#244 - Chapter 244 Let’s go to Hogsmeade

Professor Swann's Patronus is a dragon!

This news swept through Hogwarts like a whirlwind, deeply stimulating all the young wizards.

"Have you heard? Professor Swann's dragon Patronus is incredibly large. When it flies in the sky, it illuminates the entire night sky, like a giant magical lamp."

"Heard it? I was just there! When the professor's Patronus appeared, I thought it was dawn."

"I regret it so much. I left right after class. If I had known, I would have stayed in the dueling hall a bit longer. I've never seen a Patronus in the shape of a magical creature before."

"Is it true that the professor's Patronus easily wiped out a large group of Dementors?"

"Of course, it's true! I saw it with my own eyes. Wherever the professor's dragon went, the Dementors fled in terror. It was incredibly majestic."

Stimulated by this news, many young wizards went straight to the dueling hall to practice the Patronus Charm first thing the next morning.

The little ones all fantasized that their Patronus could be as cool as the professor's dragon.

Even if they couldn't conjure a dragon, it would be good to practice conjuring a corporeal Patronus as soon as possible.

Professor Swann said last night that once thirty people could cast a corporeal Patronus, he would lead everyone to begin the next stage of learning.

That is to have everyone's Patronus undergo actual combat.

According to the professor, only when a Patronus is cast under the pressure of Dementors can it be considered a true master.

At the thought of being able to beat up Dementors with their own Patronus, the young wizards were all highly motivated.

This also led to the fact that, apart from the players participating in the tryouts, there were basically no spectators at the Quidditch team tryouts on Saturday morning.

Nearing noon, the coolness of the early morning had been evaporated by the sunlight, and the air was filled with the fragrance of grass, making people feel extremely pleasant.

After the tryouts, Harry returned to the dormitory to change into simple clothes, and then he, Ron, and Hermione walked briskly towards the school gate.

For them, as third-year students, today was their first day to visit Hogsmeade.

"I knew it!" Ron said, gesticulating wildly, "This year's team tryouts were nothing to see, it's still you seven."

"Just like I said at the start-of-term feast, this is our dream team."

"You just watch, this year we will definitely win the Quidditch Cup again."

"Trust me, I took Divination this year, I guarantee it!"

"I'll take your word for it, Ron," Harry said with a happy smile. "Honestly, I really want to go back to the dueling hall to practice the Patronus Charm again."

"I want to see if I can still easily cast a Patronus without the assistance of the professor and Luna."

"Let's go to Hogsmeade first, and practice when we get back," Ron said. "I also want to conjure a corporeal Patronus as soon as possible."

"Seriously, I have a feeling that my Patronus will be as mighty as Professor Swann's dragon. Even if it's not a dragon, it will be a mammoth or a giant or something."

"Ron," Hermione said, shaking her head with a smile, "Most wizards' Patronuses are ordinary animals. Patronuses in the form of magical creatures are very rare."

"As for the giant Patronus you mentioned, only the invincible Andros was able to cast one in history."

"Hermione," Ron said dissatisfied, "This is called a dream!"

"No one said that my Patronus can't be in the form of a magical creature, right?"

"What if I can cast a special Patronus? Then I'll be famous."

"Okay, then good luck, Ron."

Hermione walked to Harry's side, her face full of worry: "Harry, are you really sure it's safe to go out?"

"I mean, that person is still at large. What if he's lurking in Hogsmeade......"

Harry turned to look at her, smiled, and tried to dispel her worries.

"Hermione, don't worry. Professor Swann told me that as long as I don't go anywhere outside of Hogsmeade, I won't be in danger."

"The professor said that Hogsmeade has undergone a major change. Even the Auror Office has opened a branch here. Aurors are constantly patrolling the village, protecting everyone's safety."

"I know that," Ron chimed in, "Hogsmeade Village has been expanded."

"The news these past few days has all been about Hogsmeade Village. It's completely different there."

"If it was just a village before, it's now a city."

"It's a pity that it's been cloudy and gloomy every day these past few days, and you can't even see what Hogsmeade looks like from the castle."

"Luckily, the weather is good today. Let's hurry, there are so many people going there right now."

"I heard that the Three Broomsticks has been completely renovated. I also want to try their signature dishes and take a good stroll around the new city."

At the thought of being able to sit in the Three Broomsticks pub in a while, drink a cold butterbeer, and order a steaming lunch, Ron couldn't help but want to pull the two of them and run.

Before long, the three finally arrived at the gates of Hogwarts.

After passing the Dementor sentries, they were all stunned by the sight before them.

The familiar dirt road full of pebbles that originally led to Hogsmeade Town was gone.

Replaced by a wide, smooth concrete road, the road surface was clean and tidy, with neat street lights on both sides, extending into the distance.

Even more surprisingly, a platform had been opened up on the side of the road, and several white mini shuttle buses were parked next to the platform.

Each car was clean and tidy, and several students were queuing up to board the bus in an orderly manner, with cheerful laughter coming from them.

"Merlin!" Ron was dumbfounded, "The change is so big, this is too exaggerated."

Looking at the sign at the station, he couldn't help but read aloud: "Knight Shuttle Bus, round trip between Hogsmeade and Hogwarts, the fare is one silver Sickle."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances, and they could all see the excitement in each other's eyes.

"Take the bus?"

"Of course, we'll take it!"

"I can't wait to take a stroll around there."

They cheered and joined the other students in queuing up to board the shuttle bus.

The driver on the bus smiled and kept introducing the changes in Hogsmeade to the students.

"I am a villager of Hogsmeade. To facilitate students to visit Hogsmeade, I work part-time as a driver of the Knight Shuttle Bus on weekends."

"Today is the first day of opening for many shops, and they have launched various discount activities."

"Students can feel free to stroll around."

"Okay, it's full, let's go!"

The car started smoothly, carrying a full load of students towards Hogsmeade.