Hogsmeade Village wasn't far from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Draco and his group only needed to take a carriage to get there, and apart from a few students and the first- and second-years who weren't allowed to visit, today's Hogsmeade was as lively as ever.
Hogsmeade was the only village in Britain inhabited entirely by wizards, without a single Muggle in sight. It was a charming little place, full of cottages and shops with thatched roofs, its distinct magical character giving it a unique beauty.
During the holidays, enchanted candles would hang from the trees, making the entire village glow with a warm, ethereal light.
According to legend, Hogsmeade had been built around the same time as Hogwarts itself, though there was no written record of it, leaving the story's truth uncertain. What was certain, however, was that Hogwarts stood beside the great lake that originated near this very village, and that the final stop of the Hogwarts Express lay right here in Hogsmeade.
Each school year began and ended in this village, where students boarded or left the train. And thanks to that proximity, both students and professors could visit Hogsmeade to relax during holidays—including Dumbledore himself.
With Christmas fast approaching, the village was already filled with festive spirit. The gold and crimson decorations, paired with the silver-white snow, made the streets feel warm and magical despite the chill.
Yet, if one looked closely, faint traces of unease could be seen on the villagers' faces. It wasn't without reason—Dementors had begun appearing in the area from time to time, their presence a constant source of dread. It seemed the Muggle-free village had somehow become one of their "areas of interest."
Still, neither the cold weather nor the wary villagers could dampen the excitement of the young wizards exploring the streets.
Honeydukes was packed wall-to-wall with students from every house.
Inside, shelves overflowed with massive chunks of creamy peanut brittle, pink coconut ice, tubs of Chocolate Frogs, and, of course, the ever-popular Fizzing Whizbees. But there were also candies with "special effects," many of them prank items designed to make your friends breathe fire from their noses—something that naturally drew even more attention from the students.
Outside the shop, Draco and his companions arrived.
True to form, Goyle and Crabbe rushed straight inside, their overeager enthusiasm earning an exasperated eye-roll from Pansy.
Watching the two disappear into the crowd, Draco wasn't surprised. Instead, he turned toward Pansy and Astoria, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"You're not going with them?"
"No. I have no interest in shoving through crowds just to pick candies that might explode in my mouth."
"Yeah, me neither..."
Their half-hearted tones made them exchange a knowing glance before both rolled their eyes in silent agreement.
Pansy clearly wasn't moving because she wanted to stay by Draco's side rather than buy her favorite milk toffees. As for Astoria, she probably just didn't want to reveal her sweet tooth in front of so many people.
Draco gave a small shrug. "In that case, we'll split up here."
"Huh? Are you sure you'll be alright on your own?"
"Unfortunately, that was his condition for the meeting. Even if you came, it wouldn't make a difference."
"Tch! Sounds suspicious. Are you sure it's not dangerous?"
Pansy's concern left Draco momentarily silent. To be fair, he had no real answer—because when it came to Gilderoy Lockhart, Draco genuinely had no idea what the man was planning or what went on in his mind. The man was impossible to read.
But despite all his doubts, Draco still intended to keep the appointment.
So, even though Pansy looked completely unwilling, she followed Astoria as the two girls parted ways with Draco.
Watching their figures disappear together, Draco's expression turned oddly complicated.
When had their relationship started improving?
Not long ago, they would start bickering the moment they saw each other.
Since this was meant to be a secret meeting, Lockhart naturally wouldn't choose a place where people might see them.
The Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade became his obvious choice.
The shack held a special kind of infamy among the villagers. Ever since they became convinced it was haunted, it had been regarded as a forbidden place—no one dared step foot inside.
"This should be it. If it's here, no one's likely to find us," Draco murmured.
Arriving at the Shrieking Shack, he glanced around carefully. Though he didn't truly believe Lockhart would attack him, he wasn't about to drop his guard—especially not when dealing with someone as erratic as that man.
So, Draco began pacing slowly around the perimeter of the shack.
"Hm?"
His steps stopped. Something had caught his attention.
There, sitting on a snow-dusted bench, was Hermione Granger.
Her head was drooping, nodding gently with each breath as she dozed off. Even when the book in her hands slipped into the snow, she didn't stir. She looked so soundly asleep that Draco couldn't help but approach, curiosity flickering across his face.
He crouched down, picked up the fallen book, and then lifted his gaze to study her sleeping face.
Despite the falling snow, a small magical heater nestled in her arms kept her warm. She let out soft, rhythmic snores, her lips faintly pursed as if she were dreaming of something pleasant. The sight—unguarded and peaceful—made Draco's expression twist into something strange.
Still holding the book, he silently sat down beside her.
"History of Magical Wonders... Even now, you can't stop studying?" he muttered under his breath.
As he flipped through the pages, he suddenly felt a weight settle against his shoulder. Draco froze for a moment.
He turned his head, ready to wake her, but for some reason, the words never came.
Resting against him was a small, gentle face—delicate and calm, though faint traces of exhaustion lingered around her eyes.
It was obvious Hermione had overworked herself.
Draco found himself wondering what she had been through lately, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer as the snow continued to fall softly around them.