Beyond The Three Broomsticks, just past the Hogsmeade Post Office, a narrow lane wound away. At its entrance stood the Hog's Head Inn, owned by none other than Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus's enigmatic brother.
Douglas had ventured there once with Bill—and it remained a memory best left unspoken.
The battered wooden sign outside depicted a severed boar's head, blood seeping through the shroud that wrapped it. The inn itself was cramped and dim, thick with the pungent reek of goat.
Douglas and Bill hadn't even ordered a drink before the smell set them off, launching into an animated debate about the best ways to cook mutton: hotpot, roast lamb, lamb-and-carrot potstickers, steamed buns, skewers, lamb spine stew, braised trotters, even sheep's head…
Moments later, they found themselves unceremoniously ejected by Aberforth himself, who solemnly declared them banned for life from the Hog's Head.
Shaking off the memory, Douglas turned his steps toward The Three Broomsticks.
He pushed open the door and was greeted by a wave of warmth and laughter. The bar was spacious, bright, and spotless—everything the Hog's Head was not. The only disappointment was that Madam Rosmerta wasn't behind the counter.
Scanning the room, he saw wizards clustered around small round tables. In a cozy alcove draped with greenery, Madam Rosmerta was laughing with her guests—and from within came the unmistakable rumble of Hagrid's laughter.
Douglas strode quickly toward the alcove. Before he'd even reached it, Madam Rosmerta spotted him and swept her arms open in welcome.
"Well, if it isn't our very own Mr. Holmes! Long time no see, Douglas! Congratulations on becoming a Hogwarts Professor!"
Douglas returned her embrace with equal warmth, grinning.
"Good afternoon, young lady! As radiant and bewitching as ever, I see."
At the table, Hagrid waggled his eyebrows.
"Told you, didn't I? First thing he'd notice would be Rosmerta…"
That set everyone roaring with laughter.
Only then did Douglas realize the alcove was filled with his former professors—Professor McGonagall, Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sinistra, Professor Kettleburn, and, of course, Hagrid.
He gave a sheepish smile. "Good afternoon, Professors!"
Madam Rosmerta pulled up a chair for him.
"Today, in honor of Professor Holmes, all drinks for the staff are on the house!"
Professor Kettleburn chuckled, pointing at a bottle on the table.
"Ha! We're lucky to have you, Douglas. Otherwise, we'd never get to taste this rare Holmes Wine!"
Madam Rosmerta uncorked the bottle and poured for everyone, beaming.
"I've never run short of your wine, Professor! But you know how rare those green plums are. Still, with the creator of Holmes Wine here today, I'm sure there'll be plenty to go around!"
Holmes Wine was, in truth, a type of plum wine. The green plum saplings were rare and precious. When Douglas first acquired them, he'd hoped to plant them in the Hogwarts greenhouses, but Professor Sprout had declined. Later, learning that Madam Rosmerta kept a small greenhouse in Hogsmeade, he'd offered her a sapling and a recipe as a gift. She'd agreed, and when the first batch was brewed, she'd named it after him.
As a token of thanks, Rosmerta had promised Douglas a free glass every week—and the right to bring a guest.
But for Douglas, the wine was more than a novelty. It was his favorite drink from his previous life, one he'd only ever found in East Asia. To him, plum wine tasted of home.
After Madam Rosmerta excused herself, the group raised their glasses and the conversation flowed.
Professor McGonagall explained,
"I invited nearly every professor at Hogwarts today, but you know how it is—not everyone has the time. Severus is busy preparing ingredients for tomorrow's lessons. The Divination professors… well, they're not fond of gatherings. Charity Burbage, whom you've met, is out in the Muggle world doing research—if that's the right word! Anyway, let's all welcome Douglas to the Hogwarts family once more!"
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