"Merry Christmas, Mr. Dumbledore."

The furnishings in the pig's head bar remained the same, with dust and stains everywhere. Although Maca didn't care about any of this, he still felt that it would be more comfortable to at least clean it up.

Of course, he didn't come over tonight to ask Aberforth to clean the bar.

"What are you doing here? There's more than enough places for you to go, right? Aberforth slammed the glass in his hand down to the bar, impatiently.

"It's Christmas Eve, everyone can take a rest, and I'll have a drink, right?" Maca didn't care.

"Have a drink? Hum...... Is it? ”

Aberforth snorted meaninglessly, then neatly pulled out a long bottle from the shelf behind him, opened the cap, and poured the liquor into a large jar.

From the rich foam, you can tell that it must be some kind of beer. But Maca saw that the wine had an eerie grayish-brown color.

"Drink! I'll ask you for today—" Aberforth said calmly, looking at Maca, "I think you'll finish it, will you?" Merry Christmas! ”

As he spoke, he shoved the wacky beer in front of Maca, and then put on a well-groomed look.

"Oh...... All right! Maca looked meaningfully at the pint and nodded, "If you think that's fine......"

As soon as he finished speaking, he grabbed the wine glass and poured a large mouthful into his mouth, and his face wrinkled in an instant.

The taste, whether it is bitter or not, whether it is spicy or not, is that it has an extraordinary horror taste. He felt that he could bear it enough, but the taste was really hard to swallow.

But today's glass of wine, he has to drink at least one sip of it.

"This ......," Maca swallowed hard, then let out a sigh of relief, "what kind of wine is this?" ”

"'Gamp Aged Courtesan,'" Aberforth glared at him, "the sign of the Leaky Cauldron, named after the first Minister of Magic—"

"This is the wine that rewards 100 gold galleons after drinking?" Maca said with a bitter face, "No wonder no one has won a prize since the eighteenth century...... This...... Who can finish it? ”

"There's only one person who has ever drunk it," Aberforth said lightly, "and it's Gamble himself." ”

“…… It's good you didn't say it was you. Maca shook her head.

"Hmph, will you finish it when I say so?" Aberforth said coldly, "Say it! Boy, why the hell did you come to me tonight? ”

Hearing this, Maca paused slightly.

To be honest, he doesn't look as calm as he usually does at the moment, and from the perspective of others, he always feels a little inexplicably hesitant.

Although Aberforth is five big and three coarse, and his speech is often vulgar and ugly, his mind is very delicate, and he has a keen insight into the behavior of others.

Although Maca had only been here a few times, Aberforth had already seen that something was not quite right with him.

“…… Hmm," Maka shrugged, "Didn't you just say that?" Come for a drink, that's all. ”

Aberforth frowned, and his big white beard shook impatiently.

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

Maca glanced at him, but this time she didn't say anything more, but sighed softly. Then he grabbed the cup again, and poured most of it down his throat with a sigh of relief.

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

"I'm not sure what's going on in your head, and I don't care." Aberforth glared at Maca again, "I just want to ask you one thing - are you satisfied?" ”

"No, I'm not—" "No need to deny it! ”

Maca's words were interrupted by Aberforth.

"Yes, I wasn't sure just now, but from the moment you began to deny it, I had enough reason to be convinced of my suspicions—" Aberforth said impatiently, "is it enough?" I don't have to worry about a kid like you! ”

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

But he didn't say it, and Aberforth went on.

“…… Or do you feel that you are also responsible for Albus's death? That's why you came to me on Christmas Eve? The old man glanced at him and said, "Don't dream, it's all my brother's own responsibility, your brain is so good—even Albus has praised you with me, don't you understand?" ”

Maca was silent for a moment, but finally she could only say softly in a voice that only she could hear, "...... No, it's you who don't understand. ”

For Albus Dumbledore himself, Maca didn't feel guilty.

As Aberforth said, his brother's death was only his own choice, and for a true wizard, Dumbledore did not really "die".

But Dumbledore's early death was undoubtedly a change brought about by Maca. He didn't feel sorry for Albus Dumbledore, but that didn't mean he didn't feel sorry for anyone else.

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 Maca not only failed to save the matter, but also made it happen early.

Aberforth was an old man who was good enough to make Maca feel good, even if he was rude and unreasonable, and always didn't have a good face for him.

This sturdy old wizard was very different from his brother, and his every word was a straightforward expression of his inner feelings, and he never acted in a veiled manner.

As a result, Maca never treated Professor Dumbledore as someone very close to him, but she was always willing to make friends with his younger brother.

But where can Maca talk about "Dumbledore's death ahead of schedule"?

He just didn't expect that Aberforth not only had a pretty good memory, but also had an unusually sharp insight, so he could guess 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 that. ”

Aberforth took back the cup in front of Maca, then opened him another bottle of butterbeer, and said casually, "He came to me before he left......

As he spoke, he glanced casually into the back room. In the direction he could see, there hung a magical portrait of a young girl, but it was not visible here.

Maca knew that Professor Dumbledore had probably come here to see her sister with her brother.

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

"Nothing," Aberforth said angrily, "what would he say?" He was like that since he was a child, he wouldn't say anything...... But if he doesn't say it, I can't see it? As soon as I saw him, I knew that my younger brother was back! The mind is full of unrealistic ideas......"

"Uh......" The younger brother accused the elder brother, it was a conflict between family members, and Maca could only leave no comment.

“…… So I also know that whatever he died for, it was undoubtedly his own choice. Aberforth said coldly, "Do I care if he dies?" Anyway, it's a lot of age, which one can't see through it? ”

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

"Hmph, do you want me to go?" Aberford asked pointedly.

When he said this, Maca knew in her heart - this old man was thinking clearly, and he was hiding things in his heart, and it was no wonder that Professor Dumbledore could rest assured that he would lurk here as an eyeliner.

To say that Aberforth is also a member of the Order of the Phoenix, in fact, not many people know about it. Especially since the rebuilding of the Order of the Phoenix, the only people who have negotiated with him are Kingsley and Moody.

Even Mondongues, who occasionally made deals with him, didn't know that the barkeeper was also a member of the Order of the Phoenix.

"Okay!" Maca nodded knowingly, "At that time, some personnel scheduling matters will be handed over to you - I will let Kingsley explain to you, and you will be responsible for it with him." ”

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

In fact, this operation is not as convenient as before, especially on the command side, and more manpower will definitely be needed to adjust it temporarily.

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

Maca warmed up her butterbeer and gulped it down her throat, drinking it in a few moments.

Since Aberforth was so comfortable with his brother's death, it was naturally difficult for him to worry about it anymore. Even if you still feel guilty, you can only put it aside and stop thinking about it.

After finishing his drink, Makaha let out a hot breath, stood up and walked out.

"Anyway, be careful, the situation might be a little chaotic this time." With such a sentence, he pushed open the wooden door of the bar, hit here and left.

Aberforth watched the door close, then put away his glass, closed the door and walked into the back room.

The Pig's Head Bar rarely closes early, but today is Christmas Eve, so there are basically 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 instead of choosing to come here.

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

"Ariana, Merry Christmas."

The blonde girl with a calm face nodded gently at him, a faint smile on her lips.