Chapter 603: Go Be the Minister, Professor
The meeting stretched late into the evening, and it wasn't until nightfall that the last of the attendees left The Hog's Head, their footsteps heavy with weariness. The sky deepened into a rich, dark blue, leaving the bar empty except for Kyle and Dumbledore.
Behind the counter, the barkeep—who had spent the entire day silently polishing glasses—finally broke his silence. His voice was rough, carrying a tone of habitual annoyance. "You should leave too, Dumbledore."
"For the love of a hefty sum of Galleons, Aberforth, could you allow me to linger just a while longer?" Dumbledore replied, his voice tinged with fatigue.
Aberforth scowled, his expression dripping with disdain, but he didn't force them out.
"Isn't this peculiar," Dumbledore mused aloud, glancing at Kyle. "Yes, you heard me correctly. Aberforth here is my—"
"Dumbledore!" An icy voice sliced through the air from behind him. "If you finish that sentence, you'll never set foot in my bar again."
Dumbledore wisely fell silent, opting instead to shift topics. "Kyle, do you know why I asked you to stay?"
Kyle's gaze flickered between Dumbledore and the scowling innkeeper. He already knew about their connection—Albus Dumbledore and Aberforth, the innkeeper with the strongest ties to Hogsmeade. But since neither seemed keen to discuss it, he decided to feign ignorance and go along with the diversion.
"To tell them the truth about Voldemort's return?" Kyle ventured.
"That's part of it," Dumbledore said evenly, his face betraying no emotion. "Those present today, as well as the members of the Order of the Phoenix, are trustworthy individuals who will stand by our side when the war begins. I believe you're already familiar with all of them."
Kyle frowned. Something about Dumbledore felt... off. To Kyle, this entire meeting seemed unnecessary. Shouldn't Dumbledore himself maintain those connections? And the way he deliberately referred to Aberforth felt almost as though he wanted to expose their relationship.