Chapter 238: Madame Maxime: Leonardo Should Stay at Beauxbatons
Beauxbatons' Headmistress's office was decorated in ivory white and pale gold. Delicate, magical paintings shifted softly on the walls, and the air carried a faint scent of flowers.
Less an office, really, than the refined sitting room of a distinguished noblewoman.
Madame Maxime sat behind a broad, carved chair, and the room suited her perfectly.
"Madame, I've been very curious about Beauxbatons' Alchemy curriculum. If I were to follow your school's classes during my stay…"
As Leonardo explained his purpose, and particularly when he expressed interest in Beauxbatons' Alchemy programme, something passed briefly through those large dark eyes — a flicker of satisfaction, too subtle to be obvious.
"Of course," she said, with almost no hesitation. "Beauxbatons' classrooms are open to you."
In her estimation, Nicolas Flamel's last and most devoted student — a young prodigy who had already begun to make his mark — taking an interest in Beauxbatons was a welcome thing in itself.
She had not been entirely without ulterior motive in organising this inter-school tournament. Among other things, it had offered an opportunity to observe Leonardo more closely. The thought of finding a way for him to stay at Beauxbatons had crossed her mind.
His future achievements were difficult to predict — though one hardly needed to wait for the future. A first-class Order of Merlin. Pioneering an entirely new dimension of Transfiguration. At his age, the signs were already unmistakable.
Among the three great European wizarding schools, Hogwarts occupied a position of singular prestige — in Europe and across the world. The reason was simple: it had Dumbledore.
If Leonardo's current trajectory held, then perhaps in a few decades the wizarding world would have another figure of that kind.
If Leonardo were ever willing to transfer to Beauxbatons, the significance would be difficult to overstate.
Madame Maxime gave a small wave of her hand. A journal appeared soundlessly on the polished surface of her desk.
On the cover: the title of Transfiguration Today, with the abstract of Leonardo's landmark paper displayed beneath it.
"At your level," Madame Maxime said with a smile, resting a fingertip lightly on the cover, "you could sit in on whichever year group you liked. Shall we say fifth year? The Alchemy classes before that point are largely foundational work…"
Seeing his paper had reached abroad was not particularly surprising to Leonardo — two or three months had passed since publication.
He had heard that Beauxbatons placed its O.W.L. examinations in sixth year, which meant the overall curriculum ran slightly behind Hogwarts' pace. The fifth year would suit him well.
He responded politely.
"Thank you for arranging it."
A brief pause, then he raised the matter he had really come to discuss.
"Madame, I have another request, and I hope you'll forgive the presumption. I've been very curious about the principles behind the Fountain of Beauty — the one Nicolas built. I wondered whether I might study it, and perhaps make a small modification or two?"
Before leaving for Beauxbatons, Nicolas had mentioned in a letter that Madame Maxime would likely have some idea of who Leonardo was. So Leonardo made no attempt to conceal the connection now.
Madame Maxime's expression showed no surprise. She considered for a moment, then the corner of her lips curved upward in an elegant, knowing arc.
"A student studying his teacher's work," she said, unhurried. "There is nothing wrong with that at all."
As far as she was concerned, Leonardo had already earned Nicolas Flamel's recognition as an alchemist. He was hardly going to damage the fountain.
With Madame Maxime's approval secured, Leonardo felt the shape of things become clear. The identity of Nicolas's student carried real weight at Beauxbatons. Without it, an outsider abruptly proposing modifications to the Fountain of Beauty—the school's most iconic structure and a celebrated magical creation—would have faced a much harder conversation.
The loan task was looking achievable. Now the question was how to improve it: add new functions, or strengthen the ones it already possessed.
"Thank you for your generosity, Madame."