Chapter 29

The next day, I awoke bright and early and began my daily studies with a trip to the Manor Library. Selecting a Grimoire translated from Church Latin sometime in the mid-thirteenth century by one Bartolomeo di Conti, I began reading about and practicing a number of Old Roman Spells that had survived at least up until the High Medieval Period to be written down and translated.

Of course, the first spell I learned from this Grimoire was Sona Inferior, a spell that would dampen all noise made within a ten-foot radius of the caster. This was likely initially invented due to the assassination-heavy politics of the Later Principate and the Dominate that followed. Indeed, according to the Grimoire, it had been invented by a Wizarding Auxiliary to the Praetorian Guard named Gnaeus Stabilus Itea who invented it under the orders of Praetorian Prefect Quintus Aemilius Laetus to be used in the event that their initial plan to assassinate the Emperor Commodus did not work out.

It wasn't used then, as Commodus was successfully slain by the Wrestler Narcissus. However, it was used during the assassination of Pertinax, to ensure the dart thrown that slew the emperor could not be traced to its source, and again during the assassination of Didius Julianus. Successfully it turned out, as History did not record the names of the soldiers who killed those emperors and paved the way for Septimius Severus to claim the throne.

With a history like that, I simply had to learn it, as it would eliminate one of two possible ways for me to be found out while utilizing my family Concealment Cloak. It was difficult to learn, as most spells invented pre-wand were, as they had to have their bulkier stave motions adapted to fit the more nimble wand, and thus by necessity required an extra level of complexity. It took me several hours to get it down, not helped by the fact that it was a spell requiring enough power as to effectively be a third-year spell, and thus just on the edge of my ability to cast.

By the time I had finally successfully managed it, the morning had come and gone and noon was upon us. I took a short break then to grab something for lunch before resuming my practice. Lucia had, it turned out, made me a Panino, which was delicious, as usual. She'd likely made it before nipping out to Madame Malkin's to pick up my dress robes. I ate the Panino with relish, the soppresatta, and mozzarella on lightly-grilled ciabatta and washed that down with a bottle of Goblin Juice. Then I returned to my training.

Next on the list after Sona Inferior was Vox Inferior, a modification of Sona Inferior that was slightly easier to learn but instead only muffled words to baffle eavesdroppers. It took more time to cast as well, as you had to demarcate a space outside of which the words were muffled with a wand movement, effectively trading power requirements for setup time. It was, however, castable by an average second-year, which made it just another spell in my repertoire. Honestly, given the situations in which I would most likely be casting it, I could deal with increased casting time.

This, it turned out, only took me a few hours to learn, largely because of the power tradeoffs and the fact that there wasn't as much added complexity in wand movements between staff-casting and wand-casting. I suppose pointing at the four corners of the area you wanted to demarcate against eavesdroppers used the same movements with a wand as it did with a staff.

Interestingly enough, the grimoire claimed that the Vox Inferior modification of Sona Inferior was not originally made by a Roman, but by a Parthian Wizard named Arshak of Hecatompylos who, having seen the effectiveness of Sona Inferior during the campaigns of assassination and coups the Romans had waged in Armenia and Osroene under Caracalla, wished to be able to plot counter-coups without Roman Agents overhearing, something that was used to great effect to plan the assassination of Caracalla in the lead-up to the Battle of Nisibus.

Of course, by the time I had learned that spell, it was creeping on toward three in the afternoon. I would likely have time to learn one more spell before dinner, so I decided that I would like to learn a spell for eavesdropping. This, together with my Cloak, Sona Inferior, and Vox Inferior would allow me some major informational control capabilities, which was something that was vital in any potential conflict, even something as simple as a school rivalry. This, I found in the spell Tacet Resonare, invented by a distant ancestor of mine, Tiberius Claudius Nero, grandfather of Emperor Tiberius, who invented it during the War Against the Pirates undertaken by the famed Triumvir Gneaus Pompey Magnus. Using the spell, Roman Agents were able to suss out the movements of Pirate Fleets operating out of Cilicia which allowed Pompey to trap them at the Battle of Korekesion.

With a story like that behind the spell, I just had to learn it. Fortunately, it was relatively simple to learn and cast, and the Grimoire claimed that it was one of the first spells Roman Wizarding Auxilia who preferred subterfuge to open combat learned to cast wordless and wandless, if they advanced that far at all. Sadly, the somatic movements for wandless spellcasting were lost to the sands of time, however, the wanted movements were quite simple and simply required the caster to point at their ear before flicking their wand in the direction they wished to eavesdrop. I was able to learn this spell after another three hours.

By that point, however, it was time for dinner. Lucia had made Pasta Alla Norma, and I never turned down Pasta, not in this life and not in the last. Pasta Alla Norma was traditionally made with Penne, and featured marinara sauce, basil, olive oil, garlic, ricotta cheese, and eggplant. It was, like everything that Lucia cooked, delicious. I said so too.

"Signore is too kind. It is a simple matter, nothing more." Waved off Lucia.

"No, really, I mean it, Lucia. If you can teach me to make this half as good as you have, I'll be set for life." I complimented.

"Signore is not thinking of replacing Lucia any time soon, Lucia hopes?" Questioned Lucia.

"Perish the thought. I just believe in recognizing good work when I see it. Or taste it, as the case may be." I grinned.

"Thank you, Signore. The Secret is in the preparation. Lucia uses a shaving razor to cut the garlic thin enough that it liquifies in the pan with just a touch of oil. There is also a secret to picking the correct eggplant, Lucia will show you over the summer, Signore." Nodded Lucia.

For my part, I couldn't believe the Paulie from Goodfellas method actually worked, but then, I shouldn't be too surprised. I know it was another director, but Clemenza's recipe for meatballs in The Godfather was actually pretty darn good too, from what I recalled of my previous life. I probably shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth here, though. I wouldn't want it to bite me, after all. Instead of mentioning anything like that, I simply ate the amazing pasta that Lucia had cooked up in silence.

By the time dinner was over, however, I had to try on my new Dress Robes, not that their not fitting would be an issue, with the resizing enchantment, but on the off-chance that the enchantment was non-functional, Lucia would have to make alterations herself overnight. Better to know now whether something was amiss rather than waiting and forcing Lucia to actually stay up until dawn altering the robes. Fortunately, Madame Malkin was a professional, and the measurements that had been taken by Alex the Seasonal Hire were spot on. The robes fit perfectly, and all the enchantments were working.

Once that was done, it was now eight o'clock at night. With the Greengrass Yule Ball being a full-day thing, I was expected to be there no later than eleven in the morning. After all, missing the luncheon would be extremely gauche, to say the least. Given how I actually wanted Daphne's family to like me, it wouldn't do to stay up too late. I spent a few hours working on my Occlumency, Leglimency, and a bit on the Dead Moment, before taking my nightly dose of Bluemoon Grass Elixir. I still needed a few more months of taking it before I could get started on even the most basic of the Spells of the Azarinth Order, which was unfortunate, but not really anything I could help. Once that was finished, I headed off to bed.

My dreams that night were blissfully untroubled by Portents of Doom, unlike the previous night. Instead, they were the standard, insubstantial, pieces of nonsensical fluff that a boy my age would normally have. Being a Natural Leglimens, and a Seer to boot, I had the ability to recall more of my dreams when I woke up than usual for an eleven-year-old, but they'd still slip away eventually. These ones had something to do with Togas, Roman Legions, and a Giant. Unfortunately, that was all I could recall as I woke.

"Maybe I should look into Oneiromancy? I thought I saw something about that in Zorian's Notes?" I queried to no one in particular.

Those were thoughts for later, however. Looking at my bedside clock revealed that I had slept in an hour and a half later than I had planned. I had to quickly wash up and get ready for the Greengrass Yule Ball. I hit the shower, then donned my dress robes before gathering up all the presents I'd made my various Pureblood Friends. Fortunately, the expanded pockets I'd paid for held the various gifts nicely. Unfortunately, Hermione wasn't going to be at this thing, nor was she even in the country, as she was on her Tuscan Holiday with her family. I'd have to give her the gift I'd made for her when I returned to Hogwarts.

By the time I was sure I had everything I would need, it was closing in on ten-thirty enough time to still be fashionably late. Heading over to the fireplace, I reached for the Floo Powder before stopping for a brief moment. Better to let Lucia know I was on my way out first.

"Lucia, I'm heading out! If something urgent comes up, I will be at Greengrass Manor!" I called out.

There was a pop of displaced air as Lucia appeared nearby and looked me over with a critical eye before nodding. Apparently, my appearance was deemed passable enough.

"Have fun, Signore. Lucia will take care of the house while you are out." Nodded Lucia.

Then, I grabbed a pinch of Floo Powder and tossed it in the fire. The fire welled up green as I spoke the words that would connect it to my destination, those being 'Greengrass Manor, Derbyshire'. The Fire Brewed up into a massive plume of a portal and I stepped through, emerging into the Foyer of Greengrass Manor, which was tastefully decorated with boughs of evergreens and holly. Thankfully, I was completely free of soot this time, which was always good. It wasn't like the Greengrasses couldn't afford to keep up-to-date with Floo technology, after all, unlike the Leaky Cauldron.

"Blaise! You made it!" Exclaimed Daphne from off to my right.

I turned to see her, Millie, and Tracey had just entered the foyer. Daphne was wearing a green party dress, while Millie was wearing Silver, and Tracey was wearing Gray. All three of them looked like they had been waiting for me to arrive, from the expressions on their faces.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." I apologized.

"Actually, if you can believe it, you're not even the latest here." Sniffed Daphne.

"Susan and Hannah are running late. Susan's Aunt was going to bring them, but she was delayed on Ministry Business." Admitted Tracey.

"Ministry Business?" I asked.

"It's that break-in at Gringotts, it's all the adults are talking about. They even somehow roped my grandad into it." Sighed Millie.

"But that was months ago." I frowned.

"It was, but the Goblins were rattled by the whole ordeal. I've heard Daddy talk about it to some of his friends when he thinks I'm not around. Apparently, King Ragnuk the Twelfth has even deigned to make a public statement to a Non-Goblin Publication about it." Nodded Daphne.

"That's unusual, isn't it? From what I've been given to understand, the Goblin Kings don't just do that, they see it as too close to diplomacy." I pointed out.

"Extremely, but if I had to venture a guess, I'd say King Ragnuk is using it as a form of diplomacy." Mused Tracey.

"You mean threat, right?" Queried Millie.

"You do realize that the Goblins can use the stick as well as the carrot, yes?" Asked Daphne.

"Yeah, you might even say that they prefer it that way." I grinned.

"Whatever the case is, it's got the DMLE working overtime, at least from what Susan says." Shrugged Tracey.

"I'll bet. Nobody wants another Goblin Rebellion." Agreed Millie.

"I don't know, some people might see it as a way to distract folks from other issues." I remarked.

"And now we're starting to sound like the adults." Grumbled Millie.

"Fair, onto a happier topic. I have gifts for you all." I agreed, fishing in the pockets of my robes for the boxes.

"Happy Christmas to me." Grinned Tracy as I pressed the box into her hands.

"Io Saturnalia." I nodded, handing off Daphne's box.

"You're a Pagan?" Blinked Daphne, taking her gift.

"I am descended from the Claudii, you know." I smirked, handing Millie her own box.

"And just what's wrong with being a Pagan? My Grandad and I celebrate Yule, not Christmas." Huffed Millie as she took her gift.

"Nothing, I guess I'm just learning something new about you two." Sniffed Daphne.

"Don't make this a thing, Daphne. Just because we're Pagans doesn't mean we're different from you. I'll have you know, I sacrifice my pigs the same way you do yours." I grinned, waggling my eyebrows.

That brought a burst of giggles from the girls and dispelled any potential bad feelings, though I did get a swat on the arm from Daphne for being gross. Of course, none of them opened their gifts just yet. I did venture to ask why and was promptly told that there would be a formal time for gifts later in the day, when everyone had arrived, which figured. Everything at these sorts of functions had to have a time and place. It wouldn't do to not have everything be just so in such polite company, after all.

With that thought, Daphne, Tracey, and Millie led me out of the Foyer and over to the rest of the gathered guests. Apparently, everyone was gathered in the West Ballroom for the time being, including Daphne's father, who she wanted me to meet. Apparently, he wanted to meet me too. Steeling myself for what would prove to no doubt be an interesting conversation, I let Daphne lead me across the ballroom toward her father. Hopefully, I wouldn't screw this up.

No pressure, though. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, here's the next chapter. Blaise gets in some training, we get some more worldbuilding, and we finally meet back up with at least some of Blaise's friends at the Greengrass Yule Ball. We also get a bit of insight as to events going on in the background that are likely to have repercussions in the future vis-a-vis the Goblins.

It always bugged me that for how much emphasis the Goblins place on security at Gringotts, and for how fraught the history of Wizarding-Goblin Relations is, that the break-in at Gringotts in Philosopher's Stone didn't have any real repercussions in terms of politics. Of course, I know that the answer is that Rowling is a hack when it comes to these sorts of details and that she was still in her kid's book phase at the time, but still. Expect that to play into other things down the line.

At any rate, the next chapter will include Blaise meeting Daphne's father. Given he just gave her and in fact, gave most of his female friends, literal rings as Saturnalia presents, that should prove to be an interesting conversation.

Stay tuned. . .