Life Goes On- The Third Chapter

Chapter 7

Harry opened his eyes, blinking furiously. His head was pounding, unbearable agony inside his skull. What had he been drinking?

And wait...why was he...where in the name of Merlin were his clothes?

Memories flashed back to him like a wave of lukewarm water, and he sighed happily. That had been...amazing, even if his head was killing him now. There wasn't any other word for it.

The air had never been cleaner. He had never been able to see clearer. Life was back to the way it should have always been.

"Parvati?" He mumbled, and stretched out a hand, looking for her, next to him. He found someone there, and he turned sideways to look at her, smiling in contentment. Then that smile slid off his face.

It wasn't her. No, that was someone else. But he recognised that dark, flowing hair.

"Oh, no. Oh, Merlin, no." He gasped, scrambling to his feet, grabbing his clothes and tugging them on, moving away like she was contagious.

"What's wrong, Harry?" She said, turning over to face him, smiling.

"What in the name of HELL are you doing here?" He spat at her, anger kindling in his stomach.

"I was always here, Harry. Don't you remember last night?" She said, her voice soft and confused, yet a small spark of worry and fear glittered in her brown eyes.

"Oh no...Oh, crap, oh no." Harry mumbled distractedly, clutching at his hair. He whirled around, glaring at her, absolutely furious. "You slut! You dirty little slut! Why did you- no, I don't even care. Get out of my house!"

"Harry...I thought we had something." She whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. "You-we- I like you, Harry, don’t you get it?"

"Don't you remember yesterday afternoon? You filthy whore, I TOLD you, I don't want you in my life!"

"Harry-"

"Get out!" He yelled at her.

"Listen to me!" She screamed at him, and Harry was taken aback. "Look, I came over, and-"

"You twisted, sneaking whore. Get out of my house, get out of my life. I never want to see you again, Cho Chang." He spat, and held the door open for her. Clutching her jacket and shoes, Cho staggered past him, cowering slightly, her eyes darting his way, filled with tears.

"Goodbye, Harry-" She started to say, but Harry slammed the door in her face.

~

There she was. The real Parvati this time. Harry quickened his pace, his rage at Cho fuelling every step.

"Parvati!"

She turned, but her face didn't hold the smile he thought it would. Instead there was a fierce glare, her eyes narrowing as he moved closer to her.

"Hey, sweetheart, what's wrong?"

Her glare intensified as she lifted the copy of the Witches Weekly in her fist.

"This!" She snapped, and shoved it into his hand. Harry unrolled it, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

The front cover bore the slogan, Harry Potter, The Playboy who Lived, over the top of a picture of him and Cho kissing in the Leaky Cauldron, and inset, one of him with Parvati.

"Rita was right." She muttered fiercely. "You and Cho do have something. I was stupid not to see it."

"Look, baby- she ambushed me! I would have happily ignored her!"

"Looks like it, doesn't it, Harry?" She hissed, and started to walk away. Harry fell into step with her, desperate for her to see reason.

"Parvati, believe me. I was drunk, and she ambushed me! I will admit to that, and I'm unbelievably sorry, but I promise you that she is out of my life for good!"

"How can you promise me that?" She said, stopping and looking at him fiercely, hands on hips.

"Because it's the truth. And I have never, ever lied to you. Parvati, please, hear me out. I want you in my life, just you, and if you walk away-"

"You'll what?"

"I'll lose myself again. Like I did when Ginny and I ended. Only it'll be worse this time, because for the first time in my life I feel like I'm really living. You showed me how to do that. You breathed life back into me. Please, Parvati. Don't walk away." He begged, and he felt ready to cry himself when he saw tears well up in her eyes.

"Harry, I wish I could believe you. But-" She looked away from him, tears running down her face. Harry lifted a hand and wiped them away; sighing, he lifted her face to look at him.

"Believe me, sweetheart. Please." Finally, he saw comprehension dawn in her eyes; at last Harry was reassured she knew he wasn't lying.

"Harry…" She sighed. "Can you do something for me?"

"Anything."

"Kiss me." She whispered, and tilted her face up to his, her eyes closed trustingly.

Harry didn't have to be told twice.

~

A/N:

This is the last chapter, not counting the epilogue.

I hope you liked it.

Comments, Votes...please?

Cheers,

@HarryPotter4evaaa