The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 189 The Remaining Horcruxes

Harry has been extremely happy lately, happier than ever before.

It seems like the past 14 years have been a nightmare, but now there's a feeling of waking up from the dream.

Not only did they gain another godfather, but the mastermind behind their parents' deaths also died in Azkaban, and everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction.

People tend to be restless when they're happy, and Harry was no exception. During his free time, he and Ron visited Hagrid's cottage.

After knocking on the door, the first thing you see is another person in a chair, who is also the key person who brought the whole thing to fruition.

"Good morning, Ino!" Harry greeted him warmly.

"Long time no see, Harry! And Mr. Weasley!" Enoch responded with a smile. This protagonist, whose brows were always furrowed with worry, was finally showing his true colors.

After the two sat down, Ron immediately looked at Ino and said with feigned maturity:

"If you ask me, you should collect royalties from George and Fred. They made a fortune selling straw rings, and I'd say they made at least 5 Galleons in profit."

As he spoke, Ron made a large circle in the air with both hands, and with a "I'm doing this for your own good" expression, it actually looked quite convincing at first glance.

Seeing this familiar tactic, Harry helplessly turned his head to the side. Ron had mentioned this matter more than once in public and private during this period of time.

Although he shouldn't talk about his friends in his mind, he always believed that jealousy was not a good thing, especially when the object of his jealousy was his own brother.

Similarly, Ino easily perceived Ron's intentions, but things were different now, and he no longer viewed the other person with the background of the story in mind.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Weasley! But George and Fred have spoken to me about it, and I've authorized them to make the straw rings. Besides, I'm one of their future shareholders in the joke shop."

This wasn't something he made up on the spot; George and Fred really did come once.

Before the novel became a hit, the two astutely saw the business opportunity and exchanged 30% of the profit for the copyright to produce it; otherwise, the Diagon Alley Bouncing and Playing Joke Shop would not have come to them to purchase the book.

Ultimately, the straw ring isn't some high-end gold product; George and Fred made money entirely from their exclusive copyright.

It was a small matter after all, and Ino hadn't paid much attention to it. But since Ron had brought it up today, he might as well take the opportunity to clarify things for George and Fred.

Upon hearing about copyright and profit sharing, Ron's expression froze instantly. After a long while, he looked away with a sullen expression.

Seeing Ron's discomfiture, Harry suppressed a laugh and lowered his head.

Just then, Hagrid came over carrying a pot of boiling black tea, whether intentionally or unintentionally, which helped Ron out of his awkward situation.

Four ceramic teacups, shaped like soup bowls, sat on the coffee table. Wisps of steam mingled with the aroma of tea, instantly filling the room.

Without any hesitation, Ino picked up the scalding hot water glass and brought it to her lips, leaving Ron dumbfounded.

He didn't offer much explanation. After putting down his water glass, he simply tapped the coffee table lightly with his index finger, and the other three cups of black tea visibly stopped steaming.

"Merlin's socks! These are so convenient." Ron picked up the warm cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Harry didn't say anything, but he nodded in agreement. He increasingly felt that he had taken a fake Charms class, learning only twelve spells in three years, and those were ones he rarely used in daily life.

Ino noticed the change in their expressions but didn't say anything. After all, Hogwarts Library doesn't charge admission, and if you don't actively seek out things, even if someone tries to persuade you, it's probably pointless.

While some things can be left unsaid, others cannot be left unsaid.

"Harry, if it's convenient, could you write me a letter to Sirius Black? I'd like to see him during the Christmas holidays."

As time went by, he no longer had the same fear of Voldemort as he did at the beginning, so there were some things he needed to deal with.

"Of course! I'll write to my godfather, he should be very happy!" Harry readily agreed with a smile, while also answering for Sirius.

After finishing his business, Ino leaned back in his chair and listened quietly as Ron recounted the interesting things that had happened in the castle recently.

Although they were all trivial matters, they gave him a sense of peace and tranquility. This was probably what academy life was like: a few mundane things, a few laughs and scoldings—that was the whole daily life of the young wizards.

Listening to these trivialities, Ino's thoughts gradually drifted away.

As for those lost in time, he also intends to let them remain lost in time. Since they have already been declared dead, there is really no need for them to come out and cause trouble.

The seven Horcruxes, apart from Nagini, Harry, and last year's notebook, are all valuable items: relics of three legendary wizards and the Resurrection Stone from the Deathly Hallows.

Both for public and private reasons, this should not be ignored. Sometimes, time not only hides forgotten people, but also concealed secrets; after all, the Basilisk left behind by Slytherin is a good example.

I didn't dare to touch it before because I didn't have the confidence. Now that I have the phoenix, I can advance or retreat at will, so I need to start making some preparations.

Meanwhile, Ron was talking to Harry about the castle's details, but his eyes kept glancing around.

He noticed that Hagrid and Ino were listening attentively to him, which energized him greatly. His tone became full of intonation, and he could easily spout all sorts of rumors and gossip.

In fact, of the four people in the hut, only Harry had to endure Ron's nagging. Hagrid, though wearing a serious expression, was actually thinking about the giant spider.

Ino felt the same way. As he listened to Ron's endless narration, he had a sense of déjà vu, remembering listening to stories with headphones on to help him fall asleep.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but his eyelids felt heavier and heavier, as if everything around him was no longer relevant to him, and his even, long breaths gradually began to rise.

……

I slept very soundly.

When Ino opened his eyes again, he found the whole cabin empty, with only Ya Ya lying obediently at his feet.

I looked out the window and saw that it was already afternoon.

Although he wasn't sure what time it was, he didn't care. With only two elective courses, there were always one or two days a week when he was relaxed, or even no classes at all.

Gently rubbing Ya Ya's head, Ino stood up and walked outside. The moment she pushed open the door and stepped out of the hut, a black swan suddenly appeared, flapping its wings and flying towards the distant castle.

Inside the hut, once Ya Ya saw that no one was around, she dashed to the door and dutifully guarded the only exit from the hut.

……

At the same time, Ino also flew to the Astronomical Tower.

The shortest and most convenient way to get to the eighth floor of the castle is from the Astronomical Tower, which saves you from a long journey and the arduous climb up the stairs.

Of course, the Ravenclaw Tower is also a good option, and the distance would be shorter.

But he only had Qiu as a friend there, so it was impossible for him to fly into the girls' dormitory to pass through.

If they dare to do that, it'll probably be the headline of the Daily Prophet again the next day.

(End of this chapter)