บท 66: Chapter 66: Winter is Coming
Slytherin Dormitory.
Ino placed the clay pot back on its previous shelf and then looked at the bored Draco nearby.
"Draco, on my way back, I saw Harry teaching people his flying techniques..."
"Where?"
Draco instantly sprang up from his chair as if it had a spring.
"I saw him in the Great Hall earlier, but I'm not sure where he is now."
Ino said, maintaining his composure while speaking about something he didn't know for certain.
But Draco didn't care about that; hearing that Harry was teaching flying techniques made him restless. He hastily threw on his robe and walked out the door.
"Bang!" The sound of the door closing echoed.
After sending Malfoy away and confirming he wouldn't return soon, Ino sat on his bed, drew the curtains around him, and slowly opened his suitcase.
He had already made up his mind that instead of waiting until next winter, he would plant it in the Undetectable Extension Space now, since it was currently empty anyway.
The reason he chose the dormitory was entirely due to its safety. As the stronghold of Slytherin, it wasn't as free-spirited as Gryffindor, where girls could directly enter the boys' dormitory.
In this underground castle space, only the dormitory residents and the Slytherin Head of House could open the dormitory door. Even the Headmaster couldn't enter a student's dormitory without permission.
With all these considerations, Ino chose the dormitory over the Room of Requirement.
Snape wouldn't bother entering, and as for Malfoy, once he saw Ino's curtains drawn, this pure-blood young gentleman wouldn't disturb him. There would be no unauthorized entry, and Malfoy would even reduce unnecessary noise in the dormitory.
With these thoughts, Ino carefully carried the clay pot and walked into the suitcase.
...
Undetectable Extension Space, an empty plaza.
It was like a lost place forgotten by time, with only a pile of various candies and dried foods in the center as the only different scenery.
Choosing a spot far from the food, Ino slowly squatted down and dug a small pit in the soft soil.
Then he poured all the soil from the clay pot into the newly dug hole. After finishing, he stood up, holding the Wand in his right hand.
"Winter is Coming!"
The second spell of the White Witch's legacy, the same one that once froze Narnia into a hundred-year winter.
As the incantation was spoken, the temperature in the Undetectable Extension Space suddenly dropped, the air pressure increased, and cold winds began to blow around. Snowflakes started to fall from the sky.
As time passed, these fluffy snowflakes grew larger and denser, even mixed with various sizes of crystal-clear hailstones falling from the sky.
The snowflakes fell densely, weaving into a giant white net. Under this net, visibility was compressed to a maximum of three feet, beyond which nothing could be seen.
A blizzard had formed!
In no time, the entire Undetectable Extension Space, an area about the size of three or four basketball courts, was covered in white snow, becoming a veritable ice and snow world.
Everywhere was covered in white, except for the small area storing the candies, which remained untouched by the snow.
A few minutes later, the blizzard gradually ceased. Although the spell had ended, small flakes still fell intermittently from the sky, as if the newly created ecosystem had begun self-cycling.
On the other side, Ino looked at the scene before him and let out a long breath. There was a moment when he thought he wouldn't be able to cast the spell.
But things happened by chance, as if he had taken Felix Felicis. The doubts and hesitations were quickly replaced by a strange confidence and determination.
Perhaps it was due to the frequent snow scattering during the Christmas holidays, or for other reasons. In any case, the spell was miraculously cast.
Although the ice and snow only covered ten thousand square feet of the Undetectable Extension Space, Ino felt a sense of satisfaction.
Successfully casting it was a good start. As for the spell's strength, it could be improved later with increased magical power.
The drop in temperature and the snow cover completely changed the environment here.
Meanwhile, the berry seeds he had just planted sprouted in the snow-covered soil, producing a pale blue seedling.
The two-inch-tall seedling was crystal clear, like a meticulously carved icy jade, with each tender leaf displaying a unique icy blue hue.
This color wasn't the blue of the sky or the depth of the ocean but a cool and dreamy tint, embodying the purity of ice and the vitality of plants.
As the seedling broke through the soil, Ino felt a strange sensation, like another self was taking root in the soil, growing like a plant.
As this peculiar feeling deepened, it created an inexplicable connection between him and the Undetectable Extension Space.
This was undoubtedly good news, as he no longer had to worry about losing the suitcase during future travels. Anyone attempting to enter without permission would be met with an icy reception under his watch.
At that moment, he somewhat understood why the White Witch would plant an icy blue rose in her frozen castle.
Perhaps when Aslan led Susan and Lucy to invade, everything was seen by the White Witch.
But destiny often brings such helplessness—seeing everything yet unable to change it.
After a brief contemplation, Ino squatted down and gently touched the seedling with his finger.
The icy blue seedling swayed gently, a curious experience like scratching his own itch.
Yet, a premonition told him that the seedling's potential extended beyond its current form.
But now wasn't the time to think about that. After confirming nothing was amiss, Ino slowly exited the suitcase.
...
Meanwhile, in the Great Hall, Draco had successfully found Harry among the crowd.
"Potter!"
Malfoy said excitedly.
"Lucky to win a Quidditch match, and you're so smug? And you, Weasley, your family is too poor to even buy half a broom. Are you working so hard as a sidekick just for a chance to ride a broom?"
Draco's words not only angered Harry and the surrounding Gryffindors but also deeply hurt Ron.
"Shut up!" Ron said angrily. "You bad seed, I don't know where you get the courage to speak here. Those two big oafs aren't with you, which is your biggest mistake."
Draco froze for a moment! Indeed, seeing Harry had excited him, and he hadn't noticed the surroundings.
Seeing a group of unfriendly-looking Gryffindors around him, he regretted his impulsiveness.
"Ahem... So what! This is the Great Hall. Do you dare to make a move?"
Although Draco had successfully surrounded himself with Gryffindors, he continued to shout defiantly.
However, as he said, this was the Great Hall.
Seeing red surrounding green, Slytherins soon noticed the situation.
The young snakes silently put down what they were doing and slowly walked toward Draco, forming a counter-surrounding circle.
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