The Bard at Hogwarts

In mid-June, the wind at dusk was slightly cool.

Ino carried her suitcase and walked alone along the winding stone road.

This is the road outside the castle leading to Hogsmeade.

It was only half an hour away, but he walked for more than an hour.

There is no other reason, I just want to go slower.

Regardless of the pace of life or the passage of time, everything is fast enough.

Perhaps slowing down appropriately is a real luxury.

…

Near Hogsmeade.

There was the sweetness of candy and the freshness of herbs in the air, and it didn't take much to figure out that Honeydukes must be studying candies again.

On the main street, the shops on both sides are colorful, and through the windows, you can see all kinds of magic props and fashionable goods.

Although these shops are open, they lack the commercial atmosphere of Diagon Alley and have the tranquility and soothingness of a village shop.

Probably, this is one of the reasons why people love Hogsmeade.

Keep quiet in the hustle and bustle, find peace in the chaos.

Ino returned to his small building leisurely.

Cottage, after connecting to the floo network, he also gave it a warm name in order to facilitate travel.

Countryside, cozy little house.

Pushing open the door, Ino returned all the way to the room on the second floor.

After continuously releasing the magic of cleaning and dusting, everything in the room looks brand new again.

Open the window and let the afterglow of the sunset spread across the room.

By the window, Ino leaned on the recliner and casually opened the forbidden book copied by Lina - "The Techniques of the Death Curse"

Simple, efficient, and one hit kill.

Although the Death Curse is regarded as the ultimate black magic by the world, its specialness is undeniable, not to mention that this magic is more for deterrence than for fighting.

To be honest, he had wanted to know more about the Death Curse for a long time, but due to the rules, he had never taken any action.

After all, every move in the castle is under the control of the old principal, so there is no reason why the most important restricted book area should be spared.

But everything is easier now. Thanks to Torina, a lot of knowledge that was banned because of danger is no longer banned for him.

…

The years pass by.

The third day of the holiday came in a blink of an eye.

After two consecutive days of repairing and purchasing, Ino not only stored a considerable amount of supplies in the suitcase, but also allowed Fede to temporarily stay in the suitcase.

Based on past inertia, it is almost time to enter the fantasy story.

Although I don’t know which story will be opened this time, the existence of Phoenix will undoubtedly save a lot of trouble.

At dawn on the fourth day of vacation, Ino opened his eyes with a throbbing feeling.

Without any hesitation, he grabbed the suitcase under the bed and disappeared into the room.

…

Middle-earth.

The year 3015 of the Third Era.

The Shire, home of the Hobbits.

Bilbo was bored and smoking his pipe in Bag End. The ring was taken away by his nephew Frodo, and Gandalf also left with him.

The adventure he took when he was young allowed him to get the ring by chance. It has been almost a hundred years now.

"It doesn't matter if you take it away, everything here will be handed over to Frodo to inherit."

Bilbo took a puff of his pipe. The rich taste of Shire's specialty tobacco leaves made him forget his troubles for a short time.

"Bang~bang bang!"

But before I could enjoy it for a moment, the annoying knock on the door rang again.

"Leave me alone! I've told you before, don't ask me to attend any parties again, and don't come to my place as a guest! You are not welcome!"

Bilbo roared impatiently.

Over the years, he would rather shut himself up in Bag End and live a life of near isolation than have any new friendships with anyone.

In a hundred years, he has seen the death of too many friends and relatives, and he has long been fed up with the pain of separation.

But this time, the person knocking on the door seemed a little persistent.

The continuous knocking on the door made Bilbo upset, and it seemed that even the pipe in his hand could not give him peace.

"Snitch riding a barrel, can you open the door? If you don't, I'll leave!"

Barrel rider, snitch! Hearing this familiar title and familiar voice, Bilbo didn't even notice that the pipe in his hand slipped.

"Bang!"

The old figure jumped off the chair and ran to the door at a swift speed.

open the door! The image deep in his memory merged with the figure in front of him again.

Bilbo's eyes became a little moist.

"My old friend! I miss you. It's been too long since I've seen you. It's been too long!"

After 45 years, Ino came to the Shire again and came to Bag End.

"I missed you too! So I'm back with fireworks and new stories!"

…

Shire is still so peaceful under the night.

The breeze is gentle, just like the night I left forty-five years ago.

In Bag End, a weak candle gave off a warm light.

Bilbo sat on the chair, his old and wrinkled face looked so happy.

"You don't know what has happened these years. Since you left, everyone has called Gandalf a bad pyrotechnics master because of his fireworks...ahem."

As if speaking too fast, Bilbo coughed suddenly.

"Healed as before!"

Ino waved his wand and took out two bottles of sealed grass juice from the box.

"Old man, slow down!" He opened a bottle and handed it to Bilbo, patting his back with one hand.

"Drink some water first, don't be in a hurry, really don't be in a hurry..."

"I'm not in a hurry! I'm just too happy!" Bilbo drank the drink and did not forget to explain himself.

Seeing Bilbo's gradually relaxed expression, Ino also asked his doubts.

"Aunt Julia... Forget it, where is Lily? I just came and saw that the previous room was empty."

"Hey!" Bilbo sighed when he heard it.

"What's wrong with her?" Ino asked calmly.

But Bilbo still noticed the flash of coldness in his eyes.

"Don't get me wrong, Lily is fine, but she doesn't live in the Shire now."

Bilbo explained quickly, and at the end he also said the reason for his sigh.

"Aunt Julia didn't survive the winter the year after you left. Lily and I buried her under a grape vine..."

As Bilbo spoke, Bag End fell into silence.

Through the candle on the table, in the weak flame, Ino seemed to see the scene of forty-five years ago.

An old and thin figure, holding an oil lamp in one hand and holding young Lily in the other, stood quietly in the outer city of Minas Tirith.

Time passed by minute by minute.

"You should be more open-minded. Aunt Julia is already very old."

Bilbo spoke to break the silence. No one knew this feeling better than him.

Over the years, he has experienced too much.