Clubs, Competitions, and Complications
After a week at Beauxbatons, everyone had quickly grown accustomed to the rhythm of classes, even feeling more comfortable than at Hogwarts. The absence of constant competition between houses created a much more relaxed atmosphere. And finally, after those days of adaptation, the student clubs would officially open for enrollment. It wasn't optional: supposedly, choosing at least one was mandatory to encourage school integration.
"So, which one did you choose?" Harry asked calmly, sitting at a round table in the second–year common room. Around him, in comfortable chairs, sat Hermione, Draco, and Daphne. On the table, beside steaming tea and a tray of pastries, lay several papers with descriptions of the clubs, which older students had been distributing to tempt the newcomers.
"There are really a lot more than what Senior Luciel mentioned that day," Hermione commented, flipping through the pile of pamphlets with visible interest.
There was a bit of everything: from sports clubs to theoretical ones, and even some dedicated to muggle research.
It was true that they could join more than one, but in that case they had to coordinate schedules directly with the club leaders.
"Well, I chose fencing," Daphne announced with a smile full of excitement.
Harry and Draco looked at her in silence for a second.
"No, no, I'm not doing it because of Senior Luciel! After all, I'm not a homewrecker. But don't you think it's amazing to learn how to use swords? We already learned basic martial arts to control the golems, so I think it would suit me." Her gaze turned serious as she nodded to herself, convinced of her own logic.
"I prefer the magic theory club," said Hermione with a thoughtful expression, though her eyes shone with the anticipation of long academic discussions.
The three turned to Draco, who was studying the pamphlets with unusual seriousness.
"You're not going to choose fencing too?" Harry asked, leaning toward him. "I'll put that as my first option. Then, alchemy."
Alchemy seemed like the inevitable choice: everyone wanted to take advantage of being Nicolas Flamel's students. But aside from academics, each of them also wanted a club they could truly enjoy.
"No. I'll pass. I'm not good at physical arts. Actually, I was invited to a club," Draco replied, his expression a little complicated.
"Which one?" Harry asked with genuine interest.
"Stage magic and theater," he finally said. Though his lips curved into a slight grimace, his voice carried a hint of curiosity.
"Ohhh!" the three exclaimed at once, leaning forward with interest. Draco had expected mockery, but to his surprise there was none—only nods. After all, it was his choice, and as friends they wouldn't belittle his tastes. That made him smile faintly; it was why he dared to say it without hesitation.
"But… they invited me after seeing me as a girl," he added at last, his face souring.
"HAHAHAHAHA!" The three burst into merciless laughter.
"Oh, I found you just in time," said Terry, bursting into the room with his usual energy, almost bouncing with excitement. "Did you hear the latest news?" he asked immediately, eager to spill his gossip.
The four, well used to his personality, only smiled faintly.
"You mean the missing wands? You're late, people have been talking about that since the first day of classes," Daphne replied, waving a hand as if it were old news.
"Hey, but I've got new information!" Terry insisted dramatically, leaning on the table in an exaggerated fashion and stealing a pastry to get their attention. However, the others were already busy filling out their club application forms. "Don't you have any curiosity at all?" he asked, sounding almost offended.
"Alright, spill it already," Daphne conceded, arching an eyebrow with some interest.
"Remember Ron Weasley? The Gryffindor kid who broke his wand when he fell off the carriage as soon as we got to Beauxbatons?" Terry began in an intriguing tone. "Well, it turns out even that broken wand disappeared this morning from his nightstand."
"He still hasn't replaced it?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I saw him wrapping his wand with tape before going to class," Daphne commented, pensive.
"He was using a broken wand? That's dangerous!" Hermione exclaimed immediately, alarmed.
"Well, remember the Weasley family. I doubt they have money to buy a new one," Draco added with an indifferent grimace. The others remembered that detail. "Besides, I'm sure anyone would think twice before admitting to their parents that they broke their wand."
Everyone agreed. A wand was more than just an object: it was bonded to the wizard from the very beginning, and growing with it was almost a rite of life.
"You're missing the point," Terry interrupted vehemently, earning their attention once again—though not their enthusiasm.
"Don't you think now everyone will assume Hogwarts kids are idiots who lose their wands the moment they step on foreign soil?" he tried to argue, his tone dripping with school pride.
"Well… some of them are," Harry replied simply. "And tell me, why does everyone feel so much patriotism for a school that nearly killed us all in first year?" he added, raising an eyebrow in disdain.
"Because it's fun," Terry answered with a mischievous grin.
Meanwhile, Daphne seemed to be deep in thought. Suddenly, her eyes gleamed with an idea as dangerous as it was thrilling.
Harry noticed it and immediately tried to get up to leave, but she jumped onto the table and grabbed his arm before he could escape.
"I just came up with a brilliant idea to make this semester less boring," she said proudly, as if already savoring the chaos.
"No. I'm not bored at all," Harry replied at once, glancing sideways at Hermione and Draco.
"Neither are we," the two said together, perfectly aware of what it could mean to unleash Daphne's mischievous mind. Until now, they had been too busy looking after Red, the Dragon of Chaos himself, which had kept her impulses restrained. But now that Red was gone… Daphne could awaken.
"Really. Even if it's a competition to see who's the best among the four of us," she insisted, prodding their competitiveness.
Harry studied her in silence for a moment, until a faint smile curved his lips. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to have some fun… after all, he no longer had an old wizard against whom to wage his strategic battles.
"There's no need to find that out. After all, I'm the best," he declared immediately, grinning with pride. He tilted his head arrogantly, looking at the others as if it were obvious.
"Aaah?" Draco and Hermione exclaimed at once. Hermione, especially, shot to her feet; her competitiveness had sprung to life like a coiled spring at those words.
"Seems like popularity has gone to your head, Potter," Draco said seriously, his gray eyes locked on Harry's with a challenging gleam. "Although I can't compete with you when it comes to your special magic, I don't recall losing in other aspects. Even in our golem duels, we're tied right now."
"Hmph." Hermione huffed in annoyance and turned her gaze to Daphne. "What's your idea?" she asked coldly.
All eyes turned to her. Daphne smiled with that dangerous air that always appeared when a mischievous thought bloomed in her mind.
"It'll be a competition to see who's the best detective. We'll hunt down the culprit, and whoever finds them first wins. Each of us can pick one helper, but we're not allowed to turn to the professors or, of course, Aunt Wanda. Other than that, everything's fair game… even sabotaging the others." Her smile became unmistakably devilish.
"Fine," the three replied in unison, returning the smile with the same competitive spirit.
Terry, who had been standing off to the side, froze in place, unsure where to put himself. Technically, he had just triggered something whose consequences he didn't quite grasp. Feeling the cold smiles of the four and how the very air seemed to tense up, a shiver ran down his spine. All this… over a "simple" competition.
...
Meanwhile, back in England.
"Ugh! I have no idea why they send me to occupy the Black family's seat. These things are so boring…" Tonks grumbled as she left a Wizengamot meeting about the upcoming trials.
"Well, it's better to have you there than Sirius, who would spend the whole session fighting with everyone he holds a grudge against," Selene commented, walking behind her with a calm smile. "See it as a way to extend your family's influence."
"If you don't like it, you should tell your mother," Pandora suggested with a gentle smile as she appeared as well, walking calmly with a notebook tucked under her arm. Tonks was sure none of the notes inside had anything to do with the meeting; she even thought she caught sight of a dragon doodled in the corner of one page, actually moving.
"Yeah, right… as if I could," Tonks muttered sadly. Turning, she set her eyes on her aunt Narcissa, who had just come out behind them. "Auntie, please convince her for me. I'm too busy training to be an auror." She gave her the biggest puppy eyes she could muster.
Narcissa looked back at her, calm and almost cold. "Do you really think I could change her mind? Let me remind you that your mother ran away from home against the entire family to marry your father. She even nearly poisoned our father in order to escape." The seriousness in her eyes was all the answer Tonks needed: no.
"Ugh…" Tonks groaned, her hair darkening as her sadness showed.
At that moment, Wanda came out last, her expression somewhat serious.
When Narcissa saw her, her face twisted into an irritated frown. "Well, look who it is… the traitor who became a professor to our children thanks to her ties with the Flamels," she said in a venomous tone. Though it sounded more like jealousy than genuine anger. "I hope next year you give up your turn to go to Hogwarts. You've already spent this whole year watching them study with your own eyes."
Wanda smiled faintly at her words. She knew well that what hid beneath them was envy at being with the kids day after day, not true resentment.
"Is that what you think?" she asked softly, pulling a photo from her things and raising it lightly in front of her face. "What a pity… and here I was bringing you souvenirs." She feigned a downcast air in response to the biting words.
Narcissa arched an eyebrow at the sight of the photo, her eyes widening before she stepped forward quickly. But Wanda pulled her hand back, just out of reach.
"Oooh? Is that Draco? He looks adorable as a girl," Pandora said with interest, leaning closer for a better look.
"Harry got a good shot, don't you think?" Wanda said with a subtly arrogant smile, tilting her head in a way that mirrored her son perfectly.
"Ahem." Narcissa cleared her throat and straightened her posture again. "I suppose, after all, since you won the competition that first time, there's no point in arguing. You entered Beauxbatons as a professor by your own merits, while the thought never even crossed our minds." Her voice was noble, though her eyes once again darted toward the photo.
The others smiled at how easily Wanda had managed to win over the most difficult of them all.
"Wait… I'm still angry with you," Selene said, crossing her arms with mock severity.
Wanda then pulled out two more photos. In them, Astoria and Luna could be seen inside the Beauxbatons fountain: it looked like Astoria had gone in to drag Luna out, but in the end both had wound up playing and dancing happily in the water. Naturally, the pictures moved.
Pandora, her face softening with tenderness, took one photo at once, gazing at her daughter with a quiet smile.
Selene gave in as well when she saw her own. "But I want one of Daphne too," she said, feigning sternness.
"You'll have to prepare something for Susan as well," Pandora added, without taking her eyes off the photo.
"Don't worry, I've got something for her too," Wanda replied smoothly.
Meanwhile, Tonks looked at the women—supposedly adults and mature—acting like children. She wisely kept her mouth shut; she knew any of them could turn her into something unpredictable in an instant.
"By the way, what competition are you talking about?" she finally asked curiously.
The four women exchanged glances, then looked up as if recalling something, before putting on slightly embarrassed expressions.
"It's better if you don't know," they said together, before continuing their walk, chatting and smiling with the same familiar complicity as always.