Chapter 108 Encounter With The Stray Dog

"We can go there!" exclaimed Hermione, pointing at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop and squinting her eyes. "This shop seems to be... quite special!"

"Are you sure?!" Evan looked at the tea shop in surprise.

If it hadn't been mentioned recently by Cho Chang, he would have never noticed this place. It was filled with pink and quite feminine decorations, with cheesy lace, and Evan doubted the taste of the owner.

"Of course I'm sure, hurry up and come in, Evan; I don't want other people to think I'm standing alone in the snow!" Hermione said, "It seems private inside, you shouldn't worry about being discovered, and you can take off your cloak."

Evan and Hermione crossed the street and entered the small Tea Shop.

There was a sweet scent in the air. The tea room was small and misty. Everything seemed to be adorned with frills or bows. Above each small round table floated a golden cherub, occasionally showering pink confetti onto the people below.

They sat at the only remaining round table, next to the fogged window.

Next to them was a large Christmas tree. Through the gaps between the leaves, a fifth-year Hufflepuff boy could be seen. He was with a beautiful blonde girl, holding hands.

Evan felt a bit uncomfortable, and so did Hermione.

It seemed like they had just realized that there were only couples in the place, all holding hands.

"What would you like to have?" A middle-aged, robust woman with a shiny black bun squeezed through the two tables.

"Two cups of coffee, please," Evan said.

As he lifted his head, his face was showered with pink confetti by the golden cherub in the air.

While waiting for the coffee, Evan noticed that the couple next to him started kissing over the sugar bowl between them. He pursed his lips and truly wished they wouldn't.

Apparently, Hermione noticed it too. She turned her head and locked eyes with Evan, then quickly looked away in panic.

The atmosphere was very awkward. Evan focused on not messing things up.

But he couldn't contain his imagination. He felt like the couple in front of them was setting a model Hermione would soon want to emulate.

He wasn't sure if he wanted to. He and Hermione hadn't reached that point yet.

According to protocol, shouldn't they confess to each other before doing something like that?!

Evan told himself, "I really like Hermione so much. Moreover, since she invited me to come to this Tea Shop, shouldn't it be a hint?"

In that case, should he take the lead?!

Hermione's cheeks were as red, as charming, as a ripe apple, tempting anyone to take a bite.

"Anyway, get over it!" Feelings of fear and excitement surged, and Evan was determined to overcome it.

His body leaned slightly forward, he reached out his hand and took Hermione's cold hands, and at that moment, they both stopped to breathe.

Hermione trembled slightly and seemed to want to pull her hands away, but immediately stopped and let go. Her face had never been so red.

Her eyes clouded over and met Evan's. The sweet smell in the air almost hindered her brain from thinking.

She saw Evan's body approaching, as if he was about to do something. She wanted to dodge backward, but her right hand was tightly held by him. Hermione's body trembled slightly; although it was not the first time Evan had held her hands, this time it was exceptionally electrifying.

Hermione couldn't remember the precise moment this boy had won her heart. Perhaps it was last year when he saved her from the basilisk; or this year, when he faced over a hundred Dementors, in a moment of fear and helplessness, or...

Before now, she had heard about this Tea Shop from other girls.

The appearance of Cho Chang provoked an inexplicable sense of threat in her. She used to think it was just an ordinary meeting place. She didn't expect everyone to be there...

She knew what Evan was going to do next, yet she didn't feel offended at all. However, wasn't it too soon for that?

Her palms were sweaty, and her heart was pounding. She should stop Evan. They shouldn't do it, but she had no strength.

She saw Evan getting closer, and she could feel his breath.

The distance between the two was shrinking...

Just as Evan's lips were about to touch Hermione's, Mrs. Teacup approached with two cups of coffee.

They hurriedly separated like kittens who had done something wrong. The movement was so abrupt that they almost overturned the table.

Mrs. Teacup said nothing, but the inscrutable smile on her face made them feel embarrassed.

Evan's face flushed, and he turned to look out the window.

At that moment, through the thick steam, he saw Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Hagrid, and two Aurors he didn't recognize striding proudly down the street. The six of them marched purposefully in the snow, heading towards the Three Broomsticks across the street.

Evan looked hastily, and his attention was completely captured by two small figures next to them: a large black dog and a ginger cat slipping down the street — Sirius Black and Crookshanks.

It was not surprising that Black would be so bold as to appear brazenly in Hogsmeade, passing near Ministers Fudge, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Hagrid.

Black paused and guiltily glanced back at Fudge and the two Aurors.

"Oh, it's Crookshanks! What's he doing in Hogsmeade?!"

Glancing to where Evan was staring, Hermione saw Crookshanks through the window. She didn't see Sirius Black due to her angle of vision.

"Wait, Hermione, I'll go bring him back!"

Evan rushed, and under the astonished gaze of Hermione and Mrs. Teacup, he opened the door and leaped into the swirling snow outside.

For some reason, thinking about Ron's recent unusual behavior, she felt a sense of unease. Although she had a plan, it would be good to be able to contact Sirius Black before that.

On the street, the shadows of Black and Crookshanks disappeared around the corner, leaving two rows of shallow and deep footprints in the dense snow.

Evan followed the tracks and arrived at the Owl Post Office. The interior was dim. There were owls on the shelves, at least 300, from common Snowy Owls to palm-sized Screech Owls. They were hooting softly.

Aside from the owls, there was no one else in the shop.

Black and Crookshanks seemed to be on the second floor, where owls were trained to bring mail from faraway places.

Evan drew his wand. The post office had only one door. If he went in there, Black would have nowhere to escape.

Evan didn't know why Black had to send a letter, but it was truly a good opportunity to contact him.