5 5. Age 7: First Tutoring Session

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[Previously On: The Ancient and most Noble House Of Grey.]

I returned her smile. "Lady Orpington, if it's not too forward of me, may I ask what your previous place of employment was, and the nature of your job?"

Her smile grew wider and deeper, and it also seemed like her eyes had started to develop a twinkle. "Why yes you may Heir Grey, my previous place of employment was the Ministry. As to the nature of my job I was the Minister of Magic."

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I was momentarily shocked, but I didn't show it thanks to my occulemency, but even without it I had a good control over my emotions.

Lady Orpington seemed to pout that I didn't react as she thought I would.

Ha! I'll show you. "Minister of Magic you say, well that is an acceptable place of employment."

Her eyebrows twitched. "Yes I thought so to Heir Grey."

Well just because you were able to lead sheep around doesn't make it impressive, even if they give you a fancy title.

I smiled at her once more. "Now that the introductions are out of the way, shall we begin Lady Orpington?"

She replied emotionlessly. "Yes, that would be acceptable, shall we move into the room your parents have prepared for your teaching?

"Yes, let us be on our way." I answered

I then led her to the room that was prepared ahead of time by my parents for my learning.

We found ourselves in a room that looked like a classroom with two desks, a chalkboard, and bookshelves.

I walked to the desk of my choice, it has parchment, quills, and ink in a compartment. I got some out to make some notes.

My new tutor walked to her teachers desk and put down the bag she was carrying and pulled out some books from it and placed them on her desk.

She then waved her wand and words appeared on the chalkboard: Politics of History.

She then started speaking. "I have decided to start by teaching you history as our first class of the day. I have also combined it with Politics for now, because politicians usually end up making some of the most historical moments, whether that was by making good choices or bad. For example when I was in office, a predecessor of mine, Ottaline Gambol, authorized an operation to acquire the Hogwarts Express, the Ministry had seen fit to build a railway station at Hogsmeade. The Ministry was not so keen, however, on building another station, in plain sight, in Muggle London, as it would in so likelihood be a serious breach of the international statute of Wizarding secrecy. This happened not too long ago, in the year 1852 when King's Cross Station was first opened. Shortly after I myself came up with the idea of adding a concealed platform at King's Cross Station that would only be accessed by witches and wizards, this platform was named Nine & Three-Quarters, which I'm sure you will frequent many times in the years to come when you start attending Hogwarts."

I picked up my quill and wrote down the interesting bits in my notes.

She continued talking after taking a short breath. "Now then let's us talk about the politics behind this historical moment."

She then asked me. "Why do you think they used a non-magical way to transport students to Hogwarts? Also why did they even decide to change the method of transportation?"

I thought about it for a time, then answered. "I believe the only reason they changed the method of transportation, was most likely to it being unsafe or too many people complained, from what I've self studied most decisions by any governmental body is usually only made when there is danger, complaints, or a personal interest of a person, which turns into a political reason. As for why they chose a non-magical way of transporting students, I would have to say the person in charge, this Ottaline Gambol, must have been interested or intrigued by muggle technology. For why they chose it, when many purebloods detest anything muggle, it was because she was Minister at time, she suggested it, and was able to sway more people to her side than the opposition was able to."

She looked at me thoughtfully. "That was a well reasoned response, and you deduced rightly she was intrigued with muggle technology and how politics are about getting the majority on your side, most of the time. I say your self study must be years ahead of children your age for the answer you gave me some 6th & 7th year students wouldn't have been able to answer correctly. Also few would have been able to reason, or deduce, that the Minister at the time enjoyed muggle technology from the little information that was provided."

I smiled. "Thank you Professor."

"Right from the intelligence you've just shown, and the fact that you seemed to have self studied years ahead of your age group, I have complete confidence that you will breeze through most of, if not all of, our lessons." She said to me.

Then the rest of the class went by, mostly her telling me things about politics and history, then asking me to give my opinions on the political choices behind those historical moments, and even why those political choices were made, which was usually made because of personal reasons of how they thought, whether that was how they were raised to believe or they found some things more interesting than others, or they just didn't like some people so almost always opposed them.

Basically it just boiled down on understanding everyone who was in charge of politics, and getting those who didn't like you to vote with you by doing them a favor, but there where also ways to apply pressure so that those who wouldn't normally vote one way, would have no choice too, whether that was due to political maneuvering, blackmail mostly, or by swaying the majority of the public to pressure the political body to act a certain way, because it was for the good of the people.

I wasn't expecting to have lessons about blackmail, but these are different times, and as Heir Grey my parents want me to have any and all advantages they can give me, whether those advantages are legal or less than legal doesn't make any difference, because power speaks above all, whether it be political power or personal power.

Soon enough my politics and history class ended, and we took a short break, before moving on to the next class, etique. This was boring basically just memorizing the right way to talk and act in certain situations, or how to eat the right way for different meals and occasions. Also how to dance the right way, for different social gathering events, or what was acceptable to talk about to certain people who you weren't particularly close to, basically how to small talk without offending anyone.

Luckily my occulemency helps me alot with memorization.

My next class was Noble laws, customs and traditions all wrapped up into one class, this was partly like politics and etique fused into one with a little extra.

The class after that was Estate, House and Business management, it was basically like an economics class and an accounting class.

Then Magical theory was my next class, it was okay it was alot of memorizing spell names, histories, and creators. The interesting part was the part where they tried to understand and explain why spells had their effects, and how we cast them. It was alot of theories, but that was all it was theory, but some had more weight than others, such as the theory; spells are wizards using their magic, will, and intent to alter or bend reality to their whims. This doesn't explain everything but it's a stepping stone in the right direction. I decided I needed more knowledge before I tried to understand the origin and mechanics of magic better, such as arithamancy. Yet I also knew it would be a long term research project, one that would give me more questions with every answer.

Finally the last class which I was patiently waiting for was charms, it was nothing like I thought it would be, based off the short scenes of Professor Flitwick's class in the movies.

She first started with the 'Lumos' and 'Nox' Charms and when she saw how easy it was for me, she immediately gave me more spells to try.

Most of these spells weren't found in the books or movies, but again this is the 1860's.

She gave me charm after charm; cutting charms, unlocking charms, locking charms, mending charms, switching charms, body temperature charms, vision charms, language charms, listening charms, taste charms, smell charms, identifying charms, poison charms, anti-poison charms, levitating charms, pushing and pulling charms, silencing charms, privacy charms, tracking charms, anti-tracking charms, spying charms, anti-spying charms, reinvigorating charms.

Each branch of charms had a little more or less of 5-10 charms each, that was roughly anywhere from 100-200 charms that I had learned and cast today, but I didn't care I was having fun, finally learning Magic.

Charm after Charm there were so many, soon I found myself sweating and near exaustion. That's when she finally stopped. "Student Grey, that's enough for today. Now usually when learning charms you learn anywhere from 2-10 per lesson. As you just witnessed I taught you far more, the reason being I was impressed with your ease of use of the first couple of charms, so I decided to push you to near your limits. To say you are far ahead of your age group when it comes to talent, knowledge, critical thinking, physical and magical prowess would be an understatement. Thankfully, for you I was required to make a vow not to reveal any of House Grey's secrets."

My eyes widened at this, crap, I was careless and got lost in the moment and joy of learning magic. Also it seems all my training has bore fruit. I never meant to hide my genius or advantages over other of my age group from my parents, but from the rest of the world I was just going for the image of a highly intelligent wizard who with the right schooling and tutors became a one of a kind all-around genius wizard, and that was for when I graduated.

It seems spending all this time in a safe enviroment with my parents had led me to have my guard down, while I'm in my own house. Luckily my parents had the foresight to have my new tutor make a vow.

Though I can see in her eyes greed, as she was wondering how best she can use and shape me to her advantage, but soon her face grew pale with fear. Ahh she must have remembered who she was dealing with an Ancient and most Noble House, which didn't take kindly to its members being used.

Although this was a wake up call for me. Even though I have the mind of a fully grown adult, I still tend to act childishly from time to time, I wish I could blame it all on my body and child hormones, but sadly even in my first life I was always a child at heart, it was just deeply buried. Anyway I'll need to be more careful.

Now to see about my tutor. "Are you alright Professor Orpington? You look like you've seen a ghost."

The Professor quickly schooled her expression. "Yes, I'm quite fine Student Grey, just shocked at your talent I was imagining what your future could look like. Thank you for your concern though."

I wasn't fooled though so I decided to give her a warning, and a chance to see who was in charge and who was employee. "Yes Professor Orpington, and I'm sure having you following by my side will help me go far, but as I'm sure your aware my Parents and my House have Plans of my future as Heir Grey well in hand."

She looked as she got the message that as me being Heir Grey, as well as whatever oaths or vows she took she could do nothing to act against the best interest of House Grey.

I decided to lighten the mood though, as it wouldn't do to have a meek and scared tutor for the remainder of my studies with her. "Well whatever the future entails, I'll be sure to give you the proper credit as my tutor."

I continued. "Now what say you and me relax by the pool after a long day of learning?"

She looked like she was doing better. "Sometime later, I'm afraid I don't have the proper change of clothes, and I really should be on way."

She left and I went to the pool on my own, to work out and then relax, until later that night I went to bed.

Ending the first day of my magical tutoring, of which many days like it would follow.