Dumbledore's gaze swept over the young witches and wizards and the Aurors, all ready to begin.
His voice echoed through the silent air, gentle yet carrying an unquestionable force.
"Children, today's arena is not a battlefield. It is a chessboard."
"On this chessboard, there are no kings or queens, only thinkers holding wands."
A sly glimmer flashed in his blue eyes as his gaze settled on the inconspicuous insoles beneath the students' feet.
"Air-Treading Insoles. What an ingenious invention. Truly great."
Douglas stiffened slightly in the crowd and instinctively shrank back.
Dumbledore's voice flowed on like an improvised hymn of praise.
"In them, I see Ravenclaw's wisdom, every step resting on precise calculations."
"I see Hufflepuff's patience. Only by standing firm can one move forward."
"I see Gryffindor's courage, daring to dance gracefully in empty air."
"And, of course, Slytherin's cunning, bewildering opponents with nimble footwork."
His gaze turned to the three solemn-faced Aurors, and his lips curved into their familiar smile.
"Garrick, Mindy, Kingsley."
Smiling, Dumbledore spoke their names one by one, as though taking stock of his treasured possessions.
"I'm glad I haven't gone senile yet. I still remember your mischievous days at Hogwarts quite clearly."
"To see you become guardians of the magical world makes me sincerely proud."
Then his tone shifted, and he winked at Mindy, the female Auror whose cheeks had turned slightly pink.
"Ahem, Mindy, don't celebrate just yet. I haven't come here specifically to praise you."
Dumbledore raised his voice a little so that every student could hear.
"What I want to tell you is that these powerful, dependable opponents you face today once had their wands stolen by Peeves."
"They, too, got lost on the moving staircases and sneaked into the Forbidden Forest in search of excitement."
"Kingsley, let that scar on