Even after the spectators returned to their senses, no one knew how to react. Though this had been the expected outcome, the abruptness, suddenness, and sheer brutality of Antonio's final strike had left them speechless. The hanging corpse of Alicus Marius was a stark reminder to everyone what Antonio was capable of.
With a smile, Antonio leapt down from the platform and began walking toward Madam Marchbanks. Whether intentional or not, the two massive golems followed behind him. The grinding of stone against the floor and the rippling shockwaves from the water golem finally broke the audience from their stupor.
"Lord Olario, please cancel your transfiguration spells," Madam Marchbanks said firmly as Antonio drew near. She was the one who seemed to taking it all very calmly.
"Oh!" Antonio feigned surprise, waving his wand casually as if he had just realised about the situation.
Both golems disintegrated at once, returning to stone, water, and gravel in their respective circles.
Finally stepping out of the duelling pit, Antonio approached Madam Marchbanks directly.
"You win," she declared once more, reconfirming the obvious. "It will take a couple of days before you receive the ministerial certificate and the official documents making you the owner of all assets and wealth belonging to the Marius family. With those documents, you may claim their vaults and any valuables they left in Gringotts."
"Thank you, Madam Marchbanks," Antonio said with a polite smile.
"Congratulations, Olario," Bellatrix was the first to reach him, her eyes alight and her smile wide. She stood very close, her voice brimming with satisfaction.
"Thank you, Miss Black," Antonio replied smoothly.
By then, several others had gathered around him.
"Congratulations, Lord Olario," Arcturus Black said, grinning broadly.
Antonio inclined his head in gratitude, offering thanks. Soon after, many more came to greet him. Most were either from House Bones or House Black's faction, and after witnessing Antonio's display of strength, his value in their eyes had risen immeasurably. He now commanded their respect because of the sheer power he wielded.
Now that he had one vote in the Wizengamot, his status had taken a decisive leap forward.
The lords and witches of the rival faction did not approach Antonio. They had already begun filing out of the arena, through another wooden door hidden behind the stone stands, a passage that led directly back to the Ministry corridors. It was similar to the one through which they have arrived in the arena.
Antonio was still exchanging remarks with those gathered when the crowd parted to reveal a man stepping forward. Albus Dumbledore.
"Lord Olario," Dumbledore said. His tone was soft and expression calm, but his usual twinkle and kindly smile were absent.
"Headmaster Dumbledore," Antonio greeted him politely with a nod.
"You did great," Dumbledore remarked. "But do you not think you could have been, a bit less brutal? Impaling a lord in the way does not look like a thing we should do."
A hush fell over the crowd. The spectators instantly recognized the headmaster's words for what they were. A public show of disapproval.
"I could have been less brutal," Antonio answered, his expression unchanged. "But tell me, what manner of killing is ever less brutal? Killing itself is brutality."
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed.
"And though I should not speak ill of the dead," Antonio continued evenly, "it was the late Alicus Marius who set this chain of events in motion. He should never have challenged me in the first place."
"Or even better would have been that," Antonio added further, "he should have raised his son properly and not allowed him to fall into the ranks of a criminal and a low life death eater. This entire fiasco could have been prevented."
"Or perhaps," Dumbledore cut in sharply, ignoring the final barb, "you could have refused his challenge altogether."
The tension spiked, thick and suffocating. Everyone could feel the current passing between the two men, the pressure in the air rising.
"I could have," Antonio admitted with a shrug.
"But no. That is not who I am. I will not suffer a blow to my dignity just to please an imagine line of morality. I would have not let Alicus Marius walk away with his head held high, boasting that I lacked the courage to face him. Call me arrogant if you wish, Headmaster. But this—" he gestured at the pit and the corpse hanging from the spear, at the silence still hanging in the air "—this is who I am."
"You are a powerful wizard, Lord Olario," Dumbledore said. "Do not let that power rise to your head. I expect great deeds from you. Good deeds from you. Use your power for the betterment of the wizarding society."
"Killing death eaters is a good deed, headmaster," Antonio replied firmly. "It frees the wizarding society from criminals and scums who kill and torture innocent people for fun."
"I see," Dumbledore drawled after a moment of silence. He gave one final nod before walking away towards the wooden door.
Dumbledore's arrival and his words had dampened the mood, and one by one the rest of the witches and wizards began to leave the arena. The hum of whispered conversations trailed after them, most of it split between admiration, unease, and speculation about Antonio's next moves.
"You did great, Lord Olario," Edmund remarked as the two of them walked side by side toward the exit. Amelia Bones followed close behind, silent and watchful.
Moments earlier, Bellatrix and Arcturus had already departed, Bellatrix pausing only to promise Antonio that she would visit him soon. Antonio felt that her eyes had been alight with something between fervour and admiration. He was not sure, though.
"Thank you, Lord Bones," Antonio replied with a measured smile.
"The plan from Lord Black was genius," Edmund continued. "Although you hold but one vote in the Wizengamot, your very presence in the council will work wonders. It will shift balances, even if only in perception. Your strength would have already pushed many of them on backfoot."
"I hope so," Antonio said, though his tone carried more certainty than modesty.
"Dumbledore did not seem very pleased with you?" Edmund probed, his voice carrying a trace of humour.
Antonio shrugged lightly and replied, "Perhaps he believes he alone has the authority to decide what is morally right or wrong."
"Not perhaps," Edmund chuckled dryly. "He surely thinks it."
Antonio's lips curved into a thin smile at that, but he said nothing more.
"Tonight, I will be expecting you at my manor for the dinner," Edmund remarked as the trio stepped into the corridor of the ministry.
"Surely," Antonio agreed. It had already been agreed that Antonio's victory would be celebrated with a private dinner at the Bones manor. It was more like a strategy meeting in the garb of celebration.
Edmund gave a final nod and smile as he walked away with Amelia leaving him alone in the corridor.
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