Mundungus Fletcher slouched in a corner of the Hog’s Head Inn, his eyes darting around the dimly lit room. It was a place where he could keep a low profile, away from the prying eyes of law enforcement. The smell of stale ale and burning logs mingled in the air, an ambiance that perfectly suited his needs. He was nursing a pint of the inn’s cheapest ale, keeping his wits sharp and his gaze even sharper.

He had come to Hogsmeade on a routine check for any easy pickings or shady deals, but what he hadn’t expected was the sudden intrusion of someone far more significant than he usually dealt with. As soon as Rufus Scrimgeour walked through the door, Mundungus felt a shiver of unease. The former Auror’s imposing presence was hard to ignore, and even though Mundungus had done his best to blend into the crowd, he couldn’t help but notice the ripple of tension that followed Scrimgeour’s entrance.

“Blimey, it’s Scrimgeour,” Mundungus muttered under his breath to his companions, their conversation momentarily halted by the arrival of the formidable man. The eyes of his unsavory associates flickered with a mix of recognition and wariness. They had heard whispers of the Auror’s reputation, and seeing him in their regular haunt was unsettling.

As Scrimgeour made his way to the bar, Mundungus’s eyes followed him, noting the confidence in his stride and the way he surveyed the room. He could sense the ripple of nervousness among the patrons. Even Aberforth Dumbledore seemed to cast a more cautious eye in Scrimgeour’s direction. Mundungus knew that the former Auror was not a man to cross lightly.

He watched as Scrimgeour took a seat at the bar and ordered a firewhisky. Mundungus’s curiosity grew. The man was supposed to be a formidable figure in the wizarding world, and yet here he was, just another customer in the Hog’s Head. It was a curious juxtaposition that only added to the unease bubbling within Mundungus.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

As Scrimgeour sipped his drink and surveyed the room, the atmosphere in the inn seemed to shift. The arrival of a group of goblins, their dark robes and stern expressions contrasting sharply with the inn's worn decor, only heightened the tension. The goblins were an unusual sight in Hogsmeade, and their presence drew Rufus’s attention, which in turn drew Mundungus’s.

Mundungus strained to overhear the goblins’ hushed conversation. He could only catch fragments of their urgent murmurs, but it was clear that something significant was afoot. The goblins’ presence in the village suggested that important discussions were taking place, and Mundungus couldn’t help but speculate on the nature of their business. It wasn’t every day that goblins frequented Hogsmeade, and their arrival hinted at something larger.

The presence of the goblins seemed to reinforce Rufus Scrimgeour’s determination, something Mundungus could see in the way the former Auror’s gaze hardened as he watched them. Mundungus knew that Scrimgeour was a man of ambition and influence, and the weight of his contemplation was palpable. It was clear that Rufus was sizing up the situation, perhaps considering the implications for his own plans.

As Rufus Scrimgeour remained deep in thought, Mundungus’s mind raced with possibilities. The former Auror’s presence in the Hog’s Head was no mere coincidence, and the tension in the room suggested that whatever Scrimgeour was planning, it was bound to shake things up. Mundungus felt a mix of apprehension and excitement. The arrival of such a powerful figure could mean opportunities—if one was clever enough to seize them.

With Scrimgeour’s contemplative gaze and the goblins’ enigmatic presence, Mundungus realized that the shadows of Hogsmeade were deeper and more complex than he had anticipated. As he finished his pint and prepared to leave, his thoughts were already racing with ideas and plans. The day’s events promised to be far more intriguing than he had imagined, and Mundungus was determined to stay one step ahead in the ever-shifting game of the magical underworld.