Soothing Ron was something Harry was very skilled at.
Of course, the other way around, Ron was also very good at doing the same thing.
After all, neither of them could really be called obedient, sensible children. After being arranged by Dumbledore to go through so many inexplicable events, they had long since gotten used to comforting each other.
Here "comfort" is meant literally, without any other implication.
Under Harry's comfort, Ron soon calmed down again, and finally turned back into that original state of watery eyes and slightly dazed nerves.
At the same time, his mouth once again started muttering things like, "I'm so stupid, I'm so stupid."
At first Harry thought Ron was still angry about Fleur, so he followed along and cursed that Beauxbatons veela girl two more times for Ron's sake.
But Ron shook his head and said painfully, "I mean Hermione."
"I shouldn't have said that to her, really. I just… just got a bit jealous, that's all. She actually got mixed up with Krum!"
"What's worse is she even came running over with this face full of showing off, saying stuff like, 'All the pretty girls have already been taken,' and the like."
"Doesn't she know how we've been worrying ourselves sick over dance partners these past two days?"
As soon as he said this, Ron's breathing grew quick again.
But this time, without Harry's comfort, he steadied his own emotions and went on, "Anyway, I just got carried away with anger earlier, that's why I said it. Maybe I should go apologize to Hermione."
"Uh, no, forget it. With her temper, she probably won't listen to a thing right now. Better to wait a few days."
"And besides, this thing really can't be all my fault! Everything I said was just the truth! Link and Emily Victoria are about to get engaged, so no matter how much Hermione likes Link, she definitely won't have any chance!"
"If you don't believe me, just look at that Fleur girl. She's much prettier than Hermione, and she's a Beauxbatons champion."
"Her grades and ability are stronger than Hermione's too! Even a girl like her, who practically delivered herself to him, Link didn't want. Then wouldn't Hermione have even less chance?"
"Oh right, speaking of Link, I still have to thank him later! If it hadn't been for him today, I probably would've embarrassed myself even worse! You'd better remind me when the time comes, Harry, or I'll forget."
Ron poured out a whole long speech and finally felt much better.
But the expected sound of Harry's agreement didn't come.
He glanced sideways and saw Harry only lowering his head, hiding in the darkness so his facial expression couldn't be seen.
Ron thought Harry was tired, sighed, and said, "Harry, you go back first. I still want to sit here a bit longer. Don't worry about me, I'll head back by myself later."
At that, Harry finally moved.
He struggled to get up from the ground, patted Ron on the shoulder as a farewell, and then slowly stepped into the darkness.
What Ron didn't know was that Harry's face hidden in that darkness was extremely tangled at the moment.
What Ron had just said suddenly made Harry realize that his own situation now was exactly the same as Hermione's.
Of course, this wasn't to say Harry wanted to be Link's girlfriend too.
He had no such affection in that direction.
The person he truly liked was Cho Chang, that Ravenclaw Quidditch player.
And Cho Chang also had a boyfriend.
That boyfriend was none other than Link's good friend, Cedric.
Ron's words could be said to have shattered Harry's last bit of fantasy, making him clearly realize that he and Cho Chang were basically impossible.
After all, Cho Chang wasn't the type of woman to play around. She absolutely wouldn't cheat.
And although Ron and George kept calling Cedric some slick pretty boy every day, Harry still had to admit that Cedric was indeed a handsome, gentle, outstanding guy.
At least, much stronger than himself.
Harry felt his heart was stifled and restless to the extreme. In the end, he could only pinch his arm hard, using the physical pain to suppress the gloom in his heart, before finally walking toward the Gryffindor common room.
As he walked, he muttered to himself, "Sleep on it and it'll be fine."
Curfew had long since passed. Inside Hogwarts Castle everything was silent and pitch-black. Only occasionally would one or two faint glimmers of light flash quickly across a distant corridor, like ghost fire.
Those were night-wandering students.
These people had to make themselves as quick and alert as mice if they didn't want to get caught, otherwise Filch would tie them up and drag them before a professor.
Harry wasn't afraid of Filch. News that he was Link's friend had already spread everywhere. That fellow Filch wouldn't dare give him trouble.
So Harry could stroll casually and openly in the dark right now.
Another few clusters of ghost-fire-like lights dashed by in panic. Harry sighed, suddenly feeling envious of Link.
Though a bit unwilling, Harry had to admit, Link was the real champion!
After all, he was so clever, brave, strong, knowledgeable…
Sometimes Harry really wished he could become Link.
That way, with just a little wave of his hand, wouldn't Cho Chang come flying over to him?
Imagining that scene, Harry's throat couldn't help moving a few times, and his body grew hot.
And just then, two brighter lights appeared in front of Harry.
Unlike the faint ghost-fires earlier, these two shone brightly and boldly, breaking through the darkness steadily, as if it was their pursuit that had sent those earlier lights fleeing in a panic.
And indeed that was the case, because the people carrying those two lights were Link and Filch.
Harry, who had just been indulging in absolute safety and fantasy in the dark, suddenly felt inexplicably ashamed and hurriedly wanted to hide.
But in the end, he was discovered by Link, who possessed the Detection Charm.
"Harry? Why aren't you asleep so late?"
Link dimmed the glow of his wand tip so it wouldn't be dazzling, then asked curiously.
"I... I was looking for Ron."
"And did you find him?"
"I did, but…"
Harry didn't continue. Instead, he glanced at Filch.
That old fellow was staring at him fixedly too, his eyes glowing green in the dimness, like a wolf's hungry gaze.
Filch really wouldn't hold Harry and Ron's night-wandering against them, for Link's sake. But that didn't mean he would ignore them.
If he caught them, a round of scolding was unavoidable.
After all, Filch didn't like these brats one bit.
Link naturally read Harry's expression. He didn't press further about Ron's whereabouts, but instead thought of the golden egg he had kept in his Undetectable Extension Bag.
With Emily's help, he had already cracked the secret inside months ago. But Harry surely still knew nothing.
As a fellow champion from the same school, Link felt he had a duty to help Harry.
Of course, he also wanted to take the chance to learn more about Hermione's recent situation.
That way he could keep both Krum and Ron away from her, or at the very least, not let her become their dance partner.
Decision made, Link smiled and slung his arm over Harry's shoulder, "Harry, since you're already out, don't rush back. Come take a bath with me!"
"Bath?"
Harry repeated in confusion, instinctively wanting to refuse.
Two boys bathing together was just too weird. He had to stress this again, Harry definitely didn't have that kind of strange hobby.
But thinking of Hermione's falling out with Ron, and his own troubles with Cho Chang, Harry suddenly felt a desire to ask Link for advice.
After all, in Harry's eyes, Link had always been an omnipotent existence.
So in the end, Harry nodded with difficulty.
"Hahaha! That's it, that's it! We'll use the Prefects' Bathroom, it's way more luxurious than the ordinary bathrooms. You won't regret it!"
Seeing this, Link laughed twice and, talking as he went, dragged Harry toward the bathroom.
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