Harry Potter: The Bard of Hogwarts

Since Halloween, the rumors in the castle had been like mosquitoes in the height of summer—buzzing incessantly, making Hermione incredibly annoyed. The root cause of all this was the pumpkin carriage ride during the banquet.

Ino, a distinguished Slytherin, enjoyed an immense level of popularity in the castle, a fact difficult to imagine. This was not only because of his handsome appearance and remarkable talent but also due to the extensive coverage by the Daily Prophet. This created a kind of herd mentality among people, akin to the effects of hype and celebrity.

As a result, Ino had become the "white moonlight" in many girls' hearts. But for Hermione, this was the source of endless trouble. Her relationship with Ino was maliciously distorted by many, evolving into twelve different versions of rumors, the most annoying being the disgusting love potion story.

"Don't let me find out who's spreading these stories behind my back," Hermione thought fiercely.

She disliked being the subject of whispered conversations and even more despised the envious or jealous glances from those who didn't know the truth. Groundless speculations and gossip were always utterly boring.

Today, Sirius's letter presented the perfect opportunity. With so many busybodies around, she would use her actions to set things straight.

Hermione clutched the letter tightly as she walked down the long corridor, descending level by level along the moving staircases.

Meanwhile, Harry and Ron were quietly following behind her.

"She really went by herself. Shouldn't we stop her?" Harry couldn't help but look around nervously.

As they entered the castle's lower level, there were scarcely any other students around, mostly just the green-clad Slytherins coming and going.

"Relax, there won't be a fight," Ron said confidently, a look of excitement in his eyes as if he were part of some grand event.

"But..." Harry hesitated, feeling that something was off.

"There really won't be a fight!" Ron turned back, looking at Harry with a burning gaze. "Slytherins aren't fools. At most, they'll use some verbal jabs. Actually fighting would be like putting Ino on the spot and pushing him away."

"Then what are we here for?" Harry asked, bewildered. Initially, he thought they were stopping Hermione, then he thought they were there to help her in a fight, and now it seemed there wouldn't be any fight at all.

"We're here to back Hermione up!" Ron said decisively.

At the Same Time

Hermione had already reached the lower level corridor, the only way to the Slytherin common room. Perhaps, as Ron said, Slytherins wouldn't act foolishly. Even someone like Goyle wouldn't pick a fight without orders or instructions.

As Hermione turned another corner and walked down the corridor, the Slytherins she passed mostly looked at her with curiosity and scrutiny. This included Marcus Flint, the Quidditch captain and a seventh-year student. With a playful look, the towering figure stood aside to let her pass without any unnecessary actions.

In the Slytherin Girls' Dormitory

Upon receiving word from two first-year girls, Daphne stood up abruptly, then sat back down, looking somewhat guilty.

"Aren't you going to do anything?" Daphne asked, still indignant, turning to Pansy, who was sitting calmly in her chair.

"What do you want me to do?" Pansy put down the book she was reading, the cover revealing it to be the ancient Greek historical classic The History of the Persian Wars. "Daphne, we shouldn't respond to everything. Besides, I don't want you to always follow behind me. I might not always lead the way, so sometimes you need to make your own decisions."

Having said this nonchalantly, Pansy resumed her reading. Facing Pansy's clear stance, Daphne hesitated, looking towards the door. After a moment, she gritted her teeth and walked out.

In the Slytherin Common Room

Draco Malfoy sat on a sofa, absentmindedly, his ears twitching slightly at any sound from the girls' dormitory exit. Each time there was a noise, his eyes would dart over.

When he saw Daphne come out with an expressionless face, though not Pansy, he quickly stood up and headed out. He didn't intend to look for Ino—he wouldn't know where to find him in the vast castle anyway. Even if he did, he wouldn't do something so foolish.

Adding fuel to the fire was something only a fool would do. A smart person would remove the source of the flames, letting all conflicts dissipate into nothing.

Leaving the common room, Draco headed straight to the Potions classroom, not even glancing at Harry and Ron, who were trailing behind.

In the Lower Level Corridor of the Castle

Seeing the surrounding Slytherins remaining silent, Hermione began to have second thoughts. It wasn't out of fear but a realization that her actions might not be appropriate. Calming down, she realized this was a one-sided declaration that, while venting her frustration, might also upset Ino.

Just as Hermione was contemplating whether to turn back, the entrance to the Slytherin common room opened again. This time, a blonde girl with skin as delicate as a porcelain doll emerged.

Seeing that it wasn't the familiar black-haired girl, Hermione paid little attention and turned to leave. Though it seemed half-hearted and might invite ridicule, she didn't care about others' opinions—only Ino's.

"Leaving so soon? I thought you were tougher," Daphne suddenly blocked her way, her voice sweet yet cold. Combined with her perpetual smile, it always carried a hint of danger.

Facing the blatant provocation, Hermione took a deep breath to steady herself.

"Are you talking to me? If so, please address me as Miss Granger. Courtesy is a basic form of respect," Hermione replied.

"Oh? Miss Granger?" Daphne chuckled lightly. "As far as I know, Hector Dagworth-Granger, the founder of the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers, had no daughter. If you're an illegitimate child, then I apologize."

Such a statement was highly offensive. Being accused of being an illegitimate child was a significant insult in England. Daphne said it with a seemingly innocent tone and logical reasoning, making her words sound credible to any random bystander.

Hermione remained calm, staring at the girl blocking her path. After a brief exchange, she grasped Daphne's intent—to provoke and anger her. Although she wasn't sure of Daphne's next move, Hermione decided not to play along.

"I suggest you spend more time in the library. That way, your perspective won't be limited to the magical world of the British Isles," Hermione said. As she spoke, she gracefully brushed her slightly messy hair behind her ear.

"A noisy toad at the bottom of a well will never know how vast the world is outside. Even when it rains, it naively believes all the water comes from inside the well."