"Cho, what are you doing here?"
"That's what I should be asking you, shouldn't I?"
Hearing Harry's words, Cho Chang looked him up and down, asking somewhat puzzled.
"How did you end up in such a state? Did something unfortunate happen?"
Harry felt somewhat embarrassed upon hearing this.
Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw Quidditch team's Seeker, was a friend Harry had met last term.
Actually, their initial meeting was thanks to Sherlock.
Last Easter, Cho Chang's seven-color eyeshadow, a gift from her father, was stolen in Ravenclaw House, so she came to ask Sherlock for help.
For Sherlock, this type of case was child's play.
It was just that the final result wasn't very satisfactory.
Although Sherlock found the stolen eyeshadow, Cho Chang lost a friend.
However, in Sherlock's view, such a friend was better off lost.
Ravenclaw's wisdom ultimately couldn't overcome the thorns growing wildly in one's heart.
After the incident ended, Cho Chang came with Ravenclaw prefect Penelope to thank Sherlock.
That was when Harry and Cho Chang first met.
Their first impressions of each other were quite good.
By the end of last term, when Harry and Sherlock were hospitalized for stopping Quirrell from obtaining the Philosopher's Stone, prefects from all houses came to visit the hero, and Cho Chang came again with Penelope.
It was then that Harry discovered that Cho Chang was not only beautiful but also got along very well with him.
Since then, their relationship had grown closer and closer.
Harry had maintained contact with Cho Chang throughout the summer holidays, second only in frequency to his letters with Sherlock.
By the time this term began, Cho Chang had become one of Harry's few close female friends.
At this moment, Harry wished Cho Chang could see him sitting with a group of cool people, all laughing at a joke he had told.
Not like now—soaked from head to toe, his robes stained with mud, looking like a drowned rat.
"I—"
"Pfft~"
Seeing Harry's somewhat bewildered appearance, Cho Chang couldn't help but laugh.
However, after noticing Harry's embarrassed state, she said gently.
"It's alright, Harry. We can clean this up without any trouble."
As she spoke, she drew her wand and lightly tapped Harry. "Scourgify!"
The rainwater and mud disappeared instantly, and Harry's red Quidditch uniform looked as good as new.
After doing this, she tilted her head thoughtfully and waved her wand again, casting a Warming Charm on Harry.
Harry immediately felt the freezing sensation leave him, his entire body becoming warm and comfortable.
"Thank you so much, Cho!"
Harry looked at her gratefully. "That's a huge help."
Being stared at by Harry's pair of green eyes, Cho Chang's face flushed slightly.
"You're too kind. It was just a small favor. Now can you tell me what exactly happened?"
"It really was something unfortunate—"
Harry sighed deeply and briefly explained what had just occurred.
"You mean Malfoy's father bought everyone on the Slytherin Quidditch team a Nimbus 2001 just so Malfoy could join the house team?"
Cho Chang's mouth fell open slightly in surprise.
"How can this be allowed? This is absolutely despicable!"
"Though it is indeed despicable, it's too late to say anything about it now. When they fly, they look like jet planes—"
Harry said somewhat dejectedly, "I feel like we're going to lose again this time."
"Don't be like that, Harry."
Seeing Harry in this state, Cho Chang immediately consoled him.
"My broom is a Comet 260. Forget about the Nimbus 2000 or 2001—compared to the Cleansweep Seven, it's far inferior!
But so, what? I still participate in Quidditch matches just the same!
I don't think a flying broom can bridge the gap between you and Malfoy."
Faced with Cho Chang's comfort, Harry wasn't so easily convinced. He shook his head and earnestly explained to Cho Chang.
"If it were just Malfoy alone, that would be one thing—I'd be confident about catching the Golden Snitch before him.
But Slytherin has seven Nimbus 2001s! Seven of them!
I feel like—we're definitely going to lose."
"Harry, I think you've gotten stuck in a rut."
Seeing Harry's stubborn attitude, Cho Chang patiently explained.
"I heard a saying that what determines victory or defeat in war is people, not objects.
Quidditch matches are the same—while flying brooms are important, what truly determines success or failure between the two sides is still the players riding the brooms, not the brooms themselves.
Especially in a sport like Quidditch that relies so heavily on the Seeker."
Harry looked at Cho Chang gratefully. "Cho—you—I—"
Cho Chang smiled sweetly.
"More importantly, if you give up now, the match will be over before it even begins."
Harry's breathing caught slightly—he felt healed by Cho Chang's smile.
Cho Chang continued. "I believe in you, so please believe in yourself too, okay?"
"Yes!"
Harry nodded insistently.
"Now hurry back. You look like you need a good rest."
Cho Chang was also very happy that she could lift Harry out of his dejection.
"By the way, I've always wanted to ask you—why do you always choose to train in this kind of weather?"
Cho Chang asked somewhat puzzled, "Since it's stormy outdoors, why not wait for better weather to train?"
"Our captain would never change the training schedule for reasons like that."
Harry sighed deeply. "Fred and George say that even if Unforgivable curses were falling from the sky, it couldn't dampen Wood's enthusiasm for Quidditch."
"Pfft~"
Cho Chang laughed again. "Sorry, I really couldn't hold it in—
I've actually heard Prefect Penelope mention this Captain Wood a few times.
But this is the first time I've heard such an amusing description—hahaha!"
Cho Chang looked even more beautiful when she laughed, and Harry couldn't even make himself look away.
"Actually, I do have an idea that could prevent you from ending up like this during your next practice."
"What method?"
"The Impervius Charm—it's an interesting spell that can make the target waterproof and fireproof.
But second years probably haven't learned it yet. Would you like to learn?"
As Cho Chang said this, a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes.
Harry immediately said. "Please teach me!"
"Alright, I'll teach you after Halloween!"
After saying this, Cho Chang waved at Harry and left with a light laugh.
Harry watched her retreating figure and quietly clenched his fists.
Even if it was just for Cho Chang's encouragement today, he had to win!
Only then would he have the nerve to learn from her after Halloween.
Just as he was lost in fantasies about learning spells with Cho Chang.
"You seem quite happy, young Potter."
A voice suddenly spoke behind him, startling Harry.
He quickly turned around and found that the speaker was Gryffindor's ghost, Nearly Headless Nick.
His long curly hair was topped with a fashionable feathered hat, and he wore a knee-length doublet with a ruff that concealed the fact that his neck was almost completely severed.
At this moment, he was staring at Harry with a melancholy gaze.
Since he had just been encouraged by Cho Chang, Harry was in quite a good mood.
So, he asked one question too many. "Nick, you look somewhat troubled. Has something happened?"
Harry could swear he was just asking casually.
In his imagination, the other party should have said "nothing much" at this point.
He never expected that after he asked this question, Nearly Headless Nick would act as if he had found someone to confide in, immediately talking to Harry endlessly.
"You know, my neck was struck forty-four times with a blunt axe!
Forty-four times! Potter, do you know how I survived that period?
But even so, they still think I'm not qualified to join the Headless Hunt!
Why?
Oh, you probably don't know about the Headless Hunt. Look at this!"
Nearly Headless Nick said this while taking a transparent letter from his doublet.
Harry was about to take it when he saw Nick unfold the letter and read it aloud.
"Dear Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington.
We acknowledge receipt of your 'Report on My Application to Join the Headless Hunt' and attach great importance to it, convening a special meeting for research at the earliest opportunity.
After democratic discussion among the captain, deputy captains, and all knight members, we unanimously believe that.
The Headless Hunt can only accept hunters whose heads are separated from their bodies. Members who are not in this state would be unable to participate in Headless Hunt activities such as horseback head juggling and head polo.
Therefore, I must very regrettably inform you that you do not meet our conditions.
Thank you for your long-standing support and care for the Headless Hunt. Best regards,
Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore."
Harry: (((Φ(口;)Φ)))
How to put it?
Just... bewildering!
Next, Nearly Headless Nick completely ignored Harry's bewildered expression and continued pouring out his grievances.
At this moment, Harry even felt like the ghost had been possessed by Colin Creevey.
In the end, Harry didn't even know how he had somehow agreed to attend the ghost's five-hundredth deathday party.
Probably because of his good mood from the conversation with Cho Chang?
Harry didn't mind too much about this—going was going, it wasn't a big deal.
With this attitude, Harry headed toward Gryffindor Tower.
This time, he didn't encounter anyone else on the way.
Returning to the dormitory, Harry found only Sherlock there.
He was lying on his bed with his hands clasped under his chin, in a kind of daze.
When Harry entered, Sherlock only glanced over briefly before looking away.
Harry had long grown accustomed to this state of Sherlock's.
He changed out of his red team uniform and put on his regular robes.
After changing clothes, he said to Sherlock.
"Sherlock, you know what?
I just ran into Nearly Headless Nick in the corridor!
He invited me to attend his five-hundredth deathday party on Halloween eve, and he asked me to bring some friends along..."
After describing his conversation with Nearly Headless Nick, Harry asked.
"How about it? Would you like to go?"
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