For some time afterward, Aberforth kept trying to recall what he knew about the Patronus Charm, but his long years of idling away in the pub had left much of that knowledge hazy.
Fortunately, the family's books were still around.
Aberforth frowned almost imperceptibly and glanced toward Hogwarts Castle. Clearly, the books were all there.
Looks like I'll have to go see that fellow Albus.
Aberforth looked at the Patronus cupped in his hands. The young wizard from the Bones family had deliberately left it behind.
What a fine lad, he thought.
This is all for Ariana. Aberforth's brow relaxed slightly. He stepped forward to bolt the door from the inside, then strolled upstairs.
Even if it's only for a little while, no one can interrupt this reunion with my sister after so many years. I've bottled up so much to tell you, my dearest little sister.
Hopefully, our true reunion isn't far off. That's something to look forward to.
On the little hillside where the Hog's Head stood, Su Er couldn't help hunching into himself. When he had first arrived in Hogsmeade, it had merely been rather windy, and the sun had still been shining brightly. How had it turned into a snowstorm in the blink of an eye?
I wasn't in the Hog's Head for that long, was I?
Just look at the roof of the Shrieking Shack over there. There's already a layer of snow on it.
Breathing out a cloud of white mist, Su Er rubbed his hands together and followed the dirt-and-stone path toward Hogsmeade's main street. The thin accumulation of translucent, half-melted snow on the ground crunched softly underfoot.
Before long, the Honeydukes sign came into view. With the snow-laden wind blowing against his painfully cold face, Su Er quickened his pace and pulled