Chapter 259: Reactions to the Fountain of Beauty
Leonardo and Fleur returned together to the Beauxbatons campus. As they reached the central courtyard, however, the lively scene before them brought them both to a halt.
Beside the newly remodelled Fountain of Beauty, a long queue had formed, made up almost entirely of Beauxbatons girls.
Seemingly unbothered by the lingering winter chill, they waited with bright, expectant smiles, each holding a dainty bottle, flask, or other container, eager to collect the spring water that had supposedly been "reborn."
Their cheerful chatter filled the courtyard with youthful energy, making it seem as though even the patches of snow that remained were melting a little faster.
Clearly, the spring water's genuine beautifying properties—its true refining effect—had been noticed through everyday use. Word had spread from one person to the next until it had become the bustling scene before them.
Fleur looked at the sight her companion had created single-handedly, a knowing, faintly teasing smile playing at the corner of her lips.
"It looks as though you won't have to trouble yourself fetching spring water for your friends back at Hogwarts anymore. With your skill, building another fountain once you return can hardly be difficult."
Having watched Leonardo dismantle and rebuild the Fountain of Beauty with her own eyes that night, Fleur had no doubt that he was more than capable of doing exactly that.
Leonardo's gaze drifted to the statue at the centre of the fountain, where Nicolas Flamel and his wife stood together for eternity.
"This Fountain of Beauty at Beauxbatons has a different significance. It was built by my teacher's own hands, and it's one of the symbols of the school's history and heritage."
It was precisely for that reason that, when carrying out the system's required remodelling, he'd deliberately preserved every detail of its appearance without changing so much as a single feature.
In his mind, Leonardo was already sketching the blueprint for the Fountain of Beauty he would build once he returned to Hogwarts. Its design could be a little more flexible, incorporating a touch of Hogwarts' own character...
The enthusiasm of the Beauxbatons students before him seemed to offer a glimpse of the future popularity of that as-yet-unbuilt Hogwarts Fountain of Beauty.
It might even prove more popular than this one.
After all, the students of Beauxbatons had grown up with a magical fountain like this, whereas for the young witches and wizards of Hogwarts, it would be something entirely new.
"It's only natural that the girls are flocking to it like this." As Leonardo watched the queue, another potential benefit occurred to him, and the corner of his mouth lifted almost involuntarily. "Still, this spring water might turn out to be an unexpected blessing for the boys at Hogwarts."
"Oh?" Fleur arched a delicate eyebrow.
"It's gentle enough not to damage the scalp or hair follicles," Leonardo said with a perfectly straight face, though a mischievous glint flickered in his eyes. "You know, British men have a rather common... 'altitude anxiety.'"
He gestured towards his own hairline.
"Heredity is part of it, but the local water quality has to take some of the blame as well."
Leonardo privately suspected that the only reason Snape's hair remained so thick, greasy though it was, was because the old bat simply didn't wash it very often.
Fleur blinked in surprise, then burst out laughing. She quickly pressed her lips together, but her shoulders still trembled as she struggled to contain herself.
She tried to imagine Leonardo in middle age, still handsome but with his hairline retreating steadily across his forehead, and wisely decided not to picture it any further.
Leonardo, meanwhile, continued rubbing his chin thoughtfully, as though he'd just stumbled upon another business opportunity. Come to think of it, the market for hair-care and hair-restoration potions or alchemical products doesn't sound half bad...
Having finally regained her composure, Fleur looked at him with smiling blue eyes. Her tone retained its teasing warmth, though now there was genuine conviction behind it.
"At this rate, I think that, in a few decades, Hogwarts students might take pride in 'the fountain built by Leonardo Grafton.'" She paused, her smile deepening. "Then again... perhaps it won't even take that long."
Leonardo considered the idea seriously.
Er... do I really want my own name—or worse, a statue of myself—on the fountain?