A certain broken Hogwarts

The day before Halloween is the day students head to Hogsmeade Village. From early morning, a restless, eager atmosphere fills Hogwarts.

The young wizards eating breakfast in the Great Hall were excitedly and loudly discussing what they would be doing in Hogsmeade Village, their chatter sounding like a thousand sparrows filling the hall. The third-year students, especially those going to Hogsmeade for the first time, all had beaming with anticipation.

Of course, not everyone was excited. For example, the older students seemed much more reserved; they had been to Hogsmeade Village many times and were no longer interested in it.

Take Harry, for example. He listlessly stuffed bread into his mouth, his cheeks bulging, completely out of place with the lively, cheerful atmosphere around him. Human joys and sorrows are not shared; he only found their noise bothersome.

Owen seemed rather uninterested, sipping his breakfast tea slowly and occasionally yawning lazily. Melete perched on his backpack, her bright golden cat eyes scanning the surroundings with sharp, wary alertness, as if danger might strike at any moment.

And that was indeed the case. During this period, the "ominous" harassment of Irving had not stopped. Four days ago, the shadowy figure attacked Irving for the third time while Irving was studying in the Room of Requirement.

Having learned its lesson from the previous two encounters, "Ominous" became much more cautious. It no longer tried to curse Owen, nor did it hide in the shadows of clutter. It simply wagged its tail leisurely, and with its particularly adorable dwarf cat posture, calmly tried to approach Owen, like an experienced and patient hunter searching for his weaknesses.

After testing a few more spells on it, Owen transformed into black flames and confronted it. A dozen minutes later, the shadowy figure, unable to find its target, left on its own.

The three attacks occurred three to five days apart. If this is not a coincidence, the latest attack may be imminent in the next couple of days.

Melett, who firmly believed this, had been on edge since yesterday, staying close to Owen and sensing any potential dangers around him, like a dutiful bodyguard.

Owen was both touched and amused by this. He finished his tea and reached out to rub the cat's head.

Melete rolled her eyes at him, a mixture of worry and helplessness in her eyes, and coldly pushed his hand away with her paw. She just couldn't understand it. Under such a terrible threat, even the cats were too anxious to sleep, and even Puffy had lost her appetite for playing. Why was Owen still able to eat and sleep well without a care in the world?

Looking at this oblivious fellow, Melete sighed wearily. What else could she do? She could only worry about him more herself; she couldn't let her adorable human die.

Amused by Melete's behavior, Owen relentlessly reached out with both hands, teasing her skillfully. This caused the proud cat to go from being impatient and aloof to bristling with fur, and finally, she completely broke down, frantically scratching with all four paws in the air.

Having completed his daily task, Owen contentedly withdrew his hand, picked up his empty backpack with a smile, waved to Harry, and then walked towards the foyer with the crowd.

Melett glared at him angrily, sulked for a while, and finally jumped off the chair, reluctantly raising her head and following behind Owen.

A long queue had already formed in the foyer. The castle steward, Filch, stood by the gate, his face stern as he checked a long list, his eyes warily scanning every face, making sure no one who shouldn't be there slipped out the door.

Lady Lorris stared intently at everyone who came to the door with her bulging eyes, as if they were all heinous suspects, her long fur becoming disheveled and tangled again. Upon seeing Owen, she raised her chin even higher and struck a pose with her airplane ears at Meurette.

Owen resisted the urge to cast a spell to cleanse Mrs. Lorris, and it took him a long time to finally leave the castle and walk out of the school with his friends.

The students cautiously passed through the gate guarded by Dementors, all the young wizards silent, rushing headlong into the bone-chilling cold. The excitement on everyone's faces vanished, leaving them wilted like frostbitten eggplants.

However, once they were far from the gate, they quickly shook off the Dementors' influence and walked on the road to Hogsmeade, discussing things with great enthusiasm.

"To be honest, I was really looking forward to using a Patronus Charm just now." After emerging from the gloom brought on by the Dementors, Draco couldn't help but have another suicidal thought.

"They are agents of the Ministry of Magic, Draco. Attacking them is illegal," Daphne said earnestly.

"To treat these unreliable creatures as employees and send them to Hogwarts... I think the Ministry of Magic should really open Fudge's skull and check if his brain has been eaten by trolls," Draco drawled.

Isn't having a brain that can disappear and reappear flexibly an essential skill for politicians? Owen wrapped his robe tighter around himself, holding Melett close to his chest, his cheeks flushed a light red from the biting wind.

"I'm going to Zonko's Joke Shop first! Anyone want to come with me?" Blaise asked expectantly as Hogsmeade Village came into view.

"Let's go together." Owen showed a slightly interested expression. He also wanted to see the strange and wonderful things in the joke shop; the collision of various novel ideas was most likely to spark inspiration.

"Draco, would you like to go to Lady Patif's Tea House for tea?" Pansy said to Draco shyly, her face flushed.

"Huh? What's so great about tea? I don't remember you liking tea either." Draco tilted his head back slightly, looking quite surprised. "Would you dare go to the Shrieking Shack? It's the most haunted house in the country!"

Pansy's blush faded instantly, and she straightened her face: "I dare."

"Oh, let's go see Zoko first." Hearing her firm answer, Draco muttered something rather awkwardly and waved his hand dismissively.

Blaise chuckled, and Owen smirked. Daphne lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought.

"It's a pity that there haven't been any screams from the screaming shed for a long time. I think even if there were ghosts there, they're long gone," Blaise said with a shrug, sounding rather regretful.

Hogsmeade Village was shrouded in a thick haze, with shadowy figures lurking in the surrounding forests. Two Dementors were also hovering at the entrance, silencing the excited young wizards once again.

The students quickened their pace and rushed into the streets of Hogsmeade Village. The dazzling array of shops along the streets finally brought them back to their joy and enthusiasm.

"Look at this, Dementors everywhere!" Draco pouted unhappily.

"At least this way it's pretty safe, right?" Blaise rubbed his shoulders, which were covered in goosebumps.

They went to Draco's joke shop together. Draco bought a bag full of dung bombs, muttering to himself that he would use them on Weasley or Filch, and also grabbed a bunch of pyrotechnics.

Irving browsed the store with great interest among the strange and unusual trinkets, even buying a few interesting items. Many of the products there were eye-opening, displaying a kind of reckless creativity.

Blaise had almost stuffed his backpack full and was also holding a teapot with a biting nose in his hand. Crabbe and Goyle had accidentally eaten the burp candy from the store and were now burping incessantly, like two squeaking turkeys.

After leaving the joke shop, they headed to Honeydukes Candy Shop. Along the way, they saw many shops with notices posted outside by the Ministry of Magic, informing everyone that Dementors patrolled the streets of Hogsmeade every day from sunset, and advising all customers to finish shopping before sunset.

They flooded into the candy store, which was packed with students, and the sales clerks struggled through the throng. The shelves were filled with all sorts of strange and wonderful candies, and the young wizards were eager to empty their pocket money for them.

Owen, out of curiosity, tried one of the cockroaches that Dumbledore had so enthusiastically endorsed. They crawled around like real cockroaches, and tasted sweet and crunchy, with a melt-in-your-mouth caramel flavor. Unlike their appearance, which made them seem unappealing, Owen just thought they were a bit too sweet.

Crabbe and Goyle, who had just stopped burping, were eating a packet of pepper mints, their noses constantly spewing fire, evolving from turkeys into fire-breathing dragons.

Daphne chewed a piece of Super Bubble Gum and blew a string of blue bellflower-colored bubbles. They floated gently in the sky, carrying a light and dreamlike beauty.

"I think we can get Harry a little of everything, especially the cockroach pile," Blaise said, grinning maliciously as he picked up a new gummy candy to examine it. The candy store owner was hurriedly restocking the nearly empty shelves nearby.

"If you ever do that prank of putting real cockroaches in a clump again, I'm sure Harry will kill you," Draco said lazily, grabbing handfuls of candy and stuffing them into his bag.

"How could that be! I would never make the same joke twice!" Blaise raised his eyebrows, looking as if his prank idea had been questioned and offended.

Owen listened with a smile to their banter, and handed Harry a Pepper Boy, a sugar quill, and some Exploding Gummy Bears. He didn't like the crowds and noise, and the chilly weather made him want to find a warm place to stay, as did the cat in his arms.

The group of people each had their own destinations to visit, and soon disagreements arose.

Blaise and Draco planned to linger at Honey Duke to browse the candies, while Crabbe and Goyle acted as if the place was their home. Daphne and Pansy, on the other hand, were eager to shop at the clothing stores and were whispering and arguing about which store was better.

"I'm going to the magic equipment shop later to see if I can fix that box of mine that keeps swearing," Blaise said.

"I'm not going," Draco said, arms crossed. "I'm going to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer. I heard they have all sorts of people there, or even things that aren't human."

"Why not go to the Hog's Head? You know, it used to be the headquarters of the goblin rebellion!" Blaise exclaimed dramatically. "It has everything there, a lot of dark wizards, even werewolves!"

"So you're in such a hurry to go and deliver their food?" Draco arrogantly raised his pointed chin.

"It's best to go with someone in a group at times like this, don't be alone," Irving advised. Although the security measures here are relatively tight, they are by no means airtight.

Hearing his words, Draco impatiently pointed his thumb at Crabbe and Goyle. The two big guys, carrying a huge pile of candy, quickly paid the bill and were now frantically stuffing their mouths in perfect unison.

"I don't think any escaped convict would dare break in. There are so many Dementors, they're not just for show," he said slowly. "Besides, we're not Harry."

"But it's not impossible for it to be exploited." Irving shrugged.

Blaise raised an eyebrow, waved to Theodore Nott on the other side, and called out, "Theodore, wanna go to the Devis-Bans Magical Equipment Shop later?"

"Okay," Theodore replied listlessly, offering no comment.

Daphne and Pansy whispered to each other, then Pansy, with a strange grin on her face, looked Owen up and down for a moment: "Want to come shopping with us? Daphne thinks your taste is pretty good." Daphne turned her head away and moved to hide behind the shelves.

"Okay," Owen said after thinking for a moment. Anyway, he didn't really have anywhere he wanted to go, and the clothing store was always cleaner and quieter than the bar.

Although he would prefer everyone to travel together so he could ensure his friends wouldn't run into trouble, since they had already decided to split up, and Irving wasn't a nagging mother hen, he was always easygoing and never felt obligated to be responsible for others' safety.

Besides, with so many students in Hogsmeade, he couldn't possibly keep an eye on everyone. Since it was impossible to prevent those with ulterior motives from taking advantage, he might as well leave it to fate and trust the Dementors' abilities.

Irving waved to the few people still lingering in the candy store, then walked out of the store with Daphne and Pansy. They strolled through several clothing stores, occasionally offering a few pertinent suggestions.

Although Daphne seemed a little awkward at first, she quickly relaxed. The two little witches strolled hand in hand, seemingly tireless, making Owen feel like an eyesore, but he was content with Melete's company.

They strolled around until noon, then ordered their signature pan-fried veal steak at a restaurant, which was quite delicious. Through the bright windows, Owen could see many young wizards tirelessly coming and going on the street.

The afternoon sky quickly darkened, with rolling dark clouds gathering overhead, brewing a gale and a downpour.

It would be dark in another hour or two, and a chilly wind brought dampness. Some older students had already returned to school, but many more were reluctant to leave and planned to stay until they had to go back.

Irving and his two companions went to the Three Broomsticks bar and had a hot butterbeer. The warmth spread through their bodies, dispelling the damp chill. Although the place was filled with noisy chatter, the cozy temperature and clean environment always made them feel much more comfortable.

The bar's owner, Ms. Rosmerta, effortlessly entertained a group of boisterous male witches at the bar. She was a beautiful, curvaceous witch, exuding charm in every gesture. It was said that many of the male witches came specifically for her.

Just as Irving was finishing his butterbeer, Draco walked in from outside, followed by Crabbe and Goyle. He sat down next to the three of them, holding a drink, and looked exhausted.

"The rumors were so outrageous, but it turns out the Screaming Shack is just a dilapidated wooden hut!" Draco complained breathlessly, his chin held high with pride.

"You really went?" Owen asked, somewhat surprised. This was unlike Draco's usual boldness.

"Only cowards wouldn't dare go," Draco said casually, though he hadn't gotten very close to the place himself. He gave Crabbe and Goyle a dismissive look; the two big guys, who usually looked so imposing, were even more timid than him when it mattered.

"Speaking of which, where did Blaise go?" Owen twirled the crystal glass in front of him.

"Isn't he with Theodore?" Draco said nonchalantly.

"But Theodore is sitting over there," Daphne said, pointing to a corner of the bar. Theodore was sitting with a few boys.

"Hey, Theodore, where's Blaze?" Draco asked, raising his voice.

"He went back first," Theodore said casually, his chin resting on his hand as he was lost in thought.

"When did you go back?" Owen narrowed his eyes.

"About ten minutes ago, we picked up the repaired parts from the magic equipment shop. I was planning to come over for the Three Broomsticks, but Blaise didn't want to shop anymore and went back to school by himself, saying he had a big surprise for Harry." Theodore said, glancing over. "What's wrong?"

"Hmph, that Blaise guy just likes to be alone." Draco snorted and crossed his arms.

Owen gently held Melett's paw, gazing thoughtfully at the claw tip peeking out from the soft paw pads. This was unlike Blaise's usual character. Although Blaise often acted on a whim, he loved Hogsmeade Village and was unlikely to leave prematurely.

He went back early... to surprise Harry?

Hmm, the headmaster doesn't seem to be at Hogwarts again today; I can't count on him. Professor Snape and Sirius are both at the school, so they should be reliable, right?

Irving considered for a moment, then turned and glanced out the window at the increasingly dark sky. He downed his butterbeer in one gulp, glanced at the sparsely filled drinks in the others' glasses, and said with a smile, "It's getting late, want to head back together?"

"I haven't finished my drink yet," Draco said reluctantly.

"I'll head back now, you guys stay here a bit longer." Owen stood up, carrying Melett, picked up his backpack, and sighed softly, "You know, I really dislike this kind of weather."

"Isn't this the same here all year round?" Draco teased slowly. "I really don't know how a picky and delicate person like you survives in this place. Perhaps the Herbology Department's greenhouse would be more suitable for you."

"No, I don't like the smell of dragon dung there..." Owen said with a smile.

Daphne opened her mouth as if to speak, but hesitated, looking at Owen with some concern. Always observant, she also felt that Blaise's behavior was somewhat abnormal.

Owen gave her a reassuring look, then waved lightly, nimbly weaving through the noisy crowd in the bar, and stepped alone into the chilly wind outside. (End of Chapter)