Chapter 103: Beauxbatons Magic School
Chapter 103: Beauxbatons Magic School
After a smooth ferry ride, Sherlock and the others arrived at the port city of Caen in France by evening.
This city is located in the Normandy region, the same place where the Allies landed during World War II.
In the city center of Caen, Sherlock found a decent hotel, parked the car, and took Harry to a restaurant for an elegant French meal.
Although the food in France was much better than what they had in Britain, Harry still found it rather tasteless.
During the meal, many pretty Muggle women approached Sherlock, asking for his phone number.
Even though Sherlock always declined, saying he didn't have a phone, several of them subtly hinted that they had phones at home and that their bedrooms were spacious, inviting him to visit.
Seeing Sherlock politely turn down another woman who claimed she had accidentally bought an extra movie ticket and wanted to invite a gentleman to join her, Harry said with a sour tone, "They must be really lonely, needing someone to swim with, watch movies, and visit their bedrooms."
Sherlock rolled his eyes at him.
"What do you know, you little brat?"
With Sherlock's striking appearance and the quiet, mysterious aura he naturally exuded from studying magic, he was a walking hormone magnet wherever he went.
They stayed in Caen for only one day. On the second day, after visiting the famous Abbaye aux Dames, they left the city.
Before leaving, Sherlock bought a fully mechanical camera at the mall to use for taking pictures along the way.
Instead of heading west to Paris, they drove south, stopping in each city to sample the local cuisine and enjoy the scenery.
In Le Mans, they watched a car race ("Not as exciting as a Quidditch match", Harry said, watching the cheering crowd with disdain). In Saumur, they tasted some uniquely flavored wine (after Harry's persistent requests, Sherlock let him try a sip, which he promptly spat out).
In Bordeaux, they enjoyed foie gras and visited a medieval castle (Harry thought these castles were not as impressive as Hogwarts, but the foie gras was delicious). Their last stop in southern France was Toulouse, where they visited the Basilica of Saint Sernin (Sherlock posed the thought-provoking question of why many wizards still practice religion, but Harry suggested that thinking too much about it was less enjoyable than having another bowl of delicious onion soup).
Finally, they filled up the car and left Toulouse, heading toward the Pyrenees.
"Where are we going next, Professor?" Harry asked, feeling incredibly satisfied after having three bowls of onion soup at lunch.
Sherlock parked the car on a small road by the fields and pressed the button on the steering wheel that changed the car's function.
This was the first time Harry had seen him prepare to use the car's flying feature since they left Caen.
"We're going to fly into the Pyrenees. Once we enter the mountains, we'll start visiting French wizards."
Harry blinked, looking at the towering mountains in the distance, and asked, puzzled, "Do French wizards like to live in the deep mountains?"
"Your knowledge is really limited, Harry. If Hermione were here, she would know our destination", Sherlock teased.
Harry was unwilling to admit defeat and guessed, "We're definitely going to visit some famous old wizard who's living in seclusion in these mountains."
Sherlock piloted the car into the air, heading toward the mountains, and took the opportunity to educate Harry.
"Do you know how many magic schools there are in Europe?"
Harry thought for a moment and then shook his head honestly.
"No."
"There are three magic schools in all of Europe: Hogwarts in Britain, Beauxbatons in France, and Durmstrang in Northern Europe. We're heading to Beauxbatons, the magic school in France. However, like Hogwarts, they are on summer break, so I'm not sure if mentioning Professor Dumbledore will get us a tour."
Sherlock had clearly done his homework before they left.
"The ultimate goal of our trip is to visit Nicolas Flamel and his wife, who are famous alumni of Beauxbatons. They contributed to the school's expansion, and Beauxbatons built a massive fountain in their honor. The school also has a breathtakingly grand estate."
Harry's interest was piqued. After visiting so many Muggle cities, he had almost forgotten he was a wizard.
Sherlock drove the flying car through the Pyrenees for a few hours before finally spotting a distinctively French architectural complex in the forest.
Like Hogwarts, Beauxbatons was hidden from the eyes of Muggles who lacked magic power. To them, the school's location appeared as a vast, overgrown field, visible only to wizards.
Sherlock didn't circle above Beauxbatons but landed directly in front of the school's main gate.
Stepping out of the car, they could see the main building of Beauxbatons through the iron gates—a Great Hall that was only one story tall but covered a vast area.
The entrance to the Great Hall faced the school’s main gate. Above it, Sherlock and Harry noticed a crest featuring two golden wands crossed, with three stars emanating from the tip of each wand.
"Although Beauxbatons doesn’t have as long a history as Hogwarts, it has been around for over seven hundred years. And it’s not just French students who attend here; there are also students from Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands."
Sherlock shared this information with Harry as they walked up to the main gate, which was tightly shut. From the outside, the campus appeared deserted.
"How do we get in?" Harry asked, puzzled.
Sherlock was also examining the gate, looking for something like a doorbell.
Just as they were pacing back and forth in front of the school’s entrance, a hoarse, elderly woman’s voice suddenly rang out.
"What brings you to Beauxbatons?"
Sherlock and Harry turned to see an old witch in a rose-colored robe. Her face was lined with wrinkles, but she stood straight and tall, watching them warily from behind the iron gate.
Sherlock and Harry exchanged a glance, and then Sherlock introduced himself.
"Good day, madam. I am Professor Sherlock Forrest, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and this is my student, Harry Potter. We are on a trip to France and would like to visit Beauxbatons. Could you let us in?"
"A Defense Professor and student from Hogwarts?" The old witch scrutinized Sherlock and Harry. "Beauxbatons does not refuse visitors, but I need to see something that verifies your identities."
Perhaps the name Harry Potter, the Chosen One, was only well-known among British wizards, as the French witch showed no particular surprise.
Sherlock had anticipated this.
Wizards typically don’t have identification cards. However, adult wizards who pass their Apparition test usually receive an Apparition License issued by the Ministry of Magic, complete with a photograph and personal details, which is difficult to forge or alter.
However, Sherlock used the appointment letter from Hogwarts to prove his identity. It also had his photograph and personal information and confirmed his position as a professor.
After examining the letter, the witch opened the gate and let them in.
"It’s currently summer break, so only a few students and teachers are on campus", the old witch said, her demeanor neither particularly friendly nor unfriendly. "I am Andrée Garral, the Head of Housekeeping, responsible for managing the students’ daily lives and discipline."
As they followed her into Beauxbatons, Harry whispered to Sherlock.
"She seems a lot better than Filch that old grouch."
Sherlock gave him a light tap on the head, reminding him not to speak ill of others behind their backs.
"Would you like me to guide you around the campus?" Andrée Garral asked, turning to them.
Sherlock shrugged. "That won’t be necessary. Just tell us where we can’t go."
Andrée shook her head. "Beauxbatons doesn’t have many restricted areas, but be careful around the Magical Creature Enclosure in the western garden. Some of the creatures there have bad tempers and are best left alone."
After parting ways with Andrée at the entrance to the Great Hall, Sherlock and Harry began their tour of Beauxbatons.
"I suggest you stand in the center of the fountain to really capture its grandeur."
Sherlock held up his camera, gesturing for Harry to move to the center, and took a photo of him with the massive fountain, named after Nicolas Flamel, in the background.
They then visited the garden behind the Great Hall, where Wood Nymphs were said to sing serenades during Christmas dinners, surrounded by beautiful ice sculptures.
While exploring the Beauxbatons estate, they encountered a witch who was as tall and imposing as Hagrid.
Sherlock recognized her as Madame Maxime, the current headmistress of Beauxbatons.
"A Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor from Hogwarts?" Madame Maxime glanced at Sherlock before focusing on Harry. "I’ve heard of you, Harry Potter. I didn’t expect Dumbledore to let you travel."
(End of Chapter)
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