Two months of my training with Phineas Black had passed, and though they cost a thousand galleons per month, I didn't regret a single knut spent. Having understood from the very beginning that in theory I had long surpassed an ordinary magical school graduate, he didn't burden me with it. Instead, we immediately moved to practice, during which he noticed my mistakes, pointed them out, explained how to fix them and why.
"Right here," he pointed with his finger at a long line of runes when I was calculating the enchantment of a wooden chest with expanded space.
"Mannaz should stand before Inguz, not after."
"But why, teacher? According to the scheme it turns out the opposite," I wasn't afraid to seem foolish — Black, on the contrary, praised my interest. True, only if the question wasn't obvious and you couldn't figure it out just like that.
"You have wood and maintaining the internal form of space is simpler. Moreover, this way you'll strengthen the stability of the entire chain as a whole."
"Thank you, I understand. Now it's clear why it's not recommended to store valuable items in bags with expanded space," at this time Pixie, who had stopped scribbling something on a small sheet with her tongue sticking out from effort, proudly squeaked and showed her scrawls to Phineas.
"Oh ho ho, so we have a little runologist growing up. Well done, little one, I'll show you later how to do it better," I looked at Pixie's notebook, who with her nose proudly raised was showing me her parodies of runes.
"You'll spoil her for me, teacher. And if she becomes an artificer too, she won't listen to anyone at all. She'll abandon me and fly off to boast to her kin," I complained, and the miniature girl immediately rushed to comfort me and try to hug me, which naturally didn't work out for her. Like, master, I won't abandon you.
"I'm still amazed how you managed to teach a fairy to read and write, who were previously considered completely unreasonable by many. If my family could see this, maybe it would knock down their arrogance toward magical creatures and ordinary people a bit," he shook his head with bitterness in his eyes.
"Won't you tell me about your family?" I asked, since I was actually interested.
"Why not?" he shrugged. "After you tell me where you learned ancient magic?"
My heart clenched with horror. How did he find out? I didn't show my powers, did I? What should I do? Where should I run?
"Don't shake like a rabbit before a wolf. Or do you think I would have undertaken to teach an ordinary student? I met your mother at one of the receptions and was surprised even then when she told how her son helped her make all the artifacts. Don't be afraid, hardly anyone except such an old paranoid as me would seriously take those words - after all, who wouldn't praise their child?
"And then I suddenly learn with surprise that you're looking for a teacher," taking a sip from his glass of water, moistening his parched throat, he continued. "At first I just wanted to look at you and that's all. What was my surprise when I saw not a boastful kid, but an almost accomplished wizard who knows what he wants and strives for it?"
"I still don't understand why you decided I possess ancient magic?" I inquired cautiously.
"Your wand."
"What's wrong with it?"
"Everything's wrong with it. Let's start with the fact that in magical lenses it doesn't look like an artifact, but like an extension of your hand, and looking deep is impossible. And that girl came to you, what's her name...
Apolline? Very interesting pendant she has, and what's surprising - given by you specifically. But most importantly — I wasn't completely sure until the end, I assumed the most unlikely option, and you yourself confirmed it with your behavior. So don't show your fear to your interlocutor next time." He smirked, and I grabbed my head. I exposed myself so badly!
"Don't worry," he patted my head paternally. "I didn't notice everything at once and knew where and what to look for. And besides, any experienced wizard would think rather of family artifacts. So if you don't babble and expose yourself, no one will find out."
"And what do you want? My knowledge?"
"What do I need it for? If you want to share - share, if you don't want to — don't. True, I won't say it wouldn't be interesting for me to look at it."
"Hmm, what if I pay for apprenticeship with you with this knowledge?" I asked after thinking a bit. And in response I heard applause that surprised me.
"Cunning, truly cunning. And you can't find fault with it. You to me - I to you, and apprenticeship implies protection and safety of the student. And you know what? I agree!"
"Just like that?"
"Just like that. Never liked complications out of thin air. You seemed to want to hear my story? Haven't changed your mind yet?" he remembered the beginning of our conversation.
"No, I'm still interested."
"Well then listen..."
He told me the story of a young man with burning eyes who took a fancy to a girl of ordinary blood. Naturally, he knew this wouldn't please his family, and therefore he decided to "lay some groundwork" and conducted his own research, which led him to incredible horror.
As it turned out, the magical flower of England was dying out. Entire families were degrading to squibs and no one paid attention to this. The research showed an interesting thing: at the initial stage, the union of two wizards almost always bore an equal or superior, in potential, magically gifted offspring.
Over time, this number began to fall, and the more pureblooded a family was, the closer the family ties between them, the more often squibs, freaks were born and "family" curses arose, which are hereditary diseases that the wizard's own magic couldn't cope with.
But even so, the average pureblood was stronger than the average muggle-born. Despite this, here and there extremely talented and strong half-bloods were born. And Black put forward a theory that blood needed to be "cleansed," as closed tribes do, exchanging brides.
Phineas was beside himself with joy when he told his family about his discovery. What was his surprise when he was not only forbidden to talk about it, but also threatened with exile if he didn't obey.
The young and hot-headed guy didn't heed the threats and openly began to propagate the truth, which turned out to be needed by no one. The entire magical world of England mocked him, and his family severed all ties with him as a blood traitor.
"I still think I was right. The only stupidity I did was that I started telling everyone about my discovery without proper support, strength and influence. And then it was too late - you can't turn back time," he finished his story.
"What about that girl? The one you liked?"
"Nothing came of it with her, as often happens with first love. But it worked out with another, my Annabelle. We lived together for sixty years," and such pain sounded in his words that I didn't continue this topic.
"Alright, we got distracted, continue the chain."
"What about accepting apprenticeship?"
"What, should I brand your forehead? Or take an oath? It doesn't work that way - tomorrow we'll go to the Ministry, and I'll officially accept you as a student. Now come on, write, or your Pixie will overtake you," he pointed at the fairy writing something again in her notebook.
So I continued my studies without unnecessary objections. And closer to evening we stunned Ariel, who had returned after a date with Ludwig, with the news.
"Mom, I have news!"
"Son, I have news!" we said simultaneously.
"You start," and again we managed to say in unison, which made us laugh, and even the usually stern Black deigned to smile. Pixie looked around in confusion, shifting her bead-like eyes from me to Ariel and back.
"I... We... in general, I decided to become Sir Phineas's apprentice!" I expected anything. Hysterics, offense that I didn't coordinate such an important question with her, even indifference - like, student and student, what's the big deal? But certainly not a violent display of joy.
"Finally! I gave my consent long ago, Mr. Black — why did you drag it out so long?" Ah, you old cunning fox, I thought I had achieved this with great difficulty, but he had already agreed long ago. From my intent gaze he even choked, but pretended everything was fine and continued drinking tea after coughing.
"And what's your news?" I changed the subject, since everything went so well.
"Ludwig and I decided to legalize our relationship. He proposed to me today, and I agreed!" Seeing my strange look, she asked worriedly. "You're not against it?"
"No, I was just thinking when you'd finally stop kissing in corners and become a normal couple?" I smirked and... disappeared in an almost soundless pop of apparition.
***
"Eh, and he's always like this - causes mischief and apparates away. He's been like this since childhood," Ariel apologized to her son's guest and teacher.
"It's even good that the boy misbehaves. Otherwise I sometimes get the feeling that I'm not teaching a boy, but a husband. And in such moments he just behaves his age. Misbehaves and runs away."
"You know, he's been like this since childhood. I used to worry that he wouldn't find common ground with anyone. But look at that — he befriended Apolline and Patrick."
"Speaking of which, that's what I wanted to talk about. It's not nice to say this, but his friends are dragging him down, not allowing him to reveal his potential," he replied, elegantly sipping tea - he usually didn't allow himself more in someone else's family, not wanting to seem like a freeloader. Though lately the hostess's delicious pancakes had changed his opinion on this matter.
"What do you mean?" Ariel didn't understand. How can friends drag you down? She could only dream of such things in childhood. At the thought of Victor her heart ached again, but not as painfully and sharply as before - after all, time really does heal.
"He's trying to pull them along with him. A commendable aspiration, I'll tell you, and quite rarely encountered. The problem is that his friends themselves don't want this. Arthur may understand this himself, but habit is second nature."
"Are you suggesting he give up his friends? He won't go for that."
"Merlin forbid, I never even thought of it. I want to suggest transferring him to independent study. As I heard, my student received the highest grades in all subjects, and this, together with accumulated points, gives the possibility of free attendance.
He'll come on weekends to you and friends at school to unwind, but at the same time won't try to tear himself into many pieces, trying to study with me, at school, pull his friends along and also deal with homework and conflicts with schoolchildren, which he will undoubtedly have," Black expressed his opinion.
"But why are you sure about conflicts? He's not a confrontational guy," Ariel asked, no longer trying to contradict the old man, but simply out of principle.
"That's true, an extremely reasonable young man. But what about the others? Children don't like those who stand out and show-offs, and your son stands out both in character and studies and, forgive me, origin. Yes, your authority as a Beauxbatons teacher will cover him from many problems, but may also cause no fewer, up to declaring him your favorite.
"And I'll tell you honestly - he has nothing to do in school, he long ago surpassed this level. I'll take him for four, maybe five years of training, and then if he wants - he'll return to school. And if not, all roads will be open to him," standing up from the armchair he asked. "So do you agree? Your consent is important to me specifically."
"What about Arthur's opinion?"
"I already know his answer. I told you, surprisingly reasonable young man."
"Then I agree. Oh, somehow I have to say these words twice in one day," at which the old man and young woman smirked at each other. And one overly curious veela grumbled, but wasn't against such an outcome either. After all, he really needed to move forward.
***
—————————————————————————————————
Thank you for the help with the power stones!!!