Truth and the Broken Alliance

Garrick has noticed changes in Ian. Some good, some worrying. 

The youngster was far more motivated than before, researching and studying for hours on end. But he was also treading on dangerous territory.

Potions and alchemy. 

These were topics essential for every wizard but for a nine-year-old to be delving deep into them, it was risky. 

Ian was dealing with some dangerous ingredients and now he needed Rougarou blood. 

Taking a few items from the storehouse wasn't an issue —Yes he knew that Ian took things from the storehouse— but for him to ask for something as dangerous as Rougarou blood was worrisome. 

Rougarou were evil creatures and dealing with anything from them could afflict a wizard with unknown curses. 

Thankfully, Garrick was knowledgeable enough to purify the Rougarou blood, tears and hair. 

He didn't want to, but he ended up providing Ian with the blood of Rougarou as the heir wanted to create a pendant that could sense dark arts. And Garrick knew that Rougarou indeed possessed the ability to sense the dark arts and so he agreed to provide Ian with the material. 

On asking him how he learnt to create such an item, Ian replied that going through so many books made him realise that mixing various items had different effects and he figured that he could create an item capable of sensing the dark arts using that knowledge.

Garrick provided the blood to Ian but under the condition that if he fails, he would be forbidden from using such dangerous items from then on. 

Garrick sighed. "He has been reading a lot of alchemy and potion brewing books, I wonder if it was a bad idea to give him access to so many books. But if he succeeds…" There was a hidden smile in his worry. "I might have to reevaluate his progress."

But no matter what, he knew his nephew would be the greatest of his generation.

…

…

Ian sat at the top of the terrace, staring at the lush forest that stood near his house. He had managed to obtain the blood of the Rougarou and had submerged the pendant in it. But while the pendant was soaking the magic from the blood, he sat with the Book of the Wise in his hand, wondering what was next for him to learn. 

He betted on it being Legilimency but it could also be something like basic spell casting in his opinion. He knew a few spells but most were useless. The one that was actually of great use was the Reparo spell that he obtained from the book.

Which sadly he couldn't cast without a wand.

"We will never find out about the next topic unless I open the book."

Smiling at the book, he slowly opened it. 

Finally he could turn to the fourth page as the basics of Occlumency were completed. He was certain that there would be complex theories about Occlumency in the book, but not now. The book was designed in a way that cleared the basics first before moving onto the complex parts.

He had a smile on his face as he kept staring at the page, but once the words started to appear on the page, his smile turned into a frown. 

"What in the…"

<Chapter Two: Etiquette and Mannerism>

<Behaviour of a Royal>

He was confused, so very confused to see the title on the page. 

"Where does magic fit into all this?"

This was a book written by Merlin, one of the greatest wizards to ever exist. A person known for his magical prowess and achievements. 

Thus, Ian couldn't understand why a wizard would put a topic such as Etiquette and mannerisms in his book. 

It didn't make any sense to him. And so he did the most sensible thing he could think of. 

Read what was written on the page.

`A wizard can be immensely powerful on his own, could upturn battles with his magic alone and could even uproot the government if he ever so wished —but despite all that, a wizard is also a human. A being that is part of a society.`

Ian continued to read the context. 

`Humans are prone to hurting each other, either through their words or through their actions. Hurting others can make the person excluded from the group, ultimately resulting in them losing any sort of backing. Even during my time, King Arthur managed to get so many people to serve under him and support him not just through his strength. It were his mannerism, charm and etiquettes that allowed him to become such a respected figure and have so many strong people serve under him.`

`Etiquette and mannerism help keep us from hurting each other so we can remain together, supporting each other. To be a well-respected member of any society, one has to know their etiquette and mannerism. 

Especially for heirs and those aspiring to achieve something greater in life. 

Etiquettes and mannerism are the first step on the ladder to greatness.`

This was when the realisation hit Ian. 

`I didn't write this book to guide a wizard towards strength, but to guide a wizard towards greatness. To make a wizard that would be capable of leading people, guiding them and arising hope in their hearts.`

Ian didn't know what to say.

`To forge a ruler greater than Arthur, a wizard superior to me, a warrior stronger than Lancelot, a being more ambitious than Morgan and someone unlike Guinevere, whose loyalty would never falter.`

This wasn't the book of the strongest wizard. 

`Thus, I named it the Book of the Wise.`

It was the Book of the Wise. 

He has underestimated Merlin's ambitions. He believed it to be a book that wanted to create someone that could carry on Merlin's legacy. But no… 

This was a book that wanted to create someone that could carry on Merlin's ambitions. 

He chuckled, as he stared at the pages of the book. 

"Maybe this is for the best." He tightened his grip. "To reestablish my family as one of the strongest of the wizarding world, I needn't be the strongest wizard, I need to be the greatest."

And the one to guide him to such greatness, would be Merlin.

…

…

As the Ollivanders prepared for the birthday of their heir, the Malfoys seemed to be in a struggle of their own.

"What do you mean by this… Nott." Lucius gritted his teeth as he saw the contents of the letter laying in front of him. 

Alaric Nott sat with just as much grace as he came with, unfazed by the furious Malfoy in front of him. 

"Exactly what it says." He said, casually sipping the tea presented to him. "You withdrew when I needed you, and I withdrew when you needed me." He smiled. "A fair trade, if I do say so myself."

"This…" Lucius was furious. "It's not a few thousand gallons, Alaric."It's three hundred thousand galleons…"

Alaric chuckled. "Oh, I assure you. I know exactly how many galleons those are." He crossed his legs. "But that was also the amount I bled when you fled while making me take all the strikes. After the war, you were the one that got off unscathed but most of us had to spend a fortune just to not end up in Azkaban."

Behind the calm smile, was a furious lord. "I have been a death eater, Lucius… WE have been death eaters." He scoffed. "But you were the one that ran without looking back, letting us tend for ourselves when you could have helped me and our other companions."

Lucius calmed himself. "Do tell me that you wouldn't have done the same if you were in my shoes, Nott? Would you have taken the fall for others when you had a family to protect? A pillar to prevent from crumbling?" He laughed at the lord of the Nott family. "You wouldn't. No one would. So, what do you want to prove?"

Nott didn't reply, instead he remained calm. 

"We have both been death eaters." Lucius said in a low voice. "But you were stubborn to take the fall, I wasn't."

Nott looked at Malfoy. "That matters not." He smiled once again. "You left me hanging and thus I did the same. For now, we are equal."

"Equal?" Lucius scoffed. "Do you really believe that? Do you believe I cannot drag your family name through the mud?"

This made Nott laugh out loud. "And what do you think will happen after that? Parkinson, You and even the Black family amongst many others would fall as well. Each of Sacred Twenty Eight has just as much dirt on them as us Notts."

"You know… that after this stunt that you pulled. You have lost all the support you had from our pillar." Lucius said furiously at which Alaric scoffed. 

"It matters not." He said. "And do you have what it takes to make this fact known in public? That the two houses have fallen out of their alliance?" He smiled. "You don't. Because if you say anything, the rest of the families would take advantage of the situation. This is something that you would never reveal. And neither would I."

Lucius knew that Nott had him in a perfect checkmate and he could do nothing but take it for the time being. 

"Anyhow." Nott got off the sofa. "I have matters to attend to, worry about how you will manage that heap of a debt."

"What of your son?" Lucius frowned. "Won't you let him know of your plot and how he doesn't have to pretend to be Draco's friend?"

"You truly have gone senile, old friend." Alaric sighed. "Children make the worst liars, and if they learn about the broken alliance between us… it wouldn't take long for the rest of the world to know about it." He shook his head. "They will remain friends, ignorant to these matters until they are old enough to understand the situation."

Lucius hated to admit it, but Alaric was correct. It would be devastating if Draco learnt of the truth. 

"This is your defeat, Lucius." Alaric reminded. "And it won't be the last."

Lucius knew that he had lost and yet he couldn't remember when he faced defeat prior to today —in a so very long time.

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