The Lovers' Date Is a Little Different from Expected / Discussing Their Studies Gets People All Worked Up

Even Tonks, who was far away in London, was asking some of his Auror colleagues for inside information.

Unfortunately, despite their efforts, the team couldn't find any clues.

Harry was the same; his mastery of the Homonculous Charm had even surpassed Lupin's, and he could even mark the spirits in the paintings in the Headmaster's Office on parchment, but he still couldn't detect the location of the Spirit of Rowena.

This might suggest that Rowena Ravenclaw also has a way of concealing her spirit, just like Salazar Slytherin before her, requiring the Chamber to be filled with water and her being a descendant of Slytherin for the statue to manifest.

Or perhaps, Spirit of Rowena never existed at Hogwarts at all...

In short, progress on matters involving ghosts is currently severely hampered.

However, Harry hasn't been without good things lately either.

On the first Saturday of February, the students were allowed to go to Hogsmeade Village again, and Harry and Hermione discussed it and decided to go for a visit as well.

He was usually very busy, so he rarely had the chance to go out with Hermione. Now that he had finally gotten rid of Lucius, a major threat, and other matters were still unresolved, he might as well take the opportunity to spend more time with Hermione.

Coincidentally, Hermione was also asked by Luna Lovegood and her younger friends to go to Honeydukes to pack some candy for everyone, so the two of them, like kindred spirits, hit it off immediately...

Then, just as they were about to leave, the Weasley Brothers suddenly rushed in with some unexpected good news.

"Harry, we're making progress on the matter you asked us to Hogsmeade Village."

"Although we didn't find a ready-made villa, we did find a fantastic piece of land, and you can have as big as you want!"

"Is it really that exaggerated?" Hermione asked, puzzled by the twins' description. "Is there any spare land in Hogsmeade Village? I didn't know that."

"It's the Shrieking Shack from before!" Fred explained cheerfully. "That place mysteriously collapsed, right? If we just flatten the wreckage, it'll be a ready-made plot of land."

"That's right, and because it's been haunted for years, a large area around it has been completely deserted. Now that it's collapsed, nobody even wants to clean up the site." George chimed in, "It's said that the Hogsmeade Village Council is worried about this. It used to be a tourist attraction, but now it's completely deserted."

"The Shrieking Shack... not bad, that's definitely a good place."

Harry's eyes lit up at the mention of that; if it were there, it would indeed be a very suitable location.

First of all, the area is located on the outskirts of Hogsmeade Village, a place with few people, so the environment there is bound to be quiet enough for the nursing home.

And just like the twins said, because of the haunting, a large plot of land around it was completely deserted and could definitely be used to build a super-large villa... After all, this was a residence prepared for his teacher and other elderly relatives and friends, so Harry naturally hoped it would be perfect.

And finally... because its predecessor was the Shrieking Shack —a famous haunted house in the Britain Wizarding World —the land here must be very cheap!

"Can either of you get in touch with the head of the village council?" Harry asked the two brothers. "If possible, I'd like to see him as soon as possible."

"Absolutely no problem, we'll go find someone right now, and I guarantee we'll get him to Three Broomsticks by this afternoon at the latest!"

"You and Hermione can go shopping and have a date first, then wait for our good news~"

The twins finished speaking and ran off in a hurry, but before leaving, they turned back and made a knowing face at Harry.

"These two... well, let's go take a look around first." Harry shook his head with a chuckle and walked towards the school gate with Hermione.

"Mmm~" The academically gifted girl nodded happily, and even took Harry's arm.

Seeing the joyful expression on Hermione's face, Harry felt a pang of guilt.

He really should reflect on his actions.

This was the first time he'd accompanied Hermione to explore Hogsmeade Village since the start of third grade.

On Halloween, the students were allowed to go to Hogsmeade for the first time, but Harry was busy framing Lucius Malfoy and left the school on Halloween Eve.

The second time he came was not long ago, when the Shrieking Shack was destroyed, and he accompanied Lupin on a revisit to the old place.

He's always busy running around, and even though he and Hermione are together all the time, it often feels like they're in a long-distance relationship...

If it were anyone else, they'd probably be single by now.

Chapter 379 The date location for the couple was somewhat different from what was expected.

"The Shrieking Shack... The Weasley Brothers were right, after it was razed, this place was indeed quite large."

Harry and Hermione arrived at the site of the Shrieking Shack, and just as the twins had said, the ruins were still there. It seemed that the people of Hogsmeade Village were unwilling to come near this place.

However, this is actually a good thing, since once the retirement home is actually completed, Harry mainly wants his teachers and retired Hogwarts professors to live there, and doesn't plan to accept outsiders.

Therefore, the existence of such a ghost story greatly reduces other people's interest in this place.

However... the fact that wizards are afraid of ghosts is a strange premise that Harry can't help but want to complain about every time it's brought up.

After surveying the area, Harry determined that the Shrieking Shack was the best location. He then formulated a basic building plan in his mind and sketched the shape of the plot of land he wanted to buy on parchment with a mechanical quill.

Wizards selling land is vastly different from the government selling land, and the village council probably doesn't have any concrete plans, so Harry can prepare his arguments beforehand to make negotiating easier...

After confirming the situation of the Shrieking Shack site, and seeing that it was still early, Harry accompanied Hermione on a stroll around Hogsmeade Village.

Hogsmeade Village is probably the only pure wizarding village in Britain. Harry wandered around for a while and felt that it was basically a Diagon Alley a residential area attached.

The village has a very simple structure, just like Diagon Alley. There is only one main street where all the shops are located; the villagers' houses are in the buildings on both sides of the road and at the back.

The types of shops here are basically the same as those in Diagon Alley. For example, although there are no Cauldron or magical supplies shops, there is a shop that specializes in selling and repairing magical equipment, Devils-Bans.

Meanwhile, a Gladrags Wizardwear has opened here. This should be considered a world-class chain clothing store. Harry had seen it before in Hidden Street in Paris... but he didn't know why such a trendy brand would open in a village instead of a purely commercial area like Diagon Alley.

In this issue, Hermione also went to Honeydukes and packed a whole bunch of different kinds of candy for Luna Lovegood; meanwhile, when Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop, Harry noticed that Hermione glanced inside.

This bothered Harry a little, but he didn't choose to take Hermione into the store; instead, he silently kept it in mind.

The academically gifted girl has a heavy workload this semester, so she naturally needs a handy 'weapon'. However, Harry doesn't think this store will have any particularly useful products.

It just so happens that he has already begun to grasp the basics of alchemy, and with the holidays approaching, he might as well make something for Hermione himself and then give it to her as a gift.

Isn't this what girls all like... yes, a sense of ritual?

"The Three Broomsticks have arrived... Should we go over there now? The Weasley Brothers probably haven't finished dealing with them yet, have they?"

After wandering around the village for a while, Hermione and Harry finally arrived at the place they had agreed to meet the twins. However, it was still a bit early, and Hermione was unsure of what to do.

However, after looking around for a while, she suddenly discovered another place.

After a slight hesitation, she pointed it out to Harry: "I'm a little thirsty after walking for so long, how about we sit over there?"

Following the direction she pointed, Harry saw... Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop.

Even though Harry didn't know much about Hogsmeade, he knew this place was a famous tea house for couples.

So, young lady, are you sure you're just going to sit for a while, and not... do something?

"Why... why are you looking at me like that?" Noticing Harry staring at her with amusement, Hermione felt a little embarrassed and asked in a low voice, "Are you going or not?"

"Sure, of course we have to go!" Harry said confidently, leading Hermione into the teahouse. "Everyone in the school knows what kind of relationship we have, so it would be strange if we didn't come here to mark the occasion."

"Hey, don't talk nonsense..."

Hermione instinctively wanted to retort, but when the words reached her lips, she realized that Harry's words contained no nonsense at all, and could only awkwardly let him lead her into the house.

The interior of Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop isn't very large, and perhaps to create an atmosphere, the environment is decorated in a hazy, misty way, making the ambiance feel somewhat unreal.

Moreover, most things here are pink, and they are decorated with lots of ruffled ribbons and bows—in short, the kind of pink bubble style that's perfect for the sweet and sour smell of love.

"Ha, aren't these the two Granger? Would you like something to drink?"

After Ha and He found their seats, the teahouse owner, Madam Puddifoot, arrived. She was a plump witch with slicked-back hair, and her face was beaming with a warm smile... and a strong sense of gossip.

The Granger Siblings are celebrities at Hogwarts - Hogsmeade, and their story of going from siblings to a romantic relationship is definitely a popular and interesting anecdote.

"Two cups of black tea and a small snack, please~" Harry replied with a smile.

While waiting for her food, Hermione glanced around unconsciously, her expression becoming somewhat strange.

The young couples here... aren't they all a bit too impatient?

For example, the couple to her left were practically kissing each other across the table, as if they couldn't wait to do that... But Hermione took a closer look and realized that the man was Roger Davis, the Quidditch captain of her house.

"Sigh, I suddenly regret it a little." This discovery left Hermione feeling slightly helpless. It wasn't because she was embarrassed or shy, but because it felt a bit out of line with her expectations.

She originally wanted to experience some romance at this romantic spot, but when she arrived, she found that it was just as disappointing as those popular Instagrammable spots.

Please... these public displays of affection, couple after couple, their lips practically glued together, aren't the romance I was hoping for at all; it's just plain lust!

"We're all students after all, so our expressions of emotion aren't usually very deep, especially in this kind of atmosphere," Harry explained with a light laugh. "By the way... if you really want it, I can be quite enthusiastic and outgoing too~"

"Thank you, but no thanks!" Hermione refused without even thinking.

She doesn't need that kind of superficial enthusiasm.

Moreover, compared to the impatient bunch in the room, Hermione even felt a slight sense of superiority.

Don't be fooled by these people blatantly showing off their love here; their progress is definitely not as fast as mine and Harry's...

She meant meeting the parents.

Chapter 380 Exploring whether learning will make people... well, you know.

As it turns out, what others consider romance, or what is generally accepted by the public, may not always be suitable for Harry and Hermione, these two oddballs.

After all, even when they're together, they rarely get tired of each other. Their romance mostly involves sharing intimate thoughts and... discussing serious matters.

And so, the following scene unfolded in Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop.

While all the men and women in the room were cuddling together in various ways, the two Granger were genuinely enjoying afternoon tea while discussing a topic that would give anyone's head a pounding.

For example, the causes of ghosts, or lost history, etc.

Seemingly feeling that chatting wasn't enough, the academically gifted girl from Eagle House conjured up a super thick ancient book from who-knows-where, opened it, and began discussing it with great interest with the school bully Granger.

Soon, the people who were embracing let go of each other, and the people who were kissing and licking each other stopped hurting each other... Everyone stared at the Granger Siblings in astonishment, as if they had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

As expected, the way academically gifted couples show their affection always leaves everyone speechless!

However, Harry and Hermione paid no attention to the stares of those around them, continuing to discuss the issues that had been on their minds with great interest.

"This book is definitely the oldest history book I can find in the library." Hermione pointed to the worn pages, her expression seemingly helpless. "It records many events that occurred around the same time as Hogwarts' founding, or even earlier, but many of them aren't true. And even so, it still doesn't contain what you're looking for."

"It's probably just too ancient, so ancient that no records have been passed down," Harry sighed softly, though his tone wasn't overly discouraged.

To truly defeat a ghost, one needs to use elemental powers, so this history must be quite ancient, and it's normal that it has been completely lost.

Harry is just feeling sorry for Hermione right now. She already has a lot of schoolwork to do, and she's been spending so much time in the library because of her own problems. She must be exhausted lately.

"Alas, it's a pity Professor Binns is too confused now." Hermione showed a helpless expression. "If he remembered things from before, perhaps he could offer us some help, but now he can't even remember his own textbooks. And in Hogwarts Castle, there probably isn't anyone more senior than him..."

"Wait! Hermione, what did you just say?" Suddenly, Harry snapped out of his daze, as if he had just realized something.

"I said... in Hogwarts, no one is more senior than Professor Binns ..." Hermione repeated her words in a daze.

"No!" Harry shook his head excitedly. "There's someone else whose qualifications far surpass Professor Binns'. And although he's mentally unstable, his memory is definitely not bad!"

"Mental confusion... Could it be?" Suddenly, Hermione also thought of a certain being.

"That's right, it's Peeves! He's been around since the school was founded. If there really were any methods for dealing with ghosts back then, he'd probably be the only one who knew them!"

At this point, Harry, unable to contain his excitement, suddenly stood up, cupped Hermione's face in his hands, and kissed her lips forcefully.

A crisp sound, enough to make a young girl blush, immediately drew the attention of everyone in the teahouse.

"Great, Hermione! You've really solved a huge problem for me!" Harry was so excited that his face was practically glowing.

Yes, I should have asked Peeves from the beginning.

He was a poltergeist who had been there since the school was founded, so he must know a lot about the school, but because of his unreliable personality, Harry completely ignored him at first.

Looking back now, Peeves could even accurately recite the entire contents of the agreement he signed with Principal Euprasia Moore in 1876, all so he could act recklessly to the fullest extent within the agreement's stipulations. This guy's memory was absolutely reliable!

Go find him when you get back!

Thinking of this, Harry, feeling incredibly happy, couldn't help but kiss Hermione again.

This girl is such a treasure!

"What... what are you doing all of a sudden?"

Caught off guard by Harry's sneak attack, Hermione was immediately embarrassed and hurriedly tried to push him away, but he not only did not let go of her, but instead tightened his grip on her hands.

Helpless, Hermione could sense Harry's excitement and joy, so she had no choice but to give up struggling and let him hold her in his arms.

"Honestly, we're not even sure if Peeves knows or not, and we're already this excited. What if he's disappointed later?"

She gently scolded Harry, but a smile gradually appeared on her lips, clearly showing that she was also happy for Harry.