Ravenclaw's Blue Gem

"I don't have a face yet, just come here to eat." Aberforth opened the stopper of one of the bottles and poured the beautiful honey-yellow liquor into three glasses. "Try it, it's the best oak It's aged. Although I also run a bar, Rosmerta's mead is truly amazing." Instead of using a wand, he handed the glass to Zoe himself.

"Dumbledore also likes it very much. You are indeed brothers." Zoe thanked him and took the glass. She took a sip and found that she liked the taste of the wine very much. It was mellow and soft. Leaves a sweet fragrance.Aberforth looked at her unconsciously intoxicated look amused, and raised the bottle after she finished drinking."A little more?" Zoe shook his head quickly, his cheeks flushed.

"No one hates good wine." Aberforth smiled, and did not insist on persuading her, "Are you drinking or not?" When he turned to talk to Dumbledore, his tone became less polite again. .

Dumbledore raised his cup and held it to his lips.Few things could surprise him, but today he was really surprised.

"Enjoy." Zoe finished speaking and walked to the door.

"You won't eat together?" Aberforth was a little dissatisfied. "There can be three people sitting here. Don't think you should avoid it."

"It's not like that, Mr. Aberforth." Zoe pointed out the door embarrassedly, "I already have an appointment, and I will be late if I don't go."

*********

An atmosphere of silence spread in the principal's room.It's been a long time since Dumbled recollected the complicated mood that was difficult to speak. This kind of embarrassment he hadn't encountered in decades.In a daze, he even thought that he had returned to his old home. There was always a smell of rotten wood in the living room at that time, mostly because Aberforth did something to the floor.And he was still very young, young and arrogant, thinking that relying on extraordinary talents could change the world.

"Humph." It wasn't until Aberforth squeezed a grinning sound from his nose that Dumbledore escaped from the brief hallucinations. "She was only in third grade when I met this little guy. Short and thin, just a child... Time flies so fast, I can't believe this little guy is about to reach adulthood."

Dumbledore was very happy to find a topic: "That's not it. I met her much earlier than you. I held her when she was a baby. Children always grow up very fast, just a little bit When they look away a little, they will grow up to be grown-ups and have something they want to protect."

Aberforth finished drinking the wine in the glass and patted the glass heavily on the table.Dumbledore was taken aback. He never thought that Aberforth would react like this. According to his observations, Aberforth should have liked Zoe very much.

"Don't show off with me, Albus!" Aberforth recharged himself, "Although I have not known this little guy for a few years, the relationship will not be worse than you!"

Dumbledore couldn't help laughing. He remembered that they were playing outside the house. Aberforth was still very young, but he already had a goat temper, and he always liked to compare himself with himself.If he found a beautifully shaped stone, he would have to work hard to find several equally beautiful ones; when he was able to make three ripples, he would have to make five.

He always felt annoying at that time because he was an elder brother. The adults said they wanted him to let the younger brothers and sisters at home, but no one asked his opinion. Why did he let Aberforth?The last two scrambled and rolled down the hillside and fell into the river. They quarreled and went home in the wet. They were all black and purple, and they were scolded by their mother together.

"What are you laughing at?" Aberforth said irritably.

"Zoe likes me the most." Dumbledore said these words, always feeling that mead is more delicious than usual, that is the taste of victory, "It's me."

Aberforth squeezed his fist, wondering whether to give his brother another punch, and finally he snorted."I know. She cares about you very much. When she first came here, she tried every means to intercede for you."

"Interesting?" Dumbledore asked.

"Hmph, I don't know the truth, and I don't have much preparation. I kicked my identity as soon as I came up and asked me to see you as a family member." Aberforth stopped talking, because the two house elves were on the line. The dishes were brought up on the plate, and Yorkshire pudding was placed next to the hot roast beef. "You are eating well." He smelled the aroma of roast beef and took a bite unceremoniously.

"How did you tell her?" Dumbledore didn't move the food in front of him.

"How to say? How can I say it, of course, is to refuse directly." Aberforth stared at Dumbledore's nose, "You haven't forgotten what you did.

"I still remember you said you would never forgive me again because of Ariane's affairs." Dumbledore paused. "You are very stubborn. As long as you make a decision, you will not easily overthrow it."

"Should I feel honored? Busy man Albus Dumbledore still remembers who I am." Aberforth saw Dumbledore accepting his sarcasm completely, and was furious. Everywhere, "I don't know if I should forgive you, but I know you are dying."

"Are you worried about me?" Dumbledore smiled. "I thought you would celebrate with fireworks."

Aberforth set aside his knife and fork and ate most of the roast beef."Do you have a talent that will make me angry just by talking? I know you don't care about death, you don't care about anything, family, friends, you only care about fame! Those legends that have been blown away by outsiders, and which one What is telling the truth? Everyone thinks that you and Grindelwald are rivals. Who would think about the real connection between the two of you? You have worked so hard for him!"

"I care." Dumbledore interrupted him in a low voice, "I...I care."

Aberforth opened his mouth and closed it again angrily.He was a little surprised. In Aberforth’s heart, Dumbledore’s lying was as simple as drinking water. Under that polite skin, there was an arrogant and arrogant soul. He always let himself behave like a man. Be pampered, cover up restless ambition with a glamorous image.

It was precisely because he was the closest family member, the brother of blood, that Aberforth would not look down upon Dumbledore's hypocrisy.He always sneered and watched friends who were fascinated by his brother's personality. What he saw was the real Albus and knew that he was definitely not a saint.Because of this, he knew very well that what Dumbledore had just blurted out was not a lie.

"You won't eat it? It's going to be cold." Aberforth picked up the fork again and pointed it at Dumbledore's plate. "Don't blame me for not reminding you. The waste of food is very serious."

"But you and Ariana always have things that you don't like to eat, and you throw them to me before no one notices, including those things that I don't like."

"You eat the dishes clean every time, I thought you liked it." Aberforth curled his mouth, as if thinking of Dumbledore's momentary gloomy face, and disgustingly disgusted. The food was crossed and it looked like it took a long time to eat, "And you went to my mother to file a complaint right away, and I was scolded. We were even."

"Bah, you know I hate this the most." Aberforth pushed the roasted parsnip roots aside in disgust. He saw Dumbledore eating his share as usual. "I'll trade this for you. Other things on the plate." Dumbledore glanced at his brother, and reached out to protect his plate, avoiding Aberforth from sticking his fork directly to his side.

"Sniff." Aberforth curled his mouth. He poked the roasted grass roots with a fork, as if his voice didn't come from his mouth. "Ariane used to help me solve these problems. I helped her eat broccoli. "

Dumbledore's fork paused, still piercing smoothly into the soft flesh."Don't forget the asparagus, she can eat a large plate." When Ariana was not crazy, she would be very excited every time her mother prepared asparagus.In fact, the two brothers also liked it very much. Dumbledore would quietly tell his mother to share some of his share with his sister.Aberforth was different. He would act exaggeratedly to pretend that he was full, hoping that Ariane would help him solve the rest.

"Well, and asparagus," Aberforth murmured.Those are old memories that are old enough to fade.

Chapter 69 The Vanishing Cabinet

On the first morning of the second semester, a large notice was posted on the bulletin board in the common room of each college.

"Phantom Shift Lesson

If you are over seventeen years old or over seventeen years old by August 31, you can take part in the twelve-week phantom shift course taught by the Ministry of Magic phantom shift instructor.

Those willing to participate, please sign below.

Tuition: 12 gallons."

"Finally I can learn!" Padma tried to keep herself from being squeezed out by the crowd, turning her head to talk to Zoe.The sixth graders were very excited, rushing to sign in front of the notice.It's not just them, but there are also many lower-grade students who are very interested in them even though they are under their age.

"I've always longed to travel with Apparition." After the two signed their names, and Luna, who stood aside and looked at the bulletin board curiously, the three left the lounge and walked towards the auditorium. Padma Said with emotion, "Every time I see my family'swoosh' appear in front of me, or turn around and disappear with a'swoosh', I will be very happy."

"It will feel very novel at first, and when you get used to it, you will feel that it is not much different from other modes of transportation." Zoe added, "Although it will be a little dizzy, it is better than riding a broomstick."

"Do you apparition often, Zoe?" Luna asked curiously. "It sounds like you are very experienced."

"There have been so many times." Zoe said vaguely, "but as long as you get the knack, it's easier to do it. Think about the destination you want to reach, try to move yourself past, and relax when you start... …Try it a few times to get the trick."

"Have you done it yourself!" Padma exclaimed when she heard what she meant, and Zoe gave a vaguely affirmative answer.

The three separated at the top of the stairs, Padma was going to an astronomy class, and Luna was the history of magic.There is still a while before the spell class begins, enough for her to return to the lounge to continue the calculation of the wolf poison potion.This was the intention originally, if it wasn't for her "coincidentally" encounter with Draco.

"Come with me." Draco held a crumpled piece of paper in his hand, as if a letter had been crumpled vigorously.His pale face is a little sick, and there is already a faint black around his eye sockets, and his hair, which was always neatly and shiny, has become a little dry and messy.Although the changes are not big on the whole, they are all small details, but people familiar with him can tell at a glance that he has suffered during this period of time.

Zoe knew what he was going to say, nodded and went outside the castle with him.The open turf stretches far, and the wind in February has not warmed up, but it is not as cold as before.Avoiding the crowds outdoors, nobody said where the destination was, just walked slowly against the wind.

"I didn't go home this Christmas." When they could already see a large swath of the calm lake, Draco said suddenly.

"I don't want to go home, and my parents told me not to go back. Since those people moved in, the home has become more and more strange." He kicked the turf under his feet, as if to himself, "I used to look forward to it. Become one of them and continue to work for him like my dad did. I will earn a lot of credit and become his most dependent subordinate, and even die for him. This is the supreme glory."

"You don't want to anymore?" Zoe's ears were full of wind, and she asked a question that didn't need an answer.

"...I don't know." Draco held his left arm in confusion, where the Death Eater logo was engraved. "When the Dark Lord branded me this mark, I was more afraid than excited... I know who I should be loyal to."

"I think the Dark Lord can bring us back to the glory of pure blood. He will establish new rules on the remains of the old order, a new world that will satisfy all pure-blood wizards. Don’t continue to tolerate those dirty mud. We don’t need to be incognito in Muggle society. We are born with power and we have pure blood. We should rule. Magic is power... Under this new order, I’ll be the right-hand and deep-hand of the Dark Lord. Respectful."

"Until that happened last year, I was a little shaken." Draco smiled bitterly. "Later, he asked me to perform a task that I couldn't do. I asked Professor Snape for help and tried to do something. But I know it's useless. Those who don't complete the task will only die. The Dark Lord will never forgive those who disappoint him."

"Draco..." Zoe whispered, and the boy lowered his head in a haunting manner.

"But this morning my mother sent me a letter, telling me that I don't need to worry anymore. The task has been handed over to someone else." Draco suddenly turned to face Zoe. "Don't you always care about what I'm doing? I want to get news from Blaise."

"I also went to Gower and Crabbe, but even the two of them didn't know what you were doing." Zoe said gloomily. Zabini was very sensitive. After she found him once or twice, then The boy realized that she had another purpose, so he started to perfuse her.