Disclaimer: If only Harry Potter were mine, I wouldn't have to write this ruddy disclaimer if it were...so no, it is not mine.
A/N: I am very sorry about the delay guys! I had this ready to post last monday but my computer died on me and I had to wait until the weekend to have it fixed. Thank you for all the reviews I have recived so far for this fic! You guys have been brilliant! I hope this is not such a disappointment to you as you had to wait for over a week. Please review again! They are much appreciated!
Big thanks and hugs to my great beta reader gahhMinerva! I recommend you read her fics (after you have read mine lol)
Chapter 3
Pub Hopping
Upon entering The Three Broomsticks, a jovial voice reached the ears of the teachers and directed their attention towards a rather large figure standing at the bar. A few of the teachers waved at the half giant and made a beeline towards him. Albus acknowledged the grounds keeper by holding his hand up to wave gently. Then he guided Minerva towards an empty spot at the bar where Rosmerta was standing, cleaning the glasses and levitating them back to their original spot on the shelf behind. The dim light of the floating magical candles made them shimmer in the background, giving whoever cared to look at them for whatever reason, a quick wink every now and then.
"Good evening, Albus, Minerva. What can I do for you?" Rosmerta greeted the headmaster, with a happy smile.
"A good evening to you also, Rosmerta." Albus inclined his head and returned the smile. "I see you have put the picnic tables out the front. Might we use them for the evening?" he indicted to the several tables scattered outside of the pub.
"Certainly."
"I would also like to buy every staff member a drink, just to get them started." Albus added, the candlelight showing the distant twinkle in his eyes.
"Oh, I'm quite sure I can manage that!" Rosmerta replied with a laugh. "Just send them in this direction and they can help themselves. Would you like a punch bowl set out?"
"Ah, no I think it would be best to leave it up to the staff to decide, but thank you for the offer."
"No problem. What would you like then?" Rosmerta asked Minerva with a smile.
"Oh, I think I shall start off light and go with a Gillywater, thank you." Minerva smiled as Severus slipped his way next to her. "Hello, Severus."
Severus nodded to his rival head of house and then to the headmaster.
"What drink would you like, Severus?" Albus asked politely, making an indication with his hand towards the barmaid.
"Oh, good evening, Severus!" Rosemerta greeted as she slid the glass of Gilywater towards Minerva.
"Madam," Severus replied politely. "I think I shall start off with Elf-made wine, please."
"Would you like it sweet? Or dry?"
"Dry, please." Severus replied and added a thank you to both Albus and Rosmerta.
"Not a problem, my friend. Spread the good word that I am buying the first round," Albus chuckled as he motioned to a large crowd of staff who had gathered around Hagrid.
"Shall do.""What would you like, Albus?" Rosmerta asked as she watched the potions master walk away.
"I shall have the traditional single malt whiskey, please Rosmerta." Albus decided thoughtfully. It had been a while since he had had any of the good Scottish whiskey and right now seemed the perfect timing for one. A few years ago the small company, which produced the special brand of Scottish whiskey, had had a bad patch in the business and since then Albus has never really had the urge to try it out. Sending thanks towards the landlady, Albus offered his left arm to Minerva and indicated to a group of Hogwarts faculty to the bar, then to the picnic tables outside. The chorus of 'thank you's' mixed in with several cheers was barely decipherable, but Albus knew the message had been received by the fact that all the staff was giving him big toothy grins.
"Come, my dear," Albus said with a grin to match the rest of the faculty. "Let us go ahead and get first dibs on a table before they all disappear under a mound of professors."
Minerva laughed as they walked out of the door and walked towards an old oak picnic table sitting under a floating lantern. Albus helped Minerva in to her seat and took his place right beside her.
"Well, my dear. It looks as though we have just missed the sun," Albus commented on the sun setting behind the mountains.
"I have always preferred sun sets to sun rises. I think it is because the stars will soon appear," Minerva smiled with contentment as a small breeze blew against her cheeks causing her to close her eyes and savour the moment.
"Indeed? I have always found sun rises particularly enchanting," Albus replied and smiled gently. "It signifies the dawn of a new day of mischief and the fun to be had."
Minerva chuckled gently.
"Sun set reminds me of a few romance novels I have read in the past. I remember a particular one where a young wizard stood on a muggle motorway and stopped the traffic for an elder muggle woman who had injured her leg..." Minerva said snapping out of the image visualised in her mind. "But then I suppose I am an old hopeless romantic. Not the sort of person everyone who encounters me would think."
"Old? You are most certainly not old!" Albus replied in an amused voice. "You are an attractive woman in your prime."
Minerva smiled and turned away to look down in to the rest of the village to hide a pink hue that was forming on her cheeks. Soon the sounds of happy professors started to drift towards their ears as they filed out of the pub door, saving Minerva from having to reply. Filius and Severus joined them both on the other side of the table and handed them two glasses of white elm-tree wine made by the elves.
"We saved you a couple of glasses of the wine Marcus bought everyone!" Filius said happily, taking a small sip of the wine in question. Severus rolled his eyes and snorted.
"To celebrate Rolanda's birthday on Tuesday," he said as if it were nothing of great importance.
"That makes sense since not everyone will be at Hogwarts to celebrate. I hear her brother is planning a surprise for her," Minerva replied with a smile and turned around to see Rolanda standing at her side.
"Speak of the devil..." muttered Severus and downed the rest of his wine. Rolanda ignored him and smiled at Albus and Minerva.
"Congratulations for Tuesday," Albus toasted to Rolanda, giving her his best knowing grin. He had happened upon her elder brother Griffith one morning outside of Flourish and Blotts and the younger wizard had displayed a confidence in him about the surprise birthday treat that he was organising for Rolanda. Rolanda had appeared from Gringotts only to find her brother and her boss in peals of laughter about the mysterious topic and had badgered them to tell her what it was. Ever since, both men had enjoyed a little light teasing on the subject as they both knew what Rolanda was like if she was not told or prepared for a future event. "I know you will enjoy it," Albus added to great effect.
"Oh, stop gloating, Albus. I have already had enough teasing from Griff," she said with annoyance evident on her face. "I still would like to know how you found out,"
"From Griffith himself," Albus said, his eyes dancing with good humour.
"That was good of my brother," she replied in sarcasm, rolling her eyes.
"Indeed, it was."
"I hope we are still on for a little shopping trip in Paris?" Minerva inquired, cutting off any remark Rolanda was about to make to the headmaster.
"Of course, I have run out of books to read."
"I suppose every Quidditch book needs replacing after the amount of times you have read them," Severus sneered at her.
"It's no different from the amount of cauldrons and pointless potion ingredients you feel you have to buy," Rolanda retorted, narrowing her eyes.
"At least they do come in use at some point unlike the many Quidditch books you seem to hoard."
"Oh yes, about once every five years, is it not?" Rolanda quirked her eyebrow at him, daring him to continue.
"What would you know?" Severus sneered at her.
"I studied potions at Hogwarts and got an 'O' in my NEWT's. I also studied potions when I took my healers degree," Rolanda smirked triumphantly.
"Healers decree? Why on earth would you study one of those?" jeered Severus, with disbelief written all over his face.
"Not that you would know, but before you become a Quidditch player or referee, you must take the healers decree in case of an accident," she mocked him, her bright yellow eyes dancing with amusement.
"All right, that will do children," Minerva said in a firm, no-nonsense voice. "Severus, if you want to argue, go somewhere else. Rolanda, please don't encourage him."
Severus glared at Minerva in annoyance. Rolanda mock-toasted him and walked back to her table where Marcus and Poppy were chatting.
"I think the two of you should have auditioned for a radio show. It would make great entertainment," Filius laughed as Severus soon directed his glare from Rolanda's retreating back to the small professor sitting beside him.
"It would certainly make it more realistic," Albus commented in mirth.
"I need another drink," Severus announced and abruptly got up and walked in to the pub.
"I wonder why he argues with her so," Filius wondered aloud, circling the remainder of his wine in his glass.
"I think we shall find out in due course," Albus replied smiling slightly. "Perhaps sooner than we think."
"Do you know something we don't?" Minerva arched her eyebrow and glanced curiously at the headmaster.
"Not really. I'm just speculating at this moment."
"Having a good chat about my behaviour?" came a silky voice from behind.
"Yes, just disappear for a few more minutes and we shall call you once we have finished our discussion," Minerva replied dryly as Severus retook his seat at the table.
"Why on earth would I do that? It's good to know the general opinion of one's self," he replied with a small smirk.
"Is there any more room at this table?" Pomona said happily as she walked over to the table with Auriga Sinistra at her heel.
"No, it's taken," Severus replied smoothly to the two ladies looking down on him.
"I see Severus is in his usual happy party mood," Auriga replied and greeted him with a mock-toast.
"Well, you know how I hate to disappoint you, Auriga," Severus sneered and returned a mock-toast.
"Oh, Severus you are such a tease! There is plenty of space between you and Filius," cried Pomona, giving him a light slap on the back, which almost sent the wine he had just swallowed back up and over the table. Rolanda took that particular moment to reemerge with a mischievous smile spread across her face.
"Marcus has just had a top idea!" she announced to the table. "How about we all go on a pub crawl of Britain?"
Albus looked with amusement at Minerva and she smiled back at him. A pub-crawl? he thought. His mind was torn in to two by sense of adventure and common sense. It would be quite irresponsible for the headmaster of Hogwarts to go around the great pubs of Britain, but then again it would be a fantastic way to unwind for the summer. In a sense, Albus Dumbledore was never really one to follow every rule of the law, just slightly bend them to his own will.
"What do you think?" he asked quietly with the beginnings of a smile starting to spread.
"Well, I think it would be quite reckless. But then I'm a Gryffindor and I like a good challenge," Minerva replied with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"So be it," Albus said with the air of finality and turned to Rolanda who was bouncing on the ball of her feet beside him. "You can count us in!"
At least I can keep an eye on Minerva, Albus thought with a little comfort. It's not as if I myself have to get drunk.
"Excellent. Filius?" Rolanda clapped her hands and turned her attention to the small professor on the end of the picnic table.
"Yes, I should think it would be quite amusing." Filius replied and laughed as she turned to the dour potions master on the opposite side.
"Are you going to join in the fun? Or are you going to be boring and sit here all night?" Rolanda said pointedly, placing her hands on her hips in a comical way. Severus took in the amusing sight before him and contemplated the offer.
"No, I think I shall go," he drawled, lifting his glass up half way before adding, "I know many pubs in Britain."
Rolanda looked quite surprised and impressed all in one look. Tilting her head to one side slightly, she smiled and challenged him.
"Alright, you can be our pub coordinator for the night,"
Severus shrugged as if it were nothing to take a band of rowdy colleagues around the best pubs in Britain. He had done it several times before with the Death Eaters so a crowd of professors should be a piece of cake. Or not. In truth, by the end of the night, Severus fully expected to be paired off with some troll from the nearest Muggle dunghill. He dreaded the next time the end of term staff meeting was to be continued as he would never be able to live it down. His stubbornness had held him back from refusing the offer and he would not back down to this infuriating witch who got on his every last nerve.
Finishing their drinks, Albus helped Minerva up and walked towards the circle of congregated teachers who were about to embark on this outrageous pub-crawl. It had been a while since he had participated in such an event. The last time Albus could remember pub hopping was somewhere in France with his brother Aberforth in 1985. It had started off with a few meaningless drinks until Aberforth had declared that he was bored with the pub and they ended up going to the south of France to find another. Then another. And another. It was not until Albus had reached the point of blurry vision that he had decided he had had quite enough.
"Albus?" a soft voice echoed in his ear and bought the man in question back in to the realms of reality.
"I'm sorry, Minerva. Did you say something?" Albus shook his head and focused himself on the wonderful witch in front of him.
"Yes. We are waiting for you to come back in to reality so we can start the adventure," Minerva replied with a smile. "Had you not come back, our pub-guide mentioned that he would disappear back in The Three Broomsticks."
"I'm sorry, Severus. Please continue," Albus smiled at the potions master and inclined his head. Severus shook his head and muttered something about old fools.
"Are we ready?" he said in a bored voice and everyone indicated that he should lead the way. "First stop, The Hags Head, Mersyside."
Coming up: Pub Hopping part 2...what will they get up to?...if you review (whether it was good or bad or ok...it doesn't matter)...you shall find out soon lol!