Chapter 108: Stray Dog Contact

"We can go there," Hermione said, pointing to Madame Puddifoot's tea store, squinting. "That store looks... Very special!"

"Are you sure?!" Ivan looked at the tea store in surprise.

If Cho Chang hadn't mentioned it, he would never have noticed that store, which was full of pink, pretty, tacky lace ornaments, and Ivan doubted the store owner's taste.

"Of course I'm sure, hurry up and come in, Ivan; I don't want someone else to think I'm alone in the snow." Hermione said, "It looks like it's inside a cubicle, you won't have to worry about being discovered, and you can take off your cloak."

Ivan and Hermione crossed the street and entered the small tea store.

There was a sweet scent in the air, the teahouse was small and misty, it looked like everything was decorated with ruffles or bows, and golden cherubs flew above each of the small round tables, showering people with pink confetti from time to time.

The two sat at the only remaining round table, next to the fogged window.

Next to them was a large Christmas tree, and through the gaps between the leaves, they could see a fifth year Hufflepuff boy with a pretty blonde girl, holding hands.

Ivan was a little uncomfortable and so was Hermione.

It looked like they had just discovered that there were only couples in the place, all holding hands.

"What can I get you?" a plump middle-aged woman with shiny black hair pulled back in a bun awkwardly made her way between two tables.

"Two cups of coffee please!" said Ivan.

Just as she looked up, a cherub in the air sprayed her face with a handful of pink confetti.

As he waited for his coffee, Ivan noticed the couple next to him start to kiss over the sugar bowl between them, their lips seeming to stick together, and he wished they wouldn't.

Hermione apparently noticed it too and turned her head to look at Ivan for a moment before looking away, nervous.

The atmosphere was very uncomfortable, and Ivan tried not to think about what was going on around him.

But his mind was out of control, and he sensed that the couple in front of them were making an example of what he would do with Hermione next.

He wasn't sure he wanted to do it, he and Hermione hadn't gotten that far yet.

According to protocol, shouldn't they confess to each other before doing such a thing?

Ivan said to himself, 'I really like Hermione. Besides, since she invited me to come to this tea store, shouldn't it be a hint?'

If so, should he take the initiative?

Across the table, Hermione's cheeks were red and lovely, like a ripe apple you can't resist taking a bite of.

'Whatever, let's go for it!' Feelings of fear and excitement flared, and Ivan swallowed saliva with determination.

His body leaned forward slightly, he reached out and held Hermione's cold hand, his breathing almost stopped for a moment.

Hermione shivered slightly, as if she wanted to pull her hand away, but stopped immediately, her face redder than before, redder than ever.

Hermione looked at Ivan with dazed eyes. The sweet smell in the air almost made her brain stop thinking.

She saw Ivan's body lean forward, as if he was going to do something. She wanted to dodge backwards, but her right hand was tightly gripped by his. Hermione's body trembled slightly, and although it wasn't the first time Ivan had held her hand, this time it gave her an electrifying sensation.

Hermione couldn't remember the precise moment when this boy had taken her heart. Perhaps it was last year, when he had protected her from the basilisk in the common room; or this year, when she had faced over a hundred Dementors, in a time of fear and helplessness, o....

Before this, she had heard about this tea store from other girls.

Cho Chang's presence made her feel inexplicably a bit of a threat. Hermione thought it was an ordinary meeting place, she didn't expect everyone there....

Hermione knew what Ivan was going to do next, but she didn't feel upset at all. But wasn't it too soon for that?

Her palms were sweating, her heart was pounding, she had to stop Ivan, they couldn't do this, but she didn't have the strength.

Hermione could see Ivan getting closer and closer to her, she could feel his breath on her face.

The distance between the two of them was getting shorter and shorter....

Just as Ivan's lips were about to touch Hermione's, Mrs. Puddifoot approached with two cups of coffee.

They parted hastily like kittens that had done something wrong, and their movements were so big that they almost flipped the table over.

Mrs. Puddifoot said nothing, but the unfathomable smile on her face caused them embarrassment.

Ivan's face grew hot and he turned his head to look at the window.

At that moment, through the thick steam, he saw the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Hagrid and two Aurors he didn't recognize walking proudly down the street. Six of them marched briskly in the snow, and it looked like they were going to the 'Three Broomsticks' inn across the street.

Ivan glanced at them and before his attention was fully focused on two diminutive figures beside him: a large black dog and a ginger-colored cat sneaking across the street: they were Sirius Black and Crookshanks.

He hadn't expected Black to be so bold as to appear in Hogsmeade and walk past Fudge, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick and Hagrid.

Black stopped in his tracks and glared at the backs of Fudge and the two aurors.

"Oh, that's Crookshanks. Why is he in Hogsmeade?!", Looking to where Ivan was looking, Hermione saw Crookshanks through the window. She didn't see Sirius Black because of her angle of vision.

"Wait, Hermione, I'll go get him!", Ivan hurried to get up and, under Hermione's and Mrs. Puddifoot's astonished eyes, opened the door and rushed out into the blizzard outside.

She didn't know why when she thought about Ron's recent unusual behaviors, she felt a sense of unease. Although she had a plan, it would be good if she could contact Sirius Black before then.

On the street, the shadows of Black and Crookshanks disappeared around the corner of the street, leaving two rows of footprints, one shallow and one deep in the thick snow.

Ivan followed the footprints and came to the dimly lit Owl Post Office, with shelves full of owls, at least three hundred of them, ranging from the common large, gray owls to palm-sized owls, there were owls of all shapes and sizes, hooting softly.

Besides the owls, there was no one in the tent.

Black and Crookshanks seemed to be on the second floor, where the letter carrier owl had been trained to charge postage according to distance traveled.

Ivan pulled out his wand, there was only one door in the post office, once inside there was nowhere else for Sirius Black to go.

Ivan didn't know why Black had to send a letter, but it was a good opportunity to get in touch with him.