12/30/2001

 

Great Hall

 

The Great Hall certainly seems to be the heart of Hogwarts, as every day the four houses of Hogwarts and professors alike join together in this magnificent corridor.  Even the elitist wizard or witch would be bedazzled by the sheer brilliance of this hall.

 

The room seems to be lit by an endless number of candles floating atop the five tables set up here.  Four of the tables are evenly placed beside each other, measuring at least a hundred meters each.  These polished tables seem to possess an endless number of golden goblets and platters, which are empty at the moment, but rest assured; any decent magical institution would fill them with many eats as breakfast, lunch, and dinner each roll around.  The walls adjacent with the four tables are decorated with elaborately ornamented flags of the four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.  Of course, seated at these four tables would be the students of these houses.

 

At the front of the room is another table, identical to the other tables in the room except for the fact that the professors at Hogwarts dine there.  Above that table is the crest of Hogwarts, proudly displayed in all its glory.  The occasional suit of armor is placed around the room, as well as a few framed pictures, but it's not like the room really needs to be decorated by things such as those.

 

Above the tabletops is a magnificent ceiling, if it's a ceiling at all.  It seems to be the starry sky itself; the ceiling stretches upward so high, it certainly is hard to tell if there's a rooftop covering the room or not.  Although someone who has been reading his or her books about Hogwarts would tell you it's bewitched to look like the sky outside.  Nevertheless, the room as a whole certainly is a breath-taking place.

 

 

 

Harry props his chin in his hand, his green eyes following Malfoy's movements. He almost wants to walk over and inquire as to how the Slytherin student is, but he's not too  terribly sure if that's a good idea. Hey Malfoy, look on the bright side, it could be a coincidence with that girl's death. Or could someone be trying to send the Malfoy's a hidden message? Who knows what's going on beyond times are growing as dark as they were before. Unable to sit still any longer, he pushes himself up from the table and makes for the doors of the Great Hall.

 

The two minions seem to be about to say something, probably to question why Draco hasn't eaten and if they may split what he's left behind, but the words die away with one look from the blonde, who says nothing. He steps away from the Slytherin table, winds around the crowd of departing students who doddle and heads right for the door that will take him to the entrance hall. Watch out, Potter, Draco may just happen to run right into you as he tries to leave as quickly as possible.

 

Harry sees Malfoy head for the exit from the corner of his eye and he wisely steps aside, but calls out softly, "You alright Malfoy?" He's a bit concerned as he's never seen Malfoy like this. Sure he's seen the boy in abject pants wetting terror, but not affected this badly.

 

As everyone seems to be trying to leave, one student is trying to enter. After word reached the students of the attack in the forest (thanks to that oh so nosy reporter) the Ravenclaws barely let her out of their sight with questions. Was it true? Did it happen? Were you hurt? Were the other Seekers really there? Did you hear about that Slytherin? Wasn't she with Draco until you danced with him? ... Sigh. Cho finally broke away from her groups of friends and skipped out on the meal to spend a little bit of time by herself (probably taking a nap, she's still rather tired -- for once able to actually sleep, if not soundly or long). She's gotten too hungry to ignore anymore, so is heading into the Great Hall, just in time notice a certain pair of Seekers. She stops at the edges of the doors, watching.

 

If it were just the Dementors, he'd be fine, though still slightly disturbed of the 'movie' that played in his head while in their presence. He wouldn't be quite so nasty for a little bit of time, cowed by the experience until he could deal with it and return to normal. But with the death of Aranea stacked on top, it just succeeds in causing him to become a bit more quiet then he would normally, after being scared shitless. Call it a twisted form of grieving, if you must. The blonde Slytherin passes by Potter at the entrance to the Great Hall, not even bothering to say anything even though he could of wound up walking right into him. And he fully intends on heading without pause back to his common room, too, noticing Cho out of the corner of his eye, until Potter calls to him. Draco stops and considers that for a moment. Is he alright? Well, he feels alright, just not in the mood to be overly nasty. Just not in the mood to be anything, right now. He's not even sad. He has his answer. "I'm fine."

 

Harry sighs a bit, heading after Malfoy. "Well alright.. you certainly don't look fine. I was just curious." He sees Cho as well, giving her a nod. "Did you talk with Professor Snape yet?" Given the circumstances, one will more than likely have to speak with their head of house. He's already spoken to McGonagall at length, same with Sirius. His ears are still ringing after that.

 

Cho remains at the side of the entrance, actually moving up to hold onto the frame of the doorway with a hand. She doesn't offer her usual smile to either of them, but she does nod in return to Harry. Draco gets most of her attention though, noticeably. Yup, there's that sympathetic look, tsktsk. After him yelling at her, one would think she'd stop giving it so readily. But she can sort of relate, his date to the Yule Ball /did/ just die.

 

Ron walks merrily and unsuspectingly into the Great Hall, ready for a snack or meal of some kind, and barely misses bumping into Draco. Recoiling from the Slytherin he backpedals a bit. The guy looks strange.. almost.. well, just different. So he just blinks and moves past him without a word. Kind of speechless at his demeanor. He sees Harry, though, and smiles as he joins him, "'ey, Harry.." But this is said quietly since Harry is.. talking? to Malfoy. And doesn't appear in good spirits himself. Welp, as usual, something's happened. When is something not happening around here? Gyah, he nods to Cho, just noticing her as he passes by >.>

 

Look! A WEASLEY! He shoots the Weasley a dirty look just because he's there and in his line of sight (plus, Draco doesn't exactly want to have to look at the red-headed git at the moment), then fires it over at Cho. Stop looking at him like that or he'll scream at you, again! He certainly showed no pity for you over Diggory's death. He MADE FUN OF IT. And was then blasted by a bunch of jinxes all at once. Now, being in a similar situation, Draco half understands how it feels, he would probably react with a hex or two if someone dared to make fun of Aranea. Still, he hasn't learned much. He doesn't feel guilty about insulting Diggory's memory. Oops. "..." That could be a yes or a no, but, eh. "Not yet."

 

Harry could not be more relieved and pleased to see Ron. Joy of joys! Now we need Hermione and all should be well. For now anyway. Another glance of concern?? is given in Malfoy's direction, "Right.. he might appreciate it." Would the Professor? I mean one student slips past a group of Dementors, another dies. He then turns and trails after Ron and mutters, "You aren't going to /believe/ what's gone on this weekend.."

 

Cho is not giving a look of pity Draco. There's a difference between pity and sympathy! ... Well, not much of one, but it's there. And besides, she's a different personality all together, so she can give the look if she wants. Still she hangs at the door, though she does offer a friendly smile to Ron as he passes by. Though the fired glare from Draco does cause the sympathetic look to drop a few notches, it doesn't vanish all together, though she does find other things in the hall to look at.

 

Ron makes a lopsided face at Malfoy, consisting of bugged eyes and a disgusted turn of his nose. Yeah, that about says it all, without having to use words to disturb this awkward quietness about the room. And what's with Cho? Shaking his head he whistles and walks towards a table as Harry follows him, "I bet you're right." The weird feel suffocating the entire mass of the Great Hall is proof enough that whatever has happened will be beyond belief.

 

Draco outright ignores the response that the glare draws from Ron, really, you can make that face all you want. He hopes it freezes that way. Don't you start giving him looks of concern or pity, Potter, because he'll just as readily bite your head off over it as he did to Cho in the infirmary. With one idiot leaving to accompany the other, it means that he's free from the questioning, now he may leave as he had been intending to do before Potter had stopped him. He slips past Fuu, doesn't even bother to give Cho a second look, and heads into the Entry Hall, intending on heading straight for the dungeons to the Slytherin common room.

 

Harry shoots a glance at Malfoy and Cho over his shoulder before ducking his head again, muttering lowly to Ron so others can't overhear (which is a moot point), "I went down to the Quidditch pitch for some flying practice the other night. Malfoy let the snitch out on purpose, it got loose and flew into the Forbidden Forest. I told Malfoy and Cho to stay put, I went in after it, and they followed." He takes in a deep breath before continuing with the next bit. "We did manage to find the snitch, in the hand of a Dementor. There were several others behind it." Sounds like a bloody swell time huh Ron? He goes quiet, waiting on a reaction from his friend before continuing.

 

Cho stands at the doorframe of entrance, one hand lingering against the wood. She watches as Draco starts to leave and offers one last smile towards Harry and his friend, glad that he's getting to talk to him after what happened. With that done, she starts after the Slytherin. She has a lot of questions for him, and while she might get yelled at again, she's not going to leave him alone until... well... maybe the next time he says something nasty to her. We'll see.

 

And Draco might recognize a familiar face as he makes his way from the Entry hall, the mysteriously blue haired girl known only as Umi steps in at about that time- She seems to be in a bit of a rush, strapped over her shoulder is a large gym bag with a fenceing sword handle hanging from the slightly unzipped area- And since she's in a hurry, she most likely isn't paying attention which could result in bumping right into the other Slytherin, "Geez, I'm so off-schedule, I can't -believe- this."

 

Ron slips onto the bench on the Gryffindor table, letting his elbows rest lazily on the counter as he leans down to listen - giving Cho a slight smile in return as she leaves. But that's wiped away quickly when Harry's story takes his full attention, "The -snitch-?!" he murmurs miserably.. groaning at the thought of it in a Dementor's hand and not on the field - *their* pitch - where it belonged ._. But he then thinks immediately of his friend, searching Harry's face for signs of distress or fatigue.. but the boy looks fine, to which Ron sighs, marginally relieved. "Geez, Harry, are you okay?" He knows his friend handled a Dementor in the past.. but that many? Questionable. Even with Cho's help and Draco's.. well, even with Cho's help.

 

Fuu nods a passing hello to Draco as he hurries past too quickly for her to say anything, then smiles and nods a slightly more leisured greeting to Cho, whom she hasn't met yet but has seen here and there (and mysteriously, never on the Quidditch pitch ...) and waves Hello towards Harry and Ron, taking one step in the direction of the Gryffindor table - until she hears a familiar voice, muttering behind her, and turns around ... "Umi-san?" She reaches up to adjust her glasses, even though there's no mistaking that hair color ...

 

Pfft. Although he was skeptical, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, Draco actually did attempt to be of assistance. Mostly because he didn't exactly feel like having his soul sucked out from his mouth or being driven insane. And, eek. It's that crazy lady who cut up that over-grown floor-lobster. @_@; Ignoring that, however, Umi doesn't run into Draco. He steps around her just in time and continues on, not even bothering to acknowledge the fact that he's being followed and some such.

 

Harry settles onto the bench next to Ron. Propping an elbow against the table, he rests his chin in his hand. He appears alright, he had more chocolate than he ever wants to see again, he had a long rest which did get interrupted by a nightmare, but he's intact. "Yeah. I suppose.. Thankfully the Patronus charm worked. Malfoy seems to be hit hardest by it all. Cho seems fine too.. We talked a bit this morning." He looks absolutely miserable as he gets ready to say this next bit, ".. Quidditch has been called off cause of the Dementors. McGonagall even had our brooms confiscated.." About broke his heart when Major walked over to take the Firebolt from him. "... then in today's paper, there's a report that Malfoy's date to the Yule Ball was murdered." With his head bent down talking with Ron, he doesn't see Fuu waving.

 

Cho spots the waving hand and waves back, flashing a friendly smile. She just barely recognizes the girl, from Hikaru's description and the halls and meals. But other than a smile and a wave, her attention is currently on the blond Slytherin that just amazingly avoided a collision. She offers an apologetic smile to the girl who nearly collided with him, though she really doesn't know who that girl is, and continues after Malfoy. Yay, Malfoy, you have a stalker. (Kidding, kidding.)

 

Ron is also a bit enthralled with Harry's account of the past few days, so he doesn't notice Fuu, yet. You can see his face fall and practically hear his heart break, "Quidditch... cancelled..?" It can't be, it just can't.. Oh, his pre-destined glory days as Keeper! Flying high with the team he dreamed to be on. But of course something had to ruin that. Ron would stay dazed, but you said one of the few things that would tear him out of it, "-Murdered-?" It's said quietly, but pointedly.. with underlying questions has to how, why, what in the hell is happening? o.o

 

Umi ehs? as she glances to Malfoy and brushes by, raising an eyebrow to the familiar face- However, she can't remember his name for the life of her and he seems to be in a rush so.. Ah well. Her blue eyes look then to Cho, stopping to give her a puzzled look as she chases after Draco. Er... Ok. >.>; "... Gee, she doesn't really seem his type, but who am I to judge.." she murmurs to herself with a shrug, and suddenly hearing Fuus voice, flashes a bright smile as she recognizes her good friend, "Fuu! It's about time you showed up around here!" she zips up to the blonde and gives her a big warm hug, but then her expression becomes slightly less cheerful, "Yeah so... Hikaru told me that none of us are staying in the same area- What's that all about, huh?" ^^;

 

Fuu hugs Umi back gently, although it's not quite in keeping with how she would normally behave ... still, she's really glad to see Umi again. "I was the first of us here, Umi-san, but I've been rather busy ... Which House were you sorted into?" She smiles up at the fencer, easing back from the hug if she's allowed to do so. "I'm in Hufflepuff, Hikaru-san is in Gryffindor ... I can't say either of those surprised me, although I hoped that all three of us would be together in Hufflepuff. And I'm doing well .. except that Quidditch has apparently been cancelled for an indefinite period."

 

 

Further Down the Dungeons

 

You can tell that this hallway was built underground, as it seems quite a bit colder than the corridor before it.  The hall seems to reach a dead end, except for a door to the side which is labeled by a gold plaque that reads 'Potions - Professor S. Snape'.  This area would be quite spooky, were it completely dark, but torches attached to the wall provide enough light to dispell that thought.  A short flight of stairs leads you back up to the corridor before.

 

 

It didn't take long for Draco to make it down to the dungeons, pausing before the wall which separates him from the Slytherin common room. There's that bit of a strange, unexplainable feeling, as though he were being followed. Instead of just uttering the password to the wall and disappearing into the house of Slytherin, he turns to look back down the dungeon hallway, the pupils in his icy blue eyes narrow. Can he see who follows him? Is he going to say anything if he can? Well, let's leave that up to the imagination.

 

You know, she should have guessed the Dungeons would be the place where the Slytherin Common was. It makes complete sense, and it's so far away from Gryffindor. Cho may not be exactly the sneaking kind, but she does manage to move silently behind him for a while. When he turns back though, she stops for a second. She isn't trying to hide, so he likely does see her as she continues towards him and says, "Draco? Can I talk to you?" Preferably without him yelling at her this time... But she doesn't say that part out loud.

 

Well, it all depends on what exactly it is that she wants to talk about. That will dictate whether or not he screams at her for a second time. There's a little something in his head which orders him not to even bother, to just turn around, mutter the password, then retreat into the safety of the common room where no nosy Ravenclaws may be able to bother him. The other half just says to merely stay and find out, then turn around and leave. Heh. Draco goes with the second, though, frowning. "What is it?" If you're going to talk, better be planning on doing it here.

 

Probably going to get yelled at. Cho opens her mouth, then closes it. What is she supposed to say exactly? If he needs someone to talk to, she'll be more than happy to listen? She could say that, but it would sound completely lame, and... he'd probably just say he doesn't want to talk and walk off. She opens her mouth again, and no words fall out. Finally, she forces a few words, "Draco.. I'm sorry about Aranea. After everything that happened last night, I can imagine that hearing that would be... difficult for you." She meant to say painful, but stops. "I know you don't want pity, and I'm not giving you pity. I... I am concerned about you though. You.. you can just hide yourself away if you want, but..." She stops.

 

Indeed, if she brought up that 'I can lend an ear if you have something to say' stuff, he would have simply turned around, stated that there is nothing he has to say and left right afterwards. His frown deepens, "I don't see why you care at all. I don't even see why you've followed me at all if this is what you have to say." The upset starts to creep into Draco's voice, once more. "But fine. This won't be a complete waste of time for you. It's difficult enough. Is that what you want to hear?" Is that what it will take to get you to leave him alone? He's interpreting the concern as pity, once again, obviously.

 

"You don't see why..." Cho says with a soft sigh, shaking her head a bit. Of course he doesn't see why she cares. He's a Slytherin. Probably doesn't believe people /can/ care about someone else it furthers their own needs or goals. Well, she's /not/ a Slytherin, and she /can/ care about someone when they don't further her own needs or goals in the least. In fact, this entire attempt is more of a headache than anything else. "Draco, you helped me. Yes, I know that this isn't what you wanted in return, you would rather be alone, you don't want to talk; I've heard it all before, and I even thought it myself." She certainly didn't want pity, or any of this when Cedric.. when everything happened last year. "And you're certainly not giving me any reason to care, other than that you helped me, but... I do. Maybe there's no reason for it, but that isn't what's important here." She's not even making any sense to herself now... "If you don't want to talk, we don't have to. We could even work on a potion project, anything, though we can't practice Quidditch any more, my broom was taken away... I just don't think what you need right now is to be alone." She was alone for months (alone with people all around her even) and it certainly didn't help any.

 

Draco doesn't care at all. He doesn't even pretend to care. With the way he is, it's not that Draco is completely incapable about caring about another human being, just sees himself better than the lot he's around at the moment, making them not worthy of such a thing. He cares about his mother, has enough confidence in his father to know that Lucius can defend himself, Crabbe and Goyle are his most dedicated minions, therefore, the closest he has to an actual friend, though he would trust the morons as far as he could throw them, which isn't that far. He's still better than them, his cronies, that is. Aranea and he were like birds of a feather, they shared similar opinions on the same things; if Draco had gotten to know her better, he may of started caring, but any beginnings to that feeling have been crushed flat with her death. Lastly, he also enjoys being the nasty prat he is, he enjoys having an audience that holds him high and mighty. It's hard to be nasty to someone you care about and the Slytherins make a perfect audience, which is why he feels so great and... why he doesn't wander around, insulting THEM. He also isn't the type to just go and bash those who have done him no wrong. Harry hurt his pride, Weasley insulted his name, Hermione's a mudblood and now, Cho's soon going to enter herself into the same category where the three previous reside by being an annoyance. An annoyance that is causing him to grow more upset with everything that comes out of her mouth. GO AWAY! He'll start crying! >.< "..." Erg. That damn being at a loss for words, again. His hands clench into fists at his sides, but other then that, he doesn't say anything, to her, at least. He turns to face the wall, mutters the password to it and steps aside as it begins to open as though being pushed by some unseen form.

 

Cho doesn't mean to be an annoyance. She didn't wake up this morning and go 'hey, I need to track down Draco Malfoy and bother him until he yells at me again.' This is annoyance without intent. (Still worthy of a life sentence to the Scooby Gang standing though, isn't it?) Cho watches him as he turns away, letting out a long sigh and looking down at the floor. She doesn't hear what he mumbles, nor does she even try to. She should just let him go. He obviously doesn't want her help and he certainly isn't going to take it even if he did want it. He's selfish, pigheaded, egotistical, emotionally retarded, completely lacking in the concept of humanity and friendship... and yet... she doesn't let it go. She's popular, pretty, and generally nice and smart, but this is one time when the last bit would be completely questioned. But as the wall starts to slide open she calls out, "I'm just trying to be your friend, Draco. Sorry for wasting your time. No matter what you think, it wasn't a waste of mine." She doesn't turn and walk away, nor does she physically try to stop him.

 

OOC Inserts:

 

Draco (OOC) changes his @doing. x.@;

 

Draco                  06:55   9s  I'm emotionally-retarded! :D

 

Draco (OOC) says, "He (Harry) changed his @doing to go with mine. x.x"

 

Draco                  07:03   4s  I'm emotionally-retarded! :D

Harry                  10:21   1m  Yes you are Draco.

 

Cho (OOC) changes her own @doing. *whistle*

 

Cho                    03:49   0s  Trying to get thru to an emotional retard.

 

Draco (OOC) laughs. x.@;

 

End OOC Inserts

 

He is certainly all of those things. If you toss in mean and arrogant, that will probably sum up the majority of his personality. There are a few things underneath it all, some which even he doesn't know about, meaning he is SO NOT emotionally retarded! Just... slightly. And stuff. Okay, so he is emotionally retarded. Draco's not about to go hopping over, with shining eyes, ready to accept the offer of friendship, but he does at least stop before the opening wall, turning back a second time with a bit of a skeptical look. He gave the offer to Potter, once, for reasons unknown, probably because of seeing the Boy-Who-Lived as being on a somewhat equal level and was even slightly disappointed at being refused, to which it eventually turned into a bitter rivalry, but to someone like this. Well, he doesn't think of Cho as an equal, he believes himself to be better, if she wants to be his 'friend', then that requires worshipping him appropriately. Geez. Someone's going to have to teach him the meaning of these things. Draco, once again, doesn't know what to say, he just.. sorta stands there.

 

Oh yes, can't forget arrogant asshole. The set just wouldn't be complete without that! But he does stop. Which means Cho has one chance to get by this. She can feel her chances slipping away quickly. For one, he doesn't even like her; though he was nice to her (well, nice enough) before the little bouts of sympathy became too much for him. The fact that he /was/ nice to her for a time is one of the only things sustaining her attempt. She takes a breath and chooses her words with extreme care. "I realize that Slytherins don't generally... befriend other Houses, but I think that.. we could at least come to a mutual understanding." Mutual? Does that mean no worshipping? Well, yes. No worshipping. Cho's more used to being the person followed around by hoards of Ravenclaws listening to her every word and whining to her about little things (My cat's sick! I can't pass this quiz! My parents won't buy me a Cleansweep!) and gossiping and occasionally giving her moments of genuine friendship. To be quite honest, she doesn't /have/ many genuine friends either. But she's got a much better concept of friendship than he does.

 

First, it's friends, and now, mutual understanding. Maybe it's not only him who's emotionally retarded. Buwah. That skeptical look remains, he begins to frown once more, still trying to figure out something to say in response to this. He's never really met a person like this, before. He doesn't even know how to deal with them. He doesn't know whether to be mean, arrogant, just go off and completely ignore them or be semi-nice. Draco thinks he should be all at once and none at all. x.@; "I have no idea what to say to you." Whups. That just slipped out. Gah.

 

Hey, she was trying to downgrade it so he wouldn't be so quick to walk off... Cho waits, waits... not walking away. And then those words just slip out. Her reaction? A huge smile appears on her lips and she barely contains the urge to laugh. Not a laugh to make fun of him though, more because she's pleased that he admitted to it and didn't just walk away. Even if he didn't intend to say it. "I know the feeling. Let me just make this simple. If you decide you wouldn't mind having me as a friend then you can approach me and we can talk, go to Hogsmeade, work on something for classes, it doesn't matter." She takes a breath, then continues. "If not, then I won't take any offense." She's offering a no-strings attached friendship. She'll even understand if he turns and walks away right this instant, not taking offense. Maybe a little hurt, but not offended.

 

Umi rushes on by, don't mind her. She seems entranced in her instruction booklet for the card game she bought, "So.. If I tap 7 mana, I'll be darn near invincible.." she mutters as she then heads right into the Potions Classroom.

 

He seems to consider this for a few minutes, or perhaps he's still trying to figure out something to say. Forget Umi, she doesn't exist. She just happens to pass by, muttering to herself. Slytherin will want to disown her within a week, that's for certain. "..." Geez, he's just being driven into round after round of speechlessness, not knowing what to say, or even how to react. Numerous times in a minute, Draco has thought about just turning back around again to enter the common room, but he wouldn't feel right about it afterwards for a little while. Not that he'd regret rudely turning down the offer, but like he's missing out on something that he could gain through it. Like, irritating Potter to no end. Draco makes a bit of a funny face. "Why are you doing this?" x.@;

 

Cho doesn't notice Umi either. She's just someone walking by during one of the moments of silence stretching between them. She doesn't dare look away from Draco to see who the person is, as if she's afraid he'll disappear through those doors if she does just that. She continues to watch him, trying to keep eye contact, as if looking for some sign that she's getting thru... anything... what she finds is... not much. He doesn't turn around though. He isn't leaving. And he's.. making a funny face and asking her a silly question. "Why?" ... Why?... Why... why... why... Bloody hell... Now she's left speechless. Her mouth opens three full times, without a single sound escaping. Then finally, words fall out, "Why shouldn't I? Is it so unbelievable that someone would want to be your friend?" Though with his attitude, she's starting to see that it is! But that isn't an answer. What is she supposed to tell him? The truth? 'I feel sorry for you. I think that you need a friend right now and I just want to help.' Oh yeah, she's /really/ going to say that and get yelled at.

 

Draco wouldn't just yell, he'd have a fit, fire off a hex and leave you writhing there on the floor for the rest of the evening until someone happens by and takes some form of pity! The funny expression turns a bit more to that of anger, then, it's him who winds up opening and closing his mouth. A very fish-like behavior, they both have now displayed. "I don't know!" Finally, he fires back at the Ravenclaw, once again at a loss for anything to say, but the stuff that he doesn't want to speak just keep slipping out of his mouth.

 

Oh, yay, now he's just getting pissed off. But he's not walking away. (Is that really an accomplishment?) Cho takes a slow breath, moving back one step as she tries to mentally find some way to balance this out for the better. But she can't seem to think of a way at all. She's only causing him to get pissed, and that isn't the intention she had when she sought him out. Of course, if they got into a big long yelling match and he vented all his upset on her, it might help /him/, though it might leave her twitching on the floor hairless and with warts the size of apples all over. So.. no. Let's not go with that option. Instead she whispers softly, "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea..." A little steadier she adds, "Sorry, I don't know how to answer that question. I just want to-- I just want--" blood hell. She can't say help, she can't say any of the things she would say if he were anyone else. But no, she had to try to reach out to an emotionally retarded Slytherin, of /all/ people, didn't she? How did he ever come up with a happy thought last night? She tries to come up with words, but then she suddenly just says the last thing she thought, "How did you ever come up with a happy thought last night?" Wrong thing to say? Ooooh, yeah.

 

Draco >o< "WHAT?! Do you think I don't have any happy thoughts or anything?!" Well, if he's an emotional retard, that question should be rather easy to answer. "You make it sound like that's absolutely impossible for me." Grr. Hiss. Grr. Grr. He's so gonna have to sic his father on you, now! After all, running straight to daddy is what his son happens to do best. And, he's been doing it a lot more, recently. Sissy. Ahem.

 

Cho blinks lightly. "I never.. I didn't say that!" Well, yeah, she did, "I didn't mean it to sound like that. It's just... you seem to think such.. negative things so readily.. Why else would you have to question why I'm trying to be your friend? Do you think I'm trying to use you or something?" She looks a little bit confused, but then she shakes it off, like trying to get dust out of her hair. "If it's not impossible, then prove it. What /was/ your happy thought?" Though some people would say that in an offensive way, it isn't even intended as argumentative or even confrontational. It's just a question, despite the odd wording. She really is curious. If the arrogant Slytherin could conjure up a happy thought, what could they possibly be? Selfish happy thoughts don't seem like they would work in that instance.

 

He has half a mind to pull out his wand, scream 'Petrificus Totalus' at her, and then take off into the common room. "How dare you." Draco sneers at her, he lifts his head to a superior angle, shoving his hands into the pockets of his slacks, looking as though he has momentarily returned back to being himself, but just imagine the energy that it's draining from him to do so when he's not exactly ready for it. "Is that supposed to be some sort of challenge?! Do you think I can't come up anything happy on my own?" Yes, he's purposely weaving around the subject; his face pales bit by bit. "Why should I tell you? Why's it so important to you? It's none of your business!"

 

Oi. She inspired the appearance of the bad Draco... But at least he's not moping and being totally not himself... (Is this a good thing?) Cho takes a slow breath, resisting the urge to take a few steps away. Instead she tries to speak calmly, "I'm not trying to challenge you. I just want to know. Is that so wrong? If you're happy thought is so private, then keep it to yourself, it's probably wonderful and great and /yours/. But you better hold onto it as tightly as ever if you want to get thru this without..." She cuts off. She can't say what she wants to say (turning into a soulless excuse for a human being). It'll come off as an insult. So she takes a breath and says, "Happy thoughts aren't something you should be ashamed of though."

 

What is you're problem? He doesn't like it when the words just happen to trail away like that. If you want to call him emotionally retarded or a soulless excuse for a human being, then feel free. The consequences are facing his temper, however. "And perhaps I'm 'ashamed' because you're right and I can't seem to find a thought that makes me truly happy." A pause. He's not going to be forced to admit this. "Then again." Draco adds slyly, "Maybe you're wrong." Time for a new topic. "I bet I know what you thought of." Once again, sneering. "I bet it was Diggory. In fact, I think you came down here, believing that you could relate because of Aranea, that you could 'help'. I'll tell you something, Cho Chang, you're only causing more damage. I told you don't need your pity. Maybe you should LISTEN!" And maybe he should stop upsetting himself, too, because his voice certainly tells the tale, despite how nasty his expression is.

 

Dissolving into a yelling match now? Cho somehow resists taking any steps away from him as the conversation takes a turn for the worse. Not that it started out all peaches and cream to begin with. The mention of Cedric, admittedly causes a slight sting, but it's barely noticeable, except in her eyes. The rest... well... by the time he's finished her eyes are tight and dark, and though he can't see it, her throat feels tight and her chest feels heavy. She takes another slow breath, trying to keep from taking the yelling match to her side as well. "I'm sorry... But I don't understand. Why can't I help you? What's so wrong with wanting to do that? You helped me." Though, honestly, talking to Harry helped far more than any sleeping potion did... But that isn't the point. "I don't pity you. There's a difference between pity and empathy. Maybe I /do/ know what you're going through." She takes a breath and adds, "And just for your information, it was Cedric, but it wasn't. It was more the feelings I had when I was around him, before--" There's a tightening in her voice and she stops, adding on instead, "But I guess you probably wouldn't understand that at all, would you?" That's her first intentional stab of the night, emotion heavy in her eyes and tone.

 

"How dare you." He says again, anger mixing in with his voice, once more, but it doesn't manage to erase the upset which lingers. This isn't fair. He has to be able to stand up against this. Draco unclenches his hands from the fists, then reforms them, tighter than ever, inside the pockets. He doesn't even have to see it, he knows his knuckles go white. "We are two perfectly different people." And it's as though the blonde Slytherin believes that happens to say everything, account for everything, and explain everything. Malfoy says no more after that, just tightly purses his lips together, making a straight line, his vision occasionally blurring with the beginnings of tears in his eyes which are silently fought back.

 

"I.. I shouldn't have said that, I'm sorry." He doesn't exactly /inspire/ people to put their best face forward though, does he? She doesn't even know why she's bothering to keep this up as she is. Instead of fighting off the urge to step back, Cho actually takes a few steps forward this time, closer to the younger Slytherin. "We are different. Different personalities, different priorities, different in ways I probably don't even realize. But we /do/ have things in common." They're both Seekers? Well, yeah, but she's thinking more along the lines of other things right now. Not that he'd ever admit to them. She's fighting back tears too, but perhaps a bit easier, because the pain is less new to her, less focused. "I do want to try. I want to try to be your friend. Yes, I even want to try to help, even if I know there's no way I possibly can, and it's the last thing you want if I /could/."

 

That it. That's enough. Draco was at the edge and now, he's been pushed too far. Tears silently slide down his pale cheeks, but he doesn't bother to make any effort to wipe them away. He keeps his hands in his pockets, not even making a move. If he did, that would mean acknowledging their presence, it would mean showing a form of weakness. He's done that enough, lately. He keeps his lips pursed together, refusing to say anything in response, his face still wearing that expression that could almost be interpreted as of a neutral standing. Surprisingly, as much as he wants to turn around and leave, as the Ravenclaw draws close, he has not backed away... yet.

 

See, this is where Cho will not understand him. Weakness? How are tears a weakness? Yes, she pushed them back and hid them away so often that one might wonder if she thought that way too, but it was more because she didn't want her friends trailing behind her in awkward silence, afraid to say anything for fear she'll break down and sob.  And isn't that just what she did to Draco here?  Well, there's a difference here.  It may not be easily seen, but it's there.  She takes another slow breath and moves closer, taking slow steps as if she's worried she might spook him.  If her movements don't do that, what she does when she gets close enough probably does the trick.  She lifts her tiny hands up (and they are shaking every so slightly, though nowhere near as much as his were in the infirmary the other night) and tries to cup his cheeks, thumbs brushing away the tears as much as she can if he lets her. For once, she doesn't even try to say a word.

 

His bubble of personal space is being invaded! The closer Cho gets to him, the more he wants to just go. He was expecting you to just stop or something, not just come right up to him like that. Draco freezes, almost as though his feet were rooted to the spot where he stands. There is no physical protest, mostly because he's too shocked to move as she begins to brush away the ignored tears. There is no verbal protest, he can't even begin to formulate words at the moment. The only thing that happens is his eyes widen... considerable... at her.

 

The fact that there is no sudden jerking, knocking away of her hands, or yelling keeps Cho where she is. She settles into her spot, a lot closer to the Slytherin Common Room than any Ravenclaw should ever be. But she doesn't even glance beyond him. She keeps her dark hazel eyes (the flecks of green and gold in her eyes are probably clearer than ever if he tries to look) carefully placed on his own icy blue. She brushes away the tracks of tears gently, her hands sliding into place so that her plams rest on the curve of his jaw and the fingers on his neck and touching his earlobes. After a few moments, she offers up a warm (if a little weak) smile and again, says nothing. For some reason this seems to be a moment when silence is best.

 

It's like this big round of silence. She says nothing, he says nothing. He says nothing, she says nothing. Rinse, repeat. But he tries, Draco honestly tries to force himself to say something, anything... but his body just simply refuses all the commands as though frozen, only allowing him to breathe and occasionally blink. The blonde haired, pale faced Slytherin just stares at the slightly shorter Ravenclaw seeker in pure and absolute shock. He can't even blush, for that matter, his mind is so in a mess at the moment, though he might had it not of come as a surprise.

 

... Wow. Cho's discovered a new way to petrify someone. Touch their face. She waits until most of the signs of the tears are gone, then slowly starts to draw her hands back, breaking the silence with soft words, "The offer is still open, Draco. If you want it." The offer being that of friendship. She doesn't mention the tears at all, though she was very tempted to tell him not to be embarrassed of them. Though, she leaves the ‘if’ open. Though she seems to have been getting through (or at least more than she /was/) so maybe this method was working better than the previous ones.

 

How can you be so utterly calm after that? You just invaded his personal space, just touched his face and all that jazz yet are able to just act so normally, afterwards?! He's absolutely scared stiff! Harry might be happy if he just had his tears brushed away by Cho Chang, but Draco's completely different and has no idea what to think at all. Erm. Um. Ah. Hm. Is he still at a loss for what to say? Sure! But he can at least move, now, taking a bit of a step back from the girl, least she try and reach out to paralyze him again. "..." Pause. "..." Not that he's saying anything. "..." Argh. This is frustrating! "...I..." WAY TO GO. "Never mind." Scowly face.

 

I? I? I what? Cho's eyebrows raise for a moment as she waits for whatever will come next, but they immediately lower in some disappointment when the next words do. Never mind? Never mind!? Sigh. And she actually does. She lets her hands drop to her side and lets out a sigh. "If you make up your mind, you know where to find me." She doesn't want to hang around this close to the Slytherin Common Room anymore. He's wearing her out, emotionally. It's like trying to teach a Muggle-child charms. They just don't /work/! And of course she can act normal after touching his face. There's /nothing/ wrong with tactile contact! He's just... completely beyond her scope of comprehension. Is he even human? She knows he is. She still has tear residue on her fingers. "I'll see you later. Have a good night." With that said she takes a few steps back and turns away.

 

O_o That's one WEIRD woman. It disturbed him not because it was a girl, but because, well, Draco's never had ANYONE do that to him, before. Gah. "Good night." And hopefully, good riddance, though because he never happened to answer, the feeling of joy that she's leaving soon sinks. He closes the Slytherin common room door behind himself. Oh wonderful... now he he'll to explain EVERYTHING eventually, if he feels like it, to the many sets of eyes which stare at him as he walks though to his dorm.