“Oh, my dear Lorin, no matter what happens, Beauxbatons will always be your home!”
“Don’t worry, Madame Maxime.
It’s just a normal graduation, not a permanent farewell…”
Lorin’s face was pale as Madame Maxime embraced him tightly, releasing him only when he was on the verge of suffocating.
*I swear, I am never letting a giant get emotional on me again!*
“Take care on the road, Lorin!”
Madame Maxime pressed a bottle of crimson potion into Lorin’s hand, her lustrous black eyes brimming with tears.
“Goodbye, Madame Maxime!”
Lorin’s eyes grew slightly red as well.
He couldn’t help looking once more at Madame Maxime’s tearful yet smiling face.
As a pureblood giant, Madame Maxime was undeniably towering.
Yet every gesture she made radiated an elegance from deep within, making every moment in her presence feel like a warm spring breeze.
“Go on, child.
Don’t keep Fleur waiting.”
Madame Maxime offered a gentle smile, looking at Lorin with motherly warmth.
“You will always be the pride of Beauxbatons!”
…
Late June, France, Beauxbatons.
As one of the three major magical schools in Europe, Beauxbatons might not possess Hogwarts’s deep historical foundations, nor Durmstrang’s mastery in combat.
But the architecture of Beauxbatons was unquestionably the most magnificent!
Gorgeous crystal decorations, a Versailles-style castle, solemn and imposing knight statues…
Amidst the luxury lay no frivolity, but rather the solemn weight of history, imparting an aristocratic charm to Beauxbatons.
At the same time, the students of Beauxbatons were the most elegant.
Whether in daily life or in combat, they exhibited the poise expected of French nobility.
Right now, however, Lorin stood at the entrance of Beauxbatons Castle, hesitating to step outside.
His right hand instinctively reached for the silver-white ring on his left ring finger, the muscles in his pale face twitching slightly.
After a moment of hesitation, his right hand ultimately failed to pull the ring off.
His thoughts drifted back over the seven years since he arrived in this world.
The original owner of this body had been the only son of the Montmorency family—one of the oldest noble houses in France, with a lineage traceable back to the Carolingian era!
Yet after coming across an ancient, dark red book, he was instantly drained of his blood and essence, dying on the spot.
Lorin transmigrated into his body right after.
For all these years, that dark red book remained beside Lorin, draining his blood.
Lorin had hidden nothing.
As soon as he transmigrated, he told his parents directly!
As ancient French nobility, they possessed substantial resources.
Thus, relying on an endless supply of blood infusions, Lorin managed to survive.
But this was no permanent solution.
A month later, Lorin received his acceptance letter from Beauxbatons.
Showing no surprise, his parents calmly packed his bags and prepared him to adapt to life at a magical school…
What followed was seven years of study at Beauxbatons.
Except for summer holidays and Christmas, Lorin had never returned home.
Though his body was weak, Lorin possessed a terrifying talent for magic!
From his third year onward, for four consecutive years, Lorin swept the three major trophies of Beauxbatons: the Etiquette Cup, the Dueling Cup, and the War Cup!
Whether in ceremonial duels, unrestricted duels, or team melees, Lorin was the undisputed number one!
During a ceremonial dueling competition in his fifth year, Lorin met Fleur.
Yes, Fleur Delacour—the half-Veela.
After a year of subtle, intimate romance while tutoring her, Lorin and Fleur both finally couldn’t help breaking through the boundaries of friendship during his sixth year, becoming lovers.
Lorin hadn’t wanted to conceal his condition from Fleur and confessed everything honestly.
Fleur didn’t mind in the slightest, remaining sweetly devoted to him.
Until last night.
Fleur told Lorin to meet her in the redwood forest outside Beauxbatons Castle after graduation.
He had said goodbye to Madame Maxime and to the friends he had known for seven years.
Yet Lorin still didn’t know how to face Fleur.
Taking a deep breath, Lorin inspected his attire once more.
White-gold embroidered robes, a family crest glowing with a subtle white-gold sheen.
His pure white long hair was meticulously groomed and tied behind his head.
Holding his head slightly high, Lorin took a step forward, crossing out of Beauxbatons Castle.
Before his eyes was a picturesque redwood forest.
The Provençal summer cast a golden radiance over the trees, and…
“Lorin, darling!”
A passionate French girl.
Fleur Delacour threw herself into Lorin’s arms like a passionate, intellectual Gaulish sprite.
“Beautiful Miss Delacour, you are as enchanting as ever.”
Lorin froze with his hands in midair, not daring to wrap them around Fleur.
“What’s wrong?
You used to hold me tighter than my robes!”
Fleur raised her tear-rimmed face.
The beauty of a Veela was truly irresistible.
“I don’t have much time left, Miss Delacour.” Lorin intentionally used a distant tone, though his voice choked up slightly.
“Promise me you’ll study hard at Beauxbatons.”
“You talk too much, Lorin—you’re as nagging as my father.”
Fleur pulled on Lorin’s collar while pressing her luscious red lips against his.
Sunlight filtered through the clouds, redwoods reflecting in the lake.
The beautiful scene lasted who knew how long, until Fleur separated from Lorin’s lips, leaving a glittering, delicate thread between them.
“In case you run short, take these.”
Tears spilled continuously from the corners of Fleur’s eyes, yet a brilliant smile remained on her lips as she pressed a heavy pouch into Lorin’s hand.
“Don’t you dare take off that ring!
When you go to Hogwarts, don’t forget you still have a fiancée waiting at Beauxbatons!”
The heavy hem of her dress brushed against Lorin’s trousers one last time before Fleur turned away and ran back to the castle without looking back.
Lorin gently touched his lips and looked at the crimson smudge on his fingers.
A warm smile appeared on his face.
“I’ll find a way to survive.”
“Goodbye, Fleur…”
Shaking his slightly muddled head, Lorin strode forward with his long legs and stepped through the gates of Beauxbatons.
Then—
Disapparate.
…
France, Montmorency Family.
Just as Lorin appeared and composed his emotions, a grayish-white owl flapped its wings and landed softly on his shoulder.
Everything was timed so perfectly.
Looking at the owl, Lorin’s knuckles stiffened slightly, and his palms sweated just a bit.
His throat bobbed as he gently untied the letter from the owl’s leg.
A letter from Hogwarts!
Opening the parchment, Lorin’s full name and detailed address immediately met his eyes:
Along the English Channel, Fifth French Republic, Paris, 7th Arrondissement, Quai d’Orsay, The Montmorency Estate, At the Main Entrance, To Mr.
Lorin de Montmorency.
Flipping the parchment over revealed the main text inside.
Prominently displayed was the familiar Hogwarts crest.
Dear Mr.
Lorin de Montmorency,
We are pleased to inform you that your application for the position of Hogwarts Castle Caretaker has been accepted by Professor Dumbledore.
Please present yourself at Hogwarts at ten o’clock on July twentieth for an interview.
The interview will be conducted jointly by Professor Snape, Professor Dumbledore, and Caretaker Filch.
We await your response no later than July fifteenth.
You may send your reply with this owl.
Additionally, you may choose to Disapparate to the gates of Hogwarts or Hogsmeade Village, or travel via Floo powder into the school, where an escort will guide you.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress.
A smile appeared on Lorin’s face as he gently touched the silver-white engagement ring on his left hand.
A white-gold quill materialized in his hand in an instant.
After swiftly writing a letter accepting the interview, Lorin tied it to the owl’s leg and watched as the bird spread its wings and took flight.