OR DIE TRYING: THE STORY OF CHO CHANG

By monkeymouse

NB: JKRowling built the Potterverse; I'm just redecorating one of the rooms.

Rated: PG-13

Spoilers: Everything

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7. Well-Played Quidditch

As happened at Hogwarts every year, the first week, full of new and exciting changes for the First-Years as well as the returning students, gradually gave way to the usual school routine. Cho and her Housemates soon found themselves making the circuit from dormitory to Great Hall to classroom to library as if they'd already been at Hogwarts for years.

They found out that Professor Flitwick was almost too nice for his own good. Even if the student wasn't from Ravenclaw, he seldom issued any kind of punishment for even the worst infractions; such as the time Giulio Grimaldi was supposed to Charm a turtle into speaking. It spoke-such a lengthy and colorful string of filthy language that Flitwick nearly fainted.

After their first day, all the Ravenclaw First-Years were wary of Snape and Potions. Cho came to realize that the way around Snape (most of the time) was to do precisely as he asked-no more, no less. There were days when he looked at her as she entered the classroom as if to say, "Right, girl; you are my target for today." Still, she thought she'd had the worst of him that first day, and was no longer bothered by Snape even when he did pick on her.

They found out for themselves how unbelievably boring a lecture in Professor Binns' History of Magic class could be. They found out that Professor Quirrell, who told such awful tales about his researches into the Dark Arts, and his experiences during his sabbatical year, was actually holding back on some of the "really horrid" stories until they were older. They found out that Astronomy Professor Sinistra had also been a Ravenclaw and, like many of them, had a wry sense of humour.

Ravenclaw House was the home of those who were dedicated to wit and learning, and their wit manifested itself at times in jokes and humour. Not the practical joking practiced by Fred and George Weasley of Gryffindor- two Third-Year twins who were as notorious around Hogwarts as Peeves the poltergeist-but the kind of humour that took a bit of time and effort both to create and to enjoy. Diana Fairweather, for instance, was a half-and- half, having a wizard father and a Muggle mother. She called her owl "Pillarbox", knowing that anyone who knew about Muggles would get the joke. Vincent Krixlow, on the other hand, called his owl "Spaghetti", but would never explain why.

Nearly every night the Common Room would see a debate, or an informal reading, or someone telling an elaborate story or demonstrating some particular bit of magic. People listened, or took part, or went to their dormitories or the library, depending on their homework. Those who were Sorted into Ravenclaw House didn't do these things because they felt that they had to uphold some tradition or other. They genuinely enjoyed the give-and-take; even if, like Raisa al-Qaba, they were too shy at first to do more than just listen.

Cho would listen or not, take part or not, depending on her schedule. She was very conscientious about her homework, knowing that her parents were putting a great deal of weight on her. They had immigrated to London, where Cho was born, and she was the first Chang at Hogwarts. When they saw her off at King's Cross that first day, her mother reminded Cho of her priorities:

"You need to remember at all times: you are a witch second, and a Chang first. You must do nothing that would disgrace your parents, or their parents, or the generations of ancestors that caused you to be born."

Cho understood about ancestral obligations and tried to live up to the demands her mother had put on her. She made sure that her homework was done early and accurately. Only then would she allow herself to see if anything interesting was happening in the Common Room.

There was one topic, though, that always stopped Cho in her tracks regardless of her homework: Quidditch. If any of the team members were discussing anything related to the sport, she would stand to the side, mentally taking notes. She wanted to learn all she could about the sport, and about the House team she hoped to join next year.

She learned that the rude Third-Year, Roger Davies, who was on the ladder the first day, was Co-Captain along with the Sixth-Year Seeker, Macarthur Culligan. Their families were neighbors in the little wizarding village near Abergavenny where they lived. They acted like brothers, even when they argued-and Quidditch was one topic that they seemed to argue about almost continuously.

"Mackie," Davies could be heard arguing one Friday night in early November, sitting in the bay window, "there's nothing wrong with the Dopplebeater Defence!" They were talking about a wicked offensive move in which both Beaters hit the same Bludger at the same time. The Bludger would hit its target quicker and more powerfully-if it hit the target at all.

"Not officially, no," Culligan's voice came back-a surprisingly soft and musical voice. While Roger worked to lose his Welsh accent, Culligan did not. He was in a stuffed chair by the hearth, his legs stretched out. "The Department hasn't outlawed it. It just makes no sense to use it."

"Come off it. Don't tell me you haven't gone up against someone who needed that."

"What, here? This is Hogwarts, boyo. Admit it or not, we're all children here, one way or another, and you're talking about a move that'd stun a mountain troll. Professionals can use that move, but it makes no sense in a place like this."

Cho couldn't help it; just as it had happened in Snape's class a few weeks before, she jumped into the middle of the conversation. "And what's happening on the rest of the pitch? You've tied up both Beaters hitting the one Bludger, and you've left the others to shift for themselves."

She couldn't help it. She felt proud of herself and her argument; she had gone over that very move with Madam Hooch just the week before, just because so many teams have used it against Seekers closing in on the Snitch. And she knew that she'd have to deal with both Davies and Culligan next year to get on the team, so it wouldn't hurt to let them know in advance that she had a comprehensive knowledge of the game, and didn't just want to be a Seeker for the glory.

But Davies didn't even look at Cho. He simply turned to Culligan, with a self-satisfied smirk. Culligan turned to Cho with a face as still as a pond. "On the other hand," he said to Cho quietly, "it's a perfectly legal move."

This was a disaster: the first day of Potions all over again. She turned toward the dormitory stairs, but she didn't run, and she didn't barricade herself in again. She knew that the next day was Saturday, which meant a lesson from Madam Hooch right after breakfast; and, later, watching her first Hogwarts Quidditch match.

Had she stayed and listened to what else was said around the hearth, it might have challenged her resolve.

"That's her then, is it?" Culligan asked in a voice that only seemed offhand. "Chong, you said, or Ching."

"Chang; Cho Chang." Davies got up from his bay window seat. "Asked about being Seeker the very first day."

"She's the build for it."

"You're not serious!"

"Just thinking ahead. Any hope for Dimsdale this year, then?"

"As a Chaser, perhaps. But we can leave him as a Reserve Seeker; there'll never be a need to play him."

"Never, is it? Boyo, I've seen your Divination marks, and you've no more business telling the future than my granny's cat."

"But you're wanting to break the tradition."

"No I'm not. But I'm thinking it may have to be broken, just the same."

"What tradition is that, then?" asked Letitia Groondy.

Before anyone else could speak, Grimaldi chimed in: "That you can't play Quidditch for Ravenclaw unless you've got a broomstick between your legs."

Letitia blushed crimson. Some of the students in the Common Room laughed- some, but not all.

Upstairs, Cho was brushing her hair and chatting with Jan when Quan Yin showed up with a scroll from her parents. When she had first written them about taking lessons from Madam Hooch, the subject was never even mentioned. None of the letters from her parents mentioned Quidditch at all. She opened this scroll expecting little change:

"Your father and I have been making inquiries into this Hooch. She is held to be a valued member of the Hogwarts faculty. She briefly played professional Quidditch, as you probably know by now, before being asked to teach broom-riding at Hogwarts.

"I understand that we are in England, and that we must 'do as the Romans do'. I only wish that you could have the experience of riding clouds, like a proper Chinese wizard, instead of straddling a broom in a highly vulgar manner. But, for the time being, you may continue taking private lessons with Hooch. We will take it as a sign that she recognizes your expertise and above-average talent, which is only proper."

Cho set the scroll down on her bed. Jan walked over from her own bed, picked it up and read through it. "Mighty nice of 'em ter let yeh study wi' Hooch, since ye've been doin' it fer two months ennyway." Then she noticed that Cho was simply sitting there, not speaking or moving, facing away. "Cho?"

Cho turned back toward Jan. Tears were running down her face, yet she was smiling. "Sorry," she said, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her nightgown. "They don't say it too often, and it's always a bit of a shock when they do."

"When they do what?"

"Tell me how talented they think I am."

Jan glanced back over the scroll, to be sure they had read the same letter. "Well, ye'd better start getting used ter hearin' it, since ye're gonna be on nex' year's squad. We'll all expect yeh ter win the Cup fer the nex' six years!"

They both laughed at that, but, as Cho went to sleep that night, it was to dreams of exactly that: catching the Golden Snitch, winning the House Quidditch Cup, with her parents in the stands leading the applause.

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to be continued in part 8, wherein Cho watches her first match at Hogwarts, and is less than thrilled by what she sees.