(MSC's POV)
Popping sound disturbed the silence -Grandpa prefers us eating without talking- and our house-elf, Deely appeared beside me.
"Young master, a letter from Hogwarts."
"Thanks."
I put the letter on the table and continued the breakfast. There are a few discomforts, like table manners, in rich households. However, with the wealth of the Emrys family, I have no objection to such trivial things. I used these 11 years effectively only because my family has a deep foundation.
I got every resource I need to learn magic, and the best possible teachers to learn. No Hogwarts subjects at all - I don't wanna spend the entire 7 years with pointless chitter-chatter in the classrooms or secretly learning other things instead of the curriculum. It is given that I will be far ahead of my peers in any subject with my potential, but it just feels like a waste if I learn these subjects now and again at Hogwarts.
Grandpa hired a new teacher every year for me from different schools of magic. It started when I was 5 years old. At that age, I was already mature enough (in their eyes) to learn from a teacher. He was Larch Leon. Several times I heard Grandpa and Dad calling him 'Leo'. He is the chief mercenary under Dad and had pretty awesome defensive magic skills. My affinity towards defensive magic increased to 21% under his leadership.
The next one was Louisa Bonham. Her mother is the current dean of St. Mungo - the magical hospital. She taught me for a year too. I got to learn the human anatomy from a wizard's perspective (I was a medical student before transmigration, so I have some knowledge regarding anatomy and diagnostics) and some healing spells. Potions were avoided as I requested. I have no idea whether Professor Snape will treat me fairly or not, but I want to learn it at school with my friends (if I can find any).
Our sessions with Mr. Alan Badley should have been about mind magic. But I asked him to teach me soul magic. He didn't agree at first, and I asked him to attack me with Legilimency. After making sure that he couldn't break my occlumency shield, he finally compromised with me. This matter was left hidden by our mutual agreement.
When I was 8 years old, Grandpa came with a potion master. However, I convinced him to let me study magic that is not taught at school. Then my teacher was substituted with an alchemy master. The theoretical part of alchemy is too huge, so our practical lessons were not that much. I can only make a handgun with an Untraceable Extension Charm in its cylinder. I hid it thoroughly, by the way. Can't let my unusually active Grandpa or strict Dad see that their quiet, sensible and smart Noah is producing illegal weapons in his bedroom (though I have no idea if guns are legal or illegal in the magical community, should I ask for some law classes next summer?)
In my 9th year, they hired a teacher from ancient runes. It's also taught at Hogwarts, but this subject is too broad for school curriculum. Furthermore, it can be used practically for enchanting the objects or alchemy. It just takes too much time to draw the rune and there should be no distraction during the process. These harsh conditions prevented the mass production of rune-enchanted objects. There are a few wizards who learn it to study some ancient objects, my teacher, Mr. Garfield was also one of them.
We learned theoretical knowledge behind the runes. I guess I will have to rely on myself to further improve my studies on this subject.
When I was 10 years old, I asked my old man to bring someone who knows transmutation. This magic is not taught at Hogwarts, so we had to find foreign teacher. His name was Giovanni Russo. According to him, Ancient Rome was home for transmutation magic. I don't know if it's true, but his skills were rather superb. With my ability now, I can probably build a 7-storey house without much challenge in one day.
--
With another *pop* Deely appeared again and gave 3 more letters to me.
"These letters were sent by Durmstrang, Beauxbatons and Ilvermony schools, young master."
This is rather strange. I thought I would only get a letter from Hogwarts as none of my relatives went to other schools and we are now living in the Kingdom. After the sudden death of Voldemort, Grandpa decided to wait a year and then moved to our old home.
Maybe they cannot bear to lose a potential talent from old noble family? Yes, this should be the case. Although my birth is not publicized as being high-key is not how my family acts, necessary people already got some information, I guess.
****
"Read all the letters and then you can let us know your desicion."
I obeyed Grandfather's instructions, even though I have already decided my destination.
I first opened the letters from other schools. They had similar structure: the titles of headmaster, notice about school starting on 1st September. However, the second pages were different for all of them. Like, Durmstrang asked students to bring additional cape made from matted, woolly fur and fur hats. Beauxbatons uniform included dress robes. I guess they have dancing classes too. Students are required to bring some books related to dancing and etiquette too. Ilvermorny school stressed the point that our uniform should be as close to the muggles (mo-majs for them).
School curriculum also differed slightly with Bauxbatons requiring books with more delicate and bright kinds of magic. Durmstrang, despite being rumored as a school that teaches dark magic, didn't include these kinds of books in the booklist. Maybe they only teach at school and provide books there? Ilvermorny school's booklist was the shortest and included only the books that gives knowledge that is most practical. And finally, the acceptance letter from Hogwarts:
[HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr Emrys,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress.]
[ UNIFORM
First-year students will require:1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magicby Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theoryby Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfigurationby Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungiby Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potionsby Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themby Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protectionby Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions]
After I put the letters down, Dad said:
"If you don't want to study at school, then you can continue home-schooling. It's alright."
They all looked at me with encouraging eyes. I guess they don't want to part with me, but...
"I want to go to Hogwarts."
"Is this your final decision?"
"Yes."
"You cannot quit half-way."
"I understand."
"Ok,then. What magic do you want to learn this year?" Old man asked. I sensed that he started using Occlumency to hide his emotions. Guess my charisma is too strong. Should I ask system for a skill to hide my charisma?
"I am planning to learn some school curriculum without a teacher. I just want to memorise some information about history, ingredients for potions and astrology. There will be less time for this unnecessary stuff at school."
"Alright. Don't stay late. Tomorrow, we will go to Diagon Alley to get your things."
"Good night then!"
"OK"
"Have sweet dreams, my boy!"
"Don't forget to brush your teeth."
I stumbled on the farewell of Ms. Harper. How can she stay so cold and collected even in this day?