harry potter book of crimes

"Merry Christmas, Mr. Dumbledore."

The furnishings in the Pig's Head Bar remained unchanged, and there were dust and stains everywhere. Although Maka didn't care about this, he still felt that it would be more comfortable to at least clean it up.

Of course, he didn't come here specifically to let Aberforth clean the bar tonight.

"What are you doing here? Are there enough places for you to go?" Aberforth said impatiently, putting the glass in his hand on the bar.

"Today is Christmas Eve. Everyone can take a rest. It's okay for me to have a drink, right?" Maka said nonchalantly.

"Want a drink? Huh...really?"

Aberforth chuckled inexplicably, then neatly pulled out a long wine bottle from the wine rack behind him, opened the bottle cap, and poured the wine into a large mug.

.

It could be seen from the rich foam that it should be some kind of beer. However, Maca saw that the liquid was a strange gray-brown color.

"Drink! Today's cup is my treat for you -" Aberforth looked at Maka calmly and said, "I think you will finish it, right? Merry Christmas!"

As he spoke, he pushed the weird beer in front of Maka, and then put on a look of being at ease.

"Oh... okay!" Maka looked at the pint of beer meaningfully and couldn't help but nodded, "If you think this is good..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he grabbed the wine glass and poured a big sip into his mouth, his face instantly wrinkled.

The taste was bitter or spicy, but it had an unusually terrifying taste. He thought he could tolerate it, but this taste was really hard to swallow.

But today, he had to drink at least one sip of this glass of wine no matter what.

"This..." Maka swallowed with difficulty, and then let out a long breath, "What kind of wine is this?"

"'Gamp's Old Social Wine'," Aberforth glared at him. "The Leaky Cauldron's brand is named after the first Minister of Magic -"

"Is this the wine that rewards 100 gold galleons for drinking?" Maka said with a bitter face, "No wonder no one has received the bonus since the 18th century... This... who can drink it all?"

"Only one person has ever been able to drink it all," Aberforth said calmly, "and that was Gamp himself."

"...Fortunately you didn't say it was you." Maka shook her head.

"Humph, will you finish it if I tell you?" Aberforth said coldly, "Tell me! Boy, why did you come to my place tonight?"

When Maka heard this, she paused for a moment.

To be honest, he doesn't look as calm as usual at the moment. From the perspective of others, it always seems that he is a little inexplicably hesitant.

Although Aberforth was tall and thick-set, and often spoke vulgarly, his mind was very delicate and he had a very keen insight into the behavior of others.

Although Maka had only been here a few times, Aberforth had noticed before that something was not right with him.

"...Well," Maka shrugged, "Didn't I just say that? I came here to have a glass of wine, that's all."

Aberforth frowned and his big white beard twitched impatiently.

"Drink it!" He pointed to the cup in front of Maka and said decisively.

Maka glanced at him, but this time she didn't say anything, but sighed softly. Then he grabbed the cup again, and poured half of the cup down his throat while holding his breath.

In the end, he couldn't drink anymore and had to slam the cup down on the bar again.

"I'm not sure what's going on in your mind, and I don't care about that either." Aberforth stared straight at Maka again and said, "I just want to ask you one thing -

—Are you satisfied?"

"No, I'm not-" "No need to deny it!"

Maka was interrupted by Aberforth.

"Yes, I wasn't sure just now, but from the moment you started denying it, I had enough reasons to be sure of my guess -" Aberforth said impatiently, "Is that enough?

I don’t have to worry about a kid like you!”

"Hey, Aberforth..." Maka opened her mouth, but she really didn't know what to say.

But when he didn't say anything, Aberforth continued.

"...or do you think you are also responsible for Albus's death? That's why you came to me on Christmas Eve to mess around?" The old man glanced at him and said, "Stop dreaming, this is completely me.

Brother, it is his own responsibility, your brain is so good - even Albus praised you here, don't you understand?"

Maka was silent for a while, and finally she could only say softly in a voice that only she could hear: "...No, you don't understand."

Maka didn't feel any guilt towards Albus Dumbledore himself.

As Aberforth said, his brother's death was only his own choice, not to mention that for a real wizard, Dumbledore did not "die" in the true sense.

But Dumbledore's premature death was undoubtedly a change brought about by Maka. He didn't feel sorry for Albus Dumbledore, but that didn't mean he didn't feel sorry for others either.

The death of Albus Dumbledore meant that the Aberforth Dumbledore in front of him had become a real person - he no longer had any relatives.

And Maka not only failed to save the matter, but also made it happen in advance.

Aberforth is an old man who is good enough for Maka to like him, even if he is rude and unreasonable, and he always doesn't have a good look towards him.

This sturdy old wizard is completely different from his brother. Every word he speaks directly expresses his inner feelings, and he never acts in a secretive manner.

Therefore, Maka has never been able to treat Professor Dumbledore as a very close person from beginning to end, but she has always been willing to make friends with his younger brother.

But how could Maka come up with such a thing as "Dumbledore's death being brought forward"?

He just didn't expect that Aberforth not only had a very good memory, but also had extremely sharp insights, and he could guess everything about his thoughts so quickly.

This can only be said that tonight, this Christmas Eve, he is indeed a little too relaxed.

"...Albus's death has nothing to do with you, I'm sure of this."

Aberforth took back the cup in front of Maka, and then opened another bottle of butterbeer for him, saying casually, "Before he left, he came to my place once..."

As he was talking, he glanced into the back room seemingly inadvertently. In the direction where his sight was, there was a magical portrait of a girl hanging, but it couldn't be seen here.

Maka knew that Professor Dumbledore probably came here to see his sister with his brother.

"Dumbledore...I mean, what did your brother say to you?" Maka asked.

"He didn't say anything," Aberforth said angrily, "What would he say? He has been like that since he was a child, he wouldn't say anything... But if he doesn't say anything, I can't tell? I can't tell.

When you see him like that, you know that your younger brother is back again! His mind is full of unrealistic ideas..."

"Uh..." The younger brother accused his older brother. It was a conflict between family members, and Maka could only refuse to comment.

"...So I also know that no matter what he died for, it was undoubtedly his own choice." Aberforth said coldly, "I don't care whether he dies or not? Anyway, he is old, who still cares?

well?"

"Then..." Maka said noncommittally, "Have you heard about the funeral? Will you go?"

"Humph, do you want me to go?" Abufu asked pointedly.

When he said this, Maka knew clearly in her heart - this old man thinks clearly and can hide things in his heart. It's no wonder that Professor Dumbledore can safely let him lurk here as an informant.

To say that Aberforth was also a member of the Order of the Phoenix, not many people actually knew about it. Especially since the Order of the Phoenix was rebuilt, the only ones who had any dealings with him were Kingsley and Moody.

Even Mundungus, who occasionally did business with him, didn't know that this bar owner was also a member of the Order of the Phoenix.

"Okay!" Maka nodded clearly, "Then, some personnel scheduling matters will be left to you - I will let Kingsley explain it to you, and you and him will be responsible together.

.”

"Yeah." Aberforth snorted, indicating that he would cooperate.

This operation is actually not as convenient as before, especially on the command side. More manpower will definitely be needed to make temporary adjustments.

Because the situation this time is not easy to predict, it is difficult to make a series of plans in advance.

Maka heated up her butterbeer, then poured it down her throat in large gulps, and drank it all in a short while.

Since Aberforth was so calm about his brother's death, it was naturally difficult for him to care about it anymore. Even if he still felt guilty, he could only put it aside and stop thinking about it.

After finishing the drink, Makaha let out a breath of hot air, stood up and walked out.

"Anyway, be careful, the situation this time may be a bit chaotic." He left these words, pushed open the wooden door of the bar, and left.

Aberforth watched the door close, then put away the wine glasses, closed the door in advance and walked into the back room.

The Hog's Head Bar rarely closes early, but today is Christmas Eve, and there are almost no customers. Even if someone wants to go out for a drink and chat, most of them will go to the Three Broomsticks on the other side of Hogsmeade, and

I wouldn't choose to come here.

Aberforth sat at the small table in the back room, poured himself some wine, and then looked at the portrait on the wall.

"Merry Christmas, Ariana."

The calm-looking blonde girl in the painting nodded gently towards him, with a faint smile on her lips.