[HP] Comparative

This incident spread throughout Hogwarts almost at the speed of light.Harry didn't know that people cared so much about gossip before, otherwise it wouldn't explain why he would encounter related things no matter where he went—

Once, passing Filch's office with the door open, he found the administrator ripping through piles of pink envelopes, gnashing his teeth and cursing at the courtship that had written "I love you a thousand times more than Fleur" The one whose letters cover the entire stone wall (that wall is the entrance to the Slytherin common room);

Once, when he passed a certain corridor, he heard a girl's miserable cry from under the handrail covered with magic icicles, saying that Fleur had ruined her greatest dream, and the other two girls sobbed to comfort her;

And several times he heard the boys lament, half enviously, half relieved, that Tom had finally found a partner, and made public, and finally the girl who had given up his mind had said yes to their invitation.

It didn't take long for the girls at Hogwarts to unite as one.They seemed to decide that they had been greatly offended in their home turf and shared a common hatred for Fleur.

"I don't think it's worth the effort, though," said Hermione, a little annoyed, telling Harry and Ron the last thing. "They've got an appointment! And so many witnesses!"

It was the first night of the holiday and the communal room was louder than usual and felt more crowded than usual.Harry was watching Ron build a castle out of crackling cards, and Hermione had just joined them from the library.

Although Harry knew the matter was a foregone conclusion, he could also understand what the girls were doing.In fact, there was still a little bit of luck in his heart, like something went wrong and the two of them couldn't dance.To be more precise, he wasn't worried about a dance; what he worried about was that Tom made an exception and promised Fleur the first time, and there might be a second time.

Just discovering unrequited love, you are about to become lovelorn, no one's heart can hold it...

As for Ron, he is not interested in such news at all at the moment.Harry didn't know that Hermione had been invited until Harry had desperately found them both the Patil sisters.At first he didn't believe it at all, until Ginny testified for Hermione. "So who asked you out?" he asked abruptly.

It's a good idea to catch people by surprise, but after using it too many times, Hermione just gave him an impatient roll of the eyes. "I said I wouldn't tell you."

Harry the Insider kept discreetly silent.He thought Hermione's approach was very sensible, otherwise the Hogwarts Girls United Front would probably have boycotted her too.But he didn't want to lie to Ron either: he couldn't do anything right now, let alone cover himself perfectly.Thinking of having found a dance partner and not being able to use this excuse to explain his growing depression, he was sitting on pins and needles.

"I think I might want to study the clues of the second project," Harry stood up when the two men were making eye contact, suspecting that the golden egg might be his life-saving straw for a long time to come, "maybe Come back later."

Ron barely gave Harry any attention. "Don't be too late," he instructed, "If no one plays chess with me, I might go to bed early!"

That meant Ron would stay and open the door for Harry.Harry nodded to show that he heard.He climbed the stairs, went to the dormitory and took out the golden egg from under the bed.When he passed the common room again, Hermione yelled at him at the top of her voice: "I wish you success as soon as possible!"

After entering the Christmas holiday, the number of people in the school has decreased by almost half, and few students who stay in school want to study.Harry easily found an empty classroom, went inside and closed the door, placed the golden egg and the Invisibility Cloak on the nearest desk, and sat down by himself.

Of course he doesn't really want to study golden eggs, there are still two full months before the second project is held...

While it wasn't good to lie to Ron and Hermione like that, he probably really needed to be alone...

Who would have thought that, as the dance was approaching, what he was most worried about was not whether he would make a fool of himself when dancing, but worried that another couple might become a couple...

Leaving Veela aside, Furong is indeed pretty, what can he do to compete with her...

Why did he miss his timing?At Professor Slughorn's hors d'oeuvres, he had plenty of time...

Harry had never looked so downcast.If only he hadn't been scared away by himself at that time, he thought regretfully.It should be said directly, anyway, there was no one around at that time, just the two of them... Tom might be frightened, but it's better than the current situation... If Fleur becomes Tom's girlfriend, he will speak his mind really inappropriate...

Harry, immersed in self-pity and self-pity, didn't hear the slight movement from the door on the other side.He didn't wake up suddenly until a slender hand waved in front of him. "...What?" He almost jumped up, but the person behind him held his shoulder firmly.

"It's almost nine o'clock, Harry." Tom's voice reminded him softly in his ear, in a businesslike tone, "May I assume you know that only students in the fifth grade and above are allowed to stay in public areas until now ?”

The person who was still imagining suddenly appeared at this moment, Harry's back was stiff, and he was so cramped that he didn't know where to put his hands and feet. "I'm sorry, I forgot the time—" He apologized stutteringly, and wanted to get up again, "——I'll be back right away!"

But Tom pushed him back into the chair again and didn't answer him. "What are you doing here?"

Everyone knew that Harry didn't need to answer this question at all, because the golden egg was right under their noses. "Are you willing to put in more effort in the game?" That voice seemed to carry a slight smile, "Very good."

Harry had reason to suspect that this compliment corresponded to Tom's request for the title last time.However, the reality is not like this... He hung his head in shame. "I didn't find anything," he said honestly, feeling like he'd been shattered—not just in time, but in impressing Tom—"it was just screaming."

"Really?" Tom finally let go of Harry. "Would you mind letting me hear?"

The pressure on his shoulders vanished in a jiffy, and Harry shifted uncomfortably in his chair - he wanted to run away when it was there, disappointed when it wasn't, and he hoped the other person didn't notice the inconsistency inner struggle. "It's really screaming," he emphasized again, not daring to look directly at the boy who had already walked in front of him, "and it's very hoarse and ugly."

Tom just smiled nonchalantly. "I think I'm ready."

Harry couldn't continue to refuse, so he had to twist the eggshell.For a moment, the harsh sound enough to tear the eardrums vibrated back and forth throughout the classroom.His head was already filled with all kinds of messy emotions, and now he has a splitting headache.

Suddenly, all those movements disappeared.Harry opened his eyes - and now he realized he couldn't help closing them just now - just in time to see Tom take his hand back from the closed golden egg. "What's the matter with you? Is there something wrong?" The tall boy asked, but it wasn't the golden egg that asked.

"I'm fine." Harry said quickly, not wanting to make him feel weak.

Tom looked at Harry again, pushed the golden egg aside without hesitation, and sat sideways on the table. "Really?" He leaned slightly towards Harry, puzzled in his focused expression, "Why do I think you're avoiding me?"

Harry didn't expect the other party to notice this, and his eyes widened as he instinctively leaned back.After the buffet, he had spent so much time clearing his mind that he didn't even look at the Marauder's Map; even more so after the incident in the hall, he couldn't face the fact that Tom might have found a beautiful girlfriend. "I...No." He reluctantly replied, even feeling that this was unbelievable.

The tall boy raised an eyebrow at Harry. "Did I scare you last time?" He whispered, almost empathetic, "If that's the case, I think I have to defend myself—human life is precious, Harry; don't talk about dying, especially when it's just a small challenge."

Harry guessed Tom was right to say the Triwizard Tournament was a small challenge, but... "I'm not you," he could not help whispering back, "and I'm not intimidated by you."

"Shall I help you recall the outcome of our last meeting, Harry?" Tom replied, with a look on his face that suggested he didn't believe it at all.

Harry knew he couldn't avoid it. "That's my problem." Because of the embarrassment and guilt that surged up, his voice was as low as a mosquito, and his eyes became more and more dodgy. "It has nothing to do with you."

Now, Tom's eyebrows are almost up to the hairline. "If you can look me in the eyes and say this," he deliberately dragged his voice out, "maybe I can still consider trusting you."

It was a drastic move, Harry could tell, but there was nothing he could do against it.After meeting that face, his heart skipped a beat and his mouth started to dry up. "It really has nothing to do with you." He said it again, and at the same time suspected that he might never have been so against his will.

Tom narrowed his eyes, as if he still didn't quite buy it. "So why did you run away suddenly last time?"

Now Harry wanted to find a place to bury himself, because he really couldn't answer that question.

This is a good time to tell him how you really feel!

There was a little man shouting excitedly in his head.

But both of them are men... Besides, he already has Furong...

Another villain poured cold water on him with extreme pessimism.

Under the attack from both sides, Harry's forehead began to ache again. "I just remembered something suddenly, and I'm very anxious!" He blurted out, completely ignoring other things, "It's not your fault, sorry!"

Probably seeing that Harry was determined not to speak, Tom's eyes narrowed even more.However, he didn't point out how suspicious and flawed Harry's excuse was, just asking: "Do you know what the scream of the golden egg means?"

Harry thought that the other party would follow up to get to the bottom of it, and was waiting anxiously.Hearing this made him even more uneasy. "I don't know," he admitted shamefully, bowing his head again, "I'll try harder."

A vague sigh passed over his head, as if Tom had finally given up on something. "It's quite obvious that the voice is..."

The latter words were lost as Harry jumped up and covered the tall boy's mouth with lightning speed. "Don't tell me!" He refused repeatedly, "Don't remind me!"

Tom maintained his original position, blinking in surprise behind Harry's palm. "You want to find out yourself?"

Because of being blocked, his voice was muffled.That's not all: when he spoke, his lips moved lightly, rubbing against the sensitive skin of his palms; the slight air flow brought by him brushed towards the gap between his fingers, which was warm and slightly moist.

Harry was startled by how ambiguous this action was, and withdrew his hand like an electric shock. "Yes," he admitted, desperately wishing he wasn't a swollen-faced fat man in Tom's eyes.

The tall boy just looked at Harry inquiringly.His gaze slid down Harry's face and back again when he found the unnaturally tightening palm. "I understand." He said slowly, then stood up, as if planning to leave.But before reaching the door, he turned his head again. "Don't stay too late, Harry."

Harry blinked in bewilderment.He didn't know why Tom was so kind, and why he was giving himself up again. "etc!"

Tom stopped turning the doorknob. "how?"

Only then did Harry realize that the words he had just stopped the other party from leaving hadn't even crossed his head. "I..." He hesitated for a while, and finally decided that even if there was really no hope, he at least had to figure it out. "I want to know," he bet all his courage, "you and Fleur..."

"Did you see it then, too?" Tom asked wonderingly, turning away completely. "You don't look like someone who cares about gossip."

Harry blushed.The tall boy didn't think he cared because he wasn't part of the gossip army, and he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. "They're all saying..." He tried to explain, but it got darker and darker, "I just wanted to..."

"Do you think I had other options?" Tom cut Harry off abruptly.

Harry found his heart suddenly alive again, now beating hopefully in his chest. "What's the meaning?"

Tom spread his hands, with helplessness written all over his face. "She had checked beforehand and she knew I didn't have a partner. The professors wouldn't be happy if I turned her down in front of so many people and kept her out of the stage."

Harry could really feel that the whole school was eager to impress the guests from afar - the Christmas decorations were much prettier this year than usual, and the castle was cleaned like never before. "So you don't like Fleur?" He asked again for confirmation.

"So far, she's been a guest at Hogwarts in my eyes," replied Tom, almost annoyed. Does that mean I like her?"

Seems like a lot of people have asked similar questions...

Harry wanted to answer that everyone would rather dance with someone they liked, not to mention that Tom had rejected many girls before.But the other party said it so bluntly, he decided to believe him.Then it occurred to him that Tom did seem to resist the allure of Fleur Veela blood.

"Not necessarily." When Harry agreed aloud, he heard his blood rushing happily all over his body.

As if sensing his change of mood, Tom paused. "Do you have anything else to do?"

Still immersed in great joy, Harry subconsciously shook his head.But when the tall boy opened the door and was about to take the first step outside, he suddenly woke up, jumped up and rushed over, grabbing the other's hand on the doorknob——

Because the speed was too fast, the unstoppable inertia brought the door back.The two hit the oak door one after another, making a dull sound.

"You..." Tom clutched his sore shoulder, trying to stand up straight.

He might have wanted to confront Harry for his rudeness, but Harry was talking faster than he could. "I have something to tell you!"

Tom glanced down at their still clasped right hands, then looked up at Harry with an unreadable expression on his face. "What words?"

The distance between the two was only a few feet away, and Harry's heartbeat became faster, as if he had difficulty breathing.If he really wanted to get to the bottom of it, these signs had already loomed on the Hogwarts Express, and he didn't know how he had been so slow to notice it until recently. "I think—" he said, lifting his head and forcing himself to meet those dark eyes that grew more breathtaking from close up, "I like you."

As if totally unexpected, Tom froze.But before Harry could think of anything else, he relaxed again, and even broke into a faint smile. "Thanks," he replied, in a pleasantly relaxed tone, "everyone has a little secret, I understand. You don't have to force yourself to say that."

If Harry couldn't have dreamed that he'd said it so easily - it wasn't as difficult as he thought it would be - he couldn't have imagined it would be the answer.The reason he fled was exactly what he had just said, and it was no longer a secret; yet...

"What are you talking about?" He was completely confused, "What 'reluctantly'?"

"Isn't that so?" Tom tilted his head, looking more puzzled than Harry, "You also started like that on the train, and you wanted to say something to me..." He paused, "Then It's just my misunderstanding, and it's been a long time, there's no need for you to comfort me like this."

Harry blinked slowly.Things were going in such an unusual direction that he was having a bit of trouble keeping up.Although he did use the same sentence pattern, how could Tom think that these two things were of the same nature? "I'm really not reluctant..." He hurriedly wanted to explain, but he couldn't organize a convincing reason for a while.

Tom patted Harry on the shoulder reassuringly. "It's okay, I understand what you mean." When he said this, he broke away from his hand without a trace, "If you don't mind, I have to continue the night watch."

"But I really..."

Harry wanted to struggle again, but Tom didn't intend to give him a chance. "Promise me to study the golden eggs," the tall boy said in a tone that was close to coaxing, and smoothed Harry's messy hair at the sideburns, "Huh?"

The side of the ear touched immediately burned, and Harry nodded almost unconsciously.Only when he was the only one left in the classroom did he finally regain his senses——

Tom understand?What did he understand?Whatever it was, it wasn't what he wanted to express, was it?

Are you forcing yourself?What a ghost, he has been mentally preparing for several days!

In the end, mentioning the golden egg was simply to divert his attention...

Frustrated, Harry buried his face deep in his hands.The heat in his ears quickly spread downward, scorching his heart like a flame.

Tom was so clever that he did not believe that the other party would misunderstand what he said.Thinking about it in reverse, the tall boy might also be the same: he wanted to know why Harry ran away, but he didn't believe that Harry did it because he liked him; Harry kindly handed him the direction of the steps...

This was also logical: after all, in Tom's opinion, their relationship was not that deep at all?

A voice murmured deep in Harry's head.

Come on, another voice said sarcastically, no matter whether there is a trust issue between them or not, Tom has completely rejected Harry in the least hurtful way!

Harry slapped himself on the face hard, then raked his hair hard.Suddenly, an empty classroom becomes unbearably unbearable.He quickly turned around and walked to the table, picked up the golden egg with one hand, shook off the invisibility cloak with the other, and strode away after putting it on.

The author has something to say:

Tom·Actor·Big Fudge·Individualism·Riddle is online~

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