Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Return and Harvest
After a brief moment of disorientation.
Looking at the familiar surroundings, Ino couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
The oppressive aura of Poseidon was truly overwhelming.
It seemed like he was facing not just one person but the wrath of the entire ocean, an endless sea, and countless marine beings, all embodying Poseidon's will.
"Finally, it's over..."
In the sanctuary of snow and ice, Ino tossed the linen-wrapped suitcase aside with a sense of relief.
No matter what, the past was behind him.
However, just as he was about to change his clothes and leave, a slight tremor in the shelter made him narrow his eyes.
This change was all too familiar. Previously, whenever a new path was about to open, there would be such movements.
But this time, he had decided that no matter what changes occurred, he would no longer involve himself in Greek mythology.
...
In the sanctuary.
After a brief tremor, the surrounding thick fog began to churn continuously.
Soon, the fog became much thinner.
As time passed, through the thin mist, Ino saw a familiar scene.
A valley full of blooming flowers, tall and straight olive trees, a standing white marble pavilion...
This was an exact replica of that serene valley in the Hymettus Mountains.
As the mist completely dissipated.
Stepping once more on the soft ground, Ino felt entirely different.
This feeling was truly magical.
It was like renting a house for a long time and suddenly discovering one day that the house's contract had his name on it.
The house was still the same, but the change in ownership made everything in the room pleasing to the eye.
Ino felt the same now, strolling through the blossoming valley, he was very pleased with everything around him.
"Now I can truly be self-sufficient..."
The valley, though seemingly not large, was at least 300 to 400 meters in radius, translating to at least hundreds of acres of land.
Unlike the suitcase with its limitless extension space, as the foundational refuge, he didn't plan to alter this environment, keeping the valley lush and green.
At most, he would plant some magical plants to indirectly increase some income.
After all, he had long envied Neville's magical garden. Although he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, the thought of a garden filled with Mimbulus mimbletonia and Bubotuber made him believe it must be beautiful.
...
While Ino joyfully admired his valley, the Black family house in London also experienced its rebirth.
12 Grimmauld Place.
The walls once covered in Doxies, the carpets hiding Boggarts, and the eerie corridors had all vanished, along with the portraits and emblems representing the old times.
Now, in their place were brand-new furniture and various bright magical lamps.
Sirius Black sat quietly in the living room of the house, satisfied with everything around him.
This was his first Christmas after being cleared of all charges, and he had spent it with Harry, as he had always wished.
"Kreacher! Prepare dinner."
Checking the clock on the wall, Sirius commanded the empty room.
With a light pop, a small figure appeared in the room.
It was a very old house-elf, with iconic bat-like ears that had grown a tuft of white hair.
"Yes, master." Kreacher bowed deeply, but there was no respect in his grey, bloodshot eyes.
After the bow, instead of starting to work immediately like other house-elves, he began muttering in a faint voice, just loud enough to be heard.
"Ungrateful, wasteful master, always ordering poor Kreacher around... broke his mother's heart, threw away the Black family honor..."
"My mother had no heart, only a so-called honor." Faced with the blatant mockery, Sirius retorted firmly.
"Oh! Look, the wasteful master is angry, not even fit to lace the mistress's shoes..."
However, before Kreacher could finish, Sirius rudely interrupted him:
"Do the work you're told, and do not appear without permission, nor talk to yourself in my presence. Now! I order you to disappear immediately!"
At the mention of the word "order," Kreacher indeed said nothing more.
With another deep bow, he snapped his fingers and vanished from the room.
...
Half an hour later.
The spacious dining room of the Black family house looked extraordinarily bright under the magical lamps.
Harry looked at the delicious food on the table but hesitated to pick up his utensils, instead looking at Sirius with some hesitation.
Likewise, Sirius had been watching Harry. Noticing his expression change, he immediately asked:
"Is there something you want to say? Feel free to speak, I'll do whatever I can."
"Tomorrow I want to go to the Burrow, Ron invited me to stay for a few days..." Harry stammered out his request.
During these Christmas holidays, living in the Black family house, Harry had felt a long-lost sense of freedom and joy.
But after receiving Ron's letter, he still wanted to spend a couple of days at the Burrow.
"No problem! The Floo Network in the house is already connected, or I can take you on the flying motorcycle."
Without hesitation, Sirius agreed after hearing Harry's request.
"No need for the flying motorcycle, the fireplace will do." Harry quickly declined Sirius's offer.
Now, whenever he heard about the flying motorcycle, he immediately thought of last year's Whomping Willow incident.
Images of its branches thrashing all around appeared in his mind, making Harry shudder involuntarily.
...
Hogsmeade.
After changing clothes in the valley, Ino left the shelter and returned to the small building in Hogsmeade.
In the room on the second floor, a written letter lay spread out on the desk.
"Fide! Take this letter to the library and give it to Lina." Ino called softly.
This letter was for Lina. She had been stationed at the Hogwarts library for nearly two months now, likely having figured out the secrets of the Restricted Section.
Therefore, the content of the letter was asking Lina to help find books about Fiendfyre.
After a conversation with Prometheus, he had become genuinely interested in this fire that could devour and grow.
Fiendfyre's properties were truly fascinating, not just because it could burn anything indiscriminately, but also because the flames could take the form of magical creatures.
This familiar pattern inevitably sparked one's imagination.
As the letter was sent, Ino quietly leaned back in his chair. This trip to Greece had made him think about many things.
It wasn't just about the fire, but also the valley that appeared in the shelter.
He still had only a partial understanding of his own miracle.
Especially with the sudden appearance of the valley, it broke previous perceptions and, more importantly, he saw another possibility.
In the Grimm Brothers' stories, if the tower in the forest and the twelve coffins could be brought back like the valley...
Perhaps those two books on resurrection and time magic wouldn't have to gather dust on the shelf anymore.