{{Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Intermediate Spoiler}}
Of the four customers in the Hog's Head Inn, two were rather more interested in the students' meeting than perhaps Harry would have liked. The veiled witch in the corner is [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Mundungus Fletcher|Mundungus Fletcher]], who has been watching Hogsmeade for the [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Major Events/Order of the Phoenix|Order of the Phoenix]];. heHe was disguised because he had evidently been barred from the Hog's Head, at least according to Sirius in [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Order of the Phoenix/Chapter 17|the next chapter]]. And the much-bandaged wizard drinking Firewhisky at the bar is [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Willy Widdershins|Willy Widdershins]], who is in some trouble with the [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Magic/Ministry of Magic|Ministry]] for charming toilets to regurgitate on Muggles. It is likely that he is in disguise to evade arrest. Hoping to beat the penalties for the charges, he reports the meeting to Umbridge, as is discovered in [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Order of the Phoenix/Chapter 27|Chapter 27]].
Although Hermione requireshas required each student to sign a parchment bearing an oath of secrecy, she hardly trusts them and has taken measures to insure that any "snitches" will be revealed. Unknown to the students joining the Defensive Artsdefensive group, soon to be known as [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Major Events/Dumbledore's Army|Dumbledore's Army]], Hermioneto sign a parchment bearing an oath of secrecy. But unknown to them, she has secretly jinxed the parchment to reveal the identity of any signer"snitches" who divulgesdivulge information aboutto anyone outside the group. When Marietta Edgecombe later informs Umbridge about the secret meetings, she is horrified when purple pimples spelling "snitch" break out across her face.
Associated with that, we see the first interesting misdirection.Thewhen the author deliberately keeps the group's eventual betrayer, Edgecombe, is deliberately kept to the periphery, sayingwhere she says nothing apart from the occasional sigh or fidget. Zacharias Smith, with his obvious skepticism, is presented asseems the most likely betrayer;, with his attitude continuescontinuing into the group's first actual session in the [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Places/Room of Requirement|Room of Requirement]]. Willy Widdershins' report to Umbridge following the Hog's Head meeting results in all student organizations being banned. This leads Harry and Ron to initially suspect that someone present at that meeting betrayed them;. whileWhile the readers' suspicions will likely fall on Smith, Ron immediately suspects Michael Corner, based apparently on Corner's relationship with Ginny. Edgecombe's later betrayal will come as a surprise.
The innkeeper at the Hog's Head looks familiar for a reason—he is [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Aberforth Dumbledore|Aberforth Dumbledore]], Professor Dumbledore's younger brother, as many readers guessed instantly. An extremely large clue is the goat odour Harry notices as he enters;. readersReaders will remember that in [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Goblet of Fire/Chapter 24|the previous book]], Professor Dumbledore mentioned that his brother was convicted of practicing inappropriate charms on a goat. Aberforth will play an important role in the final book.
