Chapter 164: Chapter 164: The Invisible Book of Invisibility
Flourish and Blotts.
After Ino left, the bookstore descended into chaos.
The cause was the request from Hermione and Harry to buy some books.
What should have been a pleasant task instead filled the bookstore manager with dread.
With an expression like he was facing a firing squad, he approached the cage. Quickly opening the door, he used a long stick to push back the flood of "The Monster Book of Monsters."
"Ah!" In the confusion, one book managed to climb onto the stick, slide up his arm, and bite into his shoulder.
One mistake led to another. With his rhythm broken, the manager dropped the stick, allowing the monster books to jostle and scramble out of the cage.
"Immobulus!"
Hermione, wand in hand, decisively used magic to bind the rampaging books.
She couldn't care less about the rule against underage magic outside school; several books were already poised to bite the fallen manager.
To his credit, the middle-aged manager quickly took action once the books were under control.
He grabbed the escaping monster books and threw them back into the cage like baseballs, then slammed the door shut with a bang.
"These aren't 'The Monster Book of Monsters,' they're actual monsters! Fine, just come pay. I'll give you a 50% discount."
The bookstore manager spoke with a pained expression, picking up two immobilized monster books from the floor.
Time always passes in busy moments.
A quarter of an hour later, Ino returned to the bookstore, holding an old bronze oil lamp.
His unusual action intrigued both Hermione and Harry, as well as the bookstore manager.
Upon learning that Ino intended to use the lamp to find "The Invisible Book of Invisibility," the manager generously promised that if they found the books, they could take as many as they wanted for free.
...
People often say cats are very curious, but little lions can be just as curious.
Gryffindors seem to naturally enjoy treasure hunts. Seeing the two approaching, Ino didn't mind.
Perhaps the lamp Aunt Julia gave him was also person-specific. Just like in the Arad Continent, only he could see the hidden information and stories illuminated by it.
So, having two people tagging along was no big deal.
Soon, people in the bookstore noticed something strange.
Three kids wandering around with a lamp, and those who heard from the manager that they were searching for "The Invisible Book of Invisibility" smiled knowingly.
This book was written by a reclusive goblin and published through Gringotts.
From printing to sales, it was widely regarded as a well-crafted scam. No one had ever seen the books, much like the emperor's new clothes, everyone deceiving each other.
Gringotts knew they were selling air, wholesalers knew they bought air, yet they still put it up for sale...
Honestly, the bookstores suffered the most.
Perhaps the act was too outrageous, and soon the Ministry of Magic ordered it to stop, as it was becoming an international embarrassment.
However, since only a few hundred copies were involved, the quantity and amount were too small to escalate the matter. In the end, it was quietly dropped.
After all, those capable of challenging Gringotts wouldn't bother over such a trivial matter. Those incapable, like the bookstore manager, had no choice but to consider themselves unlucky.
...
Meanwhile.
In the bookstore, Ino held the lamp, carefully searching the corners for clues.
Behind him, the other two simply enjoyed the treasure hunt.
Perhaps because Harry had just found a Knut in a corner, the discovery greatly increased the fun of the game.
Despite the many bookshelves, it didn't take too long to search the under-200-square-meter bookstore.
After a few minutes of searching.
A nearly broken bookshelf caught Ino's eye, or rather, the floor beneath it, scattered with a few books that shimmered like silver light.
He bent down to touch the books, finding them surprisingly soft and smooth, like they were wrapped in egg whites.
"Finally found it!" Ino sighed in relief.
At his exclamation, Harry and Hermione looked up, but all they saw was Ino holding nothing but air.
Not wanting to believe Ino would joke about this, Harry tried to touch it, but his hand easily passed through what Ino claimed to be a book, making him look resigned as if Ino had successfully pranked him.
Unlike Harry, Hermione first looked at the oil lamp in Ino's hand, then thoughtfully pursed her lips without saying anything.
At the checkout of Flourish and Blotts.
"Sir! I found 'The Invisible Book of Invisibility.' As agreed, I'll take two copies, alright?"
Ino waved his hand in front of the middle-aged manager.
"Halloween is still three months away... whatever, if it makes you happy, take them."
The manager looked at Ino's empty hand, chuckled, and nodded, used to such pranks.
...
After spending half the day shopping and strolling, Ino suggested they take a break at the Leaky Cauldron after buying all the necessary items on their booklists.
Harry eagerly agreed, seeing that it was getting late and his free time was running out.
The Leaky Cauldron.
Noticing Hermione's distraction, Ino smiled and explained: "You don't need to worry about a warning from the Ministry of Magic. While technically you did violate the rule against underage magic, you were in Diagon Alley's Flourish and Blotts..."
Taking a few minutes, he explained the loopholes in the Trace to them. Hermione's expression brightened, and Harry also had an epiphany.
"That's unfair..." Hermione said.
"There's nothing unfair about it. The Trace exists to uphold the Statute of Secrecy, not to protect young wizards' interests."
Ino interrupted Hermione's preconceptions, explaining that what seemed unfair was actually a necessity.
"The Statute of Secrecy is so important? Even if Muggles found out about wizards, what's the big deal? Aunt Petunia's family knows!" Harry said, puzzled.
Ino didn't hold back, using a Muggle analogy knowing both had Muggle primary school experiences:
"Imagine if one day people discovered a 665-year-old mouse. Would biologists put it in a zoo as a mascot or dissect it to uncover its secrets to longevity?"
Seeing their stunned expressions, Ino said no more. Some things become clear once you change your perspective.
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