Ares hadn't wanted to be a PR ambassador for the Ministry of Magic, but Cornelius Fudge had managed to secure him an Order of Merlin anyway... even though Ares wasn't particularly interested in it.
Dumbledore arranged a small celebration for Ares in the antechamber off the Great Hall.
After all, this was the Order of Merlin, First Class!
Possessing it was tantamount to having a status as prestigious as that of a pure-blood heir. It was a stepping stone into the upper echelons of wizarding society across Europe!
Whenever a First Class Order was awarded, it would attract scramble coverage from multiple media outlets across Europe. No matter where the recipient went, they would garner reverent gazes.
Just like now—
Ares was toying with the medal in his hand...
It was a gold medal, with the imagined profile of Merlin stamped on the front, and a brief description of the reason for Ares's commendation on the back... He was surprised that such a prestigious First Class Order wasn't even made of 24K pure gold, failing to notice that the people around him—even Professor McGonagall...
After Ares officially received the medal, their gazes toward him were tinged with a hint of respect.
"Tsk—it's over, right, Minister? And Professor Dumbledore, can we go back to eat now?"
"If you say it's over, then it's over, Ares—"
Dumbledore said with a smile.
"You are the guest of honor."
"I've never seen an award ceremony so shabb..."
The Minister for Magic, who had changed into a tight-fitting pinstriped purple cloak today, wiped the beaming smile from his face. His critical gaze swept around the small room.
"Perfunctory... Of course, my dear Ares, as Dumbledore said, you are the guest of honor. Since you don't wish to make a fuss..."
"So, will you be staying for lunch, Cornelius... Honestly, the dessert this afternoon is excellent. It would be a shame to miss it."
"Oh, thank you for your kindness, Dumbledore... Well, I'm not hungry yet, and I'm afraid I don't have the time... Of course, you can go ahead and enjoy the dessert—"
Cornelius Fudge put away his lingering reluctance.
His shrewd little eyes glanced at Dumbledore, then he put on an amiable face toward Ares again, patting Ares on the shoulder affectionately.
"Before I leave, I'd like to have a few more words with our young hero wizard.
Ah, heh heh, just to catch up. After all, I think no one would deny that the outstanding young man standing before us is a rising star of tomorrow, with a limitless future... You wouldn't refuse, would you, my dear Ares?"
Ares noticed the helplessness flashing in Dumbledore's bright blue eyes and smiled inwardly.
The Minister's intentions weren't hard to guess... He was probably still plotting to get Ares, in his capacity as the hero who saved hundreds of students, to deliver an inspiring speech in front of the cameras and casually mention the Ministry's efficient action in handling the crisis.
"Of course, no problem, Minister—"
Ares smiled faintly.
"Ah, Professor Dumbledore, since the Minister wants to chat with us... perhaps you could save your dessert for later?"
"Naturally."
Dumbledore first signaled to the other staff members that they could go to lunch, then looked calmly at Ares.
Years had passed, and this young man had changed a lot... but some traits were still visible, not much different from back then.
For instance, as seen in the student demonstration he led a month ago, when Ares decided to do something, his actions tended to be extreme and unscrupulous.
And take now, for example—
Ares surely knew what Fudge wanted to talk to him about... Any other young wizard he knew probably wouldn't refuse the Minister's repeated requests. After all, under the authority of power, a household wizarding star could be manufactured in a very short time.
But Ares simply wasn't willing... He'd rather drag Dumbledore along to shut Cornelius up... This was exactly the same as when he hid his true grades while at school.
Cornelius Fudge wasn't very good at hiding his mood. He agreed reluctantly.
"Alright, Ares, since you insist... then—then let's go together, Dumbledore—shall we talk somewhere else? It's noisy with the students eating outside!"
"My office, how about it, Cornelius?"
"Oh, no need for that... just a casual chat—let's go out to the grounds, Dumbledore."
Fudge said.
So, under the awe-filled and curious gazes of the students, the three of them crossed the Great Hall and went outside the castle.
Smoke curled up from Hagrid's hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, but the three didn't head that way. Instead, they crossed the grounds to the lake shore.
The October willows, their crisp green leaves revealing a feeble weakness, signaled the impending winter.
The fresh air and the shimmering lake under the pale sky seemed to improve the Minister's gloomy mood. He didn't clumsily point directly to his purpose but looked at Ares with an amiable smile.
"Put it this way, Hogwarts now has two wizards who have received the Order of Merlin, First Class. Hmm, this will also play a significant role in enhancing the international influence of this magical school!"
Ares responded to the praise with a modest smile. He looked at Fudge, his peripheral vision sweeping over Dumbledore walking on Fudge's other side. Looking at that aged, serene face, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
"I relied entirely on luck, Minister, unlike Professor Dumbledore—"
Ares said with a smile.
"What does the back of the Chocolate Frog card say again—defeated the Dark Wizard Grindelwald in 1945; discovered the twelve uses of dragon's blood; effective work on alchemy with his partner Nicolas Flamel... Oh, honestly, Professor Dumbledore, looking around the globe, in the contemporary wizarding world, is there any wizard whose magical attainments are higher than yours?"
"Ah, that is true—"
To ensure Dumbledore wouldn't give him grief later, Fudge smiled and added a compliment.
"Dumbledore's academic achievements are indisputable."
"I dare not boast that I understand all magical knowledge—"
Facing the compliments of the two, Albus Dumbledore smiled calmly.
"Take Hogwarts for example. I could never get along with magical creatures as amicably as Hagrid does; Professor Snape's attainments in Potions are also beyond my reach; Professor McGonagall's unique views on Transfiguration in recent years have opened my eyes... not to mention Madam Pomfrey's insights on healing and Madam Hooch's broomstick skills—
Magical knowledge is a boundless ocean. I would never dare claim to own the entire sea alone."
Dumbledore's reply was exactly as Fudge expected.
The Minister shook his head with a smile.
"You are being modest, Dumbledore."
"A very standard answer, Professor Dumbledore—"
Ares chuckled lightly.
"But you haven't answered my question yet...
Is there?
Among everyone you know, is there a wizard with higher magical attainments than you?"