It isn't as if she planned
for this day very well, but she should have known that she couldn't plan it at
all. He'd find some way to skip out of it and make a fuss. He isn't the type
who would just stand there an accept a birthday
present after all. Not that her intended gift is that impressive, and she could
manage to send it to him via owl if it comes down to that. As it is, during
breakfast, when a couple other owls were likely swooping down and dropping off
chocolates for people's Valentine's, one of the school owls dropped a thing
scroll into the Slytherin's lap. Unsigned, but he could easily recognize the
handwriting. All it said was Happy Birthday, and Happy Valentine's Day. From
the far Ravenclaw table, Cho didn't even look up when it was delievered,
honestly just happy that most people are not botherin to shower her with any
gifts. She waits patiently until a few classes are over and checks to make sure
that he has some free time (she no doubt knows at least some of his schedule so
far, based just on the times she's seen him). Hoping that he decided to go to
the Slytherin common room, she slinks down into the Dungeons and to the
entrance to the common room and whispers the password against the door,
silently praying that it still works. Assuming it does for RP sake, she peeks
inside and even if there happens to be a whole group of people (as long as
there's no Prefects at least) she steps inside, saying nothing as she casts a
glance around. Where's Draco?
Funny how there really aren't
many Slytherins located within the proximity of the common room at the moment
to take notice of the Ravenclaw's entrance, including Draco Malfoy, but his two
goonish minions are. Crabbe and Goyle sit before the fire, hoarding their
latest stash of candy between themselves that they probably beat some poor kid
up for, occasionally stopping their moronic banter in order to snicker. For
convenience's sakes, though, down the blonde descends from the boys' dorms,
dressed neatly in a pair of black trousers and a navy blue turtleneck, his hair
slicked back in its perfect little acceptable way. Something is a miss...
obviously, that much being confirmed with only one look
around. "Cho." Draco addresses the girl
rather coldly, but surely she's rather used to it by now. Crabbe and Goyle
immediately turn, looking back over the edge of their seat. Ooo.
They didn't notice her even come in. n_n Dorks.
Though she set up her mind
that as long as none of the Slytherin Prefects were in the area she would go
ahead and enter, Cho's still relieved that it's just Dumb
and Dumber. Though she honestly doesn't hate them, she just doesn't find them
interesting. She'd still be nice to them. She was just about to open her mouth
and ask them where their 'leader' is, when he decends down the stairs. Her lips
immediately move into a small smile, not fading any at the tone of his voice.
She is used to it. That doesn't mean she likes it, but she is used to it. She
steps further into the room, "Draco." She offers a friendly nod to
the other two boys, "Goyle. Crabbe," then continues to move towards
him, her hands hidden behind her back. "I apologize for the
intrusion." But she did try to set up a meeting, so it's his own fault for refusing.
That's sorta like a cue for
them to leave, Draco not even having to lift a finger to visually inform them
of that. Crabbe and Goyle immediately gather their newfound winnings up, Crabbe
heading for the stairs once having taken his share, Goyle nodding his head in a
somewhat polite manner before following after... which leaves the two alone, at
least in the common room. "Didn't I tell you just the other day that I had
something to do? The little note this morning wasn't good enough? What are you
doing here?" He starts to move from the base of the stairs and across the
stone floor to close the distance between the two, his feet covered by black
running shoes. "I shouldn't of let you learn that
password."
"I didn't ask you to
tell me it." Cho says, shaking her head and
stopping a few feet away from him, hands still held behind her back. And
honestly, she thought he lied about having something to do, but perhaps due to
his current attire... well... he might actually have been telling the truth.
Imagine that. "It doesn't have to take very long. You can still go do
whatever it is you need to do." She makes no inquiry on what it is he has
to do this time, she learned her lesson before, after
all. "I just figured you wouldn't want more attention drawn." Though
if there had been other people here besides Crabbe and Goyle, well... that
would have drawn more attention than a box dropped in
front of young Mr. Malfoy. "If you hadn't been here, I would have given
you this later instead... that's why I sent the note. I just wanted--" she
shrugs her shoulders, then brings her hand around, holding out a plain brown
box, tied with strings, about four inches all around. "Here. You can open
it later if you are in a hurry."
It's a weird and an entirely
new feeling, in all honesty, to be receiving a gift on his birthday from
someone other than his parents. One eyebrow immediately shoots upwards in
question while Draco reaches out his hands in order to accept the package, eyes
keeping a skeptical look level on the girl. "No, don't worry about
it." He replies, simply, "Since you're here with this, I might as
well just open it right now. If I put it down, I'll probably forget about it.
Here. Go take a seat on the chair. Make yourself comfortable, unless you happen
to be in a hurry."
"Yes, I suppose you
probably would." Cho says with a small smile, but her hands lower as he
takes the package, returning to her sides. She doesn't exactly think this would
be all that new for him. He seems as if he has plenty of aquaintances at least,
if not what one could exactly call a friend. She figured at least the Quidditch
team would have given him /something/. Her own Quidditch team always did. At
his offer, she shakes her head, "I'm not in a hurry." She had no idea
when she would find him, much less if she'd be able to, so until her next class
starts, she's free. The seat is taken carefully, but she doesn't sit back at
all, looking as if she might jump out of her seat any second. Not due to where
she is, or even /exactly/ nervousness, but she is kind of anxious to get it
opened.
With the package in hand, he
joins her in sitting, choosing to seat himself directly across from the girl,
then following it up by setting down the box on his legs. His fingers glide
over the top to the strings, lightly and carefully tugging it loose. You never
know what the contents might be so it's always best to treat the object with
care just in case it happens to be fragile. It's funny. Despite his curiosity
of the contents, he goes about opening it at an excruciatingly slow pace.
"I suppose that's a good thing, then." Draco smirks faintly, his eyes
moving from the gift to the girl and then back again as he finally gets to the
box, itself, opening it up in order to view what it holds inside.
What's inside the box is a
thin flat silver disk, less than three inches in diameter, with fifteen gold
dots in a specific and likely recognizeable pattern connected by carved ridges
in the silver. It's too small to be overly expensive, but it probably cost her
most of her broom money, if she was saving up for another broom. In fact, this
was likely the smallest available model, so it isn't as if she spent all her
money on it. Cho's eyes fully settle on his, trying to see his response to it
as she explains, "It's Draco. The constellation,
I mean." Her cheeks turn slightly pink, but she continues, "When you
touch Alpha Draconis, the fourth star into the tail,
it makes a glowing image of the constellation itself that floats above it. I
had to have it adjusted, they're supposed to glow white or gold, but I managed to
get them to have it glow green." That probably cost a bit extra, but she
just figured he'd like green better, since it's his house color and all. She
likely ordered it from some Astronomy type shop.
Simple,
yet strange.
He digs carefully into the box and lifts the disk out in order to get a better
look and examine it further. The blue eyes trace over the pattern, pausing on
each of the golden dots before continuing onto the next. Draco's first reaction
was a wrinkle of the nose, then a blink, followed by a look of consideration,
then finally acceptance. "I like it." And that's the final verdit as
he gives the inscribed disk a second look over before gently setting it back
into the box, gingerly closing the flaps. If the Slytherin were capable of guilt,
perhaps now, whenever looking at this, he'd feel terrible for all the rotten
things that he's ever happened to say, not to mention feel bad just because he
can't stop doing it. It's him. It's the way he is. Ah well. Can't
have everything in this world. "...Thank you." Well, even
though he doesn't have any guilt, at least he's thankful?
Even if he doesn't feel any
guilt, just the fact that he actually says he likes it and show
some brief indication of approval... that's more than enough for Cho. More than
she was hoping for. She was just hoping he didn't tell her something like
'That's so cheap, how could you get this for me. I don't want to touch it.' or something horrible like that (and no doubt the
wrinkle of his nose had her worried for a second), so the thank you is quite
enough to make her smile. And smile she does. "You're welcome. I wish I
could say you're easy to buy for..." But he's honestly not. She has no
idea what he likes. Eventually she decided to get something simple, but with
/some/ meaning, and the fact that he spent a few moments with her up in the
Sigh. It's either 'Happy
Birthday', 'Happy Valentine's Day', both or just stares and a 'your birthday's
on Valentine's day?!' accompaniment. Draco closes his
eyes for a moment in order to roll them without notice before slowly lifting
the box from his lap, one hand supporting each side until having set it upon on
the coffee table. He shifts back to his original position, clasping the two,
his slender finger lacing together. "I wasn't expecting you to buy
anything for me, in all honesty."
Now that the present is
given and everything seems to be out of the way for the most part, Cho finally
relaxes into the chair a bit, though just to where she
isn't sitting as if she's going to jump up. She still doesn't slouch much.
"I know." she responds. She figured that he wouldn't think she would
buy him anything, or get him anything other than an acknowledgement of the
occassion. Perhaps that's part of the reason she did it. Because
it was unexpected. She's just hoping he's not trying to say it was
unwanted, though who doesn't /want/ presents? "I wanted to get you
something." That's her only 'excuse', added on with a shrug.
There's that eyebrow, again,
shooting upwards in obvious curiosity, his eyes of blue observing the girl
still with a level gaze. "Why? I never got you anything on your
birthday." Draco returns, moving his hands a little in order to place his
thumbs together, tip to tip, the short fingernails barely brushing. It doesn't
make any sense. Sure, it was unexpected, but it's still a gift and that really
says something.
"Sure you did. Gifts
don't have to be placed in a box, Draco." As far as Cho is conserned, the
most thoughtful present she recieved this year was the chance at being his
friend, even if it /has/ caused a good deal of frustration. It's still been
what she would consider a good thing. Except when he's making
her feel completely daft. "But I didn't give you a present as
return payment or anything. I thought you might like it..." Does she have
to give a better reason? She seems as if she'd be quite happy to leave the
explaination there.
That's new. Aren't gifts
supposed to be material things, possessions and stuff like that? Draco tends to
think along that wavelength. He doesn't see a 'gift' as being anything else.
Gee. Wonder why. "That's good enough, then, I suppose." Meaning that he's accepted the answer to his question, finding it
sufficient. The Slytherin continues to press his thumbs together,
placing enough pressure so the the ends of the short nails begin to touch.
Some of the most precious
gifts can never be bought, but it's unlikely that someone as completely
unromantic as Draco would understand that concept. Perhaps
someday. Cho looks a little relieved that she isn't going to have to try
to explain the rest of her reasoning and she settles into the chair to watch
him silently. Or at least, silent for a time.
Eventually her mouth opens and she asks, "So what were you planning to go
do?" Being nosy again, is she? Well, she can't help it. She's inquisitive.
There are times when Draco
can be that sort of person, majority of them being during extremely formal
gatherings. Right now, when sitting on a couch, his fingers folded, gazing over
in the girl's direction... well... there is no need to be a romantic, even if
it's Valentine's Day, especially with this particular individual. The boy
exhales a sigh, then proceeds to scowl. "Back to
interogating, again, are we?" His tone snide and
malicious, but, eh. Hasn't he all ready told her off for asking this
sort of question before?
"It's called a
question. I'm not acusing you of anything, I just want to know. You can ask
something of me as well, you know." Cho says, shaking her head at the word
he uses, as if any time he's heard questions of that nature they were meant to
be a bad thing. "If you really mind though..." she trails off,
looking towards the door as if wondering if some of the Slytherins are going to
walk in and get upset at the fact that the young Ravenclaw happens to be
present. She honestly wouldn't blame them if they happened to be angry. All the
while, she tries to think of something to add that isn't a question.
As Cho looks towards the
door, his eyes move in that direction as well, glancing towards the entrance to
the Slytherin common room and back again, followed by dawning a thin smirk.
Draco unclasps his hands and sets them on each arm of the chair, using it as a leverage in order to push himself to his feet.
"Thinking of leaving? If so, I'll see you to the
door." What a great way to avoid the topic entirely, by shooing the
woman out. That's almost as good as using a kiss to shut her up.
Hey now, don't say that! How
could getting rid of her possibly be as good as kissing her? Cho blinks and her
eyes return to the now standing Slytherin. "I don't need to leave, no. I
was just worried that maybe someone might come back. Do they...
I know that Goyle and Crabbe know, but do the others?" Does he really
think he has that strong a control over the Slytherins that they won't mind
that she's breaking one of the oldest and most traditional rules of the school
just because he says so? To be honest, she's surprised she hasn't gotten any
'hate mail' from a certain group of Slytherin girls yet. Either way, she does
stand up, "Would you possibly agree to going for a short walk?" She
knows he said he had other things to do, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
"Do they know... what?"
Geez. Keep talking like that and people are really
going to assume that they happen to be seeing one another after classes and
such, not that they don't already. "Oh, nevermind."
Don't even bother to answer. Draco quickly steps towards the girl and offers
his hands in order to assist her to her feet, his smirk beginning to wan.
"I suppose I have time for a short walk. Let's get going, then."
That is hardly what she
meant. "Do they know that I have the password and have been in here." Cho does 'bother' to answer, even after he tries
to dismiss it. She can't imagine what he could possibly think she had meant.
That was the only thing that she would even place with that question. She takes
his hands, but pushes herself up for the most part with her legs. "Lead
the way, Draco." She glances down at the gift still seated on the table.
She doesn't think Slytherins are thieves, but she doesn't want him to forget
about it. So she releases at least one of his hands and picks up the silver disk, and reaches to push it into his hand. He can place it
in his robes or something. It's hardly very big after all.
Lead the way? But weren't
you the one that wanted to take a short walk in the
first place? Not that he's protesting, though. Leading is just fine with Draco.
He does it enough, doing it now certainly won't be much of a difference, save
for the fact that he's not leading a follower. "You should know better
than to worry about it, honestly." Is his reply, his voice doing that
usual bored drawl thing. The Slytherin releases the girl's hand, prepared to
starting heading off, only to be stopped as she pushes the disk into his palm.
A blink, a glance, then a quirk of the eyebrow, but he does slip the disk into
the pocket of his robes before heading to the entrance and exit of the common
room.
What? Did he just expect to
leave it there? Well, maybe no one would have taken it. Just the very fact that
it's a disk representing /Draco/ of all things does tend to hint towards the
owner, most likely. Cho follows after him, but she can't help but look
skeptical as he says that she doesn't need to worry about that. She doesn't
speak against it though, in fact, what she comments as they move towards the
exit is, "That's one thing I really like about you." The smile expands
to touch her eyes. "You're always so confident about yourself in certain
things. I doubt I would be so confident in your shoes." This isn't to say
that he is confident all the time, because she doesn't believe he is, but a lot
of the time he is amazingly so. Or so she believes.
That's certainly a really
odd thing to like him for. His confidence. Or...
over-confidence... that often tends to fail when he needs it the most. "I
have no reason not to be confident." Draco replies, his head held high,
looking rather snotty as the wall opens, revealing the dungeon hallway hidden
behind it. Soon, he walks out into it, marching, not literally, down to the
entry hall, fully expecting her to follow.
Well, it's something to like
about him. Even if possibly not the best choice.
Confidence in one self is something that almost all of her 'friends' lack. They
need to get it from other people. He doesn't require that, so it's one thing
she likes about him. Cho smiles as he says that. "I suppose you
don't." Not exactly true, but she isn't going to
undermine a trait she just praised. She moves out of the Dungeon
immediately behind him, closing the door if it doesn't close itself, them
speeding up her steps so she can catch up and walk beside him. "I also
like that your honest a lot of the time. If you don't
like something, you seem to go right out and say it, with no care what anyone
else might think if you do." That's a good thing?
Occasionally, it certainly
is. There are some times, though, when he shouldn't be so quick to speak up
about something he doesn't happen to like. It's gotten him hexed, slashed,
scratched, punched and a bunch of other things that he probably could have done
without experience, but, alas. One should not praise traits of Draco Malfoy,
though he'd really like it if you did! His head might inflate some more. The
boy's ego is big enough all ready and does not require any assistance to get
any bigger. He continues down the hallway, reaching the entry hall with a smirk
playing across his lips. "So. Where
to, now?" He's actually giving the Ravenclaw a chance to have a say
before deciding.
Looking around the hallways,
Cho expects to see singing drawfs jumping out of walls and giving singing
Valentines to unsespecting students. She's still waiting for a couple flowers
and what not. There's only two people who she'd really want to recieve
something from this year, and Draco certainly isn't going to be giving her anything,
so that's gone. She pauses for a second, then she
says, "I'd suggest outside, but neither of us are really dressed for it. Unless you want to try summoning our cloaks." She
grins, but adds as an alternative, "How about the
Library?"
Nah. Maybe if she's lucky, he
might be willing to give a real kiss or something. She'd be ten times as lucky
if he wished her a 'Happy Valentine's Day' on top of it. Don't hold your
breath, though, because it's not really that likely... Then again, this is
Draco and Draco tends to do the unexpected. The blue eyes flicker from the door
to the staircase. Hmm. Tough decision. His shoulder's
lift, then fall in a shrug before he replies,
"The library's fine, if that's where you'd like to go, instead." So,
it's up the stairs he goes, expecting Cho to follow, just as before.
Oh, that'll be the day. But
if that's the case, the Library is a good place to walk! Of course, it begs to
wonder if possibly since the rosebushes are a little out of the question in
this snowcover, that maybe the students will be macking on each other between
the stacks in the Library? Hmm?
Cho doesn't walk behind him, but immediately quickens her pace so that she's
walking beside him as much as possible on the stairs. "I'd rather go to
the Quidditch Pitch, but that would just be torturing myself.
I still can't believe we haven't gotten our brooms back."
That statement alone
immediately causes his smirk to widen. "I'm not in the least bit worried
about that broom. It's not really a big deal to me, in all honesty. I'm sure I
can bully my father into buying me a new racing broom if I explain to him
what's happened or find a way to be rid of the other." Of course, he'll
probably give the Nimbus 2001 away to someone less fortunate than himself for a
price, provided that his father happens to purchase a Firebolt. Simple as that,
Draco continues up the stairs, steps around the corner and heads into the
library as they had decided to do.
"I'm not exactly
talking about the broom itself... You don't miss being able to fly at
all?" Cho asks, looking over at Draco with quirked eyebrows. To her flying
is like... an amazingly escape. It's also an incredible natural high. Better
than just casting regular spells. The fact that she loves to fly is the reason
she would wish for a Quidditch game to last as long as possible. More time to
fly. In fact, wouldn't be at all surprised if she spent more of the game
tailing the other Seeker to make sure that if he goes for the Snitch she can
get in his way and cause him to lose it, delaying him more than going for it
herself.
"Not really." He
replies after a moment of considering it. "After all, in the first year,
all we had were silly flying lessons on those worn out old brooms. Not much of
a thrill, if you ask me." Draco's shoulders rotate in a bit of a shrug.
"Oh, sure, I ride one enough at home. Father says I'm an excellent flyer
and of course, I agree. Being at school is rather different, though. I'm sure
you understand." His hands move in order to make his talk more expressive,
though that bored drawl surely suggests something else. Um.
Pick a table?
Actually, she doesn't really
understand. Cho can comprehend focusing on studies instead of flying of course,
but still, a trip around the Pitch a couple times clears her mind of tension
faster than any remedy that she could fix up, or charm that she could get hit
by. She does nod however and say, "I remember. You were quite agile on
your broom." Though she's surprised to hear his father said so. He didn't
seem like the type of person to give much praise to her. She glances around, then picks out a table that's empty, and somewhat private.
Not so much so that they would rouse suspition, but more so not everyone who
walks into the Library will see them first off. "Is this one all
right?" She confirms the choice with him before she sits down.
Why ask him? Draco thought
she was the type to just take a seat, whether invited to do so or not. This, of
course, comes from experience. He continues to smirk, though, keeping it to its
limits before pulling out a chair and gesturing towards it. "This one is
just fine." The topic previous seems to get dropped, mostly due to the
fact that there's nothing else to be said on the matter, unless she's
interested in hearing him praise himself some more.
Hearing him praise himself
is better than him glaring at her and saying harsh things. But it is getting a
little awkward, he's not at all humble, nor does he return any compliments. So
Cho allows it to drop. She settles into the chair and puts her hands on the
table, looking at him for a few moments while she waits. For
something. Finally she says, "What else did you get for your
birthday?" She has the decency to keep her voice a whisper, but, for
shame, she's being nosy again, isn't she?
For someone who thinks he's
top of the world, it is extremely difficult to dish out compliments unless they
are for himself. The blonde Slytherin blinks, then
glances downwards at the Ravenclaw settled into the seat. "Mother sent me
something that she baked this morning as well as a note. Probably
a cake. My gift will be arriving within the next few days by owl. Dolor
will bring it, I believe." Draco lifts his hands from the back of the
chair and moves them to place them upon the girl's shoulders. She won't kill
him if he gives her shoulders a bit of massage, hm? He's being nice. And it is
Valentine's day, so.
That has to cause her to
blink. What on earth is he doing? Cho doesn't complain though, nor does she try
to pull away. Of course she isn't going to hit him or anything over it, it is
nice after all. But because of that, it's also a bit... odd. Not to mention the
fact that he actually answered the question. She faces forward and watches the
book shelves as she answers in the same type of whisper, "That was nice of
her." That must be where he got the somewhat nice side (the same nice side
he's showing now). It certainly didn't come from his father... "Does she
do that every year?"
Why not? Just
a simple massage of the shoulders. Nothing really
major. Same with the question. It isn't
something really big, there was no reason not to
answer it. The subject of Narcissa hits a bit of a nerve with young master
Malfoy, but as long as her name isn't being used in vain, he doesn't need to
get his knickers in a twist over it. "Indeed, she does. Mother is an
excellent cook and baker. She sends me sweets every morning." No, the nice
side certainly didn't come from his father. Many more of his admirable traits
did, however, as the girl is probably well aware.
Oh, she would never insult
someone's mother, so there's no fear that this will turn into something like
that. Cho does find it a bit surprising. What little she's heard of the Malfoy
family always made her assume they were the kind to have a half dozen house
elves doing all the work and not bothering at all with cooking. It's actually
pleasent to hear that she cares enough about her son to do something like that
for him. "So /that's/ where all those delieveries of food come from."
She says, remembering some times and mail time when he happens to get packages
a food. "I think I'd like to meet her someday. If she
ever visits you here or anything."
Draco pauses for a brief
moment, tensing, but then goes into a forced sort of relaxation, continuing
with the massage. That has to be one of the more stranger
things he's ever heard. Would the Ravenclaw actually be able to 'put up with'
his mother when she, as Potter and crew described it, has a habit of looking as
though she's constantly smelling something nasty? "Only my Father tends to
pay visits to Hogwarts, really. He does business here, after all."
She managed to be polite
with his father, didn't she? And besides, she manages to put up with /Draco's
sneers/ as well. Cho notices the tensing, but says nothing about it. She barely
resists the urge to turn her head and try to look at him, curious why he chose
to tense there. She manages to keep her eyes forward and nods, "Well, if
she doesn't, perhaps I could meet her at the end of the school year. Does she
ever come to get you from the train?" It would be interesting to meet her.
Anyone who can garner praise from Draco Malfoy is someone she wants to meet at
least once. Of course, it would be a bit awkward if she happens to keep up with
the Prophet and read that little... um... story.
Story with bits and pieces
of the truth snuck in here and there, you mean. "Sometimes..." He
replies rather thoughtfully over the remark about his mother. "Usually, it
tends to be my father that picks me up. Occasionally, my mother will accompany
him, but she tends to come with us more often at the beginning of the school
year. Mother was the one who helped me pick my wand. She doesn't like the
thought of me going away too much. I wanted to go to Durmstrang, but mother
insisted that it was too far away. Pity, really. I hear they teach more than
Defense Against The Dark Arts there." He smiles
in a nasty way. It would've been nice, but Hogwarts is fine, too, mostly
because Potter's here and everyone knows how much
Draco loves to mock Potter.
Yeah, yeah, there was truth
to it... sigh. For a time, the young Ravenclaw's eyes
slide shut as she listens to him speak about his mother. It's kind of nice to
hear him talk about someone who he doesn't insult at all.
"Durmstrang?" she finally says, eyes opening again and brow furrowing
somewhat, not that he can really see that. "Well, I can't say I wasn't
curious about the other schools last year. They did seem to have some...
interesting differences in education." She doesn't want to learn anything
about the Dark Arts though. The very idea makes her tense up a bit. It's just...
against her mindframe. She wants to become a mediwitch eventually, and the Dark
Arts are the exact opposite of that. She goes back to the subject of his mother
after a few seconds, "If I can't meet her at the trains, perhaps at the
beginning of next term. Or I could always ask to visit you during the
summer." That last bit is add offhandedly.
"Why do you want to
meet my mother, anyways?" Finally, the question just
pops up, one eyebrow shooting upwards in obviously suspicion. Draco was
never the type of child to bring other children home to meet his parents, save
for Crabbe and Goyle, who happen to be acceptions for their fathers are...
accomplices, in a sense. It's only natural for his two goons to know both
Lucius and Narcissa. The idea to him is new and foreign, as it should be,
meaning that it makes him suspicious.
Oh, it's a good thing that
he can't see her face right now, and her hair probably covers it from sight,
but her cheeks color a bit and she ducks her head. Cho ponders how to explain
herself, though never would have had to do such with anyone but this young
man... finally what she says is, "I just do. From what I've heard so far,
she sounds very nice, and like she cares about you a great deal. I don't see
any reason I wouldn't want to meet her." She, unfortunately, is the type
to meet most people's families. The joys of the Floo Network make for easy
travelling when your friends are in Wizarding families. Half her Ravenclaws
friends visited during the summers, until this year. She refused visitors this
year, but some still stopped in and spoke to her mother.
Ah, the wonders of the Floo
Network and being able to refuse the connection. Malfoy Manor is not included
in the vast listings of linked fireplaces, though they can leave, it is only
truly reachable by the residents, servants and wanted guests. Everyone else just so happens to be out of luck. He smiles,
though faint, but still, it's there. His mother is a kind person to him,
indeed, but to others, that's a different story. He sees her as a mother, she
sees him as a son. There's a relationship there, but for a complete stranger,
the woman may not seem so kind-hearted. "I suppose." Draco replies in
an offish manner.
There is also the fact that
since Draco actually seems to like his mother. It's intrigueing to Cho. She
sometimes doubts that he really likes anyone. Of course, he did say he liked
her... but she isn't sure how much of that was said just to try to get her to
stop being upset. Or what his definition of like actually is... "If you
don't want me to meet her, I understand. I just thought it might be nice."
The boy exhales a soft
snort, perhaps in amusement, but one can't exactly be sure. This IS Draco
Malfoy of the Slytherin house, son of Lucius Malfoy, after all. "Well, if
you want to meet her that badly, if she's there, perhaps I'll introduce you.
I'll have to think about it." He brings his hands to a halt, withdrawing
them from the girl's shoulders shortly afterwards. That's about enough, or at
least it is in his books.
Hey, that's longer than she
was expecting when he started, so she doesn't make any complaints when the
pressure stops. Cho turns a bit in the chair to look at him, the slight amoung
of color is still in her cheeks when she blushed before, but it's almost
completely faded now. "Thank you," she says with a smile, both for
his saying he'll 'think about it' and the shoulder massage. Now, if only she
could make him do that after a Quidditch game or practice... if they ever have
one again. Sigh.
Just ask. He may, but it
could also come for a price. Today is a special occasion, so he's just simply
being nice about things. Hands move to the back of the chair, shifting his
upper body weight onto his arms so that he can just simply lean over and peer
down at the girl with his ice blue eyes. "Don't mention it." Oh,
there's that smirk, again, just turning up the corner of his mouth a little in
a cocky manner.
It's too late, she already
mentioned it. But she won't mention it again, at least. Well, at the moment.
Cho continues to look back at him, raising her eyebrows for a moment and
wondering if he plans to continue standing behind her. "Do you want to sit
down?" There are plenty of other chairs at this table after all. "Not
that I mind exactly..." But it's not like he has a reason to be standing
behind her anymore. He did while he was doing the massage, but now it just
feels a bit strange.
"Not that you mind,
exactly?" He repeats, but turns it into a question, instead, the bored
drawl turning more into a vaguely amused tone, one eyebrow quirking. "If
you don't mind, then why are you asking if I'd like to sit? For all you know, I
could just be taking a bit of a break." But judging from Draco's tone of
voice, that's probably not the case. He's just simply using it as an example.
There's a somewhat skeptical
eyebrow raised at his excuse, probably helped along by the tone of voice. Then
Cho shrugs her shoulders and faces forward again, looking at the book shelves
for a long moment before she says, "I was asking because I like to look at
people while I speak to them sometimes." It's the truth, but there are
some times when it is good not to be looking at someone as she speaks to them,
and not having them look at her.
"Not that you mind,
exactly?" He repeats, but turns it into a question, instead, the bored
drawl turning more into a vaguely amused tone, one eyebrow quirking. "If
you don't mind, then why are you asking if I'd like to sit? For all you know, I
could just be taking a bit of a break." But judging from Draco's tone of
voice, that's probably not the case. He's just simply using it as an example.
There's a somewhat skeptical
eyebrow raised at his excuse, probably helped along by the tone of voice. Then
Cho shrugs her shoulders and faces forward again, looking at the book shelves
for a long moment before she says, "I was asking because I like to look at
people while I speak to them sometimes." It's the truth, but there are
some times when it is good not to be looking at someone as she speaks to them,
and not having them look at her.
"Fine, then." He
replies, removing his hands from the back of the chair and swiftly rounding the
table in order to find his own seat, cloaks swishing in protest to the
movement. He plunks down, pauses, then shifts his chair a little in order to be
directly across and aligned with the girl, smirking the entire time. Draco
folds his arms across his chest and leans back comfortably. "This
more to your liking?"
As he sits down, Cho
actually leans forward, pressing her elbows onto the table and cupping her chin
in her hands. "I wouldn't say that, but it is nice to look you in the eye
sometimes." He does have kind of cold eyes though, so other times it
really is better not to be able to look into them. She settles there for a few
moments, just looking at him, actually smiling, then she says, "And I must
admit, you do look very comfortable."
It's not exactly the
Slytherin's fault that he has cold eyes. Draco was just simply born with them.
He didn't have the ability to chose. There was always
that option to make them appear more friendly and warm, but that is not the
path that he decided to embark upon. Thus, they are that way not only due to
inheritance, but choice. "As comfortable as I can get in these wretched
chairs." This causes the blonde to shift a little, as if finding some sort
of discomfort in his positioning. "So. Why is it
nice to look me in the eye, sometimes?" The bored drawl returns with a
vengeance, of course, while he speaks.
Oh, it's the choice that
makes his eyes colder than anything else. Cho actually likes the color. Cedric
had gray eyes, but his were almost always warm and friendly. Not that she's
mentally comparing the too, because the Slytherin's are more blue than his
were. They are also honest to his personality. Not to mention it keeps with the
pale color scheme of his face. Pale skin, white-blonde hair,
pale eyes. "They could make them a little bit more comfortable.
You'd think they'd want students to spend /more/ time in here." She
continues to smile across at him, despite any tone to his drawl.
"Sometimes you're almost nice to look at." There's a very light tone
of teasing in her voice, like that isn't exactly what she means, but she can't
resist saying it. And only sometimes? Gasp. Blow to
his ego.
"Not with that
irritable vulture of a librarian, Madam Pinch. She probably wanted it that way
to keep people away." He says, still doing that bored drawl, but this
time, motioning quickly with his hand in a discreet manner towards the thin
woman. "Sometimes?" Yes, it's certainly a
blow to the young Malfoy's ego. There's a bit of a mixed reaction, too. Three
things all coming together at once upon his sharply featured, pale face. First,
Draco's nose wrinkles in distaste and disgust, then an eyebrow lifts with
obvious confusion, followed lastly by the faintest tinge of pink brushed lightly
against his cheeks which fades as quickly as it came, hardly noticable.
Nose
wrinkling in disgust? That he certainly got from his mother. Though
she hardly knows that, having not yet met the woman. "Oh, she's
really not all that bad. She's just strict, and with reason. Some of these
books could get an unwary student hurt if they try to dabble with something
they aren't ready for yet." Cho says, but then she's the type of person
who smiled politely at his father when he was giving her that /look/. So perhaps
she wouldn't ever say anything bad about an authority figure if she could avoid
it. It does happen sometimes though. And, also, based on how much time she
spends in the Hospital Wing and fussing over him, is it any surprise she has a
respect for some safety? As long as it doesn't deal with
restricting Quidditch. (Such a double-standard...) "Yes,
sometimes." She repeats, in the same teasing tone, switching from both
hands under a chin to a single one resting on her cheek. The other hand lays
flat on the table in front of her. She doesn't ellaborate further.
His reply is a simple 'hmph'
to both the reasoning for Madam Pinch being the way she is and her vague reply.
Sounds a bit like him, not bothering to ellaborate on a few of things that he
happens to say. Ah. A good ole taste of one's own medicine.
It doesn't take long to realize that he doesn't happen to like it very much,
though. Draco uncrosses his arms and purposely leans over the table, dropping
one elbow down upon the flat surface in order to cup his cheek with one hand,
positioning himself much like the girl across from him in order to immitate. Again. Hmph.
Oh, now he's mocking her!
How cute! Cho can't help but continue to smile as he shifts his position to
mirror her own, even if they are pretty much exact opposite's
appearance-wise. Her skin is a little bit darker, her eyes are much darker, and
her hair certainly takes that. Not to mention, she's a girl. It might look
interesting to a random passerby. She lets out a soft laugh, then raises the
hand off the table, turning the palm towards herself, fingers spread out,
pointing at the ceiling. One might wonder if she's just seeing if he'll mirror
her again, though she does add, "You know you're good looking."
Pause. "Most the time." Same teasing tone,
though it sounds even more amused now.
Just
good-looking?
You mean he's not absolutely gorgeous and the finest looking individual to ever
walk the face of the earth? Once again, that's another blow to the ego. ;)
Draco's expression flatens, directing what could be called a 'bread-box look'
in Cho's general direction. He does mirror her, however, moving his hand from
the table, palm towarts himself, fingers out and pointed at the ceiling. Does
this amuse you? 'Simon says do jumping jacks' much?
Oh yes, she's just causing
horrible blows to his ego right now, isn't she? Well, for some reason she finds
that entirely entertaining, but at least she means it in a friendly fashion,
and she isn't teasing him to be cruel, like some people who will remain
nameless. "Though less so when you're obviously annoyed." Cho says
with a light wink, then she lowers her hand again and
says in a more normal voice, "Sorry." Shouldn't be
teasing the birthday boy, even friendship. "Would you rather me not
talk about your looks anymore?"
"I'd probably
appreciate it more if they weren't spoken about with that hint of
negativity." He says, making sure to sniffle as though his feelings had
been hurt by it. Really, though. Draco can actually take a joke. While at
first, it came as a bit of a surprise, yes, it is teasing and joking around. He
can take that sort of thing, not that the Slytherin's tend to do that with one
another in such a friendly manner. There's more sarcasm and such to it all.
That flat look returns to neutral, a bit of a half-smile turning up the corner
of his mouth.
"Oh, well, I do think
that. You have amazing eyes." Even when they're cruel, at least they're
honest and true, and still lovely, even if she'd rather they not look so harsh.
It's kind of like ice lacying tree limbs. It's still beautiful, but it's really
not good for the tree and can occassionally pull it down with the added weight.
Cho does sound serious for a second, though still with a normal friendly tone,
returning his half-smile with a smile of her own. Then she glances away and
looks at the book shelves, perhaps trying to think of something else to say, or
not wanting to really look at him while he absorbs the fact that she isn't
teasing him.
Is that so? It's rather rare
and strange to be receiving compliments on his eyes. The blonde Slytherin has
always been more accustomed to ones on his entire appearance. Being called a
'handsome young man' and such certainly isn't anything new for him as it is the
remark he hears the most when it all comes down to what he looks like. We'll
not dig into what Potter and Co. think of how he appears, though. There's a
blink, first, then his half-smile becomes a bit more... pleasant. "Thanks,
I guess." Since he's not one to dish out compliments in return, however,
Draco says... well... absolutely nothing afterwards.
Well, yes, he's a 'handsome
young man' as well, but Cho's the kind of person who tries to be specific when
she isn't teasing, and she does tend to like eyes. Part of the reason she likes
to look at people when she talks to them. Eyes tell everything. As for Draco's
eyes in particular, she knows he got them from his bad, but just from her brief
encounter with the Malfoy-Daddy, she likes what she sees in the young
Slytherin's eyes much more, even if they're basically the same. "Just the
truth," she replies, turning to smile at him again. Well, the Truth
According to Cho Chang at least. Harry Potter and his group would have
something different to say about those 'amazing eyes' most likely.
There's a saying that the
eyes are the windows to the soul, just that some are more open and welcoming
than others. Those in the Malfoy family tend to possess a bit more of a guarded
and barred touch. While the ice blue eyes can be expressive, they tend to hide
much. Things that their inferiors need not to know and their inferiors equal
many. The faint mark of a pleasant smile remains for a bit longer, as long as
Draco can maintain it, before just slipping away. "I'll take your word for
it."
Well, yes, he's a 'handsome
young man' as well, but Cho's the kind of person who tries to be specific when
she isn't teasing, and she does tend to like eyes. Part of the reason she likes
to look at people when she talks to them. Eyes tell everything. As for Draco's
eyes in particular, she knows he got them from his bad, but just from her brief
encounter with the Malfoy-Daddy, she likes what she sees in the young
Slytherin's eyes much more, even if they're basically the same. "Just the
truth," she replies, turning to smile at him again. Well, the Truth
According to Cho Chang at least. Harry Potter and his group would have
something different to say about those 'amazing eyes' most likely.
There's a saying that the
eyes are the windows to the soul, just that some are more open and welcoming
than others. Those in the Malfoy family tend to possess a bit more of a guarded
and barred touch. While the ice blue eyes can be expressive, they tend to hide
much. Things that their inferiors need not to know and their inferiors equal
many. The faint mark of a pleasant smile remains for a bit longer, as long as
Draco can maintain it, before just slipping away. "I'll take your word for
it."
Another
strong difference between them. This Ravenclaw doesn't really 'look down' on anyone.
Even the lowest level classmates are considered equals to an extent. She
doesn't spend a lot of time with the 1st year students, but she doesn't glare
at them or consider them less just because they're younger. Same
with less talented people. And yes, she does believe that Muggles are
people too. Doesn't mean she wants the Wizard world and the Muggle world
intertwined in any way, because she doesn't. The two worlds would not mix
safely and should remain seperate as possible in her opinion. In response, Cho
smiles sweetly across the room at him and says, "Well, I'm glad you trust
me." She knows that is not what he meant by taking her word for it, but
hey.
Some very interesting views
on equality, but Draco'd be the wrong person to tell them to. Muggles are
people? No, muggles are worse than inferior. This is
what he has been taught. This is what he knows. This is what he believes. They
are scum. Following close behind are the mudbloods and
half-bloods. He drops the once raised hand onto the surface of the
table, remaining with his cheek to palm with the other. "Trust you?"
The half-smirk turns into an outright smirk. "Whatever gave you that
idea?"
Sitting in the seat across
from the Slytherin, Cho is almost mimicing his position, leaning her cheek
against her hand, elbow on the table. She's smiling instead of smirking though,
and seems to find whatever they are talking about at the moment rather amusing.
"Well, you did say you would take my word for it." She says, an amused tone to her voice. She knew good and well that isn't what he meant, but that doesn't
mean she wasn't going to say it. She would like him to trust her, but he's
shown he's hardly the trusting type.
Harry enters the library
(for real this time), books tucked under his arm. He's oblivious to the pair
flirting across one of the tables. Hmph. He makes his
way over towards a shelf of books containing tomes with historical references
so he can start on yet another essay on Goblin Revolutions and how they
impacted relations between the races. Does Professor Binns know how to beat a
topic well past death or what?
Sometimes, in this world,
the only person there is to rely on just so happens to be oneself. He's not the
type to trust those below him, nor is he very trustworthy, on the flip side. If
Draco garners some sort of information that could be used to his advantage, no
matter who it is, really, he'll use it. Slytherin's will walk all over people,
some only if they absolutely have to, to achieve their needs. Harry's entrance
goes entirely without notice, his attention remaining focused on the girl. At
the words, the blonde's eyes do a nice annoyed roll, followed by a sigh.
"I don't see what that has to do with trust."
Oh, but Harry, what else
would one expect from a man who's dead himself? Anyway...
"I wasn't being serious, Draco." Cho says with a small sigh, her
smile fading a moment. The annoyed roll is what caused her to say this.
"And besides, there are different kinds of trust. In that, I was merely
implying that you trusted my opinion." So there, it should be all cleared
up. She wasn't trying to imply that there was actually trust in this
friendship, though she might wish there was. And for the most part, she doesn't
notice the entrance of the young Gryffindor either, he
isn't exactly in her line of sight at the moment.
Okay, so you have him there.
Harry should be glad that he's not in your line of sight. Then again, should he
overhear any of the conversation, he'll possibly get accused of eavesdropping
again. He makes his way down a line of shelves, giving up about halfway through
to check another section, unfortunately, one closer to
where the two of you are conversing. He still hasn't noticed your presence, but
that probably won't last for long.
It was bound to happen, for
someone's presence to be noticed and acknowledged by the other party. Harry's
movement along the shelves means motion, which he barely catches out of the
corner of his eye, then turns his head in order to investigate. He could be
going insane, or perhaps there's someone there. And, of course, that someone
just happens to be the individual he wanted to see the least. "Looks like
Potter has joined the party." Draco drawls out,
doing that eye-rolling annoyed look thingy again.
Cho lifts her cheek from her
hand, straightening up a bit at Draco's words. The movement was for the most
part ignored. This is a library. If she looked at every movement while studying
down here, she'd never get anything done, so she's learned how to tune it out
at least somewhat. She blinks, then immediately offers a smile and opens her
mouth to say something, that never quite makes it out
at first. She looks at Draco, as if debating whether or not to draw attention
to them. Whatever the debate in her head, it ends in a few moments and she does
call out softly, so not to distrub people studying or bring Madam Pince over
shaking her finger, "Hi Harry."
Harry reaches for a
particularly fat volume on Goblin relations with other species when he hears
that nasty drawling voice, then Cho's. Back comes the urge to kick inanimate
objects and his stomach gives a little lurch. He flat out ignores Malfoy as he
pulls the book off the shelf, adding it to the texts he's already carrying. He
exits the aisle of shelves, and passes the table you two are seated at.
"Hey Cho," is said quietly in return as he heads for an empty table.
Hopefully far enough away so he can't hear normal whispered conversations.
Ignore him all you want,
Potter. Not that he really cares. Draco's not going out of his way to receive
any attention from the Boy-Who-Lived, unless it's of the negative variety. Lord
only knows how much of a kick he gets out of ticking off or upsetting
everyone's favourite green-eyed, bespectacled git. Those blue eyes which Cho
happened to be complimenting a few minutes before now vanish as he closes them.
Well, Cho. If you're going to talk to the twirp, that's the silent go-ahead to
do so.
It's difficult being the
neutral party. She happens to like both these young boys and it's rather
difficult to be friends with two people who can't stand each other. Not that
she blames either of them. They both have some valid reasons to hate the other,
and she can hardly offer them enough evidence that would alter their opinions
of each other, so she's not even going to try. Well, right now. Cho's dark eyes
return to Dracos for a second as Harry walks by, taking the silent go-ahead as
such, and go back to the young Gryffindor. "What are you studying?"
she asks.
Harry doesn't care that
Malfoy's ignoring him as well. It's actually for the best. He sits down with
his back to the pair and sets his books down. The necessary tomes are opened
and he starts studying. Harry's trying to be on his best behavior if at all
possible. Oh come on.. why
hate Harry? other than he gets a lot of special
treatment that he doesn't ask for, nor want? The book is just opened to the
table of contents, which doesn't seem to be all that helpful. Did a Troll put
this together?? He glances over his shoulder as Cho speaks, "More Goblin
relations. I think Professor Binns has a soft spot for them." Or he just
picks the most boring subject material ever.
Why hate Harry? He's not going
to accept anyone who's snubbed his offer of friendship, even if that someone
did happen to save his life. Doot doot. Nothing interesting here, nope. He drums the tips of his
fingers lightly against his temple, nestling his cheek a bit more comfortably into
the palm. The wood of the table is beginning to hurt his elbow, but that's not
much of a problem at the moment. For the most part, Draco remains silent,
still, not bothering to speak. In his head, however, oh yes. He speaks in his
head, spits the venom and such, but continues to behave. Last thing he needs is
Cho harassing him tonight over something as stupid as Potter.
Well, admitedly, the
Gryffindor has more reason to hate Draco. Not that all their fights over the
years hasn't given them both even more reasons to hate each other. But Cho
knows that them being friends is pretty much impossible. Doesn't mean she's
going to choose between either of them, even when they're both sitting right in
front of her. Even if she is only speaking to Harry at the
moment. "Goblin relations, hmm? Yeah, he
does seem to rather like that subject. I wonder if being-- a ghost effects
memory." She continues to smile, but she glances back to check on Draco,
almost to make sure he's not sneaking off.
Now Draco, your offer would
not have been rejected had you of phrased it better. But you had to be a snotty
little git so Harry sided the way he did. He gives a lame shrug of his
shoulders, "Probably not.. none
of the other ghosts really seem to have a problem." Well the only one he's
spoken to for any length was Myrtle.. Guh. "Or maybe he just likes Goblins." He glances
over towards Draco as well, to make sure he's not
doing anything nasty. Yes, he's suspicious, but can you blame him?
Oh, yeah. He's just simply
sitting there, with his elbow on the table, cheek rested in on his palm, eyes
closed, expression looking rather neutral. Draco
hasn't snuck away, yet, but beware. The Slytherin
might actually be trying to fall asleep. That's pretty much the same as taking
off but doesn't require physically getting up and leaving. The conversation
simply just gets tuned out, half because it's about a topic he has no interest
in, half because it's Potter who's involved in it.
"Probably," Cho
says, nodding. She's had some minor conversations with the Ravenclaw ghost, but
she hasn't really spent a lot of time with them. "Good luck." She
offers the young Gryffindor a smile, and there is a small note of finality, as
if she's going to leave him alone to do his report. As if to put an even bigger
hint on that, she does turn to Draco and try to recall the topic they had been
on. But as soon as she does she decides not to bring it up again. The whole
trust topic isn't a very good one, most likely. Too many
possibilities for upset. And getting upset in the Library for these two
is generally bad. So for a time, she's silent, glancing back over at Harry
again.
Harry nods a bit lamely as
Cho speaks. He really can't cough up a conversation with Malfoy present, so
when the girl turns back towards the Slytherin student, he bows his head again
over his books and tries in vain to keep his concentration on the report. And
it's not going so well. He still wants to kick things, like Malfoy. Harry is
really going to have to work on this and he has no clue where to begin.
The feeling is very mutual.
In a sense, he'd like to kick Harry, in another, he'd like to upset the boy
with cruel remarks, just like back in the first four years of Hogwarts, before
his father was known to be a Death Eater, before Cho came waltzing into the
picture, before a lot of things. He opens his eyes, finally, casting a rather
unimpressed look in Cho's direction, a thin smirk quirking the corner of his
mouth. This looks like a good time to leave. He lifts his head from its rest,
straightens in his seat, then proceeds to rise from it, standing at his
impressive height (*cough*) of five feet and four inches. "I think I'll be
leaving. My company isn't welcome here." Not that he cares, because Draco
just continues to smirk, making sure that the words sound as sharp and nasty as
possible. Can we say... 'guilt
trip'? Before the girl has a chance to summon a reply of sorts, he makes his
way towards the exit, straightening the collar of his navy-blue turtleneck, his
black robes doing that 'swishing' thing behind him.
Aw, now, Draco, that's not
fair. Cho opens her mouth even before he says anything, but his words cut her
off. She doesn't seem to know how to react to that tone. Is the guilt trip for
her? Either way, she seems to take some guilt in. She was going to think of
something to say eventually. He didn't have to walk off like that. She
certainly still wanted his company, though with Harry so close by it would
have, admitedly, been a little tense. She stands up, trying to offer a
comforting smile to Harry. Her way of trying to say it isn't his fault. Draco's
just stubborn and vindictive sometimes. She's trying to decide if she should go
after Draco or stay and talk to Harry, and her mind is having a difficult time
making a decision. So the blonde git has plenty of time to get away.
Harry rolls his eyes and
slams his books shut. "Knock it off Malfoy, stick around. I'll just leave
so you two can talk some more. It's my fault for showing up and interrupting in
the first place." He gets up from his seat, earning swift looks of
reproach from the librarian for making noise and ignores them. He gathers his
things into his arms and stalks past. He'll just research that book later. He
doesn't even feel like taking the time to pause and check it out. Sorry Cho,
it's not you, well in a way it is.. but..
argh.. Okay, he's upset as he doesn't even stop to
wish Cho a good night or whatnot. Thanks a lot Malfoy.