The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 84 Hogsmeade's Properties

Slowly opening the door, what came into view was Pansy's face, which showed a hint of nervousness.

Upon closer inspection, Ino noticed something different; Pansy seemed to be wearing light makeup today. Her face, which was originally somewhat thin and had a slightly harsh look, now appeared softer and fuller.

"Miss Parkinson's? What's wrong with you...?"

He stood at the door, not immediately inviting the other person into the room.

Perhaps it doesn't matter in France, but in England, etiquette and subtlety are indispensable, regardless of the occasion.

Good morning, Mr. Swinburne.

Pansy nodded slightly, the movement subtle yet perfectly conveying friendliness and respect. It seemed she had practiced extensively, her demeanor displaying impeccable manners.

"Remember what happened on the train? I brought some property deeds; you can choose a property you like. Don't worry, these have all been approved by my parents."

As if afraid of being misunderstood, Pansy's voice carried a hint of urgency, especially emphasizing the words "parents' consent".

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Miss Parkinson!" Ino bowed slightly.

He initially thought that Pansy's words on the train were just a whim, but who would have thought that she would take it so seriously, coming to his door three days later with a stack of property deeds...

"If..." Pansy hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "I mean, if it's okay, I'd like you to call me Pansy!"

"Okay! Pansy, you can call me Ino too!"

Although the sound was soft, it reached Ino's ears clearly.

Looking at the somewhat reserved girl in front of him, he realized once again that one should not be misled by the stories being told.

A vibrant life, a living person, is always complex and multifaceted, not monotonous and rigid.

The characters in the story, whether in terms of personality or conduct, may only be defined by the narrator.

"Shall we go down to the lobby?" Ino suggested, glancing at the room behind her.

"Um."

Pansy answered softly, her voice so low that her tone was indiscernible.

……

The three brooms in the morning were still somewhat deserted.

Walking slowly down the stairs with Pansy, the lobby was nearly empty. Under Ms. Rosmerta's amused gaze, Ino chose a table near the corner.

Unfortunately, Ms. Rosmerta's curious, inquisitive, and meaningful gaze was really annoying; it was exactly the expression of a parent discovering their child is in a relationship.

A relatively secluded corner, perfectly out of the sight of some busybody.

"Please have a seat! To be honest, I can't wait any longer," Ino said half-jokingly.

Owning a property of his own seems to be something etched into his very soul.

"Okay! Take a look. There are six shops and twelve residences, all according to your standards, priced at around ten thousand Galleons. The shops might be a bit more expensive, but not by much."

Pansy dumped all the parchment scrolls she was holding onto the table without mentioning any discounts.

Looking at the large pile of properties on the table, Ino didn't reach for them immediately.

A shop for ten thousand? Are you kidding me! He's not some greenhorn. Hogsmeade may not be as bustling as Diagon Alley, but it's not so cheap as to be this low.

Perhaps all pure-blood girls possess the skill of reading people's expressions. After noticing that the things she had placed on the table hadn't been touched, Pansy explained:

"The shops will be more expensive, but my parents agree that you can pay 10,000 Galleons first, and the difference can be paid later."

"Thank them for their generosity!" After understanding the reason, Ino also reached out to examine the parchment scroll on the table.

Although he had made up his mind not to touch those shops, the price of those twelve residences still made him feel a little embarrassed.

There's nothing else to it, it's just too cheap. The discount is almost as good as those near-expiry supermarkets in London.

At the end of each month, supermarkets will sell a lot of food that is close to its expiration date, and the prices of those foods are really outrageously low.

……

Although she had already made comparisons in her mind, Ino still quietly examined all the parchment scrolls, while Pansy sat politely to the side without disturbing her.

About fifteen minutes later.

"Pansy, actually... there's really no need for this. Maybe I don't have enough money, but I'll make up the difference slowly."

After thinking it over, Ino decided to tell the truth: everyone likes cheap goods, but the favors owed are not so easy to repay.

"You choose first, and I'll tell you the real price later."

As if anticipating this situation, Pansy blurted it out without thinking.

"Okay! These three will do. I'd like to take a look if I can."

Ino picked up the three parchment scrolls and selected three standard residential properties: two rooms resembling apartments and one detached house.

Each of the three locations has its own advantages and disadvantages, but the only thing they have in common is their size and location. They are all located in remote areas of Hogsmeade and are all very small in size.

Of course, these disadvantages might be hard for others to accept, but he accepts them willingly.

The location is remote, which is good; it's quiet and undisturbed. As for the size... to be honest, he has his own plans.

The Ministry of Magic's regulations on Extension Charms are open to anyone who wants to follow them.

In any case, the British Ministry of Magic will be too busy to take care of itself for the next few years, so as long as it doesn't make a fuss, no one will be watching it closely.

……

Leave the three brooms behind.

Deep within Hogsmeade, far from the main commercial area.

Led by Pansy, Ino walked through several quiet alleys before finally arriving at the location of the first property.

From afar, the two-story building stands quietly at the end of the alley, seemingly isolated from the world. Although some of the surrounding houses are old and dilapidated, this building remains intact and tidy.

Actually, when talking about this, we have to mention the notorious Ministry of Magic.

He had previously researched some information at the Hogwarts Library and found that the Ministry of Magic's regulations on wizards' residence were truly bizarre.

Aside from wizarding enclaves like Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade, in other parts of the British Isles, all you need is a permit signed by the Chief Justice of the Law Enforcement Division to build a house freely.

Of course, if discovered by Muggles, the wizard himself will also bear corresponding responsibility, and the specific handling will be left to the Department of Accidents and Disasters to determine the nature of the matter.

However, Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade are different; they have their own unique system where no one is allowed to build houses without permission, not even the Ministry of Magic.

This has resulted in a shortage of housing in Hogsmeade, despite the abundance of vacant properties.

Of course, there may also be a pure-blood mentality here. After all, many ancient pure-blood families would rather leave their houses abandoned than let the so-called "mud people" live in them.

Therefore, in Hogsmeade, let alone selling houses, very few people are even willing to rent them out.

This perfectly embodies the style of the British Empire: they would rather let the meat rot in the pot than give anyone else a chance to get a share.

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(End of this chapter)