The Beauxbatons Academy of Magic
[A/N at the end]
The chateau that stood out from the clouds was magnificent. Beautifully clad in white marble and the gold topped turrets glinted in the sunlight, the strawberry blonde girl pressed her nose against the window of the carriage and stared at it in awe. It was like nothing she'd ever seen before and the worry and fear that had made her sick with nerves lessened as the carriage drew nearer to it.
She had burst into sobs when her mama, dad, Victoire and Louis dropped her off at Gare de Lyon to board the train to the Pyrenees mountains. Her dad had reminded her that she could always change her mind and go to Hogwarts with her sister in September, but Dominique was adamant on going to where her mama had gone to school.
She had always been adventurous and she had always felt a bit different from her family; Beauxbatons would give her the freedom to be herself, a gift that Hogwarts could never give her. If she went to Hogwarts she would be compared to her sister and family, and she wanted to be herself.
And so, she had given her parents and siblings tight hugs and big kisses before she boarded the train with her trunk and owl, promising to write every week and tell them about her school. She had introduced herself to two other first years in her cabin and due to their language barrier had attempted to make conversation and given up. The train ride had been short, and they had been ushered into carriages that were pulled by strong grey horses that were twice the size of a normal horse.
They had been in the carriages for an hour and the horses were moving at record speed up the mountain ranges.
"Look at 'zee 'orses!" the brunette girl next to her exclaimed with a thick French accent, the other two passengers looked outside and she was amazed at how big the horses in the nearby paddock were.
Her mama had told her about one of the founders, Sebastien Toussaine, having been an avid horse breeder, which is why the Beauxbatons grounds were home to an array of winged, aquatic, and normal horses. Ranging in colours and sizes, the biggest of the bunch were pale gold with white manes and tails, and brilliant white feathery wings on their back; while the smallest ones were black and white with black wings on their back, they looked like normal sized horses with wings. They were brilliant and she made a note to visit them one day.
"Dat is an Abraxan," a skinny tan boy exclaimed with a noticeable rolling of his r. Dominique guessed that the boy was either Spanish or Portuguese.
"I heard that Toussaine bred the first water horse here," Dominique's ears pricked at the sound of a British accent and she grinned at the freckled blonde boy across from her and smiled.
"You're British too?" the boy's green eyes lit up and he nodded. "This is brilliant! Where are you from?"
"I'm from Lille, I've lived in France all my life but my mum and dad are from Cornwall. What about you?" Dominique leant forward on the seat and grinned.
"I'm from Cornwall too! From a place called Tinworth, but just on the outskirts of it you know…Right on the beach."
Whatever nerves remained completely disappeared as Dominique spoke to the shy boy who seemed to know a lot about everything. She and the other two passengers in the carriage were enraptured as he explained the history behind Beauxbatons and the houses; and his eyes lit up with excitement as he talked about the sorting ceremony.
"How do you know so much about Beauxbatons?" Dominique blurted as he finished explaining how Cateline Flamel died.
"My mum went here. She was in Melusine," he puffed his chest out and smiled at her. "I think I want to be in Abraxas though. What about you?"
"Raynard sounds cool," the boy nodded and Dominique glanced at the other two girls in their carriage. "What about you?"
"My maman was 'een Melusine. 'Eet would be nice zere."
"I want to be in Abraxas too."
Dominique smiled and properly introduced herself to the group, realising that she hadn't done it already.
"Your maman 'ees Fleur Weasley?" the Swiss girl named Clara exclaimed, to which Dominique nodded and the girl's eyes widened. "What 'ees she like?"
Dominique blushed as Tomas and Charlie darted their gaze to her.
"Yeah, she's my mum…She's normal, I guess?"
"Does dat meen dat, you know Harry Potter too?"
Dominique reluctantly nodded and Clara and Tomas excitedly spoke in hushed voices about how cool it was and whatnot. Dominique was used to this and she had hoped to escape this sort of attention by going to Beauxbatons, unfortunately, her uncle Harry was a hero in every wizarding community.
She retreated into her seat and looked out the window, aware of Charlie looking at her sympathetically. She couldn't wait to get to the chateau.
Luckily for her, they reached the chateau in five minutes and she was the first one to dart out of the carriage with her owl, Ophelia. She ignored the sounds of her new friends shouting for her to wait for them, and she ignored the cool chill of air blowing against her silk robes.
A stern looking witch in burgundy robes told her to put her owl down in the pile with the others, and she stroked Ophelia goodbye as she darted back towards the growing group of first years. She ducked as she caught sight of Tomas and snuck towards the front of the group; far away from the others.
The witch in burgundy robes was a pretty woman with steely light-blue eyes, a long thin nose, ivory unblemished skin, and thick pink lips – she was probably one of the most beautiful women that Dominique had ever seen and she suddenly felt incredibly insecure about her looks.
She cast a look out at the horde of new students and cleared her throat, immediately there was a wave of silence and everyone focused their attention on the witch as she pointed her wand to her throat.
"Sonorus," she cleared her throat again and this time the people in the very back of the crowd hushed and paid attention to the front. "Welcome to Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. My name is Madame Larue and I am the headmistress and Potions professor. I see that you've all changed into your school uniforms, and I thank you for that. In a few moments I will call out your name in alphabetical order and you will go through that door," she pointed a gloved hand towards a mahogany door to the right with a portrait of the founders next to it. "You will be sorted into your house and go through another door afterwards and join the rest of the students in the dining hall."
The students around her spoke in hushed voices about what they would have to do through the doorway and her nerves resurfaced and made her feel queasy. Madame Larue conjured a velvet book from thin air and it hovered as she opened the thick hardbound book.
"Arnaud, Jacqueline."
A short and slender black haired girl with tan skin stepped up the stairs, brushing past Dominique nervously, and walked down the hall and past the mahogany doors. Everyone was quiet as they heard a faint whooshing from behind the door and Madame Larue called out another name.
For ages, Madame Larue called out name after name and Dominique's nerves worsened as Charlie, Tomas, and Clara all went through the doors. Finally, when there were only ten students left in the entrance hall, the witch called her named out and Dominique shakily ambled towards the door.
She took a deep breath as she put her hand on the knob and with a flash of courage she opened it and stepped into the dark room. There was another mahogany door to her left and Dominique panicked as she realised that the door she had come through had totally disappeared behind her. She was alone in a room, and the only thing in it with her was a silver and wood wand that was suspended in air atop a plush velvet cushion.
Gingerly, she picked the wand up and felt it vibrate in her hand and she felt an overwhelming force of magic tingle along her arm. The hairs on her arms and neck stood in anticipation and Dominique experimentally slashed it through the air.
A shower of bright golden sparks flew out from the end of the wand and a giant winged horse cantered around the horse and nodded towards the mahogany door. Placing the wand back onto the cushion, she stepped through the door and was met with the roar of people cheering and congratulating her as she was shepherded into a table full of people in silk blue robes with golden edging on their collars and hats. A crest with a winged horse pinned to their right breast.
Dominique was in a daze as the rest of the first-years filed into the room and sat with their houses. Each corner of the room was divided into four houses and each corner was clustered with round tables. Each corner had different coloured tablecloths; Abraxas' in gold, Fae's in pine green, Melusine's in azure, and Reynard in dark burgundy. A raised platform was situated at the front of the gigantic room and there was a long u shaped table which she assumed were the teachers.
A sophisticated looking woman, who towered over everyone even as she was sitting, looked over the new students with a gleam of amusement in her eyes. She gave a short speech to welcome the students, invited the school choir to sing their annual rendition of the school song, and with a wave of her hands, every table filled with food and Dominique's eyes bulged.
There were eclairs, macaroons, and choux pastries piled in delicate towers. Dishes of ratatouille and beef bourguignon; and French onion soup, baguette and bread rolls aplenty. Her stomach grumbled as she spotted a steaming pot of bouillabaisse.
She and Charlie had been sorted into the same house, and she apologised for overreacting when they had gotten excited over who her mama was and that she knew Harry Potter. She told him that she was so over the attention she got because of them, and he was gracious enough to accept her apology and Dominique was glad that she had made at least one new friend.
It was late into the night when she and her fellow first-years were escorted into their dormitories in the northern tower. The beds were gilded in gold and their sheets were a warm brown and white. The curtains around the four poster beds were a sheer white and Dominique rushed over to the windows in-between each bed.
Outside, the sun had set and the moon cast shadows over the mountains and gardens. In the distance, the horses they'd ridden past were grazing and stretching their wings. The gardens were magnificent and she couldn't wait to explore the chateau and its grounds in her free time.
She yawned and said her goodnights as she slipped into bed and closed the curtains around it; tucking her wand into the bedside table. Her owl, Ophelia, hooted quietly and she reminded herself to write a letter to her mama and dad in the morning…
Author's Note
Word Count: 1,921
Written for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments)
Assignment # 6
Subject: Media Studies
Task: #12 – Mean Girls, Write about starting a new school
I hope you all enjoyed this story x
Please don't forget to leave a short (or long) review.
I love love love reading them!
Until next time, Andy x
(Extra – NOT included in word count/story. Just a bit of irrelevant info)
Here's a bit of what I think Beauxbatons' founding, sorting ceremony, and houses are like. I scoured the internet for more information about how it worked, and I'm so glad that JK kept it vague, it gave me an opportunity to really scope out how I think it'd work!
Founded in 11th Century, June 1262 – the founders were heavily influenced by the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Great Britain.
The founders of Beauxbatons
Cateline Flamel (nee Gidie) – Founder of Melusine house and came from the West of France (modern day Brittany). Born in 1238. A noblewoman who loved swimming, fishing and solitary activities near the water. She was deeply private and preferred to be by herself or with her family. She was said to be the most beautiful woman in France and was believed to be half-Veela. Cateline received multiple proposals for her hand in marriage, only accepting Estienne's when he showed her a lake he'd made for her in his estate. Incredibly intelligent and creative, Cateline designed the Beauxbatons chateau and gardens. She pioneered the arts and music classes for her students and taught at Beauxbatons until her death.
Estienne Flamel – Founder of Reynard house and comes from the East of France (modern day Dijon). Born in 1230. A nobleman with vast properties. Cunning and wise, Estienne was a talented gambler, frugal with money, and immensely wealthy because of it. He was relentless in seeking Cateline's hand in marriage and built her a lake, to her delight. He and Cateline married in 1262 and had two children; Nicolas (1265) and Adeline (1282). Adeline died in 1347 from the Black Plague. Estienne was the one to suggest that they build a school and have it located in the Pyrenees. He was the major financier for the school and his wealth increased by tenfold as enrolments poured in. He served as the Headmaster until his death.
Blanchefleur Allard (nee Ferrand) – Founder of Fae house and came from the South of France (modern day Camargue). Born in 1240. A noblewoman with progressive parents that allowed her to mix with the peasants. She enjoyed riding her horses, exploring the marshes, and being in nature. She was known for being whimsical, imaginative and mischievous – often playing tricks on her handmaidens so she could avoid listening to their lectures. Blachefleur was a revolutionary and helped the wizarding community to have progressive views toward non-magic peoples and eventually married a French baron named Crespine Allard. They had three children and lived on the grounds of Beauxbatons until their deaths. Blanchefleur taught the magical creatures and plants classes. While Crespine taught the first ever non-magical peoples' history class.
Sebastien Toussaine – Founder of Abraxas house and came from the North of France (modern day Givet). Born in 1225, he was the eldest of the founders and had a close friendship with Blanchefleur. He was a keen breeder of horses and was the first wizard to breed Abraxan horses by breeding an Aeonan with a palomino. He never married and instead continued to breed magical horses during his spare time, he is responsible for breeding new breeds such as: the Abraxan, Granian, long-living Arion, Scottish water horse, and the winged Irish cob. A talented transfigurator and potions master, Sebastien taught both subjects until his death. He was known for his strength, resourcefulness and sense of fraternity – qualities that were much evident in the horses he bred.
The founders of Beauxbatons wanted to create a safe place for young French witches and wizards to learn how to harness their magic and control it. They began by teaching classes in their own regions and their classes quickly gained popularity. In 1250 work began on the Beauxbatons Chateau in the Pyreneese – funded by Estienne Flamel.
In 1262, Beauxbatons opened and in August, took its first year of students. The school quickly grew in size and recognition. And it is now one of the most prestigious wizarding schools in the wizarding world.
Students started off being predominantly French and eventually Spanish, Portuguese, Belgian, Dutch, and Luxmebourgian students started applying and attending BB. There is a small number of British and Scandinavian students each year and Beauxbatons takes part in an exchange program with the Durmstrang Institute – where they send three of their top students away to experience the Durmstrang schooling system for a period of three months.
Beauxbatons Houses
Abraxas – strength, courage, fraternity, and resourcefulness; symbol is an abraxan horse and colours are pale gold, brown, white – the colours of abraxan horses, and periwinkle blue background; element – air; metal – gold; stone – yellow topaz; main colour: gold
Melusine –truth, intelligence, beauty, and privacy; symbol is a melusine, half woman half serpent and colours are teal for her scales, azure for water, and silver for her hair on a hickory brown background; element – water; metal – silver; stone – sapphire; Main colour – azure
Fae – whimsy, respect for the natural elements, curiosity, mischief; symbol is a winged fairy and colours are pine green for the dress, moss green for the wings and wheat for the skin set on a currant red background; element – earth; metal – bronze; stone – emerald; main colour: pine green
Reynard – cunning, wise, determined, chivalry; symbol is a fox and colours are dark burgundy for the fox, black and white for its features/markings and a butterscotch yellow background; element – fire; metal – copper; stone – garnet; main colour: dark burgundy
Sorting Ceremony
In the beginning, the four founders of Beauxbatons would host a panel interview for students in order to determine the house they would best fit into. However, when Sebastien contracted the Black plague in 1349, they realised the flaw in their method of sorting and Cateline sought out the help of the Hogwarts Headmistress at the time: Euginia Uallach.
After which, Cateline suggested that they should imbue a wand with their traits and memories, giving it elements of themselves. The students would then pick the wand up and wave it in the air, whatever colour the shower of sparks would be, that would be the house the students would be sorted into.
The others agreed and Sebastien, just before his death, imbued the wand with his memories; Cateline, Estienne, and Blanchefleur followed.
In the centuries since, the sorting ceremony hasn't changed. The wand is made of Pyrenean oak, and features intricate silver designs to protect it from the elements. It is housed in a woven silver box covered in crystals and gemstones. The wand core contains a core from each of the founder's wands: an Abraxan tail hair from Sebastien, a Veela hair from Cateline, a phoenix feather from Estienne, and dragon heartstring from Blanchefleur.
A little known fact is that another wand was made, identical to the sorting wand. It was made by Estienne and hidden in the school grounds in case the original broke. The only person who knows its whereabouts is the current headmaster/mistress of the school.
There was only one time the wand sorted someone inaccurately and that was for Nicolas Flamel, Estienne and Cateline's son. Initially sorted into Reynard, he waved the wand again and blue sparks of light shot out – much to Cateline's pleasure and Estienne's frustration.