Hogwarts: Starting with full Unforgivable Curses

Chapter 230 Eavesdropping
Wake up the next day.

Dylan, as usual, went to Hogsmeade with Ron and the others.

This time, Ron and Harry didn't seem so bitter and resentful.

On the contrary, they were all quite happy.

Before leaving the school, Harry even smiled and waved to them.

Clearly, Harry had already told Ron and the others about the Marauder's Map.

On the road.

Ron muttered something under his breath next to Dylan.

"I didn't expect Fred and the others to have such good stuff. Why didn't they bring it out sooner? Last time they left Harry all alone at school. They were so disloyal!"

Hermione frowned: "That's against school rules. If Harry gets caught, he might even be expelled!"

Dylan glanced at Hermione.

They're talking as if this brat has done far more than a few things that violate school rules.

Because it's best to keep the Marauder's Map a secret as far as possible, even Neville wasn't on their side.

In fact, Neville wanted to be with Dylan.

However, Dylan casually made up an excuse and sent Neville away to Dean and Seamus.

Fred and George didn't come this time.

After all, they were the same age as Cedric, and as students in the same year, unless they were like Cedric and would take this opportunity to come to Hogsmeade Village for a date.

Otherwise, I wouldn't leave the school every time I had the chance to go out.

"Dylan, do you think Harry will get caught?"

Ron looked at Dylan.

He and Hermione had already spoken with Harry.

After they arrived at Hogsmeade, Harry secretly slipped out of the school via a secret passage.

Wearing an invisibility cloak, they met up with them in Hogsmeade Village.

They hadn't reached their destination yet, and Ron couldn't help but feel a little worried.

Dylan waved his hand: "Don't worry, you'll definitely see him in Hogsmeade."

"Really?" Ron's eyes lit up, his worry instantly turning to joy. "With you saying so, Dylan, it should be a sure thing!"

Dylan: “…”

The group followed the main force to Hogsmeade.

Dylan did not wander around with Ron and the others.

Cedric has already taken the girl to Madame Patiffe's Tea House.

Dylan doesn't like the tea here either.

They were even less willing to be a useless third wheel.

He could have simply not come this time.

However, Dylan was actually craving a butterbeer.

So after thinking about it, I decided to come over and wander around a bit more before heading back.

Moreover, he might even encounter something interesting here.

Ron and the others went to meet up with Harry first.

I guess they took Harry for a short walk again.

After Dylan had already drunk a glass of butterbeer.

Ron and Harry came in too.

Dylan was sitting in a rather secluded spot, in a corner, with not many people around him.

After Harry and the others came in.

Ron looked around and quickly located Dylan's position.

Harry saw Dylan and a look of joy appeared on his face.

"Dylan, have you started eating yet?"

Ron came over too: "Dylan, you have no idea what Harry did outside just now, it was absolutely hilarious! He actually pulled Malfoy's pants down!"

Ron laughed heartily: "Malfoy's legs are so thin, like two bamboo poles!"

Several people walked over, approached Dylan, and stared in astonishment at the table full of food he had laid out.

There were several glasses of butterbeer on the table.

Other dishes include a platter of roasted chicken ribs, walnut wood-roasted ribs, and more.

"How much does this meal cost?" Ron swallowed hard.

He looked at the roasted chicken and pork rib platter, with roasted corn and potato chips scattered around.

He hadn't eaten much in the morning, and his mouth was practically watering from the corners of his mouth.

"Since we have nothing else to do, we might as well sit down and have a drink, and of course we need to eat something with it."

Dylan shrugged. "The stuff here isn't expensive; it won't actually cost much."

"But, Dylan, can you finish all these beers?" Hermione asked, looking at the seven or eight butterbeers on the table.

Each cup was still steaming hot.

"Actually, this is what I ordered for you."

Dylan pointed to the several glasses of butterbeer on the table, which were steaming.

"Just ordered it, drink it quickly."

"Did you know we were coming?" Harry's eyes widened.

"I just have a feeling," Dylan chuckled. "Anyway, even if you guys don't come, I can still finish all this."

Ron also raised his eyebrows with amusement, looking like two bouncy rubber bands. Then his eyes curved into two crescent moons with wrinkles from laughing, and even his eyelashes trembled.

—Perhaps it was because he could eat delicious food for free that he smiled so broadly.

The dimple on the left side looks like a small pit, and her cheeks are also puffed out.

It felt like I'd hidden two candies inside.

"Dylan can foresee the future! You've known this for a long time, so Dylan must have anticipated our arrival and specially ordered these for us!"

Ron plopped down, grabbed a glass of non-alcoholic, carbonated beer, and sniffed it.

"Such a strong malt aroma!"

Ron picked up the cup, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp.

Milk foam got all over his lips.

But Ron didn't bother wiping it off.

With his other hand, he grabbed the roasted chicken wings from the plate.

It made a sizzling sound as it was being gnawed on.

"Ah! This butterbeer is ten times better than the sugar water my mom makes!"

"Would you dare say that to Mrs. Molly?"

Hermione sat down next to him, thanked Dylan, and then gently picked up her cup and took a small sip.

"Tch! I was just saying it offhand!" Ron grumbled.

It seems that the two of them have gotten along quite well again.

—At least they're not as at odds anymore.

"Hmm, it tastes sweet, and it's quite delicious."

Hermione savored the warm sweetness of the butterbeer and the malty aroma spreading in her mouth.

A warm feeling immediately spread from her throat to her heart.

Hermione leaned back in her chair, relaxing.

He glanced at Ron wolfing down his food and pursed his lips.

"You always eat so roughly. When will you be able to eat more elegantly like Dylan?"

Ron, who was sucking on the ribs, paused.

He glanced at Hermione and gave a soft snort.

"I don't have Dylan's strength, so why am I being so elegant? Am I just pretending?"

Hermione: "...What you're saying seems to be true."

Harry watched the two bickering, and his smile stretched almost to his ears.

He looked at the beer in front of him and offered it to the beer with both hands.

Thinking back to the nervousness of sneaking off to Hogsmeade Village.

The warm touch from his palm made him feel much more at ease.

Pick up the cup.

Harry leaned down gently.

The soft milk foam touched his lips.

When you drink it.

It's sweet with a warm, bubbly sensation.

It warmed his stomach instantly.

He looked up at Dylan.

He glanced at Ron, who was gnawing on a chicken bone, and mumbled, "This beer is great."

Although Hermione would bicker with Ron, she would also hand him a tissue when she saw him eating with his mouth full of oil.

The group sat down between the wooden tables and chairs.

The surrounding area was filled with the sounds of laughter and chatter, along with the crackling of the fire.

The aroma of butterbeer mingled with the scent of food.

He felt exceptionally calm and at peace.

"Is this enough for you? If not, let me order some more food for you!"

He has a lot of money. He just never knows where to spend it.

“Let’s eat first,” Hermione said. “Dylan ordered quite a lot.”

Dylan nodded: "Even if it's my treat, if everyone hasn't had enough, then Harry can continue to treat."

Harry chuckled. "Please eat as much as you like."

Then, Dylan raised his glass, his gaze sweeping over the group of people gathered around the wooden table.

The morning light wasn't very bright.

A few candles were lit in the bar.

The halo cast a warm yellow hue on the rim of the wine glass.

"Merry Chrismas?"

Harry quickly grabbed the handle of the cup.

But before he could even raise his glass...

Ron's rib, which he was gnawing on, fell back onto the plate with a "thud".

He frantically wiped his oily fingers on a tissue.

When he picked up the wine glass, his elbow bumped against it, making it wobble.

A little bit of milk foam slid down the side of the cup.

"Oh! Right! We're drinking together, how can we not clink glasses?"

Hermione smiled and raised her glass.

The four people's cups clinked together.

"Ding!"

The crisp sound caused the milk foam in their cups to slosh and splash out a few drops.

It landed on the wooden table.

It looks like it's been sprinkled with tiny stars.

"Merry Chrismas!"

Several people tilted their heads back and drank more than half of the glass.

"jingle"

Suddenly, a bell rang at the door.

Harry and the others had just put the cup down.

I felt a chill drifting in from the doorway.

The bar's wooden door was pushed open, and a cold wind carrying a few snowflakes rushed in.

Harry looked up.

Then I saw Professor McGonagall, wearing a silver-gray plaid scarf, striding into the room with her back ramrod straight.

Professor Flitwick followed behind her with a brisk pace.

—And Hagrid.

Hagrid was talking to a fat man wearing a dark green suit.

Harry knew that fat guy very well.

It was the Minister of Magic.

—Fuggi!
Hagrid and Fudge blocked the doorway, their figures almost completely shutting it off.

Ron and his group had obviously seen the newcomers as well.

Ron almost dropped the bone fragments from his mouth, and his eyes became somewhat panicked.

He secretly nudged Harry's knee under the table with his toe.

Harry finally realized what was happening and turned pale.

Why is Professor McGonagall here with the Minister of Magic and other professors?
Good guy!
Now the Minister of Magic, the Dean of the School, and even the Vice-Principal have all gathered around.

If he is discovered.

Professor McGonagall could punish him directly according to the school rules.

The Minister of Magic can even legally convict him!
A pincer attack.

How can he play like this?
"Hurry up and put on your Invisibility Cloak." Dylan's voice floated lightly in Harry's ear.

"Huh? Oh! Right, the Invisibility Cloak!" Harry finally snapped out of his daze, his heart pounding, and he quickly pulled out his Invisibility Cloak.

While Professor McGonagall was greeting Ms. Rosmerta at the bar...

Harry quickly held the Invisibility Cloak up his head.

At the same time, Professor McGonagall's voice rang out from not far away.

“Minister Fudge, would you like to try the hot butterbeer here? The version with cinnamon is very popular, and I like it very much.”

"Oh, of course."

At that time, there were still a few students scattered around in the bar.

Rosmerta added with a smile, "Don't worry, the butterbeers sold here to minors are all non-alcoholic."

Fudge burst into laughter, reminding the students around him who were also completely unprepared for the professor's sudden appearance.

"Kids, don't drink too much here. Even if it's non-alcoholic butterbeer, don't drink too much."

He turned around and then lowered his voice, saying, "I think we can now ban minors from coming in."

Rosmerta glanced at Fudge: "Then so be it, Minister."

She stretched out her wand and pointed gently at the doorway.

Suddenly, a flash of light appeared.

The row of skeletons at the entrance shuddered, having received new instructions.

—Prevent minors from entering later.

Professor McGonagall pursed her lips and nodded. "Then please give me a small glass of violet water."

Hagrid's muffled voice rang out: "This reminds me a bit of when I was still a minor, secretly—"

"Ahem!" Professor Flitwick coughed lightly.

Hagrid snapped out of his daze, smiled sheepishly, and scratched the back of his head with his large hand.

“I mean—please give me a four-pint honey bar, Rosmerta.”

Professor Flitwick immediately followed up, saying, "Sherry juice soda with ice and whelks."

"Oh, everything you ordered is very good~ What would you like, Minister? Would you like redcurrant rum again?"

"Yes, darling, I didn't expect you to still remember what I like to drink. Please get me one—would you like some? We can drink together."

Fudge's voice sounded very friendly.

It sounds like it was deliberately piled up.

Specifically...

It looks a lot like butter bread covered in icing.

—And he also likes to drag out the last syllable of his words.

Dylan glanced at them.

Well……

And that's where the interesting thing happens, isn't it?

Gently raise the wand.

Dylan placed a shield around them.

This was inspired by Dylan's Muggle shielding spell.

Specifically, it allows the wizard to avoid noticing things within the spell's protective range.

However, they were already sitting quite far inside.

The seat backs blocked their view, so it didn't attract their attention.

Dylan moved the glass of wine in front of Harry aside.

Harry, wearing the Invisibility Cloak, looked sad as his beer, which he had barely taken two sips of, was taken away.

at the same time.

Hagrid and Professor McGonagall sat down.

They weren't too far from Dylan and the others.

Faintly, one could still hear the professors talking.

"Then I'll consider this drink as a treat from you, Minister."

Ms. Rosmerta prepared drinks for several people.

He then walked over with his cup and sat down in the chair.

"Of course, it's my treat."

"I wonder what brought you here?"

"Oh, of course there are some things. How's business lately?"

Ms. Rosmerta chuckled.

"Dementors have been coming to search my bar every day lately, so my business must be doing really well. So well that I've had to rely on some students to make ends meet."

She narrowed her eyes, and the expression on her face was not as good as she had said.

Fudge didn't seem embarrassed at all; he just smiled slightly.

“There’s nothing I can do, honey. You know there’s a fugitive murderer who’s probably at Hogwarts—or somewhere nearby.”

Rosmerta curled her lip. "Are you trying to tell me that Celias Black is in Hogsmeade?"

"Oh, I didn't say that."

"Tell me, what exactly is the reason?"

Rosmerta took a sip of butterbeer.

"The Dementors have been giving me a real headache lately."

(End of this chapter)