Wizet returned to Pierre Bonaccord Village in Fontainebleau and heard Oliver Wood and the others from afar.
"Percy, what did you say?!" Wood's voice rose sharply. "The International Confederation of Wizards Conference has been postponed? Is that true?"
"Mr. Crouch told me himself!" Percy Weasley said with absolute certainty. "Of course it's true! Why else would I be here? I'd have gone to the conference already!"
"That's going to be a problem! I wonder if it'll affect my friendly match!" Wood let out a long sigh. "I'd thought that once this matter was resolved, the friendly match could go ahead as scheduled..."
"I never expected the International Confederation of Wizards Conference to be postponed. That friendly match had been arranged to avoid the conference in the first place... It'll probably have to be postponed too... And then there's training..."
"Wood, don't tell me..." Ron sounded utterly astonished. "The reason you performed beyond your usual level earlier was to defend your friendly match?"
"Isn't that worth it?!" Wood shot back. "It may be a friendly match, but I'm going to be playing as Keeper! How I perform will affect my future career prospects!"
Ron sighed in admiration. "What... what a firm conviction..."
"Hey!" Fred drawled, raising an index finger. "Wood, I've got an idea!"
"What idea?" Wood hurriedly asked. "As long as it lets the friendly match go ahead as planned, I'll do anything!"
"This idea isn't exactly difficult..." George took over. "For example... become the next president of the International Confederation of Wizards?"
"Exactly!" Fred continued. "Then you can have everyone watch your friendly match first, and attend the International Confederation of Wizards Conference afterward!"
"Great idea!" Ron added. "Why not have him take his wand and duel Headmaster Dumbledore directly? That'd probably work even better."
Wood's tone turned solemn,