Everyday Life of a Top Student at Hogwarts

Chapter 262 A Short Relaxation at Hogsmeade on the Weekend

Chapter 262 A Short Relaxation at Hogsmeade on the Weekend

Saturday morning, the entrance to Hogwarts Castle was unusually lively. Students in their third year and above crowded into the hallway, chatting excitedly as Filch checked the list one by one and gave them permission to go to Hogsmeade Village.

A lighthearted atmosphere of anticipation filled the air.

Karen, Wesley, Fabian, and Ernesto were also standing in the crowd. Wesley was so excited he could barely stand, constantly looking around; Fabian wore a gentle, expectant smile; even Ernesto, though trying to maintain his composure, had a brighter look in his eyes than usual.

"I heard Honeydukes released a new bubble gum that makes you puff out colored smoke!" Wesley rubbed his hands together. "And an upgraded version of the chocolate frog that makes you scream when you bite into it!"

"I hope Joko's new product isn't too—destructive," Fabian said cautiously, recalling how a rotten egg Wesley bought from Joko via an owl almost made the entire dorm uninhabitable.

"The Three Brooms Butterbeer is something to look forward to," Ernesto said, adjusting his glasses. "I've heard that Mrs. Rosmerta used a new recipe, making it even richer."

Karen listened with a smile to his roommates' conversation, his gaze habitually sweeping over the surrounding crowd and the environment outside the castle. Snow covered the grounds, and in the distance, the rooftops of Hogsmeade Village were pristine white, with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys, creating a serene and peaceful scene. He remained slightly vigilant, watching for any unusual magical fluctuations or signs, especially those related to the missing Dark Lord. After all, Karen suspected that Voldemort's main spirit might be lurking around Hogwarts, playing the "blind spot" trick. But everything seemed normal, filled with the relaxed atmosphere of a weekend.

Finally, it was their turn to check the list. Filch gave them a suspicious look, especially glancing at Wesley a few more times, before reluctantly ticking the list.

"Keep up the rules! Don't cause trouble!" he warned hoarsely.

The four responded and followed the crowd out of the castle gates, stepping onto the path leading to Hogsmeade. A crisp, fresh air rushed towards them, carrying the scent of pine needles and snow, instantly invigorating them.

Hogsmeade Village resembled a snow-covered town from a fairy tale. Icicles hung from the eaves, warm light shone from the windows, and the streets were filled with the cheerful laughter of students. The shop signs stood out vividly against the snow.

Their first stop was naturally Honey Duke candy store. As soon as they pushed open the door, they were enveloped by a rich, sweet aroma and a cacophony of chattering voices. The store was packed with students, and the shelves were overflowing with a dazzling array of colorful candies.

"Wow!" Wesley's eyes lit up, and he immediately rushed toward the area filled with strange snacks.

Karen browsed with great interest. He saw the colorful bubble gum and screaming chocolate frog that Wesley had mentioned, as well as ice mice, pepper rascals, coconut ice cream, and various shapes of fudge—he took out a purse and began to buy in bulk, purchasing some of each flavor to take back to Eagle's Nest to enjoy at his leisure, and also to send some to his mentor in France and Lily at home.

"Are you going to empty out Honeydukes, Karen?" Fabian asked in surprise, looking at the bags that were quickly filling up in Karen's hands.

"We've also prepared some food reserves for Lily in advance," Karen smiled. "She needs to replenish her sugar levels when she's tired from research."

Ernesto, however, became interested in a mint hard candy that supposedly improves concentration and was reading the instructions on the packaging.

Next up was Zonko's Joke Shop. The atmosphere here was even noisier and—dangerous. Wesley and Ernesto were like fish in water as soon as they entered. Wesley marveled at a large box of dung bombs, while Ernesto carefully examined a counter displaying various new prank quills, evaluating the ingenuity of their magical construction.

"This pen draws a mustache on a person's face—the effect is long-lasting—the principle is probably a combination of some kind of transfiguration and magical marking—" Ernesto picked up a pen and analyzed it seriously.

Karen and Fabian were relatively cautious, simply observing. Karen noticed a "stealth gas bomb," the instructions of which stated that upon detonation, it would produce colorless and odorless smoke, causing the victim to emit an unpleasant odor that they themselves could not smell.

He considered buying a few for—well, for special occasions—but ultimately decided against it; it would be too easy to accidentally injure friendly forces.

Leaving the noisy Zorko, they headed towards the Three Brooms Bar. Pushing open the heavy wooden door, a warm atmosphere...

The air was filled with the buzzing of conversation and the sweet aroma of butterbeer. The bar was packed, and Mrs. Rosmerta was busy greeting customers, her wand directing glasses to fly through the air.

They finally found an empty table and sat down, each ordering a large glass of chilled butterbeer. Beneath the thick foam lay a rich, amber-colored liquid. One sip revealed a cool, sweet, and refreshing taste with a subtle hint of beer aroma—truly living up to its reputation.

"Hey, look over there, those are Cedric and Hufflepuff's men," Wesley pointed to another corner of the bar.

Cedric saw them too, smiled, and raised his glass in greeting. Karen nodded in response.

The atmosphere was warm and harmonious. Karen relaxed, enjoying this rare moment of leisure. He chatted with his roommates about Quidditch, homework, the new arrivals at the joke shop, and occasionally commented on the attire of passing students. He still kept an eye on the sounds coming from the doorway and snippets of conversation around him, but he didn't notice anything alarming. Quirrell's death and the early elimination of the Basilisk last year seemed to have truly ushered in a relatively peaceful period for Hogwarts.

They sat in the bar for almost an hour before leaving, completely satisfied. Wesley and Ernesto went to buy some more candy and jokes, while Karen picked out a bouncy candy box as a gift for Lily.

As the sun began to set, they joined the returning crowd heading towards the castle. Each person carried packages of various sizes, their faces bearing relaxed and cheerful smiles.

"It's a nice weekend, isn't it?" Wesley sighed contentedly, still chewing on a piece of marzipan.

“Indeed,” Fabian agreed. “Honey Duke’s coconut sorbet is even better than last year.”

"Zoko's new quill pen has a structural flaw; its durability is probably not good," Ernesto said, while discussing some of the gadgets in Zoko's shop with Karen.

Karen smiled, feeling the weight of the candy bundle in his arms and the gift for Lily in his pocket. The brief respite was indeed pleasant, a temporary escape from the heavy burdens of the diary, Horcruxes, and the Dark Lord. Looking at his friends' cheerful profiles, he hoped this peaceful time could last forever.