For the students who had finished their O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. Exams, the time until the end of the academic year was the happiest stretch of all.
After all, students in the other years still had to revise, while they had already finished their exams and could relax properly.
At least until their results arrived, they no longer needed to fret over revision. They could even watch the other students fret over it instead.
Even Hogsmeade seemed far livelier, with the Three Broomsticks packed full of students.
In contrast, the Hog's Head was as deserted as ever—at least, that was how it always was during the day.
Even when the Three Broomsticks was overflowing, students rarely considered the out-of-the-way Hog's Head when choosing where to go.
Aberforth Dumbledore did not care in the slightest. He absentmindedly polished a glass, his brow tightly furrowed as though something was weighing on his mind.
The glass he kept polishing had gone from dull and grimy to reflective enough to show a person's face, yet he clearly had not noticed and continued wiping it mechanically.
Jingle...
The crisp sound of the doorbell rang out. He looked over and instinctively said, "Not these past few—"
When he saw who had entered, he swallowed the rest of his words.
"You're here?" He set down the glass in his hand and saw Hanna following behind Neville.
As though he had thought of something, he let out a long sigh and pointed upstairs. "Just head up. They're already up there."
"Thank you!" Neville and Hanna said in unison before hurrying upstairs, their footsteps heavier than usual.
The two had barely reached the second floor when the doorbell chimed again.
George and Fred pushed open the door. They raised their hands and greeted him listlessly. "Yo!"
That "yo" dragged on