Chapter 1055
A Perfect Match
Chapter 1055 A Perfect Match
For some reason, the topic seems to have jumped from holiday homework to an incredible angle.
Theo, noticing the dull atmosphere, took out beef pies and nut cookies from his bag and warmly invited them to join him.
"Here, have a taste. This was specially made for me by my mother."
“What a coincidence, I brought some too—scones and shortbread.” Michael took out his food box.
Wade silently took out the paper bag containing the sandwiches.
Ryan looked around and asked, "Does anyone want to try the foie gras toast? It's a specialty of the Ryan Caro family!"
The four looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.
Michael grabbed a piece of toast and complained, "The snacks on the train are not bad, but I'm tired of eating pumpkin pies every year."
"boom!"
The box door suddenly opened, and Harry practically tumbled in, as if a ghost were chasing him.
Wade drew his wand with a "whoosh," and after seeing who it was, he helped Harry up and led him to a seat, then walked to the door and looked around.
The corridor was empty, with only two or three people walking towards the restroom.
Michael walked over to him, wand in hand, and looked around outside as well, muttering, "I thought there were twenty or thirty people chasing Harry out there!"
He walked over, patted Harry on the shoulder, and asked, "What's wrong? You look like you've been hit by a Dementor."
“Worse than Dementors…” Harry buried his face in his hands and muttered, “Please, let me squeeze in here.”
“Of course.” Ryan moved further inside and asked, “Are all the other private rooms full?”
“It’s not that there aren’t enough seats,” Harry said listlessly, “it’s just that they’re all taken…”
There were only one or two people in the boxes. Some were full of girls, and Harry was too embarrassed to go in; others were Slytherins, and Harry didn't want to go in those either.
Most importantly, if the room is full of unfamiliar classmates, then they will have to stay together for the next six or seven hours, and the awkward atmosphere makes Harry feel like he's sitting on pins and needles just thinking about it.
Michael asked curiously, "Where were you sitting before?"
The train has been running for quite some time now; surely Harry hasn't been looking for a seat all this time?
What's more, he didn't even have a suitcase with him.
This was originally just a simple question, but Harry's expression instantly fell even more, and he looked like he wanted to shrink into his chair.
"What's going on?" Wade asked in surprise. "One or two of them all have this expression."
Harry looked gloomy and let out a long, heartbroken sigh.
……
Twenty minutes earlier, before the train had even started moving, he was still in his compartment, quietly planning which snacks he would buy from the trolley later.
As prefects, Ron and Hermione went to check on the other carriages, and Harry promised to save them seats.
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door.
Harry turned around, about to say, "I'm waiting for someone" or "There are no empty seats here," when his mind suddenly went blank.
Qiu Zhang stood at the door.
She was wearing a light blue sweater and a school uniform robe, her smooth black hair cascading over her shoulders, a lovely smile curving her lips, and sunlight streaming in through the car window behind her, making her stunningly beautiful.
"Harry!"
Qiu's voice was light and cheerful: "Do you still have any seats available? We've been looking for ages, and it seems like all the other private rooms are taken!"
Her gaze swept over the empty seat opposite Harry.
Harry, his mind blank, instantly forgot everything. He stared blankly at Cho and stammered:
"Ah... um... of course... please come in and sit down..."
"Great!" Qiu turned to someone outside and said, "Come over here, there are still seats!"
Harry froze for two seconds, then suddenly sprang up from his seat, ignoring that his knee had hit the edge of the table, and said in a panic, "I'll help you put your suitcase down..."
Qiu smiled and waved her hand: "Ah, no need..."
"I'll do it!"
A boy's voice came from the doorway, and Harry's smile froze on his face.
He slowly raised his head and saw Cedric walk in from behind Cho—handsome, gentle, and a head taller than Harry!
He nodded amicably to Harry, waved his wand casually, and Cho's suitcase gently landed on the luggage rack.
Then there was Cedric's own large trunk, which lay beside him, very close together.
Harry glanced up at the shelf with envy, and at that moment, he wished he could squeeze himself onto it too.
He felt he should say something, such as—
"Oh dear, there are already people here. Ron and Hermione will be here soon."
In that case... perhaps Qiu will stay, and Cedric will have to find another box.
Perhaps Ron and Hermione will stay in the prefects' box, leaving Cho Chang alone to sit there, sharing the sunlight outside the window and the journey ahead.
However, the truth is that Harry was like a wooden statue, forgetting to speak, watching the two put down their boxes and sit down, watching Cedric give a warm smile.
"Long time no see, Harry!" The humanoid figure on the other end opened and closed its mouth. "We haven't really talked since the league started. How was your holiday?"
Qiu sat down next to Cedric, naturally moving closer. Her gaze unconsciously fell on Cedric's profile, and she smiled.
"Hmm...it's alright." Harry tried to make his voice sound normal: "It's just...practicing Quidditch, going to Lilliput and stuff...it's alright."
He hated his limited vocabulary.
“And you?” Harry asked curtly, praying it would sound like normal social interaction.
“I spend most of my time helping my father tidy up the yard.” Cedric smiled and glanced at Cho Chang. “It’s tedious, but luckily Cho Chang came to help.”
"Then I got bitten by a goblin," Qiu complained in a reproachful tone. "It wouldn't let go once it bit me, it scared me half to death!"
“It was my fault,” Cedric said sincerely. “I should have stopped you when I saw you walking toward that clump of gooseberries—I knew there was a nest of goblins there, and I kept saying I’d clean it up, but I kept forgetting.”
Harry suddenly stood up from his seat, and the two people opposite him looked at him with some surprise.
“I…” Harry’s voice tightened, “I need to go to the restroom.”
"Ah... okay."
Cedric pulled his long legs back slightly, seemingly worried that he might block Harry's way.
Actually, it won't happen at all.
Harry flung open the box door and strode into the corridor without looking back, his heart pounding heavily in his chest.
A faint, puzzled voice came from behind:
"Why the rush...did Harry eat something bad?"
“Wait, I remember there was a bottle of potion in my bag that works, my mother put it there.” Cedric seemed to be getting up to look for something. “Let me see, Harry might need it.”
Harry quickened his pace, almost frantically crossing the connection between the two carriages, passing through many compartments he didn't want to go into, and finally crashing into Wade and his group.
……
Despite the concerned looks from everyone, Harry didn't want to speak. He didn't look at anyone, but stared down at the texture of the fabric on his knees, and said:
"It's nothing... please don't ask."
He thought he would be very sad, but his voice was unexpectedly calm, even revealing a hint of despair.
(End of this chapter)