What he didn't mention was that the number of shops in Hogsmeade had actually stayed almost the same. After all, they weren't just shops — they were homes for witches and wizards too.
Later, when Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes moved in, Hogsmeade expanded just a tiny bit, opening up the chance for a few new businesses. Everyone still wonders how the Weasleys managed to convince those stubborn old wizards to go along with it.
"Are we going?"
Justin asked, sounding casual.
"Yeah," Sean nodded. If they were passing through anyway…
"Even if I can't personally run the opening, being able to see my own shop open with my own eyes sounds pretty exciting."
Justin opened the box and a wave of heat rushed out, like morning fog rolling in.
And so, the day after Halloween, Sean had a schedule packed to the brim.
In the morning, they were heading to Hagrid's hut.
In the afternoon, he'd check on the grand opening of two shops in Hogsmeade and swing by Gringotts to pick up a few things.
That evening, he could finally test out his new idea.
Choosing the days right after the Halloween holiday was the perfect timing. Hogwarts students were allowed to visit Hogsmeade, and now that break was over, everyone would definitely be stressing about homework again.
As for today—
Hagrid's interview was finally happening.
…
The interview went surprisingly well. The reporters left very satisfied, manuscripts in hand. Sean suspected Professor Dumbledore's cheerful winks helped keep things smooth.
The reporters all promised the same thing:
The Ministry of Magic would not twist a single word. Everything would be published exactly as stated.
In just a few short weeks, headlines would take over wizarding Britain.
Walking through the corridors, Sean noticed that the Hogwarts castle was already soaked in holiday cheer. The Great Hall was decorated as usual with live bats swooping overhead. Hagrid's giant pumpkins were carved into lanterns — some large enough to fit three people inside. Rumor had it Dumbledore had booked a skeleton dance troupe to entertain everyone.
It sounded just like the last rumor — the Weird Sisters coming to perform. Probably just eager students letting their excitement run wild.
Still, it only made the Halloween atmosphere even livelier.
Along the hallways, younger students were whispering about a special Halloween version of Exploding Wizard Chess. Sean suddenly remembered he had completely forgotten about that project — but there was still time to fix it.
Inside the Great Hall, students were also experiencing random transformations: wings like owls, or manes like lions.
These were the newest set of cookies — part of the "Animal Party" series from the Weasley twins. This "partial animal transformation" version allowed a wizard to experience animal traits without losing control of their mind.
…
Halloween night arrived.
At seven o'clock, Sean and Justin slipped through a side passage leading toward the crowded Great Hall. Lights sparkled everywhere, candles glowed warm and golden. The long tables were set with shining gold plates — a mouthwatering sight — but they kept walking, heading toward the dungeons.
"We'll only stay for a little bit," Justin said.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville were already waiting for them.
Together, they headed down the corridor toward Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday Party. The passageway was lit only by dim black candles that flickered with eerie blue light. Even shining on their lively faces, the light made everything appear ghostly.
Every step they took, the air grew colder. Harry shivered and wrapped his robe tighter around himself.
Then he heard a sound — like a thousand nails scraping across a giant blackboard.
"That's music?" Ron muttered under his breath.
They turned a corner and saw Nearly Headless Nick standing by the entrance, draped in a black velvet curtain-like cloak.
"My dear friends," he said with profound sadness,
"Welcome… I'm so very pleased you came…"
He removed his feathered hat and bowed them inside.
The sight was astonishing.
Hundreds of pale, semi-transparent ghosts drifted across a packed dance floor, waltzing to the unsettling whine of thirty saws being played as instruments. The band sat on a stage covered in black cloth. Above them, a chandelier dripping with a thousand black candles cast a midnight-blue glow. Their breath came out in smoky clouds — it felt like stepping into a walk-in freezer.
"Attention, if you please — I shall now begin!"
Nick marched toward the podium beneath a freezing spotlight.
"My late lords, ladies, and gentlemen, I speak tonight with great sorrow…"
But his speech was soon interrupted by a head — an actual ghostly head — being tossed through the air by one of the Headless Hunt members.
It was a game called "Head Juggling," apparently. Tossing a head up while riding — and catching it again.
Nick desperately wanted to join, but because he was "nearly" headless, the truly headless ghosts refused to let him play.
"They're seriously discriminating against him?"
Ron gaped.
"They're all dead already!"
"Hmph," Hermione huffed.
The ghostly hunters stole all attention, cheering and playing, while Nick, defeated, drifted sadly aside.
…
Leaving the frigid dungeons behind, the Great Hall felt warm and comforting again. The smell of roasted pumpkin floated through the air — making Sean think of the giant pumpkin house Justin planned to carve near Hope Cottage.
That was going to be fun — no doubt about it.
Hermione tried a "Lynx Cookie." Her parents had sent it — designed to transform part of her into a cat at random.
When she finished chewing, everyone burst into laughter.
"Oh, Hermione, you'd better eat a reversal cookie quickly,"
Justin grinned, offering her a mirror, and Sean handed her a restoring biscuit.
Hermione peeked into the mirror and immediately buried her face — her cheeks and forehead were covered in cat fur.
Ron laughed so hard he cried… until Hermione stuffed a "Mouse Cookie" into his mouth. The laughter died instantly when a long mouse tail sprouted from behind him.
He stared at it in misery.
Sean chuckled softly, watching all of them testing their luck with the random cookies.
This Halloween was nothing like last year's — no trolls running wild, no chaos.
This fall at Hogwarts, peace reigned.