Fanfiction: What Are a Few Ruffled Feathers in the Long Run?
Title: What Are a Few Ruffled Feathers in the Long Run?
Fandom: Harry Potter
Characters: Zacharias Smith and Cho Chang
Prompt: Passing/and now for something completely different
Word Count: 966
Rating: PG
Summary: Zacharias hates Marietta for what she did, but maybe he hates something even more.
Author’s Notes: Technically, this is still verging between genfic and shipfic.
The fifth years were busily pressing their noses into books for the O.W.L.s. Ernie Macmillan made the common room unendurable to be in as not only had he taken to criticizing other student’s studying habits, he went so far as to carp on him and the other fourth years for their lack of preparing ahead. So his Potions book was still open on an empty table, parchment and quill marking the page he needed to finish his homework.
He’d return to it his attention again after Ernie was either asleep or dead; whichever came first.
Zacharias Smith instead took the opportunity to scribe a letter to his father, lying to him for the fourth time in that he was obediently staying out of trouble under the rule of Dolores Umbridge. He hated to do it, he hated to lie to his father over something that clearly troubled him, but seeing what happened to Marietta Edgecombe clarified that his father could never learn of Dumbledore’s Army or Zacharias’ defiance of a Hogwarts Headmistress.
His Great Horned Owl swooped down and landed on his arm, extending a foot for the note to be attached. “Make certain he sends back what I asked for, Abel.” As he moved to step from the roost, distinct but soft voices stirred from the corner of the entrance.
Standing outside of the owlery steps, Cho Chang held the hysterical Marietta Edgecombe close, trying to speak words of weak comfort. Marietta’s cries, muffled by the scarf wound tightly around her face, were incapable of console. For the brief moment he rested his glance, he could see from Marietta’s doe-eyed despair confusion, anxiety, and misery.
What an interesting sight it was to behold. Not too long ago it was Marietta who comforted Cho behind the staircases by the Great Hall, and now to see such reverse in roles was remarkably inciting. Still, something in Zacharias stirred and he didn’t appreciate having to be around a sneak. So he released his owl, anticipating the flutter would attract the interest of the girls outside.
At first, the three said nothing to each other, and all created a surrounding of uncertainty and discomfort. Zacharias made eye contact with Cho, and was disappointed that she looked away back at her friend. Marietta didn’t seem to know what to do or where to look.
Facing Marietta with a frown, he asked “What’s wrong with you?”
A pair of hands swiftly lifted her scarf higher, hopeless in an effort to conceal any remnants that plagued her face. From the muffled choking sounds come from behind the blue barricade, Zacharias was uncertain if Marietta was trying to choke herself or not. Still, he hadn’t quite ever had a good look at her since it happened.
When he moved to remark that it was too warm to be wearing a scarf, Cho led him away, but not before giving her friend another reassuring squeeze on her hand.
“She cannot remember,” spoke Cho, delicately, turning her soft face back to her friend. Her fingers rubbed restlessly against the envelope pried between them. “She doesn’t remember the D.A. She doesn’t remember what happened, and I think that’s best for her.”
Zacharias buried his brows, casting an unimpressed sneer in Marietta’s direction for if not only the sole purpose that Cho would return her attention to him. “What are you on about? You don’t just up and forget something like that,” he remarked, noticing how bright Cho’s eyes grew with each word he spoke.
Cho Chang said nothing. He counted the moments of silence before deciding he would have to carry on.
“What, did Granger’s jinx Obliviate her mind?”
“I don’t know.”
The idea didn’t settle right into Zacharias, the idea that one of their peers not only had the knowledge to bestow such an advanced jinx, but what if she could just wipe clear their minds? Their memories?
He looked quickly at Marietta once more. With that fixed stare, she was listening to them. She had to be. Not that he was concerned. He may not have felt she deserved to be scarred for life for what she did, but she was still a sneak. Erasing her mind to clear herself of what she had done was all dandy and well for her, but they could never forget.
Zacharias Smith’s eyes darkened at the very thought of it. “Who do you think you are to decide what’s best for her?”
“I’m her friend,” Cho said in a chill manner.
“Well, I think she at least deserves to remember why people are calling her a sneak.”
The way she glared at him could only be described by a look of disappointed anger. He hated that look; he didn’t want Cho to be disappointed in him. The anger he could understand, because it was expected of her to be angry right now with all that had happened, but what was fair about Marietta being allowed to forget what she had done? “Why don’t you mind your own business?”
Zacharias shrugged and leaned his shoulders back. “When her choices lead me into trouble, it becomes my problem.” He wouldn’t tell her of the letters of lie after lie written to his father, how each letter made Zacharias more and more furious at the D.A. for having to conceal what was supposedly the most important thing any of them would ever do.
Instead, he continued, “Look, if you’re worried I’m going to pull her aside and tell her everything for sheer pleasure, then don’t. I have better things to do with my time.” It wasn’t about making Cho happy, he tried to convince himself. But, there was no other explanation for his decision. He hated Marietta for what she did.
Maybe he hated having Cho disappointed in him more.
--
What plot? This fic was supposed to go on a bit further, but it would have exceeded the length for the rare_pair challenge. So I split the story into two. The ship’s building, it takes time.
I apologize for any Americanisms and grammatical errors. All characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
Fandom: Harry Potter
Characters: Zacharias Smith and Cho Chang
Prompt: Passing/and now for something completely different
Word Count: 966
Rating: PG
Summary: Zacharias hates Marietta for what she did, but maybe he hates something even more.
Author’s Notes: Technically, this is still verging between genfic and shipfic.
The fifth years were busily pressing their noses into books for the O.W.L.s. Ernie Macmillan made the common room unendurable to be in as not only had he taken to criticizing other student’s studying habits, he went so far as to carp on him and the other fourth years for their lack of preparing ahead. So his Potions book was still open on an empty table, parchment and quill marking the page he needed to finish his homework.
He’d return to it his attention again after Ernie was either asleep or dead; whichever came first.
Zacharias Smith instead took the opportunity to scribe a letter to his father, lying to him for the fourth time in that he was obediently staying out of trouble under the rule of Dolores Umbridge. He hated to do it, he hated to lie to his father over something that clearly troubled him, but seeing what happened to Marietta Edgecombe clarified that his father could never learn of Dumbledore’s Army or Zacharias’ defiance of a Hogwarts Headmistress.
His Great Horned Owl swooped down and landed on his arm, extending a foot for the note to be attached. “Make certain he sends back what I asked for, Abel.” As he moved to step from the roost, distinct but soft voices stirred from the corner of the entrance.
Standing outside of the owlery steps, Cho Chang held the hysterical Marietta Edgecombe close, trying to speak words of weak comfort. Marietta’s cries, muffled by the scarf wound tightly around her face, were incapable of console. For the brief moment he rested his glance, he could see from Marietta’s doe-eyed despair confusion, anxiety, and misery.
What an interesting sight it was to behold. Not too long ago it was Marietta who comforted Cho behind the staircases by the Great Hall, and now to see such reverse in roles was remarkably inciting. Still, something in Zacharias stirred and he didn’t appreciate having to be around a sneak. So he released his owl, anticipating the flutter would attract the interest of the girls outside.
At first, the three said nothing to each other, and all created a surrounding of uncertainty and discomfort. Zacharias made eye contact with Cho, and was disappointed that she looked away back at her friend. Marietta didn’t seem to know what to do or where to look.
Facing Marietta with a frown, he asked “What’s wrong with you?”
A pair of hands swiftly lifted her scarf higher, hopeless in an effort to conceal any remnants that plagued her face. From the muffled choking sounds come from behind the blue barricade, Zacharias was uncertain if Marietta was trying to choke herself or not. Still, he hadn’t quite ever had a good look at her since it happened.
When he moved to remark that it was too warm to be wearing a scarf, Cho led him away, but not before giving her friend another reassuring squeeze on her hand.
“She cannot remember,” spoke Cho, delicately, turning her soft face back to her friend. Her fingers rubbed restlessly against the envelope pried between them. “She doesn’t remember the D.A. She doesn’t remember what happened, and I think that’s best for her.”
Zacharias buried his brows, casting an unimpressed sneer in Marietta’s direction for if not only the sole purpose that Cho would return her attention to him. “What are you on about? You don’t just up and forget something like that,” he remarked, noticing how bright Cho’s eyes grew with each word he spoke.
Cho Chang said nothing. He counted the moments of silence before deciding he would have to carry on.
“What, did Granger’s jinx Obliviate her mind?”
“I don’t know.”
The idea didn’t settle right into Zacharias, the idea that one of their peers not only had the knowledge to bestow such an advanced jinx, but what if she could just wipe clear their minds? Their memories?
He looked quickly at Marietta once more. With that fixed stare, she was listening to them. She had to be. Not that he was concerned. He may not have felt she deserved to be scarred for life for what she did, but she was still a sneak. Erasing her mind to clear herself of what she had done was all dandy and well for her, but they could never forget.
Zacharias Smith’s eyes darkened at the very thought of it. “Who do you think you are to decide what’s best for her?”
“I’m her friend,” Cho said in a chill manner.
“Well, I think she at least deserves to remember why people are calling her a sneak.”
The way she glared at him could only be described by a look of disappointed anger. He hated that look; he didn’t want Cho to be disappointed in him. The anger he could understand, because it was expected of her to be angry right now with all that had happened, but what was fair about Marietta being allowed to forget what she had done? “Why don’t you mind your own business?”
Zacharias shrugged and leaned his shoulders back. “When her choices lead me into trouble, it becomes my problem.” He wouldn’t tell her of the letters of lie after lie written to his father, how each letter made Zacharias more and more furious at the D.A. for having to conceal what was supposedly the most important thing any of them would ever do.
Instead, he continued, “Look, if you’re worried I’m going to pull her aside and tell her everything for sheer pleasure, then don’t. I have better things to do with my time.” It wasn’t about making Cho happy, he tried to convince himself. But, there was no other explanation for his decision. He hated Marietta for what she did.
Maybe he hated having Cho disappointed in him more.
--
What plot? This fic was supposed to go on a bit further, but it would have exceeded the length for the rare_pair challenge. So I split the story into two. The ship’s building, it takes time.
I apologize for any Americanisms and grammatical errors. All characters belong to J.K. Rowling.