Her first experience of hot cocoa, or of Honeyduke’s? Either way: hm. Howell was suitably taken-aback-slash-impressed. He had fancied he was the last wizard on the British Isles to hear of the sweetshop, but apparently not. He almost felt cultured next to this feral creature, which was a new feeling. (He wasn’t sure how much he liked it, to feel like a nosy village busybody – but here he was, asking a question he had already worked out the answer to instead of answering her directly.)

“I take it you’re not a local either?” he asked dryly. Not just of Hogsmeade, in fact, but perhaps even further. She had an odd accent to match her madness.

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