Have You Ever Wondered?
Now this looks real unnatural and magical, Cho thought, her feet dangling from the edge of the pure-white bed.
A potion accident had sent her to the infirmary. Snape was infuriated with her classmates and their lack of precision. To be honest, so was she. It can’t be that hard to chop everything evenly and throw it in at the right time. Since it was such a basic potion, they didn’t even have to measure the temperature—but of course, she did.
At least, the face Snape made seeing her result was hilarious. To be that sour-faced cannot be good for one’s life, her inner grandmother had chimed. He didn’t deduct points from her for not following the standard instructions, to her surprise.
Maybe he didn’t want to be at odds with her dad. She pondered for a second, then quickly dismissed it. He wouldn’t care about Chang family’s second son. Dumbledore was in charge of school potion supplies, not the professor. And as a Master of potions, no matter how sour he is, he surely knew her style, different from his own, was still valid.
“Miss Chang! I didn’t expect you so early in the year. Not you, certainly.”
Madam Pomfrey came into the unnaturally white room. She was carrying a tray of potions and levitating a huge bucket of something.
“A potion accident happened, madam.”
“Yes, and I can see that it was not your fault. The splashes are the worst, isn’t it? Let me fix you up in a minute dear. Hop in here.”
Cho sat inside of a now-recognizable tub, filled with gooey substance. She couldn’t help but scrunch her face. Madam smiled a little at her reaction.
“The skin burns should be gone in a moment. At least Professor Snape had the sense to freeze it before he sent you in,” Madam Pomfrey tried to distract her from the extreme itchiness the potion caused. Cho was grateful for the effort. It was not pleasant. Besides, this was an opportunity and she wasn’t going to pass it up.
“I’m glad that the accident wasn’t worse. I heard that the Gryffindor-Slytherin class had a huge explosion and most of the students had to be treated. One of the boys didn’t even know he had an allergy...” Cho recited the Hogwarts gossip mill’s newest news.
Madam pursed her lips to a thin line. “I don’t know who’s spreading such delicate information, but do not judge the poor boy!” Madam Pomfrey promptly added on. “It is not his fault that he didn’t know of his allergies. That often happens with wizard-borns, too.”
Cho smiled placatingly. “Ma’am, Ma is a muggleborn, too, you know. I would never think ill of him.”
Madam blushed slightly. “Oh, of course. I know Madam Cho. Such an excellent student, and a pride to the House of Ravenclaw. It is wonderful to see her make her way. How is she?” Madam diverted the subject.
“She is doing well, madam,” Cho said, shifting her tone. “Of course, there’s still some friction with the Reversal-Squad, but she is adamant to do good with other muggleborns. It’s really hard for the parents, especially when the children pick up magical diseases unknown to them.”
Madam clucked, thinking deeply. “I try to treat those poor dears better, but without their magical medical history, it is very hard…” She glanced at the clock. “Out now, Miss Chang. To the wash, it’s the right door. After that, you are free to go.”
“Thank you, madam. When should I come back for the… check-up?” Cho carefully accented the word check-up.
Madam Pomfrey, caught slightly off guard, seemed to pause for a moment before answering, her tone a little absent-minded. “Two days, dear.”
Cho heard a faint murmuring, heading to the bath. “Yes, we really should do a check-up… especially for the 1st years…”
Cho was a mere first year. This meant that the Hogwarts curriculum was sparse, compared to any other years, to give space to adjust to the massive castle and homesickness. However, she finished adjusting in the first month. All she needed was to get used to the moving staircase. By the way, she still hated the damn thing. God, even with all the rich British food, that had to be the main reason why almost everyone was fit.
Anyway, while all other first years were off writing to their parents, she could spare a lot of time experimenting magic. Homework themselves were not hard; she was used to reading academic passages and writing them. However, practicing magic was something she had no prior experience. Not to this level of academia.
If someone else was in her position, they might have chosen to practice alone in somewhere secluded. But why would she, when there existed the Ravenclaw common room?
Scattered across the room were various Ravenclaws, some relaxing and some studying. Cho sat down on the corner couch, spreading her notes on top of a large marble table. She took out her red crayon, and started to connect notes on spells that are theoretically related.
“So… if I say the incantation for the Smokescreen spell and use wand movement for Fire-making spell… what is the result? The wand movements are extremely similar, except for a point for the fire spell.”
Cho mused out loud. Their theory was quite similar, too. Fumos sent out smoke from the tip of the wand from nowhere, and incendio also shot out a fireball. And the smoke and the fire go together, both being the result of heat.
Someone heard her and replied. “Well, those two aren’t dangerous to test. Try.”
She smiled at the commenter and quickly headed to the practice section of the common room. It was warded off to absorb most spells.
“Fumos.”
The wand-tip did not circulate all the way but slowed down for a brief moment.
“Huh,” Cho lifted her eyebrows at the result. It was indeed, not dangerous. The smoke came out with the fire, but the smoke snuffed out the fire. And the smokes themselves were.. less.
“You’re not the first one to ask the question, you know. But you gotta be the only one who had to sense to not jab, but slow down,” the commenter, Penelope Clearwater stepped into the practice quarter. She was carrying a notebook with her.
“Thanks, and yeah, I can’t be the only 1st year,” Cho agreed. “Is there a way to make this combination powerful? Fire shot to the wand-point, and smoke in the air.”
Penelope readily answered. “You need to know the variation of Smokescreen first,” and handed her the notebook. “Take it. DADA studies aren’t going to be easy.”
“Penelope Clearwater…,” Cho read the front cover. “Is it yours?”
Penelope grinned. “Yup. I just finished writing, for the next year’s OWLs. It’s a copy, so don’t be worried,” She added, to reassure Cho.
“I’m Cho Chang. Thanks for helping!”
Experimenting magic in Ravenclaw’s common room was great because every Ravenclaw is quite eager to help and share their research. She got more information than she initially wanted, and also. Penelope Clearwater is a great bonus to today’s jaunt. She didn’t expect it, really.
Cho, walking out of the warded quarter with Penelope, asked. “Do you mind if I study next to you, Penelope? Can I call you Penelope?”
“Sure, call me Penny. It’s a mouthful. That’s why you call yourself Cho, right?”
Insightful. Didn’t expect that, Cho thought. “Yeah. So is this your 4th year? How are the electives? All the subjects seem interesting.”
Penny started to explain in-depth about the electives and the professors. Cho found herself immersed in her passion for magical theory.
In the end, they found each other to be an acquaintance and maybe a friend.