Harry Potter: The Golden Viper

Bryan had originally planned for Remus and Sirius to take Harry and the others away from the orphanage and return to the wizarding world at the crack of dawn the next morning.

However, to Bryan's slight surprise, these few folks seemed to have reached an unspoken yet unanimous consensus on one particular matter: they insisted on remaining at the orphanage for one more day.

Initially, Bryan had thought they were still hoping to get some crucial information about Barty Crouch Sr. from him. But contrary to his logical assumption, they didn't probe or question him about anything related to him. Instead, during the extra day they stayed, they just tried their best to help out at the orphanage.

Perhaps they wanted to express their sincere apologies for their unauthorized and rather abrupt arrival at the orphanage in this way. But they didn't have dinner at the orphanage. And just before leaving, Remus finally found time to chat with him about the current difficulties facing the alchemy workshop.

"—The United States also has a thriving diverse magical civilization..." Bryan said thoughtfully. After listening to Remus' detailed explanations, he could roughly guess what was going on.

The American Magical Congress repeatedly questioning the safety certifications and magical stability of their products was clearly nothing more than an indirect indication that the influential individuals managing the relevant regulatory department have some plans on the workshop's steadily increasing profits and market influence.

From a business perspective, this was actually a predictably common occurrence in both magical and Muggle commercial areas.

Throughout magical Europe, the shrewd goblins, while apparently cooperating with Remus' comprehensive promotional campaigns and distribution networks, had intentionally—or perhaps unintentionally, though Bryan knew it was the former—associated this alchemical product with Bryan's own increasingly famous name.

His reputation across European magical communities still carried substantial weight that deterred most potential opponents. But across the Atlantic Ocean, in the relatively independent United States magical territories, the local magical authorities weren't nearly as cautious or respectful toward him.

"We can't give up that vast market there..." Bryan said slowly, "How about this Remus: when you formally submit your application for official entry to the Magical Congress of the United States, you could simultaneously help me submit my own entry application as well. I think it's necessary for me to personally travel there and take a look at the situation—"

"No problem, Bryan, that would undoubtedly be the best solution—" Remus nodded in agreement, smiling with a bit of bitterness.

Bryan understood the complexity behind that expression.

On one hand, Bryan's personal involvement was undeniably necessary due to the complex environment of the magical society there, with its unique historical development and factional interests.

On the other hand, this journey would inevitably involve extensive interactions with various officials from the American Magical Congress, and with Remus' werewolf identity, he would be looked at with contempt, and viewed with suspicion.

Hermione who was listening to the conversation between Professor Watson and Remus from her position several feet away, secretly tugged at the corner of her mouth in a subtle gesture, her face showing a flash of dissatisfaction that she tried unsuccessfully to conceal.

As Professor Watson's newly unannounced intention to journey to the United States meant that he would once again be absent from his PE classes during the first half of the academic year.

This year's Christmas holiday period was the longest time he had managed to stay at the orphanage since his graduation from Hogwarts several years ago. It wasn't until the children at the orphanage had their school started that he had finally packed his traveling bags and quietly slipped away on an unknown, particularly dark night, leaving behind only a brief note explaining his departure.

The storm was gathering on the horizon of the wizarding world with its distant thunderclouds visible to those who knew where to look. Darkness was inevitably returning to this land that had enjoyed only a brief relief from its previous reign of terror.

The signs were subtle but unmistakable to those who had witnessed the first rise of Voldemort: the disappearances beginning again, the strange movements of known Death Eater sympathizers, the shifting political alliances within the Ministry.

First would come escalating unrest with those terrible incidents growing increasingly frequent, then full-blown war—these were inevitabilities stamped into the immediate future, events bound to happen regardless of preventative efforts.

Neither Bryan nor Dumbledore were entirely confident they could effectively control or limit the ultimate scale and devastation of the impending conflict. This war was destined to spill beyond magical boundaries and significantly affect the Muggle world in ways both obvious and subtle.

In the precious, increasingly limited peaceful time remaining before chaos erupted, Bryan hoped to spend as many meaningful moments as possible with the innocent children and staff here at the orphanage.

The Christmas holiday period in the Muggle world typically extended somewhat longer than the matching break at. By the time Bryan finally returned to the castle, the spring academic term had already been in session for four full days, with classes already underway.

The harsh winter cold had arrived with remarkable swiftness like an unwelcome intruder, but departed with frustrating sluggishness.

The snow blanketing the Hogwarts school grounds remained basically the same impressive thickness as when he had left weeks earlier, with the only noticeable difference being that the once-perfect white surface was now thoroughly covered with countless messy, crisscrossing footprints of varying sizes.

The surface of the Black Lake remained transformed into a solid sheet of ice, though interestingly, near the sloping shoreline by the stone embankment, a hodge-podge of small ice and snow castles had mysteriously appeared during his absence.

These amateur ice fortifications, with heights between Professor Flitwick and Hagrid, were shaped in strangely crude way—crooked, structurally illogical, and lacking any impression of aesthetic or artistic excellence. Bryan could tell with certainty at first glance that they were the work of young wizards.

Even during his stay in the Muggle world, away from magical society, Bryan had maintained his regular subscription to the Daily Prophet, carefully reading each issue to stay informed about developments in the wizarding community.

During the Triwizard Tournament, the spectacularly eye-catching ice castle that he and Dumbledore had collaboratively created with their combined magical expertise for the Christmas Ball had already become legendary throughout the entire British wizarding world.

The magical architectural marvel had been described in such vivid detail across multiple issues that it caused countless wizards and witches who had unfortunately been unable to personally witness the breathtaking scene to feel extremely regretful at missing such a spectacular magical creation.

But curiously enough, whenever the various newspaper articles mentioned the primary creator of the magnificent ice fortress, they conspicuously referenced only Bryan's name and completely omitted any mention of Dumbledore's contribution.

This unusual omission wasn't because Bryan had secretly visited the Daily Prophet offices and secretly presented handfuls of glittering gold Galleons to Mr. Barnabas Cuffe, the editor-in-chief of the wizarding newspaper, to ensure exclusive credit...

Perhaps, Bryan analyzed as he considered the situation, after more than half a century of Dumbledore's numerous astonishing magical achievements becoming public knowledge, the wizarding population had simply become increasingly insensitive and somewhat indifferent to his outstanding capabilities.

Contemporary magical society evidently craved a sense of novelty and fresh wonder, and the shrewd editors at the Daily Prophet had clearly recognized this shift in public interest and subsequently decided to write broadly about Bryan instead.

And following the Daily Prophet's typically exaggerated and sensationalized reports, those skeptical wizards who had previously believed they had accurately assessed Bryan Watson's abilities once again found themselves marveling at his apparently exquisite and unprecedented magical skills.

During the peaceful Christmas holidays, in the latest issue of "Transfiguration Today" that Professor McGonagall had thoughtfully mailed to him at the orphanage, nearly half the academic articles featured were written by well-known and highly respected academic figures from across the wizarding world.

These experts logically discussed from various technical angles exactly how extraordinarily difficult and genuinely incredible it was to successfully conjure and maintain such a grand, complicatedly detailed ice fortress without magical instability or structural collapse.

In the midst of this ongoing hot topic of conversation throughout magical communities, Bryan recognized that his reputation in the wizarding world would inevitably rise to another unprecedented level which was a development he was genuinely pleased to see.

He knew that this expanding fame would significantly increase his influence and authority... that is, his right to speak and be heard in the sometimes rigid hierarchical structure of the wizarding world, providing him with greater leverage in the challenging times ahead.

It was already well past midnight, the castle grounds were covered in silvery moonlight, and not a single human figure could be determined moving across the snow-covered Hogwarts campus. However, behind the dimly illuminated windows of the Beauxbatons carriage and the eerie Durmstrang ghost ship anchored on the frozen lake, the silhouette of the vigilant night watchman occasionally flashed by.

"I will immediately inform Professor Sprout about this behavior and allow her to determine the appropriate disciplinary measures for you!"

Bryan clearly heard Professor McGonagall's unmistakably stern and deeply angry voice echoing through the entrance hall as he wearily stepped onto the marble steps outside the castle's Entrance Hall.

He quickly strode through the doors into the warmth of the Entrance Hall and immediately observed Professor McGonagall, dressed in a purple-red checkered dressing gown and clutching a stack of important-looking parchments, delivering a characteristically scathing reprimand to two visibly terrified second-year Hufflepuff students.

The young wizards stood trembling on the small platform on the second floor of the castle with their heads were bowed in shame. Meanwhile, Filch, with an unmistakable expression of malicious schadenfreude stood proudly behind Professor McGonagall, occasionally fiddling with the whiskers of Mrs. Norris, who was comfortably crouched on his shoulder.

"What's going on, Professor McGonagall?" Bryan asked with a deliberately friendly smile as he walked up the stairs inside the Entrance Hall, knowingly asking a question to which he had already guessed the answer.

"Filch caught these two irresponsible young wizards wandering about the castle well after curfew," Professor McGonagall explained with obvious exasperation. "They were caught red-handed recklessly throwing dungbombs at the oil paintings on the walls and the revolving staircases. Oh, it's an absolutely outrageous behavior, and this incident occurs during only the first week of the new term!" Professor McGonagall said with indignation.

But when she concluded her explanation, she abruptly paused mid-thought, then quickly turned her head to properly look at Bryan who was still ascending the marble staircase.

"Oh, gracious Merlin, Bryan, you've finally returned to the castle!"

Professor McGonagall exclaimed in genuine surprise. But before Bryan could voice an appropriate response to her greeting, her face suddenly changed, her eyes sank, and her lips were pursed tightly. She looked Bryan up and down.

"Oh, I had begun to wonder if you had perhaps already given your resignation, Professor Watson—" She said with sharp sarcasm.

Bryan smiled awkwardly, feeling rather like a student caught breaking curfew himself. He was about to give what he knew would be a feeble excuse, but Professor McGonagall had already launched into one of her legendary verbal reprimands.

"First week of the spring term, Professor Watson, and you were absent from your scheduled classes, didn't bother to write a proper explanatory letter to inform either myself or Albus about your continued absence, and only had an owl deliver a hastily written leave request without any substantial justification... Professor Watson, I must ask, how exactly do you view your own behavior?"

'A good man indeed—' The two young Hufflepuff wizards who were momentarily forgotten due to this new development, secretly exchanged knowing glances and gave grateful peeks at the visibly embarrassed Professor Watson, feeling unexpectedly touched.

"I will most certainly reflect deeply on my actions—" Bryan responded with an apologetic smile, "I can solemnly swear this will absolutely be the last time... What I mean to say is, before taking any future leave of absence, I will definitely provide a proper explanation and advance notice—"

Perhaps taking into consideration Bryan's obvious travel fatigue, Professor McGonagall mercifully decided against cornering Bryan on the second floor and giving him one of her legendary half-hour lectures on professional responsibility.

After sending the two relieved young Hufflepuff wizards back to their dormitory with strict instructions to report to Professor Sprout first thing in the morning, and briefly instructing Bryan regarding several documents that required his immediate attention, she kindly made way for him to continue toward his office.

"Oh, Bryan," she called after him as an afterthought, "during the faculty dinner this evening, Filius suggested that several of us could go to Hogsmeade for a drink this coming weekend, primarily to celebrate the start of the new academic term. He has already invited Pomona, Alastor, and me. If your schedule permits and you're not planning another unexpected disappearance, you would be most welcome to join—"

"Ah, that sounds delightful—" Bryan paused halfway between the second and third floor staircases, turned his head and responded in a light-hearted tone, "I'd be very happy to join in--"

"By the way, Bryan—" Just as Bryan was about to leave, Professor McGonagall suddenly recalled something important and called him again, "I've received positive feedback from numerous students across all four houses that the skills they learned in your physical education class have been very useful in various situations.

If you plan to continue this course during the next academic year, then I suggest you begin preparing the necessary curricular materials and documentation as soon as possible and submit them to both the Hogwarts Board of Governors and the appropriate department at the Ministry of Magic for their official review and approval—"

*******************************

For More Chapters; /FicFrenzy