Chapter 6

It was finally the day that Arturo would be attending Beauxbaton, a school where he would no longer be allowed to speak Italian and would instead be required to speak French. Beauxbaton's official language is French, with the school is located in France. The school is quite strict, with attendants speaking French both in and out of class, so Arturo knew he had to be cautious.

"Take this with you and keep it safe for the future," Alessandro said to his brother, standing there in his nightgown and bare feet- his grandfather had already reprimanded him for it, just as their nanny had for not getting dressed for the day, but he didn't see the point if he was going to stay home all day.

While he was dressed in this manner, his brother Arturo was dressed neatly in formal wear with his trench coat on, protecting him from the cold.

Arturo looked oddly at the grey folder his brother was handing him, but he took it anyway. He raised his eyes to his brother and inquired, "What is it?"

Alessandro raised an eyebrow, exclaiming, "It's my will, of course!" as if it was obvious what it was.

Arturo remained silent; he wasn't sure why he was bothering with his brother at this point.

Alessandro noticed the confusion on his brother's face and spoke, "You're leaving for school now, which means I'll be left to deal with grandfather, and there's no guarantee on my part that I'll shut up, so you might end up coming back to me dead, so I thought I'd give you my will to go by." Alessandro elaborated.

Arturo groaned at the explanation.

"Of course, you did, what have you written in here?" He opened the folder to find a piece of paper with only five lines on it, which he began to read.

"My favourite mirror will be going to my dearest brother Arturo Gennaro Carandini- I don't want your stupid mirror, if you're planning on dying give me something good." He drawled out after reading the first line.

Alessandro gasped as he held his chest, feigning pain, "It hurts right here you know." He responded pointing to his heart. "I worked really hard on it too." He added.

"I don't care, I'm just glad to be away from you- the only thing I'll miss will be speaking Italian."

"You're so rude, I'm glad you're going" Alessandro spoke again as he spun around facing away from his brother.

"I have Lina to keep me entertained, as well as the possible business meetings grandfather will drag me to." He went on.

"Right, I'm going to go now, I can't make grandfather wait any longer." Arturo responded as he began to walk towards the fireplace, taking a handful of the floo powder.

He was leaving, Alessandro observed. Arturo was just about to throw the powder but stopped at his brother's voice.

"Wait! Will you-"

Arturo cut him off with a smile, "Yes I'll answer your owls when I have the chance."

With that said he, threw it.

--

It didn't take long for him to reach France, seeing as once he met up with his grandfather who had left him at home, they used a portkey. Although they had yet to arrive at the destination which would have him be taken to the school, instead they were in a restaurant.

He had been excited to enter a new chapter of his life, one where he wouldn't have to always be the perfect heir but just him. He wanted to make friends, not just allies- he wanted freedom, that freedom being away from his grandfather.

He felt slightly sorry for his brother—or, more accurately, he felt little sympathy for his brother because, since his presence would be missing from the manor. His brother will receive all of the attention.

As he glanced up from the food, he was eating he looked around his surrounding area. The restaurant was as opulent as the ones they frequented in Italy, but it was clearly different seeing as it was French.

The fragrances, the easy and natural colours made it a much relaxing experience with his grandfather sat in front of him.

As they had entered the immediately knew who they were attending to as they saw his grandfather. They were led to a separate seating area, away from the rest of the customers who had arrived in the very restaurant for a nice meal.

His grandfather never liked eating among strangers, but as long as he knew them, he didn't mind being in their company.

"Arturo."

Arturo snapped back into reality as he returned his gaze to his grandfather's stoked expression and composed himself.

"Yes, grandfather?" He gave a neutral response. Trying hard to copy the expression his grandfather himself had on his face.

"It's been exactly a month since your birthday, and you have yet to ask me for anything."

His grandfather was right; it had been a month since his birthday. It was now September 1st; his birthday had been August 1st. His grandfather had asked him what he wanted for his birthday; he hadn't expected the question, especially from his grandfather. Even his brother had not asked him what he wanted; instead of bothering to buy him something, the boy had bought himself the latest broom, with the money he was allowed to spend that money… it was a very expensive broom, the boy had not stopped gloating.

After being put on the spot, he wasn't sure what he wanted. He didn't want to ask for something mundane, but there was nothing he could think of that he couldn't buy himself or have Merith get for him.

He had just told his grandfather a month before that he wasn't sure and needed time to think. A month was enough time to think, but he was still unsure.

"I don't want anything," he finally replied respectfully.

His grandfather said nothing as he took a sip from his wine glass.

As he dropped the wine, he reached for his pocket, which Arturo observed with interest.

The old man took out a box- a box for a ring? Arturo deduced. The small box was a red blood colour, the colour made from velvet. The colour made it clear what was in it, but could it really be? He wasn't certain.

He was astonished as he saw the top of the ring box. It was the crest of the Carandini family- so his guess was right. With the box being a red blood colour, he had assumed what it could be since the colour was part of the family crest.

His grandfather extended the object towards him to take, which he did. He held the small box in his hands before looking up to meet his grandfather's gaze—the man had a small smile on his face. Arturo had no idea what to make of this 'smile.' He couldn't recall the last time he'd seen the man smile.

"Open it" His grandfather spoke up.

Opening he was faced with silver, a silver ring. It was the futurum pueri, the heir ring of the house of Carandini. Never in his life would he have imagined he would set his eyes on it let alone be given it. It had the crest engraved on it, sized perfectly for it.

It was a very simple ring, much different to the one that the Lord of the house would wear.

It looked small.

It was common for heirs to wear their house ring, yet for the house of Carandini it wasn't. He was pretty sure the last heir to have worn this ring he now had in his possession was at least four generations ago.

For a Carandini heir to have been given the heir ring it meant a lot, not for others but for the Carandini's.

"A late birthday present. You've earned the right to wear it on your hand, it's yours now. I may not say it out loud but, I really am proud of you Arturo- but this doesn't mean I will not be expecting much from you, I expect you to be the top of every class you will be taking."

He proudly put on the ring. Years before, the ring had been magically charmed to perfectly fit whoever wore it. If the person wearing it did not have Carandini blood, it would increase in temperature, tightening its grip on the imposter's finger and eventually burning their flesh to nothing.

"Of course, grandfather" he answered nonchalantly as he stared at his hand.

--

Finally, after a few hours, they reached the destination.

He couldn't wait, one more step closer to Beauxbaton. He couldn't contain his excitement with how a smile appeared on his face.

He was faced with at least ten carriages, all forming a line. Each carriage was led by two or more Abraxans, he had seen an Abraxan before. They were beautiful, winged horses, large in size. They had white hair, their wings were as white, while the body of the horses before him were Palomino.

The carriages to which they were attached were all light blue in colour, similar to the uniform he will have to wear for the next seven years.

He will now attend Beauxbaton, a school where his family has attended for centuries. He will be either be classified as Bellefeuille, Papillonlisse, or Ombrelune. He had no idea which house he could be assigned to. He knew his father and grandfather had been sorted into Ombrelune, but he didn't think he would be.

Each house was unique, with many different types of people residing within it. He'd done his research on each house, but he still couldn't figure out which one he'd end up in.

The Bellefeuille house is known for bravery, sensitivity, loyalty and lover of nature. The house colour id green and the house is symbolised by five leaves.

A house with a love of nature—a house that is caring and sensitive to the needs of those around them. The students are hard workers who may be particularly book smart. They were well-known for their realism.

The house of Papillonlisse is a house known for kindness, artistic ability, maturity and idealistically. The house colour is purple, and the house is symbolised by a butterfly alighting on a leaf.

They are thoughtful of those around them, as well as kind and gentle. Some of these students have a vibrant personality, while others are extremely sociable. Those who have been assigned to this house are a rather unpredictable bunch. They are admired for their sophistication and unexpected maturity. Most of these student's value mental and physical beauty above all else, and they are constantly striving to improve natural qualities of life.

He remembered being told that Papillonlisse students were hopeless romantics who could daydream all day if left alone- They were blind to how things worked in the world because of how emotional they could be. He didn't know what to make of it.

Finally, the Ombrelune house, which is quite different from the Papillonilisse and Bellefeuille houses. This house is known for its cunning, logic, ambition, and curiosity. The house colour is grey, and the house symbol is a sinister looking moon.

They are calm and calculated students who dislike irrationality and value people who make well-thought-out and logical decisions. Some students in this house can be cold, rarely expressing emotion openly unless there is a direct benefit to doing so. They are the most ambitious of all the houses. They are intelligent, logical, and well-structured. They strive for acceptance and perfection more than anyone else.

He was able to learn about each house by simply asking students and former students. He even asked his grandfather for his opinion on each house, and he also read Beauxbaton's History book.

Now all he had to do was wait until he shot a silver arrow across a room and wait for it to either burst into sparks of blue, purple or green. The arrow will be the one choosing his house based on his personality, character and demeanour.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, it was his grandfather.

"Make the most of your time there because it will be over before you know it." That's all his grandfather said before dropping his hand and apparated, leaving his eldest grandchild in the large green field.

He turned his gaze onwards towards the carriages that were now being entered by other students both firsts' years and the other years.

His luggage had already been taken away, all there was… was for him to bring himself forward towards the carriages.