Developments of the Future
For Sirius Black, he has his priorities in order after his exoneration in early 1995.
Being Diantha's 'proxy father'. It was hard at first as Diantha was so Independent and was so used to 'adults being useless, I can't count on them' in ways she wanted to, thus he supported her in other ways that got her very appreciative of him and they bonded well and got close as he had hoped for. Thus for a girl who adapted to her new world, she retained her humanity and regained the 'spark of youth' she lost.
That took a LOT of effort, mind you, but Sirius doesn't want to fail his late friends, and Diantha herself who was failed by her own relatives because Petunia's a spiteful bitch and Vernon hating anyone better than him, and damn his old teachers! Why treat Diantha differently?! And he hasn't forgotten what Diantha gets into against her will nor has he forgiven them for not believing in him either.
He had sent his old teachers and Snape a single Howler a year after everyone was used to the fact he's a free, innocent man, ensuring they get the Howler in a staff meeting, courtesy of Dobby. He had harangued them all and resigned from the Order in anger. And thanks to Bounded Fields, owls can't find them both unless that owl is Hedwig. Not even Fawkes can find them. He sent a separate Howler to Moony as well and it'll be a while before Sirius forgives everyone he knows for not saving him. That's thirteen years lost, people, and Diantha suffered a lot before she decided, 'screw all of you!' and left.
Diantha was a broken kid who doesn't know how to be a kid, her childhood lost forever, that her actions are based on what she wants and what's good for her while still knowing good and bad though she has a 'magus mindset, just without willingly agreeing to massive deaths to hone her craft' as he knows what happens in her classes that he encouraged her to enjoy her youth and 'staying by her side' through his support.
Diantha, like any student, has a body count just to perfect their potions and rituals in Botany Course so she was traumatized in having to kill and torture in her classes, all the while consoling herself that 'they're death row criminals anyway' but she had no heart to be an executioner and relied on instructions to get by in class and focus on 'a certain mindset'. The only time she will willingly kill someone, is if they threaten her life and what she deems hers. She would jokingly tell him that 'a traumatic youth' is the default setting for all Magi.
He brought out the Black Family Pensieve and let her see her family through his memories, encourages her to have fun like any teenage girl her age would. In summer when she has no invitations, they would go out on family outings and have fun traveling the world till she has to attend parties. They also go movie nights and concerts, be it for classical music as expected of nobles like themselves, to popular pop or rock groups.
She discovered what she likes as a girl just as how Sirius discovered more stuff he likes and in time, found the Muggle World more fun than Wizarding Society.
As Lord Black, he had a lot of authority in dealing with the family name how he sees fit.
The Black Family is stupidly inbred that its not funny. As the last living Black who's 'purged' of his inbreeding and his fertility improved by Dia, he can marry and produce as many children as possible when he marries to restore the family.
Despite being annoyed with Andy for obvious reasons, he summoned her and his niece Dora for a 'thorough treatment' a week after he got exonerated, so they can have as many kids as possible for when Dora marries while in Andy's case, before she hits fifty as he had plans to make a branch family out of the Tonkses to spite their inbred, pure-blood espousing maniacs for relatives, most of whom THANKFULLY DECEASED.
They were shocked to see him young, handsome and healthy for someone who lived in, and left Azkaban after over a decade. He did NOT look 34, he looked like someone who just turned 20!
In his opinion, they are the last Blacks left, three of them.
'Er, three of us?' Dora asked him incredulously.
'Get real Dora, most of our relatives are psycho-maniacs.' Sirius grumpily told her. 'I hope for us to have a clean slate through three of us. Bella and Cissa are self-explanatory. The disowned Squibs are killed when I looked in our family history when we could have had more living Black MALE relatives around that we could have been prolific! Its to the point Diantha is heir of House Black as she thankfully has more blood than Draco Malfoy to claim that status as the Malfoys didn't have a drop, until Cissa married Lucius. Thus his claim as Black Heir is weak.'
'However, as her duty to the Potter Family, she must become Head of her own House thus for now she is Proxy Heir until I get hitched and pop a few of my own sprogs at some point, but for now I prioritized being 'an adult Diantha could rely on' as that poor kid is alone, isolated and couldn't turn to anyone for help in her tough times as all adults around her, even our old teachers are unreliable and useless when it comes only to her, which she blamed on her reputation as Girl-Who-Lived.' he explained.
'That's rather terrible...I could go to Professor Sprout any time I wanted when I have troubles.' Dora frowned.
'She had a lot to say about ol' Minnie.' Sirius snorted derisively. 'Dia!' he called out as from next door, a girl with a veil on her face came out. She wore a gothic dark purple dress with lavender frill trimmings which was figure-hugging at the torso, but with a flared A-skirt, and heeled shoes with X straps. Her legs covered in sheer, brown stockings. Her hair is in two high twintails. Her forearms clad in gothic accessories. 'Your two patients for treatment are here.'
'Oh, that's them? Guess they're using the Longbottoms' old Healing Incubation Tanks.'
'Wait, what?' Andromeda asked her incredulously.
'I spent a year medicating Alice and Frank Longbottom as a lifelong birthday and christmas gift to Neville.' said Diantha. 'End result, look at Padfoot. They're in perfect physical health that they can see a Mind Healer in Greece as of a couple days ago after the ICW Court cleared him. Now, my job is to make you guys reach the peak of health every night after your jobs until you're cleared.' she said.
'Does that mean mum will lose her wrinkles?' Dora asked with a goofy grin.
'Yes. But due to your jobs, you can only have 50% of peak condition as time is against you.' said Diantha. 'I will purge your genetics clean of Inbreeding, clean your blood vessels and arteries, liver and intestines before I strengthen your eyes and bones. Your looks come last. Had you have more free time, you'd be having the body of the healthiest person in the world.'
'Well, it's as you say.' said Andy with a weak smile. 'We'll take what we can get. We'll also discuss Black Family Situation with Ted once Black Family Privacy Talks is over, we'll go to our home. Will you be coming?'
'Nope. I'm getting your tanks ready and supplied.'
Thus over time, Andromeda and Nymphadora who got privileged, felt that their eyesight got a lot clearer, and Andromeda who looked a lot like Bellatrix, also 'de-aged' in terms of looks that she looked like her daughter's older sister. Her skin trim, her body made slim but shapely and slender in the right places.
Andromeda sent Sirius a letter that Ted, upon seeing the 'improved her', got his 'drive' back and yeah, they got to baby-making.
After Dora alone, Andy and Ted kept trying for years until they stopped trying when Dora was ten, thus they doted on their only daughter.
About six months after treatment, Andy and Ted tried again and succeeded in conceiving after years of failure. Thus before Andy reaches 'a certain stage', the Tonks Family is sure to be more prolific. Thus Sirius applied more security over their household and 'a large radius' around their house, and paid for Dora's martial arts training in a muggle gym when off the clock and encouraged to marry for love as well, hopefully she'd meet a man at work who'd do her right, instead of 'having fun' with her Metamorph Abilities to live out his fantasies.
Sirius also purchased a plot of land in a leyline ideal to build the Black Family Mansion, by taking 'bits and pieces' from Architectural Styles to build for himself a brand new, fancy Family Mansion just outside London just so he can still have access to Plumbing and Electricity.
Hey, he likes having TV and other stuff around!
xxx
Three friends were not in contact for so long for many reasons for some time.
School, Research, Travels and Misadventures, and of course in Waver's case, securing a classroom as he found Passion in teaching come 1997.
When Diantha got wind of it, she would tell him, 'At least finish your Fundamentals first! No student will take you seriously otherwise!'
You cannot teach without a full mastery of even the basics alone, buster!
'Don't worry Dia, I carried my Fundamentals books with me at all times, I just need to pass the exams to prove my merits. That's OK, right?'
'Good.'
Thus by borrowing money from Melvin again, he used the El-Melloi Classroom as his starting point. It was painfully-easy to borrow money from Melvin, if you're two people closest to the guy. Waver gave him 'one hell of an experience'.
Having somehow managed to become a third year lecturer while studying the bare essentials, he quickly made a name for himself. At first, he wasn't placed into a specific Faculty, so his lectures had a vanishingly small number of attendees. Thanks to this, however, the lessons had a practicality to them that was unrivalled elsewhere in the Clock Tower.
Next thing Diantha knew, he became Lord El-Melloi II!
'OK, how did that happen?!' In a cafe not far from Clock Tower, they talked, with a barrier of course.
'I got frigging kidnapped by Kayneth's brat.' Waver groused out unhappily, 'After she introduced herself as Reines El-Melloi Archisorte, we talked a little regarding the war. Then considering the situation of the El-Mellois, she made three demands of me. Restore the Family Crest, be her tutor and lastly which is shocking, benchwarmer for the Lord status till she's of age though I'm obviously a puppet.'
'And to ensure he can't run, she had me remove his Crest and its under my custody as Collateral, so I knew the situation too.' said Melvin with a chuckle. 'This is another interesting adventure for sure!'
'Restore Family Crest, huh?' Diantha twitched before dramatically pointing at Waver. 'This guy, whose specialty is basically Dissection?' she questioned sarcastically.
Waver Velvet's Magical Attribute is Counteraction. A Destroyer of Mystery.
Once he sees a spell or ritual in action, he instantly understands it, and can immediately see how to counteract or destroy it. Combine that with his ability as a Researcher, his attribute can rise to deadly degrees most Magi would hate him on sight. Also as a 'dissector', he is the best person at detecting the hidden talent of others and training it. He indeed has the ability to be a teacher who can raise Brand or Pride-level students, but fact remains that he must attain credentials first.
He did this to Diantha in their training together actually. Thus she focused on where she was best at, while honing where she was weak at to be versatile as a witch. He was also responsible for discovering Melvin's hidden talent.
'Hahahaha, yeah, I can already see that!' Melvin sniggered. He knows full well its damn impossible too.
'Can it, you.' Waver pouted. He knows full well its damn impossible that he's basically Reines' servant for life unless a miracle happens somehow. 'At least the other two requests can be fulfilled, three is just plain nuts unless luck shined on me somehow so I'll be busy in the next coming years.'
'Well, be thankful you got no debt too as that brat will slap that on you if she could.' said Diantha, making Waver choke into his coffee. 'While you were at war, Reines discovered Melvin and I watching the war progress and grilled us about it.' she said. 'So I gave her an advanced warning before the whole association found out Kayneth's dead. She was thus able to protect El-Melloi Resources, thus can pay off the huge debt Kayneth owed to a number of people.' she told them. 'From Dobby's side, he says it was like pulling teeth to pull that off as her adoptive family is extremely conceited and arrogant because of their boy-wonder son's accomplishments, until they got wind how he got killed.'
Waver didn't know that Kayneth and his wife were killed. He discovered that from Melvin during his travels actually, as Diantha went to Japan to investigate the aftermath, and gave intel to Reines. She also got to speak to the Magus Killer and got his side of the story, and even helped two Tohsaka daughters get by. As she herself put it, Tohsaka Tokiomi is an idiot.
'The spirits, furnaces and mystic codes huh? How much would that be if my luck was that bad?' Waver dreaded the answer, but he still has to know.
'As much as a Hollywood Blockbuster would cost.'
Waver winced.
A Blockbuster is a movie predicted to earn twice or thrice the money it cost, if done right. Its a Blockbuster due to the large budget it cost to make, and big-name stars used to cast in characters.
'There's many Blockbusters, Dia.' Waver griped. 'I watched a few myself.'
'Yeah, when I made a comparison, its close to the budget that made Terminator 2: Judgment Day in 1991...94 million dollars. Convert that to pounds...' Waver went white from TERROR from the sheer price. There's no way in hell can he pay for that in his lifetime! Hell, any child or grandchild he may have will be shouldering the rest after he dies! He dodged a major bullet thanks to one of his closest friends!
xxx
Waver thus, spent initial time in Reines' mansion. He got access to Kayneth's workshop and saw many of his unfinished works as well as that of the finished ones.
Crest Issue aside, being Reines' tutor thus must know how the Archibald Family Craft works in order to teach her, he understood that he can never leave her until they both die, much to the brat's laughter. Even moreso when her intent was figured out by him in a short time.
'You instantly realized that~?'
'No shit, of course I did.' Waver pinched his nose hard out of frustration with his circumstances. 'In order to raise a Lord, I was granted entrance here, in a Lord's Workshop now that I became El-Melloi II, just to know how to teach Lord-worthy magecraft to an El-Melloi Successor. But secrets can never leave me through any means now that I saw all this as tools of my trade.' he groaned. 'In a way, I'm your personal Sealing Designate!' Reines laughed even harder at his words as it was the funniest way he put his situation in her hands.
By indeed being her tutor and he must know HOW to educate a Lord properly in terms of Magecraft, he would know the secrets of the Archibald Family, thus can never leave their service, whether he likes it or not to preserve their secrets.
'Good, so long as you know that~' Reines smirked, still-teary-eyed and red-faced from laughter and armfolding. 'So, what do you think of my brother's unfinished works? Those would take him about three more years to present, had the dummy had enough sense back in the wars.' she said.
'Well, it'll take me half the time when I looked into them.' Reines' eyes widened in amazement, her mouth becoming a small 'o' at his bold claims. Her brother who put five years to get all that halfway done and finish it in three more had he remained alive, he claims to finish the rest in half the three years' mark? What a bold claim he made!
The man's ability is summed up by Melvin as a 'Destroyer of Mystery'. He can effortlessly dissect it like a frog and figure it out as well as how best to make use of it, thus already dissected him and Diantha Potter. He detected where they're best and bad at thus they pursued it. He found his passion at being a teacher during their journey post-war, but has lots to do in so little time. He has the potential - and the mind - of an Archmagus if given time. His only flaw being his lousy lineage as lousy lineage equals lousy magical pedigree. Knowledge he may have, create many spells and rituals as he wants, but 80% of it, he cannot ever hope to cast as its waaaay beyond his Od. Thus he can only be an Archmagus only in name in his future.
Under Diantha's prodding for Waver's own good, Melvin permanently enhanced and maximized Waver's circuits to be better in quality of Od. Being a 'newborn lineage', his circuit quality is a frigging E while quantity is D. Melvin managed to make his quality a C. Just enough power to survive the craziness called his life as Waver will never take on things beyond his power anyway. But once Reines makes things official, he'll have a massive target on his back, courtesy of jealous mages.
'Well, you and I will be very busy. Until I sort this unfinished mess and make a Grimoire out of everything, mature your circuits and go see Dia.' he said. 'She knows what growing kids should eat and I doubt poisoned meals are healthy, so she's taking you to Diagon Alley to purchase a House Elf. And have your adoptive Grandma teach you etiquette and manners befitting a Lord since that's not my thing.'
Indeed as a Lord, she must live up to it, starting with manners and social skills that come with it but as a girl she must learn under her foster mother. Waver will learn under her Foster Father in how to be a proper male Lord and politicking.
'Can't you guys just have it delivered?' Reines inquired with a raised eyebrow.
'Cannot be done.' said Waver with a handwave. 'In the House Elf Placement Agency, until a customer likes the, all of them are bonded to the shopkeeper to keep them alive as without a Master, they die hours after puberty without a source of magic to feed on. So you must purchase on the spot.' he explained. 'Don't worry, they only cost 1 unit of od per month in terms of od consumption, not that expensive for a Master. However, the Od they get from you only maintains their lifespan, increasing it as long as they get Od from their owners. Yet despite the low upkeep, they have a powerful brand of magic though they're just happy with housework.'
He explained how House Elves work to Reines.
If treated kindly and well, expect perfectly-supernatural service. Sparkling clean home, perfectly-manicured gardens and delicious food. But if mistreated and abused, their services will 'barely meet standards', badly-cooked meals in terms of flavor and texture despite maintaining presentation, and will find loopholes in orders as a form of rebellion.
An example of that, was a House Elf Waver knew, through Diantha back in his training days under her.
Reines was intrigued. A servant loyal only to her if she played her cards right. Hummm! However, it needs a proper work uniform, NOT a pillowcase or rags! It will tarnish her reputation!
She chose the cutest one. Naturally its a girl. No such thing as cute MALE elf...
xxx
'OK, for your first day here before you start,' Reines told her filthy elf wearing rags in a makeshift halter dress. She was annoyed with how filthy and unkempt they were and in cages like dogs despite their value. Diantha told her how witches and wizards treat those they deem non-human, while Magi rightfully treat creatures and beings like they would a landmine hidden underground until carefully disarmed. Diantha treats them kindly as she knows full well what its like being mistreated by her own nasty relatives and wouldn't wish such on others. Thus taught Reines how to treat her elf. And how to order them properly.
They also purchased cleaning supplies and tools by the trunkload, having purchased a trunk.
'For starters, take a thorough bath and grooming, and style your hair into two pigtailed braids as to not get in the way of your duties, and only allowed to wear it loose on bedtime.' Reines instructed. 'Second, I want you to steal high quality materials in muggle London needed to make your work uniform. Seven sets of all of these.' Reines showed her elf a picture of a maid uniform by part from black dress, apron and bonnet, including underwear, white stockings and mary janes, then a nightgown. The summer uniform has short sleeves and wrist cuffs, while the winter one has long sleeves, also with cuffs.
'No servant of my household will look filthy and unkempt, and wear a filthy tea cozy! Thus after a day ends, before your bedtime, take a bath and wash your current uniform, and wear a fresh, ironed one the next day. Third, meals. Always eat before your master, so its understandable that you'll wake early to eat, before you make my breakfast, but in lunch and dinner, eat after I do. Your meals are in this notebook, while mine are these ones.' the elf got three books. Aptly titled Elf Cookbook, Master Cookbook and Banquet Cookbook.
'You will tend the garden after breakfast, then clean the mansion top to bottom outside; the chimney, the roof, the walls and the ceiling and chandeliers and other light fixtures as the golems do the inside cleaning, but their programming is not that flexible. You will look after my office, the study room, parlor room, library, my bedroom and my clothes and shoes only in terms of cleaning and laundry. You will cook only my food. As for your accommodations, it's in the basement I prepared right next to the wineroom, the door hidden behind the sole painting I had Diantha make for me. Your bed, closet, and your personal bathroom are there. While you familiarize yourself with the mansion and grounds, you're only allowed in the hallways but never enter a room except rooms I specified. The golems will do the rest.'
'Questions?'
'Uhm, Missy, what about your parents? Lolly not cook and clean for them?'
'No. You're my personal servant. They have their own.' said Reines. 'Your most important duty is cooking my food, and guarding it on the way to the dining table unseen while carried by the white kitchen golem as I have countless poisoning attempts for the past three years.' Lolly's jaws dropped at her rather casual way of telling she had assassination attempts. 'You are to stay invisible when doing your jobs. You will report to me if your supplies are running out, as well as foodstuff that needs re-stocking. Start immediately with your duties.'
'Yes, missy!' and Lolly was gone.
Well, Reines thought, while she now has safe meals and drinks, she will not abandon her training, thank you very much, otherwise she won't live past nine years old if she relaxed.
xxx
As for Waver, he had the help of his two friends.
Melvin with the money - he swears to pay him back someday - got the money needed to purchase the rights to have a classroom and his circuits were enhanced.
Diantha with his health. He now uses her godfather's incubation tank every night in his first year as El-Melloi II. He wakes up stronger and stress-free. His only complaint was that the fluids in said tank stinks like plant fluids X1000. But at least, he becomes physically healthy enough to survive training until he's a fully-realized Proxy Lord. He also gets cosmetic potions that brought out his good looks his genes can afford him, his skin and hair are in tip-top condition, and no plaque in his dilated blood vessels so even if he gets angry, he's fine. She also encouraged him to create his own style of magecraft and exploit the resources within his reach. Why not when he has everything already despite his...situation? Might as well make the most of it!
However, when Reines declared him Lord El-Melloi II...yeah, he has a massive target painted on his back.
Cue Boomerang Bigot here as Magi who lack resources are a bunch of bickering vipers each seeking to elevate themselves at others' expense no matter the cost, yet Waver easily got what they wanted without much effort, having achieved his position through Melvin's money and by riding the coattails of a Lord's Household, thus they despise him despite if given the opportunity, they'll do all means to have what he's got!
Not only that, simply because of Reines' doing, having to deal with him, a 'Lord' from an undistinguished background and forced to recognize him as peer, ruffled their feathers. Thus he MUST show results.
Sooo yes, while being a noble enables Melvin to keep an eye on him publicly, Diantha keeps an eye on him in the shadows as a witch while juggling school. Technically, Waver is STILL a student...
Then his first challenge as a teacher, are two Problem Children he had to take in...