Chapter 96

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While I pondered the vicissitudes of fate, the rest of the students from the Houses gathered at their tables. Maybe they didn't understand the reason for their slight depression, but they were cheerful today - the first day of hiking in Hogsmeade. I remembered it a week ago. It's a good thing the Knights send Pirate with packages and assignments from the regular school. I was able to send a letter with a form to visit Hogsmeade. In the summer, I forgot about this village altogether and did not bother with the issue of "admission" to walks.

"Don't worry, Harry," Ron slapped his comrade on the shoulder. Potter's glasses almost flew off his plate. "I will bring you a mountain of sweets."

"Don't worry, Ron. Have fun there without me," Potter shook his head.

"How so?! It's Hogsmeade! Though... yes. The sweet store's okay, but it's dangerous to go into the Zonko shop of weird stuff. The Shrieking Shack might be worth a look, but there's nothing else to do there."

"Useful information," I nodded to Hermione at Ron's words. "Are you going to Hogsmeade, by the way?"

""Yeah. In the summer, the first thing I did was get a signature from my parents. I think it will be interesting to get out and look at the magic village."

"Then let's go," my permission form is in my pocket.

"The Dementors will be even closer there."

"Well, not that close."

"The permission form, by the way, should have been taken to the Head."

"Oops, didn't know. Just a moment."

Rising from my desk, I hurried over to the professors, who were almost done with their breakfast.

"Professor McGonagall, good morning and bon appetit."

"Good morning, Mr. Knight. Is something wrong?" asked the Head, putting aside the cutlery.

"Both yes and no. I just got a signed permission form last night. Here," I took the permission form out of the inside pocket of my robe and handed it to McGonagall.

"Well. I understood the essence of your problem. In general, it is customary to give these documents the day before the planned trip because you need to draw up a list of admitted students. This is the first and last time I'm making an exception."

"Thank you, Professor."

McGonagall nodded back. Filch was just passing by, and McGonagall asked him to come over. I headed over to Hermione waiting for me at the door of the hall.

"That's it. Let's go and dress warmly. It promises to be a chilly day."

It took twenty minutes to travel to the common room and our rooms and change clothes. Pants, a black turtleneck with a high collar, a black coat, and a scarf. The wand took its rightful place in the holster on my forearm. I checked to see if it was easy to get it out of my coat sleeve, and then I left the room and sat down on the couch by the fireplace, waiting for Hermione. But I didn't have time to sit - just a few moments later, my friend came down into the common room, too. I even copied Snape, raising one eyebrow in surprise.

"What?" smiled Hermione. "Is something wrong?"

"No, you look great," I nodded. A dark-gray coat, a white turtleneck, and a long black skirt with flat-soled boots. "Everything is fine and suits you, but I thought you were going to wear jeans or something like that, like always."

"I admit I had that thought, but my mother obliged me to buy something more feminine after hearing about going to Hogsmeade. She even tried to put a beret on me, but I defended the freedom of the head."

"Hmm, a beret? That's why it all looks like something French."

"That's where it was bought."

On that wonderful note, we left the common room and headed downstairs to the castle's main entrance. The weather was still somewhat overcast and foggy. In the courtyard outside the castle grounds, in small groups according to age and House, students from the third year and up were crowding around the overgrown but working fountain. Filch stood at the gate, thoroughly studying the list, while Professor McGonagall read out instructions to the crowd of my classmates.

"And remember, visiting Hogsmeade is your privilege. If these visits negatively affect your grades, there will be no Hogsmeade for you."

Hermione and I quietly joined the crowd. Suddenly Potter ran up to McGonagall with a permission form.

"Only those with a signed permission form can go to Hogsmeade, Mr. Potter," the professor spoke a little louder and more severely. "This is the rule."

That clearly must have been the final chord of her speech, as the professor moved forward and Filch, who was walking beside her, took the floor.

"Whoever has permission, follow me. Those who don't stay at Hogwarts."

Potter blocked the professor's way and started explaining something to her, shaking his permission form, but I couldn't hear any more. We followed Filch in a disorderly crowd. The old caretaker walked a dozen yards literally and stopped at the exit from the courtyard to the outside. He started to check our faces thoroughly against the list in his hands. Does he know everyone by heart?

"Okay. Yes... This one is on the list... And this one... Wow..." the caretaker grumbled to himself as we took turns flashing before his eyes.

"Does he remember everyone by heart?" asked Ron in an astonished whisper to Seamus standing next to him. He literally took the question off the tongue.

"I guess so..."