Chapter 110: Budapest’s Projection Mirror
Wright stood by the bustling street, glanced at the letter in his hand, looked up at the top of Budapest’s Chain Bridge, his eyes blank.
He was carrying a huge black suitcase with universal wheels at the bottom, which looked light, but inside it had been modified with an Undetectable Extension Charm into a portable warehouse, stuffed with more than a dozen Projection Mirrors, Small Projection Mirror materials, Floo Network modification materials, just waiting to connect with the Ministry of Magic and show his skills!
Number two in the Magic Mirror Club, Projection Mirror invention and improvement chief engineer Wright Monkstanley, brought most of his fortune out, but due to carrying the prohibited suitcase, he could only go through Borgin’s underground Portkey channels, crossing half of Europe alone to arrive in Budapest.
According to the arrangement in Levent’s letter, he would connect with the head of the Romanian Ministry of Magic Department of Magical Transportation.
So the question is:
In Budapest, Hungary, how to connect with wizards from Romania?
“Damn Melvin Ryan Levent! The letter isn’t even clear, one sentence Romania, one sentence Budapest, who knows what you’re saying… And he’s still a Hogwarts professor, sooner or later Professor McGonagall will fire him!”
Wright watched the passing crowds and traffic, somewhat frantic.
There were a few shops on both sides of the street with traces of magic. He had plenty of funds, so buying some goods casually and inquiring about some news shouldn’t be a problem. But Wright frequented the Leaky Cauldron and had heard of Budapest’s reputation: territory of Cabal Remnants, developed underground trade, full of wanted Dark Wizards everywhere…
He worried that acting rashly might lead him straight into some black shop or trap.
“Mister Monkstanley, Mister Monkstanley…” Someone called from not far away.
This could be someone Melvin arranged to pick him up, or it could be someone who detected his surname through some magic to lure him into a trap. Wright turned his head, glanced at the elderly and amiable Old Wizard, and decided to observe for another half minute.
“Mister Monkstanley?” The Old Wizard noticed his gaze, met his eyes, and called out much more fluently, “Mister Monkstanley of the Magic Mirror Club?”
Hearing the name of the Magic Mirror Club, Wright nearly cried with relief and immediately dropped his guard and went over.
“I’m Abnercy, Professor Levent’s friend. He’s gone camping in the Carpathian Mountains and won’t be back for a while.” The Old Wizard smiled kindly and warmly, “Come with me. The accommodation is arranged. The professor asked me to tell you to first set up the club’s framework here; the Floo Network matter isn’t urgent.”
Wright followed behind, his mind dazed.
As it turned out, this was a trap, a trap set by that guy Melvin!
Over the next half month, as the number two in the Magic Mirror Club, Wright was so busy his feet barely touched the ground. He didn’t know how Melvin had negotiated with these Cabal Remnants, but he personally witnessed more than a dozen Projection Mirrors prepared for Romania being snatched up by these Old Wizards.
A transaction worth tens of thousands of Galleons, with no haggling.
Faced with the Magic Mirror Club’s related contracts, these Old Wizards signed with almost no hesitation, at a speed that was frightening.
In less than two weeks, Projection Mirrors spread around Budapest. The special suitcases Wright brought emptied several warehouses; cold, lifeless Projection Mirrors were exchanged for piles of warm Galleons.
……
Eight o’clock at night, west bank of the Danube River.
A middle-aged wizard couple strolled along the riverside path, wearing elegant Muggle-style wizard robes, each holding a son and a daughter, a standard Pure-blood wizarding family. Taking advantage of summer vacation to see Fire Dragons in Romania, they came to Budapest for tourism before heading back.
From the tavern by the bridge not far ahead came bursts of hoarse cheers. The unusual sounds attracted the wizard family’s attention. The parents slowed their steps, the sister and brother exchanged a glance, and slowly approached.
“Krum! Krum!”
Clearer cheers reached their ears.
Hearing this name, the sister’s eyes lit up instantly, and she tugged at her brother’s sleeve.
The little boy wisely looked up, blinking his eyes, and asked in a childish voice, “Mom, what’s going on inside?”
“Krum? Isn’t that the genius player from Durmstrang?”
The witch listened carefully for a few seconds. The cheers continued, and her expression turned puzzled as she uncertainly said, “It can’t be holding an indoor Quidditch match inside, right?”
As everyone knew, Quidditch Pitches were all outdoor, and matches in bad weather were even more exciting.
The sister with shining eyes tugged at her father’s sleeve again. The wizard looked away, unmoved. He wasn’t a doting father; he only followed his wife’s arrangements.
“A round of brandy on me!”
Even hotter cheers came from inside, the air at the door trembling. If not for the Muggle-Repelling Charm, the police would already be there.
The male wizard silently swallowed. His family was well-off, but going to bars was always restricted. He hadn’t tried the local brandy yet… If someone else was treating, there was no reason to refuse, right?
Seeing her husband and children’s actions and expressions, the witch was both annoyed and amused, and couldn’t help punching her husband. “Let’s go in and see, alright? Watch your daughter, no drinking, not even Butterbeer!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The family’s stroll was temporarily interrupted, drawn into the tavern by the cheers.
Inside the tavern was not the indoor Quidditch they imagined—no spacious pitch, no players or broomsticks, just one huge silver transparent mirror surface.
The third-year girl from Durmstrang looked carefully for a few minutes, excitedly grabbed the male wizard’s wrist, and said, “It’s Krum’s match, Bulgaria national team’s youth training match. Look! That’s the latest Nimbus 2001!”
“Hiss…”
The male wizard hissed in pain.
His scant fondness for this Krum was vanishing at lightspeed.
A shrill whistle came from the Projection Mirror. When he looked up, he just missed the scoring scene. As the male wizard inwardly sighed in regret, the mirror image paused, then replayed like time rewinding.
The commentator’s voice echoed in the tavern: “Krum suddenly accelerated to disrupt their defense. The national youth team scores again—Krum!”
“Krum!”
“Hiss…”
The male wizard inhaled again, this time not from pain, but from shock. Cheers resounding through the tavern filled his ears, making his heart race and blood surge. Even he, who didn’t like Quidditch much, felt the thrill of the match.
This magical Projection Mirror seemed to possess some kind of magic power.
“All eyes on me!” A wizard at the counter slammed his wine glasses with bangs. “I have an announcement! A pear brandy for everyone—on me!”
“Long live Krum!!”
This time the male wizard joined the cheering crowd.
Sweet, tempting brandy arrived. The male wizard downed half a glass. Facing his wife’s gaze, he glared back righteously: “It’s free!”
While the couple confronted each other, they clearly didn’t notice their daughter staring unblinkingly, with only one thought in her mind—
She wanted to take this Magic Mirror home!
