Chapter 48: Even The Headmaster Has To Help
A chorus of low exclamations intertwined, Tucklot and Malcolm felt the same shock, their eyes revealing irrepressible joy and nostalgia, the picture presented in the silver mirror was their once youthful days, the youth that even after decades they could not forget.
After about half a minute, the patrons came back to their senses one after another, leaving their original seats to sit in front of the silver mirror, those who couldn’t sit stood up to watch, Tucklot and Malcolm were a bit slower and could only stand in the back row.
At this moment, the silvery white mist in the mirror surface surged and overflowed, gradually occupying the entire mirror surface, filling the sight of all the patrons, as if they were also on the Quidditch Pitch stands, the cheers around them making the atmosphere gradually heated.
“Today’s match will be commented by me for everyone, first let’s look at the lineups of both teams.
“Godric Gryffindor lineup has undergone huge changes, Aaliyah Spinnet and Katie Bell have been promoted from substitutes, first-year student Harry Potter was specially recruited into the team due to his outstanding flying talent, becoming the youngest Seeker in history, can he help Godric Gryffindor achieve victory? Let’s wait and see!”
Hearing that boy’s name, the tavern immediately buzzed with discussion.
Malcolm, a graduate of Godric Gryffindor, was especially smug, couldn’t help but pump his fist and cheer, happily gulping down a mouthful of honey mead.
“Slytherin team has no changes, continuing last year’s lineup, can they who have won the House Cup for five consecutive terms continue their winning streak…”
Stable lineup, strong strength, verifiable record, in any case Slytherin team has a greater chance of winning.
Tucklot raised his eyebrows, raised his glass to nod to the neighbor next door, took a slight sip, the corners of his mouth hooked into a mocking smile, fully displaying Slytherin style.
Malcolm immediately gritted his teeth, gulped down another fierce mouthful of wine, found the wine glass empty, waved to call the tavern owner for another cup.
Madam Rosmerta came over carrying the wine jug, filled the wine glass and went to other guests, without speaking, her eyes full of smile.
In just a few minutes, before the match even officially started, more than a dozen cups of honey mead were sold, many patrons were calling for refills, it looked like they planned to drink as heartily as possible!
Business is booming!
With Madam Hooch’s silver whistle blowing, fifteen broomsticks soared into the air.
The tavern’s heated atmosphere boiled over again.
“The Bludger was immediately snatched by Godric Gryffindor’s Angelina Johnson—that girl is such an outstanding Chaser, and so attractive…”
“Jordan!”
“Sorry, Professor.”
“…”
Lee Jordan was scolded by the Professor for his unprofessional commentary, low laughter rose in the tavern, many patrons recognized Professor McGonagall’s voice, this little interlude not only didn’t hinder the viewing excitement, but evoked memories of their student days, the teasing laughter full of reminiscence.
So young…
Tucklot and Malcolm couldn’t help but smile, noticing each other’s smiles they immediately put on stern faces, snorted coldly, each took a sip of honey mead.
Sweet and silky, not as refreshing as beer.
“A beautiful pass, the Quaffle is passed to Johnson again!
“Dreadful! Slytherin team snatched the Bludger, Marcus Flint got the Bludger, he’s like an eagle, is he going to score? No!
“Godric Gryffindor team’s Keeper Wood intercepted the Quaffle, brilliant! Now Godric Gryffindor team has the Quaffle, Katie Bell darts agilely around Flint!
“The Bludger was intercepted by Slytherin’s Adrian Pucey, but he was knocked down by another Quaffle! Fred or George did a great job! The Weasley twins are really hard to tell apart…”
With Lee’s incessant commentary, the battle situation presented in the silver mirror kept changing, players pulling and alternating, patrons fully focused, their hearts also tugged and struck, the wine in their glasses never enough, no matter how much they drank it didn’t feel refreshing enough.
Malcolm watched as Godric Gryffindor attacks were repeatedly blocked, growing anxious too, especially since Slytherin team members were all tall and burly, contrasting their own house’s slim players, the oppressive force stronger.
November winter night, he surprisingly felt parched, taking advantage of a positioning gap, tugged at his collar and shouted: “Lady! Give me a cup of ice beer!”
Beer poured gurglingly into the glass, rising with a layer of white foam, icy vapor dispersing.
At this moment, the young kid’s hoarse cheer came from the silver mirror: “Godric Gryffindor team scored!”
“!!”
Malcolm only felt a heat surging from inside out, his whole body heating up, picked up the beer and gulped half a cup, chest cavity clear and cool, couldn’t help shouting: “Hurrah! Godric Gryffindor hurrah!”
Looking at the ashen face of the Slytherin graduate next door, what is physical and mental refreshment?
This is physical and mental refreshment!
“Madam Rosmerta, another ice beer, and one for him too! Yes, Tucklot! On me!”
“…”
Tucklot clenched his fist, teeth nearly grinding to pieces, wished he could stuff the beer glass into this guy’s ass, wished he could drill into the mirror, mount a broomstick and play himself.
But no matter how indignant he was, he couldn’t change the match situation, Godric Gryffindor scoring first was fact, he could only sullenly sip this ice beer.
Tasteless.
And chills the gums.
Other guests were also excited by this goal, switching from butterbeer and honey mead to more refreshing ice beer, the tavern filled with satisfied exhalations, as if back to the hottest month of summer.
The Slytherin House players in the mirror seemed angered by being scored on first, their attacks becoming more ferocious, relying on physical advantage to charge barbarically, constantly disrupting Godric Gryffindor’s coordination.
“The Bludger was snatched by Slytherin!
“Flint nearly crashed into the twins!
“Adrian Pucey charges toward the goalposts…”
After five minutes of prolonged possession struggle, Slytherin delivered a ruthless strike.
“Slytherin scores!”
“All glory to Slytherin!”
Tucklot roared lowly, gulped down the entire cup of ice beer, instantly expelling all frustration, thoroughly refreshed.
He turned to the side, shouted sharply: “Speak! Malcolm, speak! Godric Gryffindor! Speak!”
“…” Malcolm silently sipped his ice beer.
“Lady! Another ice beer for Malcolm, extra ice! On me!”
In the following hour, both teams kept scoring.
Overall Slytherin was still stronger, balls going in one after another, while Godric Gryffindor only scored two, the score gap gradually widening, the situation becoming dire.
Ice beer in front of Malcolm was refilled cup after cup, by the end it was tasting bitter.
Could they really be suppressed by this guy?
Never this humiliated even in school.
Now the hope of victory rested on him alone.
Malcolm cast his gaze toward that figure on the outer edge of the pitch.
Wearing round glasses, fringe blowing to reveal lightning-shaped scar on forehead, the famous Harry Potter, unfortunately slim and short, Slytherin’s Seeker looked twice his size.
Hope of victory seemed slim.
Malcolm tilted his head and gulped ice beer, the liquid icy cold, heart even colder.
However the following turnaround no one expected, Potter spotted the Golden Snitch first, during the snatch was rammed by Flint, flying broomstick seeming out of control, Potter dangling precariously on the broomstick…
Just as Malcolm’s heart sank to the bottom, the picture flickered a few times, Potter quickly adjusted, flipped onto the broomstick, accelerated dive, seized the Golden Snitch in one go to end the match.
“Won?”
Malcolm was stunned for a moment, quickly reacted, expression ecstatic: “Won! Godric Gryffindor won!”
The tavern instantly erupted.
“Harry Potter hurrah!”
Except for a few Slytherin graduate wizards, most patrons supported that boy-who-lived, cheering and shouting in celebration of victory.
Malcolm looked to the side, this neighbor’s eyes dazed, defeat came too fast too sudden, the gap too big, he couldn’t accept it, seemed not yet recovered.
“Lady! A beer for Tucklot!”
“…”
Tucklot looked at his face, lips trembling slightly.
Malcolm hooked a smile at the corners of his mouth, paused slightly, continued shouting loudly: “Beer for the whole house, one cup each! On me, on me!”
“To Harry Potter!”
“To Harry Potter!”
Madam Rosmerta standing behind the counter, though somewhat tired, couldn’t hide the smile on her lips, at first she even calculated tonight’s turnover, later busy refilling and pouring wine, head dizzy.
Rough estimate, tonight’s income equals usual two months.
Professor Levent not only knows brewing, but also how to run a tavern.
Unfortunately the next match is a month away.
The lady boss smilingly drank with them, glasses clinking, all the sound of Galleons falling into the money bag.
…
December 14, Saturday.
Winter snow had been falling intermittently for over half a month, Hogsmeade roadsides covered with several feet of snow, shop walls cold and hard, though fireplaces lit blazing fires inside each shop, the shop window glass still rattled from the cold wind.
Pedestrians walking outdoors breathed out white mist, exposed skin stung by the wind like knife cuts.
The cold ice and snow couldn’t freeze the hot hearts in the guests’ chests, after dinner they emerged from homes one after another, trudging through snow to The Three Broomsticks, leaving a trail of footprints on the ground.
In the past month, match footage played repeatedly, news spread by word of mouth, The Three Broomsticks’ reputation greatly elevated. Those coming to watch matches were no longer just patrons, many brought families, turning it into a new entertainment venue.
Anyway The Three Broomsticks does business with little wizards, the butterbeer sold to minors actually has no beer.
The tavern packed every night, Madam Rosmerta had to hire several shop assistants, the back kitchen and wine cellar equipped with house-elves.
Hogwarts Quidditch is round-robin, each team plays every other three teams once, four houses total six matches, one per month, excluding Christmas Holiday and Easter Holiday, starts in November, ends June next year. Finally calculate points to select champion, if two teams tie, play an extra match.
Today screening Helga Hufflepuff vs Rowena Ravenclaw match.
Compared to Godric Gryffindor and Slytherin, both teams slightly weaker, match intensity a bit less, but this footage was edited, no longer limited to one perspective, but multi-angle switches and splices, always best viewing angle, exciting segments slow-motion replay, better viewing experience.
Moreover many wizards graduated from Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw, all eager to support their house. Though no star player like Harry Potter, there were a few promising seedlings, handsome, skilled, like substitute Seeker Cedric Diggory, vice-captain Roger Davies…
Each clash of both teams’ players drew bursts of cheers from guests.
“It’s too chaotic like this now.
“The tavern should consider expansion.
“Undetectable Extension Charm could work, or build more floors, some guests don’t want to watch matches, leave space for normal drinking.
“Later I’ll make more interesting moving pictures, before that avoid replaying the same content repeatedly, it wears down their interest, easy to get bored, can select one or two days per month for regular match screenings, maintain freshness.”
These were some business advice from the Muggle Studies class Professor.
Melvin sat in the corner, watching the tavern’s lively scene while analyzing for this lady boss, voice slightly lowered.
“What you say makes sense, Professor Levent, I’ve noticed some signs too, an old regular who used to come every night for a drink, he’s a Slytherin House graduate, hasn’t come for a long time after that day’s match.
“I ran into him on the road, he said smelling beer makes him sick, tonight with Rowena Ravenclaw vs Helga Hufflepuff match, he won’t feel sick…”
Madam Rosmerta’s gaze turned to the counter front, those two old regulars who always quarreled now sitting together again, a row of beers in front of them.
The lady boss was very grateful to this Professor, now with shop assistants and house-elves, business even hotter, she instead freer: “I plan to add two more floors, first floor for normal tavern operations, second floor dedicated to match screenings.”
“What about the third floor?” Melvin asked curiously.
“The third floor as a gift thanking you…”
Madam Rosmerta seemed to know he’d refuse, not waiting for him to speak, immediately persuaded: “Professor Levent, I know that projection mirror will change many things, even thoroughly change the Wizarding World, Professor you must have longer-term plans, though I don’t know what you’re doing, but I think you might need a place. Please don’t refuse, rent on Hogsmeade street is very expensive.”
“Madam Rosmerta, you’re a Rowena Ravenclaw graduate, aren’t you…”
Melvin was somewhat emotional, no wonder this witch ran the tavern alone for decades, possessing extraordinary wisdom.
“Sorry to disappoint, I’m from Slytherin House.”
Madam Rosmerta heard his praise, smiled, moved aside the glass in front, took out a linen woven pouch: “Total profit past month is 1871 Galleons, this is the agreed share for Hogwarts, I rounded up, 900 Galleons, your commission is in there too.”
“Notify me on the day of tavern renovation, I’ll bring other professors to help.”
“This…”
“Netting hundreds of Galleons a month, even Dumbledore should come work here.”
