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Chapter 138 - The Seed of Love Was Pinched Off Before It Could Sprout

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How to pursue a girl came down to only a few points.

First, one absolutely had to leave the other person with a good first impression.

Second, one had to interact with her frequently, ideally alone, and display one's own abilities.

If there were no opportunities, one had to create opportunities.

After that, one proceeded slowly, continuously increasing favorability.

Once favorability reached a certain standard, things would naturally work out.

Sweet words were a bonus.

Occasional thoughtful actions were also indispensable.

As for small gifts, that went without saying.

Under the joint planning of the members of the disciplinary group, a plan called Operation Potter's Love Life quietly began.

Ron, Neville, and Malfoy, three fellows with no dating experience of their own, gathered together as if they had found some common goal and began offering Harry plans and suggestions one after another.

What good ideas could they possibly come up with?

Dudley expressed deep suspicion about this.

It felt like someone preparing to pursue a girl going to roommates with zero dating experience for advice.

Dudley observed one second of silence for Harry.

When it came to pursuing girls, Dudley could not offer much useful advice.

He did not have much authority to speak in that area himself, so he could only let these people toss things around.

It was not as if he could help Harry pursue the girl himself.

Or simply tie her up and throw her to Harry?

Cough, cough.

That was a joke.

That was illegal.

We Dursleys were respectable people who were good at reasoning and convincing others through virtue.

That said, Dudley did not have a good view of Harry and Cho Chang's relationship.

The two of them did not seem especially compatible.

Hermione, on the other hand, was very enthusiastic about this matter.

But her suggestions were even less reliable.

She even proposed having Harry "disguise" himself as a girl, then approach Cho Chang and infiltrate her circle from the inside.

Harriet Potter?

To this, Dudley could only say that when it came to knowing how to play, Hermione truly knew how to play.

Unfortunately, no matter what kinds of opportunities the disciplinary group created for them to be alone together, as soon as Harry saw Cho, he immediately transformed into a super stutterer.

His hands became stiff.

His feet became stiff.

His entire body became stiff like a log.

Sometimes he even forgot to breathe.

Forget leaving a good impression.

For a long time, he could not even say a single complete sentence.

That was not the most important part.

No one knew whether heaven was targeting them or whether the two of them truly had no fate.

Either Harry failed at the critical moment, or accidents occurred one after another, causing their relationship to develop in a strange direction.

The first time they were alone together, the two of them got lost and were locked inside a room in Hogwarts.

The key point was that the door lock suddenly broke, and the Unlocking Charm could not open it at all.

As a result, Cho did not make it in time for the Quidditch match, and Ravenclaw lost that important game.

Cho liked Quidditch very much and was Ravenclaw's Seeker.

The second time they were alone together, not long after they met, they ran into Peeves playing a prank.

He was throwing Dungbombs everywhere as weapons, and Cho unfortunately got hit.

The third time they were alone together, a runaway flying broom appeared from nowhere and hung Cho upside down at the top of Hogwarts Castle.

Harry spent a long while before managing to rescue her.

Because he was nervous, Harry failed to cast spells successfully several times, causing Cho's head to hit the roof several times in a row.

This made her deeply suspect that Harry had some grudge against her.

One had to know that when Harry cast spells in front of others before, he had never made mistakes.

The famous Harry Potter missing a spell?

That had to be intentional.

The fourth time they were alone together, they just happened to run into the owls resting in the tower, all of which had collectively eaten something bad.

When they returned, they produced a rain of owl droppings, which coincidentally drenched Cho from head to toe.

The smell lingered for a very long time, and even many cleaning agents could not remove it.

As long as the two of them met alone, an accident was certain to happen.

And the unlucky one was destined to be Cho.

The key point was that every time she embarrassed herself, Harry was the only one who saw it.

The result was that opportunities had indeed been created, and contact had indeed increased.

But the outcome was completely unsatisfactory.

By now, as long as Cho Chang saw Harry from far away, she would run in the opposite direction.

It was as if she were avoiding a bad luck charm.

This left Harry unable even to give her a small gift, much less have a proper conversation with her.

If favorability could be displayed, it was probably a negative number.

'In Cho Chang's eyes, I'm probably a strange person, right?'

Harry thought with a face full of despair.

Then he silently added another sentence.

And also a walking disaster.

First love was beautiful.

But Harry's seed of love had been pinched off before it could even sprout.

After another accident occurred during another carefully created chance to be alone, Malfoy helplessly covered his forehead.

"There's no saving this."

If Harry knew how to coax girls, moved quickly, reacted quickly, and could seize a girl's thoughts in time, then perhaps there would still be the tiniest bit of hope.

The problem was Harry's current state.

Forget it.

"You say that as if you have so much dating experience."

Ron was utterly unconvinced and stood up for his good friend.

"Of course."

Malfoy looked at Ron with contempt.

"Every Malfoy in the Malfoy family is a master of romance."

"Then how many girlfriends have you had so far? How many times have you held a girl's hand? How many times have you kissed someone?"

Ron issued a question directly to the soul.

Without even thinking, Malfoy replied, "I do not like being promiscuous."

"Tch."

Ron let out a voice full of disdain from his nose.

Everyone here had a zero percent dating rate.

No need for one failure to laugh at another.

"Harry, look on the bright side. Maybe the two of you simply aren't suitable."

Neville patted Harry's shoulder and comforted him.

Harry sighed and observed a moment of silence for his lost love.

To be honest, he really did like Cho Chang.

Although he himself did not know exactly what he liked about her, wasn't first love just that kind of vague feeling?

Harry was considering whether he should learn from Dudley and write a book.

His inspiration was surging.

He had even thought of the title.

It would be called The Girls We Chased Back Then.

He had a feeling it would definitely become a huge hit.

Indeed, if he wrote a book based on his recent experiences, perhaps it really might become popular.

Of course, the title would have to be changed.

It should be renamed Harry Potter and His First Love.

"Where are Big D and Hermione? Where did they go?"

After sighing for a long time, Harry realized that Dudley and Hermione were not there, and only then did he ask.

Ron, who was currently bickering with Malfoy, found time to answer him.

"Big D and Hermione went to test a new member."

"We're going to have a new member? How come I didn't know?"

Harry said in surprise.

The disciplinary group was getting a new member?

When had that happened?

Hearing Harry ask this, Malfoy mocked him without mercy.

"Potter, what do you know? Recently, you've been so bewitched by that Cho Chang that your soul has practically left your body. How could you have the mind to care about the disciplinary group?"

Although this fellow had also been one of the most active members in helping Harry come up with ideas, that did not stop him from mocking Harry.

Harry could not be bothered to argue with him.

Malfoy was that kind of person.

Harry had long since grown used to it.

If you took him seriously, then you had already lost.

This fellow had clearly received Snape's true teachings.

When it came to sarcastic mockery, Harry might not necessarily be able to beat him.

"Who is our new member? Do you know?"

The one who answered him was Neville.

"The top fourth-year, the Hufflepuff one. Cedric."

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