A Door That Will Never Close
"You again…" said Benoît as soon as he stepped into the discipline committee room, his tone heavy with exhaustion and irritation.
Harry, Draco, and Hermione were seated, trying to look calm. In truth, the scene felt more like a break between classes than a punishment. And, of course, the Weasley twins were there too, having arrived earlier than everyone else. Carefree as ever, they had already pulled out a deck of cards and convinced the others to join in. So, when Benoît crossed the threshold, the first thing he saw was the whole group playing together as if they were simply friends gathered in a common room. The beginnings of a headache pulsed in his temples almost immediately.
"Just bring the others in with them," he ordered dryly, not even stepping fully into the room, his gaze flicking toward the hallway.
A committee student obeyed and opened the door to let in the newest offenders.
First came Luna, her serene gaze wandering curiously over every corner of the room, as if she were visiting a museum rather than stepping into a disciplinary hearing. Behind her entered Astoria, her smile bright and eager; upon recognizing the others, she hurried excitedly toward the group with the ease of someone who felt welcome anywhere. Finally, Ginny crossed the threshold on hesitant steps. A blush crept up her face as her eyes met the mocking stares of her brothers, who were watching her with malicious smiles, like predators savoring their prey. She froze for a brief second, lowered her head in embarrassment, and then walked in silence to join her partners in crime.
The three of them carried an unmistakable fragrance of fresh flowers. Rose petals clung to their hair, to the folds of their robes, even stuffed into their pockets, as if they had been swimming in an enchanted sea of blossoms. And in a way, that was exactly what had happened. Not a lake, but the castle's most famous fountain, which now overflowed with petals drifting in its waters.
The idea, of course, had been Luna's. Astoria had followed her with delight, like someone diving headlong into a magical adventure without a second thought. Ginny, on the other hand, had tried to dissuade them, but ended up dragged along by both of them, held by the arms and plunged into the petals while protesting in vain.
The committee student escorting them took pity and cast a quick drying spell, but the floral disaster persisted: petals were everywhere, stuck to their clothes as if they were wearing some peculiar uniform.
"Well, what do we have here… our sweet little sister, who sometimes tries to play the voice of reason." Fred crossed his arms and shook his head with mock disappointment.
George, beside him, mirrored the gesture and added a slow, sarcastic clap.
"Mom will be so disappointed."
"Shut up!" snapped Ginny furiously, before dropping herself into a seat in a far corner. She folded her arms, scowled, and sank back into the chair as if trying to disappear.
Meanwhile, Luna and Astoria, utterly unbothered, joined the others and within seconds had cards in their hands, already happily participating in the interrupted game.
Daphne, intrigued by the fragrance lingering in the air, leaned toward her sister, grabbed a lock of her hair, and sniffed it lightly.
"Hey, it smells nice," she remarked with a playful smile.
Luna nodded solemnly, convinced her idea had been brilliant and perfectly executed, even if they were now sitting in the committee room on the verge of punishment.
"I've called the headmistress. I hope you're ready." Benoît spoke firmly, though the cruel satisfaction in his expression was evident. "What you've done could have put the students in danger. It's a serious breach of the rules—expulsion could even be discussed. And even if you're not officially from this school, it will go on your records. Don't forget, when you try to find jobs in the future, your background will matter."
His eyes then fixed on Fred and George, his smile sharpening further.
"And as for you two… the complaints about your underground business are endless. Dangerous items, pranks that disrupt the peace and nobility of Beauxbatons… it ends here. I'll take this chance to present everything to the headmistress and make sure you're gone from my sight for good."
He lifted a basket overflowing with confiscated goods: suspicious candies, enchanted quills, fireworks, and other trinkets that practically radiated chaos. In anyone else's hands they might have been mere curiosities; in the twins', they were dynamite in disguise.
Finally, he pointed an accusing finger at Luna, Astoria, and Ginny.
"And as for you three: vandalism. You desecrated the Fountain of Fortune, donated by none other than Nicolas Flamel. Don't expect leniency just because you're first-years."
His face tightened with a mix of fury and satisfaction. He had all of Hogwarts' greatest troublemakers gathered in one place, and this time he was certain they wouldn't escape the consequences.
"Maybe the nargles were stealing your objects," Luna offered casually, as if Benoît's outrage were simply the fault of unseen creatures.
A ripple of stifled laughter spread through the room.
Benoît shot them a murderous glare and stormed out, his steps stiff, determined to wait for the headmistress.
…
"What is that smell?" asked Nicolas as he walked alongside the headmistress and Wanda, his brow furrowed with curiosity. A soft, fresh fragrance of flowers seemed to drift through the corridors, wrapping around them like an enchanted breeze.
He didn't need an answer. The moment they stepped into the garden, the scene revealed itself. The main fountain was covered with rose petals floating across the surface, rising with each jet of water, then falling slowly like crimson rain. Some petals spiraled upward, held aloft by the magic of the water, while the air filled with rosy glimmers that gave the place a dreamlike quality, like a living painting.
Wanda paused to take in the sight. In one corner, she noticed the discarded remains of stems and flowers, stripped of their petals and left in a pile after some clearly improvised work. Her gaze returned to the fountain, and she immediately knew who was responsible. That very morning, Professor Dominic had sent her a massive bouquet, and when the girls had seen it, Luna had suggested that if it was going to be thrown away, why not give it to them instead? Wanda remembered that moment and needed no further thought to connect the dots.
"Oh, that was a good idea, I hadn't thought of it," Nicolas remarked, breathing in the fragrance deeply. He nodded in approval, though a slight frown followed. "The school smells wonderful… but it will become a problem if the petals start to rot or make a mess."
"That's easy to fix," Wanda replied. She raised her hand and pointed toward the fountain. A crimson glow spread over it for an instant, and the magic unfolded smoothly.
The petals scattered across the ground began to vanish, instantly reappearing within the fountain. Any that touched the floor disappeared at once, returning to the cycle of the water. Wanda had created a perpetual movement: the petals swirled, rose, fell again, and were caught once more, never wilting thanks to the enchantment she had just cast.
"Oh, that's wonderful," Nicolas exclaimed with a satisfied smile. "Perhaps we could change the petals with the seasons, a different flower for each one. The garden would be even more splendid."
Madame Maxime's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Only then did she truly understand what had happened to the fountain, but she forced herself to breathe calmly when she noticed Flamel's positive reaction. She even let out a silent sigh of relief, grateful that the incident seemed to please him.
"Don't worry, Monsieur Flamel. I will take care of it personally. The garden will be even more beautiful. In fact, whoever came up with this clearly has a remarkable aesthetic sense," the headmistress said quickly, offering a conciliatory smile.
"Indeed. And if funding for the improvements is needed, you can tell me," Nicolas responded naturally, as the three continued on, he leading the way with an enthusiastic stride.
Wanda walked beside him calmly. Outwardly serene, but inside, her chest swelled with pride.
"Ah… I'm excited to see what those little demons have created," Nicolas went on, now speaking lower, almost as if confiding a secret to Wanda. "If it's as they described, it could shake the magical market to its very foundations. It has so many applications… and they haven't even realized it. To them, it's just an advance for their golems. But this…"
He broke off for a moment, his eyes sparkling with emotion.
"Even Hogwarts' Sorting Hat would become obsolete with something like this. And even if it were only applied to the golems, it could still be used in countless areas. Yes, it's a gray area that will attract some unwanted attention, but that's our role: to manage and guide it. They have nearly created a new form of magical life. With the help of a skilled Occlumens, those golems could even receive memories… until they became thinking beings. Laborers, assistants, even a perfect copy of yourself."
He smiled with genuine excitement.
"Of course, we'll need to make sure it isn't misused. But this could spark a true revolution in production. It is, essentially, the first step toward a magical industrial revolution."
Madame Maxime regarded him with faint bewilderment. She didn't seem to fully grasp the scope of what Flamel was describing, though the word "revolution" clearly left her thoughtful.
Wanda, however, understood perfectly. The children had shown her parts of their files, drafts, and plans. She knew that today they intended to complete it.
For her—someone who had lived in a world far more advanced in magic and technology—this was no impossible leap… but it was an immense source of pride. Her son and her nephews were creating something unique. What parent wouldn't feel proud?
She remembered the last meeting with the other parents through the mirror. They had all shouted with excitement upon hearing the news, some already beginning to plan companies, strategies, and safeguards to ensure the children would be protected if they decided to make it public.
This wasn't just a school prank or an improvised project. It was a step forward in the history of magic. And though others might not yet understand it, Wanda did: those young geniuses had just opened a door that would never again be closed.