The Christmas night scene in Hogsmeade is very beautiful. The whole village is covered with a layer of soft, white snow, and the rooftops, fences, and streetlights are all piled with round snowdrifts.
The shop windows shone with warm yellow light, and frost flowers clung to the glass. Occasionally, the aromas of gingerbread, hot Butterbeer, and cinnamon wafted out. Strings of red and green Christmas wreaths and silver bells hung along the streets, tinkling softly in the breeze.
"Finally, we're back in a safe place..."
As she spoke, Hermione exhaled a puff of white breath.
Professor Babbling straightened her clothes and smiled at the two of them, "What about you two? Are you planning to spend Christmas at Hogsmeade or come back to Hogwarts with me?"
Hermione has decided to spend Christmas at Hogsmeade tonight.
"Then I won't disturb your vacation any longer."
"Regarding the Ancient Magic, I'll return to Hogwarts to organize the information and explain the situation to the headmaster. As for Ranrok, we absolutely cannot let our guard down."
After saying goodbye to the two, Professor Babbling turned and stepped Hogsmeade the snowstorm of Hogsmeade, her figure quickly disappearing around the street corner.
"Let's book a room first. There will be a lot of tourists during the Christmas holidays, and we might not even have a place to stay if we're late," Draco said, brushing the snowflakes from Hermione's hair as he spoke.
Hermione's cheeks were slightly flushed from the cold wind. She nodded and followed Draco toward the Three Broomsticks.
Pushing open the wooden door, a rich, warm woody aroma mingled with the sweet, mellow scent of Butterbeer wafted out.
The biting cold outside was instantly dispelled by the leaping golden-red flames in the cast-iron fireplace.
The fireplace is embedded in one side of the main hall, the firewood crackling quietly, and above it hangs a faded wizard tapestry and a specimen of antlers.
On the right is a long solid wood bar counter.
The countertop has been polished to a shine over the years, and the wine racks and oak barrels embedded in the wall behind the old bar are neatly arranged.
It was covered with glass bottles and ceramic cups of Butterbeer, Firewhisky, and Pumpkin Juice.
Several magical lanterns, glowing with warm light, hang above the bar, illuminating the creamy foam on the glasses.
A tray of snacks sits on the bar, and occasionally a floating silver jug automatically refills empty glasses.
The main hall floor was covered with a thick, dark red carpet, and scattered with round wooden tables and benches of varying sizes, almost all of which were occupied.
People chatted and laughed loudly, clinked glasses in toasts, and occasionally heard footsteps coming from the stairs.
The edges of the tables and chairs bear fine scratches, and the thick, dark brown and dark green velvet cushions are firm yet soft, making them exceptionally comfortable to sit on.
The walls are covered with animated magical portraits that occasionally nod and greet passersby.
Old-fashioned broom models and hunting souvenirs are neatly arranged, and rows of yellowed newspapers and scrolls are nailed to the wall.
Vintage iron chain chandeliers with leather lampshades hang from the exposed dark wooden beams of the ceiling.
"Hey, isn't that Draco and Hermione?"
Madam Rosmerta, wearing a checkered apron, greeted the two warmly, "I haven't properly thanked you for helping me drive away the Troll last time!"
As he spoke, he turned around and brought over two steaming glasses of Butterbeer from the bar, along with a plate of fresh fruit, including bright red candied apples, plump winter berries, and sweet snow oranges.
The fruit is plump and looks very tempting.
"Try it, the hot Butterbeer will warm you up, and these fruits are all freshly picked from the greenhouse."
The two thanked them and sat down.
She looked them up and down, then chuckled and joked:
"I didn't expect you two to come on Christmas Eve. The streets were bustling with students during the day, and just now there was a group of kids playing in the Scream Ball Playground."
"There are also wizard jugglers performing in the village square tonight, it's really interesting, you can go check it out later."
Draco smiled and thanked him, then got to the point:
" Madam Rosmerta, we plan to stay here tonight. Are there any rooms available?"
Madam Rosmerta's smile faded slightly, and she waved her hand apologetically, "I'm so sorry, Draco."
"Ever since your family sent people to exorcise the Dementor around Hogsmeade, the shop has been bustling with customers again, and it was packed during the Christmas holidays. Now there's only one attic room left."
Upon hearing this, Hermione's cheeks immediately turned bright red.
She lowered her head in thought; there was only one room left, which meant she would have to spend the night in the same room as Draco.
Madam Rosmerta looked at the two of them with a somewhat amused expression.
"If there's only one, how about we try our luck at the Hog's Head?" Draco said to Hermione helplessly.
"Don't go!" Madam Rosmerta immediately stopped her.
" Hog's Head is a messy and filthy place. Merpeople blood and unknown drugs are scattered everywhere. The Merpeople, and you can't sleep peacefully at night. Not only are the accommodations poor, but it's also extremely unsafe. You two students should definitely not go there."
Hearing this, Hermione glanced shyly at Draco, then quickly lowered her head and murmured softly:
"Then, let's stay in this room..."
Draco was secretly delighted, but remained outwardly composed. "Then I'll do as you say. Thank you, Madam Rosmerta."
Draco wasn't bothered by this. He didn't have any extra thoughts to begin with, and being able to sleep peacefully with his girlfriend as a pillow was already quite pleasant.
"No problem." Madam Rosmerta smiled, took out the register, and quickly wrote down the two people's information.
"The attic room wasn't big, but it was clean and warm, and you could see the night view of Hogsmeade."
After registration, Madam Rosmerta brought them the keys. Draco and Hermione sat at the bar, holding warm Butterbeer and nibbling on sweet fruit.
"Madam, could you please bring us a few recent Daily Prophet? We'd like to know what's been happening in the Wizarding World lately," Draco said to Madam Rosmerta.
"Alright, just a moment." Madam Rosmerta turned around and brought a stack of newspapers, placing them in front of the two of them.
As she wiped the wine glasses, she struck up a conversation. "There's been quite a bit of trouble in the Wizarding World lately..."
"Your Mr. Lucius is swift and decisive; he redefined the Dementor ' jurisdiction, driving them all to remote areas far from wizarding villages and schools."
"Not only that, but the Ministry of Magic has also increased patrols, so the area around Hogwarts and Hogsmeade is much safer now."
"Everyone speaks highly of the Malfoy family, but Minister Fudge has stayed home all Christmas and hasn't given a holiday address to the Wizarding World yet."
She finally understood why Draco had dared to take the risk and assured her that investing would stabilize the business and ensure customer safety.
Moreover, Dumbledore did not object to this.
It seems that the recent rumors circulating outside that the Malfoy family has completely abandoned its prejudice against Pure-blood are true.
If that's the case, letting Draco take a 10% stake in the Three Broomsticks would definitely be a better thing for her than a worse one.