Oh, Fudge's socks! I encountered an unfortunate bout of writer's block determining the best method to integrate four young women's complex and intriguing stories. In addition, it is a great honor to join Witch Weekly's team as a freelance entertainment columnist. I appreciate your support during my first project.

Cho

Oh, how I adored Arithmancy. I had even embroidered the symbols of the field upon a scarf I frequently wore, delighting Professor Vector. Though Hermione Granger was in third year, she was already in the advanced curriculum of my year. How that brilliant young woman hadn't been considered for Ravenclaw was beyond me.

I also frequently admired the thick brunette curls of her majestic mane despite her protests that my straight and sleek ebony locks (her terminology, not mine) were more manageable and desirable. Well, as she had no lack of admirers, myself included, her argument for the higher merits of my style of hair was rather diminished.

Between the two of us, it was difficult to determine who was more overcommitted this year. I had a full course load, my Muggle college distance learning coursework, frequent Qudditch practice, and tutoring. I don't know why they bothered provided either of us with dorms as we practically lived in the library and the field (me) or study-friendly grounds (her).

Unfortunately, the two of us weren't quite friends just yet. It was more of a casual acquaintanceship with mutual respect, but nothing more. The only classes we share are her extra electives, as Huffs and Raves are typically paired up. I don't see why such a clever witch spends time with Ronald Weasley, whose only prowess is chess, or how she became best chums with Harry Potter.

Anyhow, off to Quidditch practice!

PARVATI PATIL (PP)

"Pari, why are you dragging me to Ravenclaw Quidditch practice?"

"As far as I can tell, Padma's utterly infatuated with the captain," I rolled my eyes to show my position on the matter, "and I don't want her walking back to the castle alone in the darkness."

"Oh, hag's toes. Admit it, you too are witch hat over boots in lurve with Roger Davies," Lavvy giggled.

I grinned. "Meh, he's not the cream of the crop, if I may admit so aloud."

"Cedric Diggory though," Lavvy made an approving notice, accompanied by a swooning gesture. "That's a premium cream puff right there."

"Premium cream puff?" I lost it, collapsing into a red-faced giggling fit. "I love you, darling, you're so precious!"

As our dynamic duo ascended the bleachers, Lavvy emitted a thoughtful noise, directing my attention to Cho Chang flying warmup rounds with the all-male team. I sighed, voicing my suppressed desire. "If only I could work a broomstick like that." The wicked gleam in Lavvy's eyes told me what just occupied her thoughts. "Oh no you don't," I warned her, shaking my head.

"We need to connect with Trelawney," Lavvy nodded with finality. "She'll clarify all romantic woes." She looked at the field, then returned her attention to me. "You'd look dashing on a broomstick, Pari, with all that lovely dark hair billowing in the wind."

"There's always intramural extracurriculars - Hogwarts Unity Quidditch Squad," I thought suddenly, though my brow furrowed almost immediately as I remembered my existing commitments. "But Choir takes up all my time." We'd approached where Padma was sitting at the very top of the Ravenclaw section, her equally long hair falling to the thick textbook she'd brought.

"Padma!" Lav gently smacked her upper arm. "Eyes on the prize!"

"Prize? Is there an exam?" Padma consulted her planner frantically, cheeks flushed with the prospect of missing an announcement.

"No, silly, Roger Davies ring a bell?" Lav wiggled her brows suggestively. Padma flushed a deeper red at the name, though impressively maintained her composure.

"I'm here to support Cho," she said, a tad defensively.

"I wasn't aware that you were chums," I said, surprised. Despite being twins, the supposed telepathy was like a poor connection of Muggle wireless. It came and went as it pleased, rarely giving our duo a read on each other. As a result, we both typically went our own ways, but sometimes spoke in sync.

I wasn't even aware that a face could become even more red. "We're not," Padma admitted sheepishly. "But I'm supporting the first girl on the team in a while!"

"Uh huh," Lav teased, eyes trained on the blur that was Roger Davies in action.

"We should come out and see Gryffindor practice sometime," I said suddenly.

"Or Hufflepuff," Lav grinned.

"What's wrong with our House Quidditch team? There's Oliver Wood, Harry Potter..." I bit my lip, trailing off. I wasn't making a great case here. "The Weasley twins..." Lavender looked at me with her eyebrows raised, silently communicating that she wasn't impressed with my stating the obvious.

"What's wrong with the Hufflepuff Quidditch team?" She mimicked innocently, batting her eyelashes.

Parvati's Discovery

That was how, the very next evening, Lav and I were situated in the Gryffindor bleachers watching Hufflepuff practice. We'd brought out Divination homework, however, to introduce productivity to our stalking endeavors.

There was only one other person, heavily bundled and unrecognizable from my vantage point in the Hufflepuff section. "Can I borrow your binoculars?" I asked Lav.

"Careful with them, they're charmed." Lav winked. She started when I aimed the binoculars at the bleachers instead of Cedric on the field. "What are you doing?" she asked, confused.

"I want to know who this person is," I said, twisting the knobs to achieve an incredible magnification. "Oh dear Merlin!" I gasped when I recognized her.

Cho

I know it's not my place to be spying on Hufflepuff practice. Frankly, I'm quite certain it's against the rules of Quidditch. But I had to see him.

I felt uncomfortable, as though I was cheating Roger with my traitorous thoughts regarding Hufflepuff's captain and the game itself with my peeping presence here.

Silly me. Roger and I weren't even a couple. With one last, lingering look at the fine specimen that was Cedric Diggory, I hurried back to the Ravenclaw common room to study.

"Bloody hell!" Lav swore colorfully when I told her. "Are you sure?"

"Fairly positive. Her ethnicity is rather unique here, as is mine."

"Oh shush, Pari, you know we don't consider those matters here."

"Just stating the facts, Lav," I said, pausing briefly before voicing my concern. "My instincts are telling me that opposing teams should not be looking in on other teams' practices. Especially with her disguise and where she was sitting..."

"Oh Pari, don't you see? Roger's not a sneaky guy. Even if I wasn't partially infatuated with him, anyone can tell that he's a straightforward, goody two shoes. So I highly doubt he sent Cho to spy. With the way she was there for only a bit and hurried away, she clearly came to watch Cedric in action like us."

"Why though? She can see him at the actual match."

In Cho's Own Words

I just couldn't stay away.