The Wind and the Wings of Hogwarts

They soon saw the entirety of Hogwarts.

Forest, Black Lake, and the distant village of Hogsmeade...

Until the spire pierced through the thick clouds, the cotton-white clouds obscured everyone's view.

"That is……"

Scott looked ahead at the group of jet-black creatures suspended in the white clouds.

The Night Steed.

"Thestrals? Where are they?"

Fred squeezed next to Scott and peered out the window.

“Can you see them?” Scott asked.

“Oh, I can,” Fred said. “I did see death when my grandfather died, even though I was very young.”

"So this 'rocket' needs a Thestral to pull it?" Roger's tone was somewhat disappointed.

Scott said with a smile, "It can float, has a large internal space, and is so light that Thestrals can pull it, which is already quite remarkable."

As they spoke, a dense network of ropes flew out from the tower, connecting to the reins on the Thestrals.

As all the Thestrals flapped their wings and flew forward, the spire began to move rapidly.

At that moment, Dumbledore also walked to the window.

He chuckled and said, "We're using a magic-efficient mode of transportation. If we're not worried about wasting it, we can use the castle's magic to instantly reach Beauxbatons."

"Oh! Really?" Fred exclaimed excitedly. "This tower can Apparate us all?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Although it's not Apparition, the effect is similar. Of course, we still need to locate it before we act, which means spending magic to capture Beauxbatons' magical source."

"Why not give it a try?" Fred asked regretfully.

Everyone looked at Dumbledore.

Scott speculated, "That would weaken the defenses of Hogwarts Castle."

“That’s right,” Dumbledore nodded. “We must ensure the castle is full of magic; only in this way can we guarantee the safety of all teachers and students.”

After considering the current situation, everyone immediately understood what he meant.

“Now, you may go upstairs and find a room to stay in,” Dumbledore said. “Each room can accommodate four people. Oh, and you will be staying here for the next six months.”

Upon hearing this, Scott and the others curiously headed towards the stairs.

Dumbledore added, “Several hardworking house-elves are serving us in the Tower. Lunch will be in the Great Hall at 12:00. We expect to arrive in Beauxbatons in the afternoon and have dinner with them there.”

Scott followed everyone upstairs.

The tower space above the lobby still has several floors.

The second floor is a common lounge decorated in the color schemes of the four colleges, furnished with many sofas and tables.

The dormitories are located on the third floor and above, and these dormitories are connected by a spiral staircase in the center of the second floor.

In addition, there are men's and women's restrooms, bathrooms and other facilities.

There are many rooms, and more than twenty people cannot fill them all.

The group randomly assigned rooms, with Scott, Roger, and Fred sharing one room.

After everyone put down their luggage, they gathered in the common room on the second floor, except for Dumbledore, who was nowhere to be seen.

Roger chuckled and joked, "There are too many rooms here, there's no need for four people to share one. Oh, Fred, you should invite Angelina to share a room with me."

At that moment, Angelina and several girls were not far away.

The girls burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Angelina laughed and said, "Oh, as long as Fred dares to invite me..."

"How is it?" Fred asked.

Angelina laughed and said, "I'll smash your head in with a baseball bat!"

“Oh, I didn’t think that way. I’m not Roger,” Fred said.

"Hey!" Roger said, displeased.

Fred ignored him and looked at Angelina instead. "What if I just invited you to be my dance partner at the Christmas ball?"

"A dance partner?" Angelina nodded readily. "Of course."

"Oh!"

Those who overheard their conversation cheered and applauded.

Someone else said, "That's too cunning, Fred. There are still almost two months until the Christmas ball!"

Fred proudly raised his head. "You can invite them now."

Many boys were swayed by his words and began to scan the girls with their eyes.

Meanwhile, the girls were also sizing up the boys.

It felt as if some pink bubbles were floating in the air, and Scott felt as if he had accidentally stumbled into a mass blind date.

"Oh, I think you don't need to rush."

Roger sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, breaking the ambiguous atmosphere.

“It’s not just us who’ll be at the ball; Beauxbatons and Durmstrang have plenty of good boys and girls waiting for you to choose from.”

"Oh, Roger, that's your idea!"

"It seems you can't wait for a romance with exotic flair!"

Although most of the comments mocked Roger, the group stopped rushing to choose dance partners.

“These guys are really dishonest,” Roger said dismissively. “There are plenty of people who think the same way I do, but they just pretend to be.”

The crowd immediately booed him loudly.

The long flight at high altitude was a bit boring, and apart from lunchtime, Scott and his friends spent the time in the common lounge playing Wizard Chess.

As the clouds outside the window were painted in brilliant colors by the setting sun, Dumbledore's voice drifted downstairs.

"Everyone, put on your school uniform robes, it's time for us to land!"

Scott and his friends immediately sprang into action, returning to their dorms to tie their ties, change into neat and clean school uniform robes, and then gathered in the lobby.

Dumbledore was dressed in an exceptionally lavish manner.

A crisp, pointed wizard's hat, and a robe covered with bright star patterns.

Even his long white beard was neatly combed, with a pretty bow tied at the end with a pink ribbon.

“Oh, we lost to a hundred-year-old man in terms of appearance,” Fred muttered to Scott.

Scott said, "If you like dressing like that, I'll support you."

Dumbledore called out, “Students, get ready, we’re about to arrive at Beauxbatons School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”

As he spoke, the spire began to slowly pierce through the clouds.

The group gathered again in front of the windows.

From an aerial viewpoint, the breathtakingly magnificent estate of Beauxbatons School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, surrounded by vast lawns and stunning mountain scenery, comes into direct view.

Bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, the scenery of the Pyrenees is breathtaking.

The girls were already chattering amongst themselves.

"What a nice view!"

"This place is completely different from Hogwarts!"

"Oh, their castles and manors certainly look more magnificent."

The spire continued to descend.

Outside the window, the flag of Beauxbatons is flying.

The emblem on the flag is two golden, crossed wands, each with three stars emerging from it.

Upon closer inspection, the architectural style here is indeed completely different from Hogwarts.

Hogwarts Castle is filled with an ancient and mysterious atmosphere, and is more rugged.

The architecture of Beauxbatons is even more beautiful and magnificent; compared to the Magic Castle, it seems more like a glittering French palace complex.

With a rumbling sound, the spire landed on a lawn.

The gate slowly opened, and Dumbledore led the group out of the tower.

The students and faculty of Beauxbatons were waiting for them not far away.

Most of them wore flowing robes made of light blue silk, but the most eye-catching figure was undoubtedly a witch standing at the very front, with an incredibly tall stature.

From a distance, her height was almost identical to Hagrid's.

“Oh, that’s Mrs. Maxime, the headmistress of Beauxbatons,” said Dumbledore.

"Dear Dumbledore, welcome, welcome to your arrival."

Madame Maxim strode over, her black high heels peeking out from under her long robe looking as huge as sleds.

Upon closer inspection, this woman is much prettier and more delicate-looking than Hagrid.

Her face was olive-colored and very pretty. She had large, dark eyes that looked watery, a pointed nose, and her hair was combed back and tied into a shiny bun at the base of her neck.

Her attire was also very glamorous, on par with Dumbledore's—

A shimmering black satin robe wrapped from neck to toe, and her neck and large fingers were adorned with many exquisite opal jewelry pieces, the gems sparkling in the setting sun.

"Oh, dear Mrs. Maxim, it's been a long time. I hope you are doing well."

Dumbledore took her enormous hand in his and kissed it with almost no bending over.

Mrs. Maxim smiled demurely.

"Oh, Dumbledore, the Durmstrang School of Witchcraft and Wizardry delegation hasn't arrived yet, you and your students..."

She glanced at Scott and his group.