Bab 7: Family Visits (Continued..)
What angered the old couple the most is that this is not the life they wanted for their son. They had gone through hell and back during the war abolishing the regime of a genocidal asshole. Who knew that the world of magic was no better. What was worse was realizing their own background had nearly gotten their son killed during this madman's regime in Britain. The fact they had no magic themselves never bothered the couple before but their recent education on the world of wizards showed them how hard their sons life was due to their "humble" background.
Which is why in front of the family of their daughter in law they were extremely conflicted. On the one hand the itch to fill these assholes full of lead was hard to fight off, on the other hand this family is the only thing that guaranteed their sons life under the evil regime and allowed their sons escape, apparently. The mention of blood traitors and so on made them lean more towards shooting them and taking the sin of killing them to the grave. It's easier to ask the good lord for forgiveness in these type of situations. Not to mention they were quite worried about their grandson learning any form of ideology from the loonies in front of them.
Henry was quite the odd child compared to any children they've seen. Even compared to the eccentric Dora who seemed to have the same upbringing as him. The boy was militant to an extent by keeping to his schedule down to the minute. He also seemed to have a mind rooted in only logic, sure he made expressions and showed emotions. Even then something seemed a bit off with the boy. Back in the war he would definitely be one of the kids chosen for espionage or a good little soldier who would slaughter civilians without a second thought.
It's not like they were sure the boy was a socio or psychopath. Especially with how attached he was to his family. What they worried about is that he viewed everyone outside his immediate family as expendable. Isabella had done some subtle psychological tests on the boy and managed to draw that conclusion after several tests. From a familial stand point it was commendable. From the standpoint of two people with military training however it was a bit disturbing. The boy could be given radical beliefs in their name and dole out unspeakable horrors with a clean conscious.
Just like in this moment with meeting his other grandfather and his aunts family. The fact that these people helped Henry's family despite their homicidal tendencies may resonate with Henry. Worse than that the boy was intelligent and capable enough to propel these terrorists to heights they dare not even begin to imagine.
Through sheer eye contact alone the older couple had almost telepathically agreed to sit closer to their grandson and correct any strange ideology he may hear. Honestly they would prefer sending the boy off to his room but that didn't seem to be an option. Luckily he seemed to have zoned everything out and begun reading some book on genetics. Weird kid.
" I will not send my son to attend some dark wizard school. Hogwarts is far better especially with the presence of Dumbledore."
" That old coot that believes he's the second coming of Merlin is exactly why my grandson should attend Durmstrang. His pedigree is not respected at Hogwarts and the Dumbledore you hail as a hero, already led your cousin astray. Don't fall for the same trap."
" Sirius is innocent!"
" Of course he is girl. That boy maybe a disappointment in all things but a deserter and turn coat? I'd believe in the Quibbler before that. Even then did Dumbledore step in to save your cousin?"
" Why haven't you, if you believe he's innocent?"
" The boy hasn't received the dementors kiss despite his massive crimes has he? I've done more than you know girl. Walburga may hate the boy but male heirs are hard to come by. At least you did very well in that regard."
The conversation was veering into topics the Tonks grandparents didn't understand. What they could speak on at this time was the magical institutions. In the past they did not know Hogwarts wasn't the only magical institution available. When they discovered otherwise it was quite a shock to Alfred and Isabella. Back when they met with the Hogwarts they deputy headmistress they were under the impression it was their sons only option. Henry's most recent magical history lessons proved otherwise.
Turns out there was an American school known as Ilvermorny available. Alfred favored this school with little to no information when the magic lessons on institutions began. Isabella quickly favored Beauxbatons, again with little to no information. This slightly changed when they were given the unbiased opinion from Henry on the top magical schools. At this point they knew the boy looked at facts and cared little for patriotism so they took his opinion as the most informed.
According to Henry there was only three options for magical studies in their family of the eleven schools available. Hogwarts, Ilvermorny, and to a lesser extent Beauxbatons.
Why?
Henry said setting aside nationality and locational issues, he took their military background into account. During World War Two Hogwarts provided safety for muggle borns of Jewish descent. While the British Ministry wanted no part in a muggle war, Hogwarts was still willing to provide safe haven for muggle borns and their families.
Ilvermorny was backed by MACUSA which famously aided their muggle counterparts unlike other ministries. This statement made Alfred proud again with seemingly no discernible reason whatsoever. While Beauxbatons was neutral during the war and decided to take no action. A fact Isabella didn't appreciate.
Setting those considerations aside it came down to the actual benefits of their curriculums. The Hogwarts curriculum was comprehensive and had the most established history in the Wizarding community. It was largely rooted in tradition and as such could be called a bit outdated with some things like muggle studies. The greatest current boon of the institute was the headmaster Albus Dumbledore, who was widely regarded as the most powerful wizard alive. Plus it would be the preferred school of Ted and Andromeda despite the school being influenced by the blood purity nonsense.
Ilvermorny was arguably the best Wizarding school in the world as of the 1920's. It was founded by a British immigrant and her No Maj husband. No Maj as Henry explained was the equivalent term of muggle in the states. Due to its founders the school widely resembled Hogwarts in its curriculum. A key difference however came by virtue of its No Maj founder. Unlike other schools it held the reputation for being the least elitist and most democratic of all Wizarding institutions. They had no stand out wizards from what Henry could gather. However he would argue Ilvermorny Wizards were more well adjusted after graduation regardless of background compared to other schools.
Beauxbatons was the least illustrious of the bunch. The smack to the head that followed that statement left an utterly bewildered Henry gobsmacked. Isabella didn't know much but she refused to believe her countrymen were any less than the others. It also irked her that Henry, born in America, somehow gained that baseless American confidence. She refused to believe Ilvermorny was that much better than Beauxbatons no matter how logical the boy was.
Despite the slightly twisted expression on his face Henry continued. Henry stated the most outstanding achievement of the school came from the alumnus Nicholas Flamel. The man was theorized to be in his late six hundreds due to his discovery of the philosophers stone. Commonly wizards tended to have a longer lifespan than muggles with an average lifespan up to one hundred and forty, to one hundred and fifty years old. Flamel on the other hand was unique amongst most Wizards with his unnatural longevity but was as stated by Henry not the oldest wizard alive. That title was reserved for Barry Winkle, though his key to longevity was unclear.
While interesting, the old couple was unclear as to why this was relevant. Which Henry shortly answered. The old man Flamel was known to provide guest lectures for the school and still privately funded the school grounds and chateau. The additional funding likely came from the philosopher stone that could turn base metals into gold freely. Said funding apparently allowing for the school to have some of the best equipment for its students, greatly outclassing the other schools. This great wizard was also apparently one of their newest neighbors. Seems it was now Alfred and Isabellas turn to be gobsmacked as they unknowingly shared a cup of tea with the man and his wife previously, and thought the pair were just ill.
The moral of the story being that in this slightly idiotic conversation of their grandsons school, Durmstrang was not even slightly acceptable to them. Per the information given by Henry. It was a school renown for practicing Dark magic. Strike one. A German school that got involved during the war on the opposite side. Strike two. Currently run by a blood purist psychopath that helped the evil boogeyman of Britain. Strike three. The answer was no. Just no.
Just as they were going to step in and throw in their two cents on the subject. They noted they wouldn't have to as while Andromeda and her father continued to argue, a little someone closed his book. Henry looking up from his genetics book looked like a professor ready to school some unruly children.
" I will not be attending Durmstrang. Attending a lesser school over a backward notion encouraging birth defects is utter non sense."
The pin drop silence that ensued was only broken by Alfred's slap to his grandsons back.
" Well said my boy."
" Well said my arse what non sense are you speaking about little boy! Learn from your cousin and keep quiet."
" What I'm talking about is the fact that an average wizard lives to about one hundred and fifty years old and the so called 'superior' blood purist wizards have had a lower and lower lifespan. The Black family in particular hasn't lived past eighty years old for several generations.
Had you bothered to intake any muggle studies past the rubbish you barely allow to be taught at Hogwarts, you would know this. Muggles have researched genetics to the point they discovered this while you continue blissfully in your ignorance.
You should learn from Sir Malfoy, Mr. Black. The Malfoy family clearly noticed the lack of new blood was hurting them and adapted accordingly. Sure, only by accepting half bloods so far, but nonetheless they have managed to save their own bloodline."
With those words Henry placed the book of genetics in front of the Black patriarch.
At this point Alfred and Isabella were no longer just proud. Christmas was going to go great for this kid. Andromeda and Ted were no different. Ted in particular was going to buy the kid a wall of books. As a muggle born he never felt great when dealing with things about the Black family. Even with his new status after the whole metamorph scandal he still couldn't hold his head up when these people showed at the door.
Setting the prestige of the family name aside, what really bothered him was his financial situation. It's not like he couldn't provide for his family, he earned a very respectable living working at the bank. The reality however was that the Black family was extremely wealthy and the Malfoy family was somehow even more wealthy than them. The fact he couldn't measure up financially to these people was always a bit of a sore point for him. Looking at his son right now though he couldn't prevent the smile forming on his face.
" Furthermore if I do have to be educated by a dark wizard and former death eater I prefer an accomplished wizard like Professor Snape. Not the coward who sold everything and everyone out as soon as his dark lord fell. Such people are beneath our family."
The big grins sported on the Tonks family twitched a little. The face on the Malfoy patriarch on the other hand went from slightly proud for the boys previous comments to slightly twisted. Lucius actually agreed with the boy regarding Karkaroff, sending his son to that man was questionable at best. Putting that idiot aside however he also abandoned the dark lord as soon as things went south, the boy also subtly insulted him with his comment. Whether it was intentional or not this was not welcome by Lucius in either case.
If Karkaroff was a coward beneath the now illustrious Tonks family. Well he was no better either according to the words of this boy. The problem was the more he gazed at the boy the more he wished himself and Narcissa had a daughter. Forget his dream of marrying a daughter off to the boy known as Harry Potter he would love having this kid as the Malfoy heir. Lucius loved his son but he wasn't blind to the fact his mother had made the boy a sniveling brat.
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