章 30: Chapter 30: Malfoy's Counterattack
"How could they do that… Scarhead clearly violated school rules. I'm going to write to my father!"
In the dormitory, Malfoy was loudly complaining.
It had been three days since the flying lesson. After Harry's flashy maneuver, Professor McGonagall had taken him away on the spot.
Just when everyone thought Harry would face severe punishment, the plot took a dramatic turn.
Not only was Harry exceptionally recruited to the House Quidditch team, but he was also appointed as the Seeker, a crucial position.
When the news reached Slytherin, Malfoy instantly lost his composure.
Yesterday afternoon, he had been speculating in the common room with others about what kind of punishment Harry might receive.
But now, he had been severely slapped in the face. Holding back his anger, he returned to the dormitory, where he could no longer contain himself.
Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, the instigator Neville, all the Gryffindors who were just onlookers, and even Harry's owl, became targets of his curses.
After listening to Malfoy's mutterings for over half an hour, Ino couldn't hold back any longer.
"Draco, do you know why the symbol of Slytherin is a serpent?"
"Because even if a serpent fails, it doesn't despair and complain. It quietly prepares in the shadows, nurturing its strength, resilience, and determination under adversity, and then strikes with a deadly blow at the right moment."
In the dormitory, Ino spoke with the unique tone of a bard telling a story, firmly capturing Malfoy's attention.
"Its gaze is clear and profound, its body sinuous and graceful, its tail agile and elusive. Each movement signifies adaptability and the wisdom to survive in changing environments."
"Draco, remember you are a true Slytherin! So don't imitate those toads, who only know how to make noise and nothing else."
Ino didn't directly persuade but used personification to subtly praise Malfoy while cleverly diverting his thinking.
As expected, the effect was immediate.
Malfoy seemed to resonate with this approach. After quietly contemplating for a while, he suddenly slapped his thigh.
"You're right! I am a Slytherin. I'll find an opportunity to give Scarhead an unforgettable lesson…"
No one knew exactly what Malfoy was thinking, but his eyes grew brighter, and two unusual red spots appeared on his cheeks.
"Looks like you've understood! Congratulations, a true Slytherin. But it's already late, so let's go to bed if there's nothing else."
Seeing that Malfoy had stopped complaining, Ino didn't hesitate to praise him.
"Oh, by the way! Don't forget to wake me up tomorrow morning."
After saying that, he pulled down his bed curtains, ignoring Malfoy beside him.
...
Time always quietly passes during peaceful days.
Unknowingly, the first school year had already gone by for two whole weeks.
During this period, Ino not only familiarized himself with Hogwarts but also found his own rhythm of life.
Apart from the classrooms and the library, most of his time was spent practicing magic in the dormitory or going to the Astronomy Tower to watch the sunrise and sing alone.
Speaking of singing, one must mention the accompanying instrument.
Although he had high expectations of magic, he was still amazed by the self-playing accordion.
The accordion he bought for 10 Galleons in Diagon Alley before school started was surprisingly perfect. Not only could it play automatically, but it could also recognize voices and store compositions.
Once, he casually hummed Schubert's Serenade.
The accordion automatically recognized the tune, storing it according to the seven-tone musical scale.
It was like a multifunctional recording device, able to play back at any time.
...
Slytherin dormitory.
After a day of classes, Ino was quietly resting in a chair.
Next to him was an open book titled "Practical Household Magic."
Yes, household magic.
This wasn't a Muggle book like "The British Housewife" teaching how to wash clothes, cook, or clean.
The "Practical Household Magic" published by Murmuring Publisher was, in a sense, far more valuable than "The Standard Book of Spells."
It could even be considered an encyclopedia of spells because it contained a wide variety of spells and even included incantation methods and techniques.
Half an hour later.
Ino slowly opened his eyes, waved his wand, and had the accordion play a soothing melody.
Every day, listening to music, reading, and practicing magic.
To be honest, he had come to love the privileges of Slytherin.
If he had been sorted into Gryffindor, as described in the original story, he wouldn't have had the peace to practice magic or even quietly do his homework.
After all, no one could expect the boisterous and energetic Gryffindors to suddenly become quiet and well-behaved.
"Bang!"
Just as Ino was about to switch the music, the dormitory door was rudely pushed open.
"I just challenged Scarhead to a duel in the Great Hall, and he accepted. It's tonight at midnight in the trophy room."
Rushing back to the dormitory, Malfoy excitedly recounted his recent experience, how he scared Harry into speechlessness, how Weasley could only stand by like a lackey...
"By the way, can you come with me tonight? Be my second and help teach Scarhead and his sidekick a lesson."
"Sorry! I won't break school rules." Ino refused without a second thought.
Are you kidding? If the acceptance letter was the key to the path of magic, then a midnight duel was certainly a marker of adventurous departure.
Who knew how many eyes would be secretly watching this duel?
He had worked hard to keep a low profile for half a month, gradually fading from everyone's attention. Only a fool would jump out and become the focus again.
Malfoy, on the other hand, seemed to have expected this result and wasn't angry at Ino's refusal.
"Alright! Then I'll go with my plan. Haha! Scarhead is finished… and so is that Weasley!"
Seeing Malfoy immerse himself in some sort of self-satisfaction, sitting there with a silly grin, the scene felt so bizarre that Ino instinctively stood up, grabbed the accordion beside him, and walked out without looking back.
...
Common Room.
"Swinburne, are you going out?"
Stepping out of the dormitory, Ino heard a clear voice behind him and stopped in his tracks.
"Good afternoon! Miss Parkinson, and Miss Greengrass!"
In front of him stood two of his yearmates, Pansy and Daphne.
To be honest, these two girls were quite the figures in their year.
Although they weren't much described in the original book, through this time spent together, Ino knew that the two girls before him were not easy to deal with.
This wasn't to say they were bad, but that they were deeply entrenched in Slytherin's legacy: shrewd, cunning, and yet elegant.
...
"So, are you going out to practice?"
As she spoke, Pansy's eyes inevitably glanced at the accordion beside him.
Daphne, standing by, picked up the conversation, jokingly saying, "I wonder if we have the honor of hearing you play a piece."
"Well! It would be my honor." After thinking for a moment, Ino agreed.
Since he chose to keep a low profile and integrate into Slytherin, he couldn't be too out of the ordinary. Proper social interaction was essential.
Sometimes, excessive low-key behavior could be a form of conspicuousness.
"Although I don't have the skills for proficient playing yet, I can tell you an interesting story."
Ino put down the accordion and found a secluded corner in the common room to sit down.
____
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