The Three Broomsticks was crowded, noisy, warm, and smoky. A shapely woman with a pretty face stood behind the bar. There were not too many customers that day, so she was not busy serving a rowdy crowd of wizards.
The beautiful woman spotted Will as soon as he pushed open the door.
"Young Behrens!" Her eyes lit up when she saw him, and she called out, "Butterbeer as usual?"
"Yes, Madam Rosmerta, thank you." Will found a table and sat down. During the cold weather a while back, he had come here for a hot Butterbeer after his Old English lesson with the old wizard.
He had become a regular after that. It really did taste good, and it was lovely and warming. Occasionally, he brought a few mugs back for everyone in the High Tower.
Soon, Madam Rosmerta brought over a large, foaming mug of hot Butterbeer, then sat down opposite Will.
"Why didn't you wait until the weekend this time?" Madam Rosmerta sipped from her own cup of mead, still every bit a charming woman.
No wonder so many Hogwarts students had a crush on her. Even the Minister for Magic, Fudge, had fallen under Madam Rosmerta's spell.
"Old Seamus is busy this weekend, so he had me take my lesson early." Will took a gulp of Butterbeer. A rich caramel aroma bloomed in his mouth, and the dense, creamy foam delivered a sweet fragrance.
Old Seamus was the Old English teacher Dumbledore had found for Will.
Will took out a tissue and wiped the foam from his lips. "Madam Rosmerta, don't you need to serve the other customers?"
"There's not much to do for them. That lot from the Ministry of Magic are already blind drunk." Rosmerta glanced at the customers over there. One had already slumped