Near the castle gates, a handful of students had gathered, waiting for it to be time to set off for Hogsmeade.
Mitchell glanced at Steve, who looked a little less pleased with himself than usual.
Mitchell: "So... you didn't manage to get anything?"
Steve let out a sigh.
"I tried. The school carriages are for official business only, and to hire one from outside we'd have to leave the castle first."
Mitchell: "What about borrowing some brooms? That'd be a lot more-"
Steve: "Forgetting everyone else is going too? I already thought of that, but apart from a few upper years who go now and then and don't seem too fussed, most people our age who own a broom will be using it themselves. And as for the older students... well, my network among them is a bit thin."
Trudor looked over at the castle gates.
"So... we walk, then?"
Steve: "Looks like it..."
Padma: "Hi, everyone! Ready to head off?"
Padma and Parvati walked up to the group.
Parvati: "Hi."
Steve: "Not quite. We're still missing Extimum. Hello, Parvati."
Padma: "He's not here yet? That's not like him, being late."
Extimum: "Luckily, not by much."
The voice came from practically right beside Trudor.
Trudor: "Bloody hell! Where did you come from?" He nearly jumped out of his skin before turning to find Extimum standing right next to him.
Extimum: "I only just got here."
Mitchell: "Mate, you're losing your touch. You used to get here before everyone else."
Extimum: "Yeah, sorry about that. I had to check on something before leaving and lost track of time a bit."
Steve: "Right, looks like we're all here, then."
While the others finished checking they hadn't forgotten anything, Padma turned her gaze toward Luna.
Padma: "It's a shame you can't come with us."
Luna: "It's alright. Ginny invited me to play with her and her friends."
Mitchell raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Ginny? Ron's sister? I didn't know you two were friends."
Luna: "We became friends recently."
Steve: "It's good that you've got more friends now. Don't worry, just wait until dinner. I, the great Steve, will bring you the finest selection of snacks Hogsmeade has to offer."
Luna: "I'll look forward to it, then." She said it with a calm smile.
Steve: "Right, let's go."
The group finally set off toward the spot where they were meant to line up for departure.
As they walked, Extimum glanced at Steve.
Extimum: "What about the transport? Did you manage to sort something out, or are we walking?"
Steve pulled a small face.
"About that... no luck."
Padma smiled immediately.
"I figured as much... And that's exactly why, everyone, rejoice: I've sorted out transport."
Trudor: "Really?" he asked, surprised.
Padma: "Yes. Yesterday, right after we said goodbye, I sent a letter home, and my mother got a cousin of hers who lives in Hogsmeade to come and pick us up."
Mitchell: "Wow, Padma, you're amazing! One point for Padma and zero for Steve."
Steve: "Tch."
Extimum: "Yes, that way we avoid the remote chance of running into a dementor on the road."
"..."
The group fell silent for a moment.
Mitchell: "Bloody hell! I'd completely forgotten about that."
Steve: "I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing that you're reminding us of that right now."
Trudor: "Relax, everyone. I asked Professor Flitwick when I was handing in my permission form, because I had the same worry. He assured me the teachers had already thought of it and secured the area for today."
Padma: "Sigh. That's a relief, then. I was starting to feel a little guilty about dragging my mother's cousin all the way out here."
Extimum: "Living in Hogsmeade, he was probably aware of it too. He most likely agreed knowing full well."
"Hey, guys."
A greeting caught the group's attention, making them turn to look.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville were approaching from the line next to theirs.
Steve: "Hey."
Ron: "Excited about Hogsmeade?"
Mitchell: "Of course. Last night I could barely stop tossing and turning just thinking about it."
Before they could go on, a harsh voice cut them off.
Filch: "Silence, all of you! Give your names, one at a time. I'll check you against the list."
Filch barked the order while gripping a piece of parchment in his hands. One by one, the students gave their names as he checked the list with a suspicious look on his face. At his feet, Mrs Norris watched closely as each student passed by.
Once the checking was done, they began letting the students out of the castle.
At first glance, the procedure looked like little more than a formality. Extimum, however, knew better.
Checking names off a list was only the most visible part of the security.
The castle grounds were bounded by high walls and gates, further reinforced by powerful wards capable of detecting anyone who tried to cross them. The gates and main paths were the only points set up to allow safe passage, watched over by the caretakers and guards posted there.
There were exceptions, of course. The wards didn't stop ordinary creatures from passing through, nor could they block the secret passages, though those, admittedly, weren't exactly common knowledge among most students.
Once outside the castle, everyone regrouped as they made their way toward the outer walls, where the transport Padma had arranged was waiting.
Hermione: "Shall we go together? The trip won't be as boring that way."
Trudor: "Not a bad idea, but... we've got transport sorted, so we won't be walking."
Ron looked up, interested.
"Really? Now I'm a bit jealous. I don't fancy walking that far. Is there room for us, maybe?"
Steve: "Hmm... thing is, we don't actually know what kind of transport it is yet, so we don't know if there'll be room."
Ron: "Oh. Never mind, then."
As they walked along with the group, Extimum fell into step beside Harry.
Extimum: "No trouble getting your permission slip signed?"
Harry: "Ugh, don't even mention it. It very nearly didn't happen. Lucky I asked Uncle Vernon before Aunt Marge turned up. Otherwise... well, I doubt he'd have signed it."
Ron: "Yeah. With his sister floating off into the sky, I doubt they'd have let you go."
Hermione: "Ron..."
Mitchell: "Yeah, I heard about that. You're unbelievable, Harry."
Harry: "Ughh."
Shortly after, the group crossed the perimeter of the walls.
Mitchell stopped dead.
"That's..."
Trudor: "No way..."
Everyone had expected some sort of carriage, a mount, or at the very least, something that looked a bit more like proper transport for students.
Instead, in front of them stood a cart loaded with straw, pulled by two donkeys.
For a few seconds, nobody said a word.
Steve: "Well... I'll admit I was expecting something a bit more sophisticated. But I suppose, technically, you delivered."
Padma felt her face flush slightly, though she fought to keep her composure.
Padma: "At least I got us something." She shot back sharply, glancing around and praying it wasn't the one.
That hope died instantly, when an enthusiastic voice called out from the cart.
?: "Padma! Parvati! Blimey, haven't you two grown! I haven't seen you in years!"
The man sitting on the cart's bench hopped down and walked over to them with a broad smile.
It took Padma a moment to place him.
"Uncle... Arjun?"
Arjun: "In the flesh. Glad you still remember me. Your mother's letter took me by surprise, but it seemed like a good chance for us to catch up. Come on, the cart's all ready. There's room for all your friends."
Parvati looked a little embarrassed too, but she quickly covered it by stepping forward to hug Arjun.
There was no doubt left. This was, without question, the transport Padma had arranged.
Ron: "Well... it's better than walking, at least."
Hermione gave him a small nudge with her elbow.
"Shh. Ron."
Extimum studied the cart for a few seconds along with the others.
Then he simply shrugged it off.
He walked over, jumped up, and landed on the straw. After pushing some of it aside, he found a comfortable spot and settled in, not showing the slightest concern about how humble the transport was.
The others hesitated a bit longer, especially seeing the mocking looks, and even outright laughter, from some of the students passing by.
But seeing how naturally Extimum had settled in, they swallowed their embarrassment and started climbing on as well.
At this point, there wasn't really another option. And besides, as Ron had rightly said, it still beat walking.
Extimum looked over at the others.
"There's still room. Are you getting on?"
Ron pulled a face.
"Er..."
Harry: "Sure."
Ron: "Fine..."
The four of them climbed up onto the cart and found spots among the straw.
Arjun took up the reins and gave them a shake.
"Yah!"
The donkeys started forward and the cart lurched into motion, accompanied by the rhythmic ** clop, clop ** of their hooves striking the mud.
The weather was pleasant. Not too warm, not too cold, and simply knowing that the Halloween feast awaited them at the end of the day made the ride feel all the more enjoyable.
Bloom tried to settle in beside Extimum on the straw, but after a few moments she seemed to decide it was too uncomfortable. In the end, she flew back up into his hair, where she found a far cosier spot to curl up in.
...
The ride passed peacefully. They didn't talk much, except when Arjun chatted with Padma and Parvati or tried to draw the others into conversation to get to know them a little better.
Before long, the entrance to the village came into view on the horizon, and the cart gradually slowed down.
Arjun: "I live on the outskirts, so I'll have to turn off from here. You can hop down and walk the rest of the way."
Everyone agreed.
They climbed down from the cart and began brushing off their clothes to get rid of the dust and bits of straw that had stuck to them.
Once everyone was on the ground, the cart continued on its way.
Arjun: "See you around, Padma, Parvati. If you need me for the way back, just let me know. My place is the farm at the end of this road."
Padma: "Thank you, Uncle Arjun."
Parvati: "See you."
The cart trundled off down the road.
Mitchell: "Well, that was entertaining."
Trudor: "Yeah. Not bad at all. Comfortable, even."
Steve seemed to instantly recover his usual confidence.
"Right, now that we're here. Here, I put together some leaflets for you all to read."
Mitchell: "Wow, you came prepared, huh?"
Steve smiled proudly.
"Of course. I, the great Steve, am still reliable when it counts."
Then he noticed Harry and the others.
"Ah, and since you lot are here, take these. I made a few extra." He handed over two spare leaflets he had on him.
Neville eyed the leaflet in Harry's hands with curiosity.
"What's this?"
Hermione opened her leaflet and began reading it.
"It's a leaflet with points of interest and recommendations." She looked up at Steve, seeing him in a new light.
She hadn't expected him to have taken it this seriously. She herself had simply come intending to explore the village and pass the time.
Extimum unfolded his own copy while Bloom perched on his shoulder to read along.
Extimum: 'Hmm... this is more or less what I already knew, but there's some interesting information here. It even includes the usual prices for the most common items.'
Bloom pointed at one of the pages.
Bloom: 'Not just that. It's even got recommendations on what to order at each place. He really put some effort into gathering all this... or he'd been expecting this for a long time.'
Extimum turned a page.
'And they've got a post office.'
Steve: "Right then, where to first?"
The answer came almost in unison.
Everyone: "Honeydukes."
Steve blinked.
"Wow. That's unanimous, isn't it?"
Extimum closed his leaflet partway.
"Actually, I want to go to the post office first. Why don't you all go ahead, and I'll catch up with you?"
Steve: "Huh? You have to send a letter right now?"
Extimum: "It's important, and it won't take long."
Mitchell: "In that case, we'll come with you. We can have a look round the village on the way."
Padma: "Sounds good to me."
One after another, everyone agreed.
Even Harry's group decided to tag along. Steve's planning seemed thorough enough to guarantee they wouldn't miss anything on this first trip to Hogsmeade.
Besides, it was still early, and the cart ride had saved them even more time.
As they approached the village, they could see the main entrance, marked by a welcome sign beneath the name Hogsmeade.
The village was small and had an old-fashioned look, made up mostly of cottages and buildings of stone and timber clustered around a handful of cobbled streets. Some of the fronts leaned with age, while others looked better cared for, though all of them held onto a certain rustic charm.
Shop signs jutted out over the streets, swaying gently in the wind and advertising establishments of every kind. Beyond the houses, a few scattered farms could be seen in the surrounding area, along with small plots of land stretching between the buildings and the nearby hills.
There was a fair bit of activity at that hour.
Hogwarts students wandered back and forth in small groups, going in and out of shops, while the villagers went about their own business. Every now and then a cart rolled down one of the streets, forcing pedestrians to step aside a little to make room.
For many of the students, it was the first time they'd been able to wander through the village freely. Some had already passed near Hogsmeade when arriving at or leaving from the train station, but doing it now was different. They didn't have to limit themselves to watching from a distance or sticking to the path up to the castle; for the first time, they could stop in front of shop windows, step into stores, and simply walk the streets like any other visitor.
The group didn't take long to reach their first destination.
The Owl Post Office stood on one of the main streets, and from its entrance they could even make out Honeydukes' eye-catching sign a bit further along. Being such a large group, most of them decided to wait outside after a quick look inside, while a few stayed to poke around the shop.
Stepping through the door, the air hit them with a strong smell of feathers, dry straw, and droppings. Despite the sheer number of birds, the wooden floor and the counter stayed surprisingly clean.
The shop had a high ceiling, crossed by thick oak beams worn by the years and covered in countless claw marks. The walls were lined with hundreds of shelves and little wooden birdhouses painted in different colours, grouped according to the type of delivery. Owls of every breed and size perched there, some perfectly still, others shifting about in their small compartments.
The place was filled with the constant sound of hooting and the flap of wings as birds flew in and out through the skylights in the roof.
Extimum walked over to one of the tall little tables off to the side and pulled a sheet of parchment out of his own bag, along with a quill and a small bottle of ink.
Bloom: 'Are you actually going to write to that woman?'
Extimum dipped his quill in the ink and began to write.
'I can't think of any other options. We've already searched the entire castle library and there's not a trace of that book. And I don't remember anything about it in the manor's library either. Besides, given that it was written by an Unspeakable, it's not exactly strange for their research to be secret or hard to find. So who better than another Unspeakable to get hold of it?'
Bloom stayed perched on his shoulder, watching the words appear on the parchment.
'Even so, are you even sure she'll be willing to help you? Because, you know, it might be classified material.'
Extimum: 'I don't know that, but there's nothing to lose by trying. Besides, the last time I saw her, she didn't seem too bothered about me studying dangerous things. Actually, from what I've heard from the professors, she doesn't strike me as someone who cares much for rules, or at least not someone afraid to break them.'
Finishing the letter, he signed his name at the bottom, then gave the parchment a light shake to dry the ink before rolling it up and sealing it with hot wax, which was available right there at the table.
That done, he made his way over to the counter.
?: "Morning. Local delivery or long distance?"
Extimum: "Long distance. London."
?: "Excellent. Priority or standard?"
Extimum: "Hmm... a fast one would be good."
?: "Right, that'll be one Galleon, then."
Extimum pulled a coin from his bag and handed it to the clerk.
?: "Pleasure to serve you. Number 51!"
** Hoooo **
A large owl hooted from above and, with a quick flurry of wings, landed on the counter beside the clerk. He took a small tube, slid the letter inside, and carefully tied it to the owl's leg.
"Deliver this to Christelle Izorim."
** Hoooo **
With another hoot and a beat of its wings, the bird took off at full speed, shot through the open skylight, and vanished into the sky within moments.
Extimum watched it go for a few seconds before heading for the exit.
"Right, now let's go to Honeydukes."
Mitchell: "Yesss, let's go!"
The group set off with slightly hurried steps toward the other side of the street and a little further along.
Honeydukes stood out easily among the other shops, with its bright green paint and pink sign, set off by the huge front window that showed off sweets of every imaginable shape and colour. Even from outside, they could make out a few strange treats that seemed to be moving on their own behind the glass.
The place was already packed, with an endless stream of children and adults going in and out, many of them carrying small paper bags full of sweets.
Despite the crowd, the group wasn't put off and pushed their way through the people to get inside.
The shop was spacious, but it hardly seemed big enough for the number of people crammed inside at that moment. The sugary aroma mixed with the smell of chocolate, honey, and other ingredients that were hard to place, wrapping the whole shop in a kind of constant sweetness.
Rows of shelves and counters stood everywhere, stacked with jars of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, boxes of Chocolate Frogs, and bags of Sugar Quills. On the central tables, trays were piled high with nougat, handmade toffees, and glass jars full of levitating sweets that hovered barely a couple of centimetres above their containers.
Some customers grabbed sweets straight off the shelves, while others lingered in front of the display cases, deciding what to buy. The air buzzed with the constant murmur of laughter, the clink of coins on the wooden counter, and the crinkle of wrappers being torn open.
Amid the crowd, the group split up naturally, some drifting off to gawk at the various mesmerising treats, others hunting for their favourites among the huge selection.
Bloom pressed herself close to Extimum's neck, finding the crowd a bit stifling, though she was also a little tempted by the sweets on display.
Picking up one of the small baskets by the entrance, Extimum wandered through the shop, tossing in the odd curious sweet every so often.
The scent in the air was a jumble for his senses. Even so, every now and then something managed to catch his attention in particular, making him stop in front of some shelf or jar.
One in particular proved rather captivating...
Without quite realising it, he ended up in a corner of the shop where there seemed to be fewer people, and correspondingly little general interest in the sweets displayed there.
There, some crimson marbles caught both his nose and his eye with the sheer intensity of their colour. He picked one up and popped it into his mouth almost without thinking.
At once, a sweet, familiar taste he hadn't had in a while filled his mouth, layered with a few other subtle notes.
Hermione: "Found something good?"
Rolling the marble around his mouth, Extimum answered, "Yeah. A really tasty one."
Hermione: "Let me try one." She took a marble from the jar herself and popped it into her mouth too.
Steve: "Something good? Let's see, let me have a look. It's, er... Crimson Drops."
Hermione: "It tastes a bit odd... I wouldn't say it's bad, but there's something about it I'm not quite keen on."
Steve gave the two of them an odd look, especially Extimum, who was already filling his basket with a fair amount of the sweet.
Extimum: 'Want to try one, Bloom?'
Bloom: 'No, thanks. That's not exactly to my taste.'
Hermione: "Is something wrong?"
Steve: "Er, well... do you know what these are made of?"
Hermione: "Hmm, I don't know. There are a few odd notes I've never tasted before, along with something a bit spicy, like ginger. Why? Are they made of something disgusting?" Hermione stopped short as the possibility occurred to her.
Steve: "Well, I wouldn't say disgusting... exactly."
He kept giving Extimum odd looks, who seemed perfectly content as he enjoyed the sweet in his mouth.
Hermione: "Phew, that's a relief, then."
Steve hesitated, the word "but" caught in his mouth and the main ingredient right on the tip of his tongue. In the end, though, he decided to say no more and turned to slip away among the other customers to look at different sweets.
Extimum: "It tastes good, but it's not as good as the real thing."
Hermione: "The real thing? Does it taste better? This one doesn't quite convince me; it tastes a bit strange."
Extimum: "Much better. Fresher, and far more addictive..."
A sudden chill ran through Hermione. There was something familiar in the way Extimum described it. Without quite knowing why, some part of her had suddenly gone on alert.
She looked away toward the sweets around her, trying to distract herself, until her eyes landed on one sitting right next to the jar of Crimson Drops.
Hermione: "Oh, look, those are the blood lollipops. I'd heard of them, though everyone says I'm better off not trying them. As if I'd try a sweet like that. Only vampires buy those."
Extimum: "Oh, I hadn't noticed those. Though those ones use corn syrup."
Their smell was a notch below that of the Crimson Drops already in his basket, but he grabbed three of them anyway, to try later.
Hermione: "Ah! Why are you taking those? They're made with blood!"
Extimum: "I know."
He said it as naturally as anything, as if there were nothing remarkable about it at all.
Suddenly, and almost by instinct, Hermione's hand flew to her neck as memories of past events surfaced. It had been a long time since Extimum had last bitten her, and his more recent advances had been more teasing than anything real, which had led her to nearly forget his fondness for blood.
Hermione: "Wait..."
Her gaze snapped back to the jar of Crimson Drops, studying the label more carefully this time.
** Sigh **
Hermione: "Well... looks like there's none of that in these."
Extimum: "Right, let's carry on. There are still plenty of sweets we haven't seen."
Hermione nodded and the two of them kept browsing the shelves.
Amid the constant flow of customers, an employee came through that section carrying several boxes to restock the shelves. Passing the jar of Crimson Drops, he paused for a moment and looked at the container.
He rummaged in his apron pocket, pulled out a label, and stuck it on the jar before going back to work, disappearing once more into the crowd.
A little while later, the group reconvened at the till, paying for all the sweets they'd gathered and packing them into bags to take away.
Once done, they all filed out of the shop and regrouped again in the square.
Steve: "Right, I think we've covered the essentials. What do you say we split up for a bit and meet back in a few hours for lunch at the Three Broomsticks?"
Trudor: "Good idea. After this I'd like to go pick up a few things at Dogweed and Deathcap for my potions work."
Neville: "I'll come with you. I'd like to see what kind of seeds they've got, too."
Hermione: "I wanted to go to Madam Puddifoot's tea shop. I've heard the older students go on about that place all the time, and I'm curious."
Steve: "Sounds like we're all agreed, then."
They talked it over briefly, deciding where everyone planned to go, before starting to split up, some on their own, others in twos or threes.
Just before they parted ways, Extimum leaned in close to Hermione and murmured:
"Though those are made with it too."
Hermione's expression changed completely at those words, becoming fascinating to watch.
Extimum didn't stick around to admire it. He simply turned on his heel and went on his own way.
He hadn't arranged to go anywhere with anyone in particular, since he'd had no real plans after sending the letter, and he wanted to take the chance to wander the village alone for a while.
Well, not entirely alone.
Bloom: 'So where are we off to now?'
Extimum: 'No idea.'
Bloom: 'You don't have a plan at all?'
Extimum: 'A plan... Hmm... How about a nice walk, then? Just the two of us?'
Bloom: 'Eh... You just make it sound that way, but it's not that different from just going for a walk like we always do.'
Extimum: 'But somewhere different.'
Bloom: 'Still sounds like the same thing, apart from looking at what's in the shops.'
Extimum: 'Then... what if I make it more interesting?'
Bloom: 'Like what?'
Extimum thought it over for a few seconds.
Extimum: 'A date.'
Bloom: 'A d-date?'
Extimum: 'That's what I said.'
Bloom: 'That's...'
Extimum: 'Though really it won't be that different. It just changes the meaning we give it.'
Bloom fell silent for a few seconds.
'Even so, put like that... Should I take my true form, then?'
Extimum: 'You can?'
The question came out with genuine surprise. Neither of them had brought up the subject since the last time Bloom had taken on that form.
Bloom: 'I can... Though not for very long.'
Extimum: 'How long?'
Bloom: 'A couple of hours or so.'
Extimum: 'That's enough, but...' A faint uncertainty settled in his chest.
Bloom: 'What's wrong? Don't you want to?'
Extimum: 'It's not that... It's just...'
For a moment, he stayed quiet.
Extimum: 'Never mind. Let's do it, then.'
Bloom: 'Alright.'
Extimum looked around and spotted an alley set a little apart from the bustle of the street. He walked over to it with Bloom on his shoulder, and once they were far enough from the crowd, he cast a solid layer of illusion that made them vanish from public view.
Extimum: "You can go ahead now."
Bloom flew off his shoulder and drifted a few feet away, hovering in front of him. She closed her eyes and began gathering her magic.
Within seconds, her body began to glow with an intense white light, shot through with iridescent hues. The glow completely wrapped around her form as the space she occupied began to expand.
Extimum watched her closely.
His expression remained calm, though a mixture of anticipation and apprehension lay hidden in the depths of his eyes.
When the glow began to recede, Bloom's figure came into view once more.
Her long hair, made up of orange and reddish tones like living fire, fell over her back. Her great wings spread out behind her, bathing her silhouette in a faint iridescent glow, while her blue eyes kept that same particular, mesmerising shine.
Her figure, now human-sized, was just as striking as he remembered.
[Image]
For a moment, Extimum stayed silent.
A slight tension ran through his body.
But nothing else happened.
Bloom moved on to the second part of the transformation. Her wings began to fade away and some of her more obviously fae features softened, until her supernatural appearance was reduced to that of a young woman of extraordinary beauty.
She was still several inches taller than Extimum, though the difference had shrunk a little.
Bloom opened her eyes and looked at him.
"Well?"
Extimum took a moment to answer.
Extimum: "Beautiful. No question."
Bloom blushed slightly and a small smile crossed her face.
Extimum: "...Though we still need to do something about your clothes."
Bloom: "What's wrong with my clothes?"
Extimum: "It draws too much attention. In your small form it's not an issue, but now... you need something plainer. And shoes."
Turning it over in his mind, he toyed with his wand for a few seconds, working out the look before giving it a wave toward Bloom.
At once, the blue dress took on a simpler, more modest shape, its colours turning more muted.
Then he pulled a pair of shoes from his bag and transfigured them into a pair of comfortable, elegant flats to match the new dress.
Bloom: "Why do you carry shoes in your bag?"
Extimum: "In case something happens to mine."
Bloom: "Hmm, your taste isn't bad, though." She studied her new outfit for a few seconds before looking back at him.
Extimum: "Shall we, then?" He held out a hand to her.
Bloom smiled sweetly and took his hand.
The contact felt strange to him for a moment. Looking back, he wasn't usually very physical with anyone, perhaps a little more so with Hermione and Luna lately, but it was still limited.
He was used to feeling Bloom on his shoulder, nestled in his hair, or tucked away in one of his pockets.
Now, though, he could feel the warmth of her hand directly.
Together they left the alley and rejoined the crowd.
Though Bloom had toned down her most striking features, she was still an extraordinarily beautiful young woman. Her red hair, her blue eyes, and the energy she radiated were enough to draw the odd glance as they walked.
Bloom, however, didn't seem to notice.
Or if she did, she didn't care.
"Look at that!"
Bloom pointed excitedly at one of the shops before giving Extimum's hand a light tug to pull him toward the window.
Extimum followed, watching her expression.
He could feel the joy radiating off her with far greater intensity than usual.
That feeling seemed to carry a single message.
Freedom
And he felt every bit of it.
For the first time, she could walk the streets as someone else.
She didn't have to hide on his shoulder or stay tucked into his hair. She could stop in front of a shop window, watch people go by, and browse the stores at her own pace. She could have done it flying before, but it wasn't the same. Now, she existed...
They stepped into a couple of shops, browsed a few windows, and ended up making a short stop at a bakery.
Bloom wasted no time taking an interest in the various treats on display. Though they'd already been to Honeydukes, these were a different kind of sweet, and more importantly, they were meant to be taken away.
Bloom: "Which do you think is best?"
Extimum: "No idea. Though the ones with cheese inside are my favourites."
Bloom: "We'll have to try them, then."
Extimum: "Then buy them. As many as you like."
He held out a small pouch of Galleons and dropped it into her hand.
Bloom looked at the pouch, surprised, then back at him.
Bloom: "So generous?"
Extimum: "I can afford it. Just for today."
Bloom didn't say anything more. Smiling, she went into the bakery and ordered everything that caught her eye to take away, coming back a little later with a bag so big it nearly hid her face.
Extimum's mouth twisted slightly.
Extimum: "Can you even eat all of that?"
Bloom: "Probably not, but you can. And if not... well, we can always share it with the others, can't we? What matters is I won't be left wondering about any of it."
"Haven't you ever walked into a bakery, seen the huge variety, and still ordered the same thing every time, even though there's loads of stuff that catches your eye that you've never tried?"
Extimum: "Not really, no."
Bloom: "Ughh."
Extimum: "But I can understand what you mean."
Bloom: "Let's keep going, then. We've got snacks for the whole walk now."
Shortly after, they carried on walking through the village streets. Bloom chattered about practically anything that caught her eye, from the shops to the people passing by.
Extimum couldn't help but smile faintly.
He'd stayed on alert during the first few minutes, half-expecting to feel that disturbance stir inside him again.
But nothing happened.
Little by little, he stopped thinking about it.
Instead, he simply enjoyed Bloom's company.
It was also nice being able to talk to her without constantly relying on their mental bond as they walked the streets, something that used to be reserved only for when they were alone.
Hearing her voice right there beside him made everything feel more... real.
And then there was that floral scent, soft, distinctive, and unique, that only appeared when she took this form. It teased at his senses every time the wind passed, and somehow, it settled his thoughts.
Extimum glanced down for a moment at where their hands met.
'This feels different.'
After making their way through much of the village, the two of them drifted a little away from the centre and crossed through the barley and pumpkin fields that surrounded Hogsmeade.
They sat down on a small bench beside the road. A brief rest after all that walking.
The day's temperature had climbed a little, though it was offset by the cold October winds. Actually, it was unusual to have such a warm day this time of year.
Bloom: "I think I'd almost forgotten what it feels like, being in this form. Being seen, walking, talking to people."
Extimum: "And wearing shoes."
Bloom: "Pff, ha ha. Come on, don't ruin my sentimental moment. Besides, in my other form I don't usually need them. I'm flying most of the time, or somewhere clean and comfortable. If I wore shoes, wouldn't I be standing on you?"
Extimum said nothing and just looked at her.
Bloom: "What?"
Extimum: "Just thinking. It'd be nice to see you like this more often."
Now it was Bloom's turn to fall quiet.
She still had her reservations, her doubts, and beyond that... her limits. Perhaps those very limits were what spared her from having to think it through. It was something simple, and yet, at the same time, a leap, a barrier. One she wasn't ready to cross just yet.
Extimum simply watched her in silence.
He took a lock of her long hair and began winding it between his fingers, mulling over the faint tingling he felt. He'd believed that once his symbiotic bond with Hermione had ended, his body no longer needed that particular chemical reaction. He'd stopped feeling it, stopped needing it. He'd even come to think Bloom simply wasn't suited for it, given how their natures aligned.
But... perhaps the problem had always been that Bloom was... incomplete.
Extimum: "But it doesn't matter either way. As long as you're with me."
Letting go of the strand of hair, he got up from the bench.
"Shall we keep going?"
Bloom got up too, but she didn't take the hand held out to her. Instead, she stepped closer, closed the distance, and hugged him from behind.
The sudden embrace made Extimum go a little rigid, though he managed to relax soon after.
Bloom: "At least I can leave behind a memory warm enough to last."
** Ba-dum Ba-dum **
His illusion magic flickered, threatening to destabilise, while his tails swayed, perhaps returning the embrace, and wound themselves around Bloom's form against his back.
** Ba-dum Ba-dum **
The relentless sound of their heartbeats seemed to fall into a single rhythm, a single melody.
...
Shortly after, they carried on with their walk, heading back into the village through a different entrance.
Near the entrance they'd come in through, a small shop caught Extimum's eye.
"Cogs and Clocks."
Extimum stopped in front of the window, something coming back to him.
Extimum: "Let's go in here."
He took her hand gently and led her inside.
** Tick. Tick. Tick. **
The shop's interior was small, with a reception counter taking up more than half the shop. Behind it, an old wizard was adjusting the mechanism of some unrecognisable device.
?: "Welcome. What can I do for you?"
Extimum took in the shop.
The counters stretched from floor to ceiling, displaying a varied collection of gadgets: everything from children's toys to tools for all sorts of trades, and, of course, clocks.
In fact, what caught his attention most was the constant...
** Tick. Tick. Tick. **
...that reached his ears.
There were close to a hundred different clocks: pocket watches, wall clocks, grandfather clocks, and mantel clocks. Whatever their size or mechanism, they all ticked forward with exact precision, producing that steady, synchronised sound.
Extimum: "I'd like you to take a look at my watch."
?: "Something wrong with it?"
Extimum: "Hmm, no. Just want it checked over. I'm not sure if it needs any kind of servicing. In all the years I've carried it, I've never done a thing to it, and it's kept working fine."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his pocket watch, handing it to the old man.
The man took it and studied it for a few seconds.
?: "Hmm... Don't see many of these."
He turned the watch over between his fingers, examining its details closely.
?: "They don't make these round here. Not anywhere in Europe, actually. These come from the other side of the world. Let me see..."
With practised hands, the old man worked at the watch before pressing a small hidden catch that revealed its mechanism.
?: "Could certainly use a bit of adjusting. Tighten this a touch... a bit more there..."
His fingers worked away for a few moments.
?: "That should do it. It's well looked after, nothing to worry about."
Extimum: "Not from around here, then? Do you know where it's from?"
?: "Hmm, if my memory serves, these are made in Canada. Though this one in particular is quite old. I'm sure it's from over there."
He pointed to a small mark on the mechanism.
?: "It's got this maker's mark... Look, it's from an old clockmaking house over there."
Extimum studied the mark for a few seconds.
"How much do I owe you?"
?: "Wasn't much work, so fifteen Sickles will do."
Extimum paid, thanked the old man, and slipped the watch back into his pocket before heading out with Bloom.
Bloom eyed the pocket where the watch had disappeared, thoughtfully, but said nothing.
Before long, they made their way back toward one of the village's main streets.
Extimum: "Hm?"
A familiar scent crossed his nose, paired with another he hadn't expected to find alongside it.
Stopping in his tracks, he turned his gaze toward the source and raised his eyebrows slightly as he confirmed what he'd picked up on.
Extimum: "Well, that's... rather interesting."
Bloom: "What is it? I don't see anything odd."
Extimum gave a faint smile and made a small gesture toward a couple passing not far from them.
.-.
The Dogweed and Deathcap shop stood on the outskirts of the village.
The shop was packed with small containers, bags, and boxes carefully arranged on shelves that covered most of the walls. The air was thick with various earthy, plant-like smells, some quite familiar to Neville, others he didn't recognise at all. On the counter sat several trays of sorted seeds with little labels naming them and listing their properties.
Neville spent a while going through the different varieties until he found a few that interested him and bought them. Then he made his way over to Trudor.
Neville: "I've got what I needed, but now I have to head somewhere else."
Trudor: "Oh, wait for me a moment if you like. I'm almost done here, we could go together."
Neville: "N-No, it's fine, really. I'd rather go on my own."
Trudor studied him for a few seconds, a little puzzled by his nervousness, but finally just shrugged.
Trudor: "Alright, see you later, then."
Neville: "Right."
Neville left the shop with more haste than was strictly necessary. Once outside, he waited a moment before setting off, careful not to draw attention to himself.
After going down a couple of streets, he made sure no one was following him before turning a corner and slipping into a narrow alley.
He'd barely taken a few steps when a hand grabbed his arm and pulled him aside.
Pansy: "Why are you so late?"
Neville: "Sorry. I had to buy some things first, and I was with the others..."
Pansy: "Hmph... well, the important thing is you're here now."
Neville: "Yeah, sorry."
Pansy let out a small sigh. For the last few minutes, she'd started to worry Neville wouldn't show up at all and would leave her standing there.
Pansy: "Right, come here."
Pansy pulled out her wand and pointed it at Neville, who instinctively took a step back.
Pansy: "Relax. We just need to make a few adjustments so no one recognises us."
Neville sighed and held still while Pansy changed the colour of his hair and altered a few of his features slightly. Then she pulled a hat and a change of clothes out of her bag.
Pansy: "Put this on."
Neville: "Er... there's nowhere to change here."
Pansy: "Behind that barrel. Hurry up. I won't look."
Neville: "Right..."
He hurried to hide behind the barrel and began changing. A few minutes later, he came back out and stood in front of Pansy.
Pansy looked him up and down for a few seconds.
Pansy: "Not bad. They definitely won't recognise you. Now it's my turn. Cast the spells on me."
Neville: "I don't know those spells..."
Pansy sighed and shook her head.
Pansy: "Never mind, then. I'll just change my hair colour and my clothes. That, plus a hat, should be enough."
Neville: "Can't you cast them on yourself?"
Pansy: "I can, but they wouldn't come out very well, and I'm not walking around looking just any old way either. Now wait here while I change. Don't you dare look."
Neville: "I won't."
Pansy: "You'd better not."
Pansy stepped away to change while Neville kept his back turned, trying to focus on anything other than the sounds of movement behind him.
A little while later, a couple who'd be hard-pressed to be recognised by anyone who knew them reappeared in the alley.
Neville: "Right, so where are we headed?"
Pansy: "Madam Puddifoot's tea shop."
Neville: "Why there?" he asked, worried, remembering Hermione had specifically said she'd be going to that very place.
Pansy: "Cough. Doesn't matter. I just heard it's a nice place. Come on."
Pansy avoided going into more detail. She didn't dare tell him she'd picked that spot precisely because it was one of the places couples usually went for their dates.
She'd heard some older students talk about it, mentioning above all the cosy, somewhat secluded atmosphere of the place, along with the tucked-away tables that offered a bit of privacy.
Neville didn't look entirely convinced, but in the end he decided not to press the matter and kept walking beside her.
.-.
The sun kept climbing until midday arrived.
After spending the following hours apart, the groups gradually began making their way back to the meeting point they'd agreed on.
When they were finally all together again, they headed into the Three Broomsticks.
At that hour, the pub was far busier inside than the streets outside. The tables were packed with students and Hogsmeade locals alike, the murmur of conversation mixing with the clink of glasses and cutlery. Several people wove between the tables carrying trays, and the smell of freshly cooked food filled the place.
After searching for a moment, they found a table big enough for all of them and sat down.
One of the waitresses came over shortly after to take their order.
?: "Afternoon. What'll it be?"
At the sight of the woman, a flicker of recognition crossed Steve's face.
Steve: "Good afternoon, Madam Rosmerta. I hope you're keeping well today."
The woman studied him for a few seconds before letting a faint smile slip out.
Rosmerta: "Hmm... smooth talker. Well, then?"
Mitchell: "The lunch special for everyone, please."
Rosmerta: "Ten lunch specials, then. And to drink?"
Padma: "Pumpkin juice for me."
Trudor, Steve, and Mitchell: "Butterbeer!"
Harry: "Same for us."
Extimum: "A Floating Infusion."
Rosmerta jotted down all the orders, then paused for a moment, fixing her eyes on Extimum and looking him up and down.
Rosmerta: "Children aren't allowed to order alcohol."
Extimum: "Oh..."
Extimum realised his slip. He'd let himself get carried away a little by the mood, forgetting he wasn't in one of those situations where he walked into some inn disguised as an adult.
The others gave him a puzzled look too.
Extimum: "...A butterbeer, then."
Rosmerta: "That, I can do."
With all the orders taken, Rosmerta turned and headed off toward the kitchen.
The others didn't think much of it and were about to pick the conversation back up when a pair of red heads appeared next to Extimum.
Fred: "If you really want to try some..."
George: "We know people."
Fred: "Very useful people."
George: "And extremely discreet."
Extimum looked at them for a few seconds before shaking his head.
Extimum: "No need."
Fred: "Your loss."
George: "But you know where to find us if you change your mind."
The twins wandered off toward another table, leaving Extimum with the rest of the group again.
Steve watched them for a few seconds.
Steve: "Hmm... now that I've got access to Hogsmeade, maybe I should start building a network here too."
Ron: "So what did you lot get up to?"
Parvati: "I went with Padma to Madam Snelling's Tress Emporium. We had our hair trimmed, and after that we looked at a load of dresses at Gladrags Wizardwear. They had loads to choose from."
Mitchell: "Hmm, I should go sometime. I could do with some new socks. Steve and I went to Zonko's Joke Shop. There was loads of interesting stuff."
Harry: "I went with Ron to Spintwitches to look at Quidditch gear."
Ron: "They had some pretty good stuff, though we didn't buy anything."
He said it with a somewhat rueful tone, since he didn't have much money and everything was rather pricey.
Extimum: "Mostly just wandering around."
Steve: "With a redhead?"
Mitchell: "Who?"
Steve: "Dunno, she looked older, and... she was really pretty."
Hermione gave Extimum an attentive look.
Padma: "Tch, so that's why you noticed her."
Steve: "Hey, you're slandering me here. She was just eye-catching, that's all."
Padma: "Sure..."
Trudor: "But was it actually Extimum?"
Mitchell: "He's sitting right there. Why don't you ask him?"
Trudor immediately turned to look at Extimum, and, whether consciously or not, everyone else did the same, clearly curious at the prospect of some good gossip.
Extimum: "He's lying."
Mitchell: "Knew it. Steve's rambling again."
Steve: "What? Hey, Extimum, you can't do this to me."
Padma: "Heh..."
Steve: "What's that 'heh' supposed to mean? I swear I saw it."
Ron: " Knew it. My sister's always telling me rumours."
Steve: "You too?"
Laughter soon spread around the table.
The conversation carried on for a while, everyone teasing Steve, until the plates finally started arriving and gradually filled the space in front of them.
It had been a long morning and their stomachs were already growling, so the conversation eventually gave way to something far more important: eating.
...
After lunch and a bit more chatting, they left the Three Broomsticks.
The afternoon air felt pleasant after the heat and noise of the pub. Hogsmeade's streets were still full of students, though the crowds had begun to thin out little by little. Some groups were heading toward the edge of the village; others were still making the most of their last moments of freedom before having to return to the castle.
Steve: "So, shall we head off, then?" he said, stretching a little.
Mitchell: "By cart?"
Padma shook her head.
"Better not. We already bothered my uncle enough getting him to come this morning."
Trudor: "Besides, walking would help settle lunch."
Extimum: "Let's walk, then."
No one objected.
They'd already spent several hours wandering the village, and while there were still places they hadn't visited, none of them much fancied dashing from shop to shop just so they could say they'd been there. Hogsmeade wasn't going anywhere. They could always come back another time.
And besides, it was probably better to head back now, while they still had some energy left.
The sun still hung fairly high, but the air was starting to cool more quickly.
...
The walk back passed quietly. As they moved further from Hogsmeade, the clusters of students gradually thinned out into small scattered groups along the road.
The journey took roughly an hour and a half.
When the castle towers finally came back into view, the tiredness was starting to show.
No one gave the dementors so much as a single thought, completely forgotten after a good afternoon of leisure.
Once back in the castle, everyone headed off to their respective common rooms, and once there, said their goodbyes to go and rest.
Extimum was no exception. Although the walk hadn't been too demanding, it had still been a fairly busy day.
He set his things down on the table, pulling out in particular the sweets and bakery snacks they hadn't finished.
Bloom: "Uahhh. Think I'll take a nap. There's still plenty of time before tonight."
Extimum: "Go ahead. I'll have a bath first."
Bloom: "I'll wait for you in bed."
With that, she loosened her dress a little, which had long since gone back to normal size, and dove straight into the pillows.
Extimum went into the bathroom, not even bothering to shut the door. As he undressed, he hung his clothes on a nearby hook.
While he was at it, he took the watch out of his trouser pocket and looked at it for a moment.
** Tick... tick... tick **
The second hand ticked clearly in his ear as he studied the small engraved mark he'd overlooked before.
'An aged malus, and a pocket watch.'
** Clic **
He closed the watch and put it away again.
He stepped into the shower and freshened up for a few minutes before getting out, pulling on some trousers, and flopping down onto the bed himself to rest for a while.
...
"Kyahahahaha."
Macabre laughter spilled from the skulls decorating the corridors as Extimum and the others made their way toward the Great Hall.
Just like the year before, the Great Hall and the surrounding areas were lavishly decked out with a Halloween theme. It even seemed a bit better than last year's.
Pumpkins with terrifying faces and flickering flames inside floated in the air, their eyes following the students as they walked past.
Ghosts drifted everywhere too, sending little shivers through anyone they happened to pass straight through.
Trudor: "They really put the effort in this year."
Mitchell: "Yeah, everything looks amazing, and we haven't even had dinner yet."
Steve: "I heard Lupin helped out with the decorations this year."
The group soon took their seats at the Ravenclaw table.
Not far off, a head of blonde hair perked up at the sight of them, rising from its seat.
Ginny: "What's going on?"
Before she could say anything more, Luna took her by the hand and pulled her along.
Ginny: "Luna, wait...!"
The two of them reached the group.
Luna: "You're back. How did it go?"
Padma: "Pretty well. Hogsmeade was more fun than I expected."
Ginny hung back a little behind Luna, eyeing the group with a touch of shyness. Aside from Extimum, most of them were people she'd barely had any contact with.
Extimum: "Hey, Ginny."
Ginny: "Hi."
Luna listened as Padma started briefly filling her in on some of what they'd got up to, with Mitchell and Trudor chiming in with details and Steve boasting about how effective his leaflets had been.
Steve: "Ah! Wait, though."
He dug a hand into his bag and pulled out several packages.
Steve: "I promised I'd bring you the finest selection of snacks Hogsmeade has to offer."
Luna: "That much?" she asked, surprised.
Steve smiled, proud of himself.
Steve: "Of course. I keep my promises. Besides, there was simply too much good stuff and I couldn't decide what to bring you."
Luna took the packages with both hands.
Luna: "Thank you, Steve."
Steve: "Knew you'd appreciate the effort."
Luna looked at the packages for a moment, smiling happily at Steve's thoughtfulness.
Then Extimum reached into his own bag as well.
He pulled out a small paper bag and held it out to her.
Extimum: "I brought you something too. Your favourites."
Luna set the packages Steve had given her down on the table and sat down as she took Extimum's bag. Then she opened it and looked inside.
She recognised the sweets at once.
Luna: "You remembered."
Extimum: "Mm."
Luna: "Thank you, Extimum," she said, her smile growing even brighter.
Extimum: "Don't mention it."
Steve watched the exchange in silence.
First, he glanced at the packages he'd brought.
Then, at the small bag Luna was still holding in her hands.
Steve: "Hmm..."
Padma: "What?"
Steve: "I don't know why, but I feel like she's more excited about Extimum's gift than mine."
Luna: "That's not true. I'm very grateful to both of you."
Steve: "Hmm... I'm not entirely convinced."
Mitchell: "Leave Luna alone, the feast's about to start."
Dumbledore: "Your attention, please..."
With the headmaster's words, a brief rundown of the evening's events, and the start of an orchestra, the food appeared on the tables, and the feast began.