Chapter 299: Arrival
As Sean's words fell, a tiny black dot appeared in the distant sky. The dot rapidly expanded and, in the blink of an eye, became a carriage like a small house drawn by twelve Abraxans.
The carriage gradually descended in height, finally flying over the queue of students, startling those in the front row who couldn't help but step back several paces.
Accompanied by the rumbling of landing, the Abraxans with hooves like enormous platters landed one after another, and the house-like carriage also slowly settled on the ground under magical influence.
When the carriage came to a stop, a young man in blue robes jumped out from inside. He rotated something on the carriage, and immediately a golden staircase descended from it.
At this moment, the young man respectfully stepped back to make way.
A black high-heeled shoe the size of a child's sled emerged from the carriage, followed by a woman whose bulk could only be matched by Hagrid.
Sean knew this must be Madame Olympe Maxime, the headmistress of Beauxbatons.
If there were no surprises, like Hagrid, she was also a half-giant.
However, Madame Maxime had quite a handsome olive-coloured face with large, watery eyes and a pointed nose. Her brown-black hair was combed back, and she was wrapped from head to toe in a form-fitting black satin dress that showed off her graceful figure. Her thick hands wore many precious opal rings.
Amid applause from Hogwarts students and professors, Madame Maxime's face lit up with an elegant smile. She gracefully stepped forward and extended her hand.
Dumbledore kissed her hand without needing to bend, a sign of deep respect.
"Dear Madame Maxime, welcome to Hogwarts, you and your students," Dumbledore said warmly.
"Dumbledore," Maxime replied in a rich, deep voice, "I 'ope you are well."
"Very well, thank you for your concern," he responded courteously.
Nodding again, Maxime turned to look at the carriage and raised her hand to wave gently: "My students, come down. Come meet ze children and professors of 'Ogwarts."
Following Madame Maxime's words, about twelve or thirteen male and female students in blue robes descended from the carriage. They were generally eighteen or nineteen years old, roughly sixth or seventh year age. They all gathered behind Madame Maxime. Since they were only wearing those beautiful silk robes, and late October at Hogwarts was already quite cold, they all couldn't help but shiver.
Sean quickly spotted Fleur among those people, but Fleur hadn't found Sean so quickly. After all, all the Hogwarts students had gathered here, and finding Sean among so many people wasn't easy. Moreover, Fleur was the student Maxime valued most this time and needed to stay by Maxime's side constantly. She couldn't just look around for where Sean was.
"Dumbledore, 'as Karkaroff arrived?"
"He should arrive at any moment, but before he comes, I suggest we go inside to warm up first. What do you think?"
Hearing this, Maxime immediately nodded in agreement: "Of course. Ze temperature at 'Ogwarts is quite low. Although I don't 'ave much problem with it, my children may not be able to continue waiting 'ere for zem.
'Owever, I 'ope someone can take proper care of my 'orses."
"Someone will take care of them. Our Care of Magical Creatures professor is a very experienced person who will take very good care of magical creatures. Of course, this requires him to first handle some small troubles caused by the magical creatures he's raising. He'll come take care of these Abraxans very soon."
Sean wasn't far from Dumbledore, so he naturally heard these words.
He knew those troublesome magical creatures were most likely Hagrid's Blast-Ended Skrewts. Those things were not only disgusting but also very unstable. Only Hagrid himself would think those creatures were cute.
"Dumbledore, please tell zat professor zat zese Abraxans drink only single-malt whisky."
"I will see to it."
"Children, follow me."
Maxime spoke authoritatively and led Fleur and other Beauxbatons students toward Hogwarts.
It was precisely at this moment that Fleur saw Sean standing not far from Dumbledore. She couldn't reminisce with Sean at this time, so she just winked at him.
But this single wink immediately caused many people around Sean to lose their composure. Fleur had Veela blood, which gave every smile and frown a certain enchanting magical power. Those with weak will and unstable minds could easily be bewitched and lose control under this enchanting force.
The robes worn by Hogwarts students were thick, but no matter how thick, they couldn't withstand constantly waiting outside.
Just when the students were finding it somewhat unbearable, rumbling and sucking sounds suddenly came from the Black Lake. Then the water on the lake began to ripple, forming waves that spread outward. Next, a huge whirlpool appeared in the centre of the lake, and a long mast rose from the whirlpool, followed by sails and rigging.
At this point, everyone knew a ship was about to rise from beneath the Black Lake!
RUMBLE!
Amid continuous rumbling, a quite impressive large ship resembling a wreck rose to the surface, gleaming in the moonlight.
Indeed, at this moment, the sun had set and the moon had risen, with silver moonlight spilling down from the sky.
The large ship came to the shore of the Black Lake, dropped anchor, and lowered its gangplank.
People from the ship came ashore one after another.
At this time, Sean and others saw that these students and professors from Durmstrang all wore fur cloaks, making them appear quite bulky.
After everyone disembarked, Durmstrang's headmaster, Igor Karkaroff led his people before Dumbledore.
Karkaroff wore a cloak of pure white fur. He was tall and thin with short white hair and a goatee with slightly curled ends that couldn't completely hide his gaunt chin.
Walking up to Dumbledore, Karkaroff extended both hands to grasp Dumbledore's hands and said to him in a sickeningly sweet, rounded voice: "Dumbledore, my dear old fellow, how are you?"
"I am very well, Professor Karkaroff. Please enter the castle and warm up properly."
Looking at Dumbledore and Karkaroff acting like real old friends, Sean smiled. This Karkaroff fellow had also been a Death Eater back in the day, later betraying many people to save himself. Although Sean felt Death Eaters deserved whatever misfortune befell them, he also had great contempt for people like Karkaroff, especially now that he was pretending to be old friends with Dumbledore.
If he had encountered Dumbledore when he was a Death Eater back then, Dumbledore would have scared the living daylights out of him.