Author's note: This is the second of three planned stories, it is highly recommended you read the first The Lost Wizard for this to make sense.
The entire student population of Hogwarts assembled in the Great Hall for the end of year feast. The house cup had been won, this year by Ravenclaw, due mostly to the loss they experienced that year; Slytherin had been eliminated in the early days by their harsh and rude remarks about fallen classmates. Gryffindor ran a close second; the deciding factor had been a better Quidditch showing against Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Because of their extraordinary effort, the Ravenclaw house team was invited to the front of the hall, to accept the cup.
The team filed up to the front to stand before the staff table, Cho Chang, being the team captain and this was her last year, accepted the award for her house. All eyes in the school were focused on her and the team, Harry tried to not think about his early feelings for the witch, as he'd held feelings for her ever since his 4 th year, even though she was a year ahead of him. She was a graceful and beautiful young witch, but she had feelings for Cedric Diggory. Cedric was arguably the first wizard to die in the opening days of the great wizard war.
Cho's only interest in Harry was his involvement in Cedric's death; he was the only witness to the murder in the graveyard and he was the one to return Cedric home for a proper burial. Cho could never understand what happened that night and never truly forgive Harry for his part in Cedric's death, and this coldness helped Harry forget his boyhood crush on her.
The entire Ravenclaw table stood cheering their success, The Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors also celebrated Ravenclaw's good fortune. It was truly a momentous day for the Ravenclaws and for their Quidditch team captain, Cho. Harry cheered her success, with the rest of the school; his feelings for her had long since left him.
No one noticed the three lurking in the shadows in an alcove to the side. They were the companions of the younger Malfoy's, the younger Crabbe and Goyle, who helped set the trap. This was the first time they'd acted without Draco's knowledge and permission. All the skills Harry taught during the DA's sessions couldn't save her from the assassin's blow. That came from Viktor Krum, while he was locked deep in Voldemort's Imperius Curse. Viktor, Crabbe and Goyle hid behind the hooded cloaks that had become the trademark of the Death Eaters. They had been sent to ensure the deed was done. They waited until her name had been called to receive the House cup from Professor Dumbledore. When the moment had come, went to the head table up a couple steps that were next to the alcove that concealed the three assassins.
Voldemort wouldn't let Krum use the Killing Curse. Why should he, when they could cause so much pain and cause more fear with mere knives? She never saw or knew what hit her but she felt every second the blade went through her back, through her heart and out her chest; the ultimate coward's act. He then cast the Morsmordre curse and suspended Cho's lifeless body from it for all to see, but his personal terror was soon realized when he was released from his trance. This being more then he could bear; he turned his own wand to himself and took his own life...
Cho Chang was murdered in the Great Hall for all to see, and the all-out war with evil had begun. Her death was designed to cause pain and grief on Harry, but that only forged his desire to avenge her, Cedric, Hannah Abbott, Padma, and his beloved Godfather, Sirius. What Voldemort had failed to learn prior to the attack, was that, although difficult for Harry, she no longer held his heart. His heart was empty of feelings because of the losses he'd had the year before. Since the loss of Sirius, he wouldn't allow anyone to get that close, never. He had closed his heart to the world.
He needed to spend his summer months under the protection of his only living blood relatives. Muggles though they were, it was the act of a dying mother's love that gave him this protection. Truly, only a deep love could offer this magical protection. He was to experience a change in the coming summer months, and this secret must be kept through the year, even from his closet companion, for fear she could meet Cho's fate. Albus Dumbledore was the only other to know the secret as he was to be the secret keeper.
She died with no one at her side.