Hey Guys! Here's some side stories until I get a new chapter hammered into place! This one is tagged to Chapter 3 with Elizabeth I and stars Roger Ascham, Elizabeth's childhood tutor! Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This is a Beginning~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Roger Ascham was getting on in years. He had taught many a bright young pupil, though his brightest was now sitting the throne of England at the age of twenty-five. Elizabeth had been an amazing child, fluent in seven languages before her eleventh birthday and fascinated by any bit of knowledge she could find. He had despaired of ever teaching such a bright star again.

He had been proven extraordinarily wrong the moment a young, black haired, green eyed boy stood in front of him, smiling and asking questions about everything. He wasn't sure the boy was more than two! How amazing!

"Hello! Elizabeth says you were here teacher when she was little!"

Roger blinked. "You're supposed to address the Queen as 'Your Majesty'," he said.

Harry frowned. "She said I could call her Elizabeth. I like that name. Your Majes…majesty sounds weird." He made a face. Roger shook his head.

Strong willed wouldn't even begin to describe this child. He could see this battle over names would be an ongoing one.

"Alright then, young Harry, my name is Professor Roger Ascham. Is there anything you want to learn first?"

Harry's eyes went wide and he smiled. "I like math and reading and science. Can we do that?" Harry also loved history but his dad said he couldn't say anything about the future so he would ask later.

Roger delved immediately into a grammar book, intent on figuring out the boy's reading level before he gave him various science or math books. Harry flipped pages idly, reading whenever Roger asked him to and struggling more over pronunciation than over meaning of words. Though whenever he didn't understand something, he would ask immediately. It was refreshing, teaching someone who wasn't afraid to admit they didn't know something. It had much to do with his age, Roger supposed. He hadn't learned the social pressures to always be right yet. He hoped Harry's father had more sense in him than to teach him that particular downfall of humanity.

Another curious thing was not just the astonishing rate in which Harry learned but the vast amount of knowledge he already had. He had obviously not been to a former class before, he was much too young for such things, but he was already well informed of things such as the heavens, animals, languages and maths. It boggled his mind how well Harry spoke whatever language was put in front of him and it made him scramble for books, material, something that would keep that young, active mind learning without immediately handing him scholarly works meant for those in university. He was often tempted to though.

Harry was a joy to teach though. He was a wonderful student and shockingly bright and astonishingly happy with whatever was put in front of him. If Roger didn't remind him of bedtime, Harry would have happily read late into whatever evening he was there.

There was one thing though that Roger found strange about the boy. In all that he knew, his wonderful capacity for reading and math and science, he lacked a basic understanding of any time telling. His query towards Harry of what time it was was met with a confused look and "Learning Time, Professor." He couldn't name hours, minutes or even days of the week. And he didn't seem to see the importance of them either. It was most curious.

He tried to ask the boy's father one afternoon when he came by to pick Harry up for a horse back adventure. The conversation was peculiar indeed.

"Doctor, if I may have a moment of your time. I wish to ask you, is there any reason for Harry to have some difficulties with time telling? He is spectacular with numbers and excels in learning new knowledge but there is something about time that just does not get to him."

The Doctor's wide eyes and bright smile was off-putting. "Nah, Harry here just doesn't need it. What toddler does? Time-shmime. He'll figure it out. But really, what child needs to know noon from night? Or Monday from Friday? They all sort of blend together. Exciting days, those are the good ones."

"Still, it is an important skill, one to be taught in childhood. It is fundamental to our language and growth as human beings in a society that functions on such measurements." Roger was emphatic, trying to make his point.

The Doctor waved his concern away with a smile. "He'll figure it out. As long as he knows the difference between breakfast time and learning time and bedtime all is good."

Roger couldn't argue with that as Harry shut his book (a recent work of philosophy from a man in France) and bounded out of the door excitedly.

Despite the oddities, Roger would be sad to see Harry go. He doubted he would ever teach such a bright mind in his lifetime again.

~~~~~This is an Ending~~~~~~~

Thanks! If you all have any ideas for a side adventure from any chapter or something you want to see done, let me know!

Kuroi