Bagman opened his mouth, but Eira raised a hand, silencing him with the smallest gesture. Her eyes narrowed. "Do not mistake generosity for obligation. I am no one's fool, Mr. Bagman. If the Ministry cannot afford the games it insists upon hosting, then perhaps it should reconsider how it parades its strength to the world."
Bagman flushed deeper, his smile now little more than a strained twitch. "Miss White, please, you misunderstand. No one doubts your contributions, certainly not I. The mere fact that you sit here now proves your importance. The idea was never to make demands—merely to suggest that, should you wish, your involvement would ensure everything proceeds… smoothly."
Eira leaned back at last, her poise unshaken, her tone deceptively calm. "Smoothly for whom? For the Ministry? For Minister Fudge? Or for you, Mr. Bagman?"
The question lingered in the air like smoke, and Bagman could only swallow, his hands clasping together tightly as though he were praying for mercy.
Eira leaned back in her chair, folding her hands with deliberate calm, her gaze never wavering. "Very well," she said at last, her voice even but carrying a weight that left little room for argument. "Since I am serving as a judge, I will oversee this personally."
Bagman's eyes widened, the lines of strain on his face softening with sudden relief. He gave a nervous laugh and clapped his hands together. "Ah! I knew you would, Miss White! Wonderful, absolutely wonderful. You have saved us a great deal of trouble, thank you!"
But Eira raised her hand, stopping his rush of gratitude. Her tone remained cool and precise. "However, I will not merely provide funds. I will personally instruct my team and oversee the dragons' transfer from Romania to Scotland. I will supervise the expenses and ensure every matter is handled properly."
The smile on Bagman's face faltered. He shifted on his feet, the cheer draining from his tone. "No, no, that will not be necessary. Truly. You can simply donate the money and leave the rest to the Ministry. We have handlers, experts, procedures—no need to trouble yourself."
Eira shook her head, her decision final. "No. I will handle it myself. My team will ensure the dragons are transported safely, cared for properly, and that all expenses are supervised thoroughly. I take full responsibility. This is no minor errand, Mr. Bagman, and I will not entrust it to a Ministry that claims to be short on both funds and competence."
Bagman pressed his palms together, as though in prayer, forcing a laugh that sounded far too thin. "Ah… yes, of course, Miss White. Whatever you say. If that is your wish, then naturally we will defer to you. Absolutely."
Eira rose to her feet, smoothing the front of her robes with quiet dignity. She looked down at him as one might at a petitioner. "Then it is settled. I will speak with my assistant, Emma. She will proceed with the arrangements, coordinate with the handlers in Romania, and keep you informed of every detail. If you have further concerns, you may address them to her directly."
Bagman bobbed his head rapidly, relief mixed with visible discomfort. "Yes, yes, of course. That sounds… splendid."
Eira inclined her head slightly, a gesture that was both a dismissal and a command. "Good. Then we understand each other."
Bagman gave a forced smile and shook his head, letting out a quiet sigh. He turned and left the office, clearly relieved to leave the encounter.
Eira stepped out into the corridor, taking a deep breath of fresh air. From a distance, she noticed a familiar figure striding past the castle. Rita Skeeter, the ever-present journalist, seemed to be moving quickly, her quill tucked into her coat. Eira raised her eyebrows. She did not like the look of that woman and wondered what she was up to this time.
With a calm resolve, Eira made her way to the Slytherin dungeon, pulling out her quill and parchment. She needed to write to Emma immediately, to ensure everything regarding the dragons' transfer and care was handled with precision. There was no room for mistakes, and Eira intended to oversee it all herself.
Seated at one of the long, polished tables, she dipped the quill into ink and began to write.
{ White Manor, England
To be delivered by owl without delay
Emma,
The Ministry has finalized the first task of the Tournament. It is to involve four full grown dragons transported from the Romanian reserve to Scotland. Today I encountered Ludo Bagman in person. He came to Hogwarts specifically to me asking for funds. He told me Minister Fudge had suggested my name like usual. He pushed for a donation while offering no reliable plan or oversight. I refused to be the Ministry purse. I have taken responsibility for the transfer and care myself. I will not allow our name to be used as a short term patch for Ministry incompetence.
You are to begin work immediately. This is everything I require done and reported to me without delay.
1. Coordination with the Romanian handlers and farms
Confirm the precise breeds of the four dragons selected for the task. Obtain veterinary reports and current condition statements. Secure the handlers willingness to work under our direction for the duration of the transfer and the initial containment in Scotland. Record names, contracts, and terms. Do not accept verbal assurances alone.
2. Investigate ownership of the Romanian dragon farms
Determine which farms currently hold the dragons and who legally owns those farms. Investigate whether House White or our allied interests already hold any stake in those farms. If we already hold an interest, produce the proof and the deeds immediately. If we do not own any relevant holding, open negotiations to purchase the necessary farms or the controlling shares. Prioritize speed and secrecy. If purchase is not feasible by conventional means, outline alternate means for obtaining operational control and present options for immediate approval.
3. Acquire and secure the farms if necessary
If we must buy, secure funds, prepare contracts, and retain legal counsel to complete the transaction quietly and without public alarm. Ensure the farms will accept our handlers and abide by our supervision terms once the purchase or control transfer is complete. Negotiate for lifetime access to the handlers and for the right to place our people on site during transport and for the period of containment in Scotland.
4. Transport, concealment and care logistics
Prepare a written plan for the route from Romania to Scotland. Outline the concealment wards, anti detection charms, and continuous security we will use. Provide feeding schedules and supplies for each dragon. Arrange for veterinary care and for experienced dragon handlers who will travel with the beasts. All transport steps must be redundant and fail safe. No Muggle interference is permitted. I expect a timetable and a full list of personnel assigned to each leg of the route.
5. Finances and accounting
Keep a precise ledger of every expense. All contracts, invoices and receipts must be routed to you. No Ministry official is to alter or approve costs without written permission from House White. Prepare an immediate estimated budget for acquisition and for the transport operation. I will review and authorize funds only after seeing clear line items and named payees.
6. Our personnel and supervision
Place our people at every critical stage of the operation. If the Ministry insists on sending its representatives, they may travel but our people will have final sign off on decisions affecting safety and welfare. Any disagreements will be reported to me directly and resolved by our team.
7. Investigate Ludo Bagman
Open a discreet investigation into Ludo Bagman. Check for any suspicious activity including unexplained payments, unusual correspondences, connections to handlers or farms, links to betting circles, or any arrangements that might compromise the transfer. Examine his recent financial records, lodging, travel, and his known associates. See whether he has received money or favors from any party connected with the Romanian reserves or with the handlers. If there is cause, place discreet surveillance on his movements and communications until we understand the full picture. Report all findings to me in writing. Do not leak this investigation to Ministry channels.
8. Communications and reporting
Send me an initial report within twenty four hours listing handlers, farm ownership, our recommended path for acquisition if needed, estimated budget, and the status of the Bagman inquiry. After that, provide daily updates until the transfer is complete. Keep all correspondence encrypted and limited to the small circle I name.
Emma, I trust you to run this operation precisely and without haste. If the Ministry stumbles, our name must be the one remembered for preventing disaster. You know how I work. Move quickly. Be ruthless in the margins if you must. I will sign off on funds when presented with detailed line items and named payees.
Eira White}