Previously on 'The Redemption'... Cho comes to the startling revelation that He Who Must Not Be Named was wandering the very same halls as her.
Chapter 13- Unexpected Help
Cho came back from her session in the library, feeling surprisingly good about how smoothly everything went. They had managed to get some work done without any problems and even had a few short conversations that didn't end in cold silences or yelling. She recalled the evening with some degree of fondness, the corners of her lips quirking up as she realised that she actually had a good time with Riddle tonight.
Tom sat with perfect posture; his back ram rod straight and facing her as she found him in their regular spot in the library. Sitting down, Cho murmured a quiet greeting which he returned without looking up from his book.
"Anything interesting in there?" asked Cho, pulling out the things she would need from her satchel.
"Not really" replied Tom in clipped tones, closing the book with a snap "The information is really quite repetitive"
Cho giggled at his slightly vexed expression, to which he looked up sharply with narrowed eyes. She apologised, stifling her laughter "Sorry, I don't know what's gotten into me"
He looked disbelieving for a moment but returned to his perusal of the books and journals that lay in stacks across the desk. The two continued working over relative silence till their eyes blurred from their extensive reading over tiny script. Cho was about to call it a night when she realised that it was now a good opportunity to get to know Riddle better. She was still suspicious of him, and she could hardly forget about the other night but Cho naturally tried to find the good in people. After the incident that happened between them as well as her initial ill feelings towards him, where was the good in Riddle? It had to be in there somewhere though he seemed quite determined not to show it.
"So Riddle, are you doing anything over Christmas this year?" asked Cho, her eyes on his face that tensed infinitesimally. His hand paused over his piece of parchment, a drop of ink spattering over his work.
"I'll be staying at Hogwarts" he replied curtly, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation.
Undeterred, Cho continued her casual questioning "I didn't think too many students stayed over the holidays…"
"I don't have a home to return to" he ground out, his lips pressed into a thin line "Hogwarts is my home"
Sympathy coloured her tone as she realised that Tom was an orphan. She was reminded of Harry, who like Tom stayed at Hogwarts during the Christmas period because it was better than going back to the muggles they stayed with. The difference was that Harry had friends like the Weasley's to look after him where as Tom Riddle had no one but himself.
Seeing the expression on Cho's face, Tom sneered "I don't want your pity"
Cho blinked, surprised at the venom in his voice when she didn't mean to offend him "I do not pity you Riddle, I'm being sympathetic. I guess I'm an orphan too now"
His expression cleared back to his usual inexpressiveness though it showed a tiny spark of curiosity that he tried to hide "You guess you're an orphan?"
Cho nodded solemnly, fighting back the sadness that usually came with her parents memory "They were kidnapped not too long ago. The Aurors never found them"
"I'm sorry" said Tom, his voice softer than usual. Cho glanced up to look at him, observing his wide dark eyes upon his pale face. He was looking at her, a tinge of pain as well as anger behind the blue irises that made her believe he was being sincere. She wasn't sure what he was thinking but the gesture was appreciated all the same.
"Thanks" she replied hastily, realising that she had been staring at him for a moment too long. Switching the topic to a less depressing one, Cho continued her conversation while she still had him there.
"What do you want to do once you leave Hogwarts?" she asked, real curiosity in her voice now. Tom Riddle was undoubtedly a brilliant wizard, with top academic marks as well as the charisma and charm needed to excel at many occupations. She could imagine him being the Minister of Magic or perhaps a Professor in his chosen field.
Deliberating for a moment, Tom eventually replied "I haven't set my mind on anything yet. How about you?"
To be honest, Cho hadn't thought much about her future. She had assumed that by the end of the school year she would have found a way to get back to her time. Staying here had not seemed like an option, but what if it was? If she were to stay longer, she would need a job and income and a home. It would probably be a good idea to have a contingency plan if that happened.
"I haven't set my mind on anything either" replied Cho, a grim look on her face before it brightened at a sudden thought "I have always wanted to be a Healer though."
Tom nodded, his voice contemplative "I can imagine you being a healer"
Cho blushed at his words, quickly packing her things into her bag to cover her embarrassment. Tom either studiously ignored her odd behaviour or didn't notice it, packing his things away too. They both stood and left the library, a sort of comfortable silence descending between them though Cho could feel the burn from his eyes on the side of her face every now and then. Sooner than she expected, they had arrived at Ravenclaw tower and Cho turned to face Riddle, her words caught in her throat from a sudden bout of nervousness.
"Uhh… I'll see you in class later. Thanks for walking me up Riddle"
He gave her an indecipherable look "Just call me Tom"
Startled, Cho acquiesced to his request "Goodnight then Tom" she enunciated, the use of his first name oddly intimate sounding on her lips. A flash of something crossed his face, gone so quickly that Cho couldn't discern what it was. Giving her a nod of acknowledgement, Tom bade a quick goodnight before abruptly walking away from her, leaving Cho looking quite perplexed as she watched him leave.
Cho shook herself out of her thoughts, deciding that it was about time that she did some of her extracurricular homework– research on time travel. Between class, quidditch, homework and her abundance of errant thoughts, she hadn't had a lot of opportunity to conduct her research. Taking advantage of the fact that her dormitory was empty tonight and devoid of prying eyes, Cho enlarged the shrunk textbooks she had borrowed and pulled out the most promising one. Flipping to her bookmarked page, she tugged away the spare bit of violet ribbon and traced the paragraph that had caught her attention.
"While there is no definitive proof on the outcome of time travel (whether it be by time turners or other means), it can be generally separated into two theories. The first theory, proposed by Edmund Prawemit in 1745 states that "One cannot change the future as the time traveller is taken into account and would therefore not alter fate". Alternatively, Markos Shcindler (1801) proposes that one can change the future based on their actions and choices as well as many other variables discussed on pages 438….."
So were these the two options for her? And if so, how could she get away from this experience without changing the future? For all she knew, just her presence could have unsettled the time line already. Deciding that a long postponed visit to Dumbledore was in order, Cho fastened a cloak around her neck and darted out of her dormitory.
Tom walked silently along the darkened corridors, his illuminated wand held steadily in front of himself. The 4th floor was his last to patrol for the night and little of consequence had happened this evening to warrant a more thorough search. About to turn in the direction of his Head Boy dormitories, Tom paused in his steps as he heard muffled cries up in front. Quickening his pace, Tom rounded the corner, half expecting to see a foolish first year stuck in a suit of armour.
But it wasn't a silly first year, nor was there a suit of armour in sight. Instead, there was a frightened girl, her wand held shakily in front of her as she repeated something over and over. Even from the slight distance and darkness, Tom could see the tracks of tears running down her pale face while she gasped as if in pain. Moving closer, Tom saw an immobile figure laying on the floor that was quite obviously the cause of her distress. The boy seemed to about their age, with brown blond hair and a handsome face and empty looking grey eyes. His clothes were peculiar, a sweater of yellow and black – the Hufflepuff colours. But even more curious was the fact that he was streaked with dirt and blood, his clothing slightly torn and ragged in places. Tom was quite certain he had never seen this boy before, let alone when he was alive.
"R-Ridikulus!" said Cho, her hand shaking so badly that she almost dropped her wand. She tried a few more half-hearted attempts but it was clear she was giving into her fear. So suddenly that Tom almost gave up his hiding place, she crumpled to the floor beside the body, her shoulders shaking with the force of her grief.
"Cedric you promised me you'd always be there" whispered Cho, her voice tinged with sadness and longing as she continued to cry "You promised"
Tom watched from the shadows with calculating eyes, wondering who this Cedric was. A friend perhaps? Or more likely, a lover? And why did her boggart change into him? Stowing away these thoughts for later, Tom decided to intercede before she became even more distraught. He hated to admit it, but the sight of her being in such pain caused a strange feeling inside of him that was decidedly disagreeable though he often revelled in others discomfort. Stepping out from where he was half hidden, Tom faced the body with his wand raised but not before the boggart began to change shape.
The boy's body morphed and twisted, the shape stretching and pulling until it turned completely black. The blackness spiraled, circling around itself and leaving Tom confused. That was his worst fear? Or was it what it symbolised? Ignoring these thoughts for now, Tom pictured something trivial and clearly said "Ridikulus!" with a practiced flourish of his wand. Repelling the boggart, Tom forced the creature back into the cupboard that it had come from, locking the door with a resounding click.
Tom turned around, half expecting Cho to say something but she wasn't even looking at him. She was still staring at the spot where Cedric was, her eyes bloodshot and watery while her hands fisted so tightly that Tom was quite sure she was about to draw blood.
"Miss Chang, are you alright?" asked Tom coolly, refusing to be anything beyond detached and polite – it wasn't his place to comfort people after all. At her continued silence, Tom sunk to his knees and spoke more loudly, his voice full of authority "Miss Chang?"
Feeling slightly alarmed at her catatonic state, Tom reached out and gently touched his hand to her quivering shoulder "Cho?"
She recoiled violently from his touch, before seeming to realise who it was "T-Tom?" she stuttered, her eyes dark against her pale, rounded face "W-what are you doing here?"
"Prefect patrols" he said tersely, aware of how dangerously close he was to her "I took care of the boggart"
She ran her fingers through her tousled strands, her weary eyes meeting his "Thank you. I'm so sorry you had to see me like this" she apologised, her cheeks still wet. Her reddened gaze traveled to where Cedric's body had been moments before, surprising Tom by emitting a small hysterical giggle.
"You must think I'm completely crazy" she laughed, the corners of her lips lifting up in a feeble attempt of a smile. Tom found himself inexplicably enjoying her soft laughter, the foreign feeling spreading warmth throughout his body. As odd and rare the feeling was, Tom decided to enjoy it for the time being – a moment of weakness that he welcomed.
Rising to his feet effortlessly, Tom held out his hand to help Cho up who grasped his hand without any hesitation. He handed back her wand, fighting back the smirk that was threatening to appear.
"Then I suppose we're even. May I escort you back to your dormitory?"
Cho took his proffered arm and her smile widened, feeling a fraction of her worries ebbing away as he returned with a small smile of his own. He looked so much more handsome when he smiled, the genuine happiness beneath his usual impassive expression giving a subtle light to his eyes that made them a lighter blue. Turning away her gaze to hide the faint flush to her cheeks, she allowed herself to be escorted back to her dormitory.