Standard disclaimers apply!
I do not own Harry Potter. I have nothing to do with Scholastic, Warner Bros or Bloomsbury. I'm not JKR and I am certainly not making any profit out of this.
The Hogs Head
Aberforth glared the last group of warlocks out of the door and locked it behind them.
Taking his usual place behind the bar; he picked up his grotty old rag and randomly chose a glass, taking his time to polish it carefully before he finally spoke.
"So where's your girly then? On the rag or something?"
The figure he addressed shrugged beneath his black, hooded cloak. "Something like that."
"You broke up?" Aberforth probed as he poured out a generous measure of firewhiskey for each of them.
"Nah." The figure made to thow a galleon on the bar, but Aberforth shook his head. "We're alright," the figure added suddenly. "I just had to get out for a bit."
"Right ... right." Aberforth tapped his glass on the bar and pursed his lips. "This has to stop, son. You've been in here every other night this week."
"You saying you don't want my money?"
"Don't be stupid," Aberforth snorted, "but if you don't talk about what's got you so wound up it'll eat you alive."
"Will it now?" The figure sounded amused. "You'd know, would you?"
Aberforth narrowed his eyes and seemed to chew on the inside of his cheek before throwing back his firewhiskey in one gulp. "I know what I'm talking about."
"Sorry. You going to tell them I've been coming?"
"No fear." Aberforth gave a dry chuckle. "McGonagall would have my guts for garters if she knew I was letting you in here at all. Better here than somewhere else, anyway. At least I can keep an eye out."
"Yeah, thanks." The figure stood up slowly. "I better get back before someone notices I've gone."
"Think about what I said," Aberforth told the figure as they went up the stairs and into his private sitting room.
"Yeah, don't hold your breath," the figure muttered and pulled Arianna's portrait to one side, "but I'll think about it. Thanks Ab."
"Take care of yourself, sonny." Aberforth watched the figure clamber up into the passage way and disappear into the dark. "What do you think?" He addressed his sister. "Should I let it go, or do I get myself involved?"