Written For:
- Menagerie of Pairings: Cho/Padma
- September Event: ((emotion) Timid, object) Diary
- Hogwarts Writing Club: Coming Out Day (write a (fem)slash)
Pairing: Cho/Padma
Word Count: 521
Tears and Mistakes
Padma yawned as she entered the Ravenclaw Common Room. She had been studying down in the library for the majority of the weekend, and she was truly exhausted. Her fifth year was proving to be a very tiring year.
She jumped as she spotted another person sitting in a stiff armchair by the fire, scribbling hastily in a diary. The watery eyes and sleek dark hair belonged to Cho Chang, a beautiful girl from the year above who had always caused Padma's heart to flutter. Since her boyfriend died the year before, Cho had less and less friends, probably due to the fact that she didn't do much else but cry these days.
When Cho didn't seem to notice Padma, the younger student timidly headed over to her. "Cho?" she whispered quietly, not wanting to wake any of the students who would be fast asleep in the dorms overhead. Cho flinched noticeably and slammed her diary shut, wiping her eyes on her pyjama sleeve.
"Padma," she greeted thickly, turning back to the fire. "I thought everyone would be in bed by now."
"I was at the library. Do you mind if I sit?" she gestured to the chair opposite Cho, and Cho shrugged. "Do you want to talk to someone?" Even though Cho was trying her hardest to hide her red-rimmed eyes, Padma knew that she had been crying.
"Not about Cedric," she murmured, pulling her knees up to her chest. "I'm sorry you found me like this."
"Don't be sorry. We all hurt sometimes."
Padma and Cho were quiet for a few moments, as they stared into the fire. After a few minutes of silence, Padma stretched her hand out and placed it comfortingly over Cho's. "I'll always be here if you need to talk. Just let me know."
"I'm grateful," Cho replied, but she sounded hesitant. "But Padma—you barely even know me."
Padma looked away, feeling embarrassed. "That's true, but it doesn't mean I don't want to know you."
"What do you mean?" Cho raised an eyebrow.
"I've thought you were wonderful ever since the Yule Ball last year," Padma babbled, instantly regretting her words the minute they left her mouth. At the mention of the Yule Ball, Cho's eyes welled up. She was clearly overwhelmed by memories of an evening spent dancing around the Great Hall with Cedric. Padma felt dreadful. "I'm sorry, Cho."
"You…you like me?"
Padma stared at her hands, mortified. "I think you're beautiful."
"Even though…" Cho's voice tailed off. "Even though all I do is cry? And everyone hates me because of what happened with Marietta and Dumbledore's Army?"
"Regardless of your emotions and mistakes."
Cho climbed out of her chair and leaned forwards, pressing a chaste, wet kiss to Padma's cheek. "Thank you," she whispered, before rushing out of the common room and into the sixth year dormitory stairwell. Padma listened to her rushing up the spiral staircase, and looked onto the balcony overlooking the common room, waiting for Cho to pass. "I'd like to get to know you too," her voice echoed through the common room, and Padma smiled.