The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 344 The Camellias Are in Bloom

It's mid-December now.

On an ordinary weekend, a light drizzle mixed with a few snowflakes was falling gently onto the earth.

Perhaps it's because the season isn't right, or perhaps it's because of the rain, but the snow never seems to stay.

Snowflakes often disappear without a trace before they even hit the ground.

……

Although Christmas is approaching, the sky is overcast and the environment is cold and damp.

The young wizards in the castle were plunged into a near-hibernation state, and everything seemed desolate and quiet.

A burning fireplace, a warm common lounge.

No one wants to leave this comfortable environment unless absolutely necessary.

However, these all refer to the junior wizards in the castle.

……

The outside of the main castle building.

In an abandoned greenhouse, however, a completely different scene unfolds.

"Timi, Nilu, print this photo again, and remember to label it with a special font..."

Draco sat at a large desk and gave instructions to a cubicle on the other side of the room.

The once abandoned room is now decorated in a magnificent and luxurious style, with no fewer than a dozen magic lamps on the walls alone.

The warm orange light seemed all the more cozy in the dim winter.

"Roger that, my boss!" came a childish reply. Then the cubicle door was pushed open, and a tiny doll, about a foot tall, ran out.

The doll quickly ran to the table, picked up the photo, and then swiftly returned to its original cubicle, closing the door behind it.

As the puppet left, Draco looked at another table beside him, on which lay a name tag that read: Deputy Editor-in-Chief (Special Correspondent).

"Colin! I'll allocate another 5 Galleons to you to gather more interesting information. Scarface... no, Potter's information is outdated."

Upon hearing his name called, Colin looked up blankly. After a moment, a helpless expression appeared on his face.

"It's outdated, but there's nothing we can do about it! There's really nothing new going on lately, so all we can do is write about Miss Delacour's scandalous affairs..."

Colin felt a bit of pressure. Recently, the castle had become unusually calm, like a stagnant pool, and the sensational news from half a month ago was nowhere to be seen.

……

Thinking back to two weeks ago, Colin couldn't help but recall the dramatic changes that occurred during that time.

First, Harry was exonerated, and the truth about the Killing Curse was also revealed.

According to the Daily Prophet, the mastermind was an unknown dark wizard who first attacked Commissioner Crouch and then controlled him to cast a dark magic curse on Harry.

It sounds a bit farcical, but no one doubts its authenticity.

It's quite simple. Because of this attack, Bartmünster Crouch, the director of the International Department of Magical Cooperation, was seriously injured and even had to submit his resignation.

The Ministry of Magic only has seven departments, so each director wields real power and can even challenge the minister.

To dismiss a chief in defense of Harry? Don't be ridiculous, no one in the wizarding world would believe that reason.

Even with Harry's great reputation, such a thing could not have happened.

……

"It's a pity no one has verified the authenticity of Little Barty..."

At his workstation, Colin let out a soft sigh of regret.

He was the one who wrote the article "The Mask of Hypocrisy." Although it caused quite a stir in the castle, the Ministry of Magic turned a blind eye and didn't even bother to inquire about it.

Draco, hearing Colin's sigh and mutterings, shook his head with amusement and then said aloud:

"Don't feel sorry for him anymore! No one will really make things difficult for Barty, especially since he resigned voluntarily."

While it was somewhat amusing that Colin couldn't see the situation clearly, Draco knew that, in the current situation, not only Colin but even his father Lucius couldn't see it clearly.

In the past two weeks, the Ministry of Magic has suddenly become strange.

So much so that when he received a letter from home, it contained only one instruction: stay close to Ino and maintain and strengthen the existing relationship.

Although he understood that it was out of concern, Draco was somewhat disgusted by the contents of the letter; friends shouldn't be tainted by self-interest.

Therefore, after receiving the letter, he laid it out on his dormitory desk.

……

"Knock~ Knock knock!"

Suddenly, a series of rapid knocks on the door interrupted Draco's thoughts.

"Please come in!"

As the words fell, a girl with golden pigtails walked in through the door.

Draco recognized her; she was the Abbott girl, and a regular at their Hogwarts Information Department.

"I'm here to sell information again!" Hannah said with a cheerful step, her golden twin tails swaying from side to side.

"It's an honor! Please have a seat, Miss Abbott." Draco stood up; the girl before him was the very foundation of their magazine.

Upon hearing this, Hannah didn't stand on ceremony and plopped down on the guest sofa next to her, then crossed her legs, looking mature beyond her years.

"Today's news: At 9:30 this morning, someone saw Ino and Granger on a date at the Astronomy Tower. Ravenclaw's seventh-year prefect, Guilion, delivered a love letter to Delacour at 11:00, but it was switched..."

Hannah spoke slowly and deliberately, while the automatic writing quill pen beside her wrote down her thoughts at lightning speed.

……

"Achoo!"

At the shelter, Ino rubbed her sore nose; there was no doubt that someone was gossiping behind her back again.

There was nothing he could do about it; after all, people have the right to say what they want.

Unless one follows Voldemort's example and curses one's name, even Dumbledore will be the subject of gossip.

Despite these thoughts, he did not forget the purpose of his trip. He sat down under the oak tree and began to select from a pile of scattered gems.

With Christmas approaching, and also because of a casual remark made by George and Fred earlier.

Ino plans to use gemstones as raw materials to make a pair of beautiful straw rings.

Regardless of the circumstances, the necessary sense of ritual should still be maintained.

I once received a basket of straw rings, but I never thought that one day I would give them away, and this ring was even handmade.

This seems to truly prove the fickleness of fate.

……

A ten-foot oak tree.

The ground beneath the tree was piled high with all sorts of gems, their dazzling brilliance echoing the rainbow-colored river in the sky.

Ino sat down on the ground, and after some deliberation, he chose two moonstones that emitted a soft, white light.

Of course, moonstone also has a romantic name—the lover's stone.

It symbolizes gentleness and purity, and this gemstone is also known for its moonshine effect. When illuminated, it displays a warm and delicate luster, much like moonlight.

After selecting and confirming the raw materials, Ino stood up and walked towards the frozen path outside the valley.

As expected, a new story will unfold here around Christmas.

The red maple tree is laden with stories, and the creeping anaconda is a sight to behold, but the most captivating of all is that azure ice flower.

The flower branch was only about two feet long, but it had bloomed with a flower the size of a teacup.

The deep blue stamens and sea-blue petals, layered and distinct, are not only pleasing to the eye but also exude a fresh and elegant charm.

"Camellia..."

Because of its unique shape, Ino recognized the blooming ice flowers at a glance.

(End of this chapter)