Author: grace is an author
Date: September 18, 2004
Disclaimer: All rights go JK Rowling, Warner Bros, and whomever else owns them. All characters, places, etc. (other than my original characters) belong to JK Rowling. No money is being made from this!
Author's Note: Yay my very first D/C fic, I'm so proud of myself!
Chapter One
Home Again
Gray rain sloshed against the window pane leaving long silvery trails like meandering roads. Cho pressed her fingertips against the cool glass, trying to graze the beads of moisture streaking past her. Thunder roared overhead as the fall began to fall at faster beat, white hot light illuminated the room and the sky began to darken into a mottled purple and gray. It was a quiet Monday morning, save for the storm raging outside the Chang's mansion. Only more than about a week back from her sixth term at Hogwarts did Cho find her back, confined in her room.
It was almost irritating hearing the steady pattering of falling rain hitting again the roof top and the swinging chimes clinking together in eerie tune. She pushed her long black bangs out of her face and tucked them neatly behind her ear. Parchment, quills, ink bottles, notebooks, and text books were scattered in a nervous disarray on top of a magnificent mahogany desk with golden carved drawers. Cho heaved a heavy sigh and bit the tip of her left thumb nervously as she scanned her small loopy writing in graceful dramatic curves across the page.
Cho blinked and laughed uncomfortably at the unopened box of squeaking ice mice by her feet. The blue box was brightly decorated with a green and white bow and violet wrapping paper, which was slightly tore in her eagerness to open the present. Michael did not know she hated feeling of sweetened mice chattering in her stomach. Then again he never did know much about her. It was nearly the end of the year when he had asked her out and she had resolutely agreed out of spite towards Harry and the dismaying Quidditch match. And not before long she and him were separated by the summer season.
He promised to write and he did, but in truth Cho felt more and more uninterested as his letters persisted as if she needed him always to be there to comfort her. A gray barn owl shook out it's feather and looked at her persistently to finish the letter. It's wide amber eyes leered at her from on top of her vanity table. Her own owl Pherenice clucked her tongue in disapprove and stretched out her longed golden wings.
"Cho, dear?
Upon hearing the voice, Cho quickly shoved the box of ice mice under a pile of blue and silver scarves and hastily shoved the short letter under Transfiguration Throughout the Ages. Again tucking her bangs swiftly behind her ear and opening The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts she feigned a look of surprise when her bedroom door opened.
"Oh, hello...
A woman in her late thirties gave a small giggle and shook out her long hair. Lucious black ringlets curled gently in waves against Lien Chang's pearl white skin. Dressed impeccably in dark purple robes and black mesh arm warmers Lien shuffled her black boots cheerfully and touched her lips, dabbed with red lipstick.
Mrs. Chang looked down upon her daughter and frowned. She snapped her fingers and her smooth pink lips widened into a smirk.
"Studying again?
Shaking out her hair again she placed a hand on her hip and scowled. Cho nodded and averted her eyes from her mother, a peculiar pink color began to creep up her cheeks. It was incredibly embarrassing to see her mother dressed as if she was her older sister. Heavy silver bracelets clanked against each other as Lien wound a curl around her index finger. She stood about the same height as Cho and had a full figure. Her eyes were onyx black and glinted with a fierce hardness. An expensive jade pendant hung around her neck on a gold chain.
"Cho, dear" Mrs. Chang dawdled in the doorway playing with the blue and silver scarf tied in the doorknob. "I was wondering if you wanted to do a bit of shopping...
"Shopping?" Cho blinked and slowly looked up from her text book.
"Yes," Mrs. Chang licked her lips deliciously. "At little get together. You know between girls. Of course, Narcissa has been looking forward to seeing you again, all grown up." Lien winked cheekily and lightly touched her daughter's shoulder. "You know Draco from school right? Isn't he absolutely dah-ling?
"Ugh...." Cho scratched her head and shrugged, trying hard to suppress the look of revulsion on her face.
Lien shrugged and quickly withdrew her hand. "Just a suggestion. Of course, if your not to busy studying..." She glanced at the desk again and shook out her hair.
Cho gave a short laugh then shrugged nervously under the watchful glare of her mother.
"Sure.
"Wonderful!" The woman clapped her hands gleefully and patted her daughter over the head. "Well I'll be off. Madison is expecting me for tea. Imagine, in this weather!" She clucked her tongue loudly. "I've never thought well of that woman. And Cho! Look at this mess! Just look at it! And- What is this?
Lien snatched the piece of parchment crushed underneath 1000 Magical Herbs.
"Michael! Who's Michael?" Her voice sounded scandalized. "You don't mean that Ravenclaw boy you saw at that train station?
Cho nodded.
"Humph! Well I've haven't been hearing good things about the Corner family recently. No, no, this won't do." She pulled out her wand threateningly. "I forbid you to write to him.
Cho groaned and wrestled the letter out of Mrs. Chang's hand. "Why do you- Always- Ruin everything!
"Now dear, it's for the best." Lien forced it out of Cho's fist and tossed it nonchalantly in the fireplace. "See look! Now I'm late for tea!" She clucked her tongue impatiently and with a loud crack! disapparated.