Uh, you don't even forget to belittle Professor Dumbledore?
"Do you often go to the Three Broomsticks and get this drunk?"
Aberforth shook his head: "That's not the case. It's just that every year when Christmas is approaching, I like to drink a little more occasionally. It's been a habit for decades. -x~i*ao¨s?h_u·o?h¨u′n*.\c*o!m?"
After saying that, he immediately added: "Don't ask why, children don't understand."
"…"
Edward hesitated for a moment, looked at Ariana's painting and asked, "Mr. Dumbledore, who is the girl in the painting..."
"She's my sister Ariana."
Aberforth's expression softened. "If you want to pursue her, I can only say that I am sorry... she has been dead for a long time."
"Feel sorry."
"It's your principal who should say sorry."
He snorted coldly and waved his hand: "Hurry up and leave, I'm going to close the door!"
Edward felt that if he asked something like "Are you sure your sister is really dead?" at this moment, Aberforth would definitely reward him with an Avada Kedavra Lightning Chain!
...
Hogwarts, eighth floor, headmaster's office.
Lilith and Susie were sitting obediently in front of a small blackboard. Dumbledore was also sitting on the floor, writing on the blackboard while talking. The phoenix Fawkes was standing lazily on the shelf.
His tone was very gentle and patient, his eyes were always shining with smiles, and he obviously enjoyed teaching the two little ones very much.
The two little guys also listened to the class very seriously, nodding and shaking their heads from time to time.
"Are you here to pick up Lilith and Susie from school?"
Seeing the two people come in, Dumbledore adjusted his glasses and asked with a smile.
"no."
"There is something I want to tell you."
Dumbledore saw the seriousness on Edward's face, patted his robe and stood up: "Think about what I just taught you. /E_Z\晓`税!网/ ~首!發-"
The little guy responded crisply: "Okay, Professor~"
He motioned for the two to sit down, crossed his arms out of habit and asked, "What's wrong?"
"We just went to Godric's Hollow, to your old house."
Dumbledore was startled, adjusted his glasses and said, "Oh, Godric's Hollow... I, I haven't been back for a while."
He suddenly asked in confusion, "Huh? Didn't you guys go there last week?"
Edward did not answer directly: "Before I tell you about what happened today, I want to ask you a question, but... this question may be a little presumptuous, please forgive me."
Dumbledore smiled and said, "Of course not."
Edward looked into his blue eyes and asked seriously:
"Are you sure that your sister Ariana...is really dead?"
Dumbledore's pupils dilated slightly and he was lost in thought.
For a while.
He took off his glasses and said softly, "Of course... Aberforth and I personally put her in the coffin and buried her next to my mother."
"Although I was young at the time and very reliable, I would never go wrong with something like this."
He lowered his eyes, as if recalling: "I will never forget what happened that day."
Edward told what happened today: "We met a woman who looked very similar to your sister Arianna in Godric's Hollow."
Dumbledore looked up, his eyes more confused.
Edward continued:
"Honestly speaking, the world is so big, it's normal for two people to look alike. Besides, even if Ariana is still alive, she should be an old lady over a hundred years old."
"but..."
Edward told what happened when he met Cecilia, and also recounted what happened today.
Dumbledore's expression gradually became serious. "A woman who pretended to be the granddaughter of an old Goth and looked like Ariana... and happened to meet her in my old house. It is indeed hard not to be suspicious."
He clasped his hands together, thought for a moment, and said softly: "Alas, in my heart I actually hope that the person you met is Arianna. But reason tells me that it is impossible. Otherwise, I would not have followed Gellert..."
When he said this, he suddenly froze, and his pupils trembled slightly.
After more than ten seconds, he closed his eyes and opened them again, muttering:
"If... someone is behind this, I will make him pay the price."
Dumbledore rubbed his forehead tiredly, "Well, dinner is about to start, let's go eat."
"Susie, Lilith, today's classes are over, you can come too."
"Okay."
After Edward and the others left, Dumbledore stood up and paced back and forth for a long time, his face full of confusion and hesitation. Finally, he took a long breath and said:
"Fawkes, take me to the Hog's Head."
...
At dinner time.
Edward and Audrey were still discussing the matter of the lady. What was certain now was that the other party's approach to the two of them was basically ruled out as accidental.
But thinking back, if Audrey hadn't happened to discover that she looked like Arianna today, the matter would have been left unresolved, would not have aroused their suspicion, and would not have alarmed Dumbledore.
Therefore, if it was a trick done by the Death Eaters, then it would be completely meaningless.
At the critical moment, rush out and scare Dumbledore?
Then he shouldn't have shown up last week.
"Ding ding ding."
Suddenly, a crisp knocking sound was heard.
The two looked up and saw Dumbledore and other professors sitting in an orderly manner at the professors' table.
Dumbledore then said in a gentle but powerful voice: "Be quiet."
Edward then realized that his nose was red and seemed a little crooked, as if he had been beaten.
"I know that because of me, I have brought all kinds of unpleasant experiences to everyone recently, both in study and in life. I deeply apologize for this."
As he spoke, Dumbledore stood up and bowed deeply to everyone.
Wow——
For a moment, the children were shocked.
He stood up straight, and did not sit down again:
"In the coming week, I need to devote my full attention to completing the final election, which may delay the professors' help. Add to that those annoying and dangerous Dementors, and I made a decision..."
He paused for several seconds.
"I am announcing that this year's Christmas holiday...will be brought forward by one week so that everyone can spend more time with their families or travel."
Wow!
This sentence instantly ignited the children's enthusiasm, and they shouted excitedly: "Long live! Long live the principal!"
Umbridge was about to scream subconsciously, but immediately remembered what Dumbledore said two days ago, so she shut up silently.
The students at Durmstrang were confused: the headmaster brought us to Hogwarts for exchange, but in the end we didn't exchange anything. The headmaster went in first, and we were implicated and had to stay in Hogwarts.
All right, then we'll just wait patiently - and then you Hogwarts said that you're going to close early. So what are we doing here? What's going on?
Dumbledore stretched out his hands and pressed them lightly, "Of course, the school will still hold a Christmas dinner for the children who stay in school and our friends from Durmstrang. I will also prepare a sumptuous dinner and Christmas gifts for everyone. There will be something for everyone."
"Oooooohhhh!!"
Everyone is happier.
He blinked again and said mischievously:
"In fact, I originally planned to give all of you a gift, but the shareholders of Hogwarts did not allow it. I was reluctant to pay for it myself, so I had to give up."
Hahahaha.
"Well, I wish you all a Merry Christmas in advance and a perfect holiday!"
"Now, please sing a Christmas song with me in advance. Everyone can choose their favorite tune." Dumbledore took out his wand as a baton, "Ready, sing!"
For a moment, Christmas songs of various tunes rang out in the auditorium and cafeteria, which were even more unpleasant than the school song at the beginning of the school year.
Dumbledore rubbed his nose with a smile on his face, "Oh, I must get a music teacher next year! Do you have any recommendations?"
Several professors remained silent.
"Hey, I'll make my own decision then."
After the children finished singing Christmas songs, Dumbledore spoke again:
"Next, please enjoy tonight's dinner, have a good sleep after having enough sleep, and welcome your respective holidays!"
"Whoa whoa!!!"
The Weasley brothers then shouted: "Then we will have to call you Mr. Minister."
"Headmaster of Hogwarts, winner of the Order of Merlin, First Class, President of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Wizard of the Wizengamot, and the new Minister of Magic!"
Dumbledore smiled slightly and said, "Oh, there's not enough room for so many people here."
"Ha ha ha ha!"
The children who understood the joke immediately burst into laughter.
The three Gryffindors were in very different moods at this moment. Ron and Hermione looked happy and began to fantasize about the upcoming vacation, while Harry had a bitter face and looked unhappy.
He didn't want to go back to the "home" that left him with only unhappy memories, but Ron and Hermione had gone back, and it would be so boring for him to be left alone in school.
As if he had seen through Harry's thoughts, Ron patted his chest and said, "Harry, why don't you come home with me for Christmas!"