"Professor?"
At Tver's words, Cynthia's grip on her wand loosened slightly.
Across from them, Bagman—no, not Bagman anymore.
Grindelwald.
His face seemed to melt, the features flowing like softened wax. As Bagman's round, cheerful visage dissolved, an aged, sharp-boned face gradually emerged in its place.
More amusing still, the bulging belly gave a soft pop and deflated. But the formal suit had been tailored to accommodate Bagman's original build.
So when Grindelwald's tall, lean frame fully returned, the oversized outfit hung loosely on him. With the difference in height and build, he looked for a moment as though he were wearing some bizarre maternity gown.
Tver's teasing remark was already on the tip of his tongue—
But Grindelwald casually caught the hem of his coat and flicked it outward. In an instant, the garment reshaped itself, fitting his tall frame perfectly.
"I have the distinct impression you were about to say something impolite," Grindelwald said, casting a sidelong glance at Tver, who was barely holding back his laughter.
"Ahem. Even so, that's nowhere near as impolite as you swaggering into Britain—into Hogwarts—like this, Professor."
Tver sounded genuinely displeased.
It wasn't that he hadn't been keeping track of his teacher lately. Grindelwald had specifically forbidden it.
And now here he was, strolling into Hogwarts as if he wanted Dumbledore to notice.
Grindelwald gave Tver a light punch, annoyed.
"Impolite? I came here specifically for you. Otherwise, how could Albus possibly—"
Before he could finish, an enraged figure stormed into the tent.
Cynthia felt her warning wards dissolve instantly. She spun around, but the moment she saw who it was, she dismissed any thought of intervening.
Though aged, Dumbledore's face had lost none of its authority. If anything, he resembled an old lion, radiating restrained power.
His expression was cold. His eyes, burning with anger, swept slowly across the three of them.
"I require an explanation," he said calmly.
The calm only made it more like the stillness before a storm.
"Uh…"
Tver shot Grindelwald a look, urging him to explain.
Grindelwald, however, merely glanced away as if he hadn't noticed, inspecting the large tent with great interest, as though it contained some priceless treasure.
"…"
When his own teacher decided to play shameless, Tver had no choice but to step in.
"If I said that Mr. Bagman wanted a holiday, so my teacher filled in for him…"
His voice trailed off. Under Dumbledore's cold, mocking gaze, even he couldn't finish the sentence.
"How do you know Bagman went on holiday?" Grindelwald asked in apparent surprise.
"I ran into him at the Leaky Cauldron not long ago. He was drinking alone. After a few words, he started pouring his heart out about the massive debts he's in."
"He said he couldn't run from it. If he stopped working, he'd never be able to pay it off."
"So I had a flash of inspiration. I told him to hand everything here over to me and go on a trip to clear his head."
"By now, he's probably reached Australia."
Even Tver and Cynthia stared at him in disbelief.
"Has your storytelling truly declined to this level?" Dumbledore said coldly. "Or do you actually expect me to believe such a ridiculous tale?"
Grindelwald only shrugged indifferently.
"The truth doesn't change just because you refuse to believe it. Ask me a hundred times and my answer will still be the same."
His blunt indifference actually dampened Dumbledore's anger.
Tver, meanwhile, remembered the Weasley twins grumbling in private. Bagman really had lost a fortune on the World Cup.
He glanced at Cynthia for confirmation.
Understanding the look, Cynthia stepped forward with a wry smile.
"During the Quidditch World Cup this summer, Ludo Bagman placed bets with the goblins, along with quite a few Ministry officials."
"Not only did he lose all his savings, he ended up in debt far beyond his ability to repay. Within the Ministry, it's practically an open secret."
"I've also been investigating Bagman these past few weeks. I found records showing he left the country not long ago, though he returned to work at the Ministry within a few days."
"It seems Professor began impersonating Ludo Bagman around that time."
"Correct. Your competence never fails to impress me."
Grindelwald gave Cynthia's shoulder an approving pat.
"It's nothing. I just did what I was supposed to…" Cynthia flushed faintly.
"Don't pick up Tver's habit of false modesty. The wizarding world prefers a bit of arrogance."
"What do you mean? I'm perfectly capable of arrogance!" Tver protested.
Dumbledore watched the three of them chatting as if no one else were present. A moment ago they had been discussing something serious. Now it had turned into casual banter.
"Ahem."
Only when all three finally looked at him did he continue.
"I am willing to overlook the matter concerning Ludo Bagman. However, the fact that both Tver and Harry were selected as Champions… that, I believe, still requires an explanation."
"Come with me. We'll discuss it in my office."
He moved toward the tent flap without waiting for a response. Just before stepping out, he turned back toward Tver and Cynthia.
"You two as well."
Only then did he leave, leaving the teacher and his two students staring at one another.
"That's Dumbledore. He won't let you muddle through so easily," Grindelwald said with a helpless sigh.
He followed after Dumbledore, pulling Cynthia and Tver along, keeping just enough distance for a whispered conversation.
"By the way, why did you put my name into the Goblet of Fire?" Tver asked quickly, making use of the last bit of privacy.
"Ah, speaking of that… you've both noticed something strange about that Alastor Moody, haven't you?"
Seeing both Tver and Cynthia nod, Grindelwald cast a subtle glance toward Dumbledore ahead of them and quietly applied a Silencing Charm.
"That night, after I saw him put little Potter's name into the Goblet of Fire, I suddenly felt a peculiar premonition. It compelled me to add your name as well."
Tver blinked at him, confusion written all over his face.
Cynthia, however, was more familiar with such things.
"Was it a prophecy?" she asked softly.
"Close," Grindelwald replied with a slight nod. "Not quite a full prophecy. More like an instinctive premonition."
Only then did Tver remember that his teacher was a true Seer, far more legitimate than Professor Trelawney.
"So you did it to follow that premonition?"
"Exactly. My gift told me that you needed the identity of a Champion."