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Chapter 268: Pansy’s Visit, Surprising Words
🕑 Added 2025-01-15 15:10:28 +0000 UTCWhen there are no worries in one's heart, it seems even a breeze can make one feel free.
Hogsmeade.
The day after returning from Croatia, Ino resumed his usual routine.
Eating, reading, watering the plants, and occasionally sitting by the window on the second floor, quietly watching the western sunset.
It seemed like a tranquil existence, but after thoroughly reading the history of magic, he knew that such peace was always filled with uncertainty.
Just like the several prominent figures of modern times, they did not appear in history by chance. Perhaps it was due to the emotional nature of wizards that even in times of peace, some outstanding individuals would emerge.
They might be kind or evil, but they always managed to stir up the tranquil magical world.
...
Inside the cottage.
After completing his daily watering, Ino did not return to the second floor to watch the sunset but chose to sit in the living room and wait quietly.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
The long-awaited knock on the door sounded.
He was momentarily stunned, but then quickly stood up.
To be honest, perhaps because he had lived in the wizarding world for so long, he almost forgot that knocking on the door was the proper way to enter a room, rather than using the fireplace like an intruder.
He opened the door.
In the soft glow of the setting sun, a slender figure appeared before him.
"Long time no see!"
Pansy spoke first, just like she did at the banquet three years ago.
With her back to the sunset, her short, sleek black hair not only highlighted her youthful vitality but also added a touch of competence to her demeanor.
"Long time no see, come in."
Ino stepped aside, politely replying.
As Pansy walked past, he subconsciously glanced at her back. The once small figure had now undergone a tremendous transformation.
In the first-floor living room.
Pansy sat on the sofa. Although she didn't rudely turn her head to look around, her eyes were constantly surveying the surroundings.
The once old house was now completely renewed and filled with the warmth of daily life, which made her sigh.
Meanwhile, Ino also walked out of the kitchen with two glasses of honey lemonade. Noticing the change in Pansy's expression, he half-jokingly said, "I've done a pretty good job tidying up this place, haven't I? Former owner of the cottage!"
The joke not only livened up the atmosphere in the living room but also made them feel as if they had returned to that summer when a girl was holding a pile of house contracts, and a boy was looking shocked.
"This place is nice, but I wasn't the previous owner!" Pansy smiled, a graceful and confident curve appearing on her lips.
Perhaps thinking her previous response was too obvious, Pansy added after a brief pause, "Those contracts I brought to you back then all belonged to Mr. Parkinson, not me, at least not at that time."
"It's all the same!" Ino took a sip from his cup and continued, "After all, they will be inherited by Miss Parkinson in the future!"
"Haha, maybe so!" Pansy laughed softly.
The friendly joke and reminiscing about the past brought them closer together.
After a moment.
Ino put down his glass and casually asked, "Have you been through something recently?"
However, this seemingly casual question made Pansy's expression serious.
"Am I that obvious?"
Faced with Pansy's counter-question, he suddenly thought of his former self, during the second year, talking with Professor Flitwick.
Thinking of this, Ino decided not to hide anything, and after a brief contemplation, he said, "I didn't notice any obvious external changes, but I did notice another issue—your magic is unbalanced!"
"Actually, I noticed from the moment you walked in that your magical growth seems to have surpassed your age. Even though we're only in the fourth year, you feel like a seventh-year graduate to me."
The growth of a wizard's magic is always a mystery.
It is precisely this mystery that has kept the magical world relatively stable because when everyone is about the same, there's no point in fighting.
But one thing is certain: a young wizard's magic suddenly increasing significantly is always due to some experience, whether it's a mental change or some other encounter.
Magic is related to the mind, as shown by George in the original story. After Fred's sacrifice, he could never cast the Patronus Charm, even though he had learned it.
On the other side.
Upon hearing about the unbalanced magic, Pansy frowned slightly.
But soon, as she received the subsequent positive feedback, her furrowed brows relaxed.
"I don't know why this is happening; I'm not lying to you about that." Pansy leaned back on the sofa, her eyes burning as she looked up.
"I know you're not lying because no one can clearly explain magic issues."
Faced with the somewhat intense gaze, Ino slightly turned to one side.
This subtle change did not escape Pansy's notice, and a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes.
"Yes, it's good that you believe me! As for what happened, it probably relates to my experiences this semester..."
If asked by someone else, even Daphne, she would have given a selective answer, but now...
Looking into those pure eyes, Pansy suddenly felt that some people never need to be guarded against.
...
In the first-floor living room.
Ino quietly listened to Pansy's story, his mind filled with thoughts.
Pansy was likely somewhat extreme, but Dumbledore also had a hand in this.
Not hiding the Mirror of Erised properly, letting a Slytherin girl discover it, and this girl happened to be philosophizing.
After about ten minutes.
When Pansy finished recounting her experiences last semester, Ino curiously asked, "So, what exactly did you see in the mirror? You should know that the mirror shows nothing real."
"But it could come true," Pansy softly retorted.
However, what she said next left Ino somewhat... incredulous.
"The wizarding world is sick, without vitality, as calm as stagnant water, while the living space for wizards is constantly being squeezed."
Pansy's expression was very serious, as if this was the conclusion of long-term thinking.
This statement also revealed to him the root of her magical growth.
It seemed that once someone established a firm belief and wanted to strive for it, the rapid growth of magic appeared reasonable.
This fits the essence of magic, where thoughts become reality. When a young wizard has aspirations beyond their age, magic helps in another way.
At that moment, many images flashed through Ino's mind—young Grindelwald, young Dumbledore, and young Tom Riddle...
And these people, likely due to their strong mental demands and desires, had built a solid foundation in their youth.
Thinking of this, when he looked at Pansy again, he felt that the girl before him exuded a different kind of aura.
