Hogsmeade was far more magnificent than Vizette had imagined.
After all, Diagon Alley was just a commercial street, while Hogsmeade was a pure wizarding village.
The area was very spacious, with shops and residences interspersed, creating a strong sense of local life.
Many residents were strolling on the street, greeting each other in a friendly manner and chatting about the news in the Daily Prophet.
Dumbledore continued in a low voice, "This way!"
Vizette followed closely behind Dumbledore into a slightly dirty and dilapidated bar.
A tattered signboard on the door swayed in the wind, with a bloodstained pig's head drawn on it.
"We have to go to the back," Dumbledore said in a light voice, as they walked halfway around the bar.
There was a huge wine barrel embedded in the back of the bar. He walked around the barrel and pushed open the back door, and a strange mutton smell hit him.
Along with that came a cacophony of shouts coming through the walls.
And... some rude curses, even the sound of breaking glasses and chairs falling over.
"Let's go upstairs and wait for him!" he said, casually waving his finger to move the heavy cargo blocking the inner door…
Undoubtedly, this was the combined effect of silent spellcasting and wandless spellcasting.
Through understanding Professor Flitwick's notes, Vizette had begun to grasp some of the intricacies of silent spellcasting.
However, more practice was needed to perhaps replicate the silent spellcasting of that night.
After all, transformation magic had the lowest requirements for spells; the so-called spell was more like a hint.
It meant to get the wizard focused, so that he could use his knowledge and awareness to perform shapeshifting magic.
Because of this characteristic, spells like "Transformation" and "Devil's Snare" could be used as spells for transformation magic.
The structure here was similar to the Leaky Cauldron, with a bar on the first floor and the second floor rented out as a hotel for guests.
Dumbledore expertly opened a door, waved his wand to dispel the Disillusionment Charm, and then smoothly pulled out a chair, made tea, and ate candy, as if this were his home.
"Come and sit down!" he gestured to Vizette, who was standing nearby. "There's no need to be so reserved here. It's best to relax."
Vizette nodded, picked up his steaming teacup, blew on it, and asked, "Headmaster Dumbledore, may I ask... what brings you here?"
Dumbledore took out two sherbet lemons and asked softly, "Occlumency, do you remember it?"
"I remember!" Vizette took a sherbet lemon. "Professor Quirrell suggested that I try learning Occlumency, which might reduce the influence of dark magic on the Obscurians."
"This is an extremely advanced magical technique," Dumbledore stroked his beard. "It can do a great deal… How much do you know about Occlumency?"
Without hesitation, Vizette replied, "I just looked through the books in the library and learned some basic concepts from the few records available."
"This technique can resist mental infiltration, using the method of sealing the mind to resist various magical invasions and the effects of spells."
"It has a wide range of uses, doesn't it?" Dumbledore blinked and smiled slightly.
Just then, another voice appeared.
"A skilled Occlumency practitioner, when prepared, will find that the Stunning Spell has no effect."
An elderly man, tall and thin with a long, gray beard and covered in flour, pushed open the door and entered.
The tall, thin old man's voice was somewhat gruff, "I didn't expect you to come so early!"
Vizette's eyes widened. He first glanced at Dumbledore, then at the old man who had just entered the room.
Aside from a slightly hoarse voice and some bloodstains on his cuffs, they were almost identical in build and their faces, not hidden by beards, bore a striking resemblance...
How could they be so similar?
Sensing Vizette's unusual gaze, the tall, thin old man pulled out a chair, sat down, and began to introduce himself.
"My name is Aberforth Dumbledore, the…unknown younger brother of the esteemed and renowned Headmaster Dumbledore."
From Aberforth's tone, Vizette heard a hint of... Professor Snape's voice, that mocking and sarcastic tone.
"He's not unknown; he's just content with his current life," Dumbledore replied with a smile. "He's always been a great help to me, and I'm very grateful for his assistance…"
"I don't need you to whitewash anything for me!" Aberforth interrupted somewhat arrogantly, then looked at Vizette beside him.
He rolled up his blood-stained sleeves, grabbed his greasy collar, and held out the dusty rag.
"Kid, you've seen it yourself, I'm just a bar owner... By the way! Hog's Head isn't like Three Broomsticks, it's not exactly glamorous here, you'd better be prepared!"
Dumbledore's smile remained unchanged. "Any wizard, regardless of their speciality, may forge a unique path in the study of magic, so please don't underestimate them..."
"Did you bring him here today, or did he bring you?" Aberforth raised his eyebrows. "Why don't you let him make his own choice?"
"Why do you have to arrange everything? It was like this before, and it's like this now. How many people's lives do you plan to control?"
Dumbledore took a deep breath, his smile fading, revealing a hint of dejection. "You're right... Vizette, you tell us!"
Aberforth's complexion also worsened; he was breathing slightly heavily and would occasionally steal glances at Dumbledore.
The somewhat unusual behavior of Dumbledore piqued Vizette's curiosity.
He had been observing the two of them, and through their words and subtle expressions, he noticed something unusual.
The relationship between these two brothers was extremely complex. They seemed distant and tense, yet they shared an inexplicable connection and were jointly guarding a secret from the past.
This secret was like a swollen, scabbed wound to both of them.
The two were like conjoined twins, completely connected by blood and knowing each other inside and out, yet they suffered endless pain because of the wound that grew at their point of connection...
Headmaster Dumbledore actually trusted Aberforth a lot; otherwise, he wouldn't have helped smooth things over and spoken well of Aberforth.
However, Aberforth seemed to dislike this approach, always speaking frankly and exposing everything, revealing a more authentic side of himself.
Not only did he want to show his true self, but he also wanted Dumbledore to show his true self.
"Boy, my time is limited. Tell me your true thoughts!" Aberforth shouted impatiently.
Vizette stood up, but his thoughts continued to wander.
He thought about many things during the Christmas holidays and also talked to Luna about many things, which caused his mindset to change slightly.
Where in life was there no learning?
Leaving Hogwarts Castle and the formal teaching environment, one could surely gain different kinds of knowledge.
This meeting with Aberforth might be a great opportunity…
...
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