Chapter 281 - Two Places at Once (1/2)
After breakfast, Chris, Colin, Luna, Ron and Hermione left for Hogsmeade. Ginny went with Dean and Harry with Padma.
Filch was standing at the oak front doors as usual, checking off the names of people who had permission to go into Hogsmeade. The process took even longer than normal as Filch was triple-checking everybody with his Secrecy Sensor.
”What does it matter if we're smuggling Dark stuff OUT?” demanded Ron, eyeing the long thin Secrecy Sensor with apprehension. ”Surely you ought to be checking what we bring back IN?”
His cheek earned him a few extra jabs with the Sensor, and he was still wincing as they stepped out into the wind and sleet.
The walk into Hogsmeade was not enjoyable. Chris wrapped her scarf over her lower face; the exposed part soon felt both raw and numb. The road to the village was full of students bent double against the bitter wind. More than once Chris wondered whether they might not have had a better time in the warm common room, and when they finally reached Hogsmeade and saw that Zonko's Joke Shop had been boarded up, Chris took it as confirmation that this trip was not destined to be fun. Ron pointed, with a thickly gloved hand, toward Honeydukes, which was mercifully open, and Chris, Hermione, Luna and Colin staggered in his wake into the crowded shop.
”Thank God,” shivered Ron as they were enveloped by warm, toffee-scented air. ”Let's stay here all afternoon.”
”Good idea,” said Colin. ”What do want to eat Luna? Deluxe sugar quills?”
They got busy testing different kind of toffees. Colin and Luna started to laugh as they tried the sweets together; Hermione and Ron started to bicker over something and Chris found herself watching the people around the shop and saw Slughorn talking to Harry in a corner. After a moment, Slughorn left and Padma fed Harry a sweet, he smiled and Padma happily kissed him. Chris hastily turned away and collided with a hard chest.
”Ooof,” Chris rubbed her forehead and looked up to see the owner of the hard chest.
”Careful there, Miss Norton,” Adrian smiled down at her.
”Adrian, hi,” said Chris backing away from him a bit. ”And please call me Chris, I have told you many times.”
”Yes but Miss Norton sounds more like a gentleman thing, don't you think?” Adrian smirked.
”No, Mr Rivers, it doesn't,” chuckled Chris.
”Well, then it's Chris.”
”Thank you.”
”Hey Adrian,” Hermione appeared over Chris' shoulder.
”Hello Hermione,” Adrian flashed a charming smile of his. Hermione beamed at him.
In the last few weeks, Adrian had become a friend of Chris and Hermione in Slughorn's parties. He was really funny and charming most of the times which made Chris amused rather than uncomfortable.
”We are thinking of going to the Three Broomsticks,” said Hermione turning to Chris.
”Great, let's go,” said Chris.
”Adrian, are you alone?” said Hermione. ”I mean if you want you can join us.”
”Oh, that will be great,” said Adrian at once. ”I came with my two friends but I don't think they will mind.” he glanced back over his shoulder and glanced at a couple kissing in a corner. ”They are busy and I can't deny the most beautiful ladies, can I?”
Hermione blushed lightly and Chris rolled her eyes smiling.
”Flattery won't get you anywhere Mister; in fact, it will make me cancel your invitation,” said Chris.
”Alright,” chuckled Adrian. ”As you wish.”
”Good, now c'mon,” said Chris.
She, Hermione and Adrian joined Ron, Colin and Luna.
”You are Adrian Rivers,” said Luna before Chris or Hermione could introduce him.
”Yeah and you are Miss Luna Lovegood,” said Adrian with a smile.
”You stopped a few girls in our dorm when they were bullying me,” said Luna smiling.
”What? When?” asked Colin.
”In our second year, Colin,” said Luna.