After a relaxed lunch with Narcissa and Draco, Harry was shown to the school room to await Draco's tutor, Mr. Morgan. Harry hadn't waited long when Dobby popped in to announce him. He had been told the tutor was being sworn to secrecy regarding Harry's identity, but he was still nervous about another new person.
"Master Harry sir's tutor, Mr. Morgan, bes here," Dobby said with a bow.
"Thank you, Dobby, you may show him in," Harry responded.
Dobby popped out and a moment later, Mr. Morgan was entering the room. Harry took a quick stock of his appearance, a relic of his time with the Dursleys. Mr. Morgan was tall, close to 6 feet, but shorter than Lucius. His hair was a rather nondescript brown, cut in a rather normal style. His eyes were brown, but didn't look harsh. His posture was perfect, and his face appealing, again, in a rather forgettable way. All in all, he looked very average, though pleasing.
"Good afternoon, Heir Potter, my name is Perseus Morgan, and I have been engaged to tutor you along with Heir Malfoy this fall," Mr. Morgan said with a perfectly correct bow of one of lesser station to the Heir of a house, not that Harry knew that to be the case.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Morgan," Harry said politely. "Please be seated and tell me what I am to do for you today."
"Before we begin your assessment, I will tell you a little bit about myself. It is never too early to begin with instruction of wixen culture and my brief background could provide you with several small pieces of information that you would do well to remember," Mr. Morgan said with a stern look, though not at all a mean one, as Harry had cause to know. Harry nodded at this pronouncement.
"As stated previously, my name is Perseus Morgan. You have done well to address me as Mr. Morgan, as House Morgan is a Minor house. I am the 7th generation Mr. Morgan, as yet unbonded, and my family has been engaged as private tutors for the entirety of the House's existence as we have been quite skilled in History. I was a protege of Lady Augusta Longbottom in etiquette prior to the death of her Lord Husband and subsequent shift into politics as the Regent Longbottom with the unfortunate circumstances of her son and his wife. As a tutor to the wealthy and influential, I offer education in Family and House history, etiquette, languages, and Wixen Tradition. If you display an affinity for any of the more artistic pursuits such as drawing or music, we will have to find you a suitable instructor with that talent specifically," Mr. Morgan finished his brief biography.
Harry nodded again, knowing that for many adults, children should be seen and not heard.
"Any questions, Heir Potter?" Mr. Morgan asked.
Harry shook his head.
"As your instructor, I would prefer the honor of hearing you voice your answers please, Heir Potter," Mr. Morgan chided.
"No, sir, I have no questions at this time," Harry responded obediently.
"That's better," Mr. Morgan nodded. "Now for your assessment. Lord Malfoy has indicated that you were attending muggle primary school and would have started your 4th year September 1st, is that correct, Heir Potter?"
"Yes, Mr. Morgan," Harry replied.
"Very well then," Mr. Morgan continued, "you will complete these assessment papers which should cover what you have completed in your first 3 years, though I have included the 4th and 5th years as well. Do not worry if you do not know the answer, just answer what you can. I will specifically tailor your education to you, so please, do your best. Once you have finished with these on the traditional muggle subjects of English, Spelling, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, Muggle British History, World Geography, and Basic Science, I will provide assessment sheets for Astronomy, as it is important in for both potions and ritual magic, several other languages to see if you have any sort of existing affinity for a specific language other than English, as well as a written etiquette assessment. I will evaluate your penmanship on all assessments, so do write legibly. We will also take tea this afternoon for a bit of practical etiquette assessment, so do be aware of your behavior."
"Yes, Mr. Morgan," Harry responded with a nod.
"You will begin with English, spelling, reading, and maths and you will have two hours to complete whatever you can. You may request a break for the rest room or to stretch as needed. Then we will break and take tea. After tea you will continue with Muggle British History, World Geography, and Science. You will have two hours for the second set of tests as well. I have been invited to dine with the Malfoy family this eve, and so once you have completed the second set of assessments, we will break for dinner. After dinner we will finish with 2 hours for Astronomy, etiquette, and languages. If you have a preference for any artistic pursuits, please discuss that at dinner with the Malfoys so appropriate arrangements can be made. Any questions on this afternoon's schedule?" Mr. Morgan queried.
"None, sir," Harry replied. "I'm ready to begin."
"Very good, here is your first set of assessments," Mr. Morgan said as he handed over several sheets.
Harry went to the desk and sat, pulling out a pencil and eraser as well as a fountain pen. His head bent studiously over the pages as he began writing in short order. Harry was surprised to see a wizard who had knowledge of the muggle education system, but he supposed it was needed if one were going to tutor wixen who might one day need to go about in the muggle world without bringing attention to themselves. Harry had certainly never noticed anything magical about anyone, other than his own strangeness, prior to Lucius and Severus coming to get him. He shook his head and returned his thoughts to the matter at hand. The questions weren't terribly difficult and he made good time getting through them.
Harry paused about an hour into his first assessment period and raised his hand. Mr. Morgan noted this with a slight smirk.
"Yes, Heir Potter?" he said, "though in future you may just state my name to gain my attention. Only having yourself and Heir Malfoy does make such affectations as raising one's hand unnecessary."
"Yes, Mr. Morgan," Harry said. "May I have a drink of water?"
"Of course Heir Potter. You may call your elf to bring one," Mr. Morgan replied.
"I don't have an elf, sir," Harry said.
"I believe the Malfoys indicated they assigned an elf to your well being. It would have assisted you to get dressed, guided you about the manor, and provided anything you required during the course of this day," Mr. Morgan indicated the situation concisely.
"Oh! You mean Dobby!" Harry said, pleased to know his friend would be able to stay with him while he was here.
"Dobby!" Harry said clearly.
"What can Dobby bes doing for Master Harry sir?" Dobby said when he had popped in.
"May I please have a glass of water, please?" Harry requested of the diminutive elf.
"Yes, Master Harry, right aways, sir." Dobby said with a bow, snapping his fingers as he stood. A tray with two glasses, a pitcher of water with ice, and a small dish of lemon and lime slices popped into being on a side table. Dobby snapped again and the pitcher poured water into a glass. The lemon and lime bowl floated up and Harry shook his head, so it returned to the tray. Dobby picked up the glass and brought it to Harry.
"Thank you, Dobby," Harry said gratefully.
Dobby pulled his ears in pleasure. "Will that be all Master Harry, sir?" he asked, nearly vibrating with the happiness of serving such a kind master.
"Yes, thank you, Dobby," Harry dismissed the elf kindly.
Mr. Morgan had observed this interaction carefully and noted how polite Harry was to the elf, as well as how happily the elf served him. This was an interesting development, one he would need to discuss with the Malfoys at a later time.
After Harry finished his water, he returned to the assessment pages. He hadn't realized he was so close to be finished with the first set, and so far, he'd been able to answer every question. After about 15 minutes, he completed the final page.
"Mr. Morgan?" Harry hesitantly said, trying to get the tutor's attention.
"Yes, Heir Potter?" Mr. Morgan replied.
"I'm finished," Harry indicated the small stack of papers in front of him.
Mr. Morgan cast a tempus, rather taken aback to see that Harry had completed all the sheets and still had 45 minutes of his scheduled 2 hours remaining.
"Did you check your work, or go back to look over any you may have skipped previously?" He questioned gently.
"I did check my work, but I didn't need to skip any questions," Harry stated matter-of-factly.
"I see," Mr. Morgan continued, "Well, bring them here. As you've just had a glass of water, I assume you're not in need of tea, so I won't push our break forward. Would you perhaps like to start on one of the other subjects and we'll take a break in about 45 minutes as we previously discussed?"
Harry had walked over with the sheets while he was speaking and nodded. "That sounds fine to me, sir."
"Why don't you take these sheets on Astronomy so you'll have a longer block of time for the languages after dinner?" Mr. Morgan indicated the appropriate stack.
Harry nodded again and returned to the desk. He bent to his work immediately, and again, made good time in completing it. He finished in a little under the 45 minutes Mr. Morgan had scheduled till his break, so he looked back through the pages to ensure he hadn't missed anything. When Mr. Morgan called a halt, he was ready to turn in his assessment.
Mr. Morgan nodded when Harry turned in the tests and guided him over to a tea table. Dobby and another elf were popping in and out with the tea things and various small, easy to eat snacks for their break. "Very good work, Heir Potter. Now we will take tea and I will evaluate your manners and etiquette."
Harry stood and made his way over to the table. He tilted his head as he took in the seating arrangement curiously before turning to Mr. Morgan to ask, "should I bow or introduce myself before being seated, or is there some other 'being seated ritual' of which I am unaware?"
"That is an appropriate question, Heir Potter," Mr. Morgan praised with a smile and nod. Normally, you would be entering someone's home for the purpose of tea and conversation at this time of day. Since we have already made our opening greetings when I arrived, we will begin with actually taking tea. You will have plenty of opportunity to practice the intricacies of introduction with the Malfoys, no doubt. Their circle of acquaintance is rather large."
"Okay," Harry responded. He gestured towards the chairs, having picked up from Mr. Morgan's manner of addressing him that he was perhaps of a higher rank, and therefore should be the host of this tea, and said, "please, join me for tea."
"Thank you," Mr. Morgan responded genially.
Harry went into what he privately thought of as his "serving-mode," from when he assisted his aunt with her garden parties and dinners, picking up the teapot to pour both cups. He picked up the sugar and spoon asking, "Do you take sugar?"
"One spoon, please," Mr. Morgan replied.
Harry added one spoon to his own cup, never having had the opportunity to try his tea sweetened before, before setting the sugar bowl back where it came from. He did the same with the milk, only foregoing it's addition to his own cup, wanting to try only one alteration to his accustomed plain tea at a time. He handed the completed cup of tea balanced on it's saucer over to Mr. Morgan, who took it delicately.
As he pulled his hands away, he waved his hand encompassing the snacks set around them and said, "please, help yourself to anything you like."
"Thank you, I will," Mr. Morgan replied.
They sipped their tea in companionable silence for a few moments, each selecting a pastry or two for their light repast.
"You mentioned, Mr. Morgan," Harry began speaking, hoping some conversation would be acceptable since Mr. Morgan had mentioned it specifically, "that your family has been tutors for some generations now. Do you enjoy your profession, or is it only that you happen to have a talent for it?" His speech slipped into the upper echelon type of speaking he had employed on adults after some of his reading in the library at school. It always seemed to make the teachers respond better, as it was more their level.
"Indeed, Heir Potter," Mr. Morgan picked up the conversational olive branch, "my family has been tutors, and not only because we have a talent for it. I can only think it would be quite disheartening to be forced merely by one's talent into a profession one disliked. I enjoy my work very much. The opportunity to assist young minds to grow and develop, and to see that development and guide it has always been a singular pleasure."
Harry nodded, "I had a wonderful librarian, Mrs. Cooper, who said something very similar to me once. She was extremely helpful in guiding my out-of-class reading. In-class reading as well, of course, that was her job, but she took the time to understand my interests and point me to more in depth works as well as other topics which she thought I would find enjoyable. It is a gift to have someone like that."
Mr. Morgan took in Harry's rather mature response. He concluded that this child had been much in the company of adults, and not often encouraged to be a child. Terrible for him to have grown up so quickly, but he was clearly ready and willing to be guided in his learning. Mr. Morgan hoped that his insight was not merely something parroted from others, but that he would take his education as seriously as his comments implied.
"And you, Heir Potter," Mr. Morgan continued the conversation, "do you have anything which has so far captured your interest, perhaps under the guidance of your good Mrs. Cooper?"
"I enjoy a number of things. History has been of interest as those that do not learn from it are doomed to repeat it. But I also enjoy lighter topics as well, though I have not been given much opportunity to expand on my enjoyment," Harry finished, somewhat deprecatingly.
Mr. Morgan sensed a story there, but opted not to pursue it at the current time. This was, after all, supposed to be tea and light conversation, not something heavy which might jeopardize young Heir Potter's assessments for the rest of the day.
They continued on in polite discourse and discussed trivial things such as the weather they both enjoyed and the quality of the refreshments. Harry paused at one point, noting Mr. Morgan's cup was nearly empty, and began the process of refilling it, remembering how he had taken it the first time, and replicating it perfectly. Mr. Morgan noted the outcome, pleased that he already had some skill as a host. Perhaps his etiquette training would not be too onerous.
They finished their tea and conversation politely, the elves popping in to remove the dishes as they stepped away from the table and back to their respective desks.
"Now, as you have already completed Astronomy, you have only muggle British History, World Geography, and the basic sciences. You may have, if needed, the full two hours I scheduled, even though you've already completed one of the subjects I had intended you to do during this time," Mr. Morgan brought Harry's attention back to the matter at hand.
"Yes, sir," Harry replied. Now that he had been talking for a bit, he was rather pleased to get back to being silent and working on something he knew how to handle. He took the proffered assessments, and got straight to work. His enjoyment of History would have assisted in his speedy completion, however it had instead the opposite effect, and caused his answers to be rather longer than they otherwise would have been. He needed every bit of the two hours provided to complete everything, and had even felt a bit rushed when he got to the sciences after a quick restroom and stretch break.
But he did manage to complete them all, much to Mr. Morgan's pleasure, and slight confusion. He had not worked with a child who was capable of doing so much and staying so focused for as long as young Heir Potter had been. He took that as a good sign for their working relationship in the future and was hopeful for his reputation to grow as a result of such a student. He gathered the pages just as Dobby popped in to announce dinner.