The Award Ceremony

Next came the award ceremony. To let the spectators see the details of the presentation as clearly as possible, the Top Box was lit up as bright as day.

When Ministry of Magic staff carried the Golden Cup into the Top Box, a familiar face appeared with it—the North American Magical Congress President, Benjamin Graves.

"President Graves..." Cornelius Fudge stepped forward and shook Benjamin Graves's hand. "I thought you were so busy you'd forgotten all about this."

"Minister Fudge..." Benjamin Graves said, "for something this important, even if I were tied up with all manner of affairs, I would still have to witness it with my own eyes..."

"That's wonderful!" Cornelius Fudge smiled. "Then you should have seen it, I take it—the brilliant performance by our England's Vizet Lovegood!"

At those words, Benjamin Graves instinctively pressed his lips together, then quickly recovered his smile and said, "Indeed... I certainly won't forget that..."

"But there is one thing Minister Fudge shouldn't forget either. I think for Vizet, the North American Team is undoubtedly the better choice... after all, it eliminated the Irish Team."

"True..." Cornelius Fudge kept smiling. "Perhaps I should include that part... in the related compensation as well... and win a bit of welfare for Ireland!"

"How noble!" Benjamin Graves smiled with his teeth showing, his voice squeezing out through them. "But I don't think doing that... will be enough to recover the reputation you've lost!"

Cornelius Fudge said with a smile, "It seems President Graves... knows me very well!"

"I don't actually want to know you... but all those reports about you..." Benjamin Graves said, "there are simply too many!"

Both men wore kind smiles, but the strength in their handshake gradually increased. Their knuckles slowly turned white, and there was even a "click-click" of bones.

"Oh!" Sirius