Cerise looked up at the shining walls of the palace around her. Beauxbatons was really falling apart. Not the palace itself, of course; but as she stared into the eyes of a delicate woman in a portrait in front of her, she knew that everything Beauxbatons had stood for was. She flipped her honey-colored hair over her shoulder, sighing deeply. She remembered her first day at school here. She'd been so excited about learning magic and living away from home. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought she would be here to see the great Academy fall apart. She rocked in her chair and watched as a few of her friends hurried to pack their things.
This year had ended it all. At their final meal together, Madam Maxime, the headmistress, had addressed all would-be returning students. "Beauxbatons will not be here next year," she had told them bluntly, though tears had shimmered sadly in her eyes. She'd reiterated what the Hogwarts, the English magic Academy, headmaster had said: That the darkest wizard of all, Lord Voldemort, was rising again. Cerise shook her head in disbelief. It all seemed surreal, and yet, there it was.
The people bustling around her jerked her back to reality. Each of these students would have to find a new place to go next year, she realized, furrowing her brow. Many would be home schooled, many more transferring to Beauxbatons' sister Academy in Austria. Some would even be transferring to Durmstrang, a school known for it's dark arts; and not unfairly, as she had learned this year. Cerise shook at the thought. She. . . she, like a few others, would be going back to Hogwarts. Cerise had listened when Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster at Hogwarts, had spoken; she had understood his concern. She had admired his strength. She knew Hogwarts was the right place for her in these dark times. There, perhaps, she could share her ideas. There, someone might listen. But most of all, there, she could unite-- finally make the bonds that she knew were necessary for the future.
As much as Cerise adored Beauxbatons, she had always known there was something lacking. A shallow streak ran deep through the school's core. At least Madame Maxime had finally realized her duty to help, Cerise thought cooly. That was why there would be no Academy, because Madame was leaving to help. Cerise just prayed that she could somehow help as well. She knew-- knew deep down-- that she had a part to play.
"Cerise Bretagne!" The call awoke her from her thoughts once more. She gathered her belongings and walked to the horse that had been escorted out for her. With a sad wave toward her friends, she mounted the winged beast and flew off into the clouds. Beauxbatons was gone forever.
This year had ended it all. At their final meal together, Madam Maxime, the headmistress, had addressed all would-be returning students. "Beauxbatons will not be here next year," she had told them bluntly, though tears had shimmered sadly in her eyes. She'd reiterated what the Hogwarts, the English magic Academy, headmaster had said: That the darkest wizard of all, Lord Voldemort, was rising again. Cerise shook her head in disbelief. It all seemed surreal, and yet, there it was.
The people bustling around her jerked her back to reality. Each of these students would have to find a new place to go next year, she realized, furrowing her brow. Many would be home schooled, many more transferring to Beauxbatons' sister Academy in Austria. Some would even be transferring to Durmstrang, a school known for it's dark arts; and not unfairly, as she had learned this year. Cerise shook at the thought. She. . . she, like a few others, would be going back to Hogwarts. Cerise had listened when Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster at Hogwarts, had spoken; she had understood his concern. She had admired his strength. She knew Hogwarts was the right place for her in these dark times. There, perhaps, she could share her ideas. There, someone might listen. But most of all, there, she could unite-- finally make the bonds that she knew were necessary for the future.
As much as Cerise adored Beauxbatons, she had always known there was something lacking. A shallow streak ran deep through the school's core. At least Madame Maxime had finally realized her duty to help, Cerise thought cooly. That was why there would be no Academy, because Madame was leaving to help. Cerise just prayed that she could somehow help as well. She knew-- knew deep down-- that she had a part to play.
"Cerise Bretagne!" The call awoke her from her thoughts once more. She gathered her belongings and walked to the horse that had been escorted out for her. With a sad wave toward her friends, she mounted the winged beast and flew off into the clouds. Beauxbatons was gone forever.