The group made their way down to Hogsmeade where they were stopped by Aberforth Dumbledore.

"Kids," he greeted them gruffly. "I hope you all survived the battle alright?"

"Yeah, Ab, thanks. You?" Harry asked.

"I'm doing okay. How about you kids come on down to the Hog's Head for some nourishment?"

"Sure, Ab."

They all walked down the street and Ab unlocked the door to his little pub. Inside, there was a hooded figure, with his back to the door, huddled over the counter.

"Expelliarmus!" somebody yelled from behind them as the figure whipped out his wand and spun around to face them. The spell was so powerful that it blasted the man backwards over the bar.

Harry flipped around to see who had fired the spell. He grinned widely. "Hagrid!"

"Hey, Harry! Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville... Draco?"

"Yes, Draco's a friend of ours now," Luna explained.

"Oh. Alrigh'."

"So, Hagrid, what are you doing here?" Ron asked him.

"Well, I was on my way to the Three Broomsticks to see if Rosmerta was back when I noticed the bunch of yeh. So, I decided to join yeh. Lucky I did, really. Hey, Ab," he called over to the old wizard, waving.

Aberforth grunted in return as he levitated the cups out of the cupboard. As he got out the drinks, Harry waved his wand over the unconscious hooded man, and chains appeared on his body, binding him and making him unable to move.

Aberforth poured wine for himself, butterbeer for Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco, _ tea for Luna-he struggled to understand the directions that were pouring out of Luna's mouth-and a pint-sized bucket of firewhisky for Hagrid.

Hagrid mumbled a "thank you," and began gulping down his drink. He paused for a moment to whisper to Harry: "So, you're sure about Malfoy?"

"Yeah, Hagrid, I am. Draco was being sincere when he apologized," Harry assured him.

Hagrid glanced quickly at Draco, and then looked back at Harry. "How 'bout the rest o' them?"

"Well, I can't say that Ron's too keen about the idea, but he'll come around."

"Alrigh'," Hagrid dropped the subject and leaned over to shake Draco's hand.

"I-uh-" Draco started.

"Oh, Draco, jus' shuddup and shake my hand," Hagrid ordered him.

Draco stopped stuttering and reached his arm out to grab Hagrid's hand when he heard a low moan from behind the counter. "The Death Eater!"

He jumped up and pinned the man against the wall. The man was just barely awake.

"It's Thicknesse! Why is he here?" Draco demanded.

"Yeah, 'Minister,' why are you here?" Harry asked him, moving closer as he spoke.

Silence.

"Answer him," Draco growled, pressing his wand against the minister's throat.

"Alright, alright, I'll talk," Pius pleaded. "When I was in my office at the Ministry of Magic, I had a vision. A very dark and powerful wizard will be revealed, one even more powerful than Voldemort. I don't know who he was, however, as his face was hidden. But he looked to be about your age. So, I came here to find this new "dark lord" and pledge my allegiance to him."

"I see," Harry said. "Well, I suppose that means you'll be going to Azkaban for treason against the wizarding community and the Ministry, supporting Lord Voldemort, and for practicing dark magic."

"Ah, yes. I am assuming that you think I will come quietly, but you are sadly mistaken." With that, Pius attempted to disapparate with the chains still surrounding his body, but not before Aberforth managed to leap over the bar and grab hold of the minister, disappearing with him.

Harry noticed something odd on the floor where the two wizards had been standing just seconds before. It looked to be sitting in a pool of blood, seemingly pouring from the object. He walked over and cautiously picked it up, realizing what it was.

He had in his hand the left middle finger of Pius Thicknesse.

"Oh, Harry, don't touch it!" Hermione shrieked.

Harry wrapped it in one of Aberforth's napkins and handed it to Hagrid as Hermione gagged loudly.

"Looks like Thicknesse gave us the finger," Ron muttered.

"I'm going back to the Great Hall," Harry announced for really no reason. He drained his butterbeer and headed out the door for the castle.

Author's Note:

Oh, dear, this one is shorter. I'll try harder. Chapter 5 should be the longest one so far.