This year's Hogsmeade Weekend came a little earlier than usual.
Passing the fork near the edge of the Forbidden Forest, wisps of white smoke drifted up behind the towering red pine crowns, mingling with the frosty mist of the early autumn morning. Damp firewood gave off a choking smell, and Fang's barking could be heard faintly in the distance.
Though autumn had arrived, aside from nighttime fog, increased rain, and cooler weather, the temperature had yet to reach the chill of true autumn.
The flowers and grass by the roadside were still vividly colored, and the bleak, desolate air of the season had not yet set in. The chrysanthemums in the bushes were blooming beautifully, bright yellow and full of life. The unique climate had delayed some hydrangeas until now; clean, rich blues and purples clustered together, making the eye light up.
Loren stood before the display window of The Quill Shop, leaning close to peer through the glass. To his surprise, they had stocked commemorative albums.
They were colorful booklets with a ring of dried flowers tied around the cover—rosemary, lavender, and baby's breath—along with a faint red trim around the edges. They had loose-leaf bindings and unbound pages inside that could be removed and handed to classmates to write blessings and messages.
They looked remarkably fitting for the times.
Considering Hogwarts was the only magical school on this entire landmass, this was probably something The Quill Shop had introduced first. Who knew which Muggle-born clerk had suggested it to the owner? By Merlin, they were a genius.
The wizarding world was being culturally invaded.
"Tsk, tsk..."
Loren shook his head with a sigh, then shifted his gaze to the other new stationery. The shop was quiet and deserted, with only three or five students scattered among the shelves.