Early the next morning, Isaac was roused from sleep by an excited Krik.
Since moving into Hogwarts, he had never seen Krik like this, brimming with anticipation and excitement.
It was as though Dumbledore's surprise was meant for Krik the house-elf rather than Isaac the wizard.
"Wake up, Mr. Waldore! Today is your big day!" Krik's voice was hoarse but excited.
His two enormous eyes shone with startling brightness, his usual composure nowhere to be seen.
First came breakfast, then brushing his teeth and washing his face.
With Krik's magical help, Isaac even got a fashionable hairstyle. Looking into the bathroom mirror, he realized that fashion really did come full circle.
His current hairstyle, for instance, looked remarkably like Grindelwald's back in the day.
"Try this on, Mr. Waldore. It's a gift from all the house-elves at Hogwarts."
Krik brought over a robe and carefully unfolded it in front of Isaac.
Unlike the standard Hogwarts robes, the one Krik held was more ornate and looked like formal wear.
The robe had a velvety texture, with a purple exterior, white lining, and the Hogwarts crest on its chest.
Isaac spread his arms and let Krik dress him in the distinctive robe.
"Perfect, absolutely perfect! Let's go, Mr. Waldore. Professor Dumbledore, the Heads of House, and Minister for Magic Fudge are waiting for you in the Great Hall."
Krik deftly straightened Isaac's robe. After checking once more that it had not a single crease or stain, he stepped ahead to lead the way.
The moment Isaac entered the Great Hall, every eye turned toward him. Minister for Magic Fudge, who was beside Dumbledore, was the first to rise.
"Here comes our hero of the wizarding world, and he hasn't even started school yet!"
As soon as Fudge finished speaking, enthusiastic applause broke out. The Ministry officials and Aurors who had accompanied him all joined in to liven up the atmosphere.
Loud applause echoed through the Great Hall at Hogwarts.
A photographer from the Daily Prophet even held up a magical camera, snapping pictures of Isaac the entire time.
Every time the magical camera's flash went off, it released a puff of purple smoke.
The instant Isaac spotted the magical camera, he schooled his expression.
Isaac approached Fudge and Dumbledore at an unhurried pace.
"Good morning, Professor. Is this the surprise you mentioned?"
Only when Isaac drew close to the Hogwarts "contingent" did he notice that the four Heads of House behind Dumbledore were not as excited as the Ministry officials and Aurors.
Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, and Hufflepuff's Professor Pomona Sprout all looked at Isaac with encouragement tinged with worry.
A young wizard who had not even started school, an orphan at that, had encountered a Death Eater outside the school grounds.
Even with Isaac standing before them safe and sound, the Heads of House could hardly help feeling concerned.
As for the Slytherin Head of House and Potions Master, Professor Severus Snape, his face was expressionless and his eyes blank.
Still, Isaac could feel Professor Snape's scrutinizing gaze moving over him.
"Allow me to introduce Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge.
"He has brought you a reward from the Ministry of Magic."
Dumbledore had barely finished the introduction before Fudge eagerly approached Isaac. He was just about to reach out and pat Isaac's head in a show of affection when his hand paused.
Isaac's current hairstyle really left him nowhere to put his hand. Surely he couldn't reach around the top of Isaac's head to pat the back?
That would look far too awkward.
Instead, Fudge's large hand settled warmly on Isaac's shoulder.
As Fudge moved, the Daily Prophet reporter frantically snapped photos of the pair.
Puff after puff of purple smoke billowed from his camera. An Auror near the photographer's mouth twitched, and he moved two steps aside.
Without making it obvious, Fudge presented the photographer with different angles of himself and Isaac together.
Only after the photographer had gathered enough material did Fudge speak with a kindly expression.
"Hello, Isaac. I believe this is our first meeting. I'm Cornelius Fudge, Britain's Minister for Magic.
"You can call me Cornelius."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Minister Cornelius." Isaac gave him a cheerful smile, remembering to attach the respectful title of Minister to Fudge's name.
Sure enough, Fudge's smile grew a little more genuine at Isaac's words.
"I'm very pleased to meet you too, Isaac.
"First, I must apologize. Your encounter with a Death Eater outside school was the result of an oversight by the relevant Ministry departments.
"One slipped through the net during our hunt for the Death Eaters."
"No, Minister, you can hardly be blamed for that!" Isaac knew exactly what Fudge wanted to hear, and he did not mind saying a few flattering words at a time like this.
"That Death Eater's appearance was just an unfortunate exception. He was far too cunning. A single isolated case shouldn't erase the contributions you and the Ministry's Aurors have made to keeping the wizarding world safe and stable."
Isaac had not yet grown powerful enough to throw his weight around. Besides, there was no sense in rebuffing a friendly gesture.
Minister Fudge had come to bring him honors and money. Wouldn't any ordinary person offer a heartfelt thank-you for such good fortune?
The little conflict between Fudge and Dumbledore was their own business.
One was Britain's Minister for Magic, and the other was the Headmaster of Hogwarts. Isaac was only a young wizard; there was no need for him to get involved in a dispute between such important figures.
To put it bluntly, he was not even worth using as cannon fodder yet.
When Fudge heard Isaac's rebuttal, his aging face crinkled into a beaming smile. Fudge could guarantee that, had Isaac been an adult wizard, those words alone would have earned him a job as his personal assistant.
Most wizards had peculiar temperaments, and the more powerful they were, the more peculiar they became.
At the Ministry, the less powerful wizards had no standing to meet Fudge. Those who could meet him were nowhere near as pleasant to listen to as Isaac.
Fudge suddenly felt that the British Ministry of Magic needed a hundred Isaac Waldores.
Originally, Fudge had intended to use this opportunity to salvage the Ministry's reputation. A Death Eater attacking a young wizard who had not even started school would frighten every wizarding parent in Britain.
For Fudge, the more stable the wizarding world was, the better it was for his political career.
But now Fudge had changed his mind.
No amount of his own praise for the wizarding world's stability could match a single compliment from Isaac, the victim himself.
And Isaac's praise had hit exactly the right note.
Fudge promptly abandoned the lengthy preamble he had planned and went straight to the purpose of his visit to Hogwarts.
"Thank you for your understanding, my boy.
"Now, let me get to the point."
Cornelius Fudge put away his smile and solemnly announced to everyone...