That afternoon, Nicolas and his wife changed into formal clothes early.
They had both been students at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and to this day, they remained the academy's biggest benefactors and most distinguished alumni.
So ever since Nicolas and his wife had begun supporting the school over five hundred years ago, every year at the end of July, the current headmistress had brought along the students she considered the most outstanding to pay them a visit.
After all, in the Wizarding World, seven was considered the most magical number.
Dumbledore and Harley weren't visiting anyone else, either. Madame Maxime, headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, was already on Dumbledore's list of people to visit.
Before long, it was three o'clock. The house-elf Derby led Madame Maxime into the drawing room right on time.
Madame Maxime had a handsome olive complexion, large, dark, sparkling eyes, and a very pointed nose.
Her hair was pulled back, and she wore a dress set with numerous gemstones. Expensive opals glittered around her neck and on her thick fingers.
But Harley didn't think the gemstones and opals were there just for show. They all gave off powerful magical auras.
Anyone who underestimated those gemstones and opals would surely meet a gruesome end and be buried without ceremony.
Assuming they had a body—or ashes—left behind.
What made Madame Maxime most memorable, though, was her height. She was about as big as Hagrid.
Hagrid would surely regret never having met Madame Maxime.
Beside Madame Maxime stood a girl in a silver robe.
Her delicate features drew the eye, but her waist-length silver hair and luminous green eyes were even more striking.
To a true master of magic, however, the most unusual thing about the girl was a strange kind of charm.
That intangible charm was nearly