0800 THE ELDER WAND

Dumbledore had changed his wand.

An elder wand—this wand was clearly not made by Ollivander or his ancestors.

But the question that burned in Bryan's mind was: why would Dumbledore, of all wizards, make such a change?

Generally speaking, throughout the entirety of wizarding tradition and custom, the wand that a young witch or wizard acquired before embarking upon their educational journey at magical institutions would remain their companion for the entirety of their life.

This was a wizard's most intimate comrade, their deepest companion. The bond forged between wizard and wand was considered so deep, that under normal circumstances, such a partnership would never, ever be severed or replaced.

Yet Dumbledore had indeed changed his wand.

For a wizard of Dumbledore's stature, only two plausible scenarios could possibly explain such a gesture.

The first, though considerably less likely, was that his original wand had suffered catastrophic damage under extraordinary circumstances, perhaps during his legendary, earth-shaking duel with the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. The magical forces unleashed during such an epic confrontation between two of history's most powerful wizards could possibly have shattered his wand.

If this were the case, Dumbledore would have been forced to commission an entirely new wand to replace his damaged companion.

However, this possibility seemed remarkably slim when subjected to logical scrutiny. Wizards throughout British magical society were deeply accustomed to Ollivander family wand.

Even if the great Dumbledore had found himself in the position of requiring a replacement wand, convention and common sense said that he should have made his way to the shop in Diagon Alley where Garrick Ollivander would have personally supervised the creation of a new, perfectly suited magical wand.

The second scenario, however, was far more logical and reasonable: the possibility that Grindelwald himself had somehow located and claimed the legendary Elder Wand.

According to this theory, during their final duel, Grindelwald had wielded Elder Wand, only to suffer crushing defeat at Dumbledore's hands. According to the ancient rules of the Elder Wand's succession, Dumbledore would have automatically gained mastery over this legendary artifact simply by defeating its previous owner in magical combat.

Thus, he would have become the owner of the Elder Wand.

The atmosphere in the office grew oppressive in the silence. Bryan's brows furrowed slightly, his gaze heavy as deep waters.

Opening that door of death, journeying to the star sea—the "Tablet of Destiny" that Merlin had left in the centaur sanctuary still existed within his body. Bryan couldn't find it, nor did he understand its purpose, but he wasn't too worried. If Merlin had wanted to harm him, there would have been no need to painstakingly guide him alongside Hogwarts' four founders.

In the starry sky lies your way home—Merlin's revelation had never been forgotten by him.

But Bryan had always harbored doubts. He was almost certain what the four founders and Merlin wanted him to do in the starry sea. Merlin's revelation was very likely also a form of inducement, but what if—what if he refused this inducement and instead remained peacefully in this magical world?

Bryan didn't believe this world would suddenly perish, and if he no longer yearned for the world he came from, then he need not take such great risks journeying to the stars—unless something in the future forced him to do so.

But what would that be?

After long contemplation, Bryan shook his head slightly and abandoned his thoughts. There was no point in dwelling on completely unknowable future events.

But if he truly would journey to the stars, it meant he would have to collect the three Deathly Hallows, including the Resurrection Stone that had become one of Voldemort's Horcruxes, and including the Elder Wand that was very likely in Dumbledore's possession.

At this thought, hesitation flickered in Bryan's pale purple eyes.

The Elder Wand's ancient method of changing masters was well-documented in magical texts: the wand could only be truly won through decisive magical combat, through the complete defeat of its current master.

Did this rule mean that he would inevitably have to face Dumbledore himself in genuine, potentially lethal magical combat in order to claim the wand from his possession?

This was hardly something to look forward to.

If the necessity of journeying to the stars occurred after Voldemort's demise, that would be manageable, but if it happened before, while Voldemort still lived, he would have to turn against Dumbledore in mortal combat.

No!

Bryan suddenly recalled something crucial, something that had been hiding in the depths of his memory, and the realization made his deep, contemplative gaze brighten.

He needed to obtain physical possession of the Elder Wand, yes, but he did not necessarily need to master it according to its ancient rules of succession. His purpose was completely different from that of previous seekers who had coveted the wand for its legendary power and invincibility in battle. He just needed to use the Elder Wand as a key to open the door of death.

He simply needed to possess the physical artifact, to hold it in his hands when the critical moment arrived. He did not need to follow the Elder Wand's traditional, violent rules of succession, did not need to become its true master through combat and conquest.

However, one crucial uncertainty remained that could destabilize all of his plans: whether Dumbledore's current wand was indeed the legendary Elder Wand required confirmation.

He couldn't afford any mistakes in this matter. It remained entirely possible that Grindelwald, due to his particular reverence and obsession with the Elder Wand's legend, had simply commissioned a specially crafted wand made from elder wood as a symbolic tribute to the artifact he sought but never found.

In such a scenario, Dumbledore, perhaps to commemorate his deceased love—*ahem*, his profound brotherly bond with his former friend might have taken possession of Grindelwald's symbolic wand as a memento rather than acquiring the actual Deathly Hallow.

Deliberately suppressing these swirling, complex thoughts, Bryan turned his attention back to the present moment and looked toward Viktor Krum, only to discover that the young boy was staring at him with alarm.

Krum's dark eyes were wide with concern and confusion.

"Oh, please don't concern yourself with that—" Bryan said with a warm, reassuring smile, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture that was meant to put the young man at ease.

"I was just working through some complex problems in my mind. Nothing to worry about at all. Now then, where exactly were we in our conversation?"

"Grindelwald's mark, Professor," Krum replied, though his voice carried an unmistakable note of uneasiness that showed he wasn't entirely convinced by Bryan's casual dismissal of whatever had caused such intensity in his expression.

"Ah yes, the mysterious mark—" Bryan sighed softly, leaning back into the comfortable depths of the sofa with a relaxed posture as he prepared to address Krum's concerns.

"The truth of the matter, Viktor, is that the symbol you observed and recognized doesn't actually originate from Grindelwald himself, despite the widespread association between the two.

This particular mark appeared much earlier in magical history connected to certain Legendary magical objects. I believe that Grindelwald was so obsessed with studying the detailed history and mystical properties of these ancient artifacts that he eventually adopted that particular symbol as his own personal emblem. You understand—it was a misunderstanding."

"Ancient magical objects—" Bewilderment pervaded Krum's puzzled murmur, his voice trailing off as he struggled to process this unexpected revelation.

Clearly, he had never heard that the symbol involved any legendary objects. However, he did understand that he had indeed misunderstood something.

"Oh, I apologize, Professor—"

Krum set down his teacup and rose from the sofa, bowing apologetically.

"I shouldn't have, um, spoken words that impugned your reputation in front of Hermione Granger before clarifying things."

Karkaroff might be incompetent, but he had indeed taught a good student.

Bryan smiled and gestured for Krum to sit down.

"I'm genuinely pleased that we've managed to clear up this unfortunate misunderstanding so completely. However, there is actually another matter of considerable importance that I wanted to discuss and confirm with you, Viktor—"

Bryan's expression gradually grew more serious, though it remained calm and approachable.

Observing Krum's continued bewilderment and the confusion that clouded his eyes, Bryan took the time to explain softly.

"From my own personal perspective, I genuinely hope that the Triwizard Tournament can continue to its planned conclusion. This desire stems not only from the reasons I explained this morning to others, but also because allowing the first tournament in several centuries to end abruptly and disgracefully in the middle would cause significant damage to Hogwarts' reputation.

However, I want to emphasize that this represents merely my own individual viewpoint and professional opinion. Among the three participating magical institutions, Durmstrang Academy is in by far the most precarious and difficult position following recent events.

If you personally, if you find yourself unwilling or unable to continue competing under these changed circumstances, I want you to understand that I have absolutely no right or intention to force, coerce, or pressure you into participation against your will or better judgment."

Krum understood. His naturally somewhat gloomy brows relaxed and genuine respect flashed in his heart.

Here in this land, the Dark Wizard whose very name struck terror into the hearts of ordinary witches and wizards had returned from apparent death to resume his reign of terror and destruction.

Though Krum had not personally experienced the full extent of the terror and despair that this particular Dark Wizard had brought to the British magical community during his previous rise to power, he had certainly heard numerous detailed stories and accounts about the atrocities committed, and he possessed enough understanding of magical history to roughly understand what the Dark Lord's return meant for this country and its people.

War would soon ignite in this nation, and Bryan Watson would surely lead those wizards unwilling to live under tyranny in resistance.

For a wizard in Bryan Watson's extraordinarily demanding position, he was undoubtedly overwhelmed with urgent affairs of state and war preparation. Countless critical matters requiring immediate attention must be competing for every moment of his valuable time and mental energy.

Yet despite these overwhelming pressures and responsibilities, he had still taken the time to personally call Krum to his office and ask, with equal respect and genuine consideration, whether he was willing to continue participating in the Triwizard Tournament.

This was true leadership and character in action, even though the answer he received might very well not align with his stated wishes or professional preferences.

But despite his growing respect for Bryan's leadership and character, Krum's briefly relaxed face soon furrowed again with concern and uncertainty. He was hesitating, his gaze dimming with worry.

"Is Professor Karkaroff really...?" Krum couldn't bring himself to speak the words aloud, couldn't say "dead" or "gone forever" but the meaning was clear in his tone and expression.

"I believe Harry wouldn't lie," Bryan said in a low tone.

"Moreover, if you know anything about Professor Karkaroff's complicated past history and his previous associations, and if you understand anything about Voldemort's character and methods of operation, you should be able to grasp that Karkaroff could never, under any circumstances, receive Voldemort's forgiveness for his past betrayals and testimony against fellow Death Eaters—"

Krum nodded heavily, then fell silent again.

Bryan didn't press him, but simply waited quietly.

"But even if we desperately want to continue participating in the tournament, Professor Watson," Krum finally said with obvious hesitation and uncertainty in every word, "Durmstrang Academy has lost its headmaster. We students... we honestly don't know how to proceed without proper supervision and guidance. The situation seems impossible."

"The tournament has also lost one of its essential judges," Bryan acknowledged, recognizing the scope of the administrative crisis they faced.

"You don't need to worry about those particular complications, Viktor—" Bryan said with remarkable calm and confidence, as though he had already anticipated and planned for exactly this scenario.

"Before you arrived here, I had already begun addressing both of these critical matters. Through my connections and influence in the international magical community I've found a new headmaster for Durmstrang.

Of course, I still need to meet with this individual personally to discuss the position in detail and confirm that this arrangement can work practically and legally, but based on my knowledge of his character and qualifications, I have every confidence that he will agree to accept this responsibility—"

The phrase 'Found a new headmaster for Durmstrang Academy?' echoed through Krum's mind with stunning impact, leaving him somewhat stunned and amazed.

While he certainly knew and respected that Professor Watson had considerable prestige and influence throughout European magical circles, the idea of single-handedly arranging a replacement headmaster for another prestigious magical school of equal international standing to Hogwarts seemed almost impossibly ambitious and complex.

This was particularly remarkable considering that Professor Watson held only the position of Student Safety Office Head at Hogwarts himself, rather than being the institution's headmaster or a high-ranking government official.

Though deeply puzzled by the apparent ease with which such a massive administrative challenge was being resolved, Krum had enough wisdom and social grace not to speak his doubts or question Bryan's methods openly.

In the depths of his heart, beneath all the uncertainty and grief over recent losses, Krum discovered that he genuinely hoped the tournament could continue to its planned conclusion.

It was like an intensely competitive Quidditch match that had captured the imagination and passion of participants and spectators. Neither the eager audiences nor the dedicated players could psychologically accept having their dreams and efforts interrupted and abandoned halfway through the competition.

Krum finally reached his decision and agreed to continue his participation. Just before preparing to leave Bryan's office, his normally somber and brooding expression finally lightened somewhat for the first time since entering the room, and he gave Bryan a reserved but genuinely warm smile.

"I will make certain to tell people the complete truth about recent events, Professor Watson," Krum said with quiet conviction and determination.

"Even though your Ministry of Magic stubbornly refuses to acknowledge or believe that the Dark Wizard has indeed returned to power, I personally believe with absolute certainty that this represents the truth of our current situation. You have my complete trust and support."

"Thank you very much for placing your trust in me, Viktor," Bryan replied after a moment of genuine surprise at the young man's response. His smile was warm and appreciative as he continued, "I sincerely wish you the very best of luck and success in the upcoming third task of the tournament. May your courage and skill serve you well."

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Dumbledore had changed his wand.

An elder wand—this wand was clearly not made by Ollivander or his ancestors.

But the question that burned in Bryan's mind was: why would Dumbledore, of all wizards, make such a change?

Generally speaking, throughout the entirety of wizarding tradition and custom, the wand that a young witch or wizard acquired before embarking upon their educational journey at magical institutions would remain their companion for the entirety of their life.

This was a wizard's most intimate comrade, their deepest companion. The bond forged between wizard and wand was considered so deep, that under normal circumstances, such a partnership would never, ever be severed or replaced.

Yet Dumbledore had indeed changed his wand.

For a wizard of Dumbledore's stature, only two plausible scenarios could possibly explain such a gesture.

The first, though considerably less likely, was that his original wand had suffered catastrophic damage under extraordinary circumstances, perhaps during his legendary, earth-shaking duel with the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. The magical forces unleashed during such an epic confrontation between two of history's most powerful wizards could possibly have shattered his wand.

If this were the case, Dumbledore would have been forced to commission an entirely new wand to replace his damaged companion.

However, this possibility seemed remarkably slim when subjected to logical scrutiny. Wizards throughout British magical society were deeply accustomed to Ollivander family wand.

Even if the great Dumbledore had found himself in the position of requiring a replacement wand, convention and common sense said that he should have made his way to the shop in Diagon Alley where Garrick Ollivander would have personally supervised the creation of a new, perfectly suited magical wand.

The second scenario, however, was far more logical and reasonable: the possibility that Grindelwald himself had somehow located and claimed the legendary Elder Wand.

According to this theory, during their final duel, Grindelwald had wielded Elder Wand, only to suffer crushing defeat at Dumbledore's hands. According to the ancient rules of the Elder Wand's succession, Dumbledore would have automatically gained mastery over this legendary artifact simply by defeating its previous owner in magical combat.

Thus, he would have become the owner of the Elder Wand.

The atmosphere in the office grew oppressive in the silence. Bryan's brows furrowed slightly, his gaze heavy as deep waters.

Opening that door of death, journeying to the star sea—the "Tablet of Destiny" that Merlin had left in the centaur sanctuary still existed within his body. Bryan couldn't find it, nor did he understand its purpose, but he wasn't too worried. If Merlin had wanted to harm him, there would have been no need to painstakingly guide him alongside Hogwarts' four founders.

In the starry sky lies your way home—Merlin's revelation had never been forgotten by him.

But Bryan had always harbored doubts. He was almost certain what the four founders and Merlin wanted him to do in the starry sea. Merlin's revelation was very likely also a form of inducement, but what if—what if he refused this inducement and instead remained peacefully in this magical world?

Bryan didn't believe this world would suddenly perish, and if he no longer yearned for the world he came from, then he need not take such great risks journeying to the stars—unless something in the future forced him to do so.

But what would that be?

After long contemplation, Bryan shook his head slightly and abandoned his thoughts. There was no point in dwelling on completely unknowable future events.

But if he truly would journey to the stars, it meant he would have to collect the three Deathly Hallows, including the Resurrection Stone that had become one of Voldemort's Horcruxes, and including the Elder Wand that was very likely in Dumbledore's possession.

At this thought, hesitation flickered in Bryan's pale purple eyes.

The Elder Wand's ancient method of changing masters was well-documented in magical texts: the wand could only be truly won through decisive magical combat, through the complete defeat of its current master.

Did this rule mean that he would inevitably have to face Dumbledore himself in genuine, potentially lethal magical combat in order to claim the wand from his possession?

This was hardly something to look forward to.

If the necessity of journeying to the stars occurred after Voldemort's demise, that would be manageable, but if it happened before, while Voldemort still lived, he would have to turn against Dumbledore in mortal combat.

No!

Bryan suddenly recalled something crucial, something that had been hiding in the depths of his memory, and the realization made his deep, contemplative gaze brighten.

He needed to obtain physical possession of the Elder Wand, yes, but he did not necessarily need to master it according to its ancient rules of succession. His purpose was completely different from that of previous seekers who had coveted the wand for its legendary power and invincibility in battle. He just needed to use the Elder Wand as a key to open the door of death.

He simply needed to possess the physical artifact, to hold it in his hands when the critical moment arrived. He did not need to follow the Elder Wand's traditional, violent rules of succession, did not need to become its true master through combat and conquest.

However, one crucial uncertainty remained that could destabilize all of his plans: whether Dumbledore's current wand was indeed the legendary Elder Wand required confirmation.

He couldn't afford any mistakes in this matter. It remained entirely possible that Grindelwald, due to his particular reverence and obsession with the Elder Wand's legend, had simply commissioned a specially crafted wand made from elder wood as a symbolic tribute to the artifact he sought but never found.

In such a scenario, Dumbledore, perhaps to commemorate his deceased love—*ahem*, his profound brotherly bond with his former friend might have taken possession of Grindelwald's symbolic wand as a memento rather than acquiring the actual Deathly Hallow.

Deliberately suppressing these swirling, complex thoughts, Bryan turned his attention back to the present moment and looked toward Viktor Krum, only to discover that the young boy was staring at him with alarm.

Krum's dark eyes were wide with concern and confusion.

"Oh, please don't concern yourself with that—" Bryan said with a warm, reassuring smile, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture that was meant to put the young man at ease.

"I was just working through some complex problems in my mind. Nothing to worry about at all. Now then, where exactly were we in our conversation?"

"Grindelwald's mark, Professor," Krum replied, though his voice carried an unmistakable note of uneasiness that showed he wasn't entirely convinced by Bryan's casual dismissal of whatever had caused such intensity in his expression.

"Ah yes, the mysterious mark—" Bryan sighed softly, leaning back into the comfortable depths of the sofa with a relaxed posture as he prepared to address Krum's concerns.

"The truth of the matter, Viktor, is that the symbol you observed and recognized doesn't actually originate from Grindelwald himself, despite the widespread association between the two.

This particular mark appeared much earlier in magical history connected to certain Legendary magical objects. I believe that Grindelwald was so obsessed with studying the detailed history and mystical properties of these ancient artifacts that he eventually adopted that particular symbol as his own personal emblem. You understand—it was a misunderstanding."

"Ancient magical objects—" Bewilderment pervaded Krum's puzzled murmur, his voice trailing off as he struggled to process this unexpected revelation.

Clearly, he had never heard that the symbol involved any legendary objects. However, he did understand that he had indeed misunderstood something.

"Oh, I apologize, Professor—"

Krum set down his teacup and rose from the sofa, bowing apologetically.

"I shouldn't have, um, spoken words that impugned your reputation in front of Hermione Granger before clarifying things."

Karkaroff might be incompetent, but he had indeed taught a good student.

Bryan smiled and gestured for Krum to sit down.

"I'm genuinely pleased that we've managed to clear up this unfortunate misunderstanding so completely. However, there is actually another matter of considerable importance that I wanted to discuss and confirm with you, Viktor—"

Bryan's expression gradually grew more serious, though it remained calm and approachable.

Observing Krum's continued bewilderment and the confusion that clouded his eyes, Bryan took the time to explain softly.

"From my own personal perspective, I genuinely hope that the Triwizard Tournament can continue to its planned conclusion. This desire stems not only from the reasons I explained this morning to others, but also because allowing the first tournament in several centuries to end abruptly and disgracefully in the middle would cause significant damage to Hogwarts' reputation.

However, I want to emphasize that this represents merely my own individual viewpoint and professional opinion. Among the three participating magical institutions, Durmstrang Academy is in by far the most precarious and difficult position following recent events.

If you personally, if you find yourself unwilling or unable to continue competing under these changed circumstances, I want you to understand that I have absolutely no right or intention to force, coerce, or pressure you into participation against your will or better judgment."

Krum understood. His naturally somewhat gloomy brows relaxed and genuine respect flashed in his heart.

Here in this land, the Dark Wizard whose very name struck terror into the hearts of ordinary witches and wizards had returned from apparent death to resume his reign of terror and destruction.

Though Krum had not personally experienced the full extent of the terror and despair that this particular Dark Wizard had brought to the British magical community during his previous rise to power, he had certainly heard numerous detailed stories and accounts about the atrocities committed, and he possessed enough understanding of magical history to roughly understand what the Dark Lord's return meant for this country and its people.

War would soon ignite in this nation, and Bryan Watson would surely lead those wizards unwilling to live under tyranny in resistance.

For a wizard in Bryan Watson's extraordinarily demanding position, he was undoubtedly overwhelmed with urgent affairs of state and war preparation. Countless critical matters requiring immediate attention must be competing for every moment of his valuable time and mental energy.

Yet despite these overwhelming pressures and responsibilities, he had still taken the time to personally call Krum to his office and ask, with equal respect and genuine consideration, whether he was willing to continue participating in the Triwizard Tournament.

This was true leadership and character in action, even though the answer he received might very well not align with his stated wishes or professional preferences.

But despite his growing respect for Bryan's leadership and character, Krum's briefly relaxed face soon furrowed again with concern and uncertainty. He was hesitating, his gaze dimming with worry.

"Is Professor Karkaroff really...?" Krum couldn't bring himself to speak the words aloud, couldn't say "dead" or "gone forever" but the meaning was clear in his tone and expression.

"I believe Harry wouldn't lie," Bryan said in a low tone.

"Moreover, if you know anything about Professor Karkaroff's complicated past history and his previous associations, and if you understand anything about Voldemort's character and methods of operation, you should be able to grasp that Karkaroff could never, under any circumstances, receive Voldemort's forgiveness for his past betrayals and testimony against fellow Death Eaters—"

Krum nodded heavily, then fell silent again.

Bryan didn't press him, but simply waited quietly.

"But even if we desperately want to continue participating in the tournament, Professor Watson," Krum finally said with obvious hesitation and uncertainty in every word, "Durmstrang Academy has lost its headmaster. We students... we honestly don't know how to proceed without proper supervision and guidance. The situation seems impossible."

"The tournament has also lost one of its essential judges," Bryan acknowledged, recognizing the scope of the administrative crisis they faced.

"You don't need to worry about those particular complications, Viktor—" Bryan said with remarkable calm and confidence, as though he had already anticipated and planned for exactly this scenario.

"Before you arrived here, I had already begun addressing both of these critical matters. Through my connections and influence in the international magical community I've found a new headmaster for Durmstrang.

Of course, I still need to meet with this individual personally to discuss the position in detail and confirm that this arrangement can work practically and legally, but based on my knowledge of his character and qualifications, I have every confidence that he will agree to accept this responsibility—"

The phrase 'Found a new headmaster for Durmstrang Academy?' echoed through Krum's mind with stunning impact, leaving him somewhat stunned and amazed.

While he certainly knew and respected that Professor Watson had considerable prestige and influence throughout European magical circles, the idea of single-handedly arranging a replacement headmaster for another prestigious magical school of equal international standing to Hogwarts seemed almost impossibly ambitious and complex.

This was particularly remarkable considering that Professor Watson held only the position of Student Safety Office Head at Hogwarts himself, rather than being the institution's headmaster or a high-ranking government official.

Though deeply puzzled by the apparent ease with which such a massive administrative challenge was being resolved, Krum had enough wisdom and social grace not to speak his doubts or question Bryan's methods openly.

In the depths of his heart, beneath all the uncertainty and grief over recent losses, Krum discovered that he genuinely hoped the tournament could continue to its planned conclusion.

It was like an intensely competitive Quidditch match that had captured the imagination and passion of participants and spectators. Neither the eager audiences nor the dedicated players could psychologically accept having their dreams and efforts interrupted and abandoned halfway through the competition.

Krum finally reached his decision and agreed to continue his participation. Just before preparing to leave Bryan's office, his normally somber and brooding expression finally lightened somewhat for the first time since entering the room, and he gave Bryan a reserved but genuinely warm smile.

"I will make certain to tell people the complete truth about recent events, Professor Watson," Krum said with quiet conviction and determination.

"Even though your Ministry of Magic stubbornly refuses to acknowledge or believe that the Dark Wizard has indeed returned to power, I personally believe with absolute certainty that this represents the truth of our current situation. You have my complete trust and support."

"Thank you very much for placing your trust in me, Viktor," Bryan replied after a moment of genuine surprise at the young man's response. His smile was warm and appreciative as he continued, "I sincerely wish you the very best of luck and success in the upcoming third task of the tournament. May your courage and skill serve you well."

————————————

For More Chapters; patreon.com/FicFrenzy