"Hey… it's Hagrid."
"I can see that."
Hagrid stepped inside, moving slowly. He was a regular at the Hog's Head, and after his initial entrance, no one paid him much attention.
He seemed to be in low spirits. His massive frame squeezed through the narrow gaps between tables, nearly knocking over several customers. He glanced around, but there were no empty seats.
Most wizards avoided him, except for those dealing in magical creatures, who occasionally sought him out.
Eventually, he made his way over to Elijah and Tonks and dropped heavily into a chair, nearly tipping the table.
"Excuse me—" He pulled out a small handkerchief and blew his nose. The sound was so loud Elijah felt as though a horn had been blasted beside his ear. "Excuse me, mind if I sit here? There's nowhere else."
Tonks didn't mind, but Elijah spoke first.
He pushed the untouched Firewhisky in front of him toward Hagrid and said lightly, "Have it. My treat."
"Thank you, thank you—you're too kind!" Hagrid looked deeply moved, his eyes already misting. Without hesitation, he grabbed the glass, drained it in one gulp, and let out a thunderous burp.
He had clearly been holding in a lot, and the alcohol only made it worse. Just as he was about to start venting, Elijah interrupted him.
"Hagrid, I know you're not in the best mood, but we're in the middle of something. Why don't you sit somewhere else? Look, that table over there is free."
He pointed directly at the goblin's table.
"I'll buy you another drink next time."
Goblin: "???"
"Oh… alright then. Next time," Hagrid said, nodding earnestly.
Simple as ever, he took Elijah at his word. After all, anyone who bought him a drink couldn't possibly have bad intentions.
He stood up immediately, squeezed past the crowded tables, and sat down opposite the goblin.
"Wait—"
The goblin froze. Even with his face wrapped tightly, Elijah could easily imagine the shock and anger underneath. He tried to object, but no sound came out of his throat.
He turned and glared at Elijah, his eyes filled with hostility, as if he wanted nothing more than to tear him apart.
"Outch, John.. I think you were a little rude to Hagrid.." Tonks whispered.
"We're on a mission," Elijah replied calmly. "And besides… everyone knows Hagrid is very 'talkative.'"
Of course, Elijah had deliberately sent Hagrid over. Someone as straightforward as Hagrid might manage to draw something out of the goblin. And even if he didn't, there was no loss.
The goblin had no choice but to let Hagrid sit.
Elijah soon heard Hagrid ordering two more Firewhiskies. As he drank, he began loudly pouring out his frustrations to the goblin.
He complained about finally becoming a professor at Hogwarts this year, only for his very first class to go wrong, injuring a Malfoy student.
Though not particularly perceptive, Hagrid understood that offending the child of a school board member could bring trouble. Just last year, when Ginny had tried to curse Malfoy, Hagrid had remarked that it was fortunate her spell had missed.
"It was barely a scratch! He was faking it!" Hagrid, fueled by alcohol, grew more agitated, his face turning red. "You know, he's nowhere near as good as Harry. Last year Harry broke his hand and didn't complain at all!"
In Hagrid's mind, Harry was the best child in the world. Malfoy wasn't even worth comparing.
After Harry came Hermione, then Ginny, and then Ron.
"I didn't even know he became a professor," Tonks whispered.
"After Tom Riddle was caught last year, everything on Hagrid's record was cleared," Elijah explained. "Professor Kettleburn retired, so Dumbledore brought him in."
To be honest, Elijah felt that Hagrid becoming the Care of Magical Creatures professor was a questionable decision. But then again, most professors of that subject were troublemakers.
Kettleburn himself had caused no less chaos.
Anyone who truly loved magical creatures tended to underestimate their danger, just like dog owners who always insisted their pets would never bite.
Elijah recalled a relative from his previous life who owned a large dog. Every time it saw him, it barked wildly and frightened him half to death.
The owner always brushed it off.
"It's fine, it doesn't bite."
Eventually, the dog bit someone.
It proved one thing—fangs and claws were never just for show. Most creatures, including humans, carried an instinct for aggression.
Hagrid's conversation soon drifted to his father. He had noticed that the goblin sitting across from him was about the same height.
However, that topic didn't last long. When it came to his background, Hagrid grew noticeably more cautious.
In the end, he failed to get anything useful out of the goblin.
The goblin drank in silence, clearly frustrated. By evening, most of the tavern's customers had already left. Hagrid eventually stumbled out as well, drunk.
The goblin, however, remained seated, as if planning to stay at the Hog's Head indefinitely.
Elijah decided to take a room.
The two of them walked upstairs in silence. When they reached the door, Tonks suddenly stopped and stared at him.
"Why did you only book one room?"
"Why would I need two rooms for myself?" Elijah replied.
"For yourself? What about me?" Tonks asked, incredulous. "Are you expecting me to sleep on the street?"
"Can't you just go home?" Elijah said matter-of-factly. "Unless you actually prefer the conditions here. If that's the case, you might want to visit St. Mungo's and have your head examined."
"What kind of Auror goes home in the middle of a mission?" Tonks shot back. "And you could go home too—unless there's somewhere you can't return to?"
"Then why don't you just get another room?" Elijah rolled his eyes. It wasn't as if it mattered; the Ministry would reimburse the cost.
Tonks snorted and turned on her heel, heading back downstairs.
A moment later, she returned, shoulders slumped.
"No rooms left."
There weren't many rooms at the Hog's Head to begin with.
Elijah paused, about to close the door.
But Tonks had already ducked under his arm and slipped inside.
"..."
"Geminio."
Elijah expanded the space within the room and conjured a second bed. Tonks immediately flopped onto it, her hair turning light blue at once.
"I'm exhausted."
"Exhausted?" Elijah glanced at her. "You sat in the pub all afternoon and cost me twelve Sickles."
He walked to the door and pulled it open.
Tonks rolled over. "Where are you going?"
"For a walk."
"I'm coming too."
"No. Stay here and keep an eye on that goblin."
Before Tonks could argue, Elijah had already stepped out and shut the door behind him. Annoyed, she grabbed a pillow and hurled it at the door.
Hogsmeade looked somewhat desolate in the evening. The sky was dimming, and the setting sun seemed to melt into the horizon, staining the clouds a deep orange.
Aurors patrolled the streets, and Dementors drifted through the air, ready to descend on anyone they encountered.
Elijah walked along the village streets without a specific destination. He simply wanted to experience the magical world more directly. Since arriving, he had never truly explored Hogsmeade. He had even considered trying some of its more interesting magical treats.
But as he wandered, he noticed many shops had already closed. With Dementors everywhere, business had clearly suffered.
Having failed to find anything worth buying, Elijah instead found himself targeted by something else.
A large, gaunt black dog spotted him, wagged its tail, and rushed over, grabbing the hem of his trousers in its mouth.
"Sirius?" Elijah recognized the dog instantly, though he was curious how Sirius had recognized him.
He glanced around. Dementors were scattered throughout the streets.
Lowering his voice, he said, "Follow me."
The black dog released his trousers and fell into step behind him as Elijah made his way toward the Three Broomsticks.
The pub was nearly empty. Only a curvaceous woman stood behind the bar, polishing glasses. She looked slightly surprised to see Elijah enter with such a large dog.
"I thought it was another Dementor," Madam Rosmerta said as she set down a glass. "They patrol twice a day now, and business has nearly disappeared."
"What can I get you?"
"A room, two Butterbeers, and two plates of ribs. Please bring them up," Elijah said quietly. He needed somewhere private to talk.
"All the rooms upstairs are empty," Rosmerta replied, "but if you stay, you'll have to put up with the Dementors."
She turned and headed into the kitchen.
Elijah led the black dog upstairs. Once inside the room, he closed the door.
The dog immediately rose to its feet and transformed into a disheveled man.
"Elijah!"
"How did you recognize me?" Elijah dropped his disguise, returning to his original appearance.