No Other Place

[Bernard Garcia]

Time, his personality and his body were the only things that had changed since his first year in Beauxbatons. Six years ago, here he was standing as a first year, lost and confused. Uncertain where to go or what was going to happen to him, so far away from home. Yet here he was today standing in the same hallways as he had been six years ago. These exact same walls that had not too long ago been intimidating now brought him comfort. This place had grown to become his home, his refuge from life back in Bordeaux. He never could have imagined that a school would become a better place than his own proper family home but life had shown that some things were unpredictable and uncontrollable.

The day had begun so well, his wake up had been anything but peaceful and enjoyable. The sun was out early and no clouds seemed to be in the sky. Air was fresh, a small wind breeze from the north made the temperature rather cool. Bernard had gone outside for a few minutes but was now in the school walking through the hallways. He stopped walking at every young student he encountered that seemed lost and confused, giving directions whenever they wanted and helping them to find themselves in the school. Doing the same service that had been made to him in his first year. Bernard hadn’t gotten used to the school and hadn’t found his way through it by himself, a girl; a second year had helped him back then. He could never forget the name or the face of the girl that had brought him a sense of security and belonging in his first few weeks. Amelia had made his experience at Beauxbatons a memorable one and had started him off the right foot, something that had been so precious and was precious for these new students coming in for the beginning of the school year.

As he walked down the hallways helping the new students, his eyes landed on a person who definitely didn’t need any help but who he was enjoyed having a chat with. Down the hallway a few meters away from him stood Amelia, the one who had made Beauxbatons first week one to remember. He owed her so much, she had replaced his older sister while his days at Beauxbatons and he always enjoyed having a conversation with her. Bernard finished giving explanations to a first year before catching up to Amelia. “You still being so useful to the young students like you were to me?” His voice filled with joy and happiness as he smiled towards Amelia.

 

[Amelia Johnson]

Since the start of the term at Beauxbatons, Amy had discovered what it really meant to work hard. She had been having work piled on by professors, extra studies to revise for, the quidditch team to practise for and the efforts of being head girl as well. Not to get her wrong, for when she had been appointed, there had been no other feeling but pure joy. Her veela part had shone out for weeks now, and she hadn't gotten too much pressure from it. Sure, there were the younger first years who found it necessary to come and ask her every question that could even occur to them, no matter how stupid it was, and then there were the boys who thought that now she was head girl, that she was even more pretty, but being used to these things anyway, the world seemed pretty much the same. The work had gotten harder yes, and having hardly worked at all in her sixth year from lack of professors giving any out and being far ahead the rest of her group, she found her NEWTs coming as a small shock. There were things to look forward to though, and more exciting events that she found herself full of. The quidditch team was improving, and she was grateful to be able to stay out of the way of it all, and have a break. Life was generally going good for the young veela. Jack had recently been appointed a job in New Zealand, and it felt strange to not see him every few weeks and days, but still, it was all going well.

Wandering down the corridor, her wand in her hand, she smiled patiently at some first years who found it necessary to take up all the walking space in the corridor. There was one young one in the middle, surrounded by many friends and them all drinking up her every word. Remembering the days when that was her, she began to try and think what had happened to her friends who acted more like followers. She still saw them, but they had mostly paired off and decided to continue life in other fashions. Finding this rather distasteful in the way that they carried themselves around the school infront of younger students, Amy had not drifted, but taken an amused backseat role. A couple of her group still presumed she was 'innocent' to put it gently, but aware that they were very wrong in this, Amy didn't want to interrupt their fun. She had been through the stage where they were heading now, and finding them a little behind her in maturity, Amy had focussed herself on her studies completely and fully so to find every little piece of effort that would help her carry on with her dream for later in life. The only problem was - she wasn't quite sure what this was yet. Was it to be a healer? Or was it to be a professor? Or a professional quidditch player? Completely in the dark as to where her future was going to take her, Amy sighed to herself and squeezed past the younger ones.

Her thoughts distracting themselves as she walked, she closed her eyes momentarily before finding herself being spoken to. Opening her eyes suddenly and turning to hear the talker, she smiled widely. The veela charm which she had inherited from her grandmother shone out through her delicate face, and giving the boy a big hug, she tilted her head to the side. "Wow, that was forever ago! How are you Bernard?? Its been ages since i spoke to you!" She warmly greeted, her tone only full of friendliness and amazement at seeing him here. He had obviously caught up to talk to her, seeing the pace she had been wandering at, so indicating to an empty classroom, she wandered in, flicked her wand and sat on a desk flying towards her. It landed smoothly, and placing her feet on the seat that accompanied it, she smiled, leaned her head on her arm and waited for him to talk.