The next day was the weekend—the first weekend since Hogwarts had reopened. Though they had only attended classes for one day, the students already looked as if they had been waiting for this moment forever.
Perhaps in an effort to erase Voldemort's influence as quickly as possible, it was Hogsmeade weekend again.
Early in the morning, students from the third year and above eagerly gathered in the entrance hall, waiting for a professor to lead them out.
"How long has it been since we last went to Hogsmeade?" Ron asked excitedly from within the crowd.
"I can't remember." Harry thought for a moment. "It seems like we weren't allowed to leave the school after Voldemort started making moves."
"That was for our safety," Hermione said. "Death Eaters could have been hiding in Hogsmeade. It's nowhere near as safe as the school."
"Yeah, that time was really suffocating." Seamus, standing ahead of them, turned around and said, "Things are better now. Voldemort was defeated, the Death Eaters can barely look after themselves, and they don't dare show their faces anymore. Haha..."
"Yeah," someone said. "Fizzing Whizzbees, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans... I'd nearly forgotten what they tasted like."
"And Zonko's. I hope they've reopened."
"The Galleons on me can't wait to be spent."
The students chatted noisily together, debating whether they should buy sweets first once they reached Hogsmeade Village, or head to the Three Broomsticks for a long-missed Butterbeer.
As for the students below third year, they could only listen longingly from the side.
First- and second-years were not allowed to visit Hogsmeade, and not even the war could change that rule.
"Oh, why hasn't the professor arrived yet..." Complaints rose from the crowd.
"Quiet! Come over here, all of you!" Filch held a special device and swept it over