The Pacifist Necromancer of Hogwarts

If I must say it, when facing a whole yard of boar heads drooling, rolling their eyes or exhaling heavily, Anthony was probably 50% puzzled, 50% surprised, and the remaining 70% embarrassed - considering The conversion of Sicor and Galleons, the hexadecimal system, is nothing new in the magical world - and the embarrassment came from the person dressed as a waiter standing in front of him.

The man's eyes flickered between Anthony and the lid of the empty wine barrel that he pushed open. He stared and opened his mouth like a fish just out of water, without saying anything.

Have you brought it? You idiot, why haven't you made any movement? A tall figure appeared by the door and glanced into the courtyard, Oh.

Anthony felt he had to say something. He and Hagrid had been here a few times and remembered that the dirty bartender was the owner of the Hog's Head. Antony guessed he couldn't get into his barrel in front of the bartender and pretend to be a follower of Diogenes of Sinope.

Well, I'm sorry, Anthony said. I didn't expect to be here. He was telling the truth. If it had to lead to some back kitchen yard, he would rather find himself in the Leaky Cauldron than in this strange pub with a strong goat smell that was completely unfamiliar to him.

I recognize you, said the goaty bartender. You're the one who came with that big guy, from Hogwarts.

Anthony nodded: Henry Anthony, it's nice to meet you... although the place where we met this time is a bit strange. The pig head closest to him snorted loudly at him, and Anthony moved his feet away a little, Prevent it from drooling on your shoes.

The bartender said gruffly, So, Anthony, how did you get in?

A simple answer is magic. Anthony said, pointing to the wine barrel beside him, I was experimenting with some things in school, and then opened a tunnel - no, I didn't dig here on purpose, this suddenly appeared The exit of the tunnel was more determined by the castle - out of curiosity I walked out and found myself here.

The bartender strode over, took a rough look at the barrel, and looked into the dark tunnel with no end in sight. Most of his head was buried in it, and his messy gray hair was tangled behind his back.

Well, Hogwarts decided to dig a tunnel into my poor tavern, the bartender said, not knowing whether he believed it or not.

If you want, we can walk back and prove that what I said is true. Anthony said.

The bartender shook his head: No, absolutely not. He looked at Anthony sharply, What are you doing at Hogwarts? Defense Against the Dark Arts? I haven't seen you before this school year.

He stared at Anthony closely, his sharp eyes seeming to cut him open and see into the depths of his soul.

Anthony suddenly noticed that the bartender's blue eyes were very similar to Dumbledore's. He had not noticed the bartender when he came with Hagrid before, perhaps because the bartender did not stare at his guests so sharply from behind the dirty lenses at that time. He was just sitting in the crowded bar, wiping the same dirty clothes. Dirty glass.

I just started teaching Muggle Studies to two grades. Anthony replied.

Ha, Muggle! the bartender laughed inexplicably, Are you teaching me well, kid? This sentence was basically a casual conversation. Anthony heard the other party mutter something like I knew it in a low voice.

He replied cautiously: Probably not bad enough to be fired immediately.

Albus never fires employees, the bartender said, turning around and yelling at the waiter who was still standing there, But I'm different! It's nice to hear that, isn't it? How long have you been talking about it, go change the sign, and... Do you need me to invite you?

The other party's face turned pale, he reached out and picked up a pig's head nearby, holding its tusks and carrying it to the door of the tavern. Anthony heard the sound of the pig's head hitting the counter at the crowded bar, followed by a cry of pain and a few muffled apologies.

The bartender cursed in a low voice: The temporary worker... I will replace him as soon as he comes back... Just wait a moment, professor. He strode out to supervise the waiter's work, Be careful, or you will be responsible for removing the boar's head. Put it on your own neck! A pig’s brain might be better than yours!” When he reached the door, the bartender suddenly turned his head and asked Anthony, “Would you like anything to drink?”

Anthony thought for a while: Mead, thank you. He had heard Dumbledore praise the mead of this restaurant before, but Hagrid had never suggested that he order it. Hagrid is the kind of person who likes to drink strong drinks.

He handed the money for the drink to the bartender. The bartender's face became much better, and he came back with the wine glass after a while.

The bartender pried the bottle cap off the boar's teeth. The yellow liquid flowed into the wild boar's mouth along the fangs, and the pig suddenly grunted loudly.

I'm really sorry, Anthony said, taking the drink from the bartender.

It's nothing. I often have uninvited guests here. You are very polite among them. The bartender poured himself a glass. The wine barrel is a good idea, but the timing is not very good.

At this time, the waiter came back carrying a livid boar head. The pig-headed guy had a bad temper and kept rolling his eyes at the bartender. The bartender kicked it.

Why are there so many boar heads here? Anthony asked. He almost thought he had arrived at the scene of some strange and evil magic ritual performed by a dark wizard.

You don't think our signboard is always the same pig, do you? the bartender said. They work in shifts, of course.

…

After walking around the backyard, the bartender said, There's nothing missing. Come back, Professor of Muggle Studies.

Anthony hesitated for a moment whether to go through the main entrance or go directly back to the Room of Requirement through the passage, and finally decided to go back the way he came. Under the gaze of the bartender, he got back into the barrel, poked out his eyes, and said goodbye to the bartender who was staring at him: Well, see you later.

See you later. But listen, don't appear in my yard again, don't crawl out of strange places again, Anthony. If you are here to drink, just walk in through the front door. The other person said.

Anthony nodded and secretly swore that he would never step foot into this bar unless necessary. His mead was so sweet that it felt like his throat was coated with honey.

I understand, thank you, um... sir. Anthony said. He still didn't know the other person's name.

The bartender sighed: Dumbledore. Aberforth Dumbledore.

Thanks to the tipper, here’s a glass of mead (in chronological order):

Cute little girl (2 points), what is the content of the ancient novel (2 points), the contempt of the king (100 points), the passing Xiuka (300 points), EDGM early morning (2 points), withered ears of corn (100 points) points), book friend 20201006182256864 (2 points), fill in the blank___ (2 points), book friend 20230701185918403 (100 points), BrieFTime (100 points), Xuanhuang Amiao (100 points), book friend 20220218110643437 (4 points), Don’t use it if you don’t have it (100 points), Yu Mingke (100 points), Gu Shifang (2 points), Book Friends 20230427125823333 (1500 points), Al Hosud’s pen (2 points), Book Friends 20211127233006905 (100 points) points), Beiming paper (100 points)