Special lessons start!!
Draco gracefully waved his wand, conjuring a gathering of students clad in Slytherin uniforms. However, it was merely an illusion; the students engaged in hushed conversations, maintaining a low volume. Positioned three steps away from the students, a distinct red circle marked the boundary. “You see the red circle there!When you feel ready to attempt the method, step inside the circle to put it to the test.”
Regulus indeed saw the red circle, Draco took out a long wooden stick that used to teach manners when Regulus was young.
He felt the stick touching his shoulders, and sametime he heard Draco’s stern voice. “Shoulders relaxed, don’t be tense, be natural! Sit elegantly and naturally!"
Regulus felt himself pushed backwards, he did not fall down, instead landed on a soft material, he guessed it was a sofa by the material and shape. Regulus followed Draco’s words to sit elegantly and naturally, which he was having a struggle with because he didn’t know which position he meant.
Regulus observed Draco's seated posture, Draco was leaning slightly to the right, reclining backward, with one leg crossed over the other, pointing towards the left side. His right hand rested on the armchair of the sofa, while his left hand was positioned on his knee.
Regulus tried to sit in the same position as Draco.
Seeing Draco's approving expression, Regulus did it successfully and couldn't help but release a small smile. Draco maintained his posture, his face shifted with a subtle and natural expression. Devoid of any distinct emotion, his head lowered slightly, followed by a gentle tilt to the right. “Don’t show your expression nor your emotions, keep a natural face, don’t show them your intentions! Don’t keep your head high lest be mistaken for looking down on them.”
Regulus did as Draco said, keeping natural expression but it took little effort to keep his eyes devoid of emotions.
Regulus was so used to keeping his eyes coldly that he struggled to put it away. As for his facial expression, he can control it anytime.
After 10 minutes of struggling, Regulus achieved the result he wanted. Draco continued after seeing his cousin could follow without any problem. “Lower your voice volume according to how many people in the room, keep your voice calm, other than that no other emotions allowed to be heard! Keep your breath steady and soft. Don’t feel nervous, keep your heart beat in steady-state! Keep your eyes on everyone, front to left to front to right, repeat it in slow and natural peace. Most important thing is your voice and expression! It has to be natural, steady and calm!”
Regulus and Draco practiced for an hour to get Regulus' voice devoid of emotions, in order for Regulus to be able to keep his voice natural they practiced until Alphard arrived exactly at 12 pm.
Draco had already left Walburga’s body an hour before Alphard arrived and Regulus was in his room practicing his voice.
Walburga and Alphard were talking downstairs when Regulus together with Draco floating beside him entered the room. Alphard’s attention directly went towards Draco who was floating on the right side of Regulus. Alphard didn’t show anything on his face if he were surprised to see transparent Draco, he greeted Regulus normally as if he hadn’t been looking at Draco.
Draco waved at Alphard with a smile, which Alphard gave a small nod.
By the looks of it Walburga can’t see Draco, Alphard noted down when Walburga only looked at Regulus, with no notice of another living(?) person beside her son.
Alphard had been mentally prepared when he apparated here, but still it astonished him.
From the morning to afternoon he had checked if there was something wrong with himself. Only to receive the result that he was healthy, there was no problem. And the binding was legal, he had gone to a specialist to check whether the deal binding was illegal or forced.
Looking at his nephew, who had a cold face as he listened to Draco’s dry jokes.
He was impressed at his second nephew’s acting skill, he couldn’t help but wonder since when his nephew learned to act. Alphard was really impressed by his nephew's skill of keeping an indifferent face at his sister’s unreasonable and nonsensical words. If he were Regulus then he would have refuted and corrected her or worse he and his sister would have fought. Maybe that is why Alphard felt closer to Sirius, they both seem to can’t tolerate Walburga.
And Draco isn’t even helpful from the side, talking about how to get rid of his sister with a familiar expression he would see on Narcissa when she talks about her favorite things. And both mother-son seems to have a habit of having bríght, innocent eyes and wide smiles when they talk about getting rid of living people.
Alphard was worried about his nephew’s sanity together with his grand-nephew.
At some point Walburga excused herself by having to go to a tea party with other pureblood wives. Alphard and Regulus stared at each other in awkward silence, as they aren’t that close. Draco didn’t give a galleon about their awkwardness, he turned to Regulus with ‘see i was right’ face. “I told you he will arrive at exactly 12!”
“Right, you did!” Regulus answered with a calm voice that Alphard couldn't point out any emotion. Regulus moved his eyes away from Draco to Alphard in slow and natural peace that Alphard would not have noticed the differences if he hadn't been paying close attention to Regulus. “Good to see you uncle! I hope you are having a successful life!”
“It is good to see you too! Yes, my business is booming as usual.” Alphard answered back, he still couldn't point out what was wrong with his nephew. There was something different about him.
“Alright, if you two finished greeting, we should talk about our business.” Draco said as he looked at the uncle-nephew. Regulus glared at Draco, having completely forgotten about keeping his face natural. Alphard nodded while looking at Draco and Regulus who were bickering in front of him.
“You lost your focus again!” Draco snickers, Regulus frowned in displeasure. “Wasn’t it because of you?”
Draco’s offended gasp was heard while Regulus rolled his eyes.
“Ahem!” Alphard cleared his throat, reminding the two youngest he was still here. The cousin duo stopped their bickering, Draco turned to Alphard with unclear expression, if Alphard felt chilly then he didn’t say anything neither did Regulus if he noticed his uncle shivering at Draco’s calculated eyes.
“Sooooo, as you know, you don’t know what kind of help Regulus is going to receive from you right?” Draco drawled out, Alphard nodded his head, he didn’t know what is the need to help Regulus with. “You will be teaching Regulus about business, not only theoretical but also take him with you to show him how it works. Give him a project to work on.”
“Only wizarding world business?” Alphard questioned, because he felt like not only that.
“No! Both wizarding and muggle worlds!” Draco answered, Regulus looked at Draco with narrowed eyes. “If it were only the wizarding world then you're not needed. Not only both, teach him everything you know!”
“Even if it’s playing dirty?” Alphard asked as he stared at Regulus as if he was a piece of pie. It can’t be helped, no one wants to learn about those things, and it seems his nephew will listen to his grandnephew’s order that just makes everything perfect.
Alphard wants to know how his sister and cousins will feel once he corrupts their child, the perfect heir they just gained.
Although he might not be able to make his nephew a businessman completely because of his grandnephew.
“Yes!” Once he got the answer he wanted, he turned to look at his nephew who seemed to resign himself to his fate. Nice to know that his nephew will listen to him without hesitation.
And so they left to Alphards manor for Regulus lesson, not without leaving a letter for Walburga. Grand uncle-nephew dragged(kidnapped) reluctant Regulus who wanted to wait for his mother to come and tell her in person he was leaving with his uncle.
They arrived at Alphards manor, it was a luxurious phantom manor. They were warmly greeted by house elves.
Without further delay Alphard begins their lesson. Rest of their days were spent with Alphard introducing and explaining about the business world.
Next day from morning till 13 pm, Draco teaches his lesson and then from 14 to midnight Alphard teaches.
Once he saw what Draco was teaching, he understood the reason why he was feeling something was different with his nephew. And he felt that manner was extremely fascinating, useful for all kinds of association.
So he asked Draco to teach him too, at first Draco looked hesitant. Alphard asked why Draco was hesitating, then Draco had progress telling him this was one of Slytherin prince especial skill, that made him confused because there was definitely no such stuff were mentioned nor see during his stay at Hogwarts and if there was such thing then Lucius would have already show if off.
When he asked his doubts, Draco just laughed and said it was a skill he created together with his friends.
That made him really impressed by his grandnephew and his friends' cleverness and cunningness. To be able to come up with something like this was remarkable after all even the darkest wizard has not come up with this idea.
In one condition he was allowed to learn that is to not teach it to anyone! Without a slytherin prince permission because that was skill for Slytherin prince to pass it down to the next generation.
In the morning and afternoon, Draco was teaching his uncle-nephew. From afternoon to midnight, Alphard was instructing Regulus. Draco rolled his eyes when Alphard suggested teaching him as well; however, he declined, claiming that he already knew everything he needed to. As for why? He didn't teach Regulus, the answer was that practical learning enhances one's skills, not just hearing it from someone else.
One month had passed, and Regulus, though appearing young, exuded an aura of enigma. There was something about him that conveyed maturity, mystery, and a steadfastness akin to a sturdy wall. His entire demeanor had undergone a transformation—his aura, facial expressions, and the way he carried himself.
He was no longer a youngster with a cold face.
*Clap, clap* Draco clapped his hands in congratulations, offering a lot of praise to Regulus. The uncle-nephew could see Draco’s proud face that couldn’t be hidden. Who wouldn’t when your cousin was so amazing to be able to learn those skills, knowledge and potential in businesses in only one month.
Draco told Regulus that it took Draco for at least three months to master the first skill. The uncle-nephew were surprised at the fact that Draco wasn’t jealous but congratulated them with the happiest expression they saw.
To be honest anyone would have been jealous of Regulus' potential and excellency, but it seems Draco wasn’t one taking in account of his delighted face when Regulus finished his studies in one month. Like a professor, who was happy that his student did remarkably well on their essay.
“I forgot to ask what was your career again?” Regulus asked, when he saw the expression he would see on his professors at Hogwarts when he hands in his assignment in exact time. Alphard questionably looked at Regulus, not understanding why his nephew was asking the career of his other nephew who should be still studying at Hogwarts.
“Draco is 28 years old, don’t be deceived by his face.” Alphard took a look at Draco’s face twice before he in astonishment pointed at Draco while looking Regulus wide eyed.
“Potion master, healer, professor at Hogwarts and lord of Malfoy and Black family!” Draco with a smug smirk on his face replied, shocking the uncle-nephew. Draco’s amused laughter was heard throughout the entire manor.
“Well then cousin shall we begin our skill nr.2?” Draco after laughing straight 2 minutes asked. Regulus visibly excited while Alphard was confused for some minutes before realization dawned on him. There were more skills for the Slytherin prince.
So begins another lesson, Regulus and Alphard listening while Draco talks.
The skill nr.2 two was connected to skill nr.1, because it uses skill nr.1 to perform skill nr.2. While sitting in the great hall, it doesn’t matter where you sit, using your voice to draw others attention to himself, this time was to lower his voice to the point of hushing and whispering to create the right atmosphere. Because of their focus on the deliberated lower voice they will not notice they were hudling, and even if they notice there will be no further action because you are talking about important stuff.
The effect of lowered voice will create another effect such as the students will also talk in hushed voice as to prevent others hearing it.
“Skill nr.2 Absolute isolation! That is about, isn’t it a great skill?” Draco asked in an elated voice, the uncle-nephew nodded in agreement, they were totally dumbfounded by how it works. Regulus was alright because he had already known, but Alphard wasn’t alright at all! Alright! This grandnephew of his is full of ideas that made him astonished, dumbfounded and shocked several times this month!
"Wicked!!” Regulus answered, and Alphard agreed with him.