With just the final week of the term remaining, snow had fallen throughout the night. Waking up in the morning, one could see that the castle's lawns had turned completely white, and even the distant Forbidden Forest was blanketed in snow.
The students walked on the snow, producing a crunching sound under their feet.
This weekend was a Hogsmeade weekend, and almost all the senior students took the opportunity to visit Hogsmeade Village. Michael and others happily prepared to head out early in the morning.
Although they could usually sneak out of school through the Disappearing Cabinet, most students were afraid of breaking school rules.
Moreover, if they were the only few school-aged children in the village, the shopkeepers would easily recognize them as truant students.
Some shopkeepers would turn a blind eye, but most would urge or coldly tell them to get back to school quickly.
In short, only on Hogsmeade weekends could they have a better sightseeing experience.
As Vid finished breakfast and headed out, he saw Michael and Padma holding hands with green scarves around their necks. Upon seeing him, they instinctively let go.
"Hi, Vid!" Michael said in an unusually high-pitched voice, "Looks like you're ready to head out too!"
"Huh?" Anthony Goldstein emerged from behind Vid, curiously looking at them, "What outing?"
"Uh, this..." Michael, who accidentally blurted out, laughed awkwardly and quickly amended, "Of course, it's just for a walk. The snow scene is great today!"
Anthony stared at him suspiciously, "You're not planning to sneak out during the Hogsmeade weekend, are you? I'll tell you, you'd better not! Filch has already caught several students."
"Huh?" Michael asked with amusement, "Who's that stupid?"
"A few first-year Gryffindors," Anthony said, "They thought that since it's cold today, if they dressed warmly, they wouldn't be spotted by Filch!"
"Gryffindors... well, that's not surprising," Michael said seriously, "But I really wasn't planning to break school rules. I just wanted to enjoy the snow scene."
"Of course, of course, the snow scene these days is truly captivating!"
Suddenly, a voice with a tone almost leaping intervened in their conversation, and Michael and Anthony reflexively tried to leave quickly, but someone already reached out and pressed their shoulders.
"Let me see who this is... Michael and Anthony! Two of my favorite students!"
Lockhart cheerfully wrapped an arm around the two students and looked to the side, "Oh, and there's Padma! Are you worried you won't see me during Christmas?"
"Don't worry, don't worry! Although I have to go to France for an important event during Christmas, I will definitely be back to teach you in January! I promise, my dear students!"
The three squeezed out smiles and politely said, "Good morning, Professor."
"Yes, yes, good day to all." Lockhart nodded haphazardly, his gaze searching the surroundings until he found the person he wanted, "Come here, Kreivi! Come take a picture of us!"
"Okay, Professor." Colin Creevey, who always carried a camera, jogged over.
Michael and the others displayed expressions of wanting to flee. He looked to Vid for help but found that the classmate had vanished without a trace.
"Sneaky guy, he must have put a Masking Spell on himself!" Michael said indignantly to Padma.
Padma nodded haphazardly, but in front of the camera, she still instinctively showed a pretty smile.
With a "click," Colin snapped the photo.
"I'll have the photo developed and mailed to you." Colin said, then asked Lockhart, "Professor, can I get a photo with Harry Potter as well?"
"I was just thinking the same thing!" Lockhart said enthusiastically, quickly releasing the students he had just claimed as his "favorites," and expertly picked Harry out of the crowd.
"Come on, Harry, you surely want a picture of me to look at during the holidays, right? Don't be shy, boy, you know I'm always indulgent of your little admiration!"
Lockhart dragged Harry by the arm to his side, showing off his much-praised smile.
Harry looked at Michael and the others with despair, accusingly, as if to say, "What on earth are you doing? Why do you want pictures with Lockhart?"
Michael and the others avoided his gaze with embarrassment.
Lockhart kept reminding Harry to strike a charming pose, but Harry had no interest in cooperating, leaving only Colin eagerly clicking the camera.
Michael felt great sympathy for Harry, then suppressed his conscience and quietly tugged at Padma, indicating it was a good time to sneak away.
The two squeezed through the crowd and suddenly, Michael paused in his steps.
Draco Malfoy stood with arms crossed in the corner's shadow, coldly observing the commotion over there.
Michael suddenly realized that Malfoy hadn't smugly sought trouble with Harry for some time.
Not just Harry, even Neville hadn't been bullied by him.
Since Crabbe and Goyle had stopped following Malfoy like stones, the presence of this Slytherin had dramatically diminished.
Michael shook his head, not giving it much thought, and left with Padma down the stairs.
Soon after, Crabbe and Goyle also passed through the corridor.