Chapter 82: Before the Banquet
As evening approached, Draco Malfoy watched from the Slytherin common room as Vaisey Selwyn emerged, dressed in magnificent, formal robes. Malfoy recognized the style; his own family possessed similar garments, passed down through generations. They were ceremonial robes, worn only when a Malfoy officially became the head of the family.
But why would Vaisey be wearing them now? he wondered. Isn't the Selwyn patriarch in Azkaban? Malfoy himself had sent a letter home, having Dobby the house-elf deliver his own dress robes for the evening's mysterious banquet, but he would never dream of wearing the robes reserved for the Lord of the Malfoy family.
"Vaisey," he began, "what's the occasion for... that?"
"Didn't I mention there's a banquet tonight?" Vaisey replied with a pleasant smile, looking to be in an excellent mood. "It's a rather important event for me. One must be prepared."
But the robes didn't match a simple banquet. Having grown up in the insular pure-blood world, Malfoy couldn't grasp the deeper implication. If he had spent any time studying the history of the noble houses of Britain, he might have understood what had transpired that afternoon.
Vaisey took out his communicator, infused it with a touch of magic, and tapped the surface. A large, glowing screen materialized in the air before him. The elegant magical device immediately captured the attention of every other Slytherin in the room. They had been watching Malfoy show off his own all afternoon, their eyes practically aching with jealousy. The wealthier among them silently swore to buy a deluxe model the moment they were released, no matter the cost. The others made plans to purchase the most expensive of the standard models to maintain their status. Malfoy had no idea that his simple act of showing off had become the most effective marketing campaign imaginable, one that would soon spread through the Slytherin parents and, from there, to the rest of the wizarding world.
Malfoy was dying of curiosity, but Vaisey offered no explanation. "When are we leaving for this banquet?" he finally asked. "And where is it?"
As if on cue, his own communicator vibrated with a new message. He opened it to find a notification in the "Adventurers' Club" group chat. Vaisey had just sent a message to all members, instructing them to gather outside the castle.
"I've already arranged for your leave," Vaisey said as he and Malfoy headed out. "The Headmaster and the Heads of House have all approved it. They even said they might attend if they find the time."
They left the common room, leaving behind a sea of whispering Slytherins, their minds racing to imagine what sort of event could warrant a mass leave of absence, let alone the potential attendance of the Headmaster himself. The two of them suddenly seemed larger than life. As they watched them go, many of the younger Slytherins subtly distanced themselves from the more arrogant "Death Eater Juniors." After all, Voldemort had been gone for years, while Ryan Welles was a rising star with Dumbledore's full backing. The way the wind was blowing seemed obvious.
Outside the castle, the Ravenclaws had already arrived.
"Ravenclaw and Slytherin are all present," Vaisey said, greeting Penelope. "Have you seen anyone from Hufflepuff or Gryffindor?"
Penelope shook her head. She had gathered the Ravenclaw members as soon as she received the message but hadn't coordinated with the other two houses. She thought of Hermione, the brilliant and diligent Gryffindor. "Miss Granger will surely have the Gryffindors organized," she said confidently. "And as for Hufflepuff, Mr. Diggory is just as reliable."
Vaisey considered this and agreed. He checked the time and settled in to wait.
Before long, they heard Hermione's voice urging the others on, followed by the sound of running footsteps and the answering calls of Percy, George, and Harry.
"Hurry up! Everyone's waiting for us!"
"Merlin's beard, Hermione, it's a banquet, not a battle!"
"It doesn't matter, they're still waiting!"
The voices grew closer, and soon the breathless group of Gryffindors arrived at the castle entrance.
"At least we're not... the last ones... to arrive," Hermione panted, leaning over with her hands on her knees.
"Actually, you are," a cheerful voice said from the side. It was Cedric Diggory and the Hufflepuffs. "Our last class was Flying, so we were already outside the castle."
George and Fred immediately launched into a comedy routine about the injustice of it all.
"Not all of you are of age for Apparition or Side-Along Apparition," Vaisey announced, cutting through the chatter. "So, I've prepared a Portkey to take us all to the banquet."
"Apparition? What's that?" Hermione asked, her curiosity instantly piqued by the unfamiliar term.
"It's a very, very convenient way to travel," Penelope explained. "A wizard can use it to go almost anywhere they wish, instantly." She added a word of caution. "But it's also very dangerous. It's not taught until the upper years, and you need to pass a test and get a license. If you make a mistake, you can splinch yourself."
Splinching. Hermione nodded, vaguely recalling a description from a book. It involved a wizard's body being magically torn apart during travel, with the top half materializing miles away while the bottom half remained behind, leading to a rather gruesome end. "And a Portkey?"
"It's another form of magical travel," Vaisey said with a smile. "You enchant an object to take you to a specific destination. While making them isn't overly difficult, the Ministry regulates them quite strictly. The Department of Magical Transportation catches wizards using unauthorized Portkeys all the time."
He pulled out what looked like an old, gnarled stick. "Everyone, place a hand on the Portkey."
Once they had all gathered around, Vaisey activated the charm. In the next instant, each of them felt a sharp jerk behind their navel, as if they'd been hooked by an invisible claw. The world dissolved into a swirling vortex of color and sound. A moment, or perhaps an eternity, later, their feet slammed onto solid ground, and they found themselves standing in the courtyard of a magnificent manor.
The estate was opulent, with gilded architecture and perfectly manicured gardens. Beyond the grounds lay a vast, serene lake, and as they watched, the setting sun cast a breathtaking spectacle of color across its surface.
"Welcome, everyone," Vaisey said, his voice ringing with pride, "to Selwyn Manor."
As he spoke, a house-elf popped into existence beside him and bowed low. "Master Vaisey, sir." Then, turning to the others, it gave another deep bow. "And welcome, esteemed young masters and misses. If you would please follow me."
~~~
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