The Charms of Beauxbatons
"Thank you so much, truly, thank you. I cannot find words to express my gratitude. A life so long, yet with a body unable to bear it, is the same as living in suffering," said Perenelle as she gently embraced Wanda, her face glowing with a smile full of joy.
"Now that you are my son's teachers, I had to give you a gift for it," added Wanda with a serene smile.
"I would really like to ask how you did it, but everyone has their secrets… and this one is fascinating," commented Nicolas with a sincere smile.
"Come, come, let's eat. I was going to ask the house-elves to cook something, but now I really want to do it myself, after so many years," exclaimed Perenelle, brimming with happiness.
"Ah, my dear, it would be better to leave it to the elves. After all, it's been a long time since you cooked anything," said Nicolas, a little worried about the guests' palates.
Perenelle frowned at him, and immediately Nicolas closed his mouth, which made the others laugh.
"Well then, you're right," she accepted after thinking for a moment. "The food must already be ready. Another day, then," she said with a smile, walking quickly toward the house.
Each step seemed to increase her happiness: no more bone aches, no more need to lean on anything or move carefully. Nicolas, meanwhile, followed her with a smile filled with love, delighted to see her enjoying her renewed vitality. So much so that he didn't even notice they had left their guests behind.
"Mom… how did you do it?" asked Harry, unable to contain his curiosity.
Wanda looked at him with a touch of mischief in her eyes. "I won't tell you—so that you don't try it yourself," she replied calmly as she kept walking.
—
"So the king was nothing more than a fool and a tyrant who wanted eternal life, even if that put all his citizens at risk. He sought the Fountain of Youth, so I simply gave him alcohol… a lot of alcohol. Convinced he was immortal, he threw himself off the balcony. And that was the end of the stupidest tyrant's reign. Fortunately, his prince was quite good; he wanted me to remain as court wizard, but I refused. I was only passing through," Nicolas recounted with a hint of pride, though the story sounded rather absurd.
"That story again? Can't you tell them something more interesting? I'm sure the young ones would much rather hear how you fought an army all by yourself, or when you tamed ten maddened dragons to keep them from attacking the non-magical, or even the magical traps you designed to protect an entire kingdom during the goblin rebellion," said Perenelle, shaking her head in resignation.
"But those stories aren't fun. Watching a king fall because he was an idiot, that is," Nicolas retorted with mock seriousness.
Everyone was seated at the table, conversing calmly while waiting for the meal. The youngsters listened to Nicolas's anecdotes, most of which revolved around strange characters he had met during his travels. They were so ridiculous that they ended up being quite funny.
Meanwhile, Perenelle seemed enchanted with Wanda. The two of them talked about beauty products, though in reality it was Perenelle who wanted to know which ones she might use—especially after seeing how beautiful and smooth Wanda's skin was. And of course, now that she had regained her youth, she couldn't help but pay closer attention to such things.
Although Perenelle now looked to be in her forties, one could easily take ten more years off, given how radiant she appeared. Her silvery hair shone like polished silver, her soft blue eyes conveyed calm, and her delicate face, marked by wisdom, emanated a serene, magnetic aura. Nicolas was no less impressive: his blond hair, slightly long and wavy, seemed to glow with light; his clear blue eyes and mature smile gave him a distinguished, strong appearance.
As they conversed, a soft jingling of bells rang in the air.
"Oh, it seems someone is approaching. Surely the other guests," said Nicolas.
"Indeed. I'll go greet them," said Perenelle, rising with ease. Moving with lightness and speed, she almost seemed to enjoy her renewed vitality too much, unable to stay still.
Nicolas looked at her tenderly and spoke in a low voice:
"The truth is, Perenelle was prepared to convince them to come to Beauxbatons… even resorting to a few tactics," he said with a sly smile.
"Tactics?" everyone asked, intrigued.
"You'll see soon enough," he replied mysteriously.
"Come in, come in. You're both truly beautiful! When Maxime said she would send two students, I never imagined who they would be… but the Delacour cousins! Your family never disappoints when it comes to beauty," announced Perenelle, rushing back in accompanied by two visibly confused youths.
Neither of them could stop staring at her in bewilderment. One even pulled out a Chocolate Frog card, stared at it, then looked back at Perenelle with a perfectly confused expression.
"These are Fleur Delacour, who is in her fourth year at Beauxbatons, and Luciel Delacour, her cousin, who is in his third," Perenelle introduced enthusiastically.
The two young ones shook their heads as if to clear them and then greeted with elegance: Fleur delicately held the hem of her skirt as she curtsied, while Luciel placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly.
Both were dazzling. Fleur, with her platinum-blonde hair, blue eyes, and charming smile, wore a pastel-colored dress with a braid that draped over one shoulder. Luciel looked like a storybook prince: light blue suit, platinum-blonde hair neatly combed to the side, a magnetic smile, and several piercings in his ears with small jewels that matched the brilliance of his eyes.
Then everyone understood what Nicolas had meant by "tactics." Especially Draco and Harry, who immediately looked at their two friends—both with flushed cheeks and shining eyes, utterly smitten with Luciel.
The mix of princely bearing and that rebellious "bad boy" aura from the piercings seemed to have bewitched them instantly.
Meanwhile, Draco and Harry exchanged a look and let out a sigh almost in unison.
"Come, take a seat. The food is already prepared. Let's all eat together," said Perenelle, inviting Fleur and Luciel to sit down with a kind gesture.
Wanda observed them with slight interest. The two young ones, upon laying eyes on her, immediately felt that the most beautiful person they had ever known—their own grandmother—now had competition. The comparison seemed impossible, and yet there they were, silently debating it as they sat down across from the others.
"Ees an goost to conéct yoo… Madame Flamel 'as spokén a lot ov yoo…" said Fleur with a heavy French accent, dragging the syllables and pronouncing the words as if they were rebellious, impossible to tame. Her English sounded stiff, twisted, almost comical, as though every consonant were a small battle.
The four youngsters froze for a moment, trying to process what she had said.
"Sorry, what?" asked Harry, bewildered.
Fleur blushed instantly, lowering her gaze.
"Forgive my cousin. She only started learning English a short while ago. What she meant to say is that it's a pleasure to meet you, and that Madame Flamel has spoken a lot about you," explained Luciel with a calm smile, his English flawless, to which he added a friendly wink.
"Ui… agque zón máh govenes dan Ai thought…[You are younger than I really thought.]" murmured Fleur, struggling to hide the embarrassment that colored her cheeks.
"Mmm," was all Harry said, giving it little importance, just as the food began to be served at the table. He picked up his cutlery and served himself with impeccable manners.
Draco, for his part, didn't even seem interested in the conversation. His attention was fixed on the dishes, carefully considering what to try first, though he had yet to lift his fork.
"Zo… yoo weel be ze ezchange studénts at 'Ogwarts? Eet makez me 'appy zat yoo want to know our school. Ai am zure yoo weel find eet far more fascinátin zan any ozer…[So… you will be the exchange students at Hogwarts? It makes me happy that you want to know our school. I am sure you will find it far more fascinating than any other…]" Fleur continued, trying to regain some composure with a smile.
"Mmm," Draco replied this time, calmly choosing his food and beginning to serve himself.
"In fact, Madame Perenelle said we were going into third and fourth year, but we've already advanced to the next course. So, when you arrive, I'll be in fourth. Of course, if you ever need help or want to explore, you can always come to me. I know the castle like the back of my hand," said Luciel, accompanied by a confident wink.
Under the table, both girls nudged each other with excitement, their faces flushed.
"We'll be delighted!" they exclaimed together, unable to hide their enthusiasm.
Fleur watched her cousin, the two girls, and then Harry and Draco. She couldn't understand why Luciel—who didn't even share her innate gift—could so easily win the girls over, while those two boys seemed to ignore her completely. A spark of competitiveness and pride lit up inside her. With a slight motion, she brushed her fingers against the bracelet on her wrist.
Wanda, who was still talking with Perenelle, turned her head toward Fleur at that moment.
"Oh, looks like they've touched her pride," said Perenelle with a mischievous smile. Wanda gave a faint smile in return and glanced back at Draco and Harry before resuming her conversation with the alchemist.
Suddenly, Draco froze with his fork in midair. His heart began to pound, a wave of emotions hitting him without warning. He parted his lips and bit his lower lip, causing a drop of blood to fall, which instantly brought him back to his senses. With a dry gesture, he grabbed a napkin, wiped the blood without making a scene, and frowned, irritated with himself. He lowered his gaze, refusing to look at Fleur again, while raising his mental walls to their peak. With Occlumency at full strength, his face became serious, impenetrable, devoid of emotion.
Harry, on the other hand, was lifting a bite of food to his mouth just as the charm tried to affect him. He simply raised his eyes, held Fleur's gaze for a moment, and smiled… but not sweetly. It was a mocking smile, before he calmly went back to chewing and ignoring her entirely.
The reaction left Fleur visibly confused.
"The Delacour family is famous for having veela blood," explained Perenelle calmly, while Wanda listened with mild interest. "Many of their ancestors married veelas, and some of their descendants inherit the hypnotic allure. Only the women can possess it, though the men inherit the beauty. Beauxbatons is well known for welcoming students of various bloodlines, including veelas, and instead of rejecting them, the school helps them learn to control their special abilities. That is why it is such a charming academy—though, of course, it can sometimes be difficult."
With a smile, she added:
"The last professor of special magic was dismissed… he could not resist Fleur's allure and nearly attacked her. It was her grandmother, an old acquaintance of mine, who asked me for help. So Nico created that bracelet for her, so she could contain her power. Fleur can be proud and competitive, yes, but she is not a bad person. She lived her whole life trapped by her allure. And now… I see something interesting," she concluded, gazing at the girl, who kept shifting her expressions in frustration as she realized her attempts were failing.
At last, Fleur lifted her eyes toward Perenelle and Wanda, who were both watching her knowingly. She understood immediately what she had been doing, and her entire face flushed red. Nervously touching her bracelet, she bent over her plate and began eating quickly, trying to erase her embarrassment.
"Well… it's a rather interesting illusion skill," said Wanda casually, as if it were nothing remarkable. She wasn't even upset that Fleur had tried to charm Harry; she knew it was impossible.
"Many Beauxbatons students still don't know how to properly control their powers," added Perenelle, before glancing at Wanda, as though a new thought had just sparked in her mind.
…
Everyone finished eating and then moved to another room to rest, though the conversation still revolved around Beauxbatons.
"Apart from the mandatory and optional subjects that exist in all wizarding schools around the world, Beauxbatons also has several clubs supported by professors. There's the etiquette club, the fencing club, the archery club, the reading club, the music club, the equestrian club… In each one, you learn seriously about the discipline, and you can belong to several at the same time. For example, I am part of the equestrian club and the next president of the fencing club," explained Luciel with a confident smile. "My cousin Fleur is part of the music club, though she keeps receiving invitations from the dance club as well."
"You forgot the most important one: the alchemy club," Nicolás interjected.
"Of course. The alchemy club is one of the clubs with the most students. Monsieur Flamel donated many of his alchemy books, so it's quite popular. Although, to be honest, many of those students only join because being in the alchemy club gives you extra points when you graduate and look for a job—especially in France," Luciel replied with a carefree smile.
The comment annoyed Nicolás a little, but he couldn't say it was false.
Luciel came across as someone easy to get along with, open and friendly, and he naturally took the lead in the conversation, telling the four about Beauxbatons. Fleur, on the other hand, remained at his side with an almost forced smile. Her limited English and the wrong impression she feared she had given kept her uneasy: no one was looking at her the way they usually did, and that confused her more than she admitted.
"This year we won't be able to continue with our clubs, especially because we'll be exchange students for only one year. So we might join the ones that already exist, if we're allowed to enter several," Harry commented with interest.
"Sounds interesting. The fencing club catches my attention, especially since that discipline can later be applied in the control of golems," said Draco seriously.
"I'm interested in equestrianism," added Daphne. Hermione nodded immediately, though it was obvious both of them had more than horses in mind.
"It will be a pleasure then, going to your school," Harry said to the two cousins with a calm smile.
"It will be a pleasure for us to have you, even if it's only for one year. I hope it will be a year you truly remember in your hearts. And who knows… perhaps you'll decide to stay," replied Luciel with a confident gleam in his eyes.
…
After the talk, everyone began preparing to leave. Nicolás was connecting the Floo Network, thrilled with the idea of traveling again now that his youth allowed him more activity. Meanwhile, Perenelle had taken Wanda aside to give her a few recipes of the dishes Harry had particularly enjoyed.
The four youngsters were speaking quietly among themselves about which clubs they might join, leaving Fleur and Luciel sitting in their place.
Luciel noticed his cousin's annoyed expression and couldn't help but smile with a hint of mockery.
"On t'a appelée pour enchanter les enfants, mais il semble que tu n'as pas pu. Oh, quel malheur. Quelle petite Vélane si triste."
(They called you to enchant the children, but it seems you couldn't. Oh, what a misfortune. What a little Veela so sad), he said in French, exaggerating his tone as if narrating a theatrical tragedy.
"Taisez-vous. De toute façon, ils viendront à Beauxbâtons. Et toi, tu es en train de séduire des petites filles… tu n'as pas peur que j'appelle la police ?"
(Shut up. Anyway, they'll come to Beauxbatons. And you, you're seducing little girls… aren't you afraid I'll call the police?), Fleur shot back, irritated.
"Écoute, avant tout, nous n'avons qu'un an et quelques mois de différence. Et ça, je ne peux pas l'éviter."
(Listen, first of all, we're only a year and a few months apart. And that, I can't change), Luciel replied, running his hand through his hair with an arrogant smile.
"Je n'ai pas besoin d'un charme de Vélane pour conquérir des cœurs."
(I don't need a Veela's charm to win hearts), he added smugly.
"Hmph. Ce ne sont que des enfants. C'est pour ça que ça n'a pas marché. Attends seulement qu'ils grandissent."
(Hmph. They're just children. That's why it didn't work. Just wait until they grow up), said Fleur, a note of competitiveness in her voice.
"Cousine, peut-être que tu ne t'en rends pas compte, mais en ce moment tu parles comme une méchante. Mais j'ai vraiment envie de voir comment tout ça va finir."
(Cousin, maybe you don't realize it, but right now you're speaking like a villainess. And I really want to see how all this ends), Luciel replied, amused.
"Moi aussi, je suis vraiment intéressée de voir comment tout cela va se terminer."
(Yes, I too am really interested in seeing how all this ends)," interrupted a voice.
Both turned abruptly at the sound of those words. There stood Harry, with a faint smile. His French was perfect, clear and fluent, which left the two cousins dumbfounded.
"It will be an interesting year, elders," he said calmly, walking with his hands behind his back as he moved away.
Luciel looked at Fleur's expression and grinned mischievously.
"Hahaha… I truly hope it will be interesting. Otherwise, our school will be terribly boring," he remarked, amused.