Chapter 34: Same But Stronger!

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It seemed the more I trained myself on my Metamorphmagus skills the less of a pain my clumsiness became and I was moving more naturally though I had researched ways in which I might rid myself of the clumsiness by other means.

I had found an option, a ritual of sorts that I meant to attempt, though it was somewhat dark.

I didn't intend to use if for a while yet at least, as after thinking through the things I would need I determined my second year was my best bet to get them all.

But right now that was all neither here nor there, as I opened my eyes and with a flick of my wand the curtains opened flooding the room with light. It was September first, and the day I was go to get the Hogwarts express.

I rotated my neck and stood to my feet as I stretched my limbs out as I looked around the new décor of the lords office.

The deep green carpet of the office that had been worn by time was replaced with a warmer wine red that was so dark it was almost brown.

But gave the room a warmer atmosphere, the mothballed, dark green curtains had been replaced by thick black ones with silver lining.

And the walls that has been painted a pale egg shell colour with paint that was starting to peel had been repainted with a darker shade of red than the carpet, which pulled the room together.

"How are you progressing?" my grandfather's portrait asked me as I stretched my legs after sitting like that for half an hour.

"Same number of barriers," I replied, "but they're certainly a lot stronger than they were when I started, should be enough to keep anyone foolish enough to try a passive probe out of my thoughts"

Orion nodded his head to me, "Good, you've come a long way in just a month, do you think you're ready?" He asked me.

I sighed as I slipped my wand back into my wrist holster, "As ready as I will ever be at this early stage of my training, I wouldn't mind another month to be sure but whether I'm ready or not doesn't matter I have to go ready or not."

Shaking my head I ran my hands through my now shoulder length hair, courtesy of my Metamorphmagus abilities, which was only one of the tricks I had picked up in my training with Tonks.

While my abilities were subtle, that was all I needed for them to be useful in the right situations.

With my hair back out of my face I looked to the clock on the wall to see the time before I called out, "Zeff!" and with a pop, one of the two elves I had purchased at the beginning of the month appeared before me.

"Yes master Black?" The young elf said as I glanced down to hi, he was shorter than Kreacher and looked at me with his large almost tennis ball size eyes that were bright green, while dressed in the black cloth clothing I had given both he and his brother after I purchased them

It had taken some explaining that I wasn't given them clothes but a uniform to wear that they were expected to keep clean to represent house Black as its elves, they had seemed very happy and pronounced it their honour to do so.

Kreacher also seemed happy with the uniform, given that it was softer and warmer than the rags that they were used to.

"Is my trunk packed and ready, as per my instructions yesterday?" I asked looking down at him.

Zeff nodded his head rapidly, "Oh yes Master Black, everything is as you commanded, Zeff and Zeby made sure everything was done," he said with a proud smile.

"Your books are all in the library, your robes are all pressed and put away in the master bedroom, your pantry is stocked, the firewood is cut and by the fireplace, your potion store is stocked, and beautiful birdies food is all done."

"Your bed is made, all items you requested are in your office from the Black vault at Gringotts and Mistress Andromeda has been given the item as per your orders."

I smiled at that, Erebus and these two had been getting along splendidly the past day, both the two elves had seen him in his phoenix form and immediately dubbed him the beautiful birdie, much to Erebus's amusement.

"Excellent work Zeff, that will make things run much more smoothly with everything set up" I said as Zeff seemed to glow at my praise.

"Now I still have an hour before I have to go for the train, can you have your brother make me up a filling breakfast, while you prepare me something to eat on the train, I don't wish to get hungry on the long journey." I asked

"Oh, right away Master Black," Zeff said before he disappeared with a pop.

Orion chuckled slightly, "those two elves you purchases are quite the pair, I've never seen two elves more pleased to work, and they do look well in those robes you gave them."

I nodded, "I have to maintain an image after all, as I see it they represent house Black as much as any of its members, and having them run around in filthy rags sets a bad precedent." I said before walking over to the large mirror.

I had installed on the wall to the left of the desk as I checked over my appearance something I had been doing quite a bit recently with all my Metamorphmagus lessons and my lessons from Walburga about how an heir is expected to act and appear.

My steel grey dress shirt was well kept along with my black trousers and shoes, when combined with my grey eyes and shoulder-length black hair I looked quite good for my age, or as Walburga would say I looked like a proper heir.

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