* // 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠

🔥 🔥

“I hope so, we are going up against Puddlemere soon and they are a tough team.” She admitted, “And I’m not just saying that cause Oliver is their captain, though he was an amazing one back in school.”  Ginny had never thought of herself as a Seeker, that was Harry’s job.  She loved being a chaser, but when her captain had pulled her aside she found it hard to say no.  What could she say when her Captain told her she could not think of anyone better.  So she did her best to be the best.  Extra training, Extra laps, heck she even spent way too much money on the best broom money could buy at the moment.  It was an expense that hit her rather hard, but it was worth it for the results.  

Ginny dug through her pocket book producing a spare ticket, “I usually keep one on me, so here.” She smiled warmly, “Harry should be in the section too, you should be able to catch up with him.” Ginny added, though she did feel like Cho would be in for a shock sitting so close to her family.  They were loud and proud, heck she had even remembered how Percy looked the first time she took the Pitch as a professional.  It warmed her to her core.  

“Yeah, Percy is still working at the Ministry.  Bill is no longer a curse breaker.  He still works at Gringots.  Charlie has his dragons, Fred and George are doing their best with their business and Ron.. well he’s Ron..” She chuckled, “Our parents are quite proud of us though, we’ve all come a very long way from who we were in school.”  She missed the days they all lived under one roof.  Life hadn’t been quite the same since they all moved on.  It was quieter and Ginny did not function well in the quiet. 

. 

“Do we know anyone on Puddlemore? Slips my mind sometimes, I’m sure a handful were in classes with us-” she noted, eyes brightening in recognition once Ginny mentioned Oliver. “Right, forgot he captained them. He was quite the captain back at school, but I’ve no doubt you’ll bash them in. Can’t let it make you nervous, just think of it as all talk, no walk, that sort of thing.” It was what Cho used to do, anyway. Oliver was great, better than most she’s seen, but she would always convince herself that it was just gossip. That all those columns written about the Oliver Wood was just rumour made by the school papers. Unfortunately, she’d be reminded that they were very much real when she’d play Gryffindor.

“You’re sure about this?” Cho asked hesitantly, though her fingers reached for the ticket with a grateful smile. “Thanks, Gin. I’ll need to buy your jersey and all, make sure I’m on the right side of the field and whatnot.” It’d been a while since going to a game, though they always gave her a pleasing sense of nostalgia. “I’ll be sure to be there though.”

Cho could imagine how proud the Weasleys were. They were practically in the business of making quidditch players at this point, though Cho was surprised that Ron hadn’t followed along after school. “I’ve seen Percy around, though we don’t talk much. Everyone’s always running around, it’s hard to stop and have a chat-” Shoulders shrugged, though Cho new that she was more or less locked in her office anyway. “Suppose everyone’s come quite a way from school, though I miss not having too many responsibilities. Have you still a thing for pygmy puffs?” Cho grinned.

“I’m coming! Calm your pants.” Despite her annoyed tone, Angelina had a grin on her face. It had always been like that between herself and Cho – many times during school, she remembered the absolute confusion among the student body when they’d be chummy off the pitch, because on the pitch was a completely different story. Neither of them played Quidditch anymore ( a fact that still bummed Angelina out greatly ), but their playful rivalry still continued in other ways. 

“Dawlish doesn’t have a lick of sense for fashion,” she huffed, rolling her eyes as she caught up to Cho’s side and matched her pace. “Merlin, you’re walking quickly. In that much of a rush to get this over with and rid of me?” She smiled teasingly and nudged at Cho’s arm, laughing at the other’s joke. “A consolation prize, hm? And how many times did we win against your team again? Maybe I should treat you to the cardigan as a prize for yourself.” Though she wasn’t about to say no to something free. “I wouldn’t mind going for a scarf. Maybe a hat or a new jacket – can never have too many of those.”

-

“Don’t sell yourself short Cho.” Ginny admired, “Aurors make the wizarding world safe… heck I think all of Hogwarts at one time or another owed an Auror its life.”  Ginny encouraged the other, She had listened to Harry and Ron talk about his dreams of becoming an Auror, time and time again so she often felt like she had more knowledge on the subject then others would suggest.  “It used to be Ron’s dream.. I swear him and Harry when they were younger would play Auror’s and Hitwizards.  It was quite hilarious to watch.” She chuckled fondly at the memory before her eyes returned back to Cho’s. 

“It took quite a bit of work, I only just got promoted this year.” She admitted, her nerves were real and pliable at the thought of being Seeker.  It was a whole new weight of responsibilities when it came to her team. “In all honesty i’m more nervous then anything.. I’m an Ace Chaser, so I hope I can still be that as a Seeker.” She admitted rather easy to Cho, which surprised her.   “If you want, I get a ton of bonus tickets.. cause of the size of my family, I can see if I can swing you one for the next time we play?” She offered kindly.

Ginny chuckled, “Good on you for specifying.. Ron is alright, he is traveling for Work.. I’m hoping he will be home soon but who knows.” She shrugged, “Last letter we got he is enjoying life though.” 

. 

“You know, I’ll bet you being a chaser will make you a fine seeker. Gives you the two perspectives and mindsets, yeah?” Cho missed playing that position for Ravenclaw, but those years were far past her and done with. Some nights it felt as if she’d given up on her own dreams, though it was reassuring to hear about the aurors that came before her. Maybe she could still be something even if this wasn’t her sincere passion in life. Regardless, her parents were pleased with her choice. They had a large part in that choice, but Cho liked it nevertheless. But now, whenever she’d go to matches, Cho couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy in her core; one that would even keep her up some nights as she wondered whether or not she was actually good enough... 

She shook those thoughts from her head and instead gave Ginny a gracious smile at the offer. “I’d like to. Can’t wait to see you shred up the field and whatnot, and I’m sure your brothers must go wild over watching you out there. No one else plays in your family do they? Professionally, I mean? I know Fred and George have that joke shop...” Unless they played on the side, she wouldn’t think it was possible. “Ron’s working though, is he? What’s he do now? I haven’t heard much of him and Harry for a bit, I suppose work’s been hassling me far too much to keep up-” she chuckled. 

                                              C H O ─ zodiac

𝐓𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐔𝐒.

“Merlin, keep up, would you?” Cho teased, that grin on her lips making it apparent. The pair of them had always had a playful rivalry between them given their past history in quidditch, but that didn’t fade much after their schooling years. Cho remembered the looks the two of them would get. She remembered the whispers in the halls about just when her and Angela would finally have a fist fight. Some even thought that they might kiss? Maybe both. Neither happened obviously, and Cho still enjoyed a friend who wasn’t fragile in the slightest. 

“I need a proper cardigan for work, Dawlish said. Says my attire is too young, though I really hope he doesn’t expect me to dress like his mother.” Maybe she should quit... Follow Ginny’s lead and try to get back into Quidditch. But it was a bit too late to turn back now, and as much as Cho didn’t enjoy the busy work, she wanted the title of auror more than anything. The hours and days and weeks of training she put into this wasn’t something she wanted to waste. “What about we get you a scarf or something while we’re at it? My treat, a consolation prize for all those matches we won-” she joked. 

~~

Ginny was surprised when Cho had reached out to her, but she was grateful.  It was brief bits of normality that made her grateful for the current day and sitting down and grabbing food with an old school mate had to be the top of someone list for normality.  “Oh yeah, currently the Seeker for the Holyhead Harpies.  First and only all witch quidditch team in the league.” She smirked proudly.  Her teammates and her busted their arses most of the year to garner enough attention to even make it into league and she was determined as her first year as Seeker to not only get her girls into the World Cup but bring it home as well.

“Guess you could say I couldn’t leave Quidditch behind, it was one of my only saving graces while back at Hogwarts.” She  let out a soft sigh, she didn’t think fondly of several memories within those halls.  Tom Riddle locking her away in her own mind, getting jealous of any gal Harry dared look at, needing to be saved like some damsel.  She had tried to change, she had tried to be better to be her own hero.  It just wasn’t working out for her.  “What about you Cho? What work place was lucky enough to snatch you up?”

. 

Eyes cast downward at the mention of Ginny’s continuation of quidditch. Cho was proud of her work, she was, but sometimes she regretted not pursuing the sport like Weasley had. Maybe she was jealous, but she shook that feeling from her head. Really, Ginny was quite impressive. The first witch team wasn’t anything to laugh about, especially seeing how aggressive Ginny used to be on the fields at Hogwarts. Cho missed that... Being able to take out all her feelings out on the field. With her current occupation, there was hardly any space for such a thing. 

“The ministry,” she replied, a small smile on pale coral lips. “Training to be an auror, though it hasn’t been moving as quickly as I thought... But that’s nowhere near as interesting. You’re a professional seeker... That’s quite the job, isn’t it? I’ll have to catch one of your matches,” Cho added, a small chuckle following her words. “I don’t know, I guess I missed having work to do though. The ministry’s something like Hogwarts in the sense where I’ve got piles of work to do and all. Familiar, I suppose.” She paused, remembering certain characters at Hogwarts. “How’s your brother? Ron, I mean-” 

It was nice to catch up with her old classmates; even those who were a few years after her. While this little meet up wasn’t entirely intended, bumping into an old classmate was nice every so often, and the few drinks in Cho already made her a bit more outgoing than she usually was... Somewhat dangerous, but always fun. nevertheless, seeing the red head at that same little watering hole was a nice change of pace, especially given the rather gloomy time she’s had at the ministry as of late. Nothing like a good conversation to get her mind off of quitting her job entirely and coming home to her parents who would undoubtedly berate her for no less than three hours straight. Though one think Cho couldn’t help but think about was Harry. There were rumours that him and Ginny might’ve been a thing, but Cho didn’t pay much mind. She’d always been far too in love with Cedric to really think about another relationship. To this day, she couldn’t seriously think about herself and Potter in the slightest without a bit of a giggle. Still, Ginny was known to Cho as a rival seeker. A talented one, but her own competitiveness got in the way of compliments more of the time. “So... What’ve you been up to lately? Are you still playing?”

Cho enjoyed her days outside of Hogwarts. While she was in her last year there, she swore to herself not to be one of those people that lingered too much on their schooling days, as that was a bit pathetic of grown adults. Peaked in uni, as the muggles would say, and Cho didn’t want to associate with that type. However, it was hard to not think about Hogwarts when she would see so many people from her classes so frequently around the area and especially in the ministry. Cho supposed as long as she didn’t feel like she had a better time at school, she supposed those memories wouldn’t hurt... But Merlin, they hardly let her do anything during training now. Since the change in mentors, her days were rather dull and hands-off with her work experience.

☾*✲⋆.     

     “I’d still write articles, I think,” she says, her mind thinking of the possibilities of her future. “Just less frequently. I don’t think father would appreciate me leaving him high and dry like that.” She giggles thinking of her father’s unbelieving expression when she once told him she was considering giving up writing. He had shook his head and said to her that just because something doesn’t feel easy right now, doesn’t mean she should give up on it. She took that advice and carried it with her always. “The Prophet has nice crosswords at least, even if it’s not the most reputable source.” Then again, a lot of people said that about her writing.      She laughs at the mention of Lockhart. “I’d hope people would take me a bit more seriously than they do him! Though I bet a collaboration would do wonders for my career.” A Lovegood and Lockhart novel. One could only imagine what would be in that. “Hm, I suppose so, but you’d know more about dangerous occupational settings than I do. It’s a rush, isn’t it? Knowing that anything is out there?” She thinks that perhaps this is not the most healthy line of seeking. Perhaps she actually is, as her father as once called her, a thrill-seeker. Luna just liked excitement.       “Besides, I always have a lot of protection symbols on me. Crystals are good for that, small enough to wear as jewellery but strong enough to ward off bad energy.” She takes a necklace out from under her shirt. “See?” She holds it in her hand, showing off the jade crystal. “It’s jade— for tranquility, peace, and protection.” 

. 

☾*✲⋆.     

     “That sounds… Interesting?” Luna offers, unsure on what the proper word is for a day filled with paperwork and acting as someones lackey. She was glad she had control over her job at least, even if it was going rather slow right now. The office life was never one for Luna Lovegood, who found home in the fields behind the house and the creepy but always-wonderful woodland. She felt sympathetic for her friend, sensing the hint of bitterness about the workload. She wants to say that she hopes Cho will get into the field soon, but having her friend in immediate danger and the idea that something bad will come… The feeling she’s been trying to suppress so hard recently… It was troubling, to say the least. “Hopefully things pick up for you soon.”      Luna giggles when Cho asks her that question. The truth is that she was asked it more often than not, even by her own father sometimes. The very truth of the matter was that Luna Lovegood, for all intents and purposes, had no idea what she was doing. “I’m just doing some writing with The Quibbler right now. Nothing big or important.” The words are sour on her tongue, filling her with a great disappointment that she refuses to let linger. “Though I have been considering a career change. I’d like to write a book, get more into Magizoology, find more creatures… Ones that no one has yet, you know? I think it would be fascinating. How may people can say they’ve discovered an entirely new species!”

. 

“Oh, the Quibbler-” Cho reacted, rather intrigued though she felt as if she shouldn’t have been surprised at Luna’s career choice. It was, after all, a great fit for her and her interests in those that many deemed unusual. The Quibbler was an interesting read when Cho had the time though. While she wouldn’t say that she wholeheartedly believed in many of the articles in there, it was a nice insight to other thought processes and beliefs. “I think that’d be a nice change of pace, though I do rather like the stories in the Quibbler. Better written that the Prophet, that’s for sure,” Cho scoffed at the mere mention of that trash. She begrudgingly remembered those awful stories written during the Tri-Wizard Tournament that made Cho want to fight that Skeeter woman herself. 

.

“Ah yeah, that’ll be fun!” Dedalus replied with a nod. “A fitting send off to our time as roommates. It’d be a major upgrade at the very least.” Besides that, Dedalus figured it’d be nice to be back in society, even for a short while. And if people whispered behind his back then they did, it was nothing that he wasn’t used to. “The juice isn’t that bad.” He commented, eyeing the cup on his tray. “I’ve certainly had far worse. This is just…. fine, I guess? Merlin,” he rubbed at his jaw with a hand, “I remember Gregorovitch used to make juice fresh, never found out what was in it but it was awful! It was green, which should have been a warning enough, really.”

“You changed mentors?” His brow furrowed slightly. Was that a common thing in the Auror department? “Who do you have now?” It wasn’t really something that Dedalus knew too much about, but any department of the ministry had never been something that sparked his imagination like the countless other interests he had over the years. “Hmmm, probably when the Healers do their rounds next? I don’t think it’ll be late tonight. Or I hope it won’t be, at least. It’s gotta be soon, right?” With a slight grimace tugging at his lips, Dedalus looked up at the clock on the wall. All the hours seemed to blur into each other in their hospital room and he wasn’t entirely sure how long it had been since they had last seen the Healers earlier that day. “Not really? Everyone’s used to me being in St Mungo’s at this point.” He chuckled. “Albeit it’s normally because of my own doing…. what about you? Heard much from your friends and family?”

. 

She hummed in answer, eyeing that cup on his tray in abhorrence before getting her mind back on track of the questions at hand. Her transferring of mentors was not taken lightly.  In fact, it was completely against her and Tonks’ will, though there was no arguing with an apparent suspension she supposed. Needless to day, Cho wasn’t allowed to talk about the reasons behind such a suspension. She wasn’t quite clear about the premises either, but it didn’t detract from her frustrations with the Ministry. It didn’t make the lack of real mentorship any more palatable when it came to her and Dawlish, but Cho had to keep her mouth shut about her grievances and muddle through until Tonks was back. If Tonks came back, that is. 

“They assigned me a new mentor. Dawlish.” Her tone made it evident about her feelings towards the shift. And while her and Dedalus weren’t necessarily close friends, she didn’t mind having someone to talk to who hadn’t put upon her the crushing expectations that Dawlish had. “Why’d everyone used to you being here?” she asked, mood lightening with his small chuckle. “Any new experiments you want to share?” Cho herself had been rather fond of Seamus and his own little mishaps. She never liked to think much on that now though. “No, not recently. I’ve been hoping to keep this all quiet, but some people have already caught on. Parents are back in Scotland, so they’ve no clue of all this.”

To call the looks George was getting as he entered the waiting room of St. Mungo’s glances would be too kind. He felt the glares come from all over as he stepped to the front desk to inquire about his eldest brother’s injuries. He knew Bill was doing okay, his mother had informed the family of that much, but he still wanted to pay his respects individually. To assure his brother that he and Fred had nothing to do with the fiascos at the festival.

He hoped his reputation as a menace to society would at least grant him a security guard to guide him to the room of his ailing brother, but no one wanted to show George that level of kindness today. So he snuck past the main desk (a low dose of dung bombs being the most useful they had been to him over the years) and meandered through the dimly lit halls, peaking his head into each room until he hoped he would find a familiar head of red hair.

“Good to see you too, Cho,” George replied, hiding the insecurities in his voice with an ever-present joke. “I’m visiting my brother. I heard he’s a few doors down, although no one seems to want to tell me specifically which one.”

He invited himself in, taking a look around the stark white walls of the room, which certainly could have been more cheerful. He knew what had happened to Cho, and he should have stopped by sooner to make sure she was alright as well. And to clear his name. “How are you feeling? See they’ve wasted no time putting you back to work,” he nodded his head at the papers in a pile next to her bedside table.

. 

It hadn’t even been that long since the incident and Cho’s face was already a bit sunken and gaunt from the lack of sleep and overthinking. It was a long few days to say the least, and all she could think about was how people would see her once she finally got released from the hospital.... Auror in training, absolutely decimated by a bunch of pixies. While her and Dedalus were in the same boat at least, Cho still carried a level of embarrassment that she wouldn’t be able to shake. Not for a while at least. 

So in a way, she welcomed the paperwork that she had always despised so fiercely. At least the work took her mind off of how scratched up her face was. And she’d even been enjoying the empty mindedness just before George wandered into her room... George, the other half who started this whole mess. Cho liked to tell herself that it was a mistake, and obviously it was, but it did nothing to soothe her nerves. 

☾*✲⋆.

     “I get them quite a bit, not really sure what that’s all about but you win some you lose some, hm?” Luna says, twirling her hair, attention half paid to the conversation and half to the upcoming celebration. She brings her thoughts back to Cho and furrows her eyebrows in concern. “If you don’t go, I’m sure everyone will understand, but you shouldn’t let the past define your future!” Her father had told her that at least once a week since she was a child and would get easily frustrated by the lack of progress in her projects. It was his way of encouraging her to always ‘get back in the game’.        Had she seen her friends recently? She frowns and takes a moment to think. “No, really, I haven’t.” Luna wonders when she allowed herself to get so antisocial. The days passed her in a blur most times, filled with scattered parchment, greenhouse tending, and hunting for magical creatures. How had she let herself forget about her friends? She makes a mental note to owl some people over for tea as soon as possible and refocusses her attention on the friend in front of her. “Well of course there’s Ginny, and I still see Neville quite a bit, and I saw Theodore at George and Fred’s birthday party.” Luna sighs and shrugs. “I suppose I’ve become a bit of a recluse lately, work and all that. How’s the Auror department?” She grimaces. Maybe this wasn’t the best topic of conversation, considering the wixes recent hospital stay. She quickly adds: “Outside of the incident, of course.” 

. 

☾*✲⋆.

    “Oh, you look fine, really! Beautiful as ever, I promise,” Luna smiles at her friend but assures her that she will forward some of the cream through owl post as soon as she got home. She laughs at the comment, thinking of a certain Irish student at Hogwarts who hadn’t much luck, if his exploded cauldrons had anything to say for it.      Remembering what she’s heard about the new club, Luna shrugs. “It’s apparently really nice. Katie’s having her birthday there, so I reckon most of our year will be in attendance. I’ve heard tell that the drinks are just amazing, and it’s got a certain ambiance to it— a mystery.” Luna wasn’t much for partying at all, but she knew she couldn’t miss a friends birthday, and besides, everyone else was going to be there— so naturally, she had to at least make an appearance. The mystery surrounding the new place also held a certain allure.      Luna shakes her head and stirs her drink. “Not really. I’ve only been to one, a while ago with a friend… I didn’t care much for it, honestly, they’re quite loud and the music gives me a terrible headache.” She takes a sip of her drink and hums in satisfaction, eyes closing for a brief moment. “Will you be there?”

 . 

Smile softened at her friend’s sweet reply, something Cho hadn’t heard in quite a while given her working environment though it was welcomed nonetheless when it came to those she liked. “Thank you, Luna. As do you.” She hadn’t seen many people of their year in a while, and honestly, Cho wasn’t quite thrilled to do so after her most recent events. Who didn’t read the papers? Or who hadn’t heard the news of the festival? Call it something bursting from her own pride, but Cho wasn’t quite interested in talking to people about how she was hospitalized. 

.

He couldn’t help a laugh about that. “You would think so, but catering isn’t a priority compared to the other departments.” And up until this hospitalisation thanks to those blasted creatures, catering was one of the only departments at the hospital that Dedalus had little experience with. Whilst he was a frequent patient thanks to his experiments, he was rarely in there long enough to have the need of hospital food. “You won’t have to put up with it for much longer. You know, I may have to stop off at the Leaky before heading home, get a proper meal in.” He certainly wanted the chance to have normal food before attempting to either apparate or use the floo network. 

Dedalus speared a rather soft look carrot with his fork before popping it in his mouth. “Mmm, they’ll probably have you working overtime until you’ve made up for the hours you’ve missed. Gotta get their money’s worth out of you, you know?” There was little doubt in his mind that instead of overtime he’d be met instead with a mountain of paperwork that Garrick refused to do. It would, at the very least, fill the time between the scant customers he received, although he doubted it would be terribly exciting. “Ah, don’t worry about that. They’ll be on to the next thing soon enough and out misfortune will be forgotten.”

.

She huffed a somewhat annoyed sigh as she stared at that rather boring looking tray before turning her head to watch as her roommate tucked into some carrot. “I’ll head off with you to the Cauldron if we’re dispatched at the same time. Could use something t’drink too, I’m tired of this juice they keep shoving down my throat-” So maybe she was a bit bitter about this whole situation, but this on top of her strains at work were all brewing into a perfect storm which would inevitably lead to Cho self medicating at the pub. At least she wasn’t alone in all of this though. As selfish as it seemed, she was a bit relieved to have someone to share the humiliation with. 

“Ah, they’ll have me working the moment I’m out of here. Getting their money’s worth is a bit wasted on me doing simple paperwork. All I’m good for with them ever since they changed my mentor.” Since Tonks left, she was left to revise paperwork in some dimly lit corner for hours on end without any actual auror training to her name. That wasn’t her concern at the moment though. Not until tomorrow at least. “When do you suppose we’ll be out of here then? Before the day’s up, of course? We’d only be taking up space in the hospital beds after that...” Only excuses to get out of there of course. Cho wanted to have a drink and speed home to properly asses the scars and damage that those flying rats gave her. “I do hope it’ll all be forgotten though... Have you been in contact with many people since?” 

     “Oh, well I suppose if I had a run-in like that I’d be less fond of them too,” Luna says, an apologetic smile gracing her features. She had forgotten that a lot of people aren’t the biggest fan of meddlesome creatures, especially those with a tendency to leave injury in their wake. Luna herself had a few run ins with some creatures like that, and having left with her eyebrows singed off by a rather annoyed fire crab, she knew all too well the grudges that could be held.      “I have some dittany-based moisturizer if you’d like. It will keep the cuts from scarring, at least?” She shrugs at Cho and leans forward, resting her head on her chin. “I’m sure you’re sick of talking about it though, what with all of the publicity it got in the paper. I do hope the incident doesn’t happen again… It’s not very good luck, is it?” She shakes her head and frowns, looking down at the table in front of her. Luna wasn’t the biggest fan of divination— it’s not that she didn’t believe in it, of course she did, it’s that she didn’t believe people should mess about with Fate and the magic involved with predicting it.      Luna looks back up and smiles, dismissing the negative thoughts from her head. She never liked dwelling on the past, nor the possibilities for negative future experiences. She instead focusses on a more exciting piece of news. “Have you heard of the new nightclub that opened up? Club Raven? It sounds fun!” She shrugs. “I haven’t been out in a while. I was thinking I’d check it out.”

.