A new chapter is up.
Come in, get comfortable, and let’s see what kind of trouble waits this time ❤️ ✦ “You’re all right.
Good.” Seeing that the girl in front of him was only frightened, Edmund let out a quiet breath of relief.
Then he asked, “I still don’t know your name.” “Cho Chang.
I’m Cho Chang, a second-year at Hogwarts.” She looked at him with open curiosity.
“I haven’t seen you at school before.
Are you a first-year this year?” “Hello, Cho.
I’m Edmund Gaunt.
Yes, I’m starting this year.” Edmund had already guessed who she might be, but hearing the name still gave him a sharp little jolt.
Cho Chang.
The girl in front of him made the film version in his memory feel like a poor imitation.
This Cho had the kind of charm that could make Harry Potter lose his head years before he understood why.
“I’m truly sorry, Miss Chang,” Edmund said.
“I had only just received my wand and failed to control the magic properly.” He apologized again, sincerely enough.
The wand was not technically his yet, but after that phoenix-shaped burst of fire, he had already made his decision.
This was the one.
“It’s all right,” Cho said, her voice soft and clear.
“It was a beautiful phoenix.
And please don’t call me Miss Chang.
Cho is fine.” Ollivander stood nearby, watching them in silence.
Young people, he thought, were becoming more outrageous by the year.
They had nearly burned down his wall and were already making eyes at each other in front of him.
He cleared his throat.
Edmund noticed the old wandmaker’s look and coughed lightly.
“Mr.
Ollivander, I think this wand suits me extremely well.
I don’t believe I need to try the others.” “Of course, Mr.
Gaunt.” Ollivander nodded at once.
“The phoenix was proof enough.
This wand is an excellent match for you.” With a wave of his wand, he restored the disordered shelves.
Then he turned to Cho.
“Miss Chang, may I ask what brings you here today?
Has something happened to your wand?” “No, Mr.
Ollivander.
My wand is still in good condition.
I only wanted to buy a wand-care kit so I can maintain it properly.” Cho answered with a polite smile.
A few minutes later, Edmund and Cho left Ollivanders together, her new wand-care kit tucked neatly away.
Outside the shop, Cho stood beside the door in a white dress, pretty and bright enough to make the street seem warmer.
Edmund looked at her and offered, “To make up for nearly setting you on fire, may I buy you something at Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour?” If the opportunity was there, Edmund saw no reason to waste it.
As for the Boy Who Lived, Harry could make friends with the Weasleys as usual.
“You don’t need to do that, Edmund,” Cho said.
Then the corner of her mouth lifted.
“But the ice cream there is very good.” She did not refuse.
The two of them went to Florean Fortescue’s and spent the afternoon over cold desserts.
Edmund drew on a few jokes from his previous life, softened them into something that fit the moment, and soon had Cho laughing with bright, unguarded ease.
By the time they parted, they were already far more comfortable with each other.
Cho even invited him to find her compartment on the Hogwarts Express, promising to introduce him to one of her closest friends.
Time passed quickly.
August passed faster than Edmund expected.
Edmund packed his luggage, then looked with satisfaction at the small case in front of him.
“The Undetectable Extension Charm really is useful.
Dragging half a household to school was never going to suit me.” During the past few days of daily free draws, he had been lucky enough to obtain an Epic card for the Undetectable Extension Charm.
With some careful practice, he had successfully modified one suitcase.
His skill was still only at an introductory level, but the interior space was more than enough for everything he needed.
Edmund called a taxi and went to King’s Cross Station.
When he reached Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, he saw someone pretending to walk carelessly toward a pillar before passing straight through it.
Edmund followed the example.
The moment he entered the barrier, the view opened before him.
An old-fashioned scarlet steam train waited beside the platform.
Parents and students gathered in small clusters, talking excitedly.
Trunks rolled over stone.
Owls hooted.
The air smelled of steam, polish, rain, and anticipation.
Edmund stepped onto the train with light, eager steps and chose an empty compartment at random.
Once the train started, he would go looking for Cho.
Before long, the Hogwarts Express pulled away.
Edmund began checking compartments one by one.
His luck was decent; after passing only two, he found her.
“Cho.
Long time no see.” He stood at the doorway and greeted the girl inside.
Opposite her sat a freckled girl with an alert expression.
“Edmund, you came.” Cho looked genuinely happy.
Though they had not met in nearly a month, they had exchanged letters often enough that the reunion did not feel awkward.
When Cho had first seen Aurea delivering one of those letters, she had nearly lost her composure.
Several of her replies had been filled with questions about phoenixes.
Edmund sat beside Cho and nodded politely to the girl across from them.
“Cho, aren’t you going to introduce us?” “Right.
Edmund, this is Marietta Edgecombe, my good friend.” Cho turned to the other girl.
“Marietta, this is Edmund Gaunt.” “Gaunt?” Marietta repeated.
“As in one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight?
My mother said the Gaunts had vanished from the British magical world and only a branch in America remained.” “That Gaunt, yes.” Edmund’s expression remained calm.
“I only learned the details after Professor Snape came to deliver my letter.
Before that, I grew up in a Muggle orphanage.” He said it as if he were discussing the weather.
Marietta immediately apologized.
Cho, however, looked at him with sudden, visible sympathy.
She had not expected the cheerful boy in front of her to have grown up with so little.
In a moment of instinctive concern, she reached out and held his hand, as if that small gesture could pass him a little courage.
Warmth stirred in Edmund’s chest.
Cho was shy, but she still held on.
For Edmund, growing up in the orphanage had not been terrible.
In truth, he had never been eager to call strangers mother and father in this life.
Even so, Cho’s concern felt good.
He turned his hand over and gently held hers.
Her fingers were soft.
Under that strange, quiet atmosphere, something between them warmed quickly.
Edmund did not want Cho to keep worrying about him, so he changed the subject and began asking about her favorite topic: Quidditch.
As expected of Ravenclaw’s future Seeker, Cho came alive the moment Quidditch entered the conversation.
Once she started, she barely stopped.
Edmund did not mind.
In his previous life, watching broomsticks tear through the sky in the films had looked exhilarating.
In this life, he intended to try it properly.
Besides, one of his recent daily draws had given him a Rare card related to flying experience.
Once he became familiar with a broom, he had a feeling he could handle a match.
After a while, the compartment door slid open and a smiling woman with the food trolley asked, “Anything from the trolley, dears?” Edmund was curious about magical snacks and bought one of nearly everything.
The trolley witch’s smile widened as she piled sweets onto the table.
Looking at the mountain of snacks, Edmund gestured to Cho and Marietta.
“I may have overdone it.
Help yourselves.” After the conversation they had already shared, Marietta did not stand on ceremony.
The three of them ate, talked, and let the train carry them north.
CREATORS’ THOUGHTS AuroraVale Thank you for reading.
I hope this chapter pulled you a little deeper into the story.
Stay close, because things are only getting more interesting.