A Cozy Date

Several days have passed since the battle at the Bones Manor, and July has finally come to an end.

August 1st has arrived.

At this time of year, Hogwarts students receive their new school term reading lists in mail delivered by owls.

Skylar naturally received the familiar parchment as well. But as he flipped through the book list, his expression was calm and detached—it was no longer a place he had to return to. For him, Hogwarts had become a completed phase, not the focus of his future.

It is foreseeable that in the following week, Diagon Alley will once again see a large influx of students coming to buy back-to-school books and materials.

Although Skylar didn't plan to go back to school, he had already arranged to meet five girls —Daphne, Astoria, Cho Chang, Luna, and Morrie— at Diagon Alley today.

He plans to personally accompany them to buy the items they need for the start of school to ensure their safety.

It wasn't that he didn't trust the strength of the Diagon Alley Commercial Alliance Self-Defense Force, but rather that he hadn't seen many of his girlfriends since the summer holidays, and his longing for them had grown stronger. He wanted to take advantage of this rare opportunity to have a romantic date with them.

At the intersection in front of Gringotts, the sunlight was just right, casting dappled shadows on the white steps.

Skylar spotted the five of them from afar.

Daphne, in a dark green gown, was as elegant as if she had stepped out of a classical painting; Astoria chose a light pink chiffon dress, lively and sweet; Cho Chang wore a simple white shirt and a dark blue skirt, her oriental charm shining brightly in the sunlight; Morrie wore a light gray robe, carrying her usual scholarly air, but with a small sunflower pinned to the collar; Luna was the most eye-catching—a light purple robe draped with a hand-woven thin shawl, her earrings two gently shimmering moonstones, dreamlike as if she might float away at any moment.

They stood together, laughing and talking softly, and the wizards passing by unconsciously slowed their pace, their eyes drawn to this beautiful scene.

As Skylar approached, the five of them turned their heads almost simultaneously, their eyes lighting up instantly.

He walked up to Daphne first, gently put his arm around her waist, and whispered something in her ear that only the two of them could hear. Daphne's cheeks flushed slightly, but she hugged him even tighter in return.

Next was Astoria, the little girl who stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around his neck, laughing like a child who had just received candy.

Cho Chang appeared somewhat reserved, but when Skylar embraced her, she quietly buried her face in the crook of his shoulder, her breath trembling slightly. Morrie held her most firmly, his embrace carrying a faint scent of ink, as if saying, "I've been waiting for you for so long."

Finally, Luna nestled into Skylar's arms and softly said, "The clouds today look like laugh balls, round and sweet."

Five hugs, five different temperatures, yet all carrying the same sense of security and joy.

Skylar stepped back half a step, looking at them, the usual coldness and profundity in his eyes completely melting away, turning into soft lake water.

"Let's go." He smiled and held out both hands, not one. "Today I'll accompany you to shop at your leisure. Buy whatever you want, eat whatever you want... the time is all yours."

Daphne naturally took his left arm, Astoria immediately took his right, Cho Chang and Morrie followed on either side, while Luna simply grabbed the hem of Skylar's robe, as if afraid he would run away.

The six of them walked side by side into the Diagon Alley. Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows of the arched roof, bathing them in a warm golden glow.

Wherever they go, they feel the warmest welcome and the most thoughtful service.

As the Founders and first leader of the Diagon Alley Commercial Alliance, and also the young hero who defeated Voldemort a few days earlier, Skylar holds a very important position in the hearts of all Diagon Alley merchants.

At Flourish and Blotts, the manager personally came out to greet me with great enthusiasm. The books I needed were retrieved quickly and accurately, and even the limited-edition textbooks that were most likely to run out of stock were prepared in advance. Finally, I was given an extremely favorable discount.

Morrie stood in front of the bookshelf, flipping through new books with a focused expression; Astoria pulled her sister aside and whispered about the quality of Potions ingredients; Luna, on the other hand, became interested in a strange book that could turn its pages by itself, her eyes clear and pure; Cho Chang was carefully checking the list, occasionally looking up to confirm with Skylar.

Skylar did not urge them, but offered constructive advice when they asked questions.

As you walk further into Flourish and Blotts after leaving it, you'll see more and more of these scenes.

They hardly needed to queue, haggle, or worry about unexpected dangers. At each stop, the shop owner or manager would personally offer the best goods and the most appropriate advice. Some people recognized Skylar, their eyes flashing with awe and gratitude, but they all tacitly kept their distance, not wanting to disturb this rare moment of ease.

The girls were a little embarrassed at first, but they were quickly amused by the attention and the way they were surrounded, their eyes crinkling with delight. The entire day's shopping experience was almost as perfect as a fairy tale. They carried large bags and small bags, but their smiles were brighter than any of their spoils.

Soon, all the textbooks, stationery, and materials needed for the start of the school year were purchased.

Skylar didn't forget to pick out a set of top-quality new school supplies for Draco and Pansy respectively—fine Dragonhide Gloves, Sirius black quill pens, refined cauldrons, and several bottles of rare materials.

He had the shopkeeper pack it up, then summoned a House Elf and Apparition it back to the Malfoy Manor on the spot. This saved Draco and Pansy from risking going out in the current situation, and it was a token of his brotherly affection.

Diagon Alley finally had a brief respite.

The group stopped in front of a familiar yet unfamiliar cold drink shop on the street corner.

The signboard was in the same spot, but the name had changed. The newly painted lettering on the wooden plaque still looked a bit rough, as if it were deliberately trying to cover something up.

Daphne stopped in her tracks, her gaze lingering on the doorway for a couple of seconds.

"Wasn't this... the Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour?"

For a fleeting moment, the air seemed to freeze.

Florian Fortescue Fortescue's name had become an unspoken wound for many that year—abducted by Death Eaters, his body never found, and even the official investigation results were vague.

"Yes." Skylar nodded, his tone steady. "It happened in January of this year."

Astoria subconsciously pursed her lips and whispered, "I loved the strawberry ice cream here when I was little."

"We don't sell ice cream anymore." Skylar glanced at the shop window. "New owner, changed their approach."

Several people pushed open the door and went inside.

The bell rang, but it was no longer the lighthearted melody of the past; instead, it was a slightly restrained, crisp sound.

The interior has been completely renovated, with brighter and more youthful colors. Behind the bar stands a wizard who looks to be in his early thirties, skillfully shaking a transparent glass, the liquid inside shimmering with a fine layer of light under the influence of magic.

The menu was enchanted with a small Levitation Charm and hung in mid-air.

"This is... a drink?" Cho Chang leaned closer to take a look, her tone tinged with curiosity.

"A new kind of cold drink." The shopkeeper looked up, smiling politely, "Inspired by Muggle drinks from the East, with a touch of magical improvement."

"Bubble tea?" Morrie read one of the lines.

"More or less," the shopkeeper nodded, "But our 'bursting beads' will dance in your mouth on their own."

Luna's eyes lit up.

Do they have consciousness?

The boss paused for a moment, then chuckled, "Don't worry, no, I won't try to communicate with you."

Several drinks were served quickly.

Inside the transparent glass, a light-colored liquid flowed slowly, and the magic bursting bead at the bottom seemed to be alive, occasionally bouncing gently and making a very slight "pop" sound.

Astoria took a careful sip, and the next second, her eyes widened slightly.

It exploded in my mouth.

"It's sweet and sour." She thought for a moment, then added, "It has a very unique texture."

Daphne took a bite and nodded in approval. "Better than I expected."

The group found seats by the window and sat down.

The street scene unfolds outside the glass, with students, parents, Auror, and pedestrians hurrying by, creating a seemingly peaceful picture.

After a brief silence, the topic inevitably turned to Skylar.

Astoria held the cup, staring down at the popping beads inside, her voice somewhat muffled.

"Skylar... are you really not going back to Hogwarts?"

She didn't look up, but was clearly waiting for an answer.

"Hmm," Skylar replied naturally, "I won't reply."

"That school will be very different," she said softly. "Without you, I always feel like something's missing."

Upon hearing this, Cho Chang turned to look at Skylar: "So what are you planning to do next?"

"Work," Skylar said casually. "To be precise, while things have stabilized at the Ministry of Magic, there are still many things to follow up on. I also need to start coordinating with several allies abroad to prepare for the upcoming war."

"That doesn't sound fun at all," Daphne said with a laugh.

"It's really not fun." Skylar's lips curved into a slight smile, his gray eyes appearing exceptionally gentle in the sunlight, but he didn't say anything more. He didn't want these heavy topics to erode the rare relaxation of the day.

Morrie adjusted his black-rimmed glasses, hesitated for a moment, and then asked seriously, "Is there anything we need to be especially careful about when we go back to school?"

Skylar's gaze slowly swept across everyone's faces. At that moment, although the smile in his eyes was still there, there was an added layer of rare solemnity.

"With your combined strength..." Skylar thought for a moment, then gave a strange smile, "I think there shouldn't be anything in Hogwarts that can directly threaten you."

"However," Skylar changed the subject, lowering his voice but making it clear to everyone, "Underhanded schemes are always more dangerous than overt threats. Be careful of those around you, and don't easily trust others, especially those who suddenly become strange or act abnormally. Learn to carefully identify traces of the Imperius Curse or subtle symptoms left by Polyjuice Potion."

He reached out and gently touched Cho Chang's wrist with his fingertips, where he wore the silver-white watch he had made himself. "If anything's wrong, contact me immediately through this. No matter where I am, I'll come right away."

He didn't speak seriously, even with his usual composure, but his certainty and promise were like a warm current, silently enveloping the hearts of the five girls.

Astoria nodded vigorously, her little ponytail swaying back and forth, like a little owl listening attentively to a lesson.

Daphne grasped Skylar's arm and said softly but firmly, "We'll be careful. But you have to promise us you won't push yourself too hard."

Cho Chang looked at him, her gaze gentle. "We will protect ourselves, so... you must also take good care of yourself."

Morrie smiled slightly and added, "When we have our vacation, you'll have to come out with us again."

Luna suddenly tiptoed and quickly kissed Skylar on the cheek, saying softly, "I'll look at the moon every night and hide all the happiness of the day inside it, so you can take it next time."

Skylar paused for half a second, then chuckled softly, a rare tenderness in his eyes.

"Okay." He looked at them one by one, his voice low and gentle, "I promise you."

"By the way," Skylar suddenly spoke, a hint of amusement in his voice, "Did you know? The Potions professor has changed this year."

The five girls looked up at the same time, their ice cream scoops frozen in mid-air.

"Change him?" Daphne raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in her dark green eyes. "Professor Snape wasn't always..."

"It's not Snape anymore." Skylar licked his vanilla-flavored liquor and said slowly, "The new guy is Horace Slughorn. He's been retired for many years, but I don't know who persuaded him to come back to coach."

Astoria's eyes lit up. "Slughorn? That's the old professor who's incredibly good at networking and ran the Slug Club?"

"It was him." Skylar smiled. "It's said that back in the day, he loved inviting students with 'potential' or 'connections' to join his inner circle—hosting dinners, drinking mead, gossiping, building relationships... The Slug Club, you can tell how sticky it was just from the name."

Cho Chang couldn't help but laugh out loud, "The Slug Club... that sounds disgusting."

"Disgusting as it may be," Skylar, looking at them, his grey-blue eyes gleaming slightly in the lamplight, "But it's very useful. The students who come out of there are either highly capable themselves or have influential families; almost all of them have a bright future."

Morrie thoughtfully adjusted his glasses. "So... will he reopen this club this time he's back?"

"Most likely," Skylar said confidently, "and I bet you guys—" His gaze slowly swept across the five faces, pausing at just the right moment, "Will definitely receive his invitation."

"Why?" Astoria blinked.

"You guys—" Skylar chuckled, pointing at each of you with his fingers, "Are all the best students in the entire grade, and Daphne, Qiu, and Morrie even participated in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. I dare say, if Slughorn had missed you, he would have been heartbroken and unable to sleep at night."

Luna tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said very seriously, "If he invites me, I can bring some specimens of Fire Slug so he can see if they can spit snot."

Everyone paused for half a second, then burst into laughter.

Daphne laughed and leaned on Skylar's shoulder, "If we all go, his Slug Club is going to be really lively this year."

"It'll definitely be lively." Skylar looked down at them, his eyes full of tenderness. "But remember, eat and take as much as you can, don't be shy. The mead and crystal pineapple preserves at Slughorn's dinner are absolutely amazing."

"And," he lowered his voice, but with an undeniable seriousness, "If he asks me about anything, or tries to find out anything through you... say what you should say, and pretend you didn't hear anything you shouldn't."

The five girls exchanged glances and nodded in unison.

"We know," Cho Chang said softly, "We're not really slugs."

Skylar smiled, reached out and ruffled Astoria's hair, then gently squeezed Luna's hand.

As the sunlight outside the window slowly slanted westward, the popping boba in the drink gradually quieted down.

At this moment, there is no war, no conspiracy, only the hustle and bustle of the streets and the last bit of coldness in the cup.

Skylar looked at them and suddenly felt—

Perhaps it is precisely in order to preserve such moments that he must continue moving forward.