the Gambler

Harry watched Ron's queen wielding a sword and beheading her own king. The sound of shattering made him look away. No matter how many times he was still not used to this scene, even though he knew that these moving pieces were lifeless of dead things.He couldn't help thinking back to how Ron, the first year, had decided to sacrifice himself to get Harry through.

"Wow~ I can never beat you at chess." Harry was not stingy in his praise to his friend. Ron is actually very smart, but he has been living in the shadow of the older Weasley and Harry. Always lack confidence in myself.The departure of the twins made Ron's talent as a goalkeeper slowly revealed, and after Hermione agreed to date, Harry could often see his friend's silly smile.

"After all, this is my forte." Ron put away his chess pieces, and he watched Hermione go around most of the lounge and sit down on the sofa beside him.

"The exam is over," said Hermione firmly. "You should resume your Occlumency practice."

Harry's mood fell quickly, and he turned away impatiently: "I have been practicing hard."

"Don't lie to me, Harry James Potter, I know your scar hurts again on Tuesday night, Ron told me."

Harry glared angrily at the red-haired wizard, and silently accused the latter of his betrayal. Ron struggled to avoid his condemning eyes, and kept rubbing the flower spikes on the sofa with his hands.The red-haired boy hesitated for a while before explaining: "You know Hermione is right to be worried, Dumbledore must have his intentions for wanting you to learn this. I mean, it is never a good thing to be connected to Voldemort's head. "

Hermione nodded eagerly.

ha!So they moved Dumbledore out now, who knows if that scheming old bee designed it on purpose, maybe he still refuses to show up until now because he is worried that he will become Voldemort's secret weapon.To be honest, Umbridge had been away for quite a while, and even Sirius and Professor Lupine had disappeared recently.Harry once met Hagrid in the hut, and every time he asked about the tasks arranged by Dumbledore, the half-giant would not wisely change the topic, as if he was afraid that Harry would know their secret.He also wanted to talk to Professor McGonagall alone several times, but the witch would always come up with inexplicable reasons to refuse him.

"You are worried that I will be possessed by Voldemort." Harry said indifferently, he could see Ron's face pale for a moment, and even the freckles were clearly visible.

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "That's the real reason you asked Ginny that question at Christmas."

"So what, are you afraid to stay with me?" The tone of the counter question was very strong, Harry wanted to know how strong their friendship could be, if they knew that Harry was the bomb that Voldemort planted in the Order of the Phoenix, would they not would immediately flee from oneself like the plague.

"Why do you think that, Harry?" Hermione grabbed the boy by the shoulders. "We all know you weren't possessed by Voldemort, and I could see the relief on your face. Voldemort couldn't get past Hogg." Watts' castle manipulates you."

Ron also seemed to be comforted by Hermione's words, and he looked at Harry firmly: "We will not be afraid of you."

Harry shook off Hermione's hand, which must have made him even more frustrated.The guilt that had been buried deep in his heart began to expand slowly. He shouldn't have doubted his friend, but Dumbledore's behavior of ignoring Harry made him unable to find a suitable excuse for the old man.For Merlin's sake, he's Dumbledore, isn't he?If he hadn't been afraid of Harry, he could have avoided the possible spy from the Ministry of Magic and came to him, especially when Harry was struggling the most.

"That's not what the Order of the Phoenix thinks of." Harry said sullenly, "Dumbledore didn't even intend to see me, he had avoided me completely. Parkinson and Nott almost killed me. Can make him appear, I suspect that even if he dies like this, he won't care."

"You mean it was Parkinson and Nott who cursed you that time?" Hermione exclaimed.Almost at the same time, Ron opened his mouth wide in surprise and blinked hard: "Why do you think Principal Dumbledore ignores you? Didn't he come to visit you secretly?"

Has Dumbledore been here?Harry is sure that before the exam, he heard Professor March and Professor McGonagall talking loudly about Dumbledore's disappearance for a long time. They also mentioned how the old man had a talent for transfiguration and charms when he was young. Harry All attention was on Meg's tense face.The witch's disturbed look told Harry that she didn't know much about Dumbledore's whereabouts.

"No, he didn't come, I didn't see him." Harry retorted, shaking his head.

"Actually, we didn't see it with our own eyes," Ron pursed his lips. "Didn't you give us the Marauder's Map for safekeeping? When you were in a coma, Hermione and I watched it almost every day to find out who it was Dare to put a curse on you, she guessed the murderer would go to the hospital wing to make sure you don't get out of danger—" The wizard continued, not noticing Harry's surprised eyes, "then we saw Headmaster Dumbledore. Before you recovered three days ago He stayed there for a while that night, no one knew what he was doing, and I was going to sneak out to have a look, but Hermione stopped me."

"We're prefects, Ron, you can't sneak out after curfew." Hermione looked at Ron disapprovingly.

"But we have Harry's invisibility cloak, no one will see us."

Harry didn't hear the rest of the conversation, his mind was full of the information he had just received.Dumbledore had come to see him, the night before Tom visited him.He should have known earlier, how could he not realize that the familiar magic flowing in his body belonged to the old man.

That wasn't Harry's miracle at all, that was Dumbledore's.Madam Pomfrey told Harry that his magical powers were restored suddenly, yes, who else could bring Harry back from hell except Dumbledore.How could he doubt the principal?This is ridiculous.

It was time for Harry to report back to the Headmaster.

Harry's sudden rise quickly attracted the attention of everyone in the lounge.Ron and Hermione cast puzzled looks.

"I have to go back to the suite," said Harry cheerfully. "Mission continues."

Harry darted down the corridor, his outward glee getting quite a few looks, he must be looking stupid, but he didn't care.Hey!He wants to run around the whole castle and shout at the sky, no one can stop him from being happy!Neither can Voldemort!Harry really wanted to get the Time-Turner and slap himself for doubting Dumbledore.Merlin, he didn't even know how easy it would be to get rid of the confusion!

Maybe send Snape a beautiful bouquet of lilies, his expression must be wonderful.Harry couldn't help giggling, and looked around the surroundings. After confirming that there was no one there, the boy stretched out his arms and waltzed twice. own footsteps.Harry turned around so quickly that he knocked the person to the ground.

"Oh, Cho, I'm so sorry." Harry's smile didn't weaken at all, and he reached out to pull up the fallen Ravenclaw, who was also infected by Harry's joy and smiled brightly.

"It doesn't matter, I didn't notice it myself." Qiu's beautiful obsidian eyes scanned the boy's face carefully, Harry's scar had disappeared, leaving the ugly glasses at the bottom of the beer bottle, the charming emeralds were exposed without any cover .Her heart pounded against her chest, and she tried to suppress the blood rushing to her cheeks.The witch had to admit that Harry looked very handsome.

"Today is a wonderful day." Harry commented to the sunny place outside, the black lake in the distance was also shimmering, many students sat around the lake and chatted, and the cheerful atmosphere enveloped the entire castle .He glanced back at the shy witch, and blurted out praise without thinking: "It's as beautiful as you."

Seeing Qiu's flushed face now, Harry realized his mistake, he was so embarrassed that he didn't know what to do.

"Uh, actually I didn't mean to say that, oh, it's not that you're not beautiful, you're the most beautiful witch at Hogwarts, Cho. Oh, damn, what am I talking about—" Harry stammered To put it bluntly, he now wished that the ground would open a big hole and swallow himself in.

Qiu covered her mouth and smiled lightly, her eyes were shining brightly, like the surface of a lake mottled with light and shadow.

"Would you like to chat with me for a while?"

Harry followed Cho around the castle for a while, and finally stopped in an unfamiliar garden.Cho beckoned Harry over from the shadow of the beech trees, and there was no one around, which made the boy even more bewildered.

"Time flies, and this school year will end soon." Qiu looked up at the beautiful dandelions floating in the air and said, "You have really had a lot of troubles this year."

Couldn't be more accurate, and Harry was still a little embarrassed by the fact that the girl he liked pointed it out.

"Yeah." He couldn't think of a better answer.

"I like you, Harry." Cho said cautiously.

Harry was secretly ecstatic in his heart.

"But I can't forget Cedric, and that makes me feel guilty," Cho continued, her eyes seeming to beg Harry for forgiveness.Harry suddenly felt very tired, and the strange feeling of emptiness prevented him from saying anything to comfort Qiu.To be honest, Harry now sometimes dreams of Cedric being killed. If anyone needs to be comforted, it should be himself.No one could understand Harry's guilt over not being able to save the lives of his classmates.

"I, I don't want to talk about Cedric." Harry looked away, and he tugged at the blades of grass at his feet, Qiu's breathing became heavy.

"I thought you were the only one who would listen to me talking about Cedric! No one can understand my sadness, and I have to maintain a gentle appearance in front of everyone!" Qiu stood up quickly, "You can be so simple Putting his death aside, but I can't! For Rowena's sake, Cedric is my ex-boyfriend!"

"I know, but—" Harry's defense was interrupted by Cho.

"I know you are sad too, you must really want to forget." Qiu's excitement suddenly cooled down again, and this time his words were full of sadness.

Harry's heart skipped a beat, it was true, he'd been trying to forget Cedric's death, he remembered seeing the handsome boy's ghost for the last time, smiling and telling himself he never hated Harry.Cedric is a gentle and powerful person, and he is also very kind. Almost no one in the whole school will hate such a perfect Hufflepuff prince, and he has nothing but fame.

Harry raised his head, and Cho's teary smile was still breathtakingly beautiful.

"It's too bad, but even so I'm attracted to you."

Harry got up and hugged Cho into his arms, the fabric on his shoulders was soaked with tears, Harry hesitated and patted the witch on the back.

"I like you." Qiu's crying confession made Harry's heart tighten.

Then they kissed, wet kisses.Belongs to the taste of tears.

In just half a minute, Harry was in shock, and Cho took a step back, telling the boy in a determined gesture that she might never decide who to love more, Cedric or Harry.Harry didn't say anything, he didn't even try to persuade him to stay. For some reason, every time he saw Qiu, his heartbeat was as calm as water at that moment.There is enormous weight removed.

He was a little guilty.

Because the image of Tom kissing him popped up in his mind.