A/N: Lots of angst ahead!
Marietta's most prized accomplishments were accidents that shouldn't have happened. Getting sorted into Ravenclaw wasn't supposed to happen. Sure, she had the work ethic worth jealousy and she's got a head on her shoulders worth praising but she's too driven and too ambitious, too cunning and just too unRavenclaw-like. She's got the heart of a Slytherin and she wishes that wasn't so. She just wants to be the cliché Ravenclaw: always speaking in tones of snobby, patronizing sarcasm, with a heart of meltable ice and a mind sharper than the sharpest knife.
Her grades weren't perfect enough, and when she achieved that golden glowing flawless state, Marietta was accused of cheating. She wasn't good enough to do anything right, she couldn't pass anything without hours upon hours of studying and help. The countless wasted time on striving for perfection that's just slightly out of reach never seemed enough. She couldn't get it right, she wasn't smart enough, she wasn't good enough. She's gone to bed too many nights with tear stained cheeks and there's nobody there to comfort her, to tell Marietta that she's worth more than grades.
Marietta was thankful she knew Cho. They met in their second year, just as Cho shined at the Quidditch tryouts. She was the reserve seeker but Marietta thought Cho was a million years ahead of the current seeker, even if Cho was just twelve at the time. Marietta inwardly muses that Cho is one of the only constant forces in Marietta's life, the only person she could trust fully was Cho. Marietta knew Cho was resilient and always rose back from trouble like a phoenix. She could handle anything and Marietta never saw her cry.
Tears rolled down Cho's face for the first time Marietta has ever seen at the end of fifth year when Cedric died. Cho was a mess, constantly a brooding, teary mess and Marietta hated feeling like the awkward friend who tried too hard to sound worldly, and be as trustworthy as possible. Marietta clumsily phrased assurances to Cho.
"Everything'll be fine," Marietta whispered, wanting to sound confident. "I'm here for you," Marietta promised, unsure if she could keep the promise. She stayed by Cho's side in hopes to see her smile, to see her finally happy. Marietta joked and chatted in hopes of a ray of happiness to shine on Cho to make her feel better.
In the summer heat, with the sun beating down on their backs, was the first time Cho smiled in what seemed like forever. Waiting for that smile and actually seeing it was Marietta's favorite accomplishment.