Atop the Astronomy Tower.
The potions that once filled the transfigured tea table had long disappeared, replaced by freshly baked flower cakes and honey water.
In truth, when Hermione had taken out a pile of potions earlier, Ino hadn't intended to accept them at first—after all, he never planned to participate in the Triwizard Tournament.
But seeing the hopeful look in the girl's eyes, he reluctantly took a few rare potions, such as Veritaserum and Skele-Gro.
He wasn't sure where Hermione had obtained the ingredients, but he had already made up his mind that after collecting herbs from the valley, he would wrap them all up and send them to her as a Christmas gift. After all, he had no use for them himself.
…
At the same time.
Once the potions were put away, the tea table naturally became empty.
Recalling Hermione's earlier mention of an empty stomach, Ino subconsciously called out to Blue Lantern.
To his surprise, Blue Lantern actually appeared.
This small elf, born from the flames, seemed unaffected by the restrictions of the Sanctuary. Its two-foot-tall figure appeared directly at the Astronomy Tower.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Ino roughly guessed the reason.
Blue Lantern's true form was the magic lamp, which was hanging in the valley of the Sanctuary. Since its true form hadn't left the Sanctuary, this might be the reason Blue Lantern could break through the restrictions and appear at Hogwarts.
…
Atop the Astronomy Tower.
Hermione quietly watched the entire scene.
After Blue Lantern served the flower cakes and honey water and then disappeared completely, she softly asked:
"What was that just now? I've never read anything about it in any of the books."
Hearing the question, Ino took a moment to organize his thoughts.
"You can think of it as a creature I created—similar to a magical spirit, like a phoenix. Have you read Scamander's work?"
Recalling the original story's "Regurgitating" organization, he subtly changed the concept.
In truth, that explanation wasn't far off; it was a product of his miracle, and the cause-and-effect relationship made sense.
"Newt Scamander? Yes, I've read his article in Transfiguration Today. I didn't expect that, aside from a phoenix, you could create such a creature. But speaking of phoenixes..."
Hermione continued the conversation, following her train of thought to discuss knowledge about phoenixes.
Time passed, and now in her fourth year, Hermione's voice seemed to have lost the earlier childishness, gaining a mature magnetism.
Her voice was pleasant to hear, but the barrage of words was overwhelming.
Listening to her continuous stream of vocabulary, Ino felt somewhat helpless, though he knew this was Hermione's nature. She wasn't a chatterbox by default, but when it came to certain topics, she could get carried away.
"Hermione, have you ever seen a phoenix?"
With just one question, Ino successfully redirected Hermione's attention.
Seeing the "train" come to a stop, he decisively called out to his phoenix: "Brighid!"
A streak of fiery orange light soared across the Astronomy Tower before landing steadily on Ino's shoulder.
"You gave me a lot of potions, so I'll give you a gift in return!"
As if sensing its master's intention, Brighid turned its head and, with its slender beak, plucked a beautiful phoenix feather.
"If you ever find yourself in danger, ignite this feather with magic, and Brighid will come to your aid immediately."
With that, Ino handed the phoenix feather to Hermione.
To his surprise, Hermione wasn't focused on the feather. Instead, her brown eyes were fixed on Brighid the affection in her expression nearly overflowing.
Seeing this, Ino smiled silently. He had absolute confidence in his phoenix's beauty.
Moreover, Brighid possessed innate healing and redemptive powers. Its pure, warm presence was something no one could resist.
"Would you like to hold it?" After some deliberation, Ino decided to extend the invitation.
In fact, just a moment ago, he had noticed a trace of loneliness and desolation in Hermione's demeanor. Perhaps this wouldn't matter to Muggles, but for a witch, it could cause some issues.
A witch's magic is always connected to her emotions. If she lived too long in an environment where she couldn't fit in and couldn't find an anchor, problems could easily arise.
…
At the same time.
When Hermione heard his offer, a glimmer of joy and excitement flashed in her eyes.
"Can I really?"
Though she clearly liked it and her hands were already itching to reach out, Hermione still restrained herself and sought confirmation.
Seeing this, Ino didn't say anything further but simply turned his gaze toward the phoenix on his shoulder.
A soft, orange glow shimmered, and Hermione felt warmth radiating in her arms.
She tentatively reached out her slender, pale fingers to touch the phoenix. When she saw that it didn't resist, she gently placed her hand on it, all the while being exceedingly cautious.
Perhaps this didn't mean much to Hermione, but for Ino, watching this scene stirred memories from his past.
He recalled a desolate orphanage, where, during Christmas, the children received gifts from upper-class gentlemen, displaying the same expressions...
An indescribable joy, mixed with disbelief, eventually turning into careful, tentative touches.
It was as if a fledgling bird was gazing out of its nest for the first time—soft and timid.
…
Unlike Ino, who had briefly fallen into memories, Hermione was fully absorbed in the present moment. From the moment the phoenix appeared, she had felt a sense of warmth.
Now that she was holding it, a feeling of happiness began to emerge within her.
It was as though everything was wonderful again. The countless nights she had spent studying late, sneaking off to abandoned classrooms to brew potions in secret...
Whether it was loneliness or hardship, all of it transformed into warm memories.
Past scenes flashed through her mind as if framed in ornate pictures, glowing uniquely in the depths of her memory.
Meanwhile, over the next few minutes, Ino began to notice a change in Hermione. It wasn't a physical change, nor something outwardly noticeable.
This change was more like a subtle feeling—something he had once sensed in Pansy: the consolidation of magical power and a shift in emotional memory.
Now, Ino felt reassured about Hermione.
At the same time, he discovered a unique ability of his phoenix. It seemed to help wizards sort out their emotions and magic—something akin to a Muggle psychologist.
It was fitting, given Brighid's name—healing and rebirth.
As Ino watched Hermione holding the phoenix, a thought of Fide suddenly crossed his mind.
Simultaneously, a humorous image popped into his head: parents having a second child, a baby sister, while the older brother suddenly found himself no longer the center of attention.
He imagined Fide looking all sad, carrying its little packed bundle in its beak, flying off into the sunset alone.
The mental picture was so absurd that Ino nearly burst into laughter.
…
Jokes aside, Ino soon realized that his two phoenixes seemed very different in the eyes of others.
Lucius Malfoy, who had once come into close contact with Fide, had been nearly frightened out of his wits. And now, Hermione was holding Brighid, which had produced its own mysterious effect.
Miracles... Naturally, he thought of that concept.
But upon closer reflection, it all made sense. Both phoenixes were products of his miracles. Fide's emotions originated from the world of Arad, while Brighid came from Middle-earth.
These two places had nothing to do with the wizarding world.
With his shifting thoughts, Ino no longer doubted. No matter how much they changed, both phoenixes would always belong to him.
At the same time, he began to think about the future.
Perhaps one day, Hogwarts might even set up a psychological treatment room. Brighid could become a staff member and earn a salary. Who knows?