It was weird how easy Neville's mind could drift. Harry had taken to partnering himself up with Neville during every night that they all met for Defense practice. Ginny loved to called it Dumbledores Army, most just called it the D.A. Neville's wand was held aloft as he watch Cho Chang flirt with Harry. It seemed to make his blood boil. Cho had suffered so much, yet so had Neville.
"Expelliarmus," Neville heard Ron shout. Caught by surprise Neville quickly swished his wand.
"Protego!" He shouted, defecting Ron's spell. The room fell silent. It was true Neville was improving as a wizard, but no one excepted this to happen. Harry let out a whooping noise and he rushed over, Cho looked disappointed and annoyed.
"That was wonderful, Neville!" Harry pulled the other boy into a hug, squeezing him. Neville felt his hands pool with sweat and his body hair stood on end.
"I guess I just need to be distracted," Neville laughed nervously. Harry pulled away, his face red, and glanced at the clock on the wall.
"We should hurry and get out of here all. It's close to curfew. That was a great lesson everyone. It'll be a long holiday then we'll learn new things when we return!" Harry clapped his hands together. As people passed they wished Harry and Neville a Happy Christmas.
"Happy Christmas Neville," Harry murmured, seeming to grow redder.
"You as well, Harry," Neville smiled at the other boy and took his leave.
Harry had replaced the cushion and tidied up the room only to see Cho and her friend still there.
"No, you go on, " he heard her say to her friend, Marietta.
He pretended to straighten the cushions once more, knowing they were alone now. He waited for Cho to speak but instead heard a loud sniff.
Harry turned and saw Cho standing in the middle of the room, tears running down her face.
"Wha-?"
He didn't know what to do. She was simply standing there, crying silently.
"What's up?" he asked feebly.
She shook her head and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "I'm--sorry," she said through her tears "I suppose...it's just...learning all this stuff...it just makes me...wonder whether...if he'd know it all...he'd still be alive..."
Harry's heart sank. He ought to have known. She wanted to talk about Cedric.
"He did know this stuff," Harry said heavily. "He was really good at it, or could never have got to the middle of that maze. But if Voldemort really wants to kill you, you don't stand a chance."
Harry looked at her as she hiccuped at the sound of Voldemort's name.
"But you survived and you were just a baby," she said quietly.
"Yeah, well," said Harry wearily, moving toward the door, "I dunno why, nor does anyone else, so it's nothing to be proud of."
"Oh don't go!" said Cho, sounding tearful again. "I'm really sorry to get all upset like this...I didn't mean to..."
At one point Harry had felt something for Cho, something deep that he hadn't felt for another person. Until now. He pulled Cho toward him in a hug. "It will be okay," he assured her, "maybe not now but soon."
Cho met his eyes and leaned into him, on the balls of her feet, and pressed her lips to his.
Harry returned to the common room half an hour later to find Ron and Hermione in the best seats by the fire; nearly everybody else had gone to bed. Hermione was writing a very long letter; she had already filled half a roll of parchment, which was dangling from the edge of the table. Ron was lying on the hearth rug, trying to finish his Transfiguration homework.
"What kept you?" He asked, Harry sank into the armchair next to Hermione's.
Harry did not answer. He was in a state of shock. Half of him wanted to tell Ron and Hermione what had just happened, but the other half wanted to take the secret to the grave.
"Are you alright, Harry?" Hermione asked, peering at him over the tip of her quill.
Harry gave a half-hearted shrug. In truth, he didn't know whether he was all right or not. "What's up?" said Ron, hoisting himself up on his elbow to get a clearer view of Harry. "What's happened?"
Harry didn't quite know how to set about telling them, and still wasn't sure whether he wanted to. Just as he had decided not to say anything, Hermione took matters out of his hands.
"Is it Cho?" she asked in a businesslike way. "Did she corner you after the meeting?"
Numbly surprised, Harry nodded. Ron sniggered, breaking off when Hermione caught his eye.
"So--er--what did she want?" he asked in a mock casual voice.
"She--" Harry began, rather hoarsely; he cleared his throat and tried again. "She--er--"
"Did you kiss?" asked Hermione briskly.
Ron sat up so fast he sent his ink bottle flying all over the rug. Disregarding this completely he started avidly at Harry.
"Well?" he demanded.
Harry looked from Ron's expression of mingled curiosity and hilarity to Hermione's slight frown and nodded.
••••••
Some taken from Order of Phoenix
