The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 269 Pansy's Visit, Her Startling Remarks (Edited)

When you have nothing on your mind, even a gust of wind can make you feel free.

Hogsmeade.

The day after returning from Croatia, Ino resumed her usual routine.

Every day I eat, read, and water the flowers. In my spare time, I sit by the second-floor window and quietly watch the sunset in the west.

It seemed like a peaceful and idyllic time, but after thoroughly studying the history of magic, he knew that such tranquility was always fraught with uncertainty.

Just like some prominent figures in modern times, their emergence was not a historical accident. Perhaps due to the psychic nature of wizards, even in peaceful times, some outstanding individuals can emerge.

They may be kind or evil, but they always manage to stir up the peaceful magical world.

……

In the hut.

After finishing her daily watering of the flowers, Ino did not go back upstairs to watch the sunset, but instead chose to sit quietly in the living room and wait.

"Knock knock knock!"

The long-awaited knocking sounded at the door.

After a moment of stunned silence, Ino quickly stood up.

Honestly, perhaps it was because he had lived in the magical world for so long that he almost forgot that knocking on the door to enter a room was the correct way, rather than going through the fireplace like a heretic.

Open the door.

In the soft glow of the setting sun, a slender figure appeared before my eyes.

"Long time no see!"

Pansy took the initiative to speak, just like at the dinner party three years ago.

With her back to the setting sun, her smooth, black, ear-length short hair made Pansy look youthful and energetic, while also adding a touch of capable charm.

"Long time no see, come in quickly."

Ino stepped aside and politely replied.

As Pansy passed by, he subconsciously glanced at her back. How long ago was that small figure? Now, it had undergone earth-shattering changes.

In the living room on the first floor.

Pansy sat on the sofa, and although she didn't rudely turn her head to look around, her eyes kept scanning the surrounding furnishings.

The once dilapidated house has now been completely renovated and is filled with the warmth of everyday life, which makes her sigh with emotion.

Meanwhile, Ino also came out of the kitchen carrying two glasses of honey lemonade. After noticing the change in Pansy's expression, she said half-jokingly:

"I've tidied this place up quite well, haven't I? Former owner of the cottage!"

A joke not only livened up the atmosphere in the living room, but also made the two of them feel as if they had returned to that summer, to the girl holding a stack of house deeds and the boy with a shocked expression.

"This place is nice, but my ex wasn't me!" Pansy's lips curled into an elegant and confident smile.

Seemingly realizing that her previous answer had been a bit too obvious, after a brief pause, Pansy added:

"Those contracts that I brought to you back then belonged to Mr. Parkinson, not to me, at least not to me at that time."

"It's all the same!" Ino picked up her water glass, took a small sip, and continued, "Anyway, it'll all be inherited by Miss Parkinson's in the future!"

"Haha, maybe!" Pansy covered her mouth and chuckled.

Good-natured jokes and revisiting the past have invisibly brought us much closer together.

moment.

Ino put down her water glass and asked casually:

"What have you been through lately?"

However, this seemingly casual question made Pansy's expression turn serious, and she countered with:

"Was I being too obvious?"

Faced with such an answer, Ino suddenly thought of her past self, when she had a conversation with Professor Flitwick at the beginning of her second year of school.

Thinking of this, he decided not to hide anything any longer. After a moment's thought, he spoke:

"I didn't notice anything outwardly visible, but I did discover another problem: an inconsistency in the magic!"

"Actually, I noticed it the moment you walked in. Your magical abilities seem to have grown beyond your age. We're only in fourth grade, but you feel like you're facing a seventh-grader."

The growth of a wizard's magical power will forever remain a mystery.

Similarly, it is this mystery that has kept the magical world in a relatively stable environment. After all, when everyone is about the same, there is no need for fighting.

But one thing is certain: the little wizard's sudden and significant increase in magic power must be due to some event, such as a change in his mind or some other encounter.

Magic is related to the mind, and George in the original story is a good example of this. Ever since Fred's sacrifice, he has never been able to cast the Patronus Charm, even though he has already learned it.

On the other side...

Pansy frowned instinctively after hearing about the discrepancy in the magic.

But soon, with the positive feedback that followed, the furrowed brows quietly relaxed.

"I don't know why this is happening, and I'm not lying to you about that." Pansy leaned back on the sofa, her gaze fixed intently as she looked up.

"I know you're not lying to me, because no one can really explain the nature of magic."

Faced with somewhat intense gazes, Ino turned slightly to the side.

Panxi also noticed this subtle change, and a fleeting look of disappointment crossed her face.

"Well, just believe me! As for what happened, it's probably related to my experiences this semester..."

If she were asked by someone, even Daphne, she would give selective answers, but now...

Looking into those pure eyes, Pansy suddenly realized that there are some people you never need to be wary of.

……

In the living room on the first floor.

Ino listened quietly to Pansy's story, her mind filled with a multitude of thoughts.

Pansy was probably a bit extreme, but Dumbledore was also partly to blame.

The Mirror of Erised wasn't hidden properly either, and a Slytherin girl found it, while she was contemplating philosophy.

A dozen minutes later.

After Pansy finished recounting her experiences from last semester, Ino asked curiously:

"So, what did you actually see in the mirror? You should know that the mirror is fake."

"But it's also possible," Pansy retorted softly.

But what he said next left Ino somewhat... incredulous.

"The magical world is sick, lifeless, as still as a stagnant pool, while the living space of wizards is constantly being squeezed."

Pansy looked very serious, as if she had finally come to the answer after a long period of thought.

Similarly, this statement also revealed to him the source of his increased magic power.

It's probably like establishing a firm belief and then wanting to fight for it.

Given such a strong spiritual desire, the accelerated growth of magic power seems quite reasonable.

This aligns perfectly with the nature of magic: wish fulfillment. When a young wizard has a wish beyond her years, magic will help her in another way.

At that moment, many images flashed through Ino's mind: young Grindelwald, young Dumbledore, and young Tom Riddle...

These people, probably because of their strong inner desires and prayers, laid a very solid foundation for themselves in their youth.

Thinking of this, when he looked up at Pansy again, he felt that the girl in front of him had a different kind of aura.

(End of this chapter)