As the Tardis landed with a thud, it was only just dawning on Harry that he'd never actually been to another country. It wasn't something that the Dursleys had done very often, in truth, much preferring what the Great British countryside had to offer rather than any so-called 'foreign muck'. And it wasn't as if Harry would have even been invited on those rare trips, instead being left behind with the likes of Mrs Figg just in case he ruined the Dursleys' fun.
Sirius had brought up on a few occasions that the Blacks owned a number of properties across the globe, which he was now in charge of. Though Harry suspected that Remus took the lead on anything like that. With that in mind, Harry had suspected that he might have had the chance to visit those other homes, at least to explore more of the past he was now connected to. But those histories were full of dark magic that they weren't going to risk exposing him to, which killed the idea stone dead until the buildings could be properly vetted.
And there wasn't really much of a chance to go on holiday when they had to worry about a looming war.
It explained why he'd been slightly frustrated when Matthew and Hermione had revealed they'd visited Beauxbatons without him. It wasn't just the school he was missing out on, but the experience of physically stepping on another land. For someone who owned a Tardis, which could go anywhere at a drop of the hat, perhaps it had seemed inconsequential to Matthew. But, for Harry, it was something else to tick off the bucket list. And, with his future forever up in the air until Voldemort conked it, there was a rush to make sure as many dreams were fulfilled.
He'd just never expected that his first international trip would be as part of such a ragtag group of people.
Matthew and Hermione were a given, seeing as they were providing the transport. The group could have feasibly apparated but, when you had a Tardis, you weren't going to turn your nose up at that style. With them was Dumbledore, in his official role as the headmaster of Hogwarts. After the invitation against Harry's wishes, Enola was by his side. And, thanks to their well-timed pleas, Ginny and Neville had wormed their way onto the ship too.
It had been the first time that either of them had been introduced to the Tardis, and Harry got the sense that that had been part of Matthew's eagerness in letting them come. He could never resist the opportunity to show off and his implausible ship was a great way of doing exactly that. The pair of Gryffindors had partially seen the Tardis in action during the recent battle at Hogwarts, but that didn't compare to actually stepping within its confines. The gawking and incredulous questions weren't likely to stop anytime soon.
Harry was more surprised that Draco and Daphne had readily agreed to tag along. He was waiting for their strange truce to come to an end but, with each passing day, the bond between the Gryffindors and the Slytherins seemed to be growing. After everything that had happened, Harry had to make a concerted effort to remind himself of how bizarre it was that he was now friends with Draco Malfoy. How strange it was that he was on a first name basis with Draco Malfoy. But they couldn't turn away any allies, especially when they were so keen to get their hands dirty.
The last remaining member of their peculiar party was Sirius. He hadn't wanted to leave Harry under the supervision of Dumbledore, given everything that had passed between them, regardless of the capable young wizards and witches joining them. It also gave him a chance to act in a more official manner as the Head of House of Black, something which was shown by the fine clothes he'd opted to wear for the diplomatic meeting. Remus, naturally, had been annoyed that he was missing out, but his classes had come first.
A level of leeway the group of students had been given instead.
Even Hermione couldn't complain about the day she was losing from lessons, with the thought of their exams being pushed to the back of their minds. That was only possible thanks to the importance of the discussions ahead, as well as the beauty of their surroundings. As they steadily emerged from the blue box, finding themselves on a neatly cobbled path, not one of them was thinking about what they could have been doing at the precise moment at Hogwarts.
When the Beauxbatons contingent had visited their school for the Triwizard Tournament, they'd made it abundantly clear that they had a certain degree of style and charisma. That was further exemplified by their school premises, which were a magnificent sight to behold. Whilst Hogwarts could be a majestic but domineering spectacle, Beauxbatons was a gaudy and pristine example of architecture. Slightly smaller than the castle they hailed from, the building before was made of pale tiles that could have been seen as pink in the soft sunlight, with inlays of gold as decoration.
Though they'd landed right by the front entrance, Harry could tell that the school grounds were just as neatly maintained. There were no forbidden forests in the vicinity, with the group instead met by perfectly manicured lawns and shrubs that had been pruned into various shapes. Even as they approached, Harry was able to see a pair of giant clippers working their way through their latest creation, floating in the air without the need of a gardener watching over them.
And he hadn't even properly appreciated the gorgeous mountain ranges in the near distance.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Hermione said, eyes shining, despite the fact that she'd seen it all before.
"I suppose it's quite impressive," Matthew remarked, busying himself with locking the doors to his ship. "A bit too rich for my tastes."
"I don't like to agree with Mormont, but he's got a point," Draco added. "I much prefer the simplicity of Hogwarts. It knows its a powerful location. It doesn't need to make a song and dance about it."
Daphne scrunched up her nose. "Speak for yourself. We've had to live in the dungeons for over six years. This is a marked improvement."
"I think it's wise that we keep Matthew and Draco from opening their mouths," Ginny surmised. "They need to work on keeping their thoughts to themselves, otherwise this trip will be a disaster."
"Good luck with that," Hermione huffed. "I've been encouraging Matthew to use a filter ever since I first met him and, as you can tell, I'm still falling short."
The boy in question wrapped an arm around his girlfriend's shoulders. "You'd have me no other way. There's no use denying it."
It always brought a smile to Harry's face, watching his two friends share their affection for one another. At least when they were keeping it firmly PG. It spoke of an innocence and joyousness that had managed to blossom at a dark time in their society, with love battling against the odds to not only persist, but survive. It was what they were fighting for, so that all of them could enjoy those quiet moments, laughing with the person that mattered most in their lives.
For Harry, it still came with its drawbacks, which were solely self implemented. Seeing the way Matthew and Hermione behaved, it was a reminder of the expectations now placed on him. Was he supposed to wrap his arm around Enola? Was he supposed to be making his feelings obvious? Or was he comparing his fledgling relationship to one that had been forged over numerous years? It didn't seem like Enola was waiting for him to make a move, but he'd never been great at understanding what girls wanted.
That also wasn't to mention the fact that he hadn't yet told Sirius about that particular development in his love life. That was a can of worms that he didn't really want to open. It was a miracle that he hadn't found out up to that point, but his friends had remained loyal in keeping the news to themselves. Harry just didn't know how long that was going to last, nor for how long he'd be able to stop himself putting his foot in his mouth. The teasing he'd get from his godfather didn't bear thinking about, even if Sirius was no doubt going to be proud at the same time.
It had to be said, however, that Harry had more important things to worry about other than his teenage drama. That was shown by the towering presence of Madame Maxime, who'd evidently been waiting for the sound of the Tardis' arrival, for she was approaching them with elegant but focused purpose. There weren't any other students with her, perhaps waiting inside instead, and Harry sighed internally in relief. The longer he could avoid his reunion with Margot, the better.
An opinion that obviously wasn't shared by Matthew, whose smirking face suggested he was waiting expectantly for that certain fallout.
The headmistress first focused her attention on her counterpart, with Dumbledore having to stand on his tiptoes to kiss her on both cheeks, even when Madame Maxime was bending down. Her smile was polite as she acknowledged Matthew and Hermione, who she'd spoken with earlier that year. And she welcomed Sirius with the stilted and respectful greetings that were expected for a man of his station, again reminding Harry of the numerous formalities he was going to have to contend with.
If there was a more predatory glint to her gaze as she looked at Harry, then he hoped that he was just seeing things.
"Harry Potter," she purred, her accent as thick as ever. "You have grown."
"Um…" He squirmed on the spot, thinking of what he was expected to say. "It's been too long, Madame Maxime. You look well."
"She looks as magnificent as ever," Dumbledore concurred graciously. "Perhaps even more splendid, if such a thing were possible."
She waved a hand dismissively, though it was clear that she was enjoying the attention. "I suppose there have been numerous reasons for such a length between our meetings. Factors outside of your control. Your friends explained the darkening situation during their previous visit, though we're not blind here at Beauxbatons to the way the world is changing."
Harry was nodding his head. "Yeah, and that's exactly what we need to talk about. Because both schools can really help each other out…"
He was stopped by Maxime holding up a solitary finger. "We'll get to that in time. For now, I must play my role as the gracious host."
Harry was of half a mind to tell the giantess that they had more pressing matters to attend to, rather than stifled decorum, even if that would have gone against the diplomatic success he was trying to create. He might have even got the words out his mouth, but Maxime was promptly turning on her heel and walking back towards the glittering chateau as if the matter wasn't remotely up for debate. Helplessly, Harry watched for a few seconds as his own party followed in her wake.
Matthew patted him on the wake. "There are a number of hoops we have to jump through today. This is just one of them."
Harry groaned. "Is it bad that I thought this was going to be easier? Like we'd just sit down around a table straight away, hash out a deal of mutually assured protection, and then toddle off back home for tea?"
"It's not bad, per se. Naive, for sure."
His friend was seemingly enjoying Harry's frustrations, laughing to himself as he caught up with the group a few steps ahead of them. Harry didn't have much of a choice but to fall in line, wondering what other obstacles were going to be put in his way. But he wasn't going to be a complete grump. He was better than that. He might have done a lot of growing up, but the wonders of magic were still impossible to resist. And exploring a new realm couldn't be sniffed at.
It was easy to ignore his growing qualms once they were inside.
The same theme of pure luxury had been carried on through the interior, with young men in light blue suits opening the grand doors for them. Harry was sure that no person should have been able to have such a perfectly chiseled face, as if the students had been created in a workshop. The gold details from the outer walls ran through the entrance hall, accompanied by lavish wallpaper. Whereas Hogwarts didn't try to hide its old stonework, those at Beauxbatons had gone to great lengths to garnish every corner of the school.
Harry noted with keen interest that, just like at home, there were countless portraits taking up most of the space, with them all seeming to have refined frames that glittered ever so subtly. The inhabitants of the paintings scrambled to look at the strange party, as if they'd been starved of entertainment and were now being presented with an incredible buffet. Harry had to suppose that his group cut a peculiar sight, or maybe the visit of another school was more noteworthy than he'd previously imagined.
They might have expected to come across other pupils and staff, but the school remained strangely quiet for their first foray into the foreign world. It meant Maxime was given the chance to explain in great detail some of the finer aspects of the school, pointing out the most notable painted figures and the most celebrated trophies that were on display. Dumbledore's role was seemingly to absorb those pieces of self-congratulatory information, acting as a buffer so that the rest of the group could focus on their own points of interest.
Harry was feeling happier about having the headmaster there in that case.
Coming up beside him, Enola snaked her fingers around Harry's, drawing him closer. Whilst he enjoyed the contact and the confidence she was displaying, he couldn't help but focus on his godfather up ahead. Thanks to the sheer scope of Beauxbatons' beauty, Sirius' attention was firmly placed on the decorations and their intended destination. Even so, Harry grew worried that the old man would turn his head at any given moment, resulting in a whirlwind of questions that would completely derail the visit.
"Nervous?" Enola asked quietly.
"About dealing with Maxime?" Harry replied. "Not really. I'm in her good books after how the tournament ended. And if I've learnt anything over the years, then it's that people can't resist having Harry Potter at their beck and call. They thrive on the fame and the notoriety."
"Hermione was actually telling me about the Triwizard Tournament, seeing as I wasn't lucky enough to see your heroics in action. You're in Madame Maxime's good books, as you put it, because you saved one of her students without being asked to."
"It was technically three, if you want to get bogged down by semantics." Harry wasn't going to miss the chance to impress the girl clinging onto him. "Fleur Delacour and her younger sister. But I didn't have to in the end, as it turned out. They would have been safe regardless of what I did. But I couldn't take the chance."
Enola was gazing at him warmly. "I'm starting to see that that's the person you are, Harry. The reluctant but forever dependable hero."
His cheeks warmed slightly. "I don't know about that."
"Every story I've been told about your antics at Hogwarts falls into that category, and I'm absolutely certain that I haven't been treated to all of the tales you have for me."
"That's the thing though, isn't it? What if I stop becoming dependable? What if I fail? What if I let people down?"
"I can only provide a certain perspective, but isn't that why you've surrounded yourself with so many people?" She gestured at the group around them and Harry viewed them with ever increasing gratitude. "For those rare occasions when you can't maintain your exceptionally high standards, they're there to lift you up. They also inspire you to keep going. It's quite clear to see that you would have given up a long time ago if you'd never had them in your life. It's something that I've never truly had…something that I'd like to have, which was why I was so keen for your friends to accept me. I'm still working on that, especially with a certain friend of yours, but this trip is a sign of progress."
Harry had been granted the privilege of seeing a different side to Enola, particularly over the summer months. It was a softer section of her character, one which his friends had struggled to believe was actually there one time or another. It was what had inspired him to take a chance on her, regardless of what had come before. Less bothered by what Sirius might have thought, Harry gripped Enola's hand tighter, just to show how much he'd needed to hear her words.
"Is that why you were shaking like a leaf when I first took your hand?" she asked playfully. "Or do I still have that effect on you?"
"You still very much have that effect on me," he quickly answered. "Although there was another reason, I'll admit that."
Harry gestured his head to where Sirius was standing as Maxime ran through the history of a battle that had been depicted in one of the art pieces. Enola seemed to look at him for a few moments before slowly nodding her head in understanding. Harry couldn't tell whether she was insulted, whether she was taking it the wrong way. It was a perspective that was further strengthened by the fact that she let go of his hand, with the slight increase in distance between them almost representing a cavernous space.
"I don't want to put you in a difficult position," Enola said.
"It's not difficult. Not exactly."
"His opinion matters to you. Perhaps more than anyone else."
Harry had to agree with that, which explained why he hadn't yet been brave enough to have the required conversation with his godfather. His main perspective of Enola had been shaped by the Death Eaters' arrival at Hogwarts and the role she'd played in allowing that. It was going to take a lot of work to change his opinion, something which Harry was already navigating with his friends. Added to the issue was the fact that Harry had started dating Enola during his time at Grimmauld Place, which added an air of betrayal that he didn't want to own up to.
"I don't want you to be insulted that I haven't told him," Harry said, already missing her touch.
"I'm not. I understand."
"You could just be saying that though."
"You need to stop worrying all the time," she told him softly.
"It's been programmed into me, I'm afraid."
"You've got to deal with Maxime today. Leave it at that. Talk with Sirius when you've got less on your mind. Because you're supposed to be enjoying this visit, as much as there's an important reason for it."
"I don't think I'll ever have 'less on my mind'. Not until Voldemort's dead."
"Well…I certainly hope that you tell Sirius before them. I can be patient, but there's still a limit."
"I know, I know."
"Largely because I want to get to know you, Harry. And the best way to do that is to get to know the people you care about. I'm making slight progress on that front, seeing as Matthew is no longer cursing my name. At least not to my face. Your family's the next step for me, really."
An image sprung up in Harry's head, which revolved around him and Enola sitting down for a meal around the large table at Grimmauld Place. Sirius and Remus sat opposite to them, with the former carving a ridiculously sized turkey. They were laughing. And things were easy. At some point, Matthew and Hermione would arrive, the happy couple bringing dessert and a new tale from their latest adventures. Harry wanted to reach out and grab it.
Meeting Enola had simultaneously made it both easier and more difficult for Harry to think about the future. Being with her gave him an extra purpose to continue and win the fight, so that their days together weren't numbered. But she now represented someone else he could lose, which made the future seem like such a dark and frightening place. It was why he was walking through the corridors of Beauxbatons now, even if his mind had wandered slightly over the past few minutes. Having the other school on their side made it less likely that the more haunting future would be waiting for them.
It was a priority that was reinforced when Maxime led them towards another set of grand doors, which were once again opened without her having to ask for it. Harry would have preferred for them to have stayed closed, given what waited for them. It was like the Great Hall of Hogwarts, if the mighty chamber had been hit by a splatter gun of gaudy decorations. It was slightly smaller than the space they used for feasts, but it made up for it by having every inch of it covered in some form or another. Every item had seemingly been handpicked to highlight the school's wealth and prosperity, and that wasn't even the aspect that Harry hated the most.
No, his nose wrinkled when he realised that the entire student body had congregated at their tables, waiting for the group to arrive. They erupted into thunderous applause, with Maxime grappling Harry so that he was standing front and centre. It wasn't very often that he overshadowed Dumbledore, but the headmaster was a forgotten element to the festivities as they chanted Harry's name. He could feel his entire body turning a brilliant red, and he wished more than anything that he could shrivel up and escape through the slim cracks in the floor underfoot.
"We never get this sort of reaction," Matthew grumbled.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Would you want this sort of reaction?"
"Absolutely not. But it's the principle, isn't it?"
"Trust me, if you want to be in my position, go ahead," Harry said through gritted teeth, doing his best to hide his growing displeasure.
He was sure that music was playing, distant trumpets marking their grand arrival. Maxime began to make her way towards the head of the hall and Harry was given little choice but to follow in her giant footsteps. He was only just realising that a separate table had been set up for them, covered in a fine cloth with golden cutlery that glinted every now and again. In truth, the same sort of luxury could be seen on the others too, with smaller, circular tables filling the floorspace, rather than the lengthy benches Hogwarts opted for.
Not knowing what else to do, Harry stood behind a chair that he hoped would keep him away from the centre of attention as much as possible. The rest of his group followed suit, with Enola and Sirius flanking him on either side. None of them sat down, unwilling to either break protocol or insult their host. Maxime, for what it was worth, seemed to be truly enjoying the spectacle of the occasion. With her towering frame, she cut a powerful and domineering figure, with all eyes firmly trained on her. Harry was happy for that to continue for as long as was attainable.
"What a special day this is for our school!" Maxime declared triumphantly. "A day that shall no doubt be etched into our history books. We give thanks to our storied guests and welcome them to Beauxbatons Academy of Magic with open arms. It need not be said that I expect all of you to show them the grace and charm that has built our reputation over the centuries. And there is no better way to do that than to share a feast!"
With a wave of her hands, each of the tables became filled with a selection of food and drinks, with the Beauxbatons students audibly welcoming the arrival with excited chatter. At that, Maxime lowered herself down, which the rest of them took as their cue to do the same. Even so, Harry couldn't enjoy what had been laid out in front of them, regardless of how heavenly it smelled. He'd expected them to get on with work straight away and wasn't too pleased at the distractions he was being faced with.
Apparently sensing his annoyance, Sirius leaned closer. "It's all part of the song and dance."
"We're supposed to be putting plans in place to save the world we know," Harry argued. "I think that's more important, don't you?"
"If you thought that Maxime wasn't going to use this as a piece of PR, then you don't know magical diplomacy very well. What are they even teaching you at Hogwarts?"
"Funnily enough, diplomacy isn't an elective you can choose."
"Maybe that's something to introduce when you inevitably take over the place. Old Whitebeard over there can't stay forever." Sirius smirked at his own remark. "But getting back on track, it wouldn't surprise me to learn that Maxime has got a reporter skulking away in the far corner, taking pictures to commemorate your visit. You might not like it, but she's right - this is one for the history books."
"I'd be more than happy to smile and wave after we've signed some sort of agreement. Or whatever we get out of the meetings."
Sirius frowned. "I know you, Harry. It's a given that you won't enjoy smiling and waving whatever happens. You've never liked the limelight and I think it's one of your best traits, which are too many to list. But, for now, you need to forget about all that. Maxime wants to stop Voldemort. Of course she does. But she has to get something out of it too."
"Is staying alive not enough?"
"Not when she's got your handsome face ready for the front page of tomorrow's Le Prophet de Daily."
"I think you might need to brush up on your French."
"Stop sulking. The best thing to do is lap up the attention. You know I will."
Harry was going to play along, if just because he knew he didn't have much of a choice. Except two people approaching their table, carrying needlessly extravagant desserts, meant that brief window of fake enjoyment was brought to a crashing end. They were both recognisable, with one sporting blonde hair and the other black. The former was Fleur Delacour, who smiled brightly at his presence. It was a smile that would have brought most men to their knees, but Harry was too focused on her companion to be suitably affected.
"Margot," he whispered reverently, almost forgetting that Enola was sitting beside him.
She's grown, which shouldn't have come as much of a shock, seeing as a few years had passed since their last meeting. Margot's features had become more refined, accentuating the young adult she now was. But Harry saw the similarities shining through. The spark in her dark eyes. The shy smile, which was probably matching the expression that Harry was sporting. For a second, it was like neither of them knew where they were or what they were supposed to be doing.
"It's good to see you, Harry," she replied, a touch bashfully with everyone else looking at her.
Matthew was practically rubbing his hands together like the archetypal villain. "Oh, this is going to be good."