Chapter 228: The Qualifying Round
The second day of the new term.
News of the Inter-School Exchange Tournament had been posted on the notice board in the Great Hall.
Students gathered in small clusters, craning their necks to read the announcement.
The tournament would be jointly hosted by Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang, with the venue set at Beauxbatons in the Pyrenees Mountains.
The competition was scheduled to begin in ten days and would last a fortnight.
"Why's the theme Alchemy? That has nothing to do with us..."
The students who had been buzzing with excitement only moments earlier immediately let out a chorus of groans when they reached the tournament theme.
At Hogwarts, Alchemy was a subject offered only to sixth- and seventh-years.
A handful of students had some grounding in the subject through family tradition or personal interest, but they were very much the minority. For most of the lower years especially, this was going to be little more than a spectator event.
"I was hoping to use this as a chance to broaden my horizons. Beauxbatons is supposed to be an excellent school!"
"Broaden your horizons? You just didn't want to sit through classes."
"That's a bit harsh — you didn't have to say it out loud..."
The students continued chatting amongst themselves, filling the Great Hall with noise and laughter.
The previous lesson had been a joint class for Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Leonardo and Malfoy were passing through the Great Hall after it ended when they stopped to read the announcement along with everyone else.
Malfoy leaned over and asked, "Hey, Leonardo — are you entering the tournament? With your level of Alchemy, taking first place should be easy for you, right?"
Leonardo had introduced quite a few magical artefacts at school this term, and Malfoy knew perfectly well that his Alchemy was far beyond anything their peers could match.
Over Christmas, Lucius had even sent him a protective artefact. When Malfoy checked the maker's mark, he discovered it had been made by Leonardo.
An artefact capable of automatically triggering defensive magic was rare and valuable even among established pureblood families. The more wealth and influence someone possessed, the more fiercely they guarded their own life.
Leonardo smiled slightly.
"There are talented wizards everywhere. Better to make it through the school's qualifying round first."
The tournament allotted each school two representative spots, and Hogwarts would be holding its own qualifying round to decide who would fill them.
Dumbledore had already spoken to Leonardo about representing the school, but for appearances' sake, the proper process still had to be followed.
Aside from the emotional energy Dumbledore had promised in exchange for participating, Leonardo was genuinely curious about the other magical schools. He wanted to see what they studied and how they taught.
Malfoy let out a quiet sigh.
"You're too modest, Leonardo. What a shame Alchemy gives me a headache. I wouldn't stand a chance of entering..."
Leonardo glanced at him.
"Why? Curious about Beauxbatons?"
Malfoy shook his head.
"Not really. Honestly, I'm more curious about Durmstrang. My father originally wanted to send me there — for reasons you can probably guess..."
Leonardo understood immediately.
Durmstrang was most famous for its tolerant attitude towards the Dark Arts. The school openly included them in its curriculum. On top of that, it refused to admit Muggle-born students.
To many pureblood parents, it was practically an ideal institution. A place where one could openly study the Dark Arts while openly upholding blood discrimination.
"So why didn't you end up going there?"
Malfoy spread his hands helplessly.
"My mother thought it was too far away."
Leonardo nodded in understanding. Maternal devotion, then.
"Actually — Leonardo, do you know about the Fountain of Fair Fortune at Beauxbatons?"
The Fountain of Fair Fortune?
Leonardo turned towards the speaker. It was Daphne, and she looked practically radiant with excitement. Clearly, her attention wasn't on the tournament itself at all.
Noticing the puzzlement on Leonardo's face, she hurriedly explained:
"It's a magical fountain in the centre of Beauxbatons. They say it has beautifying properties, and if you bathe in its waters regularly, it can make you younger and more beautiful... And apparently, it was built by the legendary alchemist Nicolas Flamel!"
At the mention of his teacher's name, Leonardo did vaguely recall hearing about it. Nicolas had mentioned the fountain to him once, though only in passing. Something about the water being exceptionally pure and highly effective at cleansing impurities.
As for making people more beautiful or reversing ageing...
Leonardo suspected those effects had been exaggerated over the years.
Still, looking at the bright anticipation in Daphne's eyes, he asked:
"Want me to bring some of the water back for you?"
"Yes, please!"
Daphne nodded enthusiastically, then immediately realised she had reacted far too quickly. She hurriedly composed herself and added in a much calmer tone:
"Thank you, Leonardo."
She had complete confidence that Leonardo would pass the qualifying round and make it to Beauxbatons.
Ever since he had slain the basilisk and received the Order of Merlin, First Class, Daphne had gradually come to feel that there was simply nothing Leonardo could not do.