"Elaina, um, I've got something I wanted to ask you about."
I gathered my courage and called out to Elaina as she was passing through the corridor. I was probably wearing a pretty cornered expression right then.
"…Is this about the Christmas Dance Party?"
"Ah, yeah."
Hearing it said out loud made me realize my face was turning a little red. Elaina looked at me with a flat, "here we go again" sort of stare.
Given how many people she knows, she was probably sick and tired of being asked by all sorts of people, like Theodore Nott and me, to "introduce me to someone."
Since she had paired up early with Cedric, she no longer had to deal with dance invitations herself. Instead, she was now busy acting as a go-between thanks to her wide network of connections. Even perfect overachievers, it seems, have their own perfect overachiever problems.
"This is really something you should be discussing with a Gryffindor prefect, not me…"
Just as expected, Elaina looked blatantly annoyed.
"Besides, you're a famous champion, Harry. It's not like you've had zero invitations."
"Well, I mean…"
Stammering, I told her about how I'd been invited yesterday by a Hufflepuff third-year I'd never even spoken to before, and how I'd also been asked by a fifth-year who was a full twelve inches taller than me, which I'd turned down.
"In that case, instead of rejecting them on reflex, wouldn't it be better to say something like, 'Sorry, let me think about it a bit,' or 'How about we have a meal together first?' Then you could keep a few candidates on hold, put them through a sort of lunch selection process, and choose in the order you like them."
That mindset was exactly like a corporate recruiter's.
"If you keep a pool of candidates, you won't end up alone at worst. And even if you have a favorite, you'll still have some breathing room to approach her."
"…I don't think that's very sincere."
"British people don't choose their means in love or war."
After delivering that like some kind of proverb, Elaina continued.
"In fact, if it becomes common gossip that 'Harry Potter is popular,' even girls who weren't originally interested in you might start paying attention. And then, like a rags-to-riches chain reaction, the chances of even more attractive girls approaching you go up."
Being famous is brand value, Elaina added.
"Take Viktor Krum, for example. He gets approached constantly, and that's entirely thanks to the name recognition of 'the world's best Seeker.'"
"Hermione said the same thing, but isn't that just because he's famous and gets fussed over?"
That applied to me too. I honestly doubted whether the girls who'd asked me to the dance would have wanted to go with me if I hadn't been a champion.
I understood Elaina's logic, but the idea of marketing myself just didn't sit right with me. I didn't want to feel like a product.
"I get the emotional resistance, but if the one asking you because you're famous happened to be Cho Chang, would you really care about that?"
"Well, that would be… Wait, how do you even know about that!?"
"I heard it from Seamus when I stopped by the Charms Club."
Seamus, I'll remember this.
"And if we're talking about sincerity and inner qualities, Harry, you haven't even talked to Cho that much. You're judging her based on her looks too—"
"Well, I guess starting with appearances is important too. Yeah."
In my heart, I apologized to all the girls I'd turned down so far.
(Sorry for suspecting you were only superficial. I guess that's just how romance starts…)
After all, we're only human.
"But honestly, I don't know what to do. I've been looking for a chance to talk to Cho for a while now, but she's always with a group of girlfriends, even when she goes to the loo."
"She's the exact opposite of a lone wolf, for better or worse. I could introduce you myself, but—"
"Really!?"
I leaned forward without thinking, and Elaina stopped me with a calm, "Please relax."
"I don't think that's a good idea, given Cho's personality."
"Why not?"
"Because it lacks romance."
Seeing my blank expression, Elaina explained.
"I've talked with Cho a few times through Quidditch, and she's more of a romantic type when it comes to love."
In short, dry approaches like "let's just try it" or "we kind of drifted into it as friends" apparently didn't score very high with Cho.
"So rather than me introducing you and handling things in a businesslike way, or manipulating the mood like a group date and letting things flow, I think it would be better if you, Harry, manned up, gathered your courage, and approached her on your own. That way she'll think, 'Oh my, he went this far just for me… how wonderful.'"
"I see…!"
George had told me to "have courage if you're a Gryffindor," too. Maybe the straightforward approach really was the best.
"Still, Elaina, you really know everything, don't you?"
Over the past few days, I'd learned that there were all sorts of ways to invite someone out. But tailoring your approach to the other person's personality was something I never could have managed on my own.
"You're just overthinking it, Harry. Thinking things through and taking bold action are important, but most of the time, if you have the information beforehand, the answer comes naturally."
"I don't think that kind of information is so easy to get…"
"That's what daily conduct is for."
Elaina smiled lightly, then her gaze drifted somewhere distant.
"To survive in society, you need to spread charm, flatter others, always stay informed so you can act first, and prevent trouble before it happens. Being beautiful, talented, and popular can actually make people resent you…"
I didn't press further, but this was probably Elaina's darker side. Even someone who looked like a carefree troublemaker had her own share of hardships.
"So, Harry, Cho is cute and popular, and I think she's the type who prefers being asked rather than asking. I recommend inviting her sooner rather than later, before someone else does."
"Got it. I'll do my best. Thanks."
Just as I was about to dash off, Elaina grabbed me by the collar of my robe.
"Um… you're not seriously planning to charge in without any preparation, are you?"
"Huh? Should I bring her some tea and cookies while I'm at it?"
Elaina ignored my reply and shot me a cold look.
"…Maybe I should at least make some small talk before inviting her?"
"Not 'maybe.' That's mandatory."
When I checked just to be sure, I got exactly the kind of reaction that said, "What is this idiot talking about?"
"But if I talk to her, won't it be obvious right away that I like her…?"
"How do you expect to do this without letting your interest show?"
"But if she realizes I like her when we're not even dating yet, won't that scare her off?"
"Suddenly baring your feelings halfway through is more likely to scare her. Honestly, approaching her while hiding your ulterior motives and pretending to be calm is even more off-putting."
"..."
Elaina, you shouldn't swing knives and hard truths around so freely.
"Harry, let's drop that pride that's not worth even one Knut. Just admit that you're head over heels."
"I-I'm not head over heels. It's normal. Totally normal… I just like her normally…"
I made a desperate last stand, but as I spoke, my voice grew smaller and smaller, until it faded away like a ghost's whisper.
After all, if people found out I was so swept up by my feelings for a girl that I couldn't control myself, it would be embarrassing. I'd look pathetic. Or so I was thinking, when—
"Harry, do you think falling in love means losing? Are you a middle school boy?"
"Stop reading my mind!?"
I snapped back reflexively, but Elaina's point about "losing if you fall in love" might have been spot on. Admitting that you're giddy with love for someone comes with a strange sense of defeat.
But Elaina let out a small sigh and mercilessly confronted me with reality.
"If your feelings are weaker than your sense of embarrassment, then I think you should give up. Cho probably wouldn't want to be invited with that level of commitment anyway. She might be better off pairing with someone else."
(What—!?)
I didn't even want to imagine it. Cho smiling and dancing with another guy.
"That… I don't want that."
"Then admit it. Admit that Harry Potter is the man who loves Cho Chang more than anyone in the world."
"O-okay… I love Cho more than anyone in the world."
"You're too quiet, Harry."
"I-I love Cho more than anyone in the world!"
I shouted at the top of my lungs, thinking it didn't matter anymore.
"More than anyone else?"
"I really, really love her! Sorry for being so weird about it!"
"Good. Now, once again, show me your resolve, Harry."
"I love Cho! I love her more than anyone in the world!"
"…What is this farce, exactly?"
"You're the one who told me to do it!"
＊＊＊
In any case, strike while the iron is hot. After parting ways with Elaina, who told me to "start by gathering information from people you know," I immediately asked Katie Bell, who was in the same year as Cho, about the fifth-years' schedules.
Katie teased me with a "So, asking someone out?" but when I admitted I was planning to invite Cho, she said, "I knew it. Good luck!" How did she know? Girls are scary.
Strangely enough, the embarrassment I'd felt before was gone. After being made to do something that humiliating in front of Elaina, I had nothing left to lose.
Thus, early on the weekend morning, I woke up about two hours earlier than usual, put on my Invisibility Cloak, and lay in wait at the Owlery.
According to Katie, Cho sends owl mail to her parents every Sunday morning to update them on how she's doing. That's the one time she doesn't have her usual entourage with her.
With the Invisibility Cloak, it's warm even in the winter morning chill. And if someone other than Cho showed up, I could just pretend I wasn't hiding. That way, I wouldn't be seen as "a suspicious person lying in wait at the Owlery."
At least, that was the idea.
And just as Katie had said, Cho appeared at the Owlery.
"Ah, Cho. Are you sending an owl too?"
I popped my head out from the shelves where the owls were perched and called out to her. Startled, Cho let out a small yelp and turned around, trembling like a little animal. When she realized it was me, her expression softened.
"Harry, don't scare me like that."
"Sorry, sorry."
I was incredibly nervous, but I answered as naturally as I could, trying not to show it. When Cho smiled back at me, I felt a wave of relief wash over my heart.
"Are you sending a letter too, Harry?"
"Yeah. Hedwig, my owl, already went out on a different errand."
"The white one, right?"
I was a little surprised that Cho knew about Hedwig.
"That's right. You knew?"
"Yes. I've seen her sometimes."
At Cho's casual remark, I felt my expectations suddenly swell.
People usually do not remember the owls of someone they do not care about, and she even said, "I've seen her sometimes." Could this be what people call a good sign?
(No, no… don't get carried away. Calm down, me…)
I rode an emotional roller coaster with every word Cho said, all the while warning myself not to act suspicious. I focused on keeping the conversation going safely, starting with harmless topics.
"I didn't mean to scare you. I don't come here very often, so I was kind of exploring."
"Exploring, huh… Did you find anything interesting?"
"Um, lots and lots of owls?"
It was a terrible answer, even by my own standards, but Cho laughed softly and said, "What kind of discovery is that?"
"Well, I've sent my letter now… shall we head back?"
"Y-yeah. It's cold here."
I still wanted to talk more, but I forced myself to hold back. Still, if I could call it a small blessing, Cho chose to walk back with me instead of going alone, which gave me a bit of courage.
We stepped out of the Owlery together and went down the stairs, chatting casually in the freezing cold. It took less than ten minutes until we parted, but since it was the first time I had ever talked with Cho alone, it felt both long and short. In any case, it was an intense moment.
"See you later!"
"Yeah, see you."
After that, Cho and I became close enough to exchange light greetings whenever we passed each other in the corridors.
It was just a greeting, but considering that I had not even been able to do that before, it was a small step for humanity and a giant leap for me.
Gradually, our small talk increased, and I stopped getting strangely nervous. The conversation no longer stalled, and Cho began speaking to me more often on her own.
Then, on the final Friday of the term, with only one week left until the party, I finally took a huge gamble.
(Now is the time to march into battle!)
The moment Snape's class ended, I dashed out of the classroom and lay in wait for Cho as she came out of her Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. Snape's antidote test would probably be my worst score yet, but who cared about that now?
And just as I expected, I spotted Cho.
She was surrounded by a group of girls as usual, but once you get used to it, it is not as scary as it looks. In fact, Cho's friends I had become familiar with, Marietta Edgecombe and Shirley Fawcett, were the ones who spoke to me first.
"Finished with class? Good work."
"Christmas break starts tomorrow. Have you made any plans yet?"
They must have gotten used to me too, because we could talk naturally now.
From what I heard, the whispering and giggling from before had not been malicious at all. Marietta had simply been worried that some bad guy might approach her best friend Cho, while Shirley had only found the innocent look of a younger boy endearing.
Once they realized I was serious and my awkward behavior settled down, both of them started making comments that nudged Cho forward. This must be what people mean by securing the outside positions.
"Have you made any plans, Cho?"
When I asked, Cho answered with a shy smile.
"There's only one week left until the dance party, so I was thinking of practicing dancing."
"That's a good idea. Maybe I'll do the same."
"Oh? Have you decided on a partner?"
Cho asked with an expectant look. Before I realized it, Marietta and Shirley had disappeared somewhere.
I looked straight at Cho's face and made up my mind.
"Do you… want to go to the dance party with me?"
"Huh?"
I messed it up.
I could feel my ears burning red. But at this point, I might as well go all in.
"If you'd like, um… would you go to the dance party with me?"
Cho blushed too. I shoved my hands into my robe pockets and waited, crossing my fingers and silently wishing for things to go well.
"Yes. I'd love to."
The moment she said that, my mind went completely blank. A hazy, unreal sensation spread through my entire body, with a tingling feeling running from my arms to my legs and up to my head.
＊＊＊
Still in a dreamlike state, I returned to the common room just in time to see Ron stumbling in, supported by Ginny and Saya.
"Ron, cheer up. Let's forget about it already."
"…Why did I do something like that?"
"What happened?"
When I asked, Ron stared vacantly and did not answer. Instead, Ginny spoke while gently patting her brother's arm.
"Well… Ron asked Fleur Delacour out. Sorry, I can't help it… He asked Fleur."
Even after his sister burst out laughing at the memory, Ron's blank expression did not change. It looked pretty serious.
"You're kidding, right…!?"
Even Hermione, who had been reading a book, gaped in shock and hurried over with an expression that clearly said, "Is he serious?"
"So what happened?"
As word spread about Ron's unbelievable action, which now made me understand exactly why Elaina had been so exasperated with me earlier, Parvati and the others gathered around as well.
"…She said no, of course?"
When Ron shook his head at Hermione's merciless question, her puzzled expression turned serious.
"Don't tell me she said yes!?"
As Hermione covered her mouth in shock, Ron muttered weakly.
"As if…"
Then Ron slowly began recounting his personal black history.
"Fleur walked right past me… and the way she walked was amazing… and then I just felt possessed or something… before I knew it, I was asking her."
"And he shouted it really loudly too!"
For some reason, Saya seemed to have reevaluated Ron and was looking at him with sparkling eyes.
"Giving up means the match is over! You should keep asking until she says yes! Maybe I should go ask Elaina even now—!"
"Don't you dare."
All of Gryffindor moved at once to stop Saya.
"Saya, that's just harassment. Don't do it."
"But I wanted to make a bold, brave Gryffindor-style confession…"
"No, stalking is a crime."
Saya slumped her shoulders in defeat. Ron buried his face in his hands.
Honestly, those two might actually make a good pair…
Then Ron suddenly realized something. He stared hard at Saya, as if seeing her for the first time.
"Hey, Saya… you're a girl too, right?"
The next instant, smack! Hermione slammed Ron hard with a textbook. Yes, this one was definitely Ron's fault.
"Oh, right! That's true!?"
Saya, maybe try being a bit more aware that you're a girl.
But with only one week left until the dance, Ron was clearly desperate.
"But look… if you went with me, you'd be able to see Elaina at the venue too, right?"
However, Saya made a conflicted face and hesitated before speaking.
"No, um… actually, I was invited, or rather threatened, by someone else."
The invitation Saya had received was extremely strange.
She was told that she did not have to dance, and in fact it would be better if she did not. She could dance with Elaina partway through. Any rule-breaking would be overlooked. She just needed to attend as a formal partner at the beginning. Otherwise, eighty points would be deducted from Gryffindor for rule violations.
"What kind of nonsense invitation is that?"
"And the weirdly condescending attitude…"
"That guy is definitely bad news."
"I think so too."
However, it seemed they had something on her, so Saya had no choice but to comply.
"Did you mess something up?"
"Well… I borrowed the skin of a venomous vine snake that person owned, without asking."
Ah.
In my mind, all the puzzle pieces clicked into place.
"I see. In that case, it can't be helped."
Ron had probably figured it out too. Judging by his reaction, he decided to stay out of it. A wise choice.
In the end, Ron begged Parvati to introduce him to her twin sister Padma, and somehow managed to secure a partner.
(End of chapter)
Want to read the chapters in Advance? Join my Patreon
https://patreon.com/Glimmer09