Chapter 5 Training and Discovering
"A Slytherin indeed," Severus intoned. "Where did you say you attended school? Obviously you are not an alumnus of Hogwarts."
Tristan turned his back on him to replace the decanter of scotch on the side table.
"I –was homeschooled. My existence had to be kept a secret as you can already grasp fairly –especially with the ongoing war back then."
"I see," Severus raised an eyebrow. It made sense but something was telling him that it was not the whole truth. "So, what do we do next? I assume that your Slytherin mind has the next steps planned out?"
Tristan faced him once more.
"But of course," he smirked. "You're undergoing training, Severus."
"Training?"
"Wizarding Lord Etiquette Training,"
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Gareth made another appearance –it was to modify the Lair into a two-bedroom apartment with a shared bathroom, a large living space, kitchen, dining hall and a library.
"I thought magic would not work in this room." Severus wondered out loud. Tristan corrected him.
"Wizard magic won't. Goblin magic would."
"Indeed,"
Gareth turned to the Potions Master.
"Potions-Making is still possible, though. Just not those that require foolish wand-waving," The goblin said with a toothy grin. Severus blinked, his eyes wide in surprise at the goblin's choice of words. Tristan on the other hand, smirked.
"Now, now, Gareth, we are not here to indulge the Professor. We are here to whip him up into shape –just like how you did with me."
"You said you trained here for four years –isn't that too long?" Severus inquired of the young lord.
"Wizarding Etiquette was not all I did, I studied at bit of Goblin magic too." Tristan explained. "I also studied for my Masteries in Defense Theory, Wizarding Law and Potions –"
"Potions, you say?" Severus clarified, looking impressed. For a young man, Tristan Peverell did sound quite accomplished. Tristan noticed the look on the Professor's face and shrugged.
"Don't be too impressed. It took me two years to fully grasp the idea. I can safely say that I am nowhere near your caliber." He said sheepishly. "For you, one month is about enough. We just need a bit of polishing. But worry not, if ever we need more time, Gareth can always supply us with a time-turner."
"Would Gareth be the one training me?" Severus asked. Tristan turned a bit pink.
"Erm –no. I was hoping you would consent to having me as your tutor. I know I am markedly younger than you, but –well, Gareth has other things to see to."
"You?" Severus raised an eyebrow. Tristan gulped, almost inaudibly.
"Yeah, but if you are averse to that idea, it's okay. I can just find ano –"
"I'd be honored, Lord Peverell." Severus cut him off in mid-babble with a deep bow to boot.
" –ther. What? Oh, wow, that's great." Tristan looked surprised to say the very least. Severus grinned inwardly at the sight of the normally regal young lord's flustered look.
'He looks quite adorable when he's vulnerable like that. But I wonder what makes him insecure? I know inside that he's still a young man –no matter how dignified he projects himself –forced to grow up by circumstances; a reluctant young man with the weight of the world on his juvenile shoulders… he's almost like –' Severus shook his head mentally. 'What am I saying? Am I really comparing the enigmatic Tristan Peverell to that Potter brat? Hmph. Potter would just laugh at me if I come to him seeking refuge from the toad lady.' Severus turned his attention back to the young lad who was mouthing off something trivial that he could not hear in his mind. 'Okay, they have a few similarities, I'd give him that, but that's just it… not many young men blush under my glare, most go pale… but then again, when did Potter ever become like most people? And I can say the same for Lord Tristan Peverell. Hmm… I should stop talking to myself and just keep my eyes open. This deal with young lord Peverell is too good to be true. I'll figure out the catch –even if it is the last thing that I do.'
"Severus? I was asking if you were hungry. I can ask the house elf, Dinky to get us supper. We can start with the lessons tomorrow after breakfast which would be at 7."
"That is amenable. What will you be teaching me?"
Tristan flushed yet again at the mention of the lessons.
"Basic Structure of the House of Lords, History, Wizarding Law 101, Estate Management, Noble Customs, Etiquette –among many others. Basically, I will just be passing on to you the knowledge that Gareth bequeathed unto me," he said, almost embarrassed.
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"Why do they never teach this in History of Magic classes?" Severus asked irritably the following morning. He and Tristan were going over the History of the formation of Wizengamot right after breakfast the next day. "Binns should be exorcised."
"I wonder why they let a ghost teach an already boring subject, if not to see if the students would also die of boredom," Tristan mused. Severus huffed.
"That would be my first order of business as Deputy when I get back. Even the recently graduated Hermione Granger would be better to teach than that old loony specter."
"Indeed," Tristan grinned. "Now, Severus, who was the first to hold the High Lordship of Wizengamot?"
"Mergene the Magnanimous in 837 c.e."
"The last?"
"Nile Peverell in 1811," Severus answered automatically. "He relinquished the seat in favor of the ruling body. As to why, it does not say in this book you gave me." He turned to Tristan. "He's your ancestor, why did he vacate the seat?"
"Because he was a bloody fool," Tristan muttered under his breath. "Too much pressure, I guess," he told Severus. "Let's cross over to the basic structure of the Wizengamot. Which were the 5 original Ancient Houses that comprised the inaugural court?"
"The Houses of Peverell, Prince, Gryffindor, Slytherin and Black. IN 934 c.e., the Houses of Peverell and Gryffindor merged. IN 1016, the House of Slytherin reverted to the House of Gaunt, which was the bloodline that birthed Salazar Slytherin's mother."
"Correct. What are currently the 12 seats that hold power in the Wizengamot?"
"The Houses of Bones, Davies, Longbottom, Greengrass, Malfoy, Black, Prince, Prewitt, Abbot, Parkinson, Boot and Peverell –with all of the Houses compounded under each of them."
"Correct. How many voters does a seat hold?"
"It depends. If a seat is compounded, the number of votes correspond to the number of houses combined. If it is an originating seat, it automatically gets three votes on top of its compounded ort merged Houses. IN the case of an emerging seat, it gets one vote."
"Well, how many votes does the House of Prince get then?"
"Six. Three as an originating seat. Three more corresponding to three merged Houses: Prince, Ravenclaw –which was compounded in 1024 c.e. and Cresswell -which was acquired by right of conquest in 1753 c.e."
"Who was the first Chief of Wizengamot and how did he come into power?"
"Euphrates Prince in 1820" The ruling body generally met without a presiding officer since Nile Peverell vacated the High Lordship in 1811. But when Euphrates Prince succeeded his father Morpheus, he pushed for the need to have and arbiter and a facilitator. He was voted by a majority of the 11 Houses."
"Who was the only dissenting vote?"
"Himself," Severus snorted. "Bloody fool." Tristan laughed.
"It seemed that our ancestors shared a common dislike for power."
"That, and they are both bloody fools."
"True," Tristan agreed. He then glanced at the charmed clock in the living area where they were at. "We are progressing nicely. It isn't lunch for about an hour but I think we can take a break and resume the lessons at around 3, sounds good?"
"I could use some tea, " Severus said.
"Alright, we'll cover Basic Estate management later."
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Severus found himself wandering inside the library. Tristan excused himself, saying that he needed a nap. But Severus wasn't in the very least sleepy. This was all too engaging for him. One day, he was an unwilling pawn in a war, the next day he was doomed to marry a toad, and the following day, he was on his way to becoming a proper nobleman. If his mother could see him now, he knew that she would be proud of him. He was learning a lot about his heritage, all thanks to one Tristan Peverell. And although he is still wary of the High Lord's true motives, he can't help but be grateful for the chance the young man has given him. Severus sighed as he perused the shelves, looking for an interesting read. He chanced upon a dusty-looking tome, bound in green silk with silver fastenings. The Potions Master felt inexplicably and immediately drawn to it. With care, he pulled it off the shelf. Gold peeling letters on the cover announced it to have belonged to:
Nile Ignatius Peverell
1785 -1811
(High Lord of Wizengamot)
1803-1811
Severus gently turned the cover page and gasped.
He had just discovered Nile Peverell's diary.
He began to read.