Author's Note
I plan on taking break from this fic until January. My apologies for breaking my twice a month routine, but I really need to focus on some personal things for a while... and to be honest, I want to rewrite the next chapter. My thanks to everyone reading this and happy holidays!
Numbers in [brackets] denote footnotes, which you can find at the bottom of the chapter.
Nothing from the wizarding world of Harry Potter is mine.
~ Refictionista, December 5, 2016
§ Chapter VI §
Gaius Julius Caesar
Malafides Palatial Domus, Palatine Hill, Rome
Things were easier between Scorpius and Hermione after the first night. One morning, three months after becoming his tutor, Hermione woke to see snow falling gently out of her window. She rose and saw Rome covered by a pristine white blanket.
"Come, Scorpius," she said, "let's go outside this morning instead of staying indoors. The first snowfall is always the best, so we should enjoy it."
The idea of skiving off studying to play outside appealed to the young boy. Together, they hurried outside wearing their winter furs. Hermione taught Scorpius how to bespell a snowball to always hit its target, and he had a merry time hitting the roof in just the right place so the snow resting on top would come tumbling down.
"Miss Hermione?"
"Mm-hmm?"
"Can we do this every day?"
"It won't snow every day. Besides, don't you think you'd soon get tired of it, Scorpius?"
"I suppose so... every other day?"
Hermione laughed, took his hand, and together they walked back to Scorpius's private lesson room.
Once they were alone, Scorpius hesitated before sitting at his desk and getting out his slate and chalks. "Miss Hermione?"
"Yes, Scorpius?"
"Why must we keep quiet about magic?"
Hermione sat on a klinē and pulled Scorpius into her lap. He rested his head on her shoulder and looked at her with quiet anticipation.
"The first reason you must always remember is your father asks this of you. Sometimes we don't understand why our parents tell us to do things, but your father is a good man and you must trust he knows best."
"Father is the best man in the world... and you're the best lady."
Beaming at the compliment, Hermione gave Scorpius another kiss. She didn't notice Draconis in the shadows behind her, leaving after hearing what Scorpius had said with a look of contemplation on his face. Instead, she continued to quietly explain the importance of keeping magic hidden to the young boy.
"Another reason your father asks this of us is because magic is power, and those without magic can be scared of a power unknown to them."
"My magic scares me sometimes."
"Because you can't control it yet, which is why you must be careful when you do magic. Even then, you must only practice your magic under the supervision of either myself or your father."
"Did your parents supervise you?"
"No, my mother was a Muggelia. I didn't understand my magic until I was much older than you, when I went to the school I told you all about."
"Did you like going to school?"
"Yes. Very much."
"What was the school like?"
"I was on a ship when I first saw the school. It burst from the side of the limestone cliffs on the distant shore like a huge gnarled knob on the side of a tree. I had never seen anything like it in my life. The highest tower was at least a stadion high. The school itself was bigger than the Parthenon, that's the temple dedicated to the goddess Athena."
"I've been to the Parthenon," said Scorpius, grinning brightly with a toothy smile. "Father took me."
"Sounds like it was a fun trip. What did you think?"
"I didn't like the statue of Athena."
Puzzled, Hermione tilted her head. "Whyever not?"
"She looked really mean and really tough. I wouldn't want to cross her."
Hermione gave Scorpius a kiss on the forehead. "You probably shouldn't oppose any of the gods or goddesses, sweetheart."
"Yes," agreed Scorpius, "but especially her."
"Hermione of Gkrantes," said Draconis, startling Hermione as she walked through the villa later in the evening.
"Yes, my lord?" she replied with a curtsey, making sure to keep her eyes lowered. Her behavior was at odds with her inner nature, but Hermione was determined to prove to Madam Minerva she was more than capable of handling the task of a praeceptor. Success here would certainly mean a position teaching at the school.
The senator seemed at the cusp of saying something, but then changed his mind as Severus Maximus Snappa approached. Draconis continued looking at her, his face an expressionless mask yet with eyes she couldn't decipher.
"You—and Scorpius have been on my mind lately. That is to say, well, it is time I spoke with you regarding Scorpius's progress. How go the lessons?"
Hermione was certain she heard a snort from Severus.
"Your son is a wonderful student, full of gravitas." She smiled, feeling both pride and pleasure in Scorpius's gift for learning. "You were right when you said he had the potential to be a great mage, and with good training this will be a certainty."
"Of course I was right." Draconis smirked.
Hermione successfully kept from rolling her eyes at her master's arrogance.
"Draconis says the boy has become attached to you," observed Severus. Hermione visibly bristled at Severus's disapproving tone. "I find children are best taught in a strict environment; spoiling them with indulgent motherly pampering should be avoided at all costs."
Before Draconis could put in his opinion, Hermione responded angrily, "He was bred to be a mage, my lord, not a mollycoddle. I have done nothing to dissuade him of that. He will be a great mage one day, with my help."
Severus laughed, startling Hermione.
"Minerva mentioned you were a little spitfire," said Severus. He turned to Draconis. "Perhaps you should have her present when you present young Scorpius to Caesar. He'll find her wildly entertaining."
"Scorpius will be presented to Caesar, my lord?"
Draconis turned his confused face from Severus to Hermione. "Yes," he said. "Tonight, Caesar comes to the villa for the evening meal and to secretly meet with mages loyal to him. Scorpius will be presented during the feast." He turned back to Severus. "What do you mean 'wildly entertaining?'"
Severus only chuckled and walked to the triclinium.
"Are there any spells you will want Scorpius to perform?" Hermione asked.
"No," snapped Draconis. "Scorpius will not give any indication of his magic. There will be servants and bodyguards present during the feast."
"Surely they know mages are coming to this house tonight to meet."
"They know that and nothing else. What they suspect may be different, but were they to voice any rumors... well, I would have them killed. It is as simple as that." He stood straight. "Go fetch Scorpius after he finishes his meal and bring him to the triclinium."
"Yes, my lord."
"Oh... and Hermione," Draconis said as she stopped to turn around and face him.
"Yes, my lord?"
"I am... glad... that Scorpius has you as a tutor." The words seemed forced, but sincere. He looked confused and uncomfortable for the briefest moment, but the stoicism returned almost immediately. He gave her a curt nod, dismissing her and the conversation.
"What do I do, Hermione?" asked Scorpius, trying to keep his lip from quivering.
Hermione straightened Scorpius's robes yet again. She smiled and kissed him on the forehead.
"You will approach when they call for you. Then, you will bow, like this." Hermione crossed one arm over her chest and stiffly leaned forward. "Remain this way until you are given leave to rise. Afterwards, Caesar may ask you some questions. Answer intelligently, in full sentences using the proper declensions. You will do fine."
"I'm not so sure."
"I am," insisted Hermione, "because I've tutored you for a long time now and know how gifted you are. You are highly intelligent, much like your father, who will be there and be proud of you no matter what. I will even be watching from the alcove. Everyone there will be supportive of you."
"And I'm not to do any magic?"
"No."
"What if Caesar asks me to?"
"He won't," said Draconis, standing in the doorway of Scorpius's playroom. He raised his arm and beckoned Scorpius to come forward. "Come, Son," he said, "it is time for me to present you to our Caesar."
Scorpius walked forward and Draconis gestured for him to continue before him. Draconis turned to Hermione. "I heard what you said to him. He is lucky to have you as his tutor."
"Despite what Snappa says?"
"Despite what Snappa says," he said, not unkindly. Hermione thought she saw a hint of a smile on Draconis's austere face. "You may watch from the alcove, since you have already told Scorpius you will be doing so."
Hermione's cheeks turned pink.
"If I have assumed too much—"
"You assumed correctly. It will calm my son's nerves to have you there."
Together, the three walked through the villa to the triclinium, where a great number of distinguished men stood about in richly colored robes.
In the center next to Severus stood a tall man with a fair complexion and keen dark brown eyes. His balding head was somewhat hidden by the thin strands of hair combed forward from the back of his head and the golden wreath of laurels surrounding them.[20]
From this, Hermione knew the man to be Gaius Julius Caesar, the famed dictator of the Roman Republic. She remembered he was a cavalry officer and could see evidence of his occupation in the strong muscles of his legs and arms. He might have been much older, but he was a striking man. She gaped for the briefest of seconds before giving a reassuring squeeze to Scorpius's shoulder and disappearing behind an ornate column.
"Hail, Caesar," said Draconis, bowing. Scorpius did the same, and rose when his father did. "Welcome to my home. May I take this opportunity to present my son, Scorpius Hyperion Malafides."
Draconis stepped to the side and motioned for Scorpius to step forward, which the little boy did with great dignity. He clasped his fist over his chest as Hermione had shown him and bowed again.
Immediately after doing so, there came a small tremor through the villa, rattling the busts along the walls and startling several servants. Several of the men around Caesar held their arms out to steady themselves, but young Scorpius remained perfectly still throughout the brief earthquake.
"Ho!" declared Caesar after the tremors subsided, who had remained steady through the earthquake as well. "I do believe this boy is already a fine man. Such bravery. Rise, Scorpius Malafides."
Hermione watched as Scorpius stood straight, his tiny fist still clasped to his chest. She was overflowing with pride.
Caesar smiled and turned to Draconis. "Tell me, how does such a young man come to possess such fortitude?"
"I'm not afraid of what I understand, sir," said Scorpius, thinking the question to have been directed at him.
"Oh," said Caesar, now looking at Scorpius with interest. "You understand earthquakes then? Explain them to me."
Scorpius carefully explained earthquakes, as Hermione had explained them to him only earlier in the day.
"You should be thankful to your father for hiring your tutor," said Caesar. "He has taught you well."
"Father didn't hire her, Miss Hermione is on loan to us."
Hermione cringed and tried to back away slowly.
"A female tutor?" Caesar's eyebrows rose. "And on loan you say?"
Scorpius pointed at Hermione, and her heart almost stopped.
"Come forward, praeceptor," commanded Caesar. Hermione walked slowly to Scorpius's side.
Caesar appraised her. "What a lovely slave girl, and intelligent it seems. This is a combination I like to see in a woman." He chuckled.
"We are lucky to have Hermione," said Draconis. "She came on Snappa's recommendation." Dismissively, Draconis motioned for Hermione to take Scorpius to bed.
However, Caesar's eyes had widened and he smiled and reached for Hermione as she attempted to leave with Scorpius..
"Oh, young lady, in that case I must have a word with you." Caesar dragged Hermione by the hand. "Draconis, my friend, you're not going to let this talented girl get away. She has to join the meeting."
Hermione realized, with a small sense of horror, Caesar had somehow concluded, correctly, she was a mage.
"No," protested Hermione, "really, I—"
"Nugae! Gerrae! Fabulae![21] Sh... Shh... Shhh," Caesar admonished. "Draconis, my friend, please tell your lovely and intelligent slave your Caesar insists."
"You heard him, Hermione," said Draconis, somewhat stiffly to Hermione's surprise. "Caesar insists."
"Yes, I insist." Caesar tucked Hermione's hand under his arm and patted it. "And for dinner, too. You will be seated next to me."
§
Footnotes:
[20] This description is based on what Roman historian Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius, wrote of Caesar in De Vita Caesarum translated as The Life of the Caesars, although the common English title is The Lives of the Twelve Caesars or simply The Twelve Caesars. Suetonius was born 24 years after Caesar died.
[21] According to the website for Ludi Latini (Latin Games) at the University of Oklahoma, this phrase translates to: Nonsense! Poppycock! Fiddlesticks!
