Fanfiction: Taking Yesterday
Title: Taking Yesterday
Fandom: Harry Potter
Characters: Zacharias Smith and Cho Chang
Prompt: Circle/I want a clearer picture
Word Count: 500
Rating: PG
Summary: Nothing good ever came from thinking about it.
Author’s Notes: Part thirteen of Swan and Snark.
“Why have you been avoiding me?”
It hadn’t been difficult to notice. While it once was common to spot her walking down the staircases, or catch her at the Quidditch field, Cho Chang seemed to be trying her hardest to avoid him since their argument in front of the common room. “I’ve been thinking,” was her main defence. Zacharias wanted to hear anything but that.
Ignoring the curious glances from passing students, Zacharias cornered Cho in the Potions hallway. While the elusive girl seemed particularly interested in adjusting her rucksack strap, he tried to understand exactly what her words meant. “All because of Edgecombe?”
Cho rested a hand on her forehead as a frustrated sigh brushed her lips. “No, it’s not about that…Not because of….” She stopped a moment to take a deep breath, and Zacharias’ ears felt hotter than ever from the irritation caused by her delay. “This, all of this, it’s just moved so fast, lately. I don’t want to rush this anymore.”
The tips of his fingers imprinted in his palms. Rush? Was she serious? She’d spent months keeping him at a steady arm’s distance, and finally after seeing it his way, she thought they were rushing it all? “Is this the part where you chuck me?” he asked.
“I didn’t say that,” she snipped. “You’re always assuming the worst in me. How can we hope for this to work if you’re so unpredictable?”
Smith didn’t try to stop himself from scoffing at her belief. “Me, unpredictable? You’re the one who’s erratic, Chang. First, you’re in a strop, screaming at me on the field, and then all of a sudden you want to swap letters. You say you’re willing to give me a chance, but then decide Edgecombe’s more important. Think you can just lob me around whenever you feel like it?”
“No, I don’t.” By then, Cho’s face was flustered, the conversation upsetting her more and more as they continued arguing. “You’re so abrasive, and I can’t take this. I think it would be best for both of us if we give this some more time.” Her face softened, rising in sympathy to contrast the bewildered look on the boy’s face. “I’m sorry.”
Worse than her words was her feign pity, and Zacharias wanted to shout at her for leading him on for so many weeks. How could she just pull on his emotions, turn him into a useless puddle at the measly thought of how she made him feel?
What had he seen in her to begin with? She was beautiful, a star Seeker, and he’d fallen for it all.
He wanted to yell at her, embarrass her just as greatly as she’d embarrassed him. Had he been able to string harsh enough words, he certainly would have made sure everyone in that hallway knew exactly how terrible she was.
But after puffing through his teeth, chewing over it for a minute, all Zacharias Smith could get by was, “Of course you are. Piss off.”
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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: Circle/I want a clearer picture
Word Count: 500
Rating: PG
Summary: Nothing good ever came from thinking about it.
Author’s Notes: Part thirteen of Swan and Snark.
“Why have you been avoiding me?”
It hadn’t been difficult to notice. While it once was common to spot her walking down the staircases, or catch her at the Quidditch field, Cho Chang seemed to be trying her hardest to avoid him since their argument in front of the common room. “I’ve been thinking,” was her main defence. Zacharias wanted to hear anything but that.
Ignoring the curious glances from passing students, Zacharias cornered Cho in the Potions hallway. While the elusive girl seemed particularly interested in adjusting her rucksack strap, he tried to understand exactly what her words meant. “All because of Edgecombe?”
Cho rested a hand on her forehead as a frustrated sigh brushed her lips. “No, it’s not about that…Not because of….” She stopped a moment to take a deep breath, and Zacharias’ ears felt hotter than ever from the irritation caused by her delay. “This, all of this, it’s just moved so fast, lately. I don’t want to rush this anymore.”
The tips of his fingers imprinted in his palms. Rush? Was she serious? She’d spent months keeping him at a steady arm’s distance, and finally after seeing it his way, she thought they were rushing it all? “Is this the part where you chuck me?” he asked.
“I didn’t say that,” she snipped. “You’re always assuming the worst in me. How can we hope for this to work if you’re so unpredictable?”
Smith didn’t try to stop himself from scoffing at her belief. “Me, unpredictable? You’re the one who’s erratic, Chang. First, you’re in a strop, screaming at me on the field, and then all of a sudden you want to swap letters. You say you’re willing to give me a chance, but then decide Edgecombe’s more important. Think you can just lob me around whenever you feel like it?”
“No, I don’t.” By then, Cho’s face was flustered, the conversation upsetting her more and more as they continued arguing. “You’re so abrasive, and I can’t take this. I think it would be best for both of us if we give this some more time.” Her face softened, rising in sympathy to contrast the bewildered look on the boy’s face. “I’m sorry.”
Worse than her words was her feign pity, and Zacharias wanted to shout at her for leading him on for so many weeks. How could she just pull on his emotions, turn him into a useless puddle at the measly thought of how she made him feel?
What had he seen in her to begin with? She was beautiful, a star Seeker, and he’d fallen for it all.
He wanted to yell at her, embarrass her just as greatly as she’d embarrassed him. Had he been able to string harsh enough words, he certainly would have made sure everyone in that hallway knew exactly how terrible she was.
But after puffing through his teeth, chewing over it for a minute, all Zacharias Smith could get by was, “Of course you are. Piss off.”
--
I apologize for any Americanisms and grammatical errors. All characters belong to J.K. Rowling.