everything about this is beautiful. i'm bad enough about canon outside the seven books that i don't know if we ever get to see beauxbatons, but you've established it firmly in my head, the light and colour, fragile glass and ironwork. There's so much in this story that gives it real depth - the regrouping and refocusing after the first war, the academic squabbles - and the prism of xenophilius's point of view means that it's all lightly and enthusiastically handled.
the relationships and characters at the centre of it are wonderful. xenophilius and his nervous but eager awakening; poor damaged dumbledore - does he see an echo of young gellert in him? - their tender plum-fuelled moment. and i want a series of fics about this gorgeous slughorn, his "youthful good living", and his "catch my drift". as far as i'm concerned, this is how he was, and i'm in love.
also: i tend to avoid fics about dumbledore. you've convinced me that i should get over myself!