cho chang

Georgina grinned at her words. “That definitely sounds like me.” She had done it once or twice in the past. Not because she wasn’t afraid to tell that to someone’s face, not that she was afraid of their reaction. But sometimes it was strictly fun to surprise people, simply because they did not expect it. As even now, she would not. “To tell you the truth, I do not remember if it was me or not. But… Since I am still in training, I think we need to have the best and be the best. I can’t have Viktor and his team winning over ours.” She pressed her lips together in thought. Quidditch had always been the one thing in her life that offered her more, that gave her something to look forward to and feel happy about it. Which was why it was something that she dedicated all her time to and took it with a pinch of salt?

“I do like the lunch idea. And the fact that I do think that as teammates, we have to be… Better.” Her finger pointed between the two of them. “We’ve got Gabs and the girls… And Viktor. But I think…” The words were hard to get out of her mouth, not only because she wasn’t used to saying them, but because they felt completely foreign in her mouth. “You know what I mean, right?” She asked, hoping that she would not be forced to say the words out loud. 

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Cho laughs, reaching for her drink. “If it really was you,” she swishes her glass slightly, turning the liquid’s colour to a bluer hue, “I can’t blame you for sending the letter. I was a trash beater.” Truthfully, to this day, Cho still does not understand Tutshill Tornadoes’s decision to hire her as a beater, a position she had never tried out for before. Especially seeing as she doesn’t even have the conventional build for it, being shorter and smaller than the other beaters around. It’s their luck really that she turns out to be good at it. And that hitting Bludgers suits her like a glove. “But yes, we definitely have to be the best,” For as along as Cho can remember, this idea of being the best team has always been one of the early things she and Georgina can agree on and even bond over. The two derive happiness from Quidditch. “We’re going to crush Viktor and Oliver.” She sips her drink, a mischievous smile on her face. “Coach is getting me to try out new tricks too so everything should be fine. And you’ll be back in competition sooner than you even realize.”

“I know what you mean,” Cho’s smile blossoms, “You don’t have to say it but please do say it.” Cho knows that friendship isn’t necessarily the most familiar concept to Georgina but she is extremely glad for the friendship she has managed to foster with her. It is already hard enough navigating the world, having friends by your side is always better. “Just you know, we’re all here for you.”

@chyoulater​

The only times that Georgina approved of the people surrounding her, the times she was most possibly drunk. Though with training season, that was less and less time. Which were lies? If it wasn’t for the hangover potion recipe she stole from her mother all those years ago, she probably would have had to stop drinking completely, now - every now and again was fine. 

Though she had to blame it on the drinks for the fact that she was surrounded by people. More so than ever in her life. People that were not her usual type. Sure, some of them had Quidditch in common, Gabi herself was French, but then Cho? A Ravenclaw? Even though they were on the same team, sometimes she simply found it harder to understand how she found herself in this place. She sighed again, looking at the girl who was in front of her. “I was literally jus thinking how we got here.” At least she was straightforward. “From the field to food.” 

.

Making friends as an adult is hard. Everyone is always perpetually busy with their careers. Some are settling down and getting married. Others are moving countries. Several you just lose touch with gradually. Cho can count on two hands, the amount of actually close friends she now has. A miserable turn from her Hogwarts days when she seemed to have an entourage of friends to sit next to at the Great Hall and hang out with on her downtime. Today, she’d be lucky to have someone not romantically interested in her to have dinner with. Nevertheless, she’s sort of grateful to have adult friends to eat with. Georgina being one of them. They started off as Quidditch teammates but somewhere along the line, that professional relationship turned into an almost genuine friendship. And they started to eat together on occasion. It’s nice to spend time with Georgina.

“Not sure,” Cho replies, taking a bite out of her meal as she weighs Georgina’s question, “I think you sent me an Owl at three in the morning calling me out for being rubbish at beating Bludgers when it’s my job to do so after practice once.” Cho chuckles, thinking back to her early days as a Beater where she really was bad at the job. But at this point, she’s slightly exaggerating the story for the fun of it. She’s not even sure if it’s Georgina who sent the letter or someone else on the team. “And then, me, being the pacifist I am, replied that we should talk it over over lunch? So here we are now?”

Callum was often invited to Quidditch matches, his father usually got the tickets, but he never went so Callum would occasionally take the tickets for himself and would normally invite someone, but today no one was available so the man went alone. After every match, there was a post match gathering, which anyone of importance attended. The man quickly cornered someone he hadn’t spoken to yet, holding out his hand to shake. He recognised the other, she knew some of Potter’s friends he was certain, he was observant like that.

“Callum Blackwood, great match today. It was a close one, but that hit at the end of the game really saved you I think.”

@chyoulater​

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There is nothing more satisfying than winning a Quidditch match. Winning means a more relaxed atmosphere at practices. No more excessive speed drills that make her groundsick. No more angry coaches spouting off opposing players’ statistics. No more core strength training that lasts until midnight. Cho can already imagine the calm, perfect days ahead where she can give herself a break. She is just so happy about winning that she does not mind attending the post match press conference, being bombarded by questions from various Wizarding news outlets. She also does not mind attending the post match celebration. Happy to bask in the glory of a Quidditch win while enjoying delicate pastries by a table.

Cho has just entered the room when someone accosts her with his hand held out. She takes and shakes it out of politeness, studying the stranger’s face intently. Sure that she’s seen him somewhere. When he says his name, it all clicks. He’s the Minister candidate Martin Blackwood’s son. Cho might not pay close attention to politics but one cannot necessarily avoid all the talks surrounding Martin Blackwood and Kingsley Shacklebolt wherever one may go. “Cho Chang,” she introduces herself, nodding to him, “Thank you. I take it you enjoyed the game?” She smiles at him as a waiter offers her a drink which she takes. She gestures for him to take one too, figuring that making nice with Callum Blackwood costs her nothing. “We usually played better than that. Well, I, usually played better than that,” she laughs airily, “But what counts is that we won right?”

The Quidditch Player often found herself socialising with other people in the same profession, it was just easier seen as they all worked on the same schedule and understood the demands of the sport. It also helped seen as the limelight was usually shared between them, rather than simply on one person. Once she was off of the pitch, she left the rivalries aside and found herself enjoying the company of her fellow players. 

Angelina spotted Cho by the bar and moved over to talk to her. “Hey!” she smiled. “How are you? I haven’t spoken to you in a bit.”

@chyoulater​

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Cho isn’t necessarily the biggest alcohol fan. The girl doesn’t usually drink a lot but she does love to be in a light drunken state once a while. Hence why sometimes one can spot her at a bar, sipping Wizarding cocktails or firewhiskey after practice sessions when she’s too preoccupied with her own thoughts to go straight home.

Today is no different. She just needs a tiny bit of detour before heading back to her flat so the only sensible option, of course, is a bar. She has just ordered her second glass of fire whiskey when a familiar voice calls out to her. Cho turns around, smiling at Angelina Johnson. “Angelina,” she greets, “It has been a long time. I think the last time we spoke to each other was after a match few months ago?” Angelina is one of many Quidditch athletes that Cho would call a friend outside of the pitch. She isn’t too concerned with competition or keeping a rivalry going and she has been nothing but extremely pleasant and nice to be around. “I’m exhausted but that’s to be expected. Please sit,” she gestures to the empty chair next to her, “What about you? Anything exciting going on?”

Usually Barnaby complained about his work keeping him from certain events, but somehow it had been an invitation away from perhaps a worse night out. The event that everyone had gone to seemed to have worked against everyone. No one could have known the possibility of veritaserum being downed mistaken for natural champagne. Barnaby wondered if he was there if it would have happened to him though no one seemed an anomaly. His work with potions led him to wondering if he could sense the poison out if he was placed in that position. 

“Oh, no, please-sit, I mean,” Barnaby managed, making room for the approaching woman and restacking what was on the table. It was mostly field notes and a few words from tangled thoughts listed out. “I-? Barnaby Lee. Perhaps you do though I only got back here a few months ago.” Barnaby smiled politely at the woman before he followed her gaze. “I’ve heard.” It was the only thing he could offer in a form of condolences. “Perhaps there will be better events in the future. At least it wasn’t any worse poison…”

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“Cho Chang,” Cho introduces herself as the waiter comes with her order. She takes the cup of tea, grateful for something to warm her hands with. The autumn air hasn’t been the most pleasant lately. She has heard or seen Barnaby Lee somewhere. Perhaps in Hogwarts? Though if it’s Hogwarts, she guesses that their years must have only overlapped by a year or two. “Where have you been before?” Cho asks, hoping that she doesn’t sound rude for asking a complete stranger about his previous whereabouts. But she simply can’t help herself from asking questions. It’s the innate curiousity inside her, the constant want of knowing people and things better.

“Let’s hope there will be better events in the future,” she agrees, “I guess it’s a relief that the food and drinks weren’t spiked with worse poison.” But then again, Veritaserum isn’t exactly the better option when set against lethal poison. Cho Chang didn’t exactly die. She is still very much alive but the progress she has made on her mental health seems to have crumbled slightly after the Veritaserum entered her body. Like all her work is being reversed by a single incident. “Still, I would have preferred it better if the security would have been more cautious and tested the food beforehand. You must have been relieved to not have attended.”

“We’ve got at least seven in active use, but three for overflow. And for any interns or temporary workers. Zo ‘Arry says we will not get any of zose any time soon, unless ze war gets very open.” She chattered. Nothing she’d just said was confidential so she wouldn’t get in trouble, but she probably ought to watch what she told Cho. Her instinct was to tell Cho everything.

“Oh, pizza!” The pizza in France wasn’t fantastic, but she’d really come to like the pizza in Britain. Gnocci was definitely better in France though. Maybe she’d give it a try. Or convince Cho to try some and steal a few bites. That worked with Fleur sometimes. “Thank goodness, apparating always ruins my appetite. All that twisting in and out of nothing, eet eez exhausting. What are you thinking of getting?”

–

“That’s a lot of desks,” Cho mutters, “and a lot of the people.” At the mention of the incoming war, Cho frowns. The war has escaped her vocabulary these last few months, blurring into the background as she ignores each and every odd occurrence that points to a brewing conflict. She has blinded her eyes to it. Secretly hoping that wishing it away would truly make it disappear. But it’s still there and people are still preparing for it. “Let’s hope it does not get to that point. I’m sure everything will be fine.” Her voice takes on an optimistic tone despite the clear worry displayed in her expression.

“I’m think of maybe splitting the pizza? And also ordering lasagna. The dessert selection is also lovely apparently,” The restaurant serves slices of cake and she has heard that the opera cake is divine. Cho intends to taste the truth for herself. “Apparating always makes my stomach queasy too. Let’s walk back after lunch.” Both she and Gabi have never been huge fans of Apparition so when they eat or visit places together, they make sure that there’s always other modes of transportation available. “What about you? What are you getting?” she asks her. She hopes Gabi would order dessert and maybe a pasta dish, she could have a bite of just to have a taste.

There were many things that Percy had to face the following week of the event and it had taken a toll on him. It wasn’t exactly something that he wanted to face but after speaking with Kingsley in such candid style and insulting Callum and Blackwood senior, Percy thought he would experience one of his paid sick days but instead he decided to face the music. It was a longer day than he assumed and Percy finally looked up when he saw Cho. He didn’t know the Ravenclaw that well other than school, but even then years had separated the two. 

Percy could see the immediacy of her words and his shoulders sagged forward as he complied. “He’s here. Just not seeing anyone or taking any meetings at this time. I’m sure you are aware as to why…” Percy cleared his throat as he tried not to bring up the recent events or Kingsley’s own meltdown. “I can sign it as an assistant or…I can knock and see if he can make a minute.”

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“Is it because of the Halloween event?” Cho asks tentatively after hearing Percy’s answer, feeling slightly bad for the Minister for Magic. She has heard the comment Kingsley Shacklebolt made on his opponent that night and it didn’t exactly flatter Kingsley’s character. “Veritaserum is always complicated to deal with,” she grimaces. Cho would know, having encountered the potion twice already in her relatively short life. She can’t say she’s recovered well from both instances either. “You don’t need to ask him.”

“Can you really sign it?” she looks to Percy. Her father has instructed her that the documents be signed by Kingsley but perhaps Percy as his assistant can sign them for him? “Truthfully I don’t know much about what the documents are about. Just that they’re important.” She places the sealed brown envelope of the documents onto Percy’s desk before dragging a vacant chair over. “I’ve opened it and read it a bit. It’s full of legal jargons I can’t quite decipher.” Sitting on the chair, Cho gestures for Percy to read the documents, figuring that he probably knows and understands what’s on those documents better than anyone else in this level of the ministry.

“Oh Merlin I think Mike would never let that go if I did that,” Terry said with a little laugh. He knew that Michael and Cho weren’t exactly on the best foot, hell he and Michael weren’t even on the best foot, but he didn’t think the older girl would mind the slight mention. Terry didn’t believe in avoiding awkward topics like failed friendships or romances as long as they didn’t start dissecting what went wrong. He might even prefer complaining over Michael than listening to how golden Luna’s hair looked or how the light made her look like some woodland fairy or something. 

Taking the drink offered to him, Terry held it up in a little salute before taking a sip himself. “I guess I did choose a little bit of an unconventional color. Marietta wouldn’t let me get away with blending in with the crowd, suppose girls can’t have all the fun.” Anthony also had a bit of a leaning towards unconventional colors as well so that helped him feel more secure. “Did you come with anyone tonight or alone like myself?”

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“He definitely wouldn’t,” she agrees, laughing slightly, “That one never lets anything go.” Cho has always thought herself to be on good terms with Michael. There are certain things that she will always be grateful to him for, the kindness he had shown her in school for example and the shoulder he offered her when all she could do was cry and mope around. But somewhere along the line, their friendship has soured and while she holds no ill will towards him, he certainly does her. She still hasn’t figured out why though. “I take it you still keep in contact with him?” she asks out of curiosity, head tilted slightly to the side. If she recalls correctly, Terry and Michael did hang out at Hogwarts. She thinks she’d seen the two of them with Anthony Goldstein a few times at the common room. 

“We definitely can’t have all the fun! I approve of the colour choice,” she nods to him, appreciative of his get up for the evening, “Take Marietta’s advices. She’s almost always right.” Cho takes another ship from her drink, looking around at the space and the people mingling about. “No, I decided at the last minute that I was going. Couldn’t find a last minute date or a friend that I could go with.” Cho hadn’t wanted to go to the masquerade at first but in the end, some of her friends had managed to convince her to come out. “Were you planning on coming with someone?”

a weird text

[Inbox]: She sells seashells by the seashore. The shells she sells are surely seashells. So if she sells shells on the seashore, I'm sure she sells seashore shells.

a text for help

[Inbox]: Sooooo

[Inbox]: I just accidentally drank Skele-Gro instead of pumpkin juice

[Inbox]: Don’t ask how or why

[Inbox]: Should I be concened?

[Inbox]: *concerned? My hands are sort of sahking

[Inbox]: I shuold go to Muungo’s, shouldn’y I?

who steals french fries off the other’s plate

Oliver. He steals and finishes nearly 70% of Cho’s fries while Cho is off getting extra ketchup at the cashier.

who jokingly moves in for the kiss when someone asks if they’re a couple

None of them. Cho would simply reply that their intellectual levels don’t match and Oliver isn’t that good of a conversation partner. Is that a dig at Oliver? Maybe. 

who has to bust or bail the other out of jail

They’re both in jail.

who gives the other advice/comfort about dating issues

Both would probably give each other advices but it’s debatable whether both ever follow the advices they get from each other.

who shamelessly cheats at games by reaching over to cover the other’s eyes

If it’s Quidditch, none of them cheat. But at other games, Oliver cheats when Cho is somehow winning the game.

who immediately calls dibs on the top bunk

Cho calls dibs on the top bunk.

who starts and who wins the pillow fights

Cho starts them but her winning streak is far too low.

who says “your pants would look better on their floor” to the other’s potential crush

Cho says this Katie sometimes for Oliver but it’s not as fun when they’re literally married.

a flirty text

[Inbox]: I’m good with my hands.

[Inbox]: Ask anyone 

a one word text

a concerned text

[Inbox]: Hey, I haven’t seen you around in a while! We should talk soon!!

[Inbox]: I just saw this new Muggle shop you might like

[Inbox]: How are you anyway? Hope you’re doing well!

who steals french fries off the other’s plate

Cho definitely and she steals more around Percy for some reasons.

who jokingly moves in for the kiss when someone asks if they’re a couple

None of them? Cho doesn’t do this kind of thing with a friend’s ex out of respect for said friend.

who has to bust or bail the other out of jail

Percy. I imagine Cho would call him late at night from jail and be all casual like, “Hello, yes, Percy Weasley. I’m in jail. Everyone else is asleep. Bail me out please.” She pays him back the bail money though.

who gives the other advice/comfort about dating issues

Cho would give Percy advices, some of them unsolicited, but she would also seek Percy’s advices regarding certain serious relationship matters like financial or something.

who shamelessly cheats at games by reaching over to cover the other’s eyes

None?

who immediately calls dibs on the top bunk

Cho always calls dibs on the top bunk. Percy relents but sometimes fights her on it.

who starts and who wins the pillow fights

Cho. The winner changes frequently though.

who says “your pants would look better on their floor” to the other’s potential crush

who steals french fries off the other’s plate

Cho when she hasn’t seen greasy food in days and is slowly going insane.

who jokingly moves in for the kiss when someone asks if they’re a couple

Cho would do it once or twice with Luna. Just to get a laugh out of it.

who has to bust or bail the other out of jail

Luna would have to bail Cho out of jail because she does some stupid shits without really meaning to.

who gives the other advice/comfort about dating issues

Cho is a relationship guru. She’s available 24/7 to give Luna advices on dating and whatnot. Also, Luna would probably be one of the few people able to give relationship advices to Cho because Cho actually wants to know what she thinks about all her dates as Luna has a better eye for people than Cho.

who shamelessly cheats at games by reaching over to cover the other’s eyes

None of them. They play fair and square and win fair and square too.

who immediately calls dibs on the top bunk

Both fight over it. There’s a rule that whoever puts their bag on the top bunk first gets it.

who starts and who wins the pillow fights

Cho starts like she always does but actually manages to beat Luna every so often.

who says “your pants would look better on their floor” to the other’s potential crush