The Secret Relationship: The Angelic Witch and Draco Malfoy (Book 3)

The Tale: Sirius Black

"I'm so scared for you both." Hermione looked around them. "What if someone notices you and reports to the professors?"

"Mione!" Heroneka held her hands jumping joyously. "Just for a few hours, then we will head back to the castle."

Harry and Heroneka had spotted Ron and Hermione in one corner of the shop. Honeydukes was so crowded with Hogwarts students that no one looked twice at them as Harry and Heroneka edged and looked around.

Ron was showing around Harry all sorts of candies while Heroneka stood by the counter with Hermione. Ron had assured Hermione that Sirius Black won't pop up to buy candies in Hogsmeade since the Dementors were stationed there and patrolled the village after sunset every night.

When Ron and Hermione had paid for all their sweets, the four of them left Honeydukes for the blizzard outside.

Hogsmeade looked like a Christmas card; the little thatched cottages and shops were all covered in a layer of crisp snow; there were holly wreaths on the doors and strings of enchanted candles hanging in the trees.

"It's cold!" Heroneka shivered and Harry trotted up to her.

She and Harry weren't wearing cloaks like Ron and Hermione. It was freezing outside.

"Where is Malfoy!!" Harry said dramatically, hugging Heroneka from behind. "Tell him I gave his BABE some warmth."

Hermione covered her face laughing out loud while Ron shook his head with a chuckle. Heroneka pushed Harry away as they headed up the street, heads bowed against the wind, Ron and Hermione shouting through their scarves.

"That's the post office --"

"Zonko's is up there --"

"We could go up to the Shrieking Shack --"

"Tell you what," said Ron, his teeth chattering, "shall we go for a butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks?"

Heroneka was more than willing; the wind was fierce and her hands were freezing, so they crossed the road, and in a few minutes were entering the tiny inn.

It was extremely crowded, noisy, warm, and smoky. A curvy sort of woman with a pretty face was serving a bunch of rowdy warlocks up at the bar.

"That's Madam Rosmerta," said Ron. "I'll get the drinks, shall I?" he added, going slightly red.

Heroneka, Harry and Hermione made their way to the back of the room, where there was a small, vacant table between the window and a handsome Christmas tree, which stood next to the fireplace. Ron came back five minutes later, carrying four foaming tankards of hot butterbeer.

"Merry Christmas!" he said happily, raising his tankard.

Heroneka drank deeply. It was the most delicious thing she'd ever tasted and seemed to heat every bit of her from the inside. After around fifteen minutes, Heroneka began to gaze at everything she could, looking a bit dazed and tipsy.

"Oh!" Heroneka squealed. "That's a Christmas tree." She smiled brightly.

Ron stared at her. "Take the rest of it away from her, please?"

Harry instantly dragged her tankard of butterbeer across the table towards himself and drank happily from it.

The door of the Three Broomsticks suddenly opened. Harry looked over the rim of his tankard and choked. Heroneka looked around at the door.

Professors McGonagall and Flitwick had just entered the pub with a flurry of snowflakes, shortly followed by Hagrid, who was deep in conversation with a portly man in a lime-green bowler hat and a pinstriped cloak -- Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic.