In the grand and luxurious banquet hall, the air was filled with a lively, cheerful melody that seemed to dance along the walls. Respectable wizards from every corner of the globe had gathered here, mingling and conversing with one another, their elegant robes swirling as they moved.
Bryan had not been one to frequent such lavish social events until recently. After gaining widespread fame for defeating Greyback, he stayed in London for a period to cooperate with the Ministry of Magic's plans and initiatives. During that time, invitations to high society parties and gatherings poured in endlessly, and Bryan selectively attended a few of the more notable ones.
This current grand party was not drastically different from those he had experienced in the heart of London's wizarding social scene, except for the fact that he was no longer the absolute center of attention and awe amongst the partygoers.
Barty Crouch, and high-ranking officials from the French and German Ministries were surrounded by circles of guests, all vying for their attention. The towering figures of Madame Maxime, the headmistress of Beauxbatons, and Igor Karkaroff, the headmaster of the Durmstrang, engaged in active discussion with members of the International Confederation of Wizards. Meanwhile, the ever-sociable Ludo Bagman seemed appeared to have lost himself completely in the partying, boasting endlessly about his glorious professional Quidditch career to any guest who would raise a glass in his direction.
Of particular note was the striking young lady that Madame Maxime had brought as her companion. With her alluring beauty and an aura of enigmatic charm, she effortlessly drew the admiring gazes of countless partygoers who made a show of pretending to strolling by, hoping to catch a fleeting glimpse of her presence.
And, of course, Bryan himself was never without a mass of admirers and well-wishers surrounding him, eager to bask in his heroic aura and hear the tales of his incredible exploits firsthand.
The burning topic on everyone's lips was the story of how he had managed to overcome and defeat Fenrir Greyback and his pack of werewolves, bringing an end to the reign of terror inflicted by that most vicious of werewolves. There were also many guests consumed with curiosity about the fabled Basilisk that Bryan had slain – after all, the legend of Salazar Slytherin's secret Chamber and the monstrous creature that dwelled within had been passed down through the ages, and countless wizards had coveted the opportunity to uncover the "treasures" that might exist in that legendary vault.
However, there remained a distinct lack of open admiration and reverence for Bryan amongst these assembled elite wizards hailing from magical communities across the nations. These were proud individuals, unaccustomed to being easily impressed or intimidated. In their eyes, it was far from certain just how pivotal a role Dumbledore himself had played in orchestrating the dramatic events surrounding the defeat of Greyback and the vanquishing of the werewolf pack.
Perhaps, some whispered, this had all been an elaborate scheme carefully staged by Dumbledore himself, a grand spectacle designed to propel the young Bryan Watson into the international spotlight and establish him as a figure of renown.
After a while, Barty Crouch extricated himself from the group of German and French Ministry officials that had encircled him, his piercing, hawkish gaze sweeping across the hall, instantly analyzing and engraving to memory the actions and interactions of every notable figure present. His scrutinizing stare then fixed upon Bryan, and a glint of surprise flashed momentarily in those intense eyes.
This young wizard appeared oddly at ease in the presence of such elite company, a behavior unbefitting of someone just into their twenties who would normally still be labeled as a "intern" in the Ministry, much like Tonks, the Auror trainee who reported to Rufus Scrimgeour. Barty knew the girl was talented, but she was still a novice, a "trainee Auror" polishing her skills.
"Bryan--" Barty began, pausing momentarily as if weighing his words before deliberately setting aside his innate bias, at least for the moment. He lifted his glass and approached, the wizards surrounding Bryan politely dispersing to make way for the high-ranking official.
Barty offered Bryan a somewhat stiff, formal smile, and the two men touched glasses in a silent toast before taking small, measured sips of the fine sherry.
"How are you finding it?" Barty asked, his tone neutral yet carrying an undercurrent of scrutiny.
"The wine is excellent, and the wizards here are amicable enough," Bryan replied, a faint, inscrutable smile across his lips.
Barty understood the implication behind Bryan's words, and his neatly-trimmed mustache twitched almost imperceptibly in response. Yet he chose not to pursue that particular line of argument, realizing that the younger wizard would not be so easily baited into open criticism of their prestigious group here.
"But the true purpose of this grand party is not merely for making surface connections and fostering superficial friendliness," Barty stated, his gaze tinged with an unmistakable coldness as it centered upon the composed figure of Madame Maxime, and the elegant, confident Fleur Delacour, who adeptly handled the attentions of the wizards who considered themselves suave and charming.
Barty's eyes lowered momentarily, his voice carrying a subtle undercurrent of disdain as he spoke. "Madame Maxime has clearly brought that popular Beauxbatons student for an obviously ulterior motive. She intends to exploit the girl's alluring charm to curry favor and influence with the guests. You may not be aware of this, Bryan, but the young lady possesses Veela blood running through her veins."
Bryan's eyes shifted, his gaze briefly stopping upon Fleur Delacour, who radiated an aura of unshakable confidence. An inscrutable smile appeared across his lips, showing no outward reaction to Barty's revelation – as how could he not recognize the heritage of one with Veela ancestry, having encountered pure-blooded Veelas on numerous occasions before?
"In that case," Bryan remarked coolly, his eyes subtly drifting towards Igor Karkaroff, who was fawning over and flattering an elderly wizard with a white goatee, "Karkaroff seems to be the upright gentleman, as he has come unaccompanied by any such...distractions."
"Upright gentleman--" Barty's lips twitched, and his tone carried an undisguised chill as he replied, "Yes, you can clearly discern what manner of person Karkaroff truly is, can you not? As far as I am aware, Durmstrang also has its share of celebrities amongst its student body. It is not that he did not wish to bring one of them along tonight – but their star Quidditch player is busy preparing for the upcoming World Cup, so he cannot come."
"Those ploys are hardly ingenious," Bryan said with a dismissive chuckle, taking another sip of the fine sherry before continuing in a lightly teasing tone. "If such tactics are deemed acceptable, I could just as easily return to Hogwarts and bring the 'legendary' Harry Potter himself along as my companion. His fame and renown would surely cover any charms employed here this evening."
Barty's eyes narrowed in evident displeasure as he leveled an icy glare at Bryan. He had said those things to raise Bryan's guard, but Bryan seemed nonchalant.
"The wizard that Karkaroff is currently conversing with is named Vipor Dreghorn. Have you heard of him?" Barty asked in a lowered tone.
"Vipor Dreghorn..." Bryan murmured thoughtfully, his brow furrowing slightly as he pondered the name. After a moment's contemplation, he spoke again.
"The name does ring a bell. This man seems to have worked at the Confederation for many years. He participated in the hunt for extremist forces after Grindelwald's downfall. His reputation is quite good. He seems to want to go further, but after Maxima Santoris stepped down as Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, the Ministries of Magic of various countries unanimously agreed to let Dumbledore take up the position.
Word is, he was quite displeased by this and has privately opposed Dumbledore within the Confederation."
"He is one of the eleven-member judging panel for the Triwizard Tournament. Moreover, two others on the panel have close ties to him," Barty said in an ominous tone. "That's why Karkaroff is so diligently trying to curry favor with him."
After Barty revealed this man's identity, Bryan's brow furrowed slightly.
Undoubtedly, this person harbored hostility toward Hogwarts. If it were just him alone, it wouldn't matter. But if he could sway the other two judges's decisions, then to some degree, he could determine who would host the Triwizard Tournament.
"If Dumbledore were here, Vipor Dreghorn might not dare to openly oppose, But since he is absent..."
Bryan nodded. "You think he might seize the opportunity?"
"None of us can vouch for his character," Barty said dryly as he left. Vipor Dreghorn was not the only member of the judging committee present; Madame Maxime vied for the other judges's support too, and Barty had to do the same work.
Bryan discreetly observed the conversing Karkaroff and Vipor Dreghorn. Barty's implication was already clear - he hoped Bryan would find a way to neutralize Dreghorn's evident bias against Hogwarts and ensure he would preside as an impartial judge during the tournament's proceedings. But this would not be so easy, would it? Without any enticing incentives or leverage to offer, convincing this resentful man to set aside his deep-rooted prejudices and give a fair, objective judgment would be an immense challenge.
Previously, Barty had also told him that the committee members had signed a magical contract prohibiting them from accepting favors from the three competing parties.
Of course, more subtle approaches existed, but Bryan still weighed whether to use coercion or enticement.
"Mr. Watson--"
At that precise moment, a crisp, melodious voice suddenly rang out from behind Bryan. He turned his head to find the source was none other than the young lady with Veela ancestry from Beauxbatons Academy.
"Yes?" Bryan raised an eyebrow and smiled. "How may I assist you, Miss Delacour?"
"Oh, I just--" Fleur shrugged. She wanted to show a confident smile, but under the abyss-like gaze of the handsome man in front of her, her smile seemed a little cramped.
'How strange,'
Fleur thought. Normally, she did not feel so uneasy around men.
"I just--I believe we should get to know each other, shouldn't we? I mean, we represent Beauxbatons and Hogwarts respectively, and the Triwizard Tournament is an event to foster friendship--"
"Ah--" Bryan nodded understandingly with an amused look. "You want to persuade me to support Beauxbatons School as the host of Triwizard Tournament, is that right?"
"Oh, what--of course not!" Fleur exclaimed, her expression one of apparent bewilderment at the direct accusation. Then she noticed the glint of amusement in Bryan's eyes and realized he was only joking.
"So, would you truly support Beauxbatons? You must know, it is the greatest magical school in Europe."
Regaining her composure, Fleur's eyes sparkled with a coquettish smile.
"On that point, I reserve my opinion." Bryan chuckled.
Fleur's English was quite good, only lightly tinged with a French accent.
She introduced Bryan to some things about Beauxbatons and the local customs and practices in France. For a witch who hadn't even graduated yet, Fleur's knowledge was impressively broad. However, it paled in comparison to Bryan's experiences traversing half the world. Still, he did not point out any mistakes or gaps, maintaining a politely smiling demeanor.
"--I have a younger sister, her name is Gabrielle. When the Basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets went on exhibition in France, our professor of Magical Creatures took us to see it. Oh, it was such a ferocious beast! Gabrielle had nightmares for days afterward. It is hard to imagine how you managed to subdue that terrifying creature!"
Fleur clutched her chest, her brilliant blue eyes fixed eagerly on Bryan, hoping to hear an exciting, dramatic story.
Bryan realized this young girl had not come to "gather intelligence" - she was simply, innocently interested in him.
Bryan, who came back to his senses, felt a bit ridiculous. He was used to living a pure and simple life, and he did not expect that he would be the target of fascination of a young girl who had not yet graduated from school and met him for the first time.
"Ah—well, luck played a role--"
Bryan chuckled, and simply changed the subject. He was no Gilderoy Lockhart with a quirk for boastful tales.
"Speaking of which--"
Bryan took advantage of refilling their drinks to put some distance between himself and Fleur, and then looked at her thoughtfully.
"When the Triwizard Tournament is officially held, will you represent Beauxbatons, Miss Delacour?"
"Of course--"
Fleur tossed her long silvery waterfall of hair, her brilliant blue eyes sparkling, as she revealed her perfect pearly teeth, and her silver bell-like laughter made the people around who were secretly paying attention to this place sway.
"No matter which school hosts the tournament, I will represent Beauxbatons. I have read the selection process for the contestants, and I believe I can pass the test of the Goblet of Fire."
"Then I wish you the very best in making your dream a reality and a stellar performance in the tournament, Miss Delacour."
Bryan knew it was time for him to take his leave, lest the envious glares around them overwhelm him. He raised his glass to Fleur, and after touching the rim of the glass with his lips, he smiled and said.
"But I fear we must part ways briefly, Miss Delacour. I notice Mr. Crouch gesturing for me over there - I think he has something to discuss--"
"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening to you all--"
Just as Bryan was looking for an excuse to excuse himself, a booming voice suddenly came from near the stage, overwhelming the buzzing in the banquet hall. Bryan looked in the direction of the sound and found that Karkaroff was staring at Vipor Dreghorn with great interest. Tonight, Dreghorn represented the International Confederation of Wizards and was addressing the Ministry of Magic of various countries and the entourage of three magic schools.
The woodland fairy troupe performing on the stage paused their music as the crowd gradually gathered in front of the stage to form a semicircle.
"Tonight, the International Confederation of Wizards is overjoyed to welcome the Head of the International Magical Cooperation Department at the British Ministry of Magic, Mr. Barty Crouch, and the Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, Mr. Ludo Bagman. It is thanks to their tireless efforts that the light of the Goblet of Fire, which has been extinguished for centuries, could be rekindled. I daresay everyone here owes a debt of gratitude to Mr. Crouch and Mr. Bagman!"
Vipor Dreghorn raised his glass first towards Barty and Ludo in front of the crowd, prompting the rest to follow suit, and raise their glasses one after another.
Barty had a forced smile on his face, as he turned his head and leaned slightly to salute the crowd, but his eyes held a hint of wariness when meeting Dreghorn's gaze.
But Ludo had no scruples. He showed a bright smile waving jovially at everyone.
"And of course, we must thank Mr. Igor Karkaroff and Madame Olympe Maxime--"
Once the applause and cheers from Ludo's introduction subsided, Dreghorn continued urgently,
"It is thanks to the enthusiastic participation of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang that we finally witness the Triwizard Tournament's rebirth!"
Bryan's eyes narrowed slightly, mirroring the meaningful look Barty shot him.
"Oh, fostering communication between our diverse magical cultures has always been our pursuit, Mr. Dreghorn--"
Karkaroff grinned, his eyes roaming as he spoke in an oily tone,
"But Mr. Dreghorn, I notice you have omitted a key figure. Hogwarts, under Albus Dumbledore's leadership, has long supported the ideals of international friendship and cooperation, has it not?"
"Oh, I would never forget--"
Dreghorn who had a lot of influence in the International Confederation of Wizards, stroked his silvery beard with a coy smile.
"But Dumbledore is our Chairman. Promoting cooperation and exchanges between magical communities fall within his responsibility, so I hardly thought specific thanks were required."
The crowd laughed and talked sparsely. Many people in the crowd shook their heads slightly, expressing their disapproval of Dreghorn's statement. Some people also focused their eyes on Bryan, with a little gloating in their eyes.
But at this moment, Dreghorn's gaze settled directly on Bryan, Hogwarts's representative, a fleeting look of disdain and malice flashed in those eyes even as his face was still piled with a sincere smile,
"I was just joking with you all earlier. Of course, we must thank Hogwarts for their vigorous participation. And here, we have the privilege of meeting a new friend - none other than the famous Bryan Watson, attending in Albus Dumbledore's stead as Hogwarts's representative!"
Bryan responded with a calm smile and a nod of acknowledgment towards the crowd.
"Oh, Mr. Watson, why not come up and properly introduce yourself?" Dreghorn's said humorously. "Or would you rather not be parted from the lovely Miss Delacour?"
A chorus of laughter, both good-natured and malicious, burst from the crowd. But Fleur's brilliant blue eyes flashed with indignant embarrassment - clearly displeased by such teasing.
"Come on up and say a few words, Bryan!"
Ludo waved excitedly at Bryan, disregarding Barty's frosty glare, apparently oblivious to Dreghorn's ill intentions.
"Indeed--"
In that moment, Bryan chose his method between coercion and enticement.
He stepped forward, meeting the various, calculated looks with an easygoing smile.
"Perhaps you are all unaware - before becoming Hogwarts's Head of Student Safety Office, I served as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Miss Delacour's impressive magical knowledge and talents have quite surprised me. I was actually pondering how I might gain insight into Beauxbatons's advanced teaching methods from her."
A hint of sarcasm flashed through Barty's eyes, not towards Bryan, but towards Dreghorn who smiled like a sly fox.
This guy probably thought that Bryan was just a young wizard with little experience, and he only became famous under Dumbledore's management. Therefore, he pulled Bryan out to vent his frustration with Dumbledore. However, from what Barty knew, whether in terms of power or intellect, Bryan Watson was not a guy who could be easily manipulated by others!
*******************************
For More Chapters; patreon.com/FicFrenzy