Harry's smile grew tighter and more fixed as the hour went on. All of the Wizengamot was in attendance and most of the higher echelon of the Ministry – the Department heads and their wives. Even if their allies knew better than to fawn over Harry or to condescend to him, the rest hadn't a clue how to deal with the Boy Who Lived. Worse still were the families that they knew to be Dark and aligned in the past with Voldemort. But Harry didn't waver or cower in their presence and neither did Neville; a show of strength was needed. The very worst though was when Bartemius Crouch Senior stepped out of the floo.
"Crouch." Sirius practically snarled the other wizard's name and everyone in the receiving line tensed.
"Black." Crouch snapped back.
Neither offered their hand.
"Barty," his Gran stepped forward and presented her hand with a quiet authority that forced Crouch into taking it, "let me introduce you to Simeon Black, the Black Regent Apparent." Crouch shook hands quickly with Simeon who eyed him speculatively. "You remember my grandson, Neville, of course."
Neville shook hands and gave a stiff smile. The older man was rigid in his stance; his grey robes were properly pressed and tailored; his short grey hair neatly parted and his toothbrush moustache trimmed as straight as a ruler.
"May I also present Lord Potter, Heir of the House of Black." His Gran continued.
"So you're the Boy Who Lived?" Crouch sneered.
"And you're the wizard who threw my godfather into prison without a trial." Harry shot back, his green eyes colder than Neville could ever remember seeing them and he felt a shiver go down his spine.
The floo chimed.
"Amelia!"
Neville wasn't imagining the hint of relief in Sirius's voice.
"Bones."
"Crouch." Amelia Bones greeted her former boss evenly but without any fondness as she allowed her hand to be kissed by Sirius.
"Brian! Good to see you!" Sirius grinned at her escort as Amelia moved to curtsy to Neville's Gran and present her hand to Neville and Harry.
"Sirius." Brian smiled at the smirking wizard and sighed, although his face was alight with humour. "Is there any way you're not going to tease me about this?"
"No…"
Amelia shot Sirius a look.
"I mean, yes," Sirius hastily corrected, "I mean, why would I tease you about escorting our lovely Amelia?"
"Nice recovery, my Lord Black." Amelia said dryly. Her eyes landed on Crouch again. "Well, it's good to see that you've recovered from Wizard's flu at last, Barty."
"And just in time to attend the World Cup." Brian pointed out smoothly, offering Amelia his arm.
Crouch glared at the solicitor while Harry exchanged furtive smirks with Neville.
"I'm still recovering." Crouch stated coldly.
"Yes," Amelia said, adjusting the skirts of her dress robes, "I did hear talk today that you'd forgotten the name of the Italian Ambassador."
"Memory loss is common after a serious bout of the flu." Crouch defended himself briskly.
"Short term memory loss." Amelia pointed out. "You've been meeting Antonio every month for ten years. How you failed to remember his name is beyond comprehension."
A throat being cleared behind the Director had them all peering at the new arrivals: the Diggorys.
"My apologies, Lady Longbottom, we seem to be holding up the receiving line." Brian stepped in diplomatically. "Bartemius, Amelia; perhaps we should continue this discussion in the parlour."
Amelia smiled at him gratefully as Crouch muttered an agreement. Neville didn't miss the dark look he threw towards Sirius and Harry though as he left.
The Diggorys greeted Sirius, his Gran and Simeon. There was some tension in the air because nobody in the line had voted for Diggory when he'd been nominated to join the Wizengamot. Amos shook hands with Neville but lingered with Harry.
"Good to see you again." Amos said pompously. "Looking forward to returning to school?"
Neville stiffened at the underlying insult; Amos was effectively pointing out Harry's youth and inexperience.
"Yes, Mister Diggory." Harry replied politely.
"It'll be good to get back to Hogwarts." Cedric stepped in to smooth things over and thankfully changing the subject. "Are you going to the World Cup?"
"We are," Harry said, "you?"
"I can't wait to see Krum in action." Cedric said, eagerly. "He's a brilliant Seeker."
Harry nodded and Neville knew that his friend was eager to see the match and pick up some of the Seeker moves.
"So are you, son." Amos interrupted. "You beat young Potter here, didn't you?"
Cedric looked miserably embarrassed once more. "I've told you before, Dad, it wasn't a fair win."
Since Harry had been busy falling off his broom because the field had been invaded by Dementors during the moment Cedric had spotted and caught the Snitch, Neville agreed with Cedric's view.
"Nonsense," Amos blustered, "you won; that's all that matters."
The floo chimed again.
"We should head inside before we make the same faux pas as Amelia and Barty." Peggy Diggory nudged her husband pointedly while shooting an apologetic look in Harry's direction.
"Of course, of course." Amos inclined his head, offered his arm to his wife and set off to the parlour.
Cedric mouthed a 'sorry' and trailed after his parents.
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