Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

After they finished drinking, he first supported Severus and sent him back to Hogwarts.

Only after the other party was lying in bed, sound asleep, did Charlie leave his room, quietly closing the door behind him…

He didn't ask the same question he had when drinking with Lucius that day…

Because Severus and Lucius were not the same kind of person. If there was a slight sense of estrangement mixed in with affection for Lucius, then Severus was one of the few people he could completely trust.

Even when interacting with Albus Dumbledore, Charlie still wouldn't completely let go. He always habitually concealed some things, preventing the other party from completely seeing through him.

After all, there was no other way… Facing the wizard who could be called the most intelligent in the entire British magical world, even he would occasionally feel a little uneasy and fearful.

…

After settling Severus and leaving Hogwarts, Charlie didn't return to his factory as usual, but turned around and walked back towards Hogsmeade Village.

He planned to go find someone… someone who, many years ago, had transformed him from an ordinary little wizard who only knew how to use magic into a dueling expert.

…

Compared to the lively Three Broomsticks, the Hog's Head Inn, also a bar, could be described as desolate…

Just standing on the path leading to the Hog's Head Inn, looking at the dilapidated shack in the distance and the bloody pig's head painted on the bracket next to the wooden house, it was difficult to distinguish it from a haunted house… Even the Shrieking Shack in the daytime, at least in appearance, didn't have as much of a terrifying atmosphere.

Charlie had no doubt that this house would startle an unsuspecting wizard.

"Sigh… why can't they clean it up properly?… Or is Aberforth actually fond of this horror-themed style?"

Charlie sighed, muttering to himself, while skillfully applying the Imperturbable Charm to himself.

After making sufficient preparations, he finally moved his feet and walked straight towards the place that he would never forget from his student days.

Arriving at the door, looking at the thick layer of dust on the dilapidated wooden door that seemed to be a century old, Charlie simply raised his eyebrows.

Then, without any politeness, he raised his arm. As if returning to his own home, he knocked loudly, causing the entire door panel to shake, as if it would fall apart the next second.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

"Bang, bang, bang!"

…

Finally, after knocking for about seven or eight minutes, the wooden door slowly opened with a groan as the rusty brass hinges turned, emitting a piercing "creak—clang" sound.

Aberforth's familiar face appeared, but at this moment, his face still carried a hint of tipsy drunkenness, and his eyes were full of drowsiness, as if he had just woken up after drinking all night.

Seeing Aberforth appear, Charlie's heart filled with joy. However, before he could say anything, he suddenly saw a wand protrude from Aberforth's hand.

"Damn bastard, I was sleeping so comfortably… Hic, doesn't anyone know the Hog's Head Inn is closed in the morning!"

As soon as the words fell, the wand pointed directly at the visitor at the door without explanation. A red light flashed at the tip, and the next second, it suddenly burst out, turning into a surging magic that swept over.

Charlie's eyes widened instantly, looking in disbelief at the spell rapidly approaching him.

Because the two were too close, he couldn't easily defuse it in time, so he had no choice but to grab a corner of his trench coat at the first moment.

A "whoosh!" sound was heard, flashing and hissing.

The trench coat covered Charlie's face, successfully offsetting most of the incoming magic.

However, although the magic was offset, the power contained within did not disappear because of the trench coat's protection. Instead, it violently pushed Charlie back, until he staggered back four or five steps on the ground before completely dissipating…

"Old man, are you crazy!?"

Charlie barely managed to stand still, then quickly lowered his head and glanced at the faint smoke rising from his trench coat, as well as the obvious scars left behind. He couldn't help but shout angrily and bewildered at Aberforth.

"Huh?"

At the door, Aberforth, who had originally sent out a spell and was planning to close the door and go back to sleep, was suddenly stunned by this familiar voice.

The next second, the drowsiness and drunkenness in his mind were swept away, and he completely sobered up.

"Cha, Charlie?!"

His drowsy eyes also opened a little, regaining clarity. Only then did Aberforth see clearly who the visitor was. His action of closing the door stopped abruptly, and in shock, he subconsciously called out Charlie's name.

…

"Charlie, you know me… I really didn't expect you to come. Sorry, sorry…"

Inside the dusty Hog's Head Inn, a small oil lamp flickering with a faint light was on the bar, trying its best to play its due role, illuminating the area around the two.

At this moment, the drunkenness on Aberforth's face had completely disappeared. Looking at Charlie, who was checking his trench coat with annoyance on the side, he helplessly had to keep explaining himself in a low voice.

"It's my fault, next time I should point my wand at your face first to prevent accidental injury!… Alas."

Charlie sighed, casting a resentful glance at his teacher. In the end, he couldn't bring himself to say anything too reproachful, and all his emotions dissolved into a sigh, fading into the air.

“Hahahaha… if you could draw your wand faster than me.”

Aberforth wasn't annoyed by Charlie's words, only chuckled. He leisurely stroked his messy, thick white beard, and casually replied.

Charlie couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head helplessly, and said nothing more.

Seeing Charlie's anger dissipate, Aberforth became serious.

He stood up and walked back behind his bar, asking,

“So, have you come to drink, or to see me?”

“To ask for your help.”

Since Aberforth had already asked about his purpose, Charlie didn't beat around the bush.

His gaze became resolute as he looked at the other man, saying each word carefully.

“I hope I can finish the classes I didn’t complete.”

Upon hearing this, Aberforth's eyes widened slightly at first, then he stared blankly at Charlie for a long time.

After confirming that he wasn't joking, Aberforth finally asked,

“What happened?”

Charlie didn't hide anything. Instead, he stood up and showed the other man the marks on his trench coat.

“Last night, I was in a duel.”

As expected, Aberforth, being an experienced wizard, immediately changed his expression upon seeing the marks on the trench coat. He narrowed his eyes, a faint hint of murderous intent showing through.

“It was someone who wanted you dead… Where is he? I'll go kill him.”

Charlie shook his head and sat back down in his seat.

“I need to take him down myself.”

With that, he looked directly at Aberforth, the meaning in his eyes self-evident.

Aberforth lowered his eyes, looking at the bar counter that had been gathering dust for who knows how long, not knowing what he was thinking.

After a long while, he raised his hand and wiped away the dust from the counter in front of him.

“Actually, with your current level, even in England, there are very few people who can hit you with magic… From the perspective of a fair duel, even I might not be your match anymore.”

After speaking, he looked at Charlie again.

“Everything I could teach you, I already taught you when you were in sixth year. What's left is only the experience accumulated over these decades.”

Charlie's eyes lit up. He looked at the familiar old man who wasn't exactly kind, but had a special warmth, and the smile on his lips became even brighter.

“I guess what I lack now is experience.”

Hearing this, Aberforth also laughed.

The two laughed together, the laughter bursting out uncontrollably, just like the nights from over a decade ago, making people couldn't help but feel nostalgic…

Charlie and Aberforth laughed for a long time before finally stopping.

Aberforth wiped away the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes and continued to ask,

“Alright, how should I teach you then, like before?”

“No.”

Charlie shook his head again and continued,

“I hope you can come back to my factory with me.”

“That's not a good idea… What about my bar?”

Aberforth tapped his fingers on the wooden counter, his eyebrows slightly raised.

“Just quit!”

Charlie shrugged, his tone light, as if saying something unimportant.

“Anyway, you're over a hundred years old. Keeping this bar open all the time isn't a long-term plan. You might as well move to my place, so there will be someone to take care of you in the future.”

Aberforth laughed again, but unlike before, his smile now had a hint of comfort, and his eyes couldn't help but soften a lot. It was the kind of kindness that Charlie had never seen before, similar to Dumbledore's…

However, just when Charlie thought Aberforth would agree, he unexpectedly shook his head.

“Thank you for your kindness.”

Aberforth's tone was a bit complex and melancholy.

“Although I understand that you're doing this for my own good… the Hog's Head Inn cannot close.”

“But…”

Charlie seemed to want to argue. He opened his mouth, just about to say something, but was interrupted by the other man.

“How about this… I'll come stay with you for a while. After you've truly learned what you need, I'll come back.”

Aberforth didn't give Charlie a chance to refuse. Knowing his personality, Charlie understood that once the other man said something, there would be no chance to change it.

Now, there were only two choices in front of him: agree or leave.

Finally, Charlie agreed… He stood up, habitually brushing off non-existent dust from his body, and said,

“Let's do as you said…”

Seeing Charlie agree, a satisfied expression appeared on Aberforth's face.

“Very good, then you go out first. I'll pack my things and leave with you.”

… … … … … …

Charlie didn't have to wait too long. Soon, Aberforth came out of the haunted-looking bar.

He was still wearing the same linen robe, and the only thing he brought was a painting and its frame that he took down from the bar wall.

Apart from that, there was nothing else…