Seeing the person she'd been holding suddenly freeze, Ariana felt a little strange. However, she didn't dwell on it for long; keeping these two "guests" in sight was more important. Well, what could she do? My second brother looks like he'd been beaten up by our older brother, so I, the little sister, has to help attract customers. Besides, trying to interact with strangers and communicating with different people was quite interesting. She could only lament that she always ran into bad guys as soon as she ventured out—that was just incredibly unlucky.
Bringing herself back to the present, Ariana patted her cheeks to focus. Looking at Malfoy, who was frozen in place, Ariana spoke gently, "You..."
"Don't grab me! Grab Harry! He used to own cats, so female cats like him!"
"..."
Ariana froze, staring at Malfoy, who was clutching his head and collapsing to the ground. Helpless, she could only turn to Harry. "Uh... what's wrong with him?"
Harry shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing, it's just his nature; he's just not very bright."
"..."
Lying on the ground, Malfoy finally understood after hearing their conversation. "Ahem..." Malfoy coughed twice, then stood up calmly, turning to look at the Hog's Head behind him, as if nothing had happened. "This bar's decor is... unique, Harry. Let's go in and check it out."
Ignoring Harry's words, Malfoy, changing the subject, headed straight for the Hog's Head. Seeing this, Ariana immediately returned to work mode, enthusiastically inviting Harry inside. Since Malfoy had already gone in, Harry didn't refuse.
...
Upon entering the Hog's Head, Malfoy glanced at the somewhat dilapidated interior, then his gaze settled on the old man wiping glasses at the bar.
"..."
Why does this scene feel so familiar? Malfoy's expression turned strange.
Seeing Malfoy standing there motionless, Aberforth impatiently urged, "What would you like? Stop dawdling!"
Looking at Aberforth's sour face, Malfoy felt even more of a sense of déjà vu, muttering under his breath, "Are annoying old men a standard feature of shabby little shops?"
Hearing this, Aberforth immediately got angry, slamming a rag on the counter with a "bang," glaring at Malfoy with displeasure, "What are you saying, you brat?!"
"And you're hard of hearing."
It can only be said that Malfoy's foul mouth was even more offensive than Aberforth's. Seeing Aberforth about to explode with anger, Malfoy became a little nervous. Not exactly afraid, but worried that the old man might have some unusual fetishes, and that his small arms and legs might not be able to handle it.
Fortunately, Harry and Ariana walked in at that moment.
"Brother Aberforth! How many times have I told you? You can't argue with guests!" Ariana stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at Aberforth. Aberforth, who doted on his sister, didn't argue, only nodding politely in response.
But Harry and Malfoy weren't focused on that at the moment.
"Wait!"
"Brother?"
Harry and Malfoy exchanged glances, both seeing the incredulous look in each other's eyes. They turned to look at Aberforth and Ariana. Aberforth looked to be at least eighty or a hundred, while Ariana looked about their age!
"Hmm? What's wrong?" Ariana turned back, looking at the two of them with a puzzled expression.
"Uh… nothing… it's just…"
"Your parents… are quite impressive…" Harry and Malfoy's eyes darted away.
Aberforth seemed to understand what the two kids were thinking, but he didn't care and didn't want to explain.
Ultimately, Ariana, still not understanding what Harry and Malfoy meant, gave up and first led them to a well-lit spot, then brought over the pub's menu. Harry and Malfoy opened the menu and glanced at it. It was filled with various drinks they couldn't name, and later, some pastries and cookies. Judging from the appearance, the pastry pages seemed to have been added later. It was obvious that Ariana had made these pastries; Aberforth didn't look like the kind of old man who would make such things.
They casually ordered a plate of cookies and two cups of hot milk, then closed the menu. Upon learning of Harry and Malfoy's final decision, Aberforth scoffed, "Hmph, no appreciation." Coming to a pub for milk? Typical brats.
Ariana, on the other hand, enthusiastically went to the kitchen to prepare them.
Meanwhile, Harry and Malfoy started talking about Sirius Black in the Forbidden Forest again. Aberforth had already heard a lot about Hogwarts being surrounded by Dementors, and now he learned from Harry and Malfoy that a "Death Eater" had entered Hogwarts grounds. This made Aberforth unable to resist criticizing Dumbledore's incompetence, allowing the students to be subjected to such a threat. He added, "Albus, that fellow, hasn't changed a bit."
Hearing this, Harry couldn't help but ask curiously, "Do you know Headmaster Dumbledore?"
However, Aberforth didn't intend to answer Harry's question, pretending not to hear. This greatly displeased Malfoy. "What? That nasty old man!"
This made Aberforth glare at Malfoy again. But Ariana was there, so he couldn't argue with Malfoy and could only curse Dumbledore inwardly. Like father, like son.
Just then, Ariana came out carrying a tray. "They're all my brothers," she said, having obviously heard Harry's question.
"What?" Malfoy seemed not to have heard clearly.
Ariana simply placed the tray of milk and cookies in front of them, then patiently explained, "Albus is the eldest son, Aberforth is the second, and I'm the youngest."
"..."
Harry and Malfoy exchanged a stunned glance, then looked at Ariana. "So..."
"Dumbledore is your brother?!" The two slammed their hands on the table and stood up in shock.
The sudden commotion made Ariana instinctively take two steps back, then cautiously nodded. "That's right... Is there something wrong?"
What's wrong? You're asking me what's wrong?!
...It really doesn't seem wrong. No one says a hundred-year-old wizard can't have children; it just so happens that these two old wizards are Dumbledore's parents. And coincidentally, they met Dumbledore's... sister today.
Thinking this, Harry and Malfoy both wore grimaces, but neither said anything.
---