"Perfect!" Tom couldn't wait and took a big sip of the butterbeer, feeling the hot liquid fill his stomach and warm him up completely.
"I really love this," Tom said as he placed the glass back on the table, with a bit of white cream at the corner of his lips.
"Yes, with just one sip, you feel completely warm," Harry added, nodding. At that moment, Hermione split a croissant in half from her hand and placed one of the halves next to Tom's mouth, discreetly removing the cream foam that had stayed at the corner of his lips.
Tom didn't evade Hermione's gesture but patiently sat there, allowing her to clean his corner. The freshly baked croissant was fluffy and soft, with a delicious aroma of flour and butter.
After wiping the white foam from his lips, Hermione put the croissant into Tom's mouth. Tom used his tongue to take the croissant, and in the process, he sucked on Hermione's finger. A salty sensation reached his tongue, but Tom smiled sweetly and received a feigned disapproving look.
Harry watched the entire process from the other side of the table. He shivered as if a cold gust of wind passed over his head.
Harry's feeling was not wrong; there was indeed a gust of cold wind. The bar door opened, and several people entered.
Harry glanced, and his eyes widened: Professors Flitwick and Scamander entered, followed by a chubby man with a top hat and a fine-striped cloak. Behind him, Hagrid made sure to shield the man from the snow and wind that followed.
The chubby man was Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic.
"Unfortunately, there are no available seats, so why don't we head to the bar and have some drinks?"
"That sounds even better."
Everyone made their way to the bar.
Harry quickly slipped out of his chair and hid under the table, then hurriedly put on the Invisibility Cloak. As he put on the cloak, he bumped his head against the table, but fortunately, Tom held it, preventing Harry from knocking over the table, and with the bar crowded and chaotic, no one noticed.
And when Harry ran under the table among them, Tom and Hermione didn't have to worry about a thing, so they leaned in together.
Harry gently touched his head under the table to ease the pain. He adjusted his position to sit more comfortably. By that time, the professors and Fudge had already ordered their drinks. From Harry's perspective, he could see several pairs of feet close to him.
"Pumpkin juice?"
"Thank you," Professor Scamander said.
"A lemonade with syrup and ice, please..."
"Here," Professor Flitwick raised his hand, showing his enthusiasm.
"Brave! Having cold drinks in this weather," Fudge laughed as he took his blackcurrant rum from Madam Rosmerta.
Finally, the bar owner placed a giant jar in front of Hagrid, filled with mead.
After leaving the jar, Madam Rosmerta was about to leave when Fudge stopped her.
"Don't rush, dear," Fudge said, Harry's voice coming from somewhere above his head. "I'm delighted to see you. It was worth braving this weather to meet you. Leave all your tasks and join us for a drink."
Hermione snorted sharply at this, but the sound got lost amid the bar's bustle. Not even Harry, who was under the table, heard it, let alone Fudge.
"Do you really think Madam Rosmerta is so beautiful? Even Fudge thinks so..." Hermione asked in a low voice.
"Not bad, especially for her age," Tom commented as he looked at Madam Rosmerta, but he quickly added, "But I believe you will be much more beautiful at her age."
"Well, thank you for the compliment," Hermione gave Tom an arrogant look.
Because of the Minister's presence, Madam Rosmerta had no choice but to accept the invitation and poured herself a glass of cherry wine to join the Minister's small gathering.
Despite the Minister of Magic being only a few meters away, Tom and the others were not worried at all. They all secretly listened in on Fudge's group's conversation.
"What wind brings you here, Minister?" Madam Rosmerta started the conversation.
"It's Christmas, time to relax a bit. The past few days haven't been peaceful," Fudge stirred his drink absentmindedly, "The days of peace are dwindling more and more!"
Fudge complained.
"Not peaceful? Is it because of Sirius? Minister, do you know how many times Dementors have searched my bar? Customers have been scared off, my business has been severely affected," Madam Rosmerta's tone was slightly sharp, revealing her dissatisfaction, "I've heard rumors that Sirius and the Dementors have been causing quite a stir at Hogwarts lately."
Fudge squirmed uncomfortably and glanced around. His gaze passed over Tom and Hermione, but he paid them no attention, after all, wasn't it normal for a young couple to appear in a bar?
Once he was sure no one was listening, Fudge whispered, "The matter of Sirius will be handled properly by the Ministry of Magic, and compensation will be given to the affected merchants. The issue of the Dementors is closed, don't ask any more questions about it. The situation is not so simple... Things have been complicated lately in the magical world of all countries... I'm not sure if the two major events next year can proceed smoothly..."
Hearing about compensation, Madam Rosmerta's expression eased a bit. Although the Ministry of Magic probably couldn't offer much money, it was better than getting nothing. Besides, her bar business hadn't been as affected as she claimed. After encountering the Dementors, wasn't it nice to come to the bar and have a butterbeer to relax? And to have good friends tell you what's happening in the Ministry of Magic?
But it was the mention of the two major events that caught her attention.
"What do you mean by the two major events? I have an idea about one of them, but the other...," she looked at Fudge with intense curiosity, her eyes seeming to gleam.
In front of Madam Rosmerta, Fudge laughed twice, looking rather proud. "Those are secrets, I can't reveal them... But I can assure you they will be... extremely thrilling!"
Fudge touched Madam Rosmerta's hand.
Madam Rosmerta, without showing any trace, withdrew her hand from Fudge's and then gave him a little push while smiling coquettishly. "Minister~"
"Sorry, those are rules, but I can give you a hint. It's a traditional event that has been interrupted for a long time."