A Certain Magical Hogwarts

Chapter 412 Aberforth's Bankruptcy

Not only the American witch, but even William and Hermione were dragged to the Hog's Head by the old man.

In his words: I am an old man who is about to die, I can't see the road, and I don't have many wizards to take me there. What if the goat gets lost halfway there?

Not going? You can't not go. If you say you're not going, they'll lie on the ground and try to scam you.

William realized that the old man was indeed a bar scammer, deliberately blocking the intersection to lure wizards to the Hog's Head Bar.

The old man claimed to be blind, but he didn't seem blind at all. He led the group towards the Pig Head Bar with practiced ease.

At the entrance of the bar, there was a tattered wooden sign hanging on a rusty frame.

The sign depicts a severed wild boar head, its blood soaking through the white cloth wrapped around it.

The three hesitated outside the door.

No wonder everyone was just taking pictures outside and didn't want to go inside for drinks.

Just by looking at the furnishings at the entrance, you can tell it's dilapidated inside. They can only fool young wizards, making a living by selling them high-proof alcohol.

So the bar owner must have some powerful connections.

In the entire village of Hogsmeade, only this place dares to secretly sell strong liquor to young wizards.

The bar is still doing well; it hasn't closed down, and Dumbledore hasn't come knocking on the door to kill the owner.

This shop must be owned by a relative of a school leader.

William was particularly experienced because in his previous life, the only snack shop in the school was the family business of the vice principal.

He also owns a series of physical businesses such as canteens, bookstores, and stationery stores.

So, whose relative does this bar actually belong to?

William guessed that it wasn't Professor Snape, but most likely that old nerdy girl Trelawney.

One of them was prone to favoritism; the other was a heavy drinker, with bottles of sherry enough to fill several divination classrooms.

William couldn't think of any other professor who would be so shameless, except for the two of them.

He then went to the principal to file a formal complaint, demanding that this unhealthy trend be completely eradicated and that Hogwarts be restored to a peaceful and just environment!

"Come on, let's go inside," William said.

Hermione held William's hand tightly, but she wasn't too afraid.

When they were in Paris, they even went to the Cowboy Bar and caused quite a scene.

Putting everything else aside, Hermione certainly became much bolder during her trip to France.

Previously, it was just violating school rules, but now it's violating the law, and I don't care too much.

William glanced at the witch, whose face was hidden under a thick knitted hat.

However, he keenly noticed that the other person had subtly glanced at them several times.

American tourists... Could they be Tom's new henchmen?

Surprisingly, the entrance looked dirty and messy, but once inside the bar, it was very clean.

Fred and George had come here to buy whisky many times, according to their description:

Pig Head Bar was small, dark, very dirty, and reeked of mutton.

The bar was still dark, but the floor was spotless, the bar counter was immaculate, and there was a hint of mugwort in the air.

William soon found out the reason, as a house-elf came running quickly from behind the counter.

He was dressed in a disheveled manner, with a white scarf wrapped around his head, a white floral robe, purple wide-leg pants, and carrot shoes on his feet...

Piccolo Daimaō... is that you?

The house-elf bowed deeply, lowering his head to the ground, and cried out excitedly, "Sir, you're back!"

"No customers this morning?" The old man took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of bright blue eyes.

Turns out he wasn't blind; this boss is really cunning.

"No." The house-elf shook its pointed, protruding ears.

"We haven't had any customers for months. If this continues, my son and I will have to go begging!"

The old man's voice was loud, spitting everywhere, as he cursed:

"That damn Dementor! It patrols every morning and evening; no customers dare to come anymore!"

In no time, he had sprayed Fudge and the Auror with his own spray, truly deserving of the title... the most refined and easygoing person in Hogsmeade.

"Sir, while you were out, I cleaned the shop twice more." The house-elf blinked its innocent big eyes.

The old man was taken aback and quickly waved his hands, saying, "That doesn't count! I didn't see it! That doesn't count! No pay!"

"Okay." The little elf lowered its head, somewhat dejected.

"Hurry up and serve the guests their drinks. I went to great lengths to bring them here from the street corner." The old man looked up and said presumptuously, "Let's start with a few bottles of butterbeer..."

"I'll just have a glass of water," the witch said hastily.

"Hmm?" The old man's eyebrows furrowed together.

He looked at me with disbelief, as if to say, "You come to a bar and you only drink water? Are you looking down on me?"

"Oh, alright... then one bottle it is." The witch had no choice but to change her mind.

"Hurry up, kid, didn't you hear the guest say four bottles?" the old man shouted.

The house-elf looked at the witch with a puzzled expression, and under the old man's gaze, he had no choice but to go and get four bottles of wine.

"And you?"

"Young wizards can't drink outside," Hermione shook her head.

"It's alright, your principal is a complete idiot, he won't know," the old man scoffed.

Hermione frowned; she wasn't happy to hear others speaking ill of her headmaster.

"A bottle of mead will do," William said softly.

"I only brought enough money for one bottle. I won't pay for anything more. Go ask the principal for it."

"Oh, okay... I don't like drinking that. It's too weak and too sweet," the old man muttered.

The house-elves first brought four bottles of wine to the witch, then dragged their trays toward William's table.

The old man led his goat toward the backyard.

"Ah, you are Mr. Stark and Miss Granger!" the elf suddenly shrieked.

He was so excited that he lost his grip on the tray, which fell to the ground and shattered.

The little elf stood frozen for a moment, trembling all over, terrified by his own foolish behavior.

"Bad Dobby, you broke the guest's wine."

He charged at the nearest table and began banging his head against it, screaming, "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!"

The witch was terrified; it was the first time she had ever encountered such a scene.

William waved his wand, and Dobby was magically controlled, his body moving away from the table.

The old man reappeared at the back door, and he said loudly and sternly, "Dobby, I should have told you not to punish yourself!"

If you don't behave, I'll expel you.

The old man's words seemed to have an effect, and Dobby gradually quieted down.

He said in a trembling voice, "Dobby understands, Dobby won't do it again... The cost of the drinks will be deducted from his wages."

"Even if you don't tell me, I'll still deduct the money. I don't even earn enough in a month to pay your salary." The old man disappeared.

Dobby grabbed another bottle of wine.

William asked, "You just said your name is Dobby? The Malfoy house-elf?"

"They are no longer my masters." Dobby wiped his eyes.

"With Harry Potter's help, the old master gave Dobby clothes."

William and Hermione exchanged a glance; they had indeed heard Harry mention it before.

Last school year, a house-elf prevented Harry from returning to school.

William learned from the elf in the school kitchen that Dobby was a Malfoy elf.

"Dobby, how do you know us?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"Your photos are all over the newspapers," Dobby exclaimed excitedly.

"I also heard Harry Potter mention that Mr. Stark defeated 'The Man Who Cannot Be Mentioned' and saved his and Mr. Weasley's lives."

Mr. Stark is a really good man.

The witch tilted her ear, trying to eavesdrop.

Dobby bowed again. "By the way, has Mr. Harry Potter arrived?"

William shook his head: "No, he's been put in solitary confinement by Professor McGonagall."

"Oh, this is terrible." Dobby shrank back in fear.

He was shocked that Harry Potter would be put in solitary confinement. Wasn't the boy who survived such a close call a top student with excellent grades and conduct?

That's incredible.

"Dobby, what are you doing here?" Hermes asked with interest.

Dobby squealed excitedly, "It's the new job that Professor Dumbledore introduced to Dobby!"

You know, it's really, really hard for a house-elf who's been fired to find a new job, especially since Dobby is asking for a salary.

Then Professor Dumbledore had his brother, Mr. Dumbledore, take me in.

"Wait, that old man is the professor's brother?" William exclaimed in shock.

Okay, sorry to bother you.

Since he's Professor Dumbledore's brother, selling high-proof liquor to students... isn't such a big deal.

Consider it a way to train students' alcohol tolerance in advance, which will be beneficial for their future careers...

Whistleblower program

cancel!

"Yes, Mr. Aberforth Dumbledore is a good man," Dobby said happily. "He's the first good wizard who's willing to pay Dobby a wage."

Dobby earns five sicoes just by cleaning the bar once… Dobby can clean it ten times a day!

Ten times a day, that's two Gallons and sixteen Sickles; a month, that's 88 Gallons and four Sickles...

It is roughly equivalent to the salary of a Hogwarts professor.

Recently, due to Blake's situation, people are reluctant to go out, leading to a slump in the bar's business.

No wonder the old man had to personally go to the roadside to solicit customers.

Because he's going to be bankrupted by Dobby... *wipe*!

Bang!

An explosion suddenly rang out from the backyard.

"Ahhh~"

Aberforth came running in a panic from the backyard, the old man roaring, "Dobby, my goat!"

"Yes, sir, I've cleaned them all up," Dobby said fearfully.

"What did you do?!" Aberforth roared angrily.

"I just washed them once...they were covered in fleas...I removed the wool..."

Aberforth dragged out a sheep from behind him. The sheep was bald, all its wool had been sheared off.

puff!

William and Hermione both spat out the mead they were drinking.

"My favorite... goat's wool... is gone..."

Abu Fors suddenly went black and collapsed to the ground.

……

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(End of this chapter)