Fury of the Elements Chapter 29 Sample

A scholar of considerable skill and dedication, Cho Chang hated disruptions to her academic life. Quidditch, Harry and her combat training were all well and good, but once she set herself to completing some schoolwork or reading a book of interest, she liked to complete it before doing anything else, and despised any disturbances, no matter how well intentioned. So, by the time she left the Hogwarts Express at King's Cross and Apparated to the shielded entrances to Wizarding Limehouse, the Ravenclaw was quite cross at her parents for demanding her presence right before the N.E.W.T. crunch began. She had gotten most of her assignments done beforehand, and had gotten plenty of reading done on the ride home, but resented having to deal with the extra pressure on their behalf. Even Harry knew how much of a priority she put on her scholarship, and it pained her to realize that her parents showed no such consideration.

Yet, for all her grumblings, it was good to be home again. Sharp ears listened intently to a hundred different conversations in her second tongue, while the sharp tang of spices wafted through market stalls and alleyways, heady and aromatic. Much like Diagon Alley, Wizarding Limehouse was segregated from the Muggle areas of London by numerous protective enhancements and charms, allowing the community to exist in peace, shielded from Muggle eyes. The district had been founded during the first great wave of Chinese immigration to Britain, and its first inhabitants swiftly found the racist attitudes held by British Muggles also extended to their wizarding counterparts, forcing them to join together for mutual security and commerce. Centuries had passed, yet the community still maintained their relative seclusion from their neighbours, as well as preserving their distinct language and architectural style. Katana slung at her side, bags shrunk and hoisted over her shoulder, and wand in the holster, the Champion took her time as she walked towards her parent's considerable estate. Shopkeepers and young children greeted her from the sidewalk, and she took the time to respond, content in this instant to forget about Zhang and her parents and everything, letting her senses dwell in the moment. The comforting sensation fell over her like mist over a tranquil valley, and Cho allowed herself to enjoy it.
Then someone caught her eye, a young Caucasian man, at least ten years older than she was, quite distinct from the marketgoers with his bright-red hair tied up in a ponytail, and his wiry, gangling gait.

With a smile, Cho realized who it was. "Bill!"

"Hello again, Cho," the eldest Weasley son greeted her, setting aside the shopping bags for the moment. "How are you doing?"

"Decent, all things considering. What are you doing here? Not that I'm displeased, of course, but it's just so rare to see outsiders in Wizarding Limehouse. Is it a duty with the group, or did you just like the neighbourhood?"

Bill smiled. "Do the two have to be mutually exclusive?" he asked, getting a laugh from the girl. Taking up his bags once more, he walked alongside her, keeping his voice low so as to thwart any spies who might be listening in. A hand gripped her arm, and Cho felt his wand brush her abdomen. "What's your Patronus?"

The girl had expected the question, and answered promptly. "A swan, of course." Cho fixed the older man with a hard stare. "And I'm afraid I don't know your Patronus, so you'll have to ask me something else," she whispered.

Bill chuckled to himself. "No need. Take a look at this." Releasing her for a moment, the Order volunteer unbuttoned his right cufflink and pulled back his shirt to expose the wrist. Cho stared in wonder as a luminous phoenix shape burned cold against his flesh, before fading out and leaving only a pale outline. Under his watchful eye, Cho caressed the Mark, feeling the Light energies bound into its matrix responding to her presence. "Think any Death Eater could wear something like this?"

"Absolutely not," Cho answered, tracing the symbol one last time before withdrawing. "When did the group get these? It must have taken you some time to create the spell, particularly in order to establish the synergistic bonds between the Mark and the wearer."

"Several months, actually. We only just began applying them to the group's members about six weeks ago. If you thought our security was tight before, think again. Once the Phoenix Mark has been applied, disloyalty and maybe even treason towards the group can be found and stopped before it cripples the entire Order." Cho gave Bill a worried look, causing him to add: "It doesn't exactly control you or your thoughts. But if you do have intentions of betraying the Order, then the Mark lets Dumbledore know."

Cho frowned at this prospect. Strategically, it was a good idea, as it made sure that the Order members could be trusted. All the same, she didn't trust Dumbledore to the extent that many in the Wizarding World did, and for the old man to control yet another source of power left a sour feeling in her gut. Shoving that thought aside for the moment, Cho turned to the matter at hand. "Now that we can both confirm our identities, I must again ask: what are you doing here, Bill? Are you living here, and for how long?"

"Dumbledore has deployed a squad of the Order to Wizarding Limehouse in order to keep your family safe. Intimidation and threatening loved ones was a key tactic used by Voldemort in the last war, and given how much damage you've done to his forces, we felt that he might take the opportunity to get some leverage over you."

"And has he?"

Bill sighed. "No, but your old man ain't making our job any easier, that's for sure. We offered to install permanent anti-Apparation wards over the grounds and secure the Floo network, but he refused to let us. He wouldn't even let us put in Wards of Hostile Intent to alert us to any Death Eaters on the premises. No offense, Cho, but your father is a real hardarse. And now, because of his stubbornness, the squad and I have to work doubly hard to make up for the lack of defences."

The Ravenclaw squeezed his shoulder comfortingly. "That sounds like my father alright. He's incredibly bullheaded at times, and when he sets his mind on something, he rarely changes it. I'm sorry you've had to put up with this extra burden on the behalf of myself and my family, Bill. I'll try talking to my father tonight about being more cooperative."

"Hey, it's not your fault, Cho, and at the very least, it keeps me away from the Burrow. The lack of defences hasn't been an issue so far, but I don't like taking chances, especially since Harry will skin me for a rug if something were to happen to you."

Cho laughed. "Bill Weasley, the wild and adventurous Cursebreaker of Gringotts. When did you become so responsible?"

The eldest of the Weasley sons shrugged, scratching his head as he considered his answer. "To be honest, I'm not exactly sure. As a Cursebreaker, I was responsible to no one but myself and the management at Gringotts, and I didn't have to put anyone else in harm's way. Maybe it's just my new duties with the group, or the engagement that's making me so cautious."

"Whatever the reason, it's not such a bad thing, given how the war is going. How is Fleur?"

At the mention of Fleur, Bill gave a cocky smile. "Beautiful, happy, and three weeks pregnant," he said, seeing Cho's hands fly over her mouth in shock. "Just another reason to be responsible, I guess. A kid has to grow up with parents, after all, and I intend on seeing this thing through. Of course now, Mum's making a big fuss about it, but that's just who she is, I guess."

"Well, congratulations Bill! I'm very happy for both of you. I assume that the wedding is still planned for this summer?"

"Yeah, though at the rate my relationship with Mum is deteriorating, it will end up being a simple service. Mum and I had a great big row about it, but such is life. And how are you and Harry doing?"

"Good, very good," Cho replied, a slight blush suffusing her cheeks. "It's a shame that all this nonsense with Zhang has to happen, but we'll deal with it. Harry and I have come too far and conquered too many of our personal demons to let no outsider interfere in our relationship. Hopefully, tonight I'll be able to make that clear to both Zhang and my parents."

"Sounds like a plan, kid. Listen, Fleur's probably wondering what's taking me, so I'll see you around. Good luck tonight, huh?"

"Of course. And thank you," the young woman said, watching with a wistful smile as Bill departed, heading back to home and lover. It's good to see him so happy, despite the war and all his troubles, Cho thought to herself, continuing towards her parent's estate. Admittedly, she wasn't all that close to Bill, but from what she had seen, he didn't exactly seem like the type to settle down and raise a family. Perhaps the war had changed his priorities, grounded him in a way, for good or for ill. And Fleur? From what she had seen, the fight against Voldemort has forced her to become more confident with her magic, more willing to take risks.

And what about her? How would the Cho Chang of years past, somewhat shy, hesitant and lonely, consider the more confident and determined young woman she was now? Could her younger self, broken by Cedric's death and unable to move past, even communicate on the same level? Cho stopped herself, halting that ridiculous train of thought in its tracks. Intelligence, compassion, kindness, an inquisitive nature; these were the values instilled in her, and these were the values she possessed to this day. Cedric's death and the war had simply tempered the mix with fire and steel. Maybe Cedric dying even made me a better person, Cho thought to herself, a horrifying idea on the surface but possibly one with merit. She had discussed fighting personal demons with Bill. Perhaps the death of her first love had finally forced her to confront the greatest of her all inner foes; her own insecurity. Enough of such things, Cho told herself, quickening her pace. Let's just get this done and over with, so I can go back to doing something important!