💎 WEEKLY POWER GOALS 💎
🔥 30→2ch | 60→5ch | 100→8ch | 200→15ch | 400→25ch
⏰ Resets Monday!
Despite losing ten points under his watch the day before, when students received notice at breakfast that they'd visit the pet rescue center this weekend, the Weasley brothers cheered loudest.
Anthony had originally planned to visit the nearest botanical garden first. But the garden replied—if the school delayed the visit date slightly, they could arrange suitable tour guides. The director also asked Anthony to convey regards to Professor Sprout in the reply. Hinted at connections with Britain's magical herbology society. This genuinely relieved Anthony.
So he settled for second choice. Decided to make London—the place he knew best—the first group's practical activity destination.
"Meet at Hogsmeade village square at nine a.m.?" Angelina leaned over to read. "Why Hogsmeade?"
Another student who'd received notice had his mouth stuffed with treacle tart. Said indistinctly, "Professor said we're going straight from Hogsmeade village to Diagon Alley."
Angelina poured herself pumpkin juice. Asked puzzled, "If Diagon Alley connects directly to Hogsmeade village, why do we come from King's Cross every year?"
"Maybe the Professor knows some secret passage," the Weasley twins said expectantly.
Except for two students seven or eight minutes late, everyone arrived at the meeting point on time. Anthony finished roll call. Led the students along the cobblestone path.
Even though these third and fourth years had long obtained visiting permission, this was clearly their first time shopping Hogsmeade village with a professor.
Everyone chattered behind him. Looked around excitedly. As if they'd never seen it before. Some discussed whether they could visit certain shops on the way back. Others opened small bags to show off thorough preparation to classmates: water bottles, sunglasses, umbrellas, notebooks, wallets, and three pumpkin pasties wrapped in parchment from the just-finished breakfast.
"Professor Anthony!" A Honeydukes employee had been waiting outside early. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. A day sweet as candy!"
"Good morning." Anthony smiled and nodded at him.
From frequently patronizing Honeydukes, the staff all knew him. When he'd asked about borrowing their freight passage connecting to Diagon Alley, the owner hadn't hesitated long before agreeing. Only required all students promise not to sneak candy during transport.
"Or if you can't resist eating some, pay for it," the owner had added with a smile.
When the employee pulled open the warehouse back door, revealing a tin train loaded with colorful candy, everyone couldn't help gasping "Wow."
Anthony couldn't help pulling over the employee wearing a smug smile. "You normally ship like this?"
"Of course, of course." The employee looked around. Said quietly, "Though the regular freight train is bigger."
In other words, the regular freight train wouldn't put students so close to within-reach candy.
Anthony said, "Please convey my admiration to the owner." He looked at students discussing new products on the first car. Marveled, "He's something else."
As a Honeydukes regular, one glance confirmed this absolutely wasn't normal freight cargo. Unless Honeydukes suddenly decided to open a tasting corner at their Diagon Alley branch, hard to explain why every car had small quantities of all candy categories neatly sorted.
"Board up, everyone," Anthony called. "Repeat—remember to pay if you eat candy. Please carefully and reasonably plan your pocket money."
Anthony recounted heads. Confirmed accuracy. Signaled the employee they could depart. The employee waved at the Hogwarts group soaking in sweet fragrance. Pulled the lever by the door. The train clanked into motion.
Like Anthony had explained in class, wizarding trains ran on magic. The Hogwarts Express only spouted steam because the designer loved ceremony.
He stood using the swaying wall for support. Smiled at students in his car. "Since we're close, let's start with us."
Anthony opened his bag. Pulled out a bag of... money.
Under students' wide-eyed stares, he gave everyone three pounds. "Some activity funds. Use them well. Recognize these?"
"No problem, Professor," the student receiving coins said. They eagerly touched the Muggle coins. Looked at the Queen's portrait on front. Flipped to back. Started comparing what different designs each person got.
"Good, because I won't be calculating discounts and change for you every moment." Anthony said. Pulled out a stack of parchment from his bag. Looked down searching through it.
Someone divided attention from coins. Looked curiously. "What's that?"
Anthony looked up with a smile. "Remember the last question on the last quiz?"
"Design a suitable seasonal Muggle outfit for yourself?" Another student remembered. "Wait, Professor..."
Anthony nodded approvingly. "Exactly right." He waved his wand. Tapped the student's clothes—he marveled for the countless time that Transfiguration was remarkably convenient magic—the student got stuffed into a pullover sweater. Matched with jeans and black leather shoes.
"Professor Anthony..." he pleaded amid others' laughter.
Anthony asked, "Hot?"
The student tugged the sweater collar. Said quietly, "A bit."
Anthony nodded. "Suitable season, sir. Come find me with a new plan when you get off the train."
"Yes, Professor."
Soon, people in the car wore short-sleeve T-shirts, knit cardigans, and dresses respectively.
Anthony opened the car door. "All right, ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy the rest of the journey." He still had several cars of students needing outfitting.
When he opened the door, the Weasley twins were studying whether their remaining pocket money could support each buying a Fizzing Whizzbee. They were interested in this candy supposedly making feet leave the ground. Thought it must contain some interesting magic. Very suitable for slight modification.
Beside them, the student who'd packed pumpkin pasties was unceremoniously grabbing handful after handful of candy into his bag. Proud he'd brought all his pocket money.
"Can't normally buy such a complete selection... Professor?"
Anthony opened his bag. Distributed money while repeating warnings already given. Rational spending and such.
As he looked down searching for quiz answer sheets, the Weasley twins sat on either side of the student with the notebook. Wanted to know the exact exchange rate between pounds and Galleons.
Anthony showed them the afros the brothers had designed for themselves. The two unhesitatingly confirmed this was exactly their desired look. Successfully got topped with two clouds of red hair bigger than the fluffy cotton candy in the nearby cabinet.
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