Flourish and Blotts//George Weasley

6 ~ Arrival at Hogwarts

Aurella shoved her hands into the pockets of her dress uniform, tilting her head back to look at the tall castle. A harsh chill was in the air and she could hear Kira's teeth chattering next to her. The dress uniforms were lovely and made of silk, but not at all designed for the chilly English autumn. Aurella wished for her cloak, but it was tucked deep inside her trunk inside the room that she would be sharing with Kira. 

The castle was magnificent from the outside, towering upwards into the dark sky. A few windows flickered in the distance, and through the night, Aurella could make out the flickering candles surrounding the entrance.

She was faintly aware of Madame Maxime and Henri speaking as the carriage was planted firmly settled in. 

"They are waiting inside for us," Madame Maxime spoke. "This is your last reminder to please be on your best behaviour. We are representing our entire school right now."

Aurella glanced at Kira. She had begun to rock back and forth, her hands tucked underneath her armpits. The Italian would be even less used to the cold than Aurella was. 

Madame Maxime led the way up the sloping hill to the castle. There wasn't much talking until they reached the entrance hall and were quickly ushered inside by a tiny wizard, wearing deep green robes. 

Aurella nudged Kira once as they were organized into neat lines, ready to walk inside. Henri was just in front of her, his hair gleaming underneath the teardrop hat. She knew from experience that it was soft. The familiarity of it was lovely. 

She swallowed once. Their dress uniforms required their hair to be tied back in low ponytails. She smoothed her skirts once, running her fingers over the powder blue silk skirt. The unfamiliar floor was made of ancient stone and her shoes clicked as they walked towards a massive door. 

They came to a stop outside the tall doors and Madame Maxime gave them all one last fierce glare. Aurella gave her a demure smile, but after Maxime turned Aurella made brief eye contact with Kira and they both had to duck away to keep from laughing. 

"Please welcome, the wonderful students of Beauxbatons."

Aurella heard the booming voice even before the doors swung open to display an old wizard at the end of a massive dining hall. There were four long tables, each crowded with around two hundred students, wearing long dark robes. Her palms began to sweat at their blank stares. She had never been so watched before. 

Madame Maxime walked towards the front of the hall, her long skirts swishing as she moved. Aurella quickly joined the pace of everyone else, walking in time with the other students as they approached the front of the hall. Everyone at the tables was watching. Aurella straightened her face as she walked, trying to avoid scanning the faces around her. She wasn't sure if she wanted to see anyone familiar.

They came to a stop near the front, and Madame Maxime walked up to greet the headmaster Dumbledore. Slowly, as their etiquette classes had taught, and with a flourish, the Beauxbatons' students sunk into bows and curtseys, Aurella among them. She held the posture until Madame Maxime looked back at them.

"You may be seated."

Aurella straightened up. Around them, the Hogwarts students were murmuring amongst themselves. She felt Kira sidle up next to her and link arms.

"Where do we sit?"

Aurella didn't respond immediately, scanning the room. Most of the other Beauxbatons students were in the same situation, even as the students slid apart on long benches. They were all peering curiously at them, and it made her feel unsettled, her nerves crawling beneath her skin. She had never wished for Beauxbatons more.