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Chapter 310: Krum's Wisdom, Overestimating Humanity
🕑 Added 2025-03-01 21:26:11 +0000 UTCSomeone once said that everything in this world is relative.
Black and white, good and evil, even noise and tranquility—they are always in opposition but exist in a state of harmonious balance.
This is indeed the truth. Even in the noisy Great Hall, there are always a few places where peace prevails.
One such place is the Slytherin table.
When Viktor Krum sat down beside Ino, he was surprised to find that the group of people who had previously been chasing him for autographs had suddenly disappeared.
Of course, Krum knew this wasn't because his popularity had waned, but rather that most people didn't want to approach him at this particular moment.
This situation was not unfamiliar to him. It had happened at Durmstrang as well, especially after the Quidditch World Cup had ended, and he returned to school to find a similar wave of fanfare.
However, this adulation was always tempered by reason. Whenever professors were present, everyone tacitly agreed not to disturb him.
With that in mind, Krum discreetly observed the young man beside him. Though Ino was wearing a plain, standard robe, it looked almost like a tailored evening suit on him.
His short black hair, coupled with the dark green trim on his robe, gave off an air of calm mixed with mystery.
When Ino noticed Krum's gaze, he slightly turned his head:
"If you just want to chat, I think it's time to wrap it up. After all, we have classes tomorrow."
Through their earlier conversation, Ino had already discerned that Krum had an agenda. But since Krum hadn't voiced it, Ino didn't see the point in wasting more time.
Sensing that Ino was about to leave, Krum quickly abandoned his polite pretense and got straight to the point:
"It's about the Movie Mirrors! I want to introduce them to Durmstrang…"
As a professional Quidditch Seeker, Krum was well aware of the dangers of his career and its short lifespan. Therefore, with graduation approaching, he felt the need to use his fame to secure some plans for his future—plans that could sustain him ten years down the road.
"You should be discussing this with the person in charge, not with me!"
Upon hearing that it was about the Movie Mirrors, Ino waved his hand dismissively and refused without hesitation.
Though the Movie Mirrors were his invention, and he was the major shareholder, the company now had a board of directors. Certain matters couldn't be handled whimsically—rules were rules.
"I know that! I've written many letters but have never received a response. I'm not asking for any special privileges, just a chance to meet with Mr. Flint…"
Seeing that he had been misunderstood, Krum disregarded any language barriers and tried his best to quickly convey his thoughts and explain the situation.
"No response?" Ino frowned slightly.
Among the flurry of broken English, he caught the key point.
Logically, with Krum's fame, especially after his stellar performance in Quidditch, his letters shouldn't have gone unnoticed.
It was like a top Muggle football star sending a request to endorse a luxury brand. Even if the company had no plans to hire a spokesperson, they would still politely decline the offer.
Ino quickly considered several possibilities, but without further information, he refrained from making any conclusions.
"Thank you! I'm aware of the situation now. I'll give you a definite answer before Halloween."
Without further delay, after Krum bid his farewell, Ino stood up and walked out of the Great Hall.
However, as he passed by Draco Malfoy, he paused briefly, and Draco decided to follow him.
...
In a hall as large as Hogwarts' Great Hall, one person more or two people fewer was hardly noticeable.
Of course, this was under the assumption that the people leaving were insignificant or unremarkable.
Ino and Krum sitting together was already more than just a simple one-plus-one effect.
To put it bluntly, aside from the team honor of the Irish national team, the 422nd Quidditch World Cup only truly glorified these two individuals.
As a result, although no one dared to interrupt their conversation, all eyes were on them.
Many people noticed Ino's departure—those at the Gryffindor table, the Ravenclaw table, and even the Beauxbatons contingent...
Of course, the Hufflepuffs remained as they were—eating, drinking, and merrily enjoying themselves.
...
In the dungeons.
With most of the castle's inhabitants gathered in the Great Hall, the empty corridors seemed colder, yet this was the only path leading to the Slytherin common room.
Draco silently followed Ino. Although he didn't know what had happened, he could tell it wasn't anything pleasant. So, he wisely chose to remain silent.
In the quiet atmosphere, they soon reached the entrance to the common room.
After verifying the password, the wall split open to reveal the passage.
Once back in the dormitory, Ino got straight to the point:
"Draco, have you been following the Movie Mirror business?"
Ino had been considering the matter on the way back. It was highly unlikely that the Malfoy family was involved in the issue. Even if Draco had done something foolish, Lucius would have stepped in to stop it.
"Movie Mirrors?" Draco was momentarily confused.
But he quickly realized that something must have gone wrong. This wasn't a small issue. Without hesitation, he began explaining:
"I haven't managed any of their operations. I only invested ten thousand Galleons and provided a 900-square-foot shop in Diagon Alley. Beyond that, I haven't paid much attention to the details, and…"
He rattled off all the information he knew, including details about the profits and even some gossip.
Ino calmly sat in his chair, reassured by Draco's straightforwardness. It didn't seem like Draco was lying, which was a relief.
"Write a letter to Marcus Flint for me, notifying him to gather all the people involved in the operation. We'll need to have a meeting next weekend! Of course, anyone who is only receiving dividends but wants to attend is welcome too."
"I'll write it right away." Draco nodded calmly, then asked, "Where should the meeting be held? At the shop in Diagon Alley or Malfoy Manor?"
"Let's have it at the shop in Diagon Alley. This isn't a banquet, so we don't need a large venue."
After some thought, Ino decided on Diagon Alley. Some matters couldn't always be handled on other people's turf.
This situation also reminded him that it might be time to purchase his own estate. Although it could be quite costly, he currently had more than enough money.
Back when he arranged for the distribution of dividends, he made a quick trip to Gringotts. But after opening his vault, he hadn't checked it since.
He wasn't sure exactly how much he had now, but it certainly wouldn't be a small amount.
...
After finishing their conversation, the dormitory fell into silence.
Draco sat at his desk, writing the letter, while also recalling a conversation he had with his father before the start of the school year.
"Galleons have power, but as the heir of the Malfoy family, the first thing you must learn is to resist greed…"
His father's words still echoed in his ears. At the time, Draco hadn't thought much of it. But now, he could see that Galleons really did have power.
