Just then, a figure in black robes walked into the tent at an unhurried pace.
It was Professor Douglas Holmes.
The somewhat noisy atmosphere inside the tent quieted considerably the moment he appeared.
Many officials cast curious glances his way.
This professor, who had suddenly risen to international fame over the past year, always seemed shrouded in an air of mystery.
"Headmaster."
Douglas nodded to the headmaster.
"Everything is ready."
"Thank you for your hard work, Douglas." Dumbledore winked at him.
Bill's heart tightened. He did not know whether he had been found out, but Douglas had told him it would not matter even if the headmaster discovered him.
He forced himself to relax and walked over to Sirius.
"How's it going, big boss?"
He asked in a voice almost too quiet for anyone but the two of them to hear, a hint of teasing in his tone.
"Nervous about presiding over something this big for the first time?"
"Get lost, Weasley."
Without turning his head, Sirius smiled and nodded to another passing official, but answered in the same low voice.
"The prank parties I organized in the Gryffindor Common Room back in the day were much bigger than this."
"Really? How come I remember someone nearly setting Professor Sprout's Greenhouses on fire?"
"That was an accident."
The corner of Sirius's mouth twitched.
"Good heavens, I knew you were up to no good when you got me drunk in Egypt last time. You're even worse than Douglas.
And who knew Firewhisky and dancing mushrooms would produce such a violent chemical reaction?"
He glanced around, then asked Douglas (Bill):
"Are you sure he isn't showing up for this? What exactly has he gone off to do?"
Bill shrugged.
"I don't know either! Haven't you been to his house these past two