v5 Chapter 7： goblet of fire

Walking into the building, William discovered:

It is not a temporary construction for the International Wizarding Congress, but has existed for a long time.

In particular, the various splendid decorations are not only not bad, but even more magnificent than the headquarters of the British Ministry of Magic.

William is not Italian, and Professor Binns often skips classes, and the professor will not introduce Italy in detail.

He had to ask Nymeria a little bit about the situation.

It turns out that there are complex historical reasons for this.

The headquarters of the Italian Ministry of Magic is in Rome, but there are several branches below.

It is easy to understand that the land of Italy was originally the territory of Rome.

After the fall of Western Rome, it experienced a long-term federal state. The real Italy established a kingdom in 1861 and conquered Rome, the capital of the Papal State, in 1870 to complete its complete unification.

Before the advent of the Ministry of Magic, countries existed in the form of wizarding councils.

But in 1692, the International Confederation of Wizards passed the Statute of Secrecy.

The wizarding world urgently needs a more organized and complex management system to support and regulate the secret work of wizards.

As a result, the functions of the Wizarding Council were completely abolished in 1707 and expanded into the Ministry of Magic.

But at this time, Italy was still a scattered federation, and it had not completed a complete reunification. Several powerful nations each have their own Ministry of Magic.

The Ministry of Magic in Venice is located in St. Mark's Basilica. It still works here to this day.

As for why the Ministry of Magic was established in St. Mark's Cathedral...

This is the same as the Magic Congress of the United States. People have such a bad relationship with the US government. They even built the Magic Congress in the Capitol in Washington.

Probably they also understand one thing: the more dangerous the place, the safer.

The elevator quickly came to the second floor, and Nymeria knocked on a birch door.

"Come in."

The three entered a very spacious room with five wizards sitting in the room.

A grey-haired old man was sitting on a chair, explaining something solemnly.

The old man paused and gestured, "Well, Stark and Miss Granger first, you sit down for a while."

There are many antique seats in the room - a Renaissance velvet couch, a rustic eagle-claw rocking chair, and a pair of chairs with backrests that appear to be from Byzantine style.

Hermione didn't know where to sit for a while, William pulled her and sat down safely on the couch.

He observed the whole room.

There are many antiques in the room, and the black wooden walls are decorated with works of various Renaissance painting masters.

Especially a woman, she has no eyes, she is holding it on a plate, but there is a smile at the corner of her mouth.

On the mantelpiece is a plaster bust. Below the statue, there are two stone "monster spouts" that serve as firewood in the fireplace.

Their mouths were wide open, revealing their terrifying throats.

William turned his ears sideways, and used his thirty-cent Italian to barely understand the content of the conversations of several people.

They are officers of the Ministry of Magic's Weather Control Management Division. The old man made a request to cast magic as soon as possible to improve the rainstorm.

The four wizards quickly left.

The old man stood up, walked towards William and Hermione, and sat down in the Byzantine-style back chair.

—Oberron Martell.

He was also a well-respected wizard, serving as senior secretary to three ministers, but never Minister for Magic.

He is very old, older than Newt, so there has been news that Martell is not in good health and is about to retire.

Only after getting closer did William notice. On Martell's right hand, it was strangely white, with obvious traces of burning flames.

He was wearing a rumpled robe, which was wrapped around his thin body like a baggy bag.

The open neckline exposed the neck, and there were serious burn marks.

William took out the letter from his pocket and handed it over.

"This is a letter from Professor Dumbledore to you, I think he has mentioned it to you."

Martell reached out his dry hand, grabbed the letter, and stuffed it into his pocket without opening it.

"The three principals have decided to restart the Triwizard Tournament?" he asked.

"Yes, but the final venue has not been determined, and there is still a meeting in France." William explained.

"But... I think it will be completely settled before the Federation starts."

Martell muttered: "What is there to discuss, just go directly to Beauxbatons."

Most of the countries surrounding France completed their studies at Beauxbatons. Italy is no exception.

Martell is clearly a Beauxbatons.

"Come on, go get the Goblet of Fire." The old man stood up and led the way.

Noticing that William was observing Martell's scar, Nymeria, who had been following, explained in a low voice:

"Have you seen the St. Mark's Bell Tower?"

"I saw it when I came."

"In 1902, it once collapsed suddenly."

William and Hermione looked at each other, and the tour guide who had met him twice also said this.

"In that collapse, no Muggles died, only one cat."

Nymeria reverently said: "It was Mr. Martell, who just graduated and saved everyone with magic.

But he himself was burned. "

"Because of this, he became the youngest recipient of the Doge of Venice."

"Why get burned?" Hermione asked in confusion.

"I don't know, there was a strange flame at that time." Nymeria shook her head.

"The Ministry of Magic has not yet figured out why the clock tower suddenly collapsed."

Did it collapse suddenly?

William always felt something similar, as if he had heard of it somewhere.

Martell led the way, he turned a corner, and the group climbed a wide golden staircase.

At the end of the stairs, there is a wide foyer adorned with Italian marble and plastered with gold leaf.

"You wait here."

A group of Aurors flanked the hall, and Nymeria stayed behind.

Martell opened the door, and William and Hermione followed him in.

William's eyes first fell on the extraordinary central circle of the dome, the caisson decorated with flowers and patterns, spiraling down from the dome to the floor.

A huge bronze 'portrait' sits on the ground, leaning on the railing and staring down.

The statue is also an old man dressed as a governor. He was holding a large wooden box inlaid with jewels.

Martell's wand waved, and the box floated on the table.

"Since the last Goblet of Fire, this magical item has not left Venice for more than 200 years." He said softly.

The old man was about to open the box when there was a knock on the door.

Captain Auror pushed open the door and said seriously: "Sir, there is an urgent matter that you must deal with immediately."

Martell frowned and looked at William. "The Goblet of Fire is here, you guys check it out first. I'll be back in a minute."

The old man left quickly, leaving with Captain Auror.

The door to the room was closed again.

William and Hermione stood silently, watching the large wooden box.

It was a polished wooden box with beautiful hinges. The wood is white, glowing dimly, with a grain of thick lines.

Oak trees, William recognized.

There is only one ring inlaid on the lid of the box, with a flowered English M in it.

William turned sideways and picked up the box to examine it carefully.

Surprisingly, it turned out to be very heavy!

William carefully placed the box on the large table. Hermione stood beside him, staring at the little box with him.

This is what Dumbledore asked them to help fetch!

"Hurry up and open it." Hermione was a little excited.

This thing is a magic item that can choose warriors.

William nodded, drew his wand, and tapped three times on the ring of the box lid.

The lid creaked slowly open, and William reached in and pulled out a large, rough-hewn wood goblet.

The cup itself is inconspicuous, even rough, and it is hard to imagine that this thing is the Goblet of Fire.

If it is thrown on the street, people will definitely choose the box set with gems, not this cup.

"How to light it?" Hermione asked curiously.

"I don't know, maybe Dumbledore has to come." William shook his head.

Hermione lifted the heavy glass, one eye closed and the other open, trying to look inside.

It's like looking into a telescope.

She is looking for the source of the fire.

A moment Hermione stuttered and shouted, "William!"

"What's wrong?" William looked at Hermione, who was terrified.

"... This cup... seems to be... fake!"

"what?!"

William quickly took the cup, followed her example, and looked inside.

Soon, William knew that what Hermione said was true.

Because at the bottom of the cup, a row of small print is engraved:

Madein!

1994!

...

...

(Ask for the recommendation tickets. Thanks to the three big brothers "Book Friends 20191205222900216", "Xuandi Zhuanxu", and "Lonely Snow A745" for their rewards.)