The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 54 Christmas Holiday Plans

Hogwarts in December is like a tranquil and dreamlike painting.

Snowflakes fluttered down from the sky, gently covering the walls of the ancient castle, while the distant Black Lake was unknowingly covered by a thin layer of floating ice.

That precious willow tree now seems to have lost its former vitality, its branches covered with crystal-clear icicles that reflect a mesmerizing light in the sunlight.

Occasionally, a few playful snowflakes drift into the corridor, landing on the ground with a soft rustling sound, as if telling the ancient castle a story of winter.

……

Slytherin common room.

After signing her name on the application form to leave campus for the Christmas break, Ino returned to her dorm room.

Two full weeks have passed since the last accidental freezing, and a lot has happened during that time. The most sensational event was the sudden drop of 150 points in Gryffindor's house credits overnight, while Slytherin also lost 50 points.

Of course, he never cared about the illusory Academy Cup; what he cared about was always himself, or rather, things related to himself.

Although two weeks have passed since the freezing incident, Malfoy came forward to clarify the whole matter after being discharged from the hospital.

For some reason, Ino felt that the Slytherins were looking at him strangely. Although he wasn't isolated like Hermione, he felt that there was an invisible distance between them.

He also noticed that, apart from a few people like Malfoy, Pansy, and Daphne, the rest of the students in the same grade were noticeably unfamiliar and reserved.

In such an atmosphere, let alone telling stories, he felt awkward just being in the common room.

……

Back in the dorm.

While doing her Transfiguration homework, Ino was also making plans for her Christmas holiday.

Unlike Harry, who has a home he can't return to, he doesn't have a home at all, or rather, the entire city of London is his home.

This is true. In fact, as long as the basic needs for survival are met, any place can be called home.

Besides, with hundreds of Galleons in his pocket, there's nowhere he can't go. As long as he doesn't touch the flying broom, this money will last him a long time.

"Hogsmeade it is, and while I'm at it, I'll inquire about the Mandela Leaf..."

Looking at the Transfiguration homework on the table, Ino thought about her previous plans regarding the study of Animagus.

Perhaps his current abilities are insufficient, but that does not prevent him from taking the "leaf" ahead of time.

To learn how to learn Animagus, one must hold a mandrake leaf in one's mouth for a full month.

During this process, you cannot swallow or remove the leaf from your mouth. If the leaf leaves your mouth, all your previous efforts will be in vain, and the entire process must be restarted.

The whole process was complicated, including things like a full moon night and morning dew without a ray of sunlight.

Because of this complicated process, some things have to be put on the agenda well in advance.

In the dormitory.

The candlestick burned quietly, emitting a soft and warm light.

Leaning over his desk, Ino kept writing the homework his professors had assigned during the Christmas break.

The pen tip danced lightly on the parchment, making a hoarse sound and filling the room with a faint scent of ink.

To his left was a whole stack of books, covering all the subjects for the first year of Hogwarts.

Since it's a holiday, there shouldn't be any external interference. Therefore, it's essential to finish all the homework in the few days before the holiday starts.

……

"Knock! Knock knock~"

Just as Ino was engrossed in the words on the page, there was a knock on the door outside the dormitory.

He gently put down his pen, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes. At this time, at this pace, it was no surprise that Malfoy was returning home after his jungle clear.

Although he had promised more than once that he would not practice magic in the dormitory in the future, Malfoy seemed to have taken a stubborn potion. Every time he returned to the dormitory, he would knock on the door in advance, and no matter how much he was persuaded, he would still do as he pleased.

Ten seconds later.

"Phew, I knew you'd be here. You're either in the library or in your room all day. If you keep going like this, you'll really be forgotten," Malfoy said in a lighthearted tone.

"Whether or not one forgets is a minor matter. After all, social interaction can only reflect a person's external value, while solitude can reflect their true inner value."

As Ino tidied up the scattered books on the table, she glanced at Malfoy.

"But what's making you happy today? You seem... well, anyway, you seem quite happy."

Ino almost blurted out his true feelings, because at that moment, Malfoy looked like a little dog wagging its tail and running around happily.

"You noticed too?" At this moment, Malfoy could no longer contain his smile.

"It's still because of that point deduction, the punishment is to patrol the Forbidden Forest at night. But I just talked to Filch, and he said he'll ask Professor McGonagall to transfer me to polish the trophies. Only Scarface and the other two will be on patrol. I really want to see their shocked expressions at the end, hahaha..."

Seeing that Malfoy was about to fall into a self-imposed ecstasy, Ino decisively changed the subject.

"Have you finished your potions homework? There's a potions class the day before the holidays, and you don't want to get a private scolding from Professor Snape, do you?"

"Uh...cough cough cough!" Malfoy stopped laughing instantly, but the inertia caused him to cough incessantly.

"Damn it! This is all Scarface's fault and his henchmen's fault. Ino, can you...?"

"It's on the table! Remember not to copy it all, make a few corrections, even if you make mistakes."

Ino pointed to the desk that had just been tidied up, on which were three neatly folded parchments.

"Ha, I knew it! Thanks, bro." Malfoy strode to the table, then skillfully dipped his quill into ink, ready to start copying homework.

On the other side, watching Malfoy quietly begin his homework, Ino also leaned against the bed and began to ponder.

The punishment for patrolling the Forbidden Forest at night was also a sign, as it later led to them discovering Quirrell hunting a unicorn...

Although he was thinking about it, he didn't want to get involved in these things, mainly because the first year was really dangerous. After all, not everyone is like Harry, who has the magic of love superimposed on them.

Similarly, in his view, the entire plot of the previous years combined was not as dangerous as the first year.

Even if it's the same basilisk as the one from the second year, perhaps it's deadly if you look directly at it and attacks indiscriminately, which seems quite terrifying.

But the thought of his conversation with Dumbledore in the tower brought Ino a sense of relief; it was clear that the headmaster was capable of monitoring the entire castle at any time.

Under such surveillance, the so-called basilisk is merely a prop for creating atmosphere, a joke.

Thinking about it carefully, it makes sense. Even if Fawkes possessed wisdom no less than that of a wizard, how could he have so cleverly timed things so perfectly, appearing at the moment when Harry needed help the most, not only pecking out the Basilisk's eyes but also airdropping the Sorting Hat?

……

As Ino leaned against the headboard, her thoughts drifted, and she gradually felt sleepy, Malfoy's voice rang out again in the dormitory.

"I almost forgot the important thing. Are you free during the Christmas holidays? My dad would like to invite you over. Don't worry, it's not because of that accident, I promise! It's just to invite you over."

It seems that copying homework is always faster than doing it, and Malfoy has already started tidying up the scattered stationery on the table.

"I'm sorry, I already have plans for the holiday," Ino said, her eyes half-closed.

More and more drowsiness washed over him, making him feel like he could fall asleep the moment he lay down.

"Even I got rejected, and Pansy still wants me to inquire... That's just wishful thinking..." Malfoy muttered to himself.

However, after seeing that Ino was already asleep, he stopped complaining and walked towards the other bed.

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(End of this chapter)