AN: Last proper chapter! Sorry!
So, Shiro-chan1827 reviewed last chapter and brought up a few things that I should probably clarify (or just comment on).
The first was the nature of Allen and Kanda's current relationship, it comes up a bit and is rather complicated due to their ages and Allen's past, I will say that I have a short extra already written that explains it more fully coming up.
The second was Alma and and what happened with people remembering that, and so I kind of have to confess something. I haven't got a clue what I was going to do with that, because this an old idea of mine and I can't remember what I had planned, or even if I had read that part of the manga yet (I think I must have, and just kind of forgot it). I realized it wasn't mentioned after I posted the second chapter, but by then I couldn't think of how to add it in, mostly because this is more of a fragment than a story.
For now feel free to make up your own theories, and if a miracle happens and this story is ever continued I will deal with it then, hopefully.
'What's straight forward? If everything is as simple as we were, again, more advanced than they allowed for, then what happens?' Allen, the boy always asked questions that others sometimes forgot he might want the answers to. Sometimes the adults couldn't believe that it was only four years on the streets, often if felt like he had survived even more.
'If the Trace can be applied manually then we will just treat you the same as we always have, except Kanda will go to a school for magic when he turns 11,' Komui explain with a smile. As he did, Tiedoll kept an eye on his sons (for that was what Allen was to him), so he saw the way they both shifted when he said only Kanda's name.
'What about Moyashi?' Kanda voiced their thoughts.
'Allen-Chan will also go to school to when he turns 11.' If they had looked slightly uncomfortable before they looked rather pale now. Komui should know, should remember that separating them never ended well. He proved it with his next sentence.
'It may be possible to organise for Allen-chan to stay on campus with you, as a sort of medical allowance. But I don't like our chances and he is too young to be enrolled as a student. We will try, but before anything happens we've got to talk to ministry officials in charge of underage magic. While we both do work in the ministry, it is under a different department.'
'You work for a magical government, but failed to tell us it exists?' Marie had stayed rather calm before then, but apparently, that was the final straw.
'Marie, this situation is something we will talk about, but unfortunately we have to deal with this at the moment. Somethings will change, but the fact that you are my son is not one of them. Just let us get this settled first.' The blind boy considered for a moment before nodding his consent.
After that Komui went to notify certain people, two of whom were his parents, about what had happened. He couldn't really say much because there really wasn't much to say. The Lee couple arrived first; they collected their daughter and scolded their son before leaving to make dinner. They had decided to feed everyone as they guessed they would be tired when all this was over, and cooking for Allen was always … interesting.
The Bookman couple, and the Grandpa, arrived next. That was an interesting thing to watch, if you weren't in the family. Both parents came in with much apologising and explanations. Grandpa had walked in, hit Lavi on the head and called him an idiot, before saying simply it wasn't something the boy had had to know as it didn't affect anything. The family had walked out with the nine-year-old complaining that he didn't care if he was magic or not, if there was a theory he could study then that was what he wanted to do.
After they left the only people in the lounge room were Komui, and Tiedoll with his sons, as they waited for the officials to Apparate in. The silence was awkward to say the least, and Komui felt like an outsider for the first time amongst the family. At some stage, Allen had taken hold of Kanda's hand, and he wasn't letting go.
'How long is the school year?' Kanda had had enough; the silence was getting to him.
'Just under ten months, with the occasional break in between,' Tiedoll answered his son
'Can I get home schooled?'
'We could organise it, but it would limit the jobs within the magical community that you can get if you don't have a formal education at one of the recognised schools. Besides, it would be good for you to see people other than just those within our group. We will do our best to make sure you and Allen can stay together, and I have higher hopes than Komui.' He said it with a smile, further conversation (or retaliation) was prevented by the arrival of the officials.
The men in ridiculous robes looked at the slightly surprised boys on the lounge and smiled. They apologised for the apparent stuff up and when to work setting up objects and potions to try and apply the trace manually. They also informed the adults that there would be an investigation to see if the trace really could be avoided simply by making sure all magic was cast with purpose. If so, some changes would need to be made to the system. Everyone other than the two boys was kindly asked to wait outside.
The children went to their rooms and the adults waited, and waited, and waited some more.
Finally, after about an hour, the two officials called the men in with slightly frazzled expressions. Peering in they could see Kanda with his eyebrow raised and Allen with his head in his hands. The objects were making noises and the potion appeared to be spilt in frustration but nothing else was wrong.
'Is something the matter?' Tiedoll was concerned as to what could have caused seasoned wizards to look so out of sorts. They hesitated for a moment before the younger of the two mumbled his answer.
'It's not working.'
'Excuse me?' Komui could not understand how the foundation of finding under aged wizards could be beaten by two boys less than ten years old.
'As you know, the ministry has a similar way of finding children that are able to use magic. Once found the trace is cast and from then on, we are notified of any magic that is cast in their vicinity, with the exception of at school or places where lots of magic is being used because then there are so many spells it is impossible to keep track of who cast what.
'There have been cases, very rare ones, where the initial usage of magic failed to be recorded and we had to cast the trace manually. Usually when that happens, the trace is cast no problem and everything is fixed up within a few minutes. We have cast the charm multiples of times on these two boys and it has yet to stick
'The spell is cast, we see it works, and then it's almost as if it instantaneously breaks. The only possible reason for this phenomenon would be if the boys were older than seventeen, this kind of things happens if you try to cast the trace on adults, but that is obviously not the case.' The official finished the last part with a blush, the older one stayed silent.
It was not a crime to use Magic before being told that it existed, it happened all the time as accidental magic and occasionally continued to do so, but if he could charge the boys he would. He was humiliated; the boys, children, had found a way to trick a centuries old system into believing they were older than seventeen, and it looked like they had done it without the use of magic, while believing they were muggles.
Humiliation was the mild term. In his opinion people like this should be put in Azkaban, a decade ago and a few words may have seen it happen. He missed those days, but he would likely end up is Azkaban himself should anyone find out about that.
'So you can't place a trace on my sons? They will always be able to cast magic without being monitored? You have no way of finding out if someone is using Magic on them?' It was one bonus of the trace; spells cast against the wizard were also registered.
'There's nothing we can do if they really are over seventeen, but the ministry will have to be notified about this.' At the look on their faces he elaborated. 'None of you are in trouble, there is no way anyone could accuse you of breaking the law, but this case is unusual and it will have to be handled with care. Two children under ten cannot be released into society with the same trust installed in adult wizards.
'We will inform the Minister as soon as possible and you will receive an owl with the decision as soon as one is reached. Given your position it is possible someone will even arrive later to discuss the outcome with you.'
'Thank you for your help. I believe that is all you need to be here for?' Tiedoll just wanted these men out of his house. The younger one was nice, but the fact that he was the only one talking left a bad taste in his mouth. There was something off about how the older Wizard was acting; he wanted the man away from his sons, especially his muggle sons.
'Yes, sorry for intruding, goodbye.'
'Yes, goodbye.'
And finally, all the strangers were out of his house. Komui left to inform the others of the new development and Tiedoll and his family cleaned there home. everyone ended up at the Lees' house for dinner and it was … awkward. It alternated between dead silence and screaming matches. However, after the dinner, certain people felt a lot more comfortable around each other. The only person still unhappy was Marie, who said the screaming hurt his ears.
The next day they heard the new, the Minister himself delivered it.
'Good to see you, good to see you. It's nice to meet two boys as talented as you two, yes, very nice.'
The look on Kanda's face said clearly that he didn't like the bumbling, happy, man. Allen was more composed, but those who knew him well could see that he shared Kanda's feelings.
'Well this was an interesting case, very interesting indeed. It took many meetings for us to come to an agreement, and we all decided it was the best way to resolve things.
'Since you did nothing wrong you want be charged with anything, you boys will be allowed to continue to live your lives as you have been. What will happen is that you will be required to go to school, both of you, as soon as possible.
'You are already so skilled and we have no way of monitoring you, so it was decided that the only way to deal with this is to get you trained as soon as possible, and have you spend the majority of your time in a facility that will be able to deal with any … accidents. The only other options are the Magical gaol or a Magical hospital.' Tiedoll sent the man a look and he was quick to continued. 'And as you are obviously not Criminals, or sick, a school is the only option we are considering.' Komui wondered if that was the truth.
'Your Guardian here is free to organise which school, and the specifics of classes and special allowances, the only rules are that you both must be on a magical school campus from the start of the next school year for the duration of your tuition. School reports from teachers will be required as proof that you are attending. We would like you to be put in classes as soon as possible and to send your grades to see if we were mistaken in the trust that will be placed in you. Apparation lessons and test will be available as soon as your Guardian gives permission, you will not have to obey the age restriction on that.
'In terms of magic outside of school … we will leave that to your guardian's discretion. That being said, any accidents will be accounted to him.'
Tiedoll didn't like it. He didn't like the way Cornelius smiled when he mentioned trust. The speech made it sound like the boys were indebted to him for allowing them to study, that because they were advanced they were obligated to serve him in some manner.
The image that filled his head was one of the boys dressed as solders, fighting just because they were offered shelter. He hated the image and tried to banish it, tried to get it out of his head. But it was so clear, he could see them, just a few years older, dying, covered in blood. It just wouldn't go away.
'So, any questions, requests, things you think are unfair? I think the deal is pretty good given the circumstances.' The man seemed to like the sound of his own voice.
'So the requirements are that the boys attend a school starting this year and that we send you reports and grades as they become available?'
'That about sums it up.'
'If that is all then we have no problem. Now if you will excuse me, I have things to organise and a limited time to do so.'
'Of course, of course, see you at work Mr Tiedoll.'
'Yes, see you then.'
Allen's voice broke the silence that developed after their important guest had left.
'May you please add finding a way to cover up my scars to the list of things to do before school? I'll stand out enough as it is.'
The next few months were spent trying to organise which school would take the boys. They were spent visiting the schools and discussing plans for lessons and allowances that the school would be willing to make. They were spent doing tests trying to gage just how smart they both were, just how bored they would be in a first-year class. They were spent getting to know teachers, and teaching the teachers that somethings would just have to be done differently, if this was going to work.
The next few months were very busy, very complicated and, in some cases, very irritating.
September saw both boys on the train to Hogwarts School or Witchcraft and Wizardry.