The vast chamber was so quiet one could hear a pin drop. As the attendees watched Minister Orlonkos Adenauer on the dais passionately apologize to the wizarding world, they all maintained an eerie silence.
Hope, seated among the Seven, slightly raised his eyelids and took in the expressions of everyone seated across from him and around the circular conference tables. He sneered inwardly.
Not only during the half-century Dumbledore had led the International Confederation of Wizards—even in the years when the Confederation had still been powerful, he had never seen so many attendees in its chamber maintain such a tacit silence.
Usually, once an issue was raised, those with no stake in it would watch coldly while the interested parties fell into endless arguments.
They turned a deaf ear to the mediation of the Confederation's officials, vice presidents, and president.
After all, the International Confederation of Wizards now survived entirely on the lifeblood supplied by the Ministries of Magic of various countries. It simply lacked the power to settle disputes.
Perhaps its only remaining function was to provide representatives from different countries with a place to quarrel whenever international interests were involved.
"Enough, Minister Adenauer. We are already aware of the details—"
The oppressive silence in the chamber stirred Hope's unease, and the unreadable expression on Amosta's face in the corner of his eye drove that unease to its peak.
After carefully considering the odds of Amosta Breen starting a massacre in the chamber, Hope could wait no longer. He spoke up, interrupting Orlonkos's uncharacteristic and clearly ulterior apology.
Once everyone's attention had turned to him, Hope looked at Dumbledore, seeming to hesitate.
"You may ask the questions, Hope," Dumbledore said gently.
"Cough—"
After nodding to Dumbledore, Hope shifted his gaze to the German Minister of Magic before the dais.