Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Les Miserables
Early the next morning, the students were down at the barricade. The Death Eaters had arrived shortly after. Not long after the Death Eaters arrived, a volunteer, who had given his name as ‘Tobias’, had shown up, offering to find out the Death Eaters plans; Hermione appraised him for a moment, and agreed.
However, Harry noticed that Colin had looked at their volunteer oddly. When Harry asked Colin what was wrong, Colin’s only answer was that he thought he’d seen the volunteer around somewhere, but couldn’t recall where.
Shortly after arriving the volunteer took off to infiltrate the Death Eaters, and things were fairly quiet for awhile—until their volunteer came back.
“Well?” Hermione asked. “What do you know?”
“I overheard their plans,” he said. “Be warned—they’re a real threat.”
Colin was frowning, studying the new recruit. There was something about him that was oddly familiar…
With a sudden jolt, he remembered where.
The new recruit was Severus Snape. Colin knew that there was no way he’d ever join their rebellion. He was here as a mole.
“There will be no attack tonight,” Snape continued. “They intend to starve us out.”
“Liar!” Colin shouted. “I know you! You were in Hogsmeade when Ginny and her father were attacked by Malfoy’s gang! You’re Severus Snape!”
Colin turned to Dumbledore’s Army and added, “So don’t believe a word he says because none of it’s true.”
Snape plunged his hand into his robes for his wand, but Terry Boot quickly disarmed him.
“Great job, Colin,” Ron said.
“What do we do with this snake in the grass?” Dean Thomas asked.
Hermione waved her wand, and Snape was bound with thick ropes.
Snape sneered at them.
“Kill me now or kill me later, I do not care which; I renounce your people’s court!” he said.
Ron looked highly irritated.
“Gag the greasy git, too,” he said. Hermione waved her wand again and a gag appeared over Snape’s mouth. The Patil twins directed Snape towards the ammunition and sat him down.
“Hey!” Neville cried. “There’s a girl running towards the barricade!”
A moment later, Neville added, “She’s hurt!”
Harry ran towards the edge of the barricade and saw a black-haired figure staggering and stumbling towards the barricade.
It was Cho.
“Cho!” he cried. “Cho!”
A spell hit her, and she hit the ground, blood rapidly pooling around her.
Without a second thought, Harry ran, leaving the safety of the magical barrier, and knelt at Cho’s side.
She was very badly injured; she’d been hit with many spells. Blood was pooling around her and her body was covered with gashes. A trail of scarlet blood was behind her. It was a miracle she hadn’t died yet.
“Are you insane, Cho?” Harry cried. “Why’d you come back?”
“I—I just wanted to be with you,” Cho whispered. A spell came hurtling towards them, but Harry deflected it.
“We need to get you some help,” Harry said.
“Harry, it’s—it’s too late,” Cho said weakly, but Harry picked her up and ran back behind the barricade, dodging spells aimed towards him.
Everyone was staring in shock and horror.
“Don’t just stand there, go get some help! Get a healer!” Harry shouted.
“We have medical supplies, but we need someone with proper training,” Susan Bones said.
“I’ll go get Madam Pomfrey, then!” Harry cried. “She’s just up at the school!”
“Harry, no!” Cho cried. “Please stay with me. I’m going to die, anyway.”
“No, you won’t Cho!” Harry cried. “You’re going to live! I’m going to get help!”
“Don’t fret, Harry,” Cho said. “I don’t feel any pain. Harry, please stay with me…just let it be.”
Harry hesitated. Cho needed help from a trained healer immediately. Madam Pomfrey was just up at the school, but in the time it would take to fetch her (or bring Cho to her) Cho may die, anyway. And Cho’s dark eyes were so full of begging and pleading, begging him to stay here with her.
“I’ll stay with you,” Harry said, holding Cho closer in his arms. Thunder cracked over head and rain started pouring down.
“It’s raining, Harry,” Cho said. “A little fall of rain can’t hurt me now. You’ll keep me safe, Harry. And rain makes the flowers grow.”
Harry nodded, not quite sure what Cho was saying.
“Harry, I—I loved you,” Cho said, her voice growing weaker.
Harry gaped.
“Oh, Cho, I didn’t know—I’m so sorry, I’m such a prat,” he said. He should have seen it, with how eager Cho was to make him happy. And he’d just made her feel worse by asking her to help him get together with Ginny.
“Harry, can I ask you something?” Cho said, her breaths becoming more and more labored.
“Anything, Cho,” he said.
“When I die, kiss me on my forehead—I’ll feel it, I promise,” she said.
“Thank you, Harry,” Cho said, almost inaudibly. Her eyes slid closed, her breaths slowed, and then finally stopped, and her body went slack.
“Cho!” Harry cried, choking back a sob. “Cho!”
She didn’t answer. She was gone.
Harry gently pressed his lips to Cho’s wet forehead.
The rain was coming down harder than ever.
Harry turned to look at his fellow Dumbledore’s Army members. Everyone looked sad and solemn, and the Ravenclaws looked particularly devastated. Cho had once been in their house, after all.
“Harry, I’m so sorry,” Hermione said, her voice laced with sympathy. “I know she meant a lot to you, and she was the first to fall.”
“Her name was Cho,” Harry said, forcing himself to keep the sobs at bay. “Her life was cold and dark, but she wasn’t afraid. She was a good friend, loyal and brave.”
“Her death won’t be in vain, Harry,” Hermione said.
“We’ll fight in her name, mate,” Ron added.
Luna came forward with a sheet.
“Here,” she said. “We can wrap Cho’s body in this. This way we can protect her body from any further harm.”
“Thank you, Luna,” Harry said, taking the sheet from her; he noticed that the rain was slowing to a drizzle.
Padma and Parvati Patil put up a tent for the dead and they put Cho’s body there; they wouldn’t be able to give Cho a proper burial until after the battle.
“It’ll be okay, Harry,” Luna said. “She’s in a better place now.”
