[HP] Comparative

With more than a week before winter break, students are already less focused in class.During Thursday's Transfiguration class, Harry and Ron, taking advantage of the free time after transforming guinea fowl into guinea pigs, huddled around the back of the room, sparring with swordsmanship with a fake wand invented by Fred and George.

Unfortunately, the two of them were caught by Professor McGonagall and got a lot of scolding.To make matters worse, she announced that Hogwarts would be hosting a Yule Ball - a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament - and Harry was specifically stopped after class because the dance was held by warriors and their partners. dancing.

Harry was dumbfounded; he never knew he'd have to ask a girl to be his partner.This matter is especially difficult after passing the first project, because he would rather fight the fire dragon again than stop a girl and invite her in full view.

Ron was having a headache about it too, but he didn't think Harry had anything to worry about. "Listen, you'll be in no trouble. You're a warrior. You just beat the Hungarian Horntail. I bet they'll be lining up to dance with you."

Harry was surprised to find that Ron's prediction was quite correct.In the next whole day, three girls actually took the initiative to ask him out——

The first was a third-year Hufflepuff girl, who was so taken aback that he refused without even thinking about it, so much so that he had to endure Dean, Seamus and Ron jeering at the girl for the whole History of Magic class .

The second is in the second grade, and the third is in the fifth grade.The last one was a head taller than Harry, and was a bit aggressive, causing him to still have lingering fears after he refused.

Probably misfortunes never come singly, after the day's Potions class ended, both Harry and Hermione were left behind by Professor Slughorn, and were invited to attend a small buffet in the evening.

"I think it's time for it to come," said Hermione, as she walked out of the classroom, checking her invitation. "Although Professor Slughorn has a problem with no one in Slytherin house, you're going through dragons." performed so well when…”

"Not as good as you said," Harry couldn't help correcting, "I got scratched on my arm, do you remember?"

"Every warrior has some problems." Hermione gave him an affirmative look from above the parchment, "You are already the best. If it wasn't for Karkaroff who gave you a low score eccentrically, Your score should be higher than Krum's."

Although it had been several days, Harry couldn't help blushing when he heard the praise. "If I had a choice," he muttered, looking away, staring down at the green ribbon on his invitation, "then I'd rather discuss the Coming Curse with Professor Flitwick."

"That's impossible, considering we've avoided parties at least twice," said Hermione wisely.

Harry knew what she was talking about, and he also knew that no matter how resistant he was, he couldn't find a reason not to go, otherwise he would have refused just now.The two could only return to the tower in a hurry, put down their schoolbags, change their clothes, and rush to the potions professor's office.

This time there were not as many people as at the previous evening, but Harry found new faces among the guests: Krum stood by himself, staring darkly at him and Hermione; The crowd in the distance looked around, not knowing what they were looking at.

Although the meal was good, Harry always felt that something was not right.After Cedric and Qiu entered the door at the same time, this bad feeling reached its peak——

And it was quickly proven to be true.

Not long after the buffet started, Professor Slughorn found Harry and Hermione.He first congratulated Harry for his excellent performance in the fire dragon event; then secretly lowered his voice and asked Harry if he had found his dancing partner.

"It's such a beautiful traditional practice, boys and girls dancing! It's a joy to be able to catch up with such a grand event!" Slughorn said, full of yearning from his tone to expression, "It's a pity that I have long since passed away. Young, or I'd probably be jealous of you dancing, Harry!"

Harry couldn't agree more with any of them, not a single one.This is really which pot is not opened and which pot is lifted... He was a little angry, but he couldn't show it in person. "Uh...I haven't found a dance partner yet."

Slughorn stared at him in surprise. "How is it possible? The girls at Hogwarts will let you go easily?" The chubby old man seemed completely in disbelief.

"They didn't," Harry had to admit, desperately, hoping that it wouldn't happen again, "but I said no."

"Oh—" Slughorn dragged his voice, with a clear expression on his face, "Don't want to give up?" He guessed, his small eyes swept aside Hermione, and his tone instantly became meaningful Shen Chang, "Or do you already have a girl you want to invite?"

Harry followed him to look, belatedly realizing what Slughorn was alluding to, and panicking for a moment. "No, no," he waved his hands flusteredly, "Hermione and I are just friends! Oh, I mean Hermione is nice, but we're not that kind of relationship!"

Slughorn narrowed his eyes, clearly not buying it. "Really?" He glanced back and forth between the two, "I see you two are often together?" Then he changed the subject and asked cleverly: "Don't you think the picture of Harry grabbing the golden egg is wonderful, Hermione?"

Hermione would have spoken long ago if she hadn't found room to interject. "Indeed, Professor. But I've seen him do it many times..." She didn't finish her sentence, and gave a forced sigh.

"You mean because you guys know each other too well?" Slughorn really guessed according to this hint. "That's such a pity, I was very optimistic about you two." He frowned, but quickly smiled heartily: "But it doesn't matter! There are excellent people everywhere in this room tonight, you must You can find your partner in it! There are many good guys and girls, don’t say I didn’t warn you!”

At the last sentence, Slughorn moved closer to them and lowered his voice.After speaking, he walked away with the sherry glass, winking at the two of them before turning around.

"Profess him..." Harry was relieved that Slughorn had left, but he was still embarrassed.

"He's completely misunderstood," Hermione said quickly, also a little embarrassed, "but he only needs to observe a little bit, and he knows that there is nothing wrong with us!"

Harry thought so too.Besides, it was no good to dwell on this topic, Hermione's words also reminded him. "So today's gathering is for this purpose?" He frowned vigorously, looking around at the silver and green decorations, "It is convenient for the warriors to choose a partner among the outstanding students he considers?"

"Not to mention anything else, this is indeed more convenient than stopping people on the road." Hermione also frowned and looked around, but her evaluation was still fair.

Harry didn't want to admit that she was objective, because he found Cedric and Qiu still standing together, talking and laughing at Yanyan.If his guess just now is true, has Cedric already dated Qiu?It's only been a day, and he hasn't made up his mind to invite Qiu at all...

"Hello."

Suddenly a slightly rough voice sounded, interrupting Harry's thoughts.He turned and was surprised to see Krum, who was standing beside Hermione.

Seeing them both turn their heads at the same time, Krum obviously didn't appreciate it very much. "May I get to know you?" He looked at Hermione with an undisguised eagerness in his dark eyes.

Hermione didn't expect a boy to accost her at all, and the boy was still Krum, and she didn't react for a long time.She was shocked, dumbfounded, almost stuttering. "...Are you asking me?"

Before this, Harry had never heard Krum speak, nor had he seen any expression other than dark and expressionless.Now, he fully understood why Krum looked at him so unkindly the previous few times.

The other party probably heard their conversation just now...

Krum is one of the best Seekers in the world by taking his chances as soon as he sees them...

But anyway, he doesn't want to be treated by Krum as an imaginary rival in love...

"I'll go away first, sorry." Harry said hastily.Before Hermione could answer, he took long strides across the room, slipping quickly.

It turned out that Slughorn was in that corner.The inner circle there, to be precise, included him and Tom, and a few Slytherins.

Harry stopped when he saw Avery and Lestrange inside.They have always regarded each other as air, so it's better not to get close to each other at this moment.But those people had a narrow and relaxed smile that they had never seen before, and he couldn't help but burst out of curiosity.After looking around, he decided to pretend to get some food from a nearby long table so he could eavesdrop with his back turned.

"...you're joking, absolutely!" Harry just walked over and stood still when he heard Lestrange speak with strong emotions in his voice, "If you can't find a partner, then I dare to tell Merlin I swear, no one in Hogwarts can find a companion!"

"That's right!" Avery's voice sounded, and he sounded very agreeable, "If you want me to say, your vision must be too high——"

Slughorn also joined in. "I quite agree with Lestrange and Avery on this point. If you insist on your opinion, I may have to criticize you for the first time, Tom!"

Even though he said that, everyone could tell that he was pretending to be serious.Harry shuddered, his ears pricked up.Slughorn to blame Tom?Like for a dance partner?

"I've said it many times, I don't want to dance." The party replied in a calm tone, as if full of helplessness, "I originally planned to go back for Christmas..."

"It's better to stay in school if you go back, not to mention that there are so many students staying in Hogwarts this year!" Slughorn retorted, his tone was strong, and soon his wonder gained the upper hand, "Didn't you all stay in school?" ?Why did you change your mind this year?"

Tom paused for a moment. "There really isn't much fun going back," he admits, but there's not much compromise in it.

"That's not it," said Lestrange, who sounded quite happy, "There are already no less than ten girls who have invited you today, and there are probably many more in the future... You can choose the most beautiful one among them! ’ he suggested eagerly.

This sounded very similar to Ron's tone, and Harry couldn't help but evaluate in his heart, but he knew that Ron definitely didn't want himself to have the same opinion as Lestrange.Then again, it wouldn't be weird if not a lot of girls were asking Tom out...

"Is it necessary, Professor?" Tom asked again, unable to tell whether he wanted to or not.

Slughorn was probably doing his fly waving again, because his tone sounded like the matching one. "That's the third time you've asked, Tom! Why, have you suddenly taken a liking to me saying 'Hogwarts should show good spirits to guests'?"

The other Slytherins snickered at the teasing.

Tom seemed even more helpless. "Of course I know, but I thought it was the responsibility of the warriors."

That must have hit a sensitive spot in Slughorn. "Don't mention warriors to me, Tom!" He was quite annoyed, as if a plate of his favorite candied slipped away under his nose, "Aren't you better than the two of them? Why can't our academy produce What about a warrior! If I had known that the age limit was a display, I would have..."

"Professor," Tom suddenly raised his voice, interrupting the rest of the sentence just in time, "there is nothing in the world that has long been known."

A little silence followed. "Oh, well," said Slughorn, realizing that the occasion for indiscretion was inappropriate, "you're always so discreet..."

Their voices fell so low that Harry couldn't hear them clearly.He chewed the food in his mouth almost mechanically, while digesting the words he had just heard.

Tom wants to go back for the holidays, but Professor Slughorn disagrees...

This is really rare, especially when everyone wants to stay in school...

What's so good about a Muggle orphanage? Why would Tom rather go back than stay at Hogwarts...

Is it just because Tom doesn't want to dance?No way, he is so popular with girls...

"Do you like potato crisps with black garlic cheese shavings?"

When the sound suddenly sounded nearby, Harry was so frightened that he almost swallowed what he had just imported.He chewed a couple of bites hastily, turned his head, and saw the handsome face of the tall boy as expected.He followed the other person's line of sight and lowered his head again, only to realize that the big bowl of potato chips had been eaten by him with an obvious hole.

"Well, I think it tastes good." That's all Harry could say, after all he couldn't admit that he only stood in this position for a long time to eavesdrop.

Tom looked at Harry, picked up a potato crisp between two fingers and put it in his mouth.His movements were light and graceful, and he didn't make any creaking movements like Harry's. "It's not bad," he commented after swallowing, "it seems to be French."

For some reason, seeing his Adam's apple rolling, Harry hurriedly looked away, as if he had a guilty conscience.

Strange, where did Avery and Lestrange go?How did Tom find him when he was free?

"Probably..." He coped nervously, thinking how to get away.The tall boy may not do anything to him, but he really can't handle it... It's better not to have a second time being cornered like last time...

Tom chuckled, as if noticing Harry's restlessness. "Professor Slughorn told me that he hoped that everyone at the dinner party would find their dance partners tonight. You are a warrior, Harry, and you must have had the Professor's special attention?"

Harry really didn't want to admit that Tom was right about special attention. "But I haven't decided who to invite." He muffled.

"Really?" asked Tom, in exactly the same tone as when Slughorn had said "Really." "I don't think so?"

This was said in a drawl, as if full of meaning, Harry looked at the tall boy with a sharp look. "What do you mean?" He became more nervous.

Tom looked at Harry condescendingly, then bent down suddenly, and leaned close to Harry's ear. "Cho Zhang," his voice was deep and clear, without even the slightest bit of uncertainty, "Digory hasn't invited her yet, you still have a chance."

Really being said, Harry almost didn't jump up. "...how do you know?" He thought he was paying attention; and why did Tom know such things as Cedric's appointment with Qiu?

Tom straightened up again, and looked about him as if searching for the two men mentioned. "Use your eyes and pay attention, Harry," he replied, with a hint of disdain in his tone, "You're almost putting your thoughts on your face."

"I..." Harry found to his annoyance that he really didn't know how to fight back effectively.In the end, he could only forcefully push back: "I didn't think about Yueqiu!"

Hearing this, Tom gave Harry a surprised look, as if to tell Harry not to miss the point. "It's meaningless to you and me to tell such a lie," he said disapprovingly, his eyes fixed in one direction, "Go ask her out, she will agree to you. If you really don't want to be seen by others, I can help you Do something about it, like dismiss Digory or something."

This must have been part of the evidence of being overzealous, and Harry believed he would probably spot Cho if he followed it, but all of this made him angry. "Why are you helping me with this?"

"It's just that I can't stand your hesitation." Tom replied nonchalantly.He was still staring in the same direction, not paying attention to Harry at all. "Especially these are very minor issues..."

"I, said, did, I, no, wanted to, dated, her!" Harry growled word by word.He's really angry, and he's not even sure why he's so angry—

Because Tom found out that he likes Cho?In fact, this is not unusual, after all, Hermione has already discovered it...

Because Tom offered to help?They didn't know each other well, and Harry shouldn't be offended if he couldn't accept his offer without burden...

Because Tom didn't take Harry's carefully hidden truth as anything important?But maybe it wasn't that important, otherwise he wouldn't just get annoyed when Tom brought it up...

Tom finally turned around, frowning slightly, looking at Harry as if he was looking at something very strange. "Do you have any opinion on me personally? Or are you still brooding over my attitude last time?" He asked bluntly, his dark eyes filled with confusion, "You don't always think about something just because you can't do it." Blame me for certain things, right?"

Harry guessed that when Tom said "one thing that's not at all certain" he meant he wasn't sure that Tom knew who put his name into the Goblet of Fire, and that wasn't the case.He had no "opinion" about Tom, nor cared enough to be bitter, let alone blame.If he had to say it, he was more curious about Tom's intentions in doing those things, and he really couldn't stand Tom's proposal to help him pursue someone in love...

Suddenly realizing something, Harry's eyes widened suddenly.Frightened, he jumped back one step, two steps, then turned around and ran towards the door of the room.

A few Slytherins were quietly observing their side from a distance, and upon seeing this, they all gathered together.

"What just happened?" Avery asked in a low voice, completely confused.

"How did you scare him away, boss?" Although Lestrange asked, his thick lips were raised high, and his tone was full of schadenfreude, "although it doesn't bother me at all. Surprisingly, Potter and we are not on the same road at all!"

Tom kept a handsome face and said nothing.The others wanted to say a few more words, but when they saw him like this, they realized that the situation was different, and they all fell silent.

The author has something to say:

Tom:? ? ?I haven't done anything yet!

Ps, the women's bathroom with the entrance to the secret room is on the third floor, the previous article has been corrected~

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