章 311: 0310 The Press Conference (Part-1)

Cattermole also stopped talking, not continuing. The reason he stopped was the same as Amos - because the speculation was too sensational, and they would find it absurd just thinking about it.

Mr. Weasley also guessed what his two colleagues were thinking. His first reaction was also that it was impossible, but then he remembered the incident that befell his eldest son Bill and his second son Charlie on that unfortunate night in their fifth year.

At just sixteen, Bryan Watson single-handedly repelled an unknown powerful dark wizard and even blocked the Disarming Charm cast in anger by Dumbledore. After so many years, I'm afraid no one can figure out the extent of his magic power.

At the sound of applause, Fudge reluctantly stepped down from the stage and handed it over to Barty Crouch.

"As Minister Fudge said -" Mr. Crouch said coldly. "We had previously contacted Hogwarts and obtained the support of the Head of Student Safety Office. We deployed a large number of Aurors in the possible directions the werewolves might flee, and ultimately forced them out of the Forbidden Forest. And Mr. Bryan Watson, who possesses extraordinary power, stopped them from taking the residents of Hogsmeade Village hostage and before they could escape the Forbidden Forest, he completely wiped them out."

Bryan smiled and politely bowed to the reporters below, who looked at him with awe.

Amidst the enduring applause, a reporter shouted,

"Say a few words, Mr. Watson!"

To be honest, the reporters who could participate in such a major press conference were industry elites. Whether it was Minister Cornelius Fudge or the words of the Director of the International Magical Cooperation, they were just boring official language in their ears. It wouldn't arouse the interest of the public. People were only curious about new faces.

The shout of the reporter just now received the enthusiastic response of most of his colleagues. Barty Crouch, who was already impatient, saw this and turned and left without even saying a word to Cornelius Fudge. He just glanced coldly at Bryan before leaving.

"Well, I think I should introduce myself first -"

Although it was his first time facing such a scene, Bryan showed no signs of discomfort. Under Fudge's superfluous, encouraging gaze, he smiled and gracefully walked to the center of the stage, pointed his wand at his throat, and immediately, his crisp voice filled the entire Ministry hall.

"My name is Bryan Amos Watson, and like everyone here, I graduated from the greatest magical school in the world, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. After leaving that school, in order to further improve myself on the path of magic, I have been traveling to various countries, following in the footsteps of the ancient wizards who left their mark on the history of magic. Until early last year, I was invited back to that school, tasked by the Ministry and the Board of Governors to investigate the truth behind the rumored Chamber of Secrets, and by chance, became a professor—"

Before today, Bryan Watson had never entered the public eye, so one can imagine the shock it brought to the Wizarding world when a relatively unknown young wizard single-handedly wiped out an entire werewolf pack in an era of peace.

"Mr. Watson!"

After Bryan's brief self-introduction, a graceful woman with wine-red curly hair, wearing a press badge from the influential French newspaper "The Gargoyle's Roar," raised her hand with reverence and said, "Minister Fudge has just announced to the Wizarding world that you will be awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class, and the British Ministry of Magic will hire you as a senior advisor. Does this mean you will be leaving Hogwarts to pursue a career in politics?"

"I don't think so--" Bryan answered without hesitation, smiling lightly. "While serving the residents of the wizarding world as a Ministry official is a very noble job, I would prefer to stay at Hogwarts. I enjoy being with the children, nurturing their skills and minds, and helping them grow into qualified adult wizards. That's what I find more meaningful."

Bryan's response was met with warm applause, and some high-ranking officials at the Ministry breathed a sigh of relief.

If Bryan Watson, with the prestige of exterminating werewolves, attempted to join the Ministry, they would likely have no choice but to accept him with the support of the public opinion. And they couldn't just offer a powerful wizard like him any ordinary position; At that time, someone would surely have to step down.

Today, Bryan got a taste of how difficult it is to deal with the reporters, who Minister Fudge feared like a tiger, The question posed by "The Gargoyle's Roar" reporter was just a test. After that, a barrage of tricky questions followed.

Some asked if Bryan had already been designated as the next headmaster of Hogwarts, others inquired who had more magical power between him and Dumbledore, and there were questions about whether Bryan, as a wizard of Muggle origin, would advocate for the rights of half-blood wizards.

Even a reporter from the American "New York Pixie Post" across the Atlantic asked Bryan what he thought about the imprisonment of Gilderoy Lockhart, the famous bestselling author in the European wizarding world, who had co-taught Defense Against the Dark Arts with him last year.

What else could he say? Go to Azkaban and see for yourself.

Overall, the atmosphere of the press conference was quite friendly. After all, the Ministry and Bryan Watson had eliminated a notoriously evil werewolf gang, and no one wanted to spoil the mood at this celebratory moment.

But there were exceptions.

"Mr. Watson, I am Rita Skeeter from the Daily Prophet--"

It was a female reporter from the Daily Prophet, known for stirring up trouble and her venomous writing style. She had her hair done in an elaborate, stiff, and oddly shaped curl, which, paired with her large chin, looked particularly awkward. She wore jewel-encrusted glasses, her chubby fingers clutching a crocodile-skin handbag, her nails two inches long and painted bright red. At that moment, her hand was raised high, and a green quick-quotes quill was scribbling rapidly on the parchment on her lap.

"Oh, dear, I knew she'd be here—"

Fudge's face immediately tensed up, and his nervous muttering accurately reached Bryan's ears.

It seemed this was Rita Skeeter, the Daily Prophet journalist notorious for her slanderous and vicious words.

Rita Skeeter was well-known in the industry. When she raised her hand to ask a question, the noisy reporters around her suddenly quieted down, looking at Rita with interest as she grinned, revealing three large gold teeth, as if they were all anticipating something.

"Ms. Skeeter, you may state your question--" Bryan said gently.

"Oh, Mr. Watson, there is no doubt that you have achieved remarkable accomplishments, truly astonishing. I can't imagine how a relatively unknown wizard so young could single-handedly judge nearly a hundred vicious werewolves in a direct confrontation--" Rita Skeeter smiled, her lips moving quickly, but her eyes behind the glamorous frames flashed a sharp light.

"Yes, I'm puzzled by this, so my lovely colleagues, who are persistent in their pursuit of the truth, and I visited some of the Hogsmeade villagers who witnessed that scene that night. Oh, there are some strange rumors circulating there, of course, it could also be that those villagers couldn't comprehend your powerful magic—"

Bryan patiently maintained a listening posture, "What kind of strange rumors are you referring to?"

Rita Skeeter's mouth curled into a cunning smile. She stood up from her chair, allowing the cameras to capture her more clearly. "This is a terrible accusation, but, Mr. Watson, it seems that some people believe that the powerful fire magic you used that night... was Fiendfyre?"

When the name 'Fiendfyre' was mentioned in the Ministry's atrium, a chill seemed to sweep over the heads of the murmuring reporters, causing them all to shrink their necks.

In Britain, the public might not be so familiar with Fiendfyre, after all, it's a powerful spell that only a few wizards can control and master. However, reporters from France and Germany would not forget the devastation it caused to some cities in their countries when a certain wizard was active.

Although not as infamous as the Unforgivable Curses, Fiendfyre is also on the list of spells absolutely forbidden by the Ministries of Magic in various countries. Of course, using extreme measures against werewolves isn't entirely unreasonable, so many reporters, despite having some information, still haven't brought this up.

But still, it's a disgraceful matter, isn't it?

For both Bryan Watson and the Ministry, it's the same. Rita Skeeter, keen on uncovering scandals, cunningly saw through this and threw out the question.

Fudge was sweating profusely, and Amelia also frowned.

On the other hand, Rufus Scrimgeour, who was also attending the press conference, had a glint of satisfaction in his lion-like yellow eyes. He didn't like Bryan Watson, not just because he overshadowed Auror's fame, but because, as someone who had been fighting evil criminals for years, he sensed a scent of crime on Bryan.

Rufus Scrimgeour, who had spent half his life dealing with dark wizards, knew very well that a wizard so adept at using Fiendfyre couldn't be without flaws, but his superiors in the department collectively fell silent, choosing to turn a blind eye.

Everyone stretched their necks, waiting for Bryan to give a reasonable explanation. People speculated on what explanation Bryan could give—either deny it outright or present a special permit from the Ministry of Magic. Of course, this would embarrass both himself and the British Ministry of Magic, and that was exactly what Rita Skeeter intended.

Looking at the faces staring at him eagerly, Bryan smiled slightly.

"Before I answer that question, I'd like to ask everyone—"

Bryan looked around, calmly asking, "Why is Fiendfyre considered an illegal spell in various countries?"

The abrupt question left everyone bewildered, even Rita Skeeter, who posed the question, couldn't see through Bryan's intentions at first. However, she quickly reacted and pressed on, "Sir, I thought we were discussing whether the magic used to kill Greyback was Fiendfyre, not the academic question of why Fiendfyre is banned in many countries."

Bryan Watson wanted to muddy the waters and brush off the question.

Rita Skeeter, confident that she had seen through Bryan Watson's thoughts, ignored Fudge's angry glare and showed a delighted expression.

"The reason why Fiendfyre is considered dark magic and banned by various countries can be summed up in three points."

Glancing at Rita Skeeter, who seemed determined to pin him down with this question, Bryan explained calmly.

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章 312: 0311 The Press Conference (Part-2)

"Fundamentally, there are three points to consider," Bryan ignored Rita Skeeter's question and began discussing his understanding of the Fiendfyre, a profound dark magic, with the journalists and Ministry of Magic officials present at the meeting.

"Firstly, the power of Fiendfyre, a deeply abhorred dark magic, is partly dependent on the caster's violent emotions. This extreme mindset contributes to the uncontrollable nature of Fiendfyre, which, after being successfully conjured, further fuels the caster's rage, leading to an even more uncontrollable blaze."

To be honest, this was a very precious opportunity to receive personal insights from a wizard whose power rivaled that of Dumbledore. For those aspiring to the path of magic, no amount of wealth could match the value of this knowledge.

Bryan's calm voice captivated many people, even Rufus put aside his initial prejudice and listened carefully to Bryan's explanation.

"Based on the first point, if you want to successfully unleash the Fiendfyre without getting burned, you must have exceptional control over your magical power. Most wizards, even if they have the magical power to release this spell, perish due to insufficient control over the Fiendfyre's backlash.

Magical power is an important medium for the Fiendfyre. The flame that harbors the aggressive thoughts of the spellcaster will actively consume anything with a high concentration of magical power in its vicinity. Normally, this means that any living being or object with magical power will face disaster when approaching the Fiendfyre."

"So what?" Rita Skeeter interjected as she noticed that people's attention had been diverted away from her question. Feeling uneasy, she wiped the smile off her face and coldly said, "Mr. Watson, perhaps people should be amazed at your mastery over this extremely evil dark magic, but this precisely represents-"

As a genuine professor, Bryan knew how to deliver a captivating lecture. Rita Skeeter persisted in nagging him, but Bryan, under the watchful eyes of all present, flicked his wrist, and his wand slid into his palm.

"Now, I will demostrate you the flame magic that killed Greyback," As Bryan finished his sentence. The high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Magic standing behind him froze in place.

To display Fiendfyre in the entrance hall of the Ministry of Magic, in front of journalists from around the world, was a joke taken too far!

Cornelius Fudge immediately thought of that night on the outskirts of Hogsmeade, where he witnessed a sea of fire threatening to engulf the sky—a powerful magic he had never seen before. Even during the years when the Dark Lord ravaged the British Wizarding world, Dumbledore's presence had prevented such brazen displays.

"Wait, Bryan, you can't do this!" Fudge's forehead broke out in a cold sweat, fearing that Bryan was going to showcase his magic in front of the entire Ministry of Magic.

'Could he be so embarrassed that he wanted to kill Rita Skeeter?'

Reacting even faster, Rufus grabbed his wand in the same manner as Bryan, his face turning pale. With a swift motion, he cast a Disarming Charm, and a red light shot out with a whoosh.

At less than ten feet, the spell's light appeared behind Bryan in an instant, and in the eyes of the onlookers, this rising star seemed to have made a fool of himself!

Today's events would surely make the headlines: Bryan Watson, in an attempt to release the Fiendfyre in public, was disarmed by Rufus Scrimgeour, the Head of the Auror Office of the British Ministry of Magic. This was undoubtedly a big scandal.

Buzz-- At the critical moment, a silver-blue vortex of magic formed behind Bryan. The black abyss at the center of the vortex was like a black hole, and the approaching Disarming Charm's light was effortlessly swallowed by the black hole, without causing any ripples.

But Bryan seemed to be unaware of this, he smiled and didn't even turn his head. With a graceful movement of his wrist, like a dance, cute and agile canaries made of different-colored flames emerged from the tip of his wand. They fluttered their wings and danced under the peacock-blue ceiling of the hall, to the astonishment of the hundreds of people present.

These lifelike canaries had different colors, and as they flew from one side of the hall to the other, people felt as if they were witnessing a dazzling fireworks display above their heads.

"These firebirds...," someone exclaimed in awe, "they can actually sing?"

That's right, while performing various difficult aerial maneuvers, these birds also emitted clear chirping sounds. Perhaps ordinary people would think it was nothing special, but only those who understood would know how extraordinary it was to achieve this.

Even if it was just a regular fire spell, wizards who could control the flames to transform into birds were extremely rare, let alone if it was the Fiendfyre.

The journalist with beautiful wine-red curly hair from France was captivated by these agile firebirds. She forgot that these birds might be the Fiendfyre in disguise and couldn't help reaching out her hand towards them. Bryan, who noticed this, made one of the birds in the flock land directly on her hand.

Gasps erupted throughout the hall, and some of the more timid wizards even covered their eyes.

"It feels warm," the journalist said, stroking the flickering feathers of the firebird, her voice filled with confusion.

"I understand what you mean, Mr. Watson. But are you sure--this isn't conjured by the 'FBird-Conjuring Charm?" she asked.

Snap-- Bryan snapped his fingers, and the firebird in the journalist's hand soared into the air, swiftly diving down like a peregrine falcon hunting from high above, and with a loud bang, it collided with a white statue in a welcoming pose at the edge of the hall.

Boom!

In an instant, the statue was engulfed in a surging blaze. The journalists closest to it screamed and fell to the ground, staring in horror at the statue, which now resembled a snowman exposed to scorching sunlight. The female journalist who had been holding the firebird was also frightened into silence.

In the ensuing silence, Bryan took out a piece of parchment from his pocket and tossed it into the air. The parchment floated down and landed in Rita Skeeter's arms.

"The magic I used is indeed related to the Fiendfyre, but it cannot be defined as the Fiendfyre. The approval document you have in your hand is the application I submitted to the Experimental Spells Committee of the Ministry of Magic two years ago for the improvement of the Fiendfyre. As you can see, it has Mr. Gilbert Wimple's signature of approval.

I have changed the structure of this spell. The new spell is easier to control and no longer relies on the spellcaster's aggression and anger as fuel. It no longer actively seeks to consume high concentrations of magical power to strengthen itself, and even the formidable power of the Fiendfyre has been somewhat restrained. I have given this spell a new name - 'Spirit Fire Curse.'"

Bryan smiled at the shocked journalists, calmly returning his wand to his sleeve.

"In other words, this is a 'legal' spell. Any more questions, Ms. Rita Skeeter?"

"You're just trying to confuse everyone, Watson."

Rufus Scrimgeour, who had once again made a fool of himself, turned pale with anger and gritted his teeth as he spoke in a low growl. But Fudge immediately gave him a stern look, then turned to Bryan and gave him an appreciative glance. As for the permit Bryan produced, whether it was real or not didn't matter. Even if it were fake, it could be made real after the press conference concluded.

In the face of Bryan's brilliant display of Improved Fiendfyre Curse or Spirit Fire Curse and the permit for its research and improvement, Rita Skeeter could only back down. However, as someone who had never failed in her decades-long career, she was clearly unwilling to accept this. From the expression on her face when she returned the permit, it was clear that she had set her sights on Bryan.

"Be careful, Bryan--"

After the grand press conference, the British Ministry of Magic, as the host, held a lavish luncheon in keeping with tradition. During the event, Amelia approached Bryan, who was exchanging pleasantries with Mr. Weasley, and warned him,

"Rita Skeeter is a troublesome woman; she's not someone who will be easily dismissed."

Bryan nodded slightly and glanced at Rita Skeeter, who was quickly moving through the crowd, trying to gather more insider information. There was a glint in his eyes.

Indeed, this well-known journalist from the Daily Prophet had her own unique qualities. Despite the praise and adulation, she still sought to uncover some explosive scoops from him and the Ministry of Magic. Although her goal was not the pursuit of truth, but with this kind of determination, there might be a chance for future cooperation.

At the Luncheon, Bryan made an announcement that brought the atmosphere to its peak.

He decided to split the 20,000 Galleon bounty awarded by the Ministry of Magic for the capture of Greyback and his werewolf tribe into two parts: one half to be donated to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, hoping for further excellence in treatment of magical injuries.

The other half was allocated to the Hogwarts Fund for Underprivileged Students, to help those children of humble origins with magical talent realize their dreams of becoming qualified wizards.

The annual salary of a senior official in the Ministry or an ordinary professor at Hogwarts, outside the four heads of houses, does not exceed a thousand Galleons per year. Bryan's donation was substantial; even Lucius Malfoy, a wealthy pure-blood wizard, rarely made such a generous gesture without seeking something in return.

The following days were a carnival for the Wizarding news media across the entire European and American wizarding community.

Renowned newspapers and magazines published numerous articles about the joint efforts of the British Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts to eradicate Greyback and his pack of Werewolves.

Of course, there were other topics as well. On the day of the press conference, Bryan's demonstration of the powerful Fiendfyre Curse, in response to the questioning of the well-known journalist Rita Skeeter, was also much talked about. While the general wizarding public could only enjoy the spectacle, many wizards involved in spell research and creation were amazed by Bryan's control and mastery over his magic power during the demonstration.

The prestigious academic journal, "Spell Innovation," dedicated half of its latest issue to publishing many renowned wizards's attempts to deduce the structure of the spell.

Their attempts to replicate it failed, concluding that, aside from the reclusive Albus Dumbledore, who had rarely published his research results in recent years, the young Student Safety Office Director at Hogwarts had now set a new standard in spell innovation within the Wizarding world!

Suddenly, the notion that Bryan Watson's magical prowess had surpassed the aging Albus Dumbledore was rampant in the Wizarding community, and Dumbledore's silence only fueled such speculations.

And Bryan was experiencing the 'consequences' of fame.

In just three or four days, the temporary residence arranged by the Ministry of Magic for him was flooded with letters from all over the world. The constant arrival of owls even attracted the attention of Muggle animal protection agencies.

Among those letters, some expressed admiration, some hoped to discuss innovative magical ideas with Bryan, some wanted to challenge him to a duel, and some contained other matters that were not convenient to mention.

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