The Beauxbatons Welcome
N/A: [I'm not good at English, and even less at French. So just imagine that everyone is speaking French in this chapter. I won't use accents or diacritics in French: better safe than sorry.]
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"Harry, where's Red?" asked Astoria with eyes full of excitement, especially given the grand place they were now in. Yet she instantly remembered that the dragon usually fled the moment he saw her and Luna. For the two girls, Red was more than just a dragon: he was their best friend, even more cherished than Harry and the others.
Harry looked at her, unable to tell the truth—that as soon as Red learned Astoria and Luna would be coming to Beauxbatons, he had hidden under the bed and refused to come out.
"Ahem… well, he…" Harry hesitated for a second, but when he met Astoria's eager eyes, he couldn't help but invent a fantastic lie so they wouldn't be disappointed. "He's on a very important mission. Together with his friends, he's trying to defeat an evil wizard and recover a relic."
Astoria's eyes widened, sparkling with excitement. Luna, who had been watching the ice sculptures decorating the dining hall, immediately turned her head towards Harry.
"What relic?" Luna asked, brimming with curiosity.
Meanwhile, Hermione, Daphne, and Draco—who had also overheard the improvised tale—watched him with interest, waiting to see what he would come up with next.
"Mmm… the Elder Wand," he finally said, recalling that absurd quest he had jokingly given Red years ago.
"Brilliant! Red can do it!" exclaimed Astoria, smiling brightly.
"Red is powerful," added Luna with solemn conviction.
"Yes," Harry muttered, averting his gaze.
His friends looked at him with mocking smiles for lying so shamelessly to the little girls. He only shrugged. After all, if there was one thing Red feared—besides Wanda when she was angry—it was those two little ones, who loved to dress him up as a princess.
What Harry didn't know was that sometimes words carry far more power than one might imagine. But that will be a tale for another time.
…
While they chatted softly, the side doors of the dining hall opened. The professors entered in a line and took their seats at the high table, the only long one elevated above the students. At the center, a tall woman sat down with refined manners and dignified bearing: Madame Maxime.
Harry, however, opened his eyes wide in shock when he noticed someone at the far end of the staff. He didn't recognize any of Beauxbatons' teachers—except the last one to walk in. Her red hair fell gently over her shoulders, her calm gaze radiated warmth, and her smile—meant only for him—completely disarmed him. With a slight tilt of her head, she whispered almost without moving her lips: "Surprise."
It was Wanda Maximoff, his mother, seated among the professors.
Harry immediately recalled their last conversation through the mirror, when she had promised him a great surprise to make up for missing his first day. And now, seeing her there, he couldn't help but smile.
His friends also looked at her with surprise and joy, paying little attention to Madame Maxime's speech.
"…Remember that this year we must show respect and offer a warm welcome to the Hogwarts students in this cultural exchange. Next year, some Beauxbatons students may also be sent to England to strengthen connections between international schools. Now, allow me to introduce the new professors who will be joining us this year, replacing those who retired."
With those words, the Headmistress gestured toward the first wizard.
"For Defense Against the Dark Arts: Mr. Dominic Grey."
The man rose gracefully. He was tall, with black hair, sky–blue eyes, and a small beauty mark beneath one of them. He wore an elegant suit with a half–cape, carrying an aristocratic air and a charming smile. Several girls blushed at the sight. After nodding and offering a playful wink, his gaze lingered on Wanda with more than casual interest. She, however, remained serene, her attention fixed on the students.
"Our next professor will be in charge of Special Magic: Professor Wanda Maximoff, who will be replacing Professor Demond."
At that name, several students muttered, remembering the former teacher, expelled after the scandal in which he had nearly attacked Fleur Delacour. And when they saw Wanda as his replacement, the entire hall filled with excitement. Two young and attractive professors in one year… more than enough to stir the student body.
"Now, welcome to all our new students and to those returning. It is a pleasure to have you back. Let the Réception d'Accueil begin."
With a gentle wave of her hand, the food appeared on the tables. Dishes of all kinds of French cuisine arranged themselves neatly, each ready to serve itself at the sound of its name.
The Beauxbatons students began serving themselves with elegance and flawless manners, without dropping a single crumb. In contrast, the Hogwarts students sat stiffly, overwhelmed both by the unfamiliar names of the dishes and the intimidating array of cutlery in front of them. The Slytherins seemed to adjust more quickly, even casting amused glances at their fellow Hogwarts students from other houses.
Harry let out a quiet sigh. Picking up one of the utensils, he tapped it gently against another, making a soft chime to draw the attention of his table.
"Spoon for soup," he instructed calmly. "The proper way is to make no noise, be careful not to spill. Smooth movements, no nerves."
He touched a small pot with the spoon, and instantly the soup served itself into his bowl.
"Gratin dauphinois. You eat it with the middle fork, small bites, and don't dirty your mouth," explained Draco, following Harry's example. He picked up a fork, studied it as if checking for cleanliness—though in truth he was only buying time so the others could see which one to use—and then served himself a portion of potatoes au gratin, eating calmly.
"Quiche lorraine," said Hermione. Unlike the others, she didn't improvise. She confidently selected the correct utensil, lifted it with a slight smile, and showed it to the group before beginning to eat.
"Boeuf bourguignon," announced Daphne, without much concern. She didn't seem to pay attention to anyone and simply served herself, eating calmly. Her natural composure reassured several Hogwarts students, who began to relax.
One by one, the rest of the Hogwarts students started softly pronouncing the names of the dishes, imitating Harry and the others. When they saw the food serve itself onto their plates, they began eating slowly, trying to keep their composure and avoid becoming a laughingstock.
Many cast grateful looks toward Harry, Hermione, Draco, and Daphne. But Harry noticed something else: not only his Hogwarts companions were struggling—several new Beauxbatons students were also watching with relief and gratitude, copying what he had said. That coincidence made him thoughtful for a moment.
When dinner ended, and after the formal farewell, it was time to head to the dormitories.
"That was horrible. Who eats like that? You can't even enjoy the food," Ron Weasley complained as he walked with his brothers, who looked at him with amusement.
"What a pity, Ronnie, you won't be able to eat like a troll, with both hands, like at Hogwarts," Fred joked, giving him a pat on the back.
"At least this way, people won't think Mum starves you at home," George added with malice.
"By the way, thanks for the help," said Terry, approaching Harry's group.
"Sorry about that. I forgot to warn you," admitted Luciel, a little embarrassed. "Actually, this whole thing about being so formal at the welcome feast only started a couple of years ago, thanks to the school council. I don't even know why they do it… it's not like everyone knows etiquette from the start. Most students learn as they go here at Beauxbatons. But the new president is obsessed with reviving the old nobility of the school. Personally, I think he's overdoing it."
As he spoke, Luciel resumed his role as guide and led them to an imposing building: two tall towers joined by a grand central structure.
"This is the residential complex," he explained proudly. "It's divided into two sections: male and female. Each section has an administrator. The female side has a jewel… beautiful, calm, with an angelic voice. And, by the way, my fiancée," he said with a radiant smile.
"If you keep saying that all the time, people will start to believe it," replied a female voice, tinged with annoyance.
Luciel flinched and turned immediately. There stood a young girl, no more than fifteen years old. Her bright blond hair fell like silk, her green eyes were cold, and her face held a stoic expression. She wore the Beauxbatons uniform and, just as Luciel had described, she was beautiful.
"Hey, I'm just telling the truth. We've been engaged since childhood," Luciel answered cheekily.
"Hmph. Until I find a way to break that contract," she replied firmly, without showing a hint of emotion.
Luciel didn't look offended in the slightest; on the contrary, he smiled mischievously and looked at the group.
"Don't mind her. She's just bad at expressing her love," he said charmingly.
Several doubted that statement, but Harry noticed the girl's ears turning slightly red, and he realized Luciel might actually be right.
"I'm Katerina, administrator of the female section," she introduced herself formally. "You should know that men are not allowed in the women's dormitories, except in absolutely necessary cases and with written authorization. The same applies for women entering the male dorms. If you want to meet with friends or family, you can do so in the joint common hall, located in the center between the two towers.
Each floor corresponds to a school year and has its own common room, where you can rest, drink tea, or make friends. Also, in the center of the building, there is the Grand Rest Hall, where all years can gather, and which also functions as the dining hall."
"A dining hall? Then where did we just eat?" Ron asked, confused.
"That was the gala hall. It's normally used only for welcoming events, school dances, or on rare occasions when a professor requires it for class. The regular dining hall is here in the dorm complex—it's simply more convenient to wake up, have breakfast, and then head to class," Luciel explained, before receiving a sharp look from Katerina, which made it clear she was the one in charge. Luciel smiled and fell silent.
"Rooms are shared between two people. If you have any problems with your room or the building, you must go to your administrator. In my case, I'm the administrator of the female dorms. And, by the way… if you try to enter the female wing without permission, there's an enchantment that will turn you into a woman. It was created by Mr. Nicolas Flamel, so it's better if you're careful," Katerina warned.
The boys swallowed hard, visibly nervous.
"And if the girls enter the male side?" Harry asked with a slight smile.
"Nothing will happen," she answered calmly. "Mr. Flamel created it back when he was a student, to prevent any boy from daring to get close to his future wife. She was very popular. The enchantment remained in place ever since."
The boys grumbled about the unfairness, though in truth it wasn't much different from Hogwarts, where an alarm would simply go off and a ramp would toss you out. Turning into a girl felt like a rather extreme punishment.
"And how long does that curse last?" Ron asked, instantly earning disgusted looks from all the girls, as if he were asking only because he planned on sneaking in.
Even the boys stared at him oddly, while Fred and George laughed so hard they nearly doubled over, and Percy shook his head. Draco raised an eyebrow in disdain.
"What? I only asked in case I accidentally walked too close," Ron defended himself quickly.
"It would be better if you simply didn't approach the female wing at all," Katerina said coldly. "And the duration is random—it can last from a few hours to several days."
Ron felt his shame consuming him, while Fred and George laughed so hard they nearly rolled on the floor.
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N/A: Sorry if these chapters feel a bit more serious and solemn. You know me—I'd rather explain everything at once so nothing important gets left out. Don't worry, the next chapter will bring back the usual daily craziness. After all, its title is: "Red's Squadron and the Secret Mission."