Chapter 3: The Portrait Maker*
The village of Hogsmeade had seen its own share of chaos during the war, but like Hogwarts, it was beginning to heal. Shops were reopening, the streets were bustling with witches and wizards, and the smell of freshly baked goods wafted from Honeydukes. Harry, Hermione, and Ron strolled down the cobbled streets, enjoying the brief respite from their duties at the castle.
"So, how are we going to find this portrait maker?" Ron asked, looking around as if expecting one to appear out of thin air. "Can't say I've ever heard of someone who specializes in talking portraits."
Hermione had her nose buried in a thick book titled *Magical Artistry and Enchanted Portraiture*. "According to this, the best portrait artists are usually found in Diagon Alley or Paris. There's a whole section on famous portrait makers in the 18th century, but we need someone modern."
Harry pointed to a small shop near the end of the street, its sign swinging gently in the breeze. The sign read *Petra's Portraits, with a depiction of a paintbrush and wand crossed over a canvas. "How about we start there?"
The bell above the door jingled as they entered. The shop was cozy, with canvases stacked against the walls, some blank, others filled with half-finished portraits. A large window let in the morning light, illuminating the easel set up in the center of the room.
A woman in her mid-thirties, with short curly hair and a splash of paint on her robes, looked up from her work as they entered. Her eyes were a piercing blue, and she regarded them with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
"Hello there," she greeted, setting down her brush. "Welcome to Petra's Portraits. I'm Petra Pince. What can I do for you?"
Hermione stepped forward. "We're looking for someone skilled in creating interactive portraits. Not just the usual kind, but ones that can move between frames and communicate."
Petra raised an eyebrow. "Ah, you're looking for a true enchantment, then. Those are rare and expensive. What's the occasion?"
Harry hesitated, then decided on honesty. "We've recently… discovered a new portrait of someone from the past, someone important to a friend of ours. We want to create another portrait so he can visit his family. His name is Gideon Prewett."
Petra's eyes widened slightly. "Prewett? As in the old wizarding family? I've heard of them. One of the bloodlines that stood against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." She studied them for a moment, then her face softened. "I see. You're looking to connect the past with the present, to bring some comfort."
Hermione nodded. "Exactly. Can you help us?"
Petra considered them for a long moment before nodding. "I can. But it will require time, and a connection to Gideon's essence. Normally, portraits like these need the subject to sit for them. Since that's impossible…" She trailed off, deep in thought.
Harry spoke up. "What about memories? If we could provide memories of Gideon, from people who knew him well, would that work?"
Petra's eyes lit up. "Yes, memories would do. They carry the essence of a person, their emotions, their spirit. If you can bring me those, I can create a portrait that will link with the one in the Headmaster's office."
Ron grinned. "Mum's got loads of memories of Uncle Gideon. She talks about him and Uncle Fabian all the time. We can start with her."
Petra smiled warmly. "Then we have a plan. Bring me those memories, and I'll start preparing the canvas. It'll take a few days, maybe a week, but we'll make it work."
Harry felt a wave of gratitude. "Thank you, Petra. This means a lot to us. To the Weasleys."
Petra nodded. "I can see that. And after everything that's happened, it's the least I can do. We all have our part to play in the healing."
As they left the shop, Harry felt a sense of anticipation building. They were on their way to bringing a piece of the past back to life, to offering comfort to the family that had become his own. It was a small step, but it was a step toward healing the wounds that the war had left behind.