Madam Baudelaire
–June 2nd 1982–
After months of hard work the time had finally come for an inspector from the Education division from the ICW to inspect Chéile. If they got the inspector's seal of approval they could officially start sending out the acceptance letters to their future students for the upcoming school year.
Once Gringotts finished the creature inheritance ritual, they managed to make quick work of all the other Magical relics, tools, and other things the school needed to operate smoothly and safely. Meanwhile the House elves were willing to help with all the gardening needed for the school by planting the Sakura trees, getting multiple green houses ready for the upcoming school year and working with Barty to design the student dorms.
Lucius himself managed to work out the schools finances so that things were set for the first 4 years, so long as nothing went wrong. All this the while doing his all to keep Dumbledore’s grubby, candy coated fingers out of their school. Since he was the Chief Warlock he knows there was a new Wizarding school planning to open its doors, but thankfully Lucius managed to keep his and any other known Death Eater's names out of it.
Severus managed to finally finish hiring all the teachers and staff needed, alongside making sure they had all gotten certified to be able to identify various signs of abuse in children & actions they would need to take to help them. Alongside Barty they managed to create a very sizable library for the students along with charming the library to grow in size as new books were added to it. During his free time, between helping set up Chéile and getting ready for the new school year at Hogwarts, Severus managed to create a brand new potion for vampires called Liquid Shadows; a sunblock like potion that, once drunk will protect a vampire completely from sunlight for up to 12 hours. The only drawback was that once the effects had worn off a vampire would need to wait an hour before taking another dose.Once he had gotten the potion patented, under the Pseudonym Prince S, he planned to start supplying Cheile ready for any future Vampire students, along with improving the already existing recipe for a blood substitute potion to be more nutritious and not as vile tasting as before. The process would have gone much quicker under his real name but Dumbledore would never allow it if he knew what the potion master was doing.
Barty was in his element helping the school get ready for their day to day life, especially when it came to helping the House elf's taste test their foods, along with helping them set up a meal plan. He also helped with the decor for the school since Lucius’s tastes were too expensive and extravagant for a school setting, one look at Severus’s wardrobe was enough to veto him from helping besides he was to busy with other things to help, and Marvolo’s tastes are a bit outdated since he hadn’t cared much for interior design since he was a child. But with the help from the other teachers who came to the school early to prepare for the school year he managed to get the dorms, classrooms, & the rest of the school ready to be a place of learning and a second home to their future students
Ever since feeding off each other at Gringotts, Severus and Marolov felt themselves drawing closer to each other with each passing day. Having spent so much time together they found themself enjoying each other's company, their mutual interests, and their creatures drawing them closer together. But with the deadline for the inspector coming to the school, and the rush to get everything finished in time they had to put their emotions on the back burner for the time being.
-_-_-_Line Break_-_-_-
Barty and Marvolo waited at the portkey landing spot since, while Severus and Lucius would have loved to be there, they felt like their presence as former suspected Death Eaters would only hinder the school's chances of opening. But they promised to drop by later in the day to hear if they were successful or not.
“So… what do you know about this inspector who’s coming today Sir”? Barty asks nervously as they waited for the inspector to arrive. According to the letter they got, the inspector would arrive in 5 minutes.
Humming to himself Marvolo thinks back to all he’s heard about this inspector before answering. “Only that they are one of the best in the ICW. Whenever someone unsavory tries to open a cult like school this inspector is able to get the truth out of the people in charge and shut down their operations before a single student arrives. Other than that I only know that her name is Madam Isabel Baudelaire”.
“Wait, she can always get the truth out of people opening schools? Then we’re doomed from the start . Most wizards follow Dumbledors propaganda about creatures and if she finds out we’re encouraging students to participate in a ritual to gain creature inheritances she could shut us down right away”. He panicked, as Marvolo put a hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t worry, despite how big Dumbledore's presence is, it’s mostly British wizards who believe in his propaganda. Madam Baudelaire, from my research, is a French witch. Besides, I memorized what is and isn’t allowed in Wizarding schools and technically what we’re doing isn’t breaking any rules”. He said, calming down the dragon kin.“Now just follow my lead, deep breath in”. Inhales
“And out”. Exhales
“Breath in”. Inhales
“And out”. Exhales. “Is that better”?
Blinking to himself Barty is surprised at how well that worked, “Uh, ya, how did you know that would work”?
“It’s an old muggle trick I used back when I would tutor under years at Hogwarts around exam times when students would get overwhelmed”. Marvolo explained with a nostalgic grin
“Wow, it’s amazing. You’ll be a great teacher Marvolo”.
“Thank you”. He said as they waited for the inspector to arrive. As soon as the clock chimed 12, a woman arrived at the platform with a pop.
Madam Isabel Baudelaire was a tall woman at 188 cm(6ft 2) with long blond hair tied up in a bun, large blue eyes, and ruby red lips. She would be described as having legs for miles stemming from her black pencil skirt, with a large bust seemingly made larger with her tight satin purple blouse. Finishing the look are a pair of black heels and an ankle wand holder with a red wood wand sticking out of it, and a clipboard in hand. Overall a very attractive woman but the most telling thing about her was her alluring aura that screamed Veela.
“Greetings, I'm inspector Isabel Baudelaire, you may call me Madam Baudelaire, now which one of you is Marvolo Sayer”? She asks, looking from her clipboard to the pair of wizards.
Clearing his throat Marvolo steps forward with a deep bow, “Greetings Madam Baudelaire, I welcome to our humble establishment, and thank you for taking time out of your day to come here”.
At this the inspector raised an eyebrow. “Charmed, but I must tell you now flattery will not work on me, and neither will bribes, offers of sexual favors, Imperius curses, threats, or any potions. If you try to give me any food or drink while here one of you will try it first as a potion test. So please just be honest with me and this will be a much quicker and painless process for you. Understood”?
“I understand, now do you have any questions or shall we start with the tour”? Marvolo asks with an amused smirk, this was going to be interesting.
Clicking her pen Isabel looks at her clipboard before looking at Marvolo. “I do have a few questions right away based on the proposal you sent the ICW. You said this school will have a house System inspired on the one Hogwarts uses, in what ways will it be similar to what Hogwarts uses and what ways will it be different”?
“Well, while several friends of mine went to Hogwarts and helped with setting up this school, we found there to be several flaws with the system they have. For one, the houses at Hogwarts are based on personality traits when they sort students which while helpful, mostly is used to segregate the students from each other. We find that creates a divide in students preventing them from making friends in other houses. While at our school we have 5 houses based on the 5 kinds of Elemental magic that exists in us all, Fire, Water, Wood, Earth, and Air. At age 11 students will have their magic signature tested to see which one of the 5 elements their magic leans towards most to sort them and if a student has an affinity for more than one element they can pick which house they go to”. Marvolo does his best to explain while pausing to see if she has any follow up questions.
Cue an eyebrow lift, “I see, but students arrive here at age 9, not 11. Why wait 2 years to sort them? Also at Hogwarts the Dorms are sorted by house and during their first year, they rely on their upper classmen to show them around the school. How will that work here”?
“We will not allow all students to be separated by house outside school competitions. We have dorms throughout the entire school, during the first 2 years it’s 4 students to a dorm, and after being sorted students can pick their roommates and be in dorms ranging from 2-4 students. Although if a student has a medical condition and has spoken to the school doctor or their head of house they can have a solo dorm. Most dorms are separated here by genders”. He pauses to take a drink of water
“Now as for why students wait 2 years to be sorted it’s another complaint of mine about Hogwarts, there you only get the train ride to get to know your future classmates without house biases, which is something we’re hoping to ignore here. So by giving the students 2 years to get to know each other without any house biases we’re encouraging students to have friends in multiple houses and not just the one they’re sorted into. Now as for new students learning their way around the school without looking for someone in their house for help We actually took inspiration from muggle school systems for that”. He explains.
“Interesting, it’s not often Magic schools are willing to look to the muggle world for help”. She says surprised.
“I would imagine. Anyway, what we have in mind here is called the Big sibling program where older students from years 3 and above can sign up to be an older sibling of sorts to a first year coming in. from there Students are randomly assigned to each other and for their first 2 years whenever a new student needs help they can turn to their buddy for guidance, including showing them how not to get lost here”.
“That is very clever I will admit, but what was that about “We will not allow all students to be separated by house outside school competitions” could you explain that to me”. She asks taking notes
At this question a Cheshire- like grin grows on Barty’s face and he takes his turn to answer, “Simple. At Hogwarts they have a house cup and students earn or lose points by answering questions right or wrong in classes, helping others, bullying other students, and so on. But that’s another thing we're trying not to do here, classes should not be a competition to see who can earn the most points that just drives a wedge between students. So for our in school competitions students can gain points depending on how they do in sports competitions, Talent shows, spelling bees, that sort of thing so every student has the chance to earn points beyond just answering a question right. We also refuse to assign teachers as Heads of houses. Teaching is a full time job and so is looking after children so we have hired people exclusively to be heads of houses”.
“I see that is an interesting take on the system, just two more questions before we move on. What does the winner of the house cup get, and since there are 5 houses based on the 5 elements what are the houses called and their mascots”?
“The winning house of the house cup gets their house name and the year engraved on the cup for future generations to see along with that house getting the honor of picking the theme for the end of the school year party”. Barty says excited before Marvolo chimes in.
“The houses don’t have any fancy names as of yet, I will admit I hadn’t thought of such a thing but we have decided on the animal and colors for each house. The Fire House’s symbol is an Chinese Dragon and their colors are red and orange, the Air house’s Symbol is a Thunderbird and their colors are light blue and white, the Wood houses Symbol is a Unicorn their colors are Green and Bronze, the Earth house symbol is a Sphynx their colors are tan and black, and the Water House Symbol is a Kappa with their colors being royal blue and silver”. Marvolo explains the houses while thinking of potential house names, at hogwarts houses were named after the founders what could they call the houses here.((AN I did not think of house names, reader suggestions would be amazing thank you)
“I see you made an effort to have magical creatures from all around the globe represent the houses. It really helps fortify this school as an international school”. Madam Baudelaire says, writing down one more note on her clipboard before looking up. “Alright then enough questions for now, let’s begin this tour of the facility”.
“Of course right this way Madam Baudelaire where would you like to go first”. Barty says with a blush while Marvolo remains unaffected by her charm.
“Hmm, show me where a new student will go first when they arrive here”. She says with a grin
“Of course right this way”. Marvolo says taking the lead as he leads her through the courtyard to a waterfall pool with a stone pathway right down the center of it. “When students first arrive here from their home countries a teacher will guide them to this waterfall to give them one of their most important tools they’ll need while studying here”.
“Let me guess their wand”? Isabell asks with a roll of her eyes.
“No students will get their wand between their second and third years here, either by buying a wand in their home county over summer vacation, or talking with a wand maker who will come to the school and have a wand made for them. The cost of a wand will either be in the students' school fees or included in their scholarship”. Marvolo explains as he pulls out his Ebony wand and taping a stone next to the waterfall causing the water to open like curtains and a stone wall to open from behind it. “Now follow me please”.
Inside the hidden room are millions of jewels all around the size of a medium marble sparkling in the natural daylight coming in from a skylight. The marbles themself are in various baskets hanging from the ceiling or are almost spilling over the edge of goblets rising from the floor. The sight of which caused the inspector to go wide eyed.
“These are beautiful and must be worth a lot, but how are they one of the most important tools for your future students”? She asked, confused with this, many jewels someone could set for life.
“True but I’m not worried about money, with the help of Gringotts we were able to infuse every single one of the gems here with a spell that while you have the gem on your person it will translate anything you hear, say, or read into their native language. When a new student arrives here they’ll enter this room and be allowed to choose one stone. That way all our international students will be able to understand each other without any worry, the only class these aren’t allowed in are language classes. Plus we’ll have some accessories available to buy at the school store that will make carrying their stones around with them much easier”. Marvolo explains as he walks over and grabs a ruby stone and holds it out to the inspector. “Would you like to try”?
With a smirk Isabell walks over to one of the hanging baskets to grab a sapphire stone “Mi piacerebbe provarne uno, ma permettimi di scegliere la pietra in questo modo so che non stai barando. Now is there anything else these stones can do”?
Before Marvolo can say anything Bary jumps at the chance to say something in German, “Natürlich, wenn ein Schüler älter wird und eine Kreaturenvererbung durchläuft, können sie gerne einen Glamour-Zauber zu ihren Steinen hinzufügen, den sie nach Belieben ein- und ausschalten können. Es ist für Schüler, die Schwierigkeiten haben, ihre Kreaturenformen zu verstecken, wenn sie wollen. Wir werden den Schülern sogar davon erzählen, wenn wir ihnen am Ende ihres ersten Jahres das Ritual zur Vererbung von Kreaturen anbieten”.
This causes Madam Baudelaire to freeze and drop the stone that once it hit the floor floated back to a basket,”I’m sorry did you say Creature inheritance ritual I was unaware such a thing excited”? She asked in shock, at this Marvolo knew two things, 1 their hopes of keeping the ritual a secret until the school opened were crushed, and 2…
“I figured it out, the real reason why they send you as an inspector. It’s because you use your veela charm to make men loose lipped and spill the real intentions behind opening schools and any dirty secret they may have”. He says as the realization dawns on him. Nodding Isabell turned to Marvolo.
“Indeed although that doesn’t explain how you seem immune to my charm, and you still need to explain that ritual to me”. She said as her posture made it clear she wouldn't expect anything but the truth for them.
“That is a long story but the answers are tiex into each other. Come, let’s find somewhere to sit and we’ll explain everything to you”. He says as she nods and they exit the chamber with the waterfall and door closing behind them as they leave. At this they take the time to make their way to one of the lunch rooms, this one being a greenhouse themed lunch room by the school zoos.
So Marvolo and Barty take the time to explain almost everything, how they found the decline of creature inheritance worrying, how they wanted to create a school that would mix the olde ways of magic with modern studies and modern muggle influences to create a new school that would help preserve the old ways while insure the magic world can co exists with muggles without detection. How they were keeping the ritual a secret at the school guarded by magical NDAs in order to keep Dumbledor from learning about the ritual and making it illegal. Marvolo also explained how the ritual worked and used it on himself becoming an incubus which made him immune to a Veela’s charms and not being attracted to women in general. They also made sure to keep anything Death Eater or Voldemort related a secret. By the end of the story the inspector had stopped looking at her clipboard and was in awe at her story.
“And that’s everything? So tell me, does this ruin our chances of becoming a certified school”? Marvolo asks as he finishes a cup of tea the house Elves brought him during his story.
For the first time this trip a smile blooms on isabells face and she shakes her head, “No, in fact I’m grateful for you being honest with me. I agree the amount of creature inheritances has suspiciously decreased over the years and should be corrected. I would have issues with this if you were using an untested ritual or forced students to go through the ritual, then things would be different, but as it is completely optional and has been tested before I have no complaints. And don’t worry I won’t tell anyone, this is a good thing and I’ve been suspicious of Dumbledore for years now. Keeping a treasure like this a secret for now is the smart thing to do”. She explains as Marvolo breathes a sigh of relief.
“Thank you Madam Baudelaire, but why don’t you trust Dumbledore”? He asks, confused, doesn't most love that old coot?
She snorted. , “Please! Anyone who refuses a proper school inspection their entire time as a headmaster is hiding something and can’t be trusted, but my issues with how he runs his school would take hours to talk about and we don’t have time for that. We must finish this school inspection by 4pm and it’s already 2 o’clock”. She says getting up from her seat and grabbing her clipboard.
“Of course right this way we’ll continue the tour with the school zoo”. Marvolo says getting up and escorting her through the rest of their tour of the school. Making their way through the rest of the school answering any questions she may have.
By 3:45 the tour was over and the trio made their way back to the Northern portkey platform to see Madam Baudelaire off. As she was about to leave Isabell turned her attention back to Marvolo and Barty. “Okay, so besides needing to sort out the names for the 5 houses and needing a few lifeguard posts for the school pool everything looks up to code and ready for a magical school to start here. I’ll submit my report to the ICW and within the week you can start sending acceptance letters to students for the upcoming school year. Once you get a letter from my messenger hawk you’ll be up and running”. Madam Baudelaire says looking at her clipboard.
“Thank you Madam, anything else we need to know”. Marvolo says with a deep bow.
“Yes, once your school is certified an inspector will come by twice a year for 4 years to see how the school is running and make sure everything is going according to code, then someone will come by once a year for another 3 years, then every other year for about a decade, after that we’ll come by for an inspection only once every 5 years”. She explains going over the paperwork then looking back at the pair, “Normally I don’t do this but because I believe in your cause I’ll assign myself as your schools inspector in the future and, if I retire, I’ll find someone I can trust to take over for me”.
“Thank you Madam, that means a lot to us”.
“It was my pleasure you being honest with me made this process much easier then it normally is, now you’ve got your school, and you’re going to get your students soon so I’ll just say this: don’t fuck things up”. She said before Popping away with a portkey. After a beat Barty turns to Marvolo with a huge grin on his face.
“Sir did we just get a school”? He asked in disbelief
Nodding to himself Marvolo smirked. “We just got certified to open a school”. He confirms.
At this Barty breaks into a mad dash to the Kitchen with his voice trailing behind him, “You floo call Lucius and Severus, I’ll get the food we are going to celebrate”!
-_-_-_One Hour_-_-_-
“Congratulations to Marvolo Sayer for being able to open Chéile Academy, may this school be able to prosper in the years to come”. Lucius said as he raises his champagne flute in the air with the rest of the group.
“Thank you Lucius, if it weren’t for the rest of you I never would have been able to get all this done so quickly, or even be in the right state of mind to open a school at all”. Marvolo tried to joke, raising his own glass of fire whiskey in amusement.
“If only more magic schools were as well thought out as yours Marvolo”. Severus said bitterly, as a very drunk Barty drapes an arm over the vampire's shoulders.
“I see Dumbledore is being an idiot again”.
This caused Severus to hiss, “And I see that even after becoming a dragon Kin you are still unable to hold your alcohol Barty, now get off”. He tried to pull the drunk off him by pulling his ear, but after this attempt fails Marvolo marches over and pulls the two apart, before grabbing Severus by his hand and dragging him out of the room.
Once in the hallway Marvolo dragged Severus up a flight of stairs and into his office before pulling him into a kiss. After a moment of hesitation Severus melted into the Kiss and the two of them engage in a passionate battle of wills. After a minute the two pull apart for air.
“It’s about time you bloody did something”.Severus cursed with a whisper, before moving his mouth to press a kiss into Marvolo’s neck.
“Well I was waiting for the school to be certified as open as well as researching something”. He whisperd back before taking a step back
“Oh, and what were you researching”? Severus asked as his eyes start to bleed red
Marvolo took a deep breath having spent months getting ready for this difficult talk, “Your creature is attracted to me and interested in mating with me, am I correct”?
Nodding in confusion Severus asks, “I am, and from what I can tell the feeling is mutual”.
“It is, but the issue is we’re both dominate creatures and no matter what I found any attempted mating between two dominate creatures ends with both of them fighting for Dominance and the relationship falling apart”.Marvolo explained the what he found to the positions master who take a moment to process the information.
“I see what you are saying, but I’m sensing a but here”... he draws out.
This causes Marvolo to nod before continuing, “But I have found a way for there to be two dominants matted to each other, a Triad mating where 2 Submissives and 1 dominate or 2 dominates and a submissive mate together creating a triumbric bond. They are very rare but are possible from what I’ve read triad bonds are even more powerful than regular mated bonds”. He explained
“So you’re suggesting we find a Submissive creature to mate with us then all 3 of us can be mated together, but with both of our standards finding someone not only willing to mate both of us, but we would also be romantically attracted to could take ages to find. Plus with a bond like that we wouldn’t be able to consummate our relationship at all until we found the submissive or else we could create an unbalanced bond and cause the triad to fall apart”. Severus said, trying to figure it out in his head
“Indeed, but with my Hoxcruxs and your vampire immortality we would have all the time in the world to find a mate, and as you know when creatures mate their magic makes it so all our life spans expand to match the creature with the longest lifespan of the relationship. So here’s what I’m proposing: we see each other romantically without consummating our relationship while looking for a submissive and if one of us wants to take another as a partner without the other we end things amicably. Deal”? He asks holding out a hand to the vampire
“Deal”. Severus says taking Marvolo’s hand in his
Smiling Marvolo straightens his outfit out before holding an arm out to Severus, “Well then shall we head back to the party”?
“We shall”. Severus said, taking Marvolo’s arm in his. As they head back to the party Lucius and Barty asked what happened which they answered honestly and the pair congratulated them wishing them luck to find a third.
Marvolo takes a Champagne flute & raises it in the air, to make a toast “I just want to say thank you all for being here for me while I made this transition from crazed dark lord to headmaster of this beautiful new school, may Chéile be the home to future generations of amazing wizards. And the key to that old coots downfall. To Chéile”!
“TO CHÉILE”!!!!!
“And may nothing happen to this school to ruin the experience of coming here for my son”. Lucius says as he takes a drink from his glass
-_-_-_A Few Years Later_-_-_-
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE GIVING THE WEASLEY TWINS A SCHOLARSHIP”?!?!?!?!?!