The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 137 A Small Gathering at Hogsmeade (Second Update)

Hogsmeade.

From above, the entire village appears radiant with light.

Especially during Christmas, not only are all the shops decorated with beautiful lights, but even the streets are lit with magic candles.

Soaring in mid-air.

After finding the coordinates of his cabin, Ino swooped down and flew directly into the open window on the second floor.

The moment he landed, he dispelled the spell, waved his wand and lit the candlestick on the table, then lay half-reclined on the bed.

Honestly, after experiencing Hermione's modern life, returning to Hogsmeade felt like stepping back into the Middle Ages.

This is not to say that magic is bad, but rather that there is a significant gap between wizards and Muggles.

In every aspect, whether it's lifestyle or ideology, they feel like two completely different worlds.

Two worlds that have no intersection and are unrelated.

……

The first rays of dawn, like fine threads, quietly weave together, tearing away the darkness of the sky little by little.

The ancient village of Hogsmeade also awakens under the rising sun in the east.

Three Brooms Bar.

After ordering a lamb kidney pie, Ino sat in a corner of the hall, intending to eat breakfast while waiting for her friends to arrive via the Filo Network.

A dozen minutes later.

Ms. Rosmerta gently placed a plate of tempting food on the table.

However, instead of retreating to the bar as usual, she chose to sit opposite and said sarcastically:

"I always thought this dish was only for middle-aged men. I didn't expect you to like such 'flavorful' food too."

Ino did not respond to the teasing immediately, but instead began to savor the delicious food in front of her.

This is a traditional British dish. Lamb kidneys are interwoven with fresh vegetables and unique spices in a pie crust and then carefully baked in the oven.

After a moment, Ino put down his cutlery with satisfaction and looked up: "When evaluating a dish, you can't just look at its target audience. However, your cooking skills can truly be described as superb."

Upon hearing this, Ms. Rosmerta chuckled softly, "Tch! Don't give me that! Save your sweet talk for the girls! Maybe you don't even need to, I know them too well."

Although Ms. Rosmerta was rambling on, a hint of smugness flashed in her eyes. She knew perfectly well that while her bar wasn't exactly a hit, the quality of her food had never been questioned.

After a moment's hesitation, Ms. Rosmerta seemed to remember something, glanced at the fireplace in the bar, and asked with some curiosity:

"Why don't you try connecting to the Floo Network? I remember all the properties in Hogsmeade are connected. And the home Floo Network can be opened in one direction only, like you've opened a door that only allows people to leave but not enter. Without your permission, others can't easily enter your room."

Considering the boy's background, she used a more relatable analogy to explain how the FlooNet works.

Listening carefully, Ino sensed concern in the other person's words, which warmed his heart, but he also explained helplessly:

"Actually, it's not that I don't want to open it! It's that I don't know how to open it, and I've never lived in a house with a fly net before."

"Why didn't you say so sooner! I'll open it for you later. I always thought you were afraid of people breaking into your room."

After saying that, Ms. Rosmerta got up and walked towards the bar.

Although it was morning, guests were already starting to arrive during the Christmas holiday.

After the brief chat, Ino began to focus on the food in front of her. The lamb kidneys were roasted until tender and delicious, without any gamey smell.

……

Three brooms in the hall.

A table in the corner, surrounded by several young wizards.

"Ino, how about we stop waiting for Daphne? She might be delayed by something again."

Draco sat listlessly on the stool, holding a can of butterbeer. This was the third time he had tried to persuade him.

Opposite Draco sat Pansy and Neville, who, though silent, seemed restless.

I glanced at the clock on the wall; the appointment was for 9 a.m., and it was already 9:45 a.m.

"Okay, then let's..."

Ino stopped mid-sentence as green flames began to rise from the fireplace.

"Sorry, sorry! I'm late because I had to bring an annoying kid with me."

Stepping out of the fireplace, Daphne immediately apologized to everyone.

"Give me a break! I'm not some kind of nuisance. If it weren't for Mom's insistence, do you think I'd want to be with you?"

The fireplace lit up with green flames again, and this time a girl who looked seven parts like Daphne emerged.

Daphne seemed oblivious to the objections, grabbed the girl behind her, and introduced her to the crowd:

"This is my sister Astoria. I'm sorry I brought her here without permission. She'll probably be coming to Hogwarts next year."

As Daphne finished speaking, the girl behind her stepped forward and said confidently:

"Hello! I'm sorry to be uninvited! I'm Daphne's sister, Astoria Greengrass!"

Fate is truly wondrous; some things seem preordained. After the girl finished introducing herself, Draco was the first to stand up:

"Welcome! I am Draco Malfoy, a second-year Slytherin student!"

Upon closer examination, Draco's move was somewhat reckless, since he wasn't the one who initiated the invitation.

As the actual initiator of the invitation, Ino stood up and expressed her opinion after seeing the interaction between the future couple:

"Welcome, Miss Greengrass! Besides, there's nothing to apologize for. It wasn't a formal banquet, just a small gathering among friends."

……

Hogsmeade.

Deep in the alley, a quiet two-story house finally welcomed its own lively atmosphere.

In the living room on the first floor, three girls sat in a group, talking about various topics that interested them, and occasionally a soft laugh could be heard.

On the other side, Draco surprisingly started chatting with Neville.

The two seemed to get along very well, as if they had buried the hatchet with a smile.

Ino sat quietly to the side, watching the harmonious scene before him, especially the reconciliation between Draco and Neville, which made him very happy.

To be honest, Draco isn't a bad person at heart; he's just a bit spoiled by his parents.

Not only did the original story depict Draco with several contradictory descriptions, but after just a year and a half of contact, he had already formed a certain judgment.

……

Time always slips away unnoticed during joyful conversations.

It was almost noon.

With the combined efforts of the three house-elves, a delicious meal was easily prepared in the restaurant.

Three house-elves! Not only Draco, but Pansy and Daphne also brought their house-elves with them.

After lunch, it's afternoon tea time, which is also a time for exchanging gifts.

Ino's gift was still a crystal ball, which was mass-produced from Devis. Even after the discount, each one still cost as much as 9 Galleons.

But unlike the castle given to Hermione, Neville's crystal ball contained a beautiful little garden, while Draco's crystal ball contained a fire-breathing Hungarian tree-peaked dragon. In short, everyone's gift was different.

The only one who felt a little awkward was Astoria, who hadn't expected there to be an extra person, so he hadn't prepared an extra gift.

Fortunately, there was still plenty of candy in the suitcase. I could find an excuse to pack some up along the way, so at least I could save face.

It's worth mentioning that Astoria seemed quite clever, as she didn't open the gift at all, thus preserving dignity for both of them.

(End of this chapter)