Hogwarts: Don't call me the Staff Maker

Chapter 790 Aberforth's Help

"Are we in Hogsmeade?"

These words seemed to possess some kind of magic, instantly dispelling the fatigue of the three of them.

"What did you say?" Hermione rushed over and peered into the distance, where she also saw the crooked two-story building.

"Maybe—it's not the Screaming Shack, it's just similar," Hermione said.

For them, Hogsmeade was one of the most dangerous places, second only to Hogwarts.

There must be many Death Eaters lying in ambush there, waiting for them to walk right into their trap. If this really is Hogsmeade, they might as well have gone to Tottenham Palace Road in the first place.

Despite their wise advice to run now, the three of them headed toward the two-story building without prior arrangement.

As I got closer, that familiar feeling became even clearer.

Harry was now certain that it was the Shrieking Shack. Not only that, he also saw the Pig's Head pub next door, the severed pig's head looking particularly gruesome in the darkness.

The dark street stretched out into the distance, and the light shining from the windows of the Three Brooms Bar could be faintly seen.

"Damn it, why are we here?" Ron frowned.

Hermione didn't say anything; she already had a pretty good idea of ​​what had happened.

When people feel fear, they instinctively think of the place they perceive as safest. Clearly, in her mind, the safest place in the entire wizarding world was Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

This instinct also affects the target of Apparition.

However, Apparition is prohibited at the school, which is why they appeared near Hogsmeade—after all, it's the closest place to the school.

"We'd better get out of here quickly," Harry said anxiously, and immediately turned to walk back.

Since there were no problems coming here, Harry naively thought that returning the same way would be the same.

However, things were far from as simple as he thought. Just as they turned around, intending to return the way they came, a scream pierced the night sky.

It sounded like a hundred wicked birds making unpleasant cries at the same time, a sound that tormented their nerves.

"It's the Screaming Curse!" Hermione said.

There was no time to think. Harry quickly grabbed Ron and Hermione and pulled them to his side, then took out his Invisibility Cloak from his backpack and covered his head with it.

The Invisibility Cloak was too small for the three of them at their current size. Even though they squeezed together as much as possible, some parts were still not completely covered, with half of Harry's lower leg and Ron's foot showing.

But they didn't have time to do anything. The moment the invisibility cloak fell, the door of the three brooms suddenly opened, and a dozen or so Death Eaters in cloaks and hoods rushed into the street, wands raised high.

Beneath the Invisibility Cloak, Harry, his two companions held their breath as still as possible, gripping their wands tightly but daring not to launch the first attack.

There are too many enemies; any move they make will immediately reveal our position.

A Death Eater waved his wand, the screams stopped, and he let out a shout.

"The Invisibility Cloak is flying in!"

Harry instinctively gripped his cloak tighter, but it showed no sign of slipping away; the summoning charm had no effect on it.

"What's going on? It wasn't Potter and Ollivander, but someone accidentally triggered the Screaming Curse?" a Death Eater asked.

"Impossible!" said the Death Eater who had just cast the summoning incantation. "No one but them would be here at this time. Spread out carefully, they're right here."

The Death Eaters scattered, and two of them walked straight toward them, getting closer and closer.

Harry's heart leaped into his throat, his right hand gripping his wand so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

However, Harry couldn't care less about any of that right now; his eyes were fixed on the two Death Eaters.

They were too close. If they continued walking, even if they were lucky enough not to run into them, they would definitely see his and Ron's exposed feet.

By then, they must strike first!

The three of them were starting to regret it. They should have run away when they recognized the Screaming Shack. Why did they have to come over to check?

The footsteps drew closer, and one of them was less than three inches from Harry's foot when he passed by.

No, he must—

"What are you doing!"

A tall figure walked straight up behind them. Harry recognized him as the owner of the Hog's Head, and the only person there who wasn't wearing a hood.

"Who's there!"

"It's me, you idiots!" Aberforth roared impatiently. "Look closely, don't tell me you've forgotten what I look like!"

"Did you trigger the Screaming Curse?" one of the Death Eaters asked.

"So it was you who set up that stupid spell that startled me!" Aberforth seemed even angrier. "So what if it was me? Are you going to take me to Azkaban because I came home a little late?"

“That wasn’t you,” another Death Eater said. “The Screaming Curse is only triggered upon entering Hogsmeade, and you clearly just came back.”

"That's because I thought someone was going to attack me, you idiot! Would you be indifferent if you suddenly heard screams on your way home?"

"I remember telling you before I left that I needed to find some things so that you could complete those side hustles more smoothly."

"But you never told me that there's a damn, incredibly stupid shrieking curse here at night!"

"That's to capture Harry Potter and Cyren Ollivander," said the first Death Eater. "They'll definitely come back here."

"Then who do I look like? Arrest me!" Aberforth stretched out his hand. "But I must warn you, if that person knows you've made such a fuss only to arrest one old man like me, he certainly won't be happy, will he?"

"That's none of your concern," said the second Death Eater, but he showed no intention of taking Aberforth away.

They've made a lot of Galleons at the Pig's Head Bar during this time. If they capture the boss, where will they go to find a side business?

Three brooms?

They're fine with it, but the vampires don't see it that way; they only recognize Pighead Bar.

Who would want to mess with Galon? Isn't that what they became Death Eaters for?

"Alright, alright, we must have made a mistake. You can go back now," said the first Death Eater. "If you dare to violate curfew again, we won't be so lenient!"

The Death Eaters turned and went back into the street.

Harry and his two friends had just breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the owner of the Hog's Head pub bend down, as if picking something up.

Then they heard a voice speaking very fast and so softly that only they could hear it.

"Put on your invisibility cloak. This area is teeming with Death Eaters. If you don't want to get caught, follow me!"