After meeting in the castle's entrance, the six students made their way down the path to Hogsmeade, where some other students headed to as well. They talked while walking, while the Hogwarts boys showed the other three some locations they had yet to visit inside and outside the school.
"Down that hill is the house of the magical creatures keeper" Aberforth said, pointing to a little shack by the side of the forbidden forest.
"And that is the Forbidden Forest, as you all must know, it is very famous" Elphias added, while Gellert, Jeanne and Bella looked at the woods with curiosity in their eyes.
"How… forbidden is it really?" Gellert asked, looking back at them and making Elphias chuckle.
"Very much so. But not extremely. It is complicated" he shrugged and looked back to the path down to the Hogwarts' front porch. "If it is discovered that a student is wondering around the forest, it is more likely they receive a week off because of the things they will go through inside than getting into actual trouble."
"Can we go there any day? Like a Saturday or Sunday that everyone is free?" Bella asked, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I would love to see these woods, the creatures in it…"
"Yeah, I think we can manage that" Aberforth said, looking to the older students, both which rolled their eyes at him.
"We can walk around it but we don't advice going inside" Elphias said, shaking his head.
"That being said, there is nothing we can do to stop you from coming" Albus added, following down the path and making everyone follow him quicker all the way down to the porch. And if we catch you going inside, we as Hogwarts students are inclined to follow and protect you, since we have a vague idea of what hides in the forest."
"So you're telling me that you would go, but against your will?" Gellert asked, smirking, and chuckled dryly at him. "That is an excuse if I ever saw one."
"Simple and honest truth" Albus replied, following forward in front of the group and being followed by the rest to the carriages that would take them to Hogsmeade.
The trip itself to the little village was nice and pleasant. The six of them made some adjustments to be able to fit all in the same carriage, and soon, they left to Hogsmeade, looking around at the beautiful summer sights. The fields were filled with grass, everything was green and warm, and soon the flowers would begin to bloom.
"So tell me, Hogsmeade is what exactly?" Jeanne asked, looking around and seeing the little collection of houses down the hills of Hogwarts' castle.
"It is a commercial town" Aberforth said, pointing to the long, black houses in the distance. "It is connected to Hogwarts, so any student that needs anything specific that the castle can't provide can come all the way down here and buy it for themselves. There is ever a wand shop in case someone gets theirs broken."
"What else is there? Clothes shops?" Bella asked, smiling. "I would love to buy a Hogwarts uniform as a souvenir!"
"That… is a strange request, why would you want to buy a uniform as a souvenir?" Elphias asked, and she giggled, shrugging her shoulders.
"I find your robes particularly fancy" she explained, reaching out and taking Albus' in her hand, fiddling with it. "They look so warm and they are so… wizard like."
"And what house would you buy?" Gellert asked, although he didn't really seem interested in the whole conversation. Bella hummed, and tilted her head.
"Hufflepuff" she nodded, and leaned on Jeanne. "Not only they are the nicest people around and have the best house values, their rich yellow is also one of the prettiest colours. No offense boys."
"None taken" Albus assured, smiling. Aberforth chuckled.
"That's because you don't know anything about Gryffindor. We are clearly the best house of all" he said, loud and proud, while Elphias and Albus shook their heads.
"Don't mind little Abe, he is a Gryffindor by heart" Elphias assured, ruffling the younger Dumbledore's hair. "What about you Jeanne? What is your favourite house?"
"I like Gryffindors" she said, receiving a little 'yes' from Aberforth. "I take a lot of value from bravery and loyalty, which are, from what I know, the house's focus. Aside from that, you seem to be more… complete in a way. All the other houses seem very stereotyped, while here I look at three completely different Gryffindor boys."
"Well, in that you are correct" Elphias agreed. "The other houses are usually very well typed. Gryffindor is more of a, accept all situation. Not as much as Hufflepuff, of course, but in Hufflepuff everyone is so different that they all seem the same. Godric Gryffindor admired several qualities, and therefore, his students have most of what the other houses have as well. There are the smart ones, like Albus here, and the cunning folk, very much like Aberforth, although he doesn't like being called that. I would put myself more on the Hufflepuff side. Loyal until the end of time."
"What about you Gellert?" Jeanne asked, and all eyes turned to the Durmstrang boy, who had been staring into the distance for quite a while now. He turned to face her, and frowned. "What house you like best?"
"I don't know enough about the houses to choose my favourite" he said, honestly, and then crossed his arms. "But I believe… that the one that comes closer to what I envision is Slytherin, so I guess I would have to choose it."
"Slytherin is the worst house" Aberforth grumbled, and Albus was quick to slap his arm, frowning deeply.
"Don't talk like that. It's mean" he mumbled, and looked back at Gellert, who had an amused smile on his lips.
"Listen, I know they are seen as the bad guys, but maybe it's in my blood you know? Being bad" Gellert teased, making the rest of the students laugh, specially at his impersonation of a snake by the end of the phrase. Aberforth didn't laugh, he just looked at Gellert with furrowed eyebrows.
"Seems like a Slytherin alright" he mumbled, and the others laughed again, long enough not to realize the intense glare the two boys sent to each other.
After another half an hour of travel, they finally reached Hogsmeade. Hopping out of the carriage, they looked around and both Elphias and Albus stood in front of the group, calling their attention.
"Listen everyone. Hogsmeade is extremely crowded and easy to get lost" Elphias began.
"So in case we lose one another, our meeting spot is by the entrance" Albus continued, smiling and pointing to a little tree by the arch.
"For now, lets walk around so you can see the stores, and then we can stop for lunch in Hog's Head!" Elphias finished, nodding for them to follow. Aberforth rushed forwards, smiling widely and standing next to Albus. Gellert walked right behind, with the two girls following behind him, their arms linked as they talked about the stores as they walked past them.
Albus felt relaxed already.
Eventually, after a long walk through the whole village and a few stops in certain shops, they reached the end of Hogsmeade. Upon reaching the end, they got close to some woods, and Jeanne furrowed her eyebrows, walking forward.
Elphias and Albus looked at each other worried before following, and Aberforth and Gellert came right behind.
"What is that?" Jeanne asked as they reached what seemed to be an abandoned house, old and falling apart, with a large fence all around it. Aberforth, excited, rushed next to her and held onto the fence.
"That is called the Shrieking Shack" Aberforth said, looking back at Jeanne and Bella, who approached them slowly. "People that live in Hogsmeade say that every now and then, you can listen to someone shouting from inside…"
"But what's in there that screams?" Bella asked, looking between him and the house. "Is it a ghost or some type of magic creature? Can no one help it? Whatever it is?"
"Many have said that once inside, the person goes crazy or never returns" Elphias said, moving closer as well and frowning at the sight of the house. "It is truly a cursed place."
"Is it?" Gellert asked, suddenly, his voice low as he approached Albus, both of them a little far away from the group. Albus looked at him, and he stared back. "Is it really cursed?"
"No one knows for sure" he whispered back, not wanting to call attention to their conversation. "People haven't been inside for ages… and the headmaster has no interest in removing it from here, since it is some type of touristic attraction."
"Must be great for the Dead's Night" Gellert chuckled and walked away, back towards the town. "hey group! I'm hungry!"
"Oh so am I" Bella whined, taking Jeanne's hand and pulling her away from the fence. "forget this creepy house, lets get something to eat."
"Lets go to Hog's Head! It is the only good food around here" Aberforth called out, running after them and leaving both Albus and Elphias behind. Elphias approached his friend and smiled, tapping his shoulder.
"Enjoying yourself Alb?" he asked, with honest curiosity, and Albus looked at the group in front of them before smiling.
"Yes… I believe I am" he nodded, and began walking. "Come on. I am dying to eat some pork today."
"Well, it is their best dish."