Hearing Malfoy's confession, Harry's anger vanished instantly.
"Tell me everything! What does this 'crush' of yours look like?" Harry asked, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Is she pretty? Which house is she in?"
Malfoy shook his head, then looked up at the ceiling, a lovesick grin plastered on his face. "I don't know what house she's in; she wasn't wearing her robes. But she's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen."
Proof that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Harry thought dryly. "Harley" was undoubtedly idealized in Malfoy's eyes.
In truth, "Harley" was indeed pretty, but certainly not as beautiful as Cassandra Vole, who possessed Veela blood. However, because Malfoy had been "bullied" by Cassandra for years, he was completely blind to her beauty.
"Oh? Is that so?" Harry touched his chin with his only remaining hand, as if pondering something. "What are her distinguishing features?"
Malfoy seemed to be thinking hard. "Hmm... she has very beautiful red hair."
"Red hair? Wait..." Harry's smile faltered, then vanished completely. "I don't think there are any red-haired girls at Hogwarts, are there?" As if struck by a sudden realization, Harry grew agitated, his tone becoming urgent. "Where did you meet her?!"
Malfoy was bewildered by Harry's sudden shift. "I saw her in Snape's office yesterday, maybe she's from another school... what's wrong?"
Harry didn't respond to Malfoy's concern. He sat blankly on the Hogwarts Infirmary bed, motionless, as if turned to stone.
...
At Hogwarts, in Tom Riddle's office.
"So, Malfoy has taken a liking to you?" Tom Riddle sat at his desk, watching Harry Potter with amusement.
"He's fallen for me, now that I'm a girl," Harry corrected, though he hated to bring it up again. Otherwise, things just sounded bizarre. "Sir, what am I going to do?" Harry's face was ashen, as if he had just defended a thesis. "I can't eat, I can't sleep!" He was afraid that one day Malfoy would suddenly discover the truth and then… I'd rather be stabbed in the back!
Seeing Harry's distress, Tom Riddle, fearing that further teasing would drive him to suicide, ceased his taunts.
Tom Riddle's tone turned serious. "Here's what we'll do: I'll brew you a potion. You give it to Draco, and he'll forget all about it."
"Really?!" Harry was overjoyed.
"However... this potion has a small side effect," Tom Riddle added.
Harry's smile, which had just begun to curve upwards, vanished. "What side effect?"
"It turns you into an idiot."
"..."
That's not surprising. If you become an idiot, what difference does it make whether you remember or not? Harry's expression turned grim, and he looked as if he were struggling with the decision of whether or not to turn Malfoy into a simpleton.
Tom Riddle remained silent, waiting patiently for Harry to make his choice.
"Sigh... never mind." Harry sighed, looking up at the ceiling with a hint of helplessness. "He's a bit narcissistic, easily offends people, and loves to peep at me while I shower... but he... is my friend."
Hearing this, Tom Riddle chuckled. He took a bottle of potion from a drawer under his desk and placed it in front of Harry. "Drink it."
Looking at the somewhat familiar purple bottle, Harry suddenly had a bad feeling. "Sir, this is..."
"You drank from it."
"..."
Harry's lips twitched. "Sir, are you suggesting I just accept my fate?"
"Tsk, just drink it. Why all the nonsense?" Tom Riddle frowned slightly, his tone edged with displeasure.
"...Alright." Although he had many questions, Harry Potter would always listen to Tom Riddle. After all, he was the Dark Lord's loyal Death Eater.
...
In the Slytherin Common Room at Hogwarts, Malfoy was still chuckling to himself dreamily.
Seeing this, Cassandra Vole, who had just entered the lounge, walked directly to Malfoy. "Here, someone asked me to give this to you."
Hearing this, Malfoy stopped his silly grin and turned to look at what Cassandra was offering, a puzzled expression on his face. It was a piece of paper. What was written on it?
Malfoy took the piece of paper, his initial casual glance turning into a careful reading, his initial indifference turning into ecstatic joy.
Malfoy abruptly stood up, excitedly trying to grab Cassandra Vole's hand, but her murderous glare brought him back to his senses. Malfoy gave an awkward chuckle but quickly recovered. "What does the girl... who asked you to deliver this letter look like?"
Hearing this, Cassandra Vole pretended to think for a moment. "Red hair, quite pretty... what's wrong?" But when she looked down, Malfoy had already vanished.
...
The quiet night, under the shroud of deep darkness, the swirling white mist made the ancient Hogwarts Castle appear even more mysterious.
Tom Riddle and the others stood on the platform at the end of the stone bridge outside the castle.
"Sir, are you sure... this is alright?" "Harley" tugged at her little white dress, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
"Don't worry. Even if you don't trust yourself, you can't distrust me." Tom Riddle helped Harley adjust her clothes one last time, reminding her not to forget her lines. Then Tom Riddle glanced at the other side of the stone bridge and immediately spotted the flamboyant blond figure. "Draco's here. I should go."
Tom Riddle turned and transformed into a cloud of black mist, flying into the night sky.
Harley glanced one last time at the cloud of black mist, regained her composure, took a deep breath, and then struck a pose, gazing at the sky at a 45-degree angle.
...
On the stone bridge, Malfoy saw the beautiful scene from afar and instinctively slowed his pace.
"Wow..." The pale moonlight scattered across the little white dress, making "Harley" appear even more ethereal. A gentle breeze lifted her red hair, and a perfectly timed glance back completely captivated Malfoy.
Even Tom Riddle, hiding in the shadows, couldn't help but marvel at how good this kid was. In Muggle terms, Malfoy's current state was exactly what first love felt like!
Realizing the girl was just a step away, Malfoy's words became incoherent. "Um... I..."
"You're very nice... but maybe we won't see each other again..." Harley looked at Malfoy with feigned sadness.
What?! I'm heartbroken before I've even started? Malfoy felt his nose turning red.
"Why..."
"I'm transferring schools, to another school."
Malfoy's constant silly grin had been fueled by the fantasy of seeing "Harley" again. Since that was the case, wouldn't it be better to make him feel utterly hopeless about ever seeing "Harley" again?
That was Tom Riddle's plan.
"But, I don't even know your..." Malfoy started running towards Harley, wanting to grasp her figure.
But just then, a gust of wind swept in, and Malfoy couldn't help but stop, raising his right hand to shield his eyes. When he looked back, "Harley" had vanished.
Under the tranquil night sky, only Malfoy stood silently on the stone bridge, lost in thought.
---
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