The Bard at Hogwarts

In the valley.

The moment she saw Ino appear, Hermione lowered her head like a child who had done something wrong.

"I didn't mean to, I just touched it and it fell off."

Hermione pointed to a towering red mill in the valley. The huge windmill on the mill was automatic.

She really didn't expect that the seemingly solid branch would break when touched. Likewise, she was glad that she only touched the mill and not the gold coins and gems on the other two oak trees.

aside.

Ino was not surprised by the sudden appearance of the mill. After all, this thing was supposed to be a gift from last year's Harvest Festival, but it just delayed the harvest.

But what made him happy was that Hermione accidentally reminded him of something he had almost forgotten.

It was a gift from the first Harvest Festival, three oak trees, one tree hung with gems, one tree hung with blue lights, and one tree produced a seemingly ordinary crystal ball...

Grindelwald's request was fulfilled instantly.

But before that, looking at Hermione who was slightly remorseful, he still comforted her with words:

"Don't worry! The mill is already mature and will fall off on its own even if you don't touch it..."

In fact, that's it. Now at the end of August, the new year's Harvest Festival is approaching again. Last year’s gifts will really fall off naturally.

Hermione was visibly relieved when she heard it fell on its own.

"That's good! Otherwise, you'll think I'm in trouble..."

"Hahaha, no! You can't get into much trouble in the valley."

Ino smiled and waved his hand. In fact, Hermione couldn't even pick up a pebble on the ground without his permission.

"By the way! You can go and see the mill, it's very interesting..."

While speaking, Ino also turned to look at the red windmill.

He clearly understood the function of the mill. Although it felt magical, there were more important things at the moment.

As his mind turned, a crystal ball about seven inches in diameter flew out of the white marble house.

…

The drizzle is continuous, quietly weaving the web of time.

Time is like the drizzle, passing through the net bit by bit.

At the end of August, a sudden shower in London washed away the last trace of summer heat.

The Leaky Cauldron.

Old Tom stood at the bar, looking boredly at the rain outside the door. He also held a starched and white rag in his hand, wiping the endless cups.

In the past, the bar in August was not crowded, but at least it was lively.

Now, not only was his bar deserted, but even the Diagon Alley behind it was deserted.

The low dark clouds in the sky and the depressed Diagon Alley made some elderly wizards easily think of those days.

Tom Abbott is one of them.

Standing at the bar, he glanced sideways at the two immature Aurors assigned by the Ministry of Magic, and a sense of absurdity arose spontaneously.

Unlike other ordinary people, as one of the twenty-eight sacred families, Old Tom is very aware of some unknown secrets.

For example, Azkaban, which people talk about as being perverted, was actually robbed long ago, and the Death Eaters imprisoned inside also escaped.

As for who did it, the answer is self-evident.

The news was suppressed by Fudge on the grounds that he could not create panic. This decision may or may not be the right one.

But whether it was right or wrong, he didn't want to care.

Compared with the last madness, the current one's approach has made many people feel at ease, and this is why the Ministry of Magic only sent two young Aurors to guard here.

"Another exchange..." Old Tom sighed and shook his head.

"What exchange? It's a miracle that this bar didn't close down! This attendance rate..."

A familiar voice sounded, and Old Tom at the bar looked out the door in surprise.

One and a half years can make many memories become blurry, but it can also make many memories become profound.

He could never forget the young man outside the door. The man who used to live in the bar and always told Hannah stories was back.

Soon, as the young man walked into the bar, the surprise on Old Tom's face turned into disbelief. The rumors turned out to be true.

Although he had heard rumors of resurrection from the dead half a month ago, he always laughed off things he had not seen with his own eyes.

However, today, after seeing the witch behind the young man, Old Tom suddenly found that the world had become a little strange.

But as the head of the Aibo family, Old Tom is also very good at managing facial expressions.

The shocked expression suddenly disappeared and was replaced by an enthusiastic smile.

"Ha! The bar closed down? It doesn't exist. This is an ancestral industry, and there are no high rents."

Old Tom said half-jokingly, and then he looked outside the door. The rain that had lasted for several hours stopped quietly.

God seems to have changed.

"You know how to tell stories about your ancestors! Now give us two glasses of freshly squeezed grass juice, so that your work today is not in vain."

Ino smiled and walked to the bar, and at the same time called Hermione to come with him.

This seemed to be a high-profile behavior, but he didn't care anymore. After all, some things really couldn't be hidden, and the more they were hidden, the greater the trouble.

To hide is to be timid, and once you are timid, flies and mosquitoes will swarm you.

other side.

Old Tom seemed to be aware of this, but he chose to turn a blind eye and continued to talk cheerfully:

"Or grass juice? Your taste remains the same."

…

Half an hour later.

On the main street of Diagon Alley, the road surface washed by rain revealed the unique brilliance of cobblestones.

Hermione took Ino's arm and looked around quietly. The seemingly deserted shops around made her feel countless prying eyes.

"Is it really okay for us to do this?" Hermione asked in a low voice with her head leaning over.

"It's nothing, unless you give up your studies and live in seclusion forever."

Unlike Hermione who deliberately controlled the volume, Ino spoke very naturally.

Hearing about giving up studies, Hermione shook her head decisively: "Forget it, anyway, I have a shelter, and I can hide when there is danger."

"Well, it will be soon! It won't be long."

While speaking, Ino looked up at the sky, and the dark clouds that had been gloomy before had long been blown to the banks of the Thames.

He understood Hermione's choice very well.

For almost every native English wizard, the seven years of study at Hogwarts are an indispensable part of life, otherwise it would seem a little incomplete.

As for today's high-profile appearance, he also has his own plans, which may not be without the intention of stabilizing Voldemort.

It's enough to hit the snake once.

In fact, two days ago, with the help of Grindelwald, after confirming the whereabouts of the last Horcrux, he had already planned an opportunity.

Planning an opportunity similar to the previous Hogsmeade, not only to completely wipe out Voldemort, but also to publicly play a deterrent role and solve all potential troubles once and for all.

Just like Nico's possession of the Philosopher's Stone, this is almost an open secret. No one has ever tried to take Nico for hundreds of years.

In the final analysis, it is still bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

When magic was in Hogwarts, it belonged to fairy tales; but when magic entered the adult world, it naturally became the law of the jungle.

...

At the same time.

With the appearance of Ino, unlike the coldness of other shops in Diagon Alley, the headquarters building of the Daily Prophet seemed very lively at the moment.

In a luxurious office, many well-dressed wizards sat quietly.

"Just received news that Fudge has given in. So, we can report this matter..."

As one of them spoke, various voices suddenly rang out in the office that was quiet just now.

"I don't object to reporting, but what about the attitude?"

"Neutrality is always right..."

"Neutrality? You must have been confused in your sleep and forgot about Dumbledore!"

"That's true, but he is still alive..."

Seeing the office quarrel, the person who spoke first knocked on the table hard.

"No need to argue! We are always on the side of advantage! Let Rita go to interview. They had an intersection in the Goblet of Fire. I believe she will handle it well."

As the voice fell, the office that was a little noisy just now became quiet again.

The decision has been made, and the huge headquarters of the Daily Prophet, like an old machine, is running at full capacity again.

Xiaodi's sharing today:

Daily Prophet

Editor-in-chief: Barnabas Guffey

This is a newspaper headquartered in London. It is the main source of news for wizards in Britain, and due to the influence the paper has over the British wizarding community, it tends to present events to the public from the perspective of the Ministry of Magic (with which it has strong ties).

Unfortunately, the Daily Prophet does not seem to have a strong adherence to journalistic integrity.