Harry Potter: The Golden Viper

0539 Hogsmeade

The cobblestone streets of Hogsmeade, usually echoing with nothing more than the soft whispers of winter wind, had taken on a different character in recent days.

The magical village's shops, their wooden signs creaking gently in the breeze, primarily catered to the young witches and wizards of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. On days when Hogwarts wasn't hosting student visits, most shopkeepers could be found lounging lazily in their doorways, basking in the weak Scottish sunlight that filtered through the perpetually misty air.

Their lively conversations inevitably turned to the upcoming Triwizard Tournament, their eyes gleaming with excitement as they discussed about it.

The arrival of the visiting students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, though relatively few in number, had transformed the village's usually subdued atmosphere. Their presence brought an unexpected vitality to the otherwise tranquil streets, their foreign accents and colorful uniforms adding splashes of life to the village's traditionally somber Scottish character.

The initiative to introduce these international students to Hogsmeade had originated from young Gabrielle Delacour's innocent request, and both Bryan and Dumbledore had recognized it as an excellent opportunity to ease the subtle tensions simmering between the three school.

Fleur's enthusiastic response to the village had caught Bryan completely off guard. Having observed her proud demeanor and generally dismissive attitude toward all things Hogwarts-related, he hadn't expected her sudden and intense fascination with Hogsmeade.

In the span of three painstakingly long hours, their group had barely managed to traverse a quarter mile of the main street, as both Delacour sisters were entranced by every shop window, magical display, and curious object they encountered.

Bryan was painfully reminded of how exhausting it was to shop with women - the last time he'd experienced such torture was literally in his previous life. He couldn't very well let two delicate ladies carry their packages, especially when one was even younger than magical education age. Out of politeness and chivalry, he offered to carry their bags, and afterward, the two girls went completely wild with shopping.

The sisters' wealthy background became increasingly apparent with each purchase, their golden Galleons flowing freely as they acquired one exotic magical item after another. Their shopping spree showed no signs of fiscal restraint, each whimsical desire immediately transformed into a new purchase.

The rising collection of packages soon began to overwhelm Bryan entirely, forcing him to resort to levitation charms just to manage their extensive purchases - that included everything from mountains of Honeydukes' finest sweets to an alarming quantity of Filibuster's Fireworks (Gabrielle had bought many, perhaps finding Hogwarts nights too dull).

Walking down the street, Bryan felt like a walking spectacle, he drew amused glances and poorly concealed snickers from passing villagers. Some even went so far as to pulling out the magical cameras. More concerning were the increasingly suggestive looks and whispered conversations that seemed to focus on him and Fleur, creating an air of juicy gossip.

The situation reached new heights of absurdity when the sisters emerged triumphantly from Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop, adding yet more packages to the orbital dance of shopping bags floating around Bryan like peculiar satellites.

Fleur finally noticed Bryan's increasingly darkening expression, but rather than showing any sign of remorse, she simply tossed her silvery hair with elegant defiance and flashed him a dazzling smile - an action that only worsened matters.

The villagers, with their relatively weak resistance to magical influence, were particularly vulnerable to the Veela's natural charm, even more so than the young wizards at Hogwarts.

Bryan realized with growing unease that his presence was likely the only thing preventing an avalanche of admirers from approaching Fleur. The villagers' increasingly pointed looks sent a chill down his spine - the last thing he needed was to become the subject of scandalous rumors in the magical community.

With sharp determination, he called out "Reega!"

His voice cut through the murmur of the street, and with a distinctive pop, the house-elf he had previously assisted materialized before them.

Reega, now fully recovered from her earlier period of weakness, executed a deep bow that brought her long nose nearly to the cobblestones.

"Great Professor Watson, how may Reega serve you!" her squeaky voice rang with earnest devotion.

Though Beauxbatons employed house-elves in their own right, making the sight not entirely foreign to Fleur, she couldn't help but watch with curious interest as Bryan interacted with the creature.

"If you please—" Bryan's voice softened considerably as he addressed the eager house-elf, "I'd appreciate it if you could deliver these ladies' purchases to their quarters."

"It would be Reega's highest honor—" The house-elf's bow deepened even further before she disappeared with a crisp snap of her fingers, taking the impressive collection of packages with her.

"Miss Delacour—" Bryan began tactfully, pressing his lips together as he chose his words carefully, "I've just recalled some rather urgent matters requiring my attention, if you wouldn't mind—"

"Oh!" Fleur's sudden exclamation of delight cut through his attempted escape. She pointed eagerly toward a shop in the distance, her blue eyes sparkling with renewed excitement. "That's Gladrags Wizardwear! It's quite famous, with a branch in Paris. The weather here is so much colder than I anticipated - I simply must get some new clothing!"

Bryan couldn't help but note how women always "needed" new clothes, regardless of whether the weather had any actual bearing on the matter.

Fleur's swift departure toward the shop rendered Bryan's carefully planned excuse utterly useless, leaving him standing alongside young Gabrielle.

The younger Delacour sister turned to him with an expression of practiced innocence, batting her long eyelashes and offering a sweet smile. Her entire demeanor showed complete confidence that Bryan wouldn't abandon them here.

This is all for the harmony and stability of European magical education—Bryan told himself internally, then after releasing a deeply resigned sigh that seemed to come from his very soul, he conceded, "Very well, let's proceed - but after this shop, I sincerely hope we might find somewhere to rest. I'd rather duel with Dumbledore himself than continue shopping—"

"My sister always loses track of time when buying clothes- we'll likely miss the evening feast—" Gabrielle's melodious giggle carried a hint of mischief as she spoke. The young girl, displaying an almost alarming level of trust in Bryan, wrapped her small fingers around his sleeve and practically dragged him toward Gladrags Wizardwear.

By the time Gabrielle had successfully maneuvered Bryan through the shop's doorway, Fleur had already found her target. She stood with perfect posture; her head tilted back elegantly as she gazed up at a magnificent dress suspended high on the wall.

The shop's proprietor, a witch with an expertly cultivated air of sophisticated helpfulness, was already engaged in what appeared to be an enthusiastic description of the garment's many qualities.

The dress in question was extraordinary - a masterpiece of magical tailoring that seemed to capture and hold light within its pristine white silk fabric. The cut was perfect, creating flowing lines that suggested both grace and dignity.

Along the hem, enchanted crystals caught and reflected light like captured stars, creating an effect that somehow managed to convey both noble elegance and untouched purity. The overall effect was breathtaking, though Bryan couldn't help but think it entirely impractical for daily wear at a wizarding school.

"What are your thoughts?" Fleur's voice carried a note of genuine pleasure as she turned to face Bryan, her eyes sparkling with an enthusiasm that matched the dress's crystalline embellishments.

Bryan chose his words with polite care, "While the dress is undeniably beautiful, I must point out that it seems rather impractical for attending classes or traversing the castle grounds. Furthermore, I doubt it would provide much protection against the Scottish Highlands' notorious chill."

Gabrielle covered her mouth to suppress a giggle, while Fleur's response was to wrinkle her nose and huff in obvious disapproval of his practical considerations. Without further discussion, she instructed the eagerly hovering shopkeeper to retrieve the dress and prepare it for fitting.

Bryan observed with growing resignation how the peculiar female obsession with clothing transcended age barriers. Gabrielle was just like her older sister, becoming completely absorbed in examining the rainbow of magical garments hanging throughout the shop.

Seizing his opportunity, Bryan quickly claimed the shop's sole chair, a rather worn piece of furniture that nonetheless felt like a sanctuary after their lengthy shopping spree.

To be honest, this was Bryan's first time entering this shop. During his early years at Hogwarts, financial constraints had limited his options - his scholarship fund barely covered essential educational expenses, forcing him to purchase his school robes from the more economical Madam Malkin's shop.

Even after he began earning some extra galleons in his later years, he had chosen to invest his modest wealth in magical research rather than frivolous clothing expenses, though he well remembered how some of his wealthier Slytherin housemates had regularly boasted about their purchases from this very shop.

As his gaze wandered listlessly around the shop's interior, Bryan found himself somewhat underwhelmed. To his practical eye, many of the displayed garments seemed to differ only in minor decorative details - a sash here, a pendant there, various embellishments that seemed to serve no purpose beyond inflating the price.

However, something unexpected caught his attention, causing him to abandon his hard-won seat. In an easily overlooked corner of the shop, far from the elaborate gowns and refined robes that dominated the space, hung several unremarkable garments crafted from double-layered fabric. Their design was surprisingly practical, bearing a striking resemblance to Muggle athletic wear.

Approaching the display, Bryan reached out to examine the fabric, nodding unconsciously as his fingers assessed its quality. The material impressed him - smooth to the touch yet clearly durable, with properties that suggested both comfort and functionality.

Taking a few steps backward, he studied the grayish-blue garment with growing interest. His expression shifted from casual observation to intense concentration as various possibilities began forming in his mind.

"Has that particular outfit caught your fancy?" Fleur's voice, tinged with surprise, suddenly broke through his contemplation. "It seems rather... ordinary, doesn't it?"

"Oh, not exactly—" Bryan replied, running his fingers over the practical garment once more. "Actually, I believe this would serve excellently as competition wear—"

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