🥀ℙ𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕤𝕤: ℍ.ℙ🥀

ℍ𝕠𝕘𝕤𝕞𝕖𝕕𝕖: 𝕐𝕖𝕒𝕣 𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕖

A great buzzing queue of students -- Third Years and older -- each clutching a Permission Form -- pass by a glowering Filch.

"Remember! These visits to Hogsmeade Village are a privilege. Should your behavior reflect poorly on the school in any way, that privilege shall not be extended again.", Harry approaches her, but before he can utter a syllable she answers him.

"No permission form. No visiting the Village. That's the rule, Potter."

"Yes, Professor, but I thought if you said I could go --"

"But I don't say so. A parent or guardian must sign, and since I am neither, it would be inappropriate.", Her face flickers with pity.

"Im sorry, Potter. But that's my final word."

Ron, Emily and Hermione -- watch Harry expectantly from across the way -- but they him turn and shake his head. Their faces fall. Harry raises his hand in farewell. Ron and Hermione walk with the group, but Emily comes back to him.

"What are you doing?", He asks her.

"Staying with you. You didn't think I was seriously going to leave you here by yourself did you?", She scoffs at him.

"Em, go."

"No I'm not leaving you here alone."

He sighs and looks at her with his puppy dog eyes.

"Not again, Potter. No!", She tries to turn away but it's too late.

"Ughh! Fine, but next time I'm staying with you."

"Bye!", He smiles after her.

She waves at him as she walks backwards.

His eyes widen as she notices her bump into a Sixth-year Hufflepuff.

"Sorry!", Both girls exclaim.

Emily falls to the ground though.

Harry is about to go help her when she jumps up and shouts back to him.

"I'm fine!"

He shakes his head at his girl before he walks back into the castle.

"So. No Hogsmeade, eh ?", Lupin's voice sounds from behind him.

Deep in the distance, some boys skate about on brooms, tossing a ragged quaffle back and forth.

Harry and Lupin are walking along the bridge.

"Well, don't feel too bad. I was roundly disappointed the first time I went.

"Really?", Harry asks.

"No. I was just trying to make you feel better. Honeydukes' sweets are the best in the world.", Lupin admits.

"Their Pepper Imps are so strong you smoke at the ears. And Zonko's Joke Shop may be dangerous, but you can't beat their Stink Pellets."

Harry frowns.

"Not to mention The Shrieking Shack, which, according to Hermione, is the most severely haunted building in Britain.", Harry adds glumly.

"Yes, that too..."

"Professor, can I ask you something?"

"You'd like to know why I stopped you from facing the Boggart.", He notices Harry's surprise.

"I should think it'd be obvious. I assumed the Boggart would take the shape of Lord Voldemort.", Lupin studies him curiously.

"But clearly... I was wrong."

"I did think of Voldemort first. But then, I remembered that night on the train... and the Dementors...

"Well, well. I'm impressed. That suggests that what you fear most of all is... fear. Very wise."