Chapter 725: Gifts and the Imperius Curse
After breakfast, everyone gathered in the foyer.
The atmosphere in the castle was tense, and it seemed like students were eager to escape its confines. This time, an unusually large number of them were heading to Hogsmeade, forming a long line in the entrance hall. Filch, as usual, stationed himself by the oak door, meticulously checking off names on his list while constantly scanning the surroundings with his Dark Magic Detector.
"What a waste of time. So what if we take dark magic items out of school?" Mikel muttered irritably. "You should probably check what we're bringing in instead."
"Don't tell me what to do," Filch grumbled, jabbing Mikel lightly with the detector.
Despite his grouchy retort, Filch seemed to quicken the pace, and soon, the line moved forward until he reached Kyle.
Outside, a fierce wind howled across the grounds. The walk to Hogsmeade Village in such weather was far from pleasant. As soon as the students stepped outside, many began to shiver, their ears and cheeks quickly turning red from the cold. But staying cooped up in the castle wasn't an option anyone entertained. They hurried along, eager to reach Hogsmeade and settle into the warm, inviting atmosphere of The Three Broomsticks for a steaming mug of Butterbeer.
Not everyone rushed, though. Kyle and Kanna, for instance, walked leisurely, unaffected by the harsh conditions thanks to the warm badges pinned to their chests. These badges were enchanted with waterproof and moisture-proof spells, shielding them from the biting wind and drizzle. As they strolled along the path, they chatted casually, their pace unhurried.
It seemed precautions had been taken beforehand, as the streets of Hogsmeade were unusually quiet. For safety reasons, the usual crowd of visiting wizards had vanished, leaving only Hogwarts students to wander the streets and explore the shops.
"Oh, Kyle, look over there," Ryan suddenly said, pointing toward a shop nearby. "Zonko's is closed."
Kyle turned to look. Sure enough, the door of Zonko's Joke Shop, which stood near the village's entrance, was firmly shut. A group of students had gathered near the crack in the door, trying to peer inside.
"It's really closed. There's no one in there," Kyle observed.