For the British, a pub is more than just a place to drink—it's an essential social hub. People gather there to chat, watch TV, and enjoy so rare downti after a busy day.
That's why even in a small, remote village, you'll almost always find a pub or two.
Mike ran one such pub in Little Hangleton. Around noon, he was polishing a glass while chatting with a custor.
"Word is there were two strangers here yesterday?" asked Pete, an old regular at the pub.
"Yep, dressed pretty oddly—maybe it's the latest city fashion," Mike replied, winking with a mysterious smile. "Two n, booked a single room."
"Oh… so they're, you know… that type."
Pete muttered knowingly, and then frowned.
Though public figures had increasingly advocated for accepting people with different orientations and there were even rumors about legalizing sa-sex marriage, in small villages like this, older folks like Pete still held their prejudices.
"Did you find out where they were from?" Pete asked.
"I didn't ask," Mike shrugged. "But judging by their accents, I'd say London—they say 'this' as 'dis.'"
Footsteps sounded on the staircase, and Mike gave Pete a look; they both went quiet imdiately.
Pete glanced casually toward the staircase.
Leading was a middle-aged man with graying hair, dressed in a well-fitted dark suit and an open robe. Though unremarkable in appearance, he had an aura of calm resilience.
Pete sneered internally.
But as he caught sight of the person following him, Pete nearly spat out his drink, and then turned to glare furiously at Mike.
Mike looked puzzled, "What's wrong?"
"That's a kid!" Pete hissed angrily, lowering his voice. "He's clearly just a young boy traveling with an adult! For heaven's sake, how could you spread rumors about a child with an adult?"
"What kid? I didn't spread any rumors!" Mike protested, feeling wronged. He looked up to see the two guests descending from upstairs and froze in surprise.
Pete snorted in disdain.
…
Wade and Lupin exited the pub and took in their surroundings.
He ca here in a rush once before with Dumbledore, and paid little attention to the area. Now, standing on the village's wide main road, Wade could clearly see an imposing yet desolate house on the nearby hillside.
Two boys on bicycles sped down the hillside along the road at a fast speed. They were chased by an old man with a limp who waved his cane and shouted at them angrily.
Naturally, the old man couldn't keep up, and the boys rode away while laughing wantonly.
"Are we going there?" Lupin asked, standing beside him.
"No, of course not," Wade replied.
"That's where Voldemort's father used to live. We're going the other way—to where his mother once lived."
This statent carried a lot of weight. Lupin, who knew nothing about it before, was montarily stunned, almost doubting his own ears.
He remained silent for a while, mulling over the implications.
Wade, like an ordinary tourist, followed a path out of the village. Then he took out a potion bottle labeled "Draught of Living Death"—a powerful sleeping draught.
Wade pointed his wand at the bottle and murmured, "Conversus Caligo."
Under his control, the potion mixed with the moisture in the air, rapidly forming a thick, misty fog that began drifting like a wave toward the village.
The boys who had just raced down the hill felt sudden drowsiness. They left their bicycles on the grass, found a shaded spot, yawned deeply, and soon fell asleep.
"I swear to you, what I saw really was a…a man in his thirties or forties…" Mike the bartender was explaining, but his custor Pete, now slumped drunk over the table, was snoring.
Mike scratched his head in confusion, and his eyelids grew heavy. "I'll just take a quick nap…" he muttered, and he too drifted off to sleep.
Up on the hill, the Riddle House gardener—the old man with the limp—rubbed his eyes as well. He let his cane fall, slumped onto a sofa, and soon began snoring.
In a matter of seconds, Little Hangleton fell silent. Even the ants on the utility poles, the mice in their holes, and the guard dogs fell into a deep sleep.
Lupin watched in awe. "I've never seen anyone use potions quite like you…your weather charms are impressive."
"Thanks to Mr. Scamander," Wade replied. "His lessons were invaluable to ."
"How long will they sleep with the Draught diluted like this?"
"About two to three hours," Wade replied. "Long enough for us to get our work done without interruption."
The two walked along the narrow, winding path toward the old Gaunt Shack, with Wade giving Lupin a rundown of their purpose.
"Earlier… on the day of Sirius's trial, Dumbledore brought here. He showed where Voldemort once lived and his history."
"Both of Voldemort's parents were born near this village. His mother used a love potion to control a Muggle youth from that mansion, which led to Voldemort's birth."
"His mother was rope Gaunt, a descendant of Slytherin."
"You ntioned before that I'd learned enough about the theory of Fiendfyre to attempt practical use, right?"
"Instead of just burning down so random cave, I'd rather try Fiendfyre here."
"Using Fiendfyre in a dense forest is very risky," Lupin cautioned. "If it gets out of control, it could cause a massive wildfire."
"Well, that's why you're here, isn't it?" Wade replied with a mischievous smile. "I trust that if my spell gets out of control, you'll be able to contain it."
Lupin chuckled. "Of course."
After a pause, he asked, "Just to be clear, is this a task Dumbledore assigned to you?"
"No, definitely not… this is just my own idea."
Wade would hardly dare to draw Dumbledore's attention to this place. He feared a repeat of history, where the old headmaster's desire for the Resurrection Stone might beco overwhelming, leading to an early demise.
That would make his journey here an instant shift to a much more difficult—or even impossible—mode.
Besides, Wade didn't believe he could successfully stop Dumbledore if he fell into that kind of obsession. So it was best not to let Dumbledore get involved at all.
After following the path for quite a while, they finally ca upon the small, decrepit house nestled among the shrubs and weeds.
"Are you ready?" Lupin raised his wand. "We should probably clear the area around us first."
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