One Saturday in December, Hogwarts Castle awoke to find itself covered in several feet of snow and the lake frozen solid.
On this day, Ron Weasley was finally able to stand at the door of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, speechless with astonishment.
"Merlin! I am really shocked! How did they do that?" he said to Harry in awe, stepping first into the shop.
This was an open day at Hogsmeade before Christmas.
The streets were decorated with lights and colourful decorations, creating a festive atmosphere for Christmas. The rooftops of the shops lining the streets were covered with snow, resembling rows of three-dimensional biscuit cutters sprinkled with icing.
Yet people could still recognise Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes from among the similar buildings at a glance.
Its decorations were so eye-catching that it seemed to be celebrating a holiday more than any other shop... a version combining Hallowe'en and Christmas, constantly sending gasps of amazement and laughter to passers-by, and even spreading to streets further afield.
"If it were not for those Dementors on the corner and Professor Snape, today would have been perfect," Harry said happily to Draco.
He peered into the shop from the doorway, his face beaming with excitement at the rows of products displayed on the shelves.
In preparation for the Hogsmeade open day, Harry had been extremely cautious in Potions class... resisting the urge to throw a hundred crocodile hearts at Professor Snape... giving him no chance to find fault.
Unfortunately, the professor seemed to be haunting him. Just minutes earlier, Harry had spotted a glimpse of Professor Snape's black robes and his cold, dark eyes on the street.
"He will not do anything to you. He is a professor at Hogwarts, he will not attack his students," Draco said impatiently.
"Yes, Harry, you have not done anything wrong, so why are you afraid of him?" Hermione also advised Harry.
She was no longer as intimidated by Professor Snape as she used to be.
Last time, when she had gone with Draco to learn about the Wolfsbane Potion, Professor Snape had been as sarcastic as ever, but he had not sent her away.
Her opinion of the Potions Master had not changed, but at least Hermione acknowledged that he was truly talented and willing to fulfil his duty as a professor to guide her... in a spirit of doing his best.
"But I heard Sirius sent him a Howler the day before yesterday... and made a mess of his office..." Harry said uneasily.
"So that is why you were able to get into Hogsmeade so easily!" Ron shouted with a laugh from inside the shop.
"It is exciting to think about! Your godfather's trick was brilliant; I really want to know what he yelled in that letter!"
Harry smiled genuinely.
"It is good to have a godfather. Uncle Vernon would never sign me up for Hogsmeade, let alone threaten Professor Snape. They would rather punish me every day and then gloat over me..." he said happily to Draco.
"What did you talk to him about last time? He is much better now, he replies to my letters every time and always sends me a lot of sweets."
Draco did not answer his question, but instead said meaningfully, "Yes, it is good to have a godfather. I wager your godfather might give you a very nice Christmas present..."
Although Harry looked expectant, he said, "I will love anything he gives me. Having him as my godfather is the greatest Christmas present I could ever receive."
"Stop dawdling, come in!" Ron yelled from inside. "You have to see this, Harry!"
Harry temporarily forgot his doubts about Professor Snape and his desire to investigate Sirius's change of attitude.
He happily stepped into the shop to explore the wonders of the wizarding world with his good friend Ron.
Draco glanced at the black robe fluttering in the wind on the street corner and was quite certain that it was Professor Snape.
That said, what was Professor Snape doing, and why was he following Harry?
And he does not seem like the kind of person who would give in just because someone yells at him in a letter.
What exactly had Sirius Black written in that letter? With this question swirling in his mind, Draco lifted his foot, ready to go into the shop to take a look, but was suddenly tugged at by the girl behind him.
"Draco, I have something to tell you. Come with me." She said with a solemn and extremely serious expression.
He was surprised and turned to look at her tightly pursed lips.
It is a rare opportunity to go out of school for fun, should she not be excited? What is so important that she is putting on this face, and why does she have to say it now?
However, Hermione gave him a resolute look, which was unusual. Draco looked her over, his expression turning serious as well. His heart pounded, and he silently followed behind her.
Hermione led him quite a distance. They followed a path, passing rows of tall, snow-covered trees, leaving the hustle and bustle of Hogsmeade far behind. She headed straight for a secluded, less populated road, stopping only near the Shrieking Shack.
There was no sign of human life here, only the howling north wind and rows of iron railings. Behind the railings stood the lonely Shrieking Shack on the wasteland, exuding a silent and desolate atmosphere.
She stopped and stared at the Shrieking Shack, without turning back. In just a moment, darkness fell, and a few snowflakes began to drift down. A snowflake landed on her nose, and the cold wind made her sneeze slightly.
"Come on, Hermione, what do you want to say? Why did you have to come all the way here to say it?"
Draco finally could not help but ask her. He walked up to her, standing with his back to the Shrieking Shack, trying to shield her from some of the biting wind blowing from the wasteland.
"Because it is a secret, and no one can hear it!" Hermione looked at him sharply, her expression like that of a wary cat. "You know, do you not? That day, you were hinting at something, were you not?"
"I do not know what you are talking about..." Draco said softly, his mind racing as he recalled the whole bundle of unspeakable secrets he had been keeping from her.
"Stop pretending! I do not believe you do not know about werewolves! Every full moon he gets sick and has to take sick leave, so Professor Snape has to cover his classes; at the same time, Professor Snape inexplicably needs help brewing Wolfsbane for him!" Hermione gasped, her voice trembling. "Professor Lupin, he is a werewolf, is he not?"
"Oh, about that." Draco was relieved and regained his relaxed demeanour.
Hermione was very unhappy with his attitude. She did not say anything, just stared at him, hoping to get a definite answer from him.
"Is it not obvious?" Draco said casually, noticing a snowflake in her hair. "With your intelligence, you should have guessed it long ago, should you not?"
"What?"