Harry Potter: The Bard of Hogwarts

Near noon, Ino left the headmaster's office.

Though the conversation was enjoyable, and Dumbledore even seemed somewhat reluctant to end it, Ino had to leave.

This wasn't just to stick to his usual midday nap schedule, but also because of his packed afternoon. There was Transfiguration class from three to five, followed by the Transfiguration Club at seven in the evening.

With such a tight schedule, it was hard to maintain energy without a sufficient nap.

Especially for the Transfiguration Club.

The regular classes no longer offered much help to him; it was only in Professor McGonagall's private club, held once every fortnight, that he could gain any useful knowledge.

To be honest, he really admired Hogwarts' education for this. A small, elite class with a house head-level professor offering extra tutoring would cost hundreds of pounds per session in the Muggle world.

Yet here, such selfless dedication continued for decades without any expectation of return.

...

Descending the castle stairs slowly.

After lunch in the Great Hall, Ino instructed Fide to move the Mirror of Erised from the Trophy Room on the fourth floor to his dormitory.

As soon as the mirror arrived, he stowed it away in the sanctuary.

Of course, he could cover it with a cloth in the dormitory, and Draco wouldn't mess with it, but to avoid unnecessary trouble, hiding it was the safest option.

Ino was beginning to understand Dumbledore's habit of hiding things; it wasn't a natural inclination but a necessity to prevent incidents.

Just like a few days ago when he received a note from Lina in the library, based on the condition of the bookshelves, it was clear that at least dozens of magical books had disappeared from the Restricted Section.

The whereabouts of those missing books were obvious.

After all, in over a thousand years of Hogwarts' history, there were only ever additions to the library, never losses.

It seemed the four founders truly understood the importance of knowledge.

...

Three in the afternoon.

Waking up from his nap, Ino arrived punctually at the Transfiguration classroom.

Choosing a spot by the window in the back row, he started daydreaming.

On the podium, Professor McGonagall ignored this behavior. As long as he wasn't disturbing other students, she didn't bother to interfere.

She knew Ino's level in Transfiguration, and attending regular classes was indeed unnecessary for him.

"...Transforming clocks is no longer difficult for you, but in this class, I need you to use Transfiguration to create a clock that keeps accurate time for at least an hour."

"Place your transformed clocks on the table. Before the class ends, we'll check the time. If anyone's clock is off, I'm sorry! For every minute it's off, you'll write an extra inch of homework!"

Professor McGonagall looked around and saw the disheartened expressions of the students, which frustrated her.

Third years! After three whole years, they still made such faces when asked to create an accurate clock. More than anger, she felt a deep sense of defeat.

"Hannah Abbott!" Professor McGonagall picked a typical example.

The girl had been copying Ino's demeanor throughout the class, sitting there motionless with a vacant look.

For Ino, the daydreaming stemmed from understanding the material, but for Hannah, it was something McGonagall could not tolerate.

"Miss Abbott, you'll start! Wave your wand and transform an alarm clock, now! Immediately!"

Startled by being called on, Hannah's blonde pigtails trembled. Hearing she had to start, she glanced at the stern Professor McGonagall and reluctantly picked up her wand.

Her expression was like someone heading to the gallows.

The effectiveness of picking an example was evident. When Hannah was called out, everyone else became serious, and few dared to drift off.

In this serious atmosphere, the Transfiguration class quickly approached its end.

Before the class ended, apart from two unfortunate students whose clocks were off by an astonishing half hour, the rest managed to keep the error within five minutes.

McGonagall begrudgingly accepted this result, waved her hand, and declared the homework as usual.

There were tears, but there were also smiles.

Overall, most students were happy with the Transfiguration class.

As for the two unfortunate students whose clocks were off by more than half an hour: Goyle and Hannah, they were given a three-foot essay and would be tested again in the next class.

...

Finally, when the class ended, everyone filed out of the Transfiguration classroom.

"Ino! Wait a moment!" Professor McGonagall suddenly called out.

Hearing this, Ino immediately turned and walked towards the podium.

"There will be a new member joining the club tonight. You need to come by six-thirty. The newcomer needs to pass a test to find the hidden classroom."

McGonagall stated concisely.

"Don't worry, Professor, I won't mess things up!" Ino nodded seriously.

Not only would he not mess things up, but he also wanted to secretly increase the difficulty. After two whole years, finally, there was a new member joining the Transfiguration Club.

"Don't overdo it!" McGonagall scolded, "Everyone's test is the same."

"Alright!" Ino shrugged helplessly, feeling a bit disappointed that he couldn't join in the fun.

...

Leaving the Transfiguration classroom.

With about an hour until the next activity, Ino decided not to return to his dormitory.

He found an unused classroom, closed the door, and disappeared from sight.

In the valley of the sanctuary.

A luxurious full-length mirror stood majestically.

The Mirror of Erised, a crucial item from the first-year story, was essential for Harry's growth.

At this moment, Ino sat quietly in front of the mirror, just as he had when facing the Boggart, choosing to lower his mental defenses.

The two-meter-high mirror surface began to emit wisps of fog.

Like the mist on a lake in the early morning, which could be dispersed by a breeze but remained to obscure the view in the absence of wind.

After about ten seconds, the Mirror of Erised welcomed its breeze.

Through the mirror, Ino saw a vast and beautiful landscape.

The evening glow was gentle, and a cool breeze brushed his face. The calm lake rippled slightly, and the distant forest, bathed in the sunset, appeared blue and mysterious.

In this serene scene, a towering castle stood silently.

The castle's towers rose high, and as night fell, countless windows lit up with warm candlelight. Through the open windows, lively scenes inside could be glimpsed.

After a while, the image in the Mirror of Erised gradually faded away.

Looking at the now-empty mirror, Ino sighed softly:

"It's to continue this fairy tale..."

Unexpected yet seemingly inevitable. What his heart desired was to continue the Hogwarts fairy tale.

To keep the castle free from darkness and to prevent the sacrifices of the story's teachers and students.

It was simple, but meaningful.

Perhaps from the moment he received the owl-delivered letter, certain dreams were already taking shape.

...

Happy New Year! Wishing you a year filled with joy, health, success, and unforgettable moments. May this year bring you closer to your dreams and surround you with happiness. Cheers to a fantastic 2025!