Chapter 316: Peace and Fulfillment

What he didn’t mention was that the shops in Hogsmeade had remained nearly unchanged in total number.

After all, they weren’t just shops—they were wizards’ homes too.

Later, the arrival of Trickery Shop slightly expanded Hogsmeade, creating space for new stores to open.

This was thanks to the Weasleys; no one knew how they convinced those stubborn wizards.

“Are we going?”

Jia Jia Siting asked as if unconcerned.

“Mm.”

If it’s on the way… Wizard Sean Green nodded.

“Though I can’t personally oversee the opening, seeing my own shop open is still a joyful thing.”

Jia Jia Siting opened the box; steam rose, like morning mist.

Thus, the day after Halloween, Wizard Sean Green’s schedule was packed to bursting.

In the morning, they would visit Hagrid’s hut.

In the afternoon, he would watch two shops open in Hogsmeade and stop by Gringotts to pick up some things.

In the evening, he could test his idea.

Choosing the holiday after Halloween for the shop openings was, Budebushuo , a perfect time.

Hogwarts students could visit Hogsmeade, and having just returned from break, they’d all be worrying about homework.

As for today…

Hagrid’s interview was also coming.

…

The interview went remarkably smoothly; all reporters left satisfied with their articles.

Wizard Sean Green guessed this was thanks to Headmaster Dumbledore smiling and winking from the sidelines.

The reporters unanimously assured:

They would not distort a single word due to Ministry pressure—they would publish the report exactly as it was.

Within weeks, a flood of reports would sweep across Britain.

As Wizard Sean Green passed through the corridors, he noticed Hogwarts Castle was already steeped in holiday atmosphere.

The Great Hall was decorated, as usual, with live bats.

Hagrid’s giant pumpkins had been carved into lanterns, large enough for three people to sit inside. Rumors even said Dumbledore had booked a skeleton dance troupe for entertainment.

Like the last rumor about the Weird Sisters’ concert, this was just students letting off steam with wild talk.

But it made the holiday spirit feel even stronger.

Students kept passing by, discussing the Halloween version of Strange Wizard Chess; Wizard Sean Green suddenly realized he’d forgotten about it.

Fortunately, it wasn’t too late to catch up.

Inside the Great Hall, wizards were undergoing strange transformations: suddenly sprouting owl wings or growing lion’s fur.

These were new cookies, based on the “Partial Animal” line from the Animal Party series.

“Partial Animal” was the result of Fred and George’s year-long study of Transfiguration Cookies—allowing wizards to transform only part of their body, granting animal abilities without losing consciousness.

…

Halloween arrived.

At seven, Wizard Sean Green and Jia Jia Siting walked straight through a doorway leading directly into the crowded Great Hall.

It was lit with lanterns and candles, tables laden with golden dishes—delicious—but they headed toward the dungeons.

“We’ll just stay a little while.”

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville were already waiting there.

Then,

they walked down the corridor to Nearly Headless Nick’s party, already lit with candles—but the effect was anything but pleasant:

They were small, thin, black candles, burning with a pale blue glow that cast a chilling light even on their six lively faces.

With every step, the temperature dropped. Harry shivered, pulling his robes tighter.

Then he heard a sound—like a thousand fingernails scraping across a giant blackboard.

“That’s music?”

Ron muttered. They turned a corner and saw Nearly Headless Nick standing at a doorway, draped in black velvet curtains.

“My dear friends,”

he said with boundless sorrow,

“Welcome, welcome… I’m so glad you came…”

He removed his feathered hat and bowed, inviting them in.

The sight before them made their eyes widen.

The dungeon chamber was packed with hundreds of milky, translucent specters, drifting aimlessly through the cramped dance floor, waltzing to the terrifying, trembling sound of thirty saws, played by a band seated on a stage draped in black cloth.

Above, a chandelier held a thousand black candles, emitting midnight-blue light. Their breath formed clouds of fog before them, as if they’d stepped into a cold storage room.

“Attention, please! I shall now speak!”

Nearly Headless Nick strode to the podium, stepping under a cold blue spotlight.

“My late lords, ladies, and gentlemen, I speak with great sorrow…”

After his opening, some headless ghosts began playing a game—Head-on-Horseback.

It involved tossing a person’s head into the air, catching it, then tossing it again.

Nick wanted to join, but sadly, he was “Nearly Headless”—the truly headless ghosts wouldn’t let him in.

“This is discrimination?”

Ron stared in disbelief.

“Come on, they’re all dead!”

“Hmm.”

Hermione sniffed.

The headless ghosts stole Nick’s spotlight; he desperately tried to regain attention, speaking loudly.

But a ghost’s head flew past him amid cheers, and Nearly Headless Nick had to give up.

…

Leaving the dungeon,

the Great Hall felt warm again.

The air carried the sweet, tempting scent of roasted pumpkin, reminding them of the pumpkin house Jia Jia Siting planned to carve in Hope Cottage.

How amusing that would be—no one could imagine it.

Hermione was trying a Spirit Cat cookie, sent by her parents, said to randomly transform part of the body into a cat.

When she finished eating, everyone laughed.

“Oh, Hermione, you’d better eat a Restoration Cookie quickly.”

Jia Jia Siting laughed and handed her a mirror; Wizard Sean Green offered a Restoration Cookie.

As Hermione looked in the mirror, she quickly buried her head—her face was covered in cat fur.

Ron had been laughing until tears came, but then Hermione shoved a Mouse Cookie into his mouth, and his laughter vanished.

He could only stare blankly at his mouse tail, face twisted in dismay.

Wizard Sean Green smiled faintly as he watched them excitedly try the random cookies.

This Halloween was nothing like the last—no trolls rampaging.

This autumn, Hogwarts was at peace.

Two more chapters will be updated later.