Chapter 90: The Feeling of Freedom

Leaving the Transfiguration Classroom

At this moment, Ino felt an extraordinary sense of relief; all potential instabilities of his second school year had been perfectly resolved.

From now on, he could finally stay in the library until curfew, and at dawn and dusk, he could wander every corner of the castle alone.

After all, since he enrolled last year, due to Quirrell's presence, he hadn't had the chance to properly explore the castle, not even the legendary Room of Requirement.

Now, he could make up for this regret.

Walking Alone in the Castle

As he strolled through the castle corridors, Ino's mind flashed back to the recent events.

Honestly, the points awarded were an unexpected joy, and compared to Professor McGonagall's generous additions of fifty or a hundred points at a time, Snape's stingy one or two points seemed rather amusing in hindsight.

But he understood, after all, different positions came with different rights.

A vice principal, who holds a title related to the headmaster, could not be compared to Snape, who was merely a house head and Potions Master.

Silently leaving the sixth-floor corridor, he decided not to go to the Great Hall for breakfast. He knew Mrs. Weasley's Howler would arrive on schedule.

This wasn't the Weird Sisters' concert; he didn't need to run all the way from the sixth floor to the first just to listen to it.

Even if he wanted to seek punishment, there were better ways to do it.

The Eighth Floor of the Castle

At the end of the right corridor on the eighth floor, a finely woven tapestry hung on the wall.

"Trolls Beating Barnabas the Barmy..."

Looking at the figures on the tapestry, Ino sighed inwardly.

Among the three things that interested him most about Hogwarts, besides the library and the Sorting Hat, the Room of Requirement was the third.

The Room of Requirement, answering needs as they arise, was the epitome of magic in the entire story.

After a quick glance at the bustling corridor, he chose not to linger and attract attention, turning to walk in another direction.

Since he had already confirmed the location, he could come back on any weekend morning to experience it; there was no need to visit during the crowded morning hours.

Meanwhile

In the Transfiguration classroom, things were a bit noisy.

Unlike the serious faces of Dumbledore and Arthur, Mrs. Weasley, who had just sent a Howler, was holding Ginny tightly while scolding Percy nearby.

It seemed that all parents were like this; even though the incident had nothing to do with Percy, as the eldest brother in the castle, Percy had to bear it all.

After understanding the whole situation, Percy was deeply grateful to the Slytherin who had reported it.

As the youngest and only girl in the Weasley family, Ginny was incredibly cherished.

After a while, Mrs. Weasley, possibly tired from talking or remembering her pride in Percy, stopped scolding.

"Percy, make sure you personally thank that child, and tell him the Weasley family will always remember this kindness."

"Don't worry, Mom, I'll handle everything properly. I want to thank him myself too."

Percy, still a bit shaken, said. Just by observing and listening, he realized how dangerous the diary could be; he dared not imagine the consequences if it had been left unchecked.

"Good! I believe you will handle it well."

Mrs. Weasley nodded, then continued to comfort Ginny softly.

As for Ron, he wasn't mentioned at all. After all, the incident had already happened, and blaming Ron would only add family conflict with no benefit.

Elsewhere in the Castle

In the Great Hall, students, having just experienced the Howler, were now staring in amazement at the green hourglass representing Slytherin.

In the blink of an eye, Slytherin had gained a full hundred points.

This wasn't just the usual three or five points awarded in class.

A hundred points were enough to surpass Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw instantly, starkly contrasting Gryffindor, who were in the negative.

The significant change caused an uproar in the Great Hall. Students chatted excitedly, sharing news and their opinions on the matter.

As for Slytherin, students immediately began to take action, leaving the long table to gather accurate information.

Meanwhile, the initiator of the whole incident, Ino, was on his way to the library.

He intended not only to fulfill his promise by bringing Madam Pince the latest romance novel but also to start his advanced studies in Animagus transformation.

After all, whether it was holding a mandrake leaf in his mouth or brewing the later stages of the potion, he had completed these over the summer.

With his improving Transfiguration skills, it was time to put things on the agenda.

Moreover, he had a small bottle of Felix Felicis hidden in his suitcase, an insurance measure if needed.

Hogwarts Library

Every visit to the library brought a sense of comfort and ease.

It felt as if the air was filtered through silk, each breath light and serene.

Shadows and light intertwined between the bookshelves, casting mottled patterns like historical imprints, quietly narrating the passage of time.

Footsteps made almost no sound, and only the occasional rustle of turning pages could be heard, like whispers of the wind through a bamboo grove.

Time seemed to slow down here, with every moment feeling particularly elongated.

Unlike the castle's hustle and bustle, the library felt like an isolated space.

Entering the library, Ino walked to the leftmost desk near the entrance, where Madam Pince worked.

Without disturbing her reading, he gently placed the book on the table and turned to leave.

After putting down the book, he once again marveled at the magic's wonder.

A novel of over a hundred thousand words could be completed overnight with just a quill from Hogsmeade's writing shop, priced at 12 Galleons.

It was like Rita Skeeter's famous quill, seemingly able to read people's thoughts.

As long as the content was in the holder's mind, the quill would write fluent sentences.

In a way, such a magical quill was a treasure every novelist dreamed of.

Meanwhile

Madam Pince noticed the new book on her desk.

She had been aware of the movement but was too absorbed in her reading to look up, assuming it was just students returning borrowed books.

"A new book?" she thought curiously.

Opening the book, she saw the neatly written title: "My Sister's Soulmate and Our Heartless Stepfather."

The style and title were unmistakable.

Madam Pince instantly recognized its source and cherished it, carefully beginning to read.

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