Chapter 158: A True Grit

"Next, we'll register and then visit my good friend—she's an Auror here at the French Ministry of Magic. Her house is spacious, so we'll stay there during our time in Paris," Amy said, leading George out of the Portkey Office in the French Ministry of Magic. They took a caged elevator up to the main hall, where she directed him to sit on a nearby bench.

"Wait here for a bit. I'll go greet her and grab the keys."

"I think—" George began, wanting to express his preference for staying at an inn on Magic Street, but Amy had already disappeared into the bustling crowd.

"Forget it," he muttered. "As long as the learning goes well, it doesn't matter where I stay."

He wasn't short on money—staying at an inn might be more expensive but was also more convenient. He could explore Magic Street anytime. He even considered offering to pay for Amy's accommodations, but after some thought, it seemed overly extravagant, so he dismissed the idea.

While Amy sought her Auror friend, George stood and began examining the French Ministry of Magic. Unlike the traditional and rigid décor of the British Ministry, the French version exuded a more romantic and free-spirited vibe, adorned with elegant floral patterns and elements of Art Nouveau.

About half an hour later, Amy returned to the hall.

"All set. Let's leave the Ministry. They've placed Anti-Apparition Charms here, so we can't use Apparition inside. Once we're out, I'll take you to my friend's house."

"You know the area better than I do. Lead the way," George replied without objection.

They took the magical elevator up again, this time exiting at Place Fürstenberg, revealing that the entire French Ministry of Magic was situated beneath this plaza.

"Apparate!"

Finding a secluded spot away from Muggles, Amy grabbed George's arm, and they vanished. Moments later, they reappeared on Paris's famed Champs-Élysées.

"Your friend lives on Magic Street?" George asked, surprised.

The Champs-Élysées, often called "the most beautiful avenue in the world," was also the gateway to Paris's Magic Street. Typically, wizards living there either owned shops or had extraordinary wealth. It wasn't common for ordinary wizards to reside in such an exclusive area.

Amy explained, "Paris's Magic Street isn't like Diagon Alley in London. Diagon Alley was one of the first wizarding streets ever built, so it's relatively small because the wizard population was tiny at the time.

"Paris's Magic Street was constructed much later and mirrors the size and layout of the Champs-Élysées. Unlike London, where most wizards live scattered across the countryside, French wizards primarily reside here.

"That's why the street is mostly residential, with only a portion dedicated to shops."

Amy led George to a side alley and stopped in front of a statue perched on a column. With a flick of her wand, she cast a Confundus Charm, disorienting the guards near the statue. Once the statue lifted its skirt to reveal an entryway, Amy dove in, and George followed closely behind.

Inside, the street was almost identical to the Champs-Élysées, but the shop signs betrayed its magical nature. For instance, a pet store outside became a magical creature pet shop here, a library turned into a magical bookstore, and a pharmacy transformed into a potion shop.

The attire of the French wizards was also notably different. Most wore modern suits, blending in with Muggles, except for the wands in their hands. In contrast, traditional wizarding robes were still common in Britain, especially among older wizards in Diagon Alley.

George noted, "Even the school uniforms reflect this difference. Hogwarts requires all students to wear wizarding robes, which are essentially the school uniform. However, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic in France opts for more modern blue suits and gowns."

Amy added as they climbed the stairs to a second-floor apartment, "Because most French wizards live here, it gets lively during the holidays. You'll see many Beauxbatons students during their break, and if you're lucky, there might even be magical creature troupe performances."

Amy opened the door to an apartment with a European-style design, spanning about 130 square meters, with three bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a balcony.

"Not bad," George commented, glancing around.

Amy placed George's luggage in a spare room and said, "The day's still young. You can explore Magic Street if you'd like. I'm heading to a tavern for a drink. We'll officially start your lessons tomorrow."

But George stepped forward and blocked her path. "No need for that. I'm not in the mood to explore Magic Street now. Let's start the lessons right away."

There was plenty of time to explore Magic Street later. Daytime was perfect for learning, and the sooner he mastered Apparition, the sooner he could use it to escape if his other selves encountered danger.

Amy was momentarily stunned before giving him a thumbs-up. "You're a real go-getter!"

From the moment she'd met George until now, his composure and self-discipline had left a deep impression. It was hard to believe he was only twelve years old.

For the sake of the Galleons, Amy shelved her craving for alcohol and, dressed in a tank top, began teaching Apparition.

"Apparition revolves around three key elements: destination, determination, and deliberation. You must clearly picture your target location in your mind—no vagueness allowed."

In truth, Amy didn't believe George could successfully learn Apparition. Even if he grasped the theory, executing the spell was a different matter. A first-year student's body wasn't fully developed, and their magical reserves were usually insufficient to perform such an advanced and magic-intensive spell.

This had been her initial reason for rejecting the job.

But she was desperate for money, and George had plenty. She had no choice but to take the job.

Still, she rationalized that it wasn't deceitful. She intended to teach earnestly and ensure George mastered the theoretical aspects. If his magic wasn't strong enough to perform it yet, that wasn't her fault. With time and growth, he would naturally succeed.