After breakfast, everyone gathered in the foyer.

Because of the tense atmosphere during this time, everyone seemed to be suffocating in the castle, and this time there were many students who went to Hogsmeade.

There was a long line in the foyer, and Filch stood in the oak doorway as usual, checking off the list of students who had been allowed to go to Hogsmeade, and using the Dark Magic Secret to go back and forth around everyone.

"What a waste of time, even if we take the dark magic items out of school?" Mikel muttered dissatisfiedly, "I'm afraid you should check what we brought in." ”

"I don't need you to teach me how to do it." Filch dissatisfied, poked Mikel with his sniffer.

Having said that, he sped up the inspection and soon arrived at Kyle.

It was windy outside, and to be honest, it was uncomfortable to walk to Hogsmeade in such weather, and many people shivered as soon as they left the castle, and their ears and cheeks were red from the cold.

But they didn't want to stay in the castle, so they had to speed up their pace and get to Hogsmeade as soon as possible, and then go to the warm and comfortable three broomsticks and drink a hot butterbeer.

Of course, there are also students who are not in a hurry, such as Kyle and Connor, who wear warm-up badges with a waterproof and moisture-proof charm on their chests, and the bad weather has no effect at all.

The two chatted and walked slowly through the field, following the path to Hogsmeade Village.

It should have been notified in advance, and for the sake of safety, all the wizards from other places here are gone, and as far as the eye can see, whether it is on the street or in the shops, there are only Hogwarts students.

"Oh Kyle, look there." Ryan suddenly stretched out his hand and pointed to a shop not far away, "Jokowi is closed." ”

Kyle turned his head to look.

Sure enough, the door of Jokowi's joke shop, which was closest to the entrance of the village, was closed, and there were many students next to him looking through the crack in the door.

"It's really closed, and there's no one in ......"

"It's a disappointment, I want to buy a few exploding bees."

"Don't think about it, you can't bring it back even if you buy it, don't forget that Filch is still checking at the door."

"Maybe I can find a place to hide first......"

After lingering at the door for a while, the crowd left. Now that Jokowi is sure that the door is closed, there is no need to stay here, and it is better to go to other places while this time is in time.

……

Fortunately, the most popular Honey Duke candy store is still open.

The small shop was crowded with students, who waved galleons and swept the candy shelves like locusts, and in just a few minutes, half of the large bucket full of flavored beans placed at the door was gone.

"Hey, you guys leave me some!" Mikel couldn't help it and strode towards the store.

"Kyle, do you need to bring some for you?" Ryan ran two steps before turning around and asked, "How about the flavored beans and the chocolate frog, these are the most popular things." ”

"No need." Kyle shook his head and said.

"Are you sure?" Ryan glanced at Kyle, "I guess there will be very few opportunities to come to Hogsmeade in the future, it's best to take this opportunity to buy more ......"

"That's true, but it's not really necessary." Kyle said, "I still have a lot of candy, and you don't know it, so I really don't need to buy any more." ”

I don't know when it started, it's been a few years, Kyle hasn't been to Duke Honey anymore.

The main thing is that he can receive a lot of candy and chocolates every Christmas and birthday, even if he uses some of them to give gifts, he can't eat the rest, and he doesn't need to spend any money to buy them.

"We always have to change the taste, and we're embarrassed to eat your candy all the time." Ryan said, and then he followed Mikel to Duke Honey.

Kyle and Connor didn't stay any longer, and now that most of the people were in Duke Honey, they decided to go to Three Broomsticks first and get a good spot.

Drinking a hot glass of butterbeer in these weather is a temptation you can't resist.

When the two of them came to the door of the three brooms against the strong wind, they suddenly found that there were several acquaintances standing here.

The iconic red hair is so conspicuous.

"Fred, George?" Kyle asked tentatively.

Hearing someone call their names, the twins immediately turned their heads.

"Haha, we were just discussing whether you would come."

"I didn't expect you guys to be here just after that......" George smiled and waved his hand, "Hey, Connor, how's seventh grade?" ”

"Not bad." Connor said, "What are you doing here, drinking?" ”

"Seriously, we don't have time right now." Fred sighed, "There's a lot going on in the ministry, and we've tried to quit a few times but haven't found a chance. ”

"It's okay to resign, but after that, I will definitely push those things to Dad." "He's busy enough to get home late at night." ”

"Then you ...... this?"

"Track down a guy who resells fake amulets, and there's word that he might come to Hogsmeade." Fred explained, "You should know that guy too, Mundungus. ”

"The one from the Order of the Phoenix?"

"Who else could it be if it wasn't him...... "George said through gritted teeth, "I now know why my mother didn't welcome him, and although he always got us what we needed, he got us in a lot of trouble." ”

"Did you find him?" Kyle asked, "Do you need help?" ”

"No, I'm guessing he's already gotten the news and fled." Fred pushed open the door of the three broomsticks, "Since we met, how about a drink, we're in for a treat." ”

"Then I want the most expensive one." Kyle said.

"Don't even think about it, just butterbeer." George looked at Connor again, "Of course, you can do whatever you want." ”

As he spoke, he raised an eyebrow at Kyle defiantly.

Kyle didn't get used to him, and as soon as he entered the bar, he ordered Connor a glass of the most expensive Ogden Gold Mead.

The price of a cup of ten gallons made the twins' faces distorted in distress.

"You're not going to regret it...... Kyle said deliberately, "but that's okay, I can pay." ”

"Hah, how is that possible!" George pulled out ten gold coins from his neck and lined them up neatly on the bar, "Just drink this, I'm in for a treat." ”

"Then I'll thank you for Connor." Kyle said happily as he handed the golden mead to Connor.

"I'm so lucky, I didn't expect someone to have a drink."

Looking at Kyle's smug look and the Weasley brothers' exaggerated expressions, Connor couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't pretend, you get two salaries, can't you afford to pay the ten Galleons?." After the group found a place to sit down, Kyle brought three more glasses of Butterbeer. "What's going on out there now?"

"Not good." Fred sighed, "Seeing the Dark Mark almost every day makes people panic. ”

"There's no movement on the Aurors' side?"

"I've caught a few Death Eaters, but they're all minions, and they're not very useful." George said, "By the way, do you know Stansan Park? ”

"The conductor of the knight's bus?" Kyle said.

"That's him." "He was also arrested, this morning, on charges of being involved in Death Eaters," Fred said. ”

"Wait, is there a mistake...... Connor looked up, "he's just a conductor, how can he be a Death Eater?" ”

"We don't think it's possible." "But that's what Stansan Parker admitted." ”

"And in a bar, in front of at least a dozen wizards...... The Aurors received several letters of informance. ”

"And Gulla, a goblin who was also spotted having multiple contacts with Death Eaters, but Gringotts insisted that it was just a normal transaction."

"But I don't think so, if it's a trade, why not in Gringotts, but outside. I'm guessing they were worried that the goblins and the Death Eaters colluding would affect Gringotts' reputation. ”

As they chatted and drank butterbeer, Kyle noticed that they kept looking out the window from time to time, as if they were looking for someone.

There was another one who did this, the brown-haired wizard sitting in the doorway.

It wasn't until Harry, Hermione, and Ron walked into the three broomsticks that they didn't turn their heads as often.

"By the way, you shouldn't be responsible for protecting Harry?" Kyle asked quietly.

"How do you know?" Fred was stunned for a moment.

"Guess." Kyle shrugged.

"Well, there's nothing to hide either." "There's really not a lot of people in the ministry," George said...... Plus we just happened to be in Hogsmeade, so let's be a help. ”

"Then you dared to come and drink just now."

"It's okay, and the Aurors, we're just helping."

"The wizard sitting in the doorway?"

"You know again?" Fred was even more surprised, he even suspected that Kyle was not at Hogwarts these days, but had been in the Ministry of Magic.

"Is that hard to guess?" Kyle said calmly, "Anyway, I haven't seen a wizard with a beard come to the bar and order a juice soda." ”

"Well, she's Tonks, actually." Fred said, "It's so exposed, no wonder Dad had to ask us to come over and help." ”

"Fred, George!"

At this time, Ron, who had just come in, also found the two of them.

"Why are you here?"

"We're here to inform you that Hogwarts has a holiday tomorrow." Fred said, "Mommy asked us to pick you up." ”

"What, Hogwarts is on vacation?" Ron froze in place, "But, Professor McGonagall never told us!" ”

"Seriously." George patted Ron on the shoulder, "Sometimes we really don't want to admit that you're our brother, it's just a stain on our intelligence. ”

Ron immediately understood that what Fred and George had just said about the Hogwarts holiday was just teasing him.

He turned red with anger and glared at the two of them, but Fred and George didn't care about the situation at all, and continued to talk to Kyle as if nothing had happened.

Seeing this, Harry and the others sat down at an empty table next to them.

To be honest, it's an amazing feeling to meet a classmate who has graduated from Hogsmeade.

After about ten minutes, the door opened again, and this time it was Slughorn, who looked like a walrus in a huge plush hat and matching plush coat.

Thankfully, the door of the three broomsticks was wide enough, otherwise he might not have been able to get in.

"It's cold, Rosmerta, bring me a glass of mead."

"Oh......" Harry quickly lowered his head when he saw Slughorn, trying to hide himself under the table.

It can only be said that his idea was good, but it was discovered by Slughorn.

"Harry, kid." Slughorn strode over, looking even happier when he noticed that Kyle and Connor were also here.

"You've missed my small dinners a few times, and that's not okay, you have to come and see them, Miss Granger loves them." He sat straight into the empty seat at Harry's table.

"How about tomorrow night, you're going to be fine."

"I ...... I ......" Harry was speechless, as he frantically pondered in his head what excuse to turn down the invitation.

Harry had been hiding from Slughorn since the last time he was surrounded by seven or eight people doing his homework, and he would rather deal with a large vat of Ferrobert caterpillars than a dinner party.

"I'm sorry, Professor." Kyle's expression remained unchanged and he said calmly, "There are too many things to do in the Ministry of Magic. ”

He pointed at Fred and George, "You see, even if it's a weekend trip to Hogsmeade, they'll come after me and ask me for a work report. ”

"You're a staff member of the Ministry of Magic?" Slughorn asked, looking at the Weasley brothers.

Although they didn't know what Kyle meant, Fred and George reacted immediately and nodded in agreement.

Slughorn's attitude immediately changed, and he greeted the two in a friendly manner, but that was all.

"I'm afraid I can't." Connor said, "Professor Snape locked me up...... A month of confinement, during which time I couldn't go anywhere. ”

"What?" Slughorn almost jumped up in excitement, "How can Severus be like this, doesn't he know how talented you are in potions?"

"A month's confinement, oh my God, how could he be willing to do it...... No, I'll have to talk to him. ”

With that, Slughorn didn't even drink the mead he had just served, and hurriedly rushed out three more brooms.

"What the hell is going on, the new Potions professor?" Fred asked curiously, apparently having heard about Hogwarts' teacher transfer this year.

"That's right, Horaceslughorn, a professor who likes to have dinners." Kyle gives a brief overview of what he's done, as well as his famous slug club.

This shocked the two of them, and they didn't expect this professor to be so ...... Particularly.

"By the way, doesn't he know about Connor's relationship with Snape?"

"Apparently I don't know." Kyle said, "But it's just the right time to get Connor out of those boring dinners." ”

If Connor didn't want to go, she could even be locked up for the entire term, even if Dumbledore said it wouldn't be useful, let alone Slughorn.

"Ron......" George said, turning his head meaningfully, "I noticed that he didn't invite you just now, is it a coincidence?" Or negligence. ”

Ron's face turned red again.

In fact, Slughorn never paid attention to him, and every time they met, he only spoke to Harry as if he were an inconsequential ornament.

"I envy Ron." Harry said from the sidelines, "Those evenings of his were nothing short of torture. ”

"yes." Hermione nodded beside her, "It's not a pleasant thing to do. ”

Ron's expression was a little better, and he muttered a few words, but no one could hear what he said.

After a little more talking, Kyle and Connor are ready to go back after the Butterbeer.

Harry and the others thought the same thing.

The weather outside is getting harsh, so it's more comfortable to be in a warm common room than to stay outside.

They got up and walked in the direction of the door.

At this moment, two Gryffindor girls on a table not far away also stood up.

"Wait a minute, Kyle."

As they walked out of the bar, they shouted from behind.

"What's the matter?" Kyle asked, looking back.

He recognized one of the girls as Katie Bell of Gryffindor, who was also part of the Quidditch team.

"Here's for you." Katie walked over and reached for a package.

Kyle was a little confused, he didn't seem to remember what he had done with the other person.

But when he set his eyes on the package, he frowned violently.

And the same goes for Fred and George next to them.

Having worked for so long in the department that specializes in tracking down dark magic items and fakes, they could see at a glance that there was something wrong with this package.

The reaction of the black magic in this is too obvious, and it is not disguised, you don't need to think about it to know, it is definitely a terrible thing inside.

The two were about to say something when Kyle stopped them.

He shook his head slightly, then looked at Katie.

"Who gave it to me?"

Katie didn't speak, just nodded slightly stiffly, and the movements were very unnatural.

"Imperius Curse!" A terrible thought popped into Fred's head.

Damn, someone used the Imperius Curse on a Hogwarts student!

Meanwhile, Kyle, after hesitating for a moment, begins to slowly reach for the package.

Fred's heart immediately hangs, and he tries to warn Kyle, but he quickly realizes that there is no need for it, and immediately runs to Tonks, who is following them not far away.

George stayed there and watched nervously, his hand in his pocket ready to pull out his wand at any moment.

However, just as Kyle's fingers were about to touch the package, a dark voice suddenly came from behind several people.

"Get out of the way, you disgusting mudblood!"

It was Malfoy, who also seemed to have just come out of the three broomsticks, and rarely without any attendants.

Then, unexpectedly, he pushed Hermione, who was in front of him, very badly.

Hermione didn't react for a moment, and her body staggered and hit Katie,

Katie was hit by her like this, and the bag in her hand fell to the ground.

……

(End of chapter)