Chapter 111: Preparing To Depart
In the hotel on the eastern bank of the Danube River.
Wright was tallying the accounts. The projection mirrors in his suitcase had sold out in Budapest, and the amount of Galleons gave him an unreal feeling. Thinking of his own efforts, he felt it was all deserved.
“Damn Melvin, staying in Romania doing nothing, lying around watching Fire Dragons and earning over a hundred thousand Galleons!”
Wright was quite indignant. If not for making the Monkstanley Family great again, he would want to abscond with the money.
On the projection mirror front, Abnercy and his old partners were very reliable. They had diverse channels for collecting memories, projecting Quidditch matches around Durmstrang’s genius players. In just three short weeks, the Magic Mirror Club’s framework in Hungary was set up.
Closing the ledger, Wright closed his eyes to rest for a few minutes, then began handling the issues reported by those old wizards.
The tavern pairing with projection mirrors business strategy had been tested in Britain, and many plans could be directly copied, such as binding different liquors to opposing teams—goals scored at nine-fold discount, Golden Snitch at seven-fold, victory for the whole venue at five-fold. One night’s alcoholic beverages consumption equaled the original month’s.
Plus second drink half-price, weekend specials…
He really didn’t know how Melvin came up with it. Though he kept saying Muggle wisdom, Wright had run a shop on Charing Cross Road for over a decade and hadn’t seen any shop promote like that.
But Hungary was different from England after all; he couldn’t simply and crudely apply them directly, but kept receiving feedback and making appropriate modifications.
After replying to all the letters, night had fallen. Wright left the room and went downstairs for dinner.
Passing the courtyard, he saw Isle of Dragons descending with the setting sun, leisurely returning to the stables with their hooves, enjoying fragrant Brandy and hay. The busy Wright suddenly zoned out, and in a daze, saw not Isle of Dragons in the stables, but himself.
“…”
Wright came back to his senses, walking to the restaurant with a dazed expression, getting angrier the more he thought.
Damn it, he couldn’t even keep up with a few Pegasi!
Tomorrow he’d go to the Reserve and drag Melvin back. Why could he enjoy a holiday while he had to work overtime here!
…
Early the next morning, before eight o’clock, Wright got up early and headed to Romania.
Arriving at the Carpathian Mountains, Wright faced thorough and strict checks. In front of the temporarily set-up outpost wooden house, travelers from around the world queued up.
Besides routine identity checks, wand registration, there were scrying mirrors of various designs to detect disguise, lies, and conspiracy.
When it was Wright’s turn, a commotion suddenly broke out not far ahead to the right. Two wizards carrying suitcases shouted loudly, with several Aurors around them slowly spreading out to form an encirclement.
“My Undetectable Extension Charm is legal!”
“Then cooperate with our check!”
“…”
Likewise using an Undetectable Extension Charm suitcase was pale-faced Wright. He remembered now—the Dragon Sanctuary had recently suffered a serious dragon egg theft incident.
Having worked at the Ministry of Magic for over a decade, he knew such matters were better to catch the wrong one than let one go.
Turning his head, his suitcase was already sealed, with several Aurors closing in.
Without foolishly resisting, Wright was politely escorted into the adjacent wooden house, or interrogation room.
The oil lamp had burned out, faint daylight slanting in through the window. The desk was cold, with old nail claw marks on it. Two Aurors sat opposite, pouring him a cup of hot tea, their attitude fairly mild.
“What’s your name?”
“Wright Monkstanley.”
“From Britain?”
“Mm…”
Various thoughts raced through Wright’s mind. The first to pop up was unexpectedly Melvin’s face, and that guy’s questioning voice:
「Is your suitcase legal?」
This absurdity made Wright want to laugh in anger, but more so helpless. He prayed Melvin would quickly get the news and rescue him.
But things developed completely unexpectedly. The Aurors simply verified his identity, muttered a couple sentences. The younger Auror got up and left, and the middle-aged Auror shook his hand:
“Sorry for delaying your time. We’ve checked the suitcase—no issues.”
“Ah? Ah, oh…” Wright was still a bit dazed.
The young Auror pushed the door in, handed over his suitcase, and politely escorted him out of the temporary detention wooden house.
Wright glanced back at the room behind. Those two wizards were still locked up, now with added bruises on their faces, grimacing in pain. Romania’s Aurors apparently weren’t always so polite.
“I’ll have Laszlo take you to the Norwegian Ridgeback area, using the keepers’ dedicated fireplace—no queuing.”
“This… no need.”
“Alright then, have a pleasant journey.”
The middle-aged Auror patted his shoulder, attitude friendly and mild: “Mister Monkstanley, give my regards to Professor Levent.”
Wright nodded instinctively, paused, and looking at their friendly smiles, suddenly understood why he got special treatment.
…
Morning mist dispersed, branches green. July’s lakeside valley felt exceptionally fresh. Wright just emerged from the fireplace, brushed off the choking soot, and per the on-duty staff’s directions, headed deeper to the lake not open to the public.
Hearing the water flow and slightly immature hisses ahead, Wright muttered inwardly. Not seeing Melvin for a long time, after the Aurors’ little episode, he actually felt a bit nervous.
Reaching the lakeside, he saw a bizarre scene. In this Norwegian Ridgeback habitat, over a dozen hatchlings of other breeds had gathered—freshly hatched dragon whelps without sharp fangs or claws, tottering up and down, looking somewhat cute.
The young professor dressed as a keeper sat on a rock, unmindful of his image, fiddling and teasing those dragon whelps whose eyes couldn’t fully open yet.
Those naturally ferocious and cruel dragon whelps behaved unusually docile, half their bodies leaning on the stone, stretching necks to rub their heads against the young professor’s palm. The affectionate eager actions were unlike dragon whelps, more like puppies—the especially clingy kind.
It seemed Melvin’s magic power aura made them feel extremely comfortable.
Sensing a strange wizard approaching, the dragon whelps grew restless, wriggling closer to the young professor. Two timid ones farther away panicked and stumbled.
Melvin casually flipped them over, watched them struggle up, flipped again. This playful teasing soothed their agitation, waiting for the dragon whelps to get used to Wright’s presence, then stacked a few together, watching them struggle and roll, tangle and unable to get up, finally tussling.
Thus the nasty professor showed a contented smile.
Soon, some dragon whelps flew into a rage, immature dragon breath spraying from mouths and noses, sulfur smell starting to spread.
Unsurprised by their temper, Melvin shoved them to the lakeside, reached out and pushed them all into the water, splashing loudly.
These dragon whelps could swim innately. The whelps sank into the cool lake water, throat flames extinguished, soon forgetting the quarrel and starting to frolic, splashing waves.
Wright watched dumbfounded, words unclear: “When did you learn to tame dragons?”
It was well known Fire Dragons couldn’t be tamed. Romania could only use food to make adult Fire Dragons cooperate on simple work; for brain-not-fully-developed whelps, only feed and lead in leather protective suits.
No one had ever happily played with over a dozen whelps of different breeds at once. Even Newt Scamander couldn’t.
Not even their dragon dads could.
Wright eyed Melvin suspiciously, slowly calming his inner shock.
Melvin squinted and glanced at him: “Your look tells me your current thoughts are very offensive, very impolite.”
“That obvious?” Wright guiltily shifted his gaze.
“Not obvious, I used Legilimency.”
“…”
Wright didn’t bother chatting idly with him. Though curious about the dragon whelps’ behavior, his main identity was Magic Mirror Club’s number two, remembered his duties—unlike some people:
“Projection mirrors have already promoted in Budapest. Cabal channels are very effective; major wizard taverns in Hungary have added projection mirrors.”
“How’s the content?” Melvin asked.
“No worries. In Britain it’s Hogwarts inter-house matches as core; here using Durmstrang as gimmick to draw eyes. Just recently a genius player emerged, as popular as Harry!”
“How are Abnercy and them?”
“Very trustworthy. This group of old wizards has connections, can get exciting match memories, and introduce wizards from other countries to buy projection mirrors. Abnercy introduced several German tavern owners; knowing out of stock, they still want to preorder, deposits paid.”
Wright couldn’t stop once talking: “Plus many from remote countries, small places. Heard of Vagadu from Africa’s Moon Mountains? Don’t know how they got to Budapest, but connected with the Cabal.”
“…”
Budapest near Romania, as Fire Dragon trade transit, this distribution role was expected.
Melvin pushed a few more dragon whelps into the lake, unhurriedly assigning tasks: “For the rest of summer vacation, focus on Romania business. Tavern large projection mirrors adapt slowly; main is modifying Floo Network small projection mirror project…”
All pre-formulated plans, with Ministry of Magic high-level cooperation, plus Cabal Remnants channels, no pesky obstacles—steady step-by-step advancement.
“Mm…
“Got it…
“Understood.”
Wright’s nodding suddenly paused, frowning, looking up at the Magic Mirror Club head: “These are all my work, so what about you?”
Melvin pondered briefly, solemnly said: “Things here are mostly done. I plan to return to New York, back to Ilvermorny.”
“Opening new markets, huh…”
Wright’s heart instantly balanced.
The head wasn’t easy either—finished here without two days’ rest, off to America again.
Projection mirror sales and production tiring, dealing with various forces equally tiring. Melvin might even be more exhausted.
All for the Magic Mirror Club!
“…”
Melvin watched Wright’s expressions shift, slightly silent, not knowing what this guy was imagining—better not disturb.
Keeper Charlie arrived beside at some point, gruffly reminding: “Professor Levent, time for dragon whelp feeding again.”
Melvin looked at the lake. This valley depression pooled clear waters, lake surface mirroring surrounding greenery. Several dragon whelps had swum too far; from shore, even shadows invisible.
Magic power exhaled lightly, a blue flames bloomed in midair.
Fire Dragon whelps sensed this magic aura, surfaced one after another, wings and claws alternating strokes, rushing shoreward, finally almost skimming the lake surface.
Wright didn’t get it, only felt that flame warm and comfortable, unusually bright.
…
A light rain fell in the evening.
Mountain terrain like this easily gathered moisture. Fortunately not heavy, pattering on leaves. Last month’s scorched rocks washed clean; air’s indescribable giant animal nest stench and sulfur cleansed, woodland damp and soft.
Before sun fully set, booming roars echoed in valley skies, with slight ground tremors. Norwegian Ridgebacks launched into low rain clouds, chasing and colliding, gray-black smooth scales glistening wet. Slight bump to pinewoods snapped swathes of trees mid-trunk.
The scene somewhat fierce.
Similar sounds from other Fire Dragon territories: Hungarian Horntail shrieks sharp and piercing, Hebrides Islands Black Dragons’ wingbeats dull thunderous booms, faint aerial firelights Chinese Fireballs at play, swamp rollers Peruvian Vipertooths.
Campfire rose in the camp.
Melvin carried several glass bottles out of the wooden house, saw the whole mountain range in revelry—firelights flashing, wings beating, roars. Unknowing might think massive thunderstorm.
Neighboring Magical Creatures summer camp teachers and students not back yet—probably Hagrid shamelessly dragging Professor Kettleburn to play with Norberta in the rain.
Outside a bit chilly; glass jars’ blue flames perfect for warming.
Quietly watched a bit. In minutes, dark-skinned freckled keeper Charlie dragged back two rule-breaking tourists. The two wizards walked steadily enough; the half-giant staggered, clutching chest, huffing.
No need to ask what happened.
Norberta’s current size nearly half a house. Slight move added bruises to Hagrid; without Melvin’s blue fire, maybe more burns.
Of course, Hagrid enjoyed it.
“Norberta’s so strong! She’ll surely be a robust Fire Dragon!”
“She already is.” Charlie said flatly.
“Melvin’s blue flames are truly magical. With it, can close-contact Fire Dragons.” Professor Kettleburn sighed, face also scarred. “If I’d met him in my youth, maybe could keep arm and leg.”
“Yeah, magical flames.” Charlie agreed.
By now could see young professor at camp entrance, glass bottles in hand holding their discussed blue flames, chuckling softly: “Don’t worry, I left you over a dozen jars—enough for a long time.”
“What do you mean?”
Professor Kettleburn keenly sensed off, asked quickly: “Where are you going?”
“Back to Mount Greylock.” Melvin said calmly. “Theft case closed, files sorted. Several Dark Wizards involved with Ilvermorny…”
