A/N: Hi, thank you for reading my round 6 fic for the QLFC. This round was called Link 'Em Up and we had to base a story about a pairing - using one character from the pairing used by a previous teammate and then choosing another. This forced me to write using characters I never would have before, probably not even as side characters to be honest. I'm re-reading Order of the Phoenix at the moment so the inspiration probably came from that. Thank you to my amazing team and captain for being the best Betas.

Chaser 1

Appleby Arrows

Round 6, Season 9

Prompts: Chaser 1: Pairing Cedric/Cho

Trait: Angry

Dialogue: "Is that really what you want?"

Word: Memories

Word Count: 1165

Here is our team's ladder - go check out their stories too!

Seeker - Oliver & Penelope

Captain - Penelope & Hermione

Keeper - Hermione & Cedric

Chaser 1 - Cedric & Cho

Chaser 2 - Cho & Voldemort

Chaser 3 - Voldemort & Nymphadora Tonks

Beater 1 - Nymphadora Tonks & Remus Lupin

Beater 2 - Remus Lupin & Lily Evans

Cho gasped through her tears as she wrenched shut the navy velvet hangings around her four-poster, collapsing onto her bed. She was no longer embarrassed about her dormitory mates hearing her, the time for that had long passed. She knew she would be more likely to surprise them if she plastered on a smile. No one understood how she felt, except Harry.

Yet, Harry was also the reason she was crying. How could she have kissed him when she was still so torn up about Cedric? People already had such a low tolerance for her tears, they would never understand how she could still be so upset about Cedric but have feelings for Harry. She barely understood it herself.

Sorrow. They were bonded by sorrow. She wondered if he had nightmares too. She figured he had to. She imagined his nightmares were of an altogether different agony than her own, though, having been actually present when it happened. In some of her more self-indulgent moments, she wondered if Cedric had thought about her at all when he knew his life was about to be snatched away.

The horrors that plagued her at night were some of her most awful memories. All the times she and Cedric had been anything but the strong couple she desperately wanted to remember them as, the arguments and petty annoyances. She yearned to remember how they had danced at the Yule Ball together, how he saved her from the lake, the sweet nothings they had murmured to one another, stolen kisses between lessons. The visions instead were flashes of arguments, of sullen moments and snapped retorts.

Cho couldn't help but think back to last Christmas Eve as they had their biggest argument. Of course, it had been about Harry.

"I think you should tell him, Ced," said Cho earnestly. They were taking a stroll around the edge of the lake, hand in hand, making the most of the last of the daylight. "It's only fair."

"Nothing about this tournament has been fair, Cho," snapped Cedric. "He should have to learn that too."

"I'm pretty sure he has, Cedric, it's not been fair from the start for him," reasoned Cho. "He didn't put his name in."

Cedric snorted. "You believe that?"

"And you don't?"

"I've asked him and he said he didn't, but come on, as shocking as it was at first, it's not really surprising, is it?"

"I don't know, Ced, I don't know why any fourth year would want to enter," replied Cho incredulously. "He got through the first task because he's a good flier… but surely he won't know enough magic to do well in the other tasks. Especially if he doesn't have a heads up."

"People don't think things through. I bet half the people who entered didn't actually consider how hard it would be. They saw the galleons and the glory."

"What did you see?"

"I wanted the glory," admitted Cedric. "But not for me. For my family and my house."

"You have that," said Cho. "Everyone is supporting you."

"No, they just don't want to support Harry," said Cedric bitterly. "I don't think the Slytherins have any real desire for me to win."

"It's not just the Slytherins, and you're making your family and everyone proud."

"People don't even know I'm a Hogwarts Champion thanks to him!"

Cho was taken aback at his outburst. "I know that article wasn't ideal."

"Wasn't ideal?" roared Cedric fiercely, stopping in his tracks and flinging Cho's hand away from him. "This is supposed to be life-changing for me and I wasn't even mentioned. Do you think that calmed my father down? He was furious when he found out Harry was a second Hogwarts Champion. He accosted Mr Crouch at the Ministry about it. That obviously didn't work, so instead, he badgers me— as if I can do anything about it!"

"I'm sorry, Cedric," said Cho softly. "I didn't know your dad was being that tough on you."

Cho jumped as Cedric suddenly kicked a stray stone from the path hard. "Everyone has been tough on me, Cho. I have to be the perfect prefect. A gentleman. The bigger man. I have to think about my image, my career prospects, constantly. It doesn't matter what pressure I face, how it causes rage to bubble up inside of me, I'm not allowed to show that. So no, I know you didn't know."

"It doesn't mean that you have to take it out on Harry though by not telling him though," said Cho tentatively.

Cedric glared. "Did you not listen to any of the things I've just said? Of course not, I know he asked you to the Yule ball, Cho. If you're on his side, why don't you just go with him tomorrow instead?"

"Is that really what you want?"

"No, of course, it's not," sighed Cedric, grabbing Cho's hand again and holding it tight against his chest. "Rationally, I know it's not Harry's fault. Rationally, I know my dad's constant snide remarks are because he cares about me and loves me. Rationally. It doesn't stop the anger inside."

"You don't have to keep it inside, Cedric," said Cho, lifting her spare hand to tuck some of his dark hair out of his grey eyes. "I can deal with you ranting about life, I don't expect you to be perfect. I expect you to not shout at me. Do not lash out at me, Cedric."

"I'm so sorry, Cho," said Cedric, taking in a deep breath. "I need a better outlet, I know. I used to take out my family frustration on flying but no more Quidditch this year, the year I probably need it the most. I will control my temper. I'll try not to keep it inside as much, and I won't lash out at you again."

"Thank you," conceded Cho. "That's all I ask. Well, I still think that you should give Harry a hint at least. Maybe, just tell him to use the Prefect's bathroom. I'm sure he'll figure out the rest for himself."

Cedric nodded. "That seems fair."

Cho's chest felt tight as she lay on her back, the palms of her hands pressed so tightly against her face that colourful shooting stars were exploding behind her eyelids. She loved Cedric, she always would, even if he was gone. But she did like Harry too. Maybe she could talk to Harry about him. She was worried that if she didn't talk about things, the grief inside of her would bubble and brew and become a storm of rage, as it had done in Cedric.

What would Cedric think if she dated Harry? He clearly held resentment against Harry for asking her to the Yule Ball last year. Perhaps, he would accuse her of always harbouring feelings of Harry, even last year. Was he watching her now with rising waves of anger? She hated that thought.

She hoped wherever Cedric was that he was finally at peace.