Harry Potter: The Golden Viper

0523 Clues

The tension in the room seemed to crystallize around Barty Crouch as he delivered the necessary warnings according to the tournament rules.

"The first task is designed to test your courage," Crouch began, his eyes sweeping across the faces of the champions, lingering for a moment on Hermione's pale face, "so we won't tell you what it is. Facing the unknown is perhaps the most fundamental quality essential for a true wizard. In this challenge, you must rely solely upon yourselves—no guidance, no assistance, no support from your teachers will be permitted. Your wand will be your only companion and weapon in what lies ahead.

And you'll only learn about the second task after the first one is completed."

Crouch concluded, his stern demeanor brooking no argument and with these ominous warnings delivered according to the ancient tournament protocols, the evening's turmoil seemed to have come to an end.

Many of those present felt there was no need to linger any longer. Barty Crouch wasted no time in making his exit. With a curt nod to Dumbledore and a last, inscrutable glance at Hermione, he strode to the room's fireplace. In a flash of green flames, he was gone, leaving behind only the faintest scent of ash and magic.

Ludo Bagman, in contrast to Crouch's hasty departure, chose to remain at Hogwarts and his face was lit with barely contained excitement for some reason. Dumbledore asked Snape to show Bagman to his quarters. Snape's face twisted into a barely concealed grimace at the task, but he obeyed with a stiff nod.

Karkaroff and Madame Maxime, their faces still etched with lingering frustration, had already departed with their respective champions, Viktor and Fleur in tow. The two young champions, however, seemed reluctant to leave without a final word. Their eyes darted between Hermione and Bryan, clearly brimming with unspoken questions and concerns. But their headmasters, perhaps fearing further complications, hurried them along, effectively shepherding the students out of the room.

In stark contrast to the swift departure of the other schools' representatives, Hogwarts' two champions found themselves left behind, caught in the trail of the evening's tumultuous events.

Professor McGonagall, her face lined with concern, turned to Dumbledore and Bryan and said,

"If there's nothing else, I'll escort Miss Granger back to her dormitory, after everything that's happened tonight, she needs rest." The last part was said with a pointed look at Hermione, who seemed to be swaying slightly on her feet.

Just as McGonagall was about to usher Hermione out, Bryan's voice cut through the air.

"Wait—" he said, his brow furrowing in thought. After a moment of contemplation, he looked up at Professor McGonagall. "If it's convenient, Professor McGonagall, after you've escorted Miss Granger back to her common room, please disclose some of the conclusions we've reached tonight to the students who are undoubtedly waiting for the news. Though, I would suggest limiting the information to only the most essential details."

McGonagall raised an eyebrow, her stern facial features softening slightly at Bryan's thoughtfulness. She understood the delicate balance they were trying to maintain - providing enough information to quell rumors while not revealing too much. Hermione, catching on to Professor Watson's intention, pressed her lips together gratefully.

As McGonagall and Hermione left, the room's occupants dwindled to Dumbledore, Bryan, Professor Moody, and Cedric Diggory - if he hadn't already slipped away unnoticed in the commotion.

In truth, Cedric might have been the most frustrated person of the evening. While everyone's focus had been on the compromised rights of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang champions or the mystery surrounding Hermione Granger's unexpected selection, Cedric had been completely sidelined. He stood awkwardly to one side, his face showing a mixture of confusion and disappointment.

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Dumbledore noticed Cedric's discomfort. With a gentle smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes, he addressed the young man.

"Cedric, I suggest you go and rest as well—" he said, his voice warm and encouraging. "I believe Professor Sprout and your Hufflepuff classmates are waiting to celebrate with you. It would be rather unfortunate to deprive them of this rare opportunity for celebration."

Bryan, catching Dumbledore's cue, also turned to Cedric with an approving smile. Their acknowledgment seemed to breathe new life into Cedric, finally making him feel a bit more like the champion he was meant to be. With a respectful nod to the assembled professors, Cedric straightened his shoulders and left the room, his steps lighter than they had been all evening.

As soon as the door closed behind Cedric, the atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically. Moody, who had been uncharacteristically quiet during the latter part of the evening, suddenly exploded into action. His magical eye whirled in its socket, he slammed his gnarled staff against the floor with the sound echoing like a gunshot in the now-quiet room.

"Karkaroff, that spineless coward!" Moody roared, his scarred face twisting with fury. "I'd bet my other leg he's behind this whole mess— he's always resented Bryan for winning the right to host the Tournament. He's been plotting revenge, trying to cause trouble for Hogwarts."

Moody's normal eye narrowed as he continued, his voice dropping to a menacing growl. "I can see right through him. Surely you haven't forgotten how he escaped punishment back then, framing others for his misdeeds."

"Alastor—" Dumbledore calmly called out, with no sign of anything unusual on his face.

However, Moody was not to be so easily silenced. His magical eye fixed on Dumbledore as he continued his tirade. "If you'd let me search that ship, Albus, just wait, I guarantee we'd find something!"

Bryan, who had settled himself onto one of the room's comfortable sofas; with a barely audible sigh, gave Moody a meaningful look. "I understand your determination to clear Hogwarts' name, Professor Moody, But Karkaroff is the headmaster of Durmstrang, not a young wizard like Draco Malfoy. Without concrete evidence, we cannot justify taking such extreme measures against him—"

Moody's response was a sarcastic laugh that echoed off the stone walls of the chamber. It was clear he found Bryan's argument lacking.

"I'll keep watch on him, mark my words!" Moody growled, punctuating his words with another loud bang of his staff against the floor. With that final declaration, he turned and limped out of the room, his wooden leg creating a rhythmic thudding that faded as he moved down the corridor.

He knew that Dumbledore and Bryan would want to summarize the night's events, and since Dumbledore hadn't invited him to stay, it meant he didn't want him there. As for Watson, he certainly wouldn't be willing to be honest with him.

As the sound of Moody's departure died away, a heavy silence fell over the room. Bryan's gaze remained fixed on the door long after it had closed, his expression incomprehensible. Dumbledore, too, maintained his silence, gazing at the fireplace through which Barty Crouch had departed, allowing the flickering flames to tint his bright blue eyes golden.

The two wizards remained as still as statues, each lost in their own thoughts, until the sound of approaching footsteps broke the spell. The door creaked open, revealing the sallow face of Professor Snape. He peered into the room cautiously, only fully entering after confirming that Dumbledore and Bryan were still present.

"I've shown Bagman to his quarters," Snape reported, his voice as silky and cold as ever. He remained standing in the doorway, his black robes blending with the shadows as if he were a part of them.

Dumbledore's face brightened at Snape's words.

"Ah, excellent—" he said, nodding appreciatively at him. Then, turning to Bryan, he added with a hint of amusement, "We really must thank Ludo for his support this evening. Did you notice, Bryan, that he was the only one who refrained from criticizing our handling of tonight's... unexpected developments—"

"That man's gambling addiction has thoroughly corrupted his sense of propriety—" Bryan interjected casually, clearly catching Dumbledore's subtle implications. "Naturally, he's delighted by any unexpected turns of events. Such complications only create more opportunities for him to profit from those questionable betting operations he patronizes—"

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully at Bryan's assessment, then lapsed into silence once more. Snape, still lurking in the doorway, fixed Dumbledore with a look of barely concealed sarcasm. After a few moments of tense silence, he spoke again with a lazy drawl.

"I have a question, Dumbledore," Snape began, his dark eyes glittering in the firelight. "Would your Age Line be able to stop a wizard who's taken Polyjuice Potion?"

Bryan's wandering gaze suddenly sharpened. He stared at Snape's nonchalant face, noting that Dumbledore, too, had turned his full attention towards him. "Polyjuice Potion..." Bryan pondered aloud, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Why do you bring this up, Professor? Do you have any leads regarding tonight's incident?"

"You seem to place an extraordinary amount of faith in that Granger girl from Minerva's house—" Snape's voice remained soft but carried an edge of accusation. "However, I've recently discovered evidence of an intruder in my office last night. Certain items from my private stores were taken—specifically, powdered Bicorn horn and shredded Boomslang skin. The thief showed remarkable restraint, he wasn't too greedy and stole only small quantities. But since the last time these particular ingredients went missing, I've been meticulously monitoring their quantities."

"Are you suggesting, Severus, that Miss Granger might have used Polyjuice Potion again?" Dumbledore's question came with his characteristic calm, though there was a slight emphasis on the word 'again' that didn't go unnoticed.

Bryan's initial confusion cleared as the implications of Snape's words sank in. Like Dumbledore, he had initially thought Snape had uncovered some new clue about the night's events. The mention of Polyjuice Potion, however, brought back a vivid memory— Indeed, on the night he first returned to Hogwarts after graduation, he had seen Hermione in the hospital wing, suffering from the effects of incorrectly brewed Polyjuice Potion.

Snape's next words were laced with biting sarcasm. "If you're determined to believe Granger is innocent, Dumbledore—" he said, his lip curling slightly, "I suppose I could turn a blind eye to the matter, just as I did previously."

Bryan couldn't suppress his amusement at Snape's thinly veiled accusation. "By all means, Professor Snape, maintain that blind eye. And might I suggest relocating those particular ingredients to a more accessible location? It would save any future visitors the trouble of having to demolish your office to get them—"

Dumbledore's lips twitched at Bryan's words, though he refrained from commenting. However, their collective reactions clearly revealed something.

Snape's eyes suddenly sharpened, his gaze boring into Bryan with renewed intensity. Recognizing that he would get nothing from Dumbledore, Snape focused his attention on his student. "You know who tampered with it," he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "You knew this would happen, didn't you, Bryan? Tell me, who's trying to harm that insufferably presumptuous girl?"

Bryan met Snape's probing gaze with a calm smile. "Are you attempting to test the effectiveness of your Occlumency teachings, Professor?

I hope you'll forgive my immodesty, but in this particular field, I believe I've not only mastered your teachings but perhaps even managed to advance beyond it—"

The conversation, filled with layers of meaning and unspoken accusations, seemed to push Snape to his limit. Dealing with two individuals so adept at schemes and tricks was clearly exhausting, especially the smiling Bryan who was his own student. With a final, furious glare, Snape turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, his black robes billowing behind him like the wings of an angry bat.

As the echo of Snape's departing footsteps faded, Bryan's amused grin also slowly faded. The events of the past twenty-four hours - the sleepless night, the constant vigilance, and the emotional rollercoaster of the champion selection - had finally begun to take their toll. A hint of fatigue crept into his voice as he turned to address Dumbledore.

"Share your thoughts, Headmaster Dumbledore—" Bryan said, his tone now serious and direct. The playful banter of moments ago had vanished, replaced by a focused intensity that spoke of the severity of their situation.

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