Connections in Blue and Bronze

Welcome to the first Ravenclaw House collaboration written for the Hogwarts Online Forum. Each House member chose a Ravenclaw, and was given three other characters, one from each of the three lesser houses. The brief was to write a series of three linking stories featuring the Ravenclaw and the three others. We hope you enjoy it.

Please read and review.

Cho Chang

(with Severus Snape, Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory)

by

Emily Snow

Part 1

Professor Severus Snape was currently reeling off a short yet crucial lecture about the tips and tricks in potion making. Mostly everyone listened intently to this apart a couple of drowsy students who were nodding off to sleep. A handful of people were writing down notes and one of those people was Cho Chang.

As much as she disliked Professor Snape, she loved the concept of potions and how by simply following a few directions and grabbing a couple of ingredients, you could create something that could aid you in simple climaxes. Of course, some potions were much more complex and intricate but Cho loved making these potions too. She usually did very well in her potions (but not as good as Hermione Granger, she had heard) which was one of the reasons Professor Snape didn't like her or dislike her.

After the Professor had announced their task (he had hinted that it may contribute to their end of year result if done well) she set off to work immediately. She worked fast and swiftly but didn't dare to make a mistake. Her friend, Marietta Edgecombe, was a little more careless and slow as Potions was one of her most hated subjects (have a guess why).

When the Potions Master came over, he sniffed Marietta's cauldron and gave her a sharp, harsh comment about her lack of work. When he did the same with Cho's cauldron, he didn't say anything. But his frown disappeared which meant he was satisfied with her work.

She let herself smile a bit, a little happy with her work also.

"How come he doesn't say anything about yours?" Marietta moaned. She peered inside Cho's cauldron. "It's a horrible brown colour!"

"It's meant to be brown, Marietta." Cho said patiently.

"Oh." She blinked, glancing at her neon green liquid. Cho continued with her work and tried her hardest to make her potion perfect. It was more difficult that she had thought but, she had to do her best. She was a Ravenclaw after all.

She couldn't help glancing at her friend's potion. She had messed it up horribly and was trying hard to make it right. She kept stirring and stirring but it looked like it the potion was getting stiffer and stiffer every time she stirred. Then, her spoon suddenly halted in the middle of the cauldron.

Even though she probably wasn't allowed to, Cho quickly added some powdered birch tree bark to her cauldron. Professor Snape didn't see. The solid went runny which Marietta was grateful for.

"Thanks." She whispered. "You're the best Cho."

Cho smiled at her, resuming to her potion. After a small explosion and a couple of detentions being issued, Professor Snape said that it was time to fill their vials with some of their liquid, put their names on it and leave it on his desk.

Cho did as he asked and then exited the cold dungeons.

HP

Part 2

Cho was hurrying to her next class after taking a detour into the girls toilets (she hadn't realised that it Moaning Myrtle's bathroom) and in her haste, she hadn't noticed someone was walking in the other direction at the same speed.

So they collided.

"Ah!" Cho fell over onto the hard stone floor and her books escaped from her bag. One of them had managed to slip through the gaps in the railings of the stairs and it fell until Cho heard it crash on the floor a couple of levels down. She cursed mentally as she started gathering up the rest of her books. It wasn't until now when she realised the person she had collided into was Harry Potter.

Her eyes met his and she flushed with embarrassment. Harry blushed a little too.

"Er, sorry Cho. I wasn't looking where I was going." Harry apologised, feeling awkward. She sent him a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry, I'm sorry too. I wasn't looking where I was going either." She said. She began putting her books back in her bag when she realised she had to somehow get her book from downstairs. She was going to be so late for her next class. She got up, letting out a gentle sigh and then received a surprise.

Harry was holding out her missing book to her.

She blinked, confused.

"How did you-?"

"A simple summoning charm," Harry explained. Cho took her book back, muttering a word of thanks. He couldn't help adding: "The one I used for the First Challenge..."

"Expect that wasn't so simple." She pointed out, giggling. "I forgot to tell you before, but it was very impressive! I had a little trouble with Summoning charms."

"Well, it wasn't all me, Hermione helped me out a bit." Harry said modestly. Instantly, Cho's heart seemed to sink. Her face must showed that was so because Harry seemed to realise what he said was a mistake.

"Uh, so Cho..." Harry started. "I was w-wondering if...you...you..."

"Yes?" Cho prompted Harry hopefully. Was he going to ask her to the Yule Ball? Hopefully...

"You knew what powdered birch tree bark did." Harry rapidly blurted out. Cho was a little disappointed.

"It makes most potions runny and thinner but it might make other potions explode." She answered, a little dejectedly. "I need to go to Transfiguration now. See you around, Harry!" she rushed off, leaving Harry murmuring an unhappy goodbye.

Part Three

It was Supper Time at Hogwarts and everyone was happily enjoying the delicious feast served. Cho was sitting at the Ravenclaw Table eating with her friends who were gossiping about someone she didn't know. But she listened anyway. Sometimes, her mind drifted to who might be taking her to the Yule Ball. She had already received many offers from people she simply disliked or hadn't even met before.

"So, then she called me a Mandrake! I was like 'what?' and she told me that my voice was similar to Mandrake's screaming!"

"She's so mean!"

"Cho?" Cho turned around; a little glad she had an excuse not to listen to the conversation. It was Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff. She found him incredibly handsome and he was rather nice too.

"Hi, Cedric." She greeted him.

"Hey...Cho, I was wondering if you'll like to go the Yule Ball with me." Cedric sounded much more confident than Harry, Cho noticed. She glanced at the Gryffindor Table and saw Harry talking to Ron. She swivelled her eyes back to Cedric.

"Sure, that sounds great." She beamed at him.

"Great! I finally have an excuse to say to girls who keep asking me to ask them to the Yule Ball." Cedric chuckled. Cho giggled, mostly for his sake.

"Same here." Cho agreed, though she wasn't being entirely honest. I mean, there was one boy she wished would ask her to be his date for the Yule Ball. After a bit of conversation, one of Cedric's friends started calling for him so he bid goodbye to Cho.

"Did Cedric just ask you to go to the Yule Ball with him?" Marietta asked Cho, excitedly. She nodded.

"You're so lucky!" Marietta had a tone of envy in her voice.

"Hmm." Cho couldn't help feeling terrible for Harry. He was going to ask her out, wasn't he? Why on earth would he want to know what powdered birch tree bark did? He'll probably find someone else anyway. I mean, she wasn't the only girl he liked surely?

She looked at the Gryffindor Table again and caught Harry's eye. He smiled at her and she smiled back.

Uh...