Chapter 602: Dumbledore’s Memory
Hogsmeade was lively, as always, despite the school term not having started yet. The village bustled with activity, its shops all open for business. As the most famous wizarding village in Britain, Hogsmeade wasn't just a haunt for students but also a destination for alumni and curious visitors drawn by its reputation.
Today, however, the village was unusually crowded, with foreign wizards visible everywhere, their accents and attire adding a cosmopolitan feel to the familiar streets.
But Kyle and Dumbledore were not heading toward any of the well-known shops. Their destination was far less glamorous: The Hog's Head, an unassuming pub on the edge of the village.
Kyle glanced up at the weathered sign before following Dumbledore inside.
The place had clearly been cleaned, though whether the effort was half-hearted or the grime simply ingrained into the walls and floor was debatable. Compared to The Three Broomsticks, even The Oak Barrel Pub at the Romanian Dragon Reserve looked pristine.
The sole point of relief was that the glasses on the bar counter gleamed—clean as if polished by a house-elf. While such hygiene was standard elsewhere, it was a rarity here, where patrons often brought their own cutlery as a precaution.
By the time Kyle entered, the pub was already filled with a mix of foreign faces and familiar ones. Among them were Dugald McPhail, who had written to Kyle earlier; Professor Lochneal of Beauxbatons; and most of the Hogwarts faculty—though Snape and Hagrid were conspicuously absent.
Shop owners from The Three Broomsticks, Honeydukes, and Zonko's Joke Shop were also present, having closed their businesses to join the gathering. The eclectic mix of attendees gave the small, dingy pub an air of unusual significance.
The room fell silent when Dumbledore entered, and everyone stood out of respect. But their gazes soon shifted to Kyle, scrutinizing him curiously.
Some instinctively glanced at his forehead, their expressions turning puzzled. Many had expected Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, to accompany Dumbledore. Seeing a young man without a lightning-shaped scar clearly surprised them.
Those familiar with Kyle, however, weren't fazed.