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"Greetings to the Tournament Champions!" the Headmaster announced loudly, and we had no choice but to enter the Great Hall.
McGonagall walked ahead of us, leading us to the big round table where the judges were already seated, and the students were greeting the champions with applause.
"Are you excited?" Hermione asked with an icy mask on her face.
"No. Just looking around the hall."
And there was plenty to see. The absolutely stone hall has undergone significant changes. Everything was decorated in shades of light and blue, mimicking winter and ice. The walls were as if in hoarfrost, and the long House tables that had stood before were now replaced by many small and round ones, on elegant white legs. At each table were no less elegant white chairs. There were also buffet tables decorated with ice sculptures of palaces. I wonder what will be in the glasses? I wouldn't be surprised if the twins commit alcoholic sabotage. A big mystery was the source of good omnidirectional light, which was not observed except for the lanterns on the tables. There were two snow-covered Christmas trees against the far wall, and various garlands of mistletoe and ivy hung from the ceiling with the illusion of a starry sky. Of course, they were also covered in snow.
"Amazing," Hermione continued to ponder aloud, holding up the same mask of cold arrogance. And from whom did she learn? "So much hypocrisy around here. A few minutes ago, it was hard to find a wizard who didn't envy one of us. Now they're smiling and cheering and clapping."
"School is real life in miniature. It's exactly the same outside its walls, except the scale is different."
As I glanced at the judge's table to which we were being led, I couldn't help but notice Bagman's ridiculous purple robe, embroidered with gold stars. Karkaroff was wearing a white suit with a long coat and a fur hat, just as he had when he came down from the ship. Our Dumbledore didn't seem to have changed at all, but I wouldn't be surprised if his beard had holiday bells in it rather than everyday ones. I was surprised by the presence of Percy Weasley, as always, a creepy pedant in every little detail. Although it should be noted that the blue mantle on him looked pretty representative, but the type of red-haired curly guy himself did not want to be associated with severity.
I remember something about why Percy is here and not Mr. Crouch. It's a shame that occlumency can't restore and organize the memories of a past life, and they're slowly being weakened by this new one.
Percy beckoned Potter with his hand, and with Madame Maxime beside him, Fleur and her cavalier are likely to sit on this side. So we go to Bagman and Karkaroff. When we reached the tables, Krum and I moved the chairs for our ladies, and somehow, it all happened in sync. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that Potter just sat down under Parvati's reproachful gaze.
I'm not trying to belittle Potter because he can behave decently and according to various standards of behavior, but he always forgets that. When he remembers, it's often too late to change it.
After looking around the table and the empty plates, I found the menu and flipped through it, and said aloud:
"Pork chops. Potato side dish."
My order immediately appeared on the gleaming gold plate, and a moment later, everyone around me took advantage of the table function, filling the plates in front of them with various delicacies.
"To tell you the truth, I'm a little surprised," Hermione said before starting her meal.
"What exactly surprised you?" I moistened my throat with the apple juice served in the tall crystal glass.
"Dress. No, dresses. My mom and I spent a lot of time in the summer to find one that will be black enough. I do not mind at all that they may have been worn. You also helped Lavender so much."
"It is not good for a girl to miss the Ball because of someone else's intrigue."
Our conversation quieted on its own as the other members of this banquet began to speak at the table. Karkaroff was reprimanding the unexpectedly verbose Krum for his verbosity. Dumbledore was reprimanding Karkaroff for being too secretive for the sake of secrecy. Fleur talked about how things are different in Beauxbatons, and Roger Davis thoughtlessly assented. Potter and Parvati had to listen to Percy Weasley talking incessantly about the Ministry's affairs and how great Mr. Crouch.
It was with great pleasure that I listened about Dumbledore's adventures in the Room of Requirement, full of chamber pots.
"Of course!" exclaimed Roger Davies suddenly, tapping his palm loudly on the table. There was little sense left in his gaze. "Yes! With a bang!"
"Minus one..." whispered Hermione quietly, but everyone nearby heard and even smiled.
"He knew what he was going for," I shrugged, continuing with my meal. "Someone will have to make sure they don't suddenly get alone. In public, he will restrain himself, but in private ..."
Krum and his partner turned to me. By the way, I saw that brunette - she was one of the first to walk in the delegation.
"Veela is far from a defenseless creature," the Bulgarian said quietly.
"Davies is from Ravenclaw. There are students with extraordinary thinking and approaches to problem-solving. Who knows what his mind will be capable of under the influence of charm. The most unpredictable partner option."
"You're that concerned about her safety?"
Hermione looked at me with a slight smirk.
"Purely politics," I shook my head negatively, and even Karkaroff decided to listen. "Even if nothing happens, the whole of Hogwarts will immediately know about the attempt itself. The rumors will be instantly distorted, but that's not the point. On the one hand, this precedent will untie the hands of ministerial radicals regarding magical creatures. Election time for a new minister is approaching, which means that Fudge will be looking for support from every conceivable front. In such a benign atmosphere, the radicals in relation to magical creatures can safely push for new amendments, and even the excuse will be, "Look at that! It was worth letting a veela into Hogwarts, and a pious young man fell prey to it!" A few more phrases in there, and it'll do the trick. They'll tighten the screws around magical creatures even tighter, and those same werewolves are already on edge. As we know, there's nothing more dangerous than a living creature backed into a corner. The consequences could be unpredictable. Among other things, it would worsen relations with France, where the rights of the Veels are quite extensive, as they are in Bulgaria and several other European countries. But this is not the end either. The Delacour family is quite influential, both in France and abroad. The attempt of this kind of violence against their beloved daughter, the horrible attitude of the British, you can put anything you want on it, and you end up with a damaged relationship again. Of course, there will be all sorts of apologies, compensations, and other hypocrisies, but it's easier to avoid all this mess just by hitting Davies over the head if he gets all charmed out of his mind.
By the middle of my monologue, even Dumbledore was listening, and so I couldn't help myself:
"For the greater good, of course."
Karkaroff choked, and Dumbledore shook his head with a smile.
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