[Fic] Blue as Ice, Sweet as Snow
Title: Blue as Ice, Sweet as Snow
Author: Belladonna Lee
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Cho Chang/Ginny Weasley
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,605
Prompts:
newyearcntdown Day 3 & 4: alone & snowflake
rarepair_shorts Festive Fun Fest: snowball fight
Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter and its characters are not mine.
Summary: Walking on the icy street with Ginny once upon a winter solstice, Cho could sense the ever changing distance between them, the distance they are still gauging in this budding romance of theirs.
A/N: Happy Holiday, everyone.
Read on AO3 or below.
Blue as Ice, Sweet as Snow
by Belladonna Lee
Leaving the bustle of the shop and the endless looping of Christmas tunes behind them, Cho and Ginny stepped out onto the frozen street filled with people and sights. Streetlights and fairy lights shone like many an artificial bright star beneath the darkening four p.m. sky. As Cho breathed in the crisp winter air and let out a breath of steam, she knew this winter solstice night would be frigid and brisk.
A rush of cold wind blew past her and Ginny, tousling their hair and pulling at their scarves like mischievous fairies. Shivering a little, Cho kept a hand on her forelock while gripping Ginny's warm hand with the other. A heartbeat later, Ginny squeezed her hand and smiled at her, a smile that stirred up butterflies in her stomach.
"Thanks for coming with me today." Ginny held up her shopping bag from the off-licence as she and Cho strolled down the cobblestone pavement. "Now all I need to do is whip something up quickly at the party."
"You can never go wrong with a classic Snowball cocktail."
"So says the expert," Ginny teased.
In the next beat, silence descended like a shadow in the space between them, silence that seemed riddled with too many different meanings for Cho to decipher them all. Bemused, she cast a glance at Ginny, whose countenance had taken on an indecisive look quite uncharacteristic of her. Instead of urging her to speak her mind, Cho kept quiet and gave her all the time she needed to gather her thoughts.
"I know it's rather late to be asking this now." There was a note of hesitation in Ginny's voice, as though she were choosing her words with the greatest of care. "Would you like to come to the Burrow for Christmas?"
We didn't observe Christmas traditions much at home, Cho remembered telling Ginny the other day over coffee, a remark offhandedly made. Was that the reason Ginny wanted to invite her over, she wondered. "I don't want to intrude upon your family gathering."
"It's nothing so formal. My parents would love to have you there. And..." Ginny trailed off, her liquid brown eyes holding Cho in their deep, searching gaze. "I want to celebrate with you."
Those words stirred up a ripple in the calm well of Cho's psyche, and she felt her defence being thawed little by little. "I'll be working on Christmas Eve. I might not get there till after eight."
"I'll save you some food if you are running late. And the drinks too-your choice of hot or cold."
In spite of her lingering reservation, Cho found herself smiling. Being with Ginny was like being wrapped up in a warm, pleasant dream, except this was not a dream, and Ginny, who was making an expectant yet slightly anxious face right now, was all too real. In the end, Cho made up her mind. "I'll get there as soon as I can. Should I bring anything?"
A small but genuine smile touched Ginny's lips. "Just bring yourself," she said. "But I must warn you. A snowfall fight on brooms is a Weasley tradition."
"So I must bring my own broom?" Cho said, amused.
"I'll lend you mine-or we could ride one together. A seeker and a chaser on a broom can beat the lot of them." A pause. "Do you have any plan after this?"
"I'm having dinner with family and relatives tonight. It's a winter solstice tradition."
Ginny made a vague humming sound. "So you have a winter solstice feast instead of a Christmas feast then? Wonder why we don't have one of those." With that she fell silent. For a moment or two, the cacophony of noise on the street filled the space and silence between them.
"Do you want to come over afterwards?" Ginny asked quietly.
Cho's heart skipped a beat, and she turned to Ginny, who met her gaze evenly, an intent look on her face. Even though they were walking side by side, Cho could sense the ever changing distance between them, the distance they were still gauging and experimenting in this budding romance of theirs.
"I don't know when it will be over," Cho heard herself say. "Maybe next time. I'll send you an owl."
"Okay." With that Ginny flashed Cho a bright smile as though in reassurance. "If I don't see you until Christmas Eve, I'll, well, see you on Christmas Eve."
"Yes, I'll see you then."
After exchanging a quick hug and a light peck on the lips, Cho and Ginny said their goodbye and went on their separate ways. As Cho waded her way through the crowd, the heels of her boots clicking on the cobblestone pavement, the constant humming and buzzing of the busy streets washed over her like a great wave. Snatches of music and conversations reached her ear, and she tuned them out.
The chill of winter touched her cheeks and crept into the recess of her mind. Ginny's floral scent coiled around her thoughts like a wisp of smoke, a strand of invisible thread tugging at the soft tissue of her brain, her memory. And she was walking alone, her hand tingling with the residual warmth of Ginny's hand.
You'll see her later, she reminded herself as she pulled on her gloves and braced herself against the wind. She's not going to disappear.
Even though Ginny had said she did not need to bring anything, Cho went back to the off-licence and bought a bottle of sparkling wine just in case. Leaving the shop with her purchase in a festive shopping bag, she put on her earbuds, picked a John Coltrane album, and let the free-form jazz music drown out the white noise of the metropolis and the ghosts of her musings.
* * * * * * *
It was after half past nine when Cho returned to her small flat, kicked off her shoes, dropped her bag on the floor, and threw herself on the sofa. She was wrinkling her dress, she knew, but she did not want to move-and at the moment, she could not bring herself to care. The smell of cooked food from the Chinese seafood restaurant clung to her clothes and her hair. Her mouth tasted faintly of seafood and garlic.
The table clock ticked on, counting down towards midnight. A dull thud sounded somewhere in the old building, disrupting the quietude of this winter solstice night. She ignored it all; instead, she stared at the circle of light playing upon the ceiling and let her mind wander.
After staring at the ceiling for some time, she turned towards the window. On the other side of the glass, snowflakes drifted and danced in slow-motion beneath a reddish cloudy sky. The orange streetlamp across the street glared into her flat like a prying eye. Heaving a breath, she took out her wand from her coat pocket and gave it a wave, spelling the curtains close.
With a flick of her wand she turned on the heater, which started up with a rumble. With another spell she conjured a glass of water, pushed herself to a sitting position, and drank half of it. The water glided down her parched throat, soothing and cool. A sigh escaped her lips unbidden. Leaning back against the cushions, she stared at the familiar sight of her tidy, dimly lit sitting room. In the solitude of her flat, she felt at last more like her usual self.
She could use a beer or a cup of cold brew coffee right now.
When her gaze fell upon the off-licence shopping bag on the table, she thought about Ginny, and she thought about the unopened box of Yukimi Daifuku-mochi ice cream-in the freezer. An idea took hold of her mind and would not be silenced, an impulse akin to a spell of madness. She glanced at the clock-seven minutes to ten. Perhaps Ginny had gone out with friends; perhaps she had gone to bed early; perhaps she had other things to do and other places to be. Perhaps...
In one smooth, decisive motion she got off the sofa, took off her cashmere coat, and went to the bathroom to shower and brush her teeth.
Thirty-six minutes later, she stood outside Ginny's door in her well-worn coat and Ravenclaw scarf, a plastic bag dangling from her gloved hand. A hush had fallen upon the building, and stillness reigned in the chilly corridor lit by faux gas lamps. Lamplight wavered, casting shadows across patterned wallpaper and unpolished wooden floor. After taking a deep breath, she pressed the antique-looking door bell and heard it chime behind closed door.
A moment later, the door swung open, and Ginny was there in the flesh, a dressing gown thrown on top of her oversized jumper and loose trousers. Her copper red hair fell loosely over her shoulders. Her eyes were bright and awake, a flicker burning in their depth, but it might have been a trick of the light. Her lips, ever so slightly parted, looked soft and inviting. A whiff of jasmine and moisturising cream teased Cho's senses and strands of thoughts.
Feeling a little warm, Cho put on her most innocent smile and held up the plastic bag. "Sorry for coming by so late. I brought desserts."
A hint of mischief played about Ginny's lips. "Do you mean you?" And without further ado she took Cho by the hand, pulled her into the warmth and comforts of the flat, and shut the door behind them. "I could never resist desserts that are delivered right to my door late at night."
* * * * * * *
Finis.
Crossposted from https://lee-bella.dreamwidth.org/804999.html.
Author: Belladonna Lee
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Cho Chang/Ginny Weasley
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,605
Prompts:
newyearcntdown Day 3 & 4: alone & snowflake
rarepair_shorts Festive Fun Fest: snowball fight
Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter and its characters are not mine.
Summary: Walking on the icy street with Ginny once upon a winter solstice, Cho could sense the ever changing distance between them, the distance they are still gauging in this budding romance of theirs.
A/N: Happy Holiday, everyone.
Read on AO3 or below.
Blue as Ice, Sweet as Snow
by Belladonna Lee
Leaving the bustle of the shop and the endless looping of Christmas tunes behind them, Cho and Ginny stepped out onto the frozen street filled with people and sights. Streetlights and fairy lights shone like many an artificial bright star beneath the darkening four p.m. sky. As Cho breathed in the crisp winter air and let out a breath of steam, she knew this winter solstice night would be frigid and brisk.
A rush of cold wind blew past her and Ginny, tousling their hair and pulling at their scarves like mischievous fairies. Shivering a little, Cho kept a hand on her forelock while gripping Ginny's warm hand with the other. A heartbeat later, Ginny squeezed her hand and smiled at her, a smile that stirred up butterflies in her stomach.
"Thanks for coming with me today." Ginny held up her shopping bag from the off-licence as she and Cho strolled down the cobblestone pavement. "Now all I need to do is whip something up quickly at the party."
"You can never go wrong with a classic Snowball cocktail."
"So says the expert," Ginny teased.
In the next beat, silence descended like a shadow in the space between them, silence that seemed riddled with too many different meanings for Cho to decipher them all. Bemused, she cast a glance at Ginny, whose countenance had taken on an indecisive look quite uncharacteristic of her. Instead of urging her to speak her mind, Cho kept quiet and gave her all the time she needed to gather her thoughts.
"I know it's rather late to be asking this now." There was a note of hesitation in Ginny's voice, as though she were choosing her words with the greatest of care. "Would you like to come to the Burrow for Christmas?"
We didn't observe Christmas traditions much at home, Cho remembered telling Ginny the other day over coffee, a remark offhandedly made. Was that the reason Ginny wanted to invite her over, she wondered. "I don't want to intrude upon your family gathering."
"It's nothing so formal. My parents would love to have you there. And..." Ginny trailed off, her liquid brown eyes holding Cho in their deep, searching gaze. "I want to celebrate with you."
Those words stirred up a ripple in the calm well of Cho's psyche, and she felt her defence being thawed little by little. "I'll be working on Christmas Eve. I might not get there till after eight."
"I'll save you some food if you are running late. And the drinks too-your choice of hot or cold."
In spite of her lingering reservation, Cho found herself smiling. Being with Ginny was like being wrapped up in a warm, pleasant dream, except this was not a dream, and Ginny, who was making an expectant yet slightly anxious face right now, was all too real. In the end, Cho made up her mind. "I'll get there as soon as I can. Should I bring anything?"
A small but genuine smile touched Ginny's lips. "Just bring yourself," she said. "But I must warn you. A snowfall fight on brooms is a Weasley tradition."
"So I must bring my own broom?" Cho said, amused.
"I'll lend you mine-or we could ride one together. A seeker and a chaser on a broom can beat the lot of them." A pause. "Do you have any plan after this?"
"I'm having dinner with family and relatives tonight. It's a winter solstice tradition."
Ginny made a vague humming sound. "So you have a winter solstice feast instead of a Christmas feast then? Wonder why we don't have one of those." With that she fell silent. For a moment or two, the cacophony of noise on the street filled the space and silence between them.
"Do you want to come over afterwards?" Ginny asked quietly.
Cho's heart skipped a beat, and she turned to Ginny, who met her gaze evenly, an intent look on her face. Even though they were walking side by side, Cho could sense the ever changing distance between them, the distance they were still gauging and experimenting in this budding romance of theirs.
"I don't know when it will be over," Cho heard herself say. "Maybe next time. I'll send you an owl."
"Okay." With that Ginny flashed Cho a bright smile as though in reassurance. "If I don't see you until Christmas Eve, I'll, well, see you on Christmas Eve."
"Yes, I'll see you then."
After exchanging a quick hug and a light peck on the lips, Cho and Ginny said their goodbye and went on their separate ways. As Cho waded her way through the crowd, the heels of her boots clicking on the cobblestone pavement, the constant humming and buzzing of the busy streets washed over her like a great wave. Snatches of music and conversations reached her ear, and she tuned them out.
The chill of winter touched her cheeks and crept into the recess of her mind. Ginny's floral scent coiled around her thoughts like a wisp of smoke, a strand of invisible thread tugging at the soft tissue of her brain, her memory. And she was walking alone, her hand tingling with the residual warmth of Ginny's hand.
You'll see her later, she reminded herself as she pulled on her gloves and braced herself against the wind. She's not going to disappear.
Even though Ginny had said she did not need to bring anything, Cho went back to the off-licence and bought a bottle of sparkling wine just in case. Leaving the shop with her purchase in a festive shopping bag, she put on her earbuds, picked a John Coltrane album, and let the free-form jazz music drown out the white noise of the metropolis and the ghosts of her musings.
* * * * * * *
It was after half past nine when Cho returned to her small flat, kicked off her shoes, dropped her bag on the floor, and threw herself on the sofa. She was wrinkling her dress, she knew, but she did not want to move-and at the moment, she could not bring herself to care. The smell of cooked food from the Chinese seafood restaurant clung to her clothes and her hair. Her mouth tasted faintly of seafood and garlic.
The table clock ticked on, counting down towards midnight. A dull thud sounded somewhere in the old building, disrupting the quietude of this winter solstice night. She ignored it all; instead, she stared at the circle of light playing upon the ceiling and let her mind wander.
After staring at the ceiling for some time, she turned towards the window. On the other side of the glass, snowflakes drifted and danced in slow-motion beneath a reddish cloudy sky. The orange streetlamp across the street glared into her flat like a prying eye. Heaving a breath, she took out her wand from her coat pocket and gave it a wave, spelling the curtains close.
With a flick of her wand she turned on the heater, which started up with a rumble. With another spell she conjured a glass of water, pushed herself to a sitting position, and drank half of it. The water glided down her parched throat, soothing and cool. A sigh escaped her lips unbidden. Leaning back against the cushions, she stared at the familiar sight of her tidy, dimly lit sitting room. In the solitude of her flat, she felt at last more like her usual self.
She could use a beer or a cup of cold brew coffee right now.
When her gaze fell upon the off-licence shopping bag on the table, she thought about Ginny, and she thought about the unopened box of Yukimi Daifuku-mochi ice cream-in the freezer. An idea took hold of her mind and would not be silenced, an impulse akin to a spell of madness. She glanced at the clock-seven minutes to ten. Perhaps Ginny had gone out with friends; perhaps she had gone to bed early; perhaps she had other things to do and other places to be. Perhaps...
In one smooth, decisive motion she got off the sofa, took off her cashmere coat, and went to the bathroom to shower and brush her teeth.
Thirty-six minutes later, she stood outside Ginny's door in her well-worn coat and Ravenclaw scarf, a plastic bag dangling from her gloved hand. A hush had fallen upon the building, and stillness reigned in the chilly corridor lit by faux gas lamps. Lamplight wavered, casting shadows across patterned wallpaper and unpolished wooden floor. After taking a deep breath, she pressed the antique-looking door bell and heard it chime behind closed door.
A moment later, the door swung open, and Ginny was there in the flesh, a dressing gown thrown on top of her oversized jumper and loose trousers. Her copper red hair fell loosely over her shoulders. Her eyes were bright and awake, a flicker burning in their depth, but it might have been a trick of the light. Her lips, ever so slightly parted, looked soft and inviting. A whiff of jasmine and moisturising cream teased Cho's senses and strands of thoughts.
Feeling a little warm, Cho put on her most innocent smile and held up the plastic bag. "Sorry for coming by so late. I brought desserts."
A hint of mischief played about Ginny's lips. "Do you mean you?" And without further ado she took Cho by the hand, pulled her into the warmth and comforts of the flat, and shut the door behind them. "I could never resist desserts that are delivered right to my door late at night."
* * * * * * *
Finis.
Crossposted from https://lee-bella.dreamwidth.org/804999.html.