Previously on 'The Redemption'... Quidditch practice and library research with Tom.

Chapter 9- Night Wanders

For the next few weeks, Cho's time passed surprisingly fast. It all passed in a constant routine of class, quidditch, homework and of course that Ancient Runes assignment with Tom Riddle. She was still wary of him but they had settled into a semi-comfortable routine of minimal talk and a lot of research. Unfortunately, the shelves of the library held little information about the all illusive Ruins of Regnad but they were certain the Restricted Section would have more. They were still currently waiting on the Professors permission slip and so had little to do in the meantime. Cancelling their meetings in the library for now, Cho found herself training on the pitch more and more during the night, often with the help of the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain, and her new friend Henry Pollux.

Henry reminded her of Cedric, so much so, that she often began saying Ced's name before realising it wasn't him at all. They didn't at all look much alike for Henry had darker brown hair that was slightly curled and hazel eyes, but their personalities were very similar. They both had infectious laughter and that wide boyish grin that everyone seemed to love, as well as a kind heart. Cho found that when in Henry's company, she could pretend that all was right in the world. It was just two friends, practicing quidditch.

Cho and Henry circled the pitch lazily, regaining their breath after their rather strenuous exercises.

"I had my reservations about you as our seeker" said Henry, grinning at her as he turned his head towards her.

Cho raised her eyebrows in silent question, inviting him to continue.

"There's never been a girl in the Ravenclaw team" he explained, shrugging "And when you first walked up onto the pitch, I thought you were going to be sick all over me"

Cho laughed, trying to punch his arm but failing as he distanced himself just in time "I thought I was too! Would you have let me try out if I did though?"

Henry pretended to contemplate before scrunching up his nose "Absolutely not"

Both chuckled lightly as they smoothly descended, swinging their brooms over their shoulders "I'm glad you did though" continued Henry "You could possibly win us the House Cup this year!"

Cho grimaced "No pressure or anything of course"

"No pressure," agreed Henry with a grin "Come on, we better head back before curfew. The Prefects are finding any excuse to dock points these days."

Cho nodded in response, falling into step beside him as they made their way back to the castle. Using the sleeve of her sweater to wipe away the streaks of mud that inevitably wound up on her face, she removed her wand from her jeans pocket and waved it over her shoes, not bothering to watch as the mud magically disappeared. At Henry's questioning gaze, she explained with a sheepish expression "I wouldn't want the caretaker to murder me on the spot."

"Fair enough" smirked Henry "That old codger-"

"Excuse me," interrupted a smooth voice "You two are past curfew."

Cho and Henry's lingering smiles fled from their faces as they spotted the Head Boy, though both for very different reasons. While Cho felt uncomfortable around him for no apparent reason, Henry's reason was much less complex. While Tom Riddle's reputation was good as gold, Henry remained doubtful of his true persona. His group of friends consisted of the most arrogant boys in the whole of Hogwarts and Henry would be a fool to think that the Head Boy was as innocent as he seemed. The apple never falls too far from the tree now does it?

Nevertheless, Henry wasn't silly enough to be blatantly hostile to the Head Boy. Allowing an easy smile to spread across his face, Henry resumed a jovial tone "Hello there Tom. Miss Chang and I were just heading back"

Tom, ever the epitome of composure, merely glanced between the two before adopting an expression of diplomacy "I will allow it to slide this time Pollux" he enunciated, the low cadence of his voice smooth as melted chocolate "But may I have a word with Miss Chang for a moment? Alone?"

Henry looked between the two, almost sure that he was not imagining the look of fear that flashed across Cho's delicate features. Should he stay…?

As though reading Henry's mind, Tom continued in that infuriatingly polite tone "She will be safe in my hands of course. I will deliver her back to the common room as soon as our business here is finished"

"I'll see you back at the common room then." said Henry, the phrase coming out more as a question than a statement. Cho nodded infinitesimally, giving a small smile of encouragement before bidding him goodbye. Frowning, Henry bade both of them goodbye before leaving the two alone, all too aware of the feelings of unease that crept up on him with every step away.

Cho concentrated on her breathing, ignoring Tom's gaze that was far too intense for her liking. Just when she thought she was getting use to his presence, he just had to appear outside of their scheduled meetings to shake things up. Now there was nowhere to hide and no one to protect her. Only her and Tom Riddle alone in a corridor in the middle of the night, probably far away enough for no one to hear her scream or plead for help.

'Don't be silly Cho' she chided herself, 'You're being paranoid! And now you're talking to yourself too. Excellent.'

Sighing, Cho forced herself to meet his eyes, refusing to give into her silly and unfound delusions "So… You wanted to see me?" she asked hesitantly, hating how her voice sounded squeaky in her nervousness.

Tom looked perfectly at ease, studying her as though she were a particularly interesting insect under a magnifying glass "Indeed"

Cho stared at him, perplexed by his odd behaviour "Care to elaborate on that?"

A tiny smile touched his thin lips "Is it necessary?"

"What?"

He slowed down his speech, his tone mildly sarcastic "Is it necessary?" he repeated "To elaborate"

"Unless you have another way of explaining, then yes" she retorted, annoyed at his condescension and way of talking in riddles.

Ignoring her completely, Tom cocked his head while he twirled his wand between long pale fingers "Tell me again Miss Chang" he began, his eyes flashing with some sort of emotion that Cho couldn't quite pinpoint "what was the reason for you to come and study at Hogwarts?"

Startled by the sudden change of subject, Cho faltered "I didn't tell you in the first place."

Smirking, Tom preyed on her moment of weakness "Then would you care to answer my question?"

Having quite enough of his teasing interrogation, Cho donned her most fierce expression which only seemed to amuse him further "Actually, it's none of your business and I'm not obligated to answer anything you ask. Now if you'll excuse me, I best be getting back to my dormitory"

Turning on her heel, Cho strode away from Tom who watched her contemplatively till she disappeared completely from view.

Once she was safely confined to the parameters of her very comfortable bed, Cho allowed her mind to wander. Her little stint with Riddle had flustered her too easily. Other people were also becoming too inquisitive for her liking, asking questions that had Cho fumbling for answers that she could scarcely make up in time. What would happen if she said something she wasn't supposed to? A slip of the tongue? She never thought being a terrible liar was a good trait till now when she needed it. She wasn't silly enough to take her fellow students for fools, and if she was as terrible of an actress as she knew she was, they would all suspect the truth sooner or later.

Not for the first time, Cho wondered why she was here in the first place. Was it simply because she had inadvertently asked the Room of Requirement to take her away? A freak accident? Or was it something more than that?

On top of her already towering high pile of problems, Cho felt the nagging fear of changing the future. However disastrous and terrible the future would be, it scared her to think that she had the power to alter it. Sighing, Cho rolled over to her side, remembering her encounter with the Head Boy earlier on in the evening.

Tom Riddle made her paranoid and panicky, and no amount of logic or reasoning could explain it. She couldn't shake off the feeling she knew him from somewhere, or that he greatly resembled someone else. But how could she not remember someone like him? The intensity of his stare, his smooth, practiced gestures, the way that he would always seem to know what others were thinking…

Pulling her duvet up, Cho buried her face in it, feeling a headache creeping in that was too familiar of when she would think of time travel or the illustrious Head Boy.

Little did she know that both those things were very much intertwined.