Previously... Arlene rejects a ball proposal from a boy who thought putting it in a flobberworm would be a good idea, Cho researches time travel and gets into a bit of trouble with the Head Boy.

Chapter 11- Apologies

Tom stared at the spot where she had just been, his eyes wide and vacant as his hand dripped blood onto the floor. He had no idea what had gotten into him, the feelings of anger and frustration so strong and sudden that he couldn't suppress it if he had thought to. The words spilled forth without consulting his mind and he was rendered helpless as she stared at him like he was a complete and utter lunatic.

As Tom slowly collected himself, he began to feel the throbbing pain in his hand as well as the consequences of his actions. Not only did he completely fail in his mission to get her to open up to him, he had now made quite the impression that he was a raving psychopath. So what was he to do now? Pretend nothing happened? Or find a way to make her…forget?

Tom dismissed the last idea completely, hating the thought of using such an intrusive tactic on her. Manipulating her feelings and thoughts didn't seem right somehow, though he had had no problems with that before he met her.

'No', Tom thought, levitating the books she had forgotten in her haste, 'I'll have to win her trust the old fashioned way'

With that thought, Tom sluggishly made his way to his private Head Boy dormitories, all the while wondering why he was making such an effort for her when she meant nothing to him.

Or so he kept telling himself.

"Merlin, Chang! Your eye bags are bigger than my school bag!" exclaimed Arlene, her eyes raking over Cho's disheveled form "What happened to you?"

'Nothing much, but just so you know your Head Boy is also a complete nutter' thought Cho, trying to inject some sort of humour into her overwrought mind but failing dismally. Everything about last night was anything but humorous. The intent that lurked behind his dark eyes had Cho shivering as she remembered it.

"I just stayed up doing my Charms essay," lied Cho surprisingly easily, "Have you finished yours? It's due today"

She grinned "Of course" she announced proudly, puffing out her chest ever so slightly "Ravenclaw remember?"

Cho didn't smile back but was saved by the Professor's reedy voice that emanated across the area "Gather up students! We don't have all day now!"

The students grudgingly did as they were told, feeling the frost seep in through their robes as the winds blew around them. Cho herself huddled closer to Arlene, grateful that she had at least the sense to bring her blue and bronze scarf with her that morning for Care of Magical Creatures.

"Hey Cho"

Cho jumped, whirling around to see Henry grinning like a cat who got the cream. Scowling, she whispered furiously "Henry! Stop doing that! You scared me half to death"

He shrugged nonchalantly, digging his hands into his pockets "Not my fault you're awfully jumpy today Chang" he remarked lightly, his eyes grazing over her tired face "Bad sleep?"

"Something like that" muttered Cho, rubbing her eyes "You still up for some Quidditch practice tonight?" asked Cho, hoping he would say yes. Nothing was better than an exhausting training session to take her mind off things. Maybe if she was tired enough, she would be able to sleep properly.

"I cannot I'm afraid" said Henry, scratching the back of his head rather sheepishly "I have some… er, plans"

Cho's eyebrows rose with her interest "Plans? As in a date?"

"Something like that" said Henry, mimicking her earlier words though his cheeks were stained pink. Cho smiled to herself, allowing him some reprieve from her inevitable taunting for the time being. She wasn't sure why she was surprised that Henry had a romantic interest – any girl could see he was quite the catch, but maybe it was a bit like imagining your brother with someone else. It just didn't seem right. However Cho was happy for him, a good guy like Henry deserved a nice girl. She just hoped the mystery girl was good enough for her new friend.

Cho had successfully avoided Tom Riddle the entire day, exploiting all her knowledge on the castle to find shortcuts to classes so he couldn't possibly corner her. She knew it was juvenile and perhaps cowardly but she much preferred to call it self-preservation. After all, she had no idea what he was capable of, and after that incident she sure wasn't going to take any chances.

Peering out from behind a particularly hideously deformed statue, she surmised that the corridor was empty. Breathing a sigh of relief, Cho swiftly walked towards the direction of Ravenclaw tower, her eyes glancing at her watch.

"Cho, what are you doing here?"

Cho spun around, her wand drawn in record speed towards the perpetrator before recognising who it was. Lowering her wand, she tucked it back into her robes before coming closer to the dejected figure half slumped up against the wall, a bunch of wilted daisies in his hand.

"I could ask you the same thing" said Cho, sinking to the ground beside him "And what on earth did you do to these poor flowers Henry?"

Henry grimaced, tilting the bunch of floppy flowers in his hands "Ask your friend Arlene"

Cho's eyes widened, a small laugh of disbelief escaping her lips "You were on a date with Arlene tonight?" asked Cho incredulously "I didn't know you fancied her!"

"Now is not a good time to tease me Chang" groaned Henry, "Have you ever heard that muggle saying about kicking someone when they're down?"

"Not really," said Cho, softening her gaze at Henry who did indeed look quite put out "But I'm sorry for being insensitive"

He gave her a small smile though it didn't reach his eyes "It's fine"

A long silence descended between the two, both unsure of what to say. While Cho knew the kind of things to say usually, it was a completely different situation when talking to a boy. The coo's of encouragement would sound completely odd to Henry and Cho was positive that it would not be appreciated. But if she ignored the problem completely, how could she help a friend in need?

"Why are you frowning Chang? I'm sorry I couldn't practice quidditch with you tonight-"

"No, no" interrupted Cho, shaking her head so a few strands of hair came out of her loose ponytail "I'm not mad at you for that"

"Then what's on your mind?" asked Henry, looking at her with questioning eyes.

Determining that perhaps a conversation that took his mind off things was exactly what he needed, Cho scrambled for an answer and latched onto the first that came to mind. "I was just thinking about the Christmas Ball"

Cho saw the slight twitch in his face as he replied grimly "Conveniently, the one I was going to ask Arlene to tonight"

Seeing the flush of embarrassment on Cho's cheeks, he continued in lighter spirits "Who were you going to go with Chang? I bet you've already been asked"

"Nope, I haven't. I'm still not sure I want to go" replied Cho honestly, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear "It's not really my type of thing anyway"

Henry quirked a brow, "I thought all girls liked going dancing?"

"Well you don't know too much about girls then" replied Cho jokingly, a smile spreading across her face as Henry faked a wounded expression.

"Well, that's unfortunate then," said Henry, suddenly donning a rather somber expression as he looked sideways at a perplexed Cho "I was going to ask you to the ball"

Cho could only gape like a fish before she stammered "I-I don't think that would be er.. appropriate given the circumstances"

"I honestly don't think Arlene would mind considering she made her thoughts on my-" his nose wrinkled slightly as he thought of the word "proposal quite clear. And besides, we will be going as friends who enjoy each other's company. What's wrong with that?"

In the end, Cho agreed. Henry was a good friend of hers and she would have a good time with him at the ball. She wasn't interested in going with anyone else and the girls in her dormitory would force her to attend anyway. She only worried about Arlene's reaction when she would tell her – would she be mad, confused or completely nonchalant?

After bidding her goodbyes to Henry who decided to grab some food from the kitchens, Cho made her own way to Ravenclaw tower without any incident. Arlene, Lucinda and Sarah were perched on various couches doing their respective essays and homework, barely noticing as Cho walked through the portrait hole and up to their dormitory. Pushing the door open, Cho unlatched her outer cloak and placed it neatly on her chair beside her desk… which was currently occupied with a small tower of thick volumes.

Curiously, she rifled through them only to realise that these were the books she had borrowed just last night. After fleeing the scene, she had completely forgotten about it which must have meant that Riddle had brought these up for her somehow. Noticing the folded over piece of parchment placed on top of the stack, Cho cautiously picked it up and flipped it open all the while expecting it to explode or something just as unpleasant. To her surprise nothing at all happened, the perfectly neat handwriting staring up at her in stark black ink.

"Miss Chang,

I must apologise for last night's proceedings. I was not feeling well and I was not sure what came over me but I know that it is still a poor excuse for my words and actions towards you. I once again apologise for my behaviour and while I know that I ask too much; I hope you can forgive me.

T. Riddle"

Cho read through the note once more, her forehead creasing as the words ran through her mind. While his words were nice enough, she felt no sincerity in them. It was as if he were merely going through the notions of apologising, but never actually saying the apology. And even if he did, Cho was not sure if it was enough. People did not turn into crazed maniacs when they were simply 'not feeling well'. The more Cho thought about it, the more she realised that perhaps that facet of him was lurking underneath his perfectly crafted surface all along. She had always thought there was something off about him but she had put it down to paranoia. But what if it were completely logical? That she wasn't making this all up in her head?

Throwing the note into the crackling flames of the fireplace, Cho decided that perhaps two could play at this game. He for some unknown reason wanted something from her- as evident by the effort in writing a note, and she in return wanted to know why she felt that strange feeling of recognition. She knew it was foolish to play with fire; but her curiosity burned and she needed to know if her suspicions were right. She was used to playing things safe, never doing anything that was risky or could potentially be problematic but now, in a different time she could be who she wanted to be without expectations from her family or friends. She obviously still needed to watch her steps so as not to change the timeline but was it wrong to live a little whilst doing so? Even with the ill feelings towards the Head Boy, she hadn't felt so much at home and normal in such a long time.

Cho watched the note smolder into ashes, the hypnotic flames dancing and flickering in the grate. Suddenly, she opened up her desk drawer and drew out some parchment, ink and quill. Not bothering to sit down in her chair, she wrote a quick reply before dashing out towards the owlery before curfew was up.