The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 103 First Violation of School Rules

Without Tom and without the Basilisk, the Halloween party in the second year of school was unusually lively.

Everyone was allowed to have as much fun as possible, and the curfew would be extended to midnight on the day of the banquet. After all, the next day was Halloween, and Hogwarts would have a day off as usual.

Although the event was extended to 12 o'clock, the little wizards usually dispersed after 10 o'clock.

Of course, this doesn't mean obediently going back to the dorm to sleep.

Because a second banquet awaited them in the college's common room, a banquet belonging to the college itself.

……

Slytherin common room.

Although everyone was gathered together, the inherent hierarchical system among the snakes remained.

Based on their family background and abilities, although they all lived in the common lounge, they were divided into small cliques, making it quite complicated.

Just like at this moment, sitting next to Ino were only Draco, Pansy, and Daphne, representing the pureblood Holy Twenty-Eight families: Malfoy, Parkinson, and Greengrass, respectively.

As for the other little snakes of the same grade, they would never voluntarily come this way.

Even if these weren't Ino's intentions, that's just how the rules are, and a system is a system. Slytherin has had its own set of rules for thousands of years.

The noisy atmosphere in the common room continued until 11 p.m.

After 11 o'clock, although no one went back to their dorm to sleep, the overall atmosphere gradually quieted down.

Now, most people sit together, drinking pumpkin juice and butterbeer, eating all sorts of novel candies, and chatting about topics that interest them.

When she felt that it was about time, Ino stood up and walked towards the largest and oldest group in the lounge.

"Excuse me, Mr. Flint, may I have a few minutes of your time?"

Ino smiled at Marcus Flint, the Slytherin Quidditch captain.

"Of course! Mr. Svenburn, please come with me." Flint grinned, inadvertently revealing his signature buck teeth again.

The two of them arrived at a quiet corner of the common lounge, one after the other.

Ino looked at Flint and said, "It's like this, I need your help with something! I want to go somewhere during the holidays tomorrow, and I need the hair of a junior wizard who is at least in the third year and qualified to go to Hogsmeade."

He stated his demands frankly and openly, while simultaneously handing over two Galleons without making a sound.

Ino had also learned a bit about Flint over the past few days; the big guy opposite him was a kind of shrewdness in a different way.

Because Flint may not seem very bright, but he has his own set of rules for doing things: he won't do anything without a reason.

To put it bluntly, it's about taking advantage. As long as he feels he can benefit from you, even if it's not an immediate benefit, he'll greet you with a smile.

Similarly, once Flint deems him mediocre, incompetent, and worthless, he puts away his smile and transforms into a stingy and rude senior.

"Haha, it's nothing!" Flint seemed to do these things often, and naturally took the money, while his smile grew even wider.

With a wave of his hand, he pocketed two Galonnaises and then promised:

"I'll be waiting for you here by 8 a.m. tomorrow at the latest. And you don't need to worry about being caught; the person who donated his hair will keep his promise and won't leave the common room until you get back, I guarantee it!"

"I believe your assurance!" Ino smiled.

Flint has a very good reputation and credibility in Slytherin, after all, there has never been any news of him taking money and not doing the job.

On the contrary, there are many rumors of people losing double the money because they messed things up.

After making the agreement, Ino said goodbye to Draco and the others, and then went straight back to his dormitory.

After all, I need to get up early tomorrow to go to Hogsmeade, so I must ensure I get enough sleep.

"He doesn't even know how to break school rules, he deserves to get points deducted..."

As he walked along the road, he couldn't help but think of the little lions who ran away from Hogsmeade in the story.

They came up with all sorts of fancy methods, from secret passages to invisibility cloaks, but none of them involved any brainpower.

Not only did it make me tense, like a dark wizard who couldn't see the light of day, but more importantly, I didn't have any real experience; the whole time was spent running through secret passages and exercising my legs.

……

Silent all night.

The next day, at eight o'clock in the morning, Ino arrived at the Slytherin common room on time.

Meanwhile, Flint sat on the sofa yawning repeatedly. Upon seeing Ino, he stood up wearily and took out a folded parchment envelope from his pocket.

"Rick Sparrow! Mixed-race third-year student, this is enough for you all day. Don't worry! I'm here!"

Ino took the envelope. "Thanks, Mr. Flint."

After exchanging a knowing glance, Flint turned and went back to his dorm room, since a holiday morning should be spent sleeping.

……

On the path leading to Hogsmeade.

A slightly chubby, short Slytherin wizard with a face full of pimples was walking alone.

This is exactly what Ino looked like after drinking the compound decoction.

Having easily fooled Filch's scrutiny, he hurried towards Hogsmeade. The main reason was the taste of Polyjuice Potion; it was simply unpalatable, and every sip pushed his taste buds to their limits.

About half an hour later.

Ino quickly went to the bookstore and bought a copy of "Advanced Potion Making," then left the main commercial street and turned into a quiet alley.

The Devils-Bans store is located away from Hogsmeade's main street, in a relatively secluded residential area.

This is easy to understand, since it is a shop whose main business is repair.

Just like Muggle appliance repair shops, they are never located on bustling commercial streets, but are mostly located in various corners of the community, making it convenient for housewives to repair broken appliances.

Hogsmeade, in a hidden street.

The houses on both sides of the street stand silently, their walls covered with the mottled marks of time.

At the street corner sits an old shop of less than 10 square meters.

The walls of the shop have turned yellow, and the signboard on the door has long since faded.

However, this unassuming shop has its own unique charm.

The shop door was open, allowing a quick glance at the minimalist interior: a long walnut table, a high-backed chair, and a simple storage shelf—nothing else.

An elderly man with gray hair sat in the chair. He wore a dark blue robe and his face was etched with the lines of time, but his eyes were bright and piercing.

The old man was wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses and was intently busy doing something on the table.

The long walnut table was covered with all sorts of strange parts and tools. The old man would pick up a tool from time to time, polish it for a moment, and then put it back in its place.

During his work, the elderly man moved very smoothly, his hands moving nimbly, sometimes with a magic wand, sometimes with a carving knife, as if every detail had been carefully considered, and he appeared focused and composed.

Ino stood quietly in front of the door, not daring to disturb him.

After the elderly man inside put down his tools and finished his work, he gently knocked on the door.

Good day, Mr. Devis!

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(End of this chapter)