Memory Charm and Camera

"Loren, Hermione! We're going out for a walk, want to come along?"

Harry squeezed through the crowd and approached the two men, panting heavily as he asked incoherently.

Loren's expression was a little strange. He gave him a curious look and asked, "Honeydukes, huh? Weren't you guys looking forward to this for a long time? Why are you leaving already?"

Ron squeezed through the crowd just in time to hear his question. He opened his mouth in sorrow and sobbed a few times, saying mournfully, "It's all because of the Animagus, because of the Mandrake Leaf. You all saw the miserable state Lee Jordan was in. If we stay here any longer, the first day will be declared a failure."

"Yeah, yeah..." Harry nodded repeatedly, hissed, and swallowed the saliva that had been drooling over the candy.

"I think Ron has a point..." Hermione said softly, then glared at him fiercely, "Unlike you, who wanted to feed me Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans."

"Didn't I stop in time...? Avoiding those magical candies, trying ordinary desserts should be fine, right..." Loren muttered to himself, but still led Hermione out of the crowded candy store.

Outside the shop, the golden sun had already dispelled the morning mist, and colorful ribbons fluttered in the street. Next to it was the Elegant Wizarding Apparel, Loren and Hermione hadn't gone in to browse last time.

"It's a huge chain store, with branches in London and Paris. I heard their clothes are very popular with some Pure-blood wizard," Ron said excitedly. "But my mother always says their clothes are weird, and no normal wizard would wear them these days..."

These words piqued the curiosity of the group, and without much hesitation, they decided to go in and take a look.

The clothing displayed on the shelves was indeed very strange, even somewhat creepy:

The dresses were strangely colored: deep purple, rich green, and a red so dark it looked like dried blood...

Dementor- like cloak, a mummy-like bodysuit wrapped in bandages...

A wizard's hat with a pointed top, sharp as a sword, with terrifying animal sculptures standing on its brim: a gaunt parrot, a coiled venomous snake...

"Merlin ..." Ron shuddered, startled. "Can anyone tell me if those animal sculptures are real? Why did I see the snake's eyes moving?"

Harry grinned and began telling Ron all sorts of ghost stories he'd heard, making Ron even more nervous:

"I've heard that some strange dark wizards run wax museums and doll shops... customers who come to the shops are turned into merchandise... Ron, look, isn't that wooden doll smiling at you?"

Even though Ron knew he was just trying to scare him, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"Like when Professor McGonagall first took us to the Leaky Cauldron, the patrons there were wearing these clothes," Hermione whispered.

Loren nodded. "I saw Neville's grandmother wearing one of those wizard hats, probably a traditional wizarding style."

Fortunately, the shop assistants weren't dark wizards who would turn people into wax figures. They led them inside and showed them many normal clothes, including some popular Muggle styles.

After Harry bought a pair of oddly styled socks as a gift for Dobby, Loren followed suit and bought some as well: strangely shaped socks, a scarf with mottled and bizarre colors, and an oversized little felt hat...

Hogsmeade didn't seem to have a bookstore, but it did have a quill pen shop. Hermione's eyes lit up as she pulled the others inside, and the girl excitedly lingered among the various quill pens.

Looking at the various automatic sketching quills and cheating quills... Harry and Ron wore meaningful smiles.

But the thought of being locked up by Professor McGonagall made them abandon their bold idea.

Compared to a year ago, the Quidditch Supplies store sign has changed slightly, but the scene in front of the store remains the same.

A large group of young wizards were gathered in the shop window, their eyes wide as they peered through the glass at the flying brooms inside.

The unshaven middle-aged owner and young clerk stood to the side, chatting and laughing with the young wizards, occasionally handing them a few candies they'd swiped from the candy store next door.

"If only I had a Nimbus..."

"Firebolt are the fastest now!"

"What's the use of being fast? Quidditch isn't a flying competition!"

"That's right!" The scruffy, middle-aged shop owner seized the opportunity to interject in the discussion. "But speed is useless. Back when I was studying at Hogwarts, the Slytherin Quidditch Team's brooms were faster than ours..."

While the middle-aged boss was talking enthusiastically, the young shop assistant seized the opportunity to efficiently promote the store's valuable items.

The little wizards who had just been gathered around the shop entrance were startled and scattered in a swarm, dashing into the crowd and running towards the next shop, laughing and joking.

The middle-aged boss was so angry that he glared and chased after the young employee, finally kicking him out of the store.

Loren and Hermione watched from the side, their eyes filled with smiles. Although only a year had passed, the feeling of encountering a familiar scene after such a long separation was like a reunion after a long time.

Having someone accompany you through this period... just thinking about this fills both of you with a sense of peace.

Harry for a moment, then stepped forward and patted the middle-aged shopkeeper on the shoulder. "Sir, I'd like to buy a pair of windproof goggles. It always rains during Quidditch training in winter, which really affects my vision."

"Windproof goggles..." The middle-aged boss paused for a moment, his face, which had been filled with anger, softened instantly. "Oh, of course, of course, windproof goggles."

Hermione blinked, puzzled. "Isn't there a waterproof spell?"

"Although the glasses can keep out the rain, the wind will blow rain into your eyes." Ron nodded thoughtfully and quickly followed. "I need to buy a pair too, after all, I'm about to become the team captain..."

Loren and Hermione exchanged a glance, tacitly agreeing not to say anything more.

To keep the Mandrake Leaf in their mouths, Harry and Ron, with immense willpower, walked straight past Zogg's Joke Shop, their faces contorted in pain and their limbs stiff.

He passed by the door without entering.

The same scene unfolded for Loren and Hermione. Passing by Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, they intended to say goodbye to Harry and Ron, but under the disapproving gazes of their two friends, they ultimately couldn't bring themselves to say it.

We walked and strolled along, and by the time we reached the end of the main road, it was almost noon.

To protect the Mandrake Leaf in their mouths and to resist the many temptations of Hogsmeade, they decided to spend the rest of the day at the Three Broomsticks Pub.

This is a messy little bar, hot, chaotic, and filled with smoke. A striking, curvaceous woman is beckoning a group of noisy male witches behind the bar.

Not only male witches, but also strange creatures shrouded in black cloaks. Judging from the various colors of their skin and the sharp or rough fingernails they reveal when they hold up their wine glasses, they are not human.

When Harry and Ron first arrived here, they immediately spotted Madam Rosmerta at the bar. She was wearing a form-fitting dress, the soft fabric clinging to her skin and showing off her beautiful curves, like a ripe peach.

When Loren led them back from the front desk to get drinks and snacks, Ron's face was a little red. After that, he took over the task of getting drinks and snacks, saying he wanted to familiarize himself with the place.

Harry was completely confused.

Butterbeer, lemonade, cherry juice, mulled Mead...

They tried all sorts of strangely flavored drinks, which made them dizzy and bloated.

The sleepy little wizards, who had stayed up late last night because of their excitement, got up early to gather this morning. They swayed their heads and unconsciously slumped onto the table.

They seemed to be asleep, but not quite asleep. When someone passed by them, they would shake their heads and sit up.

Not only them, but after lunchtime, several groups of tired little wizards came here and found an empty table in the corner to rest.

The bar was noisy for most of the day, only quiet for a brief moment in the afternoon.

Madam Rosmerta was wiping glasses behind the bar, watching the excited yet tired little wizards from afar, a genuine smile on her lips. This was a rare moment of relaxation for her, even though these little wizards were taking up empty seats in the bar.

As the sun began to set, its golden-red afterglow streaming through the windows, the little bar became noisy again, as the young wizards, who had eaten countless fish and chips, gradually came to their senses.

"Loren! Harry! You're here too!"

Hearing Neville's joyful voice, Loren's eyelashes fluttered a few times. He opened his eyes, pulled his arm, which was so numb it was almost losing all feeling, from under Hermione's head, Loren his head, and slowly came back to his senses.

The others also gradually woke up.

"Neville? What a coincidence, you're here too." Loren rubbed his arm, noticing out of the corner of his eye Hannah talking to Madam Rosmerta at the bar. He chuckled and teased, "I thought you and Hannah would go to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop."

Neville's face flushed slightly, and he said somewhat awkwardly, "It's not what you think. Hannah wanted to see the Three Broomsticks. She's related to Tom, the owner of the Leaky Cauldron."

Loren didn't answer, he just chuckled.

Harry and Ron, who had just regained their senses, looked at Neville, then at Hannah at the bar, their eyes filled with astonishment.

"Neville! Hannah!"

When did this happen?

"Tell me quickly..."

Amidst laughter and feeble, embarrassed explanations, the group produced the Three Broomsticks and embarked on their journey back to the Castle along the street.

The other young wizards also returned around the same time. Amidst laughter and chatter, the wizards walked together in twos and threes with their acquaintances, sharing their novel experiences from the day.

"I have something sad to tell you..." Seamus said in a heavy voice, drawing everyone's attention. "My and Dean's Mandrake Leaf were broken at Zonko's Joke Shop."

"I'm sorry to hear this sad news..." Ron nodded seriously, his tone suddenly becoming lighter. "But our leaves are still fine, hahaha..."

So they started chasing and fighting on the wide road, their laughter and curses echoing all the way without stopping.

As darkness fell, Harry's brows furrowed, as if he were troubled by something.

"What's wrong?" Ron asked.

"I feel like I've forgotten something, but I can't remember..." Harry replied absentmindedly.

"Oh, then this should be helpful to you." Neville reached into his pocket and took out a small, transparent sphere, handing it to him.

The moment Harry caught the sphere, the transparent sphere immediately turned a bright red.

Neville thoughtfully reminded you, "This is a reminder that you have indeed forgotten something important."

"I know I've forgotten something important," Harry said, his teeth aching. "But the question is, what exactly have I forgotten?"

"The Memory Charm doesn't know either; it can only give you a hint." Neville shook his head.

Loren and the others standing nearby couldn't help but laugh. They had seen similar scenes many times, only this time the person involved was Harry instead of Neville.

At the corner of the main road in Hogsmeade Village was a filthy pub. Compared to the Three Broomsticks, it looked like an abandoned shop. Thick grime covered the exposed door frames and windows, and light could barely penetrate. A faint candlelight shone through the cracks in the door, and the surrounding air was filled with a strong smell, probably of mutton.

The pungent smell of mutton made the young wizards warily avoid the small bar.

Harry, clutching the Memory Charm, suddenly stopped and exclaimed, "I remember now!"

The group looked at him in confusion. Harry reached into his jacket pocket and pulled a brand-new camera from the Storage Scale. "Colin gave me the camera and told me to take some interesting pictures for him, but I forgot all about it as soon as I left the candy store!"

The sun was slowly setting, and the sky was a rare sight of late autumn with its hazy twilight. The golden and crimson afterglow fell like a smooth piece of cloth, spreading across the entire street.

Loren stepped forward and patted the regretful Harry on the shoulder, grinning, "How about we take a group photo here? Like those old photos in Headmaster Dumbledore's office, decades from now, when we see this photo, we'll remember this day when we first came to Hogsmeade in our third year. Isn't that cool?"

The eyes of the people around him lit up. They didn't understand the concept of the cycle of time that Loren was describing, but they simply thought it was indeed very cool.

"Okay, okay, let's find a cool place."

What's it like at the Honeydukes?

Should we turn back now?

"It's too late, the sun is about to set."

"..."

Hermione didn't participate in the discussion. She quietly followed Loren, tilted her head to look at the arm she had been using as a pillow all afternoon, and tugged at his sleeve. "Does your hand still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt at all, it's just a little numb..."

A few minutes later, they finally decided to take the photo at the entrance of Hogsmeade, Harry asked a Hufflepuff senior to take the picture for them.

On the left is Hannah, beaming, tugging at Neville's sleeve to remind him to look at the camera. Further on, Harry and Ron stand awkwardly in the middle, their smiles strained, while Seamus and Dean grin from ear to ear. Loren and Hermione stand on the right, their eyes and brows strikingly similarly gentle.

Other third-grade students saw them taking pictures and joined in, laughing and joking around them.

The scene was frozen in time with the last rays of the setting sun.