The scene shifted. Late at night, at the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade.
Two wizards wrapped tightly in black robes sat facing each other in silence. Behind the bar, Aberforth quietly wiped the drinking vessels with a cloth so black its original color was impossible to tell, glancing their way from time to time.
Strange as it was, ever since Voldemort had loudly proclaimed his return and taken control of the Ministry of Magic,
business here had actually picked up.
Normally, there would barely be a handful of customers, but now, even at this late hour, the pub was still bustling with voices.
"Tell me in detail why Harry shouldn't withdraw from school."
The two wizards sitting silently opposite each other in the Hog's Head were, of course, Su Er and Alastor Moody. Since Dumbledore's death, Moody had naturally become their new mainstay.
"Because only if Harry returns to Hogwarts will there be a chance of killing the Dark Lord." Su Er's lips moved slightly, but not a sound escaped.
"What I want to know is why." Moody did the same, wrapping his throat in magic so that the sound emerging from it could not be detected by anyone else.
Others could only see the two talking, but could not hear a word they said.
"Snape can't become headmaster. Dumbledore gave me a task to keep Hogwarts from falling into the Dark Lord's hands."
"I can't tell you the specifics."
Moody fell silent for a while. "How will you guarantee Harry's safety?"
"I can't, which is why I asked you here instead of Sirius," Su Er replied.
"But Harry has to return to Hogwarts for Dumbledore's final arrangements to take effect."
Another long silence followed. Su Er reached for the Butterbeer on the coffee table and took a sip, quietly waiting