Family to Work Day
Pavel was down in the kitchen making coffee when John came in. Harry was still asleep, after their late night.
"No sign of our little waif yet, Ivan?" Pavel asked, handing his son a cup of hot coffee.
"Not yet, Papa. Though I stopped by his room on the way down, and he's starting to stir."
"Did he have any trouble sleeping, did he mention?"
"No, sir. Nothing serious anyway. He apparently had a bad dream about being chased around a dinner table by some silverware at one point. Some variant on the 'Hey Diddle Diddle' nursery rhyme."
"Well good," Pavel laughed. "Much better he fret about pushy flatware, than be worried about the neighbors' boy wanting his head on a pike. I hoped, with so much new information presented to him yesterday, our little 'problem with the neighbors' would just blend into the background pattern of all the rest. Well, let's see if our little lordling is up and dressed yet. We have a busy day ahead of us."
"When will you be going out, Papa?" Ivan asked.
"Not for a little while yet. I've appointments at 10 and 11, up at the Crest. Until then, I'll be looking over paperwork here in my Study. I thought I'd review it with Harry when he's dressed and ready. I'd like him to understand as much of the meeting as possible."
"What's the agenda, Papa?"
"Actually, it will be one of the most interesting he could attend. Aside from some status reports and production figures, - the boring part - it's my approvals for awards, program budgets, and new program preparations for next year. I'll deal with any urgent appeals or court needs, of course. It will be interesting what the Council make of him. I've already let them know he is coming."
"So, want me to have him get a wiggle on, then?" John chuckled.
"Sure, why should he laze about if he wants to see what Papa's work day is like? Tell him to get dressed properly, and I'll help with the cufflinks, if he needs. Threaten to finish all the breakfast. That may provide motivation!" Pavel laughed.
"On my way, Papa!" John called, as he headed up the stairs holding his coffee.
About an hour later saw Harry, dressed in three-piece wizarding suit of navy blue pinstripe, pulling at his shirt collar as though the silk material chafed, was seated alongside Papa's desk in his study, reviewing stacks of journals and parchment.
"May I offer a suggestion that might help, Harry?" Pavel asked, watching his son shuffle aimlessly through the stacks of information.
"Certainly!" Harry looked up.
"Stack the parchments neatly, the just 'look at' each of them for a moment, with a single eye blink. Move down through the pile as though you were a camera taking images. Each 'book' or 'journal', turn to the very last section written in, and flow through those pages the same way. Unless I miss my guess, your mind magic has progressed enough that doing this will embed all the information in your retrievable memory. It won't 'prepare a report' for you, or compose something. But it will provide answers to any clear question you can mentally articulate. Try that a moment..."
So Harry neatened a stack of documents, then steadily turned them over leaf by leaf into a 'done' pile. Pavel knew the reports and summaries he was looking at. So, before Harry could shift his attention to some journal chapters, Pavel asked, "How much lumber did the Northeast Region produce in the second half of this year?"
"Approximately half a million board feet, sir," Harry answered instantly.
"And Bauxite? How much ore did they send to the refineries?" Pavel continued.
"Two hundred fifty thousand metric tonnes, sir," Harry answered again.
"Good. Well done. Carry on, Harry," Pavel nodded with a smile, making no big deal of the fact that Harry's command of mind magic was well ahead of the norm in his gaining command of his gifts. Soon, he and Harry were going to have to have a long talk about his schoolwork. "Study" and "memorization" were now no longer any challenge at all. He had a nearly perfect eidetic memory already. While that is assuredly a good thing, it can lead to a very false sense of confidence.
Simply the fact that one has knowledge, too often is mistaken for "knowing all about" a topic, when it was no such thing. The fact that someone may have memorized all the works of Shakespeare perfectly, for example - an otherwise very impressive feat - does not mean that they can write an essay of any quality on the comparison and contrast of "Romeo and Juliet", with "Taming of the Shrew". Eidetic memory only provides raw material for analysis, not quality synthesis. It is easy for a young mage, just discovering the joys of "instant memorization" to mistake raw "knowledge" for "skill", especially with regard to magic... a potentially deadly error of judgment. Mastery still requires practice, drill, and the development of magical and muscle memory, not just cognition.
Harry was blissfully ignorant of any of this crossing Pavel's mind, as they sat preparing for these appointments. Pavel waited patiently until Harry had gone over all the written material, sitting comfortably with his hands folded across his middle.
"So, Harry," Pavel began, as Harry finished his last revision of the reports. "What do you think, or what questions do you have? What are your first impressions?"
Harry sat still and silent for a minute, reflecting on all he had seen. "Mainly, that it's a LOT. It reminds me a bit of how you teach history. I mean, Professor Binns always just looked at this war, or that war, or this date, that leader, these countries... whatever. But you look at people, places, geography, resources, religions, trade... all this stuff about WHY leaders made the decisions they make, and how things happen. It's just a lot more complicated than the way most subjects are taught." Harry paused a bit. "Well, that's not right either. Or it's sort of right..." he paused again, as Pavel gave him time to sort out his thoughts. "What I mean is, in a way it's 'more complicated', but in another way it makes more sense. I mean, if you look at wars just 'breaking out'... like measles or something, it never really makes sense. You're just trying to keep up with memorizing names, dates and places. But when you see the reasons behind people making the decisions they do, whether to invade someone else, or defend against a threat - whether real or imagined - then you can kind of understand how something started. Know what I mean?"
Pavel nodded, "Yes, son. I do. And it's really important to me that young wizards start thinking this way, and asking themselves why people do what they do in given situations. I really believe half the conflict in the world around us, is because we tend to look at things only one way, and can't see how others can interpret our actions or posture as being threatening or potentially dangerous. Especially when it comes to mages and muggles. Our very innate power makes us appear to be a threat to those without magic."
"But aren't we, really? Aren't magical people an automatic threat to mundane people?" Harry asked.
"I don't think so, son. That's like saying aren't adults an automatic threat to children, because they're physically larger. Or males innately dangerous to females for the same reason. When people choose to accept the sacredness of EVERY person, regardless of age, sex, size, magical status, or anything else... when we live by a code that says we will treat all people with dignity and fairness, we can overcome assumptions and unfounded fears. But you're right in the sense that exploitation is always a possibility, some people choose this path, and it takes diligence to maintain order and dignity in society. That's certainly what OUR governance is about."
"I don't know how you can do it, Papa," Harry said, still feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"In a very real sense, I don't, Harry. None of us can do it alone. Let's head on up to the office. You'll get to meet some of the real people that make this all work. I can only do one part. Many, many others hold everything together. Let's find our brooms..."
The two of them headed to the Kitchen after Pavel grabbed his Staff, went to the Mud Room, donned their overcloaks and grabbed their brooms, heading outside to fly. Papa led Harry up the mountain slope south of the Chalet, over and beyond the Village, to the crown of the highest crest. Up here Harry saw a circular building, glass all around, with a second round dome attached. They walked in through a sliding glass door keyed to Pavel's palm, hung up their cloaks and parked their brooms to enter a vast round room brilliantly sunlit walled by glass nearly all the way around it.
The view was absolutely breathtaking, as this, which Papa called the "Teahouse" straddled the mountain ridge, and gave a 50 mile view or better, both north and south. They could even make out the Black Sea from here as clear as the air was. Forest covered mountain slopes salted with snowfall, frozen ribbons of streams and runoff iridescent in the polarizing sunlight looking like candy floss down the slopes, birds circling overhead as hawks scanned the ground for careless wildlife out of their burrows... you felt like you stood at the top of the world. In the centre of the room was a great round ring-shaped table with room in the middle for someone to stand to make a presentation, or for Papa to place his staff if he wanted to set up a Diorama. Around this there was room enough for smaller tables against the wall, so that smaller conferences or meetings could be held, or meals served. Harry could see that this room could be used for a lot of things, or different kinds of presentations or activities. Chairs throughout were comfortable leather swivel rocking chairs on wheels.
About 20% of the outer wall wasn't glass, but counter and service area that clearly led to a kitchen. A long countertop there already held coffee and tea urns, cold beverages, and a very full buffet assortment of small sandwiches and a great variety of pastries and snacks.
"These meetings will include lunch for some of those attending, so anyone can feel free to serve themselves whenever they'd like. I really enjoy this venue for meetings, Harry, and I have an 'office' over here opposite the Kitchens. Since I do most of my work in my own Study, wherever I am, there's not a lot of material in my office. But sometimes, I use it for a formal meeting with someone I do not choose to invite to my home. What do you think?" Pavel smiled.
"Wow, Papa. Just... wow! If we had a classroom like this at Hogwarts, I don't think anybody could get any studying done at all! This is all just so beautiful. You can see forever from here!" Harry said, unable to tear himself from the windowed walls, as slowly he circled the panorama.
"All righty then, Harry. Let me take a quick look at you..." Pavel inspected that the boy's seams were straight, tie and handkerchief placed properly. "You look every inch the Scion of the House, me lad. Now, why don't you pour yourself some tea or cocoa, get a plate of snacks if you'd like, and you will sit right here..." he said, indicating the chair just to the right of his own at the circular table, "and I'll do the same as I get my notes ready."
"OK, Papa. What's going to happen here, and what do I need to know?"
"Well, the first meeting is a general 'status review', and it will all be happening with mind speak at a fairly dense rate. The second meeting will be a number of presentations, summaries, and some question/answer where I'll be approving programs, answering questions, or giving direction. That second meeting will also be happening with mind-speak, but not at quite so fast a pace. Still, the information load will be dense. The main thing I want you to know is that if at any time you feel dizzy, disoriented, or nauseous, or if you start to experience a headache, you are to withdraw from the pool and occlude us... or, if you are not able, then squeeze my arm for a moment and I will exclude you. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir. I understand. Do you expect that to happen?" Harry looked concerned.
"Not particularly. But I won't be doing most of the presenting, others will. So I can't be sure how much pressure or at what speed they will push the information. I just don't want you thinking you have to stay with the flow no matter what. If you start to get a headache, I expect you to withdraw. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Papa. I hear you. I'll be careful," Harry assured him.
"Good lad. Right then, let's sit for the moment, and our staff will arrive shortly.
Within the next fifteen minutes, twenty mages of various ages, both witches and wizards arrived. Each were warmly greeted, double kissed, kissed Pavel's ring, and were introduced to Harry with every sign of true affection with one another. To a casual observer, the 'meeting' would have looked very odd, indeed. Papa set his Staff upright in the centre of the 'lecture pit' of the Table, and some presenters made use of Diorama to illustrate resource production at various points of the Estate. Others used it to show new construction or maintenance activities on highways and utilities.
As Pavel had warned him, Harry saw that information did, indeed, flow by exceedingly quickly. At the same time, the preparation he had had from home, seeing the summaries in Papa's Study, helped a great deal for Harry keeping up with the discussion. He didn't worry about trying to memorize anything or focusing intently on specifics. He just wanted to acquire a sense of general scope of the Estate and its activity.
At the end of an hour, the meeting drew to a close as Pavel asked if there were any comments, questions, or concerns that anyone had that had not been addressed. Finding none, he closed the meeting inviting everyone to a few minutes' break, and refreshments.
"How are you holding up, son?" Pavel asked in his head.
"Fine, sir. A little confusion, no doubt. But no discomfort. It's all just pretty amazing. Are these the 'managers' of each of these interests?"
"Some are, some are not. Some of these are 'Seneschal's', managers of particular areas of responsibility. Some of these people, however, are the accounting and data collection managers, not the operations directors. It depends on how complex the task. All, however, are loyal bondsmen entrusted with the care of their areas of responsibility."
"Maybe you can explain that 'bondsman' thing to me later, Papa. I don't understand."
"I'll try, son. But it's hard to explain sometimes until you're older. We'll have a few people leaving and some arriving for the next meeting. I think you'll find it a bit more interesting."
In about 10 minutes, the newcomers were all greeted, introduced and seated, and the meeting got underway. A great deal of the time was discussion of continuation of current programs, scholarships, educational and health education enrichment, summer and holiday sports, youth activities, camps, and travel, and a couple of new business ventures. The very last agenda item captured Harry's attention. It was judicial stuff, as people appealed rulings made by the courts and judges of the Estate, asking for reassessment by the Duke directly.
It astonished Harry to see Pavel work through these. Several cases he disposed of immediately, analyzing the written material and rendering a written verdict with charmed quill and parchment. Some, however, he instructed to have examined for further facts by his law enforcement mind mages, and then get back to him. Others, just a scant handful of others, however, he said he was going to investigate for himself and would return a verdict before the end of the week. For some reason, these cases captured Harry's attention, and he found himself wondering if he... and maybe his friends... could be of any help.
This second meeting then adjourned promptly at the end of the hour, as Papa and Harry rose to take their leave of all the officials. Pavel mind-spoke to Harry after a few moments, that it was customary for him to leave first, so they should go ahead and get their cloaks on and thank all for coming. They did so, and exited to the glorious sunshine of the noontime winter's day.
Riding back at a leisurely pace, Pavel inquired, "You still good, Harry? No headache or tension?"
"Not really a headache, Papa. I feel a little strain, maybe. But it could just be the weather, too. As likely it's sinus, as the mind magic."
"So what did you think of everything, son?"
"I kind of get it. You're ultimately responsible, so you need to know what's going on, and need to be able to rule on the directions things are taking. But at the same time, all those people are really good a what they do, and know all about it down to the nuts and bolts. So... as long as you can trust them completely, and they you, then this system works smoothly."
"That's right, Harry. Well put," Pavel nodded as they flew along.
"Let me ask, though, what if someone doesn't like how things are going, or how they're run? What if someone has a complaint or feel like something isn't fair? Can THEY come straight to you and talk about it? Or do those managers stop them?"
"That's a good question, Harry. I do, actually, have an 'open door' policy. That is, anyone of the Estate, can make an appointment to see me. BUT, if their concern is an 'operational matter', they are instructed to address it as far as possible within proper channels. Before they get an appointment with me, they need to provide information about what action they took to correct the situation they are concerned about. If they do that, and they are wrongly ignored or dismissed by their management, then I tend to take corrective action... and management seldom again ignores a meaningful concern. If they fail to do that, and lie about it just to get my time, I tend to take other corrective action... and people seldom again fail to follow proper procedures.
"For the most part, we work from the assumption that everyone wants goods and services to flow smoothly, and everyone wants fair and equitable working conditions. If there's a way to improve those, no matter where the idea comes from, it is worth exploring. And people with good ideas should be encouraged and rewarded, not shut down."
At this point, the two of them had arrived back at the Chalet, where they landed outside the Mud Room once again. Deftly dodging Boris and Odessa, they put up their cloaks and brooms in the Mud Room, and entered the Kitchen briskly rubbing their hands together to ward off the chill. John and Oxsana stood there, handing them hot mugs of steaming warmth... cocoa for Harry, tea for Pavel.
"Harry, you have a guest waiting for you in the Front Room," Oxsana smiled. "Papa Pavel, perhaps you may want to invite him for luncheon?"
"Of course... I think. Who is it?"
"Harry's new friend from the village, Stashu. He came up to ask if Harry could go out to spend the afternoon with him. We told him you'd both be home soon, if he had time to wait. We could but ask," Oxsana said, as she steered Harry out to meet Stashu.
"That sounds fun, Papa. Would that be OK? I'd need to change first, of course, but could we eat then let Stashu show me around for a bit?" Harry asked excitedly.
"I don't see why not, son. Do you think you can manage to hang out together in the Village for a couple hours without brawling or otherwise disturbing the peace?" Pavel challenged in mock severity.
"Yes, sir," Harry rolled his eyes, "I suspect we could."
"Well, all right then. Go ask if the young man has eaten yet, and would he care to join us. In the meantime, I'm going to change as well. Enough business for one day." With that, Pavel headed up the stairs as Harry went out to greet his friend. Harry then went upstairs to change, and Stashu joined them for lunch before he and Harry took off for the Village.
Together they had a terrific day walking all about, meeting other kids in town, and visiting every shop worth visiting for a kid. Like Hogsmeade, the Village had a sweet shop, toy store, sports store, bakery, and other very worthwhile stops for the underage consumer. Harry told Stashu all about the school friends he was expecting tomorrow, and by the time the two of them parted ways as evening approached, they'd made tentative plans about perhaps all getting together the following afternoon.
Harry walked Stashu home and was introduced to his grandparents, behaving very respectfully, knowing that if he didn't he'd certainly hear about it. Once Stash went inside, Harry was grateful for the ability to blink, as he saved himself a considerable cold walk back home.
He was back to the Chalet by tea time, garnering approval from all as he sat and described his activities and discoveries.
By the time tea, and then dinner were over, Harry was nearly dozing on the couch in front of the living room fireplace, as the grownups went around putting finishing touches on their preparations for the arrival of their guests tomorrow. It seemed a perfect family ending, for such a homey holiday. Before long, Harry was sawing logs with total abandon, and John carried him up to bed.
Pavel wanded him into his sleepclothes, tucked him in, kissed him gently on top of the head, and whispered, "Rest well, little man. We love you."
Harry just smiled in his sleep as he snuggled tighter in his covers and mumbled back, "Ni- night, Papa. Love you..." and was out before Pavel reached the door.
A/N I'd love it if you take a moment to review. I appreciate your enjoyment of these stories so much! Feel free to comment, question, critique, or offer ideas. Grace to you, Gentle Reader. Thank you for being here - Mort