Previously... Henry warns Cho about Tom, Tom begins to embrace his (relatively good) feelings about Cho and Ravenclaw wins the game.
Chapter 16- The Christmas Ball
Christmas was fast approaching and along with it, the highly anticipated Christmas Ball. Hogwarts castle had been decorated most lavishly, with huge Christmas trees that lurked in every corner of the Great Hall was well as various ornaments that glittered and changed colour. The enchanted ceiling added to the festivities, the snow falling in delicate swirls so it reflected a sort of winter wonderland. Christmas had always been Cho's favourite holiday but this time it seemed empty without her family and her mother's cooking. Every year the Chang family would invite their friends over and the children would play games while the adults would drink whisky and mead in the drawing room. Cho missed chasing around the little children around their large home, their shrieks and giggles echoing down the hall.
For the first time, Cho would have to stay at Hogwarts through the Christmas holidays. While Hogwarts was almost home to her, it would feel much emptier without the friends she had grown to love by her side. Henry was going to Greece with his brother and Arlene, who offered to stay with Cho, was forced to go home for the holidays by her slightly overbearing parents. Even Sarah and Lucinda had plans for the holidays, leaving Cho all alone in her dormitory and possibly even the Ravenclaw common room.
But determined to make good of her situation, Cho decided there was an element of a silver lining to her situation. She had work to catch up on after the extensive hours spent at quidditch practice and she was also behind on her extra-curricular reading. She was so preoccupied by things lately that she had forgotten about her time travelling situation altogether. She was beginning to like it here but knew it was futile to hope that time would allow her to stay. Time was a tricky thing to say the least, volatile and unpredictable at best and Cho should really get back to her own time anyway before anything too disastrous happened.
Cho thought of the amount of paperwork that would be on her tiny overcrowded desk at the Ministry as well as the empty home that would be waiting for her. While it seemed dreary and depressing, it was where she belonged and she should really remember that before getting too attached to her time in the past.
Frowning, Cho continued to towel dry her hair before giving up and using her wand to produce a steady jet of air instead. She was almost finished with her hair when Arlene swept into the dormitory with a large parcel in her arms.
"Your dress milady" she announced grandly, setting the parcel carefully upon Cho's neatly made bed. "If you need me, I shall be getting ready in the bathroom"
Before Cho could thank her, Arlene had already disappeared, the sound of water splashing faintly being heard through the walls. Feeling curiosity and a sense of excitement spread through her, Cho cautiously tore off the crinkly brown paper off the large cardboard box. Opening the lid, Cho beamed at the dress that lay neatly folded within the box.
It was perfect.
Tom sat quietly in the corner of the Great Hall, a dark shadow upon the bright white surroundings and decorations for the ball. He was dressed in dark green robes and shiny black dress shoes, the essence of debonair according to the numerous giggling girls that kept casting flirtatious glances over his way. Tom gave them polite smiles, turning each and every one of them away when they asked him to dance. He had no interest in coming to the ball other than to keep up appearances as Head Boy. In fact, he hadn't even bothered to bring a date knowing that he wouldn't want to keep up with inane and useless chatter for the whole evening.
He idly swirled his glass of butterbeer, watching the caramel coloured contents for a moment before his eyes flickered towards the masses that looked like they were enjoying their evening. The students had dressed for the occasion tonight, a moving crowd of both subdued and brightly coloured robes. Some were helping themselves to the food tables, eating mini versions of sandwiches and pies where as some were on the dance floor, gracelessly moving to the orchestrated music.
But then Tom spied a couple moving among the others, a couple which moved with such grace and poise that it looked almost effortless. They swayed, spun and stepped in time with the music, their feet gliding across the polished floor with practiced ease. The young man was tall and solid looking, his brown hair flopping into his roguishly handsome face. One of his large hands encased a much paler smaller one, the other one poised on the girl's slim waist. The girl in question was undoubtedly Cho Chang, her trademark silky black strands pinned up tonight with hair combs and her body clad in an elegant royal blue gown made of some sort of flowing material that moved like water as she danced. Tom continued to watch the couple, bitterness colouring his mood as he saw how she laughed when that Pollux boy dipped her before pulling her back into his arms.
"Brooding in the corner again Riddle?"
Tom averted his eyes from the happy couple he was studying to face a red headed girl whose expression looked far too smug for the occasion. Though uninvited, she sank down into the chair next to him, scooping a flute of fruit punch from a waiter who just passed.
"Miss Stevens, are you not enjoying the festivities?" asked Tom, more out of obligation than genuine interest. He sipped his butterbeer again, setting down the half empty cup on the table next to him.
Arlene regarded him with a contemplative stare before proceeding "I'm enjoying the festivities plenty fine" she voiced "Although I could hardly say the same for you. Staring daggers at the poor boy won't help you get the girl Riddle. Unrequited love can be quite the pain can't it?"
Tom hid his reaction underneath an expression of calm neutrality "I have no idea what you are talking about"
She smirked, taking her time to down the rest of her drink before looking out towards the dance floor "You know Riddle, I always thought you were a strange one. So controlled and calm all the time you know? I even had the suspicion you didn't have the capability of being happy. But then Miss Cho Chang came along and you proved me wrong" she paused for a moment, giving a rather stunned Tom a sideways glance "I saw you smile for the first time in forever and you began to be a little less creepy than usual – you were almost human"
Tom let the insult of him being creepy pass, tilting his head towards Arlene though his eyes were still glued to the elegant couple before him "So what is it you are trying to say exactly?"
Arlene smiled widely, shrugging her shoulders before setting down her glass "I'm not trying to say anything, I am saying it"
Tom frowned at her cryptic words, "Other than insulting me, was there another purpose in this conversation?"
Arlene suddenly stood back up, her emerald dress skimming across the floor "She's good for you Riddle, but you, for some inexplicable reason that she would never tell me, are good for her too. I just hope you tell her before its too late"
"Wha-" began Tom, finally turning to face the strange girl. Just what did she mean he was good for her? He was poison to all those who associated with him, a blight on their existence – his own mother hadn't even bothered to stay around for him to come into the world! Tom didn't want to taint Cho too. He wanted her to be left just the way she is – compassionate, kind, forgiving and everything good that he wasn't.
But Arlene Stevens was already gone, her bright red hair bobbing in the sea of students.
Cho's feet were killing her but she couldn't bring herself to stop. She never thought she would have this much fun at the ball but then again, she didn't know that Henry could dance either. He had been the perfect gentlemen all evening, even giving her a corsage of a beautiful white rose in full bloom that she hadn't expected. He complimented her and kept her company the entire evening, his presence a silent warning to other boys who looked upon the elusive 'new' student with interest.
She had even spotted Arlene, dancing with a tall blonde haired boy who looked like he had two left feet. He seemed quite taken with her though, an over eager smile spilling onto his face whenever Arlene smiled at him. Cho also noticed Henry deliberately steering them away from the couple, the slight rigidness of his posture betraying the feelings he tried to hide all evening. She wished she knew why Arlene didn't like Henry – he was close to perfection in Cho's opinion, and if he weren't such a brother figure to Cho she was sure she'd fall for him too. But Arlene never spoke about these things to Cho and she in turn respected her own privacy. She shouldn't meddle in things that weren't her business and she would hate for things to be strained between the two of them.
"Tired?" asked Henry, mistaking the faraway look in her eyes for fatigue "Maybe I should get you a drink?"
Cho shifted her feet, feeling the ache in the balls of her feet "Ye-"
"Excuse me" interrupted a smooth voice "May I have the next dance?"
Both Cho and Henry swivelled around to see Tom Riddle standing there, looking possibly even more intimidating in his dress robes that stood in stark contrast to his alabaster skin. His eyes were dark, darker than Cho had ever seen them and it was clear that his request was not really a question as much as a demand. He looked tense, giving Henry a cold look "That is, if it's fine with you"
Cho gave Henry a minute nod though he looked like he wanted to stay. Leaning in close, Henry placed a quick chaste kiss on her cheek, his warm breath tickling her ear.
"I'll just be over there" he whispered and Cho couldn't help but laugh as his withdrew.
"Stalker" she quipped, watching Henry's hazel eyes sparkle.
"You know it!" he agreed, giving Tom one more appraising look before leaving. When he was completely out of view, Tom stepped in front of her, closing his cool hands around her just as the music began. While he wasn't nearly as good as Henry, he was still better than most of the students there tonight. He followed through the steps with accuracy that seemed a little too forced and robotic, his posture rigid as his eyes brushed the top of her head.
"The company you keep is most interesting" he remarked, his hands tightening on her as he spoke, his long fingers leaving an imprint on her skin.
Cho frowned, looking at the area of pale skin just above his starched white collar "What do you mean by that?"
Tom's voice lowered, the sound smooth and persuasive like a lullaby "Miss Stevens and Mr Pollux. They're very protective of you aren't they?"
Hearing the suspicion in his voice made Cho's heart drop. She thought they were over this – the cryptic conversations, the bitterness and the evasiveness. She thought that perhaps Tom had actually begun to accept her as a friend like she had. Sighing, Cho lifted her gaze to look into Tom's impassive expression.
"What's really bothering you Tom?" she asked softly, keeping her voice just above a whisper. The students around them were looking at the odd couple, not bothering to hide their curiosity and attempts to eavesdrop.
"Nothing"
Cho smiled faintly, giving his hand a light squeeze "Then just stop talking and dance with me"
Surprisingly, Tom did as he was told without further interruption, relaxing as Cho began to melt into him. It was different to dancing with Henry, who was spontaneous and fun in his actions. Tom was silent, a stoic presence that filled her with warmth though his elegant hands were unnaturally cold. He didn't feel the need to speak as they swayed together, the only indication of his thoughts being his firm hold upon her and the way he subtly pulled her closer than what the dance and propriety required.
They were dancing for a while and Tom shifted on his feet, his voice uncharacteristically unsure and nervous "Cho, I-"
But he was cut off because at that moment, the tall stained glass of the windows of the Great Hall shattered, the music ceasing just as the screaming began.