章 368: 0367 The Party (Part-2)

When Bryan used a humorous and elegant sentence to eliminate the negative impact of his malicious joke, Vipor Dreghorn immediately realized that the young man in front of him who was pushed out by Dumbledore was not that simple.

A flicker of hesitation arose in his mind, as he did not wish to overly offend Dumbledore either, but at this moment, Karkaroff suddenly spoke up,

"No need for modesty, Mr. Watson--"

Karkaroff's lips curled into an amused smile.

"Everyone knows Hogwarts is the oldest wizarding school in Europe, and also the greatest today. Whether Beauxbatons or our Durmstrang, we have many aspects to learn from Hogwarts in teaching."

"Precisely so--"

The wizards gathered here came from all over the world and graduated from various wizarding institutes. Karkaroff's statement touched a nerve in their pride. Perceiving the simmering displeasure, Dreghorn instantly resolved his stance as he smiled in agreement,

"We've gathered here to choose the host school for the Triwizard Tournament, but I believe Hogwarts already has an advantage, doesn't it?" Oh, I've worked with Dumbledore for many years; he must be extremely confident to replace the representative at the last minute."

This was precisely why Bryan was reluctant to 'network' among so-called elite society. These folks have always preferred using sneaky strategies to undermine their opponents. Under the pretense of stable social rules, he had to resist his urge to resolve everything through force.

"I agree with part of Headmaster Karkaroff's statement--"

Bryan smiled at Karkaroff, without showing any emotion.

"It is well known that Hogwarts is indeed the oldest of the three major European wizarding schools. However, on the matter of 'greatness', my humble opinion is that every wizarding school is a cradle nurturing magical communities - they are all great. The word 'great' cannot be quantified with 'most'."

Having said that, Bryan turned to face Dreghorn, continuing before the other could respond,

"As for why Headmaster Dumbledore has temporarily made me Hogwarts's candidate representative, Mr. Dreghorn--"

Bryan chuckled, "Perhaps the reason he is unwilling to appear here is to avoid stealing your limelight!"

The lavish banquet hall erupted in laughter and applause, with many casting admiring glances at Bryan, marveling at this emerging star's excellent spur-of-the-moment adaptability in the European wizarding world.

Gazing at the graceful yet unruffled Bryan Watson, Fleur Delacour's deep blue eyes burned with passion. Truth be told, though she did not believe Beauxbatons was weaker than Hogwarts in any way, she had to admit that one could not find a wizard like Bryan Watson at Beauxbatons.

Handsome, elegant, and witty - moreover, from his renowned feats it could be seen that he was an immensely powerful wizard. Given his age, Bryan Watson's prospects were limitless!

Barty's expression was conflicted. Although Bryan's superb handling had saved face for the British Minister of Magic, the thought that this man covertly supported Amelia left Barty unable to feel pleased. However, when his gaze fell upon Dreghorn, who had been toyed with by Bryan and was struggling to maintain composure, a glint of malicious glee flashed in Barty's eyes.

"It seems that our Mr. Watson possesses more than just extraordinary skills--"

Sensing the situation was verging on slipping from his control, Dreghorn said with a forced smile,

"Oh, speaking of skills--"

Dreghorn smacked Bryan's back in a mock friendship, his eyes widening as if he suddenly remembered,

"We all know Mr. Albus Dumbledore is the most powerful and influential wizard in the Wizarding world today. Now it seems Hogwarts has produced another another wizard of great skill; why not let everyone witness it? I mean, isn't the greatest way for us to get to know you through your amazing magic?"

'Foolish—' Barty Crouch thought coldly.

It seemed that Dreghorn considered Bryan to be all talk, and that his exceptional magical skills were just fabrications by the Daily Prophet. However, Barty knew the truth - he had heard from Cornelius, Dolores, and Rufus about the chilling, sky-scorching inferno they witnessed upon arriving at Hogsmeade.

"Since the astounding Battle of the century between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, has there been such a surprising event - I mean, one man able to face a hundred vicious werewolves."

Dreghorn's eyes glinted as he stared at Bryan, behaving like an adoring fan.

"I'm sure everyone here would love to witness your extraordinary magic. Come now, Bryan, show us your skills - if spectacular enough, it may even help Hogwarts gain extra points in the selection!"

Bryan's lack of immediate response led Dreghorn to think he had found a way to make Bryan make a fool of himself. He increasingly believed that those staggering exploits in the newspapers were staged by Dumbledore to pass authority to him.

In truth, quite a few in the European wizarding world harbored such thoughts. After all, a previously unknown wizard so young suddenly becoming so powerful seemed rather abnormal.

Even the young Albus Dumbledore had begun accumulating fame while he was still a Hogwarts student, ultimately becoming the great wizard admired by many - unlike Bryan Watson, who shot to widespread fame within a year due to some incidents.

"A display of magic--"

After going around in circles for a long time, he actually chose this to make a fool of himself. Bryan sighed in his heart.

In fact, Bryan's greatest vulnerability was the unknown blank period after graduating from Hogwarts until his return - if someone investigated what he had been up to during that time, it could indeed prove troublesome.

"Well, Mr. Dreghorn, what method did you have in mind?"

Bryan asked with interest.

"Of course, we need an opponent!"

Vipor Dreghorn exclaimed excitedly. His gaze immediately swept over the gathered crowd, feigning a search for Bryan's opponent. Suddenly, his eyes landed on Fleur Delacour, who also hoped to witness Bryan' skills, and he called out with feigned surprise,

"You there, Miss Fleur Delacour - I think you would make a suitable opponent!"

"What?!"

Fleur cried out in bewilderment, completely unprepared to find herself the opponent.

"I think this is hardly a wise choice, Mr. Dreghorn,"

Madame Maxime stepped forward, her tone laced with anger.

"Fleur is indeed Beauxbatons's most outstanding student. However, I believe everyone understands there is still quite a gap between her and Mr. Watson, so this would not be an evenly matched battle."

"If you want an even match, Madame Maxime--"

Karkaroff immediately interjected,

"Then Dumbledore himself would have to take the field. None here could single-handedly face a thousand-year-old Basilisk, or a hundred werewolves in an enraged frenzy!"

Karkaroff seemed to be joking, but his eyes were full of indifference, without a trace of smile

"Quite right--"

Dreghorn clapped his hands, affirming Karkaroff's statement.

"Miss Delacour is still a student at Beauxbatons, while Mr. Watson is a professor. This is a rare opportunity, is it not? To receive his tutelage, Miss Delacour may well benefit greatly!"

Sly fox!

Those with clear minds saw through Dreghorn's scheme.

Of course, Bryan could not lose to Fleur Delacour, or he would be utterly disgraced. Yet neither could he engage in an all-out battle, as that would likewise embarrass Bryan.

However, if he swiftly and cleanly defeated Fleur Delacour, then Madame Maxime would lose considerable face.

Vipor Dreghorn wanted to have some fun at Hogwarts's expense, while Igor Karkaroff from Durmstrang wanted to amuse himself at the expense of both Hogwarts and Beauxbatons.

In the banquet hall, hardly anyone failed to grasp Dreghorn and Karkaroff's scheme, which they had orchestrated so clearly that almost everyone caught on.

Dreghorn's words did not entirely convince Madame Maxime; she looked unhappy, wanting to say something. However, but when she saw that her favorite student, Fleur, was actually quite moved, she hesitated and swallowed the words on her lips.

Fleur had always been the pride of Beauxbatons. Her veela heritage gave her outstanding beauty, and her exceptional magical talents made her idolized by her peers. Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad thing to let her face some hardship for once.

With this thought in mind, Madame Maxime ultimately said nothing and even prevented the French Ministry officials who wanted to defend Fleur.

Senior Barty glared coldly at Vipor, furious at his persistence. He had already made up his mind to go back and say hello to Dumbledore. When this matter was over, he would give Dregorn a lesson, but the most urgent thing was to remind Bryan not to fall into the trap.

However, when Barty noticed Bryan's relaxed demeanor and calm gaze, his slightly anxious mood suddenly eased.

"Don't be stingy, Bryan!" Ludo called out joyfully. "Let us see your skills!"

Dreghorn's scheme did not faze Bryan, but Ludo Bagman's eager anticipation for the show made two tick marks appear on Bryan's forehead.

'This guy, was he truly as stupid as the rumors said, or did he have ulterior motives?'

Bryan also noticed the expectation in Fleur's blue eyes and couldn't help but inwardly laugh. After all, she was just a young girl who hadn't even graduated from school, and her mind was simple.

She was probably the only one in this banquet hall who genuinely wanted to witness his abilities.

"Well, then--"

Bryan's mind raced, and after a few moments, he smiled at Fleur.

"Miss Delacour, shall we have a little contest?"

Dreghorn and Karkaroff simultaneously looked pleased, but before they could say anything, Bryan continued,

"However, I have an opinion on the way we should contest."

"What did you have in mind?" Fleur asked with great interest, taking graceful steps into the center of everyone's attention.

"In my humble opinion, since the Triwizard Tournament is meant to foster friendship between us, and this banquet is being held to prepare for the tournament, it would be rather inappropriate for me, representing Hogwarts, and you, from Beauxbatons, to directly duel."

Bryan gently swirled his crystal-clear wine glass, a playful smile on his lips.

"I have an idea--since Mr. Dreghorn suggested a contest, why don't we involve him as well?"

Vipor's expression changed instantly. Before he could remove himself from this whirlpool, he heard Bryan's proposal:

"Let's each compete against Mr. Vipor, and the contest will be who can disarm him faster."

"I believe this is a very appropriate suggestion," Barty Crouch stepped forward, a cold smile on his face as he clapped his hands.

"This is not appropriate--" Vipor Dreghorn's expression was not pleasant now.

Of course, he did not think that he would be disarmed by a young girl who has not graduated yet, but Bryan's proposal almost threw back the difficult problem he had thrown to him before. Now, he is the one who urgently needs to maintain his face and consider the dignity of Beauxbatons and the officials of the French Ministry of Magic.

"I find it very appropriate!" Barty asserted strongly, raising his voice to cut off Dreghorn's protests. Then, he looked kindly at Fleur. "I'm sure Miss Delacour would not refuse this more dignified and illustrative way of contesting, would she?"

Truthfully, Fleur seemed more interested in contesting against Bryan. However, she could not refuse Mr. Watson's suggestion. Just as she was hesitating, Fleur suddenly noticed Madame Maxime giving her an imperceptible nod.

"I think Mr. Watson's idea is not bad--" Fleur nodded, though her expression showed slight disappointment.

Whoosh!

There were troublemakers among the crowd besides just Ludo. In an instant, the tables spanning the banquet hall were magically moved aside, clearing a spacious area.

However, preparations still took some time since Fleur could hardly 'fence' while wearing high heels and a form-fitting, low-cut gown!

"Well done--"

Everyone focused on the confrontation between the eager Fleur Delacour and the sullen Vipor Dreghorn.

Barty took the opportunity to approach the faintly smiling Bryan and murmured something.

Truthfully, Barty's praise did surprise Bryan a little since he knew the Head of the International Magical Cooperation Department did not particularly like him.

"The real show is yet to come--" Bryan sipped his sherry, arching an eyebrow with a smile.

"Very well, then--"

Fleur, who had changed back into Beauxbatons's school uniform, held her wand and performed a standard duel preparation in a heroic manner, which won the applause of many people.

"Please excuse me, Mr. Dreghorn."

"Oh, I hope these old bones of mine can last!" Despite his gnawing hatred, Dreghorn still tried to present himself with dignity.

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章 369: 0368 The Party (Part-3)

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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