0798 DOUBTS & ANSWERS

Before Severus could take his final leave from the hospital wing, Bryan reached out and gently firmly pulled him into the dimly lit corridor outside.

"If Voldemort asks why I appeared at his resurrection ceremony disguised as Gabrielle Delacour," Bryan began, his voice low, "tell him this: the tournament organizers made the decision to choose Gabrielle as the most important person to Fleur.

Considering Gabrielle's tender, I thought going underwater in the Black Lake would absolutely terrify her. So, I privately and quietly replaced her. Voldemort desperately needs a plausible reason to explain the failure of his resurrection plan. He only needs a reasonable explanation and shouldn't pursue the matter relentlessly or dig deeper into the true circumstances."

His expression grew even more serious as he added, "As for the fact that both Hermione and Ron were struck by the Killing Curse but somehow didn't die just tell him the truth."

This crucial matter hadn't been mentioned at all in Harry's account just moments before in the hospital wing, and Severus immediately realized the implications of this omission. His mind began piecing together the larger picture, and he felt a surge of recognition mixed with anger.

He turned his head sharply to look through the glass window of the hospital wing's door, his dark eyes fixed on Dumbledore's tall figure with fury, then slowly shifted his gaze back to Bryan's face.

"All of this was part of his plan from the very beginning, wasn't it?" Severus asked.

"On this particular matter," Bryan replied calmly, "Dumbledore and I share exactly the same strategic position and approach. Only by bringing Voldemort back into the light of public scrutiny, by forcing him to reveal himself openly to the wizarding world, can we hope to completely and permanently resolve this threat to our society.

Otherwise, he'll continue to operate from the shadows indefinitely, endlessly plotting new conspiracies, recruiting followers in secret, and growing stronger while remaining invisible to those who should be preparing to defend themselves."

Bryan's voice grew more intense as he continued, "We cannot defeat an enemy that the world refuses to acknowledge exists. Fear of the unknown is powerful, but denial is even more dangerous."

He paused, then shifted to another crucial topic. "Regarding Lucius Malfoy—he's absolutely counting on me to protect Draco from the worst consequences of what's coming. His paternal love overrides his supposed loyalty to Voldemort. So, to some extent, he can be trusted."

Severus nodded, understanding what Bryan meant to convey. He looked at Bryan's concerned face, his lips moving, but in the end, he said nothing. After giving Bryan a pale smile, he strode away.

Bryan didn't return to the hospital wing either. After glancing at Dumbledore, who was saying something to the three students, Bryan sighed heavily and went downstairs to his office.

Standing with his hands behind his back at his office window, he gazed quietly outside.

The sunlight remained bright, yet within that brightness was a cold pallor. The morning's clamor and liveliness by the lake had vanished, leaving only rows of empty seats and goblins listlessly dismantling equipment.

Due to his unprecedented involvement and the unique magical innovations he had contributed, this particular Triwizard Tournament had received absolutely unprecedented attention from the international wizarding community.

Magical broadcasting networks across Europe had devoted wide coverage to the events, and the sudden, unexplained interruption of their transmission in the middle of the task would need immediate explanation and careful management.

The questions would come quickly and persistently from every corner of the wizarding world, and satisfactory answers would have to be provided to the European magical community without delay.

This time, Bryan had made a decision—he didn't plan to invent any excuses or construct convenient lies to protect the Ministry's preferred narrative. Instead, he should tell the entire magical public the truth: that the Dark Lord Voldemort had indeed returned to walk among them once again, and that everyone needed to remain constantly vigilant and prepared for the dangers that lay ahead.

Of course, this bold decision to reveal the truth would undoubtedly further enrage Cornelius Fudge and send the Minister into fury, but Bryan didn't care about the political consequences.

An angry, desperate Fudge and all the bureaucratic forces attached to his administration would certainly become even more furious and irrational in their responses, thus inevitably making even more foolish, short-sighted moves that would ultimately serve Bryan's larger strategic purposes. He actually hoped to witness all of this political self-destruction unfold.

Bryan was confident that Dumbledore would eventually come to realize—or perhaps the wise old man had always known deep in his heart but had been reluctant to act on the knowledge—that in the short term, the Ministry under Cornelius Fudge's increasingly paranoid and authoritarian leadership would pose a far greater obstacle than even Voldemort himself.

If Bryan's predictions turn correct, the Ministry would definitely attempt to directly and aggressively interfere with Hogwarts' operations in the very near future, using their official authority to suppress and officially deny any news of Voldemort's return.

For the vast majority of ordinary wizarding folk who simply wanted to live their lives in peace, they would undoubtedly place their trust in the familiar, established authority of the Ministry, especially when they themselves desperately didn't want to hear confirmation that they were already living under the shadow of impending war.

The campaign to strip away the halos of respect and authority surrounding both Dumbledore and himself, deliberately smearing both their reputations and undermining their credibility with the public—this too was entirely expected and had been factored into his planning from the beginning.

"What's really going on here, Bryan?"

Half an hour later, Remus knocked on the office door.

"What exactly do you mean by that?" Bryan asked, smoothing away the weight and tension from his forehead and forcing his face into a welcoming smile as he opened the door.

"Everything that's happened," Remus said with severe solemnity as he entered the warm office. "You arranged for me to impersonate you while you transformed yourself into that young Beauxbatons girl, Gabrielle... Cliodna spent months disguised as Mad-Eye Moody, infiltrating the school and manipulating the tournament...

Voldemort's resurrection ceremony that we've all heard about... you and Dumbledore knew about all of this in advance, didn't you? And what exactly is the true nature of the relationship between you and Dumbledore? There's clearly tension there that goes beyond simple disagreement."

"Just as your instincts suspected," Bryan replied, returning to his position behind his desk with his steaming cup of tea in hand. "All of this was indeed within both mine and Dumbledore's knowledge and sight from the very beginning. Yes, we deliberately allowed Tom Riddle—Voldemort—to return to the wizarding world, to complete his resurrection and reveal himself."

Bryan proceeded to repeat to Remus, the same explanation he had provided to Severus earlier in the corridor.

"As for the complex relationship between Dumbledore and myself..." Bryan paused to rub his temples.

"You can understand it as having some differences in philosophy and approach regarding how best to handle the coming war and its inevitable challenges... but despite these disagreements, our ultimate goals remain perfectly aligned."

"Both Dumbledore and you represent our greatest hope for victory in this conflict, Bryan," Remus said after listening carefully to Bryan's detailed explanation, falling silent for a long, thoughtful moment before speaking again with heartfelt solemnity.

"If anyone in this world hopes to see conflict and division arise between the two of you, it must surely be Voldemort himself. He would benefit enormously from seeing his strongest opponents turned against each other."

"Don't worry about that possibility," Bryan responded with a slight nod of acknowledgment and what appeared to be confidence.

"The day I made the decision to return to Hogwarts, I think both Dumbledore and I anticipated and prepared ourselves for the reality that such philosophical disagreements would inevitably arise someday. But the conflicts won't escalate beyond manageable bounds—we'll seek common ground while preserving our individual differences of opinion and approach."

Bryan's sincere assurance visibly relieved Remus considerably, his shoulders relaxing and some of the worry around his eyes smoothing out.

However, this relief was quickly replaced by a new set of concerns as he shifted to discussing his own upcoming responsibilities.

"Dumbledore gave me roughly the same type of mission and assignment as he gave to Sirius,"

Remus explained, his brow furrowing with uncertainty. "But he disagrees strongly with my plan to leave the alchemy workshop that we've established. He hopes instead that I can use my business connections and relationships to gain financial and political support from our various business partners and allies...

He specifically mentioned that the workshop we've jointly operated with the goblins is equally important to our cause as any direct military action, and he hopes I can ensure its continued normal operation and expansion even during wartime. Additionally, he's already begun making plans to quickly reorganize and reactivate the Order of the Phoenix with all of our old members and new recruits."

Remus looked directly into Bryan's eyes with visible hesitation and uncertainty before continuing. "Given the current dangerous situation and the urgency of the tasks ahead, do you honestly think it's appropriate or wise for us to leave Britain at this critical time to promote our business interests in other countries? Shouldn't we be here, preparing for war?"

"Of course it's appropriate—in fact, it's essential,"

Bryan replied with immediate conviction. "To be completely honest with you, Remus, my decision to collaborate with the goblins to establish this alchemy workshop wasn't primarily motivated by any desire to line my own pockets with gold or to accumulate personal wealth.

Its main purpose, from the very beginning, has been to ensure Hogwarts' complete independence from external political and financial pressures, to guarantee that this school won't be constrained or controlled by the Ministry of Magic and the Board of Governors due to funding issues or economic dependency."

Bryan's expression grew more intense as he continued explaining his long-term strategy.

"When the political situation deteriorates further—and it will—we need Hogwarts to be able to operate independently, to make decisions based on what's best for magical education and the protection of students, not based on what politicians or wealthy board members demand. Financial independence is the foundation of all other forms of independence."

He leaned forward slightly, emphasizing his next point. "Dumbledore clearly understands the critical importance of this economic foundation, which is exactly why he wants you to continue operating the workshop properly and expanding our business relationships, even when it might seem like there are more immediately pressing concerns needing our attention."

Remus frowned slightly in concentration—he seemed to grasp the general direction of Bryan's meaning and the strategic thinking behind it, but wasn't entirely clear on all the specific implications and connections.

"Prepare yourself quickly and thoroughly," Bryan said, finalizing the matter. "We'll depart for our business tour immediately after the Easter holidays conclude. There's no time to waste."

Time had suddenly become a precious and increasingly scarce commodity.

Just a few short hours after Voldemort's return to the world of the living, the careful orderly rhythm of Bryan's previously well-structured life had been completely disrupted and thrown into chaos.

The comfortable routines of teaching, research, and gradual preparation had been replaced by the urgent demands of wartime planning and crisis management.

He quickly composed and sent out several important letters to various contacts and allies. Only after completing this essential mail did, he finally had a brief moment to summon Viktor Krum using his Patronus.

"Please, make yourself comfortable," Bryan said warmly, walking from the fireplace to the comfortable seating area of his office.

He offered Krum a cup filled with a uniquely scented herbal tea that filled the air with exotic aromas, and smiled with genuine warmth at the obviously anxious young man who sat stiffly on the edge of the sofa.

"Actually, Viktor, I've wanted to have a proper chat with you for quite some time now, but I simply couldn't find the right opportunity or appropriate moment to approach you privately."

As a world-renowned Quidditch star whose name and face were known throughout almost every corner of the international wizarding community, Viktor Krum, though not yet twenty years old, had already experienced many grand occasions and high-pressure situations.

He had faced crowds of screaming fans, conducted interviews with demanding reporters, and participated in championship matches where the eyes of the entire wizarding world were upon him.

Yet somehow, facing this equally young wizard across the tea service, he couldn't help feeling distinctly nervous and off-balance, especially when the other man spoke with such unclear implications.

"Are you wanting to... um, learn something specific about Durmstrang Institute?" Krum asked carefully, his tone constrained and guarded.

"I imagine that Professor Karkaroff warned you beforehand, quite sternly, not to reveal too much detailed information about your school or its methods to outsiders during your stay here,"

Bryan said with an understanding smile. "Oh, but forgive my directness—if I truly wanted to discover something specific about Durmstrang's secrets, Igor Karkaroff couldn't possibly stop me from finding out whatever I wished to know—"

Bryan's smile remained pleasant.

"What truly puzzles and intrigues me, Viktor, is you yourself," Bryan continued, leaning back comfortably in his sofa while maintaining that same gentle expression but with more searching in his gaze as he studied Krum.

"We first encountered each other at last year's Quidditch World Cup finals, Viktor—a truly memorable occasion for all involved. Forgive my bluntness in pointing this out, but both that night during the chaotic events following the match, and subsequently after you came to Hogwarts as Durmstrang's champion last year, I could clearly sense a certain degree of admiration emanating from you toward me.

This reaction isn't particularly strange or unusual—just as many Quidditch-loving children throughout the world see you as their ultimate idol and hero, it's entirely natural for someone from Durmstrang Institute, which has always placed such tremendous value on magical strength and power, to respect and admire the magical abilities that I happen to possess."

Bryan paused to take a thoughtful sip of his tea before continuing with his analysis.

"But what genuinely puzzles me, what I find myself unable to fully understand or explain, is this: from what specific point in our relationship did I begin to notice that when facing me directly, you appeared to be experiencing something that seemed more like... fear, or perhaps active resistance and wariness?

What exactly happened between us, or what did you learn about me, that caused such a shift in your attitude? Did Karkaroff perhaps share some damaging information or rumors about me with you? Some carefully selected 'dirt' designed to turn you against me?"

Bryan's tone remained light and conversational, almost joking, as he addressed Krum, who kept his head down and seemed unable or unwilling to meet his eyes directly.

"Oh, of course, this is merely casual conversation before we begin our real discussion about more serious matters,"

Bryan added with casualness. "If you think I'm untrustworthy or if you believe that sharing information with me would somehow compromise you or your school, you certainly don't need to tell me anything at all."

————————————

For More Chapters; patreon.com/FicFrenzy