Chapter 736 The dog
Albert had just come out of the clothing store, holding the package in both hands and complaining: "Oh, why does Fengya Wizard Clothing Store suddenly not support mailing?"
Actually, Albert knew the reason. The notice at the door of the store clearly stated that dementors would patrol the streets of Hogsmeade after sunset every day.
All right.
Dementors frequently harassed Hogsmeade village, causing the Hogsmeade post office to stop mailing after dusk. After all, animals have the instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. The owl in the post office cannot withstand the repeated threats of dementors, and the manager of Fengya Wizard Clothing Store obviously has no time to help him mail the things before closing the store.
“Help me see what I haven’t bought yet. The list is in my left pocket.”
As he spoke, Albert turned slightly sideways and handed over the question of checking the purchase list to his girlfriend beside him.
Isobel reached into the pocket of Albert's robe and took out the scary-looking list: "This list has become longer."
“There’s nothing we can do about it. I know more people. Maybe I should let Bit help me with the purchase.”
Although he said this, Albert usually picked out gifts by himself whenever he had free time. He always had to find something to do for himself and Isobel. Otherwise, there would be nothing to do in Hogsmeade, which would actually be quite boring. , especially women, are always keen to go shopping.
“I’ve bought all the clothes and stuff, what should I do with the rest?”
“I have asked my family to help me buy the rest.”
Wizards who can correspond with Albert usually don't care about his Muggle identity, so they won't care if Albert occasionally sends some gifts from the Muggle world, like last time Albert sent a gift from France. The champagne he brought back was very popular with them.
The two of them walked towards a remote alley not far away. Isobel was pretending to read the wanted list posted on the wall, while Albert walked into the alley and handed the package in his hand to the invisible house elf.
“Bit, please take your things back first.”
“Good master.”
The house elf stuffed all the packages into a big bag, then slung the packages over his shoulders like Santa Claus and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
“No wonder many wizards want a house elf to help with housework.” Isobel looked at Bit’s leaving figure and asked, “Where are you going next, Honeydukes Candy Store?”
“Well, I remember Professor Slughorn liked pineapple preserves.” Albert took the list and added a pineapple preserve to it.
“I thought you didn’t like Professor Slughorn very much.”
“It’s not annoying, Professor Slughorn is a refined egoist and hedonist who loves vanity.” Albert noticed Isobel looking at him and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s rare to see you commenting on a person like this.”
"Professor Slughorn is okay." Albert laughed at himself. "Actually, most people are like this, including myself, who is a refined egoist and hedonist. This is the status quo, and you can't ask for it. Too many, not to mention that Professor Slughorn didn't do anything bad."
"It's a good choice to keep in touch with him. Give him a Christmas gift. I think Professor Slughorn will be very happy. This is the cheapest way to make friends. Moreover, he knows a lot of people. Maybe one day There will be times when it comes in handy.”
Isobel finally knew what those woolen socks, woolen scarves, and woolen hats were all about.
Well, price is not an issue, what matters is the intention.
The two walked towards the Honeydukes candy store. Near the candy store, Albert saw a red lollipop floating next to Ron and Hermione.
Isobel followed his gaze and obviously saw it too.
“Harry Potter?”
However, Albert finally suppressed this idea and went to Honeydukes Candy Shop with Isobel to purchase sweets.
“Are you losing weight?”
Finding that Isobel didn’t buy snacks for himself, Albert raised his eyebrows and asked.
“Eating too much sweetness is bad for your health.”
“Exercise more and there is no need to force yourself to diet.”
When I just came out of the candy store, snowflakes started to fall from the sky.
Albert raised his head and looked at the falling snowflakes in the sky and said, "Let's go to the Three Broomsticks and have a cup of hot butterbeer."
“Hmm.” Isobel helped take a package and walked towards the three broomsticks not far away. While passing through an alley on the way, Albert stopped and his eyes fell on the black dog who was digging through the trash can.
Blake?
Albert couldn't be sure, but it actually made sense. It was difficult to find food in the forest in winter.
“What’s wrong with that dog?”
Isobel followed Albert’s line of sight and noticed the black dog digging through the trash can.
"Very rare." Albert's voice was very soft, as if he was worried that he would scare away the black dog.
“Dogs are rare?”
Isobel looked at Albert in confusion, and her eyes fell on the black dog again.
The black dog seemed to notice someone looking at it, and ran away quickly with half a piece of bread in his mouth.
"Except for Hagrid, I have almost never seen wizards raising dogs, and I have never seen a second dog near the school." Albert looked at the disappearing back of the dog, and his eyes fell on the Daily Prophet next to the trash can. , it is already certain that it is Sirius Black.
“There’s something wrong with that dog?” Isobel immediately realized the reason why Albert would say this. “Did you predict something again?”
It’s no wonder that Isobel would think this way. Albert would suddenly pay attention to a dog. No matter how he looked at the dog, it was suspicious.
"I don't know, but that dog gave me a sense of incongruity. Forget it, it's none of our business anyway." Albert looked away from the alley and looked in the direction of the Three Broomsticks, and happened to see Mag Professor, Professor Flitwick and Hagrid appeared outside the Three Broomsticks pub together. With them was a man wearing a dark yellow-green bowler hat. Hagrid deliberately stayed behind to talk to him.
As Albert approached, he saw clearly who the man was: Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic.
Fudge was very perfunctory when talking about the Hippogriff, but Hagrid didn't seem to notice and was still talking to himself, trying to use words to make the Minister of Magic change his mind.
Albert and Isobel arrived at the door of the Three Broomsticks Bar. Hagrid seemed to notice their arrival and greeted Albert with a smile.
“Minister, maybe you have heard of his name, Albert Anderson, the genius who has won several international awards.” Hagrid introduced to Fudge.
“Oh, of course. But this is my first time meeting you in person. It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Anderson.”
Cornelly Fudge, who was just about to enter the bar, stopped when he heard Hagrid's words and turned his head to look over. When he saw Albert, the expression on Fudge's face changed slightly, but it quickly returned to normal.
Isobel raised her eyebrows slightly. The Minister of Magic’s thoughts could not be hidden from her eyes.
After entering the bar, Albert felt that the atmosphere in the bar was a bit strange. It seemed that everyone was very restrained because of the professor entering the bar.
Isobel reached out and took the foaming hot butterbeer from Albert, looked at Fudge's back and said softly, "I know now why you don't like him."
(End of this chapter)