XXIX

Cho sat on the window-seat overlooking the castle grounds, her legs drawn tightly close to her chest and her head turned fully to the glass. She'd turned away so they couldn't see how weak she truly was. Draco and Hether were conversing in the background, their words but a quiet muffle.

She didn't know why all this was happening to her. She'd done nothing to deserve it. She was quiet, obeyed all the rules, did exactly as she was told. She'd only done good, so why did she find herself in the midst of the enemy; forced to fraternise with them as they trapped her within their nest? She asked for none of it.

She wished for a voice of reason to call out to her; wished for her friends to reach out to her and tell her that she was doing the right thing by reporting her roommate to the school. But no one would talk to her. Not since the incident at the Room of Requirement. She wished Cedric were still here. He would hug her and hold her hand while avoiding physical contact that gave meanings, and would tell her that it would be okay because he was there for her.

But he wasn't there; he was gone, and it was all thanks to Harry Potter. Cho blinked. It was all Harry's fault. If he hadn't put his name in the goblet; if he hadn't shown up to the tournaments; if he hadn't been so adamant about winning it; if he had acted quicker and given Cedric the portkey, he would still be here. At first she'd thought he shared her pain when he brought back his body, but when he'd shunned here after she gave into Umbridge, she should have known.

Harry Potter had never felt any regard towards her. He'd used her; killed her boyfriend; kissed her even though she was still recovering; confused her; and then had discarded her when he was the only one she could turn to. She'd just been too blinded to see it. He'd never cared.

The realisation hit Cho like a slap and sucked all the breath out of her. She stood up swiftly and grabbed Hether's shoulder. The latter looked at her as if she were a fly daring to land on her cup of tea. "Fix me." Cho said.

Hether tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean, 'fix me'?"

"Like you did Draco. Fix me." Cho's eyes were hardened and resolute but pleaded with her. "Please. I want to be in control of myself again."

Hether took a deep breath. "Cho, we're not the enemy. This isn't like you've just left the good side to join the bad side because it offers more. This is life. I'm here to train Draco. That's my priority; the only thing that matters while I'm at Hogwarts."

"So you agree that I'm broken." Cho took a step back.

"What?"

"I'm broken. That's what you think. You didn't say there was nothing to fix." Cho's face fell grim. "And I know you never miss a thing."

"Just bloody fix her, she's annoying." Draco sighed and took Cho's seat by the window.

"Sit down, Cho. Get very comfy." Hether gave in; only because if she didn't, they would be there all day. Cho Chang could be very persistent. "What do you want me to fix?"

"Whatever Umbridge did to me is obviously affecting me. I cant keep secrets; I cant lie. I'm compelled to always tell the truth even when I don't want to. Like you said, she must have broken my resolve." Cho said firmly.

"Yeah, that would very much explain her insignia on your wrist." Hether shook her hands.

"Did you know she did something like that to Potter?" Draco piped in. "You should've seen his face. Red to the very roots. It made Goyle vomit."

"Delightful, isn't it?" Hether said sarcastically. "Now sit back. This is going to hurt you very, very much."

"Just do it." Cho prompted.

Hether snorted and curved her palm upwards. Then, with a quick jab to the center of her chest, she knocked Cho's physical body out, sending her soul flying into the air. Astral projection. She had learnt it from two old friends; one in the past and one in the future. With the same hand, she pulled Cho's soul towards her. It was transparent and heavy, as if it was a pseudo one.

Draco watched Hether quietly from his seat. When she had hit Cho suddenly, a glimmering substance flew into the air, which she had quickly grabbed before it faded into nothing. If anyone were to walk into the room now, they would see what he was currently seeing – a girl with her eyes closed in concentration as she stretched out her arm in an unwavering horizontal position, as if she were offering a salute. In fact, it would be best if no one came in.

Draco pointed his wand at the door and said in his mind, "Colloportus." To his delight, the door clicked shot and bolted itself thoroughly form the inside. He was definitely getting better at casting non verbal spells, although he preferred elemental magic, since it came from within him and was suited to whatever he needed.

Draco crossed his legs and looked out the window. He could see the castle grounds, sprawling out for as far as his eye permitted. His eyesight had grown sharper and clearer, as if it was trying to accommodate his power. Even though darkness had fallen, he could still see several students as they milled about the grounds. He decided to see how many he could spot at a go. He had gotten to twenty-eight when he spotted Grega scurrying in a frenzy across the grounds. He knew that she was Hether's friend and so tolerated her. When he'd first met her she would cling to Hether like a baby to its mother, but as of late she was scarcely around. He wondered briefly about what she was up to, but then decided it wasn't worth his trouble.

Grega wasn't in a hurry, like Draco thought. She had just grown accustomed to walking like that since the incident happened. She reasoned that if she had walked quickly, then she would have been able to prevent everything from happening.

Grega stopped in her tracks. What had happened? What was everything? She chased the fleeting memory through her mind but she couldn't remember. Something had happened, and because of that she was walking quickly. The only major thing she could remember happening was that girl – Veja – falling off the tower and then her fainting from the sight. But she hadn't done anything in the matter – she had only fainted.

Or so she was told.