Previously on 'The Redemption'... Cho begins to fade from the 1940's and she and Tom have their first proper interaction in weeks.
Chapter 32 – Orion
What was that?
Tom watched Cho carefully from the periphery of his vision for the rest of the lesson, watching for any signs that she was going to succumb to whatever illness that had overtaken her in the storeroom.
He had went to fetch an extra porcupine quill after some idiot from his own house accidentally broke one of his when it rolled onto the floor. Upon realising that she was in the storeroom, Tom was just about to walk right out before before realising that something very wrong.
Her hands were clenched tightly into fists and she appeared to be having trouble breathing as her eyes rolled to the back of her head. She was about to faint and crumple to the floor when Tom darted forwards and grabbed her shoulders.
Up close, she looked so fragile and small, and Tom breathed a sigh of relief when she gained consciousness enough to say his name. For a moment, he looked into her eyes, seeing confusion but not anger or judgement. For a moment, he could almost pretend that they were back to what they were like before the incident at Christmas.
He shook himself out of his own deluded fantasies and when he was certain she could stand on her own, he left her by herself in the storeroom.
He looked to the side, pretending to check the time. She looked better but Tom couldn't deny that he did feel concern for her. How long had this been going on for? Had she gone to the Hospital Wing for a diagnosis?
"Pass me the vial will you Abraxas?"
Abraxas passed an empty vial to Orion who thanked him before funnelling a small amount of a sunshine yellow concoction into the glass. Putting a stopper on it, he placed it carefully on his work bench.
Tom silently appraised Orion as he placed the last finishing touches on his own potion. Black had always been intelligent, perhaps too intelligent for his own good. Like the whole line of the great and noble house of Black, Orion was good-looking, charming and smacked of arrogance born from his titles. However, out of all his followers, Tom found Black's company the most tolerable. He carried out his deeds flawlessly, never endangered the cause and most importantly, was incredibly influential amongst the wizarding community in a way that Tom was not yet. Perhaps it was because of his slight soft spot for Orion that he did not punish him in the way he would any other follower. He was already incredibly lenient when Orion questioned him about Cho. He also showed restraint in not demanding to know what game Orion was playing at when he helped Cho pick up her items at the beginning of class.
Tom gave his potion a final anti-clockwise stir, watching as the viscous solution turned the perfect shade of yellow as predicted. Slughorn murmured appreciatively as he passed, awarding 10 points each to Tom, Orion and Abraxas and extending them an invitation to his next dinner party.
Tom packed up his things, ignoring the conversation about the next Quidditch match that had spawned between Abraxas and Orion. Tom did not miss the way that Orion's eyes slid towards Cho as she quickly packed her belongings and rushed out of the classroom, nor the way the conversation lulled to a one-sided soliloquy on Malfoy's behalf at that moment.
Just what was Black up to?
"You alright there Cho?" shouted a voice from below her, fighting against the howls of the wind.
Cho looked down, spotting the head of familiar brown hair and gently tilting her broomstick forward till her feet touched the damp grass. The school broomsticks weren't bad but in comparison to the one currently stowed beneath her bed in the dormitory, it felt a lot like a toy broom. It would have to do though – she couldn't bear to use hers or throw it away and yet she had a feeling that Tom would not appreciate it if it were to mysteriously turn up in his room.
Her mood immediately soured at the thought of Tom Riddle. Didn't she come out here to clear her mind?
"I'm fine," said Cho, walking towards Henry who was clad in muggle attire of a light jumper, trousers and a hat. "Where are you off to?"
He looked at her strangely. "It's Hogsmeade weekend. Arlene and I are just about to leave – are you coming?"
Truthfully, Cho had not remembered but she didn't feel like going anyway. "No thanks, I'll see you both later in the evening then."
Henry frowned. "I think going out to Hogsmeade might do you some good Cho. You've been acting oddly recently…"
It was Cho's turn to frown. Henry was right of course, she was acting very strangely. Her bouts of becoming physically intangible were a constant worry to her. Like Dumbledore had suggested, she kept a diary of when and where it happened but she had yet to work out a definable pattern of what caused it. On some days like Mondays and Tuesdays, nothing happened at all, on others, it was so bad that one time she had sworn she had seen the tiny cubicle that she worked in at the Ministry of Magic before being pulled back to her surroundings. As a result of these episodes that for some reason favoured the latter half of the week, Cho shied away from company outside of class, including that from her closest friends.
"-we hardly see you anymore. You've stopped coming to meals at the Great Hall and you either go to the library or bed after classes-"
"I know," interrupted Cho softly "I-I just have been having personal problems that I need to work through on my own."
Henry's hazel eyes softened though his tone was flat. "Is this about Riddle?"
Cho's first instinct was to deny it but what other excuse could she possibly give him? Wasn't it better to let Henry think she was completely heartbroken as opposed to awfully conflicted and struggling with the consequences of time travel?
"Something like that," admitted Cho eventually, "And I really am sorry that I've been so distant lately Henry."
Henry gave her a wan smile before pulling her into a one armed hug. "You can make it up to me by coming with us to Hogsmeade Chang."
Cho nodded into his woolly jumper before the pair made their way towards the threstral drawn carriages where Arlene was patiently waiting for them.
The snow was all but melted in Hogsmeade, making walking along the sidewalks difficult and slippery. Arlene and Cho clutched to one another, carefully avoiding puddles of murky water while Henry walked beside them with ease.
"You girls should really consider more sensible footwear in the future," commented Henry, sloshing through the water with his boots.
Arlene and Cho ignored him, concentrating on where to walk as Henry led them towards the Three Broomsticks. Arlene and Henry went to get drinks, telling Cho to find them seats in the crowded interior. She spotted a tiny table backed towards a corner and made her way towards it, feeling increasingly uneasy when she saw who sat at the table beside it.
"Hello Miss Chang. I don't believe we've formally met?"
His smooth voice carried through the din of the bar, his black eyes glittering as they almost dared her to turn away. She bit down her apprehension and moved towards the table next to them, carefully avoiding Abraxas Malfoy who had not said a word but was glaring daggers at her. Another boy, Flint perhaps, sat quietly next to them while watching with undisguised interest. Cho had no doubts that were Tom to be amongst them, they would not be speaking to her right now.
"Hello Mr. Black," replied Cho with all the pleasantness she could currently afford "No, I don't believe we have."
Orion's lip curled, and he looked like he was going to say something else just as Arlene and Henry came back with butterbeers in hand. They seemed to survey the situation, Arlene asking Cho silently if she was alright with a quirk of her brow.
Cho nodded, before turning to Orion. "Do you mind if I speak to you outside for a moment?"
Orion smiled charmingly while Arlene and Henry looked mildly perplexed.
"Of course. Shall we head out here?"
Cho flashed Arlene and Henry a quick smile as she followed Orion to the alleyway just outside of the bar. No students lurked in this area for which Cho was thankful – she didn't think she would be able to deal with any more gossip.
"You wanted to talk?" prodded Orion, crossing his arms and leaning against a stone wall with casual ease.
Cho took a step back from him and swallowed hard. Orion Black was not nearly as intimidating as Tom, but like Riddle she couldn't exactly pin what he was thinking which inherently made him unpredictable and possibly dangerous. His tall stature and borderline mocking stare also did nothing to soothe her nerves.
"Orion, If I may call you that," started Cho hesitantly "Whatever you are trying to do, you have to stop."
He looked vaguely amused. "What do you think I'm doing exactly?"
She gestured wildly between them. "This! You know what Riddle is capable of. If you don't want to be the next one to end up in St Mungo's, I suggest you stop associating with me."
Orion laughed, the sound rich and deep but tinged with sardonic humour. "It's touching how much you care about me Chang, considering we are strangers."
She almost growled in frustration. "I'm not joking with you Black. You're playing with something dangerous beyond your comprehension and it's going to have consequences."
He raised a dark brow, advancing towards her. "Are we still talking about the same thing?"
His eyes bored into hers and he could see that she knew more than she let on. Realising that she was holding her breath, he backed away, resuming his nonchalant pose against the wall.
"If we are talking about something else," started Orion, knowing that Cho knew what he meant "Why are you warning me?"
Cho twisted her fingers, not sure how to convince him but feeling like she had to. Maybe it was because Sirius Black had been Harry's godfather which meant Orion was Sirius's father. Perhaps it was because Cho felt like Orion was one of the very few in Riddle's inner circle who was sane enough to ever be persuaded to see the truth.
"I know you have no reason to believe me," started Cho slowly, mulling over her words "But the future for you and your family is not a happy one if you were to pursue this path."
He regarded her, seeing no deceit in her words but finding that she gave him very little foundation for trust. Even if he wanted, backing out of a deal with Riddle would be disastrous. He would not take a slight lightly and Orion had no doubt that his family would also take the brunt of punishment.
"Why should I trust you?" asked Orion, voicing his thoughts "Can you prove your claims?"
Cho shook her head, "I can't tell you but please believe me. I don't expect you to act upon my words immediately but just think about what your choices will do to your future children."
He frowned at her words, realising how bizarre he sounded just after the words spilled from his mouth "Can you see the future?"
Cho laughed at the incredulity in his tone, "Something like that."
He looked curiously at her, before abruptly asking: "Can you tell me something about them?"
Cho scrambled for something that she knew about the Blacks which was not much other than from little bits and pieces she heard from Harry and the others. But didn't she read something in the school records once? Something about Sirius having a brother?
"I can't tell you too much but you will have two sons," she chanced, hoping that she was right.
He considered her thoughtfully, not noticing the hint of doubt in her voice. "Interesting."
Cho knew that there wasn't anything else she could say to persuade him for the moment but she hoped that he would think about their conversation.
"We should probably get back before our friend's become suspicious," said Cho, nodding her head towards the back entrance of the bar "But in the meantime, don't try to get into trouble with Riddle."
He smiled, a hint of mischief in his expression "Although you're perhaps not the most cheerful person, I can see why he likes you."
Before Cho could reply with a vehement denial, he added "But if I do need to talk to you, will anonymous owl post be acceptable?"
Cho wasn't sure how she felt about having secret messages with Orion Black out of all people but she agreed, deciding that the lack of upfront rejection to her pleas was a good sign. The two then silently returned to their tables, earning odd looks from their friends.
"What was that about?" sneered Malfoy, shooting a hate-filled look towards Cho who huddled with her friends.
"She wanted to be tutored in potions after her horrendous attempt at creating the Elixir of Induced Euphoria. Can you believe that one in Advanced Potions can be so inept?" said Orion airily, watching as Malfoy and Flint laughed nastily.
"And what did you say Black?" asked Flint, his eyes filled with mirth.
Orion smirked, casting a sidelong glance at the dark haired girl in question "I said no of course."
A/N: Phew! Almost didn't post this week because it's been insanely busy. But then I remembered what happened last time when I thought of skipping a week - It ended up being a 6 month hiatus!
Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter and does anyone actually trust Orion at this point? :P
Thanks Genevieve15 and orangefingers (i'm curious about your username... are the "orange fingers" from twisties/cheetos or fake tan? Haha, I'm kidding...) for reviewing! :)
Love,
DecoyDream