Fudge

Kyle and Kanna braved the wind and snow to reach the Three Broomsticks.

Compared to the quiet Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, this place was much more crowded and noisy, with freshly brewed Butterbeer still steaming and appearing shrouded in mist.

The bar owner was a beautiful, curvaceous woman who was currently at the bar, beckoning a group of noisy male witches.

"I'll get the drinks, you find a seat," Kyle said. "Hopefully we're not too late, there are never enough seats here."

Kanna went to the back of the bar and found a small empty table between the window and a Christmas tree, near the fireplace.

A moment later, Kyle arrived, with a large tray floating behind him.

Two bottles of Butterbeer, two plates of bacon pies, and a dish of freshly baked pine nut cookies filled the table to the brim.

Kanna cut a piece of pie and put it in her mouth, then took a big gulp of Butterbeer, and immediately a satisfied look appeared on her face.

"I still prefer this one..." she mumbled.

"Me too." Kyle ate a pine nut cookie, then raised his glass and said, "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas!"

Their glasses clinked lightly.

Kyle took a big gulp and felt as if his body warmed up instantly.

This stuff is really good, but it would be even better if we could drink something else.

Kyle had wanted to order their signature drink, Ogden's Old Firewhisky, but Madam Rosmerta said it contained whiskey and couldn't be sold to a young wizard, so she only gave him Butterbeer.

However, this might be because there are more people around now; normally, Madam Rosmerta's standards wouldn't be this strict.

Fred and George, at least, bought mead containing the same whiskey from here.

After putting down his cup, Kyle looked around and spotted many familiar faces.

For example, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were sitting behind the Christmas tree.

They were completely hidden by the Christmas tree, with Harry sitting at the very back. If Hermione hadn't greeted them, Kyle might not have been able to see them at all.

It seems Fred and George have already given the map to Harry.

Just as I was thinking this, a sudden gust of cold wind blew by, and the door with Three Broomsticks opened.

Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick entered the pub amidst a gust of snow, followed by Hagrid, and then the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge.

A clanging and banging sound came from behind them; it seemed that Ron and Hermione had pinned Harry under the table.

There were no empty tables in the bar. Some wizards immediately offered their seats after recognizing Fudge, but Fudge just smiled and waved his hand, saying that he was just an ordinary customer today and that everyone should make themselves at home.

At that moment, not far behind Kyle, two male wizards hurriedly finished their drinks, then naturally got up, paid their bill, and left the bar.

Now there's an empty seat.

"How lucky! I thought I'd be drinking standing up," Fudge said with a smile as he walked over, greeting different people along the way.

He even recognized Kyle.

"It's a pleasure to see you here, young Kyle." He said familiarly, "The youngest recipient of the Order of Merlin's badge, what a remarkable achievement. I still remember that day as if it happened yesterday."

"I remember that very well, Mr. Minister," Kyle said.

"It's a pity I couldn't present you with the award in person," Fudge said with a smile. "They invited me, but I felt that since it was at the school, it would be better to leave it to Dumbledore, the headmaster."

Behind Fudge, Professor McGonagall pursed her lips.

If she remembered correctly, Fudge didn't mean to refuse to present the award; it's just that nobody paid any attention to him.

Professor McGonagall felt she'd seen this kind of excuse coming from a Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts before...

After the group was seated, Madam Rosmerta came over from the bar and expertly told them each person's preferences.

Professor McGonagall's Violet Water... Hagrid... Professor Flitwick's Syrup Soda...

"Then yours is redcurrant rum, Minister."

"Thank you, Rosmerta," Fudge said happily. "It's so nice to see you again. Would you like one of yours? With us..."

Madam Rosmerta readily agreed and went to the bar to get the drinks they needed.

Kyle wanted to hear what they were saying, but it was too noisy around, and the tables were a distance apart, so he couldn't hear anything at all.

All I could hear were fragments of... Sirius Black... Dementor... a despicable, vile traitor... and so on.

This is all thanks to Hagrid.

When he gets angry, he can't control his volume, and what he says can be heard by almost half the people in the bar.

And the topics they discussed always made Hagrid angry.

He got angry even more often, especially after having a few drinks.

"Are they talking about Sirius Black?" Kanna asked quietly, clearly having overheard Hagrid's words.

"It's obvious." Kyle took a sip of his Butterbeer. "The only person who could get Fudge to travel all the way to Hogsmeade before Christmas is Black."

"But why..." Kanna asked, puzzled, "Aren't there already Dementor here? Why did the Minister have to come here personally?"

"I don't know," Kyle shook his head. "I think he's probably here to see Professor Dumbledore, so the Dementor can enter the castle to search..."

Today is Hogsmeade visiting day, and there aren't many people in the castle. As long as the remaining students are kept under close protection, the Dementor can swagger into the castle.

"I dare say the principal definitely didn't agree," Kanna said without hesitation.

"Of course, otherwise Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick wouldn't be accompanying our minister to Three Broomsticks for drinks and entertainment."

Kyle shrugged. "But that's just my guess. Maybe Fudge came here just to check if the Dementor are slacking off. That's possible too."

"Is the minister so concerned about Black?" Kanna, somewhat surprised. "I've heard from many people that this minister prefers attending all sorts of banquets."

"There's nothing we can do about it." Kyle ate a cookie.

"No one had ever been able to escape from Azkaban so brazenly before; Sirius Black was the first."

The negative impact of this incident is too great; if it's not resolved quickly, people will think he, the minister, is incompetent."

"I ran into him. After Lily and James died, the kid was pale and trembling..."

Just then, Hagrid's roar came from not far away again.

"Do you know what I did? I comforted that traitor! I comforted him!"