A week passed in a hurry, and if there was anything worth mentioning, it was that the weather gradually improved.
After a rain, spring also arrived.
On Friday, after the Duelling Club's regular meeting, Howl returned to his office to deal with the assignments the children had handed in.
It wasn't until dusk that he prepared to return to the Pigs Head Bar.
"Hm? Do you want to go see?" Howl looked at Sindel in surprise.
Sindel quickly explained, "Because I'm very curious, I haven't seen the outside world, unlike those famous portraits."
As she spoke, the expression on the girl's face was a bit twisted, perhaps due to nervousness.
Curiosity about not having seen the outside world, and that nervous, twisted expression.
Neither of these seemed like something a painting could do.
"Ah, will it be too presumptuous?" Sindel asked softly.
"Not at all." Howl shook his head; there was nothing in his home that couldn't be seen.
More precisely, he didn't mind if things that shouldn't be seen were seen by others.
"But I was just planning to go to the Pigs Head Bar for a drink first," Howl said.
"That's fine too!" Sindel nodded quickly.
"Then let's go." Howl had no reason to refuse. He took a photograph from the table, put it in his pocket, and walked out the door.
They walked out of the school and onto the streets of Hogsmeade. It was closing time, so there weren't many pedestrians on the street, but that didn't mean it wasn't lively.
In front of the shops, the shop assistants were busy preparing goods for tomorrow, which would be delivered to the school, bustling frantically.
Inside Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, there were no customers, but through the door, one could clearly see a busy back kitchen; clearly, they were preparing the pastries to be sold tomorrow.
In front of the Three Broomsticks Pub, Madam Rosmerta waved her hand warmly, greeting Howl.
"Who is she?" Sindel asked curiously.
"The owner of the Three Broomsticks," Howl explained.
"Oh." Sindel nodded. "I thought it was Sirona."
"Who is Sirona?" Howl was a bit curious.
"She's the owner of the Three Broomsticks Pub in a Hogsmeade portrait," Sindel explained. "But he usually prefers to be called 'Madam Boss.'"
"He? Madam Boss??"
"Mm." Sindel nodded. "Maybe it's the artist's bad taste. Perhaps in reality, the owner of the Pigs Head Bar and the artist had an unpleasant past, so they did that."
"Perhaps." Howl didn't really want to discuss this topic. What if it was true?
"By the way, how long ago was that painting painted?" Howl asked instead.
"Uh..." Sindel frowned for a long time, pondered for a while, and finally found the answer: "A very, very long time ago. It seems to depict Hogsmeade from about a hundred years ago, a kind of group photo-like painting after the Goblin War ended."
"Oh, then the difference between then and now must be quite significant," Howl sighed.
"Not at all," Sindel said. "The difference between that painting and here, I feel, is just that the people have changed. Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, the Owl Post Office, Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop... Hm, I feel there's no difference."
'No changes at all. If it were open, it would be suitable as a tourist attraction? An ancient Wizarding village? But for a small Wizarding community, it's quite something that such an important settlement hasn't changed or developed in a hundred years.' Howl muttered to himself.
"By the way, Mr. Cat, why did you think of going to the Pigs Head Bar?" Sindel asked curiously. "I heard the Pigs Head Bar is famous for being dirty and for treating customers roughly."
"Does that painting also have the Pigs Head Bar?"
"Yes, it does." Sindel nodded.
Goodness, it seems the Pigs Head Bar's messiness didn't start with Aberforth; it has a long history.
"It's actually alright there, but I'm already used to this place," Howl explained.
As he spoke, he walked into the pub.
"Welcome!" A light voice appeared.
Howl looked at the newcomer with some surprise, then smiled and nodded: "Hello, Nagini, you seem to be doing well recently!"
At this moment, Nagini was no longer as weak and dazed as she had been when she first recovered; her complexion was clearly much better.
Although her lips were still black, as if she had used an unusual colored lipstick, this wasn't too out of place in the bizarre Wizarding World.
"Yes, Mr. Jones." Nagini returned a smile and bowed slightly. This was a courtesy for an uncommon customer.
Howl surveyed the Pigs Head Bar and was also surprised by the environment here. He even saw Aberforth behind the bar; his body seemed to have grown a bit taller, vaguely even taller than Howl.
Or rather, the back that had been bent due to old age seemed to have straightened up a bit again.
At this moment, he was wiping a clear glass with a clean cloth.
"It seems you've brought a different kind of vitality here," Howl said, walking into the pub.
"Good evening, Howl," Aberforth said with a smile, then noticed Sindel, smacked his lips, and said, "It seems you've brought a guest."
"Your gaze is a bit abstract. Before you scrutinize these, I suggest you bring the goats down from the living quarters on the second floor," Howl said with a slight smile.
Aberforth gave a casual smile: "I haven't read much, so I'm not good at arguing."
Actually, he was quite good at swearing, but those words weren't really suitable for friendly banter.
"What will you drink? The usual?" Aberforth shrugged. "By the way, I don't have any food or drinks for your friend here."
"Sir, thank you for your concern." Sindel returned a smile.
"Has anything happened recently?" Howl asked curiously.
"No, um… except for two young rascals causing a ruckus." Aberforth said, mixing a drink.
"Alright."
"Don't you care? Or have they already told you?"
"No, they haven't. I just don't think such a small matter needs worrying about," Howl explained. At the same time, Aberforth placed the glass on the bar.
Howl picked up the glass, turned, and found an empty seat.
After he left, Aberforth habitually reached for the rag to wipe the water stains on the bar.
Nagini, quick-witted, beat him to it, wiping the bar with a slightly dirty rag.
Aberforth nodded helplessly. Under Nagini's gaze, he transferred the clean rag to the glasses.
At a table in the pub, Howl set down his glass, leaned comfortably on the stool, and placed Sindel down.
"Oh, I'm so foolish. I actually used the scene from the painting to imagine the current Pigs Head Bar," Sindel said softly, lowering her head.
"No, you're actually not wrong – these current changes have only happened recently," Howl smiled.
"How does it feel, being out?"
"Wonderful," Sindel responded.
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