OWL: Maybe You Would Understand Me A Little Better

[rar_stephen]

Date: Monday, 29 July 1999 | Evening
Characters: Stephen Cornfoot, Cho Chang
Location: South Vinewood
Status: Private
Summary: Stephen decides an owl is safer.
Status: Complete

Comments

[rar_cho]

Cho was walking through her flat to the kitchen as she towel-dried her hair. When she arrived home from St. Mungo's, she’d had a quick sandwich for dinner and then worked out for a while. This evening’s exercises had included her weight training routine, which she usually did three times a week. After soaking in a hot bath, she now looked forward to relaxing for the rest of the evening, curled up with a book. As she walked through her hallway, she noticed a piece of folded parchment on the floor by the front entrance. She flung her towel over her shoulder as she leaned over to pick up the note. She assumed it would be a note from Angelina but was pleasantly surprised to discover it was from Stephen. She grinned, thinking he had quickly caught on to best way of corresponding with neighbors living on the same floor. She and Angelina were already used to leaving notes for each other.

She sat down on her bed to read his letter, smiling when she saw he was still interested in taking her diving. She had already found some books on the subject and had read two of them. Corsica sounded lovely and she thought it would be good to go to an area he knew and enjoyed. It would all be new to her so she would be pleased with any destination. She grinned as she read the closing of the letter. It seemed Stephen was giving her an out, if she had changed her mind. She was getting up to find a piece of parchment for her response, when she had a better idea.

She quickly changed into track pants and a tee shirt, after deciding she should just reply in person. She left her flat and crossed the landing to knock on his door. It was only after she had knocked that she looked down and realized she was barefoot. She was contemplating going back for shoes, or at least socks, when his door opened.

She looked up and smiled, “Hi, Stephen. I got your letter.”

[rar_stephen]

Stephen finished his juice and was on his way to read in bed when someone knocked at his door. That's odd. He was quite sure no one had ever knocked on his door--he wasn't the type of guy people visited.

Without thinking, he walked over to the door and opened it. It didn't cross his mind that he was only wearing track pants until it was too late. So there he stood, bare-chested and stunned, as Cho Chang smiled up at him.

"Okay," he said stupidly. His stomach rolled and he swallowed. He tried to focus his brain on anything other than his nausea. Manners, Cornfoot. "Would you--you like to come in?"

[rar_cho]

She had greeted him as the door opened but she quickly realized he hadn't been expecting company. He probably didn't think she would answer his letter personally. He wasn't wearing a shirt so she was doing her best not to stare. If his clearly defined muscles were anything to go by, the physical part of his training must be going really well. She tried to focus her eyes on anything other than his chest, or shoulders, or stomach. She definitely shouldn't be staring at his stomach.

"I'm sorry, I should have - ," she trailed off, not knowing exactly what she should have. She looked up at him as he invited her in and she nodded. "Thanks."

She walked inside and looked around his flat. "I was glad to get your letter. I'm interested." She turned to look at him again, "I mean, I would like to go diving with you."

[rar_stephen]

Stephen stepped aside and let Cho into his flat. He was momentarily thankful that his mother taught him to be a cleanly bloke. His flat wasn't cluttered with trash or days' old food stuck to plates. He didn't have dirty clothes lying around, and his kitchen sink was clean. There was a stack of books on the coffee table, but that was it.

He closed the door and stared at it for a moment before turning around to look at her. She watched him quietly, and he smiled slowly before he blushed, having already forgotten about being shirtless.

"I'm sorry for not being dressed. I mean, for not being completely dressed. I've been in the shower. A bit ago. I mean...I'll be right back."

He hurried into bedroom and pulled on a shirt. When he returned to the living room, Cho was looking around the room, probably taking in his lack of artwork. He had been meaning to buy something--of course he had always wanted to paint something...but that was neither here nor there anymore...

"Hi," he said and leaned against the wall. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Would you like to go to Corsica?" he asked. He wondered if she would rather go somewhere closer. Or if she would be nervous about going with him at all.

He could hear his mother's voice in his head telling him to offer the lady a drink. He pushed away from the wall. "Would you like something? To drink?" he asked and he walked to the kitchen without waiting for her answer. He had never had a girl in his flat before. Perhaps he needed a drink.

[rar_cho]

She responded to his slow smile with one of her own, as he apologized and kept trying to explain his shirtless state. Before she could reassure him it was okay, he had excused himself and headed for his bedroom.

He was gone only a short while but long enough for her to notice he kept his flat tidy. He returned wearing a shirt and finally said hello as he leaned against the wall. He then crossed his arms and invited her to Corsica. She nodded slowly as she stared back at him. "Yes, I'd like to go. Corsica sounds beautiful, the way you described it in your letter."

He then asked if she wanted something to drink and stepped into the kitchen. She didn't know if she should follow him or not. but decided to wait in the living room. "Thanks," she called in after him, "Whatever you're having is fine with me."

[rar_stephen]

Stephen opened the cooler and pulled out a pitcher of pumpkin juice. He turned and held it up for Cho, who watched him from the living room. He could tell from her body language that she was comfortable enough. He assumed the slight fidgeting he saw in her was mainly due to her feeding off his emotions--and he was slightly uncomfortable with a woman in his flat. He had no idea how to act properly--he had no practice.

He clenched his hand around the handle of the pitcher. "Pumpkin juice?" When Cho nodded, he poured her a glass. If he focused on the little things, he couldn't think about how his stomach was beginning to reject his dinner.

When he returned to the living room with the juice he smiled and glanced off. "Corsica is beautiful. I took my first dive there. I've been other places, but I suppose nothing is ever like your first experience--especially if it's a good one. The water is cool and clear. The sea creatures are diverse and...happy," he said nostalgically, and then he realized he was babbling.

His cheeks felt hot and he looked back at Cho. "W-what's good for you? I mean, days. What days are good for you? Weekends? Of course," he added stupidly. "We work all week. Don't suppose you'd want to take your first dive at night. Nocturnal creatures behave differently. I should think you'd rather have a Saturday or Sunday morning or afternoon dive."

[rar_cho]

She sensed he was uncomfortable and truly hoped it wasn't because she had been staring earlier. Of course, it could easily be because she had come over without an invitation. She shook her head not knowing which was worse, and wondered why she seemed to have forgotten all her manners this evening. Stephen brought her a glass of pumpkin juice and she made sure she thanked him before taking a sip. She was determined to prove she could exhibit polite behavior and hopefully put him at ease.

She listened as he described his diving experiences and found the more he talked about Corsica, the more interested she became. "I think Corsica would be perfect for my first time, too." She smiled, "I've read two books which sparked my interest for learning more about diving. They were two of the more basic ones, The Wizarding Guide to Underwater Exploration and a beginners' guide, Spells and Charms for Deep Sea Diving." She remembered researching some of the more basic methods back at Hogwarts due to the Second Task but she was surprised by the more advanced magical techniques for venturing underwater. “I thought I should ask if there were other books you thought would be beneficial for me to read before we go.” She grinned as she admitted, “Okay, that’s a roundabout way of asking to borrow some of your books.” So much for politeness. She had been curious what books he might have on the subject ever since he had mentioned loaning her some of his.

She agreed, "Weekends would be better, for both of us." She thought she wouldn’t mind seeing some nocturnal creatures but maybe not her first time. "Night diving sounds fun, too," she grinned, "but daylight may be preferable until I know what I'm doing underwater." She thought for a moment before asking, “What would you recommend, or like to do? A morning or afternoon dive? I’m good with either a Saturday or a Sunday.” She was appreciative he was taking her preferences into consideration but she wanted it to be an enjoyable day for him as well. She smiled at him, “I’m putting myself in your hands so whatever you want to do is fine.”

[rar_stephen]

Stephen realised he hadn't refilled his own glass, so to combat his embarrassment, he grabbed his glass from the coffee table and walked to the cooler.

He sipped slowly as he listened to Cho talk about the books she had read. He was impressed. He hadn't actually believed she truly wanted to go, but seeing as how she had gone out of her way to read books on the subject, he couldn't help but grin at her. She was a Ravenclaw, after all. Reading was a pastime for her, too, he thought.

"Those are both great beginner books," he complimented. "You chose well." He crossed the room and excused himself so he could reach around her and grab two books from the stack on the coffee table. "You'll probably find Fatal Depth: How to Dive Safely and What to Avoid and Diving in Depth both very useful." He glanced at the stack of books once more and pulled a third from the table. "You might also want to take a look at The Magical Quest of Diving. This one is good, too. One of my favorites actually. Slightly romanticizes diving, which might not be to your liking."

He handed the books to Cho and cast his eyes to the floor. "You can borrow my books any time you need to. I don't mind."

He finished off his juice and wrinkled his brow in thought. "Weekends make more sense for both of us, I think. Night diving is enjoyable but a bit risky. It can be challenging in different ways--can also give you an adrenaline rush," he said with a grin and then sobered as he cleared his throat. "But I wouldn't want to subject you to that until you were comfortable in the water. Starting a dive in the morning would give us plenty of time to explore before nightfall, but if you're not an early riser, then we can take a short dive by starting in the afternoon.

"Saturdays and Sundays are similar to me, but I would more often than not choose Saturday and leave Sunday as a day of rest for everyone."

Stephen looked down at his hands and then back up at Cho. "You're safe in my hands," he said seriously. "I wouldn't let anything happen to you."

[rar_cho]

She was glad he approved of the choices she had made for reading up on the subject. He then came over and she leaned out of his way as he retrieved some books from the coffee table behind her. She took a sip of her juice before setting her glass down and accepting the books he handed to her. She looked at the titles and smiled. She held up the first book and arched a brow, “What to Avoid? ” She nodded as she grinned, “Always good to know.” When he handed her the third book and said it was his favourite, she knew she definitely would read it. She smiled, “I think I could appreciate a romanticized view just as much as the practical aspects.” She thought a balance of perspectives was always a better way to understand a subject.

She smiled, “Thanks, Stephen. This is nice of you, for taking me as well as loaning your books.”

She grinned as he explained the appeal of night diving, “I think the thrill of the unknown should provide enough of a rush during the day at first.” When contemplating what time of day would be best she thought if she enjoyed it as much as she expected, she didn’t want a late start to limit their time. “I think I’d like to go in the morning, so we’ll have more time. I’m usually an early riser so I promise I’m not grumpy in the mornings. Although, I do enjoy a nice lazy morning every so often." She grinned, "Let's try for a Saturday, in case I need to rest the next day.”

She stared at him as he assured her safety while with him. She nodded slowly, “I know.” She was surprised at that because she was used to taking care of herself, but she did feel safe with him. She thought back to their encounter on the stairwell and she had to smile at the complete reversal from her initial wariness. She cleared her throat as she held up the books in her arms, “After I learn what I can from these, I’ll still need to rely on you to show me how to do it right.”

[rar_stephen]

"Morning it is, then," he said. "It's also a good choice because there is marine life that we'll only see in the earlier hours." He didn't think he was a particularly grumpy person in the mornings either. Course, he'd never had anyone around to let him know otherwise.

"You let me know what Saturday is the best for you, and I'll make plans," he said. "Since you've never been to the dive location where I would like to take you to, I'll arrange for a portkey to take us there." Stephen began to make plans in his head. As soon as his mind landed on the fact that he was taking a woman to his favorite diving location, his stomach clenched. He winced and rubbed his abdomen before regaining his composure.

Corsica is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It's west of Italy. South of France. It's the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. Deep breath, Cornfoot.

Stephen hoped that Cho wasn't staring at him because she thought he was a freak. He would need to remember to take a double dose of his nausea potion. "I know you're a quick learner, but before we dive, we can practice basic spells and charms in shallow water. That way, if you're uncomfortable or the spell doesn't work out quite as well as planned, you can always stand up and breathe air again. But you should know that I have mastered most of the needed practical magic, and if you don't feel confident in your spells, I can help you."

[rar_cho]

She was getting excited about the trip and this new experience as their plans became more definite. "I don't have anything planned for the next few weekends. I do try to visit my family every so often but can go anytime and there's a project I hope to volunteer for soon but haven't heard word yet as to when it will start. So my weekends are free right now. Maybe we can go not this Saturday, but the next one?" She set the books down on the coffee table and grinned, "That will give me time to read these first."

She had picked up her glass of juice when she noticed he made an expression like he was in pain and rubbed his stomach. She took a step forward, "Are you okay?" She remembered he'd had some stomach issues when they first met but enough days had passed that it should have cleared up by now. "Has your stomach been giving you trouble all this time?"

He began talking about practicing before they actually dived and she was glad to hear that. She had assumed they would and knew he would make sure she was competent before they dived. She smiled, "Practicing first sounds good. I do pick up on new things quickly but will probably be asking a lot of questions." She thought she should warn him ahead of time on that.

[rar_stephen]

Stephen nodded. "A week from this Saturday then," he said. "I'll make sure everything is arranged and do a weather check. Hopefully we'll have decent weather then." He made a mental note to make sure he checked every detail. He was always very thorough before a dive, but with another person depending on him, he wanted to double check everything.

Cho stepped toward him with a look of concern on her face. She was so bloody perceptive...and kind. The sincerity he saw in her eyes made his stomach clench again and he set his jaw. "Yes. No. I mean, it's an old issue," he tried to explain. "Training is difficult. Sometimes my muscles are sore." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the true reason behind his discomfort. He would be too mortified to tell her he became nauseated around her. After all, it wasn't Cho's fault for being a woman. He was bloody terrible with them.

He swallowed and squared his shoulders; he was determined to overcome his weaknesses. "I don't mind questions," he said seriously. "I want you to be comfortable with me. With diving," he corrected.

[rar_cho]

He confirmed the date of their trip and she smiled when he mentioned checking the weather. She always did that so she could get an idea of the best days for flying each week.

He explained his stomach problem was a reoccurring issue and mentioned sore muscles from training. She knew extreme physical exertion could cause that as well as the nausea he had the last time. She bit her lip wondering, but not questioning the demanding requirements of his training. 'There are potions and healing spells which can ease these sorts of discomfort. If you ever need that kind of help, I'm just across the hall."

She smiled as he said he didn't mind questions. "I appreciate that, Stephen." She just hoped he could still say that after spending a day teaching her something new. She looked up at him, "You are making me feel comfortable." She smiled, "The only nervousness is simply nervous excitement. I'm really looking forward to trying this."

[rar_stephen]

Cho mentioned that she could help him with his stomach problem, and he almost laughed. Not because he didn't think she could help, but because his problem was with her. Well, not with her. She was simply a woman--a hot woman, and that complicated things.

She was also kind and caring. He wanted to smile at how considerate she seemed, but his mother had also seemed considerate. He pulled back his emotions. It wasn't safe to get too close to anyone, especially not a woman. Look at what his mother had done. Had a nasty, bloody affair with an evil man. It had nearly destroyed their family--a place that had always been a safe, if strict, haven.

Now he was alone--wasn't it better that way? "Thanks," he finally said. "I'll remember that. I have a few things." He cast his eyes toward his bathroom.

"Nervous excitement is good. It will keep you focused and still allow you to enjoy your surroundings." He wanted to add that he was looking forward to it, too, but he was slightly apprehensive. He had more things to worry about now.

Would he get nauseated? Would it affect his diving? Would he be able to keep her safe? What if something happened to her? He couldn't allow that. He wouldn't allow that. If they began diving and he sensed any trouble at all, he would end the trip.

"I love diving. In a short time, we'll see how you feel about it, too." He rubbed the back of his neck and watched her.

[rar_cho]

She nodded when he said he already had something for his stomach. "That's good. There are too many helpful alternatives to suffering." She smiled, "I may still bring you an herbal tea blend with ginger root and Chinese herbs. It's great for soothing most stomach issues."

She smiled, "It's nice having this kind of anticipation about something new. It must be a surreal experience to be surrounded by water and see aquatic life firsthand. It will be lovely visiting somewhere new as well." She had enjoyed her internship at the Ministry in the Department of International Magical Cooperation and knew when she chose Healing over that career path, it also meant she gave up the opportunity for traveling the world. Maybe day trips like this one might appease the restless feeling of wanderlust she sometimes felt.

She looked up at him as she smiled, "I already have a good feeling about it. I'm going prepared, and with you." He seemed nervous about the trip. She knew he probably felt a responsibilty towards her given it was her first time and she wanted to reassure him. "I promise to be safety-conscious and follow any directions given. Okay?"

[rar_stephen]

Stephen nodded and smiled. "Tea is good." Cho had clearly chosen a good profession for herself because she had a talent for serving people and trying to comfort them.

He could tell she was sincerely excited about taking the trip. "You like to travel," he said, hearing the emphasis she placed on her words. "You'll like Corsica, but there are many other brilliant dive spots around the world. You'll have to make sure you test them all out--if you like diving."

He grinned slowly at her. "It's always best to take a partner who is safety-conscious."