The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 162 A Group Photo at Sunset, The Forgotten Basilisk

Dumbledore's sudden appearance caught both of them off guard.

Quickly realizing what was happening, Ino was the first to greet him: "Good afternoon, Professor! Magical Creatures Protection was originally an elective course I planned to take. As for Hagrid, although we are not familiar with each other, I think we can get along well."

On the other side, even with his hair and beard all white, Newt still showed the respect and enthusiasm a student has for a professor as he walked toward Dumbledore with open arms.

"It's been so long since you've visited! Ino and I seem to have gotten ourselves into some trouble today!"

As he spoke, Newt turned and gave Ino an apologetic look.

Ino silently looked up at the sky. He now felt that Newt was very naive, but also a bit disloyal. The two children were using slingshots to break the glass together, but as soon as their parents arrived, one of them turned around and complained.

Dumbledore noticed the exchange of glances between the two and felt a strange pang of envy. For nearly half a century since becoming Headmaster of Hogwarts, no student had been willing to engage in such an equal and enjoyable interaction with him.

Fame is an honor, but it can also be a shackle.

At school, he was even willing to act silly and dress up as a crazy old man in hopes of gaining the students' favor. Unfortunately, even after all that, the students still maintained a polite distance.

As he sighed, Newt appeared before him, and Dumbledore also opened his arms to embrace his former student.

"Newt, you haven't caused any trouble, and it's not even trouble, believe me!"

Dumbledore's voice wasn't loud, and his tone wasn't particularly resolute, but this casual, weather-like conversation made Newt breathe a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness! I thought I'd gotten myself into trouble! And that guy over there, he was about to run away just now, don't think I didn't know!"

Newt deliberately increased the volume, as if afraid that some people wouldn't be able to hear him.

Hearing that he had been falsely accused again, Ino stopped looking at the stars in broad daylight and turned around to pretend to be angry as he retorted:

"I didn't run away! It was a mobile transfer! Besides, you were the one who encouraged me to burn it. The knife was mine, the fire was mine, and now what kind of 'behind-the-scenes' are you going to send me to after the results are out..."

"You just said you weren't planning to run away? Your eyes clearly betrayed you," Newt argued back with a smile.

"I wanted to run away for a reason; some old man tried to steal my things..."

"you……"

Some things are quite magical. With Dumbledore acting as a lubricant, this bickering made Newt and Eno suddenly relax, and the restraint, awkwardness, and distance they had shown before disappeared.

Dumbledore watched with a smile throughout, observing the interaction between the two.

……

Before we knew it, the sun was slowly setting in the west.

Time flows slowly like fine sand, draping the world in a gradient of colors.

The evening breeze in Massachusetts was cool and refreshing. It gently rustled across the lawn, causing the lush grass to sway in the wind.

The bright green grass blades shimmered in the soft light of dusk, as if sprinkled with a thin layer of gold dust.

A quiet midsummer night.

On the lawn, a heavy, solid wood round table is set with three exquisite dinners.

Ino leaned back in the wicker chair with complete relaxation, while across from him, two elderly people, whose combined age was two hundred, were chatting quietly.

With these two in charge, I doubt anyone in the entire magic world would dare to provoke them.

What also relaxed him was the flame placed in the shelter.

Whether out of trust or for some other reason, he suggested dealing with the flame himself, and Dumbledore agreed without hesitation.

Some things and some people seem to be truly indescribable in words.

Dumbledore's actions made Ino feel a strong sense of trust and respect. Perhaps everyone grows up, and as time changes, everyone gradually changes their way of doing things, regardless of age.

Ino sat in the wicker chair, quietly watching the two protagonists of the story chatting opposite her, the protagonists of the previous and the year before that. It was a rare sight.

"Ahem... Excuse me for interrupting, gentlemen! Such a beautiful sunset, why don't we take a picture to commemorate it?"

"Take a picture?" Dumbledore looked up. The clouds at dusk today seemed really beautiful, orange, pink, violet... these colors intertwined.

"I agree! Let's take a picture together!" Newt stood up, looking quite happy. Today, he not only saw his professor after many years, but also confirmed his conjecture about the phoenix.

Seeing that neither of them had any objections, Ino decisively took out a large box camera from her suitcase.

however.

"Merlin! The Sanderson camera of the late nineteenth century! He's older than me, maybe as old as Dumbledore."

Newt stared in amazement at the antique camera before him. He was all too familiar with this model; it was the most popular camera of his childhood.

Well, now it's Ino's turn to be embarrassed, but bards are least afraid of embarrassment, so he smiled and said:

"You don't understand, it's about retro sentiment; taking photos should be a ritual!"

"Stop being sentimental! Wait here for me a bit." Newt saw through the lie immediately, stood up, and walked into the room.

When only the two of them remained on the lawn, a red figure flashed by again; Fox had delivered a letter to Dumbledore.

moment.

Seeing the phoenix suddenly appear, Ino seemed to remember something and slowly sat up: "Professor! Do you know that there is a basilisk hidden in the castle? The basilisk left behind by Salazar Slytherin."

Upon hearing this, Dumbledore gently removed his half-moon spectacles and said in a somewhat enigmatic tone, "I know! But I don't know where it's hidden. I've been looking for it."

There was no doubt, no questioning, and no curiosity about how Ino had learned of this news.

Dumbledore's answer was like a light soda, devoid of any emotion.

"If I knew where it was hidden, what would you do with it?"

As they were talking, Newt quietly returned, and Ino stopped the conversation, since some things could be discussed later.

……

In the courtyard at dusk.

Newt is working on a new camera, which is currently the most popular Polaroid instant camera in the United States.

Seeing Newt's deliberate boasting, Ino secretly patted her pockets; she still had quite a few gold coins left from selling cat demon claws on the Arad continent.

"The camera modified with alchemy is a bit of a hassle! Not only can it take pictures instantly, but it can also automatically add developing solution!"

As Newt deliberately spoke loudly, he slowly walked towards the edge of the lawn, and just as he stopped, a camera stand suddenly appeared on the ground.

After adjusting the angle, Newt quickly returned and stood to Ino's right.

In the setting sun, Eno and Fawkes stood in the center, flanked by Dumbledore and Newt.

"Click!"

The instant camera made a crisp sound and then printed out three photos with developing solution.

In the photo, all three are smiling broadly, especially Dumbledore, who always makes some funny gestures.

(End of this chapter)