"Christmas present?"
Not only Dumbledore, but even Amosta was somewhat stunned.
"I got it a while ago—"
Horace was pouring wine into the third glass. He nodded.
"Back when you two were in Paris holding that International Confederation of Wizards meeting."
"I'm truly touched, Horace—"
Dumbledore understood what had stirred Amosta's emotions. Smiling, he looked at the bottle in Horace's hand.
"There are still two months until Christmas. I never expected you to have prepared a Christmas present for me already. Where did you get it, The Three Broomsticks Inn—"
Horace straightened up and swung the bottle in his hand with a showy air.
"Exactly, Albus. It was Saturday evening, and since I had nothing much to do, I went to The Three Broomsticks Inn for a few drinks.
"I told Rosmerta some stories from those old days—about how, when I was Slytherin Head of House, I was on good terms with you and knew many things about you. The villagers in the inn kept buying me drinks. They love hearing that sort of thing—"
At this point, Horace smiled somewhat bashfully.
"I drank quite a lot, so I don't remember clearly, but I think a young man asked me what Christmas present I would give you. Then I told him that perhaps I would give you a bottle of aged mead, since it was your favorite kind of wine—"
"Oh, you remembered correctly, Horace. It is indeed my favorite—"
"And then you got this?"
Amosta, too, looked at the bottle with great interest.
"When I returned to my office, I found it in my coat pocket—"
Horace was delighted to see that Dumbledore showed no displeasure just because he had not bought the bottle himself.
"I suppose some admirer used me to deliver it to you. Hey, who cares!"