And sat down on a wobble-legged chair. Harry drew the curtains then pulled the Cloak off

Himself and Ron. They could hear the

Barman down below, rebolting the door of the bar, then climbing the stairs.

Harry's attention was caught by something on the mantelpiece: a small,

Rectangular mirror, propped on top of it,

Right beneath the portrait of the girl.

The barman entered the room.

"You bloody fools," he said gruffly, looking from one to the other of them. "What

were you thinking, coming here?"

"Thank you," said Harry. "You can't thank you enough. You saved our lives!"

The barman grunted. Harry approached him looking up into the face: trying to see

Past the long, stringy, wire-gray hair

Beard. He wore spectacles. Behind the dirty lenses, the eyes were a piercing, brilliant blue.

"It's your eye I've been seeing in the mirror."

There was a silence in the room. Harry and the barman looked at each other.

"You sent Dobby."

The barman nodded and looked around for the elf.

"Thought he'd be with you. Where've you left him?

"He's dead," said Harry, "Bellatrix Lestrange killed him."

The barman face was impassive. After a few moments he said, "I'm sorry to hear

it, I liked that elf."

He turned away, lightning lamps with prods of his wand, not looking at any of

Them.

"You're Aberforth," said Harry to the man's back.

He neither confirmed or denied it, but bent to light the fire.

"How did you get this?" Harry asked, walking across to Sirius's mirror, the twin

Of the one he had broken

Nearly two years before.

"Bought it from Dung 'bout a year ago," said Aberforth. "Albus told me what it

Was. Been trying to keep

an eye out for you."

Ron gasped.

"The silver doe," he said excitedly, "Was that you too?"

"What are you talking about?" asked Aberforth.

"Someone sent a doe Patronus to us!"

"Brains like that, you could be a Death Eater, son. Haven't I just prove my

Patronus is a goat?"

"Oh," said Ron, "Yeah... well, I'm hungry!" he added defensively as his stomach

Gave an enormous

Rumble.

"I got food," said Aberforth, and he sloped out of the room, reappearing moments

Later with a large

Loaf of bread, some cheese, and a pewter jug of mead, which he set upon a small table in

Front of the fire.

Ravenous, they ate and drank, and for a while there was sound of chewing.

"Right then," said Aberforth when the had eaten their fill and Harry and Ron sat

Slumped dozily in

their chairs. "We need to think of the best way to get you out of here. Can't be done by

Night, you heard what

happens if anyone moves outdoors during darkness: Caterwauling Charm's set off, they'll

Be onto you like

bowtruckles on doxy eggs. I don't reckon I'll be able to pass of a stag as a goat a second

Time. Wait for daybreak

When curfew lifts, then you can put your Cloak back on and set out on foot. Get right out

Of Hogsmeade, up into

the mountains, and you'll be able to Disapparate there. Might see Hagrid. He's been

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 574