Hogsmeade weekend was a snowy day, and exhaled breath formed mists in the air.
The lawn outside Hogwarts Castle was covered in a thick layer of white frost.
The line to Hogsmeade moved slowly under the sharp gaze of Filch and Madam Norris.
Hermione was wearing a thick wool robe, looking a bit more bloated than usual.
In her arms, a warm and soft furball was curled up quietly, with only the occasional faint purr coming from the gaps in her collar proving that a "smuggler" was hidden inside.
Lia hated this enclosed, claustrophobic feeling; it reminded her of some unpleasant memories.
But Hermione's scent and heartbeat were right by her ear, serving as the most effective sedative, allowing her tense nerves to relax.
"Miss Granger, your robes look... exceptionally thick." Filch's searchlight-like eyes swept over, his tone full of suspicion.
Hermione's heart skipped a beat, but her face remained calm.
She straightened her back and replied in an indisputable top-student tone, "The weather is cold, Professor. It's basic health common sense to wear more clothes, isn't it?"
Filch was momentarily speechless and waved her through sullenly.
Not until they were completely away from the Castle's range and on the dirt path leading to the village did Hermione breathe a sigh of relief and stop behind a hidden thicket.
"Alright, Lia, you can come out now."
There was a rustle from the hem of the robe, and a fluffy pure white little head poked out first, looking around warily. After its sapphire-like cat eyes confirmed the surroundings were safe, its entire body nimbly leaped out.
Light and shadow distorted for a moment.
The next second, the petite Ragdoll Cat disappeared, and a silver-haired Cat-girl emerged from Hermione's spare school uniform.
She rubbed her somewhat numb legs, her snow-white cat ears twitched, and her long tail stretched out and flicked behind her, declaring her freedom.
"Wow!" Lavender and Parvati let out a small exclamation of wonder.
"Let's go! Honeydukes is waiting for us!" Hermione had already impatiently grabbed Lia's arm.
Lia's hands were cold, but very soft.
Hogsmeade Village, a name she had only seen in books, was now presenting itself vividly before Lia.
The crooked thatched roofs were covered in snow, warm lights flickered in the windows, and the air was filled with a wonderful mixture of the scents of baking bread, caramel, and some unknown spices.
"Here..." Lia's nose sniffed gently, the tip of her tail curling uncontrollably, "it smells so good."
"This is just the beginning!" Parvati laughed, leading them directly into the most famous candy shop—Honeydukes.
With a "buzz," Lia felt as if she had stumbled into a hive built of sugar.
The cloyingly sweet air surged into her nasal cavity.
Strings of brightly colored cockroach clusters hung on the walls, the counters were piled high with mountains of Fudge, huge glass jars held various forms of hard candy, and there were Flying Snowballs, Screaming Sugar Skulls... Except for those cockroach clusters, everything else looked delicious.
At least, that's how it seemed.
Lia's eyes were completely overwhelmed. Her cat ears twitched curiously, trying to catch every novel sound, and her tail wagged slightly in excitement behind her.
"Here, Lia, try this!" Lavender, like a little master showing off a treasure, unwrapped a Fizzing Whizbee and popped it into Lia's mouth.
Lia instinctively held it in her mouth, and the next second, her eyes widened suddenly.
A wonderful sweet and sour sensation exploded on the tip of her tongue, followed by countless tiny bubbles starting to pop and crackle in her mouth, feeling like hundreds of miniature elves were having a party on her tongue.
"Mph!" Lia let out a muffled exclamation and instinctively covered her mouth, her cheeks bulging slightly. The sensation was so strange—a bit itchy, a bit tingly, but with a stimulating sweetness.
Her large eyes shimmered with moisture as she looked at Hermione as if for help.
Hermione was incredibly amused by her adorable look. Stifling a laugh, she pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped Lia's lips, which were slightly parted in surprise.
Hermione's voice carried a hint of doting that she hadn't even noticed herself, "How does it feel?"
Lia blinked, feeling the "commotion" in her mouth gradually subside, and then she honestly stuck out the tip of her pink tongue, licking her lips as she savored the strange aftertaste.
"...I want more," she whispered.
"Hahahaha!" Lavender and Parvati burst into joyful laughter.
The satisfaction of feeding her made the two girls completely obsessed.
They bought a large bag of various candies: chocolate frogs, bertie botts every flavor beans, licorice wand... they got Lia one of almost everything that looked interesting.
When they came out of Honeydukes, Lia was holding a huge Sugar Quill, licking it in small bites like a kitten that had received its favorite toy, her face written all over with happiness.
"Next, the Three Broomsticks!" Lavender waved her hand grandly. "Let's go drink some hot butterbeer!"
The Three Broomsticks was warmly heated, with the sweet scent of butterbeer and the crackling of logs burning in the fireplace floating in the air.
The four of them found a corner by the window and sat down.
Harry and Ron weren't here; Ron had run off to find his twin brothers.
As for our poor savior, Harry, who defeated Lord Voldemort over a decade ago, he still couldn't get past Filch today.
"Four butterbeers, please." Hermione placed the order and then considerately helped Lia untie her scarf.
It was a pure white cashmere scarf they had just bought at Gladrags Wizardwear, making her delicate face look even more exquisite.
Lia held the warm cup, taking small sips of the sweet hot chocolate, squinting her eyes in satisfaction, a purring sound of pleasure coming from her throat again.
Hermione looked at the ring of white foam on her mouth, her gaze so soft it could melt.
She naturally reached out a finger, gently wiped away the foam, and then, under Lia's puzzled gaze, put the finger with the foam into her own mouth.
"Very sweet." A seductive smile played on the corners of Hermione's mouth.
Lia's face turned red instantly, even the tips of her ears turning pink.
She didn't know how to react, so she could only lower her head and pretend to concentrate on the hot chocolate in her cup, but her heart skipped a beat.
Beside her, Lavender bumped Parvati's leg under the table.
'Look, Hermione is so smooth.'
'I agree.'
Their eyes exchanged silent messages, and they both wore knowing smiles.
Just then, Lia's movements suddenly paused.
Her pure white cat ears perked up warily, turning toward the entrance of the pub without warning.
"What's wrong?" Hermione noticed something was off.
Lia didn't answer; she closed her eyes, her nostrils twitching slightly as she distinguished the complex scents in the air.
The pub was filled with a mixture of hundreds of scents, but there was a familiar smell of Quidditch Pitch grass and old parchment coming from a place where it shouldn't be.
That was Harry's scent.
Her Danger Intuition didn't go off, meaning Harry wasn't in danger.
But the appearance of this scent here was an "anomaly" in itself.
Lia opened her eyes, her blue pupils filled with confusion and certainty.
She leaned into Hermione's ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Hermione... I smell it. It's Harry's scent."
The smile on Hermione's face froze instantly.
She snapped her head around, looking in the direction Lia indicated.
She squinted at the empty pub entrance, but Hermione instinctively believed someone was there.
Harry Potter! He didn't have a signed permission slip; he had snuck out!
This troublesome guy!
Lavender and Parvati were still chattering about where to go next, completely unaware of the undercurrents here.
Hermione's gaze moved back and forth between that sneaky figure and Lia, who was innocently licking her candy beside her, her eyes complicated.
Forget it, ignore him. Who needs Harry when you have Lia?
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