Fleur was clearly quite used to it however which made sense given her innate magic. Physical attraction by the opposite sex was just a consequence of the charm. Though the nonsense story her family pushed about her being only part Veela was ridiculous. Veela were a race of all female birdlike humanoid creatures that reproduced by luring in males of other species to breed with, preferably wizards or humans. As a result the idea of a "half Veela" made no damned sense. It either was or was not a Veela, that's the whole of it.-
Now I'm not saying Fleur was a Veela, because she clearly wasn't, but saying she was part Veela was just misleading. At best she could be considered a witch with Veela magic, that's it. Anyways the magic in question meant she had likely been dealing with boys giving her the eyes since the magic first woke up. She wasn't rude to these people and if anything was incredibly polite but also made it crystal clear she was not interested at all. Not that this was all that surprising really. She never came across as someone focused on that side of things and more as a witch dedicated to mastering her magic and growing stronger though not desperately.-
It was the difference between a studious but paced learner from a voracious devourer of knowledge like Hermione. One had a high ceiling but not likely anything exceptional. The other had only the limits the knowledge they possessed imposed. In the books Fleur went on to become an auror and then housewife while Hermione went on to become the second muggleborn minister of magic in the British isles. Admittedly a LOT of the reason Hermione managed that was because she was one of Harry's best friends. But the point still stood.-
Anyways we ate and when the meal ended I was pulled aside to go with Madam Maxim while Fleur went with the Ravenclaw prefect to the dorm. Mike and Terry gave me a complicated look but didn't reach out at all which admittedly stung a little. I still considered them friends but I wasn't going to delude myself into thinking that went both ways anymore.
"Having regrets young Alex?" Dumbledore asked softly as he walked over.
I shook my head "No. I knew this might happen. I had hoped not but I don't regret the reason why. Genuine lasting friendship is hard when the gap between people is too vast." I said with a sigh.
"You know, I had the same problem when I was younger. It was why I was so entranced by Gellert and he by me. We rivaled each other, we weren't alone anymore." he said with a nostalgic tone.
"I'm not truly alone. I merely hoped for something that was naïve of me to believe I could have." I admitted with a sigh.
"Don't lose hope so easily young Alex. Perhaps Mister Boot and Mister Corner might not be able to accept your friendship but the world is a vast place. One day I am certain you'll find someone." he said with a reassuring squeeze to my shoulder.
"I appreciate the pep talk but like I said i'm not truly alone. At the very least I have friendships with a few of my contacts. Some are only there for the benefits and that's fine but i've got a few real friends I believe." I say honestly.
"One day I'd love to meet any of these contacts of yours. Hearing you speak about them they must be extraordinary people." he says with a smile.
"Are you ready to go?" Madam Maxim asks in french after she finally manages to escape Lockhart who was trying his best to convince her to let him teach at Beauxbatons next year.
"Yes." I answered with a nod.
"Come along then. I have a portkey near Beauxbatons. The same one you and Monsieur Flammel took to get there at the start of the summer break." she said taking out the thing from her pocket.
"Do try and give our school a good impression will you?" Dumbledore said with a wink before we left the castle.
Once we left the edge of the wards for the school grounds Madam Maxim activated the portkey and that sensation of getting sucked through a straw by my belly button appeared before we landed at the field at the edge of Beauxbatons. I looked at the gorgeous school that was being hit with moonlight.
"This place has a very different feel from during the day. Tranquil, almost melancholic." I said with a grin.
She smiled proudly "That is the intent. Alive during the day, quiet during the night. Monsieur Flammel funded this design in hopes it might inspire the students here." she said with a nod.
I chuckled "I can see him doing something like that. Have you ever been to his house? For all his love of alchemy you can find a large amount of nature in his home. Whole rooms with artificial biomes like that oh so famous briefcase owned by Mister Scamander." I say amused.
"I have been to his home but I never got to see much of it. My visits are usually of a professional nature you see." she admitted with a tinge of envy.