The Bard at Hogwarts

Corridor on the eighth floor of the castle.

"I've heard your songs. They say your voice contains rich emotions. I could do it before, but now I'm just drawing a portrait..."

The Fat Lady, who was guarding the Gryffindor common room, said with a little sadness.

"In fact, you don't have to think too much. Emotions come from memory. If you can remember something that moved you, then sing it! Express it with your voice and words."

In the corridor on the eighth floor, Ino and the Fat Lady exchanged singing skills.

For the portraits that appeared many times in this story, he also had a check-in and observation mentality.

It has been almost four years since he came to Hogwarts, but in fact he has not been to many places, including the Fat Lady, the kitchen, and the bronze door knocker of Ravenclaw.

The first year was probably out of caution, and in the following years, there was simply no freshness.

There is no way, as long as you live in a place for more than a year, the initial freshness will fade with time.

...

Outside the Gryffindor common room.

Ino and the Fat Lady chatted for about a few minutes.

Suddenly, he felt a strange fluctuation, and then the nearly nine-inch-high portrait of the Fat Lady was quietly opened from the back.

"Ino!" Hermione said with surprise: "Why didn't you tell me in advance with a two-way mirror, so that I could find you. Remember you don't like climbing stairs..."

"It's nothing, and I can't always let you take the initiative." Ino replied with a pun, and at the same time looked at Hermione.

Although she was still wearing a plain robe, if you look closely, you can find a subtle difference. Hermione seems to have put on light makeup.

The pink lip gloss and the elongated eyeliner make her look young and beautiful. But the only regret seems to be that the makeup time is tight. The eyeliner is okay, but the pink lip gloss has a little flaw, because there is a touch of bright pink at the corner of the mouth.

However, Hermione didn't notice Ino's gaze at this moment, or she didn't pay attention to these, because her focus now was on the sentence 'I can't always let you take the initiative. '

From the summer vacation before graduating from elementary school until now. Looking back on the past few years, Hermione can always easily recall the bits and pieces of their time together.

Although they were in different colleges and rarely met, they were always happy every time they met.

But when did her mentality begin to change? Hermione also fell into a brief thought.

She clearly remembered that when she first entered Hogwarts, two months after the start of school, she was inexplicably isolated by many people, and she was alone, just like being abandoned by a lion group.

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

But after that, she met by chance in the corridor outside the library.

She met Ino again, not only gently encouraged and comforted her, but also made her feel a little warmth in this huge and cold castle.

Perhaps from this moment on, the seeds have been planted.

Although many things have changed later, she has been accepted by Gryffindor and even found friends like Ginny and Parvati, but the seeds that have been planted cannot be changed.

Gradually, the corners of Hermione's mouth rose slightly. The seeds that had been planted, after several years of precipitation, have finally blossomed and borne fruit.

"Are you daydreaming again? Didn't you get rid of this habit after the third grade?"

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

"Hate it! I don't have the habit of daydreaming, not before! Not now!"

Hermione stamped her feet hard, as if to express her dissatisfaction, but her face was always smiling.

But soon, Hermione's eyes turned slightly, as if she had discovered something, and she changed the subject and said:

"Let's go! Let's go to the astronomy tower, otherwise we will be surrounded if we stay here."

"Well! Let's go!" Ino nodded.

He had discovered the little heads hidden in the corner of the corridor early in the morning. But he didn't think about sneaking around at the beginning. The purpose of this trip was to let people see it, which was a good thing.

Thanks to a roommate who was the editor-in-chief of a campus magazine, he had heard some rumors, so today's scene happened.

Attract some firepower to prevent those who are busy with things from making up stories about Hermione.

…

In the long corridor, two people walked side by side.

But at the turning point, they caught a glimpse of snowflakes floating in the sky again.

The Scottish Highlands in late December seemed to really like snow.

“Maybe we don’t have to go to the Astronomy Tower. It’s also nice to go to the Black Lake for ice skating!”

Looking at the snowflakes flying outside, Ino suddenly suggested.

“Well, anywhere is fine!” Hermione nodded slightly. It didn’t matter to her where to go.

…

Outside the castle.

When snowflakes flew and gently covered this ancient and mysterious land, the Black Lake turned into a winter wonderland.

The once dark lake surface has now condensed a layer of floating ice, and these thin floating ices are also decorated with pure and flawless snowflakes from the sky.

At the dock of the new life, dozens of small boats were quietly docked by the lake.

“Want to go boating?”

By the lake, Ino looked at the boats he used to have and suddenly felt that rafting was also a good choice.

The boat slid gently under the effect of magic, breaking the previously calm lake surface and creating layers of delicate ripples.

It seemed that in static state, it was always difficult for people to perceive the speed of movement.

In less than half an hour, the boat had gradually rowed to the center of the lake. The castle in the distance looked more majestic under the falling snow, and the towers and spires stood taller under the snow.

On the boat, the two of them just looked at the scenery in the distance like an oil painting.

Suddenly.

"A-choo!"

A soft and short nasal sound broke the silence.

"Sorry! I didn't think it through." After hearing the sound, Ino found the problem immediately.

The inheritance of ice and snow magic made him forget the feeling of cold long ago, but Hermione was different. Even if wizards were stronger than Muggles, rowing on a snowy day was a bit difficult.

"It's okay, like this!" Hermione said and picked up her wand: "Water and fire are not invaded!"

A white halo flashed at the tip of the wand, and the snowflakes in the sky seemed to encounter an invisible barrier and bypassed the gliding boat.

"Compared to magic, I think you need this more!" Seeing the snowflakes disperse, Ino also took out the gift box that had been prepared long ago from his pocket.

A four-inch square box wrapped in blue velvet.

"An early Christmas gift?" Hermione reached out to take the box and gently stroked the soft velvet on the surface of the gift box.

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

However, such an answer aroused Hermione's curiosity.

You know, in the past few years, Ino's Christmas gifts every year have always surprised her.

The miniature castle crystal ball in the first year, the automatic writing feather pen in the second year, and the exquisite video mirror in the third year...

Thinking of this, Hermione couldn't wait to open the box.