The moment the conversation ended, the floo fireplace nearby roared to life, flames turning a vivid emerald as a man stepped out. He didn't even bother brushing soot from his clothes after the travel.
"Headmaster," he said respectfully toward Dumbledore.
Dumbledore only nodded. "Alexander," he greeted.
The man had short brown hair and brown eyes, built broad and strong without being fat. Alexander's gaze shifted to Julian, and he smiled warmly as he walked over and offered his hand.
"Alexander Smith of House Hufflepuff," he introduced himself cheerfully, "and the auror in charge of escorting you to and from the Minister's ball."
...
Julian shook his hand firmly. "Nicholas Ravenclaw, current regent of House Ravenclaw, and I apologize for the inconvenience," he said with a polite smile.
Alexander laughed, and for a moment Julian was confused until the man explained.
"My da's the current Lord of House Hufflepuff," Alexander said, amused. "He told me you'd be sharp-witted, and like usual he wasn't wrong. You've had that name and title for, what, a month? And here you are saying it like you've had it your whole life."
Understanding clicked into place, and Julian felt a flicker of embarrassment.
"I admit I may have been practicing the introduction a bit recently," Julian said.
"Trust me, I get it," Alexander replied easily. "Even now, I get a headache just thinking about all the work that'll land on me when my da retires as regent."
"I suppose we ought to make our way to the ball," Julian said, shifting back to business. "Wouldn't want to be late."
Alexander nodded. "Agreed."
...
It was Julian's first time using the floo, and he had to admit it was interesting in several ways.
First, it shared something with what people said apparition felt like. It had that strange sensation of being squeezed through an opening far too small.
It wasn't as bad as apparition sounded, though. There was no turbulence, no nausea, none of the sickening twist he'd heard described.
Second, it was bizarre to his magical senses. For the brief span of the travel, it felt as if the magic involved cut through itself in order to function.
That was the part that truly threw him.
With normal spells, that kind of effect usually meant misfires or implosions. The fact that floo travel seemed to rely on the phenomenon left Julian both astonished and confused.
The third thing was the most obvious and the most maddening. It required fire to work at all, and Julian had no clue why. The mystery irritated him in a way that also sparked genuine interest.
...
When Julian stepped out into the Ministry of Magic, he quickly dusted off his suit using the magic feather duster placed beside the fireplace.
The atrium, which was normally bustling with daily ministry traffic, had been transformed into a lavish ballroom. None of the usual features were visible. Tables were set with pristine white cloth, and long buffet tables were arranged with elegant dishes Julian couldn't identify at first glance.
Only a few people were present, which made it obvious he'd arrived early.
Probably a tactic by Fudge to get a few minutes alone with me before the other guests overwhelm him, Julian concluded.
And sure enough, a slightly short man with a portly build and rumpled grey hair approached with a wide, friendly smile.
...
"Mr. Ravenclaw, it is truly a privilege to make your acquaintance!" the man said with polished warmth. "Cornelius Fudge, at your service!"
Even if Julian hadn't already known who he was, the politician's tone would have made it obvious.
Julian offered his hand with a respectful smile of his own. "Nicholas Ravenclaw. The pleasure is all mine, Minister."
Fudge looked briefly surprised by how well-spoken Julian was, but he shook the offered hand and recovered without missing a beat.
"Truly, you can imagine my surprise when I received your owl," Fudge said smoothly. "An enchanter at your age. You are precisely what I imagined an heir of Ravenclaw would be: wise, well-spoken, and talented in the crafting arts."
His enthusiasm sharpened as he leaned into the flattery.
"Did you know I myself was a member of House Ravenclaw during my time at Hogwarts?"
...
As more and more people began arriving, the crowd thickened quickly. As the host, Fudge had to move on to greet them, leaving Julian free to find a seat and take food from the buffet.