Stepping away from Professor Shafiq, Madame Maxime turned her attention to Lucian.
"Lucian Grafton, the youngest wizard to ever receive the Order of Merlin, First Class. I had a feeling you would be one of the representatives for Hogwarts."
Over the summer, when Madame Maxime had taken Fleur to visit Nicolas Flamel, she had caught only a fleeting glimpse of his student before they went their separate ways. She knew the boy attended Hogwarts, but she hadn't pried for more information at the time.
However, once the Alchemy-themed exchange was announced, it didn't take much for her to put the pieces together. There was no way the student of the world's most legendary alchemist would miss this. Besides, she was using this event to build hype for the Triwizard Tournament, which was being revived after a century—it was the perfect excuse to officially meet Lucian.
When news broke that a young Hogwarts student had earned the Order of Merlin, she became certain: that boy was Flamel's protégé.
Hearing Madame Maxime address him so directly, Lucian stepped forward and greeted her with perfect formal etiquette.
"I wish you health and happiness, Madame. It is a true honor to be here for this exchange."
As he bowed, Lucian caught a glimpse of a girl standing behind the Headmistress. She seemed to radiate a soft, silvery glow. Her face was strikingly beautiful—easily the most beautiful woman Lucian had ever seen, bar none.
She was tall and slender, with long golden hair that shimmered under that strange silvery light. Her large, deep blue eyes were fixed directly on him.
For a split second, Lucian felt his heart race. His face grew warm, and his breathing became shallow. It was as if the girl were a whirlpool, slowly pulling his gaze in and drowning his senses.
It was the textbook definition of "falling in love at first sight."
Lucian's mind snapped into focus, and his brow furrowed slightly. He circulated his magic, turning his dark green eyes deep and opaque. In an instant, the overwhelming sense of infatuation vanished.
Fleur Delacour, he thought. Even with only partial Veela blood, that charm is something else...
The group began their walk through the campus. Lucian looked around with genuine interest, noting how different the architecture was from Hogwarts. While Hogwarts was introverted and mysterious, Beauxbatons was all about outward elegance and luxury.
Hogwarts was one massive, sprawling castle; Beauxbatons was a collection of grand palaces. The grounds were vast, but the buildings were relatively low, mostly only three or four stories tall. Walking along the central corridor, Lucian noted the elegant statues and French romantic decor.
When they reached the courtyard, the sound of rushing water filled the air.
A massive fountain stood at the center of the yard, surrounded by over a dozen smaller fountains. They pulsed in a rhythmic pattern, all connected by a complex system of aqueducts. Despite the cold weather, the water showed no signs of freezing; it flowed as freely as if it were mid-summer.
Atop the central fountain stood two stone statues: a man and a woman. Each held a wand aloft, and clear spring water erupted from the tips, splashing into the pool below.
Lucian recognized them instantly—it was his teacher, Nicolas, and his wife, Perenelle. Even from a distance, his sharp eyes could make out the inscription carved into the side of the basin:
"Never forget youth and beauty — Nicolas Flamel & Perenelle Flamel"
Lucian remembered a conversation he'd had with Hermione before leaving. She had shared a wealth of facts about Beauxbatons, and of course, the "Fountain of Beauty" was a major highlight. When she mentioned it, the usually logical witch had become uncharacteristically shy, admitted she was curious if it actually made people younger and prettier, and said she "really wanted to study the magical theory behind it."
Lucian had seen right through her. The desire for beauty really is a lifelong pursuit, he mused. He started wondering if he should develop some beauty-focused potions or alchemical items. How did I overlook such a massive market?
[Ding! Loan Triggered: Advanced Elemental Earth Runes]
[Loan Mission: Improve the Beauxbatons Fountain of Beauty]
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