Chapter 12: Daily life as a Stark II
That night, I felt like I had a dream. One that made me fear. I felt anger and sadness, maybe frustration? At one point I think I saw my father, and yet I didn't recognize him.
The eyes that once looked at me with pride, shunned me. I think I saw my mother as well and she said something to me. It was a long speech but I could only remember two words, 'Your fault.'. Something happened after that, but I couldn't remember. I just remember looking at my hands and feeling fear. My legs couldn't stop shaking, I felt week and out of breath.
I woke up with tears in my eyes, without blinking I quickly scanned the fully furnished children's room. I don't know what I was looking for but I felt relieved at not having seen it until.
[Good morning young master]
Winnie? I looked around for the house elf that served my family after that disgrace Dobby was fired. But it was a different voice, for one it was male and not at all elf-like. For some reason it sounded familiar, just like yesterday. I wonder why-? . . .
Of course! He sounds British! That explains the familiarity. As I recall his name is-
"Jawvish?"
[Is there anything you need young master?]
. . . why did I call his name? I didn't even need him to do anything for me. In fact his presence is completely unwanted, at least in the orphanage there were times when I could practice magic since no one was around after they thought I went to sleep. Now there is this Jarvis, could he be a sentient building? I haven't heard of sentient objects aside from the sorting hat. But. . . No. He spoke around the muggle woman Pepper.
"Nothin', you can weturn to. . . whatevew it is you do."
[Yes, young master.]
Could it be. . . Americans are loose between muggle and wizard relations?
Wait, I should think this through before making assumptions.
Is Tony a wizard? He acts normal and pretty familiar with a voice coming from the ceiling. ! I got it! Jarvis could be a muggle speaking over a muggle communication device that broadcasts his voice across rooms. He might know what happens by observing people through hidden cameras in videos.
Then that means. . . I can't practice magic?! Back in the orphanage I was able to practice trying to activate my magic without worry because there were times when no one would be around after they think I went to sleep. But how could it be that now I am being monitored 24/7?
But. . . there are some spells I could practice without anything seeming out of the ordinary. Its mostly mind-magic though
I have a conjecture that I can't harness the power needed to do magic as I am still an infant. However, my power will return to how it once was as I get older, right? Surely it can't be that something happened to my magic core during the ritual. . . Though it was excruciatingly powerful. . . and I didn't have a body then.
I felt cold sweat run down my temple and couldn't erase the nagging feeling that something was wrong.
No.
I have definitely recovered from then, it also wouldn't hurt to try again.
I close my eyes and focus on the magic within me. It's there! It's warm and doesn't flicker (as it would if it were sick)! I can't believe it has returned, but why so suddenly? . . . Well that doesn't matter, what matters is, I have magic again! I could almost feel my fingertips trembling with excitement, but I cant let emotions run my mind.
I calm down and focus on a single point at the center of the body-of-water like magic and start moving it, creating ripples as it rises and falls. It's almost enough to fill a small pond! Brilliant! This amount is just like what I had during my first year at Hogwarts!
Just like this, I let it overflow and course through my veins, directing it to my fingertips, slowly.
I open my eyes and focus on the plastic stars hanging above me, revolving around a quarter moon as it plays a light tune. I raise my hand and draw an M in the air as I whisper.
"Arresto Momentum"
I watch intently as it comes into a stop and let out a smile. I wasn't prepared for the stinging pain that struck my arm immediately afterwards. i-it h-hurts.
I clutch my arm to my chest as my face becomes twisted with pain. It won't go away.
I close my eyes once more and search for the familiar feeling I've yet to successfully execute.
"Occulumency"
A shield comes up, stronger than those I expected but is still incomplete. It slightly numbs the pain, but the main effect is to help me focus on what I need to do. I draw magic once more, but this time thread thin, and let it examine the state of my arm. There I find a large blockage of magic, a sign of magic backlash.
Tying the thread of magic around the blockage, I push the magic out of my arm portion by portion until there is only a small amount left that my body would be able to fix on its own. A trickle of a warm metallic scented liquid fell to my lips and chin. My mind pulsating due to over-exertion. I feel exhausted. This is the first time I used so much magic and focus since I was reborn.
My vision turns black as I'm greeted by the temptation of sleep which didn't lessen the annoyance I felt by the amount of time infants spend sleeping. It is very inconvenient.
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4 months pass by in this fashion. Eating, practicing my speech and magic, lately I have been studying muggle subjects. Surprisingly there are a few interesting ones, the most intriguing one is chemistry. However, after reading a few articles on nuclear chemistry, Jarvis denied me access stating that I first have to finish my primary lessons. (Stating that me reading on advance subjects would hinder me from learning the basics)
This is absolutely absurd, firstly, I wasn't even 2 years old! As I recall my mother said I had my first tutor at the age of three and official studies start at the age of 11. And secondly, I refuse to wait that long just so I could study something.
Thankfully, I was able to persuade him into letting me learn these 'primary and secondary lessons' at once. But, as one problem is resolved, another arose. I just learned that 'primary and secondary lessons' usually consist of 12 years of studying. I found this ridiculous as I wouldn't even be able to graduate before going to Hogwarts.
And so begins my plan to complete these primary lessons 'fast track'. I found out that one can skip grades even without enrolling into an outside institution- which will work favorably in my part as I would preferably not want to study with children twice or thrice my size.
By cramming lessons in science, and history, and winging other subjects like English, and math(which I have already been taught pre-Hogwarts and in arithmancy), I'm aiming to take the muggle ITBS test 3 months from now which would let me pass by the first 4 years. and another 3 months after to finish the last two years of my 'primary schooling'.
Finally, at every chance I was alone (which wasn't much) and at night before going to sleep, I practice magic. Since the last incident, my magic has never backlashed and become more cooperative than even before I was reborn. Though it is a shame I still could not practice stronger spells as they are quite flashy (and my magic isn't strong enough). But I have an inkling there is more to it, maybe its because I feel the need of a wand or a medium of sort to control my magic?
It is now April 1, with Tony nowhere to be found, and Pepper too busy taking care of Tony's work - though I did hear something about Germany. It is times like these that I despise the most.
[It is now 12:00 noon, Tom, it is feeding time.]
. . . Because it is days like this that *Jarvis* takes care of me. I sneer at the Ironman suit replica that approached me with a warm milk bottle in one hand. It disturbs me what great lengths muggles go through to take care of a baby while sitting behind a microphone observing the whole building.
I am starting to doubt the sanity (and humanity) of this existence known as Jarvis, though I have to agree he is less troublesome than most muggles and therefore, I don't have much complaints.
Metallic arms lift me from the couch and proceed to feed me the milk. There are a few times when Jarvis caught me doing magic and speaking in a mature manner but either he didn't tell Tony or he just doesn't bother. . . However, I did tell him the first time not to say anything to Tony... Could it be, he followed my order?
As soon as I finished my bottle, and was placed back on couch. I lifted my head to face the red and gold man.
"Jarvis, give me my review material on math, science, and history."
[It is, "please give me" Tom]
*urgh* I sneer at metal face. . ever since Pepper heard me speaking to Jarvis 'rudely' in August, He started correcting me and wouldn't do as I say until I answer him properly. He also started calling me just 'Tom'.
But I guess it isn't that bad, I've already gone through 17 years of my life practicing pureblood etiquette with the following 4 years after that in hell. When I look at it that way, being polite isn't hard.
"Would you please hand me my review material?"
[Of course]
Though I would never admit it out loud, I am not a genius like that Granger mud blood. I maintained my rank as the top in slytherin out of pure effort to not disappoint my father. And so I doubt I would be able to skip grades once unfamiliar subjects are presented to me (this would most probably appear after elementary). I'd have to designate enough time to secondary school (6 years) before I get to do and learn what I want to (giving me approximately 3 1/2 years of freedom, before Hogwarts).
~~~Tony P.O.V.~~~
I just arrived at the Gorani Insurance Headquarters with a very irate Pepper on the other end of the phone.
"So... you captured all the art thieves, recovered all the paintings, and the police were able to capture the helicopter pilot?"
"That's right"
"And how did any of this help you to make the meeting on time?"
"Your caught on the un-heroic details, and I'm at the meeting site now. Talk soon!"
"*sigh* just remember to contact your son soon. He needs you Tony, he won't get close to anyone else. And I worry, he sleeps too much."
"Got it."
I ended the call just as I entered the building. He won't get close to anyone? But he talks a lot around me. I'm sure everything's fine.
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