Black Dawn Ch.11: Wings of Time

Bright, curious emerald eyes peeked at him from the other side of his desk, a mop of black hair swaying in the wind that drifted through the window. Harry jumped, trying to pull himself higher.

“Harry, if you want to see what I’m doing, there are perfectly serviceable chairs. You do not need to jump like the little monkey that you are.”

“The chairs are too big, Grandpa. And I sink into them!” Harry let out a little huff, and Arcturus chuckled. “And your table’s too high!”

“Or you’re too short.” Arcturus flicked his wand, and the chair behind Harry grew taller and thinner, its seat rising. “There you go.”

Harry grinned and scrambled up onto the shorter chair, standing on its cushion, before pulling himself onto the newly transfigured chair and settling down on it, with a satisfied smile.

“What are you doing, Grandpa?” 

“I’m figuring out what to give my friend as a token for his promotion to the Assistant Head of the French Foreign Office.” Arcturus smiled as Harry scrunched his face quizzically, putting his head in his hands. “What do you think, Harry?”

“Like a birthday gift, Grandpa?”

“Yes, close enough.” Arcturus nodded. “I need to give him a gift.”

“You should give him chocolates.” Harry perked up, a bright, proud smile on his lips. “Even Aunty Amelia likes chocolates.”

“Your Aunty Amelia likes you enough to take chocolates from you. And she doesn’t dislike chocolates.” Arcturus closed the book and leaned toward Harry. “The key to giving good gifts is not giving people what you like but giving them what they like.”

“Aunt Amelia doesn’t like chocolates?” Harry’s face fell. 

“No, she likes them, I’m sure. But it may not be the thing she likes the most. Or if she loves chocolates, you do not know which one is her favorite.”

“Oh. So you should find your friend’s favorite chocolate. And gift it to him.” Harry beamed before looking at the book. “Were you reading about gifts, Grandpa?”

“I was reading about my friend. Whenever I meet him, I write about the little things he tells me in this book. So, even if I forget something, I can read about it and remember later. That way, I know what his favorite things are, what he doesn’t like, and what all I should keep in mind whenever I meet him.”

Harry’s eyes widened. “You wrote a whole book about your friend, Grandpa?”

“No, I do this for all my friends. All it takes is a few pages for every person.” Arcturus smiled. “Remember, Harry. If you remember the little details about people, like what they like or dislike, what their pet’s name is, when their birthday is… you’ll be even better friends with them in the long run.”

Harry’s eyes lit up. “I should do it for Susan, so we remain the bestest friends ever!”

“I was going to teach you all this later but now seems a time as good as any to start. You’re six, after all.” Arcturus pulled a sheet of parchment and a quill, placing them in front of Harry as he grinned brightly. “Write down Susan’s name on the top and then list what she likes. I hear Uncle Remus and Uncle Ted have been teaching you to write.”

“I can write so many words, Grandpa. Yesterday I wrote Phoenix. It is what Birdy is!” Harry nodded eagerly, picking up the quill, slowly adjusting his grip on it between his fingers, dipping it carefully in the inkpot. “S–U-S-A-N. Susan”

Arcturus glanced at the childish scrawl and inclined his head. “Very good. Now, what does Susan like?”

“She loves unicorns! And teddy bears. She lets them play with Birdy too.” Harry beamed.

“Good. So, if she likes unicorns, you know what you want to get her for her birthday next month now, don’t you?”

“I’ll gift her a unicorn! A big one she can sleep with.” Harry spread his arms wide, as far as he could, to indicate its size. “She’ll love it, Grandpa!”

“Good,” Arcturus said. “That she will. But can you spell unicorn? You need to make the list, remember.”

Harry nodded eagerly, dipping his quill again, putting it to the parchment, biting his lip. “U–N…” He paused, looking unsurely at Arcturus, as a dot of ink began to spread on the parchment where his quill rested. “E?”

“No, I,” Arcturus corrected. “U-N-I… C—”

“C,” Harry continued, carefully writing each letter, the space between each increasing gradually. “O?”

“Very good,” Arcturus said, and Harry's eyes lit up as he drew the O on the parchment. “Go on.”

“R–N.” Harry completed. “U-N-I-C-O-R-N. Unicorn.”

“Very good work, Harry. You’re a smart little boy, aren’t you?”

“I am not little, Grandpa. I’m six years old!” Harry protested. “Aunt Andy says I’ll be learning all the things Dora is learning at Hogwarts in no time.”

“Yes, you will, Harry. Your sister has just started Hogwarts, and she’ll still be there when you join,” Arcturus agreed, ruffling Harry's hair. “Now, why don’t you go and change before you go over to learn the piano from Uncle Ted?”

Harry bobbed his head, smiling widely. “I can play Unicorn Runs Around The Ground, Grandpa. Uncle Ted taught me.”

“I know, Harry. You played it for me last week,” Arcturus said with a slight smile. “Continue practicing and one day you’ll stand amongst the greatest of wizarding musicians if you want to.”

Harry turned to him, wide-eyed. “You really think so, Grandpa?”

“I know so. You’ll be great at whatever you put your heart to, Harry. Be it music, be it magic… be it anything you want. And your parents and I will be forever beside you in whatever you do.”

“I’ll make you proud, Grandpa,” Harry vowed softly, his emerald eyes meeting Arcturus’. “And I’ll make my mum and dad proud too.” 

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Snowflakes drifted lazily from the sky, settling on the windowpanes in small piles, as frost crept up the glass. Harry sat by the window, watching cars honk past the house, his nose pressed to the window.

“Harry,” Andromeda said, and he turned around in his seat. “Nymphadora will come when she’ll come. You don’t have to wait by the window till she does.”

“But Aunt Andy, I promised her that I’ll be waiting when she comes home. Grandpa says promises shouldn’t be broken. The word of a wizard is sacred.” 

Arcturus hid a smile beneath his hand as Andromeda shot him a look over her shoulder.

“It is, Harry,” she whispered. “I’m saying you can wait with us. And I’ve made your favorite hot chocolate. You can drink it while we wait together for Ted and her.”

Conflict crept into his green eyes for a moment before he shook his head adamantly. “No, I’ll wait for Dora. She likes it too, and we’ll all drink it together. As family.”

“Dear Merlin. He’s quoting you naturally now.” Andromeda turned to Arcturus. “Put a cane in his hand and some expensive robes, and he’ll be a mini-you.” 

“It is not the worst thing in the world,” Arcturus said, glancing at Harry, who had gone back to staring out of the window. “It’d be a whole lot better than being a miniature Theodore, I’d say.”

Andromeda let out an exasperated sigh. “Grandfather.”

“I am saying that he could do some tidying up. Shave the beard, put on some nice robes for a change, and look like someone who’s married to a daughter of House Black.” Arcturus said. “He's been a part of my House for the past six years. He should have the decency to look it too.”

Andromeda rolled her eyes at him before shaking her head. “I thought you would have fewer problems with him now. Especially since you let Harry take lessons from him.”

“I’m not denying that Theodore has talents. It is his choice of dressing and presenting himself that could be better. Considering the clientele he is aiming for now, his business, it would be essential.” Arcturus leaned back in the armchair. “If he came to me for business dressed like how I saw him earlier today, I’d be turning him from my door.”

“Because he doesn’t spend frivolously on robes?” Andromeda’s nostrils flared.

“No, because he has poor taste. No sane wizard would wear those horrible red trousers. Melania would’ve hexed me if I had ever worn anything like that.”

“It is Christmas! It is festive.” 

“Yule,” Arcturus corrected. “Christmas is the idiotic muggle conception of our holiday.”

“We do the same things that muggles do, grandfather,” Andromeda frowned. “Muggles and we aren’t so different.”

“Christmas is not the same as Yule.” Arcturus scowled. “For one, we do not lie to our children about a man who will break into our house and leave gifts under a ridiculously decorated tree. Our children know who is giving them the gift they receive.” 

“What difference does it make?” She scoffed.

“They’ll thank the right person instead of thanking an imaginary, ludicrously obese old man who attempts to squeeze down chimneys undetected, despite wearing that garish red outfit of his. Something which would stand out like a sore thumb anywhere in the world.”

“You’re impossible.” Andromeda’s lips thinned. “I thought you didn’t despise muggles.”

“I do not despise muggles. Just what they’ve turned Yule into with all their insanity,” Arcturus said. “We give offerings to Mother Magic, spend time with our families and friends, dine and drink with them, and celebrate by gifting each other tokens of our love. And all of it we do without the ridiculously multi-colored clothes or the decorations.” He wrinkled his nose at the Christmas tree in the room. “Something which you have fallen into too.”

“Well, it is still my house.” Andromeda folded her arms. “And Harry liked the tree, didn’t you, Harry?”

“The tree is beautiful, Aunt Andy.” Harry beamed over his shoulder before whirling around as a faint pop rang outside. “Dora’s here!”

He jumped off the chair and ran to the door, yanking it open, a cold, chilly wind blowing into the room.

“DORA!” Harry’s voice rang, followed by a muffled grunt of pain and Ted’s laughter.

“Harry, let her come in. You’ll both freeze.” Andromeda hurried forward, disappearing into the foyer, just as Ted stepped into the living room, pulling a trunk in with him. “Ted, stop carrying Nymphadora’s things for her! She’s old enough to carry her own luggage.” 

Arcturus snorted faintly, wincing as a faint pain shot up his knee. He listened as the squeals and laughter lessened, followed by hurried footsteps before the door closed and the cold vanished, faint magic prickling his leg.

“Grandpa!” Harry burst in moments later, cheeks flushed red from the cold. “Dora slipped on the stairs and almost fell! But I caught her!”

“You didn’t catch me, you tripped with me,” Dora said, appearing behind him with a wide grin. Her hair was a bright red and green, covered with snow, which rapidly disappeared in front of his eyes. “Lord Grandfather! Merry Christmas.”

“Must you still call me by the ridiculous name, Nymphadora?” He gave her a piercing look and she scowled at her mother. “Also, Happy Yule, dear.”

“It’s Christmas! Also, you’re not wearing your Christmas jumper!” Dora huffed, folding her arms. 

Harry copied her, folding his arms over his christmas jumper and gave Arcturus a piercing look with his emerald eyes, who raised an eyebrow at them.

“That sweater was a war crime in wool,” Arcturus replied. “The only people who might look sane in it are children, and it is because they look good in everything. I am no child.”

“I knitted that for you,” Andromeda said sharply, stepping into the room with a tray of cinnamon-scented pastries.

“Yes. Yet I shall not wear it.”

“But you have to be festive! You cannot not be festive on Christmas,” Nymphadora protested, her hair turning red. 

“Yes, Grandpa.” Harry nodded vigorously before looking down and pulling off his green scarf. “You can wear my scarf!”

“I—” Arcturus paused as Harry’s eyes grew wide, and slight tears shone in them. “Oh dear.”

“Please, Grandpa. For me?” Harry whispered, and Arcturus felt his heart clench. Sighing, he took the scarf, shooting Andromeda a glare as she grinned triumphantly behind Harry. 

“He has you wrapped around his finger. Oh, we can do so much with this,” she said gleefully. “Next, we know, you’ll be celebrating Christmas and dressing like Santa.”

“You will not.” Arcturus scoffed. “This is a scarf, that too a small one. A little color is good.”

“Put it on, Grandpa!” Harry urged.

“I am only doing this for you.” Arcturus draped it over his neck and Nymphadora let out a whoop, grinning widely, and Harry darted forward, hugging his legs. 

“Thank you, Grandpa!”

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Sunlight poured in through the tall window, falling across the gleaming photo frames, shining in the bright, happy emerald eyes of the young boy in the photos. Arcturus felt a smile spread over his face as he looked over the frames before trudging on, his cane clicking against the floor.

He glanced at the brightly blue colored door that stood in contrast to all others, rolling his eyes before trudging on, till he pushed the door open to his office.

Harry and Susan jumped from their seats, and Harry gave him a wide smile while Susan waved shyly. Remus nodded at him from the corner of the room, picking up his quill and book.

“Good morning, everyone,” Arcturus said, moving into his seat and propping his cane against the table. 

“Good morning, Grandpa Arcturus.” Susan gave him a little smile, nervously shifting in her seat, tugging at her red pigtails. 

“Melody? Tea.” He glanced at Harry and Susan, a little idea forming in his head. “What will the two of you drink?”

Harry blinked in confusion while Susan startled, looking around the room. 

“Um, I… I already had breakfast, Grandpa Arcturus,” Susan said.

“Which is good. But when you go to someone’s home or office, and they offer you something, especially something trivial like tea, it is disrespectful to refuse. Yes, had it been food, you could’ve said no. But I offered you drinks. So, what will you drink, Susan?”

“Um, I suppose anything is good. I don't really want anything, Grandpa.” Susan insisted. 

“I see.” Arcturus cleared his throat. “If you must refuse drinks, I suggest that you just ask for water when you’re in someone else’s home. I am teaching you this because if you go to someplace, which you definitely will sooner or later, you should know.”

“Oh,” Susan flinched, and Arcturus frowned. “I’m sorry, Grandpa.”

“Susan, why are you nervous? You’ve known me since you played on my lap. You call me Grandpa. What is it, dear?”

“Yes, but it is the first time you’re teaching us. Aunt Amelia said that these are important lessons and you’re the best person to teach them to us.” Susan fidgetted. “She said you’ll be strict and I have to treat you as a teacher and not Grandpa Arcturus.”

“Oh, Susan. I am still Grandpa Arcturus to you as I am to Harry,” Arcturus said softly. “Though, yes, I will be a little strict when I am teaching you. Because if I am not, you won’t learn.” 

“Oh.”

“Now, all I am teaching you is how to respond when someone offers you something,” Arcturus continued. “You should usually have your answer ready— something simple that doesn't trouble your host and at the same time, something substantial enough that it isn’t a throwaway. Harry, why don’t you ask me the same question?”

“What would you like to drink, Grandpa?” Harry asked.

“I’ll have tea, thank you very much. A dash of milk and single sugar,” Arcturus answered. “See how I responded? It was prompt, simple, and yet, with a little instruction. Now, Harry, you try. What would you like to drink?”

Harry’s eyes lit up. “Hot chocolate, with extra chocolate on top!”

Arcturus’ lips twitched, and he turned his head to shoot a glare at Remus, who grinned unrepentantly at him. With a sigh, he turned back to Harry.

“That was a good answer. But you forgot something. Susan, what did he forget?”

“He didn’t thank you?”

“Yes, he didn’t. Very good. Try again, Harry.”

“I’ll have hot chocolate, with extra chocolate on top. Thank you,” Harry said tentatively, and Arcturus nodded, turning to Susan.

“And I… um, I’ll have milk, I suppose. Plain milk, thank you.”

“Good. You should be a little more decisive. Indecisiveness is an undesirable trait. Why don’t you try again?”

“I’ll have plain milk, thank you,” Susan answered, and Arcturus smiled approvingly at her.

“Good.” Arcturus nodded. “Melody?” A pop rang through the room, and Melody appeared. “Please bring tea for me, hot chocolate for Harry, and milk for Susan. And whatever Remus will have.”

“Tea, thank you,” Remus answered. “My usual.”

Harry turned to Melody. “Melody, put extra cho—”

“No,” Arcturus cut in sharply. “While you did ask for it, you eat too much chocolate, Harry. So no extra chocolate for you.”

Harry folded his arms and huffed while Melody smiled at him, before disappearing with a pop.

“Now, can either of you tell me why we’re having these lessons?”

“Because they’re important?” Susan bit her lip.

“Yes, they are. Yet, had you two been any other children, we wouldn’t have to even worry about most of these lessons. But you’re not. Why are the two of you having these lessons?”

“Because we are the heirs to our Houses,” Harry said, puffing his chest. “To the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black.” Harry glanced at Susan. “And Bones!”

“Very good. But do any of you two know what it means? Why it is important?” Arcturus asked, only to be met with two blank looks. “Very well. Tell me, to your best knowledge, who is it that runs things in the British Wizarding World?”

“The Ministry?” Susan frowned, her fingers playing with her hair. “Aunty Amelia works in the ministry.”

“Excellent. That is indeed correct,” Arcturus said. “The Ministry of Magic is one of the most vital pillars of governance in our world. They see the day-to-day running of Wizarding Britain by ensuring public safety, keeping records, helping citizens, managing resources of the nation, ensuring the law is kept, which is what Amelia does, as part of the Department of Law Enforcement.” He smiled at Susan, who grinned. “But there is one other pillar, which is far more important. Who can tell me what it is?”

Arcturus smothered a smile as Susan and Harry glanced at each other in confusion.

“The Wizengamot,” Remus said from behind, and Arcturus turned to him, pursing his lips.

“Indeed. You are correct, Remus. But do keep in mind that you're only to take notes of the lessons, not answer for the students.” Arcturus gave him a polite smile. “I know that you know the answers.”

“Sorry, Lord Black,” Remus flushed. “You’re a good teacher, and I got excited. Won’t happen again.”

Arcturus raised an eyebrow. “But since you already have, tell us what the Wizengamot is, please.”

“The Wizengamot is the successor of the Wizard’s council, and is the highest authority in Magical Britain, serving as the legislative and judicial body for our country. It is—”

Remus stopped as Arcturus raised a hand. “Thank you, Remus. But neither Susan nor Harry understood a word of what you said. Did you?”

“No.” Harry frowned. “I’ve heard of it before. Don’t you sit on the… Wizengamot thing, Grandpa?”

“I do. So does your Aunt Amelia. And one day, so would the two of you, as the heirs to the houses of Black and Bones, respectively.” He smirked as their eyes widened. “Yes, which is why you two are important and we’re having these lessons. One day, the two of you will be an integral part of the governance of the Wizarding World.” 

“We will?” Susan’s high voice echoed through the room. 

“You will once you’re of age, while Harry will once I hand him the seat and retire.” Arcturus nodded. “But if you are to sit on the highest body of Wizarding Britain one day, you must know what it is and how it works. More importantly, you must know how to present yourself, how to act, and how to behave when in the company of your peers and other important members.”

“But Harry and I are already friends,” Susan said. “Best friends.”

Harry nodded vigorously in agreement, and Arcturus chuckled while Remus snorted.

“Yes, you are,” Arcturus agreed. “But you two won’t be the only ones on the Wizengamot, dear girl. There’ll be others too. Many others.” Arcturus said. “And you must know how to interact with them. How to build friendships and connections. Because friendships are important when you’re in places like the Wizengamot and need to get work done. And if you don’t behave well, you might make enemies, too. Which is something you should avoid.”

“We’ll make everyone our friends then.” Harry beamed, and Arcturus smiled, ruffling his hair. 

“You can try, yes,” Arcturus laughed. “Yet it is not our concern for this very moment. You both are here to learn what many would call high-society etiquette and the slippery pathways of politics.” Arcturus felt his heart drum as he remembered his father’s words. “And this is not something you learn overnight. It is more than a habit. It is more than manners. It is a way of life.” 

He met Harry and Susan’s wide eyes, smiling, before he continued.

“You’ll learn about it slowly and steadily, ingraining it in your life. Because you have to if you wish to represent your family and their ideals where they truly matter. So, tell me, will you?”

“Yes, Grandpa.” Harry sat straighter, his emerald eyes gleaming. “We will make you and Aunt Amelia proud. We’ll make our parents proud.”

“I’m sure you will,” Arcturus said. “First, we’ll learn a little about the Wizengamot because you must know what your responsibilities are before you prepare for them. Then, we’ll retire for lunch, where you’ll learn how to dine in a formal setting. Table manners, in other words.” 

“But we already know how to eat, Grandpa.” 

“You know how to eat without creating a mess,” Arcturus corrected. “It is acceptable enough when you’re at home. But when in formal dining, everything changes, including how you eat. I’ll demonstrate today, and believe me, it is a task to learn. And they’re important because it is how most families would serve you if either of you goes to lunch or dinner at someone’s house.”

“Oh. Okay, Grandpa.” Harry sat straighter, and Susan mirrored his actions. “We’ll learn it then.”

“Good. Now, continuing on the Wizengamot, it is divided into two main parts— the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Lords matters more to you because it is where you both will sit one day.” He smiled as Susan and Harry listened in rapt attention. “But, we’ll learn about the houses in depth in later lessons. First, to truly understand them, we must talk about what the Wizengamot is and what it does…”

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AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

So, it is a time skip chapter. In the first scene, Harry is six years old. In the second, he’s seven. And in the third, he’s nearly nine (Set in June 1989). In the next chapter, we'll officially move on to the books, and most importantly, DIAGON ALLEY!

The next update will be LoSP, which I will try my best to publish in the coming week. I have final exams in the coming week, which is what caused a delay in this chapter. This was to be published on Friday as per my calender.

But, I should be back on schedule by the weekend after the next one, as exams are only going to last a week this time (Monday to monday)— which is also my birthday week as it happens, so, it totally sucks.  

So, the next update may be a day or two late. I will try my utmost to complete the chapter, but if I don’t, I will make it up to you all.

A huge thank you to Mughil and Zaby for betaing this chapter!

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

HPfanfictioner66