The Weasley Twins' exaggerated grins filled the entire mist screen. They wore dress robes in colors so bright they hurt the eyes, like two clowns who had leaped out of cheap sweet wrappers.
"It seems," Fred shouted in his theatrical voice, "that our Champions, with their heroic performance, have conquered not only the Black Lake, but the whole world!"
"Now!"
George picked up, his voice full of incitement.
"Let's see what the world has to say to our heroes!"
On the enormous mist screen, the Hogwarts crest, composed of the emblems of the Four Houses, slowly emerged.
The crest began spinning faster, radiating light, until, with a boom, it burst into countless points of light.
The points reassembled, transforming before everyone's astonished eyes into an enormous magical map of Europe, glittering with countless lights.
The British Isles, France, Germany, the Italian Peninsula... every country's outline was clearly visible.
"The first part of the opening ceremony," The Twins solemnly announced in unison.
"A chessboard from the world officially begins!"
The magnificent outline of the Colosseum flashed past before the image settled on an elegantly furnished office filled with Renaissance style.
The Italian Minister of Magic, Massimo Alberti, appeared in the center of the screen.
His hair was immaculately combed, and he wore the effusive smile peculiar to politicians.
"On behalf of the Italian Ministry of Magic, I extend my warmest congratulations to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and to my dear friend, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore!"
He spoke in fluent, passionate Italian, with magic translating his words into standard English just as needed, letting them echo above the Black Lake.
He praised Headmaster Dumbledore's outstanding contributions to maintaining peace and stability in the European Wizarding World in earnest terms, as though the two really were close friends of many years.
On