𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐨.

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄

*anything in italics, in this chapter, is spoken in French since i can't do that rn 

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     "𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐓!"

     "Tasia! Don't say things like that!" Marie slapped her sister on the arm.

     "But Marie," Anastasia complained, dragging out her sister's name. "Why do we have to do this?"

     Madame Maxine was having all the girls practice a short routine to perform for the Hogwarts students when they came, since they only had two weeks until they would be on their journey to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the renowned Triwizard Tournament. It was simple for the most of the females, but Anastasia had a different experience. This was far from her usual surroundings.

     "Why do we have to make some nice miniature butterflies? Why couldn't we build, like, a dragon or anything else interesting?" Anastasia sighed, sinking in her seat next to Marie, who had been unexpectedly picked by Madame Maxine to accompany her sister to the competition despite the fact that she would be unable to compete.

     "Because butterflies are pretty, and we are pretty. Deal with it." Marie said.

     "No not again." Anastasia groaned when Madame Maxine strutted back into the room clapping her hands.

     "Up, girls, up! Let us start again!" she shouted as all the girls shuffled into place. "One, two, three, go!"

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     "Anastasia! Have you finished packing?" Fleur Delacour enquired of a fellow dormmate.

     "Well, not exactly." Anastasia said sheepishly with a small chuckle.

     "You should get started right away. We're leaving in the morning! On another note, I honestly have no clue who might be selected for this event. Who do you think?" She said, her brow pursed. Her face was lit up with a tiny grin.

     "I'm placing my bets on you, so don't fail me now." Anastasia pointed a finger accusingly at her friend.

     "Oh you're too kind, but seriously. Who do you think?"

     "I am serious, Fleur! You would be the perfect champion for Beauxbatons! Madame Maxine chose you first to go on the trip. I don't know why I'm even going. I'm not 17 yet."

     "You will be in just a few days, so it could just as well be you." Fleur argued playfully.

     "You're mental. It'll be you, and you know it. I've got three galleons on it." Anastasia responded to her friend's insane fantasies.

     "Well, if it is me, you'll have to help me with my English. You never know what kind of people we'll meet there." She hinted with a suggestive wink.

     "Don't get me started on Hogwarts' "attractive boys." Augustus has already talked my ear off." Anastasia said to her giggling companion.

     "He's not wrong." she said in a sing-song voice, leaving Anastasia to slowly pack her trunk.

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     The brilliant sun streamed through the lavish room's soft pink and blue drapes.

     "Can someone turn the sun off please and thank you?" Anastasia said, pulling her covers over her head.

     "I can't get up. Someone else do it." Janelle groaned from her bed, her sheets displayed all of her side of the room.

     Anastasia had never been one to get up early. Mornings were not a favorite of anyone in that shared dorm, and they all knew it.

     "Rise and shine, sleeping beauties!" Fleur shouted at the girls whilst jumping on Anastasia's bed.

     Everyone except Fleur.

     "Fleur, do me a favor and kindly shut up." Anastasia said, pulling her pillow over her face.

     "I will do no such thing because we all know what day it is."

     "The day where we sleep in?"

     "Anastasia, you know precisely what I'm talking about. Now get out of bed and get into your uniform." Fleur remarked this as she tucked her beautiful blonde hair into a tight bun.

     The three other girls in the room grumbled, hesitant to get out of bed, but they had all put on their silky uniforms thanks to Fleur's relentless pestering. The girls looked stunning in their knee-length robes with a relatively small blue cloak and their blue pointed hats, which were delicately positioned on their heads.

     "These capes are always so frustrating." Anastasia complained to Augustus, who had shown up in his suit, looking dapper as ever.

     "At least, you look attractive." He chuckled as he fiddled with his dark blue necktie. He was dressed in a light blue button-down shirt and a blue jacket with black trim around the borders. Augustus had always been dissatisfied with the Beauxbatons outfits. Anastasia, for one, couldn't see why. She quite liked the dress, except for the annoying "jacket."

     "Shut up. At least you won't have hat hair." Anastasia grinned at her best friend as they walked through the corridor to the large blue carriages.

     "Oh. My. God. These carriages are tall enough to be houses!" Augustus gaped at the large structure in front of him.

     "Of course they are. We all know that Madame Maxine is a sucker for dramatic entrances." Anastasia remarked under her breath.

     They handled their bulky trunks with ease, exactly as they'd been taught—always looking flawless. They approached the magnificent house-appearing carriages, seeking for the one to which they had been assigned.

     Just outside the Beauxbatons palace, three massive powderblue horse-drawn carriages were stationed. Just in front of them, a dozen winged horses, palominos, each the size of an elephant, were lined up.

     "Do you remember which number we are?" Anastasia asked.

     "Well, there's three to choose from, so I'm assuming it's one of those." Augustus said.

     "That's extremely helpful, Augustus."

     "Dupont! Over here!" A voice rang out from across the courtyard. Anastasia turned to see Fleur beckoning her and Augustus over to the carriage.

     "Is this one ours?" Anastasia asked curiously.

     "Yes, I believe so. I'm really pleased we're both in this one. Chantelle isn't my first choice; I'd much rather be with you." Fleur dropped her voice to a whisper at the last part, prompting Augustus to snicker.

     "I never knew that you, Fleur Delacour, could despise someone enough to not want to sit with them." Augustus sarcastically said as he dragged his bags into the massive transport.

     "I'm full of surprises." she winked as she pushed open the door and walked into the carriage, Augustus and Anastasia following just behind. They were greeted by the sight of what appeared to be, well, a home.

     "Tasia! Did you see these rooms?!"

     Marie came running up to her sister, obviously thrilled.

     "Calm down, toots. Let me walk in first." Anastasia laughed at her sister's excitement.

     "Fine. Just come sit with us. We're talking about what Hogwarts will be like!" she said, happiness radiating off of her small face.

     Anastasia and Augustus exchanged a quick grin before making their way to the couches that around the circular coffee table, which was brimming with animated conversation.

     "If it isn't the only English-speaking folks at Beauxbatons!" Janelle Brodeur, Anastasia's roommate, squealed with delight as she saw the two friends enter the room. Of course, that wasn't exactly accurate, but a little exaggeration never hurts, right?

     "Hello ladies!" Augustus spoke in a sing-song tone. It wasn't a stretch to say that the Beauxbatons girls adored him more than anybody else in the school. Who couldn't?

     The majority of the females hurried up to Augustus, asking him questions about English terms and which ones they'd need to know to impress the Hogwarts students, specifically the males. Anastasia did nothing except roll her eyes. She wasn't keen on relationships, especially since she was still recovering from a previous one. 

     Anastasia has only ever been in one relationship throughout her life. He was two years her older, but let's just say her maturity much outweighed his. To end a long story short, he wasn't the ideal match for her. Things occurred, problems happened, and now we're here, but Anastasia still can't understand the fact that he wasn't the perfect person. She wasn't ready to start dating again, especially if they were just going to be separated by nations. Long-distance travel would be very difficult for her. That has proven to be true in her life.
     Despite her opinions on starting a relationship with a student at a foreign school, she kept a bright smile on her face and followed Augustus through the swarm of excited girls.

     "Ladies and gentlemen!" A voice echoed throughout the room.

     Anastasia sighed at the obnoxious woman entering the room wearing a dramatic fur coat.

     "Straighten your skirts and ties! We are leaving in two minutes!"  Madame Maxine announced to those sitting in the parlor.

     The girls went straight to whatever mirror they could locate to make themselves seem "presentable." They were practically bouncing off the walls with anticipation of the new adventure on the horizon.

     "Tasia, will come watch us take off with me?" Marie came up to her older sister with the cutest pair of puppy dog eyes you'd ever seen.

     Anastasia pretended to think for a moment, causing a very impatient Marie to tap her foot.

     "You know I will, love." She beamed at the eleven-year-old and ruffled her hair as before she ran off towards the gorgeous, floor-to-ceiling windows.

     The sisters gazed out into the early morning light, enthralled by the grandeur of the palace, which sat serenely in the October fog. They watched as their school shrank and shrank, dissolving into nothingness with each passing second..

     Oh, what an adventure this will be.

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author's note:

 wow! thank you for over 600 reads <33

dreaded question of the day:
how was it?

i love each and every single one of you angels.

xx
elle