August arrived. Birds perched on the church looked down at the portions of fish and chips walking among the red walls and white tiles, chirping merrily in anticipation of full bellies over the coming days-Edinburgh's grand Beer Festival had arrived on schedule. Its ancient buildings held not only history and culture, but also a great deal of alcohol.
This was the annual carnival for Muggles who loved beer and lively crowds-and, of course, for some Wizards who mingled with the Muggles to drink their fill. Brian, however, who could spend half a day relaxing here in previous years, could not devote his attention to it right away this year.
"'Magical Me,' Gilderoy Lockhart, twelve thirty to four thirty in the afternoon. Plenty of time, no problem..." Brian stood beneath a tree in Diagon Alley that had been enchanted to block the sunlight, sheltering from the increasingly hot sun as he planned to take Floo Powder to catch the evening festivities after today's event ended.
Since he had already accepted Lockhart's invitation-mainly for two reasons: Lockhart was a future colleague, and he wanted to thank Molly for her warm hospitality-he had to apologize to the few Muggle friends he still kept in touch with about the Beer Festival. They attended together every year at this time, from university right through to last year.
The Beer Festival was a rare chance for them to get together after leaving student life and entering the working world, so Brian did not want to miss it. Since today's schedule allowed it, he had to make his way there under the stars and moon to sit around a bonfire with his Muggle friends, talking nonsense in the dark.
So he had explained to those friends over the phone beforehand, "I really have something on during the