Harry's Date
Author’s Note:
Just to remind you, I’m not JK. How can you tell? Because JK knows how to spell and I don’t! Please ignore my mistakes and typos. I am a good writer, but a sucky speller.
The Hogwarts staff had their work cut out for them in the next two weeks. Dumbledore had called a school meeting during dinner one night, and he told the students that although, it was quite possible that their was a heir of Voldermort, they should not worry about it because they were safe at Hogwarts.
“Why does everyone always say Hogwarts is so safe?” Harry mumbled to himself at that dinner. “Everyone always says that, but think of all the disastrous things that have happened to me since I came here!”
The environment at Hogwarts reminded Harry of when he was a second year, and something was petrifying the students. Students were exchanging “good luck” charms, and charms and talismans that would protect them from evil, willing to shell out lots of gold for anything that someone claimed could protect them.
Still, Harry and his friends tried to keep a normal life. Harry kept telling himself not to worry about Voldermort’s heir. After all, he had no idea who this guy could be, and there was nothing he could do about it. But the idea that their was a wizard out there who was more powerful and terrible than Voldemort really shook Harry up.
But there was homework for Harry to work on, and it was that homework that drove Harry to go to the library one afternoon by himself.
Ron and Hermione were no where to be found. Harry had no clue where they possibly could be. They’d been diapering a lot lately like that. When he mentioned it to Katrina a few days before, she just giggled, and she thought Ron and Hermione liked each other. Harry had pointed out that Hermione was dating Viktor Krum, but Katrina just blushed, and got very giggly.
Katrina was having tea with Dumbledore, and Arizona Brown. Actually, they were drinking tea, Katrina was having cola, the others were having the tea.
So, Harry was sitting in the library by himself, when Cho Chang unexpectedly sat down at him table.
“Hello Harry.” she said. Her eyes were bright, her hair was neat, and her smile was warm and friendly. She looked completely different than the Cho that Harry had seen in the past couple months. She seemed like her old self, before Cedric had died.
“Hey Cho. What are you up to?” he said smiling.
“Not much. Are you working on History of Magic homework?”
“Yeah,” Harry said with a nod.
“The professor can be brutal.” replied Cho.
“But he’s not half as bad as Snape.” answered Harry.
Cho laughed. Harry liked seeing her laugh. She’d been so sad lately. Harry didn’t want her to be sad, he wanted to make her happy. Old crushes die hard.
“You know this Saturday is a Hogsmeade weekend?”
Harry nodded.
Cho took a deep breathe. “What are you planning to do?”
Harry shrugged. “Not much. Hanging out with my friends, I suppose.”
“Would you like to hang out with me?” she asked. “Just me, not anybody else.”
Harry felt his face turn red.
“Like a date.” she added.
Harry smiled, and felt like the king of the castle. “Sure.” he answered.
Cho breathed a sigh of relief. “I can’t wait. I’ll meet you by the Great Hall on Saturday.”
She stood up from where they had been sitting. Before she turned to walk away, she said, “Don’t be late.”
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Harry would have thought the week would crawl by, but before he knew it, it was Saturday, and he was standing by the door to the Great Hall, waiting for Cho. Coming down the hallway, he saw Katrina and Percy walking together hand in hand. Percy was very excited about getting to show Katrina around Hogsmeade. He was excitedly and very quickly, telling her all the marvels of Hogsmeade in a ecstatic voice Harry was certain Katrina couldn’t understand. Katrina looked really nice. She was wearing bright red denim jeans that were covered in shiny silver glitter, strappy sexy black scandals, and and a black long sleeve top. The sleeves of the top were a sheer nylon fabric. On her shirt, there was a very large red croquet rose that perfectly matched her pants. She wore big gold hoop earrings, and on her wrists, she wore a bracelet featuring very wild looking stone shaped turquoise beads. Naturally, she was wearing her usual gold necklace. Her hair was worn up in half up, half down, in many funky waves. Her nails, and lips were painted crimson.
Harry then saw Cho Chang approaching him. She looked very different than Katrina. She was wearing a pale baby blue cotton jumper over a while turtle neck. The jumper came just below her knees, and she wore white panty hose. Her shoes were flat black shoes that reminded Harry of ballet slippers. Her hair was pulled back into a neat pony tail, and the only jewelry she wore was a silver chain necklace and bracelet, and matching earring. Katrina looked like she was going to a rock concert. Cho looked like she was going to church.
“Hi Harry!” she said, grinning madly. “Ready to go?”
“You bet!” he said, offering Cho his arm. Katrina and Percy were almost out of sight, but not quite all the way, out of the corner of his eye, he could see Percy kiss Katrina’s hand.
The date went really smooth. Cho and Harry went to the Sweet Shop, had a couple of butterbeers, and were now sitting at the ice cream parlor, chowing down on hot fudge sundaes. It had started to rain, so they took shelter under the little wooden gazebo by the parlor. They’d had a reasonably good time together. Cho was a wonderful person, and she knew a lot about Quiditch. They spent a lot of time discussing their favorites moves and flying tactics. They had many other things to talk about, like their friends, and their studies. As good of a time as they were having, Harry couldn’t help feel like something was missing. Cho was beautiful. Her smiling face brought great joy to Harry’s heart, but he knew that he didn’t love her.
“I’m having a really nice time with you, Harry.” she told him.
“I’m glad.” Harry said, feeling really a bit awkward.
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. And I’ve decided that I’m too young to mourn over Cedric all the time. My life is far from over, and I’ve got a lot of living to do. I want to be a normal person and experience things, and have a good time in life.”
Harry nodded. “Cedric really cared about you. He wouldn’t want you to be so miserable over him.”
“And that’s what I’ve been doing since he’s died. Cedric may be dead, but I am not. And it’s time for me to start living. You’re right, Cedric cared about me a whole lot, and he would want me to be happy. So, I’m going to make myself happy, and celebrate my life.”
“Uh, that’s a good thing.” Harry said, feeling really really really stupid.
“Harry, what I’m trying to say is, will you be my boyfriend?” she asked.
His heart stopped beating. He could hardly comphend or believe what he was hearing.
“I know you liked me last year. And I think you are a really nice guy, and I’m willing to give it a try, if you are willing to give me a try.” she added.
“Uh...” Harry began as his eyes wandered to a couple kissing passionately on a bench across the road. Obviously, they didn’t care about the rain. A million things raced thru Harry’s mind, and they all seemed to revolve around Katrina Figg. What about her? He thought he could have been in love with her! But she was dating Percy!
Harry’s eyes lingered on the couple. He noticed that the girl was wearing red pants! It was Katrina and Percy! It was Katrina kissing Percy so insanely, so madly, like he was about to disappear!
“Yes.” he said to Cho.
“So, you want to be my boyfriend?” she asked eagerly.
“My answer is yes.” he repeated, starring at Katrina.
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The rain soon let up, and Harry and Cho spent the rest of their day walking around hand in hand window shopping. Harry’s heart was heavy. A year ago, he would have killed to be where he was today. But now that he had Cho, he knew he didn’t want her. Cho was a great young woman, but she wasn’t for him. Harry quickly realized that although Cho was beautiful, smart, kind, popular, talented, an amazing and well informed Seeker, he found her to be a bit bland. Harry wanted a girl who was more exciting, a girl that stood out from the crowd. Cho couldn’t help but blend in.
When he walked Cho to the Ravenclaw common room that evening, she smiled. She put her hand gently on his shoulder and leaned in as if to kiss him, but Harry pulled away.
“What’s wrong?” she asked looking very concerned.
“Cho, you are wonderful, your perfect. But I can’t do this.”
“Do what?” she asked.
“Be your girlfriend. I’m sorry, I know I liked you last year, but this year things are different.” he said.
“What’s different?” she asked looking very surprised and very hurt.
“I met someone. And she’s changed my life, and I can’t undo the things she has down to me. I’m sorry, I like you very much as a friend, but nothing more. Your a great girl, but I don’t love you.”
“I don’t love you either, Harry. But I like you, and maybe we can grow from that.” Cho suggested.
“No.” he said firmly. “I’m in love with this girl, and I can’t be with anyone else until I can get her by my side. It would be wrong for me to be with you when I was in love with another. It would be unfair to you, myself, and especially her.”
“Okay, Harry. I guess your breaking up with me, then.” Cho said very sadly.
He nodded.
“This is the shortest relationship I’ve ever been in.” she said gloomily.
Harry couldn’t help but laugh. “This is the only relationship I’ve been in. Isn’t that sad!”
Cho laughed. “I’m sorry, but that is pretty sad.”
“See,” Harry replied. “You don’t want to be with me after all, I’m a loser!”
She grinned. “I hope you will still be my friend, I did have a great time with you.”
Harry nodded. “Sure.”
Cho said goodnight, and Harry walked to his Common Room.
Harry knew he had done the right thing. No matter what he was in love with Katrina Figg, even though she belonged to Percy, he knew he’d always be right there waiting for her. Maybe someday she’d give him a chance.
Author’s Note:
Well, what do you think about this chapter? Please let me know! I really enjoy your comments! You can drop me a line at ilikeneville@yahoo.com
What would you like to see happen with the Katrina, Percy, and Harry triangle?
Would you like to see Hermione and Ron get together?
Oh, Neville is going to hook up with somebody in one of the next two chapters. Who would you like it to be with? I will listen to your advice, even though I’ve got an idea who I want it to be.
