The Beauxbatons delegation had settled into what would be their northern home for this year. They were still in the carriage but there were promises of accommodations in the castle once the term began. That was a stark change to the way of the last tournament, where the schools had remained in their mobile housings although they had shared meals in the great hall. The idea of a closer connected tournament appealed to Gerard. He was glad he had come along.

To become familiar with Hogwarts, Gerard thought of taking a walk around the grounds, and asked Corey Gaubert if he wanted to join. Gerard had found that unlike other students, Corey wasn't as open when he was forced to sit in Gerard's office. During their times for advisory meetings in years past they usually toured the extensive gardens of the palace. Hogwarts did not have such equatable landscaping.

Still, the lake was a majestic sight. They had walked along the shore, the lengthy scenic route from Hogsmeade to the school. Approaching the campus proper, the lawns became manicured. Besides the castle there was a small hut and a very threatening looking tree. All in all not too much to look at, besides appreciating the castle's architecture.

During the first leg of their journey the talk had been observations made of the grounds but that conversation had run dry. "How has your summer been Corey, before we arrived?"

Corey's arrival to the new location was met with both interest and annoyance. The former because it was new -- with exciting opportunities and venues to explore that were different from Beauxbatons and France. But the latter because his summer had been cut short with the trek to the Scottish School.

Corey rather liked his summers and for as long as he could remember, or at least as long as he wanted to remember, his summers had been spent traveling and when possible, exploring various internships involving the care of magical creatures, specifically dragons when possible.

Being confined once again would be hard in this, his final year. Corey was ready to be done with school and head off on the next step of his journey. He had considered dropping out many times and heading directly into informal dragon handling. But Corey was not about to give all the Beauxbatons elite that satisfaction. He wanted to graduate and make them all eat their words that someone like him could not succeed in their world.

That Corey had come to have this view could partly be attributed to his many conversations with the school's academic advisor, Gerard Gries. The man had become one of few adults in his life who Corey held in high regard. Thus, it was no surprise that upon returning to school, and throughout the trip to the UK, Corey regularly sought him out for informal chatter. But there had hardly been enough time for deep conversation about the future and specifically about tournament strategy.

Corey did not need much convincing to join Gerard on a stroll of the school grounds and it would allow him to give the advisor a small gift.

At first, the two exchanged small talk and shared observations. Finally, Gerard asked a meatier question and Corey turned to the advisor with a nod. "Summer was too short, in my opinion," he mused wryly. "But I enjoyed my stays in Europe and South America to work with the dragons."

It was a short response, but Corey was young man of few words anyway. Instead, he extracted from his jacket pocket two flasks. He kept one for himself and held the other out to Gerard. It was as much a gift as Corey could offer one. Not extravagent, but certainly practical. And the best part was that they were not empty.

"I hear the winters here can be très froid," he explained. "I thought we should be prepared." (Cold)

With a grin, Corey unscrewed the cap to his flask and took a swig. He winced as he swallowed the liquid and after a moment, he managed to eek out, "Wow that is strong."

OOC: Feel free to decide what the mysterious liquid is!

Gerard nodded at Corey's tale of dragons. "I hear the breeds in South America are very different from the rest of the world. Although it was sad your summer was cut short. All of ours, as they wanted us early for the tournament. Were you able to get a month in South America, at least?"

"Thank you very much, Corey," Gerard said to the unexpected gift. A flask. It would be useful for keeping beverages with him, although he wagered Corey had christened the pair with a stronger brew.

"There will be plenty of snow, and bleak winds for a few months, yes. Those from Durmstrang may tell use that it is not all that frigid." Cold climate did not dictate cold people but Gerard's first few introductions with those from Durmstrang were not all that friendly.

He could smell the drink after opening the flask. A strong Normandy cider. "Someone listened to my old stories without blanking out." He gave Corey a half smile. Northern cider was a longtime favorite of Gerard's and probably the only drink he would not give up entirely. The occasional recreational use was no worry. He took a fractional, warm sip. "It's stronger than apple juice, that is very true."

Corey walked comfortably next to the advisor and listened to his feedback on his trips. "Yes, a month there and then roughly a month in Romania. I also briefly stopped in Egypt to visit with Fidela and Nakia," he said, mentioning one set of foster parents with whom he was still fairly close. Given his long string of both muggle and wizarding caretakers over the years, the fact that Corey still chose to spend time with some of them said a lot.

Corey nodded when Gerard thanked him for the flask and fell silent again, quietly observing the grounds as they walked. He glanced over when the older man spoke again about the winters, which were only a short time away. He then smirked when Gerard joked about listening. "I always listen when it is important." After a beat, he added purposefully, "Of course, what I think is important is different from many of my classmates." Corey sipped again and then asked, "So I've read up on some of the past tournaments. Do you think this one will be that much different in terms of the challenges?"

Another odd thing about talks with Corey is that when either he or Gerard named a place on the earth, the other usually had an idea of the geography and climate of the region. Not just a label, but what the land actually looked like. But neither boasted about their world travels. There wasn't much point to show the marks of international living at Beauxbatons when many had traveled. Although they usually did so on vacations, leisure based persuits.

"Very true, it is our different values that make us different, unique individuals." Gerard paused to remember what he had learned of past tournaments. "Many of the challenges in the past tournaments are classical games, of where there is victory or failure in different formats. Overcoming a beast, like dragons or a cockatrice. Although that cockatrice incident ended in the second to last notable death of the Tournament. Almost like the gladiatorial games that may have inspired that event, with victory not given until man or beast had killed the other."

"There are other types, such as a search or mystery. Finding something hidden in a wild landscape or obstacles by design. The emphasis of the Tournament has changed, there will no longer be just one champion for each school, and the measures to ensure no deaths." After hearing how the last tournament had gone, Gerard had never expected he would see or be present for a new one.

"You would be a prime choice for a champion, Corey, although it isn't my decision." Corey tried hard, Gerard knew he did. He didn't like to directly compare students on their merits and say who was better, but Corey had a resilience about him that would forge a strong champion, unlike many at the academy.

Corey listened to his advisor speak while he also glanced around at the surroundings. A lot of his classmates probably would never spend this kind of reflective time with the adults in their lives. Corey never minded and there were many times when he felt he had more in common with people like Gerard than those he sat in classes with.

Corey reveled in his real life experiences and in many ways, his status as an orphan had given him very few roots to have to worry about establishing. Instead, he had made good use out of his wings and as soon as he had found foster parents who would let him fend for himself, he had. That was probably why he still kept in touch with folks like Fidelia. She had nurtured his need to explore rather than try to stifle it.

Despite himself, Corey was interested in the tournament. He had spent the days leading up to their arrival trying to convince himself that none of it mattered. He knew as well as anyone that the only reason he had been asked to come along was because he was one of their schools most physical and hands-on students. He had to give them credit for at least acknowledging that tradition could not prepare them for everything.

As Gerard spoke of tournaments past, Corey imagined himself in some of the situations that he had been told about. What would this year be like?

Corey ducked his head in humble appreciation of Gerard's praise and after another quiet moment, he responded, "I will do my best when and if I am chosen. And I will help my classmates if there is an area that they need my expertise."

He quickly moved on from talk of his own abilities. "Do you think a lot of the challenges will involve the grounds?"

Gerard smiled inwardly. Not to be judgmental but humbleness like Corey at Beauxbatons was always refreshing. This was not a disrespect to any student's self esteem or self worth, the French Academy prided itself on the well groomed pupils it graduated. Perhaps the only other school in Europe with elevated feelings of superiority would be Durmstrang. The meeting of the four school's collected mindsets, without a doubt wrought with friction, would nonetheless be fascinating to watch.

"They do have plenty of space here." Gerard paused to gaze at the way they had come and the other borders of the campus. "There is the lake, the Quidditch pitch, the stretches of forrest. Most of the forrest is marked to be dangerous, I would hope a challenge would not involve venturing too deep into it. It depends how creative the plans are to use the grounds to avoid duplication. I don't doubt they would serve as the canvas for many trials."

Gerard changed track. "How to you feel about the upcoming year, Corey? Prepared?"

Corey let his eyes roam their surroundings as he spoke. It was a new place to get to know and it excited him, even if one could not tell by looking at him. "It is spacious. And new to us. It could be an advantage either way," he mused.

Then Gerard said it was dangerous and the 7th year was more thoughtful. "More dangerous than dragons?" he questioned with obvious interest.

Then he frowned when Gerard wanted to talk about the year ahead. "Well, I admit that I wasn't the most thrilled to come back. You know how long I have wanted to throw in the towel so I can go work now." He sighed, knowing the argument that changed his mind every time. "And yet, here I am. And already I want the year to be over," he admitted, but not with any shame. He knew that Gerard understood his mindset; He was one of the few who did. Others did not care or Corey never felt comfortable enough to open up to them. It was just another way he felt different.

Luckily the chats with Gerard and his friendships with Elodie and Cecile helped him to cope.

"New ground for all of the visitors, that is true. The Hogwarts champions would have familiarity of location, a sense of home." Gerard gave a short, dry laugh at Corey's query into the danger. "The Forest is said to hold many things. Not necessarily dragons but all manner of wild flora and fauna. You're in the knowledge, Corey, of how a single wizard can trick a dragon but it takes a full team to subdue it. Take that dragon and multiple an untold number of scores fold, and all these creatures see the dark woods as their home. Even those said to survive a night never venture out unscathed."

He nodded at Corey's argument to begin his career. The boy had a different strand of stubbornness then the kind commonly seen at Beauxbatons. He had figured out early where his path lay and it was not one many of his peers understood. "Since you are here, Corey, I hope you will come to enjoy your time. As you say, you are already prepared for your given field. But try to see the year as a reward. An opportunity you will never find again, schooling abroad during an international competition. There is no great harm you could do to your prospects."

"It is curious. Here we are talking about the end of things, when this morning when I toured Diagon Alley I encountered a rare pleasure: the jubilation of a young girl having gotten her acceptance to school.[1] It is a feeling I had long forgotten."

1.	The Rabbit's Eye Differs from that of the Owl

Corey could understand the fascination with the Forbidden Forest when his advisor spoke of it in such a way. It certainly lent itself to mystery and intrigue for any who heard about it. Corey was no exception, but he was also no fool either. He would curb his enthusiasm for venturing into such a place alone and at a time when it was not desired. He was not too impatient to see what creatures lay within it; there was an entire year to explore.

Corey turned to Gerard as he suggested that he used the year for all of its possibilities. "Oui, Je comprends." He smiled then and shook his head. "You are right, sir. I should not look at this trip as a prison sentence, so to speak. There is plenty to be excited about, I'm sure."

Talk of newness to their world caused Corey's face to darken with thought. He remembered back to his own introduction to heading off to school. It had been both an exciting and awkward time for him, as the French Ministry and Beauxbatons school officials had struggled with what to do with someone like him. Not wishing to dwell on the negatives anymore, Corey flashed Gries a smirk, "Well, it's not the end yet, as you say. And maybe we can appreciate this through the eyes of those who are young and enthusiastic enough to enjoy it."

Their walk lead them past most of the lawns up to the castle, to a point where the forrest bordered on one side the the lake converged to meet it some distance away. Gerard debated something in his mind, weighing pros and cons. Corey did not objectively defy rules but being at a different school could surely suggest an ease of defiance, of not being subjected to the local customs. He had showed an interest in the forest during the conversation, and whether Corey became a champion and a Task was truly held in the forest, or not, the lad may try to explore it on his own time.

Then Gerard thought that it was still the summer and satiating part of the need sooner had a greater chance of being beneficial than if Corey was to set out into the forest during the school year were it would be frowned upon. Gerard rarely had a sense for adventure anymore but anything that could be labeled off limits had a distinct allure.

He told Corey the terms of the proposition. "If you were still interested, I suppose it cannot hurt if we took a little foray into the forest. Though I insist that we keep the Hogwarts clearing visible, keep our wands at the ready and overall keep the excursion short."

Corey was content to continue walking and taking in the scenery. He imagined there were students here who were in their final year and they still had not discovered everything there was to know about it. All the nooks and crannies, so to speak. Even if those nooks and crannies were in the wild.

The Advisor's out-of-the-blue suggestion that they defy rules caught him off guard, causing him to stop in his tracks. "Quoi?"

He dumbly looked at the older man for a moment before he let the words sink in. Blinking, he finally managed to respond. "Well, to be honest, I assumed that the rule to not to venture into the forest did not apply to the adults, sir." Silently, he wondered if that was a stupid assumption on his part. But really, if the adults disobeyed the rules, what's was the plan for their discipline? Sent to bed without supper? Slap on the wrist and sent back to their origins? He highly doubted it.

After another moment of weighing his options, Corey finally shrugged and with a quirky grin he offered, "I'm game for a little adventure." The seventh year fished his wand out of his pocket. "I won't tell if you won't, sir."

"Quoi?"

The young Gaubert had been surprised. Gerard remarked with dry humor. "I know I rarely project an image other than an office worker at times but I hope you didn't mistake me for being dull, Corey. It may not be a rule we believe pertains to us but it is still a sensible rule. The Forbidden Forest covers a vast distance, making it easy to get lost in besides whatever terrors it may hold. The school is making the same security discipline as any other would, no matter if academy is built next to a mountain or ocean. As an institution the liability is to keep all the occupants safe, hence to ruling to stay around the main campus."

"As an adult I suppose I may not be subjected to this rule but I still respect other peoples values. I won't be parading excursions into the forest publicly." Corey soon agreed to the venture. "Until we are missed, then."

Gerard had is own wand out as they approached the tree-line. The outer barrier of the forrest had a strange consistency. He selected a path to hook back towards the lake, where they could easily leave and continue around the lake again back to Hogsmeade when they were finished. Still, even with keeping the school grounds visible to their right, to their left after only several meters the canopy made the forest quite dim.

"Best be on our guard."

"Well....err.....yes, sir." The lad kept his gaze ahead of them as he wasn't sure how exactly to characterize his view of the advisor. He was different than the other adults at his school, that was for certain. But he was still an adult, still a person of authority and Corey would always expect that they would hold to rules and regulations. It was easier to believe that than be disappointed when they didn't.

So he was pleasantly surprised by Gerard's departure from adhering to the rules. Still, he somberly nodded as the man explained the dangers that may lie within the Forest they were about to enter. Again, Corey nodded and affirmed, "Well if you are willing to venture inside, then I can't very well let you go alone, can I, sir?"
 
Corey felt the palm of his wand hand become sweaty in his anxious anticipation of their adventure. He briefly switched it to his other hand -- even though he was adept at using it in either -- and brushed his hand against his pant legs. Then he gripped the wand a little tighter.

Corey was immediately taken with how dark the forest began to look, with shadows dancing everywhere and making it seem as though it might swallow them up.

The Beauxbatons lad crept quietly along besides the advisor, his eyes scanning the brush they encountered. Abruptly, he stopped, thinking that he saw something glinting among the darkness. "Hmm...do you..." When the glint all but disappeared, Corey shook his head and muttered, "Rien."

It was amazingly dark in here, being only the afternoon of a cloudy summer's day. It would be worse in the school year. Gerard doubted that any of the future tasks would take place in this forest but it seemed a dangerous possibility. The atmosphere would be fitting.

"Hmm?" Beside him Corey spoke but stopped. Gerard turned to face Corey's line of sight in time to the student's rather applicable "Rien" at the nothingness of the forest. "Did you see something?"

Gerard might be cutting this excursion short. He turned back and away from the pair by several yards were two golden glowing lights. Like lamps. Like eyes given the placement. Gerard rarely attempted Legilimency on anything other than human but he could sense a curious vibe from the glowing eyes, as if it hesitated, contemplating malcontent.

"Move slowly, if at all," he whispered to Corey. "Do you have any ideas what it could be?" Gerard valued the strengths of each student and knew Corey knew more about magical creatures than he.