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Chapter 392: Fudge
Chapter 392: Fudge
Kyle and Conna braved the snowstorm and arrived at the Three Broomsticks bar.
Compared to the quiet Paddifoo's Tea Room, this place was bustling and crowded. The freshly brewed Butterbeer still steamed, creating a hazy atmosphere.
The bar owner, a beautiful and curvaceous woman, was busy serving a group of noisy wizards at the counter.
"I'll get the drinks, you find a seat," Kyle said. "Hopefully, we're not too late; there never seem to be enough seats here."
Conna walked to the back of the bar and found a small table between a window and a Christmas tree, nestled by the fireplace.
Soon, Kyle arrived with a large tray floating behind him.
Two bottles of Butterbeer, two plates of meat pies, and a dish of freshly baked pine nut cookies filled the table.
Conna cut a piece of pie and took a bite, then drank a large gulp of Butterbeer, her face instantly showing satisfaction.
"I still prefer this..." she mumbled.
"Me too," Kyle said, taking a cookie and raising his glass. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas!"
Their glasses clinked lightly.
Kyle took a big gulp, feeling instantly warmed.
This stuff is good, but it would be even better if I could have something else.
Earlier, Kyle had wanted to order the bar's signature drink, Ogden's Old Firewhiskey, but Madam Rosmerta said it contained whiskey and couldn't be sold to young wizards, so she only gave him Butterbeer.
However, this might be due to the current crowd; on regular days, Madam Rosmerta's standards weren't this strict.
Fred and George had bought the same whiskey-containing honey wine from here.
After putting down his glass, Kyle looked around and spotted several familiar faces.
For instance, behind the Christmas tree, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were sitting together, hidden by the tree. Harry was seated at the very back, and if it weren't for Hermione's greeting, Kyle might not have noticed them.
It seemed Fred and George had already given the map to Harry.
As he was thinking about this, a cold gust of wind blew, and the door of the Three Broomsticks opened.
Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick entered, followed by Hagrid and the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge.
A clattering sound came from behind, and it seemed like Ron and Hermione were pushing Harry under the table.
The bar was now completely full, and some wizards, upon recognizing Fudge, immediately offered to give up their seats. But Fudge just smiled, waved his hand, and said he was here as an ordinary customer today.
At that moment, two wizards sitting not far behind Kyle quickly finished their drinks, stood up, and left the bar after settling the bill.
Now there were empty seats.
"How lucky," Fudge said with a smile as he approached, greeting various people along the way.
He even recognized Kyle.
"It's a pleasure to see you here, young Kyle," he said familiarly. "The youngest recipient of the Merlin Order of Merit, what an extraordinary achievement. I still remember the scene from that day as if it happened yesterday."
"I remember it vividly, Minister," Kyle replied.
"It's a pity I couldn't present the award to you personally," Fudge said with a smile. "They invited me, but I thought it was more appropriate for Dumbledore, the headmaster, to do it at the school."
Behind Fudge, Professor McGonagall pursed her lips. If she remembered correctly, Fudge had no intention of not awarding the prizes; it was just that no one paid him any attention.
This way of making excuses seemed familiar to Professor McGonagall, as if she had seen it on a certain Defense Against the Dark Arts professor...
After they were seated, Madam Rosmerta came over from behind the bar and skillfully recited their preferences.
Professor McGonagall's Violet Water... Hagrid's four pints of honey wine... Professor Flitwick's syrup soda...
"And yours is the raspberry rum, Minister."
"Thank you, Rosmerta," Fudge said happily. "It's great to see you again. Would you like to join us?"
Madam Rosmerta readily agreed and went behind the bar to fetch their drinks.
Kyle had wanted to listen to their conversation, but it was too noisy around, and with the distance between the tables, he couldn't hear clearly.
He could only catch fragments... Sirius Black... Dementors... despicable, despicable traitor... and the like.
This was all thanks to Hagrid.
When he got angry, he couldn't control his volume, and almost half the bar could hear what he said.
For the error-free version, read it at 69shu! 6=9+1=10, and this novel is first published at 69shu.
However, their conversation always made Hagrid angry.
Especially after a few drinks, he got angry more often.
"Are they talking about Sirius Black?" Conna asked softly, obviously having heard Hagrid's words.
"Obviously." Kyle took a sip of butterbeer. "The only reason Fudge would come all the way to Hogsmeade before Christmas is because of Black."
"But why..." Conna was puzzled. "There's already a Dementor here. Why did the Minister come in person?"
"That's what I don't know." Kyle shook his head. "I think he's here to find Professor Dumbledore, so the Dementor can enter the castle for the search...
Today is Hogsmeade Visit Day. With no one in the castle, as long as the remaining students are gathered and protected, the Dementor can enter the castle without any hindrance."
"I dare say the Headmaster would never agree to that," Conna said without hesitation.
"Of course." Kyle spread his hands. "Otherwise, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick wouldn't accompany our Minister to Three Broomsticks for a drink."
Kyle shrugged. "But this is just my guess. It's also possible that Fudge is here to check if the Dementor is slacking off."
"Does the Minister care so much about Black?" Conna was a bit surprised. "I've heard from many people that this Minister prefers attending various banquets."
"That's understandable." Kyle took a bite of a cookie.
"No one has ever escaped from Azkaban so blatantly before. Sirius Black is the first.
The negative impact of this incident is enormous. If it's not resolved quickly, people will think it's because of the Minister's incompetence."
...
"I met him after James and Lily died. That boy was pale and trembling..."
At this moment, Hagrid's roar came from not far away.
"You know what I did? I even comforted that traitor! I comforted him!"
...
(End of Chapter)
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