by Jamie Noel Koslarevic
Everyone here knows Hogsmeade, if we are aware of it or not. Remember the very first day when we arrived with the Hogwarts Express? Yes, you got it. That’s Hogsmeade. A lovely Wixen Village on our path to Hogwarts. Our Headmistress and Deputy Headmistress are super great but organizing one day a month on which we are allowed to visit said village! If this is your first year here, that brief moment at the station -before you were brought to the boats- was definitely not enough to know what you could find there and why you really should go instead of hiding out in your dorm or the library come Sunday. That’s why I am here. Let me tell you about Hogsmeade!
Hogsmeade has been around for a really long time. Don’t ask me how long, a lot longer than anyone of us is alive really, some ancient century or something, maybe the 10th or so. But it has not always looked like what we know today. I remember when I arrived on the train for the first two years it looked a lot different. Why you ask? Because it got destroyed in a fire in March 2027. Students, Professors and inhabitants alike cleaned up the debris and collections were made for rebuilding efforts. After reconstructions, the village reopened in August of the same year, which is what we know now.
It’s the perfect place if you forgot to buy something before the year started, get a nice cup of tea, send owl post – though you can do that in school too – all that kind of stuff, or have some fun! Here’s a little overview for what you can find there. Imagine Sunday late morning: You arrive at the plaza and the Headmistress allows you to head off and enjoy your day.
If you didn’t have a chance to borrow a school owl, you can send mail and packages from the Owl Post office. That is if they allow it again. There’s been some trouble last year and they banned students from receiving and sending mail from there. You know, better stick to school owls. Next to that, you will find a pub. There was some trouble with that too, because they are not really Goblin friendly, enter at your own risk. Or not, that’s even better.
Next to that is a location you really want to remember. The “St. Mungo’s Outreach”. If you get injured during your Hogsmeade stay that’s where you want to go to get healing!
Now on to the really important stuff. Candy. On top of the hill, you will “Honeydukes”. Pretty much every magical sweet tooth and sugar addict knows that place. Sweets and chocolate as far as the eyes can see, sold by none other than Taffy Feathersweet. Hot tip: They make deliveries to the castle!
We may get potion supplies for classes but as you heard during class: if you mess up you gotta get your own supplies. And maybe you want to do some brewing on your own time too! Then you need ingredient supplies you may not be able to harvest yourself! What you want to do is check out “Goode’s Potions Supplies” for that. You also really want to meet the owner Lukka Rookswood. Knowledgable, friendly and very pretty.
Bookworms and Researchers. I know you’re out there! For all your needs, as well as a dose of your favourite smell of books throughout the day, you can find “Tomes and Scrolls Specialist Bookshop” next to Goode’s. It’s easy to spend hours in there just checking out what they got. And if they don’t have what you need, they might be able to order it!
Hogwarts’ House Elves are amazing when it comes to fixing our uniforms and such but if you are in need of some tailoring, some new threads and such, find “Gladrags Wizardwear” further down the road. Talented tailors will help you look your best.
Is your cauldron already banged up? Leaking? Blown up in smoke? Is your snitch flying lopsided? Does your cat need a wheel because your spell accidentally put that hind leg in a cast and now the poor kitty can’t walk? Do you need repairs or a metal bender? No, we don’t have the Avatar but we have “Snitches get Stitches”. Metalcharmer and all over very charming, Alice Hawkins is your person when it comes to all your metal charming needs.
Across from that, you will find “The Magic Neep” if you are really hungry and got a craving for some great vegetables or fruit or are in need of groceries. Check it out, everything’s fresh and seasonal. Perfect for the big or little hunger in between, or if you need to buy stuff for your need culinary experiment.
If you are not of age, there is nothing else for you to see in that alley. But if you are, check out the Crimson Fang. If you are daring enough to not be of age and still try, good luck, hope those age restriction spells won’t fry you to a crisp!
Leaving the alley, the last store on that side offers magical instruments and devices. “Dervish and Banges” got all kinds of stuff for protection, to make you just a little bit safer. Even Wixen need that stuff you know. Who doesn’t need a sneakoscope, sensors or Remembralls?
Now that you are at the village gate you could go to the train station and take a trip – which I don’t recommend, don’t listen to me – or have a stroll down into a more residential area, the shrieking shack – again don’t listen to me – or you can do what I am doing now: Check out the other side of the shopping road. Yes, let’s do that instead.
Looking through the store window, all you can see of “Dogweed and Deathcap” are plants. Like a Garden centre, mate. They sell plants and flowers and all that nature stuff, but also some potion ingredients that are plant-based. So keep that in mind for your potions and Herbology desires. Oh and be nice, because some plants there bite if they see something fishy going on.
Want to raise your chances on the Quidditch field and during Try-outs with proper equipment? Maybe you just want to look real cool and professional or want your own Broom care kits because all the ones in school are always in use by someone else. Or do you like accessorizing to look as if you know what’re doing on the field even if you don’t? “Spintwitches Sporting Goods Needs” is your place to check out.
The last month has been wild. Too wild for some, which resulted in some broken wands. If you are among those poor souls, do you know what you need? “Bishop Wands”. Yep, you can get a new one, of course for a price. Not even wands are free, despite us needing them to cast.
Odin, that was a lot of shopping. You need a break? Of course you do, I need a break just writing this! And the best way to relax is with cake. Okay, maybe some tea too. You can get both at “Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop”! You can sit outside or head inside and hide from curious eyes. Unless it’s packed of course then there isn’t much hiding, who knows maybe you end up sharing a table with your arch enemy. But hey at least the tea and cake are great!
There is one last place I want to show you. Remember that plaza you arrived at in the beginning? Go back there and look into that place. You’ll see two paths left and right. Keep away from the right one that leads into the forbidden forest. You’ll be kicked to the moon if you go there, the real one not the illusion from class. If you come out alive that is. No kidding that place is dangerous you don’t want to go there. But the path on the left leads down to the fairground. Sometimes we got a carnival or festival there. But when not you can still find some carousels to have a little fun. Just don’t go fast the fence. That’s more forbidden forest with stuff that is eager to kill you.
But I can tell you all day about Hogsmeade, and totally did, but nothing but going and checking it out yourself. Remember if you don’t go on that day, you’ll have to wait for a whole month to get another chance. See you there!
