AN: Shocking to see an update up so soon after the other one I know. I am not promising anything, because real life can be a real issue, but I am using this fic as my fic for the wip push at 1 million words this month, so updates should be much more regular than they have been.
Harry had been anxious about coming to Malfoy Manor that evening, the last time he had been there was not a pleasant experience and was rather worried about the trip. He knew that Malfoy wouldn't hurt him, it wouldn't be in his interests. Harry had worked out that although the man was a spy he was still having to do a lot of work to prove himself and his family to the Wizarding public. It wouldn't be in his favour to kill or harm Harry in any way while he was in his home. He had worked out that Lucius was trying to use his teaching of Harry and the orphans to look better in the eyes of the public.
Harry had wondered if he should worry about any other ulterior motives, but he didn't seem to sense anything nefarious from the Malfoy Lord so he didn't look to much into the situation. He knew that this was a good opportunity for him, he had to learn how to act in the House of Wizards or he would never be taken seriously. He wanted to be able to change the Wizarding world for the better, and to do that he needed the House on his side, Saviour of the Wizarding world or not they wouldn't respect him if he didn't respect them or the laws and traditions surrounding the House.
Lord Malfoy knew those laws backwards and forwards, Harry really couldn't ask for a more knowledgeable teacher. There was also the fact that he actually knew Lord Malfoy, he had heard of some of the other Lords or Regents but he didn't have any real personal connection to or knowledge of them. At least with Lucius he knew what the man was like so it was easier to try and guess his motivations. As the muggles often said, it's better the devil you know.
Harry had read through the books that Lucius had sent them, surprised to find like the Half-Blood Prince's book that it had notes in the margins. He had never expected Lucius to be the type to write notes in a book rather than on ornate rolls of parchment that he kept meticulously organised. It was interesting to see what the man thought of the different parts of the books, and his notes spoke more to Harry than the books themselves, just like with Snape's words in his potions text.
He had also prepared in other ways, he knew that it would be rude to turn up at Malfoy Manor in jeans and a t-shirt, and none of the robes that he had appeared to be suitable either. So he had borrowed Hermione for an hour or two and asked her to go with him to Twilfit and Tattings. He had never been in there before, having always relied on Madame Malkin to make his robes, and he expected to be fawned over as a new high profile customer. It was partly why he had taken Hermione with him, she could make people back off with just a glare, something that he had yet to manage.
No such thing occurred though, and the staff were nothing if not professional. After a few hours they left the shop with several new robes for him to wear in a variety of colours and cuts, the other reason he had taken Hermione with him was to help him decide what to choose. He knew that if he had taken Ginny with him he would have ended up with a lot of red, gold and black sets of robes. Hermione on the other hand helped him choose out robes that worked with his colouring and made him look respectable.
A few minutes before he was supposed to arrive he left his flat, apparating to the co-ordinates that Lord Malfoy had provided him with. He waited for the Malfoy Lord to arrive to key him to the wards and soon he was in the Manor being led to Lucius' study. He was invited to take a seat and they exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes before Lucius began to direct the conversation towards the lessons.
Harry was relieved that Lucius seemed to have planned everything out as Harry himself felt like he was just floundering and he could really do with some direction. He was questioned first about the books, whether or not he had started them, had he any questions, etc. Harry could tell that Lucius was surprised that he had read through both books already, although Harry did admit that he had probably only really skimmed the books. He wasn't willing to admit to Lucius that he had spent more time reading the man's notes than the book itself.
Once Lucius had explained the way that they would work through all the pertinent knowledge Harry was a bit more content. After years of Hermione drawing up study plans for him it had felt a bit strange for him to not know when he was going to be studying what. Lucius had then launched into a lecture about the history of the House of Wizards and the Peerage. Despite having never been a fan of history, not many people were with Binns as the professor, Harry found himself entirely engrossed in what he was being told, especially how each of the families were accepted into the peerage.
Lucius had only been able to give him a general overview of the actions that had granted the Potter family their Lordship, but he had pointed him in the direction of Gringotts, explaining that his own family records should have more detail. By the time Harry left the Manor his mind was full with information about the formation of the House of Wizards and its role in society. He left with a new determination, he had wanted to learn what he needed to know to help shape the future, but now he realised that this could help him learn his past. One of the first things he needed to do was check his vaults for anything relating to his family history. He would also check the bookshop to see if he could pick up a few more books on the House of Wizards and the Wizarding world as a whole, it was time he learnt more about the world he lived in.