Harry Potter: The Bard of Hogwarts

As the saying goes, when people find a common enemy, their relationship quickly strengthens.

It hadn't been long since school started, and Ron was still upset with George and Fred for tricking him during the Sorting Ceremony. Now, hearing Hagrid criticize George and Fred, Ron immediately felt a sense of camaraderie and joined in the condemnation.

Harry observed the two of them. There was none of the tension from before; now they seemed like old friends catching up.

Though the situation was somewhat odd, Harry didn't interrupt. In fact, he was somewhat pleased with how things were unfolding. He didn't have many friends at Hogwarts, so he was glad Ron and Hagrid were getting along.

Their conversation lasted for over half an hour.

Ron was unusually animated in his discussion. It wasn't until he got thirsty and went to get some water that he noticed the lone plate of rock cakes on the table.

"Oh, I forgot!"

Seeing Ron's intent, Hagrid also realized his lapse and quickly got up to fetch the boiling tea from the stove.

While Hagrid was away, Harry quickly signaled to Ron.

"Hey mate, why are you blinking so much?" Ron asked, puzzled.

"Ron, hold off on the topic about your brothers for now. I want to find out from Hagrid why Snape is always targeting me. I haven't done anything to provoke him..."

Harry paused midway because Hagrid was returning with the kettle towards them.

Ron gave Harry a reassuring look, indicating he would help steer the conversation.

Once Hagrid poured the tea and settled back into his creaky wooden chair, Harry seized the moment.

"Hagrid, do you know what happened today..."

"...It's Snape," Ron interjected, "you haven't seen how malicious he looks. I bet if it weren't for others being around, Snape would definitely harm Harry, maybe even kill him."

Ron once again expressed his disdain towards Snape.

However, contrary to Ron's expectations, Hagrid responded in an uncharacteristic manner:

"Harm Harry? That's not possible. You're overthinking it, there's no such thing."

"Hagrid, I feel like Snape really hates me," Harry interjected at the opportune moment.

"But I've never done anything to provoke him. You know that too, I've never even met him before coming to Hogwarts."

Compared to Ron's exaggerated descriptions, Harry appeared much more reasonable, perhaps because he had just joined Gryffindor.

"Hmm..." Hagrid scratched his bushy beard in confusion. Faced with Harry and Ron's expectant gazes, he found it difficult to resist.

"Well... I can only say Snape would never harm you. After all, he's a professor at Hogwarts. Even if you don't trust him, you should trust Headmaster Dumbledore."

Upon hearing this reasoning, Harry nodded in agreement, and even Ron, unusually, did not object.

"As for Snape targeting you... what I mean is Snape targets all of Gryffindor, and you happen to be the most famous one in Gryffindor."

Hagrid couldn't help but praise himself for his quick wit. He had come up with a perfect excuse in such a short time.

Harry, on the other hand, seemed to have a sudden realization, appearing to temporarily accept this reasoning, which at least seemed plausible.

...

Time passed quietly and imperceptibly.

Two days later, on a clear morning.

Ino once again enjoyed Draco's exclusive wake-up service, which only reinforced his determination to buy an alarm clock.

"Draco, you've already put hair gel on three times. Are you sure this won't harm your scalp?"

Ino leaned against the bedpost, watching Draco's dazzling operation.

Draco was meticulously fussing over his hair, seemingly preparing for a grand event rather than a simple flying class.

Ino couldn't quite understand it. It was just a flying lesson—was it really necessary to wake up at six and go through such extensive grooming, spraying cologne and spending half an hour adjusting his hairstyle in front of the mirror?

"Ino, how does this shirt look?" Draco ignored the hair gel question and turned to inquire about his shirt instead.

"It looks great! Very smart choice of colors and it suits you well," Ino replied, somewhat insincerely.

Honestly, if it weren't for Draco's daily wake-up service, Ino would have been tempted to point out that no one would lift his robes just to admire his hidden shirt.

"That's good to hear! Get ready quickly; don't forget we have flying class later. I'm off to the Great Hall!" Draco said without looking back, leaving the dormitory.

A few minutes later, Ino also got up from the bed.

He was looking forward to the flying class. It wasn't just about humans' innate longing for the sky; it was also about potential survival skills for the future.

Although the magical world seemed safe at the moment, nobody would mind having an extra lifesaving method, even if it was just for traveling.

"Maybe... I should get a broomstick?" Ino thought aloud.

Considering this, Ino glanced at the suitcase beside the bed. Despite its extension charm, it was still not enough to fit a flying broomstick.

"It seems England doesn't sell flying carpets. I guess I'll be busy during the summer break..."

...

While Ino was planning for a shopping trip abroad during the summer break, on the other side of the castle.

The Great Hall.

Draco had finally 'coincidentally' met the person he wanted to see.

Spotting Harry and Ron entering the Great Hall, Draco immediately abandoned his facade of pure-blood dignity and began loudly boasting.

"Before coming to Hogwarts, I was already proficient in flying a broomstick. Once, my father and I were flying home and nearly collided with a Muggle airplane. If I hadn't dodged in time, the Muggle plane would have been damaged..."

Draco was surrounded by Slytherin newcomers, proudly recounting his legendary experiences.

At the Gryffindor table.

Ron appeared to be drinking milk innocently, but his ears were perked high.

"Harry, are Muggle airplanes really that easy to damage? Aren't they very dangerous up in the sky?"

When it came to curiosity, Ron was always the one.

"Draco's just boasting!" Harry decisively shook his head.

"Although I've never ridden a plane, those hundred-foot-long metal guys are really dangerous if they come at you head-on. Neither he nor his father would have escaped unscathed."

"Merlin's socks! A hundred feet? That's bigger than a dragon..."

Ron's eyes were filled with astonishment. He couldn't imagine how such a massive creature made of steel could fly up into the sky, let alone that this behemoth was made of steel.

At the Slytherin table, Draco noticed Harry glance in his direction, and his excitement grew.

Not only did he tell stories about dodging Muggle airplanes, but he also talked about racing dragons and flying with Thunderbirds, embellishing his magical experiences one after another.

Exaggerated embellishments and eloquent words made Ino stop and listen.

At that moment, he even thought that if Draco changed jobs and became a bard, he might really have achieved a brilliant legend.

___