After breakfast, the group happily made their way toward the Entrance Hall.
"Students heading to Hogsmeade, gather here! This way!"
Professor McGonagall's voice echoed from outside as the previously chaotic crowd immediately began moving under her direction.
The students slowly filed out of Hogwarts Castle and formed a long line before a huge wrought-iron gate.
Before anyone could enter Hogsmeade, every student had to have their permission slip checked to ensure it bore a valid parent or guardian's signature and that no one was sneaking out.
Filch stood inside the gate with a long list of names.
His vulture-like eyes swept over every face.
He snatched each permission slip from the students' hands and repeatedly compared the signatures with the students themselves, seemingly determined to find some excuse to make things difficult.
The result was that many students in line became visibly nervous.
After finally passing through the gate, Lewis and the others crossed a stone bridge before arriving in Hogsmeade Village.
As the only surviving all-wizard village in Britain, Hogsmeade was undoubtedly one of the country's most famous magical destinations.
Of course…
Lewis felt that the title of "only all-wizard village" was more of a marketing gimmick.
There were actually several pure wizard settlements.
For example, the Irondale village he had visited before.
The difference was that those villages only had a handful of households and lacked Hogsmeade's prosperous commercial atmosphere.
Perhaps to preserve an intentionally mysterious, old-world aesthetic, nearly every building in the village was a white-walled, black-roofed medieval cottage.
Very few exceeded three stories.
One could generously call the architecture "classically charming."
To put it bluntly…
It was simply old-fashioned and resistant to modernization.
Still, because this was a wizarding village, magic filled every corner with a dreamlike atmosphere, and the group wandered through it with great enthusiasm.
Especially when they passed a shop from which an incredibly sweet aroma drifted into the street.
All four of them stopped simultaneously.
Honeydukes Sweetshop.
Lewis's eyes immediately lit up when he saw the sign.
He had heard about this place countless times.
Whenever Hogwarts students talked about buying sweets, Honeydukes was always the first place mentioned.
Its signature Fizzing Whizzbees were said to be Headmaster Dumbledore's favorite candy.
Rumor had it that the old wizard ordered at least dozens of pounds from the shop every year.
Of course…
The one most eager to enter wasn't Lewis.
"Lewis! Lewis! It smells amazing!"
"I want to go in!"
"I want to buy lots and lots of candy!"
"More than ten me's worth!"
The moment she smelled the sweetness, Aiwu leapt onto Lewis's head and began pleading excitedly.
Lewis looked toward his companions.
"How about we—"
"…Actually, never mind."
Halfway through speaking, he abruptly changed his mind.
Because he had just watched an enormous crowd of Hogwarts students charge into Honeydukes like a stampede.
The already spacious shop instantly became packed to the point of overflowing.
"Maybe…"
"We should explore the other end of Hogsmeade first."
Lewis proposed.
His experience from visiting amusement parks and tourist attractions in his previous life proved surprisingly useful.
No one objected.
As they continued walking, Lewis and the others passed all kinds of magical shops.
There was Zonko's Joke Shop, selling practical joke items…
Spintwitches Sporting Needs, which specialized in Quidditch equipment…
Pippin's Potions…
The Magical Menagerie pet shop…
Mrs. Snell's Hair Salon…
Gladrags Wizardwear…
Dervish & Banges, which sold magical odds and ends…
Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop and Tomes and Scrolls…
The herb shops The Magic Turnip and Rue & Toadstool…
The two famous pubs, The Three Broomsticks and The Hog's Head…
And finally…
Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop.
After walking a little farther, they discovered something disappointing.
It wasn't just Honeydukes.
Nearly every shop in Hogsmeade had been completely occupied by Hogwarts students.
It felt like the entire school had descended on the village for a shopping frenzy.
When they passed Mrs. Snell's Hair Salon, Penelope enthusiastically declared that Hermione, who buried herself in books every day, ought to change her hairstyle.
"Changing your appearance might make Lewis like you even more."
Penelope whispered into Hermione's ear.
Almost as though she'd been Confunded, Hermione absentmindedly followed Penelope into the salon.
Before leaving, Penelope winked at Lewis.
He immediately understood.
His gaze then drifted toward Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop.
Unlike the other businesses, customers came and went, but it remained relatively quiet.
"How about we sit down there for some tea while we wait?"
Lewis suggested, pointing toward the sign.
"Oh…"
"So it's that shop…"
Ciri looked where he pointed and couldn't help crying out softly.
A rosy blush instantly spread across her fair cheeks.
She hesitated awkwardly for a long moment before quietly replying,
"O-Okay…"
"Anywhere you want."
Although Lewis didn't understand why she had reacted so strangely, her shy smile was incredibly captivating.
His heartbeat unconsciously quickened.
"Then let's go."
The moment they stepped inside…
Lewis immediately understood her reaction.
The entire tea shop was filled with warm pink mist.
Almost everything was decorated with pink ribbons and bows, giving the place an overwhelmingly romantic atmosphere.
More importantly…
Every table was occupied by couples.
The hazy air naturally obscured everyone's view, allowing lovers to enjoy private moments without worrying about being watched.
Holding hands…
Leaning against one another…
Whispering intimate words…
Some couples were even kissing passionately.
Like the pair seated near the entrance.
They were both wearing Hogwarts uniforms.
Lewis could even recognize their names.
Yet today…
Their behavior was far bolder than anything they ever showed at school.
Locked tightly in each other's embrace…
They kissed so passionately that Lewis and Ciri could clearly hear the repeated wet sounds from several tables away.
Almost instinctively…
Ciri reached over and grabbed Lewis's hand.
A smile slowly spread across his face.
Judging from her reaction…
She clearly knew exactly what kind of place this was.
Yet…
She hadn't objected when he suggested coming here.
In fact…
When he first proposed it…
She had seemed secretly delighted.
Perhaps…
Ciri wouldn't actually mind if Lewis treated her the same way those couples treated each other.
With that thought in mind…
Lewis led Ciri to a secluded corner table.
Throughout the entire process, Ciri remained stiff as a board, allowing Lewis to guide her like a puppet.
"…What would you two like to order?"
Madam Puddifoot asked.
She was a plump witch with glossy black hair arranged in a bun, squeezing her way between the tightly packed tables.
"Two black teas with milk and sugar."
"And two strawberry mousse cakes."
The desserts arrived quickly.
Lewis gently pushed one of the strawberry mousses toward Ciri.
"Go ahead."
"It looks delicious."
"Let's see if it tastes as good as it looks."
The fragrant, sweet dessert quickly helped Ciri relax.
She took a small bite.
Her eyes immediately lit up.
"It's really good."
"And not overly sweet."
The two happily shared the dessert together.
When they finished the final bite, Lewis suddenly said,
"Ciri…"
"You've got a little cream on your lips."
"Oh?"
"Really?"
Startled, Ciri hurriedly raised a hand to wipe it away.
She absolutely didn't want Lewis to think she looked greedy.
But…
Lewis gently caught her wrist.
"Let me."
Before she could react…
He leaned forward.
Instead of using his fingers…
He simply brushed his lips lightly against hers.
The nonexistent smear of cream disappeared instantly.
"Ah!"
Ciri let out a tiny cry.
The blush covering her face spread all the way down her neck.
She had never imagined…
That Lewis could be this bold.
Yet…
When it came to romance…
Lewis was far more confident and experienced than she'd expected.
Seeing how adorably flustered she looked…
He decided to press his advantage.
He quietly moved from across the table to sit beside her.
A short while later…
Madam Puddifoot noticed that silvery mist had begun gathering around one secluded corner of the tea shop, forming an almost solid curtain that completely separated the inside from the outside.
"What a remarkably powerful wizard…"
she murmured.
"But even powerful wizards can't escape love."
As she walked past the silver mist…
She could vaguely hear repeated kissing sounds…
Along with a girl's voice that hovered somewhere between soft sobs… and breathless moans.
If you want to read 60 chapters ahead of the public release, head over to: Patreon.com/RedString