~ Witch, please. I am/was Harry Potter's [insert relationship here]. ~

From the desk of Rita Skeeter: I'm back, witches! We'll be starting off with my translation of Cho Chang's journal and then delving straight into first person. Oh dear, I've given one away. Enter your prediction on the other three witches for a chance to win never-before-seen journal entries...not even revealed in this special!

CHO CHANG (CC) STARTER KIT

Cho's Prologue

Christmas 1994: Triwizard Tournament's Yule Ball

Cho felt magnificent in her traditional silver dress, her sleek hair elegantly twisted into a classic updo. All due to Penelope Clearwater, of course, Ravenclaw Intra-House Debate Captain, Head Girl and girlfriend of Percy Weasley. She saw him here now at the Champions' Table, conversing with Harry Potter. She looked away uneasily.

"I do love this personalized order system," Cedric murmured into her ear. She smiled at her date for the evening, thinking of how fortunate she was to be in this position beside him. She knew half dozen girls probably were shooting envious daggers to the back of her head, but she couldn't care less. She had her own romantic woes to consider, such as Quidditch boys Cedric, Roger, Harry and Krum all at the same table with her. In other words, her date, her ex-crush, her semi-celeb crush and her celebrity crush. Oh yes, and her woman crush, Hermione Granger. Could this table be any more perfect?

Cho's First Chapter: Meet You on The Quidditch Field

September 1993

Cho awaited Quidditch tryout results with bated breath. It had taken her three years at Hogwarts to work up the courage for trying out, and two of those years had been spent flying in secret, borrowing the school broom (mediocre Cleansweep Five) to practice infrequently. If she received this role, she could extract funds from her university savings account at Gringotts (of course, there was no such account at the wizarding bank, but her Muggle father, university professor, and university-loving mother named it as such in their family circle). She had her eye on the Comet 260 she had secretly admired in Diagon Alley's Quality Quidditch supplies, stealing away when her mum was occupied at Gringotts.

As she thought of Diagon Alley, she was glad it was relatively free of dementors at present – unlike Hogwarts, where the vile creatures guarded every entrance. She braced herself for the dreadful encounter every time. She recalled how when she snuck out for flying practice, she was hit by a blast of cold air and submerged into memories…

"Don't leave me, Benedict," sobbed her mother Amethyst. "We're a family. Together with Cho, we made ABC."

"I need some time away from all this bloody craziness. It isn't my world," Benedict retorted. Though he had an American accent, he had quickly adopted British swears. "I need to return to America, return to teaching Psychology."

"What more psychology is there than the relationship you have with me, your wife? With Cho, your daughter? It's a critical time, she is heading to Hogwar-"

"If I had it my way, she would be studying in the finest college prep school in Silicon Valley, Harker," Dad interrupted. "Go on to study at Stanford. Make her father proud."

"Hogwarts is the finest there is," fumed Amethyst. "She will receive a world-class education at a campus that rivals Harvard or Stanford from age 11."

"I must leave," Benedict said, unhearing. He put on his hat and shoes, hefted his briefcase onto his shoulder. He went through the door without a backward glance.

"Oh, what are we to do, Cho?" Mum turned to her with red-rimmed eyes. "What are we to do?"

Her parents lived separately but were not divorced, her father visiting England during the holidays. The tension between them was unmistakable, but they were often united in decisions regarding her future. Overbearing and overprotective parents they were, with Cho being on the receiving end of both magic and Muggle threats from the duo.

Quidditch, for one, was a topic that was rarely discussed in their household. Her father preferred the Muggle sport football, where there were no women, and both parents agreed that she needed to focus on her studies. One summer afternoon when her mum entered her blue and bronze themed bedroom, she had found Cho reading Quidditch Through the Ages. Cho had tried to cover the title with her hand, but that only served to make her mum more suspicious. She tore the book out of Cho's hand, looking at the cover. "Quidditch? Why would you waste time with such frivolities?"

"It's either that or Choir," Cho pressed her case, bringing up a frequent argument regarding extracurriculars with her mother. Her mum barely tolerated her water polo practices during the bloody summer.

"How about neither? OWLs are next year," her mum said yet again. "You know that from third year onwards your grades are seriously considered."

"Are the Muggle correspondence courses I'm taking not distraction? An extra load?" Cho raised her eyebrows. She indeed was taking Muggle mathematics and literature courses alongside her full course load.

"Are they not enough in addition to your studies?" her mum countered. She worked in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Improper Use of Magic office at the Ministry and was quite capable of holding an interrogation.

"Mum, we've gone through this many times. There are no girls on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team – haven't been for a decade. The captain is set to be a Prefect this coming year and has stellar grades – he manages it all without difficulty," Cho said the last sentence rather quickly, attempting to hide her telltale blush. Roger Davies was 40% of her reason to tryout, Cedric Diggory 40% and her love of flying 20%.

"And this captain is your new love interest?" Mum said dryly. "That would make sense."

"Mum!" Cho protested, though she grinned and could feel her cheeks warming. "He's just really…admirable. He has an impressive profile! And anyways, he doesn't date. He hasn't been with a girl for his first four years, and he is rather dashing."

Her mum was trying not to smile. "Be careful with late bloomers like that. Regardless, you do need a good role model in your life. Go ahead with Quidditch. Just try not to get too entangled, will you?"

Recounting her mum's words, she thought about exactly how much she wanted to get entangled (in every way) with Roger Davies. Speak of the devil! The boy himself walked into the Ravenclaw common room, standing behind the podium with his gavel. Tall, dark and handsome, the hue of his eyes and neatly brushed hair enticing like 80%+ dark chocolate, he was an image of perfection. Penelope beside her gazed at the podium forlornly. "What's the point of being Head Girl if a fifth year Prefect does the weekly announcements?"

"He's not leading them weekly, is he? He just has the Quidditch announcement today."

"Great point!" Penelope brightened. "I'll have to re-assume duties next Thursday then." She paused, glancing at the podium. "My, isn't he a wonder to behold? My boyfriend Percy's great, but Ravenclaw boys are just," she snapped to demonstrate, "snap, crackle, pop."

Cho giggled, adding, "Brains are crucial, but brains and agility on the Quidditch field? That's a winner right there." She raised one eyebrow, indicating Roger with a slight tilt of her head.

"This year's Quidditch team will be," began Roger, and Cho gripped Penelope's arm tightly.

"Why the death grip?" the older girl hissed. "Let me swoon at his voice in peace!" With a start, Cho realized she'd told none of her homegirls about braving tryouts. They were studious, beauty conscious and boy crazy, but not sportsy.

She recalled her desire for pre-tryout practice on the field…

Cho disembarked and let a few more tense moments pass by before walking towards the field. Even when approaching, she heard Roger's distinctly masculine voice, a deep, booming bass. "That'll be it for tonight, thanks folks. We'll do our last round tomorrow."

She watched as he led the pack of boys off the field and hurriedly hid beneath the stands, nearly bumping into a boy coming out. He merely glanced at her, then at her broom, before he swept past her. Cho leaned against the wall to stop her thudding heart.

What was it with her and Quidditch boys? She was simultaneously in crush with Roger Davies, her own house team captain, and Hufflepuff's team captain Cedric Diggory, not to mention the boys of her favorite team, the Tornadoes. Why, oh why did such a devastatingly handsome male have to be a Hufflepuff, for goodness sake? Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws just didn't get involved, with a rivalry that was tamer than Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, but there nonetheless.

Shaking her head, Cho emerged from the stands. She kicked off the ground, wobbling into the sky. It was not unlike returning to biking after allowing the gears of your bike to rust in the garage for years.

The air whooshed past her as she shot forward, ducking right through one of the goal posts. She laughed delightedly – it was like she was a human Quaffle! She flew around the field, diving downwards pretending to be a Seeker, kicking at an imaginary ball like a Keeper, zooming towards the goal posts like a Chaser, swinging her arms through the air like a Beater. She laughed out loud once more – it was truly exhilarating.

She practiced her dives repeatedly, with the same vigor she applied in her studies and music practice. She pretended that she had seen the Snitch glittering near the grass, speeding toward it at breakneck speed (or as fast as the school broom would allow her). Belatedly, she wondered Cedric had been doing beneath the stands. Had he been spying on Ravenclaw's practice? With the thought, she lost control of her broom and tumbled into the grass. She lay there then, soaking in the twilight contentedly. Her eyes drifted shut.

Someone approached, clapping slowly. Cho sat up with a start, immediately feeling woozy. She massaged her temples and looked up to see none other than Roger Davies. He crouched down and paused, meeting her eyes. Cho stopped massaging her head. But looking into his warm hazel gaze, she was woozy once more. He was even more remarkable close up, his brows shapely and thick, his full lips curving into a smile. "That was some amazing flying," he said. "That right there could be your tryout. I think the Ravenclaw boys need a girl like you to keep them on their toes."

Cho didn't trust herself to speak with him so near. She would probably blurt out something unwise, so wisely, she remained silent.

"You must be thinking about the decade-long all-male team," Roger said, assuming her thoughts. "Ravenclaw girls just didn't seem to show an interest in Quidditch, unlike other Houses. But I should have tried harder, as captain, to recruit. Diversify."

Cho cleared her throat, cringing inwardly. As if that was an attractive noise! "I was reluctant to tryout myself. I've barely been on a broom for the past few years, and my parents have always urged me to concentrate wholeheartedly on my studies." She kicked herself inwardly. Talking about her parents! Her coolness was diminishing quickly, resulting in heat rising to her cheeks.

"Well, I hope you come out to tryouts tomorrow." He stood up. "We'll find out what position you're suited best for."

"Chasers: myself, Jer – " Roger's announcement was drowned out by titters in the audience. "I didn't self-nominate. If you'll let me finish, the team can testify that I was elected to my positions of Captain and Chaser." He cleared his throat.

"He's even more adorable when he's nervous," Penelope said appreciatively. "Muy guapo."

Cho loved that her older friend was bilingual like her. Their eyes were trained on Roger, with Cho's flutter of nerves escalating. "Chasers," he began again, writing on the board. "Me, Jeremy Stretton, and Randolph Burrow. Beaters: Duncan Inglebee and Jason Samuels. Keeper: Grant Page. Seeker," Cho nervously crossed and uncrossed her fingers, fidgeting. "Cho Chang."

The crowd turned to look at her, most faces incredulous, some envious, some downright hostile. A clear voice rang out amongst the crowd, the girl's platinum hair shining. "You're very pretty. I think you'll do well in The Quibbler."

Her single statement seemed to do the trick; the crowd turned to look at her instead, demanding the validity of the Wokerspurt's return. Roger banged the gavel in frustration, calling out, "Any further announcements at this time? Luna Lovegood is available for questioning any time."

"Oh dear, he looks quite stressed." Penelope grinned widely. "I think he needs a massage."

The first match of the school year was Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff as opposed to Slytherin, due to their Seeker Draco Malfoy having an injured arm. Roger had been pushing the team into a near frenzy in practice, as Ravenclaw versus Hufflepuff was mere weeks after the first match. He took her aside a week before their scheduled match. "I'll point out your competitor in the corridors. You're playing Seeker against Cedric Diggory."

"Cedric?" Cho squeaked.

"I'm assuming you're considering his stellar track record, and I would urge you to do so. Hufflepuff won the first match as a result of Harry Potter falling from his broom from the presence of dementors." He shuddered. "But it was a tough match regardless, held in a thunderstorm. Hufflepuff can manage in any situation, and you need to do the same."

"What are my advantages?"

"You're slim, smaller – easier for you to navigate tight areas and execute sharp turns. However, you can also be blown off course. I'd say, fully utilize your womanly charms."

"My what?" Honestly, what was it about speaking with this boy that rendered her brain incapable of basic functions?

"Womanly charms," Roger repeated. "Keep that in mind."

True to his word, Roger greeted Cedric in the corridors when Cho was passing by with her friends. He called her over. "Cedric," Cho looked up once before casting her gaze downcast, cheeks coloring. The school grapevine whisperings were true, and her glimpses of him from afar, high on the stands, didn't do him justice. Up close, he was truly a beauty.

"Cho," Cedric smiled. "Meet you on the Quidditch field."

November 1993

It was the morning of Ravenclaw's match against Hufflepuff, their first of the year. "Constant vigilance," Roger reminded Cho, leaning close so they were at eye level. "Don't take your eyes off the Snitch."

The teams assumed their positions. "Davies, Diggory, shake hands," commanded Madam Hooch. The boys grasped hands, nodding once at each other. They were most certainly polite, if not anything else.

"I'm releasing the Quaffle!" The burgundy ball shot up, swirling, before Roger caught ahold of it, heading for the Hufflepuff goal posts. "Bludgers!" the snarling black balls aggressively shot up like rockets, already out if control. Beater duos on both teams acted as single units, chasing the Bludgers with their bats. "And the Snitch!" The golden ball elegantly flew up, wings beating and blurring, carrying it up. Cho distantly heard the ding of the Quaffle making it past the Keeper; her vision had tunneled on the Snitch. Unfortunately, as much as she tunneled, peripheral distractions were many. Roger streaking past her with the Quaffle under his arm. Cedric…well, just being Cedric, male model for Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Or Quidditch Quality Supplies. Or the Muggle magazine GQ. Why, oh why did such a devastatingly handsome male have to be a Hufflepuff, for goodness sake? It was a mere inconvenience that Roger was a fifth year while it was a bloody tragedy that Cedric was a darn Hufflepuff. She wished they were playing for the same team, not against one another.

Distracted by her wayward thoughts, Cho had lost sight of the Snitch. She panicked, immediately scouring the field and spotting Cedric in a dive. She raced towards him, forgetting about her goal of obtaining the Snitch. Her objective then was for him not to get it.

She reached him and dove under him, effectively blocking him. He looked at her with surprise; she didn't recall this move being used by other Seekers before. Blocking was more of a Keeper thing.

Time was suspended as Cho realized how close they were, how she could spot specks of gold in his grey eyes. Not content with silver, are you? You wanted the gold too. And hey, if you date a Ravenclaw girl, you'll have bronze from our House colors. She frowned as she remembered Roger calling her the team's "Golden Girl." Maybe I'll add more gold. Cedric seemed equally as taken as she was, as his gaze explored her face like a soft caress. Suddenly recalling where they were, Cho broke away, again searching for the Snitch. "Ravenclaw is in the lead!" called out Lee Jordan, the spirited commentator. "If their Seeker was less moony-eyed over Cedric, though he's one fine – " Professor McGonagall took the mic from him with a shocked, "Jordan!" He smoothed back his hair, eyes following Cedric. "Just saying it as it is, Professor."

Cho shook her head, resolving not to get so publicly involved with her crushes during crucial times, AKA matches and exams. And practices. And studying for exams. She spotted the Snitch glittering near Roger (he was gone with Quaffle in seconds) and she tore after it. Reaching out her gloved hand, she wished her arm was longer. Cedric sidled up next to her, his body flush up against hers, just as her fingers closed around the protesting Snitch. "RAVENCLAW WINS!" Lee Jordan's magically amplified voice rang out. "Kudos to their new Seeker, Cho Chang!" Cedric looked at her for a few moments longer before abruptly descending to meet his team. Roger looked as if he could have kissed her. "Well done, Cho!" he said hoarsely. "First match of the year!" He ended up giving the team a bear hug, but that supposed kiss would have been better.

Cho grinned as the Beaters lifted her up on their shoulders. Her womanly charms had come in handy.

Witches, it's Rita again! Have you submitted your predictions? I'll be unraveling the story in a timely fashion, don't you dears worry a hair atop your hat-adorned heads!

Signin' off XOXO