The Strange Slughorn

Hogwarts Castle stood at a high altitude, with a temperate maritime climate influenced by the North Atlantic Current and the Dementor cold current. By mid-October, snow had already begun to fall.

October 19th, morning.

Wind and snow howled against the windows.

Loren and the others got up early.

The first Hogsmeade Weekend of the school year had arrived.

As the situation in the wizarding world grew increasingly tense, security around the school had been upgraded, becoming strict and rigid. Rumors claimed that Hogsmeade Weekend had been postponed and would not resume until Halloween or Christmas. The students had not held out much hope for this year's Hogsmeade Weekend, so they were all delighted to suddenly learn that they could still go.

Even Miss Granger, who loved studying, set aside her homework and the House-elf Life Survey Report she was writing. She had been stuck in school for too long; being able to leave the Castle and relax, even for only a few hours, lifted her spirits.

After breakfast and a short rest, the Third Years and above left the Castle in groups.

Professor McGonagall and Filch stood at the school gates as they did every year, checking the names of students going out against the list. There was an additional security inspection this time, too. The caretaker used a strange-looking Secrecy Sensor to scan the students from head to toe.

Mrs. Norris was nowhere to be seen. The cold current had come too early this year, and the temperature had dropped too quickly. The little cat did not like going outside.

"Even if we smuggled Dark Arts items out, what did it matter?"

"Shouldn't they be more worried about the things we bring in?"

Ron grumbled right in front of the caretaker, so the Secrecy Sensor poked him a few