why is she talking about this now? And why with me, her "enemy"?

"Well, are you?"

Cho didn't particularly like the idea of Solara knowing she was going with Harry, especially since she was part of the entire Cedric uproar that occurred in the girls' dormitory last year.

"Yeah. I'm going with Othello."

Clank.

Cho dropped her wand.

"You are...WHAT?"

"Hey, why not? He's a nice guy."

She could not help but stare. Othello, a "nice guy"? Solara must have lost her mind. Hadn't she witnessed Othello hit on me like, what, a hundred times last year? She was standing right there! Along with a lot of other people! There was something amiss here. Othello would never go to Hogsmeade with someone like Solara. She was, well, too plain for him. Othello, the lover of the blonde and those who wore too much makeup, would never go to Hogsmeade with someone like Solara. She wasn't hideous, only she didn't quite fit the description of Othello's typical girlfriend. There had to be some catch here...

"So, Cho, are you going with anyone?"

Having just a slight suspicion as to what was happening, Cho dissented. "No, I'm not. I'm just going with Celeste, maybe I won't go at all."

"Celeste," Solara rolled her eyes. "That bitch. I can't believe you're still friends with someone like her. Just dreaming her whole life away...I still can't believe she got more O.W.L.s than I did."

"Well, maybe you just need to accept the fact that she works harder than you," Cho retorted, her temper always rising when someone was having a go at Celeste.

"Well, fine then! Bitch! I hope you're happy when you have all the N.E.W.T.s you can have when I'll have the guy of my dreams!"

Solara stomped away, looking back at Cho with a glance of pure poison. Though Cho knew she had just turned an indifferent onlooker into a true rival, for some reason, she couldn't care less. She had defended Celeste (who was in the hospital wing; in Charms today, a book had some how smashed into her nose, causing it to bleed uncontrollably) and kept her date secret from the world, and really, she could not have felt more pleased.

She felt like a yellow balloon, rising into the air...uninhibited...

Pop.

Damn.

It's him.

"So, darling, you're not going with anyone?" came the annoyingly smooth voice, mocking her. Cho felt herself turn red.

"No, I'm not. Do you have a problem with that?"

"Where's your little friend?"

"She has a name, and it's Celeste," Cho spat between gritted teeth.

"Anyway, back to the original matter. Why isn't someone as attractive as yourself going with someone to Hogsmeade? Why, I'd think guys would be queuing up to ask you. I remember last year they were. The Yule Ball? But you chose Cedric. And this year, you're off chasing after Potter..."

This last statement was met with much sniggering from across the room.

"I...I'm not! I don't have anything to do with Harry! He - we're...we're just friends!"

Why couldn't I be blessed with the ability to lie?

" 'Friends', huh? Sure 'bout that?"

"Okay class! Back to your work! Need I remind you again, Caesar, that you are in a N.E.W.T level class?"

"No, Professor. I'll go and work then."

He sauntered back to his table (Solara was anxiously waiting for him) with one last pompous look at Cho, who was on the brink of tears.

"Miss Chang, are you alright?" Professor McGonagall asked kindly, concern etched startlingly clear in her face.

"Um, could I go to the bathroom for a moment?"

"Of course."

Cho dashed out of the room, immediately comforted by the fact she was no longer in the same room as Othello, and headed to the hospital wing. She didn't know how she could survive a second longer without Celeste's presence. True, her friend was full of levity and sometimes wasn't serious when the situation called for it, but she always pulled everything in the right perspective, had always comforted Cho in a way no one else could. And suddenly Cho felt a surge of affection for her friend, her friend who had always been there for her, and accompanying this feeling, a surge of guilt, for not being as loyal a friend as Celeste had always been.

* * *

"So, are you even going Hogsmeade tomorrow?"

It was Friday night, and Harry found he couldn't concentrate one bit on his History of Magic essay. Every time he thought of giant wars, Cho was somehow involved. In fact, Harry had already made the mistake of writing "Cho" instead of "Ulfric" many times. Ron, too, found his focus amiss. But that was for a different reason.

"If it means having to see Hermione and Malfoy snog behind Honeydukes, then no. I'd rather go to Potions."

To Harry, however, it was evident all Ron wanted was to catch Hermione and Malfoy doing just that. That gave him an idea.

"You know," Harry said in an undertone, "I could lend you my Invisibility Cloak so you can see what they're up to..."

Giving up any pretense of not being interested in Hermione's date, Ron slumped back into his chair, mumbling a "Sure" but grinning sheepishly all the same.

"Just ask me before I leave, okay?"

"But when's Hermione leaving for Hogsmeade?" Ron asked anxiously.

"Overheard her talking to 'Draco'. She's leaving half an hour after I am."

"Thanks, Harry. Well, you better get to sleep. Sure you don't want to go on a date with bags under your eyes."

"Your concern, though appreciated, is unnecessary," Harry said in a perfect imitation of Malfoy's sleazy drawl.

Ron sniggered approvingly.

"Up for a game of Gobstones, Harry?"

* * *

"Cho! Wake up! You only have an hour to get ready!"

"Wha...?"

"Your date! With the great kisser Harry! In ONE HOUR!" Celeste yelled, sounding as if she was explaining to a toddler than one plus one equals two.

"Damn, really?" Cho bolted upright, her hair flying everywhere. "What time is it?"

Celeste sighed impatiently. "Like I have already reiterated before, YOU - HAVE - ONE - HOUR! Which would mean it's about 9:30 in the morning, on Saturday, September the 23^rd, in the gorgeous year of 1995."

"Oh, I really need to stop sleeping-in on the weekends."

"Hey, I think the N.E.W.T. classes are getting to you. But anyway, here's some toast I took from breakfast."

Hastily shoving the buttered slice of bread into her mouth, Cho went rummaging through her trunk. She emerged clutching an ornate circular mirror, plated with gold around the edge, encrusted with jewels. At the sight of it, Celeste's mouth fell to the floor.

"Wow. What is that?"

"Something that'll save a hell lot of time. It's a Complexion Altering Mirror. See?" Cho set it up on her night table. "Initio." The mirror glowed pink and then the color disappeared. "My cousin sent this to me for a birthday present once, but I hardly ever use it. Don't know why I bring it to school, but I guess this time it came in handy. This mirror will apply all your makeup for you. Let's see..."

"Well, you're going to need some lipstick. Uh, how does this work?"

"Look at the mirror directly, focus on what part of your face you want the makeup to go, then, for example, if you want lipstick, just say, 'Lipstick' and the color you'd like your lipstick to be. After the initial applying of it, you can change the color."

"Okay...so, let's start off with a plain red color, then we'll change it to more natural tones."

"Lipstick - red! Ugh, this makes me look like a prostitute!"

"Well," Celeste said coolly, "I guess that's why they let you alter it, so you don't end up looking like a ho."

The two spent the next half hour fiddling with the mirror, trying to get Cho's makeup to stay at the median between gaudy and homely. At last, Cho was satisfied with the result, and with a quick "Finis," the mirror glowed pink once more. Cho then revealed it could style one's hair, but to that, Celeste adamantly opposed.

"Well, I wonder who did your hair for the Yule Ball," Celeste remarked in mock surprise, lifting a pinky to her mouth. "Cho, I can do your hair better than that crap mirror can."

"I'm not saying you can't. I was merely telling you that - "

"Eh, cease your babbling! We are running out of time! And we still have to get you an outfit. In case the fact hasn't reached you yet, you're still in your pajamas."

"Well, wouldn't you think it's better if I get my clothes on first? Because if I get dressed after the hair, it may ruin your masterpiece."

"True. So, shall we go search through our trunks?"

Within moments, Cho had found the perfect skirt - black, sleek and straight, stopping a few inches before the knee. Her top, however, proved to be much harder to find.

"What sort of a look do you want to go for, Cho?"

"Um, actually, I don't know."

"Revealing?" Celeste held up a rather low-cut white and sleeveless shirt. Cho shook her head. "How about conservative?" Celeste raised a sweater.

"Definitely not the sweater. I'd rather go with the slutty shirt than that."

"Well, how about this? I think you'd look really good in it!"

Celeste was holding a light purple blouse, which was made of a light, silky material. Cho reached up to feel it, savoring the smooth texture of the blouse.

"Hmm, you're right! It's lovely!"

"So go and change in the bathroom. I'll meet you there in a second, okay? Gotta look up some new hairstyles!"

Upon reaching the bathroom on the fifth floor, the closest one, the realization she was going on a date with Harry Potter fully sank in, and her face split into a wide grin. Life is wonderful, she thought, bubbling over delight. She pushed open the bathroom door and waltzed in.

The yellow balloon was back, floating into happiness...

Pop.

Someone was sitting at one of the vanities.

Someone Cho really didn't want to see at the moment...

"Cho, what are you doing here with all those fancy clothes and the makeup? Thought you said you weren't going to Hogsmeade. Or maybe you're going to prance about the castle, seducing a bunch of really unfortunate guys."

Hmm, this is just great.

"Well, Solara, I shall be doing nothing of the like."

"Got a date then? What did you have to do first? Shag him?"

Solara was standing up, blush brush still in her hand. Fool, Cho thought. She didn't bring her wand. What kind of person walks around Hogwarts without a wand?

"Well, if I had to shag my way into getting a date, I wonder what you must have had to do," Cho replied calmly, her face composed.

"WHAT? Oh, so you think I'd sink to your level, huh?" Solara's arms were now crossed, glaring at Cho with complete and utter dislike. "You think you're so great, Cho, because you got to go out with the great Cedric. And now here you are again! Running about the castle, announcing to the whole damn world you've got another date."

"In case you haven't noticed, I have not done any running about nor have I been telling everyone I've got another boyfriend, unlike yourself. No wonder Othello likes you. Your head is so over inflated, I'm wondering why it's not floating away."

"BUGGER OFF, YOU BI - "

"Silencio!"

Solara continued to shout but no sound escaped her throat.

"What's going on? Cho, why haven't you changed yet?" Celeste's puzzled eyes fell on Cho and then moved to Solara, still pointing threateningly at Cho. "And why is she here?" Celeste looked at Solara with repugnance.

"She's going on a date with Mr. Caesar. Hope Othello likes his girlfriends mute. Now leave."

Solara pointed at her throat.

"Why, you want your voice back? I never would have noticed!" Cho said sarcastically.

A very rude gesture from Solara made Celeste take out her wand.

"Promise to leave, then I'll give you your voice back."

Solara nodded, but her eyes did the pleading for her.

Cho sighed and muttered the countercurse.

"Thanks a lot, bitch," she snarled on her way out the door. Then she muttered something so only Cho could hear. "Othello's going to hear about this."

But for once, Cho did not care.

"Get changed, Cho!" Celeste urged, now that Solara had left. "You only have twenty minutes! Not to mention the hair!"

Cho entered the changing room and hastily dressed. Content with her appearance, she turned to leave. Then something caught her eye. It was her necklace, her very simple necklace. There was a silver pendant hanging on it and etched upon it were two 'C's. Cho and Cedric, she thought, remembering the day Cedric had bought it for her. She had been so enchanted by its simplicity, promised to wear it forever...

Cho took it off and placed it in her pocket.

"There you are! Sit down, Mrs. Potter."

Cho giggled. That's Celeste, all right, she thought, smiling. Always poking fun at every situation.

As Celeste crafted her masterpiece, Cho continually looked at her watch. Ten minutes...can't Celeste hurry up...five...three...two...

"Done! We need to run if you're going to be time. By the way, here are your shoes, cloak, and I thought this necklace would look really good with your outfit."

It, too, was a plain silver one, but instead of the two 'C's, there was just a heart.

"Wait a sec. Did you say, 'we'?"

"Well, yeah. You need someone to send you off, right? Wish you luck?"

I don't think I've ever met anyone as supportive as Celeste.

"C'mon then!"

* * *

Harry had left his watch in the dorm, so he kept on asking Ron (standing near him under the Invisibility Cloak) what time it was.

"Harry, it's 10:29, okay? She'll be here soon, so don't worry."

But Harry couldn't help but worry.

* * *

Cho and Celeste sprinted down the corridor as fast as they could (Cho much slower due to her shoes), stopping only to catch their breath once they reached the staircase.

"Well, then, better put on your cloak right here. Unseasonably chilly today, but still sunny."

"You went outside already?"

"During breakfast. You were sleeping remember?"

Cho grinned guiltily.

"So, you ready?"

"Celeste, I really hope so," Cho said, looking as if she was resigned to the worst.

"Okay then. I'll see you when you come back?"

"Definitely. It'll be before dinner, don't worry."

"Yeah, then you can tell me all about it..."

Something in Celeste's voice told Cho that she only wanted to know one thing.

"Well, bye!"

"Have lots of fun!"

* * *

Harry saw her.

Cho.

She was standing at the top of the staircase, looking for Harry. He felt the impulse to yell out to her, but he knew that wouldn't be prudent. Instead, he looked at Hermione. Though she was standing arm-in-arm with Malfoy, a circle of guys was standing about her, and she was clearly enjoying all the attention. Hermione said she would meet Malfoy at 11:00. I wonder why the sudden change in plans. Harry vaguely wondered what Ron might be thinking about this.

"Harry!"

He looked back up at the staircase, but Cho wasn't there anymore. He glanced about, wondering where she could be. Surely she couldn't have left...

"HARRY!"

He felt a tugging at his sleeve. He looked down, and his heart began to beat unusually fast.

"Hi, Cho. Ready to go?"

He tried to surreptitiously check her out as they walked to Hogsmeade. She was so unbelievably radiant. Her silky blouse accentuated her flowing curves and showed enough flesh for Harry to be satisfied, her skirt displayed her graceful legs. Her hair was pulled up into a loose bun, and two strands of hair hand on either side of her face, softening it (not like she needs it, Harry thought). Her eyes seemed, somehow, more luminous and bright than before, her lips, delicately colored a perfect hue, were formed into a small smile, and Harry wanted to kiss her luscious mouth.

No one said anything for a while, to Harry, the silence didn't seem forced nor did the day ever look better, despite the fact it was rather chilly. Then Cho spoke.

"So, would you like to eat lunch first?"

"Why don't we go to Honeydukes? Buy some candy, then we can go sit in the Three Broomsticks, maybe eat some of the candy, get some butterbeer - how does that sound?"

"That would be great," she replied, smiling, kissing Harry on the cheek.

* * *

To Cho, it felt like her mind had exploded, being so physically close to him, and she had trouble maintaining her breathing regular. She instinctively leaned into him and looked up. To her surprise, Harry was looking back down at her. His green eyes were just so stunning and ever more so outside, reflecting the sunshine. She could see herself in his eyes, as if she was a part of him, as if she ran through his veins, giving him life. Why, I look so frightened!

And then she laughed, such a crystalline laugh, laughing at herself, something she had never been able to do. Harry, she was sure, did not know why she suddenly rang out in peals of laughter, but he smiled at her. The laughing ceased, but she was looking back up at Harry, relieved to know that she now longer looked so intimidated.

It was only a moment, literally less than a minute, but it was surely a most dazzling moment, Harry and Cho, together, a union formed to last an eternity, a speechless marriage of hearts.

* * *

"So, lunch first, my dear?"

"Yes, Draco. I'm famished."

"And after Hogsmeade, a little more studying in the library?"

Hermione giggled and blushed.

I wonder what they must be studying, Ron thought darkly. Shagging techniques? Ever since witnessing Hermione and Malfoy snogging in the middle of the corridor that Wednesday night, the minor annoyance at the two of them grew into a full-fledged tempest, and he was determined to get them back for it. Hadn't she realized it yet, that he, Ron, had fancied her since their third year? Hadn't she realized that, even after all the subtle hints (which were often none to subtle) he had given, especially last year at the Yule Ball? Could anyone be so hopelessly blind?

But then Ron had always suspected Hermione liked him as well. However, now that she was spending her Hogsmeade weekend with Malfoy, it seemed to be an impossibility.

Well, he was to blame too. Should have asked her out earlier, two years ago, more like, he thought mournfully. Well, thanks to Harry, at least I can see what their up to. If Malfoy's gonna shag her...well...he's never going to see daylight again.

* * *

"Oh, really, is that what happened to her?"

Cho was still chuckling merrily at the little anecdote Harry had just told. They had finished their lunch and were now downing their butterbeer with the occasional chocolate from Honeydukes.

"Yeah."

"So, is that how she knew everything, flying around as a beetle? Ha! I can't imagine Rita Skeeter as a fat little bug. You'd think she'd be a snake or something, sneaking around and eavesdropping."

"Well, neither could I until Hermio - "

Harry couldn't finish his sentence. Merely thinking about Hermione and the fun times they used to have brought heartache. She didn't even talk to Harry anymore, and compensated for that by flirting with even more guys, many who were in Slytherin.

"Speaking of Hermione," Cho said, suddenly taking on a much more serious tone, "have you noticed she's acting, well, a bit oddly this year?"

"Oh, good, Ron and I aren't the only ones. Most guys seem oblivious of that fact."

"She sickens me, really," she remarked indifferently, "flirting with so many people when, in fact, she should go out with Ron. It's pretty obvious he likes her."

Harry wondered how she knew, but his question was soon answered.

"At the Yule Ball, he kept on saying things that were just hiding his true feelings. The whole 'fraternizing with the enemy' deal, didn't you think it was obvious?"

Now that he thought about it, it was rather evident Ron had fancied Hermione for a while.

"Oh, look who it is," Harry said sarcastically.

* * *

Cho turned around, only to see Hermione surrounded by a very large group of guys, including Draco Malfoy. She was sporting an incredibly low-cut shirt, so low Cho thought what it was supposed to be holding in might spill out at any moment. Her skirt seems to tight it was a wonder she could still walk. And on rather high heels at that! Malfoy, she thought, what is that scum doing with her? You'd think she would have better taste than that. Slytherin filth...

But...

Why was she suddenly so popular this year?

Maybe it was because of the O.W.L.s. Cho remembered how close she was to nervous collapse in her fifth year due to those exams and she would have done anything for someone to help her other than Celeste, who was in a fragile state as well. Maybe Hermione is using her intelligence to win some popularity. Well, she's pretty shallow, to want to be that popular.

But she is liked.

By many.

And she is Harry's friend, though they just aren't speaking to each other for the time being.

Wait. Stop.

Wow.

I never realized Harry has such esteemed company, she thought madly, and if he hangs out with people like this, then his standard for friends must be really high. They must all have to pretty and smart and all and...

Bloody hell.

What if I'm not good enough for him?

For Harry?

What if he thinks I'm not good enough in anything? I'm not shockingly good-looking or really smart or even that great of a Quidditch player and - oh!

What if he doesn't really like me at all?

But don't think about that, Cho. Of course Harry likes you. Otherwise he wouldn't have asked you out - there are plenty of other girls in this school, including Hermione the femme fatale - or kissed you like he did.

What if it was all out of pity? What if he thought, "Oh, look at this girl, she looks so pitiful, so why don't I go out with her to make her feel better?"

No, he went out with me because he likes me, just as I like him.

Okay?

No more doubts.

Case is closed.

You sure?

* * *

"Bloody bastard, get your hands of her," Ron muttered under his breath, his hands forming into fists, and wanting so much to drive his fists into Malfoy's heart...or Hermione's.

Having followed them into the Three Broomsticks, Ron had gotten a clear idea as to what Hermione's "flirting" had turned into. She had managed to seduce many guys under her spell, and yes, Ron knew exactly how that felt. What a bitch!

But his thoughts were punctuated by a sudden noise to his left. Ron was standing behind Honeydukes, the favorite destination of snoggers everywhere. Naturally, Hermione and Malfoy were there, doing their little bit of kissing, but what Ron was looking at was way more than he had wanted to see.

Hermione was moaning into Malfoy's mouth, and he had placed his thigh between her legs.

I can't bloody take this anymore, he thought, backing away, searching for something else to look at. But everywhere he looked people were just kissing, and he was standing here, alone, amidst all of this, his head bulging, knowing he wouldn't be able to take this much longer...

He ran out of the alleyway, not caring if he made too much noise, and didn't stop until he had reached the deserted Gryffindor common room. Only then did he tear off the Invisibility Cloak, his breath coming in odd gasps, his eyes tearing up, unable to bear the strain much longer.

* * *

"Oh, Harry! Look, there's a new shop!"

"Let's go check it out, then."

It was a gift shop, filled with little miscellaneous trinkets. Harry never knew Cho liked these kinds of shops. He, personally, never found these shops very interesting, but for the sake of Cho, he followed.

But he soon changed his opinion of the store.

Harry had never been in such a place. It was very brightly lit and apparently very popular with the students. It had, pretty much, a little bit of everything, and he felt like he needed about ten more eyes to fully explore. He found Cho by a case of moving glass figurines.

"Oh, hey. I'm looking for a swan, my favorite animal. They don't seem to have one though..."

Harry peered through the glass, looking for anything that remotely resembled a swan. He saw a rabbit hopping up and down, sniffing through the grass, a dog running around, waving its tail expectantly, and here...was a stag. Harry watched it walk around for a little, thinking it looked a lot like his Patronus. Dad, he thought, wondering what his James would say if he ever knew his son's Patronus took the form of a stag...

But there was the swan, lurking the corner.

"Cho, it's over there."

"Oh, let me see. Wow, it's so beautiful. Excuse me," she said to a rather short witch standing behind the counter, "could you take the swan out so I could look at it?"

The witch mumbled something about her rheumatism and how she needed to quit her job, but nevertheless, she stooped down (thought with some difficulty) and retrieved it for Cho.

"Harry, isn't it amazing?"

He had to agree. The swan was very nimble, very pretty, much like Cho herself. While she was absorbed in checking if the swan had any flaws, Harry wandered about, looking to see if there was anything worth noticing. He sauntered into an aisle full music boxes, then something caught his eye...

Checking to see if Cho was still immersed in the swan, Harry hurriedly walked over to another register, where he handed the witch his money.

"Cho, are you done yet?"

"Almost. Just waiting for her to package the swan."

She seemed to catch the skeptical look in Harry's eyes.

"You're probably thinking it's a waste of money, but I really love these little glass figures. Especially swans."

"Here's change and such. Have a nice day," the witch behind the counter muttered tonelessly, handing Cho a small white box and a few Knuts.

Harry thought she could have might as well said, "Now you have what you want, get the hell out of here."

"Let me carry that for you," Harry said, carefully taking Cho's shopping bag from her hand, slipping his own purchase in.

"Oh, you don't have to," she murmured, turning red.

They strolled around for a little before finally sitting down on one of the benches lining the main street of Hogsmeade.

"Could I have a look at the swan?" Cho asked.

"Sure," he replied, handing her the bag.

Cho looked through the bag, her expression one of confusion. She pulled a package that was much too large to hold a very small swan.

"I didn't buy this," Cho said, fixing her eyes on Harry.

"Well, that's because I did. Open it."

"A present?" she asked quietly, still a little bewildered.

"Yes. It's when someone buys something for another person," Harry replied in such a manner that would have made Celeste proud.

Cho cautiously opened the white box, and it struck Harry how meticulously she could do something so trivial.

"Oh, Harry..."

Words simply failed her. She reached in, and sitting upon her hand was a blue lacquered music box, a piano etched in gold on the cover, beneath that the words, "The intellect can err; the sentiment, never." She gently opened it and a gasp escaped her.

The inside was lined entirely with black velvet, an oval mirror attached to the back of the cover. Harry could see the delight emanating from her eyes, her eyes so shining. A black grand piano stood in the middle of the box, so magnificently crafted, Harry could see every detail from the strings to the tiny, gold pedals. Harry, who had never held music in too high esteem, was very impressed with its quality.

"Does this play music?" Cho whispered in awe.

As if to answer her question, a person appeared in the music box from seemingly nowhere, bowed to Cho, and sat down at the piano and began playing. Then unexpectedly, Cho began to cry.

"Um, Cho? Is there something wrong?" Harry asked, unsure if his gift had caused this sudden outbreak of tears.

"No, no, not at all," she sniffled, trying to stop crying, but as the piano piece progressed, she only cried more. "B-but, how d-did you know I like the piano?"

"I sent Celeste an owl, asking what you liked. She told me you love the piano. Uh, was she wrong? And you don't mind me doing that, right?"

"No. I love the piano. I probably more than love it, just that they haven't come up with a word for that yet. I've always wanted to play it, b-but my parents said that I didn't deserve it..."

"Why is that?" Harry asked softly, feeling very concerned for Cho.

"Well, see," she stuttered through her sobs, "I was suppose to be born a boy, but I-I wasn't, and, oh, and every single bloody time my parents look at me, all they're thinking is, 'Oh, this is the child who should have been a boy but wasn't. What a disappointment.' They - they've never let me do anything at home except for schoolwork. They've never let me fly with the other children - I live in an all-Wizarding neighborhood - but more than that I've always wanted to learn music. Piano. My neighbor played it, and I would always v-visit her house and listen to her play. So beautiful, I've never heard anything as beautiful. But she was almost eleven, almost time for her to go to H-Hogwarts. So I would only get to hear her play in the summer now. A-and, one day I asked my p-parents if I could l-learn, when I was only seven, and they told me, 'Maybe if you were different, Cho, we'd let you.' And you have no idea how much that hurt me, and I haven't and I'll never get over it.

"So, o-one day, I asked another neighbor if I could have some of his Muggle money. He loves their money. Told him I'd trade him Wizarding money for it. I had been saving all of my allowance for this. I-I went to the store and I bought one of those Muggle things that play music. And a couple of - oh, what are they called? - CDs or something. Piano CDs. Thought that m-maybe if I couldn't play the piano, I could at least listen to it all the time, instead of waiting for my neighbor to c-come home. Hid all of it in my closet. O-over the years, I've gotten some m-more Muggle money and bought some more CDs, but it's not the s-same as actually seeing someone play. You don't get to see the hands run across the keyboard. That's the inspirational part.

"And then you bought me this, and now I c-can watch someone really p-play, even if it's just in a box. And...and..."

Cho broke out in fresh sobs, the memory of her parents' disapproval cloaking her in melancholy, her face buried in her hands, but the tears splattering on the road. Harry couldn't remember feeling so sorry for anyone before. Cho, the once proud and sociable, was sitting next to him, alone, so pitiful, forlorn, drowned in the past, struggling to escape but her efforts of no avail. Harry had often received much sympathy for being an orphan and being raised by Muggles, but he thought that having your parents with you yet not being able to even live properly with them was much, much worse. And he couldn't do anything that would really, truly help. He was as helpless as she was, only in a different fashion.

"Cho, I - I'm sorry," he said, biting his lower lip, placing his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. She lay there for a minute, resting her head, the sobbing somewhat departing.

"No, you don't have to be sorry," she said, occasionally sniffing, looking down at her feet rather than Harry. "I should be sorry. You just tried to make me happy and all I can do is sit here and mope. I'm happy you bought it, it's the greatest thing anyone's ever given me, but...but along with it comes sadness, and - and I just need to overcome that. It's not your fault. The blame is entirely mine. I'm sorry."

"Look, you don't have to - " he began, not wanting to see Cho force it all on herself.

But she shook her head and Harry fell silent.

Thus thirty minutes passed in silence. Neither of them said a word; there was no need to. As the sun dipped below the horizon, students passed them, and Harry knew it was time to leave.

"Cho, I'll put this away for you, okay?" he asked tenderly, not really knowing if she wanted to be parted with her precious possession.

Wordlessly, she handed Harry the music box and stood up, stretching. Then looking directly into Harry eyes, she took a deep breath.

"Harry, I just want to thank you. I know it's not much, but my word of thanks is all I have with me. You've made today as special as it could have been, and if it wasn't for..."

"Look, it's over and forgotten," Harry insisted, smiling.

"Oh, Harry, you're wonderful," she sighed, falling into him.

He caught her in his arms as she latched her hands behind his neck.

"Today was really great with you Cho..."

Their lips met, and though they kissed with none of the passion that had previously possessed them on prior occasions, it left a lingering feeling on Cho's lips long after the kiss had ended.

Hand about her waist, Harry and Cho headed back up to Hogwarts in silence, the only sound the rustling of the shopping backs and the gusting wind.