Querencia

Tom allowed himself a few moments to digest everything, the gears in his mind turning the information around over and over. "So… There are several types of Wicca in the Wizarding community." He started slowly.

Phoenix nodded, "Right."

"Pureblood, Halfblood, and Firstblood."

"Uh huh."

"But FirstBloods are called MuggleBorns or MudBloods, because PureBloods believe them to be of "dirty blood" and thus have no right to be a Wicca. But Pure-Bloods aren't actually PureBloods, because there hasn't been a real Pureblood since the very first Firstbloods children. Which leave a majority of them as actually HalfBloods."

"Go on~"

"And a lot of Not-Pureblood HalfBlood's are technically Purebloods because they're of two parents who are not Firstbloods; but are considered Halfbloods because they're not of a recognized house, or because they have a Muggle or Squib for a grandparent. While some Firstbloods are actually long-lost Halfbloods for a House that died out long ago because their ancestors were squibs."

"Correct! Couldn't have said it better myself!" Phoenix said proudly with a clap of his hands. "Any questions?"

He watched as Tom struggled, frustrated and confused, furrowing his brows and opening his mouth before closing it again. This continued for a while before finally-

"Why did Wizards choose to name themselves with Dog Breed Titles?"

They had to stop the lesson after that, as Phoenix wouldn't stop laughing and ended up spilling the entire pot of tea on himself in the process.

On a somewhat cool October afternoon, two Wiccans, two Snakes, and two house elves stood at the remnants of a great disaster.

The Frosland Manor estate, hidden away on one of the more forestry peaks of the Sistema de Gredos, had more than 1,600 square meters on a plot of 8,000 square meters. Projected on two levels that develop around an inner patio with galleries framed by columns and arches, it had 7 lounges and living rooms, 7 bedrooms, and 5 bathrooms.

The access of three porticoes were located on the main facade, along with a spacious foyer, a chapel, two offices, and a guest bedroom on the ground floor. From the hall, a monumental staircase leads to the second floor that had a spacious living room, terrace, dining room, guest lounge, family lounge, personal lounge, and bedroom area. It also held a large area for indoor service personnel, often used by the house elves.

The house was surrounded by views of large trees and the mountain's natural beauty, with wonderful gardens that were regularly used for holding small parties whenever the Lord felt the urge. Two of the gardens in particular held gazebo's for those who wished to rest among the flowers.

Well, until now at least.

"Amazing." Phoenix said, kicking a piece of stone that he was pretty sure used to be a part of the carved leopard (The Chosen Symbolic Animal of the Froslands) that also used to be part of the roof of the rotunda. Tom was currently interrogating the two suspects, both of which were arguing their innocence. Well, one was arguing. Faer was somehow falling asleep through all the noise. Then again, he was a Nocturnal species. "We had left them for 15 minutes."

"Oh…" One of the House-Elves whimpered, pulling and tugging at his own ears in his distress. "Ohhhhhh…"

"Now, now, Kippy, none of that." The Albino said gently, kneeling down to gently pull the older House-Elf from harming himself further. "There's no need to fret."

"Yes, Kippy, We's only be missing an entire Gazebo." Mipsy drawled, crossing her arms. "Nothing big."

"Mipsy!"

"What?! We's be missing a Gazebo! Does Master want Mipsy to say we have a Gazebo?!" She cried indignantly, holding out a hand towards the remains. "What is that? Not a Gazebo!"

"It can be rebuilt, and we still have another gazebo in the eastern gardens… Granted, it's a pergola rather than rotunda but-"

"300 years!" Kippy wailed, "300 years ago, Kippy's father made that gazebo for his little masters! Fifty years of Kippy keeping it in tippy top shape! Twenty years of memories with Little Master Phoenix hiding here to skip his studies and bring Kippy snacks after working in the gardens! Gone! All Gone!"

Phoenix gave a weary sigh, "Oh boy… Maybe Tom is having a better time with his two than I."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU PLEAD THE FIFTH?! WE'RE IN SPAIN."

"…Or Perhaps not."

"Okay." Tom declared as he dropped a book onto Phoenix's desk, "I think I figured out what you did to Lady Smith."

The older wizard blinked, fixing his reading glasses and setting down his quill.

"…You're still on about that?"

"So first, she incorrectly guessed your ranking because you didn't stand in the currently recognized 'Professional Posture' despite the fact that one is only typically supposed to stand as such in more formal settings. We were at a bookshop, so that's hardly something you would call a formal. It also says here on this page that Lords and Ladies will display their house ring on their right middle finger, like Lady Smith did. You didn't have yours on though, and since this is not always the case, so it is not always a reliable method of identification."

"This happened like two months ago, how do you even remember all this-"

It says here that the first time that two or more traditionalists meet, they are to verbally and physically introduce themselves to one another in order of the highest to the lowest rank. Lady Smith introduced herself as from an Ancient and Most Noble House, but you said you're from a Most Ancient and Most Noble House, so that means she skipped over you. That's Mistake Number two, followed by three when she only gave you a curt nod instead of a proper curtsey."

"Did you inhale the entire library while I wasn't looking? You're using a lot of big words for someone nearly six years of age. If you had asked me what "posture" was when I was six, I would have asked what flavour-"

"Finally, even though you're from one of the Pureblood families of Spain, Traditionalists are supposed to know and recognize every pureblood family in their neighbouring or allied countries to ensure good business relations, or for potential marriage/engagement purposes." Tom crinkled his nose in disgust at the latter. "Throughout the entire conversation, she proved incapable of recognizing you, which leaves the implication that she was subpar in her lessons in etiquette, or that her House was lacking the means to get her proper lessons. Both of which are very shameful to higher standing houses." The brunette finished, proud of his research. "In short, she made a very big fool of herself."

"Not just herself, snakelet, but her House as well." Resigned, the eccentric Lord reached over to pluck his son up and place him in his lap. "Her excuse to talk with her husband was just that, an excuse. It's more accurate to say she was running to warn him of what happened, so he can do damage control. Slights against Houses like ours aren't to be taken lightly, and can cause… difficulties for the other house. Difficulties that can last generations. I could have technically stopped it sooner, if I had introduced myself first before she thought to say more…"

"But you didn't." Tom pointed out, eyes ablaze with an eager sharpness, "You even baited her into introducing herself, when you said you knew her. Hadn't you? And then you brought up the fact she didn't recognize you again, to further drive into her that she messed up."

"I did a little." Phoenix admitted.

"But why?"

"I wanted to see how far she would dig herself, and the benefits of having a house such as the Smiths in my debt were also good. Honestly though? Not the main reason I did it." He shook his head. "She was far too rude towards you for my liking. Blood or No Blood, "Dad" or "Phoenix," you are my son. My family." (Tom felt something hard form in the back of his throat at that, but swallowed it down.)

"I'm not a cruel man, Little Prince. I will not maliciously attack others for no reason or for my own gain, but I will not stand by and let others walk all over me or the ones I care for either." He then shrugged. "In shorter terms: Do No Evil, Take No Shit."

"Phoenix."

The call of his name came out far too weak for Tom's liking, but his guardian looked up from his book nonetheless. His eyes' the only source of light in the room, handy for reading in the middle of the night like he was.

"Nightmares?" Phoenix asked quietly, marking and closing the leather-bound book and placing it on the end table. Tom shook his head vehemently, despite all his trembling. "I didn't have a nightmare. You did." He declared, before wincing when he realized how silly it sounded. The albino took it all in stride, giving a small, sympathetic "ah" before getting up to lift the tiny brunette into his arms and carry him back to his room. "Then perhaps you wouldn't mind if I sing something random, since singing always helps me calm down after a scary dream?"

Tears pricked at the corner of Tom's eyes, and he ducked his face into his father's chest to hide them.

"No." He whispered, "I wouldn't mind at all."