Our planning didn’t prepare us for the weather. In my years on the Saint Patrick’s Day parade we’ve had everything from sunshine to pouring rain but I never expected we’d be halfway along the main street when the clouds above opened and instead of the forecast “light rain” we got snowflakes softly floating downwards.

Children in the crowd gasped with excitement and even the adults looked happy. Snow is so rare in Castle Bailey that went we had a few snow days earlier in the year none of us expected to get more. Nobody put up an umbrella but a few tugged up hoods or pulled on woollen hats. I held Bob close and hoped his fur wouldn’t be ruined by the snow.

Linda/ Professor McGonagall joined me where I was getting Bob to wave at the crowds behind the barriers. &...

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