Under the brilliant candlelight, a vivid red beam from Fleur's wand kicked off the contest.
It was evident that Beauxbatons must have had courses like dueling, as Fleur was not just waving her wand recklessly. Her attacking steps, feints, and spells showed a certain method. However, her excellence still did not surpass what an underage witch should be capable of.
Vipor, on the other hand, had participated in the pursuit of the extremist group of wizards after Grindelwald's downfall—he was a powerful wizard who had walked through the war era with outstanding magical abilities!
No one, not even Madame Maxime, expected Fleur to successfully disarm Vipor Dreghorn.
This was indeed the case. In the normal duel, the biggest challenge Dreghorn could foresee was to try his best to perform more strenuously and be careful not to defeat the little girl from Beauxbatons all at once and embarrass Madame Maxime.
But three minutes later, a precise gray beam still struck Fleur's wrist, causing her to lose balance and drop her wand.
"Ah--" Fleur stomped her foot in disappointment, looking crestfallen. "I failed--"
Many people could not help but smile, but no one wanted to tell her the truth.
"You almost succeeded, Miss Delacour--" Dreghorn steadied himself, wiping the 'sweat' from his brow with a smile on his face that fully displayed the demeanor of a 'master.'
"Truthfully, I have never seen such a talented young witch. I dare say, Miss Delacour, you will undoubtedly be a strong contender for the Triwizard Tournament champion. Your future is limitless, and of course, all this is inseparable from Beauxbatons's excellent teaching methods--"
Even Madame Maxime's expression softened after Dreghorn's words and his show of restraint, no longer minding that he had involved Fleur in his little scheme.
"Well then, it's your turn, Mr. Watson--"
It was not so embarrassing for Fleur to lose to a well-known wizard, not to mention that the other party gave her such a high praise. She quirked her lips like a girl who got her desired Christmas present and took light steps towards Bryan, smiling at him with a hint of pride and boldness in her eyes.
"I hope the following demonstration will be enlightening for you, Miss Delacour--" Bryan said with a chuckle, handing his wine glass to Barty Crouch as he casually took the stage amidst everyone's eager anticipation.
The previously relaxed atmosphere quickly became charged with tension.
Everyone wanted to see just how skilled Bryan Watson really was. Although the Daily Prophet had already reported on it in detail, everyone was well aware of the political leanings of the Prophet itself.
Even if the information reporters had gathered from the villagers of Hogsmeade was true, how perceptive could a bunch of ordinary folks be? Who knew, perhaps what they said was just the boastful exaggerations of gossipmongers!
"You make a fair point, Mr. Watson--" A flicker of sullenness crossed Dreghorn's gaze as he eyed the impeccably dressed Bryan in his crisp black suit. "I hope this confrontation will prove enlightening for those witnessing it."
Bryan chuckled but didn't respond. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he fumbled around a few times, but as his movements continued, his expression became pensive.
"What's the matter, Bryan?" Barty Crouch frowned in concern, asking tensely.
"Oh--" Bryan shook his sleeves once more. After a moment, he spread his empty hands with an innocent look on his face. "I seem to have forgotten to bring my wand--"
...
'Forgot to bring his wand?'
Bryan's words swept through like a biting cold wind, instantly freezing the eager guests who had anticipated witnessing an intense battle between evenly matched opponents. Barty was stunned too, his face stiffening, and then his eyes narrowed at Bryan with a glint of grinding teeth.
'Forgot to bring his wand? How could that be possible? What a clumsy excuse!'
In those few brief seconds, Barty's little admiration for Bryan vanished. He glared angrily at the young man, and if not for the crowd of onlookers, he might have charged over and punched him hard!
A wizard's wand is their life, more intimate of companion than a spouse. A qualified wizard should never forget to carry their wand, even when entering the bathroom to bathe!
Compared to Barty's terrible mood, Dreghorn was practically laughing out loud.
Now it seemed that Bryan was indeed just a puppet put on stage by Dumbledore to succeed him- someone with a glib tongue but no real skills.
"Oh, forgot to bring his wand? What a regrettable mistake!"
Karkarov's mouth split open, revealing his yellow teeth.
Earlier, he had been pondering the pounding of his heart when Bryan's gaze swept over him, but now it seemed that was just an illusion. He couldn't believe Dumbledore would actually put forth such an idiot.
"Is there anyone kind enough to lend Mr. Watson their wand for a moment?"
Karkaroff blew his nose and pretended to be polite.
"It seems the eagerly awaited contest can only go like this," Dreghorn said 'regretfully'. "Hopefully next time there will be an opportunity--"
"Never mind, let's just do it this way."
In that short time, Bryan, whose image had plummeted in the eyes of everyone, looked helpless. He just shrugged his shoulders, and suddenly said something that pushed the atmosphere, which had just relaxed a little, to solidification again!
Just do it this way? What did that mean?!
Dreghorn seemed to guess what stunt Bryan was trying to pull, but he could not believe he was being so humiliated by this fresh-faced youngster barely two years out of school!
The friendly demeanor he had maintained all evening could no longer be sustained. Dreghorn's expression took on a hint of ferocity, his fury causing his magic power to simmer out of control. His scraggly beard bristled as if hit by static electricity, finally revealing the bloodless lips set in his battered face.
"What do you mean, Watson? You forgot to bring your wand, didn't you!"
Vipor Dreghorn growled harshly.
"I mean exactly what I said, Mr. Dreghorn," Bryan replied mildly, seeming unaware that his words had deeply humiliated the renowned wizard. He smiled gently, "You take your wand, I'll go unarmed."
Boom!
In an instant, a clamor of discussion erupted in the banquet hall like the rumbling of thunder before a summer storm.
Now everyone realized Bryan Watson was not making excuses out of cowardice about not having his wand - nor had he truly forgotten it. He was simply - he was retaliating!
Retaliating against Vipor Dreghorn's provocations!
But wasn't this too arrogant?
You know, Dreghorn is not a young wizard who can't even wave a wand properly. Although he is not a wizard known for his powerful magic, but he was nonetheless an elite veteran wizard who had participated in wars and survived. It can be said that even now, Dreghorn's skills are not inferior to the elite Aurors of of any nation's magical enforcement.
For an unarmed wizard to think he could take on such an experienced old hand - it was sheer recklessness!
That thought crossed everyone's mind in the banquet hall.
Fluer's luscious lips parted slightly as she stared at the unmoved Bryan Watson amidst the uproar, her blue eyes still clouded with confusion.
Bryan Watson wanted to defeat a wizard barehanded she could not beat even with her full strength? Was today April Fool's Day?
"So then--"
Bryan didn't seem to care how earth-shaking his casual words sounded. He maintained his mild, gentlemanly demeanor, but his pale purple irises harbored a scarcely detectable ferocity.
"Are you ready, Mr. Dreghorn?"
"You'll pay for your foolishness, Watson!"
Such humiliation even made Dreghorn forget he was in public. He abruptly raised his wand and snarled under his breath.
Of course, Dreghorn had not completely lost his senses, otherwise he would have unleashed the most powerful curse he knew to teach this impudent young man a lesson. Certainly, there were many spells that could embarrass someone publicly. A vicious glint flashed in Dreghorn's eyes as he prepared to choose one with maximum dramatic effect. But—
The instant his wand descended; the keen senses honed from the half of his lifetime battling evil set alarm bells ringing in Dreghorn's mind. The spell originally intended for attack, upon detecting the cold glint in Watson's eyes, transformed into a defensive measure as it was cast.
"Protego!"
A shimmering transparent shield materialized before Dreghorn in the candlelight. At the same moment, everyone in the banquet hall seemed to hear a roar.
It was like the thunderous rumbling of a sea monster disturbed from its slumber in the depths - an invisible sea of magic power surged at the pull of Bryan's own magic, its raging waves shattering the steadily formed magic construct of the Shield Charm with a crushing force!
Crack!
After that brittle yet melodious shattering sound, the magic barrier before Dreghorn dissipated into drifting petals, slowly rising in the heavy, sluggish air like cicada wings.
Dreghorn's expression of utter horror had not even fully formed when Bryan's right hand, hanging naturally at his side, abruptly pinched together his thumb and forefinger.
Snap!
In the hushed banquet hall, accompanying that snapping sound was a slender yet dazzlingly brilliant bolt of lightning erupting from Bryan's fingertips.
With a flick of his wrist, Dreghorn felt an irresistible, surging force envelop his wand as he prepared to counter. Then his wand flew from his grasp like a loosened arrow, landing in Bryan's palm in the blink of an eye.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
The breathless silence persisted, the flickering candlelight and the wand spinning in Bryan's palm seemed to be the only moving things in this hall.
In the end, it was Bryan who broke the stillness.
"May I ask how long that took?" Bryan addressed the timekeeper nearby, his voice tinged with joy.
"What? Oh, you mean the time!"
Snapping out of his daze, the wizard flustered and checked his watch in panic, realizing the second hand had not even moved halfway around during that silence.
"Not...not entirely sure, Mr. Watson," the wizard said timidly. "Perhaps three or five seconds, but no more than ten at most!"
"How could this be..."
Dreghorn seemed to have aged a decade in an instant, his shoulders sagging as he stared at Bryan in a daze. "How could this be...wandless and silent casting, and yet my Shield Charm..."
"That question is rather complex to explain--"
The wand drifted up from Bryan's palm, flying a short distance to automatically tuck itself into Dreghorn's shirt pocket. Bryan smiled courteously, "If you're interested, Mr. Dreghorn, you're welcome to visit Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry anytime. We'll be happy to teach you--"
Wandless and Silent spellcasting - both are exceptionally advanced magical techniques. Without substantial magical power and formidable mental fortitude, one would be utterly incapable of mastering these skills. Even if mastered, in most cases, one could only cast simple spells like the Levitation Charm or some simple lighting spells.
To duel using these two skills in an official contest is simply unheard of!
Without a doubt, Bryan became the absolute star for the remainder of the banquet. People vied to toast him and express their admiration for the astonishing magical prowess he had just displayed. Even Madame Maxime came over seriously inquiring whether Hogwarts had special teaching methods to help students master these two spellcasting techniques.
Bryan was never one for such enthusiasm, but he had to handle it cautiously - after all, his words and actions represented Hogwarts's image in the international wizarding community.
Looking at the never-ending crowd before him, Bryan inwardly sighed, regretting if he had perhaps gone a bit overboard earlier.
Vipor Dreghorn left under the pretext of feeling unwell. The chilling glace he gave seemingly unintentionally when he left made Bryan understand that this guy must have made up his mind to cause trouble for Hogwarts.
Igor Karkaroff, the headmaster of Durmstrang whom Bryan had just met today, also took his leave on some excuse. As the head of a wizarding school, Karkaroff's magical attainments were also considerable. He could discern the impressiveness of what Bryan had so nonchalantly displayed. From the haste of his departure, it can be seen that he should have been a little scared.
"Bryan—"
Barty's cheeks were slightly flushed from frequently toasting for Hogwarts's votes that evening. However, from his clear and sharp eyes, it can be seen that he still maintained his rationality.
"I must return for a while—"
It took Bryan a moment to understand what Barty Crouch was saying. He looked surprised.
"Return...you mean to England? What's happened, Mr. Crouch? Is there some crisis at the Ministry?"
"Nothing to get worked up over—" Ludo also came over. His giggling laughter indicated he seemed quite drunk.
"It's just Barty's habit, or rather, quirk - he always likes to go home to sleep, doesn't he? It's no big deal. I'd wager that by tomorrow morning before you're even awake, Barty will already have had breakfast and be standing beside your bed in a suit calling you to get up!"
"You should know how many things are waiting for me to deal with in the department--"
Barty glared coldly at Ludo. He had only come to notify Bryan, not to discuss with him. After dropping the remark "I'm very pleased with your performance tonight," he left of his own accord.
"Come to mention it, I won't be sleeping in my room tonight either," Ludo let out a burp, grinning dazedly.
"Oh?" Bryan curled his lips and laughed. "You have plenty to take care of too?"
"Oh, I'm not a bore like Barty—" Ludo swayed closer to Bryan, as if about to share a secret. Seeing this, Bryan quickly leaned his ear over.
"You know, Paris is the City of Love. The ladies here are so charming, I mean, passionate. I've already lost count of how many invitations I've accepted. Anyway—"
Ludo paused midsentence, suddenly scrutinizing Bryan with a peculiar look.
"Why don't I take you out? I hear you're still single, aren't you?"
Ludo giggled again. "A young, strapping lad always has excess energy to expend. How about joining me for a night on the town? I guarantee you'll be in for a surprise. Ah, just one thing - you'll have to keep it from Barty and Dumbledore!"
"Thank you, but—" It took Bryan over ten seconds to catch his breath. Suppressing the urge to transfigure Ludo into a cow, he said through gritted teeth, "Thank you for the offer, Mr. Bagman. I hope you have an enjoyable evening, and do be careful."
Ludo indeed hadn't exaggerated - Bryan watched him depart arm-in-arm with a bewitchingly alluring lady. Moreover, many seemed to notice this scene, yet no one appeared shocked.
"Were you abandoned?" Fleur had changed back into that sky-blue dress. Bryan knew she had been hovering nearby, and upon seeing Ludo leave, she immediately stepped over gracefully to occupy the space beside him.
"What were you and Mr. Bagman discussing earlier? You seemed a bit out of sorts, Mr. Watson."
"Discussing how charming French ladies can be, Miss Delacour."
Bryan almost blurted out this sentence, but reason told him that if he actually said that, while Vipor Dreghorn may not have ruined his reputation, those words could make him a laughingstock.
"It's nothing—" Bryan smiled slightly. "Ludo invited me to experience Parisian culture at a small pub after the banquet, but I declined. I was given this assignment rather hastily and need to work round the clock to perfect the security plans."
"Oh—" Fleur shrugged her shoulders. "I think Mr. Bagman's suggestion wasn't bad—"
Suddenly, this sixth-year Beauxbatons witch's brows twitched, her blue eyes sparkling.
"You don't come to Paris very often, do you, Mr. Watson?"
"Um, not that frequently, no," Bryan's brow furrowed slightly.
"I could show you around the city," Fleur said excitedly. "You could tell me about Hogwarts while I talk about Beauxbatons. And if possible, the wandless and silent magic you used to defeat Mr. Dreghorn tonight..."
Fleur had found a good excuse, but the unusual emotion in her eyes did not escape Bryan's notice.
French women certainly are passionate, Ludo - you were right about that.
This young witch is quite straightforward, Bryan thought. At Hogwarts, he had received chocolates and decorously-worded love notes delivered by owl from upper-year witches before. But never had a young girl dared to openly say things like this or was he misunderstanding this.
For many here, it wasn't that big a deal. Even when Madame Maxime noticed Fleur's unusually enthusiastic gaze toward Bryan, she just smiled inwardly and looked away, She even had a faint sense of expectation in her heart.
Bryan had never considered himself a moral model. For so long, his mind had focused solely on magic. Even in recent years, knowing hard work could no longer benefit him much, his mind was more relaxed. But the infatuation of an underage witch...
"I'm sorry, Miss Delacour—" Bryan showed regret on his face. He was ready to use the previous excuse just now to deal with it, but when the words came to his lips, he suddenly stopped, and at the same time, a trace of sharpness flashed across his purple eyes.
"I have an urgent matter to attend to. Until next time, Miss Delacour."
After leaving this sentence, Bryan ignored Fleur's shameful and angry expression and walked hurriedly, and left the banquet hall directly.
The hotel had powerful anti-Apparition jinxes in place. Moreover, Bryan did not want to make a public spectacle - otherwise he would have simply flown into the sky and rushed straight back to his room.
As the elevator doors parted open, Bryan wrapped his magic around himself in the deserted hallway. A shadowy streak instantly flashed a hundred feet to pause rematerializing before the door.
The instant he pushed open the door, rising dust from what had been a peaceful courtyard assaulted him. The once tranquil garden and elegant villa were utterly gone, leaving only a pile of rubble before Bryan!
'Interesting.'
Bryan walked slowly into the room, closing the door behind him. Surveying the devastated space, a cold smile crept across his lips.
It seems someone is rather eager to be reborn.
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