As promised, I have continued this fic. However, it will go a bit slower as I am doing several things at the moment (as you can see) ^^
Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments) forum - Care of Magical Creatures, #5
Prompt: Write about an innocent relationship between two people turning into one of romance. Extra prompts: full, fast, himself, breath, please.
Word count: 2252
Cho sat alone in The Three Broomsticks. Although it was a Hogsmeade weekend, hardly any students were present at Madam Rosmerta's lovely establishment.
Blaise watched in silence. He was always watching.
Cho sipped her butterbeer, wallowing in the melancholy only a lonely person could understand. She was suddenly the enemy. The friendless girl who was unpopular despite her talent, her looks and her accomplishments.
In one word, Cho was the social outcast all because Mr. Potter said so. Oh, he didn't go around spreading rumours about her. Harry was too nice for that. But everyone somehow knew the Boy Who Lived was too good for Miss Popular, and now Miss Popular had lost her crown.
Cho concentrated on the foamy froth of the mug of butterbeer to keep from crying. Lately, she had been so depressed. First Cedric. Now Harry.
Everyone had been sympathetic about Cedric. But even six months later, when she started dating Harry, everyone told her to get over it. How in the world was she supposed to get over a dead boyfriend?
Poor Harry, she thought, remorsefully. Yes, she had done wrong to him in pressing about Cedric. Wanting closure from a boy who was younger than her and who probably just wished to forget. He was just as embarrassed about Cedric as she was.
Funny how she could understand Harry now, when they had broken up. She had been jealous of Hermione. Still was, sort of. Harry always listened to Hermione, no matter the circumstance. When Marietta had betrayed the Room of Requirements headquarters, everyone had shunned her. When Cho protested the words on Marietta's face, they shunned her, too.
Hermione had said a traitor deserved such a curse. Cho thought it was a nasty trick. Really, did anyone deserve to have "SNEAK" written on their face?
Blaise was impressed. So far, the Ravenclaw girl hadn't burst into tears. Contrary to the Hogwarts rumour mill, Cho was composed and looked very pretty sitting in a uniform skirt and sailor blouse. Being the suave Snake he was, Blaise slithered over to Cho's table.
"May I sit?" he asked, deep voice resonating slightly in the quiet atmosphere.
Startled, Cho looked up and stared at him, as if trying to place a face to a name. Or a name to a face. As she knew neither, it didn't quite matter what she was trying to do. She was obviously failing.
He grinned at her and sat without invitation. "Blaise. Blaise Zabini, at your service," he extended his hand.
She faintly gripped and shook his hand, all without taking her eyes off him.
"Nice to meet you, I suppose," she mumbled, sipping her butterbeer as soon as was polite.
"Want another?" he asked.
"Um," she hesitated. She really shouldn't.
"Don't worry. Gentlemen always pay." He winked at her, and suddenly, it felt like the ice had melted.
Cho became her normal, bubbly self, jokes and all.
"Well, if he says so," she jibed.
"He does," Blaise insisted gallantly, before ordering two more butterbeers and a firewhiskey.
"You drink firewhiskey?" Cho asked, slightly frowning.
"On important occasions, I do," Blaise lied.
Cho saw the lie, but indulged him. He thought she was an important occasion. She felt flattered and indulged his company.
They talked about many things, and, slowly, bit by bit, Cho was won over.
"So, you really think that Professor Sinistra is harsh?" Cho laughed. "What about Professor Snape?"
"Well, since I'm a Slytherin, it's all quite easy. Of course, he favours Malfoy more," Blaise frowned.
"Shh," Cho said, placing her hand on his. "It's all right. Let's not talk about him."
Blaise got her meaning and nodded, happy to follow her lead. "As the lady wishes," he said, causing her to smile again. "So, what do you think about Divination?" Blaise asked.
An hour later, they emerged from the pub. Slightly tipsy, Cho laughed as Blaise steadied her.
"Careful, Cho," he said, catching her before she fell headlong into a pile of trash.
"Oh, silly me," Cho giggled. "Thanks." She looked up at him and before he knew what he was doing, he leaned down and kissed her on the lips.
Startled, Cho's eyes opened wide as the kiss lengthened.
"Ah," Cho said, when he gave her some space. She covered her face with her hands. "Um..."
"Did you feel anything?" Blaise asked.
"Uh, I don't know. Did you?"
Blaise frowned. For a moment, he had felt their chemistry. But if she didn't...Was it even possible for a girl to turn him down? Blaise thought arrogantly.
"Well, you know, you're just a girl," Blaise tossed the words out carelessly.
"Well, if that's all, then good day," Cho huffed. Turning angrily, she vanished before his eyes, never once looking back as she trudged back towards Hogsmeade Station and the castle.
"Well, THAT went well," Blaise sighed, combing his hands through his short cropped hair. "I think I'll never understand." He sighed and looked up at the sky. It was getting dark, so he headed back towards Hogsmeade Station as well.
The holidays were over when Cho bumped into Blaise again.
"You!" she exclaimed, surprised to see him.
"Hello," Blaise said in the same debonair manner he had always shown to her.
"Sorry," Cho said, hurriedly gathering her things.
"Wait," Blaise held out his hand. "Please."
"What do you want?" Cho asked, checking her watch impatiently. The darned thing never was on time, anyway, she thought, but I hope I'm not late to Herbology!
"I was just - well, I wanted to talk to you." Blaise faltered. Why did his smooth charm always stumble when confronted by her pretty face? Her watery eyes stared up at him plaintively, making his legs melt and his tongue numb. Why did she have this effect on him?
"Sure, but I'm not sure now is a good time," Cho replied, cutting him off before he said something stupid. Which surely was bound to happen. "I have to get to Herbology."
"Right." Blaise stared at her, eyes sparkling.
Cho looked at him, concerned. "Maybe you should see Madam Pomfrey," she suggested, before sprinting away. She leaped like a deer, running as fast as she could. He cursed his bad luck. Madam Pomfrey? Damn, he must look a sight!
Blaise ran his hands through his hair and sighed in defeat. Well, he might as well go do something productive to make up for his loss today! Feeling a bit better after taking points from a few Hufflepuff firsties, Blaise decided to walk down to the lake.
Lo and behold, sitting by the lake was none other than Cho Chang.
"I think we keep running into each other on purpose," Blaise opened, lying down on the grass.
Tucking her robes under her head, Cho replied, "I think you're doing it on purpose."
"Funny you say that. I think it's Destiny."
Finally, Cho looked over him. "Really," was all she said before she resumed looking up at the sky.
Blaise huffed. "Why are you avoiding me?" he asked.
"Why are you chasing me?" she countered.
"Because..." he sighed. "We're both lonely souls." He left the sentence hanging in the air. He was vulnerable. He left himself open to her.
She looked at him and rolled over onto her stomach. "Oh." That was the only word she said.
They lay in complete silence. He looked at the trees. She studied him.
If she admitted it, he was handsome. The strong, silent type. The type of person she secretly liked. He was tall, or at least, taller than her. He had long arms and legs, toned muscles and a handsome face.
He was also arrogant, but what boy wasn't? Even Cedric had his moments of insane arrogance. Must be a testosterone thing, she decided.
"Hmm," she whispered, thinking.
"What's that?" Blaise asked, breaking out of his reverie.
"I didn't say anything," Cho said, deciding she'd have to reply now he was looking at her.
"Oh, I thought you did."
It was a dare, and she couldn't back down.
"Well, if you must know, I said, 'I'm not all alone.'" She bit her lip.
He barely concealed a moan from escaping his lips. She looked so pretty and coy, lying in the grass. She wore only a light dress, though it looked more like a cotton shift. She used her outer robes as a pillow and her Quidditch robes as a blanket. She was a temptress and cunning seductress if ever he saw one! She knew just what to say and do to get him interested.
She had so far rebuffed him, but now he knew she felt the same way as he did. They were two lonely souls who understood each other.
At least their conversations so far had been friendly, he thought. And she isn't hexing me or cursing me. So that must be good. Right, I need to say something.
She lay there, waiting for him to respond. She saw the gears whirring in his mind as his eyes darted back and forth. She smiled. He must be an only child, she concluded. He looks lonely and smart.
She finally moved over on her makeshift blankets and patted the spot next to her in invitation.
Smiling, he nodded and stood up, stretching his lean wiry body. Knowing she was admiring his form, he slowly sauntered over to her.
"Like what you see?" he teased.
She smirked and stuck out her tongue. "Maybe."
"Huh. I'll see about that." He attacked her with tickles. She was a giggling, panting mess.
"Sto-! Stop! Blai-Blaise! I'm - serious!" she panted, with effort. "I - c-can't breath-e!"
Blaise finally let up when Cho was doubled over, panting and giggling, unable to control her arms and legs.
"I give up!" Cho said, when she caught her breath.
"Good." Blaise flopped down on the blanket of robes. "Because I'm tired." He closed his eyes, mentally counting in his head.
Instead of retaliation, Cho bent down and kissed his forehead.
Blaise opened an eye, enjoying the cool kiss.
"There," Cho said, moving back to her safe spot. "Thank you."
"For what?" Blaise eyed her warily. Usually girls confided in him because he was easygoing and chill. Boys came to him with problems because he was fair and held much influence in Slytherin House. But outside of Slytherin, most people gave him a wide berth. Some girls said he was cold. Most boys thought he was a player. But really, the problem was that Blaise had no friends. So he was very confused when Cho thanked him for something no one else would have appreciated.
"For - well," she shrugged and smiled at him. A brilliant, dazzling, one hundred percent genuine Cho Chang smile. "For making me smile again."
She kissed him on the lips, a full, tongue-included, kiss that left him dazed and wanting more.
"There, now we're even." She stood up and waved her wand. "Don't move," she warned playfully after she had already cast her spell. "They'll come back to me eventually." She flashed him another smile, waved in a friendly manner, and skipped off towards the line of trees.
Blaise was about to call out to her, but instead he fell asleep. It was a deep sleep that lasted the rest of the afternoon.
It was the end of the year. Cho stood in the Great Hall. She felt alone in a sea of black, blue, yellow, red and green. She had no friends.
And then she looked over at the Slytherin table and smiled.
He waved slightly and nodded.
It was enough of a sign to let her know.
On the platform, Blaise slipped her a note before he followed his fellow Slytherins to another train car.
When she was alone, which didn't take long because she was always alone, Cho took the note out of her pocket and opened the piece of parchment.
It read,
"Dear Cho,
Meet me on the train at 2.
You know where to find me.
- Blaise"
Cho smiled. Yes, she knew where she would find him.
Blaise smiled and hugged her in a warm embrace.
Cho pressed her face against his chest, enjoying the warmth and the feeling of his fast-paced heartbeats. He smelled good, too. A cologne or smell that mixed cloves and cinnamon with something else. She couldn't place it, but it reminded her of coffee.
"Cardamom," Blaise whispered. "See, I know what you think." He teased her before kissing her, loving how she fit right against his body.
"Blaise," she breathed in his ear.
He stiffened, unsure of this power she held over him.
"Yes?" he whispered, when she wouldn't say another word.
"Promise me?" she asked, presenting herself as vulnerable this time.
He smiled down at her and held her tightly.
"Always. If I could give you the world, I would." It was such a sappy thing to say. But he said it anyway because it was true. She was adorable. And he was lucky.
Cho sighed happily as she kissed him again and again. She had finally found something good. Something lucky. Someone who cherished her. She wouldn't waste one more minute not telling him how she felt. Never again would she wait.
She had learned her lesson well.