Draco suddenly sneezed violently, elegantly dabbing his nose with a handkerchief before pulling his robes more snugly around himself.
Though he found it rather odd, was it genuinely colder here than at Hogwarts?
The little dragon hadn't the faintest notion that two girls were surreptitiously slagging him off. Upon arriving at Hogsmeade village, he simply offered everyone a casual wave goodbye and departed independently.
Observing this, Neville bid farewell to the quartet and headed off in another direction—he'd already arranged to meet Hannah at Honeydukes sweet shop.
"So bloody decisive. Is this what boys are like?"
Parvati shrugged with this observation.
She then turned toward Hermione and Glenn, tugged Lavender along, and burst into giggles.
"Right then, we're off as well. Hope you two lovebirds have a smashing date today~"
"Don't forget Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop—that's where all the happy couples love to go most—"
Lavender advised with a wink, then scampered off with Parvati, arms linked and dissolving into laughter.
"...Those two, honestly."
Hermione's raised little fist obviously couldn't fulfill its intended purpose against her two best friends who'd already escaped to a safe distance. She could only deliver gentle thumps to Glenn's chest to vent her embarrassment from their relentless teasing.
Allowing Hermione's harmless little punches to rain down on his chest, Glenn proactively captured the girl's hand and inquired:
"Well then, shall we be off as well? So, Miss Hermione, where might our first destination be?"
"Bloody hell, what's with that posh tone?"
Hermione leaned back dramatically, startled by Glenn's sudden shift in speaking style.
"...Picked it up from books. Does it sound dreadful?"
Glenn tilted his head quizzically.
"Not at all! I absolutely adore it. Do say more like that~"
Hermione's expression transformed instantly. She pressed closer, linking arms with Glenn, beaming as she spoke.
"That's my entire repertoire, I'm afraid. Mastering that manner of speech presents considerable difficulty for me, and I'm rather uncomfortable with it."
Glenn shook his head, speaking with characteristic honesty.
"Well, you're aware of that yourself, so just stick with your natural way of speaking. Honestly, that earlier performance gave me proper goosebumps."
Hermione theatrically rubbed her arms, then swept her hand grandly, pointing toward their destination and activating Hermione Navigation Mode.
"Right then, let's head there first—Hogsmeade Post Office!"
"It's not merely for posting letters, you know. I've heard everyone can actually pet the owls there!"
The spirited girl laughed as she tugged Glenn into an eager trot toward the Hogsmeade Post Office, her entire being radiating the youthful exuberance and charm that girls her age should naturally possess.
At this sight, Glenn found himself marveling yet again at the profound happiness and contentment of his current existence—a sentiment he'd experienced countless times before.
The post office indeed housed an impressive collection of owls. Over two hundred birds with magnificently fluffy, downy feathers each displayed unique characteristics. However, years of dedicated postal service had rendered them remarkably friendly toward humans. Moreover, Hermione possessed an extraordinary natural affinity that allowed these owls to submit willingly to her gentle ministrations without the slightest resistance—instead nuzzling her palms with obvious affection.
Naturally, "ministrations" was rather an exaggerated description. When faced with these adorable creatures, Hermione's touch remained incredibly tender and careful.
Certainly gentler than when she pummeled Glenn.
Ever since inadvertently frightening Eucalyptus previously, Glenn had recognized that without deliberately restraining his aura, he emanated an atmosphere that unsettled surrounding creatures. Consequently, he'd begun consciously suppressing his presence. Now, when approaching these owls, they showed neither fear nor rejection of his attempts at affection.
He felt rather therapeutically soothed by the experience.
Gently prodding the downy little head of an owl perched on his free hand, Glenn—currently serving as a living perch for multiple birds—reflected on this pleasant development.
Subsequently, the pair visited Dervish and Banges, a establishment situated at the terminus of Hogsmeade village's main thoroughfare that specialized in selling and repairing various magical apparatus—Quidditch equipment, Foe-Glasses, Remembralls, and similar items. Glenn found this particularly fascinating.
After examining and experiencing several remarkable magical contraptions, Glenn—having secured permission—observed the proprietor's equipment repair techniques, feeling he'd acquired considerable valuable reference material for his own alchemical device construction.
As the saying goes, experience comes with age. The accumulated wisdom that craftsmen develop through decades of continuous practice represents truly precious knowledge.
Their next destination was Honeydukes sweet shop, which offered an extensive selection of confections and chocolates—most being magical sweets enhanced with enchantments. Hermione was eager to experience what the older students had dubbed "Hogsmeade village's most beloved establishment among young wizards." She also intended to purchase various treats as gifts for her friends, plus select some with relatively benign effects to post home for her parents' enjoyment.
The adults back home remained as fascinated as ever by magical world curiosities. Glenn was hopeless in this regard—they constantly pestered little Hermione to remember sending back interesting local specialties.
Glenn: ?
Facts proved that Honeydukes' reputation as Hogsmeade village's premier destination for young wizards was thoroughly deserved. Hermione naturally succumbed completely to the dazzling array of sweets and chocolates on display. Even Glenn, who typically avoided sugary treats, found his interest piqued and sampled several customer tasters, experiencing the various magical effects firsthand.
"Infusing magic directly into food... genuinely brilliant concept."
He contemplated this thoughtfully, then suddenly felt something foreign breach his lips, followed by an intense sourness flooding his mouth as saliva production went into overdrive.
Glenn turned with an utterly deadpan expression to discover Hermione grinning wickedly as she withdrew the hand that had just forcibly introduced an Acid Pop to his unsuspecting palate.
"Blimey, even after consuming something that sour, Glenn, you don't display the slightest reaction~"
"Absolutely incredible~"
"Oi, hang on—why are you grabbing me?"
"Why've you got the magical camera out?"
"When did you nick an Acid Pop as well?!"
"No, absolutely not—don't you dare, dame!"
"Don't shove it in!!"
...
"Click."
Ultimately, Glenn successfully captured a photograph of Hermione's face contorted with delicious agony from the overwhelming tartness, then ruthlessly and mercilessly declined her piteous plea to destroy the incriminating evidence.
That bloody Acid Pop was genuinely vicious. Even Glenn, who genuinely enjoyed ice-cold lemon juice, couldn't withstand such brutal sourness.
The sweet being naturally tart was bad enough, but the sadistic creator had inhumanely incorporated magic that amplified taste sensations within the confection.
Absolutely diabolical.
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