Previously on 'The Redemption'... Cho meets her new Ancient Runes partner.
Chapter 8- The Way of Things
Tom watched the girl's smile waver as he smiled charmingly at her, assuming that she probably already fancied herself in love with him. Hopefully, she had enough brains in her to complete the project together so that he would never have to speak to her again.
Tom knew how to take advantage of his peers and professors. Using his charm, intelligence and good looks, it was all too easy to get what he wanted. Most of the professors doted upon their star pupil, allowing him into their good graces with only minimal effort on his behalf. A box of crystallised pineapple could win old Slughorn's heart where as a single glance could get a girl to cater his every need. They were all so simple, so predictable, and so easy to control.
Undoubtedly, the same would work for the new star attraction – the transfer student who was now his Ancient Runes partner. Like all the others, he had first seen her when she was sorted into Ravenclaw, her complexion pallid and her knees shaky as she walked towards the table. He had heard of all different tales about the girl; that her whole family was murdered by Grindelwald and she had fled to Hogwarts because Dumbledore was actually her adopted uncle or maybe that she was the equivalence of magical royalty and therefore could buy her way into a place at Hogwarts.
Tom scoffed at all those ludicrous ideas that glorified her. She was nothing special in his eyes, nothing that stood her apart from all the other girls that wandered these very halls. But she didn't know that. From experience and observation, Tom knew it was best to allow the girl to believe she was special and different; that he paid attention to her because he wanted to and not because he was forced into this partnership. Besides, he may need her one day when he leaves school and a contact with favour towards him would always been advantageous.
"So Miss Chang" he began, focusing his dark eyes on her "How do you like Hogwarts?"
Tom could have sworn he saw a flash of unease cross her face before it disappeared "It's lovely here" she said shortly, her tone a hint defensive.
"Better than your old school?" pried Tom, tilting his head as though he really valued her answer.
"I was home schooled," she responded, tucking loose strands of shiny black hair behind her ear almost nervously. Before Tom could reply, she flipped open her copy of Advanced Ancient Runes with a little too much relish. "So what relic do you want to do?" she asked brightly, her fingers running through the table of contents "There's the pyramids in Egypt, the lighthouse of Alexandria…"
She rattled off a few more options before Tom interrupted "How about we go to the library later to do research on a more obscure relic? It may be more interesting than the ones everyone else is going to do. Would you like to meet outside the library after dinner?"
Pink flooded her cheeks "Sorry, I have quidditch practice. Is there another time suitable for you?"
Tom raised his eyebrows condescendingly at the blushing girl. He had no appreciation for sports of any kind, but was surprised that she did. She didn't strike him as the kind of girl that enjoyed being knocked around by bludgers or joining in on the testosterone fest that quidditch usually was. Not many girls tried out each year and even fewer were successful in their ploys. Slytherin for example had never had a girl on its team.
Not that Tom cared of course.
"Then how about 8 o clock? Would your practice be finished by then?"
The girl nodded, gathering her things and stuffing them into her bag as the bell rung overhead. "I'll see you at 8 then". Giving him a little awkward wave which he did not return, she raced out of the classroom, the lingering herbaceous floral scent of black tea and jasmine wafting in her wake.
Cho braced herself against the wall of an empty corridor, releasing the breath that she didn't know she was holding. She wasn't sure why she felt so adverse to the strange boy with the strange name, but there was something about him that frightened her. She felt as though she knew him from somewhere, another place, and another time. Those dark blue eyes that verged on black, the way he held himself with such grace. It was so familiar, but for the life of her, she could not put a name to him or who he reminded her of.
Realising she was shivering, from either the cold or the encounter, she wrapped her robes tighter around herself as she made her way to her next class. She soon joined the large throng of students who crowded the hallway, dodging and weaving groups of people to get to Charms, all the while unaware of the dark eyes that followed her.
Cho waved her new teammates goodbye, smiling as Henry clapped her on the back and congratulated her on her performance at practice. Feeling in high spirits, she was almost to the showers and change rooms when she remembered that she had a meeting with Tom in the library. Checking her watch, the small dial read 7:58. Cursing, Cho quickly locked the borrowed broom up in the store room and ran into the castle, hoping that she wasn't going to be too late.
Tom twirled his wand lazily as he stood there in annoyance. It was already ten minutes past 8 and there was still no sign of the Chang girl. He should have known she wouldn't be one to value punctuality. Suddenly, quick footfalls echoed down the hall followed by a figure dressed in muddied blue and bronze quidditch robes.
"Sorry I'm late!" she huffed, clutching her side that was beginning to hurt from exertion.
Tom stared at her for a moment, his eyes grazing across her harried appearance. Her hair was pulled up into a sloppy ponytail, the long strands slightly knotted and windblown. Her cheeks were flushed a healthy pink, enhancing her attractive facial features that were lightly smudged with dirt. As repulsed as he was by his thoughts, Tom had to admit she was objectively quite beautiful even with the muck and grime.
Uncomfortable under his scrutiny, Cho gestured awkwardly to the doors "Shall we go in?"
Tom nodded, allowing her inside first. Cho murmured a quiet 'thanks' and walked in hoping that the librarian would not see the mud that clung to her shoes and robes. Wishing that she had at least had time to change into clean clothes, she chose a spot near the restricted section where fewer students would be inclined to stare at her.
Tom sat across from her, placing his bag atop the table "Do you have any ideas for the project?" he queried, removing a plain white quill and a roll of parchment from his bag.
Having done this exact same project before, Cho wondered if it was considered cheating by suggesting the same relic she had done with Roger Davies in her 7th year. They had gotten top marks for it, both of them earning an 'Outstanding' in their final N.E.W.T results. If she chose the same project, no one would know.
But even in her constant battle of wills, integrity usually won out in the end. She would suggest a different one because not only was it the right thing to do but it would also make for interesting research.
"I'm not sure, how about we look through some textbooks first?" she suggested, gesturing the tall shelves behind her. He acquiesced, rising from his seat to peruse the relevant shelves with her. The library was comforting in his vastness, the endless shelves of books and slightly musty scent familiar to Cho who had spent much of her 6th and 7th years finding comfort in her small private nook. Books of every colour and size lined the shelves, some snapping ferociously when you pulled it off the shelf or emitting an ear splitting screech when she turned to a particular page.
After almost an hour of searching, Tom and Cho had produced a pile of a dozen books that could be of use to them.
Tom flicked through the pages before stopping at one "How about the Necropolis in Egypt?" he suggested, his eyes on the text.
Cho shook her head, replying absently "It's not nearly as interesting as it sounds. The translations don't give much away," she remarked, her face hidden by the massive tome she was immersed in.
Tom tilted his head to the side, watching her "Some light bed time reading?"
The tips of Cho's ears coloured before she muttered back defensively "I am a Ravenclaw aren't i?"
Choosing not to reply, the pair continued their search in relative silence, only punctuating the air with their voices when they found something of interest. A few texts and a whole hour later, Tom came across a relic that piqued his interest. Flipping the textbook and sliding it across the table, he pointed to the bolded title.
Leaning over, Cho read it out loud "The Ruins of Regnad? I haven't heard of this before"
Tom reclined lazily on his chair, leaving the book in front of Cho "From what little I've heard of it, it seems quite interesting. Apparently, the stones from the ruins are used to create the time turners they have at the Ministry"
Cho's eyebrows shot up, suddenly a lot more interested now than she was before. What if she uncovered something to aid her journey back to the present? What if this was her ticket back to her old life? Grabbing a piece of parchment with a little too much vigour, Cho scribbled down the name of their new project.
"The Ruins of Regnad it is!" she declared, underlining the heading with a flourish. Tom nodded, slightly disturbed by her sudden bout of enthusiasm.
Perhaps she had had one too many bludgers to the head after all.