Matthew and Slughorn crossed the street and slipped into the little bar a few minutes later.

The bar was warm and smoky, and very crowded.

A woman with a beautiful appearance and an elegant figure is greeting a group of noisy wizards at the bar.

There was also a bald middle-aged wizard with five or six glasses of different colors in a tray in his hand, and he was serving them to different tables.

"Rosmerta!" Slughorn shouted.

"Oh, Professor Slughorn!" the bald middle-aged wizard no longer bothered to greet the guests, and hurriedly trotted over to Matthew and Slughorn: "What a rare guest! How many companions do you have, do you need to go to the box upstairs?"

"No, no, no, no...... It's just me and Matthew today!" Slughorn said with a smile.

"Okay, please come with me!" Mr. Rosmerta squeezed to the back of the bar with two guests.

Between the windowsill and a beautiful Christmas tree, he helped pick a good spot, an empty table by the fireplace.

Matthew waited for Slughorn to sit down before he took his seat.

"I don't know what you need, Professor Slughorn?" said Mr. Rosmerta enthusiastically.

"Two glasses of honey bar!" Slughorn glanced at Matthew generously and said with a smile, "Merry Christmas, Matthew, I have a treat today......; Two glasses of mead, Rosmerta!"

"Okay, please wait!"

Didn't you say you had a good butterbeer...... Matthew thought to himself.

"Merry Christmas, too, Professor Slughorn!" said him, but on his face, he quickly said respectfully.

"Don't be so restrained, Matthew. Slughorn shook his head, with a nonchalant expression: "It's a holiday, you don't have to treat me as a professor, you can even call me 'Horace'......"

"Okay, Professor Slughorn. That's all Matthew could reply.

At this moment, Mr. Rosmerta had already brought over two glasses of mead.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, due to the impact of the Industrial Revolution at that time, the water source in Britain was extremely polluted. Coupled with the fact that there was no reliable means of purifying water at the time, alcohol, especially beer, was a cleaner drink than water for most people.

This habit has slowly spread to the wizarding world, so it is quite normal for even children in their early teens to drink alcohol, except for high-count spirits, of course.

Slughorn clearly liked the mead, but Matthew hated the smell like rotten apples.

But he could only force a smile and drink it.

But as he swallowed a few sips of mead, the chill on his body suddenly disappeared, as if every inch of his body had warmed up.

......

"Why didn't you come home, kid?" said Slughorn as he sipped the wine in his glass, "It's Christmas." ”

"I'm a Muggle-born student, professor. Matthew replied honestly.

"Oh, yes......" Slughorn was stunned and laughed, "I almost forgot...... Ha ha...... Slytherin Muggle-born children, that's rare!"

Judging from Slughorn's expression, he didn't care about such things as bloodline or origin.

"That's right, Professor. Matthew took a sip of mead and asked innocently, "Why did Mr. Percival from the pig's head bar just now become so angry when I casually asked how old his bar has been?"

"Percival......" Slughorn's face became a little serious, and he did not answer directly, "That strange old man, but a bad fellow, Matthew, I suggest you better stay away from him!"

"I see, Professor. Matthew nodded hurriedly.

"But when it comes to the vintage of the Hog's Head Bar...... It's been a few years, almost fifty or sixty years, and I don't remember exactly......" Slughorn tilted his head thoughtfully, "Matthew, why are you asking this question?"

"I just think the stains on the floor are about fifty or sixty years old!" replied Matthew softly.

Slughorn couldn't help but burst out laughing, and Matthew laughed along.

But his expression was a little serious-

Since the pig's head bar hadn't changed owners in fifty or sixty years, that is, the bartender had been there before Gellert Grindelwald's victory......

So it's highly likely...... That bar is still connected to the Order of the Phoenix, and the hostess has a relationship with Aberforth Dumbledore!

This is a very valuable piece of information.

Although it doesn't seem to make much sense to me now.

But in the future, it is quite possible that it will be useful!

......

Matthew and Slughorn continued to sit by the fire and talk, but it was all very normal.

Slughorn seemed in a good mood, and they had a good chat with each other.

As the cup of mead in his hand gradually bottomed out, Slughorn said, "I'm going to go to the Fengya brand wizard costume store later and buy a new robe." Matthew, what's your arrangement?"

"I'm going to Duke Honey's candy shop......"

Before Matthew's words could be finished, Slughorn laughed and patted him on the shoulder: "Sure enough, Ambrosius Frum's candy is too attractive to you children...... But I don't like that sweet tooth! Then Matthew, let's leave it at that!"

As he spoke, he began to dig into his pocket.

"I'll pay the bills, Professor!" said Matthew, hurrying.

"There's no reason to have a student pay the bills!" Slughorn politely refused, and walked to the bar on Mrs. Rosemerta's side.

This made Matthew slightly surprised, is Horace Slughorn in the original book so generous?

Or is there something happy about it today that makes him so happy?

......

Matthew soon ran out of time to think about it, though, because something more important had caught his attention.

As early as when he left the pig's head bar, he noticed that the witch with a thick black scarf hanging down to his feet was secretly following them.

Matthew directly acquiesced that she was tracking Slughorn, after all, he had no relatives and no grudges in the wizarding world, so when Slughorn left, he didn't follow him, but stayed alone.

Now, Slughorn was gone, but the mysterious witch remained, and looked at her from time to time.

So, is the real target she is tracking herself?