Chapter 29- Relaxing At the Leaky Cauldron

Being mid afternoon the Leaky Cauldron wasn't too crowded yet as Tom the wizened and toothless Barman in the Leaky Cauldron was serving some of his regular customers some of his hot soup in bowls with self stirring spoons and thick homemade bread hot from the oven as the door opened and admitted a large group of Adults and children. Fortunately there was just enough room left at the large table setting squarely off the door to she muggle world for them to sit.

"Good day Tom. Could you please bring us a round of drinks, pumpkin juice for the Twerp, butterbeer for the other children and some of your finest lager for the rest of us?" Albus requested as they gathered around the long table and sat down. Realizing how hungry he was feeling he added, "Maybe some soup and sandwiches also please?"

Surrounded by wizarding folk. Hermione's parents were smiling as they watched the small boy listening to Albus intently with a serious look upon his small face. Hermione had filled them in on the Twerps amazing transformation from adult to childhood again and they read the book the Albus had published. It was a relief to them to know that their daughter and her friends came through the wizarding war unscathed and that they would not be in peril during their remaining years at Hogwarts.

"The Leaky Cauldron was built by Daisy Dodderidge about 1500 or was it 1501 to be a gateway between the world of muggles and Diagon Alley." Albus explained amiably to the Twerp. He pointed to the worn out looking door. "If you go through that door over there you would be on Charing Cross Road in London."

"Still drumming more knowledge into the Twerps head, eh Headmaster?" asked Mad Eye who had sat down with his friend at the long table near Arthur and Molly Weasley. "I thought you told him that learning to be a child again was all he had to do this summer."

"He asked me a question about the Leaky Cauldron and I would be a fool not to enlighten him on its history." replied Albus as he accepted his flagon of lager from Tom who looked a little less gloomy than he was normally. "Children are supposed to be more curious about their world and if they don't ask questions... how would they learn? Books are fine but what child," Albus turned to look at Hermione who blushed. "Other than Miss Granger that is, would like to keep hunting up information inside the bindings if they can ask questions?"

"Knowing the Twerp, he has many methods of finding out information." answered Mad Eye with a slight smirk forming across his battered face as he noticed the Twerp's innocent expression.

Tom finished serving the drinks then went away and returned within a few minutes levitating two large plate of sandwiches which he set down along with the bowls of hot soup and cutlery. ackowledging the thanks with a slight nod he went back to work behind the counter.

Severus looked thoughtfully around at the familiar surroundings in the dark yet welcoming old pub while he quietly drank his pumpkin juice and nibbled on a thick ham sandwich while thinking about that book with the Runes from which Hermione had read the story of the Three Brothers out of. He wondered if it was possible since that one particular story was true, could the others have a basis in history?

Ron noticed the far away look in the Twerps eye's and felt a slight shiver run up and down his spine. "Hey Twerp what are you thinking about now?" Ron asked cautiously. "I hope it is nothing more innocuous than a new 'harmless' prank. I think we've had enough trouble to last me a lifetime."

Severus blinked and looked up as Ron's voice cut across his thoughts. "Er, no trouble Ron. What exactly is a fairy tale?" he questioned. "I mean some of these stories aren't exactly light reading."

"They're stories. Written to amuse kids." answered Ron's his eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Purely entertainment."

"Fairy tales have their basis in folklore which is a general term for traditional narrative." Hermione explained. "They are stories that entertain while teaching lessons of everyday life or popular beliefs. They can be intended to teach history. For example many muggle nursery rhymes are in actual fact mini history lessons for younger children. "

Severus looked at Hermione silently for a moment and was going to speak but before he could say anything Hermione said firmly, "Don't say it Twerp, I know what you are thinking, I'm an insufferable know-it-all"

"Okay, keep your cool, I wasn't going to say that Hermione," Severus shrugged. "After all you have just answered another question I was going to ask."

Hermione was speechless as she wondered what it was the Twerp was going to ask.

"I have this feeling I am not going to like the path that your heading down Twerp." Ron said as he stared at the thick Ham and Cheese sandwich he held hovering over this steaming bowl of soup.

"If fairy tales are for teaching lessons..." The Twerp paused, "I was just wondering about those stories of Beedle the Bard, wouldn't it be fun to see if we can find the real life stories behind each of them?

"TWERP!" yelped Harry as he nearly choked on his sandwich, then asked softly so no-one other than those at their table could hear, "Wasn't the story of Three Brothers and the Deadly Hallows enough of a mystery?"

"It wasn't that big a mystery Harry." said the Twerp unperturbed with the looks he was receiving from the teens. "We unraveled that one pretty quick considering we had help from the Oracle and...

"Are you referring to your fixation about that ring?" enquired Mad- Eye gruffly as he lifted his flagon of beer and took a large swig before turning to glare at the Twerp, "If I had known that day when we went to the graveyard that you youngsters were investigating the validity of that fairy tale..."

Albus chuckled as he watched them and with a mischievous twinkle in his eye he mentioned casually "I suspect our Twerp won't be thoroughly satisfied till he does know if any of the other stories written by Beedle the Bard are based on real life."

"Oh right like the story of Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump could have a real life counterpart..." answered Mad Eye while his Magical Eye kept moving around as it inspected his surroundings. He paused for a few moments as he set his flagon down then turned to look directly at Albus and asked cautiously, "There isn't any connections. Are there? I mean just because the tale of the Three Brothers has turned out to be more than a fairy tale..."

"Don't worry Alastor, I think the others are just cautionary tales designed to teach a lesson to little ones." Albus said comfortingly even though he also had a few reservations himself about the stories, especially the one called The Warlocks Hairy Heart. Albus did not want to think of that one being based on an actual event.

Meanwhile Severus looked over at Mad-Eye's companion who had been silent during the friendly banter between Albus and Mad Eye and asked cautiously, "do I know you?" The wizard looked back at him and winked as he knew that the boy wasn't quite sure as to who he was yet had an idea that he should. "You could say we have been acquainted with each other under different circumstances."

Severus looked confused as he tried to figure out what the older wizard meant. "Did I know you before I was de-aged?"

The wizard grinned as he answered. "Only by reputation, but I do think you are a most interesting character both adult and child."

"Broderick, you are incorrigible!" Molly chided gently then turned to look at the Twerp. "This is Broderick Bode who is an old friend of both Alastor and Arthur. He works at the ministry as an unspeakable."

'Oh! Are you fellow who took the remaining shrinking balls away so nobody else gets de-aged like me?" asked the Twerp as he studied the tall wizard. " His eyebrow rose a little as he asked another question. "Änd are you the wizard who was polyjuiced to look like my adult self last year?"

Hearing the Twerp's questions Harry, Ron, Arthur, Molly, Hermione and her parents looked over at the wizard sitting beside Mad-Eye with interest as they also wanted to know the answer.

"I think your little Oracle could tell you the answer Twerp." replied Broderick as he noticed the little Oracles unwavering gaze on him. "After all he is not only your toy but a connection to the past present and future."

"Typical response. Of an unspeakable" growled Mad- Eye. "Never give a straightforward answer if you can dodge around the question."

Broderick shrugged and the Twerp smirked as he realized that indeed he was on the right track and that this wizard was the fellow who he saw back in Diagon Alley last summer fighting with those Death Eaters.

Albus looked towards Tom the Innkeeper and motioned for him to send over another round of drinks. Tom nodded and sent some pumpkin juice over for the Twerp and butterbeer for the teens. He then took a large stone jug and filled it carefully from a large wooden barrel and brought it over to the table. He re-filled each of the empty flagons silently and efficiently while waiting patiently for the old Ex-Auror to finish.

Tom held the large stone jug of foaming beer firmly in his large hand invitingly near Mad-Eye's nose and Mad-Eye nodded as he drained the last drop of beer in his flagon. "Thank you Tom. I would appreciate another one."

Tom filled Mad-Eye's flagon to the brim and watched impassively as the old ex-auror sniffed carefully at the aroma of the liquid gold before taking a sip. He wasn't offended as he knew Mad-Eye's reputation of being overly cautious even though the war was finally over.

After ensuring that everybody at the long table were content with the service he provided, Tom silently withdrew to his work at the counter where a few wizards and witches were waiting for him to serve them.

The Twerp took a large gulp of his juice and his eyes glittered as he hoped his idea would be accepted. He ventured to ask, "Albus, now that Lucius and Bellatrix has been captured... And it is nearing the end of summer, may I stay outside one of these nights and have a camp-out?"

"A camp out?" questioned Ginny. What is a camp out?"

Hermione chuckled, "I told the Twerp about how muggle children sometimes take their tents and sleeping bags out side and set them up in the backyard or in a tree house and sleep out under the stars."

"sleeping outside." muttered Ron as he looked over at the Twerp. "I suppose you plan to sleep in the tree."

"I could, there are charms on it to keep me from falling out of it." answered the Twerp. "It would be like sleeping in a muggle tree house, sort of."

"Twerp, you do know that at night every sound is magnified in the darkness and that all sorts of creatures move about then and might be very curious about some human sleeping on the ground much less in a tree?"said Albus.

The Twerp didn't answer back and his mouth quivered a little while he looked up at Albus with large soulful eyes.

"I'd like to experience what it is like to camp outside like a muggle." Harry blurted out as he saw the look on the Twerps face. "If it is all right I'd like to join the Twerp-- but not in the tree, I would rather stay in a tent that is anchored in the ground."

"I have this feeling that I am being coerced into allowing this adventure."answered Albus as his eyes twinkled with amusement. "What do you think Arthur? Molly? "

"I could ask Perkins from the office if we could borrow his tent again. With his lumbago he doesn't camp much anymore poor fellow." suggested Arthur.

"Would that not be like being inside the burrow with all the conveniences." asked Harry. "I mean it's a nice idea and all but I don't think that is what the Twerp has in mind."

"If the Twerp had his way he would be sleeping on the limb of his tree with just a blanket wrapped around him." Ron commented sardonically.

"RON!" Molly said sharply which caused everyone in the Pub to look around to Ron's mortification. "If that is the way he wants to... what is that again? Oh yes camp out in his tree like a muggle then he can so long as the safety charms are in place."

"You know that you could have a barbecue beforehand instead of having a regular meal indoors." suggested Hermione's mother quickly to divert Molly's obvious annoyance at her son. "Muggles as you call us usually whip up hot dogs and hamburgers with a salad or two along with some beverages to help keep the thirst down."

"To make it real interesting, everyone can gather around a small campfire or a portable firepit" Hermione's father added. "It is great fun especially when it is really dark and no light except for the distant stars. Ity is fun to listen to the night noises around you as somebody tells a ghostly horror story while roasting marshmallows on sharp sticks over the fire.

"What equipment will be needed for this muggle style camp-out?" asked Arthur whose interest in Muggle artefacts and general lifestyle was well known.

Hermione reeled off some of the essentials that they would need. "Sleeping bags, pillows, blankets, plus our wands for light if needed."

"Is that all?" Asked Ron.

"For the most part yes." answered Hermione with a smile.

"What about shelter from the elements? " said Ron stubbornly. "I would hate to be woken up by a rainstorm.

"Of course there can be a couple of tents to sleep in, but without all the necessities like magical tents have." replied Hermione as she remembered the tent that Arthur had borrowed during the Quidditch world cup.

"Well there won't be a full moon till next week." said Molly who had frowned a little when she heard about the telling of ghostly horror stories late at night around a small campfire. The roasting marshmallows over a firepit sounded all right though. "I suppose that for once it would be all right after all it is nearly the end of summer and the youngsters will be headed back to school except our Twerp." she continued slowly and thoughtfully. "But to tell horror stories late at night... " she thought that there had been enough horror in their lives especially the Twerps life. "But if the stories weren't too terrifying I will agree to having the muggle style camp out. "

"Excellent." Albus commented to the Twerps delight. "It will be a nice way to end the summer.

"It will at least be a bit of harmless fun anyway." commented Ron. He tried to keep from grinning as he said teasingly, "Unless of course the Twerp manages to get swallowed up by a Lethifold."

"Lethifolds are rare and found solely in the hot tropical climates like New Guinea or India." said Hermione.

"Spoilsport." muttered Ron as he glowered at Hermione.