Chapter 12

It was the first Hogsmeade weekend. All the third years with permission slips were leaving, and Harry stood alone in the Entrance Hall watching the others gather, putting on their cloaks and coats, ready to march out through the big oak doors.

Harry was left behind, but he didn’t feel down like before. He watched his friends leave when Professor Lupin called over to him. He was leaning against the wall, looking pale and tired.

” You okay, Harry?”

Harry smiled widely at Professor Lupin, “Yes, Professor,” and he honestly felt much better.

Last time, Grace had promised to stay with him, and he had accepted happily after a little persuasion. But when he returned to the dorm, he realized he should have let her go and enjoy the visit, after all, he wasn’t the only friend she had.

So when Grace came to him again, looking apologetic, and said she had to go to Hogsmeade with the Weasley twins, he didn’t feel bad at all. In fact, he breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t want to hold his friends back, and just knowing he had people who cared about him made him happy. He told her exactly what he thought.

“Well, you don’t have to wander the halls alone. Come to my office. I’d rather have company than sit there by myself,” Professor Lupin said, seeing that Harry was in a good mood.

~

Grace finished her tasks early, coordinating with some shops and selling products alongside the Weasley twins. Afterward, she went to buy some snacks.

She looked around curiously when she saw Pansy enter Honeydukes alone. Grace walked slowly towards the shop but didn’t dare go inside; instead, she watched through the window as Pansy bought some sweets.

Quickly, Grace turned and walked away to keep her distance when she saw Pansy was about to come out. She pursed her lips, not knowing why she felt the need to pretend she hadn’t seen her. She couldn’t help but follow Pansy with her eyes, wondering why someone who was usually so smug, proud, and sometimes even angry could look… so beautiful.

“Beautiful,” Grace murmured, and then she stiffened, startled by her own thoughts.

Pansy met up with her friends. Daphne pointed behind her, and Pansy turned in confusion only to see Grace back and walking away quickly.

” She’s actually been staring at you,” Millicent said, “Do you think she holds a grudge? You know… about what we said to Professor Snape?”

” I don’t think so,” Daphne shook her head.

Pansy stared at Grace’s departing figure and unconsciously touched her Mokeskin pouch. She narrowed her eyes, looking deep in thought.

” Pansy?”

Pansy looked at her friends with a smirk, “If she has the guts, she can come at me anytime. I’m not afraid of her.”

~
Grace patted her chest, trying to calm down after practically running away. She didn’t know what was wrong with her. It was true, Pansy was even more beautiful in person than she had expected. In reality, her face was small and pale, with sharp, dark brown eyes that always seemed to be watching or judging. Her hair was sleek, dark, and cut to shoulder-length, framing her face neatly with a fringe of bangs. Her lips were thin and usually pressed together with natural pink hue but she had a delicate, pointed nose and a sharp, defined chin that gave her such an elegant look.

Grace couldn’t help but blush, ” No, no, no… what am I thinking?” They had only met a few times, barely exchanged more than sarcastic remarks in class, so why did she suddenly have this strange curiosity? ” This is… absurd.”

She quickly shook the image of Pansy out of her head and went to find the Weasley twins. But as she passed Honeydukes again, she paused for just a moment before continuing on her way.

~

Grace felt bored while walking. She wanted to go back to Hogwarts, but she still remembered how Harry said that he would feel bad if she didn’t go and enjoy the day. She tried to explain, but it seemed Harry thought he was holding her back from having fun. Maybe if she went back to Hogwarts now, instead of making Harry happy, he might just feel guilty instead.

She couldn’t help but sigh. She didn’t understand why, whenever she was being considerate or just trying to do something good, people always misunderstood her actions.

Grace felt exhausted, she decided to stop at Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop to rest.

The shop was filled with the soft scent of roses and the gentle clinking of teacups. She found a small table near the window, tucked away from the crowd, and sank into the plush velvet chair with a soft sigh. For the first time all day, her shoulders finally dropped, and the tension in her body melted away.

When her order arrived, the aroma of fresh jasmine filled the air immediately. She wrapped her hands around the warm porcelain cup, feeling the heat seep into her skin, and took a slow sip. The tea was light, fragrant, and soothing, calming her nerves instantly.

Next to her plate sat the Battenberg cake, its distinctive pink and yellow squares wrapped neatly in marzipan. She cut a small piece, the sponge was soft and moist, just sweet enough, and the marzipan added the perfect texture.

Grace leaned back against the chair, watching the world go by outside the frosted glass. She closed her eyes for a moment, simply enjoying the peace and quiet. No running around, no jumbled thoughts, just the warmth of the tea and the sweetness of the cake. It was a small luxury, but it was exactly what she needed to recharge.

“This is nice,” she whispered to herself, a small, content smile playing on her lips.