Ron, Hermione, and Harry stumbled through the cold snow. It had been half an hour since their meeting with Professor Slughorn, and they were beginning to doubt whether he actually knew what he was talking about when he gave them the directions.
"Are you sure you didn't erase too much of his memory?" asked Hermione with a worried look.
"Of course not," said Ron, chattering his teeth in the cold. "Ouch! That was my foot!"
"Sorry," mumbled Harry. "I can't see. My glasses are all frosted over."
"This way," said Hermione, and pulled him along.
"I wouldn't worry too much," continued Ron. "I'm sure he'll be fine when he goes back to teach."
"No, I was talking about the first time you cast that memory spell, not the last one," shivered Hermione.
"Oh… well… I dunno," shrugged Ron, rubbing his hands together.
"Look, I think I see something!" exclaimed Harry suddenly.
"I don't see anything," said Hermione.
"I don't either. I think you're seeing the frost on your glasses Harry!"
"No, I'm pretty sure that—aaaagh!"
A smothering snowy form enveloped the three.
"Geroff! Geroff!" hollered Ron, screaming like a girl.
"Pyroflamus blasterus!" yelled Hermione. A great flame shot from her wand, and the snowy form emitted an earth-shaking bellow that Harry could feel in his bones. They watched as the snowy form scampered off.
"What was that?" uttered Ron in shock.
"I don't know, but if we stand here we're going to freeze to death."
They kept moving forward and after much stumbling and trudging, Harry yelled, "There it is! I can see it!"
Ron and Hermione did not doubt his vision this time. They hurried forward towards the faint light that began to glow stronger as they approached. It was a wooden building, with a sign that faintly read, "Arnold's Weather Gear."
"This is it," whispered Ron.
The bell on the door tinkled pleasantly behind them as they entered the shop. They found its warm atmosphere very comforting and inviting. Heavy fur-lined coats covered one wall, while camping gear, canned food, ski shoes, and other items were placed around the shop. A few customers were browsing through some ski masks, sleeping bags, and dried fruits.
"Can I help you?" A pudgy man approached them, dusting his hands on his workapron.
"Are you Arnold?" asked Hermione.
"Indeed I am! Now what can I do for you? Beef Jerky? We have 'em in hot sauce, barbeque, garlic, onion, ginger—"
Harry quickly interrupted, "No thanks, we—"
"Or maybe some canned items for on the go? We've got some canned peas, corn, salt pork, string beans, broccoli, crystallized pineapples—"
"Excuse me," interrupted Hermione. "Did you say crystallized pineapples?"
Arnold suddenly paused blinked. "Ah yes, crystallized pineapples."
Hermione asked, "Could you tell me what they are used for?"
The pudgy shop-owner appeared nervous. "For eating of course."
"No, I mean, what potions—" said Harry, catching on.
"Potions? What are you talking about?" said Arnold, grabbing his feather duster now and furiously dusting the nearest winter coat while shooting anxious glances over his shoulder.
"Sir," said Ron. "We know about the abominable snowman."
Arnold turned around slowly, and grinned. "Ah, well why didn't you say so! Welcome! Welcome!" he whispered. "How do you like my shop? Great cover-up, don't you think?"
The three nodded.
"Now could you please tell us about the crystallized pineapples?"
"Don't you know?" whispered Arnold. "It has extremely powerful properties when brewed properly with certain ingredients. Now if you're looking for canned ingredients for instant-potions, we have pickled eye of newt, salty salamander tongue, peppered thestral, preserved dragon teeth—"
"What type of properties?" Harry interrupted quickly, before Arnold could rattle off the rest of his shop inventory.
"It has a variety of properties when it comes to…" Arnold glanced left and right before whispering, "Hair."
"Hair?" echoed Harry.
"SHHH! Not so loud!"
"What's the fuss?" The trio exchanged amused looks.
Arnold began dusting again, discretely eyeing his customers right and left before whispering, "It is said that You-Know-Who is collecting all the crystallized pineapples in the world! He's already taken over the Norris Factory, one of the largest and most productive factories!"
"Why would he want it?"
"To grow hair of course!"
"Why?"
The shop-owner stared at them, looking exasperated. "So he can take over the world!"
"Why couldn't he do that without hair?"
Arnold sighed. "You don't get it, do you? He has a thing about his looks. He isn't confident enough to come out in broad daylight and kill people," Arnold glanced at Harry's heart-shaped scar at this point, and continued, "but with enough crystallized pineapples, he will psychologically be ready!"
Harry stared incredulously. "You mean he's magically and physically ready right now, but the reason he isn't attacking people massively is because he doesn't have hair?"
Arnold nodded. "I hold the last major collection of crystallized pineapples! When I'm not working at the shop, I help make them!"
The three teens stood silent for a moment.
"Can I buy some?" asked Ron.
Arnold was extremely delighted, and his bald pate seemed to glow and glisten as he bounced on his heels excitedly. Clapping his hands together he said in one breath— "Crystallized pineapples! We have 'em crystallized from a variety of liquids—polyjuice potion, veritaserum, hippogriff tears, troll saliva, flobberworm juice and—"
Ron felt slightly nauseous at this point, and asked, "Any er… well…"
"We also have 'em in sugar," added Arnold, winking.
"I'll take one!" exclaimed Ron, ready to leap at a chance to get rid of his long curls.
"Anyway," said Harry as Arnold wrapped up the package for Ron, "We were directed here because we are looking for the local wizarding community. We're actually looking for a house elf by the name of Pokey."
"Ah!" grinned Arnold. "Well, Pokey is quite an interestin' character…"
"Do you know her?"
"Yes, I do! Everyone does! She goes around pokin' everyone all the time…"
Ron raised an eyebrow. "Does she?"
Arnold nodded. "Anyways, follow me now, and don't act suspicious or the other customers'll report me…"
They followed him into the backroom under the pretense of looking for a pair of thermal boots, and found themselves standing before a tall shoe-rack.
"Stand back!" warned Arnold, and pulling out a cane--which must have concealed a wand--he tapped a few shoeboxes uttering some quiet words.
The shelf pulled open to reveal a long street. Wizards and witches could be seen hurrying along in the snow.
"Before we go, I was wondering if you happened to know about a queer incident that occurred while we were on the way here," said Hermione. "We were attacked by a giant… blob… of snow…"
Arnold winked. "Looks like you had a little visit from—" he glanced left and right, "—the abominable snowman!"
Harry stared. "Er… right. Okay."
Arnold nodded. "He was probably just givin' you young ones a friendly welcome! He's usually attracted to redhead girls with long wavy hair. If you wanna see some pictures of me n' my snowbuddy, we go back pretty far--"
"Sorry but we have to be going now," interrupted Hermione. "Maybe some other time."
"Ah well, okay then," said Arnold a little disappointed. "Well, have a good time and good luck now! And enjoy that pineapple!" he waved them off.