Humble Halles

Ivan ignored Rita Skeeter's angry glare, cleared his throat, and went on.

"This is how you write… that the Hogwarts champion, Ivan Hals, was a good-natured, good-natured man who was affectionately known to his fellow Hogwarts students and friends as the hero of Gryffindor, the Star of Hogwarts!

He was widely known for his deeds, such as defeating a troll when he first entered the school, seeing through the disguises of several Defence Against the Dark Arts professors, and developing the Wolf's Bane Potion.

According to an unnamed student, he was highly praised by every professor in the school, and his passion for learning may have contributed to his impressive achievements…"

Ivan went on and on, describing his excellent qualities and low-key personality as objectively as possible.

He would not have bothered to comment if it were not for the fact that the interview would increase his popularity and possibly lead to a legendary event.

Rita Skeeter, who was listening, was stunned. She looked at Ivan strangely. She had never seen anyone so… shameless!

No, come to think of it, Rita Skeeter did find a similar scene in her memory — when she interviewed Lockhart, he was just as boastful.

"Even though the Hogwarts champion was reluctant to divulge any more information, the little I learned was enough to show that he had excellent character, although he kept a low profile! Well… that's about it!" Ivan smacked his lips, thought about it, and decided he had missed nothing, then turned to Rita Skeeter.

When she realized that he was frozen to the spot and that there was nothing written on the parchment, Ivan scowled and said unhappily, "You haven't written it down?"

Rita Skeeter returned to her senses and reluctantly scribbled on the parchment.

Ivan just stared at her until Rita Skeeter finished writing.

It had to be said that the gossipy reporter had some skill. He accurately recorded everything he said without missing a beat.

After finishing the last word in an extremely awkward manner, Rita Skeeter quickly put away the page and planned to leave. She did not want to stay here any longer!

"Hold on, Ms. Skeeter!" Ivan stopped her.

"What else do you want?" Rita Skeeter asked angrily, thinking that she should never have come to Hogwarts to interview some champion.

"I want you to be fair and objective when you interview Harry later, understand?" Yvonne reminded him.

He recalled how Rita Skeeter had made up stories about Hermione's love triangle with Krum in an attempt to get attention, much to Ivan's discomfort, and warned Rita Skeeter not to mention her friends in her article.

"Or I think your readers would rather hear your story!" Ivan threatened.

… .

After a "friendly" conversation, Ivan and Rita Skeeter emerged from the cubicle.

Bagman, who had been waiting in the classroom, came up to them and asked, "You seem to be having a good time."

He knew exactly what Rita Skeeter was like. She was a woman who dug up information like a mad dog, and everyone in the wizarding world avoided her. Now, seeing Rita Skeeter suppressing her anger as if she had suffered a great loss, he became curious.

Rita Skeeter forced a smile, and Yvonne volunteered to talk to her.

Bagman didn't believe a word of it, but he knew he wasn't going to get anything out of her, so he got down to business. "Hales, now that the interview is over, get over there! Mr. Ollivander is testing wands for champions, and you're the only one left!"

Ivan nodded and turned to the lectern, where several tables had been set up, in which Dumbledore, Karkaroff, Maxim, and Crouch were seated.

They were joined by an old wizard of no particular name, who was holding Harry's wand and talking to it. He waved it again, and wine-red liquid spurted from the tip of the wand, filling the glasses in front of him.

"It is in good condition, Mr Potter!" said the wizard, returning the wand to Harry after experimenting with it.

Harry put his wand away and turned to Ivan, calling out, "Ivan, your turn!"

Yvonne stepped forward and followed Harry's example.

The old wizard took the wand, his light eyes fixed on Ivan with admiration and longing.

"It's been a long time, Mr. Harls! I remember the last time I saw you, you were so young…" The old wizard gestured with his hand, then sighed. "But I knew then that your future must be extraordinary. I gave you this wand myself!"

"I'm flattered, Mr. Ollivander!" Ivan said modestly, recognizing the elderly wizard in front of him.

However, Ivan did not take Ollivander seriously.

He searched his memory and found that when "Ivan Hals" went to the shop to buy wands, the wand master was very perfunctory and treated him no differently from other young wizards.

And, with the exception of one case, all of the wands in the hands of the wizards of Britain were made by Ollivander himself, and of course passed on by hand!

Ollivander, on the other hand, was very pleased with Ivan, as he had never been happier in his life than when he witnessed one of the most brilliant wizards he had ever seen using his wand.

This not only advertised well, but also made Ollivander feel personally involved.

Even as he thought about it, Ollivander didn't forget his business. He quickly raised his wand to his eye and examined it.

"Yew, unicorn hair, eleven inches and three-quarters of a length…"

Ollivander routinely analyzed the wand's composition and determined that it was the one he had given to Ivan, but also noted the runes that had been inscribed on it.

"Well, you've made some later modifications to it?" Ollivander raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, Mr. Ollivander!" Ivan said cautiously, knowing full well that he would upset the man if he tried to alter the wand without permission.

Ivan didn't want to give up his wand, but testing wands were mandatory for every champion, and he didn't have one with him.