Chapter 909: The same tower, Dumbledore's choice
Apart from the few people present, no one knew that such a chat had taken place in the cabin, and no one knew that the hated Malfoy had been replaced.
For some time thereafter, Hogwarts seemed to have returned to peace again.
But it only seems that, if you ignore the dark shadows that always linger around the school, the increasing number of strangers in Hogsmeade, and the packed Hog's Head Pub every day... it's still very peaceful.
It's another weekend.
After Kyle finished breakfast, he met Malfoy in the hallway who was about to watch a Quidditch match.
There were a lot of people around, and the two were squeezed together and rushed out of the castle, and then they separated as if nothing had happened.
Malfoy took his two followers to the Quidditch field, but Kyle did not return to the cabin. Instead, he left the school and went straight to the Hog's Head Inn.
Although it was still daytime, the bar seemed quite dark and filled with equally dark-looking patrons.
Most of them wore wide hoods that covered their entire faces.
Kyle walked to the bar and found Aberforth busy at work.
Then a spotlessly clean cup was placed in front of him.
"Would you like something to drink?" Aberforth asked with a smile.
Kyle didn't react for a moment and stood there in a daze for a while.
"Oh, Merlin's beard, did you see that? That boss...he actually smiled just now!"
Someone spoke for Kyle.
"Idiot, you must be drunk!" The man next to him said without even looking up, "This old goat always has only one expression. I would rather believe that Hogwarts will offer a dark arts course tomorrow than believe that he will laugh."
"I swear I saw it," the man continued. "I really did."
"Okay, I take that back."
"You're not drunk, you're fake drunk."
……
The two of them started arguing nearby, and Kyle gradually came back to his senses.
When he looked up again, Aberforth had returned to his old self, looking stern, as if everyone owed him five hundred Galleons.
That's just right...Kyle breathed a sigh of relief.
Aberforth is so scary when he laughs. It feels like watching a troll teaching a centaur to knit a sweater. It's full of incongruity.
It’s better like this now.
"Thank you..." Aberforth said in a voice that only Kyle could hear.
Of course Kyle knew what he meant.
Ariana had already been to the Hog's Head and probably told the stubborn old man the truth.
Kyle shook his head. “I’m not trying to help you. I just happened to think of a possible solution to the problem, so I’ll give it a try.
"Honestly, if she hadn't joined that side, there would have been nothing I could do."
"You helped her anyway." Aberforth brought out a dusty bottle of whiskey. "Unlike someone who just kept going around in circles, couldn't solve the problem, and almost got himself into trouble. He lived for more than a hundred years in vain and had no brains at all...
"And he actually dared to hit me. Just wait, I will get back at you sooner or later..."
Aberforth's tone revealed deep contempt and resentment towards Dumbledore.
The hostility between the two did not seem to be eliminated by Ariana's resurrection. On the contrary, because of Dumbledore's previous punch, a new track was opened up.
Kyle wisely didn't respond.
It doesn't matter what happens to these two old guys, just don't involve him.
Aberforth wiped the dust off the bottle and poured Kyle a glass.
"Try it. It's real 80-year-old Ogden Fire Whiskey, not the inferior liquor that those idiots drink in bottles."
When Aberforth said this, he did not lower his voice, and many people heard it.
Everyone looked at him in disbelief.
What’s going on? Are those selling fake liquor so arrogant now?
Without any disguise?
"What are you looking at!" Aberforth said bluntly, "If you really want to drink, you can. Thirty Galleons a cup, come over if you want!"
Then everyone lowered their heads again.
can not afford.
"Huh..." Aberforth sneered, "Wuxi, do you still want to drink the real stuff? You don't even choose the time to dream..."
Kyle remained silent.
The reason why the Hog's Head Bar is so popular is not only because the environment here is suitable for dark wizards to meet, but also because these people can't afford to go to the Three Broomsticks and can only come here to make do.
Changing to a better bottle can be a kind of psychological comfort in a sense.
Kyle picked up the cleaner-than-three-broomsticks cup and took a sip.
"Well?" asked Aberforth.
"That's all." Kyle pursed his lips.
The old man's face suddenly fell.
Even though Kyle saved Ariana, it didn't mean he could insult his treasure so casually.
What does a wizard who is less than twenty years old know about Ogden? This is eighty years old...
"Nothing tastes as good as one hundred and fifty years."
Kyle's words made Aberforth, who was about to speak, shut his mouth again.
Because not only did he say that, he also took out a glass bottle that looked even older. Aberforth just took a look at the year on it, and the corners of his mouth twitched as if he was breakdancing.
It really is one hundred and fifty years...
But he soon realized that Kyle could certainly get this kind of wine. After all, he had been to 1899, and Dumbledore had mentioned in casual conversation that he seemed to have bought a lot of things at that time.
"Oh, I bet it doesn't have the taste of time to settle." Aberforth said with his neck stiff.
"It's different. The process is different." Kyle shook his finger. "This batch of goods from 150 years ago was the work of Ogden's most talented winemaker. It was also from that time that the so-called... Ogden Fire was born."
Kyle shook the bottle, and the wine inside seemed to ignite a flame, casting a red color on the cloudy glass.
The real fiery whiskey really has fiery fire, and it is not just a brand like it is now.
"Sell me a bottle..." Aberforth couldn't move his eyes away.
"The price is eight hundred Galleons."
"Eight hundred..." Aberforth stared, "Why don't you go and rob it."
"That's really a slow way to rob money, and there are risks." Kyle said, "Do you want it or not? Let me make it clear first, eight hundred is a friendly price. If it's in my store, I won't let you see it for less than one thousand."
"Buy!" Aberforth's voice was almost squeezed out from between his teeth, "You damn profiteer."
"Same here." Kyle smiled happily and handed over his transformed lizard skin bag.
I didn't expect that I could complete a transaction on this trip.
Aberforth took the money and kept muttering something, like "idiot, stupid, it's a wasted trip..." or something like that.
Not long after, Aberforth came back and threw the leather bag to Kyle in angrily.
"Tell me, what do you want to see me for this time?"
Kyle opened the leather bag and took a look, then put it away with satisfaction.
"Just a small matter, help keep an eye on a few people." Kyle said, and the wand hidden in his sleeve moved slightly.
"Close your ears and listen!"
"My place is always full lately." Aberforth raised his eyelids, "I can't possibly keep an eye on all of them."
"Not all of them, just a few," Kyle said. "The big guy in the corner, the witch sitting by the door, and the three at the table across from me."
"Are they all Death Eaters?"
"Yes, a genuine evil wizard." Kyle said, "Malfoy got the information from Crabbe and Goyle. These people have used the Killing Curse more than once, and they are also the most difficult ones."
"Malfoy?" Aberforth raised his eyebrows. "He's the guy who wanted to kill Dumbledore... Can he get information out of him under such circumstances?"
Apparently, Aberforth also knew the inside story.
"It seems that he made his secret mission public and gained the trust of Crabbe and Goyle." Kyle said, "It's an unexpected gain. I didn't expect Malfoy to be so capable."
"What do you want me to do?" Aberforth asked.
"Just watch." Kyle said, "They are still here, which means the Death Eaters are not taking any action. There is no need to worry about it."
"What if they move?"
Kyle said nothing, just lightly stroked the table with his fingers.
Aberforth raised his eyebrows, "Those were five senior Death Eaters, all killed... You really think highly of me."
"You can also write me a letter," Kyle said. "I don't mind making the trip."
"But I don't want to waste parchment." Aberforth sighed, "I see, if you are fine, go back. Staying here all the time will easily arouse other people's suspicion.
"Hogwarts professors never come to the Hog's Head... and neither do students."
"It's okay." Kyle said indifferently: "They won't take any action in the near future anyway."
"But I don't want to see you again." Aberforth said expressionlessly.
After paying 800 Galleons, his gratitude to Kyle was instantly wiped out.
Tsk, Arianna’s weight isn’t that heavy… Kyle muttered to himself, then got up and left the Hog’s Head Bar.
After returning to school, the Quidditch game had just ended. Students returned to the castle in groups of three or five, discussing the game.
Kyle saw Malfoy again in the crowd. There was still an empty space around him and no one wanted to get close to him, but he, Crabbe and Goyle were talking and laughing, and the three of them reconciled again.
Kyle just took a look and turned away.
After a period of time, the snow on the ground gradually melted, and Kyle's ancient runes class remained stable, with one class per week, and he would leave as soon as the get out of class was over and never stay after class.
It was Hermione who didn't look happy. She always had endless questions and even found a way through the alchemical fog through self-study.
It was not until Kyle assured her that with her current abilities, she was good enough to get an O in NEWT that Hermione came less often.
She seemed to want to challenge her limits. She not only wanted to get more NEWT certificates, but also wanted all her grades to be O.
Although Kyle felt that this was not necessary... It was just a certificate, wouldn't it be enough to have hands?
But since the students are so enthusiastic, it would be difficult for him as a professor to discourage their enthusiasm.
Malfoy would still bring him some news from time to time, all about the Death Eaters' latest plans.
It has to be said that when he really makes up his mind to do something, he can still gain a lot.
Even Crabbe and Goyle were not considered important figures. Apart from the five Death Eaters in the Hog's Head, most of the information they knew was irrelevant.
But better than nothing.
With the addition of another traitor, Snape, most of the Death Eaters, big and small, hiding around Hogwarts have surfaced.
