hp ;; whispers of silence

IT'S THE day before terms and Leo can't seem to wrap his mind around the school. The whole concept of a hidden magical school confuses him. His parents? Wizards? He had always assumed they had died in a tragic, yet totally accidental, situation or maybe they simply just couldn't afford to take care of him.

Leo had never bothered to find out anything about his biological parents. Why would he? He had Ma and they did just fine taking care of each other.

Leo looks around at the other kids in his house. The kids that didn't choose to be here. The kids that curl up into a ball and cry while their upperclassmen comfort them. Giving words of advice because they too were once 1st years with crushed dreams and discrimination.

The boy from earlier had introduced himself as Pierre. Leo watched him comfort younger students.

"Do you understand now?" Pansy stands next to him, looking at the fireplace of the common room.

"What a group of whiny babies." Draco crosses his arms against his chest, holding up his chin. If Leo looks close enough, he swears he can see a gleam in Draco's eyes. Even for a second, his tough facade falls.

"I feel bad for them. They didn't choose this house yet they get treated differently because of how everyone sees Slytherins." Leo sighs, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"Well, it's time to retire. Make sure to wake up bright and early for a good breakfast before classes start." Pierre smiles at them as the boy he was comforting walks to his dorm. Leo nods his head and, without wanting more conversation, walks off to his dorm.

He shares his dorm with Draco, Theo, and Mattheo. Somewhere down the hall, Blaise shares a dorm with Crabbe and Goyle. Leo quickly changes into his pajamas and lays down. It takes him 3 hours to fall asleep.

• • •

Waking up late his first day and missing his first class was not how Leo expected it to go. But Draco and Theo were already gone and Mattheo sat on his bed reading, claiming school was a waste of his time and first days are mostly introductions.

Leo left him in the dorm and walked alone to Potions. His schedule showed his professor's last name is Snape, just as his is. He wonders if his professor knew his parents. Maybe he- no. Leo shook all thoughts out of his head. He has Ma and she's a great parent to him.

When he enters the room, students are already chatting with those around them. He sees Harry sitting next to Weasley and the girl with puffy hair. At the professor's desk sits the man with curly hair from the welcoming feast. Leo spots the Slytherins and makes his way over, sitting between Draco and Theodore.

"It's Professor Regulus Black. I heard his brother was the one who killed Potter's parents over there." Theo leaned forward and whispered from next to Leo.

"Yeah, well, I heard that he and Professor Snape aided the other Black brother. Witnesses saw them leaving the Potter's house the same night they were killed." Pansy told the group.

"Apparently, they also killed Professor Snape's old wife and kidnapped the four babies. Rumors say they separated the babies and killed them, hiding their bodies in different locations."

"And that is exactly what they are. Rumors are only rumors. I hope you lot are not idiotic enough to believe them." Draco sighs, rubbing his head with his palm.

"Aw, is someone irritated by our gossip?"

"Fous-moi la paix."

"Woah... Draco, I have no idea what you just said but say it again."

The door slams open and the pale, long-haired Professor from the welcoming feast strides in.

"There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion making. However, for those select few who possess the predisposition, I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper on death. For those who don't know me, I am Professor Severus Snape."

Draco raises his eyebrows when Severus trails off. Severus sees Harry writing down his main points.

"Taking notes already, Potter?" His gaze shifts to Draco, to Leo who lays his head down on Draco's shoulder. The boy meets the professor with a bored gaze.

"Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confidant enough to not pay attention."

Hermione nudges Harry, making him look up. But Severus' gaze stays on Leo. Something about his brown eyes gives him a sense of familiarity.

"I knew you were a perv."

"Excuse me?" Severus snaps out of his gaze and narrows his eyes at the boy.

"I saw you at the feast. You were looking at me then. At first I thought you were just mad creepy but it's only the first day of classes and you already have an interest in me. I don't know about you but that gives me max pedophile vibes."

"Well, don't we have a smart mouth in the room. Tell me. What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood? You don't know? Well, let's try again. Where, Mr. Snape, would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?"

"How am I supposed to know? It's only the first day of classes." Leo's cheeks heat in embarrassment.

"I suppose you also don't know the difference between monkshood and wolfbane?"

"No..."

"Pity. Clearly, being a class clown isn't everything. Is it, Mr. Snape?"

"Why don't you ask the girl who raised her hand for every question you asked?" Leo glares.

"Silence." He looks Hermione's way. "And put your hand down, you silly girl."

"For your information, Snape, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful, it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite."

"Well?" He turns to the class. "Why aren't you all copying this down?"

Everyone grabs a quill, obeying his order. Theodore nudges Leo, motioning to his quill and paper. Leo picks up the quill.

"Am I the only one who missed quill writing class? I've no idea how to use this bloody thing." Leo scrunches his nose.

"You're utterly hopeless. Here, you hold it like this."

Draco grabs Leo's hand, demonstrating how to hold the quill correctly. Leo's eyes widen at their proximity.

Calm down, Leo. He's just a boy.

Leo feels his heart race and he's sure Draco can feel his sweaty palms. Draco ends up using the rest of the class teaching him how to write with a quill.

• • •

In the Great Hall, students sit doing their homework. Pierre joins the groups of first years and helps with mainly Charms work. An explosion sounds at the Gryffindor table.

"Looks like Finnigan blew something up again. At least we'll have some entertainment this year." Theo remarks, glancing their way. Leo shrugs off his comment.

"Mail's here!" Pansy leans forward with excitement as owls swoop into the Great Hall. Envelopes and packages fall all around them. Leo gets a package with a letter attached. He opens the letter, seeing it's addressed from Ma.

’Dear Leo,

That lovely lady Narcissa taught me how to send letters. She's such a sweet woman. Perhaps I should invite her to tea one day. Oh, I do hope you're adjusting well there. Narcissa has informed me you've made it into Slytherin. I've no idea how this bloody school system works but I'm trying to and I'm so very proud of you, love. Skye is terribly lonely without you here. She's taken quite a liking to Narcissa. Maybe you can learn a spell or two to take Skye with you next time. I know it's only the first day but I miss you terribly. You must tell me about all the wonderful things you've seen! Is it true witches wear pointy hats? Do tell! I won't bore you with a long letter, dear. Just don't forget to write back and do tell me if you run into any trouble. I've also packed you some sweets just in case you tire of their food. You know how I worry. Take care of yourself, love.

With love, Ma.'

Leo smiles at his letter. It was just like Ma. Draco reads a letter beside him and Leo glances over. It takes him a moment and he was for sure he was going crazy. Was Draco's letter not in English? Maybe it was a special wizard language Leo had yet to learn.

"Holy moly! You know a different language, Draco? What language is that?!" Theo jumps from his seat, leans over Draco's shoulder. A grin is plastered on his face.

"It's French, you imbecile."

"Oh, so is that what language you spoke in Potions? Pretty impressive if you ask me." Leo comments.

Draco glances at him, quickly looking away and mumbling to himself.

"Draco's mum is a mostly French-speaking witch. Draco grew up around French so it's only natural him and his mother converse with a language that is special to them." Mattheo speaks.

"And here I was think I'd have to wait for years to get a word out of you."

"Hey, look! Someone broke into Gringotts." Theo leans over the newspaper in curiosity.

"Believed to be the work of dark witches or wizards unknown, Gringotts goblins, while acknowledging the breach, insist that nothing was taken. The vault in question, number 713, had in fact been emptied earlier that same day."

"And here I thought Gringotts was supposed to be secure."

• • •

That afternoon, outside the castle, the students, Gryffindor and Slytherin, are lined up in two rows with brooms by their sides. The teacher, Madam Hooch, comes down the line. She has short hair and hawk yellow eyes.

"Good afternoon, class." The teacher greets.

"Good afternoon, Madam Hooch."

"Welcome to your first flying lesson. Well, what are you waiting for? Everyone step up to the left side of their broomstick. Come on now, hurry up. Stick your right hand over the broom and say, up!"

"Up!"

After Harry said "Up!", the broom immediately flies into his hand.

"Wow." He says in amazement. Hermione stares at him as the class continues.

"Up!" The broomstick flies up and Draco smugly grins.

"With feeling!" Madam Hooch advises.

"Up. Up. Up. Up!" Hermione struggles with her broom, watching it slowly inch up.

"Up!!" Ron's broom immediately shot up and whacked him on the nose.

"Ooh!" Harry laughs.

"Shut up, Harry." Ron then seemingly starts to laugh after he recovered.

"Up!" The girl next to Leo immediately has the hang of it. Leo recognizes her as the one Pansy called Emily at the Sorting Ceremony. Theo stand on the other side of him, not paying either of them any attention as he focuses on his broom.

"Up." Leo's broom refuses to move from its spot on the ground. Emily takes interest in him.

"You need more feeling in it." She says.

"I can do this just fine, thank you." Leo remarks.

"...I saw your scene earlier," Leo looks at her in confusion, "in Professor Snape's classroom. You're Leo, right?"

"Yes." Leo turns away from her, focusing on the broom.

"The rumors aren't true, you know. About Professor Snape. He's just been through tough things." This catches Leo's attention.

"Can you tell me more about him? What happened to his wife?"

"She died to You-Know-Who the same day she gave birth to her son. Professor Snape and Professor Black were the only ones there the day she died. By the time anyone got there, she was already dead. Professor Snape was cleared of any suspicions and he takes care of his son with Professor Black. His son will be coming to Hogwarts next year."

"How do you know all this?"

"My father took part in her murder."

"That makes your father a murderer." Leo narrows his eyes at her and she shrugs.

"I never claimed to be proud of him. But he was part of it and now he pays the price by being locked up in Azkaban."

"Now, once you've got hold of your broom, I want you to mount it." As Madam Hooch starts instructing them, Leo turns away from the girl.

"And grip it tight, you don't want to be sliding off the end. When I blow my whistle, I want each of you to kick off from the ground, hard. Keep your broom steady, hover for a moment, and then lean forward slightly and touch back down. On my whistle...3...2..."

She blows the whistle. However, Neville's broomstick lifts him off the ground. Neville immediately lifts off and he looks around in fright.

"Mr. Longbottom?"

"Neville, what are you doing?"

"We're not supposed to take off yet!" A boy exclaims.

Neville starts soaring through the air uncontrollably, "M-M-Mr. Longbottom! Mr. Longbottom!"

Neville screams as Madam Hooch brings out her wand.

"Mr. Longbottom!"

"Down! Down!" Neville screams. "Help!"

"Come back down this instant!"

He flies uncontrollably in the air and hits a wall, conking along it and then swooping off. All the while, he is screaming. He begins to zoom back towards the group of students. Hooch quickly holds out her wand to stop him.

"Help!"

"Mr. Longbottom-"

However, the students quickly stand back as Hooch dives out of the way, allowing Neville to fly right through. Neville goes through the scatter and up a tower.

"Ahhhh! Whoa! Ahhh!"

Neville zooms past a statue of a man with a sharp spear. Neville's cloak catches on it. He flips off the broom and hangs there.

The cloak rips through the spear, and he falls. But his cloak catches on a torch, making Neville slip off from his cloak a second later and fall to the ground.

"Everyone out of the way!" Madam Hooch runs through the group, and they scatter. "Come on, get up."

"Is he going to be alright?" Leo asks, peeking his head over the crowd.

Hooch is helping Neville up; he has broken his wrist after he fell.

"Owowowow."

"Oh, oh, oh, oh dear. It's a broken wrist. Tch, tch, tch. Good boy, come on now, up you get."

Draco reaches down and grabs Neville's Remembrall, which has fallen from him. Hooch begins to lead Neville away with her.

"Everyone's to keep their feet firmly on the ground while I take Mr. Longbottom to the hospital wing. Understand? If I see a single broom in the air, the one riding it will find themselves out of Hogwarts before they can say Quidditch." She leaves, leading Neville away to the hospital wing.

"Did you see his face? Maybe if the fat lump had given this a squeeze, he'd have remembered to fall on his fat arse." Draco and his goons laugh as Harry approaches them. Leo steps in front of Draco, glaring at Harry.

"Step away, Potter."

"Give it back, Snape."

"See, I don't think we should. In fact, I think we'll keep Longbottom's little trinket. Not like he's gonna miss it anyways with how much he forgets. Maybe after a day or two, I'll think about giving it back."

"I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find." Draco grins, hopping on his broom and soaring around the group. "How 'bout up on the roof? What's the matter, Potter? Bit beyond your reach?"

Harry glares, getting on his broom.

"Up!" The broom flies into Leo's hand and he reaches for it, mounting his broom.

"Harry, no way! You heard what Madam Hooch said! Besides, you don't even know how to fly." Harry ignores Hermione, flying after Draco. "What an idiot."

"Don't follow him, Leo. It's an easy way to get expelled." Emily advises but Leo ignores her.

"Potter started it when his friend laughed at Draco. Come Theo, let's give the people a show." Leo pushes off the ground, Theo following close behind.

"Give it here, Malfoy, or I'll knock you off your broom!" Harry yells.

"Is that so?" Harry makes a dash for him, but Draco twirls around his broom in a 360. "Have it your way, then!"

Draco hurls the Remembrall into the air like a baseball. Harry zooms after the ball, speeding towards a tower. But Leo's faster. Leo grabs the ball quickly, zooming out of Harry's way before they collide.

"Cut it out, Snape. Give it back!" Harry reaches out his hand, landing in front of Leo. Leo grins and tosses the ball behind him. Theo, riding his broom, grabs it from the air and flies next to Leo.

"Have you ever played Tag, Potter? It's a very fun game." Leo smiles at Harry. "You're it."

Leo zooms towards Harry, who pushes himself out of the way just in time. Theo throws Draco the ball, who tosses it to Leo. Harry flies towards Leo, lifting his arms when the ball flies past his head. Theo grabs the ball and throws it back to Draco. A cycle ensues.

"Let's see how good you are at catch, Potter." When Leo is given the ball, he throws it towards a tower. Harry speeds after the ball as it aims towards a window. Leo, Theo, and Draco quickly make their way back to the ground.

Just as Harry is about to hit a window, from which McGonagall is working, he catches it. McGonagall notices this and looks surprised as Harry begins to fly back down to the grounds. The students all cheer as Harry lands back on the ground at ease. They run to see him.

"Good job, Harry!"

"Oh, that was wicked, Harry."

"Oh, bugger off. I just made a whole dramatic performance and Harry's the one who gets all the praise?" Leo sulks and Theo pats his head.

"Being a Slytherin doesn't get us much praise but at least we have fun." Theo grins. Pansy shakes her head at the boys, smiling as well. Draco shrugs and smirks at them. Mattheo rolls his eyes but smiles nonetheless.

McGonagall appears in the grounds. "Harry Potter? Follow me."

Harry sullenly follows her as the Slytherins snicker in delight. "Serves Potter right."

• • •

"What?!" Leo paces the common room in thought. Pansy, Draco, and Theo sit on a couch and Mattheo sits in an armchair, reading a book about animals.

"So Potter not only doesn't get in trouble but he also gets a spot on the Quidditch team?! Draco did a full 360 where he spun upside down! Bloody hell, me and Theo basically played football with Neville's stupid glowing ball. But Potter is the one who gets offered a spot?! This is such bullshit!" Leo exclaims, spreading his body over Pansy, Draco, and Theo in a dramatic way. Mattheo hums to show he's listening but doesn't look up from his book.

"I'm surprised you know what Quidditch is." Pansy smiles.

"I don't. I'm just pissed that Potter gets praised when we did the same thing as him but better." Leo huffs, crossing his arms over his chest. Theo smiles down at him as he begins twisting his curls between his fingers.

"Hey uhh... Leo, right?" Leo turns to the direction of the voice, seeing a timid boy with long, brown hair and grey eyes. "I saw your performance earlier in flying class. For what it's worth, I hear our Quidditch captain is a real jerk. But if it makes you feel any better, my friends and I really enjoyed watching you make Potter sweat."

The boy walks away after a quick nod and Leo throws his hands up. "See! That's all the recognition I wanted!"

• • •

"Quidditch is easy enough to understand. Each time has seven players, 3 chasers, 2 beaters, 1 keeper and a seeker. That's you. There are three kinds of balls."

Leo leans forward as far as he can without being seen, hiding on the side of the broom shed. Curiosity got the better of him and he tracked down Wood and Potter, intent on figuring out what this Quidditch game was about.

Just as Wood began explaining more, a hand lands on Leo's shoulder and he jumps back with a yelp. "You're not supposed to be out here. The Quidditch field is reserved for Wood to teach Potter how to be a half decent Seeker."

Leo locks eyes with the Potions Professor and his assistant, who isn't standing as close as Severus is.

"I was just... I was just curious, is all."

"You want to be a Quidditch player?" Professor Black steps forward, leveling himself with Leo as he smiles.

"No- well- I don't really know. But Potter gets all the attention when my friends and I did something as equally great as he did. Just because we had different motives doesn't mean it still wasn't great." Leo looks down, puffing out his cheeks in embarrassment. Professor Snape and Professor Black share a look.

"Still not used to being a Slytherin? I could say it gets better but from personal experience, being a Slytherin sticks with you forever. You just learn to live with it."

"Try not to think about it too much. Just like Potter doesn't seem to think at all." Professor Snape remarks and Leo cracks a smile.

"If you really want, I can teach you Quidditch. You know, I was Slytherin's seeker when I went to Hogwarts."

"No thanks. I think I'd rather find something I'm good at than try to compete with Potter over something I'm not passionate about. Thank you for the offer." With that, Leo walks off and Professor Black straightens up.

"I wouldn't expect anything else. He's your boy after all, Severus."

"They grow up so fast, don't you think?"

• • •

Professor Filtwick is very short and is standing on a bunch of books to make up for his stature and to see his class.

"One of a wizard's most rudimentary skills is levitation: the ability to make objects fly. Uh, do you all have your feathers?" The class raises their feathers in response, "Good. Now, uh, don't forget the nice wrist movement we've been practicing, hmm? The swish and flick. Everyone."

"The swish and flick." The class repeats.

"Good. And enunciate. Wingardium Leviosa. Off you go then."

The class begin to enunciate and doing the movements on their feathers.

"Wingardium Levio-saaa." Draco drags out his a and Leo swishes his feather next to him.

"Wingardrium Leviosar!" He waves his wand really fast numerous times but Hermione quickly stops him.

"Stop, stop, stop. You're going to take someone's eye out. Besides, you're saying it wrong. It's Levi-o-sa, not Leviosar."

"You do it then if you're so clever. Go on, go on." Hermione straightens up and swishes her wand.

"Wingardium Leviosa." The feather glows and lifts up.

"Oh, well done! See here, everyone! Ms. Granger's done it! Oh, splendid!" Flitwick praises and Leo sighs.

"What's the point of classes if the Golden Trio is just going to outshine everyone else?" Leo grumbles, putting his wand down and laying his head on Theo. Ron puts his head on his books dejectedly and Seamus begins swishing at his feather.

"Calm your sulking, Prince pouty. You'll be just fine." Theo pats his head before turning his attention back to his feather. Draco glanced at Leo, simply raising his wand at his feather again.

"Wingard Levosa." An almighty explosion flashes. Flitwick gasps as Ron and Hermione turn to the source of the explosion.

"Whooaaa! Ooh."  Seamus is charred again with his feather, now smoldering to ashes.

"I think we're going to need another feather over here, Professor."

Leo smirks, leaning forward to rest his chin on his palm, "And my entertainment source strikes again."

• • •

Neville, Harry, Ron and Seamus are walking through a courtyard with other students all around.

"It's Levioooosa, not Leviosaaaar," Ron mocks Hermione before turning back to his normal voice, "She's a nightmare, honestly. No wonder she hasn't got any friends!"

Hermione rushes past Ron, hugging her books and sniffling in tears.

"Hey dipshit, I think she heard you." Leo nudges Ron on the shoulder harshly as he passes him. Theo sticks his tongue out at Ron as he hangs an arm around Leo. Pansy tsk's and glares at the boys.

"No wonder you lot will never get a girlfriend. Mocking girls, whether they hear you or not, isn't the best way to get on the female population's good side. She may be a Gryffindor but she's still a human being so piss off with your judgmental attitude." Pansy walks off after Hermione, muttering something about Leo's influence.

"Saint Potter, how hypocritical of us Slytherins when you hang out with some jerk who speaks of girls so illy." Leo clicks his tongue, sending one last glare to the pair before walking off, Theo trailing behind.

• • •

"Hey," Pansy awkwardly leans against the bathroom stall, looking at the sobbing girl. "If it makes you feel any better, those guys are total wankers."

"Why does it matter to you?" Hermione says through sobs and Pansy sighs, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket. She holds it out to Hermione.

"Don't worry. It's not laced with poison or anything." Hermione takes the cloth with a skeptical look and Pansy sits next to her as she calms down. Once Hermione calms down enough to hold a conversation, Pansy is given back her handkerchief.

"Why would you help me? We're in rival houses." Pansy sighs, running a hand through her hair.

"Is it so surprising that a Slytherin wants to have a chance at being a good guy? Look, we're both girls and you were in a tight spot with boys who had no reason to judge you when you tried to help. Sure, you're stuck up and a know-it-all and I think you're a bit creepy for knowing so many things — but you're a muggleborn. I don't blame you for being so curious about a world you didn't know existed until now. I just... I just wanted to do something good for once."

"So you're a good Slytherin? You're not like the others?"

"Merlin, what's with everyone and thinking Slytherin is the image of evil?! There is no good or evil, just little kids forced to grow up based on their surroundings." Pansy stands, glaring down at Hermione.

"I'll have you know a lot of Slytherins would be good if they were just given the chance. But no, people like you with your judging words and glares stop us before we even get a chance. You even think of what us Slytherins want?! We're the ones who have to deal with all this rubbish, not you!" Pansy groans, running her hands over her as she turns to leave.

"I-I'm-"

"Whatever. It doesn't matter. It's not like I didn't know what I was getting myself into following you. It seems everyone has the same opinions on Slytherin. I really thought you might be different because you know what it feels like to be ridiculed but I guess not. See you, Granger."

Pansy walks out the stall and towards the door as commotion sounds outside. Pansy rolls her eyes before opening the door but pauses upon something in the doorway.

A troll.

• • • • •
TO BE CONTINUED