Harry Potter: The Bard of Hogwarts

Some common ingredients, meticulously cooked by Mrs. Weasley, signaled the beginning of lunch.

During the meal, there wasn't much idle chatter. This was partly due to the delicious food and also because most things that needed to be discussed had already been covered.

...

After lunch.

As the boys gradually left, only Ginny and Mrs. Weasley remained in the living room.

After a moment of deliberation, Ino decided to make his request, wanting to understand the secret of the clock.

"Mrs. Weasley..."

"Just call me Aunt Molly!" Mrs. Weasley interjected.

"Alright, Aunt Molly!" Ino naturally adjusted his form of address.

"You know, I'm very interested in alchemy, and this clock feels quite magical to me..."

As he finished speaking, Mrs. Weasley immediately agreed:

"Feel free to take a look, it's no big deal. And when Arthur comes back, I'll have him make you a new one because you probably won't need to feed chickens or weed the garden."

"So Mr. Weasley made this?"

Ino was somewhat surprised, thinking it was an heirloom, only to find it was a modern replica.

"Yes, he made it!" Mrs. Weasley nodded, smiling. "He always likes to make little gadgets. He says it's to supplement our household income."

While speaking, Ino noticed an interesting phenomenon. Although Mrs. Weasley was smiling, there was a proud look in her expression, a deep-seated satisfaction with her husband.

"That's wonderful!" Ino's comment carried a double meaning.

Whether it was about the Weasleys' relationship or Mr. Weasley's alchemical skills, it was a positive remark.

Mrs. Weasley caught the double meaning but quickly changed the subject, speaking earnestly:

"Though you're still young, I want to tell you that when you find a girl to date in the future, don't focus too much on appearances. They can be unreliable..."

For this kind of elder-like advice, Ino listened with a smile, occasionally nodding in agreement.

He understood Mrs. Weasley's true intention: a compassionate reminder after learning about his past.

...

The brief chat ended as Mrs. Weasley left.

With permission granted, Ino took an oil lamp and started examining the clock.

Facing unfamiliar alchemical circuits, he had no desire to understand them immediately, merely sensing a potential connection with something called "tracking silk."

His current task was simply to transcribe. Some things need not be understood right away; it's better to have them at hand.

Moreover, if he entered another long-story fantasy world in the future, these transcribed pieces of unfamiliar knowledge would be the best reading material to pass the time.

Time passed slowly.

The clock's circuitry wasn't very complex; after about half an hour, he was almost done.

As he finished the last note, Ino stretched, feeling relaxed.

Turning around, he found Ginny still sitting in a chair, curiously watching.

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

"No! But there's something I think you should know!" Ginny shook her head, her expression becoming serious.

"Alright, let's hear it."

With the clock matter settled and nothing else to do, he was curious about what Ginny had to say.

As the original story's heroine, apart from her somewhat ordinary looks, Ginny possessed all the traits of a main character: loyalty, intelligence, courage, and unconditional trust in Harry.

On the other hand, seeing Ino sit down, Ginny began speaking slowly:

"Hermione is my friend, a very good friend! There are some things I feel I must say; I hope you don't mind."

Ino didn't interrupt, nodding slightly, continuing to listen attentively.

"She works very hard, harder than anyone else! I know this very well..."

Ginny's voice echoed in the living room. As she spoke, Hermione's daily life unfolded.

"… She never told me she was tired. She only said she wanted to stay in the Transfiguration Club, to understand alchemy..."

As a clever girl, Ginny described Hermione's efforts without mentioning the reasons for her hard work or explicitly referring to anyone.

But many things need not be stated plainly; after all, neither of them was foolish.

...

A few minutes later.

Ginny finished sharing her observations.

Accurate observations, as everything she mentioned included specific times, places, and what she saw Hermione doing.

As for things she hadn't seen or guessed, she omitted them entirely.

Likewise, Ino felt a bit emotional. The changes in the story had led to changes in many people.

Once a diligent "workaholic," Hermione now seemed to be pushing herself even harder, doing everything without making a fuss.

"In that case, let me tell you something. A friend of mine..."

After a moment of thought, Ino decided to repeat what he said yesterday, about opposing the Malfoys' control over Draco's marriage.

"... I hope you can convey this to Hermione too. There's no need to change yourself for anyone. Just do what you enjoy."

"Alright! I'll find an opportunity to tell her," Ginny said earnestly.

The burden in her heart was finally lifted. Though Hermione was a year older than her, Ginny felt Hermione had devoted all her talent to studying.

This made Hermione seem less adept at simple emotional matters, sometimes not even as perceptive as a first-year student.

As a result, Ginny felt she had been overly concerned.

...

In the evening.

With Mr. Weasley and Percy returning together, the Burrow reached its peak population.

The small house was now filled with people.

With nine people in the house, both the Weasleys and Ino enjoyed the lively atmosphere.

For the Weasleys, it was a simple love for the bustle, as their family originally had nine members.

For Ino, it was a nostalgic feeling, reminding him of the gatherings in his distant memories during the New Year's Eve, with a large family coming together.

The men sat around, chatting animatedly; the housewives busied themselves preparing the New Year's Eve feast; and the children played so wildly they almost forgot their names.

Things had changed, and he thought he would never find that old atmosphere again, but in the small Burrow in Devon, he experienced the long-lost liveliness.

Arthur, George, Fred, and Draco surrounded the TV, enthusiastically sharing their viewpoints.

Yes, Arthur was involved too.

Especially when hearing Fred's new ideas, the head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office was particularly interested.

Clearly, Arthur had some knowledge and understanding, such as of videotapes and television.

On the other side.

Determined to make a name for himself in the Ministry of Magic, Percy had been sitting next to Ino after dinner, endlessly discussing various political topics.

Regarding Percy's enthusiasm, Ino didn't have much opinion.

Perhaps Percy's style differed from the Weasley family tradition, even seeming a bit unconventional.

But sometimes, one must bow to others to achieve their goals. As long as it was within acceptable limits, there was nothing wrong with bending for one's ideals.