Chapter 33 Hogsmeade

On Thursday morning, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Lavender sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall eating a hasty breakfast. That afternoon they were joining the rest of the school on a last Hogsmeade visit before the holidays. Right as he was finishing the last of his porridge, Harry glanced up and saw Hedwig soaring through the window and heading towards him. Hermione grinned. "She probably has a note from Sirius," She whispered, and sure enough, Hedwig had a note attached to her leg when she landed. Harry didn't even notice the fact that everyone had turned silent around him. They were all probably waiting for him to sneeze, since he'd mentioned what had happened in the owlery earlier that week.

"What does it say?" asked Lavender in a small voice when Harry took the letter off and stroked Hedwig's back. He opened the envelope and pulled out a single piece of parchment. On the parchment was a small note scribbled and sure enough, Sirius's name was at the bottom. He set the paper down on the table so the four of them could read it. It read:

Dear Harry,

I hope you are feeling all right today for your Hogsmeade trip. I need to do a bit of shopping myself for the holidays so I will meet you at the Shrieking Shack when you get there. ("He's meeting you? Oooh!" squealed Lavender happily)

As for your being allergic to Hedwig, are you sure? You were just in the owlery when you were sneezing, so perhaps the dust in there was bothering you. When you are with her outside of the Owlery, let me know, and we may have to think about trading her in for a toad. ("Oh no!" Hermione laughed at Harry's horrified expression. "Well, you haven't sneezed yet, so let's just see." Still, Harry could see the amused expression on his godfather's face at this line.)

I can't wait to see you. I know I shouldn't, but I worry every night about you. I've sent several owls to Dumbledore asking if you'd been in the hospital wing yet, and he's told me to, as the American muggles say, "Chill out man." I can't help it, Harry. I'm just being the overprotective guardian I should be. The one your father would have wanted for you. Anyway- before I start sobbing and blotting up the ink, I'll see you in a few hours! DRESS WARMLY.

Sirius

Harry shook his head with a chuckle as he re-folded the letter and stuffed it into his pocket. He couldn't wait to see Sirius either, but it was almost amusing how much the man worried about him. "You can understand his reasoning, Harry," said Hermione. "We almost lost you a few times because you got that sick." He nodded because he did know that Sirius had every reason to worry, but he still hated feeling like everyone expected him to kick the bucket at any second.

Just as all of them were finishing up eating and Hedwig had gone back to the Owlery (after nipping Harry affectionately on his finger after he gave her one more stroke), Erin and Jess arrived, both looking exceptionally cheerful for having woken up at 7:30 in the morning. Lavender raised an eyebrow after Jess threw her arms around her and shouted "Good morning!"

"What's wrong with you?" Lavender asked, shoving her bowl and goblet away.

"Can't someone be cheerful this early?" Jess asked with a slightly mischevious grin.

"I don't know. Can they?" Ron asked with a roll of his eyes.

"You guys are SO lucky to be able to go to Hogsmeade today," said Erin. "I wish I could go, but unfortunately we can't till our third year. Fred was telling us all about butterbeer-could you perhaps bring us back a few bottles of it? I'll pay you if you'd like." She smiled sweetly at Lavender.

"I'll bring you two back a few bottles of it free of charge. It's the least I can do for the holidays." Lavender chuckled as she stood up. She then noticed Fred and George as they entered the Great Hall, and watched them with her eyes as they headed over to the two young first years.

"The order's in," George told Erin, whose face lit up with excitement.

"It is? Good!"

"Order for what?" asked Hermione with a suspicious look.

Erin blushed a little and looked down at her feet. "It's um-it's a surprise." She replied in a slight stutter. "Come on, then. Let's discuss how we're going to pick all of it up and who's paying." The twins led the little girls over to a more empty spot at the table and they sat down, putting their heads together in a huddle. Lavender groaned inwardly.

"They can't be up to anything good," She told Ron. "That's for sure."

"Don't bother fighting it," He insisted. "If they end up getting into trouble, then that's how they'll learn."

Lavender nodded, but she hated to see her younger cousin get into deep trouble her first year at Hogwarts, especially not after being brainwashed by the Weasley twins.

Around 11:00, the students who were old enough, gathered their money bags and headed to the wizarding villiage of Hogsmeade. It was not quite as large as Diagon Alley, but it still had a good selection of stores and resturaunts, one of the most popular being the Three Broomsticks. Harry had on a pair of thick sweatpants, the sweater Mrs. Weasley had given him the year before, and his heavy winter cloak. "Look for a big black dog," He told the others as they grouped around him as though trying to keep him extra warm with body heat. (Hermione had even insisted on his wearing a hat, gloves and a scarf) Lavender glanced over at the Shrieking Shack.

"Like that one over there?" She asked, her breath coming out in white puffs.

Harry glanced over to where she was pointing, and sure enough, a large black dog sat in front of the broken down manor and was calmly watching passerbys on the street. "That's him." Harry said. "Come on." He led his friends over towards the dog, and they stopped a few inches away. "Hullo, Sirius." He greeted with a smile. The dog looked up at him and grinned a bit before changing into the form of a man.

"Hullo, Harry." Sirius greeted, pulling his godson into a tight hug.

"Hi." Harry replied.

"Are you warm enough?" Siruis asked, looking Harry up and down. Harry laughed.

"Yeah. So. What do you guys want to do?"

Lavender looked around. "Well-I wanted to get some of my Christmas shopping done here, or at least get done what I can afford. We should maybe split up in pairs and then meet at the Three Broomsticks later, so I can pick up the Butterbeer for Erin and Jess."

"Good idea." Said Hermione. "But we'd be a bit uneven, as Sirius is with us."

Sirius smiled. "I'll tell you what. I have to buy a few Christmas gifts myself, some of which Harry can't see, so why don't you four break up into pairs and I'll meet you at the pub around-how about 12:30?"

They agreed with this plan, and broke up. Lavender and Ron went in one direction and Harry and Hermione headed in another. Sirius watched them disappear into two different shops before he quickly scurried into Dervish and Bangs, a wizard clothes shop. Harry and Hermione headed into Honeydukes, which was usually the best place to buy small gifts for their friends. One thing Harry hadn't told Hermione, was that he had purchased her gift a while ago. He had gotten her an owl (or rather-he'd given Sirius the money and asked him to pick it up) since she had always wanted one, and had asked Professor Dumbledore to keep it in his office till the night before they had to leave for the holidays.

They wound up getting most of their friend's gifts at the sweetshop. Harry had gotten Ron a box of Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. Hermione had gotten Ron a box of Jelly Slugs and Jelly Worms, and Lavender they each got a box of the Every Flavor Beans as well. Hermione had also bought Harry's gift earlier that month using Owl order, but it hadn't arrived yet. She had gotten him wand cleansing kit and a new pair of Quidditch gloves.

"You look a little tired," She told him after they walked back outside. "Are you all right?"

Harry nodded. "Fine." He insisted with a weak smile. They decided to go into Dervish and Bangs to look for a gift for Sirius, since Harry had NO idea what his godfather wanted for Christmas.

"A sweater always goes over well." Hermione promised as they entered the shop. The plump witch at the counter beamed at them as they arrived, and she scurried out from behind to aid them in their shopping.

"What color are you looking for?" The saleslady asked. "Oh-I am Madame Roseline. And Harry Potter-I almost did not recognize you! And who is this pretty young lady?" She turned to Hermione, who blushed.

"My girlfriend-Hermione Granger," Harry replied. "Um-I'm kind of guessing here, because the sweater is for my godfather. I'm not quite sure what colors he wears the most."

"I see, I see. Well, here is a lovely sweater-made from pure hippogriff feathers."

Hermione's face paled. "Made from-from pure WHAT?" She cried in disbelief, looking at Harry, who had turned a slight shade of green at the very idea.

"Hippogriff, dear, Hippogriff." Madame Roseline repeated.

"Er-no thanks." Harry quickly broke in, seeing the murderous warning look on Hermione's face as he began to inspect the feel of the sweater.

"How about this one, Harry? It's really nice." Hermione pulled a brown and tan cotton sweater and handed it to him. "I think Sirius would look good in brown, don't you?"

"Not Sirius Black!" Madame Roseline cried. "That escaped convict is your GODFATHER?"

Hermione slapped her hands over her mouth and Harry blinked. "Oh-he's been set free, actually. He was framed."

"Well it figures-I don't read the papers that often." Madame Roseline chortled. "Anyway-it is up to you, Mr. Potter."

Hermione raised an eyebrow as Harry continued surveying the sweater, and finally he nodded. "I'll take this one then." He leaned towards Hermione. "You don't think that one sweater was made from Buckbeack feathers, do you?" He whispered.

She gave him a slap on the arm. "Don't even SAY such a thing." She hissed. Harry kissed her quickly before going up to the counter and paying for the sweater. On their way out, he wrapped an arm around her waist and leaned his head against hers.

"I love you so much, Hermione." He whispered.

"I love you too." She kissed him. "Let's go to the Three Broomsticks early so we can just relax together, even if the others aren't there yet."

He nodded. "Sounds all right to me, love. Come on, then."

The two of them headed to the pub, hand in hand.

Right on time, Sirius, Lavender and Ron arrived at the pub and were surprised to see Harry and Hermione already on their second bottles of Butterbeer and chatting. "Got done early, eh?"

Harry jumped at the voice of his godfather and looked up to see all three of them. "Ah-hullo. Yes, we did." He sniffed and pointed to the empty bench across from them. "Cold enough?" He asked Lavender, who was rubbing her hands together.

"Tell me about it." She blew into them. "You look a little tired, Harry. Are you sure you're feeling okay?"

Sirius called over the owner and asked for three butterbeers as well and then turned back to his godson. "Harry-are you feeling the least bit achy? You sound a little stuffed up."

Hermione took another swig from her bottle. "Don't catch a cold on me, Harry." She said, taking his hands. "Freezing!" She gasped and wrapped them in her scarf.

"Let me feel your head really quickly."

Harry chose not to protest, figuring it was the better way to go, while Sirius reached over and placed his hand against Harry's forehead. "You're a little warm, bud."

It was then that Harry sneezed loudly twice in a row, and received a handful of napkins from Ron. "Thanks." He choked. "If it is a cold, I wouldn't worry about it. I'll just go and see Madame Pomfrey right when we get back." He finished blowing his nose.

"I think we should head back now, Harry, especially since you're starting to run a bit of a fever."

Harry sighed. "Fine."

Sirius went to tell Professor McGonagall who was sitting with Professor Sprout and Professor Flitwick and announced that he would bring Harry, Ron, Hermione and Lavender back up to the school. She completely understood why and encouraged him to head on out. "Make SURE to get him straight to the hospital wing. We don't want that temperature elevating too much." She told Sirius, who nodded, and returned to the table to see Hermione helping Harry back into his coat.

"It's all set, you four. Let's get back to Hogwarts. I'm sure a dose of Pepperup will do wonders." Sirius smiled and urged Harry and company out of the pub.