Thank-you HermioneGreen, I can't believe I made such a careless mistake in
my writing (blush) Well, other than the location that Cho arrives at, this
chapter hasn't changed..Please keep reading and reviewing.
Chapter One: A Not of Ordinary Life
Cho rose from her sleep as usual, smacking her dry lips together as she protested against the rising sun. The memories from the night before had faded into a dream. She was just an ordinary seventeen-year-old girl, worried about everything that isn't important. The small necklace dangling around her neck was hanging backwards and she arranged it to a more comfortable position. Sometimes when she touched it her mind would wander, but when she tried to remember where her mind had taken her she couldn't.
This was the day she had been looking forward to; she was going to Diagon Alley to get her school supplies for her last year at school. The reason she was so excited was she was going all by herself. She wasn't going to be lonely, she was very popular and she expected to meet up with several of her school chums while she shopped.
As she gazed at her expression and tried to detangle her mess of jet black hair the necklace caught her eye. She squinted her eyes as she concentrated on the reflection of the tiny silver bird, willing herself to remember her dream. "Cho, are you awake?" her mother said loudly as she knocked on her door. Cho jumped suddenly, "yes mum." She continued brushing her hair, purposely avoiding her reflection.
Cho smiled at her perfect room. She was a Ravenclaw, and they were precise and detail oriented people. She selected her perfectly pressed outfit and robe from her closet. When she was convinced she looked right, she headed out her bedroom door. After all she had a reputation to keep.
She gave the fireplace a despairing look as she passed it by, she hated traveling by floo powder, but it would be Christmas before she would be eighteen and able to take her apparation test. "Cho, make sure you eat a good breakfast, I don't want you getting weak while your out today," her mother said sternly. Cho rolled her eyes as she spread a bit of honey on her toast. Her mother was always trying to force her to eat, perhaps the Asian in her father had finally rubbed off on her mother. As everyone knows, Asian women are notorious for over feeding people against their will.
Cho Chang was Chinese on her father's side. Her mother was originally from Spain, but moved to England when she was just a baby. Cho often thought of her mixed up background, she was proud of her heritage. Her background separated her from her peers, and she often said her Chinese beauty mixed with her Spanish mysterious was what kept the boys interested.
The Chang house was spectacular, more like a museum than a living establishment. Her father was a collector of fine art from the Far East. The finest porcelains and rugs were showcased in every room. They weren't rich, but they were far beyond comfortable. While she wasn't a pureblood wizard of English decent, but she could trace her magical linage back to the early Chinese dynasties on her father's side.
She took a few bites of her toast, and tried to sneak out of the watchful eyes of her mother. "What time should I expect you to return?" Cho let out a frustrated sigh, "in a few hours, maybe longer." "I'll have Alford fix your something for lunch," she responded back. Alford was the Chang house elf, her father had won him in a card game in his youth. Their actually family house elf, from her mother's side, had died when Cho was only a baby, and it was very unusual for a house elf to die.
Cho grabbed a hand full of a greenish powder from a silver jar on top of the mantel; she stepped into the fireplace and clearly spoke the words, "DIAGON ALLEY." As she stepped out of the fireplace at the Leaky Caldron, she felt a smile creep across her face. She had been so cooped up all summer, forced to read books on ancient Chinese culture and take those dreadful Chinese language lessons. She was grateful to finally be around what she considered normal witches and wizards. She walked to the secret wall in the back of the bar, and tapped the bricks in their secret pattern.
"Hey Chang," wave one of her school friends and her twin sister. Padma Patril was a year younger than Cho, but that didn't matter. Cho had grown fond of her over the past few years. "How was your summer?" Cho asked politely. Padma's sister, Pavarti, let out a annoying snicker. "Good, and yours?" Padma said jabbing her elbow into her sister's side. "What's so funny?" Cho said suddenly offened for not understand the reason for Pavarti's snicker. "I heard you were going out with Michael Corner," Pavarti explained. "I am," Cho said quickly. Pavarti tried to wipe the smile off her face, "it's just he dated a Weasley."
Cho rolled her eyes, it amazed her sometimes how petty girls could be. "Anyways, I thought you had a thing with Potter," Pavarti continued. "Well, I might have, if hadn't been such a prat," Cho said coolly. Pavarti smiled, Harry had ignored her when he had taken her to the Yule Ball, and she understood what Cho was talking about.
"Well, we better get going. I'll see you on the train," Padma said sweetly. Cho waved as the twins walked off. She pulled a small parchment from her robes and tried to decide where she was going to go first. She lifted the cuff of her robes, surely her parents would understand her needed a new set of robes for her final year. She strolled happily down the street, trying to decide whether or not to purchase a new robe set, when a new business caught her eye.
It was the joke shop owned and operated by Fred and George Weasley. She wasn't sure what persuaded her to go in, but she did. It looked just as she pictured it, and she beamed as she saw an oddly dressed red head standing behind the counter.
"Why, Miss Chang, can I interest you in the latest tongue torchers? New and improved," greeted Fred Weasley. "Nice suit," Cho replied back. "This is the finest dragon skin money can buy," he bragged. He held out a handful on pranked candies, trying his best to tempt her into a sale. "No thanks, I just wanted to have a look around," Cho said holding her hand up. "Well, let me know if I can be of any assistance," Fred gave a gracious bow and dashed off to greet another customer.
She let her eyes fondle the many gags and pranks that littered the store walls. Had she been more of a practical joker, this would be a dream come true. She was just about to pick up a portable swamp kit when a cold sensation hit her chest. She felt the chill penetrate clear down to her bones, and when she finally regained her composer she understood why.
Draco Malfoy had entered and was rudely snickering about how pathetic this joke shop was. She tried to hide herself behind a shelf, she always felt cold when Malfoy was around. "Chang?" he bellowed as he spotted her. She forced a smile, and they tried to ignore him as best she could. "What the hell are you doing in a place like this?" he continued. She didn't answer. "I thought better of you, being from such a prestigious family," Malfoy jabbed his partner in crime Goyle in the side and both boys began to laugh. "Why don't you leave her alone," Fred chimed in from behind the counter. "Weasley," Malfoy dared. "Unless you gentleman plan on buying something, leave. No, on second thought, I wouldn't sell you anything in this shop, so pick up your slimy Slytherin asses and vacate the premises." Malfoy probably would have pushed the situation further, but he was out of his territory, so he just gave Fred a evil snare and headed towards the door. Cho felt a icky sensation travel though her body as Malfoy shot her a flirtatious wink as the door closed behind him.
She decided not to leave the joke shop until enough time had passed for Malfoy to move on. She dreaded being near him; and as she stepped outside again the cold in her chest had finally melted away.
The day passed quickly as she purchased her school books, a few new school robes and a broom kit. She was quite satisfied with the way her day had gone, then it happened. That burning sensation filtered which started in her chest spread up her neck and into her face. Her eyes found the one person in the crowd she was hoping not to see. Harry Potter was with is typical gang, two red heads and one girl with bushy brown hair. Her eyes quickly scanned the street searching for a quick getaway. She felt a surge of anger as she heard Harry's voice playing in the back of her mind, "don't cry." How dare he, what did he know about losing someone he loved. He was so heartless.
"Damn it," she swore, she had paused to long and there was no use in trying to escape. Hermione Granger gave her a pleasant smile as she passed the group of friends. She narrowed her eyes as she saw Ron Weasley with a teasing grin spread across his face. He was obviously going to make a joke about her after she passed. Cho felt her face go deep crimson as she locked eyes with Harry, why did he have that affect on her. She knew it would be hours before she'd be able to shake those green eyes from her thoughts.
She was grateful that the encounter had been brief. She patted her stomach as it gave an angry grumble. It was time to head home, the lunch Alford had probably already prepared seemed very enticing at that moment.
Chapter One: A Not of Ordinary Life
Cho rose from her sleep as usual, smacking her dry lips together as she protested against the rising sun. The memories from the night before had faded into a dream. She was just an ordinary seventeen-year-old girl, worried about everything that isn't important. The small necklace dangling around her neck was hanging backwards and she arranged it to a more comfortable position. Sometimes when she touched it her mind would wander, but when she tried to remember where her mind had taken her she couldn't.
This was the day she had been looking forward to; she was going to Diagon Alley to get her school supplies for her last year at school. The reason she was so excited was she was going all by herself. She wasn't going to be lonely, she was very popular and she expected to meet up with several of her school chums while she shopped.
As she gazed at her expression and tried to detangle her mess of jet black hair the necklace caught her eye. She squinted her eyes as she concentrated on the reflection of the tiny silver bird, willing herself to remember her dream. "Cho, are you awake?" her mother said loudly as she knocked on her door. Cho jumped suddenly, "yes mum." She continued brushing her hair, purposely avoiding her reflection.
Cho smiled at her perfect room. She was a Ravenclaw, and they were precise and detail oriented people. She selected her perfectly pressed outfit and robe from her closet. When she was convinced she looked right, she headed out her bedroom door. After all she had a reputation to keep.
She gave the fireplace a despairing look as she passed it by, she hated traveling by floo powder, but it would be Christmas before she would be eighteen and able to take her apparation test. "Cho, make sure you eat a good breakfast, I don't want you getting weak while your out today," her mother said sternly. Cho rolled her eyes as she spread a bit of honey on her toast. Her mother was always trying to force her to eat, perhaps the Asian in her father had finally rubbed off on her mother. As everyone knows, Asian women are notorious for over feeding people against their will.
Cho Chang was Chinese on her father's side. Her mother was originally from Spain, but moved to England when she was just a baby. Cho often thought of her mixed up background, she was proud of her heritage. Her background separated her from her peers, and she often said her Chinese beauty mixed with her Spanish mysterious was what kept the boys interested.
The Chang house was spectacular, more like a museum than a living establishment. Her father was a collector of fine art from the Far East. The finest porcelains and rugs were showcased in every room. They weren't rich, but they were far beyond comfortable. While she wasn't a pureblood wizard of English decent, but she could trace her magical linage back to the early Chinese dynasties on her father's side.
She took a few bites of her toast, and tried to sneak out of the watchful eyes of her mother. "What time should I expect you to return?" Cho let out a frustrated sigh, "in a few hours, maybe longer." "I'll have Alford fix your something for lunch," she responded back. Alford was the Chang house elf, her father had won him in a card game in his youth. Their actually family house elf, from her mother's side, had died when Cho was only a baby, and it was very unusual for a house elf to die.
Cho grabbed a hand full of a greenish powder from a silver jar on top of the mantel; she stepped into the fireplace and clearly spoke the words, "DIAGON ALLEY." As she stepped out of the fireplace at the Leaky Caldron, she felt a smile creep across her face. She had been so cooped up all summer, forced to read books on ancient Chinese culture and take those dreadful Chinese language lessons. She was grateful to finally be around what she considered normal witches and wizards. She walked to the secret wall in the back of the bar, and tapped the bricks in their secret pattern.
"Hey Chang," wave one of her school friends and her twin sister. Padma Patril was a year younger than Cho, but that didn't matter. Cho had grown fond of her over the past few years. "How was your summer?" Cho asked politely. Padma's sister, Pavarti, let out a annoying snicker. "Good, and yours?" Padma said jabbing her elbow into her sister's side. "What's so funny?" Cho said suddenly offened for not understand the reason for Pavarti's snicker. "I heard you were going out with Michael Corner," Pavarti explained. "I am," Cho said quickly. Pavarti tried to wipe the smile off her face, "it's just he dated a Weasley."
Cho rolled her eyes, it amazed her sometimes how petty girls could be. "Anyways, I thought you had a thing with Potter," Pavarti continued. "Well, I might have, if hadn't been such a prat," Cho said coolly. Pavarti smiled, Harry had ignored her when he had taken her to the Yule Ball, and she understood what Cho was talking about.
"Well, we better get going. I'll see you on the train," Padma said sweetly. Cho waved as the twins walked off. She pulled a small parchment from her robes and tried to decide where she was going to go first. She lifted the cuff of her robes, surely her parents would understand her needed a new set of robes for her final year. She strolled happily down the street, trying to decide whether or not to purchase a new robe set, when a new business caught her eye.
It was the joke shop owned and operated by Fred and George Weasley. She wasn't sure what persuaded her to go in, but she did. It looked just as she pictured it, and she beamed as she saw an oddly dressed red head standing behind the counter.
"Why, Miss Chang, can I interest you in the latest tongue torchers? New and improved," greeted Fred Weasley. "Nice suit," Cho replied back. "This is the finest dragon skin money can buy," he bragged. He held out a handful on pranked candies, trying his best to tempt her into a sale. "No thanks, I just wanted to have a look around," Cho said holding her hand up. "Well, let me know if I can be of any assistance," Fred gave a gracious bow and dashed off to greet another customer.
She let her eyes fondle the many gags and pranks that littered the store walls. Had she been more of a practical joker, this would be a dream come true. She was just about to pick up a portable swamp kit when a cold sensation hit her chest. She felt the chill penetrate clear down to her bones, and when she finally regained her composer she understood why.
Draco Malfoy had entered and was rudely snickering about how pathetic this joke shop was. She tried to hide herself behind a shelf, she always felt cold when Malfoy was around. "Chang?" he bellowed as he spotted her. She forced a smile, and they tried to ignore him as best she could. "What the hell are you doing in a place like this?" he continued. She didn't answer. "I thought better of you, being from such a prestigious family," Malfoy jabbed his partner in crime Goyle in the side and both boys began to laugh. "Why don't you leave her alone," Fred chimed in from behind the counter. "Weasley," Malfoy dared. "Unless you gentleman plan on buying something, leave. No, on second thought, I wouldn't sell you anything in this shop, so pick up your slimy Slytherin asses and vacate the premises." Malfoy probably would have pushed the situation further, but he was out of his territory, so he just gave Fred a evil snare and headed towards the door. Cho felt a icky sensation travel though her body as Malfoy shot her a flirtatious wink as the door closed behind him.
She decided not to leave the joke shop until enough time had passed for Malfoy to move on. She dreaded being near him; and as she stepped outside again the cold in her chest had finally melted away.
The day passed quickly as she purchased her school books, a few new school robes and a broom kit. She was quite satisfied with the way her day had gone, then it happened. That burning sensation filtered which started in her chest spread up her neck and into her face. Her eyes found the one person in the crowd she was hoping not to see. Harry Potter was with is typical gang, two red heads and one girl with bushy brown hair. Her eyes quickly scanned the street searching for a quick getaway. She felt a surge of anger as she heard Harry's voice playing in the back of her mind, "don't cry." How dare he, what did he know about losing someone he loved. He was so heartless.
"Damn it," she swore, she had paused to long and there was no use in trying to escape. Hermione Granger gave her a pleasant smile as she passed the group of friends. She narrowed her eyes as she saw Ron Weasley with a teasing grin spread across his face. He was obviously going to make a joke about her after she passed. Cho felt her face go deep crimson as she locked eyes with Harry, why did he have that affect on her. She knew it would be hours before she'd be able to shake those green eyes from her thoughts.
She was grateful that the encounter had been brief. She patted her stomach as it gave an angry grumble. It was time to head home, the lunch Alford had probably already prepared seemed very enticing at that moment.