"Ugh!"
A slight explosion pushed aside the floating dust in the air. It was 6 o'clock in the morning, and the bustling city center was at the boundary between day and night. The energetic young people had finished their exciting nightlife and were heading home to rest, while the middle-aged people who were busy with their lives had just left their warm and comfortable beds, busy tidying up their appearances.
"It seems we're in luck, Hagrid. We didn't run into those crazy reporters--"
Bryan's gaze drifted from the imposing office buildings on both sides to the desolate street lined with long-shuttered companies and dilapidated taverns, finally resting on Hagrid, who had collapsed on the ground, vomiting.
"What's the matter, Hagrid, not used to apparating?"
Bryan raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Sorry, Professor--"
Hagrid wiped the snot and tears off his face and weakly said, "The longest mode of transportation I've used is the train or on my own foot. Apparition, to be honest, the last time I experienced this was when I was expelled from Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore took me to the Ministry of Magic for a trial."
Bryan couldn't help but laugh. He took out his wand and helped Hagrid clean the vomit off his clothes, also covering up the smell on him.
"Now, what's next--"
Bryan looked around with a puzzled expression, searching his memory for details about the Ministry of Magic. To be honest, he hadn't been to the Ministry in two years.
The last time he visited here was right after graduation. It was his first time entering Diagon Alley's underground world. Due to a mission that required traveling abroad, he had been quite the rule-follower, coming here specifically to process his wizarding travel documents.
"This way, Professor--"
Hagrid, who often ran errands for Dumbledore all over the country, clearly had more experience. He led Bryan to a dilapidated red telephone booth--the paint on it was peeling off in large patches, most of the glass on three sides was broken, and the only receiver inside was hanging in mid-air, as if someone had tried to tear it off.
"Same as always--"
Bryan made a pained expression.
"Why doesn't anyone think about fixing it?"
"Maybe because there are wizards like me around,"
Hagrid chuckled sheepishly, "Let me tell you a secret, Professor Watson, some of those glass shards on the ground are my doing—"
A very powerful reason indeed.
Bryan thought the telephone booth wouldn't be able to accommodate both him and Hagrid, but to his surprise, the walls of the booth squeezed their bodies, but they still managed to squeeze in.
"Um, excuse me, Hagrid, raise your hand and make some space for me to dial--"
Bryan's face was squished against the inner metal, mumbling.
"Oh, sorry, Professor!"
Hagrid's body shook, and the telephone booth immediately made a creaking sound. A half piece of broken glass embedded in the window frame fell outside with a snap.
"I hope the Ministry of Magic won't make me pay for that. Let me think, 62442?"
A cold woman's voice emerged in the telephone booth.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and the purpose of your visit."
Bryan struggled to move his face away from the cold metal plate.
"Um, Bryan A. Watson, and Rubeus Hagrid, invited to attend a press conference and award ceremony."
"Thank you--" The woman's cold voice sounded again. "Guests, please pick up your badges and pin them to the front of your clothes."
Two square silver badges slid out from the metal slot. After some effort, Bryan and Hagrid successfully attached the badges to their clothes.
Wizards seem to have a penchant for placing important institutions underground, whether it's the Ministry, goblin banks, or the underworld—all buried deep beneath the earth. The key is, the methods of entry are equally terrible.
One minute later, they stood in a long, magnificent hall. The floor was polished to a shiny, reflective wooden surface, and the peacock blue ceiling was embedded with sparkling golden symbols that were constantly moving and changing, like a huge bulletin board in the sky.
The walls on all sides were lined with shiny black marble, and many gilded fireplaces were embedded in the wood. The official employees of the Ministry of Magic mostly used these fireplaces to commute to and from work or to travel around the country and abroad.
The press conference was scheduled for 10 o'clock in the morning, and the normal working hours of the Ministry of Magic started at 8 o'clock. At this time, the Ministry's grand hall was empty, with few people in sight, except for someone dozing off at a table next to the famous Fountain of Magical Brethren.
"Huff--"
Upon entering the magnificent underground hall of the Ministry, Hagrid visibly tensed up, even though he knew he was there to receive commendation, not for a trial.
"No need to worry, Hagrid—" Bryan reassured him with a smile, "Your request is simple, Fudge will help."
Hagrid swallowed nervously and nodded, following Bryan forward.
As the two approached the Fountain of Magical Brethren, the young wizard guarding the entrance, who had a sign saying "Security Check" on his head, was more alert than expected. Originally, Bryan didn't plan to disturb him, but Hagrid's heavy footsteps woke him up.
"Hey, wait—" Eric, mentioned by Fudge as the gatekeeper, struggled to open his sleepy eyes, standing up unsteadily, "Don't forget to follow the rules, gentlemen—"
Eric yawned as he spoke to Bryan.
"Oh, sorry, I just didn't want to disturb your rest."
Bryan smiled and stepped back.
"Oh, it's you, Hagrid, no need to bother, I remember you don't have a wand."
Despite the blurry figures before him, the towering presence immediately made Eric recognize the visitor. He reached out, taking the wand Bryan offered.
He dropped the wand onto a brass balance, and the machine started to vibrate slightly. As they waited, Eric yawned again, muttering complaints about 'always being put on the night shift.'
"Oh, let me see--"
Eric rubbed his eyes and struggled to identify the wand.
"Blackthorn, twelve inches long, with a dragon heartstring core. Hmm, it has been used for twelve years."
Eric mumbled lethargically, pinning the parchment with the test results onto a brass spike, slowly handing back the wand. When his gaze followed his hand to Bryan's face, adorned with a warm smile, Eric Munch shuddered, his sleepy eyes suddenly wide with disbelief.
"My goodness!" Eric exclaimed, rubbing his eyes again, "Bryan, is that really you?"
"Yes, it's been a while, Munch. How have you been lately--"
Bryan's smile deepened, and he nodded in greeting.
"What's going on? Do you two know each other?"
Hagrid asked, puzzled, stroking his beard.
"Of course, I know Bryan, Hagrid, don't you remember? I was in the same year as Bill!"
Eric's voice trembled with suppressed excitement,
"You're the one who took down nearly a hundred werewolves, including Greyback alone, right? That's what they say at the Ministry. Merlin's Beard… that's really amazing. Among our graduates that year, you're the only one who's become such a big shot!"
Eric Munch indeed was in the same year as Bryan, but one was in Gryffindor and the other in Slytherin. The two didn't have much interaction in school, but the two houses often took Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts classes together, which made them familiar faces to each other.
"Defeating Greyback's werewolf pack wasn't my doing alone; the Ministry played a significant role."
Bryan smiled modestly.
"By the way, among our year, not many of us ended up working at the Ministry. Bill was actually invited, but unfortunately, he declined."
Eric nodded with a smile. It seemed that he didn't care at all about what Bryan was saying, but just being able to talk to him was a great honor.
"Last year, there was a reunion for Gryffindor graduates. Henry and Grace attended too. When I told them; I heard from the Ministry that you were the one who overturned the rumored Slytherin's Chamber of Secret and subdued the Basilisk, they were still shaking in their boots. Oh, Haha, it seems you really scared them good back then!"
Eric spoke enthusiastically about the past, and the two who had angered Bryan so much back then, upon hearing these name years later, only brought a knowing smile to his face.
Bryan could tell that Eric had not been having a good time at the Ministry of Magic in recent years. Otherwise, he wouldn't have caught a not-so-familiar classmate and talked non-stop for ten minutes. It made sense, considering that Eric's job was just as boring as the Centaur Office.
As Eric was quietly speaking to Bryan; he overheard from Bertha that Barty Crouch, from the International Magical Cooperation Department, had been prone to fits of rage over trivial matters lately. Just then, a stern female voice echoed from the elevator hall behind the golden door.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your reunion—"
At the sound, Eric shuddered violently and immediately fell silent.
Amelia Bones, dressed in a solemn emerald wizard robe, walked out of the elevator hall. Her gaze paused on Eric for a moment before moving away, revealing a slightly tired smile on her face. She said to Bryan,
"Cornelius said your reply stated that you would arrive at the Ministry of Magic before seven, so I came to show you the way--"
It was a great honor for Amelia Bones, who was renowned throughout the European wizarding world, to personally come and greet them. Eric immediately looked at Bryan with envy.
"Thank you, I'm indeed unfamiliar with this place—"
Bryan smiled in acknowledgment and then nodded to Eric,
"We'll talk later."
"Cornelius is waiting for you in his office. Before the official press conference begins, we need to have a brief meeting,"
Madam Bones said concisely.
This was not a good place for chatting, and Bryan didn't say much either, just nodded.
With a series of ding-ding-dong-dong and clattering sounds, an elevator emerged from the dark elevator shaft. The iron gate opened, and the three of them entered the elevator car one after another. The gate slammed shut, and the car slowly ascended with the sound of chains clanking. Before long, the indifferent cold voice of the woman from the telephone booth earlier rang out again.
"Fourth floor, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures - Beast, Being, and Spirit Division, Goblin Liaison Office, Pest Advisory Bureau, Centaur Office, House-Elf Relocation Office, and the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures."
The elevator car stopped on the fourth floor. Outside the protective gate, a tall and stern middle-aged wizard was holding a piece of parchment and waiting for the elevator. When he saw Hagrid taking up half of the car, he hesitated and chose not to open the gate.
"Come in, Norus, there's room for you--"
Madam Bones beckoned the tall wizard outside.
The wizard named Norus hesitated for a moment, then nodded at Amelia Bones and opened the door to enter the car. His presence immediately made the car crowded, and Hagrid squeezed into a corner, wishing he could curl up into a ball.
"What floor are you going to?"
"Basement level one."
Norus glanced at Bryan and found it strange that this unfamiliar young wizard was looking at him with a strange smile. However, he immediately shifted his attention to Amelia Bones and raised the parchment in his hand.
"I previously applied for a deranged ghost from the Spirit Division. The experiment is complete, and I need to return the receipt to the Logistics Department."
After saying this, Norus fell silent.
The elevator quickly reached the basement level one. As the gate opened, Norrus strode out and headed towards the left corridor, while Bryan glanced deeply at the tall wizard who had disappeared into an office and followed Amelia Bones to the Minister's office on the right.
*******************************
For More Chapters; patreon.com/FicFrenzy