Day 28.
Winter was about to end, and the afternoon sunlight had grown much warmer.
Today was the weekend, and Hogsmeade was as lively as ever, filled with Hogwarts students everywhere.
Amid their laughter, the snow on the rooftops quietly melted.
Inside Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, Hermione stood before a row of newly arrived spring robes, her fingers gently brushing over a pale gray velvet top.
The material was indeed excellent, and the tailoring was refined, but the overly extravagant lace around the collar made the whole garment look somewhat tacky. It was not very suitable for everyday wear.
Behind her, Daphne and Cho were discussing the pattern on a peacock-blue cloak.
"I think it's a thunderbird. Look at the shape of these feathers." Daphne tilted her head slightly, her smooth hair slipping down from her shoulder.
Cho's slender fingertips traced across the cloak. "I'm more inclined to think it's some kind of decorative pattern. Cedric showed me the totems commonly used by wizards in the Americas. As far as I remember, thunderbirds didn't look like this."
Daphne smiled politely. "All right, but... Cho, could you stop bringing up Cedric every other sentence? This is supposed to be our time."
She looked to the other side. "Hermione, don't you think I'm right?"
Hermione nodded, but her gaze went past the row of clothes before her, through the magically heated display window, and landed on the wall across the street—or, more precisely, on the wanted poster pinned to it.
Although the photo had been darkened considerably by the Ministry of Magic, Vincent still looked as spirited as ever.
Cho walked over to another rack and picked up a well-tailored men's shirt. "Hermione, which color do you think suits him better?"
Hermione gave her the same polite smile Daphne had