Christmas is drawing nearer.
One morning, a layer of sparkling frost coated the muddy ground, and the castle was filled with a bustling Christmas atmosphere.
Professor Lupin placed several small Christmas trees in the classroom, adorned with various candies for the young wizards to take freely.
Kael figured this was probably Professor Lupin's biggest expense of the term.
Then there was Professor Flitwick, who decorated the Charm class with multicolored lights that turned into thumb-sized pixies fluttering around as people approached.
The visit to Hogsmeade was scheduled for the last weekend before the term ended.
Fred and George didn't set off with the others; they decided to create some holiday spirit for Harry, so they stayed temporarily in the castle.
Before Christmas, Hogsmeade looked just like a Christmas card, with newly fallen snow on the thatched rooftops of cottages and shops, holly wreaths on doors, and magical candles strung up on the trees.
The last time they came, they had already bought most of what was needed. Cedric suggested visiting the one shop they hadn't yet explored... Madam Puddifoot's Tea House.
Almost as if they had planned it, Cho agreed immediately and pulled Conna and Kael along.
"Penelope says it's the most worthwhile place to visit in Hogsmeade," she said. "We haven't been there before."
Conna immediately became interested.
Kael followed behind, sizing up Cedric with a scrutinizing look.
"Why do you want to go there?" he asked.
"What?" Cedric turned his head, pretending not to understand, "Just curious, after all, we've only got Madam Puddifoot's Tea House and the Shrieking Shack left in all of Hogwarts."
"Is that so..." Kael's voice rose slightly, "But as far as I know, only couples go there, haven't you heard?"
"No, no..." Cedric stuttered, then awkwardly changed the subject, "Do you think Fred and George will find us when they come?"
As he said this, his ears turned red.
Kael didn't press further and went along with the topic, explaining, "You don't need to worry about that at all. The first thing those two will do in Hogsmeade is to wander around Zonko's Joke Shop for an hour, hardly time to come looking for us."
"Ha, that's true."
...
Thus, the group crossed the main road and arrived at the small tea house.
A notice was posted on the door, and Cho read it aloud.
"Ministry of Magic Order
Customers, please be informed that unless notified otherwise, Dementors patrol the streets of Hogsmeade every evening at sunset for the safety of residents. This will be lifted once Sirius Black is captured...
Merry Christmas!"
Kael also saw the notice.
It seemed the Ministry of Magic had received some news and brought most of the Dementors here.
Unfortunately, it was of little use... if Kael's guess was correct, Black was no longer in Hogsmeade.
The others didn't care.
The notice clearly stated the Dementors only patrolled at sunset, and it was still daytime.
Cho pushed open the tea house door.
It was truly small inside, only a few small round tables shrouded in mist, as if everything was decorated with ruffles and bows.
Since the tables were too small, they had to sit separately at two adjacent empty spots.
"What would you like?" Madam Puddifoot came over and asked.
She was somewhat plump, with her shiny black hair in a bun, squeezing through the tables with difficulty.
"Four cups of frothy coffee, please." Cho seemed to have done her homework and explained in a low voice once Madam Puddifoot left: "Penelope says it's the best drink."
Conna, who had been quite eager before, now blushed, clearly noticing the tea house's peculiarities.
The place was filled with pairs holding hands.
But since they were here, she still sat beside Kael with a red face.
Madam Puddifoot soon brought over four cups floating in midair.
The brown coffee had a layer of white froth on top, looking rather good.
Kael tried a sip and immediately put the cup down.
For a moment, he suspected Madam Puddifoot had a crush on Dumbledore.
This coffee was entirely tailored to the Headmaster's taste.
Sweet as if it were pure syrup, he couldn't taste any coffee flavor.
Even the tiny hint of bitterness was more like concentrated syrup.
In this sugar brewing skill, even the house-elves might feel inferior...
After staying in the tea house for a while longer, Conna suddenly leaned over to Kael and quietly asked, "Is there anything else here?"
Like Kael, her coffee cup was still full, having only taken a sip and left it untouched.
Both of them had similar tastes, neither liking overly sweet things.
Kael shook his head, not knowing what drinks were offered there, but if the coffee was like this, the tea likely wouldn't be any better.
After pondering for a moment, Kael suggested, "Why don't we head to the Three Broomsticks
for Butterbeer, some pine nut cookies, and two meat pies... we left too early today, and I haven't had breakfast yet."
Hearing about the meat pies, Conna's eyes lit up, "Good!"
The two exchanged a glance and stood up together.
"Should we invite them?" Conna asked, looking at Cedric and Cho nearby.
"Let's not," Kael shook his head.
The two seemed engrossed in their conversation, paying no attention to anything around them.
"That's true," Conna chuckled, covering her mouth.
Kael went and paid, and the two quietly left the tea house heading towards the Three Broomsticks.
On the way, Conna glanced at the coffee in Kael's hand and asked curiously, "You don't like it, so why buy another cup?"
"This…" Kael looked at the cup in his hand and said, "It's not for me, it's a Christmas gift for Professor Dumbledore."
"Professor Dumbledore?" Conna hesitated, "Will he like this flavor?"
"Of course," Kael nodded. "If you observe carefully, you will notice Professor Dumbledore always eats more desserts at banquets.
Besides, last time I was in the Headmaster's Office, he was recommending a frosted pudding to Professor Snape.
It's a new item from Honeydukes, just as sweet, so I think this coffee would suit his taste perfectly."
"Really? I've never noticed that," Conna blinked.
Then, as if recalling something, she thoughtfully glanced back in the direction of the tea house.