Chapter Twelve: Waltzing Like A Professional
"You will need to be sorted into your house today." Madame Maxime muttered to herself, at the same time, she was gesturing to the Hogwarts and Durmstrang students to follow her.
After walking for quite a long time, they stood at a picturesque fairytale castle-like pink door. With the flick of her hand, Madame Maxime strode inside. The door closed, and the students glanced at each other, confused.
Then, the door magically opened once more...
He rubbed his eyes as it fluttered open.
"Who are you?" A boy with messy black hair standing next to a lanky red head and a stocky dark haired boy asked.
"My name is Sergio Carlos." He said hesitantly. "Do you know where the Headmaster is?"
"Ah. I have been expecting you." The Headmaster's eyes twinkled. "You are Amelie Dupont and David Gilbert – Beauxbatons, I presume?"
The two students wearing Beauxbatons uniform nodded, in awe of the best wizard of the wizarding world.
"And you are Sergio Carlos and Marlene Manolo from Durmstrang?" He continued to the other two students in thick fur coats, who nodded.
"Your sortings then." He placed the Sorting Hat on David's head. He jumped when he heard the voice from the hat.
"RAVENCLAW!"
Then he put the hat onto Amelie's head. "SLYTHERIN!"
And then on Sergio's head. "GRYFFINDOR!"
Marlene's. "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"I would like to introduce you all to four students. The two on my left, are Blaise Zabini and Hermione Granger from Hogwarts, and on my right are Catalina Domenico and Patrick Santo from Durmstrang. Please give them your warmest welcome and if you see them around, please say hello to them, make them feel welcome and take them around our wonderful school."
Hermione chanced a glance at Blaise, her only link to Hogwarts present, who was looking quite emotionless. She felt quite out of place at the school, with her Hogwarts uniform on. Hermione noted that there were separate houses for boys and girls at Beauxbatons, unlike at Hogwarts, where it was mixed.
Madame Maxime, the Headmistress of Beauxbatons then proceeded on to dismiss the Beauxbatons students. She then informed them that they were to receive their own Beauxbatons uniforms to wear and 'blend in' with the rest of the school for the exchange programme.
"And it's time for your sortings. They will be like your second homes... until the end of the exchange." She added hastily, gently pushing Blaise towards the parchment. She muttered a few spells on the parchment and bright colours appeared.
She indicated to Blaise to wave his wand to send out some bright sparks. Hermione couldn't believe her eyes when pale blue ink suddenly started trickling onto the parchment. It was a rather strange phenomenon.
"Le Ciel." Madame Maxime muttered. The Sky.
Then, Madame Maxime indicated to Hermione, who waved her wand and fuchsia ink appeared on the parchment.
"L'Etoile." The Star.
Catalina: "La Lune." The Moon.
Patrick: "La Terre." The Earth.
"Students. Two more things I would like to add. Due to the exchange programme's rules, under no circumstance will you write to your respective school, whether it is Hogwarts or Durmstrang. Please abide by these rules and enjoy your stay at our lovely school!" Madame Maxime added.
The four students made their ways to their respective house tables. There, Hermione was instantly smothered with introductions, smiles and of course, questions.
"Hello Hermione, my name is Gisele." A girl with blonde hair smiled as she held up a hand for Hermione to shake.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all. If Hermione's too long for you to pronounce, you may call me Mia." Hermione smiled as she joked to the girls.
Soon... almost all of the girls at the L'Etoile table had introduced themselves to Hermione. Hermione had started a conversation with two girls and soon, the awkwardness that she thought she felt had dissipated away.
"Students of Hogwarts! As you may have seen today from the search (that demonstrated excellent house unity, by the way), there have been four new students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons Academy. They were sorted earlier today. May I introduce you to David Gilbert and Amelie Dupont from Beauxbatons?"
The students clapped for the exchanges. "And Sergio Carlos and Marlene Manolo from Durmstrang." He finished, his eyes twinkling.
"I trust you will all make them feel welcome at Hogwarts, won't you?" He finished as he waved his hands for another magical feast.
"Isn't that Sergio Carlos a looker?" Nina asked, gushing.
"Not really. He looks to me, a stalker." Ginny replied, as her eyebrows rose in distinct surprise. She thought her friend had better taste! "That David Gilbert looks better. I think he might be a Veela. Look at all of those girls at the Ravenclaw table drooling all over him!"
"Luna isn't." Nina countered.
"Well..." Ginny hesitated. "Luna likes somebody else."
"Really? Who?" Nina asked excitedly.
Ginny glanced everywhere but at Nina. "I can't say. It's a secret."
"Is Blaise on this exchange too then? Why didn't he tell us?" Draco muttered, already missing his best friend.
"You know Draco, you could do without some of that pessimism you have there... perhaps Blaise had to leave immediately after he was told?" Theo suggested.
Draco rolled his eyes and retorted. "Dude. Don't insult me. I'm not pessimistic."
This time, it was Theo who rolled his eyes in exasperation. Draco would never admit that he was pessimistic. He was too stubborn.
It was time to return to the dormitories. Hermione followed her new-found friends up to the L'Etoile Tower. The Beauxbatons castle was breathtaking. Sparkling and glittering under the morning sun, it was just like how she imagined it to be... in a fairytale story. It was so unlike Hogwarts, for Hogwarts was an old castle – those who liked historic castles or ruins would like Hogwarts. The Beauxbatons castle was newer and brighter, for she thought that the students there would be in better moods every day, even if they had woken up on the wrong side of bed.
On the way, Hermione saw the gardeners charming the grass and the flowers and the trees, which were magically changing according to how they wanted it to be. The flowers were of distinctly different colours, and some of the flowers seemed to change colours according to how bright the sun was shining on that particular day.
The dormitories were of a tasteful pale purple colour. Hermione quickly changed into the silk pyjamas provided for her and quickly fell asleep, dreaming of knights, princes and princesses at the castle that was Beauxbatons.
"Hi Sergio. I'm Harry Potter." Harry introduced himself as they ate the feast especially for the four students that had just arrived.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Sergio replied, smiling tentatively as he shook Harry's hand.
"This is Neville Longbottom," Harry introduced. "And Ronald Weasley, but he prefers to be called Ron."
"Nice to meet you two as well."
Sergio was introduced to the other Gryffindor boys (and girls, who were trying to throw themselves at the handsome dark haired boy), including Seamus and Dean.
"This is the Gryffindor common room." Harry said later after the feast. "We socialise, do homework... lots of things occur here."
Sergio nodded, absorbing the information in like a sponge.
"This is our dormitory. This bed here is where you'll be sleeping." Ron continued, albeit more formally, filling in for Harry as he sipped some water.
"I'm sure you'll have fun at Hogwarts." Neville added, trying to dispel the awkwardness and formalities that the tense atmosphere that had built up.
Sergio smiled. "I think I will."
"That Amelie Dupont is hot." Draco commented. "And so is that Marlene Manolo. But too bad she's in Hufflepuff."
Theo rolled his eyes. "You're obsessed with girls. And you're hormonal." He managed to say.
"And you're not. Which means you have a problem." Draco countered.
"I enjoy learning, Draco. I want to get outstanding grades."
"Which makes you a nerd. A geek, even." Draco smirked.
Theo rolled his eyes. "You exasperate a lot of people, Draco."
"Such complicated words, Theo..." This time, it was Draco's turn to roll his eyes, slightly amused but confused, for he didn't understand what Theo meant.
The next morning...
"With Dumbledore, it's safe to say that Mia is safe." Eva muttered, loud enough for her friends to hear.
They all nodded in agreement as the exchange student from Beauxbatons, David Gilbert, arrived with their fellow Ravenclaws, Josh Knightley, Aaron Collins, Terry Boot and Anthony Goldstein. The girls nodded to them in greeting.
All the girls' eyes glanced towards Susa, for it was obvious that she had taken a liking to him.
"You like him, don't you?" Emma Folchart, a fourth year Ravenclaw, commented quietly.
Padma and Eva squealed mockingly. "Another one of your conquests. And the Hogsmeade trips are still countable on one hand!"
Susa rolled her eyes, denying the accusation. "I do not like him."
"The adamant denial, Susie." Eva muttered, loud enough for only her and Padma to hear.
"I have assigned two representatives from my school to take you both around." Madame Maxime said to Hermione and Blaise.
They nodded in understanding, and as if on cue, two students, a boy and a girl, wearing the same blue silk uniform entered the room.
"This is Adrien and Lisette. They will alternate between you two, for they have different classes, which should correspond to yours." Madame Maxime continued. She flicked a hand and instantly, they knew they were dismissed.
Hermione remembered Lisette from the night before, for they had carried a conversation together and smiled at her.
"It is a pleasure to meet you both. I have the same classes with you today, Hermione." Adrien smiled charmingly.
Lisette glanced at Hermione slyly, who had flushed slightly, as Blaise rolled his eyes. Girls.
Adrien held out an arm for Hermione to take, and off they were to Transfiguration.
"How are you enjoying Beauxbatons, Mia?" Adrien asked, making small talk and still smiling widely.
Hermione glanced up at him, smiling demurely. "It's different to Hogwarts." She said diplomatically.
"It's very bright and glittery, puts one in a very happy mood." She added.
"I see what you mean." He said. "You should see what happens at meal times."
Hermione stared at him questioningly.
"You'll see what I mean at lunch." He smiled mysteriously, as he opened the classroom door for her. "Ladies first."
"Hello. My name is Evangeline, but you can call me Eva. What's your name?" Eva introduced herself to the girl sitting next to her, noting her Slytherin uniform and trying hard not to scrunch her nose in disgust.
Usually, Hermione sat next to Eva, but as she was away on the exchange programme, nobody was sitting next to her. Professor Flitwick had assigned the exchange students to sit at the empty seats.
"My name is Amelie." She smiled slightly as she spoke in accented English. "It's nice to meet you."
A comfortable silence came between them as the students waited for Professor Flitwick to arrive.
"What class is this?" She asked suddenly, and curiously.
"Charms," Eva replied.
"My favourite subject!" Amelie exclaimed.
Eva's eyes widened. "Mine too!"
The awkwardness that had stacked itself like a brick wall, in between them collapsed, as they began speaking animatedly about the magical subject of Charms.
In class, Hermione noticed that the French curriculum was much faster than that of Hogwarts. She had remembered all of the Hogwarts textbooks required for her year by heart, therefore the pace at which the class was speeding was not a problem for her. She resolved to spend less time in the library at Beauxbatons and instead, at the Tower, where she would be able to socialise with peers of her age, and peers of other ages. She was aware of the fact that it was a good opportunity for her, and so she wanted to grab this chance by the horns.
"How are you finding class?" Adrien whispered suddenly.
Hermione's head whipped up so quickly, her hair flicked into her eyes. She flinched as she glared at him, the glare gradually intensifying. "You're not supposed to be talking in class."
"You didn't answer my question."
"Stop being so infuriating!"
"Stop glaring at me!" He mocked her higher pitched voice.
Hermione's eyebrows rose in amusement. "Am I really like that?"
"Yes you are." He smirked when he saw her reaction.
She huffed. "Class is fine."
"So now you decide to answer me?"
"I can choose to whenever I want to, Adrien."
Hermione sat with Lisette at the L'Etoile table. She glanced around, wondering what Adrien had meant before.
"Why so jumpy, Mia?"
She shook her head, thinking that he was probably putting things in her head to bother her.
Suddenly, a loud applause sounded. Hermione followed the rest of the school, clapping, in confusion. Then, a harmony of voices echoed the walls. The doors opened and small creatures rushed in, singing and serenading the school. Lisette nudged Hermione to begin her meal and she obliged. The creatures seemed quite familiar, for Hermione was sure that she had read about them before.
Moments passed by as she lost herself in the music and her thoughts. Wood Nymphs!
A few days had passed by and Hermione had gotten used to the pace of life at Beauxbatons and was enjoying it immensely, though she missed Hogwarts and wished she could write to Eva, Padma and Susa. That day, Hermione found herself walking with Lisette to the studio.
"So we're going to a studio... what are we supposed to be doing in this class? Is it really that important for it to occur three times a week and take so much time?" She asked curiously.
"Surprise. You'll see." Lisette smiled, as an aura of mystery surrounded her.
"Good morning, Madame Charpentier." Lisette chirped cheerfully. Hermione glanced at her guide suspiciously, for Lisette didn't seem to look at her at all.
"Good morning, Lisette." This Madame Charpentier was tall, prim (just like how one would imagine Professor McGonagall to be). Her dark hair was already tied tightly in a bun, but small wisps of hair had begun to untangle itself from her hair tie. She was wearing a pair of dark trousers and a white blouse, which made her look professional and... a little like a dance teacher.
You have got to be kidding. Hermione thought, when she thought she had everything solved.
"Dance lessons, Lilli?" Hermione asked incredulously.
"Nothing to worry about, Mia, you know." She smiled toothily. "It's not hard."
Yeah right.
Hermione sighed, as she got up and went towards the teacher to introduce herself. Madame Charpentier explained what they were to learn. Hermione inwardly groaned – it was a waste of time to be learning etiquette when the time could be spent learning about the magical creatures, learning new, useful, different and defensive spells and brewing more useful potions for magical and medicinal purposes. Then they made some small talk about the difference between Hogwarts and Beauxbatons.
Soon, the female students began filling the room. Hermione went to sit next to Lisette and glowered at her. She grinned in response. The lesson soon commenced and Hermione sunk further down her seat, wondering what kind of crazy lesson she would be subject to next.
"Students! Today, we will recap all that we have learned in the past few years. First of all, we will revise table manners..."
"All the girls are ogling that David Gilbert. The Ravenclaw girls are luckiest. They get to see him all the time in their common room!" Nina moaned.
"It's just so like you." Lena grinned, as her eyes gleamed. "Obsessed with boys... just what will you do in seventh year?"
"The Nargles predict that you'll talk to him... in approximately a few hours," Luna said dreamily, her glassy blue eyes spaced out... in space.
"Really?" Ginny asked, genuinely interested, but not entirely sure if it was true. Luna nodded earnestly.
Lena rolled her eyes. It was a bunch of whish-wash, with the Nargles and the Crumpled Snorkacks. Although Nina didn't particularly believe in Luna, with her Nargles and co, she was quite encouraged by this and her mood had brightened considerably after Luna's prediction.
"So how was your first Etiquette class, Mia?" Adrien asked later that day.
Hermione groaned. "It was torture. Please don't remind me of it."
Blaise chuckled. "She thought it was torture because a) she doesn't like something that she isn't good at, and b) Hermione thinks that it's a waste of class time. Am I right?"
"Table manners. I mean, what's that got to do with the academic curriculum?" Hermione whined.
"In the French wizarding curriculum it does have everything to do with it." Adrien smirked.
Hermione was lost in her thoughts, as her memories flashed back to what happened just a mere few hours ago...
"I'm sorry; Mademoiselle Granger, but you've got your cutlery all wrong! The smaller fork on the left is supposed to be for the appetisers, the larger fork on the inside, on the left, is for the main course! Same for the knives! The spoon above your plate is for the soup. The smaller fork above is for the dessert. You must remember to work your way in as you eat! The knife on the small plate on your left is for your bread – you know, spreading the butter or the jam or whatever you want to spread on your bread with..." Madame Charpentier trailed off, her expression was clearly that of disbelief, for she could not believe that one student could have so many problems.
Hermione flinched, making a huge effort and attempt to absorb all the information like a sponge, just like how she did at Hogwarts with the textbooks. She wasn't used to being told off in this manner. Heck, she had never garnered that much criticism in all her years combined at Hogwarts! It was just so unbelievable for a goody two shoes like her!
"And you must sit up! No real lady slouches! Ladies are supposed to be graceful." Madame Charpentier reprimanded, putting one of her hands on Hermione's stomach and the other on the small of her back and straightened it. Hermione winced at the pain she felt when she sat straight.
"Ooh... and I thought that Eloise was trouble." Lisette smirked, having already mastered the cutlery rules as she indicated to a plump girl sitting diagonally to their left.
Hermione groaned. "You're not helping, Lilli."
"Mademoiselle Granger – you must read the Cutlery Manual! It really helps new students at this subject!" Madame Charpentier advised as she passed by their row once more.
Hermione groaned inwardly as she put her head in her hands. Lisette smiled comfortingly."It will get better soon. You might do better at the dancing."
"Dancing?" Hermione gasped, gathering the attention of the class. "I'm not going to survive in that."
"Oh don't worry. If you have a good lead in your partner, you shouldn't do too badly."
Hermione sighed. Just how was she to survive this for the next few months if it was to be three times a week?
"It's not funny!" Hermione muttered in indignation as Adrien and Blaise laughed as they heard her recount of the lesson.
Then it was the revision of posture and poise.
"Remember! Stand straight, head high and proud, chin UP!" Madame Charpentier called chirpily. "No, no, no! You are all doing it incorrectly! How are you meant to be the ladies of the world, if you can't even stand straight?"
She put a hand to her forehead stressfully. Summoning some books (they looked to be as thick as the muggle dictionaries!), which landed with a 'thump' on the ground, she handed three of the thick books per student. When Hermione received her books, she felt as if she was carrying a least ten dumbbells belonging to a weight lifter.
"Now put them on your heads, girls." Madame Charpentier continued explaining what she wanted her students to do. "Now WALK! Normally, please."
Hermione's eyes widened at what they had to do.
"Let me guess, Lilli. You've mastered this?" Hermione asked dryly.
"Sort of, but not really. Is that really an appropriate answer for you, Mia?" Lisette asked meekly, as she attempted to stack the three books on her head.
Many of the girls attempted to place the heavy books on their heads, but failed, for the books toppled on the ground, with multiple crashes at a time. Madame Charpentier pinched the bridge of her nose, for she was clearly frustrated at the lack of concentration and effort coming from her students.
"Ah! Mademoiselle Baudelaire has done it!" Madame Charpentier exclaimed. Everyone gazed towards Lisette, who noticed all the attention and blushed as she took the books off her head.
"Now, if you use as much effort as Mademoiselle Baudelaire puts into her work, you can do this too!" Madame Charpentier reprimanded all of the students.
"How do you do that?" Hermione asked Lisette incredulously, as she struggled to put the books that she had dropped back onto her head.
"Like this." Lisette gently pried the books out of Hermione's hands and put the books onto her head.
"A straight back is essential to all of this. Concentrate. You can do it, Mia."
"You don't want to play, Sergio. He only wants to find people worse than him. He beats us all after a mere number of moves." Harry said in a stage voice.
Sergio laughed. He was truly enjoying himself at Hogwarts. Too bad he couldn't stay there forever... and there were his friends to go back to at Durmstrang...
"Come on, Sergio! Please could you play wizard's chess with me?" Ron begged. "I'll even go easy on you if you really insist on not playing!"
Neville looked up from the little game he was playing with this ball and cube and rolled his eyes, then went back to playing with the puzzle ball and cube.
Soon, it was around a month into the exchange after Hermione had finally mastered the cutlery and all of the etiquette (indeed, she couldn't believe it at all), it was time to mix with the male students for the dance lessons.
Hermione wasn't particularly excited for these lessons, though when she was young, her parents had insisted that she learned how to dance – ballet, jazz and in the ballroom. She wasn't too bad, for she knew she could listen to the beats of the song, but she could only hope that she wasn't going to embarrass herself in class.
The girls were all dressed in shorts and t-shirts. Hermione and Lisette, as well as the rest of the female class waited for Madame Charpentier, who was going to teach them for this class as well, to arrive. The male students filed in and then after the last one had arrived, Madame Charpentier entered into the room like a whirlwind.
"Good morning class... as you should all know, this dance class will be once a week, on top of your etiquette lessons that are three times a week and all your other classes." Madame Charpentier announced, smiling.
"This is going to be fun. I can barely dance." Lisette muttered in a subdued and sarcastic tone. Hermione patted her shoulder in understanding.
"Mademoiselle Granger! No talking! I suppose you will do the demonstration of the waltz for the class?"
Hermione flushed red, from embarrassment, for she hadn't been talking at all. Inwardly sighing, she caught Blaise and Adrien sniggering at her misfortune.
"Monsieur Zabini! I suppose you wouldn't mind accompanying Mademoiselle Granger to do the waltz?"
Blaise's eyes widened in shock at what Madame Charpentier had just insisted he do, as Hermione's sour expression contorted into a smirk, worthy of a Slytherin's.
"You laugh at me and so I've dragged you down to suffer with me." Hermione said quietly, as her eyes gleamed slyly.
"Ah. How convenient! Our exchange students will dance for you, and you will watch and comment on their technique and movement." Madame Charpentier declared.
"Bow and curtsey!" Madame Charpentier crossed her arms and smiled, as she anticipated in seeing the standard of dancing from the Hogwarts and Durmstrang (which she would see later) students, compared to the students at Beauxbatons, the ones she usually taught.
"Have you danced before?" Blaise asked curiously, bowing, as he held out a hand for Hermione to clasp.
"I have." Hermione replied, curtseying and clasping his hand. "And you?"
He merely nodded.
The waltz music flooded through the silence of the room and they danced.
"Hello... Nina, isn't it?" A distinct masculine voice came from behind.
Nina didn't recognise it and turned around to reprimand the person for disturbing her reading. However, her sour expression dissipated when she saw who it was. She nearly fell over in shock as she mentally swooned at his good looks and charm.
"Yes, my name is Nina. You're David, right?" She smiled. He nodded.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." He added, nearly forgetting his manners. She nodded and said the same.
They made some small talk, and Nina smiled inwardly as she noted to thank Luna later – maybe Nargles really existed like Luna said, maybe they were like Seers.
Step. Step. Step. Twirl. Hermione felt strangely graceful as she danced with Blaise in front of their peers.
Adrien stared, flabbergasted at the pair dancing like professionals. Madame Charpentier nodded in excitement – they were perfect examples to use for future dances! Lisette had an unreadable expression on her face, but if one really stared intently at her eyes, they contained that of amusement, cunning and mischief.
"Prepare to end the waltz. The music is ending soon." Madame Charpentier called, clearly impressed by the pair.
The music ended. The class was impressed by their guests, for they hadn't expected such excellent dancing. Everyone applauded the pair, who bowed and curtseyed as they grinned widely, for they had finally made an impression on their peers.
The hall was instantly hushed as Madame Maxime stood up to speak after the feast. "In honour of our guests, Blaise Zabini and Hermione Granger from Hogwarts, and Catalina Domenico and Patrick Santo from Durmstrang, I have decided to..."
All of the students gazed at the Beauxbatons gazed in anticipation at the Headmistress.
Of course, it isn't a French school if its students don't speak French! I've translated their speech into English (obviously, B and H would speak to them in the school's language), so it would be a whole lot easier to understand for all of us.
What has Madame Maxime got in store for her school? I don't know. Do you? Everyone is welcome to have their own opinions – you know you want to tell me what you think of what Madame Maxime has decided!
You know you love me,
Xoxo
Gossip Girl