Chapter 60: End of the Holiday, Return to Hogwarts

Evening was approaching.

Ino pushed open the door and returned to his room.

He had spent the entire afternoon downstairs in the hall, telling stories. Although he felt a bit physically tired, he was mentally fulfilled.

To be honest, the so-called bard wasn't an exclusive identity.

It was merely a role he adopted when fate led him to encounter Hans, a fellow bard, in a fantastical world.

To survive safely, he had no choice but to disguise himself as a bard.

Of course, if he had encountered a knight at the beginning, he might now be posing as a squire or a knight's attendant.

However, over time, he gradually grew to enjoy this profession.

Previously, whether he was telling stories or divining for people, it was all to earn a meal, but now it had transformed from a means of survival into a hobby.

"You have never been a burden to me; it's just a hobby…"

Looking at the accordion by the bed, Ino sighed softly.

To be honest, he had considered changing his identity, experiencing something different, such as being a scholar, a diviner, an adventurer, or even a sailor or navigator.

But when considering his age, well... a 12-year-old scholar? A barely grown adventurer? It just didn't seem reliable.

...

As time passed, the feeling of physical fatigue gradually set in.

Ino leaned against the bed, lying on his side. This posture allowed his whole body to relax completely.

Likewise, in this semi-dreamlike state, his thoughts began to drift, and memories of the past surfaced in his mind.

The orphanage he once lived in, the fantastical world of his past, and even older experiences...

A sense of contradiction arose; sometimes he felt very mature, yet also very young.

Life seemed to have ended, yet everything felt like it was just beginning.

It was like a long, winding story that appeared to be reaching its conclusion, only for the author to lay down numerous foreshadowings for future chapters, seemingly ending yet not ending.

With a heart filled with subtle contradictions and thoughts.

As if to escape some disturbances, or perhaps to seek answers in his dreams, he eventually fell asleep on the bed.

...

Time quietly flowed by like water, slipping away unnoticed.

The two-week Christmas holiday passed by in a relaxed and leisurely manner for Ino.

His daily schedule was simple yet fulfilling. After breakfast, he stayed in his room studying magic, including Transfiguration, Sunlight Magic, and Ice Magic.

After a midday rest, he would go down to the hall to tell stories and sing songs.

Notably, in just two weeks, he not only gained a bit of fame in Hogsmeade and a small group of loyal listeners, but also caught the attention of some newspapers and magazines.

This included the Daily Prophet.

Perhaps the magical world of the British Isles had been too peaceful in recent years, leading even the mainstream newspapers to focus on such small matters.

Of course, it was just attention.

After reading the letter from the Daily Prophet, he threw it into the fireplace and burned it.

The letter asked him to personally visit the Daily Prophet's editorial office and even wait in line for an intern journalist's interview.

Thinking about it, how was this different from those who paid to publish their own books?

While the events of the holiday flashed through his mind.

In action, Ino had already packed his luggage.

When he first came to Hogsmeade, he carried a suitcase; when he returned, it was still a suitcase.

Of course, that was without opening it.

As for the owl, the clever little fellow had already flown back to Hogwarts ahead of him.

...

Hogwarts.

Slytherin common room.

After passing through the gap in the wall, Ino finally returned to the familiar common room.

But seeing the somewhat distant and reserved looks in their eyes, he had no desire to stay and turned to head straight to his dormitory.

Opening the door.

What greeted his eyes was the little guy standing on its perch, looking adorably daft, along with various Christmas presents piled by the bed.

Ino rubbed his temples helplessly and walked towards the bed to start unwrapping the packages.

Although there's no mandatory custom of reciprocating gifts in England, for gifts from acquaintances or those of high value, it's generally expected to send something in return.

Unwrapping packages, reading letters, unwrapping packages, reading letters...

After repeating this process for nearly half an hour, he finally sorted through the pile of gifts.

Despite the tedious process, the joy of unwrapping the packages was something few people could experience.

Among all the gifts, besides the usual chocolates and various candies, he received many valuable items.

For example, Professor Flitwick's *Standard Book of Spells, Grade 3*, Hermione's Penhaligon's men's perfume, and Dumbledore's *The Tales of Beedle the Bard*...

But in terms of conventional value, Draco Malfoy's gift stood out: a three-inch tall, pure gold Quidditch star statue.

Although the statue had no fancy magical effects and couldn't float in the air, the over two-pound weight of gold overshadowed all its flaws.

Perhaps humans have an innate love for gold, and Ino couldn't help but play with the statue for a while.

After putting away all the gifts, he turned his attention to the various candies and snacks.

But for some reason, seeing the snacks always brought to mind a certain senior sister's gaze.

While he wouldn't eat them, he also wouldn't throw them away. These beautifully packaged candies were once the lifelong dream of many children in the orphanage.

With this in mind, he decisively got up and walked outside.

...

In the common room.

After looking around, Ino walked towards a group in the corner.

However, as he approached, the once lively circle fell silent.

He pretended not to notice, as even Malfoy's explanation couldn't change the situation.

"Goyle!" Ino called out.

Goyle, who was standing nearby, sprang up from his seat as if a professor had called on him in class.

"I'm here! Mr. Swinburne!"

Seeing Goyle's anxious expression, Ino felt a bit exhausted.

"Come with me. I have something for you... Don't be afraid! It's just some Christmas candy."

Hearing there was food, Goyle's almost tearful expression immediately changed, showing a determination to eat even if it were his last meal.

...

In the dormitory.

Ino sat quietly on a chair, and the previously piled candies had all been taken by Goyle.

He didn't have any particular dislike for Goyle, who was just a simple-minded child. Even if he grew up, he would still be a big simpleton.

In contrast, Crabbe was a bit different. A young wizard who could cast Fiendfyre before graduation made it hard to believe that his current behavior wasn't some form of disguise.

But whether it was a disguise or not, Ino had no intention of intervening. Knowing the future didn't change much.

There have been many prophets in history, and none of them involved themselves in every detail.

Even the once-famous Seer with heterochromatic eyes merely steered the course in a general direction.

Let the flowers bloom in their splendor, let the trees show their majestic forms; each unique, each growing.

Perhaps this is the greatest respect for life.

___