After the visiting guests had gradually departed, Professor Dumbledore and Harley slowly made their way outside Merlin's Cottage.
The Hogwarts heads of house hadn't come along. After all, apart from Professor McGonagall, the others all had their own holiday plans and didn't live at the school.
Professor Dumbledore turned to Harley and asked, "You're going straight back to the Dursleys', right?"
Harley hesitated for a moment, then told Professor Dumbledore that Aunt Marge was staying at the Dursleys' for a while.
"So?" Professor Dumbledore raised an eyebrow and adjusted the glasses perched on his hooked nose. His voice held a hint of anticipation.
"I'd like to stay at the Leaky Cauldron for a week first, then take the Underground home," Harley said softly.
"Aunt Petunia is my only family. I don't want to make things too difficult for her."
As she said those words, Harley's mind suddenly went hazy for a moment.
She felt as though she had changed. The Demoness of Unaging she had once been would never have said anything like that.
Harley didn't know whether this change was for the better or worse.
But for some reason, the Rose School's Abstinence Sect and Indulgence Faction suddenly came to mind.
Professor Dumbledore blinked, then suddenly laughed. "All right, I'll take you to the Leaky Cauldron. You still have money on you, don't you?"
Harley nodded and took hold of Professor Dumbledore's sleeve.
The old man and the girl vanished into the moonlight.
The Leaky Cauldron was still open. Several wizards were slumped over tables, dead drunk, with disgusting pools of vomit beside them.
A few shifty old wizards in hooded cloaks sat at a table in the corner, eating raw liver and drinking watered-down Firewhisky as they argued in low but heated voices.
The clink of Silver