As the last of the Gryffindor students disembarked, the crowd of Beauxbatons girls gave one giant, unified curtsey. Beauxbatons students were, of course, well-known for their respect, politeness, and most importantly of all, their prolific curtseying.

As Alice stood back up, she couldn’t help but wonder about that contraption the guests had arrived in. She had heard of automobiles, of course – Muggle ingenuity amazed her sometimes – but this thing was the size of several automobiles combined. What did they call it? A bus? Something like that.

At that moment, the crowd started giggling. The bus had spit out all of their luggage, and started to sputter away. The Hogwarts headmaster began to chase it, although the aging man was no contest. “Ah, les etudiants magnificents du Hogwarts, toujours avec une grande entrée![sup]1[/sup]” Alice laughed, earning her another roar of giggling from the crowd.

If the bus’ actions were a sign of what was to come, then [i]clearly[/i] this was going to be an entertaining year at Beauxbatons.

Alice looked up, realizing then that the Durmstrang ship was docked, and its passengers beginning to disembark. “Mesdames!” she spoke sharply, immediately bringing the giggling crowd to attention. “Nous avons plus les invités.[sup]2[/sup]” The group turned to the disembarking Durmstrang students, and gave another curtsey when they bowed. Durmstrang students were much more, well, [i]respectful[/i] than their Hogwarts counterparts, which any good Beauxbatons lady could appreciate.

“Très bon, plus respectueux que les etudiants d'Hogwarts.[sup]3[/sup]” The Beauxbatons students nodded to each other, breaking into small conversations, before being silenced again by Alice. She was quickly showing that her classmates respected her. Or perhaps they were just drawn in by her Veela charm? Regardless, she stepped forward, addressing the foreigners.

“Welcome to zee Beauxbâtons Academy uv Majic,” she greeted, with broken English and a [i]heavy[/i] French accent. “Make yourzelvez at home.” She turned to the Hogwarts party. “Az for yew, perhahps yew could take zee Durmstrang ztudentz az an exhample uv proper behavior?” This remark earned her a smack from the Headmistress. “Desolé, Madame Belgard,[sup]4[/sup]” she quickly apologized, before leading the girls in another curtsey. They turned, and walked back through the front entrance, leading their guests in.

[h2][/h2]
1.“Oh, the magnificent students of Hogwarts, always with a grand entrance!”
2. “Ladies! We have more guests.”
3. "Very good, more respectful than the students of Hogwarts."
4. “Sorry, Madam Belgard.”