After breakfast, everyone lined up to leave the castle.
Filch was standing at the oak front doors as usual, checking off the names of people who had permission to go into Hogsmeade.
This time, the process took even longer than normal as Filch was triple-checking everybody with his Secrecy Sensor.
Filch had a suspicious look on his face, as if every student passing by him was carrying some dangerous Dark magic item.
That Secrecy Sensor was a simplified version currently used by the Ministry of Magic, though Evan wasn’t sure how effective it actually was.
Hermione had said that on the night of the start-of-term feast, Filch had used it to detect a Dark magic item Crabbe was carrying.
That sounded good, but it clearly hadn’t detected the items Evan had in his bag.
“What does it matter if we’re smuggling Dark stuff OUT?” demanded Ron, when it was his turn, eyeing the long thin Secrecy Sensor with apprehension. “Surely you ought to be checking what we bring back IN?”
His cheek earned him a few extra jabs with the Sensor, and he was still wincing as they stepped out into the wind and sleet. It turned out the Secrecy Sensor could be used like that too.
Speaking of which, today’s weather was really bad. This year’s winter seemed to have come especially early.Evan couldn’t help wondering if Voldemort and the evil god had the ability to influence the climate. Otherwise, how could this awful weather be explained?
The walk into Hogsmeade was not enjoyable. The wind was strong and biting, and the rain made the temperature plummet.
Even though they walked together, no one spoke.
Along the road leading to Hogsmeade, students could be seen everywhere, bent double against the bitter wind.
Everyone wrapped their scarves over their lower faces, but even so, the exposed parts soon felt raw and numb.
In this kind of weather, one should curl up in a warm bed or a cozy common room instead of going out. When they finally reached Hogsmeade, this feeling became even stronger. Similar to Diagon Alley, almost half of the shops in Hogsmeade village were closed, making it look particularly depressed.
Zonko’s Joke Shop, the first shop at the entrance of the village and which usually had the most traffic, had been boarded up.
Evan heard Harry sigh. Although Fred and George’s joke products were very popular, as a long-established prank supplier, Zonko’s Joke Shop still had many unique products. Its closure was a pity.
Thankfully, Honeydukes was still open; it saved their trip from being completely dull.
The group didn’t rush to separate, and decided to go to Honeydukes first.
Once inside Hogsmeade, most of the students staggered toward the crowded little shop.
A few seconds later, everyone felt delighted as they were enveloped by warm, toffee-scented air.
“Thank God, this place is so wonderful — I could just —”
“Ah, kids, I didn’t expect to see you here!” said a booming voice from behind them.
Evan’s heart skipped a beat. It was Professor Slughorn’s voice.
They turned to see Professor Slughorn, who was wearing an enormous furry hat and an overcoat with matching fur collar, clutching a large bag of crystalized pineapple, and occupying at least a quarter of the shop.
“Evan, Harry, Hermione, Elaine — what a delightful surprise to see the four of you here,” Slughorn said warmly. Once again, whether intentionally or not, he left Ron out. “Speaking of which, that’s three of my little suppers you’ve all missed now! It won’t do, kids, I’m determined to have you. You can ask the others who’ve been — they all love them.”
Evan had never doubted it, the point was that they didn’t talk to anyone who could enjoy Slughorn’s parties.
Most of the things that those people pursued and liked were denied and rejected by Evan and the other four.
God knows how much effort they’d put in over the past month to turn down Slughorn’s invitations.
Harry’s strategy was to schedule Quidditch practice every time Slughorn sent him a little, violet ribbon-adorned invitation. Regardless of the weather or time, Harry would call for practice, ensuring Ron wouldn’t be left out. Ginny and Elaine also used this excuse, though Elaine often just flat-out refused.
Evan and Hermione used the excuse of conducting magical research or simply avoided crossing paths with Slughorn altogether.
“I know you four are very busy, training and studying hard, and you are the best students in the school, but a little recreation never hurt anybody. Balance, my dears, balance. Oh, Elaine! I’ve specially prepared some premium dragon blood — the heart’s blood of a Hebridean Black. Top-notch stuff, you know. Not only is it brimming with magic, but it’s also exquisitely flavorful. I guarantee you’ll love it,” said Slughorn with a grin. “Now, how about Monday night? In weather like this…”
“Monday won’t work, Professor.”
“Harry and I have got an appointment with Professor Dumbledore that evening.”
“Unlucky again!” cried Slughorn dramatically, attracting the attention of most people in the store. “Ah, well, you can go to Albus, but you can’t evade me forever. What about the ladies? Hermione, Elaine, are you two free on Monday night?”
“Yes, free! Absolutely free!” Elaine eagerly replied, sniffing deeply.
The little foodie was clearly tempted by the Hebridean Black dragon blood. Normally, she would have refused just to avoid the hassle.
“Oh, alright, we’ll go to the party on Monday, Professor…” Hermione looked at Elaine and said helplessly.
“It’s settled!” Slughorn said with satisfaction, as if he thought it was a good start to get Hermione and Elaine to attend the party.
And with a regal wave, he waddled out of the shop, taking as little notice of Ron as though he had been a display of Cockroach Clusters.
“That’s great!” Ron muttered gloomily, as he had after the first invitation in the second week of term.
He seemed eager to go to Slughorn’s parties, thinking they would be a good opportunity.
Aside from Elaine, who was still fantasizing about the taste of premium dragon blood, none of them were in the mood to keep browsing. After buying a few sweets, the group of five quickly split up.
Ron went to the place where he had an appointment with Lavender, and Harry went to the Three Broomsticks with the Creevey brothers whom he met in the store.
Evan, Hermione, and Elaine were going to buy Pygmy Puffs, and then go to the Hog’s Head to find Mundungus for a deal involving contraband items…
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