37: Beauxbatons and the Exchange Students


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    Crossing the English Channel, the cruise ship traveled from Britain to France.


    The Pyrenees.


    This natural border between France and Spain was home to the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, nestled in a mountainousndscape and magically constructed to create an idyllic haven.


    If you asked British wizards which was the best magic school in the world, they would undoubtedly tell you it was Hogwarts.


    If you were to ask a French wizard, they would tell you that the British are talking nonsense; Beauxbatons is the best magic school.


    The magnificent and romantic castle is a French favorite, resembling a French pce, surrounded by magical gardens and fountains.


    A gentl breeze might carry the songs of woond fairies through the garden.


    "Professor, why are we here?"


    But despite all the eye-pleasing scenes, John asked, feeling somewhat depressed.


    Dumbledore had said he would take him to meet Nics mel. Instead, upon arrival, they first went to the Paris Opera House to watch a touching opera, and then to adies'' hat shop where Dumbledore bought himself a favored hat.


    This was their third stop in France: Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, the French magic school.


    Dumbledore smiled at John and said, "John, indeed, the pursuit of knowledge must never cease, but we are on vacation."


    As they entered Beauxbatons'' gates and walked through the garden, they encountered a tall woman who seemed like a female version of Hagrid.


    "Dumbledore."


    Olympe Maxime.


    The current headmistress of Beauxbatons.


    She had an oliveplexion,rge dark eyes that seemed to glisten, and her hair was tied back. She wore a ck satin dress and adorned herself with luxurious opals.


    She was like an oversized noblewoman.


    She extended her hand, and Dumbledore naturally went forward to kiss the back of it.


    Despite herrge size, her demeanor was elegant.


    "Madame Maxime, thank you very much for allowing my student toe here."


    Dumbledore was already quite tall, but he looked very short next to Madame Maxime.


    Hearing his words, Madame Maxime nced down at John, who was standing nearby.


    She spoke in English but with a slight French ent, "Dumbledore, Nics mel is a patron of Beauxbatons. I could not refuse his request."


    Dumbledore smiled, and it seemed they were speaking in code.


    John was utterly confused by their exchange.


    Madame Maxime then approached John. She looked at John''s well-fitted suit and showed a hint of approval in her eyes.


    "Now, you may need a little transformation."


    She took out her wand and lightly tapped it on John.


    John felt a change and looked down to see that his clothes had transformed.


    The suit transformed into a light blue robe, with a design on the chest featuring two crossed golden wands, each with three stars emanating from it.


    John was a bit bewildered by the instant wardrobe change.


    Dumbledore cleared his throat, bringing John out of his daze.


    "John Wick, from now on, you will spend this holiday at Beauxbatons as a temporary exchange student from Hogwarts."


    Wut da fuk....?


    The elderly man, who had a penchant for overly sweet Cockroach Clusters, had a smile of conspiracy on his face.


    John then realized he had been tricked by this old bumblebee.


    So much for finding Nics mel; instead, he had be an exchange student.


    "Damn, I''ve be a stand-in."


    John thought in dismay, wondering if Dumbledore had found out about his dabbling in dark magic and was nning to expel him from Hogwarts.


    Was it really going to be that harsh?


    He subconsciously forgot that Dumbledore had mentioned the word "temporary," and now he was very nervous.


    "Professor, if there is anything I''ve done that displeased you, please just tell me," John wanted to cry but had no tears.


    Dumbledore blinked and patted John''s shoulder, saying mysteriously, "John, every magical school is filled with mysteries that you can discover with your keen eyes. You can also enjoy Beauxbatons'' gardens and fountains; my old friend is very fond of them."


    The underlying message seemed to hint at something for John. Dumbledore then softly added, "Don''t worry, Hogwarts won''t expel a young wizard for his curiosity about magic."


    Alright, that at least reassured John that he wouldn''t be expelled.


    Madame Maxime led John into Beauxbatons, where he was to spend a two-month exchange student period.


    Madame Maxime couldn''t personally oversee a student, even if this student was sent by the century''s greatest wizard, Dumbledore.


    It just so happened that there was a student in the school who needed to stay in the school for something.


    John got help from a girl.


    Her name was Fleur Dcour, a beautiful girl, three years older than John.


    Fleur was so beautiful that she didn''t look like a mortal.


    She was slender and elegant, and she walked as if she was floating on the ground, and her body seemed to emit a faint silver light.


    Her silver hair flowed down to her waist, and she hadrge, azure eyes and perfectly white teeth.


    It wasn''t until she stood before John that he snapped back to his senses.


    "Hi, I''m Fleur Dcour"


    His brain short-circted after seeing her up close and his mind subconsciously formed words to describe this girl in front of him..


    "Oh, after seeing you a linees to mind - <em>If she were to murder me in cold blood, I''d die with a smile</em>,"


    He said this very sincerely, but Fleur was utterly puzzled.


    <em>What did he mean by that? Why would I murder you?</em>


    If she knew the famous line from the furniture store ad, she might understand he wasplimenting her beauty as if enhanced with special effects.


    In reality, John was also curious because he really saw a silver light shimmering around Fleur.


    This girl seemed to possess some sort of other lineage, simr to how John had dragon blood.


    "Ah! the name is John Wick. Just call me John," John said, extending his hand. Fleur, who also found the boy''s appearance pleasing, felt a bit of an instant connection.


    She gently shook his hand, a brief touch before pulling away.


    John didn''t have much time for further thoughts as his attention was drawn to the twelve enormous, winged horses.


    "These are Abraxan horses, kept by Madame Maxime," Fleur exined to John.


    John stared at the twelve horses, but his mind was preupied with a single thought.


    ''I need to find a way to get some materials from these horses.''


    Upon entering the school, John was already eyeing the horses for resources.


    If Madame Maxime knew she had let a wolf into her fold, even Nics mel''s personal intervention wouldn''t keep John in the school.


    Dumbledore''s words weighed heavily on John''s mind, sparking an idea.


    Hogwarts had the Room of Requirement.


    As the counterpart to Hogwarts, it was highly likely that Beauxbatons had a simr ce.


    Given that Nics mel was a Beauxbatons board member and former student, John recalled Dumbledore mentioning he would take him to meet mel.


    He didn''t think Dumbledore would go back on his word. Either Nics mel was somewhere in Beauxbatons, or there was something rted to him here.


    Whichever it was, as an alchemy enthusiast, obtaining or seeing something rted to mel would undoubtedly be highly beneficial.


    With this thought in mind, John became more determined.


    Switching to a new location for nighttime exploration wasn''t a big deal—it wasn''t as if he hadn''t done it before.


    So, he shyly approached Fleur, putting on a harmless smile, and asked, "Do you know if there''s a restricted section or something simr here?"


    Fleur couldn''t understand the thought process of this little wizard from Britain. <em>Why is he asking me about the restricted section?</em>


    This was Beauxbatons, not Hogwarts. They wouldn''t have a restricted section just sitting around openly for little children from other schools.


    As expected, John''s answer was, "Yes, but you better not even think about it."


    <em>Alright!</em> John thought, feeling like a foreigner in a strangend.


    That night, he cast a Level 4 Disillusionment Charm and began his nocturnal explorations in Beauxbatons.


    During that time, rumors of Beauxbatons being haunted spread.


    In the middle of the night, there was always the sound of footsteps wandering, yet no one could see anything. Even the professors who investigated found nothing there.


    Someone once saw a ghost lying on the ground looking for something near the mel Fountain. He looked as pale as a vampire who had been hung upside down for three days.


    The sight frightened a Beauxbatons student so much that they hid in their dormitory for several days, filling their window with garlic.


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    <em>Read 12 Chapters ahead at</em>


    /Dragonel