"Oh, what--of course not!"
Fleur said blankly, and then she noticed the smile in Amosta's eyes and realized he was just joking.
"So, are you really willing to support Beauxbatons? You know, this is the greatest magic school in Europe."
After coming back to her senses, Furong's eyes flashed and she smiled rather coquettishly.
"I have reservations about that."
Amosta chuckled.
Fleur's English is pretty good, with just a slight French accent.
She introduced Amosta to some things about Beauxbatons School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the local customs in France. For a little wizard who has not graduated from school, Fleur's knowledge is very broad, but it is far from being compared with Amosta, who has traveled half of the world, but Amosta did not point out what Fleur said. The mistakes and omissions in those who just kept a polite smile.
"--I have a sister, her name is Gabrielle. When the basilisk in Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets came to an exhibition in France, the professor who taught us about magical creatures once took us to the exhibition. Oh, it was really a ferocious one. Damn it, Gabrielle had nightmares for several days when she went back, it’s hard to imagine how you subdued such a ferocious guy!"
Fleur patted her chest and stared at Amosta with shining eyes, hoping to hear a thrilling and ups and downs story.
Amosta finally figured out that this little girl was not here to 'gather information', she was just simply interested in him.
When Amosta came back to his senses, he felt a little bit amused. He was used to living a life of pure and apathetic life. He really didn't expect that he would be targeted by a little girl who had not graduated from school and was meeting him for the first time.
"Hey——, there is an element of luck——"
Amosta smiled and simply changed the subject. He was not Gilderoy Lockhart, and he didn't have the habit of bragging.
"Speaking of -"
After Amosta distanced herself from Fleur on the pretense of pouring wine, she looked at Furong carefully.
"When the Triwizard Tournament is officially held, will you represent Beauxbatons, Miss Delacour?"
"certainly--"
Furong flipped up her waterfall-like long silver hair, her big blue eyes suddenly revealed her neat white teeth, and her silver bell-like laughter made the people around her secretly paying attention to the place, and their hearts swayed.
"No matter which school holds the tournament, I will represent Beauxbatons. I have read the contestant selection mechanism, and I think I can pass the test of the Goblet of Fire."
"Then, I wish your dream will come true and you will get good results in the competition, Miss Delacour."
Amosta knew that he should leave, otherwise, sooner or later, a circle of jealous eyes would drown him. He raised his glass to Furong, and after touching the rim of the glass with his lips, he smiled and said,
"I think it's time for us to part ways briefly, Miss Delacour. I noticed that Mr. Crouch was winking at me over there. I think he must have something to say to me -"
"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening, everyone—"
Just when Amosta was looking for an excuse to get away, a loud voice suddenly came from near the stage, overwhelming the buzzing chatter in the banquet hall. Amosta followed the sound and found Karkaroff. He quickly left Vip Dreggen's side and stared with interest at Vip Dreggen, who was speaking to everyone tonight on behalf of the International Federation of Wizards when he hosted the entourage from the ministries of magic and three magic schools of various countries.
The Forest Fairy Troupe performing on the stage paused the music, and the crowd gradually gathered in front of the stage to form a semicircle.
"Tonight, the International Confederation of Wizards welcomes with great joy Mr. Barty Crouch, Director of the International Magical Cooperation Department of the British Ministry of Magic, and Mr. Ludo Bagman of the Department of Magical Sports. Coming to the venue, it is because of the efforts of these two people that the light of the Goblet of Fire, which has been extinguished for centuries, can be rekindled. I think everyone here needs the efforts made by Mr. Crouch and Mr. Bagman. Express thankfulness!"
Vip Dregern was the first to raise his glass and salute Batty and Ludo at the front of the crowd. Under his call, the rest of the people also raised their glasses one after another.
With a forced smile on his face, Barty turned his head and bowed slightly to the crowd, but when he faced Vip Dregern, there was a trace of vigilance in his eyes.
But Ludo had no worries. He smiled brightly and waved to greet everyone.
"Of course, we also need to thank Mr. Igor Karkaroff and Mrs. Olim Maxim——"
When the applause and cheers caused by Ludo subsided, Vip Dreggen said with a bit of urgency,
"It is precisely because of the positive response from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang that we can see the Triwizard Tournament coming to fruition!"
Amosta narrowed his eyes, and Barty also looked at him to remind him.
"Oh, promoting communication between different magical civilizations is what we have always been pursuing, Mr. Dregern——"
Karkaroff grinned, rolled his eyes, and said in a smooth tone,
"But, Mr. Dregern, I noticed that you left out key people. I mean, Hogwarts--the school under Albus Dumbledore has also been promoting friendly exchanges. Isn’t that the idea?”
"Oh, of course I won't forget—"
Vip, who has considerable prestige in the International Federation of Wizards, moved his gray beard and said playfully,
"But Mr. Dumbledore is our president, and it is his duty to promote exchanges between all parties, so I don't think there is any need to express special thanks."
There was sparse laughter and discussion in the crowd. Many people shook their heads slightly, expressing their disapproval of Dregern's statement. Some people also focused their attention on Amosta Blaine, with a little bit of confusion in their eyes. of schadenfreude.
But at this moment, Dregern suddenly changed the subject. He looked directly at Amosta, who was attending on behalf of Hogwarts. There was a fleeting look of contempt and evil in his eyes, but there was still a sincere expression on his face. smile,
"Just a pleasant little joke with everyone. Of course we need to thank Hogwarts for its positive response, and here we will meet a new friend, that is, instead of Mr. Albus Dumbledore, as Mr. Amosta Braine, the Hogwarts representative attending the banquet!"
With a calm smile on his face, Amosta nodded to everyone.
"Oh, Mr. Brain, why don't you come up and show yourself off?" Dregern said wittily, "Don't you want to be separated from the beautiful Miss Delacour?"
The crowd suddenly burst into chuckles, both kind and malicious, but there was a trace of shame and anger in Fleur's blue eyes. Obviously, she didn't like such a joke.
"Come up and talk to everyone, Amosta!"
Ludo ignored Barty's cold gaze and waved excitedly to Amosta, seemingly completely unaware that Vip Dreggen had bad intentions.
"indeed so--"
In a moment, Amosta had chosen a method between coercion and inducement.
He walked forward slowly, faced a pair of eyes with their own thoughts, smiled freely,
"Perhaps you don't know that before I took up the post of Director of the Student Security Office at Hogwarts, I served as a professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. Miss Delacour's rich magical knowledge and talent impressed me. I'm amazed, and I'm planning to get a glimpse of Beauxbatons' advanced teaching philosophy from her."
This time, people's chuckles were mostly kind. Even Madame Maxime smiled at Amosta in a friendly way.
There was a flash of sarcasm in Barty's eyes, not towards Amosta, but towards Vip Dregern who was smiling like an old fox.
This guy probably thought that Amosta was just a young and inexperienced wizard who had only gained some fame under Dumbledore's management, so he took Amosta out and vented his hatred towards Dumbledore. Dissatisfied, but judging from what Batty knows, Amosta Blaine is not a guy who can be manipulated no matter in terms of strength or mentality!
(End of chapter)
