Disclaimer – The original Harry Potter characters and the world of Harry Potter are not of my own invention and I do not claim ownership of them. KC
Ever since Aubrey had learnt about the all wizarding town of Hogsmeade, she had longed for the day in her third year that she would visit it for the first time. After years of waiting, that day had finally arrived and she was bubbling with excitement.
Hogsmeade was the only reason for students to bring money with them to Hogwarts and so before the new school year had started, she had made a special trip to Gringotts Bank so as to provide herself with some spending money. Aubrey had not been able to convince her parents to go with her and so she had asked her friend Nell to accompany her, due to her not being old enough to travel alone. Nell had arrived at her house with her wizard father a week before school started and they had travelled to Diagon Alley together. At the bank she had withdrawn a pouch full of gold, silver and bronze coins from her vault that she could spend on her collective trips and had packed it securely in her trunk.
So when the morning of their first trip to Hogsmeade arrived, she collected her coins and, with her pockets jingling merrily, she and Nell left their dorm room to join the other Third Years in the courtyard.
Leaving the warm comfort of the castle, the girls were blasted with cold air as they walked into the frosted courtyard. It was a freak snow storm that had hit the country in the last couple of days as it was usually too early in the season for it to be snowing. Therefore everyone was dressed in large coats, waterproof shoes and scarfs, beanies and mittens in the colours of their house. Most of the Third Years were shivering, due to being exposed to the weather, but not Aubrey. The adrenaline from her anticipation at visiting Hogsmeade was enough to keep her warm but she had still bundled up in her Gryffindor cold weather gear.
She looked around at the group of Third Years and finally spotted Henry, shaking from cold, near the back of the pack. She knew from the pale look of discomfort on his face that she was going to get an earful from him. It had been difficult enough to drag him away from his homework to go to Hogsmeade with her and so she knew he wouldn't be pleased at being dragged from it and into a blizzard.
After his discussion with Professor McGonagall the year before, Henry had become the most studious and high achieving student in their year level. It had even become a laughing point when people inquired as to where he was and others would reply "Where do you think? The library, of course!" In fact many of the people standing around him in the freezing courtyard had looks of surprise on their faces at the fact that he was there at all and without a book under his nose.
Aubrey pulled Nell behind her and the two girls skittered over to where Henry was standing. Both Nell and Henry looked unimpressed being in the others company but Aubrey stood in between them and looked eagerly as Professor Slughorn (the head of Slytherin House and their Potions teacher) addressed the group of students.
"In a few moments we will be leaving for Hogsmeade village. Due to this incredible phenomenon in the weather, I must urge you all to travel with a partner or group so we do not lose anyone on the way. The other professors and I will escort you to the village and back only this once and so any other time that you travel to Hogsmeade after today will be with your houses. Now as long as we are not missing anyone who wishes to go, I suggest we get going before the snow prevents our journey." Then with a shiver and a wave of his hand, he led the group across the bridge from the castle.
The large stone bridge was the only section of Hogwarts that hadn't been restored after the Battle of Hogwarts. It acted as a memorial to those who had perished in the battle and to remind everyone of the damage the battle had caused. Therefore the bridge's stone edging was chipped, cracked and even had large chunks missing from it. However it was the shiny plaques, with the names of the dead engraved on them, which stretched along the length of the bridge that really communicated the devastation of the battle. Even though it was not enforced, anyone who ever crossed the bridge would lapse into silence out of respect.
Once the Third Years had cleared the bridge, excited chatter broke out amongst the group about what they each wanted to see and buy whilst in Hogsmeade. Aubrey tried to remember every suggestion she was given. But as the information flow was so great, she knew most of it would have probably left her head by the time she reached Hogsmeade.
It wasn't long before they reached a hill's crest and the Third Years got their first sight of Hogsmeade. Steep pitched roofs covered in snow jutted out into the sky and smoke rose from almost every chimney. The buildings were made of dark brick and thatching and the road through the town was completely covered in deep snow. It was the most enchanting little town Aubrey had ever seen; like something out of a fairy tale.
Once the group had reached the town's border, the professors told the group to meet at the town's signpost at three o'clock and then, without a backwards glance, they quickly ran towards the warmth radiating out of the Hogs Head pub.
Students scattered in all directions and Aubrey had no idea what to do first. Nell was extremely eager to head towards Zonko's joke shop and so Aubrey and Henry followed her as she led the way down the street.
The brightly lit and colourful shop was packed full of students and animated chatter could be heard from all around the room. Being quite a small girl, Nell quickly disappeared amongst the crowd and Henry and Aubrey only spent a short time looking at the amusing goods for sale before they retreated outside for some fresh air. Nell appeared at the window and motioned to Aubrey that she was going to have a better look around. They mimed (probably looking ridiculous) an agreement through the window to meet at the Three Broomsticks in a few hours and then Nell disappeared out of sight again.
Henry brightened and starting suggesting places they could visit. Their first stop was Honeydukes and they bought a large collection of sweets after browsing the shop for almost an hour. Aubrey had never seen such variety! Then they both bought new quills at Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop and gazed admiringly at the new racing brooms in stock at Spintwitches. Aubrey was a fair flyer for one who had only flown a broom for the first time two years ago, but she didn't feel confident enough yet to brave the famous and most loved wizarding sport of Quidditch. They took a wide berth of Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop and Henry spent almost two hours in the bookshop, Tomes and Scrolls. Finally, once Aubrey was able to drag Henry away from the bookstore, they succumbed to the cold and headed for the warmth of the Three Broomsticks.
Nell was nowhere to be seen in the pub so Aubrey found a table whilst Henry volunteered to buy their drinks. When he returned he carried with him two large pints of Butterbeer. The last time Aubrey had seen the drink had been when Mr Splint had bought it for her parents in the Leaky Cauldron. Taking a large gulp she couldn't understand why her parents hadn't liked them as it was the most amazing thing she had ever tasted; like liquid butterscotch.
They kept to themselves and talked casually about their subjects. Now that they were in their third year at Hogwarts they were required to take up two extra subjects along with their original seven. Aubrey had played to her strengths and interests and had chosen Muggle Studies (which she of course excelled in) and Study of Ancient Runes. Henry also had played to his strengths when choosing his subjects and achieved highly in Arithmancy and Study of Ancient Runes due to his analytical mind.
They were deep in conversation about their Study of Ancient Runes homework when a large Fifth Year Slytherin boy approached their table with a small group of Slytherins following behind him. Aubrey immediately recognised him as one of the boys Nell had accidentally framed last year when she let a large swarm of Cornish Pixies loose in the Great Hall.
He stood over them, smirking nastily through a warped smile.
"Well if it isn't the little bookslug Wilks and his little red Gryffindor friend," he snarled almost cheerfully.
"If you want to use the name correctly it's 'bookworm', not 'bookslug'," said Aubrey evenly, looking up at the tall boy. "And my hair is 'auburn', not 'red'."
"Look here, boys. It talks!" he said mockingly, receiving sniggers from his followers.
"We have done nothing to disturb you, Denton," Henry said to the older boy through gritted teeth. "So if you would be so kind as to leave us -"
"Done nothing! You two being born is what 'disturbs' me!" interrupted Denton, this time receiving loud laughs from his friends. "Wouldn't your parents be ashamed to see you interacting with a Mudblood, Wilks?"
"I have more right to be ashamed of them!" growled Henry, scraping his chair noisily along the ground as he stood up to face Denton. He had grown taller than Aubrey over the three years she had known him but he was still considerably shorter than the older Slytherin boys that he now stood opposite.
"And how dare you call her a Mudblood!" Henry continued angrily. "Her blood line has nothing to do with the sort of witch she is!"
His voice echoed around the silent room and Aubrey noticed that everyone's heads were turned to the scene playing out in front of them. Their faces all had looks of surprise on them as they had never seen a Slytherin defend a Muggle-born, let alone a Slytherin stand up to another Slytherin.
"How courageous of you, Wilks," Denton said, glaring at Henry. "The innocence of your youth blinds you. But in the end, you will join us."
"Never," Henry glowered and Aubrey saw him reach for his wand. So, without thinking twice about it, she threw her remaining Butterbeer in Denton's face.
Both Henry and Denton were startled by this turn of events and it allowed her just enough time to grab Henry by the wrist and pull him out of the pub before Denton could regain his composure.
On their way out through the door, they almost ran over a very surprised Nell who jumped quickly out of the way. But Aubrey didn't stop to explain and dragged Henry behind her all the way to the outskirts of town. Reaching the fence line bordering off the Shrieking Shack she let go of his wrist and turned around to face him.
"I could have hexed his fat face right off his big head," grumbled Henry, rubbing his wrist.
"Exactly," said Aubrey. "I couldn't let you spoil it by cursing him."
"Spoil 'it'? Spoil what?" Henry asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Didn't you see? Everyone in the Three Broomsticks was watching you. You stood up to Denton, something no-one has ever seen done before, and you were from his own house."
"I don't understand," said Henry, frowning.
"They were admiring you!" Aubrey exclaimed. "You, a Slytherin, stood up to Denton, another Slytherin, about him calling me a 'Mudblood'. You spoke out for good and not evil, Henry, and people recognised that."
Realisation flooded Henry's face. "I didn't even think about that. I just did it because he insulted you."
"That's because it's in your nature to stand up for what's right," Aubrey said, smiling at her friend. "And that's exactly why Professor McGonagall believes you are a good ambassador for the Slytherin house values."
Henry smiled at this, looking proud.
"But wait, are you alright though? He did call you a Mudblood after all," he asked suddenly, looking concerned.
"Don't worry. I got my revenge by throwing my Butterbeer in his face," she replied, beaming.
Then they both laughed at the image of Denton covered in the sticky, golden coloured drink.
Once they had recovered from their fit of laughter they walked back into the village to meet the professors at the town's signpost. Nell was already there and she hurried over when she saw them coming.
"I'm not going to ask what happened because I've already heard it from several witnesses in the Three Broomsticks," she said and grabbed both Henry and Aubrey's hands at the same time, giving them a shake. "But I am going to congratulate you. Denton's had it coming to him for a very long time and I think it is just marvellous that it was you two who gave it to him."
"I wish I could have been there to see it but I couldn't decide what to buy from Zonkos. In the end I bought one of everything," she continued and lifted a large bag with the Zonkos labelling on it. "I'd be happy to share some it with you guys."
"Both of us?" Henry asked, looking surprised at being included.
"Yeah, you too Henry," Nell nodded enthusiastically. "Now that I know you hate Denton just as much as I do we can plot together. And you being in Slytherin means we have someone on the inside! It's going to be fantastic!"
Both Henry and Nell laughed together and Aubrey smiled, feeling glad that her friends had finally decided to coincide peacefully with one another. In fact, looking around at the rest of the Third Years, Aubrey noticed that they were all regarding Henry with interested looks rather than the cold or neutral ones that they usually wore. Things were looking up for Henry, she thought, and smiled at the prospect.
Denton and his gang came out of the Three Broomsticks at almost the exact same time that the professors came out of the Hogs Head pub, chuckling happily. Aubrey was relieved at this as without the professors being present she feared what Denton and his friends would do to her and Henry. Denton had obviously tried to clean himself up a bit but the Butterbeer had stained his jumper and his black hair was now lying flat on his head like a drowned rat. Aubrey, Henry and Nell all muffled their laughter and Denton snarled angrily at them.
"Is everyone here?" called Professor Slughorn who, like many of the professors, looked slightly merry. "Yes? Good! Well back to Hogwarts we go then!"
He turned around too quickly and slipped on the ice, almost toppling to the ground. Giggling broke out across the group of Third Years as he regained his composure. Then he commenced to lead the group back down the path towards Hogwarts.
"So did everyone have a good day?" he called to the group.
"Yes," Henry said and laughed at the sight of Denton again. "Yes, a very good day!"
CHAPTER 5 (YEAR 4) NOW AVAILABLE
As a first-time FanFiction writer, I would love a review or feedback from you on my writing. Just like Aubrey I am very excited to be setting out on a new journey and I can't wait to share more of my ideas with you.
KC