The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 346 The Gifts Sent Out

The corridor on the eighth floor of the castle.

"I've heard your songs. They say your voice is full of emotion. I used to be able to do that too, but now I'm just drawing a portrait..."

The fat lady, guarding the Gryffindor common room, spoke with a hint of sadness.

"Actually, you don't need to think too much. Feelings originate from memories. If you can remember something that moved you, then sing it! Express it through song and words."

In the eighth-floor corridor, Ino and the plump lady were exchanging singing techniques.

He viewed the portraits that appeared multiple times in the story with a kind of check-in and observation mentality.

He'd been at Hogwarts for almost four years, but there were actually many places he hadn't been to, including the Fat Lady, the kitchen, and even Ravenclaw's bronze door knocker.

The first year was probably out of caution, but in the following years, it was simply because the novelty wore off.

There's nothing you can do about it; once you live in a place for more than a year, the initial novelty will fade over time.

……

Outside the Gryffindor common room.

Ino chatted with the fat lady for a few minutes.

Suddenly, he felt a strange fluctuation, and then the portrait of the fat lady, which was nearly nine inches tall, was silently opened from behind.

"Ino!" Hermione exclaimed with delight, "Why didn't you use the two-way mirror to tell me beforehand? That way I could have come find you. I remember you don't like climbing stairs..."

"It's nothing, and besides, I can't always let you take the initiative," Ino replied with a double meaning, while also glancing at Hermione.

Although she was still wearing a plain robe, a closer look revealed subtle differences; Hermione appeared to be wearing light makeup.

The pink lip gloss and elongated eyeliner made her look youthful and radiant. The only regret, however, seemed to be the rushed makeup routine; while the eyeliner was fine, the pink lip gloss had a slight flaw, with an extra touch of bright pink at the corner of her mouth.

However, Hermione wasn't paying attention to Ino's gaze at the moment, or rather, she wasn't focused on it, because her attention was on the phrase, "I can't always let you take the initiative."

From the summer before she graduated from elementary school until now, Hermione can easily recall every little detail of their time together when she looks back on these past few years.

Although we were in different colleges and rarely met, every time we did meet was always a happy occasion.

But Hermione pondered briefly when exactly her mindset began to change.

She clearly remembered that when she first entered Hogwarts, two months after the start of the semester, she was inexplicably isolated by many people, feeling all alone as if she had been abandoned by a pride of lions.

At that moment, she had only one thought: she just wanted to go home and think about her parents in London.

But then, a chance encounter in the outer corridor of the library.

When she met Ino again, his gentle encouragement and comfort brought her a touch of warmth in the vast, cold castle.

Perhaps from this moment on, the seed has already been sown.

Although many things changed later, and she was accepted into Gryffindor and even found friends like Ginny and Parvati, the seeds sown could not be changed.

Gradually, Hermione's lips curled up slightly. The seed she had planted years ago, after years of settling, had finally blossomed and borne fruit.

"You're spacing out again? Didn't you break this habit after third grade?"

The teasing voice in her ear brought Hermione back to her senses. She looked up angrily and saw Ino standing there with a smile on his face.

"Ugh! I don't have a habit of daydreaming, not before! And not now!"

Hermione stomped her foot forcefully, seemingly to express her dissatisfaction, but her face always wore a smiling expression.

But soon, Hermione's eyes shifted slightly, as if she had noticed something, and she changed the subject, saying:

"Let's go! Let's go to the Astronomy Tower, otherwise we'll get surrounded if we stay here any longer."

"Okay! Let's go then!" Ino nodded.

He had spotted those few hidden heads around the corner of the corridor a while ago. But he hadn't intended to sneak around in the first place; his purpose was simply to be seen, which was a good thing.

Thanks to having a roommate who was the editor-in-chief of a campus magazine, he had heard some rumors, which led to this whole situation.

Draw attention away from Hermione and prevent busybodies from making fun of her.

……

The two walked side by side down the long, dark corridor.

But at the turning point, I glimpsed snowflakes falling from the sky again.

The Scottish Highlands seem to really love snow in late December.

"Maybe we don't necessarily need to go to the Astronomical Tower; ice skating on the Black Lagoon would be a great option too!"

Looking at the snowflakes fluttering outside, Ino suddenly had a suggestion.

"Yes, anywhere is fine with me!" Hermione nodded slightly; where she went was of no importance to her.

……

Outside the castle.

When snowflakes flutter down and gently cover this ancient and mysterious land, Black Lake transforms into a winter wonderland.

The once dark lake surface is now covered with a layer of floating ice, and these thin ice floes are decorated with pure white snowflakes falling from the sky.

At the dock where newborns are brought in, dozens of small boats are quietly moored on the lakeside.

"Would you like to go boating?"

On the lakeside, Ino looked at the small boat that used to be there and suddenly thought that boating was a good option.

The small boat glided gently under the influence of magic, breaking the previously calm lake surface and creating delicate ripples.

It seems that when people are at a static state, it is always difficult for them to perceive the speed of movement.

In less than half an hour, the small boat had gradually reached the center of the lake. The castle in the distance looked even more magnificent under the swirling snowflakes, and the towering towers and spires stood out even more against the snowy backdrop.

On the small boat, the two of them quietly watched the distant scenery, which resembled an oil painting.

Sudden.

"Achoo!"

A soft, short nasal sound broke the silence.

"I'm sorry! I didn't think it through." Upon hearing the voice, Ino immediately noticed the problem.

His inheritance of ice and snow magic had long made him forget the feeling of cold, but Hermione was different. Even though wizards were physically stronger than Muggles, rowing a boat on a snowy day was a bit of a challenge for her.

"It's alright, like this!" Hermione said, picking up her wand. "Immune to water and fire!"

A white halo flashed at the tip of the staff, and the snowflakes in the sky seemed to encounter an invisible barrier, all swerving around the gliding boat.

"I think you need this more than magic!" As the snowflakes dispersed, Ino took out a gift box she had prepared earlier from her pocket.

A four-inch square box wrapped in blue velvet.

"An early Christmas present?" Hermione reached out and took the box, gently stroking the soft velvet surface of the gift box.

"I guess so, but it's very special." Ino smiled mysteriously.

However, this answer piqued Hermione's curiosity.

You know, in recent years, Ino's Christmas gifts have always surprised her.

The first year featured a miniature castle and crystal ball; the second year, an automatic writing quill pen; and the third year, a high-end video mirror…

With that in mind, Hermione couldn't wait to open the box.

(End of this chapter)