Harry Takes a Break

Chapter 10

          The next morning, after a good night's sleep and a quick breakfast at the hotel, the trio decided to head out into the city once more. This time, though, they had a very specific goal in mind—candy.

"There's a grocery store a few blocks away," Hermione said, already in her efficient stride. "We can stock up on snacks before we head out for the day."

Ron's eyes lit up at the mention of snacks. "American candy," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "I've heard about it, but I've never had the chance to try any of it."

Harry chuckled as they walked along the bustling streets, weaving through the morning crowds. "It's not all Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, but it's still good."

As they entered the grocery store, the sheer size of the place hit Ron immediately. The aisles seemed to stretch on forever, each one stocked to the brim with products, many of which he'd never seen before. He grabbed a basket and followed Harry and Hermione into the snack aisle.

"Blimey," Ron muttered, coming to a complete stop in front of the shelves. "Look at all of this!"

Hermione smiled, amused at his amazement. "It's just a normal grocery store, Ron."

"Normal?" Ron echoed, his voice full of disbelief. He pointed to a massive display of colorful bags. "There's a whole section just for gummies. I've never seen so many in one place. What are these—Haribos?"

"They're gummies," Harry explained, picking up a bag and tossing it into the basket. "Different flavors. You'll like them."

Ron grabbed several bags of his own, inspecting the shapes and colors with wide eyes. "Teddy bears? Frogs? Are they supposed to be this detailed?"

Hermione chuckled. "It's all part of the fun."

Moving along, they reached the chips section, and Ron's eyes grew even wider. "What's all this? Lay's?" He picked up a bag and studied it, reading the flavor—Sour Cream & Onion. "This is just one type? There's got to be twenty different kinds here!"

"More than twenty," Harry said, laughing as he grabbed a bag for himself. "There's barbecue, cheddar, even pickle-flavored ones. You've got to try them."

Ron didn't need more convincing. He tossed a few different bags into the basket, clearly intrigued. "Pickle-flavored?" He shook his head in disbelief. "Muggles will flavor anything, won't they?"

As they continued down the aisles, Ron was practically giddy with excitement. They passed shelves of jelly beans, stacks of chocolate bars, and rows of brightly colored candies that made even Hermione smile.

"These," Ron said, holding up a pack of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. "I've heard about these. I heard Muggles go mad for them."

Harry nodded. "They're good. Trust me, you'll want to take some of those back home."

The trio filled their basket with an assortment of snacks—gummies, chips, chocolate, and, of course, a few bags of jelly beans that, while not magical like Bertie Bott's, still intrigued Ron.

"I don't even know where to start," Ron said, staring at the overflowing basket as they approached the checkout. "It's like Honeydukes, but... bigger. And with stranger flavors."

Hermione smiled as she handed the cashier her credit card. "Just wait until you try them. You'll be hooked."

As they left the store, bags of snacks in hand, Ron was still marveling at the selection they'd just encountered. "I don't know how Muggles stay so thin," he muttered. "If I had all this candy around all the time, I'd be eating it every day."