Vita Magicis (HP SI-WC) (Patreon)

Chapter 43: A Date in Hogsmeade

“Die! Die! Die! Die!”

“Ew! Ew! Ew! Ew! Stop laughing, Aether, and help us kill these things!”

“No bug will ever touch my body again! Kindly die!”

Standing a few feet away with Luna at my side, I couldn’t help but chuckle at how quickly the girls’ enthusiasm for ingredient gathering had turned into a full-blown massacre.

When we first entered the forest, they’d been beyond excited at the literal treasure trove laid out before us. Their excitement had only grown after we ran into Hagrid’s herd of Hippogriffs, and later, a group of Thestrals.

Luna, who, strangely enough, could see Thestrals in this world despite her mother still being alive (something I chalked up to my heritage and Company perks), made fast friends with them, which even allowed us to collect some ingredients without trouble.

Then came the unicorn, which Luna managed to approach and convince to let the girls pet—helped, of course, by the fact she was the only virgin among us. Combine that with the rare plants we’d found along the way, and it had been a perfect night so far.

That is, until we stumbled into Aragog’s old nest. His sons and daughters that I’d left alive last year were still here. All it took was seeing a hundred Acromantulas crawling in the trees for everything to go to hell.

Now the girls were gleefully incinerating every spider in sight.

“They do know that Acromantula ingredients are worth a lot, right?” Luna asked mildly, tilting her head, not scared at all. If anything, she looked disappointed she couldn’t walk up and chat with the giant spiders.

“Hahaha, nope. Still, let’s not tell them until we’re back at the castle. I want to see the look on Rin’s face when she realizes she literally burned a fortune with her own two hands,” I whispered back, earning a small, knowing smile from Luna.

“Very well. By the way, Aether? Are Rin and Sakura goddesses?” she asked casually, blinking up at me.

Not surprised she’d figured it out, I smiled. “They are. How’d you know?”

“The aura they’re giving off is kind of intense,” Luna said simply.

I turned back and deadpanned. Rin was practically glowing gold while Sakura radiated violet, both of them hurling raw mana like artillery shells.

“Right…” I muttered.

“I still think being a Magical Girl would be better, though,” Luna mused, watching Illya zip around in her frilly outfit, firing beams of destruction from Ruby.

That gave me an idea. “Do you want to become one?” I asked curiously.

Luna blinked owlishly, staring at me for a long moment before answering. “Hmm… I don’t know. Illya does look cute in those clothes, but I’d rather have a power that lets me befriend any animal.”

“There are all kinds of Magical Girls, you know. Powers vary a lot,” I said, leaving it at that when she seemed uncertain. “Think it over. If you decide, let me know.”

“Thank you.”

‘Now that I think about it, giving Luna Magical Girl powers might be kind of scary yet cool. Oh well. It’s her choice.’

Almost on cue, the others rejoined us, looking extremely pleased with themselves, especially Sakura and Illya.

“Let’s get out of here! If I see another Acromantula, I’m burning this whole forest down to cinders,” Rin huffed, arms crossed.

“Onii-chan! Fear not, the mean ugly spiders are all gone now~” Illya announced proudly, puffing her chest out, practically begging for praise.

“No more bugs…” Sakura muttered darkly, pressing into my side for comfort. I immediately wrapped an arm around her.

“Well done, girls,” I praised with a grin before turning slyly to Rin. “Though… you do realize Acromantula ingredients sell for a fortune, right?”

“…What?” Rin blinked, her expression going blank.

“As I said, those spiders you three torched? Worth a lot of money if harvested.”

“…And you’re just telling me this now!?” Rin shrieked, seizing my robes and shaking me like a ragdoll, her face twisted in manic disbelief.

“Huhuhuhu Looks like the gorilla burned a fortune~” Illya snickered, absolutely no help at all.

And just like that, our grand expedition ended with a sulking Rin dragging herself back toward the castle while Illya teased her mercilessly. Meanwhile, I walked with Sakura and Luna, the three of us chatting idly as the night air carried away the smell of charred spider.

=====

Days Later — All Hallows’ Eve

“A-Aether~ Hurry! We’re going to be aah late for the feast.” Rin moaned, burying her face against my chest in a vain attempt to muffle the noises slipping past her lips.

“Hmhm, you say that, but your body is far more honest than your mouth,” I murmured into her ear, kissing her neck as I quickened my pace.

We were in a broom cupboard again, my ongoing promise to take Rin in every single one in Hogwarts, with this being number ten out of… well, who knows how many.

“S-Shut up and just kiss me, idiot~”

“My pleasure~”

=====

About half an hour later, we finally strolled into the Great Hall. Rin was glowing with smug satisfaction, practically glued to my side with my arm nestled between her breasts.

It didn’t take long for Astoria—and several others—to notice. One good look at Rin’s flushed face was all it took for glares to lock onto her with equal parts jealousy and resentment.

“Lucky bitch,” Astoria muttered under her breath before stabbing her fork into her food.

On my other side, Rose cleared her throat delicately, drawing my attention. “Tomorrow’s our first Hogsmeade weekend, right?”

“That’s right.” I nodded.

Her cheeks flushed pink as she ducked her head a little. “I-I was wondering if we could… um… go together. Y-You know, a-alone.”

I blinked, caught off guard for a second before smiling warmly. “Sure, Rose. I’d love to.”

Her blush deepened, but so did her smile. “T-That’s great~” she said happily, then busied herself with her plate, though her good mood lingered in the curve of her lips.

Next to me, Rin inched closer, leaning up to whisper in my ear. “Now that I think about it… we never went on a date, did we?” Her sweet voice didn’t hide the jealousy underneath.

I chuckled, answering her telepathically. ‘Are you really jealous right now? Really? You literally live with me. You and the others can have me whenever you want. And didn’t we just go on a vacation where we spent days together?’

She pouted, looking away with a huff. ‘It’s not the same, dumbass. And just for that, we won’t be having sex until you take me on a proper date!’

‘Are you seriously trying to threaten me with sex? You? Miss “we’ve been fucking like rabbits since term started”?’ I deadpanned.

Her embarrassment practically radiated through the link. She jabbed an elbow into my ribs but didn’t argue, knowing I was right.

‘That’s what I thought.’ I sent back smugly, earning another elbow for my trouble.

=====

Following Day

Turns out word of my “date” with Rose spread like wildfire. So, as we strolled toward Hogsmeade hand in hand, enjoying the crisp autumn air, I could definitely feel a lot of eyes tracking our every move.

“They’re following us, aren’t they?” Rose sighed, giving my hand a squeeze.

“Yup,” I replied casually, popping my lips.

She let out another sigh, heavier this time. “Whatever. I’m not letting them ruin our day. Let’s just ignore them.”

“Sounds like a plan.” I nodded before glancing down at her curiously. “So, anywhere in particular you want to go first, or just wander until something catches your eye?”

“The latter. I’ve only ever heard stories about Hogsmeade, mostly from you, actually. I don’t know what I’ll end up liking, so today’s the perfect chance to explore.” Rose tapped her chin thoughtfully before cuddling closer to my side.

She had definitely dressed with care today: a long plaid skirt, a red long-sleeved top with just the barest hint of makeup dusting her cheeks, and a green jumper layered on top to guard against the creeping chill of late autumn.

We chatted easily as we walked, ignoring the not-so-subtle gazes burning holes in our backs or the curious gazes from the other students as they passed us, until the village finally came into view.

“Whoa~ It’s much bigger than I expected,” Rose said in awe, stopping just short of the small bridge and taking it all in.

“You’re telling me.” I blinked, comparing it to both the books and that Hogwarts Legacy game I played.

‘It’s definitely bigger. Though I guess that’s to be expected, this is the real deal, not the version I read or played in the past.’

“Come on~ Let’s explore!” Rose laced her fingers with mine and tugged me forward, her excitement bubbling over.

“Haha, there’s no need to rush, you know? We have the whole day ahead of us.” I laughed, letting her pull me along anyway.

Behind us, though… the prickle of several poorly hidden gazes grew sharper.

‘You girls suck at hiding.’

=====

With the Girls

“Tsk, I’ll give her this one since I kind of forgot the Hogsmeade visit was today. But next time, it’ll be me in Onii-chan’s arm.” Illya clicked her tongue as she crawled out from under the bush she’d been hiding in.

“Get in line, brat. The next outing is my turn!” Rin huffed, emerging right after her.

Both of them looked ridiculous, dressed in oversized dark hoodies with the hoods pulled low and scarves covering their faces like some sort of bargain-bin spies.

“Umm, w-why am I even here again?” Hermione asked with a bright blush as she stepped out of another bush, Daphne shuffling awkwardly beside her with her own cheeks pink. “It feels wrong just spying on them like this.”

“I concur,” Daphne muttered softly, head ducked low to try and hide her embarrassment.

“Hah! Who are you two trying to fool?” Illya turned with a smug look, eyes glinting in mockery. “As if you weren’t planning to sneak around on your own anyway.”

“We weren’t!” Hermione exclaimed, her blush deepening until her face matched a tomato. “Unlike you two deviants, I only wanted to see if Hogsmeade had any bookshops before heading back.”

Daphne, however, didn’t deny it. She glanced away, lips pressed tight, and that silence made Hermione whip toward her with wide, betrayed eyes.

“Really, Daphne?” she asked incredulously.

Before the blonde could stammer out an excuse, Illya suddenly darted behind the pair and shoved them forward with both hands.

“Stop wasting time, you two! Onii-chan is getting away, hurry up!”

Up ahead, Rin was already marching with exaggerated nonchalance, her “inconspicuous” act only drawing more attention to her.

“D-Don’t push so hard, Illyasviel!” Hermione squeaked.

“I can walk on my own,” Daphne muttered stiffly, though she didn’t resist being herded along.

=====

Back with Aether and Rose

The moment we entered Hogsmeade, Rose was practically glued to my side, eyes wide as she tried to take in everything at once.

“Whoa… it’s even cozier than I imagined. The rooftops, the shops, the little lanterns…” She trailed off, cheeks already pink as her fingers tightened around my hand. “I-I don’t even know where to start.”

Chuckling, I leaned closer. “Well, the best way to start is with food. How about Honeydukes? I hear they have sweets that can make even stubborn Gryffindors fall head over heels.”

Rose turned red immediately. “Y-You’re teasing me again, aren’t you?” she muttered, but she still followed eagerly when I led her toward the shop.

Inside, Rose’s eyes sparkled like a kid at Christmas. She pressed against the glass cases, pointing out every other treat with a shy little gasp. I bought her a small box of sugar quills, which she nibbled nervously while glancing up at me from time to time.

“They’re not bad,” she mumbled, twirling one between her fingers. “Do I… look silly eating them?”

“You look adorable,” I answered without hesitation, enjoying the way her blush deepened to her ears.

Just as Rose was about to respond, there was a sudden crash outside the window. We both turned just in time to see a suspiciously familiar pair of legs, Rin’s, dangling from a barrel she’d toppled into while “spying.” Illya’s muffled giggles could be heard from behind another stack of crates.

Rose stared for a beat, then let out a small sigh. “…They won’t leave us alone, won’t they?”

“Nope,” I said, completely deadpan. “Don’t worry. They’ll tire themselves out eventually.”

Rose puffed her cheeks but quickly brightened again when I offered her my arm. “Fine. Then let’s just enjoy ourselves even more, so they can suffer watching from the sidelines.”

“Now you’re talking.”

We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering between shops—Zonko’s, the quill shop, even the Shrieking Shack in the distance—with Rose alternating between shy, flustered comments and little bursts of boldness. At one point she tugged me down by my sleeve, stood on her tiptoes, and planted a quick kiss on my lips before scampering ahead, face as red as her jumper.

I just smiled, hands in his pockets, thinking she’d never looked cuter.

Eventually our date led us to the Three Broomsticks, where I managed to find us a small table tucked near the window.

On the way there, I’d asked Rose if she wanted to try Madam Puddifoot’s. She had looked curious at first, until one peek inside made her face light up crimson. Without a word she latched onto my hand and yanked me away so quickly that I nearly tripped over my own feet. Honestly, I felt relieved to escape with her.

Let’s just say… the place had too much pink and way too many teapots.

“Who would even want to go in there for a date?” Rose muttered, still flushed as she sank into her seat across from me.

“Hahaha, apparently plenty of people,” I chuckled, settling back as we waited for our butterbeers.

“Well, we’re never going there,” Rose declared firmly, arms folded.

“Oh? So there’s going to be a next time then?” I teased, leaning my cheek on my hand with a grin.

Rose froze, her brain finally catching up to what she’d just admitted. Her blush deepened until it matched her hair, and she fumbled with a strand of it as she looked away shyly. “I-I mean, only if… if you want to.”

I reached across the table and gently laced my fingers through hers. “It’s a date then~”

Her grip tightened almost immediately, and after a long, flustered pause she turned back to me with the brightest smile I’d ever seen on her. “Y-Yeah…”

The warm atmosphere held for a few blissful moments, until the seat beside me suddenly dipped.

“Onii-chan~ You don’t mind if we sit here, right?” Illya beamed as she latched onto my arm like a barnacle. “The other tables are so full right now, and I could really use a drink.”

Rose slowly turned, caught sight of Illya plastered to my side, and then noticed Rin, Hermione, and Daphne lingering nearby with the guiltiest expressions imaginable. She sighed heavily, shoulders slumping.

“Fine. I guess you three annoyances can join us. We were planning to head back after this anyway.”

Her fingers slipped from mine as she leaned back in her chair with resignation.

On cue, Rin and the others awkwardly shuffled over and sat down, pretending like they totally hadn’t been spying the whole time.

“I must say, I’m surprised,” Rose said after a long sip of her butterbeer, her green eyes flicking toward Hermione and Daphne. “I don’t really know what to expect from Rin and Illyasviel since I only just met them… but I honestly thought you two would be the last ones to spy on our date.”

Hermione flushed and stared down at her hands. “S-Sorry…” she mumbled, unable to meet Rose’s gaze. Daphne, cheeks dusted pink, simply gave a quiet nod beside her.

Rose sighed, shaking her head. “Unbelievable.” But to everyone’s relief, she let it drop, and conversation soon shifted to lighter topics.

The next half hour passed with laughter, small talk, and the occasional jab from Illya that earned her a kick under the table from Rin.

By the time we left, Rose was firmly latched onto my hand again, holding it possessively as we strolled back toward the castle. She chattered happily about the coming holidays, her earlier irritation already forgotten.

‘I’ll have to make time to sneak Ginny, Astoria, Sakura, and Luna here later,’ I thought with a pang of guilt. ‘It feels unfair that they can’t join us yet.’