The Scottish Highlands in October are always shrouded in continuous rain.
The cold air blowing from the Hebrides Islands permeates the castle, and the dim oil lamps fail to dispel the cold that seems to emerge from within.
But today is the first weekend of October, and no little wizard in the United Kingdom would choose to miss this chance to visit Hogsmeade Village. They swarmed out of the castle gates, braving the cold wind as they walked together towards Hogsmeade.
"...Where's your permission slip, kid?"
Filch rudely pressed down on the boy's shoulder, his sparse teeth crooked to one side. Madam Loris, who had grown noticeably plumper compared to half a month ago, was crouching at his feet, meowing kindly at the boy in front of her.
However, that hoarse meow was more accurately described as "threatening" rather than friendly.
"This is from Professor Sprout..."
"No, the professor's permission is useless, kid—" Filch knocked hard on the bulletin board behind him, which was covered with notes for students in third year and above going to Hogsmeade, "Don't try to be clever, it says here—a guardian's handwritten signature is required..."
"I don't have a guardian."
"...signature." Filch's words seemed stuck in his throat. He glanced at the boy in front of him, who still wore a smile, and his expression turned a bit grim, "Fine, kid, just this once..." He grumpily took the permission slip from William's hand and shoved him out of the castle.
"Hey, you over there—the second-year brat, don't think you can sneak out!" In a foul mood, Filch looked at the crowd, then shouted as he pushed his way through.
"I wasn't, I was just watching..."
"'I'm just looking'... A pathetic lie, now tell me, which house are you from!"
...
However, the "undeserved misfortune" of some little wizard behind him had nothing to do with William at that moment. He stood in the courtyard, gazing up at the raindrops falling from the gray sky, his magic wand lightly tapping his forehead—"Impervius."
"Wink..."
A sleepy Kabuda poked its head out of William's wizard robe pocket, watching the raindrops evaporate into the air before they touched it. It looked a bit excited and climbed onto William's shoulder, spinning around.
"Hey, William—" Cedric, donned in a raincoat, emerged from the crowd and cheerily greeted him, "Wanna join us at Honeydukes? Mr. Flume got a new stock last week—you can't have just pineapple jam and Chocolate Frogs in your pockets!"
"No, I also have..."
"Come on, it's your first time to Hogsmeade, it's a big day—" Cedric interjected, wrapping an arm around William and pulling him out of the crowd, "Couldn't find you the past few weekends—"
After hesitating for a moment, William didn't resist, and the two of them walked the slightly muddy path to Hogsmeade.
......
A thin mist enveloped the streets of Hogsmeade, the only village in the UK entirely populated by wizards, welcoming its weekly bustling market. Little wizards in raincoats or holding umbrellas flocked from one store to another, each with its own unique charm—
The most crowded, of course, was the door to Honeydukes candy shop.
A broad-shouldered, bald man was busy behind the counter, handing out packaged candies to one little wizard after another—"I'll have a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and a big piece of Sizzling Honey Candy... Wait, where's my money? William?"
Cedric struggled in the crowd in front of the counter, rummaging through his empty wallet.
"Here..."
William mumbled, accompanied by a slight popping sound in his mouth. "Thanks, you've got to control that Niffler of yours..." Cedric expressed his gratitude, accepting the Knuts and Sickles William handed over.
William, who had just popped a couple of Exploding Bonbons into his mouth, ignored him. But as the culprit now being punished in his pocket, Kabuda could explain it all—if only it could speak.
Recently, William noticed that this Niffler's talent for theft seemed exaggerated. Picking some Galleons off others had become routine, and one day, he even found a very familiar square lens in its belly—
The next day, he saw Professor McGonagall with a new pair of glasses, and the day before that had been when he went to her for extra lessons after class.
Who knows how Kabuda managed it, so now, whenever anyone nearby seemed to have lost something, William habitually checked its belly.
Among all victims, Cedric was naturally the most severe. For some reason, Kabuda seemed to have its eyes on him, often lifting items off him during meals—be it Sickles, Knuts, or even just a quill—
It seemed no longer limited to shiny objects.
This behavior was against the natural tendencies of a Niffler, and combined with its noticeably smaller size compared to its peers, William began to suspect he might have picked up a mixed-breed Niffler, though even Professor Kettleburn, who taught Magical Creatures, hadn't noticed anything unusual.
"...The Impervius Charm is quite useful, maybe I could use it in Quidditch matches." Cedric emerged from the crowd, walking over to William with a bag from Honeydukes, "Uh, dirt-flavored." He spat out the bean.
"You'll need more practice to cover your whole body with the charm—" William shook his head, refusing Cedric's offer of a Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean, abstaining from gambling starts with you and me.
"No, just keeping the water off my face is enough—" Cedric abandoned the idea of taking another one and gestured, "But your charm skills... Seriously, did you only start learning magic this summer?" The charm he was now under was cast by William.
"...Of course." A toffee stuck to William's teeth and the roof of his mouth.
"Are you sure you don't want to join our team?" Even after being firmly refused last time, Cedric still occasionally brought it up beside William's ears, "I've seen you, you're really good at flying—"
"The Hufflepuff team doesn't lack members right now—"
"If you want to join, you can kick anybody out!"
"Alright, then I want to be the Seeker."
"...Kick me out?"
"You said it, 'kick out whoever you want'."
"Ahem, actually, I could consider being a Chaser..." Cedric began to contemplate the feasibility of this 'deal.'
"Diggory..." A female voice suddenly sounded not far in front of the two.
"What..." Cedric lifted his head in confusion, and in the next moment, his body stiffened.
Cho Chang, a third-year Ravenclaw girl, stood looking at a group of girls not far behind her, and William immediately understood the situation—he had become a third wheel... Well, that's good.
He had been wondering how to make Cedric "disappear" in a friendly and unobtrusive way, and now it seemed not too difficult.
"Alright, he's yours for today."
William directly raised his hand and pushed the somewhat speechless Cedric over.
"Ah... You can come with us if you're free..." Cho Chang, realizing the situation, attempted to extend an invitation.
"Have fun—"
But it had no effect; William simply turned around and disappeared into the crowd.
"Ah..."
A girl next to Cho Chang opened her mouth in disappointment, her reddish-gold curls drooping down.