Growing up Pureblooded

Daily Lessons

     Meanwhile, at number 17, Windermere Court, life soon settled into a happy, if unvarying rhythm. Aunt Clytemnestra set herself to redecorating Aries' bedroom, even allowing him to help pick the colors and the style of furniture. The day after their visit to the Ministry, she had taken him to Twilfit and Tatting's, where she had purchased Aries more new robes (and underclothes) than he had imagined any one boy could possibly wear. The hand-me-downs he had been wearing were banished to storage, and Regina's portrait said with approval that Aries finally looked the part of her son. Uncle Marius had officially retired from all his positions in the Muggle world, and now devoted himself full-time to Aries upbringing. He took the bedroom next to Aries and dedicated it as a playroom, and then took Aries to Diagon Alley in order to select toys with which to fill it. Uncle Marius was very difficult to shop with, as he tended to purchase anything if Aries so much as indicated a slight liking for it, and so Aries had to learn very quickly how to control his reactions. He did not which to abuse his uncle's kindness.

LIfe in Windermere Court, in deference to the age-old traditions of the wizarding aristocracy, followed an unvarying schedule. Aries awoke at 6 o'clock every day, washed and dressed before taking breakfast downstairs with his Aunt and Uncle. After breakfast, he began his lessons promptly in the library at half-past-seven. Aries already knew how to read and write, so Aunt Clytemnestra taught him about wizarding etiquette, French, Latin, and arithmetic. Uncle Marius taught him history and genealogy and drilled Aries on his handwritting. After lessons, he was permitted to fly his toy broomstick in the garden briefly before returning at eleven for his piano lesson, given by Aunt Clytemnestra, who had in fact once been a well-known concert pianist. The portraits were eager to involve themselves in Aries education. After lunch, Aries was free to play until dinnertime, and James took this time firmly in hand, chasing Aries through the house, playing hide-and-seek, showing him how to use the various toys in the playroom, and teaching him the fine art of playing pranks. After dinner and his bath, Aries was supposed to read before bed, and Lily had him read her a wide range of stories, drawn from both wizarding and Muggle literature. Aries did not understand why she so enjoyed listening to his reading- he tended to pause a lot , and trip over unfamiliar words-but Lily said his voice sounded like music to her ears.

As for Regina, she followed Aries around throughout the day- except during playtime, when James had forbidden it- and made sure he was carrying himself with proper decorum. After a couple of weeks of her unceasing commands to "Stand up straight!" or "Stop dawdling!" Aries found that it was actually becoming second nature to him. The first day he survived without a single correction from his supposed mother was a proud day at Windermere Court. After reading time had finished, Aunt Clytemnestra tucked Harry into bed and kissed him goodnight, and then turned the lights out as Regina sand him a soft lullaby. Aries always drifted off to sleep before the first corus and slept soundly through the night, dreaming of dogs, stags, and flying motorcycles. The terrors of the Dursley's a thing of the past.