Harry Potter: The Bard of Hogwarts

Two mugs of foaming butterbeer were placed on the table, accompanied by a small plate of crispy pine nut biscuits.

Ino's gaze unintentionally fell on the opposite side. Hermione had changed significantly since their third year.

Once a girl with prominent front teeth, she had now grown into a graceful young lady, standing almost shoulder to shoulder with him.

It was only the second half of their third year, and she had already surpassed 160 centimeters in height. It was hard to imagine how much she would grow by the time of the Triwizard Tournament next year.

Perhaps women are naturally sensitive to the gazes around them. Hermione was no exception. Upon noticing eyes on her teeth, she instinctively pressed her lips together.

But then she remembered the dental correction she had completed the previous summer and no longer tried to hide, flashing a bright smile instead.

Strengths should be showcased. This was the most repeated phrase in the dormitory.

No one noticed the subtle changes in Hermione's expression.

Ino was now pondering how to tactfully express his thoughts. For a sensitive and proud girl, it was crucial to be clear without hurting her self-esteem.

It was a challenging test. He knew girls of this age were very delicate and prone to various imaginations.

Lifting the butterbeer on the table, he took a gentle sip. The cold beverage slid down his throat, bringing a moment of coolness. It also gave him an idea for a good topic to start with.

"Hermione, do you know Charles Dickens?"

The topic of literature and the familiar name made Hermione's eyes light up.

"Of course, the greatest English writer of the 19th century: 'The Old Curiosity Shop,' 'Oliver Twist,' 'Dombey and Son,' 'A Tale of Two Cities'..."

Hermione listed many famous novels.

"Yes, he was great!" Ino agreed with a sigh. "But there's another book published in 1943, which, along with 'A Tale of Two Cities,' is among the best-selling books of all time..."

He deliberately paused, waiting to see Hermione's reaction. If she hadn't read the book, he'd switch to another topic.

"It's 'The Little Prince!'" Hermione answered without hesitation.

Maybe it's true that smart people are all alike, while foolish ones are each unique in their own way—foolishness blooms like a hundred flowers.

But unfortunately, Hermione belonged to the smart ones.

After answering 'The Little Prince,' her smile gradually faded, replaced by a calm expression.

She knew well what 'The Little Prince' was about.

Putting aside the philosophy, 'The Little Prince' is undeniably a poignant love fairy tale.

Did the fox and the rose do anything wrong? Hermione believed they didn't. Especially the rose—its arrogance was directly linked to the Little Prince's boundless indulgence.

However, after leaving Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, Ino brought up this book.

She roughly guessed the answer but still held a sliver of hope.

...

Ino noticed the subtle changes in Hermione's expression.

He couldn't deny his affection for Hermione. Whether in the original story or their current interactions, it was the same.

But at their current age, it was hard to accept these feelings openly. Hermione was still immature, with much she hadn't figured out yet.

"Hermione, if you were the Little Prince, what would you do?"

"What would I do?" Hermione hesitated.

She had always identified with the female roles while reading, either the rose or the fox. This was the first time she was asked to put herself in the Little Prince's shoes.

"If I were the Little Prince, I'd first become friends with the rose, then..."

Halfway through her sentence, Hermione stopped. The sliver of hope in her heart vanished.

Without a doubt, the failure of the Little Prince's emotional journey stemmed from his blind love at a young, naive age.

But no matter what, this was a subtle rejection.

"Alright... If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now!" Hermione's eyes reddened slightly as she stood up and decisively walked towards the door.

The intertwining of rational understanding and emotional sadness made her eager to escape the scene. She didn't want to stay a moment longer.

Especially with the two-way mirror in her pocket, which now felt like a silent mockery. She had planned to give it to him today.

Now, it seemed redundant.

...

The Three Broomsticks.

Ino picked up his butterbeer again. Hermione's hasty departure seemed like a misunderstanding.

But he didn't intend to chase after her. Even if he did, nothing would change.

At times like these, the best approach was to give each other some space. A mature choice made later might be the real choice.

"You really should go after her!" Madam Rosmerta quietly approached the table.

"Though I don't know what you talked about, as a gentleman, you shouldn't let a girl be upset."

"You don't understand. School crushes are very vague," Ino subconsciously explained.

"Ha? I don't understand?" Madam Rosmerta chuckled, being told by a teenage boy that she didn't understand feelings.

"Though I don't know how you developed this personality, my advice is to hope you don't regret today's actions later."

Listening to Madam Rosmerta's advice, Ino remained silent for a while, then nodded slightly, indicating he would seriously consider it.

...

Half an hour later.

After leaving the Three Broomsticks, Ino didn't head home but turned towards Dervish and Banges' shop.

Unlike the profound mystery of magic, alchemy felt more like a Muggle discipline to him.

From entry to mastery, it didn't require much talent. Having a good brain and a willingness to learn were enough.

But this only applied to basic mastery.

Alchemy seemed simple at first but became exceedingly difficult later on. The most typical example was that, to date, many could skillfully make various alchemical items by following the wisdom of their predecessors.

However, true alchemy masters were exceedingly rare.

For instance, in England over the past half-century, there had only been one alchemy master, Dumbledore, whose achievements were merely breakthroughs in alchemical materials.

...

Hogsmeade Village.

After passing through a quiet alley, Ino arrived at Dervish and Banges' shop.

The yellowed signboard, the less-than-ten-square-meter shop, and the timeworn marks covering the walls.

Really, whenever he stood at the entrance of Bance's shop, he felt a sense of detachment from the world. The strong sense of separation welled up in him.

It was as if all the hustle and bustle of the world couldn't affect this small shop. Like a rock by the sea, constantly battered by waves, it stood firm.

The shop door was open.

The simple furnishings inside remained unchanged—a long walnut table, two high-back chairs, and a simple storage rack.

The unchanged element was also the elderly man with white hair and piercing eyes sitting in the chair.

"Since you're here, come in. Why stand at the door? Are you going to take my picture?" Old Davis's voice carried a unique warmth.

Ino chuckled as he walked into the shop, casually sitting on the nearby stool and said, "Next time, I'll take your picture! Using the antique camera you gave me, I'll send it to a magazine to compete for the most charming old wizard in the British Isles!"

Hearing this, Old Davis put down his tools, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

"Don't set me up! The most charming old wizard has always been Dumbledore! If I dared to compete for that title, Dumbledore's fan club would tear me apart."

"Hahaha!" Ino laughed at Old Davis's words. "But I think you're more deserving, like a guardian of time."

He wasn't joking. This small shop truly gave a sense of timeless tranquility.

"Guardian of time?" Davis pondered the title, savoring its meaning.

"I like that title. For that, today, everything's 10% off! Tell me, what do you want this time? A single-handed sword? A knight's spear?"