Everyday Life of a Top Student at Hogwarts

Chapter 134 A Visit to the Lakeside Castle

Chapter 134 A Visit to the Lakeside Castle

Two days later, at dawn, a breathtakingly magnificent carriage stood silently on the lawn at the entrance to the "Tranquil Abode." Unlike the Thestral carriage that had brought them before, this time it was pulled by six divine steeds. They were enormous, like elephants, their bodies covered in smooth, silky, milky-white fur. Their massive wings were folded at their sides, and their golden hooves gently trod the grass, radiating a soft light and powerful magical energy. They snorted docilely, and beneath their long eyelashes were gentle, wise golden eyes, perfectly matching people's imagination of pegasus.

"Wow! A giant Pegasus!" Lily was the first to run out, tilting her little head and exclaiming in amazement. The enormous Pegasus was like a legendary creature to her; of course, even in the magical world, Pegasus was indeed a rare, even legendary, creature.

"These are the divine horses of Beauxbatons that you mentioned, Karen?" David couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. His engineer's instincts kicked in, and he immediately began to estimate their muscle strength, wingspan, and possible flight principles. "Incredible creatures! The aerodynamics of their wings is truly magical!"

Emily looked at the enormous creature with some concern: "They...are they docile? They won't suddenly—"

"Rest assured, Mrs. Emily," Mrs. Perenel reassured with a smile, dressed in an elegant light purple gown. "The Divine Horses are extremely gentle and loyal creatures, and through Beauxbatons' careful breeding and training, they have become one of Beauxbatons' symbols in the outside world."

Nico and Castor also came out. Castor looked better than a couple of days ago; although still thin, he seemed to be in good spirits. Today he was wearing a more formal dark blue robe, his left arm still covered.

"Ready, my friends?" Nicole opened her arms wide, beaming. "Today, I'm taking you to see the jewel of French magical education—Beauxbatons School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

The group boarded the carriage. The interior space was further expanded by the expansion spell, and the decoration style was even more luxurious, making extensive use of gold, blue, and silver. The seats were made of velvet, and the windows were inlaid with exquisite stained glass. With a soft shout from the coachman, the six divine rune horses simultaneously spread their enormous wings, pushed off the ground with their powerful hind legs, and gracefully took off into the air, their movements even more fluid and stable than those of the Thestrals.

The flight was exceptionally comfortable, and Lily excitedly leaned against the car window, watching the French countryside rushing past below: verdant fields, winding rivers, and villages scattered like stars in the sky.

About an hour later, the carriage began its descent. Below lay a vast lake, its surface as clear as a mirror, and on its shore stood a magnificent castle that seemed straight out of a fairy tale. The castle was built of light golden stone, gleaming in the sunlight, its spires dotting the landscape.

The castle is surrounded by meticulously maintained gardens, bursting with vibrant colors. The most striking feature is a huge, multi-tiered fountain in front of the castle, where countless streams of water intertwine in the air to form intricate and beautiful patterns, refracting the sunlight into a rainbow of colors.

"That's the Lemaître Fountain," Nicole said, pointing to the fountain with a touch of nostalgia. "A little something from when Perenel and I were young. Its waters possess a subtle magic of restoration and beautification, nourishing the surrounding plants and buildings."

"So beautiful!" Emily exclaimed sincerely.

"Like a princess's castle in a storybook!" Lily's eyes lit up.

The carriage landed gracefully on the open lawn in front of the castle. A very tall and elegant lady was already waiting there with several students dressed in matching light blue silk school uniforms. She was none other than Mrs. Olme Maxim, the headmistress of Beauxbatons.

"Nico! Perenel! And our distinguished guests! Welcome to Beauxbatons!" Mrs. Maxime's voice was loud and enthusiastic. She strode forward, gave Nico and Perenel a cheek kiss, and then turned to the Hawthorne family.

"This must be Mr. David Hawthorne, Mrs. Emily, lovely little Lily, and" Her gaze fell on Karen, with a gentle smile and a hint of scrutiny, "Karen Hawthorne, Nicole's new student, the star of Hogwarts Ravenclaw! Welcome!" She shook hands with David and Emily in turn, and bent down to greet Lily warmly.

"Thank you very much for your invitation, Mrs. Maxim," David replied politely.

"Your school is so beautiful!" Emily exclaimed.

Karen also greeted her respectfully, "Good afternoon, Mrs. Maxim."

Led by Mrs. Maxime herself, they began their tour of Beauxbatons. First, they entered the magnificent Great Hall. Its style was strikingly different from the ancient grandeur of Hogwarts. The ceiling, too, was enchanted, displaying a blue sky reminiscent of a spring afternoon, with wisps of white clouds drifting lazily by and soft sunlight streaming in. The walls were lined with enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, offering views of real lakes and mountains. Instead of long tables, the Great Hall was furnished with numerous small round tables covered in pristine white tablecloths and adorned with flowers, creating an elegant and refined atmosphere. Huge tapestries hung on the walls, depicting famous scenes and myths from the history of French magic.

"We don't have a divisional system," Mrs. Maxim explained as she walked. "All students study and live together, like one big family. We focus more on cultivating students' overall quality, artistic appreciation, and international perspective." She pointed to a small, exquisite stage at the end of the auditorium, "where students often hold concerts, theatrical performances, and spell shows."

Then they walked through a series of wide, brightly lit corridors. On the walls on either side, exquisite magical murals flowed gently, showcasing landscapes and magical creatures from all over France. At intervals, lifelike magical statues stood, some depicting contemplative scholars, others elegant dancers. A faint scent of perfume and the melodious sound of a harp wafted through the air.

"Art is an important part of the Beauxbatons education," Mrs. Maxime said with pride. "We believe that a sense of beauty can enhance the creativity and control of magic."

The conservatory garden is the next highlight. Unlike the herbology conservatory at Hogwarts, it's more like a vast, art-filled botanical garden. Plants are pruned into various exquisite geometric shapes or animal forms. The color scheme is masterful, ranging from delicate pinkish-purple to vibrant gold and red, with distinct layers.

Some of the magical flowers would automatically play soft musical notes, or scatter tiny specks of light with the breeze. What captivated Lily most were a group of tiny magical fairies, no bigger than a palm, with transparent wings, who danced lightly among the flowers, scattering shimmering dust. They swayed to invisible music, eliciting gasps of amazement from Lily, who watched them intently.

"Mrs. Maxim," David couldn't help but ask during the tour, his gaze drawn to the elegant vaulted structures and the supporting framework of the enormous windows inside the castle. "The structural design of Beauxbatons Castle is truly ingenious, especially those large-span domes and lighting design. Even in our non-magical architectural world, it's more of a theoretical concept. Did it utilize magic similar to spatial expansion or powerful reinforcement during its construction? Or did it primarily rely on exquisite engineering?"

Mrs. Maxim smiled and replied, "Both, Mr. Hawthorne. Beauxbatons has a very long history, and its main structure truly reflects the extraordinary wisdom of ancient craftsmen. Magic was mainly used for refining details, constructing defensive systems, and enabling aesthetic designs that violated the rules of the non-magical world."

David nodded repeatedly as he listened.

Finally, Mrs. Maxime led them to the school's alchemy workshop. In stark contrast to Nicole's futuristic workshop, Beauxbatons' workshop perfectly matched Cullen's earlier image of a traditional alchemical mecca. Moreover, Mrs. Maxime specifically mentioned that the workshop itself was generously funded by Nicole Flamel, and Beauxbatons' modern emphasis and dedication to alchemical research was largely influenced by this legendary alumnus.

The workshop was located in a large, well-lit stone hall in the east wing of the castle. Ancient star maps and transmutation circles were painted on the high, vaulted ceiling. Light streamed in through huge, stained-glass windows, casting dappled shadows on the polished stone surface. The air was filled with a rich, unique aroma, a blend of various herbs, mineral powders, and the smoky scent of heated metals.

In the center of the hall, several enormous furnaces, constructed of heat-resistant stone and mithril, stood silently. One furnace was the most striking; its furnace chamber was made of a deep blue, almost transparent Venetian glass, within which burned a stable, strangely blue magical flame. The furnace walls were engraved with intricate protective runes and energy guiding patterns.

Surrounding the furnace were rows of heavy, wide oak workbenches. The surfaces were not pristine, but rather bore the marks of time: mortars of various sizes, brass or crystal stills of different shapes, balances engraved with weights and measures, sets of mithril engraving knives and crucible tongs neatly arranged, and some workbenches scattered with open parchment scrolls covered with ancient writing and intricate diagrams.

Because it was the holidays, the huge workshop seemed unusually empty. Only a few students wearing leather protective aprons were scattered around different workbenches. Some were carefully weighing materials; others, under the guidance of an instructor, were intently carving basic runes on metal sheets with carving knives; still others were facing the blue glass furnace, using long crucible tongs to hold containers, purifying or smelting materials. The atmosphere was quieter than usual during classes, with only the crackling of flames, the soft tapping of metal, and the occasional low voice of the instructors giving guidance.

"This is usually where our second-year and above students take alchemy electives," Mrs. Maxim explained, her voice clear in the spacious hall. "It emphasizes a solid foundation in traditional techniques and practical application of formulas. From material identification, tool use, and basic rune carving to the preparation of standard alchemical potions and the creation of simple magical items, it's a step-by-step process. As you can see, even during holidays, a few children who are obsessed with this art stay at school to study it."

Karen observed with curiosity. The atmosphere here was indeed more academic, emphasizing procedures, standards, and basic operations. He saw a senior student who had stayed on campus carefully adding materials one by one into a crystal flask, referring to an old parchment scroll, while muttering something under his breath. A little further away, another student, under the supervision of his instructor, was intently carving a rune on a palm-sized piece of dragon skin with a special carving knife, each stroke extremely slow and precise.

"It's a bit like the Potions classroom at Hogwarts," Cullen whispered to Nico beside her, "but older, with more professional equipment, and more focused on alchemy."

Nico nodded, looked around the workshop he funded and which also carried some of his ideas, and smiled, "Each has its own focus."

Beauxbatons' workshop is a microcosm of the historical legacy of alchemy, its foundation. My workshop—well, it's a small exploration towards the future.

Just then, Madame Maxim turned to Karen, a friendly yet slightly mischievous smile on her face, and winked: "My dear Karen, do you see how excellent the alchemical atmosphere is in Beauxbatons? Nicole is the pride of our French magical community. What do you think?"

"Interested in transferring to Beauxbatons? I guarantee that here you'll not only receive direct instruction from Professor Nico, but also enjoy the best alchemy environment in all of Europe!" She spoke with a half-joking tone, and the Beauxbatons students around her laughed in a friendly manner.

Karen was taken aback, not expecting Mrs. Maxim to say that so suddenly.

However, Mrs. Maxim then looked at Nicol, her eyes showing a hint of seriousness, and added, half-jokingly, "Nicol, you know. Such an excellent and talented young man, staying in the Beauxbatons system to study will definitely be of great benefit to his future."

"Our resources here—especially our traditional alchemy expertise—are incredibly rich." She subtly alluded to the library and certain esoteric manuscripts.

Nico chuckled, stroking his silver beard. "Olem, I appreciate your kindness. But Cullen is doing just as well at Hogwarts, and that old man Dumbledore won't let his treasure go easily. Besides," he patted Cullen's shoulder, a hint of pride in his voice, "a true alchemist can find their path anywhere. What matters is the guidance of a mentor and one's own pursuit, right, Cullen?"

Cullen immediately understood and replied politely but firmly, "Thank you for your kind offer, Mrs. Maxim. Beauxbatons is very beautiful, and the alchemical atmosphere is wonderful. But I'm perfectly comfortable at Hogwarts; my house and my friends are there. Besides, Master Nico taught me that the essence of alchemy lies in understanding and creation, not just in where you are. I believe that wherever you are, as long as you study under Master Nico, you can gain invaluable knowledge." He expressed his appreciation for Beauxbatons while subtly declining the invitation.

A flicker of appreciation crossed Mrs. Maxim's eyes, before she regained her composed and dignified smile: "Well said! A child with his own opinions. Nico, you've certainly taken on a good student. Well, it seems Beauxbatons won't have this rising star from England for the time being. But, Karen, Beauxbatons' doors are always open for you; you're always welcome to come and learn!"

"Thank you, Mrs. Maxim," Karen said again.

The visit concluded in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Mrs. Maxime warmly invited them to a refined afternoon tea on the castle's viewing terrace, where they sampled the pastries that the Beauxbatons house-elves were so proud of. During the tea, David continued his discussion with Mrs. Maxime about the castle's structural features, while Emily exchanged gardening tips with Mrs. Perenel, and Lily was completely absorbed in the delicious desserts and the beautiful garden views from the terrace.

On the return journey in the magic carriage, the setting sun painted the sky golden red. After a day of excitement, Lily fell asleep in Emily's arms.

He still clutched a small, shimmering flower he'd picked from Beauxbatons Gardens. David savored the castle's exquisite structure. Emily admired the elegance and artistry of French magical education.

As Cullen gazed at the clouds drifting past the window, he compared the ancient mystery of Hogwarts with the refined elegance of Beauxbatons. He was grateful for the broadened horizons this journey had broadened and strengthened his resolve on his path.