Beauxbatons [Charlie Weasley]

Friends

She hesitates before she turns the iron handle.

Stepping out of her chambers, Isabelle stops once again, just letting her eyes wander, taking in the stone floors, the stone walls, the thousands of portraits with moving eyes. Taking a deep breath, she closes the door to her chamber behind her, starting to head down to the Great Hall.

Whispers follow her the moment she leaves the plain wooden door behind. People queuing outside classrooms stand on tiptoe to get a good look at her, or double back to pass her in the corridors again, staring. She wishes they wouldn't, because finding her way around the castle is a hard enough feat in itself.

After several wrong turns, the oaken double doors of the Great Hall are a welcome sight.

"There you are, Miss Leblanc," a familiar brisk voice greets her as soon as she enters the magnificent Hall.

Isabelle's eyes flicker over to Professor McGonagall, walking towards her with a stack of books bundled up in her arms. The teacher looks exactly the same as she did the night before, wearing the same green robes, her hair pulled back into the same tight bun, and her face still plastered with the same strict expression.

"Here's your timetable," Professor McGonagall says, pulling out a piece of parchment from her pile of books.

"Zank you, professor," the young girl says softly as she takes it from her, her eyes scanning the times of her two classes.

"Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served within this hall, and you are more than welcome to take your meals anywhere within school to eat," the teacher continues briskly.

"Your Care of Magical Creatures class is located down near the Forbidden Forest with Professor Kettleburn, and your Herbology class is located down in the greenhouses, with Professor Sprout. If you need help with directions or have any questions, you may come to my office."

And just like that, Professor McGonagall turns on her heel and sweeps away.

Almost immediately, she's replaced by three figures, all clad in scarlet and gold, grinning from ear-to-ear. They seem to appear out of thin air in front of Isabelle, and her eyes widen slightly in surprise.

"Hi," the only girl in the group of three says, holding out her hand for Isabelle to shake.

Hesitantly, the French girl extends her porcelain arm, their hands clasping together.

"I'm Maisie. These idiots are Noah and Oliver."

The two boys behind her grin and step forward. The one with the dark hair and hazel eyes grasps her dainty hand with his own calloused one.

"Don't pay any attention to her," Noah says with a smirk. "She's the idiot out of the three of us."

Despite herself, Isabelle grins slightly. The dark-haired boy's grin widens, seemingly accomplished.

"You can call me Ollie," the second boy says, his grey-green eyes twinkling as he extends a hand of his own for the French girl to shake.

She does, smiling up at him, his hand soft and firm in hers.

"Nice to meet you," Ollie says, letting go of her dainty fingers, running his hand through his light brown hair, a grin plastered on his face.

"Nice to meet you, too," Isabelle says softly in her thick accent, causing both boys to catch each other's eye and smirk.

"Oh, shut up, both of you," Maisie rolls her eyes, the two boys sniggering.

She comes forwards and wraps an arm casually around the French girl's shoulders, walking with her further into the Great Hall. The boys run a step or two to catch up, flanking both girls on either side.