Chapter 172: Silver Moon
"Allow me to introduce Mr. Ollivander," Dumbledore said, taking a seat at the judges' table and addressing the champions. "He will examine your wands to ensure they are in optimal condition before the tournament."
To Augustus's surprise, the wand inspection would be conducted by the renowned wandmaker himself. Augustus observed Ollivander, a quiet old wizard with pale, penetrating eyes, standing silently by the window. Noticing Augustus's gaze, Ollivander offered a polite smile.
"Miss Delacour, shall we begin with you?" Ollivander suggested, stepping into the room's open space.
He inspected Fleur's wand with delicate precision, twirling it between his slender fingers as if it were a conductor's baton. Sparks of pink and gold emanated from its tip. He brought the wand closer to his face, examining it carefully.
"Impressive," he murmured softly. "Nine and a half inches… supple… made of rosewood… very good. Thank you, Miss Delacour." He handed the wand back to Fleur before turning his gaze toward Augustus.
"Next, Mr. Augustus," Ollivander said, a trace of curiosity gleaming in his pale eyes.
Augustus drew out his silver wand, its surface shimmering as sunlight danced upon it, creating a blend of pure silver and radiant gold hues. Dumbledore's eyes narrowed slightly, taking in the sight.
Ollivander accepted the wand with a solemn expression, almost reverent, as if handling a masterpiece. "It feels as though no time has passed," Ollivander said with a nostalgic sigh. "Silver Moon… it's been a long time."
With a graceful flick of the wand, Ollivander conjured a cascade of deep blue starlight that sparkled like fireworks, filling the room with an ethereal glow. Fleur's eyes widened in awe.
Harry glanced down at his own wand, which was smudged with fingerprints. He quickly used a corner of his robe to wipe it, causing a few gold sparks to fly from its tip. Fleur shot him a disdainful look, and he gave up on his efforts.
With Harry and Krum left to go, Ollivander meticulously inspected their wands as well. Afterward, satisfied with his work, Ollivander departed with a look of fulfillment.
"Time for photos! Dumbledore, we need photos!" Ludo Bagman exclaimed enthusiastically. "A group shot of the champions and judges! What do you think, Rita?"
"Yes, of course," Rita said carefully, her gaze flicking to Augustus. She visibly relaxed when Augustus showed no objections.
The photo session took a while. Madam Maxime's towering frame blocked everyone else no matter where she stood, and the room was too small for the photographer to back up far enough to capture everyone. In the end, she had to sit down while the others stood around her. Karkaroff fussed endlessly with his goatee, trying to curl it into a perfect twist. The photographer seemed particularly eager to have Fleur stand in the front, but Rita Skeeter repeatedly pulled Augustus into the most prominent position.
In the following days, Rita Skeeter's articles caused Harry no end of trouble. The latest story spun a narrative about how Harry had found his first love at Hogwarts. His close friend Colin Creevey was quoted as saying that Harry was inseparable from a girl named Hermione Granger, a Muggle-born student described as "strikingly beautiful" and one of the school's top achievers.
While Augustus was praised in glowing profiles that read like heroic biographies—covering everything from protecting the Philosopher's Stone in his first year, defeating the Basilisk in his second, and fending off a horde of Dementors last year—Harry was relegated to sensationalized tabloid-style drama. Together, their stories dominated the Daily Prophet's front pages.
"Need a handkerchief, Potter? So you don't start sobbing in Transfiguration?"
"Since when were you a top student, Potter? Or is Hogwarts secretly run by you and Longbottom?"
Negative rumors about Harry spread rapidly. Within days, the tale of Harry Potter, one of Hogwarts' champions, and his supposed romantic escapades was being discussed in every corner of the wizarding world.
"'Strikingly beautiful'? Her?" Pansy Parkinson sneered the first time she saw Hermione after the article came out. "What did they compare her to—a chipmunk?"
In contrast, Augustus's coverage was so effusively positive that even students from the other schools took notice, and The Daily Prophet gained a new wave of readers.
Recently, Draco Malfoy had been in an uncharacteristically good mood, reading the Daily Prophet religiously. The paper offered endless material to mock Harry, from portraying him as a tearful boy to spinning wild stories of a love triangle or branding him as a manipulative schemer desperate for the champion title.
"Ha!" Draco laughed as he picked up a pumpkin pasty, his face lighting up with a delighted smirk.
Liliana sighed deeply and shook her head. "He's hopeless. Ever since Rita's serialized novel started gracing the headlines, Draco has been utterly obsessed. It's criminal how this sort of thing corrupts young minds."
Augustus rubbed his chin in exasperation. The current situation was far from conducive to unity. Rita's dual narratives had polarized him and Harry into opposites. For now, it seemed only a spectacular performance in the tournament could redeem Harry's reputation.
"This isn't really Potter's fault," Saul remarked with a sigh. "With no background to speak of, first as the 'Boy Who Lived' and now a Hogwarts champion, he's prime fodder for someone like Rita Skeeter. It's a shame not to use her talent for sensationalism."
From afar, Hagrid's massive frame approached.
"Augustus, got a moment tonight?" Hagrid asked with a friendly smile. "If you're free, come by my hut at midnight. There's something important to discuss."
"Midnight? Sure, I'll try to be on time," Augustus replied, intrigued.
Hagrid straightened up and bellowed, "Good! See you then. Nice to see you too, Liliana!" He gave a wink before lumbering off.
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