The Rise of the God-Emperor

CH 33: A Vision for Hogsmeade

The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the War Room, casting golden light over the maps and plans scattered across the large table. Harry sat at the head of the room, quill in hand, deep in thought. The mission at the Ben Nevis fort had been successful, and Hogwarts was more secure than ever. But Harry wasn't satisfied. His mind had already moved on to the next phase: Hogsmeade.

While Hogwarts itself was a fortress of protection, Hogsmeade remained vulnerable. It was the only all-wizarding village in Britain, and yet, Harry knew it could be so much more. If they were going to protect the magical community and prepare for whatever the Muggles might throw at them, Hogsmeade needed to be strengthened. It needed to become a self-sufficient, thriving magical village that could stand on its own.

He stared at the blank parchment in front of him, then wrote the word at the top of the page:

Hogsmeade: What It Has

He began listing the current establishments, mumbling the names under his breath as he scribbled:

Honeydukes: The famous sweetshop, known for its enchanted confections like Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, and Fizzing Whizbees.The Three Broomsticks: The popular pub, run by Madam Rosmerta, serving Butterbeer and Firewhisky to students and locals alike.Zonko's Joke Shop: A beloved joke shop, frequented by students looking for magical mischief supplies.Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop: The quaint little tea shop, popular with couples and romantics.Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop: A small, cozy store selling writing supplies, parchment, and quills.Gladrags Wizardwear: The local clothing shop that sold robes, hats, and accessories.Dervish and Banges: A shop specializing in magical instruments and equipment, including enchanted items.Hogsmeade Post Office: A bustling post office with hundreds of owls, all eager to deliver letters across the wizarding world.The Hog's Head Inn: A more rundown pub, known for its shady clientele and less-than-spotless reputation.

Harry paused, the list complete, and sat back in his chair, twirling the quill between his fingers. Hogsmeade was a magical place, no doubt, but it had its limitations. It catered primarily to students and locals, but Harry wanted more than that. He wanted Hogsmeade to become a place where the magical community could thrive—not just a village for school trips, but a hub for magical commerce, innovation, and security.

He reached for a new sheet of parchment and began writing again, this time with more focus. The title at the top read:

Hogsmeade: What It Needs

Affordable Clothing Store: Gladrags was fine, but it was small, and the prices weren't always accessible to the average wizarding family. Hogsmeade needed a store with more affordable, everyday clothing—robes, boots, scarves, and hats that everyone could afford.High-End Restaurant: The Three Broomsticks was the go-to for food and drink, but it was a pub, not a fine dining establishment. A high-end restaurant would bring in more visitors from outside Hogsmeade, offering a place for special occasions and celebrations.Café: A cozy, welcoming café where people could gather, relax, and talk over tea or coffee. Madam Puddifoot's had its charm, but it was too small and too niche for Harry's vision.Bookstore: A proper bookstore. There was no Flourish and Blotts in Hogsmeade, and many people had to travel all the way to Diagon Alley for books. A well-stocked bookstore, filled with magical literature, academic texts, and fiction, could be a place of learning and inspiration.Apothecary: There was no dedicated apothecary in Hogsmeade. If they could set up a well-supplied apothecary, wizards and witches wouldn't need to rely on Diagon Alley for potions ingredients and supplies.More Housing: If they were going to make Hogsmeade a true magical hub, they needed more homes, affordable and secure, for families who might want to live there permanently.Training Grounds: A place for dueling practice, Auror training, or simply learning advanced defensive spells. Hogwarts had its own, but Hogsmeade could use something similar for adults and magical creatures.Gringotts Branch: The bank was already in progress, but it needed to be finalized and fully functional. The goblins were working on it, and Harry wanted to ensure it would be a fortress of security.

He stared at the list, feeling a sense of determination growing inside him. Hogsmeade had so much potential. It could become a center for the magical world, not just a charming village. But he couldn't do it alone.

Gathering Allies

After spending most of the morning refining his ideas, Harry stood up and made his way toward the Great Hall. He needed input from the people who understood the village best—the shopkeepers, the residents, and even the students who frequented it. On his way, he ran into Neville, who was heading toward lunch.

"Hey, Neville," Harry called, jogging to catch up with him.

"Harry! You look deep in thought," Neville said, grinning. "What's on your mind?"

"Hogsmeade," Harry replied, holding up the list. "I've been thinking about how we can make it more secure and more... I don't know, self-sufficient. What do you think?"

Neville took the parchment, scanning the list. His eyes lit up. "A proper apothecary would be brilliant! I've been telling Professor Sprout we need something like that for ages. We always have to order ingredients from Diagon Alley, and it takes forever. And a training ground? That's a fantastic idea."

"I'm glad you think so," Harry said. "But I need more input. I was thinking about heading down to Hogsmeade after lunch to talk to some of the shop owners, see what they think."

Neville nodded eagerly. "I'll come with you. I know a few people in the village who would have some ideas."

Hogsmeade Discussions

After lunch, Harry and Neville made their way to Hogsmeade, walking down the familiar cobblestone streets, the crisp autumn air swirling around them. The village was as lively as ever, students and locals moving from shop to shop, but Harry's mind was on the future. He imagined the place not just as it was, but as it could be.

Their first stop was The Three Broomsticks, where Madam Rosmerta greeted them warmly.

"Harry, Neville! Lovely to see you both," she said, smiling. "What brings you down here?"

"We're looking for some advice, Madam Rosmerta," Harry said, sitting down at one of the tables. "I'm working on a plan to make Hogsmeade more self-sufficient, and I wanted to hear from you what you think the village needs."

Rosmerta raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Well, you've come to the right person. I've been here long enough to know what works and what doesn't. Hogsmeade's a wonderful place, but it's always been a bit... isolated. We rely too much on Diagon Alley for goods and services."

Harry nodded. "Exactly. I was thinking we could add a proper apothecary, a more affordable clothing store, and maybe even a high-end restaurant to bring in more visitors."

"A high-end restaurant could definitely work," Rosmerta said, considering the idea. "There's a demand for it, especially with the number of wizards traveling through Hogsmeade. As for an apothecary, that would be a lifesaver. We've all had to wait weeks for potion ingredients to arrive from London."

Neville chimed in. "And the students would love a café—a proper one, where they could relax and study. Madam Puddifoot's is nice, but it's not everyone's cup of tea."

Rosmerta laughed. "No, it's not. A good café would do well here."

Harry smiled, feeling more confident about the plan. "Thanks, Madam Rosmerta. I think we're onto something."

They spent the rest of the afternoon talking to other shopkeepers—Mr. Flume from Honeydukes, who loved the idea of expanding the village, and even the owner of Dervish and Banges, who thought a Gringotts branch would bring more security and business to the area.

Back to Hogwarts

By the time they returned to Hogwarts, Harry's mind was buzzing with ideas. The feedback had been positive, and it seemed that everyone in Hogsmeade was on board with making the village more secure and more prosperous.

That evening, back in the War Room, Harry sat down with his notes and the updated list, preparing to send a letter to the goblins regarding the bank and drafting plans for the other shops and expansions.

As the day came to a close, Harry felt a renewed sense of purpose. Hogsmeade was on its way to becoming the magical hub he envisioned—a place of safety, commerce, and community.

And soon, it would be ready for whatever came next.