Green's Bookshop sat just a short walk from the Three Broomsticks; you could even spot the giant holly tree out front, decked out with colorful ribbons.
Justin glanced toward the shop, then noticed Sean spacing out. He stopped too and turned his attention to the warm glow spilling from the pub.
A little sign out front read: "Butterbeer (house specialty), lemonade, hot mead, red currant rum, cherry syrup & soda."
"There's still ten minutes till the bookstore opens," Justin said. "Wanna grab a butterbeer? I've been dying to try it."
"Sure," Sean answered.
The two headed inside.
Outside it was freezing; your fingers went numb in seconds. Inside the Three Broomsticks? Total opposite: packed, loud, toasty warm, and hazy with smoke.
Behind the bar, a stunning woman with killer curves was handling a rowdy group of wizards.
"That's Madam Rosmerta, right?" Justin whispered.
"I did some quick reading before we came. Hang on, I'll grab us three butterbeers."
He slipped off toward the counter.
Sean weaved through the crowd to the back and found a tiny empty table wedged between a window and a gorgeous decorated holly tree, right next to the fireplace.
There was already a guy sitting there: graying hair, patched robes, looking exhausted, pale, and worn-out.
"Mind if I sit?" Sean asked.
"Help yourself," the tired wizard said quietly.
He sipped his butterbeer slowly, pausing after every drink, staring off into the distance with weary eyes.
Right in his line of sight was the "Help Wanted" sign still taped up in Green's Bookshop window.
The pay Justin was offering wasn't bad: fifteen Galleons a week. Decent money. Ten Galleons was enough for a wizard to scrape by, so fifteen just for odd jobs around a bookstore was honestly tempting.
And the manager position? Thirty-five Galleons a week, plus room and board, and bonuses.
"You thinking of applying for the manager job?" Sean asked.
"I'm not really qualified," the man said with a tired smile, shaking his head. He hadn't expected a kid to read him that easily.
"You should," Sean said after a moment.
The wizard let out a soft, surprised laugh. Sharp kid, but didn't seem like the talkative type.
Five minutes later Justin came back balancing three foaming mugs of hot butterbeer.
"Happy Halloween!" he said cheerfully, raising a glass. "Sir, may I have the honor of buying you a drink?"
Half the man's face was hidden under his hood, but Sean could tell he was stunned.
"Happy Halloween," he finally replied, accepting the mug.
Sean took a cautious sip. Weird stuff, but the second it hit his stomach, warmth spread to every inch of his body.
A gust of cold wind whipped through the pub as the door opened again. Sean glanced over the rim of his mug and immediately ducked.
"We gotta go. Now," he muttered.
Then he just… vanished.
Justin didn't ask questions; he threw up a Disillusionment Charm on himself instantly. A second later Professors McGonagall and Flitwick swept in with a swirl of snow, followed by Hagrid, who looked like he was in a foul mood.
Remus Lupin took another slow sip of butterbeer, eyes narrowing in faint amusement.
It had been a while since he'd seen anything this entertaining: two seemingly well-behaved Hogwarts students blatantly breaking rules.
At the bar:
"Filius, have you heard what's going around lately?" McGonagall asked.
"One small violet water—" a voice called.
"Mine," McGonagall said, taking the glass.
"Four pints of mead."
"Thanks, Rosmerta," Hagrid grunted.
"One cherry soda with ice and umbrella syrup—"
"Mmm!" Flitwick smacked his lips. "The kids have been terrified by that rumor, you know the one. Penelope's asked me about it half a dozen times."
Since Hagrid was right there, Flitwick kept it vague.
"Is it true?" McGonagall asked, though her eyes were locked on Hagrid.
Hagrid just kept his head down, chugging mead like nothing was wrong.
But both professors noticed instantly: this wasn't normal Hagrid behavior.
"I'm afraid it might be," Flitwick said, reading her perfectly.
Hagrid flinched.
"That's trouble," McGonagall sighed. Hagrid relaxed a little.
"Or maybe the trouble's already been dealt with?" Flitwick offered in his high-pitched voice.
Hagrid tensed again.
It was almost too easy to read him: tense when they were right, relaxed when they were wrong. And the best part? He didn't even realize he was doing it.
"I—I gotta go buy somethin'—" Hagrid stammered, then bolted off so fast nobody caught the rest.
Sean watched quietly as Hagrid stormed out, clearly furious with himself, stomping straight through puddles without caring that his boots were caked in mud.
Hagrid was a big guy with an even bigger heart. Smart enough to know when he'd messed up, but not quite smart enough to stop it from happening again.
He trudged all the way to the front of Green's Bookshop.
Justin was inside handing out tasks and passing along signed copies Sean had left. Sean himself stood just outside the door, looking at the help-wanted ad up close, the Three Broomsticks a little farther off, and Hagrid somewhere in between.
"Happy Halloween," Sean said softly. "Good to see you here."
His voice drifted through the snowy air like it was carried on the wind.
"Sean?!"
Hagrid stared, gobsmacked.
"Sean…"
His whole face crumpled.
"I heard everything," Sean said. "It's okay."
With a lazy flick of his wand, all the mud vanished from Hagrid's boots.
Hagrid's lips trembled. He could never keep a secret. He was always the one causing trouble.
Last time he got drunk he blabbed about how to get past Fluffy and nearly got Harry killed. This time he'd spilled the whole basilisk thing.
"It's okay," Sean repeated.
The truth was going to come out eventually anyway. Once the papers got hold of it, hiding anything at Hogwarts would be impossible.
Sean already had a plan.
The weak winter sun glinted off the snow blanketing Hogsmeade. Pine branches sagged under layers of white. In the distance, Sean spotted another figure heading their way.
He gave Hagrid a small smile.
"Cheer up, Hagrid. All you did was say a few things a little early, that's all."