The stadium has been completely renovated. Quidditch-related facilities have been completely dismantled and a temporary venue for the Merlin Medal Award Ceremony has been built.
There was a soft carpet on the lawn, the table was brightly illuminated by the lights, the tablecloth was dazzlingly white, and there were silver samovars and translucent white porcelain tea sets on the table.
The invited guests include dignitaries from the Ministry of Magic from various countries, famous wizards, sports stars from the Quidditch World Cup, as well as winners and their relatives and friends.
Everyone greeted each other, greeted each other, offered tea, and chatted about various topics during the cocktail music played by the orchestra.
Sirius took Harry, Ron, Ginny, Percy and others through the crowd, and finally found a chair to sit down.
It was the first time for Harry and the others to attend such a high-level banquet. In the past, wizards they had only seen in newspapers, radios and even textbooks would appear in front of them one after another... as if they were in a dream.
Especially Ron, who sat on a chair and shouted excitedly:
"Harry, look...it's Krum! Viktor Krum! He's right there...Oh my God, this is the first time I've seen him so close!"
Ron's yelling attracted a lot of attention, and Percy couldn't help but frown and said:
"For Merlin's sake, Ron, can you please keep your voice down? Others are looking at us. Look at your unseen look!"
"But that's Krum..."
"What's wrong with Krum?" Percy said disdainfully: "He's just a Quidditch player."
"Just a Quidditch player!" Ron looked at Percy blankly, as if he couldn't believe his ears.
"He's the best Seeker in the world!"
"Isn't the best seeker a Quidditch player?" Percy scolded:
"Besides...what kind of champion is Krum? Can we brag about it later after winning the championship?"
"Percy, although you are a fake football fan, your opinion... I completely agree." Charlie, who had just returned from Romania, said with a smile:
“Krum is indeed very strong, but when it comes to being the ‘best’, Ireland’s Seeker Aidan Linzi is not much worse than him.
Let’s talk about who is better after we win the World Cup. Now don’t talk about Krum being better than Peele without a championship, or being better than Colin with one championship.”
Ron was speechless. His eyes quickly fell on the red-haired wizard next to Krum, and he awkwardly changed the subject:
"Who is the guy Krum is chatting with? He looks a lot like my cousin Dominic."
Sirius glanced at the man and smiled: "Ron, is your cousin also the director of the Auror Office of the Norwegian Ministry of Magic?"
"Um...that's not true." Ron shook his head quickly.
"His name is Pierce." Sirius grabbed a glass of cocktail, took a sip and said:
"When I chased the Death Eaters to Iceland, I had a conflict with him. This kid had just graduated from Durmstrang and was still a trainee Auror.
Now he is the director of the Auror Office in Iceland."
"He became the Director of the Auror Office in just thirteen years." Percy was a little shocked.
This promotion speed is not unpleasant at all.
"To be precise, it took seven years." Sirius corrected.
"How did you do it?" Harry asked curiously: "Has Pierce made any great achievements?"
"I've never heard of that." Sirius shrugged, "But Pierce's father is the former director of the Auror Office in Iceland."
"..."
Harry was a little speechless, he thought there was something special about this guy.
Sirius joked: "So, there is a saying that describes the Icelandic Ministry of Magic, why the son of the director of the Auror Office can only be the director, not the director... because the director of the Legal Enforcement Department also has a son."
Everyone laughed, except Percy. He nodded thoughtfully and said:
“Connections are really important!”
Percy felt that he lacked the political resources to support him.
His father, Arthur, was just the director of the Office for the Prohibition of Misuse of Muggle Items. This was an unpopular department with no future... and it did not help his promotion at all!
Ron leaned into Harry's ear and hummed: "Percy is ambitious. He has already planned to be the Minister of Magic in the future."
Harry recalled seeing Percy reading a book called "How Prefects Gain Power" in Diagon Alley...Percy seemed to be such a person.
Ginny did not listen to the arguments of several people, but stood up and kept looking into the crowd.
Charlie smiled and asked: "Who are you looking for, Ginny?"
"Look for Rolf." Ginny looked up and said, "Didn't everyone say that he would win the Order of Merlin? Why didn't I see him?"
Mentioning Rolf, not only Ron, but also Percy looked envious. They all followed Sirius to make up the numbers and see the world.
And Rolf is really here to receive the Order of Merlin, and the meaning of this is completely different!
At this moment, there was a loud noise at the entrance, and a group of people walked into the gymnasium surrounded by reporters. The person at the front was...Rolf.
Sirius looked at the young man with the stars over the moon, and whistled: "Rolf is here."
They stood up and were about to walk over, but stopped because Rove was already surrounded by a group of wizards.
Percy was envious of Pierce's political resources just now, but now he will be frightened by Rove's connections.
He saw a group of officials from various countries greeting him. Even Fudge, the Minister of Magic, had to force his way into the crowd.
Minister Fudge introduced loudly as if showing off:
"Mr. Newt Scamander, the famous magical zoologist. Mrs. Tina Scamander, the former director of the Auror Office of the U.S. Congress, captured Grindelwald.
Rolf... needless to say, as you all know, is about to become the youngest recipient of the Order of Merlin."
With a humble smile, Luofu nodded politely to everyone.
Fortunately, with the entrance of the Wizengamot, he finally got rid of the endless pleasantries and nonsense.
I saw about fifty wizards walking into the stadium. They were wearing purple-red robes with a delicate silver "" embroidered on their left chest.
The chief wizard of the Wizengamot...Dumbledore walked at the forefront. He was wearing a very gorgeous moon-white robe with many stars and moons embroidered on it. He wore huge gems on his fingers, which emitted dazzling light.
With the appearance of the Wizengamot, the stadium became completely quiet, and everyone quickly took their seats.
Dumbledore walked to the front desk, raised his head, and looked at everyone through the half-moon glasses on the bridge of his aquiline nose.
He smiled and said:
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, welcome here to participate in this significant ceremony for the Order of Merlin."
…
…
(Thanks to "I'm Not a Big Devil" and "A Cup of Cappuccino" for the tip.)