Chapter 7: Hogsmeade

The notice for the Hogsmeade visit was posted. It was for the end of October, Halloween.

Crabbe and Goyle were excited about going to Honeydukes Sweetshop. Goyle especially wanted the Sugar Quills. For her, who felt like all her energy was drained during class, being able to secretly eat Sugar Quills was a necessity.

Others chattered about where they wanted to go, their faces filled with anticipation. Malfoy had little interest in commoners’ shops, but she didn’t want to burst their bubble, so she played along.

Just then, Hermione and Ron walked past her. Malfoy reflexively followed them with her eyes, and upon realizing Harry Potter wasn’t there, she quickly looked away.

Harry Potter sat alone at a table.

Even when the other students left, Harry Potter remained seated. He threw a piece of cherry pie into his mouth and leisurely got up.

Malfoy tapped Crabbe and Goyle’s shoulders.

“Crabbe, Goyle. Look at Harry Potter. It seems he can’t go to Hogsmeade.”

“Oh, you’re right.”

“Why is he alone?”

If Malfoy was the idol of Slytherin, Harry Potter was the embodiment of Gryffindor. Seeing him sitting alone was highly unusual.

There must be a reason, and Malfoy could roughly guess what it was.

“I’ll go ahead and tease him. Follow me slowly.”

They agreed. Malfoy left the Great Hall before Harry.

Harry Potter can’t go to Hogsmeade. She didn’t know if it was for safety reasons or because he didn’t get his permission slip signed, but regardless, he didn’t have the privilege Malfoy took for granted.

One who can enjoy everything,

and one who can’t enjoy anything properly.

Sadly, Harry Potter couldn’t even go out to buy sweets.

Well, if he asked, she might buy him a Sugar Quill.

Malfoy left the Great Hall first and walked slowly. As expected, Harry Potter noticed her and called out.

“Hey, Malfoy, why are you alone?”

As expected. Malfoy smiled inwardly and held her head high.

“I’m waiting for my friends. To go to Hogsmeade. What about you? Can’t go to Hogsmeade, Potter?”

“Sadly, I didn’t get permission.”

Harry Potter said like a tragic protagonist.

“I told you about that
annoying aunt I pranked last time, didn’t I? Well, my aunt and uncle went ballistic and refused to sign the permission slip. I tried to forge it myself, but the paper spat the letters right back out. I didn’t know getting hit by letters could be so frustrating.”

“What a pity. Why don’t you ask your friends who always tag along with you to buy you some sweets?”

Only after saying that did Malfoy realize.

Harry Potter had friends anyway, so she didn’t need to show him charity by giving him a Sugar Quill.

It wasn’t natural, nor was it Malfoy’s place to do so.

Just as she felt a twinge of annoyance, Harry Potter shrugged and replied.

“No need. I’ll buy my own.”

“Huh?”

Didn’t he just say he couldn’t go? As Malfoy thought this, she picked up on something in Harry’s words.

He didn’t say he ‘couldn’t go.’

He only said he ‘didn’t get permission.’

In other words…

“…What do you mean? From what you just said, it sounds like you’re going to go anyway, even if it’s secretly.”

Clap clap. Harry Potter clapped enthusiastically.

“Correct, Malfoy.”

“Are you crazy?”

“I’m just being myself.”

“That’s what being crazy means. Do you think that’s possible? Filch will be thoroughly checking everyone at the entrance hall.”

“Malfoy. If I were afraid of Filch, would I have been able to roam around so many restricted areas in the middle of the night?”

“So you’re going to do it again?”

“Of course.”

“You’re crazy, completely crazy!”

His attitude was no different from usual, making Malfoy want to pound her chest in frustration.

“Are you an idiot? Sirius Black is looking for you, and you’re going outside of Hogwarts?”

“Malfoy, I’ve been chased by a guy who drinks unicorn blood from the back of his head and a monster that can kill with a glance. Do you think I’m scared of some cowardly traitor?”

“Black is different, Potter! They had other targets, and you just happened to get involved, but Black’s target is you! He wants to kill you!”

Harry Potter’s eyes widened, and he asked,

“Are you worried about me?”

“Are you an idiot?! Worried, my foot. Do you think I’d bat an eye if you died somewhere out there? I’m just frustrated that a reckless fool like you is acting so stupidly!”

“I appreciate the sentiment, Malfoy. But if Hogsmeade, right over there, is dangerous, is Hogwarts really safe? It’s dangerous here and there.”

For a brief moment, a শীতল glint flashed in Harry Potter’s eyes. He turned his gaze as if looking at something unseen.

“No. Hogwarts might even be more dangerous. It’s hard to find a rat if it sneaks in.”

“Hogwarts has strong, time-honored magical defenses. Dementors are guarding every entrance! Black wouldn’t dare sneak into Hogwarts!”

“Neither of those were at Azkaban. That’s very reassuring.”

“Is this the time to be saying that?! You…!”

Just as she was about to retort, Crabbe and Goyle, having finished their preparations, approached Malfoy. Malfoy pursed her lips and turned around abruptly.

“See you later!”

“Do whatever you want!”

Harry Potter waved his hand and disappeared somewhere. Crabbe and Goyle, who had arrived, noticed Malfoy’s foul mood.

“See you later? Is Harry Potter going to Hogsmeade?”

“…Malfoy, should we tell a teacher?”

“Forget it. Are we children? Running to the teacher to tattle every time something happens.”

Malfoy spat out.

She couldn’t stop Harry Potter. That was the conclusion drawn from years of experience.

Therefore, it was better not to report that Harry Potter was going to Hogsmeade.

As she said, Black might be looking for a way to infiltrate Hogwarts. It wasn’t impossible for a criminal who escaped Azkaban by deceiving the Dementors’ vigilance.

Hogwarts’ defenses were thorough, but it was still a school. Its structure and security were bound to be looser than a prison’s.

‘It might even be safer to sneak into Hogsmeade without being detected…’

Having thought that far, Malfoy shook her head vigorously.

“Saying it like that makes it sound like I’m worried about him!”

Crabbe and Goyle blinked at each other. They looked like they wanted to say something, but Malfoy turned around and shouted, silencing them.

“Crabbe, Goyle! Forget it. Don’t even think about that delinquent on a day like this! It’s a waste of time!”

Malfoy stomped towards the entrance hall. Filch, who was busy checking the list of names, was overwhelmed by her fiery aura and hurriedly let the students out.

The outing was quite enjoyable.

Honeydukes Sweetshop had desserts Malfoy had never seen before, and after buying a few and having them with butterbeer, she felt warmed.

Malfoy didn’t like noisy places, but she quite liked the lively atmosphere of the Three Broomsticks. The butterbeer, which warmed her whole body, was tastier than she had imagined. Malfoy packed two bottles of butterbeer and sent them to herself at Hogwarts via Owl Post. It was a very extravagant act, but Malfoy couldn’t carry butterbeer around all day. Zonko’s Joke Shop was mostly childish, but there were a few items that piqued her curiosity. Malfoy pretended not to be interested and glanced at a pair of rings that indicated each other’s status.

It felt like no time had passed, but it was already getting dark. The Hogsmeade bell rang, and the shopkeepers ushered the students out, telling them to return to Hogwarts.

Malfoy admitted that she was quite excited. She hadn’t realized how much time had passed, and when she noticed, she had already spent 3 Galleons. Money wasn’t an issue, but the fact that she had spent so much money in shops targeting commoners was a shock to even Malfoy.

After the outing, when they returned to the Great Hall, thousands of pumpkins filled with candles floated in the air, and magical bats flew in the sky. A mountain of specially prepared food was piled up in the Great Hall. Crabbe and Goyle, despite having snacks at Honeydukes and the Three Broomsticks, ate two servings each. Malfoy barely managed to stop herself at one serving.

After the feast, the items Malfoy had ordered through Owl Post arrived one by one. Two bottles of butterbeer, a large box of sweets, and a few toys that Crabbe and Goyle wanted.

Malfoy glanced at the Gryffindor table while unwrapping the packages.

Harry Potter was in the middle of the crowd, talking loudly. From what she overheard, it seemed he had snuck out after all.

She hadn’t seen even his shadow in Hogsmeade. He must have been hiding to avoid people’s attention.

It’s good that he’s safe, at least. Malfoy turned her head back.

Malfoy returned to the dormitory and gifted the box of sweets to the first and second-year students who couldn’t go to Hogsmeade. The children praised Malfoy and eagerly ate the sweets, even though they were full. They couldn’t drink the butterbeer because they were too full. Malfoy cast a preservation charm on the butterbeer and chatted about her experiences that day.

And exactly 10 minutes later, Professor Snape entered with a stern expression and dismissed all the students.

Sirius Black had tried to infiltrate the Gryffindor dormitory. However, he failed due to the Fat Lady’s resistance, and he fled after damaging the portrait. The professors were now searching Hogwarts.

Malfoy listened to Professor Dumbledore’s explanation with a pale face.

Harry Potter was right. Hogwarts wasn’t safe. A criminal who escaped the great prison Azkaban wouldn’t be deterred from infiltrating a mere school.

“It’s fortunate that he infiltrated on the day of the Hogsmeade visit…”

Someone murmured, but Malfoy wasn’t sure.

Was it fortunate?

If Sirius Black had infiltrated without knowing what was happening that day, it could be considered a coincidence.

But what if Sirius Black found out that Harry Potter didn’t get permission to go out, and infiltrated the deserted school while the students were away?

There’s an insider.

Malfoy felt a sense of tension and looked around.

If there was an accomplice helping Black, it had to be at least a professor. Someone who had access to students’ personal information.

If Harry Potter hadn’t snuck out, it would have been Harry Potter’s body that was torn apart instead of the Fat Lady’s portrait.

Did Harry Potter know this?

Malfoy stared at Harry Potter, clutching her trembling fists.

Harry Potter wasn’t tense.

No, he looked rather disappointed. At least, that’s how it seemed to Malfoy.

“It seems Sirius Black has already escaped, but you must all stay here until we finish our investigation. For safety, everyone will sleep here tonight. Prefects, please stand guard at the entrance of the Great Hall. Report to me immediately if anything unusual happens.”

Dumbledore left after saying that.

Malfoy was watching Harry Potter, so she clearly saw him talking to himself.

She couldn’t hear his voice, but she could clearly read the words formed by his lips, along with his cold expression.

We missed each other, he muttered, with the same stern face he showed when a plan went awry.