章 383: 0382 Two Months

Bryan stayed in Paris for two months.

Two months earlier, after paying a visit to Vipor Dreghorn, Hogwarts smoothly passed the review and was officially selected as the host of the Triwizard Tournament.

This was actually an expected outcome, as Hogwarts had unparalleled advantages over the other two schools. Although the competition was intense, victory was anticipated if it weren't for someone secretly causing trouble behind the scenes.

In organizing an event of such grand scale and international significance, there were still many things to be finalized.

For instance, determining the precise number of champion candidates, planning living and studying arrangements for the visiting students and professors from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang during their stay at Hogwarts, finalizing the specific dates for the tournament's start, and, most crucially, deciding upon the specific competitive events. However, Bryan had no authority to participate in discussions about this latter part.

As Hogwarts's representative, the tournament events had to remain confidential from the champions until officially launched to prevent leaks. Hence, no personnel from any of the three schools was allowed to inquire about it.

Despite this limitation, Bryan found himself immersed in a whirlwind of activity, attending countless meetings that consumed nearly every hour of his days.

It was during these gatherings that he bore witness to the remarkable efficiency with which these dedicated individuals worked. As, the slightest trifles could ignite unending quarrels, with tempers flaring and voices raised in heated debates. Igor Karkaroff even stretched his neck and yelled at the committee over such trivial matters of whether the number of champion candidates should be eleven or twelve.

Equally tough was Madame Maxime, who, in stark contrast to her usual graceful demeanor, meticulously scrutinized every possible aspect, nitpicking at the slightest apparent fault or oversight.

Bryan knew that the two schools were resentful of being defeated in the competition to host the Triwizard Tournament, so he tried to be as accommodating as possible.

Fortunately, the young Fleur Delacour, from Beauxbatons, was compelled to return to her alma mater once the review process concluded, otherwise Bryan might have had more problems to worry about.

However, judging from the sullen expression on the girl's face when she bid farewell, she seemed to have developed a grudge against him.

Apart from the numerous matters related to the Triwizard Tournament, Bryan also dealt with some other troubles during those two months.

Among these were the troublesome affairs involving Cuthbert Mockridge and the infamous Ludo Bagman.

After the review results were finalized, he had separate talks with these two fellows.

The outcome was that after concluding his 'journey' and returning to England, Mockridge promptly submitted an early retirement application to Cornelius Fudge, strongly recommending that Dirk Cresswell, the deputy head of the Goblin Liaison Office, to succeed him.

As for Ludo Bagman, he took leave from Barty Crouch Sr, citing health issues, then slunk back to England, never interfering with the Triwizard Tournament again.

At Hogwarts, however, things were relatively calm, except for a minor incident involving Sirius.

In the second week of May, the annual Hogwarts Quidditch finals finally began amid great anticipation.

In this fateful Gryffindor versus Slytherin match, with no external interference, Gryffindor finally emerged victorious, ending Slytherin's streak of consecutive championship wins. For the first time in seven years, the Quidditch Cup was relocated from the office of Professor Snape to that of Professor McGonagall.

However, the joy of victory was swiftly overshadowed by a brewing storm of controversy.

The Slytherins were indignant at the outcome and believed that Harry Potter had cost them the championship. So, that very night, a group of Slytherin students pretended to be Dementors to scare Harry, Hermione, and Ron who came back from celebrating with Hagrid, but they were caught red-handed by Sirius, who was returning from the staff bathroom.

In a fit of rage, Sirius dragged those students to Dumbledore's office, demanding their expulsion. Dumbledore, of course, refused his request. Consequently, Sirius emptied the Slytherin hourglass over the incident.

Professor Snape was no pushover. Once he became aware of the situation, he immediately confronted Sirius.

Inevitably, another battle erupted at Hogwarts, this time even affecting the students.

The school found itself overwhelmed by a flood of complaints from the aggrieved parents of the injured students, their outrage mingling with a torrent of inquiries from the Ministry of Magic, crashing upon Hogwarts like a relentless tidal wave. Faced with this storm of controversy, Sirius, who was originally acting as the substitute professor, resigned and left Hogwarts to give an explanation to these people and spent the following month in Hogsmeade.

Dumbledore, Snape, and Sirius all sent him letters afterward, each uniquely explaining what had happened.

Bryan had thought that Draco must have been among the students who planned this or attacked Harry, but unexpectedly, Draco was not involved this time. Instead, Pansy Parkinson had instigated Crabbe and Goyle, causing such a farce with serious consequences.

When Bryan finally returned to Hogwarts after attending to the Parisian affairs, the final examinations had already concluded, and the young wizards and witches had packed their belongings, departing for their respective homes.

With the students gone, Hogwarts became deserted, and the staff were eager to leave and enjoy the rare annual leisure time. In the vast campus, only Hagrid remained faithfully guarding the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

KABOOM!

A violent explosion blew open the door of Hagrid's hut, and Hagrid burst out from the billowing smoke, coughing loudly while clutching a wooden crate protectively to his barrel-like chest.

"I think--"

At the edge of the Black Lake, Dumbledore and Bryan were strolling along the shore. Noticing Bryan's inquisitive gaze, a wry smile appeared beneath Dumbledore's beard in the blazing noonday sun.

"Hagrid is probably trying to breed some unprecedented magical creature,"

Bryan withdrew his concerned gaze and nodded understandingly. Then, he smiled, "You're always particularly indulgent towards those close to you, Headmaster."

Dumbledore's expression grew slightly more somber, though his voice remained candid and unhurried. "If you're referring to my attitude regarding Sirius's incident, Bryan, I hope you understand that the nature of that incident was different."

"I fully understand Sirius's guilt towards Harry after those series of events. He wants to make up for the responsibilities he failed to fulfill and the lack of care Harry experienced over the past twelve years. However, excessive care serves no purpose and can actually harm Harry and others, as this incident has proven my view."

Bryan gently shook his head without further comment, gazing at the rippling lake surface.

"By the way, where is Sirius?" he inquired, his brow furrowing slightly as a new thought took root.

"He previously wrote to inform me that he would be waiting for me in Hogsmeade, but I sense he is currently in London. What's he doing there?"

"He hopes to have a discussion with the Muggle couple who took in Harry," Dumbledore replied calmly, also stopping in his tracks.

"Sirius learned about Harry's situation at his aunt and uncle's home from you. He wanted to rescue Harry from there but had to abandon that plan due to the reasons I told you. However, he still worries about Harry's circumstances, so he hopes to negotiate Harry's treatment at home directly with that Muggle couple."

"You didn't stop him?"

"I can't think of any reason to prevent Sirius from doing so, unless he plans to cast curses on that Muggle couple and their child."

At the edge of the Forbidden Forest, in the direction of the snow-capped mountains, a vast expanse of dark clouds billowed forth, flickering with lightning. In an instant, the scenery transformed drastically.

The air was thick with moisture, and countless magical creatures beneath the now-rippling lake surface began to stir restlessly.

Bryan was not surprised that Dumbledore knew the specifics of Harry's aunt and uncle's family. Dumbledore always knew everything. What he wanted to know was Dumbledore's view on the matter he and Sirius were about to do.

The towering castle standing on the cliffs was shrouded by the approaching shadows in the sky. The damp air seemed to carry a faint, bloody scent for some unknown reason. Dumbledore turned to gaze at the millennium-old castle, and somehow, the man with his flowing beard appeared to have a touch of twilight about him, even his usually clear, deep blue eyes now became slightly clouded.

Magic comes from the heart – an absolute truth that Bryan had learned through years of first-hand experience. Yet, in that moment, as he studied Dumbledore's features, he could not shake the unsettling sense that something had shifted within the very essence of the man before him.

"What's wrong?" The words slipped from Bryan's lips, imbued with a weight that hid their surface simplicity. His brow furrowed, creasing with concern as he awaited Dumbledore's response.

"There is something I need to ask of you, Bryan," Dumbledore began, his voice heavy, laden with a solemnity that reverberated through the air. His gaze swept across the grounds of Hogwarts, taking in every blade of grass, every gnarled and twisting branch of the ancient trees that had borne silent witness to countless cycles of life and death. Yet, his eyes did not meet Bryan's.

"There is much evidence that darkness is stirring once again."

A weary sigh drifted away with the rising winds, carrying with it the weight of untold burdens and solemn responsibilities. Dumbledore's frame seemed to bear the mantle of ages, and the now much older-looking Dumbledore finally met Bryan's intent gaze.

"If next school year, you notice certain things happening at Hogwarts, Bryan," he continued as the last ray of sunlight fell on him, casting a very faint shadow on the ground, "I hope you will remain silent."

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章 384: 0383 The Journey

BOOM!

A deafening clap of thunder reverberated through the mountains and valleys, making the world shudder!

In an instant, torrential rains enveloped the world. The formerly glistening lake surface was now turbulent under the onslaught of howling winds and pounding rain. Forks of lightning slashed across the layered towers of Hogwarts, casting an eerily pale glow on the gloomy castle.

The rainstorm rapidly raised the lake level, swiftly overflowing the banks. When the surging waters were about to reach Bryan and Dumbledore, who stood facing each other in the downpour, it automatically diverted and flowed to other places.

'Darkness stirring once again, remain silent?'

"You've decided?" Bryan thought back to his previous speculation. Harry had almost completed half his schooling at Hogwarts. At some point, in the future, Voldemort would seize the opportunity to return. And Dumbledore, apparently with a clearer view, had already sensed through various signs that the moment of this impending disaster could no longer be averted.

"What prompted you to make such a decision?" Before Dumbledore could answer the first question, Bryan asked the second one.

"In the two months you've been away from Hogwarts—"

Facing Bryan, Dumbledore saw no need to beat around the bush. He calmly stated, "Severus had been repeatedly warning me in private. His past secret magical connection with Tom allowed him to sense that Tom was growing stronger—"

"Secret magical connection?" Bryan's brow furrowed slightly. He knew Professor Snape had once worked for Voldemort, but what was this about a magical connection?

"The Dark Mark," Dumbledore explained concisely. "I think you've heard of this 'intimate' mark shared between Tom and his followers."

"Tom has clearly received some form of aid, which has helped him partially overcome his wretched, barely-existing state after the rebounding Killing Curse stripped him of his body twelve years ago, though his Horcruxes allowed him to linger on. Knowing him as I do, he would never be satisfied and would stop at nothing to regain his former power."

"What aid? Who is helping him?"

In the current wizarding world, if you ask who knows the situation of Voldemort the most, it is undoubtedly the old man who has stood in the world for a hundred years. In this regard, Bryan is far inferior to Dumbledore.

Bryan's gaze locked onto Dumbledore's brilliant blue eyes.

"I don't know everything, Bryan—" Dumbledore managed a faint smile. "But Tom has always found a way to obtain help, no matter the circumstances."

"What do you think he might do?"

"As I've said, Bryan, though my aging mind holds a lot of information, I am far from being omniscient. More often than not, I can only rely on guesswork to deduce the course of events—"

"Then hazard a guess, Headmaster Dumbledore. It won't matter if you're wrong," Bryan smiled, observing the helplessness on the aged face beside him.

Amidst the howling winds and torrential rains, Bryan's smile shone like a beacon, dispelling some of Dumbledore's worries and gloom. A head taller than Bryan, Dumbledore looked down at the young yet unusually composed face, his own brow unwrinkling noticeably.

"Very well, if you insist, Bryan—" Dumbledore's voice lightened. "Then let us speculate."

Pausing briefly, Dumbledore did not voice his guess. Instead, he asked back, "You are familiar with Horcruxes, Bryan. Surely, then, you must also know what methods a disembodied wizard with Horcruxes might employ to regain their former power?"

In an instant, Bryan scanned the vast expanse of magical knowledge stored in his mind, yet as that knowledge flashed before his eyes, his brow furrowed slightly.

Not because he couldn't find anything, but because there was too much!

Modern systems, ancient systems, complete and fragmentary—magic capable of helping a disembodied soul regain physical form was not at all unique.

No one dares to claim that he is proficient in all magical knowledge. Whether it is Dumbledore or Bryan, it is difficult to lock in a specific magic that Voldemort might use from these.

Bryan gazed deeply into Dumbledore's brilliant eyes, and suddenly, a thought struck him. "You think he might use Harry?"

"That seems most likely—" Dumbledore turned his gaze toward Gryffindor Tower. "I suspect Tom has spent these years trying to understand why his magic failed against Harry all those years ago. And now, he has likely uncovered at least some of the truth."

Dumbledore clearly did not want to explain further, but based on this information, he had already guessed it.

It was only natural, then, to understand Dumbledore's request for Bryan to remain silent about the potential events that might happen at Hogwarts the next school year.

Numerous thoughts raced through Bryan's mind, but ultimately, the words that escaped his lips were, "Have you considered the possibility that Harry might still die, Headmaster?"

Dumbledore fell silent for a long while before wearily replying, "I cannot foresee everything, but I will do my utmost to ensure Harry's safety, Bryan. This will also require your assistance. Perhaps you will think that sending a fourth-year student to face the most dangerous Dark wizard in history is an act of despicable cowardice—"

"No—" Bryan shook his head. "That is your most admirable quality."

As the clouds dispersed and the sun reemerged, bathing the land in its rays,

At the school gate, Sirius squeezed in from the big iron gate, and he saw Bryan and Dumbledore by the lake from a distance.

"Oh, Bryan—" Dumbledore suddenly spoke, glancing at Sirius trotting over. "I don't know why you insist on visiting Azkaban without using the Ministry's channel, but regarding the prisoners there, I hope you will refrain from interfering with their peaceful lives as much as possible."

"I'll be mindful of that."

Bryan strode forward with a smile, waving at Sirius with keen interest. "I hear you went to negotiate with the Dursleys. How did it go?"

"Do you even need to ask!" Displaying no signs of dejection from being forced out of the professorship, Sirius trotted over with a broad grin. "Harry was right—that Muggle family is utterly unpleasant."

Sirius glanced past Bryan's shoulder at the distant Dumbledore and lowered his voice. "I threatened that nasty bunch. If Harry receives any targeting or unfair treatment while at their house, I'll personally blow it to smithereens!

I told them I'm an escaped convict, so I don't care about adding a few more lives to my tally. You should have seen their reaction, Bryan! That boy, practically the size of a baby whale, wet himself out of sheer terror!"

Truth be told, Bryan did not entirely approve of Sirius's approach, but he refrained from voicing his own opinions, and simply chuckled casually.

"How are your preparations coming along?"

"Ready to depart at any time!" Sirius said happily.

Neither Bryan nor Sirius wanted this adventure to be delayed for too long, but in reality, they were still delayed for two days.

Suddenly, a letter arrived for Sirius from St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. It was from Remus. After months of recuperation, the werewolf virus within Remus's body had finally subsided to a safe level. In about a week's time, he would be discharged from the hospital.

Remus, who had been stuck in the hospital for almost half a year, impatiently wrote inquiring about Sirius's recent plans.

Remus certainly hoped to have the company of his old friend when he was discharged from the hospital. However, Sirius needed to go on a journey with Bryan, which conservatively estimated, could take twenty days to a month. So, Sirius made a special trip to the hospital to apologize to Remus.

Nevertheless, there was something to look forward to.

After their return, the 422nd Quidditch World Cup would be just around the corner. Sirius planned to join Remus in picking up Harry from the Dursleys' home, and after reuniting with Harry's friends, they would go to watch the World Cup together.

The two sincerely invited Bryan to join them, but he had never been particularly interested in this kind of sport except muggle football.

The first half of this journey was generally comfortable.

They chose to travel by Muggle means, first taking a flight from London to the northern port city of Aberdeen in northeast Scotland, one of the major cities in the Scottish region.

The ferry from Aberdeen to the Shetland Islands typically departed at 7 PM and arrived the following morning at the port, meaning Bryan and Sirius would need to spend the night on board.

Despite the impending summer season in late June, the temperatures here were not scorching. Instead, a slight chill permeated the air.

BOOM—

In the dead of night, as the ferry sailed through the dense fog over the sea, it suddenly plunged from a height of four or five stories into the trough between the waves, causing violent turbulence that terrified the Muggle tourists sleeping in their rooms. Even Bryan was awakened by the commotion.

To be honest, Bryan wasn't particularly good at handling these less comfortable modes of transportation.

But there was no choice. When the destination wasn't precise, using Apparition wasn't a good option, and broomsticks demanded too much physical exertion, so wizards wouldn't normally choose them for long-distance travel.

Opening his sleepy eyes, Bryan glanced at the bed beside him; Sirius wasn't in the room.

His gaze penetrated the cabin walls, which had already let in some seawater, and Bryan easily located Sirius's position. After a moment's thought, he put on a coat, opened the bedroom door, and entered the narrow corridor filled with the scent of sea and rust.

Everything in view was chaotic. At the end of the hallway, a slovenly Muggle sailor had secured himself to the railing with a safety harness and was resting with his eyes closed.

The seemingly careless sailor was more alert than expected. When Bryan's palm touched the icy doorknob, the sailor immediately opened his eyes, gripped Bryan's wrist, and fixed him with a wary gaze through his disheveled hair.

"What are you doing?"

"I have a friend on the deck, and I need to find him."

"Don't lie!" The sailor bluntly called out this 'lie.' Straining his voice to reach Bryan's ears, he said, "I've been guarding here the whole time, sir. No one has passed through, and besides, there's a hurricane raging outside with waves as high as several stories. If your friend is really out there, he's definitely not on the deck. I reckon he's probably feeding the fish at the bottom of the sea!"

A hint of helplessness flashed in Bryan's eyes. "You're really unlucky tonight, brother. I hope getting hit with two Confundus Charms doesn't scramble your brain."

"What?"

Before the confused sailor could ask anything further, the world before his eyes suddenly became hazy, and his mind grew foggy as well.

Click!

The sailor unlatched the door, opening the heavy iron portal for Bryan. Ignoring the raging storm, he cheerfully said, "What lovely weather, sir. The sunshine is brilliant, and the sea breeze is gentle. I hope you have a pleasant journey!"

"Thank you."

Bryan politely nodded, stepped over the threshold, and unsteadily climbed the steel ladder to the deck.

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