Harry Potter: Dudley From LOTM - 361

Chapter 361: The Hog’s Head

In the Great Hall, Filch carefully checked each student's signed permission form, making sure that nobody was trying to slip out without proper authorisation.

Once the inspection was finished, Dudley and the others climbed into the carriages waiting outside and headed for Hogsmeade.

After a while, the carriages came to a stop just outside the village.

This was Dudley’s first time seeing Hogsmeade in daylight. Compared with the silence and gloom of night, the village felt bursting with life during the day.

It carried the same sort of flavour as Diagon Alley, yet it was clearly different too.

If Diagon Alley was a magical shopping street, then Hogsmeade felt more like a magical market town, full of everyday warmth: pubs, a post office, ordinary homes, and all sorts of strange little novelties.

“Let’s go buy sweets first. Honeydukes makes brilliant candy,” Ron said, practically bouncing.

“Right. I heard they even sell blood-flavoured sweets for vampires. We can buy some and give them to Ginny,” Harry said.

“Harry, how could you!” Ron protested, then immediately added, “Then buy loads. And get some for Luna too.”

Hermione shook her head at the two of them, wearing the look of someone witnessing a lost cause.

Even so, she was clearly excited, following them towards the sweetshop.

“You go have fun. I’ll wander around a bit, and we’ll meet up at the Three Broomsticks later,” Dudley said.

He had no interest in sweets. He would rather stroll through the wizarding village at his own pace.

“Fine. See you later,” the three of them said, and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Dudley wandered through Hogsmeade unhurriedly.

The quiet little village was packed with Hogwarts students now. They ran around as if they had just been released from prison, letting loose in a place that belonged entirely to wizards.

Laughter rang out everywhere, along with the glittering, shifting glow of magical trinkets being shown off.

Then Dudley’s attention caught on a wanted poster not far away, and he walked over.

Unsurprisingly, it was Sirius Black’s face on it, still howling at the viewer.

“Sirius Black has been spotted around here recently?”

Reading the notice, Dudley’s brows drew together.

No wonder he had seen a few Aurors in Hogsmeade.

And there had been that cold sensation at the village entrance and exit. Dudley was sure the Dementors were nearby.

“Why would Black come here? Is it really for Harry?”

Dudley frowned.

He had forgotten to ask Dumbledore about Black.

After one last glance at the moving photo, Dudley turned away and continued wandering.

Lately, every time Dudley arrived somewhere new, he liked to walk around and learn the layout.

One reason was familiarity. The other was practical. If something happened suddenly, knowing the terrain made it easier to use his abilities.

An Inquisitor could make good use of territory, and with time to spare, Dudley did not mind walking without a destination.

Soon, he reached the outskirts of the village. Past the post office, only a single lonely pub stood ahead.

Compared with the bustle of the Three Broomsticks, this place felt bleak. There weren’t many patrons, and the windows were covered in thick grime, making it almost impossible to see inside.

“The Hog’s Head?” Dudley read off the sign.

He was not unfamiliar with the name. Hagrid had mentioned this place before. The Norwegian Ridgeback egg had been traded here, from Quirrell in disguise.

Thinking of that, Dudley suddenly felt curious.

He walked up and pushed open the door.

The inside was even darker than he had expected. Only a few candles, nearly burned down to nothing, gave off a faint, dying light.

The air was thick with a foul smell, like a strong mutton stench.

Dudley frowned, hesitating on the threshold.

Then a thought surfaced, one of Roselle’s famous sayings: since you’re already here.

Fine. Since he was already here, he might as well look.

With that, Dudley stepped inside.

The floor looked like packed dirt, but when he put weight on it, he realised it was wooden boards coated in centuries of filth.

Feeling that under his shoes, Dudley regretted walking in.

“Forget it. Roselle’s wisdom: it’s a holiday, you’re already here, and you’re still a child…”

Thinking nonsense like that, he found a place and sat down.

Looking around, he did not see a single Hogwarts student. He barely saw anyone who looked normal at all.

Most of the customers were wrapped in thick robes, covering themselves completely, heads and faces included, as if terrified of being recognised.

“How to put it… it feels like the bars near the docks in the Lower District of that other world.”

Dudley did not like much about this place, but it carried a strange familiarity, as if it had thrown him back to Backlund, back to those moments when he and the Beyonders in his team drank and talked together.

“What’ll you have?” an impatient voice asked.

Dudley turned and saw a tall figure behind the counter.

The man’s hair and beard had gone grey-white. He was tall and thin, and his face was hard to make out.

“Er… butterbeer, please,” Dudley said.

His eyes stayed on the man.

A powerful sense of familiarity rose in him, as if he had met this person somewhere before.

Especially the eyes. Hidden beneath thick hair, but unmistakably there, a glint of blue that felt far too familiar.

“I shouldn’t have met him, but he looks familiar. And those blue eyes…”

Dudley closed his eyes gently.

Whenever he could not remember something, he let his thoughts loosen and allowed instinct to replace reason. In that state, the answer usually came quickly.

Clack.

A dirty glass was set down in front of him with no care at all.

Dudley looked at the yellow liquid bubbling inside and lost any remaining appetite.

At the same time, his instinct had already given him the answer.

The innkeeper was standing right there, watching him.

“Dumbledore,” Dudley blurted out.

The Hog’s Head was quiet to begin with, which made Dudley’s voice sound painfully clear.