I walked into the large white castle in awe. Silver drapes hung in every window. My grandmother led me down a long corridor to the left. We passed five pictures on the wall. I could not get a gander at them before the door to the office I had been brought into closed. A woman who looked very much like my grandmother greeted us. She made my trunk hover as she led me to a back hallway. Gram gave me a silent wave before leaving. I looked ahead again.

"Heavy trunk," the lady commented.

"My grandmother went a little overboard buying the uniform and new clothes for me," I said.

"She must care a lot about you."

"She just wants me to become a nice young lady so she can brag about me to her friends."

The woman frowned. She did not say anything else. I followed her into a large dining hall. The entire staff was seated around a large circular table. A woman who reminded me of a giant because of her height stood up. She walked over. Her heels clicked on the white marble floor. She smiled when she got to us.

"Is this Aurora Lynx?" she asked.

"Yes," the woman said.

"I go by Rory," I said quietly.

"Very nice. I am Madame Maxime. Ms. Hansen, will you please hold her trunks until she has been sorted." The woman nodded. "Brilliant. Follow me, Rory."

I followed Madame Maxime across the room. She showed me into a smaller room at the back. Inside was empty except for a large mirror on the wall directly across from the wall. I stepped in. Madam Maxime told me to look into the mirror. I did.

At first I saw only my reflection. Along the silver frame of the mirror were five carvings. An Arctic fox, a polar bear, a dove, a hare, and a snowy owl. Under each was a word in script. Under the Arctic fox was "stealth", under the polar bear was "protective", under the dove was "loving", under the hare was "quick", and under the snowy owl was "wise". I knew they stood for the houses.

I looked closer at the mirror. An image was slowly starting to appear. I hoped it was a polar bear. If I was in that house I would have some connection to Durmstrang. Instead an Arctic fox appeared. Unintentionally my shoulders sagged a little. I turned. Madame Maxime clapped her hands. A wall slid back. A scarf, sweater, and hat that were white and silver floated toward me.

"The colors of the Foxten House," she said.

I took the clothes. Madame Maxime brought me back into the dining room. A tall man in a silver suit stood. He was older and had a white beard. He nodded his head to me.

"This is Professor la Urque," Madame Maxime explained. "He is the head of Foxten House. He will show you to your common room. From there the prefect will lead you."

I followed Professor la Urque out of the dining room through a long series of corridors and stairs. He stopped on what I think was the fifth floor. There was a large wooden door with an Arctic fox carved into it. He opened the door. He ushered me in.

I stared at everything. It was all white and silver. The fireplace was made of white wood. A crystal chandelier hung over a large circular table where a group of girls were having their breakfast. The chairs, couches, and tables were all silver and white. White marble steps led to a hallway with seven doors.

A girl with long dark brown hair stood up from the table. She went walked up to us. Professor la Urque made some papers appear in his hand. She took them from him. She curtsied to him before he left. She looked at the papers quickly. She looked me over. A clear look of disgust was on her face.

"Your trunk is in the fourth room door," she said. "I recommend you change. Immediately. Classes start in fifteen minutes. This is your schedule." She handed me one of the papers. "This is your map." She handed me another. "I will assign one of your roommates to show you around."

I walked up the marble stairs, still in awe of the beauty of the place. I went the fourth room dorm. Inside were five beds, all with silver drapes. I went to the one where my trunk was waiting. I changed out of my Muggle clothes that I liked to wear and into the Beaxbaton uniform. It was a white blouse and light blue skirt with tights and black shoes. I pulled my hair back. I put on the light blue headband Gram had gotten me. I put the rest of my clothes in the white bureau next to my bed.

My book bag was already packed so I went downstairs. Only one girl was left. She had light brown hair. I walked up to her. She looked me over.

"You look better now," she said. "More presentable. We have Professor Indiga first for Charms. She would flip if she saw you in the clothes you were in before."

She sounded about as snooty as all the other girls here. "Whatever."

"Just follow me."

The girl walked quickly so I had to jog to keep up with her. We were actually early for our first class. I looked at my schedule. There were eight hours for each day. It rotated each day. Charms, Herbology, Astronomy, Transfiguration, Lunch, History of the Magical World, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Potions. The next day it would go Potions, Charms, Herbology, etc. I was glad to see there was no Muggle Studies or mystical creature classes. Twice a week I had a free instead of Astronomy.

"Come in, girls," a voice called.

I walked in. All the girls had their heads down as they walked. The person who was supposed to show me around did not even bother to introduce me to the teacher or try to help me find a seat. I settled for the back. A girl with glasses and red hair in a braid came running in. A lot of the girls waved at her, but the girl who was supposed to show me around just snickered.

"Sorry I'm late, Professor Indiga," the redhead said.

"Just sit down, Gertrude," the professor said sharply.

Gertrude sat down next to me. She smiled at me in a friendly manner. She had trouble trying to find her quiver while Professor Indiga began rambling in a snobby voice. I gave her my extra.

"Thanks," she whispered.

She began scribbling down everything Professor Indiga said. Her writing was extremely neat. Professor Indiga flicked her wand. Notes appeared on the board. Everyone began writing extremely fast. I did too. It is a good thing I did because just as I was finishing the last word Professor Indiga flicked her wand again. New notes appeared on the board. My hand had a bad cramp by the end of the class.

"Are all the teachers like this?" I asked.

"No," Gertrude said. We started to pack up. "Are you new here?"

"Just came this morning. I'm in Foxten."

"I'm in Delyah House. We're the ones with the dove."

"Nice. Now I know two house names."

Gertrude and I walked out of the classroom. "Karkoff House has the polar bear. Ninetta House the hare. Pallas House is the owl. Professor Indiga is the head of Pallas House. Those poor unfortunate souls."

"She can't be that bad."

"But she can."

I laughed. "My name's Rory, by the way."

"Gertrude, but I got by Trudy. What class do you have next?"

"Herbology."

"Me too. Since you're new, aren't you supposed to have a guide?"

"Yes, but I don't like her and she doesn't like me."

"I'm guessing it's Madeline."

"Is she in Foxten? Brown hair? Short?"

"Yes, that's her. What a-" She stopped short. "She's just not very nice."

"I guessed that."

We had to go out of the castle to get to the green house. When I walked in I was shocked. The green house was only one level. It had very little variety in plants. I saw a stack of textbooks on a table. Trudy took one. I picked one up. I had never heard of a Herbology textbook before. I sat on one of the chairs along a row of mandrils.

"Good morning, class," a short pudgy man greeted as he walked in. He spotted me right away. "Who's this bright new face?"

"Rory Lynx," I said.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Rory. I am Professor Gru." He clapped his hands. "Class, turn to page two thirty four."

We learned about a type of grass that can be enchanted to grow and choke anyone you want. I was surprised by how advanced this class was. When Professor Gru mentioned a plant they had studied the day before, I almost did not recognize it. They do not study that plant until the sixth year at Durmstrang. Still, the class had its down side, which came at the end.

"Now, as you all know, it is very improper for a young lady to use such a spell," Professor Gru said. I felt like he was talking about me in particular.

I walked out of the class with Trudy again. She had Muggle Studies so I had to go to Astronomy alone. I noticed a small girl in our class that I had seen at the breakfast table in my common room. She had short blond hair that fell in her face. I was guessing she was a fourth year too, but she was very small. Madeline and two other fourth years I recognized from the breakfast table were sneering at her. I have a thing for underdogs so I walked over.

"What's your problem?" I asked Madeline.

Madeline smirked. She turned to the tall girl on her right. "I don't know. What's my problem, Tianna?" Tianna shrugged. Madeline turned to the brunette on her left. "Do you know what my problem is, Estelle?" Estelle shrugged. Madeline turned back to me. "Looks like I don't have a problem, Lynx, so back off."

I came so close to pushing her into the desk behind her, but Professor la Urque walked in. He asked everyone to sit down. I sat next to my small roommate.

"You okay?" I asked her.

"Yes," she said quietly.

The Astronomy class was on the same level as Durmstrang. The class was not as fun as Professor Swarvosk's classes. I told her I would write to her after a couple days to tell her how I was doing. My owl, Hamlet, was probably in Beaxbaton's Owlery by now. Speaking of owls, we transfigured bushes into owls in Transfiguration. I was surprised by how well the Beaxbaton girls did. I was also happy I picked up on it easily.

During lunch we went back to our common rooms. Food was waiting for us. I took a seat next to the small girl, whose name was Ursula. In my opinion the name did not fit her very well. It sounded too evil and dark. She seemed too nice and bright. After breaking out of her shell a little during lunch it turns out she has a pretty sarcastic sense of humor too. That was good, since that was what I was used to.

The rest of the day was better since I knew someone in my classes. The Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was away getting supplies so we had a free hour. I got my Herbology and Astronomy homework gone. We had Potions with the Delyah House. It turns out Trudy and Ursula are cousins. We sat together in one of the first rows in the Potions class.

"That's Professor Tachs," Trudy said, pointing at an old woman who was walking into the room. Her gray hair was in a tight bun and she walked with purpose.

Professor Tachs flicked her wand. "Has anyone ever heard of Lullaby's Curse?" Ursula's hand went up shakily. I put my hand up too. "Ms. Jutt, I know you know it, so we'll let our new student," she looked at a paper, "Ms. Lynx, give it a go. What is Lullaby's Curse?"

"Lullaby's Curse is a potion that is maid using the essence of a mermaid's tale. When you drink it you gain the ability to sing the mermaid's song. However, it is the mermaid's luring song, so it will lure everyone to their death, including you," I explained. I had made the potion in my second year.

"Very good," Professor Tachs approved. "Everyone, cauldrons out!"

The bad thing about Lullaby's Curse is that it takes a long time to make. It also requires a lot of effort. I was sweating by the end of class. Everyone else looked exhausted. We all went back to our common rooms tiredly. I began on what I had left of my homework.

Professor la Urque joined us for dinner. Madeline lied to him and said she had had a great time showing me around. I almost flung my knife across the room into her lying throat. Instead I just nodded. I heard some of the third years whispering during dessert. Professor la Urque heard them too.

"Something you would like to share, ladies?" he asked.

"Um…" one said quietly.

"We were wondering if the rumors were true," another one piped up. "Is Beaxbaton partaking in the Triwizard Tournament again?"

Professor la Urque nodded. "It is very true. The date of the first challenge was pushed back due to the length of time it took to get approval for the Tournament. We are leaving in two weeks. I was going to surprise you with the news in a little while, but you've beaten me to it."

"Do you still have to be seventeen?" a girl who was a sixth year asked.

"They have moved the age down to sixteen."

"Yes, now I can enter my name."

"Is it the same challenges as when Victor Krum was in it?" I asked. "He told me they were very hard."

Madeline's jaw dropped. "You know Victor Krum?" she asked.

"Yes, he's a friend of mine. He taught me how to ride a broom. My uncle isn't much of a flier."

"No, the challenges are not the same," Professor la Urque said. "Well, ladies, I must go write to my wife before I go to bed. I will see you all tomorrow."

A crowd formed around me after he left. They demanded every detail about Victor Krum. When they found out I knew other Durmstrang boys, they demanded even more details. I managed to slip out of the crowd with them hardly noticing. No wonder I was in the house of "stealth". I went up to my dorm. Tianna and Estelle ganged up on me in the dorm.

"Do our homework," Tianna ordered.

"No," I said.

"Do it!" Estelle urged. "I've got better things to do than write about stars."

"I'm not going to do your homework."

"C'mon. We're roommates. We've got to help each other out."

"The only thing I would help you two do is drown."

"Sassy, huh? I don't like sass," Tianna said. "That's my thing."

"Yeah? Well, you better work on it."

Tianna looked like she wanted to punch me. I guess she was too much of a lady to do it. I was not. I pulled my fist back. I smashed it against her nose with enough force to send her stumbling back. Estelle jumped onto her bed and closed the drapes. Tianna began crying. Madeline walked in. She smirked.

"You're so in trouble," she told me. "Professor la Urque!"

"You don't know it was me," I said.

"It was you!" Tianna blubbered.

"Shut up," I told her. "And next time do your own homework, you lazy arse."

Professor la Urque appeared in the doorway. He looked at me disapprovingly. I was getting that look more and more lately. I got thirty at once at lunch when I did not put my napkin on my lap. Professor la Urque asked me to follow him. He left the common room and brought me down two flights of stairs. We walked through four corridors before he stopped. He knocked on a large door. There was no answer. Professor la Urque sighed.

"I guess Madame Maxime has left her office," he said. "I will have to take this into my own hands. You have two weeks of after school detention. One more act of violence and I will suspend you. If for some unfathomable reason you commit another one, you will be expelled. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"I know this is not an environment you are used to but you are going to have to get used to it very soon. You do not want to be left out when we go to Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament, do you?"

"No, sir."

"Then you had best start acting like a proper young lady. Now get back to your dorm."

I walked back quickly. At first I was afraid I was lost, but then I saw the door with the fox on it. Madeline was smiling like she had just dominated the world. I went right to bed. I closed my drapes angrily. I was afraid they would tear off. They did not.

The next day was extremely dull. I had to give up my free period because Professor la Urque made me go to a special etiquette class. It seemed virtually never ending. A couple of times I almost fell asleep during that class and the others. Then we had Defense Against the Dark Arts.