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Chapter 66: A Peaceful Day at the Hog's Head Inn
Hog's Head Inn, a strange name.
This name might seem plausible in the Muggle world, but in the Wizarding World, it was bizarre no matter how you thought about it.
Wouldn't the Dragon's Head Pub or the Troll's Head Pub be better?
But such a question was more suited for a student. For a professor of his age, it was a bit too childish. One of the pains of adulthood is not being able to wantonly display one's silly desires.
Only old children and young children are popular. Those in the middle...
Passing through a long passageway, Adams took the lead, guiding William and the others around Hogsmeade. William had initially thought his odd attire would attract attention, but on the final leg of their journey, he found that almost everyone around was dressed just as strangely. The few people in normal clothes, interspersed among the crowd, actually looked incredibly conspicuous.
They turned onto a small lane, and before Adams could make an introduction, William knew they had arrived.
A shabby wooden sign hung from a rusty bracket above the door. Painted on it was a severed pig's head, with no name for the establishment. It was because of this pig's head that the place was called the Hog's Head Inn.
"This is it?"
William voiced his obvious doubt.
During his stay at The Leaky Cauldron, a question had often popped into his mind: was there any place in the world narrower and gloomier than The Leaky Cauldron?
Since the environment on the second floor was tolerable, and he was afraid of getting on Old Tom's bad side, William's question had remained unanswered.
But today, that question was finally answered.
The building was as narrow as could be and as dark as could be. Although it had two floors, from a distance, one would absolutely mistake it for a one-and-a-half-story building with an added attic.
Looking at it just from the outside, William couldn't even find a single window!
Is this a pub or a nightclub?
Adams, however, just laughed. "Alright, everyone thinks that the first time they come. Once you've been here more often, you'll know. This is a great place."
Half-pulled and half-dragged, William was hauled inside.
As it turned out, the interior decor brought him no surprises—it was narrow, filthy, and dim, with a strange smell hanging in the air.
The entire pub had neither been magically expanded nor did it have any grand decorations. It would be considered the worst pub even in the Muggle world, let alone the Wizarding World.
'This is it?'
William was utterly disappointed with the highly recommended Hog's Head Inn.
If his colleague hadn't been the one to bring him here, he would have suspected he'd been tricked by a bar shill.
"Alright, you take William and find a seat. I'll go to the bar and get the drinks."
Adams ordered Singeade, looking high on life even before having a drink.
But miraculously, Singeade, who usually liked to bicker back, didn't even make a gesture. He just led William directly to a more secluded table.
Before long, Adams returned with a pile of unopened bottles of alcohol.
"Everything here is great, except for the glasses. I suspect the owner's cleaning rag was passed down from the time of Merlin."
Because of his words, William looked towards the bar. The owner was nonchalantly wiping a glass with a filthy rag. William reckoned the rag would be a fair bit cleaner afterwards.
When he turned back, Adams had already taken out his own cups and filled them.
A cup of fuming, flaming alcohol.
The other two had already eagerly gulped down their drinks. William carefully moved aside his bandage and took a sip—it wasn't as strong as he'd imagined.
By the time he had reassuringly downed half a cup, the two men at the table were already starting on their second.
"Phew, still the same taste!"
Adams raised his cup and, to William's surprise, drained it in one gulp. Then he picked up a third cup of alcohol and began to wander around the pub.
William gave up on drinking altogether and started to follow Adams's movements with his eyes.
First, there was a fellow also wrapped in bandages. The two shared a drink, and Adams swiped a bottle from the man's table. Then he moved to the next table, but the person there waved him away. Adams immediately turned and hopped over to another table...
"Is he such a lightweight?"
"No, he's just letting off some steam. He'll be fine after he's made his rounds."
The Alchemy Professor sipped his drink, his tone indescribably relaxed.
"Alright, Professor William, I'd like to drink in peace for a while. Wait for Adams to come back and explain it to you. He's more talkative at times like this than any other."
Seeing that William seemed to want to ask more, Singeade propped one hand on the table, showing a clear refusal to continue the conversation.
William had no choice but to quietly drink while watching Adams buzz around the room like a headless fly.
As he wandered and drank, Adams's steps quickly became unsteady. Staggering about, he stumbled over to a table where two people were chatting quietly. The interrupted pair looked displeased, and William even thought they were about to start a fight. But before he could stand up, the two waved their hands as if shooing away a fly and chased Adams off.
By the time Adams staggered back, the half of his face not covered by the shadow of his hood was already flushed red.
"Ah, nothing's as satisfying as the Hog's Head Inn! William, care for a drink?"
"Sure."
William drained the dregs from his cup in one go and poured in the drink Adams had swiped from who-knows-where. At the same time, he felt for the Bezoar in his inner pocket—a common antidote in potions. Good, it was still there.
"Cheers."
"Cheers."
Adams slumped onto the table, looking at William with his head tilted.
"Hey, William, see? The Hog's Head Inn is great, right? No other pub out there is as comfortable as this place. Let me tell you, nobody here cares who you are. Although most people come here to buy and sell things, there are plenty like me who just want to drink."
"Being a professor is exhausting. You have to keep a straight face with the students, or else those mischievous children would think burning a hole in the roof with magic is a minor offense. And when you want to chat with someone... well, there's your old professors, your old professors' professors, your old headmaster... are you supposed to go chat with the students instead?"
"That guy Singeade doesn't like to talk much usually. Over here, nobody knows him, so he can just sit there for an entire afternoon. Don't be fooled by his silence, he loves it here!"
Is that so?
William glanced over curiously and saw that the Alchemy Professor wasn't looking at them at all, seemingly enjoying his solitary peace.
Adams paid no mind to William's reaction, rambling on about the troubles of being a professor at Hogwarts. He probably just wanted to talk, not really caring if anyone was listening. William now understood what Singeade had meant earlier.
After realizing this, William began to pay serious attention to his surroundings.
He had to admit, just as Adams said, this was a great place. Because people could wear disguises, everyone could freely indulge themselves here. Also, William spotted three people trading counterfeit goods. He guessed this place also served as a black market for Hogwarts.
'Interesting, this place... But what's the background of the owner, to make the school turn a blind eye and allow illegal transactions here?'
'Why am I thinking about this? I came out to have fun, why bother with all that... Holy shit!'
While complaining internally, William hastily dodged aside. However, he was a step too slow—Adams had already thrown up.
(end of chapter)
Hog's Head Inn, a strange name.
This name might seem plausible in the Muggle world, but in the Wizarding World, it was bizarre no matter how you thought about it.
Wouldn't the Dragon's Head Pub or the Troll's Head Pub be better?
But such a question was more suited for a student. For a professor of his age, it was a bit too childish. One of the pains of adulthood is not being able to wantonly display one's silly desires.
Only old children and young children are popular. Those in the middle...
Passing through a long passageway, Adams took the lead, guiding William and the others around Hogsmeade. William had initially thought his odd attire would attract attention, but on the final leg of their journey, he found that almost everyone around was dressed just as strangely. The few people in normal clothes, interspersed among the crowd, actually looked incredibly conspicuous.
They turned onto a small lane, and before Adams could make an introduction, William knew they had arrived.
A shabby wooden sign hung from a rusty bracket above the door. Painted on it was a severed pig's head, with no name for the establishment. It was because of this pig's head that the place was called the Hog's Head Inn.
"This is it?"
William voiced his obvious doubt.
During his stay at The Leaky Cauldron, a question had often popped into his mind: was there any place in the world narrower and gloomier than The Leaky Cauldron?
Since the environment on the second floor was tolerable, and he was afraid of getting on Old Tom's bad side, William's question had remained unanswered.
But today, that question was finally answered.
The building was as narrow as could be and as dark as could be. Although it had two floors, from a distance, one would absolutely mistake it for a one-and-a-half-story building with an added attic.
Looking at it just from the outside, William couldn't even find a single window!
Is this a pub or a nightclub?
Adams, however, just laughed. "Alright, everyone thinks that the first time they come. Once you've been here more often, you'll know. This is a great place."
Half-pulled and half-dragged, William was hauled inside.
As it turned out, the interior decor brought him no surprises—it was narrow, filthy, and dim, with a strange smell hanging in the air.
The entire pub had neither been magically expanded nor did it have any grand decorations. It would be considered the worst pub even in the Muggle world, let alone the Wizarding World.
'This is it?'
William was utterly disappointed with the highly recommended Hog's Head Inn.
If his colleague hadn't been the one to bring him here, he would have suspected he'd been tricked by a bar shill.
"Alright, you take William and find a seat. I'll go to the bar and get the drinks."
Adams ordered Singeade, looking high on life even before having a drink.
But miraculously, Singeade, who usually liked to bicker back, didn't even make a gesture. He just led William directly to a more secluded table.
Before long, Adams returned with a pile of unopened bottles of alcohol.
"Everything here is great, except for the glasses. I suspect the owner's cleaning rag was passed down from the time of Merlin."
Because of his words, William looked towards the bar. The owner was nonchalantly wiping a glass with a filthy rag. William reckoned the rag would be a fair bit cleaner afterwards.
When he turned back, Adams had already taken out his own cups and filled them.
A cup of fuming, flaming alcohol.
The other two had already eagerly gulped down their drinks. William carefully moved aside his bandage and took a sip—it wasn't as strong as he'd imagined.
By the time he had reassuringly downed half a cup, the two men at the table were already starting on their second.
"Phew, still the same taste!"
Adams raised his cup and, to William's surprise, drained it in one gulp. Then he picked up a third cup of alcohol and began to wander around the pub.
William gave up on drinking altogether and started to follow Adams's movements with his eyes.
First, there was a fellow also wrapped in bandages. The two shared a drink, and Adams swiped a bottle from the man's table. Then he moved to the next table, but the person there waved him away. Adams immediately turned and hopped over to another table...
"Is he such a lightweight?"
"No, he's just letting off some steam. He'll be fine after he's made his rounds."
The Alchemy Professor sipped his drink, his tone indescribably relaxed.
"Alright, Professor William, I'd like to drink in peace for a while. Wait for Adams to come back and explain it to you. He's more talkative at times like this than any other."
Seeing that William seemed to want to ask more, Singeade propped one hand on the table, showing a clear refusal to continue the conversation.
William had no choice but to quietly drink while watching Adams buzz around the room like a headless fly.
As he wandered and drank, Adams's steps quickly became unsteady. Staggering about, he stumbled over to a table where two people were chatting quietly. The interrupted pair looked displeased, and William even thought they were about to start a fight. But before he could stand up, the two waved their hands as if shooing away a fly and chased Adams off.
By the time Adams staggered back, the half of his face not covered by the shadow of his hood was already flushed red.
"Ah, nothing's as satisfying as the Hog's Head Inn! William, care for a drink?"
"Sure."
William drained the dregs from his cup in one go and poured in the drink Adams had swiped from who-knows-where. At the same time, he felt for the Bezoar in his inner pocket—a common antidote in potions. Good, it was still there.
"Cheers."
"Cheers."
Adams slumped onto the table, looking at William with his head tilted.
"Hey, William, see? The Hog's Head Inn is great, right? No other pub out there is as comfortable as this place. Let me tell you, nobody here cares who you are. Although most people come here to buy and sell things, there are plenty like me who just want to drink."
"Being a professor is exhausting. You have to keep a straight face with the students, or else those mischievous children would think burning a hole in the roof with magic is a minor offense. And when you want to chat with someone... well, there's your old professors, your old professors' professors, your old headmaster... are you supposed to go chat with the students instead?"
"That guy Singeade doesn't like to talk much usually. Over here, nobody knows him, so he can just sit there for an entire afternoon. Don't be fooled by his silence, he loves it here!"
Is that so?
William glanced over curiously and saw that the Alchemy Professor wasn't looking at them at all, seemingly enjoying his solitary peace.
Adams paid no mind to William's reaction, rambling on about the troubles of being a professor at Hogwarts. He probably just wanted to talk, not really caring if anyone was listening. William now understood what Singeade had meant earlier.
After realizing this, William began to pay serious attention to his surroundings.
He had to admit, just as Adams said, this was a great place. Because people could wear disguises, everyone could freely indulge themselves here. Also, William spotted three people trading counterfeit goods. He guessed this place also served as a black market for Hogwarts.
'Interesting, this place... But what's the background of the owner, to make the school turn a blind eye and allow illegal transactions here?'
'Why am I thinking about this? I came out to have fun, why bother with all that... Holy shit!'
While complaining internally, William hastily dodged aside. However, he was a step too slow—Adams had already thrown up.
(end of chapter)
