For students who had finished their O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams, the time until the end of term was their happiest stretch of the year.
After all, students in 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 worry about revision. They could even watch the other students worry about it instead.
Even Hogsmeade Village seemed much livelier, with the Three Broomsticks packed full of students.
By comparison, the Hog's Head Inn remained 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 secluded Hog's Head Inn when choosing where to go.
Aberforth Dumbledore did not care in the slightest. He absentmindedly wiped a glass, his brow tightly furrowed as though something weighed heavily on his mind.
The glass he had repeatedly polished had gone from dull and grimy to reflective enough to show his face, yet he clearly had not noticed and continued wiping it mechanically.
Ding ding...
The crisp chime of the doorbell rang out. He looked over and instinctively said, "Not these next 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 Hannah 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."
"Thanks!" Neville and Hannah said in unison, then hurried upstairs, their footsteps heavier than usual.
The two had only just reached the second floor when the doorbell chimed crisply again.
George and Fred pushed the door open. Raising their hands, they gave a listless greeting. "Yo!"
That "yo"