Ever since word spread that Ilvermorny and Castelobruxo were coming, students had no heart for lessons and professors tossed out assignments like confetti. Transfiguration turned into a seminar on proper conduct, with Professor McGonagall spending the entire period warning the young witches and wizards to behave. If anyone embarrassed Hogwarts, she would see to it that the smile vanished from their face.
Rumor said she kept Fred and George after fourth year's class and the twins slunk out much later, noticeably subdued.
In Charms, Professor Flitwick spoke about friends he knew in South America. "They tell me Castelobruxo stands atop ancient ruins. A few Muggle archaeological teams once tried to study the site, but were driven off by Repelling Charms. The grounds are guarded by spirits called Caipora. I have not seen them myself, but they are said to be rather cute."
"Wizards from there excel at magic tied to nature, since the school sits in a vast rainforest. They are also skilled in transformation and can change into different animals."
"Animagi?" Hermione blurted.
"Similar, but not the same," Flitwick said, smiling. "Animagi can transform wandlessly and very quickly. Castelobruxo's body transformation uses a special potion and a wand as focus. It is easier for less advanced students, but the potion is expensive. In one dueling tournament I faced a Castelobruxo wizard who turned into a bear and still lost. He left the stage looking as if his heart had been cut out."
"You can use potions in a duel?" Seamus Finnigan asked, wide eyed.
"So long as you brewed it yourself," Flitwick said, hint heavy as a hammer. "Professor Snape knows quite a few useful recipes."
In Herbology, everyone became gardeners under Professor Sprout's direction, pruning and tidying. Terry Boot misjudged a cut and took too much of a patch of Mimbulus mimbletonia, earning a dark look and a punishment of hauling soil.
It was plain the professors were more nervous than the students. Heads of House were giants in their fields. Their one weakness was this hive of children, who could ruin a reputation in education with one careless spectacle.
Filch was the most frantic of all, sprinting the halls like a man possessed for two straight days. He wanted every flagstone to shine like a mirror and every portrait to hang perfectly level.
Many disliked Filch, but no one loved Hogwarts more.
...
At last came the second day after term resumed. At five o'clock every student was summoned to the Great Hall. The house tables had been lengthened, and four extra chairs waited at the staff dais. From these details alone, many guessed the delegations would be small.
"I wonder whether I will know the chaperones," Rouse murmured to Dumbledore. "It has been ages since I went back to Ilvermorny."
"The answer is about to arrive," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Minerva has gone to receive them. She should return shortly."
"We shall see," Rouse nodded.
This was an informal exchange visit, not grand enough for Dumbledore to marshal the whole school at the gates. Professor McGonagall alone would suffice.
Creak. Creak.
After about fifteen minutes the rarely used main doors swung open and every head turned.
Professor McGonagall led two groups inside, each with two adult wizards, a man and a woman, followed by seven students. Dumbledore rose, and everyone followed, applauding their guests.
Tom's eyes roamed over the visitors. Castelobruxo's leopard patterned robes nearly blinded him. Ilvermorny's were far more conventional, standard wizarding robes with high collars, and stitched emblems at the cuffs and chest to mark their different houses.
One blonde girl made him look twice. She was strikingly beautiful, her expression lofty, her gaze as nose tipped as Malfoy's. Something about her felt familiar.
He was not the only one staring. Many boys were openly dazzled. The girl, under their scrutiny, only gave the faintest hum, untroubled, as if attention were her birthright.
Another figure drew stares as well, Ilvermorny's witch professor. Her face was pleasant but her figure was breathtaking, and more than a few mouths went dry.
The more Rouse clapped, the stranger he felt. When the party reached the staff dais and Dumbledore shook hands with the four chaperones, realization struck him and he blurted, "Frank?"
The Ilvermorny male professor had just released Dumbledore's hand. A playful curl touched his mouth as he looked at Rouse. "Wilkinson. I thought you would not recognize me. Good to see your eyes still work."
Dumbledore's smile hitched.
Had he just been caught in a blast radius?
Rouse stared as if at a specter. "And the likes of you are a professor?"
Huh?
Every professor and student sharpened at once. From the gunpowder in their voices, there was clearly a story here.