The Light in the Dark | Neville Longbottom

Chapter 51: An Unpleasant Trip to Hogsmeade

October 12th, 1996

"You need to stop using that book, Harry!" Hermione scolded as the four of us walked on the trail leading to Hogsmeade, "You nearly killed Ron!"

"It was just a levitation spell!" Harry protested, "And he was just fine afterwards! Weren't you, Ron?"

Ron nodded excitedly, "It's quite handy... the book! I mean, Harry was the only one to successfully make that potion a couple weeks ago, and he's the top of our class right now!"

"Yeah because that book is dangerous, it's practically dark magic!" Hermione scoffed, "If the books the school provided want us to make our potions a certain way, then we should be making them that way... case closed!"

"I think the book could come of good use, 'Mione," I beamed, chiming into the conversation, "This Prince or whatever, he makes spells?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah, he calls himself the Half-Blood Prince..."

Ron bellowed in laughter, "Who in their right mind would call themselves that!"

"It doesn't matter about the name, Ron!" I protested, "What matters is that he makes spells! Spells we can use against Voldemort because his forces don't know them!"

"Well... as long as they're more powerful than Antonin Dolohov's, which I doubt," Ron sighed, "He's notorious for making torture spells..."

The four of us grimaced at Ron's comment as we stepped into Hogsmeade. It was already packed with students and professors alike, as well as other wizards and creatures that inhabited the area.

"The first Hogsmeade trip of the year!" Hermione exclaimed, "I've been looking forward to coming back here, especially after Umbridge banned the trips last year..."

Trips to Hogsmeade were really the only time that the professors let us roam outside of the school. Of course, there were measures put in, so that we weren't put in any danger; there were even more implemented now with the return of Voldemort. For example, we weren't allowed to wander into the forest and visit the shrieking shack (which wasn't even haunted. Come to find out, it was Remus screaming in there while he underwent his werewolf transformation). We also had to be scanned by Filch's dark-magic detector on return.

"Well, I don't really need to stock up on sweets or joke products," Ron sighed, "I have enough of those from Fred and George to last me a century."

"Me neither, I'm not really feeling up to waiting in line at Honeydukes." I stated as the four of us continued walking through the alley, "Do you need anything, Harry? Hermione?"

Harry and Hermione shook their heads. They were stocked up on sweets as well.

"If we have nowhere to go, then let's head over to Three Broomsticks," Hermione suggested, "It's been months since I've had butterbeer!"

It's been months since any of us had butterbeer. They only served it in the pubs at Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, and Mrs. Weasley had yet to master the recipe to make some for the family.

The four of us nodded in unison as we walked over to Three Broomsticks. The pub was already crowded when he had walked in, but we managed to grab a table near the back. Hermione, Ron, and I took our seats while Harry scampered around the table.

"Erm... Dawn?" Harry asked, awkwardly standing above me.

I looked up at him and gave him a confused look, "Yes, Harry?"

"Can I sit there?" Harry asked hesitantly.

"There's a seat right there next to 'Mione," I stated, "Why do you need this seat?"