Chapter 5
It was 5:00 in the evening on New Year's Eve, Cho walks down Chinatown to Liu's Fish Market for a seafood boil that her and her parents are going to have tonight. She imagines that if Cedric were alive and would show him around where she lived, as well as enjoy the New Year's Eve Party with their friends and families. She pushes that thought aside as she enters the store, "Hey Liu" she greets the store owner as she walks up to the counter.
"Oh, hey Cho" Liu greeted back "How are you?
"I'm good and you?"
"I good as well how is the boarding school to the north?" Liu asked
"The school been infested with a big fat ugly warty pink toad that spews out toxic fumes" Cho replied referring the toad as Umbridge.
"Ugh What a nasty toad." Liu groaned "Is your headmaster doing something about it?"
"He is cleaning the infestation, but it will take him a year to do it." Cho said
"Oh, I see." Liu chuckled he then asks "What can I do for you?
"Can I get 3lbs of Shrimp, 3lb of Crayfish, 3lbs of Crabs, 3lbs of King Crab and 3 Lobsters" Cho said
Liu goes to the cash register and tells her "The total is $118.50 (Sterling)
"Okay" Cho said as pays for it
Liu hands over the bag of the portioned Crustacean to Cho, before she leaves Liu gives her one piece of advice "I know you have this toad that is festering in the school, ignore it and be like a fish just keep swimming.
"Yeah, I'll do just that, thanks Liu." Cho said
"Your welcome Cho and happy new year"
"You too Liu" Cho said as she leaves the store.
Cho continues her shopping by going to the Butcher Shop getting a pound of Andouille Sausage then goes to the Produce Market for Corn, Garlic, Carrots, Onions, Broccoli and Potatoes with the shopping now done she heads back home. Jin-Hwan and Chuya helps Cho with the bags as she comes in. They set the bags on the kitchen table and start setting up the Seafood Boil with Cho making the spicy Cajun butter, Chuya cuts up the veggies and Jin-Hawn cleans the shrimp and crayfish also set up a big pot of chilly water on the stove. As the water boils Cho starts putting all the seafood, sausage veggies, herbs, and spices inside the pot. Jin-Hawn asks Cho "Does this remind you of your Potions Class Princess?"
"Little a bit Daddy at least I don't have a sniveling greasy big nosed git watching over me and saying, 'Stop your chattering with Miss. Edgecombe and focus on the lesson Miss Chang as I complete the Potion." Cho replies doing a Professor Snape impression.
Jin-Hawn, Chuya and Cho laugh at Cho's impression of her Potions Professor, Jin-Hawn stops laughing and asks, "Why is your teacher is so grumpy?"
"I don't know Dad." Cho said then asks Chuya "Mum why Professor Snape is so grumpy?"
"Well it all starts with Harry's father James, Remus, Sirius, Wormtail and I use to bully Snape when we were in Hogwarts. One incident in our fifth year where we finished our O.W.L.S Snape was sitting on near a tree on the shore of the black lake James and his friends came up to Snape and hung him upside down then Lily comes over and tells James to stop but he says he'll stop if she goes out with him and she says I'd rather go out with the Giant Squid than you, you arrogant toe rag. He lets Snape go then Lily tries to comfort Snape, but he calls her filthy mudblood" Chuya tells Cho the story of her fifth year of Hogwarts.
"That's horrible what happened after that mum?" Cho gasped
"Lily stopped being friends with Snape." Chuya replied
"Wait Snape was friends with Harry's mum?" Cho asked
"Yes, they were best friends before they went to Hogwarts and Lily would make excuses of not hanging out with me and Alice until that point." Chuya said
"Okay, but why would you bully him?" Cho asked
"What, we were young Cho?" Chuya answered
"That is no excuse for bullying Mum you could have seriously hurt Snape or worse killed him also you should have stopped James and Sirius by telling a teacher mum." Cho said angrily
"Yeah, but he was hexing us back and practicing dark magic as well as hanging out with future death-eaters like Regulus Black and Evan Rosier." Chuya said
"But still you could have ignored Snape or told a teacher" Cho said
"You're right Cho I should have done but the past stays in the past okay." Chuya tells Cho
"Okay mum I take your word" Cho replied
Jin-Hwan checks the pot and everything in it was ready he turns off the heat, calls Chuya and Cho "Okay you two dinner is ready."
Cho and Chuya replied in unison "Okay."
Cho bring out old Daily Prophet Newspapers and sets them on the table. Jin-hwan brings the pot and dumps out everything on the table and Chuya, Cho, and Jin-hwan sits down and enjoy the food. After eating and washing the dishes. Chuya puts on a blue spaghetti strap dress with simple pair of black shoes as well as having her hair in a bun with two chopsticks holding it up for the New Year's Eve party that is happening at the Atrium of The Ministry of Magic. At 9:00 before she leaves the house she tells her husband and Daughter goodbye and happy new year.
A two hours later, Chuya was sitting down at an empty table drinking a glass of wine. She looks at her co-workers who married within the wizarding community on the dance floor. She wishes that her husband Jin-hwan was here dancing with her like everyone else but due to the Ministry's prejudices against muggles he had to stay home with Cho. She wonders what if Jin-hwan was a wizard and went to Hogwarts with her as well collaborating with her in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. However, she is brought back to reality when Matthew Corner who works for the Department of Magical Accident and Catastrophes wearing a simple tuxedo. He came with two glasses of eggnog and sits next to her and asks, "Hey are you okay Chuya?" he hands Chuya a glass of eggnog, but she pushed it aside.
"Yes, Matthew I'm fine" Chuya said annoyed "How are you for the tenth millionth time?"
"I'm good as well" Matthew responded, "What's going on with you why are being so hostile to me?"
"I'm not being hostile to you, it's just that you are just ruining my vibe here Matt" Chuya said
"Okay, uh do you want to dance with me?" Matthew asked.
"No Matthew I don't want to dance with you." Chuya answered
"Why not? It's a party let loose and have fun." Matthew said gulping his glass of eggnog.
"I'm having fun I just don't want to dance with you is that okay with you." Chyua told Matthew she asks, "Where's your wife Michelle I thought she would be coming with you today."
Matthew shrugs "She didn't want to come, and Michelle wanted to spend time with our son Michael ."
"More like you told her not come to the party and try to play grab arse with a girl that you pined for over 25 years" Chuya said.
"What about you Chuya who managed to snag you up after you graduated from Hogwarts huh?" Matthew asked.
"I have a daughter Matt" Chuya replied.
"Wait you mean that girl who my son has a crush on her name is Cho right she looks like you but hotter." Matthew said. "If only that brute didn't manhandle my son four days ago. We could have something if she came over to my house after she's been through so much last year maybe you could join in as well."
Disturbed by Matthew's advancement towards her daughter Chuya trembles in anger she gets up from her seat and slaps her co-worker across his face so hard that everyone in the party heard it as well as red splotch on his face. She grabs Matthew by the collar of his shirt lifting him up the chair pulling him close and growls, "You crossed the line you little piece of fucking weasel shite if you or your son for that matter ever come near my daughter or have any thoughts like that of her or me, because I will fucking castrate you even if you have thought do you understand me!"
"Y-Y-Yes, Ch-Ch-Chuya I-I un-understand you please let me go." Matthew said concealing his collywobbles as Chuya's eyes turned form Chocolate brown to burning black coals.
"In a moment, oh, by the that brute who manhandled your son is the one who put a ring on my finger" Chuya said showing her ring to Matthew then tells him "Also my husband is thousand times more of a man than you would ever be in your fucking life." Chuya said tightening her grip on his shirt "Let me tell you something else Matthew Corner I would never have sex with you even if we were the last two people on earth, I would still never have sex with you."
"Okay Chuya could you let me go" Matthew pleaded.
Chuya smiled evilly and nods her head "Okay" then throws Matthew into a nearby table the other guests looked at Chuya in shock and she responds with "What are you all looking? Get back to your drinks." Everyone went back to their business as Chuya sat back down to her seat.
A couple minutes later Amos and Catharine walk over to Chuya's table and greeted their co-worker in unison "Hey Chuya."
Chuya gets up and hugs Catharine then hugs Amos "Hey Amos, Hey Catharine how are you guys?"
"We're good" Amos and Catharine said in unison Amos asks Chuya "Mind if we sit down here?"
Chuya smiled and responds, "Not at all."
Chuya, Amos, and Catharine sit down, and Amos asked, "What was all of that ruckus Chuya?"
"Oh, it was just another one of Matthew's failed attempts of getting into my pants." Chuya replied with a sneer.
"Ugh that is disgusting isn't he married and has a son." Catharine said.
"Yes, he still sees me as a prize to be won and I don't like that also I'm married as well, and I have a daughter." Chuya said
"I see, anyway, we are incredibly grateful of you telling Amos what happened to our beloved Cedric I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't told us what happened to him." Catharine told Chuya.
"Your welcome Catharine and it was Harry who told my daughter what happened to your son Cedric." Chuya said
"Yep, when you told me about what happen to my son that day last year Chuya, I felt like a fire has been lit in me making want to do something." Amos said.
"Amos you are not the only one I felt the same way as you when Cho told me what happened to Cedric was killed and I'm sure that Cho felt the same." Chuya said, "The Government want us to wear a blindfold, headphones, and a mask where You-Know-Who is doing god knows what out there."
"That is true the government is always screwing everyone right, left, front, and center" Catharine nodded her head.
Chuya, Amos, and Catharine talked for a while until they see Arthur and Molly Weasley on the dance floor, "Hey Arthur, Molly over here." they yell in unison.
Arthur and Molly walked over to the table of Arthur's co-workers and gave Chuya, Amos, and Catharine a hug, the red-headed couple sits down and asks, "How are you Amos and Catharine?"
"Oh, we're good thanks for asking us" Amos replied, "How are you after that big green snake attacked you in the Department of Mysteries two days before Christmas?"
"Well despite me taking the Blood Replenishing Potion and walking with a cane I feel great." Arthur said.
"We are deeply sorry about what happened to your son Cedric six months ago." Molly said.
"Thank you, Molly, but it was Harry who Chuya's daughter then Chuya told Amos about that day."
"Yes, we are truly grateful for Harry telling my daughter Cho, but we have some things we need to discuss with you two if you don't mind" Chuya told Arthur.
"Okay where?" Arthur asked.
Chuya sees Rita Skeeter looking at her and whispers "Not here let's go to my office."
As Chuya, Amos, Catharine, Arthur, and Molly get up from their chairs and head to Chuya's office Rita smirks "Chang associating with the Weasleys this could be an exclusive." She transforms into Animagus form which is a green beetle to follow them.
Once inside Chuya's office Chuya conjures some chairs for Arthur, Molly, Amos, and Catharine to sit and casts a silencing charm on her door. They take a seat and Arthur asks his co-worker, "What do you want to talk about with us Chuya?"
"Well Arthur, Amos, Catharine and I would like to join The Order of the Phoenix" Chuya replied
"I'm not sure if Dumbledore is even recruiting anybody at the moment but-"
"We can help however we can Chuya, Amos, and Catharine you three apart from my husband are the only ones in the Ministry that don't kiss the arse of Cornelius Fudge or that vile toad Umbridge." Molly interrupted Arthur.
"Thank you, Molly, after what Cho told me what happened to Cedric that day of the third task I could not sit back while the ministry is not doing anything about You-Know-Who and then slanders my ex-boyfriend's son and my former headmaster for telling the truth." Chuya said
"We feel the same way Chuya I can't let Fudge disrespect my son's death neither" Amos said with a tear shedding down his cheek.
Catharine holds her husband's hand and tells him, "Yep, I'm with you Amos let's get justice for our son."
Amos smiles at his wife's assurance just then Chuya sees something at the corner of her eye a green beetle scurrying behind Molly's chair. She wandless cast accico pulling the bug toward her Amos, Catharine, Arthur, and Molly were shocked at this but they knew who would listen to all the gossip that goes around the Wizarding World and writes ridiculous and slanderous stories all for quick bag of galleons. Chuya gets her wand and casts Reivilo, revealing to none other than Rita Skeeter. Rita looks around and sees Chuya, Catharine, Amos, Arthur, and Molly glaring at her.
"Rita Skeeter what a pleasant surprise of you coming in here." Chuya mock greeted the reporter
"It's a surprise to see you associating with people like Arthur Weasley Ms. Chang" Rita snapped "Look how he and his wife are dressed I thought you would surround yourself with Robert Davies, Priya Patil, Matthew Corner, and Marissa Edgecombe not with someone who robbed a muggle thrift store."
"So, Arthur is one of the nicest wizards to ever work with unlike these hacks that only see me as a prize to be won" Chuya snapped back then proceeds to press Rita into a corner "What's your fucking game you nosy bitch? Do you have some sick fetish of ruining people's lives all for quick bag of galleons with your sick stories?"
"I-It's n-nothing I assure you it's just that-"
"That you like writing about people and ruining their live like you were about to do to me" Chuya interrupted Rita.
Chuya grabs the reporter by the ear pulls her in close and growls, "If you continue to slander Harry and Dumbledore again, I'll make sure that won't be sneaking around and writing horrid stories about anyone ever again we clear."
"Y-Y-Yes Ms. Chang I understand but people need to know." Rita said.
"Oh, I missed the part but that's not my problem" Chuya said coldly. She drags Rita by the ear to the door throws her out of her office.
"Woah Chuya that was brilliant" Arthur said.
Chuya smiles and says, "She won't be slander anyone this time around."
"Oh, I hope so anyway it's one minute to midnight." Molly said
"Alright let's have a toast" Chuya said as she quickly conjures up five glasses and a bottle of Brandy, she pours the brandy into the glasses and gives one to Arthur, Amos, Catharine, Molly, and herself. They all countdown and toast their glasses for the new year.
5 minutes earlier back at Cho's house, Cho and Jin-hwan are in the living room watching the Big Ben strike midnight and the fireworks to happen on TV. Jin-hwan asks Cho, "Ready for 1996 Princess?"
"Yes, dad" Cho said then starts to sigh "If only Cedric was here, and you would have love to seen him."
"Yeah, I would have love to see him as well and me, you and your mother and his family would love to see us, and we would have a big party here." Jin-hwan said
"He would have love that but now he is dead never coming back" Cho said as tears flowed down her cheeks.
Jin-hwan wraps his daughter in his arms, to him Cedric was just another casualty in war, he has seen young men on both sides of the Iron Curtain that were the same age as Cedric fight to the death in Vietnam and in his homeland of Korea 13 years prior of his military service. He mutters to himself "Man she genuinely loved this boy." He strokes Cho's hair and says, "Don't worry everything will be okay Princess it's a brand-new year tomorrow."
"I know daddy and you know what my New Year's resolution is." Cho said wiping her tears off her face.
"What is your new year's resolution Princess?" Jin-hwan asked
"It's going to be me sticking with Harry no matter what the Ministry of Magic or anyone else says about him and along with bettering myself." Cho answered
"Wow that's sounds like a plan Princess, I hope you follow it through." Jin-Hawn said supporting his daughter's new year's resolution
"Yep, and I'm going to give that treacherous rat Wormtail a piece of my mind when I see him." Cho said with a slight growl
"Well, I hope you find him" Jin-Hwan said he looks his watch and says It's two minutes to midnight let's have a toast okay."
"Alright dad." Cho nodded
Jin-hwan gets up from the couch and goes to the kitchen two glasses and a bottle of Jack Daniels and pours some into the glasses and gave one to Cho and start to countdown in unison "FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE HAPPY NEW YEAR!" They clink their glasses and drink, Cho's face scrunched with whiskeys after taste. Jin-Hawn laughs a bit at Cho's low alcohol tolerance, pours another for them, and raises his glass and speaks. "This one is to Cedric he may be lost but, he will not be forgotten."
Cho nods her head "Yeah to Cedric."
Cho and Jin-hwan drink, Jin-hwan takes the glasses to the kitchen and washes them. Cho sets up the Sega Genesis and plays Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 for a bit then goes to bed. Before she falls asleep, she murmurs, "Happy New Year Cedric."
The next day, on the Hogwarts Express Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna were sitting in the cabin and talking until he sees Cho walking by the cabin and says, "Hey Harry."
Harry gets up and greets back "Hey Cho, how was your Christmas holiday?"
"It was good just your ordinary bullshite holiday where kids act like spoiled brats while the parents get drunk off their arses in eggnog and your neighbors annoy you to death with singing Christmas Carols all day." Cho replied then asks, "How was your Christmas holiday Harry?"
Harry laughs at what Cho said and answers "My Christmas holiday was okay as well."
"That's good, anyway I got some news I need to tell you." Cho said. "Mind if I sit here?"
"Not at all Cho" Harry told her, and they go inside the train compartment where Cho greets Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna as she sits down.
"So, Cho what good news you have for Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Well, I told my mum everything that Harry told me, and she is currently working on getting Sirius Black a trial." Cho said
Harry's eyes widened at what Cho said, Sirius is getting a fair trial and will be exonerated from all the crimes he didn't commit and this time he won't have to live with The Dursleys anymore and have the family that so desired. He says to her "謝謝你，趙，我真的很感激媽為我和天狼星所做的一切都 (Thank you Cho I really appreciate what your mother is doing for me and Sirius)."
"Harry was that Chinese?" Cho asked curiously.
"Uh well I've been pratic-"
"He's been practicing getting between your le- oww!" Ron interrupts Harry but gets interrupted by Harry elbowing in the ribs. "Oww why would you do that for Harry"
"Shut up Ronald" Harry hissed he turns to Cho and tells her "Yes, this winter break I've been practicing on how to speak, read, and write in Chinese. So that I could get to know you better as well.
Cho giggles then stops and says, "I'm flattered that you are learning Chinese to get to know me, and I want to get to know you as well there's more to you than meets the eye."
"我們可以從現在開始 (We could start now)" Harry said.
Cho blushes and says "好的哈利 (Okay Harry)"
As they were about talk about their lives, Marietta spots Cho with Harry and his friends walks in the cabin and says, "There you are Cho I was looking all over you."
"That's not the only thing you came here for." Cho mutters.
Marietta rolls her eyes "Whatever, what were you even doing here with Potter and his know-it-all bushy haired girlfriend, the red-headed third wheeled glutton whose family wears rags, the fat cowardly Gryffindor and Loony Lovegood you know that they are not worthy of your company Cho"
"Mari why would you say that?" Cho asked shocked at Marietta's insensitive comments
"I'm sorry about saying that to you Potter." Marietta half-heartedly apologized to Harry and everyone else then says to Cho "Okay I apologized to Potter and his friends now come on let's go."
Cho huffs at this and gets up before she leaves the compartment and says to Harry "I'm sorry I'll talk to you when we are back at the castle okay."
"Sure Cho." Harry nodded
With Cho out of the cabin Luna assures Harry "Don't worry Harry Cho would hang out with us one day."
"How so Luna she hangouts with the popular kids like Marietta and Rodger Davies who is the Captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team." Harry said
"Well, ever since you told Cho what happened to Cedric, a spark in her heart has been lit and soon it would go from a Small flame to a raging inferno." Luna told Harry
"I see the only thing that's holding Cho back is Marietta." Harry pointed out
"Yeah, Marietta is holding her back, but Cho is a nice person I remember she defended me from Marietta and the rest of her popular friends who were bullying me in my first year." Luna said remembering what Cho did for her.
"I remember saying Cho was genuinely sorry of turning me when she accepted Cedric's offer to the Yule Ball, and she defended me from Filch four months ago when I tried to get her mother's gift in the Owlery. She is just as beautiful in the inside as much the outside." Harry said.
Ron, Hermione, Luna, and Neville laugh at what Harry said about Cho and he snaps "Oh shut up guys" They continue to laugh, and he laughs with them as the Hogwarts Express makes it way to Hogwarts.