Sleeplessness Is Great

Every weekend, the girl would return to her rural hometown to tell the owner of the struggling tavern next door about her new experiences in the city, and in return, exchange some true and false magical tales with the old man.

One is an old man who uses well-intentioned lies to trick others into studying hard, and the other is a girl who studies in the city and then abandons the bustling metropolis to return to the countryside during holidays. For the two who have been together for more than ten years, they are no different from biological grandfather and granddaughter, except for the insignificant blood relation.

If the two young wizards Loren and Hermione, hadn't accidentally exposed the old man's lie, the lie would have been exposed two years later. Would Old Dodd really have closed the tavern and hidden away somewhere Alice couldn't find him then?

How could he possibly bear to part with it?

The same was true for Alice. Although her dream of becoming a wizard was completely shattered, she knew very well that what was more important than those ethereal magics was the companionship of a certain fraudulent old wizard for more than a decade.

Upon hearing that lunch would be stewed beef with potatoes, made by the old liar himself, tears welled up in her eyes, and she reluctantly followed Loren and Hermione.

Having just cried in front of the old swindler, and then being taken back to the tavern by the two men, the girl couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

The potatoes and beef brisket were simmering until they were fragrant, around 12 o'clock.

Wizards always cook in a simpler and easier way than Muggle. In the most tedious and complicated preparation stage, wizards only need to wave their wands. Cleaning Charm can wash the ingredients clean, and Cutting Charm can neatly cut the beef brisket into even small pieces. It only takes a few minutes to complete.

Old Dodd meticulously studied how to make this dish, incorporating the essence of various recipes. He wasn't a fundamentalist who championed the original flavor of ingredients, nor was he a postmodernist who pursued complex, diverse, and layered tastes. He wanted both...

Every step is meticulous. The beef brisket is cut into chunks, blanched to remove blood and foam, stir-fried with ginger slices before stewing, potatoes are cut into irregular small pieces, and spices such as cinnamon and bay leaves are mixed and stir-fried to release their aroma. Salt, black pepper, soybean paste and other sauces are added, and finally they are all mixed together and simmered for an hour.

The fresh beef brisket is incredibly fragrant, with a layer of clear, enticing butter floating on top. The aromas of several spices are distinct, their fragrance filling your senses. The potatoes, grown by Old Dodd himself—no magic involved—are of varying sizes and shapes, but they soften and absorb the flavor of the beef.

Loren chewed on the tender beef brisket, the meat soaking up the broth, along with the crumbly potato bits. Suddenly, the potatoes didn't seem so bad after all.

Hermione has a particular fondness for potatoes, especially mashed potatoes soaked in broth, which are soft, fluffy, and slightly salty.

Alice ate a bite of beef brisket and a bite of potato, her lips glistening with oil. In order to eat more, she had to make room for the little bit of food she was already feeling uneasy in her stomach.

After a satisfying meal, Old Dodd smacked his lips, savoring his whiskey. Watching Alice somewhat awkwardly clear the dishes to wash them, a weight lifted from his heart. His brow relaxed, and with a smile, he asked Loren:

"Loren, Hermione, you've just graduated. Do you know anything about what's been happening at Hogwarts lately?"

"What do you want to know, Mr. Dodd?"

"I read in the newspaper that Professor Dumbledore was dismissed by Wizengamot for making false statements in an attempt to incite panic and unrest?"

"This matter is very complicated. The newspapers only reported part of the truth after it was edited. I think you already know some of the complicated things about Crouch... On the night of the Quidditch World Cup final, there was a riot. The Death Eater Barty Jr. Crouch. took advantage of the chaos to escape, joined forces with the Dark Lord to attack Mad-Eye Moody, and infiltrated Hogwarts. After a year of planning, he finally completed the Dark Lord's Resurrection Ritual on the night of the Triwizard Tournament final."

Loren carefully replied, "Dumbledore publicly warned, but Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge, greedy for power and current stability, refused to believe that the Dark Lord had returned, so he slandered Headmaster Dumbledore and removed him from many of his positions."

"Voldemort..."

Old Dodd nodded, his expression thoughtful.

Hearing him calmly address the Dark Lord by his name, Hermione asked in surprise, "Mr. Dodd, aren't you afraid of the Dark Lord?"

"What's there to be afraid of? I'm seventy years old this year. My parents passed away a long time ago. I have no children and no property worth coveting. I'm hiding in a remote village at the foot of the mountain. Do you think Death Eater would come looking for trouble with me?"

Old Dodd finished the rest of his drink and said with a smile, "And there's Professor Dumbledore too. Last time he was able to defeat Voldemort and bring him down. Will there be any surprises this time? Maybe even faster. I can't help, but I choose to believe in him."

"Mr. Dodd, you are wiser than the Minister for Magic."

"It's just that I've lived a few decades longer..."

Old Dodd glanced at the Kitchen, picked up his empty wine glass, and walked towards Kitchen. "You two chat, I'm going to the Kitchen to talk to Alice, the girl's still being difficult..."

Loren and Hermione didn't want to chat, so they sat side by side on the smooth marble steps by the door, stretching out their legs and looking up at the white expanse of snow on the distant mountain peaks.

The sky was a pure blue, with a few scattered white clouds positioned low, as if you could reach out and touch them from the mountainside, imagining them to feel as soft as cotton.

Some people get tired of looking at the scenery and decide to find an easier way to enjoy it, so they lazily lean their heads to the side and find the most comfortable position.

His nostrils were filled with Hermione's fragrance, light and delicate. A few playful strands of hair fell across his cheek, tickling him, but he was too lazy to lift his hand to brush them away. In less than five minutes, his eyelids began to droop, and after blinking for a while, they wouldn't stay open anymore.

"Don't sleep here," Hermione said softly, shrugging her shoulders. "Sleeping too much now will make you sleepless at night."

"It's okay, I don't want to sleep tonight anyway."

"?"

The Half-Giant Rubeus Hagrid sat cross-legged in the cave, chewing freshly picked herbs and applying them to the bruises on his cheeks, wincing in pain. But seeing the giant beside him, who had eaten and drunk his fill and was gradually falling asleep, a happy smile appeared on his face.

Grawp was much more obedient today, only throwing a few simple hooks instead of grabbing his leg and throwing him out of the cave.

He must already know his older brother.

Perhaps the barbecue seasoning also played a part.

In short, things are moving in a positive direction...

Unfortunately Beauxbatons was about to start school, Olympe had to rush back to handle school affairs and had already left, leaving him all alone with no one to share his joy.

Hagrid rubbed his aching chest and happily imagined a bright future.

I wonder who Dumbledore will arrange to meet him. It'll be fine once we get back to Hogwarts; Grawp will love it there...