Cho Chang

Cho Chang was a witch and a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Ravenclaw house, a year ahead of Harry Potter. A talented and popular student, she was best known for being the Seeker for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. Cho was Harry's first crush and girlfriend, though their relationship was complicated by her grief over the murder of her previous boyfriend, Cedric Diggory, and the pressures of Lord Voldemort's return. She was a loyal member of Dumbledore's Army and fought in the Battle of Hogwarts.

Cho Chang began her education at Hogwarts in 1990. By her fourth year, she was the Seeker for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. During a match against Gryffindor in the 1993-1994 school year, she caught the attention of Harry Potter, who developed a strong crush on her. In her fifth year, Cho began a relationship with the Hufflepuff champion, Cedric Diggory. She accepted his invitation to the Yule Ball, much to Harry's disappointment, who had intended to ask her himself. Cho remained loyal to Cedric throughout the Triwizard Tournament. She was devastated when Cedric was murdered by Peter Pettigrew on Lord Voldemort's orders at the end of the school year. Cho's sixth year was marked by profound grief. Despite her emotional turmoil, she was one of the first students to believe Harry's account of Voldemort's return. She joined Dumbledore's Army (D.A.) to learn how to defend herself and fight back. It was during these meetings that her romantic relationship with Harry began, and they shared their first kiss under a sprig of mistletoe. However, their relationship was strained. Cho was often emotional and tearful, struggling with her feelings for both Harry and the deceased Cedric. She also displayed jealousy over Harry's close friendship with Hermione Granger. The relationship ultimately ended after a disastrous date in Hogsmeade and a subsequent argument over Cho's friend, Marietta Edgecombe, who betrayed the D.A. to Dolores Umbridge. Cho defended her friend, unable to condemn her actions, which created an irreparable rift with Harry. In her final year, Cho returned to Hogwarts to fight in the Battle of Hogwarts. She remained loyal to the D.A. and offered to help Harry find the lost diadem of Ravenclaw by showing him the statue in the Ravenclaw Common Room, but Ginny Weasley suggested Luna Lovegood go with him instead. She survived the battle.

Cho was described as a very pretty girl with long, shiny dark hair and a freckled nose. She was often seen surrounded by a group of friends and was noted for her popularity. Her personality was complex, particularly as seen through Harry's eyes. She was brave and principled, joining Dumbledore's Army and returning to fight at the Battle of Hogwarts. She was also a loyal friend, as shown by her steadfast defence of Marietta Edgecombe even after her betrayal. However, especially following Cedric's death, she was emotionally vulnerable, often crying and struggling to process her grief, which put a significant strain on her relationship with Harry.

• Quidditch: Cho was a very talented Quidditch player, holding the crucial position of Seeker for the Ravenclaw team. She flew a Comet Two Sixty.
• Charms: Cho was skilled enough to conjure a corporeal Patronus. She learned the spell from Harry during a Dumbledore's Army meeting, and her Patronus took the form of a swan.
• Duelling: As a member of the D.A., she learned a variety of defensive and offensive spells. Her participation in the Battle of Hogwarts demonstrates that she was a competent and brave duellist.

• Wand: The specific wood, core, and length of Cho's wand are unknown.
• Broomstick: Cho owned a Comet Two Sixty, which she used during Quidditch matches.

• Harry Potter: Cho was Harry's first love interest and girlfriend. Their relationship was fraught with difficulty, largely due to Cho's unresolved grief for Cedric Diggory and Harry's inexperience with romance. They ultimately broke up after a series of misunderstandings and arguments.
• Cedric Diggory: Cho was Cedric's girlfriend prior to his death. She cared for him deeply, and his murder left her emotionally scarred for a long time afterward.
• Marietta Edgecombe: Marietta was Cho's best friend at Hogwarts. Cho's loyalty to Marietta, even after Marietta betrayed Dumbledore's Army to Dolores Umbridge, was a major point of conflict that led to the end of her relationship with Harry.
• Hermione Granger: Cho often felt jealous of Harry's close friendship with Hermione, mistakenly believing there might be romantic feelings between them. This misunderstanding contributed to the instability of her and Harry's relationship.

• The name Cho (蝶) is the Japanese word for “butterfly.” It can also be a surname in both Korean and Chinese.
• Chang (张) is one of the most common surnames in China. Together, her name reflects an East Asian heritage.

• In the film adaptations, Cho Chang is portrayed by Scottish actress Katie Leung.
• A significant change in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is that Cho betrays Dumbledore's Army to Dolores Umbridge while under the influence of Veritaserum. In the novel, the betrayal is committed willingly by her friend, Marietta Edgecombe, and Cho's defence of Marietta is the cause of her final argument with Harry.
• J.K. Rowling revealed that after the Second Wizarding War, Cho Chang went on to marry a Muggle. (J.K. Rowling interview)