Rediscovering Her Wings – Chapter 7
Author's Note: "Uni" here refers to undergraduate/college.
"Can you show me more magic?" asked Will as he held both of Cho's hands in his own. His nervous, eager curiosity and excitement were adorable.
"I can tell you more. But I can't demonstrate more magic. Not here in public where anyone could see. I've taken enough risks tonight as it is."
"You must be very bold," said Will, letting go of one of her hands so he could run his fingers up her arm. Cho felt nervous goosebumps rise up in the path of his touch.
Cho didn't say anything, but she nodded as her head filled with a heady sense of mischief and excitement. She could feel her cheeks go hot.
Will leaned in and whispered, "What about if we went somewhere more private? This restaurant has a roof deck that we could have all to ourselves. You can show me all the spells you wanted!"
Cho blinked. "That sounds nice, but I have a better idea. There are magical places in London – how about I show you one? It's called Diagon Alley."
"Diagonally?"
"No, Diagon Alley. It's a secret street hidden by magic, where witches and wizards in London like to go to shop. It might be quieting down now, but we could at least grab a Butterbeer in the Leaky Cauldron. And I could totally show you my magic in public while we're there, because only magical people visit."
"But if I don't have magic, then won't I be… forbidden from visiting?" he asked playfully.
"Well, Muggles – that is, non-magical people – are forbidden from visiting certain parts of the wizarding world. Actually, wizards can only bring Muggles with them if they're family or married."
"Okay, so is this the part where I marry you? Because I probably fell in love at first sight with you and I'm totally on board, but I'd normally prefer to introduce my future bride to my family first, so…"
Cho grinned irrepressibly. She knew he was joking, but the statement still sent a bolt of heat right through her. Could he really feel this way already? Was that actually possible? Cedric's death, her failed relationship with Harry Potter, her parents' divorce, and her father's tendency to be, well, himself, had taught Cho that Happily Ever After was an unrealistic fantasy. But the hopeless romantic in her was rebelling. And it was making her cheeks go hot.
Cho cleared her throat. "There's another loophole. You're technically a squib – that's a person who can see magical creatures and the magical world, but who doesn't have any wizarding powers. You were born to Muggles, which is why no one told you what you were seeing, but squibs can visit Diagon Alley anytime they want, too."
"Huh. So, I guess I shan't be marrying you tonight? Aww…"
"No," Cho laughed. "See, no matter how well my future husband gets on with my one-eyed cat Smoky, my friend Marietta and her girlfriend Daria would still have to approve the match."
Then, since this was a first date and all, she thought it prudent to steer the conversation away from marriage. "Oh, and the Leaky Cauldron is a wizard pub. In case you were wondering."
"Where is it?" asked Will.
"49 Charing Cross Road, which isn't too far from here."
"Shall we head on over?"
"Do you mind if I use the ladies' room first?"
"Sure."
In the bathroom, she cooled her hands in the faucet and pressed her cold fingers to her temples. Everything was fine. What she was about to do was totally legal – even though she totally would've taken Will to Diagon Alley if it was illegal.
What was up with her? She looked in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were sparkling and the faintest hint of a grin lingered on her lips. And weirdly, every nerve in her body was proclaiming itself, as though it was hungry for someone's touch. Cho hadn't ever felt this alive since… Well, since Cedric.
"Calm down," she lectured her reflection. "This date is going well. Just enjoy yourself and get to know him!" (Being sure to get to know someone was about the only decent piece of dating advice she'd ever heard.) "Who knows if this'll be a fun summer fling for you to remember, or something more long-lasting, but please, for Merlin's sake, just relax and enjoy yourself!"
Satisfied with her self-lecture, she re-applied lipstick before ducking into a stall.
While Cho was in the loo, Will waved to their waiter and paid the check. Seeing that Will was alone, Dave meandered over, too.
"Well," he intoned dramatically, "She is lovely."
"Yes. Yes, she is."
"And you like her, and by like, I mean you want to throw her on the back of that death-trap motorbike of tours and make off with her."
"You know, this date actually started with a nice little motorcycle ride."
"Well, did she like it? Oh, who am I kidding, of course she did! Anyway, do you want to use the roof deck? We could get some candles, champagne, and dessert up there."
"How many people have you offered that to, without charging them an exorbitant sum?"
"I lent it for free to a couple of friends who wanted to propose marriage to their significant others, and if that's what you need it for…"
Will laughed.
"Seriously, though, I would normally charge my famous clients through the roof, pun intended, if they want to throw parties up there. I'm only offering to not charge you because you're literally the only responsible celebrity I've ever met."
"I'm not a celebrity anymore," protested Will.
"Oh, you're still pretty bloody famous, even if you hate it. But what else are you doing with your angel tonight? And don't tell me you're just dropping her off at home and bidding her goodbye, because there is far too much chemistry for your date to end so soon. So, is she spending the night at your place, or are you spending the night at hers?"
"Piss off, and don't sell a damn detail to the tabloids, you hear me?"
"Oh! I'm so hurt!"
"If you must know, busybody, we're going on a walk and she wants to show me something special."
"She wants to show you something special, eh?" asked Dave.
"Yep!" At that moment, Cho returned. "And I don't want to ruin it because it's special, so I'm sorry but I can't tell you, Dave. Is the check here yet?"
"I already paid it," said Will. "Shall we?"
"Oh. Thank you! Well, I'll be sure to get the check the next time," said Cho.
"I'm glad there's going to be a next time," said Will as he escorted her back to the motorbike. They took a short ride to 48 Charing Cross Road, where Will parked and saw the sign for The Leaky Cauldron. Will realized he'd noticed it plenty of times before, but simply hadn't bothered to check inside. Huh.
The Leaky Cauldron was a Tudor-style pub where lots of people – many of them in long robes and pointy hats – were having a drink and conversing spiritedly. Waiters were levitating plates and glasses, both empty and full, back and forth. A few people had their pet owls, cats, and toads with them.
"What's with the owls?" asked Will.
"People keep them as pets," said Cho. "Oh, and they also deliver our mail."
"What?"
"Yeah!"
Cho led him to a courtyard out back, faced the brick wall, whipped out her wand again, and started counting bricks. Before Will could ask her what she was doing, she tapped a brick and the wall itself peeled back to reveal a quaint but well-lit Tudor-style street. Even though it was late on a Saturday, a few people were still milling about and checking out any late-open shops. Once again, Will noticed their cloaks and pointy hats.
"Is this Diagonally?" he asked.
"Uh-huh. Diagon Alley, in all its glory. It's normally a lot busier during the day, but plenty of the shops are still open at the moment. Can I show you around?"
"Yes, please!"
And so, she took his hand, and they skipped – literally skipped! – down the street, past all sorts of shops that held anything from potion ingredients and cauldrons to broomsticks to sweets to books – and there was even a shop that sold wands.
Once they'd gotten far enough, Cho slowed from her gleeful skipping (which really was quite cute – Will would be glad to continue it sometime) and turned around to show him around properly.
She was the perfect tour guide. As she held his hand and showed him around, she told him all about the different aspects of the Magical world – about potion-making, about riding broomsticks to fly, about a broomstick/flying sport called Quidditch, about how they used owls to send letters, about how they used wands to cast magic, and everything in between.
They even stopped into the Flourish and Blotts bookshop so that Will could browse and flip through the miscellaneous volumes.
There were lots of sections on different kinds of magic, but one section in particular called to Will. "Can we check out the History section?"
"You like history?"
"Yeah, I studied it at uni. History's always been my favorite subject. Did you study it when you were in school?"
"I don't know if I studied it, per se, because it was so boring that my friends and I usually slept through the class. We'd draw lots to see who had to stay awake and take notes."
"Uh…"
"I don't hate the subject; I just didn't like the class." She shrugged. "But that's what you get when the instructor's a ghost."
"I… see," said Will.
"Anyway, have a look around!"
"Fair warning, I usually have to be kicked out of bookshops forcibly. Otherwise, I stick around for hours."
"No, you're not," said the shopkeeper as she brushed by the couple. "This shop closes in five minutes!"
"Okay, well, what would you recommend to someone who's new to your world and now wants to learn everything about it?"
"You are such a Ravenclaw," said Cho with a grin. Wizarding History: An Overview is probably your best starting point, she said as she yanked a volume off of the shelves. And Hogwarts: A History is all about the magical school called Hogwarts – but I have a copy of that at home, so you can have mine.
"Thanks for the recommendation," said Will. "Uh, sorry if this is dumb, but do the shops here take credit cards?"
"Nope, we have an entire different currency system. We use Gold Galleons, Silver Sickles, and Bronze Knuts. There are 29 Knuts in one Sickle and 17 Sickles make up a Galleon."
"That is…"
"The weirdest and worst currency system ever. I know."
"Well, I didn't want to be rude!" laughed Will.
"Come on. I'll buy you this, and then get you a taste of Butterbeer at the Leaky Cauldron. It's delicious." She grabbed his hand and led him to the counter so she could pay.
"Thanks for this," he said as they left the store. He had his new book in one hand, so he reached out to her with the other and they skipped back down the street toward the Leaky Cauldron.
Will looked into Cho's eyes, and was glad to see the way they lit up with pleasure while a grin played about her sweet lips. Her silky hair waved in the breeze behind her. And her eyes lit up a bit more when she looked at him.
They were so caught up in skipping with each other like school children that they didn't notice a lone wizard until they practically tripped over the guy.
"Oops, sorry! We did not see you there," said Will as he steadied Cho on her feet and then reached out to the man to help him to his feet. He was a thin Asian man who was a bit shorter than Will, and he had thick black hair like Cho's. "Are you okay?"
The man didn't answer Will, but silently looked him over with an expression of distaste. Then, as he was about to leave, his eyes flicked to who Will was with.
"Cho?!" he spat.
"Father," she replied icily as she crossed her arms and squared her shoulders.
"It is not bad enough that you deign to go on a date with a Muggle, but you also take him to Diagon Alley, in the heart of our Wizarding World?! You resort to an illegal betrayal of all wizards?"
Wait, what?
"Yes, father," scowled Cho, annoyed that her very own father had somehow stumbled into the middle of the first truly promising date she'd had in SEVEN YEARS, DAMMIT.
"Do you not think of doing better, my girl? You would do better to end up with a wizard – do you not want the magical community to respect you?"
"Father, no one cares, except for pure-blooded bigots who need a lame excuse to act superior to everyone else."
"Well, you had better not bring this Muggle oaf home to me, for I will not allow it."
"Well, I would never introduce you to him, because I'd hate to subject him to the likes of you!"
Her father scowled at Will. "She will tire of you. You shall see." Then, he walked a few more feet and apparated, probably back to the shoddy apartment he kept above one of the Diagon Alley shops – Cho couldn't tell you which one it was because she never cared to visit.
"I'm so sorry. That wasn't supposed to happen. I'll, uh, show you back out so you can go." Though she faced him as she said this, she made a point not to look at his face so she wouldn't have to see his disappointment that his date was someone who yelled in her own father's face.
Will ran his hands up both her arms, over her shoulders and neck, and finally up to cup her face. And when she finally looked into his face, the expression didn't say disappointment – it showed concern. "Cho, look at me. You don't need to apologize for anything. I really appreciate how you stood up for me. I'm just sorry that your own father was so mean to you."
"I didn't mean to ruin our evening."
"Aw, sweetheart, you didn't ruin anything," he reassured her as he used his thumb to tuck a lock of her hair behind one of her ears. He then ran that comforting hand over her hair and down to hold her waist. Was this how Smoky felt when Will pet him?
She looked at the way his arm was reaching around her and then ran her own arm over his. She took her time, loving the feel of his muscles and the way they gently moved to hold her.
"Still, I hope you know that most wizards would be absolutely fine with me bringing you here and would never stoop to being so mean."
"I know," said Will as he let his other hand drop to hold her waist, too. "But are you all right?"
"I'll be okay – I've been dealing with this for quite a while."
"That's awful, I'm sorry."
Cho simply shrugged. Then, because it was better than thinking about her dad, she brought her other arm to drape around the back of Will's neck. Because Will was nearly a foot taller than her, she had to look up to see his face when they were close.
Then, as her hazel eyes looked into the warmth of his golden ones, they seemed to have the same idea at the same time. In one synchronous motion, they embraced one another.
Relief flooded through Cho, so much so that she leaned right into him. He held her close so she wouldn't fall, squeezing her tightly but gently. He was so strong and yet the embrace was so tender. She turned her head sideways and rested it against his chest. She could feel his warmth, smell his fresh scent, hear his steady heartbeat.
Cho wasn't sure how long she wallowed in the feeling of being held by him, but she eventually noticed he had bent his head down over hers. Was he… sniffing her hair? And was she really tilting her head to give him better access?
"Are you all right, sweetheart?"
"Better, yeah. Thanks for being there for me."
"Is he often this… inconsiderate?" Will asked delicately. Cho realized he was angry at her father but didn't want to insult the man in case Cho was actually close to him.
"He's actually a touch worse," said Cho, looking back up into his handsome face. "And my totally sweet and lovely mother is dead. So, the introduction of the parents thing won't happen on my end in this relationship." Although calling it a relationship when he probably wouldn't want a second date at this point was really overstating things.
"I'm so sorry. What happened?"
"They were divorced five years ago and then she died three years ago of natural causes."
"I'm sorry for your loss."
Sometimes it feels like it was yesterday. "Well, thanks for your concern. But I have wonderful friends and a job I love. Life has actually been pretty good these days."
Will nodded, seeming to get that she didn't want to pursue it any further.
"I promised you a drink in the Leaky Cauldron, and I think you'll like the taste of Butterbeer. If you still want to continue our date, then we can go there next."
"Of course, I want to stick around with you! Lead the way!"
Cho had to leave their embrace in order to lead him to The Leaky Cauldron and found that she was missing his touch. When they found two adjoining stools, she was happy that he pulled his up next to hers and wrapped an arm around her again.
Will set his new book on wizarding history beside him as he sat beside Cho. He couldn't resist the urge to wrap an arm around her and keep her close.
Ever since he'd met her, he wanted to touch her. At first, it was because she was really bloody hot. But he'd known there was more to it from the moment he looked into her eyes. There was intelligence and presence in those eyes and corny as it was, that really turned him on. It was like he could see into her soul. And now that he'd gotten to know this lovely woman who'd stand up for anyone and help anyone who was in a pinch, he simply had to touch her to make sure she was real.
She leaned into him a little and motioned to the bartender to order two butterbeers.
Two glasses of a frothy, beer-like liquid floated back toward them.
"Thanks so much for showing me around here. I loved it."
"Glad you liked it. Cheers."
They clinked their glasses and took a sip.
"Mmm! Whoa, that's good."
"Right? Oh my gosh, and you haven't even gotten to try magical sweets yet! Or attend your first Quidditch match! Or show you Hogwarts!"
"Okay, so Quidditch is the sport you play while riding flying broomsticks… but what's Hogwarts?"
"It's a magical school where they teach young witches and wizards between the ages of 11 and 17 to use their magical powers. I actually went there, it was great!"
"Really?"
And then she told him about the school, and its four houses – Ravenclaw was the one for the wise and for those who were creative and wanted to learn (he was flattered that she sorted into the same house as her). She told him lots of stories, about the classes and the ghosts and the history as they both sipped their delicious butterbeer.
Honestly, he could have listened to her talk for hours. It was a delight to see the way her face lit up with passion as she told him about her education, and she also just had a really pretty voice.
All too soon, though, it was 1am and the innkeeper was ushering them out.
Will escorted Cho back to his bike so they could make the short trip back to her apartment. He parked by the curb outside and helped her off.
"You didn't have to escort me all the way here. I could've just Apparated back home, you know," she told him.
"What if I liked escorting you?" he asked.
"Well, I suppose there's that," she sighed, in a way that told him she was tired but content.
They made their way up the stairs and this time, she didn't take out her keys, but took out her want and pointed it at the door. "Alohamora." The door swung open of its own accord.
"Is that the spell to unlock doors?"
"Yeah."
"So cool." Even though the action was probably mundane for someone like her.
"Well, in spite of the interruption by my dad, I had a really nice time tonight."
"Me too. Are you free tomorrow – well, today, since it's now Sunday?"
"I have a new patient – a six-year-old girl named Delphi – who I need to check in on tomorrow. But I should be free in the evening. Why?"
"I want to see you again," he replied. Then, he gave her two quick, chaste kisses on the lips, and they emboldened him to say what was on his mind. "Hey, do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Don't date anyone else."
"What, between taking care of my patient tomorrow and our date in the evening?" she teased. "Well, I'll try to resist the multiple offers rolling in on a daily basis.
"No, I mean don't date anyone else besides me. Ever. For the rest of this lifetime." He stole another quick kiss from her sweet lips and made her way down the stairs from her apartment before he could lose his nerve.