A Birth day

Ruby sat and listened to the girls and madam maxime talking she looked to Angus then back to the girls when an exam was mentioned she nodded as Angus said they could do it " we have faith in you and s Angus already said , we only expect you to do as good as you can." she said softly to them as she smiled to them both as Perle took the girls to a classroom for their assessment exam.

Ruby reatched out and took hold of Angus hand in her own smiling knowing they would do their best and they could teach them from home if they didn't get in but she had all the faith in the world that they were both bright intelegent young women but she still could not help feel nervouse " I don't know whose more nervouse , me or the girls" she whispered to him."

Perle escorted the girls out, and Madame Maxime asked Professor Bastien to take Angus and Ruby on a tour of the school while the girls took assessment tests.

"I'm not worried," Angus told her softly. "I don't think this is about passing or failing. I think this is more about her wanting to see what classes they do well in and if they truly can answer fourth year questions. I think they probably are pretty much already going to be accepted or she wouldn't be doing an assessment test.

"It would be my pleasure," Professor Bastien smiled. "If you would come with me, I think you will find there is a good deal about the castle and the grounds to like."

"I'm sure we will," Angus said. Marcus rose too, and they went with Bastien. The castle was, of course, done in all sorts of French style and elegance. It reminded Angus far more of a fairy tale castle than Hogwarts did. Beauxbatons had far more brocades and lead crystal and elaborate furniture and tapestries than Hogwarts did. In Angus's opinion, Hogwarts looked much more like the country cousin to Beauxbaton's refinement and elegance. If it weren't for the fact that Evie and Faith had a good home school arrangement going, Angus more than likely would not have considered Beauxbatons for the girls. He didn't care, personally, if the girls had a formal school education at all, but Evan was probably right that it would potentially open doors for them in the future. For now, he listened as Bastien talked about the school, its history, and his reassurances that the girls would have the option of taking dance classes, and participating in all sorts of fun activities with the rest of the students when they were accepted.

Ruby smiled to Angus and relaxed again " your right" she said as they walked . As they were shown around the school she was amazed by how opulent it was all the gold and fancy furniture that she'd only seen in her mother and fathers house before, now sat in front of her looking brand new and sparkaling in the light that shon threw the stained glass all around them. She kept hold of Angus's hand so she would not get lost in the miriade of corridors and rooms she had seen.

She chuckled as he spoke of the classes the girls would take knowing the girls would love all of them and make new freinds.

The gardens were green and full and lush, meticulously tended, and, even this late into the fall, were covered in abundant blooms. Angus could imagine some sort of royal princess here, and not someplace where modern students walked--until he saw some Beauxbatons' students, both male and female, walking the grounds or seated on the grass, studying quietly. It was peaceful here, almost too quiet.

"Are they always this quiet?" Angus asked.

"Oh, no, not by any means," Bastien laughed. "This is a quiet study hour. They can be outside or in our great hall studying, but wherever they are, they are to use a library volume, so as to not disturb anyone else studying. It allows them to catch up a little on their assignments before lunch. Their classes are somewhat condensed, timewise, but they have a good deal of homework. They have three study hours a day. One before lunch, one before the evening meal, and one more hour afterwards. That generally suffices and allows them some leisure time. One of the things we try to teach them is the importance of balance. Sometimes they have poetry readings, or oral interpretation performances or dances, or concerts. Some prefer games like chess, backgammon, cards. And some prefer sports. We have a large number of activities and events. And the girls, of course, would be welcome to attend, just as Evie and Faith sometimes do."

"Do you have any others with lycanthropy here?" Angus asked.

"Not at the moment, but that does not mean they are not welcome. We had three graduate this past spring, and I am told that we have one transfering in from Durmstrang and one more from Ilvermorny, but I have not met them yet. Wolfsbane has been a true gift, allowing more advantages for those who have to suffer, thanks to Mr. Belby." Bastien looked at marcus. "Are you related to the famous Damocles Belby?"

"My uncle," Marcus said, "though I haven't seen him in many years."

"Well, I had no idea I would be talking to two celebrity families today," Bastien smiled. A bell in a tower rang somewhere, and the students began packing up their books and heading inside. "Lunch time for our students. Your daughters' tests are over. By the time we get back inside and up to Madame Maxime's office, she may have the tests scored. This way." He walked them back inside, and when they got back up to Perle's office, Bastien asked if the girls were finished.

"Oui," Perle said. "They will be back in a moment. They are across the hall." Bastien nodded.

"How do you say it...the ladies' room, I believe," Bastien told Angus and Ruby.

"You all may go in," Perle said. "I will send the girls straight in when they arrive." Bastien took them inside. The table was now clear of the tea, and Bastien had them sit in the area with the sofa and the chairs.

"Have a seat and be comfortable. I will be with you in a moment," Madame Maxime called from her desk. "I am almost finished scoring the tests."

Ruby smiled seeing the garden still with some flowers in bloom she could also hear the quiet and she liked it. Listening as Professer Bastien explained and showed them around she felt like it was very opulent. Returning to the office she gently sat down ignoring the throbbing of her feet in the heels even as low as they were she had not got use to heels of any hight. " thank you" she said as she sat down watching Madam maxine as she was scoring the tests the girls had taken. With her hand on Angus s she sat perfectly proper her heels together and her hand on her knee as she waited for the girls to return from the bathroom.

Seeing them enter she smiled and relaxed again taking a glance at madam Maxine hoping to see something if they were admited or if they would have to search for another school.

"Calm," Angus told Ruby very softly. "This isn't a competition. If they don't get in, they can always continue to study on the estate as they have been. After all, they made huge progress in one year with Robert and the others that chipped in to teach them. Either way, they'll be just fine."

A moment or two later, Perle let the girls in, and they came over and sat down quietly with Ruby on the sofa where they had been earlier this morning. When Madame Maxime finished scoring the tests, she came over and sat down, empty handed.

"This was not a test of right and wrong," she told the girls. "This was simply to show me, roughly, where you are academically. There are areas where you excel in and some areas where you are yet behind, but, in all fairness, you do not have areas in which you are far below what I expected. Deputy Minister Lupin might have a career as a professor if he ever tires of politics."

"He tires of politics frequently," Angus laughed. That made Madame Maxime laugh too.

"It would have tired me long before it seems to have tired him," she replied. "However, Anise and Ginger, if you wish to join Evie and Faith in their Beauxbatons' home schooling arrangement, I will allow it--on a couple of conditions. First, your attendance must be good. You must attend daily just as if you were in classes here at the school. You must complete your assignments and keep up your marks. And I do not expect to hear that none of the four of you have distracted the others and kept them from their studies either. Oh, and one more thing. You will attend two days of exams here at the castle at the end of every term. The first day is a number of written exams, and the second day are practical skills exams. Any questions?"

Ruby chuckled and looked to Angus and nodded " yeah I keep forgetting that" she said to him but paused as she saw Madam maxine walk over and sit down after the girls had. She sat and listened giving a small smile as she looked to the girls letting them make the choice with the conditions Madam Maxine had told them she required " well, what do you think?" she asked knowing they would take it and agree since they ahd worked hard to go where Evie and Faith go. She didn't want to push them she wanted them to make there own choice in this.

"It would me being away from Sam and Victor during the week." she said softly to them having a feeling they would return home on weekends once schooling ws done.

"No, not really. Only during the day," Angus said. "And for two days every quarter. They'll be fine."

"No, Madame," Anise said. "No questions. What do we need to do to accept?"

"Very well," Madame Maxime smiled. She accio'd three packets of paperwork. "Anise, here is an admission packet for you, and here is one for you, Ginger." She handed them each one of the three packets. You are welcome to complete those over at the table where we had the tea. The third packet is the necessary financial paperwork. You do realize that since you are not residents of France..."

"That packet is mine," Angus said. "I will take care of that. Ruby, maybe you could give the girls a hand while I do this."

"I will get you all some quills," She told them. Madame Maxime got them all quills and ink, and Angus deliberately at on the other side of the large round table away from the girls and Ruby so he could do the financial paperwork and not be disturbed and, likewise, not disturb them either.

Ruby listened and smiled to the girls when they were handed the packets to fill out she nodded to Angus and looked to Madam Maxine " if you'll excuse me " she said and stood up to move with the girls to fill out the packets with them once the quills arrived. she sat betwen the girls so she could help them should they need it.Ruby sat and watched s Anise and Ginger both worked to fill out the packets they had been given she helped every so often and smile.

Once the girls were okay with working threw it she moved back to Angus and sta next to him" you okay?" she asked looking at the finashal packet he had in front of him.

It didn't take Angus long to finish his packet of financial paperwork. Actually, there were two sets of forms since he was paying for two students. He filled out one for Anise and one for Ginger. When Ruby came and sat with him and asked if he was okay, he looked at her.

"Certainly. I'm fine," he told her. "I didn't want to disturb them. Nor do I think they should be involved with the finances of this. That's not their job--its mine. This isn't free for them since they aren't French citizens. I expected that, and as long as they keep up their end of the bargain, I'm fine with paying for it. I'm almost finished. I just need another moment or two. Since they're still minors, we'll have to sign their applications, giving our permission as their guardians. While I'm finishing this, do you mind reading their applications over and signing them while I finish? You're as able as I am to do that." He finished the packet of paperwork, and then he got out his wallet and a blank check that he had brought along to pay for the girls' school fees.