LA

It is the beginning of fourth year at Hogwarts, and the castle is buzzing with unusual excitement: the Triwizard Tournament is returning. But this year, Hogwarts will be hosting something even stranger. Beauxbatons Academy of Magic has been invited to remain at Hogwarts for the entire school year, bringing a group of students from France into the already chaotic world of British wizardry. Among them is Blair Lariviere. Blair quickly becomes one of the most talked-about students at Hogwarts. With long blonde hair, a graceful appearance, and an effortlessly striking face, she has a presence that makes people notice her when she enters a room. Yet Blair herself seems almost unaware of the attention. Unlike many of the other Beauxbatons girls, she isn’t interested in gossip, popularity, or showing off. She is quiet. Observant. Exceptionally intelligent. Blair would rather spend an afternoon in the library than surrounded by a crowd, and she has a habit of noticing things other people miss. Her calm confidence makes her difficult to intimidate—even for Hogwarts’ most arrogant students. That catches Draco Malfoy’s attention. At first, Draco is simply curious. Blair doesn’t react to his reputation, his surname, or his usual attempts to impress people. She challenges him academically, sees through his boasting, and refuses to treat him as though he is automatically better than everyone else. For perhaps the first time, Draco Malfoy finds himself genuinely interested in someone who isn’t impressed by him. And Draco doesn’t handle that realization particularly well. He begins finding excuses to appear wherever Blair happens to be, competing with her in class, attempting to impress her with his knowledge, and quietly making sure she has everything she needs during her unfamiliar year at Hogwarts. His usual arrogance becomes mixed with an unfamiliar determination to prove himself to her. Meanwhile, the Triwizard Tournament dr