"I did indeed allow him to come to Hogsmeade once to visit Aurelius," Dumbledore explained.
Only then did Tom finally relax. "That's good…" As long as this isn't another trap…
Clearly, he had been tricked by Wade one too many times and no longer dared to fully trust what he said.
Tom felt Wade's sharp gaze on him.
"Hey, don't look at me like I'm some traitor. I'm just telling the truth. You were the one who brought me here," Tom said quickly.
"Good. Very good, Tom." Wade bared his teeth in a cold grin.
Tom felt his heart skip a beat and immediately regretted it.
He knew very well just how quickly Wade's retaliation could come.
Tom quickly turned to Dumbledore and soon noticed that his reddish-brown beard looked slightly singed.
"Ah, Professor, your beard… so Wade really did burn it yesterday. Impressive!" Tom said at once.
Dumbledore stroked his beard, a faintly pleased smile appearing on his face. "Indeed… Wade has improved greatly. And of course, Tom, you have made considerable progress as well."
Wade cast Tom a sideways glance. "Praising me must feel rather forced for you, doesn't it?"
"It's the truth. I'm simply stating facts, so how could it be forced?" Tom tried to salvage the situation.
At that moment, someone emerged from behind the bar, carrying a large crate of Butterbeer.
After setting down the Butterbeer, he revealed a somewhat pale and weary face. It was Aurelius, who had only recently recovered.
"Wade, you're here," Aurelius said happily upon seeing him. "What would you and your friend like to drink? Just say the word, it's on me."
Wade had saved both his life and Nagini's.
It could be said that Aurelius was now filled with gratitude toward Wade. Even if Wade asked him to die on the spot, he would not hesitate.
"No need for that. How have you been feeling lately?" Wade asked with a smile.
"Good! Better than ever before! No more fear of losing control, no need to force myself to endure with sheer will… I feel more at ease than I ever have, Wade… and it's all thanks to you! I don't even know how to repay you!" Aurelius's eyes turned red. "So whatever you ask of me in the future, I won't refuse!"
"It's enough that you're well. As for repayment… you've already given it," Wade said with a smile.
"I've already paid?" Aurelius asked, puzzled.
Wade glanced around the bar and, seeing that there weren't many customers, leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Do you remember? I extracted the Obscurus from you… it's been a great help to me."
"Uh… that thing is really that useful?" Aurelius asked, bewildered.
For all those years, the Obscurus had lurked inside him like a malignant tumor.
And now Wade was saying it had actually been useful?
"Professor Dumbledore knows about it as well. It has indeed served a purpose…"
Seeing Dumbledore nod, Aurelius finally said, "Alright then, as long as it didn't cause you any trouble… so, what would you like to drink? It's all on me!"
"Ah… on a fine day like today, I'd like a glass of sherry," Dumbledore said cheerfully.
"Um… sorry, but for you… you'll have to pay… my father insisted," Aurelius said apologetically.
Dumbledore froze for a moment, then unconsciously stroked his slightly singed beard.
Wade and Tom looked away, trying to hold back their laughter by thinking of the saddest things in their lives.
The current Dumbledore still had a somewhat sharp edge to him. If they laughed at a moment like this, tomorrow's training would definitely be unpleasant.
"It's fine. Just give me a glass of sherry. I'll pay," Dumbledore said, finally recovering.
"Alright, one Galleon per glass." Aurelius set down a cup and opened an unopened bottle of sherry.
"One Galleon per glass?" Dumbledore's eye twitched.
"Yes."
"Isn't that a bit expensive?"
"Well… for others, it's five Sickles a glass. For you… it's one Galleon a glass," Aurelius said, still looking apologetic toward his uncle.
"Pfft!" Tom and Wade finally couldn't hold it in any longer.
Dumbledore looked at them.
"Sorry, I just thought of something amusing," Wade said.
"Me too…" Tom nodded.
Dumbledore turned to Aurelius again, his lips starting to twitch.
"Was that also your father's instruction?"
"Yes," Aurelius replied honestly.
"Sigh… Aberforth… never mind, never mind. I won't have it then. One Galleon could buy me plenty of sweets."
"But… the sherry has already been opened…" Aurelius looked at him with a simple, earnest expression.
"And?" Dumbledore asked.
"So… once opened, no refunds," Aurelius said. "That's also what my father told me."
"…So I have to buy it?" Dumbledore looked at him in disbelief.
"At least one glass… I had to open it because you asked for it," Aurelius said with a smile.
Dumbledore drew in a sharp breath. "Fine… just one glass."
He had thought that after his nephew recovered, his relationship with his brother might improve somewhat.
But it seemed he had been mistaken…
"Pfft…" Wade couldn't help laughing again.
"And what are you laughing at now?" Dumbledore said helplessly.
"Sorry, I just remembered my little rooster laid an egg," Wade said.
Tom nodded as well. "Me too…"
Dumbledore helplessly picked up the outrageously expensive glass of sherry and took a careful sip, then couldn't help but laugh.
"A glass of sherry for one Galleon… it somehow tastes much better than usual."
"If you like it, I can sell you the rest," Aurelius said, placing the opened bottle in front of Dumbledore.
"Heh… alright, leave it there," Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Heh, the patron is certainly generous," Aberforth's sarcastic voice came from behind the curtain.
A moment later, his tall figure stepped out from behind it.
Behind him followed a nervous house-elf and a cat walking upright while holding a flowerpot covered with a piece of black cloth.
"Eh? Tobby?" Tom looked at the elf and the strange cat in surprise.
Clearly, it was Wade's house-elf Tobby, along with the cat Tom refused to call by name.
It seemed that Wade's visit to Aurelius today was not just a simple visit.
"Master Wade!" Tobby took a large box from Aberforth and hurried over, stumbling as he ran.
"Professor, I need an assistant for my experiments, so I'd like Tobby to stay in the laboratory for the time being to help me. Is that alright?" Wade asked directly.
Tom was completely baffled. He had no idea whether Wade knew Dumbledore would be at the Hog's Head when he came.
After all, Wade didn't need to ask Dumbledore's permission at all. For a house-elf to hide quietly within Hogwarts would be effortless.
Moreover, by asking so directly, would Dumbledore really agree? Everyone knew that Wade's experiments were hardly what one would call proper.
Even though Dumbledore trusted Wade, experiments always came with risks. Tom felt that no matter how much Dumbledore trusted him, he should still take such factors into account.
Yet, to Tom's surprise, Dumbledore agreed almost without hesitation.
At that moment, Tom recalled what Wade had said not long ago.
Dumbledore wasn't afraid of them doing something improper. He was afraid of them doing it behind his back.
Thinking about it this way, Tom began to understand.
As long as Wade's experiments were open for Dumbledore to see, he would not interfere.
In fact, Wade's willingness to show his experiments would only make Dumbledore more pleased.
It was far better than Wade secretly causing trouble and suddenly springing a "surprise" on him.
Whether it was Headmaster Dippet or Dumbledore… they were both getting on in years and not exactly suited to shocks.
Perhaps they had even reached some kind of understanding behind the scenes.
"Wade, the things you asked me to prepare have been placed in Tobby's box," Aberforth said. As he turned to Wade, his expression instantly became warm and friendly, completely different from the sour look he had shown his brother.
"Alright, thank you," Wade said gratefully.
"It's nothing. You saved Aurelius. I'd be willing to do anything you ask," Aberforth said, then turned to Dumbledore. "If he doesn't allow you to take those things, just tell me. I'll back you up."
Dumbledore spread his hands. "I've already agreed…"
"You'd better have," Aberforth replied.
"Oh… Aberforth, I'm still your brother. At least give me a little face," Dumbledore said helplessly.
"Face? Then go ask her and see if she's willing to let me give you any," Aberforth said irritably, pointing toward the curtain.
Dumbledore sighed and said nothing more, continuing to drink his sherry in silence.
Behind the curtain was Ariana's portrait. What had happened in the past had left Aberforth deeply hurt, and even now he still harbored strong resentment toward his brother.
For the sake of the greater good, he would carry out what Dumbledore asked of him, but expecting him to treat Dumbledore kindly was impossible.
Seeing the atmosphere grow tense, Tom's eyes flickered, and he quickly spoke up. "Wade, what did you have Aberforth bring for you?"
"Oh… some very interesting experimental equipment. Part of it was custom-made, and part of it was bought from Muggles," Wade said, looking pleased as he gazed at the large box in Tobby's hands.
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